cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The unnatural history of Kāne'ohe Bay: coral reef resilience in the face of centuries of anthropogenic impacts

Kāne'ohe Bay, which is located on the on the NE coast of O'ahu, Hawai'i, represents one of the most intensively studied estuarine coral reef ecosystems in the world. Despite a long history of anthropogenic disturbance, from early settlement to post European contact, the coral reef ecosystem of Kāne'ohe Bay appears to be in better condition in comparison to other reefs around the world. The island of Moku o Lo'e (Coconut Island) in the southern region of the bay became home to the Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology in 1947, where researchers have since documented the various aspects of the unique physical, chemical, and biological features of this coral reef ecosystem. The first human contact by voyaging Polynesians occurred at least 700 years ago. By A.D. 1250 Polynesians voyagers had settled inhabitable islands in the region which led to development of an intensive agricultural, fish pond and ocean resource system that supported a large human population. Anthropogenic disturbance initially involved clearing of land for agriculture, intentional or accidental introduction of alien species, modification of streams to supply water for taro culture, and construction of massive shoreline fish pond enclosures and extensive terraces in the valleys that were used for taro culture. The arrival by the first Europeans in 1778 led to further introductions of plants and animals that radically changed the landscape. Subsequent development of a plantation agricultural system led to increased human immigration, population growth and an end to traditional land and water management practices. The reefs were devastated by extensive dredge and fill operations as well as rapid growth of human population, which led to extensive urbanization of the watershed. By the 1960's the bay was severely impacted by increased sewage discharge along with increased sedimentation due to improper grading practices and stream channelization, resulting in extensive loss of coral cover. The reefs of Kāne'ohe Bay developed under estuarine conditions and thus have been subjected to multiple natural stresses. These include storm floods, a more extreme temperature range than more oceanic reefs, high rates of sedimentation, and exposure at extreme low tides. Deposition and degradation of organic materials carried into the bay from the watershed results in low pH conditions such that according to some ocean acidification projections the rich coral reefs in the bay should not exist. Increased global temperature due to anthropogenic fossil fuel emmisions is now impacting these reefs with the first "bleaching event" in 1996 and a second more severe event in 2014. The reefs of Kāne'ohe Bay have developed and persist under rather severe natural and anthropogenic perturbations. To date, these reefs have proved to be very resilient once the stressor has been removed. A major question remains to be answered concerning the limits of Kāne'ohe Bay reef resilience in the face of global climate change.
Achieving a Sustainable Environmental Perspective

The design profession is in a position to address the environmental challenges faced by society and progress is being made in thisdirection. However, this paper cautions that achieving a sustainable environmental perspective within design requires educators andpractitioners to go beyond the specifics of materials, tools and common strategies and address the very status of the environmentalperspective. They will have to elevate this perspective above others and shift it from a relative requirement to an absolute one. Doing sowill require several fundamental changes to design education and practice.
On the Power in the Legendre Modes of the Solar Radial Magnetic Field

The power in the different l modes of an expansion of the solar radial magnetic field at the surface in terms of Legendre polynomials,Pl , is calculated with the help of a solar dynamo model studied earlier. The model is of the Babcock–Leighton type, i.e., the surface eruptions of the toroidal magnetic field – through the ‘tilt angle’, γ, formed by the magnetic axis of a bipolar magnetic region with the east-west line – are the sources for the poloidal field. In this paper it is assumed that the tilt angle is subject to fluctuations of the form, γ = γ′(σ)+ where is the average value and γ′(σ) is a random normal fluctuation with standard deviation σ which is taken from Howard's observations of the distribution of tilt angles. For numerical considerations, negative values of γ were not allowed. If this occurred, γ was recalculated. The numerical integrations were started with a toroidal magnetic field antisymmetric across the equator, large enough to generate eruptions, and a negligible poloidal field. The fluctuations in the tilt angle destroy the antisymmetry as time increases. The power of the antisymmetric modes across the equator (i.e., odd values of l) is concentrated in frequencies, νp, corresponding to the cycle period. The maximum power lies in the l=3 mode with considerable power in the l=5 mode, in broad agreement with Stenflo's results who finds a maximum power at l=5. For the symmetric modes, there is considerable power in frequencies larger than νp, again in broad agreement with Stenflo's power spectrum.
Refraction and shoaling of surface waves by currents and topography as observed by HF radars

Phased-array Doppler radars were deployed immediately south of the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay during the COPE-3 experiment in the fall of 1997. The radars collected the Doppler spectra and extracted surface current vectors for a period of 45 days. Significant wave height and peak period estimates were obtained from the Doppler spectra using the method originally developed by Barrick (1977). The study region was strongly impacted by the outflow from the Chesapeake Bay. The buoyant plume that emanated from the bay during ebb tides was observed in the surface current maps produced by the HF radars. Significant surface current shear existed at the boundary where the buoyant plume overrode denser shelf water, resulting in a convergence frontal zone. The refraction and shoaling of the surface waves was observed as they propagated over these regions. The current-induced shoaling of incident waves was isolated from the effects of local topography. The location of significant wave height growth and dissipation was found to be dependent upon the tidal stage and the wind and wave direction. Regional remote sensing of both waves and currents was necessary to identify these high energy regions which are of considerable interest for studies of mixing at the estuarine front as well as for the safe maritime operations.
A descriptive study of variables explaining functional recovery following stroke

54 This prospective correlational study described a cohort of subjects with a motor stroke and assessed the extent to which selected variables measured during the acute phase explained the variation in functional recovery post stroke. Data were collected from a convenience sample of 100 consenting adults recruited during admission to neurology services at two large urban medical centers. Age, lesion volume on MRI, motor strength, cognitive status, and post-stroke functional level data were collected during the acute care hospital admission. Subjects mean age was 65 years ( SD ± 15, range = 20–90), the mean lesion volume in centimeters cubed (cm 3 ) was 21.5 ( SD ± 44.7, range = 0 - 225) and the mean National Institute of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) was 6.34 ( SD ± 3.55, range = 2–17). Cognitive status was measured using two instruments. The mean Mini-Mental Status Examination (MMSE) score was 24.38 ( SD ± 13, range = 9–30) while the mean Neurobehavioral Cognitive Status Examination (NCSE) was 64.33 ( SD ± 13, range = 12–85). The mean Functional Independence Measure (FIM) score was 94.05 ( SD ± 19.31, range = 38–120). Ninety subjects were available three months post stroke when functional recovery was measured. The Mean FIM score at that time was 117 ( SD ± 13). The results of the multiple regression analysis revealed that age, the NCSE, and the FIM at the time of admission accounted for 42% of the variance in functional recovery three months after stroke. The NIHSS and lesion volume on MRI did not enter the hierarchical regression model. In addition to providing a description of a group of individuals who had a motor stroke, the results of this study will help allied health professionals appropriately focus their time and attention during the fast paced acute phase of stroke care.
Postseismic Viscoelastic Rebound

The sudden appearance of a dislocation, representing an earthquake, in an elastic layer (the lithosphere) overriding a viscoelastic half space (the asthenosphere) is followed by time-dependent surface deformation, which is very similar to in situ postseismic deformation. The spectacular postseismic deformation following the large Nankaido earthquake of 1946 yields for the asthenosphere a viscosity of 5 x 10 19 poise and a 50 percent relaxation of the shear modulus. Large thrust type earthquakes may provide, in the future, a new method for exploring the rheology of the earth9s upper mantle.
Parties and the Common Good

This paper has a twofold intention.The first is to discuss the problem of political parties, — their justification and status, — in a society which requires political democracy as the set of political institutions appropriate for the government of men living under modern social and economic conditions. (By these modern conditions I mean such things as the economic forms of production and distribution in the industrial era; the organization of labor in relation to economic enterprise; the intensity and extensity of communication among men living in geographical separation and, consequently, the physical enlargement of the civic association; the approximation to universal education; the spread of literacy, etc.) There are two points to be noted here:(1) That modern society is or tends toward a democracy in its physical and economic conditions, whether in a given instance its political forms are outwardly democratic, as in France, England and the United States, or anti-democratic, as in Italy, Germany and Russia.(a) Not only does Russia publicize its claim to being democratic and make constitutional efforts in that direction which are, of course, at once vitiated by the persistence of its totalitarian regime; but even Germany and Italy give an appearance of democracy, — though they abominate the thought and word, — an appearance which is a reverse and distorted image. Thus, by the pressure of propaganda and the exercise of brutal force, the rulers of Germany and Italy try to make it appear that they have a mandate from the people for their policies.
Sluggish cognitive tempo in abnormal child psychology: an historical overview and introduction to the special section

There has recently been a resurgence of interest in Sluggish Cognitive Tempo (SCT) as an important construct in the field of abnormal child psychology. Characterized by drowsiness, daydreaming, lethargy, mental confusion, and slowed thinking/behavior, SCT has primarily been studied as a feature of Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), and namely the predominately inattentive subtype/presentation. Although SCT is strongly associated with ADHD inattention, research increasingly supports the possibility that SCT is distinct from ADHD or perhaps a different mental health condition altogether, with unique relations to child and adolescent psychosocial adjustment. This introductory article to the Special Section on SCT provides an historical overview of the SCT construct and briefly describes the contributions of the eight empirical papers included in the Special Section. Given the emerging importance of SCT for abnormal psychology and clinical science, there is a clear need for additional studies that examine (1) the measurement, structure, and multidimensional nature of SCT, (2) SCT as statistically distinct from not only ADHD-inattention but also other psychopathologies (particularly depression and anxiety), (3) genetic and environmental contributions to the development of SCT symptoms, and (4) functional impairments associated with SCT. This Special Section brings together papers to advance the current knowledge related to these issues as well as to spur research in this exciting and expanding area of abnormal psychology.
Results of repeat balloon valvuloplasty for treatment of aortic stenosis in patients aged 59 to 104 years

Balloon aortic valvuloplasty (BAV) may be considered a palliative procedure that is performed in patients who have severely symptomatic aortic stenosis and a prohibitive surgical risk. However, due to poor early survival rates, most previous studies have involved a single BAV procedure. We analyzed long-term outcomes in patients who had severe aortic stenosis and BAV that incorporated repeat procedures to maintain symptom relief and increase survival rate. We retrospectively analyzed 212 consecutive nonsurgical patients (59 to 104 years old) who had severe calcific aortic stenosis and underwent 282 cumulative BAV procedures. Demographic, procedural, and follow-up mortality data were collected. BAV was performed with single or incremental balloon dilatation to obtain a postprocedural transaortic gradient close to 1/3 of the baseline gradient. Peak transaortic gradient after BAV decreased from 55 ± 22 to 20 ± 11 mm Hg and aortic valve area increased from 0.6 ± 0.2 to 1.2 ± 0.3 cm 2 . Mean follow-up duration was 32 ± 18 months. During follow-up, 24% of patients underwent a second BAV and 9% of patients underwent a third BAV. Duration of symptom alleviation after the first, second, and third BAV procedures were 18 ± 3, 15 ± 4, and 10 ± 3 months, respectively. Median survival rate after BAV was 35 months. Survival rates 1, 3, and 5 years after the procedure were 64%, 28%, and 14% respectively. Patients who underwent repeat BAV had higher 3-year survival rates than did patients who underwent 1 BAV (p = 0.01). Therefore, repeat BAV is a viable treatment strategy in nonsurgical patients who have severe calcific aortic stenosis, because it provides a median survival rate of ∼3 years and maintains clinical improvement.
Trucking Country: Food Politics and the Transformation of Rural Life in Postwar America

Thesis (Ph. D. in History and Social Study of Science and Technology (HASTS))--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Program in Science, Technology and Society, 2005.
On the Classical Limit in Bohm’s Theory

The standard means of seeking the classical limit in Bohmian mechanics is through the imposition of vanishing quantum force and quantum potential for pure states. We argue that this approach fails, and that the Bohmian classical limit can be realized only by combining narrow wave packets, mixed states, and environmental decoherence.
Do Sugar Substitutes Have Any Impact on Glycemic Control in Patients with Diabetes

Objective:To evaluate the impact of nonnutritive sugar substitutes on glycemic control in patients with diabetes.Data Sources:A comprehensive review of the literature was conducted in PubMed (1966-March 2012) and Scopus. A combination of MeSH terms and keywords were used, including acesulfame, aspartame, diabetes, neotame, rebiana, saccharin, stevia, and sucralose.Study Selection and Data Extraction:Clinical studies evaluating the impact of nonnutritive sweeteners on measures of diabetic control, including, but not limited to, blood glucose levels, postprandial blood glucose, and hemoglobin A1c were selected for review. Searches were limited to only nonnutritive sweeteners available in the US.Data Synthesis:Nine clinical trials that evaluated nonnutritive sweeteners in a total of 490 patients with diabetes were found. Doses of sweeteners in the studies varied from below acceptable daily intake levels for 3 consecutive days to daily dosing for up to 18 weeks and up to 3.5 times the acceptable daily intake ...
Intersection of Transforming Growth Factor-β and Wnt Signaling Pathways in Colorectal Cancer and Metastasis

Colorectal cancers develop, mature, and metastasize when a compendium of genetic and epigenetic lesions in a colonic stem cell accumulate to cause dysregulation of a variety of cellular processes, including multiple growth regulatory signaling pathways.1 Genomic instability seems to drive the process of formation of colorectal cancers from normal colonic epithelium to adenoma to carcinoma, and perhaps through metastasis. This genomic instability—either chromosomal instability, microsatellite instability, or forms of epigenetic instability—may seem to damage the genome randomly, but ultimately accrues a nonrandom aggregation of very specific targets that are deregulated and allow the establishment of an initial colorectal neoplasm, or further drive an early neoplasm to malignant transformation and eventual distal spread.1
Children Exposed to Family Violence A Review of Empirical Research from a Developmental-Ecological Perspective

This article employs the major foci of a developmental-ecological model to evaluate the past decade of research on children exposed to family violence. The foci of this framework were operationalized into a coding system that was then applied to all empirical studies published in this area since 1987. This coding system allowed for inspection of the current state of the knowledge base from this perspective and the ability to determine the progress that has been made in this research area. A total of 21 quantitative studies and 1 qualitative study were reviewed. Despite progress having been made over the past 10 years, foundational issues related to definitions of the independent variable, substantiation of exposure, developmental sensitivity, and methodology remain. The authors critique the extant literature and present recommendations for future research studies.
Determination of radium isotopes in mineral water samples by α-spectrometry

Abstract A method for determination of low-level radium isotopes in mineral water samples by α-spectrometry has been developed. Ra-225, which is in equilibrium with its mother 229 Th, was used as a yield tracer. Radium were preconcentrated from water samples by coprecipitation with BaSO 4 and iron (III) hydroxide, isolated from uranium, thorium and iron using a Microthene tri-octyl-phosphine oxide (TOPO) chromatography column, separated from barium in a cation-exchange resin column, electrodeposited on a stainless steel disc in a medium of oxalate, and counted by α-spectrometry. The lower limits of detection of the method are 0.12 mBq l −1 for 226 Ra and 224 Ra, respectively.
Disodium disuccinate astaxanthin prevents carotid artery rethrombosis and ex vivo platelet activation.

Background/Aims: The disodium disuccinate derivative of astaxanthin (DDA) is a carotenoid antioxidant under development for the treatment of ischemic cardiovascular events. Recent ev
Association of ABO blood groups with risk factors of intracranial cerebral aneurysm formation

Introduction: The association between ABO blood groups and intracranial aneurysms is not well-understood. Many co-morbid factors are associated with intracranial aneurysms. The prevalence of different blood groups and associations with the risk factors in patients with intracranial aneurysms are reviewed. Methodology: A retrospective analysis was conducted on patients presenting with intracranial aneurysms and undergoing active neurosurgical intervention at the Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center between 1 st January 1993 and 31 st December 2012. A total of 1248 patients were identified for the analysis. Data pertaining to demographics and clinical characteristics of these patients were extracted from the electronic patient records by two authors independently. A univariate and multivariate analysis was performed to investigate the association of ABO blood groups with risk factors in patients with intracranial aneurysms. Results: The most common ABO blood group in our study population was O (543 cases, 43.5%), followed by group A (525 cases, 42%). Blood group A (46% vs. 35.5% patients; P = 0.01) and blood group B (18% vs. 7% patients; P = 0.000) were significantly associated with the development of intracranial aneurysms in Caucasians and African Americans, respectively. We found smoking ( P = 0.01) and hypercholesterolemia ( P = 0.006) to be an independent risk factor for the development of intracranial aneurysms in blood group O and blood group A, respectively . Conclusion: Racial disparity in the distribution of blood groups and risk factor association with blood groups in the development of intracranial aneurysm needs to be considered. The findings from our study may be useful in identifying patients at increased risk of developing intracranial aneurysms.
Report on wind dispersal in a lowland moist forest in central French Guiana

An analysis of the flowering plant flora of a lowland moist forest in central French Guiana reveals 298 species with adaptations for wind dispersal. This represents 16.2% of the flowering plant flora and 9.8% of the class Magnoliopsida (dicotyledons). The most diverse wind-dispersed families are the Orchidaceae in the Liliopsida (monocotyledons) with 135 species and the Bignoniaceae in the Magnoliopsida with 37 species. The wind-dispersed species of central French Guiana have evolved either small, dust-like seeds, fruits or seeds with various kinds of wings, fruits or seeds with tufts of hairs, or expanded wing- or parachute-like persistent calyces. Most wind-dispersed species, among the liliopsids, are epiphytes and, among the magnoliopsids, trees or lianas. In central French Guiana, collections of these species with mature diaspores have been gathered most often in October and March, the months with peak wind velocities. In contrast, collections from June and July, when wind velocities are at a minimum, are rare.
Prolactin and the Luteotropic Complex in Hamsters

Inquiry has been made concerning the effectiveness of prolactin as a luteotropin in hypophysectomized and in pituitary-intact female hamsters. The corpora lutea (CL) of the cycle typically become ischemic by the onset of the ensuing estrus. Those of pseudopregnancy are typically ischemic prior to the end of Day 8 of pseudopregnancy. CL of cyclic females hypophysectomized on Day 2 became ischemic 2 days later. Those of pseudopregnant females hypophysectomized on Day 1 or 2 of pseudopregnancy became ischemic 2-4 days later. Thus, a continuing pituitary stimulus is essential for sustained function of the CL of pseudopregnancy. One to 3 pituitary implants from male donors did not delay ischemia in hypophysectomized cyclic females nor did 1 or 2 implants delay ischemia in hypophysectomized pseudopregnant females. However, 2 or 3 pituitary implants in cyclic females with intact pituitaries evoked a pseudopregnancy of approximately normal duration. Thereafter, a series of spontaneous pseudopregnancies recurred. ...
A history of heart failure predicts arrhythmia treatment efficacy : Data from the Antiarrythmics versus Implantable Defibrillators (AVID) Study

Background In survivors of life-threatening ventricular tachycardia (VT), a history of CHF (HxCHF) before the VT episode may provide different prognostic information than their measured left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). Methods We evaluated outcomes from patients in the AVID study. Patients were included in the study if they presented with ventricular fibrillation, VT with syncope or VT with hemodynamic compromise, and LVEF ≤40%. Treatment options included implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) or antiarrhythmic drugs (AAD), usually amiodarone. Results As expected, a HxCHF is associated with an increased and high risk of arrhythmic and nonarrhythmic death. However, an interaction was observed between arrhythmia treatment (ICD or AAD) and HxCHF status: the survival advantage with an ICD, as compared with AAD therapy, is largely restricted to HxCHF patients. Conclusions The ICD is no better than AAD therapy in preventing arrhythmic death in patients with no HxCHF. In this data set, a HxCHF is somewhat more accurate in predicting prognosis and the response to therapy than a reduced LVEF.
The Roles a “Civil Society” Can Play in International Dispute Resolution

Since its very inception, the United Nations has worked with NGOs (non-governmental organizations) or, to use the contemporary term, a "civil society." In fact, every single U.N. department now has an NGO liaison. As the world becomes increasingly smaller, the role and influence of NGOs will continue to be significant in international negotiations.
Cardiac Sympathetic Afferent Denervation Attenuates Cardiac Remodeling and Improves Cardiovascular Dysfunction in Rats With Heart Failure

The enhanced cardiac sympathetic afferent reflex (CSAR) contributes to the exaggerated sympathoexcitation in chronic heart failure (CHF). Increased sympathoexcitation is positively related to morta...
Fast Abstract: Software Selection Based on Quantitative Security Risk Assessment

Multiple software products often exist on the same server and, thus, vulnerability in one product might compromise the entire environment. Therefore security risk assessments of the candidate software products, which are evaluated to be part of a larger system, are important. Having a quantitative security risk assessment model provides an objective criterion for such assessments as well as comparison between candidate software products. In this paper, we present our preliminary exploration of a software product evaluation method using such a quantitative security risk assessment model. Our goal is to utilize prior research in quantitative security risk assessment, which is based on empirical data from the National Vulnerability Database (NVD), and compare the security risk levels of the products evaluated. We are evaluating the application of topic modeling to build a security risk assessment model. Such a procedure could help decision makers evaluate and compare open-source software (OSS) products to ensure that they are safe and secure enough to be put into their environment.
Pipelined implementation of high speed STAR-RLS adaptive filters

The popular QR decomposition based recursive least-squares (RLS) adaptive filtering algorithm (referred to as QRD-RLS) has a limited speed of operation depending on the processing time of each individual cell. A new scaled tangent rotation based STAR-RLS algorithm has been designed which is suitable for fine-grain pipelining and also has a lower complexity. The inter-cell communication is also reduced by about half. A direct application of look-ahead to STAR-RLS can still lead to some increase in hardware. In this paper look- ahead is applied using delayed update operations such that the complexity is reduced while maintaining a fast convergence. The pipelined STAR-RLS (or PSTAR-RLS) algorithm requires the same number of operations (multiplications or divisions) as the serial STAR-RLS algorithm. Practical issues related to the STAR-RLS algorithm such as numerical stability and dynamic range are also examined.© (1993) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Effect of altered thyroid states on chromium uptake in rat blood.

Abnormal thyroid states hypothyroidism and hyperthyroidism, alter metabolic processes such as protein synthesis. The effects of hypo- and hyperthyroidism on metal and mineral metabolism have been reported by several investigators. These effects may be due to changes in protein levels or some other effect of thyroxine on the body. A change in the uptake, transportation, or rate of removal of a metal in the body could significantly affect metabolic processes. These effects could lead to toxicity resulting from either excesive or deficient amounts of the metal. This paper reports an investigation of the retention of trivalent /sup 51/Cr in the blood of rats having experimentally altered thyroid states.
Canadian Studies in the United States: A New Frontier?

There are many indications of growing interest in Canada on American campuses: new interdisciplinary programs, increasing enrollment in courses on Canada, more research projects on Canadian topics, and now, ACSUS, the Association for Canadian Studies in the United States. Why this new development? Are American scholars becoming more aware of the differences between the two countries, and consequently of Canada as a bona fide “area” of study? Has Trudeau-mania overflowed across the 5524 mile common frontier, and made Canada seem a less dull neighbor than heretofore? Has the separatist movement in Quebec, and particularly the terrorist activities there, titillated scholars disabused with the study of independence movements in farther reaches of the globe? Has the fact that Canada and the United States have entered a period of friction, if not of confrontation, with their respective national interests in conflict in many respects, offered scholars a new and significant area of study? The causes themselves warrant scientific analysis: the effects in terms of academic interest are already clearly visible.The study of Canada in the United States can be traced well back into the nineteenth century, but was included for many years within the context of British imperial history or North American geography.
No binocular rivalry in the LGN of alert macaque monkeys.

Abstract Orthogonal drifting gratings were presented binocularly to alert macaque monkeys in an attempt to find neural correlates of binocular rivalry. Gratings were centered over lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) receptive fields and the corresponding points for the opposite eye. The only task of the monkey was to fixate. We found no difference between the responses of LGN neurons under rivalrous and nonrivalrous conditions, as determined by examining the ratios of their respective power spectra. There was, however, a curious “temporal afterimage” effect in which cell responses continued to be modulated at the drift frequency of the grating for several seconds after the grating disappeared.
Effects of Danazol on gonadotropin secretion after ovariectomy in rats

The effects of Danazol on the elevated levels of serum gonadotropins and on the pituitary response to LH-RH in ovariectomized rats pretreated or not pretreated with estradiol and progesterone, were studied. Danazol depresses significantly the elevated serum levels of LH, but not those of FSH. The LH and FSH response to LH-RH in ovariectomized rats was increased by Danazol. This compound partially modified the inhibitory action of estradiol and progesterone on the serum levels of LH and nullified the depression of FSH. The results indicate that the effects of Danazol on the gonadotropic function of the pituitary depend on the functional state of the gland and/or the duration of the treatment.
Driver Acceptance of Unreliable Route Guidance Information

Human factors research can be used to design safe and efficient Advanced Traveler Information Systems (ATIS) that are easy to use (Kantowitz, Becker, & Barlow, 1993). This research used the Battelle Route Guidance Simulator (RGS) to examine two important issues related to driver behavior and acceptance of ATIS technology: (1) the effect of route familiarity on ATIS use and acceptance and (2) the level of information accuracy needed for an ATIS to be accepted and considered useful. The RGS included two 486 computers that provided drivers with real-time information and traffic reports. Drivers used a touch screen to select routes on one computer monitor and watched the results of their selection (i.e., real-time video of the traffic) on a second computer monitor. Drivers could use the system to obtain information about the traffic conditions on any link before traversing a route. In this experiment, subjects were exposed to four experimental conditions involving manipulation of the driver's familiarity with...
SELECTIVE HERBIVORY BY THE DESERT WOODRAT (NEOTOMA LEPIDA) ON JOSHUA TREES (YUCCA BREVIFOLIA)

We studied herbivory by the desert woodrat (Neotoma lepida) on Joshua trees (Yucca brevifolia) in the Mojave Desert to determine whether N. lepida fed selectively based on leaf nitrogen content. We measured leaf nitro- gen content and the location and amount of herbivory by woodrats on Y. brevifolia trees in southwestern Utah, USA. Neotoma lepida removed the outer tips of leaves (1/3 to 2/3 of total leaf length) but left leaf bases, which had lower nitro- gen content, uneaten. Herbivory by N. lepida also was concentrated on rosettes that were oriented south, and these had significantly higher nitrogen content than rosettes that were oriented north. Finally, N. lepida fed more on trees that had higher mean leaf nitrogen contents. Thus, N. lepida selectively foraged among leaf parts, among rosettes of leaves, and among trees of Y. brevifolia, and disproportionate foraging was correlated with nitrogen content of leaves.
Investigation of critical equivalence ratio and chemical speciation in flames of ethylbenzene–ethanol blends

Abstract This work investigates five different one-dimensional, laminar, atmospheric pressure, premixed ethanol/ethylbenzene flames (0%, 25%, 50%, 75% and 90% ethanol by weight) at their soot onset threshold ( ϕ critical ). Liquid ethanol/ethylbenzene mixtures were pre-vaporized in nitrogen, blended with an oxygen–nitrogen mixture and, upon ignition, burned in premixed one-dimensional flames at atmospheric pressure. The flames were controlled so that each was at its visual soot onset threshold, and all had similar temperature profiles (determined by thermocouples). Fixed gases, light volatile hydrocarbons, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), and oxygenated aromatic hydrocarbons were directly sampled at three locations in each flame. The experimental results were compared with a detailed kinetic model, and the modeling results were used to perform a reaction flux analysis of key species. The critical equivalence ratio was observed to increase in a parabolic fashion as ethanol concentration increased in the fuel mixture. The experimental results showed increasing trends of methane, ethane, and ethylene with increasing concentrations of ethanol in the flames. Carbon monoxide was also seen to increase significantly with the increase of ethanol in the flame, which removes carbon from the PAH and soot formation pathways. The PAH and oxygenated aromatic hydrocarbon values were very similar in the 0%, 25% and 50% ethanol flames, but significantly lower in the 75% and 90% ethanol flames. These results were in general agreement with the model and were reflected by the model soot predictions. The model predicted similar soot profiles for the 0%, 25% and 50% ethanol flames, however it predicted significantly lower values in the 75% and 90% ethanol flames. The reaction flux analysis revealed benzyl to be a major contributor to single and double ring aromatics (i.e., benzene and naphthalene), which was identified in a similar role in nearly sooting or highly sooting ethylbenzene flames. The presence of this radical was significantly reduced as ethanol concentration was increased in the flames, and this effect in combination with the lower carbon to oxygen ratios and the enhanced formation of carbon monoxide, are likely what allowed higher equivalence ratios to be reached without forming soot.
A comparison of exposure meter systems for three exoplanet-hunting spectrometers: Hamilton, HIRES and APF

The majority of extra-solar planets discovered to date have been found using Doppler-shift measurements obtained with the Hamilton Spectrometer at Lick Observatory and the High Resolution Echelle Spectrometer (HIRES) at Keck Observatory. Each of these spectrometers employs an integral exposure meter which enables observers to optimize exposure times so as to achieve the required signal-to-noise and to determine the photon-weighted midpoint of each science exposure (which is needed to correct the Doppler shift to the Solar System barycenter). In both of these systems, a propeller mirror located behind the spectrometer slit picks off a few percent of the light and directs it to a photo-multiplier tube (PMT) used to measure the exposure level versus time. In late 2006, the new Automated Planet Finder (APF) Telescope and APF Spectrometer are scheduled to begin operations at Lick Observatory; both will be dedicated exclusively to the search for extra-solar planets. Like the Hamilton and HIRES Spectrometers, the APF Spectrometer will employ an integral exposure meter, but one with a significantly different design. The APF exposure meter will employ a stationary pellicle located ahead of the slit to pick off 4% of the light and direct it to the guide camera. That camera will produce images typically at a 1 Hz rate, and those images will be used both for autoguiding and for computing the exposure level delivered to the spectrometer. In each guide camera image obtained during a science exposure, the time-tagged signal from the pixels that correspond to the spectrometer slit will be integrated in software to determine the current exposure level and the photon-weighted midpoint of that science exposure. We compare these two different design approaches, and describe the significant hardware and software features of each of these systems.
RELIABILITY‐CONSTRAINED PRICING, CAPACITY, AND QUALITY: AN ILLUSTRATION OF ECONOMIC CONCEPTS TO POSTAL SERVICES

A model is developed from which welfare-optimal prices, capacities, and reliabilities for a service provider are simultaneously determined. Solutions are determined under conditions of stochastic demand subject to a reliability constraint on service quality. Both quality of service provided, as well as price, impact on demand for services rendered. Results indicate that (i) optimal prices are equated to the reliability-constrained marginal costs, (ii) optimal reliabilities require that the marginal benefits of increasing reliability are equated to the marginal costs of doing so, and (iii) optimal capacity allocation involves minimizing the system's expected costs subject to meeting the prespecified reliability constraint for service quality. The model is applied to postal delivery services in light of the growing competition that has emerged in this industry.
Adenosine system in the heart

The adenosine system in the heart consists of three components : (1) a mechanism formation, (2) a receptor-effector coupling system, and (3) a mechanism for degradation. Selective pharmacological modification of this system with drug such as nucleoside uptake inhibitors osine. The action of adenosine in the heart are mediated by specific cell surface receptors of at least two subtypes. The A1 receptor subtype mediates the actions of adenosine that decrease O2 consumption (e.g, slowing of heart rate), whereas the A2 receptor subtype mediates the well-known coronary vasodilatory effects of adenosine and thereby increases O2 supply. Adenosine formation is increased when O2 demand exceeds O2 supply. Thus, in the heart adenosine may serve as a negative-feedback signal to adjust myocardial balance between O2 supply and consumption. In this brief review we describe the cardiovascular effects of adenosine, its mechanism(s) of action, and metabolism. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Long-term follow-up and clinical outcome of carotid restenosis******

The efficacy of carotid endarterectomy is dependent on the inherent ability of the operation to prevent stroke as well as the incidence of restenosis and associated symptoms. To examine the long-term effects of restenosis, 301 patients having carotid endarterectomy were followed by serial duplex scanning for an average of 4 years. Carotid restenosis, defined as 50% or greater diameter reduction by duplex scanning, occurred after 78 of the endarterectomies; regression of recurrent stenosis occurred in 20 arteries. By life-table analysis the cumulative incidence of restenosis at 7 years was 31%, and the cumulative incidence of regression was 10%. Thus the prevalence of recurrent stenosis at 7 years was 21%. Restenosis developed in women more frequently than men (p = 0.01). Transient ischemic attack occurred in 12% of patients with restenosis, and stroke occurred in 3%; however, the cumulative incidence of stroke or transient ischemic attack was not statistically different in those patients with and without restenosis. Similarly, cumulative survival at 7 years was no different. Carotid restenosis usually occurs early in the postoperative period and tends to regress or remain stable during long-term follow-up. A conservative approach to treatment appears justified, since transient ischemic attacks and stroke were rarely associated with restenosis.
Studies on nucleolar and ribosomal basic proteins and their relationship to nucleolar function

Abstract The study presented here demonstrates electrophoretic similarity between the basic protein of rat liver ribosomal protein and starfish oocyte ribosomal protein. This suggests some species-independence of at least a portion of the ribosomal proteins. In addition, electrophoretic similarity exists between the basic proteins of rat liver ribosomes and nucleoli. This, combined with earlier studies, suggests that the nucleolus contains a number of basic proteins whose molecular species are very much like those of cytoplasmic ribosomes. The structure of the nucleolus is interpreted as consisting of (1) a core of material containing basic proteins which are capable of complexing with newly synthesized RNA to form the basis of the ribosome, and (2) a cortical region containing newly formed ribosomes destined to leave the nucleolus for other cellular sites.
Mechanism of silver nanoparticles action on insect pigmentation reveals intervention of copper homeostasis.

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs), like almost all nanoparticles, are potentially toxic beyond a certain concentration because the survival of the organism is compromised due to scores of pathophysiological abnormalities past that concentration. However, the mechanism of AgNP toxicity remains undetermined. Instead of applying a toxic dose, we attempted to monitor the effects of AgNPs at a nonlethal concentration on wild type Drosophila melanogaster by exposing them throughout their development. All adult flies raised in AgNP doped food showed that up to 50 mg/L concentration AgNP has no negative influence on median survival; however, these flies appeared uniformly lighter in body color due to the loss of melanin pigments in their cuticle. Additionally, fertility and vertical movement ability were compromised due to AgNP feeding. Determination of the amount of free ionic silver (Ag+) led us to claim that the observed biological effects have resulted from the AgNPs and not from Ag+. Biochemical analysis suggests that the activity of copper dependent enzymes, namely tyrosinase and Cu-Zn superoxide dismutase, are decreased significantly following the consumption of AgNPs, despite the constant level of copper present in the tissue. Consequently, we propose a mechanism whereby consumption of excess AgNPs in association with membrane bound copper transporter proteins cause sequestration of copper, thus creating a condition that resembles copper starvation. This model also explains the cuticular demelanization effect resulting from AgNP since tyrosinase activity is essential for melanin biosynthesis. Finally, we claim that Drosophila, an established genetic model system, can be well utilized for further understanding of the biological effects of nanoparticles.
Inadequate subendocardial oxygen delivery during perfluorocarbon perfusion in a canine model of ischemia

Abstract Perfusion of the coronary artery distal to an occlusion was performed in 16 canine preparations to compare the mechanical perfusion of autologous blood to the perfluorocarbon fluosol DA, 20% emulsion (FDA-20). Both substances were perfused under similar conditions (30, 60, and 80 ml/min) and regional electrograms, contractility, and coronary perfusion were measured relative to native coronary perfusion. Autologous blood (60 and 80 ml/min) produced a significant increase in regional (epicardial, midmyocardial, and endocardial) and transmural flow, but not in the endocardial/epicardial perfusion ratio. No other significant changes were observed during autologous blood perfusion. In contrast, FDA-20 perfusion resulted in significant ST depression (−1.8 ± 0.2, −1.7 ± 0.2, and −1.3 ± 0.3 mm) at 30, 60, and 80 ml/min, respectively. FDA-20 also induced a significant decrease in distal diastolic coronary pressure and resistance, a significant decrease in the endocardial/epicardial perfusion ratio at all three perfusion rates, and a significant reduction in delivery of O 2 to the subendocardium. These results indicate that autologous blood perfusion of the distal coronary artery during occlusion preserves myocardial function to a better degree than does FDA-20.
Water-soluble copolymers. IX: Copolymers of acrylamide with N-(1,1-dimethyl-3-oxybutyl) acrylamide and N,N-dimethylacrylamide: synthesis and characterization

The copolymerizations of acrylamide (AM) with N-(1,1-dimethyl-3-oxybutyl)acrylamide (DAAM) and with N,N-dimethylacrylamide (DMAM) have been studied. The values of r1,r2 have been determined to be 0.75 for the AM-DAAM pair and 0.86 for the AM-DMAM pair. The molecular weights of the copolymers were found to decrease with an increase in the feed composition of DAAM or DMAM. The microstructure was predicted for a wide range of feed compositions through a knowledge of reactivity ratios. These model structures are utilized for assessment of structure/dilute solution relationships reported in a subsequent paper in this series.
A branch-and-bound algorithm for the early/tardy machine scheduling problem with a common due-date and sequence-dependent setup time

The single-machine early/tardy (E/T) scheduling problem is addressed in this research. The objective of this problem is to minimize the total amount of earliness and tardiness. Earliness and tardiness, are weighted equally and the due date is common and large (unrestricted) for all jobs. Machine setup time is included and is considered sequence-dependent. When sequence-dependent setup times are included, the complexity of the problem increases significantly and the problem becomes NP-hard. In the literature, only mixed integer programming formulation is available to optimally solve the problem at hand. In this paper, a branch-and-bound algorithm (B&B) is developed to obtain optimal solutions for the problem. As it will be shown, the B&B solved problems three times larger than what has been reported in the literature.
Why is mammalian thioredoxin reductase 1 so dependent upon the use of selenium

Cytosolic thioredoxin reductase 1 (TR1) is the best characterized of the class of high-molecular weight (Mr) thioredoxin reductases (TRs). TR1 is highly dependent upon the rare amino acid selenocysteine (Sec) for the reduction of thioredoxin (Trx) and a host of small molecule substrates, as mutation of Sec to cysteine (Cys) results in a large decrease in catalytic activity for all substrate types. Previous work in our lab and others has shown that the mitochondrial TR (TR3) is much less dependent upon the use of Sec for the reduction of small molecules. The Sec-dependent substrate utilization behavior of TR1 may be the exception and not the rule as we show that a variety of high-Mr TRs from other organisms, including Drosophila melanogaster, Caenorhabditis elegans, and Plasmodium falciparum, do not require Sec to reduce small molecule substrates, including 5,5′-dithiobis(2-nitrobenzoic acid), lipoic acid, selenite, and selenocystine. The data show that high-Mr TRs can be divided into two groups based upon...
Let's call it “color‐gamut rendering”

The term “color gamut” historically has been associated with color output such as optimal color stimuli and additive and subtractive imaging systems. Recently, this term has been used with input devices such as scanners and digital cameras. It is proposed that the term “color-gamut rendering” should be used instead of input devices. This clarifies the distinction between input (analysis) and output (synthesis) color systems in terms of the effect of an input system on defining the colorimetric properties of an output system. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Col Res Appl, 32, 334–335, 2007