cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An Analytical Study of Controlled Buoyancy in Laying Deep-Sea Pipelines

The application of active and passive buoyance control as an aid to deep marine pipelines has been quantitatively investigated. The use of buoys yields a substantial reduction of barge thrust and pipe tension. A systematic method is used to calculate buoy forces from a desired stress distribution. An efficient numerical solution procedure has been developed for predicting static marine pipeline geometries during laying operations. The iterative procedure is well suited for solving the two-point boundary value problem over a wide range of ocean depths.
The effects of the cholecystokinin antagonist, proglumide, on prolactin secretion in the rat.

Abstract Since cholecystokinin produced important effects on prolactin secretion following its intraventricular injection in ovariectomized rats, we have evaluated the effects of the cholecystokinin antagonist, proglumide, to assess the physiologic significance of CCK in the control of prolactin release. Conscious rats of either sex were used following implantation of third ventricular and/or intravenous cannulae for the administration of proglumide. Blood samples were drawn from conscious animals at various times after injection of the compound. Intraventricular injection of 1 or 10 μg of proglumide produced a dramatic decline in plasma prolactin levels in either castrate or intact male rats. Similar results were found following the intravenous injection of 10 or 100 μg of the drug. These results contrasted sharply with the findings in ovariectomized females in which the intraventricular injection of the same two doses of proglumide used in males produced a dose-related elevation of prolactin which was opposite to the delayed lowering of prolactin following the intravenous injection of the same doses of the compound used in males. These results indicate that proglumide can lower prolactin in male rats and suggests a physiologically significant role of CCK in the control of prolactin secretion in the male. There appears to be a sex difference in the response since the results contrasted sharply in ovariectomized female rats. The results in the females are puzzling and it is apparent that further studies are needed to determine whether or not CCK has a physiologically significant role to play in prolactin secretion in the female. Since previous results have shown that CCK has no effect on the release of prolactin by the pituitary directly these interactions are presumably taking place in the hypothalamus.
Photometric confirmation of the Encke division in Saturn's ring A

A physical model of the behavior of Saturn's satellite Iapetus passing through the shadow of the rings is discussed. The model is examined via computer simulation to give photometric confirmation of the Encke division in ring A. The actual event was observed with a two-channel sky-chopping photometer. Simultaneous pulse-counter output from the red and blue channels was integrated for 10-ms intervals alternately on the sky and on Iapetus. In the computer simulation a solar limb-darkening coefficient was used in the blue region and Iapetus was considered two limb-darkened hemispheres of radii 800 km with the trailing hemisphere brighter than the preceding hemisphere by a factor of seven.
Electrophysiologic mechanism of exercise-induced sustained ventricular tachycardia

To elucidate electrophysiologic mechanism of exercise-induced ventricular tachycardia (VT), electrophysiologic studies were performed in 12 patients in whom sustained VT had developed during treadmill exercise testing. Six patients had arteriosclerotic coronary heart disease, 3 had cardiomyopathy, and 3 had no clinical evidence of organic heart disease. All patients had had documented episodes of sustained VT related to exertion and had experienced dizziness, syncope, or both. In addition, 3 patients had had nonfatal cardiac arrest. Electrophysiologic studies provoked paroxysms of sustained VT identical to those observed during treadmill exercise testing in 10 patients and provoked ventricular flutter/fibrillation in 1. Seven patients had VT suggestive of a reentrant mechanism, as the VT could be readily initiated with programmed ventricular extrastimulation or terminated by ventricular overdrive pacing, or both. Three patients had VT suggestive of catecholamine-sensitive automaticity. The VT could not be initiated with programmed electrical stimulation, but it could be provoked by intravenous isoproterenol infusion; furthermore, the VT could not be terminated with ventricular over-drive pacing, but it could be abolished by discontinuing isoproterenol infusion. Reproduction of VT in these 10 patients allowed serial pharmacologic testing in selecting an effective antiarrhythmic regimen. Thus (1) exercise-induced VT can be caused by either reentry or cathecholamine-sensitive automaticity, and (2) electrophysiologic studies are of use in defining the underlying mechanism of exercise-induced sustained VT.
Conceptualizing Moral Literacy.

Purpose – The purpose of this research is to provide an overview of the fundamental elements of moral literacy. Moral literacy involves three basic components: ethics sensitivity; ethical reasoning skills; and moral imagination. It is the contention of the author that though math and reading literacy is highly valued by the American educational system, moral literacy is extremely undervalued and under‐developed.Design/methodology/approach – In this study the author uses her vast knowledge of moral literacy to break the subject matter into specific and defined sub‐categories. She then explains each sub‐category explicitly using real‐life examples to assist the reader in understanding the gravity and meaning behind each separate facet of moral literacy.Findings – Moral literacy is a skill that must be crafted and honed by students, and with the aid of teachers who are well‐versed in moral subject matter. It is a complex and multifaceted skill set that is interconnected and must therefore be learned complete...
CONSISTENCY IN POLICY THINKING

This study examines consistency in opinion on a variety of important state and national policy questions. The data come from a two-wave panel study of adult Floridians conducted in 1981 and 1982. Wide variations in consistency of opinion over the 1-year period are found. Salience has an important impact on consistency, with respondents who find an issue salient almost always exhibiting more consistent opinions, but salience cannot explain the variations in consistency across issues. The level of government on which the issue is focused (national or state) has no bearing on consistency. Most important, the particular nature of the issue itself, especially how central it is to the individual and how long it has occupied the political agenda (maturity), affects consistency of opinion. Centrality and maturity both contribute to issue attitude consistency and even can compensate for one another. Both highly central new issues and remote old issues can produce consistent attitudes, but deficiences in centrality seem to override issue maturity. These findings illustrate the value of looking beyond opinion distributions to the meaning of the survey response. With information on consistency and its sources, the public opinion analyst can interpret polling results intelligently, and the study of public opinion can become more objective and scientific.
Relative Importance of Factors Involved in Choosing a Regional Ski Destination: Influence of Consumption Situation and Recreation Specialization

The current study explores the relative importance of selected factors (snow condition, variety of trails, travel time, cost, and amenities) that would influence a user's choice of a regional ski destination. The study looks at the influences of usage/consumption situation (excursion versus tourist travel) and the users' level of recreation specialization in skiing or snowboarding activities (non-skier, casual, and advanced) on the prioritized choice factors. A sample of college students (N = 248) at a large university in a region where winter sports are popular were recruited and asked to consider two consumption situations. Respondents' preferences of hypothetical regional ski destinations were assessed using conjoint analyses. The results indicated that the relative importance of all factors, with the exception of ‘snow condition’, largely depended on both recreation specialization and consumption situation. This study encourages ski operators to consider the analysis of the consumption situation and r...
Dystrophin-Glycoprotein Complex Is Monomeric and Stabilizes Actin Filaments in Vitro through a Lateral Association

The native molecular weight of the dystrophin-glycoprotein complex and its effect on actin depolymerization and polymerization were examined. First, we determined that the native molecular weight of purified dystrophin-glycoprotein complex is only large enough (M r 1,200,000) to contain one copy of each protein in the complex, including dystrophin. Using different approaches, we also demonstrated that dystrophin-glycoprotein complex significantly protected a fraction of actin filaments from disassembly, while individual recombinant actin binding fragments of dystrophin or calpain-digested dystrophin-glycoprotein complex had no effect on F-actin depolymerization. The protective effect of dystrophin-glycoprotein complex on F-actin depolymerization saturated at a dystrophin:actin molar ratio of 0.04, corresponding to 1 dystrophin/25 actin monomers, which is highly consistent with the 1:24 stoichiometry of dystrophin-glycoprotein complex binding to F-actin previously measured at equilibrium. However, dystrophin-glycoprotein complex did not bind G-actin or alter the kinetics or extent of actin polymerization. This excluded the possibility that dystrophin-glycoprotein complex inhibited actin depolymerization by capping the ends of actin filaments. It therefore appears that actin binding domains separated on the dystrophin molecule from each other by almost 1,200 amino acids act in concert to protect F-actin from depolymerization. Our data suggest that dystrophin stabilizes F-actin in vitro by binding alongside an actin filament and bridging actin monomers in a manner analogous to the actin side binding protein tropomyosin. It is noteworthy that we did not find any effect of skeletal muscle tropomyosin on dystrophin-glycoprotein complex binding to F-actin. This indicates that dystrophin-glycoprotein complex and tropomyosin may simultaneously bind the same actin filament and identifies another feature that distinguishes dystrophin from the other proteins in the actin-cross-linking superfamily.
Formation and reactivity of 1,3-cyclohexadiene complexes of niobium and tantalum containing aryloxide ligation: Selectivity differences in the hydrogenation of 1,3-cyclohexadiene

Abstract The sodium amalgam reduction (2 Na per M) of hydrocarbon solutions of [M(OAr)3Cl2] (M = Nb, Ta) or [Nb(OAr)2Cl3]2 (OAr = 2,6-di-isopropylphenoxide) in the presence of either 1,3- or 1,4-cyclohexadiene yielded the complexes [M(OAr)3(η4-C6H8)] ( 1 a : M = Nb ; 1 b : M = Ta ) and [Nb(OAr)2Cl(η4-C6H8)], 2, respectively. The solid state structures of 1a, isomorphous 1b and 2 showed the 1,3-cyclohexadiene strongly bound to the metal. The ligand is not symmetrically bound to the metal in 1 but in 2 there is a crystallographic mirror plane. The solution NMR spectra of 1a and 1b show only one set of aryloxide ligand signals and only four proton and three carbon resonances for the C6H8 group. The hydrolysis of 1 or 2 yielded 2,6-di-isopropylphenol and one equivalent of cyclohexane (1H NMR). The niobium compounds 1a and 2 will catalyse the dis-proportionation and hydrogenation of 1,3-cyclohexadiene with differing selectivity.
Robust Adaptive Control of Residual Vibration in Point-to-Point Motion of Flexible Bodies

Input Shaping is a widely used method of suppressing residual vibrations in point-to-point motion of flexible bodies. It is easy to implement and gives good results if the dynamics of the system are known accurately. However, it is not very robust to system parameter variations. Early methods of increasing the robustness incurred a large time penalty. Hence attempts were made to apply adaptive control to increase the robustness of the shaper. These methods met with varying degrees of success. In this paper, we propose a new adaptive control scheme which is effective in increasing the robustness of the shaper, even in the presence of additive noise in the system output. It is also able to handle sudden changes in the plant parameters. The performance of the system in the presence of high-order unmodelled dynamics is also studied and found to be satisfactory.
Comparison of tartrate resistant acid phosphatase in a giant cell bone tumor and a spleen infiltrated with hairy cells.

Acid phosphatase (E.C.3.1.3.2) in a giant cell bone tumor and a spleen infiltrated with hairy cells was extracted by citrate buffer and then by 0.3 mol/L NaCl. The cationic acid phosphatase in the crude extract was isolated by CM-cellulose chromatography, and further separated by high pressure liquid chromatography. The majority of the tartrate resistant acid phosphatase in the hairy cell spleen was unabsorbed on CM-cellulose and was insensitive to iron. A much larger portion of the acid phosphatase in the bone tumor, than in the spleen, was cationic and was eluted from the column by 0.8 mol/L NaCl. The cationic acid phosphatase was further separated into consecutive peaks of acid phosphatases with different sensitivity to iron. A major portion of acid phosphatase in the giant cell bone tumor was enhanced by iron, while the amounts of iron-enhanced and iron-insensitive acid phosphatase were about the same in the spleen. The differences of the phosphatases in these two types of pathologic specimens indicate the occurrence of two types of enzymes with different biological significance.
Success of uterus-preserving treatments for abnormal uterine bleeding, chronic pelvic pain, and symptomatic fibroids: age and bridges to menopause.

Objective The purpose of this study was to determine whether age at first uterus-preserving treatment (UPT) predicts symptom resolution among women with common pelvic problems. Study Design We conducted an analysis of 557 participants in the Study of Pelvic Problems, Hysterectomy and Intervention Alternatives cohort who reported having undergone a UPT. We performed multivariable regression modeling age at first UPT, hysterectomy, menopause, and other covariates to predict symptom resolution. Results Mean ± SD age at enrollment was 42.7 ± 4.7 years; mean follow-up time was 4.4 ± 2.7 years. Sixteen percent of the women underwent hysterectomy; 37% of the women entered menopause. Hysterectomy was a strong predictor of symptom resolution ( P P = .028). Conclusion Women who are ≥40 years old when they undergo their first uterus-preserving treatment experience greater symptom resolution than younger women. Framing UPTs as hysterectomy alternatives may be accurate only for a subset of women who are >40 years old.
Sexual imprinting: Variables influencing the development of mate preference in Coturnix coturnix japonica

It has been demonstrated in a number of species that species-typical mate preference is affected by early social experience. This study extends the understanding of variables within the sensitive period that influences the development of mate preference in Coturnix coturnix japonica . Hatchlings were individually given 5-day exposure to a normal hen at five different age levels during the first 25 days posthatch. For purpose of control all experimental subjects were exposed to an albino hen for the 20-day period in which they were not exposed to the normal hen. Starting on day 45 all subjects were given a series of 10 mate-choice tests between an albino and normal hen. The data indicate that, first, at any of the age levels examined more than 5 days of social experience is required for the development of reliable mate preference for the normal. Second, the duration of treatment during the sensitive period is an important influence on mate preference. Finally, the sensitive period is nonhomogenous. The first 5 days are the most valuable.
The mathematical structure of reversal learning in a shock-escape T-maze: Overtraining and successive reversals

Abstract Using escape from shock in a T-maze, overlearning and successive reversal learning experiments were conducted with rats. It was found that overtraining systematically retards reversal learning. With successive reversals, speed of reversal learning systematically increases and approaches a limit of one-trial learning. After 220 reversals, one-trial reversals occurred more than 80% of the time. The data were compared with quantitative predictions from a number of linear and Markov learning models. It was possible (a) to reject classes of models which were inadequate and (b) to relate changes in the values of parameters of the better models to amount of overtraining and number of reversals.
To be labelled, or not to be labelled: that is the question

Summary • ‘Learning disability’ label establishes accommodation eligibility and civil rights protection but provides an excuse for school officials and legislators to adopt a medical model of learning disabilities and ignore other problems in the educational and social systems. • A commitment to inclusion and equality requires an acknowledgement of various categorization problems, and a realization that various contexts may contribute to people's different learning patterns. • Pathologizing learning difference may be unnecessary or even counterproductive if we presume that all children learn in their unique ways. It is more productive to design flexible curricula that can accommodate learning diversity.
Flagellar hairs on zoospores of Phytophthora species Tip hairs on the whiplash flagellum

Des mastigonemes de 460–500 nm de longueur et 11–12 nm de largeur existent a l'extremite du flagelle “whiplash” des zoospores desPhytophthora cinnamomi, P.megasperma var.sojae, P. palmivora etP. parasitica. Des mastigonemes lateraux existent aussi sur le flagelle “whiplash” des 4 especes. C'est la premiere mention de mastigonemes lateraux sur le flagelle “whiplash” deP. cinnamomi et deP. megasperma var.sojae.
Immunohistochemical characterization of slow and fast myosin heavy chain composition of muscle fibres in the styloglossus muscle of the human and macaque (Macaca rhesus).

Objective Muscle fibre contractile diversity is thought to be increased by the hybridization of multiple myosin heavy chain (MHC) isoforms in single muscle fibres. Reports of hybrid fibres composed of MHCI and MHCII isoforms in human, but not macaque, tongue muscles, suggest a human adaptation for increased tongue muscle contractile diversity. Here we test whether hybrid fibres composed of MHCI and MHCII are unique to human tongue muscles or are present as well in the macaque.
Does the avoidance of nasogastric decompression following elective abdominal colorectal surgery affect the incidence of incisional hernia?: Results of a prospective, randomized trial

PURPOSE: In a previous, prospective, randomized study of the use of nasogastric tubes in patients undergoing elective abdominal colorectal surgery, we found that patients who did not have nasogastric (NG) decompression postoperatively had a significantly higher rate of abdominal distention, nausea, and vomiting. Patients from that study have now been followed for a median duration of 5.3 years to evaluate whether this elevation in perioperative intra-abdominal pressure would subsequently lead to an increased incidence of incisional hernia. RESULTS: Of the 251 patients who received NG decompression, 8 (3.2 percent) developed incisional hernias compared with 15 (6.6 percent) of 229 patients who were not decompressed (P =0.085). CONCLUSIONS: The increase in postoperative abdominal distention and vomiting that occurs in patients who do not receive NG decompression does not lead to a significantly increased incidence of incisional hernia. Furthermore, we continue to support avoidance of routine prophylactic post-operative nasogastric decompression in uncomplicated, elective abdominal colorectal surgery.
The primary care physician and psychiatric services.

Abstract This article describes the relationship of self-assessed psychiatric skill among primary care physicians to their role in treating mental disorders. Physicians rated diagnostic skills more favorably than therapuetic skills. Factor analysis was used to identify three dimensions of physician skill: confidence in treatment of major disorders; confidence in treatment of anxiety; and diagnostic confidence. These variables were found to be associated with the reported number of patients with specific mental disorders managed by the physician.
Effect of alpha drift and instabilities on tokamak plasma edge conditions

Abstract As suprathermal fusion products slow down in a tokamak, their average drift is inward. The effect on the alpha heating and thermalization profiles is examined. In smaller TFTR-type devices, heating in the outer region can be cut in half. Also, the fusion-product energy-distribution develops a positive slope, representing a possible driving mechanism for microinstabilities. Another instability that can seriously affect outer plasma conditions, shear Alfven transport of alphas, is also considered.
Structure, Magnetism, and Properties of Ruddlesden−Popper Calcium Manganates Prepared from Citrate Gels

Ruddlesden−Popper (RP) phases with the formula (CaO)(CaMnO3)n, where n = 1, 2, 3, and ∞, have been prepared using the Pechini citrate gel process at temperatures as low as 900 °C under flowing oxyg...
Remarks on ellipticity for the generalized Blatz-Ko constitutive model for a compressible nonlinearly elastic solid

One of the most widely used constitutive models for compressible isotropic nonlinearly elastic solids is the generalized Blatz-Ko material for foam-rubber and its various specializations. For this model, a unified derivation of necessary and sufficient conditions for ellipticity of the governing three-dimensional displacement equations of equilibrium is provided. When the parameterf occurring in the generalized Blatz-Ko model is in the range 0≤f<1, it is shown that ellipticity is always lost at sufficiently large stretches, while forf=1, the equilibrium equations are globally elliptic. The implications of these results for a variety of physical problems are discussed.
Specialists Achieve Better Outcomes Than Generalists for Lung Cancer Surgery

Objective: A push toward care provided by generalists as opposed to specialists has occurred in the health-care marketplace despite a lack of provider specific outcome data. The objective of this study was to determine whether the outcome of patients undergoing lung cancer surgery is different between general surgeons (GSs) and thoracic surgeons (TSs). Design: Examination of data from a state-wide severity-adjusted administrative hospital discharge database. Setting/participants: Patients undergoing lung cancer resection in all nonfederal acute care hospitals within South Carolina. Main outcome measures: Mortality by speciality adjusted for case mix. Results: From 1991 to 1995, 1,720 resections for lung cancer were performed in South Carolina. One hundred thirty-seven cases were excluded because surgeons did not meet the predefined criteria for board certification, leaving 1,583 resections for analysis. One-half of lobectomies and nearly 60% of pneumonectomies were performed by GSs. Patients were similar in age, sex, gender, race, and the proportion in each severity of illness subclass. Mortality was significantly higher in patients who underwent lobectomy by GSs vs TSs (5.3% vs 3.0%; p 65 years (7.4% vs 3.5%; p 10 cases in the series, whereas 75% of GSs performed Conclusion: Mortality is lower for lung cancer resection when the surgery is performed by a TS. (CHEST 1998; 114:675-680) Abbreviations: APR-DRG=all patient refined diagnostic related group; CAB=coronary artery bypass; GS=general surgeon; ICD-9=International Classification of Diseases , ninth revision; ORS=Office of Research and Statistics; TS=thoracic surgeon
Systematic comparison of a color reporter gene and drug resistance genes for the determination of retroviral titers

Retroviral vectors usually contain drug resistance genes, which are used to select for infected cells and to determine the viral titers. The viral titer is referred to as colony-forming units (CFUs). Color reporter genes, such as thelacZ gene and the green fluorescent protein gene(gfp), have been widely used as markers in retroviral vectors. In this report, a simple and rapid method for the determination of retroviral titers has been developed. The number of viral particles capable of forming individual green cells per unit volume is defined as marker-forming units (MFUs). The MFUs determined by usinggfp as a marker were found to be proportional to the CFUs obtained by using drug selection for five different drug resistance genes. In addition, after adjusting the time factor, the MFUs are higher than CFUs in viruses released from 30 stable helper cell lines. The lower titers determined by CFUs are likely due to the toxicity on transduced cells.
The Excitonic Exchange Splitting and Radiative Lifetime in PbSe Quantum Dots

An exciton evolving from an m-fold degenerate hole level and an n-fold degenerate electron level has a nominal m × n degeneracy, which is often removed by electron−hole interactions. In PbSe quantum dots, the degeneracy of the lowest-energy exciton is m × n = 64 because both the valence-band maximum and the conduction-band minimum originate from the 4-fold degenerate (8-fold including spin) L valleys in the Brillouin zone of bulk PbSe. Using a many-particle configuration-interaction approach based on atomistic single-particle wave functions, we have computed the fine structure of the lowest-energy excitonic manifold of two nearly spherical PbSe quantum dots of radius R = 15.3 and 30.6 A. We identify two main energy splittings, both of which are accessible to experimental probe: (i) The intervalley splitting δ is the energy difference between the two near-edge peaks of the absorption spectrum. We find δ = 80 meV for R = 15.3 A and δ = 18 meV for R = 30.6 A. (ii) The exchange splitting Δx is the energy dif...
ADSORPTION AND DESORPTION OF CF3I ON RU(001)

We have studied the interaction of CF3I with Ru(001). Adsorption at 100 K is followed by desorption, at higher temperatures, of molecular cf3I, atomic iodine, atomic fluorine, CF2 and CF3 fragments, and a small amount of CF4. The identification of these gases is based on fragmentation patterns, and (in the case of the CF2 and CF3, particles) on the characteristics of accompanying CO. This product distribution indicates that C-I and C-F bonds break. The order of appearance of the dissociative products, with increasing exposure, is: monatomic species < CF2; < CF3 < CF4. We favor a dissociative-site-blocking model to explain this sequential population Finally, CF2 and CF3, desorb at much higher temperatures than polyatomic fragments observed in previous surface studies of halomethanes, suggesting that they are produced by a different mechanism.
Irradiation of Metal‐Fiber‐Reinforced Thoria‐Urania

Randomly oriented fibers of either molybdenum or niobium were incorporated into hot-pressed pellets of 10, 30, and 50 wt% UO2 in ThO2 to improve the thermal conductivity and the thermalshock resistance. Pellets 3/8 in. in diameter and about 3/8 in. long were irradiated in NaK capsules either bare or jacketed in Zircaloy-2 with the annulus between pellet and jacket filled with lead or helium. The pellets were irradiated to burnups ranging up to 34,500 Mwd per ton of oxide (1.0 × 1021 fissions per cm3) at central temperatures of the order of 3000°C. Fracture and metallographic sections of the irradiated specimens confirmed out-of-pile measurements that the molybdenum fibers increased the effective thermal conductivity of the mixed oxides. It was possible to give the fibered pellets higher heat ratings than the unfibered pellets before comparable thermal effects occurred. The fibers tended to reduce central-void formation, to retard columnar recrystallization, and to maintain the integrity of the pellet. In some heliumbonded specimens, the molybdenum fibers coalesced into a central sphere after melting. The coalescence did not occur in lead-bonded specimens. The niobium fibers were found to react with the oxides. Fission gas release from unclad fibered pellets was a maximum of 15.3% of theoretical at a burnup of 31,500 Mwd per ton of oxide (8.3 × 1020 fissions per cm3) and aκdθ value of 57 watts per cm. Gas release from similarly irradiated unfibered pellets was a maximum of 6.3% at 21,800 Mwd per ton of oxide (6.6 × 1020fissions per cm3) and an initial κdθ value of 92 watts per cm. The disparity in gas release was attributed to the breaking into pieces of the unfibered pellets early in the irradiation and their consequent operation at significantly lower temperatures than the fibered pellets.
Microchip Laser-Induced Fluorescence Detection of Proteins at Submicrogram per Milliliter Levels Mediated by Dynamic Labeling under Pseudonative Conditions

We have previously demonstrated on-column dynamic labeling of protein−SDS complexes on capillaries and microchips for laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) detection using both a commercially available fluor and a protein separation buffer. Upon binding to hydrophobic moieties (of the analyte or separation buffer), the fluor undergoes a conformational change allowing fluorescence detection at 590 nm following excitation with 488-nm light. Our original work showed on-chip limits of detection (LOD) comparable with those using UV detection (1 × 10-5 M) on capillariesfalling significantly short of the detection limits expected for LIF. This was largely a function of the physicochemical characteristics of the separation buffer components, which provided significant background fluorescence. Having defined the contributing factors involved, a new separation buffer was produced which reduced the background fluorescence and, consequently, increased the available dye for binding to protein−SDS complexes, improving the s...
SIMIAN ENTEROVIRUS SV2 HEMAGGLUTINATION STUDIES. I. RELATIONSHIP OF INFECTIVITY TO HEMAGGLUTINATION.

SummaryThe hemagglutinating activity for the simian enterovirus SV2 has been shown to be closely related to the infectious virus particle. The time of its appearance in the cell and the period required to reach maximum titer parallel the synthesis of infectious virus. Furthermore, it has the same buoyant density as infectious virus and adsorbs to RBC at the same rate. Exposure to ultraviolet light, and to white light in the presence of neutral red, destroys infectivity without affecting the hemagglutinin. Both properties are quickly destroyed by heat.The authors wish to acknowledge the technical assistance of Miss Mary Ann Sides.
Synthesis of High Molecular Weight Polycarbonate by Solid-State Polymerization

The solid-state polymerization (SSP) of small particles (20 μm) of poly(bisphenol A carbonate) resulted in high molecular weight material (Mw of 36 000 g/mol). Molecular weight distribution broaden...
Isolation and expression analysis of a poriferan Antp-class Bar-/Bsh-like homeobox gene

A novel non-Hox Antp-class gene (BarBsh-Hb) was isolated from the marine sponge Halichondria sp. This gene shares high sequence identity with eumetazoan genes from the Bsh and Bar gene families and can be distinguished from other non-Hox Antp-class genes by diagnostic residues. We also present an alignment of all known (full-length) poriferan non-Hox Antp-class genes. Maximum likelihood methods were employed to estimate phylogenetic relationships among non-Hox genes and BarBsh-Hb. We employed RT-PCR techniques to look at expression across different developmental stages (larval to rhagon). BarBsh-Hb product was present in newly released larvae, but expression was not detected 8-16 h post-release. Expression of BarBsh-Hb was detected in later-stage (>16 h post-release), free-swimming larvae until they settled and attached to the substratum, after which expression was down-regulated. In a separate set of experiments, low levels of expression were observed in normal adult tissue and disaggregated adult tissue, but BarBsh-Hb expression increased during tissue re-aggre- gation. These data increase the number of non-Hox homeobox genes identified in sponges and provide evidence of regulation of this non-Hox gene during sponge development. While the Bar and Bsh genes play important roles in the development of nervous tissue— especially visual systems—in metazoans, the specific role (s) BarBsh-Hb play(s) in sponge development is unclear and deserves greater attention.
Pros and cons: Prospective predictors of marijuana use on a college campus.

Marijuana use on college campuses is prevalent and associated with high rates of abuse and dependence. The Marijuana Decisional Balance (MDB) scales measure perceived pros and cons toward marijuana use. Evidence supports reliability and concurrent validity of these scales, but the predictive validity has not yet been assessed. The current study evaluated the prospective predictive validity of pros and cons scales for marijuana use, as well as explored predictive validity for marijuana problem indicators. Secondary analyses included test–retest reliability and internal consistency, to provide additional evidence of psychometric properties. A total of 149 college students (57% recent marijuana users, 77% lifetime users) participated in a baseline survey, then completed a second survey one month later. All provided data on marijuana pros and cons, as well as use status in the past month. Users at each time point reported on use frequency, problems, and disorder symptoms. In the month between assessments, 55% of the students used marijuana. Both pros and cons subscales prospectively predicted use status in the subsequent month, but not use frequency. Pros prospectively predicted marijuana problems and dependence symptoms at follow-up, and remained a significant predictor of later dependence symptoms even after controlling for baseline dependence symptoms. In contrast, pros only marginally predicted abuse. Cons did not predict problems, abuse, or dependence symptoms. Pros and cons showed strong test–retest reliability (rs 0.80–0.85) and internal consistency (alphas 0.92–0.95). In a college sample, pros and cons of marijuana use demonstrated stability over one month, and prospectively predicted use. Pros may also have utility in predicting problems and dependence potential on college campuses.
Time-variant least squares harmonic modeling

An algorithm for harmonic decomposition of time-variant signals is derived from a least squares harmonic (LSH) technique. The estimates of harmonic amplitudes and phases are formulated as the solution of a set of linear equations which minimizing mean square error; the signal frequency is modeled by a linear or quadratic polynomial and obtained via a local search over polynomial coefficients. An initial estimate of signal frequency is necessary to reduce computation time. This method is capable of producing accurate and robust harmonic estimation in low SNR situations. We show applicability to high accuracy speech pitch and heart sound beat epoch estimation.
Relation of adolescent video game play to time spent in other activities.

Objective To examine the notion that playing video games is negatively related to the time adolescents spend in more developmentally appropriate activities. Design Nonexperimental study. Setting Survey data collected during the 2002-2003 school year. Participants A nationally representative sample of 1491 children aged 10 to 19 years. Main Outcome Measure Twenty-four–hour time-use diaries were collected on 1 weekday and 1 weekend day, both randomly chosen. Time-use diaries were used to determine adolescents' time spent playing video games, with parents and friends, reading and doing homework, and in sports and active leisure. Results Differences in time spent between game players and nonplayers as well as the magnitude of the relationships among game time and activity time among adolescent game players were assessed. Thirty-six percent of adolescents (80% of boys and 20% of girls) played video games. On average, gamers played for an hour on the weekdays and an hour and a half on the weekends. Compared with nongamers, adolescent gamers spent 30% less time reading and 34% less time doing homework. Among gamers (both genders), time spent playing video games without parents or friends was negatively related to time spent with parents and friends in other activities. Conclusions Although gamers and nongamers did not differ in the amount of time they spent interacting with family and friends, concerns regarding gamers' neglect of school responsibilities (reading and homework) are warranted. Although only a small percentage of girls played video games, our findings suggest that playing video games may have different social implications for girls than for boys.
Survival and distribution of Echinostoma caproni in the small intestine of ICR mice up to 36 hours after the death of the host.

This study examined survival and distribution of Echinostoma caproni in the small intestine of ICR mice at various times up to 36 hr following the death of the host. Adult worms were obtained at 2-wk postinfection of 21 ICR mice each infected with 50 metacercarial cysts. Mice were killed with light ether anesthetization and cervical dislocation and maintained at room temperature (22 ± 1 C) until examination at 0 (controls), 2, 4, 6, 12, 24, and 36 hr postmortem. Survival was based on worm activity and distribution was assessed on the basis of worm location in 1 of 5 equal intestinal segments numbered from the pylorus to the ileocecal valve. Worms were alive up to 36 hr postmortem and were distributed mainly in segments 3 and 4 at all times postmortem. Histochemical Oil Red O studies on whole control and experimental worms showed neutral lipids localized in the protonephridial tubules and the excretory bladder. Eggs from experimental worms at all times produced miracidia that infected Biomphlaria glabrata ...
Genomic Classifier Identifies Men With Adverse Pathology After Radical Prostatectomy Who Benefit From Adjuvant Radiation Therapy

Purpose The optimal timing of postoperative radiotherapy (RT) after radical prostatectomy (RP) is unclear. We hypothesized that a genomic classifier (GC) would provide prognostic and predictive insight into the development of clinical metastases in men receiving post-RP RT and inform decision making. Patients and Methods GC scores were calculated from 188 patients with pT3 or margin-positive prostate cancer, who received post-RP RT at Thomas Jefferson University and Mayo Clinic between 1990 and 2009. The primary end point was clinical metastasis. Prognostic accuracy of the models was tested using the concordance index for censored data and decision curve analysis. Cox regression analysis tested the relationship between GC and metastasis. Results The cumulative incidence of metastasis at 5 years after RT was 0%, 9%, and 29% for low, average, and high GC scores, respectively (P = .002). In multivariable analysis, GC and pre-RP prostate-specific antigen were independent predictors of metastasis (both P < .01...
Host plant scents attract rolled-leaf beetles to Neotropical gingers in a Central American tropical rain forest

Leaf volatile chemicals are known to reduce herbivory rates by repelling or intoxicating insect herbivores and by attracting the predators and parasitoids of herbivores. However, leaf volatiles may also be used by insect herbivores as cues to locate their host plants. Leaf volatiles are suggested to be important host search cues for herbivores in structurally complex and diverse habitats, such as tropical rain forests. A group of insect herbivores, the rolled-leaf beetles (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Hispinae), have maintained a highly specialized interaction with Neotropical gingers (Zingiberales) for ca. 60 million years. In this study, we explored chemical attraction to host plants under controlled laboratory conditions, using four sympatric rolled-leaf beetle species, Cephaloleia dorsalis Baly, Cephaloleia erichsonii Baly, Cephaloleia fenestrata Weise, and Cephaloleia placida Baly. For each beetle species, we investigated (i) whether it was repelled or attracted by leaf scents produced by four host and four non-host plant species, including Neotropical gingers in the families Marantaceae, Costaceae, and Zingiberaceae; and (ii) its ability to use scents to detect its host plant. We found that rolled-leaf beetles can detect and are attracted by leaf volatiles from both host and non-host gingers. Additionally, when beetles were simultaneously exposed to leaf volatiles from host and non-host plants, three rolled-leaf beetle species were significantly more attracted by volatiles from their host plants than from non-hosts. Only one of the beetle species was not able to discriminate between host and non-host scents.
An equiconsistency for universal indestructibility

We obtain an equiconsistency for a weak form of universal indestructibility for strongness. The equiconsistency is relative to a cardinal weaker in consistency strength than a Woodin cardinal, Stewart Baldwin’s notion of hyperstrong cardinal. We also brie∞y indicate how our methods are applicable to universal indestructibility for supercompactness and strong compactness.
A Web-Based Subsetting Service for Regional Scale MODIS Land Products

The Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) sensor has provided valuable information on various aspects of the Earth System since March 2000. The spectral, spatial, and temporal characteristics of MODIS products have made them an important data source for analyzing key science questions relating to Earth System processes at regional, continental, and global scales. The size of the MODIS product and native HDF-EOS format are not optimal for use in field investigations at individual sites (100 × 100 km or smaller). In order to make MODIS data readily accessible for field investigations, the NASA-funded Distributed Active Archive Center (DAAC) for Biogeochemical Dynamics at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) has developed an online system that provides MODIS land products in an easy-to-use format and in file sizes more appropriate to field research. This system provides MODIS land products data in a nonproprietary comma delimited ASCII format and in GIS compatible formats (GeoTIFF and ASCII grid). Web-based visualization tools are also available as part of this system and these tools provide a quick snapshot of the data. Quality control tools and a multitude of data delivery options are available to meet the demands of various user communities. This paper describes the important features and design goals for the system, particularly in the context of data archive and distribution for regional scale analysis. The paper also discusses the ways in which data from this system can be used for validation, data intercomparison, and modeling efforts.
Navigating the new medicare drug benefit

Abstract Background: Medicare beneficiaries have had to wait 40 years for an outpatient prescription drug benefit. On December 8, 2003, President Bush signed into law the Medicare Prescription Drug, Improvement and Modernization Act of 2003 that will provide at least limited drug coverage to all beneficiaries who sign up for it. Objective: The aim of this commentary is to provide a basic appreciation of the mechanics of the new drug benefit and an analysis of why it looks the way it does. Conclusions: A combination of ideology and spending constraints led Congress to develop a benefit package that while generous for low-income beneficiaries with limited assets, has significant gaps in coverage for everyone else. After a transitional program of discount cards that will carry them through 2005, beneficiaries will have to choose their source of prescription benefits from private stand-alone drug plans, managed care organizations, or (if available to them) employer-sponsored plans. The structure of the benefit is a radical departure from the way other Medicare benefits are provided and paid for, and raises a number of important questions. Will sufficient numbers of risk-bearing private drug plans enroll in the program for competition to work? Will employers maintain retiree drug coverage? Will the new program stop the slide in Medicare managed care? How will beneficiaries react when the law is explained in ways they truly understand? The answers to these questions will help determine the success or failure of drug coverage under Medicare.
Heterogeneously Integrated 10Gb/s CMOS Optoelectronic Receiver for Long Haul Telecommunication

A fully integrated 10 Gb/s 1.3 to 1.55 mum CMOS optoelectronic receiver is demonstrated for the first time. By heterogeneously integrating of a CMOS transimpedance amplifier (TIA) with an InGaAs/InP PIN photodiode using a recently developed self-aligned wafer-level integration technology (SAWLIT), operation at 10 Gb/s is achieved. The CMOS transimpedance amplifier exhibits a transimpedance gain of 51 dBOmega and a bandwidth of 6.1 GHz.
A high throughput divider implementation

Intensive arithmetic computations in 3D graphic applications and scientific computations demand parallel division. A high throughput divider implemented in output prediction logic (OPL) is presented. By combining the carry-free nature of a redundant number system and the high-speed characteristics of OPL, the performance of the dividing unit is tremendously improved. Fabricated in 0.18/spl mu/m/1.8V CMOS, the radix-4 divider is capable of achieving an operating frequency of 1.2GHz.
Implementing electronics stewardship: A U.S. Federal agency's perspective (May 2009)

This paper addresses the efforts of the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) to implement electronics stewardship (ES) objectives that deal with all three lifecycle phases: acquisition, operation, and end-of-life. A program analyst assessed USDA compliance with Federal ES requirements in 2007 and found that it was compliant in some respects and needing additional effort to comply in other areas. The requirements are to buy Electronic Product Environmental Assessment Tool (EPEAT) products, enable Energy Star settings, extend the life of electronics, and use environmentally sound end-of-life practices. The analyst drafted an Electronics Stewardship Plan (ESP), which senior officials approved in July 2007. The ESP documented his analysis and formulated a path toward full compliance with electronics stewardship objectives. The ESP focused on the procurement and operation lifecycle phases, since USDA was already largely compliant with computer lifespan and end-of-life requirements. This paper discusses the roles of key officials in ES implementation, supplemental policy for agency-wide guidance, milestones for achieving objectives, and contractual tools for achieving and maintaining compliance with ES requirements.