cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Recurrent nodular scleritis associated with varicella zoster virus

Abstract PURPOSE: To describe a case of recurrent nodular scleritis that was apparently caused by reactivation of a varicella zoster virus infection. METHODS: Case report. Immunohistochemistry and polymerase chain reaction were used to detect viral antigen and DNA in the biopsy specimen of inflamed sclera of a patient with a history of recurrent nodular scleritis. RESULTS: Immunohistochemistry and polymerase chain reaction disclosed varicella zoster virus protein and DNA in the biopsy specimen of inflamed sclera from the patient. The scleritis resolved with oral famciclovir therapy. CONCLUSION: Reactivation of latent varicella zoster virus and direct viral invasion of sclera apparently caused the recurrent anti-inflammatory resistant scleritis in our patient.
Feature Extraction of Vibration of Centrifugal Fan Based on LLE

In order to improve classification ability and diagnostic accuracy of centrifugal fan signals, a new feature extraction method from fault signals of centrifugal fan vibration based on manifold learning method (MLM) that is a kind of reduction method of data dimension is proposed in this paper.The MLM is able to remain nonlinear information of original signal, to improve the classification and diagnostic ability of fault better than traditional reducing dimension methods. The results in this paper show that, fault feature information of centrifugal fan vibration is extracted effectively by the MLM and the fault feature information of different types are separated effectively in themselves areas. The diagnostic accuracy by feature extracted by the MLM is significantly higher than by the wavelet packet analysis method.
Heteronarrative Analysis: Examining Online Photographic Narratives.

Millions of young people are using personal web pages and social networking sites to ‘deliberately create an identity to be presented to others’. One of the primary means of presenting oneself on these sites is through a collection of photographs. Photographic narratives can be critically analyzed for the gender and sexual stories they tell. Because the number of students creating their identity online is growing exponentially, and gender and sexuality are two of the most violently contested identity categories for adolescents, finding ways to understand how gender and sexual identities are shaped by students on these sites is imperative. The purpose of this paper is to discuss one method for examining online photographic narratives for the gender and sexual stories they tell.
Electrochemical bursting oscillations on a high-dimensional slow subsystem

Experiments are carried out with a chemical burster, the electrodissolution of iron in sulfuric acid solution. The system exhibits bursting oscillations in which fast periodic spiking is superimposed on chaotic, slow oscillations. Regularization of the slow dynamics, i.e., transition from chaotic to periodic bursting oscillations, is investigated through changes in the experimental parameters (circuit potential, external resistance, and electrode diameter). These transitions are accompanied by changes in the fast dynamics; a 'Hopf-Hopf' spiking is transformed to 'homoclinic-Hopf' spiking. The periodic bursting is destroyed through a period lengthening process in which the fast spiking region extends to a large fraction of the slow oscillatory cycle until there is no clear distinction between the fast and slow oscillations. Finally, it is shown that the time-scales of the fast spiking and, to a lesser extent, of the slow oscillations (or the occurrence of fast spiking) can be controlled with periodic perturbation of an experimental parameter, the circuit potential.
Numerical Prediction of One-Dimensional Ablation Using a Finite Control Volume Procedure with Exponential Differencing

The exponential differencing scheme of Spalding, which has been used for convection problems, is adapted to solve one-dimensional ablation problems by using a grid attached to the receding surface. Using the finite control volume approach, element conduction, convection, and storage matrices are developed. The method is applied to a steady-state ablation problem for which an analytical solution is known; comparisons are also made with upwind differencing for the convection terms and central differencing for the conduction terms. An example of a realistic ablation problem is presented.
On stability theory

It is found that under mild assumptions, feedback system stability can be concluded if one can 'topologically separate' the infinite-dimensional function space containing the system's dynamical input-output relations into two regions, one region containing the dynamical input-output relation of the 'feedforward' element of the system and the other region containing the dynamical output-input relation of the 'feedback' element. Nonlinear system stability criteria of both the input-output type and the state-space (Lyapunov) type are interpreted in this context. The abstract generality and conceptual simplicity afforded by the topological separation perspective clarifies some of the basic issues underlying stability theory and serves to suggest improvements in existing stability criteria. A generalization of Zames' conic-relation stability criterion is proved, laying the foundation for improved multivariable generalizations of the frequency-domain circle stability criterion for nonlinear systems.
Phase-space action conservation for non-eikonal wave fields

Abstract We derive a local phase-space wave-action conservation law, valid for non-eikonal wave fields for which the medium and/or the wave amplitudes have rapid spatial variation. This six-dimensional conservation law leads to conservation laws on three-dimensional subspaces. The law is covariant under linear canonical transformations of phase-space, and under congruent transformations of the multi-component wave field.
Phytohemagglutinin-L (PHA-L) lectin surface binding of N-linked β1–6 carbohydrate and its relationship to activated mutant ras in human pancreatic cancer cell lines

Alterations of the N-linked carbohydrate core structure of cell surface glycoproteins (beta 1-6 branching) can be detected by phytohemagglutinin (PHA-L) lectin binding and has been linked to tumor progression and K-ras activation in colon cancer. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of this carbohydrate alteration and its relationship to K-ras activation in pancreatic cancer. Nine human pancreatic cancer cell lines and 4 colon lines as controls were grown under standard tissue culture conditions. K-ras genome analysis was performed by polymerase chain reaction amplification and sequencing. The proportion of cellular p21-ras bound to GTP (ras-GTP level) was determined using immunoprecipitation of 32P-labeled cell lysates followed by thin layer chromatography and phosphoimaging analysis. Lectin blot analysis was performed on crude membrane preparations. Sensitivity to lectins was assessed with cell culture thymidine incorporation. Of 9 pancreatic cancer lines tested, 3 had wild type K-ras, 2 had heterozygous and 4 had homozygous mutations in codon 12 of K-ras. These genotypes correlated strongly with the level of ras-GTP measured. K-ras mutants had increased levels of ras-GTP compared to wild-type cell lines. PHA-L binding to cell membranes correlated positively with ras-GTP levels in 7 out of 9 cell lines. PHA-L toxicity was greatest in cells with positive PHA-L reactivity on Western blotting. A positive correlation between the presence of K-ras mutation, increased ras-GTP level, and increased cell surface beta 1-6 N-linked carbohydrate exists in pancreatic cancer cell lines.
Toward the Study of Communicative Development as a Life-Span Process.

In both anthropological and psychological studies, children's skills and behaviors are frequently measured against an idealized adult standard. Implicit in this approach is the assumption that adults' skills and knowledge are fully complete and thus immutable to further change, expansion, or development. Nowhere has this been more true than in studies of language acquisition and socialization which have overwhelmingly focused on the early years of childhood. Studies of the language learning of older children, meanwhile, have primarily emphasized school-based literacy. Yet communicative skills continue to evolve within a wide variety of contexts as speakers move into new social roles and situations. Adults entering the workplace or changing careers must acquire the discourse practices linked to particular occupations or institutions, and skills in culturally valued rhetorical or artistic genres may develop over a lifetime. In this essay, I propose that we expand current research on language socialization beyond childhood, or even adolescence, to consider communicative development as a process that extends across the life span. Such a research agenda is particularly pressing in an era in which cultural and technological change have become extremely rapid, career mobility and insecurity are both steadily increasing, and individuals must increasingly communicate across ethnic and cultural boundaries. Perhaps more than ever before, adults find themselves called on to master new communicative skills as they adapt to new workplace or social situations and the discourse practices that constitute them. In what follows, then, I approach questions of cultural learning in adulthood by focusing on how adults expand their verbal repertoires through the mastery of new written or spoken genres of their native language(s). Linguists have traditionally used the term register to refer to specialized linguistic varieties defined by their situations of use. Examples include the languages of medical, legal, or religious specialists and the distinctive genres of sportscasting, rap music, research reports, or political oratory. Registers are not only distinguished by differences in grammar and vocabulary but also manifest distinctive cultural values, epistemologies, and forms of social interaction. They can, thus, become a lens for examining adult socialization into new communities of practice.
Decreasing cesarean section surgical site infection: an ongoing comprehensive quality improvement program.

This report illustrates how the "plan-do-study-act" method of continuous quality improvement can be effective in reducing surgical site infection after cesarean delivery.
Semiannual Estimates of Natural Mortality of Hatchery Brook Trout in Lakes

Abstract Mark-and-recapture estimates of the number of hatchery-reared brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) have been made each April and October since October 1956 in Ford Lake (10 acres) and Hemlock Lake (6 acres), at the Pigeon River Trout Research Station, Vanderbilt, Michigan. Fish were captured by angling, by trapping with wire traps, and by shocking with direct current at night with underwater lights. A permit-type creel census insured a nearly complete record of the catch. Instantaneous mortality rates and conditional mortality rates were calculated for each year class. The largest natural loss of trout occurred during the first summer after planting. The rate of natural mortality during summer decreased with a decrease in the number of trout present each spring. Overwinter loss was negligible. The causes of the mortality are unknown.
Validity of Assessing Treatmen Readiness in Patients With Substance Use Disorders

The Recovery Attitude and Treatment Evaluator-Clinical Evaluation (RAATE-CE) assesses resistance and impediments to addiction treatment participation. The authors conducted a preliminary test of the RAATE-CE's predictive validity. Addiction counselors conducted RAATE-CE assessments on 220 adults who were newly admitted to a hospital detoxification unit. Relationships between scores and disposition were examined using analysis of variance. All RAATE-CE dimensions show significant associations with subsequent treatment placements in the expected directions. Preliminary findings of predictive validity warrant further research on the RAATE-CE for clinical research and treatment planning.
Spin-correlation function in the two-dimensional XY model

We study the two-spin correlation function in the high-temperature phase of the two-dimensional XY model. We derive a roughening representation of this function in the generalized Villain model, which is useful for high-temperature analysis. In the ordinary Villain model, we use duality to show that the correlation function is identical at high temperatures to the spin-correlation function in the two-dimensional Ising model. We use this result, together with spin-wave analysis, to perform a Nelson-Rudnick matching calculation of the spin-correlation function in the ordinary Villain model, thereby obtaining an approximate expression for this function at all length scales and temperatures above ${T}_{c}$.
C 2 F 6 reactive ion-beam etching of LiNbO 3 and Nb 2 O 5 and their application to optical waveguides

Properties of C 2 F 6 (freon 116) reactive ion-beam etching (RIBE) of LiNbO 3 , Ti-indiffused LiNbO 3 , and sputter-deposited Nb 2 O 5 film on LiNbO 3 are reported. A maximum differential etching ratio of approximately 5:1 has been measured for LiNbO 3 and the AZ 1350B Shipley photoresist. We have used this etching technique to fabricate diffraction gratings on both Ti-indiffused LiNbO 3 and Nb 2 O 5 - LiNbO 3 waveguides with measured throughput efficiencies in excess of 85 percent.
Arc-sprayed steel-faced tooling

A process for building arc-sprayed steel-faced tooling is described. Strategies to create matched die sets for injection molding applications are presented, and the issues involving backing materials, spray con-ditions, and wear resistance are discussed. Examples of stainless steel tools built with this process demon-strate improved durability over more conventional sprayed zinc-faced tools.
LYL1 degradation by the proteasome is directed by a N-terminal PEST rich site in a phosphorylation-independent manner.

Background The Lymphoblastic leukemia 1 (LYL1) gene is a proto-oncogenic transcription factor found upregulated in patients with T-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-cell ALL). Initially, the upregulation was described to be as a result of a translocation. However, further studies revealed that transcriptional upregulation of LYL1could also occur without translocations. In addition, post-translational mechanisms, such as protein degradation could influence LYL1 expression as well. Methodology/Principal Findings In this study, we considered possible post-translational regulation of Lyl1, and investigated fundamental mechanisms governing LYL1 degradation in cell-based culture assays. We identify a PEST sequence motif located in the N-terminus of LYL1, which determines the efficiency of LYL1 degradation by the proteasome. The absence of the PEST degradation site leads to accumulation or upregulation of LYL1. We also show that LYL1 is phosphorylated by MAPK at S36, and determined that proteasomal degradation of LYL1 occurs in a phosphorylation-independent manner. Conclusions/Significance Understanding LYL1 degradation is a step forward not only towards deciphering the normal function and regulation of LYL1, but could suggest post-translational mechanisms for upregulation of LYL1 that may contribute to its oncogenic role.
The effects of phytoestrogens on bone

This review on the relationships between isoflavones and bone tissue covers the published reports of epidemiological and experimental studies of humans, animal models, isolated tissues, and cells in culture. The overriding conclusion is that, when provided at optimal dosages, isoflavones, particularly genistein and daidzein, have modest positive effects on bone tissue, i. e., improved bone mass. The in vivo doses of isoflavones required to achieve optimal bone effects in rodent models is typically 1000-fold greater than estradiol. In addition, at lower and higher doses than the optimal dose range, isoflavones have less positive effects on bone and thereby display a biphasic effect. Similar results on osteoblast-like bone cells in culture have been found in in vitro experiments of the effects of genistein, but not daidzein. In general, isoflavones derived from soybeans and their products have weak estrogenic agonistic properties when consumed by animals and humans at optimal doses, but deleterious effects may be observed at very high doses. Cell studies of genistein suggest that at high doses it contributes to the loss of normal cell functions, whereas daidzein at the same concentration has a beneficial effect on osteoblast-like cells. It is highly unlikely that human consumption would be so high from dietary sources to result in any adverse effects. In summary, isoflavones appear to have potential promise for maintaining or modestly improving bone mass of human subjects when consumed at optimal dosages.
Quality assessment of amalgam and inlay restorations on posterior teeth: a retrospective study.

Abstract This study was designed to assess and compare the quality of posterior proximo-occlusal amalgam and inlay restorations relative to type of restoration (material, surfaces involved, and cusp protection) and length of service of the restorations. A clinical evaluation system based on operationally defined and clinically important criteria was used. Clinically and statistically significant differences were found between overall ratings for amalgam and inlay restorations and between small (two-surface) amalgam and inlay restorations, as well as between larger (three-surface) amalgam and inlay restorations. In all cases, inlay restorations were of higher quality. A not acceptable rating for marginal integrity was the most frequent reason for not acceptable overall ratings. There was no difference in satisfactory/not acceptable ratings for inlay restorations with or without protected cusps ( p = .95).
Seasonal variations in net photosynthetic performance and cover of intertidal macrophytes

Abstract Standing stocks and net photosynthetic performances were determined concurrently for the 13 most abundant intertidal macrophytes from San Clemente Island, California over a four-season period. A summer cover maximum and winter minimum occurred for Colpomenia sinuosa (Roth) Derbes & Solier, Egregia menziesii (Turner) Areschoug, Gigartina canaliculata Harvey, Halidrys dioica Gardner, and Sargassum agardhianum J. Agardh, whereas Eisenia arborea Areschoug and Corallina officinalis var. chilensis (Decaisne) Kutzing had fall maxima and summer minima in cover. Ulva californica Wille and Gelidium pusillum (Stackhouse) Le Jolis had maximal cover during spring. Pterocladia capillacea (Gmelin) Bornet & Thuret was the only species with peak cover in winter while three macrophytes, Lithothrix aspergillum J.E. Gray, blue-green algae, and Phyllospadix torreyi Watson displayed little seasonality in standing stocks. Highest net production rates were measured during summer for nine of the 13 species and minimum rates were recorded in spring and to a lesser extent during winter. Correlations between seasonal fluctuations in standing stock and productivity were evident for only eight species. Total daily community production reached a peak in the fall (1.22 g C fixed m −2 of substratum day −1 ) and declined sharply through winter to a spring low (0.47 g C m −2 day −1 ), closely paralleling changes in ambient water temperature. Blue-green algae, C. officinalis var. chilensis, P. capillacea , and E. menziesii contributed 76% of the total community primary productivity for the year. Seasonal patterns of photosynthetic performances were highly variable with a tendency for most species to attain peak daily photosynthetic rates coincident with higher temperatures and longer daylength.
A methodology for remote virtual interaction in teleimmersive environments

Though the quality of imaging devices, the accuracy of algorithms that construct 3D data, and the hardware available to render such data have all improved, the algorithms available to calibrate, reconstruct, and then visualize such data are difficult to use, extremely noise sensitive, and unreasonably slow. In this paper, we describe a multi-camera system that creates a highly accurate (on the order of a centimeter), 3D reconstruction of an environment in real time (under 30 ms) that allows for remote interaction between users. The paper addresses the aforementioned deficiencies by featuring an overview of the technology and algorithms used to calibrate, reconstruct, and render objects in the system. The algorithm produces partial 3D meshes, instead of dense point clouds, which are combined on the renderer to create a unified model of the environment. The chosen representation of the data allows for high compression ratios for transfer to remote sites. We demonstrate the accuracy and speed of our results on a variety of benchmarks and data collected from our own system.
Interpenetrating networks of conjugated ionic polyacetylenes

An interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) based on poly(N-butyl 2-ethynylpyridinum bromide) (PB2EPB) and polycarbonate-urethane (PCU) has been prepared and characterized. The simultaneous full IPNs of PCU and PB2EPB have two glass transition temperatures corresponding to those of the linear chain blends measured by DSC. This suggests immiscibility of the two networks in the IPNs. The IPNs display a multiphase morphology which is confirmed by SEM observation. The full IPNs exhibit excellent solvent resistance, good thermal stability and good mechanical properties. High UV absorption of these materials extending to the visible range and beyond indicates that the polyacetylene network is extensively conjugated. The electrical conductivity of the IPNs increases linearly with increasing polyacetylene content reaching 10 -4 S/cm.
Customer Characteristics and Attitudes at Participatory and Supermarket Cooperatives

Rising food prices have contributed to an increase in the number of food cooperatives in the United States. The present study was undertaken to learn more about the characteristics and motives of food co-opshoppers at large supermarket cooperatives with paid staff and a full product range and small participatory co-ops with volunteer workers and selective merchandising policies. Customer counts and interviews were conducted at participatory and supermarket co-op stores and nearby commercial supermarkets in Northern California and in New York State. Shoppers at the participatory co-ops were found to be young, well-educated, ethnically homogeneous, non-affluent, and motivated primarily by low prices, food quality, natural food and co-op philosophy. Customers at supermarket co-ops tended to be more diverse in age and ethnicity, well-educated, with eclectic food tastes, and motivated primarily by convenience, low prices and co-op philosophy. Customers at near by commercial supermarkets were also heterogeneous in age and ethnicity and motivated primarily by price and convenience. The implications of the different customer populations and motives for the future of food co-ops are discussed.
CGRP-receptor antagonists--a fresh approach to migraine therapy?

Migraine is a chronic disease that affects 12 percent of the general population. In addition to severe, debilitating headache, patients with migraines may experience nausea, vomiting, and sensitivity to light and sound. Migraine remains one of the most underdiagnosed and undertreated neurologic conditions and has substantial socioeconomic effects in developed countries. It is now considered to be a neurovascular disorder because its pathology involves important interactions between the cerebral nerves and blood vessels. Current theories propose that migraine-specific triggers promote primary brain dysfunction, which evokes changes in the dilation of meningeal blood vessels and the activation of perivascular trigeminal nerves. . . .
TOWARDS AN ATTENTION-BASED VIEW OF THE FIRM

The central argument is that firm behavior is the result of how firms channel and distribute the attention of their decision-makers. What decision-makers do depends on what issues and answers they focus their attention on. What issues and answers they focus on depends on the specific situation and on how the firm's rules, resources, and relationships distribute various issues, answers, and decision-makers into specific communications and procedures. The paper develops these theoretical principles into a model of firm behavior and presents its implications for explaining firm behavior and adaptation. ? 1997 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Separation and characterization of aconitate hydratase isoenzymes from pig tissues

Abstract Aconitate hydratase (citrate (isocitrate) hydro-lyase, EC 4.2.1.3) activity of pig tissues is associated with two protein fractions, one present in the cytoplasm while the second is of mitochondrial origin. They differ in p I (pH 5.4 for the cytoplasmic and pH 7.5 for the mitochondrial enzyme) and stability, the mitochondrial being much more unstable. Chromatography on DEAE-cellulose under N2 readily separates the aconitate hydratase isoenzymes.
Concordance of randomized and nonrandomized studies was unrelated to translational patterns of two nutrient-disease associations.

Objective There are several examples in nutrition of discordance between the results of observational studies and randomized controlled trials (RCTs). We hypothesized that this discordance is attributable to differences in the translational paths of nutrient–disease associations. Translational paths can be assessed using citation analysis.
Surrogate Modeling Approach to Support Real-Time Structural Assessment and Decision Making

This paper proposes a data-driven strategy to assist online rapid decision making for an unmanned aerial vehicle that uses sensed data to estimate its structural state, uses this estimate to update its corresponding flight capabilities, and then dynamically replans its mission accordingly. The approach comprises offline and online computational phases constructed to address the sense–plan–act information flow while avoiding a costly online inference step. During the offline phase, high-fidelity finite element simulations are used to construct reduced-order models and classification criteria: proper orthogonal decomposition approximations and self-organizing maps are combined to realize a fast mapping from measured quantities to system capabilities. During the online phase, the surrogate mapping is employed to directly estimate the vehicle’s evolving structural capability from sensor data. The approach is demonstrated for a test problem of a composite wing panel on an unmanned aerial vehicle that undergoes...
The expression of social presence through the use of figurative language in a web-based learning environment

The present paper's aim is to investigate how the participants of an online learning environment employed written language in a creative way through the spontaneous use of figurative language. The content analysis showed that figurative language was a means to express the social dimension either to refer to the self, feelings and emotions, or to conceptualize the components of the virtual learning setting. The research context was a 10-week course, delivered at a distance via a computer conferencing system, addressed to 57 student teachers. The analysis was carried out in the social and meta-cognitive reflection areas, those areas which are mainly related to the expression of the social dimension The study had three different purposes: to investigate the distribution of figurative language during the course length; to explore the relation between the participants' educational background and their use of figurative language, and to examine the relation between figurative language and the structure of the communication threads. The results indicate that participants tended to use figurative language more when meaningful or critical events happened. The higher the emotional involvement was, the more metaphorical language was adopted. Further results suggest that the adoption of figurative language seems to be related more to individual attitude, than to other factors such as educational background. Finally, figurative language occurrences were not concentrated in specific kinds of postings or threads and did not encourage further use of figurative language.
The Social Construction of a Sense of Place

The purpose of this investigation was to explore the meanings recreationists tenting at an agricultural fair associated with the settings in which their fair experience occurred. Using a symbolic interactionist framework, our analysis of data collected through onsite observation and using photo-elicitation guided interviews illustrated that informants' place meanings were the product of interactive processes involving the individual, their social world and the physical setting. These interactions elicited meanings tied to place that were largely independent of the physical attributes that defined the setting. Most significant were specific place experiences shared with family and close friends. The importance attached to these relationships and experiences were embedded in the spatial contexts that encapsulated informants' fair experience. Findings from this investigation shed light on the social construction of place meaning within a built environment.
Guided acoustic-wave Brillouin scattering.

Forward light scattering by the thermally excited guided acoustic modes of an optical fiber produce numerous narrow lines not predicted by the usual theory of Brillouin scattering. Optical heterodyne detection has been used to resolve the scattering spectrum which begins at about 20 MHz and extends to the detection limit. A simple theory quantitatively accounts for the frequencies, polarizations, and intensities of the components. The light scattering from these modes constitutes a thermal-noise source in optical fibers that may prove significant in other experiments.
Analysis of band 3 cytoplasmic domain phosphorylation and association with ankyrin

The phosphorylation of the cytoplasmic domain of band 3 by the human erythrocyte membrane kinase and casein kinase A has been investigated. The cytoplasmic domain of band 3 was released from erythrocyte vesicles by treatment with alpha-chymotrypsin and isolated as a 43,000-Da peptide. Both the membrane kinase and casein kinase A catalyzed the incorporation of about 1 mol of phosphate per mole of the band 3 fragment. The phosphorylation of the band 3 fragment by both kinases was not additive, suggesting that the two enzymes might recognize the same phosphorylation sites. Also in support of this notion was the observation that the phosphopeptide maps of the band 3 fragment phosphorylated by the two kinases were identical. Phosphoamino acid analysis of the band 3 fragment phosphorylated by casein kinase A revealed the presence of approximately equal amounts of phosphoserine and phosphothreonine and, to a lesser extent, phosphotyrosine. The interaction between the 43,000-Da peptide with ankyrin and the effect of phosphorylation on this interaction have been examined. The band 3 fragment was found to form two different types of complexes, termed C1 and C2, with ankyrin in a saturable manner. The C1 and C2 complexes contained about 1.7 and 0.43 mol of band 3 fragment per mole of ankyrin, respectively. Interestingly, these binding stoichiometries were found to be reduced by half by the phosphorylation of ankyrin but not by the phosphorylation of the band 3 fragment. The results suggest that the structure and dynamics of the erythrocyte membrane cytoskeletal network may be regulated by phosphorylation.
Glial cell factors and the outer blood retinal barrier.

The retinal pigment epithelium is an important barrier to drug transport as well as contributing to the normal functioning of the photoreceptors. The contributions of glial cells in the retina to the maintenance and development of this barrier is important. There is evidence that retinal secreted factors play a role in the induction and maintenance of the outer blood retinal barrier. One possible source of such factors are the retinal glial cells, astrocytes and Muller cells, which may influence tight junction formation and maturation. The aim of this study was to examine the changes in the trans-epithelial resistance (TER), as a measure of barrier integrity, on cell lines of epithelial origin (ECV304 and ARPE-19) following co-culture with glial cell lines (C6 and MIO-M1) or with the addition of medium conditioned by these cells. One cell line, ECV304, showed a significant increase in the TER in response to glial secreted factors whilst ARPE-19 did not. This finding suggests that ECV304 responds well to glial factors and may be useful for further studies of the factors that affect tight junction formation through glial cell induction in vitro.
Myocardial Metabolism during Endotoxic Shock

There is little evidence of myocardial depression during the initial fall in arterial pressure following the injection of endotoxin in the dog(1). It appears more likely that the initial changes are due to an inadequate venous return(2). However, if this condition persists for a longer period of time, myocardial changes may also be observed.
CATALASE LEVELS AND RADIATION RESISTANCE IN THREE SPECIES OF WILD DUCK.

SummaryThree species of wild duck said to have very different LD50's of x-radiation do not differ significantly in catalase activity per gramme body-weight. It is suggested that the wide variation in LD50 may be a reflection of such factors as age, adaptability to capture and penning, etc. A secondary finding of interest is that the breast muscle of these wild ducks has a significantly higher level of catalase activity than does the leg muscle. This relationship is reversed in domestic chickens, and it is suggested that muscle catalase activity may be a reflection of functional usage.
Aromatase Inhibitors in Breast Cancer Prevention

Objective: To review the literature evaluating the benefit and tolerability of aromatase inhibitors (AIs) in breast cancer risk reduction. Data Source: A PubMed search (1966-July 2014) was conducted using the key terms breast cancer risk reduction, with anastrozole, exemestane, or letrozole, or aromatase inhibitors. Abstracts from recent breast cancer symposia were reviewed. Study Selection and Data Extraction: All English-language articles were reviewed for inclusion. The references of articles were reviewed for additional studies. The review focused on AI trials in women without preexisting cancer; review articles, preclinical studies, and studies of AI use in early-stage cancer were excluded. Data Synthesis: Lifestyle modifications, surgery, and selective estrogen receptor modulators (SERMs) are options for women at high risk for breast cancer compared with the general population. Statements published by various organizations help guide appropriate patient selection. Toxicities with SERMs, including in...
DEPOSITION, CHARACTERIZATION, AND MAGNETO-OPTICAL PROPERTIES OF AMORPHOUS TbFe ALLOYS.

Amorphous films of TbxFe1-x are prepared by simultaneous RF bias sputtering onto various substrates and the hysteresis loops of the resulting samples are obtained both by magneto-optical and VSM loop tracers. The coercivities of the samples deposited in the same run but onto different substrates are observed to be somewhat different and these differences are discussed in light of the current understanding of the deposition process.
The Role of the Electroencephalogram in Assessing Memory Function under General Anesthesia

1. Clii. Anesth. fk457-461. 1994. In this issue of the Journal of Clinical Anesthesia, Brundidge et al.’ describe the anesthetic management of lumbar laminectomy for a patient with a history of a posttraumatic stress disorder, tolerance to benzodiazepines, and an experience of awareness and recall of events during general anesthesia for a previous lumbar laminectomy. Their goal was to administer a safe anesthetic to an anxious patient whose tolerance to one of the commonly used classes of amnestic drugs was well established. The authors’ success in handling this difficult challenge (without untoward intraoperative events and with no detectable recall by the patient) enables us to investigate two special features of their management: (1) the use of the burst-suppression pattern of the electroencephalogram (EEG) as the criterion defining the anesthetic “state” suffcient to prevent intraoperative memory; (2) the selection of the particular drug classes and amounts the authors considered necessary to blunt intraoperative memory in this patient. These selective aspects of their management suggest relationships between specific electrophysiologic signals and complex chemical receptors of anatomic structures mediating memory function. These proposed relationships warrant further discussion. Neuropsychologists have divided the concept of memory into short-term and long-term functions2 Short-term memory represents the temporary storage of information acquired from the environment. This information can then be encoded into long-term memory for later retrieval. The vast store of long-term memory can again be divided into declarative or explicit memory, which includes information that can be recalled as a proposition or an image, and nondeclarative or procedural memory, which includes learned skills and classically conditioned responses. Explicit recall of intraoperative events, as alluded to in this case report,’ is a type of declarative memory and requires a conscious effort of recollection. Although behavioral analysis has defined individual components of a structure of memory, specific anatomic loci within the brain for the acquisition, storage, and retrieval of new information have not been completely delineated. Indeed, the physiology of the process is complex and involves multiple structures. Thus, memory dysfunction itself reflects a process, the cause of which is not easily localized into any specific structures. What we understand from combined neuropathologic and neuropsychologic studies is that intact memory is a function of the integrity of the limbicdiencephalic-cortical circuits. s Because abnormalities in these areas of the brain cause functional impairment of memory, electroencephalographers have attempted to correlate known memory deficits in patients to abnormalities
Fragranced consumer products and undisclosed ingredients

Abstract Fragranced consumer products—such as air fresheners, laundry supplies, personal care products, and cleaners—are widely used in homes, businesses, institutions, and public places. While prevalent, these products can contain chemicals that are not disclosed to the public through product labels or material safety data sheets (MSDSs). What are some of these chemicals and what limits their disclosure? This article investigates these questions, and brings new pieces of evidence to the science, health, and policy puzzle. Results from a regulatory analysis, coupled with a chemical analysis of six best-selling products (three air fresheners and three laundry supplies), provide several findings. First, no law in the U.S. requires disclosure of all chemical ingredients in consumer products or in fragrances. Second, in these six products, nearly 100 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were identified, but none of the VOCs were listed on any product label, and one was listed on one MSDS. Third, of these identified VOCs, ten are regulated as toxic or hazardous under federal laws, with three (acetaldehyde, chloromethane, and 1,4-dioxane) classified as Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs). Results point to a need for improved understanding of product constituents and mechanisms between exposures and effects.
On the Elimination of Scale Ambiguities in Perturbative Quantum Chromodynamics

We present a new method for resolving the scheme-scale ambiguity that has plagued perturbative analyses in quantum chromodynamics (QCD) and other gauge theories. For Abelian theories the method reduces to the standard criterion that only vacuum-polarization insertions contribute to the effective coupling constant. Given a scheme, our procedure automatically determines the coupling-constant scale appropriate to a particular process. This leads to a new criterion for the convergence of perturbative expansions in QCD. We examine a number of well known reactions in QCD, and find that perturbation theory converges well for all processes other than the gluonic width of the $\ensuremath{\Upsilon}$. Our analysis calls into question recent determinations of the QCD coupling constant based upon $\ensuremath{\Upsilon}$ decay.
Revision Specifications by Means of Programs

We propose a formalism for specifying revisions in knowledge bases and belief sets. This formalism extends logic programming with stable model semantics. Main objects of our system are revision programs consisting of revision rules. A revision rule expresses a specification of change or a constraint on a knowledge base. There are two types of revision rules. In-rules require that an element be in a knowledge base whenever some other elements are in the knowledge base and yet other elements are absent from it. Similar conditions in an out-rule force the absence of an element from the knowledge base.
Intra-specific effects of forest loss on the distribution of the forest-dependent northern long-eared bat (Myotis septentrionalis)

Forest fragmentation by the expansion of human activities is acknowledged as an important factor driving declines of forest species worldwide and quantitatively characterizing this trend is essential to understanding the response of populations of forest-dependent species. To examine the impacts of forest cover loss and changes in composition on forest-dependent bats, we examined the effects of these factors on the distribution of the northern long-eared bat (Myotis septentrionalis) in a case study. We surveyed forest fragments in the forest-agricultural landscape of Prince Edward Island, Canada, to assess the occupancy of bats in fragments. Logistic regression and multimodel inference using Akaike’s information criteria were used to identify potentially important predictor variables influencing the distribution of the northern long-eared bat at the fragment and landscape level and quantified their effects. A compositional variable, area of deciduous stands, was found to be the best predictor of the presence of M. septentrionalis. We found the effects of fragmentation were greatest at the fragment level for females and at the landscape level for males. This case study emphasizes the importance of examining intra-specific resource selection in how it affects the response of a forest-dependent species to fragmentation.
Efficient scheduling to minimize calibrations

Integrated Stockpile Evaluation (ISE) is a program to test nuclear weapons periodically. Tests are performed by machines that may require occasional calibration. These calibrations are expensive, so finding a schedule that minimizes calibrations allows more testing to be done for a given amount of money.This paper introduces a theoretical framework for ISE. Machines run jobs with release times and deadlines. Calibrating a machine requires unit cost. The machine remains calibrated for T time steps, after which it must be recalibrated before it can resume running jobs. The objective is to complete all jobs while minimizing the number of calibrations.The paper gives several algorithms to solve the ISE problem for the case where jobs have unit processing times. For one available machine, there is an optimal polynomial-time algorithm. For multiple machines, there is a 2-approximation algorithm, which finds an optimal solution when all jobs have distinct deadlines.
Behavioral and developmental effects of two 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA) derivatives.

Abstract The effects of 3,4-methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA or ‘ecstacy’) and two structurally related compounds, N-methyl-1-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)-1-ethanamine (MDM1EA) and N-methyl-1-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl)-3-butanamine (HMDMA) were examined in two preparations: (i) a drug discrimination procedure in MDMA-trained rats and (ii) the chicken embryo, for determination of the direct effects of these compounds on the developing organism. The highest doses of MDM1EA and HMDMA partially substituted for MDMA, whereas higher (30–60 mg/kg) doses of HMDMA evoked clonic seizures in a separate group of rats. In chicken embryos MDMA had no effect on body, brain or liver weight, while the highest dose of MDM1EA decreased body weight and the 2 lowest doses of HMDMA increased body weight. All doses of HMDMA decreased liver weight (expressed as % body weight) when compared with contemporaneous water-treated controls. Taken together, the results of these experiments suggest that structurally related compounds share some stimulus properties with MDMA and may therefore share abuse liability. Furthermore, both MDMA-related compounds produced adverse effects on the developing organism, whereas MDMA did not.
Quantum theory of aromatic hydrocarbon carcinogenesis

Early history of the quantum-mechanical approach to the elucidation of the mechanisms of chemical carcinogenesis is presented in outline form. It is concluded that the K. L reactivity region theory still provides a good working hypothesis for theoretical evaluation. Experimental indices of carcinogenicity are then shown to correlate with a straightforward kinetic model that uses K, L-region Pauling bond orders as reactivity parameters. The bond order calculations are found to correlate precisely with SCF-LCAO-MO results, and are derived on the basis of a highly simplified valence-bond approach.
Cell Therapy for Heart Disease: To Genetically Modify or Not, That Is the Question

See related article, pages 478–489 Cell-based therapy for heart diseases, ranging from myocardial infarction, hibernating myocardium, to ischemic and nonischemic cardiomyopathies, is a potentially transformative approach to address unmet needs for the treatment of these chronic diseases.1 As this field moves forward rapidly, pressing questions continue to require resolution. Of these, perhaps the most pressing question is what are the features of an ideal cell type to be used for cardiovascular therapeutics.1 In this context, several investigative teams have undertaken the approach of starting with a reasonable candidate cell, whether that be an adult stem cell, such as a mesenchymal stem cell2 (MSC) or cardiac stem cell (CSC),3,4 or a pluripotent stem cell,5 and then enhancing that cell by genetic modification or incubation with factors or cytokines6 capable of optimizing the ability of the cell to engraft, survive, and/or differentiate. This approach has uniformly produced positive results using MSCs and CSCs with a number of genetic modifications (Table). View this table: Table. Impact of Modification of MSCs or CSCs on Phenotypic Outcome In this issue of Circulation Research , Cho et al show that overexpression of the serine/threonine kinase glycogen synthase kinase (GSK)-3β enhances the therapeutic properties of bone marrow–derived MSCs in a mouse model of myocardial infarction.7 These encouraging findings add to a growing list of kinases, …