cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Hemangiomalike Masses of the Retina

• We have followed five patients, each of whom had a solitary unilateral vascular mass of the sensory retina. The lesions were white or pink and often had hemorrhage and exudate on their surface or surrounding area. They appeared to be acquired, as three of the five patients were specifically noted to have normal fundi at some time before presentation. Fluorescein angiography and angioscopy demonstrated the masses to be composed of numerous vessels supplied by the retinal circulation. Slow growth was documented in one patient. Visual loss was variable and was due to leakage-related complications, including exudative detachment, recurrent vitreous hemorrhage, and cystoid macular edema. Four patients were treated with cryopexy, and in all four, this successfully caused involution of the lesions. Two patients had improvement in vision after treatment: one had stabilization, and one had deterioration. This report provides support for the existence of a distinct entity that we have called hemangiomalike mass of the retina , since no histopathologic evidence is yet available (to our knowledge). It also supports the use of judicious cryopexy to lesions associated with visual loss.
Embodied Anticipation: A Neurodevelopmental Interpretation

This article proposes an approach to the brain’s role in communication that treats the brain as the vehicle of a multi-scale embodiment of anticipation. Instead of conceptualizing anticipation as something a brain is able to do when circumstances seem to require it, this study proposes that anticipation is continuous and ongoing because to anticipate is an inherent design characteristic of the brain. Correspondingly, there is no anticipation module in the brain, and no focal lesion selectively abolishes the brain’s propensity to anticipate. Anticipation is a wager based on previous experience. It readies a response to an event that has yet to occur. First, the anticipation is “embrained” in terms of covert neural representations, and then it is embodied in terms of rudiments of the embrained actions and expressions of feeling. This study applies this concept to conversation and shows that nested anticipations precede the dynamics of the actual encounter and continue at each turn as long as the conversation lasts.
Enhanced response of T cells from murine gammaherpesvirus 68-infected mice lacking the suppressor of T cell receptor signaling molecules Sts-1 and Sts-2.

The human gammaherpesviruses establish life-long infections that are associated with the development of lymphomas and neoplasms, especially in immunocompromised individuals. T cells play a crucial role in the control of gammaherpesvirus infection through multiple functions, including the direct killing of infected cells, production of cytokines such as interferon-γ (IFN-γ), and costimulation of B cells. Impaired T cell function in mice infected with murine gammaherpesvirus 68 (MHV68) leads to increased reactivation and pathologies, including a higher incidence of lymphoid hyperplasia. Here we report that the absence of Suppressor of TCR signaling −1 and −2 (Sts-1-/-/2-/-) during MHV68 infection leads to the generation of T cells with significantly heightened responses. Transient differences in the T and B cell response of infected Sts-1-/-/2-/- (Sts dKO) mice were also observed when compared to WT mice. However, these alterations in the immune response and the overall absence of Sts-1 and Sts-2 did not impact viral pathogenesis or lead to pathology. Acute lytic replication in the lungs, establishment of latency in the spleen and reactivation from latency in the spleen in the Sts dKO mice were comparable to WT mice. Our studies indicate that Sts-1 and Sts-2 are not required for the immune control of MHV68 in a normal course of gammaherpesvirus infection, but suggest that interference with negative regulators of T cell responses might be further explored as a safe and efficacious strategy to improve adoptive T cell therapy.
YAP-dependent induction of amphiregulin identifies a non-cell-autonomous component of the Hippo pathway

The Hippo signalling pathway regulates cellular proliferation and survival, thus has profound effects on normal cell fate and tumorigenesis. The pivotal effector of this pathway is YAP (yes-associated protein), a transcriptional co-activator amplified in mouse and human cancers, where it promotes epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) and malignant transformation. So far, studies of YAP target genes have focused on cell-autonomous mediators; here we show that YAP-expressing MCF10A breast epithelial cells enhance the proliferation of neighbouring untransfected cells, implicating a non-cell-autonomous mechanism. We identify the gene for the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) ligand amphiregulin (AREG) as a transcriptional target of YAP, whose induction contributes to YAP-mediated cell proliferation and migration, but not EMT. Knockdown of AREG or addition of an EGFR kinase inhibitor abrogates the proliferative effects of YAP expression. Suppression of the negative YAP regulators LATS1 and 2 (large tumour suppressor 1 and 2) is sufficient to induce AREG expression, consistent with physiological regulation of AREG by the Hippo pathway. Genetic interaction between the Drosophila YAP orthologue Yorkie and Egfr signalling components supports the link between these two highly conserved signalling pathways. Thus, YAP-dependent secretion of AREG indicates that activation of EGFR signalling is an important non-cell-autonomous effector of the Hippo pathway, which has implications for the regulation of both physiological and malignant cell proliferation.
Assessing Teachers’ Planning Abilities

AbstractWhile teacher educators encourage teachers to acquire professional knowledge relevant to planning instruction for children, they lack systematic methods for evaluating teachers" abilities to apply such knowledge. This article describes the development of a set of simulation exercises designed to assess teachers" abilities to make typical planning decisions, and presents results of an item analysis obtained when the exercises were given to 72 students entering a two- year teacher education program.
Removal of the basic center from doxorubicin partially overcomes multidrug resistance and decreases cardiotoxicity

Hydroxyrubicin, a synthetic doxorubicin analog in which the basic amino group at C-3' is replaced by a hydroxyl group, was used as a prototype compound to study the effects of basicity of the sugar moiety on the toxicity and antitumor activity of anthracycline antibiotics. Compared with doxorubicin,
Present Status of Therapy for Anaerobic Infections

Therapeutic approaches to anaerobic infections are changing. Debridement, drainage, and other surgical approaches remain extremely important. Resistance to antimicrobial agents currently used for treatment of anaerobic infections is increasing. However, promising new agents are being introduced. We review the current status of therapy for anaerobic infections and discuss the potential role of these new agents. We stress an empirical approach to therapy that is based on the usual infecting flora in various types of infections.
A NEW SPECIES OF SPIROGYRA WITH UNUSUAL ARRANGEMENT OF THE CHROMATOPHORES

In November, I920, collections of algae in Van Cortlandt Park, New York City, revealed a large form of Spirogyra with a peculiar disposition of its chromatophores. The collections made at various times during the next two months showed the alga freely conjugating and growing in fairly pure cultures. It was noted that, whereas in the non-conjugating filaments at this time the chromatophores were more or less spirally arranged, no case was found of a vegetative cell adjoining conjugating cells where the chromatophores were other than parallel in their position. At the time it was thought that the plant might be a variety of S. crassa. Subsequent collections in May and June revealed S. crassa growing in abundance with the new form, both abundantly conjugating, and when seen side by side exhibiting characters conspicuously distinct. To date no case has been found of the hybridization of the two forms.
Taste, visceral information and exocrine reflexes with glutamate through umami receptors

Chemical substances of foods drive the cognitive recognition of taste with the subsequent regulation of digestion in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract. Tastants like glutamate can bind to taste membrane receptors on the tip of specialized taste cells eliciting umami taste. In chemical-sensing cells diffused through the GI tract, glutamate induces functional changes. Most of the taste-like receptor-expressing cells from the stomach and intestine are neuroendocrine cells. The signaling molecules produced by these neuroendocrine cells either activate afferent nerve endings or release peptide hormones that can regulate neighboring cells in a paracrine fashion or travel through blood to their target receptor. Once afferent sensory fibers transfer the chemical information of the GI content to the central nervous system (CNS) facilitating the gut-brain signaling, the CNS regulates the GI through efferent cholinergic and noradrenergic fibers. Thus, this is a two-way extrinsic communication process. Glutamate within the lumen of the stomach stimulates afferent fibers and increases acid and pepsinogen release; whereas on the duodenum, glutamate increases the production of mucous to protect the mucosa against the incoming gastric acid. The effects of glutamate are believed to be mediated by G protein-coupled receptors expressed at the lumen of GI cells. The specific cell-type and molecular function of each of these receptors are not completely known. Here we will examine some of the glutamate receptors and their already understood role on GI function regulation. J. Med. Invest. 56 Suppl.: 209-217, December, 2009
Temperature control in deep tumor treatment

Tumor cells are more sensitive to temperature increase than normal tissue. Hyperthermia has been used as a potential modality for cancer treatment. Another benefit from the thermal interruption of tumor cells is the immunological reactions, caused by inflammation and other mechanisms, and more interestingly caused by antigen(s) release. The temperature control is crucial both in direct tumor destruction through acute thermal effect and in immune reactions. Low temperature may not achieve the desired tumor cell killing. High temperature could result in over heating of the tumor, hence introducing undesirable damage to surrounding normal tissue. High temperature could completely denature the cell proteins, hence rendering tumor antigen(s) useless in immunological stimulation. A combination of an 805-nm laser and in-situ indocyanine green (ICG) solutions were used in treating rat tumors. Temperature measured at different locations showed that the effective photothermal interaction could reach as deep as 1 cm below the treatment surface and the temperature inside the tumor can be controlled by the laser and dye parameters. Multiple beams were also used to irradiate the tumor. When the tumor is free of ICG, the temperature increase of the tumor was less significant under the laser irradiation with a power density of 0.33 W/cm2; tumor tissue at a depth of 1 cm only experienced a 7°C-temperature increase. However, when the tumor contained ICG solution, the temperature at 1-cm depth experienced more than 15°C-temperature increase. Multiple-fiber irradiation further enhanced the photothermal selectivity. Furthermore, when one fiber was used, the edge of the tumor experienced less impact by the laser beam, while multiple beams resulted in an almost uniform temperature increase over the entire tumor.© (2003) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Controlled DI Water Gasification System for Advanced Semiconductor Cleaning Processes

Driven by continually shrinking feature sizes and adoption of ever more fragile materials in IC manufacturing, it has become crucial to develop effective and low impact processes that are benign to features on wafers. Recently, there is increasing interest in using gasified DI water in photolithography, wet etch & clean, mask clean and CMP applications. In this paper, we describe the design and development of an automated in-line CO2 gasification system using Entegris all PFA hollow fiber membrane-based contactors. The paper addresses key system design features to enable a responsive and seamless process with minimum system downtime. Capacity and control data demonstrating the versatility and robustness of the system will also be presented.
Timing defoliation applications for maximum yields and optimum quality in cotton containing a fruiting gap

Stresses during cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) square and boll formation can result in fruit abscission from several continuous nodes, resulting in a fruiting gap on the plant. This gap may cause a shift in benchmarks for timing various agronomic practices aimed at maximizing cotton yield and optimizing quality. A cotton defoliation timing study was performed in 1999, 2000, and 2001 to (i) see if the creation of a fruiting gap would influence defoliation timing and to (ii) compare the use of the open boll percentage at defoliation (OBPD), nodes above cracked boll (NACB), and micronaire readings at defoliation as tools for timing defoliation. In late July or early August each year, a fruiting gap was created by physically removing fruit from several continuous nodes on plants. Plots were defoliated on the basis of various OBPD values. Upon defoliation, OBPD and NACB were taken and lint was retained to determine the micronaire at defoliation. In both 1999 and 2000, there was a yield advantage to delaying defoliation beyond 60 OBPD in treatments containing a gap. However, in 2001 there was no yield advantage to delaying defoliation. This may have been due to optimal late-season growing conditions experienced in 2001. In years when micronaire readings are high, data suggested cotton not containing a fruiting gap is more likely to be above discount levels for high micronaire and should not be defoliated past 60 OBPD. In both 1999 and 2000, trends confirmed a direct relationship between OBPD and both yield and micronaire. Overall, these studies demonstrated that in some years, where no fruiting gaps exist, it might be possible to terminate cotton before the 60% open boll recommendation without sacrificing yields. These results would allow farmers to shift defoliation, and hence harvest, to a time when there are fewer risks of quality-based discounts. While a significant interaction prohibited the examination of the use of micronaire at defoliation as a technique for timing defoliation, there did not appear to be a significant advantage to using either NACB or OBPD for timing defoliation.
A biophysical mechanism by which plasma proteins inhibit lung surfactant activity.

Abstract These in vitro experiments study a potential mechanism by which plasma proteins, found in the alveoli during pulmonary edema and hemorrhage, may act to inhibit the surface activity of pulmonary surfactant. The results indicate that the inhibition of the adsorption facility and surface tension lowering ability of a calf lung surfactant extract (CLSE) by albumin, hemoglobin, or fibrinogen may be completely abolished by centrifugation of the protein-surfactant mixture at 12,500 × g . Furthermore, albumin, hemoglobin and fibrinogen (1.25 mg/ml) were shown to inhibit the adsorption of high concentrations of CLSE (0.32 mg/ml), normally unaffected by the addition of exogenous proteins, when the CLSE was injected into the subphase under a preformed protein surface film. Similarly, injection of large amounts of these proteins (2.5 mg/ml) into the subphase beneath a preformed CLSE surface film was without effect, even though the CLSE concentration was only 0.06 mg/ml, a surfactant concentration which is normally inhibited by even small amounts of exogenous protein. Taken together, the data suggest that some proteins may inhibit surfactant function by preventing the surfactant phospholipids from adsorbing to the air-liquid interface, possibly by a competition between the proteins and CLSE phospholipids for space at the air-liquid interface rather than direct molecular interactions between proteins and surfactant.
Ordering in Spatially Anisotropic Triangular Antiferromagnets

We investigate the phase diagram of the anisotropic spin-$1/2$ triangular lattice antiferromagnet, with interchain diagonal exchange ${J}^{\ensuremath{'}}$ much weaker than the intrachain exchange $J$. We find that fluctuations lead to a competition between (commensurate) collinear antiferromagnetic and (zigzag) dimer orders. Both states differ in symmetry from the spiral order known to occur for larger ${J}^{\ensuremath{'}}$, and are therefore separated by quantum phase transitions from it. The zero-field collinear antiferromagnet is succeeded in a magnetic field by magnetically ordered spin-density-wave and cone phases, before reaching the fully polarized state. Implications for the anisotropic triangular magnet ${\mathrm{Cs}}_{2}{\mathrm{CuCl}}_{4}$ are discussed.
Timing of Preoperative Pharmacoprophylaxis for Pancreatic Surgery Patients: A Venous Thromboembolism Reduction Initiative

Background Venous thromboembolism (VTE) remains a clinical problem in surgical oncology. We report the impact of preoperative initiation of subcutaneous heparin on VTE events after pancreatic surgery.
SU-E-J-195: Quantification of Rotations and Deformations in Head and Heck Radiotherapy

Purpose: To quantify the magnitude of patient rotations and deformations over the course of head and neck radiotherapy. Methods: 45 CBCT images acquired weekly were selected retrospectively from 5 head and neck cancer patients. CBCT images were registered to the corresponding planning CT images using translation, rigid-body, and cubic B-spline deformable transformations. Elastix ( elastix.isi.uu.nl ), an open-source public domain registration algorithm, was used for all registrations with mutual information as similarity metric and gradient descent as optimization. Four-level multiresolution approach was employed with 2 cm B-spline grid spacing at the finest resolution. Registration qualities were visually verified. Rotational occurrences were quantified from the rigid-body registrations. The magnitude of deformations in planning target volumes (PTV) and organs were quantified from the deformation vector fields with rigid registrations as baseline. Results: The measured rotations (mean±std) were 1.0±1.0 deg, - 0.3±1.0 deg, and 0.1±0.8 deg in the sagittal, coronal, and axial plains respectively. The estimated magnitudes of deformations (mean±std) were 3.4±2.1 mm for PTVs, 2.9±1.2 mm for parotid glands, 2.8±1.2 mm for mandible, and 2.2±1.1 mm for spinal cord. The overall deformation in the body contour was 4.3±4.3 mm. The organ spatial deviation due to rotation was small and approximately 8.4% ofmore » that from deformations. Results varied among patients. Conclusion: Rotations occurred about 1.0 deg (1SD) in the H'N area. Daily geometric deviation of target volumes was considerable and mainly from tissue deformation than rotations. Proper safety margin is necessary for adequate target coverage. Online plan adaptation may mitigate the daily differences between the plan and actual patient poses. Partially supported by a grant from Varian Medical Systems, Palo Alto, CA.« less
Effect of chlorine donors on the formation and quenching of the triatomic excimer Xe2Cl

Abstract The formation and decay mechanism of the trimer Xc 2 Cl* has been studied experimentally for electron beam-excited mixtures of argon, xenon and various halogen donors (i.e. CCl 4 , Cl 2 and HCl). Quenching rates of the trimer fluorescence for each donor have been determined. A radiative lifetime for Xe 2 Cl* of 210 ± 25 ns was measured.
Impact of natalizumab on patient-reported outcomes in a clinical practice setting: a cross-sectional survey.

Objective: To assess multiple sclerosis (MS) patients’ experience with natalizumab (TYSABRI®, Biogen Idec, Inc. and Elan Pharmaceuticals, Inc.) in a clinical practice setting.
Escape elicited by bulboreticular stimulation in the cat

Electrical stimulation of the bulboreticular formation in the region of nucleus gigantocellularis (NGC) elicits escape and natural pain behavior in cats trained to escape electrical stimulation of the superficial radial nerve. The effect of bulboreticular stimulation is generalized so that escape is elicited on the initial stimulus trials at an effective NGC locus. The stimulus sites with lowest threshold (25μA. 0.2 msec, pulses, 100/sec.) are found in locations from which escape-related unit activity was recorded with the stimulating microelectrode. The effective bulboreticular stimuli can function as the unconditioned stimulus in auditory avoidance conditioning and can be used to shape operant behavior.
Shear-induced disappearances of energy minima and plastic deformation in polymer glasses

Abstract The potential energy landscape of a polymer glass is examined with regard to plastic deformation under shear strain. Shear strain is found to cause the disappearance of local potential energy minima, as determined by the decrease to zero of the curvature of the local minima. If the local energy minimum which the system is in disappears, the system becomes mechanically unstable and is forced to relax to an alternate energy minimum. This mechanical instability, which leads to a discontinuous change in system properties, is inherently irreversible—the new local minimum will not disappear, in general, when the strains are reversed. These disappearances of local energy minima and the associated irreversible relaxations lead to plastic deformation in polymer glasses.
Coupled Oxidation of Heme without Pyridine. Formation of Cyano Complexes of Iron Oxophlorin and 5-Oxaporphyrin (Verdoheme) from Octaethylheme

Oxidative degradation of iron porphyrins under coupled oxidation conditions, which generally has involved pyridine as solvent and source of axial ligands, results in the production of verdoheme, the iron complex of 5-oxaporphyrin in which an oxygen atom replaces a methine group. Under pyridine-free conditions, ClFeIII(OEP) (OEP is the dianion of octaethylporphyrin) and {FeIII(OEPO)}2 (OEPO is the trianion of octaethyloxophlorin) have been converted into the 5-oxaporphyrin complex (verdoheme) {(NC)2FeIII(OEOP)} (OEOP is the anion of octaethyl-5-oxaporphyrin). Additionally, through control of the cyanide ion concentration, the oxidation of ClFeIII(OEP) can be stopped to produce {FeIII(OEPO)}2 or allowed to proceed to give {(NC)2FeIII(OEOP)}. A convenient method for the preparation of {FeIII(OEPO)}2, and from it the free base H2OEPOH, is reported. Anionic complexes, [(NC)(py)Fe(OEPO)]- and [(NC)2Fe(OEPO)]2-, related to these oxidative degradation processes have been obtained through the addition of bis(triph...
The ‘Azeri’ question and Turkey‐Iran relations, 2000–2002

I argue in this article that the ‘Azeri’ question, that is, the reemergence of ethno‐nationalism in Azerbaijan‐Iran and in the Republic of Azerbaijan, has become a major factor in the politics of the Middle East, Central Asia, the Caucasus and in the Caspian Sea Basin countries during the past decade. This article situates the growth of Azeri nationalism and the Azeri question in its historical context and then focuses on those aspects that have most directly affected relations between Turkey and Iran during the past decade and particularly the first three years of the twenty‐first century. The article then discusses the local, national, regional and international manifestations of the recrudescence of Azeri ethno‐nationalism and the role that it has played in the ascendancy of Turkey vis‐a‐vis Iran in the two countries’ bilateral relations and what this bodes in the future for the politics of the wider Middle East.
DLL3 as a candidate gene for vertebral malformations

Investigations have not identified a major locus for congenital vertebral malformations. Based on observations in mice, we hypothesized that mutations in DLL3, a member of the notch-signaling pathway, might contribute to human vertebral malformations. We sequenced the DLL3 gene in 50 patients with congenital vertebral malformations. A Caucasian male patient with VACTERL manifestations including a T5-T6 block vertebrae was heterozygous for a "G" to "A" missense mutation changing glycine to arginine at codon 269. This residue is conserved in mammals, including chimpanzee, mouse, dog, and rat. Additional testing in the patient did not show evidence of chromosome abnormalities. The patient's asymptomatic mother was also heterozygous for the missense mutation. Since this mutation was not observed in a control population and leads to an amino acid change, it may be clinically significant. The mutation was not found in a control population of 87 anonymous individuals. Several established mechanisms could explain the mutation in both the patient and his asymptomatic mother (susceptibility allele requiring additional environmental factors, somatic mosaicism, multigenic inheritance). Documenting the absence of the mutation in a larger control population or the presence of the mutation in additional affected patients, or documenting a functional difference in DLL3 would provide further evidence supporting its causal role.
Efficiency of lexical prediction as a communication acceleration technique

This study evaluated the performance of a lexical prediction communication program. It showed that lexical prediction saves key/switch activation effort by as much as 50% compared to normal typing. For individuals with significant motor disabilities, the technique may also save on the time required to prepare a message. On the other hand, use by individuals who have significant perceptual deficits may result in an increase in the time required to prepare a message. The study also developed a procedure and a set of indices that may be used to compute quantitative measures of performance of assistive communication devices. The procedure yields a composite performance index that may be useful for “rough and ready” comparison among various AAC devices and techniques. The procedure is especially useful for comparative studies of communication acceleration techniques.
Dopamine D-1 regulation of caudate neurotensin mRNA in the presence or absence of the nigrostriatal dopamine pathway.

Changes in extrapyramidal dopamine (DA) function significantly alter the activity of striatal neurotensin (NT) systems. Specifically, stimulation of DA D-1 or D-2 receptors increases or decreases striatal NT tissue levels, respectively. In contrast, removal of D-2 receptor basal activity with either an antagonist or lesion of the nigrostriatal DA projection increases striatal NT content. To understand better the significance of these changes in the levels of NT peptide, we determined the effects of treatment with the selective D-1 agonist, SKF 82958, alone or in combination with a lesion of the nigrostriatal DA pathway, on the levels of NT mRNA in various regions of the caudate nucleus. Removal of at least 90% of this DA pathway significantly increased NT mRNA in most, but not all, regions throughout the caudate nucleus. In contrast, four, but not one, administrations of SKF 82958 (2 mg kg−1 dose−1) increased NT mRNA levels in principally middle, but not rostral, caudate regions. Lesioning the nigrostriatal DA pathway enhanced the effects of SKF 82958 so that a lower, single dose (1 mg/kg) of this D-1 agonist also increased NT mRNA levels predominantly in the middle caudate sections. These findings demonstrate that DA D-1 receptors profoundly regulate the striatal expression of NT mRNA in a regionally selective fashion, which appears to be unique from that principally influenced by DA D-2 regulation.
Ambulatory blood pressure and coronary artery calcification in middle-aged and younger adults

Abstract Background The objective of this study was to investigate relationships between blood pressure (BP) determined by ambulatory monitoring and coronary artery calcification (CAC) determined by electron beam computed tomography (EBCT) in middle-aged and younger adults without symptoms of coronary artery disease. Methods Measures of office and ambulatory BP were analyzed in 298 asymptomatic adults (134 women and 164 men) from the white population of Rochester, MN, who were 20 to 60 years old (mean ± SD, 40 ± 9 years). For the ambulatory BP measurements, the active period of the day was defined as the daytime, out-of-bed hours and the inactive period as the nighttime, in-bed hours. Logistic regression was used to assess whether ambulatory measures of BP influenced the probability of having CAC detected by EBCT. Results After adjusting for sex, age, and office measures of BP, ambulatory diastolic BP during the active and inactive periods were each statistically significant additional predictors of the probability of having CAC. Similarly, after adjusting for sex, age, and ambulatory systolic BP, ambulatory diastolic BPs during each period were also statistically significant additional predictors of the probability of having CAC. In contrast, measures of ambulatory systolic BP, pulse pressure, and diurnal dipping of BP levels from the active to the inactive period did not make statistically significant additional contributions to the probability of having CAC. Conclusion These findings emphasize the role that the hemodynamic stress of diastolic BP may play in the early development of atherosclerotic coronary artery disease.
Response properties from turtle auditory hair cell afferent fibers suggest spike generation is driven by synchronized release both between and within synapses.

Inner ear hair cell afferent fiber synapses are capable of transferring information at high rates for long periods of time with extraordinary fidelity. As at other sensory synapses, hair cells rely on graded receptor potentials and unique vesicle trafficking and release properties of ribbon synapses to relay intensity information. Postsynaptic recordings from afferent fibers of the turtle auditory papilla identified excitatory postsynaptic currents (EPSCs) that were fast AMPA receptor-based responses with rapid onset and decay times. EPSCs varied in amplitude by ∼15× per fiber, with kinetics that showed a tendency to slow at larger amplitudes. Complex EPSCs were produced by temporal summation of single events, likely across synapses. Complex EPSCs were more efficient at generating action potentials than single EPSCs. Potassium-evoked release increased the frequency of EPSCs, in particular complex events, but did not increase EPSC amplitudes. Temporal summation of EPSCs across synapses may underlie action ...
Early diagenesis in sediments from the eastern equatorial Pacific, I. Pore water nutrient and carbonate results

Interstitial waters were extracted from cores at three locations in the eastern equatorial Pacific and analyzed for nutrients, dissolved carbonate species, Mn and Fe. From the depth variation in pore water chemistry, we infer that organic matter oxidation reactions occur with depth in the following sequence: O2 reduction, NO3− and MnO2 reduction, and then ferric iron reduction. From NO3− results we infer that O2 is largely or totally consumed within the top few centimeters of sediment. NO3− is completely reduced at a sediment depth of 20 cm at a site near the crest of the East Pacific Rise, but is preserved at levels of 20–30 μmol/kg at 40 cm depth at a Guatemala Basin site. We have calculated the alkalinity for pore water samples assuming ions diffuse according to relative ionic diffusion coefficients, that the stoichiometry of organic matter oxidation reactions is that of “Redfield” organic matter, and that the pore waters are saturated throughout with respect to CaCO3. The measured alkalinity increase is only about half of the predicted value. The difference is probably a result of either enhanced mixing of the pore water in the top few centimeters of sediments by biological or physical processes, or the occurrence of an inorganic reaction which consumes alkalinity. At depths of oxygen and nitrate reduction in the sediments, the ion concentration product of CaCO3 is the same, within the analytical error, as the solubility product of Ingle et al. [34] at 1 atm and 4°C. This result indicates CaCO3 resaturation on pressure change during coring. Where pore water Mn concentrations become measurable, the ion concentration product increases, indicating either supersaturation with respect to calcite or that another phase is controlling the carbonate solubility.
NRL Remote Sensing Experiment

Seasat synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images of the ocean contain a wealth of ocean features ranging in size from 100 km mesoscale eddies to internal waves and dekameter surface waves [Beal et al, 1981]. In particular SAR and SLAR (side-looking airborne, or real-aperture, radar) images of shallow water (usually less than 40 m deep) near coastal areas (e.g., Nantucket Shoals, English Channel, German Bight, etc.) contain features that relate almost one to one with the bottom topography (see cover figure as an example). Also evident in the cover figure are tide-induced internal waves (top and middle right in the image), a number of current rips, a current shear front near the bottom edge of the image, and the dark region covering a great part of the middle portion indicating small microwave backscatter power, the result of very stable atmospheric conditions owing to cold upwelling water underneath warm air.
Quantum transport: immune to local heating.

Electronic transport in a nanodevice can be made insensitive to local heating by driving the device into strong non-equilibrium conditions.
Homophobia and Attitudes Toward Gay Men and Lesbians by psychiatric nurses

Stereotypic and stigmatic attitudes toward homosexuality may interfere both directly and indirectly with the care provided to gay and lesbian patients. The purpose of this study was to measure attitudes toward gays and lesbians and assess homophobia among psychiatric nurses. The demographic characteristics of education, religious identification, and knowledge of gays and lesbians had positive affects on attitudes and homophobia. The Attitudes Towards Gays and Lesbians Scale (ATGLS) developed by the researcher specifically for this study assessed cognitive attitudes and the Index of Homophobia (IHP), developed by Hudson and Ricketts (1980), measured homophobia, the affective response to gays and lesbians.
TCR signaling fuels T(reg) cell suppressor function.

Acute ablation of T cell antigen receptors (TCRs) in regulatory T cells (Treg cells) impairs the suppressive activity of these cells, even though they retain expression of Foxp3 and CD25. TCR signaling imparts a critical role in the suppressive function of Treg cells.
Deleterious BRCA1/2 mutation is an independent risk factor for carboplatin hypersensitivity reactions

Deleterious BRCA1/2 mutation is an independent risk factor for carboplatin hypersensitivity reactions
Techniques, terminology, and indications for MRI in pregnancy

Fetal MRI is now a well-established imaging modality for the diagnostic evaluation of fetuses with congenital anomalies. In this article, the authors provide a brief overview of the physical principles involved in fetal MRI imaging, the sequences that are used in clinical practice today, current indications, and limitations. A review of current evidence supports the following indications for fetal MRI: suspected central nervous system anomalies, neck and oropharyngeal masses, diaphragmatic hernia, abdominal masses or bowel pathology not fully characterized by ultrasonography, and suspected fetal infection. Other indications should be decided on a case-by-case basis with close collaboration between the departments of maternal-fetal medicine and radiology. More research is needed to determine the role of fetal MRI in functional neuroimaging at higher magnetic field strengths (3T).
Microbial production of fatty acid-derived fuels and chemicals

Fatty acid metabolism is an attractive route to produce liquid transportation fuels and commodity oleochemicals from renewable feedstocks. Recently, genes and enzymes, which comprise metabolic pathways for producing fatty acid-derived compounds (e.g. esters, alkanes, olefins, ketones, alcohols, polyesters) have been elucidated and used in engineered microbial hosts. The resulting strains often generate products at low percentages of maximum theoretical yields, leaving significant room for metabolic engineering. Economically viable processes will require strains to approach theoretical yields, particularly for replacement of petroleum-derived fuels. This review will describe recent progress toward this goal, highlighting the scientific discoveries of each pathway, ongoing biochemical studies to understand each enzyme, and metabolic engineering strategies that are being used to improve strain performance.
Effect of Pressure on the Quadrupole Interaction in Iron-Fluorine Compounds

The interaction between the nuclear quadrupole moment and the electric field gradient at the nucleus for Fe(III) in ${\mathrm{K}}_{3}$Fe${\mathrm{F}}_{6}$, ${\mathrm{Na}}_{3}$Fe${\mathrm{F}}_{6}$, and ${(\mathrm{N}{\mathrm{H}}_{4})}_{3}$Fe${\mathrm{F}}_{6}$ has been measured to 170-kbar pressure. The quadrupole splitting increases markedly with increasing pressure. Calculations are presented for both a point-charge and a covalent model of ${\mathrm{K}}_{3}$Fe${\mathrm{F}}_{6}$. In both cases a relatively small change in local symmetry with presure will account for the results. The amount of covalency appears to be appreciable. Similar calculations are made for Fe${\mathrm{F}}_{2}$ using previously published quadrupole-splitting data plus x-ray measurements of the $c$ and $a$ axes as a function of pressure. The observed decrease in quadrupole splitting can be accounted for qualitatively. The effect of covalency is negligible.
Medical complications during acute rehabilitation following spinal cord injury—current experience of the model systems☆☆☆

Abstract Objectives: To examine the frequency of common secondary medical complications during acute rehabilitation in persons with new spinal cord injury (SCI). Design: Survey and analysis of data in the National SCI Statistical Center (NSCISC) database. Setting: Eighteen Model System SCI Centers located in urban, public medical centers around the United States. Subjects: A total of 1,649 persons with new SCI entered into the NSCISC database between 1996 and mid-1998. Results: Since 1992, the number of days from injury to admission to rehabilitation has steadily decreased, resulting in the increased potential to develop common secondary medical complications during rehabilitation hospitalization. Pressure ulcers occur with high frequency and were found to have developed in 23.7% of patients during rehabilitation. In addition, autonomic dysreflexia and atelectasis/pneumonia also occur with relative frequency during rehabilitation. Conversely, deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism have decreased, most likely because of greater awareness of their potential to develop, as well as improved methods of prophylaxis. Cardiopulmonary arrest and gastrointestinal hemorrhage occur with relatively small frequency. The frequency of renal complications is difficult to gauge because of the decreasing number of patients who have any renal testing performed during rehabilitation hospitalization. Conclusion: The continued declining lengths of acute care hospitalization after SCI have resulted in the occurrence in the rehabilitation setting of medical complications that were previously seen in acute care. Greater awareness and attention to these conditions are necessary to reduce their occurrence, so that obstacles to recovery and functional improvement after SCI are minimized.
Stimulus-responsive polymer brushes on surfaces: Transduction mechanisms and applications

Abstract Stimulus-responsive polymer brushes (SRPBs) exhibit a change in conformation and structure, often accompanied by a noticeable change in surface energy, due to an external stimulus such as a change in solvent composition, temperature, pH, ionic strength, light, or mechanical stress. SRPBs offer exciting and new possibilities to fabricate adaptive or responsive smart materials. This review summarizes selected, recent progress in SRPB applications in the field of surface wettability switching, mechanical actuation, and environmental sensing. Furthermore, we review selected papers from an emerging area in which SRPBs are used for nano- and microfabrication.
Two new ceruloplasmin variants in Negroes--data on three populations.

Two new electrophoretic variants in human serum ceruloplasmin are described. The first, called Cp New Haven (CpNH), is determined by an allele at the same autosomal locus which controls the previously described CpA and CpB variants. It migrates with a mobility between CpB and CpC. The variant has been encountered in American as well as Nigerian and Haitian Negroes. The minimal estimate of Cp NH gene frequency in American Negroes is about 0.006. The second variant, named Cp Bridgeport (Cp Bpt), has a mobility between CpA and CpB. It apparently has an extremely low frequency. Similar to CpNH, the Cp Bpt genetic determinant seems to be an autosomal codominant gene. Its relationship to Cp A , Cp C , and Cp NH is, however, unknown. The frequencies of Cp variants in a number of populations are presented.
Literacy and development: Rationales, myths, innovations, and future directions

Abstract Literacy and economic development have existed as terms that are inextricably linked in the literature, often with little examination. As one looks more closely at the rationales for this relationship, it becomes clear that much more needs to be known about the functions and uses of literacy in everyday life, how literacy is linked to productive activity and how literacy is learned and taught across the life-span. In order to achieve both understanding and improved literacy programming, it is essential that better methods of assessment and program evaluation be put into place. This paper reviews prior experience in assessment, with special attention to the use of literacy surveys, as well as some of the problems with international literacy statistics. The paper concludes with a discussion of innovations in literacy and policy alternatives in the year 2000 and beyond. Also provided is an extended reference list on the published literature in this area.
Host Plants of the Boll Weevil

Principal plant hosts of Anthonomus grandis Boheman are in 4 closely related genera of the Malvaceae: Gossypium, Cienfuegosia, Thespesia , and Hampea . After Gossypium , the most important host in the United States is Cienfuegosia drummondii (Gray) Lewt. in Southern Texas. However, the complexity of hosts increases in tropical areas. Plant species first reported herein as hosts of the boll weevil are: Gossypium harknessii Brandg., G. lobatum Gentry, G. laxum Phill., Cienfuegosia rosei Fryx., Hampea rovirosae Standl., and Pseudabutilon lozani (Rose) R. E. Fries.
A rotationally switched rod memory with a 100-nanosecond cycle time

Thin film memory techniques are beginning to offer an attractive alternative to magnetic core memories, particularly for high-speed operation. The memory reported in this paper utilizes a plated-wire (Rod) memory device operating in a 512-word 36 bit per word memory system. The DRO mode is employed and operation at a 100-nanosecond read-write cycle time is achieved. In order to attain this high speed, modified concepts of memory circuitry have evolved affecting every aspect of the memory design. Integrated circuit techniques have been employed for all logic and sensing functions and may be utilized to break some of the economically imposed limitations on contemporary memory circuit design. The potential for low-cost batch fabrication of monolithic and hybrid circuits requires utilization of these techniques to secure cost and performance improvements. Accordingly, the design for this memory makes maximum use of the existing and projected capabilities of integrated circuits.
An examination of the long term effect of performance visualization

This investigation examined whether performance visualization impacts the way high communication apprehensive (CA) people envision themselves as public speakers over time. To that end, high CA individuals were randomly assigned to performance visualization, placebo, or control conditions. When asked to draw pictures of themselves as speakers, high CAs depicted themselves in a more positive, vivid, “in control” fashion after exposure to performance visualization than did those exposed to the control or placebo conditions. These high CAs also reported experiencing lower levels of trait and state CA than did high CAs in the placebo and control conditions. These findings and their implications are discussed at the conclusion of this report.
Interdisciplinary perceptions of the dietitian's legal responsibility for lethal dietary prescription errors for patients with end-stage renal disease

Abstract Objective To determine intergroup and intragroup consensus for interdisciplinary perceptions of dietitians' legal responsibility for lethal dietary prescription errors. Design Survey research was conducted by a mail questionnaire containing four hypothetical cases in which the dietitian provides a lethal amount of dietary potassium for an anephric patient. Setting Of the 90 New York State end-stage renal disease facilities contacted, 64 returned one or more questionnaires. Subjects/samples Usable questionnaires were tabulated from 51 registered dietitians, 39 registered head nurses, and 43 physician-medical directors. Measures Consensus was recognized when 60% or more of the responses occurred in one extreme collapsed and dichotomized category of "yes" or "no" regarding the dietitian's legal responsibility. Statistical analyses performed Intergroup and intragroup consensus levels were compared by frequency, mean, standard deviation, and Scheffe test of difference. Results The triad groups met varying levels of consensus on all four scenarios, with dissenting opinions by nurses on two scenarios. The dietitians and the physician-medical directors had mirror-image perceptions that the dietitian was not legally accountable for two cases of following forseeably lethal dietary prescriptions "as written." Eight dietitians viewed the dietitian as legally nonculpable for causing a patient's death because of the dietitian's sole incompetence of carelessness in making a serious calculation error. Nurses met the highest levels of agreement and perceived the dietitian to be legally accountable for all four cases. The nurses in contrast to the dietitians and physician-medical directors, held opinions of dietitian legal responsibility as consistent with the standard of care expectations of prudent health care professionals defined by professional malpractice jurisprudence. Applications/conclusions The data indicate that to protect both the patient and the professional, there is a notable need for greater understanding dietetics jurisprudence.
Critical speeds and buckling loads of a pre-twisted rotor

Abstract The equations of motion of a pre-twisted rotor subjected to a compressive axial load have been derived by including the effects of transverse shear, rotatory inertia and gyroscopic moments to model material removal systems which have external flutes. The finite element method is used to obtain a system of ordinary differential equations. C 0 -compatible finite elements are used to obtain the critical speeds and buckling loads for different helix angles, flute lengths and drill diameters for various support conditions. The critical speeds decrease with increasing compressive axial load. The lowest mode is associated with a critical thrust force which corresponds to a zero critical speed. This critical thrust force is the buckling load of the lowest mode of the nonrotating pre-twisted rotor.