cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Adrenal steroid regulation of central angiotensin II receptor subtypes and oxytocin receptors in rat brain

The neuropeptides angiotensin II (AngII) and oxytocin (OT) play important but opposing roles in the regulation of sodium appetite in the rat, AngII as a stimulatory peptide and OT as an inhibitory peptide. Adrenal steroids increase the density of AngII receptors in brain following in vivo administration, although the neuroanatomical and subtype specificity have not been thoroughly examined. Furthermore, previous studies demonstrate that adrenalectomy (ADX) leads to a reduction in OT receptors, although regions associated with sodium appetite remain to be examined. In the present study, quantitative receptor autoradiography was used to locate regions where perturbations in circulating adrenal steroids affect the density of oxytocin receptors and the angiotensin receptor subtypes AT1 and AT2. The results show that ADX results in a small, but significant decrease in AT1 expression in the paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus, subfornical organ, and the area postrema. That this effect is reversed by either aldosterone or low-dose corticosterone replacement suggests that occupancy of the mineralocorticoid receptor is responsible for the steroid effect. No changes were observed in AT2 or OT receptors in nuclei associated with sodium appetite, indicating that perturbations in adrenal steroids did not affect these receptors in brain regions implicated in the control of salt appetite.
A systematic audit of economic evidence linking nosocomial infections and infection control interventions: 1990-2000

Abstract Background: Nosocomial infections (NIs) are a serious patient safety issue. Infection control personnel are responsible for implementing interventions to reduce this risk. The purpose of this systematic review was to audit the published economic evidence of the attributable cost of NIs and interventions conducted by infection control professionals and to evaluate the methods used. Economic evaluation methodology and recommendations for standardization are reviewed. Methods: A search of MEDLINE and HealthSTAR with medical subject headings or text words "nosocomial infections," "infection control," or "hospital acquired infections" cross-referenced with "costs," "cost analysis," "economics," or "cost-effectiveness analysis" was conducted. Published review articles were also searched. Inclusion criteria included articles published between 1990 and 2000 that contained an abstract and original cost estimate and were written in English. Results were standardized into a common currency. Results: Fifty-five studies were eligible. Approximately one quarter examined NIs in intensive care patients (n = 13). Most studies were conducted from the hospital perspective (n = 48). The costs attributable to bloodstream (mean = $38,703) and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infections (mean = $35,367) were the largest. Conclusions: Increased standardization and rigor are needed. Clinicians should partner with economists and policy analysts to expand and improve the economic evidence available to reduce hospital complications such as NI and other adverse patient/staff outcomes. (Am J Infect Control 2002;30:145-52.)
Acid inactivation of short-lived rat liver enzymes.

Abstract The stabilities of nine rat liver cytosol enzymes were compared at a variety of pH values. The cytosol enzymes studied were (a) those with half-lives in vivo of 3 days or longer: lactate dehydrogenase, arginase, glyceraldehyde phosphate dehydrogenase and alanine aminotransferase, (b) those with half-lives in vivo shorter than 2 days; glucokinase, dihydroorotase, serine dehydratase and tyrosine aminotransferase and (c) catalase, which has an intermediate half-life of 2.5 days for the protein portion. All the enzymes were stable in vitro at neutral and alkaline pH values. However, at acidic pH values (pH 4): the long-lived enzymes (a) were stable; the short-lived enzymes (b) were completely inactivated with one exception; and catalase was partially inactivated. Tyrosine aminotransferase was the exception in that it is a short-lived enzyme in vivo but stable under all conditions tested in vitro. The finding that long-lived enzymes are stable in an acid milieu and short-lived enzymes are generally unstable was only observed if certain ligands (NAD+, pyridoxal 5′-phosphate, Mn2+, amino acids) were added to the iv vitro systems. Lysosomal extracts did not accelerate the rate of inactivation of any cytosol enzyme in acidic solutions. These results indicate that if degradation of intracellular enzymes occurs in lysosomes, acid inactivation and denaturation of enzymes may be the initial event in determining the functional half-lives of the enzymes in vivo.
FETO-PLACENTAL GROWTH AND THE OUTCOME OF PREGNANCY

The study attempted to determine if widely used standards of fetal growth have been distorted by the inclusion of infants with unrecognized growth disorders. 4505 infants of various gestational ages who survived were compared with 1034 of similar gestational ages who died in the perinatal period with disorders not known to affect growth (group A) and with 51 who died after intrapartum accidents (group B). There were enough infants in the surviving group to compute mean body and placenta measurements starting at 28 weeks of gestation. Group A infants were undergrown at each gestational age compared with the surviving controls. Mean body weights in % of control values were: placenta previa 70%, abruptio placentae 85%, amnlotic fluid infection syndrome 82%, premature rupture of the membranes 83%, fetal hypoxia of unknown cause 72%. There were similar reductions in placental weights. Body lengths and head circumferences were much less abnormal. By contrast, Infants in group B had body and placental measurements close to those of the surviving controls. Mean body weights in % of control values were: acute compression of umbilical cord 89%, birth trauma 95%. Measurements of body length and head circumference were even closer to the control values. Widely used standards of fetal growth undoubtedly include many infants with growth disorders. (Supported by U.S.P.H.S. contract N01-NS-3-2311).
An empirical study of the expressiveness of the functional basis

Function models are frequently used in engineering design to describe the technical functions that a product performs. This paper investigates the use of the functional basis, a function vocabulary developed to aid in communication and archiving of product function information, in describing consumer products that have been decomposed, analyzed, modeled functionally, and stored in a Web-based design repository. The frequency of use of function terms and phrases in 11 graphical and 110 list-based representations in the repository is examined and used to analyze the organization and expressiveness of the functional basis and function models. Within the context of reverse engineering, we determined that the modeling resolution provided by the hierarchical levels, especially the tertiary level, is inadequate for function modeling; the tertiary terms are inappropriate for capturing sufficient details desired by modelers for archiving and reuse, and there is a need for a more expressive flow terms and flow qualifiers in the vocabulary. A critical comparison is also presented of two representations in the design repository: function structures and function lists. The conclusions are used to identify new research opportunities, including the extension of the vocabulary to incorporate flow qualifiers in addition to more expressive terms.
GB virus C infection is associated with altered lymphocyte subset distribution and reduced T cell activation and proliferation in HIV-infected individuals.

GBV-C infection is associated with prolonged survival and with reduced T cell activation in HIV-infected subjects not receiving combination antiretroviral therapy (cART). The relationship between GBV-C and T cell activation in HIV-infected subjects was examined. HIV-infected subjects on cART with non-detectable HIV viral load (VL) or cART naive subjects were studied. GBV-C VL and HIV VL were determined. Cell surface markers of activation (CD38(+)/HLA-DR(+)), proliferation (Ki-67+), and HIV entry co-receptor expression (CCR5+ and CXCR4+) on total CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, and on naive, central memory (CM), effector memory (EM), and effector CD4+ and CD8+ subpopulations were measured by flow cytometry. In subjects with suppressed HIV VL, GBV-C was consistently associated with reduced activation in naive, CM, EM, and effector CD4+ cells. GBV-C was associated with reduced CD4+ and CD8+ T cell surface expression of activation and proliferation markers, independent of HIV VL classification. GBV-C was also associated with higher proportions of naive CD4+ and CD8+ T cells, and with lower proportions of EM CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. In conclusion, GBV-C infection was associated with reduced activation of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells in both HIV viremic and HIV RNA suppressed patients. Those with GBV-C infection demonstrated an increased proportion of naive T cells and a reduction in T cell activation and proliferation independent of HIV VL classification, including those with suppressed HIV VL on cART. Since HIV pathogenesis is thought to be accelerated by T cell activation, these results may contribute to prolonged survival among HIV infected individuals co-infected with GBV-C. Furthermore, since cART therapy does not reduce T cell activation to levels seen in HIV-uninfected people, GBV-C infection may be beneficial for HIV-related diseases in those effectively treated with anti-HIV therapy.
Gluconeogenesis in isolated hepatocytes from fed and forty-eight-hour starved rats.

Abstract Isolated rat hepatocytes from fed and starved rats synthesized net glucose from various precursors at similar rates. [3-14C]-lactate incorporation into glucose was also similar in hepatocytes from fed and starved rats, as was ketone body formation from oleate and octanoate. Rates of gluconeogenesis in hepatocytes from fed rats compare to rates seen in perfused livers from starved rats rather than perfused livers from fed rats. Thus metabolic rates and possibly controls may be different between perfused livers and isolated hepatocytes when using fed rats.
Long range correlations and the soft ridge in relativistic nuclear collisions

Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider experiments exhibit correlations peaked in relative azimuthal angle and extended in rapidity. Called the ridge, this peak occurs both with and without a jet trigger. We argue that the untriggered ridge arises when particles formed by flux tubes in an early Glasma stage later manifest transverse flow. Combining a blast wave model of flow fixed by single-particle spectra with a simple description of the Glasma, we find excellent agreement with current data.
Contract costs, bank loans, and the cross-monitoring hypothesis

Abstract I examine whether monitoring-related contract costs are reflected in bank loan spreads and find evidence that cross-monitoring by senior and subordinate claimholders is associated with smaller spreads. I also find that loan spreads reflect financial contract costs of controlling borrower behavior toward the assets being financed. These results support the importance of contract costs in firms' financing decisions and provide evidence of the importance of monitoring in bank lending arrangements.
The Generalized Chazy Equation from the Self‐Duality Equations

It is shown that classically known generalizations of the Chazy equation and Darboux–Halphen system are reductions of the self-dual Yang–Mills (SDYM) equations with an infinite-dimensional gauge algebra. The general ninth-order Darboux–Halphen system is reduced to a Schwarzian equation which governs conformal mappings of regions with piecewise circular sides. The generalized Chazy equation is shown to correspond to special mappings where either the triangles are equiangular or two of the angles are π/3.
Changes in Signal Dimension of Chaotic Ultrasonic Waves During Data Acquisition and Generation

Recent research has shown that structural interrogation using chaotic ultrasonic waves and state space reconstruction may be used beneficially in structural health monitoring processes. A low signal dimension is vital to the efficacy of this method as low-dimensional signals provide reduced processing and storage requirements and increased ability of the system to resolve damage via statistically robust computation of features. This study seeks to examine the effects that a typical data acquisition (DAQ) process has on the signal dimension by examining both simulated and experimental signals. It is concluded that the DAQ process does not substantially alter the embedded dimension of a chaotic signal as long as the digital resolution is at least 12-bits and that increased signal dimension results in decreased damage state resolution.
Excess resistivity caused by ferromagnetic domains in pure cobalt at 4 K

In uniaxial ferromagnets such as Co, the presence of domains leads to an increase of the electrical resistivity. This ’’excess resistivity’’ δρ is proportional to β2, where β is the tangent of the Hall angle at saturation. We have investigated the dependence of δρ on wall orientation relative to the current, in pure Co crystals at 4 K. The current is always normal to the easy axis. Larger electrical currents and basal fields are used to reorient the stripe domains at will. Wall orientation is checked by Bitter powder patterns at 300 K. Largest δρ is for walls normal to the current. Its value agrees with theory, and is as high as 62% of the total resistivity of the sample. We have also measured the decrease of δρ as the samples are magnetized by a field parallel to the easy axis. It does not quite follow the parabolic law predicted by theory. The discrepancy may be caused by a spatial inhomogeneity of the demagnetizing coefficient in samples having a rectangular cross section. Finally, we have studied the ...
Atom interferometry using Bragg scattering of atoms from standing light waves

The method of Bragg scattering from a standing light wave for splitting atoms coherently into two beams is discussed. An interferometer for atoms is demonstrated by Bragg deflection of a beam of collimated metastable neon atoms from three standing light waves. Possibility of using the interferometer in nanolithography is discussed.
Hypersound attenuation in superconducting molybdenum

Abstract The attenuation of 9.4 GHz longitudinal hypersound along the [111] direction in superconducting molybdenum has been measured as a function of temperature. The results show a rapid (almost discontinuous) change in attenuation occuring at Tv, a temperature ≈ 0.009 K below the superconducting transition temperature, Tc(= 0.914 K). A detailed analysis shows that the results can be fit within experimental error by a simple two gap model of superconducting molybdenum with gaps 2Δ1(0) = 2.5 kTc and 2Δ2(0) = 3.1 kTc. These results confirm the form of the predictions of the BCS theory for acoustic attenuation in the frequency regime where phonons excite quasi-particles across the energy gap. The normal-state attenuation just above Tc is found to be 52.9 dB/cm GHz.
Architectural Optimisation Using Real Options Theory and Dependency Structure Matrices

This paper outlines a methodology for optimising the multi-domain architecture of a relatively integrated system through an appropriate level of modularisation to maximise societal value created. This method is developed through the application of real options theory and the dependency structure matrix (DSM), and illustrated using a reference example of an industrial gas turbine.Copyright © 2002 by ASME
Reaction pathways to dimer in polystyrene pyrolysis: A mechanistic modeling study

A detailed mechanistic model for polystyrene pyrolysis was created that built on a modeling framework developed in our previous work and was used to probe three competing pathways to dimer formation: benzyl radical addition, 1,3-hydrogen shift, and 7,3-hydrogen shift, based on recent literature reports. To incorporate the chemistry involved in the 7,3-hydrogen shift pathway, the 1,7- and 7,3-hydrogen shift reaction families were added to the model. The updated version of the model tracks 75 species and over 3500 reactions. Rate parameters for all families were specified based on our previous work, more recent literature reports, and regression against limited experimental data. The model was able to accurately predict the experimental results for polystyrene pyrolysis for different reactor configurations for a temperature range of 100 °C and two orders of magnitude of initial molecular weight for experimental data collected in our own lab and from Bouster and coworkers and Bockhorn and coworkers. The results from our model were studied using net rate analysis to gain insight into the competitiveness of the various reaction pathways to dimer formation. The net rate analysis demonstrated that 7,3-hydrogen shift is the dominant reaction pathway to dimer formation at the temperatures studied. Benzyl radical addition becomes a more competitive reaction pathway as the temperature increases, which is caused predominantly by an increase in the benzyl radical concentration with increasing temperature. Overall, it is quantitatively shown that both 7,3-hydrogen shift and benzyl radical addition are important pathways for dimer formation, with their relative competitiveness influenced by temperature.
Influence of Monolayer-Monolayer Coupling on the Phase Behavior of a Fluid Lipid Bilayer

We suggest a minimal model for the coupling of the lateral phase behavior in an asymmetric lipid membrane across its two monolayers. Our model employs one single order parameter for each monolayer leaflet, namely its composition. Regular solution theory on the mean-field level is used to describe the free energy in each individual leaflet. Coupling between monolayers entails an energy penalty for any local compositional differences across the membrane. We calculate and analyze the phase behavior of this model. It predicts a range of possible scenarios. A monolayer with a propensity for phase separation is able to induce phase separation in the apposed monolayer. Conversely, a monolayer without this propensity is able to prevent phase separation in the apposed monolayer. If there is phase separation in the membrane, it may lead to either complete or partial registration of the monolayer domains across the membrane. The latter case which corresponds to a three-phase coexistence is only found below a critical coupling strength. We calculate that critical coupling strength. Above the critical coupling strength, the membrane adopts a uniform compositional difference between its two monolayers everywhere in the membrane, implying phase coexistence between only two phases and thus perfect spatial registration of all domains on the apposed membrane leafs. We use the lattice Boltzmann simulation method to also study the morphologies that form during phase separation within the three-phase coexistence region. Generally, domains in one monolayer diffuse but remain fully enclosed within domains in the other monolayer.
Longitudinal Assessment of Self-Harm Statements of Youth in Foster Care: Rates, Reporters, and Related Factors.

Self-harm in youth is a risk factor related to mental health and future morbidity, yet, relatively little is known about the rates and course of self-harm in youth residing in foster care. This study examined self-harm talk in foster youth based on caregiver and child report for 135 children between the ages of 8- and 11-years old. Longitudinal data on course of self-harm talk from both youth and caregivers also are provided. Caregivers identified that 24 % of youth participants had disclosed a desire to die or to hurt themselves. Youth self-report revealed that 21 % of children indicated a desire for self-harm, and rates of self-harm from both reporters decreased over time. While overall rates were similar across reporters, findings show discrepancies between youth self-report and caregiver report within individuals. Also, caregivers for youth in residential facilities were more likely to report youth self-harm talk than caregivers from foster home settings.
Component connectivity of generalized Petersen graphs

Let G be a simple non-complete graph of order n. The r-component edge connectivity of G denoted as λr (G) is the minimum number of edges that must be removed from G in order to obtain a graph with (at least) r connected components. The concept of r-component edge connectivity generalizes that of edge connectivity by taking into account the number of components of the resulting graph. In this paper we establish bounds of the r component edge connectivity of an important family of interconnection network models, the generalized Petersen graphs GP(n, k) in which n and k are relatively prime integers.
Healthy Adolescents' Neural Response to Reward: Associations With Puberty, Positive Affect, and Depressive Symptoms

Objective Changes in reward-related behavior are an important component of normal adolescent affective development. Understanding the neural underpinnings of these normative changes creates a foundation for investigating adolescence as a period of vulnerability to affective disorders, substance use disorders, and health problems. Studies of reward-related brain function have revealed conflicting findings regarding developmental change in the reactivity of the striatum and medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and have not considered puberty. The current study focused on puberty-specific changes in brain function and their association with mood. Method A sample of 77 healthy adolescents (26 pre-/early pubertal, 51 mid-/late pubertal) recruited in a narrow age range (mean = 11.94 years, SD=0.75) were assessed for sexual maturation and circulating testosterone, completed a functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) guessing task with monetary reward, and underwent experience sampling of mood in natural environments. For comparison, 19 healthy adults completed the fMRI assessment. Results Adolescents with more advanced pubertal maturation exhibited less striatal and more mPFC reactivity during reward outcome than similarly aged adolescents with less advanced maturation. Testosterone was positively correlated with striatal reactivity in boys during reward anticipation and negatively correlated with striatal reactivity in girls and boys during reward outcome. Striatal reactivity was positively correlated with real-world subjective positive affect and negatively correlated with depressive symptoms. mPFC reactivity was positively correlated with depressive symptoms. Conclusions Reward-related brain function changes with puberty and is associated with adolescents' positive affect and depressive symptoms. Increased reward-seeking behavior at this developmental point could serve to compensate for these changes.
The environmental context of poverty among older residents of economically endangered Kansas towns

This article reports results of a field study of the impact of acute and chronic economic stressors on elderly residents of four economically threatened small towns in Kansas. Guided by a conceptual model of environmental stress, risks and benefits associated with everyday life m these towns for older residents are explored for four issues: health risks, the health/housing dialectic, maintaining psychological control, and risks to community identity. Psychological and behavioral strategies employed by older residents as well as communities to deal with changes in these areas are illustrated. It is suggested that community intervention models (e.g., community development, empowerment, triage, or hospice) attempting to stabilize, rejuvenate, or resurrect economically endangered towns must consider a variety of context-specific needs and resources within and between communities. Recommendations for intervention are offeredfor rural practitioners (health professionals, community planners, housing experts) and...
Possible biological or physical explanations for decadal scale trends in North Pacific nutrient concentrations and oxygen utilization

Abstract We analyze North Pacific GEOSECS (1970s) and WOCE (1990s) observations to examine potential decadal trends of the marine biological carbon pump. Nitrate concentrations ([NO 3 − ]) and apparent oxygen utilization (AOU) decreased significantly in intermediate waters (by −0.6 and −2.9 μmol kg −1 , respectively, at σ θ =27.4 kg m −3 , corresponding to ≈1050 m ). In shallow waters (above roughly 750 m ) [NO 3 − ] and AOU increased, though the changes were not statistically significant. A sensitivity study with an ocean general circulation model indicates that reasonable perturbations of the biological carbon pump due to changes in export production or remineralization efficiency are insufficient to account for the intermediate water tracer trends. However, changes in water ventilation rates could explain the intermediate water tracer trends and would be consistent with trends of water age derived from radiocarbon. Trends in AOU and [NO 3 − ] provide relatively poor constraints on decadal scale trends in the marine biological carbon pump for two reasons. First, most of the expected changes due to decadal scale perturbations of the marine biota occur in shallow waters, where the available data are typically too sparse to account for the strong spatial and temporal variability. Second, alternative explanations for the observed tracer trends (e.g., changes in the water ventilation rates) cannot be firmly rejected. Our data analysis does not disprove the null-hypothesis of an unchanged biological carbon pump in the North Pacific.
Cannabis and endocannabinoid modulators: Therapeutic promises and challenges

The discovery that botanical cannabinoids such as delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol exert some of their effect through binding specific cannabinoid receptor sites has led to the discovery of an endocannabinoid signaling system, which in turn has spurred research into the mechanisms of action and addiction potential of cannabis on the one hand, while opening the possibility of developing novel therapeutic agents on the other. This paper reviews current understanding of CB1, CB2, and other possible cannabinoid receptors, their arachidonic acid derived ligands (e.g. anandamide; 2 arachidonoyl glycerol), and their possible physiological roles. CB1 is heavily represented in the central nervous system, but is found in other tissues as well; CB2 tends to be localized to immune cells. Activation of the endocannabinoid system can result in enhanced or dampened activity in various neural circuits depending on their own state of activation. This suggests that one function of the endocannabinoid system may be to maintain steady state. The therapeutic action of botanical cannabis or of synthetic molecules that are agonists, antagonists, or which may otherwise modify endocannabinoid metabolism and activity indicates they may have promise as neuroprotectants, and may be of value in the treatment of certain types of pain, epilepsy, spasticity, eating disorders, inflammation, and possibly blood pressure control.
Extracellular vesicles: communication, coercion, and conditioning

Cells communicate with neighboring cells and condition their local environment by secreting soluble factors into the extracellular space. These well-studied facets of cell biology are essential for the establishment and maintenance of physiological homeostasis. However, accumulating evidence has revealed that specific ligands, enzymes, and macromolecules are distributed into the extracellular space by virtue of their association with small vesicles, which are released by a variety of cell types. Although the biological significance of such vesicles was initially debated, purification and subsequent functional studies have shown that these extracellular vesicles are bioactive organelles carrying a wide range of protein and nucleic acid cargoes. In many cases these vesicles are laden with molecules that are involved in cell signaling, although other diverse functions are being revealed at a rapid pace. In this Perspective, we discuss recent developments in the understanding of the major pathways of extracellular vesicle biogenesis and how these vesicles contribute to the maintenance of physiological homeostasis.
Cytochrome P450 2C8 pharmacogenetics: a review of clinical studies

Cytochrome P450 (CYP) 2C8 is responsible for the oxidative metabolism of many clinically available drugs from a diverse number of drug classes (e.g., thiazolidinediones, meglitinides, NSAIDs, antimalarials and chemotherapeutic taxanes). The CYP2C8 enzyme is encoded by the CYP2C8 gene, and several common nonsynonymous polymorphisms (e.g., CYP2C8*2 and CYP2C8*3) exist in this gene. The CYP2C8*2 and *3 alleles have been associated in vitro with decreased metabolism of paclitaxel and arachidonic acid. Recently, the influence of CYP2C8 polymorphisms on substrate disposition in humans has been investigated in a number of clinical pharmacogenetic studies. Contrary to in vitro data, clinical data suggest that the CYP2C8*3 allele is associated with increased metabolism of the CYP2C8 substrates, rosiglitazone, pioglitazone and repaglinide. However, the CYP2C8*3 allele has not been associated with paclitaxel pharmacokinetics in most clinical studies. Furthermore, clinical data regarding the impact of the CYP2C8*3 allele on the disposition of NSAIDs are conflicting and no definitive conclusions can be made at this time. The purpose of this review is to highlight these clinical studies that have investigated the association between CYP2C8 polymorphisms and CYP2C8 substrate pharmacokinetics and/or pharmacodynamics in humans. In this review, CYP2C8 clinical pharmacogenetic data are provided by drug class, followed by a discussion of the future of CYP2C8 clinical pharmacogenetic research.
Evaluation of the Clinitek 200 urinary test-strip reader in the analysis of dog and rat urines in pre-clinical toxicology studies:

The performance of a clinical urinary test-strip reader Clinitek 200 was evaluated for dog and rat urines, in the context of pre-clinical toxicology studies. No major discrepancies were found between data generated by visual estimation or automatic measurement. Analysis of spiked samples showed good agreement between actual concentrations and Clinitek 200 responses for ketone bodies and glucose although a lack of sensitivity was found for the latter. Results for proteins showed over- or underestimation in dog and rat urines respectively at low concentrations, and overestimation at high concentrations in both species. Reproducibility of responses was excellent for ketone bodies, glucose and proteins but was weaker for haemoglobin and bilirubin. High bilirubin concentrations were found to interfere with the haemoglobin reaction. The pH measurements were found to be accurate only around pH 7. Specific gravity measurements were unreliable. Overall, the Clinitek 200 as a screening tool proved sufficiently reliable in the measurement of all parameters tested, with the exception of specific gravity.
Biochemical characterization and genetic mapping of purine genes in Micrococcus luteus.

Purine auxotrophs of Micrococcus luteus were induced by N -methyl- N ′-nitro- N -nitrosoguanidine. They were biochemically characterized by growth stimulation with CO 2 -enriched air and purine intermediates and by the Bratton-Marshall test that is used to detect accumulated diazotizable amines. The mutants were divided into four classes: pur ( EC ), purH , purJ , and Pur − . The pur ( EC ) class was further subdivided into purE and purC by results of crossing all the pur ( EC ) mutants with a known purE reference strain (ATCC 27141). Mutants which were not linked to the reference purE marker were considered to be purC . Genetic mapping was accomplished by using two-point reciprocal transformation crosses. The result of this study indicates that purJ mutants may be loosely linked to purE and purC , and purH mutants are not linked to purE , purC or purJ .
Maximum likelihood estimation from record-breaking data for the Weibull distribution

In destructive stress testing, industrial quality control, or other situations, data may consist only of record setting values, such as successive values that are smaller than all previous ones observed. Here, for a two-parameter Weibull distribution, the performance of the maximum likelihood estimators (MLEs) from record-breaking data is studied by computer simulations. Comparison of the biases and mean squared errors of these estimators with those of the MLEs for complete samples from the Weibull distribution is discussed and some examples are presented.
Evaluation of the oxyrase OxyPlate anaerobe incubation system

The Oxyrase OxyPlate anaerobe incubation system was evaluated for its ability to support the growth of clinically significant anaerobic bacteria previously identified by the Anaerobe Reference Laboratory at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The results were compared with those obtained with conventional anaerobe blood agar plates incubated in an anaerobe chamber. We tested 251 anaerobic bacterial strains. Plates were read at 24, 48, and 72 h; growth was scored by a numerical coding system that combines the degree of growth and the colony size. Organisms (number of strains tested) used in this study were Actinomyces (32), Anaerobiospirillum (8), Bacteroides (39), Campylobacter (8), Clostridium (96), Fusobacterium (12), Leptotrichia (8), Mobiluncus (8), Peptostreptococcus (16), and Propionibacterium (24). At 24 h, 101 (40.2%) of the 251 strains tested showed better growth with the anaerobe chamber than with the OxyPlate system, 10 (4.1%) showed better growth with the OxyPlate system, and the remaining 140 (55.8%) showed equal growth with both systems. At 48 h, 173 (68.9%) showed equal growth with both systems, while 78 (31.1%) showed better growth with the anaerobe chamber. At 72 h, 176 (70.1%) showed equal growth with both systems, while 75 (29.9%) showed better growth with the anaerobe chamber. The OxyPlate system performed well for the most commonly isolated anaerobes but was inadequate for some strains. These results indicate that the Oxyrase OxyPlate system was effective in creating an anaerobic atmosphere and supporting the growth of anaerobic bacteria within 72 h. OxyPlates would be a useful addition to the clinical microbiology laboratory lacking resources for traditional anaerobic culturing techniques.
Factors affecting footsteps: contrast can change the apparent speed, amplitude and direction of motion.

Abstract Contrast can affect the apparent speed of a moving stimulus [P. Thompson, Ph.D. thesis, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, UK, 1976; Vis. Res. 22 (1982) 377; Perception 28 (1999) 33]. Specifically, when a grey square drifts steadily across stationary black and white stripes, it appears to stop and start as its contrast changes––the so-called `footsteps illusion' [Perception 30 (2001) 785; Neural Networks 16 (2003a) 933; S.M. Anstis, Levels of motion perception, in: L. Harris, M. Jenkin (Eds.), Levels of Perception, Springer, New York, 2003b, p. 75]. We now show that what matters is the contrast of the leading and trailing edges, not of the lateral edges. The stripes act by altering the stimulus contrast, and are not merely stationary landmarks. Back and forth apparent motion appears smaller in amplitude at low contrasts, even on a spatially uniform (non-striped) surround, and this is a specific motion phenomenon, not a result of misjudging static position. Contrast also affects the perceived direction of a moving stimulus. A vertically jumping grey diamond on a surround of black and white quadrants appears to change its direction of movement depending on the relative contrast of its left-oblique versus right-oblique edges against the surround. Thus, the perceived direction, amplitude and speed of moving objects depend greatly on their luminance contrast against the surround. A model of motion coding is proposed to explain these results.
The Efficacy of Chlortetracycline at Several Temperatures in Controlling Spoilage of Poultry Meat

Abstract INTRODUCTION THE volume of poultry meat moving through market channels is increasing each year. A high percentage of this meat is fryer chickens most of which are delivered to the final consumer without freezing. One of the major problems in handling the fresh fryers is the short keeping time. The spoilage of fresh poultry meat held under refrigeration without freezing is predominantly bacterial. This information has been available for years. Lockhead and Landerkin (1935) reported that spoilage of chicken held at refrigerator temperatures above freezing was due primarily to surface bacteria. Further confirmation comes from the work of Ayres, Ogilvy and Stewart (1950). The appearance of slime nodules and off-odor has been commonly used to determine spoilage, but Ziegler, Spencer and Stadelman (1954) report a rapid microscopic method for this determination. This was the method used in this study. On November 30, 1955, the Federal Food and Drug Administration cleared …
Interactions of bacteriophage T4-coded gene 32 protein with nucleic acids. I. Characterization of the binding interactions.

Abstract In this paper we examine molecular details of the interaction of bacteriophage T4-coded gene 32 protein with oligo- and polynucleotides. It is shown that the binding affinity ( K oligo ) of oligonucleotides of length ( l ) from two to eight nucleotide residues for gene 32 protein is essentially independent of base composition or sugar type. This binding also shows little dependence on salt concentration and on oligonucleotide length; even the expected statistical length factor in K oligo is not observed, suggesting that binding occurs at the end of the oligonucleotide lattice and that the oligonucleotide is not free to move across the binding site. Co-operative (contiguous) or isolated binding of gene 32 protein to polynucleotides is very different; here binding is highly salt dependent ( ∂ log Kω ∂ log [NaCl] ∼- −7 ) and essentially stoichiometric at salt concentrations less than ~0.2 m (for poly(rA)). Binding becomes much weaker and the binding isotherms appear typically co-operative (sigmoid) in protein concentration at higher salt concentrations. We demonstrate, by fitting the co-operative binding isotherms to theoretical plots at various salt concentrations and also by measuring binding at very low protein binding density (ν), that the entire salt dependence of Kω is in the intrinsic binding constant ( K ); the co-operativity parameter (ω) is essentially independent of salt concentration. Furthermore, by determining titration curves in the presence of salts containing a series of different anions and cations, it is shown that the major part of the salt dependence of the gene 32 protein-polynucleotide interaction is due to anion (rather than to cation) displacement effects. Binding parameters of oligonucleotides of length sufficient to bind two or more gene 32 protein monomers show behavior intermediate between the oligonucleotide and the polynucleotide binding modes. These different binding modes probably reflect different conformations of the protein; the results are analyzed to produce a preliminary molecular model of the interactions of gene 32 protein with nucleic acids in its different binding modes.
Category Reinterpretation and Defection: Modernism and Tradition in Italian Winemaking

When two groups of market actors differ in how to interpret a common label, each can make claims over the label. One categorical interpretation and the group that supports it risk disappearance if the rival interpretation gains ground. We argue that when members of the endangered category become partial defectors that span categories, their history presents challenges to the identity of nondefectors that will inhibit further change. Our empirical analysis of “traditionalism” and “modernism” in the making of Barolo and Barbaresco wines supports this argument.
Is Adding the E Enough? Investigating the Impact of K-12 Engineering Standards on the Implementation of STEM Integration

The problems that we face in our ever-changing, increasingly global society are multidisciplinary, and many require the integration of multiple science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) concepts to solve them. National calls for improvement of STEM education in the United States are driving changes in policy, particularly in academic standards. Research on STEM integration in K-12 classrooms has not kept pace with the sweeping policy changes in STEM education. This study addresses the need for research to explore the translation of broad, national-level policy statements regarding STEM education and integration to state-level policies and implementation in K-12 classrooms. An interpretive multicase study design was employed to conduct an in-depth investigation of secondary STEM teachers' implementation of STEM integration in their classrooms during a yearlong professional development program. The interpretive approach was used because it provides holistic descriptions and explanations for the particular phenomenon, in this case STEM integration. The results of this study demonstrate the possibilities of policies that use state standards documents as a mechanism to integrate engineering into science standards. Our cases suggest that STEM integration can be implemented most successfully when mathematics and science teachers work together both in a single classroom (co-teaching) and in multiple classrooms (content teaching—common theme).
Turnplot-a graphical tool for analyzing tracking data

An interactive graphical interface for exploring turn-by-turn data is presented. A variety of plots are available, not only the traditional phase space plots and Fourier transforms, but also plots of tune as a function of amplitude and of tunes on a resonance diagram so that resonance-crossing is easily diagnosed. Multiple particles and groups of particles can be plotted together or separately, and synchrotron sidebands can be identified in data that includes synchrotron oscillations. The program is written in C++, and is designed to make it relatively easy to accommodate different tracking data formats. The Turnplot is found to be a useful tool in dynamic aperture studies, since it gives insight into the reasons for particle loss. >
Design of randomized multichannel packet storage for high performance routers

High performance routers require substantial amounts of memory to store packets awaiting transmission, requiring the use of dedicated memory devices with the density and capacity to provide the required storage economically. The memory bandwidth required for packet storage subsystems often exceeds the bandwidth of individual memory devices, making it necessary to implement packet storage using multiple memory channels. This raises the question of how to design multichannel storage systems that make effective use of the available memory and memory bandwidth, while forwarding packets at link rate in the presence of arbitrary packet retrieval patterns. A recent series of papers has demonstrated an architecture that uses on-chip SRAM to buffer packets going to/from a multichannel storage system, while maintaining high performance in the presence worst-case traffic patterns. Unfortunately, the amount of on-chip storage required grows as the product of the number of channels and the number of separate queues served by the packet storage system. This makes it too expensive to use in systems with large numbers of queues. We show how to design a practical randomized packet storage system that can sustain high performance using an amount of on-chip storage that is independent of the number of queues.
Microstimulation of the Dorsolateral Prefrontal Cortex Biases Saccade Target Selection

A long-standing issue concerning the executive function of the primate dorsolateral prefrontal cortex is how the activity of prefrontal neurons is linked to behavioral response selection. To establish a functional relationship between prefrontal memory fields and saccade target selection, we trained three macaque monkeys to make saccades to the remembered location of a visual cue in a delayed spatial match-to-sample saccade task. We electrically stimulated sites in the prefrontal cortex with subthreshold currents during the delay epoch while monkeys performed this task. Our results show that the artificially injected signal interacts with the neural activity responsible for target selection, biasing saccade choices either towards the receptive/movement field (RF/MF) or away from the RF/MF, depending on the stimulation site. These findings might reflect a functional link between prefrontal signals responsible for the selection bias by modulating the balance between excitation and inhibition in the competitive interactions underlying behavioral selection.
The Intracardiac Shunt as a Source of Myocardial Oxygen in a Turtle, Trachemys scripta.

SYNOPSIS. The functional significance of many features of the reptilian cardiopulmonary system remains unknown; particularly the importance of cardiac shunts. One hypothesis for a physiological function for shunts is that they play a role in myocardial oxygenation and are therefore important when cardiac work is elevated. In this study we examined cardiac function by monitoring electrocardiograms in red-eared slider turtles (Trachemys scripta) with a reduced myocardial oxygen supply. Exposing the animals to a hypoxic gas mixture reduced oxygen levels in the pulmonary venous return. When cardiac work was elevated during hypoxia, the electrocardiogram changed in a manner consistent with myocardial hypoxia, suggesting enrichment of the luminal blood with oxygen by the intracardiac shunt facilitates cardiac performance.
FlexCore: A Reconfigurable Processor Supporting Flexible, Dynamic Morphing

In the realm of desktop and server class processors, the prevailing trend is to use out-of-order superscalar cores that exploit the hidden instruction-level parallelism in a program. In superscalar designs, the performance (as measured by the IPC, instructions committed per clock cycle) does not go up linearly with the dispatch width, say, n, due to dependencies in the program and higher branching penalties that are encountered with an increase in n. Furthermore, the area requirement of a superscalar processor grows more than linearly with n, leading to poor energy efficiency (IPC per Joule of expended energy) for higher values of n. This paper introduces FlexCore, a reconfigurable multicore datapath where the processing resources, dispatch width and operating modes (in-order, out-of-order, simultaneously multithreaded execution) are dynamically adapted based on the instantaneous needs of the executing application to avoid overcommitting any processing resource. In FlexCore, unutilized or underutilized processing components are shut down to save power and realize higher energy efficiency compared to a baseline out-of-order multicore chip with a fixed core configuration. FlexCore, regardless of the specific reconfiguration mode, always presents the same number of virtual processors to the Operating System and thus requires no OS modifications. A cycle-accurate simulation of FlexCore or many-threaded and multi-threaded applications show that significant improvements in energy efficiency are realized over the baseline design with little or no impact on performance.
Marine fungi from tropical America and Africa.

Collections of marine fungi from tropical and subtropical habitats comprise 18 Ascomycetes, eight Deuteromycetes and one basidiomycete. New taxa described are: Kymadiscus haliotrephus nov. gen., no...