cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Potentiation of carbon tetrachloride hepatotoxicity by phenylpropanolamine

Hepatic necrosis produced by carbon tetrachloride (0.02, 0.06, or 0.20 ml/kg, ip) in mice was found to be potentiated by simultaneous cotreatment with phenylpropanolamine (200 mg/kg, ip), a drug with catecholamine-like pharmacologic effects. The ability to potentiate carbon tetrachloride-induced hepatic necrosis was shared by a compound with agonist effects relatively selective for alpha 2-adrenoreceptors (clonidine, 5 mg/kg, ip), but not by specific alpha 1-adrenoreceptor agonists (phenylephrine, up to 100 mg/kg, ip and methoxamine, up to 50 mg/kg, ip) or by the beta-adrenoreceptor agonist isoproterenol (up to 100 mg/kg, ip). Yohimbine (5 mg/kg, ip), a selective alpha 2-adrenoreceptor antagonist, completely blocked the potentiating effect of phenylpropanolamine on carbon tetrachloride hepatotoxicity, providing further evidence that the increased hepatotoxic response with phenylpropanolamine cotreatment was mediated through alpha 2-adrenoreceptor stimulation. Four potential mechanisms for phenylpropanolamine potentiation of liver injury from carbon tetrachloride were examined: (1) increased concentrations of carbon tetrachloride in the liver from greater absorption or altered distribution; (2) diminished food consumption leading to a starvation-like increase in responsiveness to carbon tetrachloride; (3) impaired detoxification through a depletion of hepatic glutathione content; and (4) enhanced toxicity produced by elevated core body temperature. None of these potential mechanisms was supported by the experimental results. It is concluded that phenylpropanolamine and related compounds potentiate carbon tetrachloride hepatotoxicity through a mechanism involving alpha 2-adrenoreceptor stimulation that has yet to be identified.
Nitrogen Fixation by US and Middle Eastern Chickpeas with Commercial and Wild Middle Eastern Inocula

Chickpeas (Cicer arietinum L.) are native to the Middle East (ME) and must be inoculated with symbiotic bacteria (Mesorhizobium ciceri) to fix nitrogen (N) in North American soils. Whether commercial M. ciceri strains are more or less effective than wild strains from ME soils when paired with various chickpea hosts must be elucidated. Wild N-fixing bacterial strains were isolated from ME soils, and their effectiveness was compared against commercial strains on US and ME chickpea varieties. Chickpeas were inoculated with individual strains and grown in chambers for 8 weeks. Plants received 2 mM (15NH4)2 SO4 (5% atom excess) to measure N fixation by isotope dilution. Plant below- and above-ground biomass and proportion of N fixed (PNF) were determined. Commercial and wild ME strains were examined for genetic diversity by sequencing their 16 S rDNA region. The PNF was significantly influenced by inoculant strains and chickpea varieties. Among varieties, Sierra, Troy, and Almaz had the highest PNF of 86.7%, 85.3%, and 85.2%, respectively. Among strains, Jord-M1 contributed to greater PNF (84.7%) compared to Syr-M1 (81.4%). Overall, chickpea varieties had greater effect on PNF than strain selection. These findings support efforts focusing on varietal breeding and strain selection to increase agricultural N fixation.
Harnessing the killer micros: Applications from LLNL's massively parallel computing initiative

Recent developments in microprocessor technology have led to performance on scalar applications exceeding traditional supercomputers. This suggests that coupling hundreds or even thousands of these “killer-micros” (all working on a single physical problem) may lead to performance on vector applications in excess of vector supercomputers. Also, future generation killer-micros are expected to have vector floating point units as well. The purpose of this paper is to present an overview of the parallel computing environment at Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory. However, the perspective is necessarily quite narrow and most of the examples are taken from the author's implementation of a large-scale molecular dynamics code on the BBN-TC2000 at LLNL. Parallelism is achieved through a geometric domain decomposition — each processor is assigned a distinct region of space and all atoms contained therein. As the atomic positions evolve, the processors must exchange ownership of specific atoms. This geometric domain decomposition proves to be quite general and we highlight its application to image processing and hydrodynamics simulations as well.
Reproduction and longevity: secrets revealed by C. elegans

What is the relationship between reproduction and longevity? Evolutionary biology suggests that reproduction exacts a cost in somatic maintenance, a cost that reduces longevity. The frequent occurrence of this tradeoff between life span and fecundity, both due to experimental manipulations as well as natural variation, suggest that the mechanism might be conserved during evolution. Until recently, little was known about the mechanistic details of how reproduction might regulate life span. Here we discuss recent advances in our understanding of the regulation of life span by reproductive signaling, focusing on studies using Caenorhabditis elegans.
Reoperation rates for acute graft extrusion and pseudarthrosis after one-level anterior corpectomy and fusion with and without plate instrumentation: etiology and corrective management.

BACKGROUND Reoperation rates after one-level anterior cervical corpectomy with fusion (ACF) performed without and with plates need further evaluation. METHODS Reoperation rates for graft extrusion and symptomatic pseudarthrosis were analyzed following 48 nonplated (1989-1996) and 35 plated (1997-2000) one-level ACF. Preoperatively, patients typically exhibited mild/moderate myelopathy attributed to spondylostenosis and ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL). Thirty-five ACF were performed with plates: 3 Orion, 12 Atlantis, and 20 ABC Aesculap plates. Fusion was documented on both dynamic X-rays and 2- or 3-dimensional CT studies 3 and 6 months postoperatively, or until fusion occurred. Follow-up averaged 82 months for the nonplated patients, and 21 months for the plated patients. RESULTS Out of 48 nonplated patients, 3 developed immediate graft extrusions within 24 hours of surgery requiring graft replacement. Another 2 exhibited symptomatic pseudarthrosis 6 months postoperatively, and required secondary posterior wiring with fusion (PWF). In comparison, 1 of the 35 patients with plated one-level ACF developed plate displacement 6 weeks postoperatively, while 3 exhibited symptomatic pseudarthrosis 6 months after surgery, and required secondary posterior wiring and fusion (PWF). CONCLUSIONS Comparison of one-level ACF performed with and without plates showed that plating did not appear to reduce pseudarthrosis or graft extrusion rates.
Tea, flavonoids and stroke in man and mouse.

Abstract Background and purpose To evaluate the strength of the in vivo evidence of relationships between flavonoids and risk of stroke. Methods We reviewed the literature more broadly for flavonoids and stroke and conducted an evidence-based review of original publication experiments on tea or tea components on induced coronary occlusion in animal models and on the observational epidemiology on stroke and either tea or flavonoids in man. Each of the studies was evaluated by two independent reviewers. The evidence in total was compared with the Bradford Hill [1] and Stroke Therapy Academic Industry Roundtable (STAIR) 1 quality-assessment criteria [2] . Results The search of epidemiologic publications revealed 7 cohort studies on flavonoid intake and stroke and 7 cohort studies and 3 case control studies on tea and stroke. In studies of tea there was a consistent protective effect. However, the epidemiologic research on flavonoids and stroke was much less consistent. Eleven animal experiments were identified that examined tea or tea components and stroke relevant sequelae, eight of which reported on infarct volume. All studies demonstrated reduced infarct volumes in animals exposed either to tea extracts, theanine or tea catechins prior to or shortly after reperfusion. Conclusions Hill’s criteria of causality are largely met in the case of tea and stroke. A high level of consistency across preclinical studies, of the effect of tea components as single agents effective in reducing stroke volume after middle cerebral artery occlusion, is noted in all rodent models (rat, mouse, and gerbil). Reductions in infarct volume are seen with both tea extracts consumed orally and tea components introduced intra-peritoneally. Observational epidemiology supports this finding in man for tea – the studies are consistent across countries and type of tea and the relative risks are moderately strong. That is not the case for the body of evidence on flavonoid intakes and stroke.
Segment-oriented hepatic resection in the management of malignant neoplasms of the liver

Abstract Background: Improvements in the understanding of intrahepatic anatomy and radiographic technology have facilitated a segment-oriented approach to liver resection. This approach involves the resection of isolated anatomic segments or sectors of the liver as dictated by the extent of the intrahepatic pathology. Segment-oriented resection allows maximal conservation of normal liver parenchyma while clearing tumor. This report describes the technical features and the results of a prospective evaluation of segmental and sectoral resections in the treatment of malignant hepatic neoplasms. Study Design: Patients with malignant hepatic neoplasms that were treated with a segment-oriented hepatic resection were identified from a prospective clinical data base. After undergoing segment-oriented liver resection, the patients were followed at regular intervals. Recurrent disease was the end point of the study. Followup is reported at a median of 12 months. This review outlines the technique of resection, intraoperative events, operating time, blood loss, and the ability to obtain negative resection margins. Results: During the 5-year period between July 1992 and July 1997, 400 patients underwent liver resection for metastatic neoplasms and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). During this period, 79 patients (20%) were treated with a segment-oriented resection. These patients represent the study group for this report. The overall mortality rate was 2.5%; all postoperative deaths occurred in patients with HCC and cirrhosis. Overall morbidity was 26%. The median hospital stay was 8 days. Mean transfusion requirements were 1.0 ± 0.3 U of packed red blood cells. Patients with HCC showed a greater transfusion requirement than did patients without HCC: 2.7 ± 1.2 U versus 0.6 ± 0.2 U (p Conclusions: Segmental resection is a safe technique that allows complete resection of liver tumors with preservation of normal liver parenchyma. Segmental resection is particularly useful for patients with HCC and patients undergoing repeat liver resections or bilobar resections.
The DNA unwinding element binding protein DUE-B interacts with Cdc45 in preinitiation complex formation.

Template unwinding during DNA replication initiation requires the loading of the MCM helicase activator Cdc45 at replication origins. We show that Cdc45 interacts with the DNA unwinding element (DUE) binding protein DUE-B and that these proteins localize to the DUEs of active replication origins. DUE-B and Cdc45 are not bound at the inactive c-myc replicator in the absence of a functional DUE or at the recently identified ataxin 10 (ATX10) origin, which is silent before disease-related (ATTCT)n repeat length expansion of its DUE sequence, despite the presence of the origin recognition complex (ORC) and MCM proteins at these origins. Addition of a heterologous DUE to the ectopic c-myc origin, or expansion of the ATX10 DUE, leads to origin activation, DUE-B binding, and Cdc45 binding. DUE-B, Cdc45, and topoisomerase IIβ binding protein 1 (TopBP1) form complexes in cell extracts and when expressed from baculovirus vectors. During replication in Xenopus egg extracts, DUE-B and Cdc45 bind to chromatin with similar kinetics, and DUE-B immunodepletion blocks replication and the loading of Cdc45 and a fraction of TopBP1. The coordinated binding of DUE-B and Cdc45 to origins and the physical interactions of DUE-B, Cdc45, and TopBP1 suggest that complexes of these proteins are necessary for replication initiation.
A Survey of Darkling Beetles in Desert Steppe Vegetation after a Decade

A survey of darkling beetles inhabiting big sagebrush and greasewood communities was conducted in 1963 and again in 1973. Two species, Philolithus densicollis and Stenomorpha puncticollis , dominated the catch during both study periods. This comparison showed that the abundance of both Philolithus and Stenomorpha has declined drastically during the last decade. Philolithus now clearly dominates the sagebrush community while Stenomorpha dominates the greasewood community.
Use of demineralized bone matrix in hindfoot arthrodesis

Fifty-five patients considering a hindfoot fusion performed by the senior author over a 5-year period were given the choice of having the fusion augmented by either iliac crest bone graft or demineralized bone graft in a study of the relative efficacy of these 2 methods of bone grafting. Eleven patients underwent subtalar fusion (average age, 40.1 +/- 14.0 years), and 44 had a triple arthrodesis (average age, 54.6 +/- 19.2 years). The most common indications for surgery were posterior tibial tendon insufficiency and traumatic arthritis. There were no significant differences between groups regarding underlying disease, medications, or associated medical conditions. In isolated subtalar fusions, all 3 patients who received an iliac crest bone graft experienced healing, as did 7 of 8 patients who received demineralized bone graft. The eighth patient had a radiographic non-union without clinical symptoms. Complete healing of triple arthrodeses was achieved in 13 of 15 patients who received an iliac crest bone graft and in 29 of 29 patients receiving a demineralized bone graft. There were no intergroup differences in the time to union, which generally was between 3 and 4 months. Intraoperative blood loss was significantly less with demineralized bone graft (33 +/- 25 ml) than with iliac crest bone graft (206 +/- 192 ml). This study demonstrated that demineralized bone graft aids arthrodesis at least as well as does iliac crest bone graft, without the increased blood loss, cost, and postoperative pain associated with iliac crest bone harvest.
Feminist Therapy and Street-Level Activism: Revisiting Our Roots and “Acting Up” in the Next Decade

This article explores ten strategies feminist therapists can use to connect their practice further to activism and social protest. The authors present two case vignettes following the ten strategies to illustrate this connection. Implications for future practice, research, and advocacy are discussed.
Origin, structure, and role of background EEG activity. Part 2. Analytic phase

Abstract Objective : To explain spontaneous EEG through measurements of spatiotemporal patterns of phase among beta–gamma oscillations. Methods : High-density 8×8 intracranial arrays were fixed over sensory cortices of rabbits. EEGs were spatially low pass filtered, temporally bandpass filtered and segmented in overlapping windows stepped at 2 ms. Phase was measured with the cosine as the temporal basis function, using both Fourier and Hilbert transforms to compensate for their respective limitations. Spatial patterns in 2D phase surfaces were measured with the geometric form of the cone as the spatial basis function. Results : Two fundamental state variables were measured at each digitizing step in the 64 EEGs: the rate of change in phase with time (frequency) and the rate of change in phase with distance (gradient). The parameters of location, diameter, duration, and phase velocity of the cone of phase were derived from these two state variables. Parameter distributions including recurrence intervals extending into the low theta range were fractal; the mean values varied with window duration and interelectrode distance. Conclusions : The formation of spatial amplitude patterns began with state transitions that were documented by phase discontinuities and phase cones. The multiplicity of overlapping cones indicated that sensory neocortices maintained a scale-free state of self-organized criticality (SOC) in each hemisphere as the basis for its rapid integration of sensory input with prior learning stored in cortical synaptic webs. Further evidence came from the fractal properties of the phase parameters and the self-similarity of phase patterns in the ms/mm to m/s ranges. Significance : These EEG data suggest that neocortical dynamics is analogous to the dynamics of self-stabilizing systems, such as a sand pile that maintains its critical angle by avalanches, and a pan of boiling water that maintains its critical temperature by bubbles that release heat. Beta–gamma oscillations stem from the ability of neocortex to maintain its stability under continuous sensory bombardment. Modeling implies that the critical parameter of neocortex (analogous to angle of repose or temperature) is the mean firing rates of neurons that are homeostatically regulated by refractory periods everywhere at all times in cortex. The advantage of SOC in perception may be the ability it gives neocortex to generate instantaneous global state transitions (avalanches, bubbles) large enough to include the multiple sensory areas that are necessary to form gestalts (multisensory percepts).
Brief review of current research in FXS: Implications for treatment with psychotropic medication

The purpose of this paper is to provide a brief review of current research in fragile X syndrome (FXS) with regards to the morphology and behavioral phenotype associated with FXS and the use of psychotropic medication for the treatment of behavior problems (e.g., aggression) often seen in FXS (full mutation). The lack of production of the fragile X mental retardation protein (FMRP) is associated with FXS and has been found to result in various neuronal changes such as altered dendritic morphology and function as well as altered neurotransmitter functions. A review of the basic literature on animal models and the relevance of these findings for the use of psychotropic treatment of problem behaviors in FXS will be discussed. Future research directions will be presented.
Media power and climate change

Fingers are often pointed directly at the news media for their powerful influence and ineffective reporting of climate change. But is that the best place to point? And are there more effective ways to conceptualize the power of the media and to consider whom they serve?
The testis-specific β-tubulin subunit in Drosophila melanogaster has multiple functions in spermatogenesis

Abstract We have isolated four recessive male sterile mutations in the structural gene for the testis-specific Drosophila β2-tubulin. Each of these mutations encodes a variant β2-tubulin subunit synthesized at normal levels, but which is subsequently unstable and rapidly degraded within the testis. In such testes, the normal α tubulins are also synthesized at normal levels and then degraded. Thus in mutant males the testis tubulin pool is drastically reduced relative to wild-type. In males homozygous for any of the recessive β2-tubulin mutations, the early mitotic divisions, which are completed before the time of synthesis of β2-tubulin, are normal. Thereafter, however, all microtubule-mediated events subsequent to the expression of the altered subunit are defective: meiosis, nuclear shaping and assembly of the axoneme all fail to occur. We thus conclude that the β2-tubulin subunit that forms the Drosophila sperm axoneme is not functionally restricted but serves multiple functions in spermatogenesis, including the assembly of both singlet and doublet tubules.
Effect of oral mexiletine on capsaicin-induced allodynia and hyperalgesia: a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study.

Background and Objectives Mexiletine is a sodium channel blocker that has been used for the treatment of a variety of neuropathic pain syndromes. A recent double-blinded placebo-controlled study concluded that it was ineffective in the treatment of allodynia associated with neuropathic pain. However, this study failed to achieve adequate plasma levels of mexiletine. This was a study in healthy volunteers that sought to push the drug to dose-limiting side effects and then evaluate the effects on human experimental pain. Methods Twelve healthy volunteers were studied using a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover study. The subjects were titrated to a maximum dose of 1,350 mg/d or dose-limiting side effects, whichever occurred first. At baseline and day 10 and 17, neurosensory testing, train-of-three thermal pulses, and side-effect measurements were performed and on day 17, intradermal capsaicin was injected on the volar aspect of the forearm and the pain and secondary hyperalgesia to von Frey hair, stroking, and thermal stimuli were measured. Results Peak plasma levels occurred on day 10 and were 0.36 ± 0.21 μg/mL. All subjects experienced dose-limiting side effects. The mean maximum tolerable daily dose achieved was 859 mg (range, 300 to 1,350 mg). The side effects reported by the subjects included nausea, lightheadedness, muscle twitching and weakness, blurred vision, headache, tremors, difficulty concentrating, dysphoria, sedation, pruritis, and rash. These side effects occurred at an average daily dose of 993 mg (range, 600 to 1,350 mg). Compared with placebo, mexiletine had no significant effects on any of the neurosensory thresholds and pain scores after intradermal capsaicin. There was a significant reduction in the area of secondary hyperalgesia to von Frey hair stimulation only. There was a significant correlation between plasma mexiletine level and flare response. Conclusions Mexiletine has minimal effects on human experimental pain. It is severely limited by side effects and tolerable doses seem to be void of effects on normal neurosensation and facilitated pain induced by capsaicin and thermal heat pulses.
Scheduling vessels and container-yard operations with conflicting objectives

We consider the problem of coordinating the operations of two supply chain partners: a foreign shipping company and a domestic port. The two partners have conflicting business objectives, and the issue is to determine the optimal cycle time, by which the shipping company removes the empty containers from the domestic port, so that the joint profit of the two partners is maximized. The domestic port prefers a shorter cycle time to mitigate its empty container accumulation and land use problems, while the shipping company wishes a longer cycle time to save its expensive vessel capacities. We propose an iterative procedure to search for this optimal cycle time. In each iteration, a candidate cycle time is evaluated by solving a deterministic vessel scheduling problem and a stochastic container-yard capacity optimization problem. We prove the properties of the vessel scheduling problem, derive the optimality condition under which the vessel scheduling problem can be decomposed, and show that the profit function of the domestic port is convex and thus the optimal container-yard capacity can be determined efficiently. Empirical observations on the algorithm computational performance collected from over 300 randomly generated test cases under various problem settings are reported.
A 17 GHz transformer-neutralized current re-use LNA and its application to a low-power RF front-end

A 17 GHz current re-use low noise amplifier (LNA) is designed in 0.13 µm CMOS for low power applications such as wireless sensor networks. The LNA also employs transformer based feedback to neutralize the gate-drain capacitance of a MOSFET. The LNA achieves 15.4 dB gain into a 50 Ω load along with 1.9 GHz bandwidth. It features 4.5dB NF and −12 dBm IIP3 while consuming 7.8 mW of power. A 17 GHz receiver frontend using a similar two-stage LNA and a mixer is also demonstrated which achieves 25 dB of voltage conversion gain at 70 MHz IF, 7 dB NF, −18 dBm IIP3 and consumes 8 mW from a 1.2 V supply.
Perinatal intussusception in premature infants

Intussusception is common in infants aged 5 to 18 months, but there have been only 12 reports of its occurrence among premature infants. Nine of these previously reported cases with adequate data and one new case are reviewed. Many of the infants were believed to have necrotizing enterocolitis, leading to an average 12-day interval between the onset of signs and the operation. Bilious emesis or nasogastric contents, bloody stool, and intestinal dilation without pneumatosis intestinalis were common. A contrast enema showed the intussusception in only 1 of 7 cases. Most cases were diagnosed in the operating room and underwent successful primary anastomosis, with no recurrences. A pathological lead point was identified in 2 of the 10 cases. The overall mortality rate was 23%; the one death since 1970 was secondary to attempted hydrostatic reduction. These cases may represent what, in the absence of premature delivery, would have been the intrauterine development of intussusception likely leading to small bowel atresia.
Agminated acquired melanocytic nevi of the common and dysplastic type

We previously reported a single case of agminated acquired melanocytic nevi, consisting of a localized clustering of banal and atypical moles. We now report 4 more cases, confirming that the initial case was not an isolated finding. We examined the lesions clinically, with a dermoscope, with a Wood's light, and in 3 cases with UV photography so as to exclude nevus spilus from the differential diagnosis. The presence of an underlying dysplastic nevus syndrome phenotype in 4 of the 5 cases raises the possibility that agminated nevi arise as a consequence of postzygotic loss of heterozygosity and, thus, may represent a type 2 segmental manifestation of the atypical mole syndrome phenotype. Further studies of similar cases using microdissection techniques for analysis of loss of heterozygosity pattern are warranted.
Reply to comment on ''Ferroelectricity in Water Ice''

Whitworth claims that the central, incontrovertible proof of the proton-ordered nature of ice XI comes from its neutron diffraction, i.e., the fact that it shows a C-centered 8-molecule unit cell, instead of the usual 2-molecule unit cell of hexagonal ice I{sup 3}. True, one of the simplest possible proton-ordered ferroelectric ice structures has this unit cell. But consider: Ice Ih shows clear neutron diffraction, despite being proton disordered. The oxygens still have translational symmetry and provide diffraction whether the protons are ordered. Ice XI's neutron diffraction requires only a distortion of the usual oxygen lattice locations. The protons can remain disordered. Whitworth ignored this possibility completely. Thus the neutron diffraction is consistent with both proton-ordered and proton-disordered ice XI. Clearly not a proof of proton ordering!
Raman laser cooling of solids

Abstract A new approach is proposed for 3-D laser cooling of solids. Stimulated Raman scattering on a narrowband electronic transition is used in conjunction with 1-photon optical pumping on a broadband transition to provide a mechanism that cools all the vibrational modes of solids while conserving energy and momentum, photon by photon. The individual steps in the 2-photon Raman process are 4f–5d and 5d–4f transitions which are electric-dipole-allowed (broadband) transitions that form a Λ-system. By contrast, the 2-photon transition between the 4f states of the rare earth ion is narrowband. By considering examples of Ce 3+ ions in Y 3 Al 5 O 12 and CeF 3 , elevated transition rates are predicted to offer substantial improvement over anti-Stokes fluorescence cooling when all 1-photon detunings exceed their corresponding Stokes shifts.
The role of professional organizations in hydrography

Many of the hydrographic surveyors, scientists, and researchers are not cognizant of the international and national forums available to them for the essential exchange of information with their counterparts from around the world regarding technological, scientific, and procedural advances. These organizations have varied criteria for membership and all allow the hydrographic surveyor an opportunity to maintain a high level of proficiency by keeping abreast of the many advances in the profession. Hydrographic surveying requires a sizeable initial investment in equipment and training of personnel that should be protected by keeping the surveyor informed of the rapid advances in the profession. These organizations provide this essential ingredient for the successful hydrographic surveyor.
Submarine End Moraines and Associated Deposits on the Scotian Shelf

A submarine end-moraine complex occurs on the Scotian Shelf south and east of Halifax at 30 to 40 km offshore. It extends as a belt of low ridges which lies parallel to the present coast. Some of the larger individual ridges extend up to 55 km in length, with a slight arcuate pattern, and are an average of 50 m in height above the underlying bedrock. The full extent of the system has not been determined; however, a cursory examination indicates its occurrence along at least 500 km of the coast, in water depths ranging from 70 to 200 m. The moraine pattern is not revealed on the published bathymetric chart, because the ridges are to a large degree sub-bottom features, masked by ponded clay and silt deposits. However, the extreme peaks of some ridges may crop out slightly above the clay and silt of the bottom, so that their pattern must be resolved by detailed geologic mapping. The materials forming the exposed portions of the ridges range from relatively unaltered to completely reworked glacial debris, depending on the depth of water in which they occur. Resolution of the moraine pattern is greatly enhanced when the ridges are mapped as sub-bottom features, using high-frequency echograms obtained at closely spaced intervals. The degree of penetration with such an echo-sounder is limited essentially to the base of the clay, but the full profile of the moraines above the underlying bedrock is revealed by low-frequency, continuous seismic reflection profiles. Sub-bottom records and textural data on bottom samples indicate the occurrence of stratified proglacial deposits associated with the moraines.
Relationship of cerebrovascular disease to senile, presenile and cerebral arteriosclerotic dementia.

Abstract A study of mortality among psychiatric patients diagnosed as senile, presenile, and cerebral arteriosclerotic dementia was conducted in Maryland in order to estimate relative death rates. During a 3-yr period, 1802 out of 12,363 subjects admitted to in- and out-patient psychiatric facilities died. The total case-fatality rate was higher in males of both races as compared with females of both races. Age-specific death rates were much higher in the organic group as compared with the functional group. The death rates increased with advancing age. The senile and cerebral arteriosclerotic white males had higher mortality rates than white females, non-white males and non-white females. Patients affected by organic or functional psychoses showed a higher mortality experience than the general population. The possible explanations for this excess mortality are discussed.
From double fold to double bind

This article has been published in The Journal of Academic Librarianship, http://www.elsevier.com/locate/jacalib
Corrigendum: Involvement of a Non-Human Sialic Acid in Human Cancer

Antibodies 14F7 and the corresponding anti-idiotype 1E10 (racotumomab, misspelled as racotumumab) were mistakenly conflated in this review. 14F7 reacts with (Neu5Gc)GM3, was recently humanized (1), but has not yet been tested in clinical trials. Racotumomab induced a human anti-(Neu5Gc)GM3 immune response, which correlated with longer median survival in non-small cell lung cancer (2). The first clinical trial result using racotumomab was actually published in 2002 (3). A phase III trial testing racotumomab in advanced non-small cell lung cancer began in 2011, and is currently recruiting (NCT01460472). These studies do not consider dietary Neu5Gc intake and incorporation as a variable that could affect (Neu5Gc)GM3 expression by human cancers.
SELF-CONSISTENT THEORY OF THE MAGNETOTAIL.

The magnetic field in the tail is confined in a cylinder or slightly expanding cylinder, is aligned toward the Earth in the northern half of the cylinder and away from the Earth in the southern half, reverses across a thin equatorial plane about 1 Earth radius thick, and decreases slowly going inversely with the 1/3 power of the distance from the Earth (Behannon, 1968). The field is approximately constant above (or below) 4 or 5 Earth radii from the equatorial plane.
Chemical bonding investigation of amorphous hydrogenated Si–N alloys deposited by plasma immersion ion processing

Abstract Amorphous hydrogenated Si–N (a-SiN x :H) alloys were deposited by plasma immersion ion processing using a working pressure of 1.3 Pa of mixtures of SiH 4 and N 2 . Films with N/Si ratios from 0.6 to 1.2 were obtained, as determined by Rutherford backscattering spectrometry (RBS) and elastic recoil detection analysis (ERD). A fixed total H content of 9 at.% was observed in all films. Chemical bonding was investigated by infrared, Raman and X-ray photoelectron (XPS) spectroscopies. These techniques revealed a complex Si chemical environment that evolves towards that of Si 3 N 4 for higher N/Si ratios. This evolution was correlated with the increase of film hardness.
Fingerprinting websites using remote traffic analysis

Recent work has shown that traffic analysis of data carried on encrypted tunnels can be used to recover important semantic information. As one example, attackers can find out which website, or which page on a website, a user is accessing simply by monitoring the traffic patterns. We show that traffic analysis is a much greater threat to privacy than previously thought, as such attacks can be carried out remotely. In particular, we show that, to perform traffic analysis, adversaries do not need to directly observe the traffic patterns. Instead, they can send probes from a far-off vantage point that exploit a queuing side channel in routers.We demonstrate the threat of such remote traffic analysis by developing a remote website fingerprinting attack that works against home broadband users. Because the observations obtained by probes are more noisy than direct observations, we had to take a new approach to detection that uses the full time series data contained in the observation, rather than summary statistics used in previous work. We perform k-nearest neighbor classification using dynamic time warping (DTW) distance metric. We find that in our experiments, we are able to fingerprint a website with 80% accuracy in both testbed and target system. This shows that remote traffic analysis represents a real threat to privacy on the Internet.
Multiconformational NMR analysis of sandostatin (octreotide): equilibrium between beta-sheet and partially helical structures.

This paper reports a detailed conformational analysis by 1H NMR (DMSO-d6, 300 K) and molecular modeling of the octapeptide d-Phe1-Cys2-Phe3-d-Trp4-Lys5-Thr6-Cys7-Thr8-ol (disulfide bridged) known as sandostatin (or SMS 201−995 or octreotide) with both somatostatin-like and opioid-like bioactivities. This is the initial report on sandostatin showing that attempts to explain all NMR data using a single average conformation reveal several important inconsistencies including severe violations of mutually exclusive backbone-to-backbone NOEs. The inconsistencies are solved by assuming an equilibrium between antiparallel β-sheet structures and conformations in which the C-terminal residues form a 310 helix-like fold (helical ensemble). This conformational equilibrium is consistent with previous X-ray diffraction investigations which show that sandostatin can adopt both the β-sheet and the 310 helix-like secondary structure folds. In addition, indications of a conformational equilibrium between β-sheet and helica...
Long-term proliferation of mouse thymic epithelial cells in culture

Epithelial cells from the normal mouse thymus were successfully cultivated on tissue culture plastic when plated with lethally irradiated support cells of the LA7 rat mammary tumor line. As the irradiated LA7 cells slowly decreased in number the thymus cells proliferated concomitantly to form a confluent monolayer. The cells now in culture have been subcultured 8 times, have doubled in number at least 30 times, and are still proliferating vigorously. The culture technique also supported clonal growth from a single cell, and nine clones have been isolated. The colony-forming efficiency of thymic cells plated at low concentrations was about 8%. These cultures were never overgrown by fibroblasts. The thymus cells were characterized as epithelial by the presence of cytoplasmic keratin and numerous desmosomes and tonofilaments. They were shown to be mouse cells by immunocytochemistry with species specific antibodies, by isoenzyme analysis, and by karyology. The cells stained when reacted with antibodies to tubulin, vimentin, and actin, but not with antibodies to Thy-1.2, Lyt-1, Lyt-2, Ia, or H-2 proteins. More than 85% of the cells had a normal mouse diploid chromosome number of 40. This culture technique opens the way for future studies of T-cell education with homogeneous thymic epithelial cell populations both in vitro and after reimplantation into genetically defined strains of mice.
Laser direct synthesis of graphene on quartz

We demonstrate a laser-based technique to directly synthesize few layer graphene on quartz substrates without using any metal catalyst. In our approach, a photoresist S-1805 (from Shipley Comp.) film coated on quartz wafers was heated, and then decomposed, by irradiation of a continuous-wave laser. The carbon atoms from the photoresist were dissolved in the molten quartz, and then extracted to form graphene when the temperature of the quartz was decreased. Raman spectroscopy shows the as-produced graphene is two to three layers thick. This laser-based method will provide a new approach and platform for applications of graphene-based devices.
Theoretical status of computational cognitive modeling

This article explores the view that computational models of cognition may constitute valid theories of cognition, often in the full sense of the term ''theory''. In this discussion, this article examines various (existent or possible) positions on this issue and argues in favor of the view above. It also connects this issue with a number of other relevant issues, such as the general relationship between theory and data, the validation of models, and the practical benefits of computational modeling. All the discussions point to the position that computational cognitive models can be true theories of cognition.
A unified model for left–right asymmetry? Comparison and synthesis of molecular models of embryonic laterality

Understanding how and when the left-right (LR) axis is first established is a fundamental question in developmental biology. A popular model is that the LR axis is established relatively late in embryogenesis, due to the movement of motile cilia and the resultant directed fluid flow during late gastrulation/early neurulation. Yet, a large body of evidence suggests that biophysical, molecular, and bioelectrical asymmetries exist much earlier in development, some as early as the first cell cleavage after fertilization. Alternative models of LR asymmetry have been proposed that accommodate these data, postulating that asymmetry is established due to a chiral cytoskeleton and/or the asymmetric segregation of chromatids. There are some similarities, and many differences, in how these various models postulate the origin and timing of symmetry breaking and amplification, and these events' linkage to the well-conserved subsequent asymmetric transcriptional cascades. This review examines experimental data that lend strong support to an early origin of LR asymmetry, yet are also consistent with later roles for cilia in the amplification of LR pathways. In this way, we propose that the various models of asymmetry can be unified: early events are needed to initiate LR asymmetry, and later events could be utilized by some species to maintain LR-biases. We also present an alternative hypothesis, which proposes that individual embryos stochastically choose one of several possible pathways with which to establish their LR axis. These two hypotheses are both tractable in appropriate model species; testing them to resolve open questions in the field of LR patterning will reveal interesting new biology of wide relevance to developmental, cell, and evolutionary biology.
Late-Quaternary climatic change on the American North Pacific Coast

The late Quaternary climate of the North Pacific, where according to modelling the solar radiation in the early Holocene at the time of the summer solstice is high and in the late Holocene is relatively low, is investigated. Quantitative temperature and precipitation estimates from southern Alaska are compared with estimates from western Washington and British Columbia. Data extending over more than 10,000 years show a broadly consistent pattern of climatic change in general agreement with predicted variations in solar radiation and their effect on atmospheric circulation and seasonal duration of pressure systems over the North Pacific Ocean. In the early Holocene, the subtropical North Pacific anticyclone annually regulated climate for a longer period at higher latitudes than at present, so that warmth and dryness increased in southern Alaska. The Aleutian low-pressure center intensified during the late Holocene, resulting in colder and more humid coastal climate and increased frequency of glacier growth in the cordillera.
LACK OF ASSOCIATION OF PROSTATE CARCINOMA NUCLEAR GRADING WITH PROSTATE SPECIFIC ANTIGEN RECURRENCE AFTER RADICAL PROSTATECTOMY

Purpose: Grading prostate cancer using the Gleason system relies only on architectural tumor growth, in contrast to other systems, such as the WHO system, which grade prostate carcinoma based on nuclear features as well as architectural patterns. The prognostic significance of nuclear grading remains controversial since most studies were performed before prostate specific antigen (PSA) screening became widely available. We evaluated the significance of nuclear grade for predicting PSA recurrence in a contemporary cohort of patients treated with radical prostatectomy for clinically localized prostate carcinoma.Materials and Methods: Nuclear grades 1 to 3 were determined in 141 consecutive radical prostatectomies in 1995. Predominant and worst nuclear grade was determined by a consensus of 3 pathologists. Statistical analysis compared nuclear grade with Gleason score using the chi-square test. The Cox proportional hazards analysis was performed to calculate the ability of nuclear grade, Gleason score and ot...
Formation of metastable structures and amorphous phases in plutonium-based systems using the triode sputtering technique☆

Abstract The triode sputtering technique has been used to obtain metastable crystalline and amorphous phases in ten binary systems of plutonium with silicon, aluminum, vanadium, iron, cobalt, palladium, tantalum, rhenium, osmium and iridium. The lattice parameters and nearneighbor distances evaluated with X-ray diffraction frequently show deviations from an assumed Vegard's Law which can be interpreted in relation to the changing electronic configuration and corresponding size of the plutonium atom. When the Egami and Waseda criterion is applied to predict the possible range of amorphous phase formation, in terms of the atomic volume of the component atoms, the observed range exceeds the predicted range in plutonium-rich alloys because the atomic size of the plutonium atoms changes on alloying.
Closed spindle nuclear division in the plasmodial phase of the acellular slime moldEchinostelium minutum

Mitosis in the plasmodium ofEchinostelium minutum is intranuclear (closed spindle) and centrioles are not present at the spindle poles. The nuclear envelope remains essentially intact throughout mitosis with polar fenestrae appearing in anaphase and persisting through telophase. During anaphase there is a shortening in the distance of the chromosomes to the poles followed by a further separation of the poles. Zippering of microtubules may be the basis for these two anaphasic movements. During telophase the polar MTOCs are extruded into the cytoplasm through the polar fenestrae prior to reconstitution of the nuclear envelope. It is proposed that during sporulation such MTOCs are responsible for the differentiation of the centrioles which subsequently persist in the myxamoebal phase of this species.
Gauge symmetry enhancement and N N = 2 supersymmetric quantum black holes in heterotic string vacua

Abstract N = 2 supersymmetric quantum black holes in the heterotic S - T - U model are presented. In particular three classes of axion-free quantum black holes with half the N = 2, D = 4 supersymmetries unbroken are considered. First, these quantum black holes are investigated at generic points in moduli space. Then “linearized” non-abelian black holes are investigated representing a subset of non-abelian black hole solutions at critical points of perturbative gauge symmetry enhancement in moduli space. It is shown that the entropy of “linearized” non-abelian black holes can be obtained, starting at non-critical points in moduli space, by continuous variation of the moduli and a proper identification of the non-abelian charges.
9 The TANTALUSTM System for obesity: effect on gastric emptying of solids

Background: Gastric electrical stimulation (GES) is currently investigated for the treatment of obesity. The TANTALUS System delivers gastric contractility modulation (GCM) signals in synchrony with gastric slow waves, resulting in significant augmentation of gastric contractions during food intake. We hypothesized that such modulation of contractile activity may affect gastric emptying and plasma ghrelin levels. Aim: To test the effect of GCM of the gastric antrum on gastric emptying of solids and ghrelin levels. Methods: 12 obese subjects were implanted with 2 pairs of antral electrodes and an implantable pulse generator (IPG, TANTALUS TM) Gastric emptying test (GE) for solids was performed twice, on separate days, in each subject, starting few weeks after implantation: 1) control, before the start of stimulation, and 2) with stimulation, after device was turned on. Blood samples for ghrelin, were taken at baseline, and at 15, 30, 60 and 120 min after the test meal. Results as mean + SD, analysis by t-test and p < 0.05. Results: 11 females, 1 male, age: 39.1 ± 8.9 years, BMI: 41.6 ± 3.4, 3 subjects with type 2 diabetes. One diabetic patient did not complete GE test because of technical issues. GCM significantly accelerated gastric emptying: retention at 2 hours 18.7 ± 12.2% vs. 31.9 ± 16.4%, stimulation vs. control respectively, p = 0.008. T 1/2 78.3 ± 23.5 vs. 95 ± 31.7 min, stimulation vs. control respectively, p = 0.04. Mean results for gastric emptying were within normal at both baseline and stimulation. Meal ingestion induced only minimal, insignificant reduction in ghrelin levels. There was no significant difference in AUC of ghrelin between control and stimulation. Conclusions: After GCM stimulation, there is significant acceleration of gastric emptying of solids in obese patients, without affect on ghrelin levels. The obese subjects did not exhibit the significant, meal-induced reduction in ghrelin.
The right to die at the end of your life

The Missouri case of Nancy Cruzan brings into sharp focus the medical ethics issue of the right to privacy. It also raises the need for definition of life ranging from cellular to personal. What is it about forced feeding that transforms it into an extraordinary means of nonfunctional treatment? There is the question of balancing benefit and cost (whether personal or financial). Currently we are confronted by the problem of balancing human rights violations against efforts to be “helpful” by the use of heroic medical measures, all of this against the background of ever-changing medical technology.