cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A simulated annealing multi-layer router

Abstract In this paper we present the design and implementation of a channel and/or switchbox router which uses the method of simulated annealing and has some similar characteristics of neural networks. We hope this research will lead to a better understanding of the capability and limitations of neural networks as a general design methodology, and in particular when it is applied to the routing problem in the design of VLSI chips. The router optimizes a number of important routing metrics such as: minimum routing area, minimum wire length, and minimum number of vias. Our approach does not impose restrictions on the channel and/or switchbox type (such as fixed or variable channel widths) and the number of available layers. We ran several small examples, including the difficult Burnstein's channel. We were able to obtain good solutions for most of the examples.
The Quality Control of Long-Term Climatological Data Using Objective Data Analysis

Abstract One of the major concerns with detecting global climate change is the quality of the data. Climate data are extremely sensitive to errant values and outliers. Prior to analysis of these time series, it is important to remove outliers in a methodical manner. This study provides statistically derived bounds for the uncertainty associated with surface temperature and precipitation measurements and yields a baseline dataset for validation of climate models as well as for a variety of other climatological uses. A two-step procedure using objective analysis was used to identify outliers. The first step was a temporal check that determines if a particular monthly value is consistent with other monthly values for the same station. The second step utilizes six different spatial interpolation techniques to estimate each monthly time series. Each of the methods is ranked according to its respective correlation coefficients with the actual time series, and the technique with the highest correlation coefficie...
Population genetics of fragile X: a multiple allele model with variable risk of CGG repeat expansion.

A model of the population genetics of fragile X that incorporates an arbitrarily large number of alleles based on CGG repeat number is presented. The probability of transition from a premutation to a full mutation upon maternal transmission depends on maternal allele size, as suggested by molecular data. Transitions among various sizes of premutation alleles upon both maternal and paternal transmission are also included using empirically determined transition probabilities. Multiple paths to the final full mutation allele are allowed. Algebraic results for equilibrium allele frequencies are presented for an arbitrary number of alleles, and numerical results are presented for the case of 9 alleles. The model predicts large frequencies for alleles near the normal premutation borderline and high mutation probabilities for the first few mutational steps. The model also predicts that the approach to equilibrium allele frequencies is quite slow, and that a premutation allele typically persists for many generations in a given family before the final transition to a full mutation allele. These nonequilibrium effects are sensitive to the transition probability from large normal alleles to small premutation alleles. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Differences in the sulfated macromolecules synthesized by normal and transformed hamster fibroblasts

Abstract Analysis of the 35 SO 4 -labelled macromolecules synthesized by cultures of normal (NIL8) and transformed (NIL8-HSV) hamster fibroblasts has revealed the following differences between the two cell lines: 1. (1) The proportion of sulfate incorporated into cell-associated macromolecules is three times higher in normal than in transformed cells. In addition, normal fibroblasts incorporate more sulfate into extracellular, middle and low molecular weight species than do transformed cells. Transformed cells, however, incorporate more sulfate into extracellular, very high molecular weight species than do normal cells. 2. (2) Normal fibroblasts, which synthesize much more extracellular dermatan sulfate than do transformed cells, produce a class of extracellular heterogeneous sulfate proteoglycans absent from transformed cultures. This macromolecular species consists largely of dermatan sulfate. The transformed cells instead release a lower molecular weight class of proteoglycans which consist of chondroitin sulfates A and C. 3. (3) The large, external, transformation-sensitive glycoprotein is sulfated in NIL8 cultures. This macromolecular species is present on the surface membrane of normal cells, but absent from transformed cells. Sulfated large, external transformation-sensitive protein is also present in the conditioned medium from normal cultures. A similar species is present in the conditioned medium from transformed cultures, but has a slightly higher apparent molecular weight and differs in other properties from the large, external, transformation-sensitive protein of normal cells.
Positive feelings of caregiving among Latino Alzheimer's family caregivers: Understanding the role of spirituality

This study used structural equation modeling to examine the effects of spirituality on positive aspects of caregiving (PAC) among a sample of American Latino family members caring for a relative with Alzheimer's disease (AD). Participants consisted of 209 Latino caregivers (CGs) drawn from baseline data from the Resources for Enhancing Alzheimer's Caregivers Health II study. The findings indicate that spirituality is positively related to PAC and may partially mediate the effect of subjective stress on PAC. AD CGs typically provide better care when they perceive the caregiving experience to be satisfying and rewarding. Toward this end, gerontological practitioners should adopt a proactive stance to ensure Latino AD CGs can operationalize their spiritual strengths.
Paramagnetic centers of the nitrite oxidizing bacterium Nitrobacter.

Nitrobacter is a chemoautotrophic bacterium which oxidizes the weakly reducing inorganic ion nitrite with oxygen and obtains from this process energy for carbon dioxide fixation via a Calvin cycle [l] and growth. As the midpoint potential of the nitrite-nitrate couple is reported to be +420 mV at pH 7.0 [2] the reduction of NAD’ by nitrite is a thermodynamically unfavorable process without the input of energy. The EPR profile of Nitrobacter sub-cellular particles resembles, in its major constituents, that of the nitrate reductase enzyme of Micrococcus denitrificans [3] and of E. coli [4]. EPR absorptions suggestive of molybdenum V, an iron-sulfur center paramagnetic in the oxidized form similar to the ‘HiPIP-type’ iron-sulfur center in mitochondria [5] and ferredoxin-type iron-sulfur centers [6] have been resolved in this bacterium. Although the requirements of Nitrobacter and Micrococcus denitrificans are opposite in terms of their relationship to the nitrite-nitrate couple it is perhaps not surprising that a functional nitrate reductase should resemble a functional nitrite oxidase. Potentiometric techniques, combined with e.p.r. (electron paramagnetic resonance) spectroscopy have been used to identify several paramagnetic centers in Nitrobacter, all of which exhibit relatively high midpoint potentials. An e.p.r. absorption is observed in oxidized samples at g = 1.97 at temperatures above 20°K. The Em7 of this g = 1.97 signal is approximately +340 mV and it is suggested that the signal may originate from Molybdenum V. A g = 1.94 ferredoxintype signal titrated biphasically giving components
Magneto-optic Kerr effects in gadolinium

An investigation of magneto-optic effects in gadolinium metal is reported. Samples prepared by vacuum evaporation were studied in situ under ultra-high-vacuum conditions to ensure clean optical surfaces. Magneto-optic Kerr rotation and ellipticity, determined using a null-type ellipsometric method, are used to calculate the magnetic contribution to the conductivity tensor. Data cover the 1-5-eV range at several temperatures. A simple model based on band calculations is used as a basis for interpretation of the data. The magneto-optic absorption is shown to have an intraband component and an interband component in analogy with ordinary optical absorption. A phenomenological intraband theory of the magneto-optic Kerr effect is presented and used to subtract out the intraband contribution from experimental data. Structure observed in the interband magneto-optic contribution to the conductivity is discussed in terms of $p\ensuremath{\rightarrow}d$ and $d\ensuremath{\rightarrow}f$ transitions. Numerical estimates of the signs and weights of these transitions are made in order to support this interpretation. A number of experimentally determined parameters associated with the band structure of Gd result from this work including $d$ bandwidth and general shape, location of unoccupied $4f$ states above the Fermi level, and the amount of "$p$ character" in occupied bands. It is found that the unoccupied $d$ bands have sharper structure and only qualitative agreement in the placement of the peaks compared to band calculations. The unoccupied $4f$ states are at a higher energy than predicted by calculations.
Responsivity-based criterion for accurate calibration of FTIR emission spectra: theoretical development and bandwidth estimation

An analytical expression for the variance of the radiance measured by Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) emission spectrometers exists only in the limit of low noise. Outside this limit, the variance needs to be calculated numerically. In addition, a criterion for low noise is needed to identify properly calibrated radiances and optimize the instrument bandwidth. In this work, the variance and the magnitude of a noise-dependent spectral bias are calculated as a function of the system responsivity (r) and the noise level in its estimate (σr). The criterion σr /r <0.3, applied to downwelling and upwelling FTIR emission spectra, shows that the instrument bandwidth is specified properly for one instrument but needs to be restricted for another.
An intimate view of a spliceosome component

A high-resolution structure reveals how the ribonucleoprotein particle called U1 snRNP engages with 5′ splice sites.
Naturally occurring IgA antibodies to ocular and oral microorganisms in tears, saliva and colostrum: Evidence for a common mucosal immune system and local immune response*

In this study, levels of naturally occurring secretory IgA (sIgA) antibodies to bacterial isolates representative of the microflora of the human eye ( Staphylococcus epidermidis and a Corynebacterium species) and the oral cavity ( Streptococcus mutans serotypes c and d ) were assessed in three different human external secretions. Tears and parotid saliva samples collected at the same time from 22 healthy subjects and colostrum from 11 healthy women (1–14 days post partum) were assessed for sIgA anti-bacterial antibody levels by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Significantly higher levels ( P Staphylococcus epidermidis and the Corynebacterium sp. were found in tears than in parotid saliva. Furthermore, higher levels of sIgA antibodies to Streptococcus mutans serotype d occurred in parotid saliva than in tears of these subjects. Although levels of salivary sIgA antibodies to S. mutans serotype c were lower than those seen to serotype d , they were not significantly different from those in tears. However, absolute sIgA anti-serotype c antibodies per mg IgA were higher in saliva than in tears. When sIgA antibody levels to the four bacterial strains were assessed in colostrum, the proportion of sIgA antibodies per mg IgA were much lower than seen in tears or saliva. These results suggest that natural sIgA antibodies which occur in human external secretions are induced by antigen ingestion and stimulation of the common mucosal immune system. However, the local presence of antigen at a mucosal site induces greater clonal expression and results in higher levels of sIgA antibodies than at mucosal sites not exposed to local antigenic stimulation.
Lack of mutagenic influence of temperature shock on presyngamic sperm nuclei

Abstract In order to test for the influence of temperature shock on lethal mutation frequency in the presyngamic sperm nucleus, freshly laid fertilized eggs of Drosophila melanogaster were subjected to short periods of very high (≈37°) or very low (≈0°) temperatures. The frequencies of recessive X-chromosome lethals recovered were not significantly different from that of the control frequency. Thus, temperature shock administered to the sperm after it has penetrated the egg but before syngamy has occured does not change the recessive lethal mutation frequency. Both extremes of temperature shock to the eggs did result in great increases in sterility of F1 females which arose from them. It is suggested that the sterilizing effect of temperature is the result of an influence on polar plasm, pole cells, or polar nuclei.
Sociometric Status Patterns and Characteristics of Interaction

(1956). Sociometric Status Patterns and Characteristics of Interaction. The Journal of Social Psychology: Vol. 43, No. 2, pp. 289-297.
Mechanism of gastric antisecretory effect of thiocyanate: further evidence for the thiocyanate-induced impediment in gastric H+,K+-ATPase function.

Abstract Two hypotheses have recently been proposed for the thiocyanate inhibition of gastric acid secretion—a protonophore mechanism and an uncoupling model. The mechanistic aspects for the latter scheme have been examined on the following basis: capability of generating verifiable predictions, supporting evidence that is unambiguous, and compatibility with experimental realities. Gastric microsomes bind 5 nmol of SCN−/mg, and a “pure” and highly active fraction of H+,K+-ATPase prepared from gastric microsomes binds about 15 nmol of SCN−/mg. The affinity of SCN− binding to gastric microsomes changes from 10 to 25 mM in the presence of 20 mM K+ suggesting competition between K+ and SCN−. Potassium also displaces the bound SCN− from “pure” H+,K+ ATPase with a Ki of about 25 mM. Of the cations tested—Tl+, K+, Rb+, Cs+, NH4+, Na+, and Li+—Tl+ was the most effective in displacing bound SCN− while Na+ and Li+ were without effect. The effects of anions such as Cl−, NO3−, and gluconate were found to be nonspecific and absolutely dependent on K+ as cocation. Sulfate and OCN−, on the other hand, showed an ability to displace SCN− as both K+ and Na+ salts. For SO4−2 the K+ form was much more effective than the Na+ salt. Besides these antagonistic effects of K+ and congeners with the H+,K+-ATPase-bound SCN−, a competition between K+ and SCN− was also observed at the level of gastric K+-stimulated pNPPase reaction. The effects of SCN− and two other unrelated anions, F− and NO2−, on artificial ΔpH across the microsomal vesicles exhibited a lack of appreciable change up to 5 mM and a small (about 13%) reduction between 10 and 20 mM. However, a combination of CCCP and nigericin or valinomycin completely abolished the ΔpH under identical conditions. The present data in conjunction with other reports suggest that the proton impediment model best explains the gastric antisecretory effects of SCN−.
Counterpoint: Self-Monitoring of Blood Glucose in Type 2 Diabetic Patients not Receiving Insulin: A waste of money

Most people would agree that treatment plans, especially those that have invasive components and/or are expensive, should result in improved clinical outcomes. Self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG), as part of a treatment plan, fulfills both of these criteria but does have the potential to improve outcomes by lowering glycemia and thereby decreasing diabetic retinopathy, nephropathy, and neuropathy. In insulin-requiring patients, A1C levels are inversely related to the frequency of SMBG measurements (1–7), attesting to the beneficial effect of this component of the treatment plan. However, simply measuring blood glucose is ineffective. In one study (8), increased frequency of SMBG resulted in lower A1C levels only in those who self-adjusted their insulin doses, not in the insulin-requiring patients who did not (strongly suggesting that acting on the values is necessary). What about type 2 diabetic patients not receiving insulin? A large number of studies have been carried out to answer this question, and the evidence is distinctly underwhelming. Randomized clinical trials are considered the best approach to evaluate these kinds of clinical questions, and six studies in which the patients were randomized have been published. In the earliest one, which included both insulin- and non–insulin-requring patients and lasted for 6 months (2), 68 non–insulin-requiring patients were randomized to SMBG, 72 to measuring urine glucose semiquantitatively (both groups being asked to do so twice every other day), and 68 to a control group. Compliance with requested SMBG testing was 50%. The baseline A1C levels were 7.8, 8.5, and 7.7%, respectively. The changes in A1C levels in each group at the end of the study were −0.4, −0.1, and −0.5%, respectively, which were not statistically significant. In a second study (9), 27 patients were randomized to SMBG and 27 to measuring urine glucose semiquantitatively, both before each meal every other day. …
Uncoupling the Perron eigenvector problem

Abstract For a nonnegative irreducible matrix A with spectral radius ϱ, this paper is concerned with the determination of the unique normalized Perron vector π which satisfies A π = ϱπ, π #&62; 0, Σ j π j = 1 . It is explained how to uncouple a large matrix A into two or more smaller matrices—say P 11 , P 22 ,…, P kk — such that this sequence of smaller matrices has the following properties: (1) Each P ii is also nonnegative and irreducible, so that each Pii has a unique Perron vector π(i). (2) Each Pii has the same spectral radius ϱ as A. (3) It is possible to determine the π(i)'s completely independently of each other, so that one can execute the computation of the π(i)'s parallel. (4) It is easy to couple the smaller Perron vectors π(i) back together in order to produce the Perron vector π for the original matrix A.
Horizontal distribution of pelagic zooplankton in relation to predation gradients

An investigation was conducted examining the horizontal and vertical distribution of zooplankton in Lake Miramar, a southern California reservoir. Daphnia and Mesocyclops populations were most abundant offshore and in deeper water during the day but appeared to move toward shore and upward at night. The results of inshore zooplankton sampling provided no evidence chat the diel horizontal migration pattern was a result of sampler avoidance by zooplankton. Inshore-offshore differences in Daphnia and Mesocyclops abundance and diel migrations were reduced during winter and early spring. Rotifer zooplankters exhibited less seasonal variation in their horizontal distributions than did the large crustacean zooplankters at all times of the year. It is hypothesized that the spatial distribution of zooplankton is related to predation gradients in Lake Miramar. The dominant planktivore in the reservoir, young-of-the-year Micropterus salmoides. was abundant from late May through December and much less so from January to early May. They were largely restricted to the littoral zone and this produced horizontal gradients of planktivory which varied in strength seasonally and from day lo night. It appears that crustacean zooplankton in Lake Miramar avoid areas with abundant planktivores during the day but migrate into these areas at night when the intensity of planktivory is reduced. Rotifers exhibit less horizontal heterogeneity and no significant diel migrations, which is attributed to the reduced risk of predation that rotifers experience relative to crustacean zooplankters. A graphical model is proposed to integrate our understanding of diel vertical and horizontal migrations of zooplankton. In this model, gradients of predation are completely vertical in offshore areas and strongly horizontal in near shore areas. Gradients of food availability are roughly similar to those of predation intensity. Plankiers respond to these gradients by migrating in a path parallel to gradients of predation at dawn and parallel to gradients of food availability after dark.
An investigation of documents from the World Wide Web

Abstract We report on our examination of pages from the World Wide Web. We have analyzed data collected by the Inktomi Web crawler (this data currently comprises over 2.6 million HTML documents). We have examined many characteristics of these documents, including: document size; number and types of tags, attributes, file extensions, protocols, and ports; the number of in-links; and the ratio of document size to the number of tags and attributes. For a more limited set of documents, we have examined the following: the number and types of syntax errors and readability scores. These data have been aggregated to create a number of ranked lists, e.g., the ten most-used tags, the ten most common HTML errors.
Inhibition of the PI3K Pathway Suppresses Hormonal Secretion and Limits Growth in Pheochromocytoma Cells

Background Operative resection is the only curative treatment for pheochromocytomas. Inhibition of the phosphatidylinositol-3 kinase (PI3K)-Akt pathway has been shown to be an effective treatment of neuroendocrine (NE) tumors in vitro. We hypothesized that inhibition of the PI3K-Akt pathway would be a viable strategy to inhibit growth and hormonal secretion in pheochromocytoma cells.
Tertiary marine paleotemperatures

Oxygen isotopic compositions of the tests of planktonic foraminifera from several Deep Sea Drilling Project sites provide a general picture of low-latitude marine temperatures from Maastrichtian time to the present. Bottom temperatures determined from the isotopic compositions of benthonic foraminifera are interpreted as being indicative of high-latitude surface temperatures. Prior to the beginning of middle Miocene time, high- and low-latitude temperatures changed in parallel fashion. Following an apparently small and short-lived drop in temperature near the Tertiary-Cretaceous boundary, temperatures remained warm and relatively constant through Paleocene and early and middle Eocene time; bottom temperatures then were on the order of 12°C. A sharp temperature drop in late Eocene time was followed by a more gradual lowering of temperature, culminating in a late Oligocene high-latitude temperature minimum of about 4°C. A temperature rise through early Miocene time was followed in middle Miocene time by a sudden divergence of high- and low-latitude temperatures: high-latitude temperatures dropped dramatically, perhaps corresponding to the onset of major glaciation in Antarctica, but low-latitude temperatures remained constant or perhaps increased. This uncoupling of high-and low-latitude temperatures is postulated to be related to the establishment of a circum-Antarctic circulation similar to that of today. A further drop in high-latitude temperatures in late Pliocene time probably signaled the onset of a major increase in polar glaciation, including extensive sea-ice formation. Early Miocene, small-amplitude (1 per mil) sympathetic fluctuations in isotopic compositions of planktonic and benthonic foraminifera have been identified. These have a period of several hundred thousand years. Superimposed upon these are much more rapid and smaller fluctuations (0.2 to 0.5 per mil) with a period of about 80,000 to 90,000 yr. This is similar to the period observed for Pleistocene isotopic temperature fluctuations. In low latitudes, much smaller vertical temperature gradients seem to have existed during Maastrichtian and Paleogene time than exist at present. The absence of a sharply defined thermocline during early Tertiary time is also suggested.
Rectal perflubron: new application in MRI of perirectal fistulae

PURPOSE Our goal was to determine the efficacy of MRI with rectal administration of perflubron in the evaluation of perirectal and pelvic fistulae, with an emphasis on development of an improved method for fistula visualization. METHOD Fourteen pelvic and/or perirectal fistulae were evaluated in nine patients with MRI after the rectal administration of 200 ml of perflubron. Images were reviewed by two independent readers and evaluated for the presence or absence of fistulae. Qualitative assessment was also performed, rating the examinations for the ability to visualize the fistulae. Comparison was made with the clinical examination and/or operative findings, as well as available preperflubron imaging studies (CT = 10; fluoroscopy = 1; preperflubron MRI = 4). RESULTS MRI with rectal perflubron demonstrated all 14 fistulae (100%), while preperflubron imaging demonstrated only 7 of 14 (50%) fistulae (p < or = 0.008, Wilcoxon signed rank test). In addition, MRI with perflubron resulted in significantly improved qualitative visualization of fistulae (overall very good rating versus poor rating for preperflubron imaging, p < or = 0.006, Wilcoxon signed rank test). CONCLUSION MRI with rectal perflubron is a superior modality for imaging of fistulae, compared with conventional methods, since it allows a noninvasive means of demonstrating the presence of a fistula as well as offers improved qualitative assessment of fistulous disease.
The thermal blooming spectrum of liquid benzene in the near ultraviolet

Abstract The two-photon thermal blooming spectrum of liquid benzene is reported for the 5.8–7.4 eV region (215–167 nm) using both linearly and circularly polarized light. The spectrum resembles that of the familiar one-photon transitions to the 1B1u and 1E1u states No allowed two-photon transitions in this region are found.
A scalable parallelization of the gene duplication problem

Phylogenetics is a branch of computational and evolutionary biology dealing with the inference of trees depicting evolutionary relationships among species and/or sequences. An important problem in phylogenetics is to find a species tree that is most parsimonious with a given set of gene trees, which are derived from sequencing multiple gene families from various subsets of species. The gene duplication problem is to compute a species tree that requires the minimum number of gene duplication events to reconciliate with the given set of gene trees. The best known heuristic algorithm for this NP-hard problem is a local optimization technique that runs in O(n^2+kmn) time per search step, where k is the number of gene trees, n is the size of the species tree, and m is the maximum size of a gene tree. In this paper, we present a parallel algorithm for the gene duplication problem that runs in O(n^2+kmnp) time for up to p=O(nklogk) processors. Our algorithm exploits multiple levels of parallelism by parallelizing both the exploration of the search neighborhood and reconciliating of the gene trees with species trees in the neighborhood. Due to the wide variance in the sizes of the gene trees, it is difficult to completely characterize the behavior of the algorithm analytically. We present experimental results on the Blue Gene/L to study both levels of parallelism and how best they should be combined to achieve overall minimum execution time. On a large problem that took about 62.5 h on a 3 GHz Pentium 4, our parallel algorithm ran in 7.7 min on a 1024 node Blue Gene/L.
First-principles theoretical study on the electronic properties of the B 32 intermetallic compound LiAl

The electronic properties of the ordered LiAl crystal are studied within the self-consistent (non-muffin-tin) numerical-basis-set approach to the local-density formalism. The material appears to be electronically a semimetal with an electron pocket near $X$ (along $\ensuremath{\Delta}$) and a hole pocket at $\ensuremath{\Gamma}$. The band structure and density of states have characteristics similar to that of the tetrahedrally bonded IV-IV semiconductors (LiAl has a ${T}_{d}$ site symmetry); however, the indirect ${\ensuremath{\Gamma}}_{{25}^{\ensuremath{'}}}\ensuremath{-}{X}_{1}$ band gap (which decreases progressively as one goes along the diamond, Si, Ge, and $\ensuremath{\alpha}\ensuremath{-}\mathrm{Sn}$ series) becomes negative in LiAl. A study of charge redistribution effects indicates that while the Li-Al bond is an ionically polarized covalent bond, the Al-Al bonds are metalliclike and the Li-Li bonds are essentially nonbonding. Wave-function population analysis indicates that the bottom of the occupied valence band is of predominantly $\mathrm{Li} 2s$ character (hybridized with $\mathrm{Al} 3s$), while at higher energies the $\mathrm{Li} 2s$ character is reduced in favor of the Li and $\mathrm{Al} p$ character, which are dominant around the Fermi energy. The main intrasite-charge-redistribution effects involve pronounced $\mathrm{Li} 2s$ to $\mathrm{Li} 2p$ promotion (with a smaller $s\ensuremath{-}p$ promotion on the Al site) while the intersite (ionic) redistribution effects are found to be small. The observed trends in the measured Knight shifts (relative to the pure constituent metals) as well as the small paramagnetism and its dependence on the Li concentration are discussed in terms of these bonding effects. The abrupt changes in the differential electrical resistivity at \ensuremath{\sim} 100\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K is tentatively assigned to a structural instability induced by electron-hole interaction effects.
Trigeminal deafferentation and prehension in the pigeon

During the grasping and manipulation phases of the pigeon's ingestive pecking behavior, jaw opening movements are scaled to the size of the target (food) object. To assess the contribution of beak mechanoreceptor afferents to the control of scaling we examined the effects of bilateral trigeminal deafferentation upon the kinematics of jaw opening trajectories. Deafferented subjects exhibited both a transient reduction in the accuracy of peck localization and a more persistent deficit in the effectiveness of their ingestive pecking response. However, they continued to exhibit the same classes of jaw movement described for the normal pigeon. The functional relation between target size and gape remained unchanged after deafferentation as did the relationships among kinematic variables controlling jaw opening. However, deafferentation produced small but significant increase in the absolute values of peak gape for both grasping and mandibulation which reflects an increase in peak opening velocity. The results are discussed in relation to the problem of sensory control of rapid targeted movements.
Targeting mutant p53 protein and the tumor vasculature: an effective combination therapy for advanced breast tumors

Breast cancer progression depends upon the elaboration of a vasculature sufficient for the nourishment of the developing tumor. Breast tumor cells frequently contain a mutant form of p53 (mtp53), a protein which promotes their survival. The aim of this study was to determine whether combination therapy targeting mtp53 and anionic phospholipids (AP) on tumor blood vessels might be an effective therapeutic strategy for suppressing advanced breast cancer. We examined the therapeutic effects, singly, or in combination, of p53 reactivation and induction of massive apoptosis (PRIMA-1), which reactivates mtp53 and induces tumor cell apoptosis, and 2aG4, a monoclonal antibody that disrupts tumor vasculature by targeting AP on the surface of tumor endothelial cells and causes antibody-dependent destruction of tumor blood vessels, leading to ischemia and tumor cell death. Xenografts from two tumor cell lines containing mtp53, BT-474 and HCC-1428, were grown in nude mice to provide models of advanced breast tumors. After treatment with PRIMA-1 and/or 2aG4, regressing tumors were analyzed for vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression, blood vessel loss, and apoptotic markers. Individual drug treatment led to partial suppression of breast cancer progression. In contrast, combined treatment with PRIMA-1 and 2aG4 was extremely effective in suppressing tumor growth in both models and completely eradicated approximately 30% of tumors in the BT-474 model. Importantly, no toxic effects were observed in any treatment group. Mechanistic studies determined that PRIMA-1 reactivated mtp53 and also exposed AP on the surface of tumor cells as determined by enhanced 2aG4 binding. Combination treatment led to significant induction of tumor cell apoptosis, loss of VEGF expression, as well as destruction of tumor blood vessels. Furthermore, combination treatment severely disrupted tumor blood vessel perfusion in both tumor models. The observed in vitro PRIMA-1-induced exposure of tumor epithelial cell AP might provide a target for 2aG4 and contribute to the increased effectiveness of such combination therapy in vivo. We conclude that the combined targeting of mtp53 and the tumor vasculature is a novel effective strategy for combating advanced breast tumors.
Calculations of mean free paths and stopping powers of low energy electrons (⩽ 10 keV) in solids using a statistical model

A statistical model is described and employed to calculate inverse mean free paths and stopping powers for electrons of energies from a few eV to 10 keV above the Fermi level in Al, Si, Ni, Cu, Ag, and Au. Brief tables of mean free paths and stopping powers for these solids are presented. In some cases graphical displays of inverse mean free paths and stopping powers are also included. The calculations based on this model are discussed and compared with previous work.
Impact of Age at Calving on Lactation, Reproduction, Health, and Income in First-Parity Holsteins on Commercial Farms

The objective was to examine milk production, health, and economic performance among Holstein heifers during first lactation on 3 commercial dairy farms in California. Heifers (n = 1905) were moved to the breeding group between 360 and 390 d of age and grouped retrospectively according to age at first calving (AFC) as low (≤700 d), medium (701 to 750 d), and high (≥751 d). Within farm, growing heifers were managed similarly, as were lactating primiparous cows, for the first 310 d in lactation. Heifers were fed to gain 0.70 to 0.80 kg/d from 4 mo of age to breeding, and 0.8 to 0.9 kg/d from breeding to 252 to 258 d of pregnancy. First calving at <700 d was associated with reduced yields of milk and milk components. Cows in the high age group produced more milk fat and true protein than medium and low cows. Incidence of stillbirths was highest for cows in the low group (19.8%), but stillbirths were also a concern for those calving at medium (16.1%) or high age groups (13.5%). Both low and high cows had lower conception rates at first postpartum AI, and abortions averaged 9.8% across groups. Days open and number of inseminations were lower for medium than low cows. Incidence of mastitis and lameness was lowest for cows in the medium group. Culling and mortality rates were not affected by AFC, but among those that died, cows in the low group tended to die earlier postpartum than cows in the high group. Heifers in the medium group had an adjusted income value numerically higher by $138.33 and $98.81 compared with those in the low and high groups, respectively. First calving at <700 d compromised first lactation yields of milk and milk components and impaired reproductive performance. However, extending AFC beyond 750 d did not improve lactation, reproduction, or health of primiparous cows. Although not preassigned to age groups before start of breeding, Holstein heifers managed as in this study had the highest economic return when calving between 23 and 24.5 mo of age.
Cost assessment for abyssal seafloor waste isolation

We develop an integrated model for estimating the internal cost of abyssal seafloor waste isolation. The model captures the major economic, engineering, geographic and social factors that influence the management cost for sewage sludge and municipal incinerator ash. Considering five representative metropolitan areas and five proposed abyssal study sites, we apply this model to produce cost estimates for four deep-ocean waste delivery system concepts. The results show that the unit cost depends primarily on regional waste volume, the marine delivery system and transportation distance. Based on available data, the abyssal ocean option may be competitive with present land-based disposal costs in New York City. The option is less competitive in other metropolitan areas.
Long-time uncertainty propagation using generalized polynomial chaos and flow map composition

We present an efficient and accurate method for long-time uncertainty propagation in dynamical systems. Uncertain initial conditions and parameters are both addressed. The method approximates the intermediate short-time flow maps by spectral polynomial bases, as in the generalized polynomial chaos (gPC) method, and uses flow map composition to construct the long-time flow map. In contrast to the gPC method, this approach has spectral error convergence for both short and long integration times. The short-time flow map is characterized by small stretching and folding of the associated trajectories and hence can be well represented by a relatively low-degree basis. The composition of these low-degree polynomial bases then accurately describes the uncertainty behavior for long integration times. The key to the method is that the degree of the resulting polynomial approximation increases exponentially in the number of time intervals, while the number of polynomial coefficients either remains constant (for an autonomous system) or increases linearly in the number of time intervals (for a non-autonomous system). The findings are illustrated on several numerical examples including a nonlinear ordinary differential equation (ODE) with an uncertain initial condition, a linear ODE with an uncertain model parameter, and a two-dimensional, non-autonomous double gyre flow.
Ultrasound-Guided Reoperative Hysteroscopy for Managing Global Endometrial Ablation Failures

Abstract Study Objective To determine whether ultrasound-guided reoperative hysteroscopy can reduce the need for hysterectomy in women experiencing delayed complications after global endometrial ablation (GEA) procedures. Design Retrospective review (Canadian Task Force classification III). Setting Private physician's office. Patients Fifty women who had experienced a delayed complication after a GEA procedure were referred to the author's private practice. Intervention All 50 women underwent ultrasound-guided reoperative hysteroscopy in which the uterine cavity was fully explored and areas of endometrial growth and other disease were identified and excised. Measurements and Main Results Intraoperative complications, patient satisfaction, and avoidance of hysterectomy were determined. There were no intraoperative or postoperative complications. The mean duration of follow-up was 18.1 months (95% confidence interval, 13.8–22.4). Forty-four of 49 patients (88.9%) were satisfied with the outcome, and further surgery was not necessary during the study period. Conclusion Ultrasound-guided reoperative hysteroscopy is a safe and effective minimally invasive treatment for management of delayed complications after GEA procedures.
Usage rate segmentation of the electronic shopper: heavy versus non-heavy dollar volume purchasers

The purpose of this exploratory study was to classify current electronic shoppers into heavy and non-heavy dollar volume purchasers of merchandise or services through electronic shopping and to examine differences between the two groups in terms of shopping orientations, videotex usage, purchases made through an electronic mall, satisfaction with the electronic shopping attributes and lifestyle characteristics. The questionnaire was mailed to a random sample of 1,000 users of a nation-wide videotex company in the United States. One hundred and thirty-eight respondents out of the 600 who returned the questionnaire were electronic shoppers. Based on dollar volume of purchases made through the electronic mall, electronic shoppers were classified as heavy purchasers (n = 38) and non-heavy purchasers (n = 100). Mann-Whitney Test revealed significant differences between the two groups regarding shopping orientations, videotex usage, types of purchases made through and satisfaction with electronic shopping. Impl...
Implant Treatment Record Form

The identification of different dental implants and restorative components is difficult when dental records do not include an inventory of implant components. An implant record form is described. The form should be filled out and retained in the patient's chart for future use and implant maintenance visits.
Low-temperature thermionic emitters using metal-semiconductor composites

Abstract Small metal particles (10–100 nm in size) buried in semiconductor matrices provide a source of electrons which can be optically or thermally excited into the semiconductor across the metal-semiconductor Schottky barrier. These electrons which are now in the conduction band of the semiconductor have only to surmount the surface barrier of the semiconductor, i.e. the electron affinity E A , in order to escape into vacuum. Since Schottky barriers can be made considerably smaller than the bandgap E g of most common semiconductors (1–3 eV), the threshold for electron emission into the vacuum is reduced, i.e. ( E Schottky + E A ) E g + E A ). Some preliminary results on Au-CuInSe 2 composites provide strong support for these ideas.
A comment on the Fetherston and Godley and Posner papers

On “ ‘New Cambridge’ Macroeconomics and Global Monetarism” The basic idea of Fetherston and Godley’s paper is certainly to be applauded. The authors formulate a small macroeconomic model that isolates the phenomena of interest, establish a base solution to the model, and then compare the alternative effects of various policies. This seems the best approach to problems for which analytical results are uninformative or unavailable, which is often the case in macroeconomics. The paper expends undue effort in refuting the view that the main difference between Keynesian and monetarist opinions is that Keynesians ignore equilibrium conditions in asset markets. I think it is unnecessary to do more than point out the enormously influential contributions of the distinguished Keynesian, James Tobin, to refute this view. The central disagreements in macroeconomics relate to the magnitude of certain key elasticities, not to the formal structure of any model. The paper also wastes some effort in trying to evaluate Harry Johnson’s claim that international reserve flows can only be transitory. The heart of the paper presents the computed effects of a number of policies. The most startling finding is the enormous benefit said to flow from restricting imports, a finding that strongly contradicts the general economic principle that every constraint hurts. The paper claims that denying some people the right to the gains from trade raises national income by enough to make everyone better off. Obviously so strong a result as this rests on strong assumptions. In the first place, the model assumes that import quotas do not drive up the domestic prices of imported goods, which is questionable. I would guess that the British demand for most imports, especially food, is quite priceinelastic, so that an effective import quota would push the price well up the demand curve. Much of the beneficial effect of the quota on GNP would be offset by this price effect. In the second place, the prices of domestically produced goods are unaffected by the expansion in real output. This assumption may be tenable in the very short run, but cannot hold in the longer run that this paper tries to treat. Much remains to be learned about the relation between output and prices, and the authors of this paper have contributed to the
Modeling binge-like ethanol drinking by peri-adolescent and adult P rats.

Alcohol binge-drinking, especially among adolescents and young adults, is a serious public health concern. The present study examined ethanol binge-like drinking by peri-adolescent [postnatal days (PNDs 30-72)] and adult (PNDs 90-132) alcohol-preferring (P) rats with a drinking-in-the-dark-multiple-scheduled-access (DID-MSA) procedure used by our laboratory. Male and female P rats were provided concurrent access to 15% and 30% ethanol for three 1-h sessions across the dark cycle 5 days/week. For the 1st week, adolescent and adult female P rats consumed 3.4 and 1.6g/kg of ethanol, respectively, during the 1st hour of access, whereas for male rats the values were 3.5 and 1.1g/kg of ethanol, respectively. Adult intakes increased to ~2.0 g/kg/h and adolescent intakes decreased to ~2.5 g/kg/h across the 6 weeks of ethanol access. The daily ethanol intake of adult DID-MSA rats approximated or modestly exceeded that seen in continuous access (CA) rats or the selection criterion for P rats (≥5 g/kg/day). However, in general, the daily ethanol intake of DID-MSA peri-adolescent rats significantly exceeded that of their CA counterparts. BELs were assessed at 15-min intervals across the 3rd hour of access during the 4th week. Ethanol intake was 1.7 g/kg vs. 2.7 g/kg and BELs were 57 mg% vs. 100mg% at 15- and 60-min, respectively. Intoxication induced by DID-MSA in female P rats was assessed during the 1st vs. 4th week of ethanol access. Level of impairment did not differ between the 2 weeks (106 vs. 97 s latency to fall, 120 s criterion) and was significant (vs. naive controls) only during the 4th week. Overall, these findings support the use of the DID-MSA procedure in rats, and underscore the presence of age- and sex-dependent effects mediating ethanol binge-like drinking in P rats.
Memantine improves memory for taste-avoidance learning in day-old chicks exposed to isolation stress

Activation of NMDA receptors by glutamate is particularly important in the initial stages of memory consolidation. Memantine, a noncompetitive NMDA receptor antagonist, ameliorates memory impairment under certain circumstances, despite blocking the activation of NMDA receptors. The present experiments tested the hypothesis that memantine can improve memory deficits induced by isolation stress in day-old chicks (Gallus gallus domesticus) trained in a one-trial taste-avoidance task. Three experiments assessed the effects of memantine at different concentrations and in combination with isolation stress. The results of Experiment 1 indicate that, under normal, non-stressed conditions, memory in control animals is strong and 15.0 mM memantine impairs memory, similar to that seen in many studies of the effects of NMDA receptor antagonists on learning. However, the results of Experiments 2 and 3 showed that, when chicks were exposed to isolation stress during the pre-training period, memory formation for saline-injected control animals was impaired and 5.0 mM memantine significantly improved memory in an inverted U-shaped dose response function. The current results extend the findings that memantine can ameliorate memory impairment and supports the hypothesis that memantine, despite its action to reduce NMDA receptor activity, can facilitate normalized memory acquisition.
Fractal analysis of erosion surfaces

Fractal analysis of steady-state erosion surfaces generated by erodents of widely different hardnesses on single crystal sapphire shows surprising similarities in spite of a large difference in erosion rates and single impact morphology. This study quantifies the surfaces in terms of the surface texture measurements using recently developed image analysis techniques. The interpretation for such similarities is that a single mechanism of material removal is operative for all erodents. The differences are explained in terms of the efficiency of crack initiation in the target by the two erodents.