cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cation-exchange separation of hafnium and zirconium from accompanying ions.

Abstract Hafnium and zirconium are not retained on the strongly acidic cation-exchange resin Dowex 50 from a mixture consisting of methanol and 12M nitric acid (19:1) which is 0·1Min trioctylphosphine oxide. On the other hand most other elements investigated are strongly adsorbed on the resin from this medium so that they are readily separated from hafnium and zirconium. These elements include titanium, rare earths, alkali metals, alkaline earth metals, iron, cobalt, manganese and zinc. This separation technique has been found to be suitable for the separation of tracer and milligram amounts of hafnium and zirconium from accompanying metal ions. If in place of methanol other organic solvents such as acetone, tetrahydrofuran and methyl glycol are used the selectivity of the separation of zirconium and hafnium from the other elements is decreased. The same effect is observed when hydrochloric acid is used in the mixtures instead of nitric acid.
The structure of cyclic paired-comparison designs

When n objects are to be compared in pairs, a complete experiment requires N= comparisons. There are frequent occasions when it si desirable to make only a fraction F of the possible comparison, either because N is large or because even an individual comparison is laborious. The problem of what constitutes a satisfactory subset of the comparisons has been considered by Kendall [5[ who lays down the following two minimum requirements: (a) every object should appear equally often; (b) the design should be ‘connected‘ so that it is impossible to split the objects into two sets with no comparison made between objects in one set and objects in the other.
Seawater Chemistry and Early Carbonate Biomineralization

The first appearances of aragonite and calcite skeletons in 18 animal clades that independently evolved mineralization during the late Ediacaran through the Ordovician (~550 to 444 million years ago) correspond to intervals when seawater chemistry favored aragonite and calcite precipitation, respectively. Skeletal mineralogies rarely changed once skeletons evolved, despite subsequent changes in seawater chemistry. Thus, the selection of carbonate skeletal minerals appears to have been dictated by seawater chemistry at the time a clade first acquired its mineralized skeleton.
Investigation of Two-Color Laser-Induced Fluorescence (TC-LIF) and Two-Color Six-Wave Mixing Spectroscopy (TC-SWM) for Detection of Atomic Hydrogen

We report picosecond two-color laser-induced fluorescence and six-wave mixing spectroscopy of atomic hydrogen in flames. Effects of the pump-beam polarization on the signals and collisional dynamics of H(2l) level were studied.
Monoclonal antibodies to liver microsomal cytochrome P-450E of the marine fish Stenotomus chrysops (scup): cross reactivity with 3-methylcholanthrene induced rat cytochrome P-450.

Hybridomas were prepared from myeloma cells and spleen cells of BALB/c female mice immunized with hepatic cytochrome P-450E purified from the marine fish, Stenotomus chrysops (scup). Nine independent hybrid clones produced MAbs, either IgG1, IgG2b, or IgM, that bound to purified cytochrome P-450E in radioimmunoassay. Antibodies from one clone MAb (1-12-3), also strongly recognized rat cytochrome P-450MC-B (P-450BNF-B; P-450c). The nine antibodies inhibited reconstituted aryl hydrocarbon hydroxylase (AHH) and ethoxycoumarin O-deethylase of scup cytochrome P-450E to varying degrees, and inhibited AHH activity of β-naphthoflavone-induced scup liver microsomes in a pattern similar to that in reconstitutions, indicating that cytochrome P-450E is identical to the AHH catalyst induced in this fish by β-naphthoflavone. MAb 1-12-3 also inhibited the reconstituted AHH activity of the major BNF-induced rat isozyme. Conversely, MAb 1-7-1 to rat cytochrome P-450MC-B had little effect on AHH activity of scup cytochrome P-450E, and did not recognize cytochrome P-450E in radioimmunoassay nor in an immunoblot. Scup cytochrome P-450E and rat cytochrome P-450MC-B thus have at least one common epitope recognized by MAb 1-12-3, but the epitope recognized by Mab 1-7-1 is absent or recognized with low affinity in cytochrome P-450E. The various assays indicate that the nine MAbs against cytochrome P-450E are directed to different epitopes of the molecule. These MAbs should be useful in determining phylogenetic relationships of the BNF- or MC-inducible isozymes and their regulation by other environmental factors.
Correlation of Silurian Strata Between Georgia, Alabama, and Florida Based on Chitinozoan Biostratigraphy: ABSTRACT

Silurian chitinozoans have been described previously from 4 wells in north-central Florida. These wells also have been correlated previously with each other as well as with known Silurian sections. The youngest assemblage is of Ludlovian age; the oldest is of late Llandoverian age. Outcrop samples were collected from the Silurian Red Mountain Formation in Alabama and Georgia. This formation has been dated as Llandoverian on the basis of megafossil evidence. Four Red Mountain Formation sections are divided into biostratigraphic zones on the basis of chitinozoan assemblages. Attempts at correlating the well and outcrop samples on the basis of frequency of chitinozoan taxa proved unsuccessful, because only a few taxa are abundant throughout the sections. Instead, correlations are made on the first or last occurrence of certain taxa. A comparison of the assemblages in the oldest (Ludlovian) Florida well section and the youngest (late Llandoverian) Red Mountain Formation section indicates that they have only 2 taxa in common. A comparison between the other parts of the Florida and Alabama-Georgia sections was not feasible because of the great age differences. The general aspect of the Florida assemblages is quite different from those in Georgia and Alabama. It is concluded that the sections in Georgia and Alabama are of ages different from those in Florida. The rocks are not different faunal facies of isochronous strata because chitinozoans are planktonic and are therefore not lithofacies dependent. One problem encountered in this study was that 3 wells did not penetrate very deeply into Silurian strata. Three of the Florida wells only penetrated the Upper Silurian, and only one went as deep as the Lower Silurian. Future work in correlating the Silurian rocks from these 3 states must depend on new wells being drilled to greater depths. End_of_Article - Last_Page 1784------------
From Chick to Child: The Role of Analogy in the Making of Thorndike's Educational Science

In this article, the first to analyze the role of analogy in Edward Thorndike’s educational vision, I argue that the feat of Thorndike’s analogy-making was his ability to launch an experimental science of child learning without having had access to children. That the origin of American pedagogical science rests on Thorndike’s animals stands as a palpable example of the power of analogy to serve a constitutive function in scientific invention. In Thorndike’s case, the social consequences were considerable: His juxtaposition of the child and the animal, his fusing of the two in the concept of the animal-child mind, led him to reason that infants, like animals, were incapable of having ideas, and children, though fully capable, still learned best in many cases through the process of rote memorization and drill.
Quantification of strains in biaxially tested soft tissues

A technique for the quantification of the strain field in the central region of biaxially tested planar soft tissues is presented. A vidicon-based image analysis system interfaced to a PDP 11/34 minicomputer is employed to track particles affixed to the specimen surface in real-time, from which the strains are inferred. Illustrative results are given for tests on excised canine pleural specimens on which four particles were affixed. The technique is applicable, however, to any planar soft tissue and any number of tracking particles. This procedure is recommended over previously used methods when testing anisotropic tissues.
Haptic perception of virtual surfaces: Scaling subjective qualities and interstimulus differences

We examined, in two experiments, the perceptual scaling of the properties of haptically examined virtual surfaces, and the way in which these properties subjectively combine. Participants used a consistent movement pattern to explore, with a stylus, virtual surfaces generated by a force-feedback device. In experiment 1, four surface properties (bump size, friction, resistance to normal force, and vibration amplitude) were varied individually, in separate blocks of trials. Free magnitude estimates of the subjective dimensions corresponding to these properties showed that all four dimensions conformed closely to the power law, except at very low stimulus values. Exponents for bump size (0.80) and stiffness (1.01) were consistent with values established in earlier work with direct touch of real surfaces. Surprisingly, the exponent for stickiness, not previously measured, was much higher than those for other dimensions (1.49). In experiment 2, dimensional combinations were analyzed by asking subjects to give magnitude estimates of the subjective difference between pairs of surfaces differing in one or two properties. Magnitude estimates of a given one-dimensional difference were generally larger when the subject was pressing down firmly on the surfaces, than when only gentle downward pressure was required; this result suggests that forces generated when a surface is haptically examined are interpreted as invariant indicators of the magnitudes of the surface properties themselves. Estimates of one-dimensional differences were also used to make predictions of two-dimensional differences, under assumptions of dimensional integrality and separability. The results fell between these two sets of predictions, indicating only modest integration of surface properties examined with indirect touch.
Short-term effects of exogenous estradiol-17β on blastocyst development during the period of elongation in swine

Objectives were to examine the effects of a single dose (4 mg) of estradiol-17β (E2) on blastocyst development around the period of elongation. Proestrus gilts were induced to ovulate with 750 IU of hCG and were mated before ovulation (normal mating, 24 to 32 h post-hCG) or after ovulation had begun (delayed mating, 43 h post-hCG). This difference in time of mating has been demonstrated to result in approximately a 7-h difference in time of blastocyst elongation. Normally and delay-mated gilts were ovariohysterectomized at 278 h post-hCG or injected with E2 or vehicle (corn oil) at 278 h and then ovariohysterectomized at 290 h post-hCG (five or six gilts per group). Blastocyst size was measured and concentrations of E2, retinol, uteroferrin, insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I), uterine plasmin/trypsin inhibitor (UPTI) and protein in uterine flushings were quantified. Blastocyst size and components of uterine flushings did not differ (P > 0.05) between normally and delay-mated gilts at 278 h post-hCG. However, at 290 h post-hCG, normally mated gilts had larger (P 0.05) in blastocyst size and amounts of components of uterine flushings at 290 h post-hCG. Normally mated gilts treated with vehicle had litters in the process of elongating at 290 h post-hCG. Mean blastocyst size (P < 0.001) and amounts of components of uterine flushings (except for IGF-I) in these gilts were greater (P < 0.05, UPTI = 0.06) than in normally mated gilts at 278 h post-hCG, whose blastocysts were spherical. Among gilts not treated with E2 (278 h and 290 h pooled), mean blastocyst size was positively correlated (P < 0.05) with amounts of retinol, E2, uteroferrin and total protein. Results indicated that a single dose of E2 given before elongation altered blastocyst development depending on how close blastocysts were to onset of elongation at the time of E2 treatment.
Juvenile Tree Survivorship as a Component of Shade Tolerance

With a view toward understanding species-specific differences in juvenile tree mortality and the community-level implications of these differences, we characterized juvenile survivorship of 10 dominant tree species of oak transition-northern hardwood forests using species-specific mathematical models. The mortality models predict a sapling's probability of dying as a function of its recent growth history. These models and species-specific growth functions (published elsewhere), characterize a species' shade tolerance. Combined growth and mortality models express a sapling's probability of mortality as a function of light availability. We describe the statistical bases and the field methods used to calibrate the mortality models. We examined inter- and intraspecific variation in juvenile mortality across three sites: Great Mountain Forest (low pH, nutrient poor soils) in northwestern Connecticut, a calcareous bedrock region (neutral pH, nutrient rich soils) also in northwestern Connecticut, and a site in central-western Michigan (low pH, nutrient poor soils). Interspecific differences in juvenile mortality have profound effects on community dynamics and composition; the importance of these effects is demonstrated through a spatially explicit simulator of forest dynamics (SORTIE). The 10 species we examined occupy a continuum of survivorship levels at 1% of full sun. There was surprisingly little intraspecific variation in mortality functions for sugar maple, American beech, eastern hemlock, and white ash between the Great Mountain and Michigan sites. However, there was a striking increase in survivorship for sugar maple in the calcareous site. Differences in survivorship among the sites are correlated with soil pH and presumably nutrient availability. Growth rates in high-light and low-light survivorship are inversely correlated across species; as level of shade tolerance increases, a species grows more slowly in high light and exhibits increased survivorship under low light. Our results indicate that interspecific differences in sapling mortality are critical components of forest community dynamics.
Hemodynamic changes during spontaneous vasovagal reactions

Abstract Vasovagal reactions which developed in the course of cardiac catheterization were studied in thirteen patients. A uniform fall in heart rate, arterial blood pressure, cardiac index and total systemic resistance was noted. Stroke index showed variable changes. Pulmonary arterial blood pressure, left atrial pressure and ventricular work also decreased. Both atropine and sympathomimetic amines brought about clinical recovery. The roles of the heart, arteries and veins in the development of vasovagal reactions are discussed. It is postulated that the initiating factor in the genesis of vasovagal responses is an acute rise in blood pressure and in pulse pressure in the baroreceptors. This stimulation of the baroreceptors produces generalized inhibition of sympathetic tone and consequently results in bradycardia, arteriolar dilation and venodilation. These changes, in turn, produce a decrease in cardiac index, a fall in total systemic resistance, hypotension and the clinical picture of a vasovagal response. In studying such reactions it is important to emphasize the need to consider the complicated reflex derangements rather than any drug-induced end organ paralysis.
Predictors of Patient‐Perceived Quality

Larrabee's model of quality proposes a relationship between quality and value. This study tested the relationship by identifying predictors of patient-perceived quality for nursing care. Data were obtained from interviews and records of 199 adult patients. Candidate predictors of patient-perceived quality included patient goal achievement, nurse-perceived quality, and nurse goal achievement. Candidate predictors also included seven demographic, seven financial, six illness, and six hospital variables. Predictors of both patient-perceived quality global and patient-perceived quality total were pain severity on exit interview, clinic referral, unit, and patient goal achievement. Medicare nonrecipient was a predictor of patient-perceived quality global. Worry score on admission was a predictor of patient-perceived quality total. The results support the relationship between quality and value and between quality and beneficence postulated by Larrabee's model of quality. Additional investigation of these relationships in other populations and using other operationalizations of the model concepts is needed to provide further support for the model. This model is potentially useful for investigating quality in diverse cultures because the operationalization of the model concepts can be designed to reflect local, regional, or national values.
Simple model for the vortex core in a type II superconductor

In order to model the core of an isolated vortex in a type II superconductor, a variational trial function for the magnitude of the normalized order parameter of the form f = ϱ/R is assumed, where ϱ is the radial coordinate, R = (p 2 + ξv 2)1/2, and ξ v is a variational core radius parameter. Remarkably simple analytic expressions for the magnetic flux density and supercurrent density that solve Ampere's law and the second Ginzburg-Landau equation are obtained. An analytic result for the free energy of the isolated vortex is then derived by integrating the Ginzburg-Landau free energy functional. The value of ξ v that minimizes the free energy is calculated as a function of the Ginzburg-Landau parameter κ = λ/ξ and is found to range from ξ v = 0.935ξ for κ = 0.707 to ξ v ≈ 1.414ξ for κ > 1. A simple expression for the form factor or the Fourier transform of the flux density is obtained, which may be useful in the analysis of neutron diffraction experiments.
Impact ionization of excitons and donors in AlxGa1-xAs/(n-type GaAs):Si quantum wells.

We have investigated the effect of a parallel electric field on the low-temperature photoluminescence from ${\mathrm{Al}}_{\mathit{x}}$${\mathrm{Ga}}_{1\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}\mathit{x}}$As/(n-type GaAs):Si quantum wells. We have studied the electric-field effect in a number of molecular-beam-epitaxy-grown ${\mathrm{Al}}_{\mathit{x}}$${\mathrm{Ga}}_{1\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}\mathit{x}}$As/GaAs quantum-well structures doped with Si in the center of the well with well widths from 40 to 190 \AA{}. We observe sharp thresholds in the quenching of luminescence from the free and bound excitons at fields near a few tens of V/cm, accompanied by a sharp increase in the current. The actual threshold is critically dependent on the well width of the sample, which is qualitatively explained by the differences in carrier mobility. The mechanism responsible for the observed effects will be shown to be due to impact ionization of the excitons by the free carriers heated in the electric field.
Indicators of a more complicated clinical course for pediatric patients with retropharyngeal abscess.

Abstract Objective Determine clinical signs or symptoms associated with a more complicated clinical course in patients with retropharyngeal abscesses (RPAs). Design Retrospective chart review at a tertiary care level Children's hospital. Main Outcome Measures Age, presenting signs and symptoms, laboratory tests, imaging results, antibiotic therapy, surgical approach, pathogens isolated, and duration of hospitalization were evaluated to determine any factors associated with a more complicated clinical course (CCC). Results Fifteen of one hundred thirty pediatric patients with RPA were identified with a complicated clinical course (CCC). Eight of the fifteen required more than one procedure before the abscess resolved. Patients with multiple abscess sites had a statistically significantly greater chance of requiring multiple procedures to clear the infections (p Conclusion Our study suggests that patients with a CCC are more likely to present with airway obstruction or multiple abscess sites than patients with SCC.
Some developments in multivariate generalizability

This article is concerned with estimation of components of maximum generalizability in multifacet experimental designs involving multiple dependent measures. Within a Type II multivariate analysis of variance framework, components of maximum generalizability are defined as those composites of the dependent measures that maximize universe score variance for persons relative to observed score variance. The coefficient of maximum generalizability, expressed as a function of variance component matrices, is shown to equal the squared canonical correlation between true and observed scores. Emphasis is placed on estimation of variance component matrices, on the distinction between generalizability- and decision-studies, and on extension to multifacet designs involving crossed and nested facets. An example of a two-facet partially nested design is provided.
Periplasmic interaction between two membrane regulatory proteins, ToxR and ToxS, results in signal transduction and transcriptional activation

ToxR is a transmembrane, DNA-binding protein that can activate transcription of genes encoding cholera toxin (ctxAB). Here we characterize ToxS, a 19 kd transmembrane regulatory protein that interacts with ToxR and stimulates its activity. If a portion of the periplasmic domain of ToxR is deleted, productive interaction with ToxS is abolished. A ToxR-PhoA fusion protein that retains most of the ToxR periplasmic region remains dependent on ToxS for its ToxR activity. ToxS protects this fusion from proteolytic cleavage, suggesting that these two proteins interact within the periplasm. Mutations in a short cytoplasmic domain of ToxR were isolated that disrupt the periplasmic interaction between ToxR and ToxS. This domain is shared by other bacterial transcriptional activators, suggesting that it may play a common role in function of these proteins and in the molecular mechanism of signal transduction.
The four sampradāys: ordering the religious past in Mughal North India

Monika Horstmann has written eloquently about appeals to the notion of the ‘four sampradāys’ as a way to discipline religion at the court of the Kachvāhā king Jaisingh II in the early decades of the eighteenth century. Here was orthodoxy in Vaishnava garb. We have normally thought of Nābhādās the Rāmānandī as being the first major figure to put forward this idea, sometime around the turn of the seventeenth century. Indeed, Nābhādās wrote from within the Kachvāhā orbit, and his Bhaktamāl (‘Garland of Bhaktas’) quite literally made history – if not under Jaisingh, then later. Yet Nābhādās's text deserves to be juxtaposed with another that is far less well known – the Sampradāyapradīpa (‘Lamp of Sects’), purportedly written by Dvivedī Gadākhya in Brindavan in VS 1610 (1553 CE). This text provides insight into how someone closely associated with the followers of Vallabhācārya might massage the four-sampradāy idea with quite different aims than Nābhādās had in mind. The Sampradāyapradīpa also raises a host of ...
Image improvements in positron-emission tomography due to measuring differential time-of-flight and using maximum-likelihood estimation

Two distinctly different methods have been used to improve images produced in positron-emission tomography. The first method is to measure the differential time-of-flight of the photon pairs which are detected; the second is to use an iterative algorithm to compute maximum likelihood estimates of radioactivity distributions. The performances of algorithms which include neither, one or the other, or both methods of improvement have been quantified by performing a repetitive simulation experiment using the Hoffman brain phantom as the underlying distribution of radioactivity. Simulations show that all of the algorithms yield unbiased estimates of the desired image. The algorithm which computes maximum-likelihood estimates using time-of-flight information reconstructs images with the lowest variance. The algorithm which uses neither of these methods (filtered backprojection) reconstructs images with the highest variance. >
Incorporating Thermal Storage Into a SEGS Plant Using TRNSYS: A Status Report

Two new preliminary component types were developed for the transient simulation program TRNSYS with IISiBat that models three different types of sensible thermal storages for analysis with use in a solar electric generating system (SEGS) simulation. One component containing a fully mixed, a stratified and a plug flow tank model options has been developed such that the input and parameter specifications are similar so that all three models could be easily placed into one component type. A single, cylindrical direct storage tank with one inlet and one outlet that evaluates fluid properties as a function of temperature is representative for all three models. The second component is a storage controller that passes along pertinent charging, dwell or discharging information to the storage and integrates the storage into a given SEGS model. Results were generated for each storage tank integrated into a SEGS VI simulation model for temperature distribution and power generation.Copyright © 2004 by ASME
Targeted inhibition of immunodeficiency virus replication in lymphocytes through retroviral mediated gene transfer

To test the feasibility of gene therapy for AIDS patients, an animal model is needed to evaluate the efficacy and safety of this approach. Antiviral genes (encoding antisense RNA or viral protein) derived from Simian immunodeficiency virus (SIV) were efficiently targeted into CD4+ lymphocytes through retroviral-mediated gene transfer. After challenging with infectious viruses, the transduced lymphocytes that received antiviral genes were not only protected from SIV infection, but also from infection with HIV, for at least 25 days. Furthermore, little or no cytolytic effect (syncytium formation) was observed in the protected cells. These data demonstrated that SIV or HIV replication could be effectively blocked by antisense sequence(s) or negative dominant factors which were introduced into targeted cells through retroviral-mediated gene transfer.
Changes in Characteristics and Function of Woody Debris with Increasing Size of Streams in Western Washington

Abstract In second- to fifth-order streams that drain old-growth timber in western Washington, characteristics and function of woody debris changed in relation to stream size. Average diameter, length, and volume of pieces of wood increased as stream size increased, whereas the frequency of occurrence of woody debris decreased. In streams with channel widths less than 7 m, 40% of the pieces of debris were oriented perpendicularly to the axis of flow; in streams with channel widths over 7 m, more than 40% of the pieces were oriented downstream. The types of pools most commonly associated with pieces of wood changed from plunge pools in small streams (42%) to debris scour pools in larger systems (62%). Pool area was correlated with the volume of the piece of wood forming the pool in streams of all sizes. However, this relationship was most evident in larger channels. Nearly 40% of the pieces of wood in channels less than 7 m wide were associated with sediment accumulations. Less than 30% of the pieces retai...
Morphology of the triple QSO PG1115 + 08

Weymann et al.1 have reported that two faint unresolved objects located within 3arcs of the QSO PG1115 + 08 have also the same spectra. The emission lines of C III λl,909 and C IV λ1,549 at a redshift of 1.72 have central wavelengths and profiles that are indistinguishable between the objects. It is inferred that the three objects are likely to be images of the same QSO produced by intervening matter acting as a gravitational lens. Only one other example of such an effect is known, that is the double QSO 0957 + 56A,B. In this case, the two QSO images are of roughly equal magnitude ( V∼17) and separated by 6 arc s. A plate obtained in excellent seeing by Stockton2 shows an intervening galaxy at z = 0.4 lying about 1 arc s from one of the QSO images. The present observations were undertaken to search for evidence of an intervening galaxy in PG1115 + 08, appearing either directly in a deep image, or as a difference in colour between components, and also to look for any structure in the three images. A colour difference could arise, as was the case for the double QSO, if a galaxy is nearly coincident with one of the QSO images.
Sunfleck effects on physiology, growth, and local demography of American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius L.)

Abstract The light environment of the forest understory is heterogeneous, characterized by low levels of diffuse light punctuated by short periods of direct solar radiation known as sunflecks. Less well understood is the degree to which sunflecks are responsible for spatially varying performance of understory plants. We studied natural variation in the light environment, as well as physiology, growth, and microsite demographics of American ginseng (Panax quinquefolius L.) to test whether clustering of plants within a population was related to sunfleck variation. HOBO dataloggers were positioned in 10 clusters within a single ginseng population to measure the local understory light environment during mid-season (June 27 to August 9 2011). Photosynthesis and transpiration were measured with a Li-Cor 6400 portable photosynthesis system. Population census data were used to obtain measurements of the relative growth rate (2011–2012), seed production efficiency (2011) and seed germination (2009–2012) of plants in the same subpopulations. All measured dependent variables were regressed against the percentage of mean photosynthetic photon flux density contributed from sunflecks and mean length of the longest sunfleck. Light saturated photosynthetic rates of ginseng showed a positive linear relationship to both sunfleck characteristics, while transpiration was unaffected. The relative growth rate of established ginseng plants also had a positive linear relationship with the length of the longest sunfleck. However, germination rate was negatively affected by an increasing percentage of photosynthetic photon flux density from sunflecks. Seed production efficiency was not influenced by either sunfleck characteristic. Due to negative effects on germination, initial ginseng cluster formation is likely not associated with sunflecks, however photosynthetic and growth responses suggest that fitness effects are positive for established individuals. A spatially and temporally varying light environment is beneficial for ginseng population growth.
Differential effect of nicotine on plasma norepinephrine levels in normal humans and in patients with congestive heart failure

The activity of the sympathetic nervous system as reflected both by plasma norepinephrine (NE) and direct neural recordings is increased in patients with congestive heart failure (CHF).1–3 The mechanisms by which stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system is initiated and maintained are not well characterized. The response of the sympathetic nervous system to further stimulation in CHF is often blunted.4–6 No information is currently available concerning ganglionic or preganglionic regulation of sympathetic activity in this disease. It is conceivable that hyperresponsiveness to central or ganglionic stimuli could play a role in the chronically elevated sympathetic tone in heart failure. Alternatively, subnormal responsiveness to such stimuli could help explain the blunted response to further sympathetic stimulation. We performed the current study to investigate whether the sympathetic response to ganglionic stimulation was normal, enhanced or depressed in patients with chronic CHF.
Deconvolution analysis of spontaneous nocturnal growth hormone secretion in prepubertal children with preterminal chronic renal failure and with end-stage renal disease.

ABSTRACT: We sought to determine whether elevated circulating growth hormone (GH) concentrations in uremic prepubertal children are due to an increase in GH secretory activity by the pituitary gland or a decrease in the metabolic clearance of GH consequent to reduced GFR. Deconvolution analysis was applied to the nighttime plasma GH profiles of 1) 11 children with preterminal chronic renal failure, 2) 12 children with end-stage renal disease (ESRD), and 3) a control group of matched children with idiopathic short stature (n = 12). Mean (± SEM) half-life of endogenous GH in children with ESRD (27.5 ± 2.7 min) and preterminal chronic renal failure (23.1 ±2.1 min) was significantly higher than in controls (14.8 ± 1.6 min; p < 0.001). GH half-life correlated inversely with GFR (r = −0.65, p < 0.001). The number of GH secretory bursts/10 h in ESRD (8.1 ± 0.4) was amplified compared with preterminal chronic renal failure (6.4 ± 0.5) and with controls (5.9 ± 0.4; p < 0.005). GH production rate varied over a broad range in the three groups: It was highest in ESRD (202 ± 56.6 mg/L/10 h; range 36–683), mainly as a result of an increased number of GH secretory bursts, and not statistically different in preterminal chronic renal failure (66.2 ± 11.4 mg/L/10 h; range 25–168) and in controls (129 ± 27.7 mg/L/10 h; range 39–392). Increased GH half-life, in concert with an increased GH production in some individuals with ESRD, leads to a 2.5-fold increase in the mean plasma GH concentration in ESRD compared with the two other groups (p < 0.005). However, total immunoreactive plasma IGF-I levels were indistinguishable between groups. This disruption of the normal relationship between circulating GH and total plasma IGF-I levels in ESRD suggests a relative insensitivity to the action of GH in uremia, at least in those target organs (e.g. liver) that contribute predominantly to circulating IGF-I levels.
Antigenic and nucleotide characterization of a herpesvirus isolated from Pacific harbor seals (Phoca vitulina richardsii)

This report describes the antigenic and nucleotide characterization of a herpes-like virus that has been isolated from the adrenal tissues of neonatal Pacific harbor seals. Infection with this virus has been previously implicated as a major cause of death of animals undergoing rehabilitation. Comparison and phylogenetic analysis of sequenced fragments of the DNA polymerase, glycoprotein B and glycoprotein D genes, and immunofluorescence assay using herpesvirus-specific monoclonal antibodies, demonstrated close similarity of the Pacific harbor seal herpesvirus to European isolates of phocid herpesvirus-1 (PHV-1) and other α-herpesviruses affecting terrestrial carnivores.
Ergodic theorem, ergodic theory, and statistical mechanics

This perspective highlights the mean ergodic theorem established by John von Neumann and the pointwise ergodic theorem established by George Birkhoff, proofs of which were published nearly simultaneously in PNAS in 1931 and 1932. These theorems were of great significance both in mathematics and in statistical mechanics. In statistical mechanics they provided a key insight into a 60-y-old fundamental problem of the subject--namely, the rationale for the hypothesis that time averages can be set equal to phase averages. The evolution of this problem is traced from the origins of statistical mechanics and Boltzman's ergodic hypothesis to the Ehrenfests' quasi-ergodic hypothesis, and then to the ergodic theorems. We discuss communications between von Neumann and Birkhoff in the Fall of 1931 leading up to the publication of these papers and related issues of priority. These ergodic theorems initiated a new field of mathematical-research called ergodic theory that has thrived ever since, and we discuss some of recent developments in ergodic theory that are relevant for statistical mechanics.
Fast and Message-Efficient Global Snapshot Algorithms for Large-Scale Distributed Systems

Large-scale distributed systems such as supercomputers and peer-to-peer systems typically have a fully connected logical topology over a large number of processors. Existing snapshot algorithms in such systems have high response time and/or require a large number of messages, typically O(n2), where n is the number of processes. In this paper, we present a suite of two algorithms: simple_tree, and hypercube, that are both fast and require a small number of messages. This makes the algorithms highly scalable. Simple_tree requires O(n) messages and has O(log n) response time. Hypercube requires O(n log n) messages and has O(log n) response time, in addition to having the property that the roles of all the processes are symmetrical. Process symmetry implies greater potential for balanced workload and congestion-freedom. All the algorithms assume non-FIFO channels.
Connecting schools, community, and family with ICT: Four-year trends related to school level and SES of public schools in Florida

Community and family involvement in schools is a well-documented antecedent to student success; yet, educators often find it challenging to increase involvement with parents and members of diverse communities. One solution is to use information and communication technology (ICT) as a bridge between schools, families, and the community. This research first presents a conceptual framework for uniting schools, families, and community members using ICT and then uses statewide data collected in Florida from the 2003-2004 to 2006-2007 school years to investigate significant trends in how schools communicate with, involve, and provide ICT access and education for community and family members. Results were analyzed at each school level, as well as by the differences between high and low socio-economic status (SES) schools. Findings indicate that during the study schools at every level and SES group significantly increased their contributions for ICT access and education of families and communities. However, high schools serving the most economically advantaged students provided the most ICT contributions to their families and communities. On the other hand, in support of bridging the digital divide, low SES elementary and middle schools provided significantly more contributions for ICT access and education of their community and parents, than their high SES counterparts. Recommendations and implications are provided.
Interleukin-22 (IL-22) Production by Pulmonary Natural Killer Cells and the Potential Role of IL-22 during Primary Influenza Virus Infection

We set out to test the hypothesis that interleukin-22 (IL-22), a cytokine crucial for epithelial cell homeostasis and recovery from tissue injury, would be protective during influenza virus infection. Recent studies have identified phenotypically and functionally unique intestinal NK cells capable of producing the cytokine IL-22. Unlike gut NK cells that produce IL-22, the surface phenotypes of lung NK cells were similar to those of spleen NK cells and were characteristically mature. With mitogen stimulation, both single and double IL-22- and gamma interferon (IFN-gamma)-producing lung NK cells were detected. However, only the IL-22(+) IFN-gamma(-) lung NK subset was observed after stimulation with IL-23. IL-23 receptor (IL-23R) blocking dramatically inhibited IL-22 production, but not IFN-gamma production. Furthermore, we found that NK1.1(+) or CD27(-) lung NK cells were the primary sources of IL-22. After influenza virus infection, lung NK cells were quickly activated to produce both IFN-gamma and IL-22 and had increased cytotoxic potential. The level of IL-22 in the lung tissue declined shortly after infection, gradually returning to the baseline after virus clearance, although the IL-22 gene expression was maintained. Furthermore, depletion of NK cells with or without influenza virus infection reduced the protein level of IL-22 in the lung. Anti-IL-22 neutralization in vivo did not dramatically affect weight loss and survival after virus clearance. Unexpectedly, anti-IL-22-treated mice had reduced virus titers. Our data suggest that during primary respiratory viral infection, IL-22 seems to a play a marginal role for protection, indicating a differential requirement of this cytokine for bacterial and viral infections.
Hegel’s Idealist Reading of Spinoza

In this paper, I discuss Hegel’s influential reading of Spinoza as a kind of idealist. I begin with a brief overview of Spinoza’s doctrines of substance, mode, and attributes. I then turn to Hegel’s arguments that Spinoza is an acosmicist (someone who denies the existence of finite individuals) and that Spinoza’s attribute of thought becomes the sole fundamental attribute. Underlying both criticisms is Hegel’s charge that Spinoza cannot consistently affirm his doctrine of substance and his doctrines of attribute and mode pluralism. In conclusion, I discuss the legacy of Hegel’s idealist reading.
Characterizing local interests and local knowledge

When searching for destinations and activities, the interests and knowledge of locals and non-locals may vary. In this paper, we compare and contrast the search-related interests of these two groups, and when they share a common interest (in our case, for restaurants), we analyze the quality of the venues they intend to visit. We find differences in interests depending on local knowledge, and that locals generally select higher-quality venues than non-locals. These findings have implications for search and recommendation systems that can personalize results based on local knowledge and leverage that knowledge to benefit non-locals.
Rainmakers: why bad weather means good productivity.

People believe that weather conditions influence their everyday work life, but to date, little is known about how weather affects individual productivity. Contrary to conventional wisdom, we predict and find that bad weather increases individual productivity and that it does so by eliminating potential cognitive distractions resulting from good weather. When the weather is bad, individuals appear to focus more on their work than on alternate outdoor activities. We investigate the proposed relationship between worse weather and higher productivity through 4 studies: (a) field data on employees’ productivity from a bank in Japan, (b) 2 studies from an online labor market in the United States, and (c) a laboratory experiment. Our findings suggest that worker productivity is higher on bad-, rather than good-, weather days and that cognitive distractions associated with good weather may explain the relationship. We discuss the theoretical and practical implications of our research.
Ascending inputs to the pre-supplementary motor area in the macaque monkey: cerebello- and pallido-thalamocortical projections

The goal of the present study was to determine the ascending sources to the pre-supplementary motor area (pre-SMA) in macaque monkeys using multiple labeling techniques. We labeled the pallidothalamic projections using biotinylated dextran amine (BDA) and the cerebellothalamic projections using wheatgerm agglutinin conjugated to horseradish peroxidase. The pre-SMA thalamocortical projections neurons were also labeled using cholera toxin subunit b following identification of the pre-SMA by location, and by movements evoked by intracortical microstimulation. The extent of pre-SMA was later confirmed by identifying characteristics from Nissl cytoarchitecture and SMI-32 immunoreactivity. Thalamic nuclear boundaries were based on Nissl cytoarchitecture, acetylcholinesterase chemoarchitecture and Cat-301 immunoreactivity. Cerebellothalamic afferents were distributed predominantly to ventral lateral posterior nucleus (VLp), including medial and dorsal VLp, while the pallidothalamic afferents projected more rostrally to ventral lateral anterior nucleus (VLa) and ventral anterior nucleus (VA). The pre-SMA thalamocortical projection neurons were primarily found in VA and medial VLp. However, scattered cells were also found in VLa, dorsal VLp, central lateral nucleus (CL) and mediodorsal nucleus (MD). Scattered pre-SMA projecting cells overlapped foci of cerebellar label in medial VLp. Additionally, limited overlap of pre-SMA cells and pallidothalamic labeling was found in caudal VA. These findings suggest that the pre-SMA is uniquely positioned to integrate ascending basal ganglia and cerebellar information after a relay from VA and medial VLp. These anatomical findings are consistent with the recent hypothesis that the pre-SMA acts as the coordinator of visual and motor loops in motor learning [J. Cogn. Neurosci. 13 (2001) 626].
Lung CD4 Lymphocytes Predict Survival in Asymptomatic HIV Infection

Background Plasma viral load and blood CD4 counts are accepted indicators of severity of illness in patients with HIV-1. Lung CD4 counts have not been evaluated in asymptomatic HIV-1 patients as indicators of disease severity. Objective To determine if lung lymphocyte counts in asymptomatic subjects with HIV compare with plasma viral loads and blood CD4 counts in predicting survival. Design Retrospective, cross-sectional analysis. Setting Midwestern urban community, December 1996 to August 1998. Participants HIV-seropositive subjects (n = 95) without AIDS-related pulmonary complications. Measurements Plasma viral load, blood hemoglobin and blood lymphocyte subtypes, lung lymphocyte subtypes from BAL, body mass index, and mortality. Results Eight of the 95 subjects (8.4%) had died at the 4-year follow-up. Lung CD4 counts were significantly related to mortality by univariable analysis (2.5 × 10 3 /mL vs 0.9 × 10 3 /mL, median values for survivors vs nonsurvivors, respectively, p = 0.010). Modeling using exact methods further showed lung CD4 counts to be a significant predictor of survival after individually adjusting for potential confounders, including plasma viral load and blood CD4 count. Conclusions Lung CD4 counts in patients with HIV-1 infection may provide an independent predictor of survival.
Can mechanical forces be responsible for novel bone development and evolution in fishes

Summary Mechanical forces influence the induction, growth and maintenance of the vertebrate skeleton. Using the zebrafish, Danio rerio, we explore the hypothesis that mechanical forces can ultimately lead to the generation of skeletal evolutionary novelties by modifications of the mechano-responsive molecular pathways. Locomotion and feeding in zebrafish larvae begin early in ontogeny and it is likely that forces incurred during these behaviours affect subsequent skeletal development. We provide two case studies in which our hypothesis is being tested: the kinethmoid and intermuscular bones. The kinethmoid is a synapomorphy for the order Cypriniformes and is intricately linked to the bones of the protrusible upper jaw. It undergoes chondrogenesis within a ligament well after muscular forces are present within the head. Subsequent ossification of the kinethmoid occurs at sites of ligamentous attachment, leading us to believe that mechanical forces are involved. Unlike the kinethmoid, which has evolved only once, intermuscular bones have evolved several times during teleostean evolution. Intermuscular bones are embedded within the myosepta, the collagenous sheets between axial muscles. The effect of mechanical forces on the development of these intermuscular bones is experimentally tested by increasing the viscosity of the water in which larval zebrafish are raised. Since locomotion in high viscosity requires greater muscular forces, we can directly test the influence of mechanical forces on the development of intermuscular bones. Using developmental techniques paired with outgroup comparison for the kinethmoid, and direct experimentation for intermuscular bones, our case studies provide complementary insights into the effects of mechanical forces on the evolution of skeletal novelties in fishes.
An Analysis of Auditory Stimulus Generalization Gradients in Children with Autism Following Two Different Training Procedures

An Analysis of Auditory Stimulus Generalization Gradients in Children with Autism Following Two Different Training Procedures