cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Nitrogen excretion and O:N ratios in reef corals: Evidence for conservation of nitrogen

Rates of ammonia excretion, and respiration to excretion (atomic O:N) ratios were measured for three species of scleractinian coral from the Bahamas, during August 1986 and March 1987, to test the hypothesis that zooxanthellate reef species have lower rates of amino acid catabolism and higher dependence on lipid and carbohydrate catabolism than nonzooxanthellate species. Freshly collected individuals of two reef species,Montastrea annularis andAcropora cervicornis, have significantly lower mean ammonia excretion rates [51 ± 66 nmol (mg-at N)−1 h−1 and 192 ± 172 nmol (mg-at N)−1 h−1, respectively] than those of the tropical nonzooxanthellate speciesTubastrea coccinea [257 ± 68 nmol (mg-at N)−1 h−1]. The temperate nonzooxanthellate coralAstrangia poculata has mean excretion rates [632 ± 242 nmol (mg-at N)−1 h−1] which are much higher than those of all three tropical species. O:N ratios for the two reef species were generally greater than 300, while those of the nonzooxanthellate species ranged from 17 to 39 forT. coccinea and from 8 to 12 forA. poculata. The two reef species conserve nitrogen by having relatively low rates of amino acid catabolism, and support most of their metabolic needs by catabolizing the lipids and carbohydrates they receive from their zooxanthellae. The tropical nonzooxanthellate species has lower rates of ammonia excretion and respiration, and higher O:N ratios than the temperate nonzooxanthellate coral, which may be an indication that the former has less food available to it. The ammonia production rates of the reef species would support doubling times (growth rates) of the zooxanthellae of 13 to 22 d. These growth rates agree with observed rates obtained by mitotic index methods, and with suggestions that growth of zooxanthellae within many corals may be nitrogen-limited.
New Concepts in Nasal Tip Contouring

Control of nasal tip contour has always been a key component of a successful rhinoplasty. Typically, this procedure is performed with an emphasis on narrowing the nasal tip structure. Creating a natural-appearing nasal tip contour is a complex task and requires a 3-dimensional approach. In an effort to identify the characteristics that make an ideal nasal tip, I evaluated numerous aesthetically pleasing nasal tips. After extensive study, I created a series of images to demonstrate how specific contours create highlights and shadows that will help guide the surgeon in creating a natural-appearing nasal tip contour. Many commonly used nasal tip techniques can pinch the tip structures if an overemphasis is placed on narrowing. These changes isolate the dome region of the nasal tip and can create an undesirable shadow between the tip lobule and alar lobule. Prior to contouring the nasal tip, the surgeon must stabilize the base of the nose with a columellar strut, suturing the medial crura to a long caudal septum, caudal extension graft, or an extended columellar strut graft. Stabilizing the nasal base will ensure that tip projection is maintained postoperatively. To contour the nasal tip, dome sutures are frequently used to flatten the lateral crura and eliminate tip bulbosity. Placement of dome sutures can deform the lateral crura and displace the caudal margin of the lateral crura well below the cephalic margin. This can result in a pinched nasal tip with the characteristic demarcation between the tip and the alar lobule. Alar rim grafts can be used to support the alar margin and create a defined ridge that extends from the tip lobule to the alar lobule. This form of restructuring can create a natural-appearing nasal tip contour with a horizontal tip orientation continuing out to the alar lobule. When dome sutures alone are inadequate, lateral crural strut grafts are used to eliminate convexity and prevent deformity of the lateral crura. Shield tip grafts can be used in patients with thick skin and an underprojected nasal tip. Whenever a shield tip graft is used, it must be appropriately camouflaged to avoid undesirable visualization of the graft as the postoperative edema subsides. When contouring the nasal tip, the surgeon should focus more on creating favorable shadows and highlights and less on narrowing. Nasal tips contoured in this manner will look more natural and will better withstand the forces of scar contracture that can negatively affect rhinoplasty outcomes.
PLACE, PUBLIC MEMORY, AND THE TOKYO AIR RAIDS

The one public memorial built to remember the many people killed in air raids directed against the civilian population of Tokyo during the Asia‐Pacific War bears traces of deeper stories related to...
Scaling rules for slab waveguides with nonlinear substrate

A mode power measure is introduced to characterize optical slab waveguides with nonlinear substrate or cover. Together with the normalized film thickness and asymmetry coefficient, it allows for determining guiding properties in a way analogous to the description of Kogelnik and Ramaswamy for the linear waveguides and permits an easy interpretation and design of nonlinear slab waveguides. The universal dispersion curves for the TE modes are presented.
Designed double-strand DNA cleavage with chelate-appended porphyrins

Abstract The first example of DNA double-strand cleavage mediated by a synthetic porphyrin is described. Two new porphyrins, each with two metal complexing appendages, were shown to mediate the oxidative double-strand cleavage of pBR322 plasmid DNA. By contrast, a porphyrin with one appendage was found to mediate only single-strand breaks.
Pragmatism, Poststructuralism, and Socially Useful Theorizing

It is an unexpected pleasure to have the opportunity to respond to Jean Anyon's "The Retreat of Marxism and Socialist Feminism: Postmodern and Poststructural Theories in Education." Professor Anyon has identified a number of important features in the recent turn toward poststructural and postmodern writing in education but I also believe, at least in a few noteworthy instances, that she has drawn the wrong inferences from it. This is a welcome opportunity to discuss broadly these things. She begins by telling a story of difference. The story is about a change in the nature of criticism in education away from Marxist criticism to an exploration of poststructural and postmodern ideas. This might be one step forward in her eyes but it is also, at least, one-half step backward. She believes that the language and perspectives of poststructuralism/ postmodernism provide opportunities for a progressive politics of education but is not convinced that those of us who have written in this genre have shed all of our old structuralist and modernist conceptual baggage. In failing to do so, she believes that we have not come as far as she believes we had hoped or aspired.' Furthermore, she is not convinced that poststructural/postmodern thought is up to the task of furthering emancipation and social justice. She concludes by outlining some characteristics of a socially useful theory. To attach the prefix postto a word is to assert that somehow and in some way ideas, conceptualizations, or criticisms have exceeded an earlier outlook or position. According to the Oxford English Dictionary, postis used to refer to something that is "after," "following," "succeeding," "later than," "afterwards," or "subsequent to" that which was designated by the original term. What are these things that came before? Structur-
Investigation of Correlation between Traits and Path Analysis of Confectionary Sunflower Genotypes

Abstract. This study examined the relationships between various traits associated with seed and crude protein yields of confectionary sunflower as well as the direct and indirect effects of these traits on crude protein yield. Eight open-pollinated confectionary sunflower populations and two open-pollinated confectionary sunflower cultivars used as control varieties were evaluated during two growing seasons (2009 and 2010). Certain agronomical and technological traits such as plant height, head diameter, seed yield, 1000-seed weight, kernel ratio, crude protein ratio, and crude protein yield were measured for the study. The results for the individual years and the combined data for both years revealed that there were significant positive correlations between the seed yield and the plant height, head diameter, 1000-seed weight and crude protein yield. The crude protein yield was also positively and significantly correlated with the 1000-seed weight and the seed yield, but the correlations with the plant height, head diameter, kernel ratio and crude protein ratio were not significant. The path coefficients from path analysis indicated that the seed yield had the maximum positive direct effect on the crude protein yield, followed by the crude protein ratio. The greatest positive indirect effects on the crude protein yield were attributed to the 1000-seed weight, plant height and head diameter through their effects on seed yield. The magnitudes of the direct effects of the seed yield and the crude protein ratio on the crude protein yield were 79.2% and 56.9%, respectively. Hence, selection based on seed yields, 1000-seed weights and crude protein ratios could be used to improve crude protein yield in confectionary sunflower breeding programs.
Thermal effects in silicon membrane masks under E-beam irradiation

Abstract This paper deals with thermoelastic effects of stencil masks as used in Electron-Beam-Proximity-printing (EBP), but most of the results can be applied also to other membrane masks. The temperature behavior and the associated thermoelastic distortions will be described. It will be checked if these distortions are within limits, that EBP can correct for with its unique fine correction capability. The influence of a gold coating and other parameters like membrane size, exposure field size, or misplacement of the chip pattern versus the center of the membrane will be discussed. Exposure strategies like exposing first one half then the other half of the membrane, or exposing the whole field at one time, will be compared. The temperature distribution was simulated by a finite elements analysis, and the static and thermoelastic distortions are derived by a linear model.
Cyclin D and oncogenesis

The D-type cyclins are among the candidate 'G1 cyclins' in higher eukaryotes that may regulate G1-S-phase progression. The human cyclin D1 gene, also known as PRAD1 (and previously as D11S287), is a putative proto-oncogene strongly implicated in several types of human tumors, including parathyroid adenomas, B-cell neoplasms (as the 'BCL-1 oncogene'), and breast and squamous cell cancers. The mechanism by which deregulated production of cyclin D1/PRAD1, and perhaps other D-type cyclins, contributes to tumor development is only beginning to be deciphered.
On the sensitivity and accuracy of proper-orthogonal-decomposition-based reduced order models for Burgers equation

Abstract Two aspects of proper-orthogonal-decomposition-based reduced order modeling (POD-ROM) of the Burgers equation are examined. The first is the sensitivity of the eigenvalue spectrum and POD modes to round-off errors and errors caused by using a reduced number of snapshots in the POD. For both the direct and the snapshot method of solving the POD problem, solutions obtained using LAPACK’s DGEEV are compared to a new method that we call the “deflation” method. The deflation method always gives positive eigenvalues where as LAPACK often gives spurious negative eigenvalues. However, the direct method using DGEEV is the only method that gives POD modes that are orthogonal to machine precision. Error estimates from linear algebra are used to explain this and also to show that the POD converges with second-order accuracy in the number of snapshots. The minimum number of snapshots needed to obtain a reasonable eigenvalue spectrum is estimated. In the second part of the paper, the effects of mode quality, ROM stabilization, and ROM dimension are investigated for low- and high-Reynolds number simulations of the Burgers equation. The ROM error is assessed using two errors, the error of projection of the problem onto the POD modes (the out-plane error) and the error of the ROM in the space spanned by POD modes (the in-plane error). The numerical results show not only is the in-plane error bounded by the out-plane error (in agreement with theory) but it actually converges faster than the out-of-plane error. The total error is only weakly affected by the quality and orthogonality of the POD modes. Stabilization of the ROM has a positive effect at high-Re, but when the underlying grid used to derive the ROM is well-resolved, stabilization is not necessary.
Formation of Chimeric Genes by Copy-Number Variation as a Mutational Mechanism in Schizophrenia

Chimeric genes can be caused by structural genomic rearrangements that fuse together portions of two different genes to create a novel gene. We hypothesize that brain-expressed chimeras may contribute to schizophrenia. Individuals with schizophrenia and control individuals were screened genome wide for copy-number variants (CNVs) that disrupted two genes on the same DNA strand. Candidate events were filtered for predicted brain expression and for frequency MATK and ZFR2 , a 58 kb duplication disrupted PLEKHD1 and SLC39A9 , a 121 kb duplication disrupted DNAJA2 and NETO2 , and a 150 kb deletion disrupted MAP3K3 and DDX42 . Each fusion produced a stable protein when exogenously expressed in cultured cells. We examined whether these chimeras differed from their parent genes in localization, regulation, or function. Subcellular localizations of DNAJA2-NETO2 and MAP3K3-DDX42 differed from their parent genes. On the basis of the expression profile of the MATK promoter, MATK-ZFR2 is likely to be far more highly expressed in the brain during development than the ZFR2 parent gene. MATK-ZFR2 includes a ZFR2 -derived isoform that we demonstrate localizes preferentially to neuronal dendritic branch sites. These results suggest that the formation of chimeric genes is a mechanism by which CNVs contribute to schizophrenia and that, by interfering with parent gene function, chimeras may disrupt critical brain processes, including neurogenesis, neuronal differentiation, and dendritic arborization.
Meta-analysis of normal canine echocardiographic dimensional data using ratio indices.

Abstract Objectives To investigate the dependence of echocardiographic ratio indices (ERIs) on age, body weight (BW) and breed/study group using individually contributed and published summarized data in dogs. Background ERIs allow for narrow prediction intervals of M-mode echocardiographic measurements in generic adult dogs. Breed and age-specific differences have not been examined systematically using ERI methods. Animals, materials and methods Individual M-mode measurements were contributed by 15 published investigators from 661 dogs, allowing direct calculation of ERIs and summary statistics for each of these breed/study groups. M-mode ERI summary statistics were estimated from published summaries of 22 additional groups that included 527 adult and 36 growing dogs. Individual two-dimensional (2DE) left atrial (LA) and aortic root (Ao) measurements were contributed from 36 dogs. ERIs were analyzed for dependence on BW, breed/study group and age. Results The majority of variation among ERIs was due to differences in the breed or study technique with comparatively little dependence on BW. Age dependence of ERIs was seen in the early growth phases of young dogs, but expected values for each ERI became static long before maturity, roughly at 10–12 weeks of age. ERIs derived from individual 2DE LA and Ao measurements showed no significant dependence on BW. Conclusions ERIs are well normalized for body size and may be useful for clinical evaluation of individuals, prediction of expected M-mode and 2DE cardiac dimensions, and investigation of age or breed-specific cardiac shape changes.
Asymptomatic arrhythmias in patients with symptomatic paroxysmal atrial fibrillation and paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia.

BACKGROUNDParoxysmal atrial fibrillation and paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia are recognized clinically when patients seek treatment for symptoms due to recurrent arrhythmias; atrial fibrillation also increases the risk of stroke. The frequency with which asymptomatic arrhythmias occur in patients with these arrhythmias is unknown.METHODS AND RESULTSTwenty-two patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (n = 8) or paroxysmal supraventricular tachycardia (n = 14) were studied for 29 days with two different ambulatory ECG-monitoring techniques to measure the relative frequency of asymptomatic and symptomatic arrhythmias. All class I antiarrhythmic drugs, calcium channel blockers, beta-blockers, and digitalis were withheld. Sustained asymptomatic arrhythmia events (defined as lasting at least 30 seconds) were documented using continuous ambulatory ECG monitoring once weekly for a total of 5 of the 29 study days; symptomatic arrhythmia events were documented using transtelephonic ECG monitoring for al...
Coordinated hybrid virtual environments

Despite the benefits of presence, immersive virtual reality is still too limiting and ineffective to be widely adopted in people?s everyday lives. One important reason for this is its inability to handle highly diverse 3D interaction tasks, such as object manipulation from different scales, perspectives, reference frames, and dimensions. Inspired by preliminary development of an immersive world builder tool, this paper offers an in-depth presentation of our solution to this problem, using a coordinated, tablet- and HMD-based, hybrid virtual environment (HVE) system. Wearing a non-occlusive HMD, the user is able to view and interact with a tablet mounted on the non-dominant forearm, which provides a multi-touch interaction surface, as well as an exocentric God view of the virtual world. To reduce transition gaps across 3D interaction tasks and interfaces, four coordination mechanisms are proposed, two of which were implemented, and one was evaluated in a user study featuring complex level-editing tasks. Based on subjective ratings, task performance, interview feedback, and video analysis, we found that having multiple seamless Interaction Contexts (ICs) with complementary benefits can lead to good performance and user experience, despite the complexity of learning and using the hybrid system. The results also suggest keeping 3DUI tasks synchronized across the ICs, as this can help users understand their relationships, smoothen within- and between-task IC transitions, and inspire more creative use of different interfaces. Finally, based on these findings, a four-step design process is proposed to aid the process of designing and implementing HVE systems, as well as applying them to appropriate task scenarios. Graphical abstractThis paper proposes using a tablet- and HMD-based, coordinated hybrid virtual environment system to enable effective 3D interaction in immersive virtual reality.Display Omitted HighlightsWe built a novel hybrid virtual environment system for effective interaction in VR.We propose four coordination mechanisms to smoothen context transitions in HVEs.We conducted a user study and proved task synchronization can reduce transition gap.The study shows a complex HVE system can be mastered to benefit interaction in VR.We propose a four-step guideline to aid the design, develop, and application of HVEs.
Aqueous and Surface Redox Potentials from Self-Consistently Determined Gibbs Energies

A self-consistent band theory has been developed for electrochemical interfaces. The surface potential is adjustable by adding surface charge, and a counter charge distribution in the double layer is determined self-consistently using a modified Poisson−Boltzmann theory within a dielectric continuum model. We demonstrate a theory to predict, to useful accuracy, the reversible potentials for 34 acid or base aqueous phase reactions and 4 reactions that are key to understanding electrocatalysis by platinum in oxygen cathodes in fuel cells. We believe this theory will find many applications.
Sylow permutability in locally finite groups

A theorem is established which describes the structure of locally finite groups in whose finite subgroups Sylow permutability is a transitive relation.
Risk-Informed Investment for Tropical Cyclone Preparedness of Highway Signs, Signals, and Lights

AbstractTransportation corridors at regional and national scales are vulnerable to region-wide natural disasters resulting from tropical cyclones, including tropical storms and hurricanes. In addition to floods and debris causing the corridors to be impassable, the widespread damage to signs, lights, and signals brings severe safety concerns to the system users. Agencies must prepare for tropical cyclone-related needs and anticipate various storm scenarios in order to prioritize their investment for upgrading existing equipment. This paper develops a method to consider investment alternatives for highway equipment (i.e., signs, signals, and lights) through the evaluation of trade-offs between cost and damage. First, the authors develop a model for determining wind damage to vulnerable equipment. Second, they characterize the types of highway equipment and associated costs. Third, they evaluate trade-offs among upfront equipment upgrade costs and potential wind damage to equipment in reference to particula...
Excitotoxicity in neonatal hypoxia.

Hypoxic-ischemic encephalopathy (HIE) in neonates is a disorder of excessive neuronal excitation that includes seizures, abnormal EEG activity, and delayed failure of oxidative metabolism with elevated levels of lactic acid in the brain. Evidence from experimental models and clinical investigation indicates that HIE is triggered by a profound disruption in the function of glutamate synapses so that re-uptake of glutamate from the synapse is impaired and post-synaptic membranes containing glutamate receptors are depolarized. Severe hypoxemia preferentially depolarizes neuronal membranes, while ischemia probably has greater impact on the activity of glial glutamate re-uptake. Together, severe hypoxia and ischemia trigger a delayed cascade of events that may result in cell death by necrosis and/or apoptosis. Apoptosis is far more prominent in the neonate than in the adult and activation of cysteine proteases such as caspase-3 is a very important pathway in excitotoxic neonatal injury. Understanding the complex molecular networks triggered by an excitotoxic insult in the neonate provides insight into patterns of selective neuronal vulnerability and potential therapeutic strategies.
Computer courses for humanists: A survey

I assume that with those courses reported in the previous surveys, those written up in various journals, and those mentioned in the returns to this survey, a high percentage of the significant computer courses for humanists (within the surveyed population) have been reported. The majority of questionnaires that were not returned (1640 or 87%) probably should be attributed to the fact that the respondents had nothing to report.
Food consumption and market development under the transition in Armenia

The major uncertainties about the eventual success of macroeconomic stabilization measures, the eventual ownership and control of privatized enterprises, the viability of certain enterprises and sectors can have significant influence on the market economy of Armenia during the transition period. In the face of these uncertainties, inadequate transport and access to markets remain major obstacles to economic development and employment. After liberalization in 1991, consumer subsidies were eliminated and consequently food prices rose. Local price increases combined with the decline in real income and out migration led to a fall in domestic demand for food products as well as significant changes in food consumption patterns. Possibly the chief obstacle to increasing farm income and the most difficult problem for food processing companies to overcome are the marketing constraints. There is no appropriate scale marketing and transport infrastructure for small farmers. The lack of market information system is another problem, resulting in many farmers producing the same crops which were previously profitable, causing a glut. The break‐up of collective agriculture in Armenia resulted in over 300,000 small diversified farms which grow five or more crops and have two or more animal species. With limited export markets, the country lacks adequate markets for much of its agricultural production, as well as the economies of scale for the investments in agri‐processing and manufacturing industry which are necessary to stimulate employment and farm income. Armenia is in a prime position to take advantage of the organic market opportunities. If the developed world is going to subsidize organic food production, Armenia may have competitive advantage with low cost production and very little use of fertilizers, pesticides and other restricted materials for the last ten years.
DC-Contact RF MEMS Switches using Thin-Film Cantilevers

This paper describes the development of DC-contact RF-MEMS SPST, SP3T, and SP4T switches implemented with a thin-film cantilever. Using aluminium as the sacrificial layer in the fabrication process, flat cantilevers are realized with a measured actuation voltage of 50~70 V. The SPST switch is used as a building block to realize more complicated SP3T and SP4T switches for use in true-time delay phase shifters. The preliminary measurements of the SP3T and SP4T switches demonstrate isolation of 20 dB and insertion loss less than 2 dB up to 50 GHz.
Radiofrequency measurements for human exposure assessment in indoor environment

Because of reflection and diffraction phenomena, radiofrequency electric field pattern in indoor environment is very complicated showing rapid spatial variations of field strength values. In this context, measurements have to consider the presence of conductive surfaces and objects which can cause effects of coupling with survey meters and antennas. In this paper data about indoor measurements carried out in different indoor sites, both by broad band and narrow band instrumental chains, are shown. Comparison of data obtained with the different measurements methods is discussed and the influence of indoor environment on radiofrequency field human exposure assessment is analyzed.
A maximal chain of principal ideals in the semigroup of binary relations on a finite set

A maximal chain of Fn+3−1 principal ideals in the semigroup of the binary relations on an n-element set X is constructed by representing a binary relation as a Boolean matrix. Here Fn stands for the n-th Fibonacci number.
The use of urban students’ photographs as a data source and the complexity of their elementary teacher’s interpretations

Photographs taken by urban students, along with the associated interview transcripts, were provided to their teachers partway through the subsequent school year. The teachers were prompted to describe their impressions of the photos relative to their knowledge of the students. In addition, the teachers were asked how these insights might shape their instructional practices. The photographs proved to be informative to the teachers, and they were able to propose changes in practices for individual students. Unfortunately, they were unable to articulate changes that might make the curriculum more culturally responsive for the students.
X-ray wavefront analysis and phase reconstruction with a two-dimensional shearing interferometer

We present the design and simulations of the expected performance of a novel 2-D x-ray shearing interferometer. This interferometer uses crossed phase gratings in a single plane, and is capable of operation over a wide range of energies extending from several hundred electron volts to tens of kiloelectron volts by varying the grating material and thickness. This interferometer is insensitive to vibrations and, unlike Moire deflectometers implemented in the hard x-ray regime, recovers the full 2-D phase profile of the x-ray beam rather than the gradient in only one dimension.
Implantable controlled release systems.

PIP: A controlled release system utilizes a polymer matrix or pump as a rate-controlling device to deliver the drug in a fixed, predetermined pattern for a desired time period. These systems have the following advantages compared to other methods of administration: 1) plasma drug levels are continuously maintained in a therapeutically desirable range, 2) harmful side effects from systemic administration can be reduced or eliminated by local administration from a controlled release system, 3) drug administration may be improved and facilitated in underpriviledged areas where good medical supervision is not available, 4) administration of drugs that have short in vivo half lives may be greatly facilitated, 5) continuous small amounts of drug may be less painful than several large doses, 6) patient compliance may be improved, and 7) this method is relatively less expensive and less wasteful of the drug. Disadvantages include possible toxicity, need for surgery to implant the system, possible pain, and difficulty in shutting off release if necessary. Two types of diffusion-controlled systems have been developed. The reservoir is a core of drug surrounded with a polymer film. The 2nd type, the matrix, is one in which the drug is uniformly distributed through a polymer. In chemically controlled systems, the rate of drug release is regulated by a chemical reaction with the polymer. In solvent activated systems a swelling or osmotic mechanism is involved. Pharmaceutical applications have been made in ocular disease with the Ocusert, a reservoir system for glaucoma therapy and which is not widely used, and in contraception with 4 systems. These systems are: 1) subdermal implants of nonbiodegradable polymers such as Norplant, 6 capsules of 36 mg levonorgestrel; 2) subdermal implant of biodegradable polymers; 3) steroid releasing IUD; and 4) vaginal rings, which are silicone-coated. Other applications have been made in the areas of dentistry, immunization, anticoagulation, cancer, narcotic antogonists, and insulin delivery. Transdermal delivery involves placing a polymeric system containing a contact adhesive on the skin.
Ethical and institutional frameworks for interactional justice in public organizations: a comparative analysis of selected Western and Chinese sources

This paper explores both differences and points of contact between selected contemporary theories of public ethics in the West and China. China is in a greater state of flux in this connection, with new, eclectic approaches to ethical justification for moral agency gaining prominence. There are thematic parallels between East and West in their distinct strains of institutionalism (in which neither individual moral agency nor the justice claims of individuals have much play). However, there are recent Chinese theoretical proposals – many incorporating Western sources – that address this quandary, namely the institutional overdetermination of moral agency. These proposals are joined to contributions from feminist and liberation ethics in a critical reconsideration of overridingness in formal ethics. Contemporary Chinese ethics connect moral claims to kin, community, and reciprocity networks, particularly as traditional philosophy is recovered in new theoretical syntheses. The grounding of Confucian ethics i...
Effect of L-Dopa and the catechol-O-methyltransferase inhibitor Ro 41-0960 on sulfur amino acid metabolites in rats

L-Dopa is the most effective drug known for the treatment of Parkinson's disease. However, the large doses required to treat this neurodegenerative disorder can significantly affect tissue concentrations of sulfur amino acid metabolites due to peripheral and central O-methylation. These effects include decreases in tissue concentrations of the biochemical methyl donor S-adenosylmethionine (SAM), increases in tissue concentrations of the methylation inhibitor S-adenosylhomocysteine (SAH), and increases in plasma concentrations of homocysteine, recently identified as an independent risk factor for vascular disease. In the present study, the ability of the catechol-O-methyltransferase inhibitor Ro 41-0960 to prevent L-Dopa-induced changes in SAM, SAH, and homocysteine concentrations was determined in rats. Rats were injected intraperitoneally with Ro 41-0960 or vehicle 30 min prior to an intraperitoneal injection of L-Dopa or vehicle. One hour after the second injection, the rats were killed and their brains, livers, spleens, kidneys, and plasma collected. SAM and SAH concentrations were then determined in discrete brain regions and peripheral tissues, and total homocysteine concentrations were determined in plasma. In the rats treated with only L-Dopa, decreased SAM concentrations and increased SAH concentrations were found in all brain regions and peripheral tissues measured, and increased homocysteine concentrations were found in plasma, consistent with previous reports. In rats pretreated with Ro 41-0960, however, these L-Dopa-induced effects on sulfur amino acid metabolite concentrations were attenuated or prevented entirely. It remains to be determined if this sparing effect of Ro 41-0960 on sulfur amino acid metabolites has clinical significance.
An Economical Method of Producing Acidophilus Milk

Summary A new method of making acidophilus milk is described. This consists in incubating the skimmilk at 37° to 40°C. for 2 1 2 to 3 hours, heating to as near the boiling point as possible for 30 minutes, quick cooling at 37° to 40°C, immediate inoculation with an actively growing culture of Lactobacillus acidophilus and holding at that temperature till coagulation takes place or a few hours thereafter. The method is more efficient and gives a better product than the one now in use and has the merit of cutting into half the time required to get the skimmilk ready for inoculation.
Neutron focusing effects in perfect-crystal systems

Abstract Four different focusing effects in two-crystal systems are discussed. (i) Focusing of monochromatic radiation at the back face, (ii) a geometric focus of polychromatic radiation, (iii) pure-wavefield foci due to lenses between the crystal plates and (iv) effective-mass enhanced focusing inside crystals due to the action of inhomogeneous external forces. We present some new experimental results on these foci and point out their relevance for the development of novel neutron interferometry systems.
Can language prime culture in Hispanics? The differential impact of self‐construals in predicting intention to use a condom

The highly influential theory of planned behavior suggests that norms and attitudes predict an important antecedent of behavior: intention. Cross‐cultural research suggests that culturally influenced self‐construals can be primed and differentially affect behaviors that are influenced by norms and attitudes. The purpose of this experiment was twofold: (1) To investigate whether language functions as a prime for culture in Hispanics, and (2) if so, if norms and attitudes differentially predict condom use intention. Fluent English–Spanish bilingual participants (N = 145) of Mexican descent were randomly assigned to answer questionnaires in English and Spanish. Subjective norms and private evaluations towards condom use were assessed and their relative strength in predicting condom use intention was evaluated. Results suggest that language can prime culture and affect the relative accessibility of culture‐relevant norms and self‐construals in Hispanics. Moreover, consistent with our expectations, norms and a...
RNA-seq analysis identifies potential modulators of gravity response in spores of Ceratopteris (Parkeriaceae): Evidence for modulation by calcium pumps and apyrase activity

Premise of the study Gravity regulates the magnitude and direction of a trans-cell calcium current in germinating spores of Ceratopteris richardii. Blocking this current with nifedipine blocks the spore's downward polarity alignment, a polarization that is fixed by gravity ∼10 h after light induces the spores to germinate. RNA-seq analysis at 10 h was used to identify genes potentially important for the gravity response. The data set will be valuable for other developmental and phylogenetic studies. Methods De novo Newbler assembly of 958 527 reads from Roche 454 sequencing was executed. The sequences were identified and analyzed using in silico methods. The roles of endomembrane Ca(2+)-ATPase pumps and apyrases in the gravity response were further tested using pharmacological agents. Key results Transcripts related to calcium signaling and ethylene biosynthesis were identified as notable constituents of the transcriptome. Inhibiting the activity of endomembrane Ca(2+)-ATPase pumps with 2,5-di-(t-butyl)-1,4-hydroquinone diminished the trans-cell current, but increased the orientation of the polar axis to gravity. The effects of applied nucleotides and purinoceptor antagonists gave novel evidence implicating extracellular nucleotides as regulators of the gravity response in these fern spores. Conclusions In addition to revealing general features of the transcriptome of germinating spores, the results highlight a number of calcium-responsive and light-receptive transcripts. Pharmacologic assays indicate endomembrane Ca(2+)-ATPases and extracellular nucleotides may play regulatory roles in the gravity response of Ceratopteris spores.
Preparation of some (1→6)-linked disaccharides, and their derivatives suitable for protein modification

Abstract Synthetic methods for the preparation of per- O -acetylated, (1→6)-linked disaccharides containing either a d -galactose or a d -glucose residue at the reducing end are described. In these methods, 1,2,3,4-tetra- O -acetyl-6- O -trityl-β- d -glucopyranose was first converted into 1,2,3,4-tetra- O -acetyl-β- d -glucopyranose ( 1 ) by rapid treatment with 90% trifluoroacetic acid, followed by rapid isolation designed to minimize O -acyl migration. Disaccharides were formed by glycosylation of 1 or 1,2:3,4-di- O -isopropylidene- d -galactopyranose with per- O -acetylglycosyl halides. Isopropylidene groups in the resulting disaccharide, if present, were removed, and the disaccharide was per- O -acetylated. Per- O -acetylated β-Gal-(1→6)-Glc and β-GlcNAc-(1→6)-Gal, and a mixture of per- O -acetylated α-Gal-(1→6)-Gal and β-Gal-(1→6)-Gal (in the ratio of 3:7) were thus obtained. The per- O -acetylated Gal-(1→6)-Gal disaccharides were converted, by a reaction sequence previously reported, into (2,2-dimethoxyethyl)aminocarbonylmethyl 1-thio-β- d -glycosides, which could then be coupled to proteins via reductive alkylation. For the anomeric mixture of per- O -acetylated Gal-(1→6)-Gal, conversion into the corresponding 1-thioglycoside permitted resolution of the isomers by chromatography on silica gel. When disaccharides, as borate complexes, were chromatographed on a column of a strong, anion-exchange resin, all of the (1→6)-linked disaccharides of neutral sugars tested (including melibiose) were eluted later than analogous disaccharides having other linkages, and also later than any neutral monosaccharides.
Augmentation mammoplasty and scleroderma. Is there an association

Augmentation mammoplasty has become a widely employed cosmetic procedure. In the United States an estimated 2 million women have received breast implants. 1 Most of the implants contain silicone gel as the filling material. The gel used in the implant is produced from silica, reduced to form silicone, which is reacted with methylchloride and polymerized to form stable polydimethylsiloxane. Silicone has been extensively employed because of its ideal physical properties and the general perception based on published evidence suggesting that medical-grade silicone polymer is chemically and biologically inert. 2-6 The enormous popularity of silicone mammoplasty, and its rapidly increasing use, render it timely to consider the possible long-term adverse effects of silicone. Over the past two decades, a variety of complications associated with silicone mammary prostheses, including local infection, pain, and contracture of the fibrous capsule that forms around the implant, have been recognized. 7 A disturbingly frequent observation is
The inherent limitations of sequential arterial bypass grafts: a hemodynamic study.

While proximal bypass graft flows are known to Increase by the sequential technique, the possibility of a “steal phenomenon” caused by the intermediate anastomosis has been raised. We compared graft and distal flow rates using simple reversed vein versus sequential bypass grafts in a canine model. A blind segment was created by occluding the common iliac artery above and the superficial femoral artery below a profunda femoris artery equivalent, which served as runoff from the blind segment. Reversed saphenous vein harvested from the contralateral thigh in seven anesthetized dogs was used to perform a simple common iliac artery to superficial femoral artery bypass. Graft and distal superficial femoral artery flows were measured with a calibrated flow probe of appropriate diameter (3–5 mm). A sequential side-to-side vein graft to arterial blind segment anastomosis was then added and flow measurements repeated after equilibration. Mean graft flow increased by 20 cc/min with the sequential technique (p = 0.05), while distal flow actually decreased by 1 cc/min (NS). Although no “steal phenomenon” was demonstrated, distal flow was not significantly improved by the sequential technique. We conclude that no convincing case based on presumed hemodynamic superiority can be made for performing sequential bypass in preference to standard reversed vein bypass. The increased potential for technical error introduced by the additional anastomosis and the lack of any demonstrable augmentation in distal flow suggest inherent limitations of the technique, and caution against its widespread use.
What is a truth-value gap?

Truth-value gaps have received little attention from a foundational perspective, a fact which has rightfully opened up gap theories to charges of vacuousness. This paper develops an account of the foundations of gap-like behavior which has some hope of avoiding such charges. I begin by reviewing and sharpening a powerful argument of Dummett’s to constrain the options that gap theorists have to make sense of their views. I then show that within these strictures, we can give an account of gaps by drawing on elements of a broadly Stalnakerian framework for assertion and using gaps to track an amalgamation of assertoric effects. The discussion reveals that we may need special resources in our theories of assertion to posit gaps, that gaps may be unusable in characterizing the structure of mental states, and that gaps may have heterogeneous linguistic sources that result in equally heterogeneous projective and inferential behavior.
Prevention of 6-hydroxydopamine neurotoxicity

1-Phenyl-3-(2-thiazolyl)-2-thiourea (PTTU) prevented the neurotoxic actions of 6-hydroxydopamine on adrenergic nerves in the mouse atrium and iris. This is the first reported 6-hydroxydopamine antagonist that does not act by blocking uptake of catecholamines into nerve terminals. PTTU also prevented the diabetogenic action of alloxan.
A test of a maize growth and development model, CORNF

Abstract A maize growth and development model, CORNF, was tested at the University of Missouri by comparing the actual growth and development of maize plants with that predicted by the model for the 1979 and 1980 growing seasons. When compared with actual results, the model showed a large underestimation of dry matter for a growing season with relatively mild stress (1979). This underestimation was also reflected in kernel number and grain yield. For a relatively severe water-stressed year (1980) the model showed a fairly accurate prediction of dry matter accumulation. However, kernel numbers were overestimated, presumably because the model could not account for the effects of atmospheric stress on pollination. As in 1979, the estimation of kernel number for 1980 was reflected in grain yield. The model predictions of phenological events were consistently later than actually observed. However, in most cases this difference was not statistically significant. Because the date of physiological maturity was more accurately predicted than the anthesis date, the length of the grain-filling period was underestimated. This underestimation is reflected in a lower prediction of kernel weights. However, kernel weights do not seem to be as important as kernel number in calculation of yield. By simple parameter adjustment, it was not possible to obtain reasonable prediction of all aspects of growth and development under the conditions in which the model was tested. Thus, it was concluded that major alterations of the relationships in the model would appear to be necessary to obtain reasonable results for Missouri conditions.
Fast Fourier optimization

Many interesting and fundamentally practical optimization problems, ranging from optics, to signal processing, to radar and acoustics, involve constraints on the Fourier transform of a function. It is well-known that the fast Fourier transform (fft) is a recursive algorithm that can dramatically improve the efficiency for computing the discrete Fourier transform. However, because it is recursive, it is difficult to embed into a linear optimization problem. In this paper, we explain the main idea behind the fast Fourier transform and show how to adapt it in such a manner as to make it encodable as constraints in an optimization problem. We demonstrate a real-world problem from the field of high-contrast imaging. On this problem, dramatic improvements are translated to an ability to solve problems with a much finer grid of discretized points. As we shall show, in general, the “fast Fourier” version of the optimization constraints produces a larger but sparser constraint matrix and therefore one can think of the fast Fourier transform as a method of sparsifying the constraints in an optimization problem, which is usually a good thing.
The DASH Diet and Insulin Sensitivity

Lifestyle modifications, including adoption of the Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH) dietary pattern, weight loss in individuals who are overweight or obese, and physical activity, are effective in the prevention and treatment of hypertension. A healthy lifestyle may also have beneficial effects on metabolic abnormalities, such as insulin resistance, that are associated with high blood pressure. This review examines the independent and combined effects of the DASH diet and weight loss plus exercise on blood pressure and insulin sensitivity, with a focus on recently published results from the ENCORE study. Our data suggest that the DASH eating plan alone lowers blood pressure in overweight individuals with higher than optimal blood pressure, but significant improvements in insulin sensitivity are observed only when the DASH diet is implemented as part of a more comprehensive lifestyle modification program that includes exercise and weight loss.
Wheat Without Chaff

In reply to the article by Henry C. Link entitled “Wheat and Chaff in Vocational Guidance,” which appeared in the October issue of Occupations, Dr. Wrenn writes from Stanford University to say: “Wheat—and more wheat, rather than chaff!” What he means by that is abundantly clear from the following communication. Let the editors take this occasion to say that they welcome the brief, informal contributions of readers who have been roused to register their disagreements—or even their agreements—with the writers of articles appearing in this magazine.