cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Relaxin and β-estradiol modulate targeted matrix degradation in specific synovial joint fibrocartilages: progesterone prevents matrix loss

Relaxin, a 6-kDa polypeptide hormone, is a potent mediator of matrix turnover and contributes to the loss of collagen and glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) from reproductive tissues, including the fibrocartilaginous pubic symphysis of several species. This effect is often potentiated by β-estradiol. We postulated that relaxin and β-estradiol might similarly contribute to the enhanced degradation of matrices in fibrocartilaginous tissues from synovial joints, which may help explain the preponderance of diseases of specific fibrocartilaginous joints in women of reproductive age. The objective of this study was to compare the in vivo effects of relaxin, β-estradiol, and progesterone alone or in various combinations on GAG and collagen content of the rabbit temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disc fibrocartilage, knee meniscus fibrocartilage, knee articular cartilage, and the pubic symphysis. Sham-operated or ovariectomized female rabbits were administered β-estradiol (20 ng/kg body weight), progesterone (5 mg/kg), or saline intramuscularly. This was repeated 2 days later and followed by subcutaneous implantation of osmotic pumps containing relaxin (23.3 μg/kg) or saline. Tissues were retrieved 4 days later and analyzed for GAG and collagen. Serum relaxin levels were assayed using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Relaxin administration resulted in a 30-fold significant (p < 0.0001) increase in median levels (range, approximately 38 to 58 pg/ml) of systemic relaxin. β-estradiol, relaxin, or β-estradiol + relaxin caused a significant loss of GAGs and collagen from the pubic symphysis and TMJ disc and of collagen from articular cartilage but not from the knee meniscus. Progesterone prevented relaxin- or β-estradiol-mediated loss of these molecules. The loss of GAGs and collagen caused by β-estradiol, relaxin, or β-estradiol + relaxin varied between tissues and was most prominent in pubic symphysis and TMJ disc fibrocartilages. The findings suggest that this targeted modulation of matrix loss by hormones may contribute selectively to degeneration of specific synovial joints.
Investigation of the mechanism of the metabolic activation of chloramphenicol by rat liver microsomes: Identification of a new metabolite

Abstract A new metabolite of chloramphenicol (CAP) has been isolated from incubation mixtures containing CAP and liver microsomes from phenobarbital-pretreated rats. This compound has been identified as the oxamic acid derivative of CAP by reverse isotope dilution, high pressure liquid chromatography, and isobutane chemical ionization mass spectroscopy. It has also been identified as a product of the chemical hydrolysis of radiolabeled microsomal protein. These results support the proposal that CAP is metabolically activated by liver microsomes to an oxamyl chloride reactive intermediate which either hydrolyzes to the oxamic acid or acylates protein.
The World That Is Known: An Interview with Michael Haneke

Austrian tional Grand prominence filmmaker Prize and two Michael with best The Haneke acting Piano awards has Teacher, achieved at the major which Cannes internawon Film a tional prominence with The Piano Teacher, which won a G and Prize and two b st acting awards at the Cannes Film Festival in 2001, became both a bete noire and cause celebre for critics , and remained in urban art cinemas through much of 2002. With this film , Haneke fulfilled considerably the expectations produced by all of his early work which has remained predictably marginal to current film culture by provoking the viewer with an intelligence of extraordinary seriousness and significance. That many journalistic reviewers focused solely on The Piano Teacher's graphic portrayal of masochism and other sexual acts , ignoring its complex analysis of the family and the politics of repression, is an emblem of the current media's reaction and intellectual bankruptcy. Fortunately , the Cannes awards and a few perceptive critical remarks sustained the film long enough for many to take notice. With extraordinary performances by Isabelle Huppert and Benoit Magimel ( both of whom took best acting honors at Cannes ), The Piano Teacher, based on a renowned novel by Elfriede Jelinek , achieves unusual power in its meditation on the interconnections of art and the forces of repression. A middle-aged Viennese pianist and piano instructor (Huppert) lives with her hopelessly possessive mother , able to connect with the sexual/social world only through voyeurism and masochism. Her encounter with a young prodigy (Magimel) of unusual artistic sensibility seem . to offer the prospect of romance , until the very notion is exploded as the film explores the assumptions of heterosexual relations and the culture with which it is associated. The questions raised by the film seem very much part of the legacy of artistic modernism and, as handled by Haneke, demonstrate their power to provoke in the postmodern moment. Erika Kohut, Hupperťs character rendered by the actor with devastating authority, manages to suggest both the precarious mental health of Western civilization at the end of the millennium and the hopeless state of women in a still-unrealized struggle for sexual liberation at the end of the twentieth century. Born in 1942, Haneke entered filmmaking rather late in his career, after distinguished work in Austrian theater complemented by seriously engaged, ongoing study of philosophy and psychology. Haneke has established a position as one of the cinema's important provocateurs, a concept lost in an era where cultural/political subversion is often seen as passe, or conceived with jaundiced, antihu manist cynicism. His first feature, The Seventh Continent (1989), is a staggering work based on a news story about a family opting for collective suicide rather than continu-
Development of an Animal Model for Neurocysticercosis: Immune Response in the Central Nervous System Is Characterized by a Predominance of γδ T Cells

Neurocysticercosis is the most common parasitic disease of the central nervous system worldwide. It is caused by the metacestode form of the helminth Taenia solium. Study of the immune response in the human brain has been limited by the chronic progression of the disease, the influence of corticosteroid treatment, and the scarcity of patients who undergo surgical intervention. To better understand the immune response and associated pathology in neurocysticercosis, a mouse model was developed by intracranial infection of BALB/c mice with Mesocestoides corti, a cestode organism related to T. solium. The immune response reveals the presence of abundant inflammatory infiltrates appearing as early as 2 days postinfection in extraparenchymal regions. In contrast, infiltration of immune cells into parenchymal tissue is significantly delayed. There is a natural progression of innate (neutrophils and macrophages), early induced (NK cells and gamma delta T cells), and adaptive immune responses (alpha beta T cells and B cells) in infected mice. Gamma delta T cells are the predominant T cell population. A cell-mediated Th1 pathway of cytokine expression is evident in contrast to the previously described Th2 phenotype induced in the periphery.
Combination of radiologists' diagnosis by a fuzzy number approach

The authors present a fuzzy set approach to combine experts' imprecise opinions. The case study deals with medical radiologists' diagnoses expressed as fuzzy numbers that reflect the confidence and uncertainty of their decision. Specifically, the independent, fuzzy diagnoses of four radiologists are combined by a fuzzy number approach, called a mixed linear extension. The combined result is a fuzzy number. Four essential properties of this combination are discussed, namely, agreement preservation, order independence, possibility conservation and possibility interval preservation. Defuzzification yields crisp results which coincide well with the actual observations representing 45 true values. >
Asymmetric cladding lnGaAs-GaAs-AiGaAs ridge waveguide distributed Bragg reflector lasers with operating wavelengths of 915 nm-935 nm

Single-frequency laser diodes such as distributed feedback (DPB) lasers and distributed Bragg reflector (DBR) lasers have important applications in communications and spectroscopy.
Risk factors for the development of psoriatic arthritis: a population based nested case control study.

OBJECTIVE: To identify factors influencing the development of psoriatic arthritis (PsA) in a population-based, inception cohort of psoriasis (PS) patients. METHODS: Using the population-based data resources of the Rochester Epidemiology Project. which ensures virtually complete ascertainment of all clinically defined conditions, we previously identified all incident cases of PsA and prevalent cases with PS from 1/1/1982 to 12/21/1991. In this nested case-control study, we assessed potential factors influencing the development of PsA in this cohort using medical record and patient survey information. Each case of PsA was matched with 2 PS controls on age, gender and PS duration/date of onset. Factors influencing the development of PsA were identified, adjusting for the influence of other variables using conditional logistic regression for medical record data and logistic regression for survey data. RESULTS: Sixty incident PsA cases were matched with 120 controls with PS. The median age at onset of PS was 31.7 (3.0-78.3) years, and 49% of subjects were male. There were 67% (n = 40) survey responders among cases and 48% (n = 58) among controls. Corticosteroids were used by 10 cases and 6 controls in the 2 years prior to onset of PS through to the development of PsA, and increased the risk of developing PsA (odds ratio 4.33, 95% CI = 1.34-14.02). Pregnancy occurred in 2 cases and 12 controls in the same period, and decreased the risk of developing PsA (odds ratio 0.19, 95% CI = 0.04-0.95). These associations remained significant after adjusting for the influence of gender, age, and duration of psoriasis. CONCLUSION: Corticosteroid use and pregnancy, both of which modulate the immune response, may influence the development of PsA in patients with PS.
Direct Determination of Total Serum Cholesterol by Use of Double-Wavelength Spectrophotometry

We describe a simple, accurate method for direct determination of total cholesterol in serum. Systematic investigation of a previously described modified Liebermann— Burchard reagent has indicated the necessity of accounting for both bilirubin interference and decreased specificity owing to exothermia. Double-wavelength spectrophotometry was used to optically null out bilirubin as an interfering factor, whereas adding serum to the cold reagent increases its specificity for the cholesterol color reaction. Comparison of 106 cholesterol values with those obtained by the procedure of Abell et al. [ J. Biol. Chem. 195, 357 (1952)] yielded a correlation coefficient greater than 0.99; our inter-run coefficient of variation for pooled laboratory serum was 1.7%.
Billing and reimbursement for pediatric surgical services: a unique assessment of a complex process.

Abstract Background/purpose Billing and reimbursement for pediatric surgical services is a complicated process that has not been rigorously evaluated. This study evaluates pediatric surgery billing and reimbursement and compares the process between third party payors. Methods The authors tracked all noncapitated bills from submission to final payment for all cases performed during 1 month. Data included operation, insurance type, amount billed, and amount collected. If payments were denied, the reasons were ascertained and the appropriateness verified. Chi-square and Student's t tests were used for comparisons. Results The billing process for all noncapitated pediatric surgical cases during May 2000, was reviewed (n = 136). The majority of bills (79%) were paid outright. Of the rejected bills, 76% were denied inappropriately. Inappropriate denial of payment was most frequent among patients insured by Medicaid. Mean time to complete payment was longest among patients insured by managed care groups. Percent of total charges reimbursed for surgical services was significantly lower for patients insured by Medicaid and Health Maintenance Organizations (HMO). Conclusions A significant number of bills for pediatric surgical services are rejected inappropriately. Careful analysis of one's rejected bills can recoup up to 20% of revenue. HMO's and Medicaid are more likely to deny payment inappropriately, take longer to make payments, and reimburse less for pediatric surgical services.
JFET pinched bootstrap diode (JPBD) without substrate leakage current integration to 120V BCDMOS process

A new concept to realize the usage of a high-voltage bootstrap diode without substrate leakage current for 120 V high-side-driver application is proposed and verified by 2D simulation. The combination of high-voltage (HV) JFET and medium-voltage (MV) diode with proper modification to avoid substrate leakage current at forward conduction state and high-blocking voltage at off state for integrated bootstrap operation is proposed. Simulation results showed 130 V of breakdown voltage and 0.79 V of FVD (forward voltage drop) @ 100 A/cm2 without substrate leakage current at conduction mode.
Adapting Advanced Inorganic Chemistry Lecture and Laboratory Instruction for a Legally Blind Student

In this article, the strategies and techniques used to successfully teach advanced inorganic chemistry, in the lecture and laboratory, to a legally blind student are described. At Fairfield University, these separate courses, which have a physical chemistry corequisite or a prerequisite, are taught for junior and senior chemistry and biochemistry majors. A student earns a separate grade in each the lecture (three credits) and the laboratory course (two credits). An overview of the course topics is given, followed by general accommodations and specific approaches that were used. Student assistants were very helpful and provided extra support for the blind student. Student assistants were utilized for the laboratory course, problem sets, and exams. Specific examples and detailed explanations of approaches that were helpful to the legally blind student throughout the entire course are provided. The legally blind student benefited from extensive, verbal description of complexes, figures, and diagrams. In addi...
Ann Fisher: Reforming Education for “the mere English Scholar”

Writer, publisher and activist Ann Fisher (1719–78) promoted educational reform in all of her works, most notably in two which remained standard educational texts into the nineteenth century – A Practical New Grammar and The Pleasing Instructor, or Entertaining Moralist – as well as in a series of essays printed in her inexpensive pocket diary, The Ladies Own Memorandum-Book. Fisher first aimed to improve English language education by decoupling English grammar from Latin grammar and by offering a pedagogical model based on practice rather than rote memorization. Later she expanded her reform of pedagogy to encompass the instructor's classroom strategies and demeanor. Such reforms, Fisher believed, would make English language education and the concomitant benefits of improved skills in speaking, reading and writing more accessible to students of all socioeconomic classes. Finally, Fisher undertook a holistic reform of education for girls and women that valorized women's intellectual capabilities and argue...
The formyl fluoride photochemical laser: photochemistry and energy content of the HF photoelemination product

Abstract Photolysis (λ > 1650 A) of formyl fluoride (HFCO) leads to HF infrared laser emission. The energy content of the HF photoelemination primary product is only a small fraction (≈ 7%) of the available excess energy. Fluorine atoms may also be produced as primary photochemical products.
Addition of Bevacizumab to Standard Radiation Therapy and Daily Temozolomide Is Associated With Minimal Toxicity in Newly Diagnosed Glioblastoma Multiforme

Purpose To determine the safety of the addition of bevacizumab to standard radiation therapy and daily temozolomide for newly diagnosed glioblastoma multiforme (GBM). Methods and Materials A total of 125 patients with newly diagnosed GBM were enrolled in the study, and received standard radiation therapy and daily temozolomide. All patients underwent a craniotomy and were at least 2 weeks postoperative. Radiation therapy was administered in 1.8-Gy fractions, with the clinical target volume for the primary course treated to a dose of 45 to 50.4 Gy, followed by a boost of 9 to 14.4 Gy, to a total dose of 59.4 Gy. Patients received temozolomide at 75 mg/m 2 daily throughout the course of radiation therapy. Bevacizumab was given at 10 mg/kg intravenously every 14 days, beginning a minimum of 4 weeks postoperatively. Results Of the 125 patients, 120 (96%) completed the protocol-specified radiation therapy. Five patients had to stop the protocol therapy, 2 patients with pulmonary emboli, and 1 patient each with a Grade 2 central nervous system hemorrhage, Grade 4 pancytopenia, and wound dehiscence requiring surgical intervention. All 5 patients ultimately finished the radiation therapy. After radiation therapy, 3 patients had progressive disease, 2 had severe fatigue and decreased performance status, 1 patient had a colonic perforation, and 1 had a rectal fissure; these 7 patients therefore did not proceed with the protocol-specified adjuvant temozolomide, bevacizumab, and irinotecan. However, 113 patients (90%) were able to continue on study. Conclusions The addition of bevacizumab to standard radiation therapy and daily temozolomide was found to be associated with minimal toxicity in patients newly diagnosed with GBM.
Deregulation of electric bulk power

Abstract Since the beginning of the electrical power industry, government has regulated the generation, transmission, and distribution of power sold to the public. In recent years, reformers have proposed ending regulation of the large generators, the so called bulk power. Critics of regulation allege that the problems come from: (1) direct costs of regulation, (2) inefficiency incentives, and (3) smokescreens. They advocate the benefits of competition. While acknowledging that regulation does cause some of these problems, the author argues that the industry can never be competitive because it is difficult for new companies to enter, capital costs are high and transmission is restricted physically as well as legally. He concludes that the present imperfect regulation is better than the proposed imperfect competition.
Programmable pocket calculator as an inexpensive point count system

Programmable pocket calculators may be used as an inexpensive counting and data reduction system for petrographic modal analysis. They reduce data reduction time, eliminate the need for a computer to analyze the data, and provide the reduced data immediately upon completion of the counting.
Taxonomic review of fossil Proboscidea (Mammalia) from Langebaanweg, South Africa

Comparative morphological and metric study of proboscidean dental fossils from the Quartzose (QSM) and Pelletal Phosphate (PPM) Members of the Varswater Formation at Langebaanweg, South Africa identifies the presence in the fauna of an anancine gomphothere and two species of elephant. The gomphothere, from the QSM and PPM, displays a unique combination of primitive and derived molar features, and consequently is placed in a new species (Anancus capensis sp. nov.) that is regionally distinct from other African species of Anancus. A new species of loxodont elephant (Loxodonta cookei sp. nov.) is identified from the PPM, distinguished from penecontemporaneous L. adaurora by having anterior and posterior accessory central conules that contribute to the formation of strong median sinuses throughout its molar crowns. It is further differentiated from other loxodont elephants by its primitive retention of permanent premolars, lower crown height, fewer molar plates, thicker enamel, and lower lamellar frequency, a...
Possible ecological consequences of heterospecific mating behavior in two tetranychid mites

Interspecific mating between the two-spotted spider mite,Tetranychus urticae Koch, and the Banks grass mite,Oligonychus pratensis (Banks), was documented using laboratory populations. The incidence of mating betweenT. urticae males andO. pratensis females was 26.0%, while that for the reciprocal mating was 18.8%. The incidence of mating was affected by both male and female species. Such matings may have several important ecological consequences. Interspecific matings resulted in all-male progenies. Thus, progeny sex ratios may be distorted by misdirected mating behavior. In addition, heterospecific mating resulted in lower fecundity than conspecific matings in the two-spotted spider mite, although not in the Banks grass mite. Aerial dispersal behavior of the two-spotted spider mite was also affected. Under crowded conditions and deteriorating resource quality, female mites exhibit an aerial dispersal posture that helps them to become airborne, and allows them to disperse long distances. Forty-two percent ofT. urticae females that mated with conspecific males exhibited this dispersal behavior, compared to only 3.6% for virgin females. The incidence of aerial dispersal behavior for females that mated with heterospecific males was intermediate (27.3%). The effects of these behavioral alterations on male and female fitness may depend on the population structure and resource distribution.
Oligodendrocyte Injury Is an Early Event in Lesions of Multiple Sclerosis

The ultrastructural features of 11 stereotaxic brain biopsy specimens that demonstrated inflammatory primary demyelination consistent with acute multiple sclerosis were examined. Uniform widening of inner myelin lamellae (biphasic myelinopathy) and degeneration of inner glial loops ("dying-back" oligodendrogliopathy) were early pathologic abnormalities that antedated complete destruction of myelin sheaths. Perivascular inflammatory cells (lymphocytes, macrophages, and occasional plasma cells) were in intimate contact with degenerating myelin sheaths. The response of astrocytes was prominent, even in areas of minimal demyelination. Oligodendrocytes were morphologically preserved in early lesions but proliferated at the periphery of active lesions. Thinly myelinated axons indicative of central nervous system-type remyelination by oligodendrocytes were observed primarily at the edge of plaques. Disturbances of the myelinating function of oligodendrocytes—unaccompanied by death of these cells—may be among the earliest pathologic features in multiple sclerosis.
Comparison of Two Exercise Programs Using the Falls Efficacy Scale, Berg Balance Scale and Ankle Dorsiflexor Strength in Older Adults

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of two exercise programs with three different measurements (Falls Efficacy Scale–FES, Berg Balance Scale–BBS, and bilateral ankle dorsiflexor strength–ADFS) and to determine if these measurements correlate to each other. Thirteen pairs of subjects residing in a senior living community were recruited and matched for age, gender, and assistive device. The matched subjects were randomly divided into one of two exercise groups–resistance group (RG) provided with the exercise combination of resistance strengthening, balance and gait or seated group (SG) provided with seated range of motion exercise. Eleven pairs completed the 12-week exercise program. The results revealed that subjects in the RG made more improvement in fear of falling, balance, and ankle dorsiflexor strength than those in the SG. The decrease of FES score (fear of falling) is moderately correlated with the increase of BBS (balance) and ADFS scores. The improved BBS is also moderat...
Origin of LER and its solution

We have studied several factors having an effect on LER in terms of resist chemistry, resist process, CD-SEM metrology, numerical aperture and sigma settings of the exposure tool, and the mask pattern. LER is extracted from the developed resist profile. In ArF lithography process, development and rinse process is very critical because ArF resist is relatively hydrophobic compared to KrF resist. It causes heterogeneous interaction at interface of resist and aqueous solution (developer or deionized water). We improved roughness at contact hole pattern by the introduction of wetting process prior to development. Clear and homogeneous rinsing is also needed to remove scum and swelled resist generated at development step. On the other hand, the roughness of mask pattern is one of the important factors of LER on wafer. We confirmed that this global dislocation is a potent influence but local edge roughness of mask is insignificant to wafer LER. This dislocation of pattern is originated from the lack of shot accuracy in E-beam writer using variable shaped beam.
Use of argon x‐ray lines for the diagnosis of laser‐produced implosions

We have measured the spatial extent of heliumlike and hydrogenlike argon x‐ray lines that were emitted from the fuel region of an imploded laser fusion target directly illuminated by the Argus laser. The diameter of the fuel region measured in this way agrees with that obtained from images of the thermonuclear burn region recorded simultaneously by an alpha‐particle zone plate camera. Time‐averaged electron temperatures in the target core were determined from argon line intensity ratios and compared to ion temperatures determined from measurements of neutron yield.
On the Development of Threshold Criteria for Action for Light Water Reactors

A survey of recently proposed threshold criteria for regulatory action on light water reactors (LWRs) is presented together with some commentary. This is followed by a new proposal for threshold action criteria which includes some different risk attributes than are found in previous criteria. Some preliminary risk values are suggested for the criteria and then evaluated in terms of a few hypothetical accident scenarios. Finally, several licensing issues are examined in terms of various threshold action criteria.
Real money balances as factor saving media: A note

A variety of specifications and arguments have been presented in the past in dealing with money in the production system. The most plausible role of money in production seems that it saves production factors as an indirect servicing medium facilitating exchanges and other transaction activities. Based on this hypothesis, real money balances were introduced into the input demand equations in a simultaneous production-equation system. It has been found thatm 1 plays a more significant factor-saving role thanm 2 and it saves capital more than labor. Considering the theoretical merits and the statistical consistency of our model, it is suggested that in macro model building real money balances should be treated as input-saving media appearing in the input demand equations rather than direct production factors to be included in the production function.
A novel trophic relationship between cassid gastropods and mysticete whale carcasses

Large cassid gastropods found in close association with Oligocene mysticete whale skeletons in a deep water setting indicate a novel trophic relationship. Bones of early mysticetes are preserved in close association with a recurring assemblage of bivalve taxa that are common components of fossil and recent hydrothermal vent and cold methane seep localities. Living members of these bivalve groups harbor sulfide-oxidizing autotrophic bacteria and comparisons with recent whale-falls indicate that they utilized bone-oil seepage. But unlike recent whale-falls, this fossil invertebrate assemblage is volumetrically dominated by large individuals of the cassid gastropod Liracassis apta that are preserved with their apertures adhering to the bone surfaces. Comparisons with recent cassoidean taxa and their ecological settings suggests that Liracassis apta belongs to the subfamily Oocorythinae, not Cassininae, and was an opportunistic scavenger in deep water, low oxygen environments. Oocorythine gastropods radiated rapidly on the northeastern Pacific margin during the Late Eocene and Oligocene to become the most commonly recorded gastropod in shelf and slope settings.
Some techniques for the orientation and embedding of nematodes for electron microscopy.

Techniques for the orientation, embedding and sectioning of several species of soil and marine nematodes have been investigated. Orientation of the nematodes has been achieved by embedding them in agar after fixation, but prior to dehydration. The agar flats, containing nematodes, are then infiltrated with Maraglas 655 and the final block is formed in gelatin capsules. The importance of various key steps in the procedure is discussed.
New evidence for a multi-functional role of herbivore-induced plant volatiles in defense against herbivores

A diverse, often species-specific, array of herbivore-induced plant volatiles (HIPVs) are commonly emitted from plants after herbivore attack. Although research in the last 3 decades indicates a multi-functional role of these HIPVs, the evolutionary rationale underpinning HIPV emissions remains an open question. Many studies have documented that HIPVs can attract natural enemies, and some studies indicate that neighboring plants may eavesdrop their undamaged neighbors and induce or prime their own defenses prior to herbivore attack. Both of these ecological roles for HIPVs are risky strategies for the emitting plant. In a recent paper, we reported that most branches within a blueberry bush share limited vascular connectivity, which restricts the systemic movement of internal signals. Blueberry branches circumvent this limitation by responding to HIPVs emitted from neighboring branches of the same plant: exposure to HIPVs increases levels of defensive signaling hormones, changes their defensive status, and...
Remote sensing of contrasting tillage practices in the Texas Panhandle

Tillage information is crucial in environmental modelling as it has a direct impact on water holding capacity, evapotranspiration, carbon sequestration and water quality. In this study, a set of Landsat Thematic Mapper (TM)-based linear logistic models were developed for mapping tillage practices and verified with an independent dataset. For data collection purposes, 35 and 41 commercial fields were randomly selected in Moore and Ochiltree counties, respectively, in the Texas Panhandle. Tillage survey was planned and conducted to coincide with Landsat 5 satellite overpasses during the 2005 planting season and two TM scenes were acquired. Using the Moore County dataset, seven logistic regression models were developed and these were evaluated with the data collected from Ochiltree County. The overall classification accuracy of the models varied from 86% to 91% with the Moore County dataset. These models were evaluated against independent Ochiltree County dataset and resulted in somewhat less accurate (classification accuracy of 67-85%) but still useful results. Analysis of these results indicates that logistic regression models that have indices derived from the combination of TM band 5 with bands 4 or 6 may provide consistent and acceptably accurate results when they are applied in the same geographic region.
The solubility of hemoglobin β4S, the mutant subunits of sickle cell hemoglobin

Abstract The single subunit hemoglobin β4S was found to have a solubility comparable to that of oxygenated rather than deoxygenated Hb S, although it contains twice as many mutant chains as the parent hemoglobin and probably has a quarternary structure similar to deoxyhemoglobin A. This finding supports the assumption that receptor sites in the α chains of sickle hemoglobin are essential for sickling.
Pleistophora chapmani n. sp. (Cnidospora: Microsporida) in Culex territans (Diptera: Culicidae) from Louisiana

Abstract A new species of Pleistophora from the larval midgut and gastric caeca of Culex territans is described. This parasite produces unusually heavy-walled cysts which are highly variable in size. Although in many infected larvae a major portion of the cells lining the midgut and gastric caeca are extensively damaged by the parasite, these larvae are nevertheless able to pupate and emerge as apparently healthy adults. Attempts to infect larvae from our laboratory colonies of Culex territans, C. salinarius, C. pipiens quinquefasciatus, Psorophora varipes, P. ferox, Aedes tormentor , and A. triseriatus by feeding them spores and cysts of the parasite all failed. The occurrence and distribution of the microsporidan are discussed.
NEUTRON STAR ELECTRODYNAMICS IN CURVED SPACE

We calculate the fields surrounding and the power radiated by a slowly rotating neutron star with a frozen-in magnetic dipole field, tilted with respect to the rotation axis, including the effects of spacetime curvature. The general relativistic effects suppress the radiated power relative to flat space by factors up to 1/7 for magnetic dipole radiation and 1/50 for the associated electric quadrupole radiation. This suppression exceeds that which might be expected from a surface red shift alone.
Contribution of the Active Site Histidine Residues of Ribonuclease A to Nucleic Acid Binding

His12 and His119 are critical for catalysis of RNA cleavage by ribonuclease A (RNase A). Substitution of either residue with an alanine decreases the value of k(cat)/K(M) by more than 10(4)-fold. His12 and His119 are proximal to the scissile phosphoryl group of an RNA substrate in enzyme-substrate complexes. Here, the role of these active site histidines in RNA binding was investigated by monitoring the effect of mutagenesis and pH on the stability of enzyme-nucleic acid complexes. X-ray diffraction analysis of the H12A and H119A variants at a resolution of 1.7 and 1.8 A, respectively, shows that the amino acid substitutions do not perturb the overall structure of the variants. Isothermal titration calorimetric studies on the complexation of wild-type RNase A and the variants with 3'-UMP at pH 6.0 show that His12 and His119 contribute 1.4 and 1.1 kcal/mol to complex stability, respectively. Determination of the stability of the complex of wild-type RNase A and 6-carboxyfluorescein approximately d(AUAA) at varying pHs by fluorescence anisotropy shows that the stability increases by 2.4 kcal/mol as the pH decreases from 8.0 to 4.0. At pH 4.0, replacing His12 with an alanine residue decreases the stability of the complex with 6-carboxyfluorescein approximately d(AUAA) by 2.3 kcal/mol. Together, these structural and thermodynamic data provide the first thorough analysis of the contribution of histidine residues to nucleic acid binding.
Conversion by the Numbers: Benefits and Pitfalls of Quantitative Modelling in the Study of Early Christian Growth

Proponents and critics of numerically modelling early Christian growth have missed many complexities of this approach. This study re-examines quantitative modelling by conducting "thought experiments," built from initial assumptions to population projections. First, an "apostolic mission" model assumes that Christianity grew via persuasive leaders; it projects a cubic growth curve. Second, a "values reproduction" model ties higher reproduction and conversion to certain Christian values; it projects an exponential curve. Next, a "social reaction" model links growth to interconfessional interactions; it projects a logistic curve. Such formal models reveal numerical parameters of conversion and the impact of various assumptions. Together, they illustrate the variability of early Christian population projections. They also showcase limitations of traditional quantitative modelling, which tends to oversimplify social conditions, to mischaracterise ancient religion, and to inspire teleological reasoning. Newer "network" models can overcome only some of these limitations. Used carefully, however, quantitative methods supplement familiar socio-cultural approaches.
Regulation of ciliary motility: conserved protein kinases and phosphatases are targeted and anchored in the ciliary axoneme

Recent evidence has revealed that the dynein motors and highly conserved signaling proteins are localized within the ciliary 9+2 axoneme. One key mechanism for regulation of motility is phosphorylation. Here, we review diverse evidence, from multiple experimental organisms, that ciliary motility is regulated by phosphorylation/dephosphorylation of the dynein arms through kinases and phosphatases that are anchored immediately adjacent to their axonemal substrates.
Locus of Control of Unwed Adolescent Fathers versus Adolescent Nonfathers.

20 unwed adolescent fathers (M = 17.5 yr.) were matched by age with 20 nonfathers. Their responses to the Nowicki-Strickland scale suggest that adolescent fathers are not psychologically different in their ability to control outcomes in their lives than the controls.
Dissociation of cortisol and behavioral indicators of stress in an orangutan ( Pongo pygmaeus ) during a computerized task

Computerized testing can induce behavioral signs of frustration in apes. Three variations of a computer task were used to investigate the effects of inter-trial intervals and rate of cursor movement on frustrative behavior and cortisol in an orangutan. Behaviors were recorded during test sessions, and saliva was collected immediately after test sessions for cortisol assay. Behavioral results indicated that extended (20 sec) periods of delay between trials induced signs of frustration in the subject, including forceful manual manipulation of objects and self-scratching. However, cortisol results indicated that Hypothalamic-Pituitary-Adrenal (HPA) axis activity was not induced by task performance. Rather, cortisol levels were reduced during performance of computer tasks compared to baseline levels. Findings from this study suggest that behavioral and cortisol responses to stress induced by performance of computer testing can become dissociated. This study validates salivary cortisol as a measure of HPA activity in apes and demonstrates a normal circadian rhythm of cortisol release in an orangutan.
The cognitive agent: Overcoming informational limits

This article provides an answer to the question: What is the function of cognition? By answering this question it becomes possible to investigate what are the simplest cognitive systems. It addresses the question by treating cognition as a solution to a design problem. It defines a nested sequence of design problems: (1) How can a system persist? (2) How can a system affect its environment to improve its persistence? (3) How can a system utilize better information from the environment to select better actions? And, (4) How can a system reduce its inherent informational limitations to achieve more successful behavior? This provides a corresponding nested sequence of system classes: (1) autonomous systems, (2) (re)active autonomous systems, (3) informationally controlled autonomous systems (autonomous agents), and (4) cognitive systems. This article provides the following characterization of cognition: The cognitive system is the set of mechanisms of an autonomous agent that (1) allow increase of the correlation and integration between the environment and the information system of the agent, so that (2) the agent can improve the selection of actions and thereby produce more successful behavior. Finally, it shows that common cognitive capacities satisfy the characterization: learning, memory, representation, decision making, reasoning, attention, and communication.
A Feminist Analysis of Women's Depression During the Childbearing Year

This article proposes a set of questions about difference, location, power, and representation that nurses can use to critique qualitative and quantitative studies for the utility of their findings in specific practice settings. It then uses these questions to conduct a feminist postmodern critique of a brief report of a longitudinal study about women's depression patterns throughout the childbearing year
Specification and estimation of hedonic housing price models

Abstract Alternative traditional and spatial autoregressive hedonic urban housing price models are offered corresponding to different conceptualizations of the housing price determination process. Some methodological issues relevant to their estimation are addressed that draw upon recent developments from spatial econometrics. These include the selection of the appropriate estimation strategy; the application of diagnostic tests for the detection of spatial dependence and heterogeneity; and the use of robust methods in the presence of heteroskedasticity.
Trade-offs of secure processing in centralized versus distributed networks☆

Abstract Simulation was performed for specific network configurations to assess the effect of imposing security measures on a portion of the workload. The results provide a methodology for performing trade off analysis. The trade-offs are presented in terms of the measures of response time, workload, and cost. Network types included distributed, semicentralized, and centralized configurations. The analysis was conducted using a simulation model which is briefly summarized. The results of the simulation for the cases considered indicate that economies of scale shift from centralized to semicentralized configurations for a fixed I/O bound workload. This occurs when throughput degrades, due to the imposition of security measures, approximately 15% (10%) when 10% (20%) of the workload requires secure processing. Degradation is also examined when certain centers process only secure workload versus distributing both secure and non-secure jobs across the network.
The challenge of quantifying defect size and severity: reality versus algorithm.

In layman's language, a "massive heart attack" is more likely to be fatal or disabling than is a small or "light heart attack." More than 25 years ago autopsy studies showed that people dying of cardiogenic shock usually showed postmortem evidence of a large myocardial infarction (MI) involving more than 40% of the left ventricular muscle mass.1, 2 Clinical evidence supported the concept that a large MI produced more evidence of left ventricular (LV) dysfunction than did a small MI. 3 Detailed measurements in animal experiments have shown that lower myocardial blood flow (MBF) leads to more severe depletion of creatine kinase from myocardium. 4 The region at risk (RR) is defined as myocardium at risk because of its dependence on an occluded or severely stenotic (infarct-related) coronary artery, and the region of MI involves a larger fraction of the RR when MBF is lower or is reduced for a longer period of time, 5 which causes a greater progression of the "wavefront" of infarction from endocardium (most severe) to epicardium (least severe). 6-8 Depending on the clinical situation, the RR may contain some combination of infarcted tissue (primarily in the subendocardium), ischemic (primarily in the mid-myocardium), and normal (primarily in the subepicardium) tissue. MBF varies according to the different tissue types, and radiopharmaceutical extraction depends on MBF. There is a blood flow gradient from endocardium (less flow) to epicardium (more flow) so that radiopharmaceutical deposition is not uniform across the thickness of the myocardial wall. Therefore depending on the clinical situation, for the same RR tissue mass it is possible to have an almost 100% reduction in blood flow (eg, total scar), markedly reduced blood flow (eg, severe ischemia) or a mild reduction in blood flow (eg, mild ischemia).
Nonlinear acoustic resonances in shock tubes with varying cross-sectional area

Second-order resonance effects in closed tubes with varying cross-sectional area are investigated. It is seen that for tubes with cross-sectional areasA(x)∼x−2 solutions for the pressure disturbances can be found, as was done by W. Chester in case of tubes with constant cross-sectional area.
Known object loss, disturbance in reality testing, and "re-grief work" as a method of brief psychotherapy.

Traditionally psychiatry and its teaching regarding psychotherapeutic technique have centered around the classical aspects of psychoanalysis and psychoanalytically oriented long-term psychotherapy. The authors' observation of hospitalized patients has led them to believe that there is a definite need for the development of short-term techniques in psychotherapy. In the particular therapeutic technique discussed in this paper an effort is made to consider the need for short-term techniques predicated upon psychoanalytic hypothesis, although differing widely from the practice of long-term psychoanalytically oriented psychotherapy.
Stereoselective hepatic disposition of a diastereomeric pair of αvβ3 antagonists in rat

1. The study investigated mechanisms underlying the stereoselective hepatic disposition observed in rats of a zwitterionic diastereomeric pair ((3S)-3-{(3R or 3S)-2-oxo-3-[3-(5,6,7,8-tetrahydro-1,8-naphthyridin-2-yl)propyl]pyrrolidin-1-yl}-3-quinolin-3-ylpropanoic acid) with different lipophilicities.2. In a recirculating isolated rat liver system, the more hydrophilic diastereomer II possessed biliary clearance, CLb, and bile-to-liver concentration ratio higher (about 10–30-fold) than the lipophilic zwitterion I, whereas both I and II exhibited comparably high concentration ratios between liver and perfusate. Although MK-571, a known multidrug resistance protein (MRP) inhibitor, significantly inhibited the CLb of both compounds, it did not inhibit their canalicular transport, as evident by unchanged concentration ratios between bile and liver of either I or II.3. Following an intravenous infusion of I or II to Sprague–Dawley rats, the biliary clearance calculated either based on plasma (CLb,p) or liver c...
Highlights of theoretical progress related to the International Magnetospheric Study

U.S. theoretical research efforts have addressed three areas within the International Magnetospheric Study. The first, solar wind/magnetosphere interaction, is presently concerned with the suggestion that magnetic merging may predominantly occur near the polar cusps rather than near the subsolar point. Mechanisms have been proposed for noncollisional diffusion of solar wind plasma across the closed magnetopause entailed by such a phenomenon. The second area considers the importance to magnetotail dynamics of a continuous source of solar wind plasma, and of sporadic plasma loss associated with an unsteady convection cycle. In the third area, the electrodynamic magnetosphere/ionosphere interaction, an advanced state has been reached in the understanding of the relevant physics, with respect both to coupling in the subauroral region and the large scale structure of auroral zone electric fields parallel, and perpendicular to, the magnetic field.
Deforolimus (AP23573) a novel mTOR inhibitor in clinical development.

mTOR was determined to be a promising anticancer target and several drug inhibitors of mTOR are currently in clinical development. Rapamycin (RAP) was the first mTOR inhibitor discovered. However, RAP has poor aqueous solubility and chemical stability and therefore its utilization at doses susceptible to produce an effect as an anticancer agent is limited. This represented the main rationale for developing new RAP analogs. The RAP analogs currently in clinical development as anticancer agents include temsirolimus (CCI-779), everolimus (RAD-001), and deforolimus (AP23573). These agents have demonstrated antiproliferative activity against a diverse range of malignancies in preclinical studies, and clinical evaluations have been very encouraging thus far. Deforolimus (AP23573), a non-RAP prodrug, has been tested in Phase I and II clinical trials and shows promising results in several tumor types including sarcoma. A Phase III study in patients with sarcoma is currently ongoing. The preclinical and clinical s...