cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Do glucocorticoid concentrations rise with age in the rat

While the secretion of glucocorticoids by the adrenal gland is essential for survival of various stressors, glucocorticoid excess can be pathogenic. This two-edged quality to glucocorticoid action makes it of interest whether glucocorticoid concentrations change with age. Numerous studies have examined this in the rat but have failed to reach consensus. The present report analyzes this literature and concludes that the lack of consensus cannot be attributed to strain or sex differences or differences in the point in the circadian cycle at which rats were studied. Instead, it appears that a critical variable is how truly "basal" (i.e., unstressed) basal samples were; in studies in which basal glucocorticoid concentrations in young control subjects were in a range reflecting unstressed basal conditions, there is a robust increase in hormone concentrations with age. In contrast, the bulk of studies reporting no increase with age were those in which young subjects had elevated basal glucocorticoid concentrations (perhaps reflecting the method and speed of obtaining the blood sample, the social conditions of the rat housing, and/or the recency with which there was a disturbance in the animal room). Thus, it appears that once this source of variability is recognized and factored out, there is a considerable increase in basal glucocorticoid concentrations in aged rats.
Caenorhabditis elegans Hsp70-1 expresses highly in bacteria, is sufficiently soluble, and has a catalytic constant similar to Hsc70 and BiP

Abstract Caenorhabditis elegans has been used as a model organism to study the roles of molecular chaperones in cellular processes. C. elegans heat shock protein 70-1 ( CeHsp70-1 ) is the first of the 13-member Hsp70 family genes identified so far in the organism. The protein product of this gene, CeHsp70-1, has been shown to play an important role in conferring thermo-tolerance and longevity on C. elegans . Here, we present the results of the first work to over-express, purify and characterize the ATP hydrolyzing activity of a member of the C. elegans Hsp70s. Recombinant CeHsp70-1 was found to be highly expressed and sufficiently soluble in Escherichia coli . The protein was purified to homogeneity using a combination of nickel affinity, ion exchange and size-exclusion chromatography. Kinetic properties of the basal ATPase activity of the enzyme in a low-salt buffer were determined using a colorimetric assay. The specific activity ( V max per mg protein), K m and k cat values obtained for CeHsp70-1 were 25 nmol/min/mg, 50 μM and 0.28 min −1 , respectively. The catalytic constant ( k cat ) of the protein was found to be similar to that of heat shock cognate 70 (Hsc70) and binding immunoglobulin protein (BiP). At low concentrations, CeHsp70-1 existed mostly in its monomeric form. This work provides a platform for kinetic studies of other members of the C. elegans Hsp70 molecular chaperones.
Atmospheric correction for global mapping spectroscopy: ATREM advances for the HyspIRI preparatory campaign

Abstract Orbital imaging spectrometers, such as the proposed Hyperspectral Infrared Imager (HyspIRI) mission, will provide global, multi-year Visible Shortwave Infrared (VSWIR) reflectance maps. Monitoring the Earth's surface at high spectral resolution will advance our understanding of changing ecosystems and land use. These applications depend on reliable correction of atmospheric scattering and absorption. The HyspIRI Preparatory Campaign is an airborne precursor mission comprised of multiple flights by the “classic” Airborne Visible Infrared Imaging Spectrometer (AVIRIS-C) over a wide geographic area. This article describes the atmospheric correction that we have implemented for the campaign. We first present the theoretical basis of our approach, which is grounded in the ATmospheric REMoval (ATREM) algorithm. We then describe new enhancements including retrieval of pressure altitude, which improves accuracy over widely varying topography, and joint retrieval of optical absorption for three phases of water (vapor, liquid, and ice), which improves accuracy over vegetated areas. Reflectance is validated using ground spectra acquired across a wide range of targets and elevations. Finally, we use the algorithm to map vapor, liquid, and ice phases of water over 6 months across a 14,000 km 2 region of California.
Concrete Structures: Penetration Depth Estimation

The predictability of the National Defense Research Council (NDRC) equations to estimate penetration depth in concrete structures has been reevaluated using the presently available test results on missiles similar to those expected in a nuclear power plant. This study confirms the industry notion that the NDRC equations overpredict the penetration depth. In a probabilistic formulation like the one routinely used in the nuclear industry, the use of this deterministic penetration depth is overconservative and unrealistic. The NDRC equation is updated statistically using the presently available test results. This statistical NDRC equation significantly improves the predicted penetration depth. However, the form of the NDRC equation may not be ideal. A new relationship is proposed here to estimate the penetration depth by introducing a dimensionless impact factor. The proposed relationship is better than the NDRC or even the statistical NDRC equation. The proposed relationship should be used in the future to estimate the penetration depth for concrete structures.
Open quiz solution: Case report 758

We report the angiographic and venographic findings in a case of reflex sympathetic dystrophy syndrome (RSDS) of the lower extremity. The hypervascular intraosseous lesion which initially simulated an arteriovenous malformation provides important information about the vascular nature of this lesion.
Medical Marijuana: Tribulations and Trials

Widespread use of smoked marijuana in the San Francisco Bay Area as a treatment for HIV-related anorexia and weight loss, as well as nausea related to prescribed therapy, prompted the design of a clinical trial to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of this controlled substance. The Community Consortium--the Bay Area's community-based HIV clinical trials organization--designed a first pilot evaluation of smoked marijuana compared to oral tetrahydrocannabinol (THC, synthesized as dronabinol or Marinol) in 1993. A legal source of marijuana could not be identified. Two subsequent applications to the National Institutes of Health were submitted in 1996 and 1997. During the intervening period, increasing numbers of people with HIV infection were obtaining marijuana for "medicinal use" from local Cannabis Buyer's Clubs. In November 1996, California voters endorsed the medical use of marijuana by approving Proposition 215. The federal government's attempt to oppose the voters' mandate led to public outrage. Organized medicine demanded more studies into marijuana's potential use as medicine. The consortium's 1997 proposal to evaluate the potential interaction between THC and widely-prescribed protease inhibitors was positively received. Funding and study-required marijuana cigarettes have been obtained from the National Institute of Drug Abuse, and the first subjects are being enrolled in the trial. When politically sensitive research proposals include sound science, they can prevail if investigators are willing to persist.
Effect of Patient Transfer on Outcomes after Open Repair of Ruptured Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms

Patients with ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysms (RAAAs) benefit from treatment in high-volume facilities. This study explored the effect of patient transfer on outcomes and the relationship between hemodynamic status and mortality. We performed a retrospective review of 83 consecutive patients who had open repair for RAAA at a single tertiary facility. The patients were divided into two groups based on arrival in the local emergency department, "local" (n = 44) versus "transfer" (n = 39) from an outside institution, and into three categories of hemodynamic status: (a) no obtainable blood pressure, "pulseless"; (b) requiring vasopressor support, "pressors"; and (c) no vasopressor support, "no pressors." Thirty-day mortality was 21.4%. There was no difference in mortality between the local (18.2%) and transfer (25.6%) patients (p = .41). There were no deaths during transfer. There was no difference in the hemodynamic status of the transfer versus the local group (p = .34). The mortality by category was pulseless, 100% (3 of 3); pressors, 71.4% (10 of 14); and no pressors, 7.6% (5 of 66) (p < .0001). Actuarial survival was 66%, 64%, and 62% at 1, 3, and 5 years, respectively. Patient transfer does not adversely affect mortality after RAAA repair. Patients without a palpable pulse and those requiring hemodynamic support have a significantly higher mortality.
Effects of preshipping management on measures of stress and performance of beef steers during feedlot receiving

Over 2 yr, a total of 96 steers (approximately 7 mo of age) were allocated to 1 of 4 weaning management strategies: 1) control: weaned on the day of shipping; 2) creep-fed: allowed free-choice access to concentrate before weaning and shipping; 3) preweaned: weaned and provided supplemental concentrate on pasture before shipping; and 4) early-weaned: weaned at 70 to 90 d of age and kept on pasture. On the day of shipping, steers were loaded together onto a commercial livestock trailer and transported 1,600 km over 24 h before being received into the feedlot. At the feedlot, steers were penned by treatment (4 pens/treatment) and provided access to free-choice hay and concentrate in separate feeding spaces. Samples of blood were collected on d 0, 1, 4, 8, 15, 22, and 29 relative to shipping. Steer performance was assessed over the receiving period, including DMI of hay and concentrate, ADG, and G:F. Predetermined contrasts included control vs. early-weaned, creep-fed vs. preweaned, and control vs. creep-fed and preweaned. Overall ADG was greater (P < 0.01) for early-weaned vs. control steers (1.39 vs. 0.88 kg). In wk 1, early-weaned steers consumed more concentrate and less hay compared with control steers (P < 0.03), and preweaned steers consumed more concentrate (P < 0.01) but a similar amount of hay (P = 0.75) compared with creep-fed steers. Average DMI was greater for preweaned compared with creep-fed steers (2.84 vs. 2.50% of BW; P = 0.01) and tended to be greater for early-weaned compared with control steers (2.76 vs. 2.50% of BW; P = 0.06). Feed efficiency of early-weaned steers was greater than that of control steers (G:F = 0.17 vs. 0.12; P < 0.01) but similar for preweaned compared with creep-fed steers (P = 0.72). Plasma ceruloplasmin concentrations were less (P < 0.05) in control vs. early-weaned steers on d 0, but increased sharply after shipping and were greater in control vs. early-weaned steers on d 15 and 22 (P < 0.05). Creep-fed steers also experienced greater (P < 0.05) plasma ceruloplasmin concentrations than preweaned steers on d 29. These data suggest that early-weaned steers have improved performance in the feedlot compared with steers weaned directly before transport and feedlot entry. Differences in preshipping management appear to significantly affect measures of the acute phase protein response in steers.
Estimated refined measures of fertility for all major countries of the world

Este articullo se propone estimar un juego completo de medidas refinadas de fecundidad para todas las principales naciones del mundo, usando las ecuaciones de regresion elaboradas por Bogue y Palmore en el articulo precedente en esta edicion deDemography. Para cada nacion se computan las siguientes medidas: Tasa bruta de natalidad. Tasa general de fecundidad no estandarizada. Ta.sa general de fecundidad estandarizada. Tasa total de fecundidad. Tasas de fecundidad por grupos quinquenales de edad para las edades de 15 a 4.9 anos.
Modifications in the spectrum of primordial gravitational waves induced by instantonic fluctuations

Vacuum-to-vacuum instantonic transitions modify the power spectrum of primordial gravitational waves. We evaluate the new form of the power spectrum for ordinary gravity as well as the parity violation induced in the spectrum by a modification of general relativity known as the Holst term and we outline the possible experimental consequences.
Molecular Evolution of ldpA, a Gene Mediating the Circadian Input Signal in Cyanobacteria

The ldpA gene is an element of the cyanobacterial circadian system and mediates input to the clock. Using complete prokaryotic genomes from various public databases, I analyzed the structure and phylogeny of the ldpA genes. This gene belongs to the large superfamily of ferredoxins and has a HycB domain as a core element of its structure. In addition to this domain, ldpA has two conserved terminal domains that are specific to this gene and have no homologs in the databases. All three domains are under different selective constraints. The ldpA tree topology features two very distinct clades that are essentially the same as those in the previously reported trees of the sasA gene and the kaiBC operon, two other elements of the circadian system. The data on the ldpA polymorphism and evolutionary patterns give further support to the existence of two types of the system, kaiABC- and kaiBC-based, respectively. Each type has specific functional and selective constraints, which have likely been attained through highly concordant evolution of the system’s components.
Host plant pattern and variation in climate predict the location of natal grounds for migratory monarch butterflies in western North America

The breeding grounds of migrant generation monarch butterflies in eastern North America are well known. In stark contrast the location of natal grounds of western migrants has not been delineated. We show that 55% of the area within seven western states was potential breeding range based on: (1) the occurrence of milkweed host plant species with phenology making them available during late-summer and (2) regional thermal conditions supportive of adult reproductive activity and development of immature stages. We next used a series of spatially explicit “bottom-up” regression models to test this first-approximation natal origins distribution. We tested for associations between variation in moisture availability at putative natal habitat and inter-annual variation in monarch abundance at western wintering sites for a 10 year period (1998–2007). Variation in moisture availability, as measured by Palmer’s drought severity index (PDSI), across the western region predicted monarch abundance patterns. In contrast and as expected, PDSI across known eastern breeding grounds did not predict variation in western monarch migrant abundance. The pattern of moisture availability was not uniform between states or within states and permitted similar tests of association at a finer geographical level. PDSI for California, Idaho, Nevada, and Oregon (but not Arizona, Utah, or Washington) were each significantly associated with monarch wintering abundance patterns with California exhibiting the strongest relationship. At a more focused spatial scale we tested the local recruitment hypothesis. This is the notion that western coastal wintering monarch populations derive only from nearby coastal breeding habitat and that monarchs do not migrate from more distant natal grounds. Variation in moisture availability within a block of three contiguous central California climate divisions (Sacramento Drainage, San Joaquin Drainage, and Southeast Desert Basin) significantly predicted inter-annual abundance of migrant generation monarchs. In contrast PDSI patterns of three coastal California climate divisions, i.e., ones local to wintering sites, as well as that of climate divisions in western Nevada and Arizona did not predict variation in monarch abundance at this more focused spatial resolution. Our findings suggest that moisture regimes act as a strong bottom-up driver of monarch abundance pattern via resource availability in western USA.
A nitrogen budget for late-successional hillslope tabonuco forest, Puerto Rico

Nitrogen budgets of late successional forested stands and watersheds provide baseline data against which the effects of small- and large-scale disturbances may be measured. Using previously published data and supplemental new data on gaseous N loss, we construct a N budget for hillslope tabonuco forest (HTF) stands in Puerto Rico. HTF stands are subject to frequent hurricanes and landslides; here, we focus on N fluxes in the late phase of inter-disturbance forest development. N inputs from atmospheric deposition (4–6 kg N/ha/yr) are exceeded by N outputs from groundwater, gaseous N loss, and particulate N loss (6.3–15.7 kg N/ha/yr). Late-successional HTF stands also sequester N in their aggrading biomass (8 kg N/ha/yr), creating a total budget imbalance of 8.3–19.7 kg N/ha/yr. We surmise that this imbalance may be accounted for by unmeasured inputs from above- and belowground N-fixation and/or slow depletion of the large N pool in soil organic matter. Spatial and temporal variability, especially that associated with gaseous exchange and soil organic matter N-mineralization, constrain the reliability of this N budget.
Increasing employment in ex-heroin addicts I: Criminal justice sample †

Fifty-five probationers and parolees with heroin abuse histories were randomly assigned to an experimental 11-hour “Job Seekers' Workshop” or to a 3-hour information only control workshop. The two groups were found to differ on scales measuring interview skills and on rate of employment. By 3 months posttreatment, approximately 86% of experimental subjects had found employment as compared to 54% of controls. Differences between conditions were apparent as early as 1 week posttreatment. Comparisons with results obtained with other samples of drug abusers were discussed.
Liver hepatocyte mitotic activity after a single injection of phenobarbital in immature male rats.

In contrast to multiple injections of phenobarbital, a single injection of 50 mg/kg body wt of phenobarbital into immature male rats results, after a transient increase in hepatocyte mitotic activity, in a marked decrease in hepatocyte mitotic activity to below control levels by day 3, followed by a return to control levels by day 5. This unusual pattern of hepatocyte mitotic activity can be called forth again by a second injection of 50 mg phenobarbital/kg body wt. However, a single injection of 50 mg/kg body wt of phenobarbital into immature male rats results in a pattern of change of liver wet weight, protein, and aminopyrine demethylase activity which is similar to that observed after multiple injections of phenobarbital, except that the changes are smaller in magnitude. Liver wet weight, protein, and aminopyrine demethylase activity increase and reach a peak within two days after phenobarbital injection, and then they return to control levels by five days. The same pattern of change in liver wet weight, protein, and aminopyrine demethylase activity can be elicited again by a second injection of 50 mg phenobarbital/kg body wt.
Radioactive Cesium from Fukushima Japan Detected in Bluefin Tuna off California: Implications for Public Health and for Tracking Migration

Bluefin tuna are highly migratory pelagic fish. Pacific bluefin tuna are spawned in waters off Japan and some juveniles migrate across the Pacific to waters off California. Bluefin that had recently migrated and caught in waters off San Diego, California in August 2011 were found to have 134 Cs and 137 Cs in their muscle tissue, at concentrations that could only have come from the Fukushima nuclear reactor in Japan. Bluefin tuna caught 3 years earlier off San Diego and yellowfin tuna that are resident to the eastern Pacific had no 134 Cs and only background levels of 137 Cs. The radioactivity in tuna attributable to these Cs isotopes was only 2.8% of that from the naturally occurring 40 K, suggesting that consumption of these fish poses little risk to public health. The presence of these isotopes in animal tissues can be used to discern migratory routes and timing for those animals that use the western Pacific.
On the construction of effective vocabularies for information retrieval

Natural language query formulations exhibit advantages over artificial language statements since they permit the user to approach the retrieval environment without prior training and without using intermediaries. To obtain adequate retrieval output, it is however necessary to emphasize the good terms and to deemphasize the bad ones. The usefulness of the terms in a natural language vocabulary is first characterized in terms of their frequency distribution over the documents of a collection. The construction of "good" natural language vocabularies is then described, and methods are given for improving the vocabulary by transforming terms that operate poorly for retrieval purposes into better ones.
A Boussinesq system for two-way propagation of nonlinear dispersive waves

Abstract In this report, we study the system N t + W x + (NW) x − 1 6 N xxt = 0 , W t + N x + WW x − 1 6 W xxt = 0 , (∗) which describes approximately the two-dimensional propagation of surface waves in a uniform horizontal channel of length L0 filled with an irrotational, incompressible, inviscid fluid which in its undisturbed state has depth h. The non-dimensional variables N(x, t) and W(x, t) represent the deviation of the water surface from its undisturbed position and the horizontal velocity at water level 2 3h , respectively. The natural initial-boundary-value problem corresponding to the situation wherein the channel is fitted with a wavemaker at both ends is formulated and analyzed theoretically. We then present a numerical algorithm for the approximation of solutions of the system (∗) and prove the algorithm is fourth-order accurate both in time and in space, is unconditionally stable, and has optimal computational complexity, which is to say the operation cost per time step is of order M where M is the number of grid points in the spatial discretization. Further, we implement the algorithm as a computer code and use it to study head-on collisions of solitary waves. Our numerical simulations are compared with existing theoretical, numerical and experimental results. We have tentatively concluded that the system (∗) is a good candidate for modeling two-dimensional surface water waves.
Human papillomavirus-31-related types predict better survival in cervical carcinoma.

BACKGROUND The aim of the current study was to explore the clinical implications and prognostic value of human papillomavirus (HPV) genotype in cervical carcinomas. METHODS A total of 152 patients diagnosed with International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics Stage I–IV cervical carcinoma were studied between 1992–1999. HPV DNA status was assessed from paraffin-embedded, formaldehyde-fixed cervical carcinoma specimens by polymerase chain reaction-based methods using E7 type-specific and L1 modified general primers (MY11/GP6+ and GP5+/GP6+). The authors divided the patients into four groups: HPV-16-related, HPV-18-related, HPV-31-related, and HPV-58-related types. The relations with clinicopathologic data and overall survival were evaluated. RESULTS HPV DNA was detected in 98% of the tumor specimens and 28.9% of the tumor specimens contained multiple HPV types. The HPV-16-related types were detected more often in squamous cell carcinomas, whereas the HPV-18-related types were more prevalent in adenocarcinomas and adenosquamous carcinomas. In addition, Stage I–II diseases were found more frequently in the HPV-16-related group than in the other groups (P = 0.001). Otherwise, no significant correlation between the HPV genotype and other clinicopathologic parameters was found. After a median follow-up of 64.5 months, the 5-year survival rate was 92% in the HPV-31-related group compared with 70% in the HPV-16-related group, 69% in the HPV-18-related group, and 36% in the HPV-58-related group. The survival rates statistically differed among the four groups by log-rank test (P = 0.02). However, the presence of multiple HPV types was not associated with prognosis. After stratifying for clinical stage, multivariate analysis demonstrated that HPV genotype was an independent prognostic factor. Compared with the HPV-16-related group, the long-term mortality rate was 73 % lower in the HPV-31-related group (relative risk, 0.27; 95% confidence interval, 0.09–0.76; P = 0.013). CONCLUSIONS The presence of HPV-31-related types was an independent predictor of better survival in patients with cervical carcinoma. Therefore, HPV genotyping of cervical carcinomas may have profound implications for future patient management. Cancer 2004;100:327–34. © 2003 American Cancer Society.
Ethnic differences in occurrence of rectal polyposis in over 6000 proctoscopies

Proctosigmoidoscopy was performed in our clinic on 6188 patients. Some examinations revealed gastrointestinal dysfunction, but the majority were routine examinations of patients above 40 years of age. The patients were divided according to ethnic origin—74.4% were North American, mostly Texas residents; and 16.8% were Mexican Gentiles, while 8.8% were Mexicans of Jewish ethnic background. These patients were scoped for routine proctoscopic indications, and to discover and extirpate polyps when found. It was also our intention to define any ethnic differences when they became apparent in our survey. The incidence of polyps was found to be higher in North Americans than in the Gentile and Jewish Mexican population.
Autonomous parvovirus vectors.

Parvoviruses are small, icosahedral viruses (approximately 25 nm) containing a single-strand DNA genome (approximately 5 kb) with hairpin termini. Autonomous parvoviruses (APVs) are found in many species; they do not require a helper virus for replication but they do require proliferating cells (S-phase functions) and, in some cases, tissue-specific factors. APVs can protect animals from spontaneous or experimental tumors, leading to consideration of these viruses, and vectors derived from them, as anticancer agents. Vector development has focused on three rodent APVs that can infect human cells, namely, LuIII, MVM, and H1. LuIII-based vectors with complete replacement of the viral coding sequences can direct transient or persistent expression of transgenes in cell culture. MVM-based and H1-based vectors with substitution of transgenes for the viral capsid sequences retain viral nonstructural (NS) coding sequences and express the NS1 protein. The latter serves to amplify the vector genome in target cells, potentially contributing to antitumor activity. APV vectors have packaging capacity for foreign DNA of approximately 4.8 kb, a limit that probably cannot be exceeded by more than a few percent. LuIII vectors can be pseudotyped with capsid proteins from related APVs, a promising strategy for controlling tissue tropism and circumventing immune responses to repeated administration. Initial success has been achieved in targeting such a pseudotyped vector by genetic modification of the capsid. Subject to advances in production and purification methods, APV vectors have potential as gene transfer agents for experimental and therapeutic use, particularly for cancer therapy.
Oxidative chemical vapor deposition (oCVD) of patterned and functional grafted conducting polymer nanostructures

We present a simple one-step process to simultaneously create patterned and amine functionalized biocompatible conducting polymer nanostructures, using grafting reactions between oxidative chemical vapor deposition (oCVD) PEDOT conducting polymers and amine functionalized polystyrene (PS) colloidal templates. The functionality of the colloidal template is directly transferred to the surface of the grafted PEDOT, which is patterned as nanobowls, while preserving the advantageous electrical properties of the bulk conducting polymer. This surface functionality affords the ability to couple bioactive molecules or sensing elements for various applications, which we demonstrate by immobilizing fluorescent ligands onto the PEDOT nanopatterns. Nanoscale substructure is introduced into the patterned oCVD layer by replacing the FeCl3 oxidizing agent with CuCl2.
Use of 64copper measurements to diagnose canine copper toxicosis.

Inherited canine copper toxicosis is a serious problem in Bedlington terriers and West Highland White terriers, and may also be a problem in other less-studied breeds. Affected dogs become ill at midlife with progressive and ultimately fatal liver disease. Treatments for removal of copper and prevention of copper accumulation are available, but are most effective if begun before the dog becomes ill. Until recently diagnosis has not been available until the dog is 1 year of age, and then only by an invasive liver biopsy with determination of liver copper concentration. The authors studied the use of “copper for early diagnosis of canine copper toxicosis. Two procedures were evaluated. The first involved measuring the concentration of 64copper in blood 24 hours after oral administration of the radioisotope. At this time, 64copper was associated primarily with ceruloplasmin secreted into the blood by the liver. This procedure is useful in the diagnosis of the human counterpart, Wilson's disease. However, the authors found it to be nondiscriminatory between affected and unaffected dogs. In contrast, the second procedure, which involved measuring”copper excreted in stool during 48 hours after an intravenous dose of radioisotope, yielded results that differentiated most affected and unaffected dogs. (Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine 1992; 6:41–43)
Measurement of gastric emptying time—A comparative study between nonisotopic aspiration method and new radioisotopic technique

A comparative study between modified conventional saline load test and the more recently introduced radioisotopic method was run in 8 normal volunteers. Each subject underwent at least three studies by each of the two methods: (1) aspiration method of Goldstein and Boyle incorporating our modification, and (2) an isotopic method employing a gamma camera with a computer. A liquid meal of isotonic saline was used with or without99mTcDTPA. The results indicated that the gastric emptyingT1/2 (8.8±3.5 min) obtained by saline load test was shorter than that obtained by isotopic method (12±3 min). This discrepancy was most likely due to inherent error (incomplete aspiration of the gastric fluid) in the former method giving rise to a false faster emptying time. Moreover, the variations inT1/2 value in the same individual was much more in the aspiration method than it was in the isotopic method.
Looking and Seeing The Play of Image and Word—The Wager of Art in the Technological Society

This study began with a fascination for the enigma of American artist Andy Warhol (1928-1987). I began to collect his words. I had been intrigued by German philosopher, literary critic, and essayis...
Effect of orbital symmetry on high-order harmonic generation from molecules

It was found experimentally with increasing the laser ellipticity that the intensity of the 45th order harmonic from ${\mathrm{O}}_{2}$ decreases slower than that from ${\mathrm{N}}_{2}.$ The difference is attributed to the fact that the recombination probability is suppressed for ${\mathrm{O}}_{2}$ but enhanced for ${\mathrm{N}}_{2}$ in a linearly polarized field. Simulation results obtained by extending the Lewenstein model to molecules agreed qualitatively with the experimental discoveries.
Genome-wide linkage study of erythrocyte sodium-lithium countertransport.

Background Increased erythrocyte sodium-lithium countertransport (SLC) has been observed in patients with essential hypertension. An analytic strategy for identification of genetic variation contributing to hypertension is the evaluation of appropriate intermediate phenotypes for hypertension, such as SLC. Thus, in this study, genome-wide linkage scans for SLC were performed in two independent samples of pedigrees from the Rochester Family Heart Study (RFHS). Methods Genome-wide linkage scans for SLC were performed in independent samples of 232 and 252 non-Hispanic white families from the RFHS. Multipoint variance-component linkage analysis was performed using MERLIN. Results Chromosomes 8, 9, 10, 19, and 20 contained evidence for linkage (log of the odds [LOD] ≥2) in at least one sample of RFHS pedigrees. Consistent evidence of linkage for SLC between the two samples was observed on chromosome 10 (LOD = 2.02 at 64 cM in the first sample and LOD = 2.27 at 55 cM in the second sample). Conclusions Consistent evidence of linkage (LOD ≥2) for SLC was observed in two independent samples of non-Hispanic white families on chromosome 10. Concordance of linkage evidence between the two samples provides confidence that a region on chromosome 10 contains genetic variation influencing SLC, which may potentially influence susceptibility to hypertension.
Lipophilic derivatives of [2.2.1]- and [2.2.2]cryptands: thermodynamics of micellization of their alkali and alkaline-earth cryptates

Critical micelle concentrations (cmc's) were measured at several temperatures in the range 8-32 o C for previously unknown 2-n-C 14 H 29 -[2.2.1], cryptand 1, in the presence of 1 equiv of either Na + or Ca 2+ . Thermodynamic parameters for micell formation by the complexes were assessed by using the cmc dependence on temperature, ΔH mic o , which was found to be 3.5 kJ/mol (0.84 kcal/mol) for Na + •1, (cmc at 26 o C=0.092 mM), and 8.4 kJ/mol (2.0 kcal/mol) for Ca 2+ •2 (cmc at 26 o C=0.583 mM). ΔS mic o was 0.09 kJ/mol K for both complexes
Streamflow routing for water pollution studies

Abstract In connection with the development of a time variable mathematical model for water quality, a special flow routing procedure was designed to process moderate and low discharges. The procedure focuses on the discharge—velocity—time results necessary to study the effects of unsteady flow on stream pollution, in contrast with previously available routing methods which primarily estimate water surface elevations for floods. With input consisting of hydrograph data at an upstream station and discharge—velocity relationships for various reaches of the stream, an electronic digital computer processes a largely empirical program to determine hydrographs at any specified station.
Cell proliferation in emt6 tumors treated with single doses of x-rays or hydroxyurea. I. Experimental results.

EMT6 mouse mammary tumors were treated in vivo with 5 mg/mouse of hydroxyurea (HU) or 300 rads of X-rays. The proliferation of the tumor cells was followed for 28 hr after treatment. Changes in the 3H-TdR labeling index, the mitotic index, the specific activity of the 3H-TdR-labeled DNA, and the proportion of suspended, clonogenic cells in the S phase of the cell cycle were examined and compared. Evidence was found for reassortment of the surviving cells in treated tumors into partially synchronous cohorts. The partial synchrony in the proliferation of the surviving cells was not accurately predicted by the changes in the labeling index and the mitotic index. The changes in DNA specific activity proved unacceptable as an indicator of cell proliferation in solid EMT6 tumors treated with low doses of radiation or HU.
The utility of routine chest radiography following jet ventilation in elective laryngotracheal surgery

Objectives/Hypothesis: Jet ventilation is a useful mode of airway management for laryngotracheal surgery. The objective of this study is to evaluate the utility of routine chest radiography following jet ventilation for these cases. Study Design: Retrospective chart review. Methods: Thirty-four elective surgical procedures performed from 1998 to 2002 are reviewed for postoperative airway and pulmonary complications. Data were collected from clinical notes as well as from the results of chest radiographs. This included the need for tracheotomy, reintubation, pneumothorax, pneumomediastinum, and atelectasis. Results: A retrospective chart examination revealed no major complications. Twenty-nine of the 34 cases had postoperative chest radiography (CXR) performed on a routine basis. Atelectasis was present in 12 of 29 CXR (41%); no intervention was required in these cases. Conclusions: Routine postoperative CXR may not be useful following jet ventilation for elective laryngotracheal surgery. The safety of jet ventilation is discussed.
Structural comparison of the plant satellite viruses

Detailed structures are now available for three plant satellite viruses, satellite tobacco necrosis virus (STNV), satellite tobacco mosaic virus (STMV), and satellite panicum mosaic virus (SPMV). It is, therefore, possible to compare the tertiary structure of viral protein subunits, their quaternary interactions, and the interactions of protein subunits with the RNA genome. This analysis indicates that, in spite of common function and preservation of a "jelly-roll" motif in the protein monomer, the three viruses are remarkably different. The differences include the arrangement of secondary structural elements, interactions of adjacent subunits, and the disposition of subunits relative to icosahedral symmetry axes. In each of the three viruses, however, the narrow end of the jelly roll forms fivefold contacts. The fivefold protein interactions are organized about a Ca2+ ion for STNV, an anion for STMV, and, apparently, neither of these for SPMV. Low-resolution neutron diffraction studies using H2O/D2O solvent contrast variation revealed the general location of the RNA genome within the STNV. In the case of SPMV, regions of electron density on the interior of the capsid could be assigned to RNA, although it was not possible to model the nucleic acid. Only for STMV was nucleic acid visible in election density maps, and this was manifested as double-helical RNA segments associated with each coat protein dimer. The observations presented here provide no support for any common evolutionary relationship.
Liquid diffusion coefficients in shale

The safety and acceptability of deep well injection as a means of disposal of chemical hazardous wastes relies upon containment of the waste for a long time. Containment for 10,000 years is the current criterion for safety. Many of the strata into which chemical wastes are injected in the U.S. are bounded by shale, which serves as a containment barrier to transport of the injected waste. Thus, the effectiveness of containment depends upon transport of the waste in the shale. Modeling of the penetration of liquids into the shale requires sorption and diffusion data. While the diffusion coefficients of liquids in shale are low, no experimental values are available. The purpose of this research is to experimentally determine diffusion coefficients of liquids in shales typical of those which bound deep well injection. The experimental technique used will be basically the same as that which has been successfully used to measure liquid diffusion coefficients in granite and sandstones. The apparatus uses a diaphragm cell which uses a shale sample as the membrane in a transient experiment lasting from two to four weeks. The diffusion coefficients are expected to be lower than in granite, which are on the order of 10−10 cm2/s. Detection of materials which have diffused through the shale membrane will be by ion specific electrode or by radioactive tracer.
Comparative study of damage identification algorithms applied to a bridge: I. Experiment

Over the past 30 years detecting damage in a structure from changes in global dynamic parameters has received considerable attention from the civil, aerospace and mechanical engineering communities. The basis for this approach to damage detection is that changes in the structure's physical properties (i.e., boundary conditions, stiffness, mass and/or damping) will, in turn, alter the dynamic characteristics (i.e., resonant frequencies, modal damping and mode shapes) of the structure. Changes in properties such as the flexibility or stiffness matrices derived from measured modal properties and changes in mode shape curvature have shown promise for locating structural damage. However, to date there has not been a study reported in the technical literature that directly compares these various methods. The experimental results reported in this paper and the results of a numerical study reported in an accompanying paper attempt to fill this void in the study of damage detection methods. Five methods for damage assessment that have been reported in the technical literature are summarized and compared using experimental modal data from an undamaged and damaged bridge. For the most severe damage case investigated, all methods can accurately locate the damage. The methods show varying levels of success when applied to less severe damage cases. This paper concludes by summarizing some areas of the damage identification process that require further study.
Using difference equations to find optimal tax structures on the SugarScape

The use of equations to describe agent-based model dynamics allows access to mathematical theory that is not otherwise available. In particular, equation models can be effective at solving optimization problems—that is, problems concerning how an agent-based model can be most effectively steered into a particular state. In order to illustrate this strategy, we describe a modified version of the well-known SugarScape model and implement taxation. The optimization problem is to determine tax structures that minimize deaths but maximize tax income. Tax rates are dependent upon the amount of sugar available in a particular region; the rates change over time. A system of discrete difference equations is built to capture agent-based model dynamics. The equations are shown to capture the dynamics very well both with and without taxation. A multi-objective optimization technique known as Pareto optimization is then used to solve the problem. Rather than focusing on a cost function in which the two objectives are assigned weights, Pareto optimization is a heuristic method that determines a suite of solutions, each of which is optimal depending on the priorities of the researcher. In this case, Pareto optimization allows analysis of the tradeoff between taxes collected and deaths caused by taxation. The strategies contained here serve as a framework for a broad class of models.
ANOVA/TT: Analysis of variance teaching template for lotus 1-2-3

Inferential statistics courses often require students to conduct multi factor analysis of variance (ANOVA) problems by hand and then employ a computer to check results. Many microcomputer programs perform twofactor ANOVAs (e.g., Anderson, 1984; Brown, 1984; Butler & Eamon, 1985; Coder, 1985, 1985; Collani & Waloszek, 1983; Corrigan, Bonelli, & Borys, 1980a, 1980b; Coulombe, 1983, 1984, 1985; Galla, 1981, 1984; Hacker & Angiolillo-Bent, 1981; Lane, 1981; Strang, 1980), and each has its unique strengths. However, most programs either (1) do not handle repeated measures (within-subjects) or mixed designs, (2) require too high a level of statistical knowledge for first-time users, (3) have cumbersome input procedures, (4) fail to reveal intermediate steps in calculations, (5) give no cues for the interpretation of the results, or (6) are not user friendly. We are aware of none that conduct two-factor ANOVAs, show intermediate steps, produce summary tables, indicate significant contrasts, conduct post hoc tests, and illustrate main and simple effects on a polygon, all on a spreadsheet with instant updates. Some of the recent microand mainframe computer packages (e.g., ANOVR, SAS, SPSSX, Minitab, and BMDP) have overcome many of these shortcomings, but there still remains a need for instructional tools to teach two-factor ANOVAs. The program herein described was developed to assist students in learning to analyze and interpret experimental data from entry to illustration. ANOVA/TT is a teaching template-a set of predesigned worksheet files-etc be used in conjunction with Lotus 1-2-3 (Lotus Development Corporation, 1985). It is user friendly and requires no previous computer experience to operate. It begins with a menu-driven interactive query session that directs the user to the proper ANOVA design. Once in the proper me, program flow is nearly identical to performing an ANOVA by hand. After data are entered into the cells of a matrix, a simple keypress initiates a macro that results in an ANOVA summary table, table of means and variances, post hoc analyses, and plots of main effects and interactions. ANOVA/TT is capable of conducting ANOVAs according to the following designs: (1) repeated
Identification and classification of state-action clusters of car-following behavior

This research effort aims to identify and classify state-action clusters of driver behavior. The methodology first segments and clusters car-following periods into clusters that identify a specific combination of state variables (speed, lane offset, yaw angle, range and range rate) and action variables (longitudinal acceleration, lateral acceleration, and yaw rate). The state-action clusters are then analyzed using discriminant analysis to reveal the clusters that can be identified using: (1) only state variables, (2) only action variables, and (3) both state and action variables. The sample used in this paper included ten different drivers with over 100 car-following periods each, totaling over 1500 car-following periods. In summary, the results revealed that: (1) 60% of the state-action clusters can be identified using only state variables, (2) 30% of the state-action clusters can be identified using only action variables, and 100% of the state-action clusters can be identified using both state and action variables. Also, 20% of the state-action clusters require the use of both state and action variables to be identified.
The Optimum Size of a Producer Service Firm Facing Uncertain Demand

In this paper we present a theory of optimum size and number of clients for a producer service firm performing maintenance and repair services for clients in the manufacturing sector. The theory holds that scale economies vary directly with the level of contact requirements for service delivery. This is illustrated by a model of a monopoly repair specialist in which frequency of breakdown (and therefore client demand for service) is stochastic. Comparative statics are used to draw testable hypotheses from the model which, if extended to a multisite case, may serve as a portion of a general model of producer service location.
Electra-Optic Camera System For Measurement Of The Underwater Radiance Distribution

A new instrument for measuring the underwater spectral radiance distribution is described. This instrument, the electro-optic radiance distribu-tion camera system (RADS), is based on two electro-optic charge-injection device cameras with fisheye lenses and a filter changer for selection of the spectral region of interest. RADS allows a complete spectral radiance distribution to be measured in a short period of time and allows routine reduction to absolute radiometric data. Many other apparent optical properties such as vector irradiance, scalar irradiance, average cosine, and net irradiance can be derived from these radiance data. In this paper, the instrument is described, values of other optical properties derived from the data are presented, and the inherent optical property of absorption is calculated from the radiance distributions using Gershun's law.
Perceptions of speaking ability: An explanation for stage fright

This article presents and tests an explanation for stage fright. It is argued that stage fright emerges from a perception that one's public speaking ability falls short of audience expectations in ways that are important to the speaker. Three studies are reported that offer support for central elements in the explanatory framework. The first two studies provide evidence in support of the expected relationships between perceptions in inadequacy, importance, and stage fright. The third study demonstrates that shifts in speakers’ perceptions of audience expectations are accompanied by attenuate shifts in self‐reports of stage fright. The paper concludes with a discussion of the implications of the general theoretical framework for future investigations and interventions.