cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The mode of decomposition of Angeli's salt (Na2N2O3) and the effects thereon of oxygen, nitrite, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione.

Abstract The classical view of the aerobic decomposition of Angeli’s salt is that it releases NO 2 − + NO − /HNO the latter then reacting with O 2 to yield ONOO − . An alternative that has recently been proposed envisions electron transfer to O 2 followed by decomposition to NO 2 − + NO. The classical view is now strongly supported by the observation that the rates of decomposition of Angeli’s salt under 20% O 2 or 100% O 2 were equal. Moreover, NO 2 − , which inhibits this decomposition by favoring the back reaction, was more effective in the absence of agents that scavenge NO − /HNO. It is thus clear that Angeli’s salt is a useful source of NO − /HNO for use in defined aqueous systems. The measurements made in the course of this work allowed approximation of the rate constants for the reactions of NO − /HNO with NO 2 − , O 2 , glutathione, or Cu, Zn superoxide dismutase. The likelihood of the formation of NO − /HNO in vivo is also discussed.
Interactions between oxygen homeostasis, food availability, and hydrogen sulfide signaling.

The ability to sense and respond to stressful conditions is essential to maintain organismal homeostasis. It has long been recognized that stress response factors that improve survival in changing conditions can also influence longevity. In this review, we discuss different strategies used by animals in response to decreased O2 (hypoxia) to maintain oxygen homeostasis, and consider interactions between hypoxia responses, nutritional status, and H2S signaling. O2 is an essential environmental nutrient for almost all metazoans as it plays a fundamental role in development and cellular metabolism. However, the physiological response(s) to hypoxia depend greatly on the amount of O2 available. Animals must sense declining O2 availability to coordinate fundamental metabolic and signaling pathways. It is not surprising that factors involved in the response to hypoxia are also involved in responding to other key environmental signals, particularly food availability. Recent studies in mammals have also shown that the small gaseous signaling molecule hydrogen sulfide (H2S) protects against cellular damage and death in hypoxia. These results suggests that H2S signaling also integrates with hypoxia response(s). Many of the signaling pathways that mediate the effects of hypoxia, food deprivation, and H2S signaling have also been implicated in the control of lifespan. Understanding how these pathways are coordinated therefore has the potential to reveal new cellular and organismal homeostatic mechanisms that contribute to longevity assurance in animals.
Neuronal Damage and Plasticity Identified by Microtubule-Associated Protein 2, Growth-Associated Protein 43, and Cyclin D1 Immunoreactivity After Focal Cerebral Ischemia in Rats

Background and Purpose —An objective of therapeutic intervention after cerebral ischemia is to promote improved functional outcome. Improved outcome may be associated with a reduction of the volume of cerebral infarction and the promotion of cerebral plasticity. In the developing brain, neuronal growth is concomitant with expression of particular proteins, including microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP-2), growth-associated protein 43 (GAP-43), and cyclin D1. In the present study we measured the expression of select proteins associated with neurite damage and plasticity (MAP-2 and GAP-43) as well as cell cycle (cyclin D1) after induction of focal cerebral ischemia in the rat. Methods —Brains from rats (n=28) subjected to 2 hours of middle cerebral artery occlusion and 6 hours, 12 hours, and 2, 7, 14, 21, and 28 days (n=4 per time point) of reperfusion and control sham-operated (n=3) and normal (n=2) rats were processed by immunohistochemistry with antibodies raised against MAP-2, GAP-43, and cyclin D1. Double staining of these proteins for cellular colocalization was also performed. Results —Loss of immunoreactivity of both MAP-2 and GAP-43 was observed in most damaged neurons in the ischemic core. In contrast, MAP-2, GAP-43, and cyclin D1 were selectively increased in morphologically intact or altered neurons localized to the ischemic core at an early stage (eg, 6 hours) of reperfusion and in the boundary zone to the ischemic core (penumbra) during longer reperfusion times. Conclusions —The selective expressions of the neuronal structural proteins (MAP-2 in dendrites and GAP-43 in axons) and the cyclin D1 cell cycle protein in neurons observed in the boundary zone to the ischemic core are suggestive of compensatory and repair mechanisms in ischemia-damaged neurons after transient focal cerebral ischemia.
The mechanistic basis for diastereoselectivity in the Matteson rearrangement

Abstract The diastereoselective rearrangement of α,α-dichloromethylboronate derivatives of chiral 1,2-diols (Matteson rearrangement) can be understood readily in terms of a bidentate interaction between the catalytic Lewis acid (ZnCl 2 ) and the substrate, leading to favored transition states such as 4 and 5 .
MR imaging of knees having isolated and combined ligament injuries.

Although clinical evaluation and MR imaging both accurately reveal injuries in knees with isolated ligament tears, physical examination becomes progressively less reliable when multiple lesions exist. We investigated the accuracy of MR imaging of knees having varying degrees and numbers of ligament injuries.We prospectively interpreted the MR images of 340 consecutive injured knees and compared these interpretations with the results of subsequent arthroscopy or open surgery, which served as the gold standard. Our interpretations of MR images focused on five soft-tissue supporting structures (the two cruciate ligaments, the two collateral ligaments, and the patellar tendon) and the two menisci. Patients were divided into three groups: no ligament injuries, single ligament injuries, and multiple ligament injuries.Using MR imaging, we found overall sensitivity and specificity for diagnosing ligament tears to be 94% and 99%, respectively, when no or one ligament was torn and 88% and 84%, respectively, when tw...
Respiratory Syncytial Virus Nonstructural Proteins NS1 and NS2 Mediate Inhibition of Stat2 Expression and Alpha/Beta Interferon Responsiveness

Respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) subverts the antiviral interferon (IFN) response, but the mechanism for this evasion was unclear. Here we show that RSV preferentially inhibits IFN-α/β signaling by expression of viral NS1 and NS2. Thus, RSV infection or expression of recombinant NS1 and NS2 in epithelial host cells causes a marked decrease in Stat2 levels and the consequent downstream IFN-α/β response. Similarly, NS1/NS2-deficient RSV no longer decreases Stat2 levels or IFN responsiveness. RSV infection decreased human but not mouse Stat2 levels, so this mechanism of IFN antagonism may contribute to viral host range, as well as immune subversion.
Contribution of the LRP5 Gene to Normal Variation in Peak BMD in Women

The role of the LRP5 gene in rare BMD-related traits has recently been shown. We tested whether variation in this gene might play a role in normal variation in peak BMD. Association between SNPs in LRP5 and hip and spine BMD was measured in 1301 premenopausal women. Only a small proportion of the BMD variation was attributable to LRP5 in our sample. Introduction: Mutations in the low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 5 (LRP5) gene have been implicated as the cause of multiple distinct BMD-related rare Mendelian phenotypes. We sought to examine whether the LRP5 gene contributes to the observed variation in peak BMD in the normal population. Materials and Methods: We genotyped 12 single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in LRP5 using allele-specific PCR and mass spectrometry methods. Linkage disequilibrium between the genotyped LRP5 SNPs was measured. We tested for association between these SNPs and both hip and spine BMD (adjusted for age and body weight) in 1301 healthy premenopausal women who took part in a sibling pair study aimed at identifying the genes underlying peak bone mass. Our study used both population-based (ANOVA) and family-based (quantitative transmission disequilibrium test) association methodology. Results and Conclusions: The linkage disequilibrium pattern and haplotype block structure within the LRP5 gene were consistent with that observed in other studies. Although significant evidence of association was found between LRP5 SNPs and both hip and spine BMD, only a small proportion of the total variation in these phenotypes was accounted for. The genotyped SNPs accounted for ∼0.8% of the variation in femoral neck BMD and 1.1% of the variation in spine BMD. Results from our sample suggest that natural variation in and around LRP5 is not a major contributor to the observed variability in peak BMD at either the femoral neck or lumbar spine in white women.
Monitoring oil shale retorts by off-gas alkenealkane ratios

Abstract Data from 125 kg and 6000 kg oil shale pilot retorts indicate that off-gas ethene/ethane and propene propane ratios are useful for monitoring retort performance. Information supplied by these ratios may be particularly valuable for in situ retorts. Since response time is short, the ratios may be useful for control as well as diagnosis of retort operation. The pilot retort data show that, for a smoothly operating combustion retort, the ratios provide an estimate of the effective shale heating rate. Rough operation, indicated by wide fluctuations in peak temperature, is reflected by fluctuations in the ratios. Particularly high ratios indicate exposure of oil to excessive temperature and/or oxygen with resultant loss of oil yield. A relation between elevated ratios and oil loss via conversion to gaseous hydrocarbons is demonstrated for retorting of shale blocks immersed in a bed of smaller shale particles. Chemical interpretation of the data is made by comparison with the thermal cracking of straight-chain hexadecane and pyrolysis of polyethylene. A free radical, chain reaction scheme is proposed. The dependence of alkene alkane values on heating rate is attributed to competition between carboncarbon bond cleavage versus hydrogen atom-transfer processes. The contribution of oxidation reactions to elevated alkene alkane values is also discussed.
Antibiotic selection for purulent skin and soft-tissue infections in ambulatory care: a decision-analytic approach.

Objective Community-associated methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (CA-MRSA) has caused a nationwide epidemic of skin and soft-tissue infections in ambulatory pediatrics. Antibiotic treatment recommendations suggest incorporating local epidemiology for the prevalence of CA-MRSA. We sought to identify the antibiotic strategy with the highest probability of activity and to identify threshold values for epidemiologic variables including bacterial prevalence and antibiotic resistance. Methods We used decision analysis to evaluate 3 empiric antibiotic strategies: clindamycin, trimethoprim/sulfamethoxazole (T/S), and cephalexin. We calculated the probability of activity against the bacteria causing the infection (CA-MRSA, methicillin-sensitive S. aureus and group A Streptococcus [GAS]) by incorporating estimates of prevalence and antibiotic resistance to determine the optimal strategy. Sensitivity analysis was used to identify thresholds for prevalence and antibiotic resistance where 2 strategies were equal. Results Clindamycin (0.95) and T/S (0.89) had substantially higher probability of activity than cephalexin (0.28) using baseline estimates for bacterial prevalence and antibiotic resistance. Cephalexin was the optimal antibiotic only when CA-MRSA prevalence was Conclusions Empiric treatment of skin and soft-tissue infections with either clindamycin or T/S maximizes the probability that the antibiotic will be active when CA-MRSA prevalence is >10%. Deciding between T/S and clindamycin requires consideration of antibiotic resistance and prevalence of GAS. This model can be customized to local communities and illustrates the importance of ongoing epidemiologic surveillance in primary care settings.
Timing of the last glaciation and subsequent deglaciation in the Ruby Mountains, Great Basin, USA

Abstract The timing of the last Pleistocene glaciation in western North America is becoming increasingly well understood, largely due to improved methods of obtaining numerical ages of glacial deposits and landforms. Among these, cosmogenic radionuclide surface-exposure dating has been widely applied to moraines of mountain glaciers, providing the framework for understanding terrestrial climate change during and since the last glaciation in western North America. During the Late Pleistocene, the Great Basin of the western United States hosted numerous mountain glaciers, the deposits of which can provide valuable records of past climate changes if their ages can be precisely determined. In this study, twenty-nine cosmogenic radionuclide 10Be surface-exposure ages from a suite of moraines in Seitz Canyon, western Ruby Mountains, limit the timing of the last glacial episode in the interior Great Basin, known as the Angel Lake Glaciation. Results indicate that deposition of a terminal moraine and two recessional moraines began just prior to ∼20.5 ka and continued until ∼20.0 ka. Retreat from the next younger recessional moraine began at ∼17.2 ka, and final deglaciation began at ∼14.8 ka. These ages are broadly consistent with cosmogenic surface-exposure ages from the eastern Sierra Nevada and the western Wasatch Mountains, in the western and eastern extremes of the Great Basin respectively. Furthermore, these ages suggest that the valley glacier in Seitz Canyon was at or near its maximum extent before and during the hydrologic maxima of Pleistocene lakes in the Great Basin, supporting previous suggestions that a cool and wet climate persisted in this region during the early part of the last glacial–interglacial transition.
Should the government provide catastrophic insurance

Abstract This paper examines the public provision of health insurance for high severity illness. Besley ( Journal of Public Economics , 1989, 39, 141–156) argues that public coverage of high severity illness may interact with private coverage for low severity illness so as to increase welfare. The possibility of interaction between public and private coverage raises important questions for mixed systems, as in the United States. Nevertheless, even within the more general framework presented in this paper there are no welfare gains of the sort Besley envisions.
Prediction of shear-related defect locations in semi-solid casting using numerical flow models

Abstract Contaminated surfaces of the feedstock materials in aluminum alloy casting processes often produce various types of defects which can affect the tensile properties of the final products as well as their fatigue reliabilities. Semi-solid processing takes advantage of a much higher apparent viscosity of the die cast materials by limiting the risk of oxides formed at the free surfaces to become incorporated into the casting when the material is injected into the die. Most of existing semi-solid processes that use billets as feedstock material are however tied up with a different type of contaminated surface. During the injection phase, the external-skin on the periphery of the billet, which has been in contact with air and lubricant during the transfer in the shot sleeve, can be incorporated into the casting. When subjected to a heat treatment, the lubricant is decomposed and produces lens shape porosities. This might be a cause of reject for most structural parts. To avoid this kind of defects, the paths along which the billet skin evolves must be controlled during filling. In order to investigate the possibility of skin inclusion into cast parts during injection of the billet, a two-phase finite element mixture model is employed to model the metal flow. The formation of a skin on the periphery of the billet is modeled by setting an initial solid phase concentration profile in the radial direction. Microscopic observations of the real castings show that the approach is able to model the shear layers and to predict the paths along which the “lens porosity” defects could be formed. An Arbitrary Eulerian-Lagangian (ALE) method is also investigated and appears to be very promising to follow the skin movement in the casting.
Depressive Symptoms and Perceived Doctor-Patient Communication in the Heart and Soul Study

BACKGROUND Doctor-patient communication is an important marker of health-care quality. Little is known about the extent to which medical comorbidities, disease severity and depressive symptoms influence perceptions of doctor-patient communication in patients with chronic disease.
Conceptual Design and Dynamics Testing and Modeling of a Mars Tumbleweed Rover

The NASA Langley Research Center has been developing a novel concept for a Mars planetary rover called the Mars Tumbleweed. This concept utilizes the wind to propel the rover along the Mars surface, bringing it the potential to cover vast distances not possible with current Mars rover technology. This vehicle, in its deployed configuration, must be large and lightweight to provide the ratio of drag force to rolling resistance necessary to initiate motion from rest on the Mars surface. One Tumbleweed design concept that satisfies these considerations is called the Eggbeater-Dandelion. This paper describes the basic design considerations and a proposed dynamics model of the concept for use in simulation studies. It includes a summary of rolling/bouncing dynamics tests that used videogrammetry to better understand, characterize, and validate the dynamics model assumptions, especially the effective rolling resistance in bouncing/rolling dynamic conditions. The dynamics test used cameras to capture the motion of 32 targets affixed to a test article s outer structure. Proper placement of the cameras and alignment of their respective fields of view provided adequate image resolution of multiple targets along the trajectory as the test article proceeded down the ramp. Image processing of the frames from multiple cameras was used to determine the target positions. Position data from a set of these test runs was compared with results of a three dimensional, flexible dynamics model. Model input parameters were adjusted to match the test data for runs conducted. This process presented herein provided the means to characterize the dynamics and validate the simulation of the Eggbeater-Dandelion concept. The simulation model was used to demonstrate full scale Tumbleweed motion from a stationary condition on a flat-sloped terrain using representative Mars environment parameters.
The driving-force dependence of electrochemical rate parameters: origins of anodic-cathodic asymmetries for metal-aquo redox couples

The consequences of differences in the intramolecular force constants and the ionic entropies between the oxidized and reduced states of aquo redox couples upon their electrochemical kinetics are examined as a function of the driving force. A generalized harmonic oscillator model is utilized that involves estimating the activation barrier from the individual force constants in the oxidized and reduced states rather than employing average (“reduced”) values. Noticeable asymmetry in the anodic and cathodic Tafel plots is predicted for redox couples having large (ca. twofold) differences in force constants, the plots being more curved at anodic overpotentials. The calculated plots are in reasonable agreement with experimental Tafel plots determined previously for Cr(OH2)63+/2+ and EU(OH~):+/~+ at the mercury-aqueous interface. Comparisons are also presented between electrochemical “ideal” activation parameters determined for cr(oH&3+/2+ as a function of anodic and cathodic overpotentials and the corresponding parameters calculated from structural and thermodynamic data. Substantially smaller activation enthalpies are observed for Cr(OH2)62+ oxidation than for Cr(OH2)63+ reduction; both are close to the theoretical predictions. The anodic activation enthalpies approach zero at moderate overpotentials even though the activation entropies remain large and negative. Parallels are also drawn with corresponding results and data interpretations of the driving-force dependencies for related homogeneous reactions.
LOW-FREQUENCY INSTABILITY OF HYPERSONIC INTERACTIVE BOUNDARY LAYERS ON A COOLED SURFACE

Viscous instability of a strong–interactive hypersonic flow past a flat plate is investigated under the assumption that the temperature of the plate is much less than the stagnation temperature. Application of the method of matched asymptotic expansions leads to a triple–deck–type formulation for the perturbations. Attention is focused on its linearized version. Analysis of eigensolutions indicates the existence of an upstream propagating stable mode which is the unsteady counterpart of the steady two–dimensional Neiland–Brown–Stewartson solutions. Also exhibited is an unstable mode which propagates downstream. Such instability is principally three dimensional and is controlled by physics similar to those occurring in moderately supersonic flows. Calculations of growth rates and analysis of the forced problem for the time–harmonic vibrator show that at sufficiently low frequencies, the downstream far–field transverse projections are Gaussian lobes symmetrically displaced about the source axis. For frequencies exceeding a critical value, only one lobe occurs and it is symmetrical with respect to the source axis. The width of this lobe contracts in contrast to the expansion of conventional wakes. These findings are in qualitative agreement with previous experimental work by Skuratov and Fedorov.
The writer as social thinker

Social theory in, and social theorising about, Africa has largely ignored African literature. Yet, the works of African writers constitute potential sources for the analysis of social thought and for constructing social theory in the continent. Indeed, African writers offer the kinds of abstractions, comparisons, frameworks and critical reflections on the African lifeworld – and the place of the African in the global context in the longue duree – without which it will be impossible to fully account for the nature of being, existence and reality and the nature and scope of knowledge in the African context. This introduction to the special issue on ‘Writers and Social Thought in Africa’ attempts to bring the social sciences back into conversation with literature (and vice versa) in re-articulating the philosophical dimensions of literature and the social sciences. It re-emphasises the role of African creative writers, not merely as intellectuals whose works mirror or can be used to mirror social thought, bu...
An observer-blinded study of 1% permethrin creme rinse with and without adjunctive combing in patients with head lice

Abstract Objectives: To determine if NIX (Warner Lambert Healthcare, Morris Plains, NJ) 1% Permethrin Creme Rinse Lice Treatment (1% PLT) without combing will effectively treat ≥95% of patients on day 2 or on day 15; to determine whether combing influences efficacy. Study design: A randomized, observer-blinded study enrolled 95 infested adults and children. All patients were treated with 1% PLT on day 1 and, if still infested, on day 8. One third of households were randomized to the combing group and two thirds to the no-combing group. Efficacy was assessed by: (1) visual inspection on days 1, 2, 8, 9, and 15 and, (2) shampooing/straining on days 2, 9, and 15. The target efficacy was 95%. Results: In the no-combing group, the lice-free rate was 83.1% on day 2 (95% CI, 71.0-91.6), 45.8% on day 8 (before second treatment) (95% CI, 32.7-59.2), 77.6% on day 9 (95% CI, 64.7-87.5), and 78.3% on day 15 (95% CI, 65.8-87.9). Adjunctive combing did not improve efficacy on any day. Conclusions: In this population, 1% PLT was significantly less than 95% effective and suggests resistance to 1% PLT. The failure of nit removal combing by nonprofessional caregivers to improve efficacy demonstrates the unreliability of combing as adjunctive treatment in this setting. (J Pediatr 2002;141:665-70)
Feeding dynamics, nitrogen budgets, and ecosystem role of a desert stream omnivore, Agosia chrysogaster (Pisces: Cyprinidae)

Feeding habits, diel periodicity and total daily ingestion, and nitrogen budgets of longfin dace (Agosia chrysogaster) were examined on two occasions when food quality, but not quantity, differed. Agosia chrysogaster was found to be an opportunistic omnivore, consuming primarily insects when the preferred taxon (baetid mayflies) was abundant in the environment, but consuming primarily algae when mayfly abundance was low. Ingestion provided a better measure of diel feeding periodicity than gut fullness; feeding was diurnal on both sample dates, but more markedly so when the primary food was algae. Mean nitrogen content of algal foods was low, and A. chrysogaster apparently compensated for this by increasing its daily ingestion rate when algae were the major food. A reduction in nitrogen content of food during digestion from 4–6% (of dry mass) to less than 1% (in feces) suggested a high assimilation efficiency for nitrogen (nitrogen assimilated/nitrogen consumed = 72–78%). Populations of this abundant and successful cyprinid in Sonoran Desert streams may play an important role in ecosystem nitrogen dynamics. Nitrogen stored in fish biomass comprised 3–6% of the total nitrogen stored in Sycamore Creek, and excretion of ammonia by the fish represented 5–10% of total nitrogen uptake by algae. Such rapid recycling of usable nitrogen to primary producers is significant in this nitrogen limited stream ecosystem.
Studies on ribonucleic acid synthesis in nuclei isolated from rat liver.

Abstract 1. 1. Meaningful interpretation of studies pertaining to RNA synthesis using isolated nuclei cannot be made unless the factors which modify the nature and amount of the product obtained are defined and examined in detail. This is apparent in rat liver nuclei because the level of incorporation of [ 3 H]UMP and [ 3 H]AMP into RNA which we found (and which is quite comparable to those of other workers), indicates that less than 0.1% of the DNA is transcribed. 2. 2. Less incorporation was observed at 37° than at 25° or 30°. After 90 min, there was a 50% loss of incorporated material at 37° and a 20% loss at 30°. Nuclei preincubated in suspending medium and then assayed for RNA polymerase lost activity in direct relation to the time and temperature of preincubation. Enzyme inactivation at the higher temperature was at least partially involved because at a time when no further incorporation of label occurred, exogenous Escherichia coli RNA polymerase caused further synthesis when added to the incubation mixture. By autoradiography, it was determined that the great majority of nuclei were actively synthesizing RNA. 3. 3. There was an inverse correlation between nuclear ribonuclease activity and [ 3 H]UMP incorporation and the ribonuclease activity was much greater at 37°. The stimulation of RNA synthesis by deoxycholate and (NH 4 ) 2 SO 4 reported by other workers was shown to be partially, if not wholly due to inhibition of nuclear ribonuclease activity. 4. 4. Nuclear nucleoside triphosphosphatase was demonstrable and was capable of degrading the triphosphate of adenosine, guanosine, cytosine, and uridine. There was no inverse correlation between the activity of this enzyme and RNA synthesis because of the presence of a nucleoside diphosphokinase activity.
Graph theoretical study of structural similarity in benzomorphans

The existing mathematical models for quantitative structure-activity relationships are normally used to search for additivities of constituent components which contribute to the structure of compounds of interest. Here a distinctive scheme in which we quantify the degree of structural similarity of molecular compounds of interest is considered. The result of our analysis is a numerical index of similarity (or dissimilarity) which can be used for ranking and ordering compounds. The similarity index is derived from comparisons of path sequences in molecular skeletons (that is, sequences of the number of paths of different lengths) as the fundamental graph invariants. Applications to quantitative structure-activity studies follow from the hypothesis that molecules of similar pharmacological activity resemble one another. An examination of the structure-activity relationships among benzomorphins has been selected to illustrate the approach. Among the benzomorphins considered, a few have been selected as standards, and others are “tested” for the degree of skeletal similarity to see if the derived ranking agrees with the experimentally observed properties of these narcotic analgeties. The results support the premise and justify further investigations using the scheme outlined.
Dietary Cholesterol Effects on Plasma and Yolk Cholesterol Fractions in Selected Lines of Japanese Quail

Japanese quail from lines that had been divergently selected for high (HL) or low (LL) plasma total cholesterol and their unselected control line (CL) were fed an all vegetable diet to which 0 or 0.5% crystalline cholesterol were added. Relationships between plasma and yolk cholesterol fractions were examined at 10, 14, and 18 wk of age, which followed 2, 6, and 10 wk consumption of the cholesterol-enriched diet, respectively. Unesterified cholesterol (UC) and cholesteryl esters (CE) in plasma and yolk were analyzed using HPLC. There were no consistent correlations between yolk and plasma for UC, individual CE, total esterified cholesterol (EC), or total cholesterol in the selected lines at ages tested, whether or not 0.5% cholesterol was added to the diet. Cholesterol concentrations in milligrams per gram of yolk and in milligrams per yolk were higher in the HL than the LL at 10 and 14, but not at 18 wk of age. Yolk weights of the HL females increased from 10 to 18 wk of age, whereas those of the LL did not. Cholesterol concentrations in the LL yolks continued to increase over time, however the increases in yolk weight in the HL were not accompanied by proportional increases in cholesterol deposition in the yolk, leading to a dilution of concentration of cholesterol fractions in the HL yolk. Dietary cholesterol increased egg production rate in the selected lines but did not increase the cholesterol content of the yolk.
NMDA receptor antagonists block development of tolerance to m-CPP-induced increases in ACTH concentrations in rats

Abstract We have recently demonstrated that a single administration of m -chlorophenylpiperazine (m-CPP, a preferential 5-HT 2C receptor agonist) produces tolerance to its stimulatory effect on adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) concentrations when challenged 24 h later with the same dose of m-CPP. In the present study, we studied the effects of pretreatment with various N -methyl- d -aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonists on development of tolerance to m-CPP's stimulatory effect on ACTH concentrations. Pretreatment with various NMDA receptor antagonists such as 5,7-dichlorokynurenic acid (1.0 mg/kg), 3-amino-1-hydroxy 2-pyrrolidone (1.0 mg/kg), dizocilpine (0.1 mg/kg) and ifenprodil (1.0 mg/kg) injected 30 min before the first injection of m-CPP (2.5 mg/kg) blocked development of tolerance to m-CPP's stimulatory effect on ACTH concentrations in rats injected 24 h later with the same dose (2.5 mg/kg) of m-CPP. These findings suggest that tolerance to postsynaptic 5-HT 2C receptor-mediated response is initiated though stimulation of NMDA receptor complex and, furthermore, demonstrate a functional interaction between the 5-HT and glutamate systems.
Spider-web kleptoparasites as a model for studying producer-consumer interactions

In this study, we documented that the kleptoparasitic spiders Argyrodes etevatus consume and assimilate web material from the host spider Nephila elatripts. We also demonstrated quantitatively that the amount of web material consumed by the kleptoparasite is equivalent to the amount of insect material comsumed when host vigilance is low, as expected when foraging conditions are very good. Argyrodes vary in their impact on their hosts, as they may steal large prey, small prey, or silk. This host-kleptoparasite interaction is therefore an ideal system for experimentally examining a variable producer—consumer interaction. We compare our experimental results to published experiments showing that the impact of Argyrodes on a Nephila host can be deleterious when foraging conditions are poor.
“And what of my Onegin?” Displacement and Reinvention of the Hero in Eugene Onegin

In discussions of Eugene Onegin, the role of the author-narrator often presents particular difficulty. Critics have tried to explain the contradictions underlying Pushkin's construction of this character, which appears to occupy simultaneously a fictional and a biographical plane in the work. In this paper, I propose an interpretation of this figure as a competitor to Onegin for the status of the hero. I argue that by including the author-narrator in the work, Pushkin challenges the genre conventions of the romantic poem, first distancing and parodying the Romantic hero Eugene and then replacing him with the author-narrator who represents a new kind of hero. Parallel to this experimentation with genre conventions is Pushkin's interest in reshaping the Russian literary language. As Onegin is succeeded by the author-narrator as the hero, the Russian poetic conventions of Pushkin's time are similarly distanced and replaced by Pushkin's (and the author-narrator's) verbal inventions. Finally, I suggest that the author-narrator is an example of a new complex consciousness, specifically in his ability to recreate the voices of other poets in contrast to his own poetic discourse, which shows a movement in the direction of the Russian realist novel, specifically Dostoevsky's polyphonic model of consciousness.
Verifying the correctness of remote executions: from wild implausibility to near practicality

How can we trust results computed by a third party, or the integrity of data stored by such a party? This is a classic question in systems security, and it is particularly relevant today, as much computation is now outsourced: it is performed by machines that are rented, remote, or both.Various solutions have been proposed that make assumptions about the class of computations, the failure modes of the performing computer, etc. However, deep results in theoretical computer science---interactive proofs (IPs) [3, 9, 10, 13, 19] and probabilistically checkable proofs (PCPs) [1, 2] (coupled with cryptographic commitments [11, 12] in the context of arguments [5])---tell us that a fully general solution exists that makes no assumptions about the third party: the local computer can check the correctness of a remotely executed computation by inspecting a succinct proof returned by the third party. The rub is practicality: if implemented naively, the theory would be preposterously expensive (e.g., trillions of CPU-years or more to verify simple computations).Over the last several years, a number of projects have brought this theory to near-practicality in the context of implemented systems [4, 6--8, 14--18, 20--22]. The pace of progress has been rapid, and there have been many encouraging developments in this emerging area of proof-based verifiable computation.My talk will cover the high-level problem, the theory that solves the problem in principle, the projects that have reduced the theory to near-practicality and implemented it, and open questions for the area. My hope is to communicate the excitement surrounding all of the projects in the area.
Nothingness and Being A Schelerian Comment

Heidegger's central question, "What is the meaning of Being?", is intertwined with the concept of nothingness, as it has been since Pre-Socratic thought. I wish to articulate "nothingness" by restricting myself to three aspects of this concept given by Scheler: 1.) the meanings with which the word "nothing" is used, 2.) the moral implication belonging to the question of "nothing," and 3.) the concept of reality. It is the purpose of this selection of Schelerian thought to furnish some distinctions to be made in Heidegger's central position.
Heart rate control during exercise by baroreceptors and skeletal muscle afferents

The objective of this brief review is to discuss current hypotheses describing the roles of the arterial baroreflex and reflexes originating from afferents within the active skeletal muscle (metaboreceptors and mechanoreceptors) in mediating reflex changes in heart rate. The major focus is on how the techniques of reflex activation and analysis of the subsequent responses may markedly affect conclusions drawn regarding the role of these reflexes during exercise. The disparate conclusions regarding the importance of these reflexes are likely reflective of the different autonomic mechanisms mediating the reflex responses (i.e., parasympathetic vs sympathetic) as well as the techniques utilized for reflex activation and analysis. Conclusions reached are that these reflexes are important in the regulation of heart rate during exercise but the relative roles are dependent on work load.
Effects of experimental freezing on soil nitrogen dynamics in soils from a net nitrification gradient in a nitrogen-saturated hardwood forest ecosystem

This study examined effects of soil freezing on N dynamics in soil along an N processing gradient within a mixed hardwood dominated watershed at Fernow Experimental Forest, West Virginia. Sites were designated as LN (low rates of N processing), ML (moderately low), MH (moderately high), and HN (high). Soils underwent three 7-day freezing treatments (0, –20, or –80 °C) in the laboratory. Responses varied between temperature treatments and along the gradient. Initial effects differed among freezing treatments for net N mineralization, but not nitrification, in soils across the gradient, generally maintained at LN < ML ≤ MH < HN for all treatments. Net N mineralization potential was higher following freezing at –20 and –80 °C than control; all were higher than at 0 °C. Net nitrification potential exhibited similar patterns. LN was an exception, with net nitrification low regardless of treatment. Freezing response of N mineralization differed greatly from that of nitrification, suggesting that soil freezing m...
Proposed methods for the reconstruction of the Pioneer/Venus probe entry trajectories

In connection with the Pioneer Venus Project, an orbiter and an array of atmospheric probes are sent to Venus in separate launches during 1978. The four probes, which are transported to the planet on an instrumented Bus are released approximately 20 days prior to encounters. There are three identical small probes and a large probe. Each is designed to make in-situ atmospheric measurements. One of the principal scientific objectives of the Pioneer Venus (P/V) multiprobe mission is the determination of the structure and composition of the Venusian atmosphere down to the planet surface. To enhance the science return it is of paramount importance to be able to accurately determine the spacecraft entry trajectories. In addition to the in-situ spacecraft measurements, earth-based Doppler data are available. The process felt to be most applicable for the P/V multiprobe entry trajectory reconstruction is considered, with emphasis placed on the highly dynamic upper entry segment of the trajectory.
Monopoles and the phase structure of 4D U(1) lattice gauge theory with unit-charge Higgs fields

Abstract We study monopole excitations in 4 D U(1) lattice gauge theory with unit-charge Higgs fields using analytic and Monte Carlo techniques. We also determine the effect on the phase structure of a parameter μ which suppresses monopoles. It is found that the Coulomb-confinement and Higgs-confinement transitions are monopole driven, while the Coulomb-Higgs transition is insensitive to the presence of monopoles.
Free amino acids in human amniotic fluid. A quantitative study by ion-exchange chromatography.

Free Amino Acids in Human Amniotic Fluid. A Quantitative Study by Ion-Exchange Chromatography
The Effects of Racialized Workplace Discourse on Race-Based Service in Full-Service Restaurants:

Existing studies have found that restaurant servers sometimes deliver service that is informed by their customers’ race. However, we know considerably less about the causes underlying such discriminatory behaviors within the restaurant context. In this study, we advance this literature by analyzing data derived from a survey of restaurant servers (N = 195) to assess the effects of working in a racialized workplace environment, characterized by racist and stereotypical discourse, on servers’ reports of providing race-based service. Our findings reveal a strong statistically significant positive relationship between observing racialized workplace discourse and servers’ self-professed discriminatory behaviors. Furthermore, we find that these effects are not mediated or moderated by servers’ willingness to participate in the discursive spreading of racial stereotypes by discussing their customers’ race with peers. We conclude by identifying suggestions that restaurant leaders might consider to reduce racial d...
Designing power supply clamps for electrostatic discharge protection of integrated circuits

Power supply electrostatic discharge (ESD) clamping is needed to protect the IC power supply as well as to provide convenient discharge paths for ESD currents, and thereby simplify the total design problem. A variety of methods are reviewed and explored, notably those employing diodes or field effect transistor (FETs) built in bulk complementary metal-oxide semiconductor (CMOS) technology and avoiding avalanche behavior. Power clamping can occur across comparable power supplies or between a power supply and ground; there are diode and FET methods for each. Designs extend to clamping for mixed voltage supplies on a single chip, including power supplies above the gate oxide tolerance. New designs and results for power clamps based on PMOS FETs are presented for the first time.
Free-flap reconstruction of large head and neck defects in the elderly

Advanced-stage and recurrent malignancies of the head and neck place severe demands on both the surgical team and the patient. Marked alterations in cosmesis and function are to be expected following major ablative surgery. The use of free tissue transfer with microvascular anastomoses has provided the head and neck surgeon the freedom to resect these lesions aggressively and to provide the patient with improved cosmesis, function, and protection of vital structures. A series of six cases involving patients at The University of Alabama at Birmingham over the past year is presented.
Volar plate arthroplasty for osteoarthritis of the proximal interphalangeal joint: A preliminary report

Osteoarthritis of the hand, including involvement of the proximal interphalangeal joint, is common in the aging population. The purpose of this study is to provide a preliminary retrospective report on 12 volar plate arthroplasties in 9 patients who had volar plate advancement arthroplasty for osteoarthritis of the proximal interphalangeal joint. The average age of the patients was 67.6 years. All of the patients' data were obtained from office notes and hand therapy assessment sheets. The average time from surgery to follow-up evaluation was 36.5 months. All patients had significant pain relief. Range of motion was maintained; there was no significant difference between preoperative and final arc of motion values. Preoperative pinch and grip strengths did not differ significantly from the final values. Postoperative position was similar to preoperative angulation, with recognized lateral stability. Our results suggest that volar plate advancement arthroplasty represents a good primary surgical therapeutic option for the osteoarthritic proximal interphalangeal joint, providing pain relief while preserving motion, strength, and stability.
Fabrication and characterization of AlGaAs/GaAs multiquantum well ring lasers

In this paper, we present the design, fabrication, and characterization of large-diameter semiconductor ring lasers with a single out coupling waveguide using AlGaAs/GaAs multiquantum well wafer. We also investigate the influence of the coupling between the ring cavity and the straight waveguide on the threshold current. It was found that the threshold current reduces with the decrease of the coupling between the ring cavity and the waveguide due to the widening of the coupling gap. By optimizing the coupling gap, we achieve a device with the threshold current of as low as 49mA.
The Origin of Collagenase in Periodontal Tissues of Man

Collagenase is produced by both epithelial and connective tissue cells of the human gingiva. Collagenase action was shown through viscometry, acrylamide gel electrophoresis, and electron microscopy. Collagen is cleaved into one-quarter and three-quarter pieces by collagenase derived from human gingiva.
A Collision Resolution Technique for Robust Coexistence of Multiple Bluetooth Piconets

Frequency collision caused by coexistence has become a critical issue with the increasing deployment of wireless networks in the unlicensed frequency band. Most collision avoidance schemes developed for the coexistence of Bluetooth and WLAN are not applicable to multiple coexisting Bluetooth piconets due to constant frequency hopping in Bluetooth. Relying on a blind hop timing and frequency estimation algorithm, in this paper we propose a collision resolution technique that resolves collided data packets without retransmission, thus enabling robust coexistence of multiple Bluetooth piconets. Simulation results demonstrate the effectiveness of this technique.
NARRATIVE FORMAT TESTING REPORTS AND TRADITIONAL TESTING REPORTS: A COMPARATIVE STUDY

This article reports a comparative study of teacher acceptance of two kinds of testing reports that were generated for Form A of the Iowa Tests of Basic Skills at the fourth-grade level. Locally produced reports similar to the traditional ones provided by the test publisher were evaluated against experimental reports that were computer generated in a narrative format. On a random basis, 52 teachers from 16 schools received either the traditional or experimental testing reports for their class, and were asked to evaluate the reports on six scales: clear, useful, meaningful, valuable, sufficient, and accurate, for each of three purposes: information for the teacher on individual students, class-summary information, and information for use at a parent-teacher meeting. On 15 of the 18 comparisons between the traditional and experimental reports, the experimental reports were rated significantly higher.
Implications of Constructivism for Teaching Math to Students with Moderate to Mild Disabilities

This article defines constructivism and examines the theory in terms of the view of the learner, the content, teacher-student interactions, motivation, and assessment. The standards generated by the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics are reviewed in terms of their sensitivity to students with moderate to mild disabilities. Constructivistic teaching principles are abstracted from the constructivism and learning strategy literature and research. Nineteen instructional components are identified and discussed in terms of teacher behaviors, teacher modeling of explicit strategies, teacher-student interactions, instructional content, and learning factors. An analysis of these components reveals that most constructivists adopt an exogenous constructivistic approach to teaching math to students with moderate to mild disabilities. Finally, obstacles to applying research-based constructivistic components in classrooms are identified.