cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
ANTIOXIDANT AND ANTHELMINTIC POTENTIAL OF THE STEM & LEAVES OF WHITE ABRUS

Introduction : World Health Organization (WHO) appreciates the importance of medicinal plants for public health care in developing nations. White Abrus ( Abrus precatorius Linn) have important role in traditional medicine, its seeds, bark, leaves and stem are medicinal. Objective : The potential of the leaves and stem of this plant as an antioxidant and anthelmintic agents were evaluated. Methods: All the analysis was done according to standard protocols. Results : The methanolic extract produced significant anthelmintic and antioxidant properties in a dose-dependent manner. DPPH free radical scavenging assay of leaf and stem exhibited IC 50 values of 275 ±0.83 μg/ml and 170 ± 0.90 μg/ml respectively. At 1000 μg/ml concentration both leaf and stem shows maximum radical scavenging activity (93 % & 98 %). Superoxide anion scavenging assay also resulted promising activity with IC 50 values 85± 0.83μg/ml and 80± 0.90μg/ml respectively for leaf and stem. The percentage scavenging of super oxide radical surged with the enhanced concentration of plant extracts. The maximum scavenging activity of plant extract was at 1000 μg/ml concentration, 80 % and 92% respectively in leaf and stem extracts. Preliminary phytochemical screening revealed the presence of saponins, steroids, flavonoids, terpenoids, cardiac glycosides and phenols in both stem and leaves that may be the reason for its biological properties. Conclusion : The findings of this study indicate that this plant is medicinal with prominent antioxidant and anthelmintic property.
Material World: Forecasting Household Appliance Ownership in a Growing Global Economy

Over the past years the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (LBNL) has developed an econometric model that predicts appliance ownership at the household level based on macroeconomic variables such as household income (corrected for purchase power parity), electrification, urbanization and climate variables. Hundreds of data points from around the world were collected in order to understand trends in acquisition of new appliances by households, especially in developing countries. The appliances covered by this model are refrigerators, lighting fixtures, air conditioners, washing machines and televisions. The approach followed allows the modeler to construct a bottom-up analysis based at the end use and the household level. It captures the appliance uptake and the saturation effect which will affect the energy demand growth in the residential sector. With this approach, the modeler can also account for stock changes in technology and efficiency as a function of time. This serves two important functions with regard to evaluation of the impact of energy efficiency policies. First, it provides insight into which end uses will be responsible for the largest share of demand growth, and therefore should be policy priorities. Second, it provides a characterization of the rate at which policies affecting new equipment penetrate the appliance stock. Over the past 3 years, this method has been used to support the development of energy demand forecasts at the country, region or global level.
Comment on “Development of Murine Lupus Involves the Combined Genetic Contribution of the SLAM and FcγR Intervals within the Nba2 Autoimmune Susceptibility Locus”

The conclusion by Jorgensen et al. ([1][1]) that the Ifi200 -cluster genes within the Nba2 locus are dispensable for ANA production is not supported by experimental data (see below). The cluster includes IFN-inducible candidate lupus susceptibility genes, including the Ifi202 , Ifi203 , and Aim2 ([
The character of 1,1,1-trichloro-2,2-bis-(p-chlorophenyl)ethane. Resistance in mouse L 5178 Y lymphoma cells.

Abstract A population of DDT-resistant mouse L 5178 Y leukemic cells was selected by chronic treatment with sublethal concentrations of DDT. The DDT-resistant cells also exhibited resistance to the DDT pesticide analogues, Kelthane, DDD and methoxychlor, and to DDE, a DDT metabolite characteristic of mammalian detoxification. Compared with susceptible (control) L 5178 Y cells, the relative resistance to Kelthane was 5-fold greater than that to DDT, while resistance to methoxychlor was one-half that to DDT. A clone of cells selected from the resistant cell population and carried in continuous culture through 300 generations in the absence of DDT treatment retained the resistant characteristics of the parent culture. Though DDA was the least toxic DDT analogue tested, it was toxic to the same degree in both susceptible (control) and resistant leukemic cells. Treatment of resistant clones with 3 H-DDT indicated that resistance was not being expressed by detoxification or by structural alteration of the parent DDT molecule. It is concluded that the resistance to DDT expressed by resistant L 5178 Y cells must be due to a mechanism different from the established degradative systems described for insects and higher organisms.
The U(L)3 protein of herpes simplex virus 1 is translated predominantly from the second in-frame methionine codon and is subject to at least two posttranslational modifications.

The proteins encoded by herpes simplex virus 1 (HSV-1) possess two interesting characteristics. First, their electrophoretic mobility in denaturing gels is usually slower than that predicted by their molecular weight. This property may be related to the relatively high proline content of most HSV-1 proteins. The second property of many protein products of viral genes is that they form multiple bands on electrophoresis through denaturing polyacrylamide gels (28). This property is particularly prevalent among regulatory proteins (e.g., infected-cell protein 0 [ICP0], ICP4, ICP22, ICP27, etc.) (1, 2). The mechanisms underlying the formation of these isoforms is generally unknown. To investigate one case in some detail, we chose the products of the UL3 gene. The HSV-1 UL3 gene is predicted to encode a protein of 235 amino acids reported to contain a signal sequence, a potential hydrophobic domain, and a probable N-glycosylation site (21). The UL3 open reading frame (ORF) contains six in-frame methionine codons; the first two are 10 codons apart. Ghiasi et al. (12) reported that in baculovirus, UL3 was unmodified by tunicamycin, that it was present in both cytoplasm and nuclei, and that it formed two bands with Mrs of 27,000 and 33,000 corresponding to nonphosphorylated and phosphorylated forms of UL3, respectively. It has been also reported that a single mRNA of 2.4 kb spans the UL3 ORF (29). The attraction of UL3 for the studies that we had in mind was twofold. First, UL3 is dispensable for growth in cells in culture (3), and therefore genetic manipulations of the gene would not cause significant selective pressure for emergence of second-site, compensatory mutants. Second, preliminary studies showed that the protein products of UL3 form at least six bands differing in electrophoretic mobility in denaturing gels. In this report, we show that (i) UL3 protein forms at least six bands with apparent Mrs ranging from 34,000 to 42,000, (ii) neither monensin nor tunicamycin affects the electrophoretic mobility of the UL3 protein isoforms contained in lysates of infected mammalian cells, (iii) the isoforms arise predominantly by translation of the mRNA from the second methionine codon, and (iv) the translation product initiated from the second methionine codon underwent at least two posttranslational modifications. Phosphorylation of the UL3 protein mediated by the viral UL13 protein kinase accounted for the slower-migrating protein bands inasmuch as they were absent from lysates of cells infected with UL13-deficient (UL13−) virus.
THE DEVELOPMENT OF FALSE‐POSITIVE OUTCOMES DURING FUNCTIONAL ANALYSES OF PROBLEM BEHAVIOR

False-positive outcomes of functional analyses exist when exposure to the consequences in a condition strengthens a relation that did not previously exist. Two functional analyses (aggression and spitting) were conducted with a child with an intellectual disability. High rates of problem behavior occurred immediately in the attention condition of the functional analysis across response topographies, suggesting a clear functional response class. However, rates of aggression and spitting increased in the demand condition, following the initial block of sessions, indicating the possible creation of a novel contingent relation for spitting. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Sources of variability in auditory brain stem evoked potential measures over time

Auditory brain stem EPs elicited in 10 normal adults by monaural clicks delivered at 72 dB HL, 20/sec showed no significant change in wave latencies or in the ratio of wave I to wave Y amplitude across 250 trial subsets, across 250 trial subsets, across 1500 trial blocks within a test session, or across two test sessions separated by several months. Sources of maximum variability were determined by using mean squared differences with all but one condition constant. 'Subjects' was shown to contribute the most variability followed by 'ears', 'sessions' and 'runs'; collapsing across conditions, wave III latencies were found to be the least variable, while wave II showed the most variability. Some EP morphologies showed extra peaks between waves II and IV, missing wave IV or wave IV fused with wave V. Such variations in wave form morphology were independent of EMG amplitude and were characteristic of certain individuals.
Satiety elicited by cholecystokinin in intact and vagotomized rats.

Abstract The effect of exogenous cholecystokinin and gastric loads of substances shown to release endogenous cholecystokinin were investigated in rats. Intraperitoneal injection of cholecystokinin and caerulein produced a significant suppression of food but not water intake. Phenylalanine (the L but not the D isomer), egg yolk and 0.1 N HCl but not MgSO 4 depressed feeding in the fasted rats. This satiety effect does not seem to be mediated via the vagus nerve, as suppression of food-intake was observed after subdiaphragmatic vagotomy. Blocking of pancreatic enzyme secretion does not prevent cholecystokinin-induced satiety.
Plant traits associated with grazing-tolerant alfalfa

Most alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) cultivars cannot withstand longterm, continuous grazing. This study was conducted to determine if plant morphological traits differ among alfalfa cultivars and populations that vary in persistence under grazing stress. Hay-type cultivars (Apollo and Florida 77), grazing-type cultivars (Spredor II, Travois, and Alfagraze), and populations derived from these cultivars that survived continuous grazing for 1 or 2 yr were space-planted in the field in 1987 and 1988. Plants were clipped biweekly for 16 wk. Decumbency, stem number and diameter, crown area, and herbage yield were measured at five 4-wk intervals (Dates 1-5) (...)
Dual modulation of K channels by thyrotropin-releasing hormone in clonal pituitary cells

Transmembrane electrical activity in pituitary tumor cells can be altered by substances that either stimulate or inhibit their secretory activity. Using patch recording techniques, we have measured the resting membrane potentials, action potentials, transmembrane macroscopic ionic currents, and single Ca2+-activated K channel currents of GH3 and GH4/C1 rat pituitary tumor cells in response to thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH). TRH, which stimulates prolactin secretion, causes a transient hyperpolarization of the membrane potential followed by a period of elevated action potential frequency. In single cells voltage clamped and internally dialyzed with solutions containing K+, TRH application results in a transient increase in Ca2+-activated K currents and a more protracted decrease in voltage-dependent K currents. However, in cells internally dialyzed with K+-free solutions, TRH produces no changes in inward Ca2+ or Ba2+ currents through voltage-dependent Ca channels. The time courses of the effects on Ca2+-activated and voltage-dependent K currents correlate with the phases of hyperpolarization and hyperexcitability, respectively. During application of TRH to whole cells, single Ca2+-activated K channel activity increases in cell-attached patches not directly exposed to TRH. In contrast, TRH applied directly to excised membrane patches produces no change in single Ca2+-activated K channel behavior. We conclude that TRH (i) triggers intracellular Ca2+ release, which opens Ca2+-activated K channels, (ii) depresses voltage-dependent K channels during the hyperexcitable phase, which further elevated intracellular Ca2+, and (iii) does not directly modulate Ca channel activity.
The optimization paradigm in engineering design: promises and challenges

Formal design optimization involves application of mathematical optimization techniques to models derived from engineering science, often presented as computer simulations. Industry use of design optimization tools is now widespread and sophisticated. As the size and complexity of design problems addressed with these formal methods increase, so do the challenges for successful implementations. Based on the author's experiences, after briefly reviewing the mathematical challenges involved, the article describes several problem areas where optimization technology is likely to have a major impact in the development of improved artifacts in the coming years. These include conceptual and topological design, large complex systems, smart products, and enterprise-wide product design.
Negatively buotant wall flows generated in enclosure fires

Abstract This paper considers wall flows that arise in enclosure fires. Such flows are generated due to the temperature difference between the wall and the adjacent environment as well as due to the downward turning of the fire-plume-driven ceiling jet at the corners of the compartment. At various stages of fire growth and at several locations, the flow is subjected to an opposing buoyancy force. These flows are termed negatively buoyant and the paper investigates in detail the penetration and heat transfer characteristics of flows relevant to enclosure fires. The transport of mass, momentum and energy in wall flows is determined quantitatively, using available analytical results on boundary layer flows. The significance of wall flow effects in a typical compartment fire is studied. It is shown that these effects are important, since they cause additional transport which is comparable to that due to the fire plume or the flow at the opening, and must be included in a mathematical model for an accurate prediction of the changing environment in the enclosure. Negatively buoyant wall and free jets are studied experimentally to obtain the penetration depth, the entrainment into the flow and the wall heat transfer. The penetration of buoyancy-induced wall flows and of negatively buoyant wall jets in a two-layer stably stratified environment is also studied in detail experimentally. The experimental results are presented in the form of correlating equations which can be applied to the existing models for compartment fires. An analytical, integral model for including wall flows is presented, followed by a more accurate treatment based on the experimental results obtained. It is shown that the inclusion of wall flows is important in an accurate prediction of the downward movement of the interface, between the upper and lower zones of a room fire, at the initial stages of the fire and also in the calculation of the transport processes at later stages. Thus, the paper presents the basic information needed for the incorporation of wall flow effects into existing mathematical models for room fires and applies the results to a few typical fires. The trends observed are physically reasonable and agree with earlier work on this problem.
A Study on the Impact of Helmet Padding Materials on the Brain Pressure Under Shock Loads

A traumatic brain injury (TBI) can occur from a sharp strain, or acceleration, to the human head. Based on the level of injury, TBIs are classified as mild, moderate, or severe, with the most common causes being motor vehicle crashes; violence related injuries; collisions in sports; and falls are the most common causes of TBIs for the general public. Many soldiers experience a TBI in combat zones when they are exposed to the shock waves from blasts, or to ballistic impacts.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
Correction for arterial-tissue delay and dispersion in absolute quantitative cerebral perfusion DSC MR imaging.

The singular value decomposition deconvolution of cerebral tissue concentration-time (C-T) curves with the arterial input function (AIF) is commonly used in dynamic susceptibility contrast (DSC) cerebral perfusion MR imaging. However, it is sensitive to the time discrepancy between the arrival of the bolus in the tissue C-T curve and the AIF signal. This normally causes inaccuracy in the quantitative perfusion maps due to delay and dispersion effects. A comprehensive correction algorithm has been achieved through slice-dependent time-shifting of the AIF, and a delay-dependent dispersion correction model. The correction algorithm was tested in 11 healthy subjects and 3 ischemic stroke patients scanned with a quantitative perfusion pulse sequence at 1.5T. A validation study was performed on 5 patients with confirmed cerebrovascular occlusive disease scanned with MRI and positron emission tomography (PET) at 3.0T. A significant effect (p<0.05) was reported on the quantitative cerebral blood flow and mean transit time measurements (up to 50%). There was no statistically significant effect on the quantitative cerebral blood volume values. The in vivo results were in agreement with the simulation results, as well as previous literature. This minimizes the bias in patient diagnosis due to the existing errors and artifacts in DSC imaging.
Drug use among Puerto Rican youth: an exploration of generational status differences.

An analysis of the relationship between generational status, or a migrational experience, and adolescent drug use takes advantage of a natural experiment--the migration of Puerto Ricans to the continental United States and their immigration back to the island. Although researchers have studied different sources of variation in adolescent drug use behavior, few have examined the drug use experience of the same ethnic group in varying sociocultural settings. The present study focused on the drug use involvement of four generational status groups of Puerto Rican adolescents in two different settings--New York City and San Juan, Puerto Rico. The groups surveyed in New York City were: New York Ricans (New York City-born Puerto Ricans) and New York migrants (island-born Puerto Rican adolescents). The two groups identified in Puerto Rico were: Puerto Rican islanders (adolescents who had never lived outside of Puerto Rico) and Puerto Rican immigrants (New York City-born youngsters of Puerto Rican parentage whose families had returned to live on the island). In this study, it was hypothesized that the more the perceived environment dimensions of the different generational status groups have characteristics conducive to drug use, the greater the drug use involvement of the groups will be. The analysis confirmed that the drug use involvement of the four groups of Puerto Rican adolescents paralleled the exposure of the groups to a host society, New York City, which has a higher prevalence of adolescent drug use than the culture of origin, Puerto Rico. In addition, it was found that the longer New York migrants lived in New York City, the greater was their drug use involvement. The roles of various other sociodemographic factors (i.e. gender, grade level, family structure and socioeconomic status) in relation to adolescent drug use were also investigated. Two important conditional relationships were documented. First, the impact of length of time living in New York City varied with the adolescent's gender, with higher risk of drug involvement observed for female migrants. Second, socioeconomic status was associated with Puerto Rican adolescents' drug use involvement in the New York City subgroups, but not among the students in Puerto Rico.
Trends in brain oxygenation during mental and physical exercise measured using near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS): potential for early detection of Alzheimer's disease

Motivation: Early diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is crucial because symptoms respond best to available treatments in the initial stages of the disease. Recent studies have shown that marked changes in brain oxygenation during mental and physical tasks can be used for noninvasive functional brain imaging to detect Alzheimer’s disease. The goal of our study is to explore the possibility of using near infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) and mapping (NIRM) as a diagnostic tool for AD before the onset of significant morphological changes in the brain. Methods: A 16-channel NIRS brain imager was used to noninvasively measure spatial and temporal changes in cerebral hemodynamics induced during verbal fluency task and physical activity. The experiments involved healthy subjects (n = 10) in the age range of 25±5 years. The NIRS signals were taken from the subjects' prefrontal cortex during the activities. Results and Conclusion: Trends of oxygenated and deoxygenated hemoglobin in the prefrontal cortex of the brain were observed. During the mental stimulation, the subjects showed significant increase in oxygenated hemoglobin [HbO 2 ] with a simultaneous decrease in deoxygenated hemoglobin [Hb]. However, physical exercise caused a rise in levels of HbO 2 with small variations in Hb. This study basically demonstrates that NIRM taken from the prefrontal cortex of the human brain is sensitive to both mental and physical tasks and holds potential to serve as a diagnostic means for early detection of Alzheimer's disease.
Adenosine slows the rate of K(+)-induced membrane depolarization in ventricular cardiomyocytes: possible implication in hyperkalemic cardioplegia.

Abstract Hyperkalemic cardioplegic solutions produce cardiac arrest during open heart surgery by depolarizing the sarcolemma. A recognized adverse effect of hyperkalemic cardioplegia is the possible development of ventricular dysfunction believed to be related to intracellular Ca 2+ loading, a consequence of K + -induced membrane depolarization. Adenosine has been proposed as an adjunct to hyperkalemic cardioplegic solutions. However, it is not known whether adenosine can affect K + -induced membrane depolarization, and associated intracellular Ca 2+ loading. Perforated patch-clamp method, applied to isolated single guinea-pig ventricular myocytes, revealed that adenosine (1 m m ) did not significantly reduce the magnitude of K + -induced membrane depolarization (35.7±1.7 v 31.0±1.1 mV in the absence v presence of adenosine). Yet, adenosine significantly slowed the rate of K + -induced membrane depolarization (167±32.8 v 67.9±12.9 mV/min in the absence v presence of adenosine) without directly affecting Ca 2+ , Na + , and K + currents. Imposed ramp-pulses, with different rates (ranging from 0.33 to 0.05 V/s), but same magnitude of depolarization (100 mV), demonstrated that reduction in the rate of membrane depolarization decreases net inward Ca 2+ current. Indeed, in Fluo-3 loaded ventricular myocytes, imaged by laser confocal microscopy, adenosine (1 m m ) prevented K + -induced intracellular Ca 2+ loading. The present findings indicate that adenosine slows the rate of K + -induced membrane depolarization, and reduces K + -induced intracellular Ca 2+ loading in ventricular myocytes. Such findings support the notion that adenosine may play a cardioprotective role in hyperkalemic cardioplegia.
Impact of alternative length estimation and prediction periods on the stability of security and portfolio betas

Abstract This study examines how the forecast errors of beta predictions are influenced by the following: 1) the length of the estimation period, 2) the length of the prediction period, 3) the size of the portfolio, and 4) the risk class of the security or portfolio. The mean-square error is utilized as the forecast error measure, and the components of the mean-square error (bias, inefficiency, and random error) are analyzed to determine the source of the forecast error.
Prenatal depression effects on early development: A review

This review of recent research on prenatal depression suggests that it is a strong predictor of postpartum depression and is more common than postpartum depression. Prenatal depression has been associated with excessive activity and growth delays in the fetus as well as prematurity, low birthweight, disorganized sleep and less responsiveness to stimulation in the neonate. Infants of depressed mothers have difficult temperament, and later in development attentional, emotional and behavioral problems have been noted during childhood and adolescence, as well as chronic illnesses in adulthood. Several variables have confounded the effects of prenatal depression including comorbid anxiety and anger as well as stressful life events. Potential mediating variables are low prenatal maternal dopamine and serotonin levels and elevated cortisol and norepinephrine. The associated intrauterine artery resistance may limit blood flow, oxygen and nutrients to the fetus. Some studies also suggest the heritability of developmental problems for the children of prenatally depressed mothers, including ADHD and antisocial behavior. Multivariate, longitudinal research is needed to disentangle these confounding and mediating variables.
A Pressure-Correction Scheme for Rotational Navier-Stokes Equations and Its Application to Rotating Turbulent Flows

The rotational incremental pressure-correction (RIPC) scheme, described in Timmermans et al. (Int. J. Numer. Methods. Fluids., 22 (1996)) and Shen et al. (Math. Comput., 73 (2003)) for non-rotational Navier-Stokes equations, is extended to rotat- ing incompressible flows. The method is implemented in the context of a pseudo Fourier-spectral code and applied to several rotating laminar and turbulent flows. The performance of the scheme and the computational results are compared to the so- called diagonalization method (DM) developed by Morinishi et al. (Int. J. Heat. Fluid. Flow., 22 (2001)). The RIPC predictions are in excellent agreement with the DM pre- dictions, while being simpler to implement and computationally more efficient. The RIPC scheme is not in anyway limited to implementation in a pseudo-spectral code or periodic boundary conditions, and can be used in complex geometries and with other suitable boundary conditions. AMS subject classifications: 52B10, 65D18, 68U05, 68U07
Complications of the Swan-Ganz catheter

Two hundred thirty Swan-Ganz catheters were inserted into 225 patients. Meticulous attention was paid to techniques of insertion and post-insertion catheter care. The preferred route of insertion was via the right internal jugular vein. Minor problems included neck hematomas in 5 attempts (2.2%), catheter migration after insertion in 13 cases (5.6%), and 1 balloon rupture. Only 9 of 230 catheter insertions (3.9%) were associated with major complications. Six of 9 problems, classed as major, were transient arrhythmias which occurred during catheter insertion but were rapidly corrected. In one patient the catheter knotted and had to be removed in the cardiac catheterization laboratory. Two patients (0.9%) suffered non-fatal pulmonary artery injuries. There were no episodes of catheterrelated sepsis nor were there any deaths attributed to the use of the catheter. We conclude that the flow-directed pulmonary artery catheter is a relatively low-risk monitoring device.
The Anti-Naturalism of Some Language Centered Accounts of Belief

L'A. rejette l'interpretation psychologique de l'explication de l'action humaine qui identitifie les croyances et les desirs de l'agent a des entites linguistiques, et lui substitue une theorie phenomenologique de l'explication de l'action humaine qui montre que la centralite du langage n'est pas essentielle en ce qui concerne la triade desir, croyance, action
Time averaging of chaotic spatiotemporal wave patterns.

Chaotic spatiotemporal patterns can have highly ordered time averages. This fact is demonstrated for Faraday waves by averaging shadowgraph images. The averages exhibit box quantization effects, and their spatial form is similar to that predicted for patterns near onset, despite the large fluctuations. Patches of the disordered instantaneous patterns retain significant phase coherence with the ordered averages.
Cost-Effective Robustness in Clock Networks Using Near-Tree Structures

Clock trees are commonly used to deliver clock signals to sequential elements in circuits. However, by construction, tree structures are inherently prone to failure caused by variations. The robustness of a clock tree can be improved by inserting redundancy in the form of cross links or multilevel fusion trees. Such near-tree structures can provide robustness at low cost. In this paper, we establish that the locations of the inserted redundancy are crucial in providing cost-effective robustness. We present two methods to systematically insert redundancy. The redundancy is realized by either inserting cross links or performing local merges. Moreover, we present a vertex reduction method that reduces the amount of redundancy that needs to be inserted in our near-tree structures. Empirical results show that our structures are more robust to variations and have lower power consumption compared to the state-of-the-art clock networks. Furthermore, our near-tree structures provide smooth trade-offs between cost and robustness, reducing clock skews by 11%–39% at an expense of 3%–68% higher power consumption.
A wizard of oz tool for android

Although mobile-based prototyping platforms are numerous, there are currently no tools that support Wizard of Oz interactions on Android. This paper describes a Wizard of Oz prototyping system for Android, via which a designer can enhance digitally generated mock-ups or scanned-in paper sketches with interactive widgets and automated screen transitions. Screen transitions can be based on user action such as a button presses, triggered manually by an experimenter observing from a laptop or triggered based on the user's location or the time. We have integrated scenario-based user testing, a context in which Wizard of Oz testing is often used, by providing support for location- and time-based display of videos and screens in the prototype. It is our hope that this system will find wider use in the design community.
Optimization of a melanotropin-receptor binding assay by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography

Abstract We describe here a procedure, which should be generally applicable to a wide variety of polypeptide hormones, for analyzing with reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography the stability of radioiodinated ligands. Specifically, the integrity of mono [ 125 I]β-melanotropin during storage and under various assay conditions has been examined. The hormone was found to be quite stable during storage and when binding assays were conducted at 0–1°C. There was, however, a decrease in its stability when assays were conducted at higher temperatures (15, 25 and 37°C), the instability increasing with temperature and being greater when cells were present. Employing heat-inactivated instead of untreated bovine serum albumin in the buffer used in the assay provided only a modest improvement in the stability of [ 125 I]β-melanotropin.
Extrinsic Lingual Musculature of Two Pangolins (Pholidota: Manidae)

The tongue of Manis tricuspis (an African pangolin) and Manis javanica (an Asian pangolin) can be divided into three parts: free part; glossal tube; nonprotruded part. The glossal tube is a complex structure consisting of five concentric musculofascial tubes. It probably provides extra mucous membrane to cover the tongue during protrusion. This study demonstrates the similarity between the pangolin's tongue and that of the great anteater ( Myrmecophaga ), which, however, does not necessarily imply a close phylogenetic relationship between the two.
Stochastic Cash Flow Formulae Under Conditions of Inflation

ABSTRACT This paper presents time-dependent deterministic and stochastic variations of common discounted cash flow formulae with explicit consideration given to inflation. The cash flows, the rates of discount or of compounding, and the rate of inflation are allowed to vary with time in a deterministic as well as random fashion in equations for the Compound Amount of a Single Payment, Present Worth of a Single Payment, Amount of an Annuity, Periodic Deposits to Accumulate a Future Amount, Present Worth of an Annuity, Capital Recovery, and the Present Worth of a Deferred Annuity.
Satisfaction of Low Carbon Society

IHI Corporation (IHI), as a supplier of power plant equipment including boiler, is facing to CO2 emission issue by various technical approaches. Latest status of advanced technologies, which is Advanced Ultra Super Critical Boiler (A-USC) — Improvement in Efficiency, Oxy-fuel Combustion Technology — CO2 Capture and Use of Biomass Fuel — Renewable Energy, is introduced in this paper. Finally, these advanced technologies certainly contribute to reduce CO2 emission economically.
Applying model-integrated computing to component middleware and enterprise applications

Combining the best elements of these two technologies can address the key challenges associated with developing enterprise applications.
Influence of viscosity on blast wave solutions as applied to hypervelocity impact

Abstract The equations of motion of a viscous, compressible fluid are solved analytically for the flow field resulting from an instantaneous energy release at a point using the assumption that the density of the material behind the shock front varies as a power function of the radial position. Good comparisons are obtained between the present solutions, applied to hypervelocity impact problems, for velocity and normal stress distributions and available experimental data as well as with another theoretical solution. Significant influences of viscosity of the material on the velocity distribution and normal stress behind the shock are found, especially during the later stage of impact.
Organizational Development Goes Digital: Applying Simulation to Organizational Change

Organizational change initiatives are challenging for both researchers to understand and for practitioners/organizational leaders to execute. This article takes a conceptual approach to describe organizational simulation technologies as one of many approaches for use in organizational development activities while also providing two examples of how simulations have been applied to real-world scenarios. Scenario 1 involved a process re-engineering effort within a manufacturing organization where a manufacturing process was modeled to explore how numerous factors (e.g. product inputs, organizational structure, manpower allocation) influenced the simulated output. Scenario 2 included an organizational change initiative involving organizational design modifications in a command and control center. Here, two organizational design alternatives were compared and contrasted. Simulation technologies may provide organizational development (OD) professionals with the opportunity to experiment with alternative organiz...
Toxoplasmosis in Wild Turkeys: A Case Report and Serologic Survey

Toxoplasmosis was diagnosed in a free-ranging wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) from West Virginia (USA) in June 1993. Gross findings included emaciation, splenomegaly, multifocal necrotizing hepatitis and splenitis, and crusting dermatitis on the head and neck. Histologically, multifocal necrosis with mononuclear inflammation was present in kidney, liver, spleen, heart, lungs, and pancreas. Toxoplasma gondii was confirmed in sections of liver by avidin-biotin immunohistochemical analysis. Subsequently, a retrospective serosurvey of wild turkeys for T. gondii antibodies was conducted using turkey sera collected between 1984 and 1989. An antibody prevalence of 10% was detected in 130 birds from 21 locations in the southeastern United States. While wild turkeys in the Southeast have T. gondii antibodies, this is only the second natural case of fatal toxoplasmosis reported; it appears that wild turkeys infrequently develop clinical disease when infected with T. gondii.
An improved design method for solar water heating systems

Abstract In this paper, the Φ ,f-chart method is extended to open-loop solar hot water heating systems. This method is an improvement over the f-chart method since it does not impose any restrictions on the water set temperature, water mains temperature, or the preheat tank loss coefficient. The procedure is general for both one-tank and two-tank systems. The modified Φ ,f-chart method is still applicable to the closed-loop systems for which it was originally developed.
Into the Thick of It: Methodological Issues in Studying the Drug Trade in the Golden Triangle

This paper explores research methods used in a study about a sensitive topic in a sensitive area—the drug trade in the Golden Triangle. It covers issues such as entering and exiting the research site, obtaining approval from the people in power at the research site, recruiting and training research staff, developing and testing interview protocols, locating the subjects to be interviewed, and conducting the interviews. This article also discusses problems encountered in the process of conducting the study and the limitations of the research project. Finally, it relates what lessons have been learned that are of general interest to researchers studying similar topics under comparable conditions.
The ultrastructure of stellate cells in the pars distalis of the salamander pituitary gland

The ultrastructure of a distinct cell type, termed the stellate cell, in the pars distalis of the salamander (Triturus [Notophthalus, Diemyctylus] viridescens viridescens) pituitary gland is described. The cell has three primary characteristics which distinguish it from other cell types of the pars distalis: (1) a lack or sparsity of specific secretory granules, (2) several cellular processes which are long and sheet-like and (3) cell body and nucleus which are considerably smaller than the cell bodies and nuclei of the chromophilic cells. The stellate cell often has an angular shaped nucleus, and the cytoplasm is characterized by an abundance of glycogen particles, several lipid droplets, an inconspicuous Golgi complex showing no evidence of forming secretory granules, filaments, microtubules and a sparsity of rough endoplasmic reticulum. The cells occasionally contain unusual mitochondria which exhibit longitudinally oriented cristae. From the electron micrographic evidence obtained in this study, it was suggested that stellate cells probably contact all secretory cells in the pars distalis; thus they are favorably situated to play a sustentacular role in the piuitary gland. In addition, the processes of the stellate cell frequently terminate on the outer basal lamina of the pericapillary space. Consideration was given also to a possible secretory role for the stellate cells, but little morphological evidence was obtained to suggest such a function. It was noted, however, that the cells occasionally contain dense bodies about 250 mμ in diameter which were interpreted as possible secretory granules.
Variable mate-guarding behaviour in the dragonfly Plathemis lydia (Odonata:Libellulidae).

Abstract After copulation, male Plathemis lydia dragonflies perform non-contact mate-guarding throughout oviposition, hovering 0·5–1 m away and chasing off rival males attempting takeovers (rematings) of the female. Occasionally, guarders leave briefly to perch or patrol; such episodes leave the female more vulnerable to male harassment or takeover, although they are not a major means of acquiring additional mates. Guarding intensity is positively correlated with the frequency of male harassment during oviposition, and males react quickly to individual takeover attempts by guarding more strongly. Guarding intensity is negatively correlated with oviposition duration; males tend to guard more weakly over the course of an oviposition bout, particularly in the absence of male harassment. Plasticity in post-copulatory behaviour is discussed as it relates to male territoriality, short-term changes in female quality and takeover probabilities, and a low female encounter rate.
Mars Science Laboratory Entry, Descent, and Landing System Development Challenges

Well before Curiosity’s successful landing at Gale Crater on the night of 5 August 2012, the entry, descent, and landing team had to contend with a number of development challenges that threatened the system architecture, the spacecraft’s performance, and its safety. Given the ambitiousness of the landing system, perhaps it comes as no surprise that these challenges existed in all phases of system development, spanning design, testing, and operations and across all portions of flight from the top of the atmosphere through touchdown. These challenges, which included hardware, software, and flight dynamics issues, required a variety of different responses and wide range of expertise within the team. The ways the team answered the challenges were the difference between success and failure in both reaching the launch pad and reaching the surface of Mars.
Breaking news: thinking may be bad for DNA.

A study in this issue suggests that neuronal DNA double-strand breaks can result from natural behaviors. The breaks occur in the circuits that are activated and are enhanced in a model of Alzheimer's disease. The implications of this finding are far-reaching.
Contention and circulation in the digital Middle East: music video as catalyst.

This article explores music video as a catalyst of public discourse in the digital age through an analysis of heated online controversies fueled by Wa‘d ‘Arqoub (WA), a video featuring a romantic relationship against the backdrop of the plight of Iraq under U.S. occupation. It puts forth the argument that music videos stimulate public discourse because of their capacity to (1) promote ideas and make them visible, (2) conjure up several meanings and interpretations, and (3) circulate through “hypermedia space,” a communicative space created by networked broadcast, mobile, and online platforms. The analysis of the circulation of contentious public discourse around WA leads to the conclusion that music videos are best understood as instruments of visibility in a symbolic economy that suffers from attention scarcity.
Event-related fMRI and the hemodynamic response

Event-related functional magnetic resonance imaging (ER-fMRI) methods are allowing a new spectrum of task designs to be explored with brain imaging techniques. Individual trial events can be presented rapidly, in randomly intermixed order, and the hemodynamic responses associated with individual trial events appreciated. The basis of ER-fMRI is that the hemodynamic response tracks neuronal activity on the order of seconds and, in many situations, summates over trials in a manner well predicted by a linear model—even for trials spaced as briefly as 2 sec apart. These properties are discussed, as well as certain basic characteristics of the hemodynamic response in the context of ER-fMRI. Hum. Brain Mapping 6:373–377, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Observation of enhanced ozone in an electrically active storm over Socorro, NM: Implications for ozone production from corona discharges

[1] Enhancements in ozone were observed between about 3 and 10 km altitude within an electrically active storm in central New Mexico. Measurements from satellite sensors and ground-based radar show cloud top pressures between 300 and 150 mb in the vicinity of an ozonesonde launched from Socorro, NM, and heavy precipitation with radar reflectivities exceeding 50 dBZ. Data from a lightning mapping array and a surface electric field mill show a large amount of electrical activity within this thunderstorm. The observed ozone enhancements are large (50% above the mean) and could have resulted from a number of possible processes, including the advection of polluted air from the urban environments of El Paso and Juarez, photochemical production by lightning-generated NOx from aged thunderstorm outflow, downward mixing of stratospheric air, or local production from within the thunderstorm. We find that a large fraction of the ozone enhancement is consistent with local production from corona discharges, either from cloud particles or by corona associated with lightning. The implied global source of ozone from thunderstorm corona discharge is estimated to be 110 Tg O3 a−1 with a range between 40 and 180 Tg O3 a−1. This value is about 21% as large as the estimated ozone production rate from lightning NOx, and about 3% as large as the total chemical production rate of tropospheric ozone. Thus while the estimated corona-induced production of ozone may be significant on local scales, it is unlikely to be as important to the global ozone budget as other sources.
The influence of norethynodrel on the hypophysis.

The cytological response to norethynodrel was investigated in 3 experiments the 1st using a high dose (1.5 mg/100 gm body weight/day) in intact rats the 2nd using a lower dose in previously ovariectomized rats and the 3rd using doses in the 5-150 mcg range to determine minimal effective dosage. Hypophyseal cells were studied by immunochemical staining. A nonsignificant tendency was observed in all groups toward pituitary enlargement. No significant changes were seen in growth hormone cells but high dose levels led to cellular and nuclear hypertrophy of prolactin cells which was less striking with the lower dose levels. High doses were associated with greatly reduces size and staining capacity of gonadotrophin cells (i.e. those cells delineated by anti-human chorionic gonadotropin with lesser size reductions with lower doses. It is hypothesized that the prolactin cell changes are probably due to the estrogenicity of norethynodrel of its metabolite and that this enhanced prolactin secretion may in turn foster mammary carcinoma. By comparison with other estrogens however norethynodrel was less potent in stimulating prolactin cells and did not accelerate mitotic activity in acidophils as other estrogens do
Heart failure: furosemide--to DOSE or not to DOSE, that is the question.

In the Diuretic Optimization Strategies Evaluation (DOSE), the vexing issue of optimal administration of furosemide in patients with acute decompensated heart failure was tackled. In addition to the trial providing results that are clinically relevant, it also provides a model for future drug trials by addressing parameters such as dose, method of delivery, and duration of therapy.