cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Use of lumbosacral region manipulation and therapeutic exercises for a patient with a lumbosacral transitional vertebra and low back pain.

Study Design Case report. Background A lumbosacral transitional vertebra (LTV) is a congenital anomaly that occurs in 3% to 21% of people with and without low back pain (LBP). There is lack of agreement in the literature as to whether or not the presence of a LTV may cause LBP. The objective of this case report is to present the use of lumbosacral region manipulation and therapeutic exercises on a patient with a known LTV and LBP. Case Description In this case report, an active-duty US Army soldier was referred to physical therapy with right-sided LBP and a lumbar radiograph showing a hemisacralized transitional L5 vertebra on the same side as his pain. The patient was treated with lumbosacral region manipulation and flexion exercises aimed at regaining total spinal motion and reducing pain. The patient responded favorably to spinal manipulation and exercise and was discharged from physical therapy after 4 visits. A modified Oswestry Low Back Pain Disability Questionnaire and inclinometer were used to mea...
Connections between mitochondria and endoplasmic reticulum in rat liver and onion stem.

Smooth-surfaced elements of endoplasmic reticulum contact and are attached to the outer membranes of mitochondria in rat liver and onion stem. Some connections appear as short, 150–300 A diameter tubules that bridge the space between the conjoining elements. In liver, the smooth-surfaced endoplasmic reticulum cisternae connected to the outer mitochondrial membrane are shown to be continuous with rough-surfaced endoplasmic reticulum. Here, the smooth-surfaced endoplasmic reticulum is identified in negatively stained preparations of isolated cell fractions and in thin sections of tissues by the presence of lipoprotein particles characteristic of this cell component. In onion, the identification of endoplasmic reticulum is based on continuity with rough-surfaced endoplasmic reticulum.
Evidence for the presence of sexual pheromones in free-spawning starfish

Abstract Filtered natural seawater passed through a tank containing ripe female starfish of the forcipulate species Asterias forbesi (Desor 1848) and Orthasterias koehleri (de Loriol 1897) contains low concentrations of a substance which attracts the sperm of these species. Release of this substance is sex specific in at least one species, O. koehleri. Immature females apparently do not release the sperm attractant. Daily testing for sperm attractant in seawater in the Friday Harbor Laboratories' aquarium system, Washington, U.S.A., in the spring and summer of 1986 indicates that incursions of sperm attractant-bearing water occur frequently during the starfish reproductive season. Testing of seawater taken directly from the San Juan Channel in the summer of 1987 reveals that sperm attractant is also present at irregular intervals in natural seawater. There is a definite correlation between the sperm attractant incursions in the laboratory seawater and initiation of spawning of starfish in the laboratory. The periodic presence of a long-lived bio-active sex-specific substance in natural seawater during the reproductive season of starfish suggests that benthic invertebrates may communicate sexual identity and readiness to spawn by means of waterborne pheromones.
Patterns of infection by monogenoideans in an assemblage of darters

The study of host–parasite relationships is useful in understanding what might affect host fitness, especially in terms of reproductive success. This study examined infection levels of monogenoidean gill parasites on several species of percid fishes of the genus Etheostoma, especially E. simoterum (Tennessee Snubnose Darter) and also E. caeruleum (Rainbow Darter), E. flabellare (Fantail Darter), and E. kennecotti (Stripetail Darter) through a year-long survey of monthly samples of 11–61 fish from a tributary of the Paint Rock River in northeast Alabama, USA. Among E. simoterum, a range of 0–7 parasites per host was found, with almost 18% of fish examined carrying gill parasites with a mean of 1.9 parasites. Correlations were identified between host breeding season and parasite infection levels, with host breeding months (spring) having the highest infection rates. Etheostoma simoterum length, mass, gender, and condition index were found not to be predictive of monogenoidean gill parasite infection levels....
Evaluation of the relationship between a pharmaceutical compound's distribution coefficient, log D and adsorption loss to polypropylene in urine and CSF.

Background: The distribution coefficient, D, is a physicochemical property used to determine the partitioning of compounds between aqueous and hydrophobic media at a given pH. Results: A clear relationship was observed between the calculated pH-dependent distribution coefficient of six representative pharmaceutical probe compounds and their propensity to partition between a relatively hydrophobic polypropylene surface and the aqueous matrices, human urine or human cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Compound log D cut-off values of 1.5 and 3.8 for urine and CSF, respectively, were determined using a threshold of less than 20% adsorption to the polypropylene surface. Conclusion: The ability to forecast the adsorption of a given compound to a polypropylene container with urine and CSF offers an effective means for screening potential issues and identifying when additional testing and corrective measures may need to be applied.
Specifying the role of alcohol in predatory victimization

Alcohol's role in violent and predatory crime is a subject of frequent study among scholars. Generally, research finds that as alcohol consumption increases, so does the likelihood of suffering a personal attack. However, it is not just the act of drinking that increases the likelihood of violent behavior or the risk of victimization. Contextual factors are also presumed to be important. Lasley's (1989) research has elaborated on how drinking behaviors are related to predatory victimization. His research has provided important findings, but there is still room to expand our understandings. The present paper utilizes more specific and detailed measures of drinking lifestyles and endeavors to illustrate the role of alcohol (and other illegal drugs), related lifestyle behaviors, and status characteristics regarding the risk of predatory, violent victimization.
Numerical modeling of nonintrusive inspection systems

A wide variety of nonintrusive inspection systems have been proposed in the past several years for the detection of hidden contraband in airline luggage and shipping containers. The majority of these proposed techniques depend on the interaction of radiation with matter to produce a signature specific to the contraband of interest, whether drugs or explosives. L-Division of the LLNL has developed a unique expertise in the combined numerical and experimental modeling of these types of systems. Based on our experience, we are convinced that detailed numerical modeling provides a much more accurate estimate of the actual performance of complex experiments than simple analytical modeling. Furthermore, the construction of detailed numerical prototypes allows experimenters to explore the entire region of parameter space available to them before committing their ideas to hardware. This sort of systematic analysis has often lead to improved experimental designs and reductions in fielding costs. L-Division has developed an extensive suite of computer codes to model proposed experiments and possible background interactions. These codes allow us to simulate complex radiation sources, model 3D system geometries with `real world' complexity, specify detailed elemental distributions, and predict the response of almost any type of detector. In this work, we will present several examples illustrating the use of these codes in modeling experimental systems at LLNL and discuss their potential usefulness in evaluating nonintrusive inspection systems.© (1994) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
RhoB is stabilized by transforming growth factor β and antagonizes transcriptional activation

Transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) is the prototype for an evolutionarily conserved superfamily of secreted factors implicated in diverse biological phenomena. The pleiotropic responses to TGF-beta are initiated by a heteromeric receptor complex that binds and phosphorylates downstream effectors. Among these, the Smads have been extensively studied. However, less attention has been directed toward alternative downstream effectors and their participation in TGF-beta signal transduction. We show that TGF-beta promotes accumulation of the labile monomeric GTPase RhoB by antagonizing its normal proteolytic destruction, presumably via the 26 S proteasome. RhoB accumulates in its isoprenylated form. Transient overexpression of wild type RhoB but not its dominant negative mutant RhoB-N19 antagonizes TGF-beta-mediated transcriptional activation. These results suggest a novel mechanism of regulation by TGF-beta and implicate RhoB as a negative regulator of TGF-beta signal transduction.
Phenotypic variation of autosomal recessive pseudohypoaldosteronism type I: a case in point.

Key Clinical Massage We present a 27-month-old male infant with pseudohypoaldosteronism, with two novel α-subunits, epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) mutations. Despite the presence of the ENaC in the lungs, kidneys, and exocrine glands, he continues to only have renal and exocrine involvement, stressing differential effects of the mutation in each organ.
A summary of environmental issues and findings: Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway

The enactment of the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) had a substantial influence on the manner in which the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway (Tenn-Tom) was constructed The interdisciplinary approach, including a board of outside consultants functioning as environmental advisors, played a valuable role toward meeting the objectives of minimizing adverse impacts and maximizing the positive environmental aspects Several of the key environmental issues associated with the Tenn-Tom are addressed and the findings are presented impacts addressed include aquifer drawdown, waterlogging, water quality, interbasin transfer, mixing of species, endangered species, erosion, sedimentation, and loss of wildlife habitat Additional discussion is also presented to explain the findings and place the identified impacts into perspective While implementation of the Tenn-Tom involved losses and resource tradeoffs, measures have been incorporated into the project to mitigate for significant resource losses The evaluation, planning, and design process for the Tenn-Tom can serve as a model approach for compliance with NEPA and other environmental statutes
Near optimal event-triggered control of nonlinear continuous-time systems using input and output data

The optimal event-triggered control of nonlinear continuous-time systems by using input and output data is a challenging problem due to system uncertainties, non-availability of state vector and event-based sampled outputs between the plant and the controller. Therefore, a novel reinforcement learning-based approach is proposed to solve time-based near optimal event-triggered control of nonlinear continuous-time systems. First, by using measured input and output data, nonlinear continuous-time system is represented in the input-output form that is suitable for data-driven control. Then, an online neural network (NN) identifier is developed to estimate the control coefficient matrix from the input-output data which is subsequently utilized along with the critic NN to obtain a time-based near optimal event triggered control scheme in a forward-in-time manner. Novel apeiodic update laws are derived for NNs by using event trigger error while a novel event-trigger condition is designed to ensure the overall stability of proposed scheme. Eventually, Lyapunov analysis is utilized to demonstrate that all closed-loop signals and NN weights are ultimately bounded (UB).
Molecular complexity and the induction of immune responses

Abstract Immunization of guinea pigs with horse, chicken, tuna and yeast cytochromes c led to immune responses of differing intensity and complexity. An increasingly vigorous T-cell response was observed in the order horse, chicken, tuna and yeast but serum antibody was only detected with the latter two species of cytochrome c . As the above cytochromes c differ from guinea pig cytochrome c by 6, 8, 17, and 43 amino acid sequence positions respectively, it was inferred that the complexity and the vigor of immune responses in these animals is related to such amino acid differences.
INFLUENCE OF VESICULAR‐ARBUSCULAR MYCORRHIZAE ON WATER MOVEMENT THROUGH BOUTELOUA GRACILIS (H.B.K.) LAG EX STEUD*

SUMMARY Root growth characteristics and water transport were compared between non-mycorrhizal Bouteloua gracilis and vesicular–arbuscular mycorrhizal Bouteloua gracilis infected with Glomus fasciculatus. Mycorrhizal plants did not have significantly different leaf area or root length from non-mycorrhizal plants, but did have significantly fewer and shorter root hairs. Mycorrhizal plants had 50% lower leaf resistance with no change in leaf or root water potentials; thus transpiration was increased 100% with a 50% reduction in whole-plant, soil-to-root and root-to-leaf resistance. Assuming that the difference in water uptake was due to transport via the mycorrhizal hyphae, estimated fungus-to-root transport was 2.8 × 10−5 mg s−1 per hyphal entry point which compares favourably with evapotranspiration rates measured in other coenocytic fungi. Thus, one of the major factors causing increased water transport and reduced resistance to water through-flow with mycorrhizal infection may be the increased surface area provided by the hyphae.
A Metropolitan Transaction-Based Commercial Price Index: A Time-Varying Parameter Approach

This study examines the usefulness of time-varying parameter techniques for constructing reliable transaction-based commercial price indices for metropolitan areas. Time-varying parameter techniques allow the implicit prices of differing quality characteristics to vary intertemporally, overcoming the potential bias imposed by holding implicit prices fixed and simply interpreting time dummy variables as in a conventional hedonic approach. This paper empirically investigates three time-varying parameter methods (Chained, Laspeyres, and Paasche) and considers the potential for sample selection bias. Precision measures are constructed to examine the reliability of the respective indices.
Microwave propagation measurements for mobile digital radio application

Measurements over a variety of urban and terrain conditions were made using a spread-spectrum waveform centered at 1370 MHz. Chip rates of 10 and 20 MHz were used, giving high time-delay resolution. The transmitter end of the measurement link was elevated and fixed while the receiver was mobile. A detailed analysis of the multipath structure was made for various terrain conditions. This included distributions of the number and spacing of individual multi-path components as a function of amplitude threshold and also distribution of total delay. Thresholds are referenced to both average signal level and the maximum level in each pulse interval. Some instances of spatial variation of the received signal are also presented.
Simplification of a recent result on robust schur stability of a complex-coefficient polynomials set with coefficients in a diamond

Abstract In a previous paper (Yen and Zhou, J. Franklin Inst. 1996), Schur stability of a family of polynomials with transformed coefficients varying in a diamond was studied. A necessary ad sufficient condition was given for the stability of the entire family if a selected set of 16 (for even n) or 32 (for odd n) edge polynomials is stable. In this note we show that the number of edge polynomials to be checked for odd n can be reduced to 16.
The application of preconditioning in viscous flows

The present time-derivative preconditioning algorithm is effective in flow conditions ranging from inviscid to very diffusive flows, as well as low subsonic to supersonic flow velocities. By means of a preconditioning matrix that (1) introduces well-conditioned eigenvalues and (2) avoids nonphysical time reversals for viscous flows, a mechanism is obtained which controls the inviscid and viscous time-step parameters at very diffusive flows. These capabilities are demonstrated for a variety of sample problems; convergence rates of solutions that are indistinguishable from those obtained without preconditioning are shown to be accelerated by as much as two orders of magnitude.
Signal transduction and intracellular events in T-lymphocyte activation

The important role of a novel signal transduction pathway has recently been established in the cellular activation and proliferation of many cell types. The key event in this pathway is the hydrolysis of a distinct membrane-associated inositol phospholipid and the resulting generation of two defined products that act as second messengers in cell activation. Sufficient evidence has accumulated to indicate that this signal transduction pathway plays an important role in T-cell activation. In this article, Noah Isakov and his colleagues review briefly the general characteristics of this pathway and describe in more detail experimental evidence that establishes its critical role in T-cell activation.
An ab initio molecular orbital-valence bond (MOVB) method for simulating chemical reactions in solution

A mixed molecular orbital and valence bond (MOVB) method for describing the potential energy surface of reactive systems has been developed and applied to a model proton transfer reaction in aqueous solution. The MOVB method is based on a block-localized wave function (BLW) approach for defining the diabatic electronic states. Then, a configuration interaction Hamiltonian is constructed using these diabatic states as the basis function. It was found that the electronic coupling energy is large with a value of about 30 kcal/mol for the H3N−H−NH3+ system, whereas the predicted activation barrier is only 1.2 kcal/mol using the 3-21G basis set. The MOVB results are found to be in good accord with the corresponding ab initio Hartree−Fock calculations for the proton transfer process. We have also incorporated solvent effects into the MOVB Hamiltonian in the spirit of combined QM/MM calculations, and have modeled the proton transfer between ammonium ion and ammonia in water using Monte Carlo simulations. The pot...
Modeling California policy impacts on greenhouse gas emissions

Abstract This paper examines policy and technology scenarios in California, emphasizing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions in 2020 and 2030. Using CALGAPS, a new, validated model simulating GHG and criteria pollutant emissions in California from 2010 to 2050, four scenarios were developed: Committed Policies (S1), Uncommitted Policies (S2), Potential Policy and Technology Futures (S3), and Counterfactual (S0), which omits all GHG policies. Forty-nine individual policies were represented. For S1–S3, GHG emissions fall below the AB 32 policy 2020 target [427 million metric tons CO 2 equivalent (MtCO 2 e) yr −1 ], indicating that committed policies may be sufficient to meet mandated reductions. In 2030, emissions span 211–428 MtCO 2 e yr −1 , suggesting that policy choices made today can strongly affect outcomes over the next two decades. Long-term (2050) emissions were all well above the target set by Executive Order S-3-05 (85 MtCO 2 e yr −1 ); additional policies or technology development (beyond the study scope) are likely needed to achieve this objective. Cumulative emissions suggest a different outcome, however: due to early emissions reductions, S3 achieves lower cumulative emissions in 2050 than a pathway that linearly reduces emissions between 2020 and 2050 policy targets. Sensitivity analysis provided quantification of individual policy GHG emissions reduction benefits.
A set of integral equations for electromagnetic wave radiation from an arbitrary source in a linear, lossy, inhomogeneous, cold magnetoionic medium

By decomposing the permittivity tensor into its isotropic, longitudinal, and transverse parts (with respect to the static magnetic field), a set of simultaneous integral equations are derived for the electric field components in a linear, lossy, inhomogeneous, cold magneto-plasma. The developed integral equations are useful to obtain an approximate solution for electromagnetic radiation as well as scattering problems in such a medium.
Iodine, uranium and tellurium contents in meteorites

Abstract The abundances of iodine, uranium and tellurium were determined in fifteen achondrites, five chondrites (two with light-dark structure) and three mesosiderites by neutron activation analysis. In thirty analyses on achondrites we found the following range of abundances: I, 14 ppb-1 ppm; U, 2–210 ppb and Te, ≤0.03-3 ppm. These elements vary within a given class of achondrites and the individual achondrites show a higher degree of heterogeneity than the chondrites. The iodine content of achondrites is of the same order as in chondrites. Uranium contents range higher and tellurium lower in achondrites than in chondrites. Weaker correlation between iodine and tellurium is observed in achondrites than in chondrites.
Regulation of TGFβ3 gene expression in embryonic palatal tissue

The TGFβ family of genes has been shown to play an important role in regulating various aspects of development, although the mechanisms by which TGFβ exerts its effects have not yet been clarified. Growth and differentiation of both murine embryonic palate mesenchymal (MEPM) cells and palatal epithelium can be regulated by the TGFβs. We therefore examined the expression of mRNAs encoding TGFβ1, TGFβ2, and TGFβ3 in developing embryonic palatal tissue as well as factors that modulate their levels of expression. Northern blot analysis of RNA isolated from murine embryonic palatal tissue on gestational days (GD) 12, 13, and 14 demonstrated the presence of one mRNA transcript for TGFβ1 (2.5 kb), two transcripts for TGFβ2 (4.4 kb, 6.0 kb), and one transcript for TGFβ3 (3.5 kb). Although steady-state levels of TGFβ1 mRNA showed no changes during development of the palate, TGFβ2 mRNA levels were maximal on both GD13 and GD14 and TGFβ3 mRNA levels transiently increased on GD 13. In addition, levels of TGFβ3 mRNA seemed much higher than either TGFβ1 or TGFβ2. both TGFβ1 and TGFβ2 were able to increase, in a dose-related manner, the expression of TGFβ3 mRNA in murine embryonic palate mesenchymal cells in vitro. In contrast, epidermal growth factor (EGF) down-regulated the expression of TGFβ3 mRNA even in the presence of TGFβ1 or TGFβ2. Elevation of intracellular levels of cAMP in MEPM cells in vitro resulted in a time-dependent transient increase in steady-state levels of TGFβ3 mRNA with maximal expression by 30 min. Furthermore, steady-state levels of TGFβ3 mRNA increased in embryonic palatal tissue in vivo after administration of retinoic acid. These data suggest that TGFβ3 is developmentally regulated in embryonic palatal tissue and that its expression may be modulated via both autoregulatory pathways, other signaling peptides, or the cAMP cascade. Thus, the protein product of one regulatory gene involved in signal transduction during development of the mammalian palate can affect the expression of another regulatory gene.
Buoyancy reversal, decoupling and the transition from stratocumulus to shallow cumulus topped marine boundary layers

The transition in a marine boundary layer (MBL) from stratocumulus topped to shallow cumulus topped is investigated by using a large eddy simulation (LES) model. The experiments performed aim to examine the influence on the transition of (1) the probability of buoyancy reversal at the MBL top (i.e. situations in which the mixture of two air parcels becomes denser than either of the original parcels due to phase change or other nonlinear processes involved in the mixing), and (2) the degree of decoupling in the MBL (i.e. the strength of a shallow stably stratified layer near cloud base). Our results suggest that a stratocumulus-topped MBL is most likely to transit to a cumulus-topped one when (1) there exists high probability of buoyancy reversal at the MBL top, and (2) the MBL is decoupled due to large surface evaporation. We argue that a parameterization that includes representation of those two effects combined has the potential to provide a simple way of predicting the MBL transition in climate models.
Investigations of Strong Valley Winds in Alaska Using Satellite Infrared Imagery

Abstract During the Alaskan cold season, the extreme low temperatures that prevail in the interior valleys are significantly modified by valley wind episodes. The infrared sensor on the NOAA polar orbiting satellite clearly detects this warming and delineates the exact area covered by valley winds. Satellite IR images were used in conjunction with surface and upper air maps, radiosonde data, and pilot reports to analyze two valley wind episodes during early 1975. Clear weather allowed excellent satellite viewing and strong temperature contrasts, because of strong radiational cooling in non-windy valley locations. In both cases a high-amplitude 500 mb ridge was moving into the interior from the west with a strong surface high centered cast of the windy area. The strength of the surface wind correlated well with the strength of the surface pressure gradient parallel to the valleys. The wind originated in the narrow sections of the valleys and consistently gusted to 45 kt in the Tanana Valley. The ability of...
mRNA expression of the four isoforms of the human plasma membrane Ca2+-ATPase in the human hippocampus

Abstract Ca 2+ dyshomeostasis is a contributing factor to the development and progression of neurodegenerative disease. Plasma membrane Ca 2+ -ATPases (PMCAs) are responsible for setting intracellular Ca 2+ levels and may be involved in the dynamic processing of Ca 2+ loads in normal and pathological conditions. In situ hybridization was employed to determine the expression pattern of the four human PMCA isoforms in the human hippocampus. PMCAI and 3 mRNAs were weakly expressed throughout the hippocampal formation, whereas PMCA2 and 4 mRNA expression showed distinct regional differences, with increased levels in CA2 and the dentate gyrus. Differential expression of PMCA isoforms may reflect cellular differences in Ca 2+ -handling properties and provide a partial explanation for the differential susceptibility of hippocampal neurons to Ca 2+ -mediated cell death.
E2F1 represses β-catenin transcription and is antagonized by both pRB and CDK8

The E2F1 transcription factor can promote proliferation or apoptosis when activated, and is a key downstream target of the retinoblastoma tumour suppressor protein (pRB). Here we show that E2F1 is a potent and specific inhibitor of beta-catenin/T-cell factor (TCF)-dependent transcription, and that this function contributes to E2F1-induced apoptosis. E2F1 deregulation suppresses beta-catenin activity in an adenomatous polyposis coli (APC)/glycogen synthase kinase-3 (GSK3)-independent manner, reducing the expression of key beta-catenin targets including c-MYC. This interaction explains why colorectal tumours, which depend on beta-catenin transcription for their abnormal proliferation, keep RB1 intact. Remarkably, E2F1 activity is also repressed by cyclin-dependent kinase-8 (CDK8), a colorectal oncoprotein. Elevated levels of CDK8 protect beta-catenin/TCF-dependent transcription from inhibition by E2F1. Thus, by retaining RB1 and amplifying CDK8, colorectal tumour cells select conditions that collectively suppress E2F1 and enhance the activity of beta-catenin.
Prolapsing mucosal polyps: an underrecognized form of colonic polyp—a clinicopathological study of 15 cases

Prolapsing mucosal polyps: an underrecognized form of colonic polyp—a clinicopathological study of 15 cases
Metadata and Memory: Lessons from the Canon of Memoria for the Design of Content Management Systems

To date, most of the research on usability and content management systems has focused on the end-user products of such systems rather than on the usability for technical communicators of the single-source authoring tools offered within these systems. While this latter research is undeniably important, attention needs to be paid to the plight of technical communicators attempting to use single-sourcing tools. Otherwise, technical communicators in workplaces risk becoming semi-skilled contingent labor rather than empowered knowledge workers. This essay, therefore, attempts to open a debate about the design of content management systems by turning to the rhetorical canon of memory as an appropriate source for insights into how stored information can be flexibly retrieved and used during composing activities.
Carbonylation studies with Illinois No. 6 bituminous coal

Abstract Sodium metal and carbon dioxide were used to carbonylate Illinois No. 6 coal in a 1 l, high-pressure, autoclave in anhydrous tetrahydrofuran from 150 to 350 °C. Solubility of the reaction products in tetrahydrofuran and water, and the sodium uptake in the insoluble residue were determined. The reduction and subsequent carbonylation of coal produced a limited amount of solubility in these solvents, and the uptake of sodium in the insoluble residue reached a maximum of 6.29% at 250 °C with no carbon dioxide added. This corresponded to a ratio of sodium atoms per 1000 carbon atoms of 62.9, a 69-fold increase over the unreacted dried coal. Total acidity and carboxyl group content were calculated for the insoluble residues and unreacted bituminous coal. The per cent increase of carboxyl groups reached a maximum of 1.37 meq g−1 at 2000 °C which represents a 174% increase over the unreacted coal.
Effects of phorbol esters and a calcium ionophore on angiotensin II binding in rat brain synaptosomes.

In previous studies we determined that protein kinase C (PKC) and calcium are important intracellular regulators of neuronal angiotensin II (Ang II) binding sites. In the present study we investigated the effects of the protein kinase C (PKC) agonist phorbol esters (PE) and also a calcium ionophore (A23187) on the specific binding of [125I]Ang II to brain synaptosomes prepared from rats of different ages. The rationale was to determine whether the larae changes in the level of brain Ang II specific binding observed in different age rats are due to changes in the regulation of these sites by PKC or by calcium. The present data indicate no qualitative differences in the effects of PE or A23187 on [125I]Ang II specific binding to hypothalamic or brain stem synaptosomes, from either 2–5 or 70-day-old rats, i.e. the active PE TPA increased while A23187 decreased Ang II binding in all situations. Thus, the dramatic differences in brain Ang II specific binding seen with age appear not to be due to changes in regulation by PKC or calcium.
Double-wave reentry in orthodromic atrioventricular reciprocating tachycardia: paradoxical shortening of the tachycardia cycle length with development of ipsilateral bundle branch block.

Double-Wave Reentry in Orthodromic AVRT. Introduction: Attempts to terminate reentrant tachyarrhythmias by rapid pacing may accelerate the tachycardia. One mechanism for acceleration is double-wave reentry, where two simultaneous wavefronts travel around the same circuit. Methods and Results: We report pacing acceleration of AV reciprocating tachycardia (AVRT) due to double-wave reentry in a patient with Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome. The patient had presented with atrial fibrillation and rapid conduction across a left lateral bypass tract. Intravenous procainamide was given during electrophysiologic study because of incessant atrial fibrillation and restored sinus rhythm. Orthodromic AVRT was induced and attempts to terminate the AVRT with right ventricular pacing initiated two alternate tachycardias, both with a left bundle branch block (LBBB) morphology. The first tachycardia, as expected for bundle branch block ipsilateral to the bypass tract, had a longer cycle length (CL) than the original tachycardia (366 msec compared to 297 msec). The second tachycardia had a paradoxically shorter CL, 238 msec compared to 297 msec. Electrogram analysis revealed that the circuit traversed by the accelerated LBBB tachycardia was the same as the slower LBBB tachycardia. The activation sequence revealed two independent wavefronts, traversing this common circuit. As described previously in experimental models, double-wave reentry was initiated when an antidromic-stimulated impulse blocked before colliding with the previous orthodromic impulse, thus allowing two orthodromic Impulses to circulate within the circuit. Conclusion: We speculate that conduction slowing by procainamide combined with the intrinsic AV nodal delay resulted in the necessary increase in the excitable gap required to develop double-wave reentry. This is the first description of sustained double-wave reentry in humans.
Biologically Optimized Nanosized Molecules and Particles: More than Just Size

The expanded biological and medical applications of nanomaterials place a premium on better understanding of the chemical and physical determinants of in vivo particles. Nanotechnology allows us to design a vast array of molecules with distinct chemical and biological characteristics, each with a specific size, charge, hydrophilicity, shape, and flexibility. To date, much research has focused on the role of particle size as a determinant of biodistribution and clearance. Additionally, much of what we know about the relationship between nanoparticle traits and pharmacokinetics has involved research limited to the gross average hydrodynamic size. Yet, other features such as particle shape and flexibility affect in vivo behavior and become increasingly important for designing and synthesizing nanosized molecules. Herein, we discuss determinants of in vivo behavior of nanosized molecules used as imaging agents with a focus on dendrimer-based contrast agents. We aim to discuss often overlooked or, yet to be co...
Baseline thyroid hormones in depressed and non-depressed pre- and early-pubertal boys and girls

Abstract Objective: To examine baseline thyroid hormones in a large group of well-characterized pre-and early-pubertal boys and girls who met criteria for major depressive disorder (MDD) and a comparison group of normal children without psychiatric disorders. Methods: 45 children with MDD (10.6 years ± 1.4 year) and 56 healthy controls (10.0 ± 1.7 year) who participated in a large, psychobiologic protocol are included in this report. As part of the screening for eligibility, baseline samples were drawn for thyroxine (T4), triiodothyronine (T3) uptake, and thyroid stimulating hormone (TSH). Free thyroxine index (FTI) also was computed. Results: Between-group analyses were carried out controlling for various demographic variables significantly related to thyroid hormones [e.g. age, gender, body mass index (BMI) and their interactions]. For many hormones there were significant effects for age and gender. For T4, MDD boys had lower T4 compared with boys in the normal group. No differences were noted between MDD girls and normal girls. For TSH, MDD boys had lower concentrations compared with normal boys while no differences were noted in girls. For T3 uptake, the MDD group had lower uptake compared with the normal group. For FTI, there were no group differences. Similar to most studies of adults with depression, all our subjects were euthyroid. Unlike the adult studies, we found lower T4 concentrations in the MDD group rather than higher. Group differences in thyroid hormones were noted primarily in boys. The large sample size of this study allowed for the control of multiple variables, which has not been done in past studies. Without such controls, true findings may be masked in other studies of depression. Thus, our findings suggest the possibility of developmental differences in the relation of thyroid hormone and depression.
Effects of naloxone on ethanol dependence in rats

Abstract Adult male Long-Evans rats were maintained on an ethanol-containing liquid diet. During development of ethanol dependence, the rats were given daily i.p. injections of either naloxone (2 mg/kg) or saline daily. At the beginning of ethanol withdrawal, the rats were injected with either naloxone (10 mg/kg) or saline i.p. Rats injected with naloxone during the development of ethanol dependence consumed significantly more of the ethanol diet and therefore more ethanol than rats injected with saline. Rats treated with naloxone throughout both the development of ethanol dependence and during ethanol-withdrawal showed delayed or reduced withdrawal symptomatology compared to rats injected with (1) only saline, (2) naloxone only during the development of dependence and (3) naloxone only during ethanol withdrawal. These results indicate that naloxone can alter the effects of chronic ethanol exposure and further suggest that ethanol may exert some of its actions via the brain opioid system.
Nonclassical intensity correlations in cavity QED

We consider two systems in the weak driving field limit. The first is an optical parametric oscillator, the transmitted field of which is highly bunched. We discuss a conditioned measurement of the second order intensity correlation function that yields antibunching. The second system we consider is a single two level atom inside a weakly driven cavity. Here we consider cross correlations between the transmitted and fluorescent fields. A strong asymmetry in delay time has been noted by Denisov et. al., here we find strong violations of a classical inequality for the cross correlation.
Quantal Memory Durations: Observations Not Reproduced

Neurons in the caudomedial neostriatum (NCM) of zebra finches (Taeniopygia guttata) respond with volleys of action potentials to playbacks of novel conspecific song. However, repeated playbacks of the same song (“training”) result in a long-lasting, stimulus-specific decrement in responsiveness
Adaptive basis of geographic variation: genetic, phenotypic and environmental differences among beach mouse populations

A major goal in evolutionary biology is to understand how and why populations differentiate, both genetically and phenotypically, as they invade a novel habitat. A classical example of adaptation is the pale colour of beach mice, relative to their dark mainland ancestors, which colonized the isolated sandy dunes and barrier islands on Florida's Gulf Coast. However, much less is known about differentiation among the Gulf Coast beach mice, which comprise five subspecies linearly arrayed on Florida's shoreline. Here, we test the role of selection in maintaining variation among these beach mouse subspecies at multiple levels—phenotype, genotype and the environments they inhabit. While all beach subspecies have light pelage, they differ significantly in colour pattern. These subspecies are also genetically distinct: pair-wise Fst-values range from 0.23 to 0.63 and levels of gene flow are low. However, we did not find a correlation between phenotypic and genetic distance. Instead, we find a significant association between the average ‘lightness’ of each subspecies and the brightness of the substrate it inhabits: the two most genetically divergent subspecies occupy the most similar habitats and have converged on phenotype, whereas the most genetically similar subspecies occupy the most different environments and have divergent phenotypes. Moreover, allelic variation at the pigmentation gene, Mc1r, is statistically correlated with these colour differences but not with variation at other genetic loci. Together, these results suggest that natural selection for camouflage—via changes in Mc1r allele frequency—contributes to pigment differentiation among beach mouse subspecies.
Donagan on Act and Agent Evaluations

What the connection is between the moral evaluation of actions and the moral evaluation of agents is a matter of dispute among philosophers. Marty hold that these two types of evaluation are logically distinct, that there is no conceptual connection between them. Others, though, have claimed that act and agent evaluations are linked together in natural ways; the connection, they argue, is a necessary one. Alan Donagan, in his important book: The Theory of Morality (University of Chicago Press, Chicago, 1977), has written extensively on both the notion of morally assessing actions and that of assessing agents. What he says has implications for the dispute just described. In particular, Donagan articulates three theses concerning the relationship between act and agent evaluations. What I shall try to show is that the conjunction of these three theses is inconsistent
Can growth hormone prevent aging

Does growth hormone prevent aging? An article by Rudman et al. that appeared in the Journal in 19901 reported the effect on body composition of administering human growth hormone for six months to 12 older men. This article incited a proliferation of “antiaging” clinics and lay publications, such as “Grow Young with HGH,” extolling the benefits of growth hormone in reversing or preventing aging. There are several Web sites that attempt to sell various oral and inhaled formulations of growth hormone; none of these formulations have been shown to be efficacious. In fact, since growth hormone is a peptide subject . . .
OPTIMIZING NONPOINT SOURCE CONTROLS IN WATER QUALITY REGULATION

ABSTRACT: A stochastic programming framework is developed to evaluate the economic implications of reliability criteria and multiple effluent controls on nonpoint source pollution. An integrated watershed simulation model is used to generate probability distributions for agricultural effluents in surface and ground water resulting from agricultural practices. Results from the planning model indicate that reliability and multiple effluent constraints significantly increase the cost of nonpoint controls but the effects vary by control alternative. The analysis indicates that an evaluation of multiple water quality objectives can be an important planning tool for designing nonpoint source controls for innovative programs to promote cost-effective water quality regulation.
Integration of substance use treatment and medical care: a special issue of JSAT.

a Clinical Addiction Research and Education (CARE) Unit, Section of General Internal Medicine, Boston Medical Center and Boston University School of Medicine, Boston, MA, 02118, USA b Department of Internal Medicine, Section of General Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT,06510, USA c Research Enhancement Award Program, Research Service, Department of Veteran Affairs Medical Center; Division of General Internal Medicine, Rhode Island Hospital; Departments of Medicine and Health Services, Policy & Practice, Alpert Medical School of Brown University, Providence, RI 02903, USA
On the performance and sensitivity limit of mass sensing with optomechanical oscillation

We characterize the mass sensing properties of microtoroidal optomechanical oscillator (OMO). We show a record sensitivity slope of 1300 Hz/pg and study the impact of mass distribution, mode selection and noise on mass sensitivity.
The Impact of Premature Menopause on Women’s Experience of Self:

Surgically or chemically induced premature menopause may have an impact on women's sense of self: the physical, psychological, social, and spiritual sense of self. This ethnographic research study explores the major factors that assaulted prematurely menopausal women's concept of self and the ways in which they attempted to readjust that concept. A unifying domain, evolution of self, and three constitutive themes emerged: change/loss, connectedness/disconnectedness, and transcendence/transformation. A holistic nurse-client relationship that transcends the hospital experience and extends into the community may help prematurely menopausal women to move toward a more synthesized sense of self and a greater degree of self-actualization.
Relating composition operators on different weighted Hardy spaces

In a 1988 paper, Cowen found a formula expressing the adjoint of any linear fractional composition operator on the Hardy space as a product of Toeplitz operators and another linear fractional composition operator. In this paper, we use Cowen's adjoint formula to give a unitary equivalence relating composition operators on different weighted Hardy spaces. This result is then applied to some composition operators on the Sa spaces. We find the spectrum of any linear fractional composition operator whose symbol has exactly one fixed point of multiplicity one on the unit circle.
Statistical power of the social network autocorrelation model

Abstract The network autocorrelation model has become an increasingly popular tool for conducting social network analysis. More and more researchers, however, have documented evidence of a systematic negative bias in the estimation of the network effect (ρ). In this paper, we take a different approach to the problem by investigating conditions under which, despite the underestimation bias, a network effect can still be detected by the network autocorrelation model. Using simulations, we find that moderately-sized network effects (e.g., ρ = .3) are still often detectable in modest-sized networks (i.e., 40 or more nodes). Analyses reveal that statistical power is primarily a nonlinear function of network effect size (ρ) and network size (N), although both of these factors can interact with network density and network structure to impair power under certain rare conditions. We conclude by discussing implications of these findings and guidelines for users of the autocorrelation model.
Ethnic enclaves—Cul-de-sacs or conduits: Differential aspirations in Greek American, Caucasian American, Latino, and Asian American neighborhoods in New York City

Abstract This chapter describes eight studies that were conducted with culturally distinct groups living in ethnic enclaves in New York City. Four o fthe studies (involving 1, 447 students) analyzed the effects of SES, family structure variables, family processes, math self-concept, and prior ability on children's math achievement (interconnections within the Walberg productivity model). Four qualitative studies were also conducted with high achieving children and their parents (158 interviews) to secure in-depth information about how th four ethnic groups used different family processes to bolster achievement. The results of these studies show that cultural/ethnic differences had greater effects on math achievement than SES. The children's reading achievement was found to be the most important predictor for math achievement in all the ethnic/gender groups. Excessive pressure and parental help were found to have negative effects on math achievement. However, parental support and the provision of extensive intellectual resources were found to strengthen reading achievement. These processes indirectly affect math achievement. Finally, the qualitative and quantitative data from these eigth studies show that most ethnic/gender groups facilitated their children's achievement (serve as conduits). The Greek Americans, however, attempted to channel their girls into traditional family roles, and Latino families, because of their limited economic resources, were found to marginalize their boys' school experience (cul-de-sacs).
Social Relationships, Psychosocial Adaptation, and Intrainstitutional Relocation of Elderly Men

The intrainstitutional relocation of 40 men aged 53 to 91 years was studied in relation to social integration, and to behavioral and self-report measures of psychosocial adaptation. In both longitudinal and time-lag analyses of pre- and postrelocation data, relocated men scored lower on the attitude toward aging dimension (PGC Morale Scale, Lawton, 1975), had fewer friends, and evidenced better communication behavior (p less than .01) than did unrelocated men. The more sociable men showed more change after relocation than did men who were less sociable.