cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Dispersal and species diversity: a meta-analysis.

Abstract: Species diversity in communities of interacting organisms is thought to be enhanced by dispersal, yet mechanisms predicting this have little to say about what effects differing rates of dispersal have on diversity and how dispersal affects diversity at larger spatial scales. I performed meta‐analyses on 23 studies comprising 50 experiments that manipulated species migration and measured community richness or diversity to test three hypotheses: that dispersal increases local diversity; that this effect depends on the rate of dispersal, specifically, that local diversity should be maximized at intermediate dispersal rates or else linearly related to dispersal rate; and that regional diversity may be either unaffected or negatively impacted by dispersal because dispersal tends to homogenize local communities. I found that immigration increased local diversity. Further, in animal studies, diversity appears maximized at intermediate dispersal rates but not with plant studies; however, more standardiz...
Identification and redemption in Lysias’ Against Eratosthenes

Using a Burkeian critical method, this paper shows that throughout Oration. XII, Against Eratosthenes, Lysias utilizes strategies of substantive, dramatistic, and cooperative identification in order to create a dramatic situation in which redemption can occur and establish Eratosthenes as a ritual victim for the process of redemption.
Fabrication of poly (ECTFE) membranes via thermally induced phase separation

Abstract Poly (ethylene chlorotrifluoroethylene) (ECTFE) is a 1:1 alternating copolymer of ethylene and chlorotrifluoroethylene with an excellent combination of chemical, thermal and mechanical properties. Although the lack of a suitable solvent for ECTFE precludes membrane casting by conventional room-temperature processes of immersion precipitation or evaporative casting, thermally induced phase separation provides an attractive pathway for membrane fabrication. We have successfully identified three possible latent solvents for ECTFE and have studied the ECTFE-dibutyl phthalate (DBP) polymer-diluent system. ECTFE membranes were fabricated using a TIPS-casting apparatus that allowed control of several important process parameters. ECTFE membranes were characterized via scanning electron microscopy (SEM), porometry and permeation techniques. Results indicated that membranes with continuous pores having diameters in the microfiltration range (0.1–0.5 μm) could be reliably fabricated.
The Role of the U. S. Geological Survey in Waste Disposal Monitoringa

The disposal of all types of liquid and solid wastes threatens the health and well-being of mankind. In recent years the constraints on the disposal of industrial and municipal wastes into rivers and the seas have prompted the disposal through wells into the subsurface. Limestone terrane is particularly amenable to the acceptance of all types of wastes in the cavernous subsurface, and has resulted in widespread contamination of shallow ground-water resources. Highway salting has caused the contamination of thousands of household wells, causing large-scale replacement drilling programs in some northern States. A semantics problem also has arisen, because liquid wastes injected into the subsurface have not been disposed of, but rather have been placed in a new environment. They may be in storage, they may be attenuating, or they may be changing character by reaction with the rock mass or formation fluids. The U. S. Geological Survey has been concerned with the study of ground-water resources for more than 80 years, and with the problems of radioactive waste contamination since World War II. A newly identified program of investigations of waste emplacement into the subsurface was begun two years ago. The purpose of the program is to develop the ability to predict the fate of any wastes deliberately or accidentally emplaced in the subsurface. The program includes research contracts and grants with universities and governmental organizations as well as in-house research.
Left ventricular assist without thoracotomy: Clinical experience with the dennis method

A method to provide left ventricular circulatory assistance without thoracotomy was developed and implemented in 2 patients. The left atrium is cannulated from the neck by passing a catheter across the interatrial septum (Dennis technique) using fluoroscopic and echocardiographic imaging. To facilitate ambulation, the arterial catheter is connected to the right axillary artery. Left atrial to axillary arterial flow is produced by a centrifugal pump. Two patients were perfused at 2.7 to 3.5 L/min for 5 and 6.5 days. One patient had successful coronary angioplasty during perfusion and remains alive 1 year later. The other patient died of sepsis and anuria that preceded implementation of circulatory assistance. The Dennis method of continuous left ventricular circulatory assistance avoids thoracotomy, requires a minimal operation, is portable and inexpensive, uses widely available equipment, and is particularly suitable for patients in cardiogenic shock after acute myocardial infarction. The method is safe and cost-effective, and merits wider application in selected patients.
Schistosoma mansoni: complement and cercarial tail loss during in vitro transformation.

Abstract When Schistosoma mansoni cercariae are incubated at 37 C in media containing serum, the organisms lose their tails and change into viable, infective schistosomula. Tail loss does not occur in the absence of serum, or when the serum is heat inactivated. In the present studies, tail loss during in vitro conversion was shown to be complement dependent. The capacity of fresh serum to promote tail loss was markedly suppressed or abolished by cobra venom factor, zymosan, Sepharose CL-4B AND anti-C3 antibody. The alternative rather than the classic complement pathway appeared to be responsible since (1) binding of anti-C3 to cercariae required magnesium, but not calcium; (2) both C4-deficient serum and C2-deficient serum supported tail loss; but (3) human serum heated to 50 C for 20 min to inactivate Factor B did not support tail loss. Cercarial tail loss also required the terminal complement components C5 through C8. The extent and rate of tail loss was normal in agammaglobulinemic sera indicating that the complement effect was not antibody dependent.
Granulation sensing of first-break ground wheat using a near-infrared reflectance spectrometer: studies with soft red winter wheats

A near-infrared reflectance spectrometer, previously evaluated as a granulation sensor for first-break ground wheat from six wheat classes and hard red winter (HRW) wheats, was further evaluated for soft red winter (SRW) wheats. Two sets of 35 wheat samples, representing seven cultivars of SRW wheat ground by an experimental roller mill at five roll gap settings (0.38, 0.51, 0.63, 0.75 and 0.88 mm), were used for calibration and validation. Partial least squares regression was applied to develop the granulation models using combinations of four data pretreatments (log(1/R), baseline correction, unit area normalisation and derivatives) and subregions of the 400–1700 nm wavelength range. Cumulative mass of size fraction was used as reference value. Models that corrected for path length effects (those that used unit area normalisation) predicted the bigger size fractions well. The model based on unit area normalisation/first derivative predicted 34 out of 35 validation spectra with standard errors of prediction of 3.53, 1.83, 1.43 and 1.30 for the >1041, >375, >240 and >136 µm size fractions respectively. Because of less variation in mass of each size fraction, SRW wheat granulation models performed better than the previously reported models for six wheat classes. However, because of SRW wheat flour's tendency to stick to the underside of sieves, the finest size fraction of these models did not perform as well as the HRW wheat models. © 2003 Society of Chemical Industry
Predicted electronic and structural properties of BxIn1−xAs

Structural and electronic properties of the BxIn1−xAs ternary alloy are studied using the tight binding method. The optical band gap bowing is calculated for the first time in the full range of Boron composition x. It is found to be strong. A small deviation from virtual crystal approximation is found for the bond length. New results on elastic constants are reported. The obtained results are in good agreement with the available data in the literature.
EFFECTS OF BRAN ON SENSORY, STORAGE, AND COMPOSITIONAL PROPERTIES OF LOW FAT BEEF SLOPPY‐JOES

Different sources of bran were used as replacements for fat in beef sloppy-joe products. Five low fat (approximately 2.5%) products were formulated to include 5% or 10% wheat bran, 5% or 10% barley bran and a control. Also, a high fat control (12.61%) was produced. These products were evaluated at 0, 5, and 10 weeks of freezer storage. In general, the fiber added products were found to be inferior (P < 0.05) in flavor, juiciness, mouth feel and overall acceptability when compared to the high and low fat control products. TBA values displayed fluctuations (P < 0.05) over the storage times evaluated, but among treatments and over storage times values were very low.
Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) Analysis for the Reduction of Impeller Discharge Flow Distortion

The use of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) in the design and analysis of high performance rocket engine pumps has increased in recent years. This increase has been aided by the activities of the Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) Pump Stage Technology Team (PSTT). The team's goals include assessing the accuracy and efficiency of several methodologies and then applying the appropriate methodology(s) to understand and improve the flow inside a pump. The PSTT's objectives, team membership, and past activities are discussed in Garcia1 and Garcia2. The PSTT is one of three teams that form the NASA/MSFC CFD Consortium for Applications in Propulsion Technology (McConnaughey3). The PSTT first applied CFD in the design of the baseline consortium impeller. This impeller was designed for the Space Transportation Main Engine's (STME) fuel turbopump. The STME fuel pump was designed with three impeller stages because a two-stage design was deemed to pose a high developmental risk. The PSTT used CFD to design an impeller whose performance allowed for a two-stage STME fuel pump design. The availability of this design would have lead to a reduction in parts, weight, and cost had the STME reached production. One sample of the baseline consortium impeller was manufactured and tested in a water rig. The test data showed that the impeller performance was as predicted and that a two-stage design for the STME fuel pump was possible with minimal risk. The test data also verified another CFD predicted characteristic of the design that was not desirable. The classical 'jet-wake' pattern at the impeller discharge was strengthened by two aspects of the design: by the high head coefficient necessary for the required pressure rise and by the relatively few impeller exit blades, 12, necessary to reduce manufacturing cost. This 'jet-wake pattern produces an unsteady loading on the diffuser vanes and has, in past rocket engine programs, lead to diffuser structural failure. In industrial applications, this problem is typically avoided by increasing the space between the impeller and the diffuser to allow the dissipation of this pattern and, hence, the reduction of diffuser vane unsteady loading. This approach leads to small performance losses and, more importantly in rocket engine applications, to significant increases in the pump's size and weight. This latter consideration typically makes this approach unacceptable in high performance rocket engines.
Identified neurones isolated from leech CNS make selective connections in culture.

Neurones cultured in vitro offer distinct advantages for studying how processes grow towards their targets and form synaptic connections. In contrast to the complex events occurring during the development of the nervous system, synapse formation in culture can be analysed in a few neurones at a time and under controlled conditions1. We have now dissected out and cultured single identified neurones from the central nervous system (CNS) of the adult leech. Various types of sensory cells, motor cells, and interneurones can be identified in leech ganglia—each with a stereotyped set of properties, including: (1) the electrical characteristics of its membrane, (2) the arborisation of its branches and the morphology of its terminals and (3) the pattern of connections it makes with other identified neurones, skin or muscle2. Thus, cultured cells can be compared in detail with their counterparts in situ. We have found that isolated cells survive for several weeks, maintain their membrane properties, sprout and form selective connections.
Gaussian approximation in the theory of MR signal formation in the presence of structure-specific magnetic field inhomogeneities. Effects of impermeable susceptibility inclusions

A detailed theoretical description of the signal formation in the presence of mesoscopic structure-specific magnetic field inhomogeneities is presented in the framework of the Gaussian phase distribution approximation for two geometrical models of the field inhomogeneity sources--impermeable spheres and infinitely long cylinders. Analytical expressions for free induction decay (FID) and spin echo (SE) signal attenuation functions Gamma(t) approximately -1nS(t) are obtained and comparison with the case of unrestricted diffusion (susceptibility inclusions with freely permeable surfaces) is provided. For short times, the leading term in the FID signal attenuation function is proportional to t2 similar to the case of unrestricted diffusion; the next term behaves as t3 as compared to t 5/2 for the "permeable" case. For the SE signal, the leading term is proportional to t3 as compared to t 5/2 for unrestricted diffusion. It is shown that the t3 approximation can be used for an adequate description of the SE signal only for extremely short times compared to a characteristic diffusion time. In the long-time limit, the attenuation function in the impermeable and permeable sphere model contains not only terms linear in time, but also important terms proportional to t 1/2. In the cylindrical geometry, the leading term in the long-time expansion of the attenuation function is proportional to t 1n t for both the permeable and impermeable models. Application to description of MR in biological tissues signal in the presence of blood vessel networks and contrast agents is discussed. The validity criterion of the Gaussian approximation is also proposed.
On the free vibration characteristics of annular plates with ring-type elastic attachments

Abstract An investigation of the natural frequencies and mode shapes of annular plates with concentric elastic attachments is presented. Three types of attachments are considered: translational spring, rotational spring and elastically mounted mass. Three cases are tackled in a unified fashion by adopting a ring-type finite element model based upon Galerkin's method. It is shown that dramatic changes in the natural frequencies and mode shapes occur for certain values of the parameters of the attached elements.
Managed Care and Infant Health: an Evaluation of Medicaid in the US

This study examines the effects of Medicaid managed care (MMC) on prenatal care utilization, infant birth weight, pre-term birth, and use of cesarean section in the US. The results suggest that among white, non-Hispanic women, MMC was associated with a 2 percent decrease in the number of prenatal care visits and a 3-5 percent increase the incidence of inadequate prenatal care; MMC was associated with a significant increase in the incidence pre-term birth for non-Hispanic white women, but that this association does not appear to be causal; and MMC had no association with the incidence of cesarean section. (Kaestner, Robert, Lisa Dubay, and Genevieve Kenney. April 2005. Managed Care and Infant Health: an Evaluation of Medicaid in the US. Social Science and Medicine 60(8): 1815-1833.)
Phenomenological coping skills and the striatal memory system

Most cognitive scientists are committed to some version of representationalism, the view that intelligent behavior is caused by internal processes that involve computations over representations. Phenomenologists, however, argue that certain types of intelligent behavior, engaged “coping” skills, are nonrepresentational. Recent neuroscientific work on multiple memory systems indicates that while many types of intelligent behavior are representational, the types of intelligent behavior cited by phenomenologists are indeed nonrepresentational. This neuroscientific research thus vindicates a key phenomenological claim about the nature of intelligent behaviour. It also provides a framework for the ongoing reconciliation of cognitive science and phenomenology.
The lipid core model of lipoproteins

Abstract Several aspects of the lipid core model for lipoproteins were examined in a quantitative manner. Detailed consideration was given to a geometric factor relevant to the packing of lipids on curved surfaces, which allowed computation of the maximum amount of lipid which can be accommodated about a sphere of given size. The model was found to be consistent with presently available data for size and shape of very low density lipoproteins of serum and egg yolk low density lipoproteins. In addition, the model led to hypotheses regarding the organization and spatial arrangement of lipids within the core, the factors controlling these arrangements, and the way the lipids may interact with protein and water. The results were consistent also with dynamic equilibria where triglyceride moves from a neutral lipid nucleus to a phospholipid-cholesterol interfacial region, with concomitant changes in the structural arrangement of the interfacial lipids. Also consistent was the possibility of structural transitions or differences in packing behavior of interfacial lipids at fixed interfacial triglyceride concentrations. Important parameters for characterizing the structure of lipid core particles where shown to be the dimensional parameters of lipids at the core water interface (effective length and surface area) and the composition of the interfacial region, in addition to size, mass and total lipid composition. Three extreme possibilities for the location of the protein moiety were consistent, hence also the various composite or intermediate possibilities. These locations consisted of (1) the protein completely interdigitated between the interfacial lipids, (2) the protein occupying a monolayer completely covering the core and (3) the protein located as islands in a sea of interfacial lipids.
Swiss observatory to change names

The Swiss Federal Astronomical Observatory will soon be renamed the Astronomical Institute of the Swiss Federal Institute of Technology. A new director, J. O. Stenflo, will take office this month.
A Simplified Branch-and-Price Mechanism for a Three-Machine Dynamic PCB Assembly

A dynamic Printed Circuit Board (PCB) assembly system along with the most complete form of setup time in this assembly is introduced in this paper. An effective Branch-and-Price mechanism is employed to develop a lower bound for the three-machine problem. However, solving the sub problems remains computationally difficult because of their NP-hard nature. An optimal approach is established, which makes solving the sub problems computationally feasible.
Longitudinal Outcomes After Tibioperoneal Angioplasty Alone Compared to Tibial Stenting and Atherectomy for Critical Limb Ischemia

Objectives:There are limited data available evaluating longitudinal outcomes after tibioperoneal angioplasty (TA) alone compared to adjunctive tibial procedures including stenting and atherectomy.Methods:Using the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services inpatient claims (2005-2007), patients evaluated TA only, TA plus stent placement (TA + S), and TA plus atherectomy (TA + A).Results: A total of 2080 patients with critical limb ischemia underwent percutaneous tibioperoneal intervention for the indication of ulceration. Procedures included TA (56.3%), TA + S (16.2%), and TA + A (27.5%). Rates of amputation were not statistically different between the groups at 30, 90, and 365 days after the intervention. Mean total hospital charges were TA ($35 867), TA + A ($41 698; P = .0004), and TA + S ($51 040; P < .0001).Conclusions: Patients undergoing TA alone compared to concomitant stenting or atherectomy for ulceration demonstrated no improvement in limb salvage. Future analysis of adjunctive tibioperoneal inte...
Up in smoke: A role for organic carbon feedbacks in Paleogene hyperthermals

Abstract Sedimentary archives from the world's oceans and continents indicate that as the world warmed from the mild climate conditions of the mid-Paleocene to the extreme global warmth of the Early Eocene, a series of abrupt perturbations shifted the carbon isotope budget of the ocean/atmosphere/biosphere (exogenic) system. Consideration of the rates and magnitude of carbon isotope change, along with independent evidence for ocean acidification, dictates that these “hyperthermal” events involved the transfer of thousands of petagrams of reduced carbon to the actively cycling exogenic system. Careful study of stratigraphically resolved carbon isotope records spanning the hyperthermals, in particular the first and most prominent of them, the Paleocene–Eocene Thermal Maximum (PETM), has informed our understanding of carbon cycle perturbation during these events. Several important features of these records, however, remain difficult to explain with conventional ocean/atmosphere carbon cycle models, including divergence of carbon isotope records from marine and terrestrial systems, a prolonged interval of low δ 13 C values during the ‘body’ of the PETM carbon isotope excursion (CIE), and rapid recovery of δ 13 C values at the CIE termination. Here I use data from well-resolved, independently dated marine and terrestrial PETM carbon isotope records to characterize these distinctive and challenging features of the records and discuss their implications. I then propose a simple set of mechanisms, involving climatically-mediated increases in organic carbon respiration rates and CO 2 -driven changes in photosynthetic 13 C discrimination triggered by an initial release of carbon from geological reservoirs, which produce patterns, magnitudes, and rates of carbon isotope change consistent with records from the event. If the proposed scenario is correct, it suggests that the land plants and soils may have first released, and then taken up, several thousand Pg of carbon during the early and late stages of the event, with concordant changes in rates of organic carbon burial in sediments. Full elaboration and rigorous evaluation of the proposed scenario will require additional work, but the initial results suggest that organic carbon feedbacks, similar in nature to those being explored in work on modern and future Earth systems, may have played a significant role in shaping global changes at the Paleocene–Eocene boundary.
Diffusion tensor imaging of the mouse brainstem and cervical spinal cord.

Concurrent and/or progressive degeneration of upper and lower motor neurons (LMNs) causes neurological symptoms and dysfunctions in motor neuron diseases (MNDs) such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). Although brain lesions are readily detected, magnetic resonance imaging of the brainstem and cervical spinal cord lesions resulting from damage to LMNs has proven to be difficult. With the development of mouse models of MNDs, a noninvasive neuroimaging modality capable of detecting lesions resulting from axonal and neuronal injury in mouse brainstem and cervical spinal cord could improve our understanding of the underlying mechanism of MNDs and aid in the development of effective treatments. Here we present a protocol that allows the concomitant acquisition of high-quality in vivo full-diffusion tensor magnetic resonance images from the mouse brainstem and cervical spinal cord using the actively decoupled, anatomically shaped pair of coils—the surface-receive coil and the minimized volume-transmit coil. To improve the data quality, we used a custom-made nose cone to monitor respiratory motion for synchronizing data acquisition and assuring physiological stability of mice under examination. The protocol allows the acquisition of in vivo diffusion tensor imaging of the mouse brainstem and cervical spinal cord at 117 μm × 117 μm in-plane resolution with a 500-μm slice thickness in 1 h on a 4.7-T horizontal small animal imaging scanner equipped with an actively shielded gradient coil capable of pulsed gradient strengths up to 18 G cm−1 with a gradient rise time of ≤295 μs.
Analytical techniques for the study of focused beams

The study of nonparaxial fields through the complex focus model is discussed. This model can be used to rep- resent fields with linear, circular, elliptical, radial, azimuthal, and full Poincar´e polarizations. Other interesting beam distributions include nonparaxial Airy-Gauss beams. Further, complete bases are proposed that allow the expansion of arbitrary focused fields. The Mie scattering for any of these fields is given in closed form, for any position of the particle, allowing analytic calculations of the forces and torques. Finally, these analytic expressions lend themselves to the study of the interaction between orbital and spin angular momenta in the nonparaxial regime.
Cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone versus intensive chemotherapy in non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Therapy for aggressive non-Hodgkin’s lymphomas has undergone significant evolution in the past 25 years. First-generation combination chemotherapy studies produced complete response (CR) rates of 45 – 53% together with 30 – 37% rates of long-term survival. New treatment programs aimed at increasing CR rates were then developed on the assumption that the additional patients who achieved a CR would become long-term disease-free survivors. Initial reports of single-institution pilot studies with third-generation regimens suggested CR and survival rates of 68 – 86% and 58 – 69%, respectively; however, after longer follow-up periods, survival rates decreased. Furthermore, confirmatory national phase II trials using these newer regimens produced CR rates of only 49 – 65% and survival rates of 50 – 61%. Thus, ultimate conclusions concerning the efficacy of these new regimens awaited the results of prospective randomized trials. The Southwest Oncology Group (SWOG) conducted a randomized trial comparing standard therapy, CHOP, to the third-generation chemotherapy regimens m-BACOD, ProMACE-CytaBOM, and MACOP-B. After 6 years, no difference in the response rate, progression-free survival, or overall survival has been found between CHOP and the third-generation regimens. For example, the 6-year estimates of progression-free survival are CHOP 33%, m-BACOD 36%, ProMACE-CytaBOM 34%, and MACOP-B 32% (P = 0.41). The 6-year overall survival estimates are CHOP 42%, m-BACOD 40%, ProMACE-CytaBOM 46%, and MACOP-B 41% (P = 0.89). Furthermore, we have not identified any subset of patients who survive longer on treatment with the third-generation regimens, and the cost and toxicity of the new regimens are higher. On the basis that <50% of these patients are cured, the best approach for any patient is an experimental one designed to improve our ability to cure the disease. Examples of this include (l) increasing the dose intensity of drugs used in standard regimens and (2) autologous bone marrow transplantation and/or peripheral stem-cell support as rescue from marrow-ablative chemotherapy. If a patient is not eligible or does not wish to participate in a clinical trial, CHOP, as inadequate as it is, remains the gold standard.
The Triplex-Hairpin Transition in Cytosine-Rich DNA

We present a theoretical study of the self-complementary single-stranded 30-mer d(TC*TTC*C*TTTTCCTTCTC*CCGAGAAGGTTTT) (PDB ID: 1b4y) that was designed to form an intramolecular triplex by folding back twice on itself. At neutral pH the molecule exists in a duplex hairpin conformation, whereas at acidic pH the cytosines labeled by an asterisk (*) are protonated, forming Hoogsteen hydrogen bonds with guanine of a GC Watson-Crick basepair to generate a triplex. As a first step in an investigation of the energetics of the triplex-hairpin transition, we applied the Bashford-Karplus multiple site model of protonation to calculate the titration curves for the two conformations. Based on these data, a two-state model is used to study the equilibrium properties of transition. Although this model properly describes the thermodynamics of the protonation-deprotonation steps that drive the folding-unfolding of the oligomer, it cannot provide insight into the time-dependent mechanism of the process. A series of molecular dynamics simulations using the ff94 force field of the AMBER 6.0 package was therefore run to explore the dynamics of the folding/unfolding pathway. The molecular dynamics method was combined with Poisson-Boltzmann calculations to determine when a change in protonation state was warranted during a trajectory. This revealed a sequence of elementary protonation steps during the folding/unfolding transition and suggests a strong coupling between ionization and folding in cytosine-rich triple-helical triplexes.
Enhancing keyword-based botanical information retrieval with information extraction

Keyword-based retrieval matches search terms and documents via term co-occurrence. Such an approach does not allow matching based on the specific plant characteristic descriptions that are often used in botanical text retrieval. This study applies information extraction techniques to automatically extract plant characteristic information from text and allows users to search using such information in combination with keywords. An evaluation experiment was conducted using actual users. The results indicate that this approach enhances task-based retrieval performance.
Systematic interrelationship of mating, vaginal plug position, and sperm transport in the rat.

Abstract A quantitative means of evaluating the position of the vaginal plug in the vagina of the female rat was developed. Using this technique we demonstrated a systematic relationship between the position of the vaginal plug in the vagina, and sperm transport. The more fully the perimeter of the rostral end of the vaginal plug lodged in the vaginal-cervical junction, the greater was the transport of sperm from the vagina to the uterus. Secondly, males which maintained pelvic contact with the female for more than one sec after the final ejaculatory thrust deposited vaginal plugs which tended to fill three-fourths to the entire circumference of the vaginal-cervical junction. Males which maintained pelvic contact with the female for less than one sec after the final ejaculatory thrust deposited vaginal plugs which tended to fill one-half or less of the circumference of the vaginal-cervical junction. The protracted pelvic thrust shown by most males at ejaculation may cause the vaginal plug to lodge tightly in the vaginal-cervical junction.
The Impact of Media Multitasking on Learning.

While multitasking is not a new concept, it has received increasing attention in recent years with the development of new media and technologies. Recent trends appear to suggest that multitasking is on the rise among the younger generation. The purpose of the study is to determine if students obtain more or less information in multitasking conditions. We examined the relationships of multitasking to attention, cognitive load and media with 130 college student participants. In this study, participants were given a timed (16 minutes) reading comprehension test in three conditions: Silence (only reading), Background multitasking (reading with a non-tested video shown simultaneously), and Test multitasking (reading with a tested video shown simultaneously) conditions. Our findings indicated that: (1) participants in the Background condition performed as well as those in the Silence condition, and (2) when participants were tested on their video comprehension, the group in the Test condition performed signific...
Coronary and Myocardial Actions of Angiotensin

In the dog heart-lung preparation, single injections of 40 µg angiotensin II produced consistently a biphasic response. Initial impairment of cardiac function was observed with decrease of cardiac output and of ventricular force, and with increase of atrial pressures. After 10 to 20 seconds, there was a positive inotropic effect, with an increase of cardiac output and of ventricular force, and a decrease in atrial pressures. Responses were comparable in reserpinized and nonreserpinized preparations. Tachyphylaxis to angiotensin was found consistently in the heart-lung preparation, with a regular decrease in response following second and third injections. A positive inotropic action of angiotensin II was demonstrated in the cat papillary muscle preparation. These studies demonstrated that angiotensin has a direct cardiac action, namely a positive inotropic effect. This action probably does not depend upon myocardial stores of catecholamines. When the left anterior descending coronary artery of the dog was perfused with blood at a constant flow, single intracoronary injections of angiotensin (1.0 µg) consistently increased coronary resistance (6% to 92%). Continuous intracoronary infusion of angiotensin increased coronary vascular resistance when blood concentrations were as low as 0.42 µg/ liter. No evidence of initial cardiac depression or of increased coronary vascular resistance was found after norepinephrine. It is concluded that the initial impairment of cardiac performance following angiotensin is caused at least in part by decreased coronary blood flow. Caution is suggested in the use of angiotensin in the treatment of human shock because of its action upon the coronary circulation.
The binding energy of a Λ particle in nuclear matter: A green function formulation

Abstract Formulae relating the binding energy of a Λ particle in nuclear matter to single-particle Green functions of the Λ particle are derived and discussed.
Characterization of Biological Processes through Automated Image Analysis

The systems-level analysis of complex biological processes requires methods that enable the quantification of a broad range of phenotypical alterations, the precise localization of signaling events, and the ability to correlate such signaling events in the context of the spatial organization of the biological specimen. The goal of this review is to illustrate that, when combined with modern imaging platforms and labeling techniques, automated image analysis methods can provide such quantitative information. The article attempts to review necessary image analysis techniques as well as applications that utilize these techniques to provide the data that will enable systems-level biology. The text includes a review of image registration and image segmentation methods, as well as algorithms that enable the analysis of cellular architecture, cell morphology, and tissue organization. Various methods that enable the analysis of dynamic events are also presented.
Clinical Characteristics of Pulmonary Hypertension in Patients With Heart Failure and Preserved Ejection Fraction

Background— Pulmonary vascular disease associated with left-side heart failure and preserved ejection fraction (PH-HFpEF) is an increasingly common cause of pulmonary hypertension. The distinction between PH-HFpEF and pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is important because therapies indicated for PAH can be detrimental in HFpEF. The characteristic features of PH-HFpEF are understudied. Methods and Results— In a cross-sectional study, we compared the clinical, echocardiographic, and hemodynamic features of PH-HFpEF (n=100), with PAH (n=522), and HFpEF without pulmonary vascular disease (n=45). We determined the clinical characteristics that best differentiated PH-HFpEF from PAH. Compared with patients with PAH, patients with PH-HFpEF were older; had a higher prevalence of cardiovascular comorbidities; had worse exercise capacity and renal function; more frequently had left atrial enlargement; and less frequently had right atrial enlargement. PH was less severe in PH-HFpEF patients than in PAH patients (pulmonary vascular resistance 4.8 [interquartile range 3 to 8.4] versus 10.9 [interquartile range 7.4 to 15.7] Wood units; P <0.001). Old age, the presence of hypertension and coronary artery disease, the absence of right atrial enlargement, higher aortic systolic pressure, higher mean right atrial pressure, and higher cardiac output best differentiated PH-HFpEF from PAH (area under the receiver operating characteristics curve; curve 0.97). Compared with HFpEF patients without pulmonary hypertension, PH-HFpEF patients were often female and more symptomatic, more often had right ventricular hypertrophy and right atrial enlargement, and had higher right atrial pressure. Conclusions— These data should help better identify PH-HFpEF, an entity that has become increasingly recognized and difficult to treat.
Leukemia Cytogenetics in Children: Results of the German Therapy Studies

From January 1984 to June 1988, 1179 bone marrow samples from children with acute lymphoblastic (ALL) and non-lymphoblastic leukemia (ANLL) were received for chromosomal analysis. More than 90% were sent by mail from more than 60 hospitals all over the Federal Republic of Germany, all of them registered in one of the multicenter therapy studies Co ALL or BFM.
Ceramic metal composites for surgical implants.

The mechanical properties of a series of ceramic-metal composites have been evaluated to determine their potential as implant materials. Hot pressing procedures were developed for the preparation of wire reinforced, calcium-aluminate matrix composites. Hot pressed composites containing 5% tungsten fiber were found to exhibit flexural strength equivalent to that of bone, and approximately ten times that of the unreinforced ceramic.
Why Do Internet Services Fail, and What Can Be Done About It?

We describe the architecture, operational practices, and failure characteristics of three very large-scale Internet services. Our research on architecture and operational practices took the form of interviews with architects and operations staff at those (and several other) services. Our research on component and service failure took the form of examining the operations problem tracking databases from two of the services and a log of service failure post-mortem reports from the third. Architecturally, we find convergence on a common structure: division of nodes into service front-ends and back-ends, multiple levels of redundancy and load-balancing, and use of custom-written software for both production services and administrative tools. Operationally, we find a thin line between service developers and operators, and a need to coordinate problem detection and repair across administrative domains. With respect to failures, we find that operator errors are their primary cause, operator error is the most difficult type of failure to mask, service front-ends are responsible for more problems than service back-ends but fewer minutes of unavailability, and that online testing and more thoroughly exposing and detecting component failures could reduce system failure rates for at least one service.
On-road prediction of driver's intent with multimodal sensory cues

By predicting a driver's maneuvers before they occur, a driver-assistance system can prepare for or avoid dangerous situations. This article describes a real-time, on-road lane-change-intent detector that can enhance driver safety.
Figural goodness effects in perception and memory

There is an apparent contradiction concerning configurational effects in visual information processing. Some studies have shown that when an array is organized into a “good” or unitary Gestalt, analysis of a single part of it is facilitated, while others have shown “good” arrays to impede search for a part. The three experiments reported here support the proposition that goodness of form can facilitate performance when memory is used, but that goodness impairs strictly perceptual search for a part of an array. These experiments compare detection of a single feature in faces (unitary figures) and nonfaces. They show that when the face or nonface is presented before the target feature (and must be held in memory), performance is better for faces than for nonfaces. When the target is presented before the face or nonface and perceptual search is required, faces give worse performance than nonfaces. Implications for perceptual phenomena, including the object-superiority and word-superiority effects, are discussed.
Issues in Education: Emotional Intelligences: A Missing Link in Educating Our Youth

The ultimate goal of education is to provide individuals with the emotional and academic skills necessary for academic and workplace success, as well as to develop informed and responsible communit...
Neonatal Sepsis A Survey of Eight Years' Experience at the Louisville General Hospital

Information from 50 infants with neonatal septicemia from the Louisville General Hospital during an eight-year period (1964-1972) is presented. Twenty-five infants had gram-positive and the other 25 had gram-negative organisms. E. coli (13 cases), Staphylococcus (10 cases), and hemolytic Streptococcus non-Group A (7 cases) were the most common causative microorganisms. Only one of the 25 infants with gram-positive sepsis died; three with gram-negative sepsis died. Listeria monocytogenes was demonstrated in three infants; all had meningitis with no mortality. Early diagnosis, prompt intensive antibacterial therapy, and a high index of suspicion are most helpful for reducing the morbidity and mortal ity.
Optimum Ventilation Capacity for Layer Houses

Abstract A stochastic weather model was used in conjunction with a deterministic performance model of egg production. These two models were used to determine optimum ventilation rate capacities for layer houses, given four different climates (as reflected by monthly maximum outside temperatures), and two egg price scenarios. Stochastic simulations were conducted for 200 yr at expected maximum monthly average temperatures of 21, 23, 25, and 27 C. Optimum ventilation rates ranged from 3.75 m3/h per kilogram to at least 9.4 m3/h per kilogram depending upon flock placement date or confidence level desired. Net economic return increased by as much as $.263 per layer per year when 7.5 m3/h per kilogram was used instead of 3.75 m3/h per kilogram, in a warm climate. In addition, optimum ventilation capacity was reduced by 1.9 m3 h per kilogram if the price differential that existed between extra large and large eggs was eliminated. These findings suggest that optimal ventilation capacities are higher than those currently in common use, particularly in areas with a moderate climate.
Directed mutagenesis of the Trypanosoma cruzi trans-sialidase enzyme identifies two domains involved in its sialyltransferase activity

Of the increasing number of sialidases found to be made by microorganisms, the trypanosome trans-sialidase is unique hi its added ability to efficiently carry out a sialyltransfer ase reaction using preformed glycoconjugates. The enzyme is predicted to have a multidomain structure, with one domain containing sequence and expected structural features found in bacterial sialidases. The trans-sialidase is very similar in overall sequence to another trypanosome enzyme that has only sialidase activity. Hybrid expression constructs containing pieces of these trypanosome transsialidase and sialidase genes were used to determine which regions of trans-sialidase are required for sialyltransferase activity. Two domains were found to influence the enzymatic activity: the N-terminal catalytic domain, and a downstream domain that resembles an Fn3-like module.
cAMP-dependent protein kinase A selects the excited state of the membrane substrate phospholamban.

Abstract Phosphorylation of membrane proteins is a central regulatory and signaling mechanism across cell compartments. However, the recognition process and phosphorylation mechanism of membrane-bound substrates by kinases are virtually unknown. cAMP-dependent protein kinase A (PKA) is a ubiquitous enzyme that phosphorylates several soluble and membrane-bound substrates. In cardiomyocytes, PKA targets phospholamban (PLN), a membrane protein that inhibits the sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca 2+ -ATPase (SERCA). In the unphosphorylated state, PLN binds SERCA, reducing the calcium uptake and generating muscle contraction. PKA phosphorylation of PLN at S16 in the cytoplasmic helix relieves SERCA inhibition, initiating muscle relaxation. Using steady-state kinetic assays, NMR spectroscopy, and molecular modeling, we show that PKA recognizes and phosphorylates the excited, membrane-detached R-state of PLN. By promoting PLN from a ground state to an excited state, we obtained a linear relationship between rate of phosphorylation and population of the excited state of PLN. The conformational equilibrium of PLN is crucial to regulate the extent of PLN phosphorylation and SERCA inhibition.
In vitro labeling patterns of synaptosomal proteins.

SummarySynaptosomes isolated from young rats were incubated with 14C-amino acids and a water-insoluble fraction obtained which was completely soluble in 1% sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS). This solubilized, protein containing fraction was subjected to poly-acrylamide gel electrophoresis and eight radioactive peaks with molecular weights of 25,000–220,000 were separated. These findings are compared to the protein bands noted in stained gels.Supported by NIH General Research Support Grant No. RR 05551-10 to the Attending Staff Association of Harbor General Hospital.
A survey of teaching and implementation: the veterinarian's role in recognizing and reporting abuse.

Many families seeking assistance from domestic violence agencies are known to local humane societies or animal control officials because of previous incidents of animal abuse. This is because pets are often the first victims of family disputes that erupt into violence. Analysis of domestic violence statistics indicates that veterinarians potentially treat hundreds of thousands of abused pets each year. Because veterinarians may be the first or only individuals to have access to abusive family situations, it is it important for veterinarians to be aware of potential signs of abuse of pets and their owners and to be familiar with the mechanisms for reporting suspected incidents of abuse. Thirty-one North American veterinary schools and a sample of large and small animal practitioners in Indiana were surveyed to understand to what degree current veterinary curricula prepare students to recognize abuse of animal patients and human clients and to what extent practitioners recognize and report their suspicions of abuse to appropriate authorities. The data indicate a discrepancy between beliefs about prevalence of abuse and the amount of time spent educating veterinary students to recognize and report that abuse. I hypothesize that: 1) practicing veterinarians are reluctant to report suspicions of domestic family violence directed against animals, children, or spouses for various reasons (e.g., lack of adequate training, fear of litigation, time constraints, fear that violence will escalate, belief that it is not their place to intervene, lack of contact information, fear of losing a client's business); 2) practicing veterinarians (in large and small animal practices) may not be aware that animal patients and human clients may have been abused and being unfamiliar with this diagnosis, are unfamiliar with the mechanism for reporting the abuse, especially when it involves human victims; and 3) veterinary school curricula could be modified so that veterinary students are trained to recognize human and animal abuse, thereby reducing risks to animal patients, other animals in the household, and human clients. I believe that recognition of animal and human abuse is in line with veterinarians' responsibilities to protect animal health, relieve animal suffering, and promote public health.