cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Anatomy of a shoreface sand ridge revisited using foraminifera: False Cape Shoals, Virginia/North Carolina inner shelf

Abstract Certain details regarding the origin and evolution of shelf sand ridges remain elusive. Knowledge of their internal stratigraphy and microfossil distribution is necessary to define the origin and to determine the processes that modify sand ridges. Fourteen vibracores from False Cape Shoal A, a well-developed shoreface-attached sand ridge on the Virginia/North Carolina inner continental shelf, were examined to document the internal stratigraphy and benthic foraminiferal assemblages, as well as to reconstruct the depositional environments recorded in down-core sediments. Seven sedimentary and foraminiferal facies correspond to the following stratigraphic units: fossiliferous silt, barren sand, clay to sandy clay, laminated and bioturbated sand, poorly sorted massive sand, fine clean sand, and poorly sorted clay to gravel. The units represent a Pleistocene estuary and shoreface, a Holocene estuary, ebb tidal delta, modern shelf, modern shoreface, and swale fill, respectively. The succession of depositional environments reflects a Pleistocene sea-level highstand and subsequent regression followed by the Holocene transgression in which barrier island/spit systems formed along the Virginia/North Carolina inner shelf ∼5.2 ka and migrated landward and an ebb tidal delta that was deposited, reworked, and covered by shelf sand.
Grand Challenges and communication: Developing technical solutions in context

This paper discusses the inherent complexities students confront as they design technical solutions for the Grand Challenges. These complexities are an important site for technical communication instruction, whether the course content is specifically communication-centered or is targeted to engineering or science content. This paper explores the assignment development process we have adopted at our college and highlights the non-technical issues that faculty must consider as they begin to incorporate the Grand Challenges into their pedagogy.
TU-C-AUD B-07: Effect of Respiratory Gating On Dose Delilvery in a Moving Target

Purpose: To evaluate the effect of gating on dose delivery to a moving target. Method and Materials: A motorized platform with variable speed of 8RPM to 28RPM built to carry a 30×30cm solid water phantom and capable of delivering a 2cm range of motion in both in‐out and up‐down direction is used for the study. Retrospectively gated (4D) CT simulation is acquired on the Philips Gemini PET/CT imaging system. Acquisitions are made with phantom moving at 8, 15, 28 RPM with in‐out motion only and full motion. Waveforms are monitored by the Varian RPM system. Binning is for 10 phases equally spaced between waveform peaks. Based on the most stable range of the cycle phase range of 40%–60% for in‐out motion and 30%–50% for full motion was used for gating. Plans using single AP field, sliding window (SW) and step‐and‐shot (SS) IMRT fields are evaluated using ion chamber and film dosimetry.Results: For the in‐out motion only, the measured absolute dose at the center of the target was within 1% of the planed dose, gated or non‐gated. For full motion study, dose varies up to 2.5% for non‐gated plans and 1% for gated plans. In all motions, penumbra difference is within 2 mm for gated fields but pending on the phase range difference is significantly larger for non‐gated fields. With IMRT fields, good correlation is shown for all gated fields whereas for non‐gated cases, dose delivered deviates greatly from plan. Conclusion: With moving target, dose distribution differs greatly from plan if treatment is not gated. For IMRT fields and field with limited margins 4D treatment with optimized phase range is essential.
Using Community-Based Participatory Mixed Methods Research to Understand Preconception Health in African American Communities of Arizona

The article discusses Arizona's strategic implementation and evaluation of the first time motherhood initiative grant (FTMI) to understand preconception health among African American men and women in Arizona. Longitudinal focus groups assessed whether African American men and women in the targeted areas comprehended and recalled the messages related to preconception health. Matched pre and posttests assessed community members' knowledge of preconception as well as physicians' perceptions on preconception health and care. Focus-group data were transcribed and coded by independent coders to conduct content analyses. Inter-rater reliability and agreement among coders, bivariate and multivariate statistics were conducted for quantitative matched pre and posttests data using SAS v9.2 (SAS Institute, Cary, NC). The social marketing campaign had limited impact in recall and comprehension of the preconception health message among African American men and women. Data from focus groups revealed that African American men and women perceived preconception health to be vital. And results from the pretest and posttests of community-based presentations, further supported this finding. Evidence from Grand Round presentations indicated that practitioners and health care providers had diverging views on preconception health. Use of community-based participatory mixed methods research can facilitate better understanding of the efficacy of strategic interventions such as FTMI and can provide valuable information on preconception health. Cost limitations often prohibit extensive evaluation of social marketing campaigns, hence, evaluators and researchers should assess the feasibility of conducting an efficacy study versus an effectiveness study in evaluating social marketing campaigns.
P-58: Optimization of the Luminous Efficiency of Plasma Display Panels Using Numerical Modeling

l model is used to study the effect of cell structure on the performance of PDPs. More specifically, the effect of the insertion of a floating conducting material between the dielectric layer and the MgO film on the performance of the device is investigated. The shape of the discharge power pulse is found to be significantly different in comparison with the corresponding pulse of the standard cell geometry. It is also found that this cell structure results in a more confined discharge. gas mixture filling the region between the dielectrics is a 4% Xe- Ne mixture at a pressure of 500 Torr. The secondary electron emission coefficients for Ne and Xe ions on MgO are taken to be 0.5 and 0.01 respectively. The width of the cell L is 1260 µm, the gas gap length D is 150 µm, and the thickness of the dielectric layers d is 30 µm. The width w of the X and Y electrodes is set to 300 µm.
Rates of Electron-Impact Transitions between Excited States of Helium

Measurements of electron densities and population densities of excited states of neutral helium are presented for afterglows in the C stellarator. Electron densities range from ${10}^{11}$ to 3\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{13}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}3}$, and electron temperatures range from 0.04 to 1 eV. Semiempirical cross-section formulas for transitions among excited levels are deduced by comparing observed excited-state population densities with solutions of detailed transition-rate equations. The agreement between computed and measured values is good, when the assumed cross sections are comparable with impact-parameter approximation results; the agreement is poor - especially at low electron densities and temperatures - when classical cross sections are assumed.
Species differences in the kinetics of the renin-substrate reaction in plasma.

Abstract In view of the substrate-dependence of renin, it was of interest to examine the kinetics of the renin-angiotensinogen reaction in plasma of various species to establish differences in stoichiometry. The results also provide an indication of assay conditions appropriate for accurate measurement of the reaction velocity. Plasma from hogs, dogs, and rats served as the source of renin for incubation with homologous angiotensinogen. The rate of production of radioimmunoassayable angiotensin I increased with increasing concentrations of angiotensinogen. This substrate-dependence of renin conformed to conventional Michaelis-Menten kinetics. The concentration of angiotensinogen was less than that required for half maximum velocity in dog and rat plasma. In contrast, endogenous substrate in hog plasma was sufficient to sustain near maximal rates of generation of angiotensin I. Purification of angiotensinogen altered the catalytic properties of angiotensinogen making it a poor representative substrate for renin. Hog and rat renin were saturable with high concentrations of unextracted plasma angiotensinogen. In contrast, it was not possible to saturate the dog enzyme with unextracted substrate. The interspecies differences in stoichiometry of the reaction indicate that standardization of assay conditions for various species of renin is not justified.
Narcissism and displaced aggression: Effects of positive, negative, and delayed feedback

Abstract Narcissism is related to direct aggression following negative evaluation or rejection and this link may be explained via the theory of threatened egotism. It is unclear whether narcissism is also related to displaced aggression (DA) – that is, aggression towards an innocent victim uninvolved in the initial provocation. In this study we examined the relation between narcissism and DA following positive, negative, or a delayed evaluation (i.e., evaluation following the completion of the reaction time task) of the participants’ writing skills by an “objective” computer assessment instrument. Participants were undergraduates who competed in a reaction time task against an opponent (i.e., a confederate). Initial provocation in this study was conceptualized as the evaluation feedback the participants received prior to competing in the reaction time task. DA was defined as bogus electric shocks administered by participants to their opponents (who were uninvolved in the prior evaluation) during the reaction time task prior to receiving any shocks from the opponent. Narcissism was significantly positively related to DA and this effect was stronger in the delayed condition than in the negative or positive feedback condition. These findings suggest that narcissistic individuals are likely to act aggressively towards innocent others under conditions where there is uncertainty with regard to potential damage to their self-perceptions of superiority.
Thermoelastic Effects in Frictionally Heated Line Contact of Slablike Bodies

Many sealing configurations incorporate the geometry of line contact on bluff, slablike bodies. When sliding speed is sufficiently high along or across the line of contact, instabilities may arise from interactions of thermal expansion, elastic deformation and frictional heating. These lead to concentrated contact with elevated temperatures and pressures. Previous studies have been largely restricted to two-dimensional models of such contact. The present study shows how those earlier results must be modified to apply to the more realistic geometry, and show also that the principal features of the interactions are the same in both geometries.
Correlative Anatomy for the Electrophysiologist: Ablation for Atrial Fibrillation. Part II: Regional Anatomy of the Atria and Relevance to Damage of Adjacent Structures During AF Ablation

Ablation procedures for atrial fibrillation have become an established and increasingly used option for managing patients with symptomatic arrhythmia. The anatomic structures relevant to the pathogenesis of atrial fibrillation and ablation procedures are varied and include the pulmonary veins, other thoracic veins, the left atrial myocardium, and autonomic ganglia. Exact regional anatomic knowledge of these structures is essential to allow correlation with fluoroscopy and electrograms and, importantly, to avoid complications from damage of adjacent structures within the chest. We present this information as a series of 2 articles. In a prior issue, we have discussed the thoracic vein anatomy relevant to paroxysmal atrial fibrillation. In the present article, we focus on the atria themselves, the autonomic ganglia, and anatomic issues relevant for minimizing complications during atrial fibrillation ablation.
Molecular structure and interrelationships of multiresistance β-lactamase transposons

Abstract Transposons coding for β-lactamases OXA-3, OXA-4, OXA-5, LCR-1, and CARB-3 have been isolated and compared functionally and structurally with transposons for TEM-1, OXA-1, PSE-1, PSE-2, and PSE-4 enzymes. Each β-lactamase gene type occurred in a unit together with resistance to other antibiotics, particularly streptomycin and sulfonamide but also chloram-phenicol, mercuric ion, or gentamicin, kanamycin, and tobramycin. Restriction mapping, gene cloning, and DNA hybridization were used to compare the transposons and to localize their functional components. Although the multiresistance β-lactamase transposons varied in size from 8 to 25 kb, the similarity of some of their restriction maps suggested a common derivation. Six of 12 transposons contained DNA segments homologous to the tnpR gene of transposon Tn 21 and could complement a tnpR − Tn 21 derivative. Consequently, these six transposons appear to have evolved from a common progenitor by acquisition of DNA coding for various β-lactamases and other resistance genes.
Clientele for Continuing Education in the 1970's

THIS paper is not very academic. Neither is the topic. It is very popular these days to challenge the establishment, and such challenges should be welcomed even if some of the questions are aimed in our direction. The land grant system provides an interesting target. Despite its recent origins, that is, recent by European standards, it is the largest, best supported, and most highly regarded system of higher education in the world. So it can afford to be challenged by Mr. Hightower, Mr. Nader, and anyone else who wishes, including us. In fact, if it is to continue as the best public education system in the world, it must constantly innovate, evaluate, and accept change and challenge. Mr. Hightower and the "Accountability" project [1] are in good company with their challenge. Throughout their little book, which has evoked varying responses in agricultural colleges, Cooperative Extension, and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, they quote those within the system who are also asking questions. The call for public accountability is as American as apple pie. And we all should participate in it. Many of us think the land grant system has been held accountable for a long time. Substantial effort has been spent trying to keep track of those accounts. But perhaps that effort has too often been directed toward other establishment groups, hence the mixed reaction and response to the "Accountability" project's generally uncomplimentary and demeaning attack on the institutions in which most of us take so much pride. The topic for this session was proposed before most of us knew there was an "accountability" project. I have given this slashing bit of current journalism more space than it probably deserves. But the coincidence is impressive. The challenge for change in our continuing education programs should be coming from within the system. And it has been, but we have not given it the priority it deserves. Read "A People and A Spirit" [3] prepared by professionals within Cooperative Extension. It is not a call for the status quo. Listen to commercial farmers, county agents, and representatives in county government. They are far from smug and self-satisfied about their adult education programs. Hear Quentin West's recent statement [5] to the Directors of State Agricultural Experiment Stations:
"Rhombencephalosynapsis associated with Dandy-Walker malformation" is a molar tooth malformation.

We have previously reported the largest pediatric series (n = 9) of rhombencephalosynapsis (RS),1 and we are currently reviewing and updating our patients with RS and the syndromic form Gomez-Lopez-Hernandez syndrome. Therefore, we read with interest the case report by R.N. Sener entitled “Rhombencephalosynapsis associated with Dandy-Walker malformation.”2 We do not agree with Sener’s neuroimaging interpretation of RS: there is no fusion of the cerebellar hemispheres, in contrast, these are clearly separated, particularly evident on coronal cuts. The superior cerebellar peduncles are not fused, as required within the definition of RS, but they are even widely separated. We consider the following alternative neuroimaging interpretation: there is clear evidence of a molar tooth sign (MTS) on axial view, with deep interpeduncular fossa, narrow pontomesencephalic isthmus, and elongated superior cerebellar peduncles.3 We have seen this identical MRI constellation in 3 infants (2 of them siblings of consanguineous parents). Remarkably, all infants had an occipital encephalocele, as had Sener’s patient. Parental consanguinity of his patient and the presence of bilateral optic nerve coloboma are additional arguments in favor of a disorder within the spectrum of Joubert syndrome and related disorders (JSRD).4 The interpretation of neuroimaging findings may be relevant for genetic counseling: so far all patients with RS were sporadic, while JSRD are inherited as autosomal recessive. In Sener’s and our patients the superior cerebellar peduncles are thinner than in typical MTS. However, some variability in the MTS morphology within JSRD is well known (see figures in ref. 3), in particular patients with NPHP1 (nephronophthisis 1) gene deletion tend to have thinner superior cerebellar peduncles.4-6
Modulation of anterior pituitary dopamine receptors by estradiol 17‐β: Dose‐response relationship

Exposure of ovariectomized rats to estradiol-17-beta for 48-96 hr resulted in a dose-dependent reduction in the number but not the Kd of D-2 dopamine receptors of the anterior pituitary. No influence of estrogen was observed on dopamine or muscarinic acetylcholine receptors of caudate or hypothalamus. The dose-response relationship observed suggested that the influence of estrogen is directly on the pituitary, not secondary to the alteration of dopaminergic systems in the hypothalamus.
Structural and magnetic properties of nanostructured Mn–Al–C magnetic materials

Abstract Pre-alloyed Mn50+x−yAl50−xCy ( x = 0 , 2, 4, 6, 8; y = 0 , 1.7, 3) powders were mechanically milled (MM), and the as-milled powders subsequently annealed at temperatures from 350 to 600 °C to produce the ferromagnetic metastable L10-structured τ-phase. Bulk Mn54Al46 specimens were also annealed under the same conditions for comparison. The effects of the Mn concentration and C additions on phase formation, microstructure, magnetic properties, as well as on the magnetization mechanism of the Mn–Al–C alloys were systematically investigated. It was found that the magnetic properties are strongly dependent both on the fraction of the τ-phase and its microstructure. There exists a strong influence of the microstructural refinement, due to the ball milling, on the rate of e-phase to τ-phase transformation and on the stability of the τ-phase. The kinetics of formation and subsequent decomposition of the magnetic τ-phase were markedly different in the MM and bulk alloys. Both remanence curves and δM plots showed no exchange coupling among the τ-phase nanograins. The mechanism for the magnetization process was determined to be domain wall pinning.
Information seeking by rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta) and capuchin monkeys (Cebus apella).

Animal metacognition is an active, growing research area, and one part of metacognition is flexible information-seeking behavior. In Roberts et al. (2009), pigeons failed an intuitive information-seeking task. They basically refused, despite multiple fostering experiments, to view a sample image before attempting to find its match. Roberts et al. concluded that pigeons’ lack of an information-seeking capacity reflected their broader lack of metacognition. We report a striking species contrast to pigeons. Eight rhesus macaques and seven capuchin monkeys passed the Roberts et al. test of information seeking—often in their first testing session. Members of both primate species appreciated immediately the lack of information signaled by an occluded sample, and the need for an information-seeking response to manage the situation. In subsequent testing, macaques demonstrated flexible/varied forms of information management. Capuchins did not. The research findings bear on the phylogenetic distribution of metacognition across the vertebrates, and on the underlying psychological requirements for metacognitive and information-seeking performances.
Genome distribution of adenovirus total and self-complementary nuclear RNA at early times.

Abstract The study of adenovirus types 2 and 5 viral nuclear RNAs present at early times during a productive infection was analyzed by hybridization of pulse-labeled RNA to restriction fragments of Ad2 and Ad5 DNA. The RNA studied was the total nuclear infected cell population and the double-stranded nuclear RNAs formed after self-annealing, RNase digestion, and selection by Sephadex chromatography. In addition, the viral RNAs were synthesized in the presence and absence of cycloheximide (to restrict the infection to the early phase) at 32° and 41° (to provide control conditions for the H5ts125 mutant defective in the initiation of viral DNA synthesis at the restrictive temperature). The results of these studies established that (1) transcription of the genome is not qualitatively, but is quantitatively, affected by the use of inhibitors of viral DNA synthesis, (2) all regions of the genome are abundantly transcribed including those regions that do not code for early viral mRNA, and (3) most of these non-early messenger RNAs (which include both late mRNA and anti-sense sequences) have been post-transcriptionally modified by polyadenylation. Additionally, liquid hybridization studies of early Ad2 viral nuclear RNA to separated strands of Ad2 Eco (R1-A) fragment DNA indicate that all of these sequences (both sense and anti-sense) are represented in the RNA population and that neither the l nor r strands are preferentially transcribed. All of these results show that self-complementary RNA transcription and the transcription of non-early mRNAs is an integral part of the productive infection of human KB cells by adenovirus 2 and 5. Some of the possible functions of these sequences are discussed.
Developmental trajectories in children with and without autism spectrum disorders: the first 3 years.

Retrospective studies indicate 2 major classes of autism spectrum disorder (ASD) onset: early and later, after a period of relatively healthy development. This prospective, longitudinal study examined social, language, and motor trajectories in 235 children with and without a sibling with autism, ages 6–36 months. Children were grouped as: ASD identified by 14 months, ASD identified after 14 months, and no ASD. Despite groups' initial similar developmental level at 6 months, ASD groups exhibited atypical trajectories thereafter. Impairment from 14 to 24 months was greater in the Early-ASD than the Later-ASD group, but comparable at 36 months. Developmental plateau and regression occurred in some children with ASD, regardless of timing of ASD diagnosis. Findings indicate a preclinical phase of varying duration for ASD.
Expression of a foreign gene in Chlamydomonas reinhardtii

Genomic transformation of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii exposed to glass-bead abrasion was accomplished with a chimeric neomycin phosphotransferaseII (NPTII)-encoding gene (nos::npt) flanked by the nopaline synthase promoter and polyadenylation sequences obtained from the Ti plasmid of Agrobacterium tumefaciens. These sequences were in a plasmid (pGA482) which also contained gene nit1 encoding nitrate reductase of C. reinhardtii. Transformants were selected by their ability to grow on medium containing nitrate, and 52% of these was also resistant to kanamycin. Evidence for nos::npt expression includes: (1) hybridization with probes specific for npt, (2) demonstration of NPTII activity after electrophoresis of extracts, and (3) chromatographic identification of the reaction product of NPTII, kanamycin phosphate. The highly biased codon usage in Chlamydomonas does not preclude expression.
Influences of temperature and nutrients on Synechococcus abundance and biomass in the southern Mid-Atlantic Bight

Synechococci are small (<1 μm) coccoid prokaryotes that play a significant ecological role in microbial food webs and are important contributors to carbon and nitrogen biogeochemical cycles. Under funding from NOAA and NASA, we developed a time series observatory to understand the seasonal variability of Synechococcus and other phytoplankton. Our goal is to understand the distribution and relative contribution of Synechococcus to the carbon cycle and how they relate to nutrients and temperature. Synechococcus in the southern Mid-Atlantic Bight exhibited a clear seasonal abundance pattern in both inshore and offshore waters—peaking in abundance (11×104 cells ml−1) during warm periods of summer. Synechococci were numerically important during periods of stratification when waters were warm and macronutrients were low. Using a simple algorithm to convert cellular volume to cellular carbon using image analysis, we estimated that Synechococcus cellular carbon ranged from 0.1 to 1.5 pg C per cell and was most significant compared to total particulate carbon in the summer peaking at ∼25% of the total carbon available. No direct correlations were found between Synechococcus abundance and nitrate, nitrite, ammonium, phosphate, and silicate. However, inshore Synechococcus abundance peaked at 104 cells ml−1 when nitrogen concentrations were lowest. Our results suggest that Synechococcus is adapted to warm temperatures and are capable of demonstrating rapid growth during summer when macronutrients are limiting. The ability of Synechococcus to take advantage of high summer temperatures, low nutrient concentrations and low light levels allows them to maintain a picoplankton community during periods of low detritus and nanophytoplankton is nutrient limited. Temperature-dependence is important in altering the size spectrum of the phytoplankton community and affects the carbon cycle on the Mid Atlantic Bight.
Fully discrete finite element approximations of the forced Fisher equation

Abstract We consider fully discrete finite element approximations of the forced Fisher equation that models the dynamics of gene selection/migration for a diploid population with two available alleles in a multidimensional habitat and in the presence of an artificially introduced genotype. Finite element methods are used to effect spatial discretization and a nonstandard backward Euler method is used for the time discretization. Error estimates for the fully discrete approximations are derived by applying the Brezzi–Rappaz–Raviart theory for the approximation of a class of nonlinear problems. The approximation schemes and error estimates are applicable under weaker regularity hypotheses than those that are typically assumed in the literature. The algorithms and analyses, although presented in the concrete setting of the forced Fisher equation, also apply to a wide class of semilinear parabolic partial differential equations.
Feature-negative effect in serial learning

Three groups of 6 rats each were trained for 10 days in a straight runway on a reinforcement schedule that provided 14, 7, 3, 1, and 0.045-g food pellets over five successive runs each day. For Group FN, the first four food quantities (elements) of the series were unsignaled and the terminal 0-pellet element was signaled by flashing lights suspended over the runway, a feature-negative discrimination problem. For Group FP, the first four elements were signaled by flashing lights and the 0-pellet element was unsignaled, a feature-positive discrimination. Group C experienced the flashing lights as a signal for Elements 1-4 or for Element 5, on alternate days. Under the limited training conditions used here, only Groups FN and FP learned to anticipate, and run slowly to, the 0-pellet element, and that behavior developed faster and was more pronounced in Group FN than in Group FP. Implications of the results for analyses of feature discrimination learning are discussed.
A computerized mechanical cell stimulator for tissue culture: effects on skeletal muscle organogenesis.

A tissue culture system has been developed which can mechanically stimulate cells growing on a highly elastic plastic substratum in a 24-well cell growth chamber. The collagen-coated substratum to which the cells attach and grow in the Mechanical Cell Stimulator (Model I) can be repetitively stretched and relaxed by stepper motor with linear accuracy of 30 μm. The activity controlling unit is an Apple IIe computer interfaced with the cell growth chamber via optical data links and is capable of simulating many of the mechanical activity patterns that cells are subjected to in vivo. Primary avian skeletal myoblasts proliferate and fuse into multinucleated myotubes in this set-up in a manner similar to normal tissue culture dishes. Under static culture conditions, the muscle cells differentiate into networks of myotubes which show little orientation. Growing the proliferating muscle cells on a unidirectional stretching substratum causes the developing myotubes to orient parallel to the direction of movement. In contrast, growing the cells on a substratum undergoing continuous stretch-relaxation cycling orients the developing myotubes perpendicular to the direction of movement. Neither type of mechanical activity significantly affects the rate of cell proliferation of the rate of myoblast fusion into myotubes. These results indicate that during in vivo skeletal muscle organogenesis, when substantial mechanical stresses are placed on skeletal muscle cells by both continuous bone elongation and by spontaneous contractions, only bone elongation plays a significant role in proper fiber orientation for subsequent functional work.
Ephedrine in the cat lung vasculature

Background: Ephedrine is one of the most commonly used non-catecholamine sympathomimetic agents. It is used in operating rooms and critical care settings worldwide. While it has many side effects, its ability to rapidly raise blood pressure makes it an ideal agent to maintain homeostasis as well as in emergency situations. While its effects are known to be mediated by an α-mediated mechanism, the exact α subtype is unknown. In addition, no studies using ephedrine have been performed in the pulmonary vascular bed of the cat. Methods: The effects of phentolamine, a non-selective α-receptor blocker, and prazosin, an α1-selective antagonist, were investigated on pulmonary arterial responses to ephedrine, phenylepherine, norepinephrine, and U-46619. Lobar arterial perfusion pressure was continuously monitored, electronically averaged, and recorded with constant flow in the isolated left lower lobe vascular bed of the cat. Results: Phentolamine and prazosin significantly reduced vasoconstrictor pulmonary perfusion pressure increases induced by ephedrine. Conclusion: Ephedrine has significant vasopressor activity in the pulmonary vascular bed of the cat meditated predominantly by α1 adrenergic receptor activation.
Liver transplantation for alcoholic liver disease: Current concepts and length of sobriety

1. The 1-year and 5-year actuarial survival rates following liver transplantation for patients with alcoholic liver disease are 82% and 68%, respectively, in the United States and 85% and 70%, respectively, in Europe. These survival rates are similar to the outcomes of patients who undergo transplantation for other types of chronic liver disease. 2. Posttransplant improvements in health-related quality of life are similar in patients who undergo transplantation for alcoholic liver disease compared to those who undergo transplantation for other causes of end-stage liver disease. 3. Approximately 20% of patients who undergo transplantation for alcoholic liver disease use alcohol posttransplant, with one-third of these individuals exhibiting repetitive or heavy drinking. Surprisingly, little evidence exists to document a significant detrimental effect on graft or patient survival associated with resumption of drinking. 4. There are few reliable predictors of relapse in alcoholic patients after liver transplantation. Although not supported by all studies, abstinence of fewer than 6 months prior to transplantation may be a reasonable predictor of recidivism and is widely employed as a criterion for listing for liver transplantation. There are no good data to determine if some patients with sobriety fewer than 6 months might benefit from liver transplantation.
The surface adhesion molecule CXCR4 stimulates mesenchymal stem cell migration to stromal cell-derived factor-1 in vitro but does not decrease apoptosis under serum deprivation.

Abstract Background Bone marrow mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) can be used for myocardial repair following myocardial infarction. Increased expression of stromal cell-derived factor-1 (SDF-1) by an ischemic myocardium attracts CXCR4 + stem cells toward it. CXCR4, the receptor for SDF-1, is important in the migration, homing, and survival of hematopoietic stem cells. Although low levels of CXCR4 expression were found in minor subpopulations of cultured MSCs, most MSCs do not express CXCR4. To optimize the migration and survival of human MSCs, we expressed the CXCR4 gene in these cells using retroviral transduction. Materials and Methods We isolated and cultured MSCs from healthy volunteers and transduced them with a retroviral vector containing either CXCR4 and green fluorescent protein (GFP; CXCR4/GFP vector) or GFP alone (control vector). Flow cytometry confirmed successful transduction and GFP and CXCR4 expression. We used a transwell migration system to study MSC migration to SDF-1. We used Annexin V and propidium iodide stains to assess cell survival before and after the survival challenge. Results Flow cytometry showed that, on average, 83.4±17.7% of transduced MSCs expressed CXCR4. Compared with control MSCs, MSCs transduced with CXCR4 showed significantly more migration toward SDF-1, threefold greater at 3 h and more than fivefold greater at 6 h. Mesenchymal stem cells transduced with CXCR4 showed no significant difference in survival under normal to serum-deprived growth conditions. Conclusion Mesenchymal stem cells can be efficiently transduced to express CXCR4, and transduced MSCs migrate rapidly toward SDF-1. CXCR4 expression does not render survival advantage to MSCs under serum-deprived conditions.
Conversion cascading constraint-aware adaptive routing for WDM optical networks

We examine the negative impact of wavelength conversion cascading on the performance of all-optical routing. When data in a circuit-switched connection are routed all optically from source to destination, each wavelength conversion performed along the lightpath of the connection causes some signal-to-noise deterioration. If the distortion of the signal quality becomes significant enough, the receiver would not be able to recover the original data. There is therefore an upper bound (threshold) on the number of wavelength conversions that a signal can go through when it is switched optically from its source to its destination. This constraint, which we refer to as the conversion cascading constraint, has largely been ignored by previous performance evaluation studies on all-optical routing. We proceed to show that existing static and dynamic routing and wavelength-assignment algorithms largely fail in the presence of the conversion cascading constraints. We then propose two constraint-aware dynamic algorithms: The first, greedy constraint-aware routing algorithm, minimizes the number of wavelength conversions for each connection establishing, and the second, weighted adaptive constraint-aware routing (W-ACAR) algorithm, considers the distribution of free wavelengths, the length of each route, and the conversion cascading constraints, jointly. The results conclusively demonstrate that the proposed algorithms, especially W-ACAR, can achieve much better blocking performance in the environment of full and sparse wavelength conversion.
An XPS study of the valence levels of alpha plutonium

Abstract The X-ray photoelectron spectum of the valence levels (0–25eV binding energy) of α-Pu has been obtained. The 5f bandwidth (1.8eV) results from significant 5f-5f overlap in the monoclinic phase.
DIRECT AMPLIFICATION OF UNKNOWN GENES AND FRAGMENTS BY UNEVEN POLYMERASE CHAIN REACTION

Abstract Gene cloning is a time-consuming task for molecular biologists, because it often takes weeks or months to construct, screen and finally clone a gene from a DNA library. Thus, more effective methods are needed for gene cloning. This paper describes a modified polymerase chain reaction (PCR) cycling condition, Uneven PCR, to generate specific unknown fragments or genes directly from total DNA instead of cloning fragments from DNA libraries. The essence of the method is to use two different annealing temperatures in consecutive PCR cycles to effectively amplify the target products while inhibiting the synthesis of non-specific products. Under favorable conditions, a desired DNA fragment or gene in the size range up to approximately 4 kb can be obtained and ready for cloning within a day or two.
The effects of some environmental gaseous pollutants on pollen‐wall proteins of certain airborne pollen grains: a preliminary study

Abstract Pure pollen grains of Ulmus pumila, Quercus rubra, Pinus taeda, and Festuca elatior were used as a biological screen to test the effects of certain commonly occurring atmospheric pollutants on pollen wall protein. The pollen grain samples were collected aseptically and contaminated with the gaseous pollutants NO2 (nitrogen dioxide), SO2 (sulphur dioxide)J, and CO (carbon monoxide). After the extracts were analyzed by disk gel electrophoresis, the results indicate that apparent changes occur in the quality of the contaminated pollen wall proteins.
Two Novel Antigens Associated with Group B Streptococci Identified by a Rapid Two-Stage Radioimmunoassay

A two-stage radioimmunoassay (RIA) has been developed that identifies type-specific antigens on the surfaces of group B streptococci. In addition to detecting the type-specific carbohydrate antigens Ia, Ib, II, and III, the RIA identified four unique antigens reactive with the Centers for Disease Control's c-protein typing antiserum. Analysis of hot-acid extracts by immunoelectrophoresis confirmed that two of these reactivities corresponded to the reported alpha and beta antigens of the c-protein marker. In addition, the identification of two heretofore unidentified antigens, gamma and delta, by the two-stage RIA is detailed in this report. The assay uses intact bacteria and does not require hot-acid extraction, a procedure thus enabling detection of acid-labile antigens in their native unmodified form. The semiquantitative RIA requires less typing reagent than does precipitin testing and is more objective, reproducible, and rapid. The assay described here could be applied to the detection of any cell surface antigen for which a monospecific antiserum is available.
Achieving Work-Life Balance in the National Collegiate Athletic Association Division I Setting, Part I: The Role of the Head Athletic Trainer

Context: Supervisor support has been identified as key to the fulfillment of work-life balance for the athletic trainer (AT), yet limited literature exists on the perspectives of supervisors. Objec...
Properties of cowpea chlorotic mottle virus, its protein and nucleic acid.

Abstract The hydrodynamic behavior of cowpea chlorotic mottle virus (CCMV) suggests that it exists as two forms, depending on pH. The virus, which contains about 24% RNA, has a sedimentation coefficient of 88.3 S and a diffusion coefficient of 1.50 ± 0.04 × 10−7 cm2/sec at pH 5.0. At neutrality, the sedimentation coefficient is 77.8 S and the diffusion coefficient is 1.37 ± 0.03 × 10−7 cm2/sec. The two forms of the virus are interconvertible in terms of gross physical behavior, but once the virus has been converted to the slowly sedimenting or swollen form, infectivity is lost because the nucleic acid is ruptured during swelling. The hydrodynamic molecular weights of the normal and swollen forms are 4.6 ± 0.1 and 4.4 ± 0.1 × 106 avograms, respectively. The molecular weight derived by multiplying the number of structure units by the molecular weight of the chemical unit, obtained from amino acid analysis, plus the weight of RNA, is also about 4.6 × 106 avograms. The virus has an isoelectric point of pH 3.65 at μ = 0.1. When centrifuged to equilibrium in CsCl, CCMV forms two populations of particles interpreted as being monomers and tetramers. The nucleic acid has a base ratio of C:A:G:U = 20.3:25.3:26.4:28.2. Phenol extracts of virus yield three sedimenting species of RNA with sedimentation coefficients of 23.1, 18.2, and 12.6 S. Only the fastest sedimenting class of the RNA is infectious and this class becomes labeled with 32P at a greater rate than the two more slowly sedimenting classes, which are probably derived from the infectious class by a single break. The physical condition of the RNA is dependent on the in vivo and in vitro history of the virus.
Contributions to Human Rights in Dietrich Bonhoeffer's Ethics

Even in its unfinished state, the depth of insight in Dietrich Bonhoeffer's Ethics is inescapable. Though written in Nazi Germany in the midst of World War II and the Holocaust, it provides profound guidance for the formation of our own Christian ethics, after Au schwitz, after Hiroshima, and after the Cold War. Our changed context means that we cannot uncritically adopt all of Bonhoeffer's theological ethics as our own. There are to be sure, needs in today's world that Bonhoeffer addresses inadequately or not at all.1 Yet one urgent con temporary need is a strong ethic of human rights, and here Bonhoef fer's Ethics provides firm guidance.2 A Christian ethic of human rights must be able to perform two tasks. First, it must be deeply rooted in the central themes of biblical faith and classic Christianity so that it may speak clearly to church members from the center of their faith convictions. An ethic of human
Stimulated emission three-pulse photo-echo peakshift: A mixed pump–probe and photon-echo technique for studying excited-state dynamics

A novel four-pulse photon-echo technique for exploring condensed phase dynamics at different parts of the excited-state potential energy surface is presented. In contrast to traditional three-pulse photon-echo signals, the introduction of a fourth pump pulse allows the use of photon-echo techniques to probe excited-state phenomena. Here, a “proof of principle” experiment is presented where the excited-state solvent dynamics of the coumarin 153 chromophore dissolved in methanol is explored. The fluctuations of the stimulated emission transition is probed, in contrast to the ground-state absorption transition explored in traditional echo measurements. Distinctly different excited-state dynamics, in contrast to ground-state signals, is observed and discussed.
Modeling spatial interaction through full-scale modeling

Abstract As conventionally practiced, anthropometry leaves some significant gaps in our knowledge about how people with disabilities interact with their environment. In particular, most environmental design for this group focuses on specific and unique body movements and postures in and around constrained spaces. The data provided by conventional anthropometry cannot always be applied directly to these problems. Structural measurements are not sufficient to understand how the body moves in space. And even functional measurements, like reach envelope data, do not provide information on the adaptations people make when interacting with space or their psychological response to the level of adaptation required. Studying spatial interaction using full-scale models can be used to measure functional abilities in context and obtain data on outcomes, i.e. measures of successful fit between environment and a person's abilities. A full-scale modeling study of 24 adult females with mobility impairments is described to demonstrate how the approach can be used to supplement traditional anthropometric studies to help improve the fit between person and environment. Relevance to industry Understanding how people with disabilities interact with their environment can be used to develop more realistic human models to evaluate the design of occupational, public and living settings.
Impact of Corn Prices on Slaughter Beef Composition and Prices

The purpose of this paper is to examine the relationships between feed grain prices and the beef product mix. An annual econometric model of the U.S. livestock industry (Ospina and Shumway 1979, 1980) is used to evaluate the impact of corn price changes on the composition of slaughter beef supplies and the relative prices of the quality categories by analyzing the reduced-form dynamic multipliers. The structural form of this model disaggregates beef demand among three quality components (U.S. Department of Agriculture [USDA] grades prime and choice, good, and standard-and-lower, labeled for convenience as choice, good, and utility, respectively).' Supplies are disaggregated among the same quality categories and also among sex categories (steers, heifers, and breeding herd culls). Simultaneity is modeled in the demand, supply, and inventory decisions. Pork and broiler functions are incorporated. The separate effects of current and expected prices on supplies are differeptiated, and feed grain prices are assumed to be exogenous.2 All functions are linear, and the analysis is at the carcass level. Three changes were made in the earlier model, and its parameters are reestimated (Ospina and Shumway 1981). The changes include the following. (a) Three subsequent years of data are added, thus making a twenty-three-year data period, 1956-78. (b) Because important changes in USDA beef grades took place in early 1976 which affected the choice and good grade definitions (Nelson), an intercept dummy variable is added to these supply and demand equations to account for its impact. (c) A relatively minor change is made in the disaggregation of data among the good and utility beef categories.3 The change in USDA grade definitions significantly increases the supply of choice beef and decreases the supply of good beef. The estimated parameters of the grade change dummy variables have expected signs and low standard errors in five of the six structural equations to which they are added. Several substantive differences from the earlier estimation occur in the magnitudes of individual parameters because of the additional data and other modifications. However, parameter signs and the earlier general conclusions are stable. In particular, the aggregate short-run beef supply response remains positive (this finding contrasts with the conclusions of some earlier writers, e.g., Reutlinger, Tryfos), and the supply response to a 1% decrease in corn price remains greater than the response to a 1% increase in beef prices. At 1978 prices, the elasticities of beef supply are estimated to be -0.23 with respect to corn price and +0.15 with respect to average beef price. These estimates are similar to our earlier estimates of -0.25 and +0.14, respectively, at mean 1956-75 prices.