cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The critical point data of refractory metals, aluminum oxide and uranium dioxide using the hoch-arpshofen method

Abstract The Hoch-Arpshofen method was used to determine the critical constants of titanium, molybdenum, aluminum oxide and uranium dioxide. In this method the density of the liquid as a function of the temperature (but not necessarily close to the critical temperature) is required to obtain the critical temperature T c and the critical density D c . The values obtained are: T c (K) d c (g/cm 3 ) Molybdenum 11000 ± 400 2.289 Titanium 7500 ± 200 1.009 Aluminum oxide 4950 ± 150 0.890 Uranium dioxide 7927 ± 75 2.457 The density of liquid UO2, coexisting with gas, was calculated between the melting point and the critical point. T(K) ± 1.0% d (g/cm 3 ) 3130 8.853 3448 8.50 3919 8.00 4941 7.00 6048 6.00 7148 5.00 7816 4.00 7904 3.50 7925 3.00 7927 2.46
Central nervous system toxicity of local anesthetic mixtures in the rat.

Local anesthetics are often administered as mixtures during regional anesthesia. This study investigated whether a synergistic or antagonistic interaction between amide/amide or amide/ester local anesthetic combinations is present with respect to central nervous system toxicity. For surgical preparation, rats were anesthetized with 0.8% halothane in 30% O 2 /balance N 2 O and mechanically ventilated. Mean arterial blood pressure and the electroencephalogram were continuously monitored. After surgery, the halothane was discontinued for 15 min
The disposition of acrylic acid in the male Sprague-Dawley rat following oral or topical administration.

Abstract The disposition of [1- 14 C] acrylic acid (AA) was characterized in the male Sprague-Dawley rat following oral administration, by gavage in water, at 400 mg/kg and topical application, in acetone, at 501 μg/cm 2 . The oral dose was well absorbed, rapidly and extensively metabolized, and excreted primarily (approx. 80%) as 14 CO 2 within 24 hr of administration. The rate and extent of 14 CO 2 evolution from [ 14 C]AA was greater for [1- 14 CAA] while a significantly lower proportion of the dosed radioactivity remained in the tissue of animals than that reported for [2,3- 14 C]AA (Winter et al., Drug Metabolism and Disposition 1992, 20, 665). This is consistent with incorporation of AA into a minor β-oxidation pathway of mitochondrial propionate metabolism by which AA may be metabolized to CO 2 or incorporated into cellular constituents. Approximately 5% of the dosed radioactivity was excreted in the urine. The disposition of [1- 14 C]AA following dermal application was studied using charcoal-containing traps attached to the back of the rats to trap volatilized AA from the dosing sites. Following application of 100 μl AA [4% (v/v) in acetone] to an area of 8.4 cm 2 of the skin of a rat (501 μg/cm 2 ), the majority (about 73%) of the dose volatilized and was recovered in the charcoal trap. Percutaneous absorption of AA that did not volatilize was rapid and appeared to have the same metabolic fate as AA administered orally with about 75% of the absorbed dose excreted as 14 CO 2 within 24 hr.
Total knee arthroplasty in the management proximal tibial stress fractures

Five patients with stress fractures of the proximal tibia adjacent to an arthritic knee joint were treated by resurfacing arthroplasty with intramedullary fixation of the fracture. All five fractures healed and limb realignment was achieved. The literature concerning proximal tibial stress fractures in relation to the arthritic knee and the management of this condition is reviewed.
Chronic Experimental Hypertension in Dogs after Constriction of Brachiocephalic and Left Subclavian Arteries

In summary, the studies suggest that: (1) Simultaneous and controlled constriction of the brachiocephalic and left subclavian arteries resulted in chronic femoral hypertension in seven dogs. (2) This hypertension is associated heniodynamically with an increase in cardiac index due mainly to an increased stroke volume. (3) The suggestion is made that the initiating mechanism for this type of experimental hypertension is a chronic decrease in endosinal pulse pressure.
Crystalline inclusions in chloroplasts of the coconut palm.

Crystal-containing bodies were found in chloroplasts of the coconut palm, healthy palms as well as those suffering from lethal yellowing. The crystals consist of globular bodies, about 12 m μ in diameter, in a hexagonal close packing. The significance of their occurrence has not been determined.
Repetitive Thought and Reversal Learning Deficits

A tendency to ruminate or repetitively think about depressed mood is associated with increased perseveration in the Wisconsin Card Sorting Task (Davis and Nolen-Hoeksema in Cogn Ther Res 24:699–711, 2000). In the current study, we used a reversal learning task to determine if trait ruminators’ perseveration could be driven, at least in part, by a cognitive process called reversal learning, that is, the ability to learn from feedback of the need to reverse stimulus-reward associations. We also examined whether reversal learning would be generally associated with repetitive thought regardless of whether it is maladaptive (depressive brooding, anger rumination, and worry) or adaptive (intellectual selfreflection, and depressive reflection). The results suggest that a tendency to engage in repetitive thought, regardless of its adaptiveness, is related to difficulties reversing stimulus-reward associations but not to the ability to initially learn reward associations.
Using Raman Spectroscopy to Study the Onset of Labor: A Pilot Study

ABSTRACT Preterm birth is the second leading cause of neonatal mortality and leads to a myriad of complications like delayed development and cerebral palsy. Currently, there is no way to accurately predict preterm labor, making its prevention and treatment virtually impossible. While there are some at-risk patients, over half of all preterm births do not fall into any high-risk category. This study seeks to predict and prevent preterm labor by using Raman spectroscopy to detect changes in the cervix during pregnancy indicative of labor. Since Raman spectroscopy has been used to detect cancers invivo in organs like the cervix and skin, it follows that spectra will change over the course of pregnancy. Previous studies have shown that fluorescence decreased during pregnancy and increased during post-partum exams to pre-pregnancy levels. We believe significant changes will occur in the Raman spectra obtained during the course of pregnancy. In this study, Raman spectra from the cervix of pregnant mice and women will be acquired. Specific changes that occur due to cervical softening or changes in hormonal levels will be observed to understand the likelihood that a female mouse or a woman will enter labor. Keywords: obstetrics, cervix, hormones, collagen
Reduction of polyphenoloxidase activity in peaches sprayed with alar, ethrel or gibberellic acid☆

Abstract The failure of Early Amber peaches which had been field sprayed with Alar, Ethrel or gibberellic acid to darken as expected when cut is due to a 90 per cent reduction in the activity of polyphenoloxidase (EC 1.10.3.1) in the mature fruit. The possibilities that the reduced darkening might be due to the formation of a spray-induced reversible inhibitor or inactivator, to reduced substrate levels, or to elevated ascorbic acid levels were shown to be untrue.
Tradeoffs in regularized maximum-likelihood image restoration

All algorithms for three-dimensional deconvolution of fluorescence microscopical images have as a common goal the estimation of a specimen function (SF) that is consistent with the recorded image and the process for image formation and recording. To check for consistency, the image of the estimated SF predicted by the imaging operator is compared to the recorded image, and the similarity between them is used as a figure of merit (FOM) in the algorithm to improve the specimen function estimate. Commonly used FOMs include squared differences, maximum entropy, and maximum likelihood (ML). The imaging operator is usually characterized by the point-spread function (PSF), the image of a point source of light, or its Fourier transform, the optical transfer function (OTF). Because the OTF is non-zero only over a small region of the spatial-frequency domain, the inversion of the image formation operator is non-unique and the estimated SF is potentially artifactual. Adding a term to the FOM that penalizes some unwanted behavior of the estimated SF effectively ameliorates potential artifacts, but at the same time biases the estimation process. For example, an intensity penalty avoids overly large pixel values but biases the SF to small pixel values. A roughness penalty avoids rapid pixel to pixel variations but biases the SF to be smooth. In this article we assess the effects of the roughness and intensity penalties on maximum likelihood image estimation.
Evolving neural networks for video attitude and height sensor

The development of an on-board video attitude and height sensor (VAHS) which is used to measure the height, roll, and pitch of an airborne vehicle at low altitude, is presented. The VAHS consists of a downlooking TV camera and two orthogonal sets of laser diodes (total four laser diodes) producing a structured light pattern. Although the height, roll, and pitch can be determined by measuring the locations of the dots in the image, in practice it is very difficult to precisely align the laser diodes and the TV camera. Moreover it is also very hard to obtain accurate camera parameters, because of its various nonlinear distortions. An approach which uses layered neural networks (NNs) to map the locations of the dots in the image to the height, roll, and pitch of the airborne vehicle, is presented here. Amorphous NNs have also been evolved by genetic algorithms (GA) with mixed results. Some simulation results of these experiments are presented.
Squeezed states of light from an optical parametric oscillator

Squeezed states of the electromagnetic field are generated by degenerate parametric downconversion in a subthreshold optical parametric oscillator. Reductions in photocurrent noise greater than 60% (-4 dB) below the limit set by the vacuum fluctuations of the field are observed in a balanced homodyne detector. A quantitative comparison with theory suggests that the observed noise reductions result from a field that in the absence of avoidable linear attenuation would be squeezed more than tenfold. A degree of squeezing of approximately fivefold is inferred for the actual field emitted through one mirror of the optical parametric oscillator. An explicit demonstration of the Heisenberg uncertainty principle for the electromagnetic field is made from the measurements, which show that the field state produced by the downconversion process is a state of minimum uncertainty.
Mouse models for investigating the developmental basis of human birth defects

Clinicians and basic scientists share an interest in discovering how genetic or environmental factors interact to perturb normal development and cause birth defects and human disease. Given the complexity of such interactions, it is not surprising that 4% of human infants are born with a congenital malformation, and cardiovascular defects occur in nearly 1%. Our research is based on the fundamental hypothesis that an understanding of normal and abnormal development will permit us to generate effective strategies for both prevention and treatment of human birth defects. Animal models are invaluable in these efforts because they allow one to interrogate the genetic, molecular and cellular events that distinguish normal from abnormal development. Several features of the mouse make it a particularly powerful experimental model: it is a mammalian system with similar embryology, anatomy and physiology to humans; genes, proteins and regulatory programs are largely conserved between human and mouse; and finally, gene targeting in murine embryonic stem cells has made the mouse genome amenable to sophisticated genetic manipulation currently unavailable in any other model organism.
Sugar Alcohol Osmolytes Demonstrate the Viscosity Dependent Folding Kinetics of RNA Tertiary Structural Motifs

It is widely known that there exists a strong relationship between the solvent, including co-solutes (e.g. cations), and RNA that cooperatively defines the kinetics and thermodynamics of tertiary structure formation. In addition, small organic molecules, also known as osmolytes (Urea, TMAO, sugar alcohols, etc.), can have significant affects on RNA structure formation. Here, the kinetics of two tertiary structural motifs, a GAAA tetraloop-receptor and a kissing loop-loop interaction, are measured in the presence of various sugar alcohols (methanol, ethylene glycol, glycerol, etc.) at the single molecule level. As the size of the sugar alcohol is increased systematically from methanol to sorbitol the net thermodynamic effect changes from stabilizing (ΔΔG 0). This trend is reflected in the m-values, or per molal change in free energy, where Mmethanol = −0.2 kcal/mole∗m and Msorbitol = +0.3 kcal/mole∗m. In the case of glycerol, where Mglycerol ∼ 0, the RNA solvation is most similar to that of water, thus there is no preferential interaction with either the folded, unfolded or transition states. In the absence of strong chemical interaction, an explicit inverse viscosity dependence (1/η) is observed in both the folding and unfolding directions, as described by Kramers' rate theory. These results indicate that the RNA free energy surface, including the transition state, is minimally perturbed by glycerol, and the major effect on folding is a reduction in kinetics due to increased friction felt by the RNA.
Lateral tilt wrist radiograph using the contralateral hand to position the wrist after volar plating of distal radius fractures.

Purpose Lateral tilt (radially inclined) radiographs are useful after volar locked plate fixation of distal radius fractures to assess the radiocarpal joint, subchondral bone congruity, and volar tilt. The purpose of our study was to define the reliability of our positioning method using the patient's opposite hand to position the injured wrist to obtain an inclined lateral radiograph with good visualization of the subchondral bone. Methods A retrospective review identified adult patients who had a unilateral distal radius fracture treated with a volar locked plate and who had an initial postoperative lateral tilt radiograph using the contralateral hand to position the injured wrist. Intraoperative fluoroscopic images were reviewed to confirm the ability to see the extra-articular placement of all hardware. The inclined lateral wrist radiograph was obtained by positioning the injured wrist at a height determined by the contralateral hand being placed under the ulnar wrist crease. The wrist was then supported there with firm blocks in all cases. The radiographic beam was directed perpendicular to the horizontal cassette. Two reviewers (authors) then blindly reviewed postoperative radiographs to determine whether the radiocarpal joint and subchondral bone were visualized and whether any screws or pegs appeared to cross the radiocarpal joint. An accceptable lateral tilt radiograph was defined as good visualization of the subchondral bone while allowing only the most radial peg to appear to cross the joint. We also placed 15 normal volunteers into the lateral tilt position, using their opposite hand, to measure the inclined forearm angle. Results A total of 24 wrists (24 patients) were identified and 23 patients had lateral tilt radiographs with acceptable visualization of the subchondral bone. The concordance of the subchondral bone visualization was 100% (95% confidence interval, 85.5% to 100%). The mean angle with lateral tilt positioning was 18° from horizontal (range, 15° to 23°; standard deviation, 2.4°). Conclusions Using the contralateral hand to position the lateral inclined view, our lateral tilt position produced radiographs with reliable visualization of the distal radius subchondral bone in 96% of our cases. Visualization of the subchondral bone in the region of the radial aspect of the scaphoid fossa requires more tilt than is achieved with this technique.
Solution of poisson equations on a nonuniform grid

Abstract The solution of a Poisson equation expressed in finite-difference form on a nonuniform multidimensional mesh of gridpoints in an orthogonal coordinate system is discussed. The discussion is specifically directed toward problems which require the solution of many such equations with the gridpoint distribution and boundary conditions fixed, which implies that in comparing different techniques the task of generating required constants may be neglected. Extension of the matrix decomposition technique to cover the case of smoothly varying grid-intervals is considered when zero-gradient, zero-value, or (under certain conditions) periodic boundary conditions are incorporated. This method is compared in particular with the widely used Alternating Direction Implicit procedure, and it is concluded that for sufficiently small meshes, not exceeding about 40 points in any direction, it is both faster and more precise than ADI.
Clustering of related but nonassocfated Items In free recall

Reliable category clustering was observed in the free recall of words which rhymed but which did not elicit one another as free associates. Intrusions were phonemically similar to list items.
Analysis of solidification microstructures during wedge-casting

Solidification microstructure evolution is a function of both alloy composition and thermal history. With a wedge-shaped mold, castings can be subjected to a range of cooling rates differing by orders of magnitude, typically 101–103 K/s, in a single run. Combining microstructure analysis, temperature measurements of the quenching melt and heat transfer analysis, wedge casting is an effective and flexible technique to explore the spectrum of alloy solidification microstructures. The utility of the wedge-casting technique is, in the current study, developed to examine bulk glass-forming alloys by combining multiple thermal probes with a measurement-based kinetics analysis of the phase selection competition and critical cooling rate conditions. Based upon direct thermal measurements, microstructural analysis and kinetics modelling, it is evident that the usual report of a single critical cooling rate for bulk glass formation should be modified to include a critical cooling rate range in order to account for ...
Recovery of Phytophthora ramorum Following Exposure to Temperature Extremes.

Tooley, P. W., Browning, M., and Berner, D. 2008. Recovery of Phytophthora ramorum following exposure to temperature extremes. Plant Dis. 92:431-437. We examined the impact of exposure to high and low temperature extremes on recovery of Phytophthora ramorum both as free chlamydospores and within infected rhododendron tissue over a 7-day period. Chlamydospores held in moistened sand were incubated at 30, 35, 40, 0, –10, and –20°C for up to 7 days. Infected Rhododendron ‘Cunningham’s White’ leaf disks held in sandy loam, loam, or sand at two different soil moisture levels also were subjected to these temperatures for up to 7 days, and to a variable temperature regimen for 12 weeks. Recovery was characterized by growth of P. ramorum on selective agar medium following exposures to temperature treatments. Chlamydospores held in moistened sand showed a high rate of recovery at 30°C, steadily declining recovery at 35°C, and no recovery at 40°C over the 7-day period. Chlamydospores were recovered from 0°C after 7 days, with little or no recovery observed at –10 or –20°C. In infected rhododendron tissue, P. ramorum was recovered at 20 and 30°C after 7 days but, at 35°C, the pathogen showed a decline within 2 days and no recovery by 4 days. A 40°C treatment allowed no recovery of P. ramorum from infected tissue after 2 days. For cold treatments, P. ramorum was recovered from infected leaf disks at 0 and –10°C after 7 days. At –20°C, recovery declined rapidly after 1 to 3 days and no recovery was obtained after 4 days. P. ramorum showed nearly 100% recovery from leaf disks subjected to a 12-week variable temperature treatment based on ambient summer temperatures in Lewisburg, TN. The results suggest that P. ramorum is capable of surviving some highly adverse temperature conditions for at least 7 days both as free chlamydospores in sand and within infected host tissue. Thus, P. ramorum present as free chlamydospores or within tissue of infected plants shipped to the eastern United States has the potential to survive some of the adverse conditions encountered in summer and winter in many eastern states.
Automated Inspection Of IC Photomasks

ABSTRACTThe results of a nationwide review of automated IC photomask inspectionmethods are presented. Major photomaskinspection problems of detection of visualdefects and registration errors, and thedetermination of critical dimensions andphotoplate quality are discussed. Thisreview indicates that for high -volume,large -scale integrated circuits, thegreatest concern is for the detection ofvisual defects. Next in order of import-ance are the detection of registrationerrors, and then the accurate determinationof critical dimensions. Automated inspec-tion systems and technologies currentlyavailable for this are discussed includ- ing: microdensitometer- digital computersystems, laser beam scanning systems,spatial filtering systems and microscope -television- digital computer systems.Suggested criteria for an ideal photomaskinspection system are the simultaneousinspection for 2 -pm visual defects, thedetermination of registration tolerancesto within ±0.5 pm and the determinationof the accuracy of the critical dimen-sions to tolerances of ±0.5 pm on a singlephotomask in ten minutes.*Work performed under the auspices of theU.S. Atomic Energy Commission for theNational Bureau of Standards underContract No. S- 408726 as part of theARPA /IC /NBS Program on Advancement ofReliability, Processing, and Automationfor Integrated Circuits sponsored by theDefense Advanced Research Projects Agency(ARPA Order Number 2397). This work isin the public domain and is not subjectto copyright.84INTRODUCTIONThere is high interest in automatedinspection systems for integrated -cir-cuit (IC) photomasks within the IC industry.Such systems would remove the operators'subjective decisions from the inspectiontask and allow a more thorough inspectionof all IC photomasks. As yet, there isvery little automation because of the enor-
Lignin depolymerizes coal at 300°C

Liquefaction of coal requires thermal rupture of its carbon–carbon bonds to form free-radical fragments. Before these radicals can recombine or polymerize they must be stabilized by hydrogen atoms usually supplied by a hydrogen-donating solvent or by gaseous hydrogen. The conditions required for such liquefaction reactions are usually temperatures ≳400 °C and hydrogen pressures of several hundred atmospheres1,2. Often catalysts can be used to accelerate the breaking of carbon–carbon bonds and the transfer of hydrogen. Ouchi et al.5 reported that p-toluenesulphonic acid catalysed the depolymerization of coal. Darlage and Bailey6 investigated various solvents and Friedel–Crafts catalysts and found that repolymerization of the coal radical fragments was a predominant reaction when coal liquefaction was conducted in non-phenolic solvents such as toluene, xylene or tetralin. Heating coals in phenol at 425 °C was reported7 to cause extensive depolymerization accompanied by rearrangement of hydrogen to form a hydrogen-rich soluble fraction and a hydrogen-poor insoluble fraction. We now report that bituminous coal can be depolymerized at 300 °C by using, instead of phenol, the abundant, renewable raw material lignin which is a major component of all vascular plants. When a mixture of coal and lignin is reacted in a solvent in the presence of an acid catalyst both the coal and the lignin depolymerize in relatively mild conditions to form a filterable liquid product. The presence of the lignin increases substantially the amount of the coal that can be so liquefied.
Refined structure of the pyruvoyl-dependent histidine decarboxylase from Lactobacillus 30a

Abstract The crystal structure of the pyruvoyl-dependent histidine decarboxylase from Lactobacillus 30a has been refined to an R -value of 0·15 (for the 5·0 to 2·5 A resolution shell) and 0·17 (for the 10·0 to 2·5 A resolution shell). A description of the overall structure is presented, focusing on secondary structure and subunit association. The enzyme is a hexamer of αβ subunits. Separate α and β-chains arise from an autocatalytic cleavage reaction between two serine residues, which results in the pyruvoyl cofactor. The central core of the αβ subunit is a β-sandwich which consists of two face-to-face three-stranded antiparallel β- sheets, flanked by α-helices on each side. The β-sandwich creates a stable fold that allows conformational strain to be introduced across an internal cleavage region between the α and β chains and places the pyruvoyl cofactor in a position for efficient electron withdrawal from the substrate. Three αβ subunits are related by a molecular three-fold symmetry axis to form a trimer whose interfaces have complementary surfaces and extensive molecular interactions. Each of the interfaces contains an active site and a solvent channel that leads from the active site to the exterior of the molecule. The trimers are related by a crystallographic twofold symmetry axis to form the hexamer with an overall dumbbell shape. The interface between trimers has few molecular interactions.
New analytical methods for quantitation of four fungicides by gas and high-performance liquid chromatography

Abstract New analytical methods were developed for the quantitation of para-nitrophenol, 2,2′-methylenebis(4-chlorophenol), salicylanilide and copper 8-quinolinolate, by high-performance liquid and gas chromatography. The first three were extracted for 4–8 h from leather, cotton and felt samples, respectively, by acetonitrile in a Soxhlet, and then quantitated by high-performance liquid chromatography using a C 18 reversed-phase column and a UV detector. Copper 8-quinolinolate was extracted by dilute sulfuric acid and the acid extract was treated with a chelating agent to release 8-hydroxyquinoline. 8-Hydroxyquinoline was in turn extracted and quantitated by gas chromatography with a flame ionization detector.
The Geodetic Number of an Oriented Graph

For two vertices u and v of an oriented graph D, the set I(u, v) consists of all vertices lying on a u?v geodesic or v?u geodesic in D. If S is a set of vertices of D, then I(S) is the union of all sets I(u, v) for vertices u and v in S. The geodetic number g(D) is the minimum cardinality among the subsets S of V(D) with I(S) =V(D). Several results concerning the geodetic numbers of connected oriented graphs are presented. For a nontrivial connected graph G, the lower orientable geodetic number g?(G) of G is the minimum geodetic number among the orientations of G and the upper orientable geodetic number g+(G) is the maximum such geodetic number. It is shown that g?(G)?g+(G) for every connected graph of order at least 3. The lower and upper orientable geodetic numbers of several well known classes of graphs are determined. It is shown that for every two integers n and m with 1 ?n? 1 ?m? (n 2) , there exists a connected graph G of order n and size m such that g+(G) =n.
Mobilizers Mobilized: Information, Expression, Mobilization and Participation in the Digital Age

This study assesses differences in use of Information Communication Technologies (ICT) and relates them to patterns of expressive political participation, mobilization efforts, and traditional civic participation. Relying on data collected in August 2008 from a random sample of respondents designed to represent Colombia's adult urban population, this paper provides evidence that informational uses of ICTs (Internet and mobile phones) are significantly related to expressive participation in the online domain, which in turn results in a host of traditional or offline civic and political participatory behaviors indirectly through mobilization efforts. That these relationships occur within the context of a society in crisis suggests that new communication technologies offer an additional pathway to democratic political engagement in such societies.
Acquisition and Generalization of Japanese Locatives by English Speakers.

American 5-year-olds and adults learned to label various spatial relationships using four Japanese locatives that coincided or partially overlapped in meaning with the locative prepositions into, onto, out of , and off . Subjects' generalization of the Japanese words was pre- and post-tested to determine if locatives that were semantically (and to a small extent phonemically) similar to their English equivalents would yield better transfer than terms that deviated in meaning and phonemic structure from English. Results confirmed for children only that generalization was differentially affected following lexical training. Adults generalized all four Japanese words with equal accuracy and showed significantly better transfer than children on all but one locative. Lexical interference initially accounted for many adult and child substitution errors, but did not explain child errors on the post-test. Findings did not agree with predictions that semanticphonemic differences between English and Japanese locatives would adversely affect transfer of the Japanese lexicon to novel exemplars of these terms. Results did confirm, however, that adults learned the Japanese lexicon faster and better than the 5-year-olds.
How molecules get to their detectors: The physics of diffusion of insect pheromones

Insect pheromone chemoreception is a model of specificity and sensitivity. Experiments with the silkmoth Bombyx mori have shown that the cells in the sensory hair produce a spike for each single molecule that gets to them. Here we review the work on various stages of this transduction process: capture of the pheromone molecule, diffusion to the pore and the dendrite, and pheromone degradation. We focus our attention on the diffusion process because recent advances in understanding the diffusive aspects of chemoreception shed new light on the insect problem. Diffusion turns out to be an amazingly efficient way of delivering molecules to small sensors. The sensor design, is, in turn, well matched to the diffusion process. The new methods follow recent successes in understanding chemotaxis in bacteria and cells.
Stability of a viscoelastic burgers flow

The system of equations proposed by Burgers to model turbulent flow in a channel is extended to include viscoelastic affects. The stability and bifurcation properties are examined in the neighborhood of the critical Reynolds number. For highly elastic fluids, the bifurcated state is periodic with a shift in frequency.
Decision/forecast horizon for a single facility dynamic location/relocation problem

Procedures to solve finite horizon dynamic location/relocation problems have been reported in the literature by many authors. This paper provides several decision/forecast horizon results for a single facility dynamic location/relocation problem; these results are helpful in finding optimal initial decisions for the infinite horizon problem by using information only for a finite horizon.
"Excessive tears": a diagnostic sign for cocaine-induced mood disorder?

Abstract Objective This study aims to investigate excessive tearfulness as a sign to help determine the etiology of depressive symptoms. Methods Clinicians were instructed to document the occurrence of excessive tearfulness in all patients seen in the Psychiatric Emergency Service. Excessive tearfulness was defined as crying to the severity that at least 1 tear drops off the face. A comparison group was formed from the general population of the Psychiatric Emergency Service. Results Excessive tearfulness was documented in 36 different patients. The prevalence of the sign in the general population was 1.9%. Patients with excessive tearfulness were more likely to have cocaine in their urine ( P χ 2 test), receive a substance-related primary diagnosis ( P χ 2 test), and be admitted for psychiatric hospitalization ( P χ 2 test). Patients with excessive tearfulness had significantly shorter voluntary hospital stays ( P t test). Conclusion Excessive tearfulness could be a useful clinical sign of cocaine-induced depression.
Stochastic kinetics of intracellular huntingtin aggregate formation.

Neurodegeneration in Huntington disease is described by neuronal loss in which the probability of cell death remains constant with time1. However, the quantitative connection between the kinetics of cell death and the molecular mechanism initiating neurodegeneration remains unclear. One hypothesis is that nucleation of protein aggregates containing exon I fragments of the mutant huntingtin protein (mhttex1), which contains an expanded polyglutamine region in patients with the disease, is the explanation for the infrequent but steady occurrence of neuronal death, resulting in adult onset of the disease2. Recent in vitro evidence suggests that sufficiently long polyglutamine peptides undergo a unimolecular conformational change to form a nucleus that seeds aggregation3. Here we use this nucleation mechanism as the basis to derive a stochastic mathematical model describing the probability of aggregate formation in cells as a function of time and mhttex1 protein concentration, and validate the model experimentally. These findings suggest that therapeutic strategies for Huntington disease predicated on reducing the rate of mhttex1 aggregation need only make modest reductions in huntingtin expression level to substantially increase the delay time until aggregate formation.
Impact of hypoxia on the survival, egg production and population dynamics of Acartia tonsa Dana

Abstract Concern for the increasing occurrence of coastal zone hypoxia has generally focused on the direct, short-term impact of reduced dissolved oxygen (DO) concentrations on the survival of commercially important species such as fish and crabs. Copepods, especially the naupliar stages, are important pelagic food web components, yet only a few studies have considered the effect of reduced DO concentrations on their survival and population dynamics. This study considers the impact of both lethal and sublethal DO concentrations on copepods. Acartia tonsa were reared at 25 °C at saturating DO (normoxic control) and reduced (hypoxic) DO concentrations of 1.5 or 0.7 ml l−1. Oxygen concentrations were maintained in replicate flasks, by bubbling seawater with air (control), or mixtures of nitrogen and oxygen. Egg production, but not survival, was significantly higher in the controls compared to the 1.5 ml l−1 DO treatment. Survival and egg production were significantly lower at 0.7 ml l−1 DO compared to the control. The results suggest that the sublethal as well as the lethal effects of hypoxia may have important repercussions on population and community dynamics in coastal systems.
Ultrastructure of the light organ and immunocytochemical localization of luciferase in luminescent marine ostracods (Crustacea: Ostracoda: Cypridinidae).

The ultrastructure of the upper lip, which is the location of the light organ in luminescent ostracods, is described for two species of marine ostracods (Vargula graminicola, and V. tsujii). The light organ contains four primary cell types (here designated A-D) readily identified both by the types of vesicles that they contain and their location. Cell type A, restricted to the center of the light organ, has vesicles that are homogeneous throughout. Cell type B has vesicles with a single electron-dense central area. This cell is most common in the lateral regions but is also found in the tusks. Immunocytochemical experiments revealed that luciferase is found in B cells, but not in any other cells or in control specimens. Cell type C has vesicles containing many electrondense microstructures; this cell type is the least common and is found along with B cells within the lateral margins of the light organ. Cell type D has granulated vesicles and is restricted to the tusks. Metachromatic staining with toluidine blue suggests that the vesicles contain acidic mucosubstances. The cells of the light organ are very long (360-460 μm) and extend through its entire length. The cells found exclusively in the tusks are shorter (ea. 150 μm). All cells possess similar polarity: proximal synthesis, middle transitional, and distal secretory regions. These cells terminate ventrally at nozzles on the anterior portion of the upper lip, and on the tusks. The upper lip and light organ possess two large longitudinal muscles, a central muscle, and several smaller "bridle" muscles that attach onto sclerotized ridges. Various hypotheses for the storage and secretion of light organ materials are suggested relative to these morphological data. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Inhibition of aminoacylase 3 protects rat brain cortex neuronal cells from the toxicity of 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal mercapturate and 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal

4-Hydroxy-2-nonenal (4HNE) and acrolein (ACR) are highly reactive neurotoxic products of lipid peroxidation that are implicated in the pathogenesis and progression of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. Conjugation with glutathione (GSH) initiates the 4HNE and ACR detoxification pathway, which generates the mercapturates of 4HNE and ACR that can be excreted. Prior work has shown that the efficiency of the GSH-dependent renal detoxification of haloalkene derived mercapturates is significantly decreased upon their deacetylation because of rapid transformation of the deacetylated products into toxic compounds mediated by β-lyase. The enzymes of the GSH-conjugation pathway and β-lyases are expressed in the brain, and we hypothesized that a similar toxicity mechanism may be initiated in the brain by the deacetylation of 4HNE- and ACR-mercapturate. The present study was performed to identify an enzyme(s) involved in 4HNE- and ACR-mercapturate deacetylation, characterize the brain expression of this enzyme and determine whether its inhibition decreases 4HNE and 4HNE-mercapturate neurotoxicity. We demonstrated that of two candidate deacetylases, aminoacylases 1 (AA1) and 3 (AA3), only AA3 efficiently deacetylates both 4HNE- and ACR-mercapturate. AA3 was further localized to neurons and blood vessels. Using a small molecule screen we generated high-affinity AA3 inhibitors. Two of them completely protected rat brain cortex neurons expressing AA3 from the toxicity of 4HNE-mercapturate. 4HNE-cysteine (4HNE-Cys) was also neurotoxic and its toxicity was mostly prevented by a β-lyase inhibitor, aminooxyacetate. The results suggest that the AA3 mediated deacetylation of 4HNE-mercapturate may be involved in the neurotoxicity of 4HNE.
Quasi-analytical finite element procedures for axisymmetric anisotropic shells and solids

Abstract Using complex series representations, a quasi-analytical finite element procedure is developed which can analyze the static and dynamic mechanical fields of anisotropic axisymmetric shells and bodies. Due to its generality the procedure can handle arbitrary laminate construction with possible meridional and radial variations in locally or globally mechanically anisotropic materials. In this respect, in contrast to traditional quasi-analytical procedures which are limited to the ‘specially’ orthotropic case, the present treatment reveals several important effects of material and/or structural anisotropy. To illustrate the procedure as well as the significant effects of material anisotropy, several numerical examples are given along with comparisons with known analytical treatments.
Incidental epidermolytic hyperkeratosis and focal acantholytic dyskeratosis in common acquired melanocytic nevi and atypical melanocytic lesions

Abstract Background Epidermolytic hyperkeratosis (EH) and focal acantholytic dyskeratosis (FAD) are distinct histologic patterns that have been observed incidentally in a variety of benign and malignant skin lesions, including melanocytic lesions. Objective Our motivation for this study was to determine whether FAD and/or EH was significantly associated with atypical melanocytic lesions. Methods Skin biopsy specimens of melanocytic lesions diagnosed at our facility over a 3-month period were examined for the occurrence of FAD and EH. Results Whereas both FAD and EH are uncommon findings, FAD was statistically increased in atypical melanocytic lesions (P = .0172). EH was not found to differ significantly in common acquired melanocytic nevi vs atypical melanocytic lesions. Conclusions Although both can be found in association with nonneoplastic skin diseases, as well as cutaneous neoplasms, FAD, but not EH, might serve as a marker for melanocytic atypia. Taken together with findings in the literature, FAD might serve as marker for atypical cutaneous proliferations as a whole.
Identification of an amphotericin B resistant strain of Candida albicans using a rapid 3H-glucose incorporation microassay

Using a 3 H-glucose incorporation assay, antifungal sensitivity testing undertaken on an isolate of Candida albicans cultured from the blood of a bone marrow transplant patient documented resistance to amphotericin B but sensitivity to fluconazole and itraconazole. Information obtained from in vitro antifungal sensitivity testing can be used to direct in vivo antifungal therapy. Widespread application of standardized in vitro antifungal sensitivity testing is needed.
European Integration, Migration and Representation: The Case of Roma in France

AbstractThis article explores how EU enlargement and the concomitant migration of some Roma to Western Europe influenced non-governmental organization (NGO) activity and the representation of Roma interests. It contributes to our understanding of whether European integration advances or reduces opportunities for representation and participation of marginalized groups. Based in part on interviews with NGOs advocating for Roma migrants in France, the author finds that the freedom of movement that came with EU membership gave rise to new and expanded representation of Roma interests through NGOs, with the EU playing an important role in this advocacy. For the most part, however, it has not led to greater Roma participation or to policy responses aimed at improving their situation.
Parallel architecture for the discrete wavelet transform based on the lifting factorization

One major difficulty in designing an architecture for the parallel implementation of Discrete Wavelet Transform (DWT) is that the DWT is not a block transform. As a result, frequent communication has to be set up between processors to exchange data so that correct boundary wavelet coefficients can be computed. The significant communication overhead thus hampers the improvement of the efficiency of parallel systems, specially for processor networks with large communication latencies. In this paper we propose a new technique, called Boundary Postprocessing, that allows the correct transform of boundary samples. The basic idea is to model the DWT as a Finite State Machine based on the lifting factorization of the wavelet filterbanks. Application of this technique leads to a new parallel DWT architecture. Split-and-Merge, which requires data to be communicated only once between neighboring processors for any arbitrary level of wavelet decompositions. Example designs and performance analysis for 1D and 2D DWT show that the proposed technique can greatly reduce the interprocessor communication overhead. As an example, in a two-processor case our proposed approach shows an average speedup of about 30% as compared to best currently available parallel computation.© (1999) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
‘Two-Stage Double-Technique Hybrid (TSDTH)’ Identification Strategy for the Analysis of BMP2-Induced Transdifferentiation of Premyoblast C2C12 Cells to Osteoblast

Transdifferentiation offers new opportunities in the area of cell replacement therapy; however, the molecular mechanism by which transdifferentiation occurs is not fully understood. Our understanding about the sophisticated regulations of transdifferentiation is limited yet since their comprehensive proteome regulations have not been fully elucidated. Studies on bone morphogenic protein-2 (BMP2)-induced transdifferentiation of murine C2C12 cells, a myogenic lineage committed premyoblast, to osteogenic cells can provide a full picture of the dynamic events that occur at the level of protein activity and/or expression. Here, we investigated the overall dynamic regulatory proteome associated with BMP2-induced osteoblast transdifferentiation in premyoblast C2C12 cells using a novel Two-Stage Double-Technique Hybrid (TSDTH) strategy for proteomic analysis. Here, we took the approach of a TSDTH involving phosphoproteomic analysis after a short-term treatment (stage one, 30 min) and a long-term treatment (stage two, 3 days); SILAC (Stable isotope labeling with amino acids in cell culture)-proteomics was used to map the proteins. In these experiments, a total of 1321 potential phosphoproteins were identified in stage one analysis and 433 proteins were quantified in stage two analysis. Among them, 374 BMP2-specific phosphoproteins and 54 up- or down-regulated proteins were selected. In first stage analysis, several deubiquitination enzymes including Uch-l3 as well as ubiquitination related proteins were newly identified, and its inhibitor reduced the stability of phosphorylated Smad1, and the BMP2-induced ALP levels of C2C12 cells were detected. In second stage analysis, Thrombospondin1 was identified as the highest up-regulated protein by BMP2-long time stimulation and this was confirmed with immunoblot analysis. Furthermore, pathway enrichment and network analyses revealed that insulin-like growth factor (IGF) and calcium signaling pathways as well as TGFbeta/BMP signaling proteins are found to be potentially involved in the early and long-term actions of BMP2. Collectively, our TSDTH is a useful simple strategy to obtain comprehensive molecular mechanism of cellular processes such as transdifferentiation.
Dynamic Relationships in the Market for Ocean Grain Freighting Services

A vector autoregressive model containing ocean grain freight rates, grain shipments, idled tonnage, new carrier deliveries and fuel prices is used to evaluate dynamic linkages in the ocean grain transport market. Dynamic relationships are of particular importance in ocean freighting months because freighting services are often contracted several months before shipment. In addition, such markets may be slow to adjust to shocks because of significant short-run fixities in shipping services. Ocean grain freight rates are found to be responsive to fuel prices and new ship deliveries, but are not affected by demand shocks. Ship idling rates are found to be sensitive to fuel prices, grain shipments and freight rates. Significant adjustment lags are revealed. Les auteurs utilisent un modele VAR (autoregressif vectoriel) a cinq variables : cout du transport du grain par bateau, envoi de cereales, tonnage inutilise, livraison de nouveaux vraquiers et prix du carburant, pour evaluer les liens dynamiques en jeu dans le marche du transport transoceanique du grain. L'importance particuliere des rapports dynamiques dans le marche du transport de haute mer tient au fait que les controls pour les services de transport par mer sont souvent posses plusieurs mois avant l'expedition proprement dite. En outre, ces marches sont lents a reagir aux chocs a cause des fixites a court terme significatives qui caracterisent le transport par mer. Les tarifs de transport transoceanique du grain sont sensibles au prix du carburant et aux livraisons des nouveaux vraquiers, mais ils sont relativement insensibles au choc de la demande. Les taux d'inactivite des navires sont sensibles au cout du carburant, a l'importance des envois de grains et au tariff de transport par mer. L'analyse fait ressortir des retards d'adaptation significatifs.