cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Chromatic visualization of reflectivity variance within hybridized directional OCT images

This study presents a new method of visualizing hybridized images of retinal spectral domain optical coherence tomography (SDOCT) data comprised of varied directional reflectivity. Due to the varying reflectivity of certain retinal structures relative to angle of incident light, SDOCT images obtained with differing entry positions result in nonequivalent images of corresponding cellular and extracellular structures, especially within layers containing photoreceptor components. Harnessing this property, cross-sectional pathologic and non-pathologic macular images were obtained from multiple pupil entry positions using commercially-available OCT systems, and custom segmentation, alignment, and hybridization algorithms were developed to chromatically visualize the composite variance of reflectivity effects. In these images, strong relative reflectivity from any given direction visualizes as relative intensity of its corresponding color channel. Evident in non-pathologic images was marked enhancement of Henle’s fiber layer (HFL) visualization and varying reflectivity patterns of the inner limiting membrane (ILM) and photoreceptor inner/outer segment junctions (IS/OS). Pathologic images displayed similar and additional patterns. Such visualization may allow a more intuitive understanding of structural and physiologic processes in retinal pathologies.
Thermal propagation of normal-superconductor boundaries

Abstract The model of Newhouse for thermal propagation of long normal regions in thin superconducting films on good thermal conducting substrates has been verified. Measurements show much slower velocities for short regions, but the dependence is compatible with a new model calculation. Stable hot spots are found which agree semi-quantitatively with a modified hot spot calculation.
Planning and design of public housing An evolution of structure

Abstract A study of the evolution of the Bluegrass-Aspendale Public Housing Project (Lexington, KY) as an example of the physical manifestation of changing demographic, socioeconomic, and governmental pressures. BIuegrass-Aspendale, constructed in 1937, was one of the first 49 public housing projects built in the United States. This study reviews the impact of governmental housing policies, recent public housing budget reductions, progressive economic stagnation, racial segregation and desegregation, and escalating crime issues on the site development characteristics of Bluegrass-Aspendale and the resultant quality of life for its residents. A recent major redevelopment of Bluegrass-Aspendale presents a new approach to the revitalization of existing public housing that involves project dedensification via unit demolition and the creation of smaller project clusters. Cluster identity and safety are reinforced through the realignment of roadways into cul-de-sacs and unit facade renovation. The necessity of developing a comprehensive system of supportive social services for residents, particularly police protection, is also emphasized. While the design of new public housing concentrates on small scale scattered sites and homeownership, Bluegrass-Aspendale serves as an example of how an older inner city project can be retrofitted to conform with new housing design standards that attempt to remedy contemporary problems.
Purification and characterization of γ-Glutamyltransferase from rat pancreas

γ-Glutamyltransferase ((5-giutamyl)-peptide:amino-acid 5-glutamyltransferase, EC 2.3.2.2.) from rat pancreas has been purified to homogeneity and shown to be a glycoprotein of apparent molecular weight 68 000, composed of one heavy and one light subunit, with respective molecular weights 43 000 and 25 000. At the optimum pH 8.0 the specific activity of the purified enzyme is 630 units/mg protein, with l-γ-glutamyl-pnitroanilide as substrate (Km = 0.9 mM) and 20 mM glycylgiycine as acceptor. The enzyme is inactivated by the active-site modifying agent and glutamine analogue, 6-diazo-5-oxo-l-norleucine, through a specific and stoichiometric reaction with the light subunit (Ki = 1.2 mM); both the inactivation and the modification of the light subunit are accelerated by maleate and prevented by S-methylglutathione. The enzyme is also inactivated by the fluorescent alkylating agent 5-iodoacetamidofluorescein, by specific and stoichiometric incorporation of the fluorescent moiety into the light subunit, which is likewise prevented by S-methylglutathione, but is unaffected by maleate. Antiserum to rat kidney γ-glutamyltransferase cross-reacts with the pancreas enzyme in immunodiffusion and inhibits its activity in the p-nitroanilide assay. Despite structural, enzymological and immunological similarities between the pancreas and kidney enzymes, their amino acid compositions are markedly different. The rat pancreas enzyme shows an interesting ontological development, being present in minimal amounts in the fetus, and increasing dramatically on birth and during the following 2 days.
Elevated alcohol consumption in null mutant mice lacking 5-HT1B serotonin receptors

Substantial evidence links alcohol drinking and serotonin (5-HT) functioning in animals1. Lowered central 5-HT neurotransmission has been found in a subgroup of alcoholics, possibly those with more aggressive, assaultive tendencies2. Several rodent studies3 have also suggested that intact 5-HT systems are important determinants of sensitivity and/or tolerance to ethanol-induced ataxia and hypothermia. Null mutant mice lacking the 5-HT1B receptor gene (5-HT1B–/–) have been developed4 that display enhanced aggression5 and altered 5-HT release in slice preparations from some, but not all, brain areas6. We characterized these mice for sensitivity to several effects of ethanol. Mutant mice drank twice as much ethanol as wild-type mice, and voluntarily ingested solutions containing up to 20% ethanol in water. Their intake of food and water, and of sucrose, saccharin and quinine solutions, was normal. Mutants were less sensitive than wild-types on a test of ethanol-induced ataxia and, with repeated drug administration, tended to develop tolerance more slowly. In tests of ethanol withdrawal and metabolism, mutants and wild-type mice showed equivalent responses. Our results suggest that the 5-HT1B receptor participates in the regulation of ethanol drinking, and demonstrate that serotonergic manipulations lead to reduced responsiveness to certain ataxic effects of ethanol without affecting dependence.
The impact of serious crime, racial threat, and economic inequality on private police size

Abstract The use of private police in our society has proliferated in recent years, but explanations of private police size remain underdeveloped. Why does one urban area have more private police than another? Using data drawn from 195 metropolitan areas, our study attempts to identify factors that are associated with private police size. Particular attention is given to disentangling the impact that three theories—public demand, racial threat, and economic inequality—exert on the private police rate. Results from an ordinary-least squares regression analysis show that as the relative size of the Black and Hispanic populations grow larger in a metropolitan area, the size of the private police force also increases controlling for other factors. In addition, we find an inverted U-shaped relationship between economic inequality and the private police rate. The serious crime rate while initially salient fails to show any predictive power in the fully saturated model. Overall, these findings support the view that racial threat and economic inequality are more central to understanding private police size than the serious crime rate.
A Semi-Automatic Cryoscope for Determining the Freezing Point of Milk

Summary A semi-automatic cryoscope has been designed which gives results comparable to the Hortvet apparatus. Determinations can be made more accurately and rapidly and with greater ease. The cooling bath temperature is maintained constant by mechanical refrigeration. A glycerol-water solution is used instead of ether as the cooling medium. The sample is stirred and the thermometer is tapped by mechanical means. This eliminates the two most tedious steps and provides more uniformity. The sample is seeded by a copper wire, which is kept in a thermos bottle containing dry ice. The freezing-point values reported for a sample of milk by eight individuals in our laboratory using the official method of analysis revealed a maximum variation of 0.014°C. The same individuals using the modified method reported freezing-point values with a maximum variation of only 0.003°C. The results of nine collaborating laboratories, using the official method, revealed a maximum variation of 0.0275°C. between the average freezing-point values reported for one series of samples.
Characterisation of surface oxides on carbon and their influence on dynamic adsorption

Abstract The aim of this work is to gain a better fundamental understanding of the nature of surface oxide sites present on carbon surfaces, and their role in the adsorption process. A number of model carbon substrates with different degrees of surface oxidation and similar textural properties were prepared using a wide range of solution and gaseous phase oxidation techniques. Some of the carbons were characterised using established techniques including flow microcalorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The results showed that both carboxylic acid (–CO2H) and ether/hydroxyl (C–O) surface oxygen complexes were introduced to all of these carbons as a result of the oxidation processes. The number, strength and thermal stability of the surface groups formed were dependent on the nature of the base material and the oxidation conditions employed. The dynamic adsorption performance of the carbons against hexane, under humid conditions, was found to be mainly determined by the quantity of acidic surface functional groups. However, the location, strength of interaction and availability of the surface oxygen complexes to the adsorbate molecules, are also thought to affect the breakthrough characteristics of the carbons used in this work.
Medical image collection indexing: Shape-based retrieval using KD-trees

Abstract The capacity to retrieve images containing objects with shapes similar to a query shape is desirable in medical image databases. We propose a similarity measure and an indexing mechanism for non-rigid comparison of shape which adds this capability to image databases. The (dis)-similarity measure is based on the observations that: (1) the geometry of the same organ in different subjects is not related by a strictly rigid transformation; and (2) the orientation of the organ plays a key role in comparing shape. We propose a similarity measure that computes a non-rigid mapping between curves and uses this mapping to compare oriented shape. We also show how KD-trees can index curves so that retrieval with our similarity measure is efficient. Experiments with real-world data from a database of magnetic resonance images are provided.
Controlled Interface Roughness in GaAs/AlAs Superlattices

We report the results of our study of controlled interface roughness in low-order GaAs/AlAs superlattices. Samples were prepared using either the interrupted growth or the migration-enhanced epitaxy (MEE) technique. The samples were prepared with m atomic planes of GaAs and m atomic planes of AlAs ( m × m ) per modulation wavelength and repeated p times. For this study, m = 1 or 3. The samples were studied using X-ray diffraction. The interrupted growth samples both showed a split in one diffraction line indicating layers were not of integral order while the MEE samples showed no splitting, indicating integral order layers.
Central connections of the sensory and motor nuclei of the vagus nerve

Recent morphological and immunohistochemical studies bearing on the central pathways involved in processing vagal afferent information and in modulating the activity of vagal preganglionic neurons are summarized. The nucleus of the solitary tract (NTS), the principal recipient of first order vagal afferent inputs, projects to preganglionic cell groups of both divisions of the autonomic nervous system, to motor nuclei of cranial nerves that supply the face and tongue, to a series of 'relay' nuclei in the brainstem, and to a number of cell groups in the hypothalamus and the limbic region of the telencephalon that integrate autonomic, neuroendocrine and regulatory behavioral responses. With the exception of the cranial nerve motor nuclei, each cell group in receipt of direct inputs from the NTS projects back to this region and/or to the vagal motor nuclei, and is thereby in a position to influence vagal motor outflow. This central vagal system is further characterized by the presence of neurons that contain an impressive diversity of neuropeptides and monoamines. Examples are cited to illustrate how biochemically specified projections within this system are organized, and how they provide potential substrates for encoding information transfer between its components.
Creep deformation of thick prestressed rings

Abstract The creep response of a thick, circular, prestressed ring subjected to internal pressure is considered in this paper. Prestress is assumed to be applied by an elastic wire (or band) wound around the outside diameter of the ring. The viscoelastic behavior of the ring material is represented by an elastic unit in series with a Kelvin unit. Poisson's ratio is assumed to be a constant during creep. Laplace transforms are taken of the thick ring, equilibrium and stress strain equations; and solution is then carried out with the transformed variables. The inverse transformations can be taken in closed form and expressions are thereby derived for the variations with time of: prestress, stress distribution, and deformation. It is found that the stress variation across the ring remains constant but decreases in magnitude with increasing time. The prestress level may decrease by significant amounts. This solution has direct application to the analysis of the response of prestressed concrete vessels. Such vessels are being considered for reactor pressure vessels.
Osnaburg Overalls, Calico Frocks, and Homespun Suits: The Use of 19th Century Georgia Newspaper Notices to Research Slave Clothing and Textiles

This paper discusses the value of newspaper notices in the search for data on slave clothing. Two hundred and seventy-three fugitive slave notices, 10 sheriff notices, and 79 store advertisements w...
Evaluation of daptomycin treatment of Staphylococcus aureus bacterial endocarditis: an in vitro and in vivo simulation using historical and current dosing strategies

Objectives A failure to daptomycin therapy and subsequent emergence of a daptomycin non-susceptible isolate occurred during the 1990 clinical investigation of daptomycin for the treatment of Staphylococcus aureus bacteraemia and endocarditis. We attempted to determine if this occurrence was reproducible in vitro and if it could be prevented by various daptomycin dosing strategies. Methods The daptomycin susceptible parent strain (SA-675) and the subsequent non-susceptible derivative (SA-684) were evaluated. In the rabbit endocarditis model, daptomycin 3 mg/kg every 8 h for 4 days was administered to simulate the study patient's pharmacokinetic exposure. Daptomycin doses of 1.5 and 3 mg/kg every 12 h and 6 and 10 mg/kg every 24 and 48 h were simulated in the in vitro model with simulated endocardial vegetations (SEVs). Results Daptomycin significantly reduced bacterial counts of SA-675 in rabbits, but one in 10(5)-10(6) organisms from vegetations of one animal had an 8-fold increase in MIC. Daptomycin 1.5 mg/kg every 12 h in the in vitro model demonstrated no activity against either strain; reduced susceptibility emerged in SA-675 (4-fold increase in MIC). Bactericidal activity was noted with 6 and 10 mg/kg dosing against SA-675 with no resistance detected. The activity of the 6 mg/kg regimen was reduced against SA-684 but significantly improved activity was noted with 10 mg/kg daily. Conclusions The emergence of resistance was successfully recreated at suboptimal dosing regimens while the current recommended regimen of 6 mg/kg/day prevented the emergence of non-susceptible mutants. Daptomycin 10 mg/kg/day demonstrated even more enhanced killing. Further investigation with daptomycin 10 mg/kg is warranted.
Can the share economy cure our macroeconomic woes? Probably not

Abstract This paper investigates the question of whether a share economy would lead to “excess demand for labor,” that is, to a tilt toward higher vacancies and lower unemployment than those of a wage economy. It argues that a key theorem in Weitzman's argument rests on a dubious assumption about labor-supply behavior. Once more conventional labor-supply assumptions are introduced, the share economy tends to behave much like a wage economy and many of the more striking claims for the share economy seem unjustified.
Observable restrictions of general equilibrium models with financial markets

This paper examines whether general equilibrium models of exchange economies with incomplete financial markets impose restrictions on prices of commodities and assets given the stochastic processes of dividends and aggregate endowments. We show that the assumption of time-separable expected utility implies restriction on the cross-section of asset prices as well as on spot commodity prices. However, a relaxation of the assumption of time separability will generally destroy these restriction.
RANDOMIZED URN MODELS AND SEQUENTIAL DESIGN

ABSTRACT Researchers in sequential design have drawn extensively from the probabilistic literature on randomized urn models. This paper traces the historical development of randomized urn models, their applications in sequential design, and research into properties of randomized urn models and associated designs.
Tissue strain transduction and amplification at the osteocyte as a result of microstructural changes in the bone matrix

It is well known that bone adapts to changes in its mechanical environment and that this adaptation is controlled at the cellular level through the coordinated actions of osteoblasts, osteocytes, and osteoclasts. Osteocytes make up over 90% of all bone cells [1], and are hypothesized to be the mechanosensors in bone [2] that mediate the effects of bone loading through their extensive communication network. The application of force to the skeletal system produces several potential stimuli for osteocyte function including hydrostatic pressure, fluid flow-induced shear stress, and bone tissue strain. Previously, the basis used for studying the stimulatory effects of mechanical strain on bone cell biological responses in vitro has been the direct measurement of bone strain in humans during various physical activities [3,4]. The limitation of applying this strain magnitude data to cells in vitro, however, is that the in vivo strain gage measurements represent continuum measures of bone deformation. Clearly, at the spatial level of bone cells, cortical bone is not a continuum and microstructural inhomogeneities will result in inhomogeneous microstructural strain fields; local tissue strains will be magnified in association with microstructural features [5,6]. It is unclear as to how much of these magnified strains will be directly transmitted to the osteocyte itself. Additionally, if the osteocyte has the ability to alter its perilacunar environment [7], it is unknown what effect do these changes have on the strain that is transmitted to the osteocyte and cell process.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
eCRM System Adoption by Hospitality Organizations: A Technology-Organization-Environment (TOE) Framework

ABSTRACT Very few topics within business literature have elicited so much interest among both academia and practitioners as that of the benefits for a firm to manage long-term and profitable relationships with customers. A consequence of this surging interest is the tremendous growth in the use of electronic customer relationship management (eCRM) systems. eCRM systems provide firms with a sustainable competitive advantage in a cluttered and highly competitive marketplace. In this regard, the authors develop a research framework incorporating various technical, organizational, and environmental factors that influence the hospitality organizations' adoption of eCRM systems. The implications of this conceptualization, as well as its contribution to hospitality research and practice are substantiated. Finally, conclusions are drawn and directions for potential future research in this area are discussed.
Variant malate dehydrogenase isoenzymes in mitochondrial populations.

Abstract Variations in isoenzymes of malate dehydrogenase ( l -malate:NAD oxidoreductase, EC 1.1.1.37) of mitochondrial populations were detected after polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. Two distinct mitochondrial populations of a single barley genotype were resolved using sucrose density gradient equilibrium centrifugation of purified mitochondrial preparations. A third population, contiguous with one of the physically separable populations, was distinguishable on the basis of differences in malate dehydrogenase isoenzyme content of the mitochondria. These studies provide a means of detecting hitherto undetectable variant isoenzymes, as well as demonstrating biochemical methods for distinguishing polymorphic mitochondrial populations.
Values and Value Priorities Underlying Japanese Elementary-School Moral Education: Content Analysis of Japanese Elementary-School Moral Books

Japan has seen controversy over moral education. Generally, Japanese moral education is regarded as a menace to the development of true democracy and multiculturalism. Moral education in the Meiji period and in the years leading to and during the Second World War was blamed for the country’s fanatical militarism and nationalism. Postwar democratic reforms ended moral education; however, traditional moral values continued to guide people’s lives. At that time Japanese moral values were criticized for contributing to the shaping of shared cultural consciousness and common national identity, suggesting Japan’s cultural superiority over other cultures. In 2006, the Fundamental Law of Education of 1947 (FLE), which defined the principles for post-war Japanese education, was revised. It stipulated the importance of teaching Japanese traditions and culture with special emphasis on moral education. The return of moral education has provoked fear and suspicion of a return to past militarism and nationalism. Hitherto, discussions on Japanese moral education have entailed strong political overtones. However, few have actually studied the content of the books used in moral education. The present study examined Japanese elementary-school moral books published in 2008 to identify types of values transmitted therein. Content analysis of the moral books has revealed that the values presented in the moral books are congruent with universal human values recognized across cultures around the world. Confucianism and Buddhism explain values absent from the moral books. The influence of Shinto is also found. The paper discusses the findings in reference to the theory of universal human values and the Japanese cultural heritage. DOI: 10.5901/mjss.2014.v5n4p359
Exogenous estrogen in systemic lupus erythematosus: oral contraceptives and hormone replacement therapy

The role of exogenous estrogen in the initiation and maintenance of human SLE remains very controversial. Although cohort studies suggest an increase in the incidence of SLE with both oral contraceptives and hormone replacement therapy, recent retrospective studies suggest that the risk of flare is not increased with hormone replacement therapy. However, exogenous estrogen does increase hypercoagulability, an issue in SLE patients with antiphospholipid antibodies. The prospective SELENA study will ultimately address whether exogenous estrogen increases severe flares in SLE.
Estrogen and Extinction of Fear Memories:Implications for Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Treatment

Posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is a psychiatric illness whose prevalence in women is more than twice the rate as men. Despite a burgeoning literature characterizing sex differences in PTSD incidence and its disproportionate burden on society, there is a dearth of literature describing biological mechanisms underlying these disparities. However, the recent identification of biomarkers of PTSD by translational neuroscientists offers a promising opportunity to explore sex interactions in PTSD phenotypes. A notable observation is that individuals with PTSD show deficits in their ability to inhibit conditioned fear responding after extinction training. Given that extinction procedures, via exposure-based cognitive behavioral therapy, make up one of the predominant modes of treatment in PTSD, there is a critical need for more research on sex interactions in this form of fear regulation. An emerging hypothesis is that fluctuating gonadal hormones, especially estrogen, in the menstrual cycle may play a critical role in fear extinction and, hence, PTSD vulnerability and symptom severity in women. The current review discusses how the study of putative activational effects of estrogen on fear extinction may be harnessed to advance the search for better treatments for PTSD in women. We conclude that estrogen treatment may be a putative pharmacologic adjunct in extinction-based therapies and should be tracked in the menstrual cycle during the course of PTSD treatment.
Current-commutators and high energy hadron production in e+e− annihilation

Abstract We consider the asymptotic behavior of the structure-functions for the process e + e − → H + everything (where H is a detectable hadron) in terms of commutators involving the electromagnetic current.
Prediction of in-plane distortions due to mask fabrication processes

Abstract In the fabrication of a typical refractory X-ray lithography mask, the pattern transfer process subjects the membrane/pattern to the non-uniform deposition and removal of multiple stressed layers. This removal process can result in unacceptably large pattern distortions in the final mask. This paper presents relationships obtained from finite element (FE) modeling, between pattern distortions and the following mask parameters: membrane material, thickness, size and stress, and the removed film material, thickness and stress. In addition, the sensitivity of the distortions was investigated for stress gradients present in the removed film. Finally, the capability of these models to predict pattern specific distortions (PSD) is demonstrated.
Study of π + p Four-Prong Interactions from 2.95 to 4.08 GeV c

In a study of the production mechanism of quasi-two-body final states at the five incident ${\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+}$ momenta 2.95, 3.2, 3.5, 3.75, and 4.08 GeV/c, approximately 40 000 events with four outgoing charged particles were investigated. The cross sections for the processes ${\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+}p\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{N}^{*++}\ensuremath{\rho}$, ${\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+}p\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{N}^{*++}\ensuremath{\omega}$, ${\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+}p\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{N}^{*++}\ensuremath{\eta}$, and ${\ensuremath{\pi}}^{+}p\ensuremath{\rightarrow}{N}^{*++}f$ have been measured as a function of the pion energy. The differential cross sections and the decay density-matrix elements are discussed in terms of one-meson-exchange models [with absorption (OPEA) and with form factor (OPEW)] and Regge models. For the ${N}^{*++}\ensuremath{\rho}$ and the ${N}^{*++}\ensuremath{\omega}$ reactions, the joint-decay matrix elements are calculated. The formation of ${N}^{*}(2850)$ in the direct channel is also investigated.
Introduction of a Phe377del mutation in ANK creates a mouse model for craniometaphyseal dysplasia.

Craniometaphyseal dysplasia (CMD) is a monogenic human disorder characterized by thickening of craniofacial bones and flaring metaphyses of long bones. Mutations for autosomal dominant CMD have been identified in the progressive ankylosis gene ANKH. Previous studies of Ank loss-of-function models, Anknull/null and Ankank/ank mice, suggest that Ank plays a role in the regulation of bone mineralization. However, the mechanism for Ank mutations leading to CMD remains unknown. We generated the first knockin (KI) mouse model for CMD expressing a human mutation (Phe377 deletion) in ANK. Homozygous Ank knockin mice (AnkKI/KI) replicate many typical features of human CMD including hyperostosis of craniofacial bones, massive jawbones, decreased diameters of cranial foramina, obliteration of nasal sinuses, fusion of middle ear bones, and club-shaped femurs. In addition, AnkKI/KI mice have increased serum alkaline phosphatase and TRACP5b, as reported in CMD patients. Biochemical markers of bone formation and bone resorption, N-terminal propeptide of type I procollagen and type I collagen cross-linked C-terminal telopeptide, are significantly increased in AnkKI/KI mice, suggesting increased bone turnover. Interestingly, AnkKI/KI bone marrow–derived macrophage cultures show decreased osteoclastogenesis. Despite the hyperostotic phenotype, bone matrix in AnkKI/KI mice is hypomineralized and less mature, indicating that biomechanical properties of bones may be compromised by the Ank mutation. We believe this new mouse model will facilitate studies of skeletal abnormalities in CMD at cellular and molecular levels.
Technical Note-A Reduced Tableau for Primal Integer Programming

We reformulate the Glover-Young algorithm for primal integer programming, using a smaller tableau and updating information only as needed.
Two mechanisms of quantized calcium release in skeletal muscle

Skeletal muscle uses voltage sensors in the transverse tubular membrane that are linked by protein-protein interactions to intracellular ryanodine receptors, which gate the release of calcium from the sarcoplasmic reticulum. Here we show, by using voltage-clamped single fibres and confocal imaging, that stochastic calcium-release events, visualized as Ca2+ sparks, occur in skeletal muscle and originate at the triad. Unitary triadic Ca(2+)-release events are initiated by the voltage sensor in a steeply voltage-dependent manner, or occur spontaneously by a mechanism independent of the voltage sensor. Large-amplitude events also occur during depolarization and consist of two or more unitary events. We propose a 'dual-control' model for discrete Ca2+ release events from the sacroplasmic reticulum that unifies diverse observations about Ca(2+)-signalling in frog skeletal muscle, and that may be applicable to other excitable cells.
Chemical Composition of the Coal Miner's Lung

The concentrations of metals and minerals in lung and pulmonary lymph node tissue of bituminous coal miners are the subject of a continuing study that includes gravimetric determinations of coal and total dust, chemical determinations of free silica, and quantitative spectrographic analysis of metallic and other elemental constituents. The coal and total dust determinations employ the digestion of the lung tissue by sodium hydroxide. The free silica was determined by a phosphoric acid method. The elemental constituents were determined by quantitative emission spectrographic and atomic absorption methods. The lead was analyzed by a dithizone method.
Pathogenesis of oleic acid-induced lung injury in the rat: Distribution of oleic acid during injury and early endothelial cell changes

Oleic acid-induced lung injury, a well-described laboratory model for acute pulmonary injury in the rat and other species, causes morphologic and cellular changes similar to human adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Experiments were performed to test the hypothesis that the initial event of oleic acid lung injury is damage of the pulmonary vascular endothelium by oleic acid, with subsequent pulmonary damage and inflammation. Oleic acid levels were followed in the lung and other tissues by measuring accumulation of 14C-oleic acid; the direct effects of oleic acid and other fatty acids on rat endothelial cells, alveolar type II cells, and hepatocytes in culture were determined. Lung tissue from treated rats was also examined by light and electron microscopy for evidence of endothelial cell damage. At 30 min after injury, oleic acid reached high concentrations in lung tissue as demonstrated by presence of radiolabel (3.24 x 10(-6) moles per gram of tissue), with counts in the lung nearly an order of magnitude greater than in any other organ measured. Oleic acid was present in the lung mostly as free fatty acid (85%), and was also present in the alveolar fluid supernatants, rather than being cell-associated (1.7 x 10(-7) moles vs. 1.1 x 10(-8) moles at 30 min). Oleic acid was toxic to endothelial cells after one minute of exposure at concentrations of 5 x 10(-4) M and above. Electron microscopy showed endothelial cell changes as early as 10 min after induction of injury in vivo, including the presence of endothelial cell blebbing.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
616 Effect of Vitamin E and Polysorbate on Bile Acid Transport in Newborn Rabbit Hepatocytes

Cholestasis as defined by a high direct bilirubin has been identified as an initial common symptom in newborn infants receiving a natural vitamin E product with high polysorbate concentrations. These studies were performed to examine the effects of Polysorbate 20 and Polysorbate 80 in combination with vitamin E on cellular toxicity, bile acid uptake and secretion in freshly isolated hepatocytes from newborn rabbits. Cellular bile acid uptake and secretion were quantitated using radiolabelled deoxycholic acid and glycocholic acid respectively. Both control and treated hepatocytes were incubated for one hour in the presence of polysorbate prior to kinetic analysis of bile acid transport. A summary of transport data is presented in the table. Transmission electron microscopy following 1 hr incubation with 0.33% Polysorbate 80 revealed cellular blebs containing intracellular milieu, loss of microvilli and loss of ribosomes from the endoplasmic reticulum. It is concluded that polysorbates selectively inhibit hepatic bile acid secretion at concentrations below that producing either cellular damage or inhibition of bile acid uptake. The observed effects were dependant on both age and the individual polysorbate.
DKJStartApplication of multi-well analytical models to maximize geological CO2 storage in brine formations

Abstract Injection of CO 2 emissions from industrial units into geological formations would require many storage sites and each storage site would require multiple injection wells to inject high volumes of CO 2 . Although multi-well injection of CO 2 in brine formations increases the injection rate but this increase is not linear with respect to the number of injection wells. This is because of the well-known pressure interference effect. Ideally there is an optimum number of injection wells and injection rates (for each individual well) that would maximize the project net present value based on some economic assumptions. In this study we are using our new tool (Enhanced Analytical Simulation Tool or EASiTool) to investigate this concept for both open and closed boundary aquifers. Also with tornado charts we will show how sensitive our capacity estimations are to the input parameters of the analytical models.
Molecular interpretation of ERK signal duration by immediate early gene products

The duration of intracellular signalling is associated with distinct biological responses, but how cells interpret differences in signal duration are unknown. We show that the immediate early gene product c-Fos functions as a sensor for ERK1 (extracellular-signal-regulated kinase 1) and ERK2 signal duration. When ERK activation is transient, its activity declines before the c-Fos protein accumulates, and under these conditions c-Fos is unstable. However, when ERK signalling is sustained, c-Fos is phosphorylated by still-active ERK and RSK (90K-ribosomal S6 kinase). Carboxy-terminal phosphorylation stabilizes c-Fos and primes additional phosphorylation by exposing a docking site for ERK, termed the FXFP (DEF) domain. Mutating the DEF domain disrupts the c-Fos sensor and c-Fos-mediated signalling. Other immediate early gene products that control cell cycle progression, neuronal differentiation and circadium rhythms also contain putative DEF domains, indicating that multiple sensors exist for sustained ERK signalling. Together, our data identify a general mechanism by which cells can interpret differences in ERK activation kinetics.
EFFECTS OF NAME LEARNING ON SERIAL LEARNING, POSITION LEARNING, AND RECOGNITION LEARNING WITH RANDOM SHAPES

The effects of learning relevant names for random shapes on subsequent serial, position, and recognition learning were investigated in a series of four experiments. Name learning facilitated all three kinds of subsequent learning. The effect of naming was greater when an ordering of the shapes was learned as a temporal sequence (serial learning) than when it was learned as a spatial arrangement (position learning). Position learning was more rapid than serial learning, and the difference was greater for unnamed than for named shapes. Serial learning was as rapid with named shapes as with the names alone. Naming facilitated position learning even after Named and Unnamed groups had met the same criterion in recognition learning. Implications for various hypotheses concerning the mechanisms underlying the effects of naming are discussed. The results are interpreted as suggesting separate effects of naming on discriminability and on ease of association. The bearing of the findings on the question of the effec...
Al Qaeda and Iran: Friends or Foes, or Somewhere in Between?

The relationship between Al Qaeda and Iran has been one of continuing controversy even prior to 9/11 and is more relevant today as U.S. forces find themselves on battlefields where both have vital interests and roles. It's clear that Al Qaeda and Iran have longstanding issues with the United States, but despite the wild allegations, these two parties remain far apart based on religious differences and differing geopolitical aims. Still, the signs of cooperation between extremists in pursuit of a common aim remains clear and must be taken into account as the United States works to restore stability across the Middle East.
Induction of persistent ovarian follicular structures following administration of progesterone near the onset of estrus in dairy cattle.

The objective of this study was to determine if progesterone administered near the onset of estrus in dairy cows would block the preovulatory surge of LH and result in subsequent persistence of ovarian follicular structures. Following synchronization of estrus with prostaglandin F2α, 20 multiparous, non-lactating Holstein cows were randomly assigned into three groups: 1 ml ethanol administered i.m. at 12-h intervals for 24 h (n = 6; group 1); 1 mg progesterone administered i.m. at 12-h intervals for 24 h (n = 7; group 2); 2.5 mg progesterone administered i.v. at the onset of standing estrus (n = 7; group 3). Ovarian structures were palpated per rectum on the day of estrus and twice weekly for 14 d. Blood was collected every 2 h from onset of standing estrus for 30 h, and concentrations of LH and progesterone were determined. Numbers of cows diagnosed with persistent follicles 10 d after estrus were 1 of 6 (group 1), 2 of 7 (group 2), and 5 of 7 (group 3). The preovulatory surge of LH did not occur during the sampling period (30 h) for 1 of 6, 7 of 7 and 5 of 7 cows, for groups 1, 2, and 3, respectively, and mean serum concentrations of LH were higher in group 1 than in groups 2 and 3. Serum concentration of progesterone (ng/ml) was higher in group 1 (1.9 ± .4) than in groups 2 (.9 ± .4) and 3 (.9 ± .4) 10 d following estrus. Blocking the preovulatory surge of LH with exogenous progesterone resulted in persistence of ovarian follicles.
Serum Calcium Homeostasis Following Thyroid Surgery as Measured by Ethylenediamine Tetra-acetate Infusion

Intravenous infusion of trisodium ethylenediamine tetra-acetate (EDTA) was done in 29 control patients, 10 patients 3–5 days after thyroid surgery, 10 patients ½–30 yr after thyroid surgery, and 5 patients with clinically evident hypoparathyroidism. Serum calcium concentration was determined at intervals during the 24 hr postinfusion. As compared to controls, patients with thyroid surgery showed an impaired ability to mobilize calcium in response to EDTA-induced hypocalcemia. This impairment was different from that noted in typically hypoparathyroid patients only at 24 hr. It is thought that following thyroid surgery patients have reduced parathyroid functional reserve. The results must be interpreted with caution, however, until the influence of extraparathyroidal factors can be better defined.
Mathematics Anxiety: Separating the Math from the Anxiety

Anxiety about math is tied to low math grades and standardized test scores, yet not all math-anxious individuals perform equally poorly in math. We used functional magnetic resonance imaging to separate neural activity during the anticipation of doing math from activity during math performance itself. For higher (but not lower) math-anxious individuals, increased activity in frontoparietal regions when simply anticipating doing math mitigated mathspecific performance deficits. This network included bilateral inferior frontal junction, a region involved in cognitive control and reappraisal of negative emotional responses. Furthermore, the relation between frontoparietal anticipatory activity and highly math-anxious individuals’ math deficits was fully mediated (or accounted for) by activity in caudate, nucleus accumbens, and hippocampus during math performance. These subcortical regions are important for coordinating task demands and motivational factors during skill execution. Individual differences in how mathanxious individuals recruit cognitive control resources prior to doing math and motivational resources during math performance predict the extent of their math deficits. This work suggests that educational interventions emphasizing control of negative emotional responses to math stimuli (rather than merely additional math training) will be most effective in revealing a population of mathematically competent individuals, who might otherwise go undiscovered.
Bi-directional mechanical properties of the human forearm interosseous ligament.

Abstract Interest in reconstruction of the interosseous ligament (IOL) of the forearm in the setting of longitudinal radio-ulnar dissociation has increased in recent years with hopes of improving clinical outcomes. This increased interest has been accompanied by research on biomechanics of the IOL. However, little is known about stress and strain in the IOL under externally applied forearm loads. This information is needed to help guide reconstruction. Mechanical properties of the IOL are needed to properly model the IOL for analyses such as finite element models. The objective of this study was to document the bi-directional mechanical properties along the fiber direction (longitudinal) and perpendicular to the fiber direction (transverse). Twenty specimens were mounted in a materials testing machine to perform preconditioning and a load to failure tensile test in each direction. Strain markers on the surface of the specimens were tracked with a video system. Data analysis provided stress–strain curves for each specimen. The elastic moduli of longitudinal and transverse specimens were 515 ± 277 and 1.82 ± 2.93 MPa, respectively. The tensile strength and ultimate strain of longitudinal and transverse specimens were 54.1 ± 25.2 and 0.18 ± 0.20 and 16 ± 5% and 34 ± 32%, respectively. The bi-directional mechanical properties of the IOL compared well with those published for the medial collateral ligament of the knee. The mechanical properties in the longitudinal direction were much greater than those in the transverse direction, which is indicative of the IOL's role in resisting longitudinal loading. The results of this study can be used to generate mathematical models of stress and strain in the IOL.
Quality Factor of a Nanobowtie Antenna

We present a rigorous formulation based on the Poynting's theorem in dispersive and lossy media to calculate the quality factor, material loss, radiation loss, and radiation pattern of an optical nanobowtie antenna using the finite-difference time-domain method. The quality factor obtained from our theory, 8.73, agrees well with the experimental data. Our results show that the radiation loss and material loss are comparable. The material loss mainly originates from the chromium rather than gold even though the nanobowtie antenna mostly consists of gold. In addition, due to the small gap and plasmonic mode confinement, the effective modal volume is ultrasmall [6.36 × 10-5(λ/neff)3], which significantly breaks the diffraction limit.
The Role of Cognitive "Performance Orientation" in Communication Anxiety

This study examined cognitive patterns involved in communication anxiety, particularly in public speaking situations. The cognitive patterns were represented by Motley's (1990) theoretical‐clinical conceptualization of either a “performance” or a “communication” orientation to public presentations. The mediating role of public self‐consciousness in these anxious cognitive patterns was also examined. Results indicated that Motley's measurement of performance orientation (i.e. the presentation has to be perfect and will be closely scrutinized for delivery by the audience) was not associated with communication apprehension, public speaking anxiety, nor with public self‐consciousness. Although other scales performed as expected, the Performance/Communication Orientation scale proved to be multi‐factored and internally unreliable.
In vitro 3'-end endonucleolytic processing defect in a human mitochondrial tRNA(Ser(UCN)) precursor with the U7445C substitution, which causes non-syndromic deafness.

Eukaryotic tRNAs are transcribed as precursors. A 5′-end leader and 3′-end trailer are endonucleolytically removed by RNase P and 3′-tRNase before 3′-end CCA addition, aminoacylation, nuclear export and translation. 3′-End -CC can be a 3′-tRNase anti-determinant with the ability to prevent mature tRNA from recycling through 3′-tRNase. Twenty-two tRNAs punctuate the two rRNAs and 13 mRNAs in long, bidirectional mitochondrial transcripts. Accurate mitochondrial gene expression thus depends on endonucleolytic excision of tRNAs. Various mitochondrial diseases and syndromes could arise from defective tRNA end processing. The U7445C substitution in the human mitochondrial L-strand transcript (U74C directly following the discriminator base of tRNA Ser(UCN) ) causes non-syndromic deafness. The sequence of the precursor (G↓UCU) becomes G↓CCU, resembling a 3′-tRNase anti-determinant. We demonstrate that a tRNA Ser(UCN) precursor with the U7445C substitution cannot be processed in vitro by 3′-tRNase from human mitochondria. A 3′-end processing defect in this tRNA precursor could thus be responsible for mitochondrial disease.