cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Pilot Study of the Effects of the Angiotensin‐Converting Enzyme Inhibitor CI‐906 on Patients with Essential Hypertension

The effects of two single doses of the new oral nonsulfhydryl angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor CI-906 on blood pressure and hormone levels are described in eight subjects with essential hypertension. Starting at 0.625 mg, doses were separated by a placebo day and doubled in consecutive patients until the full effect (obtained with 5 and 10 mg) was reached, at which point the remaining patients received the same dosage. All doses, including the smallest, caused ACE suppression to less than 1 per cent of baseline lasting for least 12 hours and remaining below 30 per cent at 48 hours, accompanied by a rise in plasma renin activity (by 10.9 +/- 2.1 ng/ml/hr) and fall in aldosterone (by -12.6 +/- 2.5 ng/100 ml). However, a clinically significant, though partial and short-lived, effect on blood pressure was observed at 2.5 mg. The two highest doses produced similar effects in terms of magnitude of mean blood pressure lowering (by 26 +/- 5 and 25 +/- 2 mm Hg, respectively) and duration (varying from 12 to over 24 hours) regardless of pretreatment renin levels. There was no orthostatic hypotension, tachycardia, or other adverse reaction.
Frustulosinol, an antibiotic metabolite of Stereum frustulosum: Revised structure of frustulosin

Abstract On the basis of chemical reactions and spectroscopic data, frustulosinol, a new antibiotic metabolite of Stereum frustulosum , has been assigned an acetylenic structure. This has led to a revised structure for the related metabolite, frustulosin.
Allelopathic Exudates of Cogongrass (Imperata cylindrica): Implications for the Performance of Native Pine Savanna Plant Species in the Southeastern US

We conducted a greenhouse study to assess the effects of cogongrass (Imperata cylindrica) rhizochemicals on a suite of plants native to southeastern US pine savanna ecosystems. Our results indicated a possible allelopathic effect, although it varied by species. A ruderal grass (Andropogon arctatus) and ericaceous shrub (Lyonia ferruginea) were unaffected by irrigation with cogongrass soil “leachate” (relative to leachate from mixed native species), while a mid-successional grass (Aristida stricta Michx. var. beyrichiana) and tree (Pinus elliottii) were negatively affected. For A. stricta, we observed a 35.7 % reduction in aboveground biomass, a 21.9 % reduction in total root length, a 24.6 % reduction in specific root length and a 23.5 % reduction in total mycorrhizal root length, relative to the native leachate treatment. For P. elliottii, there was a 19.5 % reduction in percent mycorrhizal colonization and a 20.1 % reduction in total mycorrhizal root length. Comparisons with a DI water control in year two support the possibility that the treatment effects were due to the negative effects of cogongrass leachate, rather than a facilitative effect from the mixed natives. Chemical analyses identified 12 putative allelopathic compounds (mostly phenolics) in cogongrass leachate. The concentrations of most compounds were significantly lower, if they were present at all, in the native leachate. One compound was an alkaloid with a speculated structure of hexadecahydro-1-azachrysen-8-yl ester (C23H33NO4). This compound was not found in the native leachate. We hypothesize that the observed treatment effects may be attributable, at least partially, to these qualitative and quantitative differences in leachate chemistry.
Moral reasoning without rules

Genuine rules cannot capture our intuitive moral judgments because, if usable, they mention only a limited number of factors as relevant to decisions. But morally relevant factors are both numerous and unpredictable in the ways they interact to change priorities among them. Particularists have pointed this out, but their account of moral judgment is also inadequate, leaving no room for genuine reasoning or argument. Reasons must be general even if not universal. Particularists can insist that our judgments be reflective, unbiased, informed, and sensitive, requiring a background of experiences that expand sympathy and empathy for others. But beyond this, our judgments must be coherent. This requirement provides a way to reason to the correct answer to a controversial issue—the answer most coherent with or body of settled judgments. Rawls' account of coherence in terms of reflective equilibrium, where we adjust particular judgments to match rules and adjust rules to match judgments, is rejected since rules have no independent force. Instead, the central requirement is that we not judge cases differently without being able to cite a morally relevant difference between them. Such differences must make a difference else-where as well, although they need not do so universally. Factors cannot be relevant in only one context because they reflect values that must recur to be maintained. The method of moral reasoning based on this requirement is specified as follows: first, the specification of competing values or interests in the problematic case; second, the location of paradigm cases in which these competing values are prioritized, making sure that these settled judgments are reflective, informed, and sensitive; third, the search for relevant differences between the settled and problematic cases or the location of alternative, more closely analogous paradigms. The paper ends with an illustration of the method applied to the issue of doctor assisted suicide.
Effect of Electric Field Treatment on Vacancy of Inconel 718 Superalloy at 1073 K

Effect of electric field treatment with different intensities on vacancy of Inconel 718 aged at 1073 K was investigated. The positron annihilation lifetime (PAL) and corresponding concentration of vacancies were measured by positron annihilation technique. It was found that atomic vibration at lattice site can be promoted by an external electric field performed on Inconel 718 superalloy during aged at elevated temperature. Some atoms owing the higher vacancy formation energy or larger radius will jump out from the normal lattice sites and form defects, which is leading to the increase of PAL of monovacancy. Under continuous effect on electric field, monovacancies will transform to three-dimensional vacancies of lower energy and vacancy clusters. Moreover, the vacancy concentration of Inconel 718 superalloy can be improved evidently by electric field treatment, and the average PAL of vacancies can be up to 6.3% when the electric field intensity is up to 8 kV/cm, which is very useful for controlling the microstructures evolution and properties of the superalloy, such as solute redistribution and precipitations.
Emergence of heterogeneity and political organization in information exchange networks

We present a simple model of the emergence of the division of labor and the development of a system of resource subsidy from an agent-based model of directed resource production with variable degrees of trust between the agents. The model has three distinct phases corresponding to different forms of societal organization: disconnected (independent agents), homogeneous cooperative (collective state), and inhomogeneous cooperative (collective state with a leader). Our results indicate that such levels of organization arise generically as a collective effect from interacting agent dynamics and may have applications in a variety of systems including social insects and microbial communities.
Ensuring network connectivity for nonholonomic robots during rendezvous

To achieve a cooperative objective in a multi-robot system typically requires that the robots collaborate over a communication network. In this paper, we design a control strategy for repositioning and reorienting a group of wheeled robots with nonholonomic constraints and limited communication and sensing capabilities. Each robot knows the positions of only those nodes within its sensing range and can only communicate with nodes within its communication range. Thus, the objective must be accomplished while ensuring that specified nodes stay within each other's sensing and communication ranges and that the overall communication network stays connected. To achieve these objectives, we develop a dipolar navigation function and corresponding time-varying continuous controller. We show that if the network is initially connected, the controller maintains the specified communication links at all times while moving the robots into the specified positions and orientations. We consider the particular application of moving the robots to a common rendezvous point with a specified orientation. Simulation results verify the effectiveness of the proposed approach.
Clinical problems of cardioversion

Abstract Capacitor-discharge countershock offers the physician an effective and even dramatic tool in the treatment of many cardiac arrhythmias. It is not intended to be a substitute for sound clinical judgment or to be a “magic button” with which a cure may be effected. Some of the immediate problems associated with the clinical use of this form of treatment for certain cardiac arrhythmias have been discussed, in order to emphasize its practical advantages as well as its limitations. We have not discussed the problem associated with the use of long-term drug prophylaxis in maintaining normal rhythm once it is established. The push-button technique of reversion should not be withheld as a fearful, ultimate weapon in the war on cardiac arrhythmias, used only when all else has failed, but as a safe, effective instrument with which the physician may restore peace to the heart.
Nitrogen and Defoliation Management: Effects on Yield and Nutritive Value of Flaccidgrass

'Carostan' flaccidgrass (Pennisetum flaccidum Griseb.), a C 4 perennial grass, has shown high quality potential in animal trials. Its yield response to defoliation frequency and N fertilization, however, has not been reported. We examined the influence of stubble height and of a range of N applications in two defoliation experiments over 4 yr. Experiment 1 (Raleigh, NC) combined two harvest heights, 76 and 38 cm, with two stubble heights, 25 and 15 cm (76-25, 76-15, 38-25, 38-15); all treatments received 380 kg N ha -1 yr -1 . After Year 1, the 76-15 defoliation produced higher yields than 76-25 (Year 2: 11 330 vs. 7930 kg ha -1 , P < 0.001; Year 3: 8950 vs. 6270 g kg -1 , P < 0.001), while in vitro dry matter disappearance (IVDMD) was similar (Year 3) (mean = 582 g kg -1 ). Compared with 38-15, the 38-8 defoliation resulted in lower yields (Year 2: 8638 vs. 9344 kg ha -1 , P < 0.001; Year 3, 6173 vs. 8090 kg ha -1 , P = 0.07) but higher IVDMD (Year 3, 651 vs. 635 g kg -1 , P < 0.01). Experiment 2 (Raleigh, NC, and Watkinsville, GA) had four defoliations: clipping to 5 cm at 20 and 51 cm (vegetative) and to 8 cm at boot and anthesis stages (20-5, 51-5, Boot-8, Anthesis-8). All defoliation treatments were topdressed with 291 kg N ha -1 , and 51-5 and Boot-8 were also evaluated with 179 and 403 kg N ha -1 (eight N-defoliation treatments in all). At both locations, highest yields were obtained with Anthesis-8, averaging 19 010 kg ha -1 at Raleigh and 12 390 kg ha -1 at Watkinsville. The 20-5 defoliation resulted in lowest yields at both locations, averaging 7648 kg ha -1 at Raleigh and 5100 kg ha -1 at Watkinsville. Defoliation frequency altered IVDMD (range = 550 to 789 g kg -1 ), but N application did not; however, increasing N application increased N concentrations linearly (P = 0.05). Flaccidgrass had high yield potential and high nutritive value at the Raleigh location, and warrants further evaluation in the upper South.
Size and Morphology of Soot Particulates Sampled from a Turbulent Nonpremixed Acetylene Flame

Soot processes within a turbulent nonpremixed flame burning acetylene/air were investigated by conducting thermophoretic sampling experiments at various axial and radial locations. Analyses of transmission electron microscope images yielded the mean soot spherule diameter, number of spherules per aggregate, and fractal morphology within this highly luminous turbulent flame. Specifically, translucent particles were observed at low-to-intermediate heights above the flame with the formation and evolution of young soot precursors. The soot spherule diameter peaked at 34 nm halfway along the centerline, identifying the flame regions of surface growth and oxidation processes. In the meantime, the aggregation was continuous along the flame axis with the mean number of spherules per aggregate reaching 150 at the highest sampling location. Size ranges of spherules and aggregates were narrow and broad, respectively, while the relative widths of both size distributions remained similar throughout the flame. In contr...
Bayesian update method for contaminant source characterization in water distribution systems.

AbstractBayesian analysis has application to probabilistic source characterization in water distribution systems. A new implementation of Markov-chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) for this problem is described. The solution addresses the discrete nature of water distribution networks that precludes the application of MCMC methods of general applicability that have been reported elsewhere in the water resources literature. The method is applied to a hypothetical network that has been used by others to test source identification methods. The likelihood function, a key component of Bayes’ rule, is evaluated using a Monte Carlo–based stochastic water-demand model. The results reinforce the need to address the multiple sources of uncertainty in the source characterization, including the stochastic variation of water demand. Further research is needed to make the approach feasible in operational environments. Limitations of the approach and future research directions are discussed.
Activated lymphocytes reduce adherence of Aspergillus fumigatus.

Lymphocytes comprise up to 30% of the cells present in human bronchoalveolar lavage fluid and thus could participate in host response to infectious Aspergillus fumigatus conidia. We have examined the possibility that lymphocytes might play a role during early infection by either damaging the fungus or interfering with adherence. When incubated with A. fumigatus conidia for 20 h, highly purified 5-day-old lymphocytes activated with either IL-2 or phytohaemagglutinin, but not untreated lymphocytes, were consistently able to reduce residual fungal biomass as estimated by a metabolic assay. T lymphocytes, but not NK cells, appeared to be responsible for this activity. Lymphocytes bound both A. fumigatus conidia and hyphae, and the antifungal activity of the lymphocytes required direct lymphocyte-fungus contact. In a separate set of experiments using release of 51Cr from 51 Cr-loaded fungi as an estimate of fungal damage, lymphocyte-induced loss of fungal biomass was foundto be due to loss of fungal adherence ...
Neutron-charged-particle correlations in the 3.8 MeV per nucleon 16O+12C and 13.4 MeV per nucleon 16O+27Al reactions.

Neutron\char21{}light-charged-particle (LCP) and LCP-LCP correlation functions were measured for the 215 MeV $^{16}\mathrm{O}$${+}^{27}$Al reaction, together with the neutron-proton correlation function for the $^{16}\mathrm{O}$${+}^{12}$C reaction at ${\mathit{E}}_{\mathrm{lab}}$=60.5 MeV. The np and pp correlation data are compared with the predictions of the Koonin model and a semiclassical evaporation model. Both models provide an excellent fit to the np data, while the pp data are not reproduced as well. Production yields of singlet deuterons, ground state $^{5}\mathrm{He}$ and $^{5}\mathrm{Li}$, and $^{6}\mathrm{Li}$ nuclei in the 2.186 MeV state were obtained from the coincidence data, and a nuclear temperature of T=2.${0}_{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}0.6}^{+0.8}$ MeV for the $^{16}\mathrm{O}$${+}^{27}$Al compound system was determined from the ratio of singlet to ground state deuteron emission, after corrections for sequential emission and noncompound deuteron production. This temperature value is well below the Fermi gas model estimate, and a similar result is observed for the $^{16}\mathrm{O}$${+}^{12}$C compound system.
Hypermutability of Damaged Single-Strand DNA Formed at Double-Strand Breaks and Uncapped Telomeres in Yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The major DNA repair pathways operate on damage in double-strand DNA because they use the intact strand as a template after damage removal. Therefore, lesions in transient single-strand stretches of chromosomal DNA are expected to be especially threatening to genome stability. To test this hypothesis, we designed systems in budding yeast that could generate many kilobases of persistent single-strand DNA next to double-strand breaks or uncapped telomeres. The systems allowed controlled restoration to the double-strand state after applying DNA damage. We found that lesions induced by UV-light and methyl methanesulfonate can be tolerated in long single-strand regions and are hypermutagenic. The hypermutability required PCNA monoubiquitination and was largely attributable to translesion synthesis by the error-prone DNA polymerase ζ. In support of multiple lesions in single-strand DNA being a source of hypermutability, analysis of the UV-induced mutants revealed strong strand-specific bias and unexpectedly high frequency of alleles with widely separated multiple mutations scattered over several kilobases. Hypermutability and multiple mutations associated with lesions in transient stretches of long single-strand DNA may be a source of carcinogenesis and provide selective advantage in adaptive evolution.
War and Peace: Deconstructing the Topic of Genocide and Other Crimes against Humanity

This article examines the topic of genocide and other world conflicts as they are addressed by reference works. Topics of human aggression are treated by multidisciplinary research, and an awareness of the multiple angles of approach aids the process of directing students to sources. The article discusses definitions and standard organizational categories for this subject area, and provides reviews of reference titles for both reference services and collection development.
The new science and engineering management: cooperative research centers as government policies, industry strategies, and organizations

Cooperative research centers (CRCs) are key mechanisms for national and subnational governments and private industry for achieving social and economic outcomes with science and technology. Despite growing policy and scholarly interest in the management and productivity of CRCs, their complex and variegated nature has led to limited and inconsistent understanding of CRCs. In this introduction to this Special Issue of TheJournal of Technology Transfer, we discuss the impetuses for and embodiment of CRCs as government policies, industry strategies, and organizations and thus address a number of unexplored aspects of CRCs that are important to decision making for both policy and management. Of note, we discuss the lack of definitional clarity regarding CRCs and introduce criteria for distinguishing CRCs from other organizations. We conclude by introducing the article contributions, which are international in scope and address CRCs from multiple theoretical perspectives and levels of analysis, and by discussing areas for future research.
Glycoprotein glycosyltransferases in male reproductive organs and their hormonal regulation

The prostate glands of rats, mice, guinea pigs and hamsters were found to be a rich source of enzymes catalyzing the Mn2+-dependent transfer of galactose from UDP-galactose to glycoprotein acceptors such as ovomucoid and ovalbumin. The rat ventral prostate was also very active in promoting transfer of fucose from GDP-fucose to ovomucoid. The prostatic enzymes promoting both galactosyl and fucosyl transfers to glycoproteins were very largely membranebound, and were markedly activated by the non-ionic detergent Triton X-100. Castration of adult male rats resulted in a many-fold and roughly parallel decline in both glycosyltransferase activities over a period of two weeks, which was reversed by subsequent daily treatment with testosterone for 8 days. The very low galactosyltransferase of the ventral prostate of hypophysectomized rats was markedly enhanced by testosterone administration, whereas prolactin alone or in combination with androgen had no significant effect.
How Do Urodynamics Findings Influence the Treatment of the Typical Patient With Overactive Bladder

Overactive bladder (OAB) is a clinical symptom complex whose hallmark is the symptom of urinary urgency, usually accompanied by frequency and nocturia, with or without urgency incontinence. Historically, urodynamics (UDS) evaluation has not been recommended in the initial evaluation of OAB, since it is defined primarily by clinical symptoms. As the pathophysiology of the OAB complex has become more clearly elucidated from recent studies, the role of UDS has again become a topic of discussion as a tool that can provide objective data to reflect these new findings. The utility of UDS in the diagnosis and treatment of OAB is still evolving, but in certain clinical scenarios, especially when empiric treatment has failed, it can provide definitive information that can identify associated pathologies and/or alter the treatment course. Herein, we will discuss the current literature regarding use of UDS in OAB patients and offer our own opinions as to its use.
Role of iron, hydrogen peroxide and reactive oxygen species in microsomal oxidation of glycerol to formaldehyde

Rat liver microsomes can oxidize glycerol to formaldehyde. This oxidation is sensitive to catalase and glutathione plus glutathione peroxidase, suggesting a requirement for H2O2 in the overall pathway of glycerol oxidation. Hydrogen peroxide can not replace NADPH in supporting glycerol oxidation; however, added H2O2 increased the NADPH-dependent rate. Ferric chloride or ferric-ATP had no effect on glycerol oxidation, whereas ferric-EDTA was inhibitory. Certain iron chelators such as desferrioxamine, EDTA or diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid, but not others such as ADP or citrate, inhibited glycerol oxidation. The inhibition by desferrioxamine could be overcome by added iron. Neither superoxide dismutase nor hydroxyl radical scavengers had any effect on glycerol oxidation. With the exception of propyl gallate, several antioxidants which inhibit lipid peroxidation had no effect on formaldehyde production from glycerol. The inhibition by propyl gallate could be overcome by added iron. In contrast to glycerol, formaldehyde production from dimethylnitrosamine was not sensitive to catalase or iron chelators, thus disassociating the overall pathway of glycerol oxidation from typical mixed-function oxidase activity of cytochrome P450. These studies indicate that H2O2 and nonheme iron are required for glycerol oxidation to formaldehyde. The responsible oxidant is not superoxide, H2O2, or hydroxyl radical. Cytochrome P450 may function to generate the H2O2 and reduce the nonheme iron. There may be additional roles for P450 since rates of formaldehyde production by microsomes exceed rates found with model chemical systems. Elevated rates of H2O2 production by certain P450 isozymes, e.g., P450 IIE1, may contribute to enhanced rates of glycerol oxidation.
Fiscal policy through time-varying tax rates : if and how

This paper investigates if there are circumstances where time-varying tax rates could improve welfare and whether such policy can effectively be implemented in practice. While, in principle, variable taxes could improve welfare in some cases, the paper highlights the very particular circumstances that need to prevail. With liquidity constraints, a consumption-tax break is in a better footing to boost consumption and welfare than an income-tax break. A hike in consumption taxes can also be used to restrain consumption and improve welfare under time-consistency problems induced by hyperbolic discounting. However, variable taxes are subject to serious implementation problems fettering their use.
American Jewry and Bonacich's Middleman Minority Theory

This paper critiques Bonacich's application of her middleman minority theory to the American Jewish experience. American Jewish immigrants did not have a sojourner outlook nor did they shift to the intermediary positions that Bonacich's theory anticipates. In contrast to Bonacich's model, Jews accumulated human and physical capital as a result of their lack of a sojourner outlook and remained a predominantly working-class group prior to World War II. Rather than being clannish and hostile to progressive movements, Jews were assimilationist and supportive of unions and antiracist activities.
State Actors' Offensive Cyberoperations: The Disruptive Power of Systematic Cyberattacks

During the last few years, several nation states have entered cyberspace in an attempt to use the Internet for policy, geopolitical, and state gains. Using development of the battle tank as an analogy, the authors explore the militarization of the Internet and how the ability to think beyond the existing cybersecurity paradigm has led to new cyberweapons and the need for new defensive strategies. The existing paradigm says that cyberspace is becoming more secure; the entrance of state actors reverses this trajectory, making cyberspace less secure and heavily contested.
Ultrasonography in preterm labor

A prospective study was conducted with ultrasonography in a group of 48 patients who presented with significant premature uterine activity. The study attempted to characterize the ultrasonographic signs exhibited by the cervix and lower uterine segment in conjunction with preterm labor. These signs, their frequency of occurrence, and possible clinical significance are described.
The origins of the Rag genes—From transposition to V(D)J recombination

The recombination activating genes 1 and 2 (Rag1 and Rag2) encode the key enzyme that is required for the generation of the highly diversified antigen receptor repertoire central to adaptive immunity. The longstanding model proposed that this gene pair was acquired by horizontal gene transfer to explain its abrupt appearance in the vertebrate lineage. The analyses of the enormous amount of sequence data created by many genome sequencing projects now provide the basis for a more refined model as to how this unique gene pair evolved from a selfish DNA transposon into a sophisticated DNA recombinase essential for immunity.
Multiple Genes, Tissue Specificity, and Expression-Dependent Modulation Contribute to the Functional Diversity of Potassium Channels in Arabidopsis thaliana

K+ channels play diverse roles in mediating K+ transport and in modulating the membrane potential in higher plant cells during growth and development. Some of the diversity in K+ channel functions may arise from the regulated expression of multiple genes encoding different K+ channel polypeptides. Here we report the isolation of a novel Arabidopsis thaliana cDNA (AKT2) that is highly homologous to the two previously identified K+ channel genes, KAT1 and AKT1. This cDNA mapped to the center of chromosome 4 by restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis and was highly expressed in leaves, whereas AKT1 was mainly expressed in roots. In addition, we show that diversity in K+ channel function may be attributable to differences in expression levels. Increasing KAT1 expression in Xenopus oocytes by polyadenylation of the KAT1 mRNA increased the current amplitude and led to higher levels of KAT1 protein, as assayed in western blots. The increase in KAT1 expression in oocytes produced shifts in the threshold potential for activation to more positive membrane potentials and decreased half-activation times. These results suggest that different levels of expression and tissue-specific expression of different K+ channel isoforms can contribute to the functional diversity of plant K+ channels. The identification of a highly expressed, leaf-specific K+ channel homolog in plants should allow further molecular characterization of K+ channel functions for physiological K+ transport processes in leaves.
Adsorption and reaction of H2O and CO on oxidized and reduced Rh/CeOx(111) surfaces

Abstract The interaction of H2O and CO with thin films of highly oriented CeO2(111) with vapor deposited Rh was studied using soft X-ray photoemission spectroscopy and thermal desorption spectroscopy. Adsorbed surface states of CO and H2O and desorption products were identified in relation with the ceria substrate oxidation state, adsorption/annealing temperature and the presence of Rh. Only molecularly adsorbed H2O and CO were detected on Rh/oxidized ceria surfaces. Rh/reduced ceria surfaces are more reactive, and promote dissociation of both H2O and CO. CO is preferentially adsorbed on the metal and H2O on the ceria substrate. Two adsorbed states were identified following the low temperature water adsorption on Rh/reduced ceria, chemisorbed water and hydroxyls. In the absence of Rh, chemisorbed water desorbs below 300 K and hydroxyls decompose above 500 K to give H2 as a desorption product. Rh promotes the dissociation of chemisorbed water and formation of hydrogen in the 200–350 K temperature range. It also lowers the temperature of hydrogen formation from hydroxyls. The interaction of CO and H2O strongly depends on the ceria oxidation state. Reaction of atomic carbon (formed by CO dissociation) with oxygen from ceria is facilitated by the presence of coadsorbed water. On the other hand, hydrogen desorption is inhibited by the presence of coadsorbed CO.
Critical period and minimum exposure required for the effects of alternating monocular occlusion in cat visual cortex.

Abstract The time course of the effects of alternating monocular occlusion was studied in two experiments. First, alternating monocular occlusion was begun at 5 weeks of age and continued for 1, 2. 10 or 21 days. A clear decrease in the proportion of binocular cells in the visual cortex was observed in animals subjected to alternating occlusion for 10 or 21 days, but not in animals exposed for 1 or 2 days, Second, alternating occlusion for 21 days was begun at 5, 8 or 12 weeks of age or in adulthood. Cortical binocularity decreased only when alternating occlusion began at 5 or 8 weeks of age.
Protecting workers with smart e-vest

This paper describes the design and evaluation of an alerting vest for construction workers. Four different alerts and modalities were compared through an empirical study. We measured the response time to different alerts while the users performed three distinct tasks. We found that the modality of each alert has a significant effect on time and also observed a significant interaction between the alert type and the task being executed.
On the mechanism of rotational polarization effects in molecule-surface collisions

Abstract Quantum close-coupling calculations are presented which verify that the rotational polarization observed in recent experiments on NO-Ag(III) scattering is due primarily to m j conservation. However a dramatic dependence of rotational transitions on initial m j in some surface collisions is also indicated by the calculations and may be experimentally observable.
Nostalgia in Oral Histories of Israeli Women

In her article "Nostalgia in Oral Histories of Israeli Women" Yael Zilberman explores the narration of nostalgia of elderly women about the city of Be'er Sheva. In their narration, the subjects of the study create textual and spatial practices which are engendered and create analogies between the city, their maturing/ed bodies, and by-gone youth. Further, the grief owing to the perceived condition of the city intensifies the idealized description of the city and the longing for its past. Zilberman's study brakes new ground in that the study of urban experience within folklore is a lesser explored field as the urban environment is considered by many folklore scholars as a deterioration folklore in the country side. Since the 1980s, however, urban folklore has been gaining scholarly attention and women and more so elderly women represent one such group. Yael Zilberman, "Nostalgia in Oral Histories of Israeli Women" page 1 of 2 CLCWeb: Comparative Literature and Culture 14.4 (2012):
Keeping the Unit Safe: A Grounded Theory Study:

It is critical for researchers to develop multidimensional models of prevention that reflect the complexity of the organization of a psychiatric unit.OBJECTIVE:The objective of the study was to dev...
Isolation of a new set of Aspergillus nidulans mutants defective in nuclear migration

In the filamentous fungus Aspergillus nidulans, nuclear migration in the germ tube is mediated by cytoplasmic dynein. We have previously reported the characterization of four nud (nuclear distribution) genes, nudA, nudC, nudF and nudG, involved in this process. The nudA and nudG genes respectively encode for the heavy chain and the 8-kDa light chain of cytoplasmic dynein. In this work, we describe an improved method for the isolation of nud mutants that has led to the identification of at least ten additional nud loci. We have cloned one of the genes, nudK, and determined that it encodes the actin-related protein Arp1, which is a component of the dynactin complex. This provides the first evidence that dynactin is involved in nuclear migration in A. nidulans.
Bacteriology of dental caries.

Abstract Dental caries resembles other bacterially produced diseases but differs from them in that the organisms concerned live outside the body (in the mouth), that they need not invade tissues but simply grow passively into cavities produced by their own products, and that they cause their damage not by exotoxins, endotoxins, or allergic phenomenon, but simply by the acid they produce as a metabolic product. The dentobacterial plaque is the microcosm in which the guilty organisms colonize. It is a complex organization of different bacterial types living in a “social” group. Actinomycetes appear to form its framework but various bacilli, cocci, and other forms may be found within its limits. There is no evidence that dental caries is a specific bacterial disease but rather good evidence indicates that it is a bacterial disease. In the present state of knowledge it appears that any one or group of acidogenic organisms that can maintain themselves in the environment of the dentobacterial plaque is capable of participating as an etiologic agent in the process of dental caries.
The Effects of Exposure to Red and Blue Light on Physiological Indices and Time Estimation

The effects of exposure to red, white, and blue lights on time estimation and physiological indices were examined. Sixty subjects were exposed to a total of four presentation series of red, white, and blue lights. There were two phases of the experiment: a verbal estimation phase in which subjects were required to count out loud the length of each color while measures of eyeblinks, skin conductance, pulse volume, heart rate, and EEG activity were obtained; and a production phase in which subjects were required to produce several intervals while measures of EEG were obtained. The data on each dependent measure were subjected to three-way repeated-measures ANOVAs. EEG data were digitized and analyzed with power spectral, peak frequency, percentage of alpha activity, and discriminant analyses. Results indicate that color did not exert consistent significant effects on any of the dependent measures and raise serious questions about the assumption that 'warm' colors are more arousing than 'cool' colors.
Undesirable Implications of Disclosing Individual Genetic Results to Research Participants

Ravitsky and Wilfond (2006) correctly highlight the need for uniform guidelines to assist investigators and institutional review boards (IRBs) in determining whether to disclose individual genetic results to research participants. However, their results-evaluation framework, like other proposals that call for the disclosure of individual results to research participants (Partridge and Winer 2002; Rothstein 2006; Shalowitz and Miller 2005), is troublesome for two related reasons. First, their justification for disclosure rests on the mistaken view that principles of beneficence, respect, reciprocity, and/or justice ethically require researchers to offer participants individual genetic results. Whereas these principles and others obligate physicians to share individually relevant results with patients in the clinical care setting, they do not similarly obligate investigators to share such information with participants in the research setting. Second, because Ravitsky and Wilfond’s proposal conflates the aims of clinical research with those of clinical care, participants may suffer from a therapeutic or diagnostic misconception (Clayton and Ross 2006), researchers may be inclined to overstate the benefits of enrollment, and institutional review boards (IRBs) may face unforeseen difficulties in assessing trial risks and benefits. Beneficence, respect for persons, reciprocity, and justice are important components of ethical research, but none of these principles are violated or diminished when investigators do not share individual genetic results from research. Beneficence requires investigators to maximize possible benefits to participants and society at large while minimizing possible harms. Whether a clinical trial meets the requirement of beneficence is determined ab initio by an IRB before any participants are enrolled. At this stage of review, an IRB cannot weigh the possibility that some participants may gain individually useful results from participation. There is no guarantee that any given trial will produce such results. In contrast, if a study does generate individual information, it may apply only to participants with certain genomic characteristics. And even in this case it is not possible to determine whether a given participant will perceive the information as a benefit or harm once confronted with it. Because a clinical trial must meet the requirements of beneficence regardless of whether it returns individual research results, it cannot be the case that beneficence requires investigators to offer results.
Global surface-water-induced seasonal variations in the earth's rotation and gravitational field

The effects of seasonal changes in continental surface-water storage on the low-degree gravitational-field coefficients (J), the annual wobble excitation (Psi), and the seasonal length-of-day (LOD) variations are investigated by means of numerical simulations based on compiled meteorological data (Willmott et al., 1985) and satellite snow-load estimates (Chao et al., 1987). The formulation of the model equations and the overall characteristics of the data sets are discussed in detail, and the computation results are presented in tables and graphs. The effect on Psi is found to be relatively small due to longitudinal cancellation, but those on LOD and J are considered significant.
Structured porous media for high heat flux fusion applications

The use of structured porous media is a proposed technique to achieve higher heat transfer coefficients by increasing the specific surface area for heat transfer while aiming to maintain acceptable pressure drop and pumping power. The general design strategy is to minimize the coolant flow path through the porous medium while optimizing the porous medium characteristics to minimize the friction pressure drop for a given heat transfer performance. A comprehensive thermo-fluid model called MERLOT was used to assess the use of porous heat transfer media for fusion plasma facing component applications. A parametric study was performed to assess the relative importance on the heat transfer performance of key design parameters including the solid conductivity, the porosity magnitude and distribution, the microstructure characteristic dimension, and the local heat transfer coefficient. The analysis was carried out for different incident heat fluxes of up to 30 MW/m/sup 2/ with the goal of identifying particularly attractive sets of design parameters for plasma facing components.
Getting your foot in the door.

Maybe you’re a student about to earn your degree in biomedical engineering. Perhaps you’re a new professional, working for an independent service provider when you’d rather be working at a hospital. Or you could be looking to make a mid-career change into the medical technology fi eld. Regardless of the path that brought you here, fi nding your fi rst position can be a challenge. We work in a complicated fi eld. On top of ever-changing medical technology, a high-stress environment, and life-and-death demands, there are some internal challenges. We can’t even agree what to call ourselves, we are not consistent in what services we provide, and we want experienced biomeds but in a lot of cases we will not (or cannot) train an entry-level employee. Before you give up hope, though, read on. I hope to provide a few pointers that may help in your search.
The Essence of Analgesia and Analgesics

The Essence of Analgesia and Analgesics by Raymond S. Sinatra, Jonathan S. Jahr, and J. Michael Watkins-Pitchford (eds.) Cambridge University Press, Cambridge, UK, 2010 Pages: 550 Price: $99 ISBN: 978-0-52-114450-6 The Essence of Analgesia and Analgesics is a well-organized distillation of knowledge from 154 contributors. The book is divided into 12 sections and 131 chapters. The first section, Pain Definitions, chapters 2–12, provides an overview of pain theory, diagnosis and neuropathophysiology. Sections 2–11 concentrate on commonly prescribed medications, while section 12 focuses on promising analgesics, new targets, and creative formulations of old products. It is daunting indeed for clinicians striving to relieve the burden of pain to be faced with a constantly changing assortment of available analgesics. This book is a valuable resource for updating knowledge and an easy …
Expert assistance for the decision support process using hierarchical planning

A decision support process (DSP), defined as an approach to decision support, uses a programming environment to aid the decision-maker. The DSP is discussed and a system architecture using a hierarchical planning approach to support DSP activities is proposed. These stages include problem solving, solution planning, tools integration, and model execution. A comparative study of DSP research with respect to these stages is made. Using a conceptual framework for DSP as the basis for proposing a system architecture for assisting DSP, the design and development concerns based on hierarchical planning and an attribute-based approach are outlined, and the system, called XDSP (expert decision support process), is described. >
Tiller Demographics and Leaf Area Index of Four Perennial Pasture Grasses

Developing grazing systems requires basic information on the growth and development of adapted species. The objective of this field study was to determine seasonal tiller demographics and leaf area index (LAI) of intermediate wheatgrass [Thinopyrum intermedium (Host) Barkw. & D.R. Dewey], smooth bromegrass (Bromus inermis Leyss.), switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.), and big bluestem (Andropogon gerardii Vitman) tiller populations. This study was conducted in 1992 and 1993 near Mead, NE, on a silty clay loam soil (Typic Argiudoll) as a randomized complete block. Monocultures were harvested six times each year for tiller demographics. Additionally, mean stage count (MSC), a quantified estimate of tiller population maturity, was determined at each harvest. The LAI was indirectly measured using a canopy analyzer at 7- to 14-d intervals. Tiller density for all species generally declined as MSC increased. Tiller demographics were highly variable by year for intermediate wheatgrass and smooth bromegrass, which indicates that grazing management should be based on current tiller populations. Density of vegetative tillers declined most rapidly for smooth bromegrass, followed by intermediate wheatgrass, switchgrass, and big bluestem. Switchgrass and big bluestem tiller demographics were more uniform and predictable across years than intermediate wheatgrass and smooth bromegrass. The LAI for all species increased as MSC increased. Maximum LAI for intermediate wheatgrass, smooth bromegrass, switchgrass, and big bluestem in 1992 was 4.7, 5.1, 4.9, and 5.8, respectively. Integrating tiller demographics and LAI suggests that initial grazing readiness starts with smooth bromegrass in early spring, followed by intermediate wheatgrass in about 2 wk, switchgrass in late spring, and big bluestem in early summer.
Linear coupling correction with N-turn maps

The linear one-turn map of a storage ring contains coupling information on which a correction algorithm can be based. In principal, the one-turn matrix can be fitted from turn-by-turn data of beam position monitors after a kick was applied. However, the so obtained coupling information often sinks into the noise floor. The signal-to-noise ratio of the coupling information can be greatly enhanced by fitting maps for larger turn numbers N, equal to half the beat period. With the so obtained N-turn map an automated global coupling correction is possible without the need for a tune change. This is demonstrated for the Relativistic Heavy Ion Collider where the algorithm is implemented for operational use at injection.
Impact of multicollinearity on small sample hydrologic regression models

[1] Often hydrologic regression models are developed with ordinary least squares (OLS) procedures. The use of OLS with highly correlated explanatory variables produces multicollinearity, which creates highly sensitive parameter estimators with inflated variances and improper model selection. It is not clear how to best address multicollinearity in hydrologic regression models. Here a Monte Carlo simulation is developed to compare four techniques to address multicollinearity: OLS, OLS with variance inflation factor screening (VIF), principal component regression (PCR), and partial least squares regression (PLS). The performance of these four techniques was observed for varying sample sizes, correlation coefficients between the explanatory variables, and model error variances consistent with hydrologic regional regression models. The negative effects of multicollinearity are magnified at smaller sample sizes, higher correlations between the variables, and larger model error variances (smaller R2). The Monte Carlo simulation indicates that if the true model is known, multicollinearity is present, and the estimation and statistical testing of regression parameters are of interest, then PCR or PLS should be employed. If the model is unknown, or if the interest is solely on model predictions, is it recommended that OLS be employed since using more complicated techniques did not produce any improvement in model performance. A leave-one-out cross-validation case study was also performed using low-streamflow data sets from the eastern United States. Results indicate that OLS with stepwise selection generally produces models across study regions with varying levels of multicollinearity that are as good as biased regression techniques such as PCR and PLS.
Promoting the understanding of sex differences to enhance equity and excellence in biomedical science

AbstractFrom the moment of our conception, each of us has a sex. Sex has a major role in determining the physical attributes of our bodies, the structure of our brains, our behavioral tendencies, our susceptibility and reaction to diseases, the environment in which we grow up, our place in society, the attitudes of others towards us, and our conception of self. Although sex may be considered to be determined primarily biologically, our gender (i.e., the social perception and implications of our sex) is arguably equally or more important for our lives. Sex and gender differences are created by an intricate reciprocal interaction of numerous biological and environmental forces.
Storm Tracking: Scenes of Marital Disintegration

The purpose of the research was to explore the kinds of conflict cycles couples may engage in even as they struggle to overcome their problems. This script was developed from research notes, contem...