cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mouse Embryo Growth in Different Culture Media: Selection of a Medium for Quality Control Cross-Testing of Human in Vitro Fertilization Conditions

A total of 2070 two-cell mouse embryos were recovered from 89 superovulated female hybrid mice. Six different culture media were tested. The various media supported mouse embryo development as follows (percentage mean ± SD, n - 10): Hopp and Pitts medium (HP Eagle's medium supplemented with 10% (volume/volume, v/v) fetal bovine serum (DMEM) 80 ± 4; Ham's F-10 ± 15.0% (v/v) human fetal cord serum (hFCS) 79 ± 3; Whittingham's T-6 medium (WT-6) 60 ± 4; Ham's F-10 ± 7.5% (v/v) hFCS 55 ± 5; Krebs-Ringer low bicarbonate buffer (KRLBB) 42 ± 6. In H&P, DMEM, WT-6, and Ham's F-10 medium supplemented with hFCS, the pH was maintained within a narrow range of 7.30–7.45 and adequate level of oxygenation was achieved during 72 h in culture. KRLBB had poor buffering capacity and attained ineffective levels of oxygenation during culture. Superior mouse embryo development from two-cells to morulae and hollow blastocysts occurred in H&P, Ham's F-10 + 15% hFCS, and DMEM. Ham's F-10 medium suppl...
Ocular inflammation in neurorheumatic disease.

Neuroimmunologic and systemic rheumatic diseases are frequently accompanied by inflammation of the eye, ocular adnexa, and orbital tissues. An understanding of the diverse forms of ophthalmic pathology in these conditions aids the clinician in making appropriate preventative, diagnostic, therapeutic, and prognostic decisions. In this review, the authors address ocular inflammation in neurorheumatic disease in three sections: first, they highlight current perspectives on immune mechanisms in the development of these disorders; next, they provide a framework for the recognition and evaluation of ophthalmologic inflammatory entities; finally, they discuss in detail several inflammatory conditions that affect the nervous system and the eye, emphasizing the features that should alert neurologists to initiate ophthalmologic evaluation. The conditions discussed include multiple sclerosis, neuromyelitis optica, chronic relapsing inflammatory optic neuropathy, Susac syndrome, Cogan syndrome, acute posterior multifocal placoid pigment epitheliopathy, Vogt-Koyanagi-Harada disease, Behcet disease, sarcoidosis, systemic lupus erythematosus, granulomatosis with polyangiitis (Wegener granulomatosis), polyarteritis nodosa, giant cell arteritis, IgG4-related disease, and Sjogren syndrome.
A semistate approach to feedback stabilization of neutral delay systems

In this paper we consider derivative feedback in a semistate framework for the problem of stabilizing the neutral root chains for a class of neutral delay-differential equations where the difference operator (orD-operator) is unstable. Recent work has shown that such systems cannot be stabilized by state feedback alone[3], [13], [16]. In addition, we consider the problem of using derivative feedback to eliminate all neutral root chains entirely, thus turning the closed loop system into a retarded delay system. By representing neutral delay-differential systems as semistate systems over a polynomial ring of delay operators, both of the above problems are shown to be reducible to the following question: Given matricesD,B over a commutative ringR, when does there exist a matrixM also overR such thatD+BM isR-unimodular? In the case of commensurable point delays our results are applications of some recent results on the simultaneous stabilization problem [19], and we give a constructive procedure for computing the required feedback law. In the case of noncommensurable delays we give a sufficient condition for the existence of suitable feedback for the above problems.
Response To Bronchodilator Therapy: A Predictor For Later Development of Chronic Lung Disease (CLD) 1697

Response To Bronchodilator Therapy: A Predictor For Later Development of Chronic Lung Disease (CLD) 1697
Internet Shopping and Buying Behavior of College Students

Abstract Several years of lackluster sales in the retailing industry have pushed expansion into new channels in an effort to exploit any potential opportunity. As more and more consumers embrace the World Wide Web it seems a natural expectation and assumption that this channel may be the salvation of the brick and mortar store. This study focused on college-age consumers' responses to purchasing on the Internet. Young adults were specifically targeted because of their generation's tech-savvy embracing of anything wired. Over 780 university students were surveyed and answered a 108-item self-administered questionnaire. The study specifically addressed the issues of how often and why Internet purchases were made. As expected over 95% of the college-age market uses the Internet and over 91% of that group completes online purchases. Close to a quarter of the buyers are spending over $500 per year on Internet merchandise and they are making those purchases with their own credit cards. They are purchasing banki...
College Women and Condom Use: Importance of Partner Relationship

Because women who want to use condoms as protection against STDs must gain compliance from their male partners womens use of condoms was examined within the context of their relationships with their sexual partners. Sexual history condom attitudes and relationship information were gathered from a sample of 272 heterosexual college women. For the 121 women with a current sexual partner logistic regression analyses revealed that both regular condom use and completely consistent condom use were more likely in shorter relationships and for women who perceived lower barriers to use. Regular condom use was also greater in relationships described as high in trust whereas consistent condom use was greater for women in their first sexual relationships. In addition many women reported using condoms early in their relationships but changing to lower levels of use later. Implications of the current findings for safer-sex interventions are discussed. (authors)
Are "fat-girls" more hypnotically susceptible?

258 girls who volunteered for a weight control program were administered the Harvard Group Scale of Hypnotic Susceptibility. Their scores were significantly higher than other groups reported in the literature. It is speculated that either a basic personality trait or the demand characteristics of the weight program contributed to the group's unusually high hypnotic susceptibility performance.
Coronary distending pressure and delayed myocardial ischemia

Abstract The role of blood pressure alterations in the delayed onset of myocardial ischemia following sympathetic stimulation was studied in seven anesthetized dogs. In the presence of coronary stenosis, stimulation of the left stellate ganglion produced significant increases in heart rate and mean aortic pressure, but not in mean coronary blood flow or intracoronary pressure. Following cessation of stimulation, heart rate and aortic pressure returned to control levels over a 1- to 2-minute period. During this time, there was a progressive coronary vasoconstriction, as indicated by a significant fall in coronary arterial flow and intracoronary pressure. When the hypertensive response to stellate stimulation was prevented by controlled exsanguination, the coronary vasoconstriction was not delayed but occurred during stimulation. In the second phase of experiments, the aorta was constricted so as to ralse systemic pressure to the peak level achieved during stimulation. Elevation of systemic pressure consistently restored coronary arterial blood flow and intracoronary pressure to the control values. By contrast, induction of hypertension by restimulation of the steliate ganglion falled to reverse the delayed coronary vasoconstriction. We conclude that delayed myocardial ischemia results from the imbalance between coronary distending pressure and an alpha-adrenergically mediated vasoconstrictor activity that persists following cessation of sympathetic nervous system stimulation.
Social Science and Contemporary Society The vanishing guarantees of rationality

Social science has developed on the premises of social and scientific optimism and as the intellectual pendant of a liberal ideology which sought to manage change and claimed to be able to eliminate the sources of social unhappiness. Modernity has been justified on the materialist and collectivist bases of the amelioration of the conditions of life and of social justice for all. But these have proved to be unfulfillable promises which are no longer trusted. Furthermore, capital accumulation is incompatible with this legitimation of modernity because it is based on the appropriation of surplus value by some from others. How can social science and social scientists respond to the present era of pessimism in which the limits of the liberal and capitalist agendas have been recognized? Social science must recreate itself: the key element is the return of substantive rationality to the centre of our intellectual concerns. Science is never disinterested and empiricism always presumes prior commitments. The ambig...
Apparent declines in the global HIV transmission rate

Estimates of global and regional HIV incidence and prevalence are helpful for gauging the state of the epidemic. However, they do not contain as much information as the HIV transmission rate for judging the potential speed of HIV spread. The HIV transmission rate can be defined as follows: for every 100 persons living with HIV, the number of HIV infections transmitted to seronegative partners in one year. Here, we estimate the transmission rate for the global epidemic for the years 2001 and 2007, and for 10 major international regions for the year 2007. The transmission rate is calculated as incidence divided by prevalence, and the quotient then multiplied by 100. Previously published and publicly available, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS estimates of HIV incidence and prevalence at the global and regional levels were utilized. Between 2001 and 2007, the global HIV transmission rate dropped from 10.2 to 8.2, a decrease of 19.6% in six years time. The regional estimates for 2007 ranged from 3.7 in Western and Central Europe, to 10.5 in the Middle East and Northern Africa, to 17.6 in Oceania. The global transmission rate for 2007 of 8.2 indicates that 91.8% or more of persons living with HIV are not transmitting to other persons in a given year. The 19.6% decrease in HIV transmission rate between 2001 and 2007 appears to indicate some success in global HIV prevention efforts. The range of regional estimates helps to identify areas with the potential for rapidly growing epidemics, even if the raw numbers of new infections and prevalence are low. I believe the transmission rate to be a useful statistic and recommend its further adoption.
Monolithic Ge-on-Si lasers for integrated photonics

We report room temperature Ge-on-Si lasers with direct gap emission at 1590–1610 nm. Modeling of Ge/Si double heterojunction structures, which is supported by experimental results of Ge/Si LEDs, indicates the feasibility of electrically pumped lasers.
Intramuscular immunization with a vesicular stomatitis virus recombinant expressing the influenza hemagglutinin provides post-exposure protection against lethal influenza challenge

Vaccines currently licensed for the prevention of seasonal influenza induce antibodies against the influenza hemagglutinin (HA) and neuraminidase (NA) contained in the vaccine preparation but require at least 2 weeks after immunization for the development of protective immunity. These vaccines do not induce protective responses quickly enough to blunt the effects of infection when administered after exposure. We have developed a novel vaccine based on recombinant vesicular stomatitis virus which expresses the influenza hemagglutinin (rVSV HA) and protects mice from lethal influenza challenge when the vaccine is administered intramuscularly at least 24 h after delivery of the influenza challenge virus. To our knowledge this is the first vaccine that effectively protects animals from lethal influenza challenge when delivered by a systemic route after influenza exposure has occurred. The induction of HA-specific immune responses by the vaccine is necessary for full protection from challenge, because animals immunized with an empty rVSV vector were not protected equally. Our results are consistent with a model in which vaccination induces an immediate antiviral cytokine response, followed by development of humoral and cellular immune responses which act to reduce pulmonary viral loads and accelerate recovery. Consistent with this model, mice vaccinated with the specific vaccine rVSV HA had high levels of IFN-α in the serum by 24 h after challenge/vaccination, developed serum neutralizing Ab to influenza 2 days prior to control animals, and had detectable anti-HA CD8 T cells present in the peripheral blood 3 days prior to control mice.
Quantitative determination of FtsA at different growth rates in Escherichia coli using monoclonal antibodies.

Summary FtsA is an essential cell division protein in Escherichia coli. Its synthesis in low amounts makes the investigation of its functions difficult. Partially purified FtsA protein was obtained by solubilizing cellular inclusion bodies after overexpression of the ftsA gene for the purpose of raising monoclonal antibodies. Mice were immunized with this FtsA protein fraction and their spleen cells were fused to Sp2/0-AG14 mouse myeloma cells. Hybrid cells were screened and two clones were positively identified as FtsA monoclonal antibody producers by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and Western blotting. A quantitative assay using these monoclonal antibodies indicated that the average number of FtsA molecules per cell to be between 50 and 200. However, the concentration of FtsA protein normalized to total cell protein was constant over a wide range of growth rates. This finding is in agreement with the hypothesized role of FtsA protein as a stoichiometric component of the septum.
In vitro and in vivo evaluation of a 64Cu-labeled NOTA-Bn-SCN-Aoc-bombesin analogue in gastrin-releasing peptide receptor expressing prostate cancer.

Abstract Introduction Bombesin (BN) is an amphibian peptide that binds to the gastrin-releasing peptide receptor (GRPR). It has been demonstrated that BN analogues can be radiolabeled for potential diagnosis and treatment of GRPR-expressing malignancies. Previous studies have conjugated various chelators to the eight C-terminal amino acids of BN [BN(7-14)] for radiolabeling with 64 Cu. Recently, (1,4,7-triazacyclononane-1,4,7-triacetic acid) (NOTA) has been evaluated as the five-coordinate 64 Cu complex, with results indicating GRPR-specific tumor uptake. This study aimed to conjugate S-2-(4-isothiocyanatobenzyl)-NOTA (p-SCN-Bn-NOTA) to BN(7-14) such that it could form a six-coordinate complex with 64 Cu and to evaluate the resulting peptide. Methods p-SCN-NOTA was conjugated to 8-aminooctanoic acid (Aoc)-BN(7-14) in solution to yield NOTA-Bn-SCN-Aoc-BN(7-14). The unlabeled peptide was evaluated in a cell binding assay using PC-3 prostate cancer cells and 125 I-Tyr 4 -BN to determine the IC 50 value. The peptide was radiolabeled with 64 Cu and evaluated for internalization into PC-3 cells and for tumor uptake in mice bearing PC-3 xenografts using biodistribution and micro-positron emission tomography imaging studies. Results The binding assay demonstrated that NOTA-Bn-SCN-Aoc-BN(7-14) bound with high affinity to GRPR with an IC 50 of 1.4 nM. The radiolabeled peptide demonstrated time-dependent internalization into PC-3 cells. In vivo, the peptide demonstrated tumor-specific uptake and imaging that were comparable to those of previously reported 64 Cu-labeled BN analogues. Conclusions These studies demonstrate that 64 Cu-NOTA-Bn-SCN-Aoc-BN(7-14) binds to GRPR-expressing cells and that it can be used for imaging of GRPR-expressing prostate cancer.
REGENERATION OF THREE SYMPATRIC BIRCH SPECIES ON EXPERIMENTAL HURRICANE BLOWDOWN MICROSITES

Tip-up mounds, pits, and other microsites created by hurricanes may promote diversity in many forests by providing opportunities for different species to regenerate. To see if we could detect differences in microsite preference among closely related species, we studied the regeneration of three sympatric Betula species on five types of microsites on experimental mound–pit complexes. Microsites were created by pulling down canopy trees to simulate damage from past hurricanes in southern New England. Seeds were collected in litter traps and experimentally released over mounds and pits to determine effects of microtopography on fine-scale dispersal patterns. The fate of naturally germinating seedlings was monitored on the disturbed site, and seedlings were also transplanted onto microsites to examine growth patterns, causes of mortality, and leaf-level physiology. Seed rain onto the disturbed site was abundant and spatially heterogeneous because of scattered residual canopy trees and surviving uprooted trees...
A Simple ZnO Nanocrystal Synthesis Illustrating Three-Dimensional Quantum Confinement

Semiconductor nanocrystals or “quantum dots” are attractive materials for exploring quantum confinement effects. For example, band-gap energies of these materials depend on particle size, and this dependence can be explained using simple, quantum mechanical models. We outline here an undergraduate physical chemistry laboratory involving the room-temperature synthesis and absorption spectroscopy of ZnO nanocrystals. The experimental results are compared with the predictions of a three-dimensional quantum confinement (or “particle-in-a-sphere”) model. The ease of synthesis and data collection, the common precursors employed, and the simple spectroscopic analysis allow facile incorporation of this experiment into essentially any undergraduate laboratory program.
Kinetics, mechanism, and thermochemistry of the gas-phase reaction of atomic chlorine with pyridine

A laser flash photolysis-resonance fluorescence technique has been employed to study the kinetics of the reaction of atomic chlorine with pyridine (C5H5N) as a function of temperature (215–435 K) and pressure (25–250 Torr) in nitrogen bath gas. At T ≥ 299 K, measured rate coefficients are pressure independent and a significant H/D kinetic isotope effect is observed, suggesting that hydrogen abstraction is the dominant reaction pathway. The following Arrhenius expression adequately describes all kinetic data at 299–435 K for C5H5N: k1a = (2.08 ± 0.47) × 10−11 exp[–(1410 ± 80)/T] cm3 molecule−1 s−1 (uncertainties are 2σ, precision only). At 216 K ≤ T ≤ 270 K, measured rate coefficients are pressure dependent and are much faster than computed from the above Arrhenius expression for the H-abstraction pathway, suggesting that the dominant reaction pathway at low temperature is formation of a stable adduct. Over the ranges of temperature, pressure, and pyridine concentration investigated, the adduct undergoes dissociation on the time scale of our experiments (10−5–10−2 s) and establishes an equilibrium with Cl and pyridine. Equilibrium constants for adduct formation and dissociation are determined from the forward and reverse rate coefficients. Second- and third-law analyses of the equilibrium data lead to the following thermochemical parameters for the addition reaction: ΔrH°298 = −47.2 ± 2.8 kJ mol−1, ΔrH°0 = −46.7 ± 3.2 kJ mol−1, and ΔrS°298 = −98.7 ± 6.5 J mol−1 K−1. The enthalpy changes derived from our data are in good agreement with ab initio calculations reported in the literature (which suggest that the adduct structure is planar and involves formation of an N–Cl σ-bond). In conjunction with the well-known heats of formation of atomic chlorine and pyridine, the above ΔrH values lead to the following heats of formation for C5H5N–Cl at 298 K and 0 K: ΔfH°298 = 216.0 ± 4.1 kJ mol−1, ΔfH°0 = 233.4 ± 4.6 kJ mol−1. Addition of Cl to pyridine could be an important atmospheric loss process for pyridine if the C5H5N–Cl product is chemically degraded by processes that do not regenerate pyridine with high yield.
Fundamental Studies of Molybdenum and Tungsten Methylidene and Metallacyclobutane Complexes

Addition of ethylene to Mo(NAr)(CHCMe2Ph)(OHIPT)(Pyr) (NAr = N-2,6-i-Pr2C6H3, OHIPT = O-2,6-(2,4,6-i-Pr3C6H2)2C6H3, Pyr = NC4H4) led to the trigonal-bipyramidal metallacyclobutane complex Mo(NAr)(C...
The linear stability analysis of MHD models in axisymmetric toroidal geometry

Abstract A computational model to analyze the linear stability properties of general toroidal systems in the ideal magnetohydrodynamic limit is presented. This model includes an explicit treatment of the asymptotic singular behavior at rational surfaces. It is verified through application to internal kink modes.
Synthesis and anti-Hantaan virus activity of N1-3-fluorophenyl-inosine

Abstract As part of an ongoing effort to develop new antiviral nucleoside analogs, our interest was drawn to N1-aryl purines as a novel structural class and potential scaffold for drug discovery. Herein, we describe the synthesis of N1-3-fluorophenyl-inosine (FPI) and N1-3-fluorophenyl-hypoxanthine (FP-Hx) and their antiviral activity against hantaviruses. The EC50 for FPI and FP-Hx were 94 and 234 μM, respectively, against Hantaan virus. FPI was not toxic to mammalian cells at concentrations that exhibited antiviral activity. Analysis of its metabolism revealed a low conversion of FPI in Vero E6 or human cells to a 5′-triphosphate, and it was a poor substrate for human purine nucleoside phosphorylase. Further, the compound did not alter GTP levels indicating FPI does not inhibit inosine monophosphate dehydrogenase. With respect to the virus, FPI did not decrease viral RNA levels or increase the mutation frequency of the viral RNA. This suggests that the antiviral activity of FPI might be solely due to the interaction of FPI or its metabolites with viral or host proteins involved in post-replication events that would affect the levels of infectious virus released. Synthesis of other compounds structurally similar to FPI is warranted to identify more potent agents that selectively abrogate production of infectious virus.
Role of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 in senescence and aging.

The average age of the US population continues to increase. Age is the most important determinant of disease and disability in humans, but the fundamental mechanisms of aging remain largely unknown. Many age-related diseases are associated with an impaired fibrinolytic system. Elevated plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1) levels are reported in age-associated clinical conditions including cardiovascular diseases, type 2 diabetes, obesity and inflammation. PAI-1 levels are also elevated in animal models of aging. While the association of PAI-1 with physiological aging is well documented, it is only recently that its critical role in the regulation of aging and senescence has become evident. PAI-1 is synthesized and secreted in senescent cells and contributes directly to the development of senescence by acting downstream of p53 and upstream of insulin-like growth factor binding protein-3. Pharmacologic inhibition or genetic deficiency of PAI-1 was shown to be protective against senescence and the aging-like phenotypes in kl/kl and Nω-nitro- l -arginine methyl ester–treated wild-type mice. Further investigation into PAI-1's role in senescence and aging will likely contribute to the prevention and treatment of aging-related pathologies.
Search for Magnetic Monopoles in the Lunar Sample

An electromagnetic search for magnetic monopoles of the minimum size predicted by Dirac, or of any larger magnitude, has been performed on 8.37 kilograms of lunar surface material. No monopole was found. This experimnent sets new limists on the production cross section for monopoles and on their occurrence in cosmic radiation.
Role of Propafenone in the Treatment of Ventricular Premature Beats

The effectiveness of propafenone versus quinidine for the therapy of ventricular premature beats was evaluated in a placebo-controlled double-blind parallel study. A total of 105 patients was entered; 53 patients were randomly assigned to receive propafenone (600 mg/day and 900 mg/day during low-and high-dose weeks, respectively) and 52 patients were randomly assigned to receive quinidine (800 mg/day and 1,600 mg/day, respectively). Both drugs significantly reduced ventricular ectopy at both dose levels; there was no statistically significant difference between the two drugs in effectiveness, although a higher percentage of patients responded to propafenone. Side effects resulting in discontinuation of therapy were more common with quinidine. This study confirms the effectiveness of propafenone in the therapy of ventricular premature beats.
Evolution of compact groups and the formation of elliptical galaxies

The dynamical evolution of gravitationally bound groups of galaxies should account for some of the objects seen in the Universe. A numerical simulation of the merging of a compact group shows that the process may result in the formation of bright ellip-tical galaxies. If compact groups are interpreted as transient phases in the dynamical evolution of looser groups, the merger remnants they leave behind exemplify galaxy formation at the present epoch.
Felix Morley on Freedom and Federalism

Federalism was central to Felix Morley's political thought because he regarded federalism as being essential to the protection of individual freedom in the United States. Federalism protects freedom, argued Morley, by limiting government, constraining the potential tyranny of a national majority, and reserving control over local affairs to local citizens. In turn, he believed that freedom is necessary for the maintenance of federalism. Freedom, however, was being threatened by the rise of the social-welfare state and a militaristic foreign policy, both justified in the name of a centralizing Jacobin democracy destructive of American federalism. Copyright 2004, Oxford University Press.
Interaction between glyceraldehyde phosphate dehydrogenase and DPNH-cytochrome reductase

Abstract The interaction of GPD-bound DPNH with cytochrome c or 2,6-dichlorophenolindophenol in the presence of DPNH-cytochrome reductase has been demonstrated. Two types of reaction have been observed, a stoichiometric one where both initial rate and total extent of reaction are functions of the concentration of GPD added, and a catalytic one in the presence of aresenate, which leads to an extensive reduction of the oxidant with a linear rate also dependent on GPD concentration. The reduction rates are of an order of magnitude comparable to that with free DPNH under similar experimental conditions, thus excluding the possibility of their being due to the small dissociation of the DPNH-enzyme complex. The stoichiometry of the reaction with cytochrome and indophenol is such that only one of the two bound DPNH molecules appears to be capable of reducing cytochrome, while both are active in the indophenol reaction. The implication of these findings for other conjugated pyridinoproteins, notably within the mitochondrial structure, are discussed.
Subcutaneous fungal infections

Subcutaneous mycoses are caused by a variety of mostly tropical organisms, usually when they are implanted into the dermis or the subcutaneous tissue. They rarely disseminate or become systemic. Sporotrichosis, mycetoma, and chromoblastomycosis are more common subcutaneous mycoses than are rhinosporidiosis, zygomycosis, pheohyphomycosis, and lobomycosis.
Implications of a high population 2 B/Be ratio

The observed boron/beryllium ratio in extreme Population II stars has been interpreted as evidence of Be and B synthesis by early Galactic cosmic rays. However, a recent reanalysis of the boron abundance in the Population II halo star HD 140823 suggests that B/H may be larger than previously reported, by as much as a factor of 4. This would yield a B/Be ratio lying in the range 14 less than or approximately equal to B/Be less than or approximately equal to 50. The possibilty of a high Population II B/Be ratio stresses the importance of the upper limit to the B/Be ratio arising from cosmic-ray production. It is found that the limit to cosmic-ray-produced B/Be depends upon the assumed cosmic-ray spectrum. For any Population II cosmic-ray spectrum that is a single power law in either total energy per nucleon or in momentum, the B/Be ratio constrained to lie in the range 7.6 less than or approximately equal to B/Be less than or approximately equal to 14. Thus, if the new B/Be ratio is correct, it requires either a bimodal cosmic-ray flux with a large low-energy component, or, for another B source, possibly the proposed nu-process in supernovae, either of which may be helpful in explaining the observed B-11/B-10 ratio. Finally, it is noted that the boron reanalysis highlights the uncertainty in our knowledge of the B/Be ratio, and the need for additional data on Be and B abundances.
Modifications of the adenylate cyclase complex during differentiation of cultured myoblasts.

Alterations in receptor-independent activation of adenylate cyclase during proliferation and differentiation of L6E9 myoblasts were studied using Mn2+, forskolin, and Gpp(NH)p. Analyses were performed 3, 6, and 10 days following subculture, corresponding to onset of proliferation, end of proliferation with start of differentiation, and completion of differentiation, respectively. The apparent activation constant for Mn2+ decreases with the age of the culture; the apparent activation constant for Mg2+ does not. Bimodal activation by Mn2+, i.e., at concentrations greater than 10 mM, results in total adenylate cyclase activity less than the Vmax and occurs exclusively in differentiated cultures. Independent of the presence of Mg2+, forskolin activation occurs with low-and high-affinity constants in differentiated cultures and with a low affinity constant in youngest cultures; intermediate cultures (day 6) demonstrate low- and high-affinity activation only in the presence of high Mg2+. In contrast, the Vmax for forskolin increases with increasing Mg2+ in all culture ages. Although Gpp(NH)p-dependent adenylate cyclase activation occurs with an apparent activation constant independent of culture age and Mg2+, low Mg2+ fosters bimodal activation by Gpp(NH)p, i.e., above 100 microM nucleotide, total adenylate cyclase activity is less than the Vmax. The loss of stimulatory capacity by high Gpp(NH)p is greatest in differentiated cultures. Additional experiments are presented to substantiate that bimodal activation by Gpp(NH)p is specific. Cholera- and pertussis toxin-dependent ADP ribosylation patterns demonstrate a marked decrease in both Ns and Ni in differentiated cultures. The data suggest that alterations in postreceptor activation of adenylate cyclase during the course of differentiation and proliferation are mediated by guanine nucleotide binding proteins as well as by allosteric cation regulatory units.
The Development of Hazardous Waste Management as a State Policy Concern

Hazardous waste management has become a primary concern of state governments. Thk concern is relatively recent, with state governments assuming a leading role in hazardous waste policy development and implementation only in the past decade. This article outlines the scope of the hazardous waste problem to which stdegouernments must respond. The scope of the problem is then linked to changing public perceptions and intergooernmental relntionslzips to explain the expanding state government policy role in hazardous waste management.
Dietary protein intake and bone mass in women

Population-based strategies to combat osteoporosis are urgently needed. The role of nutrition in such strategies has been particularly contentious. We examined the relationship among six key nutrients that are thought to affect bone metabolism and bone mineral density in the axial and appendicular skeleton using data from a population-based study in the northern United States. Data on the dietary intake of calcium, phosphorus, vitamin D, protein, fat, and total energy were obtained from a 7-day dietary record. Bone density measurements were made by dual photon absorptiometry in the lumbar spine and proximal femur, and by single photon absorptiometry in the distal and midradius. Among the 72 premenopausal women studied, there was a statistically significant positive association between protein intake and bone mineral in the distal radius and proximal femur, which was not altered by adjustment for age, weight, and physical activity. Among 218 postmenoprusal women, no such relationship was found between protein intake and bone mineral, and the only significant findings in this group were negative associations between fat consumption and bone density in the lumbar spine and radius. Our results suggest that dietary protein intake may be a determinant of the peak bone mass attained by premenopausal white women. The relevance of this finding for the design of population strategies to maximize skeletal growth requires further investigation.
Symptomatic Correlates of Alcohol Abuse as a Presenting Problem.

This investigation examined a large number of self-reported symptoms of psychopathology. Its specific purpose was to assess their relationship to alcohol abuse as a self-indicated problem behavior. Participants in the study were 72 adults of both sexes who sought mental health services at a Veterans Administration outpatient Mental Hygiene Clinic. The self-reporting instrument was a behavioral problem checklist that was administered as part of a routine psychological test battery given at the time of each client's intake assessment at the Clinic. A correlational analysis of these data revealed that several broad areas of psychopathology were related significantly to alcohol abuse: Social/interpersonal skill deficits, anxiety, addiction proneness, impulse dyscontrol, and self-destructive ideation. These findings support a social learning theory of alcohol abuse. The results also imply that future treatment approaches to excessive drinking should include social skill and relaxation training as well as attention to traditional clinical concerns with self-destructive thinking and impulse control. Language: en
The Program Assessment Rating Tool and the Government Performance and Results Act: Evaluating Conflicts and Disconnections

This article looks at the Government Performance and Results Act (GPRA) and the Program Assessment Rating Tool (PART) and how they assess seven programs. It establishes that the PART does not adequately consider different program types and has characteristics that create a disconnection between this tool and the GPRA: It does not enter into dialogue with the GPRA regarding the choice of performance indicators; it evaluates programs through criteria that conflict with the programs' statutes or intent and penalizes programs for the degree of explicitness in their authorizing statutes; it uses standardized measures that sometimes overlook the intent of statutes or the discretionary nature of implementation; it employs a different level of analysis from the GPRA; it places a contradictory emphasis on the relationship between programs with similar goals; and it emphasizes different external factors influencing program performance. The article concludes with recommendations on how to improve the PART.
An MCM/IC timing-driven placement algorithm featuring explicit design space exploration

A genetic algorithm for building-block placement of MCMs and ICs is presented which simultaneously minimizes layout area and an Elmore-based estimate of the maximum path delay while trying to meet a target aspect ratio. Explicit design space exploration is performed by using a vector-valued, S-dimensional cost function and searching for a set of distinct solutions representing the best tradeoffs of the cost dimensions. Designers can then choose from the output set of feasible solutions. In contrast to existing approaches such as simulated annealing, neither weights nor bounds are needed, thereby eliminating the inherent practical problems of specifying these quantities. Promising results are obtained for various placement problems, including a real-world MCM design.
Interactions between land cover and convective cloud cover over Midwestern North America detected from GOES satellite data

Abstract The region of Midwestern North America from 80-95° W and 35-55° N is examined in terms of land cover and convective cloud cover during the summers of 1985 and 1989, using a combination of published land use maps and GOES visible and infrared satellite imagery, for the presence of favoured convective cloud cover over large areas (~ 100 km scale) of homogeneous forest. Days with synoptic flow are eliminated through analysis of 500-mb winds and surface frontal activity. The resulting ‘weak flow’ days’ imagery is organized into 1° × 1° latitude/longitude cells, within which total cumulus cloud cover is manually determined. Three-hourly analysis of convective cloud cover from visible and infrared imagery shows forests in Ontario and the Appalachians to have greater convective cloud cover and the Great Lakes to have less convective cloud cover, on days without frontal activity. This pattern persists throughout the day, for both 1985 and 1989, despite differences in soil moisture (as determined from Cro...
Single-clamp technique does not protect against cerebrovascular accident in coronary artery bypass grafting.

Objectives: By potentially avoiding the embolic consequences of a side-biting aortic clamp, the single-clamp technique may decrease cerebrovascular accidents in coronary artery bypass grafting. However, this theoretical superiority in stroke prevention has not been conclusively demonstrated and use of this technique may lead to adverse myocardial effects due to longer cross-clamp times. In this study, we sought to determine if the single-clamp technique prevents postoperative stroke in clinical practice. Methods: Of 607 consecutive isolated coronary bypass operations completed over a 3 year period, 301 (50%) were performed by one surgeon using exclusively the singleclamp technique and 306 (50%) were performed by a second surgeon using exclusively the two-clamp technique. Postoperative adverse events were retrospectively compared between these two groups. Results: There were no differences between groups in terms of postoperative stroke (1.7% single-clamp vs. 2.0% two-clamp, Pa 0:78), hospital mortality (2.7% single-clamp vs. 1.6% two-clamp, Pa 0:38), or perioperative myocardial infarction (2.6% single-clamp vs. 0.7% two-clamp, Pa 0:052). The two-clamp technique was not a significant predictor of stroke by logistic regression analysis (Pa 0:72). Conclusions: We conclude that there are no statistically significant differences between clamp techniques with regard to stroke prevention or myocardial protection. We find no compelling evidence for surgeons successfully utilizing one technique to change to the other. q 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
Stochastic pollution, costly sanctions, and optimality of emission permit banking

Abstract This paper identifies a new economic motive for pollution regulations that allow polluting firms to bank and borrow emission permits over time. When aggregate pollution is stochastic, an intertemporal permit trading regime can provide firms with efficient incentives for pollution abatement without the need for costly government enforcement actions that would otherwise be required.
Multipartite Symbioses Among Fungi, Mites, Nematodes, and the Spruce Beetle, Dendroctonus rufipennis

The spruce beetle, Dendroctonus rufipennis, is an eruptive forest pest of significant economic and ecological importance. D. rufipennis has symbiotic associations with a number of microorganisms, especially the ophiostomatoid fungus Leptographium abietinum. The nature of this interaction is only partially understood. Additionally, mite and nematode associates can mediate bark beetle-fungal interactions, but this has not yet been studied for spruce beetles. In this study, we found eight mite species associated with spruce beetles: Tarsonemus ips, T. endophloeus, Histiogaster arborsignis, Dendrolaelaps quadrisetus, Proctolaelaps hytricoides, Trichouropoda alascae, T. n. sp. nr dalarenaensis, and Urobovella n. sp 767. The most prevalent species was H. arborsignis. In addition, 75% of beetles examined carried nematodes, with six species represented. These included a new species of Parasitorhabditis, Ektaphelenchus obtusus, Bursaphelenchus n. sp. 727, Aphelenchoides n. sp., Panagrolaimus sp., and Mykoletzkya ruminis. H. arborsignis showed strong feeding and oviposition preferences for L. abietinum among four fungal species tested in laboratory assays. Information on our attempts to culture the various nematode species collected from D. rufipennis is also provided. Bursaphelenchus were cultured from D. rufipennis nematangia plated on agar containing L. abietinum but not sterile agar. Thus, L. abietinum plays an important role in these gallery communities, affecting the tree-killing bark beetle, its phoretic mites, and nematodes. These data add to our understanding of bark beetle-microorganism interactions.
Quantifying morphology changes in time series data with skew

This paper examines strategies to quantify differences in the morphology of time series while accounting for time skew in the observed data. We adapt four measures originally designed for signal shape comparison: Dynamic Time-Warping (DTW), Earth Mover's Distance (EMD), Frechet Distance (FD), and Hausdorff Distance (HD). These morphology difference metrics on time series are compared in discriminative power and noise resistance on ECG signals as well as on a synthetic dataset. We use data from our experiments to shed light on the relative strengths of the methods.
Modeling of Melt-Pool Formation and Material Removal in Micro-Electrodischarge Machining

This paper presents a micro-electrodischarge machining (EDM) melt-pool model to predict workpiece (anode) material removal from a single discharge micro-EDM process. To model the melt-pool, heat transfer and fluid flow equations are solved in the domain containing dielectric and workpiece material. A level set method is used to identify solid and liquid fractions of the workpiece material when the material is molten by micro-EDM plasma heat flux. The plasma heat flux, plasma pressure and the radius of the plasma bubble have been estimated by a micro-EDM plasma model and serve as inputs to the melt-pool model to predict the volume of material removed from the surface of the workpiece. Experiments are carried out to study the effect of interelectrode voltage and gap distance on the crater size. For interelectrode voltage in the range of 200–300 V and gap distance of 1,2 μm, the model predicts crater diameter in the range of 78–96 μm and maximum crater depth of 8–9 μm for discharge duration of 2 μs. The crater diameter values for most of experimental craters show good agreement with the simulated crater shapes. However, the model over-predicts the crater depths compared to the experiments.
FAULT TOLERANT RING EMBEDDING IN TETRAVALENT CAYLEY NETWORK GRAPHS

Our purpose in the present paper is to investigate the structural properties of the newly proposed Cayley networks of constant node degree 4. We show that the graph contains rings of maximal length in the presence of multiple faults. Our results provide further evidence to the usefulness and robustness of these network graphs.
High-voltage light-weight DC/DC converter

The authors present a DC/DC converter which operates at 100 kHz and uses the principle of the Cockraft Walton voltage multiplier circuit. The novel concept is in the multiplier circuit, where the diodes are replaced by MOSFETs and the sinusoidal input is replaced by a square wave voltage. This permits high-frequency operation and improves operation parameters. The circuit consists of two modules: the switching stage and the multiplier stage. The switching stage converts the DC input to a square wave output which is needed for the weight of the capacitors. Simulation results and experimental results of the circuit are presented. The experimental results prove that the circuit can be built with commercially available components. >
Analysis of regional cerebral blood flow in dogs, with an experimental microbubble-based US contrast agent.

PURPOSE: To evaluate a perfluorochemical stabilized microbubble-based ultrasound (US) contrast agent (Imagent US, formulation AF0145) create regional cerebral blood flow (CBF) maps. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Intravenous injections of the contrast agent (0.16-0.20 mL/kg) were performed in four anesthetized dogs (9-14 kg). Serial coronal color-Doppler-amplitude and gray-scale US scans were obtained through a cranial window during injection of contrast material. Mean pixel intensity was analyzed on digitized images. Regional CBF was varied by modifying arterial partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PaCO2). Color-Doppler-amplitude and gray-scale mean pixel intensity and percentage change in mean pixel intensity after injection of contrast material were analyzed, by means of a bolus injection curve that plotted color mean pixel intensity per unit area versus time. RESULTS: Contrast material injection resulted in a statistically significant difference in color-Doppler-amplitude and gray-scale enhancement of brain. C...
Age Bias in Prediction of Graduate Grade Point Average from Graduate Record Examination Scores

A critical issue in the use of tests for selection purposes is that test scores predict subsequent performance similarly for all groups of students. This study was intended to investigate the exten...
Network model for MIMO systems with coupled antennas and noisy amplifiers

This work presents a framework for the analysis of mutually-coupled antennas in a multiple-input multiple-output system. The approach uses network theory to formulate the transfer matrix relating the signals input to the transmit antennas to the signals at the output of the receiver front end. This transfer function includes the coupled transmit and receive antennas, the multipath propagation channel, the receiver matching network, and a realistic noise model for the receive amplifiers. Application of the formulation to coupled dipole antennas characterized using full-wave electromagnetic analysis illustrates the performance gains possible from matching the coupled antenna/receive amplifier subsystem for minimum noise figure as compared to matching for maximum signal power transfer.
In vitro collagen biosynthesis in healing and normal rabbit articular cartilage

To examine the repair collagens produced by cells in injured cartilage, the femoral articular surfaces of three groups of New Zealand white rabbits were injured by making both superficial and deep lacerations and drill holes. Eight weeks after surgery, the rabbits were killed and slices of injured articular cartilage were harvested. The types of collagen being synthesized at the site of these lesions were identified by labeling the recovered specimens in vitro with 3H-proline and by characterizing the collagen using sodium dodecyl sulphate electrophoresis, carboxymethyl cellulose chromatography, and cyanogen bromide peptide analysis. In all cases, tissue-specific type II ([alpha1 (II)]3) cartilage collagen was synthesized. Histological examination using toluidine blue showed that the chondrocytes bordering the cartilage defect produced by deep lacerations and drill holes responded by increased cellular activity, as shown by cell cloning and increased matrix staining. The drilled holes were completely filled by tissue with staining and morphological characteristics similar to those of hyaline cartilage.
Thomas Sheridan: Gentleman or Actor?

By 1747, Thomas Sheridan had been on the stage four years–for the last year he had been actor-manager of the Smock-Alley Theater in Dublin. His decision to “turn player” had been a difficult one. He had been born and bred a gentleman . As the most promising son of the Reverend Dr. Thomas Sheridan, classical scholar and Dublin schoolmaster, he had gone to London to Westminster College, and after his father's death, he had prepared himself to teach–by taking his M.A. at Trinity College Dublin.