cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Photoreceptor Phosphodiesterase: Interaction of Inhibitory γ Subunit and Cyclic GMP with Specific Binding Sites on Catalytic Subunits

Abstract The photoreceptor phosphodiesterase (PDE6) is the central effector enzyme in the phototransduction cascade of photoreceptor cells. It is the only known PDE isoform the activity of which is regulated by interaction with a heterotrimeric G protein. The rod PDE6 holoenzyme is a tetrameric protein consisting of two large catalytic α and β subunits and two small γ subunits, which serve as potent inhibitors of PDE6. In dark-adapted photoreceptors, the γ subunits maintain PDE6 activity at a low level. When exposed to light the visual pigment rhodopsin activates the retinal G protein, transducin, leading to release of the inhibitory action of the γ subunits. In addition to the active sites where cGMP is hydrolyzed, the α and β catalytic subunits have high-affinity, noncatalytic cGMP binding sites. These noncatalytic sites do not directly regulate cGMP catalysis at the active site, but rather can modulate the affinity with which the γ subunits bind to the catalytic subunits. This article describes a number of experimental approaches that have recently been developed for studying the interactions between catalytic and inhibitory subunits of PDE6, as well as the dynamics of cGMP binding to and dissociation from the PDE6 noncatalytic sites.
In vivo muscle function vs speed. I. Muscle strain in relation to length change of the muscle-tendon unit

The activity of muscles can be concentric (shortening), eccentric (lengthening) or isometric (constant length). When studying muscle function it is important to know what the muscle fascicles are actually doing because the performance of muscle is strongly influenced by the type of activity: force decreases as a function of shortening velocity during concentric contractions; force produced during eccentric contractions can be stronger than maximum isometric force, and force production is enhanced if a concentric contraction follows an eccentric phase. It is well known that length changes of muscle fascicles may be different from length changes of the overall muscle-tendon unit because of the compliance of the series elasticity. Consequently, fascicles of joint extensor muscles may not undergo eccentric activity even when the joint flexes, but the extent to which this occurs may vary with the compliance of the series elasticity and may differ between species: the vastus lateralis, a knee extensor, shortens when active during trotting in dogs and lengthens in rats. Previous studies of kinematics of trotting in horses have shown that during stance, the elbow extends nearly continuously with a brief period of flexion near mid-stance and the knee exhibits two phases of flexion followed by extension. The lateral triceps (an elbow extensor) has no external tendon but the vastus lateralis has a relatively long external tendon and the fascicles insert on an aponeurosis. Thus, one might expect the relation between fascicle strain and overall length change of the muscle-tendon units to be quite different in these two muscles. In the present study in horses, fascicle length changes of the lateral triceps and vastus lateralis were measured with sonomicrometry and length changes of the muscle-tendon units were estimated from muscle architecture and joint kinematics for four horses trotting on a treadmill at nine speeds. Because the focus of this study was the relation between length changes of the muscle-tendon unit (estimated from kinematics) and length changes in the muscle fascicles, we divided the stance-phase sonomicrometry records into phases that corresponded to the alternating flexion and extension of the joint as indicated by the kinematic records. During its one eccentric phase, the triceps shortened by 0.7+/-0.4% despite a predicted lengthening of 1%. Similarly, the vastus shortened by 3.7+/-1.9% when kinematics predicted 3.2% lengthening. During their concentric phases the triceps shortened by 10.6% and the vastus shortened by 8.1%. Strain in the triceps did not change with speed but it did in the vastus. Strain rate increased with speed in both muscles as did the integrated EMG, indicating an increase in the volume of muscle recruited. Thus, despite differences in their architecture and the kinematic patterns of the associated joints, these two joint extensors exhibited similar activity.
Composition of Milk from Llamas in the United States

Neonatal llamas must receive supplemental milk when the dam has inadequate milk yield or fails to accept the cria. Data on llama milk composition are limited, and selection of suitable milk supplements has been difficult. Milk from 83 llamas on eight farms in four states (Illinois, Kentucky, Michigan, and Colorado) was collected, and milk composition was analyzed. Llamas had no history or signs of mastitis, and major mastitis pathogens were not isolated from the milk. Total solids were determined gravimetrically. A colorimetric method, a dye-binding assay, and the modified Mojonnier method were used to quantify lactose, protein, and fat, respectively. Concentrations of seven macrominerals and 17 trace elements were obtained by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy, and Cl was quantified by anion chromatography. Llama milk was higher in sugar (6.5%) and lower in fat (2.7%) and energy content (70.0 kcal/100 g) than milks of domestic ruminants. Llama milk also contained more Ca and less Na, K, and Cl. In general, milk composition was not affected by stage of lactation, lactation number, or body condition score of the llama, but several milk constituents varied among farms.
Mechanistic approaches to biochemical toxicology

Abstract Mechanistic approaches to the study of toxicology should allow for better assessment of human health risks. Five general research areas are outlined.
A Century of Optocardiography

In the past decade, optical mapping provided crucial mechanistic insight into electromechanical function and the mechanism of ventricular fibrillation. Therefore, to date, optical mapping dominates experimental cardiac electrophysiology. The first cardiac measurements involving optics were done in the early 1900s using the fast cinematograph that later evolved into methods for high-resolution activation and repolarization mapping and stimulation of specific cardiac cell types. The field of “optocardiography,” therefore, emerged as the use of light for recording or interfering with cardiac physiology. In this review, we discuss how optocardiography developed into the dominant research technique in experimental cardiology. Furthermore, we envision how optocardiographic methods can be used in clinical cardiology.
Effect of modest vitamin E supplementation on blood glycated hemoglobin and triglyceride levels and red cell indices in type I diabetic patients

The glycation of proteins and elevated triglyceride (TG) levels are two of the major risk factors in the development of complications of diabetes. Previous studies have found some beneficial effects of supplementation of pharmacological doses (900-2000 IU/day) of vitamin E in Type II diabetic patients. This study examined whether supplementation with a modest dose of vitamin E (100 IU/day) had any effect on blood glucose, glycated hemoglobin (GHb), TG or red cell counts in Type I diabetic patients.35 diabetic patients were supplemented with either DL-alpha-tocopherol (vitamin E) capsules (orally, 100 IU/day) or a placebo for 3 months in a double-blind clinical trial. Fasting blood was collected from each diabetic patient before and after vitamin E or placebo supplementation. Data were analyzed using paired “t” tests and the Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test.Levels of GHb (mean +/− SEM) were 11.5 +/− 0.4 and 12.8 +/− 0.9% (p < 0.05); glucose, 8.8 +/− 1.2 and 11.6 +/− 1.3 mM; and TG, 2.2 +/− 0.2 and 2.9 +/− 0.3 mM ...
Nutrient limitation of phytoplankton in a central Arizona reservoir

The influence of added nutrients nitrogen, phosphorus and carbon on the phytoplankton of a small recreational reservoir in central Arizona was investigated during the summer, 1974. Polyethylene bags were used to isolate lake water and the natural populations for the addition of nitrogen, phosphorus and carbon individually and in combination. A large increase in phytoplankton numbers, extractable chlorophyll, pH and dissolved oxygen occurred only in bags to which both nitrogen and phosphorus were added, suggesting that both nitrogen and phosphorus levels were limiting to the primary producers. Little alteration in species composition resulted from the addition of the above nutrients.
A kinetic study of the reaction of OH with xylenes using the relative rate/discharge flow/mass spectrometry technique.

A kinetics study for the reaction of OH with o-, m-, and p-xylene has been conducted at 1−10 Torr and 240−340 K using the relative rate/discharge flow/mass spectrometry technique with 1,4-dioxane a...
Major therapeutic systems and the bereaved client

The bereaved individual may experience major emotional, physical, and cognitive changes. Counselling can facilitate the course of the grief process and various therapeutic techniques may be employed if there is evidence of complications in grief. In this context, a survey is undertaken of the utility of the principal therapeutic approaches, namely client-centred counselling, Gestalt therapy, Gendlin's focusing technique, rational-emotive therapy, transactional analysis, behaviour therapy, and transpersonal techniques. An eclectic approach to grief counselling is advocated.
The distance to an irreducible polynomial, II

P. Turan asked if there exists an absolute constant C such that for every polynomial f ∈ Z[x] there exists an irreducible polynomial g ∈ Z[x] with deg(g) ≤ deg(f) and L(f − g) ≤ C, where L(·) denotes the sum of the absolute values of the coefficients. We show that C = 5 suffices for all integer polynomials of degree at most 40 by investigating analogous questions in Fp[x] for small primes p. We also prove that a positive proportion of the polynomials in F2[x] have distance at least 4 to an arbitrary irreducible polynomial.
Art and capital: An ironic dialectic

Martha Woodmansee's The Author, Art, and the Market misunderstands the concept of autonomous art: it does not deny art's instrumental role in life, but rather reconceives this role as essentially psychological. The work of art becomes an emblem of self‐control, and as such of great social import. But as Richard Goldthwaite's Wealth and the Demand for Art in Italy suggests, this role is traduced by the tendency of capitalism increasingly to eschew the high art exemplified by the Renaissance when there is money to be made in unchallenging, trashy popular culture.
Potassium Adsorption by Bottom Soils in Ponds for Inland Culture of Marine Shrimp in Alabama

Potassium is applied to correct ionic imbalance in pond water for inland culture of marine shrimp in Alabama. This study evaluated the loss of potassium through adsorption by bottom soil. Adsorption by bottom soils of potassium added in fertilizers continued over 4 yr. Exchangeable potassium concentration in bottom soils did not increase after the first year, but potassium loss to bottom soil continued over 4 yr. Laboratory work on soil–water systems contacted bottom soil with potassium-enriched pond water for 8 mo: nonexchangeable potassium fixation accounted for 75% of potassium adsorption. Soil total potassium adsorption averaged 518 mg/kg. Bottom soil samples exposed to consecutive 50 mg/L potassium solutions (potassium chloride in distilled water) and agitated by shaker led potassium adsorption by soil to decline from 406 mg/kg in first exposure to 70 mg/kg in sixth exposure. During the next six exposures, potassium adsorption was similar, between 61 and 95 mg/kg in each exposure, averaging 1804 mg/kg of potassium. Pond soils contain smectite clay, have a large capacity to adsorb potassium by nonexchange processes, and remove added potassium from water for years. The only reliable way to determine when potassium fertilizer may be added to Alabama inland shrimp ponds is to monitor potassium concentration in water.
Biomechanics: Swimming in the Sahara.

The sandfish, a type of desert lizard, can vanish into a sandy substrate in a blink of an eye. Approaches that draw on mathematics, physics and engineering provide complementary insights into how the animal achieves this feat.
Neurohumoral consequences of vasodilator therapy with hydralazine and nifedipine in severe congestive heart failure.

Abstract We evaluated the effects of intravenous hydralazine (5 to 30 mg) and oral nifedipine (20 to 80 mg) on plasma catecholamines, renin, and aldosterone in 18 patients with severe chronic heart failure. Both drugs resulted in a significant decrease in systemic vascular resistance and mean systemic blood pressure, and led to an increase in cardiac output. Baseline plasma norepinephrine concentration was elevated in most patients; however, augmentation of cardiac output with both drugs did not decrease the values of this hormone (from 870 ± 128 to 946 ± 161 pg/ml with hydralazine and from 1088 ± 260 to 1106 ± 187 pg/ml with nifedipine). Plasma epinephrine level was also elevated at baseline and did not change significantly following nifedipine therapy (164 ± 44 vs 199 ± 54 pg/ml), but increased in most patients following the administration of hydralazine (from 105 ± 45 to 153 ± 27 pg/ml, p p r = 0.03) and was probably the result of previously shown calcium blockade-mediated stimulation of renin release from the juxtaglomerular cells of the kidney. A significant increase in renin following nifedipine therapy did not lead to the expected stimulation of aldosterone release (16 ± 5 vs 16 ± 4 ng/dl). Failure of aldosterone to respond to renin stimulation is probably the result of a direct effect of nifedipine on the adrenal glomerulosa cells. We conclude that arterial dilation with hydralazine and nifedipine results in the same effect on norepinephrine and aldosterone levels but leads to dissimilar changes in epinephrine and plasma renin concentrations in patients with severe chronic heart failure. The clinical significance of these changes requires further evaluation.
Intrathecal baclofen: not all spasticity is bad.

To the Editor. —Albright et al 1 detail the clinical usefulness of intrathecal baclofen for treating spasticity in patients with cerebral palsy as a more effective alternative to oral administration. However, one disadvantage with this approach, as with other pharmacological modes of treatment, is the potential for simultaneous elimination of "functional forms" of spasticity. Excessive spasticity reduction in the lower-extremity antigravity muscles may significantly diminish the ability of the patient with spasticity to ambulate. Aptly labeled "physiological crutch" in certain clinical instances, spasticity can enable the patient with central nervous system injury to walk and to achieve optimal functional recovery.
Petri net representation of decision models

Models of decision-making organizations supported by command, control, and communication systems are represented using the Petri net formalism. A small set of primitives, defining the correspondence between decision models, signals, and functions and their Petri net counterparts, is proposed. A new decision signal-routing demultiplexer is added to the Petri net formalism to represent internal decision-making in the model. Using the above primitives, any decision-making structure can be modeled by a Petri net diagram. An array is introduced that describes the interactions between decision-makers, and an algorithm is presented for the calculation of delay when synchronous protocols are used.
1H and 13C NMR Chemical Shift Assignments and Conformational Analysis for the Two Diastereomers of the Vitamin K Epoxide Reductase Inhibitor Brodifacoum

Proton and 13C NMR chemical shift assignments and 1H-1H scalar couplings for the two diastereomers of the vitamin K epoxide reductase (VKOR) inhibitor brodifacoum have been determined from acetone solutions containing both diastereomers. Data were obtained from homo- and heteronuclear correlation spectra acquired at 1H frequencies of 750 and 900 MHz over a 268-303 K temperature range. Conformations inferred from scalar coupling and 1-D NOE measurements exhibit large differences between the diastereomers. Pacific Northwest National Laboratory is operated by Battelle for the US Department of Energy.
Pediatric palliative care: a novel approach to children with sickle cell disease.

Palliative care is both a philosophy of care and an organized system for delivering care. The goals of palliative care are to prevent and relieve suffering and support the best possible quality of life for patients and their families.1 Contrarily to common belief, palliative care is not synonymous with hospice care and should be introduced early in the disease process, possibly even at the time of diagnosis. Indeed, palliative care, with its emphasis on symptom management and quality of life, nurtures a sense of well-being and is an important coping principle in the care of children with life-threatening illnesses.2 Although many strides have been made in the management of children with sickle cell disease (SCD), the life expectancy of these patients is still significantly decreased compared with the general population. Indeed, a recent study reported that half of all patients with sickle cell anemia only survive into their 40s.3 The chronicity of illness in SCD is punctuated by painful episodes, end-organ disease with the development of chronic sequelae, and fear of sudden death. Infection, acute chest syndrome, stroke, and multiorgan failure continue to be the main causes of death.4,5 As such, one can assume that the principles of palliative care are relevant and should be applied to patients with SCD. Current literature on pediatric palliative care, however, does not consistently list SCD as an illness that is appropriate for palliative care, and children with SCD are only occasionally included in palliative care programs once the onset of complicating sequelae has occurred. In … Address correspondence to Brenda McClain, MD, FAAP, Yale University School of Medicine, Director of Pediatric Pain Management Services, Yale New Haven Children's Hospital, 333 Cedar St, TMP-3, New Haven, CT 06520-8051. E-mail: brenda.mcclain{at}yale.edu
The Effect of Light Upon Basidiocarp Initiation in Psilocybe Cubensis

Formation of basidiocarp initials in Psilocybe cubensis occurred only when cultures were illuminated. Short durations of light (0.0025 sec of xenon-arc flash) were sufficient for initiation. Light-...
Novel role of mitochondrial matrix metalloproteinase-2 in the development of diabetic retinopathy.

Purpose. In the pathogenesis of diabetic retinopathy, retinal mitochondria become dysfunctional, their DNA is damaged, and capillary cells undergo accelerated apoptosis. Matrix metalloproteinase-2 (MMP2) becomes activated and proapoptotic, and the therapies that inhibit the development of diabetic retinopathy alleviate MMP2 activation. The authors sought to elucidate the possible mechanism by which activated MMP2 contributes to mitochondrial dysfunction.
The photolysis of disulfide bonds in IgG1 and IgG2 leads to selective intramolecular hydrogen transfer reactions of cysteine Thiyl radicals, probed by covalent H/D exchange and RPLC-MS/MS analysis.

Purpose The evaluation of photo-instability of biotherapeutic products is mandated by regulatory agencies. Photo-irradiation can induce oxidative modifications in proteins, which may lead to undesired biological and therapeutic consequences. Among the modifications, epimerization of amino acid residues can occur upon photo-irradiation of IgGs.
Induction of sister chromatid exchanges and bacterial revertants by organic extracts of airborne particles

The genotoxicities of organic extracts of airborne particles have been studied extensively in the Salmonella/mammalian microsome (Ames) test, but in few other bioassays. In these studies, we tested benzene-acetone extracts of particulate pollutants collected in Lexington, Kentucky, for capacity to induce increases in sister chromatid exchanges (SCE) in human lumphocytes and V79 cells, as well as in the Ames assay. Extracts induced linear dose-related increases in SCE in human lumphocytes and in bacterial revertants.However, variable responses were observed in SCE assays in V79 cells with and without activation by rat liver S9 or feeder layers of irradiated Syrian hamster fetal cells. We conclude that the SCE assay in human lumphocytes may be a useful indicator of the potential risks to humans of airborne particulate pollutants, as it utilizes human cells recently taken from the host, is rapid and economical, and requires small quantities of test materials. However, thorough studies of the quantitative relationships between SCE induction and mutagenicity in human cells are needed.
Minimum Size and Maximum Packing Density of Nonredundant Semiconductor Devices

It is shown that there exists an absolute lower limit to device size and an absolute upper limit to packing density of nonredundant semiconductor devices, whether integrated or nonintegrated, based on fundamental physical phenomena such as statistical variations in impurity distribution, maximum resolution of semiconductor fabrication methods, power density and influence of cosmic rays. The influence of these phenomena falls in two categories, namely failures that appear during the fabrication of the devices (impurity distribution, dividing operation) and failures that appear during use. The latter may be temporary failures (cosmic ray ionization, carrier fluctuations) or permanent failures (atomic displacements by cosmic rays, heat generation). For a medium size computer (105 components) with a reasonable life expectancy (1 month mean time between failures), the minimum device size under reasonable conditions is approximately (10?)3, which is not far from devices now in the planning stage and within reach with eidsting techniques. It is within a factor of 2-5 of the dimensions of the active region of many devices of today. As microminiaturization by mere reduction in size appears headed for a not too distant limit it appears necessary from a device point of view to consider remedies which also have been suggested from a system point of view, namely redundancy, self-organizing systems, negative feedback, etc.
Stand Structure and Productivity of the Introduced Rhizophora mangle in Hawaii

Since its introduction in the early part of this century,Rhizophora mangle L. has spread extensively through most of the main islands of the Hawaiian Archipelago. We investigated the structural properties and estimated productivity of aR. mangle population at Nuupia Ponds Wildlife Management Area (NPWMA), on windward Oahu, where the mangroves were being controlled due to their propensity to overgrow archaeological sites and the habitat of endangered Hawaiian waterbirds. Mangroves within NPWMA were very dense (>24,000 trees ha−1) and most were relatively small (only 3.3% of the trees were ≥10 cm DBH). Mean basal area, aboveground biomass, and number of seedlings were all high, at 37.2 m2 ha−1, 279 t (dry wt) ha−1, and 121 m−2, respectively. The seedling, density may be particularly unusual and appears to be due to extremely high rates of propagule, production coupled with low rates of propagule predation. Stand productivity was estimated by stem growth (allometry), litterfall, and a light attenuation approach to determining net canopy photosynthetic production. All three methods yielded estimates that are higher than previously, reported forR. mangle and comparable with estimates of highly productiveRhizophora spp.-dominated stands in Australia and Asia. The high density, biomass, and productivity of this stand relative to stands within the species' native range may be due to a combination of favorable site conditions, lack of competition from other woody plants, and very low rates of herbivory and propagule predation.
Low literacy is associated with uncontrolled blood pressure in primary care patients with hypertension and heart disease.

Abstract Objectives To evaluate the association between low literacy and uncontrolled blood pressure (BP) and their associations with medication adherence. Methods Cross-sectional study of 423 urban, primary care patients with hypertension and coronary disease. The relationship between low literacy (Rapid Estimate of Adult Literacy in Medicine ≤ 44) and uncontrolled BP (≥140/90 mmHg, ≥130/80 mmHg for patients with diabetes) was evaluated by crude and adjusted logistic regression. Relationships with self-reported adherence and refill adherence were explored using adjusted linear and logistic regression. Results Overall, 192 (45%) subjects had low literacy and 227 (52.9%) had uncontrolled BP. Adjusting for age, gender, race, employment, education, mental status, and self-reported adherence, low literacy was associated with uncontrolled BP (OR 1.75, 95% CI 1.06–2.87). Lower self-reported adherence was associated with uncontrolled BP; the relationship between refill adherence and uncontrolled BP was not statistically significant. Conclusion Low literacy is independently associated with uncontrolled BP. Practice implications Awareness of the relationships among patient literacy, BP control, and medication adherence may guide healthcare providers as they communicate with patients.
Passive transport disrupts directional path integration by rat head direction cells.

A subset of neurons in the rat limbic system encodes head direction (HD) by selectively discharging when the rat points its head in a preferred direction in the horizontal plane. The preferred firi...
Remotely driven thermocline oscillations and denitrification in the eastern South Pacific: the potential for high denitrification rates during weak coastal upwelling

During February–March 1985 denitrification in the ocean off Peru was enhanced in four environments despite relatively weak coastal upwelling winds. They were (i) bottom waters over the shelf, (ii) a deep layer (∼ 300 m) north of ∼ 11°S, (iii) a near surface layer (∼ 40 m) with exceptional nitrite concentrations, and (iv) at relatively shallow depths south of ∼ 11°S. The exceptional 1985 observations may have been related to an unusually shallow thermocline that in turn could have represented a large-scale response to the 1982–1983 el Nino, which was the largest in over 100 years. The super-elevation of the thermocline noted in 1985, however, represented only about a 10% increase in the range of thermocline depth observations in the previous data, suggesting that the 1985 data may represent an extreme development of a recurring situation. During February–March 1985 the average primary production rate was ∼ 2g C m−2day−1, despite the extremely weak upwelling winds (average speed < 4 m−1s), presumably because the elevated thermocline placed high nutrient waters in close proximity to the photic zone. The thermocline waters off Peru are typically low in oxygen, and the low wind speeds apparently restricted the flux of oxygen from the atmosphere into the ocean, since waters with oxygen concentrations of almost zero (< 0.1 ml l−1 ∼ < 4.5 × 10−6M) were sometimes found within 20 m of the sea surface. Since respiration rates decrease with depth and since denitrification is favored by low oxygen tensions, this situation could lead to extremely high denitrification rates in the water column even though primary production might be lower than the average value (∼ 3 g C m−2day−1) due to the weak upwelling winds. Thermocline shoalings like those observed in 1985 are believed to be remotely forced by changes in equatorial winds, and shallow thermocline depths may be a common condition during austral summer. Thus, the February–March 1985 data may shed light on an important and recurring remote influence on denitrification rates in the eastern South Pacific. A major point that emerges from the 1985 observations is that remotely forced thermocline oscillations may have a significant effect on denitrification in the eastern South Pacific Ocean and may, at times, counteract the effect of weak upwelling winds. These data also lend further support to the idea that large temporal variations in the marine denitrification rate can occur in response to relatively small changes in circulation and stratification.
Perspectives on cell reprogramming with RNA

Recent advances in cell reprogramming have permitted the development of different stem cell lines and specific differentiated cell types using distinct technologies. Cell reprogramming is largely mediated by DNA and RNA. In this review, we explore the RNA-mediated cell reprogramming to induce specific target cell generation including stem cells, brain cells and cardiac cells. The ability of RNA populations to produce direct cell to cell phenotypic conversion is called Transcriptome Induced PhenotypeRemodeling (TIPeR). The theory and utility of RNA use for cellular reprogramming is explored in this review.
Simulations of the dislocation array at Ge/Si interfaces

When Ge is grown epitaxially on Si(001), the 4% mismatch between the lattice parameters of Ge and Si can produce a regular two-dimensional grid of (a/2) [1,{plus_minus}1,0] edge dislocations at the interface, a checkerboard with a spacing of {approximately} 100 {Angstrom}. We have performed classical molecular dynamical simulations of this checkboard in large microcrystals. Results show the expected 5-fold plus 7-fold ring structure at the cores of the individual dislocations, and a new closed symmetric structure of 18 atoms at their intersections. Tetrahedral coordination is everywhere retained, with relatively small changes in the bond lengths of less than 10 and in the bond angles of less than 25%. The energetics and dislocation offset of the system are explored for the Stillinger-Weber and Tersoff potentials.
Fishing and Natural Mortality: Effects on the Initial Year Class of Largemouth Bass in West Point Reservoir, Albama-Georgia

Abstract Rates of growth, fishing mortality, and natural mortality of the initial (1975) year class of largemouth bass (Micropterus salmoides) in 10,481-hectare West Point Reservoir were estimated over a 2-year period by rotenone sampling, electrofishing, and tagging studies. The estimate of an initial standing stock of 1,617 largemouth bass or 28.3 kg/hectare in August 1975 was reduced to 1.5 largemouth bass or 1.6 kg/hectare by August 1977. Instantaneous annual rates of growth, fishing mortality, and natural mortality were 2.19, 1.17, and 2.78, respectively, in the first year, and 0.65, 0.92, and 2.11 in the second. Total yield from the 1975 year class was 21.4 kg/hectare, of which 95% was harvested during the first year of impoundment, through August 1976. Natural and fishing mortality reduced the standing crop of 1975 largemouth bass by 88.2% (58.6% natural, 29.6% fishing) in the first year and 86.2% (69.1% natural, 17.1% fishing) in the second. The abundant initial year class of bass was responsible ...
Caregiving decision making by older mothers and adult children: process and expected outcome.

Dyadic caregiving decision making was studied in 30 mother-son and 29 mother-daughter pairs (mother's age = 65-94 years) who responded to a vignette depicting a caregiving decision situation. The observed decision-making process of mother-child pairs was largely naturalistic, with few alternatives proposed and quick convergence to a decision followed by a postdecision justification; a degree of more rational decision making was seen in some pairs. Among significant findings, adult children, especially sons, dominated the decision process, doing more talking and introducing more alternatives than did their mothers, who played a more subordinate role. Mother-son pairs expected more negative outcomes and greater regrets regarding their decisions than mother-daughter pairs. Closeness of the parent-child relationship influenced the decision-making process, expected outcomes, and regrets.
Engineering temperature-sensitive SH3 domains.

Abstract Background: The ability to control specific protein-protein interactions conditionally in vivo would be extremely helpful for analyzing protein-protein interaction networks. SH3 (Src homology 3) modular protein binding domains are found in many signaling proteins and they play a crucial role in signal transduction by binding to proline-rich sequences. Results: Random in vitro mutagenesis coupled with yeast two-hybrid screening was used to identify mutations in the second SH3 domain of Nck that render interaction with its ligand temperature sensitive. Four of the mutants were functionally temperature sensitive in mammalian cells, where temperature sensitivity was correlated with a pronounced instability of the mutant domains at the nonpermissive temperature. Two of the mutations affect conserved residues in the hydrophobic core (Val133 and Val160), suggesting a general strategy for engineering temperature-sensitive SH3-containing proteins. Indeed mutagenesis of the corresponding positions in another SH3 domain, that of Crk-1, rendered the full-length Crk-1 protein temperature sensitive for function and stability in mammalian cells. Conclusions: Construction of temperature-sensitive SH3 domains is a novel approach to regulating the function of SH3 domains in vivo. Such mutants will be valuable in dissecting SH3-mediated signaling pathways. Furthermore, the methodology described here to isolate temperature-sensitive domains should be widely applicable to any domain involved in protein-protein interactions.
Assessment of Flammability Hazard and Its Relationship to Price for Women's Nightgowns

The flammability hazard and its relationship to price were assessed for 27 styles of women's nightgowns, purchased retail. Though the industry has commonly indicated that higher prices must be paid for safer garments, it was hypothesized that this would not hold among garments for which no mandatory standard beyond CS 191-53 has been imposed. Hazard was measured as the percentage of body area sustaining second degree bum, predicted through burning the nightgowns on a thermally instrumented mannequin. In general, predicted hazard was highest for cotton gowns, followed by ones of polyester/cellulosic and acetate/nylon blends, and lastly by ones of 100% polyester or nylon. Graphical and statistical analysis indicated an inverse but weak relationship between hazard and price, so the conclusion was that little if any necessary relationship exists between flammability hazard and price for the women's nightgowns. An apparent reason was the strong association between hazard and fiber content, but no discernible r...
Dual-Task Effect on Gait Balance Control in Adolescents With Concussion

Abstract Objective To prospectively and longitudinally examine how concussion affects gait balance control in adolescents during single- and dual-task walking. Design Cohort, prospective, repeated-measures design. Setting Motion analysis laboratory. Participants Adolescents (N=20) identified as suffering a concussion were matched with healthy control subjects (N=20) and tested 5 times across a 2-month period after injury. Interventions Not applicable. Main Outcome Measures Gait temporal-distance parameters included average walking speed, step length, and step width; whole body center of mass (COM) parameters included medial/lateral displacement and peak COM medial/lateral and anterior velocities; dual-task cost, which was defined as percent change from single- to dual-task conditions; and Stroop test accuracy. Results No between-group differences were observed for step length and step width. The dual-task cost for average walking speed for subjects with concussion was greater than control subjects across the 2-month testing period (main effect of group P =.019), as was the dual-task costs for peak anterior COM velocity (main effect of group P =.017) and total COM medial/lateral displacement (main effect of group P =.013). The total COM medial/lateral displacement (group × task interaction P =.006) and peak COM medial/lateral velocity (main effect of group P =.027; main effect of task P =.01) were significantly greater in subjects with concussion compared with control subjects during dual-task walking. Subjects with concussion were significantly less accurate than controls on the Stroop test (main effect of group P =.004). Conclusions The findings suggest that concussion affects the ability of adolescents to control body posture during gait up to 2 months after injury. Furthermore, dual-task paradigms may provide additional useful information in the clinical assessment and recovery of concussion.
Utility of skin biopsy to evaluate peripheral neuropathy.

Skin biopsy for epidermal nerve fiber analysis provides an important objective test for the diagnosis of peripheral neuropathy, particularly small fiber sensory neuropathy (SFSN). The determination of epidermal nerve fiber density (ENFD) is reliable, with high diagnostic specificity and good sensitivity. Because of false negatives, biopsy results must be interpreted in conjunction with neurologic findings and laboratory results, including objective tests of sensory and autonomic function. SFSN most commonly is length dependent and is idiopathic in about half the patients. Biopsy of a proximal site (thigh) and a distal site (calf) typically shows greater abnormality of ENFD distally than proximally. More severe abnormality of ENFD in the thigh than in the calf raises the possibility of a non–length-dependent SFSN. The causes of this type of neuropathy, such as Sjogren’s syndrome, sarcoidosis, and celiac disease, may be treatable.
Reinterpreting the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator from the perspective of the five-factor model of personality.

ABSTRACT The Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI, Myers & McCaulley, 1985) was evaluated from the perspectives of Jung's theory of psychological types and the five-factor model of personality as measured by self-reports and peer ratings on the NEO Personality Inventory (NEO-PI, Costa & McCrae, 1985b) Data were provided by 267 men and 201 women ages 19 to 93 Consistent with earlier research and evaluations, there was no support for the view that the MBTI measures truly dichotomous preferences or qualitatively distinct types, instead, the instrument measures four relatively independent dimensions The interpretation of the Judging-Perceiving index was also called into question The data suggest that Jung's theory is either incorrect or inadequately operationalized by the MBTI and cannot provide a sound basis for interpreting it However, correlational analyses showed that the four MBTI indices did measure aspects of four of the five major dimensions of normal personality The five-factor model provides an alternative basis for interpreting MBTI findings within a broader, more commonly shared conceptual framework
Memory for fatigue in chronic fatigue syndrome: the relation between weekly recall and momentary ratings

Background: Understanding how patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) recall their fatigue is important because fatigue is a core clinical dimension of this poorly understood illness. Purpose: This study assessed the associations between momentary fatigue ratings and weekly recall of fatigue in 71 participants with CFS. Method: During the three-week data collection period, fatigue intensity was recorded six times a day in electronic diaries. At the end of each week, participants were asked to recall their fatigue intensity for that week. Statistical analyses were done with t-tests and Pearson’s and intraclass correlations. Results: Average weekly recall of fatigue intensity was significantly higher than average momentary ratings. Furthermore, moderate to high Pearson’s correlations and intraclass correlations (consistency and absolute agreement) between recall and momentary fatigue ratings were found. Conclusion: Individuals with CFS recalled consistently higher levels of fatigue in comparison to real-time momentary ratings, yet the level of agreement between the two measures was moderate to high. These findings may have implications for the conduct of office examinations for CFS.
Region of Feasibility of Interference Alignment in Underwater Sensor Networks

To enable underwater applications such as coastal and tactical surveillance, undersea explorations, and real-time picture/video acquisition, there is a need to achieve high data-rate and reliable communications underwater, which translates into attaining high acoustic channel spectral efficiencies. Interference alignment (IA), which has been recently proposed for radio-frequency multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) terrestrial communication systems, aims at improving the spectral efficiency by enabling nodes to transmit data simultaneously at a rate equal to half of the interference-free channel capacity. The core of IA in the space domain lies in designing transmit precoding matrices for each transmitter such that all the interfering signals align at the receiver along a direction different from that of the desired signal. While promising, however, there are still challenges to solve for the practical use of IA underwater, i.e., imperfect acoustic channel knowledge, high computational complexity, and high communication delay. In this paper, a feasibility study on the employment of IA underwater is presented. A novel distributed computing framework for sharing processing resources in the network so to parallelize and speed IA algorithms up is proposed; also, such framework enables “ensemble learning” of various precoding matrices computed using different (competing) IA algorithms so to achieve efficient alignment of the interference at the receiver. The robustness of the IA technique against imperfect acoustic channel knowledge is also quantified by estimating precoding matrices based on predicted channel coefficients. Finally, the performance of an algorithm to predict the underwater acoustic channel impulse response is presented using real data sets.
Orientation variation of oscilloscopic visual displays

Because most neurons in the visual cortex are selectively sensitive to contour orientation, physiological and psychophysical investigations are often concerned with stimulus orientation. The increasing use of cathode-ray-tube visual displays makes facility for oscilloscope pattern rotation valuable. Underlying concepts of the procedures to obtain rotatable patterns are described. These include techniques to produce sine and cosine fractional amplitudes of sweep waveforms, linear-mixer designs, and waveform-inverter methods. Advantages and disadvantages of essential elements are considered and details of a functional system are given.
A low vaginal "pool" amniotic fluid glucose measurement is a predictive but not a sensitive marker for infection in women with preterm premature rupture of membranes.

Objective We sought to identify the use of vaginal amniotic fluid (vAF) glucose measurements in predicting infection of the amniotic fluid retrieved by transabdominal amniocentesis (aAF) in women with preterm premature rupture of the membranes (PPROM). Study design Fluid was retrieved by aAF was retreived from 35 consecutive women with PPROM on whom an amniocentesis was clinically indicated to rule out intra-amniotic infection/inflammation and successfully completed. aAF was cultured for aerobic, anaerobic bacteria, Ureaplasma and Mycoplasma species. Clinical laboratory analysis for aAF included glucose concentration, Gram stain, lactate dehydrogenase, and white and red blood cell count. vAF was analyzed only for glucose concentration. Glucose concentration for the paired abdominal-vaginal AF samples (aAF-vAF) was determined by using well-established clinical and research laboratory methods. At the end of enrollment we stratified our patients into 2 groups: (1) positive microbial cultures (+)AFC (n = 17, gestational age [GA]: 27.3 ± 0.7 weeks) or (2) negative microbial cultures (−)AFC (n = 18, GA: 31.3 ± 0.5 weeks). Cohen kappa measure of concordance and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis were used to test the ability of the vaginal "pool" glucose measurements to discriminate between women with positive or negative AF cultures. Results Women with (+)AFC ruptured and delivered at an earlier GA compared with the (−)AFC group ( p P = .35). There was a significant linear correlation between aAF and vAF glucose concentrations ( r = 0.783, P P = .01] and vAF glucose levels [(+)AFC: 10.1 ± 2.8 vs (−)AFC: 19.8 ± 2.9 mg/dL, P = .02] compared with the noninfected group. Cohen kappa measure of concordance indicated "substantial" agreement between aAF and vAF glucose measurements (kappa = 0.719, 95% CI=0.491-0.947). The sensitivity of the vAF glucose level to detect IAI ranged from 82% to 47%, whereas specificity ranged from 100% to 56% depending on the threshold we used. A vaginal "pool" (vAF) glucose measurement less than 5 mg/dL had 47.1% sensitivity, 100% specificity, 100% positive predictive value, 66.7% negative predictive value, and 74.2% accuracy in identifying women with (+)AFC. Conclusion Vaginal glucose determination is a readily available, inexpensive, rapid AF marker that can be measured practically in any clinical laboratory. vAF glucose measurements less than 5 mg/dL have predictive value, but low sensitivity for detection of IAI.
Analysis of an optical bent RIB waveguide by the imaginary‐distance beam‐propagation method

The purpose of this article is to analyze efficiently a bent optical waveguide that is connected by two straight symmetric optical waveguides by the 3D imaginary-distance beam-propagation method (BPM). The BPM is implemented with 3D finite difference. We can obtain propagation constants and the field profile for the fundamental mode. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
New optimal design strategies and analysis of ultra-low leakage circuits for nano-scale SOI technology

This paper proposes new SOI circuit strategies for simultaneous reduction of standby gate and sub-threshold leakages. Various enhanced MTCMOS design alternatives are analyzed. A new method for assigning the V/sub TH/ and sizes of header and footer transistors is proposed, and stacking of headers/footers is analyzed. The optimum stacking height and tapering/sizing ratio under various design constraints are determined. Our strategies reduce MTCMOS standby leakage further by as much as 20/spl times/ and reduce virtual supply noise by 15%.
Processing of synthetic aperture radar images by the boundary contour system and feature contour system

An improved boundary contour system (BCS) and feature contour system (FCS) neural network model of preattentive vision was applied to two large images containing range data gathered by a synthetic aperture radar sensor. Early processing by shunting center-surround networks compresses signal dynamic range and performs local contrast enhancement. Subsequent processing by filters sensitive to oriented contrast, including short-range competition and long-range cooperation, segments the image into regions. Finally, a diffusive filling-in operation within the segmented regions produces coherent visible structures. The combination of BCS and FCS capitalizes on the form-sensitive operations of a neural network model to detect and enhance structure based on information over large, variably sized and variably shaped regions of the image. >