cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A gene signature of nonhealing venous ulcers: potential diagnostic markers.

Background Venous leg ulcers are responsible for more than half of all lower extremity ulcerations. Significant interest has been focused on understanding the physiologic basis on which patients fail to heal with standard therapy. Objective This study uses complementary DNA microarray analysis of tissue samples from healing and nonhealing venous leg ulcers to identify the genetic expression profiles from these dichotomous populations. Methods Ulcer size and chronicity, factors that have been identified as prognostic indicators for healing, were used to distribute venous leg ulcers as healing versus nonhealing. Punch biopsy samples were obtained from the wound edge and wound bed of all venous leg ulcers. The top 15 genes with differential expression greater than 2-fold between the two populations of wounds (P Results Significant differences were demonstrated in the expression of a diverse collection of genes, with particular differences demonstrated by genes coding for structural epidermal proteins, genes associated with hyperproliferation and tissue injury, and transcription factors. Limitations Small sample size may mitigate potential clinical implications of findings. Conclusions The genetic expression profiles displayed here may have implications for the development of novel therapies for chronic venous leg ulcers, and may also serve as prognostic indicators for wound healing.
T-cell receptor bias in patients with allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis

CD4(+) Th2 helper cell mediated immune responses have been shown to play a crucial role in the pathogenesis of ABPA. HLA and TCR are the candidate genes, which can influence the specificity of these responses. We have previously established a strong association of HLA DR2/5 in ABPA susceptibility. The study was designed to determine whether allergen specific T cell express a limited usage of T cell receptor (TCR) Vbeta gene repertoire in ABPA and to find an association of susceptible HLA-DR determinants with the identified TCR gene segments. TCR Vbeta typing was performed on antigen specific T cell lines from 14 ABPA and 12 nonABPA patients. The majority of ABPA patients (86%) expressed allergen specific T cells with Vbeta13 genes indicating its role in susceptibility, whereas in nonABPA controls, Vbeta1 genes T cell repertoires were predominantly expressed. The unrestricted pattern of Vbeta gene amplification seen before antigen stimulation suggests an oligoclonal expansion of a specific T cell population in response to the allergen Asp f 1 in ABPA and nonABPA patients. The increased usage of Vbeta13 in ABPA and Vbeta1 in nonABPA indicates their importance in susceptibility and resistance, respectively.
Estimating the circle closest to a set of points by maximum likelihood using the BHHH algorithm

Abstract The purpose of this paper is to exploit the idea that, in linear models, the least-squares estimators and the maximum likelihood estimators based on the normality assumption are often identical. In particular, we wish to add the normality assumption to the problem of finding the best fitting circle. The addition of the normality assumption will allow the use of the BHHH algorithm to estimate the model by maximum likelihood. Although the BHHH algorithm is not especially fast, its virtue is that it only requires the first derivatives of the loglikelihood function and is therefore easier to program than the Newton–Raphson algorithm. As we will show, the likelihood framework also allows for easy testing of several important hypotheses and construction of an R 2 measure from regression analysis.
Effect of counterion geometry on cationic micelles

Abstract The critical micelle concentration, aggregation number, and binding properties of decyltrimethylammonium ion micelles are determined as a function of counterion geometry using the dianions of phthalic, isophthalic, and terephthalic acids. Light-scattering methods were used to secure the CMC and AN data whereas binding data were obtained with a specific ion electrode. It is shown that the differences among the micellar parameters are quite small relative to counterion effects induced by variations in polarizability and hydrophobicity. The data are used as evidence for a disorganized micelle surface containing water-filled grooves and fatty patches which do not discriminate among various geometric dispositions of the carboxylates about the aromatic ring.
Intramolecularly Competitive Ireland-Claisen Rearrangements: Scope and Potential Applications to Natural Product Synthesis

A variety of bis-allylic esters were prepared by vinylmetal addition to cycloalkenones followed by esterification either in situ or in a separate operation. For chiral cyclohexenones, the vinyl additions generally occurred with >10:1 diastereoselectivity. Although in some cases the bis-allylic esters proved to be sensitive to silica gel or other adsorbents, all of the esters examined could be isolated in acceptable purity. The Ireland-Claisen rearrangement of the bis-allylic esters occurred with complete regioselectivity via the exocyclic alkene. The alkene stereochemistry and the stereochemistry at C-2 and C-3 of the pentenoic acid products were consistent with a chairlike transition state in the rearrangement. Substituents at the carbons adjacent to the allylic carbinol carbon (i.e., C-2 or C-6 in cyclohexenone-derived substrates) directed the stereochemical course of the rearrangement. The rearrangements generally proceeded so as to place the larger of the C-2 or C-6 substituents in the pseudoequatoria...
Surface processes in plasma wall interactions

Abstract Plasma surface interactions play a critical role in all tokamak experiments. Phenomena such as impurity influx and radiation, H isotope recycling and first wall modification have become widely recognised in the past year of tokamak operation. It is now generally recognised that impurities are introduced through sputtering, arcing desorption and other mechanisms. In future DT devices, helium blistering may assume an important role. Examples and the relative importance of these various surface processes are discussed. Another critical area for tokamak operation involves hydrogen isotope trapping at the first wall. Recent experiments on several tokamaks indicate that trapping and subsequent re-emission of hydrogen isotopes on walls during and between discharges play an important role in fuel balance, performance and eventually in the tritium inventory. Existing data and understanding of H/D trapping and re-emission phenomena are reviewed.
Characterizing regional correlation, laterality and symmetry of amyloid deposition in mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease with Pittsburgh Compound B

Abstract We evaluated the region-to-region correlation, laterality and asymmetry of amyloid deposition in subjects with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or Alzheimer's disease (AD) using the amyloid tracer, Pittsburgh Compound B (PiB). Seventeen subjects, including 7 with MCI (MMSE 26.7 ± 2.4) and 10 with AD (MMSE of 24.8 ± 2.7) underwent PiB imaging. Measures of laterality (i.e., group-wise predilection for right or left) and asymmetry (i.e., group-wise predilection for unequal PiB retention between the two hemispheres) were calculated for 17 Regions of Interest (ROIs). Regional correlations were calculated along with within-group and between-groups statistical analyses of laterality and asymmetry metrics. The median correlation between PiB retention across all pairs of ROIs was 0.65, with highest correlations found in areas of highest PiB retention (r = 0.74). Overall, PiB retention was symmetric bilaterally, but there was PiB laterality in MCI in dorsal frontal cortex [(t(6) = 3.05, p = 0.02, L > R] and sensory-motor area [t(6) = 3.10, p = 0.02, L > R] and in AD in the occipital pole (t(9) = −2.63, p = 0.03, R > L). The most significant asymmetries in PiB retention were found in sub-cortical white matter (t(6) = 3.99, p = 0.01) and middle precuneus [(t(6) = 3.57, p = 0.01] in MCI, and in lateral temporal cortex (t(9) = 3.02, p = 0.01) and anterior ventral striatum [t(9) = 2.37, p = 0.04] in AD. No group differences (AD versus MCI) were detected in laterality [F (1, 15) = 0.15, p = 0.7] or asymmetry [F (1, 15) = 0.7, p = 0.42].
Ovarian carcinoma ascites spheroids adhere to extracellular matrix components and mesothelial cell monolayers

Abstract Objective . Ovarian carcinoma cells form multicellular aggregates, or spheroids, in the peritoneal cavity of patients with advanced disease. The current paradigm that ascites spheroids are non-adhesive leaves their contribution to ovarian carcinoma dissemination undefined. Here, spheroids obtained from ovarian carcinoma patients' ascites were characterized for their ability to adhere to molecules encountered in the peritoneal cavity, with the goal of establishing their potential to contribute to ovarian cancer spread. Methods . Spheroids were recovered from the ascites fluid of 11 patients with stage III or stage IV ovarian carcinoma. Adhesion assays to extracellular matrix (ECM) proteins and human mesothelial cell monolayers were performed for each of the ascites spheroid samples. Subsequently, inhibition assays were performed to identify the cell receptors involved. Results . Most ascites samples adhered moderately to fibronectin and type I collagen, with reduced adhesion to type IV collagen and laminin. Monoclonal antibodies against the β1 integrin subunit partially inhibited this adhesion. Ascites spheroids also adhered to hyaluronan. Additionally, spheroids adhered to live, but not fixed, human mesothelial cell monolayers, and this adhesion was partially mediated by β1 integrins. Conclusions . The cellular content of the ascites fluid has often been considered non-adhesive, but our findings are the first to suggest that patient-derived ascites spheroids can adhere to mesothelial extracellular matrix via β1 integrins, indicating that spheroids should not be ignored in the dissemination of ovarian cancer.
Debriefing d’une infection de site opératoire

Resume L’objet de ce travail est de definir une liste la plus exhaustive possible des elements pertinents pour l’analyse d’une infection de site operatoire. Apres un rappel des evolutions recentes de la jurisprudence, l’analyse des infections de site operatoire est effectuee a l’aide de la grille ALARM, outil structure d’analyse des causes, adaptee aux etablissements de sante. Partant d’une sphere proche de l’acte de soin (patient, tâches a accomplir, soignant), vers des couches organisationnelles de plus en plus eloignees (Equipe, Environnement de travail, Organisation et Management, Contexte institutionnel, 37 facteurs contributifs sont declines. Cela conduit a l’analyse de trois notions essentielles: tracabilite, evitabilite et imputabilite.
Stimulus pronunciability in aural paired-associate learning

An experiment was conducted in an attempt to assess the merits of a stimulus availability interpretation of stimulus pronunciability (PR) effects in aural paired-associate learning. Stimulus PR was varied within lists of 8 trigram-adjective pairs. The study-test technique was used. The intra-SR interval of study trials was either 2, 4, or 6 sec, thus allowing periods of different length in which to manipulate stimulus availability at the time of the response event. Subgroups of S s either counted backwardly during this interval, repeated the stimulus aloud, or were left uninstructed. Stimulus recall was given at the end of learning without forewarning. The results indicate that stimulus repetition efficiently serves to maintain availability over the intra-SR interval. Counting backwardly during this interval, however, markedly impedes acquisition, but not differentially from the stimulus-repetition condition over levels of PR as would be expected from short-term retention studies involving pronunciability as a variable. The failure of the three intra-SR activities to interact over levels of PR both during acquisition and in post-acquisition stimulus recall makes differential availability (in the sense of recallability) according to PR an untenable explanation of stimulus-PR effects.
The transportable auxin pool

Evidences from experiments with stem sections of sunflower seedlings suggest that the transport of auxin may be limited by a restricted pool size of transportable auxin and restrictions in the availability of transport sites. A steady state of transport is observed over a range of lengths of stem sections, and over a wide range of auxin contents. The capacity of the sections to transport a pulse of auxin declines with aging after cutting, 50% decline occurring at about 10(+) hours; the transportability of a pulse of auxin declines rapidly after the completion of uptake, 50% decline occurring at about 1 hour. A chase treatment with unlabeled auxin does not alter transport, but a pretreatment with auxin depressed subsequent transport for about 1 hour. In depleted tissues such pretreatment is not inhibitory but rather is promotive of transport. The interpretation offered is that transport is limited by the pool size and transport sites, and roles for these factors are suggested in relation to the auxin transport gradient and the tropistic responses.
Optimal waist-to-hip ratios in women activate neural reward centers in men.

Secondary sexual characteristics convey information about reproductive potential. In the same way that facial symmetry and masculinity, and shoulder-to-hip ratio convey information about reproductive/genetic quality in males, waist-to-hip-ratio (WHR) is a phenotypic cue to fertility, fecundity, neurodevelopmental resources in offspring, and overall health, and is indicative of “good genes” in women. Here, using fMRI, we found that males show activation in brain reward centers in response to naked female bodies when surgically altered to express an optimal (∼0.7) WHR with redistributed body fat, but relatively unaffected body mass index (BMI). Relative to presurgical bodies, brain activation to postsurgical bodies was observed in bilateral orbital frontal cortex. While changes in BMI only revealed activation in visual brain substrates, changes in WHR revealed activation in the anterior cingulate cortex, an area associated with reward processing and decision-making. When regressing ratings of attractiveness on brain activation, we observed activation in forebrain substrates, notably the nucleus accumbens, a forebrain nucleus highly involved in reward processes. These findings suggest that an hourglass figure (i.e., an optimal WHR) activates brain centers that drive appetitive sociality/attention toward females that represent the highest-quality reproductive partners. This is the first description of a neural correlate implicating WHR as a putative honest biological signal of female reproductive viability and its effects on men's neurological processing.
Migration-based virtual machine placement in cloud systems

Cloud computing is an emerging technology that greatly shapes our lives, where users run jobs on virtual machines (VMs) on physical machines (PMs) provided by a cloud provider, saving the investment in upfront infrastructures. Due to the heterogeneity of various jobs, different VMs on the same PM can have different job completion times. Meanwhile, the PMs are also heterogeneous. Therefore, different VM placements have different job completion times. Our objective is to minimize the total job completion time of the input VM requests through a reasonable VM placement schedule. This problem is NP-hard, since it can be reduced to a knapsack problem. We propose an off-line VM placement method through emulated VM migration, while the on-line VM placement is solved by a real VM migration process. The migration algorithm is a heuristic approach, where we place the VM to its best PM directly, as long as it has enough capacity. Otherwise, if the migration constraint is satisfied, we migrate another VM from this PM to accommodate the new VM. Furthermore, we study a hybrid scheme where a batch is employed to accept upcoming VMs for the on-line scenario. Evaluation results prove the high efficiency of our algorithms.
Preferences of Preschool Children for Enterable Play Boxes

Measurements were obtained of 4-yr.-old children's preferences for enterable play boxes having various degrees of openness. In their use of boxes, Ss strongly favored those boxes having least degrees of openness and greatest amounts of encapsulation. Consideration is given to stimulus factors possibly reinforcing the observed preferences.
Partial attenuation of chronic fluphenazine-induced changes in regional monoamine metabolism by D-α-tocopherol in rat brain

Recent evidence has suggested a role for free radicals in tardive dyskinesia. We, therefore, investigated the effects of chronic administration of fluphenazine decanoate (FLU) and/or vitamin E (VIT E) on regional monoamine metabolism in rat brain. Chronic FLU caused significant increases in dopamine (DA) in nucleus accumbens and brainstem, significant decreases in dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) in frontal cortex, nucleus accumbens and hippocampus and significant decreases in homovanillic acid (HVA) in nucleus accumbens, caudate-putamen and brainstem. Coadministration of FLU and VIT E normalized HVA in caudate-putamen, nucleus accumbens and brainstem as well as DOPAC in nucleus accumbens and hippocampus. Chronic FLU caused significant increases in norepinephrine (NE) levels in all regions studied. VIT E attenuated FLU-induced increases in NE levels in nucleus accumbens and hippocampus. Significant increases in serotonin (5-HT) levels occurred in nucleus accumbens and hippocampus whereas significant decreases in 5-hydroxyindole-acetic acid (5-HIAA) occurred in all brain regions after chronic FLU. Coadministration of VIT E attenuated the changes observed in hippocampal 5-HIAA but potentiated the FLU-induced increases in 5-HT in this region. Our data suggest that VIT E can attenuate some of the FLU-induced changes in monoamine metabolism. Results are discussed in relation to possible involvement of free radicals in monoamine metabolism during chronic neuroleptic use.
Inertial Swimming as a Singular Perturbation

The swimming of a sheet, originally treated by G.I. Taylor (1951) for the case of Stokes flow, is considered at moderate and high Reynolds numbers using matched asymptotic expansions. It is shown that for propagating waves with frequency ω , wavenumber k, and amplitude b, the swimming speed must be deduced from a dual expansion in powers of the small parameters bkR1/2 and R−1/2 , where R = ω /ν k2 is the Reynolds number. The result of Tuck (1968) for the leading term of the swimming velocity is recovered, and higher-order results are given. For the case of a planar, stretching sheet, the expansion is in powers of bk and R−1/2 and a limit for large R is obtained as a boundary layer. We contrast these results with the inviscid case, where no swimming is possible. We also consider briefly the application of these ideas to “recoil swimming”, wherein the movements of the center of mass and center of volume of a body allow swimming at both finite and infinite Reynolds numbers.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
Epitaxial BaF2 films on InP(100) deposited by r.f. magnetron sputtering

Epitaxial BaF2 thin films were deposited onto InP(100) at a substrate temperature ranging from 450 to 480°C by r.f. magnetron sputtering. X-ray diffraction analysis revealed a pure c-axis-oriented film perpendicular to the substrate surface. The X-ray rocking curve of the full width at half-maximum for BaF2(200) was less than 0.8°. The X-ray pole figure investigation showed good in-plane alignment of the crystals. A scanning electron microscopy surface scan indicated a highly textured film with grid growth morphology.
Attitudes towards Death in Creative Artists

A positive relationship was hypothesized between acceptance of death, strength of motivation, breadth of time perspective, and self-fulfillment in creative artists. This hypothesis was based on the...
Effects of social context on overweight and normal-weight children's food selection

Although most eating occurs in a social context, the impact of peer influence on child food consumption and selection of healthy and unhealthy snacks has not been the object of systematic experimental study. The present experiment assessed the effects of peer interaction on energy intake and food choices in 18 overweight and 21 non-overweight youth. Participants had access to high and low-calorie food items and were provided with several games as alternatives to eating. On one occasion, participants were tested alone and on another occasion they were tested in dyads with an unfamiliar peer. Consistent with previous results, we found that overweight children ate substantially more when alone than when in the presence of a peer and also more when alone than the lean children in the same condition. Non-overweight youths' food intake was unaffected by the social context. Findings also indicated that the best predictor of whether participants consumed healthy snack foods was if the other youth in the dyad also consumed healthy snack foods. These findings suggest that the presence of peers can influence overweight children's energy intake and also influence healthier food selection in both overweight and non-overweight children.
Localized states in amorphous arsenic

Abstract Optical absorption and photoconductivity spectra of bulk amorphous arsenic are presented and analyzed using a general density of states model for amorphous semiconductors. It is concluded that localized states do exist in the forbidden gap and at the band edges and that transitions between localized states are significant.
Seismic pore space compressibility and Gassmann’s relation

The pore space compressibility of a rock provides a robust, model-independent descriptor of porosity and pore fluid effects on effective moduli. The pore space compressibility is also the direct physical link between the dry and fluid-saturated moduli, and is therefore the basis of Gassmann's equation for fluid substitution. For a fixed porosity, an increase in pore space compressibility increases the sensitivity of the modulus to fluid substitution. Two simple techniques, based on pore compressibility, are presented for graphically applying Gassmann's relation for fluid substitution. In the first method, the pore compressibility is simply reweighted with a factor that depends only on the ratio of fluid to mineral bulk modulus. In the second technique, the rock moduli are rescaled using the Reuss average, which again depends only on the fluid and mineral moduli.
The Effect of the Common Process Noise on the Two-Sensor Fused-Track Covariance

This note deals with the effect of the common process noise on the fusion (combination) of the state estimates of a target based on measurements obtained by two different sensors. This problem arises in a multisensor environment where each sensor has its information processing (tracking) subsystem. In the case of an ?-s tracking filter the effect of the process noise is that, over a wide range of its variance, the uncertainty area corresponding to the fused estimates is about 70 percent of the single-sensor uncertainty area as opposed to 50 percent obtained if the dependence is ignored.
Determination of Rate and Equilibrium Constants for the Reactions between Electron Transfer Mediators and Proteins by Linear Sweep Voltammetry

Redox proteins undergo measurable charge transfer at electrodes only under special circumstances, while they readily take part in electron transfer reactions with mediators in solution. Advantage was taken of the latter fact to develop a new method to study the kinetics and equilibria of protein-mediator electron transfer reactions. It was shown that rate and equilibrium constants for the electron exchange between electron transfer mediator and the protein can be obtained from the analysis of the perturbation of the linear sweep voltammetry (LSV) response of the mediator due to the presence of the protein. The experiments were carried out under conditions where the protein does not interact with the electrode. Theoretical data obtained by digital simulation are presented to show the conditions under which rate and equilibrium constants are accessible by the LSV technique. The electron transfer reactions between ferri- and ferrocytochrome c and N,N,N',N'-tetramethylphenylenediamine and the corresponding radical cation in phosphate-buffered saline (0.04 M phosphate, pH 7.4, 0.1 M NaCl) buffer were selected to demonstrate the technique. These studies resulted in an equilibrium constant equal to 1.0 and forward and reverse rate constants equal to 1.6 x 10(4) M-1 s-1. The data available from this method include forward and reverse rate constants for electron transfer and the formal potential for the protein redox couple.
Thermal control of maternal contact bouts: The interbout interval ☆

Cooling mother rats by means of sodium salicylate injections did not curtail the intervals between maternal contact bouts. To the contrary, the interbout intervals were prolonged, suggesting that the relief from hyperthermia is a necessary but not a sufficient condition for the reinitiation of pup contact by mother rats. The ability of sodium salicylate to suppress maternal temperature suggests that pyrogenic and lactational increases in temperature may have some common feature.
Dairy farm wells in Southeastern Minnesota: The relation of water source to calf mortality rate

Abstract Calf mortality was studied for 4 years on 50 Dairy Herd Improvement Association dairy farms in Fillmore County, Minnesota, U.S.A. The dairies were categorized by source of water used for calves, both for drinking and for reconstitution of milk replacer; 28 dairies had wells in easily contaminated shallow aquifers, and 22 had wells in more protected, usually deeper, aquifers. The mean 1976–1979 calf mortality rates for all dairies were 13.5%, 14.1%, 11.8% and 11.0%. Calf mortality was higher for deep well dairies in 1976, 1977 and 1978, but not in 1979. The two water source groups differed in a number of characteristics. Deep well dairies had larger land sizes, larger herds and younger owner-managers than did shallow well dairies. Dairies owned by younger, less experienced managers had a statistically significant higher calf mortality than dairies owned by older, more experienced managers for 3 of the 4 years. Analysis of variance using water source, years of managerial experience and feeding regimen as factors and herd size as a covariate indicated that differences in calf mortality rates by water source were confounded by owner experience, and that the higher calf mortality rates on deep well dairies were associated with managers who were younger and less experienced.
EVALUATION OF CULTURE PROTOCOLS AND OXYRASETM SUPPLEMENTATION FOR ARCOBACTER SPP.

Growth of Arcobacter butzleri was evaluated in Brain Heart Infusion broth incubated aerobically, microaerobically, and with OxyraseTM supplementation (anaerobically). At initial concentrations of101 to 103 cells/mL, A. butzleri populations reached 7.5 to 8.0 log CFU/ml in 48h at 37C in OxyraseTM -supplemented broth. The organism quickly declined in the other two systems to undetectable levels during the initial 24h of incubation. Only moderate population levels (ca. 3 log CFU/ml) could be detected in aerobic and microaerobic systems after 56h incubation. Growth of five Arcobacter spp. strains was evaluated at 30C in Brucella-blood broth, modified Cary and Blair Transport Medium, and a biphase cultural system. Strains were inoculated at a level of ca. 103 cells/ml and incubated with and without OxyraseTM supplementation to the system for 36h. Both the Brucella-blood broth and the biphase system supported good growth of the strains, with counts reaching ca. 8 to 9 log CFU/ml. Modified Cary and Blair Transport Medium was the least effective cultural system. OxyraseTM provided slight to moderate stimulation of growth for most strains.
Peptides of Insulin and Glucagon Superfamilies in Fish

Clusters of structurally related biologically active peptides have been appropriately dubbed 'families' or 'superfamilies'. However, structural resemblance does not necessary predict similar function. This short overview deals with two couples of peptides: insulin and insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) belonging to the insulin superfamily, and glucagon and glucagon-like peptide I (GLP-I) belonging to the glucagon superfamily. An attempt is made to compare structure, expression and functions of peptides of either fish or mammalian origin. It appears that fish insulin, IGF-I and glucagon share with their mammalian counterparts a number of similar features and functions while glucagon-like peptide function is strongly different. Insulin and glucagon families of peptides have been extensively reviewed during the past two years. To avoid repetition most attention is paid to the latest findings that have not been included in previous reviews.
Investigation of aqueous methylmercuric and mercuric ion complexes by mercury-199 FT NMR

Abstract Methylmercuric ion species are studied by 199Hg FT NMR in aqueous solution at various pH values. Equilibrium constants for the formation of dimer and the acidic and basic forms of the monomer are determined by nonlinear least-squares computer analysis. The first 199Hg chemical shift values are reported for complexes in which methylmercuric and mercuric ions are bound to sulfur ligands, namely, the sulfhydryl groups of the tripeptide glutathione.
The Consequences of Eye Removal for the Circadian Rhythm of Behavioral Activity in Aplysia

TheAplysia eye is capable of both photoreception and circadian oscillation. We have tried to find out if either of these ocular functions plays an important role in controlling the circadian rhythm of locomotor behavior. Eyeless, sham-operated and intactAplysia were tested in LD, DD and pseudo-LD. The behavioral rhythm was measured and analyzed by event recorder techniques supplemented with periodogram analysis. These facts indicate that the eye is neither the only photoreceptor nor the only circadian oscillator coupled to the locomotor rhythm. The eye, however, does participate in the generation of temporal patterns of activity in the absence of h-to-h sensory guidance. It is therefore reasonable to believe that the eye is one among several endogenous oscillators coupled to locomotion. The only role so far demonstrated for the ocular photoreceptors is their previously known capacity to entrain the ocular clock.
Shaping the Imaginary Domain: Strategies for Tenure and Promotion at One Institution

Abstract This article examines one department in the midst of establishing an independent writing major and program. The situational constraints are analyzed in the context of professional concerns regarding tenure, and in the context of current disciplinary concerns regarding the recognition of computers and composition labor. Given the local situation, and the constraints and possibilities therein, the authors argue for the necessity of establishing tenure and promotion guidelines that will reward faculty who are able to contribute to the creation of equity and access for the larger regional community. The possibility to shape, to some degree, the guidelines for tenure and promotion, enables the authors to explore potential strategies for recognizing alternative forms of labor within and against tenure traditions.
Water-soluble polymers: 33. Ampholytic terpolymers of sodium 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulphonate with 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanedimethylammonium chloride and acrylamide: synthesis and aqueous-solution behaviour

Abstract Synthesis and viscometric studies of a series of moderate-to-low charge-density terpolymers of acrylamide (AM) with sodium 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulphonate (NaAMPS) and 2-acrylamido-2-methyl-propanedimethylammonium chloride (AMPDAC) have been conducted. Plots of apparent viscosity versus polymer concentration revealed critical overlap concentrations ( C∗ ) in the range 0.10–0.14 g dl −1 . The dependence of the reduced viscosity of the terpolymers on temperature was minimal, with only a slight decrease in viscosity observed with increasing temperature. Reduced viscosity was shown to be a function of polymer composition, charge distribution and molecular weight of the terpolymers. The low-to-moderate charge-density terpolymers of NaAMPS with AMPDAC displayed viscosities over 100% greater than the high charge-density copolymers. The superior viscometric characteristics of the terpolymers became more evident as the polymer concentration approaches C∗
Comparison of high-resolution seismic profiles and the geoacoustic properties of Eckernförde Bay sediments

High-resolution seismic profiles of Eckernforde Bay and the adjacent Baltic Sea were collected, and the geoacoustic properties of sediments there were measured. Bulk densities averaged ~ 1.35 g cm−3 and ranged from ~ 1.2 to ~ 1.7 g cm−3. Compressional wave velocities in gas-free sediments averaged ~ 1460 m s−1 and ranged from ~ 1425 to ~ 1555 m s−1. In nongassy sediments, bulk density variations typically controlled changes of acoustic impedance. Impedance changes were usually too small and closely spaced to be resolved seismically, although, at certain sites, significant impedance changes are far apart enough that they correlate one-to-one with seismic reflectors. Where free gas is present, velocity decreases and wave energy is scattered, causing a prominent seismic reflector.
Severe Mitral Regurgitation and Hepatopulmonary Hydatid Cysts: What Should Be Treated First?

Hydatid cyst can simultaneously affect the liver and lung. Some patients might have additional comorbidities that can make management more challenging. Here, we present a 10-year-old boy with hepatopulmonary hydatid cysts and severe mitral regurgitation, who was successfully managed with a staged surgical approach treating the lung first, followed by the liver and finally, the heart.
Introspection and Consciousness

In their introduction to Introspection and Consciousness, the editors write:Introspection stands at the interface between two major currents in philosophy and related areas of science: on the one h...
Lensless On-Chip Fluorescent Imaging Over an Ultra Wide Field-of-View

We introduce a lensless high-throughput fluorescent detection modality that can simultaneously image micro-objects and labeled cells over an ultra-wide field-of-view (FOV) of ∼8cm2 without the use of any lenses, thin-film filters and mechanical scanners. This lensfree platform utilizes total-internal-reflection (TIR) to block the excitation light, and an inexpensive absorption filter to remove the weakly scattered light that does not obey TIR. The emitted fluorescent light from the objects is then detected on the same chip without the use of any lenses. A digital deconvolution algorithm is used to resolve overlapping fluorescent spots, enabling a resolution of ∼40–50 μm over the entire field-of-view. Such an ultra wide field-of-view lensfree fluorescent imaging modality might be very valuable for high-throughput screening applications as well as quantification of rare cells such as circulating tumor cells using ultra-large microfluidic devices.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
Storytelling, Identity, and Strategy: Perceiving Shifting Obstacles in the Fight for Abortion Rights in Argentina

How do activists perceive and interpret changing obstacles and opportunities? Studying narratives can help us to address unanswered questions about activist perception and attribution of the opport...
Helping Children Grow: A Home-Based Intervention Protocol

It is not uncommon for nurses in child health or Women, Infants, and Children Supplemental Food Program clinics to see children whose growth is at or below the 5th percentile on the National Center for Health Statistics (NCHS) growth grids, or whose growth has gradually dropped across the growth grids. These growth patterns may be from organic or nonorganic causes and are evidence of growth delay (when growth slows) or growth failure (when growth stalls); growth failure is also known as failure to thrive (Taitz & King, 1988). Many agencies and clinics define growth delay/failure as weight for age 2 percentile levels below height for age, or weight or height below the 5th percentile with birth weight above the 10th percentile (Hamill, Drizd, Johnson, Reed, & Roche, 1976). Weight for height should be proportionate even for preterm children. A child who is born preterm should be above the 5th percentile for weight and weight for length after his or her weight and length are age-adjusted. Preterm infants should have their weight age-adjusted until 24 months and their length age-adjusted until 40 months (Frank, 1995). Growth delay/failure is not an isolated phenomenon; it is present in one of six low-income Hispanic children, and one of seven low-income Black children (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services [USDHHS], 1991). The purpose of this article is to review the etiology of growth delay and failure, to discuss necessary components in the assessment of children with growth failure, and to present the effectiveness of a home-based intervention program.'
Two artificial neural networks for modeling discrete survival time of censored data

Artificial neural network (ANN) theory is emerging as an alternative to conventional statistical methods in modeling nonlinear functions. The popular Cox proportional hazard model falls short in modeling survival data with nonlinear behaviors. ANN is a good alternative to the Cox PH as the proportionality of the hazard assumption and model relaxations are not required. In addition, ANN possesses a powerful capability of handling complex nonlinear relations within the risk factors associated with survival time. In this study, we present a comprehensive comparison of two different approaches of utilizing ANN in modeling smooth conditional hazard probability function. We use real melanoma cancer data to illustrate the usefulness of the proposed ANN methods. We report some significant results in comparing the survival time of male and female melanoma patients.
Optimization of synthesis condition and electrode fabrication for spinel LiMn2O4 cathode

Abstract We used cyclic voltammetry (CV) and galvanostatic cycling test to optimize the synthesis condition and electrode composition for spinel LiMn 2 O 4 cathode. Based on a synthetic approach of solid reaction, the most appropriate Li–Mn source for the synthesis of LiMn 2 O 4 was found to be LiOH/MnO 2 and the optimum synthesis condition was to react at 750 °C in air for 18 h. The LiMn 2 O 4 such obtained has an initial specific capacity of 120–130 mAh/g between 3.5 and 4.2 V. In the electrode films, the carbon that was used as a conducting agent significantly affects performance of the LiMn 2 O 4 electrode. Among the carbons examined in this work, we found that carbon black from Alfa Aesar was a better conducting agent and its appropriate content was around 10% in the LiMn 2 O 4 electrode.
Gender differences in narcissism: A meta-analytic review.

Despite the widely held belief that men are more narcissistic than women, there has been no systematic review to establish the magnitude, variability across measures and settings, and stability over time of this gender difference. Drawing on the biosocial approach to social role theory, a meta-analysis performed for Study 1 found that men tended to be more narcissistic than women (d = .26; k = 355 studies; N = 470,846). This gender difference remained stable in U.S. college student cohorts over time (from 1990 to 2013) and across different age groups. Study 1 also investigated gender differences in three facets of the Narcissistic Personality Inventory (NPI) to reveal that the narcissism gender difference is driven by the Exploitative/Entitlement facet (d = .29; k = 44 studies; N = 44,108) and Leadership/Authority facet (d = .20; k = 40 studies; N = 44,739); whereas the gender difference in Grandiose/Exhibitionism (d = .04; k = 39 studies; N = 42,460) was much smaller. We further investigated a less-studied form of narcissism called vulnerable narcissism—which is marked by low self-esteem, neuroticism, and introversion—to find that (in contrast to the more commonly studied form of narcissism found in the DSM and the NPI) men and women did not differ on vulnerable narcissism (d = −.04; k = 42 studies; N = 46,735). Study 2 used item response theory to rule out the possibility that measurement bias accounts for observed gender differences in the three facets of the NPI (N = 19,001). Results revealed that observed gender differences were not explained by measurement bias and thus can be interpreted as true sex differences. Discussion focuses on the implications for the biosocial construction model of gender differences, for the etiology of narcissism, for clinical applications, and for the role of narcissism in helping to explain gender differences in leadership and aggressive behavior. Readers are warned against overapplying small effect sizes to perpetuate gender stereotypes.
Metabolism of a neurotensin (8–13) analog by intestinal and nasal enzymes, and approaches to stabilize this peptide at these absorption sites

Abstract Adamantoyl-Lys-Pro-Tyr-Ile-Leu (Ada-KPYIL) is a neurotensin analog which has analgesic activity when dosed parenterally, but not when dosed orally. In vitro studies were carried out to determine whether metabolism was responsible for oral inactivity. Ada-KPYIL was stable in simulated gastric fluid containing pepsin at acidic pH. Ada-KPYIL was immediately metabolized in simulated intestinal fluid containing pancreatin, a mixture of pancreatic enzymes, and also in dilute solutions containing this enzyme. Chymotrypsin, trypsin, elastase, and carboxypeptidase were each capable of metabolizing Ada-KPYIL, and chymotrypsin was active at the lowest concentration. Chymostatin effectively inhibited Ada-KPYIL metabolism by chymotrypsin. Formulation of Ada-KPYIL in mixed micelles or in an oil-in-water emulsion also inhibited metabolism by chymotrypsin. However, there was no inhibition of metabolism in a solution containing only the bile salt, suggesting that partitioning of Ada-KPYIL into the oil phase is the protective mechanism. Ada-KPYIL was stable when perfused through a rat nasal cavity. These oral formulation approaches or nasal administration may be useful for improving the delivery of Ada-KPYIL or other peptides with similar delivery problems.
Characterization of Upper Respiratory Disease in Rats Following Neonatal Inoculation with a Rat-adapted Influenza Virus

Neonatal F344 rats were infected with a rat-adapted influenza virus (RAIV) to use as a potential model to study the combined effects of air pollutant exposure with early life respiratory viral infections. Initially, 6-day-old pups were intranasally inoculated with RAIV or medium alone, and nasal and lower respiratory tract (LRT) tissues were assessed histologically at 1, 3, 6, and 13 days postinoculation (DPI). Immunologic assessments included thymic lymphocyte quantification and anti-RAIV immunoglobulin production. Pups then received two inoculations (at 6 and 30 days of age), with histologic and immunologic assessment 6 and 13 days after the second inoculation and bronchoprovocation testing 5-8 weeks later. Following the single RAIV inoculation, IgM and IgG1 measurements increased at 6, 11, and 15 DPI, with IgG1 being greater at 11 and 15 DPI. Nasal lesions were evident as early as 1 DPI and primarily involved the anterior dorsal medial meatus and adjacent dorsal atrio- and nasoturbinates. Alterations i...
Coating of Inner and Outer Carbon Nanotube Surfaces with Polymers in Supercritical CO2

Polymer coating and filling of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) and CNT arrays under supercritical conditions is reported in this letter. As a supercritical solvent, supercritical carbon dioxide was chosen due to its unique chemical and physical characteristics allowing effective mass transfer. Flame synthesized and commercially obtained CNTs in powder form, as well as CNT arrays of high purity and alignment were employed to study the polymer coating of inner and outer CNT surfaces. The influence of polymerization process parameters was investigated. The outcome of this work is the development of a novel, fast and efficient method for coating and filling of CNTs and CNT arrays with polymers.
Exploratory Study on Value of Information Systems to Electrical Construction Companies: Resource-Based View

Many practitioners and researchers believe that the application of information systems in the construction industry lags behind that of other industries such as the manufacturing industry, because the construction industry is mainly composed of small to medium size companies. Besides, to many people, the value of information systems to their business is vague and elusive. Existing studies on the value of information systems are not specifically focused on small to medium size specialty contractors such as electrical contractors. In addition, with an intention to demonstrate the value of information systems to the improvement of operations or business of all relevant companies, those studies typically do not look into the impact of information systems on the competitive advantage of individual companies. This paper argues that such a generalization of the value of information systems, although valuable to both practitioners and researchers, may have overlooked the fact that the value of information systems...
Oxygen limitation of direct tumor cell kill during photodynamic treatment of a murine tumor model

The relationship between levels of in vivo accumulated photosensitizer (Photofrin II), photodynamic cell inactivation upon in vitro or in vivo illumination, and changing tumor oxygenation was studied in the radiation-induced fibrosarcoma (RIF) mouse tumor model. In vivo porphyrin uptake by tumor cells was assessed by using 14C-labeled photosensitizer, and found to be linear with injected photosensitizer dose over a range of 10 to 100 mg/kg. Cellular photosensitivity upon exposure in vitro to 630 nm light also varied linearly with in vivo accumulated photosensitizer levels in the range of 25 to 100 mg/kg injected Photofrin II, but was reduced at 10 mg/kg. Insignificant increases in direct photodynamic cell inactivation were observed following in vivo light exposure (135 J/cm2, 630 nm) with increasing cellular porphyrin levels. These data were inconsistent with expected results based on in vitro studies. Assessment of vascular occlusion and hypoxic cell fractions following photodynamic tumor treatment showed the development of significant tumor hypoxia, particularly at 50 and 100 mg/kg of Photofrin II, following very brief light exposures (1 min, 4.5 J/cm2). The mean hyupoxic cell fractions of 25 to 30% in these tumors corresponded closely with the surviving cell fractions found after tumor treatment in vivo, indicating that these hypoxic cells had been protected from PDT damage. Inoculation of tumor cells, isolated from tumors after porphyrin exposure, into porphyrin-free hosts, followed by in vivo external light treatment, resulted in tumor control in the absence of vascular tumor bed effects at high photosensitizer doses only.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Purified Staphylococcal Alpha Toxin: Effect on Epithelial Ion Transport

Purified staphylococcal alpha toxin, when added to the serosal bathing medium of the isolated toad bladder, causes a rapid fall in short-circuit current and transepithelial potential difference. It has no effect when added to the mucosal bathing medium. Oxygen consumption by suspensions of minced bladder tissue is stimulated by the toxin. These effects are neutralized by staphylococcal antitoxin.