cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The prevalence of hereditary neuropathy with liability to pressure palsies in patients with multiple surgically treated entrapment neuropathies

Purpose Hereditary neuropathy with liability to pressure palsies (HNPP) is an autosomal-dominant peripheral neuropathy that results from deletion of a 1.5-Megabase pair (Mb) segment of the short arm (p) of chromosome 17. Hereditary neuropathy with liability to pressure palsies increases susceptibility of peripheral nerves to pressure and trauma and can be associated with symptoms at multiple anatomic entrapment sites. Many patients present with multiple upper-extremity entrapment neuropathies and the etiology is uncertain. We hypothesized that some of these patients have an underlying hereditary neuropathy. The purpose of this study was to determine the prevalence of HNPP in patients with multiple surgically treated upper-extremity entrapment neuropathies. Methods The inclusion criterion for the study was history of more than 1 carpal tunnel release and/or ulnar nerve transposition. The exclusion criteria were history of diabetes or history of Charcot-Marie-Tooth neuropathy. Fifty-nine patients were in the study group. Two patients known to have the 17p11.2 deletion were used as controls. Genomic DNA was extracted from peripheral blood. Each sample was genotyped using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification with short tandem repeat polymorphism markers within the 1.5-Mb region of 17p deleted in HNPP. Markers were scored as homozygous or heterozygous after resolution by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and silver staining. Results The 2 control patients were homozygous for 11 markers. None of the 59 study patients were homozygous for all markers tested in the deleted region. No study patient had the 17p deletion diagnostic for HNPP. Based on the sample size of 59 patients the 95% confidence interval for the prevalence of the 17p11.2 deletion in this population is 0% to 5%. Conclusions We found no evidence for an association between HNPP and patients who have multiple surgical releases for upper-extremity entrapment neuropathies.
Photoelectric restoring system for images degraded by atmospheric turbulence

The information content of any picture is limited by the resolution of the system which is involved in the image processing. For astronomic observation, the actual resolution is not usually limited by the diffraction limit of the telescope, but rather by viewing effects through the turbulent atmosphere. The interaction of turbulent air with the image-transmission and -detection system results in a decrease of the information content. Although the reduction of information content cannot be compensated for by any device, it is possible, however, to increase the information which is extractable by the human eye-brain system.
A deterministic model of the vertical component of sediment motion in a turbulent fluid

Abstract A deterministic model is presented for calculating the vertical motions of a sediment particle in a fluid subject to fluctuations in the vertical component of the velocity. The fluid motions simulate the vertical component of real turbulence. In the model they are generated by random sampling of specified probability density distributions of velocity and subsequent numerical filtering to produce consistency with a specified frequency spectrum. A model water column is divided into twenty-five elevation cells each characterized by a fluid velocity mean, standard deviation, and skewness. Sediment particle displacement is obtained by numerical integration of an equation of motion due to Basset, Boussinesq, and Oseen. Particles treated are 0.02 cm and 0.01 cm in diameter. The dominant factor influencing particle motion is the mean value of the fluctuating vertically directed velocity of the fluid. When the mean velocity is directed upwards and is equal to or greater than particle settling velocity in still water, sustained suspension of a particle occurs. Net settling results if mean fluid velocities are less than the particle settling velocity. Positively skewed distributions of velocity decrease suspension time; negative skewness increases particle suspension time.
Spectral and inhibitory interactions of methylenedioxyphenyl and related compounds with purified isozymes of cytochrome P-450

1. Spectral and inhibitory interactions of two methylenedioxyphenyl (MDP) compounds (dihydrosafrole (DHS) and 4,5-dichloro-1,2-methylenedioxybenzene (DCMB)) and 4-n-butyl dioxolane (BD) were studied in vitro in reconstituted systems incorporating cytochromes P-450b and P-450c, purified respectively from hepatic microsomes of phenobarbital (PB)- and β-naphthoflavone (βNF)-treated rats.2. In NADPH-fortified reconstituted systems containing P-450b, DHS yielded a stable type III spectral complex with peaks at 428 and 458 nm; a complex with a single 456 nm peak was formed in systems containing cytochrome P-450c. DCMB formed unstable 456–458 nm spectral complexes with both isozymes, and BD generated an unstable complex with a single Soret peak near 428 nm with cytochrome P-450b; no spectral interaction occurred between BD and cytochrome P-450c. Carbon monoxide was formed in incubations of DCMB with both isozymes but was not observed with either DHS or BD.3. Marked selectivity was observed in the ability of the ...
The Variation in Wage Rigidity by Occupation and Union Status in the Us

This study estimates wage equations with data disaggregated by occupation and union status, and it derives two measures of wage rigidity for each group of workers: the sensitivity of wages to unemployment and the speed with which wages respond to price inflation. The sensitivity of wages to an aggregate measure of unemployment was found to depend negatively on an occupation's skill level. In addition, union wages were more sensitive to unemployment than non-union wages and responded less rapidly to price inflation.
Calcified Extra-axial Cavernoma Involving Lower Cranial Nerves: Technical Case Report

OBJECTIVE: Extra-axial cavernomas involving cranial nerves (CNs) are uncommon vascular malformations and may cause neurological deficits. We report what is, to our knowledge, a unique case of a calcified extra-axial cerebellopontine angle (CPA) cavernoma involving the lower CNs. CLINICAL PRESENTATION: A 48-year-old man was admitted to our department with a 5-month history of gait instability and loss in tone of voice. A clinical examination documented gait disturbances and hoarseness but was otherwise unremarkable. Neuroradiological studies revealed a calcified mass in the lower third of the CPA cistern that was angiographically occult. It was associated with 3 additional lesions with a radiological appearance suggestive of multiple cavernomas. INTERVENTION: The patient underwent a retrosigmoid approach, and the calcified mass, tightly adherent to the lower CNs, was gently removed. The histopathological examination was consistent with a cavernoma. The postoperative course was characterized by a further lowering in the patient's tone of voice. At the 3-month follow-up examination, the patient showed significant improvement. CONCLUSION: CPA cavernomas are an extremely rare entity. Symptoms are generally related to CN compression, and subarachnoid hemorrhage is a very rare occurrence. The clinical and radiological appearance may mimic that of other CPA tumors (meningiomas, schwannomas). In spite of the benign nature and the very low risk of hemorrhage, we believe, with support from the literature, that surgical treatment is mandatory to prevent significant neurological deficits owing to the chronic CN compression.
Subjects of Concern: Selected Examples Illustrating Problems Affecting Information Retrieval on Iran and Related Subjects Using LCSH

Reference librarians are expected to retrieve information on a variety of multicultural subjects and languages. Idiosyncrasies in treatment of these subjects must be identified if library users are to be assisted in an efficient manner. Peculiarities, inconsistencies, and other problems associated with the Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH) and with several other LCSH-based indexes when retrieving information on Iran and its culture are analyzed in this article, and suggestions for their future improvement are presented.
Effects of prior aversive stimulation on heart rate responses to open field exposure in the rat

Heart rate (HR) responses to open field (OF) exposure were compared between rats previously exposed to intense, inescapable electric shock (preshock, PS) and Controls. Results indicated that (1) Control animals showed a steady increase in HR across a 3 min exposure on each of 4 days of testing, while PS animals showed an initial HR deceleration followed by partial recovery on each day; (2) the HR response of PS animals in the OF was not related to any HR response to shock during treatment; and (3) the HR responses of both PS and Control animals were specific to the OF situation, with both groups showing steady HR deceleration across 3 min after being placed in their home cages. Results were discussed in terms of (1) the apparently altered perception of environmental change produced by PS, and (2) the possible role of HR acceleration in Controls in terms of minimizing the impact of aversive stimulation.
Comprehensive quality assurance phantom for cardiovascular imaging systems

With the advent of high heat loading capacity x-ray tubes, high frequency inverter type generators, and the use of spectral shaping filters, the automatic brightness/exposure control (ABC) circuit logic employed in the new generation of angiographic imaging equipment has been significantly reprogrammed. These new angiographic imaging systems are designed to take advantage of the power train capabilities to yield higher contrast images while maintaining, or lower, the patient exposure. Since the emphasis of the imaging system design has been significantly altered, the system performance parameters one is interested and the phantoms employed for the quality assurance must also change in order to properly evaluate the imaging capability of the cardiovascular imaging systems. A quality assurance (QA) phantom has been under development in this institution and was submitted to various interested organizations such as American Association of Physicists in Medicine (AAPM), Society for Cardiac Angiography & Interventions (SCA&I), and National Electrical Manufacturers Association (NEMA) for their review and input. At the same time, in an effort to establish a unified standard phantom design for the cardiac catheterization laboratories (CCL), SCA&I and NEMA have formed a joint work group in early 1997 to develop a suitable phantom. The initial QA phantom design has since been accepted to serve as the base phantom by the SCA&I- NEMA Joint Work Group (JWG) from which a comprehensive QA Phantom is being developed.
Trends in Average Snow Depth Across the Western United States

A network of cooperative observation stations was used to examine trends in average snow depth across the western United States. This station network includes a greater number of low- to moderate-elevation stations, where the snow is particularly sensitive to temperature changes, than the snow course and SNOTEL datasets used in other studies. Results indicate a widespread decrease in snow depth across the region; 70% of stations with statistically significant trends (p ≤ 0.5 or p ≤ 0.10) exhibit negative trends. Elevation is a key factor in explaining the spatial pattern of snow depth trends across the region. The fraction of stations with significant negative trends is greatest (80%) at the lower-elevation stations (<1000 m) and is somewhat less (62%) for stations between 2000 and 3000 m. Pacific climate indices, including the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (PDO) and North Pacific Index (NPI), are shown to have important but spatially varying influences upon average seasonal snow depths.
Pyelosinus extravasation in the acute renal colic patient

A 56-year-old man developed signs and symptoms of acute left ureteral colic three hours prior to admission. On evaluation, he was found to have IVP dye and urine extravasation retroperitoneally. Our patient recovered uneventfully with resolution of the symptoms occurring on abatement of the obstruction.
Histopathology of Barrett esophagus

Abstract Barrett esophagus (BE) is a metaplastic, premalignant lesion of the tubular esophagus that carries significant implications and is associated with approximately 0.5% annual cancer incidence. Although gastroesophageal reflux disease is a recognized risk factor, no clear guidelines exist as to who should undergo endoscopic screening for the condition. Histologic requirements for the diagnosis vary by geographic region with some but not all countries requiring the presence of goblet cells. In spite of interobserver variability, histologic assessment of dysplasia is currently the accepted method of surveillance and subsequent patient management is dictated by this evaluation. Though not universal, endoscopic therapy is rapidly replacing esophagectomy in patients with high-grade dysplasia/early carcinoma. This review aims to provide the reader with an overview on this subject with special emphases on the histopathologic features of BE and BE-associated dysplasia as well as evolution and new developments related to therapeutic modalities in patients diagnosed with dysplasia.
PLATO: An Automatic Teaching Device

PLATO?a teaching machine developed during the past nine months at the Coordinated Science Laboratory of the University of Illinois?is a device for teaching a number of students individually by means of a single, central, high-speed general-purpose digital computer. Each student is provided with his own keyset and television display. The keyset enables the student to control the sequence of materials presented to him by the machine, as well as to transmit to the computer answers to its questions. The computer communicates to each student by closed circuit television. It selects slides and writes or erases sentences and diagrams on a storage tube. These two outputs are superimposed and displayed on the student's television screen. Not only are textual materials presented to each student at a rate determined by that student, but the computer frequently poses questions. The student's answers?which may take the form of numerals, algebraic expressions, or words and phrases ?are judged by the computer without revealing the correct answer to the question. Supplementary material is presented by the machine upon request for any question which the student finds difficult. The computer keeps detailed records of each student's progress through the material. Though a two-student version of PLATO is now in operation, the paper describes in detail an earlier one-student system. The system has been used to present a variety of subject matters, ranging from mathematics to topics in French grammar.
Electrophysiologic Identification of the Specialized Conduction System in Corrected Transposition of the Great Arteries

Electrophysiologic identification of the specialized conduction system was performed during open-heart surgery in two cases of corrected transposition of the great arteries (1-TGA) with situs solitus, dextrocardia or dextroversion and membranous ventricular septal defect (VSD). In one case there was accompanying subvalvlar pulmonary stenosis and in the other there was an Ebstein-like deformity of the systemic atrioventricular (A-V) valve. Electrograms were recorded throughout the right atrium and morphologic left ventricle in the case with subvalvar pulmonary stenosis and throughout the left atrium and morphologic right ventricle in the case with the Ebstein-like deformity of the systemic A-V valve. Specialized conduction system electrograms were recorded exclusively at sites anterior to the membranous VSD in both cases and at no other sites in the respective atrium or ventricle studied. There was first degree A-V block in both cases and in each the site within the specialized conduction system of this delay was proximal to the specialized fiber electrogram recording sites and thus probably proximal to the bifurcation of the bundle branches. In addition, on, the Ebstein-like deformity of the systemic A-V valve present in one case was confirmed by directly recording ventricular electrograms in an area of "atrialized-ventricle above the valve.
Ivermectin Toxicity in 17 Collies

Ivermectin is widely used in veterinary medicine as an anthelminthic and generally has a wide margin of safety, but Collies are prone to ivermectin toxicity. Two groups of Collies were presented to the University of California Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital (VMTH) with ivermectin toxicity. The medical records of the 2 groups of Collies were reviewed retrospectively. Group I comprised 5 adult Collies that received at least 400 microg/kg ivermectin p.o. and were presented to the VMTH 3 hours after intoxication. These Collies showed marked clinical signs on presentation. Three of these dogs required mechanical ventilation and were euthanized for financial reasons; the remaining 2 dogs were comatose but recovered in 5-7 days. Group II was comprised of 12 adult Collies presented to the VMTH 2 days (n = 10) and 5 days (n = 2) after subcutaneous injection of 200-250 microg/kg ivermectin. These animals showed greater variation in severity of illness among individuals; 5 animals progressed to stupor or coma, whereas 4 animals remained ambulatory. Most of these dogs' clinical signs deteriorated from the day of intoxication until approximately day 6, from which time they showed gradual but steady improvement. All of the Collies in this group survived, but it took 3 weeks for most of them to recover. Collies suffering from ivermectin toxicity can have a severe and prolonged clinical course requiring intensive nursing care. Respiratory, cardiovascular, and nutritional support may all be required. With appropriate care, however, the prognosis for complete recovery is good.
Homogeneous branched-chain explosion: Initiation to completion

This paper traces the complete time history of a spatially homogeneous model of a branched-chain reaction through asymptotic methods and develops (i) a subcritical solution (fizzle) where the state variables change by small amounts, and (ii) a supercritical solution (explosion) where extremely rapid transients occur. Three distinct time scales are seen to govern the explosion: a long induction period exhibiting a very slow change of state (as in a thermal explosion), a very brief period characterized by a rapid increase in the chain-carrier concentration but a small increase in temperature (unlike a thermal explosion), followed by a longer period in which most of the chemical heat is released.
Characterization of blends of an amorphous polyamide with lightly sulfonated polystyrene ionomers

Improved compatibility of blends of polystyrene and an amorphous polyamide was achieved by lightly sulfonating the polystyrene. Hydrogen bonding between amide groups and either sulfonic acid or metal sulfonate groups lowered the interfacial tension between the two polymers, which led to a much finer dispersed phase size in blends involving the sulfonated polystyrene. At relatively high sulfonate to amide ratios, the two polymers formed a miscible blend. Improved mixing of the phases was verified by shifts in the glass transitions, and the specific interactions that occurred were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy.
Locus of Control, Political Attitudes, and Voting Behavior in a College-Age Population:

Rotter's (1966) I-E Scale and Mirels' (1970) Political Activity Factor derived from that scale were shown to have no significant value in predicting the voting behavior or political attitudes of 18...
Putting kids to death: Specifying public support for juvenile capital punishment

Using a statewide sample of 539 Tennessee residents, we explored the extent to which the public supports the death penalty for juveniles. The analysis revealed that a majority of respondents favored juvenile capital punishment, often for young offenders. The respondents, however, were less supportive of juvenile than of adult execution. Most important, as an alternative to juvenile capital punishment, nearly two-thirds of the sample favored life in prison without the possibility of parole (LWOP); four-fifths favored a life sentence with work and restitution requirements (LWOP+W/R). Notably, even among those who endorsed capital punishment for juveniles, a clear majority supported LWOP+W/R. Taken together, these findings reveal that although the public is willing to execute juveniles who commit first-degree murder, they prefer alternative sentencing options that avoid putting youths to death.
Response properties of type II and type III units in dorsal cochlear nucleus.

Abstract Type II and type III units in the dorsal cochlear nucleus (DCN) of unanesthetized (decerebrate) cats are those with excitatory responses to best frequency (BF) tones at all levels above threshold. They are distinguished from type IV units which give predominantly inhibitory responses to tones. Type II and type III units are distinguished from one another by their rates of spontaneous activity. Type II units have low rates of spontaneous activity (below 2.5 spikes/s), whereas type HI units are spontaneously active at rates up to 95 spikes/s. In this paper we show that segregation of units according to spontaneous activity produces a segregation of several other properties as well. A typical type II unit responds vigorously to BF tones (median maximum rate of 242 spikes/s), has a slightly nonmonotonic rate versus level function, and responds weakly or not at all to broadband noise. These units tend to be located in the deep layer of the DCN. Type III units tend to respond to BF tones at moderate rates (median maximum driven rate of 124 spikes/s), have monotonie or nonmonotonic rate versus level functions, and respond to noise at rates comparable to their tone rates. They are distributed somewhat more uniformly in all DCN layers, but a majority were found in the fusiform cell and molecular layers. Most evidence indicates that type II units are recorded from inhibitory interneurons in the DCN.
Lingual Premetamorphic Papillae as Larval Taste Structures in Frogs

RISSER1 was unable to demonstrate organs of taste in the mouth of the frog tadpole. More recently Helff and Mellicker2 and Hammerman3–6 have described lingual premetamorphic papillae on the tongue anlage of the frog. These investigators believe, on anatomical evidence, that the papillae serve as a taste sensor. This communication reports a behavioural study which was aimed at providing further evidence for a gustatory function of the lingual premetamorphic papillae.
Thermodynamic Analysis of Human Plasma Apolipoprotein C-1: High-Temperature Unfolding and Low-Temperature Oligomer Dissociation†

Thermal and chemical unfolding of lipid-free apolipoprotein C-1 (apoC-1), a 6-kDa protein component of very low density and high-density lipoproteins, was analyzed by far-UV CD. In neutral 1 mM Na2...
Object and spatial mnemonic interference differentially engage lateral and medial entorhinal cortex in humans

Recent models of episodic memory propose a division of labor among medial temporal lobe cortices comprising the parahippocampal gyrus. Specifically, perirhinal and lateral entorhinal cortices are thought to comprise an object/item information pathway, whereas parahippocampal and medial entorhinal cortices are thought to comprise a spatial/contextual information pathway. Although several studies in human subjects have demonstrated a perirhinal/parahippocampal division, such a division among subregions of the human entorhinal cortex has been elusive. Other recent work has implicated pattern separation computations in the dentate gyrus and CA3 subregions of the hippocampus as a mechanism supporting the resolution of mnemonic interference. However, the nature of contributions of medial temporal lobe cortices to downstream hippocampal computations is largely unknown. We used high-resolution fMRI during a task selectively taxing mnemonic discrimination of object identity or spatial location, designed to differentially engage the two information pathways in the medial temporal lobes. Consistent with animal models, we demonstrate novel evidence for a domain-selective dissociation between lateral and medial entorhinal cortex in humans, and between perirhinal and parahippocampal cortex as a function of information content. Conversely, hippocampal dentate gyrus/CA3 demonstrated signals consistent with resolution of mnemonic interference across domains. These results provide insight into the information processing capacities and hierarchical interference resolution throughout the human medial temporal lobe.
Performance of AIRS on EOS

AIRS, the Atmospheric Infrared Sounder on the Earth Observing System (EOS) PM spacecraft, is an infrared radiometer which covers the 3.7 - 15.4 micron spectral range with spectral resolving power better than 1000. Performance of the AIRS flight unit will be discussed based on measurements in a thermal vacuum test and calibration facility. Simulated data, based on measured instrument performance and GCM model data, indicate that AIRS, together with the AMSU and HSB microwave radiometers on EOS PM, will achieve retrieval accuracy better than 1K rms in the lower troposphere under clear and partly cloudy conditions. Launch of AIRS on the EOS PM is scheduled for December 2000.© (1999) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
The Effect of Environmental Temperature on Glucose and Insulin After an Oral Glucose Tolerance Test in Healthy Young Men.

Objective The purpose of this study was to compare glucose and insulin responses during an oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) in cold (C), neutral (N), and hot (H) environments. Methods Eleven males completed three 4-hour climate-controlled OGTT trials (C, 7.2°C; N, 22°C; and H, 43°C). Participants remained semireclined for 60 minutes before ingesting a 1.8 g/kg glucose beverage. Skin and rectal core temperatures were continuously monitored. Blood was collected just before glucose ingestion (time 0) and at 15, 30, 60, 90, 120, and 180 minutes, and analyzed for serum glucose, insulin, hematocrit, and hemoglobin. Expired gases were collected upon entering the chamber (−60 minutes), before glucose ingestion (0 minutes), and at 60, 120, and 180 minutes to determine Vo 2 and respiratory exchange ratio. Results Rectal core temperature was greater in the H condition compared with both C and N ( P 2 was greater in C than in both H and N during all time points. Carbohydrate oxidation was greater in C compared with H and N ( P P ≤ 0.002). Glucose was elevated in C compared with N. Insulin was higher in H compared with C ( P = 0.009). Area under the curve for serum glucose was greater in H compared with C and N ( P ≤ 0.001); however, there was no significant difference in area under the curve for insulin. Conclusions These data indicate that after an OGTT, glucose and insulin are elevated in a hot environment.
Suggested behavioral interventions in the classroom to assist students prenatally exposed to drugs

The population of children exposed prenatally to alcohol, cocaine, methamphetamine, and other legal or illegal substances has been rapidly growing in America. The known characteristics of this group include deficits in rule-governed behavior, impulsivity, attention to task, language, sleep attachment, learning, social competence, coordination, hypersensitivity to environmental stimuli, and conduct problems. The purpose of this paper was to describe the characteristics of this population and match known, empirically demonstrated, data-based strategies, such as teacher attention and praise, token reinforcement programs, daily report cards, contingency contracting, self-instructional training, self-management, peer tutoring, Direct Instruction, and combining behavior therapy with stimulant medication therapy, to specific academic and social deficits in children with parental histories of substance abuse. © 1998 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Stochastic synchronization: applications to oscillatory electroreceptors

Classical notion of synchronization, introduced originally for periodical self-sustained oscillators, can be extended to stochastic systems. This can be done even in the case when the characteristic times of a system are fully controlled by noise. Stochastic synchronization is then defined by imposing certain conditions to various statistical measures of the process. We review various approaches to stochastic synchronization and apply them to study synchronization in the electrosensory system of paddlefish.
Enhanced Performance of Symmetric Double Layer Capacitor by Flexible Binder-free SWCNT Membrane Electrodes

We present results on an aqueous symmetric double layer electrochemical capacitor (EDLC) constructed with a flexible binder-free single wall carbon (SWCNTs) membrane as electrodes. The capacitors were cycled from 0 to 1V @ 10 A/g for 10,000 cycles with 99.9% coulombic efficiency and 94% energy efficiency, and 100% depth of discharge. The power performance of the aqueous symmetric SWCNTs membrane capacitor is almost 100 –1000 times better than commercial non-aqueous EDLC capacitors.
Case Writing Reconsidered

In this article, we argue that the contemporary ideal teaching case is becoming a decision-focused one and that dysfunctional consequences may arise from such a singular focus. The value of the case method is blunted when solely or overly focused on decision making. We suggest that case writers and teachers may usefully rediscover the roots of the case method and encourage and appreciate case variety. Provided is a preliminary listing of alternative case types and a classification of case objectives that support the aim of generating discussion for the enhancement of managerial thinking, not simply decision-making capabilities.
Implementing Aspect-Oriented Requirements Analysis for Investment Banking Applications

Aspect-oriented requirements engineering (AORE) introduced an artifact called Requirements Composition Table (RCT). RCT presents a holistic view of an application’s functionality structured by core features and crosscutting concerns. As AORE remains little known to most practitioners in the software development field, the purpose of this chapter is to explain the RCT concept to practitioners and discuss its benefits.
Identification of a cell type-specific enhancer in the distal 5'-region of the platelet-derived growth factor A-chain gene.

Transient transfection analysis of DNA subfragments from the distal 5′-flanking region of the human platelet-derived growth factor A-chain gene (−18.3 to −1.8 kilobase pairs (kb)) revealed enhancer and silencer elements that contribute significantly to transcriptional regulation. Two adjacent regions (−8.2 to −7.5 kb and −7.5 to −7.0 kb) enhanced transcription of both A-chain and heterologous thymidine kinase promoters, whereas repression was observed in two other nearby regions (−9.9 to −8.2 kb and −7.0 to −5.9 kb). The −7.5 to −7.0-kb fragment, or J, was the strongest enhancer, and its activity was localized to a 66-base pair element (A-chain cell type-specific enhancer (ACE 66)). ACE66 activity was highly cell type-specific, with greatest activity seen in choriocarcinoma cell lines (4–10-fold enhancement). Progressive 5′- and 3′-deletions of the ACE66 revealed distribution of activity across the element, with nucleotides 1–33 being critical for function. Electrophoretic mobility shift assays revealed cell type-specific patterns of high affinity protein binding to the element. Ethylation interference footprinting of JEG-3 extract localized guanine contacts on nucleotides 1–18 of both strands of the ACE element, whereas more extensive contacts were made with the phosphate backbone (nucleotides 1–32). The ACE66 element is a potent transcriptional regulator in placental cells and represents a valuable model of long distance regulation in a growth factor gene.
Root tip competition among ectomycorrhizal fungi: Are priority effects a rule or an exception?

Competition for root colonization among ectomycorrhizal fungi is well documented, but the mechanisms determining competitive outcomes are not clearly understood. In a previous study, we observed that timing of colonization (i.e., a priority effect) had a significant effect on the outcome of competition between two ectomycorrhizal (EM) fungi in the genus Rhizopogon. In this study, we explicitly tested the role of priority effects in competition among EM fungi by experimentally manipulating the timing of colonization of four Rhizopogon species on Pinus muricata seedlings. In a first experiment, we set up 12 two-species combinations, in which seedlings were first inoculated from spores with one species, grown for three months, and then inoculated with an equal density of spores of a second species and grown for an additional three months. Root tip occupation in the two- species treatments was determined by polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) analysis of internal transcribed spacer region (ITS) of rDNA. In a second experiment, we further examined competitive interactions between two Rhizopogon species using split-root P. muricata seedlings. One side of the root system was pre-colonized by one species, and spores of the second species were added to the other side of the root system in all same and different species pair-wise combinations. We found that for three of the four species (R. occidentalis, R. salebrosus, R. vulgaris), the outcome of competition in the first experiment depended strongly on the timing of colonization, with the first colonizing species always being the competitive dominant. For R. evadens, however, initial colonization did not prevent significant subsequent colonization by R. occidentalis and R. vulgaris. This appeared to be caused by the lower colonization of R. evadens compared to the three other species. In the second experiment, we observed that the portion of the split root system that was initially uncolonized remained receptive to colonization when spores were added. The amount of colonization of R. occidentalis and R. salebrosus on the side of the root system to which they were added was not significantly influenced by species identity on the other side of the seedling. In combination, these results confirm that priority effects do play a major role in dynamics of EM root tip colonization, at least in the early colonization of seedlings, and that the proportion of the root system occupied by a species appears to be a key factor determining competitive success.
Difficulty of Kinematic Synthesis of Usable Constrained Planar 6R Robots

In this paper we consider the difficulty of finding tasks for kinematic synthesis that result in usable constrained 6R planar serial chain. Kinematic synthesis consists of solving the constraint equations for articulated systems to determine the dimensions of the device the reaches a set of specified task positions. Our initial results show that the probability that an inventor finds a task that yields a usable constrained nR chain is approximately P = (1/36)n-1. For a constrained 6R chain this is one out of 60 million randomly selected tasks. We consider this to be a difficult kinematic synthesis problem.
Monitoring and control of distributed systems

Describes the Distributed System Manager (DSM) being developed on Sun workstations connected by an Ethernet at the University of California. Effective utilization of distributed systems requires many management facilities such as resource management, performance analysis, behavior analysis, fault management, and security management. Each of the management facilities becomes a client to the DSM and registers to the DSM a request of the form (assertion, action) if it wants the action to be taken when the assertion is detected. The DSM monitors the distributed system to collect information using sampling probes and tracing probes and stores the collected information in a history database. The DSM also detects the moment when the assertion in a registered request becomes satisfied and then takes the corresponding action. An assertion can be a system property holding or an event occurring at a time point or during a time interval. An action can be answering clients' queries to system status stored in the history database, notifying the detection of assertions, or exercising direct control over the system. The overall structure of the managed system and the DSM is given. Data modeling of the managed system, the mechanisms to collect information, and the representation scheme of the information in the history database are described. The assertion specification language based on the classical temporal logic is presented. >
Development of Quasi-Static Loading Protocols for Drift-Sensitive Nonstructural Building Components

Development of performance-based earthquake engineering has made consideration of seismic performance of nonstructural building components necessary. Even if the structural components of a building achieve desirable performance level after an earthquake, failure of its nonstructural components can seriously endanger the performance of the entire building. For the purpose of seismic design and assessment of nonstructural components, determination of realistic seismic demand has a critical role, and should be studied carefully. Different parameters like characteristics of the nonstructural component, its location on the structural system, structural characteristics of the building that the nonstructural component has mounted on, and also sitespecific seismicity are all important issues that affect seismic demand expected for a specific nonstructural component. In order to evaluate the seismic performance of nonstructural components, the seismic demand should be determined through a systematic procedure that encompasses all mentioned parameters. The seismic demand can be illustrated by loading protocols that are employed for seismic response evaluation of nonstructural components through laboratory experiments. The main goal of the present research is to develop quasi-static loading protocols for driftsensitive nonstructural building components. For this purpose, generic structural systems that are representative of majority of typical existing buildings have been subjected to a set of selected ground motions. This representative set has been used to perform elastic and inelastic responsehistory analysis to find the seismic demand on nonstructural components. Considering the fact that the current paper focuses on drift-sensitive nonstructural components, the seismic demand has been defined and demonstrated in the form of Interstory Drift Ratio (IDR). For development of applicable quasi-static loading protocols, the rainflow cycle counting technique has been employed to arrange the obtained time-history responses in order to change the arbitrary form of response into a limited number of cycles with defined amplitudes. Generalization of loading protocols has been done by applying statistical methods on obtained analysis data bank. Final loading protocols which are statistically supported can be used with an acceptable confidence level for any similar structural systems given structural characteristics. By taking into account the effects of structural characteristics of the building that the nonstructural component is mounted on, developed quasi-static loading protocols can be used for more precise evaluation of the seismic behavior of drift-sensitive nonstructural building components during experimental tests to quantify seismic capacity and construct damage fragility curves.
Isolation and characterization of microsatellite markers in Fraser fir ( Abies fraseri )

We describe the isolation and characterization of 14 microsatellite loci from Fraser fir ( Abies fraseri ). These markers originated from cloned inserts enriched for DNA sequences containing tandem di- and tri-nucleotide repeats. In total, 36 clones were selected, sequenced and evaluated. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) primers for 14 of these sequences consistently produced simple PCR profiles and were found to be polymorphic among 13 Fraser fir samples. In addition, more than half of these loci were found to amplify a wide range of samples from several Abies taxa.
Thermodynamic Interpretations of Chemical Analyses of Unsaturated Zone Water From Yucca Mountain, Nevada

Analytical pore water compositions from Yucca Mountain were evaluated for internal thermodynamic consistency. Significant ionic charge imbalances, unequilibrated aqueous speciation relationships, and erratic variability with depth in some species concentrations were found. Thermodynamic consistency was restored by introducing measured CO2 gas pressure as a constraint, imposing equilibrium aqueous speciation, and adjusting pH to achieve charge balance. Reinterpreted water chemistry data were used to evaluate and interpret vertical and lateral variations in water chemistry, differences between unsaturated zone pore and perched water compositions, and water-rock equilibria.
STUDIES ON TOXICITY.

With yeast subjected to the action of phenol or of phenol and alcohol the curves of survivors as measured by resistance to staining with methylene blue when plotted against time do not in general prove to be logarithmic. It is believed that such resemblances as have been found between such curves and monomolecular reaction or logarithmic curves are superficial and fortuitous. Any method therefore of evaluating disinfecting power based upon such a concept must prove misleading. Variations in resistance of individual cells and the distribution of such variations must be regarded as of fundamental importance in accounting for rates of death of microorganisms.
SUPPRESSION OF AUTUMNAL MIGRATORY UNREST IN DARK-EYED JUNCOS HELD DURING SUMMER ON, NEAR, OR FAR FROM THEIR PREVIOUS WINTERING SITES

In previous experiments, Dark-eyed Juncos (Junco hyemalis) were captured on a winter home range to which they had shown year-to-year site fidelity and held there until just before the autumn. They failed to show normal autumn migratory restlessness and fattening, which suggested that previous experience at the migratory destination suppressed readiness to migrate. We asked what the suppressing cues might be. Possibilities included very local features peculiar to the individual's winter home range (e.g. its trees) and cues common to the general region (e.g. geophysical or celestial information); features of the latter sort might give information about latitude. To test these possibilities we monitored autumn restlessness and fattening of new groups of juncos that were held before migration where some could perceive landmarks of their familiar winter home range and others only more general information about their location. In autumn those held at, near, and far south of their winter home ranges again failed to become restless or fat. A small group held far north of their winter home ranges became somewhat restless, significantly more so than the others. These may have perceived that they had not reached their usual winter latitude, but alternative explanations are possible. Received 25 June 1986, accepted 12 December 1986. IN some bird species the onset and termina- tion of migratory behavior appears to be con- trolled largely by an endogenous circannual mechanism. Deprived of potentially important environmental timing cues such as change in day length, weather, food availability, etc., cap- tive individuals nevertheless enter a state of
Using Synchronous Video Within a Learning Management System for Library and Information Literacy Instruction

The University of North Alabama Libraries (UNA) began the last school year with a goal of expanding its library instruction program within the university community. With such a broad goal, the libr...
Inward diastolic motion: a normal component of isovolumic relaxation and rapid refill

Many reports note expansive events occurring in the left ventricle during isovolumic relaxation. Expansions during isovolumic relaxation require compensatory inward displacements elsewhere in the ventricle. The location and character of such compensatory displacements have been a continuing source of speculation. Using a high-precision Compton backscatter imaging (CBI) technique, we have detected an early diastolic inward motion that initiates during isovolumic relaxation on the right and left epicardial free walls of the heart in 100% of the 14 normal canines we have studied. This inward motion is first detected 20-30 ms after left ventricular maximal rate of pressure decrease over time (-dP/dtmax), lasts into the early rapid filling phase with a mean duration of 92 +/- 5 (SE) ms, and ends approximately 30 ms after opening of the mitral valve. Maximum wall velocities during this time period (approximately 20 mm/s) exceed those occurring in the same regions during systole. Inward surface displacements in the areas undergoing inward motion average 1.1 +/- 0.2 and 0.9 +/- 0.2 mm on the left and right side of the heart, respectively.
The femoral ontogeny and long bone histology of the Middle Triassic (?late Anisian) dinosauriform Asilisaurus kongwe and implications for the growth of early dinosaurs

ABSTRACTThe ontogeny of early-diverging dinosauromorphs is poorly understood because few ontogenetic series from the same species-level taxon are known and what is available has not been extensively documented. The large numbers of skeletal elements of the silesaurid Asilisaurus kongwe recently recovered from Tanzania provide an opportunity to examine the ontogenetic trajectory of the earliest known member of Ornithodira and one of the closest relatives to Dinosauria. We examined the ontogeny of the femur and the histology of a series of long bone elements. We observed bone scar variation in a series of femora (n = 27) of different lengths (73.8–177.2 mm). We hypothesize that most femora follow a similar developmental trajectory; however, we observed sequence polymorphism in the order of appearance and shape of bone scars, and we quantified this polymorphism using ontogenetic sequence analysis (OSA). Additionally, five femora, three tibiae, a fibula, and a humerus were thin-sectioned to examine osteologic...
Seedlings Used to Evaluate Resistance to the Cereal Leaf Beetle

Twelve small grain lines were tested in the laboratory in the seedling stage for resistance to Oulcma melanopus (L.) by infesting plants with prediapause adults. CI 9321 and Cl 8519, which are highly pubescent wheat lines, had little seedling mortality; less-pubescent wheat lines and oat and barley lines were damaged extensively. Also, the seedling mortality was correlated (r=+0.93, df=6) with larval feeding damage to 7 wheat lines in the field. Thus, the mortality of seedlings may be used in mass screening for resistance to the cereal leaf beetle in wheat. Its use in differentiating resistance in oat and barley lines is questionable.
Surveillance of Disinfection in Medical Facilities in Chaoyang District,Shantou,2008-2009

Objective To understand the disinfection and sterilization effects in the medical facilities at all levels in Chaoyang district and provide scientific evidence to guide the disinfection in hospital and prevent and control nosocomial infection.Methods The surveillance of disinfection was conducted in all medical facilities according to the "Disinfection technological Specification" and the "Criteria of Hospital Disinfection" (GB 15982-1995) issued by Ministry of Health.Results In 2008 and 2009,a total of 756 sample of 6 items were tested with qualified rate of 95.0%.The qualified rate of sterility pack was highest (100%),the rate of medical personnel's hand was lowest (89.4%).The difference on qualified rate of different items was statistical significant (χ2= 16.1,P0.05 ).The qualified rate was 94.5% in 2008 and 95.4% in 2009,the difference had no statistical significance (χ2=0.3,P0.05).During 2008-2009,the qualified rate was 98.9% in district hospital,93.0% in township health center and 89.3% in village clinic and practitioner clinic,the difference had statistical significance (χ2=23.9,P0.05).Conclusion It is necessary to strengthen the supervision of disinfection in medical facilities,especially to train and supervise the health provider in village clinic and practitioners