cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Healthy Communication Partners Modify Their Speech When Conversing With Individuals With Parkinson's Disease

Purpose For individuals with Parkinson's disease (PD), conversational interactions can be challenging. Efforts to improve the success of these interactions have largely fallen on the individual with PD. Successful communication, however, involves contributions from both the individual with PD and their communication partner. The current study examines whether healthy communication partners naturally engage in different acoustic-prosodic behavior (speech compensations) when conversing with an individual with PD and, further, whether such behavior aids communication success. Method Measures of articulatory precision, speaking rate, and pitch variability were extracted from the speech of healthy speakers engaged in goal-directed dialogue with other healthy speakers (healthy-healthy dyads) and with individuals with PD (healthy-PD dyads). Speech compensations, operationally defined as significant differences in healthy speakers' acoustic-prosodic behavior in healthy-healthy dyads versus healthy-PD dyads, were calculated for the three speech behaviors. Finally, the relationships between speech behaviors and an objective measure of communicative efficiency were examined. Results Healthy speakers engaged in speech characterized by greater articulatory precision and slower speaking rate when conversing with individuals with PD relative to conversations with other healthy individuals. However, these adaptive speech compensations were not predictive of communicative efficiency. Conclusions Evidence that healthy speakers naturally engage in speech compensations when conversing with individuals with PD is novel, yet consistent with findings from studies with other populations in which conversation can be challenging. In the case of PD, these compensatory behaviors did not support communication outcomes. While preliminary in nature, the results raise important questions regarding the speech behavior of healthy communication partners and provide directions for future work.
Shh pathway activity is maintained in direct allografts of medulloblastoma cells whereas it is irreversibly lost in cell culture: Implications for preclinical studies of smoothened antagonists

4846 Medulloblastoma, the most common malignant pediatric brain tumor, accounts for approximately 20% of malignant pediatric brain tumors. Current treatment, which involves surgical resection, chemotherapy and radiation of the craniospinal axis, is often associated with major long-term side effects, therefore, there is a great need for new nontoxic therapies. Gene expression profiling indicates that the Sonic Hedgehog (Shh) pathway is active in approximately 30% of human medulloblastomas and it has been suggested that it could provide a useful therapeutic target. Previously, we demonstrated that spontaneous medulloblastomas in Ptc1()p53(-/-) mice could be eradicated by treatment with a small molecule inhibitor (HhAntag) of Smoothened (Smo) (Romer et al., 2004 Cancer Cell). However, spontaneous genetic models recapitulate only a specific disease subset and they do not encompass the full disease spectrum of the corresponding human cancer. In addition, genetic models are often not suited to high throughput studies of potential new treatments. Therefore, it is important to complement studies on genetic models with alternative approaches involving cancer cells propagated in vitro and in vivo. We compared the responses of mouse medulloblastoma cells propagated in flank allografts, either directly or after culture in vitro, to HhAntag. We found that Shh pathway activity was suppressed in medulloblastoma cells cultured in vitro and it was not restored when these cells were transplanted into flank allografts. The growth of these transplanted tumor cells was not inhibited by treatment of mice with doses of HhAntag that completely suppressed Smo activity. In contrast, tumor cells transplanted directly into the flank maintained Smo activity and they were completely eliminated by treatment with HhAntag. These findings indicate that propagation of tumor cells in culture inhibits Smo activity in a way that cannot be reversed by transplantation in vivo and that the growth environment plays a significant role in regulating the Shh pathway. Affymetrix cDNA microarray analysis indicated that the gene expression profiles of tumor cell cultures and corresponding allograft were strikingly different from those of the original medulloblastomas. In contrast, the directly-transplanted allografts differed only modestly from the original tumors.
Chapter 17 Role of NF-E2 related factors in oxidative stress

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the role of NF-E2 related factors in oxidative stress. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) cause oxidative stress and have a profound impact on the survival and evolution of all living organisms. ROS include both free radicals, such as the superoxide anion and the hydroxyl radical, and oxidants, such as hydrogen peroxide (H 2 O 2 ). ROS are produced endogenously by a variety of oxidases, as well as being byproducts of cellular respiration. Physiological responses, such as the activation of neutrophils during inflammation and infection, protective cytotoxic processes, oxidative phosphorylation, and auto-oxidation reactions catalyzed by transition metal ions, produce ROS as byproducts. Cytochrome P450 and Cytochrome P450 reductase, activated by environmental exposure, generate ROS during oxidative metabolism of specific compounds. Long wavelength UV light (UVA and UVB), as well as photochemical oxidant pollutants, such as ozone and nitrogen oxides, generate singlet oxygen species. Radiolysis of water, caused by exposure to environmental radiation, leads to the formation of hydroxyl radicals, which are the most reactive species known in vivo . Therefore, it is clear that all cells must continuously strive to keep the levels of ROS in check.
Human-robot interaction with minimal spanning natural language template for autonomous and tele-operated control

Interaction between robots and humans should be at a level which is accessible and natural for human operators. A lexicon template is proposed for specifying commands for 2D mobile robot navigational tasks. The language lexicon is a minimal spanning semantic set for human 2D navigational tasks. The task command lexicon consists of a verb, destination, direction and a speed. The destination is a location in the environment defined by a geometric model positioned at a particular spatial location in a globally-referenced Cartesian coordinate space. The task command lexicon has been used as a language template for specifying commands for the SPOTT mobile robot control architecture. It is not the intent that the template serve as the only commands that the robot recognizes, but rather as an internal language that gets mapped onto planning and control constructs. A speech recognition system maps spoken commands onto the proposed internal natural language command template.
Cerebellum: Movement Regulation and Cognitive Functions

For more than a century it has been known that the cerebellum is an important part of the brain for the control of movement. Although this structure is not necessary for the initiation ofmotion,movements become erratic in their size and direction when the cerebellum is damaged (a symptom called dysmetria). In addition to its role in regulating and coordinating movement, the cerebellum is considered an important site of motor learning and of adaptation following injury. Changes in the strength of the connections among neurons in the cerebellum underlie these adaptive changes. The portion of the cerebellum that is closest to the midline of the brain, called the vermis, is phylogenetically the oldest. The vermis regulates the accuracy of trunk, leg, head and eye movements – movements that are critical for the control of posture, locomotion and gaze. The intermediate portionof the cerebellum regulates the accuracy of movements that we call voluntary: the reaching and grasping movements that we use to obtain andmanipulate objects with our hands and arms. The most lateral parts of the cerebellum are called the hemispheres, and they regulate higher aspects of behaviour. The hemispheres are small in lower animals but become quite large in humans. The increase in the size of the cerebellum in the course of evolution generally parallels the enlargement of the cerebral cortex in higher mammals, a process that is called encephalization. Neuroscientists are currently discovering how the cerebellar hemispheres are used to regulate higher cerebral processes, processes that plan complex movements and processes that participate in cognition and thinking. These recent discoveries make it clear that the cerebellum does much more than regulate movement. Organizational and Operational Principles
Interaction of iron deficiency and lead and the hematologic findings in children with severe lead poisoning

Microcytic anemia, long considered an effect of lead poisoning, may in fact result from coexisting iron deficiency. In this study, how RBC size, hemoglobin, and zinc protoporphyrin vary as a function of iron status in a group of children with high lead levels was examined. Charts of all children (N = 51) admitted to Cook County Hospital for treatment of lead poisoning in 1981 to 1983 were reviewed for data on age, blood lead level, hemoglobin concentration, MCV, transferrin saturation and zinc protoporphyrin level. The mean lead level was 86 micrograms/dL and the range was 63 to 190 micrograms/dL. Children with transferrin saturation values less than 7% had a mean MCV of 56 microL, hemoglobin of 8.9 g/dL, and zinc protoporphyrin of 693 micrograms/dL; for those with saturations of 7% to 16%, the values were 61 microL, 10.1 g/dL, and 581 micrograms/dL, respectively; the children with saturations greater than 16% had normal mean MCVs and hemoglobin concentrations (74 microL and 11.4 g/dL) and a mean zinc protoporphyrin value of 240 micrograms/dL (P less than .0005). Multiple linear regression was used to correct for effect of age, and transferrin saturation remained the most important predictor of MCV, hemoglobin, and zinc protoporphyrin levels; the addition of lead did not improve the models. Results of this study suggest that iron deficiency is strongly associated with some of the observed toxicities of lead. Also, lead poisoning can exist without producing microcytosis or anemia, and zinc protoporphyrin concentration may not be a sensitive indicator of lead level in the absence of iron deficiency.
The Role of NF-κB Factor REL2 in the Aedes aegypti Immune Response

Mosquitoes transmit numerous diseases that continue to be an enormous burden on public health worldwide. Transgenic mosquitoes impervious to vector-borne pathogens, in concert with vector control and drug and vaccine development, comprise an arsenal of means anticipated to defeat mosquito-spread diseases in the future. Mosquito transgenesis allows tissue-specific manipulation of their major immune pathways and enhances the ability to study mosquito-pathogen interactions. Here, we report the generation of two independent transgenic strains of Aedes aegypti overexpressing the NF-?B transcriptional factor REL2, a homologue of Drosophila Relish, which is shown to be under the control of the vitellogenin promoter in the mosquito fat body after a blood meal. We show that this REL2 overexpression in the fat body results in transcriptional activation of Defensins A, C, and D, and Cecropins A and N, as well as translation and secretion of Defensin A protein into the hemolymph. We also demonstrate that induction of REL2 results in the increased resistance of the mosquito to tested Gram-negative and Gram-positive bacteria. Importantly, induction of transgenic REL2 leads to the significant decrease in susceptibility of A. aegypti to Plasmodium gallinaceum infection. Consistently, RNAi knockdown of REL2 in wild-type mosquitoes results in a delay in Defensin A and Cecropin A expression in response to infection and in increased susceptibility to both bacteria and P. gallinaceum. Moreover, our transgenic assays demonstrate that the N-terminus of the mosquito REL2, which includes the His/Gln-rich and serine-rich regions, plays a role in its transactivation properties.
Tandem mass specatrometry of carbonic anhydrase (29 kDa)

Using electrospray ionization with a Fourier-transform mass spectrometer, MS/MS of molecular ions and seven fragment ions of carbonic anhydrase (259 amino acids) yields 74 identifiable fragment ions, including 23 amino acid spacings. Such sensitive and specific direct characterization of proteins appears to be complementary to conventional techniques including LC/MS/MS sequencing of oligopeptides from protein degradation.
Enabling Synchronous Joint Action in Human-Robot Teams

Joint action is an increasing area of interest for HRI researchers. To be effective team members, robots need to be able to understand, anticipate, and react appropriately to high-level human social behavior. We have designed a new approach to enable an autonomous robot to act fluently within a synchronous human-robot team. We present an initial description and validation study of this approach. Using a synchronous dance scenario as an experimental testbed, we found that our robot was able to execute appropriate actions using our method. Moving forward, we aim to extend this method by developing predictions for the robot's actions using an understanding of the group's dynamics. Our method will be helpful to other researchers working to achieve fluency of action within human-robot groups.
Quantum-Cascade Lasers with Emission Wavelength 3—5 μm

Quantum-cascade lasers (QCLs) operating in the 3-5 μm spectral region are increasingly finding application in a number of areas including gas sensing for both environmental and medical uses, communication, and infrared countermeasures. QCLs emitting at wavelengths near 4 μm and below have been especially challenging, requiring a very large conduction band discontinuity, a small electron effective mass, but also a relatively mature materials system. The focus of this contribution is on our own QCL designs based on the use of strain compensation with very high levels of strain in the individual layers; barriers based on AlAs, wells on In 0.73 Ga 0.27 As, and the entire structure on average lattice-matched to InP. For more flexibility to control both strain and conduction band potential, "composite barriers" are used, composed of AlAs and A l0.5 In 0.5 As. Indirect valleys within the well material that can limit the photon energy to the energy difference between these valleys and the lower laser state are also pushed to higher energy by using strained In 0.73 Ga 0.27 As wells. Combining these design components, we have produced QCLs emitting at wavelengths covering the entire range down to 3 μm. These lasers have demonstrated high power in narrow stripes at cryogenic as well as room temperatures together with excellent beam quality.
A study of the vegetation and floristic diversity of two peatland complexes of post-settlement origin in Lake Umbagog National Wildlife Refuge, Coos County, New Hampshire

Abstract The floristic diversity and vegetation communities of Leonard Marsh and Harpers Meadow, two peatland complexes of recent origin within the Lake Umbagog National Wildlife Refuge in Coos County, New Hampshire, were investigated. The combined vascular floras of Leonard Marsh and Harpers Meadow consisted of 178 species, 111 of which occurred in both peatlands. The flora included two state-listed species, Eriophorum angustifolium subsp. angustifolium (endangered) and Listera cordata (threatened). Abundance and frequency data from 617 quadrats along 35 transects were analyzed by two-way indicator species analysis (TWINSPAN) and resulted in the recognition of nine vegetation cover types (CT): Thuja occidentalis–Alnus incana CT, the Picea mariana–Nemopanthus mucronatus CT, the Nemopanthus mucronatus–Alnus incana CT, the Rhododendron canadense–Nemopanthus mucronatus CT, the Rhododendron canadense–Chamaedaphne calyculata CT, the Chamaedaphne calyculata–Carex oligosperma CT, the Scheuchzeria palustris–Carex...
Cerebral blood flow and cerebrovascular permeability in an inescapable shock (learned helplessness) animal model of depression

The effects of a purported animal model of depression (inescapable shock, IS) was tested on: (a) escape behavior, (b) regional brain levels of norepinephrine (NE), serotonin (5-HT), and dopamine, and (c), the response of the cerebromicrovasculature to metabolic demand as mimicked by manipulation of arterial CO2 content (PaCO2). Multidisciplinary research has implicated central biogenic amines in the regulation of cerebromicrocirculation. IS treatment resulted in increased escape latency and lowered levels of NE and 5-HT in the locus coeruleus but not in terminal fields in distant regions. This treatment also did not alter cerebral blood flow or capillary permeability in distant regions when compared with control rats. Thus, the discrete changes in NE and 5-HT in locus coeruleus induced by IS treatment is not reflected in changes in cerebral blood flow and the effective permeability of the blood-brain barrier.
Serum glycoprotein hormone alpha subunit levels in patients with cancer

The serum glycoprotein hormone alpha subunit concentration was measured in 957 nonpregnant patients with benign disorders and 683 patients with unselected malignancies. Postmenopausal women had significantly higher alpha levels than premenopausal women or men. When the patients were subdivided according to age, sex or disease sites, significant population differences were found for women less than 50 years of age and patients with cancers of presumed neural crest origin. However, individual serum alpha levels in patients with benign disorders or malignancies demonstrated considerable overlap. No population differences in serum alpha concentrations were demonstrated between patients grouped according to stage of disease, suggesting that serum alpha were not directly related to tumor burden. Similarly, there was no statistical association between clinical improvement or deterioration and change in the serum alpha subunit concentration. These results indicate that measurement of the glycoprotein hormone alpha subunit concentration in the serum is not useful for screening patients for cancer or for monitoring the clinical course of patients with the vast majority of cancers.
Introduction of the REUSE Method: Retrieving Knowledge From Existing Product Designs

In today’s marketplace, most products must better satisfy customers’ needs in the shortest time and be competitively priced. In this context, the reuse of knowledge about the targeted product is critical for developing potential product platforms. One can facilitate the reuse of existing knowledge to achieve a desired design by establishing a method that considers the layout of modules (or components) with identified flow interfaces, volume and the fundamental functional description. The problem grows with the number of candidate modules and with information-rich descriptions. The proposed REUSE (Reuse Existing Unit for Shape and Efficiency) Method greatly facilitates this search by filtering candidates based on their similarity to desired characteristics and their performance efficiency. By reusing existing information from components and modules, this approach allows the detailed specification of cost (e.g., investment and production cost for a module) along with other desired characteristics. This method applies to the complete product realization enterprise from conception through product launch. It also enables traceability of design decisions to help capture rationale and justification. A case study involving a family of cameras illustrates the proposed method.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
Care of the adult with congenital heart disease

The population of adults with congenital heart disease (CHD) is growing to the extent that there are now more adults than children with CHD. As this population ages, these patients will need optimal medical care, will be at risk for clinically significant noncardiac comorbidities, and will require methods to decrease adverse outcomes. Recognition of extracardiac risk factors and a multidisciplinary approach to management are essential in caring for this unique group of patients.
Dynamic inconsistency in valuing environmental goods

Abstract Intertemporal tradeoffs continue to intrigue both academics and policy makers. This paper explores patterns of dynamic inconsistency in valuing environmental goods. We develop a model that predicts an individual will value extended access to an environmental good less than avoiding delayed access if time and money are complementary. This value disparity results in a low marginal rate of time preference for avoiding delayed access and a high rate for acquiring extended access. Using the contingent valuation method, we find behavior partially consistent with predictions. Marginal rates of time preference are highly situation and individual specific.
Selective adsorption from dilute solutions: Gibbs ensemble Monte Carlo simulations

Abstract Configurational-bias Monte Carlo simulations in the Gibbs ensemble (CBMC-GE) are used to investigate the adsorption of both linear and branched alkanes (ethane, propane, n-butane, and 2-methylpropane) from dilute solutions in liquid methane onto a carbon slit pore at T = 160 K and at either the saturation pressure or pext = 100 atm. Thermodynamic properties (adsorption isotherms, selectivities, and Henry's law constants) and structural properties (density and orientational distributions) are presented. Both the Henry's law constants and the separation factors depend exponentially on the number of carbon atoms for the linear alkanes, whereas chain branching and higher pressure lead to a reduction of these properties. The solute density profiles show oscillatory behavior along the surface normal, and peaks in the number density are correlated with a preference for parallel orientations. The CBMC-GE approach allows for the efficient calculation of these selective adsorption phenomena, and data for multiple solutes (in the dilute regime) can be extracted from a single simulation.
Brownian diffusion of hard spheres at finite concentrations

We investigated the effect of concentration on the Brownian diffusion of uncharged rigid spheres. Monosize silica spheres were prepared according to the method of Stober (1968). The particles were sterically stabilized by chemisorption of stearic alcohol at their surface by the method developed by van Helden (1981).Particle radius was 14.5 nm from electron micrographs of the coated particles. Osmotic pressure measurements of the sterically stabilized particles dispersed in cyclohexane showed that the particles behaved as hard spheres. The measurements agreed well with predictions from the Carnahan-Starling equation over the concentration range 0.0458 < ϕ < 0.37 where ϕ is the volume fraction of the particles in the suspension. Viscosity measurements of silica dispersions were made over the concentration range 0 < ϕ < 0.25. The relative viscosity over the range 0 < ϕ < 0.2 was fitted by ηr = 1 + 2.4ϕ + 7.1ϕ2. The coefficients 2.4 and 7.1 in this equation are in good agreement with the theoretical values of 2.5 and 6.2 obtained by Einstein(1906) and Batchelor(1977), respectively. The Brownian diffusion coefficient of the particles dispersed in cyclohexane was measured over the concentration range 0.0055 < ϕ < 0.248 using Taylor's hydrodynamic stability method. A laser fiber-optic system was used to measure the transient concentration profile along the capillary as indicated by a fluorescent dye. This technique offers the advantage of being direct and nonintrusive. The experimental diffusivity data were found to be well described by the generalized Stokes-Einstein equation(Batchelor, 1976) over the entire concentration range studied.
Measuring network effects on trade: A reexamination

Abstract Building upon [Greaney, T.M., 2005. Measuring network effects on trade: are Japanese affiliates distinctive? Journal of the Japanese and International Economies 19, 194–214], this research provides improved estimates of the impact of network effects on trade conducted by foreign affiliates operating in the US. With an expanded and improved data set, I find that both home and regional biases are much stronger for affiliates’ imports than for their exports. At the country-specific level, I find evidence to support the hypothesis that Japanese affiliates have particularly strong network effects, but these effects are limited to a home bias effect alone. Although Japanese affiliates show signs of a regional, or Asian, network effect in their import pattern, the strength of this effect is the weakest among all of the countries tested. Only two countries’ affiliates show signs of regional bias in their export behavior, Australia and the Netherlands.
Mitochondrial genome changes and neurodegenerative diseases.

Mitochondria are essential organelles within the cell where most of the energy production occurs by the oxidative phosphorylation system (OXPHOS). Critical components of the OXPHOS are encoded by the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and therefore, mutations involving this genome can be deleterious to the cell. Post-mitotic tissues, such as muscle and brain, are most sensitive to mtDNA changes, due to their high energy requirements and non-proliferative status. It has been proposed that mtDNA biological features and location make it vulnerable to mutations, which accumulate over time. However, although the role of mtDNA damage has been conclusively connected to neuronal impairment in mitochondrial diseases, its role in age-related neurodegenerative diseases remains speculative. Here we review the pathophysiology of mtDNA mutations leading to neurodegeneration and discuss the insights obtained by studying mouse models of mtDNA dysfunction. This article is part of a Special Issue entitled: Misfolded Proteins, Mitochondrial Dysfunction, and Neurodegenerative Diseases.
Maternal diabetes: effects on embryonic vascular development--a vascular endothelial growth factor-A-mediated process.

Major congenital malformations, many of which result from abnormal cardiovascular patterning, remain the leading cause in infant mortality and morbidity. Targeted mutations of several genes (including VEGF and VEGF receptors) and certain teratogenic agents (including excess α-D-glucose) give rise to embryonic lethal phenotypes associated with failure in the formation of a functional vitelline circulation and aberrant organogenesis. Our work to date has demonstrated that yolk sac vasculopathy and failure of endocardial cushion epithelial-mesenchymal transformation occurs in hyperglycemic conditions in murine whole conceptus culture and in embryos from streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice. These cardiovascular abnormalities are associated with changes in expression and phosphorylation state of adhesion molecules such as platelet endothelial growth factor-1 and expression of growth factors such as vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF-A). Further understanding of the effects of maternal diabetes on yolk sac and embryonic vasculogenesis/angiogenesis and organogenesis may lead to novel approaches in treating and preventing major birth defects.
Exogenous Melatonin's Phase-Shifting Effects on the Endogenous Melatonin Profile in Sighted Humans: A Brief Review and Critique of the Literature

Melatonin's phase-shifting effects in humans are thought by some investigators to be subtle, particularly in comparison to those achieved with appropriately timed bright light exposure. The initial study in sighted people was only intermittently successful in phase advancing the endogenous melatonin profile. The study of free-running blind people showed statistically significant phase advances the day after melatonin administration. When holding the light-dark cycle constant, consistent phase advances the day after melatonin administration in sighted people were first shown in the course of describing the melatonin phase response curve (PRC), which also provided the first evidence that melatonin could cause phase delays. More recent studies have replicated the PRC and shown that phase shifts can occur in response to physiological doses within 1 day. This article reviews this literature and attempts to reconcile some of the results from differing studies. If the timing of melatonin administration is optimized according to the melatonin PRC, then consistent phase advances and delays can be achieved. If a reliable and sensitive circadian phase marker (e.g., the highly resolved dim light melatonin onset) is used, then phase shifts can be demonstrated consistently--even a small shift the day after a single physiological dose. The present authors predict that in the near future, melatonin administration will become as useful as bright light exposure in the treatment of circadian phase disorders.
Information systems applied to launch vehicle processing

Abstract The information age is here. A major technological revolution is producing new capabilities that are important for the utilization of information systems as applied to launch vehicle processing. Today, there is an urgent need for space launch vehicle processing systems that are highly operable and that contribute to the reduction of operating costs. A key requirement that should be embodied in launch systems is a state-of-the-art information system. Launch processing is complex and requires a wealth of information that is diverse in nature and origin. During a launch process, conditions may occur in which access to any type of launch-related information is necessary. This information must be current, accurate, complete, and relevant to support decision making. The ability to obtain, organize, store, retrieve, present, and utilize information is the key to efficiency, operability, and cost effectiveness.
Rapid induction of morphogenetic movement in amphibian gastrulae with Ca2+ ionophores

To test whether ionophore-induced changes in Ca2+ flux can effect the rate of morphogenetic movement we compared the normal schedule of gastrulation for yolk plug ingress and anal pore formation with that observed after ionophore treatment. We chose to study this period of gastrulation because any change in the rate of morphogenetic movement can be readily seen as a measure of yolk plug invagination. Gastrulation ends in urodeles as the yolk plug invaginates (stages 11 1/2 to 12) and disappears from the embryonic surface. The anal pore forms concurrently by the constriction of cells encircling the blastopore (stage 12 1/2). It takes 9 h for the stage 12 yolk plug to invaginate completely at 20°C in the salamanderAmbystoma maculatum. The calcium ionophores, A23187 (25μg/ml) or X537A (250μg/ml), induce the yolk plug to invaginate within 2 to 10 min but do not induce the formation of the anal pore by the constriction of the encircling blastoporal cells. This response indicates that ionophoric release of Ca2+ induces the Ca2+-dependent microfilament contraction required for stage 12 yolk plug invagination, but at the same time does not induce the contraction required for anal pore formation.
Must high commodity prices depress the world economy? An application of a world model system

Abstract The impact of higher primary commodity prices on the world economy is central to the North-South dialogue. The less developed countries are seeking a way to obtain a larger share of world income. In the context of current discussions of commodity price stabilization, UNCTAD's “integrated programme” for example, this is likely to mean higher commodity prices. A critical question is then, “Must higher prices for primary commodities depress the industrial economies?” The cyclical swing of 1973–1975 would seem to support the thesis that high primary commodity prices lead to recession in the industrial countries. Yet this experience is not conclusive evidence. Many complex forces, some natural and others policy induced, accounted for the recession. The impact of primary commodity prices must be considered in a full system, recognizing not only the direct costs, but also the resulting demand feedback. Under different circumstances, higher payments to the commodity producing LDCs may well increase demand for manufactures and stimulate exports and industrial activity in the developed countries. This paper uses a version of the LINK world model system to examine the linkages between commodity prices and world economic activity. In the first part we examine the demand feedback in a simple theoretical model of the interrelationships between commodity consumer countries and the commodity producers. In the second part we use an empirical system, COMLINK, the version of the LINK system that incorporates commodity models and commodity price linkages, to simulate various types of commodity price impacts.
Diurnal Temperature Change in the Atmosphere between 30 and 60 km Over White Sands Missile Range

Abstract Diurnal temperature variations between 30 and 60 km have been determined in a series of eleven meteorological rocket soundings from 0400 MST 7 February 1964 through 0205 MST 8 February 1964 over White Sands Missile Range, New Mexico. The soundings were spaced at 2-hour intervals and temperatures were measured with thermistor type instrumentation suspended on a parachute. Minimum temperatures were recorded near 0400 to 0600 MST and maximum temperatures occurred about 1400 MST. The temperature range decreased from near 20C at 55 km to 15C at 45 km and to near 5C at 35 km. Significant non-diurnal heating was also present. Additional sets of temperature soundings made at 1400 and 1600 MST on 21 November 1964 and 0400 and 0600 MST on the 22nd over White Sands Missile Range were available for comparison. These soundings indicated a day to night variation of 15C from 63 km down to 55 km with marked dampening of variation thereafter. The November soundings may not represent the entire diurnal range since...
Selective improvement in renal function preserved remote myocardial microvascular integrity and architecture in experimental renovascular disease

Aim Atherosclerotic renovascular disease (ARVD) may impair renal function and increase cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, but the mechanism by which ARVD impacts cardiovascular function is unclear. We tested the hypothesis that preservation of renal function can reverse cardiac dysfunction in ARVD.
Determinants of futures-oriented environmental policies: A multi-country analysis

Abstract This research explores the validity of several hypotheses concerning the future-orientedness of countries. Nine hypotheses that relate futures-orientedness to characteristics of countries are presented. Several of these hypotheses represent ‘conventional wisdom’ about the differences between developed and developing countries and their respective values and political systems. As an example, it can be argued that conventional wisdom holds that more democratic countries will be more futures-oriented. The number of international environmental agreements signed by a country and the number of provisions related to AGENDA21 being implemented by a country were used as proxies for measures of futures-orientedness. Almost 30 independent variables drawn from a variety of secondary sources were used in two multiple regression models to investigate the hypotheses. The results do not support several pieces of conventional wisdom. Specifically, the results suggest that there is: a negative relationship between democracy and futures-orientedness; no relationship between the level of development and futures-orientedness; and a negative relationship exists between wealth and life expectancy and futures-orientedness. These results call into question a view that more democratic, developed, and rich countries are more concerned about the future than their ‘less developed’ counterparts. The results did indicate that countries with more environmental problems tend to be more futures-oriented as are countries that may be experiencing population pressures. Countries with more land tend to be less futures-oriented. More work is needed to better understand the relationships between culture and governmental decision-making structures on futures-orientedness. Future research should also focus on constructing better measures of futures-orientedness.
Sulfite-radical anions in isolated soy proteins.

: Aqueous mixtures of manganese and sulfite, at levels found in isolated soy proteins (ISP) and defatted soy flakes, spontaneously react in the presence of oxygen to produce methanethiol from the 1-electron oxidation of methionine. The carbon and sulfur of methanethiol originate from the methyl-carbon and sulfur of methionine. Similar aqueous mixtures of sulfite, manganese, and oxygen also produce sufficient levels of free radicals to degrade fluorescein. The degradation of methionine by free radicals generated in the sulfite, manganese, and oxygen reaction mixture is inhibited by the free radical spin trapping agent 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline N-oxide. Processing ISP with either L-cystine or potassium iodate reduces the free sulfite content of ISP and reduces the headspace methanethiol from aqueous ISP slurries to nondetectable levels. ISP processed without additives contained sufficient levels of free radicals to generate methanethiol from the oxidation of added methionine. There were no detectable levels of methanethiol produced when methionine was added to ISP processed with iodate.
Effects of metal ions and chelating agents on in vitro stability of glucocorticoid receptors in brain cytosol

Abstract In vitro studies in a variety of tissues and cell types suggest that glucocorticoid receptor binding capacity is not static and that binding sites are subject to up- and down-regulatory mechanisms. The interpretation of such studies, however, is often complicated by factors affecting the stability of the receptor. This situation is particularly acute in the absence of ligand because of the increased lability of the unoccupied receptor. Studies reported here investigate effects of various metal ions and chelating agents on the stability of unoccupied [ 3 H]dexamethasone binding sites in whole mouse brain cytosol. Variation in the ionic strength of cytosol, as created by the additions of various monovalent cations (Li + , Na + , K + , Rb + and Cs + ), was found to be an important factor affecting the increased stability of the receptor in vitro. Additions of divalent (Mg ++ , Ca ++ , Ba ++ , and Mn ++ ) and trivalent (La +++ , Cr +++ and Al +++ ) cations to cytosol, however, were generally found to produce a dose-dependent decrease in the stability of the unoccupied receptor. Additions of the chelating agents EDTA, EGTA and 1,10-phenanthroline to cytosol, resulted in differential, and sometimes complex, dose-dependent effects on receptor stability. The complex effects of various combinations of cations and the chelator EDTA were also investigated.
Effects of the rate of insulin infusion during isoglycemic, hyperinsulinemic clamp procedures on measures of insulin action in healthy, mature thoroughbred mares

Abstract The objective of this study was to determine whether the rate of insulin infusion during isoglycemic hyperinsulinemic clamp procedures affected measures of insulin action, including glucose disposal and plasma non-esterified fatty acid, endothelin-1, and nitric oxide concentrations, in mature, healthy horses. Eight thoroughbred mares were studied during a 2-h hyperinsulinemic clamp procedure, conducted at each of 4 rates of insulin infusion: 0 (CON), 1.2 (LOWINS), 3 (MEDINS), and 6 (HIGHINS) mU·kg −1 ·min −1 . The infusion rate of a dextrose solution was adjusted throughout the clamp procedures to maintain blood glucose levels within 10% of baseline glucose concentrations. Plasma insulin concentrations were measured throughout the clamp procedures, and used with the rate of glucose infusion to calculate the plasma insulin concentration-to-rate of glucose infusion ratio, a measure of insulin action on glucose disposal. The rate of glucose infusion increased with rate of insulin infusion ( P P P P P P > 0.05). The data indicate that it is important to standardize insulin infusion rate if data are to be compared between hyperinsulinemic clamp studies.
Equilibrium structure and strain energy of single-walled carbon nanotubes

The equilibrium structure and strain energy per atom of $(n,n)$ and $(n,0)$ single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) are analyzed by developing a simple force-field based atomistic model, in which the pyramidalization angle is used to characterize the inversion term energy associated with the curvature at an atom. Their closed-form expressions are obtained. Good agreements with existing numerical results based on ab initio calculations for various tube diameters from $0.5\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\text{to}\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}2\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{nm}$ (curvatures from $4\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\text{to}\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}1\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}{\mathrm{nm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$) validate the present analysis. When the curvature is less than $4\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}{\mathrm{nm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$, the present results show that the strain energy is mainly due to the inversion term, the effects of helicity and bond angle variation are smaller than 10%. Also, the first term of the Taylor expansion of the strain energy expressions is dominant in the strain energy, which is ${C}_{\ensuremath{\omega}}{a}_{0}^{2}∕(8{d}^{2})$ where ${C}_{\ensuremath{\omega}}$, ${a}_{0}$, and $d$ are the force constant associated with the pyramidalization angle, bond length in graphene sheet and tube diameter. Based on the proportional relation of the strain energy and $1∕{d}^{2}$, the bending stiffness of SWNTs is obtained by comparing with the strain energy of a corresponding cylindrical shell. However, when the curvature becomes larger, the helicity effect and the energy due to the bond angle variation will become significant. As a result, the nonlinear behavior of the tube bending may occur.
Lower begging responsiveness of host versus parasitic brown-headed cowbird (Molothrus ater) nestlings is related to species identity but not to early social experience.

The survival of young brood parasites depends critically on their many adaptations to exploit hosts. Parasitic survival is particularly related to competitive superiority for foster parental care whenever host young are not destroyed in parasitized nests. Brown-headed cowbirds (Molothrus ater) are generalist obligate parasites whose early social environments are unpredictable regarding host species and numbers of nestmates. Young avian brood parasites typically beg more intensively and loudly than foster siblings, but an untested prediction is that young parasites are also more likely to respond by begging to a wider variety of stimulus types. Avian vocalizations were used in a playback experiment to stimulate begging behavior in cowbird hosts. Compared with age-matched cowbird nestlings, hosts begged less frequently to acoustic stimuli, and lower begging responsiveness was irrespective of whether hosts had been reared in parasitized nests.
Quantile hedging for guaranteed minimum death benefits

Abstract Quantile hedging for contingent claims is an active topic of research in mathematical finance. It plays a role in incomplete markets when perfect hedging is not possible. Guaranteed minimum death benefits (GMDBs) are present in many variable annuity contracts, and act as a form of portfolio insurance. They cannot be perfectly hedged due to the mortality component, except in the limit as the number of contracts becomes infinitely large. In this article, we apply ideas from finance to derive quantile hedges for these products under various assumptions.
Synthesis of Succinimido[3,4-b]indane and 1,2,3,4,5,6-Hexahydro-1,5-methano-3-benzazocine-2,4-dione by Sequential Alkylation and Intramolecular Arylation of Enolates Derived from N,N,N‘N‘-Tetramethylbutanediamides and N,N,N‘N‘-Tetramethylpentanediamides

The tricyclic title compounds, 4 and 5, were synthesized by initial alkylation of the lithium monoenolates of N,N,N‘,N‘-tetramethylbutanediamide (6) and N,N,N‘,N‘-tetramethylpentanediamide (19) with 2-iodobenzyl chloride in liquid NH3 at −60 °C to afford 2-(2-iodobenzyl)-N,N,N‘,N‘-tetramethylbutanediamide (9) and 2-(2-iodobenzyl)-N,N,N‘,N‘-tetramethylpentanediamide (20) in yields of 88 and 87%, respectively. Treatment of 9 with KNH2 in liquid NH3 resulted in formation and intramolecular arylation of the less-substituted α-enolate to produce trans-1,2-bis(N,N-dimethylcarboxamido)indane (10a) in 60% yield. Selective hydrolysis of 10a with aqueous Na2O2 gave trans-1-(N,N-dimethylcarboxamido)indane-2-carboxylic acid (17), which was then converted to bridged succinimide 4 by transformation to trans-1-(N,N-dimethylcarboxamido)indane-2-carboxamide (10c) followed by cyclization of this mixed primary/tertiary amide by means of NaH in refluxing THF. Treatment of 20 with KNH2 in liquid NH3 led to intramolecular aryl...
Energy and Air Emission Implications of a Decentralized Wastewater System

Both centralized and decentralized wastewater systems have distinct engineering, financial and societal benefits. This paper presents a framework for analyzing the environmental effects of decentralized wastewater systems and an evaluation of the environmental impacts associated with two currently operating systems in California, one centralized and one decentralized. A comparison of energy use, greenhouse gas emissions and criteria air pollutants from the systems shows that the scale economies of the centralized plant help lower the environmental burden to less than a fifth of that of the decentralized utility for the same volume treated. The energy and emission burdens of the decentralized plant are reduced when accounting for high-yield wastewater reuse if it supplants an energy-intensive water supply like a desalination one. The centralized facility also reduces greenhouse gases by flaring methane generated during the treatment process, while methane is directly emitted from the decentralized system. The results are compelling enough to indicate that the life-cycle environmental impacts of decentralized designs should be carefully evaluated as part of the design process.
Curious reduction products from a strained polycyclic quinone

Abstract Sodium borohydride reduction of 9,11,20,22-tetraphenyltetrabenzo[ a,c,l,n ]pentacene-10,21-dione ( 1 ), a strained polycyclic quinone, followed by an aqueous workup does not give the conventional hydroquinone 2 . Instead, reduction of an adjacent aromatic ring leads to the cis -9,22-dihydro compound 3 in which steric crowding is substantially relieved.
Chile Peppers and Identity Construction in Pueblo, Colorado

In this paper I look at how Pueblo, Colorado has incorporated the chile pepper as its official symbol in an attempt to recreate its identity. The chamber of commerce, area farmers, and merchants are working together to create new food consumption patterns based on chiles, linked to seasonal events. Community leaders are also attempting to reestablish Pueblo's historic links to the Southwest in order to capitalize on the Southwestern heritage tourism industry. I analyze Pueblo's use of symbols and the built environment in constructing identity. Symbols and the built environment are important media through which elite ideologies are transmitted.