cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Isozyme Diversity in North American Cultivated Red Clover

Red clover (Trifolium pratense L.) is a forage legume with considerable economic importance in world agriculture. Knowledge of the amount and distribution of genetic variability within a species is vital to breeders and geneticists when selecting breeding germplasm. The objectives of this study were to assess genetic diversity in 34 North American red clover cultivars by means of isozymes. Isozymes assayed were esterase, β-glucosidase, phosphoglucomutase, peroxidase, diaphorase, phosphoglucoisomerase, and superoxide dismutase. Eleven of the 13 loci (84.62%) were polymorphic in at least one cultivar. Percentage polymorphic loci within cultivar ranged from 61.54% in cv Morred, Persist, and Redland II to 84.62% in cv Arlington, Ram, and Red Baron, with an overall mean of 73.98%. At the species level, the number of alleles per polymorphic locus was 2.55 and effective number of alleles per locus was 1.64. Within-cultivar averages were 2.71 and 1.59, respectively. Genetic diversity was 0.292 at the species level and 0.285 for within populations. Most of the genetic diversity (98.4-99.7%) was distributed within the cultivars. Grouping the 34 cultivar on the basis of genetic distance indicated that their isozyme variability could be represented by a few cultivar of each of four groups plus the cv Morred and Redon.
Template-directed assembly and characterization of metallosalen-DNA conjugates.

Nucleic acid template-directed synthesis represents a powerful method for the encoded synthesis of new bioconjugates. Our laboratory previously reported a strategy for the synthesis of a new metal−DNA hybrid, metallosalen−DNA, by the DNA or RNA template-directed cross-linking of two salicylaldehyde-modified DNA oligonucleotides. The current manuscript describes the optimal assembly requirements and biophysical characterization of metallosalen−DNA conjugates containing nickel and manganese ions. Competitive assembly reactions demonstrated the template-directed nature of metallosalen−DNA formation. A single metallosalen−DNA conjugate was assembled selectively in the presence of two pairs of salicylaldehyde precursor strands and a single DNA template. Assembly reactions were sensitive to base pair mismatches in the pairing arms. Single base mismatches resulted in a loss of metallosalen−DNA conjugate yield. Metallosalen−DNA assembly yields depended on the identity and length of the template spacer, the reacti...
Structure of the hydrophobic protein crambin determined directly from the anomalous scattering of sulphur

The highly ordered crystal structure of crambin has been solved at 1.5 A resolution directly from the diffraction data of a native crystal at a wavelength remote from the sulphur absorption edge. The molecule has three disulphide bridges among its 46 amino acid residues, of which 46% are in helices and 17% are in a β-sheet. Crambin is shown to be an amphipathic protein, inasmuch as its six charged groups are segregated from hydrophobic surface elements. Phasing methods used here will also apply elsewhere.
Tissue preparation for MOHS’ frozen sections: a comparison of three techniques

Accurate, efficient frozen section analysis is important for tumor control. A few studies address the technical issues. More are needed, especially as new technologies become available. The objective of this study is to compare the efficiency of three techniques of flattening tissue for microscopically oriented histologic surgery (MOHS): conventional frozen sectioning, Cryocup™, and CryoHist™. Conventional chuck/heat sink-frozen section preparation were compared with Cryocup™ and CryoHist™ to determine the most efficient technique to examine 100% of the surgical margin of 4-cm diameter, full thickness, fresh autopsy cylinders of anterior abdominal skin, which were marked on their deep and peripheral margins. The specimens were frozen sectioned at 5 μm until all the marking dye was gone from the deep surface, and 95% of the perimeter epidermis could be seen. The conventional chuck required an average of 304 micrometers to clear the deep margin and four fifths did not contain 95% of the epidermal margin. The Cryocup™ required an average of 284 μm to examine the deep margin and 95% of the epidermal margin. The CryoHist™ required an average of 104 μm to examine the deep margin and 95% of the epidermal border. The new techniques improve the efficiency and presumably the accuracy of tumor margin analysis.
Searching for the Noninvasive Biomarker Holy Grail: Are Urine Proteomics the Answer?

Recently, biobehavioral nursing scientists have focused their attention on the search for biomarkers or biological signatures to identify patients at risk for various health problems and poor disease outcomes. In response to the national impetus for biomarker discovery, the measurement of biological fluids and tissues has become increasingly sophisticated. Urine proteomics, in particular, may hold great promise for biobehavioral focused nursing scientists for examination of symptom-and syndrome-related research questions. Urine proteins are easily accessible secreted proteins that provide direct and indirect windows into bodily functions. Advances in proteomics and biomarker discovery provide new opportunities to conduct research studies with banked and fresh urine to benefit diagnosis, prognosis, and evaluation of outcomes in various disease populations. This article provides a review of proteomics and a rationale for utilizing urine proteomics in biobehavioral research. It addresses as well some of the challenges involved in data collection and sample preparation.
An efficient relativistic multireference configuration interaction method

Abstract The efficiency of the relativistic configuration interaction method has been improved by employing individualized configuration selection and energy extrapolation procedures. The performed tests for Bi2 and Pb2 show the usefulness of the proposed method for the computation of energies and properties. The newly developed method which includes both extrapolation and the Davidson correction accounting for unlinked quadrupole clusters is called the relativistic multireference CI.
Foray beyond Fourier

The World According to Wavelets: The Story of a Mathematical Technique in the Making. By Barbara Burke Hubbard. A. K. Peters: 1996. Pp. 264. £26, $38.
Prediction and Testing (ASTM E-837-89) of Residual Stresses in Structures (Operated in SOHIC Environment) Caused by Welding

The study and testing of the structural behavior of a failed pipe with a spiral weld seam was conducted. Our study and testing was part of a larger failure investigation to determine the influence of residual stress for initiation of hydrogen stress cracking. Finite element and structural testing methods were used to guide the study for determination of residual stresses. All properties used in our study were measured per ASTM A-370. The validation of the finite element model of the pipe was conducted against the test results per ASTM E-837-89. The difference in predicted and measured residual stresses was 3% at the ID of the structure. Due to the small differences in the results from analysis and testing, no correlation was required, and the test-validated finite element model was used to predict the total stresses due to the manufacturing processes and operational loads. Based on the validation results, one can conclude that the finite element technique is accurate for predicting residual welding stresses. The finite element technique, however, is far less time -consuming and thus less expensive method than mechanical testing for determining the residual stresses.Copyright © 2002 by ASME
Peakon solutions of the Novikov equation and properties of the data-to-solution map

Abstract We consider both the periodic and the non-periodic Cauchy problem for the Novikov equation and discuss continuity results for the data-to-solution map in Sobolev spaces. In particular, we show that the data-to-solution map is not (globally) uniformly continuous in Sobolev spaces with exponent less than 3/2. To accomplish this, we construct sequences of peakon solutions whose distance initially goes to zero but later becomes large.
A psychometric study of the Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scales

The Family Adaptability and Cohesion Evaluation Scales (FACES), a measure of family functioning, contains three scales: cohesion, adaptability, and social desirability. These were slightly modified (FACES- R) on the basis of pilot data and were administered to 42 clinic families (families seeking or receiving psychological services) and 206 nonclinic families. Support for the scales was found in high coefficient alpha reliabilities and similarity of the sample means and standard deviations to those of the standardization sample. However, there was little agreement among family members' scale scores. Therapists' ratings of cohesion and adaptability did not correlate with scale scores among clinic families. There was no difference between clinic and nonclinic samples on the cohesion or adaptability scales, although the social desirability scale did discriminate between groups. Factor analysis suggested that cohesion, adaptability, and social desirability cannot be clearly differentiated using this measure.
Rationality and the Tu Quoque Argument

The tu quoque argument is the argument that since in the end rationalism rests on an irrational choice of and commitment to rationality, rationalism is as irrational as any other commitment. Popper's and Polanyi's philosophies of science both accept the argument, and have on that account many similarities; yet Popper manages to remain a rationalist whereas Polanyi decided for an irrationalist version of rationalism. This is more marked in works of their respective followers, W. W. Bartley III and Thomas S. Kuhn. Bartley declares the rationalist's very openness to criticism open to criticism, in the hope of rendering Popper's critical rationalism quite comprehensive. Kuhn makes rationality depend on the existence of an accepted model for scientific research (paradigm), thus rendering Polanyi's view of the authority of scientific leadership a sine qua non for scientific progress. The question raised here is, in what sense is a rationalist committed to his rationality, or an irrationalist to his specific axi...
Utilizing Telemedicine in the Trauma Intensive Care Unit: Does It Impact Teamwork?

Abstract Background: The aim of this study was to examine the impact of a telemedical robot on trauma intensive care unit (TICU) clinician teamwork (i.e., team attitudes, behaviors, and cognitions) during patient rounds. Materials and Methods: Thirty-two healthcare providers who conduct rounds volunteered to take surveys assessing teamwork attitudes and cognitions at three time periods: (1) the onset of the study, (2) the end of the 30-day control period, and (3) the end of the 30-day experimental period, which immediately followed the control period. Rounds were recorded throughout the 30-day control period and 30-day experimental period to observe provider behaviors. For the initial 30 days, there was no access to telemedicine. For the final 30 days, the rounding healthcare providers had access to the RP-7 robot (Intouch Health Inc., Santa Barbara, CA), a telemedical tool that can facilitate patient rounds conducted away from bedside. Results: Using a one-tailed, one-way repeated-measures analysis of va...
Evaluating the Effects of Enteric Helminths on Epigamic Characters of Male Wild Turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo) in Southeastern Kansas, U.S.A.

Abstract Costs associated with the production of epigamic characters might make them honest indicators of a male's fitness. The Hamilton–Zuk hypothesis suggests epigamic characters might be indicators of a male's heritable resistance to parasites, predicting a negative correlation between parasite abundance and the elaboration of epigamic characters. Principal component analysis (PCA) of the epigamic characters of 35 male wild turkeys from a zone of Rio Grande (Meleagris gallopavo intermedia) and Eastern (Meleagris gallopavo silvestris) subspecies hybridization revealed variation in characters that covaried with body size (beard length and spur size) and characters that varied independent of body size (snood length and skullcap width), which have the potential for indicating heritable resistance. None of the PCA axes was correlated with mean enteric helminth abundances, suggesting that helminth parasites are not affecting the vigor of male wild turkeys in southeastern Kansas, U.S.A., and apparently, have ...
Gene profiling of immune responses against tumors.

Clinical trials of tumor-antigen-specific immunization have clearly shown that immune-mediated tumor rejection requires more than simple T cell–target cell interactions. In vivo generation of tumor-specific T cells is one of a series of steps necessary for the induction of clinically relevant immune responses. In recent years, high-throughput functional genomics exposed the complexity of tumor immune biology, which underlies the kaleidoscopic array of variables associated with cancer instability and immunogenetic variability in humans. In the quest to understand immune rejection, hypothesis-driven approaches have failed to take into account the intricacy of human pathology by relying mostly on hypotheses derived from experimental models rather than direct clinical observation. Future investigations should reframe scientific thinking when applied to humans, utilizing descriptive tools to generate novel hypotheses relevant to human disease.
TRANSISTOR PACEMAKER FOR TREATMENT OF COMPLETE ATRIOVENTRICULAR DISSOCIATION

The pacemaker here described has been used in 66 patients to correct complete heart block. In most cases the block followed surgical procedures, but it also occurred in some nonsurgical patients. The pacemaker consists of three parts: a 9.4-volt mercury cell battery as the source of power; a transistorized oscillator transformer to generate the pulses needed to stimulate the heart; and a unipolar or bipolar electrode in the form of a wire anchored by stitches to the myocardium. The myocardium of the right ventricle has usually been chosen as the most convenient site. Nonsurgical patients incapacitated by complete heart block with low cardiac output have had their conditions maintained on continuous stimulation for up to 15 months by means of this equipment.
The Clinical Picture. The Eyes: A Window into the Past

A 34-year-old woman living in southern California presents for a routine physical examination. During the eye examination, the physician notices “spots” on the retina and refers the patient to a retinal specialist. The patient has no complaints about her vision. She has myopia (−4.5 diopters), corrected with glasses. She has no family history of ocular disease. Her medical history is unremarkable, and she is taking no medications. A dilated ophthalmoscopic examination of the left fundus (Figure 1) reveals atrophic, scar-like lesions that appear to be punched-out of the inner choroid (ie, “punched-out” lesions), as well as pigment deposition and peripapillary atrophy at the margin of the optic disk. Similar but fewer lesions are noted in the right eye. What is the likely diagnosis? Figure 1 The dilated eye examination shows “punched-out”, atrophic scars (solid arrow), pigment deposition (dashed arrow), and peripapillary atrophy (dotted arrow).
The applicability of deadline models: Comment on Glickman, Gray, and Morales (2005)

Glickman, Gray, and Morales (this issue) propose a statistical model for measuring the unobserved latency of stimulus-controlled processes. The model accounts for both speed and accuracy and does so by assuming participants set an internal deadline. If a stimulus-controlled response is not produced by the deadline, the participant then guesses. The applicability the model is discussed in this comment. The deadline model yields specific predictions for the case in which stimulus difficulty is manipulated in a within-block manner. In this case, it is reasonable to assume that stimulus difficulty does not affect the deadline. It is shown that in common perceptual and cognitive domains, extant data do not fully meet these predictions. Hence, practitioners need be aware of the possibility and consequences of model misspecification.
Rosie the riveter: A training perspective

Explored here are the training considerations for Rosie the Riveter, the fictional female icon created by the U.S. government as propaganda to draw women to working for the war industries. An observation is that “ordinary” training processes can be tethered to what we in the present day would now consider extraordinary contexts. Specifically, whether sexist ephemera or fervid fundamentalist movements training has borne witness to or aided and abetted human events both in triumph and in ignominy.
In situ structure characterization of airborne carbon nanofibres by a tandem mobility-mass analysis.

Carbon nanofibres aerosolized by the agitation of as-produced commercial powder have been characterized in situ by using the differential mobility analyser–aerosol particle mass analyser (DMA–APM) method to determine their structural properties such as the effective density and fractal dimension for toxicology study. The effective density of the aerosolized carbon nanofibres decreased from 1.2 to 0. 4gc m −3 as the mobility diameters increased from 100 to 700 nm, indicating that the carbon nanofibres had open structures with an overall void that increased with increasing diameter, due to increased agglomeration of the nanofibres. This was confirmed by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observation, showing that 100 nm mobility diameter nanofibres were predominantly single fibres, while doubly or triply attached fibres were seen at mobility diameters of 200 and 400 nm. Effective densities calculated using Cox’s theory were in reasonable agreement with experimental values. The mass fractal dimension of the carbon nanofibres was found to be 2.38 over the size range measured and higher than that of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWCNTs), suggesting that the carbon nanofibres have more compact structure than SWCNTs.
Material behavior of structural reaction injection molded composites under thermomechanical loading

The damage initiation and growth in discontinuous random fiber composites is explored with a representative volume element (RVE). A tensile loading condition is used to illustrate the effect of thermal processing on damage initiation and progression. The RVE utilizes a moderate strain elasto-plastic-fracture constitutive formulation for the resin as a function of temperature. The constitutive response of the fiber is modeled as linear elastic with fracture. The constitutive formulation is implemented into a commercial finite element program, ABAQUS®, as a user material subroutine to track damage initiation and growth within the RVE. This allows the designer to develop an understanding between the resin and fiber properties (coefficient of linear thermal expansion, yield stress, fracture strain, modulus) on the mechanical performance of random fiber composites.
The mechanism of formate oxidation on Ag(110)

Abstract The effects of coadsorbed oxygen atoms and gaseous O2 at pressures up to 0.7 Torr on the stability of the surface acetate intermediate on Ag(110) were investigated. Under an O2 pressure of 0.7 Torr acetate decomposes at temperatures as low as 400 K, which is 200 K lower than the decomposition temperature of acetate in vacuum. This destabilization is due to population of the surface with atomic oxygen when 0.7 Torr O2 is present. Acetate reacts with coadsorbed oxygen atoms via an intermediate which decomposes at 340 K to CO2, water and formate. The formate subsequently decomposes at 400 K to give CO2 and H2. Through the use of isotopic labelling, it was found that the carbon and hydrogen atoms in the formate originate from the methyl group of the acetate, while the two oxygen atoms come from surface atomic oxygen. A mechanism for the reaction of acetate with atomic oxygen is presented in which a surface oxygen atom abstracts a proton from the acetate, and the resulting CH2COO(a) species reacts further with another oxygen atom to form a glycolate (O2CCH2O(a)) intermediate. Nucleophilic attack at the methylene carbon by an oxygen atom, followed by C-C bond scission releases CO2 and forms H2CO2(a), which subsequently loses a hydrogen atom to make formate. The results presented here show that acetate will decompose under commercial ethylene oxidation conditions, and thus cannot be ruled out as an intermediate in the total oxidation of ethylene. Isomerization of ethylene oxide to acetaldehyde, followed by oxidation of the acetaldehyde is a plausible route to acetate formation during ethylene oxidation. In addition, this work demonstrates that phenomena which occur at high pressures can be observed in ultra high vacuum provided the relevant surface species can be formed in vacuum and remain on the surface up to the temperatures at which the high pressure phenomena occur.
Research program on the selection of materials and processes for component parts

It is now widely accepted that the final cost of a manufactured product is largely determined at the design stage. The research programme described in this paper addresses decisions that must be made early in the design procedure, namely the selection of suitable processes and materials for the proposed component parts of the product. Generally, designers will tend to conceive parts in terms of the processes and materials with which they are familiar and may, as a consequence, exclude from consideration process and process/material combinations that may have proved more economic.
Effect of pacing rate on the human atrial strength-duration curve.

Abstract The effect of rapid pacing on the atrial constant voltage stimulation threshold in humans has not been defined at rates applicable to those of antitachycardia pacing. The effect of pacing rate on the atrial strength-duration relation was determined in 10 patients at pacing rates between 125 and 300 beatstmin to explore excitability over the range of rates used for permanent antitachycardia pacing systems. Two points that define the strength-duration curve were measured at each pacing rate: rheobase voltage—the lowest stimulus voltage that results in capture at a pulse duration of 2 ms; and chronaxie pulse duration—the threshold pulse duration at twice rheobase voltage. A permanent, tined, J-shaped pacing lead with a high current density and low polarization electrode was positioned in the right atrial appendage for cathodal stimulation. A constant voltage output, incorporating a fast recharge pulse designed to minimize electrode polarization, was used for stimulation. There was a significant increase in rheobase voltage (p = 0.009), chronaxie pulse duration (p = 0.001) and minimal threshold stimulus energy (p = 0.05) at pacing rates >225 beats/min. A rheobase voltage >5 V occurred in three patients at pacing rates ≥275 beats/min. At a pacing rate of 300 beats/min, rheobase voltage had increased in 8 of 10 patients. The atrial effective refractory period determined at 1.5 times late diastolic threshold and a cycle length of 500 ms demonstrated a modest correlation with rheobase voltage at pacing rates ≤225 beats/min (r = 0.8), but not at ≥250 beats/min (r = 0.36). There was no correlation between either rheobase voltage or chronaxie pulse duration and atrial effective refractory periods determined at three times late diastolic threshold at any pacing rate. These data demonstrate that the human atrial strength-duration curve is shifted upward and to the right at pacing rates applicable to antitachycardia pacing, and have important implications for the design and programming of permanent antitachycardia pacing systems.
Extended pseudo-screen migration with multiple reference velocities

The pseudo-screen propagator is a kind of one way wave propagation based on the local Born approximation. The problem of the propagator is that it is difficult to calculate the scattered fields when the velocity perturbation is large; not to mention the accuracy of the propagator. We develop an extended pseudo-screen propagator by introducing different reference velocities in different regions of a medium to ensure the condition of small perturbation. The exploding reflector data for a 2D slice of the SEG/EAEG 3D salt model is generated by a finite difference scheme to test the feasibility of the method. The migration result demonstrates that the method can handle severe lateral velocity variations and provides high quality images for complex structures.
Techniques for the laboratory culture of mysidopsis species (crustacea: Mysidacea)

The objectives of this study were to evaluate existing techniques for culturing three species of the genus Mysidopsis that are routinely used as toxicity test organisms. A comparison of the life history, ecology and distribution of M. bahia, M. bigelowi and M. almyra is presented. Culture systems are described, supplemental foods are suggested, and guidelines are given for salinity, temperature, dissolved oxygen and nitrogen levels that will maintain optimum laboratory culture conditions. Methods are outlined for harvesting juveniles and controlling contaminant organisms, and general feeding procedures are described. Culture management is stressed as the most significant factor in maintaining productive mysid cultures. Specific recommendations are made regarding culture density, harvesting frequency, sex ratio and introduction of feral animals.
Irritability following abstinence from cocaine predicts euphoric effects of cocaine administration

This study evaluated the association between negative affective symptoms during initial abstinence and euphorigenic response to experimentally administered cocaine. Cocaine-dependent individuals achieved 5 days of abstinence in a hospital setting. Forty milligrams of cocaine was given intravenously on the fifth day of abstinence, and participants were asked to rate the subjective effects produced by the drug. The associations between irritability, self-reported depression, and the subjective "high" produced by cocaine were evaluated. Increased levels of irritability and depression both correlated positively and statistically significantly with heightened response to experimentally administered cocaine as indexed by self-reported subjective "high." The positive association between irritability and subjective "high" remained after controlling for self-reported depressive symptoms. The opponent process model predicts that increased levels of negative affect should be associated with diminished euphoric response to cocaine; however, the opposite was observed. If these findings are replicated in a larger sample, then it may be necessary to reconsider the applicability of the opponent process model to cocaine addiction in humans.
Dating of mine waste in lacustrine sediments using cesium-137

For over a century Medicine Lake in northern Idaho has received heavy-metal-laden tailings from the Coeur d'Alene mining district. Establishing the depositional chronology of the lake bottom sediments provides information on the source and rate of deposition of the tailings. Cesium-137, an isotope produced in the atmosphere by nuclear bomb tests, was virtually absent in the environment prior to 1951, but reached its apex in 1964. Our analysis of cesium-137 in the sediments of Medicine Lake revealed that 14 cm of fine-grained tailings were deposited in the lake from 1951 to 1964 and tailing deposition downstream was greatly reduced by the installation of tailings dams in the district in 1968. Cesium-137 analysis is accomplished by a fairly simple gamma-ray counting technique and should be a valuable tool for analyzing sedimentation in any lacustrine environment that was active during the 1950s and 1960s.
Assessing the relative environmental impacts of agricultural pesticides: the quest for a holistic method

Systems which assess the comparative environmental impact of pesticides may enable farmers and policy makers to choose effective practices for pest control with the least detrimental impact. This paper reviews a number of approaches that have been proposed by research, planning and regulatory agencies for assessing pesticide impacts. Major issues and challenges in developing assessment models include how to incorporate and synthesize a broad range of environmental parameters in creating an integrated assessment; how to evaluate, integrate and present economic and environmental information within one assessment framework; and how to strike a balance between the advantages of the ease of use of simpler systems with the information-richness of more complex systems that may be prohibitively difficult to use. We conclude that universal answers to these questions are not possible because of different specific objectives, methods and decision-making contexts of particular assessment systems.
First seizure presentation with multiple discrete seizures within 24 hours: implications for diagnosis and treatment.

First seizure presentation with multiple discrete seizures within 24 hours: implications for diagnosis and treatment
Intravenous nicotine injection induces rapid, experience‐dependent sensitization of glutamate release in the ventral tegmental area and nucleus accumbens

Although numerous data suggest that glutamate (GLU) is involved in mediating the neural effects of nicotine, direct data on nicotine-induced changes in GLU release are still lacking. Here we used high-speed amperometry with enzyme-based GLU and enzyme-free GLU-null biosensors to examine changes in extracellular GLU levels in the ventral tegmental area (VTA) and nucleus accumbens shell (NAcc) induced by intravenous nicotine in a low, behaviorally active dose (30 μg/kg) in freely moving rats. Using this approach, we found that the initial nicotine injection in drug-naive conditions induces rapid, transient, and relatively small GLU release (~90 nM; latency ~15 s, duration ~60 s) that is correlative in the VTA and NAcc. Following subsequent nicotine injections within the same session, this phasic GLU release was supplemented by stronger tonic increases in GLU levels (100–300 nM) that paralleled increases in drug-induced locomotor activation. GLU responses induced by repeated nicotine injections were more phasic and stronger in the NAcc than in VTA. Therefore, GLU is phasically released within the brain’s reinforcement circuit following intravenous nicotine administration. Robust enhancement of nicotine-induced GLU responses following repeated injections suggests this change as an important mediator of sensitized behavioral and neural effects of nicotine.
Recording of electrical potentials from specific areas of the retina.

ELECTRICAL response obtained from the intact human eye1usually represents a gross summation of all sensory elements undergoing excitation by light. The levels of photic energy required for an electrical response are high; a good deal of light is scattered in the dioptric media2. As a result, considerably more retinal elements are stimulated than would be involved in excitation if the stimulus were at visual threshold level.
Towards statistically strong source anonymity for sensor networks

For sensor networks deployed to monitor and report real events, event source anonymity is an attractive and critical security property, which unfortunately is also very difficult and expensive to achieve. This is not only because adversaries may attack against sensor source privacy through traffic analysis, but also because sensor networks are very limited in resources. As such, a practical trade-off between security and performance is desirable. In this article, for the first time we propose the notion of statistically strong source anonymity, under a challenging attack model where a global attacker is able to monitor the traffic in the entire network. We propose a scheme called FitProbRate, which realizes statistically strong source anonymity for sensor networks. We demonstrate the robustness of our scheme under various statistical tests that might be employed by the attacker to detect real events. Our analysis and simulation results show that our scheme, besides providing source anonymity, can significantly reduce real event reporting latency compared to two baseline schemes.However, the degree of source anonymity in the FitProbRate scheme might decrease as real message rate increases. We propose a dynamic mean scheme which has better performance under high real message rates. Simulation results show that the dynamic mean scheme is capable of increasing the attacker's false positive rate and decreasing the attacker's Bayesian detection rate significantly even under high-rate continuous real messages.
Fibroblast growth factor-induced increased survival of chollnergic mesopontine neurons in culture

Basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) was found to increase the survival of immunocytochemically-identified cholinergic mesopontine neurons in dissociated cell cultures of embryonic rat midbrain. In contrast, cultures exposed to, (a) bFGF and an antibody to bFGF, (b) antibody to bFGF alone, or (c) untreated, contained approximately half the number of cholinergic neurons compared to bFGF-treated cultures.
Variation in selected unsaturated fatty acids during vitellogenesis in the Florida freshwater crayfish Procambarus paeninsulanus

Summary Fatty acids and their derivatives are involved in events associated with reproduction in invertebrates. The purpose of this study was to investigate the presence and variation in amount of selected fatty acids during vitellogenesis in the crayfish Procambarus paeninsulanus. Particular attention was given to possible precursors of eicosanoid production. Ovarian homogenates were prepared and analyzed by gas chromatography. Results demonstrated a dramatic increase in several fatty acids fiom the onset of secondary vitellogenesis to just prior to ovulation. It is possible that unsaturated fatty acids or their derivatives may be involved in the importation of exogenous proteins to support yolk formation. In addition, results demonstrate ample substrate exists in crustacean ovaries to support production of reported eicosanoids by lipoxygenase andfor cyclooxygenase pathways.
Musculoskeletal Pain and Psychological Distress in Hospital Patient Care Workers

Purpose The aim of the study was to assess the association of psychological distress and musculoskeletal pain, how it is related to pain interference with work and multiple pain areas, and potential differences between the different pain areas in hospital patient care workers. Methods Data were collected from a cross-sectional survey of patient care workers (n = 1,572) from two large hospitals. Results Patient care workers with musculoskeletal pain reported significantly more psychological distress than those without pain. Psychological distress was significantly related to pain interference with work, even after adjusting for pain and demographics (OR = 1.05; CI = 1.01–1.09). The association was strongest for those with both upper- and lower body pain (OR = 1.12; CI = 1.06–1.18). Psychological distress was also independently associated with multiple pain areas. Conclusions Psychological distress was found to be higher in workers with musculoskeletal pain, and highest among workers with both upper and lower body pain. Distress was further significantly associated with pain interference with work as well as number of pain areas. The findings may be followed up with a longitudinal design to better determine the direction of the associations, and to investigate if psychological distress increases the risk of work disability and injuries.
Positive hepatitis B surface antigen tests due to recent vaccination: a persistent problem

Hepatitis B virus (HBV) is a common cause of viral hepatitis with significant health complications including cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. Assays for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) are the most frequently used tests to detect HBV infection. Vaccination for HBV can produce transiently detectable levels of HBsAg in patients. However, the time course and duration of this effect is unclear. The objective of this retrospective study was to clarify the frequency and duration of transient HBsAg positivity following vaccination against HBV. The electronic medical record at an academic tertiary care medical center was searched to identify all orders for HBsAg within a 17 month time period. Detailed chart review was performed to identify all patients who were administered HBV vaccine within 180 days prior to HBsAg testing and also to ascertain likely cause of weakly positive (grayzone) results. During the 17 month study period, 11,719 HBsAg tests were ordered on 9,930 patients. There were 34 tests performed on 34 patients who received HBV vaccine 14 days or less prior to HBsAg testing. Of these 34 patients, 11 had grayzone results for HBsAg that could be attributed to recent vaccination. Ten of the 11 patients were renal dialysis patients who were receiving HBsAg testing as part of routine and ongoing monitoring. Beyond 14 days, there were no reactive or grayzone HBsAg tests that could be attributed to recent HBV vaccination. HBsAg results reached a peak COI two to three days following vaccination before decaying. Further analysis of all the grayzone results within the 17 month study period (43 results out of 11,719 tests) revealed that only 4 of 43 were the result of true HBV infection as verified by confirmatory testing. Our study confirms that transient HBsAg positivity can occur in patients following HBV vaccination. The results suggest this positivity is unlikely to persist beyond 14 days post-vaccination. Our study also demonstrates that weakly positive HBsAg results often do not reflect actual HBV infection, underscoring the importance of confirmatory testing. This study also emphasizes that vaccination-induced HBsAg positives occur most commonly in hemodialysis patients.
Evidence for Finely-Regulated Asynchronous Growth of Toxoplasma gondii Cysts Based on Data-Driven Model Selection

Toxoplasma gondii establishes a chronic infection by forming cysts preferentially in the brain. This chronic infection is one of the most common parasitic infections in humans and can be reactivated to develop life-threatening toxoplasmic encephalitis in immunocompromised patients. Host-pathogen interactions during the chronic infection include growth of the cysts and their removal by both natural rupture and elimination by the immune system. Analyzing these interactions is important for understanding the pathogenesis of this common infection. We developed a differential equation framework of cyst growth and employed Akaike Information Criteria (AIC) to determine the growth and removal functions that best describe the distribution of cyst sizes measured from the brains of chronically infected mice. The AIC strongly support models in which T. gondii cysts grow at a constant rate such that the per capita growth rate of the parasite is inversely proportional to the number of parasites within a cyst, suggesting finely-regulated asynchronous replication of the parasites. Our analyses were also able to reject the models where cyst removal rate increases linearly or quadratically in association with increase in cyst size. The modeling and analysis framework may provide a useful tool for understanding the pathogenesis of infections with other cyst producing parasites.
The Edpm5 locus prevents the ‘angiogenic switch’ in an estrogen-induced rat pituitary tumor

EdpmS is one member of a group of quantitative trait loci that are responsible for the difference in susceptibility to estrogen-induced prolactinoma between the Fischer 344 (F344) and Brown Norway (BN) strains. Upon chronic estrogen treatment F344 rats develop large, hemorrhagic and invasive pituitary tumors, which exhibit both tumor angiogenesis and neoplasia. In contrast, BN rats do not develop a tumor despite an estrogen-induced increase in lactotroph density. To investigate the role of EdpmS in the development of these tumors, we have generated a novel congenic rat strain F344.BN-Edpm5 BN by introgressing the segment of rat chromosome bearing EdpmS from BN into the F344 strain background. Phenotypic differences between F344 and F344.BN-Edpm5 BN must be due to a gene(s) within the chromosomal interval encompassing EdpmS. Through use of these strains, we find that EdpmS specifically regulates the switch to angiogenic phenotype, independent of neoplasia. The F344.BN-Edpm5 BN rats developed tumors, which exhibited significant growth, 7-fold greater mass than the pituitary of untreated rats, and neoplasia indistinguishable from that of the F344 strain. However, the F344.BN-Edpm5 BN rat tumor had a non-angiogenic phenotype. After chronic estrogen treatment, there was no increase in microvessel count over untreated controls in F344.BN-Edpm5 BN tumors, whereas F344 rat tumors showed a significant increase (P < 0.0005). The ultrastructural morphology of the pituitary blood vessels also did not show significant angiogenesis associated changes in F344.BN-Edpm5 BN rat pituitary tumors. In contrast the parental strain F344 had pronounced angiogenic activity. The F344.BN-Edpm5 BN strain also fails to express VEGF at the high levels seen in the F344 rat pituitary after estrogen treatment. Hence at least one gene that has a large impact, directly or indirectly, on the switch to angiogenic phenotype must reside within the chromosomal interval that is the EdpmS quantitative trait locus.
Nutrition intervention for migraine: a randomized crossover trial

Limited evidence suggests that dietary interventions may offer a promising approach for migraine. The purpose of this study was to determine the effects of a low-fat plant-based diet intervention on migraine severity and frequency. Forty-two adult migraine sufferers were recruited from the general community in Washington, DC, and divided randomly into two groups. This 36-week crossover study included two treatments: dietary instruction and placebo supplement. Each treatment period was 16 weeks, with a 4-week washout between. During the diet period, a low-fat vegan diet was prescribed for 4 weeks, after which an elimination diet was used. Participants were assessed at the beginning, midpoint, and end of each period. Significance was determined using student’s t-tests. Worst headache pain in last 2 weeks, as measured by visual analog scale, was initially 6.4/10 cm (SD 2.1 cm), and declined 2.1 cm during the diet period and 0.7 cm during the supplement period (p=0.03). Average headache intensity (0–10 scale) was initially 4.2 (SD 1.4) per week, and this declined by 1.0 during the diet period and by 0.5 during the supplement period (p=0.20). Average headache frequency was initially 2.3 (SD 1.8) per week, and this declined by 0.3 during the diet period and by 0.4 during the supplement period (p=0.61). The Patient’s Global Impression of Change showed greater improvement in pain during the diet period (p<0.001). These results suggest that a nutritional approach may be a useful part of migraine treatment, but that methodologic issues necessitate further research. Clinicaltrials.gov, NCT01699009 and NCT01547494 .
Trade barriers and trade flows with product heterogeneity: An application to US motion picture exports

We extend Melitz (2003) to allow for both global and bilateral fixed export costs. If global (bilateral) export costs dominate, the average sales ratio (import sales per product variety/domestic sales per variety), decreases (increases) in variable (fixed) trade barriers, due to adjustment along the intensive (extensive) margin of trade. Using novel data on bilateral US movie exports we find that (i) variation in box-office revenues per movie is much larger than in the number of movies exported, and (ii) the average sales ratio decreases in geographic and linguistic distance. These findings suggest that global fixed export costs dominate.
Clinical validity of ultrasound in children with suspected appendicitis

Study objective: To determine the accuracy of diagnosing appendicitis in the pediatric population by using graded compression ultrasonography. Design: Retrospective case review. Setting: University-affiliated community hospital with an emergency department census of approximately 19,000 pediatric visits per year. Type of participants: Ninety-eight children (age less than 13 years) with clinically suspected appendicitis who had graded compression sonographic studies during the 24-month study period. Interventions: Medical records were reviewed for patient demographics, presenting signs and symptoms, sonographic findings, surgical results, and hospital course. Patients who did not undergo surgery were followed up by telephone for a minimum of two months. Results: Ninety-eight children (42 boys and 56 girls; age range, 2 to 12 years; mean age, 8.0 years) with clinical signs and symptoms of acute appendicitis were examined sonographically. Of the 26 patients whose appendicitis was verified at surgery, ultrasound was positive in 22, with an overall sensitivity of 85%. Of the 72 patients who did not have appendicitis, ultrasound was negative in 68, with a specificity of 94%. Two patients with false-positive ultrasound went to surgery and were found to have acute ileitis and perforated Meckel's diverticulum. The overall diagnostic accuracy was 91.8% (90 of 98). Conclusion: Use of ultrasound to diagnose acute appendicitis was performed with a sensitivity of 85% and a specificity of 94%. This allows the same accuracy in children as has been reported with adults.
VLBA: Earth science and astrophysics

New methods to extend current knowledge in plate tectonics and in astronomy will result from applications of the Very Long Baseline Array (VLBA) project planned for continental scale (Eos, March 6, 1984, p. 84). Ten powerful radiotelescopes will be positioned as elements of the array extending from Puerto Rico to Alaska. According to a report of the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) Board on Physics and Astronomy, the antenna array will help investigators to “…grapple with the mysteries of quasars and galactic nuclei…[and]… will also prove useful in answering down-to-earth questions, including the ‘whys’ and ‘hows’ of earthquakes.” The project, as listed in the Reagan Administration's current budget, will cost $50 million. Partial operation of the array could begin as early as 1987.
Organische Phosphorverbindungen XXV Darstellung und Eigenschaften von sekundären und tertiären Phosphinsulfiden

Two new processes for the preparation of sec. phosphine sulfides which involve reaction of dialkylamino-dialkyl or diaryl phosphines with hydrogen sulfide, and of dialkylthionophosphonates, (RO)2P(S)H, with GRIGNARD or organolithium reagents, respectively, are described. The addition of sec. phosphine sulfides to olefins and the condensation of sec. phosphine sulfides with N-hydroxymethyldialkylamines are reported. The conversion of tert. Phosphine sulfides to the corresponding tert. phosphine oxides is readily achieved with hydrogen peroxyde. The physical properties of several new unsymmetrical tert. phosphine sulfide and oxides are listed.