cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Simulated crop rotation systems control swede midge, Contarinia nasturtii

Contarinia nasturtii (Kieffer) (Diptera: Cecidomyiidae), a common insect pest in Europe and a new invasive pest in North America, causes severe damage to cruciferous crops. Many counties in Canada and the USA, in which C. nasturtii has not been previously reported, are at risk of being infested by C. nasturtii. Effectiveness of chemical control is limited, especially under high population pressure in fields. Alternative management strategies against C. nasturtii are sorely needed in order to protect crucifers. Under controlled laboratory conditions, the effectiveness on C. nasturtii control by 11 simulated cauliflower-sweet corn and cauliflower-kidney bean crop rotation systems was evaluated, with and without the presence of cruciferous weeds as alternative hosts. Our results indicated that when soil was infested with C. nasturtii pupae, the emergence pattern from the soil was very similar regardless whether the soil was later planted to host or non-host plants. As emergence was not affected, we examined whether manipulating host availability for oviposition through crop rotation would be effective. Our results indicated that the simulated cauliflower-sweet corn and cauliflower-kidney bean rotation systems provided full control of C. nasturtii. The effectiveness of one cycle of non-host crop rotation was reduced when cruciferous weeds were present. However, the C. nasturtii population in a one-cycle non-host rotation system with cruciferous weeds present was significantly lower than that in a non-rotation system. Two consecutive cycles (simulating a cropping season) of non-host plant crop rotations provided full control of C. nasturtii, regardless of the presence of the cruciferous weeds. The importance of cruciferous weed management and how to implement a successful crop rotation in fields to control C. nasturtii are discussed.
Analysis of perchlorate in human saliva by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry.

Perchlorate is both a naturally occurring anion and the disassociated anion of manufactured perchlorate salts. Because perchlorate has the ability to block the uptake of iodide by the thyroid gland...
Comments on the Scientific Function of the Concept of Cohesiveness

This article deals with the conceptual questions that arise with the introduction and incorporation of a new concept within theory. It is pointed out that these questions, and the attainment of their answers, are not unique to small-group theory, as might be the impression gained from the Gross and Martin paper.
High temperature oxidation behavior of CrN/AlN superlattice films

Abstract The oxidation behavior of CrN/AlN superlattice films with different bilayer periods (Λ), Al/(Cr + Al) ratios, and crystal structures of the AlN layer was investigated. The films were deposited using a pulsed dc closed field unbalanced magnetron sputtering system. The oxidation tests were carried out in the ambient air at elevated temperatures from 700 to 1100 °C for 1 h. The changes in the crystal phase, microstructure and hardness of the films after the oxidation tests were characterized using X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and nanoindentation, respectively. When both CrN and AlN layers were in the NaCl cubic structure, the film with Λ = 3.8 nm and an Al/(Cr + Al) ratio of 0.6 exhibited a superior oxidation resistance than the film with Λ = 12.4 nm and an Al/(Cr + Al) ratio of 0.19. The film with Λ = 3.8 nm maintained the nanolayered structure with an oxidation temperature up to 1000 °C by the protection of a thin and dense X-ray amorphous oxide layer. In contrast, when the AlN layers were in the Wurzite hexagonal structure, the film with Λ = 22.5 nm and an Al/(Cr + Al) ratio of 0.67 exhibited poor oxidation resistance. The film lost the superlattice structure at 800 °C and was completely oxidized at 1000 °C due to the formation of a porous crystalline oxide layer on the surface.
What Ratemyprofessors.com Reveals About How and Why Students Evaluate Their Professors: A Glimpse Into the Student Mind-Set

This study examines RateMyProfessors.com ratings and comments as a form of electronic word-of-mouth communications. The data represent 2,371 user ratings and comments for 442 marketing professors f...
Implantable Cardioverter-Defibrillator Shocks in Dying Patients Disturbing Data From Beyond the Grave

Implantable cardioverter-defibrillators (ICDs) are well documented to save lives in many patient groups for primary and secondary prevention; however, although the ICD is highly effective at preventing sudden death, everyone will die eventually, whether of underlying heart disease or other terminal illness such as malignancy. As the population of patients living with ICDs expanded, case reports began appearing in the palliative care literature such as, “Death and defibrillation: a shocking experience”1 and “And it can go on and on and on.”2 ICD shocks are painful, described by patients as “a punch in the chest,” “being kicked by a mule,” and “putting a finger in a light socket,”3 and it is not surprising that receiving shocks at the end of life would be a distressing experience for the dying patient as well as his or her family. How often this actually happened was first described by our group in 2004. Interviewing family members of deceased patients from our practice, we found that 20% were reported to have received shocks in the last weeks, days, or hours of their lives.4 More recently, Sherazi et al5 reviewed charts of 98 patients receiving ICDs in the Multicenter Automatic Defibrillator Implantation Trial II (MADIT-2) who later died, finding that only 15% had had their ICDs deactivated, many after receiving shocks in the last week of life. The true frequency of ICD shocks in dying patients, however, was likely underestimated by both of these studies, because neither family nor healthcare providers may have been aware of all shocks received, and in many cases, the only individuals who could have provided the accurate answer may have carried it with them to the grave. Article see p 422 The study by Kinch Westerdahl et al6 in this issue of Circulation provides a …
Morphology of complex lymphoepithelial organs of the anal canal ("anal tonsil") in the bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops truncatus.

A complex of lymphoepithelial organs, the “anal tonsils,” is a consistent structure in the anal canal of the bottlenose dolphin, Tursiops truncatus. This complex occurs as a circumferential cluster of discrete tonsil like aggregations of lymphoid tissues, together with epithelial ducts (“crypts”) and occasional mucus secretory units in the extreme lower portion of the intestinal tract. These structures are concentrated in the segment lined by stratified squamous epithelium and extend for a variable distance cephalad from the anal aperture. The tonsils appear to be most active, judged by the amount of lymphoid tissue present, in young animals. Depletion of lymphocytes and cystic enlargement of the crypts, probably representing functional as well as morphological involution, is a consistent feature of older animals. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Low-grade gliomas: an update on pathology and therapy

Low-grade gliomas (LGG) are not benign neoplasms. Patients with LGG eventually die as a consequence of this disease. Although the survival of patients with LGG is better than that of patients with higher-grade tumours, many of the treatments can produce or contribute to chronic impairment, particularly radiotherapy. Chemotherapy has emerged as a promising therapy, although definitive findings are awaited. Breakthroughs in molecular biology have improved our understanding of tumours and have led to the development of novel treatments and better prognoses. Ongoing clinical trials will help to elucidate the optimum management of patients with LGG.
Treating illness: Translation of a chapter from a medieval chinese buddhist meditation manual by zhiyi (538-597)

AbstractThis translation is an excerpt from a meditation treatise by one of the most important figures in East Asian Buddhist history, the Chinese scholar-monk Zhiyi (538–597). Zhiyi was notable as a systematizer and domesticator of Buddhist knowledge, and particularly for his writings on śamatha and vipaśyanā meditation. The excerpt translated below is a complete chapter from the shorter of his meditation treatises. It focuses specifically on how various strands of Indian and Chinese medical and religious knowledge could be employed to diagnose and treat illness while the practitioner remained engaged in seated meditation. Incorporating both foreign and domestic knowledge into the framework of śamatha and vipaśyanā, this chapter represents one of the earliest examples of systematic Indo- Sinitic medical syncretism, and one of the most important expressions of a unique medieval Chinese Buddhist perspective on healing.
Stimulus control of matching and oddity in a pigeon

A pigeon was trained on matching and oddity with red and green key colors. Illumination of a light served as a cue for matching or oddity. Injections of sodium pentobarbital and transfer to novel key colors affected matching and oddity differently, suggesting that stimulus control of two different kinds of performance had been established.
Coalition-Proof Implementation

Abstract A new condition is shown to be necessary and sufficient for Coalition-Proof Nash equilibrium (CPNE) implementation in environments with complete information. This result implies that all choice functions are CPNE-implementable when individuals' utility functions are bounded with respect to all variables—except for money—and are either analytic or quasi-linear. Journal Economic Literature Classification Numbers: C72, D72, D78.
Direct Cytological Evidence for True Terminalization of Chiasmata in Maize

Equational and disjunctional separation of heterozygous heterochromatic regions was observed relative to chiasma positions at diakinesis. Equational separation of heterozygous knobs was frequently observed and always accompanied by a chiasma distal to the knob. This is considered evidence that in these cases a crossover had occurred in a position proximal to the knob and had terminalized to a position distal to the knob by the time of fixation for observation.
Synthesis, thermal and structural characterization of nanocomposites for potential applications in construction

Several calcium silicate hydrate (C–S–H)-polymer nanocomposite (C–S–HPN) materials have been prepared by incorporating poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) into the inorganic layers of C–S–H during precipitation of quasicrystalline C-S-H from aqueous solution. The synthetic C–S–HPN materials were characterized by X-ray fluorescence (XRF), X-ray diffraction (XRD), Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, scanning electron microscopy/energy dispersive spectroscopy (SEM-EDS), thermogravimetry (TG), differential thermogravimetry (DTG) and differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The XRD peaks of C–S–HPN materials suggest the intermediate organizations presenting both intercalation of PAA and exfoliation of C–S–H. The SEM images of C–S–H and C–S–HPN materials with different PAA contents exhibit the significant differences in their morphologies. Effects of the material compositions on the thermal stability of series of C–S–HPN materials along with PAA and C–S–H has been studied by TG, DTG and DSC. Three significant decomposition temperature ranges were observed on the TG curves of all C–S–HPN materials.
High-throughput imaging of adult fluorescent zebrafish with an LED fluorescence macroscope

Zebrafish are a useful vertebrate model for the study of development, behavior, disease and cancer. A major advantage of zebrafish is that large numbers of animals can be economically used for experimentation; however, high-throughput methods for imaging live adult zebrafish had not been developed. Here, we describe protocols for building a light-emitting diode (LED) fluorescence macroscope and for using it to simultaneously image up to 30 adult animals that transgenically express a fluorescent protein, are transplanted with fluorescently labeled tumor cells or are tagged with fluorescent elastomers. These protocols show that the LED fluorescence macroscope is capable of distinguishing five fluorescent proteins and can image unanesthetized swimming adult zebrafish in multiple fluorescent channels simultaneously. The macroscope can be built and used for imaging within 1 day, whereas creating fluorescently labeled adult zebrafish requires 1 hour to several months, depending on the method chosen. The LED fluorescence macroscope provides a low-cost, high-throughput method to rapidly screen adult fluorescent zebrafish and it will be useful for imaging transgenic animals, screening for tumor engraftment, and tagging individual fish for long-term analysis.
Constrained subpixel target detection for hyperspectral imagery

Target detection in remotely sensed images can be conducted spatially, spectrally or both. The difficulty of detecting targets in remotely sensed images with spatial image analysis arises from the fact that the ground sampling distance is generally larger than the size of the targets of interest in which case targets are embedded in a single pixel and cannot be detected spatially. Under this circumstance target detection must be carried out at subpixel level and spectral analysis offers a valuable alternative. This paper compares two constrained approaches for subpixel detection of targets in remote sensing images. One is a target abundance-constrained approach, referred to as the nonnegatively constrained least squares (NCLS) method. It is a constrained least squares linear spectral mixture analysis method which implements a nonnegatively constraint on the abundance fractions of targets of interest. A common drawback of linear spectral mixture analysis based methods is the requirement for prior knowledge of the endmembers present in an image scene. In order to mitigate this drawback, the NCLS method is extended to create an unsupervised approach, referred to as the unsupervised nonnegatively constrained least present in the image scene. The second approach is a target signature-constrained method, called the constrained energy minimization (CEM) method. It constrains the desired target signature with a specific gain while minimizing effects caused by other unknown signatures. Data from the HYperspectral Digital Imagery Collection Experiment (HYDICE) sensor are used to compare the performance of these methods.
Effect of nociceptin/orphanin FQ on food intake in rats that differ in diet preference.

Abstract Nociceptin/orphanin FQ (N/OFQ) is an agonist of the ORL1 receptor. Despite homology with opioids, it does not bind to opioid receptors. Recent studies have shown that centrally administered N/OFQ increases food intake in a manner similar to opioid peptides; its effect is naloxone-reversible. Opioids appear to mediate “palatability/reward”-dependent feeding: Opioid agonists increase, while antagonists decrease, the intake of preferred diets. The current project was designed to elucidate whether the effect of N/OFQ on the consumption of preferred foods resembles that of opioid peptides. Rats had a constant access for 2 weeks to two palatable (high sucrose and high fat) diets, and their baseline preferences were established. Based on these preferences, animals were divided into three groups: fat preferrers, sucrose preferrers, and “neutrals”. On the experimental day, rats received an intracerebroventricular injection of N/OFQ. Intriguingly, in fat-preferring rats, N/OFQ stimulated the intake of each of the two diets. It had no effect, however, on the consumption of either diet or cumulative food intake in sucrose-preferring or “neutral” animals. Our results reveal that N/OFQ, unlike opioids, does not increase the intake of preferred diets. Thus, it does not seem to mediate “palatability/reward”-driven feeding. Noteworthy, N/OFQ appears to cause hyperphagia only in fat-preferring rats.
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) in pregnancy: a review

Major affective disorders including depression and anxiety occur commonly in women of childbearing age and their incidence can increase during and after pregnancy. There is a critical clinical demand for treatment of these disorders, but the balance between treating affective disorders without harming the developing fetus is a difficult one. This has created concern both among women planning pregnancies, and those women who are pregnant already, as well as among families and healthcare providers. Currently, selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) are the drugs of choice for the treatment of these disorders in pregnant women because of their documented efficacy and mild side effect profile. There is some research concerning SSRI use and pregnancy, which is the focus of this article.
Cognitive Therapy and the Punctual Self: Using an Ascetical Framework to Critique Approaches to Psychotherapy

Theological examinations of counseling and psychotherapy have typically focused on theory rather than practice. The current study takes a different perspective by studying the implications of cognitive behavioral therapy interventions through the lens of Michel Foucault’s framework of technologies of the self. In this analysis, the fundamental exercises of care for the self in Beck’s cognitive therapy are identified along with the characteristics of the self that these exercises presume. The results of this analysis show a close correspondence between cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and the punctual self identified by Charles Taylor in his studies of modernity. Three aspects of CBT—distancing reflection, thought replacement, and self-mathesis— are identified as potential barriers to integrating spirituality through this therapy, thus pinpointing the practices that lead to the criticisms of perfectionism and naturalism that theoretical studies have identified. These results suggest the utility of a practice-centered approach to critiquing psychotherapy and also call for more research using social science methods to determine how to implement these critiques in practice.
Remarks on Light Scattering from Polymers in Mixed Solvents: Effects of Polymer Molecular Weight, Molecular Weight Distribution, and Solvent Composition

It is known that light-scattering data for a polymer in a mixed solvent together with the refractive-index increment of the polymer evaluated at osmotic equilibrium (i.e., at fixed chemical potentials of solvent components) permit unambiguous determination of the molecular weight of the polymer–irrespective of preferential interactions between polymer and solvent. However, the analysis presumes either of two conditions; the polymer is homogeneous in molecular weight or the “osmotic” refractive increment does not depend on molecular weight. When both conditions are violated, the apparent molecular weight obtained may differ from the true weight average. This problem is examined with the aid of parameters derived from light-scattering data of Dondos and Benoit. The error in typical cases is shown to be less than uncertainty in scattering measurements if polymer heterogeneity is not extreme (say Mw/Mn≤2); but the behavior of each scattering system must be assessed individually. The data also afford material for some observations on the dependence of preferential interactions on composition of a binary solvent.
An Empirical Comparison between Two Recursive Filters for Attitude and Rate Estimation of Spinning Spacecraft

The advantages of inducing a constant spin rate on a spacecraft are well known. A variety of science missions have used this technique as a relatively low cost method for conducting science. Starting in the late 1970s, NASA focused on building spacecraft using 3-axis control as opposed to the single-axis control mentioned above. Considerable effort was expended toward sensor and control system development, as well as the development of ground systems to independently process the data. As a result, spinning spacecraft development and their resulting ground system development stagnated. In the 1990s, shrinking budgets made spinning spacecraft an attractive option for science. The attitude requirements for recent spinning spacecraft are more stringent and the ground systems must be enhanced in order to provide the necessary attitude estimation accuracy. Since spinning spacecraft (SC) typically have no gyroscopes for measuring attitude rate, any new estimator would need to rely on the spacecraft dynamics equations. One estimation technique that utilized the SC dynamics and has been used successfully in 3-axis gyro-less spacecraft ground systems is the pseudo-linear Kalman filter algorithm. Consequently, a pseudo-linear Kalman filter has been developed which directly estimates the spacecraft attitude quaternion and rate for a spinning SC. Recently, a filter using Markley variables was developed specifically for spinning spacecraft. The pseudo-linear Kalman filter has the advantage of being easier to implement but estimates the quaternion which, due to the relatively high spinning rate, changes rapidly for a spinning spacecraft. The Markley variable filter is more complicated to implement but, being based on the SC angular momentum, estimates parameters which vary slowly. This paper presents a comparison of the performance of these two filters. Monte-Carlo simulation runs will be presented which demonstrate the advantages and disadvantages of both filters.
Viability of a Freshwater Mussel (Elliptio complanata) as a Biomechanical Filter for Aquaculture Ponds II: Effects on Aquaculture Pond Water Quality

Bivalves have been proven to be an inexpensive method for removing suspended solids, dissolved nutrients, and controlling algal growth through suspension feeding. The freshwater mussel, Elliptio complanata, is one of the most abundant species in Delaware, and it is additionally favorable for this experiment because of its hardiness against environmental stress and its filtration efficiency. This study examines the possibility that biomechanical filters such as E. complanata can supplement existing chemical and mechanical filtration regiments in aquaculture pond management. Twelve earthen aquaculture ponds located at the Delaware State University were stocked at a density of 4,000 catfish (Ictalurus punctatus) per hectare. Four different concentrations (0, 75, 150, and 300) of E. complanata were placed in trays within the ponds with three replicates of each concentration. The trays were suspended 15 cm below the surface of the water for a period of five months. Fish were fed a 32% protein diet twice daily ...
Graft failure due to noncompliance among 628 kidney transplant recipients with long-term follow-up: A single-center observational study

BACKGROUND In adult kidney transplantation, there is no clear consensus on the incidence of graft failure-due-to noncompliance (GFNC), with some reporting it as relatively uncommon and others as a major cause of late graft failure. We suspected that GFNC was a major cause of late graft loss at our center but did not know the extent of this problem. METHODS In our prospectively followed cohort of 628 adult, primary kidney-alone transplant recipients with long-term follow-up, GFNC and other graft loss causes were determined from our ongoing clinical evaluations. Using competing risks methodology, we determined the overall percentage of patients developing GFNC and the significant prognostic factors for its hazard rate and cumulative incidence (via Cox regression). RESULTS Cumulative incidence estimates (± standard error) of GFNC (n=29), GF-with-compliance (n=46), receiving a never-functioning graft (n=7), and death-with-a-functioning-graft (n=53) at 101 months after transplant (last-observed-graft loss) were as follows: 9.8%± 2.4%, 10.9%± 1.7%, 1.1%± 0.4%, and 13.0%± 1.9%, respectively. Only three patients experienced GFNC during the first 24 months; GFNC represented 48.1% (26/54) of death-censored GFs beyond 24 months. Two baseline variables were jointly associated with a significantly higher GFNC hazard and cumulative incidence: younger recipient age (P<0.000001 each) and non-white recipient (P=0.004 and P=0.02). Estimated percentages of ever developing GFNC were 28.4%± 6.5% among 79 non-whites younger than 35 years versus 0.0% (0/144) among whites 50 years or older. Among 302 recipients younger than 50 years, 18.1%± 4.1% developed GFNC, representing 67.6% (25/37) of its death-censored graft failures observed beyond 24 months after transplant. CONCLUSIONS GFNC is a major cause of late GF at our center, with younger and non-white recipients at a significantly greater GFNC risk. Interventional approaches to eliminate GFNC could dramatically improve long-term kidney graft survival.
Testing genetic models for multiple symptoms: an application to the genetic analysis of liability to depression

A model is presented which allows for the contribution of genes and environment to categorical data on multiple symptoms. The model distinguishes between parameters needed to express the relationship between a latent trait and observed responses and the parameters required to represent the causes of variation in the latent trait. The regression of the latent trait on covariates may also be specified. The model is applied to symptoms of depression in 1983 pairs of adult female monozygotic and dizygotic twins. A model which allows only for polygenic variation in the latent trait is supported as well as the "mixed model," which also allows for the effects of a major gene. The likelihood is significantly lower when all genetic effects are ascribed to a single gene. Practical limitations of the method are discussed.
(Kivy on) The Form-Content Identity Thesis

In his Philosophies of Art Peter Kivy investigates the unity of form and content in the arts, particularly in poetry. While Kivy says much with which I happily agree, I sadly disagree with him about the impossibility of form-content identities. Kivy's arguments fail to compel: there are other ways of understanding form-content identities and the need for them that has been felt by artists and critics.
Improved plasma performance in tokamaks with negative magnetic shear.

A tokamak plasma configuration is reported that simultaneously improves on the maximum stable plasma pressure, the bootstrap current contribution, and kinetic stability to temperature and density gradient driven modes in toroidal geometry. It is characterized by negative magnetic shear in the plasma interior and a peaked pressure profile. Stability to the ideal low-n external kink modes requires a conducting shell at 1.3 times the plasma minor radius. This novel plasma configuration is promising for improved plasma performance in advanced tokamak experiments.
Assessing the quality of force feedback in soft tissue simulation

Many types of deformable models have been proposed for simulation of soft tissue in surgical simulators, but their realism in comparison to actual tissue is rarely assessed. In this paper, a nonlinear mass-spring model is used for realtime simulation of deformable soft tissues and providing force feedback to a human operator. Force-deformation curves of real soft tissue samples were obtained experimentally, and the model was tuned accordingly. To test the realism of the model, we conducted two human-user experiments involving palpation with a rigid probe. First, in a discrimination test, users identified the correct category of real and virtual tissue better than chance, and tended to identify the tissues as real more often than virtual. Second, users identified real and virtual tissues by name, after training on only real tissues. The sorting accuracy was the same for both real and virtual tissues. These results indicate that, despite model limitations, the simulation could convey the feel of touching real tissues. This evaluation approach could be used to compare and validate various soft-tissue simulators.
Cellular effector mechanisms against Plasmodium liver stages.

Summary Advances in our understanding of the molecular and cell biology of the malaria parasite have led to new vaccine development efforts resulting in a pipeline of over 40 candidates undergoing clinical phase I–III trials. Vaccine-induced CD4+ and CD8+ T cells specific for pre-erythrocytic stage antigens have been found to express cytolytic and multi-cytokine effector functions that support a key role for these T cells within the hepatic environment. However, little is known of the cellular interactions that occur during the effector phase in which the intracellular hepatic stage of the parasite is targeted and destroyed. This review focuses on cell biological aspects of the interaction between malaria-specific effector cells and the various antigen-presenting cells that are known to exist within the liver, including hepatocytes, dendritic cells, Kupffer cells, stellate cells and sinusoidal endothelia. Considering the unique immune properties of the liver, it is conceivable that these different hepatic antigen-presenting cells fulfil distinct but complementary roles during the effector phase against Plasmodium liver stages.
Real-time feedback for usable fingerprint systems

Compared with traditional password and other identification methods, biometrics such as face, iris, and fingerprints for automatic personal identification and verification have many advantages, and are increasingly gaining popularity in all kinds of applications. As the technologies mature, the community has begun to realize that usability has great impact on the final accuracy and efficiency of a biometric system. Although research has shown that effective user feedback can improve the quality of the fingerprint images captured and user satisfaction, currently user feedback information of fingerprint devices used in real world applications is very limited. We design a rich, quality-driven interactive real-time user feedback mechanism for unattended fingerprint kiosk. The system aims to improve the quality of biometric samples during the acquisition process by feeding rich information back to the user instantaneously by measuring objective parameters of the image. The paper proposes an innovative, cost-efficient, real-time algorithm for fingertip detection, slap/thumb rotation detection, and finger region intensity estimation. The paper provides detailed information on the technical solution and its implementation. Preliminary results show that the methodology can potentially increase efficiency, effectiveness, and user satisfaction of a fingerprint biometric system.
Unresolved issues in the study of mammalian ribonucleotide reductase

Abstract Although research on mammalian ribonucleotide reductase and its role in cell replication has been intensified in recent years, there remain several areas in which there is not uniform agreement with respect to several of its important properties. The major issues include: 1) whether there is one enzyme which catalyzes the reduction of all four substrates or several enzymes for the four substrates; 2) whether the two subunits are coordinately regulated as the cells pass from G1 to S during the cell cycle; if not which subunit represents the limiting component and what are the respective half-lives of the individual subunits; 3) whether the allosteric regulation which has been demonstrated in the test tube is the actual mechanism in the intact cells; and 4) is mammalian ribonucleotide reductase part of an enzyme complex which channels ribonucleoside diphosphates into DNA. The data which have appeared in the literature are discussed in the context of these unresolved questions.
Comparison of contemporary occipitocervical instrumentation techniques with and without C1 lateral mass screws.

OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to test the kinematic properties of three occiput-C2 instrumentation constructs with and without supplemental rigid C1 fixation. The results are compared with intact specimens and with constructs incorporating contemporary cabling techniques. METHODS: Five unembalmed human cadaver specimens underwent range of motion (ROM) testing in the intact condition, followed by destabilization with odontoid osteotomy. Destabilized specimens then underwent ROM testing with each of seven occipitocervical instrumentation constructs, all incorporating occipital screws: C1 and C2 sublaminar cables with cable connectors, C2 pars screws +/- C1 lateral mass screws, C2 lamina screws +/- C1 lateral mass screws, and C1-C2 transarticular screws +/- C1 lateral mass screws. RESULTS: All seven constructs demonstrated significantly lower ROM in all loading modes than intact specimens (P < 0.05). With a single exception, the addition of C1 lateral mass screws to the screw-based constructs produced no significant change in ROM in any of the loading modes. Compared with intact specimens, constructs anchored by C1-C2 transarticular screws demonstrated the greatest decrease in ROM, and those anchored by sublaminar cables demonstrated the least decrease in ROM. CONCLUSION: Any of the tested screw-based constructs are likely to provide adequate support for the patient with an unstable craniocervical junction. Therefore, the choice of construct should be based on anatomic considerations. The routine incorporation of C1 lateral mass screws into occipitocervical instrumentation constructs does not seem necessary.
Anti‐metrazol® efficacy of combinations of meparfynol and anticonvulsant drugs

Combinations of meparfynol and anticonvulsant drugs were tested for anti-Metrazol® potency and neurotoxicity in mice. The addition of meparfynol to an anticonvulsant did not cause the protective index to rise above that of the better component in the combination.
Proposed Statutory Definition of Voluntary and Informed Consent

Excerpt The drug regulation reform act of 1979 (S. 1075) has been passed by the Senate and is now on the agenda of the House of Representatives. Dorsen and Miller (1) recently reviewed some feature...
A new method for studying modal behavior and temperature tuning of GaAs lasers

Abstract The wavelength shift of a single mode of a pulsed, room-temperature GaAs laser was studied using the energy separation of the two hyperfine levels of the 62S 1 2 state of cesium to define a fixed-wavelength interval. A line-shift coefficient of 10−3 A A−2 μs−1 for a single mode was measured. The predominant physical mechanism for the wavelength shift of a single mode appears to be the temperature dependence of the index of refraction of the laser material.
Mass dependence of time-lag focusing in time-of-flight mass spectrometry—an analysis

Abstract When using mass spectral detection strategies in which wide ranges of m/z values are monitored, it is important for ions of all masses of interest to be in focus during the data collection interval. In conventional time-of-flight mass spectrometry of gaseous samples using dual field source extraction for spatial compensation, ion focus is a function of the time lag and the mass-to-charge ratio of the ion. The mass dependence of ion focus in a CVC 2000 time-of-flight mass spectrometer has been studied using a computer simulation in order to determine the mass ranges over which the losses in mass resolution and peak intensity are acceptable. As few as three different values of time lag are required to cover the m/z range from 50 to 700 u. Selection of optimum extraction voltages involves a trade-off between the width of the mass windows for any given time lag setting and the total mass range available with unit-mass-resolution.
A theoretical analysis of the economic impact of artists' Resale Royalties Legislation

There are few images as powerful as that of the "starving artist." The economic rewards offered a creative person are not, in general, of a magnitude that corresponds to the social prestige attached to their creativity. There have been numerous attempts to devise a method to increase the earnings of artists so that their economic position in society would roughly parallel the respect accorded them. We focus on one such attempt, that of Resale Royalties Legislation, often called droit de suite.
Just the thought of it!: Effects of anticipating computer-mediated communication on gender stereotyping

Abstract A study investigated how anticipated communication mode affects the use of stereotypes in forming impressions and making task assignments. Participants rated male or female targets with whom they envisioned working on a business project using computer-mediated or face-to-face modes of communication. Results indicated that both men and women were characterized more stereotypically when participants anticipated working with them electronically than when they anticipated working with them face-to-face. Furthermore, task assignments were more often gender stereotype consistent when the communication mode was computer-mediated than when it was face-to-face. These findings suggest that the mere anticipation of computer-mediated communication, without the actual the experience of it, is enough to promote stereotypes and biased decision-making.
Excimer Laser Mixing of Titanium Layers on AISI 304 Stainless Steel

We have used excimer laser radiation to mix single layers of Ti directly on annealed substrates of 304 stainless steel. This process produces much thicker surface alloy layers and is much faster than ion mixing techniques. Liquid state diffusion results in mixed layers of the order of 1.0 μm thick from 0.5 μm Ti overlayers. In single pulse experiments, fluences of up to about 4 times melt threshold could be used before ablation occurred. The fluence in these experiments determines the melt duration and therefore the amount of mixing. In order to achieve greater mixing without ablation of the surface, multiple pulses at lower fluence were used. Profiles of laser mixed surface layers and microstructural characterization of the layers are presented.
Effects of sex hormones on rabbit gallbladder prostaglandin biosynthesis.

Abstract The influence of sex hormones on female and male rabbit gallbladder prostaglandin biosynthesis was examined by radiochromatographic analysis of microsomal membrane fractions. Normal male rabbit total cyclooxygenase activity was modest, producing small amounts of PGE 2 , PGF 2α and 6-keto-PGF 1α (breakdown product of PGI 2 ). The normal female gallbladder (GB) microsomes demonstrated an increase in total cyclooxygenase activity when compared to the normal male rabbit gallbladder microsomes. The major prostaglandin (PG) products produced were 6-keto-PGF 1α , PGE 2 (fivefold higher activity than the male), and PGF 2α . The effect of exogenous sex hormones was studied by comparing GB PG biosynthesis in male rabbits treated with exogenous estrogen (50 μg/kg sub Q × 5 days) and female rabbits treated with exogenous testosterone (2.5 mg/kg sub Q × 5 days). Exogenous estrogen significantly increased total cyclooxygenase activity in the male rabbit GB microsomes with a significant increase in 6-keto-PGF 1α production when compared to the normal male. Exogenous testosterone significantly decreased female rabbit GB total cyclooxygenase activity with a significant decrease in PGE 2 biosynthesis and a substantial lowering in 6-keto-PGF 1α production. These data suggest that the major sex hormones, estrogen and testosterone, have potent but opposite effects on rabbit GB PG biosynthesis. Both sex hormones may contribute to the sex differences found in our original studies in rabbit GB biosynthesis.
The Road to Soul: 55 Tracks That Ushered in the Soul Era; Roots of Soul: 50 Original Gems; Soul Breakout ’61: The Evolution of Soul; Soul Breakout ’60: The Evolution of Soul; Soul Breakout ’59: The Evolution of Soul; Soul Breakout ’58: The Evolution of Soul; Soul Music: The First Generation

Historians Robert Pruter (Chicago Soul, 1991) and Peter Guralnick (Sweet Soul Music, 1986) have traced the post-1963 triumph of soul music in the United States. These two scholars have also chronic...
Fostering Moral Development Through Creative Dramatics

Wallin used creative dramatics to stimulate the moral development of students in inner-city schools. Moral dilemma situations were dramatized. At first, the source of the dilemmas was commercially available materials, but later the students created their own materials, three of which Wallin summarizes. The dramatic presentations, followed by discussion, may be a method for growth in moral judgments and ultimately in advanced moral behavior.
Global Sequence Convergence of a Local Minimax Method for Finding Multiple Solutions in Banach Spaces

This article is to establish a global sequence convergence of a local minimax method, first designed 10 years ago, for computing multiple solutions in Banach spaces without two localization and isolation conditions posted in existing results.
Cyclic CO2 Release and Water Loss in Alates of the Eastern Subterranean Termite (Isoptera: Rhinotermitidae)

Abstract CO2 release and water loss of unmated alates of Reticulitermes flavipes (Kollar), collected immediately before flight, were examined using flow-through respirometry. Whole body lipid and water content and cuticular permeability were also determined. Two models were used to estimate cuticular surface area for permeability calculation. CO2 release and water loss cycled concurrently in 90.9 and 66.7% of the recordings for males and females, respectively. Level of cycling of the recordings was determined by use of the coefficient of variability of the V˙CO2. Cyclic traces (40.4 ± 3.4 for females and 53.7 ± 2.1% for males) had greater coefficient of variability than acyclic traces (31.7 ± 6.1 and 40.5 ± 3.2%, for females and males, respectively) from both genders. Mean overall V˙CO2 did not vary significantly with alate gender. Lipid content (≈12%) was not significantly different between genders of R. flavipes alates. However, cuticular permeability values varied depending on the model for determining...
Combined endovascular and open operative approach for mycotic carotid aneurysm

Mycotic aneurysms of the extracranial carotid artery are rare and warrant surgical intervention. Management involves open and endovascular approaches. We report the case of a 67-year-old woman with an Escherichia coli soft-tissue infection of the right retropharyngeal space and subsequent mycotic carotid aneurysm and thrombosis of the internal jugular vein. The patient presented with a pulsatile mass and right middle cerebral artery stroke. Our surgical management involved coil embolization of the aneurysm to provide for vascular control, with resection of the common carotid artery, internal carotid artery, and extracranial carotid artery branches, along with the internal jugular vein.
VirB3 to VirB6 and VirB8 to VirB11, but Not VirB7, Are Essential for Mediating Persistence of Brucella in the Reticuloendothelial System

The Brucella abortus virB locus contains 12 open reading frames, termed virB1 through virB12, which encode a type IV secretion system. Polar mutations in the virB locus markedly reduce the ability of B. abortus to survive in cultured macrophages or to persist in organs of mice. While a nonpolar deletion of the virB2 gene reduces survival in cultured macrophages and in organs of mice, a nonpolar deletion of virB1 only reduces survival in macrophages, whereas virB12 is dispensable for either virulence trait. Here we investigated the role of the remaining genes in the virB locus during survival in macrophages and virulence in mice. Mutants carrying nonpolar deletions of the virB3, virB4, virB5, virB6, virB7, virB8, virB9, virB10, or virB11 gene were constructed and characterized. All mutations reduced the ability of B. abortus to survive in J774A.1 mouse macrophage-like cells to a degree similar to that caused by a deletion of the entire virB locus. Deletion of virB3, virB4, virB5, virB6, virB8, virB9, virB10, or virB11 markedly reduced the ability of B. abortus to persist in the spleens of mice at 8 weeks after infection. Interestingly, deletion of virB7 did not reduce the ability of B. abortus to persist in spleens of mice. We conclude that virB2, virB3, virB4, virB5, virB6, virB8, virB9, virB10, and virB11 are essential for virulence of B. abortus in mice, while functions encoded by the virB1, virB7, and virB12 genes are not required for persistence in organs with this animal model.
Low energy positron scattering and annihilation studies using a high resolution trap-based beam

Abstract A high resolution positron beam, generated from a Penning–Malmberg trap, has been used for a range of low energy scattering and annihilation studies on atoms and molecules. We describe measurements of total scattering, differential elastic scattering and integral vibrational and electronic excitation cross sections for a number of atoms and molecules using this beam, and compare the absolute cross sections that are obtained with data from electron impact. The first study of annihilation on atoms and molecules as a function of positron energy is described. The results in molecules indicate large resonant enhancements of the annihilation rates at energies corresponding to those of the molecular vibrations.
In Vitro Studies of the Fertilizing Ability of the Sperm from Adolescent, Adult and Aged Male Syrian Hamsters

There are indications that the male reproductive system is adversely affected as the animal ages. Both behavioral and physiological characteristics are involved, though variation among and within species is considerable. In bulls there is a general slowing down in mating behavior after 5–6 yr but some bulls do continue mating until 15 yr (Bishop,1970). Successful conceptions after artificial insemination decrease significantly with increasing age in bulls (Bishop, 1964). In man a sexual peak is reached during the mid-teens; thereafter sexual activity gradually declines (Kinsey et al,1948) and the ease with which conception occurs decreases after age 25 (MacLeod amp; Gold, 1953). Success of crosses between male and female golden hamsters drops from 58% in young males to 26.9% in 15 mo males (Soderwall amp; Britenbaker,1955). When litter size from natural mating in rats was followed from male age 43d to 500d, the litter size peaked at 200d, then declined (Saksena et al,1979). The purpose of this study was to determine whether the fertilizing ability of the sperm per se is influenced by the age of the male. The results of in vitro fertilization by sperm from adolescent, adult and aged males plus results of natural mating (% successful conceptions and litter size) are described.
Issues and etiquette concerning use of shared measurement data

In this note we discuss issues surrounding how to provide and use network measurement data made available for sharing among researchers. While previous work has focused on the technical details of enabling sharing via traffic anonymization, we focus on higher-level aspects of the process such as potential harm to the provider (e.g., by de-anonymizing a shared dataset) or interactions to strengthen subsequent research (e.g., helping to establish ground truth). We believe the community would benefit from a dialog regarding expectations and responsibilities of data providers, and the etiquette involved with using others' measurement data. To this end, we provide a set of guidelines that aim to aid the process of sharing measurement data. We present these not as specific rules, but rather a framework under which providers and users can better attain a mutual understanding about how to treat particular datasets.