cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Protein-losing enteropathy after fontan operation: Resolution after baffle fenestration

A 4-year-old child with hypoplastic left heart syndrome and a 6-year-old child with tricuspid atresia had both undergone staged reconstructive operations culminating in a Fontan operation. Peripheral edema, ascites, and hypoalbuminemia refractory to dietary manipulation and steroid therapy developed in both patients. After hemodynamic assessment, each child underwent surgical creation of a 4.8-mm fenestration in the previously placed baffle that separated the systemic venous pathway from the pulmonary venous atrium. Peripheral edema and ascites promptly resolved and serum protein levels normalized within 2 weeks after operation. Systemic arterial saturation is 86% in each child, and both children remain clinically well with no evidence of protein-losing enteropathy on normal diets and without specific medical therapy.
Distribution of Diopatra cuprea across modern tidal flats; implications for Skolithos

Skolithos is the dominant sedimentary structure in Cambrian foreshore/shoreface deposits. Diopatra cuprea, a predaceous, tube-building polychaete, has been cited as a possible modern analog for the Skolithos organism. This investigation examines the spatial distribution of D. cuprea across several tidal flats and evaluates how well D. cuprea population parameters parallel those of some Cambrian and Silurian Skolithos. A sampling network was construeted encompassing a tidal pool and channel on an ebb-tidal delta shoal (ETDS) in Chincoteague Inlet, VA, and traverses were surueyed from the high- to low-tide line in Tom's Cove of Assateague Island, VA. The number and position of worm tubes within a square meter grid were recorded for each station
The interface of pain and mood disturbances in the rheumatic diseases.

Objectives To review the overlap of pain and depression in the rheumatic diseases, focusing on fibromyalgia (FM) and rheumatoid arthritis, and to provide treatment recommendations based on an understanding of this interface. Methods A literature search was performed through PubMed and Medline, for the years 1978 to 2008 and using the keywords: depression, mood disorders, pain, arthritis, fibromyalgia, rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, scleroderma, antidepressants, exercise, and cognitive behavioral therapy. Results This review focuses on the pain/depression interface in common rheumatic disorders. FM is an excellent model to study the proposed mechanisms of such interactions. The potential genetic, inflammatory/immune, morphologic, and neurohormonal mechanisms that have been reported in FM are reviewed and compared with similar studies in depression. The importance of the interface of pain and depression has been noted in rheumatoid arthritis and other rheumatic illnesses, although there are very few studies to investigate their pathophysiologic underpinnings. General therapeutic recommendations can be made based on these overlapping models of the interface of pain and depression. Conclusions Clinical and pathophysiologic studies in FM demonstrate the striking overlap of pain and depression. These studies pertain to a better understanding of the pain/depression interface in all chronic rheumatic illnesses.
The Cambridge Introduction to the Novel: Narrating the novel

Nobody can work in material of which the properties are unfamiliar, and a reader who tries to get possession of a book with nothing but his appreciation of the life and the ideas and the story in it is like a man who builds a wall without knowing the capacities of wood and clay and stone. Many different substances, as distinct to the practiced eye as stone and wood, go to the making of a novel, and it is necessary to see them for what they are. Percy Lubbock, The Craft of Fiction (1921) What makes the narration of Tristram Shandy so striking is that we are never allowed to forget that everything we learn reaches us mediated by the idiosyncratic voice of Tristram himself. You could put it more strongly than this and say that the telling of events constitutes the main event, as would later become the case in many twentieth-century novels: “There is the story of one's hero,” Henry James wrote of his novel The Ambassadors (1903), “and then … the story of one's story itself.” That novels are never simply unfolding before our eyes but are narrated from somewhere is one of the most important factors to keep in mind as we read them. Although other predominantly narrative forms such as theater and film have strategies of their own to direct our perceptions and make particular meanings possible, they usually present events as if they are happening before our eyes rather than being “told” to us: unlike the events of a novel, dramatic and cinematic events are enacted rather than narrated.
Pedometers, physical activity, and accountability.

(2001). Pedometers, Physical Activity, and Accountability. Journal of Physical Education, Recreation & Dance: Vol. 72, No. 9, pp. 16-19.
Online Prediction of Driver Distraction Based on Brain Activity Patterns

This paper presents a new computational framework for early detection of driver distractions (map viewing) using brain activity measured by electroencephalographic (EEG) signals. Compared with most studies in the literature, which are mainly focused on the classification of distracted and nondistracted periods, this study proposes a new framework to prospectively predict the start and end of a distraction period, defined by map viewing. The proposed prediction algorithm was tested on a data set of continuous EEG signals recorded from 24 subjects. During the EEG recordings, the subjects were asked to drive from an initial position to a destination using a city map in a simulated driving environment. The overall accuracy values for the prediction of the start and the end of map viewing were 81% and 70%, respectively. The experimental results demonstrated that the proposed algorithm can predict the start and end of map viewing with relatively high accuracy and can be generalized to individual subjects. The outcome of this study has a high potential to improve the design of future intelligent navigation systems. Prediction of the start of map viewing can be used to provide route information based on a driver's needs and consequently avoid map-viewing activities. Prediction of the end of map viewing can be used to provide warnings for potential long map-viewing durations. Further development of the proposed framework and its applications in driver-distraction predictions are also discussed.
Automatic Extraction of Hyperbolic Signatures in Ground Penetrating Radar Images

Deterioration of concrete structures has become a widespread problem with high repair costs. The corrosion of rebar is one of the major causes. GPR has potential for rebar corrosion detection. But the rapid survey generates a large amount of data, which require an automatic approach for effective data processing and information extraction. This paper proposes an automatic process to effectively extract the rebar reflection in the radargram image and estimate the concrete condition above the rebar. The process uses template matching to locate the hyperbola position, image processing to extract hyperbolic region, and algebraic fitting to rapidly estimate hyperbola parameters. The estimated parameters can be used to calculate the wave propagation velocity and relative permittivity in concrete above the rebar, which can be used to further evaluate the concrete condition. The effectiveness of the proposed method is validated using experiment testing.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
A 70–95 GHz SiGe downconverter IC for large-N focal plane arrays

The design, packaging, and characterization of a 70-95 GHz downconverter with 25 GHz of instantaneous bandwidth is presented. The circuit features a novel LO pass-through feature, making it suitable for integration in two-dimensional focal plane arrays with large-N. The chip has been packaged in a waveguide module and, in the packaged configuration, has a noise temperature below 2000 K (9 dB NF) and greater than 23 dB conversion gain, 8 dB input return loss, and 13 dB output return loss over the entire frequency range. The circuit operates with an LO power of just -5 dBm and has a DC power consumption of 170 mW.
Mother-Infant Relationships in Three Species of Macaques (Macaca Mulatta, M. Nemestrina, M. Arctoides). Ii. the Social Environment

This study compared social interactions between mothers, infants, and other group members in rhesus, pigtail, and stumptail macaques living in large captive social groups. Mother-infant pairs were focally observed in 4 weekly 30-min sessions for the first 12 weeks of infant life. Rhesus and pigtail mothers were remarkably similar in several contact, proximity, and grooming measures, but their scores were lower than those of stumptail mothers. The three species did not differ quantitatively in interest shown in infants by other group members, as measured by infant handling and grooming. Infant handling in stumptail macaques was always gentle and infants were carefully avoided by other group members when off their mothers. Infant handling in rhesus and pigtail macaques also involved harassment and kidnapping. The frequency of infant harassment did not differ in rhesus and pigtail macaques but harassment was more severe in the former than in the latter species. Rhesus mothers reacted aggressively to a higher proportion of infant handling attempts than pigtail and stumptail mothers. These results confirm the hypotheses that female interest in infants does not differ among macaque species and that the quality of infant handling is a good predictor of interspecies differences in maternal protectiveness. Mothering style, however, is probably multidimensionally determined, and to fully understand interspecies differences in mother-infant relationships and their functional significance, we need to understand the mechanisms by which reproductive and ecological variables influence maternal behavior and infant development in primates.
Estimating restricted structural change models

Abstract This paper considers issues related to multiple structural changes, occurring at unknown dates, in the linear regression model when restrictions are imposed on the parameters. This includes, for example, the important special case where different nonadjacent regimes are the same. The estimates are constructed as global minimizers of the restricted sum of squared residuals and we provide an extension of the algorithm discussed in Bai and Perron [2003b, Computation and analysis of multiple structural change models. Journal of Applied Econometrics 18, 1–22] to efficiently compute them. We show that the estimates of the break dates have the same asymptotic properties with or without the restrictions imposed; that is, in large samples, there is no efficiency gain from imposing valid restrictions as far as the estimates of the break dates are concerned. Of course, efficiency gains occur for the other parameters of the model. Simulations show that in small samples, all parameters are more efficiently estimated using the restrictions. We also consider tests of the null hypothesis of no structural change. These are also more powerful when the restrictions are imposed. A Gauss code for all the procedures discussed in this paper is available from the authors.
Response of Bentgrass Cultivars to Sclerotinia homoeocarpa Isolates Representing 10 Vegetative Compatibility Groups

Dollar spot caused by Sclerotinia homoeocarpa F.T. Bennett is a major disease of turfgrass throughout the world. Current control strategies depend heavily on fungicide application. Host resistance is an alternate management strategy, but a thorough understanding of the pathogen and host interaction is required to utilize it successfully. Seventy-nine clones of 10 cultivars of creeping (A. stolonifera L.), colonial (A. capillaris L.), dryland (A. castellana Boiss. & Reut.), and velvet (A. canina L.) bentgrass species were inoculated with an isolate of S. homoeocarpa in the greenhouse. A large degree of genetic variation in response to S. homoeocarpa at the species, cultivar, and clone levels was detected. In addition, 18 isolates of S. homoeocarpa representing 10 vegetative compatibility groups (VCGs) were used to inoculate 12 bentgrass cultivars. Disease severity evaluations showed significant difference among bentgrass cultivars and species in their response to dollar spot. The colonial and velvet bentgrass cultivars were significantly less susceptible to all the isolates of S. homoeocarpa compared to the creeping bentgrass cultivars. The isolates of S. homoeocarpa showed significant differences in levels of aggressiveness. However, data from pathogenicity tests indicated a lack of race-specific interactions. Therefore, turfgrass breeders should be able to select for resistance to one or a few highly virulent isolates of the pathogen, and obtain resistance to a wide array of isolates.
Bedside transseptal balloon dilation atrial septostomy for decompression of the left heart during extracorporeal membrane oxygenation.

A 10-year-old male presented with severe heart failure secondary to myocarditis. Venoarterial extracorporeal membrane oxygenation was instituted. He developed severe left heart distention with acute pulmonary hemorrhage. Balloon dilation of the atrial septum to decompress the left atrium was performed at the bedside with transesophageal echocardiographic guidance. Cathet. Cardiovasc. Intervent. 46:197–199, 1999. © 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Equilibrium of random classical electromagnetic radiation in the presence of a nonrelativistic nonlinear electric dipole oscillator

The scattering of random classical electromagnetic radiation by a nonrelativistic nonlinear electric dipole oscillator is calculated purely within classical physics using a perturbation expansion carried through second order in the nonlinear coupling constant. It is shown that the Rayleigh-Jeans radiation spectrum is an equilibrium distribution in the presence of such a nonlinear oscillator, while random radiation spectra given by Planck's law or by zero-point raditation are not equilibrium distributions but rather are altered by the scattering oscillator.
Interaction with hyperthermia of platinum complexes of triaminotriphenylmethane dyes

Complexes of the tetrachloroplatinum(II) dianion PtCl4 with positively charged nuclear dyes have been designed in an effort to create new anticancer drugs for use with hyperthermia and/or radiation. The PtCl4 complexes with die monocationic triaminotriphenylmethane dye basic fuchsin [Pt(basic fuchsin)2] and the dicatrionic triaminotriphenylmethane dye methyl green [Pt(methyl green)], as well as the free dyes, were tested in exponentially growing EMT6 cells in vitro. Both the platinum complexes and free dyes were only moderately cytotoxic at pH 7·40 and 37°C in normally oxygenated and hypoxic cells where cell killing by these drugs ranged from 0·5 to 1 ·5 logs at 500 μM. Each agent, however, became more cytotoxic at hyperthermic temperatures and pH 7·40. Pt(methyl green) and Pt(basic fuchsin)2 were slightly more cytotoxic to euoxic as opposed to hypoxic cells. Bom platinum complexes became even more cytotoxic at pH 6·45 and 43°C. Under these conditions, Pt(basic fuchsin)2 killed more hypoxic than euoxic ce...
Optimally small operator supports for fully parallel thinning algorithms

Requirements for the support size and shape are investigated for the class of all adequate fully parallel thinning operators. Eleven pixel supports are shown to be the smallest possible supports, and the possible positions of the support pixels are shown to be well constrained. Constraints on support positions are demonstrated for operators with supports that are larger than optimal, and a sufficient test for connectivity preservation is reviewed. These results allow algorithm designers looking for small support operators to focus on a relatively small set of acceptable supports. >
The Health Lowdown on Caffeine

Daily, approximately 90% of Americans consume caffeine in one form or another; coffee, tea, soft drinks, energy drinks and or chocolate. Besides its ability to provide increase wakefulness it has been touted to have many health benefits. Multiple studies show caffeine consumption provides cardiovascular protection and decreases the risk for developing type 2 diabetes mellitus, stroke in women, certain cancers and several neurological conditions. However, consumption in higher quantities does carry risk for adverse health condition.
Mental disorder comorbidity and suicide among 2.96 million men receiving care in the Veterans Health Administration health system.

Comorbid mental disorders are common among suicide decedents. It is unclear if mental disorders in combination confer additive risk for suicide, in other words, if risk associated with two disorders is approximately the sum of the risk conferred by each disorder considered separately, or if there are departures from additivity such that the combined risk is less (i.e., subadditive) or more than additive (i.e., synergistic). Using a retrospective cohort design, all male Department of Veterans Affairs, Veterans Health Administration (VHA) service users who utilized VHA services in fiscal year (FY) 1999 and were alive at the start or FY 2000 (N = 2,962,810) were analyzed. Individuals were followed until death or the end of FY 2006. Using the VHA National Patient Care Database, diagnoses of mental disorders in FY 1999 were grouped into six categories (e.g., posttraumatic stress disorder). In proportional hazards models, 2-way interactions between disorders were used to examine departures from additive risk. There were 7,426 suicide deaths in the study period. Two-way interaction tests were nearly all statistically significant, indicating departures from additivity, and the results of these tests were consistent with subadditive risk. Sensitivity analyses examining the first year of follow-up showed similar results. Subadditive risk may be explained by factors that serve to lower the increased risk associated with a comorbid diagnosis, which may include common underlying causes of mental disorders, difficulties of differential diagnosis, the nature of etiological relationships between mental disorders, and intensive clinical care and monitoring of patients with comorbidity. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2012 APA, all rights reserved). Language: en
Millimeter-Wave Reactive Sintering of Neodymium-Doped Yttrium Aluminum Garnett

Millimeter-wave sintering of ceramic laser host materials has been under investigation for high-energy laser (HEL) applications. Advantages of polycrystalline, compared to single-crystal, laser host materials include lower processing temperature, higher gain from higher dopant concentration, cheaper fabrication, and larger devices. We are currently investigating the solid-state reactive sintering of neodymium-doped yttrium aluminum garnet (Nd:YAG) using a high power millimeter-wave beam as the heat source. The 83 GHz beam is generated in the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL) High Frequency Materials Processing Facility that is powered by a 15 kW, CW, 83 GHz GYCOM gyrotron. The starting powder is a mixture of commercially available alumina, yttria, and neodymia powders. Near transparency and over 99% theoretical density have been achieved with grain sizes of 5 to 10 µm. The fluorescence lifetime of the Nd+3 1.06 µm lasing transition was measured to be about 200 µs, in good agreement with other work. SEM studies of the sintered microstructure show residual porosity caused by trapped pores that must be eliminated to produce fully transparent material.
Psychopathy and physiological arousal in an aggressive task.

Heart rate level (HRL) and both dorsal and palmar skin conductance level (SCL) of Psychopathic, Mixed, and Non-psychopathic prison inmates were measured while the inmates were engaged in the Buss aggression task which requires subjects to shock a learner for making errors. The Mixed and Psychopathic groups evidenced HRLs which were significantly higher than those of the Non-psychopathic group during the later trial Mocks. The Non-psychopathic group increased palmar SCLs across trial blocks, while no such changes were observed for Mixed and Psychopathic groups. No differences between groups were observed in the dorsal SCL measures. This pattern of low SCL together with elevated HRL, reported previously for psychopaths in conditioning or “count-down” situations with electric shock, may also appear in psychopaths engaged in a mildly stressful social interaction.
Cutaneous Leishmaniasis: Current Treatment Practices in the USA for Returning Travelers

Leishmaniasis, a protozoal infection transmitted by sandfly bite, produces a clinical spectrum of disease ranging from asymptomatic infection to ulcerative skin and mucosal lesions to visceral involvement. Leishmaniasis is endemic in regions of Africa, the Middle East, south Asia, southern Europe, northern South America, and Central America. There has been an increase in imported leishmaniasis into developed, non-endemic countries due to increasing global travel. While pentavalent antimonials have been the mainstay of antileishmanial treatment for decades, newer therapeutic options have become available for all forms of infection, including liposomal amphotericin B, miltefosine, fluconazole, and ketoconazole. For the returning traveler with cutaneous leishmaniasis in the USA, treatment approaches are determined based on infecting species, initial presentation, extent and progression of disease, the advantages and drawbacks of available parenteral and oral drugs, and clinician-consultant experience.
Modelling Techniques, Perceptions of Self‐Efficacy, and Arithmetic Achievement Among Learning Disabled Children

Abstract This study examined the effects of modelling (T1) and participant modelling (T2) techniques on perceptions of self‐efficacy and arithmetic achievement of learning disabled (LD) children. Subjects included 60 LD children randomly assigned to T1, T2, or control conditions. Children in the modelling condition observed a model explaining arithmetic concepts and working problems, while children in the participant modelling group observed the model and worked on problems while verbalizing solutions with the model; children in the control condition worked individually on identical instructional packets. Results indicated that children in both treatment groups achieved higher self‐efficacy and arithmetic scores, with the participant modelling group being the superior of the two.
Quantitative relationship between guanine O6-alkyl lesions produced by Onrigin™ and tumor resistance by O6-alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase

Abstract O 6 -Alkylguanine-DNA alkyltransferase (AGT) mediates tumor resistance to alkylating agents that generate guanine O 6 -chloroethyl (Onrigin™ and carmustine) and O 6 -methyl (temozolomide) lesions; however, the relative efficiency of AGT protection against these lesions and the degree of resistance to these agents that a given number of AGT molecules produces are unclear. Measured from differential cytotoxicity in AGT-ablated and AGT-intact HL-60 cells containing 17,000 AGT molecules/cell, AGT produced 12- and 24-fold resistance to chloroethylating (90CE) and methylating (KS90) analogs of Onrigin™, respectively. For 50% growth inhibition, KS90 and 90CE generated 5,600 O 6 -methylguanines/cell and ∼300 O 6 -chloroethylguanines/cell, respectively. AGT repaired O 6 -methylguanines until the AGT pool was exhausted, while its repair of O 6 -chloroethylguanines was incomplete due to progression of the lesions to AGT-irreparable interstrand DNA cross-links. Thus, the smaller number of O 6 -chloroethylguanine lesions needed for cytotoxicity accounted for the marked degree of resistance (12-fold) to 90CE produced by AGT. Transfection of human or murine AGT into AGT deficient transplantable tumor cells (i.e., EMT6, M109 and U251) generated transfectants expressing AGT ranging from 4,000 to 700,000 molecules/cell. In vitro growth inhibition assays using these transfectants treated with 90CE revealed that AGT caused a concentration dependent resistance up to a level of ∼10,000 AGT molecules/cell. This finding was corroborated by in vivo studies where expression of 4,000 and 10,000 murine AGT molecules/cell rendered EMT6 tumors partially and completely resistant to Onrigin™, respectively. These studies imply that the antitumor activity of Onrigin™ stems from guanine O 6 -chloroethylation and define the threshold concentration of AGT that negates its antineoplastic activity.
The time-course of speaking rate compensation: Effects of sentential rate and vowel length on voicing judgments

Many sources of context information in speech (such as speaking rate) occur either before or after the phonetic cues they influence, yet there is little work examining the time-course of these effects. Here, we investigate how listeners compensate for preceding sentence rate and subsequent vowel length (a secondary cue that has been used as a proxy for speaking rate) when categorizing words varying in voice-onset time (VOT). Participants selected visual objects in a display while their eye-movements were recorded, allowing us to examine when each source of information had an effect on lexical processing. We found that the effect of VOT preceded that of vowel length, suggesting that each cue is used as it becomes available. In a second experiment, we found that, in contrast, the effect of preceding sentence rate occurred simultaneously with VOT, suggesting that listeners interpret VOT relative to preceding rate.
Treatment guidelines for children with disorders of sex development

Abstract Gender-variant individuals with somatic disorders of sex development (DSD) differ from gender-variant individuals without DSD in phenomenon, context of presentation, etiology, and treatment options. Over the last 15 years, medical and psychosocial management policies have been widely debated, and recent international consensus conferences have recommended significant modifications. Optimal care for children with DSD requires an experienced multidisciplinary team whose composition will vary with DSD category, age of patient, and local resources. Major gender-related aspects of the psychosocial management of children with DSD include gender assignment and reassignment, genital surgery, sex hormone treatment, and gender-relevant information management. These are the focus of the current paper. The psychosocial management of other aspects of DSD should take advantage of evidence-based approaches, where applicable, that have been developed for patients suffering from other congenital or chronic disorders.
Multi‐beam‐bulk model for electron transport during commutation in an optically triggered pseudospark thyratron

The electron energy distribution in low‐pressure pulsed power plasma switches is typically not in equilibrium with the local electric field. To simulate electron transport under these conditions a computer model has been developed and has been applied to the optically triggered pseudospark, or back‐lit‐thyratron (BLT). The model uses many groups of electrons divided into the ‘‘bulk’’ and the ‘‘beam’’. The bulk is represented by a fluid while the beam electrons are ballistic in nature and have not undergone significant energy‐loss collisions after generation. To account for beam electrons being generated at arbitrary locations in the BLT, multiple beams are employed in the model. The commutation phase of switching in the BLT is investigated and the onset of a hollow cathode effect during switching is predicted.
Blood Flow through Narrow Tubes

IN the course of an extensive investigation (with Prof. A. C. Burton at the University of Western Ontario) of the haemodynamics of perfused vascular beds, it was found necessary to examine the somewhat simpler case of blood flow in narrow glass tubes. Accordingly, the pressure-flow curves in tubes of radii 50–750µ for human erythrocytes suspended in standard acid–citrate–dextrose were measured at 25.5° C. over a wide range of haematocrits1–4. A typical set of such pressure-flow curves is shown in Fig. 1. The curves were found to approach linearity at moderate flow rates; if the linear segments are extrapolated back, they intersect the positive pressure axis at finite values and then converge to a common ‘nodal point’ on the negative flow axis. However, in the non-linear region at very low flow rates, the curves appear to converge toward the origin. There is no evidence of any yield stress or intercept on the positive pressure axis. All the curves can be represented by an equation of the form: where Q is the volume rate of flow and P the pressure gradient; the parameters M and k depend on both tube radius and haematocrit, whereas the nodal point B depends only on the tube radius3. Pressure-flow curves of similar shape have been obtained by other workers and can be inferred from the apparent viscosity data of Kumin5.
High‐Temperature Phase Transitions in Na Nb O3

An X-ray diffraction study of a high-purity NaNbO3 specimen in the range 25α to 705α C is reported. The symmetry of the perovskite sub-cell of NaNbO3 was determined unambiguously by observing the splitting of the line groups N= 12 and N= 16 when the diffraction pattern was indexed on the basis of the perovskite cell as a unit cell for the structure. Diffraetometter studies were conducted using Fe Kα radiation for the N= 12 line group and Cu Kα radiation for the N= 16 line group. Phase transitions occurred at 372°, 420°, 478°, 527°, 576°, and 640°± 5°C. The symmetry of the perovskite sub-cell changed from monoclinic to tetragonal at 372°C when heated and remained tetragonal up to 640°C when it became cubic. Two-phase mixtures were observed at 372°, 576°, and 640°C and it was concluded that these transitions are probably of first order.
The emergence of transgenic potatoes as commercial products and tools for basic science

The potato has tremendous potential as a transgenic crop and is a good model system by which to analyse metabolic regulation and gene expression. The potato’s difficult genetics, but ease of genetic transformation and its clonal means of propagation make it ideal for applied agricultural molecular genetics. Thus, the next 4 years promise to put the potato (with a diversity of transgenic constructs expressed) in the limelight as many of the first transgenic agricultural products enter the marketplace.
A speech-rate intelligibility threshold for speeded and time-compressed connected speech

An automated threshold method has been developed for determining the maximum rate of speech understood by individual listeners. Two experiments were undertaken to determine whether the threshold was related to the comprehension of speech or to speech intelligibility. The first experiment compared thresholds of two types of rapid speech reportedly different in intelligibility: simple speeded speech and speech compressed by the sampling method. The second experiment sought to determine the relationship of the threshold to traditional comprehension measures. The results are discussed in terms of the intelligibility and comprehensibility of speech.
Effect of Crystallization on Thermal Conductivity and Specific Heat of Two Corning Glass‐Ceramics

A magnesium aluminosilicate glass-ceramic (Corning Code 9606) has been heat-treated at 900°, 1010°, 1200°, and 1260°C for up to 90 min., and the effect on the thermal conductivity between 30 and 300 K has been studied. It has been shown that the large increase of the thermal conductivity which results from the ceramming occurs predominantly when crystalline cordierite forms. At 1260°C, heat treatment for only 20 min leads to a thermal conductivity identical to that measured for commercial 9606, which has been cerammed for 8 h at the same temperature. This observation provides further evidence for the usefulness of commercial 9606 as a thermal conductivity standard. Measurements of the specific heats of Code 9606 before and after ceramming have been reviewed and have been found to be close to that of crystalline SiO2 above ∼ 30 K, regardless of the state of ceramming. A review has also been made of thermal conductivity and specific heat of several ZrTiO4 nucleated lithium aluminosilicate glass-ceramics at various states of ceramming. The thermal conductivity of these glass-ceramics seems to be sufficiently independent of chemical composition as well as of the degree of crystallization to warrant a recommended curve for this class of glass-ceramics.
Regional brain study of indoleamine metabolism in the rat in acute hepatic failure.

— Tryptophan, 5-hydroxytryptamine and 5-hydroindoleacetic acid were found to be greatly increased in various parts of the brains of rats in acute hepatic failure following two stage hepatic devascularization. However, the increases in 5-hydroxytryptamine and 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid varied by region and are not explicable solely in terms of increased concentrations of tryptophan. The results are discussed in terms of differences in the regional metabolism of 5-hydroxyindoleamines. Plasma free fatty acids, albumin, total tryptophan and free tryptophan were measured in plasma in hopes of elucidating the mechanism responsible for the cerebral elevation of tryptophan. Increased plasma free tryptophan appears sufficient to explain the rapid increase in brain tryptophan. The relationship between these results and recent observations in hepatic encephalopathy is discussed.
Nonuniformly hyperbolic K-systems are Bernoulli

We prove that those non-uniformly hyperbolic maps and flows (with singularities) that enjoy the K-property are also Bernoulli. In particular, many billiard systems, including those systems of hard balls and stadia that have the K-property, and hyperbolic billiards, such as the Lorentz gas in any dimension, are Bernoulli. We obtain the Bernoulli property for both the billiard flows and the associated maps on the boundary of the phase space.
Eighty per cent correct

This note discusses the nuances that are involved in the selection of ‘Conic through Five Points’ as a procedure for producing the graph of a standard ellipse whose equation is given in a canonical form, using computer software. The advantages and shortcomings are presented. It is hoped that this article will be useful for students and teachers. Even though the emphasis of this note is on the drawing of an ellipse by using the above method, the situation is valid for the construction of parabolas and hyperbolas. In an ellipse given by , the four obvious points are the vertices of a horizontal ellipse, which can be precisely plotted. If an incorrect choice of the fifth point is made, a 20% error occurs in graphing the above ellipse based on ‘Conic through Five Points’ construction. This is the justification for the title of this article. Arguments leading to the possibility of constructing an infinity of ellipses passing through the same four vertices, A = ( − 4, 0), B = (0, −3), C = (4, 0) and D = (0, 3),...
Structural stability of DNA in nonaqueous solvents.

One of the defining physicochemical features of DNA in aqueous solution is its ability to maintain a double-helical structure and for this structure to undergo a cooperative, heat-induced denaturation (melting). Herein we show that a 21-mer synthetic DNA can form and maintain such a duplex structure not only in water but even in 99% glycerol; moreover, this double-helical structure reversibly and cooperatively melts in that solvent, with a T(m) value of some 30 degrees lower than in water. Two much larger, natural DNAs, from calf thymus and salmon testes, exhibit similar behavior in glycerol. All three DNAs can also sustain a double-helical structure in 99% ethylene glycol, although its thermostability (as reflected by the melting temperature) is some 20 degrees lower than in glycerol. In contrast, no duplex structure of any of the DNAs was detected in 99% formamide, methanol, or DMSO. This solvent trend resembles that previously observed in studies of protein structure and folding and underscores the importance of hydrophobic interactions in both protein and DNA structure and stability. Our findings suggest that water may not be unique as a suitable medium not only for protein structure but also for that of nucleic acids.
ARMA Modeling of Time Series

A method for efficiently generating a rational model of a wide-sense stationary time series is presented. In this method the autoregressive parameters associated with an ARMA model consisting of q zeros and p poles are optimally chosen with the selection being based on a finite set of time series observations. This selection is made so that a set of Yule-Walker equation approximations are ``best'' satisfied. The resultant autoregressive parameter estimates have the desired statistical feature of being unbiased and consistent. This estimation method has been found to provide a modeling performance which typically equals or exceeds that of contemporary alternatives. Moreover, this method is amenable to a computationally efficient adaptive solution procedure. The autoregressive parameters characterizing the resultant ARMA model estimate can serve the role of decision variables in pattern classification schemes. For example, these parameters can be utilized in determining whether or not a member(s) of a given signal class is contained within a noise corrupted measurement signal. This approach has been found to be particularly effective in Doppler radar and array processing applications in which one is looking for the presence of spectral lines (i.e., sinusoids) in the measurement signal.
Whey—A Low-Cost Dairy Product for Use in Candy

Abstract Milk and its products are basic ingredients in many confections. Whey, a highly nutritious dairy product with important functional uses in certain candies, is the least expensive of the dairy products commonly available for confectionery use. The price of whey solids may be 25–40% less than the price of nonfat milk solids. Although whey contains half of the solids of milk, fat and casein having been removed in the manufacture of cheese, the residue generally has not been prepared for confectionery use because of certain problems inherent in the cheese industry. Only recently, as cheese manufacture was consolidated and as cheese was produced in large factories, has sufficient whey become available to make processing of it economical. Furthermore, whey contains most of the sugar (lactose of milk) and this has made it difficult to dry or prepare in suitable concentrated form. Recent processing innovations have overcome this latter problem.
Can psychologists recognize neurological disorders in their patients

A variety of insidious neurological disorders may present initially as psychological difficulties. In an effort to determine whether psychologists could recognize these disorders in their patients ...
A framework and future direction for studying productive applications of social media / social networking sites

I am researching how non-governmental organizations (NGOs) utilize social media and social networking sites (SM/SNS) in their efforts to organize, inform, and serve the communities they operate in as well as how they use these technologies to communicate and disseminate information. This study will gather data on persons posting on behalf of NGOs and examine SM/SNS data with the goal of developing a framework for both future research and contextual application of SM/SNS as a mediating artifact by NGOs. Many previous studies have addressed similar issues, but those studies are limited in context (e.g. one large software manufacturer) and they typically use only one type of research method. I will address this issue by aggregating a large data set and employing mixed methods to improve the generalizability of my findings and present a replicable framework for future studies of organizational use of SM/SNS.
Electron-transfer substitution reactions: facilitation by the cyano group

Abstract It is now clear that a cyane group facilitate electron-transfer substitution reactions. of particular interest is the demonstration that electron-transfer chain substitution at a staturated carbon atom has been achieved in the absence of a nitro group.
Fractalkine: a novel angiogenic chemokine in rheumatoid arthritis.

Angiogenesis is an important aspect of the vasculoproliferation found in the rheumatoid arthritic (RA) pannus. We have previously implicated members of the CXC chemokine family as potent angiogenic mediators in RA. We investigated the possibility that the sole member of the CX 3 C chemokine family, fractalkine (fkn), induces angiogenesis and that fkn might mediate angiogenesis in RA. Recombinant human fkn significantly induced migration of human dermal microvascular endothelial cells (HMVECs), a facet of the angiogenic response, in the pmol/L range in a concentration-dependent manner ( P P in vivo Matrigel plug assays ( P 3 CR1. Next, we determined if RA synovial fluid (SF)-induced angiogenesis was fkn-dependent. SFs from six RA patients immunodepleted of soluble fkn induced 56% less migration of HMVECs than did sham-depleted RA SFs ( P In vivo , immunodepletion of fkn from six RA SFs significantly inhibited their angiogenic activity in Matrigel plug assays ( P in vivo Matrigel plug assays ( P
Are dictators averse to inequality

Abstract We present the results of an experiment designed to identify more clearly the motivation underlying dictators’ behavior. In the typical dictator game, recipients are given no endowment. We give an endowment to the recipient as well as the dictator. This new dimension allows us to test directly for inequality aversion. Our results confirm that the inequality between dictator's and recipient's endowment is a key determinant of the dictator's giving. As we increase the recipient's endowment from 0 to an amount equal to the dictator's endowment, the mean amount passed drops from 30 percent to less than 12 percent of the dictator's endowment, and the proportion of dictators who pass positive amounts falls from 75 percent to 26 percent. Thus the majority of dictators exhibit behavior consistent with inequality averse preferences. On the other hand, only 24 percent of dictators split payoffs equally suggesting that maximin preferences are less important drivers of dictators’ giving.
Xenopus connexin38 forms hemi-gap-junctional channels in the nonjunctional plasma membrane of Xenopus oocytes

A nonselective cation current activated by depolarization (Ic) is present in the nonjunctional membrane of Xenopus oocytes. This current shares a number of properties with hemi-gap-junctional currents induced by exogenous gap-junctional proteins in oocytes and with a nonjunctional current seen in teleost retinal horizontal cells including nonselective permeability to small cations, block by external divalent cations, and slow activation kinetics. Here we study the effects of depleting or overexpressing Cx38 on Ic. Antisense depletion of Cx38 caused a marked reduction in Ic and blocked endogenous gap-junctional coupling in oocyte pairs. Conversely, expression of cloned Cx38 in oocytes increased the amplitude of Ic and enhanced gap-junctional coupling. Furthermore, there appeared to be a close correlation between the temperature sensitivity of Ic and the temperature sensitivity of assembly of endogenous gap-junctional channels in oocyte pairs. These results suggest that Xenopus connexin38 is involved in the generation of Ic.
Meteorological variation of atmospheric optical properties in an antarctic storm.

Ground truth inputs obtained during an antarctic storm were applied to the Dave vector atmospheric model. The spectropolarimetric properties of upwelling atmospheric radiation are quantitatively related to the number of ice crystals in the optical path. At large scattering angles (smaller angles in the plane of vision), the ice crystal scattering produces strong polarization proportional to the concentration. However, at small scattering angles, the ice crystals cause generally small polarization, permitting the generally large polarization properties of the underlying terrestrial surface to be inferred. Ice crystals, by virtue of their edges, scatter differently than spheres and may have scattering cross sections many orders of magnitude greater than an equivalent area sphere. Polarization appears to be a useful adjunct in synoptic passive atmospheric remote sensing.
Lithium spectroscopic imaging of rat brain at therapeutic doses

Since the discovery that lithium (Li) is efficacious for the treatment of manic depressive illness, the brain Li distribution of mammals treated with lithium has been of interest. However, the spatial relationship of lithium in the brain regions to its function remains largely unknown. Knowledge of Li distribution in the brain is necessary to localize its action in the brain. Both the therapeutic and neurotoxic side effects of Li are centered mainly in the central nervous system and hence there is considerable interest in understanding the extent of lithium penetration into the central nervous system. The mechanism by which neurotoxic side effects are generated is not known and may, in part, be related to the particular distribution of lithium in the brain. The regional specificity in lithium's brain distribution could underlie important steps on its action. Li levels in various brain regions for autopsied rats and humans have been reported. However, many results are conflicting due to ion redistribution at death or during sample preparation. A direct nondestructive measurement of Li levels in the brain where the drug exerts its effects is certainly desirable. Because magnetic resonance technique can be used to observe Li, it can be an appropriate method to monitor and map the distribution in the brain. The application of MR technology to rat brain regions has provided information on lithium distribution in a non-invasive manner. The earlier development work at lower field strengths provided brain lithium information at high dose of Li administration. Here we demonstrate the feasibility of quantitative spectroscopic imaging on rat brain under therapeutic doses.
Minimal inequalities for mixed integer programs

Abstract It is shown that every minimal valid inequality is generated by a subadditive function which must also additive in certain places.
Angiotensin II induces diverse signal transduction pathways via both Gq and Gi proteins in liver epithelial cells.

Angiotensin II stimulates a biphasic activation of Raf-1, MEK, and ERK in WB liver epithelial cells. The first peak of activity is rapid and transient and is followed by a sustained phase. Angiotensin II also causes a rapid activation of p21ras in these cells. Moreover, two Src family kinases (Fyn and Yes) were activated by angiotensin II in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. Microinjection of antibodies against Fyn and Yes blocked angiotensin II-induced DNA synthesis and c-Fos expression in WB cells, indicating an obligatory involvement of these tyrosine kinases in the activation of the ERK cascade by angiotensin II. Finally, substantial reduction of the angiotensin II-stimulated activation of Fyn, Raf-1, ERK, and expression of c-Fos by pertussis toxin pretreatment argues that G proteins of the Gi family as well as the Gq family are involved in angiotensin II-mediated mitogenic pathways in WB cells. J. Cell. Biochem. 69:63–71, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Electron spin resonance measurements of the effect of lonophores on the transmembrane pH gradient of an acidophilic bacterium

The delta pH in ionophore-treated cells of an acidophile has been determined by electron spin resonance spectroscopy. The values obtained were comparable to those obtained using the more conventional techniques involving radiolabeled probes. No binding of the spin-labeled probe was observed as determined by two independent control experiments and by the characteristics of the probe signal. These results led us to conclude that the delta pH measured in protonophore/ionophore-treated cells is a result of a Donnan potential, which may be a physical property of all intact bacterial cells at low pH values.