cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Metoclopramide: a novel and safe immunomodulating agent for restoring the depressed macrophage immune function after hemorrhage.

Background and Objective: Recent studies have shown that administration of the anterior pituitary hormone, prolactin, after hemorrhage restored the depressed immune responses that are observed under those conditions. Because metoclopramide (MCP) is known to increase prolactin secretion and ultimately plasma prolactin levels, we attempted to determine whether administration of metoclopramide after hemorrhage produces any beneficial effects on the depressed splenocyte and peritoneal macrophage immune function after severe hemorrhage. Design, Materials and Methods: Mice were bled to and maintained at a mean arterial pressure of 35 mm Hg for 60 minutes, then adequately resuscitated and segregated into two groups. One group received saline vehicle; animals in the other group were treated with metoclopramide (100 μg/100 g body weight, subcutaneously) before resuscitation. Two hours after saline or MCP injection, the animals were killed and macrophage as well as splenocyte cultures established. Plasma corticosterone levels were also measured. Results: The proliferative capacity of the splenocytes as well as their ability to release interleukin (IL)-2 and IL-3 in response to mitogen was markedly improved in animals that had hemorrhaged and that were treated with MCP compared with saline-injected mice. Moreover, the depressed splenic and peritoneal macrophage IL-1 and IL-6 release after hemorrhage was restored with MCP treatment. Furthermore, treatment with MCP prevented the increase in blood corticosterone levels seen after severe hemorrhage. Conclusion: These results support the concept that the immunosuppression after hemorrhage may be mediated by hormones from the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. Furthermore, MCP may be a useful adjuvant in the treatment of the trauma-hemorrhagic shock-induced immunosuppression.
Cosmology of a charged universe.

The Proca generalization of electrodynamics admits the possibility that the universe could possess a net electric charge uniformly distributed throughout space, while possessing no electric field. A general-relativistic model of cosmological expansion dominated by such a charged background has been calculated, and is consistent with present observational limits on the Hubble constant, the deceleration parameter, and the age of the universe. However, if this cosmology applied at the present epoch, the very early expansion of the universe would have been too rapid for cosmological nucleosynthesis or thermalization of the background radiation to have occurred. Hence, domination of the present expansion by background charge appears to be incompatible with the 3-K background and big-bang production of light elements. If the present background charge density were sufficiently small (but not strictly zero), expansion from the epoch of nucleosynthesis would proceed according to the conventional scenario, but the energy due to the background charge would have dominated at some earlier epoch. This last possibility leads to equality of pressure and energy density in the primordial universe.
Layer 1 VPN services in distributed next-generation SONET/SDH networks with inverse multiplexing

Advances in next-generation SONET/SDH along with GMPLS control architectures have enabled many new service provisioning capabilities. In particular, a key services paradigm is the emergent Layer 1 virtual private network (L1 VPN) framework, which allows multiple clients to utilize a common physical infrastructure and provision their own 'virtualized' circuit-switched networks. This precludes expensive infrastructure builds and increases resource utilization for carriers. Along these lines, a novel L1 VPN services resource management scheme for next-generation SONET/SDH networks is proposed that fully leverages advanced virtual concatenation and inverse multiplexing features. Additionally, both centralized and distributed GMPLS-based implementations are also tabled to support the proposed L1 VPN services model. Detailed performance analysis results are presented along with avenues for future research.
Thyroid hormone mimetics: potential applications in atherosclerosis, obesity and type 2 diabetes

Thyroid hormone excess has potentially useful effects, including lowering of serum cholesterol and reduction of body fat. However, the therapeutic application of this hormone has so far been hampered by deleterious effects on the heart, muscle and bone. This article reviews recent progress in the development of selective thyroid hormone mimetics that seem to lack the adverse actions associated with thyroid hormone itself, making them a promising new strategy for the treatment of atherosclerosis, obesity and type 2 diabetes. Thyroid hormones influence heart rate, serum lipids, metabolic rate, body weight and multiple aspects of lipid, carbohydrate, protein and mineral metabolism. Although increased thyroid hormone levels can improve serum lipid profiles and reduce fat, these positive effects are counterbalanced by harmful effects on the heart, muscle and bone. Thus, attempts to use thyroid hormones for cholesterol-lowering and weight loss purposes have so far been limited. However, over the past decade, thyroid hormone analogues that are capable of uncoupling beneficial effects from deleterious effects have been developed. Such drugs could serve as powerful new tools to address two of the largest medical problems in developed countries — atherosclerosis and obesity.
Mapping of Redox Energies

Abstract Electrochemical discharge/charge curves vs Lithium of coin cells using as cathodes various transition-metal oxide hosts for lithium insertion/extraction reactions provide information on the operative redox energies of the transition-metal atoms. The relative positions of the redox energies were found to vary little, but their absolute positions by as much as 1 eV, with changes in structure or, for an isostructural series, with changes in counter cation. Use of polyanions to obtain a more open framework with a larger free volume for Li+-ion motion was found to be more important for high-power applications than the loss in electronic mobility, but a larger free volume for ionic motion reduces the capacity per unit volume. It was shown that introduction of a second phase with a higher redox energy provides a buffer against over discharge. A reversible decrease in capacity with increasing current density was identified and its origin discussed. Substitution of the polyanions (PO4)3− or (SO4)2− for ox...
Age- and Strain-Associated Dysplasia of Mouse Maxillary Incisor Teeth1

The occurrence of longitudinal grooves and other dysplastic changes in mouse maxillary incisor teeth was shown to be age- and strain-associated. The dysplasia appears analogous in some respects to human dens invaginatus. Twelve strains of inbred or F1 hybrid mice (282 males, 73 females) were examined at 6, 12, 18, 24, and 30 months of age. Lesions occurred in low prevalence (4–9% of the mice examined) in DBA/2, B10. 129 and Swiss Webster mice, in moderate prevalence (26–48%) in B6D2F1, C57BL/6, CBA/CA, B6C3F1, and A/JN mice, and in high prevalence (58–70%) in HO B/C (nude), CBA/HT6, CBF1 and BALB/c mice. No six month old mice of any strain and only a few 12 month old animals from the high prevalence strains were affected. The prevalence of lesions increased rapidly with age in moderate and high prevalence strains starting at 18 months. The origin of the dysplasia appears to be an age- and strain-associated change in the odontogenic epithelium comprising the enamel organ. We do not yet understand the factors promoting these changes.
Bilingual Gifted Pre-Schoolers: Benefit or Hazard in Maximising Potential

Culturally diverse gifted pre-schoolers lose interest and self-esteem in first school experiences through inadequate understanding by teachers and parents of home and preschool language differences and the intellectual-enhancing role of early bilingualism. Teacher recognition of ability in this population could ensure appropriate instruction to nurture giftedness but may depend on parent-provided information. Information about their pre-schoolers' abilities was obtained from 36 Korean parents through the Kim Korean and Seattle Project Parent Questionnaires and interviews, and teacher observations. Case studies of three with high verbal abilities, unusual understanding, memory, and communication skills since infancy were conducted. Dilemmas and solutions for Korean parents temporarily in the United States in assisting their children in rich language development, while pursuing bilingual acquisition in an English language setting and upon returning to their native setting are discussed. Significance for other families whose home language differs from major school language is explored.
Heteroepitaxial growth of bulk single-crystalPb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3–32 mol% PbTiO3 from (111) SrTiO3

SrTiO3 was investigated as an alternate seed material to grow Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3–PbTiO3 (PMN–PT) ferroelectric single crystals by seeded polycrystal conversion. Fully dense polycrystalline samples of PMN–32 mol% PT doped with 3 vol% excess PbO were top-seeded with (111) SrTiO3 substrates. Annealing for 10 h at 1150 °C resulted in growth of PMN–32PT single crystals with sizes on the order of several millimeters. Orientation imaging microscopy confirmed that the grown crystal exhibited the same crystallographic orientation as that of the SrTiO3 seed. Elemental distributions analyzed using energy dispersive spectroscopy indicated that interdiffusi on of the relevant elements was negligible.
Explaining Racial Disparities in Coronary Outcomes in Women

There remains no more combustible a set of issues in American life than concern over race and gender. Much of this concern is fundamentally over economic issues relating to disenfranchisement. This translates in medicine into disparities in access to care, care delivered, and patient outcomes. See p 1089 Differences in care and outcome of coronary disease have been shown to differ between white and black women, but the literature offers a mixed and complex picture. There would be little doubt about the presence of a disparity if there could be shown to be a disparity in survival at the population level. In the community-based Charleston Heart Study, 741 white women and 454 black women were monitored for up to 30 years.1 The mortality rate from coronary disease was 2.1 (1.6 to 2.6) per 1000 person-years for white women and 3.2 (2.3 to 4.0) for black women. This trend, with a relative risk of 1.5 comparing black with white women, did not achieve statistical significance ( P =0.17). However, the cardiac mortality rate was low, as only 3% of women had coronary disease at baseline, and the sample size was somewhat small. Similar findings were noted in the Evans County study.2 Overall, the literature comparing long-term cardiovascular mortality in white and black women is quite limited, making it difficult to draw firm conclusions concerning the societal level of risk. Much of the concern in the literature has been about referral to diagnostic cardiac catheterization and subsequent referral to revascularization. This issue was systematically reviewed by Sheifer et al,3 who found decreased rates of catheterization and revascularization in almost all studies, from various types of patient populations. As an example from this review, Peterson et al4 examined referral to revascularization after diagnostic cardiac catheterization in 12 402 patients in …
Klondike Women: True Tales of the 1897–1898 Gold Rush

Klondike Women is a compelling collection of historical photographs and first-hand accounts of the adventures, challenges, and disappointments of women on the trails to the Klondike gold fields. In the midst of a depression near the turn of the twentieth century, these women dared to act on the American dream. As they journeyed through the Northwest wilderness, they explored and extended not only the physical frontiers of North America but also the social frontiers about the "women's place." Challenging the myth that the only women who participated in gold rushes were prostitutes and gold-diggers of the euphemistic sort, Melanie Mayer shows us that Klondike women came from all walks of life-socialites to poor immigrants, single women, wives, widows, and children. They planned to make their money through many different undertakings including mining, business, entertainment, professional, and service enterprises. Their approaches to life were as varied as their roles-optimistic or skeptical; cautious or adventuresome; gregarious or self-contained; contemplative or active. There was no typical Klondike woman. Individually, their stories can be funny, hopeful, tragic, or poignant. Taken together, they give rich, complex images of the people, times, and places of the gold rush. A visually exciting book, Klondike Women features over 150 photographs and illustrations. This volume should appeal not only to the general reader, but to those interested in history, women's studies, and the Pacific Northwest as well.
Seasonality, resource stress, and food sharing in so-called “egalitarian” foraging societies

Abstract Most discussions of food sharing among so-called “egalitarian” hunters and gatherers implicitly assume that, because all adult members of a group participate in the network of sharing, all must therefore be receiving portions of more or less equivalent nutritional worth. This assumption is questioned and five basic points are raised: (1) because fat is not uniformly distributed over the carcass of an animal and because it is depleted sequentially when an animal is stressed, certain individuals may receive nutritionally inferior portions of meat, with potentially serious health consequences for the recipients during seasonal or interannual periods when other food resources are in short supply; (2) even when sharing is quantitatively and nutritionally equitable, food taboos may block certain individuals from access to meat and/or fat, particularly children, women at critical stages in their reproductive life, and the elderly (however, in the case of pregnant women, such food taboos and seemingly inequitable sharing practices may have positive as well as negative consequences for the health and survivorship of the fetus or newborn infant by keeping maternal protein consumption below about 20% of total calories and by reducing the mother's risk of exposure to potentially teratogenic substances that may accumulate in animal tissues); (3) skilled hunters may acquire nutritionally more valuable parts than do other males by “snacking” at kill sites and through differential sharing; (4) food-sharing practices and food taboos vary widely among foragers, and this diversity may contribute to observed differences among groups in fertility and infant mortality patterns; and (5) the focus of anthropologists on the sharing of food, especially meat, as opposed to the sharing of a broad spectrum of social, political, economic, and sexual rights and privileges, is an overly narrow and potentially misleading perspective. In closing, the paper briefly discusses the utility of the term “egalitarian,” concluding that the concept, by conflating ideology with actual behavior, may obscure rather than enhance our understanding of the origins and adaptations of foraging societies.
Stability constants of zinc chloride complexes in DMSO-water mixtures

The stability constants of zinc chloride complexes have been determined potentiometrically measuring the zinc ion activity in DMSO-water mixtures between mole ratios 0.21 and 0.99 for DMSO at 25°C and in a 0.5 M ammonium perchlorate ionic medium. The predominant species are ZnCl2 and and ZnCl3−. The values of the log β's are higher in solvent mixtures than those expected from the values measured in pure DMSO and water.
Life histories of three species of lanternfishes (Pisces: Myctophidae) from the eastern Gulf of Mexico

Morphology and microstructure of the sagittal otoliths from three species of mesopelagic, tropical-subtropical myctophids [Benthosema suborbitale (Gilbert),Diaphus dumerilii (Bleeker)Lepidophanes guentheri (Goode and Bean)], collected from September 1984 to May 1986 in the eastern Gulf of Mexico (27°N, 86°W), were examined and described. Analysis of the microstructure revealed microincrements corresponding to the daily growth rings reported in many studies. Using marginal increment analysis, the deposition of microincrements was verified as occurring daily, the first validation of daily growth rings in the otoliths of mesopelagic fishes. In all three species, the clear central (larval growth) zone of the sagitta was sharply delimited by a dark check accompanied by a series of accessory primordia. A wide, dark, sharply defined postlarval zone (width 100 µm) radiated out from this boundary inB. suborbitale andL. guentheri. While a darkened region was also observed around the larval growth zone inD. dumerilii, it was diffuse and differed in structure from that in the other two species. Within the dark zone in the otoliths ofB. suborbitale andL. guentheri, two different microincremental structures were observed. The narrower of these was determined to be the increment deposited on a daily basis. The structure and formation of the dark region in these three species appear to be related to larval transformation and behaviors of different species of myctophid larvae.
Gas-Chromatographic Fractionations of Stable Isotopes of Carbon and Oxygen in Carbon Dioxide

Abstract A high-precision gas chromatograph was used in conjunction with a quadrupole mass spectrometer and an on-line computer to study the fractionation of carbon and oxygen isotopes in carbon dioxide on two solid adsorbents and on a variety of liquid phases. For adsorption studies the relative retention is reported as a function of temperature on Porapak Q and silica gel. On the former, α values are on the order of 1.0027 ± 0.0001 (standard deviation) for the carbon isotopes and 1.0011 ± 0.0002 for the oxygen species, while on silica gel the values are 1.0031 ±0.0004 and 1.0050 ± 0.0008, respectively. Differential thermodynamic data have been reported. Using diethanolamine and polyethylene imine columns in gas-liquid chromatography, greater fractionation was found. However, column bleed and decomposition of the liquid phase were serious problems.
Percutaneous biopsies of the breast: state of the art.

Percutaneous biopsy of nonpalpable breast lesions can be performed using mammographic or ultrasound guidance. Stereotaxy is the only technique applicable to microcalcifications and very small masses. With few exceptions, discrete masses greater than 0.7–0.8 cm can be visualized on high-frequency sonograms. Because of the continuous real-time monitoring of the needle placement and of the sampling procedure, sonography has proved to be highly accurate and safe in experineced hands. In addition to depending on the accuracy of the radiologist in hitting the target and the accuracy of the cytopathologic diagnosis, the success of fine-needle aspiration biopsy depends on successful tissue extraction. The lack of significance of insufficient specimens and the importance of properly recording such results in the calculation of accuracy values for fine-needle aspiration biopsy are emphasized. On the other hand, confidence in a negative cytologic result (i.e., adequate specimen without malignant cells) of a perfectly guided procedure is a prerequisite for the nonsurgical management of nonpalpable breast masses and thus for reducing the number of surgical biopsies.
GABAergic agents on the medial septal nucleus affect hippocampal theta rhythm and acetylcholine utilization

Abstract Neurons of the medial septal nucleus are important in regulating the physiological activity of the hippocampus. If intraseptal injection of putative neurotransmitter substances affects the turnover rate of hippocampal acetylcholine, then concomitant changes would be expected in the electrophysiologic activity of the hippocampus. A GABA agonist, muscimol, was injected into the medial septum of rats and the effects on hippocampal electrical activity and acetylcholine utilization were studied. The intraseptally injected muscimol (100 ng) resulted in hippocampal electrographic records containing low amplitude asynchronous waves and significantly less rhythmic slow activity (RSA, 6–9 Hz), compared to control injections of saline. This effect was antagonized by prior intraseptal injection of bicuculline (3 μg). The hippocampal electrical activity returned to normal within 100 min. The utilization of acetylcholine was significantly reduced by intraseptal muscimol at times after administration when electrographic activity was also altered, and spontaneous behavioral movement was increased. These results suggest a physiological connection between hippocampal RSA generation and GABAergic mechanisms in the septum.
Simple Digital Pulse Width Modulator with 60 picoseconds resolution using a low-cost FPGA

This paper describes a very simple Digital Pulse Width Modulator (DPWM), with under 100 picoseconds resolution capability in low-cost field-programmable gate arrays (FPGA). The DPWM implementation is based on internal carry chains and internal logic resources which are present in most FPGA families. The proposed approach does not require manual routing or placement, consumes few hardware resources, and does not rely on specialized phase locked loop or clock management resources. The DPWM is capable of supporting high switching frequencies for digitally controlled switched-mode power converters. A 50 MHz switching frequency DPWM with 60 picoseconds resolution and a 1 MHz switching frequency DPWM with 90 picoseconds resolution are experimentally demonstrated, with monotonicity and excellent linearity.
Inflammatory Disease in B27/hβ2M Transgenic Rats: An Animal Model of B27-Associated Human Disorders

Humans who have inherited the human class I major histocompatibility allele HLA-B27 have a markedly increases risk of developing the multi-organ system diseases termed spondyloarthropathies. To investigate the role of B27 in these disorders, we introduced the B27 and human β2-microglobulin genes into rats, a species known to be quite susceptible to experimentally induced inflammatory disease. Rats from one transgenic line spontaneously developed inflammatory disease involving the gastrointestinal tract, peripheral and vertebral joints, male genital tract, skin, nails, and heart. This pattern of organ system involvement showed a striking resemblance to the B27-associated human disorders. These results establish that B27 plays a central role in the pathogenesis of the multiorgan system processes of the spondyloarthropathies. Elucidation of the role of B27 should be facilitated by this transgenic model.
Quantitation of the anticonvulsant cinromide (3-bromo-N-ethylcinnamamide) and its major plasma metabolites by thin-layer chromatography.

Abstract A quantitative thin-layer chromatography (TLC) procedure is described for the analysis of cinromide (3-bromo-N-ethylcinnamamide) and its two major metabolites, 3-bromocinnamamide and 3-bromocinnamic acid in plasma of the dog. These compounds were recovered from acidified plasma by extraction into benzene with a recovery of 95 ± 5%. All three compounds were quantitated directly on a TLC plate by ultraviolet absorbance densitometry at 270 nm. The linear dynamic range for the quantitation of the compounds on a TLC plate ranged between 10 and 1000 ng. The complete procedure is useful in the working range of 50 ng/ml to 100 μg/ml of plasma with a coefficient of variability of about 10%. Specificity of the method for parent drug and each of its plasma metabolites was confirmed by high-performance liquid chromatography. The method was used to determine the pharmacokinetics of cinromide and its two major plasma metabolites in dogs following a single oral dose of the drug.
THE QUANTITATIVE GENETICS OF POLYPHAGY IN AN INSECT HERBIVORE. II. GENETIC CORRELATIONS IN LARVAL PERFORMANCE WITHIN AND AMONG HOST PLANTS.

Because the overall evolution of the phenotype is a composite of direct and correlated responses to selection, the evolutionary trajectories of genetically correlated characters are fundamentally interdependent (Hazel, 1943; Falconer, 1981 Ch. 19). The effects of genetic correlations on phenotypic evolution are twofold. First, genetic covariance can influence the rate of response to selection. If characters simultaneously selected to increase are influenced by genes with positively correlated effects, the response to selection will be more rapid for the pair than for either character selected separately until the underlying genes are fixed. Conversely, negative genetic correlations among characters selected to increase can slow their rate of simultaneous evolution from that predicted by the amount of genetic variation which exists for each character separately (Dickerson, 1955; Antonovics, 1976; Lande, 1982b). Secondly, genetic correlations can affect the direction of evolution in suites of cliaracters such that traits no longer evolve directly toward their individual optima. In some cases, traits may even be drawn away from their optima for many generations due to selection on genetically correlated characters (Lande, 1980; Via and Lande, unpubl.). The manifold evolutionary effects of genetic correlations dictate a multivariate approach to the study of the quantitative genetic basis of evolution (Lande, 1979, 1980, 1982a, 1982b). Inmost non-
Optimization of GC/FT-IR Measurements I: Construction of Light-Pipes

Conditions under which light-pipes with highly reproducible transmittance are prepared are described. Preparation of borosilicate glass tubing by washing with HF and SiCl2 solutions gave the best results. Electron microscopy showed that drawn capillary tubing had a much smoother bore than "precision-bore" (drilled) tubing, and light-pipes constructed from drawn tubing had a much higher transmittance. Annealing the tubes at 800°C appeared to cause the gold coating to be more tightly held to the glass tubing. Light-pipes which had been annealed at 800°C could have small holes drilled through the tube without the gold coating lifting.
Time-asymptotic flow calculation

Abstract This paper presents some indicators for monitoring the development of a flow, for identifying an asymptotic flow state, and for presenting the qualitative nature of that state. Experiences with computing time-asymptotic flow states are discussed, with some lessons which have been learned along the way.
High Refractive Index Nanocomposite Fluids for Immersion Lithography

The concept of using dispersions of nanoparticles as high refractive index fluids in immersion lithography is examined both from a theoretical and experimental point of view. In the theoretical part we show that gelation and demixing can be controlled in high solid dispersions, needed to achieve a high (refractive) index, by using short stabilizing brushes. We considered both fluid-fluid demixing by using statistical thermodynamics and percolation, computed using liquid-state approaches. Whenever demixing or percolation takes place, the nanoparticle dispersion is unsuited for immersion lithography. The minimum thickness of the stabilizer layer of a stable suspension is estimated assuming particles plus steric stabilizer to act as hard spheres with van der Waals attraction between the cores. Since the van der Waals attraction can be related to the optical properties of the particles and dispersion medium, it is also possible to estimate the refractive index that can be attained with composite immersion fluids. Using materials that are known to be highly transparent in the bulk at a wavelength of 193 nm, indices above 1.8 can be attained. Other materials with higher indices are expected to be transparent at 193 nm due to a blue shift of the UV absorption and enable much higher indices. In the experiment, we show that it is possible to prepare suspensions with particles of about 4 nm diameter that increase the refractive index of the continuous phase with 0.2 at a wavelength of 193 nm. The refractive index and density of such dispersions are proportional to the volume fraction of the disperse phase, and it is shown that the refractive index of the composite fluid can be predicted very well from the optical properties of the components. Furthermore, successful imaging experiments were performed through a dispersion of silica nanoparticles. These findings lead to the conclusion that immersion lithography using nanoparticle dispersions is indeed possible.
Testing picosecond level timing detectors at Fermilab's Meson Test Beam Facility

The PSEC collaboration is actively pursuing the development of large area photodetectors with fast resolution timing characteristics. As part of that program we are characterizing the timing properties of microchannel plate photomultipliers (MCP/PMT). We report here on the timing resolution for several devices tested in Fermilab's Test Beam Facility.
Annonacin, a novel, biologically active polyketide from Annona densicoma.

A new linear polyketide, Annonacin (I), has been isolated from active extracts of the stembark ofAnnona densicoma Mart. Annonacin (I) is highly cytotoxic and is active in an assay designed to detect antimitotic agents. The structure of (I) was determined by analysis of spectroscopic data.
Another piece in the transcription initiation puzzle.

A new report provides evidence that the TFIIB-RNAPII interaction depends on the presence of additional factors and highlights the importance of structural characterization of the entire preinitiation complex.
Mediterranean island arcs and origin of high potash volcanoes

Abstract Active volcanoes of the Mediterranean Sea are distributed along two arc structures: the Hellenic arc in the Aegean Sea and the Calabrian arc in the Tyrrhenian Sea. The active volcanoes in both arcs lie above earthquakes with focal depth greater than 100 km. The depth of these earthquakes increases generally northward reaching a maximum depth of about 200 km in the Aegean Sea and more than 300 km in the Tyrrhenian Sea. The K 2 O versus SiO 2 value in volcanic rocks of the active volcanoes of the Hellenic and Calabrin arcs increases with increasing depth of underlying earthquakes which is similar to the pattern found in Pacific and Indonesian volcanic arcs. The high potash rocks of the Mediterranean suite are the culmination of this trend toward increasing potash as earthquake depth increases. The ratio of the trace element rubidium to silica also increases with increasing depth of earthquakes. Both the intermediate earthquakes and volcanic activity in the Mediterranean, as in Indo-Pacific volcanic arcs, are considered to have originated in dehydration of oceanic crust underthrusting the Aegean and Tyrrhenian Seas as a consequence of a counterclockwise rotation of Africa relative to Eurasia. The released water, we believe, works its way toward the surface in a hydrous melt scavenging potash and other alkali on the way. The ultimate ratio of K 2 O versus SiO 2 and Rb versus SiO 2 will be determined by the temperature of the hydrous melt and the distance traveled through the asthenosphere.
The Relationship Between Headmasters’ Leadership Behaviour and Teachers Commitment in Primary Schools in the District of Sarikei, Sarawak

Abstract To identify whether there was in existence of relationship between leadership behaviour and teachers’ commitment in the school as well as toward the working groups in the school. What inspired this study was the fact that there were contradictory findings in past studies and also the study on the subject affecting primary school teachers in Sarawak was surprisingly rare. To determine a) different in standard of commitment between male teachers and female teachers, b) relationship between headmaster's instrumental leadership behaviour and teachers commitment toward school, c) relationship between headmaster's supportive leadership behaviour and teachers commitment toward school, d) relationship between headmaster's participative behaviour and teachers commitment toward school, e) relationship between headmaster's instrumental behaviour and teachers commitment toward group, f) relationship between headmaster's supportive behaviour and teachers commitment toward group, and g) relationship between headmaster's participative behaviour and teachers commitment toward group. There were 125 teachers from 12 various schools participated in this study. They represented two categories of services namely graduate teachers and non-graduate teachers. The questionnaires consisted of 28 items using 5 point scale to measure the response from the respondents for instrumental, supportive and participative leadership, the researcher used measurement developed by Harris and Ogbonna (2001) and whereas to measure teachers’ commitments, the commitment scale developed by Celep (2000) was used. There were 8 hypothesis constructed for this study. Independent sample t-test and Person correlation were used to test these hypotheses.The result of this study shows that a) there was no significant different between the commitment of male teachers and female teachers, b) instrumental leadership behaviour had positive relationship and significant to teachers’ commitment toward school, c) supportive leadership behaviour had positive relationship and significant with teachers commitment toward school, d) participative leadership behaviour had positive relationship and significant with teachers commitment toward school, e) instrumental leadership behaviour had positive relationship and significant with teachers commitment toward works, f) supportive leadership behaviour had positive relationship and significant with teachers commitment toward group works, g) participative leadership behaviour had positive relationship and significant with teachers commitment toward group works.
Urokinase and tissue type plasminogen activators in human keratinocyte culture

Using immunocytochemical and biochemical techniques, we have demonstrated that cultured human epidermal keratinocytes contain both urokinase and tissue type plasminogen activators. In subconfluent colonies the distribution of the two enzymes differed. Tissue type plasminogen activator (tPA) was distributed evenly throughout the colony, while, as we have demonstrated previously, urokinase type plasminogen activator (uPA) was preferentially localized at the migrating edges of the colony. Using zymographic analyses, both tPA and uPA activities were detected in cell extracts. Depending on the procedure used to prepare cell extracts, tPA was detected either as free enzyme or in complex with PA inhibitor type 1. PA inhibitor type 1 was deposited onto the extracellular matrix of the keratinocyte cultures and formed a complex with cell-associated tPA when cells and matrix were extracted together. The most differentiated keratinocytes in the culture, which were spontaneously shed from the culture surface, also contained both tPA and uPA. However, these spontaneously shed cells had a higher ratio of tPA:uPA than did the less differentiated cells from the same culture. In conjunction with our previous studies, these results demonstrate the complex nature of the plasminogen activator system, including enzymes and inhibitors, that is present in human keratinocytes. In addition, our data suggest that the relative amounts of uPA and tPA in epidermal cells vary with differentiation state.
Solute transport in multiple-reach experiments: Evaluation of parameters and reliability of prediction

We used two stream tracer studies to address issues related to using the transient storage model (TSM) in simulating solute transport in streams containing riffle-pools and step-pools. The injection durations were short such that one may consider the storage zones to consist mainly of surface water storage zones. We found that the TSM was not able to reproduce the high portion (near the peak) of the breakthrough curve in the first subreach (85 m) regardless of the functional form of the objective function. We attributed this to the presence of a large pool 35 m downstream of the injection location that caused segregation of solute flow that was completely mixed across the stream upstream of the pool. The model was able to closely fit the breakthrough curves at xZ185 and 323 m, most likely because the signature of the pool diminished downstream. The fitting method did not always ensure that the parameter values represented physical reality, and we believe that physical measurements should be made and incorporated into the parameter estimation procedure utilizing Bayesian estimation. Our findings indicate that the representative values of TSM parameters in a reach do not generally fall between the representative values of its subreaches. Hence, the expression ‘reach-averaged’ should be used cautiously. The results indicated that it is more reliable to extrapolate (going downstream) than to interpolate. We believe this is due to local physical controls that could not be accounted for with parameters estimated far downstream from the controls. q 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.
Object permanence in cats and dogs

Object permanence was assessed for cats and dogs, using tasks analogous to those typically employed for human infants. Neither species solved all of the problems correctly when rewarded only by the discovery of a hidden toy. However, both species showed that they had fully developed concepts of object permanence when the problems were changed so that the animals had to search for hidden food in an odor-control procedure. These results indicate that sensorimotor intelligence is completely developed in these nonprimates.
Combined percutaneous carotid stenting and coronary angioplasty during acute ischemic neurologic and coronary syndromes

Abstract In conclusion, this case series demonstrates the feasibility of carotid stenting in patients with combined carotid and coronary narrowing during acute ischemic neurologic and coronary syndromes. Further study is warranted to determine safety and efficacy and to compare this procedure with carotid endarterectomy.
What We Should and Should Not Learn From the Japanese and Other East Asian Education Systems

The author argues that there is an ongoing debate among educators concerning the extent to which American educators can learn from East Asian school systems. Some social scientists argue that cultural differences make this impossible. Others argue that there are many ways that Americans can benefit. The author believes that both sides of this debate have a point. He therefore encourages educators to take a middle road. Learning from East Asian education systems is somewhat facilitated because in a number of respects, they were strongly and deliberately modeled after the Western educational rubric. Americans, in particular, were often at the forefront of developing East Asian education systems from the 1870s to the 1950s. However, there are cultural differences that limit the extent to which the United States can transfer various aspects of the East Asian rubrics. Therefore, the author provides guidance on what that middle road might be.
Bactericidal activity of stabilized chlorine dioxide as an endodontic irrigant in a polymicrobial biofilm tooth model system.

Abstract Introduction The purpose of this study was to determine bactericidal efficacy of 0.04% stabilized chlorine dioxide, 3% sodium hypochlorite, 2% chlorhexidine gluconate, and sterile distilled water in a polymicrobial biofilm model. Methods Roots of 35 permanent bovine incisors had pulps extirpated, and their apical size and root length were standardized. Teeth were coated with mucin, inoculated with standardized suspensions of Streptococcus sanguinis, Actinomyces viscosus, Fusobacterium nucleatum, Peptostreptococcus micros, and Prevotella nigrescens and incubated anaerobically. Teeth were randomly divided into four groups and rinsed for 3 minutes with 15 mL of irrigant. Biofilms were harvested and spiral-plated on selective media. Numbers of bacteria in the harvested biofilms was determined via the standard spiral-plating methodology. Treatment groups were evaluated using the nonparametric Kruskal-Wallis procedure. Pair-wise comparisons among the four groups and five organisms were made using the Wilcoxon-Mann-Whitney procedure. Adjustments for multiple comparisons were made using the Holm method with p Results Results provide strong evidence of a significant difference in levels of bactericidal activity associated with the type of irrigant for all five bacterial species tested. Levels of bactericidal activity were significantly higher for the NaOCl group than for the stabilized chlorine dioxide (ClO2) group for S. sanguinis, A. viscosus, and P. nigrescens. Results for F. nucleatum and P. micros were not significant after the adjustment for multiple comparisons. Conclusions The triple-inoculation bovine tooth model system is a robust, consistent, and reproducible model system to study polymicrobial biofilms. It should be used with the knowledge expansion of biofilm structure and function as well as the development of antimicrobial protocols.
Effects of information format and similarity among alternatives on consumer choice processes

This study explores how similarity among alternatives and a new information format, branching, affect consumer choice processes. A branching format organizes real, physically present objects by attribute levels. Thirty-six female consumers made six choices from sets of products in a laboratory setting and provided concurrent verbal protocols. Compared to a brand format, a branching format elicited fewer comparisons, had no effect on cognitive effort other than comparisons, and had no effect on intention to choose the best. Compared to the similar set, the dissimilar set elicited more comparisons, lower levels of other measures of cognitive effort, and less intention to choose the best. These effects of similarity and information format were consistent across the two product classes tested. However, the effects of information format and similarity on comparisons differed from their effects on other measures of cognitive effort.
Probabilistic constrained adaptive local displacement experts

Generic non-rigid face fitting, namely the task of finding the configuration of a shape model describing a face in an image under variations in identity, illumination, pose and expression, is addressed in this work through an ensemble of local patch-based displacement experts. To account for appearance variations, these displacement experts are parameterized bilinearly, allowing the experts to adapt to the face at hand. The problem is formulated probabilistically, where the objective is to maximize the likelihood of predicted displacements marginalized over the adaptation parameters. The efficacy of the proposed formulation is compared empirically against a two existing methods.
On Generalized Indices of Diagnostic Efficiency

The usual definitions of sensitivity, specificity and predictive value of a diagnostic test T refer only to the situation of the presence or absence of disease. There is then question of the appropriate extensions of these definitions in cases where there are more than two diagnostic categories, especially with ordered or graded responses. This paper deals with some aspects of this problem. An example with the data of BERGESON and STEINFELD (1974) on gradings of fever in children by palpation is analyzed, using the methods discussed in this paper.
A new concept of theoretical resolution of an optical system, comparison with experiment and optimum condition for a point source

Abstract A new concept and a definition of spatial resolution of an optical system, taking into account the signal-to-noise ratio, are introduced. The resolution of an optical system corresponding to the Rayleigh criterion is defined in terms of an aberration-free optical system having the same quality of image as the image produced by the actual system. The quality of an optical image is evaluated based on the theory of the mean information content of an optical image, formulated by Shannon. The theory has been applied to evaluate the performance of an actual optical system, the field emission scanning electron microscope Hitachi S-900. Good agreement has been found with the experimented data. A general method based on the mean information content of an optical image is presented for determining the optimum focusing condition, its tolerance, and the attainable resolution of an optical system for a point source under the conditions of arbitrary coefficients of spherical and chromatic aberrations, and the beam energy distribution. The effect of the signal-to-noise ratio of the system plus specimen is also taken into account. The optimum value of the beam convergence angle is defined as that at which the density-of-information passing capacity of an optical system is maximized. The tolerance on the optimum beam-convergence angle is defined by the angles where the density-of-information passing capacity of an optical system has fallen to 90% of its maximum.
Non-uniform energy generation effects on natural convection in a spherical annulus enclosure

Analyse numerique du champ de temperatures et des courants de convection naturelle dans un espace annulaire spherique rempli d'un fluide de Boussinesq a sources internes de chaleur a repartition non uniforme
Formaldehyde‐Free Wood Adhesives from Decayed Wood

Extensive studies using mussel adhesive protein as a formaldehyde-free, strong, and water-resistant adhesive model revealed that a combination of a polymer with catechol moieties and a polymer with amino groups could serve as a strong and water-resistant wood adhesive. This study demonstrated that the tfleatment of abundant and readily available brown-rot-fungus-decayed wood with NaBH 4 followed by mixing with polyethylenimine resulted in a formaldehyde-free, strong, and water-resistant wood adhesive.
Highly concentrated ceramic binder suspensions (HCBS). Raw materials, properties, and classification (Review)

It was shown that the properties of HCBS are determined by two groups of factors that depends on the chemical composition of the solid phase and the production technology. Among the technological factors, the type of the lining and the grinding bodies of the ball mill has an exceptional influence.
Effect of prenatal ethanol administration on the urogenital system of mice.

The purpose of the present series of studies was to determine whether an obstruction in the urogenital system or vesicoureteral reflux (reflux, the retrograde passage of urine from the bladder into the kidney) existed in mice prenatally exposed to ethanol which might account for the high incidence of hydronephrosis and hydrour-eier observed. In order to examine these possibilities, indigo carmine was injected into the bladder of 19-day fetuses previously exposed to ethanol on Day 10 of gestation and the presence of hydronephrosis and/or reflux determined. As expected, we found a greatly increased incidence of hydronephrosis and hydroureter. In addition, there was a significant increase in reflux in the ethanol-treated mice. The incidence of reflux appeared to be related to the severity of the hydronephrosis observed, though cases of hydronephrosis without reflux and reflux without hydronephrosis were found. These data suggest both hypotheses may be salient and that a multiplicity of urogenital abnormalities are found following prenatal ethanol exposure.