cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Cosmological Constant Problems (Talk given at Dark Matter 2000, February, 2000)

The old cosmological constant problem is to understand why the vacuum energy is so small; the new problem is to understand why it is comparable to the present mass density. Several approaches to these problems are reviewed. Quintessence does not help with either; anthropic considerations offer a possibility of solving both. In theories with a scalar field that takes random initial values, the anthropic principle may apply to the cosmological constant, but probably to nothing else.
Developmental Aspects of an Infant With Transient Moderate to Severe Hearing Impairment

Very little is known about the effects of early deafness on later emotional and cognitive development, or about the span of time during which these effects may remain correctable. Adults who have had a profound or severe hearing impairment since infancy show a rather consistent pattern of personality development.1-3 A variety of behavioral deviations have been described in older children with congenital or early hearing impairment.3-5 There are very few observations, however, of the behavior of deaf children during their first two years of life. In this communication, we describe the behavior and some aspects of the development of a hearing-impaired infant during the period of moderate to severe hearing impairment (70 dB hearing loss) followed by resolution of hearing loss.
The Hydrolysis of Estrone Sulfate and Dehydroepiandrosterone Sulfate by MCF-7 Human Breast Cancer Cells*

Reports of estrone (E1) and dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA) sulfatase (sulfohydrolase) activities within many human breast cancers have prompted us to undertake the identification and partial characterization of these enzyme activities within MCF-7 human breast cancer cells. Enzyme assays were performed within subcellular preparations and intact cultures by quantifying the total nonpolar 3H-labeled metabolites formed from [3H]E1 sulfate (E1S) and [3H]DHEA sulfate (DHEAS). The results have shown that the hydrolysis of each steroid sulfate is mediated by different particulate enzymes, which demonstrate optimal activity between pH 6.0–7.0. The analysis of enzyme kinetic data showed the Km values of E1S and DHEAS for their enzymes to be approximately 6.3 and 3.6 μM/L, respectively. Neither enzyme was subject to product inhibition. Androsterone sulfate and pregnenolone sulfate produced significant inhibition of E1, but not DHEA, sulfatase activity. E1S inhibited DHEA sulfatase competitively, with an approximate ...
Visualization of probabilistic relationships in shape-maturity data for lunar craters

Probabilistic modeling and visualization of crater shape-maturity relationships is explored in context of remote sensing data acquired by Apollo, Clementine and Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter spacecraft. Unlike any earlier attempt of understanding relationships between lunar crater features (depth and diameter), relative age of crater formation (Pre-Nectarian to Copernican) and optical maturity of the lunar surface (OMAT values), the joint probability of these variables is modeled. The proposed model is strongly dependent on data density and is not based on deterministic equations as in earlier works. Once developed, a joint probability model can accommodate additional factors through conditional probability weights in a Bayesian network architecture. It is expected that probabilistic modeling will facilitate visualization of relationships between experimental variables and eventually help gain additional insight into lunar cratering mechanisms and linkages between crater morphology, spectral properties and crater degradation mechanisms. The described simple Bayesian network in this work is by no means complete, but illustrates the potential of the proposed novel method with the advent of high resolution images and topographic measurements for the Moon.
Reactive Depression and Chronic Illness: Counseling Patients and Their Families

Major theories and research findings are presented with specific suggestions for counseling approaches to reduce prevalence and impact of depression that often accompanies physical illness.
Fiber Coatings and the Fracture Behavior of a Continuous Fiber Ceramic Composite

Fiber coatings have been used to modify fiber-matrix interfacial forces, and thus control mechanical properties of continuous fiber ceramic composites. It has been shown that the properties and thickness of the interlayer influence composite properties such as matrix cracking and ultimate strength, toughness and interlaminar shear. The effects of fiber coating properties and thickness on fiber-reinforced SiC matrix composites fabricated employing CVI techniques have been examined. Correlations between interface condition, mechanical properties and failure mechanisms have been made.
An analysis and reduction of disruptive behavior on school buses.

Thousands of children are injured or killed each year in school bus accidents. A significant number of these tragic incidents is precipitated by disruptive child behavior that distracts the drivers from their difficult task. Two experiments were conducted which addressed this problem. For both experiments an automated sound recording device (referred to as a Noise Guard) selectively responsive to frequencies above 500 Hz (i.e., unresponsive to bus drone) recorded both the duration and frequency of noise outbursts above a tolerable threshold. Additionally, an observer made in situ measurements of other disruptions including roughhousing and getting-out-of-seat. In the first experiment, following baseline measurements of these behaviors, middle-school students received feedback for noise outbursts. That is, when "Noise Guard" was activated, it in turn operated one of several lights on a panel visible to all passengers. Each day students were allowed to listen to high-appeal taped music while riding the bus and to participate in a raffle for prizes, provided the number of outbursts on the preceding day remained below a specified criterion indicated on the light panel. This intervention resulted in drastic reductions of noise outbursts with a concomitant reduction in other disruptive behaviors. Comparable results were obtained in the second experiment which eliminated the raffle from the intervention. Language: en
Enantioselective Total Synthesis of (-)-Lansai B and (+)-Nocardioazines A and B

The concise total syntheses of the bis(pyrroloindolines) (−)-lansai B and (+)- nocardioazines A and B are reported. The key pyrroloindoline building blocks are rapidly prepared by enantioselective formal [3+2] cycloaddition reactions. The macrocycle of (+)-nocardioazine A is constructed by an unusual intramolecular diketopiperazine formation.
Effects of wheel traffic along one side of corn and soybean rows

Abstract There is a continuing need for information illustrating the seriousness of the soil compaction problem over a range of soils, climatic, and agronomic conditions and encouraging the adoption of controlled traffic. Compaction from wheel traffic adjacent to crop rows had significant effects on the soil physical conditions in Kokomo silty clay loam (Typic Argiaquoll) and on the corn ( Zea mays L.) and soybean ( Glycine max L.) yields. Traffic patterns were established to compare rows that had traffic on one side of the row with those that had traffic on neither side. These traffic patterns were followed for planting and spraying operations for a total of five passes. Corn had either no nitrogen fertilizer or adequate fertilizer and soybeans had no fertility variable. Bulk density and cone penetration resistance were significantly higher in the wheel tracks than in the untracked areas at the 0–15- and 15–30-cm depths. With adequate fertilizer, yields of corn and soybeans from rows along wheel tracks were equal to those from untracked areas. With no nitrogen fertilizer, corn yields were significantly lower from rows along wheel tracks.
Effects of calcium on rod and cone inputs to horizontal cells of the tiger salamander retina

Effects of extracellular calcium on signal transmission between photoreceptors and horizontal cells (HCs) are studied in superfused isolated retina of the larval tiger salamander. Horizontal cell light response is optimal when extracellular Ca2+ is maintained between 1-2 mM. Ca2+ levels beyond this range in either direction significantly reduce the HC light response amplitude. When extracellular Ca2+ is lowered from 2 mM to 0.5 mM, the rod input to HCs is reduced whereas the cone input is not affected. In comparison, the peak voltage responses of rods are not changed whereas the cone voltage responses are enhanced in 0.5 mM Ca2+. The selective suppression of rod input to HCs is probably due to the interplay of three factors: (1) the photocurrents, (2) voltage- and time-dependent membrane currents in photoreceptors, and (3) the Ca(2+)-dependent synaptic gain between photoreceptors and HCs.
Robotic-Assisted Simple Prostatectomy: Is there Evidence to go Beyond the Experimental Stage?

Open simple prostatectomy (OSP) is an effective and durable treatment for select patients with symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and large-volume prostate glands (>80 cc), yet is associated with clinically significant risk of bleeding, transfusion, prolonged hospital length of stay (LOS), and complications. Robotic-assisted simple prostatec- tomy (RASP) potentially reduces intraoperative blood loss and improves perioperative outcomes. Thirteen non- comparative series (Level 3 evidence) of RASP have established its safety and efficacy and have demonstrated substantially decreased risk of transfusion, complications, and mean LOS relative to published series of OSP, but with consistently longer operative times. Comparative outcomes data (Level 1 and Level 2 evidence), however, are relatively lacking. Thus, while RASP has advanced beyond the exper- imental stage, definitive outcomes studies are needed to es- tablish its benefits and costs relative to OSP and transurethral surgery.
Table-top z-pinch and laser-plasma x-ray/EUV facility "Sparky"

Results of the development and study of a table-top z-pinch and laser-plasma x-ray/EUV facility "Sparky" are presented. The goal of development of this facility was to obtain high density and temperature plasmas of high atomic number elements in two different ways: vacuum spark or thin (micron-scale) wires in z-pinch device, and laser-plasma source with a flat target.
New brain atlas—Mapping the human brain in vivo with 7.0 T MRI and comparison with postmortem histology: Will these images change modern medicine?

Human brain imaging with magnetic resonance at 7.0 Tesla (T) can reveal the brain's architecture with resolution equivalent to that obtained from thin slices in vitro. In vivo images can provide tissue type identification with a greater clarity than that available in vitro without special stains. The coil design is an 8 or 12 channel phased array antenna tuned for 7.0T. The individual coils are arranged 8 or 12 loops in a “crown” configuration. Image acquisition is 6 minutes for 15 slices of 2 mm thickness with in-plane resolution of 0.25 mm using a gradient echo pulse sequence. While others have achieved good resolution in human brain imaging, this paper demonstrates a pulse sequence with a specialized radiofrequency coil that achieves an uniformity and resolution not shown in previous studies at 7.0T. Our new images demonstrate very fine details of the midbrain, brainstem, and hippocampal area that have not been previously achieved in living human subjects. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Int J Imaging Syst Technol, 18, 2–8, 2008
SEXUALITY IN ASCOBOLUS STERCORARIUS. I. MORPHOLOGY OF THE ASCOGONIUM; PLASMOGAMY; EVIDENCE FOR A SEXUAL HORMONAL MECHANISM

DURING A recent genetic study (Bistis, 1956) of Ascobolus stercorarius (Bull.) Schr6t. it became apparent that any attempt to interpret certain of the genetic data would require a more detailed account of the life cycle, particularly the stages of the sexual process up to and including plasmogamy. This species is heterothallic (Dowding, 1931; Bistis, 1956); consequently each ascus fusion nucleus must be, heterozygous for the compatibility factors. Since mutation at the mating-type locus has never been observed, ascogonia produced by single ascospore cultures are presumed to -be homocaryotic. In matings, plasmogamy, which brings together the complementary nuclei, is of the gamete-gametangial type; there are no antheridia. Although there is a considerable literature on the morphology of the ascogonium, the nature of the fertilizing element was correctly determined only by Miss Dowding. She reported that the transfer of oidia of one mating-type onto a mycelium of a compatible strain results in the development of fertile apothecia. Possibly here, as in several other heterothallic ascomycetes lacking an antheridium, the fertilizing element may be any cell containing nuclei of opposite mating-type. A detailed account of the sexual process up to and including plasmogamy is presented in this paper. In addition, evidence for hormonal control of certain stages in this process will be given. MATERIALS AND METHODS.-The-cultures used in this investigation were single-ascospore isolates obtained through the courtesy of Dr. Clare Yu and Mrs. Jane Rhein. The medium used for vegetative culture consisted of yeast extract (0.4 per cent), glucose (1.0 per cent), and Difco Bacto-agar (2.5 per cent). For the production of fruiting bodies the medium (Yu, 1954) consisted of yeast extract (0.025 to 0.3 per cent), cellulose (a disk of 9 cm. Whatman No. 7 filter paper in each dish), and Difco Bacto-agar (2.5 per cent). The method devised for studying the interaction of oidia and mycelium has these basic steps: (1) an inoculum taken from a three-day-old culture of the a mating-type isolate (ascogonial parent) is placed at the center of a 9-cm. dish containing 25 cc. of the yeast extract-cellulose medium, (2) three days later a small block of fresh yeast-extract agar
Strategy training and practice in disjunctive concept attainment.

64 Ss attained a series of three disjunctive concepts in an instance-selection procedure. Training in the appropriate strategy facilitated performance as compared with instructions which simply spe...
Selective effects of 8-Br-cAMP on agonists and antagonists of the glucocorticoid receptor.

RU486 has been reported to be a glucocorticoid receptor (GR) and a progesterone receptor (PR) antagonist. We have analysed RU486 activity on the GR in WCL-2 (CHO) cells and in COS-7 cells transiently transfected with the mouse GR and with the reporter MMTVCAT (MCAT). These cell lines do not contain any active progesterone or androgen receptors. In both cell lines RU486 is a partial agonist of the GR with 10–15% of the activity of dexamethasone. As expected, RU486 is also a partial antagonist of the GR. Treatment of COS-7 cells with 8-Br-cAMP increases the agonist activity of both dexamethasone and RU486. This cAMP induced superactivation is seen with all steroids that have full or partial agonist activity. In contrast, the activities of ZK98.299 and R5020, which are complete antagonists of the GR without any agonist activity, are not affected by 8-Br-cAMP treatment. This effect of 8-Br-cAMP is not seen in WCL2 cells. 8-Br-cAMP, therefore, is not a switch which changes antagonists to agonists but is, rather, a cell specific activator of all agonists whether they have full or only partial agonist activity.
Managing the Rhythmic Complexity of Hitting a Golf Ball

ABSTRACT The authors investigated how the force pattern exerted on a golf club is coordinated with the golfer's weight shift, which supplies power to the swing. Moderately skilled golfers (n = 10, 5–10 stroke handicap) hit short golf shots requiring different amounts of force. Across these different shots, the timing of the force pattern applied to the clubhead was approximately invariant even though the force magnitude varied. In contrast, the weight shift timing and magnitude both varied with the required force of the shot. Across repeated attempts at the same shot, temporal variations in the clubhead force pattern were either uncorrelated or only weakly correlated with temporal variations in the weight shift. Together, these data indicate that the weight shift is a relatively independent, adjustable rhythmic unit from the invariant clubhead timing pattern for moderately skilled golfers.
Theoretical neutron-nucleus total cross-sections at high energy

Abstract Total cross-sections for scattering of 10 GeV/c neutrons from nuclei are calculated in the Glauber model. Results are in good agreement with recent measurements, provided the nuclear radii are taken from electron-nucleus scattering measurements.
Mathematical analysis of carbon dioxide transport by blood

Abstract A theoretical study is presented of acid-base balance on the microcirculation level, and of the interactions that occur between the various phenomena influencing this balance. This involves the study of carbon-dioxide transport by blood and its relationship to oxygen transport, as well as a study of the buffer systems that are intimately connected to the transport of these gases. A mathematical model of carbon dioxide transport in the microcirculation is constructed that includes the physiological and biochemical processes important to CO2 transport and acid-base balance. Using perturbation techniques, methods of analysis of the governing equations are developed in order to obtain analytic solutions under a broad range of physiological conditions. The analysis presented forms the basis for the study of more complex physiological problems, such as transient following an occlusion.
The Paradoxes of Teaching a Multicultural Education Course Online

The author shares her pedagogy in taking a conventional, campus-based graduate course, transforming it for asynchronous learning and teaching it over the World Wide Web. Some paradoxes resulted as ...
Simulations of sulfate aerosol dynamics part II: Model intercomparison

Comparisons between a two-moment, bimodal aerosol model and single-moment sectional models of varying resolution are presented. Predictions from the two-moment model are in good agreement with those from the highest resolution sectional model, whereas lower-resolution single-moment sectional models with a comparable number of variables perform more poorly. The sensitivity of model initializations and predictions to the choice of sectional boundaries is demonstrated, particularly the inability of low-resolution single-moment models to completely capture important features of the distribution. The mean sizes represented in the two-moment model vary in time, responding to changes in the distribution, and thus, this formulation offers greater flexibility in applications to large-scale models.
Nuclear Receptor Research: A Vibrant Forum to Showcase Global Efforts and Act as A Catalyst for Interdisciplinary Initiatives

There are thousands of articles published each year covering various aspects of nuclear receptors. These publications appear in a plethora of journals, virtually buried among an overwhelming volume of unrelated articles. A group of prominent scientists active in the field of nuclear receptor research has concluded that gathering publications on this superfamily of receptors under one umbrella would provide an invaluable resource for a broad assemblage of scientists in the field. Thus, the idea for a new journal, Nuclear Receptor Research (NuRR), was born. I am pleased to share with researchers working in the field of nuclear receptors, basic scientists as well as clinicians, that NuRR is now a reality as an open access peerreviewed journal devoted to publishing high-quality, original research and review articles covering all aspects involving all members of the nuclear receptor superfamily. NuRR has an editorial board comprised of a group of renowned scientists in the field from the four corners of the globe. Board members are committed to make NuRR a vibrant forum showcasing global efforts in this everexpanding area of research. It is hoped that NuRR will encourage collaborative studies as well as foster interdisciplinary initiatives within the field. I invite you to consider NuRR (http://www.agialpress .com/ journals/nurr/) as a vehicle to share your novel research findings and vision for the future of nuclear receptor research with your colleagues around the world.
Novel bound contraction procedure for global optimization of bilinear MINLP problems with applications to water management problems

We propose a new method to obtain the global optimum of MINLP problems containing bilinearities. Our special method that contracts the bounds of one variable at a time allows reducing the gap between a linear lower bound and an upper bound obtained solving the original problem. Unlike some methods based on variable partitioning, our bound contraction procedure does not introduce new integers or intervals. We illustrate the method by applying it to water management problems.
A test of the independence of the approach and avoidance gradients

Varying the correlation between aversive and appetitive events produced by the terminal response of an FR conflict chain was found to alter the amount of response suppression during conflict but not the shape of the conflict gradient. These findings are inconsistent with the assumption of the independence of approach and avoidance gradients in conflict theory in so far as gradient height is concerned but support the theory in the more important aspect of gradient shape.
The permeation of dynorphin A 1-6 across the blood brain barrier and its effect on bovine brain microvessel endothelial cell monolayer permeability.

Dynorphin A 1–17 (Dyn A 1–17) is an endogenous neuropeptide known to act at the kappa opioid receptor; it has been implicated in a number of neurological disorders, including neuropathic pain, stress, depression, and Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. The investigation of Dyn A 1–17 metabolism at the blood–brain barrier (BBB) is important since the metabolites exhibit unique biological functions compared to the parent compound. In this work, Dyn A 1–6 is identified as a metabolite of Dyn A 1–17 in the presence of bovine brain microvessel endhothelial cells (BBMECs), using LC–MS/MS. The transport of Dyn A 1–6 at the BBB was examined using this in vitro cell culture model of the BBB. Furthermore, the permeation of the BBB by the low molecular weight permeability marker fluorescein was characterized in the presence and absences of Dyn A 1–6.
Directional asymmetry of pelvic vestiges in threespine stickleback

Extensive reduction of the size and complexity of the pelvic skeleton (i.e., pelvic reduction) has evolved repeatedly in Gasterosteus aculeatus. Asymmetrical pelvic vestiges tend to be larger on the left side (i.e., left biased) in populations studied previously. Loss of Pitx1 expression is associated with pelvic reduction in G. aculeatus, and pelvic reduction maps to the Pitx1 locus. Pitx1 knockouts in mice have reduced hind limbs, but the left limb is larger. Thus left-biased directional asymmetry of stickleback pelvic vestiges may indicate the involvement of Pitx1 in pelvic reduction. We examined 6,356 specimens from 27 Cook Inlet populations of G. aculeatus with extensive pelvic reduction. Samples from 20 populations exhibit the left bias in asymmetrical pelvic vestiges expected if Pitx1 is involved, and three have a slight, non-significant left bias. However, samples from three populations have a significant right bias, and one large sample from another population has equal frequencies of specimens with larger vestiges on the left or right side. A sample of fossil threespine stickleback also has significantly left-biased pelvic vestiges. These results suggest that silencing of Pitx1 or the developmental pathway in which it functions in the pelvis is the usual cause of pelvic reduction in most Cook Inlet populations of G. aculeatu, and that it caused pelvic reduction at least 10 million years ago in a stickleback population. A different developmental genetic mechanism is implicated for three populations with right-biased pelvic vestiges and for the population without directional asymmetry.
The Influence of Different Types of Cues-to-Action on Vaccination Behavior: An Exploratory Study

Vaccination of a population before an epidemic spreads is critical. Yet trends suggest that vaccination rates are remarkably low due to a public that ignores or views with suspicion vaccination recommendations. However, pharmaceutical companies may attempt to drive demand by lobbying for mandated vaccination. In an exploratory study, an experimental design is used to determine if firms benefit from such efforts. Consumer responses to different cues-to-action, or stimuli that arouse individuals to engage in a desired behavior, are examined. Results suggest that responses to different cues-to-action vary. Implications are discussed for businesses that may consider seeking mandates to increase demand.
Resting energy expenditure and protein turnover are increased in patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

The mechanisms leading to weight loss in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are poorly understood. Changes in protein metabolism and systemic inflammation may contribute to increased resting energy expenditure (REE) in COPD, leading to an energy imbalance and loss of fat and fat-free mass. The objective of this study was to determine first whether REE was increased in patients with COPD and, second, whether this was associated with increased protein turnover and/or systemic inflammation. Resting energy expenditure was determined using indirect calorimetry in 14 stable outpatients with severe COPD (7 with low and 7 with preserved body mass indices) and 7 healthy controls. Endogenous leucine flux, leucine oxidation, and nonoxidative disposal, indices of whole-body protein breakdown, catabolism, and synthesis, were measured using intravenous infusions of (13)C-bicarbonate and 1-(13)C-leucine. Total body water, from which fat-free mass and fat mass were calculated, was determined using an intravenous bolus of deuterated water. Plasma markers of systemic inflammation were also measured. As a group, subjects with COPD had increased REE adjusted for fat-free mass (P < .001) and faster rates of endogenous leucine flux (P = .006) and nonoxidative leucine disposal (P = .002) compared with controls. There was a significant correlation between REE and both endogenous leucine flux (P = .02) and nonoxidative leucine disposal (P = .008). Plasma concentrations of the inflammatory markers C-reactive protein and interleukin-6 were not different between COPD subjects and controls. Increased rates of protein turnover are associated with increased REE and loss of fat-free mass in COPD.
Kaposi's Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus Viral Interferon Regulatory Factor 4 (vIRF4) Targets Expression of Cellular IRF4 and the Myc Gene To Facilitate Lytic Replication

Besides an essential transcriptional factor for B cell development and function, cellular interferon regulatory factor 4 (c-IRF4) directly regulates expression of the c-Myc gene, which is not only associated with various B cell lymphomas but also required for herpesvirus latency and pathogenesis. Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV), the etiological agent of Kaposi's sarcoma and primary effusion lymphoma, has developed a unique mechanism to deregulate host antiviral innate immunity and growth control by incorporating four viral homologs (vIRF1 to -4) of cellular IRFs into its genome. Previous studies have shown that several KSHV latent proteins, including vIRF3, vFLIP, and LANA, target the expression, function, and stability of c-Myc to establish and maintain viral latency. Here we report that the KSHV vIRF4 lytic protein robustly suppresses expression of c-IRF4 and c-Myc, reshaping host gene expression profiles to facilitate viral lytic replication. Genomewide gene expression analysis revealed that KSHV vIRF4 grossly affects host gene expression by upregulating and downregulating 118 genes and 166 genes, respectively, by at least 2-fold. Remarkably, vIRF4 suppressed c-Myc expression by 11-fold, which was directed primarily by the deregulation of c-IRF4 expression. Real-time quantitative PCR (RT-qPCR), single-molecule in situ hybridization, and chromatin immunoprecipitation assays showed that vIRF4 not only reduces c-IRF4 expression but also competes with c-IRF4 for binding to the specific promoter region of the c-Myc gene, resulting in drastic suppression of c-Myc expression. Consequently, the loss of vIRF4 function in the suppression of c-IRF4 and c-Myc expression ultimately led to a reduction of KSHV lytic replication capacity. These results indicate that the KSHV vIRF4 lytic protein comprehensively targets the expression and function of c-IRF4 to downregulate c-Myc expression, generating a favorable environment for viral lytic replication. Finally, this study further reinforces the important role of the c-Myc gene in KSHV lytic replication and latency.
Predator foraging behavior effect of a novel prey species on prey selection by a marine intertidal gastropod

Abstract Diet breadth in predators has often been linked to maximization of energy intake in foraging models. The intertidal predatory gastropod Nucella (Thais) lamellosa (Gmelin) was presented with natural and novel prey species to examine the components of prey choice. In Washington (USA), Nucella consumes the high-quality barnacle Balanus glandula Darwin and low-quality Semibalanus cariosus (Pallas). In Alaska and British Columbia, the barnacle Semibalanus balanoides (L.) is also available as prey. S. balanoides was presented to Nucella from the San Juan Islands, Washington, in the laboratory to measure prey profitability and handling costs, and in field experiments to measure prey choice. The novel S. balanoides represents a high-quality prey, with profitability and handling costs equivalent to the highest-quality natural prey B. glandula. In the field, Nucella immediately added S. balanoides to its diet. This addition appears to be a result of active prey choice. This modification in foraging strategy is a function of the ability of Nucella to accurately assess changes to its food resource, and is consistent with the predictions of foraging models of predators which maximize energy intake.
Using profiles of saccharin and water drinking to detect and discriminate actions of drugs and toxicants

Abstract Experiments were conducted to investigate the feasibility of using the pattern of saccharin and water drinking to detect acute and chronic administration of drugs and toxicants. Procedural variables were found to be crucial. When rats were naive for the saccharin drinking fluid, a single injection of LiCl or 2-deoxyglucose produced persistant saccharin aversion. Hypertonic saline produced only a transient saccharin aversion. If rats were pre-exposed to saccharin, the 2-deoxyglucose injection and hypertonic NaCl produced an increase in saccharin drinking, but LiCl was without effect. Several types of chronic treatment were given to saccharin-experienced rats. Chronic 2-deoxyglucose, LiCl, and Pb administration produced gradually developing saccharin aversion and qualitatively different patterns of saccharin and water drinking. Chronic administration of hypertonic NaCl or insulin or chronic food deprivation had no impact on saccharin preference. It was concluded that patterns of saccharin and water drinking can be used to detect the administration of a drug or toxicant and perhaps even the time course of action, but may not detect a substance given previous to saccharin, perhaps because the animal cannot associate these now familiar perturbations with the novel saccharin solution. This means that existing toxic states may not be detected by using saccharin preference as a probe.
Surface analysis of silver mirrors made from organometallic solutions

Abstract Silver mirrors, made by decomposing organometallic resinate solutions, have been studied using surface analysis techniques to secure information about the silver/glass interface. The mirrors have also been characterized using SEM, EDAX, thickness, reflectance, resistivity, accelerated corrosion testing and adhesion measurements. The mirrors exhibit excellent adhesion at the silver/glass interface and good corrosion resistance. Depth profiles using XPS, ISS and SIMS for analysis have been taken in the mirrors. From these studies, evidence for an increased silicon to oxygen ratio at the silver/glass interface is presented. In the silvering process, it is thought that the silver-containing Lewis base decomposes when in contact with glass at elevated temperatures (T > 400°C) to deplete the glass of surface oxygen, or silicon from the resinate deposits to enrich the glass surface. It is suspected that covalent silver to silicon bonds are formed during decomposition of the organometallic solution and reaction with the silicon rich glass surface and that these bonds are responsible for the excellent adhesion and thus, good corrosion resistance of the mirrors.
The perceptual color space of digital image display terminals

The geometric properties of the set of colors that can be displayed on the TV monitor of a digital image processing terminal are discussed in the framework of the Commission Internationale de l'Eclairage (CIE) 1976 (L* u* v*) color space. Quantitative results are presented for the HACIENDA image processing system. The use of lightness, chroma, and hue angle for the representation of multi-band images is briefly discussed.
Performance of a prototype detector for use as the sweeping magnet photon-veto in the KOPIO experiment

A detector system for use as a gamma (γ) veto in the volume of the high field of the sweeping magnet of the KOPIO experiment at BNL is presented here. A laminar design of alternating 5 mm plastic scintillator tiles and 2.54 mm Pb sheets was used. The scintillator signals were readout on both ends by embedded Kuraray Y11-200 multi-clad wave-shifting 1 mm × 19 fibers/tile (WSF). The calibration of the detectors through the single photo-electron (spe) peak of the photomultiplier tubes (PMTs) and the light attenuation measurements of the fibers were performed using a commercial light emitting diode (LED, blue 465 nm) pulsed with 30 ns pulses at 1kHz. Absolute light yield of a single tile averaged 60 pe per minimum ionizing particle (mip) from cosmic rays. An assembly of 10 scintillator layers combined with nine Pb layers yielded ~ 400 pe/mip. Light intensity attenuation of about 1 dB/m allows the embedded fibers to be extended to lengths of more than 6 m in order to carry the detector signal to PMTs outside the magnetic field, thus simplifying the readout.
A Transmission Line Taper of Improved Design

The theory of the design of optimal cascaded transformer arrangements can be extended to the design of continuous transmission-line tapers. Convenient relationships have been obtained from which the characteristic impedance contour for an optimal transmission-line taper can be found. The performance of the Dolph-Tchebycheff transmission-line taper treated here is optimum in the sense that it has minim reflection coefficient magnitude in the pass band for a specified length of taper, and, likewise, for a specified maximum magnitude reflection coefficient in the pass band, the Dolph-Tchebycheff taper has minimum length. A sample design has been carried out for the purposes of illustration, and its performance has been compared with that of other tapers. In addition, a table of values of a transcendental function used in the design of these tapers is given.
Interfacial mass transport in steady three-dimensional flows in microchannels

Rates of interfacial mass and heat transfer from uniaxial laminar flows through ducts at low Reynolds number follow the behaviour elucidated by Graetz: the local Sherwood (or Nusselt) number falls to an asymptotic value that is defined by the geometry and is independent of the Peclet number. In a previous study, we showed that analogous but distinct behaviour occurs in duct flows that exhibit Lagrangian chaos in the cross section due to spatially varying secondary flows: the Sherwood number follows the identical decay in the entrance region before passing to a Peclet-dependent value at larger axial distances; we called this behaviour, 'modified Graetz'. Here, we investigate the generality of this behaviour in chaotic and non-chaotic flows for transfer to moving interfaces and across internal interfaces between convectively disconnected sets in the flow. We present theoretical predictions of the transfer rates for these cases and verify the accuracy of these predictions with a tracer-based, numerical simulation. We also present a theoretical criterion for the modified Graetz behaviour in terms of the axial length associated with mixing and the axial length associated with the return of depleted fluid to the reactive interface; we exploit simulation to verify this criterion.
PRUSSIAN BLUE SOLID-STATE FILMS AND MEMBRANES AS POTASSIUM ION-SELECTIVE ELECTRODES

Abstract The use of thin films of Prussian blue and heterogeneous Prussian blue membranes as potassium ion-selective electrodes was investigated. All of the heavier group I cations and NH + 4 interfere strongly but there is relatively good selectivity towards Na + with a selectivity coefficient of ca. 5 × 10 −3 . The thin-film measurements, based on Prussian blue deposited on platinum, involve conditioning the electrode to a fixed potential according to the method used by Engel and Grabner for copper hexacyanoferrate(III) films. The membrane electrodes were based on mixing Prussian blue with polymeric supporting films such as polystyrene and epoxy. A particularly simple practical configuration involves Prussian blue membranes deposited directly on copper conductors where one membrane serves as a reference electrode. A reversible cell, without liquid junction, is formed with Prussian blue and Ag/AgCl electrodes and this serves as a means for determining an accurate value for the standard reduction potential of Prussian blue, which is found to be 0.238 V vs. Ag/AgCl at 25 °C.
Orientation of field populations ofBrachymeria intermedia [Hym.: Chalcididae], to host and host-habitat cues

Brachymeria intermedia (Nees), a pupal parasitoid of the gypsy moth, was caught in the field using plexiglas traps coated with Tangletrap (2). Significantly greater numbers of females were collected in traps baited with gypsy moth pupae than in traps with male or femaleB. intermedia or traps painted yellow.B. intermedia collected in traps during the first 3 weeks of native gypsy moth pupation were primarily female. A preponderance of males were caught during the fourth week. The hyperparasite,Brachymeria compsilurae (Cwfd) was also trapped in small numbers.
Late Outcomes of a Single-Center Experience of 400 Consecutive Thoracic Endovascular Aortic Repairs

Background—In this study, we report the late outcomes of a large, decade-long single-center thoracic endovascular aortic repair experience. Methods and Results—A prospectively maintained registry and the electronic medical records of 400 consecutive thoracic endovascular aortic repair performed at a tertiary care center were reviewed. The distribution of pathologies treated included aneurysms (198, 49%), dissections (100, 25%), penetrating ulcers (54, 14%), traumatic transections (25, 6%), and other pathologies (23, 6%). Spinal drains were placed prophylactically in 127 cases (32%) of planned extended aortic coverage. There were no acute surgical conversions. Adjunctive surgical procedures were performed on 94 patients (24%). Subclavian revascularizations were performed selectively in only 15% of zone 0 to 2 deployments. The median length of stay was 5 days (limits, 1 and 79 days). Overall 30-day mortality was 6.5% (elective, 2.6%; urgent, 9.5%; and emergent, 20%). Permanent spinal cord ischemia occurred ...
Nonlinearity in the relationship between bone Sr/Ca and diet: paleodietary implications.

Strontium in archaeological human bones is widely, almost paradigmatically, used as a measure of the relative dietary abundances of plants and meat. Quantitative modeling reveals, however, that there is not a simple proportional relationship between bone strontium and the dietary plant/meat ratio. While knowledge of specific foods and their compositions may permit accurate calculation of average bone strontium levels, knowledge of bone strontium does not inversely allow accurate calculation of specific foods. Although bone strontium quantitatively reflects the average dietary Sr/Ca ratio, it is disproportionately sensitive to high-calcium foods and can be easily affected by minor dietary constituents and culinary practices. Bone strontium, and by analogy, barium, should be seen as a reflection of the high-mineral dietary components rather than a quantitative index of trophic position. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Knockdown of prolactin receptors in a pancreatic beta cell line: effects on DNA synthesis, apoptosis, and gene expression.

Prolactin (PRL) and placental lactogen stimulate beta cell replication and insulin production in vitro and in vivo. The molecular mechanisms by which lactogens promote beta cell expansion are unclear. We treated rat insulinoma cells with a PRL receptor (PRLR) siRNA to determine if PRLR signaling is required for beta cell DNA synthesis and cell survival and to identify beta cell cycle genes whose expression depends upon lactogen action. Effects of PRLR knockdown were compared with those of PRL treatment. PRLR knockdown (−80 %) reduced DNA synthesis, increased apoptosis, and inhibited expression of cyclins D2 and B2, IRS-2, Tph1, and the anti-apoptotic protein PTTG1; p21 and BCL6 mRNAs increased. Conversely, PRL treatment increased DNA synthesis, reduced apoptosis, and enhanced expression of A, B and D2 cyclins, CDK1, IRS-2, FoxM1, BCLxL, and PTTG1; BCL6 declined. PRLR signaling is required for DNA synthesis and survival of rat insulinoma cells. The effects of lactogens are mediated by down-regulation of cell cycle inhibitors (BCL6, p21) and induction of A, B, and D2 cyclins, IRS-2, Tph1, FoxM1, and the anti-apoptotic proteins BCLxL and PTTG1.
Education about hallucinations using an internet virtual reality system: a qualitative survey.

The authors evaluate an Internet virtual reality technology as an education tool about the hallucinations of psychosis. This is a pilot project using Second Life, an Internet-based virtual reality system in which a virtual reality environment was constructed to simulate the auditory and visual hallucinations of two patients with schizophrenia. Eight hundred sixty-three self-referred users took a self-guided tour. Five hundred seventy-nine (69%) of the users who toured the environment completed a survey. Of the survey responders, 440 (76%) thought the environment improved their understanding of auditory hallucinations 69% thought it improved their understanding of visual hallucinations, and 82% said they would recommend the environment to a friend. Computer simulations of the perceptual phenomena of psychiatric illness are feasible with existing personal computer technology. Integration of the evaluation survey into the environment itself was possible. The use of Internet-connected graphics environments holds promise for public education about mental illness.
Experimental studies of the cross-excitation instability in a relativistic backward wave oscillator

Our group first reported the operation of a relativistic backward wave oscillator (BWO) in the so-called “cross-excitation” regime in 1998. This instability, whose general properties were predicted earlier through numerical studies, was a consequence of using a particularly shallow rippled-wall waveguide (slow wave structure – SWS) that was installed in the experiment to diagnose pulse shortening in a long pulse electron beam-driven high power microwave (HPM) source. This particular SWS was required to accommodate laser interferometry measurements during the course of microwave generation. Since those early experiments we have further studied this regime in greater detail using two different SWS lengths. We have invoked time-frequency analysis, the smoothed-pseudo Wigner-Ville distribution in particular, to interpret the heterodyned signals of the radiated power measurements. These recent results are consistent with earlier theoretical predictions for the onset, voltage scaling, and general behavior for this instability. This paper presents data for a relativistic BWO operating in the single frequency regime for two axial modes, operating in the cross-excitation regime, and discusses the interpretation of the data, as well as the methodology used for its analysis. Although operation in the cross-excitation regime is typically avoided due to its poorer efficiency, we discuss how it may be exploited in HPM effects studies.
Pharmacy stages of involvement in pharmacy-based immunization services: results from a 17-state survey.

Objectives To describe pharmacy stages of involvement in outsourced and in-house immunization services and to explore the variability of stages of involvement across the sampled states. Design Cross-sectional study. Setting Community pharmacies in 17 states, between July 2005 and February 2006. Participants Key informants of 2,558 community pharmacies. Intervention Computer-assisted telephone interviews regarding pharmacy involvement in immunization services. Main outcome measure Pharmacies' stage of involvement in immunization services, based on the following categories: no interest; interested, no plan; planning; implemented; discontinued; and no response. Results Of 2,558 community pharmacies, 1,707 (69.1%) completed the interview. For outsourced immunization services, about one-half of participating pharmacies (50.6%) implemented and planned to implement the services while only 20.7% had no interest in offering the services. These percentages contrast sharply with in-house immunization services: 24.7% of pharmacies in this category implemented and planned to implement the services and 38.1% indicated no interest in offering the services. Involvement in immunization services varied widely across the 17 states. For outsourced services, implementation ranged from 17.5% to 68.8% of pharmacies, while 13.5% to 39.3% had no interest in the services. For in-house services, implementation ranged from 0% to 42.1% of pharmacies; 19.6% to 49.5% had no interest. Conclusion Understanding stages of pharmacy involvement in immunization services should allow design and implementation of more effective strategies for increasing involvement and decreasing abandonment of immunization practices.
Changes of polyamines and ethylene in cucumber seedlings in response to chilling stress

Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L. cv. Victory) seedlings were exposed to chilling at 5°C and endogenous levels of polyamines and 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC) were measured after chilling and after warming at 20°C. The level of spermidine was higher in the chilled seedlings than in the non-chilled seedlings. Treatment with a plant bioregulator, (2RS,3RS)-1-(4-cholorophenyl)-4,4-dimethyl-2-(1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)pentan-3-ol (paclobutrazol), reduced the chilling injury and the levels of spermidine in the chilled seedlings. The levels of ACC and production of ethylene showed sharp increases after warming following exposure to chilling. These increases were suppressed by the application of aminooxyacetic acid (AOA). However, AOA treatment did not reduce chilling injury or affect the levels of polyamines in the tissue. These data indicate that the increase in ACC and ethylene is a response of the tissue to the chilling exposure and is not a cause of the injury. The data also suggest that the syntheses of polyamines and ethylene are not competitive with each other even under chilling stress conditions.