cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
THE INVASION OF THE MIND: A WORST POSSIBLE SCENARIO FOR THE OFFICE OF THE FUTURE

The very first issue of this journal struck an important and vibrant chord. It contained a series of “statements of concern” by a number of the members of the editorial board. Many, if not nearly all, of the statements expressed concern with the impacts and potential ill effects of technology on people. Among the concerns expressed were: (1) there was worry that the field of office automation was or would be dominated by technologists and vendors with a limited point of view to push; (2) there was worry that current designers are generally insensitive to broader human needs; (3) there was concern that current conceptions of office design and technology embody a naive and simplistic view of the user, and that they contribute to an inflexible and mechanistic concept of work; (4) considerable concern was also expressed that current thinking contributes, whether unconsciously or not, to a further invasion of personal privacy; in general, current conceptions pose a threat to personal freedoms; and finally (5) concern was expressed that we need more systematic and sustained study of a topic that has heretofore just barely risen above the plane of consciousness, i.e., the psychoses of system design; for instance, what drives the designers of large scale computer systems to produce systems such that they are user unfriendly and even user threatening; and strangely enough, why do the users of such systems buy into the psychoses of their designers?
Amino Acid Substitution(s) in the Stem-Anchor Region of Langat Virus Envelope Protein Attenuates Mouse Neurovirulence

Abstract The identification of variants that are unable to bind membrane receptor preparations (MRPs) has previously been shown to select attenuated yellow fever and Japanese encephalitis viruses. In this study, this methodology has been extended to the tick-borne serocomplex of flaviviruses. Langat (LGT) virus strain TP21 was bound to mouse or human brain MRPs and viruses that escaped binding were isolated and characterized. In addition, variant viruses escaping neutralization by the monoclonal antibody (MAb) 9F9 were also isolated. All of the variant viruses were attenuated for mouse neurovirulence (≥13-fold). Sequence analysis of the prM/E region of the variant viruses identified mutations within the stem-anchor region of the E protein in variants isolated following incubation with mouse or human brain MRPs at a pH ≥ 7.0. The MAb 9F9 variants and MRP variants isolated at pH 5.0, which should induce a conformational shift in the viral E protein, had nearly identical mutations in the prM/M protein immediately N-terminal to the prM/E cleavage site. MAb 9F9 neutralized none of the variant viruses and hemagglutination inhibition assays suggest that the variant virus surface proteins have slightly different conformations compared to the parental virus. These data support previous work indicating that the stem-anchor region of the E protein is important to the surface architecture of the tick-borne flaviviruses. In addition, this study demonstrates that the M protein is at least partially solvent accessible on the virion surface and that the M protein plays a role in maintaining the conformation of the M/E surface complex.
Spitzer spectroscopy of unusual hydrocarbons in cool radiative environments

The Spitzer Space Telescope has discovered several objects with unusual spectra, where the emission features from polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are shifted to longer wavelengths than normally observed. Previously, only two of these class C PAH spectra had been identified. The new and larger sample reveals that PAHs emit at longer wavelengths when processed by cooler radiation fields. Limited laboratory data show that samples with mixtures of aromatic and aliphatic hydrocarbons produce emission features at longer wavelengths than purely aromatic samples. The aliphatic bonds are more fragile and would only survive in cooler radiation fields. In harsher radiation fields, the aliphatics attached to the aromatic hydrocarbons are destroyed.
The Wiring Economy Principle for Designing Inference Networks

The wiring economy principle in neuroscience has explained many experimentally observed properties of neuronal networks by asserting the need to keep the axons and dendrites that connect neurons small in length. Just like neuronal networks, many distributed systems are physical constructs that incur deployment and maintenance costs for their communication infrastructure. Taking wiring economy as a design goal for engineering systems that perform distributed coordination and inference, this paper formulates and studies the tradeoff between performance and wiring cost. It is shown that separated communication topology design and physical node placement yields optimal design. Designing optimal networks is shown to be NP-complete. The natural relaxation to the integer network design problem is shown to be a reverse convex program. Small optimal networks are computed. Optimally placed random network topologies are demonstrated to have good performance.
Self-assembly of transition-metal-based macrocycles linked by photoisomerizable ligands: examples of photoinduced conversion of tetranuclear-dinuclear squares.

A series of hetero- and homometallic square complexes bridged by a photoactive 4,4‘-azopyridine (AZP) or 1,2-bis(4-pyridyl)ethylene (BPE) ligand, cyclobis{[cis-(dppf)M](μ-L)2(fac-Re(CO)3Br)}(OTf)4 (M = Pd, L = trans-AZP (5); M = Pt, L = trans-AZP (7); M = Pd, L = trans-BPE (8); M = Pt, L = trans-BPE (10)), cyclo{[cis-(dppf)M](μ-L)2(fac-Re(CO)3Br)}(OTf)2 (M = Pd, L = cis-AZP (6); M = Pd, L = cis-BPE (9)), [cis-(dppf)Pd(μ-trans-AZP)]4(OTf)8 (11), and [cis-(dppf)Pd(μ-cis-AZP)]2(OTf)4 (12), where dppf is 1,1‘-bis(diphenylphosphino)ferrocene and OTf is trifluoromethanesulfonate anion, were prepared by thermodynamically driven self-assembly processes. The photophysical and photochemical properties of these complexes have been investigated, and all of them show a lack of luminescence in room temperature solution. Upon irradiation at 313 or 366 nm, Pd(II)−Re(I)-containing tetranuclear squares 5, 8, and 11 undergo photoisomerization and convert to their corresponding dinuclear complexes 6, 9, and 12, whereas Pt(II...
Glandular tissue contrast in CCD-digitized mammograms

Contrast resolution in CCD digitized mammograms is difficult because of storage requirements for 12 bit gray level resolution and because of the logarithmic amplification needed for optical densities above 1.6. By assigning gray level ranges to specific optical density ranges based on a region of interest selection during a pre-digitization scan, contrast for lower optical densities can be preserved. Comparison of the equivalence of film and digital images was confirmed by 6 radiologists reading 46 biopsy proven films (12 cases). Diagnostic performance was also tested and showed similar error rates (17%) for both modalities.© (1993) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Comparison of two new classifications for pediatric myelodysplastic and myeloproliferative disorders.

Background The category, cytology, cytogenetics (CCC) system for myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and the pediatric WHO system for MDS/myeloproliferative disorder (MPD) have recently been proposed to characterize these diseases in pediatrics. Objective We compare the CCC and pediatric WHO systems against each other and against the French, American, British (FAB) and adult WHO classifications in order to determine which more accurately classifies these diseases and predicts outcome. Methods An 18-year retrospective review identified patients less than 18 years of age meeting CCC and/or pediatric WHO criteria for the diagnosis of MDS or MPD. Resolution, stability, progression, and death in the subcategories of each system were compared. Results Twenty-eight patients were included in the study. Pediatric WHO: 17 patients met criteria, 10 died. Eight developed acute myelogenous leukemia (AML) (seven died), one juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia (JMML) (died), one chronic myelomonocytic leukemia (CMML) (currently in relapse), two died of complications, two responded to BMT, three have stable disease, one resolved. Eleven patients were not classifiable by the pediatric WHO system, one of which progressed to AML and died. CCC: 26 patients met criteria, 9 died. Nine developed AML (8 died), 1 died of complications, 10 responded to treatment (BMT and/or chemotherapy). Four are stable without treatment, two resolved. Two patients with MPD were not classifiable by the CCC system. Conclusions Both the pediatric WHO and CCC systems are better able to classify MDS in children than the adult WHO and FAB classifications. The pediatric WHO system is more exclusive. Children meeting these criteria are more likely to progress to AML or death. The restrictive nature of the pediatric WHO system was unable to classify one case of fatal MDS. The CCC system is more inclusive and can stratify patients into a neutral or poor prognosis based upon outcome. However, the CCC system ignores those diseases with a myeloprolifferative component. This resulted in two cases of MPD that were unclassifiable by the CCC system. One of these patients died, the other is currently in relapse. © 2004 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Behavior of sample means and nonparametric time-series estimation

The behavior of sample means, which needs to be understood by all applied statisticians and users of simulation methods, can be considered to be the most basic question of both classical and modern probability and statistics. This theory, and its implications for practice, will be surveyed (in the methodology session on Time Series Analysis of Sample Means) by three statisticians who are experts on time series analysis.This paper consists of five sections discussing: notation; spectral density classification of memory type of a time series; equivalent degrees of freedom of asymptotic confidence intervals for the mean; sample Fourier transforms and sample spectral density; sample Brownian Bridge functionals and standardized time series.
Influence of the constraint of bridgehead structure on phosphorus reactivity in the 1-phosphabicyclo[3.2.1]octane system

Abstract Nucleophiles attack the methiodide of the 3,4-benzo derivative of the title system to displace the P-methyl group in peference to the benzylic moiety. The trigonal bipyramidal intermediates (as well as a stable dioxyphosphorane) appear to undergo rapid isomerization.
Beam coupling in photorefractive BaTiO 3 crystals

Beam-coupling experiments are carried out with two BaTiO3 crystals as a function of the intensity and wavelength. We demonstrate in these experiments that hole–electron competition is not the only mechanism responsible for the anomalous behavior of photorefractive BaTiO3 crystals. We find that the intensity-dependent absorption coefficient plays a major role in beam-coupling experiments.
Curing of Roller Compacted Concrete: Strength Development

This paper reports on the strength development of three concrete mixes, with and without fly‐ash, subjected to many combinations of controlled moist and air‐dry environments during the first 27 days. Mix proportions and specimen fabrication technique were selected so as to reproduce roller compacted concrete construction for pavements, with the intent to determine the effect of curing on such applications. Wet‐dry curing cycles produce sizable moisture fluctuations in the samples; however, it is shown that apparently improper curing conditions do not cause drastic compressive strength reduction, but rather affect the concrete exposed surface layer. Fly‐ash inclusion seems not to alter the sample's compressive strength development as a function of the curing cycles.
Microstructure evolution in Xe-irradiated UO2 at room temperature

Abstract In situ Transmission Electron Microscopy was conducted for single crystal UO2 to understand the microstructure evolution during 300 keV Xe irradiation at room temperature. The dislocation microstructure evolution was shown to occur as nucleation and growth of dislocation loops at low irradiation doses, followed by transformation to extended dislocation segments and tangles at higher doses. Xe bubbles with dimensions of 1–2 nm were observed after room-temperature irradiation. Electron Energy Loss Spectroscopy indicated that UO2 remained stoichiometric under room temperature Xe irradiation.
RPA puts the brakes on MMEJ

Microhomology-mediated end joining (MMEJ) is a mechanism of DNA double-strand-break repair that creates deletions and promotes other types of genome instability. New in vivo and in vitro analyses demonstrate that the heterotrimeric replication protein A (RPA) complex prevents spontaneous annealing of microhomologies, thereby preventing genome-destabilizing MMEJ.
Optimal design and directional leverage with applications in differential equation models

We consider the problem of estimating input parameters for a differential equation model, given experimental observations of the output. As time and cost limit both the number and quality of observations, the design is critical. A generalized notion of leverage is derived and, with this, we define directional leverage. Effective designs are argued to be those that sample in regions of high directional leverage. We present an algorithm for finding optimal designs and then establish relationships to existing design optimality criteria. Numerical examples demonstrating the performance of the algorithm are presented.
The Importance of Family and Friend Relationships for the Mental Health of Asian Immigrant Young Adults and Their Nonimmigrant Peers

This study investigates how the quality of family and friend relationships relates to depressive symptomatology among immigrant Asian and nonimmigrant young adults. The analyses focused on three cultural groups of college students to examine whether these processes vary with immigrants' generation and ethnicity. Results showed that family and friend relationships uniquely contributed to all students' mental health. Students who experienced less family conflict had lower levels of depressive symptoms regardless of their ethnicity or immigrant status. In addition, friend support emerged as a protective factor against the effects of family conflict on depressive symptoms, but only for first-generation immigrants.
PHOTOREFRACTIVITY IN CROSSLINKED POLYMER-STABILIZED NEMATIC LIQUID CRYSTALS

The observation of photorefractive gratings in new crosslinked polymer-stabilized liquid crystals (PSLCs) is discussed and compared to previous PSLCs. The PSLCs easily incorporate reduced or oxidized molecules that are present in a nematic liquid crystal at a concentration of 2 mol%. The PSLCs that are crosslinked provide improved photo-refractive grating resolution, due to their improved functionality as an immobile electron trap. These materials are capable of functioning well into the Bragg diffraction regime. Photoconductivity experiments that support the photorefractive mechanism and a different charge transport mechanism than neat liquid crystals are also performed.
Logistic Regression for Dependent Binary Observations

The likelihood of a set of binary dependent outcomes, with or without explanatory variables, is expressed as a product of conditional probabilities each of which is assumed to be logistic. The models are called regressive logistic models. They provide a simple but relatively unknown parametrization of the multivariate distribution. They have the theoretical and practical advantage that they can be analyzed and fitted as in logistic regression for independent outcomes, and with the same computer programs. The paper is largely expository and is intended to motivate the development and usage of the regressive logistic models. The discussion includes serially dependent outcomes, equally predictive outcomes, more specialized patterns of dependence, multidimensional tables, and three examples.
Predictors of cardiovascular response to smoked cocaine in humans.

Abstract The purpose of this study was to examine the predictors of heart rate and blood pressure changes following cocaine administration. Sixty-two smoked cocaine users received a single 0.4 mg/kg dose of smoked cocaine. Male sex, African–American race, higher body weight and current marijuana use predicted a greater cardiovascular response to cocaine. In contrast, higher baseline blood pressure, heart rate, amount and frequency of current cocaine use and presence of current cocaine snorting predicted a diminished cardiovascular response to cocaine. Whether these predictors of the cardiovascular response to smoked cocaine in the laboratory also predict cardiovascular complications from long-term cocaine use needs to be studied further.
A panning DLT procedure for three-dimensional videography

Abstract The direct linear transformation (DLT) method [Abdel-Aziz and Karara, APS Symposium on Photogrammetry. American Society of Photogrammetry, Falls Church, VA (1971)] is widely used in biomechanics to obtain three-dimensional space coordinates from film and video records. This method has some major shortcomings when used to analyze events which take place over large areas. To overcome these shortcomings, a three-dimensional data collection method based on the DLT method, and making use of panning cameras, was developed. Several small single control volumes were combined to construct a large total control volume. For each single control volume, a regression equation (calibration equation) is developed to express each of the 11 DLT parameters as a function of camera orientation, so that the DLT parameters can then be estimated from arbitrary camera orientations. Once the DLT parameters are known for at least two cameras, and the associated two-dimensional film or video coordinates of the event are obtained, the desired three-dimensional space coordinates can be computed. In a laboratory test, five single control volumes (in a total control volume of 24.40 × 2.44 × 2.44 m3) were used to test the effect of the position of the single control volume on the accuracy of the computed three dimensional space coordinates. Linear and quadratic calibration equations were used to test the effect of the order of the equation on the accuracy of the computed three dimensional space coordinates. For four of the five single control volumes tested, the mean resultant errors associated with the use of the linear calibration equation were significantly larger than those associated with the use of the quadratic calibration equation. The position of the single control volume had no significant effect on the mean resultant errors in computed three dimensional coordinates when the quadratic calibration equation was used. Under the same data collection conditions, the mean resultant errors in the computed three dimensional coordinates associated with the panning and stationary DLT methods were 17 and 22 mm, respectively. The major advantages of the panning DLT method lie in the large image sizes obtained and in the ease with which the data can be collected. The method also has potential for use in a wide variety of contexts. The major shortcoming of the method is the large amount of digitizing necessary to calibrate the total control volume. Adaptations of the method to reduce the amount of digitizing required are being explored.
Neutrino Spectrum from SN 1987A and from Cosmic Supernovae

The detection of neutrinos from SN 1987A by the Kamiokande-II and Irvine-Michigan-Brookhaven detectors provided the first glimpse of core collapse in a supernova, complementing the optical observations and confirming our basic understanding of the mechanism behind the explosion. One long-standing puzzle is that, when fitted with thermal spectra, the two independent detections do not seem to agree with either each other or typical theoretical expectations. We assess the compatibility of the two data sets in a model-independent way and show that they can be reconciled if one avoids any bias on the neutrino spectrum stemming from theoretical conjecture. We reconstruct the neutrino spectrum from SN 1987A directly from the data through nonparametric inferential statistical methods and present predictions for the diffuse supernova neutrino background based on SN 1987A data. We show that this prediction cannot be too small (especially in the 10\char21{}18 MeV range), since the majority of the detected events from SN 1987A were above 18 MeV (including 6 events above 35 MeV), suggesting an imminent detection in operational and planned detectors.
An indexical account of the Japanese sentence‐final particle no

Linguistic features which signal social contexts have been referred to as indexicals (Jakobson, 1960; Lyons, 1977; Morris, 1946; Ochs, 1989; Peirce, 1931–58; Silverstein, 1976). Typically, indexicals index diverse contexts. However, we still do not know much about the complex relations between a particular linguistic feature and the diverse contexts indexed by that feature. This article discusses one such indexical in Japanese: the sentence‐final particle no. Because of the diversity of social contexts that no indexes, no has puzzled a number of linguists. The present paper proposes that the sentence‐final particle no indexes group authority for knowledge. This indexical meaning helps constitute diverse social contexts. This treatment of no incorporates and integrates points made about no by other researchers.
Light-, pH- and uncoupler-dependent association of chloride with chloroplast thylakoids

Abstract Studies of the association of Cl− with Photosystem (PS) II in CF1-containing thylakoid membranes revealed that photosynthetically active Cl− is retained in a Cl−-free medium unless it is sufficiently alkaline, uncoupling conditions are established and light is excluded. After treatment under such conditions, electron transport from water became dependent on added Cl− under all conditions. Quantitative measurements of 36Cl− retention in the light revealed that there were about five Cl− anions present in Cl−-sufficient chloroplasts per PS II reaction center, and one-fourth of that in Cl−-deficient samples. Uncouplers representing three different types of uncoupling mechanism were found to be effective mediators of Cl− release from thylakoids. Since the ability to collapse a proton gradient probably is the only property shared by all the tested uncouplers, a proton gradient may be involved in the retention of Cl−. As uncoupler-mediated Cl− release did not depend on preillumination of our samples, a long-lived proton gradient must exist in dark-adapted chloroplasts which may not span the whole thickness of the thylakoid membrane. It is postulated that the Cl− active in PS II reactions resides in a special membrane domain from which protons slowly equilibrate with those in the bulk solutions. Cl− is thought to be released to the bulk phases only when the pH of the membrane domain is raised above a certain threshold by the action of uncouplers. This domain may be identical to the intramembranous compartment which has been postulated to be associated with PS II (Prochaska, L.J. and Dilley, R.A., (1978) Front. Biol. Res. Energ. 1, 265–274).
Isolated congenital mitral insufficiency: Pathologic and surgical variations in five children

Abstract Five children with congenital mitral insufficiency had severe congestive heart failure refractory to medical management within 18 months of surgical treatment. The physical examination, electrocardiographic, and roentgen findings were indistinguishable from those observed with severe acquired mitral insufficiency. A variety of pathologic lesions were found to be the cause of the mitral insufficiency. These included cleft mitral leaflets, parachute mitral valve deformity, deficient posterior valve leaflet, endocardial sclerosis, and a cleft mitral valve associated with anomalous origin of the left coronary artery from the pulmonary artery. The technique of surgical repair was individualized. Primary suture of the cleft, annuloplasty, and prosthetic valve replacement were employed. Four of the five patients survived and are much improved. One patient died as a result of postpapillary muscle dysfunction.
Modified Cecal Flap Neoappendix for the Malone Antegrade Continence Enema Procedure: A Novel Technique

ABSTRACTPurpose: We report our experience with the creation of a tubularized cecal flap to construct a neoappendix. This flap effectively serves as an alternative means of creating a conduit for antegrade continence enemas in patients who have either an absent or an unusable appendix.Materials and Methods: We reviewed our results from our initial 4 patients in whom we used this technique. A neoappendix is created from a medially based flap of distal cecum that is tubularized over a catheter and then buried in a seromuscular tunnel to create an antireflux mechanism. A skin stoma is then created.Results: All stomas are continent, functional and without any evidence of stenosis or necrosis of the cecal flap with followup ranging from 3 months to 8 years.Conclusions: A medially based cecal flap neoappendix is an easily created and reliable conduit for antegrade enemas. This procedure should be considered within the surgical armamentarium of urologists and pediatric surgeons when the appendix is absent, atreti...
Transcriptional control of serotonin-modulated behavior and physiology.

Altered levels of serotonergic activity have been linked to the pathogenesis of numerous neurological and psychiatric disorders such as autism, sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), depression, and anxiety. These alterations are thought to cause abnormal formation of neural circuitry responsible for the development and expression of adaptive behaviors and physiological processes. How might these alterations be brought about? Genetic variation in or near genes encoding the serotonin (5-HT) reuptake transporter, 5-HT1A receptor, and the rate-limiting synthetic enzyme tryptophan hydroxylase 2 is associated with risk for behavioral pathogenesis (Holmes, 2008). Functional studies in cell culture suggest that some of the identified variants alter levels of gene transcription.
Minimizing Drum Latency Time

The need for latency minimization in many programs for certain computers is quite pronounced, as quantitative results indicate. Optimizing computer instructions includes many things besides merely assigning locations optimally. There are rigorous mathematical methods for formulating the latency problem into a series of integer programming problems, and a mechanical technique has also been developed for iterating on chosen locations in an attempt to improve the choices. The most practical way discovered for minimizing latency, however, has been to let people do the job manually with a semi-systematic procedure and to use computers for the routine phases and for checking the human output.
Chlorine concentrations in alfalfa herbage and soil with KCl topdressing of a low fertility silt loam soil

Abstract The purpose of this study was to determine the amount of Cl in plants and soil following topdressing of alfalfa with increasing amounts of KCl (0–0–60). The study was conducted with Ranger alfalfa on a low K Piano silt loam soil that had been topdressed twice during three years with a total of zero, 203, 406, 1220, and 2034 kg/ha of Cl as KCl (0, 224, 448, 1334, and 2240 kg/ha of K). Herbage was harvested annually three times at first flower plus an early October cut (4 cuts). The 3‐year average herbage yields were highest with 1220 kg/ha of topdressed Cl. Herbage yields decreased with 2034 kg/ha of Cl, but not significantly below that at 1220 kg/ha. Weakened and yellowed plants were noted in the spring of the second harvest year after 2034 kg/ha of Cl had been applied, and the first‐flower herbage contained 1.90% Cl. It was concluded that the weakened condition of the alfalfa was due to excess Cl. Movement of Cl through the silt loam soil was rapid. The largest concentrations of Cl in the soil t...
An overview of network evasion methods

In recent years much attention has been paid in the network security space to a variety of issues including performance and detection capability. Resistance to evasion however has not been pursued with the same level of interest. During this time many of the technologies have evolved. New applications, protocols and services abound and even the security devices themselves have also become more complex. This lack of focus combined with significant change presents new risks. This paper provides an overview of evasion techniques both new and old, and considers them relative to current technologies.
First principles calculations of the structure and elastic constants of α, β and γ uranium

This study analyzes structural and elastic properties of five uranium crystal structures: the face centered orthorhombic A20 (a phase), the tetragonal D8b (b phase), body centered tetragonal (bct), body centered cubic (c phase) and face centered cubic structures. Calculations are performed within the density functional theory framework employing the Projector Augmented Wave method and the Perdew– Burke–Ernzerhof generalized gradient approximation (PBE–GGA) of the exchange correlation. The elastic constants are used to compute polycrystalline elastic moduli, Poisson’s ratio and the Debye temperature for all five structures. The a and c phase properties are compared with theoretical and experimental results. The complex tetragonal 30 atom beta phase is examined in detail. Representation of the b phase by a bct structure is examined; we find that the structure of the b phase is significantly different from the bct phase but exhibits similar elastic properties. This is the first comprehensive investigation into the elastic constants of uranium utilizing the PBE–GGA.
Studio practices for shaping and heat-setting synthetic fabrics

Heat-setting of synthetic fabrics is an industrial stabilisation process that has been adapted by designers to create dimensional textures through shaped-resists and non-industrial heat-setting methods. The article overviews heat-setting properties, physical resist techniques, and presents an experiment to determine best practices for heat-setting physically resisted polyester fabric. Two polyester fabrics, organza and lining, were gathered and secured to a wooden dowel and heat-set under four heating conditions: steaming in a pressure cooker, boiling in a pot of water, dry heat in a conventional oven and radiation waves in a microwave oven. Pre- and post-treatment lengths were analysed using GLM for two-way ANOVA and post hoc tests. Based on results from the statistical analysis and visual evaluation, steaming in a pressure cooker is recommended for sheer fabrics such as organza and dry heat from a conventional oven for lining weight fabrics.
Patch-clamp recordings of membrane currents evoked during natural synaptic activity in sympathetic neurons

Membrane currents elicited by colonic distension and by electrical stimulation of the intermesenteric nerve containing colonic afferent nerve fibres were recorded from neurons of the mouse superior mesenteric ganglion at 20 degrees C with the whole-cell patch-clamp method. Electrically-evoked excitatory postsynaptic currents reversed at -3.5 mV. At membrane holding voltages of -70 mV and -110 mV, the excitatory postsynaptic currents were characterized by a single exponential decay with a mean (+/- S.E.M.) time-constant of 17.5 +/- 1.3 ms and 15.5 +/- 2.3 ms, respectively. Colonic distension evoked a series of the excitatory postsynaptic currents which ranged in amplitude from 10 to 700 pA (at a membrane holding voltage of -70 mV). Hexamethonium (100 microM) applied only to the ganglion abolished both electrically- and distension-evoked excitatory postsynaptic currents, suggesting activation of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors. The decay time-course of distension-evoked single excitatory postsynaptic currents was characterized by one, or, less commonly, by two exponentials. The decay time-constant histograms of distension-evoked single excitatory postsynaptic currents exhibited main kinetic components of 8.1 +/- 2.3 ms and 8.2 +/- 2.5 ms (peak +/- S.D.) at -70 and -110 mV membrane holding voltages, respectively. Longer time-constants ranging up to 51 ms were also observed. The number of the distension-evoked excitatory postsynaptic currents with a decay time-constant higher than 20 ms, as well as their mean amplitude, were significantly lower at -110 mV than at -70 mV membrane potential levels, in contrast to the currents with a decay time-constant lower than or equal to 20 ms. The results suggest that colonic afferent nerve fibres activate in the mouse superior mesenteric ganglion neurons a few populations of the postsynaptic nicotinic acetylcholine receptors with different channel kinetics, which are characterized by a lack of voltage sensitivity within -70 to -110 mV membrane potential range, except those with comparatively slow channel kinetics, which are possibly blocked by membrane hyperpolarization.
Characterization of proximal transcription regulatory elements in the rat phospholamban promoter

Phospholamban is a major regulator of cardiac diastole, with alterations in expression associated with modified cardiac relaxation. To study transcriptional regulation of phospholamban expression, we made reporter constructs that expressed luciferase under control of putative promoter sequences from the rat phospholamban gene. When transfected into neonatal rat cardiomyocytes, constructs containing at least 159 nucleotides preceding the transcription start site were equally active, while truncation to -66/+64 removed all promoter activity. Constructs were more active in cardiomyocytes than in HeLa cells (which do not express phospholamban), but did not show absolute cell-type specificity of expression. Addition of sequences upstream to -4032, all of the intron (7.4 kb), or 3'UTR sequences (0. 8 kb) did not enhance cell-specific expression. To focus on the basal promoter region (-159/-66), a series of deletion constructs were made that identified a novel 35 bp region (-159/-125; Phospholamban Promoter Element 1, PPE1) required for promoter activity in cardiomyocytes. Site-specific mutations identified nucleotides -150/-133 as containing most of the promoter-enhancing activity. While the rat PPE1 is highly conserved (>70%) in four other mammalian phospholamban genes, it does not contain previously characterized regulatory elements. In cardiomyocytes the PPE1 sequence markedly enhanced activity of the SV40 early promoter. A conserved CCAAT element (-83/-79) was also required for promoter activity in both cardiomyocytes and HeLa cells. Exonuclease III footprinting identified protein/DNA interactions in both the extended CCAAT box and PPE1 domains. Gel shift studies identified the CCAAT elements as binding CBF/NF-Y.
GLOVES AS VANISHING PERSONAL STUFF : AN INFORMAL LOOK

A definition of “personal stuff,” a qualitative illustration, and why “personal stuff” vanishes are considered.
Mutual Aid and Animal Dispersion: An Historical Analysis of Alternatives to Darwin

Petr Alekseyevich Kropotkin (1842-1921) and Vero Copner Wynne-Edwards (1906-1997) developed evolutionary theories that emphasized social groups and cooperation rather than the organism-level natural selection of standard Darwinian theory. The most important reason for their alternative interpretations was their experience as field naturalists. Kropotkin and Wynne-Edwards worked in arctic environments and were impressed by aspects of the natural world that differed significantly from those experienced by Darwin or Wallace. These field experiences led to their emphasis on mutual aid and group selection, respectively. Understanding the development of their theories helps to illuminate the continuing debates over evolutionary theory and the current resurgence of interest in group selection.
THE ACTION OF ADRENALINE AND OF CERTAIN DRUGS UPON THE ISOLATED CRUSTACEAN HEART

1. The action of adrenaline, ephedrine, ergotoxine, pilocarpine, and atropine has been studied on the heart of the crabs Maia squinado, Cancer pagurus, and Carcinus moenas. 2. A method for the perfusion of the isolated heart in these genera is described. 3. Adrenaline produces a marked acceleration of the rhythm and an increase in tone of the heart-muscle in all cases. 4. In Cancer, in addition to the above effects, there is a pronounced increase in the amplitude of the beats. 5. The action of adrenaline is not reversible. In the lowest dilution in which it gives any effect, that effect is excitatory. 6. Ephedrine has no action on the crab heart. 7. Ergotoxine has a depressant action, but does not antagonise or reverse the action of adrenaline. 8. Pilocarpine produces an effect similar to that obtained with adrenaline. 9. Atropine has by itself no action on the heart in the dilutions employed, but antagonises the effect of pilocarpine. 10. Atropine has no effect on the response to adrenaline. The author's acknowledgments are due to Dr E. J. ALLEN and Mr C. F. A. PANTIN for placing the facilities of the Marine Biological Laboratory at his disposal, and to Miss B. B. SMITH for assistance in conducting the experiments.
Identification and characterization of PshBII, a second FA/FB-containing polypeptide in the photosynthetic reaction center of Heliobacterium modesticaldum.

All known Type I photosynthetic reaction centers harbor three [4Fe–4S] clusters named FX, FA and FB that function as terminal electron acceptors. We reported earlier that FA and FB in the homodimeric Type I reaction center from Heliobacterium modesticaldum reside on a loosely bound 54 amino acid protein named PshB. Time-resolved optical spectroscopy and low temperature EPR spectroscopy showed that on illumination, electrons were transferred from FX − to FA and FB at both cryogenic and room temperatures. Interestingly, the gene that codes for PshB, HM1_1462, is part of a predicted dicistronic operon that contains a second gene, named HM1_1461, which codes for a second ferredoxin-like protein with high sequence homology to PshB, including the two traditional [4Fe–4S] cluster binding motifs. RT-PCR results confirm that both genes are transcribed as a single transcript. We have cloned the HM1_1461 gene through PCR amplification of the H. modesticaldum chromosomal DNA and overexpressed the apoprotein in Escherichia coli. Reconstitution studies with inorganic reagents have shown that the holoprotein harbors ~8 iron and ~8 sulfide atoms in the form of two [4Fe–4S] clusters. Incubation of the reconstituted holoprotein with heliobacterial reaction center cores results in a charge-separated state characteristic of electron transfer past the FX cluster to the terminal [4Fe–4S] clusters FA and FB. These results suggest that the HM1_1461 product, which we have named PshBII, is capable of functioning in lieu of PshB (renamed PshBI) as an alternative terminal electron transfer protein. Thus, unlike PS I, to which PsaC is tightly bound, two loosely bound ferredoxins, PshBI and PshBII, are capable of interacting with the heliobacterial reaction center. The presence of two, loosely bound FA/FB proteins represents a significant shift in our understanding of structure–function relationships in Type I reaction centers.
Determination of volumetric flow in capillary tubes using an optical Doppler velocimeter

Abstract The purpose of this study was to use the optical Doppler velocimeter of Borders and Granger [(1984), Microvasc. Res. 27, 117–127] to determine the ratio of centerline red cell velocity to mean velocity of blood flowing in small glass tubes. Red blood cell suspensions were perfused at different rates through capillary tubes (15–100 μm, id) while measuring centerline velocity ( V meas ). Mean red cell velocity ( V mean ) was calculated from measurements of volume flow in the tubes. With the effective slit width (sensor size) of the velocimeter set at 9.0 μm, the ratio of V meas V mean averaged 1.54 ± 0.03 (mean ± SEM), and was essentially independent of tube size. When the slit width was increased, the ratio of V meas V mean was significantly lower and appeared to vary as a function of tube diameter. These results are compared with previous measurements using other velocimeters, and the relationship between relative sensor size and ratio of V meas V mean is discussed.
Theories of stock prices and the Greenspan---Bernanke doctrine on stock market bubbles

The Greenspan---Bernanke doctrine on how the Federal Reserve responds to stock market bubbles reflects an ideological allegiance to the rational markets theories of stock prices while reluctantly accepting the analytical insights of the speculative markets theories of the Post Keynesians and Galbraith in acknowledging that bubbles occur. The strategy of supplying ample liquidity when a bubble bursts has some compatibility with Davidson's Post Keynesian role of the Federal Reserve as a credible market maker. But Greenspan and Bernanke reject Galbraith's policies for dealing with an inflating bubble.
Alkaline Phosphatase insolubilized by Covalent Linkage to Porous Glass

ENZYMES have been covalently linked to organic polymers1–7 or immobilized in starch8 and acrylamide gels9. These derivatives are susceptible to microbial attack, and, when used in chromatography columns, vary in flow rates and apparent pore size with changing pH and solvent conditions. Here I describe the covalent coupling of bacterial alkaline phosphatase (Worthington Biochemical Corp., Freehold, NJ) to an inorganic carrier, porous glass, thereby eliminating many problems inherent in the use of organic carriers. Inorganic carriers, for example, are not susceptible to microbial attack; by using a glass in which the pore diameter is smaller than that of a bacterial cell, the enzyme cannot be utilized as substrate unless the organism produces an extra cellular protease, and porous glass is unaffected by the changes in pH and solvent conditions generally associated with the use and study of biological molecules.
Synthesis of poly(A) in vitro by purified virions of vesicular stomatitis virus.

Poly(A) was first shown1 to be associated with cytoplasmic RNA in 1967. Since then it has been shown to be associated with many RNAs that function as messenger or as intranuclear mRNA precursors2–13. This includes the virion RNA of poliovirus7,8, eastern equine encephalitis virus7, Sindbis virus9,10 and RNA tumour viruses11–13. In addition, poly(A) is synthesized by cores of vaccinia virus in vitro2. The function of poly(A) tracts in mRNA has not yet been defined nor has the exact mechanism of synthesis and addition of poly (A) been elucidated, although the evidence favours post-transcriptional addition of poly(A) to mRNA4,7,14–16.
Peripheral neuritis due to lead

Summary A case of peripheral neuritis due to lead in a three-year-old white girl is described. There was marked foot-drop and wrist-drop, with atrophy of the thenar eminences and diminution of sensation over the involved extremities. The literature of lead neuritis is reviewed and a discussion of the syndrome is given.
Physiologic regulation of a tetrodotoxin-sensitive sodium influx that mediates a slow afterdepolarization potential in gonadotropin-releasing hormone neurons: possible implications for the central regulation of fertility.

The brain controls fertility through release of gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH), but the mechanisms underlying action potential patterning and GnRH release are not understood. We investigated whether GnRH neurons exhibit afterdepolarizing potentials (ADPs) and whether these are modified by reproductive state. Whole-cell current-clamp recordings of GnRH neurons in brain slices from ovariectomized mice revealed a slow ADP (sADP) after action potentials generated by brief current injection. Generating two or four spikes enhanced sADP amplitude and duration. sADP amplitude was not affected by blocking selected neurotransmitter/neuromodulator receptors, delayed-rectifier potassium channels, calcium-dependent cation channels, or hyperpolarization-activated cation channels but was halved by the calcium channel blocker cadmium and abolished by tetrodotoxin. Cadmium also reduced peak latency. Intrinsic mechanisms underlying the sADP were investigated using voltage-clamp protocols simulating action potential waveforms. A single action potential produced an inward current, which increased after double and quadruple stimulation. Cadmium did not affect current amplitude but reduced peak latency. Pretreatment with blockers of calcium-activated potassium currents ( I KCa ) reproduced this shift and blocked subsequent cadmium-induced changes, suggesting cadmium changes latency indirectly by blocking I KCa . Tetrodotoxin abolished the inward current, suggesting that it is carried by sodium. In contrast, I KCa blockers increased the inward current, indicating that I KCa may oppose generation of the sADP. Strong sADPs were suprathreshold, generating repetitive spontaneous firing. I ADP , sADP, and excitability were enhanced by in vivo estradiol, which triggers a preovulatory surge of GnRH release. Physiological feedback modification of this inward current and resulting sADP may modulate action potential firing and subsequent GnRH release.
Overexpression of the complementary DNA for human glutamine:fructose-6-phosphate amidotransferase in mesangial cells enhances glucose-induced fibronectin synthesis and transcription factor cyclic adenosine monophosphate-responsive element binding phosphorylation.

Hyperglycemia-induced alterations in mesangial cell function and extracellular matrix protein (ECM) accumulation are seen in diabetic glomerulopathy. The hexosamine biosynthesis pathway (HBP) is implicated in mediating several metabolic effects of high glucose (HG) in cells. This pathway converts fructose-6-phosphate to glucosamine (GlcN)-6-phosphate by the rate-limiting enzyme glutamine:fructose-6-phosphate amidotransferase (GFA). We have previously shown that metabolism of glucose through the HBP regulates the effects of glucose on ECM (fibronectin) synthesis and transcription factor (cyclic adenosine monophosphate-responsive element binding [CREB]) phosphorylation in SV-40-transformed rat kidney mesangial cells. UDP-N-acetyl-GlcN is the end product of the HBP and serves as a precursor for O-linked serine/threonine glycosylation of cytoplasmic and nuclear proteins. Here we show that culturing mesangial cells in HG and GlcN increases the level of O-N-acetylglucosamine in several cytoplasmic and nuclear proteins. Inhibition of O-glycosylation by benzyl-2-acetamido-2-deoxy-α-D-galactopyranoside blocks both HG and GlcN-induced fibronectin synthesis and CREB phosphorylation. To further support the hypothesis that the HBP mediates HG-induced ECM synthesis, a complementary deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) for human GFA was stably expressed in mesangial cells. Mesangial and GFA-overexpressing cells were cultured in 5 to 25 mM glucose for 48 hours. GFA-overexpressing cells were more sensitive to glucose as they demonstrated increases in fibronectin and CREB phosphorylation at lower glucose concentrations than seen in control cells. In addition, the response to 25 mM glucose for both proteins was increased in GFA when compared with controls. There is no difference in DNA synthesis and cellular adenosine triphosphate levels between the two cell lines. These results suggest that the HBP is a glucose sensor and mediator of the effects of hyperglycemia in the diabetic mesangium.
Faunal diversity in the deep-sea

Abstract Analysis of deep-sea benthic samples gathered with a new collecting device reveals a greater diversity (defined ab absolute number of species) of fauna in single environments than has ever been measured before. This high diversity is not an artifact of sampling procedure and demonstrates tat the deep-sea benthos is not faunally depauperate, as is commonly believed. The previous idea of low diversity stems from lack of appreciation of the fact that apparent diversity is dependent on sample size, especially in small samples. Diversity in the deep-sea is much greater han in equivalent shallow marine environments from temperate latitudes and is of the some magnitude as in the shallow marine tropics. High diversity in the deep-sea is best explained as resulting from the great stability of the physical environment.