cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Serotonin or its agonist 5-methoxytryptamine can stimulate hamster sperm acrosome reactions in a more direct manner than catecholamines

Serotonin (50 microM) or its agonist 5-methoxytryptamine (5 microM) stimulated the acrosome reactions of golden hamster sperm within 15 min after addition to sperm capacitated in vitro for 4.5 h. The stimulation was inhibited by the serotonin receptor antagonists quipazine or cyproheptadine. Epinephrine (70 microM), norepinephrine (50 microM), and dopamine (25 microM) were unable to stimulate acrosome reactions even at 30 min under the same conditions, even though previous studies had demonstrated stimulation by these catecholamines at the same concentrations when present from the start of the capacitation time course. Epinephrine (5 microM) also was unable to stimulate at 30 min. These results demonstrate that serotonin and its agonist have a more direct effect on the hamster sperm acrosome reaction than other biogenic amines and that the effect is receptor-mediated.
Existence of at least three distinct Alu subfamilies

Computer-assisted sequence analysis of human Alu family members reveals that Alu repeats belong to one of at least three subfamilies. The insertion of human Alu repeats can be represented by three episodic bursts, each of which was founded by a distinct master sequence.
Cyclic Testing of a Buckling Restrained Braced Frame with Unconstrained Gusset Connections

Buckling restrained braces are intended to yield in both axial tension and compression. The gusset plates connecting them to the adjacent beams and columns are thick and often stiffened to prevent buckling, and as a result increase the stiffness of the beam-to-column connection substantially. The increased stiffness of the beam-to-column connection negatively impacts the seismic performance of the system by: increasing the portion of the base shear force that is resisted by the frame relative to that resisted by the braces; increasing the maximum base shear force that the system is subjected to for a given earthquake motion; and transferring moment to the braces for which they were not designed. Further, failure of gusset welds partly due to the opening and closing of the beam-to-column joint has been observed in recent experiments. To mitigate these effects and increase the efficiency of buckling restrained braced frames, a novel connection where the gusset is only connected to the beam and is offset fro...
Expression of glutathione-S-transferase isozyme in the SY5Y neuroblastoma cell line increases resistance to oxidative stress

Glutathione-S-transferases (GSTs) are a superfamily of enzymes that function to catalyze the nucleophilic attack of glutathione on electrophilic groups of a second substrate. GSTs are present in many organs and have been implicated in the detoxification of endogenous α, β unsaturated aldehydes, including 4-hydroxynonenal (HNE). Exogenous GST protects hippocampal neurons against HNE in culture. To test the hypothesis that overexpression of GST in cells would increase resistance to exogenous or endogenous HNE induced by oxidative stress, stable transfectants of SY5Y neuroblastoma cells with GST were established. Stable GST transfectants demonstrated enzyme activities 13.7 times (Clone 1) and 30 times (Clone 2) higher than cells transfected with vector alone. GST transfectants (both Clones 1 and 2) demonstrated significantly (p < .05) increased resistance to ferrous sulfate/hydrogen peroxide (20.9% for Clone 1; 46.5% for Clone 2), amyloid β-peptide (12.2% for Clone 1; 27.5.% for Clone 2), and peroxynitrite (24.3% for Clone 1; 43.9% for Clone 2), but not to exogenous application of HNE in culture medium. GST transfectants treated with 1,1,4-tris (acetyloxy)nonane, a nontoxic derivative of HNE that is degraded to HNE intracellularly, demonstrated a statistically significant (p < .05) increase in viability in a dose-dependent manner compared with SY5Y cells transfected with vector alone. These results suggest that overexpression of GST increases resistance to endogenous HNE induced by oxidative stress or released in the degradation of 1,1,4-tris (acetyloxy)nonane, but not to exogenous application of HNE.
Influenza vaccination among cancer survivors: disparities in prevalence between blacks and whites

Introduction Cancer survivors are at increased risk for influenza-related complications. Racial disparities in preventive health services have not been extensively studied among cancer survivors. Our objective is to compare influenza vaccination prevalence among black and white cancer survivors
Behavioral marriage therapy. IV. Take two aspirin and call us in the morning.

The Jacobson-Weiss critique of the Gurman-Knudson and Gurman-Kniskern discussions of behavioral marriage therapy (BMT), while scholarly, derives from such a narrow conceptual set that, with only minor exceptions, Jacobson and Weiss have failed basically to comprehend the essence of our theoretical and logical criticisms of BMT. Moreover, a careful reanalysis of the research cited by our critics as evidence for the efficacy of BMT reveals the strength of the empirical foundation of this approach to have been greatly exaggerated. While few of our concerns about a preominantly behavioral approach to marriage therapy have been ameliorated by Jacobson and Weiss' commentary, some success seems to have been achieved in terms of our original purpose: to stimulate critical thinking about the premises and process of marital therapy. Language: en
NMR studies of the α-chymotrypsin-(R)-1-acetamido-2-(4-fluorophenyl)ethane-1-boronic acid complex

The interaction of (R)-1-acetamido-2-(4-fluorophenyl)ethane-1-boronic acid with alpha-chymotrypsin at pH 7 was studied by a variety of fluorine and proton NMR experiments and the results compared to observations made at pH 4. It was demonstrated that this compound forms a complex with a 1:1 stoichiometry at pH 7; proton NMR indicates that the boronic acid likely is coordinated to the serine-195 residue at the active site. Analysis of fluorine T1 relaxation behavior and 19F(1H) NOE data shows that the rate constant for dissociation of the complex is 4.7 s-1, somewhat faster than is observed at pH 4. The data analysis and the results of two-dimensional 19F(1H) NOE experiments show that interactions between the fluoroaromatic ring of the inhibitor and the enzyme are weaker at the higher pH value, although the motion of the fluoroaromatic ring within the complex appears to be just as restricted as is the case at pH 4.
Re-entrant superconductivity from magnetic impurity interactions

Abstract The scattering of electrons in the superconducting phase is calculated including the exchange of magnetic impurity pairs. Providing that the RKKY coupling favors ferromagnetic alignment of the impurity spins, the superconducting transition temperature is found to exhibit a re-entrant behavior as a function of the impurity concentration.
An Introduction to Search Engines

Scientific Inquiry provides a forum to facilitate the ongoing process of questioning and evaluating practice, presents informed practice based on available data, and innovates new practices through research and experimental learning.
Multidisciplinary approach to expansion thoracoplasty for congenital spinal deformity: a preliminary report.

Background: In children with congenital chest wall deformities, the vertical expandable prosthetic titanium Rib (VEPTR) has recently been developed to move the emphasis away from corrective spinal fusion, to expanding the deformed hemithorax. The aim of this paper is to demonstrate the need for paediatric surgeons in what is primarily an orthopaedic procedure. Materials and Methods: All patients less than 5 years old who had primary congenital scoliosis with poor respiratory function and were treated by VEPTR at our institution in conjunction with the spinal orthopaedic surgeons were reviewed. Results: All 6 cases required rib exposure and thoracostomy by a paediatric surgeon. One required exposure of the ribs only, 3 required an extrapleural thoracotomy and 2 required intrapleural thoracotomy with a patch repair of the rib space. None of the patients required blood transfusion and there were no early complications. All patients showed radiological improvement of their spinal and thoracic deformity as well as improvement in their respiratory function. Conclusion: Paediatric surgeons play an important role in the thoracic exposure required for this orthopaedic procedure. The benefi t of a multidisciplinary approach is highlighted in this paper. The VEPTR implant may replace major spinal fusion surgery in this challenging group of patients. Keywords : Multidisciplinary approach, vertical expandable prosthetic titanium rib African Journal of Paediatric Surgery Vol. 5 (2) 2008: pp. 71-72
Effects of hydrogen on the properties of SiC crystals grown by physical vapor transport: Thermodynamic considerations and experimental results

Abstract Thermodynamic analysis of the effects of hydrogen addition to the growth ambient during physical vapor transport growth of SiC is presented. In the presence of hydrogen, the efficiency of carbon transport should greatly improve due to the interaction between hydrogen and graphite resulting in formation of hydrocarbons and due to more congruent evaporation of the SiC source material. The changes induced by hydrogen are more pronounced at lower growth temperatures and higher background pressures. A temperature range of 2000–2350 °C and total pressures of 10–100 Torr were considered. Among the consequences of the increased C/Si ratio in the vapor phase, the marked decrease of the nitrogen incorporation efficiency and the suppression of formation of deep traps related to Si-rich growth conditions are expected to be the most prominent. Growth experiments with hydrogen concentrations in the 0–50% range show that indeed the nitrogen concentration decreases by several times and the density of all electron traps in SiC becomes lower by about an order of magnitude with the addition of hydrogen.
The relative stabilities of the isomeric benzynes and tetrafluorobenzynes according to indo theory

Abstract Semi-empirical indo calculations have been carried out on the isomers of C 6 H 4 and C 6 F 4 with the result that the most stable species in each case is the closed-shell singlet ortho isomer. The lowest energy isomeric triplets of C 6 H 4 are predicted to lie about 10 kcal/mole above the ground state isomer, while the isomeric triplets of C 6 F 4 are of much higher energy (greater than 80 kcal/mole) than ground state o -C 6 F 4 . Contrary to extended Huckel calculations we find p -benzyne less stable than w -benzyne. The electron density distributions in both the ground state and the lowest energy triplet state of the two ortho isomers are also discussed.
Recommendations on reporting requirements for flavonoids in research

Numerous observational and intervention-based human studies support the notion of a beneficial role for dietary flavonoids in human health. Despite these studies, it is not yet possible to make dietary recommendations with regard to the types and amounts of flavonoids to be consumed. The inherent diversity of flavonoid structure, chemistry, and natural distribution in foods lends itself to errors in reporting the types and/or amounts of flavonoids consumed, as well as incomplete recognition of requirements for intervention studies that aim to assess their benefits in a clinical setting. A need exists for guidelines that facilitate the design and reporting of flavonoid research. With a focus on clinical studies, this article 1) outlines limitations commonly encountered in the field of flavonoid research, including the inconsistent use of nomenclature, inappropriate analytic methods, inconsistent use of existing flavonoid databases, and the lack of full consideration in the design of test materials for intervention trials, and 2) provides guidance for future studies with a focus on clinical intervention trials. Adoption of this guidance will facilitate more accurate and interpretable research that will support the development of dietary recommendations regarding the intake of flavonoids.
Dose—response and minimum time to satisfactory intubation conditions after mivacurium in children

We assessed neuromuscular blocking effects and tracheal intubation conditions following mivacurium in 121 anaesthetised children aged 1-10 years. The study was conducted in three parts. Parts 1 and 2 were undertaken during thiopentone-alfentanil-nitrous oxide anaesthesia; neuromuscular blockade was evaluated by recording the force of contraction of the adductor pollicis in response to train-of-four stimulation at 0.1 Hz. In part 1 the potency of mivacurium was determined in 15 children using a single dose-response technique; in part 2 onset and recovery times were determined in six children following a dose of mivacurium 0.2 mg.kg-1. In part 3 of the study, clinical intubation conditions were assessed in two groups of 50 children whose tracheas were intubated 60 or 90 s after injection of mivacurium 0.2 mg.kg-1 during thiopentone-nitrous oxide anaesthesia. The ED50 and ED95 of mivacurium were 54 and 105 micrograms.kg-1 respectively. The times to 90% and 100% depression of control twitch were 1.3 (0.3) and 1.9 (0.5) min; times to 5%, 25%, 75% and 90% recovery were 6.4 (1.0), 8.4 (1.1), 12.5 (1.1) and 14.4 (1.9) min, respectively. Intubation conditions were rated satisfactory in 33/50 children (0.66, 95% confidence interval 0.51-0.79) at 60 s and in 49/50 children (0.98, 95% confidence interval 0.89-1.0) at 90 s (p = 0.0001). Intubation conditions 90 s after mivacurium 0.2 mg.kg-1 were significantly better than those obtained in 10 patients given anaesthetic drugs alone (p = 0.002).
A Principal Components Analysis and Validation of the Coping with the College Environment Scale (CWCES)

The present study describes the development and initial validation of the Coping with the College Environment Scale (CWCES). Participants included 433 college students who took an online survey. Principal Components Analysis (PCA) revealed six coping strategies: planning and self-management, seeking support from institutional resources, escaping through substance (pills, alcohol, tobacco, and marijuana) use, seeking support from friends, spirituality, and seeking support from family. Together, these components accounted for 57.12% of the variance. Validation of the CWCES included examining gender differences on the components and correlations between the six components and sense of belonging measures. College students experience considerable stress. Colleges can use information from the CWCES to help students cope with stress more effectively and possibly improve student retention.
Effects of frequency on fatigue behavior of type 316 low-carbon, nitrogen-added stainless steel in air and mercury for the spallation neutron source

The high-cycle fatigue behavior of type 316 low-carbon, nitrogen-added (LN) stainless steel (SS), the prime-candidate target-container material for the spallation neutron source (SNS), was investigated in air and mercury. Test frequencies ranged from 0.2 to 10 Hz with an R ratio of −1, and 10 to 700 Hz with an R ratio of 0.1. During tension-compression fatigue studies, a significant increase in the specimen temperature was observed at 10 Hz in air, which decreased the fatigue life of the 316 LN SS relative to that at 0.2 Hz. Companion tests in air were carried out, while cooling the specimen with nitrogen gas at 10 Hz in air. In these experiments, fatigue lives were comparable at 10 Hz in air with nitrogen cooling and at 0.2 Hz in air. During tension-tension fatigue studies, a higher specimen temperature was observed at 700 than at 10 Hz. After cooling the specimen, comparable fatigue lives were found at 10 and at 700 Hz. The frequency effect on the fatigue life in mercury was found to be much less than that in air, due to the fact that mercury acts as an effective coolant during the fatigue experiment. Striation spacing on the fracture surface at different test frequencies was closely examined, relative to calculated ΔK values, during fatigue of the 316 LN SS. Specimen self-heating has to be considered in understanding fatigue characteristics of 316 LN SS in air and mercury.
Thermodynamic modelling of bio-species accommodation

Abstract An ecological model has been constructed. A chemical analogy to the biological system has been developed, and the system's driving forces have been identified.
Using the General Theory to explain the U.S. business cycle, 1950-2009

Despite its professed emphasis on the real world, the post Keynesian literature lacks a history of business cycle fluctuations in a particular economy. This is an extremely important oversight. Not only might such a study be useful to researchers, but students are anxious to acquire practical as well as theoretical knowledge and to see historical applications of theory. This article fills that gap by offering both theory and evidence regarding U.S. cycles from 1950 through the Great Recession. The theory is derived from Keynes's General Theory, while the evidence is composed of a simple statistical analysis along with a narrative covering each expansion and recession. It will be argued that, despite mainstream descriptions of capitalism as a relatively stable system occasionally interrupted by exogenous shocks, business cycles are systemic and a manifestation of the instability inherent to the capitalist system. The complete story cannot be told without reference to fiscal and monetary policy, oil shocks,...
Ricci-flat and charged wormholes in five dimensions

Abstract We construct stationary Ricci-flat inter-universe Lorentzian wormhole solutions in all D ⩾ 5 dimensions that connect two flat asymptotic spacetimes. Such a solution can be viewed as the gravity dual of a string tachyon state whose linear momentum is larger than its tension. We focus our analysis on the D = 5 wormholes which are not traversable for the timelike and null geodesics; however, we demonstrate that there exist accelerated timelike trajectories that traverse from one asymptotic region to the other. We further study the minimally-coupled scalar wave equation and demonstrate that the quantum tunnelling between two worlds must occur. We also obtain charged wormholes in five-dimensional supergravities. With appropriate choice of parameters, these wormholes connect AdS 3 × S 2 in one asymptotic region to flat Minkowskian spacetime in the other.
Educational Indicators and Enlightened Policy

This article examines how educational indicators have been and may be used to serve educational policy ends, what the potential benefits and dangers are of various uses, and how guidelines for appropriate relationships between indicators and policy might be forged. The article draws particular attention to recent debates and difficulties in fashioning a constructive role for educational indicators—a role that illuminates educational issues without distorting the educational process or harming students and schools by misusing indicator data. It argues that efforts to try to use indicators as administrative controls or policy levers are misguided. Instead, if they are to support student learning and school improvement, indicator systems should be developed to illuminate educational activities and processes as the basis for reflective policy-making.
Selective arterial embolization for control of bleeding in gynecologic malignancy

Abstract Fifteen selective arterial embolizations with Gelfoam pledgets were utilized to control bleeding in 13 gynecologic oncology patients. Complications and morbidity were minimal. Embolization of neoplastic vasculature and/or major arteries supplying the pelvis controlled bleeding even when no distinct bleeding site could be determined, and proved effective in managing both acute and chronic bleeding. Methodology is outlined, and indications are discussed.
Pruning Systems and Canopy Management Practice Interact on the Yield and Fruit Composition of Syrah

A production trial in the San Joaquin Valley of California was conducted where canopy microclimate of Syrah 05/SO4 grapevines was altered through three pruning systems and two leaf removal treatments arranged factorially to rejuvenate vineyards with declining productivity. Vines were either pruned by hand to 44 nodes each, mechanically box-pruned to a 10 cm hedge, or cane-pruned by hand to six 8-node canes arranged in opposing directions of the row with horizontal canopy separation. Outer surface layer of leaves were either removed mechanically 20 days postbloom on the east side of the canopy in a 45 cm zone above the cordon in the fruit zone or not removed. Yields from spur- and mechanically box-pruned vines were considered too low for the study area, and leaf removal had no effect on yield components. Spur-pruned vines reached 24 Brix earlier than mechanically box-pruned and cane-pruned vines in each year. Leaf removal had no effect on fruit composition of Syrah at harvest. Berry skin phenolics were not consistently affected by treatments applied. Cane pruning resulted in 3.8 leaf layers, with 32 shoots per 30 cm of row, 7.77 kg/kg Ravaz index, and consistently ripened 22 tons/ha to 24 Brix and should therefore be used in the San Joaquin Valley to improve yields in vineyards with declining productivity. The study identified a pruning system for vineyards in warm climates that can sustain yields and provides management information for growers on how to rejuvenate vines that have declined in productivity.
Horseradish peroxidase localization of cardiac vagal preganglionic somata.

Abstract Cardiac vagal preganglionic somata were labeled in cats by the horseradish peroxidase (HRP) technique. The anatomical characteristics of cell bodies with axons in the left and right cervicl vagi were compared. HRP was injected subepicardially in three groups of pentobarbital anesthetized animals. In two test groups, injections were made after a left and right cervical vagotomy, respectively. In a control group, peripheral cardiac parasympathectomies were performed prior to HRP injection. The controls served to determine the number of somata labeled by HRP uptake via vagal fibers innervating viscera closely approximating the myocardium. After a 48 h survival period the cats were reanesthetized, perfused and fixed. Brain stems were removed, cut in the transverse or sagittal plane and developed with 3,3′-diaminobenzidine. Control cats had 6.8% the number of labeled cell bodies identified in animals with an intact vagus. Thus, few labeled somata in test cats were associated with noncardia ti tissue. The number, distribution and sizes of labeled cell bodies in test cats were similar. Somata were located ipsilateral to the intact vagus in three regions: the nucleus ambiguus (NA), the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus (DMN) and an intermediate zone (IZ) between the NA and DMN. The NA contained the maximum number of cell bodies while successively fewer somata were located in the DMN and IZ. Somata of the NA were heterogeneously distributed along the longitudinal neuraxis. The region of maximal cell body concentration was between 1.0 and 1.8 mm rostral to the obex. Somata of the DMN and IZ were homogeneously and sparsely distributed along the neuraxis. The long and short axes of NA somata were larger than corresponding dimensions of cell bodies in the DMN or IZ. However, the dimensions of somata in the DMN and IZ were similar. The identification of labeled cell bodies in three medullary regions and the size differences of the somata in these regions may reflect a central physiological organization of cardia vagal somata.
Thyroxine 5′-Monodeiodination in Rat Anterior Pituitary Homogenates*

The conversion of T4 to T3 by 5′-monodeiodination was studied in anterior pituitary homogenates. No T4 5′- monodeiodination was seen unless dithiothreitol (DTT) or reduced glutathione was added. DTT (5 mM) caused measurable conversion, and maximum rates occurred between 50–100 mM DTT. Glutathione was a less potent stimulant. T4 5′-monodeiodination was pH dependent, with a pH maximum of 7.5, and temperature dependent between 4–37 C. Preheating the homogenate to 75 C for 30 min destroyed more than 95% of the activity. The reaction rate was proportional to the tissue content in the homogenate. At submaximal but not at saturating DTT concentrations, incubations under nitrogen increased the reaction rate to 161% of the rates in incubations under air. There was no significant effect of 5 mM EDTA, 5′ M α-tocopherol, 100 mM KC1, 100 –M Nal, 140 μM TRH, 300 μM propylthiouracil, or 300 HM methimazole. Catalase (2000 U/ml) had a variable inhibitory effect depending on the DTT concentration. The T4 5′-monodeiodinatio...
Chromatographic isolation and identification of methylated derivatives obtained from modified fibrinogen.

Abstract Polymerization was accomplished in the fibrinogen system by methylation with diazomethane,thionyl chloride and dimethyl sulphate. The duration and extent of polymerization were dependent on the modifying agent which was applied to the fibrinogen system. When fibrinogen was methylated with a very narrow range group-specific methylating agent, like dimethyl sulphate, the polymerization process was accelerated and proceeded with a reduction in the extent of modification of that obtained with the other methylating reagents utilized in these experiments. Chromatographic analysis revealed that diazomethane and thionyl chloride induced both O-methylation and N-methylation, as well as esterification of the carboxylate groups of aspartic and glutamic acid in fibrinogen. However, dimethyl sulphate resulted primarily in esterification accompanied by a small amount of histidine methylation. The proposed mechanism for the polymerization is through the esterification of the aspartic and glutamic acid residues which produces an increased protein-protein interaction resulting in polymer formation.
The statistical mechanics of the interdependent electrons in the screening constant model of the many-electron-atom

Abstract This report describes an operator treatment of the non-linear (or many body) problem in statistical mechanics which arises when one uses the screening-constant model to approximate the energy of an atomic configuration. Exact symbolic expressions are obtained for the electron occupation numbers and for the thermodynamically induced electron-electron correlations. Asymptotic forms are derived which may be used for the direct computation of these quantities. The forms exhibit explicitly the connection between the electron-electron interaction energy and the electron correlation, and extend the classical occupation-number theory to second order in Z/kT. Finally the significant asymptotic equations are numerically tested by comparing them with the results from an equation of state computation that is performed by evaluating in detail every term of the partition function of a simple (but non-trivial) four level atomic system.
Ways of Coping among HIV-infected Individuals

A sample of 85 HIV-infected Americans completed a questionnaire that assessed coping styles, depression, and physical illness. We examined the relationships of emotion-focused coping and problem-focused coping to depression and physical illness. A two-way analysis of variance revealed a significant main effect for emotion-focused coping on depression: Those who used more emotion-focused coping also experienced more depression. No interaction effects or main effects for problem-focused coping were found.
Current hypotheses of structural pattern formation in the somatosensory system and their potential relevance to humans

Current hypotheses of structural pattern formation in the mammalian somatosensory system are modeled on experimental findings from the trigeminal system of rodents. The present results show that, like rodents, the trigeminal nucleus principalis of humans contains a parcellated pattern of cytochrome oxidase dense patches. These results provide an indication of the potential usefulness of rodent-based hypotheses for understanding pattern formation in human somatosensory connections.
CHANGING CONCEPTS OF CONVERTIBILITY AND THE FUTURE OF CURRENCIES

CONVERTIBILITY IS PRE-EMINENTLY a practical problem and it has been treated wtih great sagacity by the two government and business practitioners who have just spoken on the theme. If a professor may hope to add something of significance at this juncture he may need to take refuge in abstraction; and this I beg leave to do, at least at the outset. Why does the problem of convertibility exist? Fundamentally it exists because there are separate nation states, and because national currencies reflect in the variations of their values the whole gamut of conomic forces which impinge in quite different ways upon the various national economies. Convertibility would be a much simpler matter-though by no means automatic-if monetary and fiscal policies were everywhere the same. But what an enormous "if"! It would almost require uniformity (supposing it possible to give the term concrete meaning) of labor-union, farm-bloc, or industry pressures on prices and credit, equal weighting of full employment versus price stability in national policies, equal devotion to welfare programs, etc. Certainly convertibility could be upset, as indeed it often has been, by national monetary and fiscal policies which arise from the desire of people to enjoy a higher standard of living than is really possible. This tendency, resting upon what it is now fashionable to call the Duesenberry effect for individual items of outlay, I should like to call the Micawber effect for the total of outlays, in honor of that redoubtable character of Dickens who sought to live on the issue of I.O.U.'s. Some "underdeveloped," low-income countries, and at least one of the most respectable developed economies of Western Europe have experienced currency difficulties precisely because of the Micawber effect. But convertibility has succumbed to exchange control not only because of more or less strictly monetary and fiscal factors, but also because of the strength of protectionism, because of adverse develop-
Transfer of perceptual learning of depth discrimination between local and global stereograms

Several previous studies reported differences when stereothresholds are assessed with local-contour stereograms vs. complex random-dot stereograms (RDSs). Dissimilar thresholds may be due to differences in the properties of the stereograms (e.g. spatial frequency content, contrast, inter-element separation, area) or to different underlying processing mechanisms. This study examined the transfer of perceptual learning of depth discrimination between local and global RDSs with similar properties, and vice versa. If global and local stereograms are processed by separate neural mechanisms, then the magnitude and rate of training for the two types of stimuli are likely to differ, and the transfer of training from one stimulus type to the other should be minimal. Based on previous results, we chose RDSs with element densities of 0.17% and 28.3% to serve as the local and global stereograms, respectively. Fourteen inexperienced subjects with normal binocular vision were randomly assigned to either a local- or global- RDS training group. Stereothresholds for both stimulus types were measured before and after 7700 training trials distributed over 10 sessions. Stereothresholds for the trained condition improve for approximately 3000 trials, by an average of 0.36 ± 0.08 for local and 0.29 ± 0.10 for global RDSs, and level off thereafter. Neither the rate nor the magnitude of improvement differ statistically between the local- and global-training groups. Further, no significant difference exists in the amount of improvement on the trained vs. the untrained targets for either training group. These results are consistent with the operation of a single mechanism to process both local and global stereograms.
Electrokinetic Mixing in Microplates and its Applications to Kinase and ELISA-Assay Type Reactions

While 384 well-plate format is still commonly used by the Biomolecular community, miniaturized formats (1536 and 3456 well-plates) are gaining in popularity, due to promise of higher throughput and lower reagent consumption. However, decrease in reagent volume in such miniaturized formats leads to issues of accuracy and sensitivity caused by incomplete mixing and the mechanical stirring methods satisfactory used for 384 well-plate formats, give poor mixing with lower volumes. Here we present results obtained in 1536-well and 3456-well plates equipped with electrodes where we induced fluid flow by the action of electromagnetic fields. Improvement in two types of reactions are obtained, related to ELISA-type assays and kinase-based assays. For example, in the kinase reaction, we show that, when using the electrode-enabled mixing technology, an 8 minutes protocol in 1536-well plate format is equivalent in accuracy to a 90 minutes protocol in standard 96-well plate format mixed using an orbital shaker. This mixing technology is scalable, due to modern developments in electrode manufacturing and can be used in super-high throughput screening formats, such as 10000-well or droplets.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
Dextrorotatory opioids and phencyclidine exert anticonvulsant action in prepiriform cortex.

We have investigated the ability of an array of putative noncompetitive N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antagonists to suppress convulsions induced by a unilateral, focal injection of (−)-bicuculline methiodide (118 pmol) into the rat prepiriform cortex. The anticonvulsant potency of these compounds, (+)-5-methyl-10,11-dihydro-5H-dibenzo[a,d]cyclohepten-5,10-imine hydrogen maleate (MK-801)>dextrorphan ⩾ 1-(1-phenylcyclohexyl)piperidine hydrochloride (PCP)>dextromethorphan > (+)-pentazocine, upon microinjection into the prepiriform cortex, was highly correlated (r = 0.971; P < 0.01) with their respectiv affinities for the [3H]dextrorphan-labelled NMDA receptors in rat forebrain membranes. These results suggest that noncompetitive antagonism of NMDA receptors underlies the anticonvulsant action of these compounds.
Applications of Synchrotron Radiation

Following a brief review of its properties, discussions are presented of the application of synchrotron radiation to: (a) the determination of atomic arrangements using extended x-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS); (b) the determination of atomic arrangements using x-ray anomalous scattering; (c) dynamic small angle x-ray scattering; (d) x-ray lithography and microscopy; (e) the determination of surface electronic states using vacuum ultraviolet radiation; (f) time resolved fluorescence from protein molecules.
Magnitudes of departures from equilibrium during regional metamorphism of porphyroblastic rocks

Numerical models of diffusion-controlled nucleation and growth of garnet crystals, which successfully replicate diverse textures in 13 porphyroblastic rocks, yield quantitative estimates of the magnitudes of departures from equilibrium during crystallization. These estimates are derived from differences in chemical potential between subvolumes containing stable product assemblages and those containing persistent but metastable reactant assemblages. The magnitude of disequilibrium is evaluated in terms of the thermal overstepping, which is commonly referenced to the garnet-in isograd; the reaction affinity in the intergranular fluid at the site and time of each nucleation event, and on average throughout the rock, and the ‘latent energy of reaction’ per unit volume, a measure of the average unreacted capacity of the bulk rock, which describes its overall metastability. Across all of the models, the first crystals nucleate after 5–67 °C of thermal overstepping (correspondingly, 0.7–5.8 kJ mol−1 of 12-oxygen garnet); the maximum reaction affinity averaged across the intergranular fluid is between 4.7 and 16.0 kJ mol−1 of 12-oxygen garnet; and the maximum latent energy of reaction ranges from 7.3 to 51.7 J cm−3. These results demonstrate that impediments to crystallization significantly delay nucleation and retard reaction, with the consequence that nucleation of new crystals extends throughout nearly the entire crystallization interval. This potential for protracted reaction during prograde metamorphism, with reactions continuing to temperatures and pressures well beyond equilibrium conditions, suggests the likelihood of overstepping of multiple – possibly competing – reactions that can progress simultaneously. Isograds and ranges of stability for metamorphic assemblages along a metamorphic field gradient may therefore be significantly offset from the positions predicted from calculations based on equilibrium assumptions, which poses a substantial challenge to accurate interpretations of metamorphic conditions and processes.
MTC envelope: defining the capability of large scale computers in the context of parallel scripting applications

Many scientific applications can be efficiently expressed with the parallel scripting (many-task computing, MTC) paradigm. These applications are typically composed of several stages of computation, with tasks in different stages coupled by a shared file system abstraction. However, we often see poor performance when running these applications on large scale computers due to the applications' frequency and volume of filesystem I/O and the absence of appropriate optimizations in the context of parallel scripting applications. In this paper, we show the capability of existing large scale computers to run parallel scripting applications by first defining the MTC envelope and then evaluating the envelope by benchmarking a suite of shared filesystem performance metrics. We also seek to determine the origin of the performance bottleneck by profiling the parallel scripting applications' I/O behavior and mapping the I/O operations to the MTC envelope. We show an example shared filesystem envelope and present a method to predict the I/O performance given the applications' level of I/O concurrency and I/O amount. This work is instrumental in guiding the development of parallel scripting applications to make efficient use of existing large scale computers, and to evaluate performance improvements in the hardware/software stack that will better facilitate parallel scripting applications.
Protein kinase C is not involved in secretion by permeabilized human neutrophils.

Abstract The generally accepted sequence of intracellular signal transduction involves: (1) cell surface receptor-ligand interaction; (2) activation of G-proteins; (3) activation of phospholipase C, leading to inositol phosphate (IP 3 ) and diacylglycerol production; (4) parallel mobilization of intracellular Ca 2+ by IP 3 , and; (5) activation of protein kinase C (PKC) by diacylglycerol and Ca 2+ , leading to; (6) cellular responses. Human neutrophils appear to utilize this cascade, at least in general, and some, but not all, elements of the intracellular signal cascade known to be operating in intact cells also function in permeabilized cell systems. We have previously shown that permeabilized neutrophils can be induced to secrete lysosomal enzymes in response to elevated levels of Ca 2+ alone and this secretion can be synergistically enhanced by the presence of guanine nucleotides. We now show that Ca 2+ , in the presence and absence of guanine nucleotides, can stimulate the production of solubel inositol phosphates. Furthermore, neomyxin, a putative inhibitor of phospholipase C, can block Ca 2+ -induced secretion. These data thus suggest a role for phospholipase C activity or its products in the transduction process. The next enzymatic activity ‘downstream’ is PKC. Consequently, we looked at the role Mg-ATP, one of the substrates of PKC, plays in degranulation by permeabilized neutrophils. We found no obligatory role for this nucleotide in the secretory process. We then looked at the activity of oleoyl-acetyl-glycerol (OAG), synthetic diacylglycerol and PKC agonist, on degranulation. We found that OAG was largely additive with Ca 2+ . Another PKC agonist, phorbol myristate acetate (PMA), also did not display notable synergy. Finally, inhibitors of PKC activity were not capable of blocking secretion, either in the presence or absence of guanine nucleotides. Thus, while circumstantial evidence seems to point towards a requirement for phospholipase C activation and diacylglycerol production in secretion, we were unable to demonstrate the next putative step in signal transduction, namely activation of PKC.
Efficient estimation of panel data models with sequential moment restrictions

Abstract This paper considers asymptotically efficient estimation of the panel data models with sequential moment restrictions in an environment with i.i.d. observations. It is shown that the GMM estimator with an increasing set of instruments attains the semiparametric efficiency bound of the model. The estimator considered here allows for the heteroscedasticity of the unknown form.
Goode's World Revolution and Family Patterns: A Reconsideration at Fifty Years

Fifty years ago, William J. Goode published World Revolution and Family Patterns, a highly influential study of international family change. Goode's main thesis, that, owing to industrialization, family patterns around the world would come to resemble the mid-twentieth-century Western conjugal family, was incorrect. For one thing, that model collapsed in the West soon afterward. But Goode's secondary hypotheses have proven to be correct in at least some regions of the world: that parents' control over their children's family lives would decline; and that the spread of the ideology of the conjugal family would occur even in countries where extensive industrialization had not taken place. Moreover, it is worth understanding why Goode was sometimes incorrect and what forces (such as globalization) he did not foresee. It is also worth examining more recent writings on world family change by leading scholars. This article provides a reconsideration of the book's impact a half-century after it appeared.
Continued studies of acid rain and its effects on the Baton Rouge area

(1983). Continued studies of acid rain and its effects on the Baton Rouge area. Journal of Environmental Science and Health . Part A: Environmental Science and Engineering: Vol. 18, No. 2, pp. 165-174.
Double-Blind Placebo-Controlled Trial of Dapsone in Antihistamine Refractory Chronic Idiopathic Urticaria

Background Management of antihistamine refractory chronic idiopathic urticaria (CIU) has poorly defined therapeutic options. Objective To evaluate the efficacy of dapsone (4,4'-diaminodiphenylsulfone) in antihistamine refractory CIU compared with placebo. Methods Twenty-two patients with antihistamine refractory CIU were randomly assigned to 100 mg of dapsone daily or placebo for 6 weeks in a 14-week double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial. End points were measured from a daily diary that reflected the weekly hive score, the weekly itch score, and a visual analog scale (VAS) score. Secondary to a carryover effect, the first period results were analyzed as a parallel design that compared placebo with dapsone directly by using repeated-measures analysis. Results After 6 weeks, the patients in the dapsone arm showed mean improvement over baseline in VAS (2.3 [95% CI, 0.6-4.1], P = .01), urticaria score (-3.5 [95% CI, -6.2 to -0.9], P = .01), and itch score (-4.8 [95% CI, -7.6 to -2.1], P = .001), whereas the placebo arm showed no improvement over baseline for VAS, urticaria, or itch scores. Dapsone showed greater improvement compared with placebo for itch (P = .047) and VAS (P = .04). Of the 22 patients, 3 showed complete resolution of hives and itch with dapsone, whereas 31% and 41% had ≥ 50% resolution of hives and itch, respectively. No serious adverse effects were observed with dapsone. Conclusion To our knowledge, this is the first double-blind, placebo controlled study of dapsone in CIU and indicates that dapsone has efficacy in patients with antihistamine refractory CIU.
AN EXTENSION OF WIEN'S DISPLACEMENT LAW FOR BLACKBODY RADIATION

The Wien's displacement law of blackbody radiation is extended to a general case for the detectors sensitive to a certain wavelength interval. The theory results in a closed form equation. The current theory can be easily applied in a lot of practical applications without any approximation
Automating windows security: building a security CD

The last two years have seen more virus and spyware activity on Windows computers than the preceding fifteen years. Blaster and Welchia wreaked havoc in the fall of 2003 because most of us had never seen a computer be infected through simple connection to the Internet. While an individual computer support person has the knowledge to disinfect a computer, the automation of that process is critical to handling thousands of users with limited support staff. Our CD method allows us to update, patch, and scan machines that are no longer able to connect to the network.This paper and presentation will focus on the methods the University Of Oregon (UO) has used successfully to automate patches, updates, and scanning which leverage conventional free and site-licensed tools.
Conserved cis-elements in the Xenopus red opsin promoter necessary for cone-specific expression

The long-wavelength sensitive (red) opsin genes encode proteins which play a central role in daytime and color vision in vertebrates. We used transgenic Xenopus to identify 5' cis-elements in the red cone opsin promoter necessary for cone-specific expression. We found a highly conserved extended region (-725 to -173) that was required for restricting GFP transgene expression to cones. We further identified a short element (5'-CCAATTAAGAGAT-3') highly conserved amongst tetrapods, including humans, necessary to restrict expression to cones in the retina. These results identify novel conserved elements that regulate spatial expression of tetrapod red cone opsin genes.
Building physician work hour regulations from first principles and best evidence.

IN 2003, PASSAGE OF THE ACCREDITATION COUNCIL FOR Graduate Medical Education (ACGME) work hour standards marked the first time that work hours for physicians in training were regulated throughout the United States. Five years later, the medical profession stands at a critical juncture. At the request of Congress, the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality has sponsored an Institute of Medicine committee to review the evidence on the relationship between residents’ work hours and patient safety and to develop recommendations for improvement. There is increasing evidence that resident sleep deprivation endangers patients and residents, but studies have not shown consistent benefit from implementation of the current ACGME standards. No changes in mortality were found in national studies of surgical patients. Some reductions in mortality were observed for medical patients at Veterans Administration hospitals and in a cohort of non–Veterans Administration hospitals, although not in a larger population of medical patients covered by Medicare. The lack of consistent improvements may be due to several factors. First, there are flaws in the design of the intervention. The ACGME standards continue to allow trainees to work 30 consecutive hours, a duration repeatedly demonstrated to be hazardous both in laboratory studies and in studies of trainees workinginhospitalsettings.Second,compliancewiththestandardsmaybesuboptimal. Third,benefits fromreducedfatigue mightbeoffsetbyworsenedcontinuityofpatientcare,particularly in hospitals in which robust systems for ensuring highquality transitions in care have not been implemented. In this article, we propose priorities that should guide the medical community in developing specific alternatives for physician work hour regulation, if the objectives are to maximize patient and physician safety while preserving the best possible training for physicians.