cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Some crisp thoughts on fuzzy logic

The author believes that there are some fundamental pieces of information not provided in most fuzzy logic control papers. When one realizes what those pieces of information are, one gets a different opinion about how and when fuzzy logic control works and when it is more practical than conventional control. He first states some opinions on fuzzy logic and tries to justify them. He then returns to some of the articles written by proponents of fuzzy logic and use the previous understanding to shed some light on what is really responsible for the improved system performance.
Seed protection through dispersal by African savannah elephants (Loxodonta africana africana) in northern Tanzania.

"A Thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science-Biology"
Circuits for an RF cochlea

We develop a technique for approximating a WKB-type solution to a wave equation as a cascade of unidirectional filters. This allows us to design improved building-block circuits for a bio-inspired RF cochlea. By comparing properties of different cochlear filter stages using experimental results and circuit simulations, we demonstrate that our technique significantly improves the characteristics of the RF cochlea.
Demonstration that a new flow sensor can operate in the clinical range for cerebrospinal fluid flow

A flow sensor has been fabricated and tested that is capable of measuring the slow flow characteristic of the cerebrospinal fluid in the range from less than 4 mL/h to above 100 mL/h. This sensor is suitable for long-term implantation because it uses a wireless external spectrometer to measure passive subcutaneous components. The sensors are pressure-sensitive capacitors, in the range of 5 pF with an air gap at atmospheric pressure. Each capacitor is in series with an inductor to provide a resonant frequency that varies with flow rate. At constant flow, the system is steady with drift <0.3 mL/h over a month. At variable flow rate, V , the resonant frequency, f0, which is in the 200-400 MHz range, follows a second order polynomial with respect to V . For this sensor system the uncertainty in measuring f0 is 30 kHz which corresponds to a sensitivity in measuring flow of ΔV = 0.6 mL/hr. Pressures up to 20 cm H2O relative to ambient pressure were also measured. An implantable twin capacitor system is proposed that can measure flow, which is fully compensated for all hydrostatic pressures. For twin capacitors, other sources of systematic variation within clinical range, such as temperature and ambient pressure, are smaller than our sensitivity and we delineate a calibration method that should maintain clinically useful accuracy over long times.
Polarization control and monitoring

Summary form only given. Polarization-related impairments have become a critical issue for high-data-rate optical systems, particularly when considering polarization-mode dispersion (PMD) and polarization-dependent loss (PDL). In general, polarization effects are stochastic processes and can occur on short or long time scales. Therefore, control and monitoring of these effects may be crucial in any systems-level mitigation. This tutorial will highlight the following key issues: monitoring schemes, emulation of proper statistics, PMD and PDL interaction, and applications of polarization scrambling.
Child Support Harming Children: Subordinating the Best Interests of Children to the Fiscal Interests of the State

This Article examines the government policy of seeking reimbursement of welfare costs through child support enforcement. Under our welfare program, Temporary Aid to Needy Families (TANF), custodial parents applying for benefits are required to establish child support obligations against the absent parents and to assign the resulting child support payments to the government. As a result, half of the $105 billion in national child support debt is owed to the government rather than to children. The government's fiscal interests are in direct conflict with the best interests of the children - the controlling legal standard in child support matters. The conflict results in legal confusion, and the welfare cost recovery efforts harm children, families and society. Children in welfare families struggling to become self-sufficient lose out as their support payments are redirected to the government. Fragile relationships between mothers, fathers and children are often broken. The fiscal benefit to the government is minimal, at best. And the social fabric is torn, as significant numbers of welfare fathers retreat from the workforce and their families. This Article thoroughly examines the conflict and resulting legal and policy questions. The Article explores the history of the competing interests and purposes of child support in America, describes the framework and impact of the current government welfare cost recovery system, addresses the long ignored and unresolved legal questions that result from the conflicting missions, and concludes with suggestions for reform including the Article's primary conclusion that welfare cost recovery is a failed effort - and should therefore end.
An Indigenous Tuberculosis? Pasteurian Strategies and Indian Problems in the Making of Bolivian National Science

Resumen Este trabajo examina la difusion de la ciencia pastueriana en Bolivia a principios del siglo XX. Se explora como el cientista y pasteuriano boliviano, el Dr. Nestor Morales Villazon (“el padre de la microbiologia boliviana”) hizo uso estrategico de una pequena controversia sobre la tuberculosis en Bolivia para promocionar su Instituto Nacional de Bacteriologia ante las elites. Utilizando su laboratorio para revelar algo de otra manera invisible en Bolivia -microbios con una “predileccion particular” por los indios, una “tuberculosis indigena” que podria atribuirse a las instituciones coloniales-, Morales vinculo la ciencia pastueriana a los debates acerca de la “cuestion del indio” y las aspiraciones de los liberales criollos para la reconciliacion nacional. Como muestra este trabajo, la tuberculosis indigena fue un objeto para la experimentacion, que requirio el laboratorio pasteuriano para su analisis, pero tambien sirvio como recurso retorico utilizado estrategicamente ante las elites bolivianas. Morales se formo en el Instituto Pasteur de Paris, y tanto la dimension cientifica como retorica de su trabajo pueden relacionarse con esa formacion.
Light‐Emitting Diodes

Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) convert electrical power to generally visible optical power and are simply p-n-junction devices, when biased in the forward direction. They produce light through spontaneous emission whose wavelength is determined by the bandgap of the semiconductor in which the carrier recombination takes place. Unlike the semiconductor laser, generally the junction is not biased to and beyond transparency. Consequently self absorption occurs and photons are emitted in random directions. A modern LED is generally of a double-heterojunction type with the active layer being the only absorbing layer including the substrate. In addition, a plastic dome to increase the light collection cone and to focus the light is employed. Nitride-based LEDs with InGaN-actice regions span the visible spectrum from yellow to violet, as illustrated in Fig. 11.1.
Autonomic innervation of the mammalian penis: a histochemical and physiological study.

The distribution of adrenergic and cholinergic nerves was studied in penile tissue from rat, rabbit, cat, monkey and man. Glyoxylic acid histofluorescence and acetylcholinesterase-positive fibers were found in all tissues examined, but histofluorescent, presumably adrenergic fibers predominated. In general, except in the rabbit, more nerve fibers of both types were found in the corpus cavernosum (CC) than in the corpus spongiosum/penile urethra (CS). The rabbit penis showed slightly more adrenergic fibers in the CC than in the CS and more cholinergic nerves in the CS than in the CC. The CC of the monkey demonstrated an alpha receptor mediated contractile response to norepinephrine (NE) stimulation and no response to acetylcholine (ACh) in anin vitro muscle bath.
Surgical options and results of repeated aortic root replacement for failed aortic allografts placed in childhood.

Abstract Objectives: This report reviews our experience with repeated aortic root replacement after failure of cryopreserved aortic allografts placed during childhood and compares replacement with aortic allografts, pulmonary autografts, and mechanical valved conduits in these patients. Methods: This was a retrospective analysis of all such patients from 1986 through May 2001. Results: There were 25 operations (11 aortic allografts, 9 pulmonary autografts, and 5 mechanical valved conduits) among 23 patients. The mean time to reoperation was 6.3 years. There were 2 in-hospital deaths (8%, 1 patient with a pulmonary autograft and 1 with a mechanical valved conduit). There were 2 early nonfatal valve-related events (1 patient with an aortic allograft and 1 with a pulmonary autograft). There were no late valve-related deaths and 2 late non-valve-related deaths of patients with aortic allografts placed. No variable predicted early death or early valve-related event. No differences in preoperative characteristics, hospital variables, early outcomes, or late outcomes were detected among the groups. Overall, 19 patients are alive (18 in New York Heart Association functional class I and 1 in New York Heart Association functional class III) at a mean follow-up of 49 months. Two late aortic allograft failures necessitated reoperation. All patients with successful pulmonary autografts had excellent autograft function at a mean follow-up of 68 months. All early survivors with mechanical valved conduits are alive and free of valve-related events (mean follow-up 71 months). Five-year freedoms from valve-related death or event (Kaplan-Meier) were 84% for all patients, 91% for aortic allografts, 78% for pulmonary autografts, and 80% for mechanical valved conduits (no statistically significant group differences by log-rank test). Conclusions: Replacement of cryopreserved aortic root allografts placed during childhood is safe. Five-year pulmonary autograft durability is excellent, although the risk of early failure may be increased. Differences in 5-year conduit longevity were not detectable. J Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2002;124:459-70
Activation of Matrix Metalloproteinase-3 is altered at the frog neuromuscular junction following changes in synaptic activity.

The extracellular matrix surrounding the neuromuscular junction is a highly specialized and dynamic structure. Matrix metalloproteinases are enzymes that sculpt the extracellular matrix. Since synaptic activity is critical to the structure and function of this synapse, we investigated whether changes in synaptic activity levels could alter the activity of Matrix Metalloproteinases at the neuromuscular junction. In particular, we focused on Matrix Metalloproteinase 3 (MMP3), since antibodies to MMP3 recognize molecules at the frog neuromuscular junction, and MMP3 cleaves a number of synaptic basal lamina molecules, including agrin. Here we show that the fluorogenic compound (M2300) can be used to perform in vivo proteolytic imaging of the frog neuromuscular junction to directly measure the activity state of MMP3. Application of this compound reveals that active MMP3 is concentrated at the normal frog neuromuscular junction, and is tightly associated with the terminal Schwann cell. Blocking presynaptic activity via denervation, or TTX nerve blockade, results in a decreased level of active MMP3 at the neuromuscular junction. The loss of active MMP3 at the neuromuscular junction in denervated muscles can result from decreased activation of pro-MMP3, or it could result from increased inhibition of MMP3. These results support the hypothesis that changes in synaptic activity can alter the level of active MMP3 at the neuromuscular junction. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Develop Neurobiol, 2007
Corrections to A Catalog of the Diptera of America North of Mexico

Try as one may, it seems impossible to produce large works completely free of error. This difficulty is notable in catalogs with their multitudinous details that are subject to errors of both commission and omission. The problem is compounded by the many hands involved in the preparation. In spite of several cross checks of cards prepared by authors and a procedure of centralized manuscript preparation, a regrettably large number of errors is to be found in A Catalog of the Diptera of America North of Mexico, by Stone, Sabrosky, Wirth, Foote, and Coulson. Fortunately, most are minor details that do not affect the recognized names
Proglumide fails to increase food intake after an ingested preload

Proglumide, a selective antagonist of exogenous cholecystokinin in vitro, also inhibits the reduction of food intake induced by the systemic administration of cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-8) in food deprived rats. On the basis of an increase in the size of a brief test meal which followed an oral preload and treatment with a single dose of proglumide, it was suggested that a role for endogenous cholecystokinin in satiety had been demonstrated. We attempted to replicate this finding and could not under very similar experimental conditions. Subsequently, we tested whether other proglumide doses would antagonize the satiating effect of a larger oral preload on test meal intake. When these results were also found to be negative, we confirmed that proglumide (at several doses) significantly antagonized the reduction in food intake induced by exogenous CCK-8 under our conditions. Since proglumide antagonized the satiating effect of exogenous CCK-8, but did not increase food intake after oral preloads that were presumed to release endogenous CCK, we conclude that a reliable satiating effect of endogenous CCK remains to be demonstrated.
Cultural flows and cosmopolitanism in Mughal India: The Bishnupur Kingdom

This article explores a phase of cultural efflorescence characterised by temple construction, the cultivation of music, scholarship, the copying and embellishment of manuscripts in the kingdom of Bishnupur in south-western Bengal from the late sixteenth to the eighteenth centuries. The inspiration for these cultural accomplishments is traced to a combination of Mughal–Rajput and Vaishnava influences. The article traces the historical factors that made possible the complex inter-relations among these strands of culture and argues that the rulers of Bishnupur initiated this cultural programme with the aim of assimilating cosmopolitan, elite practices associated with Northern Indian courtly society. The discussion highlights the role of Mughal–Rajput courtly culture in creating a concept of cosmopolitanism in tandem with the devotional culture of Vaishnavism.
Genetic variation among asexual progeny of Phytophthora infestans detected with RAPD and AFLP markers

Genotypic variation among 32 single-zoospore isolates (SZI) of Phytophthora infestans, derived asexually from two hyphal-tip parental isolates (PI-105 and PI-1) of the US-8 genotype, was assessed with 80 random amplified polymorphic DNA (RAPD) primers and 18 amplified fragment length polymorphic DNA (AFLP) primer pairs. In previous investigations, the SZIs from parental isolate PI-105 showed high levels of virulence variability and were differentiated into 14 races, whereas the SZIs from PI-1 showed identical virulence to the parent. The purpose of this investigation was to determine if phenotypic variation observed among SZIs of P. infestans could be detected at the DNA level in these isolates. Polymorphism was detected with 51 RAPD primers and with all 18 AFLP primer pairs in PI-105 SZIs. In SZIs from PI-1, polymorphism was also detected with 25 RAPD primers and 17 AFLP primer pairs. Cluster analysis using the unweighted pair-group method with arithmetic averages (UPGMA) separated the SZIs from parent PI-105 into six virulence groups, 11 RAPD groups and three AFLP groups. Cluster analysis of PI-1 SZIs, which all belong to the same virulence group, differentiated them into four RAPD groups and six AFLP groups. No close correlation among RAPD, AFLP and virulence groups could be established within the two progenies of SZIs. Results of this study suggest that there is a considerable level of inherent genetic variability among SZIs derived asexually from the same parental isolate. The possible mechanisms and implications of this genetic variation are discussed.
Impact bombardment of the terrestrial planets and the early history of the Solar System

About 4 billion years ago, the terrestrial planets were bombarded by asteroids following an orbital shake-up of the outer Solar System. Lunar samples, planetary cratering records and dynamical models piece together an increasingly coherent view of this bombardment interval. During the first billion years of Solar System evolution, following planetary accretion, the rate of impact cratering was substantially higher than over the past 3.5 Gyr. However, the causes, magnitude and evolution of the early impact flux remain unknown. In particular, uncertainty persists about whether the largest impact basins on the Moon and the other terrestrial planets formed from a cataclysmic bombardment in a narrow window of time about 3.9 Gyr ago, as initially suggested by the lunar sample collection, or over a more extended period. Recent observations relating to this so-called Late Heavy Bombardment imply that the window of bombardment was not as narrow and intense as originally envisaged. Nevertheless, numerical simulations suggest that the rocky bodies left behind after planetary accretion are insufficient in number to form the youngest large impact basins 4.0 to 3.7 Gyr ago. One viable hypothesis for the formation of these basins is the delivery of impactors to the inner Solar System following the migration of the giant planets, but this scenario also faces challenges. Clarifying the magnitude and length of the Late Heavy Bombardment has implications across the full range of planetary geosciences, from understanding the dynamical evolution of the Solar System to surface conditions on the terrestrial planets early in their history.
Repair of ventral hernias in morbidly obese patients undergoing laparoscopic gastric bypass should not be deferred

Background: There is no consensus regarding the optimal treatment of ventral hernias in patients who present for weight loss surgery. Methods: Medical records of consecutive morbidly obese patients who underwent laparoscopic Roux-en-Y (LRYGB) gastric bypass with a secondary diagnosis of ventral hernia were reviewed. Only patients who were beyond 6 months of follow-up were included. Results: The study population was 85 patients. There were three groups of patients according to the method of repair: primary repair (59), small intestine submucosa (SIS) (12), and deferred treatment (14). Average follow-up was 26 months. There was a 22% recurrence in the primary repair group. There were no recurrences in the SIS group. Five of the patients in the deferred treatment group (37.5%) presented with small bowel obstruction due to incarceration. Conclusion: Biomaterial mesh (SIS) repair of ventral hernias concomitant with LRYGB resulted in the most favorable outcome albeit having short follow-up. Concomitant primary repair is associated with a high rate of recurrence. All incarcerated ventral hernias should be repaired concomitant with LRYGB, as deferment may result in small bowel obstruction.
Effects of moderate heat and milk yield on plasma thyroxine in cattle.

Abstract The effects of milk yield (lactational intensity) and short (18 h) moderate heat exposure (30 C) on plasma thyroxine were studied in spring (March) and fall (October) in the University of Missouri dairy herd. Spring and fall thyroxine did not differ at thermoneutral temperature of 15 C. The relatively short moderate heat exposure had no effect within production groups either in the spring or fall sampling. As stage of lactation progressed, thyroxine also increased. The effect of stage of gestation was an elevation in the first trimester (compared to nonbred) that progressed into the second and third trimesters. In both spring and fall (15 C), the high production group (adjusted and unadjusted) had lower plasma thyroxine compared with middle and low production groups, while no difference in adjusted means was significant between middle and low production groups. Correlations were –.51 between plasma thyroxine and lactational intensity in both spring and fall. The short exposure to moderately high environmental temperature intensified the relationship of lowered plasma thyroxine in high producing cows, and thyroxine was negatively correlated (–.63 and –.64) with lactational intensity. Because total plasma thyroxine is inversely related to lactational intensity, studies are warranted to quantitate free hormonal concentrations and utilization by dairy cattle with varying productivity.
THE BIOLOGY OF PUBERTY

Summary The objective of this review was to develop a broader, more biological, overview of puberty, as opposed to the more limited, laboratory-dominated, view that has emanated from experimental physiology. Three conceptual schemes form the basis for our broader perspective. The first deals with the ways in which genes and environmental factors interact to program the timing of reproductive development. The second focuses on the ways environmental factors interact with each other to influence puberty. The third relates the genetic and environmental controls to specific endocrine and neuroendocrine pathways of action. The more traditional approach of studying domesticated animals under carefully controlled conditions predetermines one's conclusions. One logically will conclude that the final stages of reproductive development are rather rigidly determined genetically and not greatly subject to environmental regulation, except for obviously adaptive pheromonal and photoperiodic regulation. One also will search within the reproductive axis itself for the final developmental step that allows functional fertility. In contrast, a more biological view suggests that for most mammals puberty is a highly labile process subject to several kinds of environmental influences that operate at many times during a mammal's life. Furthermore this perspective suggests that the final developmental step allowing fertility onset normally will occur outside rather than within the reproductive axis proper. This conclusion has a potentially great impact upon the way we look at the organization of the brain and endocrine system and in the way we choose animal models for studying human puberty and the types of controls we study.
Management of severe hypospadias using Glassberg's modification of the Duckett repair.

Objective To assess the effectiveness of Glassberg's modification of Duckett's technique in the surgical correction of severe hypospadias. Patients and methods The case notes of 24 boys who underwent hypospadias repair using this technique were reviewed, noting the severity of the lesion, the method of repair and the clinical outcome. Results One operation was required in 14 (58%) of patients; complications requiring further surgery occurred in 10 boys (42%). Conclusion This technique allows a single-stage procedure when otherwise a two-stage procedure would be necessary.
Comparison of the McCarthy Scales of Children's Abilities and the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test

Summary.-The McCarthy Scales of Children's Abilities and the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test were individually administered to 41 kindergarten-aged children. Correlations and mean comparisons of the two instruments were reported. The Peabody correlated significantly with the Verbal scale (r = .536). the General Cognitive Index (r = .473 ) , and the Memory scale (r = ,354). There were no significant differences between the Peabody and the General Cognitive Index. Implications for the use of the two tests were discussed. Psychologists are continually searching for a time and cost efficient method of reliably assessing children's abilities. This search has led to a number of studies in which investigators have compared multiskilled tests such as the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC) with single-skill tests such as the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test. These studies have attempted to determine the similarities and differences of the two tests and, concomitantly, to investigate the advantages and disadvantages of using them interchangeably (Sattler, 1974). The WISC and the Peabody, in fact, have been compared for a variety of samp!es, including mentally retarded and normal (Pasewark, Fitzgerald, & Gloeckler, 1971), black and white (Hughes & Lessler, 1965), and children of high- and low-socioeconomic levels (Appelbaum & Tuma, 1977). Similarly, studies have been conducted to compare the Peabody and the revised WISC (Vance, Pritchard, & Wallbrown, 1978). Researchers have generally found significant correlations between the Peabody and WISC Full-Scale IQ and Verbal IQ and nonsignificant correlations between the Peabody and the WISC Performance IQ. In addition, the Peabody has generally yielded significantly higher scores than the WISC with most samples, with the possible exception of lower socioeconomic children, where the reverse is generally reported. Recently, the McCarthy Scales of Children's Abilities has received attention as a potentially useful instrument with children aged 2.5 to 8.5 yr. The McCarthy scales form a multiskilled test which yields five scaled scores: Verbal, Perceptual Performance, Quantitative, Memory, and Motor, as well as an overall General Cognitive Index. Most research with the McCarthy scales has compared the General Cognitive Index with the WISC and Stanford-Binet IQs. Researchers have generally found high correlations (Kaufman, 1973; Davis & Terrence, 1974). To date, there has been no research comparing the McCarthy
Axon membrane flows from the growth cone to the cell body

Abstract During the growth of axons, the surface area of the neuron increases dramatically. Membrane addition as well as exchange could contribute to rapid membrane dynamics or flow. Using diffusing latex beads to monitor membrane flow, we find that axonal membrane flows rapidly (7 μm/min) from growth cone to cell body during axon growth and that flow is inhibited by brefeldin A. To power this flow, there is a membrane tension gradient from growth cone to cell body that could draw the membrane over the axon at that rate. Further, when an artificial flow is induced to the center of the axon by use of laser tweezers, the primary source of the membrane is from the growth cone. We suggest that during neuron growth, there is excess membrane added at the growth cone in chick dorsal root ganglia (DRGs) that undergoes endocytosis at the cell body, thereby creating a flow that can rapidly alter the content of the axon membrane.
Correlations of international cancer death rates. An epidemiological exercise

The relationships of 12 pairs of international cancer death rates have been examined with scatter diagrams and the magnitude of the association has been evaluated with rank correlation coefficients. An epidemiological interpretation has been attempted in spite of some obvious methodological limitations since these data may serve as a useful tool to substantiate existing epidemiological theory and provide etiological clues. Several significant and interesting relationships which have been found are discussed. The implications of a correlation also are discussed.
A variable sensitivity displacement interferometer with application to wave propagation experiments

The present paper introduces a variable sensitivity displacement interferometer (VSDI) used to monitor both normal and in-plane particle displacements in wave propagation experiments. The general system consists of two interferometers working in tandem. Normally reflected light is interfered with each of two symmetrically diffracted light beams generated by the specimen rear surface. In cases where the surface motion simultaneously exhibits both in-plane and normal displacements, the fringes represent a linear combination of the longitudinal and transverse components of motion. Decoupling of the normal and in-plane displacement histories may be achieved through a linear combination of the two VSDI records. Alternatively, it is always possible to decouple the components of motion by combining a VSDI record with an independent measurement of either component. Moreover, it is shown that in the case of pure normal motion, the VSDI system functions as a desensitized normal displacement interferometer (DNDI). Similarly, in situations involving purely in-plane motion, the VSDI is shown to function as a desensitized transverse displacement interferometer (DTDI). The DNDI and DTDI fringe sensitivities are in general shown to depend on the angle θ or equivalently, the frequency σ of a grating manufactured at the observation point and the order n of the diffracted beams. The variable sensitivity feature of the VSDI greatly desensitizes normal displacement measurements and is particularly well suited for wave propagation studies in which normal particle velocities in excess of 100 m/s are generated. Experimental results are presented which demonstrate the application of this technique to monitoring particle motion histories in plate impact recovery experiments.
Synthesis and structure-activity relationships of metal-ligand complexes that potently inhibit cell migration.

Abstract We screened the National Cancer Institute Diversity Set compound collection for small molecules that affect mammalian cell migration and identified NSC 295642 as an inhibitor of cell motility with nanomolar potency. We found by LC–MS and X-ray crystallography that NSC 295642, a Cu(II) complex of the Schiff base product of condensation of S -benzyl dithiocarbazate and 2-acetylpyridine, has a bridged dimeric Cu 2 Cl 2 (L) 2 structure with distorted square pyramidal geometry. Each of the two copper atoms is five-coordinated to one of the two tridentate chelating ligands and both bridging chlorine atoms. To define structure–activity relationships, we investigated the bioactivity of related metal–ligand complexes derived from different metal(II) atoms and different ligands. Complexation of the NSC 295642 ligand with Zn(II) or Ni(II), delivered as metal(II) chloride salts under conditions identical to those used for preparation of the original Cu(II) complex, instead results in distorted octahedral bis-chelate structures, where a single metal atom is six-coordinated to two ligands. The Zn(L) 2 complex possesses a potency similar to that of the Cu 2 Cl 2 (L) 2 complex, while the Ni(L) 2 has no antimigratory activity at all. We carried out density functional theory calculations to obtain the electronic ground state geometry of the complexes, both in vacuum and implicit water solvent. The X-ray crystal and energy-minimized structures are very similar and exhibit a transoid orientation of the S -benzyl groups relative to the central metal-coordinated rings for both of the bioactive Cu 2 Cl 2 (L) 2 and Zn(L) 2 complexes, despite their different coordination geometries. In contrast, the biologically inactive Ni(L) 2 complex adopts a cisoid conformation. Varying the ligand structure, we found that hydrophobic S -alkylaryl groups are required for activity. Complexes with a simple S -methyl group, S -benzyl groups with polar substitutions or a carboxylated pyridine ring exhibit dramatically reduced activity. We tested the most potent metal–ligand complex in a number of cancer cell lines and found cell-type selectivity in its effect on cell motility. Collectively, these results suggest that a two-ligand structure with bulky nonpolar S -substituents in a transoid conformation is important for the antimigratory activity of these metal–ligand complexes.
Solar radio emissions at solar maximum: Interplanetary perspective

Abstract At frequencies below 10–15 MHz, radio astronomical observations of the sun are routinely performed in space because Earth's ionosphere effectively prohibits these low frequency emissions from reaching the ground. In terms of solar altitude, these frequencies correspond to about 2 Rs to 1 AU.At these low frequencies, a least four counterparts of the five classes of solar radio bursts typically observed by ground based telescopes can be detected, types I through IV, and type V bursts might possibly have been identified. All of these bursts observed from space vary considerably in occurrence rate between solar minimum and solar maximum. Some bursts, such as those associated with CMEs (types II and IV), are essentially not observed at all at solar minimum even though the CME rate only varies by about a factor of ten between maximum and minimum. The relatively common flare-associated radio bursts (type III) vary in occurrence rate rather substantially over the solar cycle, mimicking the variation in flare rate. However, the dominant emission in terms of occurrence rate or total energy at solar maximum is the interplanetary counterpart of type III storms, namely, type III storms. During the solar maximum years 2000–2001, more than 50% of all days in the year contain episodes of type III storms.
Light And Sound Under Water

It is indeed unfortunate that photography cannot be used over large areas of the sea-bottom as it is so effectively used over land areas. Aerial photography for example has revolutionized map making, surveying, and exploration of all types over the ground since a camera in an airplane can record large areas from great heights, except when the weather is bad.© (1966) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Characterization of angiotensin II binding sites in African Green monkey uterus.

The observation that there are significant differences in the concentration, affinity, and specificity of both central nervous system (CNS) and peripheral angiotensin receptors among several different mammalian species, including the African Green monkey, led to the detailed analysis of /sup 125/I-angiotensin II binding in the uterus of the African Green monkey. The B/sub max/ for angiotensin receptors in uterine tissue from this species is 56.6 +/- 8.7 fmole per mg protein. The K/sub d/ for angiotensin II is .601 +/- .108 mM. The specificity of the receptor is similar to that reported for the uterus of the rat and dog. These results indicate that the angiotensin II receptors, although nearly absent from the CNS of the African Green monkey, are found in the uterus and are very similar to uterine receptors previously characterized in the rat and dog and support the use of these species as appropriate models for studying the biochemistry of angiotensin binding in the uterus. 25 references, 1 figure, 2 tables.
The promise of third-generation recombinant therapy and gene therapy

Recombinant factor VIII and IX products have well-established efficacy and safety records. However, concerns about the possibility of viral transmission have prompted efforts to develop recombinant products that are free of added human and animal proteins. The currently licensed second-generation recombinant factor VIII concentrates were introduced in 2000. Two new third-generation products, manufactured without any human- or animal-derived materials, are currently in development and clinical testing. As an alternative to exogenous factor replacement, gene therapy is under investigation for use in the treatment of hemophilia. Gene therapy involves the stable insertion of a functional gene for long-term expression and secretion of endogenous factor VIII or IX protein. Methods used to date have been based on retroviral, adenoviral, and adeno-associated viral vectors, as well as nonviral electroporation. Three phase I trials using these approaches have been completed as of 2002, and one more is ongoing. This article reviews the results of recent clinical studies investigating third-generation recombinant products and gene-based approaches to hemophilia treatment.
Stimulus dimensionality and discrimination learning in elementary schoolchildren

Ninety 6-, 8-, and 10-year-old children were presented with either two-dimensional or three-dimensional stimuli in a three-choice simultaneous size discrimination task. As predicted, two-dimensional and three-dimensional stimuli were discriminated equally well at all age levels. The results, in conjunction with previous findings that 3- to 5-year-olds discriminate three-dimensional stimuli more readily than two-dimensional ones, support Wohlwill’s (1962) hypothesis that older children are less reliant on perceptual redundancy than are younger children.
Location, location, location: a crystal-clear view of autotaxin saturating LPA receptors

The interaction of autotaxin with its substrates leads to the production of lysophosphatidic acids (LPA), bioactive lipids with an emerging prominent role in inflammation and cancer. Two papers in this issue tell the previously unknown story of autotaxin, from substrate discrimination to highly efficient local delivery of LPA to target receptors.
Psychophysiological reactivity to alcohol advertising in light and moderate social drinkers

Psychophysiological responses to alcohol and nonalcohol advertising slides were compared in light and moderate social drinkers. Each slide presentation was interspersed with a rest period. Before viewing the slides, participants completed a questionnaire to estimate their quantity and frequency of alcohol consumption. Participants were divided into two groups using a median split of alcohol consumption scores. Light social drinkers showed a significant decrease in heart rate response to both alcohol-related and nonalcohol advertisements. Moderate social drinkers showed a significant increase in skin conductance to both alcohol-related and nonalcohol advertisements. The findings of this study have implications for understanding both the influence of alcohol advertisements on behavior and the psychophysiological correlates of cue reactivity.
Paper: Parameterization issues in multivariable adaptive control

This paper gives both an overview of multivariable adaptive control algorithms which have evolved to date and presents some new approaches to the design of indirect multivariable adaptive control systems. All algorithms are presented using a unified pole placement approach. Furthermore the emphasis is on parameterization issues such as: types of control structures necessary for implementation, required prior information necessary for implementation and techniques for reducing the size of the resulting parameter estimation problem.
Influence of experience, case load, and stage distribution on outcome of endoscopic laser surgery for TTTS--a review.

Objective Survival (≥1 twin) after laser surgery for patients with twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS) ranges from 65 to 93%. However, most studies are noncontrolled and retrospective, and have included a limited number of patients. The aim of this study was to perform a systematic review of outcomes after laser surgery in patients with TTTS. Methods We conducted database and manual searches of reference lists and pertinent journals published between 1995 and 2009 that report outcomes of laser surgery in patients with TTTS. Two authors performed the search independently of each other. There exist only two randomized controlled trials, each with fewer than 80 patients having undergone laser surgery. Uncontrolled and retrospective series were therefore considered as well. Studies had to report sufficient information on inclusive dates, stage distribution, overall neonatal survival, and neonatal survival of at least one twin. Of the 486 studies identified, we considered 19 studies. Results For each series, 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated. Survival was plotted against the date of publication, number of patients/series, gestational age at delivery, and proportion of advanced cases. Univariate analysis was performed to detect significant differences. Our meta-analysis, which included 1484 patients, shows 81.2% survival of at least one twin (CI: 79.1–83.2%). The average survival of at least one twin for the entire population remained within the CI of all but one series. Neither case load, nor stage distribution, nor chronological date of the study affected the survival. Conclusion A systematic review of endoscopic laser surgery performed in patients with TTTS failed to show a significant impact of high caseloads, disease severity distribution, or improvements in technique. Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Communicating the Future: Report of the Research Roadmap Panel for Public Communication of Science and Technology in the Twenty-First Century

This article reports the principal findings and recommendations of the Research Roadmap Panel for Public Communication of Science and Technology in the Twenty-first Century. Beginning in 1998, the ...
Tracking antiwear film formation

Lubrication has been practiced since the early days of human civilization ( 1 ); for example, heavy objects were moved more easily on wooden or stone floors by spreading water onto the surface. In the early 20th century, the advent of the internal combustion engine and its long periods of operation posed several lubrication challenges. Modern lubrication and antiwear schemes use base oils supplemented by chemical additives ( 2 ). Much of the development, however, has been empirical in nature, leaving the molecular mechanisms that eventually lead to the desired reduction in friction and wear only rudimentarily understood ( 3 ). On page 102 of this issue, Gosvami et al. ( 4 ) present a rare exception in visualizing the formation of an antiwear film on the molecular scale and quantifying how its growth and stability depended on important parameters such as applied temperature and pressure.
“To Plead Our Own Cause” Public Opinion Toward Black and Mainstream News Media Among African Americans

Studies have looked at the rise of alternative media in light of widespread cynicism about mainstream media. This article extends this research by examining African Americans' use of, and opinions toward, mainstream and alternative Black media. The article explores whether African Americans use Black media in place of mainstream media or consume both in a complementary fashion. It examines potential correlates of opinion toward mainstream and Black media, including trust in government. Analyzing results of a survey of 386 African Americans, the article finds a positive relationship between consumption of mainstream and Black media among African Americans, and a positive relationship between evaluations of the two sorts of media. Favorable evaluations of mainstream media are positively associated with preferring its version of a story, whereas favorable evaluations of Black media have no effect on media preferences. Distrust of government predicts preferring the Black media's version, suggesting that faith...
ERK2 Activation by Homocysteine in Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells

Homocysteine at abnormally high levels is an independent risk factor for atherosclerosis and may be a key factor in atherogenesis. Since homocysteine (Hcys) has been shown to promote cell proliferation and induction of the gene transcription factor c-fos in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs), effects which can be mediated by MAP kinase, we hypothesized that homocysteine activates a MAP kinase-dependent signal transduction pathway. In this study, we find that homocysteine transiently activates MAP kinase (ERK2 isoform) in cultured VSMCs from chick embryos. Homocysteine activation of ERK2 is dose-dependent with an EC50 of approximately 500 nM and blocked by the MAP/Erk kinase (MEK) inhibitor PD98059. VSMC embryonic lineage is another determinant of homocysteine sensitivity. These findings demonstrate that homocysteine activates the MAP kinase signal transduction pathway and thus support the hypothesis that homocysteine may promote atherosclerosis by stimulation of growth promoting signal transduction pathways.
Finding minimal and maximal sets of spatial relationships in pictorial retrieval systems

Spatial reasoning is an important component in pictorial retrieval systems. There are two approaches to handling spatial relationships: the well-known one is to use algorithms on which most earlier work such as (13, 17, 21) is based, and the recent one (30) is to construct deductive rules that allow spatial relationships to be deduced. Sistla et al. (30) developed a system of rules R on reasoning about basic spatial relationships that are of common interest in pictorial databases. In this paper, we consider the following two problems with that system of rules R: the deduction problem (that is, to deduce new spatial relationships from a given set F of spatial relationships) and the reduction problem (that is, to eliminate redundant spatial relationships from F. We use the mathematically simple matrix representation approach to show that these two prob- lems can be solved by efficient (i.e., polynomial-time) algorithms. The time required by both of them is at most a constant multiple of the time to compute the transitive reduction of a directed graph with n vertices or to compute the transitive closure of a directed graph with n vertices or to perform n × n Boolean matrix multiplication, and thus is always bounded by time complexity O(n 3 ) (and space complexity O(n 2 )), where n is the number of all involved objects.
Fourier transform infrared analysis of aerosol formed in the photo-oxidation of isoprene and β-pinene

Abstract The chemical composition of smog-chamber aerosol generated during the photo-oxidation of isoprene and β-pinene was probed using infrared (i.r.) microscopy interfaced with a low pressure impactor. The low-pressure impactor employed ZnSe impaction surfaces which allowed direct analysis, with no extraction, using i.r. microscopy. The low detection limits of this technique, coupled with direct sample analysis, permitted the chemical analysis of aerosol generated at low to moderate hydrocarbon and ozone loadings. The quantitative analysis of the i.r. spectra is limited, in part, by the absence of calibration standards, however, it is clear that the biogenic aerosols generated in this work were liquid mixtures containing ketone, aldehyde, alcohol and organonitrate functional groups. Molar loadings of each of these functional groups were estimated for nine smog-chamber experiments. For aerosol formed in isoprene photo-oxidation, aldehyde and ketone groups dominated (1.8 groups per average molecule) while for aerosol formed in β-pinene photo-oxidation, alcohols and ketones dominated (a combined 2.7 groups per average molecule).
A SINGLE ORIGIN OF PLASTIDS REVISITED: CONVERGENT EVOLUTION IN ORGANELLAR GENOME CONTENT1

In recent years a consensus has emerged from molecular phylogenetic investigations favoring a common endosymbiotic ancestor for all chloroplasts. It is within this conceptual framework that most comparative analyses of eukaryotic biochemistry and genetics now are interpreted. One of the first and most influential sources of data leading to this consensus is the remarkable similarity in genome content among all major plastid lineages. Here we report statistical analyses of two sequence data sets, genes encoding ribosomal proteins and transfer RNAs, from representatives of the three primary plastid lineages and a mitochondrion. The latter almost certainly originated in an independent endosymbiotic association and serves as a control for similarity due to convergent evolution. When genes related to organelle-specific function are factored out, plastid genomes appear to be no more similar to each other than they are to the mitochondrion. Total similarities in gene content, measured as deviations from the expectation from a process of random gene loss, are correlated with the extent of reduction in the two genomes compared. They do not appear to reflect putative evolutionary relationships among plastids. These analyses indicate that similarities in plastid genome content are better explained by convergent evolution due to constraint on gene loss than by a shared evolutionary history. A review of other data cited as support for a single plastid origin suggests that the alternative hypothesis of multiple origins is at least equally consistent in most cases.