cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Development of supermolecular structure in polystyrene latexes

The development of supermolecular structure in polystyrene latex particles was investigated by small-angle neutron scattering (SANS). Seed latexes of deuterated polystyrene were swollen with an equal mole-% of protonated styrene monomer, equilibrated, and polymerized to complete conversion. The scattering patterns reflect the extent of supermolecular structure development inside the particle. The data were analyzed by separating the Debye single-chain and spherical scattering form factors. The extent of segregation was found to depend on the relative size of the chains compared with that of the particle, going through a maximum at the ratio Mw/D of about 0.1, where Dw represents the weight-average diameter of the latex particle. When the chain dimensions are relatively very small, uniform molecular mixing is obtained. The best model for the segregated system is a graduated core-shell supermolecular structure.
BIOCHEMICAL STUDIES OF THE VENOM FROM THE SCORPION, CENTRUROIDES SCULPTURATUS.

Abstract Results of experiments concerned with the chemical properties and purification of the toxic principle of the venom from the scorpion Centruroides sculpturatus Ewing have been discussed. The crude venom gives positive reactions to several tests for proteins, negative reactions to tests for polysaccharides and shows absorption spectra which are characteristic for proteins or peptides. Attention is called to the apparent low concentration of aromatic amino acids in the venom. Heat inactivation studies using crude venom showed that the toxic principle is slowly inactivated. The kinetics of inactivation by heat do not follow first order reactions. Column chromatography of dialyzed venom using diethylaminoethylcellulose and eluting with a system of phosphate buffers resulted in separation of several components. The toxic material was concentrated in one sharply resolved component. Evidence obtained from gel diffusion studies suggests that a two-component system may still be present, however. The fact that the neurotoxin is slowly dialyzable has been utilized as a step in the purification of the lethal factor.
SWIFT MONITORING OF CYGNUS X-2: INVESTIGATING THE NEAR-ULTRAVIOLET-X-RAY CONNECTION

The neutron star X-ray binary (NSXRB) Cyg X-2 was observed by the Swift satellite 51 times over a 4 month period in 2008 with the X-ray Telescope (XRT), UV/optical telescope, and Burst Alert Telescope (BAT) instruments. During this campaign, we observed Cyg X-2 in all three branches of the Z track (horizontal, normal, and flaring branches). We find that the NUV emission is uncorrelated with the soft X-ray flux detected with the XRT and is anticorrelated with the BAT X-ray flux and the hard X-ray color. The observed anticorrelation is inconsistent with simple models of reprocessing as the source of the NUV emission. The anticorrelation may be a consequence of the high inclination angle of Cyg X-2, where NUV emission is preferentially scattered by a corona that expands as the disk is radiatively heated. Alternatively, if the accretion disk thickens as Cyg X-2 goes down the normal branch toward the flaring branch, this may be able to explain the observed anticorrelation. In these models, the NUV emission may not be a good proxy for in the system. We also discuss the implications of using Swift/XRT to perform spectral modeling of the continuum emission of NSXRBs.
The relationship between magnetic and electrophysiological responses to complex tactile stimuli

Background Magnetoencephalography (MEG) has become an increasingly popular technique for non-invasively characterizing neuromagnetic field changes in the brain at a high temporal resolution. To examine the reliability of the MEG signal, we compared magnetic and electrophysiological responses to complex natural stimuli from the same animals. We examined changes in neuromagnetic fields, local field potentials (LFP) and multi-unit activity (MUA) in macaque monkey primary somatosensory cortex that were induced by varying the rate of mechanical stimulation. Stimuli were applied to the fingertips with three inter-stimulus intervals (ISIs): 0.33s, 1s and 2s.
Fighting Malware and Other Unspeakable Threats

Abstract John Gantz and Jack M. Rochester. Pirates of the Digital Millennium: How the Intellectual Property Wars Damage Our Personal Freedoms, Our Jobs, and the World Economy, Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall Financial Times (2005), 294 pp. Thomas R. Peltier, Justin Peltier, and John Blackley. Information Security Fundamentals, Boca Raton, FL: Auerbach Publications (2005), 262 pp. Paul Reid. Biometrics for Network Security, Upper Saddle River, NJ: Prentice Hall PTR (2004), 252 pp. Robert M. Slade. Software Forensics, New York: McGraw-Hill (2004), 215 pp.
COEXISTENCE OF LOW- AND HIGH-DIMENSIONAL SPATIOTEMPORAL CHAOS IN A CHAIN OF DISSIPATIVELY COUPLED CHUA’S CIRCUITS

Spatiotemporal dynamics of a one-dimensional cellular neural network (CNN) made of Chua’s circuits which mimics a reaction-diffusion medium is considered. An approach is presented to analyse the properties of this reaction-diffusion CNN through the characteristics of the attractors of an associated infinite-dimensional dynamical system with a matrix phase space. Using this approach, the spatiotemporal correlation dimension of the CNN’s spatiotemporal patterns is computed over various ranges of the diffusion coupling parameter, length of the chain, and initial conditions. It is shown that in a finite-dimensional projection of the matrix phase space of the CNN, both low- and high-dimensional attractors corresponding to different initial conditions coexist.
Active sensor networks

We propose using application specific virtual machines (ASVMs) to reprogram deployed wireless sensor networks. ASVMs provide a way for a user to define an application-specific boundary between virtual code and the VM engine. This allows programs to be very concise (tens to hundreds of bytes), making program installation fast and inexpensive. Additionally, concise programs interpret few instructions, imposing very little interpretation overhead. We evaluate ASVMs against current proposals for network programming runtimes and show that ASVMs are more energy efficient by as much as 20%. We also evaluate ASVMs against hand built TinyOS applications and show that while interpretation imposes a significant execution overhead, the low duty cycles of realistic applications make the actual cost effectively unmeasurable.
Thermal measurement and computer modeling of heat and fluid flow in crystal growth by Ohno continuous casting

Abstract Crystal growth by the recently developed Ohno continuous casting process was carried out using pure tin. The temperature profile along the axis of the growing crystal and the melt inside the mold was measured, and an attempt was made to determine the crystal/melt interface geometry by suddenly raising the growing crystal from the melt. A computer model of heat and fluid flow was developed, and was verified against the observed temperature profile.
The hypothermic hamster brain: its water and electrolyte content and perfusion.

Abstract The data suggest that cold swelling of the brain does not occur in hypothermic hamsters for up to 48 hr or in the hypothermic rat for 2 hr. It may be possible that the adaptation of the Na+,K+-activated ATPase system as well as lipid changes occurs during the 6- to 8-hr induction period of hypothermia in the hamster. The absence of swelling in the rat, a species which does not hibernate, may be due to both the lack of hypercapnia and the brevity of the hypothermic period. It is noteworthy that in the hamster the distribution of cardiac output to the brain and the respiratory centers of the brain system is unaffected by hypothermia of up to 18 hr. Actual perfusion is, however, dramatically reduced. The data suggest that the helium-cold hypothermic hamster retains the ability to maintain solute gradients in hypothermia, and that hypothermic death is not due to an increase in cerebral water content or in the percentage of cardiac output received by the brain.
Simulation of Multiphase Flows in Porous Media

The ability to numerically simulate single phase and multiphase flow of fluids in porous media is extremely important in developing an understanding of the complex phenomena governing the flow. The flow is complicated by the presence of heterogeneities in the reservoir and by phenomena such as diffusion, dispersion, and viscous fingering. These effects must be modeled by terms in coupled systems of nonlinear partial differential equations which form the basis of the simulator. The simulator must be able to handle both single and multiphase flows and the transition regimes between the two. A discussion of some of the aspects of modeling dispersion and viscous fingering is presented along with directions for future work.
Seasonal hypoxia in the bottom water off the Mississippi River delta.

Hypoxia (oxygen concentration less than 2 mg L -1 or 62.5 mmol m -3 ) occurs on the Louisiana continental shelf during summer when the consumption of oxygen by sediment and water column respiration exceed resupply by photosynthesis and mixing. Biological processes that consume or produce oxygen have been summarized in a budget that can be used to quantify the degree to which consumption in deep water and in the sediments exceeds net production and thus the time it takes to reach hypoxic conditions following the spring onset of stratification. The net consumption rate by the sea floor biota (sediment oxygen consumption, SOC) is inversely related to oxygen concentration and directly related to temperature. Photosynthesis is of potential importance throughout the deep water column and on the sea floor when light is adequate. A non-steady state, time-dependent numerical simulation model is used to compare biological and physical processes with shipboard measurements and continuous near-bottom records. The simulations illustrate possible variations in oxygen concentration on time scales of hours to months, and these in general match much of the variability in the direct observations at time scales of days to weeks. The frequently observed unremitting anoxia lasting weeks at some locations is not produced in the present simulations. A possible explanation is the chemical oxidation in the water column of reduced metabolic end-products produced in the sediments by anaerobic metabolism. Direct measurements of biological processes could lead to better understanding of how extrinsic forcing functions can best be managed to improve water quality.
Reduction of advanced glycation end product levels by on-line hemodiafiltration in long-term hemodialysis patients.

Abstract Background: Advanced glycation end products (AGEs) are thought to be involved in many complications of end-stage renal disease. This study analyzed serum AGE level reduction rates and corresponding long-term changes in serum levels among different dialysis modes. Methods: Eighty-one patients with chronic uremia were divided into 3 groups receiving conventional hemodialysis (HD), high-flux HD, or on-line hemodiafiltration (HDF). Serum AGE levels were measured by competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay predialysis and postdialysis and after 6 months. Additionally, AGE clearance was measured in 11 uremic patients treated with alternative high-flux HD and on-line HDF. Results: Although predialysis serum AGE levels were similar, postdialysis levels were significantly lower in patients treated with on-line HDF (35.4 ± 4.2 μg/mL) compared with those treated with conventional HD (82.2 ± 11.4 μg/mL; P = 0.003), but not high-flux HD (56.7 ± 5.9 μg/mL; P = 0.15). The serum AGE level reduction rate in on-line HDF (61.5% ± 4.2%) was significantly greater than that in conventional HD (20.5% ± 2.4%; P P = 0.049). AGE clearance was increased 50% with on-line HDF compared with high-flux HD, reaching borderline significance ( P = 0.07). In a 6-month study, predialysis serum AGE levels were significantly lower in patients treated with on-line HDF compared with those treated with conventional and high-flux HD. Conclusion: On-line HDF may provide an improved form of treatment that achieves significantly better AGE level reduction than high-flux HD and conventional HD. Uremic patients treated with on-line HDF for longer than 6 months achieved a significant reduction in predialysis serum AGE levels.
“Hedging” on statetical assumptions

It is pointed out that in many cases statistical assumptions, such as the assumption of a normal population, really cannot be known to be true with the absolute certainty that the word “assumption” has come to imply. In fact, in some instances data collected for purposes other than testing the assumptions cast serious doubt on the validity of the assumptions. A simple safety or hedging device is proposed, and illustrated for the case where the problem is to estimate the qth quantile (m, say) of a distribution assumed to be normal with given standard deviation σ. Let X, R denote the sample mean and the qth sample quantile, respectively. Under the assumption, the best estimate of m is X + t σ, where t is a properly chosen constant, while R is a reasonable estimate of m even if the assumption is not true. The hedging device is to use X + t σ as the estimate if |X + t σ – R| ≤ d, and to use R as the estimate if || + t σ – R| > d, where d is a preassigned value. In order to choose d to reflect our faith in the validity of the assumption, and to obtain the operating characteristics of our estimation rule, it is necessary to know the joint distribution of X and R. This is shown to approach a bivariate normal distribution as the sample size increases, for any population satisfying mild regularity conditions.
A proposed computer diagnostic system for malignant melanoma (CDSMM)

This paper describes a computer diagnostic system for malignant melanoma. The diagnostic system is a rule base system based on image analyses and works under the PC windows environment. It consists of seven modules: I/O module, Patient/Clinic database, image processing module, classification module, rule base module and system control module. In the system, the image analyses are automatically carried out, and database management is efficient and fast. Both final clinic results and immediate results from various modules such as measured features, feature pictures and history records of the disease lesion can be presented on screen or printed out from each corresponding module or from the I/O module. The system can also work as a doctor's office-based tool to aid dermatologists with details not perceivable by the human eye. Since the system operates on a general purpose PC, it can be made portable if the I/O module is disconnected.
Measurements of ion cyclotron parametric decay of lower hybrid waves at the high-field side of Alcator C-Mod

Ion cyclotron parametric decay instability (PDI) of lower hybrid (LH) waves is surveyed using edge Langmuir probes on the Alcator C-Mod tokamak. The measurement is carried out simultaneously at the high-field side (HFS) and low-field side (LFS) mid-plane of the tokamak, as well as in the outer divertor region. Different LH spectra are observed depending on the location of the probes and magnetic configuration in L-mode plasmas, with drift direction downward. In lower single null (LSN) plasmas, strong ion cyclotron PDI occurring at the HFS is observed for the first time. This instability is characterized by a frequency separation in sidebands corresponding to the ion cyclotron frequency (ωci) near the HFS scrape-off layer and develops with threshold-like behavior as density increases. In inner wall limited (IWL) plasmas, this HFS instability shows a higher density threshold compared with that in LSN plasmas. The pump width becomes broadened even in the absence of the sidebands. In upper single null plasmas with similar plasma parameters, ion cyclotron PDI sidebands have a frequency separation corresponding to ωci near the LFS and are weaker than those observed in the LSN and IWL plasmas. Correlation between the onset of ion cyclotron PDI and the observed loss of lower hybrid current drive efficiency (Wallace et al 2012 Phys. Plasmas 19 062505) is discussed.
The Acute Pain Service Nurse Practitioner: A Case Study in the Postoperative Care of the Child With Bladder Exstrophy

Abstract Effective pain management for children requires leadership and effective interdisciplinary collaboration. At the Johns Hopkins Children's Center, a pediatric nurse practitioner–based, anesthesiologist supervised acute pain service model strives to improve the quality of pain management within the institution. A case study describing pain and sedation management of the child following bladder exstrophy repair demonstrates the integral role of the nurse practitioner in the promotion of quality outcomes for this complex patient population.
The Use of Isotopic Tracers in Studying Catalysts and Catalytic Reactions

Abstract Nonradioactive tracers such as deuterium, 18O, 15N, and 13C and radioactive tracers such as tritium and l4C have been used extensively for studying the properties of catalysts and the details of catalytic reactions. In the present paper an attempt will be made to show how the uses that have been made of isotopes in catalysis can be divided into one of three categories accordingly as they are concerned with (1) the study of the chemisorption of molecules on a catalyst surface and the nature of the catalyst surface; (2) the measurement of the extent to which the atoms from the structure of the solid catalyst take part in a catalytic reaction and become a part of the product; and (3) the details of the mechanism by which the catalytic reactions take place on the catalyst surface. These three categories will now be discussed and illustrated.
Effect of ion implant dose on the mechanical properties of polyethersulfone films

Films of poly(ether sulfone) have been implanted with 50-keV As+ in the dose range of 1015 to 1017 ions/cm2. Nanoindentation tests were then conducted on these films using a conical diamond tip with a 90° included angle, applying loads from 10 μN to 2 mN. The modulus and hardness were evaluated from the load–displacement data using the elastic unloading [J. Mater. Res. 7, 1564 (1992)] and the elastic–plastic unloading [J. Mater. Res. 13, 421 (1998)] models. The latter approach gave more reliable values for the mechanical properties since it is not as sensitive to creep-in effects. The implanted film showed as much as a twofold increase in hardness compared to the unimplanted polymer. However, the films with the highest dose did not exhibit the maximum values for the mechanical properties. Hardness and modulus values increased with increasing implantation dose up to 1 × 1017 ions/cm2 but dropped at higher doses, presumably due to a combination of sputtering of material and surface roughening. The dose dependence of the mechanical properties is observed to have the same trend as are reported for the electrical properties.
Kinetic Analysis of Block of Open Sodium Channels by a Peptide Containing the Isoleucine, Phenylalanine, and Methionine (IFM) Motif from the Inactivation Gate

We analyzed the kinetics of interaction between the peptide KIFMK, containing the isoleucine, phen-ylalanine, and methionine (IFM) motif from the inactivation gate, and the brain type IIA sodium channels with a mutation that disrupts inactivation (F1489Q). The on-rate constant was concentration dependent, consistent with a bimolecular reaction with open sodium channels, while the off rates were unaffected by changes in the KIFMK concentration. The apparent K d was ∼33 μM at 0 mV. The on rates were voltage dependent, supporting the hypothesis that one or both of the charges in KIFMK enter the membrane electric field. The voltage dependence of block was consistent with the equivalent movement of ∼0.6 electronic charges across the membrane. In contrast, the off rates were voltage independent. The results are consistent with the hypothesis that the KIFMK peptide enters the pore of the open sodium channel from the intracellular side and blocks it.
Effect of pH on Fumaric Acid Adsorption onto IRA900 Ion Exchange Resin

The effects of pH on fumaric acid adsorption onto IRA900 ion exchange resin were studied. The optimum pH with the highest adsorption capacity depended on the fumarate concentration: the optimum pH was > 4.0 for fumarate concentrations < 5.0 g/L and < 3.0 for higher concentrations. Such different adsorption behaviors of IRA900 resins at different pHs were attributed to the different ion forms of fumarate present in solution at different pHs. Modeling results showed that the two-site-occupancy adsorption reaction between FA2− and resin active sites contributed to the high adsorption capacity at pH 5, whereas the intraparticle diffusion resulting from the hydrophobic interaction between H2FA and the hydrophobic resin backbone of IRA900 increased significantly and led to a higher adsorption capacity at pH 3.
Minimal side-chain protection can be a successful strategy in solid-phase peptide synthesis.

The N-terminal tyrosine residue of Met-enkephalin could be readily incorporated without protection of its phenolic hydroxyl group. Furthermore, the HF-cleaved product contained fewer impurities than that derived from hydroxyl-protected material. Despite the presence of Tyr in the center of the chain, an LH-RH antagonist, [d-Phe2, d-Trp3, d-Phe6]-LH-RH, could also be made in normal yield by incorporation of free Boc-Tyr. Syntheses of the same model peptide without protection of the Ser residue and protection of the Arg residue as the guanidine HCl salt also gave excellent yields of analog. Finally, the LH-RH inhibitor and a highly active agonist, [d-Leu6, desGly-NH210]-LH-RH ethylamide, were synthesized without protection of Tyr, Ser and Arg, which enabled free peptides to be generated directly by ammonolysis and ethylaminolysis, respectively, without HF treatment. In all examples, no evidence emerged to suggest reaction of side-chains during synthesis.
Optical oximetry sensors for whole blood and tissue

This article reviews the optical techniques applied to the determination of intravascular hemoglobin oxygen saturation as well as the noninvasive estimation of arterial and tissue saturation. Although in skeletal muscles and brain tissues myoglobin and cytochrome analyses have been demonstrated (F.F. Jobis et al., 1977; K. Kariman et al., 1983), their effects upon absorption and reflection spectra of tissues are small. Thus, this review is focused only upon measurement of hemoglobin saturation. >
Effects of root-zone acidity on utilization of nitrate and ammonium in tobacco plants

Tobacco (Nicotiana tabacum L., cv. 'Coker 319') plants were grown for 28 days in flowing nutrient culture containing either 1.0 mM NO3- or 1.0 mM NH4+ as the nitrogen source in a complete nutrient solution. Acidities of the solutions were controlled at pH 6.0 or 4.0 for each nitrogen source. Plants were sampled at intervals of 6 to 8 days for determination of dry matter and nitrogen accumulation. Specific rates of NO3- or NH4+ uptake (rate of uptake per unit root mass) were calculated from these data. Net photosynthetic rates per unit leaf area were measured on attached leaves by infrared gas analysis. When NO3- [correction of NO-] was the sole nitrogen source, root growth and nitrogen uptake rate were unaffected by pH of the solution, and photosynthetic activity of leaves and accumulation of dry matter and nitrogen in the whole plant were similar. When NH4+ was the nitrogen source, photosynthetic rate of leaves and accumulation of dry matter and nitrogen in the whole plant were not statistically different from NO3(-) -fed plants when acidity of the solution was controlled at pH 6.0. When acidity for NH4(+) -fed plants was increased to pH 4.0, however, specific rate of NH4+ uptake decreased by about 50% within the first 6 days of treatment. The effect of acidity on root function was associated with a decreased rate of accumulation of nitrogen in shoots that was accompanied by a rapid cessation of leaf development between days 6 and 13. The decline in leaf growth rate of NH4(+) -fed plants at pH 4.0 was followed by reductions in photosynthetic rate per unit leaf area. These responses of NH4(+) -fed plants to increased root-zone acidity are characteristic of the sequence of responses that occur during onset of nitrogen stress.
Utilization of xanthin by mould fungi.

THE utilization of purines by fungi as the sole source of nitrogen in their nutritive media has been reported in the literature only in a few cases1–3. No work concerning the utilization of xanthin by mould fungi appears to have been published.
Multiphoton, confocal, and lifetime microscopy for molecular imaging in cartilage

It has recently been shown that mutations in Filamin A and B genes produce a large spectrum of skeletal disorders in developing fetuses. However, high-resolution optical microscopy in cartilage growth plate using fluorescent antibody assays, which should elucidate molecular aspects of these disorders, is extremely difficult due to the high level of autofluoresce in this tissue. We apply multiphoton, confocal, lifetime and spectral microscopy to (i) image and characterize autofluorophores in chondrocytes and subtract their contributions to obtain a corrected antibody-marker fluorescence signal, and (ii) measure the interaction between Filamin A and B proteins by detecting the fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) between markers of the two proteins. Taking advantage of the different fluorescence spectra of the endogenous and exogenous markers, we can significantly reduce the autofluorescence background. Preliminary results of the FRET experiments suggest no interaction between Filamin A and B proteins. However, developing of new antibodies targeting the carboxy-terminal immunoglobulin-like domain may be necessary to confirm this result.
Higgs Masses in the Standard, Multi-Higgs and Supersymmetric Models

Abstract Theoretical constraints and limits on the masses of Higgs scalars in the standard electroweak model, in electroweak models with additional Higgs doublets and in various supersymmetric models are presented. In the standard model, the lower limit on the Higgs mass, based on vacuum stability arguments, is reviewed in detail, as are “upper limits” based on perturbative constraints. In most grand unified and all supersymmetric models, however, at least two doublets are needed. The masses of the various Higgs scalars in the two-doublet model are discussed and constraints on their masses are found, including the generalization of the above limits. The results are then generalized to models with more than two doublets. Finally, recent attempts at constructing models with low-energy supersymmetry are reviewed and it is shown that in many models, fairly stringent tree-level mass relations among the Higgs scalars can be found. These relations are interesting in that they do not refer to the supersymmetric partners of ordinary particles, and they are most restrictive in models in which the supersymmetry is explicitly broken, i.e., via arbitrary mass terms.
Securing Property in Contemporary Kyrgyzstan

Throughout the post-Soviet region, conflicts over property feature prominently in local headlines and public debates. This article explores ownership conflicts in contemporary Kyrgyzstan by asking why some marketplaces (bazaars) have remained stable and relatively secure in an environment characterized by weak rule of law and ongoing asset redistribution. Using data from field research conducted in 2006-2007, including interviews, newspaper articles, and government documents, the article identifies historical and political mechanisms that allow bazaar owners to secure their assets in this environment.
Dimension reduction method for ODE fluid models

We develop a new dimension reduction method for large size systems of ordinary differential equations (ODEs) obtained from a discretization of partial differential equations of viscous single and multiphase fluid flow. The method is also applicable to other large-size classical particle systems with negligibly small variations of particle concentration. We propose a new computational closure for mesoscale balance equations based on numerical iterative deconvolution. To illustrate the computational advantages of the proposed reduction method, we use it to solve a system of smoothed particle hydrodynamic ODEs describing single-phase and two-phase layered Poiseuille flows driven by uniform and periodic (in space) body forces. For the single-phase Poiseuille flow driven by the uniform force, the coarse solution was obtained with the zero-order deconvolution. For the single-phase flow driven by the periodic body force and for the two-phase flows, the higher-order (the first- and second-order) deconvolutions were necessary to obtain a sufficiently accurate solution.
Candida Epiglottitis in Immunocompromised Patients

Candida seldom has been reported to be a cause of epiglottitis. The clinical manifestations and management of three patients with Candida epiglottitis complicating their neoplastic disease are described. All patients were granulocytopenic. Candida epiglottitis occurred either as a localized infection, as a source of Candida bronchopneumonia, or as a manifestation of disseminated infection. Candida epiglottitis may be under-diagnosed and should be considered, especially in immunocompromised patients with symptoms of refractory pharyngitis. Treatment of Candida epiglottitis with intravenous amphotericin B is warranted in patients with sustained granulocytopenia. Prompt endotracheal intubation is indicated if the airway patency cannot be maintained.
Pioglitazone normalizes insulin signaling in the diabetic rat retina through reduction in tumor necrosis factor α and suppressor of cytokine signaling 3.

Dysfunctional insulin signaling is a key component of type 2 diabetes. Little is understood of the effects of systemic diabetes on retinal insulin signaling. A number of agents are used to treat patients with type 2 diabetes to normalize glucose levels and improve insulin signaling; however, little has been done to investigate the effects of these agents on retinal insulin signal transduction. We hypothesized that pioglitazone, a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ) agonist, would normalize retinal insulin signal transduction through reduced tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) and suppressor of cytokine signaling 3 (SOCS3) activities in whole retina and retinal endothelial cells (REC) and Muller cells. To test this hypothesis, we used the BBZDR/Wor type 2 diabetic rat model, as well as REC and Muller cells cultured in normoglycemia and hyperglycemic conditions, to investigate the effects of pioglitazone on TNFα, SOCS3, and downstream insulin signal transduction proteins. We also evaluated pioglitazone's effects on retinal function using electroretinogram and markers of apoptosis. Data demonstrate that 2 months of pioglitazone significantly increased electroretinogram amplitudes in type 2 diabetic obese rats, which was associated with improved insulin receptor activation. These changes occurred in both REC and Muller cells treated with pioglitazone, suggesting that these two cell types are key to insulin resistance in the retina. Taken together, these data provide evidence of impaired insulin signaling in type 2 diabetes rats, which was improved by increasing PPARγ activity. Further investigations of PPARγ actions in the retina may provide improved treatment options.
The effects of ultra-violet irradiation on survival and on nucleic acids and protein synthesis in plant protoplasts

Protoplasts were subjected to increasing doses of ultra-violet irradiation to determine the effect on nucleic acid and protein synthesis, and also on survival and cell colony forming ability. The ability of soy bean protoplasts to form cell colonies was destroyed by exposure to u.v.-irradiation exceeding 192 ergs/mm 2 . However, as measured by vital staining, over 90 per cent of the protoplasts remained viable for at least 24 hr after exposure to u.v.-irradiation up to 1920 ergs/mm 2 . While DNA and RNA synthesis were sharply reduced by increasing u.v.-dose, protein synthesis was inhibited to a lesser extent.
FILLED SKUTTERUDITE ANTIMONIDES : ELECTRON CRYSTALS AND PHONON GLASSES

Crystallographic data, electrical and thermal transport measurements, and magnetic susceptibility values are reported for several compounds and alloys with the filled skutterudite structure, R{sub 1{minus}y}Fe{sub 4{minus}x}Co{sub x}Sb{sub 12} (R=La, Ce, or Th; 0{lt}y{lt}1; x=0,1). Room-temperature velocity of sound data is also reported. These materials are of interest because of their potential in thermoelectric power generation and refrigeration applications. The transport properties of both filled and unfilled skutterudite compounds are analyzed using standard semiconductor transport models. Filled skutterudite antimonides appear to be a good approximation of an idealized solid with the good electrical transport properties of a crystal but the poor heat conduction characteristics of a glass. The incoherent rattling of the weakly bound rare-earth atoms in these materials lowers the thermal conductivity at room temperature to values comparable to that of vitreous silica. Relative to the analogous unfilled compounds, the filled skutterudites exhibit larger effective masses and smaller mobilities. Good overall electrical transport is maintained, however, as evidenced by values for the figure of merit (ZT) greater than 1 at elevated temperatures (700{endash}1000 K). Above room temperature, there is very little difference in the electrical and thermal transport behavior between the La and Ce filled compounds. The effects of themore » hybridization caused by the proximity of the Ce 4f level to the Fermi energy, however, are evident at temperatures below 300 K. {copyright} {ital 1997} {ital The American Physical Society}« less
Brain Composition and Olfactory Learning in Honey Bees

Correlations between brain or brain component size and behavioral measures are frequently studied by comparing different animal species, which sometimes introduces variables that complicate interpretation in terms of brain function. Here, we have analyzed the brain composition of honey bees (Apis mellifera) that have been individually tested in an olfactory learning paradigm. We found that the total brain size correlated with the bees' learning performance. Among different brain components, only the mushroom body, a structure known to be involved in learning and memory, showed a positive correlation with learning performance. In contrast, visual neuropils were relatively smaller in bees that performed better in the olfactory learning task, suggesting modality-specific behavioral specialization of individual bees. This idea is also supported by inter-individual differences in brain composition. Some slight yet statistically significant differences in the brain composition of European and Africanized honey bees are reported. Larger bees had larger brains, and by comparing brains of different sizes, we report isometric correlations for all brain components except for a small structure, the central body.
Insights from a Database of Lashkar-e-Taiba and Hizb-ul-Mujahideen Militants

AbstractThis article uses a novel database of 1,625 posthumously published biographies of members of two Islamist militant organizations (Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) and Hizb-ul-Mujahideen (HM)), all of whom were killed in the course of carrying out militant attacks. In general, each biography provides data on the militant’s birthplace, education, recruitment, and training. The number of observations in this database is a full order of magnitude larger than those of previous databases assembled from militant biographies. While the sample of militants in this database is the product of multiple selection effects, analysis of the database undermines many common myths about Pakistani militants and casts doubt on current policy approaches to mitigating Islamist militancy in Pakistan.
On anisotropic finite deformation plasticity Part II. A two-component model

The anisotropic plastic behavior of materials during finite deformation is partly due to the development of different types of textures or substructures. In order to describe phenomenologically this behavior, a two-component model of finite plasticity is proposed based on the scale invariance approach earlier advanced by Aifantis and co-workers. Each component follows its own evolution and rotation rules to account for the different textures occurring during the deformation process. A direct extension of this framework to consider viscoplastic effects is also developed. The model is applied to simulate the anisotropic deformation behavior of materials under tension, compression and torsion. The results are compared with available experimental data and related predictions of polycrystalline plasticity models. It is shown that the present continuum model has the advantages of both accuracy and simplicity as compared to polycrystalline calculations.
Effects of axotomy on protein synthesis in the rat hypoglossal nucleus: examination of the influence of local recycling of leucine derived from protein degradation into the precursor pool.

The quantitative autoradiographic l-[1-14C] leucine method for the determination of regional rates of cerebral protein synthesis (lCPSleu) requires knowledge of the degree of recycling of leucine derived from protein degradation into the precursor pool for protein synthesis, which can be evaluated by measuring λi; the steady-state ratio of the leucine-specific activity in the precursor amino acid pool (tRNA-bound leucine) to that of the arterial plasma. To define the changes in lCPSleu during regeneration of the hypoglossal nerve, we examined the effects of axotomy on the value of λi. Because the concentration of tRNA-bound leucine in the hypoglossal nucleus is too low to measure, we measured the equivalent ratio for the total acid-soluble pool (ψi) and applied the linear relationship between λ and ψ found in the whole brain to calculate a value of λi in the ipsilateral and contralateral hypoglossal nuclei of 22 adult female rats 2, 18, 35, and 60 days after unilateral hypoglossal axotomy. Statistically s...
Radio Emission from RS CVn Binaries. III. A VLA Survey of 103 Systems

The paper presents a 5 GHz radio survey of 103 close late-type stellar binaries. Fifty-three of the 103 candidate stars were detected above an average detection threshold of 0.4 mJy. The median observed radio luminosity is compared with total bolometric luminosity, rotational period, color index (B-V), and Rossby number.
On the origin of sex chromosomes.

Summary In all living forms, the organization of the genetic material must enable two universally fundamental functions: the elaboration of biological properties and their transmission. In spite of these inexorable commonalties, genomes have a bewildering variety of forms, with differences occurring not only among distant taxa but also, in many instances, between members of the opposite sex within species. The rapidly growing field of comparative genomics offers a powerful tool for unraveling the evolutionary pathways that led to these karyotypic differences. This new method of genetic analysis [Fridolfsson et al, Proc Nat Acad Sci USA 1998;95:8147-8152. (Ref. 1)] complements still valuable, traditional experimental approaches [Rice WR. Proc Nat Acad Sci USA 1998;95:6217‐6221. Ref. 2)]. BioEssays 21:188‐190, 1999. r 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
An Analysis of the Left Ventricle as a Pressure and Flow Generator in the Intact Systemic Circulation

The effects of increasing and decreasing peripheral resistance on the relationship between aortic pressure and left heart output were investigated in 41 experiments in the dog. The data were analyzed in terms of the slope of the aortic pressure-cardiac output graphs. The results indicate a finite variable internal resistance for the left ventricle. In general it acts as a low resistance generator (constant pressure source) for situations of low peripheral resistance and as a higher resistance generator for situations of high peripheral resistance, although its constant pressure attributes were much more consistent and pronounced than its constant flow characteristics.
Regulation of intravenous cocaine self-administration in rats selectively bred for high (HiS) and low (LoS) saccharin intake

Rats selectively bred for high saccharin (HiS) intake consume more alcohol and acquire intravenous (i.v.) cocaine self-administration more rapidly than their low saccharin (LoS)-consuming counterparts. The present experiment was designed to determine whether HiS and LoS rats differed in other aspects of drug abuse. The purpose of the present experiment was to use a two-lever dose self-selection procedure to investigate the regulation/dysregulation of i.v. cocaine self-administration in female HiS and LoS rats. HiS and LoS rats were trained to self-administer eight different doses of cocaine during daily 5-h sessions, with the cocaine doses ranging from 0.2 to 1.6 mg/kg in steps of 0.2 mg/kg. The dose size increased after a response on one lever (infusion duration lengthened by 3 s) and decreased after a response on the other lever (infusion duration shortened by 3 s), with a lower limit of 0 s and with an upper limit of 24 s (a corresponding range of 0 to 1.6 mg/kg); the animals increased or decreased their self-administered dose in nine discrete steps. The HiS rats showed less precise regulation of their postinfusion interval (PII) than LoS rats based on the size of the previously self-administered cocaine dose. Correlations between these variables were lower for HiS than for LoS rats during the acquisition and maintenance phases, and HiS rats had lower PIIs than LoS rats after many of the cocaine doses. The HiS rats also self-administered significantly more cocaine infusions during the maintenance phase than the LoS rats, especially at the highest dose. These data indicate that HiS rats are more likely to self-administer more cocaine infusions, at higher doses, and with less precise dose-time regulation than LoS rats. Thus, rats selectively bred for HiS showed less inhibitory control over their cocaine intake than LoS rats, suggesting that a genetic predisposition for saccharin preference is related to the rewarding effects of i.v. cocaine.
The unexpected result of an investigation of an outbreak of occupational lung disease.

Abstract The author describes the discovery of a cluster of cases of interstitial lung disease among employees of a textile manufacturing plant and the difficulties he and his university-hospital occupational medicine team encountered in attempting to identify the cause of the disease. At first accepted in a consultant capacity by the plant's management, the team met increasing resistance to its efforts as it uncovered evidence of a work-related cause of the disease and attempted to communicate its findings to both the workers and their union. Ultimately the plant's management dismissed the occupational medicine team and threatened legal action if it published or presented its scientific findings. Both hospital and university administrators attempted to thwart the team's efforts to publish their findings and colluded in summarily terminating the occupational medicine program. The author emphasizes the points actually at issue: the need to protect the freedom of scientists to communicate findings important...
Modern-day tectonic subsidence in coastal Louisiana

Subsidence is leading to the slow inundation of communities and wetlands of Louisiana, Mississippi, Texas, and Alabama (United States) by the Gulf of Mexico. The prevailing paradigm considers subsidence to be the result of young sediment compaction and/or consolidation and human activities. This paper describes the results of a test of this theory based on an examination of historic motions of benchmark in the Michoud area of Orleans Parish, Louisiana. This methodology allowed for an assessment of vertical change at different levels over time relative to a precise vertical datum (North American Vertical Datum of 1988, NAVD88). Data do not support the current theory on the origins of subsidence; they demonstrate that tectonic causes dominate in the study area. During 1969– 1971 and 1971–1977, tectonism was responsible for −16.9 mm/yr and −7.1 mm/yr of subsidence, respectively. These contributions account for 73% and 50% of the total subsidence during these intervals. The change in deep subsidence is attributed to renewed motion along a large normal fault (Michoud fault). Over the same time intervals, intermediate depth subsidence due to compaction of Pleistocene to middle Miocene strata was constant (−4.6 mm/yr). Similarly, subsidence due to shallow processes, i.e., sediment compaction and groundwater offtake, was −1.5 mm/yr and −2.5 mm/yr. Subsidence associated with petroleum extraction was not a factor due to the lack of local production.
Tristetraprolin regulates Cyclin D1 and c- Myc mRNA stability in response to rapamycin in an Akt-dependent manner via p38 MAPK signaling

The differential expression of the critical cell cycle control proteins cyclin D1 and c-myc has been shown to result in Akt-dependent hypersensitivity of tumor cells to mTOR inhibitors. We have previously demonstrated that the differential utilization of internal ribosome entry sites within the mRNAs of these transcripts allows maintenance of protein synthesis in the face of rapamycin (rapa) exposure in an Akt-dependent manner. Here, we demonstrate that in addition to this mechanism, cyclin D1 and c-myc mRNA stability is also coordinately regulated following rapa treatment depending on Akt activity status. We identify A/U-rich response elements within the 3' untranslated regions (UTRs) of these transcripts, which confer the observed differential stabilities and show that the RNA-binding protein, tristetraprolin (TTP), interacts with these elements. We also present evidence that TTP accumulates in response to rapa exposure, binds to the cis-acting elements within the cyclin D1 and c-myc 3' UTRs and is differentially serine phosphorylated in an Akt-dependent manner. Furthermore, the differential phosphorylation status of TTP results in its sequestration by 14-3-3 proteins in quiescent Akt-containing cells. Finally, siRNA-mediated knockdown of TTP expression or inhibiting a known regulator of TTP phosphorylation, p38 MAP kinase, abolishes the effects on cyclin D1 and c-myc mRNA stability. We assume that the differential control of cyclin D1 and c-myc mRNA stability and translational efficiency constitutes a coordinate response to rapa contributing to the maintenance of expression of these determinants in rapa-resistant quiescent Akt-containing cells following exposure.
The Peritoneal Response to Expanded Polytetrafluoroethylene and Oxidized Regenerated Cellulose Surgical Adhesion Barriers

Objective To determine the peritoneal response to the surgical adhesion barriers expanded-polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) and oxidized regenerated cellulose (ORC). Study Design: The barriers were retrieved from the peritoneal cavities of women and mice 2 hours to 14 days after insertion and subjected to histology and electronmicroscopy. Results: Macrophages and mesothelial cells rapidly appeared on the surface of both materials. ePTFE was covered by 3 days, with the macrophages gradually being replaced by mesothelium and disappearing thereafter. By 7 days, a delicate membrane with surface mesothelial cells completely enveloped the ePTFE, creating a “pseudoperitoneum”. The membrane was difficult to recover as it was fragile and not adherent to the ePTFE. ORC was rapidly infiltrated and degraded by leukocytes and disappeared by 5 days in mice and from all but 1 of 20 women by 11 days. Conclusions: ePTFE is rapidly encapsulated by a non-adherent membrane resembling peritoneum while ORC is rapidly infiltrated...