cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effect of Feed Grade Animal Fat on Laying Hen Performance and on Metabolizable Energy of Rations

Abstract The addition of 2 or 4% fat to laying hen rations based on corn, oats, barley or combinations of these grains significantly (P Added fat was found to have an “extra metabolic effect” whereby the change in ration M.E. caused by fat as measured experimentally exceeded that anticipated on the basis of calculated M.E. of the ration. This effect was mainly observed in rations with 4% added fat and in rations where corn was one of the ingredients. The apparent M.E. of fat, therefore, would approach its gross energy value if this “extra metabolic effect” was entirely attributed to added fat.
SO2 and NO2 Effects on Microbial Activity in an Acid Forest Soil

The rate of glucose decomposition and the pH fell in a forest soil (initial pH 4.06) exposed to 1.0 ppm SO2. No such effect was noted if the soil was exposed to 1.0 ppm nitrogen dioxide (NO2). Nitrite but not bisulfite (5μg N or S/g of soil) inhibited O2 consumption and CO2 evolution in the glucose-amended forest soil, and nitrite and bisulfite acted synergistically in inhibiting these processes. Iron and manganese were solubilized when the soil was exposed to 10 ppm SO2, but NO2 caused no such change.
Negotiating the Double Bind: Interpersonal and Instrumental Evaluations of Dominance

The double bind of dominance—that it can help to attain status but might jeopardize social relationships—was investigated by examining evaluations based on interpersonal skill (e.g., getting along well with others) and instrumental skill (e.g., accomplishing a task). Role congruity theory (Eagly and Diekman 2005; Eagly and Karau 2002) posits that behavior will be evaluated more positively when it is congruent with valued social roles. Two experiments were conducted to explore the importance of context in evaluations of dominance. In both experiments, dominance was more devalued in contexts related to interpersonal skill than in those related to instrumental skill. Experiment 1 demonstrated that the penalty for dominant behavior decreased when the target also displayed warmth, thereby affirming diffuse prosocial roles. Experiment 2 demonstrated that dominant behavior incurred greater penalties in communal versus agentic occupations. The results support a contextual, role-based explanation of evaluative processes.
Discretizing stochastic tractography: A fast implementation

Probabilistic tractography has emerged as an alternative to classical deterministic methods to overcome their lack of connectivity information between different brain regions. However, it relies on statistical sampling, which is computationally taxing. In this study, a well-known, random walk based stochastic tractography method is discretized by limiting the set of directions that a sampling particle can follow. This sets up to a framework based on a Markov chain that can accommodate all the desirable features of stochastic tractography, principally trajectory regularization through particle deflection. The system produces results that are comparable to those by the stochastic algorithm it is based on (ρ = 0.79), though 60 times faster.
Fracture Mechanics Analysis of Cracked Discs of Anisotropic Rock Using the Boundary Element Method

This paper is the second of a series of two papers dealing with the determination of the deformability, tensile strength and fracturing of anisotropic rocks by diametral compression (Brazilian test) of discs of rock. It is shown how a new formulation of the Boundary Element Method (BEM), proposed recently by the authors, can be used to determine the stress intensity factors (SIFs) and the fracture toughness of anisotropic rocks from the results of diametral compression tests on initially cracked discs. Crack initiation angles and propagation paths can also be predicted using a numerical procedure based on the BEM and maximum tensile stress criterion. Numerical examples of calculation of mixed mode SIFs are presented for both isotropic and anisotropic media. The calculated SIFs for the special isotropic case are found to be in good agreement with those reported by previous authors. Diametral loading tests were conducted on Cracked Straight Through Brazilian Disc (CSTBD) specimens of a shale in order to evaluate its fracture toughness, the angle of crack initiation and the path of crack propagation. It was found that the numerical simulations of crack initiation and propagation in the CSTBD specimens of the shale were in good agreement with the experimental observations.
Psychological and Cognitive Status Before and After Heart Transplantation

Advances in the technical aspects of heart transplantation and the medical management of rejection have allowed a shift toward research evaluating psychological factors affecting heart transplant candidates and psychosocial sequelae following transplantation. This study examined the psychological and cognitive status of patients presenting for heart transplant evaluation. The findings indicated that this patient group was characterized by impaired verbal memory and a tendency toward depression and anxiety. The second part of the study examined changes in psychological and cognitive status from the initial evaluation to a follow-up assessment 1 year after transplantation. The results indicated that psychological distress (depression, anxiety) and several indices of cognitive function improved after transplantation. Finally, correlations were determined to evaluate the association between the psychological and cognitive measures and episodes of rejection in the first 6 months after transplantation. Anxiety, depression, and a nonverbal measure of intelligence were found to be associated with the number of episodes of rejection. The implications of these findings are discussed.
Varicella bullosa, a case report.

Summary A case of varicella bullosa is described. Unfortunately, fluid from the bullae could not be obtained for bacterial or viral culture. However, there was no evidence on clinical grounds that the lesions represented an impetiginous infection. This tends to confirm the impression of Saslaw and associates 1 regarding the benign nature of this disease.
An extremely potent anilinoacridine inhibitor of aldehyde oxidase

Abstract An acridine antitumor agent, 4′-(9-acridinylamino)methanesulfon-m-anisidide, has been found to be an extremely potent competitive inhibitor of aldehyde oxidase (EC 1.2.3.1). The inhibitor constant (K i ) was determined to be 0.06 μM. The degree of enzyme inhibition was quite sensitive to small changes in the structure of the inhibitor's anisidide moiety. Drug inhibition was specific for aldehyde oxidase and inhibition was not detected with the other mammalian molybdenum iron-sulfur flavoenzyme, xanthine oxidase (EC 1.2.3.2). Members of the 4′-(9-acridinyl-amine)methanesulfonanilide series might be useful probes in the study of the structure and function of aldehyde oxidase.
Race or class versus race and class: mortality differentials in the United States.

The author discusses the recent concern with the increasing mortality differentials between blacks and whites in the United States. He notes that there is also a less obvious but significant increase in morbidity and mortality differentials by social class. Information on such differentials is provided by occupation education and income. (ANNOTATION)
Model of serine proteases charge relay system - pcilo study

Abstract The PCILO (Perturbative Configuration Interaction Using Localized Orbitals) method has been used to determine the electronic structure of the active center of serine proteases. The results show that the carboxyl group of the aspartic acid residue is the ultimate proton acceptor of the catalytic triad (Asp, His, Ser) − . In the absence of a substrate the negative charge of the active centre is delocalized, causing polarization of the Ser O γ -H bond and an increase of the nucleophilicity of the O γ atom. The proton of the O γ -H bond of the Ser residue is, however, only partially transferred to the N ϵ2 atom of imidazole His. The hydration of the model charge relay system is also investigated.
Nonlinear dynamical characteristics of an optically injected semiconductor laser subject to optoelectronic feedback

Nonlinear dynamical characteristics of an optically injected semiconductor laser subject to optoelectronic feedback is studied numerically. The dynamic states including stable locking, periodic oscillation, chaotic oscillation, regular pulsing, quasiperiodic pulsing, and chaotic pulsing seen in a semiconductor laser subject to either optical injection or delayed optoelectronic feedback alone, can all be found in this hybrid system where the laser is subject to both optical injection and optoelectronic feedback. While this system can follow either the period-doubling or the quasiperiodic route to chaos, transition states bridging chaotic oscillation states and chaotic pulsing states are identified and shown. Mappings of dynamic states in the parameter space are plotted, where a large expansion and shifting of the chaos region is observed and is compared with an optically injected laser without optoelectronic feedback. As the injection strength increases, the bandwidths of the chaotic states in the broadened area of this hybrid system are significantly enhanced. The advantages and potential applications of this hybrid system are discussed.
Reinforcement of the Intestinal Mucus Layer Protects Against Clostridium difficile Intestinal Injury In Vitro

Background Clostridium difficile infection is increasing in incidence and severity. Attributable factors include virulence factors, including C difficile toxins A and B, as well as host immunologic status. The mucus component of the intestinal barrier is impaired by malnutrition, shock insults, and alterations in the gut microbiome. Exogenous phosphatidylcholine (PC) administration results in reinforcement of the mucus layer and is of therapeutic benefit in chronic ulcerative colitis. We therefore studied the role of exogenous PC combined with secretory immunoglobulin A (IgA) in intestinal barrier function against C difficile infection in vitro. Study Design Dimeric IgA was placed in the basal chambers of mucus-producing (HT29-methotrexate) and non–mucus-producing (HT29) strains of intestinal epithelial monolayers and allowed to undergo transcytosis and, in additional experiments, exogenous colostral IgA (30 ng/mL) was added to the apical media. After subsequent coculture with PC and C difficile toxin A in the apical chamber, tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-6, toxin A uptake, intestinal epithelial cell monolayer permeability, and necrosis were determined. Results A significant decrease of 4- to 5-fold in tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-6 levels and equally significant decreases in toxin A uptake and permeability changes in the intestinal cell monolayers with mucus or PC and transcytosed or colostral IgA vs control are shown. All groups analyzed also displayed a 2- to 3-fold reduction in necrosis. Conclusions Mucus or "exogenous" mucus in the form of PC has a synergistic role with secretory IgA in barrier defense against C difficile toxin A. Exogenous PC administration can be a therapeutic adjunct in patients with severe or recalcitrant C difficile infection.
A NEW HIGH-RESOLUTION SEPARATOR FOR HIGH-INTENSITY SECONDARY BEAMS

Abstract The NSCL has proposed an upgrade to its facility to provide primary beams of significantly higher intensity and higher energy for studies of nuclear reactions and nuclear structure, particularly to provide those primary beams needed to produce intense secondary beams. The center piece of this project is the replacement of the A1200 fragment separator with a new high-acceptance device called the A1900. The new fragment separator will connect the upgraded cyclotrons with the existing beamlines and provide the higher-intensity beams to the experimental equipment. Large gains in primary beam intensity, typically two or three orders of magnitude, will result from accelerating low charge-state ions in the K500 accelerator followed by stripping and further acceleration in the K1200 machine. Additional large gains in the intensity of the secondary beams will come from the very high acceptance of the A1900 fragment separator. The new separator, relying on large superconducting magnets, will accept over 90% of a variety of projectile fragmentation products. The ready availability of intense beams over the entire range of atomic number and masses will open new vistas in nuclear structure through the production and study of many new and previously inaccessible nuclei. The design of the A1900 superconducting quadrupoles and dipoles based on extensive experience with similar magnets is well underway.
High-level gene transfer to the cornea using electroporation.

Background Methods for gene transfer to the cornea that yield high-level expression without inflammation or trauma are currently lacking. Because electroporation has proven effective for gene transfer in other tissues in terms of expression levels and safety, this study quantitatively evaluated its use in the cornea. Methods To evaluate the use of electroporation in the mouse cornea, plasmids expressing either luciferase or green fluorescent protein were injected intracorneally or subconjunctivally and square-wave electric pulses were immediately applied to the eyes. Gene expression was quantified at later times and trauma and inflammation were monitored visually and by measuring interleukin-6 (IL-6) production. Results The application of electric pulses to eyes injected with plasmid resulted in nanogram levels of gene product expression. At an optimal field strength of 200 V/cm, no trauma, corneal edema or inflammation was observed. However, at higher field strengths, corneal damage was detected. Compared with injection of DNA alone, up to 1000-fold more gene product was produced using electroporation. Expression was detected as early as 6 h post-electroporation, remained high for 3 days, and decreased by 7 days. Gene expression was detected over the entire surface of the cornea in both epithelial and stromal layers. Conclusions These results demonstrate that electroporation is an excellent method for delivering genes to multiple cell layers within the mouse cornea and that it results in extremely high levels of gene expression with little, if any, inflammatory response or tissue damage, making this a very useful technique for corneal gene transfer. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
LINEAR VIBRATION CHARACTERISTICS OF CABLE–BUOY SYSTEMS

Abstract A theoretical model for the linear vibration of a cable tensioned by a subsurface buoy is developed. The equilibrium of the cable–buoy system subject to drag is evaluated using an approximate closed-form solution whose range of validity is confirmed through comparison with numerical solutions. The three-dimensional equations of cable–buoy motion are linearized about this equilibrium and then used to assess vibration characteristics. The characteristic equations for the natural frequencies of both in-plane and out-of-plane vibration modes are derived. The in-plane natural frequency spectrum exhibits the curve veering phenomena due to asymmetry of the associated mode shapes. Parameter studies reveal the dependencies of the in-plane and out-of-plane vibration modes on the cable tension, the buoy mass, and the current velocity.
The Determination of the Total Injected Power in Solar Flare Electrons

We here review the procedure by which the injected power in bremsstrahlung-producing electrons is determined from the hard X-ray spectra that they produce. In particular, we note that low-energy photons are produced in large part by electrons with energies that do not greatly exceed the thermal energy of the target with which they interact, so that the commonly used assumption of cold-target energy loss is not applicable over the entire energy range. We show that this significantly reduces the inferred energy content of the injected electron distribution and even makes the oft-dwelt-upon concept of a lower cutoff energy in the injected electron spectrum moot. Convenient formulae are provided for the total power in the injected electrons.
The Paraclavicular Approach to Address Arterial Complications

This technique involves the use of two incisions: one supraclavicular and another infraclavicular. The two-incisions approach above and below the clavicle is successful in exposing the subclavian artery, particularly in patients with a cervical rib in whom the artery has developed a poststenotic aneurysm, and associated thrombosis with peripheral embolism to the arm. To deal with these problems it is necessary to expose the origin of the subclavian artery and to release all the compressing structures of the thoracic outlet by doing a scalenectomy. In addition, exposure of the distal axillary artery is necessary in order to excise the aneurysmal portion of the artery with the thrombus and to implant an interposition graft. In these cases, the addition of a supraclavicular incision is necessary in order to get control of the inflow, at the origin of the subclavian artery. The concurrent occurrence of these problems is relatively rare these days because patients with neurogenic-arterial thoracic outlet syndromes usually seek medical attention before they evolve to this extent. Nevertheless, in our experience we have encountered few such patients, one of whom had a subclavian aneurysm and subsequently developed multiple peripheral emboli to the hand and fingers. That situation required balloon catheter embolectomy of both the brachial and radial arteries which were exposed at the elbow as well as at the wrist level. The patient recovered well without experiencing necrosis of any fingers. The function of the hand recovered completely. In another patient, the aneurysm was removed and replaced with an 8 mm PTFE (Goretex) graft followed by anticoagulation of the patient for 2 months. This patient rethrombosed the graft later but required only subsequent thrombolysis and balloon dilation of the distal anastomosis; the patient recovered and has been asymptomatic for more than 6 years. The importance of obtaining arteriography in cases with abnormal preoperative ultrasounds particularly when a cervical rib is present before undertaking any type of surgery cannot be overemphasized. Fortunately, however most of the time the artery is well preserved and the standard dual approach used by us to remove the 1st rib and the cervical rib solves the entire problem without the need for any direct arterial repair.
Decompositions and extremal type II codes over Z/sub 4/

In previous work by Huffman and by Yorgov (1983), a decomposition theory of self-dual linear codes C over a finite field F/sub q/ was given when C has a permutation automorphism of prime order r relatively prime to q. We extend these results to linear codes over the Galois ring Z/sub 4/ and apply the theory to Z/sub 4/-codes of length 24. In particular we obtain 42 inequivalent [24,12] Z/sub 4/-codes of minimum Euclidean weight 16 which lead to 42 constructions of the Leech lattice.
A Comment on the Note: Dialectics and Infant Shaking

The author begins with an accurate observation that the discourse about “Abusive Head Trauma” (AHT) and “Shaken Baby Syndrome” (SBS) has become clouded by harsh rhetoric and that a dialectical approach to resolution is missing and necessary. The controversy has reached the Supreme Court in Cavazos v. Smith and confused some justices. The author also calls for “transdisciplinary” research about medical histories given to doctors in child injury cases and confessions of inflicted injuries with or without plea bargains given to law enforcement officers or prosecutors. Unfortunately, there is no existing authority capable of imposing a rational dialectic process on the combatants in this conflict, and they themselves may see little value in attempts to engage the “other side” in a rational dialectical process. The “medical experts”who hold that the diagnoses are unscientific are not so much motivated by science as by economic considerations. Persons threatened with prolonged imprisonment for crimes are often willing and able to recruit large sums to compensate the expert witnesses who may assist them in securing better outcomes and the defense attorneys who organize the defenses welcome the “agnostic” stances the “experts” bring since they inject “reasonable doubt.” Medical Examiners who are public employees charged with determining causes of death in injury cases are often underpaid by myopic political entities, and a few have been lured to assist defendants in fatal child abuse cases. Once they “cross the line” to “the other side” they tend to stay connected to the defense. The prosecutors often cast them out. The author correctly observes that the “agnostic position” is not widely supported. Narang (Narang 2011) notes that both individual medical doctors and medical societies heavily favor the view that both AHT and SBS are valid diagnostic constructs. In a later article, Narang (awaiting publication) comments on the literature cited by the confused justices:
Secure AES engine with a local switched-capacitor current equalizer

Hardware implementations of the popular AES encryption algorithm [1,2] provide attackers with important side-channel information (delay, power consumption or EM radiation) that can be used to disclose the secret key of the encryption device. Differential power analysis (DPA) [3–5] is one of the most common side-channel attacks because of its simplicity and effectiveness (Fig. 3.5.1). It performs a statistical analysis of supply-current measurements and either the plaintext or ciphertext to disclose the secret key. These two elements can be easily recorded externally without probing internal signals on the chip. Either the plaintext or ciphertext is used to build a model of the current consumption (e.g., during 0 to 1 transition) using knowledge of the AES algorithm and a key guess. By calculating the correlation between the model and the measured current for each possible key guess the key is discovered. In the AES algorithm, the key consists of 16 blocks of 8b, each of which can be attacked independently since AES is a block cipher. For the 128b secret key, the DPA search space is only 16×28, as opposed to 2128 for a brute-force attack.
CATALASE ACTIVITY IN CHLOROPLAST PIGMENT DEFICIENT TYPES OF CORN.

Catalase is the enzyme which releases gaseous oxygen from hydrogen peroxide and is definitely known to occur in chloroplasts. Neish (5) has measured the catalase activity of separated chloroplast matter and has compared it with that of whole mashed leaves. His measurements showed that all the catalase of green leaves was concentrated in the chloroplasts. However, Krossing (4) reported that he found catalase both in the chloroplasts and in the other parts of the cytoplasm.
Interaction of actin and its 11-amino acid C-terminal peptide as cofactors with the adenovirus proteinase.

Abstract Actin bound to the adenovirus proteinase (AVP) with a lower equilibrium dissociation constant, 4.2 nM, than those exhibited by two viral, nuclear cofactors for AVP, the 11-amino acid peptide pVIc and the viral DNA. The kcat/Km ratio for substrate hydrolysis by AVP increased 150 000-fold in the presence of actin. The 11-amino acid residue peptide corresponding to the C-terminus of actin, which is highly homologous to pVIc, bound to AVP and stimulated its activity in the presence of DNA. As a cellular cofactor for AVP, AVP(actin) complexes may facilitate the cleavage of cytoskeletal proteins, preparing the infected cell for lysis and release of nascent virions.
Combined magnetic resonance and optical imaging of head and neck tumor xenografts using Gadolinium-labelled phosphorescent polymeric nanomicelles

The overall objective of this study was to develop a nanoparticle formulation for dual modality imaging of head and neck cancer. Here, we report the synthesis and characterization of polymeric phospholipid-based nanomicelles encapsulating near-infrared (NIR) phosphorescent molecules of Pt(II)-tetraphenyltetranaphthoporphyrin [Pt(TPNP)] and surface functionalized with gadolinium [Pt(TPNP)-Gd] for combined magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and NIR optical imaging applications. Dynamic light scattering, electron microscopy, optical spectroscopy and MR relaxometric measurements were performed to characterize the optical and magnetic properties of nanoparticles in vitro. Subsequently, in vivo imaging experiments were carried out using nude mice bearing primary patient tumor-derived human head and neck squamous cell carcinoma xenografts. The nanomicelles were ~100 nm in size and stable in aqueous suspension. T1-weighted MRI and relaxation rate (R1 = 1/T1) measurements carried out at 4.7 T revealed enhancement in the tumor immediately post injection with nanomicelles, particularly in the tumor periphery which persisted up to 24 hours post administration. Maximum intensity projections (MIPs) generated from 3D T1-weighted images also demonstrated visible enhancement in contrast within the tumor, liver and blood vessels. NIR optical imaging performed (in vivo and ex vivo) following completion of MRI at the 24 h time point confirmed tumor localization of the nanoparticles. The large spectral separation between the Pt(TPNP) absorption (~700 nm) and phosphorescence emission (~900 nm) provided a dramatic decrease in the level of background, resulting in high contrast optical (NIR phosphorescence) imaging. In conclusion, Pt(TPNP)-Gd nanomicelles exhibit a high degree of tumor-avidity and favorable imaging properties that allow for combined MR and optical imaging of head and neck tumors. Further investigation into the potential of Pt(TPNP)-Gd nanomicelles for combined imaging and therapy of cancer is currently underway.
Bacteria as an Agent for Change in Structural Plumage Color: Correlational and Experimental Evidence

Recent studies have documented that a diverse assem- blage of bacteria is present on the feathers of wild birds and that uropygial oil affects these bacteria in diverse ways. These findings suggest that birds may regulate the microbial flora on their feathers. Birds may directly inhibit the growth of harmful microbes or promote the growth of other harmless microbes that competitively exclude them. If keratinolytic (i.e., feather-degrading) bacteria degrade col- ored feathers, then plumage coloration could reveal the ability of individual birds to regulate microbial flora. We used field- and lab- based methods to test whether male eastern bluebirds (Sialia sialis) with brighter blue structural plumage coloration were better able to regulate their microbial flora than duller males. When we sampled bluebirds in the field, individuals with brighter color had higher bacterial loads than duller individuals. In the lab, we tested whether bacteria could directly alter feather color. We found that keratinolytic bacteria increased the brightness and purity, decreased the ultraviolet chroma, and did not affect the hue of structural color. This change in spectral properties of feathers may occur through degradation of the cortex and spongy layer of structurally colored barbs. These data suggest that bacteria can alter structural plumage color through degradation.
CloudCache: Expanding and shrinking private caches

The number of cores in a single chip multiprocessor is expected to grow in coming years. Likewise, aggregate on-chip cache capacity is increasing fast and its effective utilization is becoming ever more important. Furthermore, available cores are expected to be underutilized due to the power wall and highly heterogeneous future workloads. This trend makes existing L2 cache management techniques less effective for two problems: increased capacity interference between working cores and longer L2 access latency. We propose a novel scalable cache management framework called CloudCache that creates dynamically expanding and shrinking L2 caches for working threads with fine-grained hardware monitoring and control. The key architectural components of CloudCache are L2 cache chaining, inter- and intra-bank cache partitioning, and a performance-optimized coherence protocol. Our extensive experimental evaluation demonstrates that CloudCache significantly improves performance of a wide range of workloads when all or a subset of cores are occupied.
Aircraft-Assisted Pilot Suicides in the United States, 1993–2002

Our laboratory was interested in epidemiological and toxicological findings from aircraft-assisted pilot suicides. Between 1993-2002 there were 3,648 fatal aviation accidents. The NTSB determined that 16 were aircraft-assisted suicides; 15 from intentional crashing of an aircraft and 1 from exiting the aircraft while in-flight. All pilots involved in these aircraft-assisted suicides were male, with a median age of 40 years. Seven of the 14 pilots for which specimens were available were positive for disqualifying substances. Based on the few cases conclusively attributed to suicide, death by the intentional crashing of an aircraft appears to be an infrequent and uncommon event.
Web-based environment to support aerodynamic testing

Over the past several years, a Web-based environment to support aerodynamic testing has been under development at the Aerodynamics Laboratory of the Institute for Aerospace Research, National Research Council of Canada. As a mechanism for interacting with users, the WWW offers one significant advantage over other, more traditional techniques: it is "easy". More specifically, it is easy to use, easy to distribute, easy to expand, easy to develop, and easy to maintain. The web-based testing environment at the Aerodynamics Laboratory currently consists of five primary applications, nine secondary applications, and a large number of Web pages containing documentation, system status, and links to outside information. These resources may be accessed via "home pages" created for clients and staff. The five primary applications are a data file viewer, a plotting system, a configuration file editor, a dynamic data display system, and an event recording and display system. The secondary applications include a units conversion calculator, an electronic test specification form for use by the engineering staff, and several software support tools for use by the IT personnel.
The role of casein-specific IgA and TGF-β in children with food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome to milk.

Background Food protein-induced enterocolitis syndrome (FPIES) is a gastrointestinal hypersensitivity disorder with a poorly understood pathophysiology and no biomarkers to aid in diagnosis.
A 120dB-SNR 100dB-THD+N 21.5mW/channel multibit CT ΔΣ DAC

Automotive and consumer multi-channel 24b audio systems have demanded low-cost digital-to-analog converters (DACs) which offer wide dynamic range, high linearity, small die size, and low power consumption such that the system can be housed in a small low-cost plastic package. Several 120dB SNR audio ΔΣ DACs have been reported using either switched-capacitor or continuous-time techniques [1–3]. This paper presents a continuous time (CT) area- optimized multibit DAC which achieves 120dB SNR and 100dB THD+N at 21.5mW/chan-nel. This performance is achieved by using a new 3-level rotational data shuffling scheme which achieves small area and low digital activity at low signal level, and by applying low-power low-noise analog techniques.
Adaptive air fuel ratio control for internal combustion engines

This paper treats the control of engine air-to-fuel ratio from the perspective of adaptive control of time-delay systems. High accuracy of engine air-to-fuel ratio control is required to meet stringent emissions regulations. Two adaptive controller designs are considered. The first design is based on feed-forward adaptation while the second design is based on both feedback and feedforward adaptation incorporating the developed adaptive posicast controller. The two adaptive designs are compared with the baseline controller using simulations and vehicle experiments.
Induction of theophylline clearance by rifampin and rifabutin in healthy male volunteers.

Rifampin and rifabutin induce the metabolism of many drugs, which may result in subtherapeutic concentrations and failure of therapy. However, differences between rifabutin and rifampin in potency of induction, and the specific enzymes which are altered, are not clear. This study, involving 12 adult male volunteers, compared the effects of 14-day courses of rifampin and rifabutin on clearance of theophylline, a substrate for the hepatic microsomal enzyme CYP1A2. Subjects were given oral theophylline solution (5 mg/kg of body weight) on day 1 and then randomized to receive daily rifampin (300 mg) or rifabutin (300 mg) on days 3 to 16. Theophylline was readministered as described above on day 15. Thefirst treatment sequence was followed bya2-weekwashoutperiod;subjectsthenreceivedthealternativetreatment.Theophyllineconcentrationswere determinedfor46haftereachdose,andpharmacokineticparametersweredetermined.Onesubjectdeveloped flu-like symptoms while taking rifabutin and withdrew voluntarily. Results from the remaining 11 subjects are reported. Compared with the baseline, the mean area under the concentration-time curve (AUC) (6standard deviation) for theophylline declined significantly following rifampin treatment (from 140 6 37 to 100 6 24 mg zh/ml, P < 0.001); there was no significant change following rifabutin treatment (136 6 48 to 128 6 45 mg zh/ml). Baseline theophylline AUCs before each treatment phase were not different. A comparison of equal doses of rifampin and rifabutin administered to healthy volunteers for 2 weeks indicates that induction of CYP1A2, as measured by theophylline clearance, is significantly less following rifabutin treatment than it is following rifampin treatment. However, the relative induction potency for other metabolic enzymes remains to be investigated. Rifampinisapotentinducerofmultiplemetabolicenzymes, and clinically important drug interactions with rifampin are numerous (8, 26). Rifabutin is also a rifamycin antibiotic used for the prophylaxis of infection caused by Mycobacterium avium-Mycobacterium intracellulare (14). The potential of rifabutin for enzyme induction compared with that of rifampin has not been thoroughly investigated (2, 5, 22). Some animal studies (7, 15, 24) and clinical trials (2, 16, 24, 27) suggest that rifabutin may induce the metabolism of certain drugs to a lesser degree than rifampin. However, these clinical trials either have not directly compared rifampin and rifabutin in a parallel study or have used different dosages for the two drugs. In addition, it is now clear that there is no single substrate that is suitable for assessing hepatic drug metabolism, as individual enzymes differ in their potential for induction. To further clarify these issues, we evaluated the effects of equivalent doses of rifampin and rifabutin on theophylline metabolism in healthy, nonsmoking males. Theophylline was chosen because of its therapeutic utility and because its metabolic clearance reflects primarily the activity of one hepatic microsomal enzyme, CYP1A2 (10).
Effects of phosphodiesterase inhibitors and forskolin on cyclic GMP-activated channels in intact isolated cells of the chick pineal gland

Application of the phosphodiesterase inhibitors isobutylmethylxanthine (100 μM) caused activation of low-conductance cationic channels in intact acutely-isolated chick pineal cells. This effect required continued contact between the cytoplasmic face of the patch membrane and the cytoplasm. The biophysical properties of the channels were identical to those of cyclic GMP-activated channels described previously in excised patches. Application of 40 μM forskolin did not cause activation of the low-conductance channels. A second population of spontaneously active large-conductance cationic channels was observed in some patches. Gating of large-conductance channels was not affected by phosphodiesterase inhibitors of forskolin. These results support the theory that phototransduction cascades similar to those of the vertebrate retina are also present in chick pineal cells.
Doxorubicin Therapy Causes Additional Bone Loss in Preclinical Osteolytic Breast Cancer Model

Introduction: Treatment of myeloma (MY) bone disease with bisphosphonates (BP) is standard of care. But renal toxicity due to BP treatment tends to be a major problem in MY patients, especially. Patients with reduced renal function (RF) and patients who had switched BP drugs are at highest risk. Toxicity appears typically after few month of treatment. We evaluated safety data about RF from MY patients, who were treated with ibandronate (IBD). The patients were stratified according to pretreatment and RF.Methods: In a prospective noninterventional study (NIS) about safety and efficacy of IBD in breast cancer patients it turned out that unintentionally MY patients were also included. Out of 3528 documented patients 93 MY patients were identified. We evaluated the data from these MY patients separately. The patients were subdivided in 4 groups according to their RF: GFR>90 (1), 60-90 (2), 30-59 (3) and <30 (4) ml/min. Since pretreatment with or without BP could be of influence, patients were analysed according to former pretreatment: no BP (I), IBD (II), and other BP (III). The kidney function was calculated every month over a period of six month. Results: 93 patients were available for evaluation. In 87 patients RF was documented over a minimum of 5 months. The initial RF was (1) n=11, (2) n=34, (3) n=36 and (4) n=12, respectively. There were no differences in renal function according to their pre-treatment. A total number of 620 infusions were documented. The IBD dosage was 6 mg in 89% of all infusions, 4 mg in 4%, 3 mg in 2% and 2 mg in 5%, respectively. In the subgroups (1-4) RF was stable over time (mean GFR+//0-SD ; difference over the time [ml/min]: (1): 116,8+//0-20,9; -3,38; (2): 74,7+//0-8.4; 2,04; (3): 46,1+//0-8,1; 3,7; (4): 20,4+//0-7; 13,37; all changes n.s.), but there was a trend for improved RF in patients with GFR<30 ml/min. The mean changes were similar in all groups irrespectively of the pretreatment. In 8 patients the treatment was terminated prematurely, due to disease progression (n=3), death due to MY during study period (n=2). Two patients were lost by follow up and one patient declined further treatment. Discussion: The data of this NIS suggest, that there is no evidence for renal toxicity of IBD in MY patients in all stages of renal function. Patients with worse kidney function (stage 4) had a trend of improvement of RF over the study period, however, the changes were not significant due to the limited number of patients.
Do homochiral aggregates have an entropic advantage

The present work seeks to illuminate the underlying principles which control the aggregation of chiral building blocks into larger aggregates by examining the role that entropy plays in this process. Entropic effects are first examined within the confines of a simple model system, and the results are then compared to experimental data on clusters of amino acids. The model system predicts that the formation of a specific structure is more likely to occur from an enantiopure solution because forming a particular structure from a racemic solution is hindered by significant entropic barriers. These predictions are in good agreement with the experimental results. In our examination of clusters of all of the amino acids, clusters which are unusually abundant are found only when enantiopure solutions are sampled. Furthermore, the majority of all clusters exhibit no preference for chiral composition, suggesting that entropic effects negate any changes in enthalpy. Although the experimental data are not comprehensive, our results strongly suggest that specificity in homochiral clusters is entropically advantageous compared to specificity in racemic clusters.
THE POWER OF NUMBERS IN INFLUENCING HIRING DECISIONS

This article explores the influence that the proportion of women in a department has on hiring decisions in the field of psychology. A sample of advertisers from the APA Monitor was asked to identify the gender of the candidate hired. Hiring patterns were the same for men and women hirers in nonacademic organizations, as each favored male candidates. In academic hiring, women candidates were favored in departments with moderate female representation. This finding counters claims that women are hired by departments with few women in response to affirmative action. Rather, the presence of moderate numbers of women influences hiring decisions that promote women's opportunities.
Non-linear arrival time inversion: constraining velocity anomalies by seeking smooth models in 3-D

SUMMARY The problem of constraining 3-D seismic anomalies using arrival times from a regional network is examined. The non-linear dependence of arrival times on the hypocentral parameters of the earthquakes and the 3-D velocity field leads to a multiparameter-type non-linear inverse problem, and the distribution of sources and receivers from a typical regional network results in an enormous 3-D variation in data constraint. To ensure computational feasibility, authors have tended to neglect the non-linearity of the problem by linearizing about some best-guess discretized earth model. One must be careful in interpreting 3-D structure from linearized inversions because the inadequacy of the data window may combine with non-linear effects to produce artificial or phantom ‘structure’. To avoid the generation of artificial velocity gradients we must determine only those velocity variations which are necessary to fit the data rather than merely estimating local velocities in different parts of the model, which is the more common practice. We present a series of inversion algorithms which seek to inhibit the generation of unnecessary structure while performing efficiently within the framework of a large-scale inversion. This is achieved by extending the subspace method of Kennett, Sambridge & Williamson (1988) and incorporating the smoothing strategy proposed by Constable, Parker & Constable (1987). A flexible model parametrization involving Cardinal spline functions is used, and full 3-D ray tracing performed. A comparison between linear and non-linear inversions shows that if a breakdown in the linearizing approximation occurs spurious velocity models may be obtained which would appear acceptable in a linear inversion. Application of the techniques to a SE Australian data set show that unnecessary structure can be suppressed. As the smoothing power of the algorithm is improved a robust low-velocity anomaly dipping to the north becomes the most dominant feature of the P-wave model and much of the complex structure of pure data-fitting models is removed.
Synchronous coadaptation in an ancient case of herbivory

Coevolution has long been considered a major force leading to the adaptive radiation and diversification of insects and plants. A fundamental aspect of coevolution is that adaptations and counteradaptations interlace in time. A discordant origin of traits long before or after the origin of the putative coevolutionary selective pressure must be attributed to other evolutionary processes. Despite the importance of this distinction to our understanding of coevolution, the macroevolutionary tempo of innovation in plant defenses and insect counterdefenses has not been documented. Molecular clocks for a lineage of chrysomelid beetles of the genus Blepharida and their Burseraceae hosts were independently calibrated. Results show that these plants’ defenses and the insect’s counterdefensive feeding traits evolved roughly in synchrony, providing macroevolutionary confirmation of synchronous plant‐ herbivore coadaptation. The association between these two groups of organisms was determined to be about 112 million years old, the oldest age so far for a specialized plant‐ herbivore association.
It Takes a Family: An Examination of Outness Among Black LGBT People in the United States

Black family structures, dynamics, and processes in the United States have had a long history of investigation in the social sciences. And recently, research on sexual orientation disclosure has become an important feature of the scholarship on lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) populations. The various ways in which the family affects a person’s decision to be an out LGBT person, or outness, are less known. Using a national sample of Black LGBT people (N = 2,166), this article assesses the relative importance of a variety of characteristics in understanding outness levels. Regression modeling reveals that having family support is the strongest predictor of outness for Black LGBTs. Two other predictors include the belief that one’s sexual orientation is an important part of one’s identity and having a connection to the LGBT community. The significance of these findings is discussed regarding future research with Black LGBT populations.
The Arabidopsis SPIKE1 Gene Is Required for Normal Cell Shape Control and Tissue Development

Regulated growth and cell shape control are fundamentally important to the function of plant cells, tissues, and organs. The signal transduction cascades that control localized growth and cell shape, however, are not known. To better understand the relationship between cytoskeletal organization, organelle positioning, and regulated vesicle transport, we conducted a forward genetic screen to identify genes that regulate cytoskeletal organization in plants. Because of the distinct requirements for microtubules and actin filaments during leaf trichome development, a trichome-based morphology screen is an efficient approach to identify genes that affect cytoplasmic organization. The seedling lethal spike1 mutant was identified based on trichome, cotyledon, and leaf-shape defects. The predicted SPIKE1 protein shares amino acid identity with a large family of adapter proteins present in humans, flies, and worms that integrate extracellular signals with cytoskeletal reorganization. Both the trichome phenotype and immunolocalization data suggest that SPIKE1 also is involved in cytoskeletal reorganization. The assembly of laterally clustered foci of microtubules and polarized growth are early events in cotyledon development, and both processes are misregulated in spike1 epidermal cells.
Basis for the Exercise-Induced Hyperphagia in Adult Hamsters

BROWNE, S. A. H. AND K. T. BORER. Basis for the exercise-induced hyperphagia in adult hamsters. PHYSIOL. BEHAV. 20(5) 553-557, 1978.- In adult female golden hamsters (Mesocricetus auratus, Waterhouse) voluntary exercise is associated with increased food intake and accelerated somatic growth. We examined the possible interdependence between increased food intake and accelerated somatic growth by measuring fobd intake in hamsters whose growth was blocked by hypophysectomy. In a 2 × 2 design, hypophysectomized hamsters (HYPOX, n = 20) and animals with intact pituitaries (INT, n = 24) were either allowed to exercise for 35 days (n = 22) or were maintained in sedentary condition (n = 22). Exercise induced increased food intake in both HYPOX and INT hamsters and somatic growth in INT hamsters only. Hypophysectomy was also associated with a 43% reduction in the activity level and a significant increase in the percentage of body fat estimated indirectly, We conclude that adult hamsters increase their food intake in response to some stimulus related to exercise and not to exercise-induced growth.