cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
HOSTS AND HOSTS: THE ANTHROPOLOGY OF COMMUNITY‐BASED ECOTOURISM IN THE PERUVIAN AMAZON

For environmental anthropologists, ecotourism is an especially timely and practical topic. Increasingly, anthropologists are talking with conservationists, development specialists, tour operators, policy-makers, and local leaders about ecotourism and its impacts on local communities and ecosystems. This is good, as anthropologists are especially well suited to focus ethnographic attention on the general but critical question of what happens when people in host destinations near and in protected areas become involved in ecotourism. Do local “hosts” become etter stewards of wildlife, forests, and other ecosystems when ecotourism is introduced? If so, what is the process by which that happens, and what are the challenges along the way? This paper highlights various methods and insights gained during four years of research on a community-based ecotourism lodge called Posada Amazonas, located in Madre de Dios, Peru. As a joint business venture between a private company and a local community, Posada Amazonas represents a new standard for local participation in ecotourism. Here, members of the local community of Infierno work not only as boat drivers, cooks, and guides, but also as directors, owners, and decision-makers in the company. Learning and telling the story of Posada Amazonas ethnographically and from both sides of the partnership allowed me to move beyond a standard impact study of costs and benefits. Anthropological analysis entailed adding nuance to “the local community” and unraveling why people were or were not choosing to participate in ecotourism, and how their decisions were often related to social and cultural roles and perceptions. The ethnographic approach also led to analyses of processes and impacts—that is, how and why there were gains and losses in Infierno, in addition to what the changes were. Answers to these types of questions can have important implications for conservation, beyond calculating jobs gained or income earned. Finally, in addition to deepening the analysis of ecotourism, anthropologists can play important roles as cultural brokers between ecotourism partners, helping to facilitate communication across an array of perspectives and expectations.
Reported fatigue, difficulty, and cardiovascular response to an auditory mental arithmetic challenge ☆

Undergraduates scoring low and high on a questionnaire measure of relatively extended fatigue were presented four versions of an auditory mental arithmetic challenge, ranging in difficulty from low to impossibly high. Among Low Fatigue participants, blood pressure and heart rate responses assessed during the work periods first rose and then fell with difficulty. Among High Fatigue participants, blood pressure responses remained low across difficulty conditions, while heart rate responses rose weakly from the low- to the moderate difficulty condition and then declined. Findings are discussed in terms of a recent interactional analysis of fatigue influence on cardiovascular response.
Validation of the College Alcohol Problem Scale—revised (CAPS-r) for use with non-adjudicated first-year students

Abstract First-year students in transition to college are at increased risk for consuming greater amounts of alcohol and are subject to subsequent alcohol-related problems. The 8-item College Alcohol Problem Scale—revised (CAPS-r) has been used to measure alcohol-related problems in adjudicated undergraduates and psychology majors. However, structural validity of the CAPS-r has not been examined in a general first-year student population. Confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) was used to test the structural validity of this two-factor model using LISREL 8.5. The original two-factor measurement model for the 8-item CAPS-r represented acceptable fit to the data ( χ 2 = 37.52, df = 19, p = .007, CFI = .968, SRMR = .0449), supporting its use with first-year college students. Future studies need to examine invariance across ethnic, gender, and geographical groups.
Yawning as a stereotyped action pattern and releasing stimulus.

Yawning was induced by instructing subjects to “think about yawning.” Yawns were consistent in duration (X = 5.9 s), periodic (X interyawn interval = 68.3 s), and within-subject stability in yawn duration and frequency was maintained for at least several weeks. These and other characteristics qualified yawning as a stereotyped action pattern. Although visually observed yawns were potent yawn releasing stimuli, “thinking about” or reading about yawning also elicited yawning and were additional vectors for its “infectiousness.” The respiratory, stretching and “imitative” aspects of yawning were also evaluated.
Bilateral partial bronchial obstruction due to broncholithiasis treated with laser therapy

The previously recognized modes of therapy for symptomatic broncholithiasis are broncholithectomy via surgery or bronchoscopy. A 46-year-old woman with bilateral partial bronchial obstruction was treated with Nd-YAG laser with complete resolution of symptoms and of airway obstruction.
Radiation Belt Storm Probes: Resolving Fundamental Physics with Practical Consequences

The fundamental processes that energize, transport, and cause the loss of charged particles operate throughout the universe at locations as diverse as magnetized planets, the solar wind, our Sun, and other stars. The same processes operate within our immediate environment, the Earth's radiation belts. The Radiation Belt Storm Probes (RBSP) mission will provide coordinated two-spacecraft observations to obtain understanding of these fundamental processes controlling the dynamic variability of the near-Earth radiation environment. In this paper we discuss some of the profound mysteries of the radiation belt physics that will be addressed by RBSP and briefly describe the mission and its goals.
On the Fast Fourier Transform of Functions with Singularities

Abstract We consider a simple approach for the fast evaluation of the Fourier transform of functions with singularities based on projecting such functions on a subspace of Multiresolution Analysis. We obtain an explicit approximation of the Fourier Transform of generalized functions and develop a fast algorithm based on its evaluation. In particular, we construct an algorithm for the Unequally Spaced Fast Fourier Transform and test its performance in one and two dimensions. The number of operations required by algorithms of this paper is O ( N · log N + N p · (− log ϵ)) in one dimension and O ( N 2 · log N + N p · (− log ϵ) 2 ) in two dimensions, where ϵ is the precision of computation, N is the number of computed frequencies and N p is the number of nodes. We also address the problem of using approximations of generalized functions for solving partial differential equation with singular coefficients or source terms.
Exact workspace boundary by extremal reaches

We present the first exact, combinatorial, polynomial time algorithm for computing the description of the workspace boundary for the class of revolute jointed robot arms arising from polygonal orthogonal chains in 3D.
Leadership and management training of pediatric intensivists: how do we gain our skills?

BACKGROUND Intensivists manage a diverse team of health care professionals. For decades, business literature has recognized the value of leadership and management skills, yet this is relatively unexplored in critical care. OBJECTIVE Investigate the status of intensivists' preparation for the clinical leadership and management roles that they will assume after medical training. DESIGN Authoritative business leadership literature was reviewed to identify attributes of successful leadership and management relevant to critical care. A survey was designed to assess the process by which intensivists learn these attributes and to assess their perceived level of preparedness (20 items). Each survey item received a preparedness score structured as a Likert scale (1=not prepared, 5=very prepared), representing the averaged response to each item. In addition, an inadequate preparedness percentage was created representing the percentage of respondents answering "not at all prepared" and "hardly prepared" on the Likert-scaled items. SETTING Pediatric Critical Care Medicine Board Review Course, Washington, DC, 2004. SUBJECTS Physician course participants (n=259). INTERVENTION Survey administration. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS The response rate was 61% (n = 159). The majority of respondents (69%) had completed fellowship training (median, 1 yr posttraining). Modeling the behavior of other physicians was the dominant technique for leadership and management skill acquisition (86%). The respondents were taught these skills by a variety of sources (attendings, 92%; other fellows, 42%; nurses, 37%; teachers, 20%; residents, 14%). Most (82%) thought that leadership and management training was important or very important, yet only 47% had received any formal training (40% fellowship, 36% residency, 21% medical school, 16% masters, 30% other). Overall, respondents felt only "somewhat prepared" for the 20 leadership and management items surveyed (mean+/- sd of preparedness score, 2.8+/- 0.2). Respondents were least prepared to manage conflict within a team, manage conflict with other groups, and manage stress effectively (preparedness scores of 2.5, 2.4, and 2.6 and inadequate preparedness percentages of 19.5%, 15.7%, and 18.9%, respectively). Respondents were most prepared to "set high standards" (preparedness score=3.3). Of the respondents feeling at least somewhat prepared, only 33% credited medical training as preparing them. CONCLUSIONS Although leadership and management training was perceived as important to this sample of pediatric generally young intensivists, most feel inadequately prepared for critical aspects of these responsibilities, most notably, stress and conflict management. These findings provide an opportunity for specific curriculum development in leadership and management for those believing these skills should be further refined.
A DYNAMIC OPTIMIZATION MODEL FOR PLANNING IN A MULTI-PRODUCT ENVIRONMENT

This paper describes an extension of the product mix problem and explicitly considers situations where demand can fluctuate over time. The additional decision variables and constraints that must be considered are described, and a revised objective function is discussed. The solution to the proposed linear programming formulation is compared to the traditional simulation and illustrates the potential for increased profits.
A list analogue of equitable coloring

Given lists of available colors assigned to the vertices of a graph G, a list coloring is a proper coloring of G such that the color on each vertex is chosen from its list. If the lists all have size k, then a list coloring is equitable if each color appears on at most $\lceil n (G)/k \rceil$ vertices. A graph is equitably k-choosable if such a coloring exists whenever the lists all have size k. We prove that G is equitably k-choosable when $k \ge {\rm max} \{ {\Delta (G),n(G)/2}\}$ unless G contains $K_{k+1}$ or k is odd and $G=K_{k,k}$. For forests, the threshold improves to $k \ge 1+\Delta (G)/2$. If G is a 2-degenerate graph (given k ≥ 5) or a connected interval graph (other than $K_{k+1}$), then G is equitably k-choosable when $k\ge \Delta(G)$. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Graph Theory 44: 166–177, 2003
Quantum effects in the Hall resistivity of CMR oxides

This forum paper reviews recent work by the author and colleagues on an unforeseen consequence of the constraint that charge carriers follow the local spin texture. As a result of the double-exchange mechanism in the presence of strong Hund's-rule coupling, the constraint produces a universal Berry-phase contribution to the anomalous Hall effect in the vicinity of the ferromagnetic transition. Such effects are apparent in both 3D and layered manganites and are expected in other double-exchange systems.
Measurement of Cefixime in Serum and Cerebrospinal Fluid by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography

Abstract Cefixime is a new cephalosporin antibiotic for oral administration. A high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) method was developed to measure cefixime in small volumes of serum and cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) to conduct a pharmacokinetics study in pediatric patients. The assay involved precipitation of serum proteins with 6% trichloroacetic acid, using 7-hydroxycoumarin as an internal standard. Chromatographic separation was accomplished using ultrasphere C8 column and mobile phase containing 15% acetonitrile in a buffer at a detection wave length of 280 nm. The retention time of cefixime and 7-hydroxycoumarin was about 5 and 9 minutes, respectively. The method was suitable for quantitation of cefixime at a concentration ranging from 0.05 to 10 μg/ml. The coefficient of variation was less than 3%. The technique was used successfully to measure cefixime in serum and CSF obtained from an infant receiving cefixime.
Laser Beat Wave Electron Accelerator

A static periodic magnetic field (wiggler) together with a radiation field, can induce a beat wave in the presence of an injected electron beam. This beat wave, if properly phased, can trap and continuously energize the electron beam. To optimize the transfer of energy from the photons to electrons, both the wiggler amplitude and wavelength are spatially increased as a function of acceleration distance. The acceleration process is self-consistently analyzed and includes radiation depletion and space charge effects. Two numerical illustrations are given using different radiation sources.
Genetic regulation of testosterone-induced immune suppression

Abstract Genes in the major histocompatibility complex (H-2) of the mouse control several immune functions as well as various facets of testosterone (Te) physiology. In order to study the genetic control of Te-induced immune suppression, complete Freund's adjuvant (CFA; containing Mycobacteria tuberculosis ) was administered parenterally to several mouse strains differing at the H-2 complex which were either sham- or Te-treated. The specific lymphocyte proliferative response to purified protein derivative (PPD) was measured in draining lymph node cells. The response to PPD in strains bearing H-2 b (B6 and B10) but not H-2 d (B10.D2 and DBA/2) or H-2 k (B10.BR and AKR) haplotypes was markedly lower in Te-implanted compared to shamimplanted controls. This result suggests that the ability of Te to dampen the immune response to PPD is regulated by H-2-linked gene(s).
Parasomnias, Violence and the Law

In this review, we trace the parallel development of scientific understanding of parasomnias and the jurisprudence of violent behavior during sleep. Before sleep physiology was studied, it was generally self-evident that sleeping persons would not be criminally responsible. Though the problem of malingering was acknowledged in early American forensic psychiatry, the defendant with sleepwalking or sleep drunkenness was treated leniently. Over the past half century, sleep physiology has been examined and there is a developing nomenclature for sleep disorders. Though there is no clear-cut correlation between violence and sleep, several parasomnias have been implicated. We discuss contemporary concepts of parasomnias and suggest how expert witnesses might apply this knowledge to the difficult matter of assessing criminal intent and responsibility.
Spectrophotometric Assay of POE Nonionic Surfactants and Its Application to Surfactant Sorption Isotherms

The operational range and suitability toward environmental samples of an iodine-iodide (I-I) assay for nonionic surfactants were assessed. The I-I assay provides a rapid and repeatable method for determining aqueous nonionic surfactant concentrations. Through a systematic examination of surfactant structure, the operational range of the assay was shown to be on the order of 10(-6) to 10(-3) MEO, where the concentration unit MEO is defined as the molar surfactant concentration multiplied by the number of ethylene oxide units in the surfactant molecule. For environmental samples, it was shown that the I-I assay can be applied to measurement of surfactant sorption isotherms to aquifer sands and bacteria cultures. A potential limitation of the I-I assay is interference with humic acids, with the magnitude of the interference dependent on the concentration of humic acids present. The main benefit of the I-I assay is that its high accuracy and ease of application allows measurement of low levels of surfactant sorption. Surfactant sorption to aquifer sand could be measured down to the range of 10(-9) mol/g.
Scaling linear optimization problems prior to application of the simplex method

The scaling of linear optimization problems, while poorly understood, is definitely not devoid of techniques. Scaling is the most common preconditioning technique utilized in linear optimization solvers, and is designed to improve the conditioning of the constraint matrix and decrease the computational effort for solution. Most importantly, scaling provides a relative point of reference for absolute tolerances. For instance, absolute tolerances are used in the simplex algorithm to determine when a reduced cost is considered to be nonnegative. Existing techniques for obtaining scaling factors for linear systems are investigated herein. With a focus on the impact of these techniques on the performance of the simplex method, we analyze the results obtained from over half a billion simplex computations with CPLEX, MINOS and GLPK, including the computation of the condition number at every iteration. Some of the scaling techniques studied are computationally more expensive than others. For the Netlib and Kennington problems considered herein, it is found that on average no scaling technique outperforms the simplest technique (equilibration) despite the added complexity and computational cost.
Can preoperative spiral CT scans alone determine the feasibility of endovascular AAA repair? A comparison to angiographic measurements.

Purpose:To determine whether computed tomography (CT) alone can be used for excluding patients from endovascular repair for abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA).Methods:Among 71 patients evaluated for endovascular AAA repair using spiral CT imaging and angiography, 31 were selected who had both studies performed within 6 months of each other using a graduated measuring catheter or guidewire. Measurements of aneurysm neck diameter, neck length, and infrarenal aortic length were made from the CT and angiographic images using handheld calipers with calibration markers as guides. Infrarenal aortic length and neck length were determined from CT images by multiplying the width of the cuts by the number of slices between the lowest renal artery and the aortic bifurcation or the top of the aneurysm, respectively.Results:CT neck diameter measurements differed significantly from the angiographic dimensions (6.3 ± 5.1-mm mean difference, p < 0.001). In the majority of patients (25, 81%), CT neck diameters were larger (m...
Organosilicon compounds III. Silicon-substituted thiophene derivatives of mercaptoethylamine as possible radioprotective agents

The preparation of the first organosilicon containing derivatives of mercaptoethylamine as possible radioprotective agents is described. The synthesis of these compounds via the thiazolidine intermediate was chosen due to the known radioprotective action of certain thiazolidines. We have prepared seventeen previously unreported organosilicon derivatives of which eleven contain the thiazolidine moiety and six are derivatives of mercaptoethylamine. The ability of these derivatives to protect against ionizing radiation will be determined.
LOS ANGELES'S CHINESE ETHNOBURB: FROM ETHNIC SERVICE CENTER TO GLOBAL ECONOMY OUTPOST

The spatial relationship between an ethnic economy and an ethnic community is a topic of debate. The question is whether an enclave can be related to a particular spatial residential form or considered only as an economic form. I have proposed a new model of ethnic settlement: ethnoburbs, which can be recognized as suburban ethnic clusters of residential areas and business districts in large metropolitan areas. The establishment of the Chinese ethnoburb in Los Angeles's San Gabriel Valley has occurred within a framework of global, national, and place-specific conditions. This paper will address the forces underlying the development of the San Gabriel Valley ethnoburb. In particular, I emphasize (1) the relationship between the growth of an ethnoburb and its economic structure, by demonstrating the changing functions of an ethno-burban ethnic economy with its extensive international connections and its close ties to the globalized mainstream economy; and (2) the nature of the San Gabriel Valley ethnoburb a...
Polyautoimmune syndrome in common variable immunodeficiency.

. Common variable immunodeficiency (CVI) is a heterogenous disorder with hypogammaglobulinaemia and multiple bacterial infections primarily involving the sinopulmonary tract. CVI patients have been known to have an increased tendency to develop autoimmune manifestations. Commonly associated autoimmune diseases include immune thrombocytopenic purpura, autoimmune haemolytic anaemia, and rheumatoid arthritis. In this paper we report a case of CVI presenting with multiple unusual autoimmune diseases including parotitis, vitiligo, atrophic gastritis, pernicious anaemia, and primary biliary cirrhosis. To our knowledge, this is the first case of CVI with polyautoimmunity and anti-mitochondrial antibody. Recognition of this association is important because early diagnosis and treatment can greatly influence the prognosis.
Lithium inhibits cell cycle progression and induces stabilization of p53 in bovine aortic endothelial cells.

Lithium affects development of various organisms and cell fate through the inhibition of glycogen synthase kinase-3β and induction of the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway. In this study, we investigated the effects of lithium on primary bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAEC). Lithium treatment of BAEC induced β-catenin stabilization but failed to activate the transcriptional activity of the β-catenin/T-cell factor complex. Lithium caused a sustained G2/M cell cycle arrest without affecting cell viability. Reversibility of this cell cycle arrest occurred up to 3 days after treatment but was reduced thereafter. Lithium-treated BAEC exhibited a senescent-like morphology with an increase in cells positive for the senescence-associated-β-galactosidase activity. Lithium also increased the expression of p21Cip, a cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor, both at the protein and RNA levels. No change in p21Cip mRNA stability was observed, whereas the transcriptional activity of a p21Cippromoter-luciferase construct containing p53 binding sites was increased after lithium treatment. Furthermore, lithium caused increased transcription of a reporter gene under the control of a promoter containing the p53 consensus binding sites both in transiently transfected BAEC and in a stably transfected fibroblast cell line. Lithium caused accumulation of p53 protein in BAEC without affecting p53 mRNA levels. Finally, up-regulation of p21Cip in response to lithium did not occur in mouse embryonic fibroblasts that were null for p53 alleles, confirming the dependence on a p53 pathway for this lithium effect. These findings demonstrate for the first time that lithium induces also stabilization of the tumor suppressor p53 and reveal a new mechanism that may contribute to the neuroprotective effects of lithium.
Abstract 414: Does hedgehog signaling activation affect the tumor immune suppression microenvironment

Proceedings: AACR 102nd Annual Meeting 2011‐‐ Apr 2‐6, 2011; Orlando, FL As an important pathway in embryonic development, hedgehog signaling plays a major role in stem cell maintenance, cell differentiation, tissue differentiation and tissue remodeling. Amounting evidence indicate that hedgehog signaling is frequently activated in a variety of human cancer. In consistent with the stromal effect of hedgehog signaling in development, several recent studies indicate a role of hedgehog signaling in tumor-stromal interaction. The molecular mechanisms by which hedgehog signaling regulates tumor microenvironment, however, remain largely elusive. We have generated data to support that hedgehog signaling regulates tumor immune surveillance. In a mouse model of hedgehog-mediated carcinogenesis, we found that activation of hedgehog signaling is associated with an increase in myeloid-derived suppressor cell (MDSC) population, which is decreased after hedgehog signaling inhibition. Our Based on our data, it is proposed that hedgehog signaling creates an immune suppressive environment through regulation of MDSC population, which is in concert with hedgehog signaling- mediated cell proliferation to promote carcinogenesis. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 414. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-414
Correlations between plasma protein fractions, antibody titers, and the passive transfer of delayed and immediate cutaneous reactivity to tuberculin PPD and tuberculopolysaccharides.

Guinea pigs sensitized with tubercle bacilli demonstrate a dual allergic response mediated by two chemically distinct plasma fractions: 1. Antibody to tuberculopolysaccharide is located exclusively in fraction II (gamma globulin). This fraction will passively transfer systemic anaphylaxis and urticarial type skin reactivity to tuberculopolysaccharide, and contains the Middlebrook-Dubos antibody. 2. Antibody to tuberculoprotein is contained exclusively in a new plasma fraction called fraction IV-10. By Cohn's Method X, fraction IV-10 is a part of fraction IV (alpha globulin) and to a lesser extent V (albumin). This fraction will passively transfer to normal guinea pigs a delayed type skin sensitivity to tuberculin PPD which is maximal between 18 and 30 hours, and it contains the Boyden antibody. When fractions II and IV-10 are combined, the antibody to tuberculopolysaccharide inhibits the passive transfer of delayed type reactivity. Combination of these two fractions does not alter their separate in vitro hemagglutinating properties. Adsorption of IV-10 with Boyden sensitized cells removes its ability to transfer delayed type tuberculin sensitivity. Adsorption of II with Middlebrook-Dubos-sensitized cells removes its capacity to effect passive transfer of immediate type reactivity to tuberculopolysaccharides.
United States Women Receive More Curative Treatment for Hepatocellular Carcinoma Than Men

Background Previous database studies have found gender disparities favoring men in rates of liver transplantation, which resolve in cohorts examining only patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).
An analysis of the cortical response to antidromic pyramidal tract stimulation in the cat

Abstract The cortical response to medullary pyramidal tract stimulation in the cat has been recorded with vertically oriented bipolar electrodes. The true response uncontaminated by the dromic response due to current spread to the medullary medial lemniscus was obtained by lemniscus section in the midbrain. The antidromic potential is practically confined to the Betz cell containing area about the cruciate sulcus, particularly anterior sigmoid gyrus. The pattern consists of a positive spike and wave which are assigned to soma and proximal apical dendrite discharge in the cells of origin of two major groups of pyramidal fibers. Following and probably underlying the positive wave is a slow negative wave assigned to antidromic conduction in apical dendrites of both cell groups. No axon-soma delay was recorded. When the lemniscus is intact there is a prominent specific response in posterior sigmoid with delayed cortico-cortical and possibly thalamo-cortical projection to anterior sigmoid. Strychnine spike driving in both sigmoid gyri is possible only when the afferent path is functioning. The lemniscus specific response has a prolonged but incomplete depression phase in its excitability cycle, assigned largely to the thalamic relay. The true antidromic response has a rapid recovery after-discharge. At short intervals there is prominent summation of the negative wave; this is inferred to be further evidence for the graded response character of apical dendrites. With repetitive stimulation this summation can maintain a DC potential shift. The most prominent effect of both strychnine and veratrine on the antidromic response is to depress the dendritic potential.
Alterations in glucocorticoid inducible RNAs in the limbic system of learned helpless rats

Abstract Glucocorticoids (GC) have an important effect on mood in humans and influence learned helplessness, an escape avoidance paradigm that is considered one of the best animal models of depression. A strong genetic component underlies the development of learned helplessness as shown by the emergence of a line of highly vulnerable rats (LH strain) through selective inbreeding. In addition, hormonal factors play a role. Adrenalectomy (adx) for example is known to increase the vulnerability to acquire learned helplessness, an effect that is reversed by glucocorticoids (GC). Since GC function primarily by modulating gene expression, hormone mediated alterations in mRNAs expressed in the brain may be important in the development of an adequate escape avoidance response. Conversely, we postulate that the deficit in escape avoidance behavior exhibited by the LH strain may be associated with an alteration in GC-mediated gene expression in the brain. To test this hypothesis, we analyzed GC-responsive mRNAs that are expressed in the hippocampus. Control Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats showed consistent alterations in mRNAs that are modulated by GC, such as type II GC receptor (GR) and metallothionein-1 (MT-1). Under our experimental conditions, both GR and MT-1 mRNA are significantly increased in the hippocampus of hormone-treated SD rats. An increase in hypothalamic GR mRNA was also observed. However, under the same experimental conditions, LH rats showed more selective hormone induced changes since GC had no effect on hypothalamic and hippocampal GR mRNA whereas a significant increase in MT-1 mRNA was observed. The data support the hypothesis that the increased vulnerability exhibited by LH rats is correlated with alterations in GC-mediated gene expression in limbic structures.
The effects of prostaglandins, phosphodiesterase inhibitors, and cyclic AMP on ovulation of brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) oocytes.

Brook trout (Salvelinus fontinalis) oocytes, from pituitary-injected and noninjected females, were removed following germinal vesicle breakdown and follicular detachment and incubated in vitro. In this system, ovulation of control oocytes was frequently observed. PGF2α consistently enhanced this ovulation while PGE1 inhibited it. PGE2 was either inhibitory or stimulatory depending on the female. At concentrations from 0.1 to 1.0 mM, theophylline, 3-isobutyl-1-methyl-xanthine (IM-xanthine), and SQ20,006 inhibited ovulation for at least 20 hr in incubates with or without PGF2α. Of the three compounds, IM-xanthine was the most effective, inhibiting ovulation even at 0.01 mM. Dibutyryl cyclic 3′,5′-adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) also blocked ovulation in incubates with or without PGF2α. The results suggest that some point in the process of brook trout ovulation, following follicular detachment, is inhibited by cAMP.
Vibration of continuous systems with compliant boundaries

Abstract A theoretical study of two types of continuous systems with a general form of compliant boundary conditions is presented. The systems considered are elastic beams and circular plates with elastic damped edge constraints. Beam studies are restricted to those with identical boundary conditions at each end. The method of solution consists of formulating the edge condition of the system in terms of the impedance of the compliant boundary material and of using classical solution techniques to solve the equations of motion. The result of matching the boundary conditions of the system with constraining conditions is the system frequency equation in terms of the constraint impedances. A discussion is presented giving the influence of the compliant material on the vibration of the structure. The models give numerically the effect of elasticity and damping of the supports on the resonant frequencies of the systems. Parameters are obtained which indicate when one may assume simply supported or clamped boundaries for the actual case of elastic damped constraints without introducing large errors in the natural frequencies.
Line following: a path to spatial thinking skills

Encoding cursor position and directional information in synthesized audio feedback facilitates line following. This technique will aid interpretation and spatial understanding of irregularly shaped line features (e.g. rivers, state boundaries) making maps more accessible to users who are blind or visually impaired.
Optimization of Air Electrode for Li/Air Batteries

The effects of carbon microstructure and carbon loading on the performance of Li/air batteries were investigated. The active carbons from various sources were compared, and a dry rolling method was optimized to prepare air electrodes with high mesopore volume. It is found that the capacities of air electrodes improve significantly when the mesopore volume of the carbon source is high. However, for carbons with low mesopore volumes, other factors such as surface activity also play an important role in determining the electrochemical performances of the Li/air batteries. A practical criterion, area-specific capacity, was used to optimize the carbon loading for air electrode. The best area-specific capacity of 13.1 mAh/cm2 was obtained at a carbon loading of 15.1 mg/cm2. Further increasing or decreasing the carbon loading led to a reduced area- specific capacity. Finally, at fixed carbon loading and discharge rates, electrolyte amount was another key factor governing cell performance. A spring mechanism is proposed to explain the formation of the tri-phase regions in air electrodes. After optimizing the parameters listed above, a high capacity of 1,756 mAh/g carbon corresponding to a specific energy of 4,614 Wh/kg carbon was obtained for Li/air batteries operated in a dry air environment.
Fuzzy‐Bayesian Approach to Reliability of Existing Structures

Classical reliability has significantly enhanced the ability of engineers to assess the safety of constructed projects. It has been shown that Bayes’ theorem is an effective tool in updating prior probabilities when the value of a random parameter is known. However, the preceding theorem usually fails to adequately address the uncertainties of the subjective parameters (such as “the connections are good”) that are associated with structural evaluation. It has been demonstrated that these parameters can be significant to the overall safety assessment. With the introduction of fuzzy-set theory, it is possible to quantify the qualitative evaluation and incorporate it into the safety assessment. This paper presents an algorithm to compute the posterior probability based on visual inspection of structural components by incorporating fuzzy-set theory into Bayes’ theorem. The results based on two examples—a reinforced concrete beam and a structural frame—showed that the fuzzy-Bayesian approach is a viable enhancement to the safety assessment of existing structures.
Lasers in orthopedics

Orthopedic Surgery is that surgical discipline which deals with the musculoskeletal system. Orthopedists therefore operate on joints, the spine and long bones and engage in such subsecialities as sports medicine, hand surgery, trauma surgery, and joint replacements. Since they must cut and shape bone, cartilage, tendon, and ligament, orthopedists have developed a number of mechanical techniques to achieve these ends and surgical lasers have found few applications in orthopedics because until now they have not been useful for cutting bone. In the past several years, however, there has been considerable interest in several areas within the field of orthopedic surgery that do not entail actual bone surgery and it is expected that as newer and more powerful lasers become available laser osteotomy may become feasible and even routine.
Separation of permethylated isomeric glucuronides by gas chromatography and analysis of the mass spectra

Glucuronic acid conjugates of several foreign compounds (1- and 2-naphthols, 2-, 3-, and 4-hydroxybiphenyls, m- and p-hydroxyphenylphenylhydantoins) were produced in the isolated perfused rat liver and identified in the bile as the permethyl derivatives. Permethylated glucuronide isomers were easily separated by gas chromatography on SE-30 and OV-17 columns. The mass spectra of permethylated glucuronide isomers were very similar. Gas chromatography proved to be most useful for the separation and identification of isomeric glucuronides.
Interactions at the PA-6/PA-66 interface

Refrigerant tubing used in some mobile air conditioning systems has a nylon core, often consisting of nylon 6, nylon 66, or a copolymer thereof. A blend of the homopolymers would be more economical than the copolymer. This article deals with the structural stability of such blends during processing. The crystallization and melting behavior of laminates and solution cast blends of nylon 6 and 66 were examined. Although they do not cocrystallize readily, their at least partial miscibility in the melt and possible coincorporation as crystal defects cause reductions of the melting points and heats of crystallization and fusion of both polymers. The crystallization temperature of the nylon 6, however, increases with increasing nylon 66 content, up to ca. 60% nylon 66, a feature attributed to nucleation of the 6 by the 66. © 1992 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Real-time current and wave measurements in ports and harbors using ADCP

Both waves and currents rank highly by user groups among oceanographic observation variables. Real-time information of these variables is especially useful for vessel operators and recreational users in and around ports, harbors and bays. Other applications include coastal land management, ecosystem protection and restoration, mitigation of coast hazards and marine accidents, forecast, warning and search and rescue. The U.S. National Ocean Service (NOS) of NOAA maintains and operates a Physical Oceanography Real-Time System (PORTS®) in the Nation's major ports and harbors. Typical hydrological parameters measured include water levels, currents, conductivity, water temperature and depth. Wave information is of interest to PORTS® users, but has only been obtained recently in a few PORTS® sites. However, continued study and laboratory and field testing of various wave measurement instruments and real-time data telemetry technologies have been conducted since 2003. These instruments and technologies include Triaxys Directional Wave buoy, Directional Waverider buoy, and acoustic Doppler current profilers, underwater acoustic modem and links with radio and satellite. Extraction of non-directional wave information from near shore tide gauges (e.g., air acoustic gage and microwave radar altimeter) has also been studied. Among these, acoustic Doppler current profilers (or ADCP) are of particular interest since they are key instrument in PORTS® for current measurements. It is economically and functionally attractive to measure both currents and waves. This paper summarizes the NOS operational system and results of two NOS field studies of real-time ADCP systems for current and wave measurements in ports and harbors. The operational system includes bottom-mounted ADCP with buried cable in the navigation channel. Later, the system was replaced by a U.S. Coast Guard Aid-to-Navigation (ATON) buoy-mounted ADCP with telemetry radio. Shore based Horizontal ADCPs are also being used for real-time current measurement. The two studies (in 2003 and 2008) used different ADCP instruments and data telemetry techniques. The ADCPs used were RDI Workhorse series and AWAC (with internal processor). The underwater acoustic modems used were models UWM1000 and UWM2000H by LinkQuest. The data telemetry technologies used were FreeWave 900MHz spread spectrum line-of-sight radios, and Iridium satellite.
A narrow band graph partitioning method for skin lesion segmentation

Accurate skin lesion segmentation is critical for automated early skin cancer detection and diagnosis. In this paper, we present a novel multi-modal skin lesion segmentation method based on region fusion and narrow band energy graph partitioning. The proposed method can handle challenging characteristics of skin lesions, such as topological changes, weak or false edges, and asymmetry. Extensive testing demonstrated that in this method complex contours are detected correctly while topological changes of evolving curves are managed naturally. The accuracy of the method was quantified using a lesion similarity measure and lesion segmentation error ratio, Our results were validated using a large set of epiluminescence microscopy (ELM) images acquired using cross-polarization ELM and side-transillumination ELM. Our findings demonstrate that the new method can achieve improved robustness and better overall performance compared to other state-of-the-art segmentation methods.
Carbonyl-twisted 6-acyl-2-dialkylaminonaphthalenes as solvent acidity sensors.

Derivatives of 2-propionyl-6-dimethylaminonaphthalene (PRODAN) with twisted carbonyl groups were investigated as highly responsive sensors of H-bond donating ability. The PRODAN derivative bearing a pivaloyl group (4) was prepared. The torsion angle between the carbonyl and naphthalene is 26° in the crystal. It shows solvatochromism that is similar to five other PRODAN derivatives (1–3, 5, 6). Twisted-carbonyl derivatives 3, 4, and 6 show strong fluorescence quenching in protic solvents. The order of magnitude of the quenching is linearly related to the H-bond donating ability of the solvent (SA) but not to other solvent properties. Binary mixtures of protic solvents show specific interaction effects with respect to quenching and solvatochromism. Aggregation in water is an issue with the pivaloyl derivatives.
Transfer function conditions for output feedback disturbance rejection

A recent paper [1] has derived state space conditions under which the disturbance transfer function in a linear multivariable system can be zeroed by a dynamic compensator forced by a prescribed set of measurements. The present note derives necessary conditions for this problem in terms of the orders of the open-loop control, disturbance, and measurement transfer functions. These necessary conditions are shown to be generically sufficient for solvability. Moreover, they provide additional insight into the geometric solvability conditions, are simple to check, and extend the corresponding results obtained for the state feedback case [2].
Prospects for tooth regeneration in the 21st century: A perspective

The prospects for tooth regeneration in the 21st century are compelling. Using the foundations of experimental embryology, developmental and molecular biology, the principles of biomimetics (the mimicking of biological processes), tooth regeneration is becoming a realistic possibility within the next few decades. The cellular, molecular, and developmental "rules" for tooth morphogenesis are rapidly being discovered. The knowledge gained from adult stem cell biology, especially associated with dentin, cartilage, and bone tissue regeneration, provides additional opportunities for eventual tooth organogenesis. The centuries of tooth development using xenotransplantation, allotransplantation, and autotransplantation have resulted in many important insights that can enhance tooth regeneration. In considering the future, several lines of evidence need to be considered: (1) enamel organ epithelia and dental papilla mesenchyme tissues contain stem cells during postnatal stages of life; (2) late cap stage and bell stage tooth organs contain stem cells; (3) odontogenic adult stem cells respond to mechanical as well as chemical "signals"; (4) presumably adult bone marrow as well as dental pulp tissues contain "odontogenic" stem cells; and (5) epithelial-mesenchymal interactions are pre-requisite for tooth regeneration. The authors express "guarded enthusiasm," yet there should be little doubt that adult stem cell-mediated tooth regeneration will be realized in the not too distant future. The prospects for tooth regeneration could be realized in the next few decades and could be rapidly utilized to improve the quality of human life in many nations around the world.
Geysers of Iceland

All geysers of Iceland, active and extinct, are listed in Table 1; the geographical distribution is shown by the map, Figure 1. Boiling is restricted to the upper part of a geyser system; deeper down the temperature is far below the boiling point for that depth and pressure. Geyser eruptions are not provoked by super-heat, but by the displacement of water by vapor and spring gasses as they rise in narrow channels.
Identification of Specific Carboxyl Groups on Uracil-DNA Glycosylase Inhibitor Protein That Are Required for Activity

The bacteriophage PBS2 uracil-DNA glycosylase inhibitor (Ugi) protein inactivates uracil-DNA glycosylase (Ung) by forming an exceptionally stable protein-protein complex in which Ugi mimics electronegative and structural features of duplex DNA (Beger, R. D., Balasubramanian, S., Bennett, S. E., Mosbaugh, D. W., and Bolton, P. H. (1995) J. Biol. Chem. 270, 16840-16847; Mol, C. D., Arvai, A. S., Sanderson, R. J., Slupphaug, G., Kavli, B., Krokan, H. E., Mosbaugh, D. W., and Tainer, J. A. (1995) Cell 82, 701-708). The role of specific carboxylic amino acid residues in forming the Ung.Ugi complex was investigated using selective chemical modification techniques. Ugi treated with carbodiimide and glycine ethyl ester produced five discrete protein species (forms I-V) that were purified and characterized. Analysis by mass spectrometry revealed that Ugi form I escaped protein modification, and forms II-V showed increasing incremental amounts of acyl-glycine ethyl ester adduction. Ugi forms II-V retained their ability to form a Ung.Ugi complex but exhibited a reduced ability to inactivate Escherichia coli Ung, directly reflecting the extent of modification. Competition experiments using modified forms II-V with unmodified Ugi as a competitor protein revealed that unmodified Ugi preferentially formed complex. Furthermore, unmodified Ugi and poly(U) were capable of displacing forms II-V from a preformed Ung.Ugi complex but were unable to displace Ugi form I. The primary sites of acyl-glycine ethyl ester adduction were located in the alpha2-helix of Ugi at Glu-28 and Glu-31. We infer that these two negatively charged amino acids play an important role in mediating a conformational change in Ugi that precipitates the essentially irreversible Ung/Ugi interaction.