cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Quaternary Eolian Dunes and Sand Sheets in Inland Locations of the Atlantic Coastal Plain Province, USA

Quaternary eolian dunes and sand sheets that are stabilized by vegetation are present throughout many inland locations of the Atlantic Coastal Plain province (USA). These locations include river valleys, the Carolina Sandhills region, adjacent to Carolina Bays, and upland areas of the northern coastal plain. The eolian dunes are primarily parabolic in river valleys and in upland areas of the northern coastal plain, linear in the Carolina Sandhills region, and arcuate adjacent to Carolina Bays. Optically stimulated luminescence (OSL) ages from the eolian sands range from circa (ca.) 92–5 ka, revealing that they are relict features that are not active today. These sands have been degraded by vegetation and pedogenic processes, and are stabilized under modern environmental conditions. Most of the OSL ages are approximately coincident with the last glacial maximum (LGM), when conditions were generally colder, drier, and windier. Various features associated with these eolian dunes and sand sheets suggest that the winds that mobilized the sand blew from the northwest in the coastal plain region of Maryland and Delaware, and from the west in the coastal plain region of North Carolina, South Carolina, and Georgia. Most of the eolian dunes and sand sheets are composed of fine to medium sand, although a substantial silt component is present in the northern coastal plain, and a substantial coarse sand component is present in the Carolina Sandhills region. Eolian sand mobilization would have been facilitated by conditions of stronger wind velocity (at least 4–6 m/s), lower air temperature, lower air humidity, and (or) reduced vegetation cover. Eolian sediment mobilization appears to have occurred episodically at any given site, although sites that are farther south have preserved a greater proportion of eolian sands yielding pre-LGM ages (indicating that the southern landscapes farther from the ice sheet have experienced less reworking).
Legionella pneumophila Attachment to Biofilms of an Acidovorax Isolate from a Drinking Water-Consortium Requires the Lcl-Adhesin Protein

Human infection by Legionella pneumophila (Lpn) only occurs via contaminated water from man-made sources, and eradication of these bacteria from man-made water systems is complicated by biofilm colonization. Using a continuously fed biofilm reactor model, we grew a biofilm consortium from potable water that was able to prolong recovery of Lpn CFU from biofilms. This effect was recreated using a subset of those species in a simplified consortium composed of eight bacterial isolates from the first biofilm reactor. In the reactor with the eight-species consortium, Lpn biofilm CFU was relatively stable over a 12-day trial. An isolate of Acidovorax from the consortium was, as a single species biofilm, able to promote Lpn surface attachment. Other isolates from the Pelomonas genus grew as equally robust biofilms alone, but did not promote surface attachment of Lpn. This attachment was disrupted by cationic polysaccharides and loss of the Lpn Lcl collagen-like adhesin protein. This work demonstrates that, while Lpn was fairly incompetent at attachment to surfaces to form a biofilm alone, pre-existing biofilms allowed attachment of Lpn as secondary colonizers. In addition, we demonstrate that initial attachment of Lpn to Acidovorax biofilms is likely via the Lcl-adhesin protein.
Cell responses to titanium and titanium alloys

Abstract Commercially pure titanium and titanium alloys have been extensively used for designing musculoskeletal implants due to their biocompatibility and mechanical properties. The clinical success of these implants relies on supporting favorable osteoimmune environment, which then regulates bone regeneration and evades bacterial infection. Several surface engineering strategies have been employed to impart multifunctional properties to the otherwise bioinert titanium and titanium alloys. This chapter outlines these strategies, which encompass physical and chemical modification and their downstream effects on cell responses. In particular, we introduce the effect of these modifications on cells from hard and soft tissue along with their antibacterial properties and immune-modulatory effects. This chapter provides an up-to-date summary of where we are and how the understanding of the cellular response in vitro can help up drive the implant design for effective tissue repair and regeneration in clinical scenarios.
Early parenting intervention accelerates inhibitory control development among CPS‐involved children in middle childhood: A randomized clinical trial

Children at risk for neglect or abuse are vulnerable to delays in inhibitory control development. Prior findings suggest that early parenting interventions that target parental sensitivity and responsiveness during infancy can improve executive function outcomes of high-risk children during preschool years; however, little is known about how persistent these gains are through middle childhood. Participants included 76 CPS-involved children who were randomly assigned to either the ABC intervention (N = 32) or the Developmental Education for Families (DEF) control intervention (N = 44), and 53 low-risk children. Children completed the Stop Signal Reaction Time (SSRT) paradigm at ages 8 and 10. Intervention group predicted performance on the SSRT at age 8 such that children who received the ABC intervention and children in the low-risk group performed significantly better than children who received the DEF intervention (ABC vs. DEF: Cohen's d = 0.92; low-risk group vs. DEF: d = 0.56). The performances of the ABC and the low-risk groups were not statistically different. There were no significant group differences in SSRT performance at age 10. These findings demonstrate that the ABC intervention has long-term beneficial effects on inhibitory control development in children with a history of early caregiving adversity. A video abstract of this article can be viewed at https://youtu.be/P9oLyfo7pYA.
Slope invariant T -linear resistivity from local self-energy

This paper compares lattice models of coupled SYK quantum dots and the Hubbard model in single-site DMFT to study the slope-invariant $T$-linear resistivity.
ML-based Data Anomaly Mitigation and Cyber-Power Transmission Resiliency Analysis

In recent years, the cyber and physical extreme events have increased and impacted the power system operations. Although there are multiple work reported for improving the resiliency of the power grid systems, there are a limited number of resiliency management tools available to the grid operators. Addressing the data quality issue is critical before feeding the measurements for situational awareness and decision-making using resiliency management tools. In this work, we describe an automated ML-based measurement data anomaly mitigation technique that uses regression, clustering, deep learning techniques as a base detector. Maximum Likelihood Criterion (MLE) based ensemble of these base detectors helps in anomaly detection and mitigation using SyncAED tool and feeding data for enhanced resiliency using a tool: Cyber-Physical Transmission Resiliency Assessment Metric (CP-TRAM). CP-TRAM utilizes real-time power grid data and aims to assist operators in measuring resiliency and ensuring the energy supply to critical loads given a cyber-attack or a natural disaster. This paper discusses the multiple ML algorithms for data anomaly detection, the basis of software design considerations, open-source software components, and use cases for the prototype developed tools.
Third-party regime type and civil war duration:

Does the regime type of a foreign intervener influence the duration of civil wars? Existing research has shown that third-party support affects the outcome of a conflict. Moreover, studies show tha...
Pediatrics, Pregnancy, and Lactation

At the opposite end of the spectrum of the previous chapter, we turn the focus to pediatrics and pain during pregnancy and lactation. These populations represent unique anatomy and physiologies that can present both diagnostic and treatment challenges to pain physicians. Children often present with symptoms distinct from adults with the same diagnosis, particularly with complex regional pain syndrome, and treatments are accordingly unique.
Euler Beams on a Two Parameter Foundation Model

A computer program for the analysis and design of finite length beams on soil subjected to general loadings and end support conditions is presented. The soil model used was the Vlasov model wherein the displacements within the foundation media were expressed by two finite series which allowed the deflection of the beam to be approximated by solution of ordinary diff. eq. rather than partial diff. eq. Results from examples indicated that the maximum beam deflection increased with increasing soil layer thickness to a critical thickness beyond which the layer thickness had negligible influence. This critical thickness was found to be inversely proportional to the elastic modulus of the soil and the distribution of the displacements within the soil media.
Are intentions in tension with timing experiments

Libet’s timing experiments (Brain 106:623–642, 1983; Mind time. Harvard University Press, Cambridge, 2004) have resulted in some strong and unsavoury claims about human agency. These range from the idea that conscious intentions are epiphenomenal to the idea that we all lack free will. In this paper, I propose a new type of response to the various sceptical conclusions about our agency occasioned by both Libet’s work and other experiments in this testing paradigm. Indeed, my argument extends to such conclusions drawn from fMRI-based prediction experiments. In what follows, I will provide a brief description of these experiments, sketch arguments one may be tempted to draw on their basis, and argue that such arguments rely on a questionable premise: that experimental subjects have relevant proximal intentions (which, thus far, both proponents and opponents of these arguments agree on).
House Floors and Native Settlement Populations in the Central Plains

The quantitative relationships between aboriginal abuse floor and village areas and the associated native populations have long interested archeologists and lrehistorians. With varying success, for...
Novel word learning: An eye-tracking study. Are 18-month-old late talkers really different from their typical peers?

Abstract Infants, 18–24 months old who have difficulty learning words compared to their peers are often referred to as “late talkers” (LTs). These children are at risk for continued language delays as they grow older. One critical question is how to best identify which LTs will have language disorders, such as Specific Language Impairment (SLI) at school age, in order to maximize the opportunity for early and appropriate intervention and support. Recent research suggests that LTs are not only slower to learn and speak words than their peers, but are also slower to recognize and interpret known words in real time. This investigation examined online moment-by-moment processing of novel word learning in 18-month-olds. A low vocabulary, late talking group (LT, N = 14) and an age and cognitive-level matched typical group (TYP, N = 14) of infants participated in an eye-tracked novel word learning task and completed standardized testing of vocabulary and cognitive ability. Infants were trained on two novel word-picture pairs and then were tested using an adaptation of the looking while listening paradigm. Results suggest that there are differences between groups in the time-course of looking to the novel target picture during testing. These findings suggest that LTs and typical infants developed strong enough representations to recognize novel words using traditional measures of accuracy and reaction time, however interesting group differences emerge when using additional fine-grained processing measures. Implications for differences in emerging knowledge and learning patterns are discussed. Learning outcomes : The reader will be able to understand many benefits of using eye-tracking methods to study young infant and toddler populations with and without language disorders. Readers will learn that examining moment-by-moment time course of novel word learning allows additional insight into different learning patterns. Finally, readers should understand the data from this article suggest late talkers may have different emerging representations of novel words than their typical peers, which may contribute to their difficulty learning new words.
Atomic Scale Deformation Mechanisms of Amorphous Polyethylene under Tensile Loading

The molecular origin of plastic deformation within amorphous polymers is an important issue that is still not well understood. Here, we investigate the deformation mechanisms of amorphous polyethylene. Molecular dynamics simulations were used to apply a tensile load to amorphous polyethylene using a united atom model. A range of strain rates, chain lengths and chain numbers were sampled to investigate the stress-strain behavior and associated deformation mechanisms. The large range in these conditions (e.g., 100 times difference in strain rate) provided the contrast in response necessary to elucidate the relationship between intrachain (Van der Waal’s interactions) and interchain (dihedral rotations) deformation mechanisms in amorphous polyethylene. Simulation results show how internal mechanisms associated with chain rotation and entanglement evolve with increasing deformation. These results provide insight into the evolution of internal state variables for multiscale models of thermoplastic polymers.
Histochemistry of a cotylocercous cercaria. I. Glandular complex in Plagioporus lepomis.

Abstract Histochemical techniques were used to study the glandular contents of a cercaria tentatively identified as the larva of Plagioporus lepomis Dobrovolny. Results indicate that the mucoid glands are located dorsally and contain acid mucopolysaccharide, protein with elastin-like staining properties, and a sudanophilic substance. The contents of these glands are discharged prior to emergence from the snail to form a coat which covers the cuticle of the cercarial body. Protein with sulfhydryl groups was found in the cephalic glands. The caudal glands contain mucopolysaccharide, protein, calcium, and possibly other metal ions, and a sudanophilic material. Possible functions of these glands, with relation to their contents, are discussed.
The Trial of Samuel Chase

In 1805 the United States government faced a difficult choice: Would our laws be interpreted by a free and independent judiciary, or would the Supreme Court and all of the lower courts be beholden to Congress and the President? We know the answer. Our judicial system has been the check and balance on both of the other branches of government for the past two-hundred years. But like any great journey, the destination is much less important than how you get there. The Impeachment Trial of Supreme Court Justice Samuel Chase was a mile marker on that journey. If he had been convicted and removed from office, it would have established a precedent that would have forced the Supreme Court Justices to bend to the wishes of Congress or face expulsion. The Trial of Samuel Chase is a play that presents the trial in a dramatic fashion. The play was created by editing the original trial transcripts so it is an accurate representation of how the trial went without all of the procedural minutia. Although the play was written for a law student audience in celebration of Constitution Day 2006, it is suitable for any audience with an interest in history, justice, or good old-fashioned courtroom drama.
Factors influencing quality of patient interaction at community pharmacy drive-through and walk-in counselling areas.

Objective To examine factors influencing the amount of time and information pharmacy personnel provide to patients at drive-through and walk-in counselling areas. Methods On-site observational data collection in 22 community pharmacies by pharmacy students. Information included observable patient characteristics such as gender, age range, English proficiency and mobility impairment; encounter characteristics included type of prescription and whether the patient was acknowledged; and counselling characteristics included types of counselling information conveyed and length of time for each encounter. Key findings Patient–pharmacist encounters were documented at the drive-through and walk-in counselling areas 961 and 1098 times respectively. Pharmacists spent less time, and technicians more time, with patients at the drive-through counselling area. The amount of information provided to patients was significantly affected by whether the patient was receiving new versus refill prescriptions. Patients with a new prescription were twice as likely to receive more information from pharmacy personnel. There was a significant difference between the amount of counselling provided to patients at the drive-through and walk-in counselling area (rate ratio (RR) 0.92, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.86–1.00). Patients at the drive-through received a lower amount of information relative to patients using the walk-in. Amount of information provided to patients was affected by the level of pharmacy busyness (RR 0.96, 95% CI: 0.95–0.99). Conclusions Providing patient care at the drive-through counselling area may negatively influence quality of patient care. To improve quality of pharmacy drive-through services, standardization of drive-through services in pharmacies may be needed.
Programmable low-cost ultrasound machine

Most commercial ultrasound machines do not allow the researcher to acquire internal data, modify the signal processing algorithms or test a new clinical application. A software-based ultrasound machine could offer the needed flexibility to modify the ultrasound processing algorithms and evaluate new ultrasound applications for clinical efficacy. We have designed an ultrasound machine in which all of the back-end processing is performed in software rather than in hardware. This programmable machine supports all the conventional ultrasound modes (e.g., B mode, color flow, M mode and spectral Doppler) without any performance degradation. The frame rates and image quality of this programmable machine were evaluated and found to be comparable to commercial ultrasound machines. Due to its programmability, we were able to improve the accuracy of flow velocity estimation by integrating a new clutter rejection filtering method into the system. The machine also supports advanced features such as 3D volume rendering in software. Our results demonstrate that a software-based ultrasound machine can provide the same functionality for clinical use as conventional ultrasound systems while offering increased flexibility at low cost.
Bioethical consideration of maternal-fetal issues.

The relationship between a pregnant woman and her fetus is unlike any other in law, medicine, or ethics. This Article examines the complexity of the maternal-fetal conflict, focusing on the interests of the woman and the sometimes conflicting interests of her fetus. Part I discusses the typical analytical background of the conflict, explaining the various ethical principles, rights, and obligations involved such as autonomy, beneficence and nonmaleficence, and justice. Part II explores the various choices made by the pregnant woman, as well as the state’s attempts to regulate those choices on behalf of the fetus. This Article concludes that, while the maternal-fetal relationship may give rise to certain moral rights in the fetus and obligations in the woman, these are not the same as legal rights and responsibilities on the basis of which the state can or should intervene. BIOETHICAL CONSIDERATION OF MATERNAL-FETAL ISSUES
Hepatic Sulfite Oxidase PURIFICATION AND PROPERTIES

Abstract Sulfite oxidase (EC 1.8.3.1) has been purified 1000-fold from acetone powders of bovine liver. This enzyme was capable of transmitting electrons, abstracted from sulfite, to oxygen, to 2,6-dichlorophenol indophenol, and to methylene blue as well as to cytochrome c and ferricyanide. The oxidase activity of this enzyme was shown to involve a 2-electron reduction of oxygen to hydrogen peroxide without the formation of any detectable radical intermediates. The kinetic behavior of sulfite oxidase was completely accountable in terms of a simple ping-pong model. The Ks for sulfite was found to be 1.4 x 10-4 m and that for molecular oxygen was 5.8 x 10-4 m. The pH optimum was 8.6. The ratio of the activity of the enzyme toward oxygen and toward 1-electron acceptors was constant throughout the purification procedure. Furthermore, the oxidase activity and the cytochrome c reductase activities were equally susceptible to thermal inactivation; and sulfate protected both activities to the same degree against this inactivation. Anions were noncompetitive inhibitors of the reduction of 1-electron acceptors by sulfite oxidase but had no effect on the reduction of 2-electron acceptors. Divalent anions were more effective in this respect than were monovalent anions. Because ferricyanide was a more efficient acceptor of electrons from the enzyme than was oxygen; ferricyanide inhibited the reduction of oxygen by sulfite oxidase plus sulfite; and anions, by virtue of their selective inhibition of the reduction of 1-electron acceptors, were able to eliminate this action of ferricyanide.
Acceleration of k-Eigenvalue/Criticality Calculations Using the Jacobian-Free Newton-Krylov Method

We present a new approach for the k-eigenvalue problem using a combination of classical power iteration and the Jacobian-free Newton-Krylov (JFNK) method. The method poses the k-eigenvalue problem ...
Use of T1-weighted MR imaging to differentiate between primary polydipsia and central diabetes insipidus.

PURPOSE To investigate the value of MR in differentiating patients with primary polydipsia, who have an intact neurohypophyseal system, from those with central diabetes insipidus, who have impaired synthesis and/or release of vasopressin. METHODS Eighteen patients with clinically significant hypotonic polyuria were diagnosed endocrinologically as having primary polydipsia or diabetes insipidus (central or nephrogenic). These patients, and 92 patients without sellar disease, were then imaged with 1.5-T, T1-weighted, thin sagittal sections without gadolinium contrast. RESULTS Normal hyperintense signal of the neurohypophysis was present in 90 of 92 patients without sellar disease. The signal was also present in all six patients with primary polydipsia. In contrast, the hyperintense signal was absent in all eight patients with central diabetes insipidus. Three of the four patients with nephrogenic diabetes insipidus also had an absent hyperintense signal. CONCLUSION T1-weighted MR may prove important in differentiating patients with central diabetes insipidus from those with primary polydipsia.
Shining on an orbifold

By shining a hypermultiplet from one side of the bulk of a flat five-dimensional orbifold, supersymmetry can be broken by boundary conditions. The extra dimension is stabilized in a supersymmetric way, and by computing the four-dimensional effective potential for the radion it is shown that supersymmetry breaking does not damage our radius stabilization mechanism. The low energy theory contains the radion and two complex scalars that are massless in the global supersymmetric limit and are stabilized by tree-level supergravity effects. It is shown that radion mediation can play the dominant role in communicating supersymmetry breaking to the visible sector. It is also shown that at tree level, contact terms are exponentially suppressed.
Seasonal and Relative Abundance of Hymenopterous Parasitoids Attacking House Fly Pupae at Dairy Farms in Central New York

A survey of indigenous parasitoids attacking Musca domestica L. and Stomoxys calcitrans (L.) pupae was conducted for 2 yr at eight dairies by exposing weekly samples of laboratory-reared fly pupae (sentinel bags). Mean relative abundance of each species was 59% Muscidifurax raptor Girault and Sanders, 14% Urolepis rufipes (Ashmead), 11% Phygadeuon fumator Gravenhorst, 10% Spalangia cameroni Perkins, 3% Spalangia nigroaenea Curtis, and 2% Trichomalopsis dubius (Ashmead). Rare species included Pachycrepmdeus vindemmiae (Rondani), Nasonia vitripennis (Walker), Dibrachys cavus (Walker), Spalangia nigra Latreille, and Macroneura vesicularis (Retzius). Total parasitism was phenologically synchronized with the house fly population occurring between 17 May and 27 October, but it peaked 1–2 mo after the fly population peaked. M. raptor, U. rufipes , and P. fumator were common in June. A decrease in parasitism by M. raptor and U. rufipes during late July may represent a gap between the first two generations. Paired samples of sentinel house fly and stable fly pupae indicated no difference in parasitism by M. raptor or by all species combined. However, U. rufipes parasitized more house fly pupae, and P. fumator parasitized more stable fly pupae.
Effects of 5-Fluorouracil on Secondary Palatal Development of 129/J Mice

Palatal morphology and the sequence of palate development from the 13th to the l7th day of development were compared in experimental and control groups of pregnant 129/J mice injected with 5-fluorouracil.
Mammary branch initiation and extension are inhibited by separate pathways downstream of TGFβ in culture

During the branching morphogenesis process that builds epithelial trees, signaling from stimulatory and inhibitory growth factors is integrated to control branch initiation and extension into the surrounding stroma. Here, we examined the relative roles played by these stimulatory and inhibitory signals in the patterning of branch initiation and extension of model mammary epithelial tubules in culture. We found that although several growth factors could stimulate branching, they did not determine the sites at which new branches formed or the lengths to which branches extended. Instead, branch initiation and extension were defined by two separate signals downstream of the inhibitory morphogen, transforming growth factor (TGF)-β. Branch initiation was controlled by signaling through p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase, whereas branch extension was controlled by Smad-mediated induction of a second diffusible inhibitor, Wnt5a. These data suggest that mammary epithelial branching is patterned predominately by repulsive signaling, and that TGFβ activates multiple inhibitory pathways to refine the architecture of the tree.
Signal transduction and the fate of the R7 photoreceptor in Drosophila

The sevenless protein tyrosine kinase receptor plays a central role in the pathway of cell fate induction that determines the development of the R7 photoreceptor in the Drosophila eye. In the last year we have learned much about the probable ligand for sevenless and have begun to dissect the signal transduction pathway that relays the information from the sevenless kinase. Studies of the mechanisms governing the specificity of signal transmission and reception suggest that the sevenless signal directs a bipotential cell towards a neuronal rather than a cone cell fate.
The ST Segment During Ambulatory Electrocardiographic Monitoring

Excerpt Continuous ambulatory electrocardiographic monitoring was introduced in the 1960s and has become a common technique for evaluating arrhythmias in patients with a wide variety of cardiac dis...
Melatonin protects against oxidative stress caused by δ-aminolevulinic acid: Implications for cancer reduction

δ-Aminolevulinic acid (ALA) is a precursor of haem. The increased concentration of ALA is typically related to acute intermittent porphyria, hereditary tyrosinemia, and lead poisoning. δ-Aminolevulinic acid produced in excess accumulates in a number of organs, causes oxidative damage, and often leads to cancer. Melatonin (N-acetyl-5-methoxytryptamine) is a well-known antioxidant, free radical scavenger, and exhibits anticarcinogenic properties. It protects DNA, lipids, and proteins from oxidative damage. The protective effects of melatonin against ALA-induced oxidation of guanine bases, lipid peroxidation, and alterations in membrane fluidity in several organs have been documented. There is an inverse relationship between melatonin and ALA concentrations in both experimental and clinical conditions of porphyria. The marked efficacy of melatonin in protecting against ALA-related oxidative stress, its oncostatic properties, and low toxicity constitute reasons to consider the use of this indoleamine as a co-...
Uniformly distributed states of polarization on the Poincarè Sphere using an improved polarization scrambling scheme

We propose a periodic random polarization scrambling scheme that can generate uniformly distributed output states of polarization (SOPs) on the Poincare sphere for any arbitrary input polarization state. This approach is compared with previous methods using computer simulations, as well as an experimental measurement consisting of 1000 samples that confirms the uniformity of output SOPs.
Methotrexate catabolism to 7-hydroxymethotrexate in rheumatoid arthritis alters drug efficacy and retention and is reduced by folic acid supplementation

Objective To assess the catabolism of methotrexate (MTX) to 7-hydroxy-MTX (7-OH-MTX) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis as well as the effect of folic acid and folinic acid on this catabolism. Methods Urinary excretion of MTX and its catabolite, 7-OH-MTX, was measured in 2 24-hour urine specimens collected after MTX therapy. Urine samples were collected from patients after the sixth and seventh weekly doses of MTX. MTX and 7-OH-MTX concentrations were determined by high-performance liquid chromatography mass spectrometry. Swelling and pain/tenderness indices were used to measure symptoms before and at 6 and 7 weeks of therapy. Patients received either folic acid or folinic acid supplements (1 mg/day) from week 6 to week 7. Results Folic acid inhibited aldehyde oxidase (AO), the enzyme that produces 7-OH-MTX, but folinic acid did not. Excretion of 7-OH-MTX (determined as a percentage of the dose of MTX or as mg 7-OH-MTX/gm creatinine) was not normally distributed (n = 39). Patients with marked improvement in swelling and pain/tenderness indices had a lower mean 7-OH-MTX excretion level (P < 0.05). Patients who received folic acid supplements had decreased 7-OH-MTX excretion (P = 0.03). Relatively high 7-OH-MTX excretion was correlated with relatively high MTX excretion and with relatively low MTX retention in vivo (P < 0.05) (n = 35). Conclusion Our findings of a non-normal distribution of 7-OH-MTX excretion suggest that there are at least 2 phenotypes for this catabolism. Decreased 7-OH-MTX formation suggests folic acid inhibition of AO and a better clinical response, while increased 7-OH-MTX formation may interfere with MTX polyglutamylation and binding to enzymes and, therefore, may increase MTX excretion and decrease MTX retention and efficacy in vivo.
Optical encryption system using quadrature multiplexing

Optical security systems have attracted much research interest recently for information security and fraud deterrent applications. A number of encryption techniques have been proposed in the literature, which includes double random-phase encryption, polarization encoding, encryption and verification using a multiplexed minimum average correlation energy phase-encrypted filter. Most of these reports employ a pseudo-random code for each information to be encrypted, where it requires individual storage capacity or transmission channel for further processing of each information. The objective of this paper is to develop an optical encryption system employing quadrature multiplexing to enhance the storage/transmission capacity of the system. Two information signals are encrypted using the same code but employing two orthogonal functions and then they are multiplexed together in the same domain. As the orthogonal functions have zero cross-correlation between them, so the encrypted information are expected to be unaffected by each other. Each encryption and multiplexing process can accommodate two information signals for a single code and a single storage cell or transmission channel. The same process can be performed in multiple steps to increase the multiplexing capability of the system. For decryption purpose, the composite encoded signal is correlated using the appropriate code and the appropriate function. The proposed technique has been found to work excellent in computer simulation with binary as well as gray level images. It has also been verified that the encrypted images remain secure, because no unwanted reproduction is possible without having the appropriate code and function.
Population studies in Goodyera (Orchidaceae) with emphasis on the hybrid origin of G. tesselata

Morphological, cytological, and paper Chromatographic studies of populations from northern Michigan and examination of herbarium specimens from throughout North America were used to clarify the relationships ofGoodyera oblongifolia, G. repens var.ophioides, andG. tesselata. A canonical analysis of morphological data from mixed populations of these three species depictsG. tesselata as intermediate betweenG. oblongifolia andG. repens var.ophioides. The latter two species are diploid (2n = 30) andG. tesselata is tetraploid (2n = 60). Triploids (2n = ca. 45) were found in two mixed-species populations in northern Michigan.Goodyera tesselata produces three phenolic compounds present inG. oblongifolia and five different compounds present inG. repens var.ophioides. The range ofG. tesselata is confined to glaciated territory (except for two stations) in northeastern North America where the postglacially produced ranges ofG. oblongifolia andG. repens var.ophioides overlap. However,G. tesselata is quite abundant in areas outside the region of sympatry of the other two species. Based on this evidence, it is postulated thatG. tesselata is an allotetraploid species which resulted from hybridization betweenG. oblongifolia andG. repens var.ophioides during early post-Pleistocene. The slightly earlier blooming season ofG. tesselata may have been selected for to provide a measure of reproductive isolation between the tetraploid and its parents and to adapt the new species to the rather short growing season of northeastern North America.
Cocaine and cigarettes: a comparison of risks

In order to provide additional data and perspective to current clinical, policy, and legal debates surrounding the prenatal use of cocaine in the USA, a retrospective cohort study was conducted to examine effects of cocaine on selected perinatal outcomes, and to compare the relative risks of adverse perinatal outcomes among users of cocaine and users of cigarettes. Using data from a large urban perinatal registry, relative risks of selected perinatal outcomes were determined for maternal cocaine users who were non-smokers of cigarettes, and used no marijuana, heroin, amphetamines, or alcohol (n = 64), and for cigarette smokers who do not use illicit drugs or alcohol during pregnancy (n = 3209). When compared with women with no recorded prenatal exposure to drugs or cigarettes (n = 13,043), cocaine users had higher risks than smokers for the following adverse outcomes: low birthweight [Relative Risk (RR) 5.3, 95% Confidence Interval (CI) 3.0-9.3], small-for-gestational age (SGA) [RR 4.2, 95% CI 2.4-7.3], prematurity [RR 4.0, 95% CI 2.3-7.0], abruptio placentae [RR 10.0, 95% CI 3.5-29.0], placenta praevia [RR = 2.4, 95% CI 0.3-17.8] and perinatal death [RR = 5.3, 95% CI 1.9-15.2]. Smokers who did not use any drugs experienced most of the same adverse perinatal outcomes as cocaine users, but the magnitude of risk was greater in cocaine users than in smokers for all outcomes. However, given the greater numbers of cigarette smokers than cocaine users in the population the numbers of infants in the population suffering these adverse outcomes is likely to be greater among offspring of cigarette smokers. The data support the current concern about the risk of cocaine, and current efforts to provide treatment to pregnant cocaine users. The data also underline the continued substantial risks of cigarette smoking to large numbers of pregnant women.
Development of a virtual aerospace laboratory for undergraduate education

Using hypermedia techniques, an interactive presentation package, Virtual Aerospace Laboratory for Undergraduate Education VALUE, for the Macintosh computer has been developed to aid undergraduates. Real-life examples include movies of low-speed and supersonic flows, vortex motions, generation of lift, and various flight maneuvers and responses. The current package is being used as a supplement in such courses as junior-level aerodynamics, senior-level aircraft dynamics, and aerospace engineering laboratories. A structural framework for adding additional material was developed, and a consistent and user-friendly interface was constructed and tested. This article focuses on the recent developments to make the package more flexible and interactive. © 1996 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Pyrazolopyrimidine metabolism in the pathogenic trypanosomatidae

Pyrazolopyrimidines are purine analogues. These compounds are metabolized by the pathogenic hemoflagellates and other members of the family Trypanosomatidae as though they were purines. This metabolic sequence does not exist in man or other mammals. In the hemoflagellates, the pyrazolopyrimidine base, of which allopurinol is the paradigm, undergoes ribosylphosphorylation to the ribonucleotide. This ribonucleotide may remain as such or be aminated to the amino analogue and further converted to the aminopyrazolopyrimidine ribonucleoside triphosphate. The latter is incorporated into RNA. This metabolic sequence has been demonstrated in the genera Leishmania and Trypanosoma.
Predictors of mental pollution: The contribution of religion, parenting strategies, and childhood trauma

Abstract One presentation of obsessive-compulsive disorder that has begun to receive research attention is mental pollution, a sense of inward contamination that persists regardless of the presence of external contaminants. Given the need to better understand this phenomenon, we sought to identify predictor variables that could inform theory, treatment, and prevention. A large number of undergraduate students completed a battery of self-report questionnaires assessing personal experiences, religious variables, parenting strategies, and childhood trauma, that appear theoretically relevant to mental pollution. Results indicated that mental pollution was not associated with degree of religiosity, yet positively associated with exposure to childhood trauma and maladaptive guilt induction strategies by one's parents. Implications for the assessment and cognitive-behavioral treatment of mental pollution, as well as limitations of the study, are discussed.
Asparaginase in Acute Lymphoblastic Leukemia

Cure rates in pediatric acute lymphoblastic leukemia have significantly improved over the past decades. Now, almost 90% of children will survive the disease. The cure rates in adolescents, young adults, and adults have not kept pace with the improvements in younger patients, even though almost an equal proportion of adult patients achieve complete remission as their pediatric counterparts. Differences in treatment regimens might be important. Intensive use of asparaginase has been a key component of successful pediatric therapy. In this review, we focus on the use of asparaginase and the potential of optimizing asparaginase use via monitoring to minimize adverse drug events and improve efficacy of the drug.
Recessive inheritance of thyroid hormone resistance caused by complete deletion of the protein-coding region of the thyroid hormone receptor-beta gene.

Generalized resistance to thyroid hormone is a syndrome of reduced responsiveness of target tissues to thyroid hormone. The determination of amino acid sequences of the human thyroid receptor-beta (hTR beta), deduced from cDNA sequencing, has enabled evaluation of the genetic basis for this syndrome. Distinct point mutations in the ligand-binding domain of hTR beta have been identified in affected members of unrelated families, producing single amino acid substitutions that result in products with decreased or no hormone-binding activity. Inheritance in these families was autosomal dominant. We now report the molecular basis of generalized resistance to thyroid hormone in a consanguineous family unique for its autosomal recessive mode of inheritance. Deletion of the entire coding region of both hTR beta alleles in homozygous affected members of the family was demonstrated by the failure to amplify the coding exons 3-8 by the polymerase chain reaction using primers specific for flanking intronic sequences ...
The making of institutions of information governance: the case of the Internet Governance Forum

Histories of information systems are inseparable from the histories of their governance. In the case of the Internet, governance structures informally developed during its early design were substantially different from the typical mechanisms resulting from public policy decision-making. Traditionally, global information systems, such as telecommunication systems, were governed through state-centric mechanisms that would set treaty-based framework for non-state actors to operate within. Legitimate participation in these traditional governance structures was the prerogative of states that possessed sole decision-making authority. In the case of the Internet, non-state-actor-driven governance frameworks were developed outside of those traditional mechanisms. They relied on a different conception of legitimacy and authority. This paper discusses how the state and non-state actors were forced to cooperate around the creation of institutions that could accommodate the variety of views on authority, legitimacy, and decision-making processes in Internet governance. It tracks the creation of the Internet Governance Forum as a case where notions of legitimacy and authority were redefined for policy deliberations of complex information systems. The paper concludes with whether those changes lead to the emergence of new institutions that contribute to the sustainability of the network by enabling coexistence of competing political interests and values; and what this could mean for the future of the network.
The DNA content of sperm of Drosophila melanogaster.

Amounts of Feulgen staining in individual sperm nuclei of Drosophila melanogaster were determined with a scanning microdensitometer and compared with the DNA-Feulgen levels found for hen erythrocyte nuclei, taken as a presumed cytophotometric standard of 2.5×10−12 g DNA per cell. Under these conditions, the amount of DNA estimated for the haploid male genome of Drosophila was about 0.18×10−12 g DNA, corresponding to a molecular weight of roughly 11× 1010 daltons. From a comparable series of measurements on Feulgen-stained nuclei of hemocytes and epithelial cells of the imaginal soma, values of approximately 0.35–0.36×10−12 g DNA were estimated for the diploid or 2C male genome of this species.
Bureaucratic Opposition to the Assignment of Property Rights: Overgrazing on the Western Range

This paper analyzes the roles of the Departments of Agriculture and the Interior in restricting the assignment of property rights to rangeland in the American West. While common property conditions encouraged overgrazing and dissipation of the rental value of the land, it was in the interest of both departments to oppose the private claims of the ranchers. Moreover, jurisdictional competition for administration of federal land holdings likely delayed the installation of bureaucratic controls on entry and range use until 1934.
Steinitz Classes of Metacyclic Extensions

Let G be a metacyclic group of order pq, where p and q are distinct odd prime numbers, let N|k be a Galois extension whose Galois group G(N|k) is isomorphic to G. Let RN, Rk be the rings of integers of N and k. As Rk-module RN is completely determined by [N:k] and by its class in the class group of Rk. The paper determines the classes realized by tame Galois extensions N|k with G(N|k) ≅ G and proves that they form a group.
Creativity under Constraint: Enslaved Afro-Brazilian Families in Brazil's Cacao Area, 1870–1890

This article follows the stories of men and women who live the experiences of enslavement in Brazilian emerging cacao area in the last two decades of slavery there. It focuses particular attention on their efforts to construct and maintain family ties, as well as the significance of those ties in the transition from enslavement to freedom. It shows the connections between the internal economy of slavery as practiced in the cacao area and parents' efforts at retaining the integrity of the family group despite efforts on the part of slaveowners to manage their property without regard to emotional and biological connections between and among them. This argument dialogues, and indeed confronts, a lengthy historiography that has tended to ignore or even dismiss the possibility of the creation of families among the enslaved in Brazil until quite recently.
Late Pliocene climate and south-west Atlantic abyssal circulation

THE late Pliocene is characterised by a global climatic cooling1–4 and by widespread erosion of abyssal sediments by Antarctic Bottom Water (AABW)5–6. The global cooling is dated between 2.5 and 3.0 Myr based on the age of the oldest tillite in Iceland7, the initiation of glaciation in the Sierra Nevada of the USA8, faunal changes in Antarctic and sub-Antarctic deep-sea cores9–11, and a change in carbonate preservation in the equatorial Pacific12. This cooling may be synchronous with the development of the Northern Hemisphere ice sheet which has been dated by the first appearance of ice-rafted debris in the North Atlantic at 3 Myr followed by a major influx at 2.6 Myr (ref. 13), and by a large change in the oxygen isotope record of benthic foraminifera indicating an increase in ice volume at ∼ 2.6 Myr (refs 2, 3). The global cooling and deep-sea erosion events have been identified in widely separated studies and the ages assigned to each are based on biostratigraphic zonations with long durations. The apparent synchroneity of the two events (within the limits of the methods used) has led to the suggestion of a cause and effect relationship with the global cooling driving the increase in abyssal circulation14, 15. In an attempt to find the cause of the relative timing of both the climatic and circulation events, which has not been determined with sufficient stratigraphic resolution, we have examined two late Pliocene sections in the south-west Atlantic.
Implementing moral decision making faculties in computers and robots

The challenge of designing computer systems and robots with the ability to make moral judgments is stepping out of science fiction and moving into the laboratory. Engineers and scholars, anticipating practical necessities, are writing articles, participating in conference workshops, and initiating a few experiments directed at substantiating rudimentary moral reasoning in hardware and software. The subject has been designated by several names, including machine ethics, machine morality, artificial morality, or computational morality. Most references to the challenge elucidate one facet or another of what is a very rich topic. This paper will offer a brief overview of the many dimensions of this new field of inquiry.