cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Characterization of cellular attachment and spreading molecules at liquid-liquid interfaces.

Abstract Cells are grown at a liquid-liquid interface (ultrafiltrate of growth medium—heptacosafluorotributylamine). Following attachment and spreading an intermediate-density, isotonic solution of metrizamide-Ficoll is introduced. Cells are detached by centrifugation at 150,000 g × 45 min. Molecules deposited at the interface are removed and examined by gel electrophoresis. Sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis reveals 20 protein bands ranging in molecular weight from 30,000 to 200,000. Most bands have molecular weights less than 120,000. The substrate-attached material contains approximately 2.8 pg of protein per attached cell. Substrateattached molecules can be removed without detergent denaturation for additional studies.
Water sorption through a semi-interpenetrating polymer network (IPN) with hydrophilic and hydrophobic chains

Abstract Dynamics of water uptake by semi-interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs) of poly(acrylamide-co-styrene) and poly(vinyl alcohol) were investigated at room temperature (27±0.2°C) and constant pH. The nature of the swelling process of the IPN was investigated in light of the Fickian transport and the effects of varying experimental conditions such as the change in the composition of the IPN, pH and ionic strength of the swelling medium were studied on the swelling kinetics of the IPN. The networks obtained were also characterized by IR spectral analysis and the molecular weight between crosslinks ( M c ) and crosslink density ( q ) of the networks were evaluated.
Highly sensitive detection of human papillomavirus type 16 DNA using time-resolved fluorescence microscopy and long lifetime probes

We have been interested in the role of Human Papillomavirus (HPV) in cervical cancer and its diagnosis; to that end we have been developing microscopic imaging and fluorescent in situ hybridization (FISH) techniques to genotype and quantitate the amount of HPV present at a single cell level in cervical PAP smears. However, we have found that low levels of HPV DNA are difficult to detect accurately because theoretically obtainable sensitivity is never achieved due to nonspecific autofluorescence, fixative induced fluorescence of cells and tissues, and autofluorescence of the optical components in the microscopic system. In addition, the absorption stains used for PAP smears are intensely autofluorescent. Autofluorescence is a rapidly decaying process with lifetimes in the range of 1-100 nsec, whereas phosphorescence and delayed fluorescence have lifetimes in the range of 1 microsecond(s) ec-10 msec. The ability to discriminate between specific fluorescence and autofluorescence in the time-domain has improved the sensitivity of diagnostic test such that they perform comparably to, or even more sensitive than radioisotopic assays. We have developed a novel time-resolved fluorescence microscope to improve the sensitivity of detection of specific molecules of interest in slide based specimens. This time-resolved fluorescence microscope is based on our recently developed fluorescence lifetime imaging microscopy (FILM) in conjunction with the use of long lifetime fluorescent labels. By using fluorescence in situ hybridization and the long lifetime probe (europium), we have demonstrated the utility of this technique for detection of HPV DNA in cervicovaginal cells. Our results indicate that the use of time-resolved fluorescence microscopy and long lifetime probes increases the sensitivity of detection by removing autofluorescence and will thus lead to improved early diagnosis of cervical cancer. Since the highly sensitive detection of DNA in clinical samples using fluorescence in situ hybridization image is useful for the diagnosis of many other type of diseases, the system we have developed should find numerous applications for the diagnosis of disease states.
Individual resistance to IT innovations

Adoption of an information technology (IT) innovation is a much more attractive and frequently examined area to study than non-adoption. This is mainly due to the pro innovation bias that is found in the existing IT and information systems literature. Companies spend millions of dollars advertising their new gadgets to consumers. However, many IT innovations face varying degrees of resistance in their lifetime. An IT innovation is a product, practice, or process that relies extensively on technological advances such as computer hardware, computer software, and telecommunications. One of the most visible IT innovations is the personal computer (PC), which was introduced almost three decades ago. Factors such as age, income, and technological complexity are significant barriers to PC adoption. The presence of multiple computer households and the replacement of older machines can explain the continued annual sale of personal computers. Through PC adoption, the Web has also given birth, to many other innovative technologies such as, peer to peer networks, social computing, and mobile applications. Many of these innovations are targeted at individual users. In spite of the success of the personal computer, only 51% of U.S. households had at least one computer during the 2000 census. Factors such as income, education, and the digital divide all play a contributing role in the penetration of PCs in U.S. households. Further, the non-adoption of IT innovations is also influenced by factors associated with individual expectations and behaviors. The IT adoption literature has used "intention to adopt" as a reasonable proxy for actual adoption behavior and continued use of a technology. This is a very useful practice especially in an experimental setting or with early distribution of the product. Possibly, more important than the intention to adopt, is the intent 'not to adopt' a new technology. IT innovations are complex and content-sensitive and differ across a variety of factors including features, usability, and connectivity. If companies can better understand the non-adopter, they can use creative strategies to move such individuals into the adopter category, which can ultimately increase product visibility and revenue generation.
The Effect of Electrode Ink Processing and Composition on Catalyst Utilization

Platinum surface area was chemically and electrochemically characterized using X-ray diffraction (XRD), H2S adsorption, and electrochemical techniques including half-cells and fuel cells. Electrode ink processing and composition were found to have a strong impact on observed surface area with increased processing leading to a reduction in platinum surface area. Fuel cell electrode measurements show a significant portion of the platinum may not be available. This unutilized Pt may be due to either ionic or electronic connectivity as evidence exists to support both ionic and electronic isolation.
PRE-SYMPTOMATIC DETECTION OF CHRONIC MOTOR DEFICITS AND GENOTYPE PREDICTION IN CONGENIC B6.SOD1G93A ALS MOUSE MODEL

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is an incurable progressive paralytic motor neuron disease with limited therapeutic options. Since their creation by Gurney et al. (1994) [Science 264:1772-1775], transgenic superoxide dismutase-1 with glycine to alanine switch at codon 93 (SOD1(G93A)) mice have become the benchmark pre-clinical model for screening ALS therapies. Surprisingly, despite physiological, anatomical, ultrastructural and biochemical evidence of early motor system dysfunction, it has proven difficult to detect motor performance deficits in pre-symptomatic SOD1(G93A) mice. As an alternative to conventional forced motor tests, we investigated the progression of motor performance deficits in freely behaving pre-symptomatic congenic B6.SOD1(G93A) mice. We found that motor performance deficits began several weeks prior to the onset of overt clinical symptoms (postnatal day 45). More importantly, once motor performance deficits manifested, they persisted in parallel with disease progression. In addition, two physical measures of muscle girth revealed progressive hindlimb muscle atrophy that predicted genotype in individual pre-symptomatic mice with 80% accuracy. Together, these data suggest that muscle girth is a reliable and indirect measure of hindlimb muscle denervation and an early, objective marker for disease onset in congenic B6.SOD1(G93A) ALS mice. Moreover, we present regression equations based on hindlimb muscle girth for predicting genotype in future studies using B6.SOD1(G93A) mice. These findings support new objective criteria for clinical disease onset and provide objective measures that require little expertise. These studies demonstrate a cost-effective approach for more thorough evaluation of neuroprotective strategies that seek to disrupt disease mechanisms early in the disease process. To our knowledge, these findings are the first to report early chronic motor performance and physical deficits that are coincident with the earliest known motor dysfunction in any ALS mouse model.
Genetic association of two chromosome 14 genes (presenilin 1 and α1-Antichymotrypsin) with Alzheimer's disease

We have investigated the association of two candidate genes on chromosome 14, presenilin 1 (PS1) and alpha1-antichymotrypsin (ACT), with the risk of sporadic Alzheimer's disease (AD) by using 427 AD cases and 250 controls. The frequency of the ACT*A allele was significantly higher in cases than controls (0.550 vs 0.466). The stratification of the ACT data by PS1 genotypes showed that the risk associated with the ACT*A allele was confined to PS1*1 carriers only. The two-site haplotype data for PS1 and ACT showed that the A1 haplotype, carrying the ACT*A and PS1*1 alleles, was more frequent in cases than controls (0.310 vs 0.251), whereas the frequency of the T2 haplotype, carrying the ACT*T and PS1*2 alleles, was lower in cases than controls (0.177 vs 0.237). These data indicate a possible synergistic effect of these two loci on the risk of AD.
Strain-rate sensitivity of the rabbit MCL diminishes at traumatic loading rates

This study was performed to determine whether the viscoelastic behavior of ligaments persists at high rates of loading, such as those associated with sports-related trauma or motor vehicle accidents. Medial collateral ligaments (MCLs) from 22 skeletally mature New Zealand White rabbits were tensile tested quasi-statically and via two impact conditions at displacement rates of 0.17 mm/s (n=22), 640+/-160 mm/s (n=10) and 2500+/-270 mm/s (n=12) (corresponding to strain rates of approximately 1.0%/s, 3660%/s and 14,000%/s, respectively). Despite dramatic increases in displacement rate, only a modest strain-rate effect was observed when the specimens tested quasi-statically were compared to those tested via impact (24% and 37% increases in stiffness and failure load, respectively). There were no differences in the structural (e.g. 145+/-30 and 136+/-29 N/mm stiffness values, respectively) or failure properties (e.g. 434+/-91 and 443+/-154 N failure load values, respectively) of the two impact-tested groups. Our findings suggest that the rabbit MCL is not viscoelastic at loading rates approximating those associated with high-energy trauma.
A Study of Hairlining

A test for the hairlining tendencies of enamels is presented. A curved 4- by 8-in. piece of 18-gauge enameling iron is used as a test piece in which a simulated service condition of strain is produced by a 2- by 2-in. piece of 16-gauge enameling iron placed on the top center of the test piece. Before enamel application the specimen is curved lengthwise in a mold of 1 1/2-ft. radius of curvature with a resulting permanent distortion of approximately 1/8 in.; the strain condition is obtained by an unattached straining piece. These two conditions enable good reproducibility of the direction and magnitude of the distortion due to uneven heating during firing, and the resulting pattern of hairlines varies only as influenced by enameling variables. The stepwise process of hairline formation is described with the aid of photographs and photomicrographs of enamel surfaces and cross sections. The effects of ground-coat and cover-coat variables and the significance of proper firing schedules are presented and discussed.
Equilibrium structure of gas phase o-benzyne

Abstract An equilibrium structure has been derived for o -benzyne from experimental rotational constants of seven isotopomers and vibration–rotation constants calculated from MP2 (full)/6-31G(d) quadratic and cubic force fields. In the case of benzene, this method yields results that are in excellent agreement with those obtained from high quality ab initio force fields. The ab initio-calculated vibrational averaging corrections were applied to the measured A 0 , B 0 and C 0 rotational constants and the resulting experimental, near-equilibrium, rotational constants were used in a least squares fit to determine the approximate equilibrium structural parameters. The C–C bond lengths for this equilibrium structure of o -benzyne are, beginning with the formal triple bond (C 1 –C 2 ): 1.255, 1.383, 1.403 and 1.405 A. The bond angles obtained are in good agreement with most of the recent ab initio predictions.
Time-Resolved Fluorescence Anisotropies in Mixed Surfactant Solutions

Time-resolved fluorescence anisotropy decays of solutions of Triton X-114 (TX-114) with various amounts of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) were measured using the emission both from the surfactant itself and from added perylene. In the former case, the monomer and aggregate species of the surfactant were spectroscopically isolated and were shown to have significantly different rotational correlation times. The rotational diffusion of perylene in micellar TX-114 with small amounts of added SDS appeared to have a component with a very short correlation time. The anisotropy decay curves showed the existence of limiting anisotropies (r∞), indicating hindered probe rotation in the micellar environment. At higher SDS concentrations, the fast-decaying component slowed down and the limiting anisotropy decreased substantially, suggesting some migration of the probe to the interior of the micelle.
Current-voltage relationships for the plasma membrane and its principal electrogenic pump in Neurospora crassa: I. Steady-state conditions.

The nonlinear membrane current-voltage relationship (I–V curve) for intact hyphae ofNeurospora crassa has been determined by means of a 3-electrode voltage-clamp technique, plus “quasi-linear” cable theory. Under normal conditions of growth and respiration, the membraneI–V curve is best described as a parabolic segement convex in the direction of depolarizing current. At the average resting potential of −174 mV, the membrane conductance is ≈190 μmhos/cm2; conductance increases to ≈240 μmhos/cm2 at −300 mV, and decreases to ≈130 μmhos/cm2 at 0 mV. Irreversible membrane breakdown occurs at potentials beyond this range. Inhibition of the primary electrogenic pump inNeurospora by ATP withdrawal (with 1mm KCN) depolarizes the membrane to the range of −40 to −70 mV and reduces the slope of theI–V curve by a fixed scaling factor of approximately 0.8. For wild-typeNeurospora, compared under control conditions and during steady-state inhibition by cyanide, theI–V difference curve — presumed to define the current-voltage curve for the electrogenic pump — is a saturation function with maximal current of ≈20 μA/cm2, a half-saturation potential near −300 mV, and a projected reversal potential of ca. −400 mV. This value is close to the maximal free energy available to the pump from ATP hydrolysis, so that pump stoichiometry must be close to 1 H+ extruded:1 ATP split. The time-courses of change in membrane potential and resistance with cyanide are compatible with the steady-stateI–V curves, under the assumption that cyanide has no major effects other than ATP withdrawal. Other inhibitors, uncouplers, and lowered temperature all have more complicated effects. The detailed temporal analysis of voltage-clamp data showed three time-constants in the clamping currents: one of 10 msec, for charging the membrane capacitance (0.9 μF/cm2) a second of 50–75 msec; and a third of 20–30 sec, perhaps representing changes of intracellular composition.
The primacy of metaphor in development

Is metaphor a late acquisition, or is it a process that is active throughout development? Recent research provides misleading answers.
Wanted: A rational search for the limiting conditions of habilitation in the retarded

Abstract The normalization movement has led us to believe that all clients can benefit from training, but the data (Ellis, 1979) do not support such a conclusion. I do not believe that the multiply physically handicapped, profoundly retarded, who have been unresponsive over an extended period to consistent efforts to train them ought to be subjected to further harrasment. Our enthusiasm to train greatly exceeds our expertise, and at this point we need to recognize the place of “stimulation programming” with the unresponsive profound individual. Lack of a functioning central nervous system is a limiting condition of habilitation, and our resources to provide such training are also severely limited. It is time to recognize these limiting conditions and to adjust our expectations accordingly. Stimulation programming, as opposed to teaching programming is, I believe, most appropriate with these clients, and this shift in emphasis represents an advance in our understanding of the right-to-treatment model. Such a shift in no way implies that our efforts to train the mildly, moderately, or severely retarded should be in any way reduced. Indeed, if the suggestion here is followed, we should have more success with them, since trainers will be freed as the new adjustments are made. In addition, those profoundly retarded persons who show responsiveness to training should also benefit from the newly available manpower. Those training staff who would be relieved of “training” duties with the unresponsive should find a boost to their morale, since they will be able to devote their time to clients who provide reinforcement through skill acquisition. I realize that this position will prove to be an unpopular one with advocates of normalization and deinstitutionalization. I only hope that it will be given due consideration in light of the arguments and observations presented and that no personal recrimination for expressing these opinions will follow. The ideas expressed in this paper are the result of my first-hand contact with over 700 multiply handicapped, profoundly retarded persons for an intensive period. I would urge anyone seriously interested in these controversial issues to undertake a similar experience before dismissing the opinions entirely.
Organizational Form and the Market for Talent

This article brings together the market for products, the market for talent, and firms’ organizational form. While the organizational design determines the allocation of blame and fame within the firm, the value of a good reputation depends on the market structure. Consequently, the market structure dictates the optimal organizational design. If competition becomes tougher and the market thicker, transparent firms decentralize while nontransparent firms concentrate control, transparency itself is improved, corporations switch from unitary to multidivisional form, and the turnover of managers increases. The model rationalizes recent trends in both executive pay and organizational design.
WIPI1 Coordinates Melanogenic Gene Transcription and Melanosome Formation via TORC1 Inhibition

Recent studies implicate a role for WD repeat domain, phosphoinositide-interacting 1 (WIPI1) in the biogenesis of melanosomes, cell type-specific lysosome-related organelles. In this study, we determined that WIPI1, an ATG18 homologue that is shown to localize to both autophagosomes and early endosomes, inhibited mammalian target of rapamycin (MTOR) signaling, leading to increased transcription of melanogenic enzymes and the formation of mature melanosomes. WIPI1 suppressed the target of rapamycin complex 1 (TORC1) activity, resulting in glycogen synthase kinase 3β inhibition, β-Catenin stabilization, and increased transcription of microphthalmia transcription factor and its target genes. WIPI1-depleted cells accumulated stage I melanosomes but lacked stage III-IV melanosomes. Inhibition of TORC1 by rapamycin treatment resulted in the accumulation of stage IV melanosomes but not autophagosomes, whereas starvation resulted in the formation of autophagosomes but not melanin accumulation. Taken together, our studies define a distinct role for WIPI1 and TORC1 signaling in controlling the transcription of melanogenic enzymes and melanosome maturation, a process that is distinct from starvation-induced autophagy.
Vanadium-base alloys for fusion first-wall/blanket applications

Abstract Vanadium alloys have been identified as a leading candidate material for fusion first-wall/blanket applications. Certain vanadium alloys exhibit favorable safety and environmental characteristics, good fabricability, high temperature and heat load capability, good compatibility with liquid metal coolants and resistance to irradiation damage. The current focus is on vanadium alloys with (3–9 wt%) Cr and (3–10 wt%) Ti with a V–4Cr–4Ti alloy as the reference composition. Substantial progress has been made in the development of vanadium alloys for the fusion first wall/blanket applications including production and welding, characterization of baseline properties, corrosion/compatibility, and effects of irradiation on the properties. This paper presents an overview of the development of vanadium alloys for fusion applications and a summary of key issues requiring further research.
Sociability of female bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops spp.) and chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes): Understanding evolutionary pathways toward social convergence.

On the northern tip of New Zealand's South Island, bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) occasionally pass through Admiralty Bay in large, fast-traveling groups of 100 or so individuals. Watching such a group race and splash through the water is reminiscent of a stampeding herd of ungulates, cetaceans' closest terrestrial ancestors. At other times, smaller social groups of bottlenose dolphins appear in the bay and provide a glimpse of the behavioral complexity that dolphins share with their distant relatives, the primates (Fig. 1). Despite being evolutionarily separated for 95 million years1 and evolving in vastly different environments, cetaceans and primates share striking similarities in behavior, socioecological problem-solving, life-history patterns, and cognitive capacity.2 By comparing attributes shared by primates and cetaceans, distraction from phylogenetic “noise” is minimized and our understanding of evolutionary pathways is enhanced. In particular, cetaceans provide a powerful outgroup for studying the evolution of primate social organization.
Ultrasensitive Silver Based Stains for Nucleic Acid Detection

The visualization of nucleic acids separated by gel electrophoresis has been frequently accomplished by the use of radioisotopic markers and autoradiography. However, the use of radioisotopes is time consuming and expensive due to the use of photographic films and supplies and the extensive requirements for the disposal of radioactive materials. These factors have stimulated the development of alternative, non-isotopic visualization procedures such as fluorescence, chemiluminescence, enzyme techniques and silver staining, the latter of which is relatively inexpensive, sensitive and rapid.
Normal Aging Involves Altered Expression of Growth Factors in the Rat Choroid

Normal aging of the choroid results in morphological and physiological changes. The growth factors that mediate these changes are unclear. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) binds its receptor 2, VEGFR2, to mediate vascular remodeling. Pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) is an inhibitor of angiogenesis produced by retinal pigmented epithelial (RPE) cells. Angiopoietin1 (Ang-1) binds its receptor Tie-2 to recruit mural cells to stabilize vessels. To investigate age-related changes in growth factor activities in aged choroidal vasculature, real-time polymerase chain reaction and protein analysis of VEGF, VEGFR2, PEDF, Ang-1, and Tie-2 were completed on rat choroid/RPE complexes at 8, 22, and 32 months. VEGF messenger RNA (mRNA) peaked at 22 months, whereas protein levels were significantly decreased by 32 months. Both mRNA and protein levels of PEDF were significantly decreased with age. Ang-1 protein levels were not altered, whereas Tie-2 had increased protein levels with age. These results indicate that normal aging involves temporal changes in many of the growth factors common in age-related disease.
Distance, flow and PCR inhibition: eDNA dynamics in two headwater streams

Environmental DNA (eDNA) detection has emerged as a powerful tool for monitoring aquatic organisms, but much remains unknown about the dynamics of aquatic eDNA over a range of environmental conditions. DNA concentrations in streams and rivers will depend not only on the equilibrium between DNA entering the water and DNA leaving the system through degradation, but also on downstream transport. To improve understanding of the dynamics of eDNA concentration in lotic systems, we introduced caged trout into two fishless headwater streams and took eDNA samples at evenly spaced downstream intervals. This was repeated 18 times from mid-summer through autumn, over flows ranging from approximately 1-96 L/s. We used quantitative PCR to relate DNA copy number to distance from source. We found that regardless of flow, there were detectable levels of DNA at 239.5 m. The main effect of flow on eDNA counts was in opposite directions in the two streams. At the lowest flows, eDNA counts were highest close to the source and quickly trailed off over distance. At the highest flows, DNA counts were relatively low both near and far from the source. Biomass was positively related to eDNA copy number in both streams. A combination of cell settling, turbulence and dilution effects is probably responsible for our observations. Additionally, during high leaf deposition periods, the presence of inhibitors resulted in no amplification for high copy number samples in the absence of an inhibition-releasing strategy, demonstrating the necessity to carefully consider inhibition in eDNA analysis.
A Flexible Real-Time Software Synthesis System

Aura is a new sound synthesis system designed for portability and flexibility. Aura is designed to be used with W, a real-time object system. W provides asynchronous, priority-based scheduling, supporting a mix of control, signal, and user interface processing. Important features of Aura are its design for efficient synthesis, dynamic instantiation, and synthesis reconfiguration.
An investigation of simple nonsmooth power system models

Recently new notions of solutions and equilibrium points have been proposed for analyzing nonsmooth system descriptions. This paper observes certain new phenomena in simple nonsmooth power system models presenting a preliminary analysis. The results include an investigation of new Hopf-like bifurcations related to the birth of limit cycles in two dimensional non-Lipschitzian power system models. >
Prototype Model for Build-Operate-Transfer Risk Assessment

The build-operate-transfer ~BOT! approach for project delivery, where the private sector has to finance, design, build, operate, and maintain the facility and then transfer it to the government after a specified concession period, is now gaining widespread popularity in developing countries. Compared with conventional project delivery methods, BOT sponsors expose themselves to a high risk, so that special attention must be paid to analyzing and managing risks. The identification, analysis, and allocation of various types of risks are an important aspect for the validation of privately promoted infrastructure projects. The BOT risk model presented in this paper is a prototype evaluation model that provides a logical, reliable, and consistent procedure for assessing the BOT project risk. The proposed model introduced the BOT risk index ~F!, which relied on the actual performance of eight main BOT risk areas. Two different modeling approaches were used in constructing this index: a new developed and an adapted Dias and Ioannou model. Not only can this index be used for BOT projects' risk evaluation, but also for ranking them to select the lowest risk project as well.
Physical properties of ammonia‐rich ice: Application to Titan

We report simple measurements of the physical properties of frozen aqueous solutions of NH3 down to 80 K. These measurements are relevant for the geophysics of icy satellites and Titan in particular. We find that the thermal conductivity of NH3-rich (∼10–30%) water ice is 1–2 Wm−1K−1, or 2–3 times lower than that of pure water ice. We find evidence for significant microwave absorptivity in NH3-rich ice—even at 100K—and that the electrical properties are very strongly temperature-dependent. At around 100K the Young's Modulus for NH3-free and NH3-rich ice appears to be about the same, while at 160K the NH3-rich ice is 10x more compliant.
Detailed characterization of mechanical properties and molecular mobility within dry seed glasses: relevance to the physiology of dry biological systems

SUMMARY Slow movement of molecules in glassy matrices controls the kinetics of chemical and physical reactions in dry seeds. Variation in physiological activity among seeds suggests that there are differences in mobility among seed glasses. Testing this hypothesis is difficult because few tools are available to measure molecular mobility within dry seeds. Here, motional properties within dry pea cotyledons were assessed using dynamic mechanical analysis. The technique detected several molecular relaxations between )80 and +80� C and gave a more detailed description of water content‐temperature effects on molecular motion than previously understood from studies of glass formation in seeds at glass transition (Tg). Diffusive movement is delimited by the a relaxation, which appears to be analogous to Tg. b and c relaxations were also detected at temperatures lower than a relaxations, clearly demonstrating intramolecular motion within the glassy matrix of the pea cotyledon. Glass transitions, or the mechanical counterpart a relaxation, appear to be less relevant to seed aging during dry storage than previously thought. On the other hand, b relaxation occurs at temperature and moisture conditions typically used for seed storage and has established importance for physical aging of synthetic polymer glasses. Our data show that the nature and extent of molecular motion varies considerably with moisture and temperature, and that the hydrated conditions used for accelerated aging experiments and ultra-dry conditions sometimes recommended for seed storage give greater molecular mobility than more standard seed storage practices. We believe characterization of molecular mobility is critical for evaluating how dry seeds respond to the environment and persist through time.
The role of auxin in shaping shoot architecture

The variety of plant architectures observed in nature is predominantly determined by vegetative and reproductive branching patterns, the positioning of lateral organs, and differential stem elongation. Branches, lateral organs, and stems are the final products of the activity of meristems, groups of stem cells whose function is genetically determined and environmentally influenced. Several decades of studies in different plant species have shed light on the essential role of the hormone auxin in plant growth and development. Auxin influences stem elongation and regulates the formation, activity, and fate of meristems, and has therefore been recognized as a major hormone shaping plant architecture. Increasing our knowledge of the molecular mechanisms that regulate auxin function is necessary to understand how different plant species integrate a genetically determined developmental programme, the establishment of a body plan, with constant inputs from the surrounding environment. This information will allow us to develop the molecular tools needed to modify plant architecture in several crop species and in rapidly changing environments.
Colony variation in the collective regulation of foraging by harvester ants

This study investigates variation in collective behavior in a natural population of colonies of the harvester ant, Pogonomyrmex barbatus. Harvester ant colonies regulate foraging activity to adjust to current food availability; the rate at which inactive foragers leave the nest on the next trip depends on the rate at which successful foragers return with food. This study investigates differences among colonies in foraging activity and how these differences are associated with variation among colonies in the regulation of foraging. Colonies differ in the baseline rate at which patrollers leave the nest, without stimulation from returning ants. This baseline rate predicts a colony’s foraging activity, suggesting there is a colony-specific activity level that influences how quickly any ant leaves the nest. When a colony’s foraging activity is high, the colony is more likely to regulate foraging. Moreover, colonies differ in the propensity to adjust the rate of outgoing foragers to the rate of forager return. Naturally occurring variation in the regulation of foraging may lead to variation in colony survival and reproductive success. Key words: behavioral reaction norm, behavioral syndrome, individual variation. [Behav Ecol]
Caution against the use of meperidine hydrochloride (isonipecaine, demerol) in patients with heart disease, particularly auricular flutter

Abstract Our interest in the possible harmful effects of meperidine in patients with heart disease was stimulated by the observation of meperidine-induced tachycardia in one patient with auricular flutter. Certain aspects of the pharmacology of meperidine and the deleterious effects of rapid heart action in patients with heart disease are reviewed. Theoretical considerations would appear to indicate that meperidine, by means of its anticholinergic action, is capable of producing tachycardia particularly in auricular flutter. Cases are presented which demonstrate this action and its possible harmful effects in certain clinical situations. It is suggested that meperidine be used with caution in selected cases of heart disease, particularly those having auricular flutter.
PHYLOGENETIC EVIDENCE FOR COMPETITIVELY DRIVEN DIVERGENCE: BODY-SIZE EVOLUTION IN CARIBBEAN TREEFROGS (HYLIDAE: OSTEOPILUS)

Understanding the role of competition in explaining phenotypic diversity is a challenging problem, given that the most divergent species may no longer compete today. However, convergent evolution of extreme body sizes across communities may offer evidence of past competition. For example, many treefrog assemblages around the world have convergently evolved species with very large and small body sizes. To better understand this global pattern, we studied body-size diversification within the small, endemic radiation of Caribbean treefrogs (Osteopilus). We introduce a suite of analyses designed to help reveal the signature of past competition. Diet analyses show that Osteopilus are generalist predators and that prey size is strongly associated with body size, suggesting that body-size divergence facilitates resource partitioning. Community assembly models indicate that treefrog body-size distributions in Jamaica and Hispaniola are consistent with expectations from competition. Phylogenetic analyses show that similar body-size extremes in Jamaica and Hispaniola have originated through parallel evolution on each island, and the rate of body-size evolution in Osteopilus is accelerated relative to mainland treefrogs. Together, these results suggest that competition may have driven the rapid diversification of body sizes in Caribbean treefrogs to the extremes seen in treefrog communities around the world.
Automated generation of assembly system-design solutions

Any assembly system-design problem which consists of generating system configurations and assignment of tasks to the stations has a set of solutions. The number of feasible solutions may be staggering, even for products consisting of a relatively small number of parts assembled on a small number of stations. As the size of the product and the assembly system grow, it may become difficult to develop a complete set of design solutions for in-depth analysis. Here an automated method is described by which the complete sets of system configurations and assembly sequences may be generated, and feasible solutions, consisting of a matched element from each set, can be rapidly derived. These solutions may then be tested for various performance metrics, some of which may not be expressed mathematically. In designing assembly systems, the layout of stations and the assignment of assembly tasks to these stations are important design problems. This paper proposes a set of algorithms to quickly generate the configurations of the assembly system and assign tasks to the configurations. Once the matching of tasks to the configurations is complete, the performance of these various design alternatives, such as productivity, can be evaluated to allow selection of configurations with the best performance.
The effect of multipath fading on automatic link transfer for a random walk trajectory

This paper considers the performance of automatic link transfer(ALT) in a frequency-reuse portable radio system using time-division multiple-access (TDMA) for portable-to-base transmission. It is assumed that customers undergo small-scale movement that would be typical of an office environment, where customers may be walking around in their office, changing posture, etc. Without line-of-sight transmission paths from the bases to the portable radio, signals undergo multipath fading. In this environment, the decision by the portable to initiate an ALT is sensitive to wavelength, customer speed, measurement acquisition time, number of signal samples averaged, hysteresis, and average signal power. Results pertaining to these factors are presented, including the effect of delay of the call switch and intentional blind ALT limiting. Implications to system design and equipment topology are discussed. It is shown that ALT in a narrow-band frequency channelized portable radio system could be a significant contributing factor to overhead in the fixed radio infrastructure when the customer does not have line-of-sight to nearby base stations. The radio measurement process, trigger conditions, and channel selection method depend on whether a local, fast, dedicated controller is used, or whether the call transfer is made in the fabric of a remote general purpose switch, such as those used in the local exchange. This paper is targeted towards understanding the implications to local exchange networks of wireless system alternatives that could provide access to those networks. >
Effects of imaginal exposure to feared disasters in obsessive-compulsive checkers ☆

The combined effects of imaginal exposure to feared catastrophes and in vivo exposure to external stimuli were compared with the effects of in vivo exposure alone in 15 obsessive-compulsives with checking rituals. The first group received 90 min of uninterrupted exposure in imagination, which concentrated mainly on disastrous consequences, followed by 30 min of exposure in vivo to stimuli-situations which triggered rituals. The second group was given 2 hr of exposure in vivo only. Both groups were prevented from performing rituals. Treatment consisted of 10 daily sessions within a 2 week period. Assessments were conducted before and after treatment and at follow-up ranging from 3 months to 2.5 yr with a mean of 11 months. At post-treatment both groups improved considerably and did not differ. But at follow-up those who received imaginal and in vivo exposure maintained their gains, whereas the group who were treated by exposure in vivo alone evidenced partial relapse on four of the six dependent measures. The results tend to indicate that a closer match between a patient's internal fear model and the content of exposure enhances long term treatment efficacy.
Sotos syndrome with intestinal polyposis and pigmentary changes of the genitalia

We report two adult males with the Sotos syndrome, who also presented intestinal polyposis and pigmentary spotting of the shaft and glans penis. We propose that patients with the Sotos syndrome may develop hamartoneoplastic disease and we urge clinicians to consider this possibility in those patients.
MALDI-FTICR Imaging Mass Spectrometry of Drugs and Metabolites in Tissue

A new approach is described for imaging mass spectrometry analysis of drugs and metabolites in tissue using matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization-Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (MALDI-FTICR). The technique utilizes the high resolving power to produce images from thousands of ions measured during a single mass spectrometry (MS)-mode experiment. Accurate mass measurement provides molecular specificity for the ion images on the basis of elemental composition. Final structural confirmation of the targeted compound is made from accurate mass fragment ions generated in an external quadrupole-collision cell. The ability to image many small molecules in a single measurement with high specificity is a significant improvement over existing MS/MS based technologies. Example images are shown for olanzapine in kidney and liver and imatinib in glioma.
Pentachlorophenol: health and environmental effects profile.

Pentachlorophenol is used as an industrial wood preservative for utility poles, crossarms, fence posts, and other purposes (79%);for NaPCP (12%); and miscellaneous, including mill uses, consumer wood preserving formulations and herbicide intermediate (9%) (CMR, 1980). As a wood preservative, pentachlorophenol acts as both a fungicide and insecticide (Freiter, 1978). The miscellaneous mill uses primarily involve the application of pentachlorophenol as a slime reducer in paper and pulp milling and may constitute ∼6% of the total annual consumption of pentachlorophenol (Crosby et al., 1981). Sodium pentachlorophenate (NaPCP) is also used as an antifungal and antibacterial agent (Freiter, 1978). Pentachlorophenol also is used as a general herbicide (Martin and Worthing, 1977).Photolysis and microbial degradation are the important chemical removal mechanisms for pentachlorophenol in water. In surface waters, pentachlorophenol photolyzes rapidly (ECETOC, 1984; Wong and Crosby. 1981; Zepp et al., 1984); however,...
Role of mitochondria in aspirin-induced apoptosis in human gastric epithelial cells

This study was undertaken to determine whether the Bcl-2 family proteins and Smac are regulators of aspirin-mediated apoptosis in a gastric mucosal cell line known as AGS cells. Cells were incubate...
Detection of a Borrelia miyamotoi Sensu Lato Relapsing-Fever Group Spirochete from Ixodes pacificus in California

We investigated whether host-seeking nymphs and adults of the western blacklegged tick, Ixodes pacificus Cooley & Kohls, the primary vector of Lyme disease spirochetes in far-western North America, are infected naturally with relapsing-fever group spirochetes in Mendocino County, California. Relapsing-fever group borreliae were detected in four (1.7%) of 234 nymphal and two (0.7%) of 282 adult host-seeking I. pacificus ticks by polymerase chain reaction and sequence analysis of the 16S rRNA and flagellin genes, respectively, exhibiting 99 and 98.5% sequence homology to Borrelia miyamotoi Fukunaga. Phylogenetic analysis based on these two genes revealed that the borreliae detected in these ticks belong to the relapsing-fever group and that these are closely related to, if not identical with, B. miyamotoi.
Rank-based estimation for semiparametric accelerated failure time model under length-biased sampling

Length-biased sampling appears in many observational studies, including epidemiological studies, labor economics and cancer screening trials. To accommodate sampling bias, which can lead to substantial estimation bias if ignored, we propose a class of doubly-weighted rank-based estimating equations under the accelerated failure time model. The general weighting structures considered in our estimating equations allow great flexibility and include many existing methods as special cases. Different approaches for constructing estimating equations are investigated, and the estimators are shown to be consistent and asymptotically normal. Moreover, we propose efficient computational procedures to solve the estimating equations and to estimate the variances of the estimators. Simulation studies show that the proposed estimators outperform the existing estimators. Moreover, real data from a dementia study and a Spanish unemployment duration study are analyzed to illustrate the proposed method.
Inhibition of hepatic drug metabolism by noret

In order to determine the effect of progestogens on hepatic drug metabolism the aminopyrine breath test (ABT) was performed on 7 healthy women (age 29-40) at the end of the 1st 2nd and 3rd weeks of a drug-free menstrual cycle and at the same periods in a cycle during which they took 350 mcg norethindrone/day. Whereas no significant differences were found among the weeks of either cycle a significant decrease in ABT occurred during all 3 norethindrone weeks (3.9 + - .9%) as compared to the drug-free weeks (5.1 + .9%). The metabolic clearance rate was also determined in 3 women by administration of 9 mg/kg aminopyrine and also fell significantly during the weeks of norethindrone administration. Thus both aminopyrine N-demothylation and aminopyrine metabolic clearance are decreased by norethindrone therapy. Further research is needed on the effects of the uncombined administration of progesterones and estrogens on hepatic microsomal function.
Note on the production of kidney insufficiency by reduction of the arterial circulation of the kidney

In order to obtain an insufficiency of the renal functions, I attempted to find a method simpler and more practical than the reduction of renal substance used by Tuffier, Bradford, Pearce and others. This new method consists of reducing the renal circulation by ligature or stenosis of the branches of the renal artery. The operation is harmless and very simple. The results obtained by Dr. Janeway show that it is efficient.
Effect of various forms of therapy of peptic ulcer on calcium metabolism

Several studies have shown that 5-15 per cent of postgastrectomy patients develop osteomalacia, while 10-50% show reduced bone mineral density values with increased risk of fractures. The changes develop slowly over a period of 10-20 years. The high prevalence of metabolic bone disease in this group of patients demands regular controls over an extended period of time and in many cases substitution with calcium and vitamin D. In patients with a very high consumption of aluminium based antacids an increased risk of aluminium intoxication with pronounced osteomalacia has been demonstrated. In theory vagotomy and chronic treatment with H2-antagonists could lead to metabolic bone disease. The data available at the present show, however, that the risk is very low.
Noninsurable risks of medical practice.

Despite personal success, many physicians come to feel a lack of fulfillment of earlier aspirations and expectations. Many aspects of the physician's interprofessional, social and interpersonal life may become hazards to his personal achievement. Problems created by inadequate time for family and personal activities, unrealistic financial practices, and constant exposure to the intense emotions of patients are noninsurable risks of medical practice. These matters should be considered realistically in medical school and given further discussion and study.