cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Natural language access to data bases: interpreting update requests

For natural language data base systems to operate effectively in practical domains, they must have the capabilities required by real applications. One such capability is understanding and performing update requests. The processing of natural language updates raises problems not encountered in the processing of queries. These difficulties stem from the fact that the user will naturally phrase requests with respect to his conception of the domain, which may be a considerable simplification of the actual underlying data base structure. Updates that are meaningful and unambiguous from the user's standpoint may not translate into reasonable changes to the underlying data base. Update requests may be impossible (cannot be performed in any way), ambiguous (can be performed in several ways), or pathological (can be performed only in ways that cause undesirable side effects).Drawing on work in linguistics and philosophy of language, we have developed a domain-transparent approach to identifying and performing "reasonable" changes in response to a user's update request, using only knowledge sources typically present in existing data base systems. A simple notion of "user model" and explanation with respect to the user's state of knowledge are central to the design. This paper describes a prototype system PIQUE (Program for Interpretation of Query/Update in English), which implements this approach.
Genetic Regulation of Aspergillus Secondary Metabolites and Their Role in Fungal Pathogenesis

With respect to fungal pathogenesis and virulence, fungal secondary metabolites are primary virulence factors in several fungus-plant interactions. This chapter explores the current state of knowledge on the production of secondary metabolites by the opportunistic human pathogen Aspergillus fumigatus. Several types of secondary metabolites have been isolated from A. fumigatus in vitro cultures, including fumitremorgins, verruculogen, fumigaclavines, fumagillin, helvolic acid, and gliotoxin, among other, less-studied compounds. Importantly, gliotoxin has been detected in the serum of patients with invasive pulmonary aspergillosis (IPA) and in experimental murine models of IPA. Overexpression of the nonribosomal peptide synthetase (NRPS) ftmA in A. fumigatus AF293.1 and A. nidulans resulted in accumulation of brevianamide F, the likely precursor of fumitremorgin biosynthesis. Like many other A. fumigatus-produced secondary metabolites, the potential role of helvolic acid in aspergillosis is unknown. Production of secondary metabolites is an energetically costly process involving many enzymatic steps. In fungi, signals generated in response to the environment are typically relayed through DNA-binding Cys2His2 zinc-finger proteins, including CreA for carbon signaling, AreA for nitrogen signaling, and PacC for pH signaling. Insight into signaling pathways linking growth, development, and secondary metabolism came from a key study in A. nidulans showing heterotrimeric G-protein activation simultaneously inhibits sporulation and production of the mycotoxin sterigmatocystin while promoting vegetative growth. Fungal secondary metabolites are important biomolecules with significant biological activities.
The Electric Field Structure of Auroral Arcs as Determined from Barium Plasma Injection Experiments

Barium plasma injection experiments have revealed a number of features of electric fields in and near auroral forms extending from a few hundred to many thousands of km in altitude. There is evidence for V-type potential structures over some auroras, but not in others. For some auroral arcs, large E fields are found at ionospheric altitudes outside the arc but the E field inside the arc is near zero. In a few other auroras, most recently one investigated in an experiment conducted from Poker Flat on March 22, 1980, large, rapidly fluctuating E fields were detected by barium plasma near 600 km altitude. These E fields suggest that the motion of auroral rays can be an effect of low-altitude electric fields, or that V-type potential structures may be found at low altitudes.
Multivariate tempered stable model with long-range dependence and time-varying volatility

High-frequency financial return time series data have stylized facts such as the long-range dependence, fat-tails, asymmetric dependence, and volatility clustering. In this paper, a multivariate model which describes those stylized facts is presented. To construct the model, a multivariate ARMA-GARCH model is considered along with fractional Levy process. The fractional Levy process in this paper is defined by the stochastic integral with a tempered stable driving process. Parameters of the new model are fit to high-frequency returns for five U.S stocks. Approximated form of portfolio value-at-risk and average value-at-risk are provided and portfolio optimization is discussed under the model
Call for Papers: “Placebo Effects: Basic Mechanisms and Clinical Applications”

Significant progress has been made in the investigation of placebo effects. Recent research shows that they are genuine psychobiological events attributable to the overall therapeutic context. Placebo effects can appear in experimental trials as well as in clinical settings. There is some initial evidence that patients may be more prone to these effects, compared to healthy people, and it has also been shown that placebo effects may last up to several years after treatment. On the psychological level, expectancy via instructions and expectancy via classical conditioning have been identified as the two primary mechanisms. Both seem to be important in boosting subjective reliefs across different diseases, even if most of our knowledge about the neurobiology of the phenomenon ‘‘placebo effect’’ comes from the field of pain and analgesia. On the neurobiological level, recent research has identified multiple placebo mechanisms, although more research is needed. This topical issue will bring together three different aspects: (a) an analysis of the most relevant psychological strategies to induce bodily placebo-related changes; (b) best evidence of neurobiologically significant placebo effects; and (c) implications of placebo research for clinical practice. By integrating these three perspectives, it will offer a broad survey of this topic for both scientists and clinicians. Issues addressed may include evidence for psychological strategies for harnessing significant placebo-induced effects, for example, brain-endogenous release of opioids, and how such benefits can be obtained in patients suffering from, for example, chronic pain. Thus, we solicit papers for this topical issue of the Zeitschrift f r Psychologie that examine these three aspects of placebo research. In addition to suggestions for full original or review articles, shorter research notes and opinion papers are also welcome. We invite researchers of various areas of psychology and medicine to submit their abstracts on potential papers electronically to either of the guest editors: Regine Klinger (rklinger@uni-hamburg.de) Luana Colloca (luana.colloca@nih.gov) How to submit: Interested authors should submit a letter of intent including: (1) a working title for the manuscript, (2) names, affiliations, and contact information for all authors, and (3) an abstract of no more than 500 words detailing the content of the proposed manuscript. There is a two-stage submissions process. Initially, interested authors are requested to submit only abstracts of their proposed papers. Authors of the selected abstracts will then be invited to submit full papers. All papers will undergo blind peer review.
On the optimal compromise for a dispersing parasitoid

Vector optimization concepts are used to demonstrate that key characteristics of searching and oviposition by the parasitoid Anagrus delicatus (Mymaridae, Hymenoptera) are consistent with the idea that it forages to achieve an optimal compromise, in an uncertain environment, between maximizing ovipositions at suitable sites and dispersing its eggs as widely as possible.
Institutional child abuse

Abstract Although various forms of child abuse have been extensively investigated, other forms of psychological and institutional abuse continue to exist. This paper will focus on a variety of experiences occurring in institutions and residential centers that, in effect, cause a variety of detrimental effects and harm to those in those agencies who are supposedly “in treatment.” The various forms of institutional abuse will be examined and ramifications and repercussions explored.
An Experimental Study of Insurance Decisons

This chapter describes an insurance study that was aimed at a better understanding of people’s preferences for so-called pure risk alternatives (Williams, 1966). Unlike speculative risk choices, pure risk alternatives offer no chance of gain. The present study ran parallel to another research effort, also based at the Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania. This other effort consisted of field studies (Kunreuther et al., 1978) and laboratory experiments (Slovic et al., 1977) on insurance behavior, particularly decisions involving low-probability, high-loss events. Relationships with this parallel research will be highlighted later in this chapter.
Adenocarcinoma of the prostate simulating primary rectal malignancy.

Adenocarcinoma of the prostate may occasionally mimic primary carcinoma of the rectum in both symptoms and gross character of the lesion. Establishment of the proper diagnosis is important because of the wide difference in treatment and prognosis. Since both tumors are adenocarcinomas, the biopsy specimen may be equivocal if the lesion is anaplastic, and the diagnosis may depend upon the history, metastatic picture, serum acid phosphatase, and response to estrogen therapy. Prostatic origin should be considered in rectal lesions, if the prostate gland is not palpably definable, separate from the mass.
Does Seeking Informed Consent for Single or Multiple Studies Compromise Maternal Satisfaction? An Observational Study of Mothers of Very-Low-Birthweight Infants ♦ 166

Does Seeking Informed Consent for Single or Multiple Studies Compromise Maternal Satisfaction? An Observational Study of Mothers of Very-Low-Birthweight Infants ♦ 166
Organizing Local Agencies to Promote Economic Development

Significant changes over the past two decades have intensified efforts by American cities to promote economic development. Yet, researchers and policymakers generally have ignored the extent to which communities differ in their economic development strategies. This article extends previous research with an examination of the variation in the way cities organize their bureaucracies to promote economic development. Findings indicate that larger cities and those with a wide range of economic development programs and higher property tax burdens are most likely to have a separate department for promoting development. Moreover, in cities that are more dependent upon manufacturing, local governments avoid leaving economic development in the hands of existing line departments. The results suggest that in smaller communities, officials may be unwilling or unable to centralize their development efforts, and in larger and more economically vulnerable cities, separate agencies may be used to resolve coordination prob...
Brain mitochondrial injury in human immunodeficiency virus-seropositive (HIV+) individuals taking nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors

Nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) suppress human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) replication, but are often associated with mitochondrial toxicity. Although well studied outside of the central nervous system, no investigation has examined the effects of these drugs on brain mitochondria of individuals living with HIV. The authors used proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy to evaluate NRTI-related changes in brain mitochondria. N-acetylaspartate (NAA; sensitive to alterations in mitochondrial integrity) was measured in frontal lobe white and gray matter of 18 HIV+ individuals taking didanosine and/or stavudine (two NRTIs likely to cause mitochondrial toxicity), 14 HIV+ individuals taking zidovudine and lamivudine, 16 HIV+ individuals not currently taking antiretrovirals, and 17 HIV- controls. The HIV+ groups were comparable on demographic measures, estimates of illness severity, and estimated length of HIV infection. Those taking didanosine and/or stavudine had a significant 11.4% decrease in concentrations of frontal white matter NAA compared to HIV- controls, whereas NAA levels of the other HIV+ groups were intermediate. Group differences in metabolites were not found in frontal gray matter. Lower levels of frontal white matter NAA were associated with longer periods of didanosine and/or stavudine treatment (r = -.41, P = .06). Levels of NAA were not related to length of zidovudine/lamivudine treatment (r = -.04, P = .44). Furthermore, taking more than one of stavudine, didanosine, and abacavir increased the likelihood of having reduced NAA. The results are consistent with previous studies finding HIV-related changes in neuronal integrity. However, because NRTIs can injure mitochondria, we propose that the observed reductions in NAA in individuals taking didanosine and/or stavudine may be the result of depleted brain mitochondria and/or alterations in cellular respiration. Measurement of brain metabolites sensitive to impairments in energy metabolism, including NAA, may aid in early detection of subclinical NRTI-mediated mitochondrial toxicity.
STUDIES ON THE GIANT KELP, MACROCYSTIS. II. REPRODUCTION

NEUSHIUL, M. (U. Washington, Seattle.) Studies on the giant kelp, Macrocystis. II. Reproduction. Amer. Jour. Bot. 50(4): 354-359. Illus. 1963.-The reproduction of Macrocystis pyrifera was studied in the sea and in the laboratory. The estimated minimum time needed for the completion of the sexual life history of Macrocystis pyrifera in La Jolla, California, is from 12 to 14 months. Young sporophytes begin fruiting when they have from 4 to 8 stipes and a somatic frond weight of from 8 to 10 kg. The behavior of abscised sporophylls in laboratory tanks, as well as their morphology and coloration, strongly suggests an interrelationship between the translocation of photosynthetic products and fructification.
Vertebral fractures and trabecular microstructure in men with prostate cancer on androgen deprivation therapy.

Androgen deprivation therapy (ADT), a treatment for prostate cancer, is associated with bone loss and fractures. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA)–measured bone mineral density does not assess vertebral fractures (VF). High-resolution micro-magnetic resonance imaging (HR-MRI) assesses bone microarchitecture and provides structural information. To determine if VF identification increased the diagnosis of osteoporosis beyond DXA and if HR-MRI demonstrated skeletal deterioration in men with VF, we cross-sectionally studied 137 men aged ≥ 60 years with nonmetastatic prostate cancer on ADT for ≥ 6 months. Vertebral fracture assessment (VFA) by DXA was confirmed with X-rays. HR-MRI of the wrist included bone volume to total volume (BV/TV), surface density (trabecular plates), surface/curve ratio (plates/rods), and erosion index (higher depicts deterioration). VF were found in 37% of men; the majority were unknown. Seven percent of participants were classified as osteoporotic by hip or spine DXA. Thirty-seven percent of men without osteoporosis by DXA had VF identified, suggesting that 90% of patients with clinical osteoporosis would have been misclassified by DXA alone. By ANOVA comparison across VF grades, the BV/TV, surface density, and spine, hip, and wrist DXA were lower, and erosion index was higher in men with moderate-severe VF compared with lesser grades (all p < 0.05). By unadjusted ROC analysis, the addition of HR-MRI to DXA at the spine, hip, and femoral neck added substantially (AUC increased 0.831 to 0.902, p < 0.05) to prediction of moderate-severe vertebral fracture. HR-MRI indices were associated with spine, hip, and wrist DXA measures (p < 0.01). Longer duration of ADT was associated with lower BV/TV, surface density, and surface/curve ratio (p < 0.05). ADT for men with prostate cancer is associated with silent VF. DXA alone leads to misclassifications of osteoporosis, which can be avoided by VF assessment. HR-MRI provides a novel technique to assess deterioration of structural integrity in men with VF and adds micro-structural information. © 2013 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research
Relativistic spin effects and proton two-body decay

Abstract It is pointed out that in proton decay relativistic spin effects, including kinematic effects which are mass-dependent and a possible deviation of the meson wave function from nonrelativistic SU (6), will reduce the spin matrix elements between proton and meson. This leads to a new suppression of decay rates especiallyfor the pion mode. An estimation made in a relativistic quark model based on Bethe-Salpeter-Mandelstam formalism shows that the kaon mode is the biggest even for ordinary minimal SU (5), if the spinor wave function of mesons is that suggested by Llewellyn Smith and Kitazoe and Teshima.
How Do Nucleosomes Bundle DNA into Chromatin

The binding of histones and the formation of nucleosomes play major roles in bundling DNA into chromatin in eukaryotic cells. This process not only facilitates the packaging of DNA in the cell nucleus but also influences the communication between distant genomic sites, such as enhancers and promoters found at the ends of protein-mediated loops. The details of chromatin organization, however, remain unclear. In particular, the effects of nucleosome positioning (i.e., the sequential locations of nucleosomes along DNA) on chromatin architecture are still poorly understood. With a view toward understanding the interplay between nucleosomes and DNA in chromatin, we have developed a mesoscale model of nucleosome-decorated DNA at a resolution of a single base pair. We use Monte Carlo numerical strategies to unravel how nucleosomes shape DNA into chromatin and we validate our model by successfully reproducing various experimental measurements. With the help of a cloud computing approach we have been able to perform simulations for a wide range of nucleosome positionings, that is, for a wide range of DNA linker lengths. Our results show a broad variety of chromatin organization. This structural diversity, which extends beyond the conventional solenoid and zigzag models of chromatin, comes along with very different physical and mechanical properties, such as apparent bending and twisting stiffnesses and degrees of compaction. We have also studied how fluctuations in nucleosome positioning can affect chromatin. We have found that minor changes of the order of a few base pairs in the locations of nucleosomes along DNA can greatly alter the local and global properties of chromatin. Our work shows that the synergy between DNA and nucleosomes in chromatin gives rise to a highly versatile biomolecule, which is able to accommodate tight packing while maintaining the accessibility necessary for specific expression.
Cataplectic-like behavior in cats after micro-injections of carbachol in pontine reticular formation

There has been considerable work with focal injections of cholinergic compounds in the brain. Early work by Hernandez-Peon et al. 11, Mazzuchelli-O’Flaherty et al. 16, Cordeau et al. 4, George et al. 8, and Baxter1 suggests that cholinergic stimulation of the brain can induce sleep, REM sleep or motor inhibition akin to that seen in human cataplexy. Since the narcolepsy-cataplexy syndrome in humans is wide-spread 5,7 and has recently attracted much attention6,19, these sleep and motor inhibitory effects are of particular interest. An experimentally producible animal model of narcolepsy-cataplexy would be of use in evaluating treatments for cataplexy. To this end, an animal model of narcolepsy-cataplexy should show one or more of the following behaviors:
Yaw and spin effects on high intensity sound generation and on drag of training projectiles with ring cavities

Projectiles containing axisymmetric ring cavities constitute aeroacoustic sources. These produce high intensity tones which are used for coding in the SAWE (Simulation of Area Weapons Effects) system. Experimental data obtained in a free jet facility are presented describing the effects of yaw, spin and geometric projectile parameters on sound pressure and drag. In general, the sound pressure decreases with increasing yaw angle whereas the drag increases. Spin tends to increase sound pressure levels because of a reduction in asymmetry of flow. Drag increases at zero yaw approximately as the 1.5 power of sound wavelength. A significant part of the drag increase appears to be due to energy loss by sound radiation.
The activities of coenzyme Q10 and vitamin B6 for immune responses

Coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10) and vitamin B6 (pyridoxine) have been administered together and separately to three groups of human subjects. The blood levels of CoQ10 increased (p < 0.001) when CoQ10 and pyridoxine were administered together and when CoQ10 was given alone. The blood levels of IgG increased when CoQ10 and pyridoxine were administered together (p < 0.01) and when CoQ10 was administered alone (p < 0.05). The blood levels of T4-lymphocytes increased when CoQ10 and pyridoxine were administered together (p < 0.01) and separately (p < 0.001). The ratio of T4/T8 lymphocytes increased when CoQ10 and pyridoxine were administered together (p < 0.001) and separately (p < 0.05). These increases in IgG and T4-lymphocytes with CoQ10 and vitamin B6 are clinically important for trials on AIDS, other infectious diseases, and on cancer.
"There's Going to Be Community. There's Going to Be Knowledge": Designs for Learning in a Standardised Age.

Abstract Using the case of a secondary English department in Ontario, Canada, this article examines the constraints that academic departments face in transforming themselves from communities of practice into learning communities. This distinction between a community of practice and a learning community has taken on heightened importance as increasing curriculum standardisation and high stakes assessments further narrow the historically fragile opportunities for deep and collaborative teacher learning within the traditionally structured academic department. The paper proposes some theoretical considerations and concrete strategies to assist academic departments in overcoming constraints to learning within an era of increasing standardisation and accountability. It further explores how the international movement of educational post-standardisation promises greater opportunities for the development of teacher learning communities within academic departments.
Analysis of two- and three-year trends in antimicrobial resistance in intensive care units using unit-specific antibiograms

Unit-specific antibiograms serve as useful guides to clinicians and infection control personnel. We compared trends in antimicrobial resistance in intensive care units using traditional 2-y unit-specific antibiogram data and 3 y of data. Three-y unit-specific antibiogram data may provide increased statistical power to detect changes in antimicrobial resistance.
Work in progress — Promoting metacognitive knowledge and shared note-taking to learn electric circuit concepts through enhanced guided notes

This work in progress involves a design-based research process to develop new instructional materials and strategies for use in an electric circuit course by students who are not electrical engineering majors. These materials and strategies are designed to replace traditional note-taking practices or standard guided notes used in most engineering courses and stimulate students to actively engage in meaningful learning activities. The enhanced guided notes (EGN) developed by this study include two additional components that are not present in the standard guided notes. First, the EGN will include questions that prompt students to assess their metacognitive knowledge. Second, the EGN will be further enhanced through the inclusion of outside class activities. This requires students to share notes made during lectures with their friends by using a tablet format computer and an online uploading document mechanism. Six research questions were constructed to guide this study. The impact of the treatments will be assessed using a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods.
Assessing the US Clean Water Act 303(d) listing process for determining impairment of a waterbody

This study evaluated the US Clean Water Act (CWA) Section 303(d) listing and delisting processes, based on historical and current federal and state guidelines, to determine whether there are regional differences in water quality assessment criteria used by various states to determine impairment of a waterbody for inclusion in the 303(d) list. A review of almost 50 total maximum daily load (TMDL) and delisting documents revealed that the basis for listing or delisting a waterbody varies considerably and that, in many cases, determination of impairment was based on insufficient water quality information. Historical USEPA guidance on the 303(d) listing and delisting processes has been generally broad, resulting in wide interpretation of the assessment criteria by various states. This has led to unclear or conflicting listing methodologies among states, leading to inconsistencies in impairment determination. Common problems include inconsistent data quality and quantity, differences in frequency of monitoring, variable interpretation of narrative water quality standards, and differences in specificity of implementation and monitoring plans, resulting in significant difference in the basis for listing and delisting waterbodies. In response, several states have taken the initiative to provide much more specific guidance for their internal agencies. Listing and delisting criteria are generally clearer at the state level, but the development of differing state guidance documents has resulted in diversity in the development of the 303(d) lists and in the process of delisting a waterbody. While state guidelines are better able to address local considerations, such as variations in climate, landuse, and water quality objectives, as well as social and economic preferences, the variation in listing criteria has led to inconsistencies across state boundaries in the levels of attainment of national water quality objectives. For stakeholders that participate in the 303(d) listing process within a particular state, these types of discrepancies may not have a significant impact. However, these inconsistencies can lead to confusion for some stakeholders who participate in the process in multiples states, and must deal with differing and sometimes conflicting requirements depending on the location of their facilities.
Poststratification and Conditional Variance Estimation

Poststratification estimation is a technique used in sample surveys to improve efficiency of estimators. Survey weights are adjusted to force the estimated numbers of units in each of a set of estimation cells to be equal to known population totals. The resulting weights are then used in forming estimates of means or totals of variables collected in the survey. For example, in a household survey the estimation cells may be based on age/race/sex categories of individuals, and the known totals may come from the most recent population census. Although the variance of a poststratified estimator can be computed over all possible sample configurations, inferences made conditionally on the achieved sample configuration are desirable. Theory and a simulation study using data from the U.S. Current Population Survey are presented to study both the conditional bias and variance of the poststratified estimator of a total. The linearization, balanced repeated replication, and jackknife variance estimators are also exa...
Effect of Gums on Low‐Fat Meat Batters

The effects of adding Iota-carrageenan, kappa-carrageenan, guar gum, locust bean gum, xanthan gum, methylcellulose, and a locust bean gum/kappa carrageenan mixture to low-fat, high moisture meat batters were investigated. The methylcellulose treatment showed an increase in weight losses between 60° and 70°C, while other treatments remained similar throughout heating. Xanthan gum and guar gum at 0.2% altered textural parameters as determined by texture profile analysis. Increasing the concentration of xanthan gum decreased batter hardness without affecting batter stability. Sensory evaluation indicated that low-fat frankfurters (11–12% fat) were as acceptable as control frankfurters (27% fat).
The Optimal Application of Surgical Adhesive Tape Strips

Background.Surgical adhesive tape strips are often used in the early postoperative period after sutures are removed or are used in place of superficial sutures. There have not been any previous studies demonstrating their optimal application.Objective.To demonstrate the optimal application pattern f
Rotation to a Partially Specified Target Matrix in Exploratory Factor Analysis in Practice

The purpose of the present study was to explore the influence of the number of targets specified on the quality of exploratory factor analysis solutions with a complex underlying structure and incomplete substantive measurement theory. We extended previous research in this area by (a) exploring this phenomenon in situations in which both the common factor model and the targeted pattern matrix contained specification errors and (b) comparing the performance of target rotation to an easier-to-use default rotation criterion (i.e., geomin) under conditions commonly observed in practice. A Monte Carlo study manipulated target error, number of targets, model error, overdetermination, communality, and sample size. Outcomes included bias (i.e., accuracy) and variability (i.e., stability) with regard to the rotated pattern matrix. The effects of target error were negligible for both accuracy and stability, whereas small effects were observed for the number of targets for both outcomes. Further, target rotation outperformed geomin rotation with regard to accuracy but generally performed worse than geomin rotation with regard to stability. These findings underscore the potential importance (or caution, in the case of stability) of using extant, even if incomplete and somewhat inaccurate, substantive measurement theory to inform the rotation criterion in a nonmechanical way.
Effect of inhaled corticosteroids on peripheral blood eosinophil counts and density profiles in asthma

Abstract Background: Inhaled corticosteroids are effective in the treatment of asthma and reduce bronchial hyperresponsiveness. We examined the effect of inhaled budesonide (1600 μg/day for 14 days) on the number and density profile of peripheral blood eosinophils in 10 patients with mild stable asthma in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover trial. Methods: At the end of each study period, blood was collected immediately before measurement of bronchial responsiveness calculated as the concentration of methacholine causing a 20% fall in forced expiratory volume in 1 second (PC 20 ). Plasma leukocyte suspension obtained after sedimentation of blood with 46% dextran was layered on a Percoll continuous-density gradient. After centrifugation, 20 sequential aliquots of increasing density gradients were removed for differential counts. Eosinophils recovered from density of gradients less than 1.080 gm/ml were defined as hypodense. Results: Budesonide treatment resulted in a fall in mean eosinophil count from 0.37 ± 0.05 x 10 9 L −1 after placebo to 0.16 ± 0.03 × 109 L −1 ( p p 20 increased from −0.26 ± 0.12 after placebo to −0.004 ± 0.14 after budesonide ( p Conclusion: We conclude that inhaled steroid therapy reduces the number of circulating hypodense eosinophils, which is an effect that may underlie the improvement in bronchial hyperresponsiveness.
Mercury enhances susceptibility to murine leishmaniasis

The genetic background of mice infected with Leishmania major determines the response to infection, resulting in a resistant or susceptible phenotype. Susceptible mice develop a T-helper type 2 (Th2)-type immune response following infection distinguished by the development of interleukin (IL)-4 secreting T cells in the lymph node and spleen. In SJL mice, which normally heal L. major lesions, subtoxic doses of mercury induce an autoimmune syndrome characterized by an expansion of Th2 cells. In this study, we examined the effect of mercury administration on the outcome of L. major infection in SJL mice. We show that subtoxic doses of mercuric chloride (HgCl2) exacerbate disease outcome in SJL mice resulting in increased footpad swelling and increased parasite burdens. Furthermore, the effects of HgCl2 treatment on resistance to L. major are time-dependent. The nonhealing phenotype was observed only if mice had been treated with HgCl2 prior to L. major infection for at least 1 week, a timepoint at which mice treated with HgCl2 alone had increased splenocyte IL-4 production. HgCl2 treatment also increased production of serum immunoglobulin (Ig)E and IgG1, two IL-4 dependent isotypes. These results show that HgCl2 treatment enhances the susceptibility to L. major in SJL mice, consistent with the induction of host Th2 parameters. These findings have implications for the role of mercury contamination in areas of endemic leishmaniasis.
Alphabet dependence in parameterized matching

Abstract The classical pattern matching paradigm is that of seeking occurences of one string in another, where both strings are drawn from an alphabet set Σ. A recently introduced model is that of parameterized pattern matching. The main motivation for this scheme lies in software maintenance where program fragments are considered “identical” even if variables names are different. Besides the fixed symbols from Σ, strings under this model have additional symbols from a variable set Π and occurences of one string in the other are sought, where renaming of the variables from Π is allowed in a match. In this paper we provide an algorithm to find all occurences of a pattern string of length m in a text string of length n under the parameterized pattern matching model. Our algorithm takes time O(n log π), where π = min(m, |Π|), independent of |Σ|. Our algorithm is optimal since weshow that this dependence on |Π| is inherent to any algorithm for this problem in the comparison model.
Wheat tortilla quality: Impact of amylose content adjustments using waxy wheat flour

ABSTRACT Amylose content is closely related to wheat flour pasting or thermal properties, and thus affects final food qualities. Fourteen flour blends with amylose content ranges of <1 to 29% were used to study tortilla production and quality parameters. Reduced amylose contents decreased dough stickiness and pliability; low amylose doughs were also very smooth in appearance. Very low flour amylose content was associated with earlier tortilla puffing and poor machinability during baking, darker color, low opacity, larger diameters, and reduced flexibility after storage. Tortilla texture analysis indicated that lowering amylose content gave fresh tortillas higher extensibility; after three or more days storage, however, low amylose flours required more force to break the tortillas and the rupture distances became shorter. These results, as reflected in covariate analysis, were not significantly affected by the flour blend's protein content, swelling volume/power, SDS-sedimentation volume, mixograph dough d...
Thermal expansion behavior of igneous rocks

New experimental data on the thermal expansion of several igneous rocks over the range 25–550°C show that the observed thermal expansion is a function of crack porosity, heating rate, and previous maximum temperature as well as mineralogical composition and preferred crystal orientation. For heating rates if≤2°C/min and a maximum temperature ≤250°C; expansion curves are reproducible, may show a small hysteresis but no permanent strain, and the coefficient of thermal expansion (α) is approximately that calculated from the single crystal values of the constituent minerals. For highly cracked rocks α is significantly less than the calculated value. For heating rates >2°C/min or T > 35°C, new cracks and hence permanent strain are produced in the sample and α is systematically decreased. Recycling to the same temperature produces additional cracks until a steady state is reached after 2–5 cycles.
Time-dependent failure in fiber-reinforced composites by matrix and interface shear creep

The inelastic response of fiber-reinforced ceramic and metal matrix composites under fixed load at elevated temperature is due to the complementary effects of creep and damage in the constituents. After matrix cracking or tensile creep relaxation in a short time, subsequent deformation and failure are driven by shear stress relaxation in the matrix and at the fiber-matrix interface around broken fibers. The shear creep causes stress redistribution to unfailed fibers, causing Further fiber breakage and shear relaxation, culminating in abrupt failure of the composite. This sequence of events is modeled both analytically and numerically within the Global Load Sharing (GLS) approximation previously utilized for quasi-static loading. Analytically, a unit cell model is used to obtain simple closed-form relationships For the time-dependent relaxation of the shear at the interface. This relaxing shear stress is then incorporated into a simulation model which follows the evolution of slip and fiber damage up to failure. The slip lengths and failure times are predicted vs matrix creep exponent n, fiber Weibull modulus in, applied load and, interestingly, physical specimen length. An analytic model for failure shows good agreement with the simulation results and so can be used for qualitative estimates of lifetime. Application to Ti-MMCs is discussed. (C) 1997 Acta Metallurgica Inc.
The effects of graded dietary levels of cholesterol and cholic acid on plasma and hepatic lipids and histopathology of the young male rat.

Young male rats were maintained on a basal diet containing 20% coconut oil with cholesterol added at 0, 0.25, 1 or 4% and cholic acid at 0, 0.25 or 0.5% weight. Determinations were made of plasma cholesterol and neutral glyceride levels throughout the regimen. After 10 weeks, the rats were killed and their livers, hearts, testes and adrenal glands were weighed. Histologic preparations were made from sections of livers, hearts and aortae. Analyses were made of liver lipids.
Inflammation: They're not just for clots anymore

Abstract The identification of the blood-clotting inhibitor, protein S, as a ligand for a previously ‘orphan' family of receptor tyrosine kinases demonstrates a new role for clotting and anti-clotting proteins in regulating cell proliferation.
Enhanced light collection in a flow cytometer

A modified flow cell in a conventional flow cytometer is described. The refraction of light in the flow cell-to-air interface is analyzed. The analysis shows that much of the light that can be collected is refracted out of the collection optics. The efficiency of light collection is doubled by the addition of a plano-convex lens to the flow cell. Also, more stable operation of the flow cell is achieved with the addition of a secondary sheath.
Evaluation of Trapped Beetle Repellency, Trap Height, and String Pheromone Dispensers on Japanese Beetle Captures (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae)

Evaluation of trapped beetle repellency, various trap heights, and a string pheromone dispenser were tested on 2 golf courses for capture of Japanese beetle, Popillia japonica Newman, adults. Beetle captures increased significantly when trapped beetles were removed daily from traps. No significant differences in captures were found among traps with 121-, 18.9-, or 7.6-liter collection containers, and there was no interaction between beetle removal and collection container size. Trece traps with funnel rims at a height of 13 cm above ground level captured significantly more beetles than traps with funnel rims at ground level or at 90 cm above ground level. Numbers of beetles collected in traps with a polyvinyl chloride coated string pheromone dispenser were similar to numbers captured in traps using a standard Trece rubber septum pheromone dispenser.
CHEMICAL AND IMMUNOLOGICAL PROPERTIES OF A SPECIES-SPECIFIC CARBOHYDRATE OF PNEUMOCOCCI

Pneumococci contain a non-protein constituent which, on the basis of its chemical and immunological properties, appears to be a carbohydrate distinct from the type-specific carbohydrate and common to the species.
Hop-Diffusion Monte Carlo for Epipolar Geometry Estimation between Very Wide-Baseline Images

We present a Monte Carlo approach for epipolar geometry estimation that efficiently searches for minimal sets of inlier correspondences in the presence of many outliers in the putative correspondence set, a condition that is prevalent when we have wide baselines, significant scale changes, rotations in depth, occlusion, and repeated patterns. The proposed Monte Carlo algorithm uses Balanced LOcal and Global Search (BLOGS) to find the best minimal set of correspondences. The local search is a diffusion process using Joint Feature Distributions that captures the dependencies among the correspondences. And, the global search is a hopping search process across the minimal set space controlled by photometric properties. Using a novel experimental protocol that involves computing errors for manually marked ground truth points and images with outlier rates as high as 90 percent, we find that BLOGS is better than related approaches such as MAPSAC [1], NAPSAC [2], and BEEM [3]. BLOGS results are of similar quality as other approaches, but BLOGS generate them in 10 times fewer iterations. The time per iteration for BLOGS is also the lowest among the ones we studied.
Distinct Regions of Right Temporo-Parietal Junction Are Selective for Theory of Mind and Exogenous Attention

In functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies, a cortical region in the right temporo-parietal junction (RTPJ) is recruited when participants read stories about people's thoughts (‘Theory of Mind’). Both fMRI and lesion studies suggest that a region near the RTPJ is associated with attentional reorienting in response to an unexpected stimulus. Do Theory of Mind and attentional reorienting recruit a single population of neurons, or are there two neighboring but distinct neural populations in the RTPJ? One recent study compared these activations, and found evidence consistent with a single common region. However, the apparent overlap may have been due to the low resolution of the previous technique. We tested this hypothesis using a high-resolution protocol, within-subjects analyses, and more powerful statistical methods. Strict conjunction analyses revealed that the area of overlap was small and on the periphery of each activation. In addition, a bootstrap analysis identified a reliable 6–10 mm spatial displacement between the peak activations of the two tasks; the same magnitude and direction of displacement was observed in within-subjects comparisons. In all, these results suggest that there are neighboring but distinct regions within the RTPJ implicated in Theory of Mind and orienting attention.
Effects of inactivation of butyrylcholinesterase on steady state and regenerating levels of ganglionic acetylcholinesterase.

— The effects of single and repeated injections of tetramonoisopropyl pyrophosphortetramide (iso-OMPA), a selective inactivator of butyrylcholinesterase (BuChE), were studied on the ganglionic and muscular levels of BuChE and acetylcholinesterase (AChE) in cats during the steady state and following the irreversible inactivation of both enzymes by isopropylmethylphosphonofluoridate (sarin). Single intravenous injections of iso-OMPA, 3.0 or 6.0 μmol/kg, produced nearly total inactivation of BuChE with no immediate effect on the AChE of the superior cervical (SCG), stellate (StG), and ciliary (CG) ganglia and inferior oblique (10) muscle; regeneration of BuChE occurred at approximately the same rate in the three ganglia, and at 4–6 days the AChE levels were significantly elevated. When single doses of iso-OMPA were given 1 h following sarin, 2.0 μmol/kg, intravenously, there was a slight increase in the rate of AChE regeneration during the ensuing 2 days. With the repeated injection of iso-OMPA, 3.0 μmol/kg every 48 h, there was a consistent but not statistically significant reduction in AChE regeneration at 4, 6, 12, and 18 days following sarin in all 3 ganglia. Similar treatment with iso-OMPA alone produced significant increases in ganglionic AChE at all these periods excepting the longest. The daily injection of iso-OMPA for 6 days, which maintained ganglionic BuChE at approx 2% of the control values, produced significant reductions in AChE regeneration, but again significant increases in ganglionic AChE levels in cats that did not receive sarin. The IO muscle did not exhibit these effects. A working hypothesis is proposed, that BuChE is a precursor of ganglionic AChE, and that the level of BuChE participates in the regulation of AChE synthesis by inhibition of a preceding rate-limiting step.
Ab initio investigation of point defects in bulk Si and Ge using a cluster method

Atomic and electronic structures of various charge states $(2+,+,0,\ensuremath{-},2\ensuremath{-})$ of monovacancies V and divacancies ${V}_{2}$ in crystalline Si and Ge are calculated from first principles. The calculations are performed in real space on bulk-terminated spherical and prolate clusters that are passivated by hydrogens at the boundaries. Defect-induced Jahn-Teller distortions, Jahn-Teller and relaxation energies, vacancy wave function characters, and hyperfine parameters are calculated and compared with available experimental data. The magnitudes of Jahn-Teller distortions and energies are found to be smaller in Ge compared to Si for both V and ${V}_{2}.$ Unlike in Si, the pairing type distortions induced by a divacancy in Ge are not large enough to result in a deep level crossing inside the band gap. Furthermore, the relaxed atomic configurations of the divacancy in Ge with resonant bond type distortions are found to be slightly lower in energy than those with pairing type distortions. The effect of the lattice constant at which the calculations are performed (experimental versus theoretical) is also examined, and found to be quite important, especially for Ge.
Hatching Egg Production Increased Without Decreasing 8-Week Body Weight in Broiler Chickens

Abstract About 30 percent of the pullets laying at the highest rate produced full sib progenies which were used as breeders each of two generations. A highly significant increase from 50.6 to 57.3 percent in rate of hatching egg production was obtained in a 20-week test period after two generations of selection during a six-week period when each generation of pullets was about six to eight months of age. Total egg production was increased from 53.2 to 59.4 percent. Although the percentage of double-yolked eggs was reduced one percent, the reduction was statistically significant (P Grouth rate to eight weeks of age did not decline. A small, statistically non-significant, increase was realized which was attributed to a non-intentional cumulated selection differential in the families chosen for their superior rate of egg production.