cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effects of group size on the availability of marriage partners.

Formulae are derived for the extent to which the size of the group from which marriage partners are chosen affects the availability of marriage partners, under monogamy and endogamy, when group membership and appropriate sex are the only criteria for eligibility, and when males and females are equally likely to become group members. The expected proportion of group members unable to find eligible partners under these conditions decreases monotonically as group size increases, approaching a limit of zero as the group size becomes large, but becomes substantial for small groups. These results give minimal estimates of the effects of group size: the introduction of additional constraints-incest taboos, requirements that couples have similar age or social status, etc.-could only increase the proportion unable to find acceptable partners. Possible extensions to more complex marriage models are discussed.
Crystal chemistry of hydroxyapatite. Its relation to bone mineral.

Abstract The properties of a natural hydroxyapatite with Ca P = 1·75 and a synthetic hydroxyapatite with Ca P = 1·67 are considered with respect to (i) the non-stoichiometric properties of most synthetic calciumdashphosphate precipitates, (ii) the crystal chemistry of carbonate-containing mineral apatites (francolite and dahllite) and (iii) the interpretation of analyses of teeth and bones. It is concluded that “tetrahedral hydroxyls” substitute for phosphate groups, that their occurrence is not necessarily dependent upon the presence of carbonate groups within the structure and that some structural positions, which would normally contain (OH) or F, may contain H2O. The assigned structural formula for the mineral from northern Mexico is Ca10[F1·2(OH)1·5(H2O)0·3] [(PO4)5·7(H4O4)0·3]. The effects of isomorphic substitution, as well as the sizes of the crystallites, on the characteristics of X-ray diffraction patterns are considered. It is concluded that some carbonate apatites are certainly not hexagonal, and others, including those of tooth and bone mineral, may be merely pseudohexagonal. Inasmuch as “line broadening” cannot be distinguished, in general, from incipient “line splitting”, investigations which purport to determine the “degree of crystallinity” are not based on sound crystallographic premises. The size of the unit cell of an isomorphic variant involving merely fluorine, carbonate, and structurally bound hydrogen cannot be predicted because the effects are not independently assessable.
Destruction of Red Blood Cells. VII. Apparent Autosensitization to Dog Red Blood Cells.

Summary and ConclusionsSeveral attempts were made to sensitize 4 dogs to their own red blood cells. Three dogs showed no definite evidence of autosensitization. Although 2 of these 3 dogs showed occasional marked fluctuation in mechanical fragility unaccompanied by other changes during these studies this was considered to be due to technical difficulties. However, for a short period in one dog, 25 d'ays after the injection of a modified Freund antigen, there was agglutination of washed red blood cells when they were suspended in anti-dog serum rabbit serum. During this period of apparent autosensitization there was no anemia, reticuloeytosis or jaundice. The red blood cells showed no alteration in osmotic or mechanical fragility. There was no fall in complement titer. Cold and warm agglutinins did not appear. There was no evidence of a serum complement-fixing antibody for the dog's own red blood cells. Such apparent autosensitization supports the explanation that in certain instances of acquired hemolytic...
On the existence of macro variables and of macro relationships

Abstract A common practice is to restrict the implied definition of a macro variable to an aggregate of micro components. Using such a definition, the aggregation problem is to determine when one can interpret macro coefficient estimates in terms of micro economic theory and when one can recover micro coefficients from macro estimates. In this paper it is argued that a more useful abstract definition of a macro variable is in terms of properties of dynamical systems as a whole; such a definition may include aggregates of micro components as relevant macro variables, but they are not necessarily included and system-wide variables are included in this definition. The idea of macro variables and their relationships is claimed to be more complex than a mere aggregation of micro components. An operational definition of a macro variable is given that defines macro relationships as well. The operational definition is based on examining the time variation of the transitional probabilities of system variables. One practical conclusion is that in many cases an analysis of a system variable, such as mean income or consumption, may require examining the variances of those variables simultaneously. More precisely, even to a first order of approximation the time varying variances are of equal importance to the time varying means and one must estimate the interactive effect of both together. Further, the results in this paper suggest a deep relationship between the ubiquitous observance of ARCH processes and the nonlinearity in the Fokker-Planck equation that approximates the time variation in the probability densities of macro variables.
Annual review of organometallic and nitrosyl photochemistry: 2003

Abstract The literature of organometallic and nitrosyl photochemistry for 2003 has been reviewed.
Shear horizontal vibrations at the (0001) surface of beryllium

The authors report the results of a high-resolution Electron-Energy Loss Spectroscopy (EELS) investigation of Be(0001) surface. Two dispersive surface vibrational modes are observed in the {bar {Gamma}} to {bar M} direction: a sagittal-plane mode (the Rayleigh wave) and a shear horizontal mode. They have compared their experimental results to a 300-layer slab calculation and to a semi-infinite Green`s function calculation of Sameth and Mele. Compared with the experimental results, both calculations predict a higher energy for the Rayleigh wave and lower energy for the shear horizontal mode. These results are consistent with stronger in-plane bonding and weaker interplanar bonding at the surface, in accord with other theoretical predictions.
Wood‐fiber/high‐density‐polyethylene composites: Coupling agent performance

The coupling efficiency of seven coupling agents in wood-polymer composites (WPC) was investi- gated in this study. The improvement on the interfacial bonding strength, flexural modulus, and other mechanical properties of the resultant wood fiber/high-density polyeth- ylene (HDPE) composites was mainly related to the cou- pling agent type, function groups, molecular weight, con- centration, and chain structure. As a coupling agent, mal- eated polyethylene (MAPE) had a better performance in WPC than oxidized polyethylene (OPE) and pure polyeth- ylene (PPE) because of its stronger interfacial bonding. A combination of the acid number, molecular weight, and concentration of coupling agents had a significant effect on the interfacial bonding in WPC. The coupling agents with a high molecular weight, moderate acid number, and low concentration level were preferred to improve interfacial adhesion in WPC. The backbone structure of coupling agents also affected the interfacial bonding strength. Com- pared with the untreated composites, modified composites improved the interfacial bonding strength by 140% on max- imum and the flexural storage modulus by 29%. According to the statistical analysis, 226D and 100D were the best of the seven coupling agents. The coupling agent performance was illustrated with the brush, switch, and amorphous struc- tures. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 96: 93-102, 2005
CHANGES AND ADDITIONS IN IPOMOEA SECTION BATATAS (CONVOLVULACEAE)

A new species, Ipomoea tabascana, is described from Mexico, and the combination I. batatas var. apiculata is made for plants endemic to Veracruz. Comments on the alliance of I. umbraticola with the section Batatas are given.
Bacterial identification for publication: when is enough enough?

The accurate and definitive identification of microorganisms, including bacteria, is one of the cornerstones forming the joint foundation of the fields of microbiology and infectious diseases. Identification is based upon the labeling of bacteria, parasites, and fungi with appropriate binomial names
Error component analysis for PACS: operational sources of data error in real world PACS for DICOM series, study, and patient level identifiers

The gold standard for modern PACS workflow is now considered to be a complete integration of HIS, RIS and PACS datastreams. However, a number of current obstacles exist in regard to achieving this level of integration in real-world practice environments, given the current level of modality support for more advanced DICOM services such as MWL, MPPS, and Storage Commitment. In this paper, many of the more common sources of disparity between HIS/RIS and PACS data are discussed, as well as possible DICOM-based mitigations and possible PACS workflow models not requiring modality upgrades. These are discussed in the context of the IHE model, and compared to the ideal of complete IHE workflow. Various operational sources of modality-based patient demographic data for existing PACS are discussed and analyzed from a DICOM perspective, comparing modality inputs for a typical large PACS to RIS data references. Disparities between PACS and RIS data are emphasized, with the goal of PACS/RIS data reconciliation. The existing obstacles to this integration are discussed, and the application of DICOM Modality Worklist, Storage Commitment, and Performed Procedure Step Services are discussed in reference to these error sources. As the subject site utilizes DICOM Modality Worklist, those operational sources of error that remain after Modality Worklist was implemented are analyzed in the context of the existing modality workflow limitations. The intrinsic disparity between CPT-based billing and reporting structures and existing DICOM modality models for CT, MR, US, R&F, and CR are discussed, and examples given for operational challenges in integrating these elements using existing modality design. Conclusions included that the Modality Worklist, in itself, is inadequate to drive RIS-integrated PACS workflow, and that current modality limitations preclude complete PACS/RIS datastream integration at this time. Several alternative mitigation models are discussed using existing modalities, as well as suggestions for improvements in modality workflow design.
IEE Computing & Control Division: Chairman's address. Some aspects of computers in medicine

The field of medicine is one which offers considerable scope for the application of computers ranging from simple microprocessors to sophisticated array processors. To illustrate these applications a number of examples have been chosen in diagnosis, therapy, patient monitoring and patient mangagement. The first two examples relate to diagnostic equipment, the operation of which would not be possible without an integral computer, namely the now well established X-ray c.t. scanner and the recently developed nuclear magnetic resonance scanner which promises to be an equally important diagnostic tool. From the increasing range of microprocessor applications three examples have been chosen, the kidney machine, Doppler ultrasound for blood flow measurement, and real-time ultrasound. Images play an important role in medical diagnosis, and it is shown how computer based techniques developed for other applications can be used to improve the quality of these images and so aid diagnosis. Computers are also being used more extensively to maintain patient records, particularly of treatments and their effects, information which is particularly valuable in medical research. Much monitoring equipment in the intensive care situation is now beginning to. incorporate microprocessors allowing more automatic operation and recording. Finally it is indicated how work in the field of expert systems could, by close collaboration between computer scientist and clinician, lead to improved clinical diagnosis.
An NMR method for characterizing conformation changes in proteins.

Abstract An NMR method for detecting and estimating the magnitude of conformation changes in proteins is described. By measuring both 19F and 1H chemical shifts in a -CH2F probe ring current shifts can be determined separately from shifts due to van der Waals interactions and electric fields. The method has been applied to lysozyme and a conformation change in a complex of the enzyme with β-methyl monofluoro-N-acetylglucosamine has been detected. The effect is due to the ionization of Asp 52, one of the catalytic groups, and the magnitude of the change is estimated to be about 1 A. A mechanism for this conformation change is proposed.
Slot-coupled waveguide-to-microstrip transition and waveguide-fed patch antenna at E-band

In this paper we propose a slot-coupled waveguide-to-microstrip transition and a waveguide-fed patch antenna at E-band. Both devices are fabricated on Liquid Crystal Polymer (LCP) substrate with a thickness of 0.1 mm. The bandwidth of waveguide-to-microstrip transition is as wide as 33%, from 62 to 89 GHz. The proposed antenna has a gain of 6.6 dB at 77 GHz, and a bandwidth of 35%, from 58 to 84 GHz.
WHO BUYS STOLEN PROPERTY? A NEW LOOK AT CRIMINAL RECEIVING

ABSTRACT This paper reports the results of field research examining the role of the nonprofessional fence in initiating and sustaining property crime. Interviews with fences, thieves, and ordinary citizens who bought stolen property were supplemented with analysis of official police records regarding the distribution of stolen property by burglars and shoplifters. Findings indicated that “direct marketing” to the ultimate consumer and to part- time and “amateur” fences is more common than previously believed. A typology of fences is developed.
In utero irradiation of rats as a model of human cerebrocortical dysgenesis: a review.

Certain developmental abnormalities of the cerebral cortex are closely associated with epilepsy in humans. Exposure of fetal rats to external γ-irradiation produces diffuse cortical dysplasia and neuronal heterotopia. These abnormalities are the result of radiation-induced cell death coupled with continued cortical development in an altered cellular environment. In vivo electroencephalography studies in these animals have revealed an increased propensity for electrographic seizures in the presence of the sedating agents, acepromazine and xylazine. In vitro neocortical slices containing dysplastic cortex demonstrate enhanced excitability, as compared to control neocortex, when inhibition that is mediated by the A-type γ-amino butyric acid receptor is blocked with bicuculline methiodide. In utero irradiation of rats produces structural changes that mimic some aspects of cerebral dysgenesis in humans and results in physiologic changes that increase the animals' propensity for seizures. Similarities and differences between the animal model and the human syndromes are discussed.
Evaluation of ultrafiltration cartridges for a water sampling apparatus.

Aims: To determine the efficiency of various ultrafiltration cartridges (UFC) in concentrating test micro-organisms from drinking water. Methods and Results: Replicate drinking water samples from three potable water supplies were dosed with Bacillus anthracis Sterne, Francisella tularensis LVS, Yersinia pestis CO92, bacteriophages MS2 and phi-X174, and Cryptosporidium parvum. The test micro-organisms were dosed together in 100 l of water, which was then recirculated through one of five different UFC until the retentate volume was reduced to c. 500 ml. The micro-organisms were assayed before and after ultrafiltration concentration and per cent recoveries were calculated. There were nine statistically significant differences among pairs of filters out of a possible 180 different combinations of UFC, test micro-organisms, and water types. Conclusions: No filter consistently performed better or worse than the others for each test micro-organism in all water samples tested. Significance and Impact of the Study: This study provides performance data on the ability of several different UFC to concentrate a panel of test micro-organisms from three sources of potable water. Water utilities and first responders may use these data when selecting UFC for use in emergency response protocols. This study also provides additional data as to the efficacy of ultrafiltration for recovering bacteria, virus-like particles, and protozoan oocysts from water samples.
Inhibition of mediator release in systemic mastocytosis is associated with reversal of bone changes

A 59-year-old male presented with systemic mastocytosis with extensive skeletal involvement resulting in vertebral compression fractures and bone pain. Histomorphometric analysis of bone revealed increased mast cells, elevated static parameters of bone resorption, and low bone formation. Serum calcium, phosphorus, and alkaline phosphatase were normal; however, serum 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 and osteocalcin levels were low. Histamine levels in plasma and urine were elevated. Following therapy with ketotifen, the patient had resolution of bone pain along with decreased flushing and pruritus. Elevated plasma and urine histamine levels normalized, as did 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 and osteocalcin levels. Indices of low bone formation improved on therapy. Eroded surfaces improved but remained elevated. This case is the first demonstration that bone symptoms and histomorphometric change in systemic mastocytosis are reversed with inhibition of mast cell degranulation. The role of mast cells and their products in bone metabolism is poorly understood, but the therapy of bone disease in systemic mastocytosis should include inhibition of the release of mast cell products along with the use of histamine antagonist.
Integrated-Optic Laser Fabricated by Field-Assisted Ion-Exchange in Neodymium Doped Soda-Lime-Silicate Glass

A continuous-wave integrated-optic channel waveguide laser operating at 1.057 μm has been fabricated in neodymium-doped soda-lime-silicate laser glass. The device was end-fire pumped with the 0.528-μm line of an argon-ion laser. Threshold for laser action occurs for an absorbed pump power of 31 mW. The slope efficiency for the integrated-optic laser is estimated to be 0.5%. Field-assisted ion exchange in a eutectic melt of CaNO3 and KNO3 was used to form the waveguide.
Molten catalytic coal gasification with in situ carbon and sulphur capture

A molten catalytic process has been demonstrated for converting coal into a synthesis gas consisting of roughly 20% methane and 80% hydrogen using alkali hydroxides as both catalysts and in situ CO2 capture agents. Baselines studies were also conducted using no catalyst, weak capture agents (CaSiO3) and strong in situ capture agent for acid gases (CaO). While a similar gas composition can be achieved using CaO rather than alkali hydroxides, the rate of syngas production is greater when using molten alkali hydroxides than when using CaO as the in situ capture agent for acid gases, such as HCl, H2S and CO2. Parametric studies were conducted to understand the effects of temperature, pressure, catalyst composition, steam flow rate and the ratio of coal to alkali hydroxide on the performance of the molten catalytic gasifier in terms of kinetics and syngas composition. To measure the amount and the rate of coal conversion, we have developed a method for quantifying the coal conversion as the reduction charge remaining, which is related to the chemical oxygen demand remaining in the coal. At temperatures between 800 °C and 900 °C, we measured first-order steam-coal gasification rates using sub-bituminous coal of 2 h−1 in a fixed bed reactor while capturing significant quantities of both H2S and CO2, and while also generating 20% methane plus ethane in the syngas on a dry volume basis.
Examination of the cupula and stereocilia of the horizontal semicircular canal in the toadfish Opsanus tau

We imaged the horizontal semicircular canal (HSCC) crista and cupula of toadfish, Opsanus tau, by using a) confocal light microscopy of isolated vital HSCC; b) serial sections of fixed, trichrome-stained HSCC; and c) scanning electron microscopy of fixed HSCCs. HSCC were dissections which included an ampulla and an attached canal tube (long and slender canal portion), and, in some cases, a small portion of the utricular wall. Cupulae were seen as multipartite mucus connective tissue shells rising from the crista and extending toward the ampullary roof. They were composed of several refractile bands traversing the cupulae perpendicular to longitudinal fibers extending from the cupular base to its apex. Alcian green-stained cupulae showed an asymmetric alcianphilic, dark, X-shaped structure, indicating that the pillar is rich in mucin and carbohydrate, an interpretation supported by images of trichrome-stained sections. The cupular antrum is devoid of prominent refractile fibers. No tubes or channels were observed in the cupula or antrum of vital preparations. Cupular shell fibers cover the surface of the crista, are roughly parallel, and are associated with a translucent material having a refractive index greater than the surrounding endolymph. Stereocilia were thin, 100-microm-long structures, with little longitudinal curvature, which end with no end bulb. No strands extend from stereocilia to the roof or other portions of the cupular antrum. Gross movements of stereocilia were not seen in mechanically quiescent preparations. Within the cupular antrum, stereocilia were parallel to connective tissue fibers, all embedded in an isotropic gel. This fiber-reinforced gel and cupular matrix are sensitive to N-acetlyneuraminidase and beta-N-acetyl glucosaminidase, and minimally sensitive to beta-N-acetyl hexosaminidase. Connective tissue fibers may serve to stiffen the gel, whose matrix would restrict lateral motion of embedded fibers and stereocilia thereby providing mechanical support for stereocilia.
Research Spotlight: Analyzing the ability of peat to trap gas bubbles

[1] Peatlands, thick deposits of partially decayed plant matter, are a globally important carbon store. Peat soils make up one third of the global soil carbon pool and provide one of the largest natural sources of methane to the atmosphere. Bubbles of methane, an important greenhouse gas, are produced by the decomposition of peat under waterlogged conditions. These bubbles increase in size until their buoyancy exceeds the forces keeping them in place, at which point methane bubbles move upward through the soil and are released at the surface in what is known as an ebullition event. These ebullition events are important because they may account for a large proportion of methane lost from peatlands. (Journal of Geophysical Research Biogeosciences, doi:10.1029/2010JG001478, 2011)
Plurals and simples

I would like to discuss the claim that the resources of plural reference and plural quantification are sufficient for the purpose of paraphrasing all ordinary statements apparently concerned with composite material objects into plural statements concerned exclusively with simples.1 One reason this claim is of interest is that, if true, it would enable proponents of radical answers to what Peter van Inwagen has called the special composition question to evade a certain predicament in which they often find themselves.2 The special composition question asks under what circumstances do several things compose something. What is perhaps the most extreme answer to this question, compositional nihilism, denies that composition ever occurs. On this view, there are no composite objects at all. There are, in particular, no tables or chairs or planets. At most, there are simples arranged tablewise and chairwise and planetwise.3 A somewhat more liberal answer to the special composition question seeks to accommodate the fact that none of us is a simple, if we exist at all. To make room for the existence of composites like ourselves, some metaphysicians, most notably Peter van Inwagen, have proposed a semi nihilist answer on which several simples compose something just in case their activities constitute a life (or there is just one of them). On his view, there are simples and living organisms, but there are no tables or chairs or planets. At most, there are simples arranged tablewise and chairwise and planetwise. Philosophers who advocate such highly restrictive answers to the special composition question might appear to invite us to curtail much of ordinary talk, which describes a world inhabited by a variety of composite objects such as tables, chairs, and planets. We ordinarily utter statements such as "there is a chair next to a table" or "some bricks compose a house" or "some trees make up a forest" that carry apparent commitment to composite objects. But that would not be a promising strategy on their
THE EFFECT OF COHERENT SCATTERING ON RADIATIVE LOSSES IN THE SOLAR Ca II K LINE

We investigate the influence of partial frequency redistribution (PRD) on radiative cooling due to the Ca II K line in a hydrostatic model of the quiet Sun, and in a series of 20 snapshots from a chromospheric radiation-hydrodynamics simulation. The net radiative rates in the K line were calculated through these models with three different frequency-redistribution formalisms: complete redistribution (CRD), angle-averaged PRD, and angle-dependent PRD. It is found that the approximation of CRD generally leads to an overestimate of the net radiative rates because of its neglect of coherent scattering. Compared to the more realistic full angle-dependent solution, angle-averaged PRD provides accurate emergent profiles and cooling rates in the hydrostatic model and also provides accurate instantaneous profiles in the dynamical snapshots, even when considerable macroscopic velocities are present. Instantaneous angle-averaged cooling rates in the dynamical snapshots may be different at times, but on average, cooling is very similar to the angle-dependent case. In the temperature minimum, the Ca II K line provides, on average, more cooling in the dynamic chromosphere at the same column mass than in the hydrostatic model. It provides less cooling in the chromosphere. Finally, we formulate an approximation for angle-averaged redistribution in a moving atmosphere, employing the unshifted redistribution function. This approximation is easy to implement in existing numerical codes and should provide an efficient method for PRD transfer solutions in dynamic models without loss of accuracy in emergent profiles and radiative cooling rates.
Breathe easy: microbes protect from allergies

Changes in gut microbial composition have been linked to inflammatory bowel disease, obesity and allergies in humans. A new study shows that pattern recognition of commensal bacteria by B cells reduces allergic inflammation in mice, adding to the mounting evidence for the 'hygiene hypothesis' (pages 538–546).
THE EFFECT OF IONIZING RADIATION ON PLANT GROWTH

The effects of high doses of radiation on plants is lethal, although different species of plants vary greatly in their sensitivity to ionizing radiation. There are reports, however, of a stimulating effect on growth when seeds or seedlings are exposed to light doses of ionizing radiation. Results of experiments conducted by the authors indicate that irradiation of seeds of various plants with 3000 r or X rays seemed to stimulate the growth of lettuce and cabbage, but more critical tests showed no significant effect of the irradiation. Irradiation of Gladiolus bulbs with 4000 r of X rays did results in significantly earlier flowering. 17 references, 2 tables.
Tongue-operated assistive technology with access to common smartphone applications via Bluetooth link

Tongue Drive System (TDS) is a wireless and wearable assistive technology (AT) that enables people with severe disabilities to control their computers, wheelchairs, and electronic gadgets using their tongue motion. We developed the TDS to control smartphone's (iPhone/iPod Touch) built-in and downloadable apps with a customized Bluetooth mouse module by emulating finger taps on the touchscreen. The TDS-iPhone Bluetooth mouse interface was evaluated by four able-bodied subjects to complete a scenario consisting of seven tasks, which were randomly ordered by using touch on the iPhone screen with index finger, a computer mouse on iPhone, and TDS-iPhone Bluetooth mouse interface with tongue motion. Preliminary results show that the average completion times of a scenario with touch, mouse, and TDS are 165.6 ± 14.50 s, 186.1 ± 15.37 s, and 651.6 ± 113.4 s, respectively, showing that the TDS is 84.37% and 81.16% slower than touch and mouse for speed of typing with negligible errors. Overall, considering the limited number of commands and unfamiliarity of the subjects with the TDS, we achieved acceptable results for hands-free functionality.
Expression of Activated PKC Epsilon (PKC ϵ) Protects the Ischemic Heart, without Attenuating Ischemic H+ Production

PKC epsilon is a PKC isoform that translocates during preconditioning and may mediate cardioprotection. To investigate whether PKC epsilon activation is cardioprotective, Langendorff-perfused hearts from wild-type (WT) mice and from mice expressing constitutively active mutant PKC epsilon were subjected to 20 min ischemia and 40 min reperfusion while(31)P NMR spectra were acquired. Pre-ischemic glycogen levels were similar in WT and PKC epsilon hearts. During ischemia, ATP fell less in PKC epsilon than in WT hearts. Ischemic intracellular pH, however, was similar in WT and PKC epsilon hearts. During reperfusion, recovery of contractile function and ATP were greater in PKC epsilon than WT hearts. In conclusion, expression of activated PKC epsilon protected hearts from post-ischemic energetic and contractile dysfunction, consistent with the proposed cardioprotective role of PKC epsilon. Protection occurred in the PKC epsilon hearts without attenuation of ischemic H(+) production, implying that, at least in this ischemic model, reduced acidification during ischemia is not necessary for cardioprotection.
Chlorpromazine induces membrane potential depolarization and ATP loss, and inhibits microsomal ATPase in soybean (Glycine Max L.) roots

Abstract In intact soybean roots, chlorpromazine causes a depolarization of the membrane potential at low concentrations (as low as 30 μM, half-maximally at about 150 μM), and induces a marked decrease in ATP levels at higher concentrations (half-maximal at about 0.5 mM) over longer periods of time. In root microsomal suspensions, chlorpromazine inhibits an apparently specific ATPase activity component (half-maximally at about 0.3 mM). Chlorpromazine inhibits N,N′- dicyclohexylcarbodiimide -, diethylstilbesterol- and azide-inhibited ATPase activities. On linear sucrose gradients, chlorpromazine inhibition of ATPase activity occurs in two peaks, at 1.12 g/ml and 1.14–1.17 g/ml, which may represent a tonoplast and plasma membrane ATPase, respectively. Neither peak corresponds to the F 1 ATPase. It is unclear whether ATPase inhibition or ATP loss is the cause of the membrane potential depolarization. Clearly chlorpromazine has multiple effects which are probably unrelated to its calmodulin-inhibition activity.
Thermodynamics and meteorology (1850–1900)

Summary We trace the use of thermodynamics in meteorology from 1850 to 1900 and show the extent to which physicists initiated important lines of research in the use of thermodynamics in meterology. However, it was not until meteorologists adapted physical arguments to the unique requirements of their data that the full power of thermodynamics was achieved. In tracing these developments we remark upon the boundaries between the sciences in the 19th century and tentatively define the criteria for intellectual independence between one science and the science to which it is indebted for its basic principles.
Older adults exhibit more intracortical inhibition and less intracortical facilitation than young adults

BACKGROUND: Aging results in decreased neuromuscular function, which is likely associated with neurologic alterations. At present little is known regarding age-related changes in intracortical properties. Methods In this study we used transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to measure intracortical facilitation (ICF), short- and long-interval intracortical inhibition (SICI and LICI), motor evoked potential amplitude, and silent period duration in young and older adults (21.4+/-0.8yrs and 70.9+/-1.8yrs). These variables were assessed from the flexor carpi radialis muscle of the non-dominant arm under resting conditions, and during a submaximal contraction (intensity 15% maximum strength). RESULTS: Older adults exhibited increased SICI and LICI in comparison to young adults (SICI: 29.0+/-9.2% vs. 46.2+/-4.8% of unconditioned pulse; LICI: 6.5+/-1.7% vs. 15.8+/-3.3% of unconditioned pulse; p=0.04), and less ICF under resting conditions (74.6+/-8.7% vs. 104.9+/-6.9% of unconditioned pulse; p=0.02). These age-related differences disappeared during contraction, although the older adults did exhibit a longer silent period during contraction (112.5+/-6.5 vs. 84.0+/-3.9msec; p Language: en
The genotypic and phenotypic spectrum of pyridoxine-dependent epilepsy due to mutations in ALDH7A1

Pyridoxine-dependent epilepsy is a disorder associated with severe seizures that may be caused by deficient activity of α-aminoadipic semialdehyde dehydrogenase, encoded by the ALDH7A1 gene, with accumulation of α-aminoadipic semialdehyde and piperideine-6-carboxylic acid. The latter reacts with pyridoxal-phosphate, explaining the effective treatment with pyridoxine. We report the clinical phenotype of three patients, their mutations and those of 12 additional patients identified in our clinical molecular laboratory. There were six missense, one nonsense, and five splice-site mutations, and two small deletions. Mutations c.1217_1218delAT, I431F, IVS-1(+2)T > G, IVS-2(+1)G > A, and IVS-12(+1)G > A are novel. Some disease alleles were recurring: E399Q (eight times), G477R (six times), R82X (two times), and c.1217_1218delAT (two times). A systematic review of mutations from the literature indicates that missense mutations cluster around exons 14, 15, and 16. Nine mutations represent 61% of alleles. Molecular modeling of missense mutations allows classification into three groups: those that affect NAD+ binding or catalysis, those that affect the substrate binding site, and those that affect multimerization. There are three clinical phenotypes: patients with complete seizure control with pyridoxine and normal developmental outcome (group 1) including our first patient; patients with complete seizure control with pyridoxine but with developmental delay (group 2), including our other two patients; and patients with persistent seizures despite pyridoxine treatment and with developmental delay (group 3). There is preliminary evidence for a genotype-phenotype correlation with patients from group 1 having mutations with residual activity. There is evidence from patients with similar genotypes for nongenetic factors contributing to the phenotypic spectrum.
Novel concentration effect in an ities study of facilitated potassium ion transport

Donnees relatives, en particulier, au systeme K + -dibenzo-18-crown-6 dans du dichloroethane en presence d'une electrode a eau ascendante
Influence of adrenergic nervous and prostaglandin systems on hydralazine-induced renin release.

Abstract The role of the β-adrenergic nervous and prostaglandin systems in vasodilator-induced activation of the renin-angiotensin system was studied in conscious rats. The plasma renin activity (PRA) response to intravenous hydralazine (0.25, 0.5 and 1 mg/kg body wt.) was compared to the PRA response following administration of similar doses of hydralazine to rats pretreated with either indomethacin (3 mg/kg body wt. i.v.) or indomethacin and propranolol (1 mg/kg body wt. i.v.). PRA increased significantly above control levels after each of the hydralazine doses. In rats pretreated with indomethacin, PRA did not increase with the 0.25 mg/kg dose of hydralazine; increased significantly with the 0.5 mg/kg dose but remained significantly lower than the PRA response in the absence of indomethacin; and increased with the 1 mg/kg dose to a level not significantly different from PRA in rats receiving only hydralazine. When rats were pretreated with indomethacin and propranolol, PRA did not increase significantly in response to either the 0.25 or 0.5 mg/kg doses of hydralazine. Although a statistically significant increase in PRA was noted with the 1 mg/kg dose of hydralazine, the level of PRA achieved was very low and only 15% of that observed with the other two treatment regimens (i.e., hydralazine alone or indomethacin and hydralazine). These results demonstrate that vasodilator-induced renin release is only partially mediated via the prostaglandin system, that the degree of this control is related to the intensity of vasodilator stimulus and that renin release following administration of hydralazine can be attributed almost entirely to activation of the β-adrenergic nervous and prostaglandin systems.
Collaborator Status, Subject Characteristics, and Conformity in the Asch Paradigm

Summary In an investigation of the level of laboratory conformity, it was hypothesized that (a) externals would conform at higher levels than internals and (b) Ss would conform more to high status collaborators than to peers. A total of 40 undergraduates, 20 male and 20 female, participated. The procedures were those of a modified Asch conformity study. The Ss completed Rotter's Locus of Control scale independently of the experimental procedure. Subsequently, collaborator status was manipulated to create high and low status conditions. The experimental results support hypotheses relating locus of control and status of the collaborators to conformity. A significant interaction effect between sex and status of collaborators suggests that status was a more salient variable for males.
Delay analysis of multihop cognitive radio networks using network of virtual priority queues

In this paper, we characterize the average end-to-end delay and maximum achievable per-node throughput in an opportunistic secondary cognitive radio network co-existing with a primary network where both networks consist of static nodes that use random medium access schemes. Assuming an ideal sensing mechanism, we first model the secondary network as a two-class priority queuing network and use queuing approximation techniques to obtain a set of relations involving the mean and second moments of the inter-arrival time and service-time of packets at a secondary node. Then, utilizing these parameters in an equivalent open G/G/1 queuing network, we obtain closed form expressions for average end-to-end delay of a packet in the secondary network and the maximum achievable throughput of a secondary node. The results are validated against extensive simulations.
Using closed captions to train activity recognizers that improve video retrieval

Recognizing activities in real-world videos is a difficult problem exacerbated by background clutter, changes in camera angle & zoom, rapid camera movements etc. Large corpora of labeled videos can be used to train automated activity recognition systems, but this requires expensive human labor and time. This paper explores how closed captions that naturally accompany many videos can act as weak supervision that allows automatically collecting `labeled' data for activity recognition. We show that such an approach can improve activity retrieval in soccer videos. Our system requires no manual labeling of video clips and needs minimal human supervision. We also present a novel caption classifier that uses additional linguistic information to determine whether a specific comment refers to an on-going activity. We demonstrate that combining linguistic analysis and automatically trained activity recognizers can significantly improve the precision of video retrieval.
Noise-robust dynamic time warping using PLCA features

Conventional speech features, such as mel-frequency cepstral coefficients, tend to perform well in template matching systems, such as dynamic time warping, in low noise conditions. However, they tend to degrade in noisy environments. We propose a method of calculating features using the probabilistic latent component analysis (PLCA) framework. This framework models the speech and noise separately, leading to higher performance in noisy conditions than conventional methods. In this work, we compare our PLCA-based features with conventional features on the task of aligning a high-fidelity speech recording to a noisy speech recording, a scenario common in automatic dialogue replacement.
An experimental investigation of a highly accelerated turbulent boundary layer

A canonical flat-plate turbulent boundary layer with Re θ = 4590 is exposed to a favourable mean streamwise pressure gradient sufficient to cause relaminarization. The favourable pressure gradient is generated by a linear contraction, yielding a peak value of the acceleration parameter of K = 4.4 × 10 −6 which is sustained for approximately 13 local boundary layer thicknesses. The relaminarization process is characterized by an extensive series of mean flow and turbulence measurements obtained at several representative streamwise locations. In anticipation of the loss of standard log-law behaviour, the local wall shear stress is directly measured using the oil-film interferometry technique. Mean flow measurements show a systematic variation in the Karman and additive constants with applied streamwise strain rate. The series of measurements also indicate an apparent decoupling of the outer and near-wall regions of the accelerating boundary layer. In accord with this, conditional measurements show that fourth-quadrant sweep events are virtually eliminated, while much less frequent but larger-amplitude near-wall second-quadrant ejection events remain. The reduction in fourth-quadrant sweep events is matched by an observed increase in near-wall third-quadrant events. The consequent reduction in near-wall Reynolds stress correlation and associated cross-stream momentum transport results in a large reduction in c f for the relaminarized flow.
The interaction of monofluorofumarate with adenylosuccinate lyase.

AbstractMonofluorofumarate was tested as an alternate substrate and inhibitor for adenylosuccinate lyase. Mono-fluorofumarate was found to be a slow reacting substrate when either AMP or AICAR (5-aminoimidazole 4-carboxamide ribonucleotide) were used as substrate acceptor molecules at pH 7.5. There was no indication that monofluorofumarate could induce the inactivation of adenylosuccinate lyase. The initial reaction product when monofluorofumarate was incubated with AMP in the presence of adenylosuccinate lyase has been determined to be 2-fluoro-adenylosuccinate. This molecule lost HF spontaneously, and the subsequent intermediate was rapidly hydrolyzed to oxalacetate and AMP. A similar reaction scheme was also observed when AICAR was utilized as a cosubstrate with monofluorofumarate. The initial reaction rate when 1.0 mM monofluorofumarate and 1.0 mM AMP were used as substrates with adenylosuccinate lyase was only 1.4% of the rate when 1.0 mM fumarate was used. AICAR (1.0 mM) was found to react with mono...
House-fire and drowning deaths among children and young adults

House fires and drownings remain frequent causes of pediatric and young adult mortality and morbidity, yet have received less attention than other causes of injury to the young. To investigate the gender, racial and socio-economic components of these problems, as well as the contribution of chronic disabilities, all deaths in a single state over a 7-year period in the birth through 24-year-old population were studied. Females and males overall had no appreciable differences in house-fire mortality. Females from birth through age 4 were more at risk, however, than older females of dying in house fires, but did not appear at more risk than males of the same age. Nonwhite males under age 4 were much more at risk than white males. Nonwhite females compared similarly to white females, both in the birth through 4-year age range, as well as in the overall population studied. Males had more drowning deaths overall than females, with most of the difference attributable to a large male predominance in the 15- through 24-year age group. Furthermore, males in this age group were much more likely to drown than were younger males. Both males and females in this age group were at particular risk if they had a past history of seizures. No other gender or racial differences could be determined, either in the overall population or in the separate age groups, except in victims greater than 4 years of age many more deaths were found in the lower three socio-economic quintiles than in the higher two.
Drug Development and Nonclinical to Clinical Translational Databases Past and Current Efforts

The International Consortium for Innovation and Quality (IQ) in Pharmaceutical Development is a science-focused organization of pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies. The mission of the Preclinical Safety Leadership Group (DruSafe) of the IQ is to advance science-based standards for nonclinical development of pharmaceutical products and to promote high-quality and effective nonclinical safety testing that can enable human risk assessment. DruSafe is creating an industry-wide database to determine the accuracy with which the interpretation of nonclinical safety assessments in animal models correctly predicts human risk in the early clinical development of biopharmaceuticals. This initiative aligns with the 2011 Food and Drug Administration strategic plan to advance regulatory science and modernize toxicology to enhance product safety. Although similar in concept to the initial industry-wide concordance data set conducted by International Life Sciences Institute's Health and Environmental Sciences Institute (HESI/ILSI), the DruSafe database will proactively track concordance, include exposure data and large and small molecules, and will continue to expand with longer duration nonclinical and clinical study comparisons. The output from this work will help identify actual human and animal adverse event data to define both the reliability and the potential limitations of nonclinical data and testing paradigms in predicting human safety in phase 1 clinical trials.