cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Hormone-stimulated cyclic AMP production by skin fibroblasts cultured from healthy persons and patients with cystic fibrosis.

Summary: The experiments reported here illustrate a few of the factors apart from genes which can influence hormone-responsive generation of cyclic adenosine 3′:5′-monophosphate in human fibroblasts. For both normal and cystic fibrosis fibroblasts, the isoproterenol stimulation ratio was maximal 2 to 3 days after subculture and declined thereafter; prostaglandin E1 stimulation ratio was maximal 7 to 10 days after subculture, Cells dislodged from the plate by either scraping or trypsinization had reduced isoproterenol or prostaglandin E1 stimulation ratios compared to cells studied in situ. Fibroblasts from healthy controls and cystic fibrosis patients plated simultaneously and grown in three different culture conditions responded similarly to the change in growth conditions. Addition to the incubation medium of polyamines, calcium, magnesium, or guanosine triphosphate did not alter the stimulation ratios for isoproterenol or prostaglandin E1. Repeated measures analysis indicates that cellular content of cyclic adenosine 3′:5′-monophosphate is not a reliable measure for comparing cell lines; isoproterenol stimulation ratio is a reliable measure, but there is large variation from cell line to cell line. Isoproterenol stimulation ratio was the same for normal and cystic fibrosis fibroblasts in each of the three culture conditions tested at both three and ten days after subculture.
“Somebody Who Was on My Side”: A Qualitative Examination of Youth Initiated Mentoring

Youth initiated mentoring (YIM) is an innovative approach to mentoring being implemented by the National Guard Youth ChalleNGe Program in which youth identify and select their mentors. There is great interest in this approach; however, there has been little study of YIM or its implementation in ChalleNGe. Retrospective in-depth qualitative interviews with former ChalleNGe participants (n = 30) were conducted to gain a descriptive understanding of the mentor selection process, the role these relationships played in participants' experiences of the ChalleNGe program and in their lives more generally, and the nature and strength of these connections. FINDINGS indicate that youth were able to successfully enlist the participation of mentors and YIM yielded enduring and emotionally supportive relationships. That the adults came from within their communities was viewed by these participants as having expedited the development of feelings of trust and contributed to the relevancy and meaningfulness of the guidance and advice offered. Language: en
High resolution MALDI-TOF mass spectra of three proteins obtained using space—velocity correlation focusing

Abstract Mass spectra of cytochrome-c, lysozyme and trypsinogen are recorded using a compact linear time-of-flight instrument with a matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization source. Space—velocity correlation focusing is employed to reduce observed ion time-of-flight peak widths to nearly the limits established by each ion's isotope distribution. Mass resolution of up to 1700 is achieved. Evidence of metastable decay in the field-free flight region is also presented.
Model of the strong couplings

An attempt is made to construct a crude field theory of hyperons and K particles, which are assumed to have spin ½ and spin 0, respectively. The parity of Λ is defined to be plus. Some preliminary experimental evidence is adduced in support of parity plus for Σ. It is further argued that Λ and Σ are coupled to π with roughly the same coupling constant as in the π-N case, while the coupling of K to baryons is weaker. A model of the strong couplings is suggested that incorporates these features. The very strong (VS) pion interactions are completely symmetrical in the baryons, and would leave them all degenerate in the absence of the moderately strong (MS) interactions of K. These last lead to the mass differences among baryons and to the production and absorption of K particles. The MS coupling constants must be determined by experiment, but the VS interactions are exactly specified. With the MS couplings treated in lowest approximation, it is possible to relate any matrix element for K and hyperon reactions to a corresponding matrix element in the theory of nucleons and pions. Thus in the processes K+p→π+Λ and K+p→π+Σ it is expected that in the final state the analog of the (3/2, 3/2) resonance of the π-N system will be observed. It may be, as Wigner has suggested, that the equality of pion couplings for the baryons is somehow related to the conservation of baryons, and that the analogy with electromagnetic coupling is instructive.
Use of landscape and land use parameters for classification and characterization of watersheds in the mid-Atlantic across five physiographic provinces

The Atlantic Slope Consortium (ASC) is a project designed to develop and test a set of indicators in coastal systems that are ecologically appropriate, economically reasonable, and relevant to society. The suite of indicators will produce integrated assessments of the condition, health and sustainability of aquatic ecosystems based on ecological and socioeconomic information compiled at the scale of estuarine segments and small watersheds. The research mandate of the ASC project is the following: Using a universe of watersheds, covering a range of social choices, we ask two questions: As a basis for compiling ecological indicators, a watershed classification system was required for the experimental design. The goal was to develop approximately five categories of watersheds for each physiographic province, utilizing landscape and land use parameters that would be predictive of aquatic resource condition. All 14-digit Hydrologic Unit Code (HUC) watersheds in the Mid-Atlantic region would then be classified according to the regime. Five parameters were utilized for the classification: three land cover categories, consisting of forested, agricultural, and urban, median slope or median elevation, and total variance of land covers in 1-km-radius circles positioned on all stream convergence points in a specified 14-digit␣HUC watershed. Cluster analysis utilizing these five parameters resulted in approximately five well-defined watershed classes per physiographic province. The distribution of all watersheds in the Mid-Atlantic region across these categories provides a unique report on the probable condition of watersheds in the region.
A new beam position monitor for X-ray synchrotron radiation facilities

Abstract We present here a simple device which can detect one-dimensional beam mition over a large range, with a spatial resolution of a fraction of a percent of its range, a time resolution of a few seconds, and good long-term stability. Its resolution is statistically limited, and could be improved by careful detector design.
A note on connectedness in fixed effects manova and gmanova models withmissing cells

Murray and Smith (1985) and Hocking (1985) give a generalized definition and test of connectedness in the case of missing cells using the univariate cell-means model with linear restrictions on the cell-means. The test of connectedness is here extended to multivariate fixed effects models, including the usual MANOVA model with linear restrictions, the MANOVA model with double linear restrictions, and the GMANOVA model.
National Geographic unplugged: classroom-centered design of interactive nature films

Designing computer-based learning environments must account for the context in which activity occurs, the tasks that students perform, and the tools that facilitate these tasks. When designing for school use, it is also crucial to consider how the software will be integrated into the organization of the classroom workplace and how teacher practices influence the adoption and success of interactive learning environments. This paper discusses our experiences in designing and deploying an interactive video tool to high school classrooms. We stress a classroom-centered design that tries to integrate usable software with interactions that occur “outside of the box” to alter traditional school learning.
The spark chamber as a detector of fission fragments

Abstract The usefulness of a corona type spark chamber for the detection of fission fragments in the presence of a very high alpha particle background has been investigated. It was found that the ratio of detection efficiency for fission fragments compared to alpha particles can be made as large as 3 × 10 7 or better while retaining an efficiency of about 30% for fission fragments. The use of the detector in photon and neutron induced fission experiments is discussed.
Conservation Planning for Amphibian Species with Complex Habitat Requirements: A Case Study Using Movements and Habitat Selection of the Wood Frog Rana Sylvatica

Conservation of fauna breeding in vernal pools is challenging given their complex life histories. Many species, including the widespread North American Wood Frog (Rana sylvatica), require both aquatic and terrestrial habitat, yet insufficient information exists about movements between these environments, nor fine-scale selection patterns within them. To inform conservation planning, we conducted a radio-telemetry study of seasonal patterns of Wood Frog movements and habitat selection in southern Maine. Forty-three frogs were tracked an average of 25.6 days each, April to November 2003. In early spring, Wood Frogs generally selected damp leaf litter retreats on the margins of breeding pools. Following breeding, frogs selected forested wetlands (9.3% of the landscape) over forested uplands (90.7% of the landscape) in 75.3% of radio locations (N = 544). Postbreeding movements from breeding pools to nearby, closed-canopy, forested wetlands ranged from 102-340 m (median 169m, N = 8) and included stopovers in upland forest floors ranging from one to 17 days (median two days, N = 7). Summer refugia were characterized by shady, moist (nonaquatic), and sphagnum-dominated microhabitats. In urbanizing areas, we recommend a shift from a core-habitat conservation model to a spatially explicit approach that considers pool-breeding amphibian habitat as a network of migration-connected habitat elements (e.g., breeding pools, upland forest, nearby forested wetlands). In our study, this approach reduced the amount of land potentially requiring protection by > 2/3 from that of core habitat models. With the rapid dissemination of GIS technology, spatially explicit planning for pool-breeding amphibians is increasingly feasible.
Analysis of amphetamine effects on agonistic and affiliative behavior in squirrel monkeys (Saimiri sciureus).

Two series of experiments were performed to differentiate the effects of d-amphetamine on social interactions from those on solitary motor behavior in adult and juvenile squirrel monkeys. In the first experiment, d-amphetamine (3 x 0.5 mg/kg, PO) induced pronounced stereotyped movements of the head, limbs and torso. When confronted in the colony room with an intruder monkey, the amphetamine-treated resident monkey showed reduced threat and attack behavior. In a separate test for affiliation, amphetamine nearly abolished the affiliative response toward a familiar group member. In a second series of experiments, d-amphetamine (0.3, 1.0 mg/kg, IM) decreased the affiliative behavior of juvenile monkeys towards their mothers; yet, in the presence of an unfamiliar adult male, the detrimental effect of amphetamine on affiliative behavior was prevented. Morphine (0.5, 2.0 mg/kg) increased the affiliative response toward the mother, and chlordiazepoxide (5, 10 mg/kg) was without effect in this stiuation. These observations suggest that amphetamine impairs a range of social behavior in adult and juvenile monkeys. The general disruption of agonistic and affiliative behaviors due to amphetamine appears to be based on mechanisms which differ from those mediating stereotyped movements. Stimulant-induced changes in social interactions in primates may be linked to disturbed affect.
Resilience is not the Absence of PTSD any More than Health is the Absence of Disease

Resilience may mean different things to different researchers and practitioners in psychology and public health: A process, an outcome, a dynamic steady state in the face of adversity, and defiance of risk/vulnerability are among the variety of understandings of the concept that are extant. This article summarizes the results of a systematic review of the literature on definitions and measurements of resilience. It is evident that resilience is more than the absence of “posttraumatic stress disorder,” just as health (and indeed mental health) is more than the absence of disease (or mental/behavioral disorder). A multidimensional construct, resilience a requires a multimethod and multilevel study design that combines both qualitative and quantitative techniques to be examined satisfactorily. Seven selected studies are discussed in detail, highlighting examples that offer a fuller understanding of resilience in its sociocultural and ecological context.
Practical Approaches To Construct RS-HDMR Component Functions

A general set of quantitative model assessment and analysis tools, termed high-dimensional model representations (HDMR), has been introduced recently for improving the efficiency of deducing high-dimensional input−output system behavior. HDMR is a particular family of representations where each term in the representation reflects the independent and cooperative contributions of the inputs upon the output. When data are randomly sampled, a RS (random sampling)-HDMR can be constructed. To reduce the sampling effort, different analytical basis functions, such as orthonormal polynomials, cubic B splines, and polynomials may be employed to approximate the RS-HDMR component functions. Only one set of random input−output samples is necessary to determine all the RS-HDMR component functions, and a few hundred samples may give a satisfactory approximation, regardless of the dimension of the input variable space. It is shown in an example that judicious use of orthonormal polynomials can provide a sampling saving o...
HPLC analysis of aliphatic and aromatic dicarboxylic acid cross-linkers hydrolyzed from carbohydrate polyesters for estimation of the molar degree of substitution

Quantitative analysis of carboxylic acids in hydrophilic matrixes remains a challenge despite the introduction of derivatization reagents for carboxylic acids nearly three decades ago. Analysis of many bifunctional ester forming polymer cross-linkers are additionally complicated by the their amphiphatic character. We report a sensitive and selective HPLC method to quantify organic dicarboxylic acids resulting from the hydrolytic degradation of cross-linked carbohydrate polyesters. An important group of cross-linkers encompassing C7–C10 aromatic and non-chromophoric aliphatic diacid chlorides were investigated. Specific validation is reported for terephthalic acid, diethylmalonic acid and sebacic acid. Linear calibration curves were obtained in the 0.5–15.0 mg/ml range corresponding to a mass fraction of 0.05–1.5% diacid to polyester. The accuracy and precision in this range was 94.4–114.1 and 6.1–24.8% RSD, respectively. This method is suitable for the routine determination of the molar or mass degree of substitution in carbohydrate polyesters. q 2004 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
Word Recognition Functions for the CID W-22 Test in Multitalker Noise for Normally Hearing and Hearing-Impaired Subjects

Word recognition functions for Auditee recordings of the CID W-22 stimuli in multitalker noise were obtained using subjects with normal hearing and with mild-to-moderate sensorineural hearing loss....
Recovery and Relapse in Adolescents with Bipolar Affective Illness: A Five-Year Naturalistic, Prospective Follow-up

ABSTRACT Objective This study was a 5-year naturalistic prospective follow-up of 54 consecutive admissions of adolescents to a university inpatient service with a diagnosis of bipolar I affective illness. Method Subjects received structured clinical evaluations every 6 months after entry to establish time to recovery and subsequent relapse. Regression models were used to identify predictors of differential course. Results Rate of recovery varied by polarity of episode at time of entry, with quick recovery observed in subjects with pure mania or mixed states, and a protracted index episode in subjects with pure depression. Multiple relapses were most often seen in subjects with mixed or cycling episodes at intake. Conclusions Polarity of illness may have utility in identifying bipolar adolescents with a more recurrent illness. Comparison with adult data suggests that recurrence risks may vary as a function of age at onset or stage of the disease process J. Am. Acad. Child Adolesc Psychiatry, 1995, 34, 6:724–731.
Electrical and behavioral courtship displays in the mormyrid fish Brienomyrus brachyistius.

Mormyrid electric fish rely on the waveform of their electric organ discharges (EODs) for communicating species, sex, and social status, while they use the sequences of pulse intervals (SPIs) for communicating rapidly changing behavioral states and motivation. Little is known of electric signaling during courtship behavior because of two major difficulties: (1) the fish are not easily bred in captivity and (2) there is no reliable means of separating electric signals from several individuals in natural communication settings. Through simulating artificial rain conditions, we have successfully induced courtship and succeeded in breeding a mormyrid electric fish ( Brienomyrus brachyistius ) in the laboratory. We have also developed a system of video recording and editing combined with cross correlation analysis to precisely record and view behavior and separate EODs from two individuals in non-breeding and breeding contexts. Knowing the electrical and motor patterns during courtship allows for further exploration of topics such as mate choice and neural basis of pattern generation in these fish. Here we describe nine common motor displays and 11 SPIs. Analysis of frequency of occurrences suggests that some SPI patterns are sex and season specific. We also observed electrical duetting called \`rasp matching' during courtship signaling among pairs; males and females exchange \`rasps' and `bursts', respectively, in alternation. Our study employs new techniques to separate and document SPIs in the context of courtship. We show that some SPIs correlate with specific behavioral acts around the time of spawning.
Methodological Individualism and Marxism

Recent years have witnessed an increasing number of attempts to reconstruct Marxian theory in forms that can be assessed by reference to currently received standards in various disciplines (economics and “analytic” philosophy, for example). The work has even been said to establish a new paradigm: “analytical Marxism.” One doesn't have to endorse this claim to recognize a good deal of merit in the work. Through creative application of state-of-the-art methods to traditional Marxian issues, researchers have promoted productive cross-fertilization with non-Marxian programs and have revealed many problems that must be resolved for fruitful development of Marxian theory. Marx's work can be relevant to today's problems only if it is examined from vantage points provided by subsequent scientific and philosophical achievements. Moreover, critical engagement with the best science of the day has been an essential part of the Marxian theoretical project from the beginning.
Reflex Control of Abdominal Flexor Muscles in the Crayfish

1. The flexor musculature of the crayfish abdomen is divided into two systems: a set of tonic superficial muscles, and a complex series of massive flexor muscles that produce powerful twitches but never exhibit tonic contractions. The muscle types are histologically differentiated, and also separately innervated: the main flexors receive ten large motor axons, and the slow superficial muscles six smaller ones. 2. Fibres of the main flexor muscles studied are almost all triply innervated; each receives endings from ( a ) the ‘motor giant’ axon, ( b ) one of several specific non-giant motor axons, and ( c ) a common inhibitor. 3. Excitatory junctional potentials (e.j.p.s) due to motor giant and non-giant axons are similar and large; each may trigger secondary, active ‘spikes’, thus often producing post-junctional responses of 100 mV. or more. The responses differ in that the motor giant e.j.p. shows a dramatic decrease upon repetitive stimulation, whereas that due to non-giant motor axons exhibits some facilitation. 4. Activity in the central giant fibres drives both motor axons. The response to both, when the motor giant system is fully rested, is slightly larger than that to either alone; when activated by stimulation of the central giant fibre the junctional potentials are evoked asynchronously due to differences in central reflex time, and double spiking in the muscle fibres sometimes results. Upon repeated stimulation the response to the giant is reduced to a very low level; this is accompanied by a decrease in the tension developed in successive reflexly evoked twitches. The motor giant system thus apparently functions to provide additional tension for the first few ‘flips’ in a series of swimming movements during escape. 5. Impulses in the inhibitor axon, even at the optimal interval, reduce the amplitude of excitatory post-junctional potentials by only a small amount; their effect in shortening duration is more notable. It is postulated that the peripheral inhibitor functions to cut short excitatory depolarizations and hence to terminate lingering tension that might oppose subsequent reflex actions.
Respiratory Gas Tensions in Tissues and Fluids of the Male Rat Reproductive Tract

Micro oxygen electrodes were used to measure P02 gradients in rat testes and reproductive tracts. P02 (mean mm Hg ± SD) in 14 rats was 15.2 ± 3.5 in interstitial tissue, 12.1 ± 3.3 in tubular lumina, 18.1 ± 5.4 in rete testes, 23.2 ± 2.5 and 24.3 ± 1.3, respectively, in caput and cauda epididymides and 23.1 ± 3.6 in vasa deferentia. Mean testicular vein (TV) P02 in six similarly anesthetized rats was 31.3 ± 10.6 mm Hg. In 12 conscious rats with a mean testicular blood flow of 25.5 ± 7.0 ml/100 g/min, blood P02 was 86.6 ± 4.7 and 53.4 ± 8.5 mm Hg for femoral artery (FA) and TV blood, respectively, yielding estimates for oxygen uptake of 116-148 p2 0�/100 mg of testis tissue/h. In five rats (testicular blood flow 19.8 ± 4.8 ml/100 g/min) the blood CO2 content was 38.6 ± 5.9 and 48.3 ± 2.9 ml/100 ml blood for FA and TV, respectively, yielding a CO2 production rate of 114 ± 57 p2/100 mg testis tissue/h.
Impact of Multicolored Asian Lady Beetles on the sensory properties of Concord and Niagara grape juice.

ABSTRACT: The presence of Multicolored Asian Lady Beetles (MALB) in grape juice is increasingly problematic. The overall objective of this study was to determine the specific sensory impacts of MALB on Concord and Niagara grape juice. The aroma threshold for MALB-taint in both juices was determined and expressed as the best estimate threshold (BET). The aroma BET for MALB-taint in Concord grape juice was 1.8 and 0.65 MALB/L Niagara grape juice. The specific sensory attributes of the grape juices influenced by the presence of MALB were then described. In Concord grape juice, trained panelists (n = 9) found significant increases in vegetal aroma and earthy flavor as MALB concentration increased from 0.45 to 7.2 MALB/L. In Niagara grape juice, with increasing MALB concentration, trained panelists (n = 8) indicated significant decreases in honey and sweetness with corresponding increases in sourness, astringency, and vegetal and earthy aromas and flavors (P < 0.05). For both aroma and flavor, consumer rejection studies were performed using paired preference comparisons of control juice to MALB-tainted grape juice. For Concord grape juice, consumers (n = 60) rejected the aroma of MALB-tainted juice at 1.8 MALB/L and the taste/flavor of the MALB-tainted juice at 3.6 MALB/L. For Niagara juice, consumers rejected the aroma of the juice at 3.6 MALB/L. This study demonstrated the presence of MALB negatively impacts the sensory properties of Concord and Niagara grape juice. Grape juice processors may use this research for quality control measures and for establishing tolerance limits. Practical Application: The Multicolored Asian Ladybeetle (MALB), initially used for biocontrol, has been shown in previous literature to impact the sensory properties of wines. The presence of MALB in grape juice is now becoming problematic; however, there is little research describing the specific sensory impacts of MALB on grape juice. This study examined the sensory impact of MALB on both Concord and Niagara grape juice. While the threshold and trained panel evaluations from this study provide valuable sensory profile information, grape juice processors may be particularly interested in the consumer rejection of MALB-tainted grape juice as they can use this research for quality control measures and for establishing tolerance limits.
Object-oriented database management support for software maintenance and reverse engineering

Object-oriented database management system technology provides a set of capabilities which are required by computer integrated software engineering systems. The authors' objective is to take advantage of this technology and develop computer integrated software engineering systems that support complete user-defined life cycles with uniform interface and logically centralized database support. They have built tools to generate object-oriented databases that represent the syntax and some of the semantics of programs. These tools are being used to develop a software-maintenance and reverse-engineering system. The authors present an overview of their prototype system and tools. >
A protocol for the isolation of carotid and vertebral arteries in MR angiography.

MR angiography [1 - 9] is rapidly becoming a technique to evaluate blood flow in the carotid and vertebral arteries. We have been using a time-of-flight pulse sequence [9] to acquire axial images of carotid and vertebral arteries with flow-en­ coded information. These axial images can be reformatted through a computer algorithm to give multiple angle presen­ tations of the collected data in sagittal or coronal planes. We found that many of the reconstructed images were difficult to interpret because of overlap of right and left ver­ tebral and carotid arteries (Fig . 1 ). Presented here is a protocol for optimizing the information obtained in the time-of-flight images. All of the angiograms were obtained on a clinical 1 .5-T system.* Studies of the carotid artery bifurcations were per­ formed with the standard linear head coil , which was used for both excitation and detection. The region of interest (the carotid bifurcation) was located with multiple-view angle , phase-contrast MR angiograms [4]. A series of 128 axial time-of-flight images was then obtained with superior satu­ ration to suppress venous flow. Standard acquisition param­ eters were: 16-cm field of view, 12-cm slab, one excitation, 128 x 256 matrix, and 20° flip angle. The problem of arterial overlap was solved in a straightfor­ ward manner. The 128 axial images were reduced to 64 to 80 consecutive images centered in the excitation slab. The right arteries were isolated by using a circular mask that included only the right carotid and vertebral in the reformatting of the axial images. The positions of the axes of rotation and the circular masks used in the processing are shown in Figure 2. A series of 31 images was produced with views of the vessels at 6° increments through 180°. The analogous pro­ cedure was performed to isolate and image the left arteries. One side benefit of this procedure is that any two consecutive reformatted images of the series can be presented as ste­ reoscopic pairs (Fig. 3). The two sets of images of the right and left arteries are automatically centered by the reformatting process. There
Diffusion of classical waves in random media with microstructure resonances

The diffusion constant of classical waves propagating in random media with microstructure resonances is obtained. Renormalizations of D that are due to expansions in transferred momentum q and frequency ω in the Bethe–Salpeter equation are taken into account. The diffusion constant is estimated for scalar waves propagating in the medium with randomly distributed dielectric spheres with the use of the nondiagonal off-shell transition matrix for penetrable scatterers. A detailed comparison of different sources of renormalization is made. Differences between previous calculations based on the on-shell scattering matrix and new results implementing the off-shell scattering matrix are discussed.
Involving suppliers in product development in the United States and Japan: evidence for set-based concurrent engineering

Concurrent engineering (CE) involves a widely recognized revolution in the social organization of product development and a corresponding revolution in the underlying paradigm of design. We distinguish between two paradigms-point-based design and set-based design-and argue that effective, truly concurrent design requires shifting to a paradigm where design team members reason and communicate about sets of designs which we call "set-based concurrent engineering". A survey of 92 Japanese and 119 US automotive parts suppliers who design their own products sought to quantify the pervasiveness and correlates of "set-based approaches". The survey evidence indicates that set-based design communication is more prevalent among Japanese than among US parts suppliers, and is correlated with certain product development characteristics including years of experience with early involvement of suppliers in design, the degree of product-process design overlap, the degree to which subsystems are interdependent, and the use of quality function deployment (QFD).
Long-Term Survival of the Entomopathogenic Nematode Heterorhabditis marelatus

Entomopathogenic nematodes are important biological control agents for a variety of soil- and litter-dwelling insect pests. A major drawback to their use against pest species is their low level of persistence in many agricultural systems. While a number of studies have examined the persistence of these biological control agents over periods of days and/or weeks, the longer-term survival of these nematodes has received less attention. We report the results of a year-long Þeld experiment testing the long-term survival of infective juveniles (IJs) of the entomopathogenic nematode Heterorhabditis marelatus (Liu and Berry), under a range of initial densities. We buried mesh-covered tubes containing raw Þeld soil with varying densities of H. marelatus IJs in a coastal prairie containing naturally occurring populations of this nematode and then destructively sampled subsets of the tubes for nematode presence Þve times over 1 yr. H. marelatus IJs lived a surprisingly long time in the absence of prey: some nematodes from the initial cohort were viable after a year in the Þeld. Survival over the year-long course of the experiment was independent of the starting IJ density, suggesting that H. marelatus does not aggregate at high densities to reduce desiccation risk. Our results highlight the fact that IJs vary greatly in their long-term survival; selecting entomopatho- genic nematode isolates for persistence as well as virulence could enhance this biological control agentOs long-term effectiveness in agricultural systems.
Anxiety and expectancy violations: Neural response to false feedback is exaggerated in worriers

This study investigated how individual differences in anxiety modulate the neural response to errors and performance feedback. The design included false feedback on some trials in order to test the hypothesis that anxious people show stronger neural reactions to feedback that is worse than expected. Participants completed a trial-and-error learning task that required learning the correct key to press in response to face images. EEG was recorded during the task, and the response-locked error-related negativity (ERN) and feedback-locked ERN were computed to measure neural responses to error commission and feedback. As expected, errors produced a response-locked ERN and false feedback produced a feedback-locked ERN in the group as a whole. High levels of trait worry predicted a disproportionately larger ERN following false feedback, but did not predict the magnitude of the response-locked ERN following errors. These results imply that worry-prone people react more strongly to violations of expectations, rath...
Influence of neurohumoral blockade on heart rate and blood pressure responses to haemorrhage in isoflurane anaesthetized rats

Four groups of Sprague-Dawley rats were anaesthetized with isoflurane (ISO) (1.7% end-tidal concentration) in 40% oxygen, and mechanically ventilated. The animals were bled 15 mL kg-1 b.w. from the femoral vein over 10 min, followed by an observation period of 30 min. Ten minutes before haemorrhage each group of animals was pre-treated with intravenous injection/infusion of either: isotonic saline (Group B; CON; n=7), vasopressin V1-receptor antagonist [d(CH2)5Tyr(Me)AVP; 10 microg kg-1] (Group C; AVP-a; n=7), the non-selective angiotensin II receptor antagonist saralasin (10 microg kg-1 min-1) (Group D; SAR; n=7) or hexamethonium (10 mg kg-1) (Group E; HEX; n=7). A separate group of conscious animals were pre-treated with isotonic NaCl and subjected to the same haemorrhage protocol (Group A; AW; n=7). Mean arterial pressure (MAP), heart rate (HR) and blood gases were observed during the experiments. Only pre-treatment with SAR and HEX reduced MAP significantly. The pre-haemorrhage HR was only affected by HEX, which caused a reduction by 17%. The HR was significantly lower at the end of haemorrhage compared with pre-haemorrhage levels in all groups except that group treated with HEX. In that group the HR changed in the opposite direction. The ability to maintain MAP during haemorrhage, and the post-haemorrhage period, was significantly impaired in the groups treated with AVP-a, SAR or HEX compared with the group receiving NaCl. It is concluded that autonomic nervous activity is of major importance for the maintenance of MAP during isoflurane anaesthesia, whereas circulating angiotensin II and vasopressin levels contribute to a much smaller degree in this regard. General anaesthesia in combination with different degrees of neurohumoral blockade impairs the haemodynamic responses to blood loss, seen in conscious individuals. The impairment involves both the early and late phases during haemorrhage, as well as the post-bleeding recovery period. All three neurohumoral systems (autonomic nervous activity, angiotensin II and vasopressin) are of importance for regulating MAP during and after haemorrhage, although the autonomic nervous outflow appears to contribute to a larger extent.
Silicon-processed overhanging microgripper

A silicon-processed microgripper, suitable for mounting on a micropositioner, has been designed and fabricated by combining surface and bulk micromachining. The microgripper consists of a silicon die (7 mm*5 mm), a 1.5 mm long support cantilever, made from boron-doped silicon substrate material (protruding from the die), and a 400 mu m long polysilicon overhanging gripper extending from the end of the support cantilever. The microgripper is electrostatically driven by flexible, interdigitated comb pairs and has significantly smaller feature sizes than have been reported previously for overhanging microstructures. Problems addressed successfully in the microgripper fabrication include the protection of surface-micromachined fine structures during bulk-silicon etching and rinsing. The microgripper has successfully seized several microscopic objects in laboratory experiments. >
Host-Opportunist Interactions in Surgical Infection

The advances in general medical management and surgical care that have been made over the past half century have decreased morbidity in a broad range of surgical patients and have favorably influenced mortality, often in terms of length of survival rather than ultimate salvage. This specific, at times limited, medical progress may only be evident when at-risk groups are appropriately stratified, eg, the increased overall survival of patients with burns of 60% or less of the total body surface as contrasted with the prolongation of hospital stay but unchanged mortality of patients with larger burns 1 (Table 1), and the increased immediate survival of patients with mechanical trauma overall as contrasted with the persistent late mortality of severely injured patients after resuscitation. 2 The same partial success of initial surgical treatment coupled with intractable late mortality in critically injured and seriously ill patients is evident in transplant recipients and patients
Reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndromes presenting with subarachnoid hemorrhage: a case series

Background and purpose Reversible cerebral vasoconstriction syndromes (RCVS) represent a heterogeneous group of cerebrovascular disease characterized by acute presentations and transient segmental narrowing of the distal intracranial arteries. A series of patients with RCVS were studied to better understand the clinical and imaging characteristics of this rare pathology. Methods A retrospective study was performed on patients that met inclusion criteria for a diagnosis of RCVS. Pertinent clinical and laboratory data, initial and follow-up imaging, treatment and outcomes were studied. Results 11 patients (10 women, mean age 42 years) diagnosed with RCVS presented with acute onset of severe headache, neurological symptoms and subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). Cross sectional imaging (CT/MRI) identified presentations of cortical SAH (n=9) and/or acute infarcts (n=3). Initial cerebral angiography (digital subtraction angiography n=10 or MR angiography n=1) confirmed diffuse vasoconstriction involving the intracranial vasculature. Rheumatological panel (n=9) and CSF analysis (n=8) were not supportive of vasculitis in any patient. In nearly all cases, reversal of vasoconstriction was noted on follow-up cerebral angiography with early resolution in less than 3 months. Conclusions RCVS classically presents with ‘thunderclap’ headaches and neurological symptoms but cortical SAH is not an uncommon presentation with a unique and focal distribution overlying the cerebral sulci. Although the initial clinical and angiographic appearance of RCVS may be confused for vasospasm related to aneurysmal SAH or primary angiitis of the CNS, its clinical, laboratory and imaging features assist in diagnosis.
The Mexican amber anole, Anolis electrum, within a phylogenetic context: implications for the origins of Caribbean anoles

Anoles are well-known examples of adaptive radiation and convergent evolution. Their phylogenetic relationships have been intensely studied, but their fossil record remains fairly poor, limiting our understanding of their evolutionary history. We present new data on Anolis electrum Lazell, 1965, the first discovered fossil anole and sole vertebrate described from Mexican amber, using X-ray computed tomography. We inferred the phylogenetic relationships of A. electrum and comment on its use in estimating the age of Anolis origins, which has significant relevance in explaining the presence of anoles on Caribbean islands. Anolis electrum is represented by two pieces of amber containing parts of the same individual. Partial squamation and skeleton details are well preserved, although only ten characters commonly used in phylogenetic analyses could be scored. The lack of informative characters resulted in A. electrum being inferred in 14 different places within four recognized subclades – Dactyloa, cristatellus series, darlingtoni series, and Norops – one of which corresponds to previously suggested close relationships. Results fail to support a suggested age estimation of 130 Myr for Anolis; consequently, the hypothesis of overwater dispersal as the explanation for the occurrence of anoles on Caribbean islands remains the most robust hypothesis. © 2014 The Linnean Society of London
Experimental perspective on fallback foods and dietary adaptations in early hominins.

The robust jaws and large, thick-enameled molars of the Plio–Pleistocene hominins Australopithecus and Paranthropus have long been interpreted as adaptations for hard-object feeding. Recent studies of dental microwear indicate that only Paranthropus robustus regularly ate hard items, suggesting that the dentognathic anatomy of other australopiths reflects rare, seasonal exploitation of hard fallback foods. Here, we show that hard-object feeding cannot explain the extreme morphology of Paranthropus boisei. Rather, analysis of long-term dietary plasticity in an animal model suggests year-round reliance on tough foods requiring prolonged postcanine processing in P. boisei. Increased consumption of such items may have marked the earlier transition from Ardipithecus to Australopithecus, with routine hard-object feeding in P. robustus representing a novel behaviour.
White-Tailed Deer Management Practices on Private Lands in Arkansas

Development of management plans for white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) requires that states examine how multiple biological and regulatory factors (i.e., season timing, hunting access, bag limits) influence populations. In the southeastern United States, harvest restrictions often exceed state regulations on private lands. Thus, better information regarding harvest management on private lands is needed by wildlife agencies when developing management plans. We received responses from 1,184 white-tailed deer hunting camps registered in the Arkansas Deer Camp Program (DCP) to evaluate management practices used on private lands in Arkansas. We found that 60% of respondents used harvest restrictions in excess of state regulations. Most differences in harvest restrictions were attributed to involvement in Quality Deer Management (QDM) programs. Harvest restrictions also differed by property ownership class and deer management unit (DMU). Hunting camps were more likely to be under QDM when working with Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC) biologists. Camps under QDM were more likely to use restrictions limiting harvest of adult males. Aggregate effects of localized management (e.g., age- and sex-specific harvest) may influence population structure over broad geographic scales. Therefore, comprehensive management planning and evaluation of white-tailed deer harvest regulations must consider the multitude of harvest practices implemented by private land managers. We recommend that state wildlife management agencies conduct population studies to determine impacts of localized harvest restrictions on population dynamics occurring at broader geographic areas.
Short- and long-term effects of developmental corticosterone exposure on avian physiology, behavioral phenotype, cogni- tion, and fitness: A review

A growing body of evidence from across taxa suggests that exposure to elevated levels of glucocorticoids during early development can have long-term effects upon physiological and behavioral phenotypes. Additionally, there is some, though limited, evidence that similar early exposure can also negatively impact cognitive ability. Following pioneering mammalian stud- ies, several avian studies have revealed that the responsiveness of the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis as an adult can be explained by levels of corticosterone, the avian glucocorticoid, the individual experienced as a nestling or even as an embryo via yolk exposure. Studies also suggest that perinatal exposure to corticosterone can have effects upon avian 'personalities' or coping styles, and findings from mammalian studies suggest that these long-term effects are mediated epigenetically via altered expression of relevant DNA sequences. Although a consistent pattern across-species has yet to emerge, recent work in Florida scrub-jays Aphelocoma coerulescens found that baseline corticosterone levels in 11-day-old nestlings explained 84% of the varia- tion in 'personality' (bold vs. timid) when those individuals were tested approximately seven months later. Nestlings with ele- vated corticosterone levels were more timid than those individuals that as nestlings experienced relatively low corticosterone lev- els. Some researchers have suggested that parents might use such mechanisms to 'program' their offsprings' phenotype to best fit prevailing environmental conditions. This review will visit what is known about the links between stressful developmental condi- tions that result in exposure to elevated corticosterone and the short- and long-term effects of this steroid hormone upon central nervous system function and whether alterations thereof are beneficial, deleterious, or neutral. It will concentrate on examples from birds, although critical supporting studies from the mammalian literature will be included as appropriate (Current Zoology 57 (4): 514-530, 2011).
A Curve of Constant Diameter

If C is a closed convex curve and P, P' are two distinct points on C such that the tangents at P and P' are parallel, then the segment PP' is called a diameter of C. If this diameter is of constant length for all such pairs P, P', then C is called a curve of constant diameter. The circle, of course, has this property, but there are also other curves of constant diameter. In fact, any involute of a closed differentiable curve with n cusps having one tangent in every direction is a curve of constant diameter. Furthermore, if this diameter be denoted by d, then the perimeter is S= i-d [1]. As an example let us consider the hypocycloid of three cusps, given by the parametric equations
964 FETAL PROLACTIN (PRL) AND THE RESPIRATORY DISTRESS SYNDROME (RDS)

There is a temporal relationship between plasma PRL, cortisol (F) and pulmonary surfactant production in the fetus. PRL administered to fetal rabbits is reported to increase pulmonary surfactant content. To explore these relationships we have measured PRL in umbilical cord sera from 78 infants of gestational age 28 to 40 weeks. A positive relationship to gestational age was demonstrated. Between 30 and 36 weeks gestation, analysis of covariance of PRL versus gestational age showed that infants who did not develop RDS had significantly higher cord PRL concentrations (p<0.05) than infants who developed RDS. Between 32 and 35.5 weeks the mean ± SEM cord PRL of normal infants (161.8±18.9 ng/ml) is higher (p<0.025) than in those who developed RDS (101.7± 9.5 ng/ml). Growth hormone concentrations in the same samples did not show any relationship to the incidence of RDS. Cord PRL did not correlate with cord F or dehydroepiandrosterone sulphate (DHEAS) concentration. Serum PRL was not suppressed in a second group of 114 infants whose mothers were treated prenatally with betamethasone, but F and DHEAS were. The finding of low cord PRL in infants who develop RDS is consistent with the possibility that PRL may influence fetal lung maturation. To exclude the possibility that this potential association is due to a postulated adrenocorticotropic effect of PRL, we infused ovine PRL (1 mg/day) into fetal sheep for periods of 6 to 8 days in late gestation. No effect on F, DHEAS, or F binding capacity was noted in the fetus.