cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Postmortem stability of mRNA for glucocorticoid and mineralocorticoid receptor in rodent brain.

Abstract The relative postmortem stability of the mRNA's for glucocorticoid (GR) and mineralocorticoid (MR) receptor in rodent brain was determined using semi-quantitative in situ hybridization (ISH). Rats were killed by CO2 asphyxiation and their brains removed immediately (0 h) or following 12 h or 24 h delays. Specific hybridization of GR and MR anti-sense [35S]RNA-probe to tissue mRNA encoding these receptors was detected using film and emulsion autoradiography. The most intense labeling for GR mRNA was in the dentate gyrus followed by the CA1 hippocampal region. Lower, but still detectable signal, was apparent over CA3–CA4 pyramidal cell regions. MR mRNA was detected throughout the CA1-4 pyramidal cell fields of the hippocampus and the granular cells of the dentate gyrus. Film images demonstrated that even in the 24 h postmortem delay group intense specific signal was present in sections hybridized with both anti-sense GR and MR probes, although there was some diminution in signal intensity in cortical areas at this later postmortem delay. These initial experiments with rat brain demonstrate that the mRNA's for both GR and MR, as detected with ISH, are stable for up to 24 h following death.
Temporal stability of vegetation indicators of wetland condition

Abstract Vegetation indices are widely employed to evaluate wetland ecological condition, and are expected to provide sensitive and specific detection of environmental change. Most studies evaluate the performance of condition assessment metrics in the context of the data used to calibrate them. Here we examined the temporal stability of the Florida Wetland Condition Index (FWCI) for vegetation of depressional forested wetlands by resampling sites in 2008 that were previously sampled to develop the FWCI in 2001. Our objective was to determine if FWCI, a composite of six vegetation-based metrics, provides a robust measure of condition given inter-annual variation in environmental conditions (i.e., rainfall) between sampling periods. To that end, we sampled 22 geographically isolated wetlands in north Florida that spanned a wide land use/land cover intensity gradient. Our results suggested the FWCI is robust. We observed no significant paired difference in FWCI across or within land use categories, and the relationship between FWCI in 2001 and 2008 was strong (r2 = 0.88, p
FACTORS DETERMINING AND LIMITING THE GROWTH OF TRANSPLANTED SUPRARENAL CORTICAL TISSUE

In 1932 we reported that the total amount of cortical tissue regenerating in autoplastic transplants of the suprarenal glands in rats is fairly constant for each sex, irrespective of the number of transplanted fragments present (1); furthermore, that neither autoplastic nor homoplastic transplants will grow in the presence of both or either of the rat's own suprarenal glands, or of even a good sized fragment. This limitation of the growth of transplants has been interpreted as another manifestation of Halsted's ‘Law of deficiency,’ namely that an animal cannot maintain a second set of organs which produce an internal secretion when in possession of its own set, and that transplantation of such organs is not successful unless there is a considerable degree of deficiency of the functional tissue in question (2). According to this view, the ‘deficiency’ has been taken to be the factor which determines and limits growth of transplants. We felt the need of a more exact statement of the factors involved and in ...
A phase II study of gemcitabine and capecitabine in advanced cholangiocarcinoma and carcinoma of the gallbladder: a single-institution prospective study.

To determine the clinical benefit response (CBR), time to tumor progression (TTP), overall survival, and effect on quality of life (QOL) of gemcitabine and capecitabine in patients with advanced biliary cancer. Gemcitabine (1000 mg/m2 IV over 30 minutes on days 1 and 8) and capecitabine (650 mg/m2 orally twice daily for 14 days) were administered and repeated every 21 days. All patients completed the European Organization for Research and Treatment of Cancer Core Quality of Life Questionnaire and Pancreatic Cancer Module (EORTC QLQ-C30-PAN 26) questionnaire on day 1 of each cycle. Cumulative QOL scores were calculated. The two-stage design required 17 patients to evaluate the confirmed response at nine weeks. Twelve patients with a median age of 54 years were enrolled. A median of eight cycles per patient were completed. With a median follow-up of 18.2 months, the CBR (two partial response and five stable disease) was 58% [95% confidence interval (CI) 28–85%]. Four out of seven patients with CBR had no decline in QOL with chemotherapy. The probability of survival at one year was 0.58. Median TTP and overall survival were 9.0 and 14.0 months, respectively. Nine patients had grade 3 or 4 toxicities. There were no treatment-related deaths. Gemcitabine and capecitabine at this dose and schedule are well tolerated and effective and may offer clinical benefit and maintain QOL in patients with advanced biliary cancer. This regimen merits further investigation in the neoadjuvant setting.
Multiscale Modeling of In Vitro Acupuncture Needling

Traditional acupuncture therapy involves inserting needles at acupuncture points across the body and twisting them, which winds soft tissues around the acupuncture needle. In order to better understand this phenomenon Julias et al [1, 2] conducted in vitro acupuncture needling on collagen gels as a soft tissue analog. Using polarized light microscopy (PLM) (Fig. 1) they observed changes in collagen alignment and measured the torque developed on the needle during twisting. While these results are insightful, what remains unknown are the forces transmitted to the tissue surrounding the acupuncture point via the needle. Computational modeling allows us to calculate these forces, which could never be measured experimentally.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
Satellite Collision Probability for Nonlinear Relative Motion

A method for calculating the collision probability between two space vehicles when the relative motion is nonlinear is developed using contour integration methodology. The method involves transforming the problem to a scaled frame in which the error covariance matrix is symmetric in three dimensions. This enables the calculation of probability increments as a function of time throughout the encounter. Thus, changes in space vehicle position, velocity, and error covariance matrices throughout the encounter can be included in the formulation. This method is applicable to low-velocity space vehicle encounters that involve nonlinear relative motion. A software tool was created and exercised with both hypothetical and actual satellite data to demonstrate the method. Results differed from those of a Monte Carlo simulation by only 2%. Only 6% error resulted for a stress case in which the exact solution was known.
Motivating Bilingual and Semibilingual University Students of Japanese: An Analysis of Language Learning Persistence and Intensity Among Students from Immigrant Backgrounds.

ABSTRACT FL teachers in the United States often encounter the problem: how best to assist their bilingual and semibilingual students from immigrant backgrounds. Interviews with American Shin Nisei (new second-generation Japanese) university students reveal how strongly motivation influences their persistence in taking Japanese courses and the intensity with which they use Japanese outside the classroom. First, valence and self-efficacy are critical in predicting students' persistence in studying Japanese at the university, while self-confidence influences powerfully the students' use of Japanese for verbal communication outside the classroom. Second, most students do not have specific short-term language goals other than passing Japanese courses with good grades, although many do have nonspecific long-term language goals which influence their active learning in speaking Japanese, but not in reading and writing. The conclusion stresses problems facing Shin Nisei students in traditional college FL classes and discusses how teachers can help improve students' motivation.
Intimal intussusception: Unusual complication of dissecting aneurysm

Abstract A case is reported of a 65-year-old man operated on to relieve obstruction of the left common carotid and left subclavian arteries due to a dissecting aneurysm. At operation the obstruction was found to be due to detachment of the intima from the ascending aorta followed by intussusception into the distal aortic arch. Surgical correction consisted in resection of the ascending aorta and aortic arch and replacement with a Dacron graft. Certain technical aspects of the operation were considered important in achieving a successful outcome. (J VASC SURG 1984;1:566-8.)
Brain Disease or Moral Condition? Wrong Question

Steven Hyman (2007) correctly points out that debate persists over whether addiction is best understood as a brain disease or as a moral condition. This debate persists because there is a common be...
Model-based correction of tissue compression for tracked ultrasound in soft tissue image-guided surgery.

Abstract Acquisition of ultrasound data negatively affects image registration accuracy during image-guided therapy because of tissue compression by the probe. We present a novel compression correction method that models sub-surface tissue displacement resulting from application of a tracked probe to the tissue surface. Patient landmarks are first used to register the probe pose to pre-operative imaging. The ultrasound probe geometry is used to provide boundary conditions to a biomechanical model of the tissue. The deformation field solution of the model is inverted to non-rigidly transform the ultrasound images to an estimation of the tissue geometry before compression. Experimental results with gel phantoms indicated that the proposed method reduced the tumor margin modified Hausdorff distance (MHD) from 5.0 ± 1.6 to 1.9 ± 0.6 mm, and reduced tumor centroid alignment error from 7.6 ± 2.6 to 2.0 ± 0.9 mm. The method was applied to a clinical case and reduced the tumor margin MHD error from 5.4 ± 0.1 to 2.6 ± 0.1 mm and the centroid alignment error from 7.2 ± 0.2 to 3.5 ± 0.4 mm.
Nitrate reductase and glutamine synthetase activity, internal N pools, and growth of Ulva lactuca : responses to long and short-term N supply

Fast-growing macroalgae, including Ulva lactuca Linnaeus, respond rapidly to changes in nutrient conditions, particularly to short-term N supply. This ability to rapidly take up and assimilate N contributes to the increasing occurrence of macroalgal blooms in heavily N loaded coastal ecosystems. To determine whether long-term nutrient histories affect short-term responses in activity of N-assimilating enzymes, including nitrate reductase (NRA) and glutamine synthetase activity (GSA), internal N storage, and macroalgal growth, we conducted an in situ nitrate fertilization experiment between 7 and 22 July 2004, with fronds of U. lactuca collected from estuaries with high and low N loads in Waquoit Bay, Cape Cod, Massachusetts, USA (N 41° and W 70°). Initial NRA, GSA, % N, δ15N, and growth of U. lactuca fronds were higher in the site where nitrate was in high supply. Differences in NRA persisted even after short-term experimental enrichment. Differences in internal N pools, δ15N, and growth, in contrast, mirrored the changes of nutrient supply. The rate of turnover of the internal N content of U. lactuca was quite short (<2 d), and turnover of enzyme activity may have been even shorter. N isotopic fractionation by U. lactuca appeared to be of small magnitude, unlike the case of phytoplankton, and similar to that of vascular plants. δ15N was a better indicator of short-term response to external and internal nutrient supplies in U. lactuca than enzyme activity or N content, and may reliably detect rapid changes in N availability, source, and uptake and assimilation processes.
Dibutyryl Cyclic Adenosine Monophosphate Stimulation of Colcemid-Inhibited Axonal Elongation

Adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cyclic AMP) and its dibutyryl derivative induce a variety of morphological changes, including those associated with in vitro axonal maturation. Established sensory ganglia treated with dibutyryl cyclic AMP show significant increases in average axonal length and number in comparison with controls; those treated with maintenance doses of Colcemid show no increases in either parameter; simultaneous treatment with both agents results in growth statistically similar to that produced by dibutyryl cyclic AMP alone. The data are consistent with our hypothesis that cyclic AMP promotes axonal elongation by stimulating microtubule assembly from a preexisting subunit pool.
PROPIONIC ACID METABOLISM: MECHANISM OF THE METHYLMALONYL ISOMERASE REACTION AND THE REDUCTION OF ACRYLYL COENZYME A TO PROPIONYL COENZYME A IN PROPIONIBACTERIA.

step is the transfer of a carboxyl group from methylmalonyl CoAl to pyruvate with the formation of oxalacetate and propionyl CoA.2 3 The reaction was found to involve biotin;2 the purified enzyme, methylmalonyl-oxalacetic transcarboxylase, has now been shown to contain this factor.4 Methylmalonyl CoA arises from succinyl CoA by an isomerization the mechanism of which remains obscure. The original proposal that it occurred via a transcarboxylation' was questioned on theoretical grounds as well as by indirect experimental evidenlce.d The discovery that the reaction was dependent on the presence of the various cobamide coenzymes6 suggested that the rearrangement was analogous to the isomerization of glutamic acid to 3-methylaspartic acid observed in Clostridium tetanomorphum.7 In the latter case the rearrangement can be considered to be a cleavage of a propionate moiety with subsequent reattachment of the glycine residue to the a position of propionate. Using an extract of propionibacteria, Eggerer et al.8 showed that the isomerization of methylmalonyl CoA involved a similar migrationl of the formyl thioester group from one methylene position of the propionate moiety to the other. Similar results were obtained in our laboratory with methylmalonyl isomerase isolated from sheep kidneys, as well as from propionibacteria. Eggerer et al.8 suggested that the rearrangement of methylmalonyl CoA involved a free radical intermediate. In accord with this hypothesis, Phares et al.9 recently reported an inhibition of the reaction by chlorpromazine, an efficient electron donor. It has also been suggested" that the reaction might involve a dehydrogenation which would weaken the bond of the formyl CoA group, permitting its translocation to the other side of the double bond. Since there has been no successful demon-
The influence of macroeconomic variables on the probability of union decertification

This study focuses on the role macroeconomic factors play in explaining the proportion of decertification elections lost by the union movement in the postwar period. Previous research has neglected the importance of such macroeconomic variables. Our results indicate that the union-nonunion wage differential, inflation, strikes, state of the labor market, and union density are related to the phenomenon of decertification.
Reconstitution of functional human single-stranded DNA-binding protein from individual subunits expressed by recombinant baculoviruses.

Abstract Human single-stranded DNA-binding protein (HSSB), also known as replication protein A, is composed of a 70-kDa single-stranded DNA-binding subunit (p70) and 34-kDa and 11-kDa (p34 and p11, respectively) subunits of unknown functions. We have examined interactions among the HSSB subunits in vivo by coinfecting insect cells with different combinations of recombinant baculoviruses encoding p70, p34, or p11. In vivo, coexpressed p34 and p11 subunits formed stable complexes, whereas neither p34 nor p11 formed stable complexes with p70. In cells coinfected with viruses expressing all three subunits, the stable heterotrimer formed, which, when purified, replaced HSSB isolated from HeLa cells in various assays, including simian virus 40 DNA replication in vitro. These data suggest that, in the assembly of functionally active HSSB, formation of the p34-p11 complex precedes p70 addition to the complex.
CANINE TIP WEAR IN MALE AND FEMALE ANTHROPOIDS

One component of the “dual selection hypothesis” (Greenfield [1992a] Year. Phys. Anthropol. 35:153–185) is that the tips of female canines are commonly blunted and more frequently so than those of conspecific males. Data derived from two randomly selected age-graded samples of Macaca fascicularis (n = 70) and Colobus badius (n = 59) show that at least 80% of the females exhibit tip blunting on one or both canines and that frequencies of blunting are far greater than those of conspecific males in both jaws. Sexual dimorphism in mandibular canine morphology and wear and other recently critiqued aspects of the “dual selection hypothesis” (Plavcan and Kelley [1996] Am. J. Phys. Anthropol. 99:379–387.) are also discussed. Am J Phys Anthropol 107:87–97. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
PSYCHOLOGICAL APPRAISAL OF CONJOINED TWINS

Abstract Psychological examination of 12 year old, male, inseparably conjoined, or so-called “Siamese”, twins reveals certain relatively superficial differences in intellect and personality. However, the over-riding impression is that of two individuals desperately struggling to arrive at some kind of personal identity. It is suggested that the ultimate resolution of their dilemma will involve a fusion of identity so that they will come to regard themselves as a unified organism rather than two separate individuals.
Some Pitfalls of Simplified Modeling for Viscoelastic Sandwich Beams

It is commonplace in academia to base models of constrained-layer damping treatments on the assumption that the facesheets displace identically during transverse vibrations. This assumption is valid for a large range of problems, particularly for problems common in the era when damping was achieved by applying foil-backed treatments to thin panels. The authors show using a very simple example that oversimplified modeling can skew distributions of modal strain energy, a common indicator of damping.
Hypoactive sexual dysfunction in a young woman.

Currently experts consider normal female sexual response to be circular rather than linear. This model incorporates the importance of emotional intimacy sexual stimuli and relationship satisfaction. It acknowledges that compared with male sexual functioning female sexual functioning proceeds in a more complex and circuitous manner and is affected by numerous psychosocial issues. Women may enter the cycle at multiple points and their goal is not necessarily orgasm but personal satisfaction which may include physical or emotional satisfaction or both. Sexual activity in women does not always or even usually arise from innate sexual drive. Sexual desire in women often begins from a position of sexual neutrality and arises in response to the right approach at the "right time" from an emotionally safe partner. Spontaneous sexual desire leading to arousal has a broad spectrum in frequency across women and may be related to the menstrual cycle peaking mid-cycle. Spontaneous sexual desire generally increases with a new relationship and decreases with age. (excerpt)
DNA Strand Damage Product Analysis Provides Evidence that the Tumor Cell-Specific Cytotoxin Tirapazamine Produces Hydroxyl Radical and Acts as a Surrogate for O2

The compound 3-amino-1,2,4-benzotriazine 1,4-dioxide (tirapazamine, TPZ) is a clinically promising anticancer agent that selectively kills the oxygen-poor (hypoxic) cells found in solid tumors. It has long been known that, under hypoxic conditions, TPZ causes DNA strand damage that is initiated by the abstraction of hydrogen atoms from the deoxyribose phosphate backbone of duplex DNA, but exact chemical mechanisms underlying this process remain unclear. Here we describe detailed characterization of sugar-derived products arising from TPZ-mediated strand damage. We find that the action of TPZ on duplex DNA under hypoxic conditions generates 5-methylene-2-furanone (6), oligonucleotide 3'-phosphoglycolates (7), malondialdehyde equivalents (8 or 9), and furfural (10). These results provide evidence that TPZ-mediated strand damage arises via hydrogen atom abstraction from both the most hindered (C1') and least hindered (C4' and C5') positions of the deoxyribose sugars in the double helix. The products observed are identical to those produced by hydroxyl radical. Additional experiments were conducted to better understand the chemical pathways by which TPZ generates the observed DNA-damage products. Consistent with previous work showing that TPZ can substitute for molecular oxygen in DNA damage reactions, it is found that, under anaerobic conditions, reaction of TPZ with a discrete, photogenerated C1'-radical in a DNA 2'-oligodeoxynucleotide cleanly generates the 2-deoxyribonolactone lesion (5) that serves as the precursor to 5-methylene-2-furanone (6). Overall, the results provide insight regarding the chemical structure of the DNA lesions that confront cellular repair, transcription, and replication machinery following exposure to TPZ and offer new information relevant to the chemical mechanisms underlying TPZ-mediated strand cleavage.
Theoretical study of tautomeric and ionizing effects of guanine, cytosine, and their methyl derivatives

The study of pre-translational effects (ionization, tautomerization) and post-translational effects (methylation) of guanine and cytosine has only recently been the focus of some studies. These effects can potentially help regulate gene expression as well as potentially disrupt normal gene function. Because of this wide array of roles, greater insight into these effects in deoxyribonucleic acids (DNA) are paramount. There has been considerable research of each phenomenon (tautomerization, methylation and ionization) individually. In this work, we attempt to shed light upon the pre- and post-translational effects of guanine and cytosine by investigating the electron affinities (EAs) and ionization potentials (IPs) of the major and minor tautomers and their methyl derivatives. We performed all calculations using the density functional theory B3LYP functional accompanied with 6-311G (d,p), 6-311+G (d,p), and 6-311++G (df,pd) basis sets. Our results reveal that the cytosine tautomer has a higher EA and IP than the guanine tautomers. The higher EA suggest that an electron that attaches to the GC base pair would predominately attach to the cytosine instead of guanine. The higher IP would suggest that an electron that is removed from the GC base pair would be predominately removed from the guanine within the base pair. Understanding how tautomerization, ionization, and methylation differences change effects, discourages, or promotes one another is lacking. In this work, we begin the steps of integrating these effects with one another, to gain a greater understanding of molecular changes in DNA bases.
Cyclone samplers for measuring the concentration of inhalable particles in process streams

Abstract A cyclone precollector for cascade impactors and a dual-cyclone system have been developed and tested. These devices will be used to measure the concentration of inhalable particles in process streams. The sampling flow rates required to achieve 50% collection of 15 μm particles at temperatures of 23, 93 and 150°C were determined empirically. For the precollector, the desired performance was achieved at flow rates of 7,12 and 15 l./min; and for the dual-cyclone system, at 11, 20 and 23 l./min yielding D50's for the second cyclone of 3.1, 2.6 and 2.3 μm respectively.
Big Think: A Model for Critical Inquiry in Economics Courses

Economic educators often profess the goal of teaching our students to “think like economists.” Since Siegfried and colleagues (1991) coined this phrase, its meaning has been interpreted as a focus on analytical concepts and methods of economics as opposed to the broader goal of preparing students for independent, critical thought in the complex world beyond college. Colander and McGoldrick (2009b) argued that students are more likely to achieve both of these objectives when the learning process includes open-ended questions that encourage them to move beyond algorithmic application of textbook principles. In this article, the authors operationalize this “big think” approach through an instructional module on differential tuition pricing, the development of which was enhanced by careful attention to contemporary learning theory.
Modulation of peritoneal re-epithelialization by postsurgical macrophages.

The studies reviewed here show that postsurgical macrophages are capable of modulating the proliferation of TRC. That is, macrophages either suppress or enhance the proliferation of TRC depending on the culture time and the medium used as a comparison, i.e., culture medium with only serum or spent medium from cultures of resident peritoneal macrophages. Postsurgical macrophages also modulate the morphology of (spindly or rounded appearance) and the secretion of extracellular matrices by TRC. The responsivity of TRC to control by postsurgical macrophage-spent media or growth factors changes as a function of postsurgical and/or culture time. In addition, cells harvested from the site of peritoneal trauma (TRC) did not respond to growth factors in a fashion entirely the same as fibroblasts. This indicates that cells harvested from the site of peritoneal injury are unique. Lastly, after removal of a suppressive factor from postsurgical macrophage-spent media by dialysis, the factors secreted by postsurgical macrophages are more potent in enhancing TRC proliferation than growth factors individually.
Antarctic ozone decreases: A dynamical cause?

A hypothesis is advanced that natural dynamical processes might explain much of the observed late winter ozone decreases over Antarctica. For this to be the case, sometime after 1979 there must have been a substantial reduction of the wintertime planetary-scale disturbance activity in the Southern Hemisphere troposphere. The expected stratospheric response to such a natural process is to reduce wintertime polar ozone, prolong the life of the polar vortex, reduce the transport of ozone out of the middle stratosphere, and to increase the possibility of polar rising motion shortly after the return of the sun to high latitudes. All of these effects are in qualitative agreement with the observed ozone changes.
Properties of the 57 and 351 keV excited states in 59Pr143

Abstract Some features of the decay scheme of 33 h Ce 143 have been studied with a 50 cm radius iron-free beta-spectrometer equipped with a nanosecond “time sorter”. From the measured L-subshell conversion ratios the 57.37±0.05 keV transition is found to be predominantly M1, with less than 0.3% E2 admixture. The half-life of the 57 keV state is measured as 4.17±0.09 nsec. Similarly, the 293.3±0.1 keV M1-E2 transition, de-exciting the 350.7 keV level, is found to have a 34±16% E2 admixture and hhalf-life ≦ 0.3 nsec. The K-line of the 350.7±0.1 keV crossover transition has also been observed. Analysis of these data, in combination with angular correlation results of other experimenters, supports a 5 2 + assignment for the 57.37 keV level, and suggests a 3 2 + assignment for the 350.7 keV state. The magnetic moment of the 57 keV state is discussed in terms of the presently available data.
Problem-solving training for family caregivers of women with disabilities: a randomized clinical trial.

Objective To examine the effectiveness of an individualized problem-solving intervention provided to family caregivers of women living with severe disabilities.
Extranigral Neurodegeneration in Parkinson's Disease

It is widely known that the pathophysiology of idiopathic Parkinson's disease (PD) is associated with neurodegeneration and inflammatory responses in the midbrain substantia nigra. However, the possibility of neurodegeneration and inflammatory responses in other areas of the central nervous system (CNS) in course of the pathogenesis of PD remains to be explored. In this investigation, we provide evidence in support of the hypothesis that spinal cord, the final coordinator of movement, is also involved during parkinsonian degeneration using two distinct experimental parkinsonism models induced by the neurotoxin 1-methyl-4-phenyl 1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP) and the environmental toxin rotenone. A key focus of our study is the role that calpain, a Ca(2+)-activated neutral protease, plays in disrupting the structural-functional integrity of the spinal cord in the context of spinal cord degeneration in experimental parkinsonism. We examined the mechanisms of calpain-mediated neuronal death in differentiated spinal cord motoneuron cultures following exposure to the active parkinsonian toxins 1-methyl-4-phenyl-pyridinium ion (MPP(+)) and rotenone and also tested the neuroprotective efficacy of calpeptin, a calpain inhibitor, in these cell culture models of experimental parkinsonism. Our results implied that spinal cord motoneurons could be a potential extranigral target of neurodegeneration during pathogenesis of PD in the CNS and that calpain inhibition could provide neuroprotection.
A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF PROCAMBIUM INITIATION IN HYBRID AND INBRED MAIZE

Studies of the effect of hybridity on growth rates of whole plants or parts of plants, on yield, on time of maturity and on many other genetic characters have contributed much to our information concerning the manifestations of hybrid vigor. There are, nevertheless, many aspects of heterosis about which little or no information exists, one of which is the influence of hybridity upon position of initiation of procambium in relation to the shoot apex. East (1936) pointed out that hybrid vigor almost invariably con-cerns the plant as a whole. Since all tissues of the maize plant are differentiated from apical or intercalary meristems, position in the apex of first evidence of obvious differentiation is an important feature in development of the plant as a whole. Accordingly, a study of the distance from the apex of the first appearance of procambium in hybrid plants, compared to the inbred parents, should add valuable information concerning manifestation of hybrid vigor.
Structural Relationships of Largemouth Bass and Bluegill Populations in South Dakota Ponds

Abstract Spring electrofishing samples were collected from 13 small South Dakota impoundments to determine if the population structures of largemouth bass Micropterus salmoides and bluegill Lepomis macrochirus in a northern state were similar to those in more southerly waters. Largemouth bass catch per hour of electrofishing (catch per unit effort; CPUE) was inversely correlated with proportional stock density (PSD; r = –0.70, P = 0.01) and relative stock density at preferred length (RSD-P; r = –0.79, P = 0.001) for largemouth bass. Largemouth bass CPUE was positively correlated with bluegill PSD (r = 0.72, P = 0.02). Largemouth bass PSD was inversely correlated with bluegill PSD (r = –0.83, P= 0.003); bluegill PSD exceeded 60 only when largemouth bass PSD was less than 20. Bluegill PSD was inversely correlated with largemouth bass mean relative weight (r = –0.72, P = 0.02). Largemouth bass CPUE and RSD-P were significantly correlated with bluegill growth. Thus, the relationships between largemouth bass a...
Synthesis and release of serotonin by brain slices: Effect of ionic manipulations and cationic ionophores

The effect of various ionic manipulations and cationic ionophores on the rates of release and synthesis of serotonin were investigated in brain slices prepared from adult male rats. Two depolarizing, univalent cationic ionophores, gramacidin (10 μg/ml) and valinomycin (10 μ/ml), and the non-depolarizing, calcium-specific ionophore, A23187 (190 μM), stimulated both the release and synthesis of serotonin in this tissue preparation. Electrical field depolarization of the brain slices also stimulated both the release and synthesis of serotonin, effects which were completely blocked by a calcium-free media and 1 mM EGTA or by 10 mM Mg2+. Lithium partially blocked the release of serotonin by the stimulated brain slices, but markedly augmented the rates of serotonin biosynthesis. Although electrical stimulation significantly increased the rate of [3H]tryptophan uptake by the slices, the increased rates of release and synthesis of serotonin following treatment of the tissues with the ionophores and lithium were not associated with increased rates of tryptophan uptake. Furthermore, despite the inhibition of the release and synthesis of serotonin by stimulated slices incubated in the presence of magnesium or in the absence of calcium, rates of tryptophan uptake by the stimulated brain slice remained increased. These results taken together with the results of other studies suggest that release and synthesis of serotonin by the serotonergic neuron is tightly coupled to the ionic events attending depolarization and further argue than transcellular calcium fluxes may be of special importance in this regulation. These results do not support the postulate that regulation of serotonin release and synthesis is dependent upon substrate availability as a major variable.
Reserpine in a tissue culture of Alstonia constricta F. Muell.

IN a tissue culture study of certain members of the Apocynaceae, the plant Alstonia constricta F. Muell was investigated. The root and trunk barks of this tree, which is native to Australia, have been known to yield several indole alkaloids including reserpine1–4.
Computer-Based Recognition of Perceptual Patterns in Harmonic Dictation Exercises

During the 1975–1976 academic year, student response data was saved for a group of 17 freshman music majors as they worked through 15 units of harmonic dictation exercises delivered on the University of Delaware's GUIDO system. Analysis of the student data base led to the identification of seven confusion tendencies that affect the perception of harmonies: bass line confusions, confusions of inversion, confusions of chord function, confusions of chord quality, unperceived sevenths, unperceived roots, and favorite response confusions. The level of student achievement on individual harmonies was found to be highly correlated with the percentage of times these harmonies were asked in the curriculum.
Beyond associative memories: logics and variables in connectionist models

Abstract This paper demonstrates the role of connectionist (neural network) models in reasoning beyond that of an associative memory. First it is shown that there is a connection between propositional logics and the weighted-sum computation customarily used in connectionist models. Specifically, the weighted-sum computation can handle Horn clause logic and Shoham's logic as special cases. Second, it is shown how variables can be incorporated into connectionist models to enhance their representational power. Solutions to the connectionist variable binding problem are devised to enable connectionist networks to handle variables and dynamic bindings in reasoning. A new model, the discrete neuron formalism, which is an extension of the weighted-sum models, is employed for dealing with the variable binding problem. Formal definitions are presented, and examples are analyzed in detail.
Experimental Infection of the Red-backed Vole (Clethrionomys gapperi) with Borrelia burgdorferi

Red-backed voles (Clethrionomys gapperi) were live trapped in northern St. Louis County, Minnesota (USA), in late September and October 1988 and experimentally inoculated with Borrelia burgdorferi. Spirochetes were isolated from most animals 14 and 28 days following inoculation. Thus, red-backed voles exposed to B. burgdorferi were susceptible to infection and could be a reservoir host, along with chipmunks (Tamias striatus) and other small rodents, in areas where white-footed mouse (Peromyscus leucopus) populations are low. No evidence of clinical disease was noted in any infected voles.
Finite groups with planar subgroup lattices

It is natural to ask when a group has a planar Hasse lattice or more generally when its subgroup graph is planar. In this paper, we completely answer this question for finite groups. We analyze abelian groups, p-groups, solvable groups, and nonsolvable groups in turn. We find seven infinite families (four depending on two parameters, one on three, two on four), and three "sporadic" groups. In particular, we show that no nonabelian group whose order has three distinct prime factors can be planar.
Surgical treatment for Elschnig's pearls.

Elschnig first described spherical globules lying in the pupillary space (Fig. 1) follow­ ing extracapsular cataract extractions. These spheres probably represent attempts of the lens epithelium to form new fibers,' and, in fact, are enlarged capsular epithelial cells or greatly enlarged bladder cells.· These cells usually grow from the equatorial region and it is this area of capsular epithelium that most often remains in any extracapsular ex­ traction. Gundersen' and McDonald described a technique for mechanically dislodging Elschnig's pearls and irrigating them from the anterior chamber in order to maintain an in­ tact, but clear, posterior capsule. In a modification of Gundersen's proce­ dure, we have made an attempt to separate an anterior membrane from the posterior capsule, a technique that allows extensive ir­ rigation of the capsular epithelial cells and thus inhibits further development of Elschnig's pearls. This membrane is probably not anterior capsule centrally but may be at the periphery of the lens. The purpose of this paper is to report our modification of the surgical treatment for Elschnig's pearls that was originally de­ scribed by Gundersen.
Impact of a graduate class on attitudes toward inclusion, perceived teaching efficacy and knowledge about adapting instruction for children with disabilities in inclusive settings

Abstract The purpose of the current study was to determine the effect of a 15-week introductory special education graduate course on general education students' attitudes toward inclusion, their teaching self-efficacy and their knowledge about adapting their teaching for students with disabilities. Dependent measures t-tests revealed that respondents' attitudes toward inclusion and their teaching self-efficacy on the surveys employed in the present study were not significantly different from pre-test to post-test. However, narratives from student interviews demonstrated positive attitudes toward inclusion, increased knowledge and confidence to teach students with disabilities in inclusive settings and willingness to adapt instruction for children with disabilities. Implications and recommendations for teacher preparation programs are briefly discussed.
Work activities of clinician-educators

In order to make meaningful scholarly contributions, clinician-educators need protected time. Forty-one clinician-educators at the University of Washington recorded their work activities in 30-minute intervals for 2 weeks. The average work week was 58.7 hours (SD = 13.8). The time devoted to scholarship, 7.6 hours (13%), was significantly less than the 20% designated for scholarship in the clinician-educator job description (p < .001); 42% of scholarly work occurred outside the regular work week. At a time when many schools rely on clinician-educators to sustain their clinical and teaching missions, schools should ensure that faculty have adequate time and resources to meet scholarly expectations for promotion.
Development of dynamic simulation of TF34-GE-100 turbofan engine with post-stall capability

This paper describes the development of a hybrid computer simulation of a TF34-GE-100 turbofan engine with post-stall capability. The simulation operates in real-time and will be used to test and evaluate stall recovery control modes for this engine. The simulation calculations are performed by an analog computer with a peripheral multivariable function generation unit used for computing bivariate functions. Tabular listings of a simulation variables are obtained by interfacing to a digital computer and using a custom software package for data collection and display.
Charge-density-wave carrier concentration in NbSe3 as a function of magnetic field and temperature.

We report measurements of the resistance and narrow-band noise in Nb${\mathrm{Se}}_{3}$ for magnetic fields from 0 to 10 T and temperatures from 30 to 55 K. We find that a magnetic field effects a change of less than 5% on the charge-density-wave carrier concentration obtained from the slope of the current versus frequency curves. This disagrees with some previously reported measurements and resolves an existing controversy. Our work also implies that the increase in the resistance anomaly with magnetic field is not related to an increase in the carrier concentration.
Duodenal primary repair, diversion, and exclusion

Summary Fortunately, approximately 80% of duodenal injuries can be repaired primarily without the need for a complex procedure. Early diagnosis and expeditious operative management are imperative for the best possible outcome, irrespective of the severity of injury. In the hemodynamically labile patient, definitive management should be deferred and a more abbreviated operation performed to restore hemodynamic stability and correct the often associated coagulopathy, acidosis, and hypothermia. Definitive operative management can be done during the initial operation if there is minimal physiologic derangement.
Moisture budget of the Arctic atmosphere from TOVS satellite data

The Arctic atmospheric moisture budget is an important component of the Arctic climate system, and moisture transport is a major mechanism by which both local and hemispheric atmospheric processes affect the Arctic Ocean. The lack of humidity data over the Arctic Ocean severely hampers present understanding of climatological and time-varying features of the Arctic moisture budget. We combine daily satellite precipitable water retrievals from the NASA/NOAA TIROS Operational Vertical Sounder (TOVS) Polar Pathfinder data set with wind fields from the NCEP-NCAR Reanalysis to create a new high-resolution data set of the Arctic atmospheric moisture budget from October 1979 to December 1998. Products are at a horizontal resolution of (100 km) 2 and include daily fields of precipitable water and precipitable water flux profiles at 16 vertical levels and net precipitation (i.e., precipitation minus evaporation, P-E). We show that these retrievals compare well with rawinsonde-derived moisture transport and reanalysis products, yet capture spatial and temporal variability that other data sets cannot owing to the sparse coverage of the conventional observation network in the Arctic Ocean. Our method yields an average annual net precipitation of 15.1 cm yr -1 over the polar cap (poleward of 70°N) and 12.9 cm yr -1 over the Arctic Basin. Poleward moisture transport into the Arctic is greatest from June to August and smallest in December. Over regions of known storm tracks, especially in the North Atlantic sector, we find that transient circulation features account for 32% of the net precipitation in the Greenland-Iceland-Norwegian Seas, 90% in the Nansen Basin, and 74% in the Arctic basin as a whole.
Shape sensing using multi-core fiber

A method of converting multi-core fiber strain and twist measurements into three dimensional shape measurements using Frenet-Serret equations adapted to the treatment of a multi-core optical fiber as a Kirchhoff elastic rod is presented.
An experimental examination of the interaction between mood induction task and personality psychopathology on state emotion dysregulation

While emotion dysregulation has been investigated as a key variable in the development and persistence of personality psychopathology, few studies have explored state emotion dysregulation among individuals with personality disorders (PDs). The current study addresses this void in the literature through a laboratory investigation of state emotion dysregulation among participants with and without PDs. To facilitate this goal, participants were matched to pairs based on similar personality features and were randomized to one of two behavioral analogues; either the Paced Auditory Serial Addition Task-Computerized (PASAT-C) or an interpersonally based mood induction. As hypothesized, PD participants in the PASAT-C reported significantly more difficulty with impulsivity and emotion regulation strategies. Contrary to expectations, the PD group in the interpersonal task demonstrated significantly less difficulty with non-acceptance of emotion and emotional clarity and significantly greater positive affect compared to non-PD participants. Implications for these findings and directions for future research are discussed.
Relation between Bethe-Salpeter and Schrödinger wave functions for many-particel systems

Abstract The connection is made between a many-time approach to S -matrix elements and energy eigenvalues, which naturally arises from a field theoretical point of view, and the single time Schrodinger- and Breit-like formalism often used in detailed calculations for many-particle systems, such as many-electron atoms. Specifically, the many-particle Bethe-Salpeter equation is expressed in terms of the corresponding Schrodinger equation for the non-relativistic case in which the Bethe-Salpeter kernel consists of only two-particle local static interactions. Also, the one-photon transition matrix element for this case in the Bethe-Salpeter formalism is shown to be equivalent to the corresponding well-known Schrodinger result. The treatment developed is well suited to systematic relativistic generalization.
Modification of encephalomyocarditis virus-induced diabetes in mice by antiviral agents

The current study used a murine model of diabetes induced by the D variant of encephalomyocarditis virus (DEMC) to determine the protective effect of exogenous antiviral agents. Antivirals, which were found to inhibit the development of DEMC virus cytopathic effect in L-929 cell monolayers, were administered intraperitoneally beginning 12 h prior to DEMC virus challenge. Arildone (500 mg/kg per day) or murine interferon (3.2 X 10(6) IU/kg per day) significantly reduced the incidence of hyperglycemia at 4 days after virus challenge. The incidences of hyperglycemia were 96% in untreated, 62% in arildone, and 0% in interferon treated mice. In other experiments we found that interferon (1.6 X 10(6) IU/kg per 12 h X 3) significantly protected mice against diabetes when administered at the time of virus infection or beginning 12 h afterwards. This effect was associated with reductions in average viral titers in the heart and pancreas of infected animals relative to untreated, infected mice. The results of these studies suggest that picornavirus induced diabetes may be prevented or ameliorated by the use of antiviral agents.
Shift-register sequence random number generators on the hypercube conurrent computers

We discuss the design of a class of shift-register sequence random number generators for the MIMD parallel computers, and particularly for the hypercube concurrent computers. The simplest implementation is to have each processor generating its own sequence provided that the initial seeds are linearly independent. We generate these initial seeds by using distinct linear congruential generators and finally bit-by-bit-exclusive-or with the system time in microseconds. Our shift-register sequence random number generators are coded in C and run under the CUBIX. The statistical tests are performed on each sequence generated by every single processor as well as on the combined sequence produced by all processors. The tests include chi- square, Kolmogorov-Smirnov, auto-correlation, runlength and n-tuple distribution tests. A statistical test has been devised for testing the sequences of random numbers generated by a MIMD parallel computer. Our test results indicate that our generators do provide independent sequences of random numbers with extremely long periods.