cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Tetraspanin CD82 Inhibits Protrusion and Retraction in Cell Movement by Attenuating the Plasma Membrane-Dependent Actin Organization

To determine how tetraspanin KAI1/CD82, a tumor metastasis suppressor, inhibits cell migration, we assessed which cellular events critical for motility are altered by KAI1/CD82 and how KAI1/CD82 regulates these events. We found that KAI1/CD82-expressing cells typically exhibited elongated cellular tails and diminished lamellipodia. Live imaging demonstrated that the polarized protrusion and retraction of the plasma membrane became deficient upon KAI1/CD82 expression. The deficiency in developing these motility-related cellular events was caused by poor formations of actin cortical network and stress fiber and by aberrant dynamics in actin organization. Rac1 activity was reduced by KAI1/CD82, consistent with the diminution of lamellipodia and actin cortical network; while the growth factor-stimulated RhoA activity was blocked by KAI1/CD82, consistent with the loss of stress fiber and attenuation in cellular retraction. Upon KAI1/CD82 expression, Rac effector cofilin was not enriched at the cell periphery to facilitate lamellipodia formation while Rho kinase exhibited a significantly lower activity leading to less retraction. Phosphatidylinositol 4, 5-biphosphate, which initiates actin polymerization from the plasma membrane, became less detectable at the cell periphery in KAI1/CD82-expressing cells. Moreover, KAI1/CD82-induced phenotypes likely resulted from the suppression of multiple signaling pathways such as integrin and growth factor signaling. In summary, at the cellular level KAI1/CD82 inhibited polarized protrusion and retraction events by disrupting actin reorganization; at the molecular level, KAI1/CD82 deregulated Rac1, RhoA, and their effectors cofilin and Rho kinase by perturbing the plasma membrane lipids.
Characteristics of teens tested for HIV in a metropolitan area.

Abstract Purpose: This article describes the status of HIV infection in an adolescent population attending publicly supported HIV testing clinics in Houston. Methods: Records were reviewed of 4017 teenagers receiving HIV counseling and testing services over a period of three years (January 1990 to December 1992). We analyzed demographic characteristics, risk exposure groups, results of HIV antibody testing, and post-test counseling return rates. Results: An overall seroprevalence rate of 10.2 per 1000 was observed, with the majority of cases seen among black females. Forty-nine percent of teens with the virus failed to acknowledge a risk factor, but of those who did, male-to-male sexual contact was the most frequently reported. None who tested positive reported injected drug use. The majority of teens tested never returned to obtain their test results and post-test counseling. Conclusions: In order to reinforce preventive behavior, institutional and other barriers should be examined and priority given to contacting both seropositive and high-risk clients who have sought testing. Interventions that encourage condom use or address sexual behavior may be more beneficial to teens than those that simply focus on drug use.
Alcohol enhances efficiency of performance in a repetitive alternation task

Rats were trained in a two-bar alternation task for water reward. A right barpress (RB) was required within a time window of 2-3 sec after a left barpress (LB) for reinforcement. Measures of total responses, proportion of RBs to total responses, total number of reinforcements, proportion of reinforcements to total responses, uncertainty of LB-RB response sequences, and LB-RB latency were taken after control (saline) and ethyl alcohol (0.65-0.75 g/kg) ip injections. Alcohol produced a disproportionate decrease in RBs, an increase in number of reinforcements per response, and a decrease in the uncertainty of LB-RB sequences. The results are discussed in terms of the behavioral-variability hypothesis of alcohol effects.
Inhibiting microRNA function in vivo

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small RNA molecules, about 22 nucleotides long that regulate gene expression post-transcriptionally, by binding to partially complementary sequences in downstream target mRNAs. Because they were only discovered just over a decade ago, new technologies to study the unique properties of miRNAs are still needed. In this issue Luigi Naldini and colleagues present techniques to manipulate miRNA expression by expressing decoy miRNA targets via lentiviral vectors 1 . Some of the challenges unique to studying miRNAs include finding techniques to detect their presence and methods that allow functional studies. Specific quantitative PCR and high-throughput profiling techniques (such as miRNA microarrays and bead-based miRNA profiling) have joined the traditional, but robust, north
Some effects of prolonged polarization on membrane currents in bullfrog atrial muscle.

Bullfrog atrial trabecula were voltage-clamped using a double-sucrose-gap method. Step depolarization produced a slowly changing outward current which was studied by analyzing the current “tail” produced by repolarization. The initial phase of the current tail (time constant 0.1 to 0.7 sec at −60 mV) had a reversal potential which depended upon the duration and magnitude of the preceding depolarization. Calculations based on trabecular geometry and the behavior of the currents in high external potassium suggest that part of the current tail reflects a restoration to a lower steadystate concentration of external potassium which had accumulated in narrow clefts between cells during the preceding depolarization. Step hyperpolarization produced a declining inward current (time constant 0.3 sec at −100 mV) which can be explained on the basis of a depletion of potassium from these intercellular clefts (about 0.5% of the trabecular volume).
Quantitative estimation of the genetic risk associated with the induction of heritable translocations at low-dose exposure: ethylene oxide as an example.

This paper explores how quantitative risk assessment methods might be extended to analysis of risks to the human germ line. High inhalation exposures to ethylene oxide are reported to cause heritable translocations in male mice with a steep and nonlinear dose-response curve. We explore quantitative estimation of risk to humans from low exposures based on these animal data, addressing questions of tissue dosimetry for this alkylating agent, expected equivalency of doses across species, germ-cell sensitivity, and extrapolation of dose-response relationship to low exposure levels. Various dose-response models are discussed in terms of their applicability to genetic end points and their ability to reflect the underlying basis of induced heritable translocations.
Colonialism and cultural responses: Problems related to roman provincial analysis

Abstract The data base of classical period archaeology could be used more effectively when analysed in terms of variable situations involving cultural domination. Definitions and processes related to colonialism, imperialism and various cultural responses by indigenous populations are discussed. Included is an example of such political control in the frontier province of Upper Moesia during the Empire period
Rapid viral testing in the evaluation of the febrile infant and child.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW This review focuses on rapid viral testing in the febrile infant and child. Recent literature is reviewed regarding physician decision making, antibiotic use, ancillary testing use, and rate of serious bacterial infections concurrent with viral disease. RECENT FINDINGS Two recent studies detail the use of rapid testing of influenza. The impact on the use of ancillary testing and antibiotic prescribing practices based on the knowledge provided by rapid viral testing has been evaluated. Physician awareness of a rapid diagnosis of influenza significantly reduced the number of laboratory tests and radiographs ordered and their associated charges, decreased antibiotic use, increased antiviral use, and decreased length of time to discharge. The rate of serious bacterial infections coexisting with influenza illness has also been studied. Researchers concluded that the prevalence of serious bacterial infections is lower in febrile children with influenza A infection. Another two studies evaluated respiratory syncytial virus-positive febrile infants and their risk of serious bacterial infection. Both studies independently noted that febrile infants with respiratory syncytial virus infections are at significantly lower risk of serious bacterial infection than febrile infants without respiratory syncytial virus infection. The rate of urinary tract infections remained significant in febrile respiratory syncytial virus-positive infants, however. SUMMARY Various studies have documented the impact of rapid viral testing in the evaluation and management of febrile infants and children. There is insufficient evidence to change current clinical practice algorithms for young febrile infants and children. Continued research will affect future guidelines and algorithms in the management of febrile infants and children.
Day–night differences in neural activation in histaminergic and serotonergic areas with putative projections to the cerebrospinal fluid in a diurnal brain

In nocturnal rodents, brain areas that promote wakefulness have a circadian pattern of neural activation that mirrors the sleep/wake cycle, with more neural activation during the active phase than during the rest phase. To investigate whether differences in temporal patterns of neural activity in wake-promoting regions contribute to differences in daily patterns of wakefulness between nocturnal and diurnal species, we assessed Fos expression patterns in the tuberomammillary (TMM), supramammillary (SUM), and raphe nuclei of male grass rats maintained in a 12:12 h light-dark cycle. Day-night profiles of Fos expression were observed in the ventral and dorsal TMM, in the SUM, and in specific subpopulations of the raphe, including serotonergic cells, with higher Fos expression during the day than during the night. Next, to explore whether the cerebrospinal fluid is an avenue used by the TMM and raphe in the regulation of target areas, we injected the retrograde tracer cholera toxin subunit beta (CTB) into the ventricular system of male grass rats. While CTB labeling was scarce in the TMM and other hypothalamic areas including the suprachiasmatic nucleus, which contains the main circadian pacemaker, a dense cluster of CTB-positive neurons was evident in the caudal dorsal raphe, and the majority of these neurons appeared to be serotonergic. Since these findings are in agreement with reports for nocturnal rodents, our results suggest that the evolution of diurnality did not involve a change in the overall distribution of neuronal connections between systems that support wakefulness and their target areas, but produced a complete temporal reversal in the functioning of those systems.
Processing of multiple kinematic signals in the cerebellum and motor cortices.

Abstract The cerebellum and motor cortices are hypothesized to make fundamentally different but synergistic contributions to the control of movement. Richly interconnected, these structures must communicate and translate salient parameters of movement. This review examines the similarities and differences in the encoding of multiple limb movement parameters in the cerebellum and motor cortices. Also presented are recent data on direction and speed coding by cerebellar Purkinje cells and primary motor and dorsal premotor cortical neurons during a visually-instructed, manual tracking task. Both similarities and differences have been found in the way that these two motor areas process movement parameters. For example, the two motor control structures encode direction with almost identical depths of modulation, which may simplify the exchange of directional signals. Two major differences between the cerebellum and motor cortices consist of the distribution of the preferred directions and the manner in which direction and speed are jointly signaled within the discharge of individual neurons. First, an anterior–posterior distribution of preferred directions has been shown for both reaching and manual tracking, consistent with an intrinsic reference frame and/or the structure of afferent input. In contrast, neurons in the motor cortices have uniformly distributed preferred directions, consistent with general purpose directional calculations. Secondly, Purkinje cells in the cerebellum and motor cortices combine movement direction and speed information differently. For example, Purkinje cell discharge encodes combinations of direction and speed, a ‘preferred velocity’, while the motor cortical neurons use a temporal parcellation scheme to encode multiple parameters of movement. These results demonstrate that the cerebellum and motor cortices process and use kinematic information in fundamentally different ways that may underlie the functional uniqueness of the two motor control structures.
Role of lysosomes in protein turnover: Catch-up proteolysis after release from NH4Cl inhibition

Cultured rat embryo fibroblasts, when placed in media with 10% serum containing 20 mM NH4Cl, show an inhibition of protein degradation and, concurrently, an accumulation of numerous, large vacuoles, partially filled with cellular debris. Cells placed in a serum-free media exhibit an enhanced degradation of cell protein, which is also inhibited by NH4Cl. When these cells are removed from media containing NH4Cl and placed in fresh media, the material accumulated in these vacuoles is rapidly and quantitatively released to the media in both an acid-soluble and acid-insoluble form. NH4Cl inhibits rapidly and specifically the lysosomal proteolytic mechanism, and is without effect on the basal turnover mechanism. The lysosomal proteolytic mechanism accounts for approximately 25% of protein turnover, and, at least in low density cultures, can be stimulated to levels which account for more than half of the protein turnover in the cell. The major pathway for the degradation of fast turnover proteins appears to be separate from lysosomal mechanism.
Particulate-phase and gaseous elemental mercury emissions during biomass combustion: controlling factors and correlation with particulate matter emissions.

Mercury emissions from wildfires are significant natural sources of atmospheric mercury, but little is known about what controls speciation of emissions important to mercury deposition processes. The goal of this study was to quantify gaseous elemental mercury (GEM) and particulate-phase mercury (PHg) emissions from biomass combustion to identify key factors controlling the speciation. Emissions were characterized in an exhaust stack 17 m above fires using a gaseous mercury analyzer and quartz-fiber filters. Fuels included fresh and air-dried leaves, needles, and branches with different fuel moistures (9-95% of dry weight) and combustion properties (e.g., from or = 95%) in low moisture fuels and substantial PHg contributions--up to 50% of total mercury emissions--in fresh fuels. High PHg emissions were observed during smoldering combustion whereas flaming-dominated fires showed insignificant PHg emissions. PHg mass emissions were correlated with particulate matter (PM; r2 = 0.67), organic carbon (OC; r2 = 0.63) and sulfur (S; r2 = 0.46) mass emissions, but not with elemental carbon (EC) nor with the total mercury emissions. These data suggest that the formation of PHg involves similar processes as the formation of particulate OC, for example condensation of volatile species onto preexisting smoke particles during cooling and dilution. Based on the observed relationship between PM and OC mass concentrations and published emission inventories, we estimate global PHg emissions by wildfires of 4-5 Mg yr(-1).
High precision, high sensitivity distributed displacement and temperature measurements using OFDR-based phase tracking

Optical Frequency Domain Reflectometry is used to measure distributed displacement and temperature change with very high sensitivity and precision by measuring the phase change of an optical fiber sensor as a function of distance with high spatial resolution and accuracy. A fiber containing semi-continuous Bragg gratings was used as the sensor. The effective length change, or displacement, in the fiber caused by small temperature changes was measured as a function of distance with a precision of 2.4 nm and a spatial resolution of 1.5 mm. The temperature changes calculated from this displacement were measured with precision of 0.001 C with an effective sensor gauge length of 12 cm. These results demonstrate that the method employed of continuously tracking the phase change along the length of the fiber sensor enables high resolution distributed measurements that can be used to detect very small displacements, temperature changes, or strains.
Wind-wave power available to a wave energy converter array

Abstract A theoretical expression of the wave power striking a rectilinear array of wave energy convertion devices in a random sea is derived. The theory is then applied to a linear array which is 1 km in length. For purposes of illustration, the Pierson-Neumann-James directional spectrum is used to represent the random sea. Comparison of the results obtained by using the present theory with those obtained from the previously accepted theory shows significant differences. First, the maximum available power predicted by the present theory is 75% of that predicted by the former theory. Secondly, power transmission is predicted when the wind direction and the array axis are parallel, whereas no power transmission was formerly predicted for this condition.
EFFECT OF TOTAL THYROIDECTOMY UPON EXPERIMENTALLY INDUCED MENSTRUATION IN MATURE OVARIECTOMIZED MONKEYS1

Menstrual irregularities associated with thyroid dysfunction have long been a source of interest and comment to the clinician, and few treatises on disturbances of menstruation fail to detail the effects of exophthalmic goiter, toxic adenomata, and myxedema upon the character of the menstrual cycle. That these discussions are often contradictory serves to emphasize the variability of the effects. Certain generalizations, however, seem justified (1, 2); a) menorrhagia is more commonly associated with myxedema, b) the menstrual disturbance in exophthalmic goiter is most commonly amenorrheic, and c) the clinical syndrome of toxic adenoma of the thyroid is less often associated with menstrual irregularities. The importance of the thyroid in endocrine therapy in certain types of menstrual disorder is emphasized by the following statement from Pratt (3, p. 910): “Up to the present time more convincing results in correction of menstrual abnormalities have been obtained by empirical use of thyroid administered or...
The reliability and validity of the Symptom Interpretation Questionnaire

Abstract Objective Two studies were conducted to assess the construct validity of the Symptom Interpretation Questionnaire (SIQ) with particular attention to its relationship to social desirability, daily symptom, mood, hassles reports, and personality. Methods Participants completed a battery of self-report measures collected at one point in time and completed several measures on a daily basis for 60 days. The three subscales of the SIQ (Psychological, Somatic, Normalizing) were correlated with theoretically related and unrelated constructs to assess its convergent and discriminant validity. Results The Psychological Attribution scale was associated with a negative reporting style as evidenced by its association with low social desirability, neuroticism, and the report of psychological and physical symptoms, negative mood, and hassles. Somatic Attributions were inconsistently associated with daily somatic symptom reports and doctor visits, but were not associated with negative mood or hassles. Normalizing Attributions were not associated with social desirability or doctor visits, but were inconsistently related to daily negative mood and hassles. Normalizing attributions were also inconsistently related to “healthy” aspects of personality. Conclusion These results suggest that the SIQ has a small degree of convergent validity but little discriminant validity, making it difficult to ascertain exactly what this measure taps.
Influence of Patient Education on Profiles of Physician Practices

Profiles of physician practices that base ratings of physician performance on patients' physical and mental health status are substantially affected by patients' level of education. However, these ...
Pandemic paradox: new flu virus keeps researchers and health officials guessing.

Overall, the novel H1N1 virus is a mixed bag — antigenically novel and infectious, but relatively mild, susceptible to antiviral drugs, and genetically stable.
Use and abuse of the medical loss ratio to measure health plan performance

ABSTRACT: This paper examines the use and abuse of the medical loss ratio in the contemporary health care system and health policy debate. It begins with a survey of the ways in which the medical loss ratio has been interpreted to be something it is not, such as a measure of quality or efficiency. It then analyzes key organizational features of the emerging health care system that complicate measures of financial performance, including integration between payers and providers, diversification of payers across multiple products and distribution channels, and geographic expansion across metropolitan and state lines. These issues are illustrated using medical loss ratios from a range of nonprofit and for-profit health plans. The paper then sketches a strategy for improving the public's understanding of health plan performance as an alternative to continued reliance on the flawed medical loss ratio. This strategy incorporates data on structure and process, service quality, and financial performance.
Hydrothermal Interactions of Cement or Mortar with Zeolites or Montmorillonites

Concretes, grouts, clays and/or zeolites are candidate borehole, shaft or tunnel plugging materials for any nuclear waste repository. Interactions between these plugging materials may take place under mild hydrothermal conditions during the life of a repository. Class H cement or motar (PSU/WES mixture) was reacted with one of two montmorillonites, clinoptilolite or mordenite at 100/sup 0/ and 200/sup 0/C for different periods under a confining pressure of 30 MPa. The solid reaction products were characterized by x-ray powder diffraction and scanning electron microscopy after the hydrothermal treatments. When zeolites were in contact (not intimate mixture) with class H cement, they did not seem to alter but clinoptilolite altered to analcime, and mordenite became poorly crystalline in the presence of mortar (containing NaCl) at both 100/sup 0/ and 200/sup 0/C. When cement or mortar was intimately mixed with zeolites or montmorillonites and reacted hydrothermally, the reaction resulted in the formation of Al substituted tobermorite (11A type) in all cases (this type of reaction is expected at the interface) at both 100/sup 0/ and 200/sup 0/C. The mechanism of tobermorite formation includes the decomposition of zeolites or montmorillonites in the presence of alkaline (pH approx. = 12) cement or mortar and recrystallizationmore » to form Al substituted tobermorite. Cesium sorption measurements in 0.01N CaCl/sub 2/ on the reaction products revealed that selective Cs sorption increased in most cases, even though little or none of the original zeolites and montmorillonites remained in the products. For example, Cs sorption K/sub d/ (mL/g) increased from 80 in the untreated mortar + Ca montmorillonite mixture to 1700 in the interaction product which is Al substituted tobermorite. Thus, we discover here that Al substituted tobermorite has good selectivity for Cs.« less
Sudden infant death syndrome. Morphology update for forensic pathologists--1985.

Abstract Herein presented are current concepts regarding the sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS) including a definition of the phenomenon and a discussion of its present role in post-neonatal mortality in this country, a few of the recently published results (both clinical and morphological) of the NICHD Cooperative Epidemiologic Study, a report on the status of the so-called “Tissue-Markers for Hypoxia” and a summary of other recent morphologic observations.
Optical mapping of inner retinal tissue PO2

A high resolution optical mapping procedure was developed to visualize oxygen concentration levels topographically within the tissue of the inner retina in vivo. The novel optical mapping procedure has the potential for describing oxygen metabolism in retinal and other body tissues and elucidating the coupling of metabolism to function. The method is based upon the fluorescence quenching by molecular oxygen of a lipid soluble probe substance which accumulates within the lipid bilayers of tissue cells. The optical mapping system can provide more than 300,000 values of tissue PO2 in space with millisecond time resolution. Optical maps of inner retinal tissue PO2 were imaged under conditions of normoxia, hyperoxia, and for a retina which received restricted panretinal photocoagulation. Moreover, the effects of transient increases in intraocular pressure were also investigated. An O2 consumption rate of 5.48 +/- 0.50 (SEM) x 10(-3) ml O2/ml tissue/min for the light-adapted rat inner retina was estimated from the application of a Krogh cylinder diffusion model to tissue PO2 gradients measured in the capillary-free zone around arterioles. Similarly, arterioles oxygenated a surrounding cylinder of tissue with a mean radius of 144.73 +/- 5.52 (SEM) microns. Histograms of PO2 values within inner retinal tissue (mean PO2 = 25.03 mm Hg, median = 24.58 mm Hg) showed remarkable correspondence to those determined invasively in brain by others, using O2 microcathodes, possibly suggesting a similarity in the underlying capillary architectures of the two neural tissues.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Tharsis Tholus: an unusual martian volcano

Tharsis Tholus is unusual martian shield volcano in that the edifice is cut by a series of large normal faults that appear to penetrate the entire volcano. Northeast-trending narrow graben also cut the flank. The large normal faults may be caused by loading of a ductile subsurface layer allowing failure of the edifice; the narrow graben are typical tensional faults. The flank is heavily mantled by aeolian material. Despite the bulbous appearance, the overall morphology of Tharsis Tholus suggests it is a basaltic shield. Crater counts indicate an age of early Hesperian placing Tharsis Tholus in the middle of the period of activity that built the other small Tharsis volcanoes.
Modeling and Simulation of Adaptive Available Bit Rate Voice over Asynchronous Transfer Mode Networks

This article presents a modeling and simulation methodology to analyze the performance of voice quality when sent over the available bit rate service in asynchronous transfer mode networks. Sources can modify the rate at which they send traffic to the network based on the feedback carried in the resource management cells. This is achieved by changing the encoding level. As the contention increases to network resources—bandwidth in this case—sources start reducing the rate at which they generate and send traffic. The efficiency of the scheme under different scheduling/drop policies and other operating conditions and environments is evaluated using simulation modeling. Furthermore, sensitivity analysis is applied to different parameters, such as queue size and averaging interval length, to investigate their impact on the performance metrics. Results show that limiting the load to 41% of the link capacity results in an acceptable quality.
Relation-algebraic semantics

The first half is a tutorial on orderings, lattices, Boolean algebras, operators on Boolean algebras, Tarski's fixed point theorem, and relation algebras. In the second half, elements of a complete relation algebra are used as “meanings” for program statements. The use of relation algebras for this purpose was pioneered by de Bakker and de Roever in [10–12]. For a class of programming languages with program schemes, single μ-recursion, while-statements, if-then-else, sequential composition, and nondeterministic choice, a definition of “correct interpretation” is given which properly reflects the intuitive (or operational) meanings of the program constructs. A correct interpretation includes for each program statement an element serving as “input/output relation” and a domain element specifying that statement's “domain of nontermination”. The derivative of Hitchcock and Park [17] is defined and a relation-algebraic version of the extension by de Bakker [8, 9] of the Hitchcock-Park theorem is proved. The predicate transformers wps(-) and wlps(-) are defined and shown to obey all the standard laws in [15]. The “law of the excluded miracle” is shown to hold for an entire language if it holds for that language's basic statements (assignment statements and so on). Determinism is defined and characterized for all the program constructs. A relation-algebraic version of the invariance theorem for while-statements is given. An alternative definition of intepretation, called “demonic”, is obtained by using “demonic union” in place of ordinary union, and “demonic composition” in place of ordinary relational composition. Such interpretations are shown to arise naturally from a special class of correct interpretations, and to obey the laws of wps(-).
Algorithm 793: GQRAT—Gauss quadrature for rational functions

The concern here is with Gauss-type quadrature rules that are exact for a mixture of polynomials and rational functions, the latter being selected so as to simulate poles that may be present in the integrand. The underlying theory is presented as well as methods for constructing such rational Gauss formulae. Relevant computer routines are provided and applied to a number examples, including Fermi-Dirac and Bose-Einstein integrals of interest in solid state physics.
Fuzzy Integral Filters

Fuzzy integrals as image filters provide a standard representational form which generalize linear filters such as the averaging filter, morphological filters such as flat dilations and erosions, and order statistic filters such as the median filter. However, fuzzy integral filters are computationally intensive. Computing the output value obtained by fuzzy integral filtering at a point involves sorting all the pixels in a neighborhood of the point according to their values and then computing ordered weighted sum or maximum with respect to an appropriate fuzzy measure. In this paper we discuss some properties of fuzzy integral filters and describe a method for enhancing the processing elements of single instruction, multiple data (SIMD) mesh computers with comparators and counters to efficiently implement fuzzy integral filters.
Learning through game design: an investigation on the effects in library instruction sessions

The primary purpose of this quasi experimental pre and post test study is to examine whether the use of game design would have an impact on content learning, understanding and retention of knowledge, in information literacy classes. In this study game design activity was incorporated into undergraduate information literacy classes. Scratch, a Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) developed software was used to facilitate game design. The pre-test was used to establish a baseline measure for comparison with the post-test measure, with the comparison indicating effectiveness of the dependent variable. Video recordings and artifacts were gathered to obtain richer data of the experience. Researchers agree that there is a lack of empirically-grounded frameworks for integrating gaming activities into classrooms. This study has the potential of creating new knowledge about game design specific to higher education and libraries.
OBSERVATIONS ON THE SHAPE AND EXPOSURE OF STYLE BRANCHES IN THE ASTEREAE (COMPOSITAE)

A B S T R A C T A survey of over 30 species of Aster and 61 species in other genera of Astereae indicates that the somewhat flattened style branches of perfect disk florets characteristically unfold and spread in a pronate, rather than a supinate manner. While not exhibited in all genera (Baccharis and Conyza are among the exceptions), this phenomenon appears to be restricted to and, therefore, diagnostic for the tribe. The slender style branches of pistillate ray florets display the supinate expansion which is regularly observed in other tribes of Compositae. THE CAPITULUM in genera of Astereae can be distinguished from that of other tribes in the Compositae by a combination of the following characteristics. Typically the flowers are of two kinds, both fertile. The ligulate zygomorphic or filiformtubular florets forming the outer series lack stamens; the inner disk florets are actinomorphic and perfect or, if sterile, are at least structurally hermaphroditic. Receptacles lack chaff but may be alveolate or somewhat paleaceous. Styles have no hairy or thickened ring below the branches. The two style branches show well-defined stigmatic lines; those of the disk florets typically are somewhat flattened and are provided with deltoid or lanceolate, hairy, non-stigmatic appendages of varying length; those of the ligulate florets are more slender, not flattened, and have marginal papillate stigmatic lines continuous over the whole length of the bifurcation. Anthers are truncate to sagittate at the base, not tailed. The pappus varies with different genera. In some it consists of capillary bristles, in others it is awned or somewhat paleaceous. Sometimes it is absent. The fact that style branches of the ligulate florets are morphologically distinct from those of the disk florets has been discussed in the literature (Cassini, 1826, 1834; Cronquist, 1955) but generally receives no mention in floristic treatments. Only the styles of hermaphroditic florets, with their sterile appendages, provide significant characteristics useful for diagnostic keys. Style branches of the pistillate ray florets vary for different species only in size, the degree of tapering, and exsertion from the corolla tube. This structural difference of styles is determined by function. The perfect disk florets in Astereae are proterandrous. Pollen is released before the stigmatic lines on the inside of the closely appressed style branches become exposed and receptive. At anthesis the style elongates rapidly and pushes
PHENOMENAL SIMULTANEITY WITH IRREGULAR TIMING OF COMPONENTS OF THE VISUAL STIMULUS

Much information about the operation of the visual system has been garnered from data of experiments employing successive, cyclic stimuli. Spatial (Fry & Bartley, 1936; Granit, 1930; Foley, 1956), temporal (Granit & Hammond, 1931; Murphree, 1954; Battersby & Jaffe, 1953), spatio-temporal (Granit 8: Davis, 1931; Hylkema, 1942), interaction and induction (Motokawa, 1950) effects have been demonstrated. Evidence for chemical (Hecht, 1935; Jahn, 1946) and neural (Crozier & Wolf, 1943; Bartley, 1937) factors, as well as central (Walter & Walter, 1949; Walker, Woolf, Hdstead, & Case, 1943) involvement in these phenomena has been given. Dynamic models of visual system operation (Stroud, 1956; De Lange, 1952) have been constructed, based in part on data from such experiments. These researches might be characterized as psycho-physiological. In the context of the Gestalt school, pioneering contributions to the understanding of temporal factors in vision were made by Wertheirner ( 1912 ) by his specification of conuolling variables for simultaneity and apparent movement. Korte (1915) followed soon after and set forth his laws, concerning, among other variables, the time between visual stimuli necessary for optimal apparent movement. These laws have since been amended and modified by subsequent experimentation, notably that of Neuhaus (1930). With rare exception, however, flash-type stimuli used in these experiments came in regular succession, repeated at fixed, constant intervals, or else consisted of only two or three sequential elements. This being so, ic seemed vital to investigate the effects of trregalar, arhythmic (as well as regular), temporal cyclic patterns of visual flash presentation, anticipating that results of the interplay of such temporal factors might yield some useful new insights about the foregoing aspects of visual function. In accordance with the aim stated, a configuration of four pinhole-size dots of light, one at each corner of a diamond, was selected as the spatial pattern over which the stimuli of the experiment were presented. The four dots, flashed in sequence, constituted one cycle in a continuous train of cycles pre-
Atmospheric total precipitable water from AIRS and ECMWF during Antarctic summer

[1] This study compares the atmospheric total precipitable water (PWV) obtained by Atmospheric Infrared Sounder (AIRS) with radiosondes and the European Centre for Medium-range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF) operational analysis products during December 2003 and January 2004. We find that PWV from AIRS Level 3 (daily gridded) data is about 9% drier while ECMWF is 14% moister than sondes at the two grid points closest to the Dome C radiosonde site on the Antarctic Plateau at 3233 m elevation. The largest ECMWF moist biases occur on warmer days at Dome C. When AIRS Level 3 data are compared with ECMWF over the entire Antarctic continent, AIRS and ECMWF PWV have similar variability (correlation coefficients are predominantly 0.8 or higher), but with AIRS drier over most of the Antarctic by a consistent offset of about 0.1–0.2 mm. Because of this constant difference, the largest percentage differences are found over the highland areas of about 2500 meters and above, where absolute water vapor amounts are smallest.
Results from a National Survey of Psychologists in Medical School Settings—2003

Preliminary results are presented from a 2003 collaborative survey of psychologists employed in medical schools and academic health centers. The findings are reported along with comparable data from a similar survey conducted in 1997. There were several noteworthy changes in results from 1997 to 2003. Salaries increased substantially at all ranks, though women’s earnings remain lower than men’s. There were increases in the percentage of respondents who completed their doctorates 20 or more years ago, and in the percentages holding higher academic ranks and having tenure. However, there was a decrease in the absolute number and percentage of psychologists at lower ranks who received their doctorates recently. Overall, the findings indicate that psychologists have established a secure home in medical school settings. Future reports will present more detailed analyses of the 2003 dataset as well as additional comparisons with the 1997 survey data.
Three-dimensional imaging of xenograft tumors using optical computed and emission tomography

The physical basis and preliminary applications of optical computed tomography (optical-CT) and optical emission computed tomography (optical-ECT) are introduced, as new techniques with potential to provide unique 3D information on a variety of aspects of tumor structure and function. A particular focus here is imagingtumor micro-vasculature, and the spatial distribution of viable tumor cells, although the techniques have the potential for much wider application. The principle attractiveness of optical-CT and optical-ECT are that high resolution ( 20 μ m ) and high contrast co-registered 3D images of structure and function can be acquired for relatively large intact samples. The unique combination of high contrast and resolution offers advantages over micro-CT and micro-MRI, and the lack of requirement for sectioning offers advantages over confocal microscopy, conventional microscopy, and histological sectioning techniques. Optical-CT/ECT are implemented using in-house custom apparatus and a commercial dissecting microscope capable of both transmission and fluorescence imaging. Basic studies to characterize imaging performance are presented. Negligible geometrical distortion and accurate reconstruction of relative attenuation coefficients was observed. Optical-CT and optical-ECT are investigated here by application to high resolution imaging of HCT116 xenograft tumors, about 1 cc in dimension, which were transfected with constitutive red fluorescent protein (RFP). Tumor microvasculature was stained in vivo by tail vein injection of either passive absorbing dyes or active fluorescent markers (FITC conjugated lectin). Prior to imaging, the tumors were removed (ex vivo) and optically cleared in a key process to make the samples amenable to light transmission. The cleared tumors were imaged in three modes ( i ) optical-CT to image the 3D distribution of microvasculature as indicated by absorbing dye, ( i i ) optical-ECT using the FITC excitation and emission filter set, to determine microvasculature as indicated by lectin-endothelial binding, and ( i i i ) optical-ECT using the DSRed2 filter set to determine the 3D distribution of viable tumor as indicated by RFP emission. A clear correlation was observed between the independent vasculature imaging modes ( i ) and ( i i ) and postimaging histological sections, providing substantial validation of the optical-CT and optical-ECT techniques. Strong correlation was also observed between the RFP imaging of mode i i i , and modes i and i i , supporting the intuitive conclusion that well-perfused regions contain significant viable tumor. In summary, optical-CT and optical-ECT, when combined with new optical clearing techniques, represent powerful new imaging modalities with potential for providing unique information on the structure and function of tumors.
An Extinct Shrew from the Early Pleistocene of South Africa

A new species of crocidurine shrew, Diplomesodon fossorius , has been found in the australopithecine deposits of South Africa. This species has the most specialized dental and mandibular structures known in the subfamily. It is early Pleistocene in age and is most closely related to the living Diplomesodon pulchellum of south-central U.S.S.R. rather than to shrews now living in Africa.
Crayfish hepatopancreas metabolism and the intermoult cycle

1. 1. The respiratory rate of crayfish hepatopancreas tissue is shown to be dependent upon the stage in the intermoult cycle. QO2 values are lowest in intermoult and reach a peak in early postmoult. 2. 2. QO2 values are uninfluenced by extracts of eyestalks, cerebral ganglia and thoracic nerve cords when added to respiring tissue in vitro. Direct action of these hormonal principles on tissue metabolism is not indicated. 3. 3. Crayfish eyestalk principles differ from intermoult to premoult as demonstrated by a differential effect on hepatopancreas respiratory rate when extracts were injected into premoult animals. It is suggested that a moult-promoting factor is present in the premoult eyestalk. 4. 4. Glycolysis and the citric acid cycle were shown to be operative in tissue metabolism by use of the inhibitors iodoacetate, sodium fluoride and sodium selenite. Fluoride and iodoacetate sensitivity is greater in premoult tissue suggesting a shift in the metabolic pathway of carbohydrate metabolism with stage in the intermoult cycle. 5. 5. Glucose and hexokinase have no effect on the QO2 value of the hepatopancreas while succinate significantly increases it. In the light of these and other data further evidence is provided for more than one pathway in glucose metabolism. 6. 6. Sodium azide and potassium cyanide inhibited respiratory activity of hepatopancreas fragments, demonstrating that the terminal oxidase in electron transport is cytochrome oxidase. Inhibition of oxygen consumption by antimycin provides evidence that the cytochrome b-cytochrome c path is also involved in electron transport.
The microstructures of some refractory metals and alloys following neutron irradiation at 650°C

Abstract The refractory metals molybdenum, niobium, and vanadium, and the alloys TZM, niobium — 1% zirconium, and vanadium — 20% titanium were examined by transmission electron microscopy following irradiation at 650°C to fluences of 5.4 × 1026n/m2E > 0.1 MeV (all materials except V-20% Ti) and 8.4 × 1026n/m2, E>0.1 MeV (MoandV-20% Ti). Voids representing significant volume swelling were observed in Mo (2.3–3.0%), TZM (4.0%), Nb (1.5%) and V (3.6%). Some precipitation was observed in all materials except the Mo and V. The results indicate that void swelling can probably be controlled at moderate levels at this temperature in refractory alloys. Degradation of mechanical properties due to either irradiation -enhanced or — induced precipitation or the formation of high densities of small voids may, however, be a more serious problem.
Retinal Detachment in the Morning Glory Anomaly

Abstract The morning glory anomaly is a rare congenital clinical entity that results from abnormal optic nerve development. In our series of 30 patients, followed for a mean duration of 10.3 years, 11 developed associated retinal detachments. These detachments followed a variable clinical course, including spontaneous reattachment and even redetachment, and may result from an abnormal communication between the subarachnoid space of the optic nerve and the subretinal space, allowing cerebrospinal fluid to accumulate subretinally. The clinical findings (including ultrasonography, computed tomography, and electrophysiologic testing), natural history, complications, and therapeutic indications are discussed.
Influence of Au overlayers on valence-band offsets for buried CaF 2 /Si(111) interfaces

High-resolution x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy has been used to characterize the electrical properties of Au/${\mathrm{CaF}}_{2}$/p-type Si(111). Our results show that the valence-band offset at the ${\mathrm{CaF}}_{2}$/Si heterojunction varies with annealing temperature from 7.0 eV at 20 \ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}C, to 7.7 eV at 700 \ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}C, to 7.9 eV at 800 \ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}C. Au deposition on (20--50)-A\r{} ${\mathrm{CaF}}_{2}$/Si interfaces produces an upward shift of the ${\mathrm{CaF}}_{2}$ bands (from 0.8 to 1.3 eV), a corresponding Si band flattening (0 to 0.3 eV), and consequently a large reduction of the valence-band offset at the buried interface (6.2 to 7.0 eV depending on annealing). The movement of the Fermi-level position at the Si surface and the variation of heterojunction band lineup correlation to the density of interface states and reflect charge redistribution and changes in dipoles at the interface.
The H.264/MPEG-4 AVC video coding standard and its deployment status

The new video coding standard known as H.264/MPEG-4 Advanced Video Coding (AVC), now in its fourth version, has demonstrated significant achievements in terms of coding efficiency, robustness to a variety of network channels and conditions, and breadth of application. The recent fidelity range extensions have further improved compression quality and further broadened the range of applications, and the recent corrigenda have excised the inevitable errata of the initially-approved versions of the specification. Patent licensing programs have begun, the standard has been adopted into a variety of application specifications, and products suitable for widespread deployment have begun to appear. New work toward the near-term development of scalable video coding (SVC) extensions is also under way. This paper does not attempt to review the details of the H.264/MPEG-4 AVC technical design, as that subject has been covered already in a number of publications. Instead, it covers only the high-level design characteristics and focuses more on the recent developments in the standardization community and the deployment status of the specification.