cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Further studies on the identification of microglia in mixed brain cell cultures

Abstract The investigation of brain microglia in primary cultures of dissociated cerebral cortical cells has been continued here utilizing a histochemical procedure for thiamine pyrophosphatase, which selectively stains microglia in whole tissue. This procedure also selectively stained a subpopulation of cells in the cortical cultures. The stained cells were small and exhibited quite variable morphology; from these features, a corresponding cell population could be identified in viable cultures. The stained cells, which were distinct from previously identified macrophage forms, were also distinguished from similar appearing cell types—small neurons and oligodendrocytes. Based on their staining properties, morphology, and distinction from other cell types, the identified cells are proposed as equivalents of ramified microglia.
Optical properties of metal nanoparticles with no center of inversion symmetry : Observation of volume plasmons

We present theoretical and experimental studies of the optical response of L-shaped silver nanoparticles. The scattering spectrum exhibits several plasmon resonances that depend sensitively on the polarization of the incident electromagnetic field. The physical origin of the resonances is traced to different plasmon phenomena. In particular, a high energy band with unusual properties is interpreted in terms of volume plasmon oscillations arising from the asymmetry of a nanoparticle.
Paradoxical antagonism of PACAP receptor signaling by VIP in Xenopus oocytes via the type-C natriuretic peptide receptor.

Abstract Atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) and the closely-related peptides BNP and CNP are highly conserved cardiovascular hormones. They bind to single transmembrane-spanning receptors, triggering receptor-intrinsic guanylyl cyclase activity. The “truncated” type-C natriuretic peptide receptor (NPR-C) has long been called a clearance receptor because it lacks the intracellular guanylyl cyclase domain, though data suggest it might negatively couple to adenylyl cyclase via G i . Here we report the molecular cloning and characterization of the Xenopus laevis type-C natriuretic peptide receptor ( X NPR-C). Analysis confirms the presence of a short intracellular C-terminus, as well as a high similarity to fish and mammalian NPR-C. Injection of X NPR-C mRNA into Xenopus oocytes resulted in expression of high affinity [ 125 I]ANP binding sites that were competitively and completely displaced by natriuretic analogs and the unrelated neuropeptide vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP). Measurement of cAMP levels in mRNA-injected oocytes revealed that X NPR-C is negatively coupled to adenylyl cyclase in a pertussis toxin-sensitive manner. When X NPR-C was co-expressed with PAC 1 receptors for pituitary adenylyl cyclase-activating polypeptide (PACAP), VIP and natriuretic peptides counteracted the cAMP induction by PACAP. These results suggest that VIP and natriuretic peptides can potentially modulate the action of PACAP in cells where these receptors are co-expressed.
Dynamic Provisioning of Optical Networks with Many-to-Many Traffic Grooming

A large number of network applications today allow several users to interact together using the many-to-many service mode. In many-to-many communication, a session consists of a group of users (we refer to them as members), where each member transmits its traffic to all other members in the same group. In this paper, we address the problem of dynamic provisioning of optical WDM networks to support many-to-many traffic grooming. The objective is to minimize the overall blocking probability of arriving many-to-many sessions. We address the problem in both non-splitting networks where the nodes do not have optical splitting capabilities and in splitting networks where the nodes have optical splitting capabilities. In each of the two networks, we propose a number of dynamic provisioning heuristics and we provide extensive experiments to evaluate and compare their performance.
Early results of the selenium and vitamin E prostate cancer prevention study.

Introduction: Secondary analyses of two randomized controlled trials and epidemiologic evidence suggested that vitamin E and selenium may be used as a relatively nontoxic means to prevent prostate cancer. The Selenium and Vitamin E Cancer Prevention Trial (SELECT), a large randomized trial, was initiated to determine whether these agents had effi cacy as chemopreventative agents for prostate cancer and other cancers.
Peroxidase-ROS interactions

Reactive oxygen species (ROS), such as hydrogen peroxide and superoxide anion radical, have long been recognized as harmful by-products of oxidative metabolism. Under normal physiologic conditions, hydrogen peroxide and superoxide are detoxified by antioxidant enzymes such as catalase (CAT), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and glutathione peroxidase (GPx). Heme peroxidases (eosinophil peroxidase (EPO), lactoperoxidase (LPO), myeloperoxidase (MPO), etc.) also consume ROS, but unlike scavenging enzymes, are sources of these species as well. In the present paper, we study a well-tested model of the peroxidase–oxidase (PO) reaction based on horseradish peroxidase (HRP) chemistry with regard to the production and consumption of hydrogen peroxide and superoxide. Our principal results are these: The relevance of these results to the functional significance of fluctuating ROS concentrations in vivo, to neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative disease and to episodic and progressive symptomatology is discussed.
Learning Phrasal Categories

In this work we learn clusters of contextual annotations for non-terminals in the Penn Treebank. Perhaps the best way to think about this problem is to contrast our work with that of Klein and Manning (2003). That research used tree-transformations to create various grammars with different contextual annotations on the non-terminals. These grammars were then used in conjunction with a CKY parser. The authors explored the space of different annotation combinations by hand. Here we try to automate the process -- to learn the "right" combination automatically. Our results are not quite as good as those carefully created by hand, but they are close (84.8 vs 85.7).
Telomeres and telomerase in prostatic intraepithelial neoplasia and prostate cancer biology

Telomeres are terminal, repeated deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) sequences that stabilize and protect the ends of the chromosomes. Mounting evidence indicates that by initiating chromosomal instability, short dysfunctional telomeres may be involved in prostate carcinogenesis. Although the exact cause of the telomere shortening observed in prostate cancer remains a mystery, telomere loss is known to occur during cell division and oxidative DNA damage, 2 byproducts of chronic inflammation, which is a common histologic finding in the prostate. In addition to prostate cancer causation, telomeres may also play a role in disease progression, and there are indications that tumor telomere content may prove useful as a prognostic marker. Once established, prostate cancer cells almost invariably activate the telomeric DNA polymerase enzyme telomerase, the detection of which may prove useful for diagnostic purposes. Interestingly, telomerase activity is suppressed in prostate cancer cells after androgen withdrawal, raising the possibility that androgen ablative therapies may re-instigate telomere loss, and consequent genetic instability, in surviving cancer cells, thus contributing to the emergence of an androgen-independent, lethal phenotype. A more thorough understanding of telomere biology as it relates to prostate cancer should provide new opportunities for disease prevention, diagnosis, prognostication, and treatment.
The Δ12 desaturase from the house cricket, Acheta domesticus (Orthoptera: Gryllidae): characterization and form of the substrate.

Abstract A novel Δ12-desaturase from animals, which converts oleic acid (18:1n-9) to linoleic acid (18:2n-6), was characterized in the house cricket, Acheta domesticus. The Δ12-desaturase product, linoleic acid, was determined by silver nitrate thin-layer chromatography, radio-gas-liquid chromatography and radio-high-performance liquid chromatography with the latter being used for routine analyses. Enzyme activity was located in the microsomal fraction of whole insect homogenates. NADPH or NADH was required for activity, with NADPH being the more efficient electron donor. In short incubation times with oleoyl-CoA as substrate, the highest amount of product, linoleic acid, was found as linoleoyl-CoA. With longer incubation periods, most of the linoleic acid was recovered in the polar lipid fraction containing phospholipid. Preincubation of the microsomal preparation in the absence of NADPH, which allowed 90% of the oleoyl moiety to be transacylated into complex lipid, resulted in no detectable desaturation upon addition of NADPH. These data indicate that the oleic acid moiety used as substrate was in the form of a CoA derivative and not in the form of a phospholipid, as it is for the plant Δ12-desaturase. This is the first characterization of a Δ12-desaturase from an animal system and the first report of a Δ12-desaturase that uses oleoyl-CoA as substrate.
Partly Cloudy: Ethics in War, Espionage, Covert Action, and Interrogation

Perry, David L., Partly Cloudy: Ethics in War, Espionage, Covert Action, and Interrogation, Lanham, MD: Rowman and Littlefield, Scarecrow Press, 2009, 247 pages, $40.00. ISBN 978-0-8108-6758-1 Davi...
Are Government Transfers Efficient? An Alternative Test of the Efficient Redistribution Hypothesis

The efficient redistribution hypothesis says that no available government policies are Pareto superior to observed government policies. Efficient redistribution from government policy is a central tenet of much recent theoretical and applied political economy literature. In this paper, limitations of previous attempts to test the efficient redistribution hypothesis are discussed, and an alternative test of the efficient redistribution hypothesis that uses vector optimization theory and bootstrap methodology is presented.
Local thermal analysis of reaction and the glass transition in exposed resist

We report the results of an in situ study of reaction and the glass transition in exposed films of positive chemically amplified resists. Local thermal analysis was performed on exposed patterns in thin films of APEX-E. We measure the activation energy of reaction int he exposed resist to be 132 +/- 5 kJ/mol. Post-exposure delay effects were shown to reduce the reaction rate in the pattern by as much as 14 percent. Finally, we used local thermal analysis to determine the effect of reaction on the glass transition temperature in exposed APEX-E. We find that the glass transition temperature increased linearly by as much as 20 degrees C after complete de-protection matrix. We present a detailed examination of the use of differential thermal analysis to study reaction and the glass transition with a local thermal probe.
Release, storage and uptake of catecholamines by a clonal cell line of nerve growth factor (NGF) responsive pheochromocytoma cells

Release, storage and uptake of catecholamines have been studied in cultures of a clonal line of rat pheochromocytoma cells designated as PC12. The PC12 line has previously been shown to respond to nerve growth factor (NGF) by extending neuronal-like processes and to synthesize and contain norepinephrine (NE) and dopamine (DA). In the present experiments, upon exposure to51.5mMK+, PC12 cells released a substantial proportion (ca. 30% and 12% for NGF-untreated and -treated cells, respectively) of their endogenous NE and DA. The release was dependent on the presence of Ca2+ and was inhibited by excess Mg2+. Veratridine, an alkaloid which activates Na+ action potential ionophores, was also effective in releasing DA and NE. Exposure of PC12 cells (NGF-treated and -untreated) to reserpine (10−5 M) resulted in depletion of intracellular DA and NE levels by over 90% in 21 h. PC12 cells were also found to take up NE from the external medium by means of a saturable transport mechanism which follows Michaelis-Menten kinetics (apparentKm≈ 2 μM), is energy and sodium dependent and which is blocked by low concentrations of cocaine and desmethylimipramine. Such findings indicate that PC12 cells (a) can release catecholamines by means of an exocytotic secretion mechanism, (b) store most of their endogenous catecholamines in chromaffin granules and/or vesicles and (c) have an uptake1-type transport system for norepinephrine. PC12 cells thus appear to express a number of differentiated properties characteristic of sympathetic neurons and adrenal chromaffin cells and may be a useful system in which to study catecholamine metabolism.
Acyl esters from oxo-derived hydroxymethylstearates as plasticizers for polyvinyl chloride

Hydroxymethylstearates were made by hydroformylation or oxo reaction of mono- and polyunsaturated fats and esters with either rhodium-triphenylphosphine or cobalt carbonyl catalysts. Rhodium-oxo products were hydrogenated with nickel catalyst, whereas, cobalt-oxo products were heated directly under hydrogen pressure. Hydroxymethyl fatty alcohols also were prepared by a two-step copper-chromite hydrogenation of hydroformylated linseed fatty esters. Of these hydroxymethyl compounds, 39 were converted to their acetates and other acyloxy derivatives and then evaluated as primary plasticizers for polyvinylchloride. For compounds with good compatibility, methyl 9(10)-acetoxymethylstearate and 9(10)-acetoxymethyloctadecyl acetate gave the lowest flex temperature (−47 C). An unusual combination of good compatibility and low flex temperature was obtained with 2-methoxyethyl 9(10)-acetoxymethylstearate. Addition of more than one acetoxymethyl group in the fatty acid molecule, made possible by rhodium hydroformylation, imparted good compatibility and outstanding permanence (low migration and volatility) but raised flex temperature. Butyl diacetoxymethylstearate, methyl triacetoxymethylstearate, and polyacetoxymethyloctadecyl acetate from linseed esters displayed good compatibility, strength, and volatility characteristics. As glycerides, acetoxymethylated safflower and linseed oils produced good compatibility and outstanding permanence, better than esters commonly used as commercial plasticizers.
Neuropeptides: influence of acute and chronic effects of opiates.

Abstract (1) There is a variety of naturally occurring polypeptides that influence the actions of morphine. (2) Some of these may be physiological modulators, altering synaptic excitability in a direction that is the same as or opposite to the changes in modulation produced by morphine, so as to mimic or antagonize the actions of morphine. (3) Other polypeptides appear to act via different mechanisms so as to mimic or antagonize the actions of morphine, or to influence the body's response to morphine. (4) Finally, it is fully appropriate to evaluate critically the important work on what has become known as ‘the morphine receptor’ and consider it from the more conservative reference point of “a morphine receptor”.
Adiabatic instability in coupled dark energy/dark matter models

We consider theories in which there exists a nontrivial coupling between the dark matter sector and the sector responsible for the acceleration of the Universe. Such theories can possess an adiabatic regime in which the quintessence field always sits at the minimum of its effective potential, which is set by the local dark matter density. We show that if the coupling strength is much larger than gravitational, then the adiabatic regime is always subject to an instability. The instability, which can also be thought of as a type of Jeans instability, is characterized by a negative sound speed squared of an effective coupled dark matter/dark energy fluid, and results in the exponential growth of small scale modes. We discuss the role of the instability in specific coupled cold dark matter and mass varying neutrino models of dark energy and clarify for these theories the regimes in which the instability can be evaded due to nonadiabaticity or weak coupling.
Descending Thoracic Aorta to Femoral Artery Bypass

Use of the descending thoracic aorta as an inflow source for treatment of aortoiliac occlusive disease was first described in 1961 (Blaisdell 1961; Sevenson et al. 1961). These initial reports were attempts to find an alternative inflow supply when conditions prohibited use of the infrarenal aorta. Upon the heels of these publications, the use of the less complex axillofemoral bypass for extra-anatomic aortoiliac reconstruction was developed and popularized, diminishing interest in the use of the thoracic aorta. During recent years, experience has accumulated and the indications, surgical technique, and excellent results of descending thoracic aorta to femoral artery bypass have been characterized.
The Maoist Shaman and the Madman: Ritual Bricolage, Failed Ritual, and Failed Ritual Theory

On a cool summer afternoon, a shaman arrived at a dusty mud-brick Naxi village to cure a resident who had gone mad. During the ritual that followed, the shaman called on Chairman Mao, Zhou Enlai, and Deng Xiaoping to assist her in driving out demons while she instructed the madman to brace up, learn from Lei Feng, and work for the greater good of his country. The shaman chanted, "The madman is one of the wretched masses. Arise if you don't want to be enslaved! Let our flesh and blood build the next Great Wall." The shaman incorporated political slogans and phrases from the Chinese national anthem into her ritual incantations. She wore a shoulder bag affixed with a Red Guard armband and marched around the madman's courtyard as if she were going into battle. The shaman bowed to the gods and burned incense, but she also invoked the "gods" and the experiences of the Chinese revolution-all in an attempt to save the madman.
Hyperleukocytosis in a premature infant with intrauterine herpes simplex encephalitis

Herpes encephalitis is a rare but devastating infection in premature infants. We report a 29 week gestation infant with severe intrauterine cutaneous and central nervous system herpes accompanied by hyperleukocytosis. Leukemoid reactions are not uncommon in this population, but the association of herpes encephalitis and a leukemoid reaction or hyperleukocytosis has not been reported previously.
Clinical and molecular studies of patients with characteristics of Opitz G/BBB syndrome shows a novel MID1 mutation.

Opitz G/BBB syndrome is characterized by midline abnormalities such as hypertelorism, cleft palate, and hypospadias. This syndrome is heterogeneous with an X-linked recessive form caused by mutations in the MID1 gene at band Xp22.3. However, mutations in MID1 have only been identified in 47% of familial cases of X-linked Opitz G/BBB syndrome, and 13% of sporadic cases. We performed a phenotype–genotype analysis of a group of nine new patients with clinical characteristics commonly seen in Opitz G/BBB syndrome, and of previously reported patients. We identified a novel mutation in exon 9 of the MID1 gene, c.1941insTGAGTCATCATCC, leading to a premature termination codon at amino acid 514 in a patient with hypertelorism, apparently low-set ears, a short philtrum, bilateral cleft of lip and palate and hypospadias. This mutation affects the PRY domain of the C-terminus of the MID1 protein. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Flexible robust sliding mode control for uncertain stochastic systems with time-varying delay and structural uncertainties

This paper presents a new robust sliding mode control (SMC) method for uncertain stochastic systems with time-varying delay, structural uncertainties and the Brownian noise. The proposed method applies singular value decomposition (SVD) to all the structural uncertainties, and introduces adjustable parameters for control design. Then, a less-conservative condition of robust stability and new robust controller for the uncertain stochastic systems are derived via linear matrix inequality (LMI) forms. The reachability of system states to the SMC switching surface is guaranteed by the proposed control rule. It is theoretically proved that the conservatism of the proposed method is less than the previous methods. The simulation demonstrates the correctness of the results.
Emergency physicians' responses to families following patient death

Responses of emergency physicians when they interact with families after a death and their subsequent contact with survivors were examined. Questionnaires were sent to 138 Oregon emergency physicians and completed by 114 (83%). The number of deaths (mean ± SD) encountered by emergency physicians was 17 ± 15 per year. The majority of physicians (76%) usually notified the family in person and spent an average of 15 ± 11 minutes with the family. Subsequent contact with survivors, such as sending sympathy cards, making follow-up calls, or reporting autopsy results, was relatively infrequent. While 94% of our sample group reported a need for training in this area, less than one half received any training during medical school or residency. We suggest implementation of educational programs for physicians and development of outreach programs for survivors.
Evidence for a phase transition in BEA

Abstract Differential scanning calorimetry and positron lifetime measurements show positive evidence for a phase transition in BEA at 28.5°C.
Prevention of photocarcinogenesis and UV-induced immunosuppression in mice by topical tannic acid.

Abstract Topical application of tannic acid, a phenolic antioxidant derived from plants, was found to inhibit the cutaneous carcinogenesis and the immunosuppression induced by ultraviolet B (UVB) irradiation with no visible toxicity. BALB/cAnNTacfBR mice were treated with 200 μg of tannic acid three times weekly for two weeks before UV treatments began and throughout the experiment. UVB irradiation consisted of five 30‐minute exposures per week to banks of six FS40 Westinghouse sunlamps. In the photocarcinogenesis study, mice received a total dose of approximately 1.09 × 106 J/m2. Skin cancer incidence in UV‐irradiated mice was 75% at 26 weeks after the first UV exposure; tannic acid reduced this to 42%. Immunosuppression induced by UVB irradiation normally prevents the host from rejecting antigenic syngeneic UV‐induced tumors. Immunosuppression in these experiments was measured by a passive transfer assay. Tumor challenges grew to an average of 88 ± 20, 36 ± 11, and 20 + 8 mm2 in naive recipients of sple...
Curriculum Internationalization and Distance Learning: Convergence of Necessity and Technology.

Abstract Business schools must undergo curriculum internationalization to stay competitive in the business education marketplace, to meet accreditation requirements, and to provide the business community with a well prepared labor force. Coincident with the need to internationalize have been two major national trends within the United States-reductions and limitations of funding for higher education and the increased use of distance learning. Distance learning has been viewed as an effective method to reach the greatest number of students at the least cost and thus maximize the education dollar. Technology changes have moved distance learning from an environment where teacher and student have limited interaction to one that approaches the traditional classroom. Existing methods of internationalizing the business curriculum can be applied and utilized in the distance learning environment. A model for internationalizing distance learning courses is provided.
Excited- and ground-state versions of the tri-pi-methane rearrangement: mechanistic and exploratory organic photochemistry.

The di-π-methane rearrangement with two π-groups bonded to a single carbon leading to π-substituted cyclopropanes is now well established. The present research had as its goal the exploration of molecular systems having three π-moieties attached to an sp3-hybridized atom in a search for a tri-π-methane rearrangement. Indeed, it was found that such systems do rearrange photochemically to afford cyclopentenes. However, it was also established that vinylcyclopropanes ring-expand to cyclopentenes on direct irradiation. Since both three-ring and five-ring photoproducts often are found to be produced, it was important to establish that the observed photochemistry was really the result of a true single-step tri-π-methane rearrangement and not the consequence of two sequential rearrangements, first to form a vinyl cyclopropane which subsequently ring expanded to the cyclopentene. The general situation has three speciesA, B, and Ccorresponding to tri-π-methane reactant A, vinylcyclopropane photoproduct B, and cycl...
MATRIX FORMULAS FOR NONSTATIONARY ARIMA SIGNAL EXTRACTION

The paper provides general matrix formulas for minimum mean squared error signal extraction for a finitely sampled time series whose signal and noise components are nonstationary autoregressive integrated moving average processes. These formulas are quite practical; in addition to being simple to implement on a computer, they make it possible to easily derive important general properties of the signal extraction filters. We also extend these formulas to estimates of future values of the unobserved signal, and we show how this result combines signal extraction and forecasting.
Spectroscopic Comparison of Eu(III) Binding to Various Biosorbents

Biosorption of Eu(III) to various biogenic materials was investigated using luminescence spectroscopy involving excitation of non-degenerate 7F0 → 5D0 transition of bound metal ions. Materials included cultured anther cell fragments from Datura innoxia, pecan shells (Protandrous spp.), dried bean sprouts (vigna spp.), and dried tissues from the roots, stems, and leaves of mature tumbleweeds (Salsola spp.), non-viable algae cells of Chlorella vulgaris immobilized within a polysilicate matrix, sphagnum peat, dried peat, and a commercially available organic peat material. Analysis of resulting excitation spectra indicated only minimal variation in binding environments for the different tumbleweed tissues when respective spectra were visually compared. Observed red-shifts in excitation spectral envelopes suggest an increased stabilization of surface ligand-metal associations for all materials compared to D. innoixia. Application of principal component analysis to these spectra resulted in segregation of mater...
Latent Dirichlet Allocation with Topic-in-Set Knowledge

Latent Dirichlet Allocation is an unsupervised graphical model which can discover latent topics in unlabeled data. We propose a mechanism for adding partial supervision, called topic-in-set knowledge, to latent topic modeling. This type of supervision can be used to encourage the recovery of topics which are more relevant to user modeling goals than the topics which would be recovered otherwise. Preliminary experiments on text datasets are presented to demonstrate the potential effectiveness of this method.
Brain uptake of pipecolic acid, amino acids, and amines following intracarotid injection in the mouse

The uptake of pipecolic acid by the mouse brain was compared to that of several amino acids and amines, following an injection of a double-labeled mixture into the carotid artery. In general, BUI (brain uptake index) values were lower in the mouse than those previously reported in the rat. The only exception was proline. Lysine, a precursor of pipecolic acid biosynthesis in brain, showed a higher BUI than pipecolic acid. The BUI ofD,l-[3H]pipecolic acid was found to be 3.39 (at 0.114 mM). This was saturable between a concentration of 0.114 and 3.44 mM. Kinetic analysis suggests the presence of two kinds of transport systems. Substances structurally related to pipecolic acid, such as nipecotic acid, isonipecotic acid,l-proline, and piperidine show a significant inhibitory effect. Among the amino acids tested, only GABA showed an inhibitory effect. Data are reported which, when considered with other findings (5), present evidence that pipecolic acid is (1) synthesized both in vitro and in vivo in the mouse brain, (2) actively transported in vivo into the brain, and (3) taken up in vitro by synaptosomal preparations.
Animal models of the cardiovascular effects of exogenous hormones.

Abstract As early as the 1950s, animal studies showed that exogenous estrogen could inhibit coronary atherosclerosis. Since then, additional animal studies have helped to further elucidate the cardiovascular effects of hormone replacement therapy and the importance of the timing of therapy initiation. Although estrogen’s cardioprotective effects in women are believed to be related, in part, to its effects on lipoprotein levels, studies in monkeys show that estrogen acutely modulates the vasomotor response of atherosclerotic coronary arteries without significantly changing lipoprotein levels, indicating a direct vascular effect. Studies in both rats and primates indicate that some of the antiatherogenic effects of estrogens may be counteracted by specific progestins. Models using a nonselective estrogen receptor (ER) antagonist (ICI 182,780) indicate that the antiatherogenic effects of 17β-estradiol are mediated via ERs. Recent studies with ER knockout mice indicate that ER-α and ER-β mediate the protective effects of estrogen on the vasculature. Additional studies are ongoing to define the mechanisms through which specific estrogens and progestins affect cardiovascular function and to clarify the impact of the timing of initiation of therapy on the atherosclerotic process.
Effects of visual experience on vestibular nystagmus habituation in the cat.

Separate groups of ten cats each were exposed to three specific varieties of visual experience during a series of angular accelerations, and then compared on a test trial in darkness with three control groups of ten cats each that had received the same acceleration experience but without concomitant visual stimulation. Animals were maintained in a high state of arousal with d-amphetamine. Electro-oculographic recordings showed that the nystagmic response decrement was prominent for all six groups and that the visual experience neither hastened nor slowed the habituation process.
Anthropogenic organic contaminants in the effluent of a combined sewer overflow: impact on Boston Harbor.

Abstract Effluent from a large combined sewer overflow (CSO) in Boston and receiving waters near the CSO outfall were sampled during dry and wet weather conditions. Surficial sediments were also collected from the vicinity of the CSO and at nearby sites. The samples were analyzed for a variety of organic constituents including organic carbon and nitrogen, linear alkylbenzenes (LABs), coprostanol and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs). As judged by the presence of waste-specific markers (LABs, coprostanol), the CSO effluent contains sewage under both dry and wet weather conditions. When rainfall occurs, the concentration of suspended solids and all organic constituents in the particulate phase increase, ultimately approaching those characteristic of untreated sewage. The concentrations of LABs and PCBs in the effluent are strongly correlated, indicating that PCBs in the CSO are derived from sewage inputs. During heavy rainfall, the vast majority (>90%) of the hydrophobic organic substances are associated with suspended particulate matter, whereas during dry weather, a significant fraction resides in the operationally defined ‘dissolved’ phase. Estimates of the mass emission rates of CSO constituents show that >70% of the suspended particles and >90% of the particulate organic carbon, hydrocarbons and trace organics are discharged during wet weather. Particles in the receiving water appear to be strongly influenced by the CSO effluent during wet weather. Concentrations of PCBs in surficial sediments near the CSO are correlated with those of coprostanol and the LABs, indicating that these compounds are derived from similar sources. Based on the observed correlations, approximately 60–80% of the sedimentary PCBs originate from sewage. Comparison of ΣLAB/coprostanol ratios of effluent particles, surficial sediments and sewage sludges suggest that the vast majority of the marker compounds and the PCBs in sediments are not from the CSO, but are derived from one of two sewage treatment plants that discharged sludge into the harbor until 1991. The sludge-derived contaminants were probably carried by tidal currents into Dorchester Bay and deposited in shallow, quiescent embayments where sedimentation is favored. These results illustrate the potential importance of long-range transport of waste-derived contaminants in urban harbors and their rapid accumulation in localized depocenters.
Anticonvulsant drug effects on spontaneous thalamocortical rhythms in vitro: Phenytoin, carbamazepine, and phenobarbital

When perfused with a medium containing no added Mg2+, rodent thalamocortical brain slices generate spontaneous generalized thalamocortical discharges of several types. Two of these discharges, termed simple and complex thalamocortical burst complexes (sTBCs and cTBCs), are physiologically and pharmacologically similar to the spike-wave discharges of generalized absence epilepsy and to the discharges underlying generalized tonic-clonic seizures, respectively. In a further characterization of the pharmacology of generalized thalamocortical discharges recorded in rodent thalamocortical slices, the actions of anticonvulsants effective in control of partial and generalized tonic-clonic seizures, but not generalized absence seizures, were studied on these rhythms. The effects of phenytoin, carbamazepine, and phenobarbital were tested against sTBCs and cTBCs recorded in vitro in rodent thalamocortical slices. When applied in clinically relevant concentrations, phenytoin and carbamazepine were very effective in reducing or blocking cTBCs. These drugs were much less effective in controlling sTBCs. Phenobarbital was effective in controlling both sTBCs and cTBCs, but the level of block was greater for cTBCs. Therefore, it appears that sTBCs and cTBCs are quite distinct in their relative sensitivity to anticonvulsant drugs, and this differential sensitivity parallels the relative effectiveness of these drugs in controlling generalized absence and generalized tonic-clonic seizures.
Palate contour as a limiting factor in intraoral x-ray technique.

Abstract This study introduces a technique for obtaining selected three-dimensional measurements of the configuration of the palate. The findings support the view that narrow films are not only desirable but mandatory for diagnostically superior periapical x-ray views of upper anterior teeth and suggest that the ideal of true parallel film placement is unlikely to be effective as a routine technique throughout the maxilla. Optimum film positions and projections have been devised for consideration as a practical and effective compromise. This concept implies the projection of radiation at right angles to films carefully positioned according to known anatomic limitations.
Development of a candidate vaccine for Newcastle disease virus by epitope display in the Cucumber mosaic virus capsid protein.

A peptide fusion to the capsid protein (CP) of Cucumber mosaic virus(CMV) was designed to express either a 17 amino acid (aa) neutralizing epitope of the Newcastle disease virus (NDV) fusion (F) protein or an eight aa neutralizing epitope of the NDV hemagglutinin-neuraminidase (HN) protein. Fusions of the F,␣HN and HN2 (duplicated HN epitope) were made in the internal βH-βI loop (motif 5) within the CMV CP. Recombinant RNA3 transcripts of the Ixora strain of CMV were inoculated on to Nicotiana benthamiana, together with CMV RNA1 and CMV RNA2. When the F and HN epitopes were placed in the internal motif, the modified virus was infectious and the HN NDV epitope was recognized by anti-NDV sera. However, in some plants, deletions of one to several of the inserted amino acids occurred. A duplication of the HN epitope rendered the virus non-viable.
Characteristics of brainstem-evoked stimulus-bound respiration rate in anesthetized cats.

Abstract In cats anesthetized with pentobarbital, stimulation of brainstem sites with periodic bursts of modified square waves altered respiration so that one respiratory cycle corresponded to each stimulus burst. Stimulus-bound respiration rates of 60 to 240 per minute were evoked by appropriate stimulation of sites in the anterior hypothalamus, dorsal midbrain, or lateral medulla. Concurrent blood pressure changes were of lesser magnitude than those evoked from the same sites by stimulation with sustained trains of square waves. Stimulus-bound respiration rate was independent of changes in respiratory depth. The phase of the respiratory cycle coinciding with the onset of each stimulus burst could vary by as much as 180° in a series of responses to stimulation of one site. When bursts of pulses were applied alternately to two sites, each eliciting stimulus-bound respiration when stimulated singly, the result was an irregular respiratory rhythm. With combined stimulation of two sites, singly yielding respiratory changes which were not stimulus-related, respiration became stimulus-bound to one cycle: one pair of stimulus bursts. As a periodic function, respiratory rate appears selectively modifiable by periodic stimulation. Presumably such stimulation of certain brainstem areas induces a barrage of impulses to the respiratory centers, where a new frequency is superimposed on the spontaneous autorhythmicity.
Dielectric resonator method for measuring the electrical conductivity of carbon nanotubes from microwave to millimeter frequencies

We describe a dielectric resonator-based measurement method for determining the electrical conductivity of carbon nanotubes at microwave to millimeter frequencies. This measurement method is not limited by the metal conductor contact resistances or impedance mismatch commonly encountered in the measurement of single nanotubes. The measurement of carbon nanotubes yielded conductivities of approximately 0.08 × 107 S/m.
Misspecified T2 tests. II. series expansions

Properties of nonstandard Hotelling's (1931) T2 distributions are studied under models having misspecified scale. Local and global bounds on truncation errors are given for a weighted series of F-distributions, extending the work of Kotz et al. (1967) to include nonstandard T2 distributions
Solitary waves due to χ (2) :χ (2) cascading

Solitary waves in materials with a cascaded χ(2):χ(2) nonlinearity are investigated, and the implications of the robustness hypothesis for these solitary waves are discussed. Both temporal and spatial solitary waves are studied. First, the basic equations that describe the χ(2):χ(2) nonlinearity in the presence of dispersion or diffraction are derived in the plane-wave approximation, and we show that these equations reduce to the nonlinear Schrodinger equation in the limit of large phase mismatch and can be considered a Hamiltonian deformation of the nonlinear Schrodinger equation. We then proceed to a comprehensive description of all the solitary-wave solutions of the basic equations that can be expressed as a simple sum of a constant term, a term proportional to a power of the hyperbolic secant, and a term proportional to a power of the hyperbolic secant multiplied by the hyperbolic tangent. This formulation includes all the previously known solitary-wave solutions and some exotic new ones as well. Our solutions are derived in the presence of an arbitrary group-velocity difference between the two harmonics, but a transformation that relates our solutions to zero-velocity solutions is derived. We find that all the solitary-wave solutions are zero-parameter and one-parameter families, as opposed to nonlinear-Schrodinger-equation solitons, which are a two-parameter family of solutions. Finally, we discuss the prediction of the robustness hypothesis that there should be a two-parameter family of solutions with solitonlike behavior, and we discuss the experimental requirements for observation of solitonlike behavior.
Reputation and Exogenous Private Learning

Abstract Short-run competitors in the chain store game receive noisy signals of the long-run incumbent firm's type. The history of signals, which in the limit is fully revealing, is observable to the competitors but possibly not to the incumbent. As long as there is sufficient noise in the signals, then in any equilibrium a patient weak incumbent obtains a payoff strictly higher than her minmax payoff.
In vitro effects of folate derivatives on valproate-induced neural tube defects in mouse and rat embryos.

Abstract The anticonvulsant drug valproic acid (VPA), produces neural tube defects in mouse and rat embryos treated in vivo or in vitro . The mechanism for the drug's embryotoxic effect is unknown, but 5-formyltetrahydrofolate has been reported to decrease the incidence of VPA-induced neural tube defects in mice treated in vivo . In the present study we have examined the ability of 5-formyltetrahydrofolate, tetrahydrofolate, 5-methyltetrahydrofolate and folic acid to protect against VPA-induced neural tube defects in CD-1 mouse or CD rat embryos grown in a whole embryo culture system. Mouse embryos with 2–5 somite pairs were cultured for 48 hr beginning on gestation day 8; presomite stage rat embryos were cultured beginning on gestation day 9 (for both species gestation day 0 was taken as the day a vaginal sperm plug was found). VPA at 1.2 m m (rats) or 1.8 m m (mice) produced a high incidence of open neural tubes. None of the folate derivatives in concentrations up to 100 μg/ml was able to decrease the incidence of VPA-induced defects in either species. These data suggest that folate is not involved in the mechanism of VPA-induced neural tube defects.
Microprobe XRF Mapping and XAS Investigations of the Intracellular Metabolism of Arsenic for Understanding Arsenic-Induced Toxicity

Arsenic (As) is responsible for mass-poisonings worldwide following the ingestion of As-contaminated drinking water. Importantly, however, As toxicity is exploited in the antileukemia drug, Trisenox (As2O3), which successfully cures 65-80% of patients suffering relapsed acute promyelocytic leukemia. In an effort to determine the intracellular organelle and biomolecular targets of As, microprobe X-ray fluorescence (XRF) and X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS) analyses were performed on HepG2 cells following their exposure to high doses of arsenite (1 mM) or arsenate (20 mM). Microprobe XRF elemental mapping of thin-sectioned cells showed As accumulation in the euchromatin region of the cell nucleus (following arsenite exposure) synonymous with As targeting of DNA or proteins involved in DNA transcription. X-ray absorption near edge spectroscopy (XANES) and extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) analysis of arsenite-treated cells, however, showed the predominance of an As tris-sulfur species, providing increased credence to As interactions with nuclear proteins as a key factor in As-induced toxicity.
Optical Constants of Germanium in the Region 0-27 ev

The reflectivity $R$ has been measured for Ge crystal over the energy range 7.6-18.0 ev and the transmissivity $T$ for an evaporated Ge film over the range 16.6-27.4 ev. The reflectivity data near normal incidence, combined with existing data at lower energies, were used in the Kramers-Kr\"onig dispersion relation to evaluate the index of refraction $n$ and extinction coefficient $k$ of Ge over the range 0-18 ev. Electron characteristic losses are predicted at 10 and 15 ev, consistent with those observed at 11 and 16 ev. The plasma frequency of bulk Ge as determined by the optical data is $\ensuremath{\hbar}\ensuremath{\omega}=10$ ev.
Synthesis, characterization and reactivity of copper(I) imidazole complexes based on a cavitand ligand design

Two new cavitand-based imidazolyl ligands and their corresponding copper(I) complexes are reported; the tris(imidazole) complex is substitutionally inert while the bis(imidazole) complex readily reacts with CO, PMe3, N3− and SCN−. p
Secondary ion mass spectrometry method for distinguishing the state of carbon in steels using negative molecular ions

The analytical utility of the negative molecular spectrum in secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) was examined using the Fe-C system as a model system. A series of plain carbon steels ranging in carbon concentration from 0.08 to 0.8 wt pct was investigated both in the austenitized-quenched and tempered conditions to establish the mass spectral differences arising due to the difference in the state of carbon. The results showed that SIMS was sensitive to the state of carbon in the alloy and that the presence of cementite could be easily detected. The application of SIMS to characterize microstructures is demonstrated by examples.
Synthesis of nanophase materials by intraparticle reaction routes

Abstract We have generated 0.1-0.5 μm particles that consist of nanophase PdO and V2O5. The particles were produced by an aerosol decomposition technique in which droplets containing precursors were passed through a hot-wall flow system in which the solvent evaporated and the precursors decomposed within the particles to form the product. By controlling the temperature and residence time, grain-growth in the particle could be minimized to allow formation of nanometer-sized crystallites. Advantages of this approach include the ability to form nanophase complex metal oxides with high purity at high production rates.
Further interpretation of the threshold of octave masking (TOM) test.

The threshold of octave masking (TOM) test was administered to normal-hearing and sensorineural-impaired listeners at four test frequencies; 500, 1000, 2000 and 4000 Hz. The TOM value was found to be inversely proportional to the degree of hearing loss at the masker frequency. Results indicate that the TOM test is capable of distinguishing subjects with sensorineural involvement from those with normal hearing and of providing a measure of the degree of sensory dysfunction. Examination of the slope of octave masking revealed that once the influence of hearing loss is overcome at higher intensities the sensorineural ear performs essentially the same as the normal ear in a tone-on-tone masking task.
Solubility of fatty acids in supercritical carbon dioxide

The solubilities of lauric, linoleic, myristic, oleic, palmitic and stearic acid in supercritical carbon dioxide (SC-CO2) at different pressures and temperatures were measured. The solubility values obtained in this work were compared with previously published data, and possible causes for observed discrepancies were discussed. The solubilities of the six fatty acids were modeled by Chrastil’s equation, and estimated model parameters were used to plot the solubility isotherms of fatty acids at 313, 323 and 333°K (40, 50 and 60°C) as a function of SC-CO2 density. The comparison of solubility isotherms of fatty acids and vegetable oil suggests that separation of fatty acids from triglycerides might be possible by using SC-CO2 at densities less than 700 kg/m3. From the effect of temperature on fatty-acid and vegetable-oil solubility, it seems that the extraction yield could be increased without sacrificing the selectivity of SC-CO2 for fatty acids by choosing a higher operating temperature. The data also suggest that fractionation of certain fatty acids might be possible by manipulating the processing conditions. Given the values of the constants, Chrastil’s equation could serve as a guideline for choosing appropriate processing conditions and predicting the effect of pressure and temperature of SC-CO2 on solute solubility.