cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Repeat stereotactic body radiotherapy for recurrent spinal tumors is feasible with accurate assessment of cumulative spinal cord dose

This study aims to report our initial clinical experience using quantitative dosimetric data comparing two methods for estimating cumulative dose from two different planning CTs to the spinal cord or cauda equina (SC/CE) for repeat spine stereotactic body radiotherapy (sSBRT) of patients with marginal recurrence after initial sSBRT. Ten consecutive patients were included. Cumulative dose from both sSBRT treatment plans based on two different planning CTs was calculated either by adding dosimetric endpoints or by creating a three-dimensional (3D) voxel-by-voxel composite dose plan via rigid image registration. Overlap was defined as the physical overlap between contoured SC/CE from each treatment plan. Wilcoxon signed-rank test was used to assess statistical significance. Median time to retreatment was 109 days (range, 6–427). No grade 3/4 toxicities were observed; one patient developed a foot drop. Dosimetric endpoint addition led to overestimation of the maximum dose (MD) (23.1 vs. 18.9 Gy, p = 0.001) and dose to 0.1 cc (D0.1cc) (19.1 vs. 15.5 Gy, p = 0.001) of the SC/CE overlap compared to the composite plan. In contrast, the volume receiving 10 Gy (V10Gy) and volume receiving 12 Gy (V12Gy) were underestimated for the SC (8.2 vs. 25.2 %, p = 0.06) and the CE (11.0 vs. 32.0 %, p = 0.03). For the patient who developed a foot drop, CE overlap composite MD was 28.6 Gy and D0.1cc was 27.9 Gy and V12Gy was 16 %. Repeat sSBRT for marginal recurrence of spinal tumors is feasible with accurate assessment of 3D composited cumulative SC dose from two different planning CTs. In the absence of 3D dose compositing tools, simple endpoint addition of two sSBRT plans may prevent the delivery of adequate dose in the repeat setting.
Naval modeling and simulation verification, validation, and accreditation

Verification, validation, and accreditation (VV&A) for models and simulations used within the Defense community are becoming increasingly important. Greater emphasis is being placed upon confidence in the accuracy and correctness of model and simulation results which serve as surrogates for reality in design, analysis, testing, training, operational, and planning arenas. More attention is being paid to compatibility among models and simulations of different types and applications. Improvement in model and simulation management efficiency and effectiveness is being demanded by new Department of Defense (DoD) policies. This paper reviews VV&A processes developed as interim policy guidance for Navy managed models and simulations. The conceptual foundation and basic paradigm for these VV&A processes are examined as is VV&A for distributed simulations. Relationships of Navy interim policy guidance VV&A processes to other VV&A activities with DoD and elsewhere are discussed. Appreciation for these VV&A endeavors is essential for proper perspective about both technical and bureaucratic/administrative aspects of model and simulation VV&A.
AKAMAI project: Teleradiology in the pacific

O NE OF THE MOST ambitious and technologically sophisticated automation initiatives being conducted at Tripler Army Medical Center (Honolulu, HI) is called "AKAMAI", a native Hawaiian word meaning intelligent or wise. This is a Congressionally funded, multiyear project, sponsored by Senator Daniel K. Inouye. The project seeks to establish Tripler as the nation's most modern and capable digital telecommunication medical center. Over the next 5 years, Tripler will make the transition into a fully digital electronic medical environment capable of overcoming the time and distance barriers imposed by the vast expanse of the Pacific Ocean. Using satellite and submarine-cable communications, Tripler will establish contact with relatively underserved customers and patients located in remote clinics and small hospitals on the Pacific Rito. Tripler will be able to project the consultative expertise of its medical specialists and subspecialists into these remote locations and bring medical center level consultation to primary care providers and patients. In many cases, this will obviate the need for costly medical air evacuation of patients eastward across the Pacific to obtain tertiary-level care and treatment. Sites affected include the US Department of Defense installations scattered around the Pacific, whose health care beneficiaries look to Tripler for specialtyand subspecialty-level health care. Ships at sea will be able to access Tripler via telecommunication links. Remote island populations under the US Public Service will also be offered access. On the Korean Peninsula, access to radiology interpretation services has been a perennial problem of the US Army 18th Medical Command. In the past, as muchas a 2-week film-toreport turnaround process was routine. With installation of a teleradiology system, clinicians
Forgiveness, Apology, and Communicative Responses to Hurtful Events

Data from 263 individuals who had been hurt by something a dating partner said or did offered support for the interpersonal forgiveness model—forgiveness associated positively with integrative communication and negatively with de-escalation and distributive communication. When hurt individuals believed the partner had sincerely apologized they were more likely to grant forgiveness and report using the direct strategies of integrative and distributive communication, and less likely to report using de-escalation and loyalty. Among the various hurtful events investigated, breaking up with the partner and being sexually unfaithful were reportedly the least forgivable offenses. An earlier version of this paper was presented at the 2003 meeting of the International Communication Association, San Diego, CA. Data for this study were taken from the first author's dissertation, which was directed by the second author. The authors thank the other members of the dissertation committee, Dan Canary and F. Scott Christo...
US nationwide trends in carotid revascularization: is there a clinical opportunity cost associated with the introduction of novel medical devices?

Objectives Nationwide practice patterns during the implementation of novel technology, such as carotid angioplasty and stenting (CAS) and embolic protection devices (EPD), and the clinical impact thereof have received less attention. Methods The Nationwide Inpatient Sample, constituting a 20% representative sample of non-federal US hospitals, was analyzed from years 1998 to 2007. Hospital outcome was stratified into in-hospital mortality (IHM), long-term facility discharge, and home/ short-term facility discharge (HSF). Results Discharge outcome improved for CAS over the decade. However, this improvement occurred in two phases with a period of worsening (2003–2005) in between. During this transition period, the risk of IHM following CAS was increased (RR 1.29–2.43) and was lower for good outcome (HSF: RR 0.97–0.99) when compared with 2002/2003. During the same transition period, carotid endarterectomy (CEA) was associated with a lower risk of IHM (RR 0.75–1.00), but also a lower risk of HSF (RR 0.98–0.99). Conclusions The results lead to the hypothesis that the nationwide introduction of CAS-EPD may have been associated with temporary increases in in-hospital mortality and discharge morbidity. If such ‘clinical opportunity costs’ exist with the widespread introduction and adoption of new medical technology with proven efficacy in randomized trials, effective mechanisms are needed for mitigation or prevention during the transition period.
Dietary mixing in grasshoppers: switching induced by nutritional imbalances in foods

Dietary mixing by nymphs of Schistocerca americana was studied in the laboratory using artificial diet cakes. Individuals were given either two different inadequate but complementary diet cakes or two adequate and identical ones. When unique flavors (coumarin or NHT) were added to the diet cakes, insects given the inadequate diet treatment switched between cakes more than insects exposed to the adequate diets. This was not the case when no identifying flavors were added.
Does age moderate the relationship between depressive symptoms and suicidal ideation in middle-aged and older patients with schizophrenia and subthreshold depression?

Background Suicidal deaths in middle-aged and older individuals with schizophrenia are a public health concern. Depression and schizophrenia are major risk factors for suicide. However, it is unknown whether age moderates the relationship between depression and suicidal ideation in patients with schizophrenia and subthreshold depression. Methods Suicidal ideation was assessed with the InterSePT Scale for Suicidal Ideation and the Clinical Global Impression–Suicide Severity Scale in outpatients older than 39 years with schizophrenia and subthreshold depression (n = 213). Using linear regression, we examined whether depression (based on Calgary Depression Rating Scale scores), age, and "age by depressive symptoms" predicted suicidal ideation. Results Depressive symptoms predicted suicidal ideation. Neither age nor "depressive symptoms by age" predicted suicidal ideation. Conclusions In this population, age does not appear to moderate the relationship between depressive symptoms and suicidal behavior. Thus, assessing depressive symptoms as a risk factor is important at all ages in this population.
Electrochemical sensing of gases based on liquid collection interfaces

Although many electrochemical gas sensors have been reported, electrochemical gas sensors based on liquid collection constitute a smaller subset. Minimally, a liquid interface based electrochemical gas sensor is composed of two electrodes and an ion conducting electrolyte. There is a large number of possible arrangements of these parts, and many choices exist for their composition and preparation methods. This results in a diverse and rich technology now available for gas sensing. The measurement of some analyte gases of interest, notably ozone, nitrogen oxides, hydrogen peroxide, formaldehyde, ammonia, sulfur dioxide and hydrogen sulfide are specifically discussed. Finally, the recent reviews that are likely to be the most relevant to the further development of electrochemical detection approaches for gases with a liquid collection interface are cited and discussed.
Dissolution of cinnabar (HgS) in the presence of natural organic matter

Cinnabar (HgS) dissolution rates were measured in the presence of 12 different natural dissolved organic matter (DOM) isolates including humic, fulvic, and hydrophobic acid fractions. Initial dissolution rates varied by 1.3 orders of magnitude, from 2.31 × 10−13 to 7.16 × 10−12 mol Hg (mg C)−1 m−2s−1. Rates correlate positively with three DOM characteristics: specific ultraviolet absorbance (R2 = 0.88), aromaticity (R2 = 0.80), and molecular weight (R2 = 0.76). Three experimental observations demonstrate that dissolution was controlled by the interaction of DOM with the cinnabar surface: (1) linear rates of Hg release with time, (2) significantly reduced rates when DOM was physically separated from the surface by dialysis membranes, and (3) rates that approached constant values at a specific ratio of DOM concentration to cinnabar surface area, suggesting a maximum surface coverage by dissolution-reactive DOM. Dissolution rates for the hydrophobic acid fractions correlate negatively with sorbed DOM concentrations, indicating the presence of a DOM component that reduced the surface area of cinnabar that can be dissolved. When two hydrophobic acid isolates that enhanced dissolution to different extents were mixed equally, a 20% reduction in rate occurred compared to the rate with the more dissolution-enhancing isolate alone. Rates in the presence of the more dissolution-enhancing isolate were reduced by as much as 60% when cinnabar was prereacted with the isolate that enhanced dissolution to a lesser extent. The data, taken together, imply that the property of DOM that enhances cinnabar dissolution is distinct from the property that causes it to sorb irreversibly to the cinnabar surface.
FURTHER EXPERIMENTS ON THE ABSORPTION OF IONS BY PLANTS, INCLUDING OBSERVATIONS ON THE EFFECT OF LIGHT.

1. The conditions of illumination were found to exert a very significant influence on absorption of ions from dilute solution by Nitella . These conditions were also found to influence the penetration of Br and NO3 into the cell sap. 2. It is concluded that absorption of ions by plants from dilute solutions involves energy exchanges, with light as the ultimate source of the energy. It is suggested that the absorption is intimately related to growth and metabolism. 3. One ion may affect the removal from solution or penetration into the cell sap of another ion present in the same solution, even in solutions of extremely low concentration. It is probable that all three types of relations may exist—anion to anion, cation to cation, and anion to cation. 4. The sulfate and phosphate ions exerted far less influence on the absorption of nitrate than did chlorine and bromine ions. It is suggested as a possibility that sulfate does not penetrate readily to those surfaces at which chlorine, bromine, nitrate, and other ions may become effective.
Utility System Planning Effects on the Economic Merit of Advanced Combined Cycle Power Systems

Many systems studies of advanced power technologies use cost of electricity as an economic figure of merit in comparing electric power generating technologies. For this parameter to be used in comparisons among technologies, it is important to account for the variations in ways that different technologies are integrated into a utility system. These variations result from differing technology-specific characteristics and differing utility characteristics. This paper illustrates the effect of some of these variations on the economic merit of advanced combined cycle power systems relative to a conventional coal-fired steam power plant.Copyright © 1980 by ASME
Direct Observation of Psychology Supervisees' Clinical Work: A Snapshot of Current Practice

Supervisory methods that allow for direct observation of supervisee performance have been noted to contribute to supervisee satisfaction with supervision, and contribute to supervisors’ ability to perform their supervisory responsibilities thoroughly and ethically. However, there is little data available on how frequently observational methods are employed in clinical supervisory practice. In this study, surveys completed by 150 professional psychology supervisees at all levels of training (from beginning practicum through postdoctoral training) and from all regions of the country provided data on supervisory practices during a two-week snapshot period as well as from their longer supervisory relationships. Results demonstrated that methods permitting direct observation of supervisee work were used very infrequently, that the most frequent methods involved supervisee-initiated case presentations, that supervisees believed that their supervisors were very knowledgeable about supervisees’ clinical functioni...
Nonrelativistic variational calculations of the positronium molecule and the positronium hydride

Highly accurate ground-state nonrelativistic variational calculations of ${\mathrm{Ps}}_{2}$, $^{1}\mathrm{H}\mathrm{Ps}$, and $^{\ensuremath{\infty}}\mathrm{H}\mathrm{Ps}$ are reported. The calculations have been performed using 5000 explicitly correlated Gaussian basis functions and yielded the lowest variational energy upper bounds for these systems to date. The relative accuracies of the energies obtained are of the order of $4\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}10}\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{a.u.}$ for ${\mathrm{Ps}}_{2}$ and $2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}9}\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}\mathrm{a.u.}$ for HP. Several expectation values have also been computed for each system, as well as electron-positron annihilation rates.
Progressive Reform and the Decline of Democratic Accountability: The Popular Election of State Supreme Court Judges, 1850‐1920

This essay probes the relationship among different kinds of political cultures, the conduct of judicial elections, and the extent of dissent on the state supreme courts of California, Ohio, Tennessee, and Texas from 1850 to 1920. The introduction at the turn of the twentieth century of Progressive election reforms—most notably the secret ballot, the direct party primary, and the nonpartisan ballot—reduced levels of turnout in judicial contests and increased roll-off from major statewide political to judicial elections. These reforms made judicial elections the tail on the electoral kite and denied the public its best means of regulating judicial policy making. Yet these changes in the electorate's behavior were seemingly unrelated to variations in the rate of dissent in these four state courts, whose judges apparently viewed popular partisan election as more a potential than a real threat to their independence.
Localization of the resistance to diffusion in the three-layered placenta of the rabbit.

The tracer-dilution method was used to determine the resistance to diffusion offered by the first barrier confronting the maternal microcirculation (syncytiotrophoblast) in the placenta of the rabbit. Gestational ages were 27–29 days. Diffusional resistances were obtained for the following lipid-insoluble materials urea, 6; chloride ion, 2.5; sodium ion, 4; and inulin, 22 (minutes per milliliter in one gram placental tissue). The first three of these values are probably overestimates. The resistance offered to the diffusion of water was too low to be measurable. Data previously published from our laboratory show that in rabbits of the same gestational age the diffusional resistances of these substances in the whole barrier are very much greater than those found in the endothelial layer, and also than those now found in the syncytiotrophoblast. When the diffusional resistances of the two outer layers of the rabbit placenta (endothelium and syncytiotrophoblast) are subtracted from the total resistance of the barrier, the middle layer (cytotrophoblast) is found to contribute about 80% of the total resistance to diffusion. The disproportionate resistance of the middle layer may be due to the kind and number of cell junctions found in the cytotrophoblast, or to the long diffusional pathways in the interlaminar fluid layers that join the pores in the outer and the pores in the middle layers of the placenta.
Agronomic Optimum Seeding Rate for Irrigated Maize in Texas is Concomitant to Growing Season Mean Daily Minimum Temperature

Our study was conducted to determine agronomic optimum seeding rates (AOSR) for irrigated maize under a range of agroecological conditions in Texas. Environmental factors that affect irrigated maize production vary considerably across Texas. This variability imposes region-specific limitations on statewide maize seeding rate recommendations. Our research examined the efficiency of varying seeding rates on irrigated maize grain yields in five USEPA Level IV Ecoregions that comprise most of the irrigated maize-producing area of Texas. The selected sites span a distance of 1200 km from south to north Texas and elevations from 20 to 1218 m above mean sea level. We conducted the study over three growing seasons from 2005 through 2007 in two Level IV Ecoregions of the High Plains of North Texas (N), one in the East Central Plains (E), one in the Southern Plains and one in Western Gulf Coastal Plains of South Texas (S). We observed that maximum grain yields and AOSR to achieve maximum maize grain yields vary considerably among ecoregions. In South Texas, we observed grain yield response rates of 125–129, 151 kg 1000 seeds−1 in E and 163–199 kg 1000 seeds−1 in N. We show that growing season average daily minimum air temperature (TMIN) explains most of this variation (r2 = 0.98, P-value < 0.01) and conclude that seeding rate efficiency is concomitant to TMIN. Maximum grain yields (GYMAX) determined with seeding rate response analysis also varied among ecoregions and with TMIN from south to north Texas, from a low of 8.3 Mg ha−1 in S to a high of 18.4 Mg ha−1 in N (r2 = 0.59, P-value < 0.01). We conclude that development of agronomic management models by Level IV Ecoregions of Texas combined with site-specific TMIN climatological data serve as a valid template for delivering robust and agroecozone-specific irrigated maize seeding rate recommendations in Texas.
Discovery of new electro-optic effects in chiral systems

In the course of our research on excited state enhancements of nonlinear optical processes in it conjugated structures1, we discovered new linear electro-optic (EO) effects2 in chiral systems. It has long been known that because of symmetry conditions, the macroscopic susceptibility x7(—W;O, (0) for the linear EO effect as in the case of second harmonic generation vanishes in an isotropic chiral system3'4. We found, however, that if the electronic excited state of the chiral system is optically pumped, then permutation symmetry is broken and the macroscopic linear EO susceptibility is non-zero, given by x(—co;O,w) =EaiyX2 where is an antisymmetric third rank unit tensor. We have further observed that the new EO effect depends on the molecular spatial dimensionality of the chiral system and is non-zero only for three-dimensional structures. This dependence is important to molecular design rules for candidate it-conjugated structures. We have studied and designed several classes of molecular structures possessing the required three dimensional noncentrosymmetry. Included, for example, are donor-acceptor substituted chiral cyclophanes having nonvanishing transition moments in three dimensions. There are several additional advantages associated with our new chiral EO effect. Among these is the fact that no electric filed poling is necessary to achieve the noncentrosymmetry required for observing the linear EO effect. Moreover, the new EO property avoids the long term decay of the EO coefficient commonly observed in poled EO materials. The new EO coefficient can remain thermally stable up to temperatures approaching the material decomposition temperature. Our studies also show that simple structural alignment of otherwise isotropic chiral centers leads to further enhancement of the linear £0 coefficients5. Additionally, our findings are general, extending directly to other second order optical processes such as second harmonic generation (o + (i)= 2o) and parametric rectification (o — o =0). In the present report, we will center our discussion on basic theory of the new chiral EO effect in section II. A many-electron sum-over-states calculation of the microscopic EO susceptibility for a model chiral donor-acceptor cyclophane is presented in section ifi as an illustration of both what a new class of EO chiral organic structures might look like and how to begin formulating design rules for new optimized structures.
Stereoselective Glycosylations Using (R)- or (S)-(Ethoxycarbonyl)benzyl Chiral Auxiliaries at C-2 of Glycopyranosyl Donors

The stereoselective introduction of a glycosidic bond presents the greatest challenge to complex oligosaccharide synthesis. Important developments such as automated polymer-supported oligosaccharide synthesis will not realize their full potential until this problem is addressed. In this paper, a novel approach for stereoselective glycosylations is described whereby a chiral auxiliary at C-2 of a glycosyl donor controls the anomeric outcome of a glycosylation. It was found that participation of an (S)-ethoxycarbonylbenzyl auxiliary led to the formation of 1,2-cis glycosides, probably through a trans-fused dioxolenium ion intermediate. On the other hand, the use of an auxiliary with (R) configuration gave 1,2-trans glycosides, and this glycosylation proceeds through a cis-fused dioxolenium ion intermediate. The auxiliary could conveniently be removed by Birch reduction. Computational studies support the formation of the proposed ethoxy-carbonium ion intermediate with all pseudo-equatorial substituents. (© Wiley-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, 69451 Weinheim, Germany, 2006)
Psychological Mood State in “Average” Marathon Runners

A comparison of 348 average or nonelite marathon runners to 856 college students on the Profile of Mood States showed that runners, both men and women, described themselves as significantly less tense, less depressed, less fatigued, less confused, more vigorous and equally angry. Various theories of physiological changes thought to accompany running are offered as explanations.
Solvatochromism, Linear Solvation Energy Relationships, and Chromatography

Abstract This work is a review of the phenomenon of solvatochromism, describing in particular its origin in electronic spectroscopy. The physical basis for the Kamlet-Taft π* scale of solvent strength is reviewed and the contributions of solvent dipolarity and polarizability to this empirical scale are emphasized. We then describe the application of various solvatochromic scales of solvent dipolarity. hydrogen bond donor (acidity) and hydrogen bond acceptor (basicity) strength to retention in chromatography. The use of these and related solute scales in rationalizing retention in reversed-phase liquid and gas-liquid chromatography is presented.
Mechanisms of conformon creation in α-helical structures†

The influence of a quadratic exciton-phonon coupling, (i.e., a change of the vibrational frequency of the interpeptide group with vibrational excitation) on conformon properties is studied. The interpeptide group vibrations are treated classically, which is reasonable at room temperatures. A harmonic model is assumed for the interactions of the peptide groups. A new mechanism of the exciton-phonon coupling leading to the formation of a conformon in the α -helix is proposed. It is shown that even small changes in force constants with peptide group excitation have a marked effect on the conformon size and energy. The decrease of this force constant contributes to the localization of the conformon, and, therefore, to the distortion of the polypeptide chain in the region of the excitation. It also stabilizes the conformon state. The opposite effect occurs in the case, where the force constant of the interpeptide group vibration increases with excitation. The cases of large and small conformons are studied separately.
Interactions of an antitumor platinum compound with deoxyribonucleic acid, histones, l-amino acids, poly-l-amino acids, nucleosides and nucleotides

Abstract Interaction of cis -dichloro(dipyridine)platinum(II) ( cis -PPC) with calf thymus DNA, calf thymus histone, l -amino acids, poly- l -amino acids, nucleosides, and nucleotides has been evaluated by equilibrium dialysis technics. At least a 28 % decrease in the association of cis -PPC with DNA occurs when the platinum compound is pre-incubated with l -amino acids. The greatest decrease in association is seen upon pre-incubation of the platinum compound with the free amino acids. Glut, Asp, Lys, Arg, and CySH, before the addition of a sack containing a solution of DNA. The low level of association between DNA and the amino acids tends to rule out competition between cis -PPC and amino acids for DNA association sites. cis -PPC was repelled from sacks containing positively charged poly- l -Lys, poly- l -Arg, and calf thymus histone; however, in the presence of poly- l -Glut and poly- l -Asp, cis -PPC associated with these negatively charged polymers to a considerable degree. Enhanced chloride dissociation from cis -PPC was observed in the presence of all of the amino acids and the nucleotides GMP, CMP, UMP, and TMP, but not in the presence of AMP or the nucleosides rG and dG. In the presence of calf thymus histone, the association of cis -PPC with calf thymus DNA was reduced by more than 50% at histone/DNA ratios of 0.8–1.0. These data suggest that cis -PPC or cis -Pt(II) may associate with electron-rich areas of not only nucleic acids and proteins but also with body pools of free nucleotides and amino acids. The presence of positively charged histones shielding DNA strands in vivo suggests that the most probable point of platinum-DNA association would be at de-repressed areas of DNA which are undergoing RNA synthesis. The aquated form of the platinum complex may also associate with acidic proteins which appear to be involved in the positive control of RNA synthesis and, as a result, this interaction may be of pharmacological significance.
Relationship between muscle sympathetic nerve activity and plasma leptin concentration.

SNITKER, SOREN, RICHARD E PRATLEY, MARGERY NICOLSON, P ANTONIO TATARANNI, ERIC RAVUSSIN, Relationship between muscle sympathetic nerve activity and plasma leptin concentration. In humans, basal muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSNA), a direct measure of sympathetic nervous outflow, is correlated with percentage of body fat. The underlying physiological mechanism is unknown. On the basis of the observation that leptin increases sympathetic nervous outflow in the oblob mouse, we hypothesized that leptin, a hormone secreted by the adipose tissue, may act as a peripheral signal to increase sympathetic nervous outflow from the central nervous system. We therefore tested whether basal MSNA is correlated with plasma leptin concentration. Fasting plasma samples and recordings of basal MSNA in the peroneal nerve were obtained from 37 healthy, nondiabetic men (35 whites and 2 Mexican-Americans; 29 ± 7 years, 86 ± 14 kg, 24 ± 10% body fat; mean ± SD) who were fed a weight-maintenance diet on a metabolic ward. As expected, plasma leptin concentration (geometric mean, 6.4 ng/mL; 95% confidence interval, 4.6 ng/mL to 9.0 ng/mL) correlated with % body fat (r=0.93, p<0.001). Basal MSNA was 31.6 ± 10.0 bursts/min and correlated with % body fat (r=0.53, p<0.001) and with plasma leptin concentration (r=0.44, p<0.01). In conclusion, the results demonstrate a correlation between MSNA and plasma leptin concentration of a magnitude similar to that between MSNA and % body fat. Leptin may therefore be the peripheral signal explaining the correlation between MSNA and % body fat. A full understanding of the relationship between leptin and the activity of the sympathetic nervous system requires further studies, including the administration of leptin in humans.
The effects of physiological doses of corticosteroid on catecholamine metabolism in man.

Abstract Eight psychiatric patients were divided into two groups; one group received a daily oral dose of 1 mg of the synthetic glucocorticoid dexamethasone for 29 days and the other received a placebo. Urine was collected for selected 24-hr periods and analyzed for epinephrine and norepinephrine. Plasma cortisol was also determined at prescribed days of the experiment. The results show that dexamethasone achieved a lowering of plasma cortisol values compared to the placebo treated group. Epinephrine excretion decreased progressively over the course of the experiment in steroid treated subjects, whereas no significant change was found in the control group. No differences were observed in norepinephrine output between the two experimental groups. The observed decrease in epinephrine output was attributed to a fall in the activity of the epinephrine-forming enzyme, phenylethanolamine N-methyl transferase, in the adrenal medulla, secondary to diminished adrenal corticoidogenesis resulting from the administered dose of dexamethasone. The present study shows that the administration of maintenance doses of glucocorticoids selectively reduced epinephrine levels while leaving unaffected norepinephrine excretion in man. This experimental procedure makes it feasible to investigate, in any one normal or emotionally disturbed individual, the consequences of reduced epinephrine levels on a variety of physiological and behavioral parameters during any given period.
MS4, a seminaphthofluorescein-based chemosensor for the ratiometric detection of Hg(II)

The synthesis and photophysical characterization of Mercury Sensor 4, MS4, an aniline-derivatized seminaphthofluorescein-based dye that contains a pyridyl-amine-thioether ligand analogous to that employed in the previously reported Zinspy (ZS) Zn(II) sensor family (Nolan and Lippard, Inorg. Chem. 2004, 43, 8310–8317) are reported. Sensor MS4 provides single-excitation, dual-emission ratiometric detection of Hg(II) in aqueous solution. A ∼4-fold ratiometric change (λ624/λ524) is observed upon introduction of Hg(II) to an aqueous chloride-containing solution of MS4 at pH 8. In this milieu, MS4 shows selectivity for Hg(II) over a background of environmentally relevant alkali and alkaline earth metals, a number of divalent first-row transition metals, and its Group 12 congeners Zn(II) and Cd(II).
Restriction endonuclease studies on the chloroplast and mitochondrial DNAs of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) protoclones

Alfalfa protoclones were regenerated from the mesophyll protoplasts of two cloned source plants (parents), RS-K1 and RS-K2, initiated from Regen S seed. Because of the high frequency of karyotypic upset previously observed in these plants, chloroplast DNAs (cpDNA) from 23 protoclones and mitochondrial DNAs (mtDNA) from 20 protoclones were examined by restriction endonuclease analysis in order to assess recombination in their cytoplasmic genomes. Seven and four endonucleases were separately used for cpDNA and mtDNA analysis, respectively. Data were consistent with no, or a low frequency of, major sequence rearrangements in either the chloroplast or the mitochondrial genomes as a result of protocloning. However, two types of cpDNA were detected in the 23 protoclones, with only one protoclone possessing the cpDNA type of the cloned parental populations sampled. Possible explanations include a preferential selection during protocloning for one of two parental cpDNA types, an in planta sorting out of cpDNA types in the parental material or both.
Energy scaling of 4.3 μm room temperature Fe:ZnSe laser

We demonstrate a fourfold increase of the output energy of the gain-switched mid-IR Fe:ZnSe laser. Iron doping of the ZnSe polycrystalline samples was realized using a postgrowth thermal-diffusion method from the metal film. Gain-switched Er:Cr:YSGG (2.8 μm) laser pumped Fe:ZnSe lasing was studied in a Fabry–Perot cavity over a 236–300 K temperature range. The maximum output energy reached 4.7 mJ at 4.3 μm and 3.6 mJ at 4.37 μm at 236 K and 300 K and was limited only by available pump energy. The laser threshold was about 8 mJ and was practically unchanged over the studied temperature range. The laser slope efficiencies, measured with respect to the input pump energy, decreased from 19% to 16% with an increase of temperature from 236 to 300 K. The output radiation featured a Gaussian spatial profile with M2=2.6.
Production ecology of Ruppia maritima L. s.l. and Halodule wrightii Aschers, in two subtropical estuaries

Abstract Seasonal growth and production dynamics of Ruppia maritima L. s.l. were compared over a 3-year period in two south Texas estuaries characterized by different salinity and N regimes as a result of freshwater inputs. Measurements of shoot production in the Guadalupe Estuary (0–25‰ salinity) and the Nueces Estuary (32–38‰ salinity) revealed no major differences in the magnitude of growth, but the plant populations differed in the seasonality of growth, the time of flowering, and the persistence of an over-wintering population. During the period of rapid shoot development, from March to August, leaf elongation rates usually ranged from 2 to 4 mm·day −1 (0.04–0.08 mg dry wt·mg shoot −1 ·day −1 ), although peak growth rates of up to 8 mm·day −1 were also recorded. In both estuaries, R. maritima was a strict opportunist, yearly colonizing bare areas and completing its entire growth cycle in 4 months. Overwintering populations of R. maritima existed at the lower nutrient and higher salinity site in Nueces Estuary but not at the high nutrient, low salinity site in Guadalupe Estuary. Halodule wrightii Aschers, was absent from Guadalupe Estuary, but in the Nueces Estuary, H. wrightii maintained large and persistent overwintering populations characterized by sustained year-round growth and larger below-ground root and rhizome fractions of total biomass (50–85%) compared to R. maritima (20–70%). The high nutrient regimes associated with large inputs of freshwater in the Guadalupe Estuary appear to have little beneficial effect on the growth dynamics of R. maritima . Instead, significant reductions in underwater light may be most important for growth. Fouling by algal epiphytes, higher riverine inflow, and local physiographic differences in wave exposure appear to be the primary factors regulating light levels and thus the proliferation and year-round persistence of R. maritima .
Social context affects the ontogeny of instinctive behaviour

Abstract Abstract. The data reported in this paper illustrate the importance of incorporating elements of naturalistic contexts into experimental design and how the failure to do so can lead to erroneous conclusions regarding behavioural plasticity in a communication system. The slow repetition rate of the notes of the mallard, Anas platyrhynchos , maternal alarm call is the primary acoustic feature affecting freezing (vocal and locomotor inhibition) in ducklings. Previous experiments indicate that alarm calls with notes pulsed between 0·8 and 1·8 notes/s are particularly effective in promoting behavioural inhibition in domestic mallard (Peking) ducklings reared and tested individually. In light of field observations, the ineffectiveness of repetition rates slower than 0·8 notes/s was surprising and might possibly have been caused by species-atypical rearing and testing contexts. Thus, in the present study, Peking ducklings were reared and tested socially to alarm calls that had their notes temporally altered such that the repetition rates fell outside the range normally effective for non-social ducklings (0·2 and 2·6 notes/s). Compared with ducklings reared and tested individually, the incidence of freezing by social ducklings was significantly greater at 0·2 notes/s and was comparable to the level of freezing to such slow-rate notes on nests in the field. There were no differences in freezing between social and individual ducklings at 2·6 notes/s. These data reconcile a discrepancy between field observations of alarm-call responsivity and certain laboratory tests and show that repetition-rate specificity can be altered as a function of rearing and testing context. Furthermore, the observed change in repetition-rate specificity is specific to a form of stimulation that ducklings normally encounter on natural nests (i.e. slow-rate notes). These and other data illustrate that context can be an overwhelmingly important, although often neglected, variable in behavioural and neural research.
Analysis of Large Dry Cooling Towers With Power-Law Heat Exchanger Performance

An analysis is presented for heat exchanger area, tower exit area, and exchanger tube length and number, for heat exchangers in large dry cooling towers, having performance parameters given by powers of Reynolds number, but otherwise under very general cooling-cycle constraints. The calculation method is illustrated for a ''spin-fin'' heat exchanger which, in a tube size of about /sup 3///sub 8/ in., seems capable of achieving low tower size in a practical device. Calculations, over ranges of water pumping power, approach, ITD, number of passes, tube size, tower shape (natural draft) or fan power (mechanical draft), and ambient pressure altitude are shown to be well represented by a chain of powers of these variables, and certain functions of the ratio of real to ideal tower exit area. This ratio is shown to have a best value, depending on the cost coefficients of heat exchange and exit areas, and it is pointed out that typical cost proportions lead to a fluid-mechanical ''packaging'' problem for the shallow heat exchangers which would be preferred.
Enkephalin and other peptides reduce passiveness

Enkephalin and other brain peptides previously have been shown to be active in the dopa potentiation test which may be considered an animal model of mental depression. A recently described model of passive immobility during swimming, also sensitive to tricyclic antidepressants, was therefore used to study a large number of naturally occurring peptides and some of their analogues. It was found that several enkephalins with no opiate activity after peripheral injection reduced the immobility and thus increased the activity of swimming rats. alpha-MSH, but not its 4--10 core or a 4--9 analogue, also caused significantly more swimming than did the diluent control. As we have previously found in several animal and clinical studies, a smaller dose of MIF-I was more effective than larger doses. The results confirm our concept of the CNS actions of brain peptides and support the suggestion that some of them, like the enkephalins, might be useful after peripheral administration in mental depression or other CNS disorders.
Potentials for tangent tensor fields on spheroids

In three-dimensional Euclidean space let S be a closed simply connected, smooth surface (spheroid). Let \(\hat n\) be the outward unit normal to S, ▽Sthe surface gradient on S, IS the metric tensor on S, gij the four covariant components of IS (i,j = 1, 2), hijthe four covariant components of -\(\hat n\)xIS, and Dicovariant differentiation on S. It is well known that for any tangent vector field u on S there exist scalars ϕ and ψ on S, unique to within additive constants, such that \(u = \nabla _s \varphi - \hat n \times \nabla _s \psi \); the covariant components of u are \(u_i = D_i \varphi + h_i^j D_j \psi \). This theorem is very useful in the study of vector fields in spherical coordinates. The present paper gives an analogous theorem for real second-order tangent tensor fields F on S: for any such F there exist scalar fields H, L, M, N such that the covariant components of F are $$F_{ij} = H h{}_{ij} + Lg_{ij} + E_{ij} (M,N),$$ where $$E_{ij} (M,N) = ( - \nabla _s ^2 M)g_{ij} + 2D_i D_j M + (h_i ^k D_j + h_j ^k D_i )D_k N$$ It is shown that H and L are uniquely determined by F but that M and N are not. The set of complex scalar fields ℳ′ = M′+iN′ such that Eij(M′, N′)=0 is shown to constitute a four-dimensional complex linear space \(\mathfrak{W}\). The scalars M and N which help to generate a given F are uniquely determined by F and the condition that, for every ℳ′ in \(\mathfrak{W}\), $$\mathop \smallint \limits_s (M - iN)\mathcal{M}\prime dS = 0$$ The real linear space of second-order tangent tensor fields on S which have simultaneously the form E(M, 0) and the form E(0, N) is shown to have dimension zero on a sphere, dimension four on a non-spherical, intrinsically axisymmetric spheroid (a spheroid whose isometries form a compact, one parameter group), and dimension six on a spheroid which is not intrinsically axisymmetric. Applications of the representation theorem to tensor problems in spherical coordinates are briefly discussed.
Cinnamic acid intermediates as precursors to mesembrine and some observations on the late stages in the biosynthesis of the mesembrine alkaloids

Abstract Experiments with various labelled cinnamic acid derivatives establish, in conjunction with previous work, that the incorporation of phenylalanine into the 3a-aryl octahydroindole ring system of the mesembrine alkaloids occurs via the intermediacy of cinnamic acid and 4′-hydroxycinnamic acid. The major pathway to the 3′,4′-di-oxyaryl substituted alkaloids proceeds via 4′-hydroxydihydrocinnamic acid (4′-phloretic acid), and 3′4′-dioxy-genated cinnamic acids are not involved as intermediates on this major pathway. In accord with this latter finding, the 3′-aryl oxygen substituent is introduced at a late state in the biosynthesis as evidenced by the bioconversion in S. strictum of sceletenone to mesembrenol and other related alkaloids. The late stages in the biosynthesis of the alkaloids are shown to involve the sequence: sceletenone, 4′-O-demethylmesembrenone, mesembrenone. Mesembrenone is converted to mesembrine, mesembrenol and mesembranol.
Current Understanding of Klotho

Klotho is a new anti-aging gene. Genetic mutation of klotho causes multiple premature aging-like phenotypes and strikingly shortens lifespan. Overexpression of the klotho gene in mice suppresses aging and extends lifespan which may involve the mechanism of suppression of insulin signaling and oxidant stress. Klotho functions as a cofactor/coreceptor regulating fibroblast growth factor (FGF) 23 signaling. Klotho acts as a glucuronidase and activates ion channel TRPV5. Klotho protects against endothelial dysfunction and regulates the production of nitric oxide. Klotho also influences intracellular signaling pathways including p53/p21, cAMP, protein kinase C (PKC) and Wnt signaling pathways. The discovery of klotho has a great impact on aging research. The purpose of this review is to provide the recent progress and future directions of klotho research. Specifically, this review will cover: klotho and aging, structure and expression of the klotho gene, localization of klotho expression, source of circulating klotho, current understanding of klotho functions, and signaling pathways of klotho.
Theorizing border inspections

The purpose of this article is to reconsider the ‘border crossings’ theoretical concept through an analysis of two seemingly unrelated social domains in the El Paso-Ju·rez region: skin-color prefer...
Effects of Branch Points and Chain Ends on the Thermodynamic Interaction Parameter in Binary Blends of Regularly Branched and Linear Polymers

The architectural effects of branch points and chain ends on the bulk thermodynamic interaction parameter, χeff, in binary blends of branched polymers with their linear analogues have been investigated using small-angle neutron scattering (SANS) and a series of well-defined, regularly branched polystyrenes with the same molecular weight and differing only in the number of branch points or chain ends. The value of χeff increases as the number of branch points increases for constant number of chain ends or as the number of chain ends increases for constant number of branch points. A Gaussian field theory for an athermal blend predicts the general trend in bulk χeff with the number of chain ends but does not capture the changes in χeff with changes in the number of branch points. Differences in chemistry among the various branch points probably have to be included to quantitatively predict changes in χeff for shorter branches. Qualitative variations in the size of the branched molecules in solution compare f...
Solution Structure of an Intramolecular Pyrimidine-Purine-Pyrimidine Triplex Containing an RNA Third Strand

We have used two-dimensional NMR spectroscopy to study an intramolecular pyrimidine−purine−pyrimidine triplex composed of a Watson−Crick paired DNA duplex and an RNA third strand connected by two hexakis(ethylene glycol) linkers. The solution structure of the triplex was calculated using restrained molecular dynamics and relaxation matrix refinement. The overall helical structure of the Watson−Crick duplex part of the triplex more closely resembles B-DNA than A-DNA. Thus, binding of a third-strand RNA in the major groove does not cause a structural transition toward A-DNA. Both the spectroscopic data and the calculated structures show a narrowing of the minor groove relative to an all-DNA triplex of the same sequence. The sugar puckers of the DNA residues are mostly C2‘-endo while the RNA third strand residues show only partial C3‘-endo character.