cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Distribution of total and methylmercury in different ecosystem compartments in the Everglades: implications for mercury bioaccumulation.

Abstract We analyzed Hg species distribution patterns among ecosystem compartments in the Everglades at the landscape level in order to explore the implications of Hg distribution for Hg bioaccumulation and to investigate major biogeochemical processes that are pertinent to the observed Hg distribution patterns. At an Everglade-wide scale, THg concentrations were significantly increased in the following order: periphyton
Scopolamine disruption of behavioral and hippocampal responses in appetitive trace classical conditioning

Twelve young rabbits (3–6 months; Oryctolagus cuniculus) were classically conditioned in a trace jaw movement paradigm (300 ms tone, 450 ms trace, 200 ms intraoral water) after implantation of electrodes into area CA1 of dorsal hippocampus. Rabbits were divided into two groups and administered either 0.5 mg/kg scopolamine hydrobromide (HBr) or 0.5 mg/kg scopolamine methylbromide (MBr) subcutaneously before daily training sessions. Rabbits given HBr took significantly more trials to reach a behavioral criterion of eight conditioned responses in any nine consecutive trials than rabbits given MBr (P=0.03). Conditioned, but not unconditioned, rhythmic jaw movement responses of the HBr group were of a lower frequency (Hz) than those of MBr rabbits (P=0.02). The magnitude of hippocampal conditioning-related responses across the first 3 days of training was significantly smaller for HBr rabbits than for MBr rabbits (P=0.02). These effects of central cholinergic blockade are similar to those reported for undrugged aging rabbits trained in the same paradigm (Seager MA, Borgnis RL, Berry SD. Neurobiol. Aging 1997;18(6):631–639).
Use of microchip-based hydrodynamic focusing to measure the deformation-induced release of ATP from erythrocytes

In order to understand the role that erythrocytes play in conditions such as pulmonary hypertension, in vitro mimics of the microcirculation are needed. This paper describes the use of microchip-based hydrodynamic focusing to develop a mimic that allows both mechanical deformation of erythrocytes and quantification of the adenosine triphosphate (ATP) that is subsequently released in response to this deformation. In this mimic, two sheathing streams of a luciferin/luciferase mixture are used to focus and deform a central fluid flow of an erythrocyte sample. The focusing width is changed by simply manipulating the sheath flow rate. This allows a variety of cross-sectional areas to be studied using single point chemiluminescent detection. It was shown that increasing the sheath flow rate does result in elevated levels of ATP release. For example, one sample of rabbit erythrocytes released 0.80 (± 0.13) µM ATP when focused to a cross-section of 3480 µm2, while focusing the same sample to a smaller cross-section (1160 µm2) led to a release of 6.43 (± 0.40) µM ATP. In addition, two different inhibitors, diamide and glibenclamide, were used to ensure a lack of cell lysis. This approach can be used to examine a wide range of deformation forces in a high throughput fashion and will be of interest to researchers studying the mechanisms leading to vasodilation in the microvasculature.
A Comparison of Open and Endovascular Descending Thoracic Aortic Repair in Patients Older Than 75 Years of Age

Background Thoracic aortic endovascular repair (TEVAR) holds great promise in the elderly population. We conducted a concurrent comparison of TEVAR with open descending thoracic aneurysm repair (DTAR) in elderly patients to determine the more appropriate therapeutic option. Methods Since 1993, 93 patients aged 75 years and older have undergone open (n = 41) or endovascular (n = 52) descending aortic repair. Intervention indications included aneurysms, dissection, or traumatic injury. Mean maximum aortic diameter was 6.1 cm. Contained rupture was more frequent in TEVAR (p = 0.005); 52 needed arch repair, and 46 needed total descending repair. Results The mean age was 78.9 years (TEVAR, 80.6 vs DTAR, 76.9; p Conclusions Despite more complex preoperative comorbidities, the TEVAR group had shorter hospitalization, a trend towards a reduction in early mortality, and similar late outcomes. This comparative analysis suggests that thoracic endovascular repair may be a more suitable therapeutic option in this complex elderly group.
Influence of DMSO on the inhibition of various cancer cells by water-soluble organotin polyethers

The effect of solvent on the ability to inhibit a group of cell lines was studied employing a series of water-soluble dibutyltin polyethers derived from various hydroxyl-terminated poly(ethylene gl...
Temporal patterns in successful and unsuccessful shell-breaking predatory attack strategies on Varicorbula in the Plio-Pleistocene of Florida

Abstract Shell-breaking predators can employ multiple strategies when they attack their molluscan prey. Some of these attacks are highly effective and lead to the successful subjugation of prey and should be favored by natural selection, whereas other attacks are more likely to fail. Here, we use an analysis combining data from both the size and position of successful (unrepaired shell breaks) and failed attacks (repair scars) by shell-breaking predators on Varicorbula spp. to examine how the effectiveness of different attack strategies has changed through the Plio-Pleistocene of Florida. When data from these two types of attacks are studied in tandem, it suggests that predators, most likely crabs, preferentially attacked (both successfully and unsuccessfully) the posterior portions of the shell during the Plio-Pleistocene Pinecrest Beds and the latest Pleistocene Ft. Thompson, whereas during early Pleistocene Caloosahatchee and middle Pleistocene Bermont, they favored the ventral region of the shell. In terms of predatory success relative to the site and the length of shell damage, extensive breaks were almost always successful, and minor to medium attacks are the most common type of attack. Furthermore, the broader implications of this study suggest that interpretations based either on scars or breaks in isolation as an indicator of predation can lead to erroneous interpretations, and breaks and scars in association with size and location information should be used in tandem to better constrain potential ecological interpretations.
The structure of LaTaO4 at 300°C by neutron powder profile analysis

Abstract LaTaO 4 above 175°C is orthorhombic, space group A 2 1 am , with a = 5.6643(1), b = 14.6411(3), c = 3.9457(1), and Z = 4. It is isostructural with room temperature BaMnF 4 . The structure, refined by the Rietveld powder profile analysis technique to a final agreement index of 8.6%, consists of sheets of corner shared TaO 6 octahedra extending perpendicular to b , bonded to each other parallel to b by the nine coordinated lanthanum ions. All atoms are in position ( x , y , 0) with coordinates: La (0.1788, 0.1676), Ta (0.2192, 0.4141, O1 (0.4216, 0.3008), O2 (−0.0486, 0.3380), O3 (0.5614, 0.4689), O4 (0.2496, 0.9153). Orthorhombic CeTaO 4 and PrTaO 4 are isostructual.
Development of Solid Radionuclide Waste Forms in the United States

Until fairly recently, there were really only two nuclear waste forms: Solid waste, which was by definition what went into a burial ground even if the waste happened to be mostly liquids, and Liquid waste, which was by definition what went into a waste tank even if the waste happened to be mostly solids.
Interactions of U2 Gene Loci and Their Nuclear Transcripts with Cajal (Coiled) Bodies: Evidence for PreU2 within Cajal Bodies

The Cajal (coiled) body (CB) is a structure enriched in proteins involved in mRNA, rRNA, and snRNA metabolism. CBs have been shown to interact with specific histone and snRNA gene loci. To examine the potential role of CBs in U2 snRNA metabolism, we used a variety of genomic and oligonucleotide probes to visualize in situ newly synthesized U2 snRNA relative to U2 loci and CBs. Results demonstrate that long spacer sequences between U2 coding repeats are transcribed, supporting other recent evidence that U2 transcription proceeds past the 3' box. The presence of bright foci of this U2 locus RNA differed between alleles within the same nucleus; however, this did not correlate with the loci's association with a CB. Experiments with specific oligonucleotide probes revealed signal for preU2 RNA within CBs. PreU2 was also detected in the locus-associated RNA foci, whereas sequences 3' of preU2 were found only in these foci, not in CBs. This suggests that a longer primary transcript is processed before entry into CBs. Although this work shows that direct contact of a U2 locus with a CB is not simply correlated with RNA at that locus, it provides the first evidence of new preU2 transcripts within CBs. We also show that, in contrast to CBs, SMN gems do not associate with U2 gene loci and do not contain preU2. Because other evidence indicates that preU2 is processed in the cytoplasm before assembly into snRNPs, results point to an involvement of CBs in modification or transport of preU2 RNA.
The hypocalcemic effect of ethyl alcohol in rats and dogs.

Oral administration of ethyl alcohol in doses of 2-8 g/kg bw produced a rapid and sustained hypocalcemia in rats and dogs. The rapid onset (within 30 min) and the long duration (at least 5 hr) of hypocalcemia in rats after alcohol were characteristics similar to those we had observed previously with urethane. In control experiments, addition of alcohol to rat serum did not interfere with the analytical method for measurement of calcium. Furthermore, under the experimental conditions studied no changes in blood pH or total serum proteins occurred. The hypocalcemic effect of alcohol could not be explained by increased loss of urinary calcium, because the effect was retained after acute nephrectomy and because direct measurement of urine calcium revealed that ethanol decreased rather than increased total urinary calcium during a 3–hr time interval after treatment. The hypocalcemic action of alcohol differed from that of thyrocalcitonin; (a) the hypocalcemia caused by alcohol was not associated with hypophosp...
A Framework for Parallel Sampling of Design Space With Application to Vehicle Crashworthiness Optimization

This paper presents a framework for simulation-based design optimization of computationally-expensive problems, where economizing the generation of sample designs is highly desirable. Various meta-modeling schemes are used in practice in order to approximate the input-output relationships in the designed system and suggest candidate locations in the design space where high quality designs are likely to be found. One such popular approach is known as Efficient Global Optimization (EGO), where an initial set of design samples is used to construct a Kriging model, which approximates the system output and provides a prediction of the uncertainty in the approximations. Variations of EGO suggest new sample designs according to various infill criteria that seek to maximize the chance of finding high quality designs. The new samples are then used to update the Kriging model and the process is iterated. This paper attempts to address one of the limitations of EGO, which is the generation of the infill samples often becoming a difficult optimization problem in its own right for a larger number of design variables. This is done by adapting a previously developed approach for locating the optimum of a Kriging model to a modified EGO infill sampling criterion. The new implementation also allows the generation of multiple new samples at a time in order to take advantage of parallel computing. After testing on analytical functions, the algorithm is applied to vehicle crashworthiness design of a full vehicle model of a Geo Metro subject to frontal crash conditions.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
The Treaty Establishing a Constitution for Europe and the Democratic Legitimacy of the European Union

On May 1, 2004, ten new Member States, most of them from Eastern and Central Europe, joined the European Union (EU). This fifth enlargement, the most important undertaken thus far in the history of the EU, closed the book on the small Europe, once centered on the western end of the continent, and paved the way to the development of a much larger Europe that already includes twenty-five Member States, but that is likely to include others—Bulgaria and Romania by 2007, then Croatia, Macedonia, and perhaps (although the topic is much debated) Turkey. Already, to accommodate these new members, EU institutions have been reformed, and the founding treaties were duly amended in the Treaty of Nice of February 28, 2001. As it stands today, the EU system of government functions—and could perfectly well continue functioning—based as it currently is, on treaties. The EU treatybased system, however, has been subject to mounting criticism from a democratic standpoint since 1980, with the completion of the internal market. At some point, Nice seemed likely to be the place where substantial institutional reforms would take place. This was not the case; at the end of the Nice Treaty, however, an appended declaration adopted by the heads of states and governments acknowledged:
The excitatory amino acid glutamate mediates reflexly increased tracheal blood flow and airway submucosal gland secretion.

In six decerebrated and in eight α-chloralose anesthetized, paralyzed and mechanically ventilated beagle dogs, we have studied involvement of glutamate and glutamate receptors in transmission of excitatory inputs from the airway sensory receptors to the nucleus tractus solitarius and from this site to airway-related vagal preganglionic cells that regulate the tracheal circulation and the submucosal gland secretion. Stimulation of airway sensory fibers by lung deflation-induced reflex increase in tracheal blood flow and submucosal gland secretion. These responses were diminished by prior administration of AMPA/kainate receptor antagonist CNQX into the fourth ventricle (n=6). Furthermore, topical application or microinjection of AMPA/kainate receptor blockers, into the region of the ventrolateral medulla, where airway-related vagal preganglionic neurons are located, abolished the reflex changes in tracheal submucosal gland secretion (n=8); in these dogs mucosal blood flow was not measured). These findings indicate that reflex increase in tracheal blood flow and submucosal gland secretions are mediated mainly via release of glutamate and activation of the AMPA/kainate subtype of glutamate receptors.
Quantitative dental radiography with a new photostimulable phosphor system.

Objective. The purposes of this report are to present a quantitative model for digital oral radiography and to evaluate a new photostimulable phosphor system for bone mass measurements. Study design. Noise, linearity, and precision were measured from stepwedge images and blank images through use of a special least-squares calibration method. The model was used to estimate lower limits of detection for observing small changes in bone mineral content. Results. The response was virtually linear, and the noise level of 2% to 3% is less than that of digitized film images. The precision of measurements averaged over a region of interest was generally better than 0.5%. Conclusions. If the scatter fraction is measured for each patient, bone loss can be measured by using only extraoral standards. Assuming a scatter fraction of 50% and considering only instrumental errors, the detection limit is <0.02 g/cm2 for large image areas (≥7 mm2) and <0.3 mg over areas of 1 mm2 or smaller. (Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod 2000;89:498-508)
Mechanical and thermal properties of calcium–magnesium aluminosilicate (CMAS) glass

Abstract Thermal stability of a synthetic sand composition, which was developed as a simulant for calcium–magnesium aluminosilicate (CMAS) turbine deposits, was characterized using thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis (TG/DTA). The sand was melted into CMAS glass, which had a composition of 23.3CaO–6.4MgO–3.1Al 2 O 3 –62.5SiO 2 –4.1Na 2 O–0.5K 2 O–0.04Fe 2 O 3 (mol.%), determined by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES). Bulk density of the glass was measured to be 2.63 g/cm 3 , and the Young's and shear moduli were 84.3 GPa and 33.6 GPa, respectively, along with a Poisson's ratio of 0.26. Vickers microhardness and indentation fracture toughness were determined to be 6.14 ± 0.1 GPa and 0.70 ± 0.05 MPa m 1/2 , respectively. Glass transition temperature, softening point and coefficient of thermal expansion of the glass were measured by dilatometry. Glass viscosities were estimated over a temperature range of 600–1500 °C using dilatometric reference points of the glass and from composition-based methods. Times required for infiltration of molten CMAS glass into thermal or environmental barrier coatings were also estimated.
Predicting progression to AIDS: combined usefulness of CD4 lymphocyte counts and p24 antigenemia.

Abstract purpose: To investigate the combined usefulness of CD4 lymphocyte counts and human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) p24 antigen in predicting progression to the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). patients and methods: CD4 lymphocyte counts and HIV-1 p24 antigen status were evaluated over a 4-year period in 518 HIV-1-seropositive men enrolled in the Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study in Chicago. results: Twenty-six percent (134 of 518) of the HIV-1-seropositive cohort had detectable p24 antigen during the study period. Men with p24 antigenemia experienced a more rapid decline in CD4 lymphocyte counts than men who were persistently p24 antigen-negative (p conclusion: Our data indicate that p24 antigenemia can first be detected with moderate CD4 cell depletion, is associated with a more rapid decline in the CD4 lymphocyte population, and combined with CD4 lymphocyte counts is useful in identifying individuals at significantly greater risk of disease progression. Our findings provide important information for assessing HIV-1 disease prognosis over a 4-year period.
Cognitive Development in Context: An Investigation of Practical Problem Solving and Developmental Tasks

Theorists interested in intellectual development have increasingly focused their attention on the problem-solving strategies individuals develop to meet the demands they face in the changing social contexts of the life course. Direct assessments of the relationship between contextual demands and problem solving strategies, however, have been lacking. The orientation espoused here is that progress through the life course is, in part, determined by individuals' ability to solve problems posed by the development tasks confronting them. In a preliminary ethnographic investigation, the developmental tasks of first- and fourth-year medical students were assessed. A follow-up study revealed (a) the everyday problem solving of students in both years was oriented toward completing the tasks associated with their year in school, (b) the styles students developed to interpret contextually relevant problems were associated with their social environments and developmental tasks, and (c) developmental tasks accounted for more variance of everyday problem solving than in interpretive styles. The findings provide more direct support than was previously available for a relationship between practical intellectual development and life course contexts.
Effect of Flaw State on the Strength of Brittle Coatings on Soft Substrates

A study is made of the role of flaw state on the strength properties of brittle ceramic coating layers bonded to soft polycarbonate substrates. We introduce Vickers radial cracks at prescribed loads into the coating undersurfaces prior to bonding to control the sizes and locations of the starting flaws. A spherical indenter is then loaded on the top bilayer surfaces, directly above the Vickers indentation sites, subjecting the radial cracks to flexural tensile stress. Radial crack responses are monitored in situ, using a camera located below the transparent substrate. Critical loads to cause radial crack instability, and ensuing growth of the arrested cracks, are recorded. Conventional biaxial flexure tests on corresponding monolith coating materials provide a baseline for data comparison. Relative to the monolith flexure specimens, the bilayers show higher strengths, the more so the larger the flaw, indicating enhanced flaw tolerance. A simple fracture mechanics analysis of the radial crack evolution in the concentrated-load field, with due account for distribution of flexural tensile stresses at the coating undersurface, is unable to account completely for the enhanced bilayer strengths for the larger Vickers flaws. It is hypothesized that the epoxy used to bond the bilayer components enters the cracks, causing crack-wall adherence and providing an increased resistance to radial crack instability. The fracture mechanics are nevertheless able to account for the arrest and subsequent stable extension of the radial cracks beyond the critical loads once this extraneous adherence has been overcome.
Characterization and genetic analysis of antheridiogen‐insensitive mutants in the fern Ceratopteris

WARNE, T. R., HICKOK, L. G. & SCOTT, R. S., 1988. Characterization and genetic analysis of antheridiogen-insensitive mutants in the fern Ceratopteris. The pheromone antheridiogen mediates the differentiation of male gametophytes in the fern Ceratopteris. Mutants insensitive to antheridiogen were isolated using an in vitro selection procedure. Antheridiogen-insensitive mutants exhibited partial or complete insensitivity to antheridiogen, but were normal in all other respects. Two mutants were completely insensitive to antheridiogen, whereas, another mutant was insensitive to supplemented antheridiogen, but produced male gametophytes in multispore cultures. Genetic analysis suggested a single gene basis for each mutant.
Electron-impact excitation cross sections from the xenon J = 2 metastable level

Cross sections for electron-impact excitation from the $5p^{5}6s$ $J=2$ metastable level of xenon to the lowest six levels of the $5p^{5}6p$ configuration have been measured. The cross sections generally have very large magnitudes $({10}^{\ensuremath{-}15}\phantom{\rule{0.3em}{0ex}}{\mathrm{cm}}^{2})$ and scale with the corresponding optical oscillator strengths. The substantial variations observed in the energy dependence of the cross sections for the six levels can also be related to the optical oscillator strengths. Cross sections for excitation out of the $J=2$ metastable level into the upper four levels of the $5p^{5}6p$ configuration are much smaller. The large disparity in cross sections between the upper and lower groups is explained in terms of the electronic structure of the excited states of xenon.
Preconvolving theoretical photoabsorption cross sections using multichannel quantum-defect theory

Formulas for the direct calculation of convolved photoabsorption cross sections are presented. Atomic parameters used for the calculation of infinite resolution cross sections can be used in a very accurate approximate formula for the convolved cross section. The direct calculation of convolved cross sections is usually 20\char21{}100 times faster than the calculation of numerically convolved cross sections. Numerically convolved cross sections are compared to the preconvolved cross section for a recent atomic calculation.
Functions of a proprioceptive sense organ in freely moving insects: characteristics of reflexes elicited by stimulation of the locust metathoracic femoral chordotonal organ.

(1) The metathoracic femoral chordotonal organ is an identified joint angle receptor of the locust hindleg. In order to assess and quantify the functions of this sense organ in the control of posture, mechanical stimuli were applied to the main ligament of the receptor in freely standing locusts. These stimuli produced an afferent discharge that mimicked a sudden small (10-15 degree) change in the angle of the femoro-tibial joint of the hindleg. The reflex effects that resulted from afferent stimulation were monitored myographically in the tibial extensor and flexor muscles. The angle of the femoro-tibial joint at the onset of sensory stimulation was also recorded by still photography. (2) As previously reported, stimulation of the chordotonal organ in freely standing animals produced resistance reflexes in tibial muscles that opposed the apparent joint movement. However, we also found that, at certain joint angles, a different mode of reflex response was elicited in which motoneurons to the tibial flexor muscle fired in response to apparent movements in any direction. (3) In this study, characteristics of resistance reflexes in the tibial extensor muscle were analyzed quantitatively, as that muscle is innervated by only one slow excitatory motoneuron. The gain of the resistance reflex (ratio of the firing frequency during afferent stimulation versus the rate of activity prior to the stimulus) was quite high in all preparations, and represent a greater than two-fold increase in motoneuron frequency (mean 2.11 +/- 0.54 S.D.). The reflex gain was also highest at the lowest initial rates of motoneuron activity (circa 5 Hz) and declined for higher firing frequencies (maximum 35 Hz).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Radiation resistivity of polyacenaphthylene-grafted polyethylene

Abstract Thin poly (ethylene-g-acenaphthylene) films prepared by the vapor-phase grafting method were subjected to the γ-irradiation in air, and various changes in tensile and structural properties of the film were investigated by comparing with those of the untreated or crosslinked polyethylene film. Polyethylene got to lose its inherent necking property by oxidative degradation and to be brittle-fractured by the irradiation dose less than 100 Mrad in air. The polyacenaphthylene-grafted polyethylenes (extent of grafting, ∼ 54 by 100( P-P ° ) P ° ), however, kept their ductility up to 200 Mrad or more, and the rate of increase in elastic modulus as well as yield strength with the increasing irradiation dose was considerably lower than that of untreated or crosslinked polyethylene. The effect of the grafting extent, and that of the irradiation dose-rate on the fracture energy were also examined. The weight increase of polyethylene due to the oxygen consumption and the resulting formation of carbonyl group which proceeded proportionally with the irradiation dose were remarkably suppressed by the grafting, whereas the double bond formation seemed to be unaffected by it. The grafted film held the original content of gel fraction unchanged during the irradiation in air, but the average molecular weight of the sol fraction decreased gradually. Meanwhile, the gel fraction of the crosslinked polyethylene was degenerated by a small dose of irradiation. The analysis of gaseous products revealed the formation of water, methanol, acetaldehyde and so forth from the irradiated grafted film. The grafting procedure and the subsequent irradiation of the grafted film did not affect the degree of crystallinity of the backbone polyethylene. The role played by the grafted polyacenaphthylene for endowing the radiation resistivity to polyethylene and its inherent limitation in effect were discussed from the structural point of view of the grafted film.
Sediment interactions with submersed macrophyte growth and community dynamics

Abstract We review and synthesize information available in the literature on sediment interactions with submersed macrophyte growth and community dynamics. Sources of particular nutrients for uptake by submersed macrophytes are critically evaluated. Sediment physical and chemical properties are considered as a product of macrophyte growth as well as potential delimiters of growth. Aspects of macrophyte nutrition that influence littoral nutrient dynamics and macrophyte community composition are highlighted, with attention to factors affecting sediment nutrient availability. Interactive effects of sediment nutrient depletion, sedimentation, bioturbation, and microbial activity on macrophyte growth are emphasized. Major linkages and feedbacks between aquatic macrophytes and sediment properties are considered in terms of elemental exchanges and responses at the ecosystem level. Changes in macrophyte community composition during lake aging, or over relatively shorter time periods, are suggested to occur partially in response to altered sediment properties.
Magnetoionic Multiple Refraction at High Latitudes

Experimental ionospheric soundings examined by Scott and Davies are cited, with a short discussion of the interpretation these authors offer for multiple refraction at high latitudes. The theory of magnetoionic multiple refraction of Appleton and Builder is discussed with especial regard to effects to be expected in high geomagnetic latitudes. Experimental evidence is offered to show that the "Z" component of Scott and Davies is probably the longitudinal ordinary ray predicted by Appleton and Builder and by Taylor when collisional friction is appreciable. On the basis of certain assumptions, the collisional frequency near Fairbanks, Alaska, is calculated as about 4(10)4at 300 km. height.
Rat uterine fluid electrolytes and the estrous cycle

Abstract The volume and sodium and potassium concentrations of rat uterine fluid have been measured, on each day of the estrous cycle and in pseudopregnancy, by a simple new technique. The uterine fluid volume increased from 1.7 μl at diestrus to 224.1 μl at estrus. The potassium concentration of the uterine fluid did not differ significantly from a mean of 35.3 m-equiv/liter during the 5 stages of the estrous cycle, but rose to 46.2 m-equiv/liter in pseudopregnancy. It is suggested that the high potassium concentration of the uterine fluid may play an important role in implantation by reducing the membrane potential of the endometrial epithelium.
Bivalent Nature of Incomplete Anti-D(Rho)

ERYTHROCYTE antibodies were first demonstrated by their ability to agglutinate erythrocytes suspended in saline; these have been termed complete antibodies. In 1944, Wiener1 and Race2 independently showed that certain erythrocyte antibodies were incomplete, possessing the ability to fix to the erythrocyte surface without leading to agglutination. It has been postulated1, and generally accepted, that the complete saline agglutination antibody is bivalent, and the incomplete coating antibody univalent. Recent investigations in our laboratory using antibodies labelled with iodine-131 have led us to question this hypothesis3,4. Our results could best be explained by assuming a bivalent nature of incomplete erythrocyte antibodies.
The uncertainty principles of windowed wave functions

We derive explicit expressions for the low order moments for a windowed wave function and show that they lead to four separate uncertainty principles. There is a global uncertainty principle that relates the global spreads of position and momentum. The local uncertainty principle relates the conditional standard deviations at a particular position-momentum point. The other two uncertainty principles involve the mixed global-local widths.
Opacity of black smoke: calculated variation with particle size and refractive index: erratum.

The opacity of a black smoke (an aerosol of carbon spheres) is calculated from the Mie theory for several log-normal particle distributions. Calculations are presented at a wavelength of 0.55 μm for particle geometric mean diameters in the 10−3–1-μm range and geometric mean standard deviations in the 0 (monodisperse) to 0.4 range. For-a given mass concentration the extinction coefficient and, therefore, the opacity can vary by a factor of 2 or more as the size distribution is varied. For absorptive indexes (m2) near 0.7, typical of carbon, the smoke opacity is only weakly dependent on the real part of the particle refractive index.
Finding Regions of Interest from Trajectory Data

We show how to find regions of interest (ROIs) in trajectory databases. ROIs are regions where a large number of moving objects remain for at least a given time interval. Previous techniques use somewhat restrictive definitions for ROIs, and are parameter-dependent. They require sequential scanning of the entire dataset to find ROIs when the ROI parameters change. Our approach is parameter independent, so that the user can quickly identify ROIs under different parametric definitions without rescanning the whole database. We also generalize ROIs to be regions of arbitrary shape of some predefined density. We have tested our methods with large real and synthetic datasets to test the scalability and verify the output of our methods. Our methods give meaningful output and scale very well.
Electron-electron interaction in simple metals

We calculate ${V}_{\mathrm{ee}}$, the effective screened interaction between two electrons in a simple metal. The result is derived by a self-consistent perturbation theory based on Hartree-Fock theory. Exchange and correlation are treated in local approximation. We consider the lattice to be a smooth but elastically deformable, charged medium in which the electrons move. Our results is a generalization of the Fr\"ohlich interaction to include exchange and correlation. The effective interaction is spin dependent and may be written ${V}_{\mathrm{ee}}(q,\ensuremath{\omega})={V}_{0}(q,\ensuremath{\omega})\ensuremath{-}J(q,\ensuremath{\omega}){\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\ensuremath{\sigma}}}_{1}\ifmmode\cdot\else\textperiodcentered\fi{}{\stackrel{\ensuremath{\rightarrow}}{\ensuremath{\sigma}}}_{2}$. Explicit expressions for ${V}_{0}$ and $J$ are given in terms of the lattice stiffness and the same local exchange and correlation potentials of the electron gas which are needed to calculate the dielectric function and the spin susceptibility.
KB-spaces and subinvariant elements of positive operators

Our purpose in the note is to obtain a characterization of the KB-spaces among the order continuous Banach lattices. The characterization is stated in terms of subinvariant elements of positive power bounded operators and two ergodic decompositions which we have defined in previous papers.
Evidence review: efficacy and effectiveness of antidepressant treatment in primary care.

This review considers evidence for the efficacy of pharmacotherapy among primary care patients with depressive disorders and reviews knowledge regarding the effectiveness of current practice. Strong evidence supports the efficacy of antidepressant pharmacotherapy for primary care patients with major depression and dysthymia with some evidence for pharmacotherapy of less severe depression. In general, available antidepressants appear equal in both efficacy and effectiveness. Treatment selection for any individual patient remains largely empirical, with few clinical characteristics predicting better or worse response to specific treatments. Strong evidence supports continuation treatment (i.e., at least six months of pharmacotherapy) for all patients and maintenance treatment (i.e., at least 24 months of pharmacotherapy) for those with chronic or recurrent depression. Unfortunately, few patients in primary care or specialty practice receive recommended levels of pharmacotherapy or recommended frequency of follow-up care. A number of recent studies have evaluated strategies to improve the quality of antidepressant treatment in primary care. Educational programs (including academic detailing and continuous quality improvement) have had little impact on patient outcomes. Key elements of effective care improvement programs include specific, evidence-based treatment protocols, organized patient education and active follow-up care.
Industrial Factionalism in Modern German History

At a time when the Republican party in America seems to have abandoned its brief hopes of proclaiming a new paradigm, it may seem apropos to observe that old ones die hard—and not only in public life. A case in point from the scholarly world is the subject of this essay: the persistent historiographical notion of industrial factionalism. Throughout this century, students of German political economy have tended to see the country's business world as divided between two groupings. One comprises the classic heavy industries of the first Industrial Revolution and the Ruhr: coal, iron, and steel. Supposedly oriented toward domestic markets, burdened with high labor costs, doomed to flattening gains in productivity and profits, and habituated to hierarchy within their plants and the nation, executives in this grouping have figured in the historical literature as consistently and intransigently united against free trade, labor unions, and parliamentary government—indeed, against modernization itself.
Synthesis of Platinacyclobutanes Bearing Biological Components for Targeted, Cisplatin Prodrugs

A new series of platinacyclobutanes with attached biomolecules have been prepared. Biological components include thymidine, cholesterol, glucose, and proline, all of which have been coupled to cyclopropylmethanol and then reacted with platinum(II), in the form of Zeise's dimer, to give the respective platinacycle.
MRSA deep neck abscesses: treatment implications

Elongated styloid process is an infreuently seen condition which is rather hard o diagnose, causes sore throat, foreign ody sensation at deglutition or earache y stimulating the pharynx and cervial nerves. Its pathogenesis and treatment odalities are still being debated while diferent theories have been presented. In this case report our aim is to present n infrequent condition which was coincientally diagnosed. A 43 year old male patient has referred o our clinic with complaints of mobile eeth and demand of dental implants. In he history he also mentioned slight pain at eglutition in his throat bilaterally which as not diagnosed previously. He had o history of surgery or trauma. A careul clinical examination radiographs and omputerized tomography (CT) revealed 4 mm long bilateral styloid processes. ilateral styloidectomies have been perormed by an intraoral approach in a ommon fashion and the patient healed neventfully. The incidence of elongated styloid rocess has been reported at 4–18% in genral population. Bilateral involvement is ommon but bilateral symptoms are less requent. In fact, it is reported that this conition is found more often in females and lder than 50 years old, but our case was 3 years old male. Eagle’s syndrome is difficult to diagose because its symptoms are similar o those of other pathologies from areas n addition to the oral and maxillofacial rea. Clinical and radiographic examinaions including CT are often necessary to xclude other entities with similar manfestations. Treatment options must be arefully evaluated for each case. Conflict of interest: None declared.
X-ray tensile testing of thin films

The “x-ray tensile test” is the combination of the standard uniaxial tensile test with x-ray diffraction techniques. In this test, in addition to the mechanical stress-strain values usually obtained from a tensile test, one measures the x-ray strain and stress in the diffracting regions of the sample. In multilayer thin films or in multiphase materials, x-ray diffraction enables the determination of strains and stresses in the individual layers or phases. Correlation of the x-ray data with the mechanical stress-strain values may be used to analyze strain and load partitioning within the specimen. In this paper an extended theoretical analysis of this technique and its application to evaporated Cu films on Ni substrates is presented.
Substance, modality and spacetime

L'A. montre que la reconciliation de l'affirmation realiste de l'existence de l'espace-temps avec l'argument du trou (hole argument) developpe par J. Earman et J. Norton est incompatible avec la conception substantialiste de l'espace-temps. L'A. examine les differentes versions du substantialisme capables d'echapper aux conclusions indeterministes de l'argument du trou
The specific heat of simple liquids

Abstract The specific heat should be the simplest property of a liquid to calculate because it requires the fewest assumptions. Its prediction provides a necessary test for any theory of condensed matter. We are accustomed, from standard textbooks, to having simple models giving quantitative results for the magnitude and temperature dependence of the specific heat of gases and crystals, but not for liquids. The interstitialcy theory provides such a model, unifying crystalline, liquid and glassy states. According to the theory, simple liquids are crystals containing a few percent of interstitialcies in thermal equilibrium, and glasses are frozen liquids. Relative to the crystalline state, there are two principal contributions to the specific heat of the liquid state, a positive structural term and a negative anharmonic term. For normal stable liquids at temperatures Tm
Synthesis of 1-d- and 1-l-myo-inosityl 2-N-acetamido-2-deoxy-α-d-glucopyranoside establishes substrate specificity of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis enzyme AcGI deacetylase

Mycothiol (MSH, 1-D-myo-inosityl 2-(N-acetyl-L-cysteinyl)amido-2-deoxy-alpha-D-glucopyranoside) is the principal low molecular weight thiol in actinomycetes. The enzyme 1-D-myo-inosityl 2-N-acetamido-2-deoxy-alpha-D-glucopyranoside deacetylase (AcGI deacetylase) is involved in the biosynthesis of MSH and forms the free amine 1-D-myo-inosityl 2-amino-2-deoxy-alpha-D-glucopyranoside, which is used in the third of four steps of MSH biosynthesis. Here, we report the synthesis of two isomers of AcGI, which contain either 1-L-myo-inositol or 1-D-myo-inositol. These synthetic products were used to investigate substrate specificity of the Mycobacterium tuberculosis enzyme AcGI deacetylase.
The onset of brain injury and neurodegeneration triggers the synthesis of docosanoid neuroprotective signaling.

Bioactive lipid messengers are formed through phospholipase-mediated cleavage of specific phospholipids from membrane reservoirs. Effectors that activate the synthesis of lipid messengers, include ion channels, neurotransmitters, membrane depolarization, cytokines, and neurotrophic factors. In turn, lipid messengers regulate and interact with multiple pathways, participating in the development, differentiation, function (e.g., long-term potentiation and memory), protection, and repair of cells of the nervous system. Overall, bioactive lipids participate in the regulation of synaptic function and dysfunction. Platelet-activating factor (PAF) and COX-2-synthesized PGE2 modulate synaptic plasticity and memory. Oxidative stress disrupts lipid signaling, fosters lipid peroxidation, and initiates and propagates neurodegeneration. Lipid messengers participate in the interactions among neurons, astrocytes, oligodendrocytes, microglia, cells of the microvasculature, and other cells. A conglomerate of interrelated cells comprises the neurovascular unit. Signaling at the neurovascular unit is clearly altered in the early stages of cerebrovascular disease as well as in neurodegenerations. Here we will provide examples of how signaling by lipids regulates critical events essential for neuronal survival. We will highlight a newly identified, DHA-derived messenger, neuroprotectin D1, which attenuates oxidative stress-induced apoptosis. The specificity and potency of this novel docosanoid (neuroprotectin D1) indicate a potentially important target for therapeutic intervention.
Low power methodology and design techniques for processor design

IBM's ASIC design methodologies is used to develop a low power microprocessor for the mobile (battery powered) marketplace. The design called for a reduction of active power by a factor of 10 times from an estimate of a product designed in a standard 3 volt ASIC design system. An overview of the design methodology and some of the innovative power reduction techniques are presented.
The cause of superior vena cava syndrome: diagnosis with percutaneous atherectomy

The cause of superior vena cava syndrome (SVCS) in two patients was identified by means of endovascular biopsy of the superior vena cava (SVC) performed with a percutaneous atherectomy catheter. In both cases, the extracted tissues were neoplastic, therefore obviating additional invasive procedures. After a specific diagnosis was established, external-beam radiation therapy was used to treat the SVCS. The atherectomy catheter was used in conjunction with other percutaneous techniques, including balloon angioplasty and endovascular stenting of the SVC.
Effects of Apigenin on Steroidogenesis and Steroidogenic Acute Regulatory Gene Expression in Mouse Leydig Cells

Previous studies reported that the age-related decline in testosterone biosynthesis is associated with a decrease in the steroidogenic acute regulatory (StAR) protein which regulates the rate-limiting step of testosterone biosynthesis. To explore the possibility of delaying this decline using a dietary approach, we have examined the effect of a natural flavonoid, apigenin, on StAR gene expression in mouse Leydig cells. Incubation of these cells with the flavonoid enhanced cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP)-induced steroidogenesis and StAR protein expression. The results from the analyses of StAR mRNA by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction and the luciferase assays of StAR promoter activity indicated that this flavonoid enhanced StAR gene expression at the level of transcription. Further studies showed that apigenin blocked the thromboxane A2 receptor and interrupted the signaling through the cyclooxygenase-2-thromboxane A synthase-thromboxane A2-receptor pathway, resulting in a reduction of DAX-1 (dosage sensitive sex reversal-adrenal hypoplasia congenita critical region on the X chromosome, gene-1) protein, a transcriptional repressor of StAR gene expression. When DAX-1 protein was reduced, the sensitivity of the Leydig cells was dramatically enhanced, with sub-threshold level of cAMP being able to induce maximal levels of StAR protein expression and steroid hormone production. The present study suggests a potential application of apigenin to improve StAR protein expression and steroidogenic sensitivity of aging Leydig cells.
Trends in the rates of radiography use and important diagnoses in emergency department patients with abdominal pain.

Background:Computed tomography (CT) and ultrasound (US) are used in emergency departments (ED) to aid in the diagnosis of patients with abdominal pain.Objectives:To describe trends in CT and US use in United States EDs and determine if higher test use is associated with higher detection rates for in
Gender and Environmental Justice in Louisiana: Blurring the boundaries of public and private spheres

Many scholars have examined the implications and effects of a putative dichotomy between public-as-masculine and private-as-feminine spheres on community activism, and suggest that women's community activism blurs this ideological divide in numerous ways. This article draws on a case study of a siting conflict in St. James Parish, Louisiana, to examine how, in the process of blurring boundaries between gendered spheres of interest and activity, predominantly women environmental justice activists contended with differently gendered contexts. Concepts of performance and performativity shed light on how gendered hierarchies of public and private sphere activism both constrained and enabled the protest group's political practice.