cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Evidence from ammonoids and conodonts for multiple Early Triassic mass extinctions

Ammonoids and conodonts, being characterized by exceptionally high background rates of origination and extinction, were vulnerable to global environmental crises, which characteristically intensified background rates of extinction. Thus, it is not surprising that these taxa suffered conspicuous mass extinctions at the times of three negative Early Triassic global carbon isotopic excursions that resembled those associated with the two preceding Permian mass extinctions. In keeping with their high rates of origination, both the ammonoids and conodonts rediversified dramatically between the Early Triassic crises. Other marine taxa, characterized by much lower intrinsic rates of origination, were held at low levels of diversity by the Early Triassic crises; because global mass extinctions affect all marine life, these taxa must have experienced relatively modest expansions and contractions that have yet to be discovered, because they do not stand out in the fossil record and because the stratigraphic ranges of these taxa, being of little value for temporal correlation, have not been thoroughly studied.
The structure and characterization of zinc heteroscorpionate complexes containing pentafluorothiophenol

Abstract The Zn(II)CH3 complexes of the heteroscorpionate ligands (3-tert-butyl-2-hydroxy(or thio)-5-methylphenyl)bis(3,5-dimethylpyrazolyl)methane, L1OH or L2SH react with pentafluorothiophenol (HSPhF5). For [(L1O)ZnCH3], this resulted in the formation of the pseudo-tetrahedral Zn(II) complexes [(L1O)ZnSPhF5] (1) or [(L1OH)Zn(SPhF5)2] depending on the ratio of pentafluorothiophenol used. However, when [(L2S)ZnCH3] was reacted with 1 or 2 equiv. of HSPhF5, in addition to the expected [(L1S)ZnSPhF5] (2) or [(L1SH)Zn(SPhF5)2] (3), one additional product, [(L2S)Zn(L2S)Zn(SPhF5)2] (4) was observed. The structures of four of the complexes, i.e. [(L1O)ZnSPhF5] (1), [(L2S)ZnSPhF5] (2), [(L2SH)Zn(SPhF5)2] (3), and [(L2S)Zn(L2S)Zn(SPhF5)2] (4) have been determined by X-ray crystallography.
Women's cognitive and affective reactions to breast cancer survivor stories: a structural equation analysis.

Abstract Objective Compare the immediate affective and cognitive reactions to cancer survivor stories about mammography and breast cancer vs. a didactic, informational approach. Methods Participants (N = 489) were African American women age 40 years and older (mean = 61). Most had ≤high school education (67%), annual household income ≤$20,000 (77%), and a prior mammogram (89%). Participants completed surveys before and after watching the narrative or informational video. We used structural equation modeling to examine the large number of inter-related latent constructs. Results Women who watched the narrative video experienced more positive and negative emotions, found it easier to understand the video, had more positive evaluations of the video, reported stronger identification with the message source (i.e., perceived similarity, trust, liking), and were more engaged with the video. Conclusion Narratives elicited immediate reactions consistent with theorized pathways of how communication affects behavior. Future studies should examine whether and how these immediate outcomes act as mediators of the longer term effects of narratives on affect, cognitions, and behavior. Practice implications Stories of other women's experiences may be more powerful than a didactic presentation when encouraging African American women to get a mammogram.
Mechanical properties and microstructure evolution of cold-deformed high-nitrogen nickelfree austenitic stainless steel during annealing

The mechanical properties and microstructure evolution of cold-deformed CrMnN austenitic stainless steel annealed in a temperature ranging from 50 °C to 650 °C for 90 min and at 550 °C for different time were investigated by tensile test, micro hardness test, and Transmission Electron Microscope (TEM). The steel was strengthened when it got annealed at temperatures ranging from 100 °C to 550 °C, while it was softened when it got annealed at temperatures ranging from 550 °C to 650 °C. Annealing temperature had stronger effect on mechanical properties than annealing time. TEM observations showed that nano-sized precipitates formed when the steel was annealed at 150 °C for 90 min, but the size and density of precipitates had no noticeable change with annealing temperature and time. Recrystallization occurred when the steel was annealed at temperatures above 550 °C for 90 min, and its scale increased with annealing temperature. Nanosized annealing twins were observed. The mechanisms that controlled the mechanical behaviors of the steel were discussed.
Patterns of AVP and AVP receptor synthesis in human mesenteric blood vessels

Abstract Introduction: Recent studies have identified blood vessels as sites of arginine vasopressin (AVP) synthesis. This study explores human mesenteric blood vessels in an attempt to isolate and quantitate AVP and V1 receptor mRNA and correlate these with several parameters. Methods: Paired mesenteric blood vessels (artery and vein) were harvested (IRB approval). RNA was extracted from homogenized vessels, subjected to reverse transcription, and specific primers were used to amplify cDNA corresponding to either AVP or the V1 receptor and beta actin. TaqMan probes with FAM or Texas Red Fluorophores and black hole quenchers were used to signal real-time production of PCR products and quantify specific mRNA sequences. Results: Twelve patients of age 55 years (31–72 yrs.) were studied (7 male, 5 female). AVP mRNA was identified in 12/12 arteries and 10/12 veins (0.23 ± 0.10 [s.e.] in arteries vs. 0.18 ± 0.09 arbitrary units of AVP mRNA/actin mRNA in veins; p = NS). V1R mRNA was identified in 12/12 arteries and 8/11 veins (4.3 ± 1.02 artery vs. 1.56 ± 0.7 V1R mRNA/actin vein; p = 0.0244). Arterial and venous AVP mRNA correlated negatively with age (p = 0.0028 and p = 0.0132, respectively). Arterial and venous AVP mRNA showed significant positive correlation (p = 0.0141). Arterial V1R mRNA tended to be greater in males than females (5.73 ± 1.29 vs. 2.3 ± 0.94 arbitrary units of V1R mRNA/actin mRNA; p = 0.057). However, arterial V1R mRNA was strongly positively correlated with diastolic blood pressure (r = 0.70, p = 0.0112) and males had a higher diastolic pressure than females (79.4 ± 4.56 vs. 63.8 ± 3.3 mmHg, p = 0.019). Conclusions: Although AVP synthesis is similar in mesenteric arteries and veins, V1R synthesis is higher in arteries. The negative correlation between both arterial and venous AVP synthesis and age may result from known higher serum AVP associated with aging. AVP synthesis in arteries and veins seems to rise and fall together and there is no apparent correlation between local AVP synthesis and synthesis of V1R. Interestingly, V1R synthesis in arteries is positively correlated with diastolic blood pressure and tends to be higher in male than female patients. Enhanced V1R synthesis in male arteries may predispose to hypertension in the male gender.
“Ignore Them and They Will Come”: Attracting Students to Academic Library Events

During the fall semesters of 2012 and 2013, the SUNY Potsdam College Libraries hosted a pair of Digital Humanities (DH) lectures for the campus community. We are lucky enough to have an endowment t...
Comparative efficacy of HgCl2 with candidate aquaporin-1 inhibitors DMSO, gold, TEA+ and acetazolamide

Aquaporin-1 (AQP1) inhibitors are predicted to have multiple clinical applications. Hg(++) is a non-specific and toxic AQP1 blocker. We compared compounds with reported AQP1 inhibition activity, including DMSO, Au(+++), Ag(+), tetraethylammonium and acetazolamide. Water permeability was measured by stopped-flow light scattering in erythrocytes and volume marker dilution in epithelial cells. Au(+++) inhibited AQP1 with IC50 approximately 14 microM, similar to 10 microM for Hg(++). DMSO slowed osmotic equilibration; however, the apparent inhibition was due to 'osmotic clamp' rather than AQP1 inhibition. Neither tetraethylammonium nor acetazolamide (to 10 mM) inhibited AQP1. Our data indicate the need to identify new AQP1 inhibitors.
Rb-Sr and K-Ar geochronology of turbidites and metavolcanics at Red Rocks, Wellington, New Zealand

Abstract Rb-Sr and K-Ar dating of various lithologies at Red Rocks, Wellington coast, New Zealand, indicate a complex thermotectonic history. Turbidites west of Red Rocks yield a Rb-Sr whole-rock age of 216 Ma, interpreted to be the time of closure of the whole-rock system during burial and low-grade metamorphism of the sediments about 15–20 Ma after deposition. Turbidites east of Red Rocks yield internally concordant Rb-Sr ages of 188–190 Ma, which are similarly interpreted, and suggest a younger sequence, with a fault between the two turbidite units. The ages are consistent with a general eastwards-younging of the Torlesse accretionary prism in the Wellington region. Red/green argillites from Red Rocks itself define an imperfect Rb-Sr isochron of about 159 Ma. K-Ar ages for these rocks range from 147 to 163 Ma and reflect argon loss during a second localised thermal event, probably related to thrusting of the eastern over the western turbidite sequence during imbrication of the Torlesse accretionary prism.
Dynamic Artificial Neural Networks with Affective Systems

Artificial neural networks (ANNs) are processors that are trained to perform particular tasks. We couple a computational ANN with a simulated affective system in order to explore the interaction between the two. In particular, we design a simple affective system that adjusts the threshold values in the neurons of our ANN. The aim of this paper is to demonstrate that this simple affective system can control the firing rate of the ensemble of neurons in the ANN, as well as to explore the coupling between the affective system and the processes of long term potentiation (LTP) and long term depression (LTD), and the effect of the parameters of the affective system on its performance. We apply our networks with affective systems to a simple pole balancing example and briefly discuss the effect of affective systems on network performance.
Control of a Space Rigidizable Inflatable Boom Using Macro-fiber Composite Actuators:

An experimental investigation of vibration testing and active control of a space rigidizable inflatable composite boom containing embedded piezoelectric composite actuators was conducted. Inflatable deployable space structures offer reduced mass, higher packaging efficiency, lower life cycle cost, simpler design with fewer parts, and higher deployment reliability for many large deployable spacecraft structures applications. Enhancing deployed precision and repeatability for these structures is an ongoing research area, in particular for rigidizable inflatable material systems. In this study, in situ vibration testing and active damping using piezoelectric macro-fiber composite actuators embedded within a typical space-rigidizable deployable composite boom are investigated The embedded macro-fiber composites are shown to be capable of surviving integration, packaging, deployment and thermal rigidization in vacuum, and subsequently operating at their full actuation capability. Positive position feedback con...
Tetragonal structure of CaSiO3 perovskite above 20 GPa

[1] High-resolution synchrotron X-ray diffraction measurements were performed at 20–46 GPa on CaSiO3 perovskite (Ca-pv) synthesized in a laser heated diamond cell. After heating, we observed peak splittings for the cubic 200 and 211 diffraction lines, attributable to a tetragonal distortion of Ca-pv. The bulk modulus of the tetragonal phase is 255 ± 5 GPa for K0T′ = 4. The observed intensities and d-spacings of the split lines indicate that the c-axis is shorter than the a-axes (c/a = 0.993 − 0.996). This is compatible with either SiO6 octahedron rotation around the a-axes or SiO6 octahedron distortion (shorter Si-O bonds along the c-axis than the a-axes), provided that the observed phase has a tetragonal unit cell. These structural distortions in Ca-pv can affect its physical properties and capacity for large cations.
Tetris: a new register pressure control technique for VLIW processors

The run-time performance of VLIW (very long instruction word) microprocessors depends heavily on the effectiveness of its associated optimizing compiler. Typical VLIW compiler phases include instruction scheduling, which maximizes instruction level parallelism (ILP), and register allocation, which minimizes data spills to external memory. If ILP is maximized without considering register constraints, high register pressure may result, leading to increased spill code and reduced run-time performance. In this paper, a new register pressure reduction technique for embedded VLIW processors is presented to control register pressure prior to instruction scheduling and register allocation. By modifying the relative ordering of operations, this technique restructures code to better reduce spills. Our technique has been implemented in Trimaran, an academic VLIW compiler, and evaluated using a series of VLIW benchmarks. Experimental results show that, on average, our algorithm reduces dynamic spills and improves overall cycle counts by 6% for a VLIW architecture with 8 functional units and 32 registers versus previous spill code reduction techniques.
Direct electronic visualization of high‐voltage TEM images by sequential pixel acquisition

SUMMARY A hybrid imaging mode is described that allows direct electronic detection and manipulation of TEM images. Such imaging mode should be of particular interest and usefulness in high-voltage instruments, in which image visibility is notably poor, but it can also be adapted to conventional electron microscopes. Pixels are detected sequentially by electron-optically sweeping the whole transmitted beam in a two-dimensional raster past a defining aperture located below the camera. Pixel data are obtained directly in digital form and can thus be conveniently manipulated on-line or stored for subsequent processing. Preliminary results obtained in one dimension confirm satisfactorily the anticipated characteristics of two-dimensional images. Possible consequences, applications and extensions of this electronic image acquisition mode are discussed.
The occlusal index: A system for identifying and scoring occlusal disorders

Abstract Because a lack of agreement prevails among investigators concerned with measuring occlusion for epidemiologic purposes, an attempt has been made to develop an index of occlusion which would serve for these purposes. This index was called the Occlusal Index (OI). The methods of scoring the nine characteristics used in the OI have been presented. These characteristics included dental age, molar relation, overbite, overjet, posterior cross-bite, posterior open-bite, tooth displacement (actual and potential), midline relations, and missing permanent maxillary incisors. The scoring mechanism was briefly utilized. The OI was tested for validity, validity during time, and intra-examiner reliability. The OI appears to correlate highly (r s = 0.920) with the clinical standard, indicating high validity; the OI also appears to be valid during time, since the average group scores did not decrease during time. Intra-examiner reliability was very high (r s = 0.963). A subjective classification of occlusion which could be used to interpret the OI scores was devised. This subjective classification and a suggested range for each class were described.
Chaotic neural network for learnable associative memory recall

We show that the Fuzzy Membership Function (FMF) is learnable with underlying chaotic neural networks for the open set probability. A sigmoid N-shaped function is used to generate chaotic signals. We postulate that such a chaotic set of innumerable realization forms a FMF exemplified by fuzzy feature maps of eyes, nose, etc., for the invariant face classification. The CNN with FMF plays an important role for fast pattern recognition capability in examples of both habituation and novelty detections. In order to reduce the computation complexity, the nearest-neighborhood weight connection is proposed. In addition, a novel timing-sequence weight-learning algorithm is introduced to increase the capacity and recall of the associative memory. For simplicity, a piece-wise-linear (PWL) N-shaped function was designed and implemented and fabricated in a CMOS chip.
Diviner Lunar Radiometer Observations of the LCROSS Impact

The Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter (LRO) Diviner instrument detected a thermal emission signature 90 seconds after the Lunar Crater Observation and Sensing Satellite (LCROSS) Centaur impact and on two subsequent orbits. The impact heated a region of 30 to 200 square meters to at least 950 kelvin, providing a sustained heat source for the sublimation of up to ~300 kilograms of water ice during the 4 minutes of LCROSS post-impact observations. Diviner visible observations constrain the mass of the sunlit ejecta column to be ~10−6 to 10−5 kilograms per square meter, which is consistent with LCROSS estimates used to derive the relative abundance of the ice within the regolith.
Erratum to “Interplay between the cardiac renin angiotensin system and JAK-STAT signaling: Role in cardiac hypertrophy, ischemia/reperfusion dysfunction, and heart failure” [J Mol Cell Cardiol 2002;34:1443–1453]

Due to a printer error the quantity Gq has been typed abusively as G9 in our publication. This occurs four times in the publication: on p. 1450, left column, line 7 under the heading “Cardiac myocyte hypertrophy”, G9/G11 should be changed to Gq/G11; and on p. 1450, right column, lines 2, 18 and 37 under the heading “Heart failure”, G9 should be changed to Gq. * Corresponding author. E-mail address: gbooz@medicine.tamu.edu (G.W. Booz) Journal of Molecular and Cellular Cardiology 35 (2003) 225 www.elsevier.com/locate/yjmcc
Immobilized enzyme assay of creatine kinase with amperometric detection

Abstract Serum creatine kinase-MB isoenzyme was determined by an immunoinhibition-amperometric technique in a coupled reaction scheme in which ADP and ATP are recycled and hydrogen peroxide is a product of the reaction. Two enzymes in the scheme, glycerokinase and glycerol-3-phosphate oxidase, were co-immobilized on collagen membrane at the surface of a platinum electrode polarized at 700 mV. The rate of production of hydrogen peroxide in the reaction was measured amperometrically at the electrode and related to the activity of creatine kinase. Calibration curves prepared with human creatine kinase-MB isoenzyme standards were linear from 10 to 500 U liter −1 with a detection limit of 8 U liter −1 . Total creatine kinase in serum was also determined by the present method. The precision of the method was 3.1% relative standard deviation at the 10 U liter −1 level of creatine kinase. Interference from adenylate kinase was eliminated by the addition of diadenosine-5′-pentaphosphate to samples.
Children's understanding of speaker reliability between lexical and syntactic knowledge.

Many studies suggest that preschoolers rely on individuals’ histories of generating accurate lexical information when learning novel lexical information from them. The present study examined whether children used a speaker’s accuracy about one kind of linguistic knowledge to make inferences about another kind of linguistic knowledge, focusing specifically on syntax and the lexicon. In Experiment 1, we presented children with 2 live speakers who were lexically accurate, but differed in their appropriate use of subject–verb agreement. Older 4-year-olds, but not younger 4-year-olds, relied on the accurate speaker to learn new labels for novel objects. We suggest only the older 4-year-olds might have registered that the inaccurate speaker was an unreliable source of novel linguistic information. In Experiment 2, 4-year-olds observed 2 speakers whose utterances were syntactically accurate, but differed in lexical accuracy. All 4-year-olds used the speakers’ accuracy to guide how they learned novel lexical information and novel irregular plurals, but not how they learned novel irregular past tense forms that children often regularize. These results suggest that when learning novel syntactic information, reliability information might interact with underlying linguistic regularity.
Accurate interaction energies for argon, krypton, and benzene dimers from perturbation theory based on the Kohn–Sham model

Abstract The density-functional-based symmetry-adapted perturbation theory [SAPT(DFT)] has been applied to the argon, krypton, and benzene dimers. It is shown that – at a small fraction of computational costs – SAPT(DFT) can provide similar accuracies for the interaction energies as high-level wave-function based methods with extrapolations to the complete basis set limits. This accuracy is significantly higher than that of any other DFT or DFT-based approaches proposed to date.
A Hyperbolic Heat Transfer Problem with Phase Changes

Etude d'un probleme hyperbolique de transfert de chaleur avec des changements de phase. Proprietes asymptotiques
Photoelectric Studies of Iron

Studies of the photoelectric properties of spectroscopically pure, carefully outgassed iron were made through a wide temperature range, including the $\ensuremath{\alpha}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\ensuremath{\beta}$ and $\ensuremath{\beta}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\ensuremath{\gamma}$ transformation points. Interesting changes in the slope of the temperature-photoelectric current curves for the various monochromatic radiations are shown. Analyses of the data by Fowler's method at different temperatures indicate that the change in photoelectric sensitivity, to be associated with the allotropic states of iron, is explainable more on a change in the number density of free electrons and the transition-probability factor than on a change in the surface work function. The work function of iron at room temperature was found to be 4.70 electron-volts. The variation of the work function for the three allotropic forms $\ensuremath{\alpha}$, $\ensuremath{\beta}$, and $\ensuremath{\gamma}$ is only 0.10 electron-volt.
Starch Graft Polymers. III. Preparation of Graft Polymers Containing Acrylamide, Acrylic Acid and β‐Methacryloyloxyethyltrimethylammonium Monomethyl Sulfate and Evaluation as Flocculants for Bauxite Ore Red Mud Suspensions

Graft co- and terpolymers of starch and the vinyl monomers acrylamide (I), acrylic acid (II), acrylonitrile (III) and β-methacryloyloxyethyltrimethylammonium monomethyl sulfate (IV) were prepared and evaluated as flocculants for bauxite ore red mud suspensions. Starch-poly (III) was base hydrolyzed to starch poly (I, II) before evaluation. Products containing poly (I), (II), and (IV) were prepared by γ-radiation induced grafting while that containing poly (III) was prepared by ceric (Ce+14) ion initiated grafting. Preparation, characterization and evaluation procedures are presented together with results illustrating that starch poly (II) containing 38% poly (II) is an effective flocculant for domestic bauxite ore red mud suspensions.
Activation of phosphoinositide turnover and protein kinase C by neurotransmitters that modulate calcium channels in embryonic chick sensory neurons

Abstract Gamma aminobutyric acid (GABA) and norepinephrine modulate the excitability of primary chick sensory neurons by decreasing the voltage dependent Ca current. Although previous electro-physiological studies indicate that neurotransmitter modulation of the Ca current in these neurons involves protein kinase C, the biochemical aspects of this mechanism have not been examined directly. We find that both norepinephrine (via a unique a receptor subtype) and GABA (via GABA b receptors) linked to pertussis toxin sensitive pathways, stimulate the metabolism of membrane phosphatidylinositol phospholipids in primary chick sensory neurons. In addition, norepinephrine causes the rapid translocation of C kinase activity from cytosolic to membrane associated distribution, consistent with its rapid activation in response to applied neurotransmitter. The pharmacology, pertussis toxin sensitivity and time course of the biochemical changes due to neurotransmitter treatment parallel the effects of these transmitters on calcium current modulation. These biochemical studies confirm the hypothesis that activation of protein kinase C is critically involved in calcium channel modulation in embryonic chick sensory neurons.
Selective neuronal vulnerability in HIV encephalitis

Recent studies of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) encephalitis have shown that in addition to well established white matter damage, the neocortex shows thinning, loss of large neurons and dendritic damage. In order to identify neuronal populations affected in HIV encephalitis and to determine how neuronal damage relates to the severity of HIV infection within the nervous system, we quantified parvalbumin (PV+) and neurofilament (NF+) immunoreactive neurons in the frontal cortex and hippocampus. We found that in the neocortex, the density of NF+ and PV+ neurons was independent of severity of HIV encephalitis, and therefore changes in these neuronal subsets did not account for previously reported neuronal loss. However, neuritic processes of PV+ neurons were fragmented, atrophic and in some cases distended. In contrast to the frontal cortex, there was a trend toward decreased density of PV+ neurons in the hippocampus which only reached significance in the CA3 layer where there was a 50-90% decrease in PV+ neurons. This decrease was closely correlated with the severity of HIV encephalitis. Double-label immunocytochemical analysis confirmed neuritic damage to interneurons. These results suggest that HIV encephalitis differentially involves specific subpopulations of neurons. Since direct HIV infection of neuronal cells was not detected, damage to PV+ cells and fibers may be indirectly mediated by cytokines released by HIV-infected microglia.
Ionization of helium by protons, electrons, and their antiparticles: Dynamical effects of projectile mass and charge in angular-differential cross sections

Abstract We present classical trajectory Monte Carlo calculations of differential cross sections for direct ionization (without charge transfer) of He by protons, electrons, and their antiparticles at 200 keV/amu. Dynamical effects depending on the charge-sign and mass of the projectiles, as elucidated by the calculations, are discussed, and an experiment to test some of the calculations with antimatter projectiles is proposed.
Effects of aging on growth factors gene and protein expression in the dorsal and ventral lobes of rat prostate

Abstract We hypothesize that various growth factors and their receptors gene and protein are modulated in dorsal and ventral lobes of aging prostate. To test this hypothesis, TGFβ1, TGFβ2 TGFβ3, TGFβR-I, TGFβR-II, TGFα, EGF, EGFR, KGF and KGFR gene and protein expression were analyzed in dorsal and ventral lobes of aging rat prostates (1, 3, 6, 9, 12, 18, 24, and 28/30 months). KGF gene expression was very weak or absent in 1, 3, and 6 month old rat dorsal and ventral lobes of prostate whereas it re-expressed in 9, 12, 18, 24 and 30 month old rat prostate. All growth factors and their receptors expect KGF and EGFR were mainly localized in epithelium of ventral and dorsal lobes of aging rat prostates. EGF, TGFα, TGFβ1, and TGFβR-I protein expression was lacking in stroma of dorsal and ventral lobes of 1, 3, 6, 9, 12/18 months old rat prostates. However, EGF, TGFβ1 and TGFβR-I proteins re-expressed in stroma of 24 and 28 months old rat prostates. KGF protein expression was lacking in epithelium of dorsal and ventral lobes of all aging rat prostates. This is the first report to demonstrate differential gene and protein expression of growth factors in dorsal and ventral lobes is associated with aging rat prostate, suggesting their role in pathogenesis of prostatic diseases with aging.
The Fiftieth Anniversary of the Xi'an Incident and the June First Incident

Fifty years have past since the outbreak of the June First Incident (also referred to by historians as the Two Guang Incident), which occurred in June, 1936, and that of the Xi'an Incident, which happened between December 12 and 25 of the same year. The former lasted about two months; the latter, two weeks. These two incidents not only altered every man's life in the Chinese nation during the past fifty years; they probably changed the course of history of the entire world as well. Since the Xi'an Incident is more familiar to many readers, I would like to reverse the order of discussion in this article. Let us briefly review the Xi'an Incident first.
Ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm with massive gastrointestinal hemorrhage

Abstract Four cases of abdominal aortic aneurysms which ruptured into the gastrointestinal tract with fatal hemorrhage are added to the series of 63 recorded cases. The incidence, etiology, and treatment are reviewed and briefly discussed.
Heterogeneity of reperfusion after reversible regional myocardial ischemia in a canine model

Variability of regional myocardial blood flow (RMBF) during reflow after 20 minutes of left anterior descending (LAD) coronary occlusion was measured by the radioactive microsphere technique in nine open-chest dogs. Preocclusion RMBF in the LAD territory was 0.89 ± 0.27 ml/min/gm. Twenty minutes of LAD occlusion resulted in uniform and severe ischemia (RMBF < 0.25 ml/min/gm). After 1 minute of reperfusion, RMBF in the LAD territory rose to 3.48 ± 1.88 ml/min/gm, and declined to 1.06 ± 0.29 ml/min/gm after 20 minutes of reperfusion. RMBF variance increased significantly from 0.046 preocclusion to 0.2857 after 1 minute of reperfusion (p < 0.01) and declining to 0.086 after 20 minutes of reperfusion. By contrast, RMBF variance analysis of myocardial segments from the nonischemic left circumflex territory exhibited no significant change throughout the experiment. In any given dog this heterogeneous reperfusion of previously ischemic tissue resulted in a disorganized topography of blood flow rates. Myocardium with relatively high regioal flow was intermingled with islands of tissue with relatively low blood flow. In conclusion, despite a relatively uniform and severe myocardial ischemic insult, the subsequent initial hyperemic response during reperfusion exhibits marked spatial heterogeneity. The juxtaposition of myocardial regions exposed to vastly differing rates of oxygen delivery and washout of toxic metabolites may set the stage for nonuniform recovery of myocardial function.
Heat-loss corrections for small isoperibol-calorimeter reaction vessels☆

A more exact method of calculating the heat loss from isoperibol-calorimeter reaction vessels is described. This method involves corrections for changes in the heat-leak constant and the external power input with changes in the calorimeter contents, and is particularly important for reaction vessels with volumes of less than 25 cm3 or with heat-leak constants greater than about 0.005 min−1. The new calculation has been tested by application to results collected with a titration calorimeter of capacity 3 cm3.
Bounds on expected hitting times for a random walk on a connected graph

Abstract It is known that for a random walk on a connected graph G on N vertices {xl,…,xN} satisfying υ(xi)≤ k for all i [υ(xi) is the valence of xi] , the maximum expected number of steps to get from one vertex to another has a bound of order kN(N−1). We give simple sufficient conditions under which, even though υ(xi= O>(N) for all i, the expected hitting times have bounds of orders N, N 3 2 , or N 5 2 .
A comparison of individualized and group instruction in a sixth-grade electricity unit

ABSTRACT Reported is a study that was partly developmental and partly experimental. A series of worksheets were developed based on the Elementary School Science (ESS) unit, Batteries and Bulbs, and were used to teach three classes of sixth grade students. Two other classes covered the same material using a lecture-discussion technique.' Student gains were evaluated through a pretest and posttest and attitudes were evaluated using a sematic differential scale. The net results of the study seemed 4o show that the students reacted more strongly to the subject matter than to the style in which it was presented. No significant differences were found in either achievement or attitude. Most students indicated a preference forthe discussion over the worksheet. The authors believe there is no reason that one method or the other should be chosen for exclusive use and, because sixth grade students can beccl'e bored with almost anything if they are forced to keep doing it for too long, it is useful to have two methods available which seem to work about equally
Robust control of cascaded and individually feedback linearizable nonlinear systems

Abstract Feedback linearization technique is applied to design robust controllers for a class of nonlinear uncertain systems. Every system in the class is a series connection of finite number of nonlinear subsystems which are individually feedback linearizable and have significant but matched nonlinear functional uncertainties. The key difference between this work and existing robust results is that the matching conditions and the existence of feedback linearization transformation are only required individually for each subsystem. A constructive robust control design procedure is proposed for the unique control in the overall system. The procedure is conceptually simple and contains three steps. First, perform input-output feedback linearization for all individual subsystems. Second, design fictitious robust controllers for inputs of each subsystem as if the subsystem had an independent control. Finally, a mapping is developed which maps the individual fictitious controls recursively into the unique control of the overall system. Since neither the matching conditions nor feedback linearization are required for the overall system, this becomes the broadest class of nonlinear uncertain (or known) systems for which a robust (regular) tracking control can be constructed using feedback linearization method. Global stability of the overall system is always guaranteed.
An evaluation of permanency outcomes of child protection mediation

This study sought to examine the association between child protection mediation and permanency outcomes for children in foster care. Propensity Score Matching was used to match 315 mediated cases with 315 non-mediated cases that were resolved through the traditional adversarial process (N = 630). Logistic regression was used to examine outcomes. The findings indicate that participation in mediation did not have a discernable effect on whether permanency was achieved. The results suggest that the phenomena of permanency may be better explained not by one or two specific factors, but rather a combination of child, family, agency, court, and community factors.
Chronic alcohol remodels prefrontal neurons and disrupts NMDAR-mediated fear extinction encoding

Alcoholism is frequently co-morbid with post-traumatic stress disorder, but it is unclear how alcohol affects the neural circuits mediating recovery from trauma. We found that chronic intermittent ethanol (CIE) impaired fear extinction and remodeled the dendritic arbor of medial prefrontal cortical (mPFC) neurons in mice. CIE impaired extinction encoding by infralimbic mPFC neurons in vivo and functionally downregulated burst-mediating NMDA GluN1 receptors. These findings suggest that alcohol may increase risk for trauma-related anxiety disorders by disrupting mPFC-mediated extinction of fear.
Unicameral Bone Cyst: A Retrospective Study of Three Surgical Treatments

Between 1979 and 2004, 167 patients younger than 20 years were treated surgically for humeral or femoral unicameral bone cysts with either injection of corticosteroids (steroids), curettage plus bone grafting (curettage), or a combination injection of steroids, demineralized bone matrix, and bone marrow aspirate (SDB) at Children's Hospital of Boston and Massachusetts General Hospital (mean followup, 7.3 years; range, 1 month-27 years). Outcomes included treatment failure (defined clinically as subsequent pathologic fracture or need for retreatment to prevent pathologic fracture) and complications. Information was obtained from medical records and by telephone questionnaire. After one treatment, 84% of cysts treated with steroids experienced failed treatment versus 64% with curettage and 50% with SDB. For unicameral bone cysts requiring retreatment (regardless of first treatment), 76% retreated with steroids had failed treatment versus 63% with curettage and 71% with SDB. Curettage was associated with the lowest rate of posttreatment pathologic fractures and highest rate of pain and other complications. Multivariate logistic regression indicated treatment with steroids alone and younger age were independent predictors of failure. We believe SDB is a reasonable first treatment for unicameral bone cysts in the humerus and femur in patients younger than 20 years, being less invasive yet comparable to curettage in preventing recurrence.
Experimental studies on direct and indirect interactions in a three trophic-level stream system

We used a complete block design to experimentally study direct and indirect interactions in a three trophic-level freshwater system consisting of a top predator, the green sunfish, Lepomis cyanellus, an intermediate predator, small-mouthed salamander larvae, Ambystoma barbouri, and prey, hatchling isopods, Lirceus fontinalis. This system occurs naturally in small stream pools in central Kentucky; experiments were done in laboratory pools. Salamander larvae ate isopods and thus had a direct, negative effect on isopod survival. Accordingly, isopods responded to the presence of salamander larvae by increasing their tendency to bury themselves in the sand substrate. Fish ate salamanders and thus had a direct, negative effect on salamander survival. Salamanders responded to fish presence by increasing their time spent under plexiglass plates that simulate refuge rocks. The overall effect of fish on isopods depended on the presence of salamanders. In the absence of salamanders, fish predation on isopods had a direct, negative effect on isopod survival; isopods thus responded to the presence of fish by burying themselves in the sand. With salamanders present, fish had a positive overall effect on isopod survival; i.e., direct, negative effects of fish on isopods were outweighed by indirect, positive effects. Indirect positive effects of fish on isopods came through a reduction in salamander predation rates on isopods in the presence of fish. The mechanism involved both a decrease in the number of salamanders (a trophic-linkage indirect effect; cf. Miller and Kerfoot 1987) and a reduction in the feeding rate of individual salamanders on isopods (a behavioral indirect effect). The decrease in individual salamander feeding rates on isopods was due to reductions in both salamander activity and in spatial overlap between salamanders and isopods in the presence of fish. The latter effect reflected the fact that salamanders and isopods used different refuges from fish; salamanders went under refuge plates, whereas isopods primarily buried themselves in sand. Estimates of the relative importance of various direct and indirect effects of sunfish on isopods suggested that positive, behavioral indirect effects were of roughly the same magnitude as direct, negative effects, both of which were more important than were trophic-linkage indirect effects. Contrary to expectations, the presence of isopods did not affect the refuge use or survival of salamanders in the presence of fish.
5-Hydroxytryptamine2A (5-HT2A) receptor regulation in rat prefrontal cortex: Interaction of a phenethylamine hallucinogen and the metabotropic glutamate2/3 receptor agonist LY354740

5-Hydroxytryptamine2A (5-HT2A) receptor regulation is atypical compared to most other monoaminergic receptors in that chronic administration of both antagonists and agonists results in down-regulation of cortical 5-HT2A receptor number and the functional in vitro and in vivo effects. We have recently found that midline thalamic lesions, which appeared to block glutamate release induced by activation of 5-HT2A receptors, also increased 5-HT2A receptor binding in layers I and Va of the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC). These layers contain the highest density of both 5-HT2A receptors and thalamocortical terminals from the midline and intralaminar thalamic nuclei. These findings suggest the hypothesis that excitatory amino acid release plays a role in regulation of postsynaptic 5-HT2A receptors, and that down-regulation of 5-HT2A receptors by 5-HT2A agonists may not be attributed only to simple occupancy of the receptor by direct agonists. Therefore, we examined the effect of a single 30 min pretreatment with the metabotropic glutamate2/3 (mGlu2/3) receptor agonist (1S,2S,5R,6S)-2-aminobicyclo[3.1.0] hexane-2,6-dicarboxylate monohydrate (LY354740; 10 mg/kg, i.p.) on the second of three consecutive days of 1-(2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodophenyl)-2-aminopropane HCl (DOI) treatment (1.25 mg/kg, i.p.). The subchronic DOI administration significantly decreased binding of [125I]DOI to 5-HT2A receptors in layers I and Va of the mPFC by approximately 25%. In contrast, a single dose of LY354740 on Day 2 of this regimen completely blocked the DOI-induced down-regulation. Thus, a presumed hypoglutamatergic state secondary to thalamic lesions and increased glutamate release induced by a subchronic regimen of a 5-HT2A agonist (and hallucinogenic drug) differentially regulate prefrontal cortical 5-HT2A receptor binding.
Detailed abundance analysis of the brightest star in Segue 2, the least massive galaxy

We present the first high resolution spectroscopic observations of one red giant star in the ultra-faint dwarf galaxy Segue 2, which has the lowest total mass (including dark matter) estimated for any known galaxy. These observations were made using the MIKE spectrograph on the Magellan II Telescope at Las Campanas Observatory. We perform a standard abundance analysis of this star, SDSS J021933.13+200830.2, and present abundances of 21 species of 18 elements as well as upper limits for 25 additional species. We derive [Fe/H] = -2.9, in excellent agreement with previous estimates from medium resolution spectroscopy. Our main result is that this star bears the chemical signatures commonly found in field stars of similar metallicity. The heavy elements produced by neutron-capture reactions are present, but they are deficient at levels characteristic of stars in other ultra-faint dwarf galaxies and a few luminous dwarf galaxies. The otherwise normal abundance patterns suggest that the gas from which this star formed was enriched by metals from multiple Type II supernovae reflecting a relatively well-sampled IMF. This adds to the growing body of evidence indicating that Segue 2 may have been substantially more massive in the past.
High conductivity and mechanical loss due to mobile fluoride ions in PbF2MnF2Al(PO3)3 glasses

Abstract New fluoride glasses in the system PbF2-MnF2-Al(PO3)3 have been synthesised and found to have high d.c. conductivities, presumably due to mobile F ions. A.C. electrical data (25–200°C) have been analyzed by impedance spectroscopy. A glass with the composition 85PbF2-5MnF2-10Al(PO3)3 yields a record value for conductivity in an anionic conducting glass, σ200 = 1.1 × 10−4(ω-cm)−1, nearly two orders of magnitude higher than the best values so far reported. Electrical and mechanical relaxation data have been compared in the isofrequency-inverse temperature representation. As seen previously for cation conductors, the mechanical relaxation is less exponential (broader) than the electrical relaxation. However, in the present case the most probable mechanical relaxation time is shorter than the most probable electrical relaxation time.
CULTIVATION OF THE SKIN EPITHELIUM OF THE ADULT FROG, RANA PIPIENS

1. Fragments of skin taken from the back of the leopard frog were cultivated in a mixture of plasma and muscle extract of the same species. 2. A few hours after explanation, processes of activity are seen to arise, which finally lead to the formation of a compact epithelial rim around the fragment of skin. 3. These epithelial cells undergo gradual transformation into a spindle-shaped type of cell; in this form they resemble the spindle cells which have been described as connective tissue cells. 4. The growth of a rim of tissue around the explanted fragments of skin may be ascribed principally to the activity of a basal layer of epithelial cells, the units of which first advance into the medium as compact membranes by means of the so called epithelial movement, but which later become separated from the compact membrane, and having assume a spindle form, spread according to the manner of connective tissue cells. 5. In contradistinction to this basal layer, the cells of an upper and middle layer of epithelium upon separation from the fragment of skin and isolation in the nutritive medium, remain completely inactive. 6. The connective tissue of frog skin, for reasons not yet completely established, does not participate in the production of the rim of cells, possibly for the reason that it was early surrounded by the epithelium and was thus prevented from sending out cells into the medium. 7. The transformation of the epithelial cells into a type of cells of the spindle form is a result of the changes in the physicochemical conditions brought about by the life in vitro, which become similar to the physicochemical conditions normally characteristic of connective tissue. 8. The final stage of the explanted fragments of skin is a hollow epithelial sphere (cystic stage) filled with connective tissue. 9. During the cystic stage the epithelium again shows its normal polar differentiation, as a consequence of the physicochemical conditions which now approach normal. 10. These conditions also permit of the shedding of cells in a vertical direction, although previously the production of cells in a horizontal direction had already become impossible.
Cost Issues in Transfusion Medicine

his issue of TATM addresses one of the most controversial, complex, and ethically problematic issues that practitioners face in medicine — cost. The articles are all written by authors from the USA. While this was not my intention when I submitted a long list of possible authors to the editorial board, it is perhaps not coincidental. Some of the more extreme examples of cost controversies are prominent in American transfusion medicine. The USA has some of the most innovative and creative scientists and physicians in the world, and high technology medicine unavailable to patients outside the USA is routinely employed for those with the best insurance coverage. A larger fraction of the USA’s considerable resources are devoted to health care than in any other country in the world. On the other hand, in contrast to the situation in the rest of the developed world, tens of millions of patients have no routine access to even the most basic medical care due to lack of health insurance. Furthermore, unlike the situation in most nations, there is no centralized government/community entity for allocating resources, determining practice standards, setting priorities and rooting out bureaucratic waste. TATM 2002;4(5):151-152