cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Plural Cultures, Contested Territories: A Critique of Kymlicka

This article discusses difficulties in recent works advocating differentiated rights for ethnic groups based on the vulnerability of their cultures. Concentrating on the recent works of Will Kymlicka, the author suggests that such culturalist theories are based on an anachronistic vision of the relation between ethnos and culture and underestimate the depth and extent of the pluralism we face. The author focuses on two central difficulties. One is the tendency to overplay the contrast between the vulnerability of mainstream and minority cultural groups, overestimating the importance of ethnic institutions compared to other cultural infrastructures. The other is the problem of territory. Kymlicka's theory supports a model of ethnic hegemony over particular territories. The author suggests that in an era of densely overlapping cultures a model of ethnic hegemony over territory cannot be sustained as part of a theory which takes cultural fairness seriously. The article concludes with suggestions for an alternative perspective which might allow us to address the predicaments of culturally vulnerable individuals without incurring the difficulties that culturalism entails.
The treatment of sacral giant-cell tumours by serial arterial embolisation

Giant-cell tumours of the sacrum are difficult to treat. Surgery carries a high risk of morbidity, local recurrence and mortality. Radiation is effective in some patients, but has a risk of malignant change. We evaluated the effectiveness of serial arterial embolisation as an alternative to surgery. Five patients with giant-cell tumours of the sacrum which had been primarily treated by serial embolisation were retrospectively reviewed for changes in the size of the tumour. In four the symptoms resolved with full return of function and arrest in the growth of the tumour. They remained free from growth, recurrence, or metastases at follow-up (4 to 17 years). One patient died from metastatic disease within 18 months of the initial diagnosis.
Hepatic MR imaging: comparison of 2D and 3D gradient echo techniques

Background: To compare fat-suppressed three-dimensional gradient echo (3D-GRE) and two-dimensional gradient echo (2D-GRE) techniques for hepatic magnetic resonance imaging. Methods: For 107 patients with suspected focal hepatic lesions, unenhanced 2D-GRE multislice in-phase and opposed-phase images and 3D-GRE images were obtained. Two radiologists independently and in random order reviewed the images. Quantitative analysis compared contrast-to-noise ratio (C/N) of liver masses and of the liver to spleen and signal-to-noise ratio (S/N) of the liver. Subjective grading of lesion conspicuity, confidence for lesion detection, artifacts, and overall image quality were also evaluated. Results: Conspicuity and confidence for focal lesions was statistically significantly higher on 3D-GRE than on 2D-GRE images. Liver-to-spleen C/N was higher on 3D-GRE images than on in-phase and opposed-phase 2D-GRE images (p < 0.01). Liver S/N was higher on in-phase 2D-GRE images than on 3D-GRE and opposed-phase 2D-GRE images (p < 0.001). Lesion-to-liver C/N was higher on 3D-GRE images than on 2D-GRE images for nonsolid lesions (p < 0.05), but there was no significant difference for solid lesions. Motion and pulsation artifacts were significantly fewer on 3D-GRE images, but graininess and shading were significantly higher. Overall image quality was not significantly different for the three sequences. Conclusion: Fat-suppressed 3D-GRE sequences can afford comparable or better image quality than 2D-GRE images and may have the potential to detect more focal hepatic lesions.
Approximation-theoretic derivation of logarithmic entropy principles for inverse problems and unique extension of the maximum entropy method to incorporate prior knowledge

The minimum distance approach for reconstructing a positive function based on knowledge of finitely many linear functional values is examined. Two important classes of directed distances for signal processing and statistical inference are discussed. By imposing conditions analogous to those satisfied by linear projections in Hilbert space, two logarithmic entropy principles are derived. One of these involves the Itakura–Saito distortion measure of communication theory and uniquely extends Burg's maximum entropy method to incorporate prior knowledge. The other uses the Kullback–Leibler distance of statistics.
Arteriovenous adventitial sheathotomy for the treatment of macular edema associated with branch retinal vein occlusion

Abstract PURPOSE: To report arteriovenous adventitial sheathotomy for treatment of macular edema associated with branch retinal vein occlusion. METHODS: Case reports with review. Five eyes of five patients with best-corrected visual acuity of less than 20/200 secondary to branch retinal vein occlusion had pars plana vitrectomy and arteriovenous adventitial sheathotomy and were followed postoperatively for a mean of 6.5 years (range, 5 to 7 years). RESULTS: In four of five eyes, the best-corrected visual acuity improved to 20/30 to 20/70. In the remaining eye, visual acuity remained at finger counting secondary to macular ischemia. CONCLUSION: Arteriovenous adventitial sheathotomy may be beneficial for select patients with poor vision secondary to branch retinal vein occlusion.
Separation of enol and keto tautomers of aromatic pyruvic acids by paper chromatography.

Abstract The enol and keto forms of three aromatic α-keto acids, indolepyruvic acid, p -hydroxyphenylpyruvic acid, and phenylpyruvic acid, were separated by paper chromatography with water as a solvent. The tautomers were eluted and identified by their absorption spectra, by the spontaneous tautomerization of the enols and by the catalyzed tautomerization of the keto forms to the enol-borates. Both tautomers of each acid formed a single acidic 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazone. Each acid also decomposed to a substance forming a neutral hydrazone which was identified as indolealdehyde from indolepyruvic acid and as p -hydroxybenzaldehyde from p -hydroxyphenylpyruvic acid by the characteristic ultraviolet spectra. Origin of the aldehydes from the enol forms of the acids was shown by double chromatography. The formation of benzaldehyde from phenylpyruvic acid was shown by formation of its 2,4-dinitrophenyl hydrazone from aged solutions of this acid. Oxalic acid was identified chromatographically in solutions in which the aldehydes formed.
Melt intercalation/exfoliation of polystyrene–sodium-montmorillonite nanocomposites using sulfonated polystyrene ionomer compatibilizers

Abstract Quaternary ammonium salts of sulfonated polystyrene (SPS) were used as compatibilizers for melt intercalation of PS and pristine Na-montmorillonite. Tetra-octyl ammonium SPS and tetra-decyl ammonium SPS ionomeric compatibilizers produced significant exfoliation and a homogeneous dispersion of the polymer–clay nanocomposites. Wide angle X-ray diffraction and transmission electron microscopy were primarily used to characterize the morphology of the nanocomposites. Image analysis was used to measure the percentage exfoliation. Exfoliation increased with the increasing length of the alkyl chain of the ammonium counter-ion of the SPS ionomer. The nanocomposites containing ionomers exhibited higher storage moduli compared to nanocomposites without the compatibilizer.
LOGNORMAL EXTRAPOLATION AND INCOME ESTIMATION FOR POOR BLACK FAMILIES

. In studies of urban and state income distribution, the estimation of percentile incomes within intervals reported by the Bureau of the Census has often been done under the assumption that incomes are uniformly distributed. This paper shows that income may be significantly underestimated if the assumption is applied to lower-level percentiles in the black family income distribution. Consequently, conclusions about the level and determinants of the relative income of poor black families may be misleading.
Lack of effect of colony-stimulating activity on human myeloid leukemia cell line (ML-2) cells.

Abstract Cells of the human myeloid leukemia cell line ML-2 formed clusters and colonies in agar and in methylcellulose. The methylcellulose culture system was a better growth environment than the agar culture system. In methylcellulose, 2.0–5.0% and 8.0–20.0% of the ML-2 cells plated formed clusters and colonies, respectively. The effect of colony-stimulating activity (CSA) on ML-2 cells was examined, using three kinds of conditioned medium, PHA-LCM, GCT-C-CM and Mo-CM, as sources of CSA. GCT-C-CM had no effect or a slightly suppressive effect on the clonal growth while PHA-LCM and Mo-CM prevented the growth of ML-2 cells in agar and in methylcellulose. By contrast none of the conditioned media affected the growth of ML-2 cells in suspension culture. Medium conditioned by the ML-2 cell line did not have CSA.
Dissociated verbal and nonverbal retrieval and learning following left anterior temporal damage.

Abstract A subject with circumscribed damage to mesial and nonmesial left anterior temporal structures (which included the left entorhinal cortex and hippocampus and the left anterolateral association cortices) maintains accurate nonverbal records of past experiences, and acquires accurate new nonverbal records. However, he has a severe defect in the retrieval and acquisition of specific verbal tags denoting those records. This dissociation is revealed by standard neuropsychological tasks, and by experimental probes focused on (1) retrieval of previously learned verbal and nonverbal entities; and (2) acquisition of new visuoverbal relationships. The results extend our current understanding of the manner in which mesial and nonmesial structures in the anterior temporal lobe contribute to the formation and storage of verbal and nonverbal records.
In situ restoration techniques for aquifers contaminated with hazardous wastes

Abstract Improper disposal of hazardous wastes is a threat to the nation's ground water supply. Methods which prevent contamination are probably the most effective techniques to protect ground water. Once contamination problems occur, there are a number of in situ techniques that can be used to cleanse the ground water and at least partially restore the aquifer. Before any treatment program can be implemented, a thorough investigation of the hydrogeology and contamination problems of the site must be made. Plume management techniques such as barriers to ground water flow or hydrodynamic control can be effective when properly installed. One of the options used frequently is to remove the contaminated material to a secure site; while this cleans up the contaminated site, the material is not treated and the potential for contamination of the second site exists. Chemical and physical treatment techniques include processes such as neutralization, chemical reaction, extraction and immobilization. Biological techniques for in situ treatment generally involve enhancing the degradative capacity of the indigenous microflora or the addition of organisms acclimated to degrade the contaminants. Combinations of chemical and biological processes are often effective. Aquifer restoration is likely to be costly, time-consuming, and often only partially effective.
IMMOBILIZATION OF OCELOTS AND BOBCATS WITH KETAMINE HYDROCHLORIDE AND XYLAZINE HYDROCHLORIDE

We immobilized 10 ocelots (Felis pardalis), and 21 bobcats (F. rufus) in south Texas (USA) during March to November 1991 with a mixture of ketamine hydrochloride (KH) and xylazine hydrochloride (XH); two ocelots were immobilized twice. Species were immobilized with (mean ± SE) 14.7 ± 1.6 mg KH/kg body mass for ocelots, 13.3 ± 1.8 mg KH/kg for bobcats, and 1.1 ± 0.1 mg XH/kg and 1.2 ± 0.1 mg XH/kg for ocelots and bobcats, respectively. Immobilization times in bobcats were longer (P = 0.08) than in ocelots. Adult female ocelots (18.5 ± 2.6 mg/kg) needed larger (P < 0.05) doses of KH than adult males (12.0 ± 1.7 mg/kg). Bobcats were immobilized during summer with lower initial (8.6 ± 0.9 mg/kg, P < 0.001) and total (10.1 ±1.3 mg/kg, P = 0.02) doses of KH than bobcats immobilized in winter (14.5 ± 1.0 mg/kg, and 18.5 ± 3.8 mg/kg, respectively); summer immobilization times (44.3 ± 3.8 min) were also shorter (P = 0.03) than during winter (59.1 ± 5.2 min). Bobcats immobilized during summer had lower (P < 0.01) i...
Optically detected magnetic resonance of the zinc vacancy in ZnSe

Abstract Optically detected magnetic resonance of isolated zinc vacancies (V−Zn is observed for a distant donor-acceptor recombination luminescence band at 720 nm in ZnSe. Vacancies with adjacent chlorine donors (A-centers) are detected in a similar band at 620 nm.
Quasilinear hyperbolic and parabolic systems: Contractive semidiscretizations and convergence of the discrete viscosity method

Submitted by G. Birkhoff The method of horizontal lines is employed to obtain constructive existence theorems for constrained quasilinear hyperbolic systems on local time intervals precisely correlated to the size of the initial datum. It is shown that the solutions of the semidiscrete equations are tixed points of contraction mappings. When the system is dissipative, it is shown that the artificial viscosity method may be effec tively employed on the same (invariant) time interval: both continuous and semidiscrete versions are presented. As a sample of our results, we offer the following:
Abstract 4156: Interaction between therabphillin-3A-likegene and phosphorylation of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) in colorectal cancer

Proceedings: AACR 103rd Annual Meeting 2012‐‐ Mar 31‐Apr 4, 2012; Chicago, IL Background: Recently, we demonstrated that, for colorectal carcinomas (CRCs), genetic alterations in the rabphillin-3A-like (RPH3AL) gene are associated with aggressive tumor phenotypes and poor patient survival. The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) pathway regulates tumor growth by integrating diverse signals of growth factors, nutrients, and energy sufficiency. Therefore, we determined the effects of wild-type (w+) and mutated (67w-, 175w-, 290w-) RPH3AL on the mTOR signaling pathway in CRC tissues and in a line of colon cancer cells (LoVo). Materials and Methods: Ninety five prospectively collected, frozen CRC tissues and their matching control tissues were analyzed for the mutational status of RPH3AL using the cDNA polymerase chain reaction and direct sequencing. Expression constructs of RPH3AL w+ and the mutant variants were developed using eukaryotic expression vectors. LoVo cells were stably transfected with the w+ and w- forms of RPH3AL. Western blot analyses were performed on lysates of CRC tissues and LoVo cells to assess expression of p53, p27, and PCNA and proteins in the mTOR pathway. Results: Mutational analysis of RPH3AL detected four missense mutations: at codon 67 (Val > Met) in 2 CRCs, at codon 175 (Pro > Ser) in 1 CRC, and at codon 290 (Arg > Lys) in 1 CRC. Western blot analyses demonstrated that over-expression of wt RPH3AL in LoVo cells or CRC tissues with wt RPH3AL led to decreases in total mTOR and to phosphorylation of Rictor p-mTOR (S2481), Raptor p-mTOR (S2448), p70S6K1, and p70S6K. In contrast, in CRC tissues or LoVo cells with over-expression of mutant forms of RPH3AL, there were higher levels of total mTOR and greater phosphorylation of the Rictor, raptor, P70S6K1 and p70S6K. Additionally, CRC w+ RPH3AL and LoVo cells that over-expressed w+ RPH3AL demonstrated higher levels of p27, and lower levels of PCNA, and p53. In contrast, the CRC tissues or LoVo cells with over-expression of RPH3AL mutants exhibited lower levels of p27 and higher levels of PCNA. Conclusion: The results demonstrate that the RPH3AL gene has a tumor-suppressing effect involving changes in the mTOR pathway and suggest that these changes inhibit progression of CRCs. This work was supported by grants from the NCI/NIH (2U54-CA118948-06, R01-CA98932, and R03-CA139629). Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4156. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-4156
Ferroptosis: An Iron-Dependent Form of Nonapoptotic Cell Death

Nonapoptotic forms of cell death may facilitate the selective elimination of some tumor cells or be activated in specific pathological states. The oncogenic RAS-selective lethal small molecule erastin triggers a unique iron-dependent form of nonapoptotic cell death that we term ferroptosis. Ferroptosis is dependent upon intracellular iron, but not other metals, and is morphologically, biochemically, and genetically distinct from apoptosis, necrosis, and autophagy. We identify the small molecule ferrostatin-1 as a potent inhibitor of ferroptosis in cancer cells and glutamate-induced cell death in organotypic rat brain slices, suggesting similarities between these two processes. Indeed, erastin, like glutamate, inhibits cystine uptake by the cystine/glutamate antiporter (system x(c)(-)), creating a void in the antioxidant defenses of the cell and ultimately leading to iron-dependent, oxidative death. Thus, activation of ferroptosis results in the nonapoptotic destruction of certain cancer cells, whereas inhibition of this process may protect organisms from neurodegeneration.
Charles Joseph Epstein, M.D., 1933–2011, In Memoriam

Charles Joseph Epstein, M.D., died on February 15, 2011, at the age of 77, after a year-long battle with pancreatic cancer. Charlie had a remarkable career as a scientist, clinician, educator, and leader in the human and medical genetics community. Charlie was the recipient of the two major awards of The American Society of Human Genetics (ASHG) in addition to serving as its President (1996) and as the editor of The American Journal of Human Genetics (AJHG), the Society's journal, for seven years (1987–1993).
The relationship between oral contraceptives and adolescent sexual behavior

Abstract The relationship between taking oral contraceptives by adolescents and their subsequent sexual behavior was examined. Subjects were 192 females who attended a youth medical clinic in Los Angeles for the purpose of obtaining oral contraceptives. Ninety‐six subjects had been using oral contraceptives for 6–8 months (After Group) and 96 were just beginning to use (Before Group). Data were collected on the variables of: frequency of sexual intercourse; number of sexual partners; family relationships, peer relationships, religiousness; self esteem; and attitudes about sex. Results showed a higher frequency of sexual intercourse among After Group adolescents. However, there was no increase in number of sexual partners in this group. Subjects in both groups were neutral about religion and peers but expressed positive feelings about their family. Before Group subjects felt more strongly that their parents would disapprove of their sexual behavior. Subjects expressed positive feelings about their own sexu...
Free Sterols of the Rabbit Optic Nerve and Cerebral White Matter During Ontogenic Development

Free sterol composition of the developing rabbit optic nerve was compared with that of the homologous cerebral white matter at corresponding stages of ontogeny. The sterols were detected and identified by means of combined gas-chromatography and mass spectrometry. The following free sterols were found in both the optic nerve and cerebral white matter: cholesterol, desmosterol, lanosterol, two dimethylsterols, which are probably 4,4-dimethyl-5 alpha-cholest-8,24-diene-3 beta-ol, with a molecular weight of 412, and 4 alpha, 14 alpha-dimethyl-5 alpha-cholest-7-ene-3 beta-ol, with a molecular weight of 414 and probably cholestene, with a molecular weight of 368. The sterol spectrum of the developing optic nerve differed not only from that of the mature nerve but also from that of age-matched white matter of the rabbit brain. The tri- and dimethyl-sterols, detected for the first time in the rabbit optic nerve and cerebral white matter, are natural components of the developing nervous tissue but they were not found in the mature nerve nor in cerebral white matter.
Nomenclature of steroidal sapogenins.

Es werden Einzelheiten fur den Gebrauch von Spirostan und Furostan, wenn notig durch die Prafixe 5α, 5β, 25R und 25S modifiziert, fur die Benennung der Steroid-Sapogenine bekanntgegeben. Diese Vorschlage sollen als formale Grundlage zur Nomenklatur gelten.
Vertical Growth of Ge Nanowires from Biotemplated Au Nanoparticle Catalysts

Semiconductor nanowires are being actively investigated because of their unique physical properties and potential applications in nanoelectronics and optoelectronic devices. However, current hurdles for device integration include the lack of control over the orientation, location, and packing density of nanowires. This communication presents for the first time the use of a unique, bottom-up approach for the catalyzed growth of semiconductor nanowires via biological templating. High-density, vertically oriented growth of Ge nanowires with monodispersed diameters and spacings was achieved through patterning of very small sized (5−20 nm) Au nanoparticles using bacterial surface-layer proteins as a template. We envision the applicability of this biotemplating approach to a variety of nanowires and substrate materials.
Investigation of the tissue specificity of the lethal yellow (Ay) gene in mouse embryos.

The tissue specificity of the lethal yellow mutant was investigated by separation of blastocyst tissues. Embryos from experimental (Ay/ae × Ay/ae) and control (ae/ae × Ay/ae) crosses of the AG/CamPa inbred strain were recovered at 3.5 days post coitum, cultured for 24 hours, and then mechanically dissected into the component tissues of the blastocyst, the inner cell mass (ICM), and trophectoderm. These fragments were then cultured separately, with or without a feeder layer of inactivated fibroblasts, for an additional 3–5 days. Comparisons between experimental and control crosses indicated that the lethal Ay/Ay embryos were among the blastocysts successfully dissected but that both the ICM and trophectoderm from lethal embryos failed to develop further in vitro, eithal with or without feeders. With retrospective identification of the lethal embryos, it was found that at 4.5 days, after 1 day of culture, they had formed morphologically normal blastocysts but were frequently more fragile upon dissection and had smaller ICMs. Although none had hatched from the zona pellucida, some had ruptured it and were halfway out. With culture, lethal ICMs showed no development, and lethal trophectoderm usually attached but showed very limited outgrowth. Thus, no rescue of lethal tissue was shown with dissection and in vitro culture, and results are consistent with the gene affecting both tissues of the late blastocyst.
The repeatability and effect of season on seminal characteristics and computer-aided sperm analysis in the stallion

The within-stallion repeatability and effect of season on sperm movement characteristics, determined by computer-aided sperm analysis (CASA), were compared with those of other seminal characteristics. The computer-aided determinations of sperm movement were more repeatable than the seminal characteristics of gel-free volume and sperm cell concentration based on coefficients of variation obtained from the analysis of multiple ejaculates from the same stallions. A significant (P<0.05) seasonal effect on the computer-aided movement characteristic of mean sperm linearity was observed, with a reduction in sperm linearity in the winter months. The percentage of motile and progressively motile cells and mean sperm velocity determined by CASA also tended to be lower in the winter months. These changes in sperm movement characteristics paralleled changes in other seminal characteristics. The use of CASA may have value in the potential fertility evaluation of a stallion in that it can provide relatively precise quantification of sperm movement characteristics from the evaluation of only a few ejaculates. Some CASA derived sperm movement characteristics may be lower during the physiological nonbreeding season than during the breeding season.
Smooth hierarchical surface triangulations

Presents a new method to produce a hierarchical set of triangle meshes that can be used to blend different levels of detail in a smooth fashion. The algorithm produces a sequence of meshes /spl Mscr//sub 0/, /spl Mscr//sub 1/, /spl Mscr//sub 2/..., /spl Mscr//sub n/, where each mesh /spl Mscr//sub i/ can be transformed to mesh /spl Mscr//sub i+1/ through a set of triangle-collapse operations. For each triangle, a function is generated that approximates the underlying surface in the area of the triangle, and this function serves as a basis for assigning a weight to the triangle in the ordering operation, and for supplying the point to which the triangles are collapsed. This technique allows us to view a triangulated surface model at varying levels of detail while insuring that the simplified mesh approximates the original surface well.
Band-gap narrowing and potential fluctuation in Si-doped GaN

We investigate the optical properties of two sets of Si-doped GaN epitaxial layers with different degree of compensation. The electron concentration dependence of the band-gap energy measured by photoluminescence is interpreted as band-gap narrowing effect and evaluated by a simple relation. The photoluminescence peak positions of heavily compensated samples are shifted downward with respect to those of moderately compensated samples, and the down shift becomes larger at higher electron density. Based on analysis of photoluminescence spectra, these prominent behaviors are accounted for by band-edge potential fluctuation associated with inhomogeneous residual impurities.
A common set of nuclear matrix proteins in prostate cancer cells

The nuclear matrix is the RNA-protein network which forms the skeleton of the nucleus, and participates in DNA organization as well as in multiple cellular functions. Nuclear matrix proteins have been demonstrated to be tissue and cell type specific, as well as to reflect the state of cell differentiation and/or transformation. Previously, common nuclear matrix proteins were demonstrated between the rat prostate and the Dunning rat prostate adenocarcinoma cell lines. This study demonstrates that nuclear matrices derived from Dunning rat and human prostate cancer cell lines, as well as human tumors, share several common proteins. These common proteins suggest that alterations which occur in the nuclear matrix with prostate cell transformation may share a common basis. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
A comparison of dual energy radiography measurements at the lumbar spine and proximal femur for the diagnosis of osteoporosis.

In this study we assessed the ability of proximal femur and spine DER measurements to discriminate between control (C) and osteoporotic (OP) subjects as well as the reproducibility of the femoral DER technique. DER measurements of the proximal femur and spine (L2-L4) were obtained in 58 control (unfractured) and 54 osteoporotic (vertebral fractured) women. Linear regression analyses for each site with age suggested that density values from the Ward's triangle region explained the majority of variance due to age in the decline of bone density in both control (r = −0.45; P < 0.0005) and osteoporotic subjects (r = 0.34; P < 0.05), with similar findings for the femoral neck in OP subjects (r = −0.30; P < 0.05). No other femoral site produced a significant correlation with age, and vertebral measurements were the lowest in OP subjects (r = −0.11; P = NS). Cross-sectional rates of bone loss in each region implied that for OP subjects the Ward's triangle and femoral neck regions detected the largest amount of bo...
The absorption and accumulation of potassium bromide by elodea as related to respiration

1. The experimental procedure was based upon the measurement of bromide intake and carbon dioxide output following a period of immersion of samples ofElodea tissue in dilute potassium bromide solutions. In each experiment one factor was varied, and the shifts in rates of respiration and of solute absorption compared. 2. The factors studied were oxygen tension, temperature, position relative to the growing point of the plant, time, and the carbohydrate content of the tissue. The results indicate that an induced rise or fall in the rate of respiration is closely but not exactly paralleled by a similar rise or fall in the rate of bromide absorption. 3. It is indicated that the observations onElodea corroborate the findings of other workers based on the study of root and storage tissues. The general significance of the intimate connection between respiration and absorption is then discussed.
Modeling user context with applications to media retrieval

In this paper, we develop a theoretical understanding of multi-sensory knowledge and user context and their inter-relationships. This is used to develop a generic representation framework for multi-sensory knowledge and context. A representation framework for context can have a significant impact on media applications that dynamically adapt to user needs. There are three key contributions of this work: (a) theoretical analysis, (b) representation framework and (c) experimental validation. Knowledge is understood to be a dynamic set of multi-sensory facts with three key properties --- multi-sensory, emergent and dynamic. Context is the dynamic subset of knowledge that affects the communication between entities. We develop a graph based, multi-relational representation framework for knowledge, and model its temporal dynamics using a linear dynamical system. Our approach results in a stable and convergent system. We applied our representation framework to a image retrieval system with a large collection of photographs from everyday events. Our experimental validation with the retrieval evaluated against two reference algorithms indicates that our context based approach provides significant gains in real-world usage scenarios.
Irradiation-assisted stress corrosion cracking of austenitic alloys in supercritical water

Four commercial austenitic alloys, 316L, D9, 690 and 800H were irradiated with 2.0 MeV protons to doses of up to 7 dpa at temperatures of 400 and 500 °C to study the role of irradiation and temperature on stress corrosion cracking in supercritical water. Constant extension rate tensile (CERT) tests were performed on the irradiated specimens in deaerated supercritical water at the same temperature as the irradiation. The results showed that irradiation significantly increased the severity of intergranular stress corrosion cracking in all four alloys. Cracking severity increased with dose and temperature. The severity of cracking correlated with both the hardness and the grain boundary chromium concentration, making attribution to a single irradiation feature difficult. However, a very significant increase in cracking of alloy 690 at 500 °C is likely due primarily to RIS rather than to hardening. Cracking of the irradiated alloys in supercritical water follows the same behavior as in subcritical water, implying that a common mechanism may be controlling.
Conservation and evolution of (CT)n/(GA)n microsatellite sequences at orthologous positions in diverse mammalian genomes

Abstract The distribution and evolution of (CT)n microsatellites were examined in GenBank mammalian DNA sequences because these microsatellites are known to play important roles in the regulation of some genes in Drosophila melanogaster. A total of 236 (CT)n micro-satellite loci were found in GenBank mammalian gene sequences. To determine whether (CT)n microsatellite arrays were conserved at orthologous positions in distantly related mammalian sequences, we determined whether orthologous sequences existed in GenBank for each of the 236 loci. A total of 47 sequence alignments could be made. For rodent X rodent comparisons, 7 of 8 (CT)n arrays were conserved at identical positions in each pair of orthologous sequences. Comparisons of orthologous sequences between different orders of mammals indicated that 11 of 39 (CT)n arrays occurred at orthologous positions or within 1 kb of orthologous positions in each pair of sequences. It appears that there is some level of conservation of (CT)n repeats in distantly related mammals. However, this level of conservation may not be greater than what might be expected to occur by chance. In 13 cases where (CT)n arrays were not conserved at orthologous positions, the lack of a (CT)n array in one sequence resulted from either nucleotide substitution within an array or nonexpansion of a shorter (CT)n element. In these cases, significant sequence identity could be detected throughout the entire region even though the repeat array was not detected in one of the sequences. In contrast, there was a disruption of sequence identity in the (CT)n microsatellite region that ranged from 24 to 1600 bp in 21 cases. In some cases, the disruption in homology occurred on only the immediate 3′ or 5′ side of the repeat array. The disruption of sequence identity occurred even in some instances in which the array was conserved. Insertion of human Alu or mouse B1 elements was responsible for the disruption of homology in three cases. In the majority of cases, the disruption in homology resulted from insertion or deletion of nonrepetitive DNA. The possible role of (CT)n arrays in evolutionary processes is discussed.
Postnatal Depression and Infant Health Practices Among High-Risk Women

Women’s postnatal depressive symptoms have been associated with many adverse outcomes for children. The current study examined the frequency association with relative risk between postnatal depressive symptoms and mothers’ use of preventative infant health practices. The study used the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS) and Parental Health and Depression Questionnaire (PHDQ) to identify women’s depressive symptoms in a prospective longitudinal sample of 134 high-risk non-white mothers receiving well-baby health services. Unadjusted frequency comparisons examined the effect of women’s postnatal depressive symptoms on infant outcomes. Results found that compared to 60 women without postnatal depressive symptoms, 74 women with symptoms engaged in significantly fewer well-child health-visits, were less likely to use home safety devices or place their infants in the preferred back-to-sleep position, and did not complete immunizations. Depressed women were also more likely to lack knowledge of nurturing and sensitive parenting, use corporal punishment and inappropriate foods, and to show poor parenting practices. These findings provide additional supportive evidence that more efforts are needed to identify and assess women’s depressive symptoms to promote health and safety of young children. Methodological limitations and recommendations for future research are addressed.
Calculation and photoresponse measurement of the bound-to-continuum infrared absorption in p -type GaAs/ Al x Ga 1 − x As quantum wells

The bound-to-continuum linear absorption coefficient in p-type GaAs/${\mathrm{Al}}_{0.3}$${\mathrm{Ga}}_{0.7}$As quantum wells is calculated based on the electronic structure, wave functions, and optical matrix elements obtained from an 8\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}8 envelope-function approximation calculation and then compared to experimental photoresponse measurements on 30-, 35-, and 40-\AA{}-wide wells. The calculation for the bound and continuum states proceeds independently, owing to the different boundary conditions satisfied by these states. We eschew the use of an artificial large box to confine the continuum wave functions. Good agreement is obtained between experiment and theory with respect to the shape, relative magnitude, and long-wavelength threshold of the bound-to-continuum spectrum for the three measured samples. For an aluminum content of 30%, the calculated linear absorption coefficient for bound-to-continuum absorption in the 8--12-\ensuremath{\mu}m window is optimized for the well width of 45 \AA{} due to the presence of a resonant LH2 (second light-hole) state at the top of the well.
Free surface on a simple fluid between rotating eccentric cylinders. Part II: Experiments

Abstract This paper summarizes the results from an experimental investigation of the effects of eccentricity and rotational speed on the free surface shape on a viscoelastic liquid between eccentric cylinders. In the experimental geometry, the inner cylinder rotates and the outer cylinder is stationary. The experiments show that there is a circumferential pressure gradient (the lubrication effect) which has a dominant influence on the free surface shape at all eccentricities and rotational speeds. For a liquid with small normal stress effects, the normal-stress induced component of the deformation tends to be overwhelmed by the lubrication effect, whereas a liguid with large normal stress effects exhibits characteristics normal-stress induced deformations at small eccentricities and rotational speeds. There is good agreement between experiment and second order predictions for the large normal stress liquid under these conditions. The ranges of eccentricities and rotational speeds for which second order theory describes the low normal stress liquid appear to be much more limited and are difficult to reproduce experimentally.
Defining Paraphilia in DSM-5: Do Not Disregard Grammar

Blanchard (2009a, 2009b, 2009c) proposed a definition of paraphilia for Diagnostic and Statistical Manual (DSM)-5, delimiting a range of so-called normative sexuality and defining paraphilia as any intense and persistent sexual interest other than that. The author examines the wording and intended meaning of this definition, and he argues that there are many problems with it that "correct" interpretation requires ignoring what it says. Because of these problems and the possibility of civil commitment under sexually violent predator/person laws on the basis of a diagnosis of paraphilia NOS, caution and careful consideration of grammar and wording is urged in drafting a definition for paraphilia for DSM-5.
Electronic Energy Bands in Strontium Titanate

A theoretical examination of the electronic energy bands of cubic strontium titanate has been performed by application of the LCAO (linear combination of atomic orbitals) method. Diagonal energies were determined from ionization potentials and crystalline fields based on a point-charge model for the ions. The ionic charges were adjusted to give agreement with the observed energy gap. Overlap integrals were estimated from free-ion wave functions. For the crystals studied, the calculations led to filled valence bands derived primarily from oxygen $2p$ orbitals and empty conduction bands derived predominantly from titanium $3d$ orbitals. In cubic strontium and barium titanates, there are six lowest-conduction-band ellipsoids lying along $〈100〉$ directions of $k$ space with minima probably at the edges of the Brillouin zone. The longitudinal mass is about $20\ensuremath{-}50 {m}_{0}$ and the transverse mass about $1 {m}_{0}$. Spin-orbit splitting removes degeneracy at $k=0$ and leads to additional conduction bands several hundredths of an eV above the lowest conduction band. Comparison is made with experimental data on conductivity, Hall effect, thermoelectric power, reflectivity, and soft x-ray emission. Results are in substantial agreement with experiment.
Amiodarone: A multifaceted antiarrhythmic drug

Synthesized as an antianginal compound 40 years ago, amiodarone has emerged as a uniquely effective antiarrhythmic compound in recent years. It has numerous properties, the most prominent being the ability to lengthen repolarization in the atria and ventricles associated with bradycardia without the significant potential for torsades de pointes. Amiodarone effectively controls a wide spectrum of atrial and ventricular antiarrhythmic disorders, but its limiting side effects, such as thyroid dysfunction, pulmonary fibrosis, and dermatologic changes, may limit its long-term use in some patients. What aspects of the multiplicity of the properties of amiodarone are relevant to its unusual efficacy is not known. Deiodination and other structural changes in the amiodarone molecule have has led to a the loss of thyroid and pulmonary effects in the resulting derivative, dronedarone, which is in advanced clinical development.
Effects of adenosine and acadesine on interstitial nucleosides and myocardial stunning in the pig

Amino-4-imidazolecarboxamide riboside (AICAr) or acadesine has been proposed to exert cardioprotection by enhancing adenosine production in ischemic myocardium. However, there are conflicting reports on acadesine's effects in ischemic myocardium and few studies in which myocardial adenosine levels have been measured. The purpose of this study was to determine whether acadesine increases interstitial fluid adenosine levels and attenuates myocardial stunning or potentiates the effects of adenosine in the intact pig. In pentobarbital-anesthetized pigs, myocardial stunning was induced by 10 min left anterior descending coronary artery occlusion and 90 min reperfusion. Regional ventricular function was assessed by measuring systolic wall thickening, and interstitial nucleosides were estimated by cardiac microdialysis. Control hearts were compared with hearts treated with acadesine, adenosine, and adenosine plus acadesine. Adenosine pretreatment (100 μg·kg -1 ·min -1 , intracoronary) immediately prior to ischemia increased interstitial adenosine levels 9-fold and improved postischemic functional recovery from a control value of 17.6 ± 4.1% to 43.6 ± 3.4% of preischemic systolic wall thickening. In contrast, acadesine (20 mg/kg i.v. bolus 10 min prior to ischemia + 0.5 mg·kg -1 ·min -1 , i.v. infusion through 60 min reperfusion) had no effect on interstitial fluid adenosine levels or the recovery of regional function (21.5 ± 5.9% recovery), nor were the functional effects of adenosine potentiated by acadesine. These findings indicate that acadesine does not enhance myocardial adenosine levels, attenuate myocardial stunning, or potentiate the cardioprotective effects of adenosine in the pig.
ORIGIN AND DEVELOPMENT OF LENS CATARACTS IN MUMPS-INFECTED CHICK EMBRYOS.

Critical inocula of Enders strain of mumps virus were injected over the blastoderm at 36, 48, 60, 72 and 96 hours of incubation (37°C). Surviving embryos were harvested at daily intervals up to 14 days postinoculation. Gross and microscopic observations revealed the lens to be the only organ consistently exhibiting abnormal development following inoculation with mumps virus. By comparison, maldevelopment in other structures was occasionally observed up to the third day postinoculation, but rarely in embryos surviving three or more days. Characteristic lens cataracts were observed, but only in embryos which had been inoculated prior to Hamburger-Hamilton stage 18, i.e., prior to separation of the lens vesicle from surface ectoderm. An analysis of the histopathogenesis of lens cataracts in embryos inoculated at stages 8–17 indicates that the differentiating lens fibers became progressively more extensively damaged as development proceeded. However, it is evident that the differentiation of new lens fibers proceeded peripherally as the more mature fibers continued to be destroyed centrally. It can be concluded that differentiating lens fibers are highly susceptible to damage by mumps virus, but the initiation of the characteristic defect occurred in our experiments only during the early formative phases of lens development.
B cell receptor signaling-based index as a biomarker for the loss of peripheral immune tolerance in autoreactive B cells in rheumatoid arthritis.

This study examines the loss of peripherally induced B cell immune tolerance in Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and establishes a novel signaling-based measure of activation in a subset of autoreactive B cells - the Induced tolerance status index (ITSI). Naturally occurring naive autoreactive B cells can escape the “classical” tolerogenic mechanisms of clonal deletion and receptor editing, but remain peripherally tolerized through B cell receptor (BCR) signaling inhibition (postdevelopmental “receptor tuning” or anergy). ITSI is a statistical index that numerically determines the level of homology between activation patterns of BCR signaling intermediaries in B cells that are either tolerized or activated by auto antigen exposure, and thus quantifies the level of peripheral immune tolerance. The index is based on the logistic regression analysis of phosphorylation levels in a panel of BCR signaling proteins. Our results demonstrate a new approach to identifying autoreactive B cells based on their BCR signaling features.
FTIR-ATR studies of the effect of shear rate upon albumin adsorption onto polyurethaneurea

The effect of wall shear rate upon albumin adsorption onto a polyurethaneurea, Biomer, was studied using FTIR-ATR spectroscopy. In these experiments, nondiffusion controlled adsorption was observed from 10 mg/ml solutions at known wall shear rates. Results show that increasing wall shear rate during adsorption does not significantly affect the adsorption kinetics, but does decrease the rate of protein desorption. These results suggest that albumin adsorbed at higher shear rates is more tightly bound to the surface. Comparison of the data to simple mathematical models suggests that more than one layer of protein adsorbs in 2 h.
Physical and chemical stability of proflavine contrast agent solutions for early detection of oral cancer

Background and purposeProflavine hemisulfate solution is a fluorescence contrast agent to visualize cell nuclei using high-resolution optical imaging devices such as the high-resolution microendoscope. These devices provide real-time imaging to distinguish between normal versus neoplastic tissue. These images could be helpful for early screening of oral cancer and its precursors and to determine accurate margins of malignant tissue for ablative surgery. Extemporaneous preparation of proflavine solution for these diagnostic procedures requires preparation in batches and long-term storage to improve compounding efficiency in the pharmacy. However, there is a paucity of long-term stability data for proflavine contrast solutions.MethodsThe physical and chemical stability of 0.01% (10 mg/100 ml) proflavine hemisulfate solutions prepared in sterile water was determined following storage at refrigeration (4–8℃) and room temperature (23℃). Concentrations of proflavine were measured at predetermined time points up...
Permeability of thermally damaged skin III: Influence of scalding temperature on mass transfer of water and n-alkanols across hairless mouse skin

Abstract The present investigation explores the extent to which the chemical barrier properties of skin are affected by the temperature at which a burn is applied to the skin. Scald burns were administered dorsally to sacrificed hairless mice at 60 °, 70 °, 80 °, 90° and 98 °C for 60 seconds. The scalded and an untreated abdominal skin sections were excised and placed in diffusion cells and the permeation of the respective tissues to water and select n-alkanols was compared. Scalding increases the permeability of all compounds at all temperatures, but the increases are marginal up to 70°C. At higher temperatures extremely large increases in permeation rates are observed for all permeants excepting n-octanol, with the magnitude of the effect being greater the more polar the compound and to a different point for each compound the higher the temperature. Data profiles indicate a sharp transition in barrier properties occurring between 70° and 80 °C. The effects at lower temperature seem to be largely related to hydration associated with scalding. It appears that at higher temperatures there are morphological and/or chemical alterations in the stratum corneum which diminish its ability to resist chemical permeation of polar non-electrolytes. Scalding at 98 °C for 60 seconds renders the horny layer virtually incompetent as a chemical barrier. Since the experimental burns employed were within the extremes seen for human thermal injuries, it is believed that burned human integument suffers at least the same variation in barrier compromise from one burn to another.