cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Production Studies Imply Smart Regulation Can Create Prosperous Telecoms and Prevent Bubbles

A review of production function research with telecommunications data shows strong scale economies, which is supported by more recent advances in production function econometrics. Newer economics of reputation and competition shows that both moral hazard and adverse selection problems are present with competition. We show that government-ordered deregulation since late 1970s and the ultimate break-up of the Bell System in early 1980s was based on blind faith in competition, ignored cost savings induced by strong scale economies and was Pareto inefficient. The pseudo competition imposed by the FCC and the courts has not only led to huge excess capacity and losses in the telecom sector, but also fuelled the mindless expansion of dot-com companies. To solve the problem, we suggest permitting further telephone company (Telco) mergers till no more than three firms remain (oligopoly) and making them subject to smart and flexible regulation of prices, quality and rates of return. The paper shows how smart regulation can retain higher quality of service, wider options and low prices to consumers and still minimize monopolistic abuses of pricing power or wasted inputs. Smart regulators should use demand analysis, analysis of complaint data, focus groups, and other sophisticated analytical tools by devising expert panels, public hearings and the Internet. We also propose patent-type reward to encourage true innovation paid by a raise in regulated rate of return. The proposed ad hoc advisory panels should seek detailed analyses by engineers, accountants, bankers, lawyers, computer scientists, and economists but avoid courts.
Effects of temperature and oxygen on growth and differentiation of embryos of the ground skink, Scincella lateralis

Development of reptile embryos is dependent upon adequate oxygen availability to meet embryonic metabolic demand. Metabolic rate of embryos is temperature dependent, with oxygen consumption increasing exponentially as a function of temperature. Because metabolic rate is more temperature sensitive than diffusion, developmental processes are predicted to be oxygen-limited at high temperatures. We tested the hypothesis that the amount of development lizard embryos achieve in the oviduct is dependent upon both temperature and oxygen availability. We evaluated the effect of temperature (23, 33°C) and oxygen concentration (9%, 15%, 21% O2) on survival and development of embryos of the oviparous skink Scincella lateralis. We predicted that incubation at 33°C under hypoxic conditions would result in higher embryo mortality due to mismatch between embryo oxygen demand and oxygen supply compared to eggs incubated at 23°C under hypoxic conditions. Embryo mortality was highest at 33°C/9% O2 (86%) compared to 23°C/9% O2 (14%), however, mortality did not differ among any other oxygen-temperature treatment combination. Both temperature and oxygen affected differentiation, but the interaction between temperature and oxygen was not significant. Embryo growth in mass and hatchling mass were affected by oxygen concentration independent of temperature treatment. Differing responses of growth and differentiation to temperature and oxygen treatments suggests that somatic growth may be more sensitive to oxygen availability than differentiation. Results indicate that embryo mortality can occur both via the direct effect of high temperature on cellular function as well as indirectly through thermally induced oxygen diffusion limitation. J. Exp. Zool. 323A: 445–455, 2015. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Where to Begin A Survey of Five Approaches to Selecting Independent Variables for Qualitative Comparative Analysis

The problem of selecting independent variables for qualitiative comparative analysis (QCA) is addressed. This is a different problem for QCA than for inferential statistical methods, for both technical and epistemological reasons. Technically, QCA can manipulate only a few variables at one time. Epistemologically, QCA expects causation to work in a combinatorial fashion. The authors isolate and reject four ways of choosing independent variables for QCA and advocate a fifth method, the conjunctural theories approach, which is more compatible with the characteristics of QCA. Their decision is supported by way of discussion and an empirical analysis based on theories of the welfare state and U.S. social spending in the Great Depression.
Intrinsic and multiple pulse laser-induced damage of transparent dielectrics in the femto-nanosecond region

This review is devoted to a long-term investigation into the nature of the laser-induced thmage of silicate glasses. Besides damage threshold measurements, it includes data about linear and nonlinear absorption, multiple pulse damage, and subthreshold modification of media. The experiments were carried out over a wide range of wavelengths, pulse durations, and spot sizes. As an important result, we show that the threshold power density of the intrinsic damage of the boro-silicate glass at -1 im wavelength does not depend on pulse duration from 2x1013 to 3 x108 s as long as selffocusing is avoided. This result cannot be explained by existing theories and indicates that the damage mechanism involves a collective response of a certain volume in the dielectric as a whole, rather than the accumulation of electrons via individual generation processes, like multiphoton, tunneling, or avalanche. Special attention in the research was paid to investigation into the processes of electron excitation in alkali- and lead-silicate glasses.© (2004) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Standards: where are we headed?

Standards are important in all areas of library automation. Standards will facilitate the linking of different types of systems within one library as well as systems that perform similar functions in different libraries. Stephen Salmon (Carlyle), George Sidman (INLEX), Richard Woods (Biblio‐Techniques), Mike Monahan (Geac), Richard Goldberg (CLSI), Stephen M. Silberstein (Innovative Interfaces), and M.E.L. Jacob (OCLC) express their views on existing standards, and the need for and probable course for developing additional standards.
Tomographic mapping of the activity of the heart wall

Abstract The paper describes a rapid and computationally efficient algorithm for producing a three-dimensional map of the distribution of radioisotope within the living human heart, from three two-dimensional Anger camera images. Two alternative versions of the algorithm are explained and compared. Degradations arising from photon attenuation, scattering and Poisson noise are ameliorated.
Antibody-based immunotherapy for malignant glioma

Conventional therapy for malignant glioma (MG) fails to specifically eliminate tumor cells, resulting in toxicity that limits therapeutic efficacy. In contrast, antibody-based immunotherapy uses the immune system to eliminate tumor cells with exquisite specificity. Increased understanding of the pathobiology of MG and the profound immunosuppression present among patients with MG has revealed several biologic targets amenable to antibody-based immunotherapy. Novel antibody engineering techniques allow for the production of fully human antibodies or antibody fragments with vastly reduced antigen-binding dissociation constants, increasing safety when used clinically as therapeutics. In this report, we summarize the use of antibody-based immunotherapy for MG. Approaches currently under investigation include the use of antibodies or antibody fragments to: (1) redirect immune effector cells to target tumor mutations, (2) inhibit immunosuppressive signals and thereby stimulate an immunological response against tumor cells, and (3) provide costimulatory signals to evoke immunologic targeting of tumor cells. These approaches demonstrate highly compelling safety and efficacy for the treatment of MG, providing a viable adjunct to current standard-of-care therapy for MG.
Solvent signal as an NMR concentration reference.

We propose that the NMR solvent signal be utilized as a universal concentration reference because most solvents can be observed by NMR and solvent concentrations can be readily calculated or determ...
Gonadotropin-releasing hormone-stimulated intracellular Ca2+ fluctuations and luteinizing hormone release can be uncoupled from inositol phosphate production.

In order to study the dependence of GnRH-stimulated LH release on inositol phosphate (IP) turnover, this study used an inhibitor of phospholipase C activity, 1-[6-[[17 beta-3- methoxyestra-1,3,5(10)-triene-17-yl]amino]hexyl]-1H-pyrrole-dione (U-73122) and an inactive analog 1-[6[[17 beta-3-methoxyestra-1,3,5(10)- triene-17-yl]amino]hexyl]2,5-pyrrolidine-dione (U-73343). U-73122 (10 microM) decreased GnRH-provoked (1 microM, 45 min) IP accumulation from 873 +/- 61 dpm to 365 +/- 50 dpm (basal accumulation also was decreased from 420 +/- 18 dpm to 207 +/- 16 dpm) while LH release was not inhibited (30.2 +/- 1.4% of cellular LH in control compared to 30.3 +/- 1.1% in U-73122 pretreated cells). GnRH provoked increased IP3 accumulation (123% of basal) after 15 sec of stimulation, IP2 accumulation (131% of basal) after 30 sec, and IP1 (121% of basal) after 1 min. Pretreatment with U-73122 blocked accumulation of IPs at these early timepoints. Sodium fluoride (NaF)-stimulated IP accumulation was also inhibited b...
A binary encoded position-sensitive scintillation hodoscope

Abstract A position-sensitive scintillation hodoscope with reduced photomultiplier use has been built and used in experiments. This device is a fast, economical counter which has good timing characteristics and spatial resolution. Isolated strips of plastic scintillator (NE102) form a single layer (per coordinate) detecting surface, and are coupled by adiabatic light guides to photomultiplier tubes (RCA 8575). The light guides are encoded into a binary readout pattern, termed “error-free”, because the code identifies inefficient and multiple track events or the valid position measurement. These counters were successfully used to measure the incoming pion trajectories in a small angle scattering experiment.
Overexpression of Rad Inhibits Glucose Uptake in Cultured Muscle and Fat Cells

Rad is a Ras-like GTPase that was isolated by subtraction cloning of human muscle and shown to have increased expression in some individuals with Type II diabetes. To ascertain the potential role of Rad in insulin-mediated signaling, we have overexpressed Rad in myocyte and adipocyte cell lines. Expression of Rad resulted in a 50-90% reduction in insulin-stimulated 2-deoxyglucose glucose uptake in C2C12 murine myotubes, L6 rat myotubes, and 3T3-L1 adipocytes and a 25% reduction in 3-O-methylglucose uptake in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. This occurred despite unaltered levels of glucose transporter expression, with no detectable change in Glut4 translocation and with no alteration in insulin receptor or substrate phosphorylation or phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase activity. These data indicate that Rad is a negative regulator of glucose uptake and that this effect may be due to a decrease in the intrinsic activity of the transporter molecules, rather than an effect on the translocation of Glut4.
Distribution and density of cholinergic receptors at the motor endplates of a denervated mouse muscle.

Abstract The localization and quantitation of the acetylcholine receptor at the normal and 5-day denervated mouse diaphragm endplate has been evaluated by means of labeling with tritiated α-bungarotoxin followed by electron microscope autoradiography. The toxin binds specifically and irreversibly to the acetylcholine receptor molecules of skeletal muscle. The distribution of silver grains over denervated endplates labeled to saturation with this toxin is consistent with a receptor location on the postjunctional membrane at a mean density similar to that of the innervated endplate, 8,500/μm 2 . As in the innervated endplate, the receptors are not located uniformly along the membrane, but are concentrated at the fold crests, i.e., that area nearest to the axonal membrane when it is present, at a density near to 22,000/μm 2 . Since morphometric measurements show that the total postjunctional membrane at the denervated endplate is unchanged at 5 days, we deduce from the mean receptor site density that the total receptor population at the endplate remains the same. On the basis of these findings, we conclude that only a very small population of nicotinic receptors could be associated with the terminal axon, and perhaps that none at all are present there. Further, the receptors on the postjunctional membrane are unaffected in either density or distribution following the removal of neural influences by denervation even though these same influences have a profound effect on extrajunctional receptors at later periods of denervation were not possible due to degenerative tissue changes associated with denervation.
An Open Letter to the Deans and the Faculties of American Business Schools

I am writing to you because of the appalling and the sorry state of business schools. I am outraged over what we as business educators have allowed to develop. At best, we are guilty of having provided an environment where the Enrons and the Andersens of the world could take root and flourish. At worst, we are guilty of being active accomplices and co-con spirators in their shoddy and criminal behavior. In either case, unless we finally own up to the under lying reasons for our actions, business schools will only continue to aid and to abet the wave of scandals that have engulfed American businesses within the last few years. Even though we are of course not fully respon sible, we delude ourselves seriously if we think we played no part whatsoever. Make no mistake about it. We share part of the blame. The problem is not just that our underlying values are faulty. To be sure, this is a fundamental part of the problem. The real problem, however, lies much deeper. More specifically, we have promulgated:
The relative separation efficiencies of highly concentrated, uncrosslinked or low‐crosslinked polyacrylamide gels compared to conventional gels of moderate concentration and crosslinking

The joint report [1] has shown that the separation of heteroduplex DNA from homoduplex DNA can be achieved by uncrosslinked polyacrylamide gels or gels of a very low degree of crosslinking (0.15%) with N,N'-methylenebisacrylamide (Bis), while conventional polyacrylamide gels of 2-5% crosslinking with Bis are incapable of such a separation in the absence of added denaturing agents. This result raised the question whether in application to other separation problems the same superiority of uncrosslinked or low-crosslinked polyacrylamide existed. To test that question, Ferguson plots were determined for the members of a DNA ladder (50 to 1000 bp) in polyacrylamide with 0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.5% C (Bis), and the separation efficiency function, S, was evaluated in comparison with that in conventional 2-5% C (Bis) gels. S was found to be lower, not higher, in gels of low crosslinking at the respective maximally effective gel concentrations. However, the range of gel concentrations in which gels of low or no crosslinking were effective extended over a range of at least 10% T, while conventionally crosslinked gels were most effective over a range of 3 to 1 units of %T.
Digital Inequality Differences in Young Adults' Use of the Internet

This article expands understanding of the digital divide to more nuanced measures of use by examining differences in young adults' online activities. Young adults are the most highly connected age group, but that does not mean that their Internet uses are homogenous. Analyzing data about the Web uses of 270 adults from across the United States, the article explores the differences in 18- to 26-year-olds' online activities and what social factors explain the variation. Findings suggest that those with higher levels of education and of a more resource-rich background use the Web for more “capitalenhancing” activities. Detailed analyses of user attributes also reveal that online skill is an important mediating factor in the types of activities people pursue online. The authors discuss the implications of these findings for a “second-level digital divide,” that is, differences among the population of young adult Internet users.
LAXATION AND SERUM CHOLESTEROL IN RATS FED PLANT FIBERS

Source and particle size of fiber were compared as laxative and hypocholesteremic agents in rats. Particle size of wheat bran and cellulose had no effect on fecal mass, moisture or dry matter. However, the cellulose with the larger particle size decreased intestinal transit time. Fibers which were extensively fermented by gut microflora increased fecal moisture and decreased intestinal transit time. No fiber decreased serum cholesterol compared to a fiber-free group. However, serum cholesterol was increased in rats fed 16 and 30 mesh wheat bran. This study indicates that each fiber source has a highly individualized effect on laxation but little effect on serum cholesterol in rats.
Abstract C211: Therapeutic utility of GSK‐3 inhibitors for the treatment of cancer

Glycogen synthase kinase‐3 (GSK‐3) is a constitutively active protein kinase that plays a role in diverse signaling pathways. Initially described as a regulator of glycogen synthesis and metabolism, GSK‐3 is now known to play a central role in a variety of cellular functions ranging from maintenance of stem cell function to regulation of cell cycle and apoptosis. In mammals, there are two highly homologous isoforms of GSK‐3 (GSK‐3α and GSK‐3β) which share substrate specificity and functional properties. GSK3β is one of the key components of the β‐catenin destruction complex and phosphorylation of β‐catenin by GSK‐3 targets the substrate protein for ubiquitylation and proteosomal destruction ‐ conversely, inhibition of GSK‐3β activity results in loss of phosphorylation sites and stabilization of β‐catenin in the cellular cytoplasm and nucleus. GSK‐3 expression and/or activity have been reported to be elevated in multiple tumor types, including pancreatic, gastric and colorectal carcinomas. Equally important, inhibition of GSK‐3 expression in colorectal tumor cell lines via specific siRNAs induced apoptosis and attenuated the proliferation of tumor cells. Together, these findings suggest that GSK‐3 inhibitors may represent a new class of therapeutic agents against colorectal cancer. LY‐GSK‐3i is a novel, potent and selective ATP competitive inhibitor of both isoforms of GSK‐3. In vitro, LY potently inhibits the enzymatic activity of GSK‐3α and GSK‐3β with IC50s of 1.5 nM and 0.9 nM, respectively. Pharmacologic activity of other GSK‐3 inhibitors in the literature against cancer is not clear. LY‐GSK‐3i did not evidence useful antitumor activity in its own right against colorectal, ovarian or non‐small cell lung (NSCL) tumor lines. However, when combined with different chemotherapeutic agents, LY was found to potentiate their pro‐apoptotic activity. LY‐GSK‐3i was shown to significantly potentiate caspase‐3 activation when combined cisplatin in HCT‐116 and Colo‐205 colorectal carcinoma lines. Enhancement of caspase‐3 activity was also observed when LY‐GSK‐3i was combined with 5‐fluorouracyl (5‐FU) in HCT‐116 cells. In order to explore the potential of LY‐GSK‐3i in other tumor types, we assessed the pro‐apoptotic activity of the LY/cisplatin combination against ovarian (A2780) and lung (A549 and NCI‐H460) cell lines. In all cases, LY‐GSK‐3i was shown to significantly elevate caspase‐3 activity when compared to cisplatin alone. In vivo, administration of a single dose of LY‐GSK‐3i to xenograft‐bearing mice lead to a time‐and dose‐dependent accumulation of the substrate protein ‐catenin in tumor tissues. In vivo xenograft growth studies revealed that administration of 5 mg/kg LY‐GSK‐3i in combination with cisplatin, given every 7 or 14 days, was sufficient to significantly improve the efficacy as compared to cisplatin alone given at the same intervals. Together, our findings provide evidence for the potential therapeutic utility of GSK‐3 inhibitors for the treatment of cancer. Citation Information: Mol Cancer Ther 2009;8(12 Suppl):C211.
Silicon-Modified Ziegler−Natta Polymerization. Catalytic Approaches to Silyl-Capped and Silyl-Linked Polyolefins Using “Single-Site” Cationic Ziegler−Natta Catalysts

This contribution reports efficient and selective organotitanium-mediated silanolytic (PhSiH3, PhMeSiH2, Me2SiH2, Et2SiH2) chain transfer in the homogeneous polymerization and copolymerization of a variety of α-olefins. The result is several broad classes of silyl-capped and silyl-linked polyolefins which have been characterized by 1H/13C/29Si NMR and IR spectroscopy as well as by GPC. “Single-site” Ziegler−Natta catalysts effect this chain transfer with significant efficiency and scope. For [Me2Si(Me4C5)tBuN]TiMe+B(C6F5)4--mediated propylene polymerization, the mechanism of chain transfer is supported by the observation that Mn of the capped atactic polypropylenes produced at constant [catalyst], [PhSiH3], and [propylene] is inversely proportional to [PhSiH3]. Using the same catalyst, this process also efficiently produces silyl endcapped poly(1-hexene), ethylene + 1-hexene copolymers, ethylene + styrene copolymers (both with high degrees of comonomer incorporation), and (at low temperatures) polyethylen...
An Assessment of US Comparative Advantage in Technical Textiles from a Trade Perspective

With the sharp decline of the US textile industry since 1997, attention has been focused on the technical and industrial textile sector. This is widely believed to have a bright future as a result of US strengths in technology and the importance of product innovation in spurring market growth. However, there have been no formal academic studies of US competitiveness in this sector.This article measures the international competitiveness of the US technical and industrial textile sector and assesses how this has changed over time. Balassa’s Revealed Comparative Advantage (RCA) method has been used to conduct the analysis. Technical and industrial textile products identified from four-digit SITC classifications were divided into ‘higher-tech’ and ‘lower-tech’ categories according to their estimated technological intensity. The US RCA in each category, and in aggregate textiles, was compared against those of nine leading textile trading partners between 1992 and 2002. These were drawn equally from high, middl...
Alternate Stationary Source Air Pollution Control Policies: a Welfare Analysis

The welfare cost of reducing sulfur dioxide emissions from electric power plants is computed for four policies: an emissions tax, fuel quality standards, required abatement capital use, and an abatement subsidy. The model, developed using the Harberger tax incidence methodology, includes a demand function, a production function with capital, clean fuel and dirty fuel inputs, and an emissions function with dirty fuel and abatement arguments. For the tax policy, factor demands derived from a profit function close the model, while for regulatory cases, constraints are used. The relative changes in the endogenous variables are determined as a function of the percentage emissions reduction, from which an income equivalent of the welfare change is measured using estimates of system elasticities. The welfare cost differences between the efficient and regulatory policies are high, so that greater reliance on decen tralized programs is recommended.
Feedback Mechanism for the n − p Mass Difference

A feedback mechanism which can yield the correct sign for the $n\ensuremath{-}p$ mass difference is described in detail, and is shown to have its origin in the inelastic part of the Compton-amplitude contribution to the mass shift.
Second Harmonic Generation Probe Of Adsorbate Structural Transition And Energy Transfer Dynamics On A Metal Surface

Second Harmonic Generation (SHG) has many advantages as a diagnostic tool for use in studying processes which occur at surfaces. It can be used to study surface properties of the substrate itself, or those processes which involve adsorbed molecular layers. These advantages include: 1) fast time resolution, since the SHG occurs only in the presence of the light, and laser pulses as short as the femtosecond time scale can be used for SHG. 2) frequency resolution. Electronic and vibrational transitions can be resolved through resonantly enhanced SHG with 0.1 meV resolution using tunable lasers from the IR to UV region. 3) surface sensitivity, since, in the dipole approximation, SHG is only generated at the surface or interfacial region of a centro-symmetric material. It has been shown that the surface SHG is sensitive to submonolayer adsorbate coverages and to surface structural changes.2 4) nonintrusiveness. The light intensity required for SHG is usually far below the damage threshold of the surface and is low enough to avoid significant heating of the adsorbate/substrate system. The frequency of the light can be chosen to avoid any resonant absorption by either the adsorbate or the substrate. Thus no specific excitations will perturb the system under study. 5) in situ diagnosis. A surface process can be probed directly on the surface by SHG as it proceeds. The system can be a clean surface, or a surface with submonolayer or multilayer adsorbates.
Solidarity: A Motivational Conception

Abstract This essay offers a motivational conception of solidarity that can be employed across the entire range of sciences and humanities, while also filling a gap in the motivational spectrum conceived by decision theorists and economists—and expanding the two-part division between altruistic and selfish motivations into a tripartite analysis that suggests a spectrum instead. According to the present proposal, solidarity is a condition of action-readiness on behalf of a group or its interests. The proposal will admit of measuring the extent to which Prisoner's Dilemmas are overcome in real life via acts of solidarity.
Regulation of Bacillus subtilis glutamine synthetase gene expression by the product of the glnR gene

Transcription of the Bacillus subtilis gene coding of glutamine synthetase (glnA) is regulated by the nitrogen source. The glnA gene lies in an operon in which it is preceded by an open reading frame with the potential to encode a polypeptide of approximately 16,000 Mr. We have now shown that this open reading frame is utilized in vivo, that its product (GlnR) acts as a diffusible, negative regulator of gln transcription, and that GlnR is likely to be a DNA-binding protein. Certain mutations in glnR, including a large, in-frame deletion and a start codon mutation, led to high-level constitutivity of the operon; other mutations caused low-level constitutivity. These latter mutations, which affected the C terminus of GlnR, seemed to disrupt response to the nitrogen source without eliminating the ability of GlnR to bind to DNA. Wild-type GlnR by itself, however, did not impose nitrogen-dependent regulation; such regulation also required the product of glnA. A model is presented in which glutamine synthetase monitors the availability of nitrogen and imposes negative regulation by interaction with or modification of GlnR.
Pseudo vitamin D-deficiency rickets

I N 1949, van Creveld and Arons 1,2 repor ted a child who had severe hypophospha temic rickets wi th hypoca lcemia and aminoac idur ia , in spite of adequa te in take of v i tamin D. A decade la te r Ca lcagno and R u b i n a repor ted a similar case and noted tha t the roen tgenograph ic findings resembled those of v i tamin D-def ic iency rickets. P r ade r and associates 4 repor ted two other cases and named this condi t ion "heredi ta ry pseudo v i tamin D deficiency rickets." Large doses of v i tamin D were necessary to correct the bony and biochemical lesions. T h e lesion is also described under the diagnost ic term, hypocalcemic v i tamin Dres l s t an t r ickets? 4 A few cases which resemble pseudo vitamin D-def ic iency rickets have been observed, s, ~ but in these relat ively lower doses of v i tamin D corrected tile abnormali t ies . I t is possible tha t these cases represent a var ian t of the same disorder. More recently, Stoop and associates 7 repor ted 4 cases and described in detai l the characterist ics of this entity.
Density dependence of expiratory flow and bronchodilator response in asthma.

Change in the magnitude of density dependence of the maximal expiratory flow (D/MEF) following inhalation of isoproterenol was used as a test for predicting the long term response to isoproterenol vs atropine in 24 adult patients with longstanding asthma. Eleven subjects showed a decrease in D/MEF manifested by increase in volume of isoflow (Viso$$) and/or decrease in $$ Helox/air following isoproterenol inhalation (group 1). Thirteen subjects manifested an opposite response (group 2). Atropine sulphate (0.08 mg/kg) and isoproterenol hydrochloride (2.5 mg) were then administered by inhalation, each four times a day for seven days in a randomized double-blind cross over fashion to all subjects. One of group 1 but ten of group 2 subjects had a greater subjective and objective improvement with atropine than with isoproterenol (P
On viewing rhetoric as epistemic: Ten years later

This essay raises and attempts to answer three questions: Is there one way of knowing or many? What sort of knowing does rhetoric strive to achieve? And, is rhetorical relativism vicious?
Do Sleep Disorders Contribute to Pain Sensitivity

Sleep disturbance is one of the most common comorbid problems for chronic pain patients. The association between the two phenomena has long been recognized, but the nature of the relationship is not well-understood. Many agree that the relationship is likely bidirectional. In this review, we focus on one side of the relationship: whether and how disordered sleep adversely impacts pain. We discuss the available evidence from the epidemiologic, clinical, and human, as well as infrahuman laboratory studies. Generally, the literature supports the positive relationship between poor sleep and increased pain. Sleep deprivation also seems to attenuate analgesic effects of medications. Research delineating the causal or associative relationship between sleep and pain is still preliminary at this time. Continuing efforts in both experimental and clinical research are needed to develop a translationally meaningful understanding of how poor sleep impacts pain.
Tectonic loading and subsidence of intermontane basins: Wyoming foreland province

Results of two-dimensional flexural modeling of the northern Bighorn and northern Green River basins in the Wyoming foreland province suggest that these basins formed as flexures in response to loading by basin-margin uplifts and basin sedimentary sequences. The northern Bighorn Basin subsided due to loading by the Beartooth uplift along its western margin. The northern Green River Basin developed as a result of concurrent loading by the Wyoming thrust belt to the west and the Wind River uplift to the east. Tectonic loading from basement-involved uplifts played a major role in subsidence and sedimentation, as evidenced by isopach patterns within each basin. Lithospheric flexural rigidities of 1021 to 1022 newton metres (N·m) can adequately explain subsidence in both basins.
The localization of FMRFamide in the nervous and somatic tissues of Nereis virens and its effects upon the isolated esophagus

Abstract 1. The tetrapeptide FMRFamide which is present in extracts of Nereis virens was localized in various nereid tissues immunohistochemically. 2. Immunoreactive FMRFamidergic cells and fibers were found in the supraesophageal (brain) and subesophageal ganglia, as well as in the intersegmental ganglia of the ventral nerve cord. Immunoreactive fibers were present in the neuropile of, and the connectives between, the supraesophageal, subesophageal, and intersegmental ganglia. 3. In the periphery immunoreactive FMRFamidergic fibers and a few cell bodies were observed in the gut. Sparse fibers were also seen in the body wall, parapodia, and cephalic palps. When the antiserum was preabsorbed with FMRFamide, no specific immunoreactivity was detected. 4. The esophagus of Nereis , isolated and suspended in a tissue bath, responded to FMRFamide with a dose-dependent relaxation; threshold was between 30 and 300 nM, and the ec 50 , was 1.55 ± 0.60 μ M. Benzoquinonium did not modify this response. 5. Thus, FMRFamide seems to be a neurotransmitter in both the central and peripheral nervous system of Nereis virens , and may be involved in the control of esophageal motility.
A variational multiscale method to incorporate strain gradients in a phenomenological plasticity model

We treat mathematical and computational issues related to the incorporation of strain gradient terms in a phenomenological plasticity model. The strain gradients are associated with incompatibilities due to geometrically necessary dislocations, and are quantified by the Nye dislocation density tensor. When incorporated within a flow rule for the plastic strain rate, this tensor fundamentally alters the mathematical structure of the theory. Several computational complexities also arise as a result. These problems are posed in the setting of a variationally-based multiscale method. It allows the circumvention of some of the mathematical and computational difficulties associated with this model. The phenomenological plasticity model, its enhancement by strain gradients, formulation within a multiscale context and two numerical examples are presented.
Quinone amine polymers. IX. Attempts to synthesize polyamine–benzoquinone polymers using air and oxygen as oxidizing agents

Attempts to synthesize Jeffamine D-400 : p-benzoquinone = 1 : 1 and later Jeffamine D-400 : hydroquinone = 1 : 1 oligomers, using air or oxygen as the oxidizing agent, have been only partially successful. Although oligomers that yield nontacky coatings are completely precipitable in water, only about 25% of these products are precipitable in water while 75% remains in suspension. These polymers yield tacky coatings, which suggests that neither air nor oxygen is capable of oxidizing hydroquinone to benzoquinone, which is necessary for the formation of the polymer. Hence, most of the oligomer chains are too short to precipitate in water.
Steady-state nonequilibrium dynamical mean-field theory and the quantum Boltzmann equation

We derive the formalism for steady state nonequilibrium dynamical mean-field theory in a real-time formalism along the Keldysh-Kadanoff-Baym contour. The resulting equations of motion are first transformed to Wigner coordinates (average and relative time), and then re-expressed in terms of differential operators. Finally, we perform a Fourier transform with respect to the relative time, and take the first-order limit in the electric field to produce the quantum Boltzmann equation for dynamical mean-field theory. We next discuss the structure of the equations and their solutions, describing how these equations reduce to the Drude result in the limit of a constant relaxation time. We also explicitly demonstrate the equivalence between the Kubo and nonequilibrium approaches to linear response. There are a number of interesting modifications of the conventional quantum Boltzmann equation that arise due to the underlying bandstructure of the lattice.
Hemophilia — Psychological Factors and Comprehensive Management

Since chronic disease compounds the difficulties of child rearing and increases the incidence of psychological problems in all age groups, patient care emphasizing technology alone is inadequate. Instead, a biopsychosocial approach is necessary to correlate medical care with vital information about the patient's psychological and social state. Hemophilia acts as a chronic recurrent stress on the individual and his family requiring the development of coping behaviors for adaptation. While many hemophiliacs achieve normal psychological development, some are overwhelmed by the illness contributing to maladaptation and a variety of psychological disorders. Accordingly, medical staff efforts and attitudes that promote effective coping are a vital part of comprehensive care. The goals of coping include carrying out acceptable life goals despite illness handicaps, keeping uncomfortable feelings within manageable limits and the maintenance of a positive self-image. Efforts to support effective coping begin with effective medical care including adequate relief for acute pain, educational programs that promote optimal child rearing and self-care and the opportunity for the patient and family to talk about concerns and feelings. Comprehensive care also provides for the identification and specific treatment of psychiatric disorders that may develop.
Walkable streets: pedestrian behavior, perceptions and attitudes

Urban designers are interested in the environmental qualities of places that make them better for walking, not only as settings for physical activity, but also as sensorial and social settings. Research in walkability lacks qualitative studies that address the microscale analyses of the environment. This paper is an empirical examination of the relationship of the physical, land‐use, and social characteristics of the environment at the microscale to people's behavior and perceptions toward walking. Using the data from surveys and interviews, this research emphasizes the integration of user perceptions and subjective measures to understand the impact of environmental characteristics on walking behavior on Main Streets. Adding to previous research, this study demonstrates the significance of social qualities in supporting walking. The findings expand our understanding of the hierarchy and criteria of walking needs and suggest that, given a safe and comfortable setting, people look for usefulness, sense of b...
Adsorption of NO on S/Ni(100)

Abstract Nitric oxide has been studied on sulfur-covered Ni(100) using thermal desorption spectroscopy (TDS), ultraviolet (UPS) and X-ray (XPS) photoelectron spectroscopy, and work function change (Δφ) measurements. Low sulfur coverages reduce the saturation amount of adsorbed NO; each sulfur blocks ≈ 2 NO. The initial sticking coefficient is altered according to S0 = (1−2θs). Adsorbed sulfur also inhibits the dissociation of NO but does not change the desorption energetics of N2. Above θs ≈ 0.38, NO does not dissociate. Changes in the O(1s) binding energy and in Δφ indicate sulfur-induced changes in NiNO bonding consistent with decreased interaction between NO and the metal in the presence of adsorbed sulfur.
Reversal of Induced Dormancy in Lettuce by Ethylene, Kinetin, and Gibberellic Acid

The germination of lettuce seeds (Lactuca sativa L., cv. Premier Great Lakes) was significantly inhibited by high temperature (32 C), 0.1 mM abscisic acid or 0.4 M mannitol. Ethylene (16 μl/1 of air) partially reversed the dormancy induced by all three inhibitors but only in the presence of 1 mM gibberellic acid (GA) or light. Neither ethylene plus GA nor ethylene plus light were able to promote germination when thermal inhibition was imposed at 36 C. Addition of 0.01 mM kinetin to the ethylene plus GA or light reversed thermodormancy at 36 C. The dormancy imposed by abscisic acid was also reversed by kinetin. Kinetin was unable to reverse the osmotic dormancy imposed by mannitol. The reversal of osmotic dormancy by ethylene or ethylene plus GA was actually inhibited by kinetin but only in the light. Kinetin apparently stimulates cotyledonary growth in the presence of light, and this growth may compete for certain metabolites critical to radicle growth and subsequent germination. Kinetin and ethylene, as demonstrated primarily in the thermodormancy at 36 C and in osmotic dormancy, appear to regulate a common event(s) leading to germination but through mechanisms unique to each respective growth regulator. The regulation of germination by ethylene is absolutely dependent upon an interaction with GA and/or light.
ENERGY LEVELS IN 154Dy

Abstract A level scheme for 154 Dy is proposed from study of the β-decay of 154 Ho, and from the “in-beam” gamma spectrum of the reaction 139 La( 19 F, 4n) 154 Dy. The ground-state quasi-rotational band is observed up to spin 10 + in the reaction, and up to 8 + in the β-decay. It is proposed that the other levels observed in the β-decay may be understood as a quasi β-vibrational band.
An unusual presentation of a ring injury

A case of chronic erosion of the soft tissues and bone of the proximal phalanx of the ring finger in a 62-year-old woman is presented. The patient's rings had eroded the skin, nerves, and tendons of the finger as well as the palmar aspect of the proximal phalanx; however, circulation was adequate. When the rings were removed, there was no improvement in sensibility or range of motion, but this was not bothersome to the patient.
New technology for cellular piercing: rotationally oscillating μ-injector, description and validation tests

ICSI (intracytoplasmic sperm injection) procedure is one of the most commonly used cellular-injection processes. In ICSI a drawn glass pipette is pushed against the biological cell and a series of force impulses are exerted on it axially to achieve the piercing through the zona and the membrane in sequence for the ensuing injection. In most advanced applications a piezo actuator creates this impulsive forcing. This procedure presently requires a very small mercury column inside the glass pipette which is found to be helpful especially for minimizing the transverse oscillations. Despite the toxic mercury, the procedure is commonly utilized in many laboratories. Earlier investigations point out that considerable lateral tip oscillations of the injection pipette remain as the piezo-electric pulses are introduced. Such oscillations damage the cell membrane and impart adverse effects on the success rate of the injection. In this study, we introduce a novel microinjection procedure, which will remedy the shortfalls of the present technology. The highlight of this procedure is the introduction of rotational oscillations to the pipette during the drilling. These oscillations of small amplitudes (few degrees) and high enough frequencies (100 Hz and higher) are shown to create very effective piercing. The so-called Ros-Drill is a mercury-free and minimally invasive device of which the prototypes are designed and built including the relevant peripheral control hardware and software. Preliminary experimental results are presented on mouse oocytes and they are very encouraging. In the early trials on mouse oocytes, several blastocyst stage developments are reported using new drilling device. We also explain in this text the implementation protocols developed for the new technology.
The Effects of Low-Frequency Environmental-Strength Electromagnetic Fields on Brain Electrical Activity: A Critical Review of the Literature

Reports dealing with the stimulus-response relationship between low-level, low-frequency electromagnetic fields (EMFs) and changes in brain electrical activity permit assessment of the hypothesis that EMFs are detected by the body via the process of sensory transduction. These reports, as well as those involving effects on brain activity observed after a fixed time of exposure, are critically reviewed here. A consistent stimulus-response relationship between EMFs and changes in brain activity has been demonstrated in animal and human subjects. The effects, which consisted of onset and offset evoked potentials, were observed under conditions permitting the inference that the fields were transduced like ordinary stimuli such as light and sound. However, unlike the changes in brain activity induced by these stimuli, the changes induced by EMFs were governed by nonlinear laws. The studies involving attempts to determine whether a period of EMF exposure caused a metabolic effect reflected in pre-exposure/post-exposure differences in brain activity were generally inconclusive.
Sensitive absolute polarization measurement using vector light shifts in cold atoms

By measuring the vector light shift in spin-polarized Cs atoms trapped in a cavity built-up optical lattice, we have demonstrated linear polarization that is pure to within 2×10−8 in fractional intensity.
Effects of carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide on garden pea and string bean

Garden Peas (Pisum Sativum) and beans (Phaseolus vulgaris) were exposed to 24 ppM of carbon monoxide (CO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO/sub 2/). Germination of bean seeds was delayed about 48 hours. On the 18th day after exposure none of the bean seedlings exposed to NO/sub 2/ survived while about 30 percent of the beans exposed to CO survived. The survival of the pea seedlings was not affected. No effect was noted on stem length. Formation of new leaves was decreased and dropping of old leaves was increased in both test species with more drastic effects noted in the beans. (JTE)
The evolutionary response of systems to a changing environment

To model evolution as an evolutionary game, we have used a fitness generating function to define the fitness of any individual in a community bounded by the same evolutionary constraints. Using a single fitness generating function, we have previously investigated the effect of external inputs on a community at an evolutionarily stable strategy (ESS). Of particular interest are the circumstances under which the external input promotes the coexistence of several strategies in a community that otherwise would have a single-strategy ESS. The external inputs can include physiographic changes, human intervention, or the introduction of a new species not modeled by the single fitness generating function. We consider in detail here the situation of introducing a predator into a hitherto unexploited community of prey. In this case, the prey and predators each have a separate set of evolutionary constraints which produce two different fitness generating functions. Necessary conditions for determining the ESS under two or more fitness generating functions are presented. The coevolution of predator and prey is then examined with the aid of frequency-dependent adaptive landscapes, one for each fitness generating function. As a result of disruptive selection imposed by the predator, it is possible, under different niche breadths of the predator, to obtain ESSs composed of one or more coexisting prey strategies and one or more predator strategies.
Influence of oxygen on the UV-photocatalyzed generation of pyrene cation radicals in the zeolites X and Y

The photoinduced generation of pyrene cation radicals (Py+·) has been examined as a function of oxygen pressure in the internal cavities of the zeolites NaX and NaY. Excitation of pyrene was carrie...
Efficacy of prostatic fossa biopsy in detecting local recurrence after radical prostatectomy.

Abstract Objectives To evaluate retrospectively the efficacy of prostatic fossa biopsy in detecting local recurrence of prostate cancer in men with biochemical failure after radical prostatectomy. Methods Between January 1997 and December 2002, 100 men without prior adjuvant therapy after radical prostatectomy underwent transrectal ultrasound (TRUS)-guided biopsy of the prostatic fossa. The TRUS findings, digital rectal examination (DRE) findings, serum total prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level at TRUS, PSA velocity, and pathologic stage and Gleason score of the radical prostatectomy specimen were correlated with the biopsy results. Results Overall, 29 (29%) of the 100 men who underwent biopsy had documented local recurrence. The sensitivity and specificity of DRE to detect biopsy-proven local recurrence was 72.4% and 64.8%, respectively. The corresponding values for TRUS were 86.2% and 53.5%. None of the men with a serum PSA concentration of less than 0.5 ng/mL at biopsy who had normal results for both TRUS and DRE had a biopsy-proven local recurrence. By stepwise multivariate logistic regression analysis, abnormal TRUS findings and serum PSA concentration at biopsy were independent predictors for positive fossa biopsy results. The combination of TRUS and serum PSA concentration was the best predictive model for a positive fossa biopsy result. Conclusions Prostatic fossa biopsy should be avoided in patients with both or either normal DRE or TRUS findings when the PSA level is less than 0.5 ng/mL.