cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Convergence onto hamster medullary taste neurons

Abstract Research has shown that gustatory afferents innervating different areas of the oral cavity converge onto single neurons in the nucleus tractus solitarii (NTS). However, most studies of gustatory physiology have only stimulated the receptors on the anterior tongue. No information exists on the response of hamster NTS neurons to stimulation of receptors located in other areas of the oral cavity. The present investigation compared responses of hamster NTS neurons to stimulation of receptors on the anterior tongue and posterior oral cavity, and to stimulation of both receptor populations together. Of the neurons, 64% responded to both anterior tongue and posterior oral cavity stimulation. The remaining neurons responded exclusivel to stimulation of one area. Cells responsive to both fields of stimulation were found throughout the rostral NTS. Cells responding to stimulation of only one field were anatomiically separate. Most neurons (69%) were more responsive to anterior tongue than posterior oral cavity stimulation. The neural responses to stimulation of both fields simultaneously were complex. Frequently, a cell's response was intermediate between those produced by stimulation of either receptor population alone. In other cases the response was the same as the larger of the two individual responses. The breadth of responsiveness to the 4 basic taste stimuli (sucrose, NaCl, HCl and quinine-HCl) was similar for both receptor populations, but the breadth of tuning of an individual cell for one field of stimulation was not correlated with its breadth of responsiveness for the other. In contrast, the breadth of tuning following stimulation of the entire oral cavity was correlated with that following stimulation of the anterior tongue.
Comparison of exercise radionuclide angiocardiography and thallium-201 myocardial perfusion imaging in coronary artery disease.

Abstract First pass radionuclide angiocardiography and thallium-201 myocardial perfusion imaging were performed at rest and during exercise in 48 patients with chest pain: 39 with angiographically documented coronary artery disease and 9 with normal coronary arteries. Maximal graded upright bicycle exercise was used for both studies to assure identical exercise conditions. All nine patients without coronary artery disease had normal exercise thallium images, normal exercise regional wall motion and at least a 5 percent absolute increase in left ventricular ejection fraction during exercise (normal exercise left ventricular reserve). Ischemic S-T segment depression was demonstrated in 17 (44 percent) of the 39 patients with coronary artery disease. Findings on the two exercise tests were concordant in all cases. New or augmented thallium perfusion defects were detected in 24 (62 percent) of the 39 patients, whereas abnormal exercise left ventricular reserve was present in 33 (85 percent) (p
California Legislative History

The purpose of this article is to give librarians a clearer understanding of what types of legislative history materials are accepted by California courts. It provides a brief history of the legislative process, followed by a discussion of current case law relating to California courts’ treatment of legislative history materials. Finally, it provides a list of documents generated in the California legislative process and how to locate them.
Tetracarbonylmolybdenum complexes of 2-(phenylazo)pyridine ligands. Correlations of molybdenum-95 chemical shifts with electronic, infrared, and electrochemical properties

Abstract The complexes cis -Mo(CO) 4 (X-2-(phenylazo)pyridine) (X = 4-CH 3 O, 4-CH 3 , 4-Cl, 5-Br, 5-CF 3 , {6-CH 3 } and cis -Mo(CO) 4 (2-(2-CH 3 -phenylazo)pyridine) have been synthesized and characterized by cyclic voltammetry, by visible and infrared spectroscopy, and by 1 H, 13 C, and 95 Mo NMR spectroscopy. The 95 Mo chemical shift correlates with the lowest energy electronic transition, with the sum of the carbonyl stretching frequencies, with the first oxidation potential, and with Hammett σ parameters for the pyridyl substituents. The failure of the complexes cis -Mo(CO) 4 (6-CH 3 -2-(phenylazo)pyridine) and cis -Mo(CO) 4 (2-(2-CH 3 -phenylazo)pyridine) to fit some of the correlations is attributed to steric or electronic effects. The effect of a substituent on the pyridyl ring of 2-(phenylazo)pyridine appears to be entirely an inductive one operating through the σ bonding. It is suggested that the 2-(phenylazo)pyridines might be appropriately viewed as ligands whose strong π-acceptor ability resides with the azo group, while the pyridyl group acts primarily as a pyridine whose basicity has been decreased by the strong electron-withdrawing 2-phenylazo substituent.
Context‐Specific Adaptation of Saccade Gain Is Enhanced with Rest Intervals Between Changes in Context State

Dual-state adaptation of motor responses has been known for some time. A more recent development is a form of dual-state adaptation known as "context-specific adaptation," which was explored through the use of saccade gain adaptation. In this model, two different adapted saccade gains are associated with two different states of a context cue, and the gain switches between the two adapted states when the context cue changes state. Such adaptation is imposed by alternating context/adaptation states over the course of an adaptation session. Here, vertical eye position as a context cue for adaptation of horizontal saccade gain is used: gain increase is induced with the eyes up 10 degrees, and gain decrease with the eyes down 10 degrees. This context cue is not very effective: there is interference between context/adaptation conditions such that gain-decrease adaptation with eyes down transfers to the eyes-up (gain-increase) context. It was hypothesized that the juxtaposition in time of the alternating adaptation states exacerbated this interference. In order to test this, one-minute rest breaks were inserted between each change in context/adaptation state. The resulting context-specific adaptation improved dramatically: gain-increase and gain-decrease adaptations were more rapid and more complete. This resembles consolidation of motor learning, which, however, occurs over much longer time spans (hours rather than minutes). Thus, the results may reflect the operation of a novel "short-term" motor consolidation process.
Viscous flow solutions for slender bodies of revolution at incidence

Flow over slender prolate spheroids at incidence is examined. The incidence angle is chosen high enough to cause streamwise separation of the flow in addition to crossflow separation generally observed at lower incidence angles. The freestream Mach number for the cases investigated here is subsonic, thus precluding the use of parabolized procedures. Laminar, transitional and turbulent flow cases are investigated.
A graphical method for the determination of angular accelerations in four-linked spatial mechanisms

Abstract A new graphical method for the determination of the coupler angular acceleration in four-linked spatial mechanisms is presented. The line of action of the angular acceleration vector is found as the intersection of two planes, while its magnitude is obtained by means of a reversed moment construction. The method adapts well to solution by the Mayor-Mises Method. An example is worked out and limitations are discussed.
Photospheric Activity among Stars in Old Open Clusters: NGC 7789

We present initial results of the search for photospheric stellar activity in the open cluster NGC 7789 based on seven seasons of broadband V observations and one season of broadband BVR observations. We have achieved a precision as good as 0.9 mmag for the nightly average V differential magnitudes of the best stars and a precision of 0.4 mmag for the annual average V magnitudes. The brightness fluctuations of the photometrically chosen main-sequence stars show a distinct positive correlation between the variations in V and those in B and R on the night-to-night timescale; the amplitude of the fluctuations is also larger for the longer wavelengths. The V-band light curves of the annual mean differential magnitudes of the main-sequence stars are similar to both the fluctuations observed in nearby bright stars and to spacecraft solar irradiance data. The standard deviations of the variability increase with B - V color for the main-sequence stars. From these results, we conclude that the variations are caused by phenomena associated with stellar activity.
A Review of the Combination of Phentermine and Topiramate Extended-Release for Weight Loss

The Food and Drug Administration recently approved the combination of phentermine and extended-release topiramate (PHN/TPM) for weight loss. This is one of only two weight-loss agents to arrive on the US market in the last decade. This product combines the anorexigenic agent, phentermine, which is approved for the short-term treatment of weight loss, with a carbonic anhydrase inhibitor, topiramate, which is approved for non-weight loss indications, including seizure disorders and migraine headache. Although the combination is believed to be synergistic, no clinical trial data currently address this. The PHN/TPM combination is a once-daily formulation. Mean weight loss among participants who completed 1 year of PHN/TPM treatment in research trials, in combination with lifestyle modification, has ranged from approximately 7% (lower doses) to over 14% (higher doses), relative to approximately 2% with placebo. In addition to weight loss, PHN/TPM resulted in improved comorbidities and quality of life, although it has not been shown to improve mental/psychosocial issues. Among the common adverse events observed in clinical trials are paresthesia, dry mouth, constipation, and headache. Other noteworthy adverse events that occurred more commonly with PHN/TPM versus placebo included dysgeusia, insomnia, irritability, and alopecia. Laboratory abnormalities in serum bicarbonate and potassium were also observed in a subset of patients. Due to the teratogenic potential of topiramate, women of child-bearing potential are required to have a negative pregnancy test at baseline and are instructed to take monthly pregnancy tests. As part of a risk-management approach, only pharmacies certified by the manufacturer will be allowed to dispense PHN/TPM and will be required to provide information on birth defects. Like phentermine, the combination drug will be designated as a schedule IV medication. In comparison with other agents currently on the market, the combination of PHN/TPM appears to provide significant advantages for weight loss, while improving comorbid conditions and quality of life. Monitoring for laboratory abnormalities, adverse events, and changes in psychiatric status should occur during therapy.
Abstract 4616: A hexane extract of American ginseng suppresses mouse colitis

Proceedings: AACR 102nd Annual Meeting 2011‐‐ Apr 2‐6, 2011; Orlando, FL Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a dynamic, idiopathic, chronic inflammatory condition associated with a high colon cancer risk. We have previously shown that American Ginseng (AG) extract prevents and treats colitis. The aim of this study was to better understand the components of American ginseng that suppress colitis. In this study we show that among five different fractions of AG (Butanol, Hexane, Ethylacetate, Dicholoromethane and Water), the Hexane fraction of American ginseng (HAG) has the most effective anti-oxidation and pro-apoptotic effect. This effect of HAG was shown in a mouse macrophage cell line (ANA-1 cells) and in an ex-vivo model (activated primary effector T cells, CD4+/CD25- T cells). Importantly, compared with the entire AG extract, the HAG was more potent in treating colitis in a dextran sulfate sodium (DSS) mouse model. Results from this study move us closer to understanding the molecular components of AG that suppress colitis, and perhaps prevent colon cancer associated with colitis. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 102nd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2011 Apr 2-6; Orlando, FL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2011;71(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4616. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2011-4616
Model generation of the silicon–germanium (Si1−xGex) bipolar inversion channel field effect transistor utilizing a two-dimensional device simulator

The development of an accurate model for an inversion base transistor in the bipolar inversion channel field effect transistor (BICFET) configuration is investigated in this report. Simulations were accomplished through the use of the Medici software, acquired from Avant! Corporation of Sunnyvale, California. This software, which is capable of modeling semiconductor devices comprised of conventional and/or user-defined materials, impurities, structures and operating conditions, was used to develop a model based on experimental device results from Stanford University.
Immigrant Voting in Home-Country Elections: Potential Consequences of Extending the Franchise to Expatriate Mexicans Residing in the United States

Despite widespread interest in the effects of expanding expatriate Mexicans9 ability to vote in the 2006 Mexican presidential election, no systematic estimates of potential participation currently exist. Applying logistic regression techniques to 2001 Los Angeles County Mexican Immigrant Residency Status Survey data and 2002 Current Population Survey data, we find that 125,000 to 360,000 (1.5–4.2 percent of ) expatriate Mexican migrants residing in the United States may vote in 2006. Migrants who are less well integrated in the United States, have a Mexican political party affiliation, or attend religious meetings more frequently are estimated to be more likely to vote. And although a minority of expatriates is likely to vote for the PAN candidate in 2006, the expatriate vote is not likely to exceed one percent of the total Mexican vote; state and local, rather than national, electoral outcomes are more likely to be influenced. Still, instituting an absentee ballot and facilitating cross-border mobility could significantly expand expatriate participation in future Mexican elections. Pese al gran interes en torno a los efectos que tendria la capacidad de los expatriados mexicanos para votar en la eleccion presidencial de 2006, no existen estimaciones sistematicas de una participacion potencial. Al aplicar tecnicas de regresion logistica a los datos que arroja el estudio del estatus de migratorio de los mexicanos en el Condado de los Angeles, asi como al Censo de Poblacion, encontramos que entre 125,000 y 360,000 (1.5 a 4.2 por ciento) de los expatriados mexicanos que viven en Estados Unidos, podrian votar en 2006. Los migrantes que no se hallan del todo integrados en Estados Unidos, que tienen una filiacion politica, o bien, que asisten a congregaciones religiosas son mas propensos a votar. Y, aunque resulta plausible que una minoria de expatriados vote por el candidato del PAN en 2006, el voto no excedera un punto porcentual del voto mexicano total; los resultados estatales y locales, mas que nacionales, son los que se revelaran susceptibles de influencia. Aun asi, la instauracion de una boleta para votar a distancia, o bien, de facilidades para el cruce de la frontera podria extender la participacion de los migrantes de forma significativa en las futuras elecciones mexicanas.
A Tale of Cosmic Rays Narrated in γ Rays by Fermi

Because cosmic rays are charged particles scrambled by magnetic fields, combining direct measurements with other observations is crucial to understanding their origin and propagation. As energetic particles traverse matter and electromagnetic fields, they leave marks in the form of neutral interaction products. Among those, γ rays trace interactions of nuclei that inelastically collide with interstellar gas, as well as of leptons that undergo Bremsstrahlung and inverse-Compton scattering. Data collected by the Fermi large area telescope (LAT) are therefore telling us the story of cosmic rays along their journey from sources through their home galaxies. Supernova remnants emerge as a notable γ-ray source population, and older remnants interacting with interstellar matter finally show strong evidence of the presence of accelerated nuclei. Yet the maximum energy attained by shock accelerators is poorly constrained by observations. Cygnus X, a massive star-forming region established by the LAT as housing cosmic-ray sources, provides a test case to study the impact of wind-driven turbulence on the early propagation. Interstellar emission resulting from the large-scale propagation of cosmic rays in the Milky Way is revealed in unprecedented detail that challenges some of the simple assumptions used for the modeling. Moreover, the cosmic-ray induced γ-ray luminosities of galaxies-scale quasi-linearly with their massive-star formation rates: the overall normalization of that relation below the calorimetric limit suggests that for most systems, a substantial fraction of energy in cosmic rays escapes into the intergalactic medium. The nuclear production models and the distribution of target gas and radiation fields, not determined precisely enough yet, are key to exploiting the full potential of γ-ray data. Nevertheless, data being collected by Fermi and complementary multiwavelength/multimessenger observations are bringing us ever closer to solving the cosmic-ray mystery.
Continuous Ultrasonic Degumming of Crude Soybean Oil

Ultrasonic energy has been applied to continuous degumming for the efficient removal of phospholipids from crude soybean oil. The crude oil and water (2.0% by weight) were pumped through an ultrasonic processing cell, oil and hydrated gums were separated by centrifugation, and the recovered oil was vacuum bleached. The degummed and bleached oil had a residual phosphorus content of less than 10 ppm and was subsequently deacidified-deodorized in all-glass laboratory deodorization equipment. Odor and flavor evaluation indicated that the salad oil produced by the process of ultrasonic degumming/deodorization-deacidification was equivalent in quality and stability to a conventionally processed salad oil.
Environmental Deterioration and Disease in the Middle Rio Grande Valley: An Investigation of the Linkages at Household Level

The high costs of rapid growth in the fragile environment of the Middle Rio Grande Valley of Texas and Mexico have become more evident in recent years. This study investigates the relationships between selected diseases and a wide range of site and situational factors for 2,140 households located in the environmentally strained colonias of Laredo-Nuevo Laredo, Eagle Pass-Piedras Negras, and Del Rio-Ciudad Acuna. The results suggest that gastrointestinal and neurological/degenerative diseases are related to situational factors, such as family behavior and family size, as well as proximity to polluted watercourses, industry, and agriculture. Policy implications include the separation of residences from pollution sources (in Mexico), and the improvement of public health and drainage (in the United States).
Study of Power-Law Corrections to Scaling in a Relativistic Quark Model

We study the approach to scaling in a relativistic quark model which we have used previously to fit the experimental data for the structure function (for all x) and for (for x > 0.4). We present values for these structure functions calculated in our model and also present an analytic form which provides a good fit to the numerical results. Our model supports one form of the power-law corrections suggested in the literature. [We reproduce the sign and magnitude of the parameter which appears in a phenomenological form used in a recent analysis made by the BEBC Collaboration. Our results are also consistent with a recent BCDMS Collaboration analysis which finds no need for "higher-twist" terms for Q2 > 20 (Gev)2.] We also discuss certain complications which may arise when one attempts to study "higher-twist" behavior at both small and large x with a single sign for the phenomenological power-law correction term. (In particular, we predict a change in sign of the power-law correction to scaling between x = 0.65 and x = 0.7.) In addition, we calculate R(x, Q2) and find a good fit to the experimental data using the same parameters which were used in our fits to and .
Probabilistic metric spaces and hysteresis systems

A phenomenological theory of simple hysteresis is constructed with the aid of certain concepts from the theory of probabilistic metric spaces. The predicted forms of the dependence of average energy loss per hysteresis cycle on the maximum excursion of the hysteresis coordinate agree well with experimental results.
When Ingratiation Backfires: The Role of Political Skill in the Ingratiation–Internship Performance Relationship

Seeking to understand intern behavior and skill that influence internship experiences, we examine the effects of intern ingratiating behavior, political skill, and supervisor liking on internship j...
Mutually Orthogonal Orthogonalized Plane Waves

A basis set of mutually orthogonal orthogonalized plane waves (OPW's) is constructed. As an example of the utility of this basis set, these orthogonal OPW's are applied in the simplification of the secular equation of the one-electron problem in a periodic potential.
The Impact of NORPEX Targeted Dropsondes on the Analysis and 2–3-Day Forecasts of a Landfalling Pacific Winter Storm Using NCEP 3DVAR and 4DVAR Systems

Abstract During the North Pacific Experiment (NORPEX), both the Navy Operational Global Atmospheric Prediction System and the National Centers for Environmental Prediction (NCEP) operational forecast systems found a 48-h forecast degradation over the NORPEX forecast verification region due to the inclusion of a set of NORPEX targeted dropsondes deployed north of Hawaii during 29–30 January 1998. The NCEP three- and four-dimensional varitional data assimilation (3DVAR and 4DVAR) systems are used here to reassess the impact of these dropsonde observations on model predictions. The assimilation of these targeted dropsondes excluding the conventional observations improved the 48-h forecast over the NORPEX forecast verification region. However, the addition of the dropsonde data to an analysis that already contained various conventional observations degraded the 48-h forecast over the NORPEX forecast verification region. In the later case, the dropsonde data still improved and had its largest impact on the for...
The Effect of Human Presence and Human Activity on Risk Assessment and Flight Initiation Distance in Skinks

Antipredator behavior and risk assessment of many species are affected by the presence of humans and their activities. Previous studies have largely been conducted on birds and mammals and relatively less is known about human impacts on reptiles. We used flight initiation distance (FID) as a measure of risk assessment in inland blue-tailed skinks (Emoia impar) and tested the direct and indirect effects of humans on risk assessment. We first examined the effects of varying levels and types of human disturbance and activity on skink FID. We found that skinks flushed at significantly longer distances in areas with the least human activity. We then tested the degree to which skinks are able to discriminate different numbers of humans by comparing FID across three different types of approaches. Skinks did not significantly differentiate between a single approacher and a single approacher coming from a group of two other people, but did flush at greater distances when approached by three people simultaneously. Although skinks are not directly harvested or harassed by humans, they have refined human discrimination abilities. Overall, skinks habituate to a variety of human activities and perceive a larger threat when the number of human approachers is greater.
Surface phenology and satellite sensor-derived onset of greenness: an initial comparison

The objective of this work was to document the utility of phenological data derived from satellite sensors by comparing them with modelled phenology. Surface phenological model outputs (first leaf and first bloom dates) were correlated positively with satellite sensor-derived start of season (SOS) dates for 1991-1995 across the eastern United States. The correlation was highest for forest (r 0.62 for deciduous trees and 0.64 for mixed woodland) and tall grass (r 0.46) and lowest for short grass (r 0.37). The average correlation over all land cover types was 0.61. Average SOS dates were consistently earlier than Spring Index dates across all land cover types. This finding and limited native tree phenology data suggest that the SOS technique detects understorey green-up in the forest rather than overstorey species. The biweekly temporal resolution of the satellite sensor data placed an upper limit on prediction accuracy; thus, year-to-year variations at individual sites were typically small. Nevertheless, t...
Radiant Interchange Between Circular Disks Having Arbitrarily Different Temperatures

The problem of radiant heat transfer between parallel disks was analyzed by generalizing the standard gray-body enclosure theory. In particular, the assumption that the radnant flux leaving a surface and the local heat flux are uniformly distributed over the surface was lifted by an integral equation formulation. lt was shown that the general problem of disks at arbntrarily different temperatures can be conveniently broken down into two subproblems, each of which can be solved independently of the temperature level. Numerical solutions of the governing integral equations were carried out for spacing ratios h/R (h == spacing, R = dnsk radius) rangnng from 5.0 to 0.05 and for emissivnties ranging from 0.l to 0.9. Local heat-transfer results were presented which, depending on spacing and emissivity, display marked variations over the disk surface. Over-all heat-transfer results were calculated and compared with the predictions of the standard simplified enclosure theory. These predictions of the simplified theory were found to be unexpectedly good, especially in view of the large surface variations of the local heat transfer. (auth)
Flutamide-induced cryptorchidism in the rat is associated with altered gubernacular morphology

Abstract Objectives One of the major controversies regarding descent of the testes is whether androgenic regulation of the gubernaculum testes exists. To determine if antiandrogens can alter the development of the gubernaculum within the fetus, the following experiment was performed. Methods Timed pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats were treated with either flutamide, dihydrotestosterone (DHT), or vehicle alone (controls) from gestational day (CD) 15 to 17. Fetal specimens were removed via cesarean section on CD 18 and 20. Serial coronal sections were obtained, and digital microscopy with computer-assisted reconstruction was used to ascertain the morphology of the three components of the gubernaculum, that is, the gubernacular cord and the mesenchymal and muscular components of the gubernacular bulb. Results Flutamide significantly prevented and DHT significantly enhanced gubernacular cord regression compared with controls ( P Conclusions These data suggest that androgens play an active role in gubernacular cord regression and gubernacular outgrowth within the fetal rodent.
An outer-approximation algorithm for a class of mixed-integer nonlinear programs

An outer-approximation algorithm is presented for solving mixed-integer nonlinear programming problems of a particular class. Linearity of the integer (or discrete) variables, and convexity of the nonlinear functions involving continuous variables are the main features in the underlying mathematical structure. Based on principles of decomposition, outer-approximation and relaxation, the proposed algorithm effectively exploits the structure of the problems, and consists of solving an alternating finite sequence of nonlinear programming subproblems and relaxed versions of a mixed-integer linear master program. Convergence and optimality properties of the algorithm are presented, as well as a general discussion on its implementation. Numerical results are reported for several example problems to illustrate the potential of the proposed algorithm for programs in the class addressed in this paper. Finally, a theoretical comparison with generalized Benders decomposition is presented on the lower bounds predicted by the relaxed master programs.
An exclusion principle for finite memory sequential machines

Finite memory sequential machines are an important class of sequential machines and have recently received considerable attention. In this paper, we prove an exclusion principle between finite input-memory and finite output-memory for nondegenerate binary-output sequential machines. We show that if a nondegenerate binary-output sequential machine has nonzero finite input-memory, then it cannot have nonzero finite output-memory and vice versa. We further show that the exclusion principle is limited to binary-output sequential machines, by proving that for every n ⩾ 2 and every m ⩾ 3 there exists an n -ary input, m -ary output sequential machine with finite nonzero input-memory as well as finite nonzero output-memory. Finally, we interpret the exclusion principle with respect to shift register realizations of sequential machines.
A Pipelined CRC Calculation Using Lookup Tables

We present a fast cyclic redundancy check (CRC) algorithm that performs CRC computation for any length of message in parallel. Traditional CRC implementations have feedbacks, which make pipelining problematic. In the proposed approach, we eliminate feedbacks and implement a pipelined calculation of 32-bit CRC in the SMIC 0.13µm CMOS technology. For a given message, the algorithm first chunks the message into blocks, each of which has a fixed size equal to the degree of the generator polynomial. Then it computes CRC for the chunked blocks in parallel using lookup tables, and the results are combined together by performing XOR operations. The simulation results show that our proposed pipelined CRC is more efficient than existing CRC implementations.
On the mechanical reduction of functional morphology.

Abstract Much of the literature in functional morphology is concerned with attempts to understand the mechanical nature of evolutionary adaptations, i.e. how organisms are like machines. It is argued that a more justifiable orientation would be to evaluate the constraints which limit the mechanical efficiency of structures, in other words, why organisms are different from machines.
Spark Spectra of Elements 43 and 61

The ultraviolet spark spectra of elements of atomic numbers 43 and 61 were determined using uranium fission product materials. The limits of detectability and wave-length of the most sensitive lines are given for use in qualitative detection of these elements.
Influence of maternal folate status on the developmental toxicity of methanol in the CD-1 mouse

Methanol, which is detoxified via a folic acid-dependent pathway, has been shown to be teratogenic in mice. Given recent observations that the level of dietary folic acid intake may be inversely related to the occurrence of select birth defects in humans, we tested the hypothesis that dietary folic acid intake would influence the developmental toxicity of methanol. Virgin female mice were fed one of three diets containing 400 (low), 600 (marginal), or 1,200 (adequate) nmol folic acid/kg diet for 5 weeks prior to and following mating. On gestation days (GD) 6-15, dams were administered by gavage either vehicle (distilled, deionized water) or methanol at 2.0 or 2.5 g/kg body weight, twice daily. On GD 18, mice were weighed and killed and the liver, kidneys, and gravid uteri removed and weighed. Implantation sites, live and dead fetuses, and resorptions were counted; fetuses were weighed individually and examined for cleft palate and exencephaly. One third of the fetuses in each litter were examined for skeletal morphology. Maternal liver folate concentrations were approximately 40-50% lower in the low dietary folic acid groups than in the marginal and adequate groups; methanol did not affect maternal liver folate concentration at term. Maternal net gestational weight gain was lowest at the lowest dietary folate level but was not affected by methanol. Gravid uterus weights were lowest in the low dietary folic acid groups exposed to the high methanol dose and the number of live fetuses per litter was lowest in the low folic acid groups. Fetal body weights were lowest in the low folic acid groups and significantly lower in the methanol groups relative to vehicle-treated animals. Fetal crown-rump lengths were shorter in the methanol-treated groups; this parameter was not affected by folic acid treatment. Both methanol and low dietary folic acid increased the incidence of cleft palate, with the highest number of affected litters in the low dietary folic acid group. These results support the concept that maternal folate status can modulate the developmental toxicity of methanol.
The Transformation of the Swedish Model: Economic Ideas, Distributional Conflict, and Institutional Change

This article examines the transformation of the Swedish model of economic regulation from an ideational perspective. While the majority of arguments about the decline of the Swedish model have focused on the role of structural factors, this article looks to illuminate the ideational factors that made possible both the emergence and the transformation of the Swedish model. The article details how, during the 1930s and 1940s, economic ideas provided the Swedish state and its trade union allies with the means to construct the institutions of the Swedish model. By the 1970s, however, Swedish business suffered diminishing returns to continued participation within these institutions and responded to labor's challenges by adopting a two-pronged strategy of withdrawal from and ideological contestation of labor's supporting institutions. The politics of ideas was key in this regard. During the 1980s Swedish business marshaled alternative economic ideas to contest and thus delegitimate existing institutions and the patterns of distribution they made possible. Swedish business thus began the process of overturning the Swedish model long before capital mobility or domestic inflation was ever a problem. By highlighting these factors, the article offers an explanation of the transformation of the Swedish model that stresses the centrality of ideational contestation for understanding institutional change in general.
UNITED STATES MARICULTURE DEVELOPMENT AND THE ECONOMIC EVOLUTION OF CATFISH SYSTEMS AS PARADIGMS OF RELEVANCE

Commercial catfish systems are frequently referred to as systems to be emulated in the public process of developing mariculture plans and legislation for the United States. The economic evolution of catfish culture is reviewed to identify the role of the public sector and market forces. An examination of catfish production operations of approximately 65 ha reveals near zero growth in returns on investment over the past 7 years. Following some technological improvements in the latter part of the last decade, the economic impact of technological change is not evident. High level managerial skill applied to the ponds and business are of paramount importance. A conclusion is that publicly supported pilot-scale demonstrations should find justification in the testing and development of managerial skills as well as technologies. Thus, a training role for pilot-scale facilities is worthy of public sector consideration.
CD8+ T lymphocytes protective against malaria liver stages are primed in skin-draining lymph nodes

The success of immunization with irradiated sporozoites is unparalleled among the current vaccination approaches against malaria, but its mechanistic underpinnings have yet to be fully elucidated. Using a model mimicking natural infection by Plasmodium yoelii, we delineated early events governing the development of protective CD8+ T-cell responses to the circumsporozoite protein. We demonstrate that dendritic cells in cutaneous lymph nodes prime the first cohort of CD8+ T cells after an infectious mosquito bite. Ablation of these lymphoid sites greatly impairs subsequent development of protective immunity. Activated CD8+ T cells then travel to systemic sites, including the liver, in a sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P)-dependent fashion. These effector cells, however, no longer require bone marrow–derived antigen-presenting cells for protection; instead, they recognize antigen on parenchymal cells—presumably parasitized hepatocytes. Therefore, we report an unexpected dichotomy in the tissue restriction of host responses during the development and execution of protective immunity to Plasmodium.
Bcl-2 family members and functional electron transport chain regulate oxygen deprivation-induced cell death.

The mechanisms underlying cell death during oxygen deprivation are unknown. We report here a model for oxygen deprivation-induced apoptosis. The death observed during oxygen deprivation involves a decrease in the mitochondrial membrane potential, followed by the release of cytochrome c and the activation of caspase-9. Bcl-XL prevented oxygen deprivation-induced cell death by inhibiting the release of cytochrome c and caspase-9 activation. The ability of Bcl-XL to prevent cell death was dependent on allowing the import of glycolytic ATP into the mitochondria to generate an inner mitochondrial membrane potential through the F1F0-ATP synthase. In contrast, although activated Akt has been shown to inhibit apoptosis induced by a variety of apoptotic stimuli, it did not prevent cell death during oxygen deprivation. In addition to Bcl-XL, cells devoid of mitochondrial DNA (ρ° cells) that lack a functional electron transport chain were resistant to oxygen deprivation. Further, murine embryonic fibroblasts from bax−/− bak−/− mice did not die in response to oxygen deprivation. These data suggest that when subjected to oxygen deprivation, cells die as a result of an inability to maintain a mitochondrial membrane potential through the import of glycolytic ATP. Proapoptotic Bcl-2 family members and a functional electron transport chain are required to initiate cell death in response to oxygen deprivation.
Truth and Reconciliation Commissions (TRCs): An International Human Rights Intervention and Its Connection to Social Work

Over the last quarter of a century, Truth and Reconciliation Commissions (TRCs) have grown in prevalence as a primary human rights intervention for post-conflict reconstruction. Building upon restorative justice theory, TRCs investigate past abuses, listen to the experiences of victims and perpetrators, and seek to repair the social fabric damaged by violence. TRCs constitute an unrecognised opportunity for social work to contribute to the welfare of communities recovering from violence. This paper introduces TRCs to social workers, highlights the relevance of TRCs to social work, identifies how social workers have engaged with TRCs in the past, sketches the history and core elements of TRCs, and addresses how social worker can improve TRCs. Social workers can contribute to TRCs by facilitating interviews and eliciting testimonials from victims of violence, lending their ethical commitments of self-determination and social justice, advocating at various levels of governmental and community groups, working in legal settings and with courts, practising cultural competence, promoting the work of reconciliation through dialogue and mediation, conducting social work research and emphasising the material welfare of victims by encouraging TRCs to address structural inequalities and include social development programs.
Anterior Segment Complications After Diode Laser Photocoagulation for Prethreshold Retinopathy of Prematurity

Purpose To evaluate anterior segment complication rates in eyes treated for prethreshold versus threshold retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) and look for potential risk factors. Design Retrospective, observational case series study. Methods All patients treated with diode laser for ROP between 1995 and 2007 were identified. A total of 259 eyes of 184 patients were studied, 120 eyes in the pretheshold group and 139 eyes in the threshold group. We compare baseline characteristics, treatment parameters, ocular complications, and structural outcomes after treatment. The main outcome measured was anterior segment complication rates in eyes treated for prethreshold versus threshold ROP and we looked for potential risk factors. Results Thirteen of 120 eyes treated at prethreshold had anterior segment complications versus 0 of 139 treated at threshold ( P P = .03); eyes with anterior segment complications were treated at mean postmenstrual age of 35.7 weeks. No difference was found based on gestationtal age at birth, birth weight, zone, stage, or number of laser spots for eyes with anterior segment complications. Most anterior segment complications (77%) resolved without long-term sequelae. Conclusions Younger postmenstrual age at laser treatment may be related to an increased risk of anterior segment complications, which should be recognized and managed appropriately.
Local Reduction in Physics

A conventional wisdom about the progress of physics holds that successive theories wholly encompass the domains of their predecessors through a process that is often called “reduction.” While certain influential accounts of inter-theory reduction in physics take reduction to require a single “global” derivation of one theory’s laws from those of another, I show that global reductions are not available in all cases where the conventional wisdom requires reduction to hold. However, I argue that a weaker “local” form of reduction, which defines reduction between theories in terms of a more fundamental notion of reduction between models of a single fixed system, is available in such cases and moreover suffices to uphold the conventional wisdom. To illustrate the sort of fixed-system, inter-model reduction that grounds inter-theoretic reduction on this picture, I specialize to a particular class of cases in which both models are dynamical systems. I show that reduction in these cases is underwritten by a mathematical relationship that follows the broad prescriptions of Nagel/Schaffner reduction, and support this claim with several examples. Moreover, I show that this broadly Nagelian analysis of inter-model reduction encompasses several cases that are sometimes cited as instances of the “physicist’s” limit-based notion of reduction.
Overcoming obstacles in Parkinson's disease

Improved symptomatic and disease-modifying treatments are needed for Parkinson's disease (PD). Although significant advances have been made in the understanding of PD etiology, the translation of these discoveries into novel transformative therapies has been limited as a result of systemic challenges in PD drug development. Preclinical testing lacks clear standards and prioritization criteria for advancing therapies to the clinic. Clinical testing is marked by expensive, long, and uninformative studies. In parallel to these scientific challenges, funding of late-stage drug development has become increasingly scarce and risk averse. In this context, novel models of collaboration and funding are opening up new avenues for pursuing treatments. This review will discuss the most critical challenges in PD drug development and the innovative approaches being developed to overcome these hurdles.
CHAOS in the Mirror: Ballantyne (mirror) Syndrome Related to Congenital High Upper Airway Obstruction Syndrome

In the mirror syndrome, maternal edema mirrors fetal edema. The pathogenesis is unknown. The most common etiologic associations are rhesus isoimmunization, twin-twin transfusion syndrome, and viral infections. Less than 10% of reported cases are associated with congenital anomalies. We report a case due to congenital laryngeal stenosis, which also caused congenital high airway obstruction syndrome (CHAOS), characterized by pulmonary hyperplasia and edema or anasarca, related to airway abnormality. The fetal manifestations of the mirror syndrome and CHAOS overlap, but occurrence of the two in the same patient does not seem to have been reported.
Chlordecone alcohol formation in the Mongolian gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus): a model for human metabolism of chlordecone (kepone).

In seeking a practical animal modelof chlordecone metabolism in humans, we found that among rats, hamsters, guinea pigs, or gerbils treated with a single injection of chlordecone, only in gerbils was this organochlorine pesticide converted to chlordecone alcohol, a reduced metabolite found in the stool of chlordec ne poisoned humans. Analogous to these patients, chlordecone treated gerbils eliminated chlordecone alcohol exclusively in stool with none being detected in urine. Moreover, the gerbils excreted chlordecone alcohol in bile in an amount more than twice that of chlordecone and in the form of a glucuronide conjugate. The ratio of chlordecone to chlordecone alcohol in gerbil stool was 10 times higher than the ratio in human stool. This suggests that the newly recognized nonbiliary mechanism(s) for entry of chlordecone into the intestinal lumen (Boylan et al., Clin. Pharm. Ther. 25:579–585, 1979) may be extremely active in the gerbil. Biliary excretion of chlordecone alcohol in gerbils progressively increased following chlordecone treatment while biliary excretion of chlordecone remained unchanged. Incubation of the cytosolic fraction of gerbil liver homogenate in the presence of NADPH and chlordecone produced chlordecone alcohol, whereas rat liver cytosol was inactive. This observation indicates that bioreduction of chlordecone is catalyzed in gerbil liver by a species-specific reductase. Rats given [ 3 H]-chlordecone alcohol excreted twice as much (80%) of the compound in stool after three days as compared to gerbils (40%), while the latter species a ccumulated three times more chlordecone alcohol in the liver than did the former. An unexpected finding was that the livers of these [ 3 H]-chlordecone alcohol treated animals also contained chlordecone in amounts eight times (rat) and 14 times (gerbil) higher than the respective amounts of chlordecone alcohol. From this result, the existence of a separate enzyme(s) catalyzing dehydrogenation of chlordecone alcohol to chlordecone may be inferred.
Toxics use reduction in the home: lessons learned from household exposure studies

Workers and fence-line communities have been the first to benefit from the substantial reductions in toxic chemical use and byproducts in industrial production resulting from the Massachusetts Toxics Use Reduction Act (TURA). As TURA motivates reformulation of products as well as retooling of production processes, benefits could extend more broadly to large-scale reductions in everyday exposures for the general population. Household exposure studies, including those conducted by Silent Spring Institute, show that people are exposed to complex mixtures of indoor toxics from building materials and a myriad of consumer products. Pollutants in homes are likely to have multiple health effects because many are classified as endocrine disrupting compounds (EDCs), with the ability to interfere with the body's hormone system. Product-related EDCs measured in homes include phthalates, halogenated flame retardants, and alkylphenols. Silent Spring Institute's chemical analysis of personal care and cleaning products confirms many are potential sources of EDCs, highlighting the need for a more comprehensive toxics use reduction (TUR) approach to reduce those exposures. Toxics use reduction targeted at EDCs in consumer products has the potential to substantially reduce occupational and residential exposures. The lessons that have emerged from household exposure research can inform improved chemicals management policies at the state and national levels, leading to safer products and widespread health and environmental benefits.