cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Development of Safe Use Practices for Pesticides

Publisher Summary A practice is a repeated or customary action. The term “use” is defined as the act or practice of employing something. If something is safe, it is free from harm or risk. From a toxicology point of view, safety is a relative term; safety exists in degrees. Pesticides encompass risk or the potential to cause harm; they are biologically active agents. Development relates to the multiple processes involved in the commercialization of a final product from synthesis, through efficacy, toxicity, and environmental testing to marketing. It also relates to the accumulation of safe use practices. The Du Pont Company has a long-standing commitment to safety. The philosophy is not the elimination of all risks; nearly everything contains a certain element of risk. Rather, the philosophy is that risk can be managed or controlled to an acceptable level.
Crosstalk between the HpArsRS two-component system and HpNikR is necessary for maximal activation of urease transcription.

Helicobacter pylori NikR (HpNikR) is a nickel dependent transcription factor that directly regulates a number of genes in this important gastric pathogen. One key gene that is regulated by HpNikR is ureA, which encodes for the urease enzyme. In vitro DNA binding studies of HpNikR with the ureA promoter (PureA) previously identified a recognition site that is required for high affinity protein/DNA binding. As a means to determine the in vivo significance of this recognition site and to identify the key DNA sequence determinants required for ureA transcription, herein, we have translated these in vitro results to analysis directly within H. pylori. Using a series of GFP reporter constructs in which the PureA DNA target was altered, in combination with mutant H. pylori strains deficient in key regulatory proteins, we confirmed the importance of the previously identified HpNikR recognition sequence for HpNikR-dependent ureA transcription. Moreover, we identified a second factor, the HpArsRS two-component system that was required for maximum transcription of ureA. While HpArsRS is known to regulate ureA in response to acid shock, it was previously thought to function independently of HpNikR and to have no role at neutral pH. However, our qPCR analysis of ureA expression in wildtype, nikR and arsS single mutants as well as a nikR/arsS double mutant strain background showed reduced basal level expression of ureA when arsS was absent. Additionally, we determined that both HpNikR and HpArsRS were necessary for maximal expression of ureA under nickel, low pH and combined nickel and low pH stresses. In vitro studies of HpArsR-P with the PureA DNA target using florescence anisotropy confirmed a direct protein/DNA binding interaction. Together, these data support a model in which HpArsRS and HpNikR cooperatively interact to regulate ureA transcription under various environmental conditions. This is the first time that direct ‘cross-talk’ between HpArsRS and HpNikR at neutral pH
POSTNATAL DEVELOPMENT OF CALCIUM (Ca) RELEASE FROM CARDIAC SARCOPLASMIC RETICULUM(SR)

Potentiation of contractile force of the first stimulated contraction following a rest interval (rest potentiation; RP)has been attributed to enhanced SR Ca release. Postnatal development of SR Ca release was assessed by evaluating RP in oxygenated left atrial strips isolated from immature (I;14-21 day old; n=11) and adult (A; n=9) rabbits. Isometric developed tension (DT) and dT/dt (pH=7.4;@30°C) were determined while pacing at 1 Hz (control) and following 2-90 sec. rest intervals (RI). RP was maximal at 60 sec. RI. Ryanodine (10−8M), a putative blocker of SR Ca release, abolished RP in both age groups. At 2.5mM extracellular Ca (Ca)e, DT was potentiated 176% in I and 287% in A while dT/dt was potentiated 163% in I and 295% in A (A>I; p A;p<0.05). Mechanisms whereby the increase in (Ca)e increased RP in I might include either an increase in the action potential-mediated Ca influx that triggers SR Ca release or an increase in SR Ca loading. To evaluate these mechanisms, (Ca)e was increased from 2.5 to 5mM during the RI. RP was increased comparably in both age-groups, although the increase was small (≤25%) when compared with the 176% increase in RP in I when (Ca)e was increased to 5mM prior to RI. These results indicate that the immature heart requires a higher (Ca)e to optimize SR Ca loading as compared to the adult, and this difference may be a functional correlate of the recognized morphologic maturation of cardiac SR during postnatal development.
Undrunk: A Skeptic's Guide to AA. A. J. Adams

As I am always on the lookout for the right books to recommend to individuals struggling with addiction and to students learning how to understand those struggles, I wondered just how skeptical A. ...
Towards Systolizing Compilation: an Overview

A scheme for the compilation of imperative programs is demonstrated on matrix composition and decomposition. The same scheme can be applied if the input is a functional rather than an imperative program. Using this scheme, programs for the processor network Warp and for an Inmos Transputer network have been generated.
Loop Reversal Rule in Block Diagram and Signal Flow Graph Manipulation

We propose a new rule, loop reversal, in block diagram and signal flow graph manipulation (or transformation) that leads to equivalent block diagrams or signal flow graphs from existing ones. It is known that “algebraic loops” can exist in some systems, where different choices of causality end up with different yet equivalent block diagrams or signal flow graphs, in which some are loop reversed versions of others. However, to the author's knowledge, loop reversal has not been discussed in the context of block diagram or signal flow graph manipulation, and is still missing from textbooks teaching this topic.
Stimulus and response factors affecting the development of behavioral sensitization to apomorphine.

The present study was designed to assess the role of stimulus and response factors in the context-dependency of behavioral sensitization to the direct dopamine agonist apomorphine. In two experiments, male Wistar rats were given repeated injections of the direct dopamine agonist, apomorphine (5 mg/kg, SC), or vehicle at 24- to 72-h intervals and tested for locomotor activity for 30 min in either an openfield activity drum or a running wheel. In experiment 1, after eight activity sessions in either the activity drum or running wheel, one-half of the rats in each drug condition (apomorphine or vehicle) were tested in the alternate activity test environment. In both activity test environments, apomorphine produced progressively greater levels of locomotor activity with repeated treatment (i.e., sensitization). Moreover, sensitization to apomorphine transferred completely across test environments. That is, rats given apomorphine associated with one test environment (e.g., wheel) displayed equivalent sensitization when tested in the alternate environment (e.g., drum). Thus, changing external stimulus cues associated with repeated drug exposure did not affect the expression of sensitization. In experiment 2, rats were given either apomorphine or vehicle daily and tested for activity in a running wheel. For one-half the rats in each drug condition, the running wheel was free to move, but for the remainder the wheel was immobilized. After nine training sessions, all rats were given an apomorphine challenge injection and tested in a mobile wheel. After the challenge injection of apomorphine, rats previously treated with apomorphine and trained in the mobile wheel were significantly more active than rats previously treated with vehicle. In contrast, rats given equivalent apomorphine treatments and trained in the immobile wheel did not differ in activity from rats previously given only vehicle. Since the external stimulus cues associated with drug exposure for the mobile and immobile wheel groups were the same, this finding suggests that environmental factors affecting response expression are critical to the development of behavioral sensitization to apomorphine.
Active Stabilization of Rotating Stall and Surge in a Transonic Single Stage Axial Compressor

Rotating stall and surge have been stabilized in a transonic single-stage axial compressor using active feedback control. The control strategy is to sense upstream wall static pressure patterns and feed back the signal to an annular array of twelve separately modulated air injectors. At tip relative Mach numbers of 1.0 and 1.5 the control achieved 11 and 3.5 percent reductions in stalling mass flow, respectively, with injection adding 3.6 percent of the design compressor mass flow. The aerodynamic effects of the injection have also been examined. At a tip Mach number, M tip , of 1.0, the stall inception dynamics and effective active control strategies are similar to results for low-speed axial compressors. The range extension was achieved by individually damping the first and second spatial harmonics of the prestall perturbations using constant gain feedback. At a M tip of 1.5 (design rotor speed), the prestall dynamics are different than at the lower speed. Both one-dimensional (surge) and two-dimensional (rotating stall) perturbations needed to be stabilized to increase the compressor operating range. At design speed, the instability was initiated by approximately ten rotor revolutions of rotating stall followed by classic surge cycles. In accord with the results from a compressible stall inception analysis, the zeroth, first, and second spatial harmonics each include more than one lightly damped mode, which can grow into the large amplitude instability. Forced response testing identified several modes traveling up to 150 percent of rotor speed for the first three spatial harmonics; simple constant gain control cannot damp all of these modes and thus cannot stabilize the compressor a this speed. A dynamic, model-based robust controller was therefore us to stabilize the multiple modes that co prise the first three harmonic perturbations in this transonic region of operation.
Characterizing the fitness cost of viral escape from the HIV-1 broadly neutralizing monoclonal antibody VRC01

Background The receptor-binding site on the HIV glycoprotein gp120 is a highly conserved epitope, and certain antibodies directed against this CD4 binding site (CD4bs) can potently neutralize the majority of circulating HIV-1 isolates. One such antibody, VRC01, was isolated from a slow progressor HIV-1 infected donor who maintained low to moderate viral load without treatment. We recently described that almost all viruses in this donor plasma had escaped VRC01 neutralization. This raised the question of whether viral escape from a broadly reactive CD4bs antibody results in reduced affinity for CD4 and thus, a fitness cost to viral replication.
The world of U.S. network television news: Eighteen years of international and foreign news coverage

This study updates the research on international and foreign news coverage of U.S. network news with a content analysis of almost 10,000 stories from 1972 to 1989. The results suggest that network news has presented a fairly consistent picture of foreign news over time and that there is little difference between the three networks. A minor increase in on-site correspondent reports has occurred over time, and the difference between in-studio and on-site reports is stronger when time, rather than frequency of stories, is the unit of analysis. Finally, foreign coverage is geographically unbalanced and emphasizes disruption more than domestic coverage does.
Paired responses to intravitreal bevacizumab in diabetic macular edema: predictors of response in the fellow eye

Factors predictive for response of diabetic macular edema (DME) to intravitreal bevacizumab (IVB) remain unclear. In this study, we assess the predictability of DME response to IVB based on the response to IVB in a previously treated fellow eye and other known pre-injection factors in (DME). Retrospective chart review was conducted on 28 patients (56 eyes) with bilateral DME who underwent bilateral IVB therapy. Responses in both eyes were measured by change in central subfield thickness (CSFT) via optic coherence tomography (OCT), and change in visual acuity. Age, lens status, and starting macular thickness were recorded. We found 21 % of the reduction in CSFT after IVB on OCT in the study eye may be explained by the percentage change in CSFT in the previously treated fellow eye [CI: 0.092–0.716; p-value = 0.0141]. Also, the pre-injection CSFT predicts 14 % of the response to IVB in the same eye [R² = 9.6 %, p-value = 0.018]. When combined in a multi-factorial model, 33 % of the change in CSFT following IVB may be explained by these two factors. Lens status, change in visual acuity, and age were not statistically significant predictors of response. In DME, the response to IVB in an eye is partially explained by the pre-injection retinal thickness in the same eye and by the response to IVB in the previously treated fellow eye. Lens status, change in visual acuity, and age were not statistically significant predictors of response in this study.
Depression and infertility in women seeking bariatric surgery

Abstract Background Obesity has been associated with abnormalities in reproductive functioning and fertility in women. A number of potential mechanisms have been identified, including neuroendocrine functioning and polycystic ovarian syndrome. Associations between infertility, depression, and anxiety have been found in nonobese populations; however, the relationship between depression and infertility in women pursuing bariatric surgery has not been examined. This study sought to explore potential psychosocial correlates of infertility in a female bariatric population. Methods Data were analyzed from female patients of childbearing age (n = 88; 70.5% Caucasian; mean age 36.2; mean education 14.3 years; mean body mass index [BMI] 47.9 kg/m 2 ) psychologically evaluated for bariatric surgery. Participants were dichotomized as Infertility+(n = 43) or Infertility−(n = 45) based on a medical history self-report questionnaire. Medical records were reviewed for demographic characteristics, BMI, physical and/or sexual abuse history, psychiatric medication usage, outpatient behavioral health treatment, and psychiatric diagnoses. Results Women identified as Infertility+were more likely to have been diagnosed with a depressive disorder not otherwise specified or a major depressive disorder (χ 2 = 3.71, P 2 = 4.33, P .05) than Infertility−women. However, Infertility+women were less likely to be involved in outpatient behavioral health treatment (χ 2 = 5.65, P .05) or to have a history of psychotropic medication usage (χ 2 = 4.61, P 05). Conclusion Women struggling with infertility may be more psychiatrically vulnerable than other bariatric surgery candidates and less likely to have received mental health treatment. Additional research on the association between fertility, depression, behavioral health treatment, and obesity is warranted. Future research should consider whether this potential relationship changes after bariatric surgery.
The effects of plant water storage on transpiration and radiometric surface temperature

Abstract The storage of water in plants (a capacitor) is incorporated into the plant component of a boundary layer model. The capacitance, storage resistance, and storage water potential are related directly to the volume of water stored. We show how an initial volume of stored water affects the surface transpiration flux, canopy radiometric temperature and stomatal resistance. The magnitude of the capacitance effect in large plants did not exceed 20–50 W m−2 in transpiration (per unit leaf area) and 1 °C in surface radiometric temperature. Storage in small plants seem to play virtually no role in the surface energy budget or have any significant effect on surface radiometric temperature.
Early stand development on former oak sites in southwestern Wisconsin

Abstract Early stand development patterns on former oak sites with contrasting environmental conditions were examined using chronosequences of existing stands, stem analysis and stand growth projection. Following clearcutting, northern red oak ( Quercus rubra ) and white oak ( Quercus alba ) were replaced by less valuable species on both average and good sites. Field data and simulations both suggest that sapling stands with different initial species composition and initial relative heights among species can have substantially different developmental pathways on the same site. For example, on ecosystem Unit 1 (summits with deep loessal soils), some sapling stands have a major component of bassword ( Tilia americana ) and white ash ( Fraxinus americana ), while others are dominated by red maple ( Acer rubrum ) and black cherry ( Prunus serotina ). Simulations based on interspecific height growth rates suggest that by age 40 years stands will generally be dominated by whatever fast-growing, mid-tolerant species are initially present. The very shade-tolerant sugar maple ( Acer saccharum ) is generally at a competitive disadvantage, but it can dominate stands by age 40 years if it comprised at least 60–80% of the saplings at age 10 years or if it began with a substantial height advantage over other species.
Acute cross-tolerance to opioids in heroin delta-opioid-responding Swiss Webster mice.

It is generally thought that the μ receptor actions of metabolites, 6-monoacetylmorphine (6MAM) and morphine, account for the pharmacological actions of heroin. However, upon intracerebroventricular (
Protein modification with amphiphilic block copoly(2-oxazoline)s as a new platform for enhanced cellular delivery.

Several homopolymers, random copolymers and block copolymers based on poly(2-oxazoline)s (POx) were synthesized and conjugated to horseradish peroxidase (HRP) using biodegradable and nonbiodegradable linkers. These conjugates were characterized by amino group titration, polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE), isoelectric focusing, enzymatic activity assay and conformation analysis. The conjugates contained on average from about one to two polymer chains per enzyme. From 70% to 90% of enzymatic activity was retained in most cases. Circular dichroism (CD) analysis revealed that HRP modification affected the secondary structure of the apoprotein but did not affect the tertiary structure and heme environment. Enhanced cellular uptake was found in the conjugates of two block copolymers using both MDCK cells and Caco-2 cells, but not in the conjugates of random copolymer and homopolymer. Conjugation with a block copolymer of 2-methyl-2-oxazoline and 2-butyl-2-oxazoline led to the highest cellular uptake as c...
Investigating pressure magnitudes at depth for oblique impacts into layered targets: Applications to terrestrial impacts in sedimentary targets

The positive identification of the Rock Elm impact structure (Wisconsin, USA) and the Upheaval Dome (Utah, USA) as impact craters was complicated by a lack of distinctive shock features in the record. Low-impedance surface layers over high-impedance bedrock affect energy coupling and shock effects in the substrate; in both cases, removal of surface sediments erased most of the original impact structures, thereby making identification of the impact origin difficult. In this study, a combination of laboratory and 3-D numerical experiments reveals the underlying processes controlling subsurface deformation and demonstrates that a low-impedance layer can reduce expression of peak shock pressures left in the rock record, as at the Rock Elm and the Upheaval Dome impact sites. 3-D CTH models of the Rock Elm impact structure predict that peak shock pressures should fall below the hugoniot elastic limit of quartz in the basement rocks, yet still induce permanent deformation. The model predicts peak pressures around 5–10 GPa, levels consistent with field observations of shocked quartz from both Rock Elm and the Upheaval Dome. Consequently, other impact sites exhibiting minimal shock features might be explained.
A composition for matroids

Abstract The composition of a quotient matroid Q over a collection of component matroids f 1 , …, f n indexed on the cells of Q , is described. This composition, called quotient composition, may be viewed as an application of clutter composition to matroids, or as a generalization of matroid direct sum composition to the next higher connectivity. It may also be viewed as equivalent to compositions described by Minty in 1966, and Brylawski in 1971. Quotient composition is characterized, and the circuits and rank function of a composed matroid are given. Various other properties are described, along with a category for quotient composition.
TQM: Evolution, Scope and Strategic Significance for Management Development

From the standpoint that “communication is everything” begins with the assumption that only when armed with a more universal imagery of what TQM truly encompasses can we appreciate its significance to competitive human resource utilization and management development. Traces the germinal roots of what is commonly referred to as TQM, operationalizing much of the “semantic jungle” which has evolved from the disparate disciplines contributing to its present status. Makes comparisons between TQM and more traditional schools of management thought as a means of demonstrating the potential universality of this paradigm as an appropriate model for organizational development in today′s global, competitive environment. Reviews its applications in corporate training and academic educational programmes and contrasts them with implications for the future.
Engineered pore-forming proteins for the intracellular delivery of macromolecular therapeutics

Macromolecules such as proteins and nucleic acids can potentially be used as powerful therapeutics that reconstitute lost cellular functions or inhibit aberrant functions with high specificity. However, while many macromolecules require cytoplasmic access for function, they are prohibited from voluntarily crossing the cell membrane. The bacterial pore-forming protein Perfringolysin O (PFO) can efficiently permeablize the cell membrane to allow the passage of macromolecular payloads, but severe cytotoxicity limits its therapeutic window. We have thus engineered a protein binder against PFO that sterically inhibits pore formation when bound to its target, but allows normal function once it is dissociated. By fusing this PFO binder with a monoclonal antibody against EGFR, a validated cancer target, we successfully created a bi-specific antibody that can simultaneously attenuate PFO and deliver it to EGFR-expressing cells with high specificity. Combined with fine-tuning of PFO's affinity for its native cell-surface receptor cholesterol, the therapeutic window of delivery was increased by four orders of magnitude in vitro compared to wild-type PFO. Gelonin, a membrane-impermeable protein toxin, was used as the payload. In addition, this antibody/PFO system was well tolerated in vivo, and mediated the intracellular delivery of gelonin in a subcutaneous tumor model. In overall, we demonstrate an engineering strategy that can successfully modulate the balance between safety and efficacy for an otherwise cytotoxic pore-forming protein, for therapeutic applications as an intracellular delivery system for macromolecular drugs.
Clinical characteristics of patients with non-specific and non-categorized mitochondrial diseases.

Aim: Mitochondrial disease is a heterogeneous disorder entity induced by defects in mitochondrial respiratory chain complex (MRC). A significant portion of patients with MRC defect will not conform to a specific, known syndrome. We have analysed the clinical features of 108 Korean paediatric patients with non-specific and non-categorized mitochondrial disease. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the clinical and laboratory features of 108 paediatrics patients with non-specific and non-categorized mitochondrial diseases who showed defects in MRC activity, confirmed by spectrophotometric biochemical enzyme assay of their muscles. Results: Neuromuscular involvement was noted in all patients, with developmental delay and seizure accounting for 92.6% and 77.8% of total patients respectively. Various extraneurological symptoms were observed. Most patients exhibited MRC I defect, accounting for 100 (92.6%) patients. The most common brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) finding was diffuse cerebral atrophy. However, in 23.1% of patients, no notable changes were visible on MRI. Conclusions: Mitochondrial respiratory chain complex I defect was the most common finding in this study. Though neuromuscular symptoms predominated, with presence of numerous extraneurological findings, we could not find any novel symptoms that might be unique to this category of mitochondrial disease. But, comparatively, more patients presented with unremarkable birth histories and normal brain MRI findings.
Dynamic rearrangements of transvacuolar strands in BY-2 cells imply a role of myosin in remodeling the plant actin cytoskeleton

Plant cells typically contain a large central vacuole that confines the cytoplasm and organelles to the periphery of the cell and the vicinity of the nucleus. These two domains are often connected by transvacuolar strands (TVS), thin tubular structures that traverse the vacuole. The TVS are thought to act as important transport routes for the distribution of organelles and metabolites, and also to play a role in the positioning of the nucleus. Most TVS depend on internal actin filaments for their existence, and rearrangements of TVS can therefore indicate modifications in the actin cytoskeleton. In this study we describe time-lapse observations of tobacco BY-2 suspension-cultured cells that document the dynamic behavior of TVS. The TVS formed, branched, and collapsed, and their attachment points in the nuclear or cortical cytoplasm, as well as on other TVS, moved around. These dynamic rearrangements were inhibited within 5 min by the myosin inhibitor 2,3-butanedione monoxime (BDM). In particular, the movements of TVS attachment points and the variations in TVS length were significantly reduced in the presence of the drug. Similarly, movements of the nucleus were reduced by two thirds in BDM-treated cells. The number of TVS, together with the number of attachment and branch points, also dropped during BDM treatment. All effects of BDM on TVS dynamics were reversible upon removal of the drug. These results suggest a role for myosin motors in the rearrangement of TVS, which is likely to occur through their interaction with actin filaments.
Potassium-induced release of endogenous glutamate and two as yet unidentified substances from the lateral line of Xenopus laevis

Abstract The release of endogenous glutamate and other primary amines from the lateral line of Xenopus aevis was studied using an in vitro superfusion technique and high performance liquid chromatography. Potassium stimulation (50 mM KCl) applied to 60 or 120 lateral-line organs dissected from the skin and pooled in a perfusion chamber induced the release of glutamate and aspartate. The release of aspartate was smaller than that of glutamate and more variable. A variable release of two, as yet, unidentified substances was also detected. In low calcium (0.1 mM CaCl 2 ), high magnesium (10 mM MgCl 2 ) solution, 50 mM potassium failed to induce an increase in glutamate, aspartate and the two unknowns, suggesting they are released in a transmitter-like manner. The technique presents a new and simple method for studying transmitters in hair-cell systems. Although other interpretations are possible, the results are consistent with the hypothesis that glutamate is a hair-cell transmitter and suggest a potential role for other substances in the transduction process, perhaps as neuromodulators.
Olfactory Dysfunction in Type I Pseudohypoparathyroidism: Dissociation from Gsα Protein Deficiency1

The discovery of variably decreased olfactory ability in Type Ia pseudohypoparathyroidism (PHP), a syndrome in which generalized hormone resistance is associated with deficiency of the alpha chain of the stimulatory guanine nucleotide-binding protein (Gsα) of adenylyl cyclase, has been used to support the hypothesis that Gsα plays a major role in human olfactory transduction. However, only a limited number of olfactory tests have been administered to such patients, and these patients have other problems that might cause or contribute to their olfactory dysfunction, including an unusual constellation of skeletal and developmental deficits termed Albright hereditary osteodystrophy (AHO). In this study, we administered tests of odor detection, identification, and memory to (i) 13 patients with Type Ia PHP; (ii) 8 patients with Type Ib PHP; (iii) 7 patients with pseudopseudohypoparathyroidism (PPHP); and (iv) 3 sets of normal controls matched to these groups on the basis of age, gender, and smoking history. A...
Assessment of Insulation Degradation in Rotating Machines

To assess the degradation of stator winding insulation in high voltage motor, a total of forty-eight coils were manufactured. These coils are classified into five groups and there are twelve strands in each coil. Four coil groups are artificial defects such as shorted turn of strand, internal separation between conductor and insulation, large void within insulation and removal of semi-conductive tape. The other coil group is normal. Before ac breakdown test was performed, nondestructive test that included ac current, dissipation factor and partial discharge (PD) was done with five coil groups. This paper carried out by comparing the results between nondestructive test and ac breakdown test. When the values of ac current increase rate, tip-up dissipation factor and PD magnitude are large, the insulation is occurred the deterioration. AC breakdown voltage is also low in degraded insulation.
MOTIONS, FORCES AND MODE TRANSITIONS IN VORTEX-INDUCED VIBRATIONS AT LOW MASS-DAMPING

These experiments, involving the transverse oscillations of an elastically mounted rigid cylinder at very low mass and damping, have shown that there exist two distinct types of response in such systems, depending on whether one has a low combined mass-damping parameter (low m*ζ), or a high mass-damping (highm*ζ ). For our low m*ζ, we find three modes of response, which are denoted as an initial amplitude branch, an upper branch and a lower branch. For the classical Feng-type response, at highm*ζ , there exist only two response branches, namely the initial and lower branches. The peak amplitude of these vibrating systems is principally dependent on the mass-damping (m*ζ), whereas the regime of synchronization (measured by the range of velocity U*) is dependent primarily on the mass ratio, m*ζ. At low (m*ζ), the transition between initial and upper response branches involves a hysteresis, which contrasts with the intermittent switching of modes found, using the Hilbert transform, for the transition between upper–lower branches. A 180° jump in phase angle φ is found only when the flow jumps between the upper–lower branches of response. The good collapse of peak-amplitude data, over a wide range of mass ratios (m*=1–20), when plotted against (m*+CA) ζ in the “Griffin” plot, demonstrates that the use of a combined parameter is valid down to at least (m*+CA)ζ ∼0·006. This is two orders of magnitude below the “limit” that had previously been stipulated in the literature, (m*+CA) ζ>0·4. Using the actual oscillating frequency (f) rather than the still-water natural frequency (fN), to form a normalized velocity (U*/f*), also called “true” reduced velocity in recent studies, we find an excellent collapse of data for a set of response amplitude plots, over a wide range of mass ratiosm* . Such a collapse of response plots cannot be predicted a priori, and appears to be the first time such a collapse of data sets has been made in free vibration. The response branches match very well the Williamson–Roshko (Williamson & Roshko 1988) map of vortex wake patterns from forced vibration studies. Visualization of the modes indicates that the initial branch is associated with the 2S mode of vortex formation, while the Lower branch corresponds with the 2P mode. Simultaneous measurements of lift and drag have been made with the displacement, and show a large amplification of maximum, mean and fluctuating forces on the body, which is not unexpected. It is possible to simply estimate the lift force and phase using the displacement amplitude and frequency. This approach is reasonable only for very low m*.
An Experimental Study of the Radial Penetration of Liquids in Thin Porous Substrates

Abstract We present the results of an experimental study of the radial capillary penetration of liquids in thin porous substrates. In particular, we examine the effect of the size of the liquid reservoir on the rate of radial spreading. For capillary penetration from an infinite reservoir, the experimental data are found to be in good qualitative agreement with Marmur's model (J. Colloid Interface Sci.124, 301 (1988)). In the case of spreading liquid drops, both phases of spreading seem to follow Gillespie's prediction (J. Colloid Sci. 13, 32 (1958)) of a t-5/6 dependence of spreading rate on time.
Usefulness of preoperative echocardiography in predicting left ventricular outflow obstruction after primary repair of interrupted aortic arch with ventricular septal defect

Residual left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) obstruction is a significant problem after repair of interrupted aortic arch (IAA) and ventricular septal defect. Resection of subaortic tissue at the time of primary repair, however, is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. We reviewed the preoperative echocardiograms and the postoperative clinical course and echocardiograms of 23 consecutive patients who underwent primary repair of IAA without widening of the subaortic region. Nine patients (39%) developed significant LVOT obstruction (pressure gradient >40 mm Hg). LVOT obstruction was noted postoperatively in 7 of 9 patients by 1 month, 8 of 9 by 2 months, and 9 of 9 by 1 year. On retrospective analysis of the preoperative echocardiograms, the indexed cross-sectional area of the LVOT, the subaortic diameter index, and the subaortic diameter Z score were all significantly smaller in those requiring reintervention (p <0.04, p <0.05, p <0.05, respectively). Of these, indexed cross-sectional area had the least reproducibility and subaortic diameter index the most (coefficient of variation of 26.3% vs 11.2%). In conclusion, most patients who develop significant LVOT obstruction after repair of IAA do so within 1 month of operation. Although subaortic indexed cross-sectional area is the most sensitive predictor of LVOT obstruction after primary repair of IAA, other more simple standardized measurements of the subaortic diameter were comparably predictive and had better reproducibility.
Scientific and Technical Communicators' Perceptions of the Performance Appraisal Interview

This study surveys scientific and technical communicators to determine their perceptions of their role as interviewees in the performance appraisal interview. The results reveal that interviewees think the appraisal process is unreliable and invalid, that managers do not stimulate growth and development in the appraisal interview, and that subordinates have little influence concerning what goes on in the department. Other results are discussed in the article.
Local protein–DNA interactions may determine nucleosome positions on yeast plasmids

The structure of the nucleosome core particle, the basic structural subunit of chromatin, is well known1. Although nucleosomes often appear to be positioned randomly with respect to DNA sequences, in some cases they seem to occupy precisely defined positions on the DNA2–8. The yeast plasmid TRP1ARS1 contains three precisely positioned, stable nucleosomes, I, II and III, which are flanked by nuclease-sensitive regions.5 Our aim in the present study was to determine whether the positions of these three nucleosomes relate to (1) protein–DNA interactions; (2) the limited space between nuclease-sensitive regions, which is just long enough to accommodate three yeast nucleosomes (that is, boundary conditions9); or (3) proximity to the putative origin of replication in one of the nuclease-sensitive regions5,10. We have tested these alternatives by analysing the positions of nucleosomes after insertion of various lengths of DNA into this region and assembly of chromatin in vivo. Our results suggest that specific protein–DNA interactions are the most likely determinants of these nucleosome positions.
Theory of perfusion chromatography

Abstract A mathematical model of perfusion chromatography was constructed for column systems. This model could describe the dynamic behavior of single- and multi-component adsorption in columns having perfusive adsorbent particles (the perfusive particles have a non-zero intraparticle fluid velocity). The model expressions for the adsorbent particles include the intraparticle mass transfer mechanisms of convection (intraparticle fluid flow) and diffusion and the mass transfer step involving the interaction between the adsorbate molecules and the active sites on the surface of the porous particles. The continuity expression for the fluid flowing stream in the column includes the mechanism of axial dispersion. When the intraparticle fluid velocity is taken to be equal to zero in the model of perfusion chromatography, the resulting expressions could describe single- and multi-component adsorption in columns having purely diffusive particles. The perfusion chromatographic model was solved and used to study the dynamic behavior of column systems for different particle sizes, column lengths, column fluid superficial velocities, intraparticle fluid velocities and different values of the effective pore diffusivity and of the total number of active sites per volume of adsorbent. Columns with perfusive adsorbent particles and columns with purely diffusive adsorbent particles were considered in this work. The dynamics of the interaction mechanisms of the adsorption step of the systems studies in this work are (a) relatively not fast, (b) relatively fast and (c) infinitely fast. The values of certain variables which could be used to evaluate column performance, and also the breakthrough curves obtained from columns having perfusive adsorbent particles, were compared with those obtained from columns involving purely diffusive adsorbent particles. The results from the systems studied in this work suggest that for adsorption systems having relatively fast or infinitely fast interaction kinetics (that is, the dynamics or the interaction step between the adsorbate molecules and the active sites are relatively fast or infinitely fast), the use of perfusive particles could have the potential to provide improved column performance.
Markov: A methodology for the solution of infinite time horizon markov decision processes

Algorithms are described for determining optimal policies for finite state, finite action, infinite discrete time horizon Markov decision processes. Both value-improvement and policy-improvement techniques are used in the algorithms. Computing procedures are also described. The algorithms are appropriate for processes that are either finite or infinite, deterministic or stochastic, discounted or undiscounted, in any meaningful combination of these features. Computing procedures are described in terms of initial data processing, bound improvements, process reduction, and testing and solution. Application of the methodology is illustrated with an example involving natural resource management. Management implications of certain hypothesized relationships between mallard survival and harvest rates are addressed by applying the optimality procedures to mallard population models.
A kinetic model to study film deposition during dusty plasma chemical vapor deposition process

A simplistic numerical kinetic model to predict the deposited film morphology in dusty plasma chemical vapor deposition reactors is developed. The morphological accretion of a circular object is studied in a two-dimensional geometry and the most important deposition phenomena are taken into account, i.e., surface diffusion and surface ion bombardment. Both isotropic and anisotropic plasmas are considered. It is shown that when the particle is located in an isotropic plasma, the deposited film maintains the original particle sphericity. Whereas, if the particle is assumed to levitate in the (pre) sheath forming around the bottom electrode of the reactor and ions contribute considerably to the deposition, the film develops in a nonuniform manner similar to experimental observations.
Two-Pion-Exchange Contribution to Nucleon-Nucleon Scattering

The two-pion-exchange contribution to nucleon-nucleon scattering is calculated, following the method of Goldberger, Grisaru, MacDowell, and Wong. The results are shown for two cases. In the first case, the input $\ensuremath{\pi}\ensuremath{\pi}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\overline{N}N$ amplitude is approximated by a nucleon pole term only; in the second case it is approximated by a nucleon pole term plus a $\ensuremath{\Delta}(1236)$ pole term. It is found that for the physical value of the $\ensuremath{\Delta}(1236)$ width, ${\ensuremath{\Gamma}}_{\ensuremath{\Delta}}=120$ MeV, there is very little difference for the two cases in the resulting effect on nucleon-nucleon scattering below 400 MeV. The model is mathematically equivalent to the Amati-Leader-Vitale approach for all but $^{1}S_{0}$, $^{3}P_{0}$, and $^{3}P_{1}$ $\mathrm{NN}$ partial waves. The results are found to be sensitive to the value of ${\ensuremath{\Gamma}}_{\ensuremath{\Delta}}$.
Algebraic tableau reasoning for the description logic SHOQ

Abstract Semantic web applications based on the web ontology language (OWL) often require the use of numbers in class descriptions for expressing cardinality restrictions on properties or even classes. Some of these cardinalities are specified explicitly but quite a few are entailed and need to be discovered by reasoning procedures. Due to the description logic (DL) foundation of OWL those reasoning services are offered by DL reasoners which employ reasoning procedures that are arithmetically uninformed and substitute arithmetic reasoning by “don't know” non-determinism in order to cover all possible cases. This lack of information about arithmetic problems dramatically degrades the performance of DL reasoners in many cases, especially with ontologies relying on the use of nominals ( O ) and qualified cardinality restrictions ( Q ). In this article we present a new algebraic tableau reasoning procedure for the DL SHOQ that combines tableau procedures and algebraic methods, namely linear integer programming, to ensure arithmetically better informed reasoning procedures. SHOQ extends the standard DL ALC (which is equivalent to the multi-modal logic K m ) with transitive roles, role hierarchies, qualified cardinality restrictions, and nominals, and forms an expressive subset of the web ontology language OWL 2. Although the proposed algebraic tableau (in analogy to standard tableau) is still double exponential in the worst case, it deals with cardinalities in a very informed way due to its arithmetic component and can be considered as a novel foundation for informed reasoning procedures addressing cardinality restrictions.
Rho-Kinase Inhibition Suppresses Potassium Chloride-Induced Bladder Hyperactivity in a Rat Model

OBJECTIVES The molecular mechanisms by which potassium induces urinary bladder hyperactivity are not clear. In the present study, we tested our hypothesis that potassium chloride (KCl)-induced bladder hyperactivity might be mediated through a calcium-sensitizing RhoA-Rho-kinase pathway in an in vivo animal model using urodynamic parameters. METHODS Two groups of adult male rats (n = 8) were anesthetized, their bladder exteriorized, and a saline-filled Intracath fixed into the bladder dome. This Intracath was connected to a pressure transducer and an infusion pump. Continuous filling cystometrograms were performed by infusing warm saline (0.04 mL/min) to obtain baseline data on each rat. The number of contractions per unit time (intercontractile intervals in seconds), pressure threshold, and peak pressure during micturition were recorded. To create bladder hyperactivity, protamine sulfate (30 mg/mL) followed by KCl (500 mM) was infused intravesically, and a continuous filling cystometrogram was again recorded. Y-27632, a specific RhoA-Rho-kinase inhibitor, was administered either intra-arterially (group 1) or intravesically (group 2) to each rat, and an additional continuous filling cystometrogram was recorded with KCl (500 mM) to observe the effects of Rho-kinase inhibition on bladder contractility. RESULTS Intravesical KCl infusion after protamine exposure resulted in significantly greater contractions and decreased the intercontractile interval (P <0.05). Y-27632 administration attenuated the effect of KCl on the contractions and intercontractile interval and decreased the mean pressure threshold. CONCLUSIONS Suppression of KCl-induced bladder contractility by the Rho-kinase inhibitor Y-27632 confirmed the involvement of this novel calcium-sensitizing RhoA-Rho-kinase pathway in mediating these smooth muscle contractions.
INCREASED SUSCEPTIBILITY OF MICE INFECTED WITH MOUSE ADENOVIRUS TO ESCHERICHIA COLI-INDUCED PYELONEPHRITIS

Mouse adenovirus causes a persistent infection in the mouse kidney that produces extensive mononuclear cell infiltrates in cortex and medulla. Tubular necrosis, dilatation, and occasional collapse occur but no glomerular changes or periglomerular fibrosis have been observed. Acute and chronic adenovirus infection of the kidney predispose the kidney to develop acute pyelonephritis when the mouse is challenged by the intravenous or retrograde route with Escherichia coli.
A preliminary report on the role of spatial frequency analysis in the perception of breast cancers missed at mammography screening1

Abstract Rationale and objectives Because several factors are involved in cancer detection, a malignant lesion that is visible on a mammogram will not necessarily be reported by the radiologist reading the case. Indeed, a significant fraction of screening-detected cancers are visible in retrospect, and were perceived by the radiologist when the case was read, but were either reported as benign findings or dismissed as variations of normal breast tissue. In this preliminary report the spatial frequency characteristics of clinically missed lesions are investigated by analyzing the mammogram acquired when the lesion was sent for biopsy and the most recent prior mammogram. For control purposes, the contralateral breast is also analyzed, when this breast is lesion free. Materials and methods A database of 70 mammogram cases was assembled. Each case contained eight films: craniocaudal (CC) and mediolateral oblique (MLO) of the breast where a biopsy-proven lesion was found, CC and MLO of the contralateral breast, and CC and MLO of both breasts in the most recent prior mammogram. The dictated reports for all of these cases were obtained. Both benign and malignant lesions were used. The films were digitized and an region of interest surrounding each lesion was segmented from the image for processing using wavelet packets to extract spatial frequency information. The corresponding area was also segmented from the prior mammogram and from the contralateral breast, when this breast was lesion-free. Analysis of variance was used to determine if statistically significant differences existed between the derived features of cancer in the current and prior mammograms. Results The data suggests that malignant lesions reported in the prior mammogram as being benign differed from correctly reported malignant lesions and from correctly reported benign lesions. They also differed from nonreported malignant lesions. In addition, the spatial frequency representation of cancer significantly differed in the current and prior cases from the representation of normal breast tissue. Conclusion Spatial frequency analysis may be useful to differentiate malignant lesions that are reported as benign and correctly reported benign lesions.