cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Impact of imposed drying on deep convection in a cloud-resolving model

[1] This study uses a cloud-resolving model under the weak temperature gradient (WTG) approximation to explore the response of deep convection to imposed drying. The drying, intended to mimic horizontal advection of dry air, is imposed as a linear relaxation of the humidity field toward zero within a specified layer. Radiative cooling and sea surface temperature are held constant and there is no mean vertical shear in the integrations. The statistically steady responses to drying in the lower, middle, and upper free troposphere are compared. The rain rate decreases with drying when that drying is imposed in the lower or middle free troposphere, more strongly so for lower tropospheric drying. The decrease in rainfall is linearly proportional to the drying to a good approximation. Upper-tropospheric drying has almost no impact on the rain rate. For lower-tropospheric drying, the decrease in rain rate with drying can be well explained by assuming that both an appropriately defined normalized gross moist stability and surface turbulent fluxes remain constant as drying varies. For middle- and upper-tropospheric drying, the normalized gross moist stability decreases with drying, allowing the precipitation to decrease less rapidly or not at all. The variations in normalized gross moist stability in turn result from changes in the large-scale vertical motion profiles. These are top-heavy for weak or no drying, becoming somewhat less so as the strength of the drying increases. Over most of the range of drying strengths, the changes to the shape of the vertical motion profile are greatest for upper tropospheric drying and smallest for lower tropospheric drying. For very strong lower tropospheric drying, however, the vertical motion profile becomes bottom-heavy and the normalized gross moist stability becomes negative.
Epidemiology and risk profile of cardiac failure.

A three-decade examination of the prevalence, incidence, secular trends, and prognosis of cardiac failure in the Framingham Study provides insights into its epidemiology. Annual incidence of CHF is observed to increase from 3 to 1000 at ages 35-64, to 10 per 1000 at ages 65-94. There is a slight male predominance, owing to a higher rate of coronary disease, which conferred a fourfold risk of cardiac failure. Most cardiac failure is on the basis of long-standing hypertension or CHD. Silent infarctions were as predisposing for CHF as symptomatic MIs surviving 1 year.Hypertension is a major predisposing factor that at least triples the CHF risk, the systolic component being more predictive than the diastolic component.Correctable predisposing risk factors for CHF include: elevated blood pressure, impaired glucose tolerance, elevated cholesterol, low HDL-cholesterol, obesity, and a high hematocrit. Risk factors reflecting deteriorating cardiac function also were highly predictive, including: an enlarged heart, poor vital capacity, sinus tachycardia, and ECG-LVH. Commonly encountered ECG abnormalities such as intraventricular block, nonspecific repolarization abnormality, and ECG-LVH are all associated with a substantial risk of CHF. ECG-LVH carries a higher risk than x-ray enlargement.Sudden death was a common feature with CHF, occurring at 5 times the general population rate, even excluding those with overt CHD. Using the standard cardiovascular risk factors (age, systolic blood pressure, cholesterol, glucose, eigarettes, and ECG-LVH) jointly, it is possible to identify one tenth of the population from which 40% of CHF events evolve, in the absence of interim CHD or RHD.
Cuvier meets Watson and Crick: the utility of molecules as classical homologies

Much phylogenetic information has been derived from the analysis of sequence similarity in genes and proteins. These data are generally considered to be more reliable than an examination of the phylogenetic distribution of similar biologically active molecules. However, molecules can provide significant phylogenetic information when accompanied by a careful analysis of their structure, synthesis, genetics and function. Molecules may be highly structurally and functionally constrained. Thus, similar or even chemically identical molecules may be unrelated, and this may be discernible only by examination of information beyond the simple structure of the molecule. Phylogenetic variation in the synthesis of tyrosine and lysine demonstrates that chemical identity of molecules may be brought about by unrelated synthetic pathways. The widespread distribution of collagen triple helices is shown to result from convergence under structural and functional constraints. This is demonstrated by an examination of the steric constraints upon collagens and the presence of several independent families of collagen genes. Lysyl oxidase crosslinking occurs in several unrelated proteins, indicating that similarity in the post-translational modification of proteins is not evidence of homology.
Evaluation of a two-drug combination pretreatment against organophosphorus exposure.

Abstract A pretreatment combination of physostigmine and azaprophen (6-methyl-6-azabicyclo[3.2.1]octan-3-ol-2,2-diphenylpropionate), a novel cholinolytic, was evaluated for its ability to minimize soman-induced incapacitation and lethality in guinea pigs. Thes was accomplished by using response surface methodology to model and analyze the combination, varying physostigmine from 0 to 194 μg/kg, azaprophen from 0 to 5 mg/kg, and soman from 30 to 150 μg/kg. One hundred percent survival was achieved against 5 LD50 of soman using as little as 100 μg/kg of physostigmine in the presence of 5 mg/kg azaprophen. Both survival and soman-induced incapacitation were similarly affected by this pretreatment combination. For both endpoints, greater efficacy was achieved with the combination than could be achieved with either component alone (therapeutic synergism). This suggests that such a pretreatment combination may prove very efficacious against soman-induced lethality and incapacitation in higher species.
For Big Data, Big Questions Remain

Medicare’s release of practitioner payments highlights the strengths and weaknesses of digging into big data.
Infrared optical characterization of GaAsAlxGa1−xAs submicron heterostructures

Abstract Infrared optical characterization of submicron, multiple layers of Al x Ga 1− x AsGaAs on a GaAs substrate is reported, demonstrating that layer resolved phonon frequencies, electron concentrations and mobilities can be obtained.
Estimation of Parameters of the Unified Skew Normal Distribution Using the Method of Weighted Moments

Modeling skewness based on the class of skew normal distributions has drawn considerable attention in recent years. However, there still remain lots of challenges related to the inferences about the parameters of the skew normal distribution. In this article, we study the weighted moments estimators for the unified skew normal distribution. Our analytical results and numerical illustrations show that weighted moments method accurately estimates the parameters of the unified skew normal distribution.
On the determination and ramifications of chaos in many-body systems: A model study of polyethylene

Computational methods for elucidating information related to the dynamical behavior of multidimensional systems are presented and applied in the area of macromolecular dynamics. Results indicate that the dimensionality of chaotic dynamics for a model of polyethylene can only be characterized for a very narrow range of extremely low temperature (0-2 K). These results provide evidence that suggests the dynamics of this system are completely chaotic at temperatures as low as 10 K. The preponderance of increasing density of low frequency floppy vibrational modes in large molecular systems provides a facile mechanism for the onset of global chaos. Ramifications of such global chaos to the accurate modeling and simulation of macromolecular dynamics is discussed.
Detection of QTL for Cold Tolerance at Bud Bursting Stage Using Chromosome Segment Substitution Lines in Rice (Oryza sativa)

The cold tolerance at the bud bursting stage (CTB) was evaluated at 5°C by using a set of 95 chromosome segment substitution lines (CSSLs) derived from an indica rice 9311 and a japonica rice Nipponbare with a genetic background of 9311. The result showed that six CSSLs had slightly stronger effect on CTB than 9311. Total four quantitative trait loci (QTLs) for CTB were preliminary mapped on chromosomes 5 and 7 by substitution mapping. qCTB-5-1, qCTB-5-2 and qCTB-5-3 were mapped in the region of RM267–RM1237, RM2422–RM6054 and RM3321–RM1054, which were 21.3 cM, 27.4 cM and 12.7 cM in genetic distance on rice chromosome 5, respectively. qCTB-7 was mapped in a 6.8-cM region of RM11–RM2752 on rice chromosome 7.
Virulent to Avirulent Conversion of Legionnaires' Disease Bacterium (Legionella pneumophila)—Its Effect on Isolation Techniques

Suspensions of the Legionnaries' disease bacterium (Legionella pneumophila; LDB) were prepared from the yolk sacs of infected egg embryos, the spleens of infected guinea pigs, and cultures of the organism propagated on enriched Mueller-Hinton agar. Each suspension was titrated to determine the number of bacterial colonies (cfu), yolk sac 50% lethal doses (YSLD50), guinea pig 50% infectious doses (GPID50), and guinea pig 50% lethal doses (GPLD50) produced by 1 ml of inoculum. The numbers of cfu/YSLD50, GPID50, and GPLD50 were then calculated for each suspension. The suspension from yolk sacs had 1 cfu/YSLD50 and 10 cfu/GPID50. The suspension from spleens of guinea pigs also had 1 cfu/YSLD50. Organisms propagated on Mueller-Hinton agar, however, had greater than 10(7) cfu/YSLD50 and 10(5) cfu/GPID50. Thus, the LDB lost virulence when it was cultivated on agar. Guinea pigs vaccinated either subcutaneously or intraperitoneally with LDB grown on Mueller-Hinton agar resisted challenge with virulent LDB.
Facilitated metastatic distribution of the Walker 256 tumor in Sprague-Dawley rats with hydrocortisone and-or cyclophosphamide.

The strain of Walker 256 tumor studied metastasized readily and preferentially to the lungs. Cyclophosphamide or hydrocortisone significantly increases extrapulmonary metastasis formation when 'cytostatic' therapy is begun when the primary tumor has reached 2.0-2.5 cm in size. Drug mortality excluded, survival in animals treated with cyclophosphamide decreases despite a temporary retardation of the primary tumor growth rate. This decreased survival correlates with an increase in the number of pulmonary metastases and more widespread organ distribution of metastases. It is hypothesized that suppression of the host immune response by an alkylating agent and/or hydrocortisone was the likely mechanism involved, although localization of tumor cells at sites of chemical inflammation and other mechanisms have not been excluded. These data provide ancillary evidence for the hypothesis that the immune mechanism controls, at least in part, the formation of metastasis from circulating and/ or dormant tumor cells, particularly in organs which are not sites of preferential metastasis.
mTOR kinase, a key player in the regulation of glial functions: relevance for the therapy of multiple sclerosis.

Abstract The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) is a serine/threonine protein kinase with a central role in the regulation of cell growth and proliferation, and several intracellular processes, such as mRNA transcription and translation, autophagy and cytoskeletal organization. The relevance of this pathway in the regulation of the immune system is well characterized. mTOR is essential for the proper activation and proliferation of effector T cells, restricts the development of regulatory T cells, and downregulates innate immune responses. Recently, a direct role of mTOR in the modulation of glial functions has also been recognized. Data from our group and others support the notion that mTOR is involved in microglial proinflammatory activation. The kinase regulates several intracellular processes in astrocytes, among which the rate of mRNA degradation of the inducible form of NO synthase. Therefore, the inhibition of mTOR kinase activity in glial cells results in anti-inflammatory actions, suggesting possible beneficial effects of mTOR inhibitors (like rapamycin) in the treatment of inflammatory-based pathologies of the central nervous system. In contrast, mTOR plays an important role in the regulation of oligodendrocyte development and myelination process as well as several neuronal functions, which may limit this therapeutic approach. Nevertheless, as reviewed here, there is robust evidence that rapamycin ameliorates the clinical course of both the relapsing-remitting and the chronic experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), and significantly reduces the hyperalgesia observed before clinical development of EAE. These findings may have important clinical implications for the therapy of multiple sclerosis. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Interleukin-2 (IL-2)-mediated Induction of the IL-2 Receptor α Chain Gene CRITICAL ROLE OF TWO FUNCTIONALLY REDUNDANT TYROSINE RESIDUES IN THE IL-2 RECEPTOR β CHAIN CYTOPLASMIC DOMAIN AND SUGGESTION THAT THESE RESIDUES MEDIATE MORE THAN STAT5 ACTIVATION

The interleukin-2 receptor alpha chain (IL-2Ralpha) is potently induced by antigens, mitogens, and certain cytokines that include IL-2 itself. This induction leads to the formation of high affinity IL-2 receptors when IL-2Ralpha is co-expressed with the beta (IL-2Rbeta) and gamma (gammac) chains of this receptor. We investigated the signaling pathways mediating IL-2-induced IL-2Ralpha mRNA expression using 32D myeloid progenitor cells stably transfected with either wild type IL-2Rbeta or mutants of IL-2Rbeta containing tyrosine to phenylalanine substitutions. Of the six cytoplasmic tyrosines in IL-2Rbeta, we have found that only the two tyrosines that mediate Stat5 activation (Tyr-392 and Tyr-510) contribute to IL-2-induced IL-2Ralpha gene expression and that either tyrosine alone is sufficient for this process. Interestingly, the IL-7 receptor contains a tyrosine (Tyr-429)-based sequence resembling the motifs encompassing Tyr-392 and Tyr-510 of IL-2Rbeta. Further paralleling the IL-2 system, IL-7 could activate Stat5 and drive expression of IL-2Ralpha mRNA in 32D cells transfected with the human IL-7R. However, IL-3 could not induce IL-2Ralpha mRNA in 32D cells, despite its ability to activate Stat5 via the endogenous IL-3 receptor. Moreover, the combination of IL-3 and IL-2 could not "rescue" IL-2Ralpha mRNA expression in cells containing an IL-2Rbeta mutant with phenylalanine substitutions at Tyr-392 and Tyr-510. These data suggest that Tyr-392 and Tyr-510 couple to an additional signaling pathway beyond STAT protein activation in IL-2-mediated induction of the IL-2Ralpha gene.
What the papers say: Trisphosphoinositol as the intra‐myonal signal messenger, crucial in excitation‐contraction coupling in muscle

Evidence is reviewed here that inositol (1, 4, 5) trisphosphate (Ins P3) is a key signal in translating the electrophysiological event in muscle stimulation into the molecular-mechanical events of contraction. Not least, these findings raise questions about the suitability of the term ‘second messenger’.
Impacts of devegetation on the temporal evolution of soil saturated hydraulic conductivity in a vegetated sand dune area

Soil saturated hydraulic conductivity (K S ) is partly affected by vegetation activities, which can either increase K S by enhancing macropore flow or reduce K S by clogging pore space. Despite the complex interactions of K S with vegetation, the impact of devegetation on K S has not been adequately addressed, particularly in regions that are prone to drought-induced devegetation. In this study, the impacts of devegetation on K S in a native grassland-stabilized sand dune area were investigated by artificially controlling surface vegetation at an experimental site in the Nebraska Sand Hills. The experimental results revealed that the temporal evolution of K S at the site was mainly affected by the erosion processes triggered by devegetation. Over a short-term (about 1 year), the impact of devegetation on K S was negligible, owing to that the existence of dead root systems prevented erosion processes. By comparison, the long-term impact of devegetation on K S emerged when devegetation-induced erosion processes exposed deeper soil layers with higher K S . Particularly, the dunetop locations that experienced higher erosion rates had larger temporal changes in K S . Thus, the impacts of devegetation on K S mainly depended on two factors (i.e., time and topographic locations) that were related to erosion processes in this native grassland-stabilized sand dune area. To further investigate the ecohydrological implications of the temporal change in K S , a newly developed ecohydrological model was also employed, and the simulation results showed that the impacts of changes in K S on water balance components and biomass production were non-negligible and highly nonlinear. In spite of previous studies, the findings presented here demonstrate the close tie between near-surface hydrology and land surface evolution processes controlled by vegetation in sand dune areas, and highlight the importance of coupling eco-hydro-geomorphic interactions in the context of climate change.
What does it mean to be human?: Reflections on the portrayal of pain in interstellar messages

Abstract If there is any way that humankind is unique in the galaxy, perhaps it is insofar as on Earth, our joys and our pains are so exquisitely balanced. If pain is an obstacle that has been overcome by more advanced extraterrestrial civilizations long ago, then our descriptions of our suffering may significantly contribute to other civilizations’ understanding of our species and our culture. By drawing on some of the same methods Freudenthal uses in Lincos to describe the physical universe, we can also provide detailed descriptions of our bodies. Portraying ourselves as embodied and vulnerable, we might provide outward signs of our inward distress. In addition, the link between the physical and the subjective experiences of pain provides a vehicle to address one of the greatest challenges of interstellar communication: explaining human subjectivity.
Influence of pump beam diameter on beam fanning in a doped photorefractive polymer composite

Beam fanning in a 100 μm thick sample of the photorefractive polymer composite PVK:TNF:ECZ:DMNPAPBE was experimentally studied as a function of pump beam diameter and applied electric field. The normalized increase in fanned beam power was 65% as the ratio of pump beam diameter to film thickness increased by a factor of 3 at constant applied field. The dynamical behavior of the fanned beam was well described as a double-exponential function of time, with grating rise times a factor of 10 longer than those observed for two-beam coupling in similar photorefractive polymer composites.
Location of the travelling wave for the Kolmogorov equation

Under appropriate initial data, solutions of the Kolmogorov equation \(u_{t = } \tfrac{1}{2}u_{xx} + f(u)\) converge to travelling waves wλ(x), λ≧21/2, as t→∞. In the case λ>21/2, a general formula for the asymptotic position of the wave is known, as are formulas for certain cases of λ=21/2. The general formula for the case λ=21/2 given in [4] involves the behavior of the solution at earlier times and is typically not explicit enough for computation. Here, we give an improvement of this formula not requiring such information. The methodology involves use of sample path estimates for Brownian bridge and manipulation of certain formulas from [4].
A New Species of the Bee Genus Caenaugochlora from Honduras (Hymenoptera: Halictidae)

Caenaugochlora (Caenaugochlora) cyanella (Halictinae: Augochlorini), new species, is described and figured from females collected in northwestern Honduras. The new species, although belonging to the subgenus Caenaugochlora Michener, superficially resembles C. donnae Engel of the subgenus Ctenaugochlora Eickwort, both having a strong metallic blue coloration and distinctly tuberculate subpleural Signum. Caenaugochlora cyanella, however, lacks the densely pectinate inner metatibial spur, strongly and completely striate basal area of the propodeum, densely punctured integument, and other features of Ctenaugochlora species. The species is distinguished from its congeners and characters for its recognition provided.
Buri: Scaling Big-Memory Computing with Hardware-Based Memory Expansion

Motivated by the challenges of scaling up memory capacity and fully exploiting the benefits of memory compression, we propose Buri, a hardware-based memory compression scheme, which simultaneously achieves cost efficiency, high performance, and ease of adoption. Buri combines (1) a self-contained, ready-to-adopt hardware compression module, which manages metadata compression and memory allocation/relocation operations; (2) a set of hardware optimization mechanisms, which reduce the area and performance overheads in accommodating the address indirection required by memory compression; and (3) lightweight BIOS/OS extensions used to handle exceptions. Our evaluation with large memory workload traces shows that Buri can increase capacity by 70p, in addition to the compression ratio already provided by database software.
THE PREHISTORY OF RESEARCH INTO FOUNDATIONS

IN two previous articles 1 I have endeavoured to show that modem research into the foundations of mathematics and physical sciences has upset several doctrines which are important for traditional philosophy, especially Aristotle's theory of science. It was pointed out that this situation explains the bitter controversies between representatives of modern research into foundations and defendants of traditional speculative philosophy. But modem research into foundations does not compel us to take a purely negative attitude with regard to philosophical tradition. On the contrary, modem conceptions can often help us to obtain a better insight into various features of ancient philosophy, and it is the purpose of the present article to make this clear.
Abstract 4919: Myristoylated alanine-rich C kinase substrate (MARCKS) phosphorylation potentiates human lung cancer cell malignancy .

Proceedings: AACR 104th Annual Meeting 2013; Apr 6-10, 2013; Washington, DC Myristoylated alanine-rich C kinase substrate (MARCKS), a substrate of protein kinase C (PKC), is a key regulatory molecule controlling mucin secretion by airway epithelial cells in vitro and in vivo. Phosphorylated MARCKS (p-MARCKS) has been reportedly to promote inflammatory cell migration in several lung diseases. However, the functionality of MARCKS and its related phosphorylation in lung cancer malignancy has not been characterized. This study demonstrated MARCKS expression and elevated p-MARCKS in various lung cancer cell lines with high malignancy, such as CL1-0-F3, CL1-5, PC9, A549 and several tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) resistant cell lines (H1650 and H1975), as compared with normal human bronchial epithelial (NHBE) cells and low metastasis cancer cell line. siRNA knockdown MARCKS expression resulted in an inhibition of cell migration, accompanying with a decrease of Slug expression in these malignant lung cancer cell lines. Treatment with myristoylated 24-amino-acid MARCKS N-terminus sequence (MANS) peptide, but not the control myristoylated random N-terminal sequence (RNS) peptide, suppressed MARCKS phosphorylation and impaired cell migration and wound healing ability in these lung cancer cell lines. Importantly, MANS peptide treatment resulted in a suppression of lamellipodia/filopodia formation and an enhancement of cell-cell contacts with increased E-cadherin expression. These results confirmed a crucial role for MARCKS, specifically its phosphorylation, in potentiating lung cancer cell migration and malignancy. This study has also suggested a potential usage of MANS or the MARCKS-related peptides in the treatment of lung cancer metastasis. Citation Format: Ching-Hsien Chen, Phillip Thai, Reen Wu. Myristoylated alanine-rich C kinase substrate (MARCKS) phosphorylation potentiates human lung cancer cell malignancy . [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4919. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-4919
Microwave magneto-dissipation in crystalline YBa2Cu3O6+x and Bi2Sr2CaCu2O9

Abstract We present microwave magneto-dissipation measurements (12.95 GHz) as a function of temperature (5 ≤ T ≤ 90 K) and applied static field (0 ≤ H = | H | ≤ l .9 T) for single-crystal BSCCO and for melt-textured YBCO. In all instances, induced current densities J rf are nearly parallel to the CuO 2 layers. Our survey yields characteristic trends in dissipation that depend on the nominal angle between H and c , and between H and J rf . Nominal angles are inferred from the applied field direction and the sample orientation. One trend that YBCO and BSCCO share is the occurrence of substantial magneto-dissipation even when H and H rf are nominally parallel and the nominal Lorentz force is zero. The likely inference is that - over a broad frequency range - local angles between transport currents and flux bundles differ substantially from the nominal (global) value. Finally, we provide definitive evidence for pronounced flux pinning by YBCO twin boundaries.
Pattern discrimination following removal of visual neocortex in the cat

Abstract Three cats were trained on brightness and pattern discrimination tasks for food reward in an automated two-choice discrimination apparatus. The pattern stimuli were horizontal vs. vertical stripes and were designed so that total luminous flux was equated and consistent local luminous flux cues were eliminated between the two stimuli. The cats then underwent removal of visual neocortex, in one case including all of areas 17, 18, and most or all of 19, as determined by detailed histological criteria. The brightness discrimination habit was lost after surgery and was relearned by all subjects in slightly more trials than were required preoperatively. All cats were also able to relearn the pattern discrimination, although from two to ten times the number of preoperative trials were required. Trials to criterion were not related to lesion extent. Tests indicated that the pattern discrimination was visually guided and that postoperative pattern discrimination and visual placing were dependent on stimulus illumination and contrast. Optokinetic nystagamus, simple visual reactions, and general behavior were also tested postoperatively with results similar to those reported by other investigators. Comparison of the present experiment with previous investigations suggested that stimulus illumination and contrast, stimulus configuration, and amount of postoperative training are critical variables in the elaboration of visual pattern discrimination in the visually neodecorticated cat.
The Relationship between Organizational Assimilation and Employees’ Upward, Lateral, and Displaced Dissent

This study investigated the relationship between organizational assimilation and the three types of employee dissent (i.e., upward, lateral, displaced). Participants were 186 full-time employees who completed a brief online self-report survey. Results of the study revealed that all seven dimensions of organizational assimilation (i.e., familiarity with coworkers, familiarity with supervisors, acculturation, recognition, involvement, job competency, role negotiation) were related positively to upward dissent, while two dimensions of assimilation (i.e., acculturation, involvement) were related negatively to lateral dissent. No significant relationships existed between the dimensions of organizational assimilation and displaced dissent.
Effects of oil on behavioral responses to light, pressure and gravity in larvae of the rock crab Cancer irroratus

Cancer irroratus Say larvae (Zoeal Stages I–V and megalopae) were cultured and studied in 0.0, 0.1, and 1.0 ppm concentrations of water-accommodated fractions of No. 2 fuel oil under static conditions. Behavioral changes were monitored in terms of water column responses to various conditions of light, pressure and gravity. Results showed significant (F=206.12, P<0.01) effects of this oil fraction on larval behavior, with the specific response to oil depending upon the concentration, larval stage and the combination of light, pressure and gravity tested. Responses at 0.1 ppm differed from those at 1.0 ppm (F=5.01, P<0.05). Geonegative upward movements in the water column were typically depressed in early-stage larvae and enhanced in late-stage larvae after subjection to oils, showing gravity responses to be greatly affected. Phototactic behaviors were significantly changed by the oil and pressure responses were slightly affected.
FURTHER COMPARISON OF THE EFFECTS OF PHYSOSTIGMINE AND NEOSTIGMINE ON FROG NEUROMUSCULAR TRANSMISSION

1. The effects of physostigmine and neostigmine were compared at frog neuromuscular junctions using intracellular microelectrodes. 2. Both drugs increased the amplitudes of miniature endplate potentials (MEPP) in a dose-dependent manner because of their ability to competitively inhibit cholinesterase activity. 3. In addition, physostigmine (1.0-20.0 mumol/l) decreased by approximately 20% the quantal content (determined by two methods), indicating a decrease in the amount of transmitter released upon nerve stimulation, whereas neostigmine did not alter quantal content. 4. Because the endplate potential (EPP) amplitude is a composite of pre- and post-junctional effects, the dose-response curve for neostigmine on EPP amplitude approximately paralleled that obtained on MEPP amplitude, whereas the effect of physostigmine on EPP amplitude was depressed because of its action to decrease transmitter release. 5. Upon washout of neostigmine, the increase in EPP amplitude reversed more rapidly than effects on MEPP amplitude, a difference dependent on the magnitude of quantal content and explained by an action on the postjunctional membrane. Similar results were obtained with physostigmine. 6. Neither drug significantly affected MEPP frequency although small decreases were sometimes observed. 7. These results suggest that at the frog neuromuscular junction the effects of neostigmine are explained primarily by its inhibition of cholinesterase, whereas physostigmine are explained primarily by its inhibition of cholinesterase, whereas physostigmine has an additional action on nerve terminals of decreasing nerve-stimulated release of acetylcholine.
Differential Inhibition by Cortisol of Estrogen-Stimulated Uterine Responses

The ability of cortisol to block estrogen action in the uterus of the ovariectomized rat was studied 6 hr after treatment with 0.2 μg estradiol-17β. The estrogen-induced increases in uterine weight, Na and Cl concentration, and a decline in K concentration, were blocked by the administration of 3 mg cortisol to each rat while the increase in water content was partially suppressed. The 3-fold increase in glycogenesis produced by estradiol was depressed by cortisol to a 2-fold increase over control glycogen content. The increase in free glucose concentration in the uterus which estrogen produces was blocked by cortisol, however. Uterine vascular permeability, measured quantitatively with trypan blue, doubled with estrogen, and cortisol did not block this increase. These separate effects of estradiol on water, electrolyte and glucose influx, as compared to trypan blue permeability and glycogen synthesis, demonstrate that several estrogenic end-points are independent of each other and are differentially inhib...
Can We Develop a Neurobiological Model of Human Social—Emotional Development?

After summarizing the main points raised in articles by Kaslow et al. and Plotsk, a number of questions that derive from these authors' work are listed. Additional questions are then posed, the answers to which will likely facilitate one's ability to translate animal models of child psychopathology into human terms. After summarizing the various advantages and disadvantages to models using mice, rats, and monkeys, several examples of recent research that have attempted to meld animal models with human studies are described. Language: en
Microscopic theory of electromagnetic energy transport in nanostructured media

We present a microscopic theory of electromagnetic energy transport in nanostructured media based on the Lagrangian formulation of semiclassical electrodynamics. We show the importance of the interplay between transverse and longitudinal local fields in determining the light-matter interaction in nanostructured media. We derive rigorously the coupled-dipole equation of the local fields and apply the theory to analyze energy transport in metal nanoparticle chain waveguide.
Effect of annealing upon decomposition of electrodeposited iron-zinc alloy coatings

As-deposited electrodeposited iron-zinc alloy coatings containing η phase, decompose upon heating through a sequence of metastable phases. The h c p η phase transforms to b c c G, or Г-like phase via a rapid diffusional phase transformation in the vicinity of 150 °C. For bulk iron contents of 8–13 wt%, η transforms to 100% G phase. The G phase subsequently transforms at 240 °C to ς′ phase, which in turn transforms to δ or Г1 phase near 300 °C by depletion of iron from the surrounding matrix. The decomposition process may be driven by supersaturation of η with iron.
Development of a Multibody Dynamics Ford Expedition Model for Vehicle Dynamics Analysis

In the area of automotive engineering, testing of actual vehicles in various operating conditions during transient maneuvers is a costly and time-consuming stage of any vehicle design. However, the use of virtual proving grounds for simulation of full vehicles helps to alleviate the high cost physically testing a vehicle before mass production. This paper presents a study where a multibody dynamics model of a 2003 Ford Expedition is created for the purpose of evaluating performance and behavior in vehicle dynamics simulations. By using a dynamic model, rollover analysis and yaw stability can be analyzed. In addition to that, the vehicle model can also be used to integrate different controllers for different subsystems of the vehicle such as steering, brakes, and power-train. Preliminary simulation results are presented for proof of concept of the model.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
Automatically identifying targets users interact with during real world tasks

Information about the location and size of the targets that users interact with in real world settings can enable new innovations in human performance assessment and soft-ware usability analysis. Accessibility APIs provide some information about the size and location of targets. How-ever this information is incomplete because it does not sup-port all targets found in modern interfaces and the reported sizes can be inaccurate. These accessibility APIs access the size and location of targets through low-level hooks to the operating system or an application. We have developed an alternative solution for target identification that leverages visual affordances in the interface, and the visual cues produced as users interact with targets. We have used our novel target identification technique in a hybrid solution that combines machine learning, computer vision, and accessibility API data to find the size and location of targets users select with 89% accuracy. Our hybrid approach is superior to the performance of the accessibility API alone: in our dataset of 1355 targets covering 8 popular applications, only 74% of the targets were correctly identified by the API alone.
Foragers of the harvester ant, Pogonomyrmex owyheei : a disposable caste?

1. Exterior workers of the harvester ant, Pogonomyrmex owyheei, were subdivided into forager, defender and refuse worker behavior roles (Fig. 2). Exterior workers comprised approximately 16% of the total colony population with interior workers comprising the remainder. 2. An average of less than 10% of the total worker population foraged (Table 1). Studies of role changes comfirmed a general one-way progression from interior workers to defenders to foragers (Fig. 5). The average longevity of foragers was about 14 days. As interior workers progressed toward foraging, their dry weights declined approximately 40% (Fig. 3) and mandible wear increased (Table 2). 3. Based on these results, we propose that P. owyheei has evolved a disposable forager strategy that tolerates high forager mortality. The large reservoir of interior workers required by this strategy may also inhibit the evolution of physically specialized interior worker castes.
Synergistic Induction of Apoptosis in High-Risk DLBCL by BCL2 Inhibition with ABT-199 Combined With Pharmacologic Loss of MCL1

Better treatments are needed for patients with diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) at high risk of failing standard therapy. Avoiding apoptosis is a hallmark of cancer, and in DLBCL the redundantly functioning antiapoptotic proteins BCL2 and MCL1 are frequently expressed. Here we explore drugs that cause loss of MCL1, particularly the potent new cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor dinaciclib, which knocks down MCL1 by inhibiting CDK9. Dinaciclib induces apoptosis in DLBCL cells but is completely overcome by increased activity of BCL2. We find that clinical samples have frequent co-expression of MCL1 and BCL2, suggesting that therapeutic strategies targeting only one will lead to treatment failures owing to activity of the other. The BH3 mimetic ABT-199 potently and specifically targets BCL2. Single-agent ABT-199 had modest antitumor activity against most DLBCL lines and resulted in compensatory upregulation of MCL1 expression. ABT-199 synergized strongly, however, when combined with dinaciclib and with other drugs affecting MCL1, including standard DLBCL chemotherapy drugs. We show potent antitumor activities of these combinations in xenografts and in a genetically accurate murine model of MYC-BCL2 double-hit lymphoma. In sum, we reveal a rational treatment paradigm to strip DLBCL of its protection from apoptosis and improve outcomes for high-risk patients.
Characterization of the cuticular lipids of the larvae and adults of the pecan weevil, Curculio caryae

Abstract Cuticular lipids were isolated and identified from larvae, adult females and adult males of the pecan weevil, Curculio caryae . The surface lipids of the larvae were dominated by triacylglycerols (49%) and hydrocarbons (41%) with glycerol trihexanoate and 2-methyloctacosane the most prevalent components in these two classes of compounds. Methyl-branched hydrocarbons dominated the surface lipids of the adult weevils with the most abundant being 9-, 11-, 13- and 15-methylnonacosane and 9,13- and 11,15-dimethylnonacosane. Methylketones (2-nonadecanone, 2-heneicosanone, and 2-tricosanone) comprised 1% and 3%, respectively, of the adult male and female cuticular lipids. These methylketones and glycerol trihexanoate have not previously been found in insect cuticular lipids.
Inhibition of RNA and interferon synthesis in Krebs-2 cells infected with vesicular stomatitis virus.

Abstract Interferon was detected in suspended cultures of Krebs-2 carcinoma cells by 3–4 hours after infection with an avirulent strain of Newcastle disease virus (NDV). Thereafter, the increase in concentration of interferon was approximately linear and reached a peak within 20 hours. Interferon synthesis was completely inhibited by actinomycin added to the medium within 4 hours after induction but not at 6 or 8 hours. When NDV-induced cells were superinfected with virulent vesicular stomatitis (VS) virus at a multiplicity of 50, interferon synthesis was shut off at exactly the same times as it was by actinomycin. The failure of actinomycin or VS virus to suppress continuing interferon synthesis later than 4 hours after NDV induction suggests that an interferon-specific messenger RNA is transcribed early in this system and continues to function in the presence of the inhibitors. Krebs-2 cells infected with VS virus exhibited a rapid decline in rate of cellular RNA synthesis similar to, but less pronounced than, that caused by actinomycin. Interferon-inducing doses of NDV did not appreciably alter cellular RNA synthesis for at least 3 hours. Inactivation of the infectivity of VS virus by ultraviolet light did not impair its capacity to inhibit cellular RNA and interferon synthesis. These studies suggest that avirulent NDV switches on the interferon-synthesizing capacity of Krebs-2 cells, whereas virulent VS virus switches it off (prevents the switching on) by inhibiting cellular RNA synthesis.
Examining the constitutionality of Internet filtering in public schools: a US perspective

The use of Internet filters in public classrooms in the USA has been intensely debated, both in terms of its effectiveness and legality. The debate pits concerns to protect students from indecent material against issues of unconstitutional censorship. This paper examines the legal issues addressed in various rulings by the US Supreme Court pertinent to issues raised in the debate over the constitutionality of filtering in the classroom. The rulings and opinions offer valuable insights into the legal issues raised in this debate.
Ethinyl estradiol and generalized aversions to eggs among free-ranging predators

Abstract During the summer of 1988, we conducted two field evaluations of 17 α-ethinyl estradiol as an illness-causing conditioned taste aversion (CTA) agent capable, because of its low detectability, of producing generalized avoidance of eggs among mammalian egg predators. These included: raccoons, Procyon lotor ; skunks, Mephitis sp.; opossums, Didelphis virginiana ; red foxes, Vulpes vulpes ; badgers, Taxidea taxus ; and coyotes, Canis latrans . In the first trial, nocturnal predation upon eggs was measured at 21 independent sites along the Mississippi River border between Illinois and Iowa. During the last half of the 19-day first trial, predation on untreated central and untreated peripheral eggs at 8 control sites was 96.3 and 95.8% of available eggs, respectively. By this time, predators at 5 lithium treatment sites had learned to discriminate between peripheral eggs with 1.5 g of salty-tasting lithium chloride and untreated central eggs; attacking 29.2% of the former and 86.3% of the latter. Predators visiting the 8 estrogen sites, however, appeared not to detect the estrogen and so failed to discriminate between untreated central eggs and peripheral eggs treated with 5.6 mg of estrogen; attacking 34.0% of the untreated eggs and 54.8% of the treated eggs. In the second trial, the 8 original control sites had four times as many central and peripheral eggs, and in 4 of these sites peripheral eggs each contained 9.5 mg of estrogen. By the last half of the 20-day period, predation on untreated central eggs and treated peripheral eggs at estrogen sites declined to 4.9 and 27.6% of that at control sites, respectively.
A reinvestigation of the thermal rearrangements of naphthvalene

Abstract The previously reported thermal transformation of naphthvalene to benzofulvene has been shown to be a catalyzed process; naphthvalene rearranges to naphthalene under flow pyrolysis conditions.
Excess bias and the nature of budget growth

Abstract To examine the hypothesis that budget growth has been excessive, the concept of ‘correct’ budget size must first be defined. This proves a difficult task for the level of public services, but especially so regarding redistribution and transfer payments. Next, potential sources of bias are explored, including distortions in voting, bureaucracy and political leadership. Analysis shows that bias may be in either direction, making for deficient as well as excess budgets. Institutional reform, therefore, should not prejudge the outcome by imposing limitations. The goal should be to improve the budget process, however this may affect budget size.
Neural Substrates of Spontaneous Musical Performance: An fMRI Study of Jazz Improvisation

To investigate the neural substrates that underlie spontaneous musical performance, we examined improvisation in professional jazz pianists using functional MRI. By employing two paradigms that differed widely in musical complexity, we found that improvisation (compared to production of over-learned musical sequences) was consistently characterized by a dissociated pattern of activity in the prefrontal cortex: extensive deactivation of dorsolateral prefrontal and lateral orbital regions with focal activation of the medial prefrontal (frontal polar) cortex. Such a pattern may reflect a combination of psychological processes required for spontaneous improvisation, in which internally motivated, stimulus-independent behaviors unfold in the absence of central processes that typically mediate self-monitoring and conscious volitional control of ongoing performance. Changes in prefrontal activity during improvisation were accompanied by widespread activation of neocortical sensorimotor areas (that mediate the organization and execution of musical performance) as well as deactivation of limbic structures (that regulate motivation and emotional tone). This distributed neural pattern may provide a cognitive context that enables the emergence of spontaneous creative activity.
Are Alcoholism Treatments Effective? The Project MATCH Data: Response

A response to Cutler RB, Fishbain, DA: Are alcoholism treatments effective? The Project MATCH data BMC Public Health 2005, 5:75.
Seeking Connection: An English Educator Speaks Across a Disciplinary Contact Zone

the fall of 1999, an electronic conversation occurred on the Writing Program Administrators (WPA) listserv about the pedagogical and theoretical similarities and differences between university faculty prepared in rhetoric and composition (RC) and English education (EE). The discussion began from a simple query about why it's often difficult to find qualified English education candidates for university jobs and evolved into a sometimes-heated debate about the knowledge and effectiveness of each discipline in preparing future secondary teachers. Those prepared as English educators touted the benefits of their professional backgrounds; those in the rhet/comp ranks sometimes stated that those with degrees in rhetoric and composition were preferable, even if they lacked public school teaching experience. Throughout the discussion on both lists, one theme was consistently evident- the dichotomy between "theory" (research and philosophy) and "practice" (teaching). This theory-practice split, whether real or perceived, became the primary framework listserv responders used to categorize and characterize the work of EE and RC, with EE most often associated with "practice" (hands-on work) and RC with "theory" (intellectual work). Little about this debate is new. English education has owned responsibility for preparing secondary school teachers of "language arts" for decades, since the advent of the so-called 19th century "normal" schools and teachers' colleges.1 Making secondary English teachers scapegoats for those dissatisfied with the academic performance (and even social behavior) of
Inhalation Toxicology of Methylamine

AbstractMethylamine (MA) is a colorless gas with many industrial applications, including that as an intermediate in the manufacture of many chemicals. To assess the toxicity of MA following inhalation, groups of 10 male rats each were exposed by nose-only inhalation 6 h/d, 5 d/wk for 2 wk to either 0 (control), 75, 250, or 750 ppm MA. Rats were sacrificed either immediately following exposure or following a 14-d recovery period. Parameters investigated included in-life observations and body weights, clinical pathology, and histopathology with organ weights. Toxic effects including mortality were produced by exposure to 750 ppm. Severe body weight losses, clinical pathologic changes suggestive of liver damage, nasal degenerative changes, and hemato-poietic changes, not all of which were reversible during the recovery period, were observed. Exposure to 250 ppm produced damage, restricted to the respiratory mu-cosa of the nasal turbinates. Only a mild irritation to the nasal turbinate area was produced by 75...