cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
On-line optimization of queues using infinitesimal perturbation analysis

Infinitesimal perturbation analysis (IPA) is a method for estimating the gradient of a performance measure in a discrete event system by observing a single sample path of the system. The method lends itself naturally to recursive optimization using gradient-based algorithms. Such algorithms can be used in on-line optimization applications, or in single-run optimization of simulation models. We describe the use of such algorithms for optimization of single server queues. We give sufficient conditions that guarantee convergence of the algorithm to the optimizing point. The convergence proof is simple, and provides insight into how the algorithm behaves under different update times.
Security Interests in Manufactured Homes

The law on perfection and maintaining perfection of security interests in manufactured (mobile) homes is complex. Depending on the state, it may require a personal property filing in the UCC records, the recording of a mortgage in the county real estate records, a vehicle registration, or a combination of all. While efforts to simplify this area of the law are underway, at present it is a confusing state of affairs that creates inefficiencies in the manufactured home industry. This paper discusses the law in this evolving area of commercial activity.
Consciousness, Function of

To inquire about the function of consciousness is to ask what consciousness does, what it enables us to do that we might not be capable of otherwise, or why some creatures came to be conscious. Keywords: epiphenomenalism; evolution; function; functionalism; teleology
Sending a Message: The Reputation Effect of US Sanction Threat Behavior

Studies often assume that empty sanction threats inflict reputation costs on senders. However, target response to senders� previous decisions whether to back down or impose sanctions remains unexamined. In this paper, I argue that the target of sanction threats looks to the sender�s actions against prior resistant targets. When the sender has backed down recently, the target, inferring that the sender is prone to making empty threats, is less likely to acquiesce. Conversely, when the sender has recently imposed sanctions against a resistant target, the current target infers that sanction imposition is likely to follow resistance, and therefore, it is more likely to acquiesce, all else equal. In statistical tests of US sanction threats spanning 1971�2000, I find strong evidence that the target is less likely to acquiesce when the United States recently backed down from a sanction threat. I find somewhat weaker evidence that the target is more likely to acquiesce when the United States recently imposed sanctions.
Mental models of security risks

In computer security, risk communication refers to informing computer users about the likelihood and magnitude of a threat. Efficacy of risk communication depends not only on the nature of the risk, but also on the alignment between the conceptual model embedded in the risk communication and the user's mental model of the risk. The gap between the mental models of security experts and non-experts could lead to ineffective risk communication. Our research shows that for a variety of the security risks self-identified security experts and non-experts have different mental models. We propose that the design of the risk communication methods should be based on the non-expert mental models.
Degradation and revival of Li–O2 battery cathode

Abstract Current non-aqueous Li–O 2 cells usually could only operate for tens cycles, and electrolyte decomposition was always observed. Here it is demonstrated that, among all the cell elements, cathode is the first component to fail in our experiment. The passivation effect on the cathode was proven to be the reason for the loss of capacity in the cathode. However, the cathode was not permanently damaged in the failed cell and the capacity could be regenerated after the removal of the insulating layer. Thus, the cell's cycling was revived. This study presented a possibility of significantly elongating the lifespan of Li–O 2 cells.
Nursing students practice primary fire prevention

Abstract The purpose of this project was to evaluate a standardized, interactive, home fire safety program for elementary school students. Background Senior baccalaureate nursing students in their pediatric clinical rotation taught burn prevention techniques using Hazard House, a model house filled with common household fire hazards (Hazard House, 2006, Ref. 1). Elementary school students were encouraged to identify the hazards and discuss ways in which the house could be made safer. Local firemen then briefly presented what to do if a fire occurred, how firemen may look during a rescue, and the importance of working smoke alarms in the home. Methods A pretest–posttest design was used to examine the effectiveness of an educational intervention. The three groups of participants included 128 kindergarten students, 311 students in grades 1–2, and 61 students in grades 3–4. The tests and interventions were tailored appropriately for each age group. Results There was no difference in pre- and post-test scores for the students in kindergarten and grades 3–4 (p > 0.05). However, there was a significant difference for students in grades 1–2 (p Conclusion It is important for nurses to assess for and teach about fire injury prevention to prevent potentially devastating irreversible injuries. The results suggest that the educational intervention was effective in improving the understanding of fire safety for students in grades 1–2. Future studies may need to include a larger sample of students for the other grades.
Abiotic Reductive Dechlorination of Chlorinated Ethylenes by Iron-Bearing Soil Minerals. 2. Green Rust

Abiotic reductive dechlorination of chlorinated ethylenes by the sulfate form of green rust (GR(SO4)) was examined in batch reactors. Dechlorination kinetics were described by a modified Langmuir-Hinshelwood model. The rate constant for reductive dechlorination of chlorinated ethylenes at reactive GR(SO4) surfaces was in the range of 0.592 (+/-4.4%) to 1.59 (+/-6.3%) day(-1). The specific reductive capacity of GR(SO4) for target organics was in the range of 9.86 (+/-10.1%) to 18.0 (+/-4.3%) microM/g and sorption coefficient was in the range of 0.53 (+/-2.4%) to 1.22 (+/-4.3%) mM(-1). Surface area-normalized pseudo-first-order initial rate constants for chlorinated ethylenes by GR(SO4) were 3.4 to 8.2 times greater than those by pyrite. Chlorinated ethylenes were mainly transformed to acetylene, and no detectable amounts of chlorinated intermediates were observed. The rate constants for the reductive dechlorination of trichloroethylene (TCE) increased as pH increased (6.8 to 10.1) but were independent of solid concentration and initial TCE concentration. Magnetite and/or maghemite were produced by the oxidation of GR(SO4) by TCE. These findings are relevant to the understanding of the role of abiotic reductive dechlorination during natural attenuation in environments that contain GR(SO4).
Regularization methods for image restoration based on autocorrelation functions

Image restoration is a procedure which is characterized by ill- poseness, ill-conditioning and non-uniqueness of the solution in the presence of noise. Iterative numerical methods have gained much attention for solving these inverse problems. Among the methods, minimal variance or least squares approaches are widely used and often generate good results at a reasonable cost in computing time using iterative optimization of the associated cost functional. In this paper, a new regularization method obtained by minimizing the autocorrelation function of residuals is proposed. Several numerical tests using the BFGS nonlinear optimization method are reported and comparisons to the classical Tikhonov regularization method are given. The results show that this method gives competitive restoration and is not sensitive to the regularization weighting parameter. Furthermore, a comprehensive procedure of image restoration is proposed by introducing a modified version of the Mumford-Shah model, which is often used in image segmentation. This approach shows promising improvement in restoration quality.© (2000) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Increased susceptibility to liver damage from pneumoperitoneum in a murine model of biliary atresia.

Abstract Hypothesis We hypothesized that livers with biliary atresia (BA) are more susceptible to the harmful effects of a high-pressure CO 2 pneumoperitoneum (PP) than healthy livers. Methods A murine model of BA was used in this experiment. Mice were divided into 6 groups: (1) control Balb/c; (2) control Balb/c, CO 2 -PP; (3) control BA; (4) BA-sham; (5) BA, CO 2 -PP; and (6) BA, air-PP. Mice from groups 2, 5, and 6 underwent an 8-mm Hg-PP for 60 minutes. Liver samples were collected for histology, colorimetry, and flow cytometry analysis 18 to 24 hours after the procedure. Markers of apoptosis were investigated as indicators of acute cell damage. Results We observed a statistically significant higher rate of apoptosis in livers with BA exposed to a prolonged CO 2 -PP or air-PP compared with control groups. There were no significant differences between groups 1 and 2, or between groups 5 and 6. Conclusions In this animal model, we have shown that livers with BA are more susceptible than healthy livers to injury by a prolonged PP. This injury was caused by both CO 2 and air-PP, implying that it is the direct result of pressure. These results may have implications for the success of minimally invasive Kasai procedures.
From “In the Air” to “Under the Skin”: Cortisol Responses to Social Identity Threat

The authors examined women’s neuroendocrine stress responses associated with sexism. They predicted that, when being evaluated by a man, women who chronically perceive more sexism would experience more stress unless the situation contained overt cues that sexism would not occur. The authors measured stress as the end product of the primary stress system linked to social evaluative threat—the hypothalamic—pituitary—adrenal cortical axis. In Study 1, female participants were rejected by a male confederate in favor of another male for sexist reasons or in favor of another female for merit-based reasons. In Study 2, female participants interacted with a male confederate who they learned held sexist attitudes or whose attitudes were unknown. Participants with higher chronic perceptions of sexism had higher cortisol, unless the situation contained cues that sexism was not possible. These results illustrate the powerful interactive effects of chronic perceptions of sexism and situational cues on women’s stress r...
Identification of Functional Surfaces of Proteins from Sequences

The identification of protein functional surfaces is important for understanding enzyme mechanism, protein function prediction, compound-protein docking, and drug design. As the speed of rapid accumulation of protein sequence information far exceeds that of structures, it is important to construct accurate models of protein functional surfaces and identify key residues on these surfaces. A promising approach is to build comparative models from sequences using known structural templates. We assess how well this approach works by building three-dimensional comparative models of proteins using standard tools and determine how well functional surfaces can be accurately reproduced. We use the pocket algorithm based on alpha shapes computed for the modeled protein structures and characterize potential binding surfaces on these structures. Based on a large scale study, we give general criteria on when such comparative models can give accurate information on functional surfaces. We also provide assessment on the applicability of this approach to the universe of currently known protein sequences. We further point out methods for improved models of protein functional surfaces.
Single step lithography for double-recessed gate pseudomorphic high electron mobility transistors

An asymmetric double-recessed gate process achieved through a single lithography step and a combination of wet and dry etching techniques is presented. The double-recessed gate process is beneficial in the fabrication of InGaAs/AlGaAs/GaAs pseudomorphic high electron mobility transistors (PHEMTs) because breakdown voltage is enhanced while surface effects on the drain side of the gate are minimized. In contrast to conventional processes that require two lithography steps, the current process requires only a single lithography step for the asymmetric placement of a T-gate in a wide recess trench. The process utilizes a four-layer resist of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) and P(MMA-MAA) exposed by electron beam lithography. Upon development of the resist, a wet selective etch (citric acid:H2O2) is used to define the wide recess trench and then a dry selective etch (SiCl4/SiF4) is used to recess a narrow trench (within the wide recess trench) in which the gate foot rests. This technique can achieve gate length...
Plain wrens Cantorchilus modestus zeledoni adjust their singing tempo based on self and partner's cues to perform precisely coordinated duets

Precise coordination appears to be an important signal in several duetting species. However, little attention has been directed to the proximate mechanisms that might drive this behavior. To perform highly coordinated duets, individuals can either have an intrinsic fixed singing tempo or modify their singing tempo based on cues in their own and their partner's songs. In this study I determined whether autogenous and/or heterogenous factors are associated with duet coordination in plain wrens Cantorchilus modestus zeledoni by analyzing recorded duets from 8 territorial pairs in the field. Previous research has determined that plain wrens perform highly coordinated antiphonal duets with almost no overlap. I found that to achieve such precise coordination individuals perform phrase-by-phrase modifications to the duration between two consecutive phrases (inter-phrase interval) based on a) whether their song is answered, b) the phrase type used in the duet and c) the position of the inter-phrase interval within the duet. Moreover, there are several sex differences in how individuals use these cues to modify their inter-phrase intervals. Females produce longer inter-phrase intervals when their mates do not answer a phrase, whereas males produce shorter inter-phrase intervals when their mates do not answer. Females modify their inter-phrase intervals based only on the phrase type their mates sing, whereas males modify their inter-phrase intervals based on both the phrase that they sing and the phrase the females use to answer. Both males and females produce longer inter-phrase intervals for longer phrase types sung by their partners, but males do so with more precision than do females. Finally both sexes increase their inter-phrase intervals as the duet progresses. That precise coordination is achieved by a complex and dynamic process supports the idea that this behavior could signal pair bond strength.
Cytosol and nuclear estrogen receptor in the genital tract of the rhesus monkey.

Abstract Estrogen receptor levels of cytosol and nuclei were measured in the cervix, vagina, myometrium, and endometrium of the rhesus monkey after the following experimental treatments: (1) castration; (2) castration with estradiol treatment; and (3) castration with estradiol plus progesterone treatment. Plasma hormone levels similar to those of normal menstrual cycles were achieved by implantation of silastic capsules containing estradiol or progesterone. The K D , 4 × 10 −9 M, for the cytosol receptor was similar in all tissues. Competition studies showed cytosol receptor affinities to be E 2 > e 1 > E 3 > DES. Cytosol receptor levels in estrogenized animals were lowered by progesterone treatment. Progesterone treatment did not alter the levels of nuclear receptor indicating that the lower levels of cytosol receptor obtained with progesterone were not due to nuclear translocation of cytosol receptor. Estrogen treatment changed the sedimentation coefficient of the endomentrial and myometrial cytosol receptor from 4 s to 8 s when compared with the castrate. This alteration in sedimentation coefficient was blocked by progesterone treatment. Changes in sedimentation coefficient were not observed in the cervix or vagina. Nuclear receptor in estrogen and estrogen plus progesterone treated animals sedimented as a 5 s protein. The data suggest that both qualitative and quantitative changes in the estradiol cytosol receptor of the genital tract are induced by progesterone and that these alterations may be related to the hormone interactions in target organs.
Empirical Evidence Supporting the Conceptual Relatedness of Object Representations and Internal Working Models

The proliferation of new developmental and clinical theories broadly termed “psychoanalytic” demands a methodology for making systematic comparisons to establish the commonalities and distinctions among them. This article presents an empirical method for the comparative evaluation of such theories. The Mother-To-Child Object Representation / Internal Working Model Q-sort is a 100-item instrument constructed to assess the quality of the prototypical mother's object representation and internal working model of her child at age five. Object relations judges were asked to sort these items for a complex, differentiated, integrated object representation of a five-year-old, attachment judges for a secure, coherent, freely valuing internal working model of a five-year-old. Judges' criterion Q-sorts in each group yielded a composite criterion Q-sort of the quality of the prototypical mother's mental representation of her child according to each group's theoretical perspective. The Spearman-Brown correlation betwee...
Comparison of intravenous ketorolac and meperidine in the treatment of biliary colic

To compare the analgesic efficacy and tolerability of intravenous (IV) ketorolac tromethamine with IV meperidine in the treatment of biliary colic, a prospective, randomized, double blind study was carried out upon a convenience sample of patients at a large inner city facility. Patients between the ages of 18 and 65 years of age with a history and physical examination consistent with biliary colic were enrolled over a 2-year period. Patients were randomly assigned to receive ketorolac 30 mg IV or meperidine 50 mg IV. Pain was quantified using a 4-point verbal rating system (VRS) as well as a visual analog scale (VAS). Patients were queried about their pain at times 0, 12 h, 1 h, and 2 h after administration of the study medication. Adverse effects were also recorded. A total of 324 patients completed the study protocol with 175 patients receiving ketorolac and 149 receiving meperidine. Patient demographics were similar for both groups with mean age for the ketorolac group of 36.1 years and for the meperidine group of 34.6 years. Both groups were predominantly Latino and over 80% of patients in both groups were female. No significant difference in pain control was found between ketorolac and meperidine in either the VAS or VRS for any time interval studied. The mean change in the VAS at time 2 h was 6.2 cm +/- 3.6 cm for the ketorolac group, compared with 6.7 cm +/- 3.6 cm for the meperidine group (p = 0.25). Although no significant difference was found in overall drug tolerability, patients receiving meperidine reported higher incidences of nausea and of dizziness than those receiving ketorolac (p = 0.009 and 0.003, respectively). Ketorolac tromethamine is a well-tolerated, effective medication in the treatment of acute biliary colic. It showed similar efficacy to meperidine with a decreased number of adverse effects.
Humorous Responses to Embarrassment

Humor is a technique that is frequently used to restructure an interpersonal communication when embarrassment has broken down communication patterns. In an embarrassing interaction, it is expected that more humor will be used between persons of relatively equal status than when people are of unequal status and that more humor will be initiated by a person of relatively higher status than by a person of lower status. It is hypothesized that more humor will be used when interactants anticipate future interaction than when no future interaction is expected. Sixty subjects engaged in an embarrassing interaction with an experimenter by telephone. Results indicate that there was no significant effect for anticipated interaction. More laughter between persons of relatively equal status than between persons of unequal status was found. The larger the number of others present, the more laughter occurred and the less embarrassment was found. Use of verbal humor was positively associated with openness in the interac...
Abraham Abulafĳia’s “Mystical” Reading of the Guide for the Perplexed

Abstract The Spanish kabbalist Abraham Abulafia (d. 1291) wrote three Hebrew commentaries on the Guide for the Perplexed of Moses Maimonides (d. 1204). Abulafia’s third and final commentary, Sitrey Torah (The Mysteries of the Torah), is an uncovering and extended treatment of 36 “secrets” that he believed to be hidden within the text of the Guide. In this article I investigate the specificities of Abulafia’s mystical hermeneutic as he applies it to the Guide and how this mystical system is made to fit with Maimonides’ neoplatonic philosophy. I argue that Abulafia’s commentary is not actually a mystical text in and of itself. Rather, he intends the mystical text to be generated within the mind of the reader, who is meant to join experientially the text of the Guide with Abulafia’s commentary. The result is a paradoxical disclosure of secrets in which the linguistic mysteries must be disclosed discursively before they can become experiential mysteries to be disclosed mystically. Such a conception might offer scholars a new way of thinking about what constitutes a mystical text as well as problematizing the ways in which we categorize and analyze the “mystical.”
Frequency and quality of social networking among young adults: Associations with depressive symptoms, rumination, and corumination.

Two studies examined associations between social networking and depressive symptoms among youth. In Study 1, 384 participants (68% female; mean age = 20.22 years, SD = 2.90) were surveyed. In Study 2, 334 participants (62% female; M age = 19.44 years, SD = 2.05) were surveyed initially and 3 weeks later. Results indicated that depressive symptoms were associated with quality of social networking interactions, not quantity. There was some evidence that depressive rumination moderated associations, and both depressive rumination and corumination were associated with aspects of social networking usage and quality. Implications for understanding circumstances that increase social networking, as well as resulting negative interactions and negative affect are discussed.
Characterization of Müller glia and neuronal progenitors during adult zebrafish retinal regeneration

The adult zebrafish retina exhibits a robust regenerative response following light-induced photoreceptor cell death. This response is initiated by the Muller glia proliferating in the inner nuclear layer (INL), which gives rise to neuronal progenitor cells that continue to divide and migrate to the outer nuclear layer (ONL), where they differentiate into rod and cone photoreceptors. We previously conducted a microarray analysis of retinal gene expression at 16, 31, 51, 68, and 96 h of constant intense-light treatment to identify genes and their corresponding proteins that may be involved in the generation and proliferation of the neuronal progenitor cells. We examined the expression of two candidate transcription factors, Pax6 and Ngn1, and one candidate transgene, olig2:EGFP, in the regenerating light-damaged retina. We compared the temporal and spatial expression patterns of these markers relative to PCNA (proliferating cell nuclear antigen), an established marker for proliferating cells in the zebrafish retina, and the Tg(gfap:EGFP) nt11 transgenic line that specifically labels Muller glial cells. We found that Muller glial cells dedifferentiate during regeneration, based on the loss of cell-specific markers such as GFAP (glial fibrillary acidic protein) and glutamine synthetase following their reentry into the cell cycle to produce neuronal progenitors. Pax6 expression was first detected in the proliferating neuronal progenitors by 51 h of constant light treatment, which is significantly after the Muller glia first reenter the cell cycle after 31h of light. This suggests that Pax6 expression increases in neuronal progenitors, rather than in the proliferating Muller glia. EGFP expression from the olig2 promoter was first detected by 68 h of constant light treatment in the dedifferentiated Muller glia, with Pax6 expressed in the closely associated proliferating neuronal progenitors migrating to the ONL. Both Pax6 and olig2 expression persisted until 3 days post-light treatment, when the neuronal progenitors begin differentiating into new rod and cone photoreceptors. Ngn1 protein expression was initially detected in proliferating neuronal progenitors at 68 h of light treatment. However, Ngn1 expression persisted in a subset of the INL nuclei until 17 days post-light treatment. Using the Tg(gfap:EGFP) nt11 transgenic line, Ngn1 was localized to the Muller glial nuclei that were reestablished following the regenerative response. These markers, therefore, can be used to identify different cell types at particular stages of retinal regeneration: neuronal progenitor formation, proliferation, and the reestablishment of the Muller glia cells. These markers will be important to further characterize the regeneration response in other retinal damage models and to elucidate the defects associated with mutants and morphants that disrupt the regeneration response.
The pharmacokinetics and metabolism of CP-191,166, an angiotensin II receptor antagonist, in rats and dogs.

CP-191,166 is an orally active, non-peptide angiotensin II (AII) receptor antagonist developed for the treatment of hypertension and congestive heart failure (CHF). In this study, the intravenous (iv) and oral (po) single dose pharmacokinetics (PK), oral multiple dose PK and P450-mediated metabolism of CP-191,166 were determined in rats and dogs. CP-191,166 was administered in both single and multiple (22–29 day) doses to Sprague–Dawley rats (3 mg/kg iv and 5, 10, 25 and 200 mg/kg po) and to beagle dogs (5 mg/kg iv and 5, 15 and 50 mg/kg po). Blood samples were collected between 0 and 48 h and plasma CP-191,166 concentrations were determined using high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with ultraviolet (UV) detection. The in vitro metabolism of CP-191,166 was also evaluated with rat and dog liver microsomes. The results of these studies suggest that in both species, there may be saturable clearance occurring with higher doses, Tmax was at or near the earliest sample time point for all doses, suggesting that the drug was rapidly absorbed, and CP-191,166 was eliminated with t1/2 values of 8–9 h. No rat or dog microsomal metabolism was observed, suggesting that metabolites detected in vivo in dogs were non-P450-mediated. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Micro colorimetric method of dye staining and its application to cellulose polyacetate strip electrophoresis for the determination of acid glycosaminoglycans

Abstract A simple colorimetric method for the quantitative determination of glycosaminoglycans based on the solubilization of toluidine blue-polyanionic glycosaminoglycans complexes from cellulose acetate membranes is described. The method is adapted to the determination of glycosaminoglycans individually after some of these were separated from others by electrophoresis on cellulose polyacetate strips employing three types of electrolytes, 0.1 N HCl, 0.2 M butylamine, and 0.05 M calcium acetate containing 40% diethylene glycol. By this method, heparin, hyaluronic acid, keratan sulfate, and chondroitin sulfate were quantitatively determined from a mixture of six glycosaminoglycans.
Enduring Identities: The Guise of Shinto in Contemporary Japan.

Enduring Identities: The Guise of Shinto in Contemporary Japan. John K. Nelson. Honolulu: University of Hawai'i Press, 2000. vii + 324 pp., figures, photographs, notes, references, glossary, index
Injectable suspensions for prolonged release nalbuphine

AbstractThere is a need for parenteral opioid analgesics with longer durations of action. Suspensions of nalbuphine were formulated by buffering the HCI salt to pH 9-9.2 in the presence of the commonly used suspending agents, methylcellulose, sodium carboxymethylcellulose, and PEG. Each of these suspensions prolonged nalbuphine release, relative to a nalbuphine HCI solution, after intramuscular administration to rats. Peak plasma concentrations were lower, and the half-life was increased more than 2-fold. The methylcellulose suspension had the smallest particle size and gave the highest plasma nalbuphine concentrations. This was also evaluated in dogs, and as in rats, the half-life was approximately doubled. These suspensions can be lyophilized and readily resuspended, and do not appear to be irritating. This is a simple, practical approach to a prolonged release injectable.
Decline of a Native Mussel Masked by Sibling Species Invasion

The European blue mussel ( Mytilus galloprovincialis ) has extensively invaded southern California, whereas a native species, M. trossulus , is abundant in northern California and further north. In this study, a portion of the 16S ribosomal RNA gene was sequenced from mussels collected in southern and central Cali- fornia in the nineteenth century. I aligned these sequences with 22 sequences representing modern M. gallopro- vincialis , M. edulis , and M. trossulus . Phylogenetic analysis using parsimony identified the nineteenth-century mussels as M. trossulus . Because mussel populations have been continuously present in this region since the time these mussels were collected, these data indicate that M. trossulus were present during the initial invasion of M. galloprovincialis , but, due to the morphological similarity of the two species, declined without notice. Disminuciones de un Mejillon Nativo Encubierta por la Invasion de una Especie Hermana Resumen: El mejillon azul europeo ( Mytilus galloprovincialis ) ha invadido extensivamente el sur de Califor- nia mientras que la especie nativa M. trossulus es abundante en el norte. En este estudio, una porcion del gen ARN 16S ribosomal fue secuenciada de los mejillones colectados en el sur y centro de California en el siglo XIX. Estas secuencias fueron alineadas con 22 secuencias representativas de M. galloprovincialis , M. edulis y M. trossulus modernas. El analisis filogenetico de parsimonia identifico a los mejillones del siglo XIX como M. trossulus . Debido a que las poblaciones de mejillones han estado continuamente presentes en esta region, etos datos indican que M. trossulus estuvo presente durante la invasion inicial de M. galloprovincialis , pero debido a la similud entre estas dos especies, M. trossulus disminuyo sin ser notado.
Proliferation of Chicken Myoblasts Is Regulated by Specific Isoforms of Platelet-Derived Growth Factor: Evidence for Differences between Myoblasts from Mid and Late Stages of Embryogenesis

Abstract In the present study we measured the level of PDGF receptor expression by chicken myoblasts and the effect of the three different PDGF isoforms (AA, AB, BB) on DNA synthesis by myoblasts. We examined PDGF receptor expression and function on clonally derived myoblasts in order to eliminate contaminating fibroblasts which are present in myogenic cultures and which hind PDGF. Furthermore, since we have previously shown that fetal myoblasts are replaced with adult myoblasts during late chicken embryogenesis, we compared PDGF receptor expression and function on myoblasts from Embryonic Day 10 (E10, mid development) and from Embryonic Day 19 (E19, late development). We found that all myogenic clones from late embryos (E19) express many receptors for PDGF-BB, far fewer receptors for PDGF-AB, and even fewer, if any, receptors for PDGF-AA. Myoblast clones derived from E10 were more heterogeneous in their PDGF binding pattern ranging from clones similar to E19 clones to clones having very few PDGF binding sites. We also found that both PDGF-AB and PDGF-BB can promote DNA synthesis by clonally derived chicken myoblasts maintained in 2.5% fetal bovine serum whereas PDGF-AA has no detectable effect. Finally, we observed that primary myogenic cultures from E10 and E19 differ strikingly in levels of PDGF binding; E19 cultures bind much more PDGF than do E10 cultures. We conclude that PDGF can enhance the proliferation of chicken myoblasts and that myoblasts responsive to PDGF are more frequent in late than in mid stages of development. We propose that PDGF may be a modulator of myogenesis of adult but not fetal myoblasts.
Profiling steroid hormones and urinary steroids

This paper reviews techniques utilized in the profiling of steroids in body fluids and tissues. Methods for profiling plasma unconjugated steroids and urinary steroid metabolites are focused on. Concentrations or levels of excretion of a variety of steroids have been documented and reviewed. The importance of profiling techniques in the study of normal and pathophysiology of hormonal steroids is discussed.
Semifragile watermarking for authenticating JPEG visual content

In this paper, we propose a semi-fragile watermarking technique that accepts JPEG lossy compression on the watermarked image to a pre-determined quality factor, and rejects malicious attacks. The authenticator can identify the positions of corrupted blocks, and recover them with approximation of the original ones. In addition to JPEG compression, adjustments of the brightness of the image within reasonable ranges, are also acceptable using the proposed authenticator. The security of the proposed method is achieved by using the secret block mapping function which controls the signature generating/embedding processes. Our authenticator is based on two invariant properties of DCT coefficients before and after JPEG compressions. They are deterministic so that no probabilistic decision is needed in the system. The first property shows that if we modify a DCT coefficient to an integral multiple of a quantization step, which is larger than the steps used in later JPEG compressions, then this coefficient can be exactly reconstructed after later acceptable JPEG compression. The second one is the invariant relationships between two coefficients in a block pair before and after JPEG compression. Therefore, we can use the second property to generate authentication signature, and use the first property to embed it as watermarks. There is no perceptible degradation between the watermarked image and the original. In additional to authentication signatures, we can also embed the recovery bits for recovering approximate pixel values in corrupted areas. Our authenticator utilizes the compressed bitstream, and thus avoids rounding errors in reconstructing DCT coefficients. Experimental results showed the effectiveness of this system. The system also guaranies no false alarms, i.e., no acceptable JPEG compression is rejected.
Alterations in calmodulin content and localization in areas of rat brain after repeated intermittent amphetamine.

To assess whether calmodulin (CaM) could have a role in the behavioral sensitization induced by repeated intermittent amphetamine, CaM content was determined in several brain areas from rats repeatedly administered saline or amphetamine. Rats were treated with amphetamine using an escalating dose paradigm and withdrawn for either 4 weeks (withdrawn group) or 30 min (non-withdrawn group). CaM content was measured in cytosol and 100,000 × g membrane fractions from striatum, limbic forebrain, medial prefrontal cortex, hippocampus and cerebellum. In the withdrawn group, CaM was significantly increased in striatal membranes and cytosol and in the mesolimbic membranes from amphetamine-treated rats. There were no changes in CaM in the medial prefrontal cortex, hippocampus or cerebellum. In the non-withdrawn group, there was no significant change in CaM in striatal or mesolimbic fractions but CaM was significantly decreased in cytosol of the medial prefrontal cortex and hippocampus as compared to saline controls. This decrease could be related to the tolerance that has developed to the amphetamine after the repeated treatments. In the withdrawn group, challenge with a low dose of amphetamine (1 mg/kg) elicited a translocation of CaM from membranes to cytosol in the striatum and limbic forebrain of rats repeatedly treated with amphetamine, but not in saline-treated rats. Our findings that the change in CaM occurs in striatum and limbic forebrain, requires time after treatment to develop and exhibits persistence after withdrawal correlate with known characteristics of behavioral sensitization to amphetamine. These results suggest that CaM could contribute to neurochemical events underlying behavioral sensitization to amphetamine.
A practical automatic data acquisition system for stopped-flow spectrophotometry.

Abstract A system of control and timing circuits is described which together with a small, inexpensive digital computer operate as a flexible data acquisition and evaluation instrument in the laboratory. A full description of the operation of the instrument as applied to stopped-flow rapid reaction spectrophotometry and some details of the data reduction program are presented. The computer collects samples of the analog voltage representing the stopped-flow reaction record, smooths these data by a least-squares procedure, calculates absorbance information, and outputs the processed data in a convenient format on paper and as a permanent record on punched paper tape.
Container volume and growing density influence western larch (Larix occidentalis Nutt.) seedling development during nursery culture and establishment

Larch tree species (Larix Mill.) are both ecologically and commercially valuable in their native range and are the focus of many restoration, afforestation, and commercial reforestation efforts in the boreal forests of the northern hemisphere. Land use change, shifting climate, and poor natural regeneration are making it increasingly difficult to establish the species; therefore, artificial regeneration is critical to ensure this timber species maintains its productive role on the landscape. New stocktypes are continually being developed to aid target seedlings for difficult sites, and critical, non-confounding evaluations of them are needed for target seedling development. This research evaluates the effect of container parameters on potential target seedlings. It examines tolerance thresholds of western larch (Larix occidentalis Nutt.) with respect to moisture and temperature status in the rhizosphere during early establishment. A suite of morphological measurements was used to assess seedling quality and relative performance following transplant. Modifying a commercially available container developed four distinct stocktypes of 111, 143, 175 and 207 ml that were paired with a volume-dependent nutrient regime at two culturing densities. Seedling phenotype was affected to a greater extent by container density than by container volume. Despite changes to container volume, root:shoot were found to be similar, indicating benefits of a tailored nutrient regime during nursery culture. Simulated field trials revealed that a low density growing arrangement improved post-transplant seedling growth, specifically root growth. Also, the 207 ml container facilitated greater growth in dry soil conditions compared to smaller containers. Lower (10 °C) rhizosphere temperature hindered root growth; however, seedling survival was 100 %, warranting the testing of earlier outplanting windows for this species. This evaluation of stocktype performance contributes to a greater body of work with this species and its congeners, which will ultimately benefit reforestation and afforestation efforts alike.
Educational Policy For the Large Cities.

In order to rebuild the inner city, we must solve the problem of educating children in the inner city schools. Bloom's findings suggest a solution to this problem: all children can master ordinary school curriculum and therefore a strategy of equal end products is viable.
The Intrinsic Stiffness of Polyglutamine Peptides

We have used the method of Trp/Cys contact quenching to measure the rate of contact formation in polyglutamine and find it to be a very stiff peptide. Separation of observed rates into reaction-limited and diffusion-limited rates show that the reaction-limited rates increase (rather than decrease) slightly with length between 4 and 16 amino acids. Using Szabo, Schulten, and Schulten theory, we have modeled the results with a wormlike chain with excluded volume and find the persistence length to be about 13.0 A, much longer than has been observed for other random peptides and unfolded proteins. The preferred extended conformation of polyglutamine could account for a propensity for expanded glutamine stretches to unfold the Huntington's protein and the high propensity to aggregate from a disordered monomer.
Mechanical properties on ion-beam-textured surgical implant alloys

An electron‐bombardment Hg ion thruster was used as an ion source to texture surfaces of materials used to make orthopedic and/or dental prostheses or implants. The materials textured include 316 stainless steel, titanium–6% aluminum, 4% vanadium, and cobalt–20% chromium, 15% tungsten. To determine the effect of ion texturing on the ultimate strength and yield strength, stainless steel and Co–Cr–W alloy samples were tensile tested to failure. Three types of samples of both materials were tested. One type was ion textured (the process also heats each sample to 300°C), another type was simply heated to 300°C in an oven, and the third type was untreated. Stress–strain diagrams, 0.2%‐offset yield strength data, total elongation data, and area reduction data will be presented. Fatigue specimens of ion‐textured and untextured 316 stainless steel and Ti–6% Al–4% V were tested. Included as an ion‐textured sample is a Ti–6% Al–4% V sample which was ion machined by means of a Ni screen sputter mask so as to produce...
Functionalized electrospun nanofibrous microfiltration membranes for removal of bacteria and viruses

A novel nanofibrous microfiltration membrane system, fabricated from surface functionalized polyacrylonitrile (PAN) electrospun nanofibers, was demonstrated for the effective removal of bacteria and viruses from contaminated water. For membrane modification, dual-vinyl and tri-vinyl monomers were polymerized on the surface of the PAN electrospun nanofibers, which also improved the membrane mechanical properties due to the formation of a cross-linked. Meanwhile, the dual-vinyl monomer with an imidazolium cation resulted in positively charged electrospun PAN nanofibers, allowing the membrane to create not only 2–3 times higher permeation flux or lower pressure drop, but also 99.9999% retention of bacteria (e.g., Escherichia coli) and 99.99% retention of bacteriophage (e.g., MS2) during microfiltration when compared with commercial microfiltration membranes (e.g., 90% retention of MS2).
Catalytic Hydrosolvation Process Converts Coal to Low-Sulfur Liquid Fuel

Development of the catalytic hydrosolvation process for converting coal to low-sulfur fuel oil is described in this paper. Coal impregnated with catalyst was slurried with oil, and the mixture was hydrogenated at a temperature of 475 C, and 30 min residence time under 3600 psi pressure. A ton of coal yielded 3.5 bbl of fuel oil containing 0.2% sulfur, with naphtha and C1-C4 hydrocarbon gases as byproducts. A preliminary economic evaluation of the process indicated potential for further development.
Chronic dietary lithium induces increased levels of myo-inositol-1-phosphatase activity in rat cerebral cortex homogenates

The monovalent lithium ion inhibits the enzyme myo-inositol-1-phosphatase at concentrations comparable to those which are useful in the treatment of manic depressive illness. However, dialyzed cortical homogenates from rats which have been fed diets containing lithium carbonate demonstrate increased myo-inositol-1-phosphate phosphatase activity. Over a 4-week period, there is an approximate doubling of the lithium-sensitive myo-inositol-1-phosphatase activity in the homogenate.
Dependence of Peroxisomal β-Oxidation on Cytosolic Sources of NADPH

Growth of Saccharomyces cerevisiaewith a fatty acid as carbon source was shown previously to require function of either glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (ZWF1) or cytosolic NADP+-specific isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDP2), suggesting dependence of β-oxidation on a cytosolic source of NADPH. In this study, we find that ΔIDP2ΔZWF1 strains containing disruptions in genes encoding both enzymes exhibit a rapid loss of viability when transferred to medium containing oleate as the carbon source. This loss of viability is not observed following transfer of a ΔIDP3 strain lacking peroxisomal isocitrate dehydrogenase to medium with docosahexaenoate, a nonpermissive carbon source that requires function of IDP3 for β-oxidation. This suggests that the fatty acid− phenotype ofΔIDP2ΔZWF1 strains is not a simple defect in utilization. Instead, we propose that the common function shared by IDP2 and ZWF1 is maintenance of significant levels of NADPH for enzymatic removal of the hydrogen peroxide generated in the first step of peroxisomal β-oxidation in yeast and that inadequate levels of the reduced form of the cofactor can produce lethality. This proposal is supported by the finding that the sensitivity to exogenous hydrogen peroxide previously reported for ΔZWF1 mutant strains is less pronounced when analyses are conducted with a nonfermentable carbon source, a condition associated with elevated expression of IDP2. Under those conditions, similar slow growth phenotypes are observed forΔZWF1 and ΔIDP2 strains, and co-disruption of both genes dramatically exacerbates the H2O2s phenotype. Collectively, these results suggest that IDP2, when expressed, and ZWF1 have critical overlapping functions in provision of reducing equivalents for defense against endogenous or exogenous sources of H2O2.
Syntactic operators on full semiAFLs

The class of syntactic operators is defined. If a full AFL @? is not closed undera syntactic operator @?, then repeated application of @? to @? produces an infinite hierarchy of full AFLs and the closure of @? under @? is not full principal. If @?"1 and @?"2 are incomparable full AFLs, then the least full AFL containing @?"1 and @?"2 is not closed under any syntactic operator. If L is any generator of a full AFL @? closed under any syntactic operator, then all of @? may be expressed as finite state translations of L (without applying concatenation or star). It is shown that substitution, insertion, intercalation and homomorphic replication are all syntactic operators.
The structural effects of fluorine substitution in pyridine, pyrimidine, and s‐triazine: An ab initio study

The structures of 2-fluoropyridine, 3-fluoropyridine, 4-fluoropyridine, pentafluoropyridine, 2-fluoropyrimidine, 5-fluoropyrimidine, and fluoro-s-triazine have been evaluated by the ab initio gradient method with a 4-21 basis set augmented as needed with polarization functions on nitrogen. The structural effects of fluorination on the parent heterocycle are very similar to the effects of fluorination on benzene studied earlier. The ring angle is enlarged by about 2° at the point of fluorination and the adjacent ring bonds are shortened, much more for an adjacent C-N than for C-C. Fluorination of pyridine at the C2 position causes an in-crease of bond localization in the ring. Rotational constants calculated from the structural parameters corrected with standard offset values are in exceptionally close agreement with experimental constants where these are known.