cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Host Suitability of Citrus and Zanthoxylum Spp. for Leuronota fagarae Burckhardt and Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Hemiptera: Psylloidea)

Leuronota fagarae Burckhardt (Hemiptera: Psylloidea), an exotic psyllid described from South America, was first observed in 2001 on a citrus relative Zanthoxylum fagara (L.) Sarg. (Sapindales: Rutaceae) in southern Florida. Diaphorina citri Kuwayama (Hemiptera: Psylloidea) is principal vector of the bacteria ‘Candidatus Liberibacter spp.’ causal agent of huanglongbing (HLB) or citrus greening disease. Both vector and disease are now well established in Florida and also reported throughout the Americas and Asia. The host range of D. citri is limited to citrus and some rutaceous relatives. Additional vectors and host plants could accelerate spread of HLB in citrus and threaten endangered species such as Zanthoxylum coriaceum A. Rich. and Zanthoxylum flavum Vahl. Experiments were conducted to evaluate adult survival, reproduction and nymphal development of psyllids on 3 Citrus and 4 Zanthoxylum species as well as orange jasmine, Murraya paniculata (Syn. M. exotica) (Sapindales: Rutaceae), a common ornamental and preferred host of D. citri. Leuronota fagarae in single male—female pairs at 24 °C lived an average 4–47 days, 4–12 fold longer on Zanthoxylum spp. (except Z. flavum) than on citrus. Longevity averaged 42–47 days on Z. coriaceum, Z. clava-herculis and M. paniculata and 17–35 days on Z. fagara. Average longevity on C. sinensis, C. x. paradisi and C. reticulata was 4–8 days. Longevity of D. citri in single pairs on C. sinensis, C. x. paradisi, C. reticulata, Z. fagara, Z. flavum, Z. coriaceum and Z. clava- herculis at 24 °C averaged 3–29 days and in cohorts on the hybrid rootstock ‘Swingle’ citrumelo and Z. fagara at 27 °C averaged 52–78 days. Longevities of L. fagarae and D. citri on all hosts appeared to be sufficient to acquire and transmit the causal pathogens. However, L. fagarae reproduced only on Z. fagara and D. citri reproduced only on citrus and M. paniculata, indicating that HLB spread on the inappropriate hosts would be inefficient, because acquisition of the bacteria by nymphs is much more efficient than by adults. Nevertheless, adaptation to hosts presently inappropriate for reproduction could increase over time. Field monitoring of citrus and Zanthoxylum spp. for both psyllid species and HLB is warranted in order to maintain effective plans for vector and disease management. The susceptibility of Zanthoxylum spp. to HLB pathogens and ability of D. citri and L. fagarae to acquire and transmit these pathogens are under investigation.
Literacy and conversion in the discourse of Hindu nationalism

La remise du Prix Nobel d'economie a Amartya Sen en 1998 fut saluee en Inde par tous les observateurs, hormis par le parti nationaliste Hindou Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP) qui y a vu l'expression d'une propagande en faveur de valeurs occidentales. A. Sen a ete couronne pour avoir mis l'accent notamment sur l'alphabetisation comme facteur de developpement. A travers la contestation de la legitimite de son Prix, le VHP entend critiquer l'education dispensee par les ecoles missionnaires, le proselytisme chretien et la conversion religieuse
Effect of Antibiotics on the Prevention of Experimental Bacteroides fragilis Endocarditis

The relative efficacy of single doses of antibiotics in modifying the development of Bacteroides fragilis subsp. fragilis endocarditis was studied in an experimental model. Antibiotics were administered 0.5 h before intravenous injection of B. fragilis subsp. fragilis into rabbits prepared by insertion of a polyethylene catheter into the left side of the heart; 48 h later, intracardiac vegetations were excised and cultured anaerobically. B. fragilis was recovered from 92% of untreated animals. After a single dose of procaine penicillin G (250 mg/kg intramuscularly), 80% of the animals remained infected. Chloramphenicol (30 mg/kg), carbenicillin (50 mg/kg), and metronidazole (10 mg/kg) were also ineffective (76, 80, and 75% infected, respectively). Cefamandole (30 mg/kg), cefoxitin (30 mg/kg), and erythromycin (30 mg/kg) were significantly more active (50, 55, and 45% infected, respectively), as were higher doses of carbenicillin. Clindamycin (50 mg/kg) was the most effective regimen (11% infected). At present, the relevance of these results to the therapy of serious B. fragilis infections is not known, but this model may prove useful in the evaluation of the prevention of B. fragilis subsp. fragilis bacteremia.
Theory of the Liquid-Solid Phase Transition in Helium II

The liquid-solid phase transition of helium at low temperatures is shown to result from the instability of the roton mode. In a simple model of the roton-roton interactions, the instability arises at a finite value of the roton energy as a result of the hybridization of a single roton with a bound roton pair. Thus our model exhibits a discontinuous jump of the soft-mode energy at the phase transition in agreement with neutron scattering experiments.
Sympathetic Nerve Activity in the Congenital Long-QT Syndrome

Background— Patients with congenital long-QT syndrome (LQTS) are susceptible to life-threatening arrhythmias. The sympathetic nervous system may have an important triggering role for cardiovascular events in LQTS. We therefore examined measurements of sympathetic neural traffic in patients with LQTS and matched control subjects. Methods and Results— Twelve patients with congenital LQTS and 12 healthy volunteers matched for age, sex, and body mass index were studied. Heart rate, respiration, blood pressure, and sympathetic nerve activity to the skeletal muscle blood vessels (muscle sympathetic nerve activity) and to the skin (skin sympathetic nerve activity) were monitored and recorded continuously. Resting heart rate (P=0.03), muscle sympathetic nerve activity burst rate (P=0.008), and burst incidence (P=0.02) were lower in patients with LQTS than in control subjects. However, skin sympathetic nerve activity was very similar in patients with LQTS and control subjects. Spectral analysis of RR variability s...
Kinetics of Cl Atom Reactions with Methane, Ethane, and Propane from 292 to 800 K

Absolute rate coefficients for the reactions of chlorine atom with methane and ethane between 292 and 800 K and with propane between 292 and 700 K have been determined using the laser photolysis/co...
Gene 5 protein of bacteriophage fd: a dimer which interacts co-operatively with DNA.

Abstract Isolated gene 5 protein from bacteriophage fd-infected Escherichia coli has been shown by sedimentation equilibrium to exist primarily as a dimer under non-denaturing conditions. The dimer was stable under conditions of high ionic strength, extremes in pH, dilution to 0.075 mg/ml, and increased temperature. Gene 5 protein did not undergo the indefinite self-association observed with gene 32 protein. Three lines of evidence for co-operative binding of gene 5 protein to DNA were developed. First, the interaction between gene 5 protein and phage T4 DNA was examined using a nitrocellulose filter assay. Scatchard plots of the binding data indicated that the interaction was co-operative. Similar results were obtained with gene 32 protein. Second, the co-operative binding of both proteins to DNA was shown by the sensitivity of the protein-DNA interaction to increasing ionic strength at various ratios of protein to DNA. Finally, by using the cross-linking agent, dimethyl suberixmidate, oligomeric structures containing at least seven monomers were found when the DNA was less than saturated. The possibility that gene 5 protein dimers undergo indefinite self-association in the presence of oligonucleotides was examined by sedimentation equilibrium. With oligo[d(pT)4], the protein dimer was complexed with this oligonucleotide but no self-association was observed. With oligo[d(pT)8], gene 5 protein formed tetramers, but no significant indefinite association was noted. These results do not suggest a DNA-induced conformational change, which results in indefinite association. A model for the co-operative binding of gene 5 protein to DNA is presented.
Experimental support for planar pseudopericyclic transition states in thermal cheletropic decarbonylations.

Low-temperature crystal structures of three pyrrolediones (3−5) and a furandione (9) were obtained and compared to structurally related compounds that cannot undergo decarbonylation. Systematic trends in bond lengths and angles are consistent with distortions along the reaction coordinate, in accord with the structure correlation principle of Dunitz. Since the pyrroledione and furandione rings in 3−5 and 9 are planar, these ground-state geometries prefigure the calculated planar, pseudopericyclic transition states.
Comment: Autonomy vs beneficence

The dialogue between autonomy and beneficence is ages old. Doing what the patient wants is not always consonant with doing what one believes is good and right for the patient. Inner conflict for the physician lies on both sides of this issue. As illustrated by the articles by Ronan1 and Daly et al.,2 it is just as hard to live with giving the judgmentally competent patient the right not to be treated when the outcome of treatment is likely to be good as with doing everything possible for a patient, predicting or even promising a good outcome, only to have the actual outcome make one question the quality of that saved life. Part of physician discomfort with both of these situations derives from the notion that the medical community can correctly and unambiguously identify what is or is not good and right for a given patient. Several recent studies have generated results that fly in the face of that notion and the long-held concept that there is a core set of moral and ethical values that are independent of context.3–6 Given that culture, environment, professional domain, and personal and family history can influence that ethical core, it is perhaps not surprising that what their nonphysician patients chose to do or have done sometimes makes physicians feel uneasy in not having done what is in keeping with their own moral and ethical code.
Laboratory Test of the Response to an Alarm Chemical, Isopentyl Acetate, by Apis tnelufera,

A laboratory test was developed to measure the response to isopentyl acetate (IPA) by the honey bee, Apis mellifera L. Bees 2-5 days old showed clear responses measured as seconds to react, duration of the reaction, and intensity of the reaction. An interval of 15 min or more between repeated tests was sufficient to produce consistent results. Groups of 10, 25, or 50 bees were adequate to evaluate a reaction, but a group of 5 was not. Increasing concentrations of IPA in paraffin oil (from 1:10,000 to 1:2) produced quicker, longer lasting, and stronger reactions. Measurements of the response by genetically defined bees using the lab test agreed with evaluations of their temperament in the field.
Open Treatment of Femoroacetabular Impingement is Associated with Clinical Improvement and Low Complication Rate at Short-term Followup

Background Since the modern description of femoroacetabular impingement (FAI) a decade ago, surgical treatment has become increasingly common. Although the ability of open treatment of FAI to relieve pain and improve function has been demonstrated in a number of retrospective studies, questions remain regarding predictability of clinical outcome, the factors associated with clinical failure, and the complications associated with treatment.
The enteric neural receptor for 5-hydroxytryptamine.

An enteric neural receptor for serotonin (5-HT) has been characterized. This receptor was assayed, using3H-5-HT as a radiologand, by rapid filtration of isolated enteric membranes and by radioautography. In addition, intracellular recordings were made from ganglion cells of the myenteric plexus. High affinity, saturable, reversible, and specific binding of3H-5-HT was demonstrated both to membranes of the dissected longitudinal muscle with adherent myenteric plexus and the mucosa-submucosa. Radioautographs showed these3H-5-HT binding sites to be in myenteric ganglia and in a broad unresolved band at the mucosal-submucosal interface. Antagonists active at receptors for other neurotransmitters than 5-HT, at either of the two known types of CNS 5-HT receptor, and at 5-HT uptake sites on serotonergic neurons failed to inhibit binding of3H-5-HT. The structural requirements of analogues for binding to the enteric 5-HT receptor matched the known pharmacology of M or neural 5-HT receptors. A novel 5-HT antagonist was found. This compound, N-acetyl-5-hydroxytryptophyl-5-hydroxytryptophan amide (5-HTP-DP), antagonized the action of 5-HT on type II/AH cells of the myenteric plexus but did not affect the release or actions of acetylcholine (nicotinic or muscarinic) or substance P. 5-HTP-DP was also an equally potent displacer of3H-5-HT from its binding sites on enteric membranes. It is concluded that the sites responsible for specific binding of3H-5-HT are enteric M or neural 5-HT receptors. These receptors differ from those now known to be present in the CNS.
Minimally Invasive, Robot-Assisted, Anterior Lumbar Interbody Fusion: A Technical Note

Background Minimally invasive techniques in spine surgery have gained significant popularity due to decreased tissue dissection and destruction, postoperative pain, and hospital stay. The laparoscopic anterior lumbar interbody fusion (ALIF), an innovation in minimally invasive spine surgery, is rarely done because it has marginal benefit over the mini-open ALIF technique in rates of retrograde ejaculation and vascular complications. We propose these outcomes can be improved with enhanced robotic-assisted dissection and exposure for ALIF. Patients Two patients with single-level degenerative spine disease at L5-S1, associated with mechanical back pain, underwent anterior spinal exposure using the da Vinci S Surgical Robot during ALIF. Results In this report, we provide the first description of the use of a surgical robot in the dissection and exposure for ALIF in patients with degenerative spine disease. We demonstrate successful use of the da Vinci Surgical Robot in separating the presacral nervous plexus from retroperitoneal structures without postoperative vascular or urological complications over a 1-year follow-up period. Conclusion Use of the robotic assistance in the performance of ALIF is possible without significant operative complications. This technique may provide added benefit over conventional laparoscopic approaches to the spine.
Westend, a methadone clinic: structural aspects of addiction.

A case study of a 1970s methadone clinic is presented within the context of a theory of family dynamics which includes a “perverse triangle.” The study of the clinic, its clients, and their families reveals a number of pervasive conflicts and covert coalitions. In the clinic, clients and paraprofessionals combine to undercut professionals and limit the effects of any meaningful treatment. Nontherapeutic alliances, first experienced in the family of the addict, are replicated not only in the clinic but in the treatment system as a whole. The effects of these pathogenic relationships, at any organizational level, are to inhibit the maturation of the addict.
Expression of Thermobifida fusca thermostable raw starch digesting alpha-amylase in Pichia pastoris and its application in raw sago starch hydrolysis

A gene encoding the thermostable raw starch digesting α-amylase in Thermobifida fusca NTU22 was amplified by PCR, sequenced and cloned into Pichia pastoris X-33 host strain using the vector pGAPZαA, allowing constitutive expression and secretion of the protein. Recombinant expression resulted in high levels of extracellular amylase production, as high as 510 U/l in the Hinton flask culture broth. The purified amylase showed a single band at about 65 kDa by SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis after being treated with endo-β-N-acetylglycosaminidase H, and this agrees with the predicted size based on the nucleotide sequence. About 75% of the original activity remained after heat treatment at 60°C for 3 h. The optimal pH and temperature of the purified amylase were 7.0 and 60°C, respectively. The purified amylase exhibited a high level of activity with raw sago starch. After 48-h treatment, the DPw of raw sago starch obviously decreased from 830,945 to 378,732. The surface of starch granules was rough, and some granules displayed deep cavities.
Multitracer Studies in Acute Brain Ischemia and Reply

To the Editor: The recent article by N edergaard et al. (1986) is a magnificent contribution to the use­ fulness of multiple tracer studies in the biological understanding of acute ischemic disease of the brain. Their findings have important potential im­ plications to patient management. The research supports the application of the Sokoloff method (1977), as extended by the authors Gjedde and Diemer (1983) to the understanding of acute isch­ emic injury. We would like to ask the authors to address the following items: (1) Clearly, the data demonstrate that, in the ini­ tial phase of ischemic injury, there is enhanced 2deoxyglucose (DG) uptake next to the ischemic core. However, from the strict quantitative sense, the calculations of the rate constants (i.e" Kl, k2 , and k3) and of the lumped constant during ischemia is a formidable task. This is because by definition (Sokoloff et al., 1977), there may be different rate and lumped constants in the nonischemic, border, and ischemic regions. Sokoloff et al. (1977) deter­ mined rate and lumped constants in different groups of animals. Their calculated values would hardly reproduce ischemic conditions in the an­ imals studied in this investigation. (2) The authors killed the animals 10 min after DG and methylglucose (MG) administration. At this time, the regional influences of Kl and k2 are substantial. How can this phenomenon be mini­ mized? (3) The data from autoradiographic slides would have been strengthened if the investigators had studied the histology or histochemistry of adjacent sections. Although this may have been studied in other animals (Nedergaard and Diemer, 1986), the burden of proof rests with the authors to match au­ toradiographic and histological sections. (4) Glycolytic rates are difficult to predict from enhanced DG accumulation alone. Why should en­ hanced DG accumulation be indicative of neuronal damage? W hat is the role of increased glycogen breakdown under these conditions? One is tempted to believe that combined auto radiographic and nu­ clear magnetic resonance spectroscopic elp or enriched l3C) studies may yield further explana­ tions.
Carbon dioxide (C16O2 and C18O2) adsorption in zeolite Y materials: effect of cation, adsorbed water and particle size

In this study, CO2 adsorption in the presence and absence of co-adsorbed H2O was investigated in zeolite Y. Several different zeolite Y materials were investigated including commercial NaY, commercial NaY ion-exchanged with Ba2+ and nanocrystalline NaY; herein referred to as NaY, BaY and nano-NaY. Following heating of these zeolites to 573 K and cooling to room temperature, CO2 was adsorbed as a function of pressure. FTIR spectra show that a majority of CO2 adsorbs in the pores of these three zeolites (NaY, BaY and nano-NaY) in a linear complex with the exchangeable cation, as indicated by the intense absorption band near 2350 cm−1, assigned to the ν3 asymmetric stretch of adsorbed CO2. Most interestingly is the formation of carbonate and bicarbonate on the external surface of nano-NaY zeolites as indicated by the presence of several broad absorption bands in the 1200–1800 cm−1 region, suggesting unique sites for CO2 adsorption on the surface of the nanomaterial. For the other two zeolite materials investigated, bicarbonate formation is only evident in BaY zeolite in the presence of co-adsorbed water. Adsorption of 18O-labeled carbon dioxide and theoretical quantum chemical calculations confirm these assignments and conclusions.
Agreeing on who is present and who is absent in a synchronous distributed system

The author describes his system model and failure assumptions by precisely specifying the processor group membership problem. He then gives two protocols for solving this problem. The protocols provide all correct processors with constituent views of the processor group membership. They also guarantee bounded processor failure detection and join processing delays despite any number of performance failures that do not cause network partitioning. The first protocol provides very fast processor failure detection but can require a significant message traffic overhead, even when no failures occur. To reduce this overhead, the author derives the second protocol, which has a (provable) minimal message overhead in the absence of failures but provides a longer failure detection delay and is more complex. He concludes by comparing his approach with other known approaches. >
Enhanced low-temperature thermionic field emission from surface-treated N-doped diamond films

Nitrogen-doped diamond films have been synthesized for application as a low-temperature thermionic field-emission cathode. The critical result of this study is the observation of uniform electron emission from UV photo-excitation and from thermionic field emission for films terminated with hydrogen or a 0.3-nm Ti layer. The samples were imaged with photoelectron emission microscopy (PEEM) and thermionic field-emission electron microscopy (T-FEEM) at temperatures up to 900 8C, and the electron emission current was recorded vs. the applied voltage. Hydrogen-passivated films show enhanced electron emission, but become unstable at elevated temperatures, while Ti-terminated films showed similar enhanced emission at temperatures up to 950 8C. Temperature-dependent IyV measurements show strongly increased electron emission at higher temperatures, suggesting that electron emission originates from the conduction band. These results indicate a promising new material for the production of low- temperature, high-brightness electron sources. 2002 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
Use of the Chloride Channel Activator Lubiprostone for Constipation in Adults with Cystic Fibrosis: A Case Series

Objective:To describe the use of lubiprostone for constipation in 3 adults with cystic fibrosis (CF).Case Summary:This case series describes the use of lubiprostone for the treatment of constipation in 3 adutts with CF (mean ± SD length of therapy 17.3 ± 1.5 mo). All 3 patients were prescribed lubiprostone 24 μg twice daily after hospitalization for treatment of intestinal obstruction. Patient 1 continues on chronic polyethylene glycol (PEG) 3350 and lubiprostone and has not had a recurrence of obstruction. Patient 2 requires aggressive chronic therapy with PEG 3350, lubiprostone, and methylnaltrexone. She has had 1 recurrence of obstruction. Patient 3 continues with lubiprostone taken several times per week with good control of constipation and no recurrence of obstruction to date. The adverse effect profile has been tolerable in all 3 patients.Discussion:CF is caused by a genetic mutation resulting in a dysfunctional or absent CF transmembrane conductance regulator that normally functions as a chloride ...
Emergency Management of Open Fractures and Luxations

Management of open fractures can be challenging, but the appropriate initial treatment can help to ensure the best possible case outcome. The first section of this article discusses the emergency management of an animal with an open fracture. The second section reviews joint luxations and how they are best managed on an emergency basis. This includes joint reduction when appropriate and the recommended external coaptation to help maintain reduction.
Simple and effective method to measure the diffusion coefficient of organic vapors in porous media

A quick and reliable method to measure a vapor concentration within porous substrate was developed. The technique consists of two steps, where a modified head space single drop microextraction (HS-SDME) sampling is used to entrap the vapor phase. In the second step, the entrapped vapor concentration is measured by gas chromatography (GC-FID). The technique is used to measure an effective diffusion coefficient of n-pentane in dry medium grain sand, with the sand partially saturated with water as an inert liquid. The measurements are carried out in a cylindrical sand holder on which the HS-SDME sampling ports are mounted. A linear vapor concentration profile along the bed thickness is found. From known concentration gradient and measuring the mass flux gravimetrically, the effective diffusion coefficient is determined. It turns out that the diffusion coefficient decreases from 8.49 × 10−6 for dry sand to 7.13 × 10−6 m2 s−1 as a function of water saturation. Additional hindrance to the vapor transport is observed from both the simple volumetric effect due to the porous medium void space reduction caused by the presence of water and increase of the tortuosity.
Progesterone Receptor Transactivation of the Secretory Leukocyte Protease Inhibitor Gene in Ishikawa Endometrial Epithelial Cells Involves Recruitment of Krüppel-Like Factor 9/Basic Transcription Element Binding Protein-1

Progesterone receptor (PR), a ligand-inducible transcription factor, mediates the physiological actions of progesterone (P) through two distinct isoforms, PR-A and PR-B, and numerous nuclear coregulators. We previously demonstrated that basic transcription element binding protein-1 (BTEB1), a transcription factor of the Kruppel-like family, is a functional PR-interacting protein, based on the subfertility phenotype and reduced P sensitivity of uterine PR target genes, on BTEB1 null mutation. Here we examined the role of BTEB1 in PR-mediated signaling in endometrial epithelial cells using Ishikawa human endocarcinoma cells and the P-responsive secretory leukocyte protease inhibitor (SLPI) gene. Treatment of Ishikawa cells with P for 24 h increased SLPI and BTEB1 transcript levels without similar effects on PR expression. P induction was abolished by the PR antagonist RU486, whereas knockdown of BTEB1 with short interfering RNA reduced P-responsive BTEB1 but not SLPI expression to basal levels. Forced expre...
Long-range timber supply planning for a vertically integrated paper mill

We consider a vertically integrated papermaking operation composed of an integrated pulp and paper mill with its regional supply network. Considering land procurement and harvest rotation as strategic decision variables, we construct a model to establish a long-range timber supply plan that minimizes the total discounted cost of meeting annual virgin wood fiber demand over an infinite horizon. Under appropriate assumptions on costs and storage, the land procurement and harvest rotation decisions are separable with harvest rotation being determined via a forest economics-type equation and land procurement being determined by a newsvendor-type equation.
Interference of Monoclonal Antibody Therapies with Serum Protein Electrophoresis Tests

To the Editor: During routine serum protein electrophoresis (SPE), we recently detected an apparent IgG heavy-chain immunoglobulin in a 51-year-old woman with a 5-year history of IgDκ multiple myeloma. Other relevant laboratory values at the time included the following: serum creatinine, 159 μmol/L (reference interval, 62–97 μmol/L); IgG, 2.55 g/L (reference interval, 6.00–17.00 g/L); IgM, <0.25 g/L (reference interval, 0.35–2.90 g/L); and IgA, 0.40 g/L (reference interval, 0.40–4.00 g/L). The rarity of an IgG heavy-chain gammopathy in combination with an IgDκ and a low quantitative IgG value raised suspicion of an interference. Consultation with the treating physician revealed that the patient was enrolled in a phase II clinical trial of dexamethasone and siltuximab for the treatment of refractory myeloma. Siltuximab (Centocor), a high-affinity antibody to human interleukin-6, is currently being used in clinical trials for the treatment of a number of malignancies, including multiple myeloma. Siltuximab is a chimeric immunoglobulin comprising the variable antigen-binding region of a mouse antibody and the constant region of human IgG1κ (1). It binds to human interleukin-6, a survival factor for myeloma cells (2). We obtained siltuximab from the manufacturer …
The effects of music listening and art production on negative mood: A randomized, controlled trial ☆

Abstract A large literature now exists to examine the effects of music listening on negative mood. However, few studies both isolate music as the active ingredient in mood improvement and compare music to a placebo condition designed to reduce demand effects. In the present study, 60 adult participants recruited from the local community were randomly assigned to one of four conditions: music listening + art production (drawing), music listening + art sorting, no music + art production, or no music + art sorting. By giving participants in all four groups an “arts” task, we intended to equate expectations of improvement and thereby better rule out demand effects as a source of group differences. Self-report measures of negative mood were collected before and after the 10 min intervention period. Participants in the two music listening conditions showed greater mood enhancement compared to the two non-music conditions. However, there were no significant effects of the art conditions (production vs. sorting). These results document that music listening has specific efficacy in enhancing mood even when expectations of improvement are equated across groups.
Sterile inflammation associated with transradial catheterization and hydrophilic sheaths.

In 1999, we noted the development of inflammation and/or abscesses at the site of radial access in a group of patients. Over a 3-year period, we noted this inflammation in 33 patients out of 2,038 (1.6%) who had catheterization via the radial approach. The radial abscesses occurred in 30 patients out of 1,063 (2.8%) in whom we could confirm the use of a hydrophilic-coated sheath, but in no patient for whom we can document that an uncoated sheath was used. No infectious agent could be implicated, and the time course for the development of the abscess, typically 2 to 3 weeks, seemed long for a bacterial infection. Later patients had biopsies, and granulomatous reactions were seen in most. Additionally, a few of the biopsies showed an amorphous extravascular substance consistent with the catheter coating. All patients had good long-term outcomes. Cathet Cardiovasc Intervent 2003;59:207–213. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Game Design and Development Based on Logical Animation Platform

As a popular way of entertainment, game has played an important role in our daily life, and more and more people have dreams to design some kinds of games by themselves. Thanks to the emergence of game engine, people's dreams come into reality. With the help of game engine, designing a game becomes easier, and the development time is also reduced considerably. This paper introduces an education-oriented game engine, named logical animation platform. The features of logical animation platform are presented, and the basic development process to design a game is summed up. The design process of an aircraft game is given as an example to demonstrate how to use the logical animation platform to develop games, and to show the advantages of the game engine. Finally, the future of the logical animation platform and game development are outlined.
Chronic nicotine exposure inhibits 17β-estradiol-mediated protection of the hippocampal CA1 region against cerebral ischemia in female rats

Nicotine addiction in women increases the risk of ischemic stroke. Importantly, women who smoke and use hormone replacement therapy/oral contraceptives greatly increase their risk of coronary heart disease and ischemic stroke as compared to nonsmoking women who use occasionally oral contraceptives. Nicotine addiction disturbs the normal periodicity of the menstrual cycle and induces early onset of menopause in women; however, the mechanism of the synergistic effects of nicotine and sex hormones on cerebrovascular health is not clearly understood. In the current study based on a rat model of global cerebral ischemia, our goals are (1) to determine whether chronic nicotine exposure abrogates beneficial effects of estrogen on hippocampal neurons subjected to ischemia, and (2) to determine whether nicotine exposure antagonizes estrogen signaling by reducing the availability of estrogen receptor(s). To test the effects of chronic nicotine exposure, normally cycling or ovariectomized rats were injected with nicotine daily for 15 days. To investigate the efficacy of estrogen treatment, nicotine-exposed ovariectomized rats were injected with a bolus of 17β-estradiol and 48 h later ischemia was induced. Our results demonstrated that chronic nicotine exposure followed by ischemic insult at the proestrus stage of the estrous cycle showed that only 14% of normal neurons remained compared to the non-nicotine-treated group (p < 0.05). Similarly, a bolus of 17β-estradiol to nicotine-treated ovariectomized rats showed only 26% of normal neurons remaining as against 47% in the non-nicotine-treated group. Nicotine exposure decreased ERβ but not ERα protein levels in the hippocampus, suggesting a role for ERβ in increased post-ischemic neurodegeneration from nicotine exposure.
Static VAr compensators for critical synchronous motor loads during voltage dips

The operation continuity of a critical synchronous motor load group subjected to momentary voltage sags can be enhanced by locally installing a static VAr compensator (SVC). A method is presented to determine the minimum capacitive SVC rating necessary for the system to be transient stable, and to apply a microprocessor based control of the SVC admittance for providing damping of the power oscillations. The results are validated by simulation of the full order nonlinear model of the drive and distribution system. >
A Perspective on Corrosion Inhibition by Biofilms

A perspective is provided on corrosion inhibition by bacterial biofilms. Inhibition of general corrosion by biofilms has been reported for mild steel, copper, aluminum, and stainless steels. The mechanisms most frequently cited for the inhibition are formation of a diffusion barrier to corrosion products that stifles metal dissolution, consumption of oxygen by respiring aerobic microorganisms within the biofilm causing a diminution of that reactant at the metal surface, production of metabolic products that act as corrosion inhibitors (e.g., siderophores) or specific antibiotics that prevent proliferation of corrosion-causing organisms (e.g., sulfate-reducing bacteria), and formation of passive layers that are unique to the presence of microorganisms. The perspective will review biofilm formation and the processes that make it difficult to predict and control.
An integrated framework for deterministic and stochastic optimization

optimization problem which takes the following form. In recent articles we presented a general methodology for finite optimization. The new method, the Nested Partitions (NP) method, combines partitioning, random sampling, a selection of a promising index, and backtracking to create a Markov chain that converges to a global optimum. In this paper we demonstrate, through examples, how the NP method can be applied to solve both deterministic and stochastic finite optimization problems in a unified framework.
Spaces of solutions of relativistic field theories with constraints

In this paper I shall explain how the reduction results of Marsden and Weinstein [38] can be used to study the space of solutions of relativistic field theories. Two of the main examples that will be discussed are the Einstein equations and the Yang-Mills equations. The basic paper on spaces of solutions is that of Segal [49]. That paper deals with unconstrained systems and is primarily motivated by semilinear wave equations. We are mainly concerned here with systems with constraints in the sense of Dirac. Roughly speaking, these are systems whose four dimensional Euler-Lagrange equations are not all hyperbolic but rather split into hyperbolic evolution equations and elliptic constraint equations.
Objective measures of health and well-being in laboratory rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta).

Background Non-human primates are an invaluable part of biomedical research. Strict regulations insure animals have a maximum likelihood of well-being and optimum health during the course of experimental procedures. Objective assessment of well-being is a critical component of these assurances. Methods Here we describe an objective and quantitative system we used to identify two well-being concerns in laboratory rhesus monkeys (Macaca mulatta). We provide a series of indicators for use by laboratory personnel to promote laboratory primate well-being. The indicators measure (1) potentially life threatening clinical concerns, (2) developing clinical issues, (3) atypical behaviors, and (4) laboratory performance. We include specific criteria to facilitate veterinary intervention. Results The assessment, applied to two case studies reported here, enabled swift veterinary intervention returning the animals to a healthy state. Conclusions The measures described here provide a battery of observable and objective measures across multiple dimensions that can further ensure both excellent science and veterinary care.
Nitrate reductase and growth of Arabidopsis thaliana in solution culture

As a principal limiting nutrient, the metabolism of nitrogen is central to understanding plant growth and performance. Nitrate reductase (NR) is the first, and thus a critical, enzyme in the overall pathway for N incorporation. As such, and because it is highly regulated at the transcriptional, translational and post-translational levels, NR has received a large amount of experimental attention. On the other hand, there have been a number of reports that plant growth can be maintained with much less, or much more, NR activity than is normally present, and without the normal controls. The actual relationship between NR activity and growth is, however, poorly understood. The objective of this study was to examine the integration of growth, protein accumulation and patterns of nitrate reductase (NR) activity in wild-type Arabidopsis thaliana L. plants and a mutant lacking NR. Our results show that WT plants, during their exponential growth phase, had as much as 15-times more NR activity than needed to support the recorded growth. NR-deficient mutants, on the other hand, achieved equivalent exponential growth rates, lagging WT by about two weeks, but had less than 20% of the NR needed to support that growth. Both WT and mutants grew equally well when nitrite was supplied instead of nitrate, so long as the nitrite was continuously present, suggesting involvement of N-conversions in the growth medium. When N was supplied only in short pulses, nitrite toxicity was indicated, but the mutants still survived and grew on nitrate. We conclude that the absolute requirements for NR in plants may be highly flexible. The mechanism by which NR-deficient plants incorporate nitrate and support growth remains unclear, however.
Family and Community Influences on the Social and Sexual Lives of Latino Gay Men

The purpose of this study was to explore the effect of family and community on the social and sexual lives of a group of Latino gay men living in a metropolitan area. A secondary analysis of four focus groups with 28 Latino gay men was conducted. Families had a difficult time acknowledging and supporting participants’ homosexuality. Participants experienced racism, discrimination, and physical and verbal abuse as a result of their ethnicity and homosexuality. These negative effects contributed to their marginalization and made them vulnerable to depression and suicide. Health care professionals should be aware of the effect of family and culture on the social and sexual lives of Latino gay men so that they can intervene and direct the client to the services needed to manage depression, suicidal ideation, and high-risk sexual behavior.
History, practices, and future of earned value management in government: Perspectives from NASA

The goal of this research is to explore the history, practices, and future of the earned value management (EVM) method in government, and seek opportunities and suggestions for wider implementation...
Pharmacologic Therapy for Periocular Infantile Hemangiomas: A Review of the Literature

Infantile hemangiomas are common vascular tumors of childhood with a propensity for the head and neck. In the periocular region, they can cause functional and cosmetic deformity. The proliferation and involution of hemangiomas are controlled by complex interactions of molecular, cellular, and hormonal regulators. There is no single uniformly safe and effective treatment option. Various modalities, including local and systemic pharmacologic agents, lasers, surgery and embolization, are employed to halt growth and to induce regression. This article will review the rapidly evolving field of pharmacologic treatment of infantile hemangiomas.
Regional suicide rates as a function of national political change.

It has been reported that suicide rates are not a function of national instability. Assuming that the changes represented by presidential campaigns and elections might produce stress leading to increased suicide rates, this study tested the hypothesis that suicide might be a function of national elections. The suicide rates for California (n = 49,897) and Riverside County. California (n = 1,092) were studied for the 15-yr. period between 1960 and 1974. Both County and State suicide rates showed a 4-yr. cyclic fluctuation marked by yearly increases which peaked in the campaign year preceding the election and precipitously declined the year of the election. The notable exception was the election year of 1972, after which the rate climbed to a peak in 1973, the year of the Watergate scandal. The rate dropped again in 1974, after the president resigned. Rates were shown to have the greatest fluctuation in the County, where they deviated significantly from the regression line for each of the campaign/election ...
Infection-induced proinflammatory cytokines are associated with decreases in positive affect, but not increases in negative affect

Infection commonly triggers nonspecific psychological and behavioral changes including fatigue and malaise, anhedonia, inability to concentrate, and disturbed sleep that collectively are termed "sickness behaviors". Converging evidence from several lines of research implicate the activities of proinflammatory cytokines as a cause of sickness behaviors. Here we elaborate upon the findings of previous research by examining whether infection-associated elevations in local proinflammatory cytokines are associated with increased negative mood and decreased positive mood. One hundred and eighty-nine healthy adults were experimentally exposed to rhinovirus or influenza virus during a 6-day period of quarantine. Infection, objective signs of illness, nasal IL-1beta, IL-6, and TNF-alpha, and self-reported affect were assessed at baseline and on each of the five post-challenge quarantine days. In the 153 persons who became infected following exposure to the challenge virus, daily production of IL-6, but not IL-1beta or TNF-alpha, was associated with reduced concurrent daily positive affect. One-day lagged analyses showed that daily production of all three cytokines was related to lower positive affect on the next day. All lagged associations were independent of previous-day positive affect and objective signs of illness (mucus production, mucociliary clearance function). There were no associations between cytokines and negative affect. Findings support a causal association between pathogen-induced local cytokine production and changes in positive affect over a 24-h timeline.
A FURCULA IN THE COELOPHYSID THEROPOD SYNTARSUS

We report the occurrence of a furcula (fused clavicles) in both species of the Early Jurassic coelophysid theropod dinosaur Syntarsus (Coelophysidae sensu Holtz, 1994; =Coelophysis and Syntarsus and all descendants of their most recent common ancestor). The furcula is a median pectoral element formed by ontogenetic fusion of the left and right clavicles. It articulates laterally with a facet on the acromion process of the scapula, and medially with the sternum. Study of the holotype of Syntarsus kayentakatae (MNA V2623) uncovered a furcula in articulation with the left scapulocoracoid. Re-examination of elements previously identified as hyoids of Syntarsus rhodesiensis (QG 193) show these bones are actually furculae, nearly identical in morphology to that of S. kayentakatae. These specimens mark the earliest confirmed record of furculae to date, both temporally and phylogenetically. This suggests that the fusion of clavicles into furculae occurred much earlier in the
Exploiting Mechanical Flexure as a Means of Tuning the Responses of Large-Scale Periodic Structures

We present techniques for designing large-scale, mechanically tunable periodic structures (PSs). Overlapping combined with relative movement, stretching/compression, and flexure are the three mechanical tuning techniques studied in this paper. We demonstrate that all of these mechanical movements may be used to tune the capacitance and inductance of elementary periodic structures with capacitive and inductive surface impedances over wide ranges of values. Analytic formulas for calculating the variable inductance and capacitance of these tunable PSs are also provided. These elementary PSs are the building blocks of a wide range of other PSs with more complicated unit cells and response types. One such structure—a frequency selective surface (FSS) composed of series combination of these inductive and capacitive structures—is also examined to demonstrate the application of the proposed tuning and analysis concepts. The FSS is fabricated on an accordion-like substrate that can be contracted or stretched to change its frequency of operation. The response and tuning properties of this structure are experimentally characterized using a free-space measurement system. A very good agreement between theory and experiment is obtained. This demonstrates that the behavior of such complex mechanically tunable PSs can be analyzed by examining the behavior of their constitutive inductive and capacitive elements.
How Research on Human Progeroid and Antigeroid Syndromes Can Contribute to the Longevity Dividend Initiative

Although translational applications derived from research on basic mechanisms of aging are likely to enhance health spans and life spans for most of us (the longevity dividend), there will remain subsets of individuals with special vulnerabilities. Medical genetics is a discipline that describes such "private" patterns of aging and can reveal underlying mechanisms, many of which support genomic instability as a major mechanism of aging. We review examples of three classes of informative disorders: "segmental progeroid syndromes" (those that appear to accelerate multiple features of aging), "unimodal progeroid syndromes" (those that impact on a single disorder of aging), and "unimodal antigeroid syndromes," variants that provide enhanced protection against specific disorders of aging; we urge our colleagues to expand our meager research efforts on the latter, including ancillary somatic cell genetic approaches.
Influence of Some Cyclodiene Insecticides on Sod Webworm Populations

The bluegrass webworm, Crambus teterrellus (Zincken), the larger sod webworm, C. trisectus Walker, and the striped webworm, C. mutabilis Clemens, caused considerable damage to turf in Kentucky in 1962, 1963, and 1964. During this period insecticides, especially dieldrin, were used extensively for control of these and other pests of turf. Numerous home owners reported heavy populations of sod webworms from these treated areas the year following application of insecticides. Because of these reports and because of observations by the author, insecticides were applied in the fall of 1963 to determine their effect on sod webworm populations.
California Boletes V. Two New Species of Boletus

Two new species of red-pored boletes, Boletus pulcherrimus and Boletus haematinus are described from California. In addition, Boletus castwoodiae is reduced to synonymy with Boletus satanas.