cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cushing’s Syndrome

Cushing’s syndrome (CS) is a disorder of excess cortisol due to increased adrenal production. CS is caused either by overproduction of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH; ACTH-dependent CS) or by autonomous secretion from the adrenal gland (ACTH-independent CS). This chapter reviews the common causes of CS and discusses diagnostic approaches and management. There is a particular focus on the often difficult process of diagnosing CS as the presentation is often subtle and diagnostic modalities are suboptimal. Strengths and weakness of the various tests are discussed in detail, and the need for early intervention to improve outcomes is emphasized.
A Low-Cost Prototype to Automate Agricultural Sprayers

Abstract The world’s population growth in the last decades demanded a great increase in agricultural production, especially in food. Therefore, in order to reduce possible losses and guarantee productivity, farmers depend more and more on the application of agrochemicals in their crops. This massive use of pesticides represents not only a high cost to the farmers but also a risk to their health, to the environment and even to the safety of the food consumed by the population. In this context, new technologies have been developed to make agricultural spraying more effective, reducing the amount of pesticide applied and dosing its use according to the need of the crop. The recognition of its spatial and temporal variability is treated by Precision Agriculture. In the case of pest management it can be done using variable-rate sprayers or using on/off application with individual nozzle control. Thus, this paper proposes a low-cost prototype in a modular solution to automate existent agricultural sprayers. The solution allows individual nozzle opening, with on/off control, using solenoid valves, pressure and flow sensors, Arduino boards, and smartphone. Additionally, the prototype has a data logger function to store nozzle status and sensor values, allowing future analysis and application reports.
Nail disease in neonatal abstinence syndrome.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES Neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) incidence continues to rise in the United States due to increasing opioid use disorder in pregnancy. While cutaneous excoriations have been noted in NAS, there is a paucity of literature regarding abnormal nail findings in NAS. METHODS A retrospective, observational case series was conducted of twelve patients with NAS and abnormal nail findings who were admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit between January 1, 2018, and May 1, 2020. RESULTS Twelve neonates (10 male, 2 female, mean gestational age at birth 38.1 weeks) with NAS diagnosis and abnormal nail findings were identified between January 1, 2018, and May 1, 2020. NAS was diagnosed by elevated Modified Finnegan Neonatal Abstinence Syndrome Tool (M-FNAST) scores. All patients required pharmacologic treatment for NAS with seven (58.3%) requiring phenobarbital in addition to first-line morphine. Common nail findings included periungual erythema, yellow crusting, desquamation of the proximal and/or distal lateral nail folds and sheared distal nail edges. Two patients (16.7%) required antibiotic treatment for paronychia. Peak M-FNAST scores were positively correlated with number of abnormal nail findings (r = .58, P = .047). CONCLUSIONS Twelve neonates with severe NAS demonstrated similar nail abnormalities, likely secondary to NAS agitation and motor hyperactivity. Nail exams, therefore, are important in the setting of suspected or confirmed NAS to limit continued nail trauma and infection. Our findings also introduce an association between NAS severity and abnormal nail findings, which will require larger studies for further confirmation.
Bacteria make T cell memories in utero

Education of the human immune system begins in utero via T cell activation and memory development. However, whether part of the education is provided by exposure to microbes in utero remains controversial and unclear. In this issue of Cell, Mishra et al. provide new evidence that the fetal gut may be colonized by bacteria that prime T cell memories.
Generalizability Study of a Fluence Map Prediction Network.

Purpose/Objective(s) A deep learning-based fluence map prediction network (FMPN) was developed for predicting fluence maps for given desired dose distributions. The FMPN was trained with head and neck (HN) VMAT plans only. Theoretically, the FMPN learned an inverse planning optimization procedure, so it is a general method working for other types of plans. This work is to investigate the FMPN's generalizability in various clinical scenarios apart from the training data. Materials/Methods The FMPN which maps projections of 3D dose distribution to fluence maps was trained only with clinical HN full-arc VMAT plans. The baseline performance of the FMPN was evaluated on 102 HN full-arc VMAT plans independent of training dataset. To evaluate how well it generalizes to other clinical scenarios, we designed three tests, each of which has a feature different from training scenario. In Test A, we test the FMPN on a different treatment site, prostate. In Test B, we test the network on different delivery modality with three partial-arc VMAT plans and one IMRT plan. The first partial-arc plan is for a simple pelvis case with small PTV, while the other two are derived by blocking some angles of a plan for a complicated HN case with large concave PTV. The arc coverage for three plans are 120-360, 0-180, and 0-90/180-270 degrees. The IMRT plan is re-optimized from the HN case using eight equi-spaced angles. In Test C, we test the network on different degrees of modulation (DOM), in which four plans are generated by re-optimizing the HN case using four levels of penalty on DOM. Since there's a trade-off between plan DOM and plan quality, these four plans also distribute in a wide range of plan quality. The FMPN's baseline performance and generalizability were quantified by comparing the dose of FMPN-predicted fluence maps to the ground truth dose (the desired dose, input of FMPN) using 3D Gamma passing rate. Results All results are listed in Table 1. As shown in Test A, FMPN achieved a prediction accuracy in prostate site as high as in training site (HN). In test B, performance is excellent on partial-arc VMAT and degrades on IMRT, which is reasonable because IMRT is too far away from training data (full-arc VMAT) from data distribution point of view. In Test C, FMPN can predict fluence map for plans with various DOM/quality and accuracy doesn't vary with DOM. Conclusion The FMPN trained on HN full-arc VMAT plans achieves high accuracy on various clinical scenarios without retraining the model. Our results demonstrate that the FMPN is well generalizable to other treatment site, delivery modality and various DOM, showing great potential for clinical use.
Randomized trial examining the effect of exercise and wellness interventions on preventing postpartum depression and perceived stress.

Background Approximately 13-19% of postpartum women experience postpartum depression and a majority report at least some stress during the postpartum phase. Traditional interventions such as psychotherapy and antidepressant medications are often not feasible or desirable. The purpose of this study was to examine two low cost, brief, accessible interventions designed to prevent postpartum depression and perceived stress among women at high risk. Methods Participants (n = 450) who were on average four weeks postpartum, had a history of depression before pregnancy, and exercised less than 60 min per week were randomly assigned to one of the following three conditions: (1) 6-month telephone-based exercise intervention; (2) 6-month telephone-based wellness/support intervention (e.g., healthy eating, sleep, and perceived stress); or (3) usual care. Results Overall, 2.4% of participants met criteria for depression at 6 months and 3.6% at 9 months with no differences between groups. At 6 months following randomization, median symptoms of depression were significantly lower among wellness participants compared to usual care participants (b = - 1.00, SE = 0.46, p = .03). Perceived stress at 6 months post-randomization was significantly lower among exercise vs. usual care participants (b = - 2.00, SE = .98, p = .04) and exercise vs. wellness participants (b = - 2.20, SE = 1.11, p = .04). Conclusions The wellness intervention was efficacious for preventing symptoms of depression; however, postpartum depression that met the diagnostic criteria was surprisingly low in all conditions among this at risk sample of postpartum women. Exercise interventions may have a protective effect on perceived stress among women at risk for postpartum depression. Practitioners should consider integrating exercise and wellness interventions into postpartum care. Trial registration Clinical Trials Number: NCT01883479 (06/21/2013).
Using Web 2.0 Techniques in NASA's Ares Engineering Operations Network (AEON) Environment - First Impressions

The Mission Operations Laboratory (MOL) at Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC) is responsible for Engineering Support capability for NASA s Ares rocket development and operations. In pursuit of this, MOL is building the Ares Engineering and Operations Network (AEON), a web-based portal to support and simplify two critical activities: Access and analyze Ares manufacturing, test, and flight performance data, with access to Shuttle data for comparison Establish and maintain collaborative communities within the Ares teams/subteams and with other projects, e.g., Space Shuttle, International Space Station (ISS). AEON seeks to provide a seamless interface to a) locally developed engineering applications and b) a Commercial-Off-The-Shelf (COTS) collaborative environment that includes Web 2.0 capabilities, e.g., blogging, wikis, and social networking. This paper discusses how Web 2.0 might be applied to the typically conservative engineering support arena, based on feedback from Integration, Verification, and Validation (IV&V) testing and on searching for their use in similar environments.
Atomic collisions involving low energy electrons and ions

Publisher Summary This chapter presents a survey that is concerned with recent advances in our knowledge of collisions of low energy electrons and ions with atoms or molecules and with each other. In general, the term “low energy” is intended to include the range from thermal energies, ∼0.03 ev, to a few ev. An independent experimental determination of the e-H scattering was provided by Brackman, Fite, and Neynaber (BFN), who used a modulated atomic beam method, is also illustrated. Using the trapped electron method, Schulz was unable to observe vibrational excitation in hydrogen by incident electrons whose energy lay between threshold value and ∼0.1 ev higher than threshold. Hasted points out that departure from the “adiabatic” energy dependence, yielding substantially larger cross sections at low energies, are sometimes observed, possibly as a result of intrusion of other processes in the experimental measurement. By combining the results of microwave afterglow and mass spectrographic techniques, Biondi and Fox have determined the absolute cross section as a function of electron energy for I − formation.The technique of simultaneous mass analysis of the ions reaching the walls of the microwave afterglow cavity, together with the usual electron density determinations, is just entering into extensive use.
Vive La Petite Difference: Camp, Obama, and Territoriality Reconsidered

The recent tax reform proposals by Chairman Camp (R-MI) of the House Ways and Means Committee and by President Obama seem to offer starkly contrasting visions of how to reform the taxation of foreign source income earned by US-based multinationals (MNEs). Both acknowledge the problem, which is that US-based MNEs currently have over a trillion dollars of “permanently reinvested” income offshore, which they cannot bring back to the US without incurring a 35% tax penalty. However, they seem to offer radically different solutions: Under the Camp Proposal, a participation exemption will enable US-based MNEs to bring back the income without paying significant tax. Under the Obama Proposal, deferral will be abolished and US-based MNEs will have to pay a minimum tax on foreign source income earned by their controlled foreign corporations (CFCs) as it is earned. The result would be that the tax penalty on repatriating such income would be reduced because dividends would only be subject to tax at the difference between the statutory rate (reduced to 28% under the Obama Proposal) and the minimum rate. However, a closer look reveals that these proposals have more in common than meets the eye. Specifically, the Obama Proposal’s minimum tax on foreign source income of CFCs is perfectly compatible with exempting such income from further tax when it is repatriated, as the Camp Proposal envisages. Conversely, the provisions to prevent income shifting in the Camp Proposal can in practice result in precisely the minimum tax on the foreign source income of CFCs that is the centerpiece of the Obama Proposal. This level of agreement suggests that a compromise embodying elements of both proposals should not be impossible to reach when tax legislation is enacted after the fall election.
Reliability of ceramic actuators

Reliability of ceramic actuators is dependent on complex factors, which are divided into three major categories: reliability of the ceramic material, reliability of the device design and drive technique. The reliability issues are reviewed from whole points of view, with a particular focus on multilayer structures.
Sjöugren's syndrome influence of multiple hla-d region alloantigens on clinical and serologic expression

The relationships of HLA—DR and the newer DS (second D locus) B cell alloantigens (MB and MT) to the clinical and serologic expression of primary and secondary forms of Sjogren's syndrome (SS) were examined in 102 patients (86 whites and 16 blacks). Although HLA-DR3 was significantly increased in whites (25 of 50, 50%) and blacks (4 of 5, 80%) with primary SS compared with race-matched normal controls, it was not appreciably elevated in those with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE)-SS, rheumatoid arthritis (RA)-SS, or connective tissue disease-SS. The MT2 specificity, however, was more strongly associated with primary SS (86% of whites and 100% of blacks) and also with SLE-SS and RA-SS compared with race-matched normal controls. Furthermore, MT2 was significantly increased in SLE-SS and RA-SS when compared with non-sicca SLE and RA controls. Although primary and secondary SS were most strongly associated with this DS specificity (MT2), the anti-Ro (SS-A) and anti-La (SS-B) antibody responses were more closely allied to DR antigens. HLA-DR3 was increased in anti-Ro positive patients, both whites and blacks, with primary SS (74%) and in total anti-Ro positive subjects (54%) compared with their anti-Ro negative counterparts (38% and 31%, respectively). Among DR3 negative patients, HLA-DR2 correlated with anti-Ro in both primary SS (83%) and in the total SS group (58%). Thus, 96% of Ro antibody positive patients with primary SS had DR3 and/or DR2, as did 80% of anti-Ro positive subjects in all categories. Antibodies to La (SS-B) correlated only with DR3 in primary SS and in the total group. These data suggest that MT2 is the strongest major histocompatibility complex determinant for primary and secondary SS. However, HLA-DR3 and DR2 may mediate the Ro/La antibody responses that are characteristic of more severe disease. The clinical expression of Sjogren's syndrome appears to result from the complex genetic interplay of multiple HLA-D region factors.
The effect of vitamin C on in vivo lipid peroxidation in guinea pigs as measured by pentane and ethane production.

Measurements of pentane and ethane as indices of in vivo lipid peroxidation were made on samples of breath from vitamin C-sufficient and vitamin C-deficient guinea pigs injected with 23 μl carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)/100 g body wt. Vitamin C-deficient animals produced significantly more pentane and ethane after CCl4 treatment than did vitamin C-sufficient guinea pigs. Pretreatment of vitamin C-deficient animals with 75 mg ascorbic acid/100 g body wt significantly lowered both pentane and ethane evolution. Protection against in vivo lipid peroxidation similar to that provided by ascorbic acid was also found when vitamin C-deficient guinea pigs were pretreated with isoascorbic acid, reduced glutathione, α-tocopherol or β-carotene. When animals were pretreated with the radical scavenger mannitol, a protective effect was also observed as measured by pentane evolution.
Wavelet-Based Denoising of Vibration Signals for Tool-Edge Wear Detection in High Speed Machining of Inconel 718

Denoising is an essential step and plays a significant role in tool condition monitoring. In the present study, four wavelet-based denoising techniques are studied and compared, including conventional hard-thresholding, conventional soft-thresholding, generalized soft-thresholding, and soft-thresholding with Stein’s unbiased risk estimate (SURE). The results show that soft-thresholding with SURE generates the lowest mean squared error, and hence is the most appropriate denoising technique for tool-edge wear detection in high speed machining of Inconel 718.
Matrix acidizing design and quality-control techniques prove successful in Main Pass area sandstone

Successful acidizing techniques have been developed and implemented in the Main Pass area, offshore Louisiana. Since mid-1984, 37 oil wells have been acidized, resulting in a success rate of 95% and a total increase in production of almost 12,700 BOPD (2019 m/sup 3//d oil). One of the primary reasons these treatments were so successful was the continuous injection of a finely ground oil-soluble resin diverting agent throughout all acid stages, which decreased acid injection into the more permeable zones and helped distribute the treating fluids more uniformly. Other factors that may not be the industry norm that influenced the effectiveness of these treatments included (1) reduced-strength HCl/HF and preflush acids, (2) xylene solvents pumped ahead of injected acid for possible paraffin and/or asphaltene removal, (3) xylene pumped after the overflush stage as a diverter breaker, (4) filtration of all fluids, (5) low-rate, high-pressure pump for continuous injection of diverter downstream of filters, (6) use of ''pickled'' coiled tubing, (7) coil/production tubing annulus pressure recorder, (8) testing production tubing before pumping, (9) use of boats exclusively, rather than offloaded skids, from which to mix and pump, (10) on-site acid mixing with titration checks of concentration before pumping, and (11) postjob laboratorymore » analysis of concentrations and solids content of selected spot samples.« less
Theoretical evaluation of new nucleic acid bases. Ab initio study on tautomerism of 2,6-diaminopyrimidine (κ-base)

Abstract Six tautomers of 2,6-diaminopyrimidine have been studied using the ab initio method. All are minima at the HF/3-21G level. The influence of the basis set and electron correlation contributions on the relative energies of the tautomers have been examined. The diamino tautomer 1 is the global minimum. Its energy difference at the MP2/6-31G**//HF/3-21G+ZPE approximation with the two closely lying on the potential energy surface amino-imino and diimino tautomers 2 and 3 , amounts to 75 kJ mol −1 . The calculated room temperature equilibrium constant for the 1–2 transition of 10 −13 makes κ a proper candidate for the base with reduced probability of spontaneous mutations.
Spatial learning and memory in aging C57BL/6 mice

SUMMARY We evaluated spatial behaviors as a function of age in C57BL/6 mice (4, 16, and 24 months). Simple exploration was measured in an open field, spatial memory was assessed with spontaneous alternation in a Y maze, and spatial learning and memory were measured using a 16 well hole-board with water rewards. The results indicate significant age-related decreases in exploration, significantly less alternation in the Y maze for the two older age groups, and significant age-related impairments in reference and working memory with the hole-board task. Deficits in the hole-board were not due to a lack of exploration, or time to complete the task. A factor analysis indicated that the behavioral measures factor differently with each other as a function of age, and a step-wise regression of the behavioral measures with age indicated that each task uniquely and independently revealed age-related impairments. In conclusion, the three tasks reported here can form a battery of tests to examine changes in spatially mediated behaviors and in the molecular/physiological mechanisms within the limbic system of the aging brain.
The measurement of interexaminer agreement on periodontal disease

The statistic kappa is presented as a more appropriate measure of interexaminer agreement than simple percentage agreement scores, because it incorporates an adjustment for the degree of agreement to be expected purely on the basis of chance. When applied to data from an interexaminer reliability study of six variables measuring periodontal pathology, the kappa statistic confirmed and strengthened many of the conclusions drawn in the original paper. In addition, thanks to the use of kappa in the study of other variables, comparisons were possible with the degree of interexaminer agreement attained in clinical medicine and in dental caries.
A meiotic effect of a mutator gene in Drosophila melanogaster

Two new parameters of the third chromosome mutator gene, mu, in Drosophila melanogaster are described. The mutator significantly alters both meiotic chromosome disjunction and crossing over in females, but not in males. In meiotic phenotype, the mutator resembles several recently described “meiotic” mutants of D. melanogaster. However, previous studies have demonstrated that the mutator also functions premeiotically. The mutator appears to be a unique mutant which functions exclusively in females during both mitotic and meiotic cell divisions.
Adenylyl Cyclase 6 Deletion Reduces Left Ventricular Hypertrophy, Dilation, Dysfunction, and Fibrosis in Pressure-Overloaded Female Mice

Objectives This study sought to test the hypothesis that pressure stress of the adenylyl cyclase 6-deleted (AC6-KO) heart would result in excessive hypertrophy, early dilation and dysfunction, and increased fibrosis. Background Cardiac-directed AC6 expression attenuates left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy and dysfunction in cardiomyopathy. Methods AC6-KO and control (CON) mice underwent transverse aortic constriction (TAC) to induce pressure overload. Measures of LV hypertrophy, function, and fibrosis were obtained 3 weeks after TAC, and LV samples were assessed for alterations in expression of FHL1 and periostin. Results Three weeks after TAC, female AC6-KO mice had preserved left ventricular (LV) ejection fraction (CON: 22 ± 2%; AC6-KO: 52 ± 4%; p Conclusions The deleterious effects of LV pressure overload were reduced in female mice with AC6 deletion. Reductions in FHL1 and periostin expression, direct consequences of reduced AC6 in cardiac myocytes and fibroblasts, appear to be of mechanistic importance for these unanticipated beneficial effects.
The seminal foundation of the discipline of HRD: People, learning, and organizations

Human resource development (HRD) has long been considered a field with an interdisciplinary foundation. Unfortunately there has never been a consensus on the composition of the seminal disciplinary base of HRD. A description of the concept of an applied discipline is presented, and HRD, as represented by its academic association, the Academy of Human Resource Development, is compared to a set of criteria of a discipline that is set forth in the scholarly literature. A seminal foundation for a curriculum of the HRD discipline is presented around the framework of people, learning, and organizations.
Reassessing the Mass of Exceptionally Large Rodents Using Toothrow Length and Area as Proxies for Body Mass

Abstract A variety of estimators have been used by paleontologists for reconstructing body mass of fossil mammals. For rodents, the most commonly used proxy is m1 area, although that value is known to overestimate masses in muroid rodents and is generally problematic in rodent taxa in which the m1 is either enlarged (as in muroids) or reduced (as in extinct mylagaulids). This paper explores the potential utility of 2 alternative proxies, toothrow length and toothrow area; these measures are shown here to be very tightly correlated with body mass among rodents. Regression within certain clades of the Rodentia provides an even tighter fit. Applying these proxy measures to several fossil rodents provides an estimate of their masses. Comparison to published body masses of extinct rodents estimated from postcrania reveals that body masses for Castoroides and Palaeocastor estimated from femur length are consistent with those from dental proxies but that toothrow-based estimates for Phoberomys, the largest known...
Components of the Renin-Angiotensin System in Adipose Tissue: Changes With Maturation and Adipose Mass Enlargement

White adipose tissue is a rich source of angiotensinogen protein and mRNA. Studies in clonal cells suggest that angiotensinogen, and its cleavage product, angiotensin II, are involved in preadipocyte differentiation into mature fat cells. No studies have determined whether angiotensinogen is also involved in adipose tissue development in vivo. In this report, we studied male Wistar rats at two stages of development to determine if angiotensinogen protein and mRNA are increased in retroperitoneal fat depots of rapidly growing young, lean, 8-week-old rats compared to 26-week-old rats that are fatter, but are undergoing less rapid adipose tissue growth. We also assessed renin mRNA and angiotensin I-generating activity, since it is less clear whether renin is locally produced in adipose tissue. We found that angiotensin I-generating activity was measurable in adipose tissue and adipocytes, but renin mRNA was undetectable by northern blot analysis. Angiotensinogen mRNA was abundant in adipocytes, but was absent in stromal-vascular cells of adipose tissue. Angiotensinogen content per 10 million fat cells was approximately threefold higher in 8-week-old rats compared to 26-week-old rats (p < .0002). Angiotensinogen mRNA was approximately twofold higher in adipocytes of 8-week-old rats compared to 26-week-old rats. The age-related decline in angiotensinogen protein and mRNA indicates that the local renin-angiotensin system may play an important role in adipose tissue growth, and possibly contribute to the changes in adipose mass and cellularity seen in old senescent rats.
State of the stock—What do we know about existing buildings and their future prospects? $

Abstract The UK building stock has seen major changes in the last 50 years, in its form, fabric and function. The context is the expansion of the building stock and built infrastructure, which takes place in most areas at 1–2% per year, with the implication that up to 75% of the dwellings of the year 2050 already exist now. This is a major challenge. The energy performance of much of this stock is generally low, while its economic, social and cultural values are often high. The purpose of this review is to provide a brief outline of the state of knowledge of the existing building stock, and of potential advances in that knowledge. We follow a knowledge mapping approach, set out on several axes. The first is an axis from buildings as physical forms, to buildings as containers of socio-economic activity. Another axis spans between existing buildings, renovations and adaptations, and new buildings. A third axis is that of scale, from building components to large-scale settlements. There are many possible combinations of these parameters. Here we focus on those that are most relevant to the SEMBE goals of sustainable energy management across the whole building stock.
Use of Precision-Cut Liver Slices as an In Vitro Tool for Evaluating Liver Function:

Precision-cut liver slices have been developed as an in vitro tool for assessing liver viability and function and for examining hepatotoxicants. Liver slices from a variety of species (including human) are prepared using mechanical slicers that produce reproducible slices of a uniform thickness, which allows optimum exchange of nutrients, waste, and gases. Slices are incubated in dynamic systems that allow the slices to be maintained viable in culture for 1-10 days. The viability of slices can be assessed by ion content (K+, Na+ ATPase status), intermediary metabolism, energy status (ATP), respiration, biosynthetic ability, and biotransformation activity. In addition, liver tissue slices allow the opportunity for extensive microscopic evaluation (light and electron) as well as newer technologies such as confocal microscopy. Assessment of the toxic potential of a chemical can be performed after a short-term or constant exposure by evaluating the viability parameters. Liver slices have been used extensively...
Organic and inorganic carbon production in the Gulf of Maine

Abstract Gulf of Maine carbon budgets have not included estimates of calcification rates and the flux of calcite to the sediments, processes which are thought to rival organic production in terms of carbon ultimately buried in the sediments. Measurements of inorganic (calcification) and organic (photosynthetic) carbon production were made in March, June, and November of 1996 throughout the Gulf of Maine and Georges Bank. Photosynthetic rates ranged from 1.3–182 mg C m −3 d −1 , and calcification rates from 0–9.3 mg C m −3 d −1 , for all depths and locations sampled. June calcite production integrated over the euphotic zone (based on 17 profiles of 6 depths) averaged 5% of total carbon production, or 26 mg C m −2 d −1 . Calcite (inorganic C) production in June was >10% of total C production over deeper areas such as Wilkinson Basin, the Northeast Channel, and the shelf break. This ratio was lowest (1.3%) in tidally mixed, high-nutrient regions near Cape Sable and the Bay of Fundy, where diatoms were abundant and euphotic zone nitrate concentrations exceeded 2.2 μM. The turnover time of calcite particles in the water column, estimated from calcite production rates and suspended calcite concentrations, averaged 11.8 days in June and nearly 200 days in November, when calcite standing-stocks were high and calcification rates relatively low. Advective loss of calcite from the Gulf before settling is likely with long turnover times. Yearly carbon production for the Gulf of Maine was estimated at 182 g m −2 organic C and 3.7 g m −2 inorganic C, in the absence of an E. huxleyi bloom. If 1% of the organic carbon produced were buried in sediments, and 50% of the inorganic carbon, the result would be an approximately equal amount of each deposited in Gulf sediments. Inorganic carbon production by coccolithophores may therefore be an important contributor to Gulf and slope sediments, even during the non-bloom conditions studied here.
Renal hemodynamic effects of calcium antagonists

Recently, attention has focused on the effects of calcium antagonists on renal function. When administered in vitro to the isolated perfused kidney, calcium antagonists exhibit predictable actions allowing for characterization of their renal effects. Calcium antagonists do not affect the vasodilated isolated perfused kidney; however, they do dramatically alter the response of the kidney to vasoconstrictor agents. In the presence of norepinephrine, calcium antagonists markedly augment the glomerular filtration rate but produce only a modest improvement in renal perfusion. A study using the postischemic hydronephrotic rat kidney model that permits direct visualization of afferent and efferent arterioles, this study demonstrated that this preferential augmentation of the glomerular filtration rate is primarily attributable to a selective vasodilation of pre-glomerular vessels. Although the clinical implications of such observations are not yet clear, preliminary studies in experimental animal models indicate that calcium antagonists might exert salutary effects on renal function in clinical settings characterized by impaired renal hemodynamics. The possible benefits of calcium antagonists in ameliorating the development of renal dysfunction in patients in whom there is increased risk of acute renal insufficiency remain to be evaluated.
Observations on the sciences of science learning

Exciting research in cognition today combines computer modeling with neuropsychological studies of the functioning of the brain and with the experimental study of human learning and problem solving. The computer models are compared with findings about brain processes and their organization and findings about the moment-by-moment progress of humans as they learn and solve problems. This research is helping to test and improve detailed theories of the human symbolic processes used in learning and thinking and to build theories of how skills and knowledge can be taught effectively and efficiently.
Test-Order Effects: A Measure of Verbal Memory Influences Performance on a Measure of Verbal Fluency

In neuropsychological assessment, the impact of completing one measure on the performance of a second measure is often unknown. The current study examined the effect of a list-learning measure, the California Verbal Learning Test-Second Edition (CVLT-II), on a verbal fluency measure, the Delis-Kaplan Executive Functioning System Verbal Fluency subtest, when completed in a battery of tests. These tests were chosen because stimuli from the CVLT-II can function as responses for Verbal Fluency. Twenty-eight individuals seeking psychoeducational evaluation were randomly assigned to one of two test orders: the CVLT-II followed by Verbal Fluency, or the reverse order. Consistent with hypotheses, individuals who completed the CVLT-II first used more words from this task as responses on the various Verbal Fluency tasks, t(26) = 2.84, p = .009. In addition, they obtained higher raw scores and scaled scores on Category Fluency: t(26) = 3.01, p = .006, and t(26) = 2.53, p = .018, respectively. Surprisingly, the large...
Gender and Well-being in the Dominican Republic: The Impact of Free Trade Zone Employment and Female Headship

Summary This paper examines the influence of gender and free trade zone employment on health. Results from logistic regression analysis provide mixed evidence of significant effects. Findings show the combined negative effects of gender and free trade zone employment on hospitalization, and the negative effects of free trade zone employment on declaring health problems. Findings also demonstrate the positive effects of gender on the usage of preventive medicine, and the positive effects of free trade zone employment on coverage through social security. Demographic factors linked to health include household location, household labor, age, and education.
The mechanism of muscular relaxation.

Die Annahme eines Kontraktionszustandes ohne Energiebedarf (Tonus) hat keine experimentelle Grundlage. Die durch hemmende Nervenfasern bewirkte Erschlaffung von glatten Muskeln beruht nicht auf einer aktiven Beendigung eines Kontraktionszustandes, sondern auf einer Verminderung der Reizbeantwortung der Muskelfasern. In Gegenwart von Mg-Ionen verwandelt ATP. starre Muskelfasern in einen Zustand ahnlich dem des normalen ruhenden Muskels. Diese Wirkung beruht auf einer chemischen Verbindung des ATP. mit dem kontraktilen Protein. Kleine Mengen von Ca-Ionen steigern die enzymatische Tatigkeit in solchen Fasern und fuhren eine Kontraktion herbei. Erschlaffung ist passiv, aber in quergestreiften Muskeln wird die Geschwindigkeit der Erschlaffung von einem chemischen Vorgang, wahrscheinlich der Wiederherstellung des ATP. — Proteinkomplexes, beherrscht. In extrahierten Muskelfasern und in normalen glatten Muskeln ist die Erschlaffung ausserdem verzogert durch einen viskosen Widerstand, der durch schwache, intramolekulare Bindungen verursacht wird. Die Starke dieser Bindungen ist verschieden in verschiedenen Muskeln und bestimmt wichtige physiologische Eigenschaften der glatten Muskeln, besonders die Geschwindigkeit der Erschlaffung und den Energiebedarf wahrend einer Dauerkontraktion.
The relational formalism in multicomponent biosystems: On the interrelation between statistico-mechanical and stochastic theories (or models)

Abstract A meaningfully operational methodology for relating theories along the micro- to macroscopic axis is presented, together with its application to certain highly multiple interacting biological systems. The connection between classical statistical mechanics and stochastic approaches, together with their subsumptive dependence within the relational formalism, is also sketched.
Nonsense-mediated mRNA decay: splicing, translation and mRNP dynamics

Studies of nonsense-mediated mRNA decay in mammalian cells have proffered unforeseen insights into changes in mRNA–protein interactions throughout the lifetime of an mRNA. Remarkably, mRNA acquires a complex of proteins at each exon–exon junction during pre-mRNA splicing that influences the subsequent steps of mRNA translation and nonsense-mediated mRNA decay. Complex-loaded mRNA is thought to undergo a pioneer round of translation when still bound by cap-binding proteins CBP80 and CBP20 and poly(A)-binding protein 2. The acquisition and loss of mRNA-associated proteins accompanies the transition from the pioneer round to subsequent rounds of translation, and from translational competence to substrate for nonsense-mediated mRNA decay.
Tertiary hyperparathyroidism after renal transplantation: Surgical strategy

Abstract Background: An analysis of our experience with tertiary hyperparathyroidism (III HPT) in renal transplantations between 1981 and 1996 was reviewed to examine a variety of laboratory and clinical variables in this population. Methods: A total of 3233 kidney transplantations were performed; 48 patients underwent parathyroidectomy for III HPT. Five patients were excluded from analysis due to the development of renal dysfunction. The index 43 patients were divided into two groups. Group I consisted of 31 patients (72%) with either enlargement of all parathyroid glands (n = 26) or 3/4 gland enlargement (n = 5). These patients were assumed to have hyperplasia and underwent subtotal parathyroidectomy or total parathyroidectomy. Group II consisted of 12 patients (28%) with single (7/12; 58%) or two-gland enlargement (5/12; 42%). Group II patients underwent resection of only the enlarged glands. Results: Laboratory and clinical parameters showed no difference between the groups during long-term follow-up. Most patients in groups I and II were eucalcemic after parathyroidectomy. However, postoperative hypercalcemia and hypocalcemia did occur in group I (mean postoperative calcium: group I = 9.29 ± 0.63 mg/dL; group II = 9.42 ± 0.58 mg/dL). Conclusions: Four gland parathyroid enlargement is a frequent finding in III HPT, although asymmetric enlargement can occur. Histologically, this represents sporadic adenomas and asymmetric hyperplasia. Intraoperative findings should dictate surgical strategy; with asymmetric enlargement only the enlarged parathyroid glands should be resected. (Surgery 1998;124:677-84.)
Electric field dependence of young's modulus of (TMTSF)2PF6

Abstract We report on measurements of the Young's modulus (Y) and internal friction (1/Q) in (TMTSF) 2 PF 6 at 5.5K as functions of electric field. No changes ( Δ Y/Y, Δ 1/Q −4 ) are observed at fields up to 100E T , the threshold for SDW depinning, in contrast to what is observed for many sliding charge-density-wave materials. A possible explanation is that we are not observing bulk depinning of the SDW.
Complexes of the lanthanides with 4-methylcatechol in some mixed solvent systems

Abstract Formation constants of lanthanide complexes with 4-methylcatechol have been determined in 50% aqueous DMSO, ethanol, and dioxane. The enthalpy and entropy changes accompanying the addition of the first ligand are also reported. The results are compared with those previously obtained for o-aminophenol.
Government Decision Making and Program Performance: The Case of the Conservation Reserve Program

Performance of the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) in meeting the political preferences of its administrators is highly sensitive to the choice of eligibility, bid solicitation, and bid selection criteria used in making program implementation decisions. Decisions made in the first year of CRP implementation led to suboptimal results; net government cost could have been reduced while simultaneously increasing the extent to which erosion and supply control objectives were met. Simulation of the outcomes for a fully enrolled reserve under alternative implementation schemes indicates that future performance can be improved by manipulating key control variables to directly target preferences.
Membrane structural and functional responses to vasopressin in toad bladder

Freeze-fracture electronmicroscopy demonstrates that vasopressin stimulation of isolated toad bladder results in a striking morphologic alteration of epithelial membrane structure. This alteration is characterized by the aggregation of intramembranous particles in orderly linear arrays at multiple sites in the luminal membranes of granular cells specifically. The size of these aggregates varies considerably, in terms of area, over a range from 0.5 to 70×10−3 μm2. The median aggregate size is about 10.5×10−3 μm2. Since the extent of vasopressin-associated particle aggregation, in terms of frequency of sites per area of membrane or cumulative area of membrane occupied by them, closely correlates with induced changes in transport function, as measured by osmotic water flow, the aggregates themselves appear to be of physiologic significance in the mechanism of action of vasopressin. This hypothesis is supported by the observations that sites of aggregation occur (a) in response to serosal exposure to hormone specifically, (b) independently of an osmotic gradient, and (c) following stimulation with cyclic adenosine monophosphate.
Ubiquitous keyboard for small mobile devices: harnessing multipath fading for fine-grained keystroke localization

A well-known bottleneck of contemporary mobile devices is the inefficient and error-prone touchscreen keyboard. In this paper, we propose UbiK, an alternative portable text-entry method that allows user to make keystrokes on conventional surfaces, e.g., wood desktop. UbiK enables text-input experience similar to that on a physical keyboard, but it only requires a keyboard outline printed on the surface or a piece of paper atop. The core idea is to leverage the microphone on a mobile device to accurately localize the keystrokes. To achieve fine-grained, centimeter scale granularity, UbiK extracts and optimizes the location-dependent multipath fading features from the audio signals, and takes advantage of the dual-microphone interface to improve signal diversity. We implement UbiK as an Android application. Our experiments demonstrate that UbiK is able to achieve above 95% of localization accuracy. Field trial involving first-time users shows that UbiK can significantly improve text-entry speed over current on-screen keyboards.
Secondary mathematics cooperating teachers’ perceptions of the purpose of student teaching

This article reports on the results of a survey of 45 secondary mathematics cooperating teachers’ perceptions of the primary purposes of student teaching and their roles in accomplishing those purposes. The most common purposes were interacting with an experienced, practising teacher, having a real classroom experience, and experiencing and learning about classroom management. The most common roles were providing the space for experience, modeling, facilitating reflection, and sharing knowledge. The findings provided insights into the cooperating teachers’ perceptions about both what should be learned through student teaching and how it should be learned. These findings paint a picture of cooperating teachers who do not see themselves as teacher educators—teachers of student teachers. Implications for mathematics teacher educators are discussed.
Femtosecond laser desorption of molecularly adsorbed oxygen from Pt(111).

Desorption of molecularly adsorbed ${\mathrm{O}}_{2}$ from Pt(111) by 620 nm femtosecond laser pulses shows a nonlinear fluence dependence of the yield and a subpicosecond response time. The measurements were carried out by means of a two-pulse correlation scheme using a pulse counting quadrupole mass spectrometer. These results can be understood with a model involving multiple reexcitations of the adsorbate by photogenerated carriers.
First observation of resonant excitation of high-n states in positronium.

We have performed the first excitation of high-n states of positronium using resonant, two-photon excitation applied to the n=1 to 2 and 2 to n transitions. Absolute values for the line positions were quantitatively determined for n=14 and 15 and compared well with calculated predictions. The prediction of the ${\mathit{n}}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}3}$ scaling of the relative transition rates was observed for n=12 to 19.
Novel approach to sonar target identification using backpropagation neural networks

In this paper, two back propagation neural networks were trained to recognize four hollow cylinders. These cylinders are of the same size and thickness, but made of different materials. Two neural networks were used in this experiment. In case one a single hidden layer network was used, while in case two a hidden layer neural network was used. The acoustic data from these experiments was taken from references 3 and 7. The data are acoustic echoes of hollow aluminum, bronze, glass, and steel cylinders. The results seem to indicate that characteristics of the cylinders are more observable in the modulations of the frequency spectrum than in the time and spectral signals. The results show that a two hidden layer neural network can improve identification rate of a target.
Conformational analysis of a snake neurotoxin by prediction from sequence, circular dichroism, and Raman spectroscopy

Abstract The secondary structure of the major neurotoxin from the sea snake Lapemis hardwickii was investigated by several methods of conformational analysis: structure prediction, circular dichroism, and laser Raman spectroscopy. From the primary structure, secondary structure prediction yielded two regions of β-sheet structure at residues 1–7 and 41–45. β-Turns were predicted at residues 14–17, 20–23, 30–33, 37–40, and 46–49. From the predictions, the toxin appears to be composed of approximately 20% β-sheet and 33% β-turn. The CD spectrum of the native toxin appears to be a hybrid of model spectra for β-sheet and β-turn proteins. The pH perturbation studies on the toxin observed by CD demonstrated that the toxin is a very stable molecule except at extremely high or low pH values. The Raman data indicated that the toxin contains both antiparallel β-sheet and β-turn structure. Using two methods of secondary structure quantitation from Raman spectra the molecule was calculated to contain 35% β-sheet from one method and 27% from the other. Overall, the various methods demonstrate that the toxin is composed of β-sheet and β-turn structure with little or no α-helix present. From the comparison of these different techniques appreciation can be gained for the necessity of several methods when identifying and quantitating secondary structure.