cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
EXPERIMENTAL INFECTION OF HOUSE FINCHES WITH MYCOPLASMA GALLISEPTICUM

Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) has caused an endemic upper respiratory and ocular infection in the eastern house finch (Carpodacus mexicanus) after the epidemic first described in 1994. The disease has been studied by a number of investigators at a population level and reports describe experimental infection in group-housed MG-free house finches. Because detailed observation and evaluation of individual birds in group housed passerines is problematic, we studied individually housed house finches that were experimentally inoculated with the finch strain of MG in a controlled environment. To accomplish this, a study was conducted spanning the period of November 2001–April 2002 with 20 MG-free (confirmed by the rapid plate agglutination assay and polymerase chain reaction [PCR] assay) eastern house finches captured in the Cayuga Basin area of central New York (USA) in the summer of 2001. After a period of acclimatization and observation (12 wk), 20 finches were inoculated with a 0.05-ml aliquot of MG (3.24×10...
Shared Medical Appointments for Patients with Kidney Stones New to Medical Management Decrease Appointment Wait Time and Increase Patient Knowledge

Purpose: Urolithiasis is associated with pain and other health related quality of life decrements. Lack of access to multidisciplinary care is a barrier to prevention. We developed a shared medical appointment to improve access as well as patient education and exposure to multidisciplinary care.Materials and Methods: A total of 112 patients (51 ± 14 years, range 19 to 87) were seen in 27 shared medical appointments during 14 months. Patients were seen using existing clinic space, staff and providers. We targeted new patients for the shared medical appointments. We incorporated presentations as well as multidisciplinary rounding in a group setting to provide care for the participants. Patients were surveyed to measure satisfaction as well as knowledge of key prevention concepts.Results: Appointment wait time decreased steadily from 180 ± 77 days before shared medical appointments to 84 ± 39 days. The number of patients seen per month increased by 43%. The number of new clinic patients, which includes those...
Alternative designs for nanocrystalline silicon solar cells

We discuss the use of two alternative design techniques for enhancing the performance of nanocrystalline Si solar cells. The first technique involves the use of alternating layers of nanocrystalline and amorphous silicon, where the amorphous silicon layer is used to effectively passivate the grain boundaries in nano Si. We show that the use of amorphous Si layer increases photon absorption and leads to higher quantum efficiency in infrared wavelength. The second design involves enhancing the grains in nano Si by growing at higher temperatures, followed by anneal in a hydrogen plasma to preserve grain boundary passivation. This technique results in significant improvement in infrared quantum efficiency of solar cells while preserving good electronic properties.
Cutaneous Mast Cell Maturation Does Not Depend on an Intact Bone Marrow Microenvironment

We sought to determine whether the maturation of murine cutaneous mast cells from stem cells depends on an intact bone marrow microenvironment. Normal bone marrow cells (+/+) were infused into 2 groups of mast cell-deficient mice: WBB6F 1 -W/W v mice and 89 Sr-pretreated W/W v mice. 89 Sr is a long-lived bone-seeking radioisotope which provides continuous irradiation of the marrow and thereby ablates the marrow microenvironment. Skin biopsies revealed that the 89 Sr-pretreated mice and the controls had repopulated their skin with mast cells equally well. Natural killer cell function was significantly depressed in the 89 Sr-treated mice, confirming that the marrow microenvironment had been functionally altered. We conclude that, although the precursors for cutaneous mast cells are marrow derived, they do not need an intact marrow microenvironment for maturation.
A review of nanomaterial safety concerns

Nanomaterials are quickly moving from research benches to the manufacturing environment and into product lines. These materials pose unique safety concerns, which should be made clear to both the workers and the consumers who are exposed to them. The following is a summary of documents concerning the dangers posed by a wide variety of nanomaterials as well as references, which may be useful to practicing process engineers and EHS professionals. © 2010 American Institute of Chemical Engineers Process Saf Prog, 2010
Tradition and innovation: the China business communication study

Purpose – With China's economic development over the last two decades, the spirit and practice of Chinese companies have been radically transformed from administrative functions in a centrally planned economy toward that of market‐oriented enterprises. As Chinese enterprises restructure, the communication function is also undergoing dramatic changes. Discussion of the CCI Corporate Communication Practices and Trends 2005 Study and the CCI Corporate Communication Practices and Trends: A China Benchmark 2006 allow some insight into the state of the art in China, and help us to infer how best to communicate with the Chinese for a successful business relationship.Design/methodology/approach – The observations in this article are based on the CCI Corporate Communication Practices and Trends: A China Benchmark Study 2006, which was underwritten by Prudential Financial, Inc., and conducted in Beijing, China, in December 2005 and July 2006 through a partnership of the Corporate Communication Institute, Beijing Ho...
A novel safe approach to the peritoneal cavity for per-oral transgastric endoscopic procedures.

Background We have previously reported the feasibility and safety of per-oral transgastric endoscopic procedures in a porcine model. Objective Our purpose was to evaluate the safety and feasibility of a PEG-like approach to the peritoneal cavity. Settings Acute experiments on 50-kg pigs under general anesthesia. Design and Interventions After per-oral intubation, the endoscope was positioned into the body of the stomach, the anterior abdominal wall was transilluminated and punctured with a needle, and a guidewire was inserted into the stomach through the needle. The guidewire was grasped with endoscopic forceps and pulled through the biopsy channel of the endoscope. A sphincterotome was inserted into the gastric wall over the guidewire. Gastric incision was performed and the endoscope was advanced into the peritoneal cavity. The peritoneal cavity was insufflated and endoscopic peritoneoscopy was performed. Then the animal was euthanized and necropsy was performed. Main Outcome Measures Safety of transgastric entrance to peritoneal cavity. Results The PEG-like approach was used in 12 pigs. The average procedure time was 11.4 ± 3.7 minutes. There was only 1 complication related to the access: bleeding from the gastric wall incision was documented when a pure cut (without coagulation) current was used for incision of the gastric wall. There were no complications in the other 11 pigs. The necropsy did not reveal any damage to organs adjacent to the stomach. Limitations Gastric wall incision is located on anterior gastric wall. Conclusions The PEG-like transgastric approach to the peritoneal cavity appears technically simple and safe.
An elasticity solution for transversely inextensible circular cylindrical shells

Abstract The problem of transversely inextensible, circular cylindrical shells subjected to arbitrarily prescribed edge-stresses or displacements is considered. Solutions are sought in terms eigenfunctions which decay exponentially in the axial direction. The edge-conditions are treated using a biorthogonality property of these eigenfunctions. Numerical examples are presented comparing the present exact results with the known asymptotic results.
Sequencing for the cream of the crop

Sequencing technologies are poised to transform conventional strategies for crop improvement.
Comparison of the NMR solution structures of cyclosporin A determined by different techniques

Abstract An evaluation and comparison of the NMR solution structures of Cyclosporin A are presented in this study. A new structure has been calculated by the pro bability fil tered e stimate (PROFILE) technique using new NMR data, in addition to the previously reported data. The mean structure, along with explicit estimates of uncertainty in the position of each atom, satisfies the NMR constraints but does not imply a unique structure. A comparison of this structural calculation with models obtained with other computational methods shows large variations in the Ramachandran angles (φ, ψ). These differences are explained on the basis of both the calculated uncertainty in backbone atomic coordinates and the cooperative motion of the backbone dihedral angles.
Differential detergent fractionation of isolated hepatocytes: Biochemical, immunochemical and two-dimensional gel electrophoresis characterization of cytoskeletal and noncytoskeletal compartments

Two-dimensional (2-D) gel electrophoresis is often used in toxicologic and metabolic studies to assess treatment- or stage-specific changes in protein synthesis, degradation or posttranslational modification. When combined with cell fractionation studies the detectability of low abundance proteins is enhanced, and changes in subcellular distribution of proteins can also be monitored. Detergent fractionation is a simpler alternative to differential pelleting, which partitions cellular constituents into functionally distinct populations while preserving cytoskeletal integrity. We defined and characterized a differential detergent fractionation (DDF) protocol to enable protein dynamics in cytoskeletal and noncytoskeletal compartments of isolated hepatocytes to be monitored simultaneously. Rat hepatocytes were maintained in suspension culture and fractionated by sequential extraction with detergentcontaining buffers (digitonin/EDTA, Triton/EDTA, Tween/deoxycholate). DDF reproducibly yielded four electrophoretically distinct fractions enriched in cytosolic, membrane-organelle, nuclear membrane and cytoskeletal-matrix markers, respectively. Immunoblotting with over 20 different antibodies corroborated the selectivity of fractionation and was used to characterize the distribution profiles of cytoskeletal (actin, tubulins, cytokeratins, vinculin, myosin, desmoplakins, fodrin, nuclear lamins) and noncytoskeletal proteins (heat-shock 70 proteins, glutathione-S-transferase, calpains, carbamoyl phosphate synthetase, etc.), as well as to identify spots in 2-D gels. Detergent buffers were compatible with equilibrium or nonequilibrium 2-D gel electrophoretic analysis. Extensive 2-D maps of acidic and basic proteins in each fraction were generated along with a tabular listing of Mr and pI. Thus, DDF reproducibly partitions hepatocytic proteins into functionally distinct cytoskeletal and noncytoskeletal compartments that are readily analyzed by 2-D gel electrophoresis. DDF is simple, applicable to use with other cell types or culture systems and is especially useful when biomaterial is limited (i.e., clinical studies).
Fuzzy rational choice functions

We introduce a concept of fuzzy rationality of a choice function, characterize fuzzy rational choice functions and study the semigroup of all fuzzy rational choice functions on a finite set.
Blockade of epidermal growth factor- or heregulin-dependent ErbB2 activation with the anti-ErbB2 monoclonal antibody 2C4 has divergent downstream signaling and growth effects.

Due to heterodimerization and a variety of stimulating ligands, the ErbB receptor system is both diverse and flexible, which proves particularly advantageous to the aberrant signaling of cancer cells. However, specific mechanisms of how a particular receptor contributes to generating the flexibility that leads to aberrant growth regulation have not been well described. We compared the utilization of ErbB2 in response to epidermal growth factor (EGF) and heregulin stimulation in colon carcinoma cells. Anti-ErbB2 monoclonal antibody 2C4 blocked heregulin-stimulated phosphorylation of ErbB2 and ErbB3; activation of mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK), phosphatidylinositol 3′-kinase (PI3K), and Akt; proliferation; and anchorage-independent growth. 2C4 blocked EGF-mediated phosphorylation of ErbB2 and inhibited PI3K/Akt and anchorage-independent growth but did not affect ErbB1 or MAPK. Immunoprecipitations showed that ErbB3 and Grb2-associated binder (Gab) 1 were phosphorylated and associated with PI3K activity after heregulin treatment and that Gab1 and Gab2, but not ErbB3, were phosphorylated and associated with PI3K activity after EGF treatment. These data show that monoclonal antibody 2C4 inhibited all aspects of heregulin signaling as well as anchorage-independent and monolayer growth. Furthermore, we identify ErbB2 as a critical component of EGF signaling to the Gab1/Gab2-PI3K-Akt pathway and anchorage-independent growth, but EGF stimulation of MAPK and monolayer growth can occur efficiently without the contribution of ErbB2.
Serotonergic mechanisms in levodopa-induced «on-off» and sleep disorders in Parkinson's disease

Serotonergic mechanisms have been implicated in levodopa-induced psychiatric toxicity reactions in Parkinson's disease (PD). Although CNS serotonin levels are reduced in Parkinsonian patients, the contribution of this abnormality to the pathophysiology of the motor symptoms of the disease are largely unknown. The following report concerns a 62-year-old female Parkinsonian patient with levodopa-induced “On-Off”, depression and sleep disturbances, the severity of which was dramatically reduced by administration of low dosage amitriptyline (a serotonergic agent). The report suggests that impaired central serotonergic functions may be implicated in the pathophysiology of the levodopa-induced “On-Off” and that pharmacologic manipulations of serotonergic functions may be useful in the management of this motor side effect of chronic levodopa therapy.
A program for evaluating the effects of short circuits in coil systems

SHORTFORCE is a series of Fortran programs that was developed to facilitate failure-mode and protection analyses of multiple coil/multiple circuit magnetic systems. The package allows rapid turnaround of alternate fault scenarios with emphasis on graphics to allow model verification and display of output results. Some of the features of the package are illustrated and calculated results are compared with data available from an existing superconducting magnet system. The assumed location of the short in the coil allows estimation of the short resistance and the magnitude of the threshold power level for normal-zone initiation by comparing the numerical results with the time intervals determined from voltage measurements. The rate of change of the resistance for a propagating and recovering normal zone is postulated along with the value of heat generation for which recovery could begin. These assumptions lead to good qualitative and quantitative agreement with measured voltage data. >
Nuclear concentration of estriol in superfused human endometrium; competition with estradiol.

Abstract Human endometrial slices were superfused with tritiated estriol (E 3 ). No metabolism of E 3 was noted. The ratio of concentrations of the hormone in tissue and superfusion medium (T/M) E 3 was found to be approximately 4. When the concentrations of [ 3 H]-E 3 in the medium were increased from 18 to 700 ng/ml. the intracellular concentrations of E 3 were proportionally elevated. However, the level of E 3 tightly bound to nuclei reached a maximum value. This value was equivalent to the saturation level of nuclear bound estradiol (E 2 ) obtained when another portion of the same tissue was superfused with excess E 2 . Competition of E 3 and E 2 for nuclear binding was observed when tissue slices were superfused with mixtures of the two tritiated steroids. The nuclear E 2 displaced was stoichiometrically replaced by E 3 , likely as a result of competition for the same binding sites of the receptor in the nucleus. A 50% displacement of E 2 from the receptor in the nucleus was achieved when the ratio of intracellular concentrations of E 3 and E 2 was about 2. Calculations are presented to show that this ratio corresponds to the relative association constants of the E 2 - and E 3 -receptor complexes in the nucleus.
QCWS: an implementation of QoS-capable multimedia Web services

QoS, that defines service quality such as latency, availability, timeliness and reliability, is important for Web applications that provide real-time information, multimedia content, or time-critical services. Many Web applications require a guaranteed server processing capacity. We study the QoS control issues using the current Web services standards. We propose a QoS Web service architecture, QCWS, by deploying a QoS broker between Web service clients and Web service providers. In the QCWS architecture, a QoS broker collects the QoS information about service providers that may offer qualified Web services to a client, makes selection decisions based on some cost criteria, and negotiates with servers to secure QoS service commitment from one of them. We have implemented a QCWS prototype using IBM WSDK, enhanced with simple QoS capabilities. We have also measured the performance running under different service priorities.
Dark matter inverse problem: Extracting particle physics from scattering events

The primary observable in dark matter direct detection is the spectrum of scattering events. We simulate multiple positive direct detection signals (on germanium, xenon, and argon targets) to explore the extent to which the underlying particle physics, manifested in the momentum dependence of the operator mediating the scattering, can be extracted. Taking into account realization (Poisson) noise, a single target nucleus with 300 events has limited power to discriminate operators with momentum dependence differing by ${q}^{\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}2}$ for a wide range of dark matter masses from 10 GeV to 1 TeV. With the inclusion of multiple targets (or a factor of several more events on a single target), the discrimination of operators with different momentum dependence becomes very strong at the 95% confidence level for dark matter candidates of mass 50 GeV and above. On the other hand, operator discrimination remains poor for 10 GeV candidates until multiple experiments each collect 1000 or more events.
Failure of serum β2-microglobulin levels as an early marker of preeclampsia

Objective: Our purpose was to determine whether second-trimester maternal serum β2-microglobulin levels could be used to predict subsequent development of preeclampsia. Study Design: We first did a cross-sectional study to compare serum concentrations of β2-microglobulin between women with preeclampsia and normotensive women. Serum β2-microglobulin concentrations of 11 consecutive patients hospitalized for preeclampsia were compared with those of 11 normotensive women hospitalized for threatened premature labor. The second part of the study consisted of a nested case-control study in which each woman in whom preeclampsia ultimately developed was matched with 2 women who remained normotensive throughout gestation. For that purpose a total of 450 consecutive healthy nulliparous women were studied prospectively. Blood samples were collected between 20 and 24.9 weeks’ gestation and frozen at –20°C until assay after groups had been selected. Results: In the cross-sectional study serum β2-microglobulin levels were significantly higher in women with preeclampsia than in control women (1.87 ± 0.36 mg/L vs 1.01 ± 0.12 mg/L; t = 7.61; P <.0001). Among the 450 women who were followed up prospectively, preeclampsia developed in 7 (1.5 %). Fourteen of the women who remained normotensive were matched with the 7 women in whom preeclampsia ultimately developed. No difference was found in early serum β2-microglobulin concentrations between women in whom preeclampsia subsequently developed and those who remained normotensive throughout gestation (1.02 ± 0.12 vs 0.95 ± 0.12 mg/L). Conclusions: Serum β2-microglobulin levels do not predict subsequent preeclampsia. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 2000;182:595-8.)
DESIGN AND ESTIMATION FOR INVESTIGATING THE DYNAMICS OF NATURAL RESOURCES

Federal agencies, policy makers, and scientists have long been interested in monitoring natural resources and environmental conditions on a national and regional scale. One of the main objectives of these studies is to estimate temporal changes in the extent and condition of natural resources. In its simplest form, temporal change can be defined as the difference between population parameter values at two time points for a given population. A more complex investigation of change in an ecological system involves studying the underlying dynamics that produce an observed net change. We discuss the general problem of sample design and statistical estimation to support investigations of the dynamics of change in ecological systems, particularly when a limited number of temporal observations are available. We focus on large-scale natural resource monitoring surveys through the example provided by the National Resources Inventory (NRI), a longitudinal survey conducted by the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)...
Spin-Hamiltonian Parameters as a Function of Pressure-Induced and Cation-Induced Changes in Nearest-Neighbor Distance for Europium-151 in Alkaline Earth Fluorides

The electron-paramagnetic-resonance spectra of the systems Ca${\mathrm{F}}_{2}$: $^{151}\mathrm{Eu}^{2+}$, Sr${\mathrm{F}}_{2}$: $^{151}\mathrm{Eu}^{2+}$, Ba${\mathrm{F}}_{2}$: $^{151}\mathrm{Eu}^{2+}$ have been studied at a pressure of 26 kbar. These spectra were interpreted in terms of the usual phenomenological spin Hamiltonian with parameters $g$ (spectroscopic splitting factor), ${b}_{4}$ and ${b}_{6}$ (crystalline-field parameters), and $A$ (hyperfine splitting factor). The variations of ${b}_{4}$ and ${b}_{6}$ with pressure were compared with their variations with cation, and a consistent interpretation of the differences was found in terms of local lattice distortions about the impurity europium ions. This model leads to the relationships ${b}_{4}\ensuremath{\propto}{\ensuremath{\delta}}^{\ensuremath{-}8.8}$, ${b}_{6}\ensuremath{\propto}{\ensuremath{\delta}}^{\ensuremath{-}13.6}$ between the crystalline-field parameters and the nearest-neighbor distance $\ensuremath{\delta}$.
Reduction in oral ethanol self-administration in the rat by the 5-HT uptake blocker fluoxetine

Long-Evans rats (N = 4) maintained on ad lib food and water were initiated to self-administer ethanol using the sucrose-substitution procedure. Following initiation, the rats received IP injections of fluoxetine HCl in sterile water 30 minutes before selected daily self-administration sessions. On other sessions, the rats were injected with sterile water only. Doses of 1, 2, 3, and 5 mg/kg were tested in a random order. Only one drug dose was given each week and each dose was tested at least twice except the 5 mg/kg dose. As dose increased, responding for ethanol decreased with significant reductions at both the 3 and 5 mg/kg dose. The nature of the decrease was such that the duration of continuous responding at the beginning of the session was reduced respective to control and noninjection performance. Overall, the findings of this study support prior work with fluoxetine and other 5-HT blockers which appear to affect satiety mechanisms and possibly reinforcement efficacy.
Transformation of GaAs into an indirect L -band-gap semiconductor under uniaxial strain

We report the direct-to-indirect band-gap transition in GaAs under nonhydrostatic compression. Uniaxial strain was produced in GaAs single crystals by impact loading along the [100] and [111] orientations up to longitudinal stresses of 5.5 GPa. Band-gap shifts were determined from low-temperature photoluminescence measurements from Te- and Zn-doped samples. For strain along the [100] direction, GaAs undergoes a $\ensuremath{\Gamma}\text{\ensuremath{-}}X$ band transition similar to what occurs under hydrostatic pressure. Strain along [111], in contrast, produces a large splitting of the $L$ band. This causes the $L$-band minimum to plunge downward and transform GaAs into an indirect $L$-band-gap semiconductor.
On constitutive equations for branching of response with selectivity

Abstract Materials, such as elastic-plastic, which exhibit distinct regimes of response are usually modeled by different constitutive equations in each regime. The present paper explores a method for the construction of a unified constitutive equation from these separate relations. The main idea is to write this unified equation in an implicit form which contains these separate solutions as non-unique solutions. The form is chosen in order to utilize the notions of branch points and branches. Different solutions, corresponding to constitutive equations for different regimes of response, are then regarded as bifurcations at branch points from the fundamental response. The choice of the appropriate branch at a branch point is governed by a selectivity condition which depends on the nature of the response under consideration. A detailed example is provided for elastic-plastic response, with and without the effect of strain rate dependence.
The mythical element in estonian poetry

Whoever these days plants the word "myth" or any of its derivatives into a serious scholarly context is either speaking loosely or asking for trouble.1 In my own instance years of preoccupation with myth and mythology have endowed me with a certain set of scholarly stratagems, a few sectarian beliefs complete with animosities towards clashing viewpoints, but mainly with a lot of uncertainty in the face of Claude Levi-Strauss's rhetorical query, "In order to understand what a myth is, are we compelled to choose between platitude and sophism?" In launching his own tertium quid , in this case structural analysis, Levi-Strauss indulges in an Augian clearing of the decks of the albatross-guano of his predecessors: "From a theoretical point of view the situation remains very much the same as it was fifty years ago, namely, a picture of chaos. Myths are still widely interpreted in conflicting ways: collective dreams, the outcome of a kind of esthetic play, the foundation of ritual. . . . Mythological figures are considered as personified abstractions, divinized heroes or decayed gods. Whatever the hypothesis, the choice amounts to reducing mythology either to an idle play or to a coarse kind of speculation."2 Out go in one swoop the psychoanalytic approaches, the ritualist school, allegorical myth-interpretation from Theagenes and Zeno the Stoic to Max Muller and beyond, rationalistic explanations of myth from Prodikos and Euhemeros to this day, and the well-tested principle that sees in saga and the so-called lower mythology detritus from myth proper. Levi-Strauss sees myth as a special and autonomous use of language, thus reachable by methods akin to those of linguistic analysis. A myth, to him, constitutes a corpus made up of all its variants, much like a definable body of linguistic utterances. He includes Sophocles and Freud alike among the recorded versions of the Oedipus myth, on a par with more "authentic" versions; then
Apical Cross-sectional Echocardiography: Standard for the Diagnosis of Idiopathic Mitral Valve Prolapse Syndrome

In light of the nonspecificity of left ventricular angiography and physical examination, and the limitations of M-mode echocardiography to define the presence of mitral valve prolapse syndrome, we evaluated left ventricular longitudinal and apical four-chamber tomographic views of cross sectional echocardiography in 19 subjects with normal left ventricular cineangiography and in 5 patients with congestive cardiomyopathy. None had auscultatory findings suggestive of mitral valve prolapse syndrome. In all 24 control subjects, the apical view demonstrated the coaptation point and the leaflets of the mitral valve to lie inside the left ventricular cavity. A retrospective analysis of 900 consecutive cross sectional echocardiographic studies revealed 105 subjects with no evidence of structural heart disease other than the presence of the mitral valve leaflets in the left atrium in systole defining the existence of idiopathic mitral valve prolapse syndrome. Both mitral leaflets were prolapsed in 90 percent of the involved population, and the apical tomographic cross sectional echocardiographic view was superior to the left ventricular longitudinal view for the detection of anterior leaflet prolapse. These data suggest that the apical cross sectional view may be the single best technique to define the presence of idiopathic mitral valve prolapse syndrome.
Effect of natural and synthetic estrogens on a549 lung cancer cells: correlation of chemical structures with cytotoxic effects.

A series of synthetic (nonylphenol, diethylstilbestrol, and bisphenol A) and natural (quercetin, resveratrol, and genistein) phenolic estrogens were investigated for their ability to affect the viability and proliferation of A549 lung cancer cells. To assess and distinguish the cytotoxic effect of individual estrogens, we used both the MTT tetrazolium spectrophotometric method and the fluorescence assay, while the induction of the cell specific apoptotic process was examined by fluorescence microscopy after treatment of cells with SYTO 24 green fluorescent dye. A systematic study of interferences for both fluorescence and MTT methods is presented. The results showed that both natural and synthetic estrogens decreased the viability and proliferation of A549 lung cancer cells in a dose-dependent manner but at different sensitivities. Nonylphenol appeared very different as compared to the other estrogens, acting by inducing the higher inactivation rate of the cells within a very short time. The cytotoxic eff...
Luminosities of SX Phoenicis, Large-Amplitude Delta Scuti, and RR Lyrae Stars

Stromgren uvbyβ photometry of SX Phoenicis and large-amplitude δ Scuti variables is analyzed to determine the mean temperatures, metal abundances, and surface gravities of the stars. The mean temperatures and fundamental periods are used in conjunction with the pulsation equation and stellar models to derive masses, radii, surface gravities, and Mbol of the variables. The stars exhibit a period-luminosity relation. With the aid of Hipparcos trigonometric parallaxes the zero-point of the Mv, p is set. We find Mv = -3.725 log P - 1.933. This P-L relation is utilized to find the M-v values of RR Lyrae stars or horizontal-branch stars in globular clusters and the Carina galaxy-objects that contain both SX Phe, and RR Lyrae variables, or horizontal-branch stars. The Mv values of the metal-poor RR Lyrae stars are found to be consistent with Mv [Fe/H] calibrations derived by Sandage (1993) and by McNamara (1997) from revised Baade- Wesselink Mv values. At [Fe/H] = -1.9 Mv is 0.42. Feast and Catchpole (1997) suggestion that Mv = 0.25 at [Fe/H] = -1.9 for RR Lyrae is discussed. This Mv value is too luminous because it makes the (Teff) of RR Lyraes too high-well off any (Teff) = f (color index) calibration.
Meiotic differentiation during colony maturation in Sacchatomyces cerevisiae

As yeast colonies ceased growth, cells at the edge of these colonies transited from the cell division cycle into meiosis at high efficiency. This transition occurred remarkably synchronously and only at late stages of colony maturation. The transition occurred on medium containing acetate or low concentrations of glucose, but not on medium containing high glucose. The repression by high glucose was overcome when IME1 was overexpressed from a plasmid. Experiments with different growth media imply that meiosis in colonies is triggered by changes in the nutrient environment as colonies mature. HAP2 is required to sporulate in any carbon source, whereas GRR1 is required for glucose repression of sporulation. CLN3 is required to repress meiosis in colonies but not in liquid cultures, indicating that the regulators that mediate the transition to meiosis in colonies are not identical to the regulators that mediate this transition in liquid cultures.
Predicting job choices with models that contain subjective probability judgments: An empirical comparison of five models

Abstract Five mathematical models whose components were subjective probability judgments were used to predict the job choices of persons seeking professional employment in the public schools. The models differed in their algebraic forms and in the types of subjective probability judgments that they included. Some models were heuristic and some were Bayesian. The subjects differed in that some were experienced in public school work and some were not. Several hypotheses were tested concerning the effects on model validity of (1) algebraic form, (2) type of probability judgments, and (3) degree of previous experience in public school work. A Bayesian model using likelihood ratios derived from posterior-odds appeared to be the best predictor of job choices, but all models were good predictors.
The separation of peptides from amino acids by ligand-exchange chromatography

Abstract A rapid ligand-exchange chromatographic method for the separation of α-amino acids from peptides is presented. All α-amino acids, apart from aspartic acid and glutamic acid, are totally excluded from the peptide fraction. Most simple peptides are eluted quantitatively in this fraction, with the exception of some oligopeptides containing carboxy-terminal basic amino acids which are retained on the column. 83% of a tryptic hydrolysate of globin eluted into the peptide fraction. In simple systems, the method can be used to separate peptides from amino acids and to quantitate the peptides at the same time.
Effect of chronic ingestion of lead on the central cholinergic system in rat brain regions.

Abstract The effect of chronic lead ingestion on the central cholinergic system of immature rats was investigated. Rats were given 1% lead acetate solution in the drinking water before and after weaning. Tap water and sodium acetate controls were used. The growth of rats treated with lead was significantly inhibited as compared to controls. After chronic lead ingestion, a significant decrease in cholinesterase activity was seen in the medulla-pons, midbrain, and diencephalon, and a significant increase in choline acetyltransferase activity was found in the medulla-pons, hippocampus, and cerebral cortex. The only brain region exhibiting a change in acetylcholine content after chronic lead administration was the diencephalon, where a significant increase was observed. Thus, significant changes in the central cholinergic system have been found after chronic lead ingestion.
Microscopically Focused Synchrotron X-ray investigation of Selenium Speciation in Soils Developing on Reclaimed Mine Lands

Chemical speciation determines Se solubility and therefore its bioavailability and potential for transport in the environment. In this study we investigated the speciation of Se in soil developed on reclaimed mine sites in the U.S. Western Phosphate Resource Area (WPRA) using micro-X-ray absorption near-edge structure (μ-XANES) spectroscopy and micro-X-ray fluorescence (μ-XRF) mapping. Selenium was nonuniformly distributed in the soils and positively correlated with Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn, and Ni. Sixteen points of interest (POI) from three soil samples were analyzed with μ-XANES spectroscopy. The XANES data indicated that Se is present in the soils in at least three oxidation states, Se(−II, 0), Se(IV), and Se(VI). Selenides or elemental Se dominated 7 of the 16 POI. Selenate was the dominant species at only one of the POI. The remaining eight POI were composed of both Se(IV) and Se(VI), with minor Se(−II, 0) contributions. The results of this research suggest that the reduced Se species in the soil parent mater...
From eco-catastrophe to zero deforestation? Interdisciplinarities, politics, environmentalisms and reduced clearing in Amazonia

Brazil's rate of deforestation has declined by more than 70% since 2004, a dynamic unimaginable even a decade ago. Even the worst drought in more than 100 years (2010) produced a flat clearing profile from 2009–2010, an unexpected result, since dry periods usually have clearing spikes. While deforestation continues throughout the tropics (and Amazonia), and the recent change in Brazil's Forest Code has produced a modest increase in deforestation, there are significant processes that are slowing clearing and fostering woodland recovery. This paper outlines the multiplicities and interdisciplinarities of political ecologies, policies, politics scientific approaches and technologies that have moderated forest conversion and shaped Amazonia's unusual, and unusually effective development and conservation conjunctures in Brazil's post-authoritarian period. New institutional framings, ideologies, political decentralization, globalizations and an expanded arena for new social movements and civil society provided the context for this transformation. Changing environmental institutions, discourses and the relatively redistributive social pact that underpinned President Ignacio (Lula) da Silva's administration had a significant role in promoting more resilient land uses, monitoring, compliance and new markets, while regional social movements and national and international commodity boycotts affected more damaging ones. Finally, other forms of payment for environmental services, such as REDD (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation) and REDD+ are changing the value of standing forests. This paper describes how complex interdisciplinarities shaped the politics, policies and practices that slowed forest clearing. However, Amazonia's politics are extremely dynamic: destabilizing processes, violence and indifferent national leadership could still reverse this remarkable turnaround.
HxH: a hop-by-hop transport protocol for multi-hop wireless networks

TCP can perform poorly in multi-hop wireless networks due to problems that arise with contention and mobility. End-to-end protocols are at an inherent disadvantage in trying to solve these problems because their feedback loop operates over multiple wireless hops, which makes it difficult to diagnose problems that occur several hops away and hinders their ability to adapt to changing network conditions. In this paper, we design HxH, a hop-by-hop transport protocol that uses credit-based congestion control and reverse ACKs to solve many of the problems observed with TCP. We use a simulation study to demonstrate that our hop-by-hop approach allows HxH to respond quickly to changing network conditions and to exploit the unique characteristics of wireless networks to reduce overhead. We show that HxH greatly increases throughput and improves fairness, as compared to several end-to-end protocols, in both mesh and mobile ad hoc networks.
Depth extent of inner-core seismic anisotropy and implications for geomagnetism

Abstract To constrain the elastic structure of the Earth's inner core, we have picked the differential times of 879 core-penetrating body waves from vertical-component, short-period seismograms recorded by global and regional seismic networks. Using a cross-correlation technique, we measure the difference in arrival times of P′BC-P′DF and P′AB-P′DF where the P′DF (PKIKP) phase penetrates the inner core, while both the P′BC (PKP-BC) and P′AB (PKP-AB) phases bottom in the outer core. P′BC-P′DF times for paths that are nearly parallel to the Earth's spin axis are consistently 2–4 s larger than predicted using the Preliminary Reference Earth Model (PREM), while rays in other directions have a mean and standard deviation of 0.2 ± 0.4 s. P′AB-P′DF times, which correspond to P′DF rays turning deeper in the inner core, are 3–6 s for rays nearly parallel to the spin axis and 0.3 ± 0.9 s for rays not near the spin axis. These observations lead to the robust conclusion that the inner core is strongly anisotropic. The level of anisotropy in our model is about 3% at a radius of 1000 km (depth of 200 km) and increases to about 4% at a radius of about 700 km. Below this radius, our resolution is poor, but the anisotropy appears to weaken. Resolution is also weak in the outer 200 km of the inner core, but the anisotropy appears to diminish in this region as well. A simple model of hexagonally symmetric anisotropy aligned with the spin axis explains 74% of the variance. The symmetry direction which fits the data the best and explains 79% of the variance is at 80°N, 120°E. The locus of directions which explain 70–79% of the variance includes only 4% of the possible range of directions, and includes the spin axis direction. The observed anisotropy is most likely due to preferred alignment of elastically anisotropic crystals. We propose several new alignment mechanisms and all viable mechanisms seem to be associated with a strong toroidal magnetic field. An outstanding problem that requires further investigation is that first-principles calculations of seismic anisotropy of hexagonal close packed (hcp) iron suggest that anisotropy of order 3% is predicted. Thus, 100% alignment could go a long way towards explaining our observations, but seems highly unlikely.
NEUROTRANSMITTER DYSFUNCTION IN PATIENTS WITH BORDERLINE PERSONALITY DISORDER

Neurotransmitter system dysfunction may contribute to the borderline personality disorder traits of impulsive aggression and affective instability. This article reviews evidence from neurochemical assays, receptor-density studies, neuroendocrine-challenge paradigms, functional neuroimaging studies, and candidate-gene research, which converge to identify particular neurotransmitter systems that seem to be dysregulated in patients with borderline personality disorder.
A Generalization of the Cover-Algorithm for Controller Reduction

Presented in [1] is a COVER-algorithm for the simplification (reduction) of LQG-controllers. These reduced controllers generate control signals that are the bext approximations of the optimal control signals produced by the LQG-controllers. This paper extends the COVER-algorithm to yield the best approximations of the optimal outputs (controlled variables) and/or sensor signals, in addition to the control signals.
Dynamic mechanical properties of neoprene type W

The dynamic mechanical properties of cured Neoprene Type W gum stock have been measured on a commercial Fitzgerald Transducer from 30 to 3000 cycles/sec. at twelve temperatures from −7.1 to 71.1°C. The results are reduced to 25°C. by the method of temperature-frequency superposition to obtain master curves for real and imaginary components of complex compliance which encompass over ten logarithmic time scales. The shift factors, log aT, are found to obey the WLF equation of log aT = 10.6 (T − T0)/(93.6 + T − T0); T0 = 25.0°C. The equilibrium shear modulus is calculated to be 106.82 dynes/cm.2. The relaxation and retardation spectra are presented. The magnitude of its monomeric frictional coefficient (1.8 × 10−6 dynes-sec./cm.) at 25°C. as well as the implied appearance of the loss tangent peak at relatively high frequency reflect a very high degree of local flexibility. This result appears to be unusual when compared with other common elastomers, e.g., polyisobutylene, vulcanized natural rubber, and Hypalon-20.
Phase 1 and phase 2 proliferative lesions of colonic epithelial cells in diseases leading to colonic cancer.

Colonic epithelial cells in man begin to develop some of the characteristics of malignant cells while they still appear normal on conventional morphological examination. The cells pass through specific phases during which they express increasingly abnormal proliferative characteristics. As a Phase 1 proliferative lesion develops, colonic epithelial cells do not repress DNA synthesis during their maturation, and begin to develop an enhanced ability to proliferate. The over-all kinetics of cell proliferation remain normal, without a net retention or accumulation of cells in the mucosa. As a Phase 2 proliferative lesion forms, the cells begin to develop properties that enable them to be retained in the mucosa in increasing numbers. The over-all kinetics of cell proliferation become abnormal, and net retention and accumulation of cells begin to be observed. These changes are accompanied by differentiation-specific molecular errors, resulting in the abnormal persistence of metabolic pathways leading to enhanced DNA synthesis. These proliferative cellular lesions arise in hereditary familial polyposis in man, in individuals in the general population who develop isolated colonic neoplasms, and in rodents after a chemical carcinogen is given, suggesting that they are major steps on a final common molecular pathway leading to malignant transformation. Their expression is accelerated in familial polyposis. The proliferative lesions and increasingly severe degrees of cellular atypia can be screened in familial polyposis, the utility of the screening procedure is being studied. The molecular lesions leading to persistent DNA synthesis, the interaction of suspected carcinogens leading to the appearance of the above changes in model systems, and the development of more effective chemotherapy and immunotherapy against the reactions leading to enhanced DNA synthesis are topics of importance at the present time.
Dobzhansky's Dictum: An Object Lesson for Critical Thinking

A creationist has called Dobzhansky's dictum a myth. Discussion of this debate could be used as an object lesson for critical thinking.
Performance of the prototype NIST SRM 2090A SEM magnification standard in a low-accelerating voltage SEM

A new NIST SEM magnification calibration standard has been fabricated and characterized in production prototype form. The SRM 2090A samples contain structures ranging in pitch from 3000 micrometers to 0.2 micrometers and are useful at both high and low accelerating voltages. The design and fabrication of the samples has incorporated many of the improvements suggested through two previous prototype series. Since the low- accelerating voltage, critical-dimension measurement scanning electron microscope has assumed an important role in modern semiconductor process control. We investigate the use and performance of the samples in a representative instrument. Scan area contamination from a prolonged high magnification scan is shown to be a significant issue. A cleaning procedure developed for a previous prototype series has been modified to obtain acceptable results on the present samples.
Multimode digital control of a suspended polysilicon microstructure

Digital control of a suspended 350 /spl mu/m/spl times/380 /spl mu/m/spl times/1.6 /spl mu/m-thick surface-micromachined polysilicon plate is demonstrated in three degrees of freedom, with application to multimode accelerometers, vibratory rate gyroscopes, and actively positioned micromirrors. Plate displacement about the 2.2 /spl mu/m nominal position above the substrate is measured with shielded capacitive sensors connected to CMOS buffer circuits fabricated adjacent to the microstructure. Four micromechanical sigma-delta loops are used to control eight electrostatic actuators that drive the plate vertically (z) and in out-of-plane rotation (/spl theta/ and /spl phi/). Resonant frequencies are 2.7 kHz for the /spl theta/ rotational mode and 3.7 kHz for both z and /spl phi/ modes. The system is evaluated using a mixed mechanical/electromechanical/circuit simulation in SPICE. Closed-loop transient simulation of a 150-Hz square-wave position input signal is in good agreement with experimental results. Squeeze-film damping limits the plate slew rate to 0.83 mm/s in air. Position is controlled to within /spl plusmn/25 mm, being limited by quantization noise at the 50 kHz sampling rate.