cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The Complex Interplay Between Metabolism and Apoptosis

Energy balance is essential for cells to function properly and proliferate. Sufficient nutrient quantities are required for energy and the synthesis of building blocks of cellular structures such as lipid membranes, proteins, and nucleic acids. In contrast, nutrient excess can increase ER stress and reactive oxygen species, leading to cellular damage and apoptosis. In this chapter, we detail three important aspects of the interplay between metabolism and apoptosis: the mechanisms by which metabolic imbalances regulate major signaling effectors in apoptosis, how metabolism itself can be controlled by apoptotic proteins, and the major disease states affected when perturbations in metabolism modulate apoptosis.
Regional China: A Business and Economic Handbook by Rongxing Guo

Regional China's author, Rongxing Guo, is a professor at Peking University who has published widely on China and the Chinese economy. In addition to working with the Organisation for Economic Co-op...
Modeling of Toxicological Effects of Fire Gases: Iii. Quantification of Post-Exposure Lethality of Rats From Exposure To HCl Atmospheres:

This paper, the third in a series of publications on the modeling of tox icological effects of fire gases, addresses the quantification of post-exposure lethality of rats from exposure to hydrogen chloride atmospheres. Experimental L(Ct)50 values for HCl varied from about 80,000 ppm-min (5-minute exposure to 16,000 ppm) to about 170,000 ppm-min (60-minute exposure to 2800 ppm). Rele vant data involving non-human primate exposures are cited, which suggest the comparability of the rat and the primate for the purpose of assessing lethal doses of HCl.
The impact of adolescent spirituality on depressive symptoms and health risk behaviors.

Abstract Purpose The purpose of this study was to examine spirituality as a meaningful construct in adolescents' lives, and to examine the contribution of spirituality above and beyond that of religiosity to depressive symptoms and health-risk behaviors. Methods A total of 134 adolescents from a suburban high school completed a questionnaire assessing spirituality, religiosity, depressive symptoms, and health-risk behaviors. Spirituality was measured with 2 subscales: (1) religious well-being ("I believe that God loves/cares about me") and (2) existential well-being ("Life doesn't have much meaning"). Religiosity was assessed via belief in God/Higher Power and importance of religion. The Children's Depression Inventory-Short Form and the Youth Risk Behavior Survey (YRBS) were used to assess depressive symptoms and health-risk behaviors. Results The majority of the sample was Caucasian, with a mean age of 16.2 years. Eighty-nine percent reported a belief in God/Higher Power and 77% stated that religion was important in their lives. After controlling for demographics and religiosity, existential well-being and religious well-being accounted for an additional 29% of the variability in depressive symptoms and 17% of the variability in risk behaviors. Existential well-being was the only predictor significant in both final models ( p Conclusions Most of these adolescents reported some connection with religious and spiritual concepts, and those with higher levels of spiritual well-being, in particular, existential well-being, had fewer depressive symptoms and fewer risk-taking behaviors. This supports the inclusion of these concepts in our efforts to help promote resilience and healthy adolescent development, and in expanding our investigations beyond religious identification or attendance at religious services to broader concepts of spirituality.
Computed tomography scan measurement of abdominal wall thickness for application of near-infrared spectroscopy probes to monitor regional oxygen saturation index of gastrointestinal and renal circulations in children

Objectives:To measure abdominal wall thickness to determine the depth at which the renal vascular bed and mesenteric vascular bed are located, and to determine the appropriate site for placement of near-infrared spectroscopy probes for accurate monitoring regional oxygen saturation index in children
RETROGRADE DISEASES OF FOULED CULTURED JUVENILE HARD CLAMS (Mercenaria mercenaria)

Reported diseases of juvenile clams (Mercenaria mercenaria) are reviewed. A summary of disease problems experienced by hard clam hatcheries and seed purchasers of juvenile clams during a ten-year period is presented. These include poor growth, poor seed quality and poor survival due to both chronic and acute mortalities. External fouling of juvenile cultured clams by bacteria, protozoans (including algae), molds, sponges, entoprocts, ectoprocts and others, are sometimes detected by microscopic examination of the external surface of the juvenile; however, the effects of external fouling and undetected diseases of the internal organs are not apparent on gross or microscopic examination of the entire juvenile clam. Histological studies are required to evaluate the health and presence of disease, including retrograde changes and atrophy of internal organs of the juvenile during culture. Suggestions for health evaluation of the cultured juvenile clam in order to increase productivity for hatcheries, and to assure quality control for clam seed purchasers, is presented.
Business Management Reform in the Department of Defense in Anticipation of Declining Budgets

Business management reform efforts have been part of the U.S. Defense Department agenda for decades. Current reform efforts have explicitly established the goal of generating, harvesting, and reinvesting savings from business management reform to buy more capital items; that is, they have focused on a measurable reallocation from operating and support costs to investment within a given budget top line. Recent increases in the defense top line, largely related to the war on terrorism, are not likely to persist; in addition, an examination of the factors affecting the top line suggests that a decline in the near term is likely. An examination of current and past defense management reforms suggests that efficiency-seeking business management reforms are not likely to generate sufficient resources to cover a budget decline. Instead, management reform should be sustained for reasons of stewardship and accountability.
The mechanical stability of ubiquitin is linkage dependent.

Ubiquitin chains are formed through the action of a set of enzymes that covalently link ubiquitin either through peptide bonds or through isopeptide bonds between their C terminus and any of four lysine residues. These naturally occurring polyproteins allow one to study the mechanical stability of a protein, when force is applied through different linkages. Here we used single-molecule force spectroscopy techniques to examine the mechanical stability of N-C–linked and Lys48-C–linked ubiquitin chains. We combined these experiments with steered molecular dynamics (SMD) simulations and found that the mechanical stability and unfolding pathway of ubiquitin strongly depend on the linkage through which the mechanical force is applied to the protein. Hence, a protein that is otherwise very stable may be easily unfolded by a relatively weak mechanical force applied through the right linkage. This may be a widespread mechanism in biological systems.
Transvaginal Sonographic Demonstration of the Hyaloid Artery in an Anencep ha lic Fetus

Transvaginal sonography has become a major diagnostic tool for early observation of structural fetal anomalies, and has allowed the detection of fetal abnormalities as early as the first trimester. As image resolution improves, the ability to evaluate detailed fetal anatomy is expanding. It is important that sonographers and sonologists be able to recognize detail not previously available and distinguish normal from abnormal anatomy.
Surface EXAFS and X-ray standing wave study of the cleaved CaO(100) surface

Abstract Using a combination of surface-sensitive Auger electron X-ray absorption fine structure and X-ray standing waves (XSW) we have determined the structure of the clean, cleaved CaO(100) surface reconstruction. We find that the surface atom positions are, within error, the same as those of the truncated bulk. The surface nature of the signal is reflected by the expected reduction of coordination numbers of surface atoms from six to five. XSW data taken simultaneously provide an independent determination of surface O and Ca positions relative to the bulk CaO(200) diffraction planes. These results are consistent with the surface EXAFS determinations.
The helping alliance and premature termination

Abstract The study was conducted to determine the relationship between strength of the helping alliance and type of client termination (premature or with mutual knowledge of client and counselor). Participants were 102 client-counselors dyads at a university counseling center. After an average of 8 sessions, clients and couneselors completed Alexander & Luborsky's (1986) Helping Alliance Questionnaires. Clients terminated after an average of 19 sessions. Clients who later terminated with mutual knowledge of their counselors gave significantly higher strength of helping alliance ratings than did clients who later terminated unilaterally and prematurely. Counselors' ratings of strength of helping alliance were only modestly related to clients' ratings and unrelated to type of client termination.
Ion permeation through the Na+,K+-ATPase

P-type ATPase ion pumps are found in virtually all cell membranes pushing ions across the membrane against their concentration gradients. Structural studies have made tremendous advances in recent years and a lot is now know about what the insides of ion pumps look like, but it is still not clear how they collect ions on one side and release them on the other. Now by using the marine toxin palytoxin to uncouple the gates that control access to the pump's ion translocation pathway of Na+,K+-ATPase, thereby transforming the pump into a cation channel, Nicolas Reyes and David Gadsby have obtained a novel view of the ion pump in action. At the extracellular side, the ion pathway begins as a deep and wide vestibule, which abruptly narrows and leads to a cation selectivity filter made up of acidic sidechains. Strikingly, reversing the negative charge at just one of them converts the pathway from cation- to anion-selective. P-type ATPase pumps generate concentration gradients of cations across membranes in nearly all cells. They provide a polar transmembrane pathway, to which access is strictly controlled by coupled gates that are constrained to open alternately, thereby enabling thermodynamically uphill ion transport (for example, see ref. 1). Here we examine the ion pathway through the Na+,K+-ATPase, a representative P-type pump, after uncoupling its extra- and intracellular gates with the marine toxin palytoxin2. We use small hydrophilic thiol-specific reagents3 as extracellular probes and we monitor their reactions, and the consequences, with cysteine residues introduced along the anticipated cation pathway through the pump. The distinct effects of differently charged reagents indicate that a wide outer vestibule penetrates deep into the Na+,K+-ATPase, where the pathway narrows and leads to a charge-selectivity filter. Acidic residues in this region, which are conserved to coordinate pumped ions, allow the approach of cations but exclude anions. Reversing the charge at just one of those positions converts the pathway from cation selective to anion selective. Close structural homology among the catalytic subunits of Ca2+-, Na+,K+- and H+,K+-ATPases4,5,6 argues that their extracytosolic cation exchange pathways all share these physical characteristics.
Magnetic properties of Y-Ba-Cu-O superconductors

The magnetic properties of polycrystalline and single-crystal samples of YBa/sub 2/Cu/sub 3/O/sub 7/ are compared. Transition temperatures are in the range of 85 to 89 K. The Meissner effect is below 30% of the diamagnetic shielding in all cases. Based on the high-temperature susceptibility it is suggested that an itinerant antiferromagnetic 3d band of the Cu/sup 2+/ is possible. Anisotropy occurs in the single crystal for applied fields above 200 Oe. There is a difference in the lower critical field of a factor of 20 where H/sub c//sub 1/ is about 4000 Oe for H parallel to the orthorhombic c axis and 200 Oe for H perpendicular to the c axis of the crystal.
Mesothelial Cell Proliferation Induced by Intrapleural Instillation of Man-Made Fibers in Rats and Hamsters

Abstract Mesothelial Cell Proliferation Induced by Intrapleural Instillation of Man-Made Fibers in Rats and Hamsters. Rutten, A. A. J. J. L., Bermudez, E., Mangum, J. B., Wong, B. A., Moss, O. R., and Everitt, J. I. (1994). Fundam. Appl. Toxicol. 23, 107-116. Long-term inhalation exposure to a biopersistent man-made ceramic fiber (RCF 1) results in a high incidence of pleural mesotheliomas in Syrian golden hamsters but not in identically exposed rats. To understand better the mechanisms involved in the intraspecies pathobiology of fiber-exposed mesothelium, the ability of the two different man-made fibers to induce cell proliferation in hamster and rat pleural mesothelial cells was investigated. Three dose levels of either glass fibers (MMVF 10) or ceramic fibers (RCF 1) were instilled intrapleurally into male Fischer 344 rats and male Syrian Golden hamsters. Rats and hamsters were exposed to approximately equal numbers of long thin fibers per kilogram of body weight using a single intrapleural instillation. Bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) was administered via an implanted osmotic pump, and mesothelial cell proliferation was assessed at 7 and 28 days postinstillation (PI) using immunocytochemical visualization of labeled S-phase cells. Both rats and hamsters exhibited dose-dependent increases in proliferation of pleural mesothelial cells following exposure to both fiber types. Interspecies differences in mesothelial cell proliferation were noted for fiber type and pleural site. At 28 days PI, RCF-induced mesothelial cell proliferation was found to be more pronounced in hamsters than in rats in the caudal visceral pleural. Comparing both fibers either by equal mass or by equal fiber numbers, mesothelial cell proliferation in RCF 1-treated animals was higher than in animals exposed to MMVF 10, especially in hamsters, and may be a factor in the difference in mesothelioma induced by the two fibers. The higher sustained (28 day) mesothelial cell proliferation in the visceral pleural of hamsters exposed to RCF may contribute to the species-specific differences in mesothelioma incidence found in long-term rodent inhalation studies.
Confirmation of linkage of supravalvular aortic stenosis to the elastin gene on chromosome 7q

Abstract In summary, we demonstrate linkage of SVAS in this family to the elastin gene. This supports the hypothesis that a defect in the elastin gene accounts for SVAS and lends no evidence for genetic heterogeneity.
Effect of Dietary Corn Oil Supplementation on Equine Gastric Fluid Acid, Sodium, and Prostaglandin E2 Content before and during Pentagastrin Infusion

The effect of corn oil (approximately 60% [wt/vol] linoleic acid) dietary supplementation on various components of equine gastric secretion was studied by use of a repeated-measures experimental design. Four healthy adult ponies were surgically fitted with gastric cannulas. The ponies were then fed a free-choice hay diet for 5 weeks, which was followed by 5 weeks of the same diet supplemented with 45 mL of corn oil daily. Gastric contents were analyzed under basal and pentagastrin-stimulated conditions once weekly during the latter 2 weeks on each diet. Gastric contents were collected at 30-minute intervals, and volume, hydrogen ion concentration, sodium content, and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) content were measured. Data were analyzed by a linear fixed-effect modeling procedure. During the diet supplemented with corn oil, the ponies had, under basal and pentagastrin-stimulated conditions, significantly decreased acid output and significantly increased PGE2 and sodium outputs compared to those measured before corn oil supplementation. We conclude that corn oil supplementation may be an effective and inexpensive way to increase the protective properties of equine glandular gastric mucosa. This could be particularly helpful in reducing the chances of ulceration associated with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) administration.
Polarography of intermediates in the fixation of nitrogen by p-quinone-aqueous ammonia systems

Abstract Air oxidation of aqueous p-quinone, as a model humic acid precursor, develops precipitates of different character in the presence and absence of ammonia. Polarographic analyses of the p-quinone-ammonia systems at different ammonia concentrations, pH levels, and reaction times reveal two reducible intermediates in the reaction leading to fixation of nitrogen. The intermediates give half-wave potentials, at pH 8.3, of — 0.25 and — 0.55 V vs. S.C.E. The waves are interpreted as resulting from the reduction of mono- and disubstituted aminoquinones. A mechanism and structure are proposed for the nitrogen-containing polymerization product.
Indications for and Complications of Rectal Tube Use in Critically Ill Patients

To better define the indications for and complications of rectal tube use in critically ill patients we prospectively studied every patient admitted to an intensive care unit over a 20-month period...
On optimal mean-variance harvesting rules

Abstract We find the linear harvesting rule, optimal for one form of the mean-variance criterion, for a very crude model for managing a renewable resource. We also find a steady-state solution for a different form of the mean-variance criterion.
STUDIES ON THE TRANSMISSION AND THE EXCRETION OF THE LACTIC DEHYDROGENASE AGENT

The lactic dehydrogenase agent (LDH agent) was found in the urine, feces, and saliva of mice within 24 hours after inoculation. The titer of virus in these materials appears to be directly related to the titer in the plasma. Infection by the oral route occurred only when a high concentration of virus was used. Animals infected prior to mating rarely transmitted the LDH agent to their progeny. However, 91.2 per cent of the progeny of mothers infected during gestation and 51.5 per cent of the progeny of mothers infected within 48 hours after giving birth became infected with the LDH agent. Evidence is discussed which suggests that the transmission of the LDH agent from the infected mother to her offspring is related to the titer of the LDH agent in the maternal circulation.
Investigation of the annealing texture evolution in hafnium

This article presents a study of the evolution of the annealing texture in hafnium, as measured by electron backscattering diffraction patterns (EBSPs). It was found that the annealing texture of asreceived extruded rod depended on the annealing temperature. After low-temperature recrystallization, the deformation axis was parallel to $$[11\bar 20]$$ or $$[\bar 12\bar 10]$$ and the basal planes were approximately parallel to the deformation axis. These orientations were deduced by the position of the points in the standard stereographic triangle used to produce the inverse pole figure. As the annealing temperature was raised to 1700 °C, the direction parallel to the rolling direction changed to $$[01\bar 10]$$ and the grain size increased. It appeared that the increase in grain size occurred by a process of abnormal grain growth, and this abnormal grain growth appeared to be the cause of the change in the texture. Texture was also examined in samples that had been warm rolled to thickness reductions between 10 and 90 pct and then annealed at 1700 °C. In these samples, the main feature of the texture was that the basal plane became parallel to the rolling plane as the amount of rolling increased. The maximum grain size was observed in samples that had been rolled to a reduction in thickness of 50 pct.
Application of human factors analysis and classification system model to event analysis in radiation oncology.

Abstract Purpose To assess the applicability of the human factors analysis and classification system (HFACS) model for analyzing events in a radiation oncology environment by comparing the HFACS analysis results between novices and experts. Methods and materials Four novices (resident physicians, 2-4 postgraduate years) volunteered to participate and were asked to independently perform the HFACS analysis on the selected 30 events. The events were divided into the following 2 sets: (1) the description of events was given in detail (eg, the conditions under which the events occurred including information about root causes of error); (2) the description of events was given without detailed information. Each novice's categorization of events into 4 main and 12 sublevels were compared with expert categorization ("gold standard") and used for statistical analysis. Analysis of variance was performed to test the difference in mean agreement with the expert-defined gold standard between the novices across the 4 main levels; and across the 12 sublevels independently. Results There were no significant differences in mean agreement with the expert-defined gold standard among the 4 novices (novice versus novice; P > .05) across the 4 main and 12 sublevels, respectively. There was a significant difference in mean agreement with the expert-defined gold standard among the 4 main levels and 12 sublevels ( P Conclusions Novices learned to use the HFACS model for higher level analysis (4 main levels) with 1 hour training. Regardless of the amount of detail provided in the event description, the study results indicate a need of formal training for novices to better understand the definition and their interpretation at the 12 sublevel analyses.
Comparison of direction and distance estimation across spatial tasks: Absence of sexually dimorphic self-movement cues processing

Abstract Animals use many sources of information to maintain spatial orientation, including cues from the environment and cues generated by self-movement. In general, sexual dimorphisms have been observed in humans and rodents in tasks that afford access to environmental and self-movement cues. As of yet, no studies have directly compared sex differences in a task that restricts access to self-movement cues. The current study used motion capture software to characterize sex differences in a food-hoarding task under complete dark conditions, which require the use of self-movement cues. A similar analysis was applied to behavior observed in a place learning version of the water maze. Several sex differences in general aspects of performance were observed on both spatial tasks; however, there was no evidence of sex differences in measures of direction and distance estimation on either task. These results are discussed in light of several factors that may mediate sexual dimorphic performance in spatial tasks.
Association of older age and female sex with inadequate reach of screening flexible sigmoidoscopy.

Abstract Purpose Estimates of the sensitivity of screening sigmoidoscopy assume an adequate depth of insertion is reached. However, in clinical practice, the frequency that sigmoidoscopy reaches various lengths of the colon is not known. We assessed the frequency of inadequate reach (depth of Methods We performed a cross-sectional study of 15,406 asymptomatic persons aged 50 years or older who underwent screening flexible sigmoidoscopy between April 1997 and October 2001 at sites participating in the Clinical Outcomes Research Initiative, which examines outcomes of endoscopy in "real life" settings. The maximum depth of insertion of the sigmoidoscope was measured in centimeters from the anus and classified as adequate (≥50 cm) or inadequate ( Results Eighteen percent (n = 2801) of subjects had an inadequate examination. In men, the percentage of inadequate examinations increased progressively with age, from 10% (343/3338) in those aged 50 to 59 years to 22% (53/248) in those aged 80 years or older ( P P Conclusion Our finding that advancing age and female sex were independently associated with the risk of inadequate reach of screening sigmoidoscopy suggests that the sensitivity of sigmoidoscopy may be lower in these populations. Estimates of the benefits of sigmoidoscopy may need to be tailored to the age and sex of the patient.
“Sustaining the Dialogue”: National Culture and Family Communication

Culture pervades all aspects of family life. This is especially true for family communication processes because, through communication, families create culture and culture influences families. Desp...
A time accurate calculation procedure for flows with a free surface using a modified artificial compressibility formulation

Abstract A time accurate, three-dimensional, finite volume, implicit scheme has been proposed for the calculations of flows with a free surface on unsteady Eulerian grids, which uses a modified form of the artificial compressibility formulation. The modification comes from the addition of the gravitational potential to the pressure term appearing in the continuity equation of the original formulation. The main advantage of this approach comes from the fact that the analysis of the inviscid flux Jacobians in terms of their eigenvalues, eigenvectors, etc., turns out to be of the same form as that of the original formulation without the body force. Also the present formulation allows one to represent the gravitational potential as a third-order accurate term by the use of Roe variables in an implicit manner, which is not possible otherwise. Thus, the formal accuracy of the original scheme is preserved. The gravitational potential appears explicitly only in the free surface boundary condition in the present formulation, which means minimal code modification to a code based on the original artificial compressibility method. The boundary conditions used at the free surface as well as at the radiating boundary differ from other formulations and are also discussed. An unsteady test case of a wave channel has been chosen to demonstrate the capabilities of the method, and comparisons are made with available experimental results. The results clearly demonstrate the time accuracy as well as the feasibility of the current method for solving flows with a free surface.
Direct Linearization via the Gibbs Function

Linearized governing equations are often used in analysis, design, and control applications for dynamical systems. Linearized equations of motion can be formed in either an indirect or direct manner, that is, by first forming or bypassing the full nonlinear equations. Direct linearization is useful for easing the computation of linearized equations, particularly when the full nonlinear equations are not immediately desired. Currently, direct linearization methods derived from a Lagrangian perspective are available. In this paper, these methods are extended to reflect a Gibbs/Appell viewpoint. The resulting directly linearized equations take advantage of features of a Gibbs/Appellian formulation such as the ability to handle nonholonomic constraints and use of quasi-velocities. The Gibbs function and resulting equations are reviewed, the direct linearization method is explained, and a new method for directly linearizing equations via an augmented Gibbs function is presented with examples.
Results of radiofrequency ablation of the small saphenous vein in the supine position.

Objectives: To report the results of a novel approach using supine positioning for radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of the small saphenous vein (SSV) with combined ablation of the great saphenous vein...
Planning open spaces for wildlife 2: modeling and verifying focal species habitat

Abstract In the face of human population growth that is transforming the Earth, scientists, land managers, and planners are working to prevent, mitigate, and reverse the consequent loss of species, ecosystems, and landscapes. Because of the need to act quickly with incomplete data, a number of shortcuts have been developed that rely on identifying key species for planning efforts. By developing conservation plans for a small set of carefully selected focal species, planners hope to create a protective umbrella for a wider array of species and functional landscapes. In an earlier paper, we described an approach for selecting a set of focal species. In this paper, we report a process for the rapid identification and verification of potential habitat for a focal species. Using the barred owl as an example, we present the process for a suburbanizing region of North Carolina, USA. The barred owl was selected to represent bottomland hardwood and forested wetland landscapes in the region. Using a geographic information system (GIS), we assembled data layers from readily available remotely sensed, conventional survey, and physiographic data to create a model of barred owl habitat. Barred owls occupy bottomland hardwood forests, which we identified using land cover, soils, and wetlands data. We eliminated from consideration bottomland forest habitat within 100 m of a road and within 60 m of open vegetative cover. Patches of the remaining bottomland forest larger than 86 ha in size were considered large enough to meet all barred owl habitat needs. Simple presence/absence surveys detected barred owls in approximately 65% of patches identified by our model as suitable habitat. We tested the barred owl’s suitability as an umbrella for bottomland forest species using an existing database of rare and outstanding elements of natural diversity. Umbrella coverage for barred owl habitat (bottomland forest patches≥86 ha) varied with taxa from 0% for invertebrate species to 75% for vertebrate species. However, umbrella coverage for all bottomland forest, including patches
Isolation of a purified preparation of metabolically active retinal blood vessels

THE retinal vascular system has long been of interest to both clinicians and basic scientists because of its involvement in a number of systemic diseases, particularly hypertension and diabetes mellitus, and its accessibility to in vivo study through direct observation due to the transparency of the eye. This accessibility has made it an ideal system for the study of a portion of the microcirculation in various physiological and pathological states as well as under the influence of pharmacological agents. Such studies have advanced considerably the clinical and experimental investigation of retinal vascular disease which is one of the most common causes of visual disturbance and blindness in man. But in vitro study of retinal blood vessels has been restricted largely to the examination of retinal digest preparations obtained with the use of proteolytic enzymes1 or by autolysis of the retina in water2, and of isolated vessels obtained by microdissection techniques3. Metabolic studies on such preparations of isolated vessels have been extremely limited3 because of the non-physiological conditions used or their tedious and time consuming nature. Therefore, we have developed a simple procedure for the isolation of a purified preparation of bovine retinal vessels which are metabolically active.
Effects of irradiation on the fracture properties of stainless steel weld overlay cladding

Abstract Stainless steel weld overlay cladding was fabricated using the submerged arc, single-wire, oscillating-electrode, and the three-wire, series-arc methods. Three layers of cladding were applied to a pressure vessel plate to provide adequate thickness for fabrication of test specimens, and irradiations were conducted at temperatures and to fluences relevant to power reactor operation. Post-irradiation test results of all cladding specimens show that, in the test temperature range from – 125 to 288°C, the yield strength increased by 40 to 5%, ductility increased insignificantly, and there was almost no change in ultimate tensile strength. All cladding exhibited ductile-to-brittle transition behavior during Charpy impact testing due to the dominance of delta-ferrite failures at low temperatures. On the upper shelf, energy was reduced up to 50% due to irradiation exposure. In addition, radiation damage resulted in 13 to 100 C shifts of the Charpy impact transition temperature at the 41 J level. Furthermore, irradiation exposure of 12.5 mm-thick compact specimens (0.5TCS), from the three-wire cladding to an average fluence of 2.41 × 10 19 neutrons/cm 2 (> 1 MeV ), resulted in decreases in the initiation ductile fracture toughness, J Ic , and the tearing modulus in the test temperature range from – 125 to 288°C. This is in agreement with the reduction in both the CVN upper-shelf energy and the CVN lateral expansion.
The role of human papillomavirus in the development of pyogenic granulomas

Background Pyogenic granulomas (lobular capillary hemangiomas) and condyloma acuminata share similar locations and risk factors. Human papillomavirus (HPV) types 6 and 11 are commonly associated with condyloma acuminata, but their association with pyogenic granulomas has not been evaluated. The purpose of this study was to determine whether pyogenic granulomas contain evidence of infection with condyloma producing HPVs. Methods Polymerase chain reaction assays for the E6 and E7 gene sequences of HPV types 6 and 11 and another assay for the E7 region of HPV types 16, 31, 33, 35, 42, and 58 were used to evaluate decxyribonucleic acid (DNA) extracted from archival pyogenic granuloma biopsies taken from cutaneous and oral epithelium. Results Neither cutaneous nor oral pyogenic granulomas contain amplifiable E6 or E7 sequences from any of these viruses. Conclusions Pyogenic granulomas are not caused by HPV 6, 11, 16, 31, 33, 35, 42, or 58. This study does not exclude the possibility that other viruses may be responsible for these tumors.
Xenophobia and Immigrant Contact: British Public Attitudes Toward Immigrants

How does the presence of immigrants or minorities in a local community affect racial and xenophobic attitudes? Synthesizing public opinion, economic, and demographic data from the United Kingdom, we explore this question. By taking advantage of cross-sectional variation in minority populations, we develop and test hypotheses concerning the causal relationships among the presence of immigrant populations and xenophobic sentiments. We find that larger immigrant populations dampen xenophobic attitudes, supportive of the contact theory. In clarifying this relationship, we contribute to ongoing debates over contact theory.
The rhodium-catalyzed deuteration of unsaturated triglycerides

Tripalmitolein, triolein, trilinolein and trilinolenin were deuterated with deuterium gas and Wilkinson’s catalyst [(Ph3P)3RhCl(I)]. Recrystallization of the products from acetone yielded highly pure deuterium-labelled triglycerides (TG). The deuterated TG were converted to methyl esters and analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy to determine the deuterium distribution. Methyl palmitate-9,10-d2 (from tripalmitolein) and methyl stearate-9,10-d2 (from triolein) yielded isotopic distributions of 93–97% d2, methyl stearate-9,10,12,13-d4 (from trilinolein) of 74% d4 and methyl stearate-9,10,12,13,15,16-d6 (from trilinolenin) of only 58% d6. Because the deuterium-labelled TG were to be used in human metabolism studies, atomic absorption spectroscopy was used to determine if any residual rhodium was present. No rhodium was detected at 70 ppb (the minimum detection limit).
Parameter estimation: An estimated variance-covariance matrix for averaging model parameters in information integration theory

The averaging model of information integration theory has found wide application in the study of human judgment. Extensive evidence has demonstrated its broad usefulness across many areas of psychology (Anderson, 1981). From initial applications in laboratory research, the averaging model has been employed in more general settings. Recent studies have extended the theory into applied decision research (Shanteau & Phelps, 19~7), ~p­ plications of multiattribute judgment models (Zalinski & Anderson, in press), and studies of marital interactio.n (Armstrong & Anderson, 1984). A number of expenmenters have used numerical techniques to estimate the averaging model parameters (e.g., Birnbaum & Stegner, 1981; Leon, Oden, & Anderson, 1973; Norman & Louviere, 1974). By comparing the estimated parameters, quantitative conclusions can be drawn concerning the relative importance and value of the different stimulus dimensions. Standard analysis-of-variance techniques exist for the statistical comparison of averaging model parameter estimates (Anderson, 1982). The practical value of these comparisons depends upon their statistical power. This power is a direct function of the variability of the data, in this instance the estimated parameters. In order to plan experiments capable of providing adequate power for comparisons among the parameters, it is important for researchers to have estimates of their variances before they finalize a design and gather data. The present program provides a means for computing this statistical power analysis. When given as input specifications of an experimental design, parameter values, and the response error variance, the program provides as output an estimated parameter variance-covariance matrix. The researcher can use the program in a repetitive fashion, varying the experimental design, the values of the input model parameters, and the assumed error variance. Based upon the output variance-covariance matrices, the researcher should be able to determine an appropriate experimental design and sampling scheme for parameter estimation and comparison. In the equal-weight case considered here, the judgment or response, R, to a three-stimulus situation is represented as a weighted average:
Sensitivity of diazoquinone resists to optical and electron-beam exposure

This paper compares the response of resists consisting of novolak resin and diazoquinone sensitizers (inhibitors) to optical and electron-beam radiation. In both cases, irradiation destroys the sensitizer leading to an increased rate of solubility in alkaline developer. For optical exposure in the near-uv region, the light is absorbed only by the chromophore sites and a unique quantum efficiency of 0.30 ± 0.03 can be measured for a range of wavelengths and sensitizers (10.5 ± 1.0 eV/bleached site). In the case of electron-beam exposure, the initial rate of bleaching in pure sensitizer implies that 7.6 ± 0.6 sites are destroyed per 100 eV absorbed (13 ± 1 eV/molecule). In mixtures of sensitizer and resin (i.e., resists), this inherent sensitivity, or G-value, based on the calculated absorption by the sensitizer only, increases by almost a factor of 2 as the proportion of resin is increased. While the electron and optical exposure both destroy the sensitizer center, absorption spectra and solubility properties show that the end products of the chemical reactions are not the same in the two cases. In addition, high doses of electrons produce cross-linking and insolubilization of the resin.
The effect of strong longitudinal magnetic fields on dose deposition from electron and photon beams

The use of strong, uniform, longitudinal magnetic fields for external electron and photon beam irradiation is considered. Using the EGS4 Monte Carlo code modified to account for the presence of magnetic fields, dramatic narrowing of penumbra for photon and electron irradiations is demonstrated. In the vicinity of heterogeneities, "hot" and "cold" spots due to multiple scattering in electron beams are reduced substantially. However, in the presence of strong magnetic fields, the effect of inhomogeneities can be observed far from the location of the inhomogeneity due to reduced "washout" caused by lateral multiple scattering. The enhanced "Bragg peak," proposed or calculated by other authors, is not observed on the central axis of broad beams, owing to lateral equilibrium. It is proven that for broad parallel beams, the central axis depth-dose curve is independent of the strength of the external longitudinal magnetic field, as long as it is uniform. However, strong longitudinal magnetic fields can induce enhancements by redirection of the electron fields coming from point sources. Strong uniform longitudinal magnetic fields provide a way of controlling the spreading of electron beams due to multiple scattering, making the electron beams more "geometrical" in character, simplifying dose-deposition patterns, possibly allowing electron beams to be used in new ways for radiotherapy. Photon therapy also benefits from strong uniform longitudinal magnetic fields since the penumbra or other lateral disequilibrium effects associated with lateral electron transport can be eliminated.
Geographic variation in polychorinated biphenyl and organochlorine pesticide concentrations in the blubber of bottlenose dolphins from the US Atlantic coast.

Abstract Concentrations of polychorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and other organochlorine contaminants (OCs) were measured in blubber collected from live bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) at three sites along the United States Atlantic coast. Dolphins were sampled via surgical biopsy during capture–release studies near Charleston, South Carolina and Beaufort, North Carolina. Additional animals were sampled using remote biopsy techniques in estuarine waters near Charleston and from the Indian River Lagoon, Florida. Overall concentrations of major contaminant groups were found to vary between sites and mean concentrations of most OCs from male dolphins in the Indian River Lagoon were less than half of those measured from Charleston and Beaufort males. Geometric mean total PCB concentrations were 30, 27 and 14 μg/g lipid for male dolphins sampled in Beaufort, Charleston and the Indian River Lagoon, respectively. Significant variation related to sex- and age-class, as well as geographic sampling location, was seen in the PCB congener profiles. The measured PCB concentrations, although lower than those reported for stranded animals from the 1987/1988 epizootic along the United States mid-Atlantic coast, are sufficiently high to warrant concern for the health of dolphins from the sampled populations, particularly the animals near Charleston and Beaufort.
Synthesis of Potent Inhibitors of Anthrax Toxin Based on Poly-l-Glutamic Acid

We report the synthesis of biodegradable polyvalent inhibitors of anthrax toxin based on poly-L-glutamic acid (PLGA). These biocompatible polyvalent inhibitors are at least 4 orders of magnitude more potent than the corresponding monovalent peptides in vitro and are comparable in potency to polyacrylamide-based inhibitors of anthrax toxin assembly. We have elucidated the influence of peptide density on inhibitory potency and demonstrated that these inhibitory potencies are limited by kinetics, with even higher activities seen when the inhibitors are preincubated with the heptameric receptor-binding subunit of anthrax toxin prior to exposure to cells. These polyvalent inhibitors are also effective at neutralizing anthrax toxin in vivo and represent attractive leads for designing biocompatible anthrax therapeutics.
Birding by ear: a study of recreational specialization and soundscape preference.

Soundscapes have become recognized as an important natural resource. The traditional human-made versus natural soundscape comparison currently used in recreational resource management is challenged by borrowing soundscape components (i.e., biophony, anthrophony, geophony) from soundscape ecology. This article evaluated the soundscape preference of birders. A three-component model of recreational specialization was used to evaluate how recreationists differ in their preference for soundscape components. Data from in-person surveys collected at The Audubon Center and Sanctuary at Francis Beidler Forest in Harleyville, South Carolina were used in combination with surveys from online birding list servers to obtain a sample of 415 individuals with varying levels of specialization. The findings suggest soundscape preference exists as biophony, geophony, and anthrophony and that more specialized birders found geophony to be significantly more annoying than less specialized birders. Additionally, the skill and kn...
College Students' Misconceptions about Behavior Analysis

Contrary to expectation, advanced undergraduates held few misconceptions about behavior analysis. Only 3 of 13 misconceptions were widely held. Those 3 misconceptions, however, were resistant to ch...
Origin of the intrinsic rigidity of DNA

The intrinsic rigidities of DNA and RNA helices are generally thought to arise from some combination of vertical base-stacking interactions and intra-helix phosphate-phosphate charge repulsion; however, the relative contributions of these two types of interaction to helix rigidity have not been quantified. To address this issue, we have measured the rotational decay times of a 'gapped-duplex' DNA molecule possessing a central, single-stranded region, dT24, before and after addition of the free purine base, N6-methyladenine ((me)A). Upon addition of (me)A, the bases pair with the T residues, forming a continuous stack within the gap region. Formation of the gapped duplex is accompanied by a nearly 2-fold increase in decay time, to values that are indistinguishable from the full duplex control for monovalent salt concentrations up to 90 mM. These results indicate that at least 90% of the rigidity of the dT(n)-dA(n) homopolymer derives from base pair stacking effects, with phosphate-phosphate interactions contributing relatively little to net helix rigidity at moderate salt concentrations.
A multisubstrate mechanism of striatal dopamine uptake and its inhibition by cocaine.

Abstract A study of Na + and Cl − as co-substrates in dopamine uptake into striatal suspensions and inhibition of dopamine uptake by cocaine was made by monitoring the initial velocity of the uptake of exogenously added non-radioactively labeled dopamine using a rotating disk electroanalytical technique with 50 msec resolution. Dopamine, in the concentration range of 0.025 to 4.00 μM, was found to be taken up rapidly into the tissue phase of striatal suspensions following the apparent zero order rate law for the first 25 sec. The observed, dopamine concentration-dependent, initial velocity data were first analyzed graphically using the Eadie-Hofstee transformation of the Michaelis-Menten kinetic equation and, subsequently, using all of the velocity data and the results of the graphical analyses, by non-linear curve fitting. Dopamine uptake was found to be first order in dopamine with a V max of 582 pmol/sec/g wet weight and a K m of 1.2 μM. The results of experiments in which choline and isethionate were substituted for Na + and Cl − , respectively, suggested that the uptake process is second order in Na + and first order in Cl − . Multisubstrate analyses of the initial velocities of uptake over the concentration range of 0.025 to 1.5 μM dopamine suggested that the mechanism of binding of dopamine to the uptake carrier is a partially random, sequential mechanism where dopamine or Na + binds first with the uptake carrier and Cl − binds last. Cocaine was found to uncompetitively inhibit dopamine uptake and competitively inhibit both Na + and Cl − binding (apparent K m values: 131 and 51 mM, respectively), suggesting that the mechanism of cocaine inhibition may be to bind to the dopamine occupied uptake carrier complex at the Na + binding site.
Detecting Compression Wood in Green Loblolly Pine with Radio Frequency

Compression wood is formed on the lower side of leaning softwood trees stem. High density and high microfibril angle lead to a very high longitudinal shrinkage compared to that of normal wood. This shrinkage leads to a high degree of warp and resultant value loss in lumber during drying. Detection of compression wood in green lumber would allow segregation of the lumber for special handling or product designation and reduce value loss from warpage during drying. A dielectric method was tested to differentiate compression from normal wood in green loblolly pine lumber. Compression wood produced a considerable increase in the phase shift of an applied radio frequency signal. A threshold value was determined, tested, and resulted in 95%, 100%, 95%, and 80% successful differentiation of compression from normal wood in lumber for 100, 500, 1000 and 5000 kHz frequencies, respectively.