cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Reduction of viable bacteria in dental aerosols by preprocedural rinsing with an antiseptic mouthrinse

Two double-blind controlled clinical studies were conducted to determine the efficacy of preprocedural rinsing with Cool Mint Listerine Antiseptic mouthrinse on the level of viable bacteria recovered from dental aerosols when generated immediately after and 40 minutes after rinsing. Eighteen healthy subjects participated in each study. In the first study, following a 24-hour no-oral-hygiene period, subjects received a 10-minute ultrasonic scaling of a randomly chosen half mouth, rinsed with either Cool Mint Listerine or a control, and received an ultrasonic scaling of the remaining half mouth. During each scaling period, aerosolized bacteria were collected on a sterile filter using a modified air-sampling device. The filters were overlaid on culture media, incubated aerobically, and colonies were counted. The second study followed the same basic design except that ultrasonic scaling was done for 5 minutes, and the post-rinsing sampling was performed following a 40-minute simulated dental treatment period. Rinsing with Cool Mint Listerine resulted in a 92.1% reduction in viable bacteria in aerosols generated immediately after rinsing and a 91.3% reduction in aerosols generated 40 minutes after rinsing. These reductions were significantly greater than control (P = 0.0001). These studies suggest that preprocedural rinsing with Cool Mint Listerine Antiseptic may potentially reduce the risk of cross contamination in the dental operatory.
Does candidate nomination in districts increase party votes of small parties? Evidence from the 2016 Taiwan legislative elections

This study addresses why small parties nominate candidates to run in the district elections and how nomination of district candidates could influence small parties’ share of party votes in Taiwan. Previous studies on party's strategic entry in the mixed electoral system demonstrate the existence of ‘contamination effect’ in various Western democracies. While ‘contamination effect’ suggests that party would gain more proportional representation (PR) seats by increasing its number of candidate nomination in the single-member-district (SMD) races, we contend that small parties should also take the strength of nominated candidates into consideration. Nominating strong candidates in SMD competitions could generate positive ‘spillover effect’ to party's PR tier. By focusing on the 2016 Taiwan legislative election, our findings suggest that first, small parties need to fulfill the institutional requirements in order to qualify for running in the party-list election; second, the ‘contamination effect’ exists in Taiwan, but it is conditional; and finally, candidates’ strength creates positive ‘spillover effect’ on party's proportional seats.
MEMS-based imaging LIDAR

Micro Electro Mechanical System (MEMS) is a pathway for high performance yet cost effective Time-of-Flight based LIDARs while satisfying trade-offs in performances, such as field-of-view, angular and range resolution, scanning speed and power consumption.
Cohesive paragraphs, Part 1

“Teachers, students, and the museum public have shown continuous interest in the Wiggle Monitoring Project. The functioning of the different ground motion monitoring stations in the first years of activity and the analysis of the first data recorded testify to the good quality of the data and the huge potential of this project for social and educational purposes. Scientists and researchers held discussions with teachers, students, and the public about the themes of research and the requirements for improved protection of the environment as well as disaster preparedness and mitigation. Finally, the constant support of local institutions helped us achieve the prototype monitoring network, while a number of national governments provided limited funds for meetings of teachers involved in the project on 1999 and 2000.”
CORONARY PLAQUE BURDEN IS ASSOCIATED WITH CHOLESTEROL EFFLUX CAPACITY PARTIALLY MEDIATED BY THE HEMATOPOIETIC SYSTEM IN PSORIASIS

Psoriasis, a chronic inflammatory skin disease, is associated with heightened FDG-uptake in the bone marrow (BM) by FDG/PET-CT concomitant with increased non-calcified coronary plaque burden (NCB) by CCTA. Additionally, psoriasis patients have reduced cholesterol efflux capacity (CEC), which in turn
Range expansion or range shift? Population genetics and historic range data analyses of the predatory benthic sea slug Phidiana hiltoni (Mollusca, Gastropoda, Nudibranchia)

Phidiana hiltoni is a conspicuous nudibranch sea slug native to the northeastern Pacific Ocean. Over the past thirty years the range of P. hiltoni has expanded about 200 km northward, but the mechanism that facilitated this expansion is poorly understood. In this study, we use mtDNA and microsatellite data to investigate the population structure of P. hiltoni in its historical range as well as in recently colonized localities. Microsatellite analyses reveal little to no genetic structure and thus high gene flow throughout the range of P. hiltoni. This is consistent with mtDNA analysis results, which revealed shared haplotypes between Southern, Central and Northern populations. However, AMOVA of mtDNA data did recover some genetic structure among geographic regions. This, along with same group memberships in the microsatellite data of individuals from sites like Cave Landing, suggest a certain degree of local recruitment and reduced vagility. Recently established populations in Northern California contain two unique mtDNA haplotypes that are not present elsewhere, but microsatellite data do not differentiate these from other populations. The mismatch between mtDNA and microsatellite data could be explained by the mating system of this aggressive, hermaphroditic species as well as the sporadic nature of the northward dispersal. Analyses of historical abundance data of P. hiltoni suggest a population decline in Southern California. Together, these results suggest a northward population shift, rather than a range expansion, possibly related to ongoing changes in nearshore oceanographic conditions in the region.
Analysis and Application of Log-Linear and Quantile Regression Models to Predict Bus Dwell Times:

Understanding the key factors that contribute to transit travel times and travel-time variability is an essential part of transit planning and research. Delay that occurs when buses service bus sto...
A novel near-infrared metalens using type I hyperbolic metamaterial

Metamaterials, or synthetic materials that have engineered material parameters, have been utilized to demonstrate extraordinary usefulness in the control of electromagnetic waves. In this paper, a novel metalens design in the near infrared band from 1.5μm to 3μm is presented. It consists of a Fresnel zone plate (FZP)-type metasurface which is called a plasmonic waveguide coupler (PWC), situated on a slab of type I hyperbolic metamaterial (HMM) that lies on a silicon substrate which has a silver nanodipole embedded within it. The PWC is made out of rings of Indium Tin Oxide (ITO) and the type I HMM is constructed using a periodic stack of ITO and silicon layers that, through effective medium theory (EMT), act as a slab of type I HMM. Together the PWC and the HMM slab serve to focus incoming radiation onto a focal point marked by the location of the silver (Ag) nanodipole. The Ag nanodipole allows for high subwavelength confinement of optical modes because the in-focal point component of the electromagnetic field vector couples to the plasmonic resonance of the dipole. The maximum achieved resolution is up to 0.01667 λ at an operating wavelength of 1.53 μm and electric field intensity enhancement of 106 is achieved. The enhancement in field is related to the principal localized surface plasmon resonances (LSPRs) around the resonator’s edges on the interface between the Ag nanodipole and the substrate.
How Stem Cells Turn into Bone and Fat.

Toggling between the Fates of Osteoblast and Adipocyte Ectopic calcification results in mineralization of soft tissues such as the heart valves, blood vessels, and skeletal muscle. A recent study p...
Intermediate Outcomes of Staged Tetralogy of Fallot Repair

Background:The optimal surgical strategy for tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) repair in neonates and young infants requiring early surgical intervention remains controversial. Our surgical center follows ...
Cardiac anatomy pertinent to the catheter and surgical treatment of atrial fibrillation

In the 1980s when surgery was first introduced for the treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF), one would often hear comments like "Every little old grandmother has AF. Why on earth would you operate on someone like that?".
Chapter 67 – Hyperlipidemias

: Postprandial hypertriglyceridemia in the dog or cat may be normal. Serum can be hyperlipidemic without being hyperlipemic. Hyperlipidemia in the starved (> 12 hours) dog or cat is abnormal. Hyperlipidemia in the starved (> 2 days) horse is normal. Hyperlipidemic dogs and cats are at risk of developing significant clinical illness; therefore, specific dietary and/or drug intervention is usually warranted. Hypercholesterolemia is most commonly recognized as a secondary hyperlipidemia in animals. Hypertriglyceridemia causes lactescent serum (i.e., lipemia). Horses possess a greater capacity for exporting VLDL from hepatocytes than do ruminant animals. Several endocrine disorders are associated with hyperlipidemia in domestic animals.
Racial discrimination in transportation network companies

Abstract In a randomized audit study, we sent passengers in Boston, MA on nearly 1000 rides on controlled routes using the Uber and Lyft smartphone apps, recording key performance metrics. Passengers randomly selected between accounts that used African American-sounding and white-sounding names. We find that the probability an Uber driver accepts a ride, sees the name, and then cancels doubles when passengers used the account attached to the African American-sounding name. In contrast, Lyft drivers observe the name before accepting a ride and, as expected, we find no effect of name on cancellations. We do not, however, find that the increase in cancellations leads to measurably longer wait times for Uber.
Angular correlation measurements in the decay of /sup 105/Ru

Gamma-ray angular correlations have been measured for the 316-469, 413-263, 393-263, and 875-469 keV cascades in $^{105}\mathrm{Rh}$ following the decay of $^{105}\mathrm{Ru}$. Spin-parity assignments in $^{105}\mathrm{Rh}$ are established as ${3/2}^{+}$ for the 469-keV level and ${5/2}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ for the 786-keV level, and the present data are consistent with ${3/2}^{+}$ assignments for both the 806- and 1345-keV levels. Based on these assignments we find the $\frac{E2}{M1}$ mixing rations to be $\ensuremath{\delta}(263)=\ensuremath{-}0.27\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.04$, $\ensuremath{\delta}(393)=\ensuremath{-}0.30\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.02$, and $\ensuremath{\delta}(875)={+1.3}_{\ensuremath{-}0.4}^{+0.6}$.
From thick intermetallic to nanoscale amorphous phase at Al-Fe joint interface: roles of friction stir welding conditions

Abstract The formation of thick intermetallic compounds (IMC) at the joint interface between aluminum alloy and steel has been the major barrier for adopting Al-Fe bimetallic structures in safety-critical structures. Although friction stir welding (FSW) has recently shown some promise, the progress has been slow towards effectively controlling detrimental IMCs due to a lack of a better understanding of the effects of friction stir conditions on the Al-Fe interfacial transition layer development. This study presents a carefully designed FSW experiment to show how a thick intermetallic layer can be reduced to a nanoscale amorphous phase through control of friction stir conditions. Its implications on practical conditions for joining aluminum alloy and steel without detrimental IMCs are also discussed in light of both the experimental results and underlying mechanical and physical phenomena.
Comparative risk of adverse outcomes associated with nonselective and selective antimuscarinic medications in older adults with dementia and overactive bladder.

OBJECTIVE The differential muscarinic receptor selectivity could cause selective antimuscarinics to offer advantages over nonselective agents with respect to adverse effects. The objective was to examine the comparative risk of falls/fractures and all-cause hospitalizations among older adults with dementia and overactive bladder (OAB) using nonselective and selective antimuscarinics METHODS/DESIGN: A retrospective cohort study design was conducted among older patients with dementia and OAB using incident antimuscarinics. The primary exposure was classified as nonselective (oxybutynin, tolterodine, trospium, and fesoterodine) and selective (solifenacin and darifenacin). Cox proportional-hazards regression using inverse probability of treatment weighting (IPTW) evaluated the risk of falls/fractures and all-cause hospitalizations within 6 months of nonselective and selective antimuscarinic use. RESULTS The study cohort consisted of 13,896 (76.9%) nonselective and 4,179 (23.1%) selective antimuscarinic incident users. The unadjusted falls/fractures rate was 27.14% (3,772) for nonselective and 24.55% (1,026) for selective users (p-value< 0.01). The unadjusted all-cause hospitalizations rate was 24.14% (3,354) for nonselective and 21.58% (902) for selective users (p-value <0.01). The IPTW models did not find a significant difference in the risk of falls/fractures (Hazard Ratio [HR] 1.03; 95% Confidence Interval [CI] 0.99-1.07) and risk of all-cause hospitalizations (HR 1.04; 95% CI 0.99-1.08) between nonselective and selective antimuscarinics. Several sensitivity analyses corroborated the main findings. CONCLUSIONS The study did not find a differential risk of falls/fractures and all-cause hospitalizations in older adults with dementia and OAB using nonselective and selective antimuscarinics. More research is needed to understand the role of pharmacodynamics and pharmacokinetics in the safety profile of antimuscarinics in dementia.
Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy for Metastatic and Recurrent Solid Tumors in Children and Young Adults.

Purpose The use of stereotactic body radiation therapy (SBRT) in pediatric patients has been underreported. We reviewed practice patterns, outcomes, and toxicity of SBRT in this population. Methods and Materials In this multi-institutional study, 55 patients with 107 non-central nervous system lesions treated with SBRT between 2010 and 2016 were reviewed. Treatment response was evaluated by Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors (RECIST) v1.1 and modified RECIST v1.1 criteria for soft-tissue and bone lesions, respectively. Patterns of local failure (LF) were assessed dosimetrically. The cumulative incidence of LF and toxicity were estimated accounting for the competing risk event of death. Predictors of LF were identified through joint frailty models for clustered competing risks. Results The median (range) dose/fraction was 7 (4.5-25) Gy, the total (range) dose/site was 35 (12-45), and the median (range) number of fractions was 5 (1-9). The radiographic response rates of bone and soft-tissue lesions were 90.6% and 76.7%, respectively. Symptom improvement was observed for 62% of symptomatic sites. A total of 27 LFs were documented, with 14 in-field, 9 marginal, and 4 out-of-field LFs. The 1-year estimated cumulative LF rate, progression-free survival, and overall survival were 25.2% (95% confidence interval [CI], 17.2%-36.1%), 17.5% (95% CI, 9.0%-34.1%), and 61% (95% CI, 48.9%-76.1%), respectively. Lesion type (soft tissue vs bone) was the only significant predictor of LF on multivariable analysis (P = .04), with increased hazard for soft-tissue lesions. No acute or late toxicity of grade 4 or higher was observed; the estimated 1-year cumulative incidence of late toxicity of any grade was 7.5% (95% CI, 3.6%-12.1%). Conclusions The SBRT was well tolerated and resulted in radiographic response and symptom palliation in most pediatric patients with advanced disease. The 1-year cumulative LF rate of 25% will serve as a benchmark for further modifications to radiation therapy indications, parameters, and combination therapy.
Distributed Inter-Area Oscillation Damping Control via Dynamic Average Consensus Algorithm

Massive deployment of distributed energy resources (DER) through zero-inertia power electronic converters has made the power grid vulnerable to frequency instabilities and in particular inter-area oscillations. Low-frequency oscillations are of major concerns as they have the potential to limit maximum power transfer, and even cause blackouts. This paper presents a novel distributed control algorithm called distributed frequency deviation control (DFDC) based on local frequency deviation from the estimate of the average frequency of the network. The efficacy of the control unit is demonstrated via modal analyses and time-domain simulations. The results show that all the inter-area oscillation modes are damped for all the test cases without affecting the other dynamic modes of the system.
Building Prealgebra Fluency Through a Self-Managed Practice Intervention: Order of Operations

Behavioral fluency refers to a combination of accuracy and speed that enables students to function proficiently in the learning environment. The present study investigated the effects of a self-managed frequency-building intervention on the behavioral fluency of a critical prealgebra skill in four 6th-grade students. The intervention involved students having access to the PEMDAS (parentheses, exponents, multiplication, division, addition, and subtraction) mnemonic during frequency building. Using an alternating-treatments design, the first experimental condition presented the intervention as three 1-min practice trials with 30 s of feedback delivered immediately after each frequency-building trial ended. The second condition offered one 3-min practice trial with 90 s of feedback once the trial ended. A baseline condition (no practice) had the students engage in a 1-min timed trial with no feedback. The alternating-treatments design demonstrated that three of the four students produced a superior performance within the two intervention conditions when compared to baseline. However, the results did not conclusively show that one frequency-building intervention was superior to the other.
A case study of two South Korean middle school EFL teachers’ practices: instructional stances and use of classroom materials

This case study uses a sociocultural theoretical perspective to examine how two Korean middle-school EFL teachers nurtured participatory affordances for their students through classroom discourse. ...
A Moving Conversation: A Curricular Pathway from Private Dance Studio to Dance in Higher Education

Dance education in the private studio provides multiple perspectives and experiences for understanding dance as a discipline of study. Based on personal experience with a program that I piloted, I ...
Clinical utility of family history of depression for prognosis of adolescent depression severity and duration assessed with predictive modeling

Background Family history of depression (FHD) is a known risk factor for the new onset of depression. However, it is unclear if FHD is clinically useful for prognosis in adolescents with current, ongoing, or past depression. This preregistered study uses a longitudinal, multi-informant design to examine whether a child's FHD adds information about future depressive episodes and depression severity applying state-of-the-art predictive out-of-sample methodology. Methods We examined data in adolescents with current or past depression (age 11-17 years) from the National Institute of Mental Health Characterization and Treatment of Adolescent Depression (CAT-D) study. We asked whether a history of depression in a first-degree relative was predictive of depressive episode duration (72 participants) and future depressive symptom severity in probands (129 participants, 1,439 total assessments). Results Family history of depression, while statistically associated with time spent depressed, did not improve predictions of time spent depressed, nor did it improve models of change in depression severity measured by self- or parent-report. Conclusions Family history of depression does not improve the prediction of the course of depression in adolescents already diagnosed with depression. The difference between statistical association and predictive models highlights the importance of assessing predictive performance when evaluating questions of clinical utility.
DmCdc2: Cdc2 protein kinase (D. melanogaster)

The chapter discusses the Drosophila melanogaster (D. melanogaster) CDC2 gene that encodes a functional and structural homologue of the protein kinase encoded by the Schizosaccharomyce pombe(S. pombe) cdc2 gene, SpCdc2. In D. melanogaster and a variety of other organisms, activation of this kinase has been shown to drive cell cycle progression from G2 to mitosis. Introduction of the D. melanogaster CDC2 gene into yeasts has demonstrated that it can complement mutations in the S. pombe cdc2 and S cerevisiae CDC28 genes. Mutations in the D. melanogaster gene give phenotypes consistent with an arrest of cell cycle progression late in development. A ts allele was used to demonstrate that DmCdc2 is also required during early development, but that the maternal supply of DmCdc2 mRNA and/or protein is adequate to support all essential embryonic cell cycles. Immunoprecipitation data demonstrate that the DmCdc2 protein is associated with cyclins (both A and B), and that it has histone H1 kinase activity. Its state of phosphorylation and histone kinase activity, fluctuate in parallel with later mitoses. By a number of criteria, it functions as a mitotic kinase that is essential to progression from G2 to mitosis.
A Construction Kit for Modeling the Security of M-commerce Applications

In this article we present a method to avoid security problems in modern m-commerce applications. The security problems that we are addressing are breaches of security due to erroneous cryptographic protocols. We describe a specification technique that gives way to a formal, and thereby rigorous, treatment of the security protocols used in such applications. Security of communication is important in modern m-commerce applications. As parts of the specification of the security protocols, we describe how to specify the behavior of the agents, how to specify the attacker and how further aspects of the application reflect in the formal specification. The problem is that such formal specifications are difficult to get right, so we propose a construction kit for their development.
Gaussian curvature in the negative case

In this paper, we reinvestigate an old problem of prescribing Gaussian curvature in the negative case. In 1974, Kazdan and Warner considered the equation -Δu+α=R(x)e u , x ∈ M, on any compact two dimensional manifold M with a α > α o and it is not solvable for α < α o . Then one may naturally ask: Is the equation solvable for a = α o ? In this paper, we answer the question affirmatively. We show that there exists at least one solution for α = α o .
Electron-beam sustained plasmas in optically pumped atmospheric pressure air

Summary form only given, as follows. Stable, low-power-budget, atmospheric pressure air plasmas are sustained using a combination of an electron beam as an efficient volume ionization source. Simultaneous optically pumped vibrational nonequilibrium of the diatomic air species is maintained to reduce the electron removal rate. The electron production rate in the plasmas is measured using a Thomson discharge probe and electron densities are determined from conductivity measurements as well as using microwave attenuation. Energy is transferred into the vibrational modes of the diatomic air species using resonant absorption of CO laser radiation by small amounts (1-5%) of carbon monoxide seeded into the air with subsequent vibration-vibration energy transfer between carbon monoxide and the other diatomics. Perpendicular to the laser beam axis a 0-80 keV, 0-20 mA electron beam enters the plasma cell through an aluminum foil window. The e-beam is operated in pulsed mode with a low duty cycle to reduce thermal stress on the foil window. At the intersection of the laser and the electron beam a plasma region with a volume of approximately 1 ccm is formed. We present measurements of the dependence of the electron removal rate on the level of vibrational excitation within the plasma. The power budgets required for the electron beam ionization and for maintaining a vibrational nonequilibrium by optical pumping as well as the total power budget required to sustain the cold atmospheric pressure air plasmas will be presented.
Reconnaissance Applications Of Image Understanding

The relationship of numerous DARPA and privately pursued Image Understanding Research efforts are related to the various phases of reconnaissance image interpretation. These efforts can directly contribute to the various subtasks, associated with each phase of interpretation. The phases are briefly outlined along with sample contributing IU research.© (1981) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Pressure-regulated electrothermal atomizer for atomic absorption spectrometry

Abstract A pressure-regulated electrothermal atomizer system for atomic absorption spectrometry has been developed which exhibits an analytical sensitivity that is dependent on the pressure employed. Pressure regulation from the milli-torr range to atmospheric pressure can provide a set of calibration curves that cover about five orders of magnitude in concentration. The elements Cd, Cu, Mn and V have been investigated. The peak shapes under different pressures show that the tailing of refractory elements, such as V at atmospheric pressure, can be reduced at low pressures, but with a commensurate loss in sensitivity. The NaCl interferences on Mn and Cd determinations have been investigated and are more pronounced under low pressure conditions. Comparing results from different pressures has shown that the interfering manganese chloride or cadmium chloride vapor phase species form on the graphite surface, not in the gas phase. Comparisons of interferences under different pressures may be useful in distinguishing the source of the interferences, i.e. surface vs gas phase reactions.
STUDIES ON THE AUTECOLOGY OF THE MARINE DIATOM THALASSIOSIRA NORDENSKIÖLDII CLEVE. 1. THE INFLUENCE OF DAYLENGTH, LIGHT INTENSITY, AND TEMPERATURE ON GROWTH1

SUMMARY The marine diatom Thalassiosira nordenskioldii Clave was grown at 48 different combinations of daylength (9:15, 12:12, 15:9 LD), light intensity (0.011, 0.027, 0.066, 0.100 ly/min [g cal/cm2/min]), and temperature (0, 5, 10, 15 C). Growth occurred at all combinations of light and temperature except at 15 C at the highest light level. Maximum growth (K = 1.8 doublings/day) occurred at 10 C under the 15:9 LD cycle. At 15 C the maximum rate was 1.7 doublings/day but occurred at the shortest day-length (9:15 LD). The maxima at 5 and 0 C were 1.32 and 0.67 doubling/day, respectively. At 0 C growth was similar over a wide range of light intensities (K = 0.6–0.65), with, maximum growth being attained at a much lower light intensity than at 5 C. Above 5 C there was a decrease in the light intensity at which maximum growth occurred and excessive light became inhibitory to growth. At 15 C the light intensity at which maximum growth occurred was greater with shorter day-lengths. The temperature optimum was 10 C at 15:9 and 15 C at 9:15 LD. The chlorophyll a content of the cells was greatest under low light intensities and short daylengths, while temperature had a variable effect. The response of Thalassiosira in the laboratory contrasts with, its apparent preference for low temperatures in nature (0–5 C). The experiments suggest that the termination of the bloom of Thalassiosira in Narragansett Bay and elsewhere is not solely temperature dependent.
Electromagnetic effects on electrostatic modes in a magnetized plasma

The complete dispersion relation governing longitudinal and transverse waves in an infinite, homogeneous, magnetized plasma is discussed for arbitrary directions of wave propagation. Various forms suitable for computing modifications of the electrostatic dispersion relation arising from the coupling to transverse waves when ωpe ck, are compared. The modifications which arise for electrostatic ion gyroharmonic instabilities are determined in an ordering scheme appropriate for the important unstable modes of a mirror-confined thermonuclear plasma. The resultant effects on a number of electrostatic modes are discussed.
Stimulation of aldosterone secretion by metoclopramide in humans: Apparent independence of renal and pituitary mediation

Metoclopramide (MP), a dopamine antagonist, stimulates secretion of aldosterone by a mechanism which has not been defined. We examined a potential role for either the kidney or the pituitary to mediate MPs effect on aldosterone secretion. Responses to MP administered i.v. were measured in six anephric and six hypopituitary patients as well as in six normal subjects. MP increased the plasma aldosterone concentration (PAC) in normal subjects in a fashion similar to what had previously been reported. MP produced no increase in plasma levels of renin activity (PRA), cortisol, potassium, or sodium. Three of six anephric patients (all of whom had undetectable PRA) responded to MP with increases in PAC; the magnitude of these responses correlated with the plasma potassium concentration. All six hypopituitary patients showed increases in PAC after MP administration. MP increased plasma prolactin levels in normal subjects and anephric patients; one hypopituitary patient had high basal plasma prolactin levels which increased with MP. In conclusion, neither the kidney nor the pituitary is involved in the mechanism for MP stimulated aldosterone production. These observations suggest that MP may act on the adrenal to evoke secretion of aldosterone.
Polymer-induced phase separations in nonaqueous colloidal suspensions

Abstract A theory based on statistical mechanics is developed to predict the destabilization or flocculation of nonaqueous colloidal suspensions by nonadsorbing polymer. The effective interaction potential between two colloidal particles is modeled via the volume restriction potential of Asakura and Oosawa. The free energy is calculated using second-order perturbation theory with the hard sphere system serving as the reference. A fluid—solid (as opposed to a fluid—fluid) phase separation emerges, indicating that the colloid-rich phase exhibits long range order. Phase diagrams are calculated which show the volume fraction of colloidal particles in each phase as a function of polymer concentration, polymer molecular weight, and colloidal particle size. The results agree well with the experimental observations of deHek and Vrij. The prediction of a fluid—solid phase separation remains to be verified experimentally, however, indicating the need for measurements of the colloid volume fraction in and structure of each phase.
Posttranslational Control of Cdc25 Degradation Terminates Drosophila’s Early Cell-Cycle Program

Summary In most metazoans, early embryonic development is characterized by rapid mitotic divisions that are controlled by maternal mRNAs and proteins that accumulate during oogenesis [1]. These rapid divisions pause at the midblastula transition (MBT), coinciding with a dramatic increase in gene transcription and the degradation of a subset of maternal mRNAs [2, 3]. In Drosophila , the cell-cycle pause is controlled by inhibitory phosphorylation of Cdk1, which in turn is driven by downregulation of the activating Cdc25 phosphatases [4, 5]. Here, we show that the two Drosophila Cdc25 homologs, String and Twine, differ in their dynamics and that, contrary to current models [4], their downregulations are not controlled by mRNA degradation but through different posttranslational mechanisms. The degradation rate of String protein gradually increases during the late syncytial cycles in a manner dependent on the nuclear-to-cytoplasmic ratio and on the DNA replication checkpoints. Twine, on the other hand, is targeted for degradation at the onset of the MBT through a switch-like mechanism controlled, like String, by the nuclear-to-cytoplasmic ratio, but not requiring the DNA replication checkpoints. We demonstrate that posttranslational control of Twine degradation ensures that the proper number of mitoses precede the MBT.
Phyto‐specific 16S rDNA PCR primers for recovering algal and plant sequences from mixed samples

Molecular environmental sampling of the phototrophic complexity in a given environment may be important in a number of research disciplines. Because of the broad evolutionary diversity of photosynthetic organisms, however, primers that can recover sequences from all phototrophs also target other organisms, often preferentially. Therefore, PCR primers that selectively amplify genes of phototrophs over those of other prokaryotic and eukaryotic organisms could prove extremely useful. Here we report two such primers that target 16S rDNA from Cyanobacteria and eukaryotic plastids, but do not amplify genes from abundant Bacteria in a mixed sample.
Environmental auditing: Approaches of the U.S. and Canadian professions

Abstract The global focus on environmental issues has resulted in numerous initiatives by professional accounting associations worldwide. The CICA in Canada and the AICPA in the United States illustrate disparate approaches in defining the emerging role of the accounting profession in the area of environmental auditing. Although there are differing legal and political influences at work in the United States and Canada that have impacted (and will continue to impact) the accounting profession's involvement in environmental matters, economic globalization and public demands for information are likely to draw accountants into the area.
Long-term prognosis after first Q-wave (transmural) or non-Q-wave (nontransmural) myocardial infarction: analysis of 593 patients.

Abstract Follow-up results in 593 patients ≤7 years (mean 4.7) after hospital discharge for their first myocardial infarction (MI) are presented. Patients were grouped according to the presence or absence of Q waves on electrocardiograms after the MI and by peak serum glutamic oxalacetic transaminase (SGOT) level during hospitalization. Cardiac mortality varied. Patients with Q-wave infarcts and an SGOT level ≤240 IU/liter had a cardiac mortality of 3.1% per year, whereas patients with Q-wave MI and an SGOT level > 240 IU/liter had an 11% 6-month mortality and a 3.8% per year cardiac mortality thereafter. However, patients with non-Q-wave (nontransmural) MI had a excellent survival rate for 2 years (96.8%) which continued in patients aged ≤60 years thereafter. However, patients with non-Q-wave infarcts aged > 60 years had a 12% per year cardiac mortality in the third post-MI year and an additional 12% died each year thereafter. Early mortality was related to enzyme level, whereas late mortality was a function of type (Q-wave or non-Q-wave) and age.
Isolation and Partial Characterization of an Arabinogalactan from the Great Northern Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.)

A trichloroacetic acid-soluble polysaccharide of the Great Northern bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) was isolated. Arabinose and galactose were the major constituents of this polysaccharide (92.5% of the total mass). The arabinose to galactose ratio was 2.0:1.7. Viscosity of the aqueous polysaccharide dispersion was concentration, temperature, and pH dependent. Highest viscosity for a 0.5% (w/v) aqueous dispersion was observed at a pH of about 6.0.
Additional Evidence on the Incubator Hypothesis: Detroit, 1970-75

In 1959, Hoover and Vernon stated that the central business district of the region was the logical site for a large number of the region's new firms, owing in part to the external economies to be found there. Since then, this incubator hypothesis has been tested by a large number of researchers, with mixed results. This note presents a new test of the hypothesis, using an extensive data base not previously used for this purpose. Considering births in both manufacturing and nonmanufacturing industries over a five-year period in the Detroit metropolitan region, the data fail to support the hypothesis for most industries, although there are some notable exceptions.
The complementarity between environmental and economic risk: an empirical analysis

Abstract The complementary relationship of economic and environmental risks is empirically demonstrated by using an emissions-to-jobs ratio (E/J). The ratio is derived from EPA's Toxic Release Inventory and Census Bureau employment data. Relationships among economic-indicators, environmental indicators, energy use indicators and E/J ratio are found to be significant. Economic indicators include disposable income, unemployment rate and poverty level, while environmental indicators are Green's Total Index and Policy and Conditions Index. Energy indicators are per capita energy use and a state's total energy use per job. A multivariate analysis shows that poor environmental conditions, weak environmental policies and higher E/J ratios are all inversely related to indicators of economic welfare.
Pervaporation of Organic Liquids from Binary Aqueous Mixtures using Poly(trifluoropropylmethylsiloxane) and Poly(dimethylsiloxane) Dense Membranes

In this work we have compared and contrasted the pervaporation behaviour (separation factor and flux) of fluorosilicone dense membranes based on poly(trifluoropropylmethylsiloxane) (PTFPMS) with poly(dimethylsiloxane) (PDMS) dense membranes. In particular, pervaporation experiments were carried out at 298 K using lab-made PTFPMS, lab-made PDMS and commercial PDMS membranes in order to remove three different organic liquids pyridine (PY), isopropanol (IPA) and methylethylketone (MEK) from dilute (<10 wt.%) binary aqueous mixtures. All of the silicone membranes studied were found to be successful for the desired separations. The permeation flux of pyridine–water liquid mixtures for the PTFPMS membranes was found to increase with the pyridine concentration in the feed mixtures. The separation factor for PDMS membranes for the removal of pyridine, IPA and MEK from aqueous binary mixtures (1 wt.%) was found to be higher than that of PTFPMS membranes while the normalized flux was higher for PTFPMS membranes under identical test conditions. The effect of crosslink density of the PTFPMS membranes on the separation of pyridine–water mixtures was also studied. For a 1 wt.% feed solution the total flux increased with the molar mass between crosslinks, whereas the separation factor for pyridine–water was highest for a molar mass between crosslinks of 15,320 g mol−1.
The accumulation of zinc by fish liver slices

Abstract The accumulation of zinc by Puffer fish liver slices has been studied under various physical and chemical conditions. Zinc can be accumulated by Puffer fish liver cells against an apparent sevenfold concentration gradient by a passive mechanism not directly coupled to metabolic energy. Kinetic studies of the system reveal that this process consists of a first-order sorption of the zinc to binding sites on or within the cell. Although the binding site is not specifically characterized, it is profoundly altered by changes in temperature, pH, and chemical environment.
Flame propagation in grid-induced turbulence

Abstract The interaction of grid-generated turbulence with premixed, V-shaped ethylene/air flames has been studied using laser Doppler anemometry and Rayleigh scattering as optical diagnostics, respectively, for the streamwise component of elocity and the density. Turbulent flame propagation was studied for three upstream flow velocities, U∞ = 245, 500, and 684 cm/s with fuel/air equivalence ratios ranging from 0.55 to 0.75. The angle of the flame with the flow axis was varied from 12° to 24°. Profiles of mean values and the turbulence intensity of velocity and density were obtained through the flame. For all conditions, the turbulence intensity of velocity was observed to decrease behind the flame, indicating the dominance of dilatation effects. In addition, profiles of the mean streamwise velocity component indicate streamlines to be significantly deflected at the flame for the case of the most oblique flame. For the conditions in which the flame angle was 12°, the wake of the flame holder dominates the flow field behind the flame and vortices are observed. This suggests that results for these conditions are not typical of the interaction of a flame with grid-induced turbulence. Probability density functions of Rayleigh scattering in the flame and turbulent intensities indicate that intermediate states of chemical species are likely to be significant in determining density statistics.
Vanilla as a Medicinal Plant

Vanilla has been coveted over the ages for culinary and medicinal reasons alike. Vanilla’s high status in the culinary world comes from a long history of flavoring sweet, sensual desserts such as ice cream, sugar cookies, puff pastries, and butter creams. While vanilla’s history is steeped in culinary traditions, its lesser know uses as an aphrodisiac and a medical botanical stretch back to its discovery in Mesoamerica by ancient cultures who cultivated and honored the sweet orchid. European nations also historically valued vanilla for its flavor, its lore as a love potion, and its medicinal uses. While traditional medical uses of vanilla have faded away, its culinary traditions have changed little. Present day advances in basic science research have shed light on the medical benefits of vanillin, vanilla’s active constituent.
Whole plant regeneration from the shoot apex ofArachis hypogaea L.

Arachis hypogaea L. peanut, has been a difficult species to manipulate in tissue culture. Lack of a reliable and quick regeneration method for peanuts has proven to be one of the hindrances in the application of transformation protocols to the crop. A protocol to initiate shoot apex elongation and rooting of these shoots is described. This protocol was successful with two peanut cultivars. Shoot apices were isolated from germinated seedlings and placed on Murashige and Skoog salts containing N6-benzyladenine for shoot initiation. Once shoot elongation occurred, the explant was transferred to a rooting medium containing Murashige and Skoog salts and only one plant growth regulator, α-naphthalene acetic acid. In as few as 3 weeks, the explants began to root and could be transferred to soil. Forty-five percent of explants isolated from germinating peanut seeds would root on this medium. Elongation and rooting of the shoot apices were not hindered by the addition of an antibiotic to the medium, indicating that the regeneration method could be useful inAgrobacterium tume-faciens-mediated transformation protocols.
Magnetic-field-induced laser cooling below the Doppler limit.

We report a new cooling scheme used to actively collimate an atomic beam of $^{85}\mathrm{Rb}$ with one-dimensional optical molasses. The atoms' transverse velocity is damped by a standing wave of circularly polarized light in a magnetic field of \ensuremath{\sim}20 \ensuremath{\mu}T to 2 cm/s (rms), well below the Doppler velocity ${v}_{D}$=(7\ensuremath{\Elzxh}\ensuremath{\gamma}/20M${)}^{1/2}$\ensuremath{\sim}10 cm/s for one-dimensional optical molasses. The minimum measured velocity is limited only by the experimental geometry. We have developed a model in which the mixing by the field and optical pumping combine to form a cycle that cools below the Doppler limit, in agreement with our measurements.
Requirement of activation of complement C3 and C5 for antiphospholipid antibody-mediated thrombophilia.

Objective Antiphospholipid antibodies (aPL) have been shown to induce thrombosis, activate endothelial cells, and induce fetal loss. The pathogenesis of aPL-induced thrombosis, although not completely understood, may involve platelet and endothelial cell activation as well as procoagulant effects of aPL directly on clotting pathway components. Recent studies have shown that uncontrolled complement activation leads to fetal death in aPL-treated mice. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that aPL are responsible for activation of complement, thus generating split products that induce thrombosis. Methods To study thrombus dynamics and adhesion of leukocytes we used in vivo murine models of thrombosis and microcirculation, in which injections of aPL were used. Results Mice deficient in complement components C3 and C5 were resistant to the enhanced thrombosis and endothelial cell activation that was induced by aPL. Furthermore, inhibition of C5 activation using anti-C5 monoclonal antibodies prevented thrombophilia induced by aPL. Conclusion These data show that complement activation mediates 2 important effectors of aPL, induction of thrombosis and activation of endothelial cells.
Probabilistic methods in partial differential equations

Results on the asymptotic behavior of solutions of the Cauchy problem∂u/∂t=Lu ast → ∞ are stated, both for nondegenerate and degenerate elliptic second order operatorL. The Dirichlet problem for degenerateL is also studied. The methods used depend on a detailed study of the behavior of solutions of stochastic differential equations.
THE EFFECT OF VISIBILITY ON SPACE USE BY TERRITORIAL RED-CAPPED CARDINALS

One of the factors that may influence an animal's use of space is visibility, which in territorial species can determine how readily an individual can monitor its territory for conspecific intruders. We hypothesized that territorial red-capped cardinals (Paroaria gularis) would prefer locations that provided them with good views of their territories. Red-capped cardinals defend territories along lakes and rivers in the Amazon Basin, and visibility can vary widely within these territories. We defined visibility as the percentage of a territory that could be seen from a particular location. Visibility was measured by dividing each territory into 20 m segments and calculating the proportion of the territory that was visible from each segment. Cardinals did not distribute their time evenly within their territories: focal observations revealed that cardinals spent more time in the segments of their territory that afforded them the best view of their territory. This preference is unlikely to be due to differences in food availability, as the abundance of arthropod prey did not vary between high-visibility sites (peninsulas) and low-visibility sites (bays). Cardinals probably benefited from their disproportionate use of sites with high visibility because conspecific intruders were more likely to be detected from those sites.
Females make tough neighbors: sex-specific competitive effects in seedlings of a dioecious grass.

If males and females of a species differ in their effect on intraspecific competition then this can have significant ecological and evolutionary consequences because it can lead to size and mortality disparities between the sexes, and thus cause biased population sex ratios. If the degree of sexual dimorphism of competitive effect varies across environments then this variation can generate sex ratio variation within and between populations. In a California population of Distichlis spicata, a dioecious grass species exhibiting extreme within-population sex ratio variation (spatial segregation of the sexes), I evaluated the intraspecific competitive effects of male and female D. spicata seedlings in three soil types. The sex of seedlings was determined using a RAPD-PCR marker co-segregating with female phenotype. Distichlis spicata seedlings, regardless of sex, were six times larger when grown with male versus female conspecific seedlings in soil from microsites where the majority of D. spicata plants are female, and this sexual dimorphism of competitive effect was weaker or did not occur in other soil types. This study suggests that it is not just the higher costs of female versus male reproduction itself that cause spatial segregation of the sexes in D. spicata, but that differences in competitive abilities between the sexes—which occur as early as the seedling stage—can generate sex ratio variation.