cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The role of experience in the development of food preferences in gull chicks.

Abstract Experiments were carried out with captive herring gull and ring-billed gull chicks to determine the effect of restricted feeding experience on the formation of food preferences. Chicks were reared from hatching to 5 days of age on one of three regimens: (1) chopped earthworms, (2) pink cat food, and (3) green cat food. On the sixth day each chick was given a choice between its training food and one of the unfamiliar foods, and then a choice between the two unfamiliar foods. The training experience resulted in selection of the familiar food in fifty-three of sixty tests with herring gull chicks and in sixty-nine of seventy-two tests with ring-billed gull chicks. In the tests involving a choice between the two unfamiliar foods worms were preferred over pink cat food and this over green cat food. Three herring gull chicks and ten ring-billed gull chicks, however, failed to take any food, suggesting that lack of familiarity with a food material may be equivalent to non-recognition of that material as food. The results of these tests are considered in the light of Tinbergen's specific search image hypothesis relating initiation of feeding on a new food item with chance experience.
Long cycles in 3-connected graphs

Moon and Moser in 1963 conjectured that if G is a 3-connected planar graph on n vertices, then G contains a cycle of length at least Ω(nlog32). In this paper, this conjecture is proved. In addition, the same result is proved for 3-connected graphs embeddable in the projective plane, or the torus, or the Klein bottle.
Direct modulation of widely tunable sampled-grating DBR lasers

The linewidth, chirp and mode-suppression-ratio (MSR) of directly modulated sampled grating DBR (SGDBR) lasers has been measured. Although the tuning range can be up to an order of magnitude larger than in simple DBR lasers (i.e. 60 nm vs 6 nm), we find that the linewidth, chirp and MSR are about the same or better (i.e. (Delta) (nu) 40 dB) over a wide range of operating parameters. The modulation bandwidth was in excess of 4 GHz, and the dynamic MSR remained > 40 dB as long as the current did not swing below threshold.© (1996) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Long-term results of 10 conjoined twin separations

Background/Purpose: From 1978 to 2000, 10 pairs of conjoined twins were successfully separated with 14 surviving twins. Six were separated emergently because of the death or impending death of their respective twins. All of the remaining 4 sets required at least one emergency operation on at least one twin before subsequent separations. Methods: A 6-item questionnaire was developed to interview this unique cohort. The question design was open ended to maximize opportunity for patient/family response. Families were administered the same questionnaire in face-to-face interviews. The physician-author asked questions related to physical health and disability, whereas the social worker-author asked questions related to developmental, educational, psychosocial, and family functioning. Results: The first 4 surviving twins have graduated from college. The 1981 twin completed high school. The remaining 9 twins are in classes appropriate for their age. All 14 twins have required operations subsequent to initial discharge, particularly to correct urological, orthopedic, neurosurgical, as well as pediatric surgical problems. Conclusions: In utero diagnosis of conjoined twins by ultrasonography compels physicians and parents early in the pregnancy to make decisions concerning possible surgical separation and the alternative of pregnancy termination. The case reports presented offer additional information for physicians and parents to make informed decisions at a crucial time by illustrating long-term physical and psychological outcomes of 14 surgical survivors.
An odd property of the sample median

Abstract It is observed that the sample median for the even sample size n = 2m is superior to the sample median with n = 2m + 1. A slight modification in the definition of the sample medain for the odd sample size is suggested, which eliminates this odd property.
Contrasting State-of-the-Art in the Machine Scoring of Short-Form Constructed Responses

This study compared short-form constructed responses evaluated by both human raters and machine scoring algorithms. The context was a public competition on which both public competitors and commercial vendors vied to develop machine scoring algorithms that would match or exceed the performance of operational human raters in a summative high-stakes testing environment. Data (N = 25,683) were drawn from three different states, employed 10 different prompts, and were drawn from two different secondary grade levels. Samples ranging in size from 2,130 to 2,999 were randomly selected from the data sets provided by the states and then randomly divided into three sets: a training set, a test set, and a validation set. Machine performance on all of the agreement measures failed to match that of the human raters. The current study concluded with recommendations on steps that might improve machine-scoring algorithms before they can be used in any operational way.
Decentralized controller analysis and design for multi-evaporator vapor compression systems

The high degree of coupling in multi-evaporator vapor compression systems (ME-VCSs) makes independent control of the cooling capacity for each evaporator difficult. This paper examines the sources of coupling in these systems and the importance of this coupling when making control decisions. Structured singular value (SSV) analysis is used to quantify the degree of coupling in relation to the diagonal dominance of these systems. A 5-evaporator system model is used to demonstrate this analysis and shows that these systems are not diagonally dominant, suggesting poor decentralized control performance when individually controlling both cooling capacity and superheat. However, SSV analysis is used to show that decentralized control is capable of controlling cooling capacity if superheat is not included in the feedback. Both centralized and decentralized model predictive control (MPC) architectures were developed to verify the findings of the SSV analysis.
Multiple calcium channels in synaptosomes: voltage dependence of 1,4-dihydropyridine binding and effects on function

The voltage dependence of binding of the calcium channel antagonist, (+)-[3H]PN200-110, to rat brain synaptosomes and the effects of dihydropyridines on 45Ca2+ uptake have been investigated. Under nondepolarizing conditions (+)-[3H]PN200-110 binds to a single class of sites with a Kd of 0.07 nM and a binding capacity of 182 fmol/mg of protein. When the synaptosomal membrane potential was dissipated either by osmotic lysis of the synaptosomes or by depolarization induced by raising the external K+ concentration, there was a decrease in affinity (approximately 7-fold) with no change in the number of sites. The effects of calcium channel ligands on 45Ca2+ uptake by synaptosomes have been measured as a function of external potassium concentration, i.e., membrane potential. Depolarization led to a rapid influx of 45Ca2+ whose magnitude was voltage-dependent. Verapamil (100 microM) almost completely inhibited calcium uptake at all potassium concentrations studied. In contrast, the effects of dihydropyridines (2 microM) appear to be voltage-sensitive. At relatively low levels of depolarization (10-25 mM K+) nitrendipine and PN200-110 completely inhibited 45Ca2+ influx, whereas the agonist Bay K8644 slightly potentiated the response. At higher K+ concentrations an additional dihydropyridine-insensitive component of calcium uptake was observed. These results provide evidence for the presence of dihydropyridine-sensitive calcium channels in synaptosomes which may be activated under conditions of partial depolarization.
Modification of stratospheric properties by trace constituent changes.

IT has been suggested that large quantities of water vapour and other pollutants introduced into the stratosphere by supersonic transporters may change the basic properties of the stratosphere1. But what happens when large changes in trace constituent concentrations occur naturally, for example, after a volcanic eruption ? The stratospheric temperature seems to increase by about 5° C and it remains higher than normal for several years. Some of the evidence for this is given in. Figs. 1 and 2. which are based on daily upper air data from Australia and New Zealand. Monthly temperature means were formed for each month, then mean monthly values computed from data for the period 1958–62 inclusive. Deviations from these long term values were noted, and a three-month running average obtained. Fig. 1 gives the time variations of these deviations at selected stations. A major eruption of Mt Agung, Bali (8° S, 115° E), occurred on March 17, 1963, and there have been reports of other eruptions that year. Temperature at the low latitude stations increased almost immediately and remained higher than normal for over two years. Fig. 2 contains meridional cross-sections of the temperature deviations for particular months based on station data for the longitude region 110° E to 180° E. At the beginning of 1963, temperature was below the five year normal and the time variations had been following the characteristic southern hemisphere biennial pattern2. The eruption interrupted this pattern. The cross-sections bear some resemblance to those for the products of nuclear weapons tests (for example, see the isolines of tungsten 185 radioactivity in ref. 3), as might be expected. The deviation pattern exhibits a maximum at low latitudes in the lower stratosphere and slopes downwards towards the pole, in some cases at a slope greater than that of the potential temperature surfaces. It is difficult to detect the changes, if any, below 300 mbar. While negative values predominate in the examples shown, it was not possible to draw in a −2° C contour. Similarly, at higher latitudes in the stratosphere the effect is uncertain; large deviations from average are more common there. It has been reported2 that the Australian Weather Bureau changed its thermistor mounting at the end of 1962. Maps of temperature for January 1963 and 1964 show that the temperature change is present at other longitudes.
Thyroid hormone responsive protein (THRP) mediates thyroid hormone-induced cytotoxicity in primary neuronal cultures

The thyroid hormone responsive protein (THRP) is a novel gene product that remains responsive to thyroid hormone (TH) in the cerebral cortex of adult rats. To study the effects of THRP on neuronal cell survival, primary neurons cultured from rats at embryonic day 19 were treated with either 10−7 mol L−1 3,5,3′-triiodothyronine (T3), or 10−7 mol L−1l-thyroxine (T4). This resulted in decreasing neuronal cell number starting 48 h after treatment. T3 -related cytotoxicity was also documented by measurement of lactate dehydrogenase release into the medium and by propidium iodide staining. Treatment of cells with 10−7 mol L−1 T3 resulted in a significant increase in THRP mRNA levels as early as 24 h of treatment in a concentration-dependent manner. T3 treatment did not alter glyceraldehyde 3-phosphate dehydrogenase (G3PDH) mRNA levels. Exogenous expression of THRP by transfecting cells with a THRP expression construct (pSVL-THRP) was associated with a significant increase in cell death as measured by the increased number of propidium iodide staining cells (18.0±2.1 cells per field) compared with mock-transfected cells (3.3±0.2), P<0.002. To further document THRP-induced cytotoxicity, the cells were either transfected with pSVL (empty vector)+pSV2neo (neomycin resistance vector for cell labeling), pSVL-THRP+pSV2neo, or pSVL-THRP+pc-Abl (cAbl tyrosine kinase expressing vector)+pSV2neo. After 24 h the cells were treated with 500 μg mL−1 G418 (a congener of neomycin) to eliminate the non-transfected cells. Transfection with pSVL-THRP reduced neuronal survival relative to cells transfected with pSVL (356±15.6 compared with 145±16.9, P<0.05). Co-transfection of THRP with wild-type c-Abl did not alter the effect of THRP on cell survival. It is concluded that THRP is an important factor in TH-induced neuronal cell death.
Inhibition of cytochrome P450 by nefazodone in vitro: studies of dextromethorphan O‐ and N‐demethylation

Nefazodone (NEF), a 5-HT2A/2C antagonist antidepressant, is extensively metabolized in the human body to hydroxy NEF (OH-NEF), p-hydroxy NEF (pOH-NEF), a dione metabolite, and via cleavage of the molecule to m-chlorophenyl-piperazine (mCPP) and BMY-33604. The latter is further metabolized to BMS-183695-01 (BMSa) and BMS-183562-01 (BMSb). To investigate the potential of NEF and its metabolites to interfere with the metabolism of other drugs, we tested these compounds for their ability to alter dextromethorphan (DMO) O-demethylation to dextrorphan (DOP; an index reaction for CYP2D6) and N-demethylation to 3-methoxy morphinan (MEM, a recently proposed index reaction of CYP3A3/4). The assay was performed in an in vitro system with human liver microsomes from three different donors. NEF, OH-NEF, pOH-NEF, mCPP and BMSb were weak inhibitors of DMO O and N-demethylation, with average Ki values ranging from 18 to 50 μm for DOP formation, and from 21 to >200 μm for MEM formation. The dione metabolite and BMSa did not produce detectable inhibition of either pathway. The findings for DMO O-demethylation, well-established as a CYP2D6-mediated reaction, indicate that NEF and metabolites are weak inhibitors of this reaction, with Ki values at least 100 times higher than fluoxetine (Ki=0.1 μm±0.09). The implications of results on DMO N-demethylation are not clear. In vivo data, as well as in vitro data based on ‘pure’ CYP3A3/4 substrates, provide evidence for clinically relevant CYP3A3/4 inhibition by NEF, OH-NEF, and pOH-NEF. Thus, formation of MEM by N-demethylation of DMO may not constitute a suitable index reaction to probe CYP3A3/4 activity.
Magnetization transfer and adiabatic R1ρ MRI in the brainstem of Parkinson’s disease

Abstract Background In addition to classic midbrain pathology, Parkinson’s disease (PD) is accompanied by changes in pontine and medullary brainstem structures. These additional abnormalities may underlie non-motor features as well as play a role in motor disability. Methods: Using novel magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) methods based on rotating frame adiabatic R 1 ρ (i.e., measurements of longitudinal relaxation during adiabatic full passage pulses) and modified magnetization transfer (MT) MRI mapping, we sought to identify brainstem alterations in nine individuals with mild-moderate PD (off medication) and ten age-matched controls at 4 T . Results: We discovered significant differences in MRI parameters between midbrain and medullary brainstem structures in control subjects as compared to PD patients. Conclusions: These findings support the presence of underlying functional/structural brainstem changes in mild-moderate PD.
X-ray Investigation of Some Plastic Crystals I. Structure and Rotation: Cyclopentanol and dl-Camphene

X-ray photographs have been made of the two rotational forms of solid cyclopentanol and of the rotational form of dl-camphene. At −30°C, cyclopentanol in rotational form I has a hexagonal structure...
Seminomas complicating undescended intraabdominal testes in patients with prior negative findings from surgical exploration

OBJECTIVE: This paper describes the clinical and imaging characteristics of seminoma complicating intraabdominal testes in three patients who had a history of negative findings from surgical exploration of the inguinal canal and scrotum. CONCLUSION: Because inguinal surgery for cryptorchidism may fail to disclose intraabdominal testes, surgery that has negative findings should be followed up by a close examination of the abdomen. Seminomas arising from an intraabdominal testis can be large and asymptomatic or may simulate other diseases. Torsion may occur and occasionally appear as acute abdomen. The imaging features can be nonspecific, and the history of cryptorchidism may not be provided. Awareness of the clinical and imaging features of neoplasms involving undescended intraabdominal testes is important for appropriate diagnosis and therapy.
Characterization of the smallest chitosan oligomer that is maximally antifungal to Fusarium solani and elicits pisatin formation in Pisum sativum

Chitosan (β-1,4-linked glucosamine polymer) oligomers were characterized by their antifungal effect onFusarium solani f. sp.pisi andF. solani f. sp.phaseoli and their ability to elicit pisatin formation in immature pea pods. The antifungal and pisatin-inducing abilities were shown to increase as the polymer size increased. Monomer and dimer units showed no antifungal activity and induced little pisatin. Trimer through pentamer units were antifungal at high concentrations and were moderate in ability to induce pisatin formation. A sharp increase in antifungal activity and pisatin formation was noted for the hexamer unit, while the heptamer unit was maximal in both antifungal activity and formation of pisatin. Chitosan and its derivatives showed maximal activities in both antifungal action and pisatin induction, while chitin and chitin derivatives showed no antifungal activity and only weak pisatin formation activity. These findings show that high-molecular-weight chitosan fragments are more active in both antifungal and pisatin formation activity than are the intermediate and low-molecular-weight fragments. The chitosan oligomers which most effectively induce pisatin and inhibit theF. solani formae speciales are the non-acetylated heptamers.
Metabolic fuel selection: the importance of being flexible

Studies in genetically engineered mice have shown the importance of cross-talk between organs in the regulation of energy metabolism. In this issue, a careful metabolic characterization of mice with genetic deficiency of the GLUT4 glucose transporter in adipocytes and muscle is reported. These mice compensate for decreased peripheral glucose disposal by increasing hepatic glucose uptake and lipid synthesis as well as by increasing lipid utilization in peripheral tissues. These findings are relevant to humans with type 2 diabetes, in whom a key feature is diminished peripheral glucose disposal.
Budget Crisis, Entitlement Crisis, Health Care Financing Problem—Which Is It?

Many budget analysts allege that growing expenditures on entitlements will necessitate a reexamination of all public spending and taxes. In fact, anticipated budget problems are fully explained by projected growth of Medicare and Medicaid. But the same forces driving public-sector health care spending are also driving private spending. Sensible reforms of publicly financed health care require a systemwide approach. Apart from health care, currently legislated federal revenues suffice to cover all currently projected spending, including all Social Security and other entitlements. The United States confronts a public and private health care spending problem, not an entitlement crisis.
Fulminant hepatic failure secondary to congestive heart failure

An elderly female with an acute episode of congestive heart failure, unaccompanied by any periods of hypotension, developed fulminant hepatic failure with an accompanying coagulopathy. Attempts to establish an etiology for her acute hepatic insufficiency, other than cardiac failure, proved negative. Fulminant hepatic failure as a consequence of congestive heart failure, without prolonged periods of hypotension preceding alteration in hepatic function, has not heretofore been described. Liver function is adversely effected in congestive heart failure. Hepatic ammonia clearance is impaired in cardiac failure and may be diminished to the point of resulting in hepatic encephalopathy. Coagulopathy is a frequent concomitant of fulminant hepatic failure. Establishing a clear etiology for a coagulopathy in the face of concomitant liver disease is difficult, thus making any therapeutic intervention fraught with peril.
Human trabecular meshwork cells as a thyroid hormone target tissue: Presence of functional thyroid hormone receptors

· Purpose: To deter- mine whether human trabecular meshwork cells (HTM) are a po- tential target tissue for thyroid hormone (3,3′,5-triiodothyronine, T3). · Methods: Cultured HTM were assayed for the presence of thyroid hormone receptors (TRs) and retinoid X receptors (RXRs) by reverse-transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) to detected TR and RXR mRNA, and by immunohistochemistry to detect nuclear TR and RXR proteins. Functionality of the TR was determined by analysis of 125I-T3 binding affinity and capacity in HTM nuclear extracts. Effects of T3 on modulation of hyaluronic acid (HA) levels in HTM were measured as a function of dose and duration of T3 administration. · Results: Analysis of RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry demonstrated that cultured HTM expressed TRα1, TRα2, and TRβ1 but not TRβ2; and RXRα but not RXRβ and RXRγ isoforms. Saturation binding and analysis of 125I-T3 to HTM nuclear extracts revealed Kd of 57 pM. The number of T3 binding sites extrapolated from a Scatchard plot was 7.3×1010/μg of HTM nuclear protein extract. T3 supplementation reduced the concentration of HA in the cell medium by 32–43% compared to cells grown in the absence of T3. · Conclusions: Cultured HTM express three TR isoforms and one RXR isoform, bind T3 with an affinity similar to that of TR in responsive cells, and modulate their HA production in response to T3. These findings indicate that the human trabecular meshwork tissue has the capacity to respond to thyroid hormones.
Temperature Dependence of Optical Absorption Lines from Iron Atoms in a Krypton Matrix

The optical absorption spectrum of iron atoms isolated in a krypton matrix contains two narrow lines at $\ensuremath{\lambda}=3004\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.5 \mathrm{and} 2969\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}1.0$ \AA{}. These lines are related to the two multiplet lines $3{d}^{6}4s^{5}D_{4}\ensuremath{-}3{d}^{7}(a^{4}F)4p^{5}D_{4}^{\ensuremath{\circ}}$ and $3{d}^{6}4{s}^{2}^{5}D_{4}\ensuremath{-}3{d}^{7}(a^{4}F)4p^{5}D_{3}^{\ensuremath{\circ}}$. The linewidths (full width at half-maximum) at a matrix temperature of 4 K are 42 \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{} 1.5 and 38 \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{} 4 ${\mathrm{cm}}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$, respectively. The lines are asymmetric (high-energy tail) and the linewidths increase with increasing temperature. From the line-shape analysis of the 3004 \AA{} line at 4.2 and 20.5 K, the effective Debye temperature of solid krypton as probed by iron atoms is determined: The temperature dependence of linewidth yields ${\ensuremath{\Theta}}_{D}=60\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}5$ K; the asymmetry of the line gives ${\ensuremath{\Theta}}_{D}=53\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}6$ K.
Male Perpetration of Physical Violence Against Female Partners The Interaction of Dominance Needs and Attachment Insecurity

Sixty men arrested for domestic violence and court referred to a batterer intervention program completed measures offrequency of physical violence enacted toward their female partner, need for dominance in a relationship, social desirability, and adult attachment style. A hierarchical regression analysis indicated that, after adjusting for the effect of social desirability, adult attachment style significantly moderated the relationship between need for dominance and frequency of violence. As expected, insecurely attached men who also indicated a need for dominance in their relationship reported the most violence toward their female partners. These findings highlight the importance of drawing on multiple and diverse theories to explain battering. Implications of the findings for intervention and policy are addressed.
Incorporating uncertainty into the estimation of the biological reference points F0.1 and Fmax for the Maine green sea urchin (Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis) fishery

Abstract The status of the Maine green sea urchin ( Strongylocentrotus droebachiensis ) fishery has not been quantitatively determined, despite its commercial importance and declining stock abundances. The high levels of natural variability in the population, and the uncertainty implicit in all fisheries, make it essential to determine probabilistic estimates of current fishing mortality rate and biological reference points for a reliable stock assessment. We used a Monte Carlo simulation approach to investigate how uncertainties associated with yield per recruit parameter estimation would affect F 0.1 and F max and to identify their impacts on the determination of stock status. We found that higher levels of uncertainty increased variation in F 0.1 and F max estimates, which translated to a decrease in the probability that the fishery was defined as overfished. F 0.1 was considered more appropriate as a target biological reference point, but the probability that the fishery would be defined as overfished varied by confidence level and the magnitude of uncertainty. We suggest that further investigations into other reference points be conducted before final selection and implementation of a management target for the Maine sea urchin fishery.
BIOCHEMICAL ANALYSIS OF PROSPERO PROTEIN DURING ASYMMETRIC CELL DIVISION :CORTICAL PROSPERO IS HIGHLY PHOSPHORYLATED RELATIVE TO NUCLEAR PROSPERO

Abstract Drosophila neuroblasts are a model system for studying asymmetric cell division. Neuroblasts bud off a series of smaller progeny, called ganglion mother cells (GMCs). An essential regulator of GMC development is the Prospero homeodomain transcription factor: Prospero is asymmetrically localized to the basal cortex of the mitotic neuroblast and partitioned into the newborn GMC. Prospero is translocated into the GMC nucleus, where it is necessary to establish GMC-specific gene expression. Cortical localization of Prospero protein is observed only during mitosis; cortical localization requires entry into mitosis and cortical delocalization requires exit from mitosis. The tight correlation and functional requirement between mitosis and cortical Prospero localization suggests that mitosis-specific posttranslational modifications may be involved in regulating Prospero subcellular localization. Here we use monoclonals recognizing the N-terminal or C-terminal region of Prospero to explore its posttranslational regulation. One- and two-dimensional Western analysis reveal a complex pattern of Prospero isoforms; phosphatase assays show that there are several phosphoisoforms of Prospero. Developmental 2D Western blots, cell fractionation assays, and analysis of a missense prospero mutation show that cortical Prospero protein is highly phosphorylated compared to nuclear Prospero protein. Our results are consistent with two functions of Prospero phosphorylation: (i) phosphorylation may be required for Prospero cortical localization; or (ii) phosphorylation may be a consequence of Prospero cortical localization, in which case it may facilitate subsequent events, such as Prospero cortical release or nuclear localization.
Exact and heuristic methods for cell suppression in multi-dimensional linked tables

The increasing demand for information, coupled with the increasing capability of computer systems, has compelled information providers to reassess their procedures for preventing disclosure of confidential information. This paper considers the problem of protecting an unpublished, sensitive table by suppressing cells in related, published tables. A conventional integer programming technique for two-dimensional tables is extended to find an optimal suppression set for the public tables. This can be used to protect the confidentiality of sensitive data in three- and higher-dimensional tables. More importantly, heuristics that are intimately related to the structure of the problem are also presented to mitigate the computational difficulty of the integer program. An example is drawn from healthcare management. Data tables are randomly generated to assess the computational time/space restrictions of the IP model, and to evaluate the heuristics.
Breakup of strongly absorptive projectiles: Application to (h,dp) reaction

The well known distorted-wave Born-approximation formula for breakup processes was first simplified by introducing several approximations, all of which are believed justified for strongly absorptive high-energy projectiles. This made the theory very transparent and the ensuing numerical calculations rather easy to perform. This new formula, which was applied earlier with success to the breakup of /sup 20/Ne, is applied in the present work to that of /sup 3/He, again with success.
Mobile-Money Benefits and Usage: The Case of M-PESA

Launched in Kenya in 2007, M-PESA is one of the world's first mobile money services. The paper review of its business models and the individual, organizational, and societal factors leading to its widespread adoption illuminates how mobile money can serve economic development.
Effect of APV and ketamine on epileptiform acitivity in the CA1 and CA3 regions of the hippocampus

Abstract Intracellular recordings were obtained from hippocampal CA1 and CA3 pyramidal neurons maintained in vitro. The ability of the NMDA receptor antagonists ketamine and APV to suppress picrotoxin-induced epileptiform burst activity was examined. Activity was recorded either after a single orthodromic stimulation, which gave rise to paroxysmal depolarization shift (PDS), or during a 500 msec train of 50 Hz stimulation, which produced a sustained depolarization. In the CA1 and CA3 area, both the PDS and sustained depolarization were reduced by APV (20 μM) and ketamine (100 μM). APV reduced the area under the PDS by 24 ± 3% and 32 ± 4% in CA1 and CA3 neurons, respectively. The corresponding reductions in the sustained depolarization were 10 ± 2% and 22 ± 4%. Ketamine reduced the PDS by 43 ± 4% and 31 ± 4% in CA1 and CA3 and decreased the sustained depolarization by 21 ± 3% and 12 ± 3%. In all cases, NMDA receptor antagonists had a significantly greater effect on the PDS than the sustained depolarization. These results indicate that, although not essential for generation of paroxysmal activity, NMDA receptors make significant contributions to epileptiform activity in both CA1 and CA3 regions of the hippocampus.
A phase I trial of paclitaxel and trastuzumab in combination with interleukin-12 in patients with HER2/neu-expressing malignancies

Our preclinical work showed a dramatic synergy between interleukin-12 (IL-12) and trastuzumab for stimulation of natural killer cell cytokine secretion. We aimed to determine the safety profile of IL-12 when given in combination with trastuzumab and paclitaxel to patients with metastatic HER2-overexpressing cancers. Paclitaxel was given i.v. at 175 mg/m(2) every 3 weeks. Trastuzumab was given on day 1 each week (4 mg/kg initially and 2 mg/kg thereafter) in combination with injections of IL-12 on days 2 and 5 starting in cycle 2. This trial accrued 21 patients with metastatic HER2-positive tumors (breast, 7; colon, 6; esophagus, 4; stomach, 2; pancreas, 1; thyroid, 1). The IL-12 component was dose-escalated in cohorts of three patients. The dose-limiting toxicity was grade 3 fatigue at the 300 ng/kg dose level in two patients. The recommended phase II dose was 200 ng/kg administered s.c. There was one complete response in a patient with breast cancer, partial responses in 4 patients (breast, 2; esophageal, 2), and stabilization of disease lasting 3 months or greater (SD) in 6 other patients. All but one response occurred in patients with HER2 3+ disease. Two SD patients completed 1 year of therapy. Ten patients had progressive disease. There was increased activation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase in peripheral blood mononuclear cells and increased levels of IFN-gamma and several chemokines in patients with clinical benefit (complete response, partial response, or SD), but not in patients with progressive disease. IL-12 in combination with trastuzumab and paclitaxel therefore exhibits an acceptable toxicity profile and has activity in patients with HER2-overexpressing cancers.
Adaptation in the constancy of visual direction measured by a one-trial method

Adaptation to field displacement during head movements in the direction with the head rotation and in the direction against it was produced under otherwise identical conditions and compared; the field displacement rate was also varied. A rapid training procedure was used, and a novel one-trial test was employed that could measure the adaptation well enough to compare the effects of various training conditions. The one-trial test measured the magnitude of one of the manifestations of adaptation, the apparent displacement of a stationary target during head movements. This apparent horizontal target displacement was transformed into an oblique one by having the head movements that brought forth the apparent target displacement simultaneously cause an objective vertical target displacement. The slant of the resultant apparent motion path varied with the magnitude of the apparent horizontal target displacement. It was measured by having S reproduce its slant angle. It was found that adaptation to field displacement in the direction with the head rotation was consistently greater than adaptation to the opposite displacement conditions. An explanation for this result is offered.
Vitamin D-dependent rickets: actions of parathyroid hormone and 25-hydroxycholecalciferol.

Extract: During active rickets, the increase in 3′,5′-adenosine monophosphate (3′,5′-AMP) excretion after infusion of parathyroid hormone (PTH) can be claimed as a demonstration of PTH responsiveness, at least as far as the kidney is concerned (Table II). In patients with vitamin D-dependent rickets, following 25-HCC therapy, the basal excretion ratios of nanomoles 3′,5′-AMP/milligrams creatinine fall within the normal range, and, although the basal ratios of milligrams phosphate/milligrams creatinine excretion decrease to normal (Tables III, IV, and V), a phosphaturic response to PTH is still not evident. The high basal ratios of nanomoles 3′,5′-AMP/ milligrams creatinine and milligrams phosphate/milligrams creatinine suggest underlying hyperparathyroidism during a phase of this syndrome marked by hypocalcemia and hyperaminoaciduria. During 2-day PTH challenges, while rickets was active, the peak increases in serum calcium above base line were 1.92, 1.80, and 1.86 mg/100 ml. After treatment with 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (25-HCG), no further significant increases in serum calcium above base line could be elicited (Tables VI, VII, VIII). It would seem, therefore, that, while these patients were untreated, small but sufficient amounts of 25-HCC or another metabolite of vitamin D were available to permit the calcium-mobilizing action of PTH on bone. The observed hypocalcemia in vitamin D-dependent rickets, then, is most likely secondary to a defect in gastrointestinal absorption. Mineral balance studies during active rickets revealed an absorptive defect for calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium—a defect completely reversible after 25-HCC treatment. Speculation: We suggest that the small intestine represents the prime target organ site for impaired vitamin D action in this disease by differential failure in the biologic formation of 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol from 25-HCC. Similarly, we postulate that a variable hydroxylating deficiency may be present in the transformation of vitamin D3 to 25-HCC. Genetic heterogeneity, therefore, may ultimately explain common responses in these three patients to contrasting doses of dihydrotachysterol (DHT) and 25-HCC.
Optomechanical bimorph actuator

Abstract An optomechanical bender bimorph–a device which responds to incident illumination by bending–is described. Expressions for the bimorph action are derived and the results of tests are reported.
Validation of Z-pinch double-ended hohlraum energetics and capsule coupling models using Z data

The pulsed-power driven double-ended vacuum hohlraum allows highly symmetric capsule implosions, aided by the separation of the capsule from the z-pinch and its associated instabilities, spatial variations, and non-thermal spectral components. Experiments on Sandia National Laboratories' Z facility in a single-sided power feed configuration have been limited thus far to capsule drive temperatures of 75 eV or less. Nonetheless, these experiments have validated the hohlraum energetics, hohlraum coupling, and capsule coupling properties of this configuration. Implosion capsules and symmetry diagnostic capsules have provided a wealth of capsule energetics data in the form of implosion trajectories for comparison to simulation. These measurements have been compared to detailed two-dimensional Lasnex hohlraum simulations, which model the hohlraum radiation transport including the effects of z-pinch source motion as well as hohlraum absorption/re-emission and wall plasma motion.
Differential deficits in regional brain growth induced by postnatal alcohol.

Abstract Neonatal rats were exposed to alcohol during a period of brain development equivalent to part of the human third trimester. Rat pups were fed a milk formula containing either alcohol (9.8 g/kg/day) or isocaloric maltose/dextrin using artificial rearing techniques from postnatal days 4–10. Blood alcohol concentrations reached 345.8±15.6 mg/dl on postnatal day 6. All animals, including a group of normally reared suckle controls, were sacrificed on postnatal day 10, and the brains were perfused and processed for the Timm histochemical technique. Significant microencephaly (30% reduction in brain growth) was found in the alcohol-exposed animals. Growth deficits also were found in specific brain regions of the alcohol-exposed rats. The overall area of the hippocampus proper at a midtemporal level was reduced by 26.1% compared to controls. Sublaminae within the hippocampus were stunted as much as 40.5%. An overall reduction of 14.5% was found in the midsagittal (vermal) cerebellum. In contrast, growth of the dentate gyrus appeared much less affected (6.8% deficit) by the alcohol exposure. These data indicate that not all regions of the brain are affected equally by alcohol exposure during the third trimester equivalent.
Daughters' Caregiving Decisions: From an Impulse to a Balancing Point of Care

Daughters comprise 29% of all caregivers of the dependent elderly and make decisions about parent care in a context of ambiguous and changing role expectations. This qualitative study explored the decision process of ten caregiving daughters. The women responded to parent dependency with an impulse to care and pursued a balancing point of care in the face of limiting decision conditions. Each daughter constructed a sense of "enough": an equation of her multiply-determined impulse to care and her personal threshold of support. These constructions help explain the variability of levels, lengths, and forms of parent care.
An Integral Closure Model for the Vertical Turbulent Flux of a Scalar in a Mixed Layer

Abstract An integral closure model is proposed for the vertical turbulent transport of a scalar in a mixed layer. The flux divergences at a given level is related to a vertical integral of a weighting function multiplied by the difference between the ensemble mean density of the scalar and the density at the level in question. The weighting function in the closure model is able to account for the anisotropy and inhomogeneity of mixed layer turbulence and so is able to model up-gradient diffusion of heat observed in the tank experiments of Deardorff et al. and the source-dependent flux-gradient relationship observed in numerical experiments of Wyngaard and Brost.
Evaluation of trap deployment patterns for behavioural control of apple maggot flies (Dipt., Tephritidae)

: We evaluated three different deployment patterns of sticky red sphere traps, baited with a five-component blend of synthetic attractive fruit odour and placed on perimeter apple trees bordering adjacent habitat (front-row trees), for control of apple maggot flies, Rhagoletis pomonella (Walsh), in small plots of apple trees (about 30 × 30 m) in Massachusetts commercial apple orchards. Degree of fly penetration from front-row to interior apple trees was assessed for R. pomonella of wild origin and for marked adults released in habitats adjacent to front-row trees. Traps placed 10 and 5 m apart on front-row trees or grouped on a single central front-row tree performed as well as grower-applied insecticide sprays in preventing penetration of plots by wild and released flies and in preventing fruit injury. This was equally true for plots whose front-row trees consisted of cultivars comparatively susceptible to apple maggot as for plots whose front-row trees were comprised of comparatively tolerant cultivars. It was also true for each seasonal period during which sampling for treatment performance occurred.
Diffusive and hydraulic permeabilities of water in water‐swollen polymer membranes

The diffusive permeability of water P, which relates to diffusive flux of water under a concentration gradient of water (measured by diffusion of tritiated water), and the hydraulic permeability of water K, which relates to the water flux under a hydraulic pressure gradient are defined. For the case of diffusive transport one has P = KRT/ν1, where ν1 is the molar volume of water. The relationship between P and K was investigated as a function of hydration H, i.e., the volume fraction of water in swollen polymer membranes. The following characteristic features of water permeability are revealed. (a) In the lowhydration region (H < 0.2), water permeates by diffusion even under an applied hydraulic pressure gradient and KRT/ν1 = P. (b) In the higher hydration region KRT/ν1 is greater than P, and the ratio ω = KRT/ν1P increases nearly exponentially with decrease of (1-H)/H. Water in this region moves partly by bulk flow under an applied hydraulic pressure gradient but moves only by diffusion in the absence of a pressure gradient. (c) The dependence of log P on (1-H)/H is nearly linear in regions of both high and low hydration but the slopes are different. The transition occurs in about the same H range where the discrepancy between P and KRT/ν1 becomes significant. Excellent agreement was found between the experimental data for P as a function of H and the theoretical prediction based on the free-volume concept of diffusive transport in hydrated homogeneous membranes.
"And Roma Were Victims, Too." The Romani Genocide and Holocaust Education in Romania.

While Holocaust education has been mandatory in Romanian schools for over a decade, educators do not necessarily teach about it. Distortion and obfuscation of Romanian Holocaust crimes during the communist and transition periods means that teachers, like the majority of Romanians, know little about their country’s perpetration of genocides. From 1941 to 1944, the Romanian regime transported part of its Jewish and Romani populations to death camps in Transnistria, where over 200,000 Jews and over 10,000 Roma were killed. Under communism, blame for genocides was placed solely on Nazi Germany, thereby absolving Romanian perpetrators. Post-communism, the official narrative has slowly come under scrutiny, allowing for a restructuring of World War II history to incorporate the deportations and deaths of the country’s Jews and Roma. Ignorance about the Holocaust and prejudice about the minorities affected are at the root of non-compliance in teaching. This is especially the case for the Roma, who are the largest...
Approach to the comatose patient

Background:Coma is a medical emergency and may constitute a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge for the intensivist.Objective:To review currently available data on the etiology, diagnosis, and outcome of coma. To propose an evidence-based approach for the clinical management of the comatose patient
Targeted killing, not assassination: the legal case for the United States to kill terrorist leaders

Since the terrorist attacks upon the United States on September 11, 2001, the United States and other nations in the world have been engaged in a global war on terrorism, either in Iraq, Afghanistan, the horn of Africa, Spain, or the United Kingdom. President George W. Bush of the United States has made it a center piece of his administration, and the next incoming United States president – be it Senator John McCain or Senator Barrack Obama – will have to make tough decisions regarding the execution of the war. This paper aims to clarify the legal and military options available to the President of the United States regarding the killing of terrorist leaders; and specifically argues that the United States can lawfully kill terrorist leaders, either as heads of state or entities. The common criticism of this point is that killing these individuals amounts to an unlawful state‐sponsored assassination program. This author will attempt to deconstruct that criticism and provide a legal framework for a targeted ...
Recording of several simultaneous enzyme reactions facilitated by an automatic cuvette positioning attachment for the spectrophotometer.

Abstract Two clock-operated devices for accurate sequential positioning of a cuvette carriage for the Beckman DU spectrophotometer is described. Through their use with associated equipment absorbancy changes resulting from reactions occurring in two to four cuvettes simultaneously can be recorded with a single-pen recorder. Data on reproducibility of positioning and typical recordings of enzyme-catalyzed reactions are provided.
Measurements of wet radome transmission loss and depolarization effects in simulated rain at 20 GHz

Measurements of the electromagnetic wave transmission loss and depolarization due to simulated rain water flowing on the surface of a large air-supported hydrophobic radome containing a large ground terminal dish antenna are reported. The measurements are performed in the 17.7 to 21.2 GHz satellite downlink band using a 42.2 km terrestrial air link. Measured data for the wet radome co-polarization attenuation and depolarization induced by simulated rain rates of 5, 10 and 50 mm/hr on the radome are presented.
Osteoarthritis: The Rheumatologist's Perspective.

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common form of arthritis and is a major cause of morbidity, limitation of physical activity, and health care utilization, especially in people aged 45 and above [1]. OA has been defined as “… a progressive disease of synovial joints that represents failed repair of joint damage. This ultimately results in the breakdown of cartilage and bone, leading to symptoms of pain, stiffness, and functional disability” [2]. The term “degenerative joint disease (DJD)” should not be used by health care practitioners to describe this entity; it is a misnomer and suggests to patients that nothing can be done for their condition. Thus, OA can be considered as a disease characterized by structural abnormalities at the joint level and an illness defined by a person’s symptoms [2]. The symptoms that characterize knee OA include frequent pain, aching or discomfort, stiffness, fatigue, and sleep disturbance. These symptoms result in functional limitations leading to reduced participation in activities and decreased health-related quality of life.
Developmental changes in creatine phosphokinase isoenzymes in neonatal mouse hearts.

Abstract The distribution of creatine phosphokinase isoenzymes differs in extracts of newborn and adult mouse hearts. Electrophoresis on acetate strips reveals the presence of BB, MB, and MM isoenzymes in the 2 day old neonate heart, with relative activities of 4%, 24% and 72% respectively. Beginning at 6 days of age, a fourth isoenzyme, shown to be associated with mitochondria, is seen moving toward the cathode. With age the distribution changes, with BB disappearing by 18 days. By 25 days the relative proportions of MB, MM and mitochondrial CPK have reached 5%, 86% and 9%, respectively, similar to the levels seen in the adult. The late appearance of the mitochondrial isoenzyme may reflect a difference in the requirement of the developing and adult heart for ATP and phosphocreatine.