cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Synthesis of glycosides derived from polyhydric alcohols

Abstract 2-Deoxyglycer-2-yl α- and β- l -arabinopyranoside, α- l -arabinofuranoside, α- and β- d -xylopyranoside, β- d -glucopyranoside, β-maltoside, and α- and β-cellobioside have been synthesized in good yields from the respective 1,3-dichloropropyl glycoside acetates by displacement of the chloride ion with sodium or ammonium benzoate in N,N -dimethylformamide at 165°, followed by alkaline hydrolysis.
The Technical Evolution of Photography in the 19th Century

Whereas the observation of numerous light-sensitive substances and the formative evolution of the camera obscura predate 1800, the invention of photography, as we know it, was essentially a 19th-century phenomenon. Who actually invented photography has been disputed from the very beginning, though the task would have been easier had there been a universally accepted definition of photograph.
Triglyceride accumulation in cultured human fibroblasts. The effects of hypertriglyceridemic serum

Abstract Cultures of human diploid fibroblasts were shown to accumulate elevated levels of intracellular triglyceride when grown in medium supplemented with sera from patients with endogenous hypertriglyceridemia (Type IV hyperlipoproteinemia). Time course studies indicated cell triglyceride levels reached maximum in 6 to 12 hours. Isotopic studies indicated that the source of the accumulated cell triglyceride was serum triglyceride, and that most of the triglyceride was taken up without hydrolysis. Triglyceride was not significantly removed by trypsinization or extensive washing. The accumulated triglyceride was also demonstrated to be metabolized, as indicated by conversion to phospholipids and free fatty acids. Increasing concentrations of hypertriglyceridemic serum in the medium resulted in increasing cell triglyceride levels. However, increasing amounts of normal serum did not result in comparable cell triglyceride accumulation. Intracellular triglyceride accumulation seemed to correlate with levels of hypertriglyceridemic serum triglyceride, whether this serum was present at equivalent concentrations or normalized to triglyceride levels equivalent to normal serum. It is concluded that elevated serum triglyceride levels can result in intracellular triglyceride accumulation even in the absence of lipolytic activity.
Distribution of arachidonic acid in choline- and ethanolamine-containing phosphoglycerides in subfractionated human neutrophils.

Abstract Human neutrophils were fractionated on Percoll gradients and the various subcellular fractions were analyzed for phospholipid and fatty acid composition. The results showed that plasma membranes and azurophilic granules were enriched with ethanolamine-(PE) relative to choline-(PC) containing phosphoglycerides. A remarkable degree of uniformity existed throughout the gradient with respect to the subclass composition of the subcellular PC and PE components. In each fraction 50-60% of the PC was diacyl, 40-45% was 1-O-alkyl-2-acyl (ether linked), and 2-5% was 1-O-alk-1'-enyl-2-acyl (plasmalogenic). For PE, 20-25% was diacyl, 7-12% ether linked, and 64-76% plasmalogenic. When neutrophils were incubated for 15 min with [1-14C]arachidonic acid and subfractionated most of the PC-associated label was intracellularly localized. A similar result was observed in PE, however, when the cells were allowed to stand for 2 h in fatty acid-free buffer following the 15 min of labeling and then subfractionated there was a sizable migration of [14C]arachidonate into plasma membrane PE. In all cases the diacyl subclass was labeled most heavily after 15 min but after an additional 2 h of incubation in fatty acid-free buffer there was a direct transfer of label to the ether- and plasmalogenic-linked PC and PE subclasses. It was also found that arachidonoyl-coenzyme A 1-acyl-lysophosphatide acyltransferase activity was inherent in all three major membrane types but was enriched in the endoplasmic reticulum/secondary granule fraction. Arachidonate consistently accounted for roughly 5% of the PC and 17% of the PE fatty chain composition in each subcellular fraction. These findings demonstrate that, despite the uniform arachidonate and PC and PE subclass composition within the various neutrophil subcellular fractions, the bulk of the PC- and PE-associated arachidonate is localized in intracellular membranes.
Doubly excited states, including new classification schemes

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses a method of calculating the position and width of each doubly excited state of atoms and the approximate selection rules for different excitation processes. There are many theoretical approaches which are capable of predicting an accurate position and width of each doubly excited state. These methods, such as the configuration interaction method, the Feshbach projection technique, the close-coupling method, and the complex coordinate rotation technique have provide significant data required for sorting out the systematics of doubly excited states. A classification scheme of doubly excited states using the correlation quantum numbers K, T , and A is presented in the chapter. The adoption of quantum numbers in the asymptotic region for the description of doubly excited states seems unsatisfactory because important correlations occur in the region where the two electrons are close to each other.
Point-of-care ultrasonography improves the diagnosis of splenomegaly in hospitalized patients

It is important to detect splenomegaly as it can have important diagnostic implications. Previous studies, however, have shown that the traditional physical examination is limited in its ability to rule in or rule out splenomegaly. To determine if performing point-of-care ultrasonography (POCUS) in addition to the traditional physical examination improves the sensitivity and specificity for diagnosing splenomegaly. This was a prospective trial of diagnostic accuracy. Physical and sonographic examinations for splenomegaly were performed by students, residents and attending physicians enrolled in an ultrasound training course. Participants received less than 1 h training for ultrasound diagnosis of splenomegaly. The findings were compared to radiographic interpretation of gold standard studies. Hospitalized adult patients at an academic medical center without severe abdominal pain or recent surgery who had abdominal CT, MRI or ultrasound performed within previous 48 h. Thirty-nine subjects were enrolled. Five patients had splenomegaly (12.5 %). The physical examination for splenomegaly had a sensitivity of 40 % (95 % CI 12–77 %) and specificity of 88 % (95 % CI 74–95 %) while physical examination plus POCUS had a sensitivity of 100 % (95 % CI 57–100 %) and specificity of 74 % (95 % CI 57–85 %). Physical examination alone for splenomegaly had an LR+ of 3.4 (95 % CI 0.83–14) and LR− of 0.68 (95 % CI 0.33–1.41); for physical exam plus POCUS the LR+ was 3.8 (2.16–6.62) and LR− was 0. Point-of-care ultrasonography significantly improves examiners’ sensitivity in diagnosing splenomegaly.
Variations in the mean and volatility of stock returns around turning points of the business cycle

Publisher Summary Predictability of the mean and volatility of stock returns over the course of the business cycle have generated considerable interest in the financial community. This chapter studies the patterns and magnitude of variations in the mean and volatility of US stock returns around turning points of the business cycle. During the brief spell from the peak to the trough of the postwar business cycle, mean excess returns increased by approximately 40% in annualized terms. Volatility of stock returns peaked for the period leading official recessions by a single month and was 50% higher in recessions than in expansions. Based on conditioning information such as lagged interest rates and dividend yields, the existing literature on predictability of the mean and volatility of stock returns provides indirect evidence on the existence of a business cycle component in expected stock returns.
Fast rates for support vector machines

We establish learning rates to the Bayes risk for support vector machines (SVMs) using a regularization sequence ${\it \lambda}_{n}={\it n}^{-\rm \alpha}$, where ${\it \alpha}\in$(0,1) is arbitrary. Under a noise condition recently proposed by Tsybakov these rates can become faster than n−1/2. In order to deal with the approximation error we present a general concept called the approximation error function which describes how well the infinite sample versions of the considered SVMs approximate the data-generating distribution. In addition we discuss in some detail the relation between the “classical” approximation error and the approximation error function. Finally, for distributions satisfying a geometric noise assumption we establish some learning rates when the used RKHS is a Sobolev space.
Substitutions in the Pheromone-Responsive Gβ Protein of Saccharomyces cerevisiae Confer a Defect in Recovery from Pheromone Treatment

The pheromone-responsive Galpha protein of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Gpa1p, stimulates an adaptive mechanism that downregulates the mating signal. In a genetic screen designed to identify signaling elements required for Gpa1p-mediated adaptation, a large collection of adaptive-defective (Adp-) mutants were recovered. Of the 49 mutants characterized thus far, approximately three-quarters exhibit a dominant defect in the negative regulation of the pheromone response. Eight of the dominant Adp- mutations showed tight linkage to the gene encoding the pheromone-responsive Gbeta, STE4. Sequence analysis of the STE4 locus in the relevant mutant strains revealed seven novel STE4 alleles, each of which was shown to disrupt proper regulation of the pheromone response. Although the STE4 mutations had only minor effects on basal mating pathway activity, the mutant forms of Gbeta dramatically affected the ability of the cell to turn off the mating response after exposure to pheromone. Moreover, the signaling activity of the aberrant Gbetagamma subunits was suppressed by G322E, a mutant form of Gpa1p that blocks the pheromone response by sequestering Gbetagamma, but not by E364K, a hyperadaptive form of Gpa1p. On the basis of these observations, we propose that Gpa1p-mediated adaptation involves the binding of an unknown negative regulator to Gbetagamma.
Ultrastructural observations of the protonephridia of Polymerurus nodicaudus (Gastrotricha: Paucitubulatina)

Kieneke, A. and Hochberg, R. 2012. Ultrastructural observations of the protonephridia of Polymerurus nodicaudus (Gastrotricha: Paucitubulatina). —Acta Zoologica (Stockholm) 93: 115–124. We studied different regions of the protonephridia of the limnic gastrotrich Polymerurus nodicaudus by means of light and electron microscopy to determine how freshwater species might differ from their marine relatives. Microscopic and ultrastructural characters are in accordance with another limnic species of Paucitubulatina, Chaetonotus maximus, whose protonephridial system has been previously reconstructed. Shared protonephridial characters of both species include the presence of highly elongate terminal organ cilia, microvilli, and the canal cell lumen as well as the presence of a conspicuous anterior loop of the protonephridial lumen. These features are not present in representatives of earlier, marine, paucitubulatan lineages (i.e., Xenotrichulidae) and so are assessed as evolutionary novelties that were likely important for the successful colonization of the freshwater environment.
Supporting Scholars: An Analysis of Academic Library Websites' Documentation on Metrics and Impact

Abstract A number of indicators and metrics have been devised, especially in the past 10 to 15 years, to assist scholars in making a case for themselves and for their work. These metrics describe the impact of traditional venues (i.e. scholarly journals) as well as the impact of the scholars based on the number of times their work has been cited in traditional and nontraditional venues. Academic librarians assist faculty in explaining their impact and productivity in their respective fields in part through information published to their websites. Terms/concepts associated with common metrics relating to scholarly impact were searched in the library websites of the 62 Association of American University (AAU) members. A total of 61 libraries had web pages or LibGuides providing information on these topics, with Journal Citation Reports and the Impact Factor being the most commonly discussed (100%; 98.4%). Slightly over 90% (90.2%) supplied information about the h-index and 80.3% addressed altmetrics. We conclude that AAU librarians are assisting with the understanding and use of both traditional and new metrics as part of their service to their community of users.
Biclique comparability digraphs of bipartite graphs and minimum ranks of partial matrices

Abstract Every bipartite graph has a biclique comparability digraph whose vertices are the inclusion-maximal complete bipartite subgraphs of the bipartite graph and whose arcs correspond to inclusions of the relevant color classes. I characterize those digraphs that correspond to bipartite graphs and, in particular, those that correspond to chordal bipartite graphs. This is motivated by work on finding the minimum rank of completions of partially specified matrices. In particular, Woerdeman (Integral Equations Operator Theory 10 (1987) 859) proved a formula for minimum rank in special cases that can be naturally reformulated in terms of the biclique comparability digraphs of the bipartite graphs that have the partial matrices as incidence matrices. Cohen et al. (Oper. Theory Adv. Appl. 40 (1989) 165) conjecture that this formula actually gives the minimum rank if and only if the corresponding bipartite graph is chordal bipartite.
Short-Term Habituation of the Infant Auditory Evoked Response.

Short-term habituation of the vertex auditory evoked response was studied in six infants (age 10 to 14 weeks). The infants were presented trains of four synthetic speech stimuli. The average amplit...
Isolated tuberosity fractures of the proximal humerus: Current concepts☆☆☆

Despite the relatively common occurrence of fractures of the proximal humeral amongst the elderly, the subgroup of isolated greater and lesser tuberosity fractures have remained less well understood. While the majority of two-part fractures result from a standing-height fall onto an outstretched hand, isolated tuberosity fractures are also commonly associated with glenohumeral dislocations or direct impact to the shoulder region. Inasmuch as isolated greater tuberosity fractures are considered uncommon, isolated lesser tuberosity fractures are generally considered exceedingly rare. Non-operative treatment including a specific rehabilitation protocol has been advocated for the majority of non-displaced and minimally displaced fractures, with generally good outcomes expected. The treatment for displaced fractures, however, has included both arthroscopically assisted fixation and open or percutaneous reduction and internal fixation (ORIF). The choice of fixation and approach depends not only on fracture type and characteristics, but also on a multitude of patient-related factors. With an expected increase in the level of physical activity across all age groups and overall longer lifespans, the incidence of isolated tuberosity fractures of the proximal humeral is expected to rise. Orthopaedic surgeons treating shoulder trauma should be aware of treatment options, as well as expected outcomes.
A population model based on a life table that includes marriage and parity.

Abstract This paper presents a method for constructing a one-sex life table that incorporates age, marriage and parity. The life table is the basis for a generalized population model, with immediate extension to a stable population differentiated by age, marriage and parity status. The method is quite general and could be extended, without major modification, to more complex life tables. Computation of intrinsic rates of increase for a number of populations adjusted for age, for age and parity, for age and marriage, and for age, marriage and parity shows that adjustment for marriage accounts for most of the difference between the age-adjusted rate and the age-, marriage-, and parity-adjusted rate. Adjustment for parity without adjustment for marriage may be misleading.
Good Ideas Are Not Enough: Considering the Politics Underlying Students' Postsecondary Transitions

Over the past decade, there has been a deepening interest in youth and adult postsecondary transitions, be these from school to work or from high school to college. This work, based on a wealth of evidence and numerous programs, has developed a variety of best practices for improving students' transition experiences and success in the workforce, with a particular emphasis on disadvantaged, underrepresented youth. Yet much of this work presumes that the current inequality that exists among students in U.S. schools is simply the product of a lack of evidence-based policy solutions. This perspective ignores the important structural and historical factors that have shaped and continue to affect the educational opportunities available to individuals who grow up in poverty. Policy solutions meant to address this inequality must be based on rigorous evidence but also take into account the political forces aligned against addressing this long-term and persistent structural problem within American society.
Characterization of chloroquine-induced autophagic vacuoles isolated from rat liver.

Abstract Studies have been undertaken to investigate the role of cellular autophagy in the accommodation of stress in a biological system. Chloroquine (Aralen hydrochloride), an antimalarial and anti-inflammatory drug, was used to induce autophagy in rat liver. A method is presented which uses differential and discontinuous sucrose gradient centrifugation for the preparation of autophagic vacuole-enriched fractions from rat liver. Ultrastructural studies of the autophagic vacuole fractions showed that the integrity of the autophagic vacuoles was maintained throughout the isolation procedure and that they were morphologically similar to those seen in situ . Assay of glucose-6-phosphatase, NADPH-DCIP reductase, and acid phosphatase confirm the presence of membranes derived from the endoplasmic reticulum, as well as lysosomes, in the autophagic vacuole fractions. The distribution of [ 14 C]-chloroquine suggested a preferential binding of the drug to the autophagic vacuoles may have occurred. These results suggest that cellular autophagy may play an important role in the accommodation of chemically induced alterations in hepatocytes by preferentially sequestering chloroquine, as well as restoring cellular ultrastructure.
Fluorescence studies suggest a role for alpha-synuclein in the phosphatidylinositol lipid signaling pathway.

α-Synuclein plays a key role in the pathogenesis of many neurodegenerative diseases. To date, its cellular role has yet to be determined, although it has been proposed to be connected to calcium an...
Meta-analysis: Alteplase improves functional outcomes when given within 4.5 hours of stroke onset

Source Citation Lees KR, Bluhmki E, von Kummer R, et al. Time to treatment with intravenous alteplase and outcome in stroke: an updated pooled analysis of ECASS, ATLANTIS, NINDS, and EPITHET trials...
Properties and subunit structure of the B component of Pseudomonas putida tryptophan synthetase

Abstract The purified B component of Pseudomonas putida tryptophan synthetase has absorption maxima at 278, 332, and 415 nm in potassium phosphate buffer at pH 7.0. After borohydride reduction, with the cofactor covalently attached to the polypeptide chain, the protein loses the maxima at 332 and 415 nm, but acquires a new absorption band at 320 nm. The Km for the binding of pyridoxal-5′-phosphate to the enzyme was found to be 5 × 10−7 m . One of the substrates in the indole to tryptophan reaction, l -serine, has a marked effect on the heat stability of the holoenzyme. The molecular weight determined by acrylamide gel electrophoresis and by ultracentrifugation is 86,000 ± 2,000. Upon treatment with detergent, performic acid, or urea, two identical subunits half the size of the native enzyme are found. Two alanine residues are released by carboxypeptidase A digestion of performic acid-oxidized B protein. No strong aggregates are formed between E. coli tryptophan synthetase A protein and P. putida B protein, and no hybrid B protein is detectable after dissociation of a mixture of E. coli and P. putida B proteins in urea and reaggregation in potassium phosphate buffer.
Incapacitation recovery times from a conductive electrical weapon exposure.

Law enforcement officers expect that a TASER® CEW (Conducted Electrical Weapon) broad-spread probe exposure will temporarily incapacitate a subject who will then be able to immediately (~1 s delay) recover motor control in order to comply with commands. However, this recovery time has not been previously reported. A total of 32 police academy students were exposed to a very broad-spread 5 s CEW stimulus as part of their training and told to depress a push-button as soon as they sensed the stimulus. A subgroup also depressed the push-button after being alerted by an audio stimulus. The response time after the audio trigger was 1.05 ± 0.25 s; the median was 1.04 s (range 0.69–1.34 s). For the paired CEW triggered group the mean response time was 1.41 ± 0.61 s with a median of 1.06 s (range 0.92–2.18 s), which was not statistically different. Only 2/32 subjects were able to depress the button during the CEW exposure and with delays of 3.09 and 4.70 s from the start. Of the remaining 30 subjects the mean response time to execute the task (once the CEW exposure ended) was 1.27 ± 0.58 s with a median of 1.19 s (range 0.31–2.99 s) (NS vs. the audio trigger). With a very-broad electrode spread, a CEW exposure could prevent or delay some purposeful movements. Normal reaction times appear to return immediately (~1 s) after the CEW exposure ceases.
Patterns of oxygen exchange in some Pacific corals

Abstract 1. 1. In vivo measurements of the oxygen production and consumption of some Pacific corals were made with the use of polarographic electrodes and a recording potentiometer. 2. 2. The results indicate that the contained algae of reef-forming stony corals are capable of producing oxygen two to five times the rate at which the algae and the host combined consume oxygen. 3. 3. After prolonged exposure to light, the algae showed a decreased rate of oxygen production; some species gave maximal photosynthetic activity at approximately 50 per cent of full light intensity. 4. 4. The implications of these data to the metabolic interaction of the algae and their host are discussed.
An immunological study of predation on hatchery-reared, juvenile red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus, Linnaeus): description of an ELISA and predator-prey studies in nature

Abstract This report is a continuation of an on-going study to develop immunological methods for eventual use in determining the predation mortality of newly released, hatchery-reared red drum (Sciaenops ocellatus, Linnaeus). Using a specific goat antiserum produced to a purified 80 kDa red drum glycoprotein, we detected the glycoprotein routinely in soluble extracts of red drum by Western blots. To supplement the immunoblotting, we proceeded to develop a highly sensitive and specific ELISA (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay). The major problem in developing the ELISA was defining conditions to eliminate a natural inhibitor in soluble extracts of red drum that prevented the 80 kDa protein from binding to microtiter plates. The technical difficulties for a successful ELISA were resolved by adjusting extracts to pH 4.7 and 0.3 M NaCl, based on conditions developed for purification of the 80 kDa protein on a cationic-exchange gel by fast protein liquid chromatography (FPLC). The defined parameters eliminated the inhibition and resulted in optimal binding of the glycoprotein to the polymer surface of plates for ELISA. Approximately 10 h after the release of tens of thousands of red drum fingerlings at two sites in Biscayne Bay, FL, USA, a center-bag haul seine was used to sample the fish and capture predators. Two species, Sphyraena barracuda (Walbaum), great barracuda, and Strongylura notata (Poey), redfin needlefish, were the major predators. ELISA and Western blots were used to identify visually difficult or unidentifiable Sciaenops ocellatus in gut contents of the predators. Based on nine samples from seven Strongylura notata, and 10 samples from eight Sphyraena barracuda, 100% of the samples were identified as red drum in the needlefish and 50% in the great barracuda. These studies confirm the feasibility of using immunological methods to identify otherwise unidentifiable prey in gut contents of predators in nature.
A population pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic model for the mobilization of progenitor cells by AMD3100

Background: AMD3100 is a small molecule CXCR4 antagonist that has been shown to induce the mobilization of hematopoietic stem cells (CD34+) from the bone marrow to peripheral blood. The purpose of this study was to characterize the exposure-response (ER) relationship of AMD3100 in mobilizing CD34+ cells.
Emergence of tics in children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder treated with stimulant medications

The emergence of tics in children treated with stimulant medication for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) was investigated. A retrospective chart review of the medical records of 555 subjects was performed to examine the emergence of tics in relation to treatment with a stimulant medication, dosage, duration of treatment, and age of subjects. A total of 7.8% of the subjects treated with stimulants developed tics: 8.3% of subjects treated with methylphenidate, 6.3% with dextroamphetamine, and 7.7% with pemoline. The subjects who developed tics were significantly younger than those who did not. Subjects treated with higher doses of stimulant medication were not more likely to develop tics. While the emergence of tics was common, these subjects may have developed tics irrespective of stimulant medication. Controversy remains as to the long-term risk of tics in relation to stimulant medication and to appropriate practice should tics emerge during the course of stimulant medication treatment.
An improved computer-assisted diagnostic scheme using wavelet transform for detecting clustered microcalcifications in digital mammograms

Rationale and Objectives. We evaluated the potential usefulness of a computer-assisted diagnostic (CAD) scheme incorporating the wavelet transform for detecting clustered microcalcifications in mammograms. Methods. A wavelet transform technique was applied to the detection of clustered microcalcifications. We examined several wavelets to study their effectiveness in detecting subtle microcalcifications. We used a database consisting of 39 mammograms containing 41 clusters of microcalcifications. The performance of the wavelet-based CAD scheme was evaluated using free-response receiver operating characteristic analysis. Results. The CAD scheme with the wavelet transform was useful in detecting some of the subtle microcalcifications that were not detected by our previous scheme, which was based on the difference-image technique. When the two schemes were combined, the overall performance was improved to a sensitivity of approximately 95%, with a false-positive rate of 1.5 clusters per image. Conclusion. The wavelet transform approach can improve the detection of subtle clustered microcalcifications.
Did the Romans Believe in Their Verdicts

Abstract : The purpose of the Roman indicia publica (as described by legal, rhetorical, and philosophical texts and even the name of the institution) was to determine whether or not defendants had violated the various “criminal” statutes which established them. Cicero9s reports of the outcome of real cases suggest a popular expectation that jurors ordinarily attempted to carry out this task. The proliferation of distinct formal charges over time and the existence of jokes about orators fooling jurors confirm this suggestion. We are thus discouraged from imagining collusion between parties and jurors in which the formal charge is understood by all to be a pretext for a competition of oratorical skill or social standing. Roman jurors wanted to believe in their verdicts. Advocates, of course, did not simply tell the truth. Rather, they responded to popular expectations by going out of their way to emphasize the (purported) truth of their speeches.
PHARMACOKINETICS OF INTRACEREBROVENTRICULAR TBUOOH IN YOUNG ADULT AND MATURE MICE

This in vivo study compared the pharmacokinetics of intracerebroventricularly administered tertiary butylhydroperoxide (tBuOOH) (109.7 mg/kg) among six different brain regions in two age groups of mice (2− and 8-mo-old mice). Brains were dissected at 11 time-points ranging from 0.5–60 min. Pharmacokinetics parameters did not differ between the two age groups. This demonstrates that previously reported age-related differences intBuOOH toxicity may not be owing to pharmacokinetic differences between the two age groups. Differences were found when comparing the pharmacokinetics oftBuOOH among the various brain regions. Area under the curve (AUC) values were highest in the striatum and thalamus, and lowest in the cerebellum. The half-life oftBuOOH varied widely among the regions with the longest half-lives in the cortex and hippocampus, and the shortest in the striatum and cerebellum. The oxidation of glutathione and the induction of DNA damage are critical aspects oftBuOOH toxicity. These data show that region-dependent differences in toxicity reported previously may result from factors, such astBuOOH-induced glutathione oxidation and DNA damage.
Native seed preferences of shrub-steppe rodents, birds and ants: the relationships of seed attributes and seed use

This study established the preferences of shrubsteppe granivores among seeds of 6 common sagebrushsteppe plants and related the preferences observed to physical and nutritional attributes of the seeds. Seeds of big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata), cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum), Indian ricegrass (Oryzopsis hymenoides), western wheatgrass (Pascopyrum smithii), bitterbrush (Purshia tridentata) and green needlegrass (Stipa viridula) were placed in groups of petri dishes designed such that seed removal could be ascribed to either diurnal vertebrates, nocturnal vertebrates or ants. Though absolute quantities of seeds removed varied among the 3 granivore classes, calculations of preference based on weights of each seed species removed by each granivore class indicated that all 3 ranked the seeds similarly. Preference hierarchies of the 3 granivore classes were highly positively correlated with both calories per seed and % soluble carbohydrate of the seeds. The first correlation supports a basic prediction of optimal foraging theory —that foragers should maximize energy intake per unit time spent foraging. Both correlations emphasize the role of seed nutritional qualities in granivore seed selectivity in that soluble carbohydrate is a water-efficient energy source and its percentage is a good indicator of the digestible energy available in a food item. A corollary experiment comparing granivore use of an exotic seed (millet [Panicum miliaceum]) and a preferred native seed (Oryzopsis) demonstrated a distinct preference for the exotic. Since millet seeds are particularly high in % soluble carbohydrate, this result reinforced the apparent value of this nutritional attribute as a predictor of granivore seed preference. Among many seed resource characteristics upon which granivore seed selectivity might operate, our results indicate that individual species' nutritional composition may be particularly important. Thus, inferences about seed selectivity and resource partitioning among arid-land granivores should be interpreted with caution, especially those based on experiments using seed introductions, since the influence of seed nutritional attributes has not been widely acknowledged heretofore.
Mouse model systems to study sex chromosome genes and behavior: Relevance to humans

Sex chromosome genes directly influence sex differences in behavior. The discovery of the Sry gene on the Y chromosome (Gubbay et al., 1990; Koopman et al., 1990) substantiated the sex chromosome mechanistic link to sex differences. Moreover, the pronounced connection between X chromosome gene mutations and mental illness produces a strong sex bias in these diseases. Yet, the dominant explanation for sex differences continues to be the gonadal hormones. Here we review progress made on behavioral differences in mouse models that uncouple sex chromosome complement from gonadal sex. We conclude that many social and cognitive behaviors are modified by sex chromosome complement, and discuss the implications for human research. Future directions need to include identification of the genes involved and interactions with these genes and gonadal hormones.
Winter storms in the central Himalayas

Based on observations from a hydrometeorological network on the eastern slopes of the Annapurna Range, nearly all the annual precipitation at low elevations ( 3000 m MSL) can receive up to 40% of their annual precipitation as snowfall during the winter, with the highest altitude stations (@4000 m MSL and above) having the most total winter precipitation (which can exceed 100 cm). Significant snowstorms are associated with terrain-locked low-pressure systems that form when an upper-level disturbance passes over the notch formed by the Himalayas and Hindu Kush mountains (the so-called Western Disturbances), causing upper-level SW flow over central Nepal and orographically forced precipitation. Based on these results, a 30-year (1973‐2002) climatology of these notch depressions is developed and reveals that significant interannual variability in central Himalayan winter storms exists. Weak but statistically significant correlation between notch depressions and the Polar/Eurasia teleconnection pattern was found, suggesting that the strength of the circumpolar vortex may affect the number of depressions passing through the Himalayan region. A typical snow event (11 February 2000) was the subject of an observational and modeling case study. Local precipitation (snow and rain) and other meteorological observations, as well as satellite (Meteosat-5 and TRMM) and NCEP/NCAR Reanalysis data were used, along with a cloud-resolving model with realistic topography. This study shows that significant wintertime precipitation only occurs in the central Himalayas when the large-scale flow evolves to a favorable geometry with respect to the mountains.
Isolation and Culture of Neural Crest Cells from Embryonic Murine Neural Tube

The embryonic neural crest (NC) is a multipotent progenitor population that originates at the dorsal aspect of the neural tube, undergoes an epithelial to mesenchymal transition (EMT) and migrates throughout the embryo, giving rise to diverse cell types. NC also has the unique ability to influence the differentiation and maturation of target organs. When explanted in vitro, NC progenitors undergo self-renewal, migrate and differentiate into a variety of tissue types including neurons, glia, smooth muscle cells, cartilage and bone. NC multipotency was first described from explants of the avian neural tube. In vitro isolation of NC cells facilitates the study of NC dynamics including proliferation, migration, and multipotency. Further work in the avian and rat systems demonstrated that explanted NC cells retain their NC potential when transplanted back into the embryo. Because these inherent cellular properties are preserved in explanted NC progenitors, the neural tube explant assay provides an attractive option for studying the NC in vitro. To attain a better understanding of the mammalian NC, many methods have been employed to isolate NC populations. NC-derived progenitors can be cultured from post-migratory locations in both the embryo and adult to study the dynamics of post-migratory NC progenitors, however isolation of NC progenitors as they emigrate from the neural tube provides optimal preservation of NC cell potential and migratory properties. Some protocols employ fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS) to isolate a NC population enriched for particular progenitors. However, when starting with early stage embryos, cell numbers adequate for analyses are difficult to obtain with FACS, complicating the isolation of early NC populations from individual embryos. Here, we describe an approach that does not rely on FACS and results in an approximately 96% pure NC population based on a Wnt1-Cre activated lineage reporter. The method presented here is adapted from protocols optimized for the culture of rat NC. The advantages of this protocol compared to previous methods are that 1) the cells are not grown on a feeder layer, 2) FACS is not required to obtain a relatively pure NC population, 3) premigratory NC cells are isolated and 4) results are easily quantified. Furthermore, this protocol can be used for isolation of NC from any mutant mouse model, facilitating the study of NC characteristics with different genetic manipulations. The limitation of this approach is that the NC is removed from the context of the embryo, which is known to influence the survival, migration and differentiation of the NC.
Dynamics and Stability of Variable-pitch Milling:

The occurrence of the regenerative chatter phenomenon in the milling process is studied for cutters with non-uniform distribution (called variable-pitch cutters). The dynamic model of the process is developed and is evaluated from stability point of view. The mathematical characterization of the problem falls within a general class of delay differential equations (DDE) with multiple and rationally independent delays. The contribution of this paper is in the adoption of a mathematically novel and very recent paradigm to determine analytically the bounds of the stable versus unstable chatter. The novel paradigm is called the Cluster Treatment of Characteristic Roots, CTCR. The end result of CTCR provides a powerful tool to determine two important aspects of the process: (i) the pitch angle formation (i.e. the geometry) of the tool; (ii) the optimum cutting conditions (i.e. the depth of cut and the spindle speeds). This means that some process parameters as well as design features are considered via this pro...
Flow-independent improvement by diltiazem of ischemia-induced conduction delay in porcine hearts

The calcium channel blocking agent, diltiazem, improves ischemia-induced conduction delays in the canine heart. It is not known, however, if the improvement of myocardial blood flow caused by diltiazem participates in this response. Accordingly, ischemia-induced conduction delay was measured during brief coronary artery occlusion before and after administration of diltiazem in nine anesthetized pigs with fixed heart rate. Acute coronary occlusion prolonged subendocardial (mean ± standard error of the mean, 39.9 ± 3.9 ms) and subepicardial (41.6 ± 4.1 ms) conduction times (time to peak of the bipolar electrogram in each region) by 51 ± 4 and 58 ± 5%, respectively. Regional myocardial blood flow at the ischemic electrode sites was 0.006 ± 0.002 ml/min per g and was unaffected by diltiazem. Intravenous diltiazem pretreatment (0.01, 0.1, 0.3 and 1.0 mg/kg) 5 minutes before coronary occlusion significantly reduced the ischemia-induced conduction delay in both subendocardial and subepicardial regions during coronary occlusion. The pigs in which ventricular fibrillation occurred within 10 minutes showed a significantly longer conduction delay than that observed in pigs in which ventricular fibrillation occurred later (> 10 minutes). Thus, the data suggest that the reduction of ischemia-induced conduction delay produced by diltiazem is independent of blood flow changes and, therefore, that diltiazem may have a beneficial antiarrhythmic action.
Where Values Collide Motivation and Role Conflict in Child and Adult Protective Services

Although understanding the motivation of public employees in general is important, it is particularly difficult to comprehend why a person would be a child or adult protective services worker. Thes...
Automatic Clustering of Faces in Meetings

Meetings are an integral part of business life for any organization. In previous work, we have developed a physical awareness system called CAMEO (Camera Assisted Meeting Event Observer) to record and process the audio/visual information of a meeting. An important task in meeting under-standing is to know who and how many people are attending the meeting. In this paper, we present an automatic approach to detect, track, and cluster people's faces in long video sequences. This is a challenging problem due to the appearance variability of people's faces (illumination, expression, pose, ...). Two main novelties are presented: ? A robust real-time adaptive subspace face tracker which combines color and appearance. ? A temporal subspace clustering algorithm. The effectiveness and robustness of the proposed system is demonstrated over a data set of long videos (i.e. 1 hour).
Intelligent transport systems in commercial fleet management: a study of short term economic benefits

Interest in the effects on businesses that have implemented Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) technologies has been growing but systematically collected evidence of the advantages inherent in these technologies at a micro‐level is sparse. This study measures the effects of an ITS technology shortly after being developed and implemented by a courier company. The focus is on its labor augmenting potential. It details the effectiveness of the technology and the software development process. The case study concerns NOVA Group, a diversified transportation company and developer of dispatching software called Dispatch Tools. The effectiveness of the software is considered in terms of productivity of drivers as measured by the number of deliveries per driver‐hour. Data were collected for the same three‐month periods in 1996 before implementation and in 1997 after implementation. A panel of drivers and dispatchers participated. The change in productivity of these drivers after implementation of the dispatch...
Female copying and sexual selection in a marine isopod crustacean, Paracerceis sculpta

Abstract The opportunity for sexual selection on males can be influenced by ‘female copying’, a form of female mate selection in which females imitate the mate choices of other females. Female copying always increases the opportunity for sexual selection on males because it increases the number of males obtaining no mates, as well as the number of males obtaining many mates. Paracerceis sculpta, a marine isopod crustacean, breeds in intertidal sponges in the Gulf of California. In the field and in laboratory choice tests, females in this species do not exhibit male or sponge preferences, but do prefer to breed in spongocoels containing other females. This tendency for females to aggregate is a form of female copying. Males in this species occur as three genetically distinct morphotypes: large α-males defend breeding sites in intertidal sponges; small β-males resemble sexually receptive females in behaviour and body form; and tiny γ-males that are effective at entering spongocoels and engaging in sperm competition with other males. α-Males prefer to guard large aggregations of females. β-Males and γ-males prefer to invade spongocoels containing large female aggregations. This paper reports the degree of female copying that is sufficient to account for the observed distribution of females in spongocoels in the field. These results also indicate that while female copying increases variance in harem size among α-males, it also increases the opportunity for β- and γ-males to invade large breeding aggregations. Female aggregation behaviour thus creates a ‘mating niche’ for β-males and γ-males. The availability of this niche may partially explain the persistence of multiple male morphs in this species.
Inhibition of vesicular stomatitis virus-defective interfering particle synthesis by shope fibroma virus

Abstract Undiluted passage of vesicular stomatitis virus (VSV) in a line of African green monkey kidney cells results in a cyclic synthesis of standard infectious VSV. This pattern of virus yield is due to the cyclic production of defective interfering (DI) particles [ Perrault, J., and Holland, J. J. (1972). Virology 50 , 148–158 ; Palma, B. L., and Huang, A. S. (1974). J. Infect. Dis. 129 , 403–410 ; Holland, J. J., Villareal, L. P., and Briendl, M. (1976). J. Virol. 17 , 805–813 ]. When such cells were infected with Shope fibroma virus (ShFV) prior to serial undiluted passage of VSV, the normal cyclic yield of VSV was altered. Using two criteria for the determination of DI particles, i.e., the interference assay and the detection of physical particles by gradient technique, it was shown that ShFV exerted its effect by inhibiting the synthesis of VSV-DI particles. It is suggested that ShFV affects both the induction and the amplification of DI particles in this system. Experiments also indicate that the ShFV-mediated inhibition of VSV-DI particle synthesis is probably not due to poxvirus-induced inhibition of cellular macromolecular biosynthesis.
Stacked-grid Collimators Described with Dimensionless Parameters.

The properties of a one-dimensional stacked-grid collimator can be specified by two dimensionless parameters. This is useful because a two-dimensional collimator can usually be described as two one-dimensional collimators. Plots are given that show normal-incidence transmission and FWHM angular response in terms of these parameters. Transmission is calculated with Fourier optics instead of the Fresnel–Kirchhoff integral.
Spinal catheter insertion via seated lumbar puncture using a massage chair

Spinal catheter insertion may be used for the diagnosis of adult hydrocephalus.1,2⇓ The procedure requires lumbar puncture (LP) in the lateral decubitus or seated positions.3-5⇓⇓ Because adult hydrocephalus predominantly affects persons 60 to 90 years old, LP in the lateral decubitus position can be difficult because it is hard for patients to maintain proper position.3 LP with patients in the seated position are often difficult because of the lack of a stable, safe platform for the patient. A common technique, although apparently undocumented in peer-reviewed literature, is to have the patient sit on the edge of the bed while leaning on an over-bed table with a pillow on it. Although this approach may improve flexion of the lumbosacral spine, it carries the risk that the wheeled over-bed table can move forward, potentially causing the patient to fall, or sideways, potentially misaligning the spine. This technique requires the assistance of additional persons to maintain the patient’s position, prevent …