cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Information from ICR-170-induced mutations on the structure of the pyramidine-3 locus in neurospora ☆

Abstract Among ICR-170-induced pyrimidine -3 mutations in Neurospora crassa only asparate transcarbamylase − cabamyl phosphate synthetase − (ATCase − CPSase − ) and ATCase − CPSase + types have been recovered. The ATCase + CPSase − type, common with other mutagens, is missing. Reversion studies verify the existence of a frame-shift ATCase − CPSase + mutation, and this is correlated with enzymological data and the recombination map of the locus. The significance of these results is discussed with respect to translation of the degree.
A herpes simplex virus-1 vector containing the rat tyrosine hydroxylase promoter directs cell type-specific expression of beta-galactosidase in cultured rat peripheral neurons

Abstract A defective herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1) vector system was used to study cell type-specific expression of the tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) gene. HSV-1 particles containing 663 bp (pTHlac 663), 278 bp (pTHlac 278), or 181 bp (pTHlac 181) of the rat TH promoter driving E. coli LacZ were used to infect superior cervical ganglia (SCG: TH-expressing tissue) and dorsal root ganglia (DRG: non-TH-expressing tissue) cultures. One day after infection, expression of β-galactosidase was visualized by X-gal cytochemistry. Following viral transduction with pTHlac 663 at a multiplicity of infection of 0.2, 14.4% of the SCG neurons were X-gal positive whereas only about 0.9% of DRG neurons were X-gal positive. Infection with either pTHlac278 or 181 resulted in 3-fold more X-gal-positive DRG neurons. These results suggest that (i) the defective HSV-1 vector system may be useful in defining regulatory promoter motifs; (ii) 633 bp of the rat TH promoter contains sufficient information for cell type-specific expression in peripheral nervous system neurons; and (iii) sequences between −278 and −663 contain an element(s) that represses gene expression in non-catecholamingeric neurons.
The electron as a protecting group. 2. Generation of benzocyclobutadiene radical anion in the gas phase and an experimental determination of the heat of formation of benzocyclobutadiene

Benzocyclobutadiene radical anion (5) was synthesized in the gas phase by three independent approaches: collision-induced dissociation (CID) of 1,2-benzocyclobutenedicarboxylate, reaction of 2-tri...
Ein COCOMO-basierter Ansatz zur Entscheidungsunterstützung beim Offshoring von Software-entwicklungsprojekten

Die Gesamtkosten eines Softwareprojektes konnen durch Auslagerung von Entwicklungsleistungen an einen Offshore-Drittanbieter erheblich reduziert werden. In diesem Beitrag wird gezeigt, wie sich die Kostenreduktionspotenziale verschiedener Sourcing-Alternativen objektivieren und quantifizieren lassen. Im vorgestellten Modell, das der Entscheidungsunterstutzung dient, werden neben den erwarteten Kostenvorteilen auch die damit verbundenen Risiken berucksichtigt. Eine starke Fokussierung auf Lohnkostenunterschiede provoziert beim Offshoring von Softwareentwicklungsprojekten geradezu eine Fehleinschatzung der erwarteten Einsparungen. Die Hohe der erzielbaren Kostenreduktion ist insbesondere von den Produktanforderungen des Softwareprojektes und den damit verbundenen unternehmensspezifischen Merkmalen des Drittanbieters abhangig. Je hoher die Unsicherheit hinsichtlich der konkreten Auspragung dieser Attribute ist, desto geringer sind die zu erwartenden Einsparungen. Das heist eine erhohte Unsicherheit wirkt sich auf das Einsparungspotenzial stets negativ aus. Abweichungen in der Projektgrose hingegen spielen nur eine untergeordnete Rolle.
Synergistic effect of retinoic acid and cytokines on the regulation of glial fibrillary acidic protein expression

Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) is the main astroglial marker during astrogliogenesis, but it is also expressed in other cell types, including neural stem cells and old neurons. Activation of the JAK/STAT pathway by the IL-6 family of cytokines is the canonical pathway regulating GFAP expression, whereas retinoic acid is thought to be the only inducer of GFAP to operate independently of this pathway. Here, we show that retinoic acid receptor α not only links retinoic acid signaling to the canonical cytokine-stimulated pathway leading to GFAP expression but that it also plays a key role in the synergistic actions of retinoic acid and cytokines on this pathway. Cytokines both potentiate retinoic acid receptor α expression and enhance its binding to DNA and to the Stat3-p300/CBP-Smad transcriptional complex, the cornerstone of the canonical pathway. PI3K is upstream to all the key events leading to the expression of GFAP. Our results give new insights about the role of retinoic acid signaling in GFAP expression.
Effects of antibodies to large retinal ganglion cells on developing retinogeniculate pathways in the cat

We investigated the effects of polyclonal antibodies, produced against ox large retinal ganglion cells, on the developing retinogeniculate pathways of cats. Four-week-old kittens were given an intraocular injection of either a low or a high concentration of the antibodies and effects were assessed 35-69 weeks later. After a low concentration (110 micrograms/33 microliter volume) injection, the density of retinal alpha-cells (the morphological counterpart of Y-cells) was reduced 44% in area centralis and 37% in peripheral retina. After a high concentration (333 micrograms/33 microliter volume) injection, alpha-cell density was reduced 76% in area centralis and 91% in peripheral retina. The same concentration of antibodies had no consistent effect on the numbers of medium- or small-size retinal ganglion cells. Electrophysiological recordings from single neurons in layers A and A1 of the lateral geniculate nucleus (LGN) revealed a 53% decrease in the percentage of Y-cells after a low-concentration injection and an 82% decrease after a high-concentration injection. There was a concomitant increase in the percentage of LGN cells that were non-responsive to light or that responded too poorly to be classified. No change was observed in the percentages of LGN X-cells or cells with mixed response properties. The reduced encounter rate of LGN Y-cells was not accompanied by significant changes in LGN cell-body size. Together, the results indicate that the immunoablation technique produces a large and apparently selective reduction of the Y-cell retinogeniculate pathway in developing kittens.
Disentangling Chile's authoritarian neoliberalism and its effects: the downfall of public higher education and its implications for equitable access

In recent decades, neoliberal reforms have spread across Latin America. Despite different accounts showing the adverse social impact of these reforms, what seems lacking are historical analyses of why and how neoliberal policies occurred in this region. For instance, there are only rare accounts of how dictatorships in the 1970s prepared the terrain for neoliberal reforms. A key instance of this regional process is presented in the dictatorship that ruled Chile from 1973–1990. Theoretically based on political ideas of human dignity and individual freedom, the pragmatics of Chilean neoliberalism were very repressive. This paper will address this tension and the impact of market‐driven policies on the public arena, particularly in higher education.
Spin-resolved inverse-photoemission study of Ni(001) and its chemisorption

Results from an angle-resolved spin-polarized inverse photoelectron spectroscopy (ARSPIPES) study of Ni(001), c(2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}2)O/Ni(001), and c(2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}2)S/Ni(001) are presented. Inverse-photoemission spectra for the clean Ni(001) surface are in good agreement with previous work. A minority-spin character is found for a direct radiative transition into an unoccupied 3d band. No definitive spin dependence is found for radiative transitions into the unoccupied 4sp band, a potentially unresolved crystal-induced surface state, or an image-potential surface state. A chemisorbed c(2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}2) oxygen overlayer does not appreciably affect the measured spin dependence or spectral intensity of the Ni 3d radiative transition. Little evidence is found for an oxygen-induced unoccupied state above the Fermi level at the \ensuremath{\Gamma}\ifmmode\bar\else\textasciimacron\fi{}' point of the surface Brillouin zone. The persistent spin asymmetry for the Ni 3d transition suggests that any magnetization decrease induced by oxygen is probably confined to the Ni surface layer. In contrast to c(2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}2)O/Ni(001), a c(2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}2) sulfur overlayer increases the spectral intensity just above the Fermi level, and drastically reduces the measured spin dependence of the ARSPIPES spectra. These observations are tentatively assigned to a sulfur-induced majority-spin state above the Fermi level at \ensuremath{\Gamma}\ifmmode\bar\else\textasciimacron\fi{}'. The image-potential state remains fixed in energy upon c(2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}2) sulfur chemisorption. This behavior is in contrast to that observed for c(2\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}2)O/Ni(001), and indicates that the Ni(001) image-potential state energy need not shift with adsorbate-induced variations in the work function.
Centralizing diverse racial/ethnic voices in scholarly research: the value of phenomenological inquiry

Abstract This article provides information about the usefulness of a phenomenological approach to intercultural relations research that seeks to gain insight into the lived experiences of cultural group members traditionally marginalized in research and theory. It is presented as an alternative to traditional social scientific research that has been criticized for creating ‘caricatures’ to represent certain racial and ethnic groups. The article includes a detailed description of the key assumptions and three step process of this humanistic methodological approach. Finally, a brief discussion is offered as to the primary challenge inherent in utilizing phenomenology in race/ethnicity research.
Synergy, redundancy, and multivariate information measures: an experimentalist's perspective

Information theory has long been used to quantify interactions between two variables. With the rise of complex systems research, multivariate information measures have been increasingly used to investigate interactions between groups of three or more variables, often with an emphasis on so called synergistic and redundant interactions. While bivariate information measures are commonly agreed upon, the multivariate information measures in use today have been developed by many different groups, and differ in subtle, yet significant ways. Here, we will review these multivariate information measures with special emphasis paid to their relationship to synergy and redundancy, as well as examine the differences between these measures by applying them to several simple model systems. In addition to these systems, we will illustrate the usefulness of the information measures by analyzing neural spiking data from a dissociated culture through early stages of its development. Our aim is that this work will aid other researchers as they seek the best multivariate information measure for their specific research goals and system. Finally, we have made software available online which allows the user to calculate all of the information measures discussedwithin this paper.
Susceptibility testing interpretive criteria for levofloxacin when testing respiratory pathogens, Haemophilus influenzae and Moraxella catarrhalis

The more active L-isomer, levofloxacin, of the racemic ofloxacin mixture has been under development for therapeutic use. In this study, we evaluated the activity of ofloxacin, levofloxacin, and D-ofloxacin against the fastidious respiratory tract pathogens Haemophilus influenzae and Moraxella catarrhalis. Levofloxacin was two-fold more active than ofloxacin against H. influenzae (MIC90, 0.015 microgram/ml), and D-ofloxacin was least active (MIC90, 1 microgram/ml). For M. catarrhalis the MIC90 values were 0.03 microgram/ml, 0.06 microgram/ml, and 2 micrograms/ml for levofloxacin, ofloxacin, and D-ofloxacin, respectively. For disk diffusion susceptibility testing, Chocolate Mueller-Hinton agar (CMH) was considered preferable to Haemophilus test medium (HTM) because it supported the growth of all of 105 H. influenzae strains whereas five strains failed to grow on HTM. In addition, the margins of the zones of inhibition were more distinct on CMH and the Haemophilus species strains with elevated fluoroquinolone MICs were readily distinguished. The superior growth on CMH was reflected in a reduction of inhibition zone diameters of 2-3 mm relative to the inhibition zone diameters on HTM. The previously proposed interpretive criteria for the 5 microgram disk diffusion susceptibility test (susceptible at > or = 17 mm) results in complete categorical agreement with the reference microdilution broth method for M. catarrhalis on Mueller Hinton agar and for H. influenzae on HTM and CMH. However, the minimum diameter of the zone of inhibition recorded for a member of the dominant population of either species was considerably greater (25 mm) than 17 mm on any of the media tested.
Fundamental factors of comprehension in reading.

A survey of the literature was made to determine the skills involved in reading comprehension that are deemed most important by authorities. Multiple-choice test items were constructed to measure each of nine skills thus identified as basic. The intercorrelations of the nine skill scores were factored, each skill being weighted in the initial matrix roughly in proportion to its importance in reading comprehension, as judged by authorities. The principal components were rather readily interpretable in terms of the initial variables. Individual scores in components I and II are sufficiently reliable to warrant their use for practical purposes, and useful measures of other components could be provided by constructing the required number of additional items. The results also indicate need for workbooks to aid in improving students' use of basic reading skills. The study provides more detailed information regarding the skills measured by theCooperative Reading Comprehension Tests than has heretofore been provided regarding the skills actually measured by any other widely used reading test. Statistical techniques for estimating the reliability coefficients of individual scores in principal-axes components, for determining whether component variances are greater than would be yielded by chance, and for calculating the significance of the differences between successive component variances are illustrated.
Interdisciplinary atmospheric research featured at IUGG Meeting

In spite of the general climate of uncertainty that exists almost world-wide about future funding for atmospheric research, the International Association of Meteorology and Atmospheric Sciences (IAMAS) continues to serve as a focal point and clearinghouse for both fundamental and applied research, principally through its sponsorship of meetings and symposia. At the recent International Union of Geophysics and Geodesy Assembly in Boulder, Colo., IAMAS jointly sponsored a number of symposia and sessions spanning the breadth and depth of the IAMAS involvement in science. Ranging from ocean and atmosphere-global change through clouds, convection and large scale flows, radiation budget studies and land surface process modeling, to remote sensing algorithms in hydrology, the effects of Pinatubo, equatorial atmosphere and ionosphere interactions, middle atmosphere dynamics and chemistry, and climate variability and forcing, the interdisciplinary nature of IAMAS involvement is obvious. Even the “IAMAS only” sponsored sessions, on such topics as tropospheric ozone, atmospheric electrodynamics, the boundary layer and its mesoscale impact, stratospheric processes and their role in climate, and atmosphere-ocean behavior have interdisciplinary complexities and are of major importance to humanity and the sustainability of the environment.
Simulation and Production of Wound Impellers

The wound composite impeller, developed at Michigan State University, is a new way of manufacturing turbomachine impellers with a wide range of potential applications, even including use in gas turbines. The production can be rapid, inexpensive, and utilize commercially available winding machines. This work focuses on the modeling of the Wound Impeller for computer simulation and optimization processes, and for automation of the production process.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
Tourists‘ and Locals‘ Preferences Toward Ecotourism Development in the Maya Biosphere Reserve, Guatemala

Ecotourism has been identified as a low impact means to provide income generating opportunities that are complementary to nature conservation as well as the welfare of the local population. The Maya Biosphere Reserve in Peten, Guatemala is one of Central America's largest and most isolated protected areas. And although the area is contains a well-visited archeological site, it has not been developed for ecotourism. In this study choice experiments are used to analyze the preferences toward alternative scenarios of ecotourism of two important stakeholder groups: foreign tourists and educated local residents. Results demonstrate that these two populations of have unequal but similar preference orderings, especially toward: improved national park management and the presence of guides for wildlife viewing. These stakeholder groups had different opinions toward paved access roads and the presence of illegal colonists within the protected area. Both populations favored an entrance fee toward the absence of an entrance fee. These preferences were generally consistent across other socioeconomic indicators.
The polycondensation of aldohexoses and related derivatives

Abstract The condensation reactions of the anomers of d -glucose, d -mannose, and d -galactose, as well as of certain of their derivatives, have been investigated in the molten state in the absence of catalysts. The reaction was followed thermogravimetrically, the products being analyzed by means of chromatography, polarimetry, and end-group determinations. The loss in weight associated with the condensation reactions was found to be different for each of the monosaccharides heated under a variety of conditions, provided that analyses were performed well before completion of the reaction. At temperatures below 220°, intermolecular condensation predominated; above 220°, intramolecular condensation became more apparent. Study of the behavior of derivatives indicated that the hydroxyl group on C-1 is essential to condensation. As already known, for d -glucose, the intermolecular condensation reaction occurred primarily between C-1 and C-6. The extent of polymerization under standardized conditions was greatest for the d -galactoses, followed by the d -mannoses; the d -glucoses yielded the smallest polymers. It was also observed that a higher degree of polymerization is obtained for the α- d anomers of d -mannose and d -galactose than for the β- d anomers. A possible explanation of this behavior is given on the basis of the conformations of the aldohexoses employed.
Towards ISMs for OPSs

Information structure models (ISMs) [Weg70] have been applied successfully to the study of programming languages both in their definitions [LW69, Wlk68,70,Wgb70] and in proofs of correctness and equivalence of various implementation strategies [Luc69,JH70,JL71,McG71,Bry72].This paper examines briefly the possibility using ISMs to define operating systems (OPSs). We give a definition of the notion of ISM and indicate how to use them. Then we describe methods by which the process notion has been defined in the past in the hope that this will give some idea of the applicability of the ISM approach to the definition of OPSs.
Effects of cholecystokinin on male copulatory behavior and lordosis behavior in male rats.

Abstract Because the distribution of cholecystokinin octapeptide (CCK-8) within the hypothalamus and limibc system overlaps with steroid concentrating regions, and because these areas are involved in the regulation of reproductive behaviors, we examined the effects of exogenous CCK-8 on male copulatory behavior and lordosis behavior in the male rat. Peripheral administration of a dose of CCK-8 that altered lordosis behavior in females (3 μg/kg, intraperitoneal) was ineffective in altering male copulatory behavior in males, either before or after gonadectomy, and was also ineffective in altering lordosis behavior after estrogen priming. In a separate experiment, CCK-8 injected into the lateral ventricle also did not affect male copulatory behavior, but lordosis behavior was increased dramatically after gonadectomy and estrogen priming. Although these results do not answer the question whether CCK-8 is acting to inhibit a neural system that normally suppresses lordosis behavior or is acting to stimulate a facilitatory circuit, these results do indicate the existence of an estrogen sensitive neural substrate in males on which CCK can act to facilitate lordosis behavior.
Kneeling before the fathers’ wand: Violence, eroticism and paternalism in Thomas Pynchon's V. and J.M. Coetzee's Dusklands

Summary In their fictional critiques of colonialism/imperialism, both Thomas Pynchon and J.M. Coetzee emphasize the ways in which the colonial powers misrepresent their intent through the conscious misuse of metaphorical language, especially that surrounding the paternal relationship. Pynchon's V. (1966) and Coetzee's Dusklands (1974) address the issue by presenting a number of settings in which such a distortion of language occurs. These disparate sections within the works span more than two hundred years of history, illustrating the longevity of such an approach on the part of European colonizers as well as the growing violence associated with this strategy. This article examines the manner in which Pynchon and Coetzee deal with the subject of colonialism, primarily using Georges Bataille's Erotism: Death and Sensuality (1986) and Keith Booker's Literature and Domination (1993) to derive a critical formula concerning the linkage between the desire for domination, violence and the metaphor surrounding va...
Brauer groups of algebraic function fields

Let E be a countable field. Then B(E),, the p-primary component of the Brauer group of E, if a countable abelian torsion group. As such, the Ulm invariants of B(E), classify that group modulo its maximal divisible subgroup. For an exposition of the Ulm theory, see [I 11. In [9] (see also [7]) the authors and Jack Sonn determine the Ulm invariants of B(E), when E is a rational function field over a global field. The present paper is motivated by this result, and is concerned with two further lines of investigation suggested by this work. In Section 2 we attempt to extend the results of [9] to the case when E is an algebraic function field over a global field. This case seems considerably more difficult than the rational function field case. If E is a rational function field, B(E), is determined by means of the AuslanderBrumer-Faddeev Theorem [ 7, p. 5 1 ] in terms of Brauer groups and character groups of fields of lower transcendence degree. No such result is available in the algebraic function field case. Nevertheless, we are able to completely determine the Ulm invariants of B(E), at finite ordinals when E is an algebraic function field over a global field; this result is obtained using the Merkurjev-Suslin Theorem [14], Saltman’s theory of generic Galois extensions [ 161, and the results of [8]. For E as above we have very little information about the Ulm invariants at infinite ordinals. We do, however,
New Frontiers in Androgen Biosynthesis and Metabolism

Purpose of reviewTo summarize recent advances in androgen biosynthesis and metabolism in peripheral tissues (e.g., liver and prostate) and how these can be exploited therapeutically.Recent findingsHuman liver catalyzes the reduction of circulating testosterone to yield four stereoisomeric tetrahydro
From Interwar to Cold War: Selling Field Science in the United States, 1920s Through 1950s

A comparison of why proposed science programs succeed or fail to attract public financial support in the American political arena, this article examines three cases ranging from the 1920s to the 1950s: a unique, multi-disciplinary proposal emerging from the U.S. Navy's 1924 conference on oceanography, U.S. participation in the Second International Polar Year of 1932-1933, and U.S. participation in the International Geophysical Year of 1957-1958. Each proposal emphasized societal benefits and applications of the earth, ocean, or atmospheric sciences. Each began from the bottom up, i.e., people trained and working in the scientific disciplines originated the idea and expressed their support through reports, letters, and participation in committees or conferences. However the proposals experienced different fates. While the promoters of the International Geophysical Year succeeded in gaining relatively substantial federal support, and the backers of the Second International Polar Year gained a modest amount,...
Integration of Self-Organizing Map (SOM) and Kernel Density Estimation (KDE) for network intrusion detection

This paper proposes an approach to integrate the self-organizing map (SOM) and kernel density estimation (KDE) techniques for the anomaly-based network intrusion detection (ABNID) system to monitor the network traffic and capture potential abnormal behaviors. With the continuous development of network technology, information security has become a major concern for the cyber system research. In the modern net-centric and tactical warfare networks, the situation is more critical to provide real-time protection for the availability, confidentiality, and integrity of the networked information. To this end, in this work we propose to explore the learning capabilities of SOM, and integrate it with KDE for the network intrusion detection. KDE is used to estimate the distributions of the observed random variables that describe the network system and determine whether the network traffic is normal or abnormal. Meanwhile, the learning and clustering capabilities of SOM are employed to obtain well-defined data clusters to reduce the computational cost of the KDE. The principle of learning in SOM is to self-organize the network of neurons to seek similar properties for certain input patterns. Therefore, SOM can form an approximation of the distribution of input space in a compact fashion, reduce the number of terms in a kernel density estimator, and thus improve the efficiency for the intrusion detection. We test the proposed algorithm over the real-world data sets obtained from the Integrated Network Based Ohio University's Network Detective Service (INBOUNDS) system to show the effectiveness and efficiency of this method.
Electrophysiologic observations in a patient with bradycardia-dependent atrioventricular block.

Abstract In a patient with atrioventricular (A-V) block distal to the His bundle (H), 1:1 A-V conduction with right bundle branch block and an H-V interval of 70 msec was established with atrial pacing at rates of 120 to 150/min, suggesting that the A-V block was bradycardia-dependent. Advanced second degree A-V block distal to the H deflection occurred with atrial pacing at 160/min after completion of A-V nodal Wenckebach periodicity proximal to the H deflection because of the long H-H encompassing the blocked P wave. Atrial extrastimulus testing coupled with sinus rhythm (with A-V block) demonstrated that critical H1-H2 intervals of less than 545 msec allowed conduction to the ventricles. The H2-V2 interval shortened progressively from 290 to 70 msec with shortening of these critical H1-H2 intervals. Atrial extrastimulus testing coupled with an atrial driven cycle length of 500 msec (with intact A-V conduction) revealed block of the H2 deflection with an H1-H2 interval longer than 540 msec. In conclusion, at critical diastolic intervals, impulses were blocked, creating a state of decreased responsiveness. If a cycle length of subsequent impulses was shorter than the critical diastolic blocking interval, membrane responsiveness gradually improved and conduction resumed. If a cycle length of subsequent impulses was longer than the critical blocking diastolic interval, A-V block was sustained. Blocked impulses continually penetrated to the site of block and reset the state of membrane responsiveness.
Retrospective evaluation of flow cytometry as a platelet crossmatching procedure

We performed a retrospective analysis of flow cytometry as a platelet crossmatching procedure. Sera from 17 alloimmunized refractory patients were tested against 32 donor platelets, which had been stored as platelet-rich plasma for up to 36 months. Overall, 14/32 (44%) crossmatches were positive. The mean 1 h posttransfusion corrected count increments (CCIs) were 9,195 and 2,269 for a negative and a positive crossmatch, respectively. The predictive value of a positive crossmatch was 86%, whereas the predictive value of a negative crossmatch was 56%. When samples with low background fluorescence or with high panel-reactive antibody (PRA) levels were evaluated separately, the accuracy of the crossmatch improved from 69% to 80%. When compared to the platelet adhesion immunofluorescence test (PAIFT) and the standard and antiglobulin-enhanced lymphocytotoxicity tests for the detection of HLA antibodies, flow cytometry appeared to be more sensitive. We conclude that flow cytometry is a useful technique for platelet crossmatching, particularly for alloimmunized patients for whom HLA compatible platelets may not be readily available. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Arginine vasopressin enhances GABAergic inhibition of cardiac parasympathetic neurons in the nucleus ambiguus

Abstract Previous studies have shown that arginine vasopressin is an important neuropeptide that can modulate the reflex control of blood pressure and heart rate. The nucleus ambiguus, where cardiac parasympathetic neurons are located, receives dense arginine vasopressin projections. However the mechanisms by which arginine vasopressin alters cardiac parasympathetic activity are unknown. We tested the hypothesis that arginine vasopressin can alter the activity of cardiac parasympathetic neurons by altering the spontaneous GABAergic input to these neurons. Experiments were conducted using whole cell patch clamp recordings of cardiac parasympathetic neurons in an in vitro slice preparation in rats. The results of this study demonstrate that arginine vasopressin increases the frequency and amplitude of GABAergic inhibitory post-synaptic currents in cardiac parasympathetic neurons. Arginine vasopressin did not alter the GABAergic currents evoked by exogenous application of GABA. Similarly, in the presence of tetrodotoxin, arginine vasopressin did not alter the frequency, amplitude or decay time of GABAergic miniature synaptic events evoked by high osmolarity. These results indicate that arginine vasopressin likely acts on neurons precedent to cardiac parasympathetic neurons and that arginine vasopressin likely acts not at the synaptic terminal but at the soma or dendrites of the precedent neuron. Oxytocin and agonists for the V 2 -arginine vasopressin and V 1b -arginine vasopressin receptors had no effect. By contrast, the arginine vasopressin-evoked responses were completely abolished by a selective V 1a -arginine vasopressin receptor antagonist indicating arginine vasopressin responses are mediated by V 1a -arginine vasopressin receptors. We conclude that the V 1a -arginine vasopressin receptor-mediated increase in frequency and amplitude of inhibitory GABAergic activity to cardiac parasympathetic neurons may be at least one mechanism by which central arginine vasopressin may increase heart rate and inhibit reflex bradycardia.
Is Male-biased Collision Mortality of Whooping Cranes (Grus americana) in Florida Associated with Flock Behavior?

Abstract. Male-biased collision mortality of Whooping Cranes (Grus americana) in Florida may be associated with the tendency of males to lead flocks. The sex of Whooping Cranes was recorded for individuals leading flocks while flying and walking (n = 255). Males were more likely to lead than females both while walking and especially when flying. These observations support anecdotal reports that males tend to lead flocks. This flock behavior may partly explain male-biased mortality from collisions observed in Florida. Collision with power lines is the greatest known source of mortality for fledged Whooping Cranes. Our findings have implications for reintroductions and for the single existing self-sustaining population, which numbers > 250 individuals.
Standards for the Assay of Radionuclides in Solid Environmental Samples

Radioactivity standards in the form of naturally occurring solid materials for use in the assay of solid environmental samples for radioactivity are discussed. Topics include the selection and preparation of materials for these standards, spiking with radionuclides, induced segregation of particles, availability and proper use of these standards, and their application to both radiochemical and nondestructive types of assay. The role these standards have in quality-assurance programs is also considered.
The Active Site of Melanopsin: The Biological Clock Photoreceptor

The nonvisual ocular photoreceptor melanopsin, found in the neurons of vertebrate inner retina, absorbs blue light and triggers the “biological clock” of mammals by activating the suprachiasmatic nuclei (a small region of the brain that regulates the circadian rhythms of neuronal and hormonal activities over 24 h cycles). The structure of melanopsin, however, has yet to be established. Here, we propose for the first time a structural model of the active site of mouse melanopsin. The homology model is based on the crystal structure of squid rhodopsin (λmax = 490 nm) and shows a maximal absorbance (λmax = 447 nm) consistent with the observed absorption of the photoreceptor. The 43 nm spectral shift is due to an increased bond-length alternation of the protonated Schiff base of 11-cis-retinal chromophore, induced by N87Q mutation and water-mediated H-bonding interactions with the Schiff base linkage. These findings, analogous to spectral changes observed in the G89Q bovine rhodopsin mutant, suggest that sing...
Towards terahertz operation of CMOS

The electromagnetic spectrum between 300GHz and 3THz is broadly referred as terahertz [1]. The utility of this portion of spectrum for detection of chemicals and bio agents, for imaging of concealed weapons, cancer cells and manufacturing defects [1, 2], and for studying chemical species using electron paramagnetic resonance, as well as, in short range radars and secured high data rate communications has been demonstrated. However, high cost and low level of integration for III–V devices needed for the systems have limited their wide use. The improvements in the high frequency capability of CMOS have made it possible to consider CMOS as a lower cost alternative for realizing the systems that can greatly expand the use of this spectrum range.
Defects of Pre- and Post-Deboned Broiler Breast

Abstract To assess processing defects and bones in breast meat at one commercial broiler processing and deboning plant (utilizing both manual and semi-automatic deboning methods), 12 months of inspection data were collected and analyzed to determine the incidence and categories of front half defects prior to deboning; the incidence and categories of bones remaining in boneless fillets (Pectoralis major) and tenders (Pectoralis minor); and the effect of deboning method on incidence and categories of bones in fillets. From 248 processing shifts, 34,402 front halves were inspected. A total of 52,561 defects were recorded and were, in order: broken ribs, broken clavicles, broken keels, missing wings, lungs remaining, feathers remaining, and mangled. All of these defects, except missing wings, varied significantly by the month of the year. After deboning, 300,299 lb of fillets were inspected, with 379 total bones found, including, in order: clavicles, fan bones (laterodorsal sternal process), ribs, and scapulas. Also after deboning, 186,310 lb of tenders were inspected with 428 total bones found, including, in order: clavicles, fragments, and fan bones. During 42 shifts, fillets were inspected separately between the manual and semi-automatic deboning methods; no significant difference was detected between incidence and categories of bones found. In this study front halves averaged 1.5 defects each (mostly broken bones); the predominant bone found in boneless meat was the clavicle; and deboning method had no effect on bone incidence for fillets.
Radiochemical analyses for environmental radiological studies at nuclear power stations

Abstract The analytical procedures used in a program of radiological monitoring studies at nuclear power stations are discussed. Samples of in-plant and effluent liquids, gases, and airborne particles were analyzed by radiochemical methods or by gamma-ray spectrometry. These procedures were modified for environmental media, including air, airborne particles, vegetation and food, milk, animal tissue, water, soil and sediment, generally by analyzing larger samples, enhancing the purification procedures, and increasing the detection sensitivity. Emphasis was placed on analyzing special samples for effluent radionuclides not routinely monitored, such as gaseous H-3, C-14, and Kr-85, and on measuring radionuclides at very low concentrations in media of possible dosimetric significance, such as radioiodine in milk. Measurements at these low levels permitted comparisons of source terms with environmental radioactivity in terms of calculational models.
Incompressible Model of Solids Conveying in a Single-Screw Extruder

Experiments in corn meal extrusion [Zhang, S. and Sernas, V. (1998). Proc. 1998 ASME Int ME. Congress and Exposition, Anaheim, CA, HTD-Vol. 361-1. pp. 309-315] have shown that the flow of solids in the screw channel of a single-screw extruder has a helical pattern. This observation implies that there is a cross-channel velocity component in the solids conveying zone of the extruder. Existing solids conveying models [Broyer, E. and Tadmor, Z. (1972). Polym. Eng. Sci., 12(1): 12-24; Campbell, G.A. and Dontula, N. (1995). International Polymer Process X. Hanser Publishing. pp. 30-35; Darnell, W.H. and Mol, E.A. (1956). Soc. Plast. Eng. J., 12(4), 20-29; Hyun, K.S. and Spalding, M.A. (1997). ANTEC '97 Proc. 163: 211-218] treat the solids moving in the channel as a plug flow without a cross-channel velocity component. The two-dimensional powder conveying model proposed in this paper contains both a down-channel component and a cross-channel component. The stress generating mechanism is much more complicated in a powder flow than in a fluid flow. The incompressible model incorporates a constitutive equation for the powder flow with slip boundary conditions. The energy equation with appropriate boundary conditions is also included in the model. The numerically solved model shows that the predicted down-channel pressure development, velocity and temperature distributions are all reasonable.
Accurate initiation of mRNA synthesis in extracts from Schizosaccharomyces pombe, Kluyveromyces lactis and Candida glabrata

We demonstrate the successful adaptation to other yeast species of a protocol previously described for production of transcriptionally active whole cell extracts from Saccharomyces cerevisiae (Woontner and Jaehning, 1990, J. Biol. Chem. 265, 8979-8982). Extracts prepared from Schizosaccharomyces pombe, Kluyveromyces lactis and Candida glabrata were all capable of initiating transcription from a template containing the S. cerevisiae CYC1 TATA box fused to a G-less cassette. Transcription in all of the extracts was sensitive to inhibition by alpha-amanitin, indicating that it was catalysed by RNA polymerase II, and was dramatically stimulated by the chimeric activator GAL4/VP16. The different extracts used different subsets of a group of three initiation sites.
Ethanol Inhibits Persistent Activity in Prefrontal Cortical Neurons

Cognitive functions supported by neurons in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) are disrupted by acute and chronic exposure to alcohol, yet little is known about the mechanisms that underlie these effects. In the present study, in vivo and in vitro electrophysiology was used to determine the effects of ethanol on neuronal firing and network patterns of persistent activity in PFC neurons. In vivo, ethanol (0.375–3.5 g/kg) dose-dependently reduced spike activity in the PFC measured with multielectrode extracellular recording in the anesthetized rat. In an in vitro coculture system containing slices of PFC, hippocampus, and ventral tegmental area (VTA), ethanol (25–100 mm) decreased persistent activity of PFC neurons, but had little effect on firing evoked by direct current injection. Persistent activity was often enhanced after ethanol washout and this effect was maintained in cultures lacking the VTA. A low concentration of the NMDA antagonist APV (5 μm) mimicked the inhibition of ethanol of persistent activity with no change in activity after washout. Ethanol inhibition of spontaneous and VTA-evoked persistent activity was enhanced by the D1 dopamine receptor antagonist SCH23390 [R(+)-7-chloro-8-hydroxy-3-methyl-1-phenyl-2,3,4,5-tetrahydro-1H-3-benzazepine hydrochloride]. The results of this study show that ethanol inhibits persistent activity and spike firing of PFC neurons and that the degree of ethanol inhibition may be influenced by D1 receptor tone. Ethanol-induced alterations in the activity of deep-layer cortical neurons may underlie some of the behavioral effects associated with ethanol intake.
High-pressure electroosmotic pumps based on porous polymer monoliths

Electroosmotic pumps have been prepared using macroporous polymer monoliths with their pore surface grafted with the ionizable monomers 2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonic acid and [2-(methacryloyloxy)ethyl]trimethyl ammonium chloride, respectively. The effects of critical parameters such as pore size of the monolith, percentage of ionizable moieties in the grafted layer, crosslinking density, and driving voltage on both flow rate and pressure have been quantified. Electroosmotic pumps fabricated from the grafted monoliths afforded pressures as high as 0.38 MPa and electric-field-specific flow rates of up to 0.41 ml/min, both at an applied potential of 50 V.
Analytical and Numerical Results for an Adhesively Bonded Joint Subjected to Pure Bending

A one-dimensional, semi-analytical methodology that was previously developed for evaluating adhesively bonded joints composed of anisotropic adherends and adhesives that exhibit inelastic material behavior is further verified in the present paper. A summary of the first-order differential equations and applied joint loading used to determine the adhesive response from the methodology are also presented. The method was previously verified against a variety of single-lap joint configurations from the literature that subjected the joints to cases of axial tension and pure bending. Using the same joint configuration and applied bending load presented in a study by Yang, the finite element analysis software ABAQUS was used to further verify the semi-analytical method. Linear static ABAQUS results are presented for two models, one with a coarse and one with a fine element meshing, that were used to verify convergence of the finite element analyses. Close agreement between the finite element results and the semi-analytical methodology were determined for both the shear and normal stress responses of the adhesive bondline. Thus, the semi-analytical methodology was successfully verified using the ABAQUS finite element software and a single-lap joint configuration subjected to pure bending.
PTPμ Regulates N-Cadherin–dependent Neurite Outgrowth

Cell adhesion is critical to the establishment of proper connections in the nervous system. Some receptor-type protein tyrosine phosphatases (RPTPs) have adhesion molecule–like extracellular segments with intracellular tyrosine phosphatase domains that may transduce signals in response to adhesion. PTPμ is a RPTP that mediates cell aggregation and is expressed at high levels in the nervous system. In this study, we demonstrate that PTPμ promotes neurite outgrowth of retinal ganglion cells when used as a culture substrate. In addition, PTPμ was found in a complex with N-cadherin in retinal cells. To determine the physiological significance of the association between PTPμ and N-cadherin, the expression level and enzymatic activity of PTPμ were perturbed in retinal explant cultures. Downregulation of PTPμ expression through antisense techniques resulted in a significant decrease in neurite outgrowth on an N-cadherin substrate, whereas there was no effect on laminin or L1-dependent neurite outgrowth. The overexpression of a catalytically inactive form of PTPμ significantly decreased neurite outgrowth on N-cadherin. These data indicate that PTPμ specifically regulates signals required for neurites to extend on an N-cadherin substrate, implicating reversible tyrosine phosphorylation in the control of N-cadherin function. Together, these results suggest that PTPμ plays a dual role in the regulation of neurite outgrowth.
TGHC: timed guarded Horn clauses

A description is given of the design principles, syntax, and semantics of the distributed real-time programming language TGHC (timed guarded Horn clauses). TGHC is a descendant of concurrent logic programming languages and it is capable of explicitly expressing time constraints by introducing the timed guard to GHC. A formal semantics of a subset of TGHC is also given. >
Interorganizational relationships and online information resources

We present a description of research-in-progress into the organizational contexts and interorganizational relationships which generate demand for online information (OI) resources. Researchers who examine the use of OI resources have found that people don't use online information as often as providers generally expect. But some organizations use these resources intensively within certain contexts. Our study focuses on professional firms and biotechnology companies who use OI resources routinely during interorganizational relationship building and mediation seeking activities. The OI resources they use contain digital documentation of corporate histories, researcher expertise, product marketing success, and executive affiliations that help firm members develop legal strategies, evaluate potential partners and size up the competition. Our examination of how these networked organizational professionals interact with OI resources will help us theorize about OI resource demand. As we identify how organizations use OI resources to help establish and maintain interorganizational relationships, we will also identify, how associated business and organizational practices may be changing.
Indigenous Populations: Decision Making and Informed Consent to Research

Taken together, Tupara's (2012) article on decision making for health research in Aotearoa, New Zealand, and Sherman and colleagues’ (2012) case study from the Peruvian Amazon examining indigenous ...