cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Influence of temperature, nourishment, and storage period on the longevity and fecundity of the mealybug parasitoid, Anagyrus sp. nov. nr. sinope Noyes and Menezes (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae).

Anagyrus sp. nov. nr. sinope Noyes and Menezes (Hymenoptera: Encyrtidae) is a candidate for biological control of the Madeira mealybug, Phenacoccus madeirensis Green (Hemiptera: Pseudococcidae). P. madeirensis is a serious pest of horticultural crops in the southeastern United States. The first experiment studied the effect of temperature (15, 20, 25, 30, and 35°C) and feeding treatment (starved, hydrated with distilled water, and nourished and hydrated with diluted honey) on adult longevity of Anagyrus sp. nov. nr. sinope. Nourished and hydrated female parasitoids survived an average of 52.8 d at 15°C, which was 14 and 8 times longer than starved and hydrated females at the same temperature, respectively, and 8 times longer than nourished and hydrated females at 35°C. The second experiment studied the influence of feeding treatment on the reproduction of Anagyrus sp. nov. nr. sinope at 25°C. Nourished and hydrated female parasitoids lived (mean = 14.2 d) and reproduced (mean = 7 d) for a longer duration, parasitized more hosts (mean = 16), and produced more offspring (mean = 45) than starved or hydrated females. The third experiment assessed the longevity and reproduction of Anagyrus sp. nov. nr. sinope after storage for various durations (0, 1, 4, 7, 14, 21 d) at 15 and 25°C. Parasitoids stored at 15°C had increased longevity and a decreased reproductive period but similar parasitism rates and fecundity to those stored at 25°C. The results suggested that the parasitoids could be stored at 15 and 25°C for up to 14 d without significant reduction in fecundity after release.
Cytochrome P450 Function in Pediatric Sepsis-Induced Multiple Organ Failure.♦ 179

P450 enzymes metabolize many drugs, toxins, and endogenous compounds in all organ systems. Cytokines and nitric oxide decrease P450 function in human hepatocyte culture. In humans, endotoxin administration increased the half-life (t_(1/2)) of antipyrine, a standard measure of P450 function. Previously, we showed that inflammation as indicated by plasma levels of IL-6 and nitrite + nitrate levels (end products of nitric oxide metabolism) is increased in children with sepsis-induced multiple organ failure(MOF).(1) The relationship between P450 function, inflammation, and the development of multiple organ failure in children with sepsis is unknown. We hypothesize that in sepsis-induced MOF, P450 function will be decreased and will be associated with the degree of inflammation. Plasma IL-6 (ELISA) and nitrite + nitrate (Greiss reaction) and an organ failure index (OFI, 1 point for each organ failure)^(1) were determined in 33 children on days 1-3 of sepsis. On day 1, antipyrine(18mg/kg) was administered (ng/po) and levels were measured by HPLC at 6, 12, 24, and 48 hours to calculate antipyrine t_(1/2) (normal t_(1/2) = 8± 2 hours). Definitions were: persistent MOF (OFI ≥ 3 on day 3), resolved MOF(OFI ≥ 3 on day 1 or 2 but 20 hours (normal t_(1/2) ± 6SD) compared to < 20 hours (9of 20 vs 1 of 13, p<.05 Fisher's Exact). Antipyrine t_(1/2) correlated with the plasma IL-6 levels (day 2 r_ (s) =.43, day 3 r_ (s) =.5), nitrite+nitrate levels (day 2 r_ (s) =.4, day 3 r_ (s) =.48), and OFI (day 2 r_ (s) =.46, day 3 r_ (s) =.46) (p<.05). P450 function is decreased in sepsis-induced persistent MOF and is associated with inflammatory cytokines and nitric oxide. Our study supports rigorous monitoring of P450 metabolized drugs during sepsis and MOF. Future study is necessary to determine the impact of decreased P450 function in sepsis-induced MOF.
Patient‐Validated Content of Epilepsy‐Specific Quality‐of‐Life Measurement

Summary: Purpose: To study the effects of epilepsy from the patients’perspective and assist determination of content validity of health-related quality-of-life (HRQOL) measures. Methods: We asked 81 consecutive patients with moderately severe epilepsy to list in order of importance their concerns of living with recurrent seizures. To minimize investigator bias, patients completed the procedure in a private setting without staff involvement. Results: Twenty-four distinct domains were generated by the patients. Concerns about driving (64%), independence (54%), employment (51%), social embarrassment (36%), medication dependence (33%), mood/stress (32%), and safety (31%) each were listed by >30% of patients. Driving was listed as the most important concern by 28% of patients, followed by employment (21%), independence (9%), safety (6%), antiepileptic-drug side effects (5%), seizure unpredictability (5%), and seizure aversion (5%). Conclusions: The effect of epilepsy on HRQOL is not vague or obscure from the patients’perspective but is defined by a limited number of domains. Independence is an important concern that may not be evaluated adequately by currently available HRQOL instruments.
Security and efficiency of quantum cryptographic protocols

For concrete quantum key generation and quantum direct encryption protocols, we discuss the various problems in quantifying the security level and the efficiency associated with the steps of advantage creation, error correction, and privacy amplification.
Computerized planning of cryosurgery: from model reconstruction to cryoprobe placement strategies

As a part of an ongoing program to develop computerized tools for surgery, the current study focuses on the design of optimal cryoprobe layouts for prostate cryosurgery. Once a decision to treat the prostate with cryosurgery has been made, its application can be presented as a four-stage process: (i) 3D reconstruction of the target region; (ii) evaluation of the optimum number of cryoprobes and their layout; (iii) insertion of cryoprobes according to that plan; and, (iv) orchestrating cryoprobe operation to achieve the optimum match between the target region and the forming frozen region. Cryosurgical success equals the sum of the successes of each of the above stages. To date, this four-stage process is performed manually, relying upon the cryosurgeon's experience and "rules of thumb". This manuscript reviews recent efforts to develop the necessary building blocks for an integrated computerized surgical tool for prostate cryosurgery, which includes methods for prostate model reconstruction, schemes for bioheat transfer simulation, and optimization techniques for cryoprobe placement; experimental verification of these building blocks are also presented. The emphasis in this line of development is on performing a full-scale planning in less than one minute, while the patient is on the operation table. It can be concluded from the current manuscript that the above goals are achievable. The current manuscript concludes with a review of current challenges in the development of related computerized means.
Robust and resilient optimal controller design for a class of nonlinear system with general criteria

A general methodology is provided for the design of robust and resilient state feedback controllers for a large class of continuous-time uncertain nonlinear systems with sector type nonlinearities and driven by finite energy disturbances. This controller design is robust for all unknown nonlinearities in a given hypersphere and additive finite-energy disturbances in addition to being resilient against additive bounded control gain perturbations. Results are presented for various performance criteria in a unified framework using linear matrix inequalities in the formulation. In addition, discrete-time counterpart results are also given. Illustrative examples are included to demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed approach.
Is it more than just constipation

We report an infant presenting with constipation, whose history and physical examination initiated the investigation that led to the diagnosis of the Currarino triad in the proband and 2 other family members.
Measurements of streamer head potential and conductivity of streamer column in cold nonequilibrium atmospheric plasmas

This work presents a simple method for the characterization of streamers developing in cold atmospheric plasma jets. The method is based upon stopping (‘scattering’) of streamers by means of an external dc potential in order to determine the potential of the streamer head. The experimental evidence presented in this work does not support the model of the electrically insulated streamer head. In fact, it shows that the electrode potential is transferred to the streamer head along the streamer column to which it is attached with no significant voltage drop. Based on the proposed method, we determine various streamer parameters such as head charge ((1–2) × 108 electrons), electrical field in the head vicinity (about 100 kV cm−1), average conductivity (10−2 Ω−1 cm−1) and plasma density of the streamer column (2 × 1013 cm−3).
Ferromagnetism in the XY model with random threefold anisotropy

A Monte Carlo algorithm has been used to study the XY model with random threefold single-site anisotropy on simple cubic lattices, in the strong-anisotropy limit. The model has a pure XY-like ferromagnetic critical point at T c /J=2.190±0.005. The zero-field thermodynamic functions remain close to those of the simple XY model down to T≃2.00J. The ground state has an energy per spin of E 0 /J=-2.2305±0.0010 and a magnetization per spin of M 0 =0.720±0.003
3D FEL code for the simulation of a high-gain harmonic generation experiment

ABSTRACT Over the last few years, there has been a growing interest in self-amplified spontaneous emission (SASE)free-electron lasers (FELs) as a means for achieving a fourth-generation light source. In order to correctlyand easily simulate the many configurations that have been suggested, such as multi-segmented wigglersand the method of high-gain harmonic generation. we have developed a robust three-dimensional code. Thespecifics of the code, the comparison to the linear theory as well as future plans will be presented.Keywords : FEL, Free-Electron Laser, SASE, Self-Amplified Spontaneous Emission, MEDUSA,numerical simulation, APS SASE FEL, High-Gain Harmonic Generation 1. INTRODUCTION With the growing interest in free-electron laser (FEL) physics, particularly in the self-amplified spontaneous emission (SASE) regime for both a proof-of-principle experiment and an actual fourth-generation light source, many simulation codes have been developed.1 Among these, the FEL simulationcode MEDUSA has evolved to handle a variety of applications.2 Most recently we have included Gaussianand waterbag distributions with energy spread, multiple-segment wigglers (with the capability of usingdifferent wiggler periods, if desired), multiple frequencies (harmonics and bandwidth), additional beamdiagnostics. as well as quadrupole focusing and dipoles. Here we discuss MEDUSA's capabilities in detail,as well as the results from the simulation runs based on the APS SASE FEL's parameters3 compared to thelinear theory,4 the observation of nonlinear harmonic generation,5 and the plan to use MEDUSA in thesimulation of applications such as a high-gain harmonic generation experiment.6
Solid state memory in recce systems

Advanced manned and unmanned Recce Systems are using electro-optical (EO) sensors for real-time image acquisition and for imagery enhancement abilities while giving up some resolution. These sensors have eliminated film and use all solid state components. But have they really? They have pushed a media problem out of the sensor into the tape recorder. When ATARS requirements were written and during the period it was being developed, there seemed to be no alternative other than using tape recorders. But today, with the proliferation of telecommunication electronics, memory chip development has accelerated. Solid state video recorders for avionics applications have become a reality, as they are for space system applications. This move to EO sensors for real-time benefits has not yet reaped the benefit of computerized mission planning with its associated solid state data transfer capability. As previously reported, Recce Cycle shortening capability has existed for several years, but is still not fully implemented. As elsewhere, application of new technologies to our historic problems can produce low risk solutions for Recce Systems. Applications of solid state memory technology to Recce Systems are presented in this paper.© (1995) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
A Single-User Subaerial Beach Profiler

Abstract An accurate, single-user beach-elevation profile device that relies on lightweight, inexpensive materials is described. The device is used to rapidly survey beach topographic profiles and is appropriate for scientific data collection. The profiler consists of two vertical legs and two horizontal spacer bars in the shape of the pound (#) symbol with a freely rotating arm to determine the horizontal level. The light weight and ease of operation of the apparatus permit profiles to be surveyed in 1-m increments at roughly 2 m/min. Standard deviations of the profiler reading at specific points along a single profile varied between 0.003 and 0.014 m as recorded by four different users. Root-mean-square errors on data along five different cross-shore profiles collected at Rehoboth Beach, Delaware, by the four users were 0.01–0.13 m when compared to standard rod and sighting scope and ground-based light detecting and ranging. Several potential causes for the differences, including intrinsic profiler bias...
HMOs and the barriers to access for the pediatric population requiring emergency medical services

The main objectives of this study are to analyze the Massachusetts Health Maintenance Organizations (HMOs) in order to determine their standard definition of an emergency, the HMOs instructions for seeking emergency care, and distribution of such instructions for the pediatric population. A 15-question survey concerning pediatric emergency care policies and procedures was asked of each of the 20 HMOs contacted. Quarterly statements of each of the 20 HMOs were obtained from the Division of Insurance as well as the HMO's written materials distributed to the enrollees as member handbooks. Ninety percent of the HMOs had a definition of emergency care for the adult population, whereas 0% had a definition of emergency care specifically for the pediatric population. One hundred percent of the HMOs had instructions for emergency care, but 0% had specific provisions for pediatric emergency care. All 20 HMOs inform their enrollees about emergency policies through a member handbook. The results of this study reveal the lack of a standard definition of an emergency for HMOs. The current definitions of "urgent," "emergency," and "life-threatening emergency" care do not reflect the pediatric population, rather, these definitions are based on the adult population. The lack of specific pediatric guidelines could compromise the health of the children in HMOs.
Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) fiber reinforced polyetheretherketone (PEEK) composites

Abstract This work uses high tenacity expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) filaments as both a fiber reinforcement and a reservoir for solid lubricants. The goal is to reduce the wear of the composites by regulating the PTFE transfer. Expanded PTFE films are a porous network of PTFE nodes and fibrils, while highly oriented ePTFE filaments are aligned crystalline fibers that are regarded as high-tenacity fibers that can be woven into threads or yarns. Reported yield strength of these filaments can exceed 500 MPa. The best performing composites were those that had filaments of ePTFE aligned normal to the counterface. The wear rates obtained from the inclusion of expanded PTFE filaments were better than conventional powder filled PTFE–PEEK composites reaching values as low as K = 7 × 10−8 mm3/N m and showed stable friction coefficients below μ = 0.125 for over 2 million cycles.
Cost containment: Is it unjustly cutting therapeutic mental health services? The plight of neighborhood organizations

Abstract A national emphasis on cost containment has resulted in the reduction of a host of activities at settlement houses and community centers that were formerly funded by mental health agencies. It is contended that this is penny wise and pound foolish because the neighborhood organizations provide preventive and therapeutic services. A rationale is developed to support this contention with an eleven point chart showing settlement-mental health links, a discussion of the urban condition and population disturbances, a foundation of medical and social models that support the value of settlement house activities, a review of current community mental health concepts that echo the goals of neighborhood organizations and a discussion of the roles of settlements in mental health programs. It is concluded that strong evidence exists to support the continued funding of the preventive and therapeutic mental health activities of neighborhood organizations such as settlement houses and community centers.
ASSESSING THE QUALITY OF LEGACY APPLICATIONS WITH PERSISTENT DATA: ASSESSING THE BASELINE FOR SYSTEM MIGRATION

Consistent comparison of applications which store data, written in different languages and using varying types of Database Management Systems, requires an assessment that measures the system(s) in accordance with a well defined, repeatable set of criteria. This paper describes a tool and methodology (MARS) for identifying the lifecycle risks related to data within existing applications, and describes the taxonomy of data quality assumed during the development of the assessment methodology. An example question is shown, with the rationale and method for applying the question. The relationship of the data quality taxonomy is also described in terms of database focus areas, such as data integrity and data dictionary, that are of interest to those working operationally with databases.
Hepatitis C and autoimmune hepatitis: what gets treated first?

The coexistence of chronic hepatitis C (CHC) and autoimmune hepatitis (AIH) creates a clinical dilemma. Histologic features may suggest the predominance of one versus the other. Nevertheless, histologic differences are not absolute. Immunosuppressive therapy may be used as frontline treatment for patients with predominant histologic features of AIH. In the absence of clinical and biochemical improvement, interferon should not be withheld and a trial of antiviral therapy should be considered. Interferon can be frontline therapy for patients with the overlap syndrome, if histologic features of CHC predominate, a low titer of autoantibodies is present, and coexistent autoimmune diseases are absent. No matter what treatment is offered, close monitoring during the course of treatment is a necessity.
Granuloma annulare anterior uveitis.

Purpose: To present a case of bilateral granuloma annulare anterior uveitis. Design: Case report. Methods: Clinical case presentation and review of literature. Results: A 72-year-old woman with a history of granuloma annulare (GA) presented with acute bilateral granulomatous anterior uveitis. General physical exam revealed hypo- and hyper-pigmented punctate and annular skin lesions on both arms characteristic of GA. Infectious and autoimmune workup revealed a mildly elevated angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) level. Her uveitis resolved with topical prednisolone and homatropine. Conclusions: Granuloma annulare is a rare cause of anterior uveitis that is diagnosed by characteristic skin findings and may be associated with sarcoidosis.
Mechlorethamine-induced DNA-protein cross-linking in human fibrosarcoma (HT1080) cells.

Antitumor nitrogen mustards, such as bis(2-chloroethyl)methylamine (mechlorethamine), are useful chemotherapeutic agents with a long history of clinical application. The antitumor effects of nitrogen mustards are attributed to their ability to induce DNA–DNA and DNA–protein cross-links (DPCs) that block DNA replication. In the present work, a mass spectrometry-based methodology was employed to characterize in vivo DNA–protein cross-linking following treatment of human fibrosarcoma (HT1080) cells with cytotoxic concentrations of mechlorethamine. A combination of mass spectrometry-based proteomics and immunological detection was used to identify 38 nuclear proteins that were covalently cross-linked to chromosomal DNA following treatment with mechlorethamine. Isotope dilution HPLC–ESI+–MS/MS analysis of total proteolytic digests revealed a concentration-dependent formation of N-[2-(S-cysteinyl)ethyl]-N-[2-(guan-7-yl)ethyl]methylamine (Cys-N7G-EMA) conjugates, indicating that mechlorethamine cross-links cyste...
The spreading kinetics of Ag–28Cu(L) on nickel(S): Part I. Area of spread tests on nickel foil

Dynamic hot-stage microscopy and sessile drop experiments have identified three stages in the spreading of Ag–28 wt. % Cu liquid on the surface of high-purity Ni foil: (I) nonreactive flow, (II) secondary spreading, and (III) breakout flow. The first stage is deGennes-type spreading driven by capillary forces and resisted by viscous drag. A (Cu, Ni) reaction layer forms quickly at temperature along the liquid-solid interface. Stage I ends when the liquid braze attains a quasistatic contact angle on the reacted surface. Stage II spreading involves a complex advance of a thin liquid sheet outward from the triple line as a result of differences in wetting between Ni grain surfaces and grain boundaries. The advancing liquid meniscus is distorted as the liquid moves ahead along the better wetted grain boundary regions and is held back (pinned) on those surfaces that are poorly wet, resulting in a stick-slip motion of the triple line. The change in contact area with time is linear during this stage, and the rate of spreading is independent of temperature in the range of 780–870 °C. Although the diffusion of Cu into Ni grain boundaries likely drives the capillary flow, it is not the controlling process since an activation energy is not observed. The final stage of spreading, breakout flow, involves the flooding of the liquid braze over previously wetted surfaces due to a change in the balance of interfacial energies. Spreading ends during stage II or III either by isothermal solidification which stems from interdiffusion between the braze filler and the substrate or by curtailment of the liquid supply when it pulls back on the (Cu, Ni) reaction layer. Hold time, peak temperature, and heating rate all have an effect on both the terminal area of spread and the spreading kinetics of braze flow on polycrystalline Ni. The heating rate effect has not been emphasized in previously published literature for soldering and brazing and, if overlooked could easily impair one's ability to apply test results to other studies or practical situations. Roughness-enhanced spreading was not observed with the Ni foil surfaces used in this study. There was, however, a localized effect on the shape of the triple line that did not affect spreading kinetics or terminal area of spread in a systematic fashion.
Comparison of two finite element approaches for analysis of rotating bladed-disk assemblies

Abstract Two finite element approaches are implemented to account for the rotational non-linearities involved in dynamic analysis of rotating bladed-disk assemblies: the distributed mass (DM) and lumped mass (LM) approaches. The DM approach treats the structure as a continuum with mass points uniformly distributed in the structure, while the LM approach treats the structure as a collection of discrete concentrated mass points. These two approaches are used here exclusively for considering rotational effects in the dynamic analysis and should not be confused with the consistent and lumped mass approaches for representing the mass matrix. It has been found that the analysis results obtained using the DM and LM approaches are in close agreement for test problems studied. In addition, for transient analysis using explicit time integration, the LM approach has been found to be significantly more efficient than the DM approach.
A continuous-flow system for growing fresh-water sponges in the laboratory

Two fresh-water sponge species, Ephydatia fluviatilis and Spongilla alba, were grown from gemmules in the laboratory. A system incorporating a continuous flow of filtered habitat water and live bacteria from a chemostat culture as a food source were used. Experiments with this system demonstrated a relationship between the concentration of bacteria and sponge growth rate. Because the continuous flow of water eliminates the effects of substances released by sponges and growth rate can be predicted for a given bacterial concentration, this system permits experimental studies which were not feasible in the past.
Combined EDL-Mobility Planning for Planetary Missions

This paper presents an analysis framework for planetary missions that have coupled mobility and EDL (Entry-Descent-Landing) systems. Traditional systems engineering approaches to mobility missions such as MERs (Mars Exploration Rovers) and MSL (Mars Science Laboratory) independently study the EDL system and the mobility system, and does not perform explicit trade-off between them or risk minimization of the overall system. A major challenge is that EDL operation is inherently uncertain and its analysis results such as landing footprint are described using PDF (Probability Density Function). The proposed approach first builds a mobility cost-to-go map that encodes the driving cost of any point on the map to a science target location. The cost could include variety of metrics such as traverse distance, time, wheel rotation on soft soil, and closeness to hazards. It then convolves the mobility cost-to-go map with the landing PDF given by the EDL system, which provides a histogram of driving cost, which can be used to evaluate the overall risk of the mission. By capturing the coupling between EDL and mobility explicitly, this analysis framework enables quantitative tradeoff between EDL and mobility system performance, as well as the characterization of risks in a statistical way. The simulation results are presented with a realistic Mars terrain data
Strength prediction of microstructured optical fibers

The stresses in a microstructured optical fiber are determined in tension and in bending. A model for the failure process in porous structures with applications to weak microstructured optical fibers with large flaws is proposed. The model assumes that a continuous crack front splits on contact with a hole and then propagates such that the direction of the front in contact with the boundary of the hole is normal to it. Three-dimensional finite perturbation analysis of Bower and Ortiz1 is extended to model the interaction of cracks with a periodic array of holes. Crack propagation in the cross-section is examined using the modified finite perturbation method. Test cases are presented for the stress intensity factor distribution in elliptical cracks, and periodic perturbations in straight cracks. During crack front interaction, the front can split upon contact with the hole or an array of holes, and then travel around them.
Effects of septal lesions on lordosis in female hamsters.

Abstract The ovarian hormones, estradiol and progesterone, are believed to act at specific sites in the female brain to induce sexual receptivity. Septal lesions which have been comprehensively studied in the rat, were carried out on female hamsters. Lordosis behavior was quantified as an index of female sexual receptivity. Septal lesions were found to cause a significant increase in female sexual receptivity in hamsters primed with 3 or 9 μg estradiol benzoate (EB) and 200 μg progesterone (P), but low levels of lordosis were not enhanced in septal lesioned female hamsters primed with 1 μg EB + 200 μg P. The facilitation of lordosis seen in septal lesioned hamsters is similar to that observed in female rats. However, our results do not confirm increases in sensitivity to estradiol in the hamster.
Microwave amplifier based RF optical receivers

Simple architectures for narrowband optical receivers are discussed. The proposed receivers are based on high-impedance photodiodes, lossless distributed matching circuits and matched impedance microwave amplifiers. The gain and noise properties of an experimental C-band receiver are reported.
Slow Progress On Meeting Hospital Safety Standards: Learning From The Leapfrog Group’s Efforts

In response to the Institute of Medicine’s To Err Is Human report on the prevalence of medical errors, the Leapfrog Group, an organization that promotes hospital safety and quality, established a voluntary hospital survey assessing compliance with several safety standards. Using data from the period 2002–07, we conducted the first longitudinal assessment of how hospitals in specific cities and states initially selected by Leapfrog progressed on public reporting and adoption of standards requiring the use of computerized drug order entry and hospital intensivists. Overall, little progress was observed. Reporting rates were unchanged over the study period. Adoption of computerized drug order entry increased from 2.94 percent to 8.13 percent, and intensivist staffing increased from 14.74 percent to 21.40 percent. These findings should not be viewed as an indictment of Leapfrog but may reflect various challenges. For example, hospitals faced no serious threats to their market share if purchasers shifted busin...
Restricted Lateral Diffusion of Luteinizing Hormone Receptors in Membrane Microdomains

Single particle tracking was used to evaluate lateral motions of individual FLAG-tagged human luteinizing hormone (LH) receptors expressed on CHO cells and native LH receptors on both KGN human granulosa-derived tumor cells and M17 human neuroblastoma cells before and after exposure to human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG). Compared with LH receptors on untreated cells, LH receptors on cells treated with 100 nm hCG exhibit restricted lateral diffusion and are confined in small, nanometer-scale, membrane compartments. Similar to LH receptors labeled with Au-hCG, LH receptors labeled with gold-deglycosylated hCG, an hCG antagonist, also exhibit restricted lateral diffusion and are confined in nanoscale membrane compartments on KGN cells treated with 100 nm hCG. LH receptor point mutants lacking potential palmitoylation sites remain in large compartments despite treatment with 100 nm hCG as do LH receptors on cells treated with cytochalasin D. Finally, both polarization homotransfer fluorescence resonance energy transfer imaging and photon counting histogram analysis indicate that treatment with hCG induces aggregation of YFP-coupled LH receptors stably expressed on CHO cells. Taken together, our results demonstrate that binding of hCG induces aggregation of LH receptors within nanoscale, cell surface membrane compartments, that hCG binding also affects the lateral motions of antagonist binding LH receptors, and that receptor surface densities must be considered in evaluating the extent of hormone-dependent receptor aggregation.
Toxicity of Nitrite to Fish: A Review

Abstract Nitrite, an intermediate in the oxidation of ammonium to nitrate, changes hemoglobin to methemoglobin, which does not carry oxygen; nitrite may thus cause anoxia in fish and other aquatic organisms. The published literature on nitrite toxicity to fish, which consists of about 40 papers, shows that the ratio of the 24-h LC50 (concentration lethal to half of the test organisms in 24 h) to the 96-h LC50 has a median value of 2.0 and is fairly uniform across species; toxicity tests of differing duration can therefore be standardized to a common duration. In general, chronic effects are difficult to detect at concentrations below one-fifth of the 96-h LC50. Most fish concentrate nitrite in fresh water; chloride in the external environment offsets the toxicity of nitrite by competing with nitrite for uptake through the chloride cells of the gills. The strength of the chloride effect is greatest for the least-sensitive species and smallest for the most-sensitive species. The addition of 1 mg/L chloride ...
A mitochondrial phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase from rat brain.

Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase from the rat brain has been purified approximately 6000-fold. This purified enzyme was stable at −20 °C for several months. Phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase from the rat brain was found to be mitochondrial, in contrast to that in the rat liver where this enzyme was always present in the soluble form. Other properties of the brain phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase were largely similar to those of the liver enzyme. The larger Michaelis constant for phosphoenolpyruvate in the direction of CO2 fixation suggested that its function was more for the decarboxylation of oxaloacetate and formation of phosphoenolpyruvate. The possible implication of this reaction in both gluconeogenesis and coupling to substrate level phosphorylation of α-ketoglutarate were discussed.
Context-Sensitive Error Correction: Using Topic Models to Improve OCR

Modern optical, character recognition software relies on human interaction to correct mis recognized characters. Even though the software often reliably identifies low-confidence output, the simple language and vocabulary models employed are insufficient to automatically correct mistakes. This paper demonstrates that topic models, which automatically detect and represent an article's semantic context, reduces error by 7% over a global word distribution in a simulated OCR correction task. Detecting and leveraging context in this manner is an important step towards improving OCR.
Synthesis and Discovery of High Affinity Folate Receptor-Specific Glycinamide Ribonucleotide Formyltransferase Inhibitors With Antitumor Activity

6-Substituted classical pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidine antifolates with a three- to six-carbon bridge between the heterocycle and the benzoyl-l-glutamate (compounds 2−5, respectively) were synthesized starting from methyl 4-formylbenzoate and a Wittig reaction with the appropriate triphenylphosphonium bromide, followed by reduction and conversion to the α-bromomethylketones. Cyclocondensation of 2,4-diamino-4-oxopyrimidine with the α-bromoketones, coupling with diethyl-l-glutamate, and saponification afforded 2−5. Compounds 2−5 had negligible substrate activity for RFC but showed variably potent (nanomolar) and selective inhibitory activities toward Chinese hamster ovary cells that expressed FRα or FRβ and toward FRα-expressing KB and IGROV1 human tumor cells. Inhibition of KB cell colony formation was also observed. Glycinamide ribonucleotide formyl transferase (GARFTase) was identified as the primary intracellular target of the pyrrolo[2,3-d]pyrimidines. The combined properties of selective FR targeting, lack...
Norwegian pig farmers' motivations for improving animal welfare

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to explore Norwegian pig farmers' motivation for improving animal welfare, and to develop the rudiments of a more general understanding of farmers' animal welfare discourses related to motivation for improving animal welfare.Design/methodology/approach – The paper presents a discourse analysis of qualitative interviews with 60 Norwegian pig farmers. Supplementary sources are governmental policy documents, research reports and statistics.Findings – The pig farmers' motivation for improving animal welfare is a moral, economic and regulatory question. Their discourse on animal welfare must be interpreted in light of the specific contextual factors, such as public regulation and the market situation of agro‐foods in Norway, which contribute to shaping the farmers' practices.Research limitations/implications – An implication of the study of interest for policy makers is that many pig producers currently look upon animal welfare as a “competitive‐free” zone. This appreciat...
The implementation of REACH: initial perspectives from government, industry, and civil society.

AbstractThe European Union's 2006 Registration, Evaluation, Authorization, and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) legislation represents a new wave in regulating chemicals and has set far-reaching goals for protecting and enhancing public health, the environment, and markets. Despite substantial public debate during the development and passage of the REACH legislation, in interviews conducted from 2009–2010, respondents from government, industry, and civil society expressed general agreement on some key issues in the implementation of REACH, which are addressed in this study. At the same time, respondents expressed nuanced differences in how some of the outstanding implementation issues should be addressed. Industry respondents' main concern was their ability to comply with REACH; while government respondents reported wanting to ensure they can implement and enforce it; and civil society respondents wanted to ensure that REACH accomplishes its ambitious goals.
Fuzzy Classification of Genome Sequences Prior to Assembly Based on Similarity Measures

Nucleotide sequencing of genomic data is an important step towards building understanding of gene expression. Current limitations in sequencing limit the number of base pairs that can be processed to only several hundred at a time. Consequently, these sequenced substrings need to be assembled into the overall genome. However, the existence of insertions, deletions and substitutions can complicate the assembly of subsequences and confuse existing methods. What has been needed is an approach that deals with ambiguity in trying to match and assemble a genome from its sequenced subsequences. This research develops fuzzy similarity measures between subsequences that are then incorporated into an assembler based on fuzzy logic and fuzzy similarity measures. The research addresses the problem of extensive computation required by clustering data into meaningful groups. Preliminary evaluation of this approach in conjunction with K-Means clustering suggests that this approach is at least as good as standard approaches and in some cases better.
Electron-impact dissociation of ozone cations O 3 +

Absolute cross sections for electron-impact dissociation of O3+ ions yielding O+ and O2+ fragment ions have been measured using a crossed electron-ion beams method for energies from about 3 eV to 100 eV. While the O2+ channel dominates the dissociation cross section over the measured energy range, a strong enhancement is observed in the O+ channel at low energy.
The States in Changes of State

One of the main findings of this body of research is that there is no single direction of morphological derivation from causative to inchoative or inchoative to causative. Instead, words naming different kinds of events tend to show different directions of derivation (Croft 1990, Haspelmath 1993, Levin and Rappaport Hovav 1995). COS events that generally come about spontaneously, such as freezing events, for example, tend to be lexicalized as inchoatives, with the causative being derived, as shown for Swahili in (2).
Do cats need arachidonic acid in the diet for reproduction

A brief review of the status of arachidonic acid as an essential dietary nutrient for cats is presented. The reproductive performance of male and female cats given a purified diet containing only partially hydrogenated vegetable oil as the fat source from weaning was investigated. Male kittens did not require a supplemental source of arachidonate for normal body weight gain and successful reproduction. Female kittens given the same diet also appeared to grow normally, came into oestrus and conceived, but produced only a limited number of viable litters. Subsequent supplementation of these queens with arachidonic acid did not result in the birth of viable kittens. It is suggested that completion of a normal pregnancy by queens given a diet based on partially hydrogenated oil for protracted periods may require fatty acids in addition to arachidonate.
Development and Structure of the Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children

An overview of the key features of the K-ABC and a brief history of events leading up to its development are presented. The discussion covers administration and scoring, standardization, reliability, validity, and educational translation. Some of the early post-publication research is presented, and conclusions about the possible impact of the K-ABC are drawn.
Recovery of Polaritonic Stopband of Pressed Polycrystalline Calcium Fluoride Powder in Terahertz Frequency Region

By measuring and comparing the reflection spectra of single crystal and pressed polycrystalline powder of calcium fluoride (CaF2) in the terahertz range, we have demonstrated recovery of polaritonic stopband in the powder. By using a simplified model to fit our data, we have deduced the longitudinal-optical and transverse-optical phonon frequencies and damping parameter for the polariton resonance. While the two phonon frequencies for the powder sample differ from those deduced for the single-crystal sample by less than 2%, the value for the deduced damping parameter is significantly increased. Due to small sizes of CaF2 powder particles, we have attributed such a significant increase to damping of polaritonic waves at the particle surfaces.
Rethinking disease: Where do we go from here?

Is there a problem in epidemiology that requires a rethinking of the way we study disease? No one should be interested in rethinking uqthing unless it is necessary. I think we do have a problem. In fact, I would call it a crisis. There are three elements to this crisis. First, one of our major tasks in epidemiology is to identify risk factors for disease, and we have not done very well in this job. One example of this type of problem is the area of coronary heart disease, a disease that has been studied most aggressively since the 1950s. During these years of massive worldwide effort, a large number of seemingly important risk factors have been identified. The three that everyone agrees on are cigarette smoking, high blood pressure, and high serum cholesterol. Dozens of other risk factors also have been proposed, but not everyone agrees about them, such as obesity, physical inactivity, diabetes, blood lipid and clotting factors, stress, and various hormone factors. When UU of these risk factors are considered together, they explain about 40% of the coronary heart disease that occurs. (1) How is it possible that after 50 years of effort, all of the risk factors we know about, combined, account for less than half of the disease that occurs? Is it possible that we have somehow missed one or two crucial risk factors? This is of course possible, but the relative risk of these risk factors would have to be enormous to account for the other 60% of the coronary heart disease that occurs. It seems not very likely that we would have missed one or two risk factors of such enormous power and importance. And, it must be said, our record of success in the area of coronary heart disease is one of the very best; the results for other diseases is far less impressive. I do not mean to suggest by these remarks that the risk factors we have identified are unimportant. They are important, and they have been useful in the prevention of coronary heart disease, but, clearly, there are other very important issues involved that we do not yet understand.
Effects of prior experience on 4.5-month-old infants' object segregation

Adults bring to bear at least three types of object knowledge-configural, experiential, and physical knowledge-when segregating displays. Prior research suggests that young infants lack configural knowledge: they do not expect similar surfaces to belong to the same units and dissimilar surfaces to distinct units. The present research asked whether young infants could make use of another type of object knowledge, experiential knowledge, when organizing displays. In the first experiment, 4.5month-old infants were familiarized with a stationary display composed of a yellow cylinder lying next to a tall, blue box. In the test events, a gloved hand grasped the cylinder and pulled it a short distance to the side; the box either moved with the cylinder (move-together condition) or remained stationary (move-apart condition). The infants tended to look equally at the move-apart and the movetogether events, as though they were uncertain whether the cylinder and box constituted one or two units. Subsequent experiments examined whether infants would respond differently to the cylinderand-box display if they were briefly exposed to the box alone (Experiment 2), or to the cylinder alone (Experiments 3 and 4), prior to seeing the test events. The results indicated that the infants’ responses to the cylinder-and-box display were affected by these prior experiences: after seeing the box alone for 5 s, or the cylinder alone for 15 s, the infants looked reliably longer at the move-together than at the move-apart event, suggesting that they now viewed the cylinder and box as separate units and hence were surprised in the move-together event when they moved as one. In a final experiment (Experiment 5), infants were found to be able to use a prior experience with the box to parse the cylinder-and-box display even if this experience took place in a different setting (the infants’ homes) and as long as 24 hours before the infants were shown the test events in the laboratory. Together, the present findings provide strong evidence that 4.5-month-old infants, like adults, use their experiential knowledge when segregating displays.
Punishing Bodies, Securing the Nation: How Rule of Law Can Legitimate the Urbane Authoritarian State

Although authoritarian rule of law may seem an oxymoron, strategic reconfigurations of the “rule of law” can produce acceptance of law that observes procedure while erasing rights. By bringing into conjunction critical discourse theory and scholarship on the legal professions and political liberalism, this article shows how rulers can deploy rhetoric and legislation to produce derogations from the liberal content of rule of law while sustaining a state legitimacy built on claims to state realizations of rule of law. A close analysis of Singapore's Vandalism Act shows that silencing the critique of lawyers and constraining the power of judges has been crucial to a legitimation of the surveillance and criminalization of dissenters. The consolidation of state power effected via law and discourse might be seen as making the nation a notional panopticon—corporal punishment, even if conducted behind prison walls, becomes instructive public spectacle conveying the state's seeming omniscience and monopolistic command of law.
Incorporating prior knowledge into Q-learning for drug delivery individualization

Individualization of drug delivery in treatment of chronic ailments is a challenge to the physician. Variability of response across patient population requires tailoring the dosing strategies to individual's needs. We have previously demonstrated the potential of reinforcement learning methods to support the physician in the management of anemia. In this paper, we propose the incorporation of prior knowledge into the learning mechanism to further improve the outcomes of the treatment.