cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Experimental Study of Stiffness and Nonuniformity in the Vibroscopic Determination of Fiber Cross-Sectional Area

An experimental investigation has been made of the effect of stiffness and nonuniformity in filaments on the vibroscopic determination of linear density. For the samples studied (tungsten wire, wool fibers, nylon filaments) the effect of damping and of support motion was ordinarily negligible. The effect of stiffness in raising the natural frequencies follows theory, as does the effect of nonuniformity in changing the natural frequencies and in shifting the nodes. When appropriate corrections for these effects are made, the vibroscope provides an accurate method for determining linear density of filaments, the values found agreeing with direct weight deter minations within the precision of the weighing.
An experimental investigation of the effectiveness of complementary projection for reducing anxiety.

The present study was designed to determine whether complementary projection is effective to reduce anxiety. To test this, Ss in two experimental groups were threatened with electric shocks. Ss in one threat group then were encouraged to project malevolence onto E. Ss' subjective reports, pulse rates, and skin resistances indicated that the threat of shock significantly increased the anxiety levels of threat as compared to control Ss. Neither the subjective reports nor physiological measures revealed a differential decrease in anxiety in threat Ss as a function of whether Ss projected a justifiable cause for anxiety, i.e., malevolence, onto E. These results raise serious questions as to whether complementary projection serves an anxiety-reducing or defensive function.
A High-Power Low-Distortion GaAs HBT Power Amplifier with 3.3 V Supply for 5-6 GHz Broadband Wireless Applications

This paper describes a 5-6 GHz band GaAs HBT power amplifier operating at 3.3 V for broadband wireless applications. In conjunction with linearizing circuit techniques, wideband matching circuits including trap circuits for 2nd harmonics allow us to achieve the high linear output power and the low distortion together with low 2nd-harmonic spurious outputs. The fabricated power amplifier exhibited linear output power levels of 21 and 22 dBm at EVM values of 2.0 and 3.0%, respectively, measured with 54 Mbps 64-QAM-OFDM signals. The 2nd harmonic spurious outputs below ?35 dBc were also attained.
A Bench-Scale Aerosol Test Chamber

Abstract This paper describes the design and evaluation of a bench-scale aerosol test chamber. Although originally designed for respirator testing, the chamber has broad applications for industrial hygiene research, testing, and calibration. The 109 L chamber includes a top mixing section, a honeycomb flow laminator section, a 52 L transparent plastic aerosol test section, and a bottom exhaust plenum. Overall chamber dimensions are 0.6 × 0.6 × 1.5 m high. Airflow velocity was uniform within ± 20% of the mean throughout the test section. A uniform aerosol concentration was achieved in the test section by opposed jet mixing in the mixing section. Test aerosol concentrations in the chamber were uniform within ± 15%, and concentration was stable to within ± 5% for more than one hour. Measurements were made with a GCA Model RAM-1 instrument and based on perpendicular 8-point traverses. Similar uniformity (within ± 5%) was found for 12 μm and 24 μm monodisperse particles. Chamber pressure can be controlled from...
Analysis of relative rate measurements

Relative rate measurements using a reference compound with a well established rate constant are widely used for determining rate constants for gas-phase reactions. Linear least-squares regression is used to obtain the rate constant ratio, kA/kB, from the slope of plots of ln ([A]0/[A]t) vs. ln ([B]0/[B]t) where [A]0 and [B]0 are the initial concentrations of the reactant of interest, A, and of the reference compound, B, respectively, and the subscript “t” denotes the corresponding concentrations at time t. Linear least-squares analysis which does not take into account random errors in both [A] and [B] may lead to a small but systematic bias in the relative rate constant obtained from the slope of such plots. The magnitude of this bias was explored using Monte Carlo simulations. It is shown that although the bias is small for typical reaction conditions, of the order of a few percent, it can be of the same order of magnitude as the measured precision of most relative rate experiments. An algorithm for the analysis of such experiments which takes into account errors in both [A] and [B] and which avoids this systematic bias is discussed. © 1997 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
A direct radioimmunoassay for mouse casein

Abstract 1. 1. A direct radioimmunoassay for mouse casein has been developed. 2. 2. A new definition of casein based upon the protein's immunologie characteristics, rather than its physicochemical properties alone, has been established. 3. 3. Application of the assay was demonstrated on a monolayer culture of mammary epithelial cells derived from 16-day pregnant BALB/cfC3HCr1 mice.
A case of two primary gastric malignancies: adenocarcinoma and squamous cell carcinoma of the stomach

D Gastric cancer is the second leading cause of death from cancer worldwide. Despite this fact, there has been an overall decrease in the incidence of gastric cancer over the past few decades.1 Therefore, it is important to understand the different histological manifestations of the disease. The most common form of gastric cancer is adenocarcinoma. In contrast, squamous cell carcinoma of the stomach is rare and has been described in numerous case reports.2,3 In addition, cases of rimary gastric adenosquamous carcinoma also have been eported.4,5 We present a case of a woman with two gastric tumors in separate locations with different histological characteristics; one an adenocarcinoma, the other squamous cell carcinoma. To our knowledge there are no reported cases of two separate gastric primary tumors consisting of these two pathologic diagnoses.
Primary repair vs. colostomy for the treatment of penetrating colon injuries.

The charts of 81 consecutive patients with penetrating colonic trauma were reviewed. Sixty-five patients were considered for evaluation. Penetrating abdominal trauma index, associated injuries, length of operative procedure, wounding agent, length of hospital stay, method of treatment, and septic complications were evaluated. Twenty-eight patients were treated with colostomy at the site of injury: five with diverting colostomy proximal to repair, 30 with primary repair (either single or multiple injuries), and two with exteriorization and early drop back. Overall septic morbidity was 15 of 65 (23 percent) patients. No statistically significant difference was found in morbidity between colostomy, 9 of 33 (27 percent), and primary repair, 6 of 30 (20 percent). The two patients with exteriorized repairs had no morbidity. No deaths were reported among the 65 patients studied. Thirty-two of the 33 (97 percent) colostomies were later closed with morbidity in 7 of 32 (22 percent). The mean length of stay for primary repair patients was 10.3 +/- 2.8 days and for colostomy patients, 25.7 +/- 3.8 days, counting days for both initial and colostomy closure admissions (P less than .05). Colostomy was not mandated by anatomic location or number of colonic injuries, circumference of colonic wall involved, presence of fecal contamination, or involvement of mesenteric blood supply. This study indicates that primary repair does not carry an increased risk of septic complications and saves the patient the significant risk and increased hospital stay of colostomy closure. Prospective studies addressing this area are indicated.
SU‐E‐T‐394: Effects of Various Encapsulation Materials to the Dose Fall‐Off for Beta‐Emitting Brachytherapy Seed

Purpose: A beta‐emitting glass seed without encapsulation has been proposed for the brachytherapy treatment of prostate cancer. Beta sources have several desirable properties. Beta sources have short range and are easily shielded, lowering extraneous dose to the medical staff as well as the patient. Even though there are several advantages of using beta‐emitting glass seeds, the dose fall‐off is considerable. This study aims at evaluating the effects of dose fall‐off and bremsstrahlung using encapsulation. Methods: MCNPX2.6 Monte Carlo transport code was used to calculate the quantitative dosimetric parameters of the seeds. The radioisotope used for seed was 142Pr. The 142Pr decays by beta emission with a 2.162 MeV endpoint energy is followed by emission of a 1.575 MeV gamma‐ray with 3.7% abundance. The gamma dose was not included in this research except the contributions of bremsstrahlung because the encapsulation does not attenuate the 1.5 MeV gamma much. Various encapsulation materials were investigated including silver,titanium, and tungsten. A simulation model of glass seed with encapsulation was developed within MCNPX2.6. Dosimetry data in water were calculated in radial distances from the glass seed from 0.1 cm to 1.0 cm by using the mesh tally feature in MCNPX2.6. Results: The relative dose of titanium and tungsten to water at 0.2 cm were 84.5 % and 21.9 % while the relative dose at 0.6 cm was 60.4% and 12.4% respectively. Considering the reduction of dose at the target point (0.6 cm), it was found that titanium is the most appropriate material. The contribution of bremsstrahlung was insignificant. Conclusions: The effects of source encapsulation on dose fall‐off were studied. The encapsulation has effectively made the dose profiles uniform. The bremsstrahlung effect was insignificant. From this study, the dosimetric parameters would be derived for clinical use.
Query and Visualization of extremely large network datasets over the web using Quadtree based KML Regional Network Links

Geographic data sets are often very large in size. Interactive visualization of such data at all scales is not easy because of the limited resolution of the monitors and inability of visualization applications to handle the volume of data. This is especially true for large vector datasets. The end user's experience is frequently unsatisfactory when exploring such data over the web using a naive application. Network bandwidth is another contributing factor to the low performance. In this paper, a Quadtree based technique to visualize extremely large spatial network datasets over the web is described. It involves using custom developed methods leveraging a PostGIS database as the data source and Google Earth as the visualization client. The methodology supports both point and range queries along with non-spatial queries. It is demonstrated on a network dataset consisting of several million links. The implementation of the methodology is based on using some of the powerful features of KML (Keyhole Markup Language). Keyhole Markup Language (KML) is an Open Geospatial Consortium (OGC) standard for displaying geospatial data on Earth browsers. One of the features of KML is the notion of Network Links. Using network links, a wide range of geospatial data sources such as geodatabases, static files and geospatial data services can be simultaneously accessed and visualized seamlessly. Using the network links combined with Level of Detail principle, view based rendering and intelligent server and client-side caching, scalability in visualizing extremely large spatial datasets can be achieved.
Direct determination of the adiabatic ionization potential of NO2 by multiresonant optical absorption

Abstract The adiabatic ionization threshold of NO 2 is observed by direct optical excitation in a three-color, triply resonant, three-photon transition from vibrationless levels of the bent ground state through the vibrational ground state of the linear Rydberg state to the ground state of the ion. The overall energy for this process for rotationless molecules is estimated to be 77320 ± 20 cm −1 . The bent-to-linear two-photon transition to the Rydberg state is facilitated by a first-photon resonance with levels of NO 2 's mixed low-lying excited states. At higher energies, following intermediate selection of vibrationally excited 3pσ Rydberg states, transitions to series of high Rydberg states are observed uniformly converging to respective vertical ionization potentials. These transitions are marked by sharp bands below and in some cases above the adiabatic ionization threshold. Intensities suggest efficient autoionization.
Power, privilege, and the public: The dynamics of community‐university collaboration

The dynamics of institutional power need to be addressed through structural practices that support prospects for authentic, democratic partnerships.
Coordinate regulation of small temporal RNAs at the onset of Drosophila metamorphosis

The lin-4 and let-7 small temporal RNAs play a central role in controlling the timing of Caenorhabditis elegans cell fate decisions. let-7 has been conserved through evolution, and its expression correlates with adult development in bilateral animals, including Drosophila [Nature 408 (2000), 86]. The best match for lin-4 in Drosophila, miR-125, is also expressed during pupal and adult stages of Drosophila development [Curr. Biol. 12 (2002), 735]. Here, we ask whether the steroid hormone ecdysone induces let-7 or miR-125 expression at the onset of metamorphosis, attempting to link a known temporal regulator in Drosophila with the heterochronic pathway defined in C. elegans. We find that let-7 and miR-125 are coordinately expressed in late larvae and prepupae, in synchrony with the high titer ecdysone pulses that initiate metamorphosis. Unexpectedly, however, their expression is neither dependent on the EcR ecdysone receptor nor inducible by ecdysone in cultured larval organs. Although let-7 and miR-125 can be induced by ecdysone in Kc tissue culture cells, their expression is significantly delayed relative to that seen in the animal. let-7 and miR-125 are encoded adjacent to one another in the genome, and their induction correlates with the transient appearance of an ∼500-nt RNA transcribed from this region, providing a mechanism to explain their precise coordinate regulation. We conclude that a common precursor RNA containing both let-7 and miR-125 is induced independently of ecdysone in Drosophila, raising the possibility of a temporal signal that is distinct from the well-characterized ecdysone–EcR pathway.
Direct fabrication of physical relief structures via patterned photodeposition of a titanium alkoxide solution

Ultraviolet (λ=248 nm) excitation of a photosensitive Ti alkoxide solution was found to generate a metal-oxide-based insoluble film on substrates in contact with the solution during illumination. Patterned deposition of 100 μm wide lines of material was demonstrated using a slit-shaped aluminum shadow mask during exposure. Stylus profilometry confirmed that the average thickness of the photodeposited film monotonically varied with accumulated UV fluence, exhibiting thicknesses of 10 to 310 nm for fluences of 12 and 192 J/cm2, respectively. Moreover, the surface profile of the film surface at fluences greater than 12 J/cm2 was found to reproduce the near-field Fresnel diffraction pattern anticipated from the slit mask used.
Monosodium Glutamate induces Convulsive Disorders in Rats

THE physiological and pharmacological effects of L-glutamate have received much attention since its implication in the aetiology of the “Chinese restaurant syndrome”1–3. Although an excess of L-glutamic acid (GA) as the monosodium salt (MSG) was known to cause retinopathy in experimental animals4–7, brain lesions have been noticed only recently8–10. There seems to be no agreement about its pharmacological and neurophysiological effects in humans11 and experimental animals12.
Preparation of thin arsenic and radioarsenic targets for neutron capture studies.

A simple method for the electrodeposition of elemental arsenic (As) on a metal backing from aqueous solutions has been developed. The method was successfully applied to stable As (75As). Thin (2.5 mg cm−2) coherent, smooth layers of the metalloid on Ti foils (2.5 μm thickness) were obtained. Electrodeposits served as targets for 75As(n,γ) 76As neutron capture experiments at Los Alamos Neutron Science Center (LANSCE). Respective 73As(n,γ) 74As experiments are planned for the near future, and 73As targets will be prepared in a similar fashion utilizing the new electrodeposition method. The preparation of an 73As (half-life 80.3 days) plating bath solution from proton irradiated germanium has been demonstrated. Germanium target irradiation was performed at the Los Alamos Isotope Production Facility (IPF).
Leishmania donovani and L. mexicana: Production of the excretion factor

Abstract 1. 1. The excretion factor (EF) of two species of Leishmania , L. donovani and L. mexicana , was characterized, particularly as produced at mammalian body temperatures and as influenced by glucose and antileishmanial drugs. 2. 2. Excreted materials, including EF, in both species consist of at least four classes of compounds: (a) a high molecular weight protein which is TCA precipitable, (b) a low moleclar weight protein which is not TCA precipitable, (c) free amino acids and (d) a low molecular weight RNA, tightly bound to protein, with an approximate 4–8 S size ( L. mexicana ). 3. 3. The relative quantities of these components varies between species and in the presence or absence of glucose, within a single species. 4. 4. Inhibition of EF secretion is accomplished by incubation of promastigotes antileishmanial drug, stibophen.
Recent advances in sample introduction for supercritical fluid chromatography

New strategies for sample introduction in supercritical fluid chromatography are reviewed. Both open tubular and packed column systems are examined as the injection demands of each column type are addressed. In addition to advances made in solvent injection methods, supercritical fluid extraction (SFE) is discussed as a solventless injection technique for supercritical fluid chromatography.
Engineering Studies on Joint Bar Integrity: Part II — Finite Element Analyses

This paper is the second in a two-part series describing research sponsored by the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) to study the structural integrity of joint bars. In Part I, observations from field surveys of joint bar inspections conducted on revenue service track were presented. In this paper, finite element analyses are described to examine the structural performance of rail joints under various loading and tie-ballast support conditions. The primary purpose of these analyses is to help interpret and understand the observations from the field surveys. Moreover, the finite element analyses described in this paper are applied to conduct comparative studies and to assess the relative effect of various factors on the structural response of jointed rail to applied loads. Such factors include: discrete tie support (i.e. supported joint versus suspended joint with varying spans between effective ties), bolt pattern (four versus six bolts), initial bolt tension, and easement. In addition, results are shown for 90 lb rail joined with long-toe angle bars compared to 136 lb rail joined with standard short-toe joint bars.
Shin bet's blind side

(1997). Shin bet's blind side. International Journal of Intelligence and CounterIntelligence: Vol. 10, No. 1, pp. 91-96.
Interface Between Regulatory Agencies And Users Of X-Ray Equipment

It's been some 80 years since Professor Roentgen admitted his ignorance by referringto his discovery of the "X" ray. Although countless electrons have struck their anodes inthe ensuing decades, we still honor that admission. Societies, associations, clubs, journals,and individuals may try their best to refer to Roentgen rays, but daily jargon, as well aslegal codes, refer to diagnostic and therapeutic x -rays.I refuse to believe that the profession of radiology, and its associated professionsof radiation physics and radiologic technology remain ignorant of the causes and effectsof roentgen rays. But it's easy to accept the premise that a lot of people within thoseprofessions, as well as people serving them, are willing to agree that the "X" now symbolizesconfusion over the deluge of codes, rules, regulations, and standards.Picture yourself as a businessman who one day opens his mail to find a bid request froma hospital. It takes a few paragraphs to delineate the MA and kVp ratings, and the tableperformance specifications for some x -ray apparatus. Then it adds this statement, "Theequipment must comply with HEW, State regulations, OSHA standards, NFPA, NEC, AAMI, andU.L." Would you respond with a bid?If so, you have now become the interface between the user and regulatory agencies.And some quasi- agencies. Furthermore, there is valid reason to suspect that you're nuts,and even if the head -shrinkers don't get you, the producers of Maalox have new business
Pesticide perturbation of sperm cell function.

Action de 3 categories de pesticides (1 organophosphore, 3 organochlores, 3 organometaliques) sur la motilite des spermatozoides receuillis chez l'oursin de mer Arbacia punctulata
A role for iron in an ancient carbonic anhydrase.

Since 1933, carbonic anhydrase research has focused on enzymes from mammals (α class) and plants (β class); however, two additional classes (γ and δ) were discovered recently. Cam, from the procaryote Methanosarcina thermophila, is the prototype of the γ class and the first carbonic anhydrase to be characterized from either an anaerobic organism or the Archaea domain. All of the enzymes characterized from the four classes have been purified aerobically and are reported to contain a catalytic zinc. Herein, we report the anaerobic reconstitution of apo-Cam with Fe2+, which yielded Cam with an effective kcat that exceeded that for the Zn2+-reconstituted enzyme. Mossbauer spectroscopy showed that the Fe2+-reconstituted enzyme contained high spin Fe2+ that, when oxidized to Fe3+, inactivated the enzyme. Reconstitution with Fe3+ was unsuccessful. Reconstitution with Cu2+, Mn2+, Ni2+, or Cd2+ yielded enzymes with effective kcat values that were 10% or less than the value for the Zn2+-reconstituted Cam. Cam produced in Escherichia coli and purified anaerobically contained iron with effective kcat and kcat/Km values exceeding the values for Zn2+-reconstituted Cam. The results identify a previously unrecognized biological function for iron.
Identification of an autonomous transactivation domain in helix H3 of the vitamin D receptor.

The vitamin D receptor (VDR) contains an α-helical, ligand-inducible activation function (AF-2) at the COOH-terminus of the ligand-binding domain (LBD). In this study, a second distinct activation domain was identified in the VDR LBD. Using a yeast-based system to screen a random mutant library of GAL4-VDR (93–427), a mutant GAL4-VDR fusion protein with constitutive transcriptional activity was isolated. Sequence analysis identified a C to T transition that introduced a stop codon at glutamine 239 eliminating a large portion of the LBD, including the AF-2 domain. The GAL4-VDR (93–238) mutant exhibited ligand-independent transactivation activity both in yeast and in mammalian cells. Deletion analysis defined a minimal activation domain within helix H3 between D195 and I 238 in the VDR. An aspartic acid residue (D232) within helix H3 was essential for the autonomous transactivation activity since altering this residue to an alanine or an asparagine dramatically reduced its transactivation potential. Expression of the minimal helix H3 activation domain interfered with ligand-activated transcription by full-length VDR suggesting that helix H3 interacts with limiting cellular factors important for VDR-activated transcription. Consequently, we have identified a novel activation domain in helix H3 of the VDR that apparently plays an important role in 1,25-(OH)2D3-activated transcription. J. Cell. Biochem. 75:82–92, 1999. © 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Comparative analysis of RNA-Seq alignment algorithms and the RNA-Seq unified mapper (RUM)

Motivation: A critical task in high-throughput sequencing is aligning millions of short reads to a reference genome. Alignment is especially complicated for RNA sequencing (RNA-Seq) because of RNA splicing. A number of RNA-Seq algorithms are available, and claim to align reads with high accuracy and efficiency while detecting splice junctions. RNA-Seq data are discrete in nature; therefore, with reasonable gene models and comparative metrics RNA-Seq data can be simulated to sufficient accuracy to enable meaningful benchmarking of alignment algorithms. The exercise to rigorously compare all viable published RNA-Seq algorithms has not been performed previously. Results: We developed an RNA-Seq simulator that models the main impediments to RNA alignment, including alternative splicing, insertions, deletions, substitutions, sequencing errors and intron signal. We used this simulator to measure the accuracy and robustness of available algorithms at the base and junction levels. Additionally, we used reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction (RT–PCR) and Sanger sequencing to validate the ability of the algorithms to detect novel transcript features such as novel exons and alternative splicing in RNA-Seq data from mouse retina. A pipeline based on BLAT was developed to explore the performance of established tools for this problem, and to compare it to the recently developed methods. This pipeline, the RNA-Seq Unified Mapper (RUM), performs comparably to the best current aligners and provides an advantageous combination of accuracy, speed and usability. Availability: The RUM pipeline is distributed via the Amazon Cloud and for computing clusters using the Sun Grid Engine ( http://cbil.upenn.edu/RUM). Contact:ggrant@pcbi.upenn.edu; epierce@mail.med.upenn.edu Supplementary Information:The RNA-Seq sequence reads described in the article are deposited at GEO, accession GSE26248.
Comparisons of high versus low emergency department utilizers in sickle cell disease.

Study objective Patients with sickle cell disease often receive a substantial amount of their health care in the emergency department (ED) and some come to the ED frequently, seeking treatment for pain. As a result, patients with sickle cell disease are often stigmatized as opioid-seeking ED overutilizers. We describe the proportion of sickle cell disease patients who are high utilizers of the ED and compare them with other sickle cell disease patients on demographics, pain characteristics, health data, psychosocial characteristics, and quality of life. Methods Two hundred thirty-two patients completed baseline data and at least 30 days of daily diary data. Baseline data included demographics, health data, and quality of life (Medical Outcome Study 36 Item Short Form). Daily diary data included ED utilization for sickle cell pain and descriptors of pain and distress. Results Eighty-two (35.5%) patients were found to be high ED utilizers. Clinically important and statistically significant differences were found between high ED utilizers and all other sickle cell disease patients: lower hematocrit level, more transfusions, more pain days, more pain crises, higher mean pain and distress, and worse quality of life on Medical Outcome Study 36 Item Short Form physical function summary scales. After controlling for severity and frequency of pain, high ED utilizers did not use opioids more frequently than other sickle cell disease patients. Conclusion A substantial minority of sickle cell disease patients are high ED utilizers. However, high ED utilizers with sickle cell disease are more severely ill as measured by laboratory variables, have more pain, more distress, and have a lower quality of life.
The role of phytochrome C in gravitropism and phototropism in Arabidopsis thaliana

The phytochrome (phy) photoreceptors, which consist of a small gene family PHYA-E in dicot plants, play important roles in regulating many light-induced responses in plants. Although the best characterised phytochromes are phytochrome A (phyA) and phytochrome (phyB), the functions of phyD and phyE have been increasingly studied. Phytochrome C (phy C) has been the most poorly understood member of the photoreceptor family, since isolation of phyC mutants only has been accomplished within the last few years. Recent reports show that phyC functions in hypocotyl elongation, rosette leaf morphology, and timing of flowering. In the present study, we show that phyC plays a role in tropisms in seedlings and inflorescence stems of light-grown Arabidopsis thaliana (L.) Heynh. (Wassilewskija ecotype). Phytochrome C has a positive effect on gravitropism in hypocotyls and stems, but it has a limited role in root gravitropism. In contrast, phyC attenuates the positive phototropic response to blue light in hypocotyls and the red-light-based positive phototropism in roots. Phytochrome D (phy D) also mediates gravitropism in hypocotyls and inflorescence stems and attenuates positive phototropism in response to blue in hypocotyls and stems. Thus, phyC can be added to the list of the other four phytochromes, which play various roles in both gravitropism and phototropism in plant organs. This report also supports the growing body of evidence demonstrating cross talk between phytochromes and blue-light photoreceptors.
Response of Drosophila to Wasabi Is Mediated by painless, the Fly Homolog of Mammalian TRPA1/ANKTM1

Summary A number of repellent compounds produced by plants elicit a spicy or pungent sensation in mammals [1–16]. In several cases, this has been found to occur through activation of ion channels in the transient receptor potential (TRP) family [1–7]. We report that isothiocyanate (ITC), the pungent ingredient of wasabi, is a repellent to the insect Drosophila melanogaster , and that the painless gene, previously known to be required for larval nociception, is required for this avoidance behavior. A painless reporter gene is expressed in gustatory receptor neurons of the labial palpus, tarsus, and wing anterior margin, but not in olfactory receptor neurons, suggesting a gustatory role. Indeed, painless expression overlaps with a variety of gustatory-receptor gene reporters. Some, such as Gr66a, are known to be expressed in neurons that mediate gustatory repulsion [8–10]. painless mutants are not taste blind; they show normal aversive gustatory behavior with salt and quinine and attractive responses to sugars and capsaicin. The painless gene is an evolutionary homolog of the mammalian "wasabi receptor" TRPA1/ANKTM1 [6], also thought to be involved in nociception. Our results suggest that the stinging sensation of isothiocyanate is caused by activation of an evolutionarily conserved molecular pathway that is also used for nociception.
LAKE, STREAM, AND BEDROCK IN SOUTHCENTRAL MICHIGAN∗

About eighty percent of all larger lakes and more than sixty percent of second- and third-order streams in the drift plains of southcentral Michigan overlie preglacial bedrock valleys. The longest axes of linear lakes generally follow the trend of the underlying buried bedrock valleys; linear assemblages of lakes always overlie such features in the subsurface. Even in areas where lakes are largely absent, streams are partially adjusted to an angular drainage pattern associated with the buried bedrock surface. Segments of the surface drainage system cut across topographic trends and join at high angles.
Implicit diagnosticity in an information‐buying task. How do we use the information that we bring with us to a problem?

Past research suggests that people may make use of diagnosticity information when explicit data regarding P(D | H) and P(D | ˜ H) are given to them. However, people fall victim to pseudodiagnosticity biases and ignore P(D | ˜ H) when such data must be actively sought. This series of four experiments utilized judgment problems in which subjects have knowledge of P(D | ˜ H) but must recognize the relevance of that knowledge for the judgment at hand. It was hypothesized that subjects who genuinely understood the role of P(D | ˜ H) in hypothesis testing would respond to this manipulation of implicit diagnosticity by exhibiting greater confidence and lesser information buying when given evidence of relatively high diagnosticity. In the first three studies, subjects attempted to judge the guilt or innocence of suspects in several fictional crimes. In the fourth experiment, subjects attempted to judge the club membership status of students at their own university. Greater amounts of information were bought when the only available information was of low diagnosticity. Subjects also expressed greater confidence in judgments made using highly diagnostic information. However, within the legal scenario, sensitivity to diagnosticity was dependent upon the implication of the cues received. Results are discussed with respect to Bayesian probability, expected value theory, and a confidence criterion model of information purchasing.
Imperfectly optimal animals

Summary. We consider models of behavior that apply to two different problems: when a predator should leave a foraging site and how a female should choose the best available male. In each case we derive rules for an optimal solution to the problem. We also derive models based on very simple, plausible rules of behavior that we suspect animals may actually use. Although the expected payoffs from optimality models always exceed the expected payoffs from our simpler behavioral models, under certain conditions the difference is not large. When good foraging sites last but a short time and when females' mobility in their habitat is limited, the results of simple models and optimal models are very close indeed. Because of the difficulty of distinguishing between the results of each type of model and because natural selection will presumably provide a best mix of solutions to a range of problems rather than a best solution to any one problem, we suggest that behavioral ecologists expend more effort on simple, plausible models of animal behavior. Such models provide ready-made testable hypotheses about the animal's approximation to optimality and about the actual mechanisms of behavior.
Concurrent validity of the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test-Third Edition as an intelligence and achievement screener for low SES African American children.

Authors tested the validity of the Peabody Picture Vocabulary Test-Third Edition (PPVT-III) as a screening measure for intelligence and achievement. The PPVT-III and Kaufman Assessment Battery for Children (KABC) were administered to 416 African American children of low socioeconomic status in a counterbalanced design. Results indicated that the PPVT-III correlated .58 with the KABC Mental Processing Composite (MPC) score; however, participants scored significantly lower (M = 8.3 points) on the PPVT-III than on the MPC. Although receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses supported the use of the PPVT-III as a valid intellectual and achievement screener, the selection of a single cutoff score for the PPVT-III was problematic. The purpose of the screening program should guide selection of a cutoff score for the PPVT-III.
Pulmonary Endothelial Permeability in Patients With Severe Lung Injury: Clinical Correlates and Natural History

Study objective: To establish the natural history of lung injury in adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) in terms of increased pulmonary vascular permeability. Secondly, to relate such changes to the number of neutrophils in bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) and a clinical score of the severity of lung injury. Design: Prospective, open. Setting: Adult intensive care unit of a tertiary (national) referral hospital. Patients: Fourteen patients meeting accepted diagnostic criteria for ARDS. Interventions: Mechanical ventilatory support. Conventional intensive care and support for other failed organ systems as appropriate. Measurements and results: Pulmonary vascular permeability was estimated using a dual isotope technique (protein accumulation index [PAI]), neutrophil numbers by BAL and the severity of ARDS by the lung injury score (LIS). The PAI and LIS were measured simultaneously on three occasions as far apart as possible during the course of the illness. A single BAL was performed immediately after one of the three PAI/LIS measurements, the precise timing being dictated by the clinical stability of each patient. Fourteen patients (8 male; age range, 19 to 69 years) were studied, 1.40 ± 0.16, 11.36 ± 1.79, and 20.90 ± 2.30 days after the onset of ARDS (mean ± SEM). Six patients died. The PAI (normal range, 0 to 1.0×10 –3 ) was 2.81 ± 0.39, 2.94 ± 0.48, and 2.80 ± 0.87; and LIS (severe injury ≥2.5) was 2.18 ± 0.25, 2.48 ± 0.14, and 2.06 ± 0.27, respectively. The BAL neutrophil content was 54.09 ± 8.89. There were significant positive correlations between PAI and LIS (r=0.73, p Conclusions: These data suggest that increased pulmonary vascular permeability persists throughout the course of ARDS and is related to a clinical score of injury severity and BAL neutrophil content.
Minimax design of vibration absorbers for linear damped systems

This paper addresses the issue of design of a passive vibration absorber in the presence of uncertainties in the forcing frequency. A minimax problem is formulated to determine the parameters of a vibration absorber which minimize the maximum motion of the primary mass over the domain of the forcing frequency. The limiting solutions corresponding to the forcing frequency being unrestricted and to that where the forcing frequency is known exactly, are shown to match those available in the literature. The transition of the optimal vibration absorber parameters between the extreme two cases is presented and the solutions are generalized by permitting the mass ratio of the absorber mass and the primary mass to be design parameters. For the specific case where the primary system is undamped, detailed analysis is presented to determine the transition of the optimal vibration absorber parameters between three distinct domains of solutions.
CUBAN LANDSCAPES: Heritage, Memory, and Place. By Joseph L. Scarpaci and Armando H. Portela.

(2011). Cuban Landscapes: Heritage, Memory, and Place. By Joseph L. Scarpaci and Armando H. Portela. Geographical Review: Vol. 101, No. 2, pp. 290-292.
Statistical approach to the spectrum engineering practices

We describe the merits of a software tool based upon the statistical Monte Carlo technique which is capable of analysing complex radio system compatibility issues. The tool can be used to help spectrum engineers make the most efficient use of the limited radio frequencies available. It is able to help identify candidate frequency bands for radio systems; determine the appropriate size of guard bands; derive transmitter emission masks needed to protect adjacent services; specify receiver susceptibility to preserve system performance in a given radio environment; identify band sharing issues between different services and technologies and provide smooth band re-farming strategies. A description of the tool is provided as well as an explanation of its applicability. In addition there are a number of examples illustrating the usefulness of the tool.
The many faces of Cockayne syndrome

The challenges intrinsic to the maintenance of genetic information are revealed when one surveys the growing list of human disorders caused by defects in the repair of damage to DNA. Although these diseases are extremely rare, their effects are often devastating for patients and their families. One such rare autosomal disease, Cockayne syndrome (CS), can be caused by mutations in two genes, CKN1 and ERCC6 , located on chromosomes 5 and 10, respectively. There are two complementation groups of CS: CS-A patients have mutations in CKN1 , whereas CS-B is caused by mutations in ERCC6 (also known as CSB ). In this issue of PNAS, Horibata et al . (1) describe a mutation in the ERCC6/CSB gene that gives rise to a different sun-sensitive, DNA-repair-deficient disease, UV-sensitive syndrome (UVsS). UV-sensitive syndrome comprises at least two complementation groups. Repair of photoproducts and many other “bulky” DNA lesions is carried out by the nucleotide excision repair (NER) pathway (2). NER of certain lesions has two operational modes: a general mechanism that operates throughout the genome, termed global genomic NER (GG-NER), and a distinct mode, transcription-coupled NER (TC-NER), which requires a subset of NER proteins plus additional factors and is targeted to transcriptionally active regions of the genome. Another pathway, base excision repair, operates on damage to bases induced by reactive oxygen species, ionizing radiation, and most alkylating agents. Xeroderma pigmentosum (XP) is the most prevalent human DNA repair deficient syndrome, with nearly 1,000 patients worldwide. There are seven complementation groups of XP with deficiencies in NER, named XP-A through XP-G; patients in the eighth group, XP variant, have normal NER but are deficient in translesion synthesis of DNA containing certain lesions. XP is characterized by sun sensitivity, abnormal skin pigmentation, a 1,000-fold increase in cancer in sun-exposed tissues, and progressive neurological …
Localization of Type I Inositol 1,4,5-Triphosphate Receptor in the Outer Segments of Mammalian Cones

Calcium enters the outer segment of a vertebrate photoreceptor through a cGMP-gated channel and is extruded via a Na/Ca, K exchanger. We have identified another element in mammalian cones that might help to control cytoplasmic calcium. Reverse transcription-PCR performed on isolated photoreceptors identified mRNA for the SII− splice variant of the type I receptor for inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate (IP3), and Western blots showed that the protein also is expressed in outer segments. Immunocytochemistry showed type I IP3 receptor to be abundant in red-sensitive and green-sensitive cones of the trichromatic monkey retina, but it was negative or weakly expressed in blue-sensitive cones and rods. Similarly, the green-sensitive cones expressed the receptor in dichromatic retina (cat, rabbit, and rat), but the blue-sensitive cones did not. Immunostain was localized to disk and plasma membranes on the cytoplasmic face. To restore sensitivity after a light flash, cytoplasmic cGMP must rise to its basal level, and this requires cytoplasmic calcium to fall. Cessation of calcium release via the IP3 receptor might accelerate this fall and thus explain why the cone recovers much faster than the rod. Furthermore, because its own activity of the IP3 receptor depends partly on cytoplasmic calcium, the receptor might control the set point of cytoplasmic calcium and thus affect cone sensitivity.
A Systematic Review of Ulnar Collateral Ligament Reconstruction Techniques

Background:Ulnar collateral ligament (UCL) reconstruction of the elbow has become increasingly more frequent among elite overhead athletes. The purpose of this study was to conduct a systematic review comparing the clinical outcomes and biomechanical results of the Jobe, modified Jobe, docking, modified docking, Endobutton, and interference screw techniques for UCL reconstruction.Hypothesis:The docking technique will have significantly fewer complications and improved return-to-play rate.Study Design:Systematic review; Level of evidence, 4.Methods:Using the Medline PubMed, Cochrane, and EMBASE databases, a search was performed of all published articles, including randomized controlled trials, cohort studies, and case series, examining UCL reconstructions performed using one of the above noted techniques and excluding case reports and hybrid techniques. Statistical analysis was performed using a χ2 test of independence and 2-proportion Z test.Results:A total of 21 studies, 7 biomechanical and 14 clinical, ...
Revision of lithostratigraphic nomenclature in the Koobi Fora region, Kenya

Recent advances in our understanding of the Plio-Pleistocene sedimentary sequence northeast of Lake Turkana in northern Kenya has allowed a revision of the lithostratigraphic nomenclature and a more complete description of the deposits. As redefined, the Koobi Fora Formation encompasses the entire Plio-Pleistocene sedimentary sequence, and is subdivided into eight members. These members are delineated using volcanic ash horizons, which can be identified uniquely on the basis of chemical composition. The revised stratigraphy resolves all earlier conflicts with the biostratigraphic zonations based on vertebrate and molluscan studies. The sedimentary sequence of the Koobi Fora Formation attains an aggregate thickness of 560 m and spans the period from about 4.3 to 0.6 Ma. Detailed correlations have now been established to relate this sequence to other deposits within the Turkana Basin and to those at Hadar and in the Gulf of Aden.
Effect of Instructional and Physiological Variables on Preference for Alcohol

This study was designed to investigate the effects of instructions regarding beverage content and alcohol beverage consumption on preference for alcohol. The subjects were 32 male undergraduate nonalcoholic drinkers. Subjects were told they would receive either an alcoholic or a nonalcoholic beverage and did or did not receive an alcoholic priming dose designed to raise their blood alcohol concentration (BAC) to. 06%. After they consumed their drinks, subjects participated in two similar taste-rating tasks in which they ostensibly were required to discriminate between alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages. The task was administered two times, once when the BAC was rising and once when it was descending. Analyses of the beverage consumption data showed no significant effects of instructions, beverage, or direction of the blood alcohol function on preferences for alcohol. Combined with the findings of other studies, these results suggest moderate doses of alcohol have little effect on subsequent drinking by ...
Estimation of Safety Effectiveness of Changes in Shoulder Width with Case Control and Cohort Methods

The use of observational data to estimate safety effectiveness for changes in shoulder width is explored. Common statistical models are applied to estimate safety effectiveness of shoulder width; however, two unique approaches, the case control and the cohort methods, are used in the design stage. Case control and cohort designs are common methods in epidemiological studies; they are used to develop relationships between risk factors and disease. In highway safety, case control and cohort designs show potential for relating geometric and traffic characteristics to crashes. Case control and cohort methods produce estimates of the odds ratio and relative risk, respectively, which indicate the expected percentage change in the probability of an outcome, given a unit change in the risk factor. In the highway safety application, the odds ratio and relative risk may provide a reasonable estimate of the crash modification factor (CMF) for the risk factor in question. Geometric, traffic, and crash data were obtai...