cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Introducing subgrid-scale cloud feedbacks to radiation for regional meteorological and climate modeling

[1] Convective systems and associated cloudiness directly influence regional and local atmospheric radiation budgets, as well as dynamics and thermodynamics, through feedbacks. However, most subgrid-scale convective parameterizations in regional weather and climate models do not consider cumulus cloud feedbacks to radiation, resulting in biases in several meteorological parameters. We have incorporated this key feedback process into a convective parameterization and a radiation scheme in the Weather Research and Forecasting model, and evaluated the impacts of including this process in short-term weather and multiyear climate simulations. Introducing subgrid-scale convective cloud-radiation feedbacks leads to a more realistic simulation of attenuation of downward surface shortwave radiation. Reduced surface shortwave radiation moderates the surface forcing for convection and results in a notable reduction in precipitation biases. Our research reveals a need for more in-depth consideration of the effects of subgrid-scale clouds in regional meteorology/climate and air quality models on radiation, photolysis, cloud mixing, and aerosol indirect effects.
Knowledge-based document retrieval: framework and design

This article presents research on the design of knowledge-based document retrieval systems. We adopted a semantic network structure to represent subject knowledge and classification scheme knowledge and modeled experts' search strategies and user modeling capability as procedural knowledge. These functionalities were incorporated into a prototype knowledge-based retrieval system, Metacat. Our system, the design of which was based on the blackboard architecture, was able to create a user profile, identify task requirements, suggest heuristics-based search strategies, perform semantic-based search assistance, and assist online query refinement
On determining gas concentrations using dielectric thin-film helicoidal bianisotropic medium bilayers

Abstract Bilayers comprising two matched layers of dielectric thin-film helicoidal bianisotropic mediums (TFHBMs) with opposite structural handedness reflect arbitrarily polarized, normally incident, plane waves almost perfectly in a certain frequency range. As TFHBMs are porous, a model is devised to show that the infiltration of a TFHBM bilayer by a gas can shift as well as reduce the span of this range. Accordingly, a suitably designed TFHBM bilayer can serve as the active element of an optical device for sensing gas concentration.
Feasibility Study for the Remote Detection of Atmospheric Xenon Using a DIAL LIDAR System

We describe a study of the feasibility of detecting atmospheric Xenon by modifying a DIAL LIDAR system currently used for the detection of methane. We will determine the signal levels for mid-IR Xenon absorption.
Defluorination of fluoroacetate in the rat

Abstract Rats given 5 ppm F as FAc (equivalent to 26 ppm of NaFac) in the drinking water for approximately four months deposited as much fluoride in the skeletal system as did rats receiving 5 ppm F as NaF in the water. Little evidence could be found for the presence of organically bound fluoride in bone after ingesting FAc, though an appreciable proportion of skeletal fluoride deposited when NaF was ingested was shown not to respond to the fluoride ion electrode. The daily urinary excretion of total fluoride after FAc was somewhat greater than after NaF; about two thirds of this fluoride responded to the electrode, whereas more than 90 percent of the total fluoride after NaF was ionic in nature. The data are interpreted as showing that the rat is capable of splitting the C-F bond in FAc and/or in its fluoride-containing metabolites, with subsequent skeletal storage and renal excretion of the released fluoride ion. The chronic administration of this low level of FAc caused an early but temporary retardation of growth. The Krebs cycle was interfered with, as evidenced by increased concentrations of citrate in the kidney and urine. At termination of the experiment, histological examination of the testes showed that the FAc had induced severe damage characterized by massive disorganization of the tubules, nearly total loss of functional cells, absence of sperm, and damage to the Sertoli cells.
Long-term hydrographic variability in the Northwest Pacific Ocean

[1] Hydrographic changes in the Northwest Pacific Ocean are examined using data for two time periods: 1945: 1975 and 1976:1998. The largest changes in T/S (2°C,0.2 psu) are within the interfrontal zone between the Kuroshio Extension (KE) and the subarctic (or Oyashio) front near the Shatsky Rise, and are consistent with a southward shift of the Kuroshio Bifurcation Front (KBF). Other major changes seen are a freshening of ∼0.04 psu of the newly formed North Pacific Intermediate Water (NPIW); a shoaling over time of the halocline in the center of the Western Subarctic Gyre (WSAG); and a southward shift of the subarctic front between the dateline and 150°W. Because long-term T/S changes near the Shatsky Rise are well-correlated, we have examined subsurface thermal data at 100 and 200-m depth in the region and found that shifts in front locations show a high degree of correlation with the PDO index on an interannual basis, and lagging it by ∼1 year at 200-m depth.
Formation of stable Cu2O from reduction of CuO nanoparticles

Abstract In situ time-resolved X-ray diffraction (TR-XRD) using synchrotron radiation has been used to capture the dynamics of the reduction of nanocrystalline CuO using a normal supply of CO gas. Copper(II) oxide nanoparticles 4–16 nm in width, as measured by XRD peak broadening, are synthesized using an aqueous organic-nitrate method and reduced in isothermal and temperature ramping reduction experiments. Temperature-programmed reduction of CuO nanoparticles using a ramping heating profile was observed to result in the sequential reduction process CuO → Cu 2 O → Cu, with CuO reducing completely to the intermediate Cu 2 O phase before further reduction to metallic copper. Isothermal reduction experiments at 250 °C show that CuO nanoparticles completely reduce to Cu 2 O, and this phase remains stable without further reduction with continued exposure to CO. In contrast to what is typically observed in bulk CuO in both isothermal and ramping reduction conditions, nanocrystalline CuO reduces to a stable Cu 2 O phase rather than forming metallic copper directly. The behavior of the CuO nanoparticles in temperature ramping reducing conditions is controlled by the particle size, with the smaller CuO nanoparticles exhibiting a greater stability and withstanding a higher temperature before their reduction to Cu 2 O and then to metallic copper nanoparticles.
Implicit racial bias and prosocial behavior

This paper reports results of an experiment on the relationship between whites’ implicit racial bias and prosocial behavior toward blacks. We hypothesized that implicit anti-black bias would lead to less prosocial behavior (generosity with limited monetary resources). Consistent with our hypothesis, the results revealed that implicit anti-black bias, measured by the Implicit Association Test, had a negative effect on generosity toward blacks. This finding extends prior work by showing that implicit racial bias affects non-hypothetical decisions about how to allocate limited monetary resources. We conclude with a discussion of implications and suggestions for future work.
Effects Of The CT Display Window On Detectability Of Large And Small Lesions

The effects of CT display window width and lesion size on observer performance were studied by measurements of contrast-detail "thresholds" and lesion detectability (using ROC analysis). Both methods of measuring observers' perceptual performance showed that lesions became less visible as the width of the display window increased, and that the magnitude of this effect was greater for larger (lower contrast) lesions than for smaller ( higher contrast) lesions. Manipulations of the CT display window did not affect the information content of the physical image, as measured by actual calculations of signal-to-noise ratio for a "lesion-matched" filter. Therefore, the effects of display window on observer performance were attributed to psychophysical properties of the human visual system.
Sulfur dioxide induced airway hyperreactivity in allergic sheep

The effects of a four-hour exposure (via a Plexiglas hood) to sulfur dioxide (SO2) on airway reactivity was studied in both normal and allergic conscious sheep. Allergic sheep were defined as animals in whom inhalation of Ascaris suum extract resulted in an increase in mean pulmonary flow resistance (RL). Airway reactivity (delta RL) was assessed by measuring the increase in RL after 18 breaths of 0.25% carbachol, from an initial value obtained after 18 breaths of buffered saline. RL and delta RL were determined prior to, immediately after and 24 hours following SO2 exposure in three groups of sheep: six normal sheep exposed to 5 ppm SO2 (group A); six normal sheep exposed to 10 ppm SO2 (group B) and seven allergic sheep exposed to 5 ppm SO2 (group C). RL was not affected by SO2 exposure in any group but both groups B and C showed increases in delta RL 24 hours after exposure. Since the increase in delta RL was greater in group C than in either groups A or B, we conclude that allergic sheep have enhanced susceptibility to the injurious airway effects of SO2.
Constituents of Zanthoxylum Sprucei

The known compounds lupeol, s-sitosterol, (+)-sesamin, trans -dimethylmatairesinol, hesperidin, (-)- cis - N -methylcanadine and sucrose were isolated from Zanthoxylum sprucei . The 1 H-NMR and 13 C-NMR signals of (-)- cis - N -methylcanadine are hereby fully assigned.
Effects of Chemical Protective Handwear and Headgear on Manual Dexterity

During operations in a chemically contaminated environment, the combat soldier must wear, in addition to his normal combat uniform, a special chemical protective overgarment including jacket, trous...
Long-term follow-up of a childhood amnesic syndrome.

Abstract In attempting to explain observed dissociations between impaired and preserved memory functioning in amnesia, various dichotomous memory systems (e.g., procedural versus declarative, episodic versus semantic, working versus reference memory) have often been employed. In such cases, the assumption has been that memory subserved by one system is preserved, while that of the other system is impaired. Cohen and Squire have suggested that in amnesia, declarative memory is impaired, although procedural memory is preserved. Long-term followup of a densely amnesic patient refutes this view by demonstrating significant anterograde learning of school subjects including reading, vocabulary, spelling, and arithmetic, all of which include some component of declarative memory. It appears that the procedural/declarative dichotomy is not adequate to explain preserved memory in amnesia.
Effects of gender-typed tasks and gender roles on cardiovascular reactivity.

This study explored the effects of gender-typing of a task on cardiovascular reactivity among 60 men and 58 women, who were preselected on the basis of their “masculinity” and “femininity” scores on the Personal Attribute Questionnaire (PAQ; Spence & Helmreich, 1978). Both gender-role orientation and gender-typing of (he task (but not sex of participant) accounted for a significant amount of variance in systolic blood pressure (SBP) and heart rate (HR) reactivity. Femininity scores predicted increases in SBP responses to the task in the entire sample. HR responses were determined by a significant interaction of sex of participant, a “feminine” gender-role orientation, and gender-typing of the task. Among men, gender-typing of task interacted with gender-role orientation: men whose personality did not fit the situation (e.g., men scoring high on “femininity” who worked on a male-typed task) exhibited elevated MR reactivity. There were no significant effects for HR reactivity among women. These findings underscore the role of psychosocial factors as determinants of SBP and HR responses, especially among men.
Mn++-stimulated 3H-inositol incorporation in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells: deficiency in cells from spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Incubation of cultured dissociated aortic smooth muscle cells from Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY) with Mn++resulted in a 10-fold stimulation of 3H-myo-inositol incorporation into membrane phospholipid. The stimulation was temperature and energy dependent. The Mn++EC50was 1 mM and maximum stimulation occurred at 10 mM Mn++. Other cations were ineffective. In cells from spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), the Mn++EC50was unchanged whereas the maximum stimulation of 3H-inositol incorporation was reduced by 50% compared to cells from parallel WKY cultures. These results suggest that in SHR cultured vascular smooth muscle cells there is a deficiency in an enzymatic process mediating exchange of free inositol with the headgroup inositol of membrane phosphatidylinositol.
Affinity labeling of yeast aldolase by haloacetol phosphates

Abstract Under mild conditions, chloro- and bromoacetol phosphate, reactive analogs of dihydroxyacetone phosphate, inactivate yeast fructose diphosphate aldolase by alkylation of about one SH group per molecule of catalytic subunit. Protein side-chains other than SH are not modified, since the amount of reagent incorporated is equivalent to the loss of SH groups. The observed stoichiometry, the kinetics of inactivation, and substrate protection data suggest that the SH group alkylated by these reagents is in the active-site region of this class II aldolase.
Distribution of Major Basic Protein on Human Airway following In Vitro Eosinophil Incubation

Major basic protein (MBP) released from activated eosinophils may influence airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) by either direct effects on airway myocytes or by an indirect effect. In this study, human bronchi, freshly isolated human eosinophils, or MBP purified from human eosinophil granules were incubated for studying eosinophil infiltration and MBP localization. Eosinophils immediately adhered to intact human airway as well as to cultured human airway myocytes and epithelium. Following incubation 18-24 h, eosinophils migrated into the airway media, including the smooth muscle layer, but had no specific recruitment to airway neurons. Eosinophils released significant amounts of MBP within the airway media, including areas comprising the smooth muscle layer. Most deposits of MBP were focally discrete and restricted by immunologic detection to a maximum volume of approximately 300 microm(3) about the eosinophil. Native MBP applied exogenously was immediately deposited on the surface of the airway, but required at least 1 h to become detected within the media of the airway wall. Tissue MBP infiltration and deposition increased in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. Taken together, these findings suggest that eosinophil-derived cationic proteins may alter airway hyperresponsiveness (AHR) in vivo by an effect that is not limited to the bronchial epithelium.
Secondary breast angiosarcoma and germ line BRCA mutations: discussion of genetic susceptibility

Informed consent was obtained from the patient. This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.
Apposition in Contemporary English

List of figures Preface 1. Apposition as a grammatical relation 2. The syntax of apposition 3. The semantics of apposition 4. The pragmatics of apposition 5. Apposition in the grammar of English Appendices Notes References Index.
Oceanic Equatorial Waves and the 1991–93 El Niño

Abstract Equatorial Kelvin and Rossby waves associated with the 1991–93 El Nino warm event were detected in temperature observations made by the Tropical Atmosphere-Ocean (TAO) buoy array. Intraseasonal Kelvin waves were a prominent part of equatorial thermocline depth variability and were well represented by a simple model consisting only of first- and second-mode baroclinic Kelvin waves. The second mode was essential to properly represent the observed amplitude. Thermocline depth variability at 5°N and 5°S was dominated by annual and interannual Rossby waves, which were found to have been largely wind forced in midbasin, with little if any signal associated with eastern boundary reflection. An evaluation of the Wyrtki buildup hypothesis and the delayed oscillator hypothesis in connection with the 1991–93 events showed that a long lag (about two years) occurred between the arrival of the downwelling signal in the west and the subsequent initiation of El Nino., this was considerably longer than suggested ...
Long term modulation of primary cosmic ray intensity

Abstract Direct observations of primary cosmic rays are compared with the predictions of alternative theoretical models of the long term intensity modulation. The experimental data used are those of the satellites Explorer VII and Ariel I for heavy primary cosmic rays in the high rigidity region and those of balloons and IMP I for protons and alpha particles in the low rigidity regions. The solar wind and the electric field modulation models are considered in greater detail after it is found that the character of the predictions of the general solar dipole magnetic field theory is similar to that of the solar wind theory in the low rigidity region. A new quantity, In R , is introduced to characterize the modulation. R is the ratio, j ( P or T ; t )/ j ( P or T ; t ′), between the differential rigidity or energy spectra at two different times. The log-log representation of In R vs. rigidity or kinetic energy/nucleon is advantageous for the comparison of observations with theoretical models and for eliminating the arbitrariness inherent in the conventional representation of the intensity changes. It is found that the most decisive criterion for the comparison is the ratio R (P) = 1 n R p (P) 1 n R α (P) , where the suffixes denote proton and alpha particles, whereas the quantities j p (T,t)/jα(T,t), 1 n R and R (T) , etc., cannot serve as a selection criterion if the modulation coefficient, M , for the solar wind model and the energy loss, δE , for the electric field model are rigidity dependent. Because of the dearth of experimental values of R (P) , a definite conclusion as to whether one of the two models is preferable cannot be reached. However, the present analysis reveals that M and δE , respectively, must be rigidity dependent for the theoretical predictions to fit the experimental results. Thus, for example, the electric field model based on a simple electrostatic potential in the interplanetary space is excluded. Some implications of and restrictions on the two alternative models are discussed. Especially in the case of solar wind modulation theory, many fruitful consequences can be quantitatively deduced. For example, the analysis reveals that the rigidity dependence of M appeared to differ during the ascending and descending phases of the last solar cycle. The spectrum of M was flatter during 1954–1958 than during 1958–1963, but apparently did not vary drastically during these intervals. The absolute value of M is estimated, in order to compute the unmodulated spectra, and the results indicate that even during the solar minimum period, modulation of the cosmic ray intensity still occurs.
Hemodynamics and left ventricular function: a comparison between adult racing greyhounds and greyhounds completely untrained from birth

Trained racing greyhounds are known to have cardiomegaly, higher mean arterial pressure and cardiac indices and lower systemic arterial resistances at rest than mongrel dogs. In order to distinguish between those hemodynamic and left ventricular functional characteristics that are inborn in the greyhound as opposed to those which are acquired through training, we studied 9 adult (mean age 22.9±4.2 [S.D.] months) trained racing greyhounds within 8 days of the cessation of training and 9 adult greyhounds raised under sedentary conditions (mean age 21.7±1.4 months). Seven healthy adult mongrel dogs served as additional controls. Right and left heart catheterizations of chloraloseanesthetized animals included hemodynamic and left ventricular functional measurements before and after volume loading with 500 ml 6% dextran in normal saline. Heart weight/body weight ratios were the same in both trained and untrained greyhounds, favoring the concept that the cardiomegaly of greyhounds is genetic and not acquired. Trained greyhounds had significantly decreased systemic vascular resistance, increased cardiac index and stroke volume, and a tendency (non significant) toward elevated systemic arterial pressure in comparison to mongrels. Life-long untrained adult greyhounds had hemodynamic measurements that didnot differ from mongrels; they also had significantly higher systemic vascular resistances and lower cardiac indices than trained greyhounds. Some hemodynamic characteristics of the trained adult greyhound dog are not present in completely untrained greyhounds and are the result of either training alone or training superimposed on genetic predisposition.
Nevanlinna theory of meromorphic functions on annuli

In this survey paper, we discuss the recent development of Nevanlinna theory of meromorphic functions on annuli, which extends results in Nevanlinna theory in the complex plane or in a disk. In particular, we show that the approach taken on annuli is a unified treatment of functions meromorphic in the complex plane, a disk and an annulus. It allows one to obtain many results in the complex plane and in a disk as corollaries of our results in annuli.
Chemical Fractionation of Trace Elements in Biosolid‐Amended Soils and Correlation with Trace Elements in Crop Tissue

Abstract A previous study indicated that agricultural biosolid applications increased the concentration of EPA3050‐digestible trace elements in soils on Pennsylvania production farms but could not indicate potential trace‐element environmental availability. This study was conducted to determine if biosolid application had altered the distribution of trace‐elements among operationally defined soil fractions and the relationship of trace element concentrations in soil and crop tissues. Biosolid‐amended and unamended soils from production farms in Pennsylvania were extracted using a modified Bureau Communautaire de Reference (BCR) sequential fractionation technique and analyzed for chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn). Trace‐element concentrations in crop tissues (soybean silage, sudangrass, corn grain, alfalfa hay, and orchardgrass hay) from the same farms were also determined. Fractionation results indicated that the proportion of Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn that is potentially bioa...
Classification of a Wetland area along the upper Mississippi River with aerial videography

We evaluated the use of aerial videography for classifying wetland habitats along the upper Mississippi River and found the prompt availability of habitat feature maps to be the major advantage of the video imagery technique. We successfully produced feature maps from digitized video images that generally agreed with the known distribution and areal coverages of the major habitat types independently identified and quantified with photointerpretation techniques. However, video images were not sufficiently detailed to allow us to consistently discriminate among the classes of aquatic macrophytes present or to quantify their areal coverage. Our inability to consistently distinguish among emergent, floating, and submergent macrophytes from the feature maps may have been related to the structural complexity of the site, to our limited vegetation sampling, and to limitations in video imagery. We expect that careful site selection (i.e., the desired level of resolution is available from video imagery) and additional vegetation samples (e.g., along a transect) will allow improved assignment of spectral values to specific plant types and enhance plant classification from feature maps produced from video imagery.
Anorectal Physiologic Testing in Anal Fissure Disease

The assessment of anorectal physiologic abnormalities that occur in anal fissure disease has been ongoing for over 30 years. The goals have been to define what occurs, correlate it with symptoms, and measure the changes that follow therapeutic intervention. During this period, the technology available for such investigations has become more sophisticated and standardized. The fundamental phenomenon observed have been that of increased anal pressures in patients with fissures compared with control subjects and a significant and lasting fall in such pressures with therapeutic intervention, correlating with symptom relief and fissure healing. Other physiologic phenomenon have also been associated with fissures, such as pressure "over-shoot" with rectal distention and the increased presence of ultra-slow waves in fissure patients compared with normal controls. The existing literature has been reviewed, and will be summarized herein, with the intent to integrate it into a sensible presentation of the physiologic abnormalities seen with anal fissure patients.
Version 1.2 of the Crystallography and NMR system

Version 1.2 of the software system, termed Crystallography and NMR system (CNS), for crystallographic and NMR structure determination has been released. Since its first release, the goals of CNS have been (i) to create a flexible computational framework for exploration of new approaches to structure determination, (ii) to provide tools for structure solution of difficult or large structures, (iii) to develop models for analyzing structural and dynamical properties of macromolecules and (iv) to integrate all sources of information into all stages of the structure determination process. Version 1.2 includes an improved model for the treatment of disordered solvent for crystallographic refinement that employs a combined grid search and least-squares optimization of the bulk solvent model parameters. The method is more robust than previous implementations, especially at lower resolution, generally resulting in lower R values. Other advances include the ability to apply thermal factor sharpening to electron density maps. Consistent with the modular design of CNS, these additions and changes were implemented in the high-level computing language of CNS.
Transforming growth factor-beta, basic fibroblast growth factor, and platelet-derived growth factor-BB interact to affect proliferation of clonally derived porcine satellite cells

Transforming growth factor beta-1 (TGF-beta) stimulated porcine satellite cell proliferation in basal serum-free medium by 25%, but inhibited growth in serum-containing medium by 58%. The effect of TGF-beta on cell proliferation in serum-free medium was examined in combination with the following human recombinant growth factors: platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF), basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF), insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I), and epidermal growth factor (EGF). TGF-beta inhibited PDGF-stimulated proliferation, enhanced FGF-stimulated proliferation, and had no effect on proliferation stimulated by IGF-I. The response of satellite cells to EGF and TGF-beta in serum-free medium was not different than TGF-beta alone. TGF-beta depressed proliferation stimulated by the following combinations of two growth factors: PDGF and IGF-I, PDGF and EGF, PDGF and FGF, and IGF-I and EGF. In combination with IGF-I and FGF, TGF-beta did not affect proliferation. TGF-beta inhibited proliferation stimulated by the combination of PDGF, EGF, and IGF-I, but had no effect on proliferation stimulated by combinations of three growth factors that included FGF. FGF stimulated proliferation in Minimum Essential Medium containing 10% porcine serum (MEM-10% PS) by 13% above control. When the combination of TGF-beta and FGF was added to MEM-10% PS, a 78% increase in proliferation was observed. Polyclonal antihuman PDGF-AB (this form neutralizes PDGF-AA, AB, and BB) reduced proliferation in MEM-10% PS by 44%. The combination of TGF-beta and anti-PDGF-AB reduced proliferation by 59%, indicating the effects were not additive. These data indicate that: (1) FGF and TGF-beta interact to increase proliferation of clonally derived porcine satellite cells, and (2) the inhibitory effect of TGF-beta on proliferation of clonally derived porcine satellite cells can be primarily attributed to a reduction in the mitogenic effects of PDGF.
Iodine-131 in sheep before and after a nuclear reactor accident.

IT may be useful to compare the amount of iodine-131 in thyroids of unselected sheep slaughtered in London before and after the release of iodine from the reactor at Windscale in Cumberland on October 10, 19571.
Social cognition: learning about what matters in the social world

Social-cognitive principles underlie people's learning about what matters in the social world. The benefits of these social-cognitive principles reveal essential aspects of what it means to be human. But these social-cognitive principles also have inherent costs, which highlight what it means to be ‘only human’. Social cognition is ‘social’ because what is learned concerns the social world, and where the learning takes place is in the social world. This paper reviews the benefits and costs of both sides of social cognition: (1) the cognition of social psychology principles of organization, explanation, knowledge activation and use; and (2) the social psychology of cognition principles of shared reality role enactment, social positions and identities and internal audiences. The fact that there are inherent costs of the same social-cognitive principles for which there are essential benefits affords a new perspective on social-cognitive costs that is different from either the classic ‘conflict’ perspective or the more current ‘limited capacity’ and ‘dual-process’ perspectives. This ‘trade-off’ perspective deepens both our understanding of the true nature of these principles and our appreciation of our common humanity. Copyright © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Growth and differentiation of the cultured secretory cells of the cow oviduct on reconstituted basement membrane

Isolated bovine oviduct epithelial cells were cultured on plastic precoated with matrigel. The epithelial cells seeded on 10 mg/ml matrigel often organized themselves into hollow tubes or spheres with microvilli directed towards the lumen. This is the first report of describing the spontaneous tube formation of oviduct epithelial cells in vitro. The epithelial cells growing on this substratum became fully differentiated with the formation of junctional complexes and the production of secretory vesicles which migrated to apical plasmalemma. Epithelial cells seeded on 2 mg/ml matrigel (dry film) formed a subconfluent monolayer in 15-20 days after seeding. The histoarchitecture of the secretory cells growing on the matrigel dry film closely resembled that of intact epithelial cells. Occasional ciliated cells containing large numbers of mitochondria were observed in cell colonies growing on 2 mg/ml matrigel but they possessed very few intact cilia. The monolayer linearly incorporated 35S-methionine into proteins up to 8 hr in presence of estradiol or progesterone. The fluorography of the newly synthesized proteins indicated that the cell extracts of estradiol-stimulated cells contained an additional protein of approximate molecular weight of 60 kd as compared to the extracts of cells incubated without steroids or incubated with progesterone.
The political economy of east Asian economic integration

Abstract The paper provides a political economy analysis focusing on the uneven bargaining power between the Asian nations and the hegemons under Pax Britannica and Pax Americana. It explains how the Washington pressure on Asian nations to adopt the American model had the unintended consequences of pushing these nations to form their own Free Trade Areas. It deals with the quality of American economic “advice” to Asian nations, before and after the 1985 Plaza Accord. The paper treats the post-1997 steps towards closer economic integration as part of a continuum aimed at increasing the Asian nations bargaining power in the global economy. The analysis recognizes the obsolescence of the post-1945 global financial order, being incompatible with Asia, currently the largest net lender in the world. The paper details the hurdles facing Asian nations in their attempt to weave closer cooperative arrangements and juxtaposed them with their counterparts in existing trading blocks.
Fragrance material review on 3-phenyl-3-buten-1-yl acetate.

Abstract A toxicologic and dermatologic review of 3-phenyl-3-buten-1-yl acetate when used as a fragrance ingredient is presented. 3-Phenyl-3-buten-1-yl acetate is a member of the fragrance structural group Aryl Alkyl Alcohol Simple Acid Esters (AAASAE). The AAASAE fragrance ingredients are prepared by reacting an aryl alkyl alcohol with a simple carboxylic acid (a chain of 1–4 carbons) to generate formate, acetate, propionate, butyrate, isobutyrate and carbonate esters. This review contains a detailed summary of all available toxicology and dermatology papers that are related to this individual fragrance ingredient and is not intended as a stand-alone document. Available data for 3-phenyl-3-buten-1-yl acetate were evaluated, then summarized, and includes: physical properties, acute toxicity, skin irritation, mucous membrane (eye) irritation, and skin sensitization data. A safety assessment of the entire AAASAE will be published simultaneously with this document. Please refer to Belsito et al. (2012) for an overall assessment of the safe use of this material and all AAASAE in fragrances. Belsito, D., Bickers, D., Bruze, M., Calow, P., Dagli, M., Fryer, A.D., Greim, H., Hanifin, J.H., Miyachi, Y., Saurat, J.H., Sipes, I.G., 2012. A toxicological and dermatological assessment of aryl alkyl alcohol simple acid ester derivatives when used as fragrance ingredients.
Graph theory of molecular orbitals beyond tight‐binding approximation

The graph theory of molecular orbitals including second neighbor interactions (η) is considered here. Graphical methods of getting the characteristic polynomial for the π system of a conjugated molecule are given. It is shown that the characteristic polynomial can be factorized if there are symmetries in the molecule.
confessions of a recovering structuralist

Beginning his career as a structurally oriented area specialist in Italy in the mid-1960s, Sidney Tarrow moved on to a paired comparison of France and Italy, then to more process-oriented work on social movements and contentious politics, and finally to European and transnational contention. In this article, he traces his theoretical development as a series of missteps, which – like a hiker crossing a turbulent stream – took him from one slippery rock to another.
Adaptation of the paired combinatorial logit model to the route choice problem

The paired combinatorial logit (PCL) model is one of the extended logit models recently developed from the generalized extreme value theory to handle the drawbacks of the multinomial logit (MNL) model. The PCL model is considered suitable for adaptation to the route choice problem to resolve the independence from irrelevant alternatives property inherited in the MNL model while keeping the analytical tractability of the logit choice probability function. In this paper, we adapt the PCL model to handle the two drawbacks of MNL in a route choice context: (1) inability to account for overlapping (or correlation) among routes, and (2) inability to account for perception variance with respect to trips of different lengths. Specifically, the effects of congestion, scaling, and overlapping on the PCL choice probabilities are examined using a set of carefully designed experiments and graphical illustrations. The experimental designs and graphical illustrations allow for intuitive explanation and comparison of the different effects on the calculation of the route choice probabilities.
The Global Plant Genetic Resources System: A Competition-Cooperation Paradox

The international plant genetic resources system is a loosely coordinated, often politicized network among national germplasm collections, which has encouraged the exploration, collection, evaluation, preservation and distribution of germplasm. During the last two decades, the system has been the focus of major debates, characterized as Seed Wars, over the international control of plant genetic resources. Key organizations such as the International Board for Plant Genetic Resources, the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization's Commission on Plant Genetic Resources, and the United Nations' Convention on Biological Diversity have attempted to address the central issues of access to genetic resources including elite lines, funding and responsibility for biodiversity protection, treatment of biotechnology and intellectual property rights, and the technical and social challenges of conserving genetic materials. Despite these efforts, all nations are caught in a paradox of competition and cooperation. While each nation wishes to capture as much of the world's genetic resources as possible, each is depended on many other nations for a continued supply of these dynamic and widely dispersed resources. The paradox, however, is not felt equally by all nations with some, particularly among the developed nations, apparently capable of both competing and cooperating successfully. Nonetheless, in both the short run, and particularly in the long run, it is in the best interest of all nations in this global community to find efficient and socially just ways to cooperate in conservation of biodiversity and to use it sustainably and equitably.
784-6 Unexplained Heart Failure in Cardiac Transplant Recipients: Intracoronary Ultrasound Identifies Two Distinct Subgroups

Cryptogenic heart failure in cardiac transplant recipients (CTR) is frequently attributed to humoral rejection. Histopathology in humoral rejection has identified angiographically silent coronary intimal thickening. We studied transplant patients with unexplained CHF using intracoronary ultrasound (ICUS) to identify occult CAD. Twelve CTR (8 male, 4 female; age 51 ± 15 years; 2–7 years post-transplant) were referred for angiography and ICUS because of recent-onset CHF (radionuclide EF l 30%). All patients had normal coronary arteries by angiography at their previous surveillance catheterization, no recent infections, and no biopsy evidence of cellular rejection. ICUS was performed with 4.3F, 30 mHz imaging catheters to the distal LAD andlor LCX. Images were analyzed via computer-planimetry for intimal thickness liT). All 12 patients had normal angiograms. All patients were treated with high-dose IV steroids. Surviving patients had repeat radionuclide EF at 3 months. Five patients (Group I) had significant intimal thickening by ICUS (IT = 0.66 ± 0.1 0 mm, for ≥ 180° of vessel circumference). Seven patients (Group II) had no abnormal intimal thickening (IT = 0.26 ± 0.06 mm). Group I vs. II, P l 0.001. At three months, EF in Group I survivors was unchanged (2 patients died); Group II patients (none died) experienced a 21 ± 9 point improvement in EF (p l 0.01). Conclusions ICUS segregates CTR with cryptogenic CHF (and normal angiograms) into two groups; one with marked intimal thickening, and one with normal intima. These groups have markedly different prognoses. Group I may represent patients with ongoing humoral rejection; EF in these patients is unchanged at 3 months despite high-dose steroids, Group II may represent cellular rejection not sampled during biopsy, or a steroid-responsive acute myopathy.
The effect of ascorbic acid on copper-induced oxidative changes in the erythrocytes of rats, sheep, and normal humans.

Abstract Rats, sheep, and normal humans displayed a comparable sensitivity to copper acetate (3 mM)-induced changes in reduced glutathione (GSH) levels it vitro. However, the humans erythrocytes were more sensitive than either animal to methemoglobin (METHB) formation with the rat being least sensitive. Ascorbic acid incubation markedly enhanced the occurrence of copper acetate-induced increases in METHB and decreases in GSH in the sheep and humans. However, ascorbic acid incubation reduced the occurrence of copper acetate-induced increases in METHB, while not effecting changes in GSH in rats.
Optimal pricing in social networks

We consider the pricing strategies of a monopolist selling a divisible good (service) to consumers who are embedded in a social network. We assume that each consumer's usage level depends directly on the usage of her neighbors in the social network, and investigate the optimal pricing policies of the monopolist. We show that if the monopolist can perfectly price discriminate the agents, then the price offered to each agent has three components: a nominal price, a discount term due to the agent's influence on her neighbors, and a markup term due to the influence of her neighbors on the agent. We also characterize the optimal pricing strategies in settings where the monopolist is constrained to offering a single price, and where she can choose two distinct prices (a discounted and a full price). For the former setting we provide a polynomial time algorithm for the solution of the pricing problem. On the other hand, we show that in the latter setting the optimal pricing problem is NP-hard, and we provide an approximation algorithm, which, under some conditions, achieves at least 88% of the maximum profit.
The inotropic effects of a synthetic pyrethroid decamethrin on isolated guinea pig atrial muscle.

Abstract Pyrethroid insecticides have been reported to increase transmembrane sodium influx and inhibit ion-dependent ATPases in insect, squid, and toad nerve tissues. Since changes in sarcolemmal ion fluxes and inhibition of membrane-bound ATPases can alter myocardial contractility, the effects of a potent synthetic pyrethroid, decamethrin, on mammalian myocardium were examined using isolated left atrial muscle of the guinea-pig heart electrically stimulated at 1.5 Hz. Decamethrin (0.1–10 μM) increased the force of isometric contraction in a dose-dependent manner without affecting the resting tension. Propranolol (5 μM) reduced the magnitude of the pyrethroid's inotropic effect; however, a significant inotropic effect was still observed with 1 and 10 μM decamethrin in the presence of this concentration of propranolol. Similar results were noted in the presence of 500 μM procainamide and in left atrial muscle obtained from reserpine-treated animals. The results suggest that decamethrin increased the force of myocardial contraction by two mechanisms; indirectly by releasing catecholamines from sympathetic nerve terminals and directly by an action on the myocardium. Inotropic concentrations of the pyrethroid did not inhibit partially purified rat brain or guinea pig heart Na + ,K + -ATPase. Moreover, twitch tension recordings of isometric contractions showed that, in the presence of propranolol, decamethrin increased tension development without changing either the time to peak tension or the duration of contraction. Tetrodotoxin almost completely abolished the positive inotropic effect of decamethrin. Thus, the positive inotropic effect of decamethrin is apparently due to an increase in transmembrane sodium influx which causes catecholamine release from the sympathetic nerve terminals and also directly enhances muscle contraction.
A case of generalized pruritus without rash

HISTORY OF PRESENT ILLNESS The patient is a 31-year-old Caucasian female who presented to the Allergy and Asthma Center with a 7-month history of progressive pruritus without dermatitis. Seven months prior to her initial visit she noted localized pruritus on her elbows. No rash was noted, and the pruritus resolved after 5 days of treatment with an unknown cream. Five months prior she noted pruritus on her eyelids and feet which did not resolve with topical creams. She also found a “lump” on her right neck and felt fatigued. The patient saw her primary care physician who noted the neck mass and a possible enlarged spleen. A monospot was negative but she was told she probably had mononucleosis. Within a few weeks her fatigue resolved, however her pruritus progressed to include the rest of her body. Again, no rash or hives were noted. Two months prior to her clinic visit she again saw her primary care physician who did thyroid function studies which were normal. A repeat monospot was negative. When the patient presented to the Allergy Clinic she was having daily generalized pruritus which increased in the evenings. No rashes were noted by the patient. She denied any new medications, soaps, detergents, or cosmetics. She related a 3-month history of a dry cough which she described as a “tickle.” She also noted rare instances of dyspnea. She perceived that her neck “lump” had decreased in size. There was no history of fever, chills, or night sweats. She had lost 14 pounds at the onset of her pruritus but recently her weight was stable. She had no atopic history.
Superior Cervical Ganglionectomy Induces Changes in Growth Factor Expression in the Rat Retina

PURPOSE. To determine whether sympathetic nerves regulate expression of known angiogenic growth factors. METHODS. Surgical sympathectomy (SNX) was used to remove sympathetic innervation to the eye. Real-time PCR was used to measure steady state mRNA expression of VEGF, VEGFR-2, angiopoietin-1, and Tie2. Western blot analysis was performed to assess protein expression. Blood-retinal barrier (BRB) permeability surface area product (PS) was measured using enhanced MRI on a separate group of control and SNX rats. RESULTS. mRNA of both VEGF and VEGFR-2 decreased significantly at 6 weeks after SNX. VEGF protein expression also decreased significantly. VEGFR-2 protein was unchanged. Both angiopoietin-1 and Tie2 mRNA expression increased significantly after SNX. Immunoblot analysis showed that angiopoietin-1 protein expression coincided with its mRNA expression. Tie2 protein expression was unaffected. Sympathetic denervation did not significantly increase BRB PS. CONCLUSIONS. Surgical SNX results in a reduction in VEGF gene and protein expression, while increasing protein expression of Ang-1. These findings suggest that sympathetic nerves regulate the expression of angiogenic growth factors in rat retina.
A Randomized Study of Mitomycin Augmentation in Combined Phacoemulsification and Trabeculectomy

Purpose: The purpose of the study is to determine whether the intraoperative application of subconjunctival mitomycin C (MMC), during combined phacoemulsification and trabeculectomy, is an effective means of improving filtration, defined as overall lower intraocular pressure (IOP) and less antiglaucoma medication use. Methods: Twenty-nine patients with a visually significant cataract and glaucoma were randomized, in a double-masked fashion, to receive intraoperative MMC (0.5 mg/ml) or placebo. Results: Follow-up ranged from 6 to 30 months (mean, 20 months). Postoperative visual acuity at 1 year was 20/40 or better in 14 of 15 eyes operated on in the placebo group and 13 of 14 eyes operated on in the MMC group. Intraocular pressure at 8 months averaged 15.2 ± 1.5 mmHg in the placebo-treated eyes versus 12.3 ± 1.6 mmHg in the MMC-treated eyes. At 12 months, lops averaged 16.2 ± 1.5 mmHg in the placebo-treated eyes versus 12.6 ± 1.0 mmHg in the MMC-treated eyes. On average, the MMC group had postoperative IOP levels 3.0 mmHg lower than did the placebo group ( P = 0.04) throughout the study. In the placebo group, laser suture lysis was required in a greater number of patients (80% versus 43%) and to a greater extent (mean = 2.0 versus 0.7 suture lysed) ( P Conclusion: These results suggest that intraoperative MMC application, during combined phacoemulsification and trabeculectomy surgery, does improve early filtration as shown by overall lower lops and less antiglaucoma medication use.