cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
In vivo effects of β-amyloid implants in rodents: lack of potentiation of damage associated with transient global forebrain ischemia

Abstract Recent studies have shown that the principal component of the senile plaque in Alzheimer's disease (AD), β-amyloid protein (βAP) can exert direct and indirect neurotoxicity in vitro. Because of the studies that demonstrated potentiation of excitatory amino acid toxicity by βAP, we decided to test whether βAP was able to potentiate damage in an in vivo model where excitotoxic damage is thought to be important. The present study evaluated the in vivo effects of βAP implants in the brain of rats before and after being subjected to 10 min of transient global forebrain ischemia by 4-vessel occlusion (4-VO). Implants of either synthetic βAP or prolactin (PRL), which was used as a control protein, were made into the striatum and the hippocampus of either the left (βAP) or the right (PRL) cerebral hemisphere. The implants were made in a lipophilic, non-toxic vehicle so as to try and achieve sustained βAP exposure. One group of animals was evaluated for direct in vivo effects within 1 week following implantation; the other group was subjected to 4-VO 3–4 days post-implantation for evaluation of potential indirect effects. This latter group was compared to the histopathology of animals subjected to 4-VO without prior implantation. In the group of animals evaluated for direct effects, no evidence of neurotoxicity was observed. Bielschowsky silver staining and immunostaining for ubiquitin were unremarkable in all lesions. βAP was detected by immunocytochemistry in the parenchymal tissue that received βAP implants. Marked glial activation was observed to be associated with experimental and control implants. Under the experimental conditions employed in this study, significant protection from ischemia rather than potentiation of damage was observed. These results suggest that βAP may not be neurotoxic in rodents in vivo and that the lesions and/or trauma produced by the implantation procedure 3–4 days prior to 4-VO may have induced factors that were protective against ischemia-induced damage.
Does This Patient Have Temporal Arteritis

ContextClinicians must be able to confidently diagnose temporal arteritis (TA), since failure to make a correct diagnosis may lead to irreversible visual loss as well as inappropriate evaluation and treatment of headache, fatigue, and other potential presenting symptoms. The diagnostic value of particular signs and symptoms among patients with suspected TA is unknown.ObjectiveTo determine the accuracy of historical features, physical examination, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) in diagnosis of TA.Data SourcesWe performed a MEDLINE search of English-language articles published between January 1966 and July 2000 and a hand search of bibliographies of retrieved articles, previous reviews, monographs, and textbooks.Study SelectionStudies that provided detailed clinical information on patients who had been referred for temporal artery biopsy. Of 114 studies retrieved, 41 met our inclusion criteria; 21 included both biopsy-positive and biopsy-negative patients and formed the core of our review.Data ExtractionBoth authors independently reviewed each study to determine eligibility, abstracted data using a standardized instrument, and classified study quality using predetermined criteria.Data SynthesisThe prevalence of TA in the general population is less than 1%. However, in our 21 core studies, 39% of patients referred for temporal artery biopsy had positive results. The only 2 historical features that substantially increased the likelihood of TA among patients referred for biopsy were jaw claudication (positive likelihood ratio [LR], 4.2; 95% confidence interval [CI], 2.8-6.2) and diplopia (positive LR, 3.4; 95% CI, 1.3-8.6). The absence of any temporal artery abnormality was the only clinical factor that modestly reduced the likelihood of disease (negative LR, 0.53; 95% CI, 0.38-0.75). Predictive physical findings included temporal artery beading (positive LR, 4.6; 95% CI, 1.1-18.4), prominence (positive LR, 4.3; 95% CI, 2.1-8.9), and tenderness (positive LR, 2.6; 95% CI, 1.9-3.7). Normal ESR values indicated much less likelihood of disease (negative LR for abnormal ESR, 0.2; 95% CI, 0.08-0.51).ConclusionsA small number of clinical features are helpful in predicting the likelihood of a positive temporal artery biopsy among patients with a clinical suspicion of disease; the most useful finding is a normal ESR, which makes TA unlikely.
LOOKING INTO THE SEA URCHIN EMBRYO YOU CAN SEE LOCAL CELL INTERACTIONS REGULATE MORPHOGENESIS

The transparent sea urchin embryo provides a laboratory for study of morphogenesis. The calcareous endoskeleton is formed by a syncytium of mesenchyme cells in the blastocoel. The locations of mesenchyme in the blastocoel, the size of the skeleton, and even the branching pattern of the skeletal rods, are governed by interactions with the blastula wall. Now Guss and Ettensohn show that the rate of deposition of CaCO3 in the skeleton is locally controlled in the mesenchymal syncytium, as is the pattern of expression of three genes involved in skeleton formation. They propose that short range signals emanating from the blastula wall regulate many aspects of the biomineralization process.
Solutions to the differential equations describing the temperature distribution, thermal efficiency, and power output of a thermoelectric element with variable properties and cross sectional area

Abstract The differential equations describing the temperature distribution are written for a thermoelectric semimetal element of truncated cone shape and variable properties. The element is considered to be in an evacuated space so that convection and conduction through the surroundings may be neglected. The element conducts heat and passes current along its length, and emits and absorbs energy in the infrared. Resistance heating and Thompson effects are treated as non-uniformly distributed energy transfers. The computer solutions to these equations are presented graphically and the effects of varying currents, geometries, and radiative conditions are discussed. The equations for the thermal efficiency and power output are written and their dependence on the element temperature distribution is discussed. Temperature distribution data is supplied to these equations and calculated power outputs and efficiencies are presented for particular cases.
Letter to the editor design of low‐sensitivity quarter‐plane recursive 2d digital filters

A new technique is given for designing two-dimensional quarter-plane recursive digital filters. These filters have low sensitivity in the passband. an implementation scheme using complex multipliers is also given for these filters.
Sex and seasonal differences in morphology of limbic forebrain nuclei in the green anole lizard

Sex and seasonal differences in the brain occur in many species and are often related to behavioral expression. For example, morphology of limbic regions involved in male sex behavior are larger in males than in females, and sometimes are larger in the breeding than non-breeding season. Morphology can often be altered in adulthood by manipulating levels of steroid hormones. In untreated green anole lizards, previous work indicated that neuron soma size and density did not differ between the sexes in the preoptic area (POA) or ventromedial nucleus of the amygdala (AMY), two brain regions involved in the control of male reproductive behaviors [O'Bryant, E.L., Wade, J., 2002. Seasonal and sexual dimorphisms in the green anole forebrain. Horm. Behav. 41, 384-395.]. However, soma size was larger in both areas in breeding than non-breeding animals. The current study examined sex and seasonal differences in estimated brain region volume and total neuron number in the POA, AMY, and the ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH), a region typically involved in female reproductive behaviors. The volume of the POA was larger in males, and the POA and VMH of breeding animals were larger than those of non-breeding individuals. Differences in cell number did not exist in either of these two regions. In contrast, neuron counts in the AMY were greater in non-breeding than breeding animals, but the volume did not differ between the seasons. These data suggest that the structure of limbic brain regions is dynamic in adulthood and that parallels between morphology and the expression of masculine behavior exist for the POA, whereas other relationships are more complicated.
Characterizing three-dimensional surface structures from visual images

A new technique for computing intrinsic surface properties is presented. Intrinsic surface properties are those properties of a surface that are not affected by the choice of the coordinate system, the position of the viewer relative to the surface, and the particular parametric representation used to describe the imaged surface. Since intrinsic properties are characteristics of a surface, they are ideal for the purposes of representation and recognition. The intrinsic properties of interest are the principal curvatures, the Gaussian curvatures, and the lines of curvature. It is proposed that a structured-light sensing configuration where a grid pattern is projected to encode the imaged surfaces for analysis be adopted. At each stripe junction, the curvatures of the projected stripes on the imaged surface are computed and related to those of the normal sections that share the same tangential directional as the projected curves. The principal curvatures and their directions at the stripe junction under consideration are then recovered using Euler's theorem. Results obtained using both synthetic and real images are presented. >
Perceptual Justification and Warrant by Default

As I use the term, ‘entitlement’ is any warrant one has by default—i.e. without acquiring it. Some philosophers not only affirm the existence of entitlement, but also give it a crucial role in the justification of our perceptual beliefs. These philosophers affirm the Entitlement Thesis: that an essential part of what makes our perceptual beliefs justified is our entitlement to the proposition that I am not a brain-in-a-vat. Crispin Wright, Stewart Cohen and Roger White are among those who endorse this controversial claim. In this paper, I argue that the Entitlement Thesis is false.
The effects of thermal radiation on the temperature distribution in fuel rod arrays

Abstract Radiative transfer through an array of cylindrical rods in a non-conductive and non-convective medium is analyzed on the basis of a new conceptual model. The rod array geometry is modeled by defining an appropriate unit cell, for which the characteristic thermal radiation parameters of forward and backward reflectance and cell transmittance are determined. A two-flux radiation model is then utilized to determine the net thermal radiation to any surface within the subassembly. This radiant flux acts as the time-dependent boundary conditions for the transient temperature variation of individual rods and the subassembly can wall. By approximating the radiant flux with a Fourier series and applying Duhamel's principle, the temperature profile can be expressed in terms of a convergent series. This new methodology is applied to different reactor accident analyses, and it is found that after clad melting, the azimuthally-dependent net radiant flux results in the development of significant temperature differences across the fuel elements close to the subassembly can wall.
Transdisciplinary Soil Science Research: Impacts of Dairy Nutrition on Manure Chemistry and the Environment

In many regions of the world, the current trend of consolidation and intensification of animal agriculture often requires a greater dependence on purchased feed. As more animals are added to a fixed land base, and more feed is imported onto a farm, the excretion of manure nutrients can surpass the recycling capacity of local land, air, and water resources. In response to these environmental challenges, many industrialized countries have enacted legislation to control manure management and the emission of hazardous gasses from animal production systems. Research and extension agencies were allocated considerable public funding to develop and extend technologies that would assist livestock producers in meeting environmental standards. In response to dairy industry needs for practices that would facilitate manure management and compliance to water and air quality standards, transdisciplinary dairy nutrition-soil science research was initiated to evaluate relationships among the type and amount of P and crude protein (CP) in lactating cow rations, and milk production, manure chemistry, and environmental outcomes. Nutrient source-sink relationships provided the functional framework for this transdisciplinary research: dairy nutrition research was conducted to evaluate impacts of ration components (sources) on milk production (sink) and manure components (sinks), and soil science research was conducted to evaluate impacts of manure components (sources) on water (sink) and air (sink) quality. For example, unnecessary mineral P in supplements in dairy rations was found to be excreted entirely as water soluble P in manure and, after manure land application, increased soil test phosphorus (STP) levels, P loss in runoff, and the cropland area requirements in order for producers to comply to comprehensive nutrient management plans (CNMPs). Likewise, feeding CP above recommended levels increased the excretion of urea N in urine and subsequent ammonia (NH) loss from soil after manure application. The type of forage fed to dairy cows and the tannin content of dairy cow rations also impact NH emission, soil N cycles, crop yield, and N uptake. Four main ingredients to transdisciplinary dairy nutrition–soil science research have been (i) an immediate and clear need for the information, (ii) the required expertise of both dairy nutrition and soil science to provide this information, (iii) the ability and willingness of scientists and other stakeholders to work together, and (iv) adequate funding.
GnRHa-induced ovulation of brown trout (Salmo trutta) and its effects on egg quality

Abstract The effectiveness of a GnRH analogue (GnRHa) for inducing ovulation in brown trout was examined, and the effects of the maternal hormone-treatment on egg quality and larval development were evaluated. Two injections of 10 μg/kg body weight of GnRHa given 3 days apart effectively induced ovulation. Within 6 days from the second injection, 80% of the injected fish had ovulated compared to only 10% of the control fish. Mean time to ovulation was reduced significantly (P
Long-term use of multivitamins and risk of colorectal adenoma in women.

Use of multivitamins may reduce the risk of colorectal adenoma, but the duration of use needed is unclear. We prospectively examined years of multivitamin use and risk of colorectal adenoma among 43 641 women who had a first endoscopy between 1991 and 2007 in the Nurses’ Health Study II. Use of multivitamins was assessed through biennial questionnaires since 1989. We documented 2277 colorectal adenoma cases. Reporting multivitamin use at any time during the study period compared with never reporting its use was associated with a reduced risk of adenoma (multivariable relative risk (RR)=0.86, 95% confidence interval (CI): 0.76–0.97). There was no clear trend with duration of multivitamin use: years of use compared with never use, ⩽4 years (RR=0.84, 95% CI: 0.74–0.96), 5–9 years (RR=0.89, 95% CI: 0.77, 1.02), 10–14 years (RR=0.86, 95% CI: 0.74, 1.01), 15–19 years (RR=0.85, 95% CI: 0.70, 1.02), and 20–26 years (RR=0.80, 95% CI: 0.64, 1.01); (P trend=0.87). The strongest associations (years of use vs never user) were for size of adenoma: large (⩾1 cm) <4 years (RR=0.75, 95% CI: 0.58–0.96) and in alcohol users (⩾1.4 g per day) 20–26 years (RR=0.67, 95% CI: 0.49–0.91). Our findings suggest that use of multivitamins is associated with lower risk of colorectal adenoma, even with relatively short duration of use.
Head Start and child care providers' motivators, barriers and facilitators to practicing family-style meal service

Abstract This paper presents a qualitative investigation of the motivators, barriers, and facilitators for practicing family-style meal service (FSMS) from the perspective of 18 child care providers serving preschool children in Head Start (HS), Child and Adult Care Food Program (CACFP) funded, and non-CACFP child-care centers. Providers were selected based on maximum variation purposive sampling and semi-structured interviews were conducted until saturation was reached. Provider responses were systematically coded using thematic analysis. HS and CACFP providers reported being motivated to practice FSMS because it created pleasant mealtimes, opportunities to role model healthy eating, and healthful child development. CACFP and non-CACFP providers reported not using FSMS because it was resource intensive, messy, and seemed to violate CACFP policy. HS and CACFP providers offered suggestions to overcome these barriers. They suggested that FSMS eventually becomes easier with practice, children can self-regulate their energy intake, and teaching children self-help skills during play time can avoid messes during mealtimes. Findings from this study have implications for programming, policy, and research.
Germination ofChaenorrhinum minusSeeds in Response to Gibberellin Treatments

Summary Seeds of Chaenorrhinum 1 minus (L.) Lange (Scrophulariaceae) exhibit embryo dormancy when released from capsules of the parent plant, but can be induced to germinate when chilled or treated with gibberellins (GAs). GAs found to have activity in breaking dormancy of C. minus seeds were GA 3 , GA 4 , GA 7 , and GA 4+7 . The degree of germination success, however, depended on pH, concentration, duration of incubation, and on the kind of GA applied. Newly mature seeds treated with GA 3 at a range of pH values had optimum germination success in the pH range 8.5–10; by contrast, seeds that were stored for 10 months at room temperature had optimum germination success in the pH range 5.5–8. GAS was the most active of the GAs tested: in a 96 h incubation, the GAS concentration required for 50 % germination was approximately 0.3 mmol·L -1 , compared to 2.5 mmol·L -1 for GA 4 and 100 mmol·L -1 for GA 3 . In addition, the maximum proportion (approx. 85 %) of seeds that germinated in GA 7 was greater than in the other GAs. GA 4 and GA 4+7 produced almost identical responses, showing that the effects of GA 4 and GA 7 in the mixture were not additive. Two other GAs, GA 13 and GA 7 -isolactone, were completely ineffective in breaking dormancy. These results are discussed in terms of the affinity of the various GAs for possible receptor sites in C. minus seeds.
Emergent Marine Record and Paleoclimate of the Last Interglaciation along the Northwest Alaskan Coast

The last interglacial high sea-level stand, the Pelukian transgression of isotope substage 5e, is recorded along the western and northern coasts of Alaska by discontinuous but clearly traceable marine terraces and coastal landforms up to about 10 m altitude. The stratigraphy indicates that sea level reached this altitude only once during the last interglacial cycle. From the type area at Nome, to St. Lawrence Island in the Bering Sea, to the eastern limit of the Beaufort Sea, Pelukian deposits contain extralimital faunas indicating that coastal waters were warmer than present. Amino acid ratios in molluscs from these deposits decrease to the north toward Barrow, consistent with the modern regional temperature gradient. Fossil assemblages at Nome and St. Lawrence Island suggest that the winter sea-ice limit was north of Bering Strait, at least 800 km north of its present position, and the Bering Sea was perennially ice-free. Microfauna in Pelukian sediments recovered from boreholes indicate that Atlantic water may have been present on the shallow Beaufort Shelf, suggesting that the Arctic Ocean was not stratified and the Arctic sea-ice cover was not perennial for some period. In coastal regions of western Alaska, spruce woodlands extended westward beyond their modern range and in northern Alaska, on the Arctic Coastal Plain, spruce groves may have entered the upper Colville River basin. The Flaxman Member of the Gubik Formation on the Alaskan Arctic Coastal Plain was deposited during marine isotope substage 5a and records the breakup of an intra-stage 5 ice sheet over northwestern Keewatin.
Visual spatial summation in two classes of geniculate cells

VISUAL perception can be viewed as a transformation and a distortion of the spatial patterns which exist in the outside world. The transformation of external objects into neural images is accomplished by the summation of excitatory and inhibitory influences over the visual field of each neurone. Distortion occurs when the neural response is not simply proportional to the sum of excitation and inhibition because of nonlinear mechanisms in spatial summation. If the responses of all visual cells were distorted by such nonlinear summation, fine visual discriminations like those necessary for reading Nature would be impossible. Nonlinear mechanisms do however, seem to be important in one class of visual neurone, perhaps for signalling change or motion in the external world. We have attempted to understand the importance of the different kinds of spatial summation by studying single cells in the cat visual system.
Ethnic differences in pain, itch and thermal detection in response to topical capsaicin: African Americans display a notably limited hyperalgesia and neurogenic inflammation.

Summary Background Topical application of capsaicin commonly produces burning, stinging and itching as well as hyperalgesia to heat stimuli via activation of transient receptor potential vanilloid subtype 1. Objectives To investigate whether there are differences in sensory response and neurogenic inflammation to topical capsaicin in four different ethnic populations with different skin types. Methods The study was performed in 40 healthy subjects consisting of 10 African Americans, 10 East Asians, 10 Hispanics and 10 Caucasians. Warmth sensation and heat pain detection thresholds, as well as pain intensity, were measured before and after application of capsaicin or placebo on forearms along with skin blood flow and the extent of the flare reaction. Results In African Americans the heat pain detection threshold, pain intensity and skin blood flow did not change significantly after capsaicin application, while in the other three ethnic groups a significant change occurred characterized by hyperalgesia and vasodilatation. The postcapsaicin warmth sensation threshold increased in African Americans and decreased in Hispanics, the latter also uniquely experiencing postcapsaicin itch. Conclusions Our observations indicate that African Americans display a limited hypersensitivity following topical capsaicin, compared with the three other ethnic groups.
Spin-wave energy and source of inhomogeneities in thin films

Abstract It is shown that the correct interpretation of ferromagnetic-resonance measurements of the spin-wave exchange energy Dk2 (1 − βk2) requires cognizance of the effects of an inhomogeneous internal field Hi on the spin-wave energy and pinning. A proposed surface-imperfection source of the inhomogeneous Hi indicates how more homogeneous films can be fabricated and affords a natural explanation of the widely different degrees of inhomogeneity commonly reported in ferromagnetic metallic films.
A sediment chronology of the eutrophication of Chesapeake Bay

Chesapeake Bay sediments were examined for biogeochemical evidence of eutrophication trends using two mesohaline sediment cores. Measurements of 210Pb geochronology and sediment profiles of organic carbon, nitrogen, organic phosphorus, inorganic phosphorus, and biogenis silica (BSi) were used used to develop temporal concentration trends. Recent sediments have 2–3 times as much organic carbon and nitrogen as sediments from 80 to 100 yr ago, but the increases result from both changes in organic matter deposition and time-dependent changes in organic matter decomposition rates. Despite increases in phosphorus loading, no major changes in phosphorus concentration were noted throughout most of the century; anthropogenic phosphorus deposition, though not evident in sulfidic mid-bay sediments, must occur in more oxidizing sediment environments in both the northern and southern bays. Temporal trends in BSi concentrations are much less evident and the lack of substantial increases in this century suggest that BSi inputs may be capped by late spring-summer Si limitation.
On the mechanism of enzyme action. LIX. A relation between the structure of mold pigments and their interaction with enzymes

Abstract 1. 1. Fusarium solani D 2 purple, Stemphylium radicinum, Lentinus lepideus , and Daedalea quercina form ethyl alcohol from glucose, galactose, and xylose. FsD is the most efficient alcohol fermenter from all three sugars. Upon attaining a maximum alcohol concentration after about 10 days of cultivation, the concentration of alcohol diminishes in the cases of FsD, Sterad, and Lelep. 2. 2. FsD, Sterad, and Lelep dehydrogenate ethyl alcohol to acetaldehyde. All three organisms have the ability of utilizing the formed acetaldehyde in their further metabolic pathways. 3. 3. Solanione, the pigment produced by FsD, causes increased accumulation of acetaldehyde in the dehydrogenation of ethyl alcohol by added alcohol dehydrogenase. 4. 4. Mechanisms for the effect of solanione in the enzymatic dehydrogenation of ethyl alcohol were studied.
Note: On clone sets of GF( q)-representable matroids

We bound the size of a clone set in a 3-connected non-uniform GF(q)-representable matroid by a linear function of q. This bound is given by investigating the representability of a class of near-uniform matroids.
A computational model of politicians?bureaucracy relationship in a competitively authoritarian environment

We develop a model that captures the basic characteristics of competitively authoritarian regimes. An incumbent (government) faces a challenge from a rival (opposition). There is also an agent (bureaucracy) who can shirk and can interfere in this contest. Shirking is costly to the incumbent. The contestants offer the agent contingent pay-offs that determine the agent's optimal strategy. This, in turn, determines each contestant's winning probability. We calculate this probability for every possible strategy combination of the contestants. The result is a two-player (incumbent?rival)zero sum game. We compute Nash Equilibria for several interesting scenarios and find that equilibria can exist where the incumbent deliberately encourages bureaucratic shirking (corruption) in exchange for loyalty. More generally, the incumbent's incentive to encourage shirking can depend on public dissatisfaction with shirking, the bureaucracy's electoral influence, the opposition's strength and the asymmetry in the contestants' ability to impose punishments on the bureaucrats.
The non-compliant client

ABSTRACT:The issue of owner compliance – or lack thereof – is a wide-ranging problem through all genres of veterinary medicine and, indeed, medicine worldwide. This article provides a discussion of issues commonly presented in relation to client compliance in the UK, and compares and contrasts these problems with issues in human medicine and in veterinary medicine around the world. Protocols are then presented to improve compliance within veterinary medicine, through the use of a diverse range of communication channels and methods.
Interleukin-1β induction of tumor necrosis factor-alpha gene expression in human astroglioma cells

Abstract Cells that produce tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) require the presence of signaling molecules since this cytokine is not normally expressed in a constitutive manner. It has been demonstrated that glial cells can produce TNF-α; however, the specific inducing molecules and their mechanism(s) of action have not been clearly defined. In this study, we examined the effect of human recombinant interleukin-1β (IL-1β) on the expression of TNF-α by CH235-MG human malignant glioma cells. CH235-MG cells do not constitutively express TNF-α mRNA or protein; however, upon stimulation with IL-1β, these cells synthesize and secrete biologically active TNF-α. IL-1β induces the expression of a 1.9 kb TNF-α mRNA species. Kinetic analysis demonstrated optimum TNF-α mRNA expression after a 4 h exposure to IL-1β, and peak TNF-α protein production at 18 h. Cycloheximide (CHX), an inhibitor of protein synthesis, markedly increases expression of TNF-α mRNA in IL-1β stimulated CH235-MG cells, indicating that de novo protein synthesis is not required for astroglioma TNF-α gene expression. Nuclear run-off analysis demonstrates that IL-1β causes transcriptional activation of the TNF-α gene, and CHX enhances, IL-1β-induced TNF-α transcription. Studies of TNF-α mRNA stability using actinomycin D show that IL-1β-induced TNF-α mRNA has a half-life of approximately 30 min, and CHX increases the half-life of IL-1β-induced TNF-α mRNA to approximately 210 min. These results indicate that IL-1β, a cytokine present in the central nervous system during some pathological disease states, is a potent inducer of TNF-α in human malignant glioma cells.
A molecular method for identification of the morphologically plastic invasive algal genera Eucheuma and Kappaphycus (Rhodophyta, Gigartinales) in Hawaii

A paucity of diagnostic morphological characters for identification and high morphological plasticity within the genera Eucheuma and Kappaphycus has led to confusion about the distributions and spread of three introduced eucheumoid species in Hawaii. Entities previously identified as E. denticulatum, K. alvarezii, and K. striatum have had profound negative effects on Oahu’s coral reef ecosystems. The use of molecular tools to aid identification of algal species has been promising in other morphologically challenging taxa. We used three molecular markers (partial nuclear 28S rRNA, partial plastid 23S rRNA, and mitochondrial 5′ COI) and followed a DNA barcoding-like approach to identify Eucheuma and Kappaphycus samples from Hawaii. Neighbor-joining analyses were congruent in their separation of Eucheuma and Kappaphycus, and the resulting clusters were consistent with those revealed for global comparisons with the mitochondrial cox2-3 spacer and GenBank data. Based on these results, new insights were revealed into the distribution of these groups in Hawaii.
Cefixime compared with amoxicillin for treatment of acute otitis media

Cefixime was compared with amoxicillin for treatment of acute otitis media ina randomized trial. Results of tympanocentesis on day 3 to 5 of therapy were used as the major outcome. Total daily doses were 8 mg/kg of cefixime and 40 mg/kg of amoxicillin. One hundred twenty-six patients were randomly assigned to receive treatment; 64 cultures grew pathogens. Pathogens were eradicated from the middle ear after 3 to 5 days of therapy in 27 (79.4%) of 34 children given amoxicillin and 26 (86.7%) of 30 children given cefixime ( p =0.47). When Streptococcus pneumoniae cases were analyzed, bacteriologic cure occurred in 14 (93.3%) of 15 children given amoxicillin and 12 (75%) of 16 given cefixime ( p =0.333). When cases of Haemophilus influenzae infection were analyzed, significantly more cures occurred with cefixime (10/10, 100%) than amoxicillin (8/13, 62%) ( p =0.046). Pathogenas associated with failure of amoxicillin therapy were H. influenzae (five cases, two β-lactamase-positive), S. pneumoniae (one case), and Moraxella catarrhalis (one case, β-lactamase-positive). The four failures with cefixime therapy were all in patients infected with S. pneumoniae . Rates of rash, diarrhea, and vomiting were the same in both groups and did not necessitate stopping therapy. We conclude the following: (1) Cefixime and amoxicillin were equivalent in overall clinical and bacteriologic efficacy for otitis media. (2) Cefixime was more efficaclous than amoxicillin in treating H. influenzae otitis media and should be preferred when H. influenzae is the suspected etiologic agent. (3) Side effects of both drugs were mild and equivalent.
Analysis of steroid hormone levels in female mice at high population density

Abstract CHAPMAN, J. C., J. J. CHRISTIAN, M. A. PAWLIKOWSKI AND S. D. MICHAEL. Analysis of steroid hormone levels in female mice at high population density. PHYSIOL BEHAV 64 (4) 529–533, 1998.—Populations of predominantly female house mice ( Mus musculus ) were created by placing virgin female mice in cages (0.045 m 2 to 0.48 m 2 ) with a single stud male, and removing all ensuing male offspring at weaning. At maximum population size, the females in these all-female/one-male populations exhibited male-like aggressive behavior. Termination of the populations and subsequent measurement of steroid hormone levels indicated that the aggressive females had high circulating level of testosterone and corticosterone, and elevated baseline levels of progesterone. The high levels of corticosterone could be lowered by dexamethasone, but not the high levels of testosterone.
An exploratory examination of an academic PM&R inpatient consultation service.

Purpose : This study sought to examine an inpatient consultation service delivery system at an academic teaching hospital. Method : Descriptive; retrospective; exploratory. Data from a 33 month period were analysed. Demographic profiles of patients receiving consultation were examined. A comparison was also made between alternate methods of delivering physiatric consultation. Results : Only 80% of patients admitted to a teaching hospital during the study period received consultation. Referrals increased by 75% with the institution of a full-time consultation practice model. Conclusions : The utilization of an inpatient consultation service appears to be dependent upon the service delivery format. Further studies are needed to understand referral patterns and specific challenges to consultation services in an academic setting. Future research should focus on comparing clinical outcomes for patients in diagnostic categories who do and do not receive physiatric consultation.
HIGH-PRECISION BIOLOGICAL EVENT EXTRACTION: EFFECTS OF SYSTEM AND OF DATA

We approached the problems of event detection, argument identification, and negation and speculation detection in the BioNLP'09 information extraction challenge through concept recognition and analysis. Our methodology involved using the OpenDMAP semantic parser with manually written rules. The original OpenDMAP system was updated for this challenge with a broad ontology defined for the events of interest, new linguistic patterns for those events, and specialized coordination handling. We achieved state-of-the-art precision for two of the three tasks, scoring the highest of 24 teams at precision of 71.81 on Task 1 and the highest of 6 teams at precision of 70.97 on Task 2. We provide a detailed analysis of the training data and show that a number of trigger words were ambiguous as to event type, even when their arguments are constrained by semantic class. The data is also shown to have a number of missing annotations. Analysis of a sampling of the comparatively small number of false positives returned by our system shows that major causes of this type of error were failing to recognize second themes in two-theme events, failing to recognize events when they were the arguments to other events, failure to recognize nontheme arguments, and sentence segmentation errors. We show that specifically handling coordination had a small but important impact on the overall performance of the system. The OpenDMAP system and the rule set are available at http://bionlp.sourceforge.net.
HIGH-ENERGY BEHAVIOR IN QUANTUM FIELD THEORY. I. STRICTLY LOCALIZABLE FIELDS

We introduce the notion of a field which is strictly localizable within a region of space-time. We investigate what restrictions strict localizability imposes on the high-energy behavior of fields, and we find that it leads to an upper bound on the growth of a field in momentum space. This bound allows the off-mass-shell vacuum expectation values to grow in momentum space faster than any polynomial. Furthermore, it turns out that no maximum rate of growth exactly saturates our bound. In addition, strictly localizable fields need not be Schwartz distributions. However, the usual distribution fields are strictly localizable fields of a special type. We formulate a strictly local field theory in precise mathematical terms. Finally, we discuss simple examples of strictly localizable fields that are not distributions.
Estimating damage laws from bend-test data

Bend-test curves were calculated for materials obeying three very different damage laws. One result of the calculations is that the neutral axis migrates towards the compression face as the load-point displacement increases. For the three damage laws investigated, there is a simple relationship between the location of the neutral axis and the secant modulus derived from the bend-test record; this relationship is quite insensitive to the exact form of the damage law. The stress at a point 20 per cent of the beam depth from the tensile outer fibre is also fairly insensitive to the form of the damage law. Combining these two observations, it is possible to use bend-test data to make a good estimate of the tensile stress-strain curve of a material subject to damage.
Ouabain-like activity in toad skin and its implications for endogenous regulation of ion transport

THE demonstration that opium alkaloids of the plant kingdom mediate their effects on animals through specific receptors1 led to the discovery that endogenous molecules with opiate activity exist widely in animals2, including man. These studies raised the possibility that other potent pharmacological agents derived from plant sources might have active analogues in higher species. Thus, cardiac glycosides are found widely in the plant kingdom3; structurally similar compounds in the animal kingdom are known to exist only in the poison glands of certain toads3. The dried skins of Bufonid toads have been used in Chinese folk medicine for the treatment of cardiac failure4. Further, these poorly characterised medicinal preparations (Ch'an Su) were shown in the 1920s to contain ouabain-like compounds (bufotoxins) by chemical analysis5. However, although bufotoxins were shown to be a major constituent of the poison glands of Bufo marinus3 the possibility that similar compounds might also serve a physiological role apart from that of a defensive toxin was apparently not considered. More recently, two major observations make the consideration of such a physiological role seem reasonable. First, amphibian skin, which is a major organ for regulation of sodium and water homeostasis in these species6, has been shown to be rich in (Na+ + K+)-ATPase, the molecular mediator of sodium transport across the skin8. In fact, with toad bladder, amphibian skin has been widely used as a model of transepithelial ion transport in higher animals. Second, the pharmacological receptor for cardiac glycosides is now believed to be the (Na+ + K+)-ATPase9,10, glycoside binding to this enzyme resulting in inhibition of both ATPase activity11,12 and associated ion transport13,14. This glycoside–enzyme interaction is considered to be the basis for the cardiac stimulating activity10 for which glycosides such as ouabain and digoxin are used in the therapy of cardiac disorders. We report here that extracts of the skin of three different species of toad each contain high concentrations of a substance with all the functional properties of cardiac glycosides. The widespread existence of ouabain-like activity in an organ rich in physiologically important (Na+ + K+)-ATPase suggests a possible role for these endogenous compounds in the regulation of transepithelial ion transport.
Retrospective Cost-Effectiveness Analysis of Treatments for Aphasia: An Approach Using Experimental Data

Purpose Evidence supports the effectiveness of speech-language treatment for individuals with aphasia, yet less is known about the cost-effectiveness of such treatments. The purpose of this study w...
Roads influence movement and home ranges of a fragmentation-sensitive carnivore, the bobcat, in an urban landscape

Roads in urbanized areas can impact carnivore populations by constraining their movements and increasing mortality. Bobcats (Lynx rufus) are felids capable of living in urban environments, but are sensitive to habitat fragmentation and, thus, useful indicators of landscape connectivity; in particular, bobcat habitat selection, movement, and mortality may be affected by roads. We analyzed movement patterns of 52 bobcats in southern California in three study sites and investigated: (1) how bobcats responded to two types of roads within their home ranges; (2) how they placed their home ranges with respect to roads within the study area; and (3) whether male and female bobcats differed in their behavioral responses to roads. Within home ranges, primary and secondary roads did not influence movements, but bobcats more frequently crossed secondary roads when road densities were higher within their home ranges, thus increasing mortality risk. However, road densities within each study site were several times higher than road densities within home ranges, suggesting bobcats selected against roaded areas in home-range placement. Male home ranges bordering roads were smaller than home ranges for other males, but male home ranges containing roads were larger than those without roads. Male bobcats also were more likely to cross roads than females, potentially reflecting larger male home range sizes. Our results suggest roads have important impacts on urban bobcats, with stronger effects on males than females, and continued efforts to mitigate the effects of roads on carnivores and other fragmentation-sensitive species would help promote connectivity conservation in urban systems.
Molecular control of life and death.

Recent evidence has shown that two of the three key genes in the programmed cell death pathway of Caenorhabditis elegans, ced-9 (a cell death suppressor) and ced-3 (a cell death inducer), encode proteins that share structural and functional similarities with the mammalian proto-oncogene product Bcl-2 and interleukin-1β converting enzyme, respectively. These findings reveal key molecules that control life and death decisions in vertebrates.
Syntheses of Oligometalloles by Catalytic Dehydrocoupling

The dehydrocoupling polycondensation of dihydro(tetraphenyl)metalloles (M = Si or Ge) with 0.2 mol % H2PtCl6·xH2O and excess cyclohexene produces the respective oligometallole in high yield (>80%), where every silicon or germanium atom of the oligomer backbone is part of a silole or germole ring. Slightly less reactive catalyst systems of 1 mol % of Wilkinson's catalyst, (RhCl(PPh3)3), or Pd(PPh3)4 yield the respective oligometallole in good yield (∼60%). With these latter systems, and under less vigorous reflux conditions, the (tetraphenyl)silole dimer may be isolated in 40% yield. X-ray structural characterization of the dimer reveals a Si−Si bond length of 2.363(2) A and an H−Si−Si−H torsion angle of 90(2)°. Using excess cyclohexene as a coreagent with RhCl(PPh3)3 increases the yield of oligomer and also eliminates dimer byproduct. The methyl-terminated dimer forms in the reaction between H2PtCl6·xH2O and methylhydro(tetraphenyl)silole, but not in the similar reaction with the Rh and Pd catalysts. The ...
Electrical Properties of Pb0.92La0.08Zr0.52Ti0.48O3 Thin Films Grown on SrRuO3 Buffered Nickel and Silicon Substrates by Chemical Solution Deposition

Ferroelectric film-on-foil capacitors are suitable to replace discrete passive components in the quest to develop electronic devices that show superior performance and are smaller in size. The film-on-foil approach is the most practical method to fabricate such components. Films of Pb{sub 0.92}La{sub 0.08}Zr{sub 0.52}Ti{sub 0.48}O{sub 3} (PLZT) were deposited on SrRuO{sub 3} (SRO) buffer films over nickel and silicon substrates. High-quality polycrystalline SRO thin-film electrodes were first deposited by chemical solution deposition. A phase pure, dense, uniform microstructure with grain size <100 nm was obtained in films crystallized at 700 C. The room-temperature resistivity of the SRO films crystallized at 700 C was {approx}800-900 {mu}{Omega}-cm. The dielectric properties of sol-gel derived PLZT capacitors on SRO-buffered nickel were evaluated as a function of temperature, bias field, and frequency, and the results were compared to those of the same films on silicon substrates. The comparison demonstrated the integrity of the buffer layer and its compatibility with nickel substrates. Device-quality dielectric properties were measured on PLZT films deposited on SRO-buffered nickel foils and found to be superior to those for PLZT on SRO-buffered silicon and expensive platinized silicon. These results suggest that SRO films can act as an effective barrier layer on nickelmore » substrates suitable for embedded capacitor applications.« less
Renal osteodystrophy: present and future

Evidence is accumulating to indicate that certain abnormalities in mineral metabolism and/or their clinical management can lead to the development of vascular and soft tissue calcifications in patients with end-stage renal disease. Although the long-term consequences of vascular calcification in chronic renal failure have yet to be fully defined, the disorder may contribute to the high mortality rate from cardiovascular causes in patients undergoing long-term dialysis. The relationship between vascular calcification and cardiovascular disease in those with end-stage renal disease needs to be thoroughly evaluated, and substantial changes in the clinical management of patients undergoing dialysis may be appropriate. Phosphate retention and hyperphosphatemia have long been recognized as contributors to vascular and soft tissue calcification in chronic renal failure. Several recent reports indicate, however, that the use of large oral doses of calcium as phosphate-binding agents particularly in patients with persistently elevated serum phosphorus levels, may increase the risk of vascular calcification. Concurrent therapy with supra-physiological doses of calcitriol and other vitamin D sterols to manage secondary hyperparathyroidism leads to episodes of hyperphosphatemia and hypercalcemia, which can further aggravate soft tissue and vascular calcification. The phosphate-binding ion exchange resin sevelamer is now available for clinical use in the United States. It does not contain either calcium or aluminum, and other calcium- and aluminum-free phosphate-binding agents are being developed. These compounds make it possible to manage phosphate retention in patients with chronic renal failure without the risks associated with the sustained ingestion of large daily doses of calcium or aluminum. Several new vitamin D analogs are now available to treat secondary hyperparathyroidism due to chronic renal failure. These compounds may be less likely than calcitriol to enhance intestinal calcium and phosphorus absorption and to promote calcium and phosphorus release from bone. The therapeutic use of new vitamin D sterols as alternatives to calcitriol may permit clinicians to effectively manage secondary hyperparathyroidism while reducing the risks of soft tissue calcification in patients who require vitamin D therapy.