cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mechanisms of altered beta-adrenergic responsiveness in the hyperthyroid and hypothyroid turkey erythrocyte

Studies on the relationship between thyroid hormone and the beta-adrenergic catecholamines have been carried out in the turkey erythrocyte. Conditions of thyroid hormone excess and deficiency were examined with respect to their effects on the beta receptor itself, as well as to their effects on associated biochemical and physiological indices of beta receptor function, including agonist stimulated adenylate cyclase activity, cellular cyclic AMP generation, and catecholamine-induced stimulation of potassium ion influx. Erythrocytes obtained from hypothyroid turkeys showed a marked (approximately 50%) reduction in beta receptor number without any change in receptor affinity for agonists or antagonists. Catecholamine-sensitive adenylate cyclase activity and cellular cyclic AMP levels were similarly reduced. The sensitivity of these cells to agonist-stimulated potassium influx was significantly decreased, but maximal agonist-stimulated transport rate was unchanged. Analysis of the quantitative relationship between beta receptor number, agonist concentration, and level of catecholamine-stimulated potassium influx indicates that, at any given absolute level of receptor occupancy, the level of agonist-stimulated potassium influx is identical in hypothyroid and normal erythrocytes, and that the diminished physiological sensitivity of the hypothyroid cell is attributable in its entirety to a reduction in beta receptor number per se. The results obtained in the hyperthyroid turkey erythrocyte were strikingly different. Here, beta receptor number, binding affinity for agonists and antagonists, catecholamine-sensitive adenylate cyclase activity, and maximal cyclic AMP levels were all unchanged. In contrast, maximal agonist-stimulated potassium ion transport was markedly reduced, while the concentration of isoproterenol required for half-maximal stimulation was only slightly increased. Analysis of the relationship between beta receptor number, agonist concentration, and catecholamine-stimulated potassium influx rate indicates that, at all absolute levels of beta receptor occupancy, the stimulation of monovalent cation influx is markedly blunted in the hyperthyroid cell. In contrast to the findings in the hypothyroid cell, where decreased physiologic sensitivity to catecholamines is directly attributable to a reduction in beta receptor number, the primary abnormality responsible for diminished catecholamine responsiveness in the hyperthyroid cell would appear to be located at a point "distal" to the beta receptor itself.
Importance of adsorption isotherms in defining performance of dye-sensitized solar cells fabricated from photoelectrodes composed of ZnO nanopowders and nanorods

Abstract Dye-sensitized solar cells (DSCs) with films (photoelectrodes) of ZnO nanopowders and nanorods were constructed and investigated. Films having different thicknesses were fabricated by an electrophoretic deposition technique (EPD) and sensitized using different concentrations of a N719 dye solution. Adsorption isotherms for this dye were obtained and showed different behaviors depending upon whether the adsorbent was nanopowders or nanorods. The DSCs were characterized by linear sweep voltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. The photo-electrochemical performance of these DSCs was measured and cell performance depended on the thickness of films, concentration of dye solution used, and the film structure. The DSC having an electrodeposited film of ZnO nanorods showed a higher efficiency than that containing ZnO nanopowders.
Deletions in the 13q14 locus in adult lymphoblastic leukemia: rate of incidence and relevance.

BACKGROUND A putative tumor suppressor gene involved in chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) has been localized to the 13q14 locus. Microsatellite analysis was used to test whether this locus also is involved in acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and its prognostic relevance determined. METHODS The authors analyzed 49 patients with adult ALL for deletions at the 13q14 locus using a battery of 6 microsatellite markers corresponding to this region (D13S260, STR257, D13S263, D13S153, D13S319, and AFMa301wb5). RESULTS Five of the 49 adult ALL patients analyzed (10%) showed loss of heterozygosity (LOH) or deletions at 13q14. Similar to CLL, the significant minimal deletions appeared to be localized between D13S260 and AFMa301wb5 and did not involve the retinoblastoma or BRCA2 genes. Among newly diagnosed patients, LOH was associated with shorter survival (P = 0.007). CONCLUSIONS These data suggest that the 13q14 gene, commonly deleted in CLL patients, also is deleted in some patients with adult ALL. Although the number of the cases in the current study is small, 13q deletions in ALL patients may play a role in the clinical behavior of this disease. Cancer 2000;88:1359–64. © 2000 American Cancer Society.
Left heart failure in the newborn.

SUMMARY Two cases are reported in which left heart failure occurred in early infancy as a result of coarctation of the aorta. The salient clinical features are noted and the criteria for diagnosis is emphasized.
Qualitative Simulation as Causal Explanation

To give a causal explanation of an event is to show how that event could be deduced from a set of universal laws and a set of initial conditions. How can this philosophical definition be related to the diagnostic causal explanations of a practicing expert? An expert physician gives a causal explanation of a disease state by referring to knowledge of the structure of the physiological mechanisms involved (the laws) and to the environment that the mechanism is exposed to (the initial state). The expert's knowledge, however, is qualitative and is thus able to express incomplete knowledge about the exact structure of the mechanism or the precise state of the patient. A qualitative representation for the structure of a mechanism, as well as the QSIM algorithm for deriving qualitative behavioral predictions from that structure and an initial state, are described. Looking in detail at the mechanism whereby the kidney maintains the body's water balance, qualitative predictions are demonstrated of 1) the response of the normal mechanism to a change in its environment, 2) the response of the diseased mechanism to the normal environment, and 3) the response of the diseased mechanism to therapy. To extend these methods to more complex problems, methods are required to abstract a complex mechanism into a hierarchy of simpler models. An abstraction relation based on relative time scales is presented which allows one equilibrium process in a complex system to view faster processes as instantaneous and slower processes as constant.
Glycosylated Serum Protein and Hemoglobin A1 Levels to Measure Control of Glycemia

The value of glycosylated serum protein and glycosylated hemoglobin levels for estimating diabetic control was compared in 14 patients over 8 weeks during which glycemic control was improved. Glycosylated hemoglobin levels were not an effective indicator of improved glycemic control for the preceding 2 weeks; glycosylated serum protein values, however, accurately reflected alteration of mean glycemic levels 1 and 2 weeks after improvement of glycemic control. Both measurements were equally satisfactory after 8 weeks. In five patients glycosylated serum protein and glycosylated albumin values appeared equally effective in predicting glycemic control.
Response-effect compatibility defines the natural scrolling direction.

Objective:We evaluated alternative scrolling methods on non–touch screen computer operating systems by comparing human performance in different scrolling conditions.Background:The scrolling directi...
Purification and partial characterization of haloperoxidase from fresh water algae Cladophora glomerata

Many haloperoxidases have been purified from diverse organisms, including lichen, fungi, bacteria, and marine algae. In this study a haloperoxidase was purified from the fresh water algae, Cladophora glomerata, by homogenization and centrifugation, ammonium sulfate fractionation, ion-exchange and gel filtration chromatography. Molecular weight was determined by SDS-PAGE and by size exclusion HPLC and found to be approximately 43 kDa. The isoelectric point was determined to be approximately 8.1 by isoelectric focusing. The UV spectrum of the peroxidase showed a strong absorbance in the Soret band indicating a heme protein, unlike vanadium-dependent haloperoxidases from marine algae. Fresh water algal haloperoxidase catalyzed the iodination of tyrosine at a pH of 3.1. This haloperoxidase also catalyzes the oxidation of guaiacol and oxidation of iodide as well as catalyzing a peroxide-dependent reaction in both the presence and absence of chloride and bromide ions.
Low Reynolds number circular Couette flow past a wavy wall

Theoretical and experimental results show that it is possible to obtain flow separation or reverse flow for low Reynolds number shear flow past a wavy wall. The region of reverse flow depends on the amplitude of the wall waves as well as the gap width. A comparison between the fourth‐order perturbation results and experiment is given.
Maximal Simpson-disaggregations of 2×2 tables

A 2 x 2 table of frequencies can be expressed as the sum of two other tables corresponding to the levels of a real or potential 'masked' factor in which the direction of the apparent association between the marginal factors is opposite that of the original. This paper analyses the counterpart of this disaggregation obtained by replacing frequencies by probabilities. It is shown that such a disaggregation cannot occur if the original experiment is sufficiently well-balanced with respect to this masked factor. When the class of such disaggregations is nonempty that of its elements which maximizes the average absolute differences of certain marginal probabilities in the resulting tables is found.
Synthesis and conformational investigation of methyl 4a-carba-D-arabinofuranosides.

The synthesis of carbasugar analogues of methyl α-d-arabinofuranoside and methyl β-d-arabinofuranoside (3 and 4) is reported. The route developed involves the conversion of d-mannose into a suitably protected diene (13), which is then cyclized via olefin metathesis. The resulting cyclopentene (14) is stereoselectively hydrogenated to provide an intermediate that can be used for the synthesis of both targets. Through the use of NMR spectroscopy, we have probed the ring conformation of 3 and 4, as well as the rotamer populations about the C4−C5 and C1−O1 bonds. These studies have demonstrated that there are differences in ring conformation between these carbasugars and their glycoside parents (1 and 2). However, only minor differences are seen in the rotameric equilibrium about the C4−C5 bond in 3 and 4 relative to 1 and 2. In regard to the C1−O1 bond, NOE data from 3 and 4 suggest that the favored position about this bond is similar to that in the glycosides; that is, the methyl group is anti to C2. Howeve...
Reliability of Sire Evaluations for Calving Ease by a Threshold Model Analysis

Abstract Two approximate formulas for calculating reliability of evaluations for calving ease by a threshold model are presented. Approximations are based on the upper and lower bounds of true reliability from progeny data and then adjusted by the weighted average reliability of evaluations of sires and maternal grandsires of bulls with progeny information. Each approximation was applied in two data sets small enough so that the predicted reliability could be compared with the expected reliability from a complete inverse of the threshold model equations. Data set l had 280 bulls with progeny and a range in expected reliability of 4 to 96%. The range in expected reliability for the 374 bulls in data set 2 was from 66 to 94%. Predicted reliability by the approximate formulas was compared for progeny data alone and with the addition of pedigree information through the inverse of the relationship matrix. Mean square error of predicted reliability was reduced by including pedigree information, 69.4 and 16.3% in data sets 1 and 2, respectively. Approximate formulas tended to overpredict expected reliability by as much as 14% (data set 1) or 7% (data set 2), but reliability was less severely overpredicted when both the sire and maternal grandsire had progeny data (6 and 5% in data sets 1 and 2, respectively).
Conceptualizing interpretive authority in practical terms

While educational theorists have long debated the pedagogical value of granting students the authority to construct certain of their own understandings in collaboration with their peers, a lack of empirical markers of student ‘interpretive authority’ has constrained comparative study of the pedagogical tradeoffs at stake. Yet the thoughtful nurture of collaborative knowledge construction processes must represent an essential aim of democratic schools, which are charged with the responsibility of adequately preparing students to participate fully in democratic life. This paper offers a conceptualization of interpretive authority based on an extrapolation of the traditional initiation/response/feedback coding sequence and other reliable discourse measures. The discourse patterns of six pedagogically diverse preparatory school classrooms in the United States are employed to illustrate a range of authority balances within respected classroom practices. A five-part frame for the practical characterization of i...
GENOME-WIDE ANALYSIS UNCOVERS RECURRENT ALTERATIONS IN PRIMARY CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM LYMPHOMAS (PCNSL)

BACKGROUND: Primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) is an aggressive non-Hodgkin lymphoma (NHL) confined to the CNS. Whether there is a PCNSL-specific genomic signature and, if so, how it differs from systemic DLBCL is uncertain. To address this gap in critical knowledge we performed a comprehensive genomic study in a cohort of 19 immunocompetent PCNSL patients by combining aCGH, whole exome sequencing and mate-pair whole genome sequencing. METHODS: 1) Tumor samples from 19 immunocompetent (HIV-, EBV-) PCNSL. 2) DNA from frozen tissue or from formalin-fixed paraffin embedded (FFPE) tissues. 3) All samples analyzed using a combination of aCGH, whole exome sequencing, mate-pair whole genome sequencing, targeted sequencing and FISH. 4) Overall survival estimated using Kaplan Meier method. RESULTS: We found a complex karyotype with a median of 21 copy-number abnormalities, 6 structural abnormalities and 3.3 non-synonymous mutations per Mb. We found a remarkably high prevalence of MYD88 activating mutations (79%) and CDKN2A biallelic loss (60%). Biallelic losses of TOX (a regulator of T-cell development), PRKCD (protein kinase C delta) and chromosomal breakpoints in DLGAP1 (discs large-associated protein 1) were recurrently found in PCNSL but not in systemic DLBCL, suggesting a specific role in PCNSL pathogenesis. Several other genes recurrently affected in PCNSL are common with systemic DLBCL of the ABC-type, such as loss of TNFAIP3, PRDM1, GNA13, TMEM30A, TBL1XR1, B2M and CD58, activating mutations of CD79B, CARD11, BRAF3 and translocations of IgH-BCL6. Overall, components of the NF-□B signaling pathway were altered in >90% of PNCSL, highlighting the potential value of this pathway for targeted therapeutic approaches. Furthermore, integrated analysis also showed an enrichment of networks associated with immune response, proliferation, regulation of apoptosis, and lymphocyte differentiation. CONCLUSIONS: We report a PCNSL genomic landscape closely related to ABC-DLBCL but with critical elements that support the existence of a subset of PCNSL-specific abnormalities, helping to genetically differentiate PCNSL from systemic DLBCL and related lymphomas. SECONDARY CATEGORY: Immunobiology & Immunotherapy.
A Comparison of Two Methods of Partial Pancreatectomy in the Dog

Partial pancreatectomy was performed in 9 dogs by dissection and ligation of the pancreatic ductule and blood vessels, and in 10 dogs by a suture fracture technique. The dogs were evaluated for detrimental effects by (1) monitoring clinical signs and serum amylase and lipase activities and (2) examining the excision sites grossly and histologically at necropsy. There were no clinically apparent detrimental effects with either technique. The suture fracture technique evoked more histologic inflammation than the dissection and ligation technique.
Influence of defect shape on laser-induced damage in multilayer coatings

Atomic force microscopy (AFM) was used as a diagnostic for laser damage testing of micrometers -scale nodule defects in e-beam deposited HfO 2 /SiO 2 multilayer mirror coatings. Earlier experiments in our laboratory showed a significant increase in damage susceptibility for defects with heights greater than 0.6 micrometers . In the present study, e-bean HfO 2 /SiO 2 R coatings from two additional vendors were also studied. Atomic force microscopy characterization of the defects showed that the defect shape became less 'classic' as the defect dimensions, especially height, increased. The characteristic shapes (spatter, multilobe, etc.) of the larger defects also varied between vendors. Using the AFM and optical microscopy, laser damage experiments (1064-nm, 3-ns pulses) were performed on various defects found in the coatings of the two new vendors. The data showed once again that the damage susceptibility increased as the height of the defect increased. There was also some difference between vendors in the damage susceptibility of the defects of a given size. Spatter defects, found predominantly in the coatings of one vendor, showed the highest susceptibility to damage.
The efficacy and safety of short- and long-term dual antiplatelet therapy in patients with mild or moderate chronic kidney disease: results from the Clopidogrel for the Reduction of Events During Observation (CREDO) trial

Background Mild and moderate chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with decreased survival and increased adverse events after a percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Therapy with clopidogrel decreases adverse events in large patient populations. Therefore, we sought to determine the efficacy and safety of long-term clopidogrel therapy in patients with CKD. Methods Two thousand two patients from the CREDO trial in whom an elective PCI of a single or multiple vessels was planned were analyzed. Patients were randomly assigned to a 300-mg loading dose of clopidogrel before PCI followed by clopidogrel 75 mg/d for a year versus a placebo loading dose at the time of the PCI procedure and clopidogrel 75 mg/d for 28 days and placebo for the remainder of a year. Patients were categorized by their estimated creatinine clearance (>90 [normal, n=999], 60-89 [mild CKD, n=672], Results Diminished renal function was associated with worse outcomes. Patients with normal renal function who received 1 year of clopidogrel had a marked reduction in death, myocardial infarction, or stroke compared with those who received placebo (10.4% vs 4.4%, P P = .30; moderate: 13.1% vs 17.8%, P = .24). Clopidogrel use was associated with an increased relative risk of major or minor bleeding, but this increased risk was not different based on renal function (relative risk 1.2, 1.3, 1.1). Conclusions Clopidogrel in mild or moderate CKD patients may not have the same beneficial effect as it does in patients with normal renal function, but was not associated with a greater relative risk of bleeding based on renal function. Further studies are needed to define the role of clopidogrel therapy in patients with CKD.
Coupled-cluster calculation for nuclear matter and comparison with the hole-line expansion☆

Abstract The Bochum truncation of the coupled-cluster equations is applied to the nuclear matter problem. Numerical solutions are obtained on the two- and three-particle levels. Approximate treatments for the four-particle level including the four-particle cluster term result in only small contributions, demonstrating the fast convergence of the coupled-cluster scheme. The results are in agreement with variational and hole-line expansion calculations.
SU-GG-I-172: Phase-Contrast Enhancements within Digital Tomosynthesis Images

Purpose: Phase‐contrast edge enhancement uses x‐ray phase shifts to enhance the visualization of boundaries between different materials. While observable in phase‐contrast radiographs or in phase‐contrast computed tomographyimages, the impact of digital tomosynthesis on this edge enhancement effect has not been studied previously. An experiment was performed to determine if phase‐contrast edge enhancement is improved by using digital tomosynthesis. While this work was performed using phantoms, the ultimate goal is to improve soft‐tissue lesion detectability in clinical mammography.Materials and Methods: An unmodified, commercially available cabinet x‐ray system (Faxitron LX‐60) was used in this experiment. This system contains a tungsten anode x‐ray tube that was operated at 24 kVp and 3 mAs for each radiographicimage taken, with an effective focal spot size of about 0.010 mm. The digital detector uses CsI/CMOS with a pixel size of 0.054mm × 0.054mm. The phantom used was a 50mm long, 14mm diameter cylinder made from resin with three holes, each with a 2mm diameter, drilled into it. The phantom was attached to a computer‐controlled rotating motor and was rotated ± 25 degrees about a central position in one degree increments. At each increment, three phase‐contrast radiographs were taken and then averaged to reduce the effect of noise. These images were then placed into our custom written tomosynthesis algorithm (as an ImageJ plugin) that produced a series of 56 longitudinal tomographic images reconstructed with an image offset increment of about 0.7mm. Results: Tomographic z‐plane resolution was measured to be <4.7 mm and, when compared to planar PC images, the tomosynthesisimages exhibited an improvement in the edge contrast. Conclusion: The results of this work show that one may combine digital tomosynthesis with phase‐contrast edge enhancement that may be used to further improve soft‐tissue conspicuity.
Building Marketing Relationships on Twitter: A Content Analysis of University Twitter Accounts

The current study applies a relationship marketing approach to examine how universities use Twitter to communicate with their audiences. To explore social media strategies related to top-ranked universities' Twitter activity, Kotler's 1992 model of five levels of relationship building was refined and operationalized. A content analysis of 1375 tweets distributed by 22 universities was conducted to evaluate the level of relationship building that universities establish through social media in order to engage with current and prospective students, alumni, donors, and external audiences. The authors conclude that top-ranked universities are more likely to engage primarily in reactive relationship building, which can be characterized as the broadcast of an original message with opportunities for followers to initiate post-communication interaction. Results of the message orientation analysis reveal that the vast majority of tweets in the sample were used to give opinion, suggestion, or information.
Multi-Stage Bayesian Surrogates for the Design of Time-Dependent Systems

During the early stages of the design process, designers rarely have accurate models of system behavior, yet the success of their designs depends on understanding the effect of changes in the design parameters on the system response. When models are available, they are often expensive to evaluate and difficult to run, in large part due to the imprecise knowledge available at the beginning of the design process. To circumvent these problems, a common approach proposed in the literature is the use of surrogate models. In this paper, we propose a framework for building surrogate models in multiple stages for time-dependent systems. Because they are built in stages, the surrogate models can respond to changes in constraints and can be fine-turned as design decisions are made. When designers have mathematical models available, they can perform repeated sensitivity analyses, explore trade-offs and perform optimization studies. In this framework, the observed responses are viewed as a set of time-correlated spatial processes. The framework uses optimal sampling techniques to improve the accuracy of the resulting surrogate model while keeping the number of samples to a minimum. A new non-stationary covariance structure is proposed and tested with an example design application. The resulting models are compared with the surrogates obtained with the stationary covariance structure proposed by Romero et al. [1]. The results show increased accuracy using the non-stationary covariance structure due to its superior interpolation capabilities.Copyright © 2004 by ASME
Characterisation of RF propagation in rectangular metal pipes for passive RFID systems

In this paper, we collect and extend the theory of Radio Frequency (RF) propagation within rectangular metal pipes. This work is motivated by the need to understand the operation of UHF Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) systems when the tags are placed within rectangular metal pipes. The field components inside a rectangular metal pipe are derived to obtain the propagation and attenuation constants, modal cutoff frequency relationships, the different Transverse Electric (TE) and Transverse Magnetic (TM) modes. The cutoff frequencies, attenuation and angle of incidence are used within the theory to identify operating limitations of passive RFID systems in hollow rectangular metal pipes. This theory is combined with existing theories of propagation within cylindrical metal pipes to present a comprehensive general theory. Analytical evaluations are used to visualise the tags within the metal pipes and to validate the theory presented in this paper. It is shown that passive UHF RFID tags can be read even below the cutoff frequencies of these rectangular metal pipes when used under the guidance of the general theory.
Meeting report: ISN forefronts in nephrology on endothelial biology and renal disease: from bench to prevention

This ISN-sponsored Forefront in Nephrology meeting, which has brought together 120 scientists from 21 countries, has been concerned with various aspects of endothelial function and dysfunction and their contribution to progression of chronic kidney disease and/or its cardiovascular complications. The following themes were discussed in great depth: (1) phenotypical changes in the vascular endothelium – permeability, senescence, and apoptosis; (2) regulation of endothelial nitric oxide (NO) synthase function – caveolar and shear stress mechanisms, epigenetic regulation, S-nitrosylation, and Rho-kinase regulation; (3) oxidative stress and hypoxia-induced changes; (4) organellar dysfunction – lysosomes, mitochondria, and endoplasmic reticulum; (5) NO-independent mechanisms of vasomotion – epoxides, heme oxygenase-1 and carbon monoxide, thromboxane, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, and uric acid; (6) endothelial crosstalk with podocytes, monocytes, smooth muscle cells, and platelets; (7) candidate clinical biomarkers of endothelial dysfunction – functional testing of macro- and micro-vascular functions, surrogate markers, circulating detached endothelial cells, and endothelial precursor cells; and culminated in Round Table discussion on the diagnosis of endothelial dysfunction and its treatment options. In conclusion, this meeting has focused on several key problems of endothelial cell pathobiology relevant to chronic kidney disease.
Growth and respiration of rice (Oryza sativa L.) cells in suspension culture

Studies on the growth and respiration of batch suspension cultures of rice (Oryza sativa L.) in a reference medium containing Murashige-Skoog salts, 2% (w/v) sucrose and yeast extract are reported. It was found that the yeast extract contributed 70% of the phosphate in this medium, and that the cells grew equally well in continued subculture in a defined medium which contained 6 mM phosphate and 3% (w/v) sucrose and the remaining Murashige-Skoog salts. Cell clumps (up to 1.5 mm diameter) were prevalent in the initial cultures in the reference medium. In such cultures the critical O2 pressure of cell respiration was high (∼125 μM), and ethanol accumulated. When cell clumps were routinely removed during several weekly subcultures on the defined medium cultures were obtained in which no clumps were present, the critical O2 pressures was decreased to 40 μM and no ethanol accumulated.
Brachial plexus palsy: An in utero injury?

Acquired brachial plexus injury historically has been linked with excessive lateral traction applied to the fetal head, usually in association with shoulder dystocia. Recent reports in the obstetric literature, however, have suggested that in utero forces may underlie a significant portion of these injuries. Brachial plexus palsies may therefore precede the delivery itself and may occur independent of the actions of the accoucheur. Thus we propose that the long-held notions of a traction-mediated pathophysiologic mechanism for all brachial plexus injuries warrant critical reappraisal.
Modeling temperature effects on decomposition

Temperature strongly affects carbon decomposition making it difficult to apply decay rates determined in one environment to another. After considering a number of approaches, this study recommends modeling decay by using the Arrhenius equation to adjust time. The resulting decay constants are independent of temperature and can therefore be applied to similar materials in other climates. To test the method, parameters developed from a mesophilic mulch decomposition study are applied to a thermophilic compost experiment. A two compartment linear model is used and cases are considered where Q10 values for labile and recalcitrant compartments are uniform and where they differ. In the uniform case, Q10=2 is found to be reasonable. Where different Q10 values are allowed, it is found that Q10=1 for the labile fraction and Q10=3.3 for recalcitrant materials suggesting that labile and recalcitrant materials may respond differently to temperature gradients.
Minimum Wage Rates and the Pure Theory of International Trade

Introduction, 98. — I. The minimum-wage economy, 99. — II. International equilibrium, 109. — III. Summary, 115.
PITCH STRENGTH OF ITERATED RIPPLED NOISE

Two versions of a cascade add, attenuate, and delay circuit were used to generate iterated rippled noise (IRN) stimuli. IRN stimuli produce a repetition pitch whose pitch strength relative to the noise percept can be varied by changing the type of circuit, the attenuation, or the number of iterations in the circuit. Listeners were asked to use pitch strength to discriminate between various pairs of IRN stimuli which differed in the type of network used to generate the sounds, the number of iterations, and the attenuation in the network. A description based on an exponential function of the first peak of the autocorrelation function of IRN stimuli is consistent with the results. The discrimination data were well fit by a function based on the difference in the exponential functions of the first peak of the autocorrelation functions. A magnitude estimation experiment indicated that pitch strength was an exponential function of the height of the first peak in the autocorrelation function. These results suggest that the strength of the pitch of IRN stimuli is based on temporal processing as might be revealed by autocorrelation.
Length analyses of mammalian G-protein-coupled receptors.

G-protein-coupled receptors (GPCRs) play a crucial role in mediating effects of extracellular messengers in a wide variety of biological systems, comprising the largest gene superfamily at least in mammals. Mammalian GPCRs are broadly classified into three families based on pharmacological properties and sequence similarities. These sequence similarities are largely confined to the seven transmembrane domains, and much less in the extracellular and intracellular loops and terminals (LTs). Together with the fact that the LTs vary considerably in length and sequence, the LT length of GPCRs has not been studied systematically. Here we have applied a statistical analysis to the length of the LTs of a wide variety of mammalian GPCRs in order to examine the existence of any trends in molecular architecture among a known mammalian GPCR population. Tree diagrams constructed by cluster analyses, using eight length factors in a given GPCR, revealed possible length relations among GPCRs and defined at least three groups. Most samples in Group J (joined) and Group M (minor) had an exceptionally long N-terminal and I3 loop, respectively; and other samples were considered as Group O (other/original). This length-based classification largely coincided with the conventional sequence- and pharmacology-based classification, suggesting that the LT length contains some biological information when analysed at the population level. Principle component analyses suggested the existence of inherent length differences between loops and terminals as well as between extracellular and intracellular LTs. Wilcoxon rank transformation tests unveiled statistically significant differences between Group O and Group J, not only in the N-terminal and I3 loop, but also in the E3 loop. Correlation analyses identified an E1-I2 length-correlation in Group O and Group J and an N-E3 length-correlation in Group J. Taken together, these results suggest a possible functional importance of LT length in the GPCR superfamily.
Unraveling the Dynamics of the EF1 Hand Upon Ca2+ Binding in Neurocalcin Delta

Neuronal calcium sensor (NCS) proteins comprise a family of related proteins that mediate signal transduction in response to calcium, primarily in neurons. Neurocalcin delta (NCALD) is a member of this family. Though NCALD, like other NCS proteins, has 4 EF-hand motifs that could potentially bind calcium, it has been demonstrated that the first EF hand, EF1, does not bind calcium. NCALD has been purified from the brain and the retina and is thought to play critical roles in signaling. However, the details of the calcium-dependent dynamics remain to be elucidated, despite the availability of its crystal structure. To probe the calcium-dependent changes, we carried out both experimental and computational analyses. The experimental investigations comprised of analyses of local conformational changes through tryptophan fluorescence, global conformational changes through mobility on native gels, and dimerization state through gel filtration chromatography. The wild-type as well as different mutant versions of the protein were used in these analyses. Meanwhile, atomistic molecular dynamics (MD) simulations with the explicit solvent model were performed to explore the structure and dynamics of the NCALD monomer with and without Ca2+ ions. In this report, the joint results are presented to provide evidence to support a major role for EF1 hand (which does not bind calcium) in determining the response of the protein to calcium.
The Problem of Successorship in Dictatorial Régimes; A Study in Comparative Law and Institutions

If one were to attempt an over-all characterization of all presentday societies, whether with liberal-democratic or authoritarian-totalitarian governments and institutions, it might be to the effect that ours is an age of large-scale organization and an ensuing mass society, drab and dreary, where the individuals as well as traditional groups tend to be mere cogs in the machine. This holds for the sphere of the state and government also, where we are increasingly inclined to consider even those who occupy leading positions as interchangeable and replaceable technicians. Modern dictatorship, among many other things, reflects a revolt of the individual against such situations and attitudes. In times of crisis the necessity for authority and leadership, whether of the traditional or charismatic kind, is felt again, and this feeling is liable to be exploited by the ambitious who would not be satisfied with working within a machine. Thus they create one in order to establish their own, personalized, and oftentimes irrational rule. Subsequently, to be sure, under totalitarian dictatorship, there is even more of organization, machine, and crushing of individual or group autonomy than before. But its beginnings are by way of reaction against such result. While the often colorful story of the rise of dictators and their movements has been given a good deal of attention within and without their regimes, much less interest has been shown in the problem of their continuation after a demise of the "leader." It is true that in most cases the problem of succession did not arise because dictatorial rule was terminated through the premature, and more or less abrupt and violent, end of the regime as such. But even prior to such event, little public attention is given to the problem within dictatorships. The mystique of the leader considers him as unique, and raising the problem of his demise, even that of his natural death, would put his uniqueness to doubt and pull his regime down to the level of
3D MR angiographic visualization and artery-vein separation

The common approach for artery-vein separation applies a presaturation pulse to obtain different image intensity representations in MRA data for arteries and veins. However, when arteries and veins do not run in opposite directions as in the brain, lungs, and heart, this approach fails. This paper presents an image processing approach devised for artery-vein separation. The anatomic separation utilizes fuzzy connected object delineation. The first step of this separation method is the segmentation of the entire vessel structure from the background via absolute connectedness by using scale-based affinity. The second step is to separate artery from vein via relative connectedness. After 'seed' points are specified inside artery and vein in the vessel- only image, the operation is performed in an iterative fashion. The small regions of the bigger aspects of artery and vein are separated in the initial iteration. Further regions are added with the subsequent iterations so that the small aspects of artery and vein are included in alter iterations. Shell rendering is used for 3D display. Combining the strengths of fuzzy connected object definition, object separation, and shell rendering, high- quality volume rendering of vascular information in MRA data has been achieved. MS-325 contrast-enhanced MRA were used to illustrate this approach. Several examples of 3D display of arteries and veins are included to show the considerable promise of this new approach.
Search on a five choice invisible displacement hiding task: A rejoinder to schuberth and gratch*

Several aspects of Schuberth and Gratch's (1981) reply to Cummings and Bjork (1981) require comment. First, while we appreciate Schuberth and Gratch's desire to examine the replicability of our findings, a sample of eight infants is too small to allow for an adequate test. The use of small samples must always be viewed with caution, and it is a particular concern in object permanence research because of the considerable individual variation in task performance, even among infants who are the same age. Second, Schuberth and Gratch overstate the differences between the findings of the two studies. After presenting their results, Schuberth and Gratch assert that their findings are "grossly different" from ours. However, an examination of the data reveals that the findings of the two studies are similar on every trial but one. In fact, Schuberth and Gratch make this point themselves during the course of presenting their results. Therefore, their description of the results of the two studies as "grossly different" is misleading. Third, our position with regard to the frequency of the AB error seems to have been misunderstood. It is not our contention that searches at the A location during B hiding trials can only be produced as an artifact of a two-choice procedure. Instead, our claim is that the A location does not have a unique hold on
Effects of fatigue loading and PMMA precoating on the adhesion and subcritical debonding of prosthetic-PMMA interfaces.

Debonding of clinically relevant CoCrMo-polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) interfaces is shown to occur subcritically under fatigue loading, implying that debonding may occur at loads much lower than those required for catastrophic failure. Interface fracture mechanics samples containing precoated and uncoated grit-blasted CoCrMo substrates and a PMMA layer were constructed and quantitatively evaluated in terms of their critical interface adhesion and subcritical debond behavior. The precoat surfaces had markedly enhanced adhesion and fatigue resistance in both air and simulated physiological environmental conditions compared to the uncoated samples. Constraint of the PMMA layer does not significantly affect the debond process for thickness between 2- and 5-mm. In addition, wear particles were collected and shown to be consistent with particle sizes reported in vivo and are on the scale of the metal surface roughness. Life prediction methods using the subcritical debond-growth data are discussed.
Effect of Agricultural Land Use on Ground-Water Quality in a Small Pennsylvania Watersheda

Ground-water quality, determined by 10 samplings of 14 wells within a 7.4 km2 watershed during 1973–1982, was related to land use and geology. The wells represent forest and cropland use associated with three geologic zones. Nitrates, chloride and phosphate concentrations were much higher in ground waters underlying cropland. The mean concentrations ranged from five to seven times those observed in ground water underlying forests. The contamination pattern is consistent with that computed from a nutrient balance, based on known fertilizer and manure use on local croplands. Downgradient from the primary agricultural area, a geologic zone exists through which ground water from agricultural sources must pass to reach the stream. In this zone, the nitrate, chloride, and phosphate concentrations are greatly decreased due to mixing and dilution. The chemical nature of these ground waters reflects more the geochemistry of local geologic deposits than the impact of cropland use. A ground-water flow system was hypothesized, based on known geologic, hydrologie, and geometric properties. The flow system is supported by the chemical data.
Toward Marketplace Diversity: A Multimeasure, Multidimensional Study of the Journal of Public Policy & Marketing

Abstract To reflect greater marketplace diversity and inclusion, journals must publish research that engages a broader repertoire of intellectual resources and approaches. The authors examine how Journal of Public Policy & Marketing (JPPM) contributes to this area from a multimeasure, multidimensional perspective. This research illustrates how JPPM's composition of diversity has changed over time and provides insight into how JPPM successfully fulfills its mission.
Influence of nonuniform charge-coupled device pixel response on aperture photometry

The extensive use of charge-coupled devices (CCDs) in astronomical imaging and spectroscopic applications has resulted in techniques being developed to correct for sensitivity variations attributable to the focal plane array detector. One normally overlooked effect is that these sensitivity variations also include intrapixel spatial effects that can influence measurements made with CCDs in certain circumstances. We demonstrate the influence of CCD pixel response nonuniformity on photometric measurements. An investigation is presented of how the relation between pixel size and the image size affects the photometric accuracy. Results are presented for a front-illuminated CCD array using an experimentally measured pixel sensitivity functions.
Subphrenic abscess following primary closure for pilonidal sinus; report of a case.

THE problem of the proper management of pilonidal sinus has occupied a position of increasing importance in the medical literature in the past six years. In the medical care of an active military f...
Orgasmic frequency and plasma testosterone levels in normal human males.

Twenty males participated in a 2-month study examining the relationship between 8 a.m. plasma testosterone levels and orgasmic frequency. Within subjects, higher levels of testosterone are associated with periods of sexual activity. Over subjects, however, the direction of the relationship is reversed. Mean testoster-one levels were higher for sexually less active individuals.
Traction Stresses and Translational Distortion of the Nucleus During Fibroblast Migration on a Physiologically Relevant ECM Mimic

Cellular traction forces, resulting in cell-substrate physical interactions, are generated by actin-myosin complexes and transmitted to the extracellular matrix through focal adhesions. These processes are highly dynamic under physiological conditions and modulate cell migration. To better understand the precise dynamics of cell migration, we measured the spatiotemporal redistribution of cellular traction stresses (force per area) during fibroblast migration at a submicron level and correlated it with nuclear translocation, an indicator of cell migration, on a physiologically relevant extracellular matrix mimic. We found that nuclear translocation occurred in pulses whose magnitude was larger on the low ligand density surfaces than on the high ligand density surfaces. Large nuclear translocations only occurred on low ligand density surfaces when the rear traction stresses completely relocated to a posterior nuclear location, whereas such relocation took much longer time on high ligand density surfaces, probably due to the greater magnitude of traction stresses. Nuclear distortion was also observed as the traction stresses redistributed. Our results suggest that the reinforcement of the traction stresses around the nucleus as well as the relaxation of nuclear deformation are critical steps during fibroblast migration, serving as a speed regulator, which must be considered in any dynamic molecular reconstruction model of tissue cell migration. A traction gradient foreshortening model was proposed to explain how the relocation of rear traction stresses leads to pulsed fibroblast migration.
Detoxification of Synthetic Pyrethroid Insecticides by Thermophilic Microorganisms

Microbially-mediated detoxification of five synthetic pyrethroid insecticides was achieved by a mixed culture growing anaerobically at 75°C. These pyrethroids were hydrolysed to non-insecticidal products after a period of 4-8 weeks' incubation. Of these five permethrin was the most readily transformed and Fastac the most recalcitrant. The mixed culture consisted of a facultative anaerobe and two other obligate anaerobes including a methanogen. This culture was derived from terrestrial sediments from hot-springs in New Zealand. This is the first reported microbial biotransformation of these xenobiotics at a temperature of 75°C.
Codes of ethics for conservation

This article examines the codes of ethics of the British, Canadian, Australian, and American professional conservation organizations and evaluates their success in meeting the needs of the discipline as it grows and matures. Specific issues that are currently of concern to conservators are examined, including the application of a single document to a diverse profession, reversibility of treatment, preventive conservation, cultural sensitivity, and the antiquities trade. The fact that none of these codes are enforceable is considered as well as the issue of accreditation and what it means. While these codes are reasonably successful in setting forth the principles that should guide conservation work for straightforward cases, they are less successful in providing guidance for complex issues such as those presented by cultural sensitivity and the antiquities trade.