cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Controlled study of the effects of indomethacin on cerebral blood flow velocities in newborn infants.

1. Shackelford GD. Neurosonography of hydrocephalus in infants. Neuroradiology 1986;28:452-62. 2. Levene MI. Measurement of the growth of the lateral ventricles in preterm infants with real-time ultrasound. Arch Dis Child 1981 ;56i900-4. 3. Johnson ML, Mack LA, Rumaek CM, et al. B-mode echoencephalography inthe normal and high risk infant. A JR Am J Roentgenol 1979;133:374-81. 4. Rumack CM, Johnson ML. Perinatal and infant brain imaging. Chicago: Year Book Medical Publishers, 1984:157. 5. Brann BS, Wofsy C, Wicks J, Brayer J. The quantification of neonatal cerebral ventricular volume by real-time ultrasonography: derivation and in vitro confirmation of a mathematical model. J Ultrasound Med 1990;9:1-8. 6. Brann BS, Wofsy C, Papile LA, Angelus P, Backstrom C. The quantification of neonatal cerebral ventricular volume by realtime ultrasonography: in vivo validation of the cylindrical coordinate method. J Ultrasound Med 1990;9:9-15. 7. Garrett W J, Kossoff G, Warren PS. Cerebral ventricular size in children: a two-dimensional ultrasonic study. Radiology 1980; 136:711-5. 8. London DA, Carroll BA, Enzmann DR. Sonography of ventricular size and germinal matrix hemorrhage in premature infants. AJNR 1980;1:295-300. 9. Sauerbrei EE, Digney M, Harrison PB, Cooperberg PL. Ultrasonic evaluation of neonatal intracranial hemorrhage and its complications. Radiology 1981 ;39:667-85. 10. Quisling RG, Reeder JD, Setzer ES, Kaude JV. Temporal comparative analysis of computed tomography with ultrasound for intracranial hemorrhage in premature infants. Neuroradiology 1983;24:205-11. 11. Naidich TP, Epstein F, Lin JP, Kricheff II, Hochwald GM. Evaluation Of pediatric hydrocephalus by computed tomography. Radiology 1976;119:337-45. 12. Hertzberg BS, Bowie JD, Burger PC, Marshburn PB, Djang WT. The th?ee lines: origin of sonographic landmarks in the fetal head. A JR Am J Roentgenol 1987;149:1009-12. 13. Hakim S, Adams RD. The special clinical problem of symptomatic hydrocephalus with normal cerebrospinal fluid pressure. J Neurol Sci 1965;2:307-27. 14. Geschwind N. The mechanism of normal pressure hydrocephalus. J Neurol Sci 1968;7:481-93. 15. Nagashima T, Tamaki N, Matsumoto S, Horwitz B, Seguchi Y. Biomechanics of hydrocephalus: a new theoretical model. Neurosurgery 1987;21:898-904.
Linear structural equations with latent variables

An interdependent multivariate linear relations model based on manifest, measured variables as well as unmeasured and unmeasurable latent variables is developed. The latent variables include primary or residual common factors of any order as well as unique factors. The model has a simpler parametric structure than previous models, but it is designed to accommodate a wider range of applications via its structural equations, mean structure, covariance structure, and constraints on parameters. The parameters of the model may be estimated by gradient and quasi-Newton methods, or a Gauss-Newton algorithm that obtains least-squares, generalized least-squares, or maximum likelihood estimates. Large sample standard errors and goodness of fit tests are provided. The approach is illustrated by a test theory model and a longitudinal study of intelligence.
Joint Width and Freeze/Thaw Effects on Joint Sealant Performance

As part of ongoing research, a new testing method was developed to evaluate the effect of joint width and freezing and thawing on the performance of three types of commercially available one-component rigid pavement joint sealants (A, B, and C): A is a low modulus silicone, B is a self-leveling silicone, and C is a polyurethane used with a primer. The effect of joint width on sealant performance was investigated using two joint widths (6.5 mm and 19 mm), while the weathering effect of freezing and thawing was evaluated by exposing specimens to 50 cycles of rapid freezing and thawing prior to testing. Sealant performance was affected by joint width. A joint width of 6.5 mm offered higher sealant failure resistance than the 19 mm joint width. Exposure to freezing and thawing cycles reduced the number of loading cycles that caused failure for sealants A and C, and increased it for sealant B. The three sealants experienced a higher rate of stress reduction over the number of loading cycles after freezing and thawing conditioning.
Pressure perturbation calorimetry of apolipoproteins in solution and in model lipoproteins.

High-density lipoproteins (HDLs) are complexes of lipids and proteins (termed apolipoproteins) that remove cell cholesterol and protect from atherosclerosis. Apolipoproteins contain amphipathic α-helices that have high content (≥1/3) and distinct distribution of charged and apolar residues, adopt molten globule-like conformations in solution, and bind to lipid surfaces. We report the first pressure perturbation calorimetry (PPC) study of apolipoproteins. In solution, the main HDL protein, apoA-I, shows relatively large volume contraction, ΔVunf = −0.33%, and an apparent reduction in thermal expansivity upon unfolding, Δαunf ≤ 0, which has not been observed in other proteins. We propose that these values are dominated by increased charged residue hydration upon α-helical unfolding, which may result from disruption of multiple salt bridges. At 5°C, apoA-I shows large thermal expansion coefficient, α(5°) = 15·10−4 K−1, that rapidly declines upon heating from 5 to 40°C, α(40°) − α(5°) = −4·10−4 K−1; apolipoprotein C-I shows similar values of α(5°) and α(40°). These values are larger than in globular proteins. They indicate dominant effect of charged residue hydration, which may modulate functional apolipoprotein interactions with a broad range of their protein and lipid ligands. The first PPC analysis of a protein–lipid complex is reported, which focuses on the chain melting transition in model HDL containing apoA-I or apoC-I, dimyristoyl phosphatidylcholine, and 0–20% cholesterol. The results may provide new insights into volumetric properties of HDL that modulate metabolic lipoprotein remodeling during cholesterol transport. Proteins 2010. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
The number of lines determined by a polygon

Abstract Given a polygon P in the Euclidean plane, what can be said about the number of lines in the plane which contain at least one edge of P? If P has n edges, it is easy to see that at most n lines contain an edge of P. Further, any convex polygon with n edges provides an example of such a situation. The question of interest here is what is the smallest number of lines, each containing one or more edges, which may be determined by a polygon with n edges? This number is not n and in fact does not even grow like some constant, of necessity less than one, times n. Rather, it grows like √2n. We are actually able to determine this minimum exactly for most values of n and to within one for all values of n.
Pressure drop and film height measurements for annular gas-liquid flow

Abstract Measurements of the pressure drop and the film height averaged around the circumference are presented for air and water flowing in horizontal 2.54 and 5.08 cm pipelines. Film height measurements are interpreted using relations similar to those that have been developed for vertical flows. The frictional pressure loss is found to be primarily related to properties of the liquid film and to be approximately independent of the amount of entrained liquid.
Prevention of polyurethane valve cusp calcification with covalently attached bisphosphonate diethylamino moieties.

Objective: Calcification of polyurethane prosthetic valve leaflets causes a major functional impairment. Previously we showed that polyurethane heart valves modified with covalently linked bisphosphonate groups were resistant to calcification in vivo. However, we also found that the highly polar anionic bisphosphonate groups on the polyurethane surface attracted sodium counter ion adsorption, and thereby increased the elastomer's water absorption to 20% of total weight. In this study we address the increased water absorption by investigating the hypothesis that covalently attaching cationic diethylamino groups to the bisphosphonate-modified polyurethane will reduce water absorption. Thus we evaluated the mechanical and in vivo anticalcification properties of heart-valve leaflets composed of this modified polymer. Methods: Diethylamino and bisphosphonate groups (DBP) were appended to the polyurethane Biospan's hard segment using previously published bromoalkylation methodology. Water absorption and biaxial mechanical and uniaxial failure testing were used to determine the mechanical properties of the DBP-modified polymer. Rat subdermal implants (60 days) and extended (150 days) single pulmonary leaflet replacements in juvenile sheep provided in vivo assessments of the bisphosphonate-modified polyurethane. Results: The water absorption properties of the DBP-modified polymers and unmodified polyurethanes were 1.86 and 2.3 %, respectively. Biaxial mechanical tests showed the DBP-modified polymer was more compliant than the unmodified control material, but all polymeric material had similar uniaxial failure properties. In both rat subdermal and sheep circulatory implants, the DBP-modified polyurethane resisted calcification, as assessed by scanning electron microscopy, with complete calcification inhibition in prosthetic sheep valve leaflet replacements. Conclusion: DBP polyurethane possesses physical (water absorption) and biomechanical properties comparable to unmodified polyurethane and can resist intrinsic heart-valve leaflet calcification in blood-stream implants. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Biomed Mater Res 66A: 385–395, 2003
Vegetation and wildland fire: Implications of global climate change

Abstract Climate, vegetation, and fire are interrelated so that any change in one will affect the others. Increases in greenhouse gases, especially carbon dioxide, are expected to increase average surface temperatures and alter precipitation patterns. These changes will alter numerous biochemical processes of vegetative communities. Changes in growth rates, carbon allocation patterns, nutrient cycling, and competitive interactions will lead to direct changes in the structure and species composition of many plant communities. Major shifts in vegetation zones will occur in many regions. Climate change will affect fire potential by influencing the frequency and severity of weather favorable for fire. Climate-driven changes in the structure and composition of plant communities will also affect fire potential by altering the physical and chemical properties of fuels. Changes in timing and severity of fire will modify the rate at which communities respond to climate change. This in turn will alter fuel properties, further modifying fire potential. Changes in fire regimes will directly affect the chemistry of the atmosphere by modifying vegetation and emitting gases and particulate matter. The expected rate and magnitude of these changes raises questions for the continued integrity, vitality, and stability of current ecosystems.
Bactericidal effects of nonthermal low-pressure oxygen plasma on S. typhimurium LT2 attached to fresh produce surfaces

Abstract This work investigates the feasibility of nonthermal low-pressure oxygen plasma on sanitization of spinach, lettuce, tomato and potato surfaces from Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica serovar Typhimurium str. LT2 ( Salmonella typhimurium LT2). It was shown that the time of exposure and plasma power density were two critical parameters influencing the bactericidal efficiency. Surface roughness and hydrophobicity did not influence the sanitization of produce. Oxygen plasma was more effective than washing with 3% H 2 O 2 on eliminating S. typhimurium LT2 on spinach. Plasma treatment chemically changed a very thin section of tomato wax cuticle layer by oxidation reaction and decomposition of carbon chains, which could readily and completely be removed by water. Overall, this study confirms that nonthermal oxygen plasma can be a new effective method of sanitization for fresh produce.
Platelet‐derived growth factor‐α receptor‐positive oligodendroglia are frequent in multiple sclerosis lesions

Platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) ligand is a potent glial cell mitogen. When its cognate receptor (PDGF-alphaR) is expressed on oligodendroglial lineage cells, such cells are considered capable of division, and the receptor thus serves as a phenotypic marker for oligodendrocyte precursor cells. Here we identify using immunohistochemistry a considerably enlarged, PDGF-alphaR-expressing oligodendrocyte cell population within multiple sclerosis (MS) white matter lesions compared to control brains. Numerous PDGF-alphaR-positive oligodendroglia also colabel heavily with the nuclear cell proliferation marker antibody Ki-67. Our finding of large numbers of proliferating oligodendroglia in MS brains expressing up-regulated PDGF-alphaR suggests that these progenitor-like cells represent an important source of regenerating cells for the healing MS lesion.
Revisiting sorting for GPGPU stream architectures

This poster presents efficient strategies for sorting large sequences of fixed-length keys (and values) using GPGPU stream processors. Compared to the state-of-the-art, our radix sorting methods exhibit speedup of at least 2x for all generations of NVIDIA GPGPUs, and up to 3.7x for current GT200-based models. Our implementations demonstrate sorting rates of 482 million key-value pairs per second, and 550 million keys per second (32-bit). For this domain of sorting problems, we believe our sorting primitive to be the fastest available for any fully-programmable microarchitecture. These results motivate a different breed of parallel primitives for GPGPU stream architectures that can better exploit the memory and computational resources while maintaining the flexibility of a reusable component. Our sorting performance is derived from a parallel scan stream primitive that has been generalized in two ways: (1) with local interfaces for producer/consumer operations (visiting logic), and (2) with interfaces for performing multiple related, concurrent prefix scans (multi-scan).
Whites’ Perceptions About Black Criminality: A Closer Look at the Contact Hypothesis

Scholars have documented how media accounts and policy discourse have presented Blacks and criminality as virtually synonymous, a phenomenon termed the racialization of crime. However, despite extant research on the contact hypothesis—which holds that relationships with members of other groups should reduce stereotypes—no studies have examined whether different indicators of interracial contact (IC) affect Whites’ perceptions of Black criminality; by extension, no research speaks to whether IC effects are contingent on types of racialized views, or whether the amount of IC impacts perceptions. To advance scholarship, this study uses survey data to analyze the extent to which each type of IC is associated with Whites’ views of Black criminality. It then examines whether IC differentially predicts beliefs in crime versus non-crime-related stereotypes. Finally, it assesses whether the amount of IC influences stereotype endorsement. Consistent with the contact hypothesis, results indicate a generalized stereo...
Interactions between tassel seed genes and other sex determining genes in maize

The tassel seed mutations of maize cause sex reversal of the florets of the tassel, such that the normally staminate florets develop pistils. Although these mutations have been recognized for many years, little is known about how they act. We have tested the hypothesis that the tassel seed genes interact directly with each other and with other genes controlling sex determination in a single genetic pathway by the construction and analysis of double mutants. On the basis of the phenotypes of the double mutants, the tassel seed mutations were placed into two groups: ts1, ts2, Ts5 and ts4, Ts6. Both groups of tassel seed mutations were additive with the masculinizing mutation dwarf, indicating independent modes of action. Interactions of tassel seed mutations with silkless varied, allowing the ordering of the action of the various tassel seed mutations relative to silkless. Both groups of tassel seed mutations were epistatic with regard to sex expression to mutations that alter both architecture of the plant and distribution of male and female florets, Teopod 1, terminal ear, and teosinte branched. Thus, there are at least two separate genetic pathways that control the sex of florets in maize tassels. In addition, analysis of double mutants revealec that all tassel seed genes tested play a role in the regulation of flower morphogenesis as well as pistil suppression. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Effects of ethanol and naltrexone on free-operant avoidance behavior in rats

Several recent studies have suggested that some effects of ethanol may be mediated by the opioid receptor systems. The present study examined the possibility of a common link between ethanol and opiates by determining whether the effects of ethanol on rat's free operant avoidance behavior could be reversed by the opiate antagonist naltrexone. In Experiment 1 ethanol produced a dose-dependent impairment of avoidance performance (characterized by a decrease in response rate and/or an increase in shock rate) in all three subjects. Naltrexone (3 mg/kg) alone suppressed avoidance rates, but failed to reverse or reduce the effects of ethanol. In contrast to the expectations of the “common-link” hypothesis, the greatest impairment of performance was observed after high doses of ethanol in combination with naltrexone. In Experiment 2 the effects of chronic naltrexone administration were examined. Since previous research has suggested that chronic treatment with opiate antagonists produces a heightened sensitivity to opiate agonists and antagonists, Experiment 2 addressed the issue of whether sensitization to naltrexone would transfer to ethanol. Although increased sensitivity to the rate-decreasing effects of naltrexone was observed, there was no evidence of heightened sensitivity to ethanol. Taken together the results provided little support for the hypothesis that the effects of ethanol on avoidance performance are mediated by the opiate receptor system.
Brain Na+,K+-ATPase regulation in vivo: reduction in activity and response to sodium by intracerebroventricular tetrodotoxin

Abstract We investigated the effects of intracerebroventricular infusion of tetrodotoxin on activity and function of brain Na+,K+-ATPase. Infusion of 1 or 3 μg/h for 2, 4 or 7 days by osmotic minipump reduced the number of Na+,K+-ATPase sites as measured by ouabain binding in cerebral cortex. Tetrodotoxin infusions substantially reduced the functional transport capacity of Na+,K+-ATPase, measured by the maximal increase in synaptoneurosomal86Rb+ uptake in the presence of monensin. The effects were maximal at 4 days, with a possible partial recovery of activity at 7 days. Results of ouabain inhibition curves suggested that the effect of tetrodotoxin was not specific for enzyme with high or low affinity for ouabain.
Molecular structure and crystallization behavior of chalcogenide glasses

Isothermal crystallization of ternary (Ge,S,), -X(Sn,S,), glasses is examined over the glass forming range 0 < x < 0.6. Time-temperature-transformation (TIT) curves are obtained using scanning calorimetry. The results show that both nucleation and growth processes dominate crystallization of the glasses in the range 0 < .Y < 0.25, but only growth processes are found to occur once x 2 0.25. The occurrence of this threshold composition correlates quantitatively with changes in glass molecular structure, recently probed by Raman scattering and Mossbauer spectroscopy.
Offshore renewable plant HVDC power collector and distributor

It will be beneficial for future large scale renewable energy power generators (i.e. large offshore turbines) and plant (i.e. large offshore wind farms) to have a dedicated high efficiency, robust, flexible and low cost power collection, transmission and distribution technology. In this paper, a compact and effective hybrid HVDC transformer is proposed. The aim is to realise a highly robust and financially rewarding next generation multi-terminal HVDC power collection, transmission and distribution system for future offshore renewable energy power plant. This paper discusses the study outcome of the proposed hybrid HVDC transformer and the application of the HVDC collector and distributor in the offshore renewable energy industry, compared to the existing HVAC and VSC type HVDC systems. (4 pages)
Discontinuity formation in solutions of homogeneous non-linear hyperbolic equations possessing smooth initial data

Abstract Large classes of non-linear equations, at which previous breakdown theories have been aimed, are obtainable by differentiation of first order equations. The general solutions of these first order equations are also solutions of the corresponding second order equations. These are displayed and employed to calculate the critical time for singularity occurrence. Examples are discussed from gas dynamics, shallow water waves, wave propagation in solids, and electrical transmission lines. This method, when applicable, is simple and yields results which agree with those obtainable from the Ludford and Lax-Jeffrey theories.
Addiction in the treatment of pain: significance, recognition, and management

The treatment of pain in the presence of addiction is often a challenge. Better understanding of the relationships between pain and addictive disease may help both pain clinicians and addictionists treat individuals in whom these conditions coexist. Mechanisms through which addiction may reinforce pain are explored. The identification of addictive disease in the pain treatment setting is discussed. Strategies for effective management of pain in individuals with addictive disease are suggested.
Ultrastructural study of cholinergic and noncholinergic neurons in the pars compacta of the rat pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus.

A group of medium-to-large cholinergic neurons situated in the dorsolateral mesopontine tegmentum comprises the pedunculopontine tegmental nucleus (PPT). The PPT pars compacta (PPT-pc), which occupies the lateral part of the caudal two-thirds of the nucleus, contains a dense aggregation of cholinergic neurons. In the present study, we have employed immunohistochemistry for choline acetyltransferase (ChAT) and electron microscopy to investigate the ultrastructure and synaptic organization of neuronal elements in the PPT-pc. Our results demonstrate that: (1) ChAT-immunoreactive (i.e., cholinergic) PPT-pc neurons are characterized by abundant cytoplasm and organelles, and have few axosomatic synapses (both asymmetric and symmetric); (2) ChAT-immunoreactive dendrites comprise 6-15% of total dendritic elements in the neuropil; the mean percentage of dendritic membrane covered by synaptic terminals is approximately 15%, and nearly all synapses with ChAT-immunoreactive dendrites are asymmetric; (3) within the boundaries described by cholinergic PPT-pc, there are noncholinergic neurons which, in contrast, exhibit a lucent cytoplasm and a higher frequency of axosomatic synapses (10.5% versus 3.7% for cholinergic neurons); and (4) noncholinergic neurons are morphologically heterogeneous with one subpopulation exhibiting a mean diameter that approximates that of cholinergic cells (i.e., >15 μm and 20%). Only 0.2-0.7% of terminal elements in the neuropil were ChAT-immunoreactive and these were not observed to synapse with cholinergic dendrites or somata. This relative paucity of terminal labeling and lack of cholinergic-cholinergic interactions seems inconsistent with the recognized and prominent physiological actions of acetylcholine on cholinergic PPT-pc neurons, and suggests a methodological limitation and/or a potential paracrine-like action of nonsynaptically released acetylcholine in the PPT region. J. Comp. Neurol. 382:285-301, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Civil Liability Against Prison Officials for Inmate-On-Inmate Assault: Where are We and Where Have We Been?:

This article focuses on civil liabilities imposed on prison officials for inmate-by-inmate assault in correctional facilities. After briefly discussing the statistical frequency of inmate-by-inmate assault, the article examines Farmer v. Brennan, a case on inmate-by-inmate assault decided in 1994 by the U.S. Supreme Court. Through an analysis of 96 pre-Farmer cases on inmate assault decided in the U.S. circuit courts of appeals, the article outlines the parameters under which officials might be held liable in post-Farmer litigation. The article concludes that the circumstances and situations under which prison officials are liable will not sufficiently change because the realities of judicial decision making may make it difficult for individual judges to distinguish between pre-Farmer and post-Farmer standards.
Teachers' Knowledge of Evidence-Based Interventions and Available School Resources for Children with Emotional and Behavioral Problems.

School professionals need to be prepared to support children with emotional and behavioral problems. Teachers in particular should be aware of the resources provided by their school as well as the evidence-based practices available to support children with behavioral problems. This study explored general education teachers’ knowledge of 10 evidence-based interventions as well as resources and data collected at their schools to support children with mental health problems. Participants included 239 general educators from 5 school districts. Overall, most teachers had not heard of 9 out of 10 of the evidence-based programs presented. Teachers were also not sure whether their schools provided specific assessments and interventions to support children. One particularly noteworthy finding was that 57% of teachers were not sure whether their schools provided functional behavioral assessment and intervention planning. Findings illuminate a need for continued work in this area.
The effect of void fraction model on estimation of air conditioner system performance variables under a range of refrigerant charging conditions

Abstract One variable required for modelling the heat transfer and pressure drop of refrigerant inside air conditioner evaporators and condensers is the void fraction. Eight void fraction models were used in a refrigeration system model to evaluate their impact on the estimation of important system variables in an air conditioner as a function of charging. The void fraction models included: (i) homogeneous, (ii) Lockhart and Martinelli, (iii) Thom, (iv) Zivi, (v) Baroczy, (vi) Hughmark, (vii) Premoli and (viii) Tandon. The system variables considered included: power, capacity, refrigerant flow, subcooling and superheat. Comparisons were made with a 10.6 kW capacity air conditioner with capillary tube expansion. Results indicate that the Hughmark void fraction model appeared to provide the best comparison to measured data over the range of charging conditions considered.
Crushed clopidogrel administered via nasogastric tube has faster and greater absorption than oral whole tablets.

Objectives: To compare the absorption of 300 mg clopidogrel administered crushed via nasogastric (NG) tube versus whole tablets taken orally in healthy volunteers. Background: Earlier antiplatelet therapy has proven benefits in treatment of myocardial infarction and in patients undergoing PCI. Aspirin can be delivered early in crushed form via NG tube after CABG surgery to prevent graft occlusion. If clopidogrel given crushed via NG tube provides faster absorption, it could allow earlier clopidogrel loading. Methods: Nine healthy human subjects (34.7 ± 11.1 years, 5 males) were given 300 mg clopidogrel in crushed form via NG tube with 30 mL water after 8 hours of fasting. Plasma levels of the primary circulating inactive clopidogrel metabolite SR26334 were measured after 20 minutes, 40 minutes, 1, 2, 4, 8, 12, and 24 hours of dosing. Following ≥2 week washout, same subjects swallowed 300 mg clopidogrel (four 75 mg tablets) after an 8-hour fasting and SR26334 levels were measured at the same time points. Results: Plasma SR26334 concentrations peaked earlier after crushed delivery than after oral intake (44 vs. 70 minutes, P = 0.023) and the median peak was 80% higher (13,083 vs. 7,255 ng/mL, respectively, P = 0.021). At 40 minutes, area under the curve was almost twofold greater with NG administration than oral administration (geometric means ratio = 0.5299, 95% CI = 0.28–0.99, P = 0.048), but was similar over the 24-hour period with both administration methods (geometric means ratio = 1.05, 95% CI = 0.84–1.32, P = 0.646). Conclusions: A 300 mg loading dose of crushed clopidogrel administered via NG tube provides faster and greater bioavailability than an equal dose taken orally as whole tablets. The clinical benefits of this strategy need to be investigated.
Trajectories of high energy electrons in a plasma focus

Measurements are made of high-energy electron trajectories in a plasma focus as functions of position, time, energy, and angle of emission. The spatial resolution of the X-ray emission shows that low-energy X-rays are emitted from the anode surface. It is also suggested that the highest energy X-rays originate from a small region on the axis. The so-called shadow technique shows that the electron beam is perpendicular to the anode surface. Polar diagrams of medium and high-energy X-rays agree with the bremsstrahlung emission from a relativistic electron beam, the current of which is several 100 A.
Poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase-1-induced NAD+ depletion promotes nuclear factor-κB transcriptional activity by preventing p65 de-acetylation

NF-κB is a transcription factor that integrates pro-inflammatory and pro-survival responses in diverse cell types. The activity of NF-κB is regulated in part by acetylation of its p65 subunit at lysine 310, which is required for transcription complex formation. De-acetylation at this site is performed by sirtuin 1(SIRT1) and possibly other sirtuins in an NAD(+) dependent manner, such that SIRT1 inhibition promotes NF-κB transcriptional activity. It is unknown, however, whether changes in NAD(+) levels can influence p65 acetylation and cellular inflammatory responses. Poly(ADP-ribose)-1 (PARP-1) is an abundant nuclear enzyme that consumes NAD(+) in the process of forming (ADP-ribose)polymers on target proteins, and extensive PARP-1 activation can reduce intracellular NAD(+) concentrations. Here we tested the idea that PARP-1 activation can regulate NF-κB transcriptional activity by reducing NAD(+) concentrations and thereby inhibiting de-acetylation of p65. Primary astrocyte cultures were treated with the alkylating agent N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG) to induce PARP-1 activation. This resulted in sustained acetylation of p65 and increased NF-κB transcriptional activity as monitored by a κB-driven eGFP reporter gene. These effects of MNNG were negated by a PARP-1 inhibitor, in PARP-1(-/-) cells, and in PARP-1(-/-) cells transfected with a catalytically inactive PARP-1 construct, thus confirming that these effects are mediated by PARP-1 catalytic activity. The effects of PARP-1 activation were replicated by a SIRT1 inhibitor, EX-527, and were reversed by exogenous NAD(+). These findings demonstrate that PARP-1-induced changes in NAD(+) levels can modulate NF-κB transcriptional activity through effects on p65 acetylation.
Aromatic l‐Amino Acid Decarboxylase Activity of the Rat Retina Is Modulated In Vivo by Environmental Light Maria Hadjiconstantinou

: Aromatic l-amino acid decarboxylase (AAAD) activity of rat retina is low in animals placed in the dark. When the room lights are turned on, activity rises for almost 3 h and reaches values that are about twice the values found in the dark. A study of the kinetics of the enzyme revealed that the apparent Km values for l-3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine and pyridoxal-5′-phosphate were unchanged in light- and dark-exposed animals, whereas the Vmax increased in the light. Treating the animals with cycloheximide before exposure to light prevented the increase of enzyme activity. Immunoti-tration with antibodies to AAAD suggested that more enzyme molecules are present in the light than in the dark. When the room lights are turned off AAAD activity drops rapidly at first and then more slowly, suggesting that at least two processes are responsible for the fall of enzyme activity. Exposure to short periods of dark followed by light results in a rapid increase of AAAD activity. Mixing homogenates from light-and dark-exposed rats results in activity values that are less than expected, suggesting the presence of an endogenous in-hibitor(s). These studies demonstrate that AAAD activity is modulated in vivo.
Can inhibiting insulin/IGF signaling with dietary carbohydrate restriction play a role in treatment/prevention of cancers?

Background Hyperinsulinemia, hyperglycemia, and obesity have been identified as risk factors for a variety of cancers [1]. Insulin inhibition (INSINH) can potentially limit cancer growth by factors including ketosis [2], and apoptosis secondary to fatty acid synthase inhibition [3] as well as intracellular potassium depletion [4]. Furthermore, dysregulation of many signaling proteins downstream of the insulin/IGF receptors such as PI3K/Akt, mTOR (inhibition) and AMPK (amplification) is a major area of drug target development [5,6]. We performed a four week INSINH diet in patients with advanced cancers to study safety/feasibility and also to examine a change inF-2-fluoro, 2-deoxyglucose (FDG) uptake on PET scan as a surrogate measure for tumor response.
Macunovich response to Abernethy rejoinder.

This article presents the response of Diane Macunovich to Virginia Deane Abernethys rejoinder. Macunovich states that the tables in her article showed that there is a net global benefit from immigration to the US. The scenarios presented in her Table V show that the impact of immigration on native births is reduced by about 15% if the rate of immigration into the US is increasing rather than decreasing or remaining constant. She points out that population growth especially that achieved through immigration strengthens the economy since immigrants create jobs as well as provide workers. The additional demand for goods and services disproportionately benefits younger and less skilled workers. Consequently young native-born workers are more likely to feel able to support a family when their relative wage rises along with the growing economy.
Tubes or transistors: A realistic assessment

The popular notion that transistors will undoubtedly replace vacuum tubes in the near future has been widely publicized partly because of the natural enthusiasm and optimism of the many new firms starting into the business of designing and manufacturing semiconductor devices. There is, of course, no doubt that transistors will take over some of the application areas previously served by tubes, and that there will be some areas where either tubes or transistors will serve equally well, but there are many fields where tubes are and will continue to be superior. The advantages and disadvantages of each device, under the wide variety of operating conditions and circuit requirements, should govern the choice for a particular application, and the following discussion is intended to bring out those which are pertinent to such an analysis.
The jaundiced eye: Generalism in general

A decade past, I was writing an occasional essay under the rubric “The Generalist: A Jaundiced View.” It was fun to be something of a solitary curmudgeon. Since then the current medical literature has become replete with articles about generalism and generalists: surveys, studies of costs and outcomes, opinions, studies of manpower, fiction.‘-’ ’ The fact, that many of the authors, all products of what has been called a “golden age of American medicine” in the mid-twentieth century, are aging specialists I find interesting. Now I risk being just another aging commentator. Internal medicine in 1984 was a respected career choice, and internal medicine was necessary for hopeful nonsurgical subspecialists. General medicine then was a plaything-an unnecessary distraction. After all, internal medicine was general medicine. Great internists were sui genti generalists. How things have changed! For medicine, biologic and technologic advances have created new clinical domains for example, cardiology, gastroenterology, neurology, general medicine, and more, each clamoring for professional, economic, and intellectual recognition. The past decade has been an exciting time for “splitters,” but not for “lumpers.” Current health care reform enthusiasm suggests that it is time to reexamine the context and content of specialism and generalism. Everywhere I read about what a general internist does or is supposed to do, and how hard it is to convince young people that general medicine is what they should do. There are dire predictions. There is something not right about this plethora of papers documenting and bemoaning the sad state of general in-
Thermodynamic properties in the evolution from BCS to Bose-Einstein condensation for a d-wave superconductor at low temperatures

The low-temperature evolution from BCS to Bose-Einstein condensation (BEC) for a two-dimensional d-wave superconductor is discussed at the saddle point (mean field) level. A systematic study of the changes of low-temperature thermodynamic properties is presented as a function of the charge carrier density and fixed interaction. It has been found that when the interaction strength is large enough, there is a critical density below which the single quasiparticle excitation spectrum develops a gap. At higher density of carriers and lower interaction strength (towards the BCS regime) the superconductor has gapless quasiparticle excitations, while at lower densities and higher interactions (towards the BEC regime) quasiparticle excitations are fully gapped. The appearence of a full gap in the quasiparticle excitation spectrum has dramatic consequences to the compressibility, specific heat, and spin susceptibility at low temperatures, as the critical density ${n}_{c}$ is crossed. The change in behavior of these quantities indicates a possible quantum phase transition between a d-wave gapless phase and a d-wave fully gapped phase, as ${n}_{c}$ is crossed.
Some consequences for quantum electrodynamics of an essential singularity at α=0

Many authors have suggested that the functions of relativistic field theories are singular in the region of vanishing coupling constant. Indeed, it is only by virtue of such an assumption that one can hope to reconcile the optimistic attitude that such theories might be mathematically meaningful with the contrary evidence provided by perturbation theory. Once the possibility of such a singularity is allowed many proofs concerning the behavior of field theories become suspect. As an illustration the argument of Gell-Mann and Low concerning the behavior of quantum electrodynamics at small distances is reexamined. Within the context outlined above much weaker restrictions are found than those indicated in the original paper. If an approximation to the photon propagator is calculated by summing a selected infinite set of contributions to the spectral density function, the resulting expression has an essential singularity at α=0, it is not of the form predicted by Gell-Mann and Low, but it does satisfy the weaker conditions discussed in this paper.
Comparative Proteomic Analysis of Lung Lamellar Bodies and Lysosome-Related Organelles

Pulmonary surfactant is a complex mixture of lipids and proteins that is essential for postnatal function. Surfactant is synthesized in alveolar type II cells and stored as multi-bilayer membranes in a specialized secretory lysosome-related organelle (LRO), known as the lamellar body (LB), prior to secretion into the alveolar airspaces. Few LB proteins have been identified and the mechanisms regulating formation and trafficking of this organelle are poorly understood. Lamellar bodies were isolated from rat lungs, separated into limiting membrane and core populations, fractionated by SDS-PAGE and proteins identified by nanoLC-tandem mass spectrometry. In total 562 proteins were identified, significantly extending a previous study that identified 44 proteins in rat lung LB. The lung LB proteome reflects the dynamic interaction of this organelle with the biosynthetic, secretory and endocytic pathways of the type II epithelial cell. Comparison with other LRO proteomes indicated that 60% of LB proteins were detected in one or more of 8 other proteomes, confirming classification of the LB as a LRO. Remarkably the LB shared 37.8% of its proteins with the melanosome but only 9.9% with lamellar bodies from the skin. Of the 229 proteins not detected in other LRO proteomes, a subset of 34 proteins was enriched in lung relative to other tissues. Proteins with lipid-related functions comprised a significant proportion of the LB unique subset, consistent with the major function of this organelle in the organization, storage and secretion of surfactant lipid. The lung LB proteome will facilitate identification of molecular pathways involved in LB biogenesis, surfactant homeostasis and disease pathogenesis.
Growth and properties of urea-doped triglycine sulfate (UrTGS) crytals

This paper discusses the growth and properties of triglycine sulfate (TGS) crystals doped with urea. It was found that the normalized growth yield and pyroelectric and dielectric constants could be increased significantly by urea additions. TGS crystals doped with 5 and 10 wt% urea exhibited up to five times higher material figures of merit for infrared pyroelectric detectors compared with undoped TGS crystals. The Vickers hardness of doped crystals increased with urea content to about three times the undoped value in the [010] direction at 10 wt% urea. No significant increase in the hardness was found, however, in the [001] direction. Incorporation of urea in TGS crystals has been qualitatively estimated by Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) data.
The City and the City Race, Nationalism, and Architecture in Early Twentieth-Century Bangkok

This article examines the racialization of urban space in early twentieth-century Bangkok. After a general strike in 1910, the Siamese monarchy represented itself in urban space as the leaders of a sovereign nation with a racial Other in its midst. Rather than create a separate, walled enclave to contain this population, the monarchy drew on a material and rhetorical campaign to develop two interdependent cities with distinct racial identities. One city was a national capital under the authority of the absolute monarchy. The other was a thriving port city populated mostly by “Chinese” migrants and governed by extraterritorial law. Juxtaposing the built environment against its discursive representations, this article argues that the monarchy sought to endow the dual city of Bangkok and its inhabitants with racial characteristics to clarify national belonging, control the political power of the region’s migrant population, and cultivate support for royal urban investments.
Comparison of Need for Achievement versus Need for Affiliation among Music Students

This study compared the relationship between need for achievement and need for affiliation within the area of concentration chosen by music students. 172 students, both undergraduate and graduate, ...
Measurements of the congestion responsiveness of windows streaming media

While previous research has shown that streaming media can respond to network congestion, it is not known to what extent commercial products are responsive. This research characterizes the bitrate response of Windows Streaming Media (WSM) to changes in network capacity and loss rate. A streaming media test bed was built to systematically vary network and content encoding characteristics and measure WSM congestion responsiveness. The results demonstrate that WSM improve response to congestion when content is encoded into several bitrates by the content provider.
Check-ins in “Blau Space”: Applying Blau’s Macrosociological Theory to Foursquare Check-ins from New York City

Peter Blau was one of the first to define a latent social space and utilize it to provide concrete hypotheses. Blau defines social structure via social “parameters” (constraints). Actors that are closer together (more homogenous) in this social parameter space are more likely to interact. One of Blau’s most important hypotheses resulting from this work was that the consolidation of parameters could lead to isolated social groups. For example, the consolidation of race and income might lead to segregation. In the present work, we use Foursquare data from New York City to explore evidence of homogeneity along certain social parameters and consolidation that breeds social isolation in communities of locations checked in to by similar users.More specifically, we first test the extent to which communities detected via Latent Dirichlet Allocation are homogenous across a set of four social constraints—racial homophily, income homophily, personal interest homophily and physical space. Using a bootstrapping approach, we find that 14 (of 20) communities are statistically, and all but one qualitatively, homogenous along one of these social constraints, showing the relevance of Blau’s latent space model in venue communities determined via user check-in behavior. We then consider the extent to which communities with consolidated parameters, those homogenous on more than one parameter, represent socially isolated populations. We find communities homogenous on multiple parameters, including a homosexual community and a “hipster” community, that show support for Blau’s hypothesis that consolidation breeds social isolation. We consider these results in the context of mediated communication, in particular in the context of self-representation on social media.
Effects of calcium antagonistic drugs on the electrical activity of rabbit sino‐atrial node

The effects of several calcium antagonistic drugs (slow channel blockers), mesudipine, FR-34235 (nilvadipine), nifedipine, and verapamil, were compared on the naturally-occurring slow action potentials (APs) of the isolated spontaneously-contracting sinoatrial (SA)-node of the rabbit. Mesudipine, at 1 X 10(-8) M, had little or no effect on the AP parameters and beating frequency. At 1 X 10(-7) M, mesudipine depressed the amplitude, + Vmax and frequency of the APs. A higher concentration of mesudipine (3 X 10(-7) M) completely blocked the slow APs. The concentration of FR-34235 required for 50% depression of Vmax was 3 X 10(-8) M, and complete block required 1 X 10(-7) M. The verapamil and nifedipine concentrations required for complete block were 1 X 10(-6) M and 1 X 10(-7) M, respectively. The cells blocked by these drugs were depolarized to about -40 mV. Cells blocked and depolarized by the drugs responded to intensive field stimulation with a transient after-hyperpolarization, followed by damped oscillations. When [Ca]o was elevated from 1.8 mM to 5.4 mM, full block required a higher concentration of mesudipine (1 X 10(-6)M) and FR-34235 (1 X 10(-6)M). The order of potency of the drugs tested was: nifedipine = FR-34235 greater than mesudipine greater than verapamil. The effects of mesudipine, FR-34235, and nifedipine were easily reversible upon washout for 10 min, whereas those of verapamil required longer periods. The results indicate that the slow channel blockers, mesudipine, FR-34235, nifedipine, and verapamil depress the APs and automaticity of the SA-node.
Earnings Inequality in the Nonmetropolitan United States: 1967–19901

Nonmetropolitan (nonmetro) inequality patterns are contrasted with those of metropolitan (metro) areas to assess the utility of neoclassical and restructuring theoretical frameworks. Inequality measures are constructed from March Current Population Surveys for the years 1968–1991. Results indicate that inequality is greater in nonmetro areas than in metro areas. Results of decomposition procedures suggest that the observed inequality is due to a mix of neoclassical and restructuring factors that account for more inequality in metro than nonmetro areas. National policies must take account of metro/nonmetro differences in patterns and sources of inequality.