cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
BLANCHING OF WHITE POTATOES BY MICROWAVE ENERGY FOLLOWED BY BOILING WATER

SUMMARY —Small white potatoes were heated with microwave energy followed by boiling water to determine the penetration of heat, inactivation of peroxidase and firmness of the potatoes. Treatments consisted of heating potatoes with microwave energy for 0.5, 1, 1.5 and 2 min followed by boiling water for 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 min. Temperature measurements were made at depths of 0.75 and 1.5 cm using tubers with a mean radius of 1.95 cm. Peroxidase inactivation was measured along the radius of a slice removed from the equatorial region. Firmness was determined by the ALLO-Kramer shear press. Potatoes, when heated by microwave energy, became hot first at the core with a heat gradient developing toward the periphery. Boiling water produced a heat gradient from the periphery toward the core. Consequently, the tissue located about midway of the radius was subjected to the least amount of heat. The minimum time required to completely inactivate peroxidase and the firmness values of the potato tissue at the time of enzymatic inactivation were as follows: 1.5 min microwaves and 3 min boiling water, 119 lb shear force; and 2 min microwaves and 2 min boiling water, 124 lb shear force. Peroxidase was not completely destroyed when the potatoes were subjected to energy for 1 min or less followed by heating in boiling water up to 5 min.
African-American families and child protection☆

Abstract Two hundred and seventy African-American and Caucasian families referred to child protection for alleged maltreatment were compared to assess the degree to which they were differentially referred to and processed by child protection. Results indicated that, although African-Americans were referred to child protection by different sources than Caucasian families, reporter bias was unlikely to account for the differences. Those African-American families referred to child protection were more likely to come from female headed households and presumed to be poorer as a result. However, once reported, they were neither substantiated at a higher rate nor kept open for services at a higher rate compared to Caucasian families. Finally, there was very little evidence of differential caseworker attention to African-Americans compared with Caucasian families. The study concluded that differential referral source and/or differential worker attention were inadequate explanations for the over-representation of African-Americans in the child protection system.
The Nervous System Control of Lateral Ciliary Activity of the Gill of the Bivalve Mollusc, Crassostrea virginica

Lateral cilia of the gill of Mytilus edulis are controlled by a reciprocal serotonergic-dopaminergic innervation from their ganglia. Other bivalves have been studied to lesser degrees and lateral cilia of most respond to serotonin and dopamine when applied directly to the gill indicating a possible neuro or endocrine mechanism. Lateral cilia in Crassostrea virginica are affected by serotonin and dopamine, but little work has been done regarding ganglionic control of their cilia. We examined the role of the cerebral and visceral ganglia in innervating the lateral ciliated cells of the gill epithelium of C. virginica. Ciliary beating rates were measured in preparations which had the ipsilateral cerebral or visceral ganglia attached. Superfusion of the cerebral or visceral ganglia with serotonin increased ciliary beating rates which was antagonized by pretreating with methysergide. Superfusion with dopamine decreased beating rates and was antagonized by ergonovine. This study demonstrates there is a reciprocal serotonergic-dopaminergic innervation of the lateral ciliated cells, similar to that of M. edulis, originating in the cerebral and visceral ganglia of the animal and this preparation is a useful model to study regulatory mechanisms of ciliary activity as well as the pharmacology of drugs affecting biogenic amines in nervous systems.
Relation of ascorbic acid nutrition to the in vitro metabolism of cortisone by surviving liver tissue.

STUDIES from this laboratory suggested that dietary ascorbic acid excess may prevent the breakdown of injected cortisone to 17-ketosteroids. Adrenalectomized female rats injected with cortisone excrete large quantities of 17-ketosteroids and moderately large amounts of corticosteroids (phosphomolybdic acid reducing lipids, PRL). Simultaneous injection of ascorbic acid along with cortisone prevented the rise in urinary 17-ketosteroids (Bacchus, Altszuler and Heiffer, 1952; Bacchus and Heiffer, 1953), but led to an increase in the PRL excretion (Bacchus and Heiffer, 1953). These findings were associated with a prolongation of the hematologic action of cortisone (Bacchus, Altszuler and Heiffer, 1952b; Bacchus, Heiffer and Altszuler, in preparation). The above data, collected in adrenalectomized animals, suggested that large doses of ascorbic acid prevent the breakdown of cortisone, and in this manner help maintain larger amounts of hormone in the circulation. The present paper reports data on the in vitro di...
Response of Resistant Idiopathic Thrombocytopenic Purpura to Pulsed High-Dose Dexamethasone Therapy

Background Most patients with chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura have a response to corticosteroids or intravenous immune globulin, but improvement is often transitory. Splenectomy may provide only a short-term benefit. Because pulsed high-dose therapy with potent synthetic corticosteroids is inexpensive, well tolerated, and effective in patients with secretory B-cell neoplasms, a similar regimen was examined for its efficacy in patients with chronic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura that was resistant to other treatments. Methods Ten consecutively referred patients who had persistent symptomatic idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura after undergoing at least two standard therapies were treated with six cycles of dexamethasone (40 mg per day for 4 sequential days every 28 days). Results All patients had increased platelet counts (mean [±SD] count before treatment, 12,000 ±8200 per cubic millimeter; after treatment, 248,000 ±130,000 per cubic millimeter). The platelet counts remained above 100,000...
Inspection time and visual–perceptual processing

Inspection time (IT) is the most popular simple psychometric measure that is used to account for a large part of the variance in human mental ability, with the estimated corrected correlation between IT and IQ being -0.50. In this study, we investigate the relationship between IT and the performance and oculomotor variables measured during three simple visual tasks. Participants' ITs were first measured using a slight variation of the standard IT task, which was followed by the three simple visual tasks that were designed to test participants' visual-attentional control and visual working memory under varying degrees of difficulty; they included a visual search task, a comparative visual search task, and a visual memorization task. Significant correlations were found between IT and performance variables for each of the visual tasks. The implications of the correlation between IT and performance-related variables are discussed. Oculomotor variables on the other hand only correlated significantly with IT during the retrieval phase of the visual memorization task, which is likely a product of differences in participants' ability to memorize objects during the loading phase of the experiment. This leads us to the conclusion that the oculomotor variables we measured do not correlate with IT in general, but may in the case where a systematic benefit would be realized.
Localization of axonally transported [3H]glycine in vesicles of identified neurons.

Abstract A specific association of axonally transported, free [3H]glycine with vesicle in the identified neurons R3–R14 ofAplysia is demonstrated by high resolution autoradiography. The association of glycine with vesicles, the first such finding in any animal for a neuroactive amino acid, adds to evidence that glycine may be utilized as a neurochemical messenger by R3–R14.
Rheological Properties and Microstructure of Cheddar Cheese Made with Different Fat Contents

Reduced- and low-fat cheeses are desired based on composition but often fall short on overall quality. One of the major problems with fat reduction in cheese is the development of a firm texture that does not break down during mastication, unlike that observed in full-fat cheeses. The objective of this investigation was to determine how the amount of fat affects the structure of Cheddar cheese from initial formation (2 wk) through 24 wk of aging. Cheeses were made with target fat contents of 3 to 33% (wt/wt) and moisture to protein ratios of 1.5:1. This allowed for comparisons based on relative amounts of fat and protein gel phases. Cheese microstructure was determined by confocal scanning laser microscopy combined with quantitative image analysis. Rheological analysis was used to determine changes in mechanical properties. Increasing fat content caused an increase in size of fat globules and a higher percentage of nonspherical globules. However, no changes in fat globules were observed with aging. Cheese rigidity (storage modulus) increased with fat content at 10°C, but differences attributable to fat were not apparent at 25°C. This was attributable to the storage modulus of fat approaching that of the protein gel; therefore, the amount of fat or gel phase did not have an effect on the cheese storage modulus. The rigidity of cheese decreased with storage and, because changes in the fat phase were not detected, it appeared to be attributable to changes in the gel network. It appeared that the diminished textural quality in low-fat Cheddar cheese is attributed to changes in the breakdown pattern during chewing, as altered by fat disrupting the cheese network.
Essential Neurology: Audiovisual Patient Vignettes on CD-ROM as a Teaching Aid for Medical Students

To assess third- and fourth-year medical students’ opinions in the use of previously recorded and edited live patient interviews as a teaching tool during a 1-month clinical neurology rotation. The global burden of neurological disease is on the rise and is projected to reach nearly 15% by the year 2020. The amount of time devoted to neurologic education during medical school is limited. To expand the range of neurologic problems to which students are exposed, we have compiled an archive of 100 audiovisual case vignettes on CD-ROM which students view during their neurology clerkship. The vignettes served as a tool for our former Departmental Chairman (Dr Biller) to discuss diagnosis, ancillary testing, and basic patient management skills with third- and fourth-year medical students during interactive case conferences. A survey conducted among students regarding the vignettes reflects a high degree of approval. Ninety-two percent of the students rated the overall experience with the case vignettes as either “excellent” or “good.” CD-ROM case vignettes are felt to represent a novel way of expanding students’ experience during a brief neurology clerkship. The hope is that use of such archival vignettes will help students hone their diagnostic and therapeutic skills in neurology regardless of their chosen specialty.
On the validity of the Peano theorem for fuzzy differential equations

Abstract Kaleva [6] attempted to derive the validity of the classical Peano theorem over a locally compact subset of (En, D). Based on this attempt, Kloeden [8] concluded that the Peano theorem is also valid over (En, dp). This paper challenges both attempts by counterexamples.
Zinc Binding Activity of Human Metapneumovirus M2-1 Protein Is Indispensable for Viral Replication and Pathogenesis In Vivo

Human metapneumovirus (hMPV) is a member of the Pneumovirinae subfamily in the Paramyxoviridae family that causes respiratory tract infections in humans. Unlike members of the Paramyxovirinae subfamily, the polymerase complex of pneumoviruses requires an additional cofactor, the M2-1 protein, which functions as a transcriptional antitermination factor. The M2-1 protein was found to incorporate zinc ions, although the specific role(s) of the zinc binding activity in viral replication and pathogenesis remains unknown. In this study, we found that the third cysteine (C21) and the last histidine (H25) in the zinc binding motif (CCCH) of hMPV M2-1 were essential for zinc binding activity, whereas the first two cysteines (C7 and C15) play only minor or redundant roles in zinc binding. In addition, the zinc binding motif is essential for the oligomerization of M2-1. Subsequently, recombinant hMPVs (rhMPVs) carrying mutations in the zinc binding motif were recovered. Interestingly, rhMPV-C21S and -H25L mutants, which lacked zinc binding activity, had delayed replication in cell culture and were highly attenuated in cotton rats. In contrast, rhMPV-C7S and -C15S strains, which retained 60% of the zinc binding activity, replicated as efficiently as rhMPV in cotton rats. Importantly, rhMPVs that lacked zinc binding activity triggered high levels of neutralizing antibody and provided complete protection against challenge with rhMPV. Taken together, these results demonstrate that zinc binding activity is indispensable for viral replication and pathogenesis in vivo. These results also suggest that inhibition of zinc binding activity may serve as a novel approach to rationally attenuate hMPV and perhaps other pneumoviruses for vaccine purposes. IMPORTANCE The pneumoviruses include many important human and animal pathogens, such as human respiratory syncytial virus (hRSV), hMPV, bovine RSV, and avian metapneumovirus (aMPV). Among these viruses, hRSV and hMPV are the leading causes of acute respiratory tract infection in infants and children. Despite major efforts, there is no antiviral or vaccine to combat these diseases. All known pneumoviruses encode a zinc binding protein, M2-1, which is a transcriptional antitermination factor. In this work, we found that the zinc binding activity of M2-1 is essential for virus replication and pathogenesis in vivo. Recombinant hMPVs that lacked zinc binding activity were not only defective in replication in the upper and lower respiratory tract but also triggered a strong protective immunity in cotton rats. Thus, inhibition of M2-1 zinc binding activity can lead to the development of novel, live attenuated vaccines, as well as antiviral drugs for pneumoviruses.
Acoustic Monitoring of Carbon Film Formation by Laser-Induced Chemical Vapor Deposition

Acoustic signals generated by the deposition of carbon thin films were monitored in situ by a microphone. Photolysis of benzene or adamantane vapor in the presence of helium buffer gas of 5 to 100 Torr by an ArF excimer laser formed several kinds of carbon films (e.g., polymeric, amorphous, and graphitic films), depending on the optical configuration, the ambient pressure, the laser fluence, and the reagent pressure. Analysis of the acoustic signal offers some insight into the mechanism of the deposition processes, which include the graphitization of the deposited films and the role of energetic particles, such as vibrationally excited benzene, in the deposition of amorphous hydrogenated carbon film. Also, the acoustic signal clearly showed the presence of surface-related processes in the course of film deposition.
Architecture as Index: Toward a Theory of Contingency

Many theorists explore the problem of content in architecture in terms of representation, or the utilization of symbolic and often historicist imagery to ex-tend an object's meaning within a larger spatial/cultural context This paper suggests that an alternate mode of establishing associative content can be based in abstraction, or nonrepresentational means in terms of architecture's capacity to perform as “index.” The notion of index is an attempt to understand architecture as a direct physical manifestation of an external cause based on establishing an explicit physical connection, or cross-referencing between “cause and effect” The result is an architecture contingent upon those factors that can generate an inalterable formal response, or an architecture that “makes itself.”
Electroencephalogram of Age-Dependent Epileptic Encephalopathies in Infancy and Early Childhood

Epileptic encephalopathy syndromes are disorders in which the epileptiform abnormalities are thought to contribute to a progressive cerebral dysfunction. Characteristic electroencephalogram findings have an important diagnostic value in classification of epileptic encephalopathy syndromes. In this paper, we focus on electroencephalogram findings of childhood epileptic encephalopathy syndromes and provide sample illustrations.
The Phase Diagram for the Four-Component DSPC/DOPC/POPC/CHOL Mixture

When liquid-ordered (Lo) and liquid-disordered (Ld) phases coexist in mixtures of DSPC/DOPC/Chol, phase domains appear as large round domains in giant unilamellar vesicles (GUVs) examined by fluorescence microscopy. However, when liquid-ordered and liquid-disordered phases coexist in DSPC/POPC/Chol mixtures, domain size is too small to be detected by fluorescence microscopy. The phase diagram of the four-component DSPC/DOPC/POPC/Chol mixture allows for the exploration of the transition from macroscopic-to-nanoscopic domains. We have found complex shapes (modulated phase morphology) in a particular region of composition within the liquid-ordered and liquid-disordered coexistence region in DSPC/DOPC/POPC/Chol mixtures. By controlling lipid composition, we see distinct types of modulated liquid-liquid phase morphologies, including linear, irregular, and angular features in GUVs. These studies show that both the size and morphology of membrane rafts can be controlled by adjusting the composition and the type of low-melting lipid in mixtures with high-melting lipid and cholesterol.
Speech-language pathology services in a skilled nursing facility: A retrospective study

The profession of speech--language pathology has become increasingly involved in provision of services in skilled nursing facilities and other institutions for rehabilitative and long-term care for the disabled and/or elderly adult. Information concerning the characteristics of this population and other related issues, however, is slight. Medical and speech pathology records from a large skilled nursing facility were examined and analyzed with respect to eight variables. Patients referred for speech--language evaluation over a 3-yr period comprised the sample. Results are discussed in terms of the implications of the major findings for professional training of the speech--language pathologist and the need to address the issue of role definition in institutions providing long-term care.
Use of Intrinsic Electrical Resistance Changes in Shape Memory Alloys as Robust Actuator State and Fault Detection Sensors

Shape memory alloy (SMA) used as electrically controlled on-demand actuators provide engineers new opportunities to create lighter automated components and devices in vehicles due to their compact size, silent operation, and inherently low mass. Outstanding and critical issues are cost-effective and robust control and protection of the SMA actuator element within the device to achieve long lasting service. SMA responds autonomously to external conditions such as temperature and stress and exhibit many property changes during excitation, but many current devices only use SMA as compact actuators; not making use of their intrinsic sensing capabilities. Inherent SMA property changes during use can provide significant utility for improved optimal control strategies. The motivation for this work is to create a robust control method for electrically controlled SMA actuation to simplify device implementation and improve reliability by using intrinsic material property changes. The current work demonstrates the use of electrical resistance feedback in an integrated controller to allow reduction of parasitic mass, cost, and complexity in 2-position devices. Using signal processing and algorithm logic states, we create virtual sensors that successfully identify start of the actuation, end of actuation, reset, and stress overload events. Using electrical resistance to sense the start of actuation allows successful/repeatable performance over a wide range of environmental conditions. Sensing the end of actuation and reset readiness prevents overheating and allows for shorter actuation cycle times, respectively without additional position and state sensors. While many previous efforts have examined the use of resistance in control schemes, one critical need not addressed in previous controllers is the ability to detect stress overload of the SMA during excitation. To protect against unintentional blocked deployment, many current devices include bulky mechanical overload protection systems that prevent stress spikes and SMA damage accumulation. Using resistance feedback, we demonstrate the detection of stress overloads thus extending device lifetime without the need for external mechanisms. The time derivative of the electrical resistance, logic state of the controller, and detection and use of peak/valley widths and thresholds define control events. These events become software based sensors that can augment or replace dedicated external sensors. Software based sensors were successfully employed to control an SMA wire actuator under various environmental temperatures and stress conditions. The control algorithm is not affected to changes in electrical contact resistance, material degradation and other noise sources yielding a powerful method for simple control of two position SMA devices without the need of external sensors.Copyright © 2011 by ASME and General Motors
A LiDAR-Based Analysis of Stream Channel Cross Section Change Across an Urban–Rural Land-Use Boundary

Little is known about the downstream propagation of stream channel alterations initiated by urban flow regimes. In this study, freely available Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) data were combined with ground survey data to derive information on changes in stream cross sections in a North Carolina watershed, moving downstream across an urban-to-rural land-use boundary. Regression analyses relating LiDAR model and ground survey data exhibit poor relationships for all channel morphometric measurements except reach-average channel capacity. Application of the channel capacity regression reveals a negative power function pattern of downstream decline in channel enlargement. The largest declines occur before streams enter the rural landscape, with more gradual declines afterward. The largest declines in channel size might be attributable to reservoir effects along reaches with wide floodplains. Model results indicate no discernible enlargement once rural land covers and percentage impervious areas of about 6...
Learning to Teach: Prospective Teachers' Evaluation of Students' Written Responses on a 1992 NAEP Graphing Task

This article describes how prospective elementary teachers examined, analyzed, and evaluated four students' written responses on a graphing task for an end-of-course performance assessment in a mathematics methods course. Also, they described teaching strategies that built on what students know and do not know, as shown in the fourth-grade students' work. This course assessment provided evidence of the prospective teachers' pedagogical content knowledge. Two themes emerged in the context of this final course project: the importance of process and correct answers and the usefulness of creating rubrics.
Reports of elapsed time: bounding and rounding processes in estimation.

The present article concerns the way temporal information is represented in memory and the processes used in estimating when events occurred. In particular, we examine the sources of bias in reports of the time that has elapsed since a target event occurred. We find that reported times are less than actual times. Evidence is presented that this forward bias is not a result of misrepresentation of elapsed time in memory, but rather reflects two factors that arise in constructing reports from inexact information in memory. One factor is subjects' imposition of an upper boundary on reports, reflecting their notion of what would constitute reasonable answers to the question asked. This boundary truncates the distribution of reports, producing forward bias. The other factor is subjects' use of rounded (prototypic) values; these values, although stated in days, actually represent larger temporal categories (e.g., 14, 21, 30, 60 days ago). The distance between rounded values increases as the temporal categories become larger. Because of decreasing precision in memory and this increase in the distance between rounded values, a broader range of values is rounded down than up, thus producing forward bias.
A quasiclassical trajectory study of mode specific reaction rate enhancements in H + H2O (v1v2v3) OH + H2

The quasiclassical trajectory method is used to determine the dependence of the cross section and threshold energy for reaction upon initial vibrational state for the reaction H + H2O(v1v2v3) OH + H2. A significant rate enhancement is found when any of the three modes or combinations thereof are excited, but the enhancement is larger when the symmetric stretch or bend modes are excited than when the asymmetric stretch is excited. Enhancement efficiencies (the ratio of threshold energy reduction to reagent excitation energy) vary from 60% for H2O(001) to ˜100% for H2O(020) and (100).
Suspended-drop electroporation for high-throughput delivery of biomolecules into cells

We present a high-throughput method that enables efficient delivery of biomolecules into cells. The device consists of an array of 96 suspended electrode pairs, where small sample volumes are top-loaded, electroporated and bottom-ejected into 96-well plates. We demonstrate the use of this suspended-drop electroporation (SDE) device to effectively introduce fluorescent dextran, small interfering RNA (siRNA) or cDNA into primary neurons, differentiated neutrophils and other cell types with conventionally low transfection rates.
Dynamics of spring-block models: Tuning to criticality.

We have studied the homogeneous Burridge-Knopoff spring-block model with nonlinear friction introduced by Carlson and Langer [Phys. Rev. Lett. 62, 2632 (1989); Phys. Rev. A 40, 6470 (1989)]. There are several different velocity scales that define the model and divide the behavior of the system into distinct regimes. Over much of the parameter space defined by these velocities the system appears to be self-organized to what is reminiscent of a first-order transition. As the friction nonlinearity is varied, there appears to be a continuous (critical) transition to a regime where a global event is continually occurring.
Improved solution stability and spinnability of concentrated polyaniline solutions using N,N′-dimethyl propylene urea as the spin bath solvent

Abstract It is widely known that the intrinsically conductive polymer (ICP) polyaniline is soluble in NMP solvent in its nonconducting base form. However a concentrated polyaniline/NMP solution (>5%) is unstable and rapidly forms gels at room temperatures. We have found that the gelation time and solution stability of polyaniline in DMPU is greatly increased and that this solvent may be suitable for use as a spin bath for the wet spinning of polyaniline fibers in the base form. We report in this paper some initial rheology data on solutions of PANI using NMP, NMP/LiCl, and DMPU as the solvent. All examined PANI solutions showed a similar rheological behavior in that the solutions became more shear dependent with increasing concentrations or increased aging time. The spinnability of PANI solutions was superior when DMPU is used as the spin bath solvent. NMP/LiCl was also examine since this solution tends to prohibit coagulation of PANI in solution.
Do physicians know when their diagnoses are correct? Implications for decision support and error reduction.

OBJECTIVE: This study explores the alignment between physicians’ confidence in their diagnoses and the “correctness” of these diagnoses, as a function of clinical experience, and whether subjects were prone to over-or underconfidence. DESIGN: Prospective, counterbalanced experimental design. SETTING: Laboratory study conducted under controlled conditions at three academic medical centers. PARTICIPANTS: Seventy-two senior medical students, 72 senior medical residents, and 72 faculty internists. INTERVENTION: We created highly detailed, 2-to 4-page synopses of 36 diagnostically challenging medical cases, each with a definitive correct diagnosis. Subjects generated a differential diagnosis for each of 9 assigned cases, and indicated their level of confidence in each diagnosis. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: A differential was considered “correct” if the clinically true diagnosis was listed in that subject’s hypothesis list. To assess confidence, subjects rated the likelihood that they would, at the time they generated the differential, seek assistance in reaching a diagnosis. Subjects’ confidence and correctness were “mildly” aligned (k=.314 for all subjects, .285 for faculty, .227 for residents, and .349 for students). Residents were overconfident in 41% of cases where their confidence and correctness were not aligned, whereas faculty were overconfident in 36% of such cases and students in 25%. CONCLUSIONS: Even experienced clinicians may be unaware of the correctness of their diagnoses at the time they make them. Medical decision support systems, and other interventions designed to reduce medical errors, cannot rely exclusively on clinicians’ perceptions of their needs for such support.
Solar X-ray control of the e-layer of the ionosphere

Abstract Solar X-ray control of the E-layer of the ionosphere is investigated. Electron production rates between 100 and 140 km above the Earth due to 31–100 A solar X-ray flux extrapolated from X-ray data recorded by N.R.L. experiments on Explorer 30, OGO-4 and OSO-4, and due to reported XUV flux from rocket and satellite experiments are calculated to show that about 70 per cent of the E-layer ionization is contributed by the X-rays. Calculated E-layer electron densities due to solar X-ray flux on two typical days are compared with the E-layer electron density profile. ƒ 0 E cos χ over Ottawa (45°N) and Washington, D.C. (39°N) during November 1966 to March 1967 are seen to be closely related with 44–60 A X-ray flux measured by the N.R.L. detector on Explorer 30. Correlation with 8–20 A flux is poorer, (f0E)4/cos χ over Manila (15°N) and Breisach (48°N) during the period July 1966 to June 1968 exhibits a linear relation with X-ray flux. The relation is given approximately by: (ƒ 0 E) 4 cos χ = a + b. F(31–100 A ) + c.F(10–30 A ) . The first term represents ionization due to XUV and is related to the 11-yr sunspot cycle. The second and the third terms represent X-ray contribution and show day-to-day variation depending on the daily solar activity level, in addition to the 11-yr variation with sunspot cycle. Effective recombination coefficients of the layer calculated from the term coefficients are in agreement with accepted values. It is concluded that 31–100 A solar X-rays which contribute about 70 per cent of the E-layer ionization on a day of moderate solar activity are responsible for day-to-day variations in the E-layer index. Contribution of 10–30 A solar flux to the E-layer ionization is small except on a day of high solar activity.
Susceptibility of 55S mitochondrial ribosomes to antibiotics inhibitory to prokaryotic ribosomes, lincomycin, chloramphenicol and PA114A.

Summary We have used a modified “fragment reaction” to compare the susceptibility of isolated 55S bovine mitochondrial ribosomes, bacterial (E. coli) ribosomes and eukaryotic (bovine microsomal) ribosomes to the antibiotics lincomycin, PA114A and chloramphenicol. These antibiotics inhibit bacterial and 55S mitochondrial ribosomes, but not microsomal ribosomes, supporting the general notion that 55S mitochondrial ribosomes are of the prokaryotic type. However, 55S ribosomes are discriminated from most prokaryotic ribosomes by their response to lincomycin. Unlike ribosomes from bacteria and yeast mitochondria, 55S mitochondrial ribosomes are inhibited only by very high concentrations of lincomycin.
Native nonmuscle myosin II stability and light chain binding in Drosophila melanogaster.

Native nonmuscle myosin IIs play essential roles in cellular and developmental processes throughout phylogeny. Individual motor molecules consist of a heterohexameric complex of three polypeptides which, when properly assembled, are capable of force generation. Here, we more completely characterize the properties, relationships and associations that each subunit has with one another in Drosophila melanogaster. All three native nonmuscle myosin II polypeptide subunits are expressed in close to constant stoichiometry to each other throughout development. We find that the stability of two subunits, the heavy chain and the regulatory light chain, depend on one another whereas the stability of the third subunit, the essential light chain, does not depend on either the heavy chain or regulatory light chain. We demonstrate that heavy chain aggregates, which form when regulatory light chain is lacking, associate with the essential light chain in vivo—thus showing that regulatory light chain association is required for heavy chain solubility. By immunodepletion we find that the majority of both light chains are associated with the nonmuscle myosin II heavy chain but pools of free light chain and/or light chain bound to other proteins are present. We identify four myosins (myosin II, myosin V, myosin VI and myosin VIIA) and a microtubule-associated protein (asp/Abnormal spindle) as binding partners for the essential light chain (but not the regulatory light chain) through mass spectrometry and co-precipitation. Using an in silico approach we identify six previously uncharacterized genes that contain IQ-motifs and may be essential light chain binding partners. Cell Motil. Cytoskeleton 2006. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Armada: timing-driven pipeline-aware routing for FPGAs

While previous research has shown that FPGAs can efficiently implement many types of computations, their flexibility inherently limits their clock rate. Several research groups have attempted to address this by developing new architectures that include registered switchpoints within their interconnect. Unfortunately, this pipelined communication presents a new and difficult problem for detailed routing tools. Known as the N-Delay Routing Problem, it has been proven to be NP-Complete. Although there have been two heuristics developed to address this issue, both have certain limitations and neither approach considers timing during the routing process. While timing-driven conventional routing is largely considered to be a solved problem, there are several issues inherent to the N-Delay Routing problem make addressing timing particularly difficult. In this paper we discuss the nature of these problems and present a new timing-driven pipeline-aware router that produces as much as 60% better critical path delay than previous efforts.
The gene encoding for the novel transacting factor proopiomelanocortin corticotropin-releasing hormone responsive element binding protein 1 (PCRH-REB-1) is constitutively expressed in rat pituitary and in discrete brain regions containing CRH or CRH receptors: pathophysiological implications.

The nucleotide sequence CTGTGCGCGCAG is a core corticotropin-releasing hormone (CRH) responsive element in the proopiomelanocortin (POMC) promoter that gives 5-7 fold stimulation of POMC transcription by CRH. This region binds a novel transacting factor, proopiomelanocortin corticotropin-releasing hormone responsive element binding protein 1 (PCRH-REB-1), recently cloned from CRH-stimulated pituitary cells. We conducted in situ hybridization histochemistry experiments, using a species-specific, antisense, 35S-labeled PCRH-REB-1 riboprobe, to determine the pattern of PCRH-REB-1 gene expression in the brain, and showed that PCRH-REB-1 mRNA is localized not only in pituitary, but it is also found in discrete brain regions such as septal nuclei, hypothalamus, cortex, hippocampus, amygdala, and cerebellum. Those regions contain CRH or CRH receptors, and respond to CRH. We hypothesize that PCRH-REB-1 may be a marker of cellular responsiveness to CRH in the brain and pituitary, and might therefore be useful in t...
The Effect of Primary Care Training on Patient Satisfaction Ratings

This study examines the association between type of internal medicine training and satisfaction ratings among 509 patients who visited the clinic of an urban teaching hospital over a 3-month period in 1994. When controlling for patient, health-system, and other resident factors, primary care training was significantly associated with higher satisfaction ratings (cumulative odds ratio 1.53; 95% confidence interval 1.04, 2.25; p =.031) than categorical training. Using satisfaction ratings to rank the residents without adjusting for patient and health-system factors would have correctly classified only 27% of the residents in the lowest quartile. These findings have implications for both the education and potential employment of internists.
Patient-interactive, microprocessor-controlled neurological stimulation system.

Objectives. Recent technical improvements in implanted stimulation devices, in particular the development of programmable, multicontact devices, have facilitated their clinical application in the management of pain. If the capabilities of these devices are to be used to full advantage, adjustment after implantation demands a major investment of time and effort. Ideally, adjustment should be based upon psychophysical data of high quality; this imposes additional demands. Materials and Methods. We have developed a computerized system, designed for direct patient interaction and for greater ease of operation than the standard external devices provided with these implants. It rapidly tests the available contact combinations and stimulus pulse parameters, at a rate substantially greater than that of a skilled human operator using the standard device. At the same time, it records detailed, graphical data and patient ratings at varying thresholds. We have redesigned the system based upon our experience with a prototype interfaced to the bus of an IBM-compatible PC, c. 1983. The new system communicates through the serial port to a freestanding, dedicated interface, whose microprocessor in turn controls standard, commercial radiofrequency transmitters. This frees the host computer from stimulus timekeeping, allowing simultaneous entry of pain drawings and stimulation drawings by the patient, analysis of incoming data, and generation of complex “multichannel” stimuli. Furthermore, upgrades to the host computer to expedite these tasks generally will require no other hardware or software modifications. Results and Conclusions. Our patient-interactive computerized system has proven to be safe and effective clinically in adjusting implanted spinal cord stimulators. It offers advantages of data standardization and quality control, as well as delivery of novel pulse sequences and protocols to assess the treatment of pain and neurological disorders by electrical stimulation devices.
Protein turnover and inclusion body formation.

In a recent study, we investigated the relationship between inclusion body (IB) formation and the activity of the ubiquitin-proteasome system (UPS) in a primary neuron model of Huntington disease. We followed individual neurons over thecourse of days and monitored the level of mutant huntingtin (htt) (which causes Huntington disease), IB formation, UPS function,and neuronal toxicity. The accumulation of UPS substrates and neuronal toxicity increased with increasing levels of proteasomeinhibition. The UPS was more impaired in neurons that subsequently formed IBs than in those that did not; however, after IBsformed, UPS function improved. These findings suggest that IB formation is a protective cellular response mediated in part byincreased degradation of intracellular protein.
Sensitized B lymphocytes contribute to acute allograft rejection.

Abstract The contribution of sensitized B lymphocytes to second-set allograft rejection has been relatively ignored despite their regular appearance in rejecting allografts. This study presents evidence that adoptively transferred sensitized B lymphocytes accelerate the rate of acute allograft rejection in a sublethally irradiated rat cardiac allograft model. Donors of reconstituting B lymphocytes were sensitized with three consecutive ACI skin grafts. Transplantation of a heart from an ACI strain donor into a Lewis strain recipient (complete RT1 mismatch) results in rejection in 6.8 ± 0.3 days. When the allograft donor and recipient are irradiated with 650 cGy prior to transplantation, rejection occurs at 31.5 ± 3.0 days. Irradiated recipients reconstituted with 10 6 syngeneic sensitized splenic B cells reject their grafts in 20.1 ± 2.0 days, while reconstitution with 10 6 unsensitized syngeneic B cells has no effect on the rate of rejection ( P = 0.0007). These data strongly suggest that sensitized B lymphocytes have a marked accelerating effect on the tempo of allograft rejection.
Unreflective actions? complex motor skill acquisition to enhance spatial cognition

Cognitive science has recently moved toward action-integrated paradigms to account for some of its most remarkable findings. This novel approach has opened up new venues for the sport sciences. In particular, a large body of literature has investigated the relationship between complex motor practice and cognition, which in the sports domain has mostly concerned the effect of imagery and other forms of mental practice on motor skill acquisition and emotional control. Yet recent evidence indicates that this relationship is bidirectional: motor experience also influences higher cognition, with a broad range of cognitive abilities being impacted in various ways. In this paper, I review the latest research exploring the effect of complex motor practice on spatial cognition. After emphasizing the versatility of processes that are recruited in the acquisition of complex motor skills, I present further experimental evidence to suggest that the process of acquiring new motor skills triggers specific adaptions in the brain, which in turn can be critical in numerous aspects of daily life. Finally, I propose a mechanistic explanation to account for motor-induced improvements, within an embodied framework of cognition.
Optimum cylindrical near fields for illuminating a spherical reflector

A spherical reflector antenna can be illuminated by a radiating line source along its symmetry axis. The optimal fields on a cylinder around this axis are found using a modal expansion technique. The optimal fields are expressed as combinations of cylindrical harmonics with unknown mode coefficients and set equal to the required illumination on the sphere. The resultant integral equations are solved using steepest descent methods, giving the mode coefficients. These coefficients are then checked by numerical integration. The optimal cylindrical fields are found from these mode coefficients both by integrating numerically and by steepest descent methods. The results of both techniques are checked by numerical integration. The results give theoretical aperture efficiencies of greater than 90 percent at sufficiently short wavelengths.
Glass ceramic dielectrics: Energy storage and breakdown

The possible use of glass ceramics as high energy density capacitors in heart defibrillators and hybrid automotive vehicles is explored. Glass ceramics, lead sodium niobate silicate (PNNS), barium sodium niobate silicate (BNNS) and barium titanate silicate (BTS), allow the development of dielectrics with various permittivity values ranging from 20 to 700. Glasses were formed by melt-rolling the respective constituents which were then crystallized by reheating the glass at higher temperatures. Heat treatment schedules were formulated based on DTA results. A spectrum of crystalline phases, ranging from perovskites, tungsten bronzes and pyrochlores to fresnoites, were generated within the various glass matrices. Disadvantages, such as difficult glass formability, less control over crystallization due to multiphase formation etc., associated with high permittivity PNNS and BNNS glass ceramics served as the motivating factor for exploring low permittivity glass ceramics. BTS glass ceramics exhibit excellent stability in permittivity, high resistivity and low loss over the measured range of temperature. Thin samples with pristine surfaces are required for achieving high breakdown strength values. Investigation of the crystallization kinetics of BTS glass would provide further insight into exploring glass nano-composites, analogous to polymer nano-composites.
Annual anthropogenic pollutant emissions in the United States and Southern Canada east of the Rocky Mountains

Abstract Annual anthropogenic pollutant emissions of sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and hydrocarbons from point and area sources were apportioned to 80-km grid squares on a 35 × 30 grid network. The grid network was superimposed on a polar stereographic projection map true at 60°N. The domain of the network included southern Canada and the United States east of the Rocky Mountains, excluding southern Texas and northern New England. The emissions data were obtained from the 1977 United States Environmental Protection Agency's National Emissions Data System (NEDS) file as well as from data compiled by the Ontario Ministry of the Environment and Environment Canada. These emission inventories, the design of the gridding procedures, and the major source classifications responsible for much of the emissions are discussed.
Escherichia coli rpoB Mutants Have Increased Evolvability in Proportion to Their Fitness Defects

Evolvability is the capacity of an organism or population for generating descendants with increased fitness. Simulations and comparative studies have shown that evolvability can vary among individuals and identified characteristics of genetic architectures that can promote evolvability. However, little is known about how the evolvability of biological organisms typically varies along a lineage at each mutational step in its history. Evolvability might increase upon sustaining a deleterious mutation because there are many compensatory paths in the fitness landscape to reascend the same fitness peak or because shifts to new peaks become possible. We use genetic marker divergence trajectories to parameterize and compare the evolvability--defined as the fitness increase realized by an evolving population initiated from a test genotype--of a series of Escherichia coli mutants on multiple timescales. Each mutant differs from a common progenitor strain by a mutation in the rpoB gene, which encodes the beta subunit of RNA polymerase. Strains with larger fitness defects are proportionally more evolvable in terms of both the beneficial mutations accessible in their immediate mutational neighborhoods and integrated over evolutionary paths that traverse multiple beneficial mutations. Our results establish quantitative expectations for how a mutation with a given deleterious fitness effect should influence evolvability, and they will thus inform future studies of how deleterious, neutral, and beneficial mutations targeting other cellular processes impact the evolutionary potential of microorganisms.
Spontaneous cavitation in growing elastic membranes

One of the possible effects of volumetric growth in elastic materials is the creation of residual stresses. These stresses are known to change many of the classical properties of the material and have been studied extensively in the context of volumetric growth in biomechanics. Here we consider the problem of elastic cavitation in a growing compressible elastic membrane. Growth is taken to be homogeneous but anisotropic, and the membrane is assumed to remain axisymmetric during growth and deformation. We prove that neo-Hookean membranes cannot cavitate, but for Varga elastic materials we find conditions under which the material exhibits spontaneous cavitation in the absence of external loads, in marked distinction from the cavitation problem without growth.