cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Otitis media in a premature infant

W ~ I z E making routine serial otoscopic examinations on premature infants with birth weights of 1,001 to 1,500 grams, we noted changes in the drum of one infant indicative of otitis media on the basis of currently accepted criteria for older infants. Because otitis media is usually not considered to occur in the very young infant, this being the first case encountered in our experience, the present report is submitted.
Aggregation of lariat ethers attached to a membrane anchoring unit

Abstract The GGGPGGG heptapeptide, when anchored by octadecylamine–diglycolic acid unit forms chloride-selective channels in bilayer. Crown ethers, differently anchored, have been used to form synthetic cation channels. Dialkylamine–diglycolic acid anchored crown ethers failed to form cation-selective channels. This might be due to an inability to insert in the bilayer. Their ability to form stable aggregates, reflective of the latter, was therefore studied.
Isotopic spin selection rules X: The 7.18 MeV state of 20Ne

Abstract The possible E1 transition between the 3– state at 7.18 MeV and the 2+ state at 1.63 MeV in 20Ne is forbidden by the isotopic spin rule. It has been sought using the reaction 16O(α, γ)20Ne and it has been shown that the radiative width is less than 6 MeV. This corresponds to ∥ M ∥2 ⩽4.3×10×5 in Weisskopf Units or to contaminations α2 0(1) ⩽1.3×10×3 of the 7.18 and 1.63 MeV states with T = 1 states.
The gut microbiota, environment and diseases of modern society

The human gut microbiota is a complex community that provides important metabolic functions to the host. Consequently, alterations in the gut microbiota have been associated with the pathogenesis of several human diseases associated with a disturbance in metabolism, particularly those that have been increasing in incidence over the last several decades including obesity, diabetes and atherosclerosis. In this review, we explore how advances in deep DNA sequencing technology have provided us a greater understanding of the factors that influence that composition of the gut microbiota and its possible links to the pathogenesis of these diseases.
Kinematics and Microphysics of the Transition Zone of the 10–11 June 1985 Squall Line

Abstract A high-resolution composite analysis covering the entire breadth of the northern portion of a mature leading-line, trailing stratiform squall-line system reveals that mean subsidence observed in the transition zone consisted of two different types of average downdraft: one at upper levels that was mechanically forced and one at lower levels that was microphysically forced. Both the upper-level and lower-level mean downdrafts in the transition zone appeared to be the average effect of convective-scale vertical drafts associated with convective structures that moved relative to the front edge of the convective line. The structure of individual upper-level convective-scale downdrafts suggested that they may have been partially composed of gravity waves excited by the interaction of the penetrative convective updrafts of the mature and dissipating convective cells with the stable ambient flow. The lower-level mean downdraft extended from midlevels to near the surface but was maximum near the melting ...
Fiber-optic acoustic Fourier transducer for audio sound processing

We demonstrate a fiber-optic acoustic transducer operating in the audio-frequency regime. The device is made of an array of 120 multimode optical fibers and a photorefractive novelty filter. Each fiber in the array acts as a cantilevered mechanical resonator. The resonant frequencies of the fibers logarithmically sample the acoustic spectrum from approximately 100 Hz to 5 kHz. Laser light is injected into all fibers simultaneously and is reflected from the end of each fiber. An optical novelty filter extracts the acoustic information from the reflected light. The output of the novelty filter is essentially a Fourier transform of the acoustic signal. The background intensity in the transducer output corresponds to a driving amplitude of approximately 50 A. We describe holographic storage of complex sound patterns that use a LiNbO(3) crystal and an acoustic transducer.
Gonadotropin-releasing hormone receptor microaggregation. Rate monitored by fluorescence resonance energy transfer.

Abstract Gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) regulates pituitary gonadotropin release and is a therapeutic target for human and animal reproductive diseases. In the present study we have utilized the technique of fluorescence resonance energy transfer to monitor the rate of GnRH receptor-receptor interactions. This technique relies on the observation that the degree of physical intimacy of molecules can be assessed by the tendency of proximal fluorophores to exchange energy. Our data indicate that GnRH agonist, but not antagonist, occupancy of the GnRH receptor promotes physical intimacy (microaggregation) between receptors. The time course indicates that this occurs promptly (<1 min) after occupancy and persists for at least 80 min and within the physiologically relevant range of the releasing hormone. The process measured is not inhibited by 0.1 mm vinblastin, 2 μm cytochalasin D, or 3 mm EGTA, an observation that distinguishes it frommacroaggregation (patching, capping, and internalization). These observations, along with reports from other laboratories, are consonant with a growing body of evidence that indicates that microaggregation is an early event following agonist occupancy of the receptor and part of the mechanism by which effector regulation occurs.
Circadian Periodicity of Bone Marrow Mitotic Activity and Reticulocyte Counts in Rats and Mice

Mitotic proliferation in the bone marrow of female rats and mice kept under standardized coniditions with light from 6:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. exhibited a significant circadian periodicity with the greatest activity occurring from 6:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon. The reticulocyte levels in peripheral blood were highest at 8:00 a.m.
Prevalence of Hypothalamic-Pituitary Imaging Abnormalities in Impotent Men with Secondary Hypogonadism

AbstractPurpose: Because prevalence of structural lesions of the pituitary and hypothalamus in impotent men with secondary hypogonadism was undefined, we evaluated 164 men 27 to 79 years old whose chief complaint was erectile dysfunction and who repeatedly had low serum testosterone levels (less than 230 ng./dl.).Materials and Methods: With computerized tomography or magnetic resonance imaging of the sella we detected potentially serious lesions (pituitary lesions greater than 5 mm. or any hypothalamic lesion) in 11 men (6.7 percent, 95 percent confidence interval 2.9 to 10.5 percent), including 5 pituitary microadenomas (5 mm. or larger), 4 pituitary macroadenomas and 2 hypothalamic lesions.Results: Mean serum testosterone was lower in patients with (121 plus/minus 66 ng./dl., standard deviation) than without (177 plus/minus 39 ng./dl.) hypothalamic or pituitary imaging abnormalities (p less than 0.001). For every 10 ng./dl. decrease in testosterone the risk of hypothalamic or pituitary imaging abnormali...
Perinatal treatment of rats with opiates affects the development of the blood-brain barrier transport system PTS-1

Previous results have shown that treatment of rats with morphine during the neonatal period can influence development of peptide transport system-1 (PTS-1), the blood-brain barrier transport system for Tyr-MIF-1 and methionine enkephalin. Previous work has suggested that the activity level of PTS-1 correlates with the concentration of methionine enkephalin in the brain. We show here that rats treated peripherally with morphine sulfate (MS) in both the prenatal and neonatal periods have enhanced activity of PTS-1. The degree of enhancement increases with age to reach a 66% increase in comparison with controls at age 9 weeks. The mu agonist MS was more powerful than the kappa agonist ethylketocyclazocine (EKC) or the delta agonist [D-Pen2.5,pCl-Phe4]enkephalin (pCl-DPDPE) in producing this effect. Opiate antagonists had complex effects with methylnaltrexone blocking the action of MS on PTS-1. These results show that the level of PTS-1 activity in adult rats can be modified by perinatal events that affect opiate tone during development.
Properties of a Yeast Cytochrome P‐450‐Containing Enzyme System which Catalyzes the Hydroxylation of Fatty Acids, Alkanes, and Drugs

The growth of Candida tropicalis on tetradecane causes the induction of a cytochrome P-450-containing enzyme system which catalyzes the hydroxylation of fatty acids, hydrocarbons and drugs. When the cells are broken by treatment with a French pressure cell, the cytochrome P-450 is obtained in an apparently soluble form. The enzyme system was resolved into three components: cytochrome P-450, NADPH-cytochrome P-450 reductase, and a heat-stable lipid fraction, all of which are necessary, along with NADPH and molecular oxygen, for the conversion of laurate to ω-hydroxylaurate. NADH alone is almost completely inactive but causes a doubling of the activity when present along with a saturating level of NADPH. The yeast reductase and lipid fractions may be replaced by corresponding fractions obtained from rat liver microsomes. The effect of various phospholipids on the hydroxylation activity was investigated, and a yeast lysophosphati-dylethanolamine fraction was shown to be most effective as judged by laurate hydroxylation. The yeast cytochrome P-450 is not readily autoxidizable, as shown by experiments in which it was reduced extensively by NADPH in the presence of phospholipid and the reductase under aerobic conditions.
The Search for Supernova Signatures in an Ice Core

It has been suggested that ice cores may preserve detectable enhancements of some terrestrially rare radioisotopes, 10 Be, 26 Al, 36 Cl, resulting from a near-Earth core-collapse supernova(SN) [J. Ellis, B.D. Fields and D.N. Schramm, Astrophys. J. 470 (1996) 1227]. Both 10 Be and 36 Cl are also produced by atmospheric cosmic ray spallation and hence are influenced by processes that modulate the Earth's cosmic ray flux. Previous studies [G.M. Raisbeck, F. Yiou, D. Bourles, C. Lorius, J. Jouzel and N. I. Barkov, Nature 326 (1987) 273], [L.G. Thompson, T. Yao, M.E. Davis, K.A. Henderson, E. Mosley-Thompson, P.-N. Lin, J. Beer, H.-A. Synal, J. Cole-Dai and J.F. Bolzan, Science 276 (1997) 1821] have suggested that enhancements occurred in the 10 Be and 36 Cl fluxes at ∼35 ky and at ∼60 ky for 10 Be. Thus we have searched for potential SN condensates with 26 Al amongst grains filtered from the 308.6m Guliya ice core recovered from the Qinghai-Tibetan plateau in China [L.G. Thompson, T. Yao, M.E. Davis, K.A. Henderson, E. Mosley-Thompson, P.-N. Lin, J. Beer, H.-A. Synal, J. Cole-Dai and J.F. Bolzan, Science 276 (1997) 1821]. We searched for potential core-collapse SN condensate grains corundum (Al 2 O 3 ), hibonite (CaAl 12 O 19 ) and spinel (MgAl 2 O 4 ) (see [D.S. Ebel and L. Grossman, Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 65 (2001) 469]) in Guliya grain samples from the following time periods: ∼ 2 − 10 ky , ∼ 25 − 27 ky , ∼ 34 − 36 ky , ∼ 53 − 57 ky , ∼ 59 − 62 ky and ∼ 68 − 72 ky . These minerals are rare among terrestrial rocks and fine-grained atmospheric dust of terrestrial origin. Furthermore, they are insoluble in the acids employed in the sample preparation process and therefore separable from other minerals, such as silicates, that have high terrestrial abundances. Candidate SN condensate grains were identified among their terrestrial diluents employing a procedure developed at the University of Chicago for detecting presolar grains in meteoritic samples [S. Amari, R.S. Lewis and E. Anders, Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 58 (1994) 459]. A set of 37 grains from the ∼ 34 − 36 ky , ∼ 53 − 57 ky and ∼ 59 − 62 ky samples were analyzed with the NanoSIMS at Washington University to measure their oxygen isotopic ratios. The preliminary results indicate that the analyzed grains, representing
Mobility in Daily Life: Between Freedom and Unfreedom

Mobility in Daily Life: Between Freedom and Unfreedom Malene Freudendal-Pedersen Ashgate, 2009. 155 pages (hardback). ISBN: 978-0-7546-7490-0 Balancing a theoretical examination of mobility with an...
Pigment cell differentiation: the relationship between pterin content, allopurinol treatment, and the melanoid gene in axolotls.

Abstract The effects of allopurinol (an inhibitor of the enzyme xanthine dehydrogenase (XDH)) and the melanoid gene on pigment cell differentiation in the axolotl were examined by analyzing pigment components of the xanthophore (pterins). Pterin contents of skin extracts (70% ethanol) from wild type, allopurinol-treated and melanoid axolotls were determined by thin layer chromatography (TLC) and fluorometric scanning of TLC plates. Heights of peaks produced were used as a quantitative measure for pterin content. Results reveal that melanoid animals contain significantly reduced amounts of all seven pterins examined as compared with wild type animals. Allopurinol-treated animals have reduced levels of four pterins (xanthopterin, isoxanthopterin, biopterin and sepiapterin) as compared with the wild type. These findings suggest that the alterations in pterin biosynthetic pathways, either by drug-induced inhibition of XDH activity or by the melanoid gene, produce similar dramatic changes in pigment phenotype which are manifested by alterations in pigment cell differentiation.
When a cigar is not just a cigar: alternative takes on data and data analysis.

A commonplace in the qualitative research literature is that data can be interpreted in more than one way. Less commonly considered are how much the interpretive flexibility of data depends on the adequacy of researchers' interpretive repertoires and how it troubles the lines conventionally drawn between methods, primary and secondary analysis, and between valid and invalid interpretation. What largely differentiates inquiry is not whether it is qualitative or quantitative but rather the attitude taken toward the data generated in a study. The more varied the interpretive repertoire of researchers, the greater will be their capacity to be tuned in to and credibly account for the varied ways in which data can be seen and treated. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Res Nurs Health 34:342–352, 2011
Maternally administered esmolol decreases fetal as well as maternal heart rate.

Abstract Fetal heart rate was monitored during the administration of esmolol 100 μg/kg/min to a 36-year-old, 29-week pregnant woman who was undergoing craniotomy for surgical treatment of six cerebral aneurysms. During stable general anesthesia, sodium nitroprusside was administered to induce moderate hypotension; at the same time, esmolol was infused to control maternal tachycardia. Within minutes after starting the esmolol infusion, maternal heart rate decreased from 100 beats/minute to 65 beatslminute, and fetal heart rate decreased from 160 beatslminute to 130 beatslminute. Upon termination of the infusion 3 hours later, both maternal and fetal heart rate returned to preinfusion values. No adverse effects of esmolol infusion were noted in the mother or fetus.
Maximum leakage power estimation for CMOS circuits

Low supply voltage requires the device threshold to be reduced in order to maintain performance. As the device threshold voltage is reduced, it results in an exponential increase of leakage current in the subthreshold region. The leakage power is no longer negligible in such low voltage circuits. Estimates of maximum leakage power can be used in the design of the circuit to minimize the leakage power. The leakage power is dependent on the input vector. This input pattern dependence of the leakage power makes the problem of estimating the maximum leakage power a hard problem. In this paper, we present graph based algorithms for estimating the maximum leakage power. These algorithms are pattern-independent and do not require simulation of the circuit. Instead the circuit structure and the logic functionality of the components in the circuit are used to create a constraint graph. The problem of estimating the maximum leakage power is then transformed to an optimization problem on the constraint graph. Efficient algorithms on the graph are used to estimate the maximum leakage power dissipated by a circuit. We also present comparisons with exhaustive/long simulations for MCNC/ISCAS-85 benchmark circuits to verify the accuracy of the method.
Practicing the top antireflector process

Thickness variations in photoresist caused by substrate topography, and normal variations in deposited thin films, arc unavoidable sources of linewidth variation in optical lithography. Thin film interference effects cause exposure to vary by large amounts. A new approach to controlling these effects is the use of a top antircficctor (TAR) film on top of the photoresist. In this paper, the performance of a process using a water soluble TAR material is described. Simulation and experimental results arc given which show the effectiveness in controlling wafer reflectivity, and exposure dose in the presence of varying insulator and resist films. The effect of the TAR process on focus and exposure latitude is examined and initial results from device manufacturing are presented.
Some Isotope Shifts in the Spark Spectrum of Te

The hollow-cathode spectra from enriched samples of Te/sup 1//sup 2//sup 4/, Te/sup 1//sup 2//sup 6/, and Te/sup 1//sup 2//sup 8/ were studied in orde r to check the isotope shifts in the region of the largest discrepancy to ascertain its nature. Spectral resolution was accomplished by crossing an interferometer with a large quartz-glass spectrograph. The results of the shifts in the line lambda 4049A of Te II are tabularly presented. The isotope pair shifts for 126- 124 and 128-126 are 0.0192 plus or minus 0.0016 and 0.0165 plus or minus 0.0015. The isotopic abundances in the 124, 126, and 128 samples were 83.9, 95.4, and 96.5%, respectively. The 126-124 shift was corrected for the presence of 4.5% of Te/sup 1//sup 2//sup 6/ in the 124 sample. The other isotopic impurities were neglected. The errors expressed are limit errors and are considered conservative. (N.W.R.)
BACTERIAL GENETICS, ANTIBIOTIC USAGE, AND PUBLIC POLICY: THE CRUCIAL INTERPLAY IN EMERGING RESISTANCE

From politicians to physicians to the general public, there is a growing awareness that bacterial resistance to antibiotics is an expanding prob- lem. Sometimes the setting in which the problem is presented is the emergence of "superbugs," such as vancomycin resistant enterococci that are essentially untreatable and tend to cause problems in hospital- ized people who are already quite ill. In other cases, the issue relates to the greater difficulty/expense/toxicity associated with treatment strate- gies for more common bacteria, such as Haemophilus influenzae (one of the most common causes of ear and sinus infections in children) now being resistant to ampicillin. And sometimes the problem has elements of both, such as the spread of multiply resistant (including penicillin and erythromycin resistant) Streptococcus pneumoniae. S. pneumoniae is the most common cause of bacterial pneumonia and a common cause of ear and sinus infections in children and adults. The association of resis- tance with an unfettered use of antimicrobials has been postulated, and much experimental evidence has been accumulated in support of this connection. We struggle as a society to make'policy decisions to forestall or to minimize the impact of serious infections caused by difficult-to- treat bacteria without exposing individuals to harm from undertreat- ment. Analysis and debate about the bacterial resistance problem in general-interest, wide-circulation periodicals such as Time (1) and U.S.
SYNDROME ACCOMPANYING DEFICIENCY OR ABSENCE OF THE OVARIAN FOLLICULAR HORMONE

In an article published in 1931, the author (1) described the symptoms presented by 136 castrated and menopausal women. This work includes additional cases, plus a new group of 48 women having involntional melancholia, totaling 197 patients. Ovarian hypo function may be due to pathological conditions such as cystic degeneration or inflammatory processes in or adjacent to the ovaries—salpingitis, appendicitis, etc.—which may cause degeneration in the glands. It may be secondary to constitutional disease processes, as some anemias, tuberculosis, malignancies other than pelvic, etc. Vitamin deficiency in the diet may cause it. It may be primary as in some cases of cunuehoidism with late development of the secondary sexual characteristics in which the ovaries may never attain full development and function. It may be secondary to anterior pituitary deficiency as in some types of infantalism, so-called bilobar-pituitary insufficiency, preadult or postadult. It may occur after partial castration where one ovary ...
Shadow Segmentation in SAS and SAR Using Bayesian Elastic Contours

We present a variational framework for naturally incorporating prior shape knowledge in guidance of active contours for boundary extraction in images. This framework is especially suitable for images collected outside the visible spectrum, where boundary estimation is difficult due to low contrast, low resolution, and presence of noise and clutter. Accordingly, we illustrate this approach using the segmentation of synthetic aperture sonar (SAS) and synthetic aperture radar (SAR) images. The shadows produced from these imaging modalities often times offer more consistent pixel values with clearer contrast to the background than the targets pixels themselves, and thus we focus on the extraction of shadow boundaries rather than target boundaries. Since shadow shapes can vary under approximately affine transformation with different target range and aspect angle, we incorporate an affine-invariant, elastic shape prior based on the shape analysis techniques developed in [2] to the active contour model. We show experimental results on both a simulated SAS and a simulated SAR image database in three segmentation scenarios: without shape prior, with similarity-invariant shape prior, and with affine-invariant shape prior.
Time Trends in Obesity Among Adults with Asthma in the United States: Findings from Three National Surveys

Obesity may affect the respiratory health of people with asthma. Because the temporal trends in the prevalence of obesity among people with asthma have not been described in the United States, our objective was to describe these trends. Using data from National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) I (1971-1975), II (1976-1980), and III (1988-1994), the authors examined changes in the prevalence of obesity during the period covered by these surveys. The age-adjusted prevalence of current asthma was 3.5% for NHANES I, 3.1% for NHANES II, and 5.2% in NHANES III. Among people with current asthma, age-adjusted mean body mass index increased from 26.1 kg/m2 in the NHANES I to 28.0 kg/m2 in NHANES III, and the age-adjusted prevalence of obesity increased from 21.3 to 32.8%. Among people without asthma, age-adjusted mean body mass index increased from 25.4 kg/m2 in NHANES I to 26.6 kg/m2 in NHANES III, and the prevalence of obesity increased from 14.6 to 22.8%. These results show that people with asthma are far more likely to be obese than people who do not have asthma. Because excess weight may adversely affect the respiratory health of people with asthma, weight management for overweight and obese patients with asthma may be an important component in the medical care of these patients.
Membrane solubilization by detergent: Resistance conferred by thickness

The commonly held model for membrane dissolution by detergents/ surfactants requires lipid transport from the inner to the outer bilayer leaflet (‘flip-flop'). Although applicable to many systems, it fails in cases where cross-bilayer transport of membrane components is suppressed. In this paper we investigate the mechanism for surfactant-induced solubilization of polymeric bilayers. To that end, we examine the dissolution of a series of increasingly thick, polymer-based vesicles (polymersomes) by a nonionic surfactant, Triton X-100, using dynamic light scattering. We find that increasing the bilayer thickness imparts better resistance to dissolution, so that the concentration required for solubilization, after a fixed amount of time, increases nearly linearly with membrane thickness. Combining our experimental data with a theoretical model, we show that the dominant mechanism for the surfactant-induced dissolution of polymeric vesicles, where polymer flip-flop across the membrane is suppressed, is the su...
Iodine-123 as a diagnostic imaging agent in differentiated thyroid carcinoma: a comparison with iodine-131 post-treatment scanning and serum thyroglobulin measurement.

Using 123I for diagnostic purposes avoids the risk of stunning for subsequent radioiodine treatment and affords an excellent image quality. In this study we assessed the role of 123I in comparison with 131I post-treatment imaging in patients with thyroid cancer. We compared a total of 292 123I scans with their corresponding post-treatment 131I images. Patients received a therapeutic dose of 131I following diagnostic scanning with 50–111 MBq of 123I. All patients were in a hypothyroid state (>30 μIU/l) before radioiodine administration for either diagnostic or therapeutic purposes. In 228 out of 263 patients with a positive diagnostic scan, 123I whole-body scan findings were concordant with those of corresponding post-treatment 131I images (concordance rate 87%). However, there were 44 additional foci of abnormal uptake on post-treatment 131I scans in 22 discordant cases with no impact on therapeutic management of the patients. In 13 patients, there was at least one new site on post-treatment images that had been missed on pretreatment 123I images. Twenty-nine patients with a negative diagnostic scan were treated with 131I owing to a high serum thyroglobulin level (range 11.3–480 ng/ml). Radioiodine uptake sites were seen in eight post-treatment scans. In 21 pairs of whole-body scans, both the pre- and the post-treatment scan were negative (concordance rate 72.4%). 123I scanning is comparable to high-dose 131I post-treatment imaging in thyroid carcinoma patients, and 123I offers excellent image quality as a diagnostic agent. It avoids disadvantages such as stunning before treatment and delivery of a high radiation dose to patients.
40Ar/39Ar Geochronology of Subaerial Ascension Island and a Re-evaluation of the Temporal Progression of Basaltic to Rhyolitic Volcanism

Ar/Ar geochronology of basaltic to rhyolitic lavas, domes, and pyroclastic deposits from Ascension Island indicates that the maximum age of subaerially exposed samples is 1094 ka. Thirty-eight Ar/Ar ages, coupled with new and existing geochemical data, constrain the eruptive histories of the four distinct mafic magma types (high Zr/Nb, low Zr/Nb, intermediate Zr/Nb, and Dark Slope Crater) and document temporal variations in magma sources. Lavas from the eastern felsic complex, previously assumed to be as old as or slightly younger than the 602^1094 ka Middleton Ridge complex, are as young as 52 ka. Basaltic to benmoreitic scoria cones and associated flows of the intermediate Zr/Nb magma type have been inferred to be the most recent eruptive products, yet their eruptive histories extend back to 705 ka. These intermediate Zr/ Nb magmas are likely to be parental to the abundant trachytic to rhyolitic lavas and domes, which contradicts previous interpretations that call upon a high Zr/Nb parental basalt. Two distinct fractionation trends are observed in the trace element variations of Ascension trachytes and rhyolites. Ar/Ar ages of the samples defining the two trends suggest that ilmenite fractionation dominated the Nb budget and thus controlled Zr/Nb ratios in early (4931ka) Ascension evolved magmas, whereas zircon^titanite fractionation was predominant in younger felsic magmas.The eruptive sequence and compositions of the subaerial lavas and domes at Ascension Island are unique in comparison with other ocean island volcanoes because of its on-axis location and eruptions of highSiO2 trachyte and rhyolite.
Probing protein–metal ion interactions by electrospray ionization mass spectrometry: enolase and nucleocapsid protein

Abstract Electrospray ionization mass spectrometry (ESIMS) was used to study the metal ion binding stoichiometry and interactions with the proteins enolase and nucleocapsid protein (NCp7). Yeast enolase is a 93-kDa homodimeric enzyme that requires divalent metal ion binding for activity. The ESIMS studies of yeast enolase show the noncovalently bound dimer as the most abundant species for the apo and holo forms of the protein. However, the Mg2+- and Mn2+-bound enolase dimeric enzymes exhibit enhanced stability relative to their apo- and sodium-bound counterparts. Only a small proportion of the Mg2+/Mn2+-bound enolase dimer dissociates to the monomer state upon collisionally activated dissociation in the atmospheric pressure/vacuum interface of the ESI mass spectrometer, whereas the majority of the enolase dimer in the apo- and sodium-bound forms can be induced to dissociate to the monomer. This characteristic of the gas phase complex is consistent with its solution phase behavior. NCp7 contains two zinc finger structures. Limited proteolysis with trypsin in conjunction with ESIMS monitoring was used to determine the binding site of an initial zinc ion exposed to NCp7. The N-terminal zinc finger was found to be the primary binding site of the first zinc ion. Similar limited proteolysis experiments on the binding of NCp7–Zn2 with the pentanucleotide d(ACGCC) suggest the participation of both zinc finger structures. This is consistent with previous solution phase binding studies using nuclear magnetic resonance and fluorescence spectroscopy.
Inferring Military Activity in Hybrid Networks through Cache Behavior

In this work, we consider a tactical hybrid network where a military adhoc network utilizes a commercial cellular network as backbone for data traffic. It is assumed that all traffic goes through a cache at the cellular base station with Least-Recently Used (LRU) policy. We study the possibility of inferring the military traffic rate from cache hit/miss observations of a single adversary node. We show the possibility of such an inference by presenting algorithms for estimating the parameters of the hybrid network. First, we show that an adversary node can estimate the cache and workload parameters of a hybrid network by observing the hit/miss results of her queries. We then show that these estimates can be used to infer the military traffic rate.
Evaluation of automated sex hormone binding globulin immunoassays.

Abstract Background Sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) is an important regulator of testosterone and estradiol. Study design We validated the Diagnostic Products Corporation (DPC) and Roche Diagnostic SHBG immunoassays on the DPC Immulite 2000 and Roche Modular E170 analyzers. Results The coefficient of variation for SHBG kits from both manufacturers was in the range of 3.9–7.7% (between-run) and 0.95–5.0% (within-run), free of interference from hemoglobin, bilirubin, lipid, and rheumatoid factor, and linear up to at least 170 nM SHBG. The results of the two methods, however, were biased by up to 29% depending on the SHBG concentration. Conclusion The SHBG assays perform well but standardization is needed.
Immune system of the spontaneously hypertensive rat: II. Morphology and function.

The spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) is a stress-sensitive animal which exhibits moderate immune dysfunction that has been implicated in the onset of hypertension. In this study, we examined the morphology of SHR thymus and spleen and further characterized the immune deficiency using Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) and Fisher 344 (F-344) rats for comparison. The adult SHR thymus does not display the increase in medullary volume typically noted with aging and the volume density of the marginal zone is decreased in the spleen. In vivo tritiated-thymidine incorporation is also decreased in the spleen of unstimulated SHR. In mixed lymphocyte reactions (MLR), the proliferative response of SHR splenocytes is significantly decreased relative to controls, WKY and F-344. Addition of interleukin-1 (IL-1), interleukin-2 (IL-2), or indomethacin to the MLR cultures does not increase proliferation. The proliferative response to T cell receptor monoclonal antibody (mAb-TCR) or interleukin-2 (IL-2) are similarly impaired in the SHR. The depressed proliferative T cell response is reversed by prolactin. It is suggested that the SHR is a valuable model for the study of immune deficiency. © 1993 Wiley-Liss Inc.
Advertising the U.S. National Organic Standard: A Well-Intentioned Cue Lost in the Shuffle?

The 2002 implementation of the National Organic standard and development of the USDA organic seal gave food advertisers a new tool with which to communicate food characteristics to consumers. Based principally on farm and manufacturing practices, the standard offers consumers an expansion of their food choices. Parents of young children have been shown to have particular interest in organic food. Using parent-targeted magazine-based food ads, this paper explores how organic has been promoted, how its advertising strategy compares to that for conventional foods, and whether organic food has been appropriately differentiated from conventional foods such that the USDA organic seal carries a significant and unique meaning to both consumers and the food industry. The content analysis shows that the period following the implementation of the National Organic Program exhibits a general upward trend in usage of health-related cues but minimal increase in use of terms associated with the “organic” ideal. A direct ...
Radical right parties in Europe and anti‐foreign violence: A comparative essay

This is a comparative survey of contemporary patterns of anti‐foreign violence in Europe and some historical antecedents, such as pogroms and individual and small group attacks on visible foreigners. It considers the perpetrators and the long list of different categories of victims, many of them not foreigners at all. Against the background of general youth violence in schools and neighborhoods and waves of asylum‐seekers, the motives of anti‐foreign violence are examined and attributed to the under‐educated, ‘no‐future’ youth or underclass ‘losers’ of the ‘communications revolution’ of the 1980s. The skinhead and soccer hooligan anti‐foreign violence is, on the whole, not remotely as political as the fascist blackshirts and Nazi stormtroopers of the inter‐war period were. A look at the evidence from different European countries reveals on the one hand recruitment attempts by extreme right‐wing organizations among the skinhead and hooligan groups ‐ but rather limited success. On the other hand, most of th...
Synthesis of renal ammonium bicarbonate from 14C labeled amino acids in crocodilia.

Abstract 1. 1. The administration of 14C labeled alanine, glutamine and glycine (plus carrier) increased both the ammonia and bicarbonate moieties of urinary NH4HCO3. Leucine was also somewhat active. 2. 2. Ammonia production and 14C labeling of the bicarbonate carbon was greater after injection of these amino acids than after any of eleven others tested. 3. 3. Carbonic anhydrase inhibition reduced the 14C labeling of bicarbonate and the total bicarbonate but ammonia excretion was not affected. 4. 4. A new theory is proposed. Carbamyl phosphate serves as the receiver of both the carbon and nitrogen derived from renal catabolism of alanine, glutamine and glycine. Carbamic acid is secreted into the tubular lumen where it decomposes spontaneously into NH4HCO3.
Thermal Contact Conductance of Spherical Rough Metals

Junction thermal conductance is an important consideration in such applications as thermally induced stresses in supersonic and hypersonic flight vehicles, nuclear reactor cooling, electronics packaging, spacecraft thermal control, gas turbine and internal combustion engine cooling, and cryogenic liquid storage. A fundamental problem in analyzing and predicting junction thermal conductance is thermal contact conductance of non-flat, rough metals. Workable models have been previously derived for the limiting idealized cases of flat, rough and spherical, smooth surfaces. However, until now, no tractable models have been advanced for non-flat, rough surfaces (so called engineering surfaces) which are much more commonly dealt with in practice. The present investigation details the synthesis of previously derived models for macroscopically non-uniform thermal contact conductance and contact of non-flat, rough spheres, into a thermo-mechanical model, its refinement, and its presentation in an easily applied format. The present model is compared to representative experimental conductance results form the literature for stainless steel 304 with widely varying flatness deviation and roughness. Also included in the comparisons is a previous, often cited model for flat, rough metals to which the present model reduces in the limit of flat surfaces. The present model agrees well with the experimental results over the widemore » ranges of flatness deviation and roughness for which data was available. Conversely, the previous, well known model becomes increasingly overpredictive with increasing flatness deviation.« less
Visible hyperspectral imaging for standoff detection of explosives on surfaces

There is an ever-increasing need to be able to detect the presence of explosives, preferably from standoff distances of tens of meters. This paper presents an application of visible hyperspectral imaging using anomaly, polarization, and spectral identification approaches for the standoff detection (13 meters) of nitroaromatic explosives on realistic painted surfaces based upon the colorimetric differences between tetryl and TNT which are enhanced by solar irradiation.
Natural variables for controlling quantum dynamics

Abstract A quantum control landscape is the expectation value of an observable expressed as a function of the control variables, and the local geometry of the landscape for state-to-state transitions is explored for its implications upon practical searches for optimal controls. The gradient of the landscape with respect to the control field is shown to always lie in a low-dimensional subspace spanned by basis functions bearing specific knowledge of the system physics, thereby comprising a “natural” set of variables for the particular optimal control application. The enumeration of these basis functions provides an upper bound on the required number of properly identified control variables. A specific experimental protocol is suggested to utilize the geometric structure of the landscape for identifying a reduced set of control variables for practical laboratory implementation. Simulations on simple systems are used to illustrate the characteristics of the natural control variables and the prospective experimental protocol.
Experimental Studies of Natural Convection Heat Transfer of Al2O3/DI Water Nanoparticle Suspensions (Nanofluids):

The natural convection heat transfer characteristics of Al2O3/water nanofluids comprised of 47 nm, Al2O3 and water, with volume fractions ranging from 0.5% through 6%, has been investigated through...
Intimate Partner Violence Screening Among Migrant/Seasonal Farmworker Women and Healthcare: A Policy Brief

Migrant and seasonal farm working (MSFW) women report higher rates of intimate partner violence (IPV) as compared to the national average (Hazen and Soriano in Violence Against Women 13:562–582, 2007). Although prior researchers have indicated that implementing IPV screenings in healthcare settings significantly increases rates of identifying IPV (Nelson et al. in Ann Intern Med 156:1–17, 2012; Ramsay et al. in Br Med J 325:314–318, 2002); many providers opt not to screen (Jonassen and Mazor in Acad Med 78(10):S20–S23, 2003; Smith et al. in Fam Community Health 20:1–18, 1998). The purpose of this policy brief is to review previous research related to IPV among MSFW women and, based on the findings, recommend policies that may help to improve the detection, intervention, resources, and available science with respect to this underserved population.
Plasma dissociation reaction kinetics. I. Methyl methacrylate

Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) was utilized to study the plasma gas-phase reaction kinetics and reaction mechanisms in capacitively coupled glow discharges of methyl methacrylate (MMA) under zero monomer flow rate conditions. The gas-phase study shows two major electron-impact-induced dissociation pathways in MMA plasmas: the C—O bond cleavage reaction and decarboxylations. The C—O bond cleavage reaction accounts for approximately one-half of the MMA dissociation, and neutral formaldehyde and dimethyl ketene (DMK) are produced via intramolecular rearrangement. Decarboxylations produce CO, CO2, and a number of radicals that subsequently stabilize to form neutrals, including propylene, allene, and methanol. These intermediate species then further dissociate in the plasma to small hydrocarbons (methane, acetylene, and ethylene), CO, CO2, and H2. Plasma power and initial monomer pressure have only minor effects on the MMA fragmentation chemistry. However, the reaction rate increases at higher-power and lower initial monomer pressure conditions. The modeling also reveals the relative reactivities of the neutrals. A time-scale transformation technique based on the MMA decomposition half-life significantly reduces the effects of the reactor condition on the kinetics. In addition, mass balance ratios are utilized to calculate the portion of plasma species that have been accounted for by the in situ technique. © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 73: 1–16, 1999
The use of catheter duodenostomy in gastric resection for duodenal ulcer

Abstract Duodenal stump leakage occurs in 2 to 3 per cent of gastric resections for duodenal ulcer and is responsible for approximately 50 per cent of the mortality rate. Catheter duodenostomy has been used by an increasing number of surgeons as one method of avoiding a difficult duodenal dissection and closure. During a ten year period, catheter duodenostomy was used thirty-three times by two of us. It was employed in sixteen patients at the Los Angeles County Harbor General Hospital. In the thirty-three private patients, one death occurred from myocardial infarction; three major complications were encountered. There were seven deaths in the Harbor General Hospital; and, in our opinion, this is an indication of the more debilitated condition in this group of patients. All seven were operated upon for massive gastrointestinal hemorrhage. Catherer duodenostomy is a simple method of managing the “difficult” duodenal stump.
Energy savings from PQ mitigation technologies Techniques for evaluating vendor claims

A vexing problem facing facility and power quality managers and PQ professionals is how to evaluate the claims made for retrofit devices that purport to significantly reduce the energy costs of common facilities and households without requiring modification of end use equipment. Energy cost savings claims of 10%, 15%, or even 25% or more have been observed in patent and marketing literature. These devices often incorporate common PQ technologies such as power factor correction capacitors, chokes, and TVSS, but also claim energy savings in addition to PQ benefits. How can a prospective purchaser separate substantive claims from those that are less so? This paper will provide some insights on this question and a method for evaluating any energy-related technology and provide insights on the pitfalls to avoid in conducting such evaluations.
Competitive behavior of national brands: The case of orange juice

The purpose of this study is to examine orange juice demand, focusing on the main forms: frozen and chilled, and considering the role of brands, private label, and product variety. We have data for 54 regions in the U.S. for 1989 and 1990. This is advantageous. A December 1989 freeze resulted in major increases in prices of all forms of orange juice in 1990. Results suggest that the three national brands were using some pricing strategies, but we find no indication that it has been to the detriment of smaller competitors. Indeed, private label and regional brands improved their market positions during the period. [Econlit Classifications: D130, D400]. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
New therapeutic approaches for protecting hematopoietic stem cells in aplastic anemia

Aplastic anemia (AA) is an immune-mediated and life-threatening form of acquired bone marrow failure (BMF), characterized by development and expansion of self-reactive T cells. These T cells cause continuous destruction of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), progenitors, and mature blood cells, leading to severe and if left untreated fatal marrow hypoplasia and pancytopenia. Standard treatment options for patients with AA include: (1) immunosuppressive therapy (IST) with anti-thymocyte globulin and cyclosporine A which targets self-reactive T cells, or (2) matched sibling or unrelated BM transplant (BMT). The IST treatment is often not effective due to poor response to therapy or disease relapse after IST. Also, BMT is not an option for many patients due to their age, comorbidities, and the lack of histocompatible donor. This necessitates development and testing of novel approaches to reduce severity of AA and to efficiently treat patients with refractory and relapsed AA. Immune-mediated AA was reproduced in animals, including mouse lymphocyte infusion models, which are used to study further etiology and pathophysiology of AA and test new drugs and approaches in treating and managing AA. In these mouse models the immune correlates and pathologic features of AA are strikingly similar to features of severe human AA. In this article we (a) briefly review standard and developing approaches for treating AA and (b) describe development and testing of novel treatment approach with a potential to safely reduce BM hypoplasia and significantly decrease the loss of HSCs in mouse lymphocyte infusion model of AA.
The influences of presentation modes and conducting gestures on the perceptions of expressive choral performance of high school musicians attending a summer choral camp

The purpose of this study was to examine the influences of presentation modes (audio and visual) on perceptions of expressive choral performance. The stimulus recording included four choral selections, each conducted by a different conductor in two ways: using expressive conducting gestures and using strict conducting gestures. Three groups of participants: (1) listened to the eight audio excerpts; or (2) listened and viewed the conductor from the rear; or (3) listened and viewed the conductor from the front. They then answered questions regarding expressivity, tone quality, and overall impression of the choral performance. Results indicate significant differences between presentation modes and conducting style. Participants rated performances conducted with an expressive gesture higher than performances conducted with a strict gesture in all three presentation modes.
Spatially and Temporally Optimal Biomass Procurement Contracting for Biorefineries

This paper evaluates the optimal composition of annual and perennial biomass feedstocks for a biorefinery. A generic optimization model is built to minimize costs – harvest, transport, storage, seasonal, and environmental costs – subject to various constraints on land availability, feedstock availability, processing capacity, contract terms, and storage losses. The model results are demonstrated through a case study for a midwestern U.S. location, focusing on bioethanol as the likely product. The results suggest that high-yielding energy crops feature prominently (70 to 80%) in the feedstock mix in spite of the higher establishment costs. The cost of biomass ranges from 0.16 to 0.20 $ l-1 (US$ 0.60 to $0.75 per gallon) of biofuel. The harvest shed shows that high-yielding energy crops are preferably grown in fields closer to the biorefinery. Low-yielding agricultural residues primarily serve as a buffer crop to meet the shortfall in biomass requirement. For the case study parameters, the model results estimated a price premium for energy crops (2 to 4 $ t-1 within a 16 km (10-mile) radius) and agricultural residues (5 to 17 $ t-1 in a 16 to 20 km (10 to 20 mile) radius.