cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Joint approximation of localization and path exponents in a RSS system

A radio frequency communication wireless system can be localized using received signal strength measurements for indoor applications. Collaborative techniques such as multidimensional scaling have been shown to overcome significant ranging errors on a single floor. However, such techniques are highly sensitive to modeling mismatches including transmit power variation and path loss exponent especially when the signal goes through additional attenuation through floors indoors. In this paper, we examine an iterative joint estimator which jointly estimates location and path loss exponent for different users. Numerical results show superior performance in three dimensions when multiple floors are considered.
Exenatide: an incretin mimetic for the treatment of type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Abstract Background : Exenatide is a subcutaneously injected incretin mimetic. It is indicated as adjunctive therapy to improve glycemic control in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) who are already receiving therapy with metformin, a sulfonylurea, or both but continue to have suboptimal glycemic control. Objective : This article reviews available information on the clinical pharmacology, comparative efficacy, tolerability, drug interactions, contraindications and precautions, dosage and administration, availability and storage, and cost of exenatide. Methods : MEDLINE (1966–April 2006) and Web of Science (1995–April 2006) were searched for original research and review articles published in the English language. The search terms used were exenatide, exendin-4, glucagon-Like peptide-1, GLP-1 , and incretin mimetic . The reference lists of identified articles were also consulted, as was selected information from the package insert for exenatide. All relevant comparative efficacy studies that were available in published form were included in the review. Results : Naturally occurring incretins, such as glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1), exhibit insulinotropic properties after release into the circulation from the gut. As a GLP-1 agonist, exenatide improves glucose homeostasis by mimicking the actions of naturally occurring GLP-1. It improves glycemic control by reducing fasting and postprandial glucose concentrations through a combination of known mechanisms, including glucose-dependent insulin secretion, restoration of first-phase insulin response, regulation of glucagon secretion, delaying gastric emptying, and decreasing food intake. Three Phase III comparative efficacy trials were identified that enrolled a total of 1446 patients who received exenatide 5 pg SC BID, exenatide 10 μg SC BID, or placebo for 30 weeks in addition to their existing therapy with metformin, sulfonylurea, or both. In these trials, the addition of exenatide was associated with significant reductions in glycosylated hemoglobin (HbA 1c ) values ( P P 1c ≤7%, significant decreases in fasting plasma glucose concentrations ( P P 10% of patients receiving exenatide were hypoglycemia (19.6%), diarrhea (12.8%), and vomiting (12.8%). Conclusions : During clinical trials, exenatide added to existing metformin and/or sulfonylurea therapy in patients with T2DM reduced fasting and postprandial glucose concentrations, with improvements in HbA 1c and modest weight loss. The main adverse effect associated with exenatide therapy was nausea.
The proliferative response of low‐density human cell cultures to tumor promoters and its relevance to carcinogenic mechanisms in vitro

The effects of the tumor promoter 12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol-13-acetate, its analogues, and other tumor promoters, on the proliferation of human skin fibroblasts (SF) have been investigated. We have previously shown (Kopelovich and Bias, 1979), that TPA caused a biphasic (upward concave) dose effect in the cloning efficiency assay of normal and mutant human fibroblastic cell strains. Here we report that the biphasic dose response pattern, consisting of an inhibitory phase and a stimulatory phase, was shared by the active analogues of TPA, e.g., phorbol-12, 13-dibutyrate and phorbol-12, 13-dibenzoate. This biphasic dose effect relationship, however, was not seen with phorbol-12, 13-diacetate or the inactive analogues of TPA such as phorbol and 4-O-methyl-12-O-tetradecanoyl phorbol-13-acetate, nor was it seen with mezerein, teleocidin, or bile-acid derivatives of humans. An analysis of the cloning efficiency data by the median-effect equation (Chou and Talalay, 1981) showed that in low-density cultures both the inhibitory phase and the stimulatory phase of the dose-effect relationships of TPA, its analogues, mezerein, and teleocidin exhibited a linear median-effect plot and thus closely followed the basic mass-action principle. The median-effect plot of these data allowed quantitative determination of growth curve characteristic such as regression coefficient, slope (a measure of sigmoidicity), median-effect concentrations such as I50 for the inhibitory effect, and A50 for the stimulatory effect (i.e., the relative potency of the analogues) and the transition point of the biphasic phenomenon in the case of the phorbol esters. In additon, we have demonstrated a relationship between the dose response effect of TPA on the proliferation of various human cells and tumor progression in vitro.
Two-level atom in an optical parametric oscillator: Spectra of transmitted and fluorescent fields in the weak-driving-field limit

We consider the interaction of a two-level atom inside an optical parametric oscillator. In the weak-driving-field limit, we essentially have an atom-cavity system driven by the occasional pair of correlated photons, or weakly squeezed light. We find that we may have holes, or dips, in the spectrum of the fluorescent and transmitted light. This occurs even in the strong-coupling limit when we find holes in the vacuum-Rabi doublet. Also, spectra with a subnatural linewidth may occur. These effects disappear for larger driving fields, unlike the spectral narrowing obtained in resonance fluorescence in a squeezed vacuum; here it is important that the squeezing parameter N tends to zero so that the system interacts with only one correlated pair of photons at a time. We show that a previous explanation for spectral narrowing and spectral holes for incoherent scattering is not applicable in the present case, and propose an alternative explanation. We attribute these anomalous effects to quantum interference in the two-photon scattering of the system.
Propagation of an Electromagnetic Shock Discontinuity in a Non-Linear Isotropic Material

The propagation of an electromagnetic shock discontinuity in a non-linear isotropic dielectric is studied. The velocity of propagation and the electromagnetic vectors behind the shock surface are determined in terms of the unit normal to the surface, the electric and magnetic induction fields ahead of the shock and their magnitudes behind the shock.
A James-Stein Type Estimator for Combining Unbiased and Possibly Biased Estimators

Abstract We present a method for combining unbiased sample data with possibly biased auxiliary information. The estimator we derive is similar in spirit to the James–Stein estimator. We prove that the estimator dominates the sample mean under quadratic loss. When the auxiliary information is unbiased, our estimator has risk slightly greater than the usual combined estimator. As the bias increases, however, the risk of the usual estimator is unbounded, while the risk of our estimator is bounded by the risk of the sample mean. We show how our estimator can be considered an approximation to the best linear combination of the sample data and the auxiliary information, allude to how it can be derived as an empirical Bayes estimator, and suggest a method for constructing confidence sets. Finally, the performance of our estimator is compared to that of the sample mean and the usual combined estimator using real forestry data.
AN IMPROVEMENT TO THE FOURIER SERIES METHOD FOR INVERSION OF LAPLACE TRANSFORMS APPLIED TO ELASTIC AND VISCOELASTIC WAVES

A parametric study of composite strips leads to systems of partial differential equations, coupled through interface conditions, that are naturally solved in Laplace transform space. Because of the complexity of the solutions in transform space and the potential variations due to geometry and materials, a systematic approach to inversion is necessarily numerical. The Dubner-Abate-Crump (DAC) algorithm is the standard in such problems and is implemented. The presence of discontinuous wavefronts in the problems considered leads to Gibbs phenomenon; which, in turn, overestimates the values of maximum stress. These errors are mitigated by use of Lanczos' σ-factors, which combine naturally with the DAC algorithm.
Cultured ocular cells and extracellular matrices: role of growth factors, retinoic acid and cell polarity.

Culture of various types of cells on gelled, reconstituted extracellular matrices results in decreased cellular proliferation. In the present study, we evaluated several possible mechanisms for this inhibition, as applied to cultured bovine retinal microvascular endothelial cells (EC) or to retinal pigment epithelial (WE) cells: whether the inhibition might be related to (a) inactivation of fibroblast growth factor (FGF) by binding of the molecules present in the medium to a matrix component; (b) release of an inhibitor by the matrix in culture; or (c) inhibitory propehes of the matrix macromolecules themselves. Our results suggest that mechanism (c) is most likely. The reasons are, first, that culture of EC or WE cells on several different extracellular matrix substrates in the presence of logarithmically increasing concentrations of acidic or basic fibroblast growth factors (aFGF or bFGF) leads to a vertical shift of the plots of cell number after 4 days in culture vs. log growth factor concentration fo...
Simulation of period doubling of recurrent solar wind structures

Based on satellite observations of a recurrent solar wind structure conducted in 1974, an MHD simulation model, and input functions generated from plasma and magnetic field data, the continuing evolution of the solar wind structure outside 5 AU is studied. The model uses the Rankine-Hugoniot relations to describe the jumps in flow properties across the shocks, and it treats shocks as surfaces of discontinuity with zero thickness. Two interaction processes (the collision and the merging of shocks) play important roles in restructuring the solar wind in the outer heliosphere. The simulation result shows that period doubling occurs between 5 and 10 AU. The recurrent solar wind appears to be a persistent new structure between 10 and 20 AU, and it consists of one merged interaction region per solar rotation.
Treating multilevel (three or four level) cervical myelopathy with ACDF or ACCF

Abstract The purpose of this article is to review the pathogenesis, presentation, natural history, and treatment options for multilevel cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM). CSM is a common, disabling, and progressive disease in the adult population. Symptomatic and progressive CSM is best treated surgically. Surgical options include anterior, posterior, and combined approaches. ACDF, ACCF, and posterior surgery are all effective surgical techniques for treating multilevel CSM. The choice of surgery depends on several factors including the sagittal alignment, location of the compressive lesion, presence of preoperative neck pain, and longitudinal extent of the compression.
Groundwater circulation well operation using wind turbine–generated energy

An investigation was conducted regarding the potential economic benefits associated with using a wind turbine to power a groundwater circulation well (GCW) at the former Nebraska Ordnance Plant Superfund site. The first phase of the investigation used a 10-kilowatt-rated grid inter-tie wind turbine to partially offset the purchase of electricity from the utility company. The second phase consisted of the conversion of the grid inter-tie system to an off-grid system that stored energy using batteries. During the second phase, the GCW system was operated using either wind turbine power or utility power, and the other system components were operated using utility power. The study showed that a significant amount of power purchased from the utility company was used for nonessential purposes (other than operating the GCW pump and essential treatment components). One nonessential power consumer was the continuous heating of the equipment shelter for operator comfort during their 10-minute visit every few days. Wind-turbine reduction in utility power consumption was evaluated, and the operating time of a hypothetical system powered solely by the wind turbine was compared to the actual GCW operating time. This study indicates that retrofitting this GCW system did not economically offset power costs from a cheap, readily available grid system. Perhaps at a remote location with a more energy-efficient design and operation and the inclusion of green power benefits (in some monetary amount), the wind turbine results will be more favorable. The study of a renewable energy application at the site highlighted opportunities for significant electrical energy savings regardless of the source of the electricity. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Retinoid suppression of transglutaminase activity and envelope competence in cultured human epidermal carcinoma cells: Hydrocortisone is a potent antagonist of retinyl acetate but not retinoic acid

Growth of SCC-13 squamous carcinoma cultures in the presence of retinoids considerably reduced the expression of two differentiation markers, the cellular capability to form cross-linked envelopes, and the enzyme transglutaminase required for cross-linking. A limited survey of retinoids showed that all-trans retinoic acid, 13-cis retinoic acid, and arotinoid Ro 13-6298 were highly effective in the absence of hydrocortisone and were only slightly antagonized by its presence in the medium. In contrast, retinyl acetate, retinol, and retinol bound to its plasma binding protein were quite active in the absence of hydrocortisone but were essentially inactive in its presence. Dexamethasone was also highly effective in antagonizing the suppressive action of retinyl acetate on envelope formation, while the corticosteroid antagonists cortexolone and progesterone were inactive. These results suggest that there are separate pathways, which are differentially regulated by hydrocortisone, for either the metabolism or action of retinol and retinoic acid in SCC-13 cells.
Effect of the TiO2 Surface on the Reactivity of Photocatalytically Generated (SCN)2•- and I2•-

The radical ions (SCN)2•- and I2•- were produced by photocatalytic flash excitation (355 nm) of oxygenated TiO2 sols suspended in 1.00 M aqueous solutions of KSCN or KI. To determine the effect of surface heterogeneity of the photocatalyst on the secondary reactions of these transients, these radical ions were reacted with a series of electron donors. The resulting heterogeneous rate constants are compared to those known for the same reactions in homogeneous solution, where (SCN)2•- and I2•- were generated by pulse radiolysis. Relative to the solution phase, the reaction between (SCN)2•- and ascorbic acid on a TiO2 sol was accelerated by approximately a factor of 40, that between (SCN)2•- and hydroquinone was essentially unchanged, and that between (SCN)2•- and cysteine was slowed by approximately an order of magnitude. The dismutation of (SCN)2•- on TiO2 was accelerated by a factor of 3. The reaction of I2•- with cysteine on a TiO2 sol was approximately 25 times slower than that in solution, and its dism...
Tumor Necrosis Factor Alpha (TNF) Allelic Polymorphism at Position-308: Association of TNFA2 with Chronic Disease Course and Increased Endogenous in vitro Production of TNF by Unstimulated Peripheral Blood Mononu

Families of children with JDM have a TNFA NcoI RFLP 5.5 kb allele in linkage disequlibirum with DQA1*0501, Reed, Pachman and Ober, 1998 (in press). Others have found that specific TNFA allelic polymorphisms are associated with increased synthesis of TNFα in vitro. The purpose of this study was to determine if there were a relationship between the TNFA alleles at -308 (GG, GA,AA), the JDM disease course, the synthesis of TNFαin vitro by JDM PBMCs and serum levels of TNFα during active inflammation. 33 children with definite JDM were enrolled (12 Male, 21 Female). DNA was prepared from peripheral blood by standard methodology; the-308 fragment was amplified by PCR and analyzed using the NcoI digest. Disease activity at the time of the study was determined using a global 20 point scale. Disease course was defined as Acute mean age at study 8.3 years(active, inactive), mean disease duration 2.0 years, and Chronic. A chronic course was one that has required reinstitution of therapy, or had continued more than two years. TNFα levels (ELISA) were determined both in sera, and in the supernatant fluid of PBMCs (isolated by Ficoll-Hypaque) cultured in serum free media for 72 hours with and without PHA (viability control). There was a significant difference in genotype frequency between the Acute and Chronic groups (p=.03, Fisher's Exact Test). There was a higher frequency of the TNFA2 allele (GA,AA) in the Chronic group than published frequency(p=.005). No difference in allelic frequencies in Acute group and published frequency was seen. When the endogenous TNFα in vitro for the Acute and Chronic groups were compared, the difference was significant: p=.009. TNFα was not detectable in patients'sera. We conclude that the TNFA2 allele is associated with increased PBMC production of TNFαin vitro. We speculate that increased TNFα productionin vivo may be a significant predisposing factor for disease chronicity in children with JDM.
Musculoskeletal Injury in Thoroughbred Racehorses: Correlation of Findings Using Multiple Imaging Modalities

Adaptive and nonadaptive stress remodeling in Thoroughbred racehorses leads to most of their musculoskeletal injuries, and imaging plays an important role in its detection. Bone scintigraphy is important for detecting stress remodeling and stress fractures and aids in decision making when more than one lesion is present on MRI or radiographic examinations. MRI likely represents the best modality for the assessment of osteoarthritis of the metacarpophalangeal and metatarsophalangeal joints. Ultrasonography remains important as the first modality for the assessment of tendon and ligamentous injury. However, injury to the proximal suspensory and distal sesamoidean ligaments may be best diagnosed with MRI.
100 Years and Counting: Prospects for Defeating Alzheimer’s Disease

This week marks a century since the first description of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Despite approval of several drugs for AD, the disease continues to rob millions of their memories and their lives. Fortunately, many new therapies directly targeting the mechanisms underlying AD are now in the pipeline. Among the investigative AD therapies in clinical trials are several strategies to block pathogenic amyloid-β peptides and to rescue vulnerable neurons from degeneration. Complementary but less mature strategies aim to prevent the copathogenic effects of apolipoprotein E and the microtubule-associated protein tau. New insights into selective neuronal vulnerability and the link between aging and AD may provide additional entry points for therapeutic interventions. The predicted increase in AD cases over the next few decades makes the development of better treatments a matter of utmost importance and urgency.
Discrimination of epitopes identified by monoclonal antibodies by competitive binding to nitrocellulose bound antigens

A new method is described for determining the distribution of epitopes identified by monoclonal antibodies. The method utilizes nitrocellulose membranes as a solid support for antigens which are rapidly adsorbed to nitrocellulose by vacuum-blotting and then used in competitive antibody binding assays. The distribution of epitopes is established by the reciprocal cross-blocking of radiolabeled antibody by increasing concentrations of unlabeled antibody. When unlabeled antibody does not block the binding of labeled antibody to antigen, the 2 antibodies recognize distinct epitopes. When unlabeled antibody blocks the binding of labeled antibody to antigen, the 2 antibodies recognize the same epitope. The method is rapid, sensitive and should be applicable to screening monoclonal antibodies to any epitope.
The Subjectivist Mercantilism of Bernard Mandeville

Mandeville's Fable of the Bees, ungenerously described by its author as a “rhapsody void of order and method”, actually developed several ideas about the functioning of markets that anticipate some of the concerns of contemporary subjectivist economics such as are expressed in the writings of the modern Austrian School. While it may be too much of an exaggeration to follow F.B. Kaye by declaring Mandeville a “founder” of laissez‐faire economics, it is also quite incorrect to reach the negative verdict of one recent author who concluded that Mandeville “did not advance free‐market economics on any issue”. Mandeville did advance economics in general (and free market economics, incidentally) when he emphasised how patterns of conduct that emerge from the clash of individual egos guided by the flattery of politicians often function to promote some degree of commodious social life that is especially enjoyed by those quick to condemn the conduct as “immoral”. This theme still has its adherents today. I shall group Mandeville's contributions among four overlapping subject headings as follows:
Consumer and Pharmacist Attitudes Toward a Pharmaceutical Services Benefit for State University System Employees

ABSTRACTA mail survey regarding a new prescription plan was conducted among 510 randomly selected university system employees and retirees and among 138 pharmacies serving these enrollees. Return rates of 63% and 56% were attained, respectively. Enrollees selected pharmacies based upon convenience, price, and pharmacist services; only 16% tried the mail-order option. Enrollees were happier with the new pharmacy benefit than with the previous plan, despite pharmacist perceptions that patients were less satisfied. Pharmacists were less satisfied with the university plan than with Medicaid or other third-party prescription programs, these differences being more pronounced in rural communities than in urban areas.
Elderly Net Migration: The New Trend of Nonmetropolitan Population Change

Population redistribution due to migration within the United States favored metropolitan areas until about 1970; nonmetropolitan areas thereafter. This article traces changes which have affected that pattern and the role of the older population over 65 in those changes. The general finding is one of decreasing levels of net migration in metropolitan areas and increasing levels in nonmetropolitan areas across the 1950-1975 period for both age groups. Elderly migrants were the harbingers of the nonmetropolitan turnaround, since for the older age group nonmetropolitan migration rates are positive and exceed metropolitan rates in the 1960s as well as the 1970s.
Assessing Activity of Daily Living Performance After Implantation of an Upper Extremity Neuroprosthesis

Restoration of hand and upper extremity function is a top priority for people with cervical spinal cord injury (SCI). As interventions for restoring function increase, it is critical to measure their impact on the functional abilities of these individuals. Currently there are challenges in measuring activity of daily living (ADL) function, because existing measures are generally not sensitive enough to detect function in this domain, particularly for people with tetraplegia. In response to this, researchers at the Cleveland FES Center developed the ADL Abilities Test (ADLAT) to measure function in persons with tetraplegia using an upper extremity neuroprosthesis. The test showed sensitivity to change in function between American Spinal Injury Association motor levels with the neuroprosthesis turned on compared to off. The ADLAT shows promise in measuring the impact of other interventions and would benefit from further development of its psychometric properties.
PEGylation of cationic, shell-crosslinked-knedel-like nanoparticles modulates inflammation and enhances cellular uptake in the lung.

The airway provides a direct route for administration of nanoparticles bearing therapeutic or diagnostic payloads to the lung, however optimization of nanoplatforms for intracellular delivery remains challenging. Poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) surface modification improves systemic performance but less is known about PEGylated nanoparticles administered to the airway. To test this, we generated a library of cationic, shell crosslinked knedel-like nanoparticles (cSCKs), including PEG (1.5 kDa PEG; 2, 5, 10 molecules/polymer arm) on the outer shell. Delivery of PEGylated cSCK to the mouse airway showed significantly less inflammation in a PEG dose-dependent manner. PEGylation also enhanced the entry of cSCKs in lung alveolar epithelial cells and improved surfactant penetration. The PEGylation effect could be explained by the altered mechanism of endocytosis. While non-PEGylated cSCKs used the clathrin-dependent route for endocytosis, entry of PEGylated cSCK was clathrin-independent. Thus, nanoparticle surface modification with PEG represents an advantageous design for lung delivery.
Online handwriting recognition based on bigram cooccurrence

We propose a handwriting recognition method that utilizes the n-gram statistics of the English language. It is based on the linguistic property that very few pairs of English words share exactly the same letter bigrams. This property is exploited to bring context to the recognition stage and to avoid segmentation. The recognition is based on detecting bigram cooccurrence. Even with naive features and a limited reference set, it recognizes over 45% of lexicon words that it has never seen before in a handwritten form.
Cosmic ray exposure ages of chondrites, pre-irradiation and constancy of cosmic ray flux in the past

Calibration of the production rate of the Ne-21 nuclide was accomplished by 4 methods based on (Al-26)-age, (Mn-53)-age, Kr-81/Kr-83, and Na-22/Ne-22. These production rates are normalized to a shielding parameter ratio Ne-22/Ne-21 = 1.11 and to the chemical composition of L chondrites; a value of P(21)(1.11) = 0.31 is suggested, and a production rate equation derived in terms of the 'F' parameters for L, LL, and H chondrites. The Al-26 half-life measurements are considered to evaluate the effects resulting from preirradiation of meteorites and to examine the data on the constancy of the cosmic ray flux in the light of current astronomical observations.
Dry Deposition of Reduced and Reactive Nitrogen: A Surrogate Surfaces Approach

Nitrogen dry deposition causes pH modification of ecosystems, promotes eutrophication in some water bodies, interferes with the nutrient geochemical cycle on land, and has a deteriorating effect on buildings. In this study, a water surface sampler (WSS) and knife-leading-edge surrogate surface (KSS) covered with both a Nylasorb filter and a greased disk were used to directly measure nitrate dry deposition in Chicago between May and October 1997. Concurrently, the KSS covered with both a citric acid-coated paper filter and a greased disk and the WSS were used to measure ammonia dry deposition. The average measured dry deposition flux for HNO3 was 3.78 ± 1.24 mg m-2 day-1; for particulate nitrate, it was 1.46 ± 0.3 mg m-2 day-1; and for ammonia gas, it was 2.64 ±1.15 mg m-2 day-1. Nitrate fluxes to the WSS and Nylasorb filter on the KSS were statistically equal, as were the total ammonia fluxes to the WSS and the citric acid-impregnated filter on the KSS. The experimental measurements indicated that HNO3 an...
Endothelial cell-conditioned medium modulates the synthesis and structure of proteoglycans in vascular smooth muscle cells.

Abstract We studied the effect of bovine endothelial cell-conditioned medium on proteoglycan synthesis by bovine aorta smooth muscle cells. Confluent cultures were incubated with [35S]sulfate, [3H]glucosamine or [3H]serine in medium alone (control), or medium that had been conditioned on confluent endothelial cells. Metabolically labelled proteoglycans secreted into the culture medium and associated with the cell layer were quantified. During a 24 h incubation, endothelial cell-conditioned medium increased [35S]sulfate and [3H]glucosamine incorporation into medium and col-layer proteoglycans by 59% and 95%, respectively, above controls. [3H]Serine incorporation into proteoglycan core protein was increased by 150%. The effect of endothelial cell-conditioned medium on [35S]sulfate incorporation was concentration dependent. The stimulatory effects of the conditioned medium were abolished by cycloheximide and actinomycin D, inhibitors of protein synthesis and transcription, respectively. Endothelial cell-conditioned medium caused no significant change in the degradation or secretion of proteoglycans, indicating that the increase in proteoglycans was due to increased de novo synthesis. TGF-β neutralizing antibody inhibited 22% of the stimulatory effect of the conditioned medium, suggesting that part of the stimulation was mediated by TGF-β. Ion-exchange chromatography of [35S]proteoglycans in the culture medium of smooth muscle cells yielded two major peaks at 0.52 and 0.57 M NaCl in both control and experimental cultures. In both cases the second peak, which represented approx. 80% of the total radioactivity, contained isometric chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan with chondroitin sulfate and dermatan sulfate accounting for 90% and 10% of the isomers, respectively. The isomeric chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan was fractionated byn hydrodynamic size on Sepharose CL-4B, resulting in three fractions (A, B and C). Analytical column chromatography of fractions A and B on Sepharose CL-2B demonstrated that proteoglycans from cultures incubated with endothelial cell-conditioned medium were larger in size than those from control cultures (Mr fraction A, 1700 000, compared with 1200 000 Mr; fraction B, 540 000, compared with 390 000). The molecular weights of the core proteins were unchanged. The larger size of proteoglycan A in cultures exposed to endothelial cell-conditioned medium was due to an increase in both the glycosaminoglycan chain number (29 compared to 25) and molecular mass (Mr 52 000, compared to 40 000). The hydrodynamic size of the glycosaminoglycans in proteoglycan B of control and experimental cultures was identical (Mr 40 000). Therefore, the increase in the molecular mass of this proteoglycan was attributable to an increase in glycosaminoglycan chain number (12 compared to 9). These results indicate that endothelial cell-conditioned medium contains factor(s) which can modulate the synthesis and structure of proteoglycans in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells.
The EflFect of Luteinizing Hormone on Plasma Progestin Relationships in the Pituitary-Autografted Rat1

Plasma from estrous, hypophysectomized, or pituitary-autografted rats was analyzed for progesterone and 20α-hydroxypregn- 4-en-3-one (20α OHP) content (ng/100 ml plasma) by gas-liquid chromatography. Plasma from intact rats at postovulatory estrus was found to contain high 20αOHP (11.6 ± 2.2) and low progesterone (1.5 ± 0.6). Hypophysectomy at postovulatory estrus had no significant effect on plasma progestin levels. Hypophysectomy plus pituitary autotransplantation to the renal capsule resulted in significantly higher progesterone (17.1 ± 2.1) than 20αOHP (12.0 ± 2.0) levels. Administration of luteinizing hormone (LH) to pituitary-autografted rats increased 20αOHP levels in the peripheral circulation at the expense of progesterone levels. The progestin response to LH appeared to be dose dependent at levels lower than those which cause detectable estrogen secretion. Evidence is presented supporting the hypothesis that LH causes functional luteolysis by stimulating 20αOHP secretion but that prolactin is th...
Interrelationship of Sexist, Racist, and Antihomosexual Attitudes:

College undergraduates (211, female and male, mostly white) responded to a 7-point questionnaire with subscales on racial, sexual, and homosexual groups. Political orientation, religious membership and involvement, and parent's educational level were also obtained. All intercorrelations of the three scales were positive and significant (p < .001) and ranged from .44 to .69. Females were significantly lower than males in sexism but not in racism or gayism. Sexism and gayism scores were negatively correlated with father's and mother's education. All three forms of prejudice were higher for those professing more religious involvement; other typical patterns of bias among the three major U. S. religions were found. Political orientation was also related to prejudice, with more bias found as one approaches the Conservative end of the spectrum.
Non-Scanning Multimode Beam Led to Optogenetic Stimulation

Functional connections between billions of neurons in central and peripheral nervous systems enable thousands of specialized functions, from sensory to motor activities. This has created significant priorities in the scientific community to develop precise stimulation and imaging tools for probing complex neural circuitry. We demonstrated a two-photon optogenetic stimulation (TPOS) of excitable cells and brain slices using scanning near-infrared (NIR) femtosecond laser beams five years ago. Since then, applications of this method for probing neural circuitry have been growing.
Factors that impact the vacuum ultraviolet photofragmentation of peptide ions

Several groups have investigated the photodissociation of peptide ions with ultraviolet light. Significant differences have been reported with 157 and 193 nm excitation. Recent studies have shown that the mass analyzer can also influence the observed photofragment distribution. Comparison of experiments using different peptides, wavelengths, and mass analyzers is undesirably complicated. In the present work, several peptides are analyzed with both 157 and 193 nm photodissociation in tandem-TOF and linear ion trap mass spectrometers. The results indicate that the fragment ion distribution can be influenced by both the photodissociation wavelength and the mass analyzer. The two wavelengths generate similar spectra in an ion trap but quite different results in a tandem-TOF instrument.
The flow of helium into the microspaces of magnesium oxysulfate cement paste

Abstract Helium flow measurements were made on samples of magnesium oxysulfate cement paste initially conditioned at 11% R.H. and dried in stages by combinations of pumping and heating. Physical changes in the microstructure of the cement paste due to chemical decomposition and water removal were monitored. It was concluded that helium can penetrate the microspaces of magnesium oxysulfate cement paste which form during removal of structural water. It appears that helium also enters discrete pores (unfilled with water) that become accessible when the cement paste is heated to 200°C. Mercury (at 407 MPa) can intrude into those microspaces not initially accessible to helium. Collapse of structure occurs when water is removed from this system. An estimate of the density of the water removed up to 15% weight change was 1.21 ± 0.07 g/cc.
State-correlated DC slice imaging of formaldehyde photodissociation: roaming atoms and multichannel branching

High-resolution slice imaging methods allow for detection of single product quantum states with sufficient velocity resolution to infer the full correlated product state distribution of the undetected fragment. This is a level of detail not available in previous studies of formaldehyde photodissociation, and in this application it reveals startling new aspects of unimolecular decomposition. The CO rotational distributions from near ultraviolet dissociation of formaldehyde are bimodal, and the imaging experiments allow us to decompose these into two dynamically distinct components: the conventional molecular dissociation over a high exit barrier, and a novel ‘roaming atom’ reaction in which frustrated radical dissociation events lead to intramolecular H abstraction, bypassing the transition state entirely. In probing the dynamics of the conventional molecular dissociation over the barrier, we use the complete vH2-jCO correlation to model the exit channel dynamics in new detail. Furthermore, these state-cor...
Cloning in a bacteriophage lambda vector for the display of binding proteins on filamentous phage

Abstract We have combined the efficiency and ease of use of bacteriophage λ vectors with the power of phage display screening technology to create SurfZAP tm . The use of bacteriophage λ allows the construction of large λ expression libraries, which are rapidly and efficiently converted to stable plasmid libraries by mass excision. In SurfZAP, clones are expressed as fusions with amino acids 198–406 of the M13 minor coat protein (cpIII) and are displayed on the surface of filamentous phage. When produced with helper phage proteins, the fusion proteins are incorporated into the surface of phagemid particles. We demonstrate the utility of biopanning by isolating tetanus toxoid-binding mouse Fab clones from SurfZAP libraries. Approximately 10–100-fold enrichment of specific clones was observed after each panning round. The ability to create a large library of genotypes and screen the phenotypes by activity may be a potent methodology for basic research and drug discovery.
Sezary syndrome in a dog

Sezary syndrome was diagnosed in a dog with epidermotropic lymphosarcoma and a leukaemic blood picture wherein 73.5% of the leucocytes (15582 of 21200 leucocytes /µl of blood) were large mononuclear cells with markedly convoluted nuclei. The dog had a history of multiple skin tumours progressing to hepatosplenomegaly and lymphadenopathy. Alpha-naphthyl acetate esterase staining of blood smears and splenic imprints revealed a focal to multifocal pattern of cytoplasmic enzyme activity that resisted sodium fluoride inibition, indicating that the neoplastic mononuclear cells were T lymphocytes. The neoplastic cells were negative for Sudan black B staining, myeloperoxidase activity, and chloroacetate esterase activity. Ultrastructurally, these cells had convoluted to cerebriform nuclei, 1 to 2 nucleoli, scattered mitochondria, numerous free ribosomes, and a few profiles of rough endoplasmic reticulum. Histological study of tissues collected at necropsy revealed infiltration of the skin, lymph nodes, spleen, liver, and bone marrow with neoplastic lymphocytes.
Sociology as Social Contribution: University of North Dakota as a Case Study of the Contradictions of Academic Sociology

In the debate over the “value-free” approach to sociology, most cities have developed their position from structural analyses (Aronowitz, 1973; Bowles and Gintis, 1975) or from abstract theory constructs which are only generally grounded in the work of major sociological figures and trends within the discipline at earge (Gouldner, 1970; Papche and Oppenheimer, 1983). There is a need to analyze the development of this approach in the context of a given social and academic setting to determine whether it arose from concerns of disciplinary development or from political exigencies. An analysis of the Sociology Department of the University of North Dakota de lineates both the concrete pressures placed upon individual sociologists and the structural processes which influenced the transition of the discipline from a socially responsive attempt at social analysis and praxis to a socially detached, descriptive, intellectual profession. It demonstrates the difficulty of performing research which makes a social contribution while subject to the institutional pressures of the academy. Finally, it reconsiders the influences of the “value-free” position on the production of social knowledge and the resulting impact on the discipline and society.
Characterizing spatial-temporal tree mortality patterns associated with a new forest disease

A new forest disease called Sudden Oak Death, caused by the pathogen Phytophthora ramorum, occurs in coastal hardwood forests in California and Oregon. In this paper, we analyzed the spatial–temporal patterns of overstory oak tree mortality in China Camp State Park, CA over 4 years using the point patterns mapped from high spatial resolution remotely sensed imagery. Both univariate and multivariate spatial point pattern analyses were performed with special considerations paid to the spatial trends illustrated in the mapped point patterns. In univariate spatial point pattern analyses, we investigated inhomogeneousK-functions and Neyman–Scott point processes to characterize and model the spatial dependence among dead oak trees in each year. The results showed that the point patterns of dead oak trees are significantly clustered at different scales and spatial extents through time; and that both the extent and the scale of the clustering patterns decrease with time. In multivariate spatial point pattern analyses, we developed two simulation methods to test the spatial–temporal dependence among dead oak trees over time and the spatial dependence between dead oak trees and California bay trees, an important host for the pathogen. The results showed that new dead oak trees tend to be located within up to 300 m of past dead oak trees; and that a strong spatial association between oak tree mortality and California bay trees exists 150 m away. Published by Elsevier B.V.
Heat management in solid free-form fabrication based on deposition by welding:

Solid free-form fabrication (SFF) based on gas-tungsten arc welding (GTAW) is one of the few rapid prototyping techniques that has the capability to build three-dimensional metallic parts. For this application, a mild steel (AISI 1018) was used. The most important problem in this process was to find the optimal process parameters. The goal is to build complex three-dimensional parts by depositing metal by welding in a form of layers. The building of a three-dimensional part by welding is especially sensitive to inadequate heat input. The traditional way of manually adjusting the heat input cannot be used because of the dynamic changes in the underlying substrate geometry. To investigate this problem a finite element model (FEM) has been developed that correlates the influence of the different underlying substrate geometry to the quality of the welding-based deposition process. The results from the FEM suggested that influence of the geometry is significant and cannot be neglected. Extensive experiments were designed and performed in order to verify the conclusions derived from the results of the FEM. A real-time adaptive controller of the welding parameters is proposed. This controller performs heat management in real time according to the volume changes of the material of the underlying layers in the vicinity of the heat source. In addition, the overall system performance was monitored and recorded by through-the-arc sensing in order to demonstrate the versatility and robustness of the controller.
Multipole wave functions for photoelectrons in crystals. II. Examples of constant-energy-surface harmonics. Application to the s-d bands of Cu.

We construct a complete set of multipole wave functions for an electron in a crystral, appropriate to describe single-center phenomena. The set consists of superpositions of the Bloch waves of given energy E, weighted by a set of harmonics which is complete and orthonormal over the constant-energy surface E/sub ..mu../(k) = E. We give prescriptions to label these harmonics. Numerical examples are discussed for the s-d bands of Cu. The case of a spherical constant-energy surface, whose harmonics are the spherical harmonics, reappears as a degenerate limit.
New Molybdenyl Iodates: Hydrothermal Preparation and Structures of Molecular K2MoO2(IO3)4 and Two-Dimensional β-KMoO3(IO3)

Abstract Two new molybdenyl iodates, K 2 MoO 2 (IO 3 ) 4 (1) and β -KMoO 3 (IO 3 ) (2), have been prepared from the reactions of MoO 3 with KIO 4 and NH 4 Cl at 180°C in aqueous media. The structure of 1 consists of molecular [MoO 2 (IO 3 ) 4 ] 2− anions separated by K + cations. The Mo(VI) centers are ligated by two cis -oxo ligands and four monodentate iodate anions. Both terminal and bridging oxygen atoms of the iodate anions form long ionic contacts with the K + cations. β -KMoO 3 (IO 3 ) (2) displays a two-dimensional layered structure constructed from 2 ∞ [(MoO 3 (IO 3 )] 1− anionic sheets separated by K + cations. These sheets are built from one-dimensional chains formed from corner-sharing MoO 6 octahedra that run along the b -axis that are linked together through bridging iodate groups. K + cations separate the layers from one another and form long contacts with oxygen atoms from both the iodate anions and molybdenyl moieties. Crystallographic data: 1, monoclinic, space group C 2/ c , a =12.8973(9) A, b =6.0587(4) A, c =17.694(1) A, β =102.451(1)°, Z =4, Mo Kα , λ =0.71073, R(F) =2.64% for 97 parameters with 1584 reflections with I >2σ( I ); 2, monoclinic, space group P 2 1 / n , a =7.4999(6) A, b =7.4737(6) A, c =10.5269(8) A, β =109.023(1)°, Z =4, Mo Kα , λ =0.71073, R(F) =2.73% for 83 parameters with 1334 reflections with I >2 σ(I) .
Leadership structures in emergency care settings: A study of two trauma centers

Background: Trauma resuscitation involves multidisciplinary teams under surgical leadership in most US trauma centers. Because many trauma centers have also incorporated emergency department (ED) physicians, shared and cross-disciplinary leadership structures often occur. Our study identifies leadership structures and examines the effects of cross-disciplinary leadership on trauma teamwork. Methods: We conducted an ethnographic study at two US Level-1 trauma centers, one of which is a dedicated pediatric trauma center. We used observation, videotaping and interviews to contextualize and classify leadership structures in trauma resuscitation. Leadership structures were evaluated based on three dimensions of team performance: defined leadership, likelihood of conflict in decision making, and appropriate care. Findings: We identified five common leadership structures, grouped under two broad leadership categories: solo decision-making and intervening models within intra-disciplinary leadership; intervening, parallel, and collaborative models within cross-disciplinary leadership. Conclusion: Most important weaknesses of different leadership structures are manifested in inefficient teamwork or inappropriate patient care. These inefficiencies are particularly problematic when leadership is shared between physicians from different disciplines with different levels of experience, which often leads to conflict, reduces teamwork efficiency and lowers the quality of care. We discuss practical implications for technology design.