cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
UPTAKE OF SERUM BILIRUBIN- 14 C (SB) BY ERYTHROCYTES CRBC) FROM NEWBORNS AND ADULTS

Tissue damage in jaundiced newborns is due to excessive intracellular deposits of SB. Radio-labeled SB was used to measure uptake of SB from serum by a readily accessible tissue (RBC). RBC and plasma from 0.5 ml heparinized blood were separated, and RBC resuspended in the original plasma diluted to different bilirubin/albumin ratios (B/A) with buffer and SB. After incubation, RBC's were washed and RBC cpm measured to determine RBC-B. Uptake of SB by RBC was complete in 15 minutes at all B/A (0.4-4.0). At B/A < 1, RBC-B was < 10% SB. At B/A 1.0-1.6, RBC-B increased 5-fold. RBC were saturated at B/A ≥ 2.0. Individual uptake patterns characterized each infant. Membrane-bound SB was ~ 20% of RBC-B. Newborn and adult RBC had similar affinities for SB. These results indicate that some SB enters RBC at relatively low B/A, and increases rapidly in a narrow B/A range peculiar to each infant. This direct, rapid and sensitive microassay of RBC-B may be useful in predicting the possibility of damage to newborn tissues from excessive SB. (Supported by The Cerebral Palsy Foundation)
Periodic Freshwater Flooding and Stagnation of the Eastern Mediterranean Sea During the Late Quaternary

Major negative oxygen isotopic anomalies in planktonic foraminifera are associated with deep-sea anoxic mud layers (sapropels) deposited 9000 and 80,000 years ago in the eastern Mediterranean. The isotopic depletion in surface-dwelling foraminifera is significantly greater than in mesopelagic foraminifera. This difference in isotopic response suggests that surface-water salinities were drastically reduced during times of sapropel formation, possibly as the result of meltwater runoff from the Fennoscandian ice sheet into the eastern Mediterranean by way of the Black and Aegean seas.
Growth hormone (GH) treatment does not restore endothelial function in children with GH deficiency.

BACKGROUND In adults with growth hormone (GH) deficiency (GHD), GH treatment restores impaired endothelial function, a precursor of cardiovascular disease. Its effect in children with GHD is unknown. METHODS Three months of GH (0.3 mg/kg/wk) were given to nine children with GHD. Endothelial function was measured via reactive hyperemic response. Forearm blood flow (FBF, strain gauge plethysmography) was measured before and after 5 min of upper arm arterial occlusion. Blood pressure and lipid, insulin and glucose levels were measured. Pretreatment endothelial function was compared to 18 previously studied control children. RESULTS Percent fall in forearm vascular resistance was greater in controls (81.2 +/- 1.9%) than in children with GHD (69.6 +/- 5.3%, p = 0.021) but was not affected by GH (60.6 +/- 7.5%). GH markedly increased HOMAIR (21 +/- 7 versus 43 +/- 8, p = 0.004). Plasma lipid levels did not significantly differ. CONCLUSION These results indicate that endothelial function is impaired in children with GHD. GH therapy does not restore the impairment.
Molecular Dynamics Simulation of Icosahedral Transformations in Solid Cu—Co Clusters

We study the icosahedral transformations of solid Cu–Co clusters with different initial configurations by using molecular dynamics with the embedded atom method. It is found that the formation of symmetric icosahedral cluster is strongly related to the atomic number and initial configuration. The transformation originates from the surface into the interior of the cluster and is a structural change which is rapid and diffusionless. The icosahedral clusters with any composition and configuration, such as core-shell or three-shell cluster, can be prepared by the means of solid-solid phase transition in bimetallic clusters.
Hydropyrolysis of Alberta coal and petroleum residue using calcium oxide catalyst and toluene additive

Abstract Hydropyrolysis of a mixture of Alberta coal and Athabasca bitumen was carried out in a batch reactor using calcium oxide as an alternate catalyst and the results were compared with those of widely used iron oxide and well-known NiMo/Al2O3 catalysts. Most of the reactions were done at temperatures of 500–540°C, residence time of 1 min and hydrogen pressure of 3.4 MPa. Maximum distillable oil (below 523°C) yield of 55 wt% and pitch conversion of 62 wt% were obtained in the presence of CaO or Fe2O3 and these values were higher than those without catalyst, although NiMo/Al2O3 catalyst gave much higher oil yield and pitch conversion. Catalyst concentration (above 2 wt%) has no consequence upon the distribution of various product fractions. In another study, addition of 15% toluene to the feed in the absence of catalyst led to higher distillable oil yield (68 wt%) and pitch conversion (72 wt%) in the hydroconversion of coal and bitumen mixture. Increase in toluene concentration from 15 to 50 wt% had no positive effect on the product yields.
Energy Differences Between the Si and the Ge Dangling Bond Defects in a-Si1-xGex Alloys

We have investigated the difference in the electronic energies of neutral Si and Ge dangling bond states in undoped a-Si 1-x Ge x alloys as a function of the alloy composition, x, and local bond-angle distortions. The local density of states, LDOS, in a-Si 1-x Ge x alloys has been calculated using nearest-neighbor interactions, and employing the Cluster Bethe Lattice method. We conclude that for ideal, tetrahedrally bonded amorphous semiconductors alloys, the Ge dangling bond energy is lower than that of Si dangling bonds by ∼ 0.13 eV, independent of the specific nearest neighbors to the dangling bond (3 Si-atoms, 2 Si-atoms and 1 Ge-atom, etc.), but that the spread in dangling bond energies associated bond-angle variations of the order of 6–8 degrees can be larger than this energy difference (∼0.3 eV or greater). This means that structural disorder, rather than chemical disorder causes Si and Ge-atom dangling bond states to overlap in their energy distributions.
Expressiveness as a Property of the Music Itself

and often intractable nature, and consider two drawings, the first of which depicts a glorious day and represents the sun as smiling, and the second of which depicts a witheringly hot day and represents the sun as angry. In such instances, we see the representations of the sun showing it as smiling or as angry. But who is it that is smiling or angry: Whose emotions are expressed pictorially? There is not an indeterminate make-believe "solar" persona that is distinct from the sun and "in" the sun or in its pictorial representation, and whom we imagine to be smiling or angry; nor do we imaginatively identify with the smiling or angry sun so that we might say that it is make-believedly our emotions that are expressed pictorially. Rather, it is the sun itself that is smiling or angry; that is to say, we imagine the sun itself is alive and smiling or angry. We make-believedly animate the sun itself, even though we know the sun is inanimate. The causal story behind this that allows us to do so involves the resemblances between the faces of smiling or angry people and the features of the sun (the eyes, mouth, and forehead) as represented by the artist. The case with hearing music as expressive is often similar, though it involves an abstract and hard-to-detect instance of the same kind of activity: we often imagine it is the music itself that is alive and sad or joyous. There is, though, the difference that these pictures involve representations of the sun, not the sun itself, whereas the musical case involves not representations of it but the music itself. But this difference can be noted and left aside, for it is not clear that it amounts to much. What sort of being is the music that we animate and make-believedly bring to life? It is an This content downloaded from 157.55.39.104 on Sun, 19 Jun 2016 06:37:13 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms
Similar Motion of a Hand-held Object may Trigger Nonsimilar Grip Force Adjustments

Abstract The tight coupling between load (L) and grip (G) forces during voluntary manipulation of a hand-held object is well established. The current study is to examine grip–load force coupling when motion of the hand with an object was either self-generated (voluntary) or externally generated. Subjects performed similar cyclic movements of different loads at various frequencies with three types of manipulations: 1) voluntary oscillation, 2) oscillating the right arm via the pulley system by the left leg (self-driven oscillation), and 3) oscillating the arm via the pulley system by another person (other-driven oscillation). During the self-generated movements: 1) the grip forces were larger and 2) grip–load force modulation was more pronounced than in the externally generated movements. The G–L adjustments are not completely determined by the mechanics of object motion; nonmechanical factors related to movement performance, for instance perceptual factors, may affect the G–L coupling.
Negative Feedback Control of Jasmonate Signaling by an Alternative Splice Variant of JAZ10

The plant hormone jasmonate (JA) activates gene expression by promoting ubiquitin-dependent degradation of jasmonate ZIM domain (JAZ) transcriptional repressor proteins. A key feature of all JAZ proteins is the highly conserved Jas motif, which mediates both JAZ degradation and JAZ binding to the transcription factor MYC2. Rapid expression of JAZ genes in response to JA is thought to attenuate JA responses, but little is known about the mechanisms by which newly synthesized JAZ proteins exert repression in the presence of the hormone. Here, we show in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) that desensitization to JA is mediated by an alternative splice variant (JAZ10.4) of JAZ10 that lacks the Jas motif. Unbiased protein-protein interaction screens identified three related basic helix-loop-helix transcription factors (MYC2, MYC3, and MYC4) and the corepressor NINJA as JAZ10.4-binding partners. We show that the amino-terminal region of JAZ10.4 contains a cryptic MYC2-binding site that resembles the Jas motif and that the ZIM motif of JAZ10.4 functions as a transferable repressor domain whose activity is associated with the recruitment of NINJA. Functional studies showed that the expression of JAZ10.4 from the native JAZ10 promoter complemented the JA-hypersensitive phenotype of a jaz10 mutant. Moreover, treatment of these complemented lines with JA resulted in the rapid accumulation of JAZ10.4 protein. Our results provide an explanation for how the unique domain architecture of JAZ10.4 links transcription factors to a corepressor complex and suggest how JA-induced transcription and alternative splicing of JAZ10 premessenger RNA creates a regulatory circuit to attenuate JA responses.
Congress and policy analysis

Abstract Recent congressional action to abolish the Office of Technology Assessment (OTA) reinforces the reputation of Congress as an institution where policy analysis is not particularly valued. The purpose of this article is to clarify the impact that the OTA had on congressional decision making by examining its contributions relative to other sources of policy analysis. Ninety-two congressional enterprises were studied as they searched for information on one of four specific issues over the course of the 99th Congress. Findings are based on 318 semi-structured interviews, results from two written questionnaires, and participant observation. Results indicate a more extensive awareness and use of policy analysis than found in most previous studies. Congressional support agencies are important sources of policy analysis for congressional staff, and, among the support agencies, analysis from the OTA occupied a very significant place within the information networks of the issues it studied.
Shared decision-making strategies for early prostate cancer.

Prostate cancer remains one of the most prevalent and least understood of all human malignancies. Pathologic evidence suggests that neoplastic changes of the prostate epithelium begin early in a man's adult life, but do not become clinically evident or relevant until decades later. The natural history of this enigmatic disease is heterogeneous, ranging from a benign and indolent course to one that rapidly progresses, causing significant morbidity and mortality. The divergent aspects of prostate cancer are underscored by vast differences in incidence and mortality statistics, causing consternation among clinicians and patients regarding the relative value of early detection, screening, and treatment strategies. Competing risks and perceived benefits of proposed treatment options including surgery, radiation therapy, hormonal deprivation, watchful waiting, and newer technologies are complex. Given these uncertainties, how should patients integrate these data and what role must physicians play in the process? Here we present a summary of shared decision making for men with localized prostate cancer. We approach this task by using a clinical case scenario to discuss issues relating to incidence and mortality trends, uncertainty regarding natural history, biopsy techniques and concerns, relevant tumor and clinical data, patient information gathering through Web-based resources, as well as support and advocacy groups, outcomes implications, and methods patients use to approach treatment decisions. We present a unified platform for shared decision-making strategies regarding prostate cancer in clinical practice.
Comparison of Approximate-Analysis Techniques for Diffraction Gratings*

Numerical solution of integral equations for the surface current on perfectly conducting echelette-type diffraction gratings is used for comparison with the results of five approximate-analysis techniques. The edge singularity of the current for the P(E∥) polarization and the relatively large current in the shadow region for the S(H∥) polarization give some insight into the rather restricted limits of validity of the perturbation, scalar diffraction, and physical-optics techniques. Two more-general approaches, based on the Rayleigh hypothesis of using only outward-diffracted orders, while considerably more versatile, are found to be at best of marginal use in studying the physical phenomena associated with typical echelette gratings.
Soil Fabric Changes During Consolidation

A method for characterizing the directional distribution of voids in soils at the microstructural level is presented. A scanning electron microscope (SEM) was used to obtain high-resolution, high-magnification images of the soil microstructure. These images were analyzed using an image analysis program to obtain parameters of the directional void ratio distribution function. Useful indices based on both solid and void phases for describing the changes of fabric in soils are proposed, and their evolution under one-dimensional compression of soils is studied. The analyses showed a high degree of preferred orientation attained by soil particles during consolidation.
Temperature-Dependent Conformations of a Membrane Supported Zinc Porphyrin Tweezer by 2D Fluorescence Spectroscopy

We studied the equilibrium conformations of a ‘zinc porphyrin tweezer’ composed of two carboxylphenyl-functionalized zinc tetraphenyl porphyrin subunits connected by a 1,4 butyndiol spacer, which was suspended inside the amphiphilic regions of 1,2-distearoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine (DSPC) liposomes. By combining phase-modulation two-dimensional fluorescence spectroscopy (2D FS) with linear absorbance and fluorimetry, we determined that the zinc porphyrin tweezer adopts a mixture of ‘folded’ and ‘extended’ conformations in the membrane. By fitting an exciton-coupling model to a series of data sets recorded over a range of temperatures (17 – 85 °C) and at different laser center wavelengths, we determined that the folded form of the tweezer is stabilized by a favorable change in the entropy of the local membrane environment. Our results provide insights toward understanding the balance of thermodynamic factors that govern molecular assembly in membranes.
Theoretical examination of the quantum-size effect in thin grey-tin films.

A theoretical treatment of the thin-film size quantization of grey-tin is presented. The energy levels describing the band gap are calculated as a function of film thickness. The calculation employs the linear combination of atomic orbitals method to construct the appropriate wave functions and considers the effect of the surface and interface electronic structure. The results compare favorably with experiment. The band gap is found to have a maximum value of approximately 430 meV for a film thickness of 40 A\r{}. The influence of the electronic structure due to the film boundaries is examined and shown to be important in order to examine the various experiments on the properties of the quantum-size effect.
Calibration errors in digital subtraction radiography

Two methods for the measurements of osseous change detected by digital subtraction radiography have been evaluated. Estimates of errors introduced by soft and hard tissues that overlay the region of interest (ROI) or by soft tissue that replaced the bone are made. All estimates are made assuming that the radiation source is a 40 keV monoenergetic beam and the reference Standard is equivalent to compact bone. These assumptions facilitate a theoretical analysis of calibration errors on a relative scale. The radiographic image method uses a calibration wedge on each of the two films. The mean gray value of the ROI on each film is converted into an equivalent thickness of bone by matching the ROI mean gray value to a gray value along the wedge. These thickness values are then subtracted to obtain a measurement of the amount of change. The subtraction image method makes use of a wedge on only one of the two films. The image of the subtraction of the two radiographs is used for detection of the area of change and the mean gray value of the ROI is matched to a gray value along the wedge. The thickness of the wedge at this point is the measured change. The errors introduced by inclusion of the cheek over the ROI and the replacement of bone by soft tissue are estimated for the radiographic image method. The influence of unequal beam attenuation between the reference ramp and the ROI is estimated for the subtraction image method. Other factors influencing the accuracy of estimates of osseous change which are nonlinear in their effects are also considered. These include the effects of scattered radiation, film response characteristics and x-ray beam hardening.
Biological effects of a reservoir at the end of the small bowel.

Substitution of the anorectum by a reservoir fashioned from the distal ileum can achieve the highly desirable goal of enteric continence after proctocolectomy and, not surprisingly, appears to enhance significantly the patient's quality of life. The potential price to be paid for this advance relates largely to uncertainties concerning the absence of the usual barriers to coloileal reflux and the presence of a stagnant, fecal pouch at the end of the small intestine. Moreover, positive experiences with conventional incontinent ileostomies over many years dictate that the Brooke ileostomy still remains the standard against which all other procedures must be judged. In the majority of patients, the presence of an ileal reservoir does not appear to have major adverse consequences; fecal volumes, fat excretion, overall gut function, and general health appear to be well maintained for the 10–15 years that patients with continent ileostomies have been followed. The follow-up for ileo-anal anastomoses is somewhat shorter. The pouches develop a fecal flora and mucosal histology is altered but, in most, no adverse sequelae have been noted. Nonspecific inflammation (“pouchitis”) occurs and is sometimes of major clinical significance, especially when also associated with systemic symptoms. The etiology of these conditions is unknown but bacterial overgrowth is suspected since antimicrobial therapy is often curative.
Monomer Reactivity Ratios for the Copolymerization of Styrene with Pure Meta-and Pure Para-Divinylbenzenes

Abstract Reactivity ratios for the copolymerization of styrene (r 1) meta-divinylben-zene (r 2–m) and with para-divinylbenzene (r 2–p) have been redetermined under different reaction conditions and with different radioactivity assay techniques. The copolymers were prepared at two conversion levels [0.55 to 3.7% and 2.7 to 7.5% and at 80° (rather than 100°)] with benzoyl peroxide (in place of τ-butylhydroperoxide) initiator. The ionization chamber-vibrating reed electrometer radioactivity assay technique developed for other copolymerization studies was used in place of the direct counting technique previously used for the styrene/divinylbenzene systems. The new values are r 1 = 0.605/r 2-m = 0.88: r 1 = 0.77/r 2-p = 2.08 at 0.55 to 3.7% conversion and r 1 = 1.27; r 2–m = 1.08 at 2.7 to 7.5% conversion. These are not in close agreement with previous values partly because of the difference in conditions of copolymerization (temperature, per cent conversion, initiator) and in the improved analytical precision...
Children's understanding of dreams as mental states.

Children's understanding of dreams as mental states was examined as an instance of their development of a “theory of mind.” Thirty-five children between the ages of three and seven were interviewed to determine how well they understood the reality, location, privacy, and origin of their own dream, versus that of a fictional character, matched for emotional valence. Theory of mind developments in understanding appearance vs. reality and perspective-taking were evaluated as predictors of dream understanding. Results revealed significant age increases in dream understanding that occur in a logical sequence predicted by Kohlberg. Theory of mind developments were correlated with children's understanding of the reality and the privacy of dreams. These findings suggest that children as young as five, although their own dreams may be rare, are beginning to understand that Western culture deems dreams to be non-real, private, psychological occurrences.
Indescribable cardinals without diamonds

Summary. We show that for m, n > 1 the existence of a/7~' indescribable cardinal is equiconsistent with the failure of the combinatorial principle O~,R~0~ at a/7," indescribable cardinal ~ together with the Generalized Continuum Hypothesis.
Ethical Issues in Community Policing

Community policing requires fundamental changes to the philosophy and organization of police work. Among these changes will be substantial reduction in the political and social isolation of police ...
Mohs micrographic surgery of the nail unit and squamous cell carcinoma.

The nail unit can be a challenging anatomic location for surgical removal of neoplasms. Although uncommon, malignancies do affect this specialized epithelial structure. In particular, Bowen's disease and more invasive squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) are the most common neoplasm's to affect the nail unit and surrounding structures. Other neoplasm's such as basal cell carcinoma and malignant melanoma can also affect the nail unit, but less frequently, and will not be discussed in the scope of this review. Mohs micrographic surgery continues to be the treatment of choice because of the procedure's tissue-sparing qualities. A clear understanding of the anatomy and the histology of the nail unit, a review of the technique of Moh's surgery of the nail anatomy, as well as a review of the literature are presented.
Lean manufacturing in the US South Atlantic Region: an overview of the current state of implementation in the secondary wood industry

The US secondary wood industry has been facing tough market conditions. Companies believe that business will continue to be hampered by falling profits, consumers and employment throughout all 2010–2011. These market conditions are not a recent event; it has been a challenging market for over two decades. Secondary wood industries have had to change its status quo to be able to retain market share and stay in business. Proposed changes for the secondary wood industry include lean manufacturing implementation. This research studied the current state of lean manufacturing implementation in the US South Atlantic Region by means of an online survey. Results indicated that lean manufacturing is perceived as an excellent philosophy for making the secondary wood industry more competitive and it has an important implementation potential. Differences between diverse industry segments on the triggers and resources that lead to implementing lean manufacturing were also found.
National Assessments for Student Teachers: Documenting Teaching Readiness to the Tipping Point

To evaluate the impact of the emergent national teacher performance assessment (TPA) on student teachers, this study examined a pilot implementation at one university in Washington State during Spring 2011. The qualitative research focused on the lived experience of those directly affected by TPA implementation: student teachers, mentor teachers, and university supervisors. Findings include some potential benefits to the TPA, including student teachers reporting greater levels of reflection enabling them to better focus on student thinking, and university supervisors appreciating the shift in analysis of teaching episodes to the student teacher. However, there is also evidence that the TPA is trying to do too much too soon—with several aspects of the TPA being developmentally inappropriate and implausible within the context of student teaching. With too many requirements and not enough supports, student teachers are in danger of being positioned beyond “the tipping point.” Recommendations include piloting...
A natural approach to watershed planning, restoration and management

Each watershed has an overall hydrologic function to capture, store and safely release water. How well a watershed is able to perform this overall function is dependent upon how well each geomorphic component landform is functioning within the watershed. Each geomorphic component landform within a watershed has a specific hydrologic function and ecological potential. Component landforms that commonly occur in a watershed include stream channels, floodplains, stream terraces, alluvial valley bottoms, alluvial fans, mountain slopes, and ridge tops. When a component landform within a watershed becomes ecologically altered or degraded, its ability to perform its natural hydrologic and geomorphic functions becomes impaired and the watershed or ecosystem is unable to function properly. Component landforms within a watershed are interrelated. For example, the condition of a stream channel is closely related to the condition of its floodplain. Water from upland slopes is transported over and through alluvial fans and bottoms. Therefore, each component landform needs to be considered in the planning process and in setting watershed goals. This paper presents a simple field approach to inventory, evaluate and plan watershed restoration based on geomorphic, hydrologic and ecological principles. Examples of successful use of the approach on several watersheds in Utah, USA are given.
Argon plasma coagulation for rectal bleeding after prostate brachytherapy.

Abstract Purpose: To better define the efficacy and safety of argon plasma coagulation (APC), specifically for brachytherapy-related proctitis, we reviewed the clinical course of 7 patients treated for persistent rectal bleeding. Approximately 2–10% of prostate cancer patients treated with 125 I or 103 Pd brachytherapy will develop radiation proctitis. The optimum treatment for patients with persistent bleeding is unclear from the paucity of available data. Prior reports lack specific dosimetric information, and patients with widely divergent forms of radiation were grouped together in the analyses. Methods and Materials: Seven patients were treated with APC at the Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System and the University of Washington from 1997 to 1999 for persistent rectal bleeding due to prostate brachytherapy-related proctitis. Four patients received supplemental external beam radiation, delivered by a four-field technique. A single gastroenterologist at the Veterans Affairs Puget Sound Health Care System treated 6 of the 7 patients. If the degree of proctitis was limited, all sites of active bleeding were coagulated in symptomatic patients. An argon plasma coagulator electrosurgical system was used to administer treatments every 4–8 weeks as needed. The argon gas flow was set at 1.6 L/min, with an electrical power setting of 40–45 W. Results: The rectal V100 (the total rectal volume, including the lumen, receiving the prescription dose or greater) for the 7 patients ranged from 0.13 to 4.61 cc. Rectal bleeding was first noticed 3–18 months after implantation. APC (range 1–3 sessions) was performed 9–22 months after implantation. Five patients had complete resolution of their bleeding, usually within days of completing APC. Two patients had only partial relief from bleeding, but declined additional APC therapy. No patient developed clinically evident progressive rectal wall abnormalities after APC, (post-APC follow-up range 4–13 months). Conclusions: Most patients benefited from APC, and no cases of clinically evident progressive tissue destruction were noted. Although APC appears to be efficacious and safe in the setting of the rectal doses described here, caution is in order when contemplating APC for brachytherapy patients.
Longfellow’s Serenity and Poe’s Prediction: An Antebellum Turning Point

In 1839, Edgar Allan Poe insisted that, though Henry Wadsworth Longfellow had “high qualities,” his reputation would not survive into the future. Poe's seemingly prescient prediction reveals a good deal about Longfellow's practice as a poet as well as Poe's contribution to the development of both modernism and popular culture.
Strategies for identifying modifier genes in cystic fibrosis

Even in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) with identical CFTR genotypes, there is a wide range in the severity of lung disease, with some individuals facing death or lung transplantation early in life and others demonstrating mild lung disease well into adulthood. Although numerous environmental factors have been identified that influence CF pulmonary phenotype, there is now growing evidence that polymorphic variants in genes besides CFTR play an important role in determining severity of CF lung disease. This article reviews the most recent findings regarding genetic modifiers in CF and also discusses in detail the strategies currently being used to identify novel modifiers of CF pulmonary phenotype. These include single- and multicenter studies, twin and sib studies, microarray approaches, and whole genome association studies.
Modeling the Eye's Optical System Using Ocular Wavefront Tomography

We present an ocular wavefront tomography method to reconstruct a customized schematic eye from off-axis aberrations of the tested eyes. From experiment, the reconstructed eyes are anatomically similar and functionally equivalent to the test cases.
A microscopic study of crack initiation mechanisms in 7075 aluminum alloy sheets

A study of the opening mode of crack initiation in 7075-T6 aluminum alloy sheets has been conducted with the aid of a scanning electron microscope. Observations were made from several orientations, including the top view of the specimen which showed the notch profile and the edge view of the specimen which showed the entire notch front along the specimen thickness. It was found that the edge view exhibited the first signs of permanent deformation at about 55% of the breaking strength. These changes took the form of deformation bands which were aligned in the direction of the tensile axis and apparently defined limiting regions of homogeneous slip. It is felt that the appearance of microcracks at loads approaching the breaking strength was of fundamental importance in the formation of the final fracture surface. Many of these microcraks were initiated at intermetallic particles and other metallurgically weak regions on the notch surface. It was also possible to correlate the strain in the notch with the stress intensity factor for the various loads. Very large plastic strains were observed on the notch tip as compared to published values of elongation at fracture for unnotched specimens.
Parent-offspring similarity for drinking: a longitudinal adoption study.

Parent–offspring resemblance for drinking was investigated in a sample of 409 adopted and 208 non-adopted families participating in the Sibling Interaction and Behavior Study. Drinking data was available for 1,229 offspring, assessed longitudinally up to three times in the age range from 10 to 28 years. A single drinking index was computed from four items measuring quantity, frequency and density of drinking. As expected, the mean drinking index increased with age, was greater in males as compared to females (although not at the younger ages), but did not vary significantly by adoption status. Parent–offspring correlation in drinking did not vary significantly by either offspring or parent gender but did differ significantly by adoption status. In adopted families, the parent–offspring correlation was statistically significant at all ages but decreased for the oldest age group (age 22–28). In non-adopted families, the parent–offspring correlation was statistically significant at all ages and increased in the oldest age group. Findings imply that genetic influences on drinking behavior increase with age while shared family environment influences decline, especially during the transition from late-adolescence to early adulthood.
Identification of Eggshell Membrane Proteins and Purification of Ovotransferrin and β-NAGase from Hen Egg White

Exposure of selected Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacterial pathogens to egg shell membranes (ESM) significantly reduced their thermal resistance and/or inactivated cells. Although the components responsible for this antibacterial activity have not been conclusively identified, several proteins associated with the ESM activity have been identified including β-N-acetylglucosaminidase, lysozyme and ovotransferrin, with each displaying varying degrees of antibacterial activity. Numerous attempts to purify active fractions of β-N-acetylglucosaminidase, lysozyme and ovotransferrin from the ESM proved somewhat limited; however, hen egg white (HEW) β-N-acetylglucosaminidase was purified using a two-step chromatographic procedure, isoelectric focusing followed by cation exchange chromatography. Pure fractions of ovotransferrin were also obtained in the process. SDS-PAGE electrophoresis and Matrix-Assisted Laser Desorption Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometry were then used to partially characterize the individual protein components. Purified protein fractions such as these will be required in order to fully elucidate the mechanism responsible for the antimicrobial properties associated with the ESM.
Measurement of the speed of sound in ice

The data presented demonstrate the gathering of sound speed measurements in refrigerated ice, using both compressional and shear waves, on the basis of ice thickness and sound wave time-of-travel parameters. Clear and sharp echo reflections were obtained for both compressional and shear waves at the aluminum/ice and ice/aluminum interfaces for ice at -26 C; ice formed at various conditions can have different sound speeds, depending on the density and elastic constants.
Underwater Hovering Control with Fluidic Amplifiers

Hovering control of underwater vehicles requires both hydrostatic and hydrodynamic means. Fluidic amplifiers, particularly the axisymmetric focussed-jet design, are well suited for both control means because large flows can be switched on and off fast without water hammer in the pumps and piping system. A preliminary experimental investigation has been carried out with an axisymmetric amplifier at supply pressures up to 75 psig and flows up to 200 gal/min. Pressure recoveries over 50% and flow recoveries up to 150% have been measured. Thrust ratios over 80%, on the basis of propulsive jet thrust of equal fluid power, have been observed. Dynamic switching times have been measured from electric signal to thrust output; switching on requires 300 msec and off requires only 100 msec. On rise times are of the order of 100 msec while off decay times are less than 20 msec.
Assessment of structural damage using the theory of evidence

Abstract An attempt has been made to analyze dynamic test data of building structures for the assessment of structural damage. In this paper, the method of converting evidential information to the interval representation of Dempster and Shafer is applied. It is shown how results as obtained from an individual source are interpreted. Then, the information as obtained from several different sources is combined to compensate for individual deficiencies of the knowledge sources. The resulting algorithm is then applied to assess the damage state of a prototype 10-story reinforced concrete frame structure subjected to repeated earthquake loading conditions in the laboratory.
Digraphs with unique minimal king sets

If D is a digraph, then K@?V(D) is a king set of D if D[K] is discrete and for each y@?V(D)-K there is x@?K such that the directed distance from x to y is less than three. A king set K will be called minimal if no proper subset of K is a king set. We characterize both the digraphs which have a unique king set and those which have a unique minimal king set.
Nanotechnology patenting trends through an environmental lens: analysis of materials and applications

Many international groups study environmental health and safety (EHS) concerns surrounding the use of engineered nanomaterials (ENMs). These researchers frequently use the “Project on Emerging Nanotechnologies” (PEN) inventory of nano-enabled consumer products to prioritize types of ENMs to study because estimates of life-cycle ENM releases to the environment can be extrapolated from the database. An alternative “snapshot” of nanomaterials likely to enter commerce can be determined from the patent literature. The goal of this research was to provide an overview of nanotechnology intellectual property trends, complementary to the PEN consumer product database, to help identify potentially “risky” nanomaterials for study by the nano-EHS community. Ten years of nanotechnology patents were examined to determine the types of nano-functional materials being patented, the chemical compositions of the ENMs, and the products in which they are likely to appear. Patenting trends indicated different distributions of nano-enabled products and materials compared to the PEN database. Recent nanotechnology patenting is dominated by electrical and information technology applications rather than the hygienic and anti-fouling applications shown by PEN. There is an increasing emphasis on patenting of nano-scale layers, coatings, and other surface modifications rather than traditional nanoparticles, and there is widespread use of nano-functional semiconductor, ceramic, magnetic, and biological materials that are currently less studied by EHS professionals. These commonly patented products and the nano-functional materials they contain may warrant life-cycle evaluations to determine the potential for environmental exposure and toxicity. The patent and consumer product lists contribute different and complementary insights into the emerging nanotechnology industry and its potential for introducing nanomaterials into the environment.
Biology of the Fall Armyworm on Four Varieties of Bermudagrass When Held at Constant Temperatures

Fall armyworm, Spodoprera frugiperda (Smith) larvae were reared in the laboratory on foliage on 4 varieties of bermudagrass, (“Alicia”, “Callie”, “Coastal”, and common), at 3 constant temperatures (20°, 25° and 30°C). Studies were designed to measure the effect of these 4 bermudagrass varieties and temperature on the biology of the insect. Differences in length of larval period, pupal weight, and length of pupal period, between grasses, were temperature and sometimes sex dependent. No significant differences were observed between grasses for egg production; however, significant differences were observed between temperatures. Larvae and pupae developed most rapidly at 30°C. Egg production was maximal at 25°C.
Optimisation of the rate of sample injection in high-performance liquid chromatography with microsyringes and with sampling valves

The rate of sample injection has been studied as a factor influencing the separating power of high-performance liquid chromatographic systems with syringe and valve curtain flow injection. Full practical details of the systems are presented.
DISCON: an expert system for the analysis of differing site conditions claims

The construction industry not only presents problems of engineering, but legal problems as well. Litigation and claims in construction are consuming an ever larger share of the energy and resources of construction industry participants. An artificially intelligent expert system called DISCON is presented, which is designed to give legal advice to design and construction engineers as well as contractors and owners concerning Different Site Conditions claims. DISCON development is discussed, and its features are outlined.
Factor Analyses of Three Correlation Matrices of Readability Variables

Three correlation matrices of readability variables were factor analyzed and the results compared to factor analyses of earlier matrices and to each other. The three new analyses, based upon a wide variety of written materials and of readability index variables, produced data highly consistent with the earlier studies. The same two components, word difficulty and sentence difficulty, accounted for more than half the variance in each analysis. In one of the new analyses for which data are reported, however, as well as one of the previous studies, the relative contribution of the two factors was reversed. Also the percentage of total variance accounted for varied over a considerable range. Hypotheses were offered to account for the results and some implications for research were identified.
An anatomic study of the coracoid process as it relates to bone transfer procedures

Introduction The Latarjet and Bristow procedures address recurrent anterior shoulder instability in the context of a significant bony defect. However, the bony and soft tissue anatomy of the coracoid as they relate to coracoid transfer procedures has not yet been defined. The purpose of this study was to describe the soft tissue attachments of the coracoid as they relate to the bony anatomy and to define the average amount of bone available for use in coracoid transfer. Methods Ten paired fresh frozen shoulders from deceased donors were dissected, exposing the coracoid, lateral clavicle, and acromion, along with the coracoid soft tissue attachments. The bony dimensions of the coracoid and the locations and sizes of the soft tissue footprints of the coracoid were measured. Results The mean maximum length of the coracoid available for transfer (ie, distance from the coracoid tip to the anterior border of the coracoclavicular ligament) was 28.5 mm. The mean distance from the coracoid tip to the anterior pectoralis minor was 4.6 mm, to the posterior pectoralis minor was 17.7 mm, to the anterior coracoacromial ligament was 7.8 mm, and to the posterior coracoacromial ligament was 25.7 mm. Conclusion Average dimensions of the bony coracoid and average locations and sizes of coracoid soft tissue footprints are provided. This anatomic description of the coracoid bony anatomy and its soft tissue insertions allows surgeons to correlate the location of their coracoid osteotomy with the soft tissue implications of the coracoid transfer as the native anatomy is manipulated in these nonanatomic procedures.
Naval EarthMap Observer (NEMO) science and naval products

A wide variety of applications of imaging spectrometry have been demonstrated using data from aircraft systems. Based on this experience the Navy is pursuing the Hyperspectral Remote Sensing Technology (HRST) Program to use hyperspectral imagery to characterize the littoral environment, for scientific and environmental studies and to meet Naval needs. To obtain the required space based hyperspectral imagery the Navy has joined in a partnership with industry to build and fly the Naval EarthMap Observer (NEMO). The NEMO spacecraft has the Coastal Ocean Imaging Spectrometer (COIS) a hyperspectral imager with adequate spectral and spatial resolution and a high signal-to- noise ratio to provide long term monitoring and real-time characterization of the coastal environment. It includes on- board processing for rapid data analysis and data compression, a large volume recorder, and high speed downlink to handle the required large volumes of data. This paper describes the algorithms for processing the COIS data to provide at-launch ocean data products and the research and modeling that are planned to use COIS data to advance our understanding of the dynamics of the coastal ocean.© (1998) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
High Refractive Index Silicone Gels for Simultaneous Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence and Traction Force Microscopy of Adherent Cells

Substrate rigidity profoundly impacts cellular behaviors such as migration, gene expression, and cell fate. Total Internal Reflection Fluorescence (TIRF) microscopy enables selective visualization of the dynamics of substrate adhesions, vesicle trafficking, and biochemical signaling at the cell-substrate interface. Here we apply high-refractive-index silicone gels to perform TIRF microscopy on substrates with a wide range of physiological elastic moduli and simultaneously measure traction forces exerted by cells on the substrate.
Sonographic cervical length, vaginal bleeding, and the risk of preterm birth

Objective We sought to evaluate the contributions of vaginal bleeding and cervical length to the risk of preterm birth. Study Design This was a secondary analysis of a cohort study designed to study predictors of preterm birth. The study included 2988 women with singleton gestations. Women underwent midtrimester transvaginal ultrasound assessment of cervical length and were queried regarding first- and second-trimester vaginal bleeding. Results There was a significant second-order relation between cervical length and preterm birth ( P P = .005). Women with vaginal bleeding were at higher risk of preterm birth (odds ratio, 1.5; 95% confidence interval, 1.3–2.0). There was a significant interaction between cervical length and vaginal bleeding ( P = .015). After accounting for cervical length and interaction, the adjusted odds ratio for vaginal bleeding and preterm birth was 4.8 (95% confidence interval, 1.89–12.4; P = .001). Conclusion The magnitude of risk of preterm birth associated with sonographic cervical length depends on a woman's history of first- and second-trimester vaginal bleeding.
Equilibrium cycling with small discounting

Abstract A misinterpretation of turnpike theorems suggests that persistent cyclic behavior in optimal growth models is only possible with large discount rates. This paper shows that for any positive discount rate there exists a large family of standard Cobb-Douglas technologies with three sectors which have optimal growth paths of persistent cycles.