cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Are we there yet? Menopausal hormone therapy for primary cardiovascular disease prevention.

Since the publication of Women’s Health Initiative (WHI) data, a pervasive fear of doing harm has limited the use of all menopausal hormone therapies (MHT) despite newer evidence that is reassuring. Oestrogen therapy (ET), even for women who have a physiological requirement for it, as in those with POI (Premature Ovarian Insufficiency) or surgical (bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy) POI, has markedly dwindled, despite their elevated risk of premature death from cardiovascular disease (CVD).1 2 Now, less than 10% of women with surgical POI use ET, while before 2002, greater than 90% of surgical POI women did.3 This significant shift of not taking ET postsurgical POI had resulted in over 50 000 premature deaths, before age 70, from CVD of women who underwent surgical POI.4 This number represents a sizeable portion of women: spontaneous POI affects 1% of women before age 40, and early menopause (before 45 years) affects 5% of women.5 A recent American Heart Association (AHA) statement supports MHT for reduced CVD risk if started within 10 years of natural menopause or after surgical POI, especially in women younger than 45.6 Almost half of the women in the WHI cohort had early surgical POI with bilateral oophorectomy (BSO) by age 50.2 Using conjugated equine oestrogens plus medroxyprogesterone acetate in the WHI cohort was not found to be protective with a HR of 1.24 (CI 1.00 to 1.57). However, the mean age of enrolled women was 63 years, and they were on average 12 years postmenopausal. However, when analysed by subgroups, HR became less than one, with a HR of 0.89 in women who underwent menopause within 10 years and a HR of 0.95 in women with hot flashes, aged 50–59. But these HRs …
Narrative Gerontology: Introducing the Field

Narrative gerontology is a growing approach to understanding the experiences of later life. Narratives provide a type of raw material to gain an “insider’s perspective” on older age. The term “narrative” (coined in 1994) describes various types of stories that can range from a few sentences to a grand that covers a person’s lifetime. Depending on discipline (e.g., anthropology, medicine), narratives can be used in different ways (e.g., understand- ing perspectives within culture, understanding a patient’s perspective on an experience or condition). Key considerations regarding narrative gerontology include how best to elicit a story, the difference between big and small stories, analytical strategies, and issues of power, perspective, and language. Overall, narrative gerontology is not limited to one single approach but instead encompasses many perspectives linked to putting experiences into words.
The Power of Focal Points is Pervasive: An Experimental Study of Strategy Labels in Coordination Games

A fundamental question for legal studies is why people obey the law (to the extent that they do). There are two dominant answers: the fear of sanctions, emphasized by economists, and deference to legitmate authority, emphasized by sociologists and psychologists. Recent work posits a third "expressive" compliance mechanism, one theory for which is that law serves as a focal point that facilitates coordination. Crawford et al. (2008) question the power of focal points in coordination games with asymmetric payoffs, which generate divergent interests in how best to coordinate. They show how some focal labels can influence behavior in pure coordination games but not asymmetric games. We present an experiment that shows focal labels, some involving law, can maintain their influence even when the equilibrium payoffs are asymmetric.
Comparison of Phytophthora sojae Populations in Iowa and Nebraska to Identify Effective Rps Genes for Phytophthora Stem and Root Rot Management

Phytophthora stem and root rot (PSRR) of soybean, caused by the oomycete Phytophthora sojae, is prevalent in Iowa and Nebraska. Reducing losses to PSRR primarily relies on growing cultivars with sp...
Optical Flow with Geometric Occlusion Estimation and Fusion of Multiple Frames

Optical flow research has made significant progress in recent years and it can now be computed efficiently and accurately for many images. However, complex motions, large displacements, and difficult imaging conditions are still problematic. In this paper, we present a framework for estimating optical flow which leads to improvements on these difficult cases by 1) estimating occlusions and 2) using additional temporal information. First, we divide the image into discrete triangles and show how this allows for occluded regions to be naturally estimated and directly incorporated into the optimization algorithm. We additionally propose a novel method of dealing with temporal information in image sequences by using “inertial estimates” of the flow. These estimates are combined using a classifier-based fusion scheme, which significantly improves results. These contributions are evaluated on three different optical flow datasets, and we achieve state-of-the-art results on MPI-Sintel.
Den Site Activity Patterns of Adult Male and Female Swift Foxes, Vulpes velox , in Northwestern Texas

Activity of Swift Foxes ( Vulpes velox ) at den sites was studied in northwestern Texas during pup rearing seasons in 2000 and 2001 to determine role of males in parental care. Twenty-four percent of radio-collared females with a potential to breed successfully raised pups to eight weeks of age. We intensively monitored presence and absence of male and female Swift Foxes at two den sites each year. Females were present >2.6 times more at den sites than males during the pup rearing season. Female and male Swift Foxes largely stayed at dens during diurnal hours and were active away from dens during nocturnal and crepuscular hours. Females and males spent 12.4% and 3.0% more time at dens before pups emerged, than after pups emerged, respectively. Following depredation of one male parent, the female spent 29% less time at the den site. Decrease in time spent at the den by the female following loss of her mate suggested that loss of one parent might severely impact recruitment of Swift Foxes. Our observations indicated that intense Coyote ( Canis latrans ) depredation may severely impact pup-rearing success as well as the parental care within Swift Fox family groups.
Law and Politics as Play

Liberal theory fails to cope effectively with the common human tendency, and particularly in circumstances that humans perceive as zero sum games, to brutalize other humans. Liberal theory does not adequately accommodate the reality that humans contest concepts of rights, justice, and truth. The necessarily contextual, contested, and contingent character of substantive liberal principles necessarily prevents them, qua principles, from effectively inhibiting human brutality. Liberal theory also does not take adequate account of the passionate and non-rational character of the human animal. Giambattista Vico’s remarkably prescient and comprehensive eighteenth century vision of the human condition anticipates these two barriers to achieving liberalism’s pacific political and social vision. Vico suggests that the visceral experiences of competitive human play can, and in fact do, displace the political and social conditions and practices that commonly trigger brutal human behavior. Thus framed, the liberal tradition moves humans from righteousness to playfulness. * Professor, The Colorado College. The author earnestly thanks the Rockefeller Foundation and the staff of the Villa Serbelloni, Bellagio, Italy, the Institute of Governmental Studies at the University of California, Berkeley, and the Benezet Foundation at The Colorado College for their research support. Professors Susan Silbey, Thomas Pysczcynski, Robert Lee, the late Richard Rorty, and Jonathan Lee also made particularly important specific contributions to this analysis. Readers will see for themselves how greatly Professor Donald Verene’s writings on Vico contributed to it. Chicago-Kent Law Review Executive Articles Editor Hunter Hogan significantly improved this final product by insisting on substantive and expository precision without sacrificing his much-appreciated enthusiasm for the project itself. Only those who know Marilyn Vickers, a clinical psychologist, will appreciate the full extent of my wife’s immensely important contributions to all aspects of this project. 1334 CHICAGO-KENT LAW REVIEW [Vol 83:3 INTRODUCTION AND NORMATIVE FRAME [Caesar:] And so, to the end of history, murder shall breed murder, always in the name of right and honor and peace, until the gods are tired of blood and create a race that can understand. —George Bernard Shaw1 [T]he greatest thing a human soul ever does in this world is to see something, and tell what it saw in a plain way. Hundreds of people can talk for one who can think, but thousands can think for one who can see. To see clearly is poetry, prophecy, and religion,—all in one.
Functional interaction of melatonin receptors and D1 dopamine receptors in cultured chick retinal neurons

The possible interaction of melatonin receptors and D1 dopamine receptors was investigated in neural cells prepared from embryonic day 8 chick retinas and cultured for 6 d. Dopamine stimulated cAMP accumulation in cultured retinal cells. This effect of dopamine was antagonized by addition of dopamine receptor antagonists (haloperidol and SCH23390) or melatonin receptor agonists (melatonin, 2-iodomelatonin, and 6-chloromelatonin). The inhibition of dopamine-stimulated cAMP accumulation by melatonin was concentration dependent, with half-maximal inhibition at approximately 160 pM. Melatonin inhibited the effect of dopamine at all dopamine concentrations, suppressing the maximal response to the neurotransmitter by approximately 70%. Melatonin also inhibited the stimulation of cAMP accumulation by SKF 82958, a selective D1 dopamine receptor agonist. Pretreatment of cultures with pertussis toxin had no significant effect on dopamine-stimulated cAMP accumulation, but inhibited the response to melatonin. In contrast to its effect on cAMP accumulation, melatonin had no effect on dopamine-stimulated inositol phosphate accumulation. These results suggest that melatonin receptors are coupled to dopamine receptor-regulated adenylate cyclase via an inhibitory G protein, and demonstrate another mechanism, in addition to inhibition of dopamine release, through which melatonin can modulate dopaminergic neurotransmission.
The Defection of Emission Related Defects on Future Vehicles - Which Assembly Line Test Is Most Effective?

A test program using thirty production 1980 California "X" cars equipped with Computer Command Control emission control systems was run to compare the emission-related defect detection ability of end-of-line short emission tests and non-emission (or functional) tests. In this comparison, the non-emission tests detected 91% of the defects implanted, while the short emission tests detected only 64% of the defects. Further development of non-emission tests would further improve their defect detection capability, while little can be done to improve the defect detection capability of short emission tests.
Sound Production Treatment: Synthesis and Quantification of Outcomes

Purpose This investigation was designed to provide a quantification and synthesis of a series of single-case experimental design investigations into the effects of sound production treatment, an articulatory-kinematic treatment for acquired apraxia of speech (AOS). The main purpose was to perform a meta-analysis of aggregated sound production treatment data in order to provide benchmarks to serve as indicators of magnitude of change. Additional analyses explored various factors influencing effect sizes and level of performance. Method Effect sizes were calculated for treated and untreated items for 24 participants across 10 investigations. Benchmarks were calculated as the quartiles of the distributions of the effect sizes. Correlational analyses were performed to examine (a) end-of-treatment performance relative to follow-up performance, (b) response of trained items relative to untrained items, and (c) effect size relative to participant variables. Results Effect sizes were predominantly large and posit...
Transforming growth factor-beta signaling in normal and malignant hematopoiesis

Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) is perhaps the most potent endogenous negative regulator of hematopoiesis. The intracellular signaling events mediating the effects of TGF-beta are multiple, involving extensive crosstalk between Smad-dependent and MAP-kinase-dependent pathways. We are only beginning to understand the importance of the balance between these cascades as a determinant of the response to TGF-beta, and have yet to determine the roles that disruption in TGF-beta signaling pathways might play in leukemogenesis. This review summarizes current knowledge regarding the function of TGF-beta in normal and malignant hematopoiesis. The principal observations made by gene targeting studies in mice are reviewed, with an emphasis on how a disruption of this pathway in vivo can affect blood cell development and immune homeostasis. We overview genetic alterations that lead to impaired TGF-beta signaling in hematopoietic neoplasms, including the suppression of Smad-dependent transcriptional responses by oncoproteins such as Tax and Evi-1, and fusion proteins such as AML1/ETO. We also consider mutations in genes encoding components of the core cell cycle machinery, such as p27(Kip1) and p15(INK4A), and emphasize their impact on the ability of TGF-beta to induce G1 arrest. The implications of these observations are discussed, and opinions regarding important directions for future research on TGF-beta in hematopoiesis are provided.
Indian Stereotypes in TV Fiction: First Nations' Voices Speak Out, by Sierra S. Adare

There is an increasing amount of literature on mediated stereotypes, but little of it is written by indigenous people. This is all the more important given the furor over the recent NCAA decision t...
WRF winter extreme daily precipitation over the North American CORDEX Arctic

We analyze daily extremes of precipitation produced by a six-member ensemble of Pan-Arctic Weather Research and Forecasting that simulated 19 years on the Coordinated Regional Downscaling Experiment Arctic domain. Analysis focuses on four North American regions defined using climatological records, regional weather patterns, and geographical/topographical features. We compare simulated extremes for the winter season with those occurring at corresponding observing stations in the U.S. National Climate Data Center's Global Summary of the Day. We define winter as the 3 month period leading up to and including the climatological sea ice maximum: January-February-March (JFM). Our analysis focuses on winter variations in features of extremes such as magnitudes, spatial scales, and temporal regimes. Using composites of extreme events, we also analyze the processes producing winter season extremes. We compare circulation, pressure, temperature, and humidity fields from the ERA-Interim reanalysis and the model output. Although the model produces lower amounts of extreme precipitation compared to observation, the model is simulating the physical forcing that is found during observed extreme events. Specifically, the model and reanalysis highlight the importance of low-level moisture advection and its interaction with topography. The analysis establishes the physical credibility of the simulations for extreme precipitation events in JFM and their associated atmospheric circulations, laying a foundation for examining projected changes in extreme precipitation.
Flame Kernel Development and its Effects on Engine Performance with Various Spark Plug Electrode Configurations

Two constant-volume combustion chambers and a 2.3L SI engine were used to investigate the effects of spark plug electrode configurations on flame kernel formation and development, and on engine performance. The results showed performance differences between the spark plug types tested in terms of lean ignitability limit and 0-2% MFB time. Overall, the spark plugs with 0.6 mm diameter center electrode, referred to as Finewire spark plugs, were able to ignite the leanest mixtures and were the only spark plug type to demonstrate the lowest predicted 0-2% MFB times for both 0% and 20% EGR. The Schlieren images support the results of better ignitability confirming the fastest flame kernel development with Finewire spark plugs and demonstrating the benefits of J-gap design and fine center electrode. The results explain significant advantages in engine performance in terms of engine stability and fuel consumption rate. The difference becomes small as average equivalence ratio approaches 1.0 but it is likely to affect, at a reduced scale, engine performance even in the stoichiometric operating condition through spatial and temporal variations of air/fuel ratio in vicinity of the spark plugs.
A novel chemical ionization reagent ion for organic analytes: the aquachloromanganese(II) cation [ClMn(H2O)+].

The reactivity of ClMn(H(2)O)(+) towards small organic compounds (L) was examined in a Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FT-ICR) mass spectrometer. The organic compounds studied are aliphatic and aromatic alcohols, aliphatic amines, ketones, an epoxide, an ether, a thiol and a phosphine. All the reactions lead to the formation of the ClMn(H(2)O)(L)(+) complex, which dissociates by loss of the H(2)O molecule. In general, the reactions were found to occur with high efficiencies (>85%), indicating them to be exothermic. Electron transfer was also observed between ClMn(H(2)O)(+) and compounds with low ionization energies (IE), to form the molecular ion (L(+•)) of the analyte. Based on these observations, the IE of ClMn(H(2)O)(+) is approximated to be 8.1 ± 0.1 eV. Thus, the utility of ClMn(H(2)O)(+) as a chemical ionization reagent in mass spectrometry is expected to be limited to organic compounds with IEs greater than 8 eV.
Electrostatic potential energy within a protein monitored by metal charge-dependent hydrogen exchange.

Hydrogen exchange measurements on Zn(II)-, Ga(III)-, and Ge(IV)-substituted Pyrococcus furiosus rubredoxin demonstrate that the log ratio of the base-catalyzed rate constants (Δ log kex) varies inversely with the distance out to at least 12 A from the metal. This pattern is consistent with the variation of the amide nitrogen pK values with the metal charge-dependent changes in the electrostatic potential. Fifteen monitored amides lie within this range, providing an opportunity to assess the strength of electrostatic interactions simultaneously at numerous positions within the structure. Poisson-Boltzmann calculations predict an optimal effective internal dielectric constant of 6. The largest deviations between the experimentally estimated and the predicted ΔpK values appear to result from the conformationally mobile charged side chains of Lys-7 and Glu-48 and from differential shielding of the peptide units arising from their orientation relative to the metal site.
Identification of naturally processed peptides bound to the class I MHC molecule H-2Kd of normal and TAP-deficient cells

This report details the biochemical features of natural peptides selected by the H-2Kd class I MHC molecule. In normal cell lines, the length of the naturally processed peptides ranged from 8 to 18 amino acids, although the majority were 9-mers (16% were longer than nine residues). The binding motif for the 9-mer peptides was dominated by the presence of a tyrosine at P2 and an isoleucine/leucine at the P9 position. The P2 residue contributed most towards binding; and the short peptides bound better and formed longer-lived cell surface complexes than the long peptides, which bound poorly and dissociated rapidly. The longer peptides did not exhibit this strictly defined motif. Trimming the long peptides to their shorter forms did not enhance binding and conversely, extending the 9-mer peptides did not decrease binding. The long peptides were present on the cell-surface bound to H-2Kd (Kd) and were not intermediate products of the class I MHC processing pathway. Finally, in two different TAP-deficient cells the long peptides were the dominant species, which suggested that TAP-independent pathways selected for long peptides by class I MHC molecules.
Total Peptic Activity of Gastric Juice. A Method of Determination.

Summary and ConclusionThe disadvantages and inaccuracies of many tests for pepsin have been discussed. A method for determining total pepsin which does not embody these disadvantages is described. Egg albumen is used as substrate and a photoelectric colorimeter used as a densimeter is employed to determine the amount of albumen solution digested. An alternative method of greater sensitivity is also described utilizing purified bovine and human serum albumin. Little technical skill is required and the execution of the tests is exceedingly rapid.Thanks are expressed to Dr. William H. Fishman for his aid in the preparation of this manuscript.
Anchoring gene patent eligibility to its constitutional mooring

The antiquated legal standard that natural laws and products are not eligible for patent protection is ill-suited for gene and diagnostics patents. Here, I propose a new, technology-agnostic framework for determining patent eligibility that is tailored to the meet the US Constitutional objective of promoting innovation.
Congestion control for ABR traffic in an ATM network

This article presents a novel approach to ATM congestion control for ABR lAllowed Bit Rater service. This approach can achieve a desired fair link utilization using adaptive filters to prevent both network collapse and the ‘beat down’ problem. Copyright © 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Dualities from large N orbifold equivalence in Chern-Simons-matter theories with flavor

We study large N orbifold equivalences involving three-dimensional N=3 and N=4 supersymmetric quiver Chern-Simons-matter theories. The gravity dual of the N=3 Chern-Simons-matter theory is described by AdS4xM7 where the tri-Sasaki manifold M7 is known as the Eschenburg space. We find evidence that a large N orbifold equivalence for the N=4 case continues from the M-theory limit to the weak-coupling limit. For the N=3 case, we find consistent large N equivalences involving a projection changing the nodes of the gauge groups, and also for a projection changing Chern-Simons levels where for the latter projection, the BPS monopole operators behave as expected in large N equivalence. For both cases we show, using the gravity dual, that the critical temperature of the confinement/deconfinement transition does not change and the entropy behaves as expected under the orbifold equivalence. We show that large N orbifold equivalence changing Chern-Simons levels can be explained using the planar equivalence in the mirror dual.
A phantom design for validating colonoscopy tracking

Phantom experiments are useful and frequently used in validating algorithms or techniques in applications where it is difficult or impossible to generate accurate ground-truth. In this work we present a phantom design and experiments to validate our colonoscopy tracking algorithms, that serve to keep both virtual colonoscopy and optical colonoscopy images aligned (in location and orientation). We describe the construction of two phantoms, capable of respectively moving along a straight and a curved path. The phantoms are motorized so as to be able to move at a near constant speed. Experiments were performed at three speeds: 10, 15 and 20mm/sec, to simulate motion velocities during colonoscopy procedures. The average velocity error was within 3mm/sec in both straight and curved phantoms. Displacement error was within 7mm over a total distance of 288mm in the straight phantom, and less than 7mm over 287mm in the curved phantom. Multiple trials were performed of each experiment(and their errors averaged) to ensure repeatability.
Interactome analysis reveals ezrin can adopt multiple conformational states

Ezrin, a member of the ezrin-radixin-moesin family (ERM), is an essential regulator of the structure of microvilli on the apical aspect of epithelial cells. Ezrin provides a linkage between membrane-associated proteins and F-actin, oscillating between active/open and inactive/closed states, and is regulated in part by phosphorylation of a C-terminal threonine. In the open state, ezrin can bind a number of ligands, but in the closed state the ligand-binding sites are inaccessible. In vitro analysis has proposed that there may be a third hyperactivated form of ezrin. To gain a better understanding of ezrin, we conducted an unbiased proteomic analysis of ezrin-binding proteins in an epithelial cell line, Jeg-3. We refined our list of interactors by comparing the interactomes using quantitative mass spectrometry between wild-type ezrin, closed ezrin, open ezrin, and hyperactivated ezrin. The analysis reveals several novel interactors confirmed by their localization to microvilli, as well as a significant class of proteins that bind closed ezrin. Taken together, the data indicate that ezrin can exist in three different conformational states, and different ligands "perceive" ezrin conformational states differently.
Prevalence of adequate control of increased serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol in self-pay or Medicare patients versus Medicaid or private insurance patients followed in a University General Medicine Clinic.

In a study of 514 patients with increased serum low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol followed in a general medicine clinic at a university hospital, the serum LDL cholesterol in patients with coronary heart disease (CHD), other atherosclerotic vascular disease, or diabetes mellitus was
Interferon-γ Inhibits Intestinal Restitution by Preventing Gap Junction Communication Between Enterocytes

Background & Aims: Necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC) is characterized by interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) release and inadequate intestinal restitution. Because enterocytes migrate together, mucosal healing may require interenterocyte communication via connexin 43-mediated gap junctions. We hypothesize that enterocyte migration requires interenterocyte communication, that IFN impairs migration by impairing connexin 43, and that impaired healing during NEC is associated with reduced gap junctions. Methods: NEC was induced in Swiss-Webster or IFN −/− mice, and restitution was determined in the presence of the gap junction inhibitor oleamide, or via time-lapse microscopy of IEC-6 cells. Connexin 43 expression, trafficking, and localization were detected in cultured or primary enterocytes or mouse or human intestine by confocal microscopy and 35 S-labeling, and gap junction communication was assessed using live microscopy with oleamide or connexin 43 siRNA. Results: Enterocytes expressed connexin 43 in vitro and in vivo, and exchanged fluorescent dye via gap junctions. Gap junction inhibition significantly reduced enterocyte migration in vitro and in vivo. NEC was associated with IFN release and loss of enterocyte connexin 43 expression. IFN inhibited enterocyte migration by reducing gap junction communication through the dephosphorylation and internalization of connexin 43. Gap junction inhibition significantly increased NEC severity, whereas reversal of the inhibitory effects of IFN on gap junction communication restored enterocyte migration after IFN exposure. Strikingly, IFN −/− mice were protected from the development of NEC, and showed restored connexin 43 expression and intestinal restitution. Conclusions: IFN inhibits enterocyte migration by preventing interenterocyte gap junction communication. Connexin 43 loss may provide insights into the development of NEC, in which restitution is impaired.
Flavor stability of soybean oil based on induction periods for the formation of volatile compounds by gas chromatography

Although previous research showed that volatile compounds detected by gas chromatography (GC) correlated well with flavor scores, no instrumental or chemical method has been available to predict flavor stability of vegetable oils reliably. A direct GC method was tested to predict flavor stability of soybean oil by measuring induction periods based on the time required for rapid formation of volatile compounds. By this technique, induction periods of 9, 5 and 0 days were obtained with oils containing a combination of tertiary butylhydroquinone (TBHQ) and citric acid (CA), CA only and no additives, respectively. Addition of methyl silicone to the oils containing CA or CA+TBHQ did not increase their stability. Prominent peaks identified by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry included: pentane, hexanal, 2-heptanal, 2,4-heptadienal, 2-decenal and 2,4-decadienal. Measures of total volatile compounds, pentane and 2,4-decadienal were best related to deteriorative changes. High correlation coefficients were obtained between individual and total volatiles with flavor scores. This study showed that flavor stability of oils can be predicted by determining induction periods based on the formation of volatile compounds.
Some biochemical studies on subcellular systems isolated from fresh recipient human cardiac tissue obtained during transplantation.

Three subcellular membrane systems were isolated from recipient human cardiac tissue obtained during transplantation. (1) Respiratory control and rates of oxygen consumption were higher in mitochondria isolated from nonfailing, hypertrophied human cardiac tissue than in mitochondria from failing, recipient hearts. Calcium accumulation by human mitochondria was lower than in mitochondria from various animal hearts. (2) Na+,K+-adenosine triphosphatase activities were low compared to those in a variety of animal heart preparations. The recipient human preparations were also less sensitive to inhibition by ouabain. (3) The cardiac “relaxing system” accumulated less calcium and bound and released calcium at slower rates compared to similar systems isolated from animals. This system has been shown to be insensitive to cardiac glycosides, in vivo and in vitro.
A phenomenological model for perforation of moderately thick plates by tumbling projectiles

Abstract A phenomenological model has been developed to describe the mechanism of tumbling perforation of blunt-faced cylindrical projectiles in moderately thick aluminum plates. The perforation process, based on experimental observations, consists of four stages: erosion; plugging; hole enlargement and petaling. The modeling in the plugging stage consists sequentially of cratering, plug formation, plug separation, plug slipping and post perforation deformation. Bulging and voids in the target created by projectile rotation were also considered in the model. The target material is considered to be rigid-perfectly plastic, while the projectile is regarded as undeformable. Calculations for the final velocity and oblique angle of the projectile as well as for the crater profile of the target were found to be in good correspondence with experimental results.
Tight Formation Flight Control

Thetightformatione ightcontrolproblemisaddressed.Theformationconsistsofa lead andwingaircraft,where the wing e ies in tight formation with the lead, such that the lead’ s trailing vortices aerodynamically couple the lead and the wing, and a reduction in the formation’ s induced drag is achieved. A controller (i.e., a formation-hold autopilot for the wing aircraft ) is designed such that the formation’ s geometry is maintained in the face of lead aircraft maneuvers. In the formation e ight control system, the wing and lead aircraft dynamics are coupled due to kinematic effects, and, in the case of tight formations, additional aerodynamic coupling effects are introduced. These additional aerodynamic coupling effects are properly modeled. The most signie cant aerodynamic coupling effect introduced by tight formation e ight entails the coupling of the lateral/directional channel into the altitudehold autopilot channel. It is shown that formation-hold autopilots designed ignoring the aerodynamic coupling effect yield satisfactory performance in tight formation e ight. Nomenclature b = wingspan of wing CLL = lift coefe cient of the lead aircraft S = surface area of wing VSW = sidewash W = wash vector WUW = upwash
Age-related changes in the serotonin 2A receptor in the hypoglossal nucleus of male and female rats.

Hypoglossal motoneuron output to the genioglossus muscle contributes to upper airway patency. Serotonin (5HT) plays an important role in regulating hypoglossal motoneuron excitability via serotonin 2A receptors (5HT2A). The purpose of this study was to investigate whether there are age-associated changes in 5HT2A receptor expression in the hypoglossal nucleus of male and female rats. The brains of young, middle-aged and old F344 rats were sectioned, reacted immunocytochemically for the presence of 5HT2A receptor, and the staining density quantified. The estrus stage of female rats was determined and circulating sex hormone levels measured and correlated with 5HT2A levels. The results show that there was significantly greater 5HT2A receptor immunoreactivity in the hypoglossal nucleus of female than of male rats. With increasing age, there was an increase in 5HT2A receptor immunoreactivity in the hypoglossal nucleus of female rats, whereas no age-associated changes were observed in male rats. Previous studies have shown a reduction in 5HT-dependent respiratory plasticity and an age-associated decrease in 5HT in the hypoglossal nucleus in male but not female rats. Data from the present study suggest that aging male rats fail to compensate adequately for reduced 5HT in the hypoglossal nucleus by upregulating the expression of the 5HT2A receptor.
Response Bias Using Two-Stage Data Collection: A Study of Elderly Participants in a Program

Researchers examining the effects of programs, in this case a state-level pharmaceutical assistance program for the elderly, sometimes must rely on multiple methods of data collection. Two-stage data collection (e.g., a telephone interview followed by a mail questionnaire) was used to obtain a full range of information. Older age groups were found to participate less frequently in the telephone interview, while certain demographic factors characterized mail questionnaire nonparticipants, all of which supports past research. Results also show that those in the poorest health are less likely to participate in the mail survey. Combining the two methods did not result in high attrition, suggesting that innovation can be successfully employed. Knowledge of the bias associated with each method will aid in targeting special groups.
FLUORESCENCE OF SPONGES AND COELENTERATES IN BLUE LIGHT

Abstract 1. 1. The sponge Verongia fistularis may owe its intense yellow-green color at a depth of 40 m in the ocean to fluorescence. 2. 2. When alcoholic extracts of Verongia fistularis are excited by light of wavelength 365 mμ, they fluoresce maximally in the range 470–484 mμ; when excited at 464 mμ, maximum emission is in the range 517–528 mμ. Maximum emission at 475 mμ is obtained by exciting frequencies in the range 368–374 mμ; at 520 mμ maximum emission is obtained when the exciting frequencies lie in the range 363–374 and 456–476 mμ. 3. 3. In sections prepared for histological study, the fluorescence is preserved by formaldehyde fixation, extracted by alcoholic fixatives (Carnoy, etc.) and quenched by Bouin's fixation. 4. 4. The fluorescent pigment is localized in the lamellar portions of the spongin fibers of Verongia fistularis . 5. 5. An alcoholic extract prepared from the northern intertidal sponge Halisarca dujardini displayed excitation and emission spectra similar to those shown by Verongia fistularis . 6. 6. The corals Montastrea cavernosa and Mussa angulosa fluoresce red at depths of 25–40 m under excitation from the ambient light.
PHOTOINDUCED ELECTRON TRANSFER PROCESSES OF CDPS3 INTERCALATED WITH RUTHENIUM TRIS(BIPYRIDYL) AND METHYLVIOLOGEN CATIONS

Cation exchange was employed to intercalate the lattice of CdPS3 with both ruthenium tris(bipyridyl) cation, a good photoreducing agent, and methylviologen cation, an electron acceptor. The host lattice is diamagnetic and transparent in the visible and near-ultraviolet region of the spectrum, allowing excitation and spectroscopic observation of photoinduced electron transfer processes involving the host lattice and the intercalated species. The photoinduced charge transfer between these species was examined using photoluminescence and electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy. Cation vacancy centers in the CdPS3 host lattice are shown to be chemically and photochemically active.
Digital health records: A viewpoint on impact on medical practice and potential implications for both communication and future research

Electronic Medical Records (EMRs) are intended for use by medical providers as an aid for diagnosis and treatment. EMRs are meant to replace hand-written charts detailing a patient's medical histor...
Spontaneous neoplastic transformation in vitro : a form of foreign body (smooth surface) tumorigenesis

Explants of subcutaneous connective tissue from adult BALB/c mice into plastic petri dishes were serially subcultured and tested for tumorigenicity in two ways: by the subcutaneous implantation of cells attached to plastic plates (1 by 5 by 10 millimeters), and by the subcutaneous injection of cells suspended in saline. Cells grown in vitro for 18 or more days before being implanted attached to a plastic plate (2.4 x 10(4) to 3.4 x 10(5) cells per plate) formed tumors after 24 to 79 weeks. The latent period before tumor appearance correlated inversely with the time spent by the cells in tissue culture. Cells inoculated in saline suspension (10 to 100 times the above number per plate) did not form tumors until after 84 days in vitro; plates alone did not induce tumor formation within more than 1 1/2 years of implantation. The tumors arising from the plate-attached cells were transplantable without plates and histologically appeared to be undifferentiated sarcomas. It is well established that smooth-surfaced foreign bodies, regardless of their chemical composition, will produce sarcomas when transplanted subcutaneously in rodents. We interpret our data, particularly the decrease in tumor latent period with time spent in tissue culture, as indicating that a smooth surface was acting as a carcinogen first in vitro (the surface of the tissue culture dish) and then in vivo (the surface of the plastic plate).
Selective increase of antioxidant enzyme activity in the alveolar macrophages from cigarette smokers and smoke-exposed hamsters

Oxidants from cigarette smoke or those produced by phagocytes are implicated in the pathogenesis of emphysema. We reasoned that augmentation of antioxidant enzymes in cigarette smokers may be important in restricting direct and indirect oxidant damage to alveolar structures. Accordingly, we studied the activities of Superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), and glutathione peroxidase (GSHPx), in alveolar macrophages (AM) from cigarette smokers and from smoke-exposed hamsters. The activities of these antioxidant enzymes were compared with the activities found in AM from nonsmoking control subjects. The activities of SOD and CAT from AM of smokers and smoke-exposed hamsters were twice that found in control subjects (p < 0.01), but there was no change in the activity of GSHPx. Using the hamster model, we found that filtration of smoke attenuated the increase in antioxidant activities, and that after smoking cessation, the increased activities had returned to those found with control subjects. An adaptive r...
Ionospheric remote sensing of medium-scale gravity waves and tornadic storms

Gravity waves associated with severe storms are investigated on the basis of ionospheric sounding using a ground-based Doppler system. Reverse-group ray tracing computations are used to determine the origin of over 20 gravity waves detected within 800 km of Huntsville, Alabama in association with a group of tornadoes, isolated tornadoes in the presence of a squall line, and isolated tornadoes in the absence of a squall line. Gravity waves associated with tornadoes are found either to be generated by thunderstorms with enhanced convection embedded in a squall line, or in an isolated cloud with enhanced convection. The computed wave sources are observed in all cases to be located near the points where the tornadoes touched down more than an hour after wave excitation. Results show that gravity waves play an important role in troposphere-ionosphere coupling during times of intense convection associated with tornadic storm activity.
Computation of Hilbert Polynomials in Two Variables

Let R be a ring of polynomials in m+n indeterminatesx1 , . . . , xm, y1, . . . ,yn over a field K and let M be a finitely generated R -module. Furthermore, let (Rrs)r, s?Nbe the natural double filtration of the ring R and let (Mrs)r,s?Nbe the corresponding double filtration of the module M associated with the given system of generators. We introduce a special type of reduction in a free R -module and develop the appropriate technique of characteristic sets that allows us to prove the existence and find methods and algorithms of computation of a numerical polynomial in two variables ?(t1, t2) such that? (r, s) =dimKMrsfor all sufficienly large r, s?N. The results obtained are applied in differential algebra where the classical theorems on differential dimension polynomials and methods of computation of such polynomials are generalized to the case of differential structures with two basic sets of derivation operators.
Effects of signaled shifts in liquid reinforcement

The effects of introducing a discriminative stimulus at the time of shifting magnitude of liquid reinforcement were investigated in two experiments. In Experiment 1, 40 subjects received either 2 or 20 sec access to water reward, and then half of each group was shifted to the other reward magnitude. A mild tone accompanied the delivery of reward. In Experiment 2, 80 subjects received either water or sucrose reward for either 2 or 20 sec, and then half of each main group was exposed to a mild tone during delivery of the reward and the other half was not. All subjects received 20 sec access to their respective rewards. In Experiment 1, a significant NCE was obtained, but only a graphical PCE. In Experiment 2, a significant PCE was obtained under sucrose conditions, but only a graphical PCE under water conditions.
A self-duty-cycled and synchronized UWB receiver SoC consuming 375pJ/b for −76.5dBm sensitivity at 2Mb/s

Novel highly networked applications with severe energy constraints such as tag and body-area networks, for ubiquitous object networking or the `Internet of Things' are driving the need for ultra-low-power wireless data links that operate over a short range and with a relatively low data rate. Impulse radio UWB (IR-UWB) has shown unique promise for these applications; however, the synchronization and bit-level duty cycling of the receiver have remained a significant challenge. In this work, we present a fully bit-level-duty-cycled IR-UWB receiver SoC with a clock-and-data-recovery(CDR)-based synchronization for demodulation and self-duty cycling. The SoC contains the full receiver from RF signal in to clocked digital data bits out.
Perinatal outcomes in a prospective matched pair study of pregnancy and unexplained elevated or low AFP screening

Unexplained elevated or low maternal serum alpha-fetoprotein (MSAFP) is reported to indicate adverse perinatal outcome. We designed a prospective matched pair study to gain additional information about the type and frequency of adverse neonatal or maternal outcomes. Subjects were selected from 16,445 women who received second trimester MSAFP screening during the 4.5 year study period. For each unexplained elevated or low subject, a control patient in the second trimester of pregnancy was chosen by matching eight individual traits. After follow-up, 356 pairs were identified, for the unexplained low MSAFP group and 139 pairs for the unexplained elevated MSAFP group. Outcome information was obtained by way of a physician questionnaire. For the unexplained low MSAFP group, complications occurred no more often than for the paired controls and these pregnancies may not be considered at high risk for adverse outcome. Our study supports a strong association between unexplained elevated MSAFP and adverse neonatal outcomes of low birth weight, fetal death, preterm delivery, and fetal growth retardation. The highest frequency of adverse neonatal outcome occurred when the multiple of median value was > or = 4.0. Our study does not support an association between elevated MSAFP and maternal complications of hypertensive disorder, oligohydramnios, or placental abruption.
Sunflower Response to Nitrogen and Phosphorus in Wheat-Fallow Cropping Systems

Sunflower (helianthus annuus L) is often grown as an alternative crop in wheat (Triticum awstivum L.)-fallow areas of the northern High Plains. Optimum management of fertilizers is important to maximize profit potential and avoid environmental concerns. The objectives of this research were to determine the environmental and soil conditions where seed yield, oil content, and chlorophyll responses to added N and P fertilizers should be expected for sunflower grown in the northern High Plains. Sunflower was grown over 40 site-years in the Nebraska Panhandle during 1993 and 1994 on producers' fields. Fertilizer treatments were four rates of N (0, 35, 70, and 105 lb N/acre) with or without 69 lb P 2 O 5 /acre. All fertilizers were broadcast and incorporated shortly after planting. Sunflower was grown in a wheat-sunflower-fallow cropping system. Fertilizer effect was evaluated for three sunflower seed yield goals: high (>1000 lb/acre), medium (500-1000 lb/acre), and low (<500 lb/acre). Application of P did not influence sunflower seed yield and oil content. Regardless of the initial soil nitrate level or yield goals, application of N beyond 35 lb/acre did not influence seed yield in 80% of the site-years. However, the percentage seed oil content was reduced significantly by increasing levels of N for most site-years. The relationship between the N levels and oil content had an r 2 value of 0.96 for the high, 0.93 for the medium, and 0.94 for the low yield goals. Residual nitrate level did not significantly influence either the seed yield or the seed oil content. Chlorophyll meter readings increased with application of N fertilizers at six site-years; however, at these sites N did not significantly affect seed yield. The results indicate that fertilizer N and P application in the region is not producing economic returns. The yields were highly variable and not significantly affected by the growing season, total precipitation, or soil moisture content at time of planting. The lack of response to N or P fertilizers regardless of the soil N and P level, indicate that other growth factors such as precipitation and temperature at critical growth stages and types of sunflower cultivars are the possible sunflower yield-controlling factors for the region.
Nutrition knowledge of a sample of university-employed men

Abstract We administered to 100 randomly selected men employed at a large midwestern university a test to determine their level of nutrition knowledge and its relationship to age, educational level, and participation in three food-related activities. The subjects scored 65% on a true-false test with 280 items in 46 clusters. Correlation coefficients of test scores and the above variables were not significant. Item scores indicated subjects had more knowledge about general nutrition and limited knowledge about sources and functions of specific nutrients. To a separate set of questions, subjects said their major sources of nutrition information were newspapers or magazines and other family members whereas preferred sources were various mass media. Two-thirds said they “would like to know more about nutrition.”