cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Continuity and/or Discontinuity at Vatican II? Examining the Council in the Context of the ‘Long Nineteenth Century’

This article explores recent questions regarding the interpretation of Vatican II by examining the council's theological and historical relation to what John O'Malley has called ‘the long nineteenth century’. This period, which O'Malley dates from the French Revolution until the end of the pontificate of Pius XII (1958), connotes a time when political and philosophical developments ‘traumatized’ the Church. This sustained trauma left the Church in a defensive position which deeply informed its view of itself and its relation to the world. While a great deal of attention has been directed at examining the council's degree of continuity or discontinuity with the conciliar tradition, not enough has been done to understand its relationship to developments within this more immediate setting. This study argues that a more contextualized appreciation of the Church's efforts to respond to the challenges of the long nineteenth century, expressed especially in the teachings of Vatican I, can illumine key elements of the meaning of Vatican II's documents and the continuity and/or discontinuity that they represent.
Evolved Stars as Probes of Main Sequence Angular Momentum and Mass Loss

Models of the spindown of Population I subgiants have been constructed with three different scenarios: rigid rotation, local conservation of angular momentum, and internal angular momentum transport from rotational instabilities; their properties are compared. The rotation of evolved stars relative to their main sequence progenitors provides evidence for differential rotation with depth. Different lithium depletion mechanisms result in different total stellar lithium contents even for the same final surface abundance; as a result, lithium in subgiants can be used to distinguish between mechanisms. No observational evidence for an increase in abundance during the subgiant phase (produced by gravitational settling) or a drastic decrease (required for substantial main sequence mass loss) is seen.
Sclerotome development and peripheral nervous system segmentation in embryonic zebrafish

Vertebrate embryos display segmental patterns in many trunk structures, including somites and peripheral nervous system elements. Previous work in avian embryos suggests a role for somite-derived sclerotome in segmental patterning of the peripheral nervous system. We investigated sclerotome development and tested its role in patterning motor axons and dorsal root ganglia in embryonic zebrafish. Individual somite cells labeled with vital fluorescent dye revealed that some cells of a ventromedial cell cluster within each somite produced mesenchymal cells that migrated to positions expected for sclerotome. Individual somites showed anterior/posterior distinctions in several aspects of development: (1) anterior ventromedial cluster cells produced only sclerotome, (2) individual posterior ventromedial cluster cells produced both sclerotome and muscle, and (3) anterior sclerotome migrated earlier and along a more restricted path than posterior sclerotome. Vital labeling showed that anterior sclerotome colocalized with extending identified motor axons and migrating neural crest cells. To investigate sclerotome involvement in peripheral nervous system patterning, we ablated the ventromedial cell cluster and observed subsequent development of peripheral nervous system elements. Primary motor axons were essentially unaffected by sclerotome ablation, although in some cases outgrowth was delayed. Removal of sclerotome did not disrupt segmental pattern or development of dorsal root ganglia or peripheral nerves to axial muscle. We propose that peripheral nervous system segmentation is established through interactions with adjacent paraxial mesoderm which develops as sclerotome in some vertebrate species and myotome in others.
Fine‐needle aspiration cytology of alveolar soft‐part sarcoma

Alveolar soft-part sarcoma (ASPS) is a rare soft-tissue tumor. Few cases have been reported in the aspiration cytology literature. We discuss the fine-needle aspiration (FNA) cytologic features of ASPS in four patients. The smears were characterized by single cells and clusters of cells associated with thin-walled vasculature, resulting in a distinct pseudoalveolar pattern. The cells had abundant granular cytoplasm and large round nuclei with prominent central nucleoli. Binucleated and occasional multinucleated cells were present. Numerous stripped tumor nuclei were a consistent feature. Periodic acid-Schiff (PAS)-positive diastase-resistant granules were demonstrable within the intact and fragmented cytoplasm. Electron microscopy of aspirated material identified granules and crystals with the characteristic lattice pattern. To conclude, the FNA cytologic features of ASPS are characteristic. Confirmation by special stains and electron microscopy of FNA material is possible. The differential diagnostic considerations include renal cell carcinoma, paraganglioma, granular cell tumor, clear cell sarcoma, and epithelioid sarcoma.
Adult plasticity in the visual system

When visual cortical neurons in adult mammals are deprived of their normal afferent input from retinae, they are capable of acquiring new receptive fields by modifying the effectiveness of existing intrinsic connections, a basis for topographic map reorganization. To gain insights into the underlying mechanisms and functional significance of this adult plasticity, we measured the spatial limits and time course of retinotopic map reorganization. We also determined whether reactivated neurons exhibit normal receptive field properties. We found that virtually all units in the denervated zone of cortex acquired new receptive fields (i.e., there were no silent areas in the cortex) and map reorganization can take place within hours of deafferentation provided that retinal lesions are relatively small (< 5 degrees). Furthermore, after long periods of recovery, reactivated units exhibited strikingly normal selectivity to stimulus orientation, direction of movement, and spatial frequency if relatively high contrast stimuli were used. However, responsiveness of these neurons, measured in terms of the maximum response amplitude and the contrast threshold, was clearly reduced. Thus, contrary to traditional belief, the adult visual cortex is capable of exhibiting considerable plasticity, and reactivated neurons are capable of contributing to an analysis of a visual scene.
Vdt Strain: Psychological Strain or Physical Basis?

Segments of the human factors and occupational health communities believe that visual and muscular complaints of VDT operators strongly reflect psychological discrepancies in the workplace as much as improper ergonomic design. These individuals feel that poor job and organizational design create working conditions conducive to worker dissatisfaction and general complaining, and that VDT operator complaints are due to a transference of this dissatisfaction to the technology. The current study examined psychosocial factors, job satisfaction, environmental conditions and workstation design in regard to VDT operator health complaints in a believed to be low stress VDT population to assess this hypothesis. Data collected from 194 computer programmers working at VDTs were compared with findings from prior studies (Smith et al, 1981; Sauter et al, 1983). The results of this study indicated that this group of VDT operators had higher satisfaction scores, lower job demands and lower stress levels than VDT operator...
A Clinical Perspective for the Management of Invasive Fungal Infections: Focus on IDSA Guidelines

Invasive fungal infections, especially candidiasis and aspergillosis, are a major cause of morbidity and mortality. Many controversies surround the management of these infections. A critical overview of the recent Infectious Diseases Society of America practice guidelines is provided, as are comments on both the conundrums and future perspectives in medical mycology.
Petrology of basaltic glasses from the TAG Segment: Implications for a deep hydrothermal heat source

The trace element composition of basaltic glasses from the TAG segment of the MAR indicate that magmas erupted on the surface are derived from multiple primary magmas with Ce/Sm ratios varying from 2.2 to 3.9. In the pseudoquaternary system olivine-plagioclase-clinopyroxene-quartz, TAG glasses cluster between the 4 and 6 kb phase boundaries. This suggests that TAG primary magmas evolve by crystallization at moderate to high pressure, then ascend rapidly to the surface with very short residence times and limited degrees of crystallization in shallow chambers. Such a plumbing system implies a deep-seated heat source for hydrothermal circulation.
Kinetic Theory Treatment for Heat Transfer in Plasma Spraying

In plasma spraying process thermal plasma is used as a heat source to heat and melt metallic or ceramic particles. In this paper, heat transfer from a thermal plasma to a solid spherical particle has been analyzed using a kinetic theory approach. We have considered a solid particle introduced in an ionized gas made up of electrons, ions, and neutrals. Two-sided electron velocity and temperature distributions and two-sided ion velocity distributions are used. Maxwell’s transport equations are obtained by taking moments of the Boltzmann equation. The transport equations are solved with the Poisson’s equation for the self-consistent electric field. The ion and the electron number density distributions, temperature distribution, and the electric potential variation are obtained. The charged species flux to the particle surface is evaluated. Heat transport to the surface is calculated by accounting for all the modes of energy transfer including the energy deposited during electron and ion recombination at the surface. Results indicate that contribution to heat transfer from charged species recombination is substantial at high plasma temperatures.Copyright © 2002 by ASME
The Concept of a Composite Perioperative Quality Index in Kidney Transplantation

Background Public reporting of patient and graft outcomes in a national registry and close Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services oversight has resulted in transplantation being a highly regulated surgical discipline. Despite this, transplantation surgery lacks comprehensive tracking and reporting of perioperative quality measures. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the association between a kidney transplantation centers' perioperative quality benchmarking and graft and patient outcomes. Study Design This was an analysis of 2011 aggregate data compiled from 2 national datasets that track outcomes from member hospitals and transplantation centers. The transplantation centers included in this study were composed of accredited US kidney transplantation centers that report data through the national registry and are associate members of the University HealthSystem Consortium. Results A total of 16,811 kidney transplantations were performed at 236 centers in the United States in 2011, of which 10,241 (61%) from 93 centers were included in the analysis. Of the 6 perioperative quality indicators, 3 benchmarked metrics were significantly associated with a kidney transplantation center's underperformance: mean ICU length of stay (C-statistic 0.731; p = 0.002), 30-day readmissions (C-statistic 0.697; p = 0.012) and in-hospital complications (C-statistic 0.785; p = 0.001). The composite quality index strongly correlated with inadequate center performance (C-statistic 0.854; p R 2 = 0.349). The centers in the lowest quartile of the quality index performed 2,400 kidney transplantations in 2011, which led to 2,640 more hospital days, 4,560 more ICU days, 120 more postoperative complications, and 144 more patients with 30-day readmissions, when compared with centers in the 3 higher-quality quartiles. Conclusions An objective index of a transplantation center's quality of perioperative care is significantly associated with patient and graft survival.
How Do Diversity of Opinion and Information Asymmetry Affect Acquirer Returns

We examine the theoretical predictions that link acquirer returns to diversity of opinion and information asymmetry. Theory suggests that acquirer abnormal returns should be negatively related to information asymmetry and diversity-of-opinion proxies for equity offers but not cash offers. We find that this is the case and that, more strikingly, there is no difference in abnormal returns between cash offers for public firms, equity offers for public firms, and equity offers for private firms after controlling for one of these proxies, idiosyncratic volatility. (JEL G31, G32, G34) This article examines whether variables suggested by diversity-of-opinion models and information asymmetry models are helpful in understanding the cross-sectional variation in acquirer announcement returns using a sample of pure equity offers and pure cash offers for public and private firmsfrom1980to2002.Wedocumentthatthesevariables,theuncertainty proxies, explain a significant fraction of the cross-sectional variation in acquirer announcement returns. Perhaps most strikingly, after controlling for the uncertainty proxies, there is no difference in abnormal returns between cash offers for public firms, equity offers for public firms, and equity offers for private firms. Using two proxies for diversity of opinion employed previously in the literature, the standard deviation of analyst forecasts and breadth of ownership, we show that bidder abnormal returns for acquisitions of
Coherency and loss of coherency in lamellar TiAl

A grain of fully lamellar TiAl is modeled as a periodic multilayer which may contain any number of layers, each with different lattice parameters, different (isotropic) elastic constants and different thicknesses. Formulae are given for the coherence (plane) stress and strain tensors in any layer. The γ layers all have inplane shears and a biaxial tension whereas the α2 layers have principally a biaxial compression. The coherence stresses expected in various forms of fully coherent TiAl are tabulated. Estimates are made of the lamellar thicknesses at which the material becomes semi- or partially- coherent and of the residual coherence stresses in these materials.
Control system for the NBS microtron accelerator

Abstract As various subsystems of the National Bureau of Standards/Los Alamos racetrack microtron accelerator are being brought on-line, experience has been gained with some of the innovations implemented in the control system. Foremost among these are the joystick-based operator controls, the hierarchical distribution of control system intelligence, and the independent secondary stations, permitting sectional stand-alone operation. The result of the distributed database philosophy and parallel data links has been very fast data updates, permitting joystick interaction with system elements. The software development was greatly simplified by using the hardware arbitration of several parallel processors in the Multibus system to split the software tasks into independent modules.
An investigation of select barriers and solutions for renewable energy deployment

Matching the availability of wind energy with customer demand is difficult for several reasons. The location of the resource, which may be remote or lacking transmission capacity, may not match the load. Also, the times when wind energy is available might not correlate with peak customer demand. Finally, there is a price difference between firm and non-firm transmission. In this paper, we discuss solar and wind resources regarding (a) assessment of intermittency, (b) available options for backfilling intermittent resources, (c) assessment of tariff solutions for accommodating intermittent resources, and (d) location mismatch issue.
Alumina base coatings for protection of SiC ceramics

Several alumina base materials containing about 50 to 90 wt% A12O3 (equivalent oxide content) have been investigated as coatings on silicon carbide (SiC). Coatings were applied as aqueous slurries, which were then dried and abraded to a thickness of about 0.6 mm. Coated specimens were heated to 1200° C or higher to promote bonding within the coating and to the SiC, then were thermally cycled to 1200° C as a test of integrity and adherence of the coatings. Coatings containing mullite as a major phase performed best in thermal cycle tests. Subsequently, a single-layer coating and two duplex coatings were subjected to corrosion testing at 1200° C under conditions that are very corrosive to SiC. Although cracked and porous, one of the duplex coatings provided significant protection to the SiC.
Maternal Depression, Locus of Control, and Emotion Regulatory Strategy as Predictors of Preschoolers' Internalizing Problems

Childhood internalizing problems may occur as early as preschool, tend to be stable over time, and undermine social and academic functioning. Parent emotion regulatory behaviors may contribute to child internalizing problems and may be especially important during the preschool years when parents model emotion coping and regulation for their children. Parents who feel out of control of their preschoolers’ behavior and emotional states may adopt avoidant emotion regulatory strategies. We proposed that parent depression, perceived locus of control, and experiential avoidance would be linked with internalizing symptoms in a high-risk sample of preschool-aged children. We also expected that locus of control would mediate the relationship between maternal depression, experiential avoidance, and child internalizing problems. Seventy-four urban, low-income, diverse mothers of Head Start preschool children completed rating scales measuring their own depression, locus of control, experiential avoidance, and their children’s internalizing behaviors. Correlational analyses revealed that mothers reporting higher levels of depression were more likely to report experiential avoidance, feeling out of control in their parenting role, and internalizing symptoms in their children. Hierarchical multiple regressions showed that locus of control explained additional unique variance in child internalizing problems over and above that explained by maternal depression. Locus of control mediated the relationship between maternal depression and child internalizing symptoms. The importance of considering parent locus of control and its relation to children’s internalizing symptoms is discussed as a potential target for early childhood prevention programs.
Charisma and Counterculture: Allen Ginsberg as a Prophet for a New Generation

The cultural role of Allen Ginsberg does not fit a typical Weberian model of charisma. The avant-garde poet was an outstanding personality and possessed an unusual ability to affect people. He played a vital role in expanding the boundaries of personal freedom in America of the 1950s–1990s, blazing new paths for spiritual, communal and artistic expression. Serving as a father figure for the counterculture—a symbol of an alternative set of cultural norms, lifestyles and literary forms—Ginsberg was a charismatic counter-leader, with no clearly defined followers or movement. As a leader in a more liberated era, he offered energy, ideas, inspiration, and color, but no structure or authority. Instead he was a prophet of freedom, calling on people to express themselves openly, to expand and experiment. This role demanded charisma but of a different kind—one that was more spiritual and less organizational or hierarchical. This article follows Gary Dickson’s essay “Charisma, Medieval and Modern,” in offering a suggestive analysis of and supplement to Weber’s understanding of charisma. The article grapples with the concept of charisma in relation to a generation that resented rigid structures and authorities.
Gentlemanly gender? Japanese men's use of clause‐final politeness in casual conversations1

Much of the Japanese language and gender literature discusses the differential use of polite language by women and men. The exchange of non-reciprocal clause-final speech levels is typically taken as a sign that interlocutors are of unequal social status. Cook (1998) has shown how Japanese speakers manipulate the use of clause-final politeness in order to index particular stances in specific moments of ongoing verbal interaction. Using naturally occurring all-male informal conversations, this paper examines the use of clause-final politeness as marked by the presence or absence of the verb ending ∼masu [+politeness] by Japanese men in the Kansai (Western) region. The data provide a deeper understanding into how men exploit linguistic structures such as politeness, at the everyday local level, to create, maintain, and manage particular identities and/or stances.
Ownership status and home health care performance.

Few studies have analyzed for-profit and nonprofit differences in the home health care sector. Using data from the National Home and Hospice Care Survey, we found that patients in nonprofit agencies were more likely to be discharged within 30 days under Medicare cost-based payment compared to patients in for-profit agencies. However, this difference in length of enrollment did not translate into meaningful differences in discharge outcomes between nonprofit and for-profit patients, suggesting that—under a cost-based payment system—nonprofits may behave more efficiently relative to for-profits. These results highlight the importance of organizational and payment factors in the delivery of home health care services.
^(14)C production by the reaction ^(11)B(α, p)^(14)C

To estimate the production rate of long-lived radio-nuclides during the controlled thermonuclear burning of exotic fuels, cross sections for the ^(11)B(α, p)^(14)C reaction have been measured for α-particle energies in the range 1.43 to 2.94 MeV. Angular distributions have been measured at 20 keV intervals within this energy range. Five resonances have been identified corresponding to states in ^(15)N at excitation energies from 12 to 13 MeV. A discussion of possible spin, parity assignments is presented.
The effect of calcium carbonate and sodium alginate on the color and bind strength of restructured beef steaks.

This study investigated the effect of calcium carbonate concentration (0·00-0·26%) and sodium alginate concentration (0·0-1·4%) on the amount of discoloration and the raw and cooked bind-strength of restructured beef steaks. Alginate slightly increased and calcium carbonate markedly decreased the amount of discoloration in the restructured steaks. The protective effect of the calcium carbonate did not increase with increasing concentration and did not appear to be due to increased pH. The amount of discoloration in restructured steaks prepared with alginate was similar to that in conventionally prepared restructured steaks. The optimum concentration of calcium carbonate and alginate required for minimum discoloration and maximum raw and cooked bind-strength was 0·13% and 0·7%, respectively.
Higher Yields with Fewer External Inputs? The System of Rice Intensification and Potential Contributions to Agricultural Sustainability

Although sustainable agriculture is not limited to production systems that use few or no purchased inputs, systems that are less dependent on external inputs have better prospects for sustainability—as long as they can meet the needs of producers and consumers as well as do conventional systems depending heavily on fossil fuel and other capital-intensive inputs. The system of rice intensification (SRI) developed in Madagascar can raise irrigated rice yields to about double the present world average without relying on external inputs, also offering environmental and equity benefits. SRI methods change they way plants, soil, water and nutrients are managed—rather than utilising new-variety seeds, inorganic fertilisers or other agrochemicals. SRI also reduces the need for irrigation water by about half and diminishes the requirements for capital and seed. SRI requires more knowledge and skill on the part of farmers and initially more labour per hectare. But greater labour intensity is compensated by farmers ...
Transmission grating filtering and polarization characteristics in EUV

Free-standing transmission gratings will be used in a new generation of space instruments for magnetosphere energetic neutral atom (ENA) imaging which requires efficient suppression of the exceptionally strong background extreme ultraviolet (EUV) and UV radiation. The first results of the experimental study of grating (period 200 nm) optical properties in the 50 - 130 nm wavelength range are presented. It is shown that grating transmission strongly depends on polarization of the incident radiation which makes gratings efficient polarizers. Possibilities of using a single grating and crossed gratings for EUV filtering are discussed.
The properties of beryllium-11

Ajzenburg and Lauritsen (1955) suggested that the energy difference between the ground states of Be/sup 11/ and B/sup 11/ should be about 11.5 Mev and that Be/sup 11/ should therefore be stable by about 0.5 Mev against neutron emission. In this case the Q-value for the reaction Fink (1958) discovered a beta activity of half life 14.1 plus or minus 0.3 seconds induced in boron by the 14-Mev neutrons and ascribed it to Be/sup 11/. The reaction has been studied by the authors in the same manner. The assignment to Be/sup 11/ has been confirmed, and certain properties of decay have been determined. (A.C.)
Natural antibody to a human bladder carcinoma cell line

Sera from 144 healthy blood donors were screened for the presence of antibody against the bladder carcinoma cell line RT4 by means of an immune adherence assay. Only one serum (9241) demonstrated high activity with a titer of 1/124. Qualitative and quantitative absorption analyses were carried out with a wide variety of cells to characterize the specificity of the reaction. Cells used for absorption were both cultured and non-cultured and normal and malignant. The reactivity was absorbed by the bladder cancer cell lines RT4 and 5637 and the lung cancer cell line SK-LC-LL. In addition, surgically obtained urothelium from a patient with transitional cell carcinoma abrogated reactivity. No other absorbing cells removed the reactivity of serum 9241 for RT4. The antigen defined by this serologic reaction is heat-stable and trypsin-resistant, as demonstrated by using heated or trypsinized RT4 cells for absorption. This study shows that naturally occurring antibody directed toward cell surface antigens of tumor cells is present in some normal individuals. This finding is important in the evaluation of a possible causal relationship between the presence of antibody specific for tumor cell antigens and the development of neoplasia.
Walking the Dog: The Effect of Pet Ownership on Human Health and Health Behaviors

This analysis explores whether pet owners have better physical health outcomes, and if so, whether the positive physical health benefits are explained by better health behaviors that result from having to take care of the pet’s physical needs. Data come from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey, a representative sample of the non-institutionalized United States population. Analyses were limited to persons living alone (n = 2,474) in order to isolate primary pet caretakers from those merely living in a pet household. Results showed that pet owners, particularly dog and cat owners, had more positive physical health outcomes when compared to non pet owners or those owning other types of pets. Surprisingly, the effect of pet ownership was not mediated by health behaviors such as recreational walking. However, the health benefits of pet ownership were largely reduced once sociodemographic variables such as age, socioeconomic status, and residential location were controlled. The positive health effects of pet ownership appear to be primarily the result of selection, not increased physical activity associated with the active caretaking of pets.
Organizational Actions of Postnatal Estradiol in Female Sheep Treated Prenatally with Testosterone: Programming of Prepubertal Neuroendocrine Function and the Onset of Puberty

Prenatal testosterone (T) exposure defeminizes reproductive neuroendocrine function in female sheep, although the LH surge dysfunctions are initially less severe in gonadally intact females than in females subject to neonatal ovariectomy and estradiol (E) replacement. Because prepubertal ovarian production of E differs quantitatively and qualitatively from chronic E replacement, we tested the hypothesis that postnatal E exacerbates the consequences of prenatal T on the positive, but not the negative, steroid feedback controls of GnRH secretion. Our approach was to characterize prepubertal sensitivity to E negative feedback, the onset and maintenance of progestagenic cycles, and the LH surge response in ovary intact, prenatally untreated (control), and T-treated (T) sheep that were exposed postnatally to only endogenous E, or exposed to excess E by sc implant. Sensitivity to E negative feedback was reduced in T females, but excess postnatal E did not further increase LH pulse frequency. Excess E prevented ovarian cycles in several control females, and increased cycle irregularity in T females. However, the LH surge mechanism was functional in all control females (regardless of postnatal E exposure) and in some T females without excess E, but nonfunctional in T females with excess E. These findings suggest that postnatal E does not program increased resistance to E negative feedback, but excess postnatal E does disrupt other mechanisms required for ovarian cyclicity. We conclude that in this precocial species, prenatal steroids are sufficient to program controls of tonic LH secretion, but the LH surge mechanism is susceptible to further programming by postnatal E.
Methods for correcting inhibitory effects of fibrinogen degradation products in fibrinogen determinations.

Abstract To assess the influence of fibrinogen degradation products (FDP) on fibrinogen determinations, Clauss and Ratnoff-Menzie assays were performed with different concentrations of human plasma and FDP. When varied concentrations of plasma were mixed with an equal volume of FDP at a final titer of 1:512 (tanned red cell assay), fibrinogen levels were decreased by approximately 30% in the Ratnoff assay. Inhibition was overcome by clotting the fibrinogen in a smaller volume of saline. Inhibition was also corrected by clotting more concentrated mixtures of plasma and FDP with thrombin. The influence of FDP in fibrinogen assays is significant when low levels of fibrinogen are measured.
Unique spatial and cellular expression patterns of Hoxa5, Hoxb4, and Hoxb6 proteins in normal developing murine lung are modified in pulmonary hypoplasia

BACKGROUND: Hox transcription factors modulate signaling pathways controlling organ morphogenesis and maintain cell fate and differentiation in adults. Retinoid signaling, key in regulating Hox expression, is altered in pulmonary hypoplasia. Information on pattern-specific expression of Hox proteins in normal lung development and in pulmonary hypoplasia is minimal. Our objective was to determine how pulmonary hypoplasia alters temporal, spatial, and cellular expression of Hoxa5, Hoxb4, and Hoxb6 proteins compared to normal lung development. METHODS: Temporal, spatial, and cellular Hoxa5, Hoxb4, and Hoxb6 expression was studied in normal (untreated) and nitrofen-induced hypoplastic (NT-PH) lungs from gestational day 13.5, 16, and 19 fetuses and neonates using Western blot and immunohistochemistry. RESULTS: Modification of protein levels and spatial and cellular Hox expression patterns in NT-PH lungs was consistent with delayed lung development. Distinct protein isoforms were detected for each Hox protein. Expression levels of the Hoxa5 and Hoxb6 protein isoforms changed with development and were altered further in NT-PH lungs. Compared to normal lungs, GD19 and neonatal NT-PH lungs had decreased Hoxb6 and increased Hoxa5 and Hoxb4. Hoxa5 cellular localization changed from mesenchyme to epithelia earlier in normal lungs. Hoxb4 was expressed in mesenchyme and epithelial cells throughout development. Hoxb6 remained mainly in mesenchymal cells around distal airways. CONCLUSIONS: Unique spatial and cellular expression of Hoxa5, Hoxb4, and Hoxb6 participates in branching morphogenesis and terminal sac formation. Altered Hox protein temporal and cellular balance of expression either contributes to pulmonary hypoplasia or functions as a compensatory mechanism attempting to correct abnormal lung development and maturation in this condition. Birth Defects Research (Part A) 2008. © 2008 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Effects of short-term recovery periods on fluid-induced signaling in osteoblastic cells.

Abstract It is well known that cyclic mechanical loading can produce an anabolic response in bone. In vivo studies have shown that the insertion of short-term recovery periods (10–15 s) into mechanical loading profiles led to an increased osteogenic response compared to continuous cyclic loading of bone. Although this is suggestive of temporal processing at the bone cell level, there is little evidence to support such a hypothesis. Therefore, the current study investigated the cellular mechanism of bone's response to rest inserted vs. continuous mechanical loading. Cell responses to rest inserted mechanical loading were quantified by applying oscillatory fluid flow (OFF) to osteoblastic cells and quantifying real-time intracellular calcium [Ca 2+ ] i , prostaglandin E 2 (PGE 2 ) release, and osteopontin (OPN) mRNA levels. Cells were exposed to OFF (1 Hz) at shear stresses of 1 and 2 Pa with rest periods of 5, 10, and 15 s inserted every 10 loading cycles. The insertion of 10 and 15 s rest periods into the flow profile resulted in multiple [Ca 2+ ] i responses by individual cells, increased [Ca 2+ ] i response magnitudes, and increased overall percent of cells responding compared to continuously loaded control groups. We determined the source of the multiple calcium responses to be from intracellular stores. In addition, rest inserted OFF led to similar levels of PGE 2 release and increased levels of relative OPN mRNA compared to cells exposed to continuous OFF. Our study suggests that the cellular mechanism of bone adaptation to rest inserted mechanical loading may involve modulation of intracellular levels of calcium (frequency, magnitude, percent of cells responding).
Validity and reliability of sincerity test for dynamic trunk motions

Purpose : Marras et al. developed a technique to evaluate sincerity of effort during dynamic trunk motion performance. The validity and reliability of the technique have not been evaluated. Therefore, the objective of this study was to first determine whether or not a sincerity of effort measure correctly identified those giving a sincere effort in a blinded randomized control trial and second to quantify inter-rater and test-retest reliability. Methods : This article reports the findings of a two phase study. In phase one, the blinded evaluation, participants were randomly assigned to either a sincere or insincere performance condition. An examiner tested participants without knowledge of the participant's group membership. In the second phase, two examiners evaluated each participant twice to quantify inter-rater and test-retest reliability. Results : In the blinded phase the specificity was 100% and sensitivity was 90% for identifying sincere and insincere effort, respectively. Phase two results showed...
Run out of steam? Here's how to create a growth action plan

Purpose – Looks at why traditional growth tactics have become less effective and why it is necessary to balance short term moves with new business building. Looks at understanding customer priorities.Design/methodology/approach – Over the next year, this column will lay out a practical growth program for managers, balancing short‐term moves with new‐business building.Findings – Growth moves fall along a spectrum of categories ranging from traditional product innovation to longer‐term strategies such as taking core capabilities to new markets. Managing new growth requires an active feedback loop of constantly monitoring the progress of each initiative.Practical implications – Provides managers with guidelines for growth action plans.Originality/value – Of particular to strategic planners, CEOs, senior executives.
HYBRID AB INITIO QM/MM SIMULATION OF N-METHYLACETAMIDE IN AQUEOUS SOLUTION

Combined quantum mechanical and molecular mechanical (QM/MM) simulations of N-methylacetamide in aqueous solution have been carried out to investigate the charge polarization of the solute and to explore the feasibility of hybrid QM/MM calculations using ab initio methods. In the present study, the ab initio Hartree−Fock theory along with the 3-21G basis set was used in the quantum mechanical calculations. Statistical mechanical Monte Carlo approach was then applied in molecular mechanical simulations, employing the empirical TIP3P model for water. Comparisons with results obtained from the hybrid semiempirical Austin model 1 (AM1)/TIP3P and Jorgensen's OPLS (optimized potential for liquid simulations) potential were made, and a good accord among the three methods has been obtained. The solute charge polarization was analyzed through population analyses and determination of polarization energies. We found that the polarization effects contribute 10−15% to the total solute−solvent interaction energy for N-...
Brillouin gain in optical fibers with inhomogeneous acoustic velocity

The power available from narrow-linewidth single-transverse-mode fiber amplifiers is primarily limited by the onset of stimulated Brillouin scattering. One approach for increasing the SBS threshold that has shown recent promise is to tailor the acoustic velocity within the fiber cross-section to suppress Brillouin gain. Relating the SBS threshold to an acousto-optic effective area has yielded a theory which contradicts experimental measurements that indicate the nonlinear optical effective area of the tested SBS suppressing and Higher Order Mode (HOM) fibers is of primary importance in the nonlinear process. In this work, we present a new formalism for determining the Brillouin gain in fibers with inhomogeneous acoustic velocity which may be implemented with a wide variety of computational methods. We find that the Brillouin gain amplitude and spectrum are independent of the acousto-optic effective area and that they reduce to the bulk result for conventional step-index fibers. Implementing a finite-element method, we find that an SBS-suppressing design employing a negative focal length acoustic lens exhibits a broadened gain spectrum and reduced gain amplitude relative to step-index fibers. The SBS threshold of this fiber is increased by 8.4 dB relative to a standard large mode area fiber, each with an identical 6 meter length. Designs that further flatten the Brillouin gain spectrum have the potential to further increase the SBS threshold leading to higher single-frequency output power from devices incorporating these fibers.
All-semiconductor plasmonic perfect absorber

We demonstrate a mid-infrared perfect absorber fabricated only from highly-doped semiconductors. A strong (>98%) absorption resonance is observed which is effectively independent of lateral geometry, but highly dependent on the vertical profile.
Aptamers generated by Cell SELEX for biomarker discovery

Biomarker discovery is essential to the advancement of our knowledge about diseases and to the development of new strategies for treatment and therapy. Among the newest technologies in this rapidly growing field is a process termed Cell SELEX by which a panel of aptamers can be generated to specifically target disease cells. Thus, Cell SELEX, together with the in vitro selection of aptamers, brings a promising approach to accelerate the progress of biomarker discovery. In this review, the Cell SELEX method and potential uses of selected aptamers are discussed. In addition, identification of potential biomarkers by using cell-binding aptamers is addressed. We believe that using the Cell SELEX strategy represents a significant improvement over current approaches to biomarker identification by the simplicity, efficiency and specificity of its application.
Invariant functions on Lie groups and Hamiltonian flows of surface group representations

Si π est le groupe fondamental d'une surface orientee fermee S et G est un groupe de Lie satisfaisant des conditions tres generales, alors l'espace Hom (π,G)/G des classes de conjugaison de representation π→G a une structure symplectique naturelle. On etudie la geometrie de cette structure symplectique a l'aide d'une famille naturelle de fonctions sur Hom(π,G)/G
Response acquisition with delayed reinforcement in Lewis and Fischer 344 rats

Abstract Previous work has shown neurochemical and behavioral differences between Lewis rats and Fischer 344 rats. Some of this work suggests that there might be differential sensitivity to delayed reinforcement between the two strains. To further explore this possibility, Lewis ( n = 8) and Fischer 344 ( n = 8) rats were exposed to a response–acquisition task with a non-resetting 20 s delay to reinforcement. A tandem fixed-ratio 1, fixed-time 20 s schedule of reinforcement was programmed for one of two levers; presses on the alternate lever had no programmed consequences. A greater number of Lewis rats (5/8) acquired lever pressing compared to the Fischer 344 rats (2/8). Future work with these strains may lead to a better understanding of the genetic and/or neurochemical factors involved in temporal control of behavior.
Rates of Non-Suicidal Self-Injury: A Cross-Sectional Analysis of Exposure

Research on the social influences associated with rates of non-suicidal self-injury (NSSI) is scarce and limited to studies of contagion within inpatient and residential treatment settings. Using an archival dataset that included 1,965 college students, the current study examined whether exposure to acts of NSSI and/or suicidal behavior in others was associated with increased rates of NSSI. Results supported hypotheses in that participants who knew someone who had engaged in NSSI only, or knew someone who engaged in both NSSI and suicidal behavior were more likely to have engaged in NSSI compared to those not exposed. The findings provide preliminary, albeit indirect, evidence of the potential for social modeling to influence rates of NSSI within college students. Directions for future studies are offered.
Packing density and interconnection length of a highly parallel optical interconnect using polymer-based, single-mode bus arrays

Interconnection length and packing density are important parameters in channel-waveguide-based photonic integrated circuits. A multiple-channel crosstalk model is developed and then applied, together with experimental results, to study the minimum bus separation and maximum bus length in a highly parallel single-mode bus array (SMBA) to be used for inter-MCM (multi-chip-module) optoelectronic interconnects. Further investigation of the trade-off between packing density and interconnection length resulting from channel cross coupling provides a rule of thumb for an optimized bus array design. For a given waveguide and cladding index, it is found that waveguide dimensions should be close to the cutoff dimensions of the second-mode to obtain an optimal wave confinement factor. The maximum packing density of an SMBA using coherent light sources is shown to be different from that using incoherent light sources. An example using as criteria an extinction ratio of 20, 1-dB power penalty, and a bit error rate (BER) of 10 -15 is presented. It is shown that the packing density of a polymer-based SMBA ranges from 300 to 750 channels/cm for coherent light sources and from 400 to 950 channels/cm for incoherent light sources with a bus length of 2.0 cm, a core index n 1 = 1.5, and index difference from 0.015 to 0.0015. Further experimental work is conducted to confirm the accuracy of the presented theory.
Joint modeling of correlated binary outcomes: HIV-1 and HSV-2 co-infection

Herpes Simplex Virus Type 2 (HSV-2) facilitates the sexual acquisition and transmission of HIV-1 infection and is highly prevalent in most regions experiencing severe HIV epidemics. In sub-Saharan Africa, where HIV infection is a public health burden, the prevalence of HSV-2 is substantially high. The high prevalence of HSV-2 and the association between HSV-2 infection and HIV-1 acquisition could play a significant role in the spread of HIV-1 in the region. The objective of our study was to identify risk factors for HSV-2 and HIV-1 infections among men in sub-Saharan Africa. We used a joint response model that accommodates the interdependence between the two infections in assessing their risk factors. Simulation studies show superiority of the joint response model compared to the traditional models which ignore the dependence between the two infections. We found higher odds of having HSV-2/HIV-1 among older men, in men who had multiple sexual partners, abused alcohol, or reported symptoms of sexually tran...
Broadband and Ultrahigh Resolution Optical Spectroscopy using a Tapered Fiber

We introduce a new integrated-optics spectroscopy scheme based on multimode interference, achieving ultra-high resolving powers (Q g 10^5) with linewidths down to 10 pm at 1500 nm, and a broad spectroscopy range from 500 nm to 1600 nm within a monolithic, millimeter-scale device.
Synthesis and Characterization of Cp*3Ru3B3H8, Cp* = η5-C5Me5, Exhibiting a Capped Nido Geometry. Cluster Geometry Driven by Hydrogen Bridging

The new ruthenaborane, Cp*3Ru3B3H8, possesses a capped, five atom nido-cluster geometry rather than the more common octahedral geometry observed previously for seven skeletal electron pair M3B3 clusters. Comparison with the known, isoelectronic closo-1,2,3-{Cp*Co}3B3H5 shows that a more open capped geometry is favored as the number of endo-hydrogen atoms associated with the cluster framework increases.
IscA mediates iron delivery for assembly of iron-sulfur clusters in IscU under the limited accessible free iron conditions

Increasing evidence suggests that IscS, a cysteine desulfurase, provides sulfur for assembly of transient iron-sulfur clusters in IscU. IscU appears to act as a scaffold and eventually transfers the assembled clusters to target proteins. However, the iron donor for the iron-sulfur cluster assembly largely remains elusive. Here we find that Escherichia coli IscU fails to assemble iron-sulfur clusters when the accessible "free" iron in solution is limited by an iron chelator sodium citrate. Remarkably, IscA, an iron-sulfur cluster assembly protein with an iron association constant of 3.0 x 10(19) m(-1), is able to overcome the iron limitation due to sodium citrate and deliver iron for the IscS-mediated iron-sulfur cluster assembly in IscU. Substitution of the invariant cysteine residues Cys-99 or Cys-101 in IscA with serine completely abolishes the iron binding activity of the protein. The IscA mutants that fail to bind iron are unable to mediate iron delivery for the iron-sulfur cluster assembly in IscU under the limited accessible "free" iron conditions. The results suggest that IscA is capable of recruiting intracellular iron and providing iron for the iron-sulfur cluster assembly in IscU in cells in which the accessible "free" iron content is probably restricted.