cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Handling qualities implications for crewed spacecraft operations

Handling qualities embody those qualities or characteristics of an aircraft that govern the ease and precision with which a pilot is able to perform the tasks required in support of an aircraft role. These same qualities are as critical, if not more so, in the operation of spacecraft. A research, development, test, and evaluation process was put into effect to identify, understand, and interpret the engineering and human factors principles which govern the pilot-vehicle dynamic system as they pertain to space exploration missions and tasks. Toward this objective, piloted simulations were conducted at the NASA Langley Research Center and Ames Research Center for earth-orbit proximity operations and docking and lunar landing. These works provide broad guidelines for the design of spacecraft to exhibit excellent handling characteristics. In particular, this work demonstrates how handling qualities include much more than just stability and control characteristics of a spacecraft or aircraft. Handling qualities are affected by all aspects of the “pilot-vehicle dynamic system,” including the motion, visual and aural cues of the vehicle response as the pilot performs the required operation or task. A holistic approach to spacecraft design, including the use of manual control, automatic control, and pilot intervention/supervision is described. The handling qualities implications of design decisions are demonstrated using these pilot-in-the-loop evaluations of docking operations and lunar landings.
Minor modifications in apical dissection of radical retropubic prostatectomy in patients with clinical stage T2 prostate cancer reduce positive surgical margin incidence.

Abstract Objectives To describe modifications in the apical dissection of radical retropubic prostatectomy (RRP) in men with palpable disease that reduce the incidence of positive apical surgical margins. Positive surgical margins occur in up to 45% of patients undergoing RRP, even in contemporary series. The apex is the most common site of positive margins, and patients with palpable (clinical Stage T2) disease are more likely to have positive surgical margins than patients with nonpalpable (clinical Stage T1c) disease. Methods Ninety-five men, 48 to 77 years old (mean age 59.6) with clinical Stage T2 tumors underwent RRP between October 1998 and May 2001. Surgical modifications included identification of the prostatic urethral junction by dissection of the levator ani muscle from the prostate and partial transection of the puboprostatic ligaments; variable division of the membranous urethra 1 to 3 mm distal to the prostatic urethral junction; division of prostatic ischial ligaments before dividing the catheter and posterior membranous urethra; and division of the neurovascular bundle at the urogenital diaphragm before liberating the prostate from the rectum. Results Positive surgical margins occurred in only 8 (8.4%) of 95 patients, even though tumor extended beyond the prostatic capsule in 55% of cases. Only 2 (2.1%) of the 95 patients had isolated positive apical surgical margins. Urinary continence was not adversely affected by these modifications. Conclusions Easily applied modifications in the apical dissection of RRP significantly reduce the incidence of positive apical margins in patients with clinical Stage T2 prostate cancer.
Effects of osteochondral defect size on cartilage contact stress.

Contact stress distributions were studied in vitro for 13 dog knees, with full-thickness osteochondral defects drilled in the weight-bearing area of both femoral condyles. Diameters of the circular defects were concentrically enlarged from 1 to 7 mm. Digitally-imaged Fuji film was used to record cartilage contact stress distribution on femoral condyles for each increment of defect diameter. All specimens showed at least some tendency for contact stress concentration at the rim of the defects. However, detailed distributions had large interspecimen variability and, within a given specimen, contact stress distributions became progressively more nonuniform around the defect rim as the diameter was enlarged. Averaged over the full series of 26 condyles, circumferential mean cartilage contact stress around the defect rim was only moderately higher (by 10-30%) than intact surface's peak local contact stress [series average = 6.2 mega pascals (MPa)]. Maximal rim stress concentration occurred for 2 mm defects, there being a consistent trend toward mild rim stress decrease with further defect enlargement. Such modest contact stress elevations, per se, are probably insufficient to inhibit defect repair or to cause degeneration of surrounding cartilage. However, near the defect rim (for all diameters), the radial component of the gradient of contact stress (i.e., radial-direction variation of contact stress) was consistently elevated by an order of magnitude above that for intact, condyle articular cartilage.
ABUSE AND HEALTH BEHAVIORS IN A STUDENT POPULATION

Behavioral sequellae of child abuse are frequently noted, however, there are few studies of nonclinical children examining the strength of such associations. As part of a health needs assessment, we surveyed 712 junior high students (7th-9th grade, mean age 13.5 years) for self-reports of abusive experiences and health behaviors. The sample was 50% male, 77% white and represented all socioeconomic levels. 18.3% students reported physical (PA) and/or sexual abuse (SA); 14.7% reported PA, 8.1% reported SA and 4.1% reported both. Reports did not differ by age or race, but more females (12.6%) than males (3.9%) reported SA (p=0.0, X2). Both PA and SA were associated with running away, considering hurting oneself, suicide attempts, and the use of drugs, pot, alcohol, cigarettes, and laxatives (all p<.01). Strength of associations (odds ratios) range from 1.8 for the risk of alcohol use to 4.7 for the risk of running away. No clinically significant relationships were found between SA/PA and anger, sadness or self-esteem. This data confirms some previous reports and indicates the need for studies of nonclinical populations.
Characterization of secondary organic aerosol generated from ozonolysis of α-pinene mixtures

Abstract In the atmosphere, multiple volatile organic compounds (VOCs) co-exist, and they can be oxidized concurrently and generate secondary organic aerosol (SOA). In this work, SOA is formed by the oxidation (in presence of excess ozone) of mixtures containing α-pinene and other VOCs. The VOC mixtures were made so their composition approached a commercially-available α-pinene-based essential oil, Siberian fir needle oil. The SOA products were sampled using filters, solvent extracted and analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry with trimethylsilyl derivatization. The individual product yields for SOA generated from α-pinene changed upon the addition of other VOCs. An increase in concentration of non-reactive VOCs (bornyl acetate, camphene, and borneol) lead to a decrease in individual product yields of characteristic α-pinene SOA products. Although these experiments were carried out under higher VOC and ozone concentrations in comparison to the atmosphere, this work suggests that the role of non-reactive VOCs should be explored in SOA products formation.
Use of induced spatial incoherence for uniform illumination of laser fusion targets

Abstract We report a technique to achieve very uniform illumination of laser irradiated targets by inducing a controlled amount of transverse spatial incoherence in the output beam of a broadband laser. The spatial incoherence is created by imposing different optical delays upon different transverse sections of the beam, and choosing the delay increments to be larger than the laser coherence time t c =1/ δν . This technique may allow easy attainment of the pellet illumination uniformity required for laser fusion.
Effects of stent length, transition length and overexpansion in stented coronary arteries

In this work, we study the effect of stent length, stent transition length and stent overexpansion under the influence of dynamic changes in curvature and torsion. It is our objective to understand the influence of these three parameters on local hemodynamics. Three-dimensional, spatiotemporally resolved computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations of pulsatile flow with moving wall boundaries and fluid structure interaction were carried out for a simplified coronary artery with physiologically relevant flow parameters. A model with moving deformable walls with an elastic modulus change of five in the stented section is used as the baseline control case. From the local hemodynamics and wall shear stress changes, it can be concluded that the smaller stent length that adequately covers the lesion site, higher transition length and lower overexpansion of the stented section would lead to improved flow conditions in the stented artery.
Using Spreadsheet Modules to Augment Tolerance Dimensioning

This paper presents an easy-to-use spreadsheet module in Microsoft Excel to handle the implementation of the ANSI standards for tolerance fits for shafts and collars. The module makes use of drop-down menus and an embedded Visual Basic numerical algorithm to locate the correct tolerance ranges for a shaft and collar combination for the entire range of tolerances handled by the tables published in the ANSI standard. This module allows the quick implementation of designs and features a process that is less subject to errors associated with the traditional method of reading of the tolerance tables and transferring this information manually. The method is particularly helpful to students and inexperienced designers who first encounter the need to utilize tolerances in engineering designs. The paper presents an example application to illustrate the overall utility of the module.Copyright © 2004 by ASME
Effect on lookup aids on mature readers’ recall of technical text

Abstract Differential effects of comprehension monitoring fixup activities on mature readers’ free recall performance are reported in this study. In this on‐line experiment, one‐half of the 80 college subjects used instantaneous lookup aids when subjects perceived these aids were necessary for understanding technical material; the other half only read the material. Results of statistical analyses indicated that subjects using lookups were significantly superior in free‐recall performance to the read‐only subjects (p < .001). No direct correlation was found between the number of lookups used and number of idea units recalled. Results further revealed that no differences existed between the two groups for time spent to complete the reading task. Generally, the interpretation was that, despite potential disruption to the flow of understanding, readers’ use of lookups is a necessary and appropriate fixup activity when reading only is inadequate for remedying text confusions.
Systems virology identifies a mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation enzyme, dodecenoyl coenzyme A delta isomerase, required for hepatitis C virus replication and likely pathogenesis

We previously employed systems biology approaches to identify the mitochondrial fatty acid oxidation enzyme dodecenoyl coenzyme A delta isomerase (DCI) as a bottleneck protein controlling host metabolic reprogramming during hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection. Here we present the results of studies confirming the importance of DCI to HCV pathogenesis. Computational models incorporating proteomic data from HCV patient liver biopsy specimens recapitulated our original predictions regarding DCI and link HCV-associated alterations in cellular metabolism and liver disease progression. HCV growth and RNA replication in hepatoma cell lines stably expressing DCI-targeting short hairpin RNA (shRNA) were abrogated, indicating that DCI is required for productive infection. Pharmacologic inhibition of fatty acid oxidation also blocked HCV replication. Production of infectious HCV was restored by overexpression of an shRNA-resistant DCI allele. These findings demonstrate the utility of systems biology approaches to gain novel insight into the biology of HCV infection and identify novel, translationally relevant therapeutic targets.
Post-partum endomyometritis diagnosis and treatment: A review

Over the past 80 years, obstetrical treatment strategies devised to control current problems have resulted in the emergence of new types of infection. These, in turn, have caused modifications in diagnostic techniques and treatment specifics. Currently, the two most obvious changes influencing post-partum infection care are shortened post-partum hospital care, and the widespread use of intra-partum antibiotics to prevent early onset Group B streptococcal sepsis in the newborn. In the present review, risk factors for post-partum infection are delineated and strategies for prophylaxis and treatment are given.
Primordial main equence binary stars in the globular cluster M71

We report the identification of five short-period variables near the center of the metal-rich globular cluster M71. Our observations consist of multiepoch VI charge coupled device (CCD) images centered on the cluster and covering a 6.3 min x 6.3 min field. Four of these variables are contact eclipsing binaries with periods between 0.35 and 0.41 days; one is a detached or semidetached eclipsing binary with a period of 0.56 days. Two of the variables were first identified as possible eclipsing binaries in an earlier survey by Hodder et al. (1992). We have used a variety of arguments to conclude that all five binary stars are probable members of M71, a result that is consistent with the low number (0.15) of short-period field binaries expected along this line of sight. Based on a simple model of how contact binaries evolve from initially detached binaries, we have determined a lower limit of 1.3% on the frequency of primordial binaries in M71 with initial orbital periods in the range 2.5 - 5 days. This implies that the overall primordial binary frequency, f, is 22(sup +26)(sub -12)% assuming df/d log P = const ( the 'flat' distribution), or f = 57(sup +15)(sub -8)% for df/d log P = 0.032 log P + const as observed for G-dwarf binaries in the solar neighborhood (the 'sloped' distribution). Both estimates of f correspond to binaries with initial periods shorter than 800 yr since any longer-period binaries would have been disrupted over the lifetime of the cluster. Our short-period binary frequency is in excellent agreement with the observed frequency of red-giant binaries observed in globulars if we adopt the flat distribution. For the sloped distribution, our results significantly overestimate the number of red-giant binaries. All of the short-period M71 binaries lie within 1 mag of the luminosity of the cluster turnoff in the color-magnitude diagram despite the fact we should have easily detected similar eclipsing binaries 2 - 2.5 mag fainter than this. We discuss the implications of this on our estimates of the binary frequency in M71 and on the formation of blue stragglers.
Endothelin type A receptor antagonist attenuates placental ischemia–induced hypertension and uterine vascular resistance

Objective We sought to determine the effect of an endothelin type A receptor antagonist (ETA) on uterine artery resistive index (UARI) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) in a placental ischemia rat model of preeclampsia produced by reduction in uterine perfusion pressure (RUPP). Study Design UARI was assessed by Doppler velocimetry in RUPP and normal pregnant controls (NP) on gestational days (GD) 12, 15, and 18. UARI was also determined on GD 18 in NP and RUPP pregnant dams after pretreatment with ETA. MAP was recorded on GD 19. Results The RUPP group had a higher MAP and UARI on GD 15 and 18 than the NP group. Pretreatment with ETA attenuated both the MAP and GD-18 UARI in the RUPP group without affecting these parameters in the NP group. Conclusion The improvement in UARI could be one potential mechanism for the reduction in MAP in response to ETA in pregnant dams with ischemic placentas.
The Lattice Energies and Transition Temperatures of Caesium Chloride and Ammonium Chloride

The lattice energies of CsCl and N${\mathrm{H}}_{4}$Cl are calculated for both the CsCl type and NaCl type lattices, and the temperatures of transition between these two crystal forms determined from the equality of the free energies. This requires the computation of the elastic constants and proper frequencies. In determining the lattice energies, use is made of the method of Born and Mayer, four constants in the lattice energy expression being evaluated from experimental data. To obtain results consistent with known lattice constants, compressibilities and heats of transition, it is found necessary to multiply the van der Waals constants derived by Mayer by about 3.5 and to make the constant coefficient in the repulsion term for nearest like ions about 0.6 that for nearest (unlike) ions. Some success is attained in computing transition temperatures comparable with those known from experiment, but the temperature dependence found for the proper frequencies appears to be faulty.
Increased dietary fat content accelerates cholesterol gallstone formation in the cholesterol‐fed prairie dog

Epidemiological studies have provided conflicting information about the relationship between fat consumption and gallstone formation. We studied cholesterol gallstone formation in prairie dogs after 1 wk of the following diets: (group A) a control diet with no added cholesterol and 5% of calories from corn oil, (group B) 1.2% cholesterol with 5% of calories from corn oil or (group C) 1.2% cholesterol with 40% of calories from corn oil. In controls serum cholesterol was 58.9 ± 4.5 mg/dl, gallbladder bile was unsaturated with cholesterol (cholesterol saturation index = 0.7 ± 0.1; cholesterol = 3.8 mmol/L) and none of 12 animals formed cholesterol crystals or stones. The low-fat diet supplemented with cholesterol (group B) increased serum and biliary cholesterol concentrations to 292 ± 76 mg/dl and 7.5 ± 1.1 mmol/L, respectively (p < 0.05), but cholesterol saturation index was only modestly increased (1.1 ± 0.1) and in only one of eight animals did cholesterol monohydrate crystals develop. Group C, animals, which recceived cholesterol plus high levels of corn oil, had higher serum cholesterol levels (457 ± 66 mg/dl), higher biliary cholesterol concentrations (16.6 ± 1.3 mmol/L), higher cholesterol saturation indexes (1.7 ± 0.1) and increased incidence of cholesterol gallstones (5 of 11). The two cholesterolsupplemented diets increased biliary phospholipid concentrations, decreased the ratio of cholic/chenodeoxycholic acid and increased the proportion of biliary lecithins containing linoleic acid, but these abnormalities were greatest in group C, which was given large amounts of corn oil. These findings suggest that cholesterol gallstone formation in the prairie dog is accelerated by increased dietary omega-6 polyunsaturated triglycerides. (HEPATOLOGY 1993;18:1498–1503.)
The impact of stress on addiction.

This article will review data obtained from both clinical and preclinical investigations demonstrating that exposure to stress has a significant impact on drug addiction. The preclinical literature suggests that stress increases reward associated with psychomotor stimulants, possibly through a process similar to sensitization. While it is not conclusive that a similar process occurs in humans, a growing clinical literature indicates that there is a link between substance abuse and stress. One explanation for the high concordance between stress-related disorders and drug addiction is the self-medication hypothesis, which suggests that a dually diagnosed person often uses the abused substance to cope with tension associated with life stressors or to relieve symptoms of anxiety and depression resulting from a traumatic event. However, another characteristic of self-administration is that drug delivery and its subsequent effects on the hypothalamo-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis are under the direct control of the individual. This controlled activation of the HPA axis may result in the production of an internal state of arousal or stimulation that is actually sought by the individual (i.e., the sensation-seeking hypothesis). During abstinence, exposure to stressors or drug-associated cues can stimulate the HPA axis to remind the individual about the effects of the abused substance, thus producing craving and promoting relapse. Continued investigations into how stress and the subsequent activation of the HPA axis impact addiction will result in the identification of more effective and efficient treatment for substance abuse in humans. Stress reduction, either alone or in combination with pharmacotherapies targeting the HPA axis may prove beneficial in reducing cravings and promoting abstinence in individuals seeking treatment for addiction.
An Epithelial Serine Protease, AgESP, Is Required for Plasmodium Invasion in the Mosquito Anopheles gambiae

Background Plasmodium parasites need to cross the midgut and salivary gland epithelia to complete their life cycle in the mosquito. However, our understanding of the molecular mechanism and the mosquito genes that participate in this process is still very limited. Methodology/Principal Findings We identified an Anopheles gambiae epithelial serine protease (AgESP) that is constitutively expressed in the submicrovillar region of mosquito midgut epithelial cells and in the basal side of the salivary glands that is critical for Plasmodium parasites to cross these two epithelial barriers. AgESP silencing greatly reduces Plasmodium berghei and Plasmodium falciparum midgut invasion and prevents the transcriptional activation of gelsolin, a key regulator of actin remodeling and a reported Plasmodium agonist. AgESP expression is highly induced in midgut cells invaded by Plasmodium, suggesting that this protease also participates in the apoptotic response to invasion. In salivary gland epithelial cells, AgESP is localized on the basal side–the surface with which sporozoites interact. AgESP expression in the salivary gland is also induced in response to P. berghei and P. falciparum sporozoite invasion, and AgESP silencing significantly reduces the number of sporozoites that invade this organ. Conclusion Our findings indicate that AgESP is required for Plasmodium parasites to effectively traverse the midgut and salivary gland epithelial barriers. Plasmodium parasites need to modify the actin cytoskeleton of mosquito epithelial cells to successfully complete their life cycle in the mosquito and AgESP appears to be a major player in the regulation of this process.
Nutrition and somatomedin. XIX. Molecular regulation of insulin-like growth factor-1 in streptozotocin-diabetic rats.

Poor growth in diabetes involves low circulating levels of somatomedins/insulin-like growth factors (IGFs), largely reflecting decreased growth factor release by the liver. To define regulatory mechanisms, circulating IGF-1 was compared with levels of a high mol wt putative hepatic IGF-1 precursor and hepatic IGF-1 mRNA in a model of progressive severity of diabetes in rats. Streptozotocin administered at 36, 72, 144, and 288 mg/kg produced graded metabolic decompensation 2 days later, from minimal hyperglycemia with continued weight gain at 36 mg/kg, to marked hyperglycemia, ketonemia, and weight loss at 288 mg/kg (all P 400 mg/dl. With streptozotocin 144 and 288 mg/kg, serum IGF-1 fell to 131 ± 27 and 142 ± 10 ng/ml, respectively (both P < 0.005 vs. controls). Serum IGF-1 was correlated strongly with...
Reducing multiples: a mathematical formula that accurately predicts rates of singletons, twins, and higher-order multiples in women undergoing in vitro fertilization

Objective To develop a mathematical formula that accurately predicts the probability of a singleton, twin, and higher-order multiple pregnancy according to implantation rate and number of embryos transferred. Design A total of 12,003 IVF cycles from a single center resulting in ET were analyzed. Using mathematical modeling we developed a formula, the Combined Formula, and tested for the ability of this formula to accurately predict outcomes. Setting Academic hospital. Patient(s) Patients undergoing IVF. Intervention(s) None. Main Outcome Measure(s) Goodness of fit of data from our center and previously published data to the Combined Formula and three previous mathematical models. Result(s) The Combined Formula predicted the probability of singleton, twin, and higher-order pregnancies more accurately than three previous formulas (1.4% vs. 2.88%, 4.02%, and 5%, respectively) and accurately predicted outcomes from five previously published studies from other centers. An online applet is provided (https://secure.ivf.org/ivf-calculator.html). Conclusion(s) The probability of pregnancy with singletons, twins, and higher-order multiples according to number of embryos transferred is predictable and not random and can be accurately modeled using the Combined Formula. The embryo itself is the major predictor of pregnancy outcomes, but there is an influence from "barriers," such as the endometrium and collaboration between embryos (embryo–embryo interaction). This model can be used to guide the decision regarding number of embryos to transfer after IVF.
New conjugated hydroxydienoic fatty acids and acetotriacylglycerols from Securidaca longipedunculata seed oil.

Abstract Like other members of the plant family Polygalaceae, Securidaca longipedunculata Fres., is a source of fatty acids and triacylglycerols with unusual structures. Its seed oil contains at least seven chromatographically distinct groups of triacylglycerols divided into two series: One series represents monoacetotriacylglycerols, and the other “normal” triacylglycerols having only longchain fatty acids. Each series has groups containing zero, one or two conjugated hydroxydienoic acids. In addition, there is a small amount of triacylglycerol incorporating three hydroxy acids. In addition to coriolic (13-hydroxyoctadeca-cis-9, trans-11-dienoic) acid (27%), two of its previously unknown homologs are present: 11-hydroxyhexadeca-cis-7,trans-9-dienoic acid (15%) and 9-hydroxytetradeca-cis-5,trans-7-dienoic acid (2%).
Effects of high intensity ultrasound treatment, storage time and cooking method on shear, sensory, instrumental color and cooking properties of packaged and unpackaged beef pectoralis muscle

Beef pectoralis muscles were removed at 24 h post mortem from nine steers, and samples were vacuum packaged and exposed to high-intensity ultrasound (20 kHz, 22 W/cm(2)) for 0, 5 or 10 min, then aged for 1, 6 or 10 days before evaluation of purge and cooking losses, instrumental shear and color and sensory traits (Experiment 1). For Experiment 2, unpackaged beef pectoralis muscle samples from eight steers were subjected to ultrasonic cooking, boiling, convection cooking or ultrasound treatment for 5 or 10 min followed by cooking in a convection oven. Neither duration of sonication nor storage of packaged pectoralis muscles affected (p > 0.05) storage purge or cooking losses, shear properties or sensory characteristics (Experiment 1). However, muscles receiving ultrasonic treatment showed tendencies for reduced peak force and total work to shear. Increased length of storage caused pectoralis muscles to become more vivid red-orange colored (p < 0.05), whereas ultrasonic treatment caused muscles to become less vivid, less red and more orange colored (p < 0.05). Ultrasonically cooked pectoralis muscles (Experiment 2) had lower (p < 0.05) cooking losses than muscles cooked by other methods. Both ultrasonic cooking and boiling were faster than convection cooking only and ultrasound exposure followed by convection cooking. Additional studies are needed to verify the ability of ultrasound to promote improved cooking, sensory and shear properties of muscle.
Inbreeding and the gene pool

The trend in the artificial insemination industry in recent years has been to sample larger numbers of sons sired by the most popular bulls. This trend has caused concern in the dairy industry regarding inbreeding and the gene pool. The known detrimental effects of inbreeding on economically important traits are one reason for this concern, and these are reviewed here. Also reviewed and discussed are estimates of inbreeding in dairy cattle populations. These estimates indicate that for the populations studied, inbreeding has increased little if at all during the period of widespread use of artificial insemination. During the 1970's average inbreeding in United States Holsteins and British Friesians was on the order of 3 to 6% relative to their foundations. A recent study of inbreeding in United States Ayrshires suggests little inbreeding in that breed in spite of the relatively small population size. Inbreeding and preservation of genetic variation should be minor concerns in selecting sires.
Covariant quantization of supersymmetric string theories: The spinor field of the Ramond-Neveu-Schwarz model

Abstract A brief review of superconformal field theory and superstrings is presented. The spacetime spinor contribution to the fermion vertex operator is constructed and the four-fermion amplitude is calculated using the differential equation method in the SO(1, 9) current algebra. The spinor field is also described as a vertex operator in the bosonization of the Ramond-Neveu-Schwarz fermions, and the two-cocycle for the fermion vertex is given.
Disket-Nanorings of K2Ti6O13 Formed by Self-Spiraling of a Nanobelt

Single-crystal K2Ti6O13 nanorings were prepared by molten salt synthesis. The nanoring is formed by loop-by-loop winding of a K2Ti6O13 nanobelt by coherently matching the lattice at the edges of th...
Transforming Growth Factor β1 Induces Cachexia and Systemic Fibrosis without an Antitumor Effect in Nude Mice

While stimulating the growth of fibroblasts, transforming growth factor β1 (TGF-β1) inhibits the growth of various normal and malignant cell lines in vitro . We studied the effects of TGF-β1 in vivo . The level of TGF-β1 in serum was maximally elevated 2 h after injecting 1 µCi of 125I-TGF-β1 into the peritoneal cavity of nude mice. Five h after the i.p. administration of 10 µg of unlabeled TGF-β1, 20 ng/ml of TGF-β-like material in serum were detected by a radioreceptor assay on A549 lung carcinoma cells. Trichloroacetic acid-precipitable 125I-TGF-β1 was taken up by liver, spleen, lungs, kidneys, and tumor tissue but not by the brain. At doses exceeding 2 µg/day, TGF-β1 induced a generalized interstitial fibrosis and a cachexia, which was not mediated by elevated serum levels of tumor necrosis factor α as determined by Western blot analysis and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. A total of 200,000 cells of the estrogen receptor-negative human breast cancer line MDA-MB-231, which had been shown to be maximally growth inhibited in vitro by 40 pm TGF-β1 and to have high-affinity receptors (9, 11, 12), were injected into the mammary fat pad of each nude mouse. The duration of treatment was 16 days with ten animals in the control group and five animals in the treated groups. The dose ranged from 1 to 4 µg per animal daily. The treatment was started 24 h after the injection of the tumor cells. Tumor growth was not significantly affected at either nontoxic or toxic doses of TGF-β1. Thus, we have demonstrated that TGF-β1, apart from being a local growth factor, has systemic effects, such as cachexia and multiple fibrosis. Its role as an antitumor agent may be limited.
Why pride displays elicit support from majority group members: The mediational role of perceived deservingness

Research has shown that minority groups benefit from eliciting support from majority group members. Pride displays are one method utilized by minority groups to gain this support. Research also has...
Polarization-Dependent Selective Transport to the Apical Membrane by KIF5B in MDCK Cells

Microtubule-based vesicular transport is well documented in epithelial cells, but the specific motors involved and their regulation during polarization are largely unknown. We demonstrate that KIF5B mediates post-Golgi transport of an apical protein in epithelial cells, but only after polarity has developed. Time-lapse imaging of EB1-GFP in polarized MDCK cells showed microtubule plus ends growing toward the apical membrane, implying that plus end-directed N-kinesins might be used to transport apical proteins. Indeed, time-lapse microscopy revealed that expression of a KIF5B dominant negative or microinjection of function-blocking KIF5 antibodies inhibited selectively post-Golgi transport of the apical marker, p75-GFP, after polarization of MDCK cells. Expression of other KIF dominant negatives did not alter p75-GFP trafficking. Immunoprecipitation experiments demonstrated an interaction between KIF5B and p75-GFP in polarized, but not in subconfluent, MDCK cells. Our results demonstrate that apical protein transport depends on selective microtubule motors and that epithelial cells switch kinesins for post-Golgi transport during acquisition of polarity.
Likeable? Effective Commander in Chief? Polling on Candidate Traits in the “Year of the Presidential Woman”

“Clinton Eclipses Obama and Edwards on Leadership” a Gallup Poll report headlined in January 2007. Gallup chose eight characteristics to determine this assessment, including being most qualified to be president, is the strongest leader, would be the best in a crisis, would manage the government most effectively, and would work the best with Congress. In a summary of its findings, the report concludes: “Among the characteristics and qualities tested, Clinton's strong points are almost uniformly related to presidential leadership. She holds a formidable lead on many items in this category, including being qualified to be president and being a strong leader” (Saad 2007).
Credit Markets, Creditors' Rights, and Economic Development

Credit markets generate more finance than equity markets, particularly in developing countries. In credit markets the central institution, again especially in developing countries, is the bank. In many such countries, directed lending, crony capitalism, and related lending are key problems. And since banks are corporations, self-dealing involving loans to shareholders, managers, and politically important people is added to the common forms of corporate governance issues. Initial efforts to analyze credit markets through the lens of legal origin had the shortcoming that the focus was on the law of bankruptcy rather than the law of secured credit. And even within the area of bankruptcy, the focus was on reorganization rather than liquidation, which is more common in both developed and developing countries. The law of secured credit is especially important in countries where mortgages on land are unavailable due to the absence of land titling. Secured credit law is often defective because of the absence of self-help remedies, especially in view of lengthy court delays. Legal origin may be important to the efficacy of creditors rights in developed countries, but there is evidence that it is an unimportant factor in developing countries. The assumption of commonalities within a legal family is doubtful in law pertaining to credit markets, as shown by the sharp differences between U.S. and U.K. bankruptcy law and the many differences in secured credit law found by the EBRD in the transition countries. Where, as in many developing countries, judiciaries are weak, the law of secured credit is especially important because bankruptcy proceedings are likely to be slow and undependable. In such countries credit registries may, by building on the concept of reputation, provide a partial substitute for judicial proceedings.
Epidemiological approaches to natural history research. Antisocial disorders in children.

Abstract The uses of epidemiological studies for the assessement of childhood antisocial behavior are reviewed in terms of the etiological hypotheses they can offer, their suggestions for effective treatment, and the information they offer about classification of disorders. Epidemiological studies can also discover the ages and developmental stages at which particular behaviors normally diminish or increase, and thus define the ages at which they become deviant. Such studies also provide data necessary to predict the likely course of deviance. A review of the major studies of antisocial behavior in children shows that different methods were used to study a variety of populations, and that a wealth of information was obtained about risk factors, recovery rates, the relative frequency of various symptoms and the order of their appearance, links to other types of childhood disorder, and adult prognosis.
M-ary Bayes Estimator Selection for QuikSCAT Simultaneous Wind and Rain Retrieval

While originally designed only for wind measurement, the QuikSCAT scatterometer is capable of making wind and rain estimates over the ocean. Three separate estimators are used, a wind-only estimator, a rain-only estimator, and a simultaneous wind-rain estimator. No one of the estimators is suitable under all wind and rain conditions. We therefore propose a Bayesian estimator selection technique whereby the appropriate estimator can be selected from the estimates themselves. This paper introduces the Bayes estimator selection technique and discusses its application to QuikSCAT wind and rain estimation for conventional (25-km) resolution products. Results indicate that using Bayes estimator selection can improve both the bias and mean-squared error of wind estimates in both raining and nonraining conditions, as well as provide an improved rain flag.
Dengue-Quo tu et quo vadis?

Dengue viruses (DENV) are by far the most important arboviral pathogens in the tropics around the world, putting at risk of infection nearly a third of the global human population. DENV are members of the genus Flavivirus in the Family Flaviviridae and comprise four antigenically distinct serotypes (DENV-1-4). Although they share almost identical epidemiological features, they are genetically distinct. Phylogenetic analyses have revealed valuable insights into the origins, epidemiology and the forces that shape DENV evolution in nature. In this review, we examine the current status of DENV evolution, including but not limited to rates of evolution, selection pressures, population sizes and evolutionary constraints, and we discuss how these factors influence transmission, pathogenesis and emergence.
Thymoglobulin Induction Dosing Strategies in a Low-Risk Kidney Transplant Population: Three or Four Days?

The optimal dose and duration of rabbit antithymocyte globulin (rATG) induction has not been defined. Methods. We compared the safety and efficacy of 2 dosing strategies, rATG 1.5&#x2009;mg/kg for 4 days () versus 2&#x2009;mg/kg for 3 days (), in a retrospective, cohort study. Results. Two-year rejection-free survival was 95&#x25; in each group (). Renal function and infection rates were similar. The incidence of leucopenia was similar, although the 2&#x2009;mg/kg group was more likely to be thrombocytopenic on day 2 (4&#x25; versus 28&#x25;, ). Length of stay tended to be longer for the 1.5&#x2009;mg/kg group ( versus days ). A cost savings of &#x24;920 per patient for rATG were seen in the 2&#x2009;mg/kg group (). Conclusions. Shorter, more intense dosing of rATG is safe and effective. The 3-day dose strategy resulted in a clinically shorter length of stay and may result in cost savings.
SCHEDULE-INDUCED DRINKING: RATE OF FOOD DELIVERY AND HERRNSTEIN'S EQUATION

Schedule-induced drinking was measured in four rats exposed to fixed-time schedules of food ranging from 30 to 480 seconds. Herrnstein's (1970, 1974) equation relating rate of a single response as a hyperbolic function of reinforcement rate provided a good fit to three measures of drinking: lick rate, ingestion rate, and relative time spent drinking. The functions relating the three measures of drinking to reinforcement rate were of similar form. Herrnstein's equation also provided a good description of some already published data on schedule-induced drinking. The fit both to the present data and to the already published data was improved somewhat by computing the measures by subtracting from the time base a latency constant representing the minimal time required to consume the food pellet and travel to the water source. The data from this study provide two correspondences between operant behavior and schedule-induced behavior: (a) conformity to Herrnstein's equation and (b) equivalence of rate and relative time measures.
System identification with noisy input-output data using a cumulant-based Steiglitz-McBride algorithm

In this brief, we propose a cumulant-based, iterative method for identifying a linear time-invariant system from its noisy input/output data. The input and output are assumed to be non-Gaussian, while the input and output noises are assumed to be mutually correlated, colored, and Gaussian. At each iteration, the proposed method minimizes an objective function that asymptotically is equal to a scalar multiple of Steiglitz and McBride's (1965) (ensemble average version) objective function for noise-free data. Unlike Steiglitz and McBride's method, the proposed one is consistent for inputs that are persistently exciting of sufficient order.
Approaches and Attitudes: Assessing the Mindset of Pharmacy

As a practicing pharmacist in an indigent care public health clinic, I am often astounded by the significant need and circumstances of the patients I serve. Patients who receive their primary medical care in our clinic do so because the health care system has no other place for them. Most fall at or below the federal poverty level, and many have lived in poverty for most or all of their lives. Life has often dealt them a tough hand. Remarkably, some of these patients come to the clinic with a smile on their face and a cheerful disposition. They are, in a word, happy. They have somehow found a way to rise above negative circumstances and have positive outlooks on life. They have hope. This is generally undergirded by a strong sense of belonging, to a church, synagogue, social organization, or to an extended family, which expands their focus to a cause greater than themselves. This phenomenon has always intrigued me and will continue to provide encouragement in my work in health care. Lately, though, I have been reflecting on the profession of pharmacy and thinking about how there are lessons to be learned by the profession from my public health clinic patients. These are lessons that will hopefully help pharmacists’ collective professional attitude and outlook. They are personal lessons for individual pharmacists, because by reflecting upon one’s own attitude, most of us will likely find a mirror to the collective attitude of the profession.
Performance Comparison of Gated and Nongated All-Optical Thresholding Detection Schemes Using Mach–Zehnder Interferometers in SPECTS O-CDMA

This letter discusses the all-optical thresholding functionality of a differential-mode Mach-Zehnder interferometer for optical code-division multiple-access under two different configurations and compares their performances. Simulation results indicate that the gated operation outperforms the nongated operation. The gated operation allows efficient recovery of the correctly decoded signal in the presence of an interferer at 10 Gb/s, with a required pulse energy of only 200 f J.
THE EFFECT OF PROTEIN SYNTHESIS INHIBITION ON THE ENTRY OF MESSENGER RNA INTO THE CYTOPLASM OF SEA URCHIN EMBRYOS

Emetine is a potent inhibitor of protein synthesis in sea urchin embryos. At a concentration of the drug that rapidly inhibits protein synthesis in blastulae by 95%, uridine incorporation into RNA continues for more than 1 hr and presumptive histone messenger RNA is synthesized and transported into the cytoplasm where it is apparently associated with polyribosomes. Possible explanations of this result and its implications for the "informasome" theory of messenger transport in embryonic cells are discussed.
Quad and correctly rounded double precision math functions: portable and optimized for Intel architectures

A fundamental part of a system's quad floating-point precision support is its companion mathematical library. We developed a hierarchical C macro based methodology for implementing the quad precision elementary functions both portable and optimized for Intel® architectures. When two or three floating-point values natively supported in the hardware are packed together, we are able to leverage the extra precision provided to attain high accuracy and yield measurable performance gains over traditional integer-based implementations. Our high-level language codes are unified for several platforms, while native floating-point arithmetic sequences are the computational elements that underlie the macros and exploit the features of particular architecture. This significantly reduces the library maintenance cost and allows providing high performance quad functions for the new processors. We also show how language extensions in the Intel® C/C++ compiler allow additional performance improvements on Intel® architectures. Finally, our experiments based on recent advances of de Dinechin, Defour and Lauter demonstrate that using methodology developed for quad precision functions we can attain correctly rounded double precision routines with significant performance improvements compared with algorithms based on generic multi-precision packages for a low implementation cost.
Response time prediction for distributed processes specified in CaRT-Spec

Abstract Real-time systems often consist of distributed periodic processes that have critical timing constraints and share resources. This paper presents a set of functions for predicting the timing characteristics of such systems, assuming that they are specified using CaRT-Spec, a language for describing processes and their resource requirements. The paper demonstrates the usefulness of the functions for guiding algorithms that (1) statically assign processes to the computational nodes of parallel computers or (2) adapt to changing environmental conditions by dynamic reassignment.
Laboratory batch reactor method for kinetic study of chemical vapor deposition

A lab-scale nonflowing reactor was built to study chemical vapor deposition reactions. Mass spectrometry is used to follow reaction pathways and to determine instantaneous reaction rates throughout film growth. In each experiment, the kinetic rate dependence on concentration for a wide range of concentrations is observed as reactants convert to products. This method of obtaining kinetic data is efficient in terms of sample loading, gas usage, and time, since over 200 instantaneous rate/composition pairs can be determined from one 30-min deposition. Because the rate is determined from gas-mass balance, rather than film-thickness measurements, an unlimited number of rate studies can be made on one sample. As a test case, the SiH{sub 4} reduction of WF{sub 6}, used to deposit tungsten during integrated-circuit production, was investigated in the 0.64-L nonflowing laboratory reactor. Gas compositions were measured 2 mm from the growing surface, throughout time, with a mass spectrometer equipped with a capillary sampling tube. Tungsten was deposited on the 95 C surface, and SiHF{sub 3} was the primary silicon fluoride reaction product for most tested conditions. A multiple-regression analysis of 1,975 instantaneous composition/rate pairs gives orders of 1.22 in silane, 0.27 in hydrogen, and {minus}2.17 in WF{sub 6}. The ratio ofmore » SiF{sub 4} to SiHF{sub 3} stays low and constant until the gas becomes silane-rich. The evolution of the instantaneous rate over time implies that a minimal level of thermal activation of the reactive gases is necessary for the deposition to be surface-rate-limited. Preliminary heat-transfer models of the wire substrate imply that heat transfer to the gas phase is in the Knudsen regime.« less