cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Enhancement of antifungal and mycotoxin inhibitory activities of food-grade thyme oil nanoemulsions with natural emulsifiers.

Abstract Thyme oil-in-water nanoemulsions stabilized by three different sources of natural emulsifiers (bovine serum albumin, quillaja saponins, and soy lysolecithin) were prepared as potential natural antifungal agents. The thyme oil nanoemulsion containing bovine serum albumin or quillaja saponins with mean particle diameters
Enhancing Security of Smart Buildings using Internet of Things

Because of the low and affordable prices of central processing units (CPUs), in the new computer processing era, using the CPU-based technologies is a must in today world. In this regard, enhancement of smart buildings' security using the agent-based approaches is analyzed in this paper. This approach considers all the potentials of devices in the smart environment and utilizes them in order to provide the building's security.
When is a group practice ready for Medicare risk contracting

As senior citizens choose alternatives to traditional Medicare, group practices need to learn how Medicare risk contracting differs from traditional Medicare arrangements. To provide healthcare to Medicare patients, group practices should participate in both Medicare risk contracting and Medicare fee-for-service, but they need to make some operational changes to accommodate all these patients. When implementing an operational plan, group practices should consider three key factors-practice location, education of support staff and patients, and facility accessibility. The practice needs to accommodate the special needs of senior citizens to secure and retain a stable patient base.
Association of insulin resistance, from mid-life to late-life, with aortic stiffness in late-life: the Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities Study

Insulin resistance may contribute to aortic stiffening that leads to end-organ damage. We examined the cross-sectional association and prospective association of insulin resistance and aortic stiffness in older adults without diabetes. We analyzed 2571 men and women at Visit 5 (in 2011–2013), and 2350 men and women at repeat examinations from baseline at Visit 1 (in 1987–1989) to Visit 5 (in 2011–2013). Linear regression was used to estimate the difference in aortic stiffness per standard unit of HOMA-IR, TG/HDL-C, and TyG at Visit 5. Linear mixed effects were used to assess if high, as opposed to non-high, aortic stiffness (> 75th percentile) was preceded by a faster annual rate of change in log-HOMA-IR, log-TG/HDL-C, and log-TyG from Visit 1 to Visit 5. The mean age of participants was 75 years, 37% (n = 957) were men, and 17% (n = 433) were African American. At Visit 5, higher HOMA-IR, higher TG/HDL-C, and higher TyG were associated with higher aortic stiffness (16 cm/s per SD (95% CI 6, 27), 29 cm/s per SD (95% CI 18, 40), and 32 cm/s per SD (95% CI 22, 42), respectively). From Visit 1 to Visit 5, high aortic stiffness, compared to non-high aortic stiffness, was not preceded by a faster annual rate of change in log-HOMA-IR from baseline to 9 years (0.030 (95% CI 0.024, 0.035) vs. 0.025 (95% CI 0.021, 0.028); p = 0.15) or 9 years onward (0.011 (95% CI 0.007, 0.015) vs. 0.011 (95% CI 0.009, 0.013); p = 0.31); in log-TG/HDL-C from baseline to 9 years (0.019 (95% CI 0.015, 0.024) vs. 0.024 (95% CI 0.022, 0.026); p = 0.06) or 9 years onward (− 0.007 (95% CI − 0.010, − 0.005) vs. − 0.009 (95% CI − 0.010, − 0.007); p = 0.08); or in log-TyG from baseline to 9 years (0.002 (95% CI 0.002, 0.003) vs. 0.003 (95% CI 0.003, 0.003); p = 0.03) or 9 years onward (0 (95% CI 0, 0) vs. 0 (95% CI 0, 0); p = 0.08). Among older adults without diabetes, insulin resistance was associated with aortic stiffness, but the putative role of insulin resistance in aortic stiffness over the life course requires further study.
Stability Analysis Via Refinement Of Piece-wise Linear Lyapunov Functions

We present an algorithm for finding piece-wise linear Lyapunov functions that verify the asymptotic stability of piece-wise linear differential inclusions. Existing methods either use a fixed set of pieces (a partition) to define the Lyapunov function, or use heuristic methods to split the pieces, thereby refining the partition. Our algorithm involves iteratively refining partitions using an exact criterion which strictly reduces the set of points over which the Lyapunov function is non-decreasing.
Autoimmune Hepatitis and Pregnancy

For women with autoimmune hepatitis who are pregnant, gestation may lead to changes in liver inflammation, just as the liver disease can impact the outcome of the pregnancy. Patients and physicians must balance the benefits of maintaining good control of disease activity with potential risks to the fetus of immunosuppressive medications. Women with autoimmune hepatitis have an increased risk of pre-term birth and infants who are low birth weight or small for gestational age. After giving birth, women should be monitored closely for a post-partum flare of autoimmune hepatitis, and immunosuppression medications adjusted accordingly.
Prosthetic Joint Infection

Over one million hip and knee arthroplasties are performed every year in the United States, and that number is expected to increase as the population ages and patients are meeting the indication for a prosthetic joint at a younger age. The incidence of prosthetic joint infection (PJI) varies between 0.5% and 2.0% but can be higher if the patient has comorbidities such as uncontrolled diabetes mellitus, obesity, or tobacco abuse. Diagnosis can be challenging, and even with appropriate medical and surgical management, a PJI can result in long-term morbidity.
Chapter 171 – Adenylyl Cyclases

Publisher Summary This chapter presents the structure and catalytic mechanism of adenylyl cyclase (AC) and focuses on many modes of AC regulation. It also discusses normal and aberrant AC function in physiology and disease states. Hormonal and neurotransmitter regulation of AC occurs primarily through heterotrimeric G proteins in both vertebrates and invertebrates. Cell surface G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) activation by extracellular stimuli in turn leads to activation of G proteins by initiating the exchange of GDP for GTP. The α subunit of the stimulatory G protein (Gsα) activates all nine tmACs in a nucleotide-dependent fashion. Gsα activation of ACs is terminated by GTP hydrolysis to GDP. The primary source of calcium ions is thought to be capacitative entry through Ca2+ channels. The only soluble mammalian AC isoform (sAC) is unique in its regulation and it is not affected by classic AC modulators such as G proteins, CaM, or forskolin. The sAC is activated by bicarbonate, and the bicarbonate ion induces a closure of the active site similar to the structural changes induced by Gsα on tmACs. The small molecule forskolin is a potent activator of all mammalian tmACs except AC9, which is weakly activated. While the binding site of forskolin is within the conserved catalytic domain, the stimulatory actions appear to be selective for membrane-bound vertebrate and invertebrate forms.
A 3600-year record of drought in southern Pacific Costa Rica

We analyzed the δ2H composition of n-alkanes isolated from Laguna Zoncho, a small lake in southern Pacific Costa Rica, to reconstruct paleohydrology. Using a core that spans the past 3600 years, we found evidence of dry periods, most notably during the Terminal Classic Drought (TCD; ~1200 cal yr BP) and the Little Ice Age (~400 cal yr BP). Previous work at Laguna Zoncho, using bulk sedimentary δ13C and geochemical analysis, found that agriculture began to decline during the TCD. Our δ2H records confirm the occurrence of arid conditions coincident with the TCD at Laguna Zoncho and show that, despite receiving more than 3000 mm of precipitation per year, this region is susceptible to multidecadal droughts.
High Accuracy Adaptive Microwave Ranging Using SNR-Based Perception for Coherent Distributed Antenna Arrays

We present a high accuracy, adaptive cooperative internode ranging system for coherent distributed antenna arrays. Coherent distributed antenna arrays are networks of wireless systems coordinated at the level of the wavelength of the wireless signal to support distributed beamforming. Enabling coherent operation between separate mobile nodes at microwave frequencies requires accurate and robust knowledge of the relative positions of the nodes in the array in the presence of changing conditions. We present an adaptive microwave ranging system operating at 4 GHz that is capable of maintaining a designated ranging accuracy in the presence of changing signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) conditions. The system is based on a novel perception process that evaluates the SNR of the radar returns and estimates the accuracy of the internode ranging measurement; the output of this process feeds into a controller which determines the changes necessary in the waveform to maintain the desired accuracy. Experimental results show the ability to maintain ranging accuracy of 5 mm, which enables 90% of the ideal distributed coherent gain at frequencies up to 4 GHz.
Critically Examining the Trajectories of Black Male Preservice Teachers: Implications for Teacher Education Programs

Increasing the representation of Black males in the teaching profession has been the subject of numerous reports and empirical studies (Bristol & Goings, 2019; Brockenbrough, 2012; Brown, 2009; Dav...
Risk of Venous Thromboembolism in Grade II-IV Gliomas as a Function of Molecular Subtype.

Objective: To determine the incidence of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in lower-grade gliomas (LGG, World Health Organization (WHO) grades II-III) and to stratify the risk of VTE by molecular subtype in gliomas grade II-IV, we performed a retrospective review of a large cohort of glioma patients. Methods: We performed a retrospective analysis of a cohort of 635 adult glioma patients with molecular testing seen at the University of Virginia with a diagnosis of glioma established from January 2005 to August 2017. Estimates of cumulative incidence of VTE were calculated with death as competing risk; significance was determined using the Fine and Gray model. Results: Of 256 LGG patients, 81 were isocitrate dehydrogenase (IDH) wild-type; 113 IDH mutant, 1p/19q codeleted; and 62 IDH mutant, 1p/19q intact. With a median follow-up of 17.9 months, the overall cumulative incidence of VTE was 8.2% for grade II (147 patients), 9.2% for grade III (109 patients), and 30.5% for grade IV (334 patients). In grade II-IV patients, absence of an IDH mutation was associated with a three-fold increase in VTE risk when compared to IDH-mutant patients (HR=3.06, 95% CI=2.03-4.64). In GBM patients, there was no difference in VTE incidence according to O6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) promoter methylation status. Conclusion: Patients with LGG have a higher VTE risk compared to the general population, which is decreased, but not eliminated, in the presence of an IDH mutation. MGMT promoter methylation in GBM does not affect the incidence of VTE.
Distributed Fiber-Optic Sensing With Low Bending Loss Based on Thin-Core Fiber

This paper presents a thin-core high-numerical aperture (TC-HNA) optical fiber with low macrobending loss for Rayleigh backscattering-based (RBS-based) temperature and strain measurements. The standard single-mode optical fiber (SMF), commonly used in RBS-based sensing, has low macrobending loss-resistance, making the fiber less suited for sensing applications that require sharp bending of the fiber under test. The TC-HNA fiber, on the other hand, offers high macrobending loss-resistance. Experiments were designed and conducted to demonstrate the reliability of a TC-HNA fiber for RBS-based temperature and strain measurements. The macrobending losses in a standard SMF and a TC-HNA fiber were compared in many experiments conducted with different bending radii ranging from 12.5 mm down to 0.9 mm. The RBS signal for a standard SMF, with a single turn of a 5 mm bending radius, degraded severely, exhibiting a 75% drop (6 dB) in signal power. Notably, the RBS signal for a similar test configuration of a TC-HNA fiber did not exhibit any observable loss. We demonstrated that a TC-HNA fiber could be used for RBS-based measurements with a single turn of ~1 mm bending radius. Moreover, an experiment was conducted to demonstrate the spatial thermal mapping capability of the TC-HNA fiber configured with multiple tight bends with radii in the range ~2-3 mm. The high macrobending loss-resistance of the TC-HNA fiber could extend the range of applications for RBS-based measurements to compact structures, such as batteries, robotic fingers, and printed circuit boards, where sharp bending of the test optical fiber is unavoidable.
Telemedicine in children with medical complexity on home ventilation during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Children with medical complexity (CMC) are patients with one or more complex chronic conditions dependent on medical technologies. In our unit (Pediatric Pulmonology and Respiratory Intermediate Care Unit, Department of Pediatrics, "Bambino Gesu" Children's Hospital and Research Institute), we regularly follow-up CMC patients, particularly children on long-term, invasive (IMV) or noninvasive (NIV), ventilation. Children suffering from chronic diseases and with medical complexity have lost the possibility to go to the hospital during the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of this article is to describe our experience with telemedicine (teleconsultation [TC] and telemonitoring of ventilator [TM]) in CMC on ventilation. We presented 21 children on long-term ventilation (NIV or IMV) whose planned hospital admission was postponed due to lockdown. A total of 12 healthcare problems were detected during scheduled TCs. Only one problem was not solved by our remote intervention. Specifically, TM has allowed us to change the ventilator parameters and to monitor patients on ventilation remotely. In conclusion, the use of telemedicine in CMC ventilated patients resulted in a feasible tool to avoid in-person visits during the pandemic.
Enabling Business-Driven Innovation Through Human Factors Engineering In Nuclear Power Plants:

For existing United States nuclear power plant fleet to remain economically viable, the nuclear industry needs to fundamentally change the way in which these plants are operated, maintained, and su...
Inhibition of PI3K Isoform p110γ Increases Both Anti-Tumor and Immunosuppressive Responses to Aggressive Murine Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma with Low Immunogenicity.

HNSCC is the sixth most common cancer, with around 650,000 new cases yearly. Gain of function mutations in the PI3K pathway are common in HNSCC, and inhibition of the PI3K p110γ subunit has shown promise in HNSCC treatment. However, given that PI3K p110γ plays an important role in myeloid and lymphoid immune cell function, it is essential to understand how PI3K p110γ inhibition affects the anti-tumor immune response independent of tumor cells. To elucidate PI3K p110γ function in HNSCC, we employed an orthotopic mouse model using poorly immunogenic and aggressive cell line MOC2 on Pik3cg-/- mice. We observed that wild-type and Pik3cg-/- mice displayed similar rates of HNSCC tumor growth and metastasis after 20 days following tumor injection. T-cell infiltration and intrinsic T-cell responses to MOC2 oral tumors were comparable between wild-type and Pik3cg-/- mice. Interestingly, the immune response of tumor-bearing Pik3cg-/- mice was marked by increased anti-tumor cytotoxic molecules (IFN-γ, IL-17)) by T-cells and immune checkpoint marker (PD-L1, PD-1) expression by myeloid cells and T-cells compared to tumor-bearing wild-type mice. Taken together, our findings demonstrate that inhibition of PI3K p110γ modulates tumor-associated immune cells, which likely potentiates HNSCC treatment when used in combination with selective checkpoint inhibitors.
‘Flat-out’ formalism: Strong Island as trans-of-color critique

This article considers Strong Island, the Oscar-nominated documentary by Black, trans filmmaker Yance Ford about the murder of his brother, as a case study that allows us to think through questions...
Problems in Plasticity

In order to illustrate the theory of plasticity as developed in the previous chapter, we now proceed to consider a few selected problems requiring plasticity considerations for solution. Because of the inherently nonlinear form of the governing equations in plasticity theory, and the attendant mathematical complexities, these problems will be restricted to rather simple ones. Nevertheless they should serve to illustrate the general features involved in the plastic response of solids.
Is sialendoscopy an effective treatment for obstructive salivary gland disease

BACKGROUND The management of inflammatory salivary gland disease is undergoing a paradigm shift due to the use of sialendoscopy, which facilitates minimally invasive gland-sparing therapeutic procedures. Although salivary gland resection (sialadenectomy) continues to play an important role in the treatment of significant inflammatory salivary gland disorders due to stones, strictures, and chronic sialadenitis, it is not without potential complications including bleeding, infection, nerve injury, sialocele, and cosmetic deformity. Sialendoscopy involves miniaturized semirigid endoscopes that allow for the diagnostic evaluation of the salivary ductal system. The working channel of therapeutic endoscopes allows insertion of wire baskets, microforceps, manual drill burrs, laser fibers, and balloons that can be used to address obstructive disorders such as sialoliths and strictures. Additionally, saline irrigation and steroid instillation help to clear cellular debris, salivary sludge, mucous plugs, and generalized ductal inflammation. As such, sialendoscopy offers both diagnostic and therapeutic benefits for obstructive salivary gland disease. This review will evaluate the diagnostic and therapeutic outcomes of sialendoscopy as a single-treatment modality for obstructive salivary gland disease and also identify factors predictive of treatment success.
Physical and genetic mapping of the Rhodobacter sphaeroides 2.4.1 genome: genome size, fragment identification, and gene localization.

Four restriction endonucleases, AseI (59-ATTAAT), SpeI (59-ACTAGT), DraI (59-TTTAAA), and SnaBI (59-TACGTA), generated DNA fragments of suitable size distributions for mapping the genome of Rhodobacter sphaeroides by transverse alternating field electrophoresis. AseI produced 17 fragments, ranging in size from 3 to 1,105 kilobases (kb), SpeI yielded 16 fragments (12 to 1,645 kb), DraI yielded at least 25 fragments (6 to 800 kb), and SnaBI generated 10 fragments (12 to 1,225 kb). A total genome size of approximately 4,400 +/- 112 kb was determined by summing the fragment lengths in each of the digests generated by using the different restriction endonucleases. The total genomic DNA consisted of chromosomal DNA (3,960 +/- 112 kb) and the five endogenous plasmids (approximately 450 kb total) whose cognate DNA fragments have been unambiguously identified. A number of genes have been physically mapped to the AseI-generated restriction endonuclease fragments of total genomic DNA by Southern hybridization analysis with either homologous or heterologous specific gene probes or, in the case of several auxotrophic and pigment-biosynthetic mutants apparently generated by Tn5, a Tn5-specific probe. Other genes have been mapped by a comparison with wild-type patterns of the electrophoretic banding patterns of the AseI-digested genomic DNA derived from mutants generated by the insertion of either kanamycin or spectinomycin-streptomycin resistance cartridges. The relative orientations, distance, and location of the pufBALMX, puhA, cycA, and pucBA operons have also been determined, as have been the relative orientations between prkB and hemT and between prkA and the fbc operon. Images
Influence of Mouse Strain on the Assayed Potency (Unitage) of Tetanus Toxoid

The assayed potency of an adsorbed tetanus toxoid C2, relative to the international standard for tetanus toxoid (adsorbed), varied significantly with the use of different strains of mice. The unitage was highest with NIH mice, and it was not significantly different from that with CFW mice. With CDF1 and BALB/c mice, however, the assayed potency was significantly lower than with NIH mice. C3H mice failed to respond to the dose range of the toxoids employed with the other four strains. The significance of the influence of the mouse strain on the designation of a prescribed unit requirement for tetanus toxoid, adsorbed, relative to human efficacy is discussed.
A Family of Regularizing Kernels for Averaging in the Presence of Template Jitter

While computing the regularized mean in medical image analysis, compensation for anatomical variation between different subjects is achieved by registering data with a standard template. In practice, template registration is never perfect and registration error (called jitter) can influence any statistic that is calculated using the template. This paper considers the design of regularizing filters which makes the effect of jitter harmless on the computed mean. The design is based on a new notion called jitter-resistant filtering. A regularizing kernel is jitter resistant if the effect of jitter on the regularized data is similar to a slight change in the scale of the kernel in the absence of jitter. Based on this notion, it is shown that the family of Gaussian filters is a jitter-resistant family of regularizing filters. Simulations in support of the theory are also presented.
Effects of COX inhibition and LPS on formalin induced pain in the infant rat

In the adult, immune and neural processes jointly modulate pain. During development, both are in transition and little is known about the role that the immune system plays in pain processing in infants and children. The objective of this study was to determine if inhibition or augmentation of the immune system would alter pain processing in the infant rat, as it does in the adult. In Experiment 1, rat pups aged 3, 10, or 21 (PN3, PN10, and PN21) days of age were pretreated with NS398 (selective cyclooxygenase (COX)-2 inhibitor) or SC560 (selective COX-1 inhibitor) and tested in the intraplantar formalin test to assess effects of COX inhibition on nociception. Neither drug had an effect on the behavioral response at PN3 or PN10 pups but both drugs attenuated nociceptive scores in PN21 pups. cFos expression in the spinal cord likewise was reduced only at PN21. In Experiment 2, pups were injected with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) prior to the formalin test at PN3 or PN21. LPS increased the nociceptive response more robustly at PN21 than at PN3, while increasing cytokine mRNA equally at both ages. The augmentation of pain responding at PN21 was largely during the late stages of the formalin test, as reported in the adult. These data support previous findings demonstrating late maturing immune modulation of nociceptive behaviors.
Plasma Physics and Fusion Energy

Preface Acknowledgements Units Part I. Fusion Power: 1. Fusion and world energy 2. The fusion reaction 3. Fusion power generation 4. Power balance in a fusion reactor 5. Design of a simple magnetic fusion reactor Part II. The Plasma Physics of Fusion Energy: 6. Overview of magnetic fusion 7. Definition of fusion plasma 8. Single particle motion in a plasma - guiding center theory 9. Single particle motion - Coulomb collisions 10. A self consistent two-fluid model 11. MHD - macroscopic equilibrium 12. MHD - macroscopic stability 13. Magnetic fusion concepts 14. Transport 15. Heating and current drive 16. The future of fusion research Appendix A. Analytical derivation of Appendix B. Radiation from an accelerating charge Appendix C. Derivation of Boozer coordinates Appendix D. Poynting's theorem Index.
A controlled comparison of the efficacy of hetastarch and pentastarch in granulocyte collections by centrifugal leukapheresis

Compared with hetastarch (HS), the low molecular weight analog pentastarch (PS) has been reported to be equally effective for granulocyte collection by centrifugal leukapheresis, to result in fewer adverse donor reactions (ADR), and to have a more rapid elimination profile. We prospectively compared the granulocyte collection efficiency (GCE), granulocyte yield, and ADR in 72 randomly paired granulocytapheresis procedures from 36 volunteer donors using the model CS-3000 Plus Blood Cell Separator (CS) and either PS or HS as the sedimenting agent. Paired collections from each donor allowed us to compare the two agents directly while controlling for intrinsic donor differences. In 33 of 36 (92%) donors, HS procedures were significantly more efficient than PS procedures (P < .001). As an average, HS collections yielded 2.3 +/- 0.67 x 10(10) granulocytes at 58% +/- 8.8% GCE, whereas PS procedures resulted in 1.4 +/- 0.76 x 10(10) granulocytes at 33% +/- 15% GCE. No starch-induced ADR were seen with either agent. For granulocyte harvests using the CS, (1) in most donors, using HS as the red blood cell sedimenting agent during centrifugal leukapheresis results in significantly higher (nearly twofold) GCE and larger granulocyte yields in comparison with using PS, (2) ADR were not observed with either agent, and (3) the potential benefit of more rapid PS elimination should be balanced against significantly lower granulocyte yields.
At the Confluence of Experiment and Simulation: Ultrafast Laser Spectroscopic Studies of Shock Compressed Energetic Materials

Large-scale molecular dynamics simulations are producing information on shock-induced reactions on picosecond (ps) to nanosecond (ns) time scales and approaching micron spatial scales. We describe experiments using ultrafast laser methods to produce experimental data on similar time and space scales to help benchmark the simulations as well as motivate their expansion to larger scales and more complicated materials.
The Impact of Continuity Editing in Narrative Film on Event Segmentation

Filmmakers use continuity editing to engender a sense of situational continuity or discontinuity at editing boundaries. The goal of this study was to assess the impact of continuity editing on how people perceive the structure of events in a narrative film and to identify brain networks that are associated with the processing of different types of continuity editing boundaries. Participants viewed a commercially produced film and segmented it into meaningful events, while brain activity was recorded with functional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). We identified three degrees of continuity that can occur at editing locations: edits that are continuous in space, time, and action; edits that are discontinuous in space or time but continuous in action; and edits that are discontinuous in action as well as space or time. Discontinuities in action had the biggest impact on behavioral event segmentation, and discontinuities in space and time had minor effects. Edits were associated with large transient increases in early visual areas. Spatial-temporal changes and action changes produced strikingly different patterns of transient change, and they provided evidence that specialized mechanisms in higher order perceptual processing regions are engaged to maintain continuity of action in the face of spatiotemporal discontinuities. These results suggest that commercial film editing is shaped to support the comprehension of meaningful events that bridge breaks in low-level visual continuity, and even breaks in continuity of spatial and temporal location.
A Parameter Optimization for the Internal-Model Repetitive Controller based on Minimum-Variance Properties

Discrete-time repetitive controllers have traditionally been motivated with a purely deterministic problem formulation. Trade-offs for robustness, settling time and stochastic performance were at the cost of asymptotic regulation against a purely periodic disturbance. In this paper, we establish a connection between optimal prediction-based and repetitive control. We show that the simple modified repetitive control algorithm may be a good approximation of minimum variance control. Indeed, for stable plants, this control law is minimum-variance control for a particular stochastic disturbance model. This minimum-variance interpretation of repetitive control leads to a parameter optimization. Control law parameters are optimized to minimize, subject to stability and robustness constraints, the mean-squared output of a system driven by inputs with both deterministic and stochastic components. The result is a simple design procedure which is experimentally verified on a track curvature correction servo for a digital video production recorder.
An Analysis of Codes of Ethics of Nonprofit, Tax-Exempt Membership Associations: Does Principal Constituency Make a Difference?

This article considers and explores the connection between the nature of the principal constituencies of nonprofit, tax-exempt, national and international trade and professional associations and the contents of the formal ethics codes promulgated by those associations. An empirical study analyzes differences in ethics code content based upon whether the association constituencies are principally nonprofit, for-profit, or government. It includes a content analysis of 150 association ethics codes and tests whether the constituencies of such associations influence code content.
Emplacement of a Dike Swarm in the Buffalo Mountain Pluton, Nevada

The Buffalo Mountain pluton in southern Humboldt County, Nevada, is cut by an extensive dike swarm. Dikes occur mainly within the plutonic rocks, although a few extend as much as 3.5 km into the surrounding sedimentary rocks. The dikes are composed of rhyolite porphyry and quartz latite porphyry or their altered equivalents. Dikes vary in width from a few centimeters to several hundred meters. In plan, individual dikes are sigmoidal or curving, and they branch and intersect intricately to form a very complex pattern. A statistical analysis of dike orientations shows a strong north trend and a weaker northwest trend. The amount of dilation produced by dike injection is approximately 1,160 m in an east-west direction. Space to accommodate dilation probably was the result of a regional east-west crustal relaxation. The dike swarm apparently formed during three overlapping stages.
Interaction of the Hemochromatosis Gene Product Hfe with Transferrin Receptor Modulates Cellular Iron Metabolism

Mutations of a novel MHC class I-like protein, termed HFE, have been found in the vast majority of patients with the iron overload disease heredity hemochromatosis. Identification of HFE is likely to shed light on one of the major enigmas of mammalian iron homeostasis: How is intestinal iron absorption regulated?
Lexical decision in Parkinson disease: lack of evidence for generalized bradyphrenia.

Abstract Twenty-two nondemented patients with idiopathic Parkinson disease (PD) and 22 controls completed a lexical decision task for which the expected relationship between primes and targets was manipulated. Both reaction times and movement times were measured. PD subjects were as effective as controls in utilizing the priming cues to reduce their reaction times compared with a neutral condition. This facilitation occurred even at the shortest stimulus onset asynchrony employed (300 ms), and was observed in a condition requiring a shift of attention, suggesting that PD patients experience no general cognitive slowing and no difficulty efficiently shifting attention to a specified semantic category. The degree of facilitation was significantly greater in the PD group in several comparisons, indicating hyperpriming. Finally, expectancy primes facilitated movement times in the PD group only. Although the results do not support the existence of generalized bradyphrenia in nondemented Parkinson disease, the ...
Electrocardiographic Alterations Associated with the Hearts of Athletes

Physical conditioning induces numerous cardiovascular adaptations, including vagotonia and increased cardiac volume and mass. These adaptations characterise the 'athletic heart' and account for most of the normal variants in the athlete's electrocardiogram. Common alterations associated with vagotonia include sinus bradycardia, sinus arrhythmia, junctional escape beats, first degree atrioventricular block and second degree (Mobitz type I) atrioventricular block. Common electrocardiographic variants associated with increased cardiac mass and volume include increased voltage, prominent U waves, intraventricular conduction delays, early repolarisation and increased QT intervals. It is sometimes difficult to differentiate the healthy athlete with an athletic heart from the athletic patient with a diseased heart. Thus, further evaluation may be warranted, especially when the athlete also presents with hypertension and/or abnormalities of the cardiovascular physical examination.
Nipple development and pup-induced prolactin release in male rats treated prenatally with the antiandrogen flutamide.

While maternal female rats display increases in circulating prolactin (PRL) concentrations in response to pup exposure, parental male rats fail to show such an increase. One possible explanation for the lack of an acute PRL response in parental male rats is that males do not have nipples and therefore do not receive stimuli from the pups comparable to those experienced by parental female rats. To examine the contribution of nipple presence and possible stimulation, i.e. suckling, in this sexually differentiated endocrine response, male rats were exposed from days 12-15 of gestation to the antiandrogen flutamide. As adults, flutamide-exposed males had nipples. These males and a group of control males were castrated in adulthood and treated with a 21-day hormone regimen (estradiol and progesterone) that effectively stimulates parental behavior in adult rats. Following hormone treatment, mammary tissue from one set of flutamide-treated males was examined histologically to assess nipple and mammary gland development and responsiveness of these tissues to hormonal stimulation. Additional sets of flutamide-treated and control animals were tested for parental behavior. These latter animals were implanted with indwelling atrial cannulae on day 4 of parental behavior and subsequently bled on day 6 in the absence of young and on day 8 after presentation of young. PRL concentrations did not change in either the flutamide-treated or control parental males bled in the presence or absence of young.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Purification and properties of porcine platelet aggregating factor.

Abstract Porcine platelet aggregating factor was purified from porcine plasma by a rapid batch procedure which included polyethylene glycol precipitation and adsorption on calcium citrate. The aggregating factor was separated from anti-hemophilic factor by gel chromatography in the presence of 1 M MgCl 2 . It appeared homogeneous when examined by immuno- or SDS-gel electrophoresis. The molecular weight was estimated to be 10 million by exelusion chromatography. After reduction, subunit molecular weight, by sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-gel electrophoresis, was 225 000. Amino acid and carbohydrate composition were similar to those reported for the bovine material. The porcine platelet aggregating factor was found to have no free sulfhydryl groups or exposed disulfide bonds. Binding of formalin-fixed washed human platelets to the aggregating factor linked to Sepharose was inhibited in 0.5 M NaCl or 2.7 M urea and reversed by the presence of free aggregating factor in a concentration dependent manner. Ristocetin had little or no discernible effect on binding.
Tissue blot immunoassay and direct RT-PCR of cucumoviruses and potyviruses from the same NitroPure nitrocellulose membrane

A method is described for using Nitropure nitrocellulose (NPN) membranes as an effective solid matrix for retrieval of template RNA of three potyviruses, Tobacco etch virus, Soybean mosaic virus and Turnip mosaic virus, and two cucumoviruses, Cucumber mosaic virus and Peanut stunt virus. These NPN membranes were also used for tissue blot immunosorbent assays (TBIAs) to identify and detect plant viruses. For RNA detection, discs from dried membranes blotted with infected tissue were minimally cleaned with Triton X-100 and placed directly into reverse transcription (RT) reactions to initiate cDNA synthesis. Aliquots of cDNA plus primers specific for coat protein produced PCR amplicons of expected sizes for each of the viruses. Intensity of PCR-amplified bands from cDNA transcribed from both non-processed and TBIA-processed NPN membranes was comparable to those using FTA Card protocols. Direct sequencing of PCR products yielded high quality runs enabling identification to species. NPN membranes retained immunologically detectable virus particles, as well as intact template viral RNA, for more than a year at room temperature. The quantity of amplification product decreased after several months of storage, but could be increased by increasing the number of PCR cycles.
The Optical File Cabinet: a random-access file system for write-once optical disks

The Optical File Cabinet (OFC) is patterned after a conventional office file cabinet where all versions of a stored item are retained, but the current version of each item is the easiest to find. The OFC retains the favorable aspects of write-once optical disks while preserving the existing relationship between the operating system and the file system. Alternate approaches to write-once storage and the characteristics of write-once optical disks are described. The salient features of the OFC are examined, namely, the file system tree, growing data structures, and the large memory requirement. The relationship between the OFC and the operating system is discussed. Also considered are reliability, the user-level software interface, long-term storage, simulating the OFC, and implementation of the OFC on a Tektronix 4404 engineering workstation. >
Binge Eating Disorder Mediates Links between Symptoms of Depression, Anxiety, and Caloric Intake in Overweight and Obese Women

Despite considerable comorbidity between mood disorders, binge eating disorder (BED), and obesity, the underlying mechanisms remain unresolved. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to examine models by which internalizing behaviors of depression and anxiety influence food intake in overweight/obese women. Thirty-two women (15 BED, 17 controls) participated in a laboratory eating-episode and completed questionnaires assessing symptoms of anxiety and depression. Path analysis was used to test mediation and moderation models to determine the mechanisms by which internalizing symptoms influenced kilocalorie (kcal) intake. The BED group endorsed significantly more symptoms of depression (10.1 versus 4.8, P = 0.005 ) and anxiety (8.5 versus 2.7, P = 0.003 ). Linear regression indicated that BED diagnosis and internalizing symptoms accounted for 30% of the variance in kcal intake. Results from path analysis suggested that BED mediates the influence of internalizing symptoms on total kcal intake (empirical P 0.001 ). The associations between internalizing symptoms and food intake are best described as operating indirectly through a BED diagnosis. This suggests that symptoms of depression and anxiety influence whether one engages in binge eating, which influences kcal intake. Greater understanding of the mechanisms underlying the associations between mood, binge eating, and food intake will facilitate the development of more effective prevention and treatment strategies for both BED and obesity.
Bone chemistry and past behavior: an overview

Human bone is a complex amalgam of compounds and chemicals—a variety of elements and isotopes—arranged in both organic and inorganic phases. In addition to the major components—calcium, phosphate and water—a number of minor and trace elements are also incorporated during the manufacture of bone tissue. These building materials are obtained by ingestion and the chemical composition of bone is thus in part a reflection of the local environment from which foods are obtained. Both isotopes and trace elements in prehistoric bone have been used to obtain information on human diet and the local environment. These new techniques are outlined here as a means for studying questions such as subsistence, status, and residence. Bone mineralization processes are also discussed as a means for the discovery of paleopathology and disease. Example applications are reviewed to document the potential of such techniques for the reconstruction of the past.
Ventilatory response of goats to treadmill exercise: Grade effects

Abstract The steady-state ventilatory responses of 7 goats to treadmill exercise were studied at several different combinations of speed (0–7.7 km per hr) and grade (0–15%). Carbon dioxide production (VCO2) increased as much as 6 times the resting value. The goats responded to exercise with hyperventilation and respiratory alkalosis, which was proportional to VCO2. The increased ventilation was due chiefly to increases in breathing frequency (f). When responses to increasing speed at 0% grade were compared to those at 15% grade, there were no differences in expired minute ventilation or PaCO2. There were differences in ventilatory pattern VCO2, f was higher and tidal volume (V T ) lower at 0% grade than at 15% grade. We conclude that ventilatory pattern (at a given VCO2) is influenced by the grade used during treadmill exercise and therefore stimuli other than VCO2 alone must be involved in the generation of ventilatory pattern during treadmill exercise.
Equal suppression of cerebellar Purkinje cell activity by amphetamine stereoisomers

Abstract The two amphetamine isomers were compared for their ability to reduce spontaneous activity of noradrenoceptive Purkinje cells in the rat cerebellum. The drugs were applied iontophoretically to eliminate peripheral and remote central effects. Responses of Purkinje neurons were summed over several cycles of alternating (+)- and (−)-amphetamine, and poststimulus time histograms were compared. Inhibitions of Purkinje cell discharge by the two isomers were not statistically different over a wide range of pipette resistances. These data, taken together with studies showing equal effects of the two isomers on noradrenergic release and reuptake blockade and on locus coeruleus neuronal firing, indicate equipotency of the two isomers in their actions on noradrenergic mechanisms.
Cardiac arrest after oxymetazoline nasal spray

Oxymetazoline nasal spray is a potent alpha 1-adrenergic agonist commonly used to vasoconstrict blood vessels in the nasal mucosa. In this incident, oxymetazoline nasal spray 0.025% was administered to a 2-year-old patient during general anesthesia for nasal endoscopy. Severe hypertension with reflex bradycardia progressed to sinus arrest and was successfully treated with alropine and cardiopulmonary resuscitation. Decreasing the dose of oxymetazoline and pretreatment with an anticholinergic is recommended.
Metastatic renal cell carcinoma of spleen diagnosed by fine-needle aspiration.

ABSTRACT Splenic metastases are infrequent, and determination of the primary site by fine-needle aspiration (FNA) can be complex. We report the case of a 65-year-old man who was found to have a large heterogeneously enhancing 8 × 7-inch splenic mass by abdominal computed tomography (CT). FNA by transesophageal endoscopic ultrasonography demonstrated atypical cells conclusive for malignancy and consistent with metastatic renal cell carcinoma based on cytomorphology, histochemical lipid positivity, and immunohistochemical positivity for cytokeratin, vimentin, and renal cell carcinoma marker. Repeat CT with and without arteriovenous contrast demonstrated bilateral renal cysts, including a 0.9 × 0.8-cm lesion on the left with significant enhancement. Splenectomy confirmed the radiological and cytological findings, and left kidney exploration and nephrectomy demonstrated a small (1.5 cm) lower pole renal cell carcinoma of chromophil (papillary) type, histologically similar to the splenic metastasis. This case demonstrates the diagnostic importance of interdisciplinary involvement (oncology, radiology, gastroenterology, pathology, and general and urologic surgery); cytomorphology; histochemistry, including fat stain on frozen cell block; and immunohistochemistry, including the recently developed renal cell carcinoma marker.
An Integrated Approach to Wind Turbine Fatigue Analysis

The wind turbine dynamics codes YawDyn and ADAMS have been interfaced with the LIFE2 code for fatigue life estimation via a new interface program, Dyn2LIFE. This work is sponsored by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) with the intent of making it straightforward and practical for wind turbine designers to determine those aspects of their design and wind environment that will cause the most fatigue damage. Several parameters suspected of affecting turbine fatigue life are investigated through a model of the NREL Phase III Combined Experiment Rotor. This study proved the Dyn2LIFE code useful in creating LIFE2 input from YawDyn and ADAMS output, and also revealed some areas of possible expansion and improvement. Results from this study of a steel blade root suggest changes affecting the normal operation of the turbine alter fatigue life more than rare, high load events. Understanding how the material fatigue characteristics affect lifetime estimates is discussed in terms of the S-N curve utilized in this study. This paper presents the first results from an ongoing project. In the future, the authors plan to analyze a variety of turbine configurations to help identify those variables which may have the greatest influence on fatigue life.
Monte Carlo calculations of the vacuum Compton detector sensitivities

Monte Carlo simulations have been carried out to compute the static sensitivity of the vacuum Compton detector (VCD) for monoenergetic gamma rays and electrons. A similar calculations using /sup 60/Co spectrum as input is found to be in good agreement with measurements. The authors also calculate the detector sensitivities for bremsstrahlung spectra produced by monoenergetic electron beams and compare them with experimental data. It is concluded that the method used is an accurate and reliable one for computing various sensitivities for the VCD. >
Some further investigations on chloroplast TPNH diaphorase

Abstract The chloroplast TPNH diaphorase has been purified further by ammonium sulfate fractionation. The purified preparations appear to be homogeneous in the ultracentrifuge, and have a minor contaminant as seen in electrophoresis experiments. The molecular weight is estimated as approximately 35,000, both from ultracentrifuge data and from the FAD content. Evidence is presented for the participation of FAD as an active component of the enzyme. The relation of the enzyme to photosynthesis is discussed.
MobileSurface: interaction in the air for mobile computing

We describe a virtual interactive surface technology based on a projector-camera system connected to a mobile device. This system, named mobile surface, can project images on any free surfaces and enable interaction in the air within the projection area. The projector used in the system scans a laser beam very quickly across the projection area to produce a stable image at 60 fps. The camera-projector synchronization is applied to obtain the image of the appointed scanning line. So our system can project what is perceived as a stable image onto the display surface, while simulta neously working as a structured light 3D scanning system.