cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Influence of Heat Stress and Acclimation on Maximal Aerobic Power

Thirteen male volunteers performed cycle ergometer maximal oxygen uptake ( $$\dot V_{{\text{O}}_{{\text{2max}}} }$$ tests) in moderate (21‡ C, 30% rh) and hot (49‡ C, 20% rh) environments, before and after a 9-day heat acclimation program. This program resulted in significantly decreased (P<0.01) final heart rate (24 bt·min−1) and rectal temperature (0.4‡ C) from the first to last day of acclimation. The $$\dot V_{{\text{O}}_{{\text{2max}}} }$$ was lower (P 0.05) shown for maximal power output (PO max, watts) between environments either before or after acclimation. The $$\dot V_{{\text{O}}_{{\text{2max}}} }$$ was higher (P<0.01) by 4% after acclimation in both environments. Also, PO max was higher (P<0.05) after acclimation in both the moderate (4%) and hot (2%) environments. The reduction in $$\dot V_{{\text{O}}_{{\text{2max}}} }$$ in the hot compared to moderate environment was not related to the difference in core temperature at $$\dot V_{{\text{O}}_{{\text{2max}}} }$$ between moderate and hot trials, nor was it strongly related with aerobic fitness level. These findings indicate that heat stress, per se, reduced the $$\dot V_{{\text{O}}_{{\text{2max}}} }$$ . Further, the reduction in $$\dot V_{{\text{O}}_{{\text{2max}}} }$$ due to heat was not affect be state of heat acclimation, the degree of elevation in core temperature, or level of aerobic fitness.
A quasi-steady-state approximation method for diffusion problems: I. Concentration dependent diffusion coefficients

A generalization of Landahl's approximation method (H. D. Landahl,Bull. Math. Biophysics,15, 49–61, 1953) for non-linear diffusion problems is suggested. The method is applied to sorption, desorption, and free diffusion problems involving concentration-dependent diffusion coefficients. With some limitations, the results compare favorably with those obtained by numerical methods.
In situ synthesis of thin zeolitic-imidazolate framework ZIF-8 membranes exhibiting exceptionally high propylene/propane separation.

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are a class of hybrid porous crystalline materials comprising of metal centers coordinated to organic linkers. Owing to their well-defined pores and cavities in the scale of molecules combined with abundant surface chemistry, MOFs offer unprecedented opportunities for a wide range of applications including membrane-based gas separations. It is not straightforward (often requiring multiple steps) to prepare membranes of MOFs due to the fact that the heterogeneous nucleation and growth of MOF crystals on porous supports are not generally favored. Furthermore, the performance of polycrystalline MOF membranes strongly depends on the membrane microstructure, in particular, the grain boundary structure. Here we report a simple one step in situ method based on a counter-diffusion concept to prepare well-intergrown ZIF-8 membranes with significantly enhanced microstructure, resulting in exceptionally high separation performance toward propylene over propane.
Community land grants: The legacy

Abstract This is a study of the contemporary situations and modes of operation on New Mexico's remaining Hispanic community land grants. Fourteen grants with significant amounts of community land were identified. Operation and management of community land presents several unique problems not encountered on other public or private lands and therefore are not usually addressed. For that reason, this land merits special attention. Problems encountered by the grants include difficulties with titles, inadequate legal framework, inadequate fiscal oversight and inadequate resource conservation. Possible remedies for these problems are discussed. An umbrella organization of the grants, which would provide an effective means to lobby for needed legislation and other assistance, is also recommended.
SAPPHIRE: Anonymity for enhanced control and private collaboration in healthcare clouds

Existing cloud storage systems lack privacy aware architectures that meet accessibility goals for complex collaboration. This deficiency is fully realized in the healthcare industry, where cloud-enabling technology blurs the ownership boundary of health and wellness information. Whether among traditional ‘stovepiped’ data silos, health information exchanges or personally controlled health information repositories, various forms of privacy neglect are common practice. We propose a paradigm shift in the interaction of users with cloud services that removes unwarranted trust in the cloud service provider and provisions accessibility for collaborators. To realize the paradigm shift, it is necessary to provide anonymity in data storage and separate the administration of access policy and authorization from the mechanisms used for enforcement. The dispensation of authorizations in the SAPPHIRE architecture bootstraps a traditional Kerberos ticket-based approach with ‘trust verifications’. In our evaluation, we prove the security properties of the SAPPHIRE architecture and implement a small scale prototype. Our analysis shows that SAPPHIRE is a viable extension of collaborative health information systems through the provision of anonymity and enhanced policy administration for the primary data owner.
Prehospital cardiac care: Illusion of consensus

To judge standard practice for managing arrhythmias, what an EMT should be able to do in the field, drugs of choice, the success of EMT training, and the quality of EMT performance, clinical algorithms were developed. Branching logic, forcing yes/no decisions and delineating actions for all contingencies helped formalize and systematize EMT management of urgent and emergency cases. The algorithm set was sent to 19 consultants for review of content, sequence, drug dosage, and drug usage. The results indicated lack of consensus on appropriate prehospital cardiac care, but the approval of the algorithm approach.
An Agent-Supported Approach to Collaborative Design

Abstract Contemporary design problems are inherently complex and involve many highly coupled sub-tasks that require multiple designers to work together collaboratively. The designers' objectives are often in conflict and activities inconsistent. How to provide effective technology to support collaborative design has been a challenge for the research community. This paper presents an agent-supported framework, called ASCAD, for collaborative design. In ASCAD, a collaborative design team is viewed as a collection of design cells and each design cell is composed of a designer, a software agent, and a number of computer tools. By monitoring designer's design activities, the agent in ASCAD can help its designer coordinate with other designers through identifying needs for coordination, establishing links between designers, and providing suggestions for coordination decision-making. A brief description and discussion of an initial demo application of ASCAD is included to demonstrate the effectiveness of the ASCAD framework and to illustrate future research directions.
A six-month randomized clinical trial comparing the intraocular pressure-lowering efficacy of bimatoprost and latanoprost in patients with ocular hypertension or glaucoma

Abstract Purpose To compare the intraocular pressure (IOP)-lowering efficacy and safety of topical bimatoprost 0.03% with latanoprost 0.005%. Design Multicenter, randomized, investigator-masked clinical trial. Methods After washout of glaucoma medications, ocular hypertension or glaucoma patients were randomly assigned to once-daily bimatoprost 0.03% (n = 133) or latanoprost 0.005% (n = 136) for 6 months. The primary outcome measure was mean change from baseline IOP (8 am, 12 pm, 4 pm). Secondary measures included mean IOP, ophthalmologic examination, adverse events, and the percentage of patients reaching specific target IOPs. Results Mean change from baseline IOP was significantly greater for bimatoprost patients than for latanoprost patients at all measurements on each study visit; 1.5 mm Hg greater at 8 am ( P P P = .004) at month 6. At the end of the study, the percentage of patients achieving a ≥20% IOP decrease was 69% to 82% with bimatoprost and 50% to 62% with latanoprost ( P ≤ .003). In addition, the distribution of patients achieving target pressures in each range (≤13 to ≤ 15 mm Hg, >15 to ≤ 18 mm Hg, and > 18 mm Hg) showed that bimatoprost produced lower target pressures compared with latanoprost at all times measured ( P ≤ .026). Few patients were discontinued for adverse events (6 on bimatoprost; 5 on latanoprost). On ophthalmologic examination, conjunctival hyperemia ( P P = .064) were more common in bimatoprost patients. Conclusions Bimatoprost is more effective than latanoprost in lowering IOP. Both drugs were well tolerated, with few discontinuations for adverse events.
Role of lipids in mitochondrial energy coupling: Evidence from spin labeling and freeze-fracture electron microscopy

Abstract The structure of lipid in mitochondria under oscillatory state conditions was investigated using spin labeling and freeze-fracture electron microscopy. An examination of the temperature dependence of the time course of mitochondrial oscillations disclosed a break in the Arrhenius plot at approximately 24°C. A similar break was observed for the partitioning of the hydrocarbon spin label, 6N11, between hydrophobic and polar domains of the membrane. Spin labeling was also used to study mitochondria fixed by glutaraldehyde in contracted and expanded states. These studies revealed that: (a) glutaraldehyde fixation appeared to restrict the motion of membrane lipids; (b) 6N11 displayed an enhanced polar partitioning in expanded samples relative to contracted preparations; and (c) the partitioning phenomenon in contracted mitochondria showed a break in the Arrhenius plot at about 24°C while no discontinuity was observed for expanded samples. Mitochondrial expansion in the oscillatory state resulted in a change in particle density and aggregation in the outer membrane, but not in the inner membrane as shown by freeze-fracture electron microscopy. Our results, therefore, suggest an active involvement of lipid in the mitochondrial oscillatory state.
Mentorship in Otolaryngology: 10 Years of Experience

Objective: The Accreditation Council for Graduate Medical Education’s (ACGME) structuring of resident education attempts to utilize mentoring relationships to augment trainee development. The purpo...
‘Metabolically healthy obesity’: Origins and implications

When humans eat more and exercise less, they tend to become obese and unhealthy. The molecular pathways that link obesity to serious diseases like Type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease have become a subject of intensive scientific investigation because the exploding prevalence of obesity worldwide represents a grave new threat to the health of hundreds of millions of people. However, obesity is not always destiny. Two important clinical populations have been valuable to understand the mechanisms behind this conundrum: individuals who exhibit metabolic dysfunction, diabetes and elevated cardiovascular disease risk despite a lean body type, and individuals who are relatively protected from these dangers despite significant obesity. Study of this second group of ‘metabolically healthy obese’ people in particular has been revealing because such individuals exhibit specific, identifiable, anatomic, cellular and molecular features that set them apart from the rest of us who suffer declining health with increasing weight. Here, we examine some of these features, including some mouse models that are informative of mechanism, and suggest hypotheses for further study, including the possibility that genes and pathways of the immune system might offer new diagnostic or therapeutic targets.
The research and realization of the low-voltage simulation for the resonant grounded system

In order to study operational features of resonant grounded system deeply, and test all performance indexes of the control device of arc-suppression coil, this paper comes up with the research ideas and implementation of the low-voltage simulation environment, describing its technology parameters and building principles of the major parts in detail. Functional tests on control device of the arcsuppression coil have been down, including capacitive current measurement, automatic resonance, automatic tracking, singlephase grounding and so on, guiding the work on the research and development of the arc-suppression coil.
The embryonic development of the polyclad flatworm Imogine mcgrathi.

In this paper we describe the embryonic development of the polyclad flatworm Imogine mcgrathi. Imogine is an indirect developer that hatches as a planctonic Goette’s larva after an embryonic period of approximately 7 days. Light and electron microscopic analyses of sections of staged embryos were combined with antibody stainings of wholemounted embryos to reconstruct the origin and movement of the primordia of the various organ systems, with particular emphasis on the nervous system. We introduce a system of morphologically defined stages aimed at facilitating future studies and cross-species comparisons among flatworm embryos. Imogine embryos undergo typical spiral cleavage. Micromere quartets 1–3 form an irregular double layer of mesenchymal cells that during gastrulation expands over micromere quartet 4. Micromere 4d divides into several large mesendodermal precursors whose position defines the ventral pole of the embryo. These cells, along with the animal micromeres that obtained a sub-surface position during cleavage, form a deep layer of cells that gives rise to all internal structures, including the nervous system, musculature, nephridia, and gut. Micromeres 4a–c are large yolky cells that are incorporated into the lumen of the gut, but do not themselves contribute to the gut epithelium. Shortly after gastrulation, cell differentiation sets in. Cells located at the surface adopt epithelial characteristics and form cilia that result in continuous movement of the post-gastrula stage embryo. Deep cells at the lateral margins of the embryo become organized into a protonephridial tube. A cluster of approximately 50 deep cells at the anterior pole forms the brain, in which we have identified sets of founder neurons of the brain commissure and the dorsal and ventral connectives. The early differentiating neurons, along with other cells forming stabilized microtubules (ciliated cells of the epidermis, gut and protonephridia; apical gland cells) could be analyzed in detail because of their labeling with an antibody against acetylated α-tubulin. Our findings indicate that, despite significant differences in the cleavage pattern and arrangement of blastomeres in the early embryo, morphogenesis and organ formation of a polyclad embryo follows a pattern that is very similar to the pattern observed by us and others in phylogenetically more evolved rhabdocoel flatworms.
Stable suppression of MDR-1 gene using siRNA expression vector to reverse drug resistance in a human uterine sarcoma cell line.

Abstract Objective. Chemotherapy is highly effective in treating a number of gynecologic malignancies; however, its effectiveness diminishes with repeated exposures due to the emergence of multi-drug resistance (MDR). The aim of this study was to establish a permanent MDR gene knockdown model via infection with the siRNA-hairpin expression vector. The impact of transfecting the RNAi upon MDR-1 mRNA and P-glycoprotein expression as well as resultant chemotherapy resistance was assessed. Methods. Multi-drug resistant cell line MES-SA/DX5 was transfected with the siRNA-hairpin expression vector (pSMDR-HYG) designed to target MDR-1 mRNA. A negative control was established utilizing a vector lacking the anti-sense component (pSCON-HYG). The LD 50 of doxorubicin for the stable transfectants was determined utilizing a cytotoxic MTT assay. The mRNA expression of MDR-1 gene among those cell lines was evaluated by semi-quantitative RT-PCR. The product of P-glycoprotein (P-gp) was examined by Western blotting hybridization and immunostaining. Results. Two stable transfected cell lines: MES-SA/DX5-M (with pSMDR-HYG) and MES-SA/DX5-C (with pSCON-HYG) were established. The cell line MES-SA/DX5-M was nearly 7 times more sensitive to doxorubicin than MES-SA/DX5-C and its parent cell line MES-SA/DX5 ( P P Conclusions. Stable, sequence-specific MDR-1 gene silencing can be demonstrated by inducing the endogenous expression of hairpin siRNA. Hairpin-siRNA-based MDR-1 gene silencing correlated with decreased levels of MDR-1 mRNA and P-gp, thereby restoring permanent native chemosensitivity. This methodologic strategy may have significant clinical impact in reversing chemo-resistance, especially the multi-drug-resistant phenotype, in the treatment of gynecologic malignancies.
Sex differences in calf muscle hemoglobin oxygen saturation in patients with intermittent claudication.

Purposes We tested the hypotheses that women have greater impairment in calf muscle hemoglobin oxygen saturation (StO 2 ) in response to exercise than men, and that the sex-related difference in calf muscle StO 2 would partially explain the shorter claudication distances of women. Methods The study comprised 27 men and 24 women with peripheral arterial disease limited by intermittent claudication. Patients were characterized on calf muscle StO 2 before, during, and after a graded treadmill test, as well as on demographic and cardiovascular risk factors, ankle-brachial index (ABI), ischemic window, initial claudication distance (ICD), and absolute claudication distance (ACD). Results Women had a 45% lower ACD than men (296 ± 268 m vs 539 ± 288 m; P = .001) during the treadmill test. Calf muscle StO 2 declined more rapidly during exercise in women than in men; the time to reach minimum StO 2 occurred 54% sooner in women (226 ± 241 vs 491 ± 426 seconds; P = .010). The recovery time for calf muscle StO 2 to reach the resting value after treadmill exercise was prolonged in women (383 ± 365 vs 201 ± 206 seconds; P = .036). Predictors of ACD included the time from start of exercise to minimum calf muscle StO 2 , the average rate of decline in StO 2 from rest to minimum StO 2 value, the recovery half-time of StO 2 , and ABI ( R 2 = 0.70; P P = .003), but was no longer significantly lower (mean difference, 72 m; P = .132) after further adjustment for the StO 2 variables for the three calf muscles. Conclusion In patients limited by intermittent claudication, women have lower ACD and greater impairment in calf muscle StO 2 during and after exercise than men, the exercise-mediated changes in calf muscle StO 2 are predictive of ACD, and women have similar ACD as men after adjusting for calf StO 2 and ABI measures.
Mechanisms of intergranular cavity growth in Ni3Al (Zr, B)

Abstract A technique based on hydrogen embrittlement has been used to study the morphology and growth characteristics of grain boundary cavities in a Ni3Al alloy. The technique facilitates brittle intergranular fracture of specimens previously tested at elevated temperatures. This capability makes it possible to distinguish cavities that have formed by cavity coalescence and also determine cavity shape in three dimensions. Contrary to earlier reports of crack-like cavity growth, the results indicate that the shapes of individually growing cavities in Ni3Al are consistent with quasi-equilibrium cavity growth theory. Cavity size measurements have also been compared with predictions of both quasi-equilibrium and crack-like cavity growth models. These results also support the finding that cavity growth in Ni3Al occurs in a quasi-equilibrium manner. The observations further suggest that the formation of crack-like cavities is primarily due to coalescence and, therefore, not representative of the growth mechanism of individual cavities.
Class Attendance and Performance in Principles of Economics

Abstract A sample of 347 students, enrolled in principles of economics classes during the period 1997–2001, is used to examine the relation between class attendance and student performance on examinations. Among the questions examined are: Is attendance related to performance, with and without controls for other factors? Do only substantial levels of absence matter? Do low test scores cause more frequent subsequent absences? Do the results change when individual heterogeneity (in addition to controls for differences in SAT and GPA) is considered in the context of random‐effects and fixed‐effects models, using panel data? Can overall attendance be proxied by attendance at six meetings at the end of the semester, and does such a proxy yield the same relation to performance as overall attendance? We also study the factors that appear to contribute to improved classroom attendance.
Estrogen binds to hypothalamic nuclei of androgen-insensitive (tfm) rats

Androgen-insensitive (tfm) rats possess a nuclear-estrogen binding system in the brain that is similar to that of wild-type control males. In these mutant rats, radiolabeled estradiol was bound predominantly to hypothalamic nuclei and this binding was of limited capacity.
A Mutation in the Escherichia coli secY Gene That Produces Distinct Effects on Inner Membrane Protein Insertion and Protein Export

E. coli strains that contain thesecY40 mutation are cold-sensitive, but protein export defects have not been observed even at the nonpermissive temperature. Here we describe experiments designed to explain the conditional phenotype associated with this allele. We found that combining thesecY40 mutation with defects in the signal recognition particle targeting pathway led to synthetic lethality. Since the signal recognition particle is required for the insertion of inner membrane proteins (IMPs) into the cytoplasmic membrane but not for protein export, this observation prompted us to examine the effect of thesecY40 mutation on IMP biogenesis. The membrane insertion of all IMPs that we tested was impaired at both permissive and nonpermissive temperatures in secY40 cells grown in either rich or minimal medium. The magnitude of the insertion defects was greatest in cells grown at low temperature in rich medium, conditions in which the growth defect was most pronounced. Consistent with previous reports, we could not detect protein export defects insecY40 cells grown in minimal medium. Upon growth in rich medium, only slight protein export defects were observed. Taken together, these results suggest that the impairment of IMP insertion causes the cold sensitivity of secY40 strains. Furthermore, these results provide the first evidence that the protein export and membrane protein insertion functions of the translocon are genetically separable.
SEX DIFFERENCES IN SYMBOLIC CONCEPTIONS OF THE DEITY.

Abstract Twenty men and twenty women were tested to determine patterns of latent hostility toward the Deity figure with a view governed by sex difference. It was found that men exhibited a consistently rigid pattern while women tended to move from lower to higher means on the “B” or benevolence scale. There was little differentiation on the “P” or potency scores. The technique utilized ink blot interpretations with subsequent ranking from the one most, to the one least, suggesting God. This attachment of symbol on a known factor to one of an unknown dimension has been labeled the technique of symbolic equivalence.
Usual source of care and nonurgent emergency department use.

Objective: To examine whether dissatisfaction with one's usual source of care (USC) and perceived access difficulties to one's USC were associated with nonurgent emergency department (ED) use. Methods: Variables that measured USC satisfaction and access were identified in the 1996 cohort of the Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS), a nationally representative sample administered by the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality. The main outcome measured was nonurgent ED use at least once during 1996. Results: A total of 9,146 adults had a USC other than the ED, had at least one contact with the health care system or were unable to get needed care, and had complete data for all the variables in the final model. Dissatisfaction with the USC, dissatisfaction with the USC staff, lack of confidence in the USC's ability, difficulty scheduling an appointment, difficulty reaching the USC by phone, and long waiting times with an appointment were all associated with having a nonurgent ED visit in 1996 (all at p < 0.05). The positive associations between both dissatisfaction and perceived access barriers and nonurgent ED use persisted even in multiple logistic regression that adjusted for age, sex, race, education, health status, employment status, income, insurance, region of residence, and rural vs. urban residence. Conclusions: Patients who are dissatisfied with their USC or perceive access barriers to their USC are more likely to have a nonurgent ED visit.
The role of papillae in resistance to powdery mildew conditioned by the ml-o gene in barley. I: Correlative evidence

Abstract Resistance to powdery mildew conditioned by the ml-o gene in barley is expressed mainly during primary penetration by the pathogen. Since barley epidermal cells usually respond to attempted penetration by the deposition of a papilla at the encounter site, the possible association of papilla formation with ml-o resistance was examined. Information on penetration efficiency, papilla frequency and papilla diameter was obtained using coleoptiles and leaves of near-isogenic resistant and susceptible barley breeding lines. Increased papilla frequency and, usually, increased papilla diameter were associated with a much lower penetration efficiency on resistant lines. Moreover, penetration failures in the presence of papillae were more frequent on resistant than on susceptible lines. These results establish a clear coincidence between resistance to penetration and an enhanced papilla response in ml-o barley and set the stage for the companion experimental study.
Influence of hair growth cycle on the triglyceride fatty acid composition of mouse epidermis.

SummaryThe fatty acid content of 2, 4, 12 and 22 day post plucking male and 2 and 4 day post plucking female epidermal triglycerides is quite similar. Oleic and linoleic acids are present in about equal amounts and represent some 70% of total fatty acid content whereas palmitic acid is some 18% of total fatty acid level. Triglycerides of post plucking days 12 and 22 of female epidermis have more oleic and much less linoleic acids than do the triglycerides of the other samples. At the time of most rapid cell division in the epidermis (2–4 days post plucking) there appears to be no significant change in triglyceride fatty acid composition.
Cysteine and serine protease inhibitors block intracellular development and disrupt the secretory pathway of Toxoplasma gondii

A number of cysteine and serine protease inhibitors blocked the intracellular growth and replication of Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoites. Most of these inhibitors caused only minor alterations to parasite morphology irrespective of the effects on the host cells. However, three, cathepsin inhibitor III, TPCK and subtilisin inhibitor III, caused extensive swelling of the secretory pathway of the parasite (i.e. the ER, nuclear envelope, and Golgi complex), caused the breakdown of the parasite surface membrane, and disrupted rhoptry formation. The disruption of the secretory pathway is consistent with the post-translational processing of secretory proteins in Toxoplasma, and with the role of proteases in the maturation/activation of secreted proteins in general. Interestingly, while all parasites in an individual vacuole (the clonal progeny of a single invading parasite) were similarly affected, parasites in different vacuoles in the same host cell showed different responses to these inhibitors. Such observations imply that there are major differences in the biochemistry/physiology between tachyzoites within different vacuoles and argue that adverse effects on the host cell are not always responsible for changes in the parasite. Treatment of established parasites also leads to an accumulation of abnormal materials in the parasitophorous vacuole implying that materials deposited into the vacuole normally undergo proteolytic modification or degradation. Despite the often extensive morphological changes, nothing resembling lysosomal bodies was seen in any treated parasites, consistent with previous observations showing that mother cell organelles are not recycled by any form of autophagic-lysosomal degradation, although the question of how the parasite recycles these organelles remains unanswered.
Collisional cooling of the NO-He system The pressure broadening cross sections between 4·3 and 1·8 K

We report the results of a very low temperature pressure broadening experiment on the NO-He system. A newly developed collisional cooling technique was used to provide an environment for the study of gas phase collisions below 4K. In this temperature regime typical rotational energies are greater than available thermal energies. The helium pressure broadening cross section for the J = 1/2-3/2 transition of NO in the 2Π1/2 electronic state was found to drop by ∼35 per cent from 26 A2 at 4·2K to 17A2 at 1·8K. The 300K cross section is 22A2. The results of this experiment are compared with results from an earlier experiment on the CO-He system in which the cross section rose by ∼30 per cent over this temperature range. The spectroscopic attributes of the collisional cooling technique are also discussed, some of which are: narrow line widths, large absorption coefficients, and the simplification of otherwise complex spectra. In addition, because, hvr > kT, the number of available collisional channels is vastl...
Profile optimization of tapered waveguide sensors by fluorescence imaging

Evanescent field sensors provide unique analytical features. For fiber-optic fluorescence sensors the sensing zone geometry plays an important role in coupling excitation energy to the evanescent field and reciprocally collecting the fluorescence signal. In the past a tapered geometry was introduced to overcome V-number mismatch by mode conversion in the taper zone. It was later developed into a combination-taper profile to improve signal reproducibility. The spectroscopic throughput of fiber-optic evanescent-field sensors, however, is limited by the intrinsically small penetration depth and the small fiber format. In this study it was improved by dimension scale-up and cladding elimination using tapered waveguides fabricated from 6-mm quartz rods. Optimization of their profile was aided by fluorescence imaging, a technique that visually revealed the locations and intensity of the light coupled to evanescent field, as well as the light leaking to the bulk of the solution due to violation of conditions for total internal reflection. Based on this technique, a taper-cylinder profile was selected that provided the best performance among tested geometries in time-resolved luminescence. A 0.64 ppb limit of detection and a 0-500 ppb linear dynamic range (r 2 = 0.9996) were achieved using tetracycline as a model analyte.
Fracture after bisphosphonate treatment in children with cerebral palsy: the role of stress risers.

Background In the nonambulatory cerebral palsy (CP) population with a prior history of fracture, the use of pamidronate is not always effective in preventing further fractures.
Becoming a State-in-the-World: Lessons Learned from the American Occupation of Germany

For students of American Political Development, the emergence of globalization and Americanization as themes of inquiry has spurred a growing interest in explaining America's rise as “a legal-economic and geopolitical hegemon.” An important episode in this rise came during the American occupation of Germany after World War II. In postwar Germany, America's military government realized that the American public remained unwilling to support (over the long term) the global projection of what Michael Mann has called “despotic power.” To achieve its fundamental goal of reorienting Germany toward a peaceful coexistence with the Unites States, military government turned instead to what Mann has called “infrastructural power” (power projected “through” society by state institutions). In pivoting from despotic to infrastructural power, three important consequences followed for the occupation. (1) Because it relied on the development of new infrastructures within a new German state, the occupation saw institutional “genesis” in which the Germans themselves influenced the pathway and timing of military government policy. (2) In creating new state institutions, military government performed “policy bricolage,” creatively reconstructing institutions “from” the ruins of war-torn Europe (as opposed to “on” its ruins). (3) Financial policy took a central place in military government's focus because it allowed for “increasing returns” in advancing military government's interests. Collectively, military government's experience provided lessons for an American state in the world.
Personality traits and mental health states of methamphetamine-dependent and methamphetamine non-using MSM.

Abstract This analysis considers the relation between personality traits, mental health states and methamphetamine (MA) use in 60 men who have sex with men (MSM). Thirty MA-dependent and 30 MA non-using MSM were assessed on the Neo Five Factor Inventory , the Brief Symptom Inventory , the Perceived Stress Scale , and the Posttraumatic Stress Disorder Checklist — Civilian Version tests. Our results indicate differences between groups on a variety of measures of personality traits and mental states. Specifically, MA-dependent participants were found to be more Neurotic, less Open, less Agreeable, and less Conscientious. Further, MA-dependent participants were found to have higher levels of Paranoid Ideation and higher levels of Interpersonal Sensitivity. Given the high prevalence of MA use in the MSM community and the association between MA use and sexual risk taking, our findings provided a clearer understanding of how individual personality traits may be a factor in the continued use of this drug among MSM. Further research should seek to incorporate individual personality traits into the development of efficacious MA-specific treatment interventions.
Chirping response of weakly electric knife fish (Apteronotus leptorhynchus) to low-frequency electric signals and to heterospecific electric fish

Brown ghost knife fish (Apteronotus leptorhynchus) can briefly increase their electric organ discharge (EOD) frequency to produce electrocommunication signals termed chirps. The chirp rate increases when fish are presented with conspecific fish or high-frequency (700-1100 Hz) electric signals that mimic conspecific fish. We examined whether A. leptorhynchus also chirps in response to artificial low-frequency electric signals and to heterospecific electric fish whose EOD contains low-frequency components. Fish chirped at rates above background when presented with low-frequency (10-300 Hz) sine-wave stimuli; at 30 and 150 Hz, the threshold amplitude for response was 1 mV cm(-1). Low-frequency (30 Hz) stimuli also potentiated the chirp response to high-frequency ( approximately 900 Hz) stimuli. Fish increased their chirp rate when presented with two heterospecific electric fish, Sternopygus macrurus and Brachyhypopomus gauderio, but did not respond to the presence of the non-electric fish Carassius auratus. Fish chirped to low-frequency (150 Hz) signals that mimic those of S. macrurus and to EOD playbacks of B. gauderio. The response to the B. gauderio playback was reduced when the low-frequency component (<150 Hz) was experimentally filtered out. Thus, A. leptorhynchus appears to chirp specifically to the electric signals of heterospecific electric fish, and the low-frequency components of heterospecific EODs significantly influence chirp rate. These results raise the possibility that chirps function to communicate to conspecifics about the presence of a heterospecific fish or to communicate directly to heterospecific fish.
Cognitive Assessment of Siblings of Autistic Children

Psychometric tests were administered to 50 siblings of 30 children diagnosed as having infantile autism. The siblings' ages ranged from 3 to 19 years; 27 were males and 23 were females. Forty of the 50 children had both Verbal and Performance IQs on the age appropriate Wechaler Intelligence Scales. The results are as follows; (1) subnormal intellectual functioning was found in excess and (2) there was a significant discrepancy between Verbal and Performance IQs, verbal skills being lower than performance skills. Matched subjects from the WISC-R and WPPSI Standardization Sample served as controls. The findings of this pilot study are discussed and strategies for future research are suggested.
Electrophysiologic studies in the syndrome of short P-R interval, normal QRS complex.

Eighteen subjects with a short P-R interval (<0.12 second) and normal QRS complex were studied by means of His bundle recordings and programmed atrial premature depolarizations. Eight subjects had a history of supraventricular tachycardia. During sinus rhythm, the A-H interval was less than or at the lower limits of normal values (45 to 80 msec), and the H-V interval was normal (30 to 50 msec). Atrial pacing at rates of up to 160/min produced 3 types of responses. Thirteen subjects showed a progressive increase in A-H interval similar to that of normal subjects but to a lesser degree. Three subjects showed an initial increase at low pacing rates, followed by a plateau response and further increase at higher rates. Two subjects showed no significant increase in the A-H interval. In 6 of 8 subjects with supraventricular tachycardia, atrial premature depolarizations produced atrial echo beats and sustained supraventricular tachycardia in 4, indicating atrioventricular (A-V) nodal reentry as the mechanism for the supraventricular tachycardia. In 10 subjects, refractory periods of the various components of the A-V conducting system were found to be similar to those of subjects with a normal P-R interval. The data suggest the following possible explanations for the short P-R interval: (1) total or partial bypass of the A-V node; (2) an anatomically small A-V node; (3) a short or rapidly conducting intranodal pathway; or (4) isorhythmic A-V dissociation.
Accuracy vs. lifetime: linear sketches for approximate aggregate range queries in sensor networks

The in--network aggregation paradigm in sensor networks provides a versatile approach for evaluating aggregate queries. Traditional approaches need a separate aggregate to be computed and communicated for each query and hence do not scale well with the number of queries. Since approximate query results are sufficient for many applications, we use an alternate approach based on summary data--structures. We consider two kinds of aggregate queries: value range queries that compute the number of sensors that report values in the given range, and location range queries that compute the sum of values reported by sensors in a given location range. We construct summary data--structures called linear sketches, over the sensor data using in--network aggregation and use them to answer aggregate queries in an approximate manner at the base--station. There is a trade--off between accuracy of the query results and lifetime of the sensor network that can be exploited to achieve increased lifetimes for a small loss in accuracy. Experimental results show that linear sketching achieves significant improvements in lifetime of sensor networks for only a small loss in accuracy of the queries. Further, our approach achieves more accurate query results than the other classical techniques using Discrete Fourier Transform and Discrete Wavelet Transform.
Design and validation of an endothelial progenitor cell capture chip and its application in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension

The number of circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) inversely correlates with cardiovascular risk and clinical outcome, and thus has been proposed as a valuable biomarker for risk assessment, disease progression, and response to therapy. However, current strategies for isolation of these rare cells are limited to complex, laborious approaches. The goal of this study was the design and validation of a disposable microfluidic platform capable of selectively capturing and enumerating EPCs directly from human whole blood in healthy and diseased subjects, eliminating sample preprocessing. We then applied the “EPC capture chip” clinically and determined EPC numbers in blood from patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Blood was collected in tubes and injected into polymeric microfluidic chips containing microcolumns pre-coated with anti-CD34 antibody. Captured cells were immunofluorescently stained for the expression of stem and endothelial antigens, identified and counted. The EPC capture chip was validated with conventional flow cytometry counts (r = 0.83). The inter- and intra-day reliability of the microfluidic devices was confirmed at different time points in triplicates over 1–5 months. In a cohort of 43 patients with three forms of PAH (idiopathic/heritable, drug-induced, and connective tissue disease), EPC numbers are ≈50% lower in PAH subjects vs. matched controls and inversely related to two potential disease modifiers: body mass index and postmenopausal status. The EPC capture chip (5 × 30 × 0.05 mm3) requires only 200 μL of human blood and has the strong potential to serve as a rapid bedside test for the screening and monitoring of patients with PAH and other proliferative cardiovascular, pulmonary, malignant, and neurodegenerative diseases.
Acculturative Stress, Depression, and Anxiety in Migrant Farmwork College Students of Mexican Heritage

Migrant status (migrant, nonmigrant) and sex (female, male) differences were examined in a sample of 168 college students of Mexican heritage on measures of college stress, acculturative stress, depression, anxiety, and academic achievement. Migrant farmwork students reported higher levels of acculturative stress than nonmigrants, and men reported higher levels of acculturative stress than women. When language preference was held constant, there were no differences in depression and anxiety. However, migrant students reported higher levels of depression and anxiety than nonmigrants when language preference was not held constant. The overall sample reported high levels of depression: 55% versus the expected 20% of the general population shown in other research. Depression and anxiety were highly correlated, and women reported a higher grade point average than male students. Implications include the importance of integrating cultural factors in stress research with this population and accounting for acculturative stress, depression, and anxiety in clinical treatment.
Presence of two active X chromosomes in hybrids between normal human and SV40-transformed fibroblasts from patients with the Lesch-Nyhan syndrome.

Abstract Skin fibroblasts (LNSV) derived from a hypoxanthine-guanine phosphoribosyltransferase (HGPRT) deficient patient with the Lesch-Nyhan syndrome, who has glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) type A, were transformed with SV40 and hybridized with WI38 human diploid fibroblasts derived from a female embryo which have normal HGPRT and G6PD type B activities. The hybrid clones selected in hypoxanthine, aminopterin and thymidine (HAT) medium, were essentially tetraploid and contained three X and one Y chromosomes. These hybrids contained HGPRT, types A and B and the AB heteropolymeric form of G6PD enzymes which were indicative that in these cells X linked genes of both parental cells were fully active. Hybrids back-selected in medium containing 8-azaguanine (8-AG) contained only two X chromosomes. They had no HGPRT activity and they contained only G6PD type A enzyme. It is concluded that the hybrid cells which grew in the presence of 8-AG retained the X chromosome of the LNSV parental cell and apparently the inactive X of the WI 38 cell.
Current management of infants and children with single ventricle anatomy.

Children with single ventricle anatomy are among the most complicated and challenging patients encountered in pediatric cardiology. Current management involves staged surgical procedures, beginning with neonatal palliation and followed by a bidirectional cavopulmonary anastomosis in infancy and culminating in the Fontan procedure. The Fontan procedure, despite separating the circulation, remains a palliative procedure with many long-term concerns. This report discusses the staged surgical management of patients with single ventricle anatomy and the nursing issues relevant to each stage. Copyright © 2001 by W.B. Saunders Company
High-Pressure Inactivation of Rotaviruses: Role of Treatment Temperature and Strain Diversity in Virus Inactivation

Rotavirus (RV) is the major etiological agent of acute gastroenteritis in infants worldwide. Although high-pressure processing (HPP) is a popular method to inactivate enteric pathogens in food, the sensitivity of different virus strains within same species and serotype to HPP is variable. This study aimed to compare the barosensitivities of seven RV strains derived from four serotypes (serotype G1, strains Wa, Ku, and K8; serotype G2, strain S2; serotype G3, strains SA-11 and YO; and serotype G4, strain ST3) following high-pressure treatment. RV strains showed various responses to HPP based on the initial temperature and had different inactivation profiles. Ku, K8, S2, SA-11, YO, and ST3 showed enhanced inactivation at 4°C compared to 20°C. In contrast, strain Wa was not significantly impacted by the initial treatment temperature. Within serotype G1, strain Wa was significantly (P Ku = K8 > S2 > YO > ST3, and in terms of serotype the ranking is G1 > G2 > G3 > G4. In addition, pressure treatment of 400 MPa for 2 min was sufficient to eliminate the Wa strain, the most pressure-resistant RV, from oyster tissues. HPP disrupted virion structure but did not degrade viral protein or RNA, providing insight into the mechanism of viral inactivation by HPP. In conclusion, HPP is capable of inactivating RV at commercially acceptable pressures, and the efficacy of inactivation is strain dependent.
Mathematical Morphology for Automated Analysis of Remotely Sensed Objects in Radar Images

A symbiosis of pyramidal segmentation and morphological transmission is described. The pyramidal segmentation portion of the symbiosis has resulted in low (2.6 percent) misclassification error rate for a one-look simulation. Other simulations indicate lower error rates (1.8 percent for a four-look image). The morphological transformation portion has resulted in meaningful partitions with a minimal loss of fractal boundary information. An unpublished version of Thicken, suitable for watersheds transformations of fractal objects, is also presented. It is demonstrated that the proposed symbiosis works with SAR (synthetic aperture radar) images: in this case, a four-look Seasat image of sea ice. It is concluded that the symbiotic forms of both segmentation and morphological transformation seem well suited for unsupervised geophysical analysis.
Membrane association of estrogen receptor α mediates estrogen effect on MAPK activation

Estrogen rapidly activates MAPK in many cell types but the mechanisms have not been fully understood. We previously demonstrated that 17-β-estradiol (estradiol) rapidly induced membrane translocation of estrogen receptor α (ERα) and activated MAPK in MCF-7 breast cancer cells. This study further determines the cause and effect relationship between the presence of membrane ERα and MAPK activation. ERα with a membrane localization signal (HE241G-mem) was expressed and compared with the ones in nucleus (HEGO) or cytosol (HE241G) localization. Confocal microscopy showed that HE241G-mem was expressed in the cell membrane as well as in the cytosol in COS-1 cells. HE241G localized in the cytosol and HEGO in the nucleus. Functional studies showed that only membrane ERα, not cytosol and nuclear ones, responded to estradiol by inducing MAPK phosphorylation. HE241G-mem neither increased basal nor estradiol-induced ERE promoter activation, indicating no transcriptional action involved. Our data support the view that membrane-associated ERα is critical in estrogen-initiated MAPK activation.