cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Postoperative Ileus: Pathogenesis and Treatment

Surgical manipulation of the intestines activates intestinal macrophages that release cytokines and nitric oxide, which results in inhibition of intestinal motility. Subsequent infiltration of circulating leukocytes into the intestinal wall contributes to cytokine and nitric oxide release and exacerbates ileus. Other factors contributing to ileus are endotoxemia; edema of the intestine wall subsequent to excessive fluid therapy; hypocalcemia; and long abdominal incisions. Because treatment of ileus with prokinetic drugs has not proven to be very effective, efforts should be directed at reducing its severity. Strategies which reduce the severity of ileus include pretreatment with a nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug, minimizing the length of the abdominal incision, reducing intestinal manipulation, intraoperative lidocaine infusion, correction of hypocalcemia, limiting the volume of intravenous fluids to prevent intestinal edema, and administration of alpha(2) antagonists.
Isolectric patterns of human alpha1‐ antichymotrypsin (A1AChy) and A1AChy‐protease complexes

When studied by thin-layer polyacrylamide gel isoelectric focusing, alpha1-an-tichymotrypsin (A1AChy) in human plasma presents a microheterogeneous pattern, consisting of seven bands with isoelectric points (pI) between 4.1 and 4.45. After removal of sialic acids by neuraminidase treatment, four bands are seen with a more alkaline pI (about 1.0 pH unit). Thus, the microheterogeneity of human A1AChy is due only in part to differential sialylation of the isoproteins. Incubation of A1AChy (in excess) with alpha-chymotrypsin results in the formation of a primary complex. In the presence of excess protease, incubation results in a secondary complex with a lower pI. Upon incubation of A1AChy with trypsin, no protease-inhibitor complexes are observed, although there is evidence for partial degradation of the A1AChy molecule.
Achievable capacity using photon-counting array-based receivers with on-off-keyed and frequency-shift-keyed modulation formats

We discuss the use of photon-counting array receivers for communications links employing on-off-keyed and frequencyshift- keyed modulation formats. The effects of detector non-idealities, such as reset time and timing resolution on achievable receiver performance are presented.
A Test of Parylene as a Protective System for Microcircuitry

Parylene has been suggested for use and, in some cases, is used as a protective system for electronic components and assemblies, such as microcircuits. unfortunately, the amount of environmental test data for such parylene-protected components is quite limited and, to the authors' knowledge, almost no long-term test data exists. The principal objective of the test program reported in this paper was to determine whether it is at all reasonable to use parylene as a protective system for microcircuits in place of a hermetic seal in high-reliability equipment. A radiation-hardened circuit containing nichrome resistors was selected as a test specimen because of its considerable sensitivity to humidity-induced failure. The ceramic encased circuits were mounted on carrier cards, delidded, and coated with parylene C at three different facilities (Vendors A, B, and C). The cleaning cycle, the adhesion promotor, and the thickness of the parylene coating appifed differed from vendor to vendor, depending on the practices considered appropriate by the particular coating facili-ty at the time. The circuits were operated in a ring-counter configuration during humidity tests. Nonparylened units both with and without lids were also tested as controls, and other parylene-coated control units were kept in a dessicator. Units which had been coated by Vendor C had a hifgher failure rate than even the unprotected units. This is attributed to the adhesion promoter used. The failure modes exhibited by Vendor-C parts were: (1) Nichrome voiding at the nichrome/aluminum interface. (2) Nichrome voiding in the bulk of the nichrome resistors.
Effects of oligosaccharides on phase transition temperatures and rheological characteristics of waxy rice starch dispersion.

BACKGROUND: The creation of starch-based foods incorporated with functional ingredients such as probiotics is of great current interest in the food industry. This study aimed to investigate the effects of prebiotic oligosaccharides on the phase transition temperatures and rheological characteristics of waxy rice starch dispersions. Four oligosaccharides were applied to the rice starch dispersions: chitooligosaccharides, fructooligosaccharides, isomaltooligosaccharides and xylooligosaccharides. RESULTS: The addition of 125 g kg−1 oligosaccharides elevated the onset and peak temperatures for gelatinisation of 200–400 g kg−1 waxy rice starch dispersions. The temperature of the storage modulus (G′) for gelatinisation increased markedly on adding fructooligosaccharides to 200–300 g kg−1 waxy rice starch. For gelatinisation of 300 g kg−1 rice starch dispersion the effectiveness of the oligosaccharides in changing the above parameters was as follows: chitooligosaccharides > fructooligosaccharides > isomaltooligosaccharides > xylooligosaccharides. Moreover, their effectiveness was dependent on the amylose content, as illustrated by comparing waxy and non-waxy rice starches (amylose contents 9–256 g kg−1). Importantly, the logarithmic G′95 change was linearly and negatively correlated with amylose content. CONCLUSION: The results suggest that oligosaccharide-containing rice starch dispersions may potentially be used for the formulation of oligosaccharide-containing starchy functional foods owing to the rheological changes of these starch dispersions. Copyright © 2011 Society of Chemical Industry
Micropillar Electrode Array: From Metal to Dielectric Interface

We have developed a novel platform comprising a 3-D micropillar sensor array that can be encapsulated with high- $k$ dielectric material for applications in capacitive neural sensing. The present device incorporates over 3800 micropillar electrodes, grouped into 60 independent sensor clusters (for compatibility with existing electronics), spread over an area of 750 $\mu \text{m}^{2}$ . Each sensor cluster site consists of an 8 $\times $ 8 array of micropillars, interconnected by a lead to an output pad of the device. Individual 3-D pillars are $3~\mu \text{m}$ in diameter with a height of 8 $\mu \text{m}$ . Our experience suggests that such microstructured probes can achieve more intimate contact with the surface of neural tissue and enhance the quality of neuronal recordings. Impedance spectroscopy at 1 kHz measured average magnitude and phase shift of 710 W and 17°, respectively, for a single sensor site. These values confirm that our process allows robust fabrication of highly conductive 3-D microelectrodes. The device showed good consistency across all 60 Pt electrode clusters during initial characterization and when interfaced with retinal tissue. Such a device was then encapsulated with a layer of HfO2 by atomic layer deposition. Subsequent impedance spectroscopy showed a shift in impedance and phase towards capacitive behavior. The results shown here demonstrate high-density, 3-D microfabrication technology that can be applied to the development of advanced capacitive sensor arrays for neural tissue.
Interpersonal Coordination of HeadMotion in Distressed Couples

In automatic emotional expression analysis, head motion has been considered mostly a nuisance variable, something to control when extracting features for action unit or expression detection. As an initial step toward understanding the contribution of head motion to emotion communication, we investigated the interpersonal coordination of rigid head motion in intimate couples with a history of interpersonal violence. Episodes of conflict and non-conflict were elicited in dyadic interaction tasks and validated using linguistic criteria. Head motion parameters were analyzed using Student's paired t-tests; actor-partner analyses to model mutual influence within couples; and windowed cross-correlation to reveal dynamics of change in direction of influence over time. Partners' RMS angular displacement for yaw and RMS angular velocity for pitch and yaw each demonstrated strong mutual influence between partners. Partners' RMS angular displacement for pitch was higher during conflict. In both conflict and non-conflict, head angular displacement and angular velocity for pitch and yaw were strongly correlated, with frequent shifts in lead-lag relationships. The overall amount of coordination between partners' head movement was more highly correlated during non-conflict compared with conflict interaction. While conflict increased head motion, it served to attenuate interpersonal coordination.
Ambient Air Pollutants and Risk of Fatal Coronary Heart Disease Among Kidney Transplant Recipients

Background There is increasing evidence that specific ambient air pollutants are associated with coronary heart disease (CHD) morbidity and mortality. Because kidney transplant recipients have prevalent traditional and nontraditional risk factors, they may constitute a sensitive subgroup. Study Design Retrospective cohort. Setting & Participants This study includes 32,239 nonsmoking adult kidney transplant recipients who underwent transplant in 1997-2003, identified through the US Renal Data System and living in the United States within 50 km of an air pollution monitoring station. Predictor Long-term ambient pollutant ozone and particulate matter ≤10 μm (PM 10 ), assessed from monthly concentrations of ozone and PM 10 calculated from ambient monitoring data by the US Environmental Protection Agency Air Quality System and interpolated to zip code centroids according to patients' residence. Outcomes Outcomes of interest were death from CHD and natural-cause mortality. Results For the entire transplant cohort, average pollutant levels for ozone and PM 10 were 25.5 ± 4.4 parts per billion (ppb) and 25.3 ± 6.4 μg/m 3 , respectively. Correlation between ozone and PM 10 values was low, but statistically significant ( P 10 . No significant association was identified for PM 10 or ozone level and natural-cause mortality (RR, 1.09; 95% CI, 0.99-1.21). Limitations Exposure assignment based on only residential location. Conclusions For kidney transplant recipients, ambient ozone levels potentially are associated with higher risk of fatal CHD. These findings may have implications for regulations governing air pollution and the development of individual CHD risk-reduction strategies.
Primary epithelial lung malignancies in the pediatric population.

Background Primary epithelial lung malignancies are rare in childhood and adolescence. We reviewed the Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center experience with these tumors to better understand their histology, time to diagnosis, treatment, and outcome. Procedure A retrospective review was performed on all patients 21 years of age or younger at diagnosis, treated for primary epithelial lung malignancies at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center between 1980 and 2001. Results We identified 11 patients with primary epithelial lung malignancy. The median age at diagnosis was 19 (range: 12–21) years. The most common radiographic abnormality was a mass (55%) on chest imaging. Seven patients (64%) were initially diagnosed as having pneumonia which contributed to a delay in diagnosis. Final pathologic diagnoses included adenocarcinoma (four), carcinoid tumor (three typical, one atypical), basaloid carcinoma (two), and mucoepidermoid carcinoma (one). A majority of patients presented with advanced disease (two stage III, four stage IV). Patients with localized disease were treated with surgical resection and all but one remains disease free with a median follow-up of 60 months (range: 13–286). Patients with either advanced locoregional or distant metastatic disease were treated with multimodal therapy and a majority had rapid progression of disease. Conclusions When children and adolescents present with primary epithelial lung malignancy a majority will have advanced disease and experience a delay in diagnosis. The histologic types of tumors encountered are similar to lung tumors occurring in adults, although the frequency of the various types differs. Carcinoid tumors are more frequent, and less common subtypes of bronchogenic carcinoma are also more prevalent in the pediatric age group. Similar to the adult population, the prognosis of these tumors is dependent on histology and stage. Patients with carcinoid tumors seem to have the best prognosis, followed by adenocarcinoma. The highly aggressive basaloid carcinoma has the worst. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Ascent of Sap in Trees: Effect of Negative Absolute Pressure on Flow Resistance

IN considering the ascent of sap in trees, it is generally accepted1 that the transpiration process at the leaves somehow ‘pulls’ the sap up through the xylem vessels in the tree trunk during active transpiration periods. This ‘cohesion theory’ postulates that negative absolute pressure (liquid tension) must be present in trees more than 34 ft. high, or in any plant where the combined effects of hydrostatic head and flow resistance produce a pressure drop of more than one atmosphere. Investigators have had little success, however, in applying traditional resistance laws to the calculation of viscous pressure drop. Theoretical estimates of flow resistance to sap movement have varied by several orders of magnitude2 and experimental checks of flow resistance through sections of trees frequently show the flow rate decreasing with time at constant pressure3. It appears that the present resistance ‘law’ is incorrect, is being misinterpreted, or the viscosity of sap is not what it is assumed to be from measurements made at positive pressures. This communication is relevant to the latter possibility and reports, in particular, on whether negative absolute pressures have any detectable effect on flow resistance.
Samson’s “Rousing Motions”: What They Are, How They Work, and Why They Matter

Before going to the Temple of Dagon with the Philistian Officer near the climax of Milton’s Samson Agonistes, Samson tells the uncomprehending Chorus to “Be of good courage.” For, he assures them, “I begin to feel / Some rousing motions in me which dispose / To something extraordinary my thoughts” (1381–3). Samson’s motivation for his decision to enter the temple, together with his catastrophic act of pulling down the temple upon the Philistian nobility, and “inevitably” upon himself, has become the flashpoint of voluminous debate about Samson Agonistes in recent Milton criticism. This essay aims to contribute to this critical conversation by exploring precisely what Milton and his readers would have understood by the “rousing motions” that Samson reports feeling at this pivotal moment. Seventeenth-century readers would have recognized Samson’s “motions” as the part of the so-called system of “faculty psychology” responsible for the feelings. Beyond scrutinizing Milton’s text, I examine contextual support from ancient and early modern sources toward understanding Samson’s “motions” and their workings. As well as reviewing the theory of emotions expounded by Aristotle in the Rhetoric and Nicomachean Ethics, I describe the modifications to that theory propounded by the Protestant reformer Philip Melanchthon, as well as the nuanced approach to dealing with affective volatility developed by the Cambridge theologian William Fenner. Milton and these Protestant writers share three essential convictions: they locate the emotions within a comprehensive model of the mental faculties; they assert the power of the human agent, typically through the will, to control – in Milton’s phrase, “to temper and reduce to just measure”– their potentially overwhelming power; and, most significant of all, they regard the emotions as the specific point of interaction between God, typically in the form of the Spirit, and the aspiring spirits of the human being. This last claim in particular addresses a question raised by several recent commentators on Samson Agonistes, namely, whether Samson’s impulse to act comes from himself or from God.
Biosynthesis of riboflavin: enzymatic conversion of 5-amino-2,4-dioxy-6-ribitylaminopyrimidine to 6,7-dimethyl-8-ribityllumazine.

Abstract The conversion of 5-amino-2,4-dioxy-6-ribitylaminopyrimidine (ADRAP) to 6,7-dimethyl-8-ribityllumazine, the immediate precursor of riboflavin, can take place in the presence of an extract of Escherichia coli . The extract can be separated into 2 protein fraction, both of which are needed for the transformation, and pyridine nucleotide, supplied most efficiently as NAD+, is required. Since no carbon source other than ADRAP is needed, we conclude that 2 moles of ADRAP are used in the transformation, one to serve as donor of the 4 extra carbons needed for the transformation, and one to serve as the acceptor.
Nascent protein requirement for completion of meiotic maturation and pronuclear development: examination of fertilized and A-23187-activated surf clam (Spisula solidissima) eggs.

Abstract The involvement of newly synthesized proteins and calcium in meiotic processes, sperm nuclear transformations, and pronuclear development was examined in emetine-treated, fertilized, and A-23187-activated Spisula eggs by observing changes in the morphogenesis of the maternal and paternal chromatin. Emetine treatment (50 μg/ml) initiated 30 min before fertilization or A-23187 activation inhibited incorporation of [3H]leucine into TCA-precipitable material and blocked second polar body formation. Sperm incorporation and the initial enlargement of the sperm nucleus were unaffected; however, the dramatic enlargement and transformation of the sperm nucleus into a male pronucleus, which normally follow polar body formation, were delayed 10 to 20 min. Unlike the situation in untreated, control eggs, male pronuclear development took place while the maternally derived chromosomes remained condensed. It was not until ∼20 min after the normal period of pronuclear development that the maternal chromosomes dispersed and formed a female pronucleus in emetine-treated, fertilized eggs. Formation of pronuclei, however, was unaffected in both emetine-treated, A-23187-activated eggs and fertilized eggs incubated with A-23187. These observations indicate that germinal vesicle breakdown, first polar body formation, and initial transformations of the sperm nucleus are independent of newly synthesized proteins. Inhibition of second polar body formation and the delay in pronuclear development brought about by emetine, as well as the appearance of silver grains over pronuclei in autoradiographs of control eggs incubated with [3H]leucine demonstrate that nascent proteins are involved with the completion of meiotic maturation and the development of male and female pronuclei. The ability of A-23187 to override the override the inhibitory effects of emetine on pronuclear development suggests that both nascent protein and calcium signals are involved in regulating the status of the maternal and paternal chromatin during pronuclear development.
Fibroblast growth factor-2 induces hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor expression in osteoblasts.

Hepatocyte growth factor/scatter factor (HGF/SF) is a multifunctional growth factor with a major role in tissue morphogenesis and repair. It stimulates the proliferation of cells of the osteoblast and osteoclast lineages. Mitogenic factors playing a role in fracture repair may act by regulating HGF/SF expression or activity in bone-forming cells. We investigated the effect of fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) on the expression of HGF/SF and its receptor, encoded by c-met, in the MC3T3-E1 osteoblastic cell line. MC3T3-E1 cells expressed low levels of HGF/SF messenger RNA (mRNA), which were markedly increased by FGF-2 in a dose- and time-dependent manner. FGF-2 also induced HGF/SF polypeptide synthesis. The stimulation of HGF/SF mRNA expression by FGF-2 was blocked by cycloheximide, a protein synthesis inhibitor, but not by DNA or prostaglandin synthesis inhibitors. FGF-2 increased the rate of HGF/SF gene transcription by approximately 2-fold, as determined by nuclear run-on assays, and did not modify the ...
Prodrugs of phosphates, phosphonates, and phosphinates

Abstract The objective of this paper is to review the literature on the use of prodrugs to overcome the drug delivery obstacles associated with phosphate, phosphonate and phosphinate functional group-containing drugs. This is an important area of research because, although we have been successful at identifying numerous phosphate and phosphonate functional group-containing drugs as antiviral and anticancer agents, as well as for other uses, our ability to orally deliver these drugs and to target them to desired sites has led to limited success. Various acyloxymethyl- and aryl-ester prodrugs have shown promise. Alternative and imaginative approaches may be necessary before complete success is realized. It is our hope that this review will stimulate further innovative prodrug research into overcoming the barriers to the delivery of these important drugs.
Phantom Cinema: Illuminating the Structuring Absences of Film History

When rumors on various Internet discussion boards started circulating sometime around mid-2007 that Samuel Fuller's White Dog (1982) was finally going to be released on home video in the United Sta...
Yeats, Samhain, and the aesthetics of cultural nationalism: ‘a supreme moment in the life of a nation’

Together, in the plays and essays published in the 1903 issue of Samhain, William Butler Yeats assembled writings that endorse his vision of cultural nationalism in that they stress the possibilities of an artistic regeneration that that has the power to reconcile perceived exclusive strata within Irish society and also to herald a new age not only for Irish culture but for the Irish nation. Yeats, in his cultural nationalism, ultimately vested faith in an Ascendancy tradition, defined not by birth as much as by a willingness to surrender not just political ambitions but all ambition to that of the artist.
Studies on erythropoiesis. IV. Reticulocyte response of hypophysectomized and polycythemic rodents to erythropoietin.

Summary and Conclusions1. Following hypophysectomy of rats, reticulocytes in the peripheral blood fall to a minimal level within a period of 3 to 4 weeks. This reduction represents a 5- to 10-fold decrease from the prehypophysectomy control. This reticulocyte decline is more rapid in 8-week-old rats than in younger animals. 2. Administration of anemic plasma to hypophysectomized rats produces a reticulocyte rise that is many fold greater than that produced by normal plasma or saline. 3. Erythropoiesis, as measured by the number of reticulocytes in peripheral blood, falls to zero in 6 days in mice made polycythemic by repeated intraperitoneal injections of homologous red cells. Anemic plasma obtained from rats or rabbits, when injected intravenously or intra-peritoneally into polycythemic mice, produces a reticulocytosis many times greater than that observed from normal plasma. Normal saline produces no increase in reticulocytes. 4. In polycythemic mice and hypophysectomized rats, reticulocyte determinatio...
Participatory Discrepancies and the Power of Music

The power of music is in its participatory discrepancies, and these are basically of two kinds: processual and textural. Music, to be personally involving and socially valuable, must be "out of time" and "out of tune." For "participatory discrepancies" one could substitute "inflection," "articulation," "creative tensions," "relaxed dynamisms," "semiconscious or unconscious slightly out of syncnesses." For "process" one could substitute "beat," "drive," "groove," "swing," "push," etc., and for "texture" one could substitute "timbre," "sound," "tone qualities," "as arranged by," and so forth. The fact that these musical essentials are barely "figured" in Owen Barfield's sense (1965:24ff., 188) and certainly not "collectively represented" with any great clarity in language (1965: 41, 111, 122, 154-155) is evidence, I believe, of their original or active participatory power (1965:2845). Put another way, wherever "lexical meanings" are various and ambiguous for a particular phenomenon, one can assume a lot of collective and individual unconsciousness and conversely a greater power for "speaker's meanings" (Barfield 1984) to define situations.
Quantitative analysis of integrated optic waveguide spectrometers

We show how scalar diffraction theory can be used to quantitatively evaluate insertion losses in integrated optic spectrometers based on planar waveguide and etched grating technologies. This approach is applied to optimize the loss-limited spectral operating range of these devices. We also show how limitations in the photolithographic process used for grating definition can result in appreciable spectrometer insertion losses. >
Intersubband collective excitations at the surface of a semiconductor superlattice

The intersubband and intrasubband collective excitations of a semi-infinite semiconductor superlattice are investigated. Surface intersubband excitations, similar to the intrasubband surface modes predicted by Giuliani and Quinn, are found for wavelengths shorter than a critical value ${\ensuremath{\lambda}}^{\mathrm{*}}$, which depends on the material parameters.
Analysis of evaporation of cadmium sulfide for manufacture of solar cells

Vacuum sublimation of cadmium sulfide for manufacture of thin film solar cells was analyzed. The sublimation unit consisted of a two chamber cylindrical source bottle having a rate control orifice and exit nozzle. Coupled heat and mass balance equations were solved using appropriate rate equations for flow in the free molecular-to-viscous transition regime. The model equations predicted that heat transfer has a significant effect on sublimation rate. Experiments were carried out over a range of temperatures with several rate control orifices and exit nozzles. Quantitative agreement between measured rates and those calculated from the model equations was obtained.
Two-dimensional turbulence above topography

In a turbulent two-dimensional flow enstrophy systematically cascades to very small scales, at which it is dissipated. The kinetic energy, on the other hand, remains at large scales and the total kinetic energy is constant. Above random topography an initially turbulent flow tends to a steady state with streamlines parallel to contours of constant depth, anticyclonic around a bump. A numerical experiment verifies this prediction. In a closed basin on a beta-plane the solution with minimum enstrophy implies a westward flow in the interior, returning in narrow boundary layers to the north and south. This result is interpreted using a parameterization of the effects of the eddies on the large-scale flow. The numerical solution is in qualitative agreement, but corresponds to a minimum of a more complex measure of the total enstrophy than the usual quadratic integral.
Inborn variation in metabolism

Advances in analytical biochemistry have recently made it possible to obtain global snapshots of metabolism. A new study couples such technology with genome-wide genetic analysis to explore inherited variation in human metabolism.
Differential regulation of LPS-induced IL-1β and EL-1 receptor antagonist mRNA by IFNα and IFNγ in murine peritoneal macrophages:

IL-1 and its naturally occurring receptor antagonist, IL-1ra, are primarily synthesized by cells of the monocyte-macrophage lineage. The balance of the relative amounts of these secreted cytokines has major importance in the pathophysiology of various inflammatory disorders, especially bacterial sepsis and some autoimmune diseases. While both the agonist and the antagonist genes belong to the same family, IL-1β and IL-1ra are differentially regulated. In the present study, we examined the effects of macrophage activating factors, bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS), IFNα, and IFNγ, on the regulation of IL-1ra and IL-1β mRNA levels in thioglycollate-elicited mouse peritoneal macrophages. LPS-treatment of cultured macrophages resulted in a 3 to 4-fold increase in IL-1ra mRNA which peaked between 6-12 h, then started to decline but remained well above background levels at 24 h. In comparison to IL-1ra, the LPS-induced increase in IL-1β mRNA was larger, peaked earlier (at 2-4 h), and sharply decreased thereaft...
Quantity Competition in Spatial Markets with Incomplete Information

In a seminal article Rothschild and Stiglitz [R-S, 1976] have developed the properties of markets for insurance when firms cannot distinguish high-risk from low-risk individuals; the R-S approach has been developed by Wilson [1977] and Riley [1979]. A problem in this literature is that competitive firms have an incentive to offer contracts that single out profitable low-risk individuals. When all firms behave in a similar manner, high-risk types have no alternative to the contract intended for the lowrisk class; expectations are disappointed, and competition fails to support market equilibrium. This paper demonstrates that insurance firms are able to use the quantity of insurance to compete for customers. By changing the level of indemnity while holding the premium rate constant (quantity competition), it is possible to induce customers to reveal their risk class.1 This paper develops a framework for the analysis of quantity competition, and it derives the sufficient condition for the existence of market equilibrium. In this paper, spatial monopolistic firms compete at the boundaries of their market areas for customers who are indifferent as to where (i.e., from whom) they make a purchase (see Greenhut [1970] and Capozza and van Order [1978]). Spatial relationships motivate the incomplete information assumption: highrisk types can conceal their identities (i.e., it is impossible to observe differences among risk classes) because of the spatial separation between firms and customers. The insurance industry provides an example of a service that is dependent on face-to-face contacts between sales agents and clients: for example, over 90 percent of life insurance is sold through agencies.2 A group of 85 life insurance companies, accounting for
Extraneous peaks in gas chromatography; Their source and elimination

Extraneous (ghost) peaks can be traced back to the flow controller, the carrier gas, the injector system and the septum. Each component is discussed and the reasons for the appearance of such peaks are pointed out. Possibilities for partial or complete elimination of these extraneous peaks are discussed in detail including a trap after the flow controller, an improved injector system, and various devices to shield the septum from the inside injector volume.
Sparse aperture millimeter-wave imaging using optical detection and correlation techniques

For many applications, the usefulness of millimeter-wave imagers is limited by the large aperture sizes required to obtain images of sufficient resolution. Sparse aperture techniques could open up wider range of applications by mitigating the volume requirements of high resolution imagers. In previous proceedings, we have presented an approach towards the realization of millimeter-wave, sparse-aperture imagers using optical techniques. By using electro-optic modulators to upconvert received millimeter-wave fields onto an optical carrier, such fields can be readily captured, routed, and processed using optical techniques. Such techniques could provide significant advantages over traditional heterodyne techniques. Herein, we present progress towards the physical realization of such an imager. Specifically, we discuss the implementation challenges that must be addressed to create such an imager and present in further detail the numerous advantages such an approach will yield. We also present results obtained from a working prototype system and show that these results are in good agreement with theoretical performance models.
The acute hemodynamic effects of right ventricular septal pacing in patients with congestive heart failure secondary to ischemic or idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy

Abstract In summary, no hemodynamic benefit of VDD pacing from the right ventricular septum was observed in patients with severe, chronic CHF despite evaluating a wide range of AV delays.
Project Selection and Prioritization of Pavement Preservation: Competitive Approach

Several methods help agencies select and prioritize pavement preservation projects. Often these methods are built within an agency's pavement management system. Unfortunately, these decision support tools often produce recommendations that do not match actual decisions, particularly for project selection of pavement management. Ad hoc selection procedures for preservation projects may be effective for many highway agencies. Fiscal constraints and pressure from administrators and legislators, however, have forced agencies to justify their use of funds. This paper offers a new method for the selection and prioritization of pavement projects, with the use of the analytic hierarchy process as its multicriteria decision-making platform. The new method uses several parameters and input from decision makers to create a prioritized preservation project list. The method was applied in a case study in Texas; projects suggested by the method matched actual decisions 75% of the time. The ability to capture multiple p...
Monoamine changes in the brain of cats during slow-wave sleep

We have found that the metabolism of 5-hydroxytryptamine increases in the hippocampus and that the metabolism of dopamine decreases in the striatum and thalamus during slow-wave sleep, and we suggest that these changes are related to this stage of sleep. We have also found that the concentration of dopamine increases in the hippocampus during slow-wave sleep, and suggest that this may be related to the subsequent appearance of paradoxical sleep. These data raise new questions on the hippocampal role in the sleep-wakefulness cycle.
The Detection of Auditory Evoked Responses Using a Matched Filter

A method has been developed to detect auditory brainstem evoked responses (ABR's) using a minimum amount of computer averaging. The method employs a matched filter to detect the ABR buried in the EEG. The matched filter system can also be used to predict wave V latency, which is useful in testing for hearing loss. By using a matched filter derived from an ABR obtained at a high-stimulus level, it is possible to calculate wave V latency at lower intensity levels much faster. Excellent correlation is seen between wave V latencies calculated in this manner, and those obtained after significant amounts of averaging. Because of this, the matched filter system can reduce the amount of time required for a hearing loss test from 20?30 min to approximately 5?10 min with no significant degradation in results.
Substrate 2′-Hydroxyl Groups Required for Ribozyme-Catalyzed Polymerization

A polymerase ribozyme has been generated that uses nucleoside triphosphates to elongate an RNA primer by the successive addition of nucleotides complementary to an RNA template. Its polymerization is accurate, with an average error rate less than 3%, and it is general in terms of the sequence and the length of the primer and template RNAs. To begin to understand how the substrate contacts contribute to this accurate and general activity, we investigated which primer and template 2'-hydroxyl groups are involved in substrate recognition. We identified eight positions where 2'-deoxy substitutions can influence polymerization kinetics. All eight are within five nucleotides of the primer 3' terminus. Some, but not all, of the 2'-deoxy effects appear to be sequence dependent. These results begin to build a picture of how the polymerase ribozyme recognizes its substrates.
Neurogenesis decreases during brain maturation from adolescence to adulthood

Adolescence is an important stage of brain development. Recent studies have indicated that neurogenesis in the brain occurs throughout life prompting comparisons of adolescent and adult neurogenesis. Since insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF-1) has been implicated in promoting neurogenesis we investigated the levels of neurogenesis in adolescents (PND30) and adults (PND120) using IGF-1 over-expressing mice and IGFBP-1 (IGF binding protein-1) over-expressing mice. Proliferation and differentiation of neuroprogenitors were determined using bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU)- and doublecortin (DCX)-labeling. High levels of neurogenesis were found in both the hippocampal dentate gyrus (DG) and the forebrain subventricular zone (SVZ) of the adolescents as compared with the adults. Both adolescent IGF-1 and IGFBP-1 transgenic mice as well as their wildtype controls have significantly higher expression of BrdU and DCX in the hippocampus and SVZ when compared with their adult counterparts. However, no significant differences on BrdU-labeling were found when either of transgenic mice were compared with their wildtype littermates in both age groups. These studies indicate that adolescent mice have high levels of neurogenesis compared to adults suggesting a dramatic loss of neurogenesis during the transition from adolescence to adulthood. However, the role of IGF-1 during adolescent development is still unclear.
D2 dopamine receptor gene and cigarette smoking: A reward gene?

There is now growing evidence that the less prevalent allele (A1) of the D2 dopamine receptor (DRD2) gene is strongly associated with severe alcoholism. Similarly, subjects who abuse illegal drugs or who are obese also show a significantly higher prevalence of the A1 DRD2 allele compared to controls. Moreover, cigarette smokers, both past and current, demonstrate significantly higher prevalence of the A1 allele than nonsmokers. In as much as alcohol, cocaine, opiates, nicotine and food are known to increase brain dopamine levels and activate the mesocorticolimbic dopaminergic reward pathways of the brain, it is hypothesized that an inherited deficit of D2 dopamine receptor numbers in brain reward areas of A1 allelic subject predisposes them to substance abuse problems.
The Use of Transgenes and Mutations in the Mouse to Study the Genetic Basis of Locomotor Hyperactivity

Abstract As the mouse genome becomes more accessible to experimental manipulation, it is becoming feasible to assess how genes influence the expression of specific behavioral traits. The mouse mutant coloboma exhibits extreme hyperactivity resulting from an ∼2-cM deletion on mouse Chromosome 2. This deletion includes the gene encoding SNAP-25, a neuron-specific protein implicated in exocytotic neurotransmitter release. Because a deficit in this gene product might contribute to the expression of hyperactivity, a transgene expressing SNAP-25 was bred into the coloboma mouse genome to replace the missing SNAP-25 and rescue the hyperactivity. The Snap transgene was indeed sufficient to ameliorate the locomotor excesses exhibited by these mice, suggesting that SNAP-25 plays a central role in the expression of hyperactivity. In the course of designing and executing this experiment, several methodologic issues pertinent to manipulating the mouse genome in the context of a behavioral question were presented. These issues are discussed in light of the unique properties of the mouse as a behavioral genetic tool.
Rate-limiting function of 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A synthase in ketogenesis

Abstract The rate-limiting reaction in the conversion of acetyl-CoA to acetoacetate via the HMG-CoA cycle in rat liver mitochondria was investigated by producing differential effects on the activities of the component enzymes of the sequence and observing consequent reactivity of the overall process. Water-lysed mitochondria were employed to permit measurement of the maximum velocities. Aging at 0°C did not affect acetoacetyl-CoA thiolase or HMG-CoA lyase activities, whereas HMG-CoA synthase activity declined. Acetoacetate production decreased in parallel. Mg 2+ did not affect acetoacetyl-CoA thiolase activity, activated HMG-CoA lyase, and inhibited HMG-CoA synthase. Acetoacetate formation was proportionally depressed. It is concluded that HMG-CoA synthase is the rate-limiting enzyme of the sequence.
The 24-Hour Pattern of the Levels of Serum Progesterone and Immunoreactive Human Chorionic Gonadotropin in Normal Early Pregnancy*

The purpose of this study was to characterize the levels of progesterone and hCG and the variability of those levels over 24 h in early pregnancy. Venous blood sampling was performed every 30 min during the first trimester of a subsequently normal pregnancy in 19 women. The variability in each progesterone and hCG data series was evaluated by three methods: 1) comparing the coefficient of variation (CV) of each individual hormone data set to the respective assay CV, 2) examining each data set for pulses, and 3) relating changes in hormone levels to the ingestion of a meal. The CV for each individual progesterone data set was greater than the assay CV (CV progesterone, 3.7%) in all subjects (range, 5.58-21.90%). The CV for each individual hCG data set was greater than the assay CV for hCG (CV hCG, 4.3%) in 17 of 19 subjects (range, 3.27-10.95%). Mean (+/- SE) progesterone and hCG peak frequencies were 2.4 +/- 0.3 and 1.7 +/- 0.3/24 h, respectively. When postprandial levels of progesterone were normalized to a percentage of preprandial levels, there were maximum decreases in mean progesterone levels of 15.4 +/- 2.6% and 13.1 +/- 1.9% 1 h after initiation of the lunch and dinner meals, respectively (P less than 0.05). Postprandial hCG levels decreased by 2.3 +/- 1.9% and 0.4 +/- 1.6% during this same time period (P greater than 0.05). These findings suggest that 1) both progesterone and hCG levels fluctuate during a 24-h period in early pregnancy; 2) this variability of both hormones is greater than inherent assay variability and can be resolved into a short term pattern of pulses, suggesting alterations in episodic secretion, metabolic clearance, or volume of distribution of the hormone; and 3) a portion of the variability in the progesterone time set may be due to the ingestion of meals.
Osmolyte‐induced conformational changes in the Hsp90 molecular chaperone

Osmolytes are small molecules that play a central role in cellular homeostasis and the stress response by maintaining protein thermodynamic stability at controlled levels. The underlying physical chemistry that describes how different osmolytes impact folding free energy is well understood, however little is known about their influence on other crucial aspects of protein behavior, such as native-state conformational changes. Here we investigate this issue with the Hsp90 molecular chaperone, a large dimeric protein that populates a complex conformational equilibrium. Using small angle X-ray scattering we observe dramatic osmolyte-dependent structural changes within the native ensemble. The degree to which different osmolytes affect the Hsp90 conformation strongly correlates with thermodynamic metrics of their influence on stability. This observation suggests that the well-established osmolyte principles that govern stability also apply to large-scale conformational changes, a proposition that is corroborated by structure-based fitting of the scattering data, surface area comparisons and m-value analysis. This approach shows how osmolytes affect a highly cooperative open/closed structural transition between two conformations that differ by a domain-domain interaction. Hsp90 adopts an additional ligand-specific conformation in the presence of ATP and we find that osmolytes do not significantly affect this conformational change. Together, these results extend the scope of osmolytes by suggesting that they can maintain protein conformational heterogeneity at controlled levels using similar underlying principles that allow them to maintain protein stability; however the relative impact of osmolytes on different structural states can vary significantly.
Role of the uterus in allantoic fluid shifts and fetal mobility in mares

Clenbuterol was used to inhibit myometrial contractions in mares (n=10) on Days 67–84 of pregnancy (ovulation = Day 0). Transrectal ultrasonography was used at 5-min intervals for 1 h to monitor the diameter of the allantoic fluid compartment and fetal intrauterine location (umbilical cord horn, non-cord horn, uterine body), presentation, and recumbency. The percentage of ultrasound scans in which the cornual segments were fully constricted (no detectable allantoic fluid) was less (P<0.0001) after clenbuterol treatment (2.2±1.1%) than before treatment (14.0±2.6%). The diameter of the allantoic fluid compartment was greater (P<0.0001) after treatment (45.8±2.7 mm) than before treatment (36.8±2.7 mm). There were no differences between pre- vs. post-treatment examinations in the mean number of changes per hour in fetal location, presentation or recumbency. Transcervical videoendoscopy was used on Days 74–84 to monitor fetal activity and mobility and diameter of the allantoic fluid compartment at the cornual entrances in two groups (fetus treated with succinylcholine, n=5; controls, n=6). The mean number of fetal changes per 30 min was reduced (P<0.05) in the treated group for location (0.6±0.4 vs. 2.8±0.7), presentation (1.0±0.5 vs. 5.3±1.3), and recumbency (1.0±0.6 vs. 13.6±0.7). There was no difference between groups in the number of changes in diameter of the cornual entrances. Results indicated that during the equine early fetal stage: (1) the uterus is extremely active, resulting in pronounced and dynamic shifts in allantoic fluid distribution; (2) fetal mobility and changes in fetal presentation and recumbency are dependent primarily on vigorous movements by the fetus rather than on uterine contractions; (3) allantoic fluid shifts and fetal activity and positional changes are primarily independent phenomena.
Expression and distribution of transforming growth factor-α within melanocytic lesions

Stimulation of epidermal growth factor (EGF) receptor by ligands such as transforming growth factor (TGF) alpha may be associated with cell proliferation or transformation in both nevocytes and keratinocytes. Previously, EGF receptors have been identified within a variety of pigmented lesions, suggesting a possible responsiveness to ligands such as TGF alpha. In the present study, we characterize the intralesional expression and distribution of immunoreactive TGF alpha protein by avidin-biotin immunoperoxidase localization in benign nevi, congenital nevi, dysplastic nevi, and malignant melanomas. In situ hybridization techniques with TGF alpha riboprobes confirmed the constitutive production of TGF alpha in all types of pigmented lesions. The localization of TGF alpha expression to nevocytes when coupled with the previous reports of expression in basal keratinocytes suggests the possibility of either an autocrine mechanism of action for TGF alpha or a paracrine interplay of TGF alpha between keratinocytes and nevocytes within melanocytic lesions. An increase in immunoreactive TGF alpha in nevocytes was noted in both benign and dysplastic nevi from dysplastic nevus patients, as compared to benign nevi from normal patients. Congenital nevi and malignant melanomas showed an intermediate and variable level of TGF alpha immunoreactivity. When coupled with previous studies the data suggest linkage of the TGF alpha/EGF receptor pathway in the evolution of melanocytic lesions.