cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The chemistry of flower pigmentation in Antirrhinum m̄ajus color genotypes. III. Relative anthocyanin and aurone concentrations

Abstract Relative anthocyanin and aurone concentrations have been measured spectrophotometrically in 25 of 27 possible color genotypes of the garden snapdragon, Antirrhinum majus . The results have allowed the following generalizations to be formulated for the case of gene-controlled pigmentation in A. majus . 1. 1. Increased numbers of recessive factors result in decreased anthocyanin production. 2. 2. Genotypes containing pelargonidin glycoside have a significantly lower concentration of anthocyanin than genotypes containing cyanidin glycoside. 3. 3. Highest concentration of aurone is associated with genotypes —yy. 4. 4. Increased numbers of dominant factors result in decreased aurone production. 5. 5. High anthocyanin concentration is related to low aurone concentration and, conversely, low anthocyanin concentration is related to high aurone concentration. 6. 6. The chemical consequence of heterozygosity is an alteration in the magnitude of the effect produced by the dominant alleles. A general pathway for the biosynthesis of the flavonoid pigments of A. majus has been proposed.
Introduction to S-systems and the underlying power-law formalism

A novel approach to the development of an appropriate formalism for representing organizationally complex systems began in the mid 1960's with a search for a general systematic formalism that would retain the essential nonlinear features and that would still be amenable to mathematical analysis. The set of nonlinear differential equations that most closely approached this goal was called an ''S-system'', because it accurately captures the saturable and synergistic properties intrinsic to biological and other organizationally complex systems. In the early 1980's it was found that essentially any nonlinear differential equation composed of elementary functions could be recast exactly as an S-system. Thus, S-systems may be considered a canonical form with the ability to represent an enormous variety of nonlinear differential equations. This has given rise to new strategies for the mathematical modeling of nonlinear systems.
Flexibility in the Design of Military Radio Apparatus

Numerous factors limited the production of military radio and electronic apparatus at the inauguration of the Defense Program. Corrective action was taken to eliminate them as progress was made on the Defense, and later, the War Program. With their elimination, new factors became limiting. The major factor which establishes the current industry production ceiling is the supply of critical materials and components. The application of alternates for both has materially reduced the effects of the present limitations. Much more can be accomplished by concentration on the problems and this paper describes measures which have been taken and suggests procedures for future action.
1700 ps/nm tunable dispersion compensation for 10 Gbit/s RZ lightwave transmission

Programmable chromatic dispersion compensation with a virtually-imaged phased-array and spatial light modulator for 10 Gbit/s RZ data transmission (both 33% RZ and 50% RZ formats) with tuning range up to -1700 ps/nm is demonstrated.
New applications of nanoparticles in cardiovascular imaging

Nanotechnology involves working at the atomic, molecular, and macromolecular levels including imaging. Recently, four areas have emerged in cardiovascular imaging: 1. Targeted therapeutics to deliver cardioprotective drugs at the target sites they are needed; 2. Myocardial tissue engineering to replace the defective valves, damaged heart muscle, clogged blood vessels and myocardium; 3. Molecular imaging using “smart” imaging agents in targeted therapeutics and imaging; 4. Biosensors and myocardial diagnostics. Several approaches to nanoparticles i.e. dendrimers, liposomes, polymer delivery molecules, cantilevers, nanoscaffolds, nanofibers are potential candidates in cardiac visualization. The extracellular matrix plays a significant role by chemokines, cytokines and growth factors. The limitations of these emerging techniques and a new possibility of MRI visualization of mouse cardiac atheroma by superparamagnetic iron-oxide gadolinium-apoferritin (SPIOA) and myoglobin (SPIOM), for targeted functional and...
The older adult with a spinal cord injury

Sixty-two consecutive acute spinal cord injury (SCI) patients who were aged 55 years or older were studied and compared to 296 SCI patients of age less than 55 years. Compared to younger patients, the older group had significantly more females (29%), preexisting medical conditions (87%), associated injuries (55%), incomplete quadriplegic patients (63%), and persons whose injuries resulted from falls (53%). There were no differences between groups in frequency of ventilator use, occurrence of medical complications, or acute length of stay, but older patients tended to have fewer surgical spinal fusions (40%), shorter rehabilitation stays (66.5 days), more indwelling urethral cathteters (31%), and more nursing home discharges (19%). With other factors being controlled, advancing age was predictive only of nursing home discharge, and not of acute or rehabilitation lengths of stay. Among older SCI patients, those with complete injuries were nearly 3 times as likely to have been discharged to nursing homes in our series compared to older patients with incomplete lesions. Although many aspects of the presentation, course, and care of older SCI individuals are similar to those of younger patients, there are several unique features of older adults with a SCI.
Model of high-current breakdown from cathode field emission in aged wire chambers

Abstract Observing single electron pulses provides insight into the mechanism that leads to sudden high-current jumps (breakdown) in aged wire chambers. This single electron activity is found to be consistent with the Fowler–Nordheim (FN) equation for field emission of electrons from a cathode surface in a high electric field. The high electric field arises from the positive ion buildup on a very thin insulating layer on the cathode surface. A model is presented to explain the transient behavior of single electron pulses in response to abrupt changes in chamber ionization, as well as the steady-state rate during a long-term aging run. The model is based on properties of the insulating layer (dielectric constant, conductivity, and hole-mobility) as well as the FN equation. This model also applies to other avalanche type chambers such as microstrip gas chambers and gas electron multipliers.
"Don't Ask, Don't Tell": Does the Gay Ban Undermine the Military's Reputation?

This article asks what impact, if any, the “don't ask, don't tell” policy might have on the U.S. military's reputation. Original empirical research is presented to suggest that the policy harms the...
Development of a hypoxia-inducible cytosine deaminase expression vector for gene-directed prodrug cancer therapy.

Development of a hypoxia-inducible cytosine deaminase expression vector for gene-directed prodrug cancer therapy
The blood-stage dynamics of mixed Plasmodium malariae-Plasmodium falciparum infections.

Abstract We present the first mathematical model of the within-host dynamics of a mixed-species malaria infection in a human: the blood-stage population dynamics of a dual infection with Plasmodium malariae and Plasmodium falciparum . Our results reproduce several important features of such infections in nature, including the asymmetry of species asexual-form densities, inter-specific suppression through interactions with the human immune system, and seasonal alternations in species prevalence. Most importantly, our results suggest that an existing P. malariae infection can reduce the peak parasitemia of a subsequent P. falciparum superinfection by as much as 50%. This result integrates numerous empirical observations and supports the hypothesis that clinical outcomes of P. falciparum infections may be influenced by the presence of a congener.
Seismic-wave attenuation associated with crustal faults in the New Madrid seismic zone

The attenuation of upper crustal seismic waves that are refracted with a velocity of about 6 kilometers per second varies greatly among profiles in the area of the New Madrid seismic zone in the central Mississippi Valley. The waves that have the strongest attenuation pass through the seismic trend along the axis of the Reelfoot rift in the area of the Blytheville arch. Defocusing of the waves in a low-velocity zone and/or seismic scattering and absorption could cause the attenuation; these effects are most likely associated with the highly deformed rocks along the arch. Consequently, strong seismic-wave attenuation may be a useful criterion for identifying seismogenic fault zones.
Assessment of progestin-only therapy for endometriosis in macaque.

Background Endometriosis is a condition where endometrium-like tissue forms lesions at ectopic sites outside the uterus. In women, oral contraceptive pills and progestins are often prescribed as therapy for early stage endometriosis. In contrast, in macaques the disease is frequently advanced at the time of diagnosis and ovariectomy is the standard therapy. However, surgery is contraindicated in many patients. A review of 15 endometriosis cases over the past 10 years at the Oregon National Primate Research Center (ONPRC) revealed that 5 failed to show improvement after ovariectomy and were subsequently euthanized. Therefore, our goal was to assess the feasibility of treating endometriosis in macaques with chronic progesterone (P) as an alternative therapy for the disease. Methods Seven adult rhesus macaques with advanced endometriosis were identified by clinical symptoms and endometriosis was confirmed by abdominal palpation, ultrasound examination, and/or aspiration of menstrual blood from abdominal cysts. The patients were chronically treated with Silastic capsules that released 5–7 ng P /ml in blood for up to 20 months. During treatment the patients were assessed daily and scored numerically for appetite, activity, attitude, abdominal discomfort and menstruation by the Clinical Veterinary staff. The patients were then re-examined by abdominal palpation and ultrasound for the disease at the end of treatment. Results During the first 2 weeks of treatment, endometriotic symptoms improved significantly in all the patients (P < 0.05). This was associated with a significant increase in body weight and significant reduction in abdominal discomfort and menstrual bleeding. Two of the patients gradually developed increased symptoms of the disease after 5 months of treatment. Post-treatment abdominal examination revealed that 2/5 patients continued to have an abdominal mass even though symptoms were suppressed. Conclusions We conclude that continuous P treatment of rhesus monkeys provides therapeutic benefit to reduce symptoms of endometriosis and may provide an option for cases where ovariectomy is contraindicated. Supported by RR-00163.
Do chromatin loops provide epigenetic gene expression states

Control of gene expression involves the concerted action of multiple regulatory elements some of which can act over large genomic distances. Physical interaction among these elements can lead to looping of the chromatin fiber. Although posttranslational modifications of chromatin are thought to play a role in the conveyance of epigenetic information, it is largely unknown whether higher order chromatin organization such as looping contributes to epigenetic memory. A related unresolved question is whether chromatin loops are the cause or the effect of transcriptional regulation. Recent work on diverse organisms suggests a memory function for long-range chromatin interactions. It is proposed that higher order folding of the chromatin fiber can serve to maintain active and repressed states of gene expression.
Effects of Vacuum Mixing and Precooking on Restructured Steaks

The effects of vacuum mixing and precooking on the binding strength and cook yield of restructured steaks were evaluated. Vacuum mixing was responsible for an increased binding strength of the restructured steak, but had no effect on the cook yield. Precooked, reheated steaks had a significantly higher binding strength, but a lower cook yield than steaks cooked from the frozen, raw state.
Amikacin for Treatment of Infections In Patients with Malignant Diseases

Amikacin was evaluated in patients with malignant diseases during 134 episodes of identified infection, most of which were cases of pneumonia and septicemia. The overall rate of response of the identified infections was 63%. The majority of infections were caused by Escherichia coli, the Klebsiella-Enterobacter-Serratia group, and Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The response rate for infections caused by these organisms was 80%. Five of eight infections caused by organisms resistant to gentamicin responded to therapy with amikacin. Nephrotoxicity was observed in 13% of patients who had normal renal function initially.
Acoustic Analysis of Explosions in High Noise Environment

Explosion detection and recognition is a critical capability to provide situational awareness to the war-fighters in battlefield. Acoustic sensors are frequently deployed to detect such events and to trigger more expensive sensing/sensor modalities (i.e. radar, laser spectroscope, IR etc.). Acoustic analysis of explosions has been intensively studied to reliably discriminate mortars, artillery, round variations, and type of blast (i.e. chemical/biological or high-explosive). One of the major challenges is high level of noise, which may include non-coherent noise generated from the environmental background and coherent noise induced by possible mobile acoustic sensor platform. In this work, we introduce a new acoustic scene analysis method to effectively enhance explosion classification reliability and reduce the false alarm rate at low SNR and with high coherent noise. The proposed method is based on acoustic signature modeling using Hidden Markov Models (HMMs). Special frequency domain acoustic features characterizing explosions as well as coherent noise are extracted from each signal segment, which forms an observation vector for HMM training and test. Classification is based on a unique model similarity measure between the HMM estimated from the test observations and the trained HMMs. Experimental tests are based on the acoustic explosion dataset from US ARMY ARDEC, and experimental results have demonstrated the effectiveness of the proposed method.
Horizontal and vertical optokinetic eye movements in macaque monkeys with infantile strabismus: directional bias and crosstalk.

PURPOSE Optokinetic eye movements stabilize gaze by tracking motion of the visual scene during sustained movement of a creature's body. The purpose of this study was to describe vertical and horizontal optokinetic nystagmus (OKN) in nonhuman primates (NHPs) with normal binocular vision, and to compare their responses to NHPs with binocular maldevelopment induced by prism-rearing. METHODS Optical strabismus was created in infant macaques (n = 6) by fitting them with prism goggles. The goggles were removed after 3, 6, 9, or 12 weeks to determine the effects of increasing durations of binocular noncorrespondence. Infant NHPs (n = 2) reared wearing plano goggles served as controls. OKN was evoked by horizontal or vertical stripe motion. Eye movements were recorded by using binocular search coils. RESULTS NHPs reared in early infancy under conditions of binocular noncorrespondence for durations of 6 weeks or longer had horizontal OKN responses biased directionally in favor of nasalward motion. NHPs reared with prisms for any duration had vertical OKN responses more biased than normal NHPs in favor of upward motion. Diagonal "crosstalk" during horizontal or vertical OKN (vertical slow phases during horizontal stimulus motion, and vice versa) was present to some degree in all NHPs. However, crosstalk-upward during horizontal OKN and nasalward during vertical OKN-was most pronounced in NHPs reared with prism for durations long enough to induce a permanent esotropic strabismus (longer than 3 weeks). CONCLUSIONS With fusion maldevelopment, the OKN pathways retain a nasalward and upward bias. During forward locomotion, optic flow excites temporalward and downward visual motion in each eye. The OKN biases would act in counterbalance. The biases attenuate with emergence of fusion, but may persist and crosstalk when fusion is impeded.
Analytic Review: Ischemic Cerebrovascular Disease: Diagnosis and Management

Ischemic stroke is the most common cause of neurologic morbidity and mortality. The proper management of a stroke patient is dictated by the underlying pathophysiology. An ischemic stroke may occur as a result of restricted flow or thrombosis from atherosclerosis, artery-to-artery embolization, cardiac-to-brain embolization, or disorders of coagulation, to mention a few of the most common causes. Determining the relevant cause of stroke is made more difficult by the coexistence of many possible factors such as hypertension, atherosclerosis, and cardiac disease. Nevertheless, judgments are based on the clinical presentation, computed tomographic scans, cerebral angiograms, and results of echocardiography and electrocardiographic monitoring.Therapy of the ischemic stroke patient is aimed primarily at preserving areas of potentially recoverable ischemic brain. This is accomplished by correcting or avoiding circumstances that can promote further impairment of ischemic brain. These include proper management of...
World Trade Law and Renewable Energy: : the Case of Non-tariff Measures

Over the last two decades, trade and environment issues have typically been a source of intense controversy and conflict in the world trading system. Renewable energy, however, represents an area where we believe that freer less-distorted trade and environmental protection have the potential to be mutually reinforcing. Historically, electrical energy itself has not been traded across borders, with some exceptions (Canada and the US and in the EU). However, with the de-monopolisation of electricity in an increasing number of jurisdictions, and the unbundling of functions such as generation, grid operation, transmission, and retailing as well as the development of financial instruments such as futures and options contracts for energy, the structure of the entire market is starting to change, complicating the analysis under WTO law. This article aims to raise questions and suggest areas where domestic and international policymakers may need to consider undertaking further analysis.
Multiple Agreement and Case Deletion: Against φ‐incompleteness

I argue against Chomsky’s (1999, 2000) proposal that Case deletion correlates with the φ-completeness of probes, based on (i) the omission of gender in subject agreement in, for example, Romance languages; and (ii) the inclusion of full φ-features in subject agreement in Bantu, repeated on all verbal heads within a clause. I propose instead a return to the traditional view that certain categories are Case “assigners,” such that Agree deletes the goal’s Case only if the probe has an intrinsic structural Case value. Finally, I show that Agree so modified accounts for concord in noun phrases, including concord on ‘of’ in African languages, reflecting φ-features of head nouns. Crucial to this account is a structural analysis in which ‘of’ is merged with a nominal constituent that includes the head noun but excludes the surface ‘of’ object, be it possessor, agent, or theme.
Governmentality and the Family: Neoliberal Choices and Emergent Kin Relations in Southern Ethiopia

ABSTRACT Rather than strictly local expressions of relatedness, kinship in southern Ethiopia has long been entangled with broad political and economic forces as people negotiate relations with each other, past generations, and the state. Accompanying government reforms in the 1990s, idioms of individualism and choice have circulated in transnational and national neoliberal discourses of development, rights, and economics. People in southern Ethiopia who use ideologies of ascribed social statuses to define local social hierarchies have employed these discourses in reshaping relatedness through an expansive trade association, which is referred to as a family and works through kinship principles of descent and generation. Drawing from recent scholarship on kinship and new reproductive technologies, I argue that, through mobile knowledges in neoliberal contexts, people choose this family and its lineage founder, transforming descent relations and land-based ideologies. These choices represent the workings of neoliberal governmentality in altering cultural relations of power and inequality. [Keywords: kinship, neoliberalism, governmentality, hereditary status groups, Ethiopia]
The Effect of Diabetes on the Viscoelastic Properties of Rat Knee Ligaments

A series of experiments was performed to determine the effect of diabetes on the viscoelastic properties of knee joint ligaments. The experimental model was collateral ligaments from spontaneously diabetic, hyperglycemic (BBZDP/Wor) rats, and various controls including nondiabetic littermates, insulin treated diabetic rats, and alloxan treated rats. Material properties were measured using a dynamic, uniaxial loading paradigm. Ligaments were subjected to load controlled, sinusoidal tensile testing, using frequencies from 0.1 to 2.0 Hz. The resulting data were used to determine the storage and loss compliances of the ligaments. Storage compliance, which reflects tissue elastic properties, did not differ between groups. Loss compliance, which reflects the viscous component of the tissue response, was increased in the hyperglycemic animals. Thus, hyperglycemic diabetes affects tissue mechanical properties through the viscous rather than the elastic component of the response to dynamic loading. Rats treated with alloxan to induce diabetes did not show an increase in loss compliance.
Role of echocardiography in diagnosis and management of endocarditis

Echocardiography plays an increasingly important role in diagnosis and management of patients with infective and noninfective endocarditis. Significant changes to diagnostic criteria for endocarditis have occurred, and there are evolving trends associated with an older population presenting with endocarditis, greater numbers of patients with prosthetic heart valves and complex congenital heart disease, and an exponential increase in the numbers of patients eligible for pacing and defibrillator implants. The diagnostic accuracy of echocardiography has been enhanced by developments such as multiplanar transesophageal probes, real-time threedimensional echocardiography, and intracardiac echocardiography. Standard echocardiography techniques now define the need for and timing of surgical intervention in endocarditis and may help determine the duration of treatment and follow-up after diagnosis.
Alternative Assessment Approaches for Online Learning Environments in Higher Education

This article describes the need and prospects for alternative assessment approaches in online learning environments within the context of higher education. Assessment in higher education has tradit...
Performance bounds for single layer threshold networks when tracking a drifting adversary

Abstract This paper finds upper bounds for the generalization error of three tracking algorithms when confronted with a worst case adversary. A system identification model is used where both the target and tracking network are single layer threshold networks, with the target weights changing slowly (the drift problem). Previous work considered random unbiased drifting adversaries. This paper focuses on the analysis of a worst case drifting adversary. For a small drift rate of γ, we find that upper bounds for the optimal conservative tracker, the perceptron tracker, and the least mean square (LMS) tracker are respectively 2γ/ cos (γπ) ,2 γn/ π cos (γπ) , and γ(2n + 2.5) where n is the number of inputs. Simulation results validate the analysis and also show that the bounds are tight when γ is small for the perceptron and LMS tracker. The effects of additive noise, correlated inputs and non-Gaussian inputs are also discussed. © 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.
819. EGF Ligands Decrease Retroviral Gene Transfer through Protein Kinase C-delta

Top of pageAbstract Although a lot of progress has been made in molecular design of retrovirus vectors, the interactions of recombinant retrovirus with host cells remain largely elusive. The inability of recombinant retrovirus to transduce non-dividing cells prompted several studies to determine optimal cocktails of growth factors and/or extracellular matrix molecules to promote gene transfer to slowly diving cells and in particular stem cells. In contrast to previous reports that growth factors increased gene transfer, we found that treatment of human epidermal cells with EGFR ligands i.e. EGF, TGF-a or HB-EGF decreased gene transfer in a dose dependent manner. Conversely, treatment with an EGFR function blocking antibody or inhibition of EGFR tyrosine phosphorylation enhanced gene transfer in a dose dependent manner. In addition, abolishing PKC-delta but not PKC- zeta, with chemical inhibitors or siRNA reversed the effects of EGF and restored gene transfer, indicating that the effect of EGFR activation is mediated through PKC-delta. Our results implicateEGFR and PKC-delta in retroviral infection of epidermal keratinocytes and may have wide implications for retrovirus gene transfer or design of antiretroviral therapies.
Precipitant-controlled growth of lysozyme crystals in sodium thiocyanate

We have shown previously that large high-quality single protein crystals can be grown by varying temperature in a predetermined fashion such that the solution supersaturation and the rate of crystal growth are maintained at a constant value in batch crystallization systems. Here we have adapted the constant supersaturation control (CSC) methodology to isothermal crystal growth. In this version of the CSC protocol, dynamic control is provided by changing precipitant concentration through a dialysis membrane. We have developed a system of multiple growth cells in series that allows a variety of precipitant concentration trajectories to be sampled simultaneously during a single CSC experiment. Several different concentration profiles were used to grow lysozyme crystals in NaSCN salt. Increasing the precipitant concentration using a slow linear profile results in the highest quality crystals while requiring the least amount of characterization work. Coupling this type of profile with multiple growth cells in ...
The Number of Axillary Lymph Nodes Involved with Metastatic Breast Cancer Does not Affect Outcome as Long as All Disease is Confined to the Sentinel Lymph Nodes

Background In breast cancer, a direct relationship exists between prognosis and the number of lymph nodes involved with metastatic disease. This study was undertaken to determine whether metastatic disease confined to the sentinel lymph nodes (SLN) has better prognosis than metastatic disease spread to non-SLNs, regardless of the number of nodes involved.
Synthesis, redox properties, and molecular structure of 4,5-diethylthio-4-cyclopenten-1,3-dione: Cyclic voltammetric evidence for a kinetically stable radical anion

The preparation of the new disulfide compound 4,5-diethylthio-4-cyclopenten-l,3-dione (1) from 4,5-dichloro- 4-cyclopenten-l,3-dione and ethanethiol is described. The title compound has been isolated and characterized in solution by IR and NMR spectroscopies, and the solid-state structure solved by X-ray crystallography. 4,5-Diethylthio-4-cyclopenten-l,3-dione crystallizes in the triclinic space group P-l, a = 7.230(4) A, b = 8.191(5) A, c = 10.187(6) A, α = 108.48(1)°, β = 97.75(1)°, γ = 105.90(1)°, V = 533.8(6) A3, Z = 2, and d calc = 1.346 Mg/m3; R = 0.0406, R w = 0.0967 for 1394 reflections with I > 2σ(I). The redox properties of 4,5-diethylthio-4-cyclopenten-l,3-dione have been examined by cyclic voltammetry in CH2C12 solution, where a reversible one-electron reduction was found. The reduction behavior of the diethylthio derivative is discussed relative to the closely related 4,5-bis(p-tolylthio)-4-cyclopenten-l,3-dione, whose radical anion exhibits quasi-reversible reduction behavior due to competitive C(dione ring)–S bond cleavage. The differences in the electrochemical behavior of the two disulfides are discussed with respect to the ancillary R group.
Overwintering hosts and wingform of thrips, Frankliniella spp., in Georgia (Thysanoptera: Thripidae): implications for management of spotted wilt disease.

Forty-five plant species were surveyed for thrips during the winter and spring in Georgia. The western flower thrips, Frankliniella occidentalis (Pergande) (Thysanoptera: Thripidae), was collected from 44 plant species, and the tobacco thrips, Frankliniella fusca (Hinds), was collected from 25 plant species. Adults of both species were 60–100% female in most samples. Thrips larvae were collected from 37 plant species, but were relatively uncommon until mid-March. Western flower thrips and tobacco thrips were most abundant during the spring on Trifolium spp. and volunteer peanut, Arachis hypogaea L., respectively. Volunteer peanut was intensively sampled for thrips during the fall and spring. Adults were 60–95% tobacco thrips in most samples, with western flower thrips comprising the remainder. Thrips larvae were collected in all samples, but were more numerous during the spring. Adult tobacco thrips were predominantly brachypterous during the late fall and early spring, suggesting that some populations of tobacco thrips overwinter in old peanut fields. Brachypterous adults were rarely observed on peanut transplanted during late March into an old pearl millet, Pennisetum americanum (L.), field, but were common on peanut transplanted into an adjacent old peanut field. The potential of tobacco thrips, western flower thrips, and their plant hosts as winter reservoirs for tomato spotted wilt virus (TSWV) is discussed. Destruction of overwintering thrips, volunteer crops, and winter annual weeds in cultivated fields is suggested as a potential strategy for TSWV management.
Mechanical Stresses on Closed Cusps of Porcine Bioprosthetic Valves: Correlation with Sites of Calcification

The purpose of this study was to (1) evaluate the magnitude and distribution of mechanical stresses on closed leaflets of porcine bioprosthetic valves (PBVs) by using a nonlinear, finite-element model, and (2) determine if a relationship exists between the magnitude of stresses at various sites on the leaflet and the incidence of calcification at those sites. Mechanical stresses were found to be highest near the commissures and lowest at the base of the leaflet. At a pressure of 100 mm Hg applied to the closed valve, the maximal principal normal stress was 160 kPa near the commissures, 140 kPa in the body of the leaflet, 70 kPa at the free margin, and 60 kPa near the base. Similarly, the maximal shear stress, at an applied pressure of 100 mm Hg, was 80 kPa near the commissures, 70 kPa in the body of the leaflet, 50 kPa at the free margin, and 40 kPa near the base. This distribution of mechanical stresses on the PBV leaflet coincided with the incidence of calcification of the various regions of the leaflet. Calcification was found most frequently near the commissures, less frequently in the body of the leaflet and free margin, and least frequently at the base. These observations suggest a possible causative relation between the magnitude of mechanical stresses and the site of calcification of PBV leaflets.
Covering science as a Mass Media Fellow

I remember my first unpleasant biology lab dissection in high school. I am not sure if the experience was worse for me or for the unfortunate fetal pig we dissected that day. The sights and smells of that fateful morning forever put me on a path toward the physical sciences, and probably have a lot to do with my ending up as a graduate student in atmospheric chemistry instead of at some medical school cutting up dead bodies. So imagine my horror after encountering the leg of a dead horse as I walked into a bioengineering laboratory to report on a story about artificial joint research. Subjecting myself to such biological horrors, though, was part of my duties as an AGU-sponsored American Association for the Advancement of Science Mass Media Fellow. The program places graduate students and recent graduates from scientific fields in major media outlets throughout the country. The aim of the program is to give science-trained individuals a taste of a career in science journalism as well as to help scientists develop better communication skills.
Neosporosis in cattle.

Abstract During the past decade, Neospora caninum infection has emerged as an important reproductive disease in cattle throughout the world. Abortion, occurring during the middle of gestation, is the primary clinical sign of the infection in cattle. Surveys in several countries from three continents have identified N. caninum infection as the major diagnosed cause of bovine abortion. Both endemic and epidemic patterns of abortion may occur in herds. An important feature of this disease is that the protozoan parasite is maintained in cattle as a chronic infection which can be passed on to the fetus during pregnancy. Two methods for the transmission of the infection in cattle have been proposed and are the subject of current investigations. Horizontal transmission utilizes a two-host life cycle whereby the cow is infected from ingestion of coccidial oocyst stages shed by the definitive host. Experimental infections have confirmed that the dog is a definitive host for the parasite. There is epidemiological evidence that the dog has a role in the prevalence of the infection but, as yet, no confirmation that the dog is the source for natural infections in cattle. Vertical transplacental transmission of the infection is an important route of infection in many herds. Vertical transmission occurs because fetal infection frequently does not result in abortion but rather the fetus survives to be a persistently infected animal. A heifer calf that is born congenitally infected is capable of transmitting the infection to the next generation when she becomes pregnant, thus maintaining the infection in the herd. The clinical outcome of transplacental fetal infection with N. caninum is likely determined by maternal and fetal immune responses which involve humoral, and most importantly, cell-mediated immune factors. The diagnosis of the infection is assisted through histopathology and immunohistochemical examination of aborted fetuses and serologic testing of cattle for evidence of infection. Several types of serologic tests, based on the use of culture-derived organisms or recombinant N. caninum antigens are available. There are no proven control methods for the prevention or treatment of neosporosis. Suggested control measures focus on programs to reduce the number of congenitally infected animals retained in the herd and to minimize the opportunity for postnatal transmission from the environment.
Charge movement in cut twitch fibres of Rana temporaria containing 0.1 mM EGTA.

1. Charge movement was studied in the cut twitch fibres of Rana temporaria with a double Vaseline-gap voltage-clamp technique. 2. In fibres containing 0.1 mM EGTA, the I gamma hump component of charge movement was either unresolvable or had a brief duration at all potentials. In the steady-state charge-voltage (Q-V) plots that were separable into the less voltage dependent (Q beta) and more voltage dependent (Q gamma) components, the amount of Q gamma was 0.9 +/- 0.1 nC microF-1. (mean +/- S.E.M., n = 18). 3. Fibres containing 20 mM EGTA showed broad I gamma humps at about -45 mV. The addition of 1.8 mM total Ca2+ to the end-pools accelerated the rising phase and abbreviated the duration of the hump. 4. I gamma in fibres containing 0.1 mM EGTA resembled those in intact fibres when recorded at similar low temperatures. 5. These results explain the controversy concerning the variable appearance of I gamma humps in cut fibres.
Analysis of Highly-Resolved Simulations of 2-D Humps Toward Improvement of Second-Moment Closures

Fully resolved simulation data of flow separation over 2-D humps has been used to analyze the modeling terms in second-moment closures of the Reynolds-averaged Navier- Stokes equations. Existing models for the pressure-strain and dissipation terms have been analyzed using a priori calculations. All pressure-strain models are incorrect in the high-strain region near separation, although a better match is observed downstream, well into the separated-flow region. Near-wall inhomogeneity causes pressure-strain models to predict incorrect signs for the normal components close to the wall. In a posteriori computations, full Reynolds stress and explicit algebraic Reynolds stress models predict the separation point with varying degrees of success. However, as with one- and two-equation models, the separation bubble size is invariably over-predicted.
Effects of linomide on advanced prostate-seminal vesicle cancers in Lobund-Wistar rats

BACKGROUND Angiogenesis and antiangiogenesis, as applied to oncology, are phenomena in which (1) tumors acquire a new blood vascular system from the host that is needed for their growth progression and metastasis; and (2) factors are produced that interfere with neovascularization, thereby inhibiting growth and metastasis of the tumor. Linomide, a chemical antiangiogenesis agent, inhibited the growth of transplanted tumors in mice and rats and inhibited the early development of metastasizing tumors induced in the prostate-seminal vesicle (P-SV) complex of genetically susceptible Lobund-Wistar (L-W) rats. METHODS L-W rats with small induced P-SV tumors were treated with a recommended dosage of linomide (100 mg/kg BW/day) by the intraperitoneal and oral routes. The rats were monitored for the next 1–2 months, and the primary and metastatic tumors were compared with related data in drug-free tumor-bearing control rats. RESULTS P-SV tumors in linomide-treated and untreated control rats continued to grow, except that in the former (1) the tumors were marginally smaller, (2) the centers of the primary P-SV tumors had failed to grow, (3) the peripheral areas of the tumors contained actively proliferating tumor cells, and (4) metastatic P-SV tumors in the lungs were disrupted with focal areas of necrosis, but areas of intact tumor cells survived. Spread of tumor cells into the peritoneal cavity was not inhibited. Rats on orally administered linomide lived significantly longer than rats inoculated by the intraperitoneal route and untreated control rats. The dosage of linomide used showed evidence of toxicity. CONCLUSIONS Although primary and metastatic P-SV tumors were damaged in L-W rats treated with linomide, this antiangiogenic drug was of minimal therapeutic benefit to rats in which a palpable P-SV tumor had developed before onset of treatments. Prostate 35:43–49, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Creating the Empirical Clinician

A wide variety of methods have been used to encourage competent, scientifically based practice. Exhortation, training, and licensing have all proved themselves useless. It may be more helpful to focus on validating procedures rather than people, and in the context of the changing health care system, such a change may even be practical. The profession will have to face its values crisis and decide if it is more important to protect the financially successful practice of people called “psychologists” or to protect the consumers they supposedly serve.
II.—The Phospholipids in Skimmilks and their Effect upon the Accuracy of the Various Fat Tests

Summary The phospholipid content of skimmilk was found to be approximately 0.13 per cent. The Babcock, Modified Babcock, and the Minnesota Babcock methods remove only negligible amounts of these compounds. The extraction method (Roese-Gottlieb) removes phospholipids to the extent of 15 per cent of the fat in skimmilk containing approximately 0.10 per cent fat, which is equivalent to approximately 12 per cent of the total amount of the phospholipids present in the milk. Since the amount of phospholipds extracted from various milks by the Roese-Gottlieb procedure is approximately constant, the percentage of error in determining the fat content by this method becomes less with increases in the fat content of the sample and vice versa .
Transforming growth factor β levels in rat wound chambers

Exogenous TGF-beta accelerates healing in both normal and doxorubicin-treated rats, but whether it plays an intrinsic role in the natural healing process is unknown. Subcutaneous wound chambers in 16 F344 rats were aspirated from postwounding Day 3 through Day 16 for TGF-beta levels and cytology. A soft agar assay and a competitive radioreceptor binding assay were used to determine TGF-beta levels. Papanicolau staining and differential cell counts were used to determine cytology. Results were similar using either method for the determination of TGF-beta levels. With the sensitive radioreceptor assay, low TGF-beta levels on postwounding Day 4, mean 2.6 ng/ml, rose to a peak mean level of 20.4 ng/ml on Day 7 and fell significantly from peak level to a level of 5.4 ng/ml of Day 16. All TGF-beta levels for postwounding Days 6 through 14 were significantly increased over the baseline TGF-beta levels of Days 4 and 5 (P less than 0.05). Day 16 TGF-beta levels were not different from baseline. Cytologic changes were characterized by a liner decrease in total neutrophil count over the exam period and a concurrent linear increase in total lymphocyte and macrophage counts. TGF-beta levels changed in a bell-shaped temporal sequence during healing, apparently unrelated to percentage lymphocyte, macrophage, or neutrophil count. Peak TGF-beta levels occurred during the fibroblast proliferation and collagen synthesis phase of healing. This study presents the first evidence that TGF-beta is present in a healing wound and suggests that it may be an intrinsic mediator of the healing process.
Neuropsychological Outcomes After Psychosocial Intervention for Depression in Parkinson’s Disease

The authors describe neuropsychological outcomes in people with Parkinson’s disease after their participation in an NIH-sponsored, randomized controlled trial of cognitive-behavioral treatment for depression. Improvements in mood were associated with modest gains in verbal memory and executive functioning over the 10-week treatment period.
Control problem structure and the numerical solution of linear singular systems

Recently, a general numerical procedure has been developed for solvable systems of singular differential equationsE(t)x′(t)+F(t)x(t)=f(t). This paper shows how to exploit the structure present in many control problems to reduce the computational effort substantially. An example is worked which shows that additional reductions are possible in some cases.
The 1997–98 Summer Rainfall Season in Southern Africa. Part I: Observations

Abstract Following the onset of the strong El Nino of 1997–98 historical rainfall teleconnection patterns and dynamical model predictions both suggested an enhanced likelihood of drought for southern Africa, but widespread dry conditions failed to materialize. Results from a diagnostic study of NCEP–NCAR reanalysis data are reported here demonstrating how the large- and regional-scale atmospheric circulations during the 1997–98 El Nino differed from previous events. Emphasis is placed on the January–March 1998 season and comparisons with the strong 1982–83 El Nino, although composites of eight events occurring between 1950 and 2000 are also considered. In a companion paper, simulation runs from three atmospheric general circulation models (AGCMs), and forecasts from three fully coupled models are employed to investigate the extent to which the anomalous atmospheric circulation patterns during the 1997–98 El Nino may have been anticipated. Observational results indicate that the 1997–98 El Nino displayed s...
An adaptive scheduling scheme for cooperative energy harvesting networks

Energy harvesting devices have been proposed for sensor networking applications where batteries cannot be replaced, and cooperative communication schemes have been used to increase energy efficiency for wireless systems. Here, we develop transmission scheduling schemes for multi-terminal cooperative energy harvesting networks that maximize the packet delivery ratio, i.e., the probability that an event is reported successfully. We see that the proposed scheme provides virtually the same performance as the state-of-the-art threshold-based scheme, but does not require auxiliary parameter optimization. The proposed scheme also permits extensions to multiple cooperating nodes and sources, and it can be modified to accommodate fairness constraints.
Attitudes and Behavior: An Analysis of Specificity of Attitudinal Predictors:

Three studies are reported that test the hypothesis that the best attitudinal predictor of behavior is one that is specific to the behavioral criterion. In all three studies, an individual's attitude toward performing the behavior was more highly correlated with behavior than the individual's attitude toward the object of the behavior. This was true (a) in predicting both current and future behaviors of individuals, (b) by using either self-reports or "observer" reports of the behavioral criterion, and (c) across three different behaviors.
Magnetic and magnetomechanical properties of Ni2MnGa

Abstract Magnetocrystalline anisotropy and magnetostrictive properties are reported for the austenitic and martensitic phases of ferromagnetic shape memory Heusler alloy Ni 2 MnGa. In the low-temperature martensitic phase, the phenomenon of field-induced variant rearrangement provides a mechanism which can produce large strains, while at the same time causing anomalous effects in the apparent anisotropy. These anomalies and their effects on measured M – H and torque curves are clarified. Magnetomechanical experiments were performed in the martensitic phase to characterize the work output of a suitably oriented specimen at various stresses, and with proper stress biasing of the initial microstructure produced the largest magnetostrictive strains to date of 4.3%.
Religion, spirituality and cancer: Current status and methodological challenges

The role of religion and spirituality in health has received increasing attention in the scientific and lay literature. While the scientific attention to this issue has expanded, there continue to be methodological and measurement concerns that often prevent firm conclusions about health and adjustment benefits. Limited attention has been provided to the role of spirituality and religion in cancer. This is true when both disease outcome and adjustment are considered. A recent 'levels of evidence' review examining the link between physical health and religion or spirituality found little overall support for the hypotheses that religion or spirituality impact cancer progression or mortality. Studies examining their impact on quality of life and adjustment are decidedly mixed. In sum, research specifically focusing on the role of religion or spirituality on cancer outcomes has been surprisingly sparse. Such research presents a number of methodological and measurement challenges. Due to these unmet challenges in the literature to date, it is premature to determine what role religion and spirituality play in disease, adjustment, or quality of life outcomes in cancer. A number of suggestions are made for continued research in this area.
Online Course Evaluations Response Rates

This paper studies the reasons for low response rates in online evaluations. Survey data are collected from the students to understand factors that might affect student participation in the course evaluation process. When course evaluations were opened to the student body, an email announcement was sent to all students, and a reminder email was sent a week later. Our study showed that participation rates increased not only when emails were sent, but also when faculty used in-class time to emphasize the importance of completing the evaluations .