cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Phase plane description of endogenous neuronal oscillators in Aplysia

Phase plane techniques are used to describe graphically the limit cycle behavior of identified endogenous neuronal oscillators in the isolated abdominal ganglion of Aplysia. Intracellularly recorded membrane potential from a bursting neuron and its first derivative with respect to time are used as coordinates (state variables) in phase space. The derivative is either measured electronically or calculated digitally. Each trajectory in phase space represents the entire output of the bursting neuron, i.e., both the rapid action potentials and slow pacemaker potentials. Phase plane portraits are presented for the free run limit cycle before and after a change in a system parameter (applied transmembrane current) and also for phase resetting produced by direct synaptic inhibition from an identified interneuron. The complex topology of the trajectory suggests that the bursting oscillator is a higher order system. Therefore, the second time derivative is used as another state variable. This type of phase plot can help to relate biophysical and mathematical analyses.
A California Effect for International Environmental Externalities

An influential conventional wisdom holds that globalization could induce upward convergence in environmental regulations. Wealthy countries impose environmental regulations that prompt exporters in other countries to adopt sustainable production techniques, so the cost of environmental regulation in these countries decreases. However, previous research has only examined this California Effect for environmental regulations to address domestic externalities. I formally investigate the case of international externalities, such as global warming or ozone depletion. I find that a country can exercise leadership by enacting environmental regulations to strategically induce other countries to regulate in the future, but only if the incentive to free ride is not too strong. Surprisingly, under deep economic integration, environmental regulations are strategic complements with positive spillovers, so that international coordination is necessary to capitalize on the California Effect. In addition to showing that th...
Nonfilm Radiographic Image Transmission And Storage With Remote And Random Access

It is indeed a pleasure to be included among the distinguished scientists and radiologists in this First International Conference and Workshop on Picture Archiving and Communication Systems for Medical Applications. Just a few years ago a dedicated computer system together with provisions for an image archival system having ability to transmit images from the radiology department to various parts of the medical facilities was proposed at the Walter Reed Army Medical Center. Unfortunately, that proposal was referred to committee because acquisition of computers had to first go through the Computer Systems Command and the procurement of an image archival system required approval of the Audiovisual Command. Nonetheless, in a very short time, the imaging in radiology has matured to the point that serious movements are underway to automate, process, display, and archive as well as report radiological images and thereby reduce the image problem to a manageable form. Although all phases of diagnostic radiology and parallel imaging modalities have improved monumentally, we remain in a "horse and buggy" era with regard to film display, storage, and conferencing procedures so that too often the image we need for patient care and management is not "where it is needed, when it is needed."© (1982) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Autonomous Midcourse Navigation for Lunar Return

Autonomous navigation systems provide the vehicle with estimates of its states without ground support. This work develops an autonomous navigation architecture for lunar transfer using optical sensors and celestial navigation. Measurement and errormodels are developed for two classes of celestial measurements, the elevation of known stars from the Earth’s or moon’s limb, and the apparent radius of the Earth or moon. Monte Carlo methods are used to support the development of measurement error models. The proposed architecture is tested with linear covariance techniques; navigation errors and trajectory dispersions are obtained to confirm the feasibility of the approach. The navigation system is required to provide 0.5 deg flight-path angle accuracy at entry interface for mission safety. The simulation results show that the proposed autonomous navigation systemmeets the reentry safety requirement.
Student control in the second language classroom: an analysis of gender differences

Male disinterest in second language (L2) programs has in recent years been well documented. In attempt to explain the lack of male participation recent studies have suggested that traditional teacher-centered second and foreign language classrooms deprive males of the internal control they crave. Using data from a large-scale study by Author (2006), in this article the researcher attempts to determine if gender differences exist in perceptions of control in the L2 classroom and further, if perceptions of control appear to be an important factor in whether or not students pursue L2 studies. Approximately 500 students studying French as a second language in Grade 9 completed a questionnaire. The data were then explored in interviews with students and teachers. Results suggest that control is an important factor in the decision to study French and that boys perceive themselves to have less control in the L2 classroom than do girls. Suggestions for how such gender differences can be addressed are also discussed.
ANTIBODY PRODUCTION IN EXPERIMENTAL EIMERIA BOVIS INFECTIONS IN CALVES.

Abstract Two experiments were conducted to investigate the possible presence of humoral antibodies in young Holstein-Friesian calves experimentally infected with Eimeria bovis. A total of 10 calves received 25,000 oocysts and 1 million oocysts 26 or 27 days later, and 8 calves were inoculated once with 1 million oocysts. Blood samples were taken periodically and the sera collected were tested against first-generation merozoites by the indirect method of fluorescent staining and the slide agglutination test, and against an oocyst extract by the precipitin ring test. In vitro observations were also made on the effect of immune serum upon the first-generation merozoites. Fluorescence of the merozoites was first observed in serum collected 10–22 days after inoculation. The calves which received only one large inoculum attained on the average higher titers in less time (mean = 1:462 in 22.1 days) than did the calves inoculated twice (mean = 1:250 in 28.4 days). Agglutinating antibody was first detected 7–17 days after inoculation. However, in this case calves which received a second inoculum developed higher titers (mean = 1:464 in 35 days) than did those inoculated once (mean = 1:150 in 26 days). The results of the precipitin ring tests paralleled closely those of the slide agglutination tests, and suggest that the asexual and sexual stages of E. bovis share certain antigenic properties. The antibody level declined gradually in each calf, but titers detectable by all 3 methods were still present in all calves several months after the last inoculation. First-generation merozoites incubated for 1 hour in whole immune serum or immune serum diluted 1:20 underwent lysis or became immobilized, swollen, and granulated; non-immune whole serum had a similar effect on merozoites, but little or no effect when diluted 1:20.
STRUCTURE OF THE ABELSON MURINE LEUKEMIA-VIRUS GENOME

Abstract Virions produced from cells transformed by A-MuLV contain a 30S, 5.6 kb RNA that can be translated in a cell-free system to form the characteristic A-MuLV protein. This RNA was mapped by heteroduplex methods using DNA probes from M-MuLV, the presumed parent of A-MuLV. The overall organization of the RNA was determined by using full-length M-MuLV reverse transcribed DNA and visualizing the heteroduplexes in the electron microscope. This showed that A-MuLV and M-MuLV have homologous sequences at both ends of their RNAs but that the central portion of the A-MuLV genome is not homologous to sequences in M-MuLV RNA. A precise measure of the lengths of the shared regions was obtained by using S1 nuclease to digest hybrids between 32 P-labeled M-MuLV DNA and A-MuLV RNA; the resulting fragments were analyzed for their length by electrophoresis. The regions of homology were shown to be 1320 nucleotides long at the 5′ end and 730 nucleotides long at the 3′ end. Thus ∼6200 nucleotides of the ∼8300 in M-MuLV RNA were deleted when the A-MuLV genome was formed, but an insert of 3600 nucleotides, presumably derived from the normal murine genome, was inserted in place of the deleted region.
Assignment of the 1H chemical shifts of glycogen.

Assignments of nearly all the 1H chemical shifts of glycogen are made by 2-D 1H-1H homonuclear and 13C-1H heteronuclear COSY. We demonstrated that it is possible to obtain well-resolved 2-D n.m.r. spectra for a large molecule like glycogen. The seven nonequivalent protons of the glucose residues in the alpha-(1----4)-linked chains, and of those at the nonreducing ends, were completely assigned. Distinct chemical shifts for H-1 and H-2 immediately adjacent to the alpha-(1----6) bonds at the branch points were also determined. Several modifications of previous 13C chemical shift assignments were made from the heteronuclear 2-D n.m.r. data.
Zygospore Formation in Mortierella Alpina and M. Spinosa

(1975). Zygospore Formation in Mortierella Alpina and M. Spinosa. Mycologia: Vol. 67, No. 3, pp. 678-681.
Doppler Echocardiographic Evaluation of Congenital Cardiac Disease

M-mode and two-dimensional echocardiography have greatly enhanced the evaluation of animals with congenital cardiac disease. Structural abnormalities can be seen and hemodynamic alterations inferred, e.g., ventricular wall concentric hypertrophy indicating pressure overload to the respective ventricle. Interrogation of the diseased heart by Doppler echocardiography allows acquisition of more direct hemodynamic information without cardiac catheterization, which enables the clinician to give a more precise description of a congenita) abnormality. The purpose of this study is to illustrate and describe abnormal blood-flow patterns in selected congenital cardiac defects in animals. Basic background information concerning Doppler echocardiographic principles, flow patterns, and calculations will be briefly discussed. For more detailed descriptions other references should be sought. Interpretation of Doppler echocardiography in animals is based primarily on data derived from human studies since studies involving measurable numbers of veterinary patients have not yet been completed. (Journal of Veterinary Internal Medicine 1989; 3:195–207)
Impact of the 80-Hour Workweek on Patient Care at a Level I Trauma Center

Hypothesis: The 80-hour workweek limitation for surgical residents is associated with an increase in mortality and complication rates among adult trauma surgical patients. Design: Retrospective cohort study. Setting: Academic level I trauma center. Patients: Trauma patients admitted before and after the 80-hour workweek limitation. Methods: We compared death and complication rates for adult trauma patients admitted during a 24-month period before (2001-2003) and a 24-month period after (2004-2006) implementation of the 80-hour workweek at our institution. Relative risk and its 95% confidence intervals were examined. Main Outcome Measures: Patient care outcomes included preventable and nonpreventable complications and deaths. Results: The patient populations from the 2 time periods were clinically similar. No significant differences were found in the total and the preventable death rates. The time period after the 80-hour workweek mandate had a significantly higher total complication rate (5.64% vs 7.28%; relative risk, 1.29; 95% confidence interval, 1.15-1.45; P<. 001), preventable complication rate (0.89% vs 1.28%; relative risk, 1.43; 95% confidence interval, 1.06-1.91; P=.02), and nonpreventable complication rate (4.75% vs 5.81%; relative risk, 1.22; 95% confidence interval, 1.08-1.39; P=.002). Conclusion: Although there was no difference in deaths between the 2 time periods, there was a significant increase in total, preventable, and nonpreventable complications. This increase in complication rate may be due, in part, to the new 80-hour workweek policy.
Cell division: direct measurement of maximum tension exerted by furrow of echinoderm eggs.

Tensions exerted by cleavage furrows in isometric contraction were measured by means of flexible glass needles whose characteristics of bending had already been determined. The tension of Astriclypeus manni furrows in second division is 3.04 x 10-3 ± 0.95 x 10-3 dyne; that for Pseudocentrotus depressus eggs in first division is 2.00 X 10-3 ± 0.43 x 10-3 dyne. The tension required for cleavage probably does not exceed 1.5 x 10-3 dyne. According to existing morphological evidence, these values can be accounted for by a substance whose capacity for exerting tension does not exceed that of an actomyosin thread.
In-person grading: an evaluative experiment

In this paper, we discuss in-person or face-to-face grading: what it is, a rationale for its use, our use of it, and an experiment we conducted to evaluate its use. While no statistically significant differences in instructional outcome effects were found, several interesting affective results were seen. Additionally, a number of research methodological suggestions arose from the study.
A Computational Study of the Inhibition of Humid CO Oxidation by HCI and CI2 during the Induction Period

Abstract The inhibition of the oxidation of humid CO by HCI and CI2 during the induction period has been investigated using a detailed chemical kinetic model. The calculations indicate that HCI and CI2 inhibit the hydrogen catalyzed path for the oxidation of CO and thus increasingly force CO oxidation to take place via the “dry” routes. The induction times for the CI2 inhibited cases exhibit an unusual non-Arrhenius behavior in which the overall activation energies also show a significant maximum.
Age-related increases in motivation among children with mental retardation and MA- and CA-matched controls.

Abstract Child positive affect and task orientation in response to a series of cognitively demanding puzzle tasks were assessed at two time points separated by a 12-month interval in children with mild mental retardation and MA- and CA-matched controls (age range 1 to 5 years). At the first assessment, children with mild mental retardation exhibited mastery behavior appropriate for MA but not CA. At the second assessment, the goal-directed behavior of children with mild mental retardation was no different from that of both the MA and CA controls. Correlates of motivation were similar for children with mild mental retardation and typically developing children. Implications for the developmental study of children with mild mental retardation are discussed.
A finite element method for a three‐dimensional second‐order closure model of turbulent diffusion in a convective boundary layer

A three-dimensional second-order closure dispersion model is used to simulate the plume behaviour of a passive contaminant in a convective boundary layer. A time-splitting finite element method together with a non-linear filtering scheme is used to solve the three-dimensional second-order closure transport equations. The model results show good agreement with laboratory data for a ground level source.
Radiance line ratios Ly-β/Ly-α, Ly-γ/Ly-α, Ly-δ/Ly-α, and Ly-ε/Ly-α for soft X-ray emissions following charge exchange between C6+ and Kr

Abstract The radiance line ratios Ly-β/Ly-α, Ly-γ/Ly-α, Ly-δ/Ly-α, and Ly-e/Ly-α for soft X-ray emission following charge exchange (CX) between C6+ and Kr are reported for collision energies between approximately 320 and 46,000 eV/u. The corresponding collision velocities (250–3000 km/s) are characteristic of the solar wind. X-ray spectra were obtained at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory Multicharged Ion Research Facility using a microcalorimeter X-ray detector with a resolution on the order of 10 eV FWHM. The measured Ly-e/Ly-α is zero for all considered energies and suggests that very little, if any, capture to 6p occurs. The measured Ly-β/Ly-α and Ly-γ/Ly-α ratios intersect and form a well resolved node around (950 ± 50) km/s, which could be used as an astrophysical velocity indicative tool. The results reported here are compared to calculations for C6+ + H since no published theory for C6+ + Kr is known to exist. Double-electron-capture (DEC) and other multi-electron processes are possible. True double capture is estimated to be only 10% of the single-electron-capture (SEC).
Neuronal insulin signal transduction mechanisms in diabetes phenotypes

The hippocampus is an important integration center for learning and memory in the mammalian central nervous system (CNS) and is particularly sensitive and responsive to changes in insulin and glucose concentrations. Insulin administration improves cognitive performance in a variety of physiological and pathophysiological settings, including diabetes phenotypes. Our previous studies demonstrated that hyperglycemia produces behavioral, neuroanatomical and neurochemical changes in the adult rat hippocampus that are indicative of accelerated brain aging. In addition, the trafficking of insulin-sensitive glucose transporters (GLUTs) is impaired in experimental models of diabetes. Such results suggest that insulin receptor (IR) signaling may be disrupted in diabetes phenotypes, although the signaling mechanisms utilized by neurons are not clearly defined. To this end, we have employed in vivo and in vitro approaches to determine the insulin signaling pathways utilized by neurons. These methodologies provide insight into the signaling mechanisms utilized by neuronal IRs and ultimately will allow for determination of the IR signaling deficits that may contribute to accelerated brain aging in the hippocampus of diabetic subjects.
Reproductive characteristics and corticoid levels of female white-footed mice fed ad libitum and restricted diets containing a polychlorinated biphenyl.

Abstract Sixty female white-footed mice ( Peromyscus leucopus ) were fed either ad libitum or 70% ad libitum diets for 5 weeks. During the last 3 weeks of feeding a polychlorinated biphenyl (Aroclor 1254) was incorporated into the diets at levels of 0,25, or 100 ppm (based on ad libitum intake). Polychlorinated biphenyl ingestion increased liver weights, reduced pentobarbital-induced sleep times, and generally reduced plasma corticoid levels but had no effect on reproductive organ weights or the incidence of estrus (as judged by vaginal smears). Feed restriction caused marked atrophy of the ovaries and uterus and reduced the incidence of estrus.
Evaluation of the Exact Coagulation Kernel under Simultaneous Brownian Motion and Gravitational Settling

The analytic representation of the exact coagulation kernel for combined Brownian motion and gravitational settling entails an infinite sum of ratios of modified Bessel functions. Heretofore, the evaluation of this sum has been limited to relatively small arguments due to computational difficulties, hindering the numerical solution of the general dynamic equation in computational aerosol transport simulations. An approximation and an asymptotic extension have been available, but their accuracy for large arguments has not been established, and they have been shown to lead to numerical diffusion and oscillation. Using multiple-precision arithmetic, exact values for the kernel are presented in this paper for large arguments, and it is shown that both the asymptotic and approximating formulae provide a poor fit in the range of practical interest. Based on the results, the asymptotic formula is rectified and it is shown that the approximation is no longer needed. Practical formulae are given to facilitate rapi...
The effects of gender, family status, and race on sentencing decisions.

This study sought to determine the effects of family role, gender, and race on judges' sentencing decisions. To assess these effects, factorial surveys were sent to 360 Court of Common Plea judges who presided over criminal court cases in the state. Survey administration resulted in a 51% response rate. The findings indicate that defendants who were depicted as performing caretaker roles had a significantly decreased likelihood of incarceration. Further analysis found that the reduction in likelihood of incarceration for being a caretaker was larger for males than for females. Examination of the interaction of familial role with race found that familial role equally reduced the likelihood of incarceration for black and white females. Familial responsibility, however, resulted in a significantly greater decrease in likelihood of incarceration for black men than for white men. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
The redundant cecum

Abstract 1. 1. A review of etiologic factors is given to show the multiplicity of causes. 2. 2. A symptom-complex has been derived from a study of 63 cases, to make possible the diagnosis of redundant cecum. 3. 3. Roentgen-ray examination as an aid to the diagnosis is discussed. 4. 4. Modern treatment with both medical and operative procedures is described. 5. 5. The prognosis is dependent upon the treatment of the redundant cecum and any associated pathology.
The Effect of the Endothelin-1 Receptor Antagonist, Bosentan, on Patients with Poorly Controlled Asthma: A 17-week, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Crossover Pilot Study

Objective. To determine the effect of bosentan on subjects with poorly controlled asthma. Methods. This was a double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover pilot study. Subjects were poorly controlled on anti-inflammatory and long acting β-agonist therapy, and had a baseline forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) percent of predicted of 40 –70%. Subjects were randomized to receive either bosentan or placebo at the therapeutic dose of 125 mg twice a day for 4 weeks, and then crossed over to the alternate therapy. The asthma control test, asthma symptom scores, rescue albuterol use, and FEV1 were measured at baseline and during the last week of bosentan and placebo. Acute changes in FEV1 were measured after the initial therapeutic bosentan and placebo dose. Results. Seven of eleven randomized subjects completed the protocol. There was no difference in change in FEV1 after the bosentan phase when compared with placebo (+0.08 ± 0.31 L and +0.23 ± 0.26 L p = .34). Changes from baseline values in the asthma c...
Noise propagation through extracellular signaling leads to fluctuations in gene expression

Background Cell-to-cell variability in mRNA and proteins has been observed in many biological systems, including the human innate immune response to viral infection. Most of these studies have focused on variability that arises from (a) intrinsic stochastic fluctuations in gene expression and (b) extrinsic sources (e.g. fluctuations in transcription factors). The main focus of our study is the effect of extracellular signaling on enhancing intrinsic stochastic fluctuations. As a new source of noise, the communication between cells with fluctuating numbers of components has received little attention. We use agent-based modeling to study this contribution to noise in a system of human dendritic cells responding to viral infection.
Roles of Two Ca2+-binding Domains in Regulation of the Cardiac Na+-Ca2+ Exchanger

We expressed full-length Na+-Ca2+ exchangers (NCXs) with mutations in two Ca2+-binding domains (CBD1 and CBD2) to determine the roles of the CBDs in Ca2+-dependent regulation of NCX. CBD1 has four Ca2+-binding sites, and mutation of residues Asp421 and Glu451, which primarily coordinate Ca2+ at sites 1 and 2, had little effect on regulation of NCX by Ca2+. In contrast, mutations at residues Glu385, Asp446, Asp447, and Asp500, which coordinate Ca2+ at sites 3 and 4 of CBD1, resulted in a drastic decrease in the apparent affinity of peak exchange current for regulatory Ca2+. Another mutant, M7, with 7 key residues of CBD1 replaced, showed a further decrease in apparent Ca2+ affinity but retained regulation, confirming a contribution of CBD2 to Ca2+ regulation. Addition of the mutation K585E (located in CBD2) into the M7 background induced a marked increase in Ca2+ affinity for both steady-state and peak currents. Also, we have shown previously that the CBD2 mutations E516L and E683V have no Ca2+-dependent regulation. We now demonstrate that introduction of a positive charge at these locations rescues Ca2+-dependent regulation. Finally, our data demonstrate that deletion of the unstructured loops between β-strands F and G of both CBDs does not alter the regulation of the exchanger by Ca2+, indicating that these segments are not important in regulation. Thus, CBD1 and CBD2 have distinct roles in Ca2+-dependent regulation of NCX. CBD1 determines the affinity of NCX for regulatory Ca2+, although CBD2 is also necessary for Ca2+-dependent regulation.
Some Remarks on ‘Physicalism and Immortality’—Reply to David Mouton

In a recent articles David Mouton has argued that immortality is compatible with one sort of physicalism. I believe that he fails to establish this thesis and that, moreover, this article contains several misconceptions having to do with the topic of immortality.
The treatment of chronic diarrhea by systematic desensitization: A case report

Abstract A case of chronic diarrhea associated with interpersonal anxiety was successfully treated in 12 sessions of systematic desensitization. A 2-yr follow up indicated that the changes had been maintained.
Economic significance of take-all on winter wheat in the pacific northwest USA

Abstract The economic significance of take-all of winter wheat, caused by Gaeumannomyces graminis var. tritici , was estimated for Idaho, Oregon, and Washington. Questionnaires were mailed in 1984 to ∼ 3500 producers, of which 1000 were returned and usable. Final estimation considered only fields that received 45 cm or more of moisture through precipitation (or irrigation), and those with winter wheat grown in high-risk rotations, i.e. wheat grown at least 2 of every 3 years or rotated with barley. The survey information revealed that 250 000 ha (640 000 acres) or ∼ 13% of the region's total 1983 planted winter wheat hectarage was affected by take-all. The effect of take-all on yield was estimated in two experiments. Fumigated plots (‘pathogen free’) were interspersed with non-fumigated plots, and regression analysis was used to relate take-all severity in May (early heading) with final grain yield. There were no other pathogens at a significant level in the test plots that would have affected the yields. Take-all was relatively mild in both fields, yet coefficients of determination ( R 2 ) were both significant (0.71 and 0.39, respectively). The actual (average) field-wide yield was estimated to be only 75–85% of the attainable yield of 7000 kg ha −1 ) (104 bushels acre −1 ) in the absence of take-all. Given an average yield reduction of 20% in fields receiving at least 45 cm of moisture from both precipitation and irrigation, it is estimated that in 1983, the Pacific Northwest states could have produced an additional 350 000 t wheat with take-all control and the same input of water, fertilizer, and land.
Granzyme M, a profiler of innate immune lymphocytes?

There is currently a major effort underway to identify the protein expression patterns (proteome) of various tumor cells. Indeed, characteristic patterns of protein expression may help determine the specific cellular origin of the malignant cell. In this issue, Krenacs and colleagues (page [3590][1
The sexually abused child: A comparison of male and female victims

Although the amount of research dealing with child sexual abuse is rapidly increasing, there have been very few attempts to identify and compare variables that characterize differences between female and male victims. To address this void, 25 substantiated cases of sexual abuse involving male children were compared with 180 substantiated cases of sexual abuse of female children. Significant differences between female and male victims were observed in the following areas: family composition, the perpetrator of the abuse, variables contributing to the continuation of the abusive situation, and the type of services provided to the sexually abused child and family. Implications for treatment are offered.
Preparation of Chinese hamster bone marrow and spleen primary cell cultures for sister chromatid exchange and chromosomal aberration studies

Procedures for preparing and culturing Chinese hamster bone marrow and spleen cells for cytogenetic studies are described. Animals are killed by cervical dislocation, then the bone marrow is flushed from femora and tibia with Ham's F12 medium into centrifuge tubes. Bone marrow cells are collected by low-speed centrifugation (285 ×g). Approximately one million cells are cultured in a 30-ml Falcon flask with 5 ml complete medium containing 3.95 ml Ham's F12 medium, 1.0 ml fetal bovine serum (FBS), and 0.05 ml penicillin-streptomycin (5000 U/ml and 5000 µg/ml stock). Spleens are obtained aseptically, transferred to centrifuge tubes containing 2 ml of RPMI 1640 and smashed with a sterile spatula. The debris is removed, cells are collected by low-speed centrifugation (285 ×g), and washed three times with phosphate buffered saline supplemented with 2% heat inactivated FBS. Approximately one million cells are suspended in a 30-ml Falcon flask with 5 ml complete medium containing 3.70 ml RPMI 1640. 1.0 ml heat inactivated FBS, 0.05 ml penicillin-streptomycin, 0.05 ml of 200 mMl-glutamine solution, 1 × 10−5M 2-mercaptoethanol, and 0.20 ml lipopolysaccharide. For sister chromatid exchange analysis, 20 µM of 5-bromo-2′ -deoxyuridine is also added to the culture medium for 24 to 28 h for bone marrow cells and 36 to 40 h for spleen cells. These culture systems can also be used for chromosomal aberration studies.
Misoprostol for uterine evacuation in patients with early pregnancy failures

Abstract Objective The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of misoprostol that is administered intravaginally for uterine evacuation in patients with early pregnancy failures. Study design From March 2001 through March 2003, we treated 41 patients who had early pregnancy failures with vaginal misoprostol, 800 μg. A second course of misoprostol was administered if uterine evacuation did not occur in 24 hours. Patients who had no response to misoprostol underwent a surgical curettage. Our principal outcome measures were the percentage of patients who had successful evacuation of the products of conception and the frequency of adverse drug effects. Results Twenty-six patients had successful uterine evacuation with a single course of misoprostol; 6 patients required a second course. The overall success rate was 78% (95% CI, 63, 88). No patient experienced a serious adverse drug effect. Conclusion Intravaginal misoprostol is a safe, effective alternative to surgical curettage for the treatment of early pregnancy failure.
Extracting World Knowledge from the Web

By automatically extracting information from the Web, we can scale up the resulting knowledge bases to much greater sizes than current collections of manually gathered and user-contributed knowledge.
Crosslinking of copolymers containing N,N‐dimethylacrylamide

Aqueous solutions of N,N-dimethylacrylamide–acrylic copolymers crosslink in the presence of peroxydisulfates at elevated temperature. It is shown that effectiveness of crosslinking depends on the amount of N,N-dimethylacrylamide present in the copolymer, being quite effective with as little as one unit of N,N-dimethylacrylamide in each eleven units of copolymer. Dilute solutions of these copolymers are slowly degraded initially by peroxydisulfate, and then begin to crosslink after a few minutes. Crosslinking is believed to proceed via sulfate- and hydroxyl-radical attack of N-methyl in the polymers to yield N-methylol derivatives capable of crosslinking with other reactive sites.
Upper limit on the steady emission of the 2.223 MeV neutron capture γ-ray line from the Sun

Data accumulated by the Solar Maximum Mission Gamma Ray Spectrometer (GRS) have been searched for evidence of the 2.223 MeV neutron capture line from the Sun, outside the times of γ-ray-emitting solar flares. Background-corrected spectra accumulated over 3-day intervals between 1980 and 1989 show no evidence of the line. Upper limits are reported separately for periods of high and low solar activity. A conservative 3σ upper limit of 5.7 × 10−5 γ (cm2 s)−1 is placed on the steady flux in the 2.223 MeV line during inactive periods, which is nearly two orders of magnitude lower than previously published results. After correction for limb darkening of the line emission from off-center positions, this upper limit becomes 7.1 × 10−5 γ (cm2s)−1. Our 3σ upper limit on the steady flux in the line during periods of high solar activity is 6.9 × 10−5 γ (cm2 s)−1, or 8.6 × 10−5 γ (cm2 s)−1 after correction for limb darkening. Our results imply that the quiescent solar corona cannot be heated by ions accelerated above 1 MeV in microflares (or a continuous acceleration process), so long as the ion energy spectrum is similar to that measured in large flares. We also use our results to derive the rate of tritium production at the solar surface; our upper limit of 9 nuclei (cm2 s)−1 is about a factor of 9 below the upper limit from searches for 3H in the solar wind. We place upper limits of the order 1033 on the number of energetic (> 30 MeV) protons which can be stored in active regions prior to being released in solar flares, which imply that the strongest observed flares cannot be produced by such a mechanism.
Monoclonal antibodies specific for rat relaxin. II. Passive immunization with monoclonal antibodies throughout the second half of pregnancy disrupts birth in intact rats.

The purpose of this investigation was to use an approach targeted specifically on endogenous relaxin to determine the influence of relaxin on birth in the rat. To that end, a monoclonal antibody specific for rat relaxin, designated MCA1, was used to passively neutralize endogenous relaxin in intact pregnant rats. MCAl was administered iv to intact rats daily from days 12–22 of pregnancy. Animals were observed for birth continuously from 2100 h on day 22 until 1200 h on day 24. MCAl-treated rats exhibited significantly prolonged durations of straining and litter delivery as well as reduced incidence of live pups compared with controls. Whereas approximately 20–25% of fetuses and placentae were retained in utero at 1200 h on day 24 in MCA1- treated rats, neither fetuses nor placentae were retained in control rats. Passive immunization with MCAl throughout the second half of pregnancy had no apparent influence on normal ovarian function. The time of occurrence of the antepartum decline in serum progesterone ...
A comparative study of procedures for sheep erythrocyte-human-T-lymphocyte rosette formation.

Abstract A comparative study of several published methods for sheep red blood cell-T-lymphocyte rosette formation was performed. Maximum SRBC-rosette formation occurred with AET treated SRBC in medium supplemented with 20% FCS or with untreated SRBC in 100% FCS. Prolongation of the 4°C incubation period from 4 to 18 h enhanced rosette formation. Fluorescein diacetate staining significantly increased calculated percentage of rosette formation. Fluorescein diacetate staining significantly increased calculated percentage of rosette-forming lymphocytes by allowing accurate indentification of the central lymphocytes in morulas.
A galerkin least-squares finite element method for the two-dimensional Helmholtz equation

In this paper a Galerkin least-squares (GLS) finite element method, in which residuals in least-squares form are added to the standard Galerkin variational equation, is developed to solve the Helmholtz equation in two dimensions. An important feature of GLS methods is the introduction of a local mesh parameter that may be designed to provide accurate solutions with relatively coarse meshes. Previous work has accomplished this for the one-dimensional Helmholtz equation using dispersion analysis. In this paper, the selection of the GLS mesh parameter for two dimensions is considered, and leads to elements that exhibit improved phase accuracy. For any given direction of wave propagation, an optimal GLS mesh parameter is determined using two-dimensional Fourier analysis. In general problems, the direction of wave propagation will not be known a priori. In this case, an optimal GLS parameter is found which reduces phase error for all possible wave vector orientations over elements. The optimal GLS parameters are derived for both consistent and lumped mass approximations. Several numerical examples are given and the results compared with those obtained from the Galerkin method. The extension of GLS to higher-order quadratic interpolations is also presented.
Gravitational forces in the Randall-Sundrum model with a scalar stabilizing field

We consider the problem of gravitational forces between point particles on the branes in a five-dimensional (5D) Randall-Sundrum model with two branes (at ${y}_{1}$ and ${y}_{2}$) and ${S}^{1}/{Z}_{2}$ symmetry of the fifth dimension. The matter on the branes is viewed as a perturbation on the vacuum metric and treated to linear order. In a previous work [R. Arnowitt and J. Dent, Phys. Rev. D 71, 124024 (2005).] it was seen that the trace of the transverse part of the 4D metric on the TeV brane, ${f}^{T}({y}_{2})$, contributed a Newtonian potential enhanced by ${e}^{2\ensuremath{\beta}{y}_{2}}\ensuremath{\cong}{10}^{32}$ and thus produced gross disagreement with the experiment. In this work we include a scalar stabilizing field $\ensuremath{\phi}$ and solve the coupled Einstein and scalar equations to leading order for the case where ${\ensuremath{\phi}}_{0}^{2}/{M}_{5}^{3}$ is small and the vacuum field ${\ensuremath{\phi}}_{0}(y)$ is a decreasing function of $y$. ${f}^{T}$ then grows a mass factor ${e}^{\ensuremath{-}\ensuremath{\mu}r}$ where, however, $\ensuremath{\mu}$ is suppressed from its natural value, $\mathcal{O}({M}_{Pl})$, by an exponential factor ${e}^{\ensuremath{-}(1+{\ensuremath{\lambda}}_{b})\ensuremath{\beta}{y}_{2}}$, ${\ensuremath{\lambda}}_{b}g0$. Thus agreement with the experiment depends on the interplay between the enhancing and decaying exponentials. Current data eliminates a significant part of the parameter space, and the Randall-Sundrum model will be sensitive to any improvements on the tests of the Newtonian force law at smaller distances. An example of coupling of the $\ensuremath{\phi}$ field to the Higgs field is examined and found to generally produce very small effects.
A brief note on welfare benefits and human migration

The author investigates the impact of welfare benefit differentials on migration to Wisconsin during the period 1987-1989. "Newly available data...indicate...the number of newly opened AFDC cases in Wisconsin involving people who never before lived in the state and who regardless of their race prior poverty-status or prior welfare-recipient status migrated to Wisconsin and subsequently became welfare recipients. Thus these migration data are not flawed by selectivity bias attributable to race poverty (income status) or welfare-recipient status." (EXCERPT)
Mechanism of action of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3-induced stimulation of alkaline phosphatase in cultured osteoblast-like cells.

Abstract 1,25-Dihydroxyvitamin D 3 [1,25(OH) 2 D 3 ] stimulates the alkaline phosphatase of rat and human osteoblast-like cells in culture. Here the mechanism of this effect was investigated using the rat osteogenic sarcoma cell line ROS 17/2–8. We found that 50% maximum alkaline phosphatase stimulation is elicited by 1,25(OH) 2 D 3 at 7 × 10 −10 M. The concentration of serum in the culture medium influences inversely the effective 1,25(OH)2D3 concentration. Increased alkaline phosphatase appears after a lag period of cell exposure to 1,25(OH) 2 D 3 which is between 8 and 24 h; during 96 h culture in the presence of 1,25(OH)2D3 the enzyme activity continues to rise. Cycloheximide (0.1–1 μg/ml) added in the cultures for 3 days or actinomycin-D (1–30 ng/ml) added for 24 h inhibit the 1,25(OH) 2 D 3 effect on alkaline phosphatase in a dose-dependent fashion; withdrawal of cycloheximide restores the responsiveness of cells to 1,25(OH) 2 D 3 completely, but withdrawal of actinomycin-D restores cell responsiveness only partially. These findings suggest that 1,25(OH) 2 D 3 -induced stimulation of alkaline phosphatase in the osteoblast-like cells involves genome activation and de novo protein synthesis.
Floating body cell (FBC) memory for 16-nm technology with low variation on thin silicon and 10-nm BOX

A scaled planar FBC technology with undoped-body is demonstrated featuring 10-nm BOX, 25-nm SOI, high-k and metal gate. Good agreement on retention window characteristics between measured data and simulations is achieved at multiple temperatures and illustrates Shockley-Read-Hall (SRH) recombination and generation dominated loss mechanism during hold condition. Optimization of Source-Drain (SD) and TIP implants are critical for achieving the balance between long retention time and large memory signal. For a minimum 3-muA sensing window, worst-case disturb retention of 25 ms is shown in scaled devices with 55 nm gate-length (LG) and 65 nm width (W). FBC scaling is predicted to be feasible at 16-nm technology node, enabling memory cell sizes much smaller than 6T-SRAM.
Quantitative constraints on the growth of submarine lava pillars from a monitoring instrument that was caught in a lava flow

[1] Lava pillars are hollow, vertical chimneys of solid basaltic lava that are common features within the collapsed interiors of submarine sheet flows on intermediate and fast spreading mid-ocean ridges. They are morphologically similar to lava trees that form on land when lava overruns forested areas, but the sides of lava pillars are covered with distinctive, evenly spaced, thin, horizontal lava crusts, referred to hereafter as “lava shelves.” Lava stalactites up to 5 cm long on the undersides of these shelves are evidence that cavities filled with a hot vapor phase existed temporarily beneath each crust. During the submarine eruption of Axial Volcano in 1998 on the Juan de Fuca Ridge a monitoring instrument, called VSM2, became embedded in the upper crust of a lava flow that produced 3- to 5-m-high lava pillars. A pressure sensor in the instrument showed that the 1998 lobate sheet flow inflated 3.5 m and then drained out again in only 2.5 hours. These data provide the first quantitative constraints on the timescale of lava pillar formation and the rates of submarine lava flow inflation and drainback. They also allow comparisons to lava flow inflation rates observed on land, to theoretical models of crust formation on submarine lava, and to previous models of pillar formation. A new model is presented for the rhythmic formation of alternating lava crusts and vapor cavities to explain how stacks of lava shelves are formed on the sides of lava pillars during continuous lava drainback. Each vapor cavity is created between a stranded crust and the subsiding lava surface. A hot vapor phase forms within each cavity as seawater is syringed through tiny cracks in the stranded crust above. Eventually, the subsiding lava causes the crust above to fail, quenching the hot cavity and forming the next lava crust. During the 1998 eruption at Axial Volcano, this process repeated itself about every 2 min during the 81-min-long drainback phase of the eruption, based on the thickness and spacing of the lava shelves. The VSM2 data show that lava pillars are formed during short-lived eruptions in which inflation and drainback follow each other in rapid succession and that pillars record physical evidence that can be used to interpret the dynamics of seafloor eruptions.
Using speckle imaging techniques as a starting point for MFBD scene reconstruction from long horizontal-path, turbulence-degraded imagery

Recent works indicate that both MFBD and speckle imaging methods are e ective in recovering images of scenes from sets of turbulence-degraded imagery acquired over long horizontal paths. In this work, a prototype scene estimate, generated using speckle-imaging methods, is used in place of the multi-frame ensemble average, to initialize the iterative MFBD algorithm. Available performance improvements are described quantitatively by examining the improvement in Mean Squared Error (MSE) compared to a di raction-limited image. When speckle image estimates initialize the MFBD algorithm residual MSE is reduced by 16% on average compared the case where the multi-frame average is used as a starting point. Similarly, residual MSE is reduced another 8% beyond what is available using speckle imaging method alone when the number of iterations is not constrained. We also nd that the variation in reconstruction MSE is reduced signi cantly using only a limited number of iterations when subject to low to moderated image degradation compared to speckle imaging alone.
Aturbina georgei gen. et sp. n.: A Small Minnow mayfly (Ephemeroptera: Baetidae) without turbinate eyes

Aturbina (Ephemeroptera: Baetidae), gen. n., is described from a single species, A. georgei sp. n., based on larvae and male and female adults from western Brazil, French Guiana, and Paraguay. Besides being the first baetid mayfly known to lack the turbinate portion of the male compound eyes, the genus is distinct in that larvae possess an elongate, distally branched seta at the base of the right prostheca and male adults have genital forceps with a distinct distomedial process on segment 1 and a highly reduced segment 3. Male and female adults are further distinguished by the possession of a small medial hump on the metanotum and a costal process with two peaks in the hindwings. The significance of the new baetid taxon is discussed.
Synthesis and characterization of electrochemically active graphite–silicon–tin composite anodes for Li-ion applications

Abstract Electrochemically active Si0.66Sn0.34 (SiSn) composite alloys dispersed in a carbon (graphite) matrix were synthesized using both wet and dry high-energy mechanical milling (HEMM). The resultant composites are comprised of amorphous carbon (in the case of dry HEMM) or crystalline carbon (in the case of wet HEMM), and crystalline silicon and tin (for both cases) as verified by X-ray diffraction (XRD). The XRD results also indicate the presence of iron–tin intermetallic (FeSn2) arising as a contaminant during dry HEMM. The composite composition of 85C–15[Si0.66Sn0.34] (mol%) resulted in reversible discharge capacities as high as 800 mAh g−1 with a reasonable capacity retention (1.36% loss/cycle). Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) analyses were further conducted to examine the surface of the electrode and to determine the presence/absence of organic species resulting from reactions between the electrode, lithium ions and electrolyte, respectively.
An iterative maximum a posteriori (MAP) estimator for multiuser detection in synchronous CDMA systems

This paper proposes an iterative algorithm for multiuser detection in synchronous CDMA communication systems based on maximum a posteriori (MAP) estimation. This approach performs better than the maximum likelihood (ML) estimator due to the use of probabilistic knowledge regarding the distribution of the received signal amplitudes. We assume that for every user the PDF of the signal level value in a bit time is the average of two Gaussian distributions centered at plus and minus the mean signal amplitude. The result is a gradient-based algorithm containing a ML term that determines the “direction” of bit estimation convergence, and a prior knowledge term that improves the accuracy of the bit estimate. Due to the prior knowledge term, the algorithm reaches a minimum closer to the true received bit values and therefore realizes more accurate bit estimates and a lower bit error rate (BER) than ML alone.