cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Na/K- and Mg-ATPase activity in the placenta and in maternal and cord erythrocytes of pre-eclamptic patients

Abstract Abnormal sodium balance is known to be associated with pre-eclampsia, but no investigations have been conducted concerning the enzyme which regulates active sodium transport at the cellular level. In this study, the enzyme responsible for active sodium transport—Na/K-ATPase and a nonspecific ATPase Mg-ATPase—were assayed in the placenta and in maternal and fetal (cord) erythrocytes of pregnant women with and without pre-eclampsia. Placental ATPase activity was unaffected by pre-eclampsia. However, in infants of pre-eclamptic mothers, fetal erythrocytes were found to have significantly less activity (42 per cent) of both enzymes than fetal erythrocytes from infants of normal mothers. In pre-eclamptic mothers, erythrocyte Mg-ATPase activity was significantly less (41 per cent) than normal and Na/K-ATPase activity was slightly decreased (16 per cent). These results indicate that disruption of active sodium transport in fetal erythrocytes is associated with pre-eclampsia and are not inconsistent with the hypothesis of a circulating “toxin.”
Influence of Geometry and Topology on Helicity

The helicity of a smooth vector field defined on a domain in 3-space is the standard measure of the extent to which the field lines wrap and coil around one another; it plays important roles in fluid mechanics, magnetohydrodynamics and plasma physics. In this report we show how the relation between energy and helicity of a vector field is influenced by the geometry and topology of the domain on which it is defined. In particular, we will see that the standard model for the magnetic field in the Crab Nebula (equivalently, the spheromak field of plasma physics) is the unique energyminimizing divergence-free vector field of given nonzero helicity, defined on and tangent to the boundary of a round ball, and that the essential features of this energy-minimizing field persist even as the domain changes topological type. We will also see that when volume-preserving deformation of domain is permitted, the spheromak field is not the absolute energy-minimizing field with given helicity; instead, the round ball on which it is defined can be dimpled in at the poles and expanded out at the equator to further decrease the field energy while preserving helicity. Our numerical computations suggest that this volume-preserving, helicity-preserving, energy-decreasing deformation of domain and field converges to a singular domain, in which the north and south poles have been pressed together at the center, along with a corresponding singular field.
Snow water equivalent interpolation for the Colorado River Basin from snow telemetry (SNOTEL) data

[1] Inverse weighted distance and regression nonexact techniques were evaluated for interpolating methods snow water equivalent (SWE) across the entire Colorado River Basin of the western United States. A 1-km spacing was used for the gridding of snow telemetry (SNOTEL) measurements for the years 1993, 1998, and 1999, which on average, represented higher than average, average, and lower than average snow years. Because of the terrain effects, the regression techniques (hypsometric elevation and multivariate physiographic parameter) were found to be superior to the weighted distance approaches (inverse distance weighting squared, and optimal power inverse distance weighting). A regression detrended inverse weighted distance method was developed for the hypsometric and multivariate techniques in order to preserve the point SNOTEL data. On the basis of root mean square error analysis and estimates of SWE volumes in different elevation zones for the entire basin and for subbasins the elevation detrended method with a point by point regression was found to be the most appropriate technique. Various search radii and anisotropies of the search ellipse were tested with the hypsometric method, producing only small difference in the root mean square error and SWE volumes.
Spreadsheet Design: An Optimal Checklist For Accountants

Just as good grammar, punctuation, style, and content organization are important to well-written documents, basic fundamentals of spreadsheet design are essential to clear communication. In fact, the very principles of good writing should be integrated into spreadsheet workpaper design and organization. The unique contributions of this paper are an integration of a review of the literature on spreadsheet design, with the results of a convenience survey of CPAs, and a “Spreadsheet Design Checklist” for pedagogy. The checklist is intended as a reference for use until the student or professional becomes proficient in basic spreadsheet design and organization and the checklist becomes just as “second nature” as creating well-written memoranda.
Implications of a JPC exotic

Abstract Recent experimental data from BNL on the isovector JPC = 1−+ exotic at 1.6 GeV in ϱπ indicate the existence of a non-quarkonium state consistent with lattice gauge theory predictions. We discuss how further experiments can strengthen this conclusion. We show that the ϱπ, η′π and ηπ couplings of this state qualitatively support the hypothesis that it is a hybrid meson, although other interpretations cannot be eliminated.
The contribution of marriage to the psychological well-being of males and females.

reported here, is greater for females than for males. Data .from two of the surveys show similar levels of reported marital happiness for husbands and wives, and they show a stronger relationship of marital happiness to global happiness for the wives. On the basis of this evidence, Bernard's thesis that marriage is more beneficial to husbands than to wives is rejected. The data presented here can be reconciled with Bernard's data showing an unusual prevalence of symptoms of psychological stress among married women by the hypothesis that women, as a whole, exceed men in both the stress and the satisfaction they derive from marriage.
Flute engagement in peripheral milling

Abstract Researchers have typically used a flexible model in an attempt to accurately simulate peripheral milling forces. The approach generally described in the literature divides the model into manageable pieces by modeling a cutter as several disk-like elements in its axial direction and by dividing the turning cutter into several angular increments. When the forces calculated at each differential element are integrated, it is important to consider the angle (δ λ ) measured back as the flute engagement wraps up the helix. Therefore, flute engagement is very influential in determining the milling force profile and magnitude, and thus the effects of engaged flute length in the milling operation is of interest. In this paper, the concept of flute engagement is presented, and the equations calculating the engaged flute length (FL e ) are derived. In addition, a method for determining the number of engaged flutes caused by the radial and axial depths of cut is presented. It is felt that the results of this research may provide the basis for a machining force model.
Technical reports and other non-GPO publications

Abstract This column contains reviews of selected technical reports available from the National Technical Information Service (NTIS), and reviews of non-GPO publications. The reports listed below were selected from a larger number of titles acquired by the Editor's institution.
Emergent aquatic plants: Biological and economic perspectives

Abstract One of the most productive, but least exploited, biomass resources is the group classified as the emergent aquatic plants. The objective of this paper is to present information concerning the biological and economic factors that must be considered if emergent aquatic plants are to become viable feedstocks for multipurpose systems. Feedstock purposes highlighted include fuel and/or chemical production. Species identified as potential candidates for production in biomass systems include Arundo donax, Cyperus papyrus, Phragmites communis, Saccharum spontaneum, Spartina alterniflora , and Typha latifolia . If these species are to be viable candidates in biomass systems, a number of research areas must be further investigated. Issues such as development of baseline yield data for managed systems, mechanisation and harvesting conceptualisation, genetic (crop) improvement, identification of secondary plant products, and economic considerations require refinement. However, the potential pay-off for developing emergent aquatic systems will be significant if successful.
Repression of the replication of superinfecting bacteriophage DNA in immune cells

Both sensitive and lysogenic cells growing in heavy isotopes media were infected with radioactive but isotopically light λ . The production of radioactive DNA with density intermediate between light and heavy was looked for as an indication of replication of the phage DNA. It was found that λ DNA replicates semi-conservatively in sensitive cells and also in immune cells induced with μ.v. light after superinfection. However, no replication of phage DNA was detected in superinfected immune cells which had not been induced. It is concluded that, so long as repression is maintained, superinfecting λ DNA is unable to replicate even once in cells immune to λ .
A generating function for all semi-magic squares and the volume of the Birkhoff polytope

We present a multivariate generating function for all n×n nonnegative integral matrices with all row and column sums equal to a positive integer t, the so called semi-magic squares. As a consequence we obtain formulas for all coefficients of the Ehrhart polynomial of the polytope B n of n×n doubly-stochastic matrices, also known as the Birkhoff polytope. In particular we derive formulas for the volumes of B n and any of its faces.
MONO‐DISACCHARIDE ANALYSIS OF CONFECTIONERY PRODUCTS BY HIGH PRESSURE LIQUID CHROMATOGRAPHY ESPECIALLY RELATING TO PRECOLUMNS AND OTHER SUGGESTIONS FOR CONTENDING WITH CONTAMINANTS

Using a “μBONDAPAK/Carbohydrate” column, glucose, fructose, sucrose, maltose and lactose in several confectionery products were separated and quantitated. Inclusion of a Corasil I precolumn in the HPLC system to filter out colloidal protein and suspended material greatly reduced pressure build-up and prevented deterioration of the carbohydrate column. No more than 40 min was needed for complete sample preparation and analysis. Discussed are precolumns and HPLC operating parameters which help maintain the integrity of the carbohydrate column. Suggestions are applicable to complex food systems in general as weE as confectionery products in particular.
The Role of JNK and p38 MAPK Activities in UVA-Induced Signaling Pathways Leading to AP-1 Activation and c-Fos Expression

To further delineate ultraviolet A (UVA) signaling pathways in the human keratinocyte cell line HaCaT, we examined the potential role of mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs) in UVA-induced activator protein-1 (AP-1) transactivation and c-Fos expression. UVA-induced phosphorylation of p38 and c-Jun N-terminal kinase (JNK) proteins was detected immediately after irradiation and disappeared after approximately 2 hours. Conversely, phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase was significantly inhibited for up to 1 hour post-UVA irradiation. To examine the role of p38 and JNK MAPKs in UVA-induced AP-1 and c-fos transactivations, the selective pharmacologic MAPK inhibitors, SB202190 (p38 inhibitor) and SP600125 (JNK inhibitor), were used to independently treat stably transfected HaCaT cells in luciferase reporter assays. Both SB202190 and SP600125 dose-dependently inhibited UVA-induced AP-1 and c-fos transactivations. SB202190 (0.25-0.5 microM) and SP600125 (62-125 nM) treatments also primarily inhibited UVA-induced c-Fos expression. These results demonstrated that activation of both JNK and p38 play critical role in UVA-mediated AP-1 transactivation and c-Fos expression in these human keratinocyte cells. Targeted inhibition of these MAPKs with their selective pharmacologic inhibitors may be effective chemopreventive strategies for UVA-induced nonmelanoma skin cancer.
Experimental studies on morphological variation in the cestode genus Hymenolepis. IV. Influence of the Host on Variation in H. nana

Summary Analyses of specimens of Hymenolepis nana from nonirradiated experimental infections in a large series of different mammals furnished evidence that certain host-species have a marked effect on the frequency with which a variant character is expressed in this cestode and that the extent of this effect varies with different hosts. The mammalian hosts which induced the higher increases in the frequency of variation were those in which infections with H. nana have not been recorded heretofore. These include: Marmota monax (Linnaeus), Tamias striatus (Linnaeus), Seiurus carolinensis pennsylvanieus Ord*, Tamiasciurus hudsonicus (Erxleben)*, Glaucomys volans querceti (Bangs)*, Perognathus longimembris longimembris (Cones), Dipodomys merriami merriami Mearns, and Oryzomys palustris (Harlan). The most significant effects, with respect to increasing the frequency of variation in H. nana were found in specimens which had been reared in the three species of sciurids indicated by an asterisk in the preceding list.
Convergent and discriminant validity of assessment center dimensions: A conceptual and empirical re-examination of the assessment center construct-related validity paradox

This study notes that the lack of convergent and discriminant validity of assessment center ratings in the presence of content-related and criterion-related validity is paradoxical within a unitarian framework of validity. It also empirically demonstrates an application of generalizability theory to examining the convergent and discriminant validity of assessment center dimensional ratings. Generalizability analyses indicated that person, dimension, and person by dimension effects contribute large proportions of variance to the total variance in assessment center ratings. Alternately, exercise, rater, person by exercise, and dimension by exercise effects are shown to contribute little to the total variance. Correlational and confirmatory factor analyses results were consistent with the generalizability results. This provides strong evidence for the convergent and discriminant validity of the assessment center dimension ratings–a finding consistent with the conceptual underpinnings of the unitarian view of...
Phosphorus / Silicon Interstitial Annealing After Ion Implantation

The release of interstitials from extended defects after ion implantation acts as a driving force behind transient enhanced diffusion (TED). Implantation of Si+ ions into regions of phosphorus-doped silicon provides experimental insight into the interaction of silicon interstitials and dopant atoms during primary damage annealing. The presence of phosphorus influences the morphology of secondary defects during initial nucleation. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) is used to differentiate between defect types and quantify the interstitials trapped in extended defects. This analysis reveals that phosphorus results in a reduction of interstitials trapped in observable extended defects. The interstitial flux released from the implanted region is also affected by the phosphorus doping. This phenomenon is closely studied using secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) to monitor diffusion enhancements of dopant layers. Shifts in diffused dopant profiles are correlated with the different morphologies of the extended defects and the decay of the silicon interstitial supersaturation. This correlation is used to understand the interaction of excess silicon interstitials with phosphorus atoms.
Gas target cell for a precision scattering chamber

Abstract A gas target cell with demountable cylindrical windows has been developed for use with the Florida State University 45.7 cm (18″) scattering chamber. Designed for maximum experimental flexibility, this cell allows observation throughout an angular range from 20° to 170°. Several interchangeable gas handling plugs, one of which incorporates a Ti getter pump within the cell interior, are described. A 16 detector array permits the simultaneous acquisition of 16 excitation functions or the efficient measurement of detailed angular distributions by angular displacement of the detector ring. This cell has been used at a gas pressure of 35 Torr for measurements of cross sections for elastic scattering of alpha particles by 20 Ne and 36 Ar in the energy range from 10 to 14 MeV.
In vitro and in vivo analysis of somatic and germline mutability of 2-amino-N6-hydroxyadenine in Drosophila melanogaster.

Abstract Two complementary assays were employed to examine the mutagenicity of 2-amino-N6-hydroxyadenine (AHA) in Drosophila melanogaster. A λ phage-based shuttle vector system, utilizing the supF transfer RNA gene of Escherichia coli, questioned the mutagenicity of AHA in established cell cultures derived from somatic tissue while the standard sex-linked recessive lethal assay measured mutational events in vivo. Consistent with studies in other systems, AHA appears strongly mutagenic when cells are exposed directly. Conversely, in vivo studies suggest that AHA is not a strong mutagen. Further studies will determine if AHA is weakly or not mutagenic in vivo and, using the supF system, what the nature of the mutational events at the molecular level is.
An Integrated Model of Excellent Leadership in Public Relations: Dimensions, Measurement, and Validation

This study investigates the role of leadership in facilitating strategic communication management and effective public relations practice by proposing a set of dimensions measuring corporate communication executives’ perceptions on leadership. A measurement methodology was applied and suggested to facilitate empirical investigation. Data from two groups of senior corporate communicators and public relations executives (N = 384) nationwide were used to assess the validity and reliability of proposed leadership dimensions that contribute to effective communication management. Results from both groups demonstrated strong support for the proposed higher-order measurement model. The analysis suggested that 6 major dimensions (self-dynamics, team collaboration, ethical orientation, relationship building, strategic decision making capability, and communication knowledge management capability) are crucial for communication executives to expand their influence in the institutional context and generate desired comm...
Directing driver attention with augmented reality cues

This simulator study evaluated the effects of augmented reality (AR) cues designed to direct the attention of experienced drivers to roadside hazards. Twenty-seven healthy middle-aged licensed drivers with a range of attention capacity participated in a 54 mile (1.5 hour) drive in an interactive fixed-base driving simulator. Each participant received AR cues to potential roadside hazards in six simulated straight (9 mile long) rural roadway segments. Drivers were evaluated on response time for detecting a potentially hazardous event, detection accuracy for target (hazard) and non-target objects, and headway with respect to the hazards. Results showed no negative outcomes associated with interference. AR cues did not impair perception of non-target objects, including for drivers with lower attentional capacity. Results showed near significant response time benefits for AR cued hazards. AR cueing increased response rate for detecting pedestrians and warning signs but not vehicles. AR system false alarms and misses did not impair driver responses to potential hazards.
Is it possible to design rational treatments for the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease?

This paper reviews and discusses the evidence that the primary cause of the symptoms of Alzheimer's disease is a deficiency of acetylcholine in cerebral cortex and hippocampus. Data on other neurotransmitters in this disease are briefly reviewed. Possible means of treating acetylcholine deficiences are discussed.
Carbonic Acid Anesthesia for Aquatic Organisms

Abstract Carbonic acid in water is a safe, inexpensive, effective, convenient, and easily obtainable anesthetic for fish and other aquatic organisms. Carbonic acid is not a controlled substance in the United States, and may not require U.S. Food and Drug Administration registration. Baths containing 150 to 600 mg/L carbonic acid (H2CO3) will anesthetize fish; lower concentrations anesthetize more slowly and less deeply, higher concentrations act more rapidly and with greater sedation. The length of time that fish or aquatic organisms can safely be held in anesthetizing baths depends on the carbonic acid concentration, and is longer at low concentrations than at high concentrations. A convenient procedure for developing known concentrations of carbonic acid in anesthetizing baths involves adding equal volumes of 6.75% (wt/vol) sodium bicarbonate solution and 3.95% (wt/vol) of concentrated (97-98%) sulfuric acid solution to a known volume of water. The needed volume of the two solutions can be calculated by...
Pathogenesis of Rotavirus-Induced Bile Duct Obstruction (A Model for Human Biliary Atresia) in Normal Balb/C and CB17 scid Mice with Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID)

Pathogenesis of Rotavirus-Induced Bile Duct Obstruction (A Model for Human Biliary Atresia) in Normal Balb/C and CB17 scid Mice with Severe Combined Immunodeficiency (SCID)
Market‐based Governance and the Challenge for Rural Governments: US Trends

Privatization and decentralization represent market-based approaches to government. Designed to increase efficiency and responsiveness of government, these approaches also limit the potential for redistribution. A key question is how will rural governments compete in such a market based system? Will they be favored, as their reliance on market provision for public goods is higher due to the smaller number of services provided by government? Or will they be less able to compete due to the costs of sparsity which may make them less attractive to market suppliers? Data from the United States covering the period 1992-2002, show that rural areas are not favored by either of these trends – privatization or decentralization. Managerial weakness does not explain the shortfall. Rural areas are not as attractive to market suppliers and thus are disadvantaged under market based service delivery approaches. Although national policy continues to advance a privatization agenda, policymakers should be concerned about the uneven impacts of such market based approaches.
Automatic transfer function generation for volume rendering of high-resolution x-ray 3D digital mammography images

3D Digital mammography (3DDM) is a new technology that provides high resolution X-ray breast tomographic data. Like any other tomographic medical imaging modalities, viewing a stack of tomographic images may require time especially if the images are of large matrix size. In addition, it may cause difficulty to conceptually construct 3D breast structures. Therefore, there is a need to readily visualize the data in 3D. However, one of the issues that hinder the usage of volume rendering (VR) is finding an automatic way to generate transfer functions that efficiently map the important diagnostic information in the data. We have developed a method that randomly samples the volume. Based on the mean and the standard deviation of these samples, the technique determines the lower limit and upper limit of a piecewise linear ramp transfer function. We have volume rendered several 3DDM data using this technique and compared visually the outcome with the result from a conventional automatic technique. The transfer function generated through the proposed technique provided superior VR images over the conventional technique. Furthermore, the improvement in the reproducibility of the transfer function correlated with the number of samples taken from the volume at the expense of the processing time.© (2002) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Preactivation--a novel antitumour and antiviral approach.

Abstract Merocyanine 540 was activated by exposure to 514 nm laser light. This preactivated merocyanine 540 was then mixed (in the dark) with tumour cells, normal cells and envelope viruses to assess its antiproliferative activity. This treatment resulted in 70–90% killing of tumour cells from different cell lines while 85% of normal human peripheral blood mononuclear cells survived the treatment. However, not all types of tumour cells were affected. Preactivated merocyanine 540 was also effective in virtually completely inactivating cell-free herpes simplex and human immunodeficiency viruses. Preactivated photoactive compounds can exert their toxic effects in the dark without further dependence on light and may have potential systemic use.
FACTORS INFLUENCING HEMATOPOIETIC SPLEEN COLONY FORMATION IN IRRADIATED MICE III. THE EFFECT OF REPETITIVE IRRADIATION UPON PROLIFERATIVE ABILITY OF COLONY-FORMING CELLS

Mice were irradiated repetitively at 6 wk intervals. The proliferative capacity of the hematopoietic stem cell compartment was studied after each irradiation and compared to that of age-matched controls which had been irradiated only once. Hematopoietic proliferation capacity was measured by determining the number of spleen colonies, splenic iron uptake, spleen weight, and volume of packed red cells 10 days after irradiation. 6 wk after the first irradiation, the hematopoietic compartment was apparently supranormal in size for, when such mice were again irradiated, their postirradiation hematopoiesis was in excess of that of the controls. Thereafter, there was a steady decline in regenerative capacity with each sequential irradiation. After the sixth irradiation, the number of spleen colonies and iron uptake were reduced to one-fifth of that of singly irradiated controls. A decline in body weight and an increase in irradiation mortality accompanied the decline in postirradiation hematopoiesis. The degree of measured decline in hematopoietic proliferative ability was less than that observed by other investigators who studied the effect of serial transplantation of cells upon their ability to proliferate. Furthermore, even after the sixth irradiation, a marked stimulation of postirradiation hematopoiesis was induced by bleeding the animals before irradiation.
Superoxide generation and its modulation by adenosine in the neutrophils of subjects with asthma

Airway inflammation with neutrophil infiltration may play a role in airway hyperreactivity. Neutrophils may exert their effects through the generation of superoxide O2- anion and other oxygen-derived free radicals. O2- generation by neutrophils has been demonstrated to be modulated by adenosine at physiologic concentrations. Therefore, we have investigated the function of peripheral blood neutrophils with respect to O2- anion generation and its regulation by adenosine in both subjects with asthma and normal subjects and also the relationship between O2- anion generation and airway hyperresponsiveness in subjects with asthma. Purified neutrophils were obtained from eight subjects with stable asthma and seven normal control subjects not taking chronic medications. O2- anion generation in subjects with asthma was significantly higher compared with that of normal subjects after stimulation with either N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (mean, 14.8 nmol/10(6) cells for subjects with asthma versus mean, 9.6 nmol/10(6) cells for normal subjects; p less than 0.01) or phorbol myristate acetate (mean, 13.6 nmol/10(6) cells versus mean, 8.1 nmol/10(6) cells; p less than 0.05). Adenosine inhibited N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine-stimulated O2- anion generation in a dose-related fashion in subjects with asthma and normal subjects to a similar degree. Adenosine had no effect on O2- anion generation after phorbol myristate acetate stimulation. These results indicate that neutrophils from subjects with asthma produce more O2- anion when they are stimulated than do neutrophils from normal subjects and that this difference is not due to adenosine modulation. In subjects with asthma, O2- anion generation correlated with the degree of airway hyperresponsiveness to inhaled methacholine.
Chlorophyll-deficient mutation frequency in barley following continuous gamma irradiation over a wide range of exposures throughout the life cycle ☆

Abstract An experiment was conducted to test the influence of continuous γ-irradiation over a wide range of exposures throughout one life cycle on inducing chlorophyll-deficient mutations in barley ( Hordeum vulgare ). 200 seeds per treatment were planted at various distances from the radiation source. Treatments ranged from 0.17 R/day (16.5 R total exposure) to 23.2 R/day (2240 R total exposure). The plants were exposed 20 h per day from time of emergence until harvest (96 days) and the apical spikes harvested from each surviving plant. 20 seeds (at random) from each spike were removed and bulked with those from other spikes within the same treatment to make up the M 1 population. Seeds from non-irradiated plants were also included as a treatment. Up to 5 spikes were harvested from each M 1 plant, planted in greenhouse benches, and M 2 seedlings scored for chlorophyll-deficient mutants. M 1 plant survival and reduction in seed set were approximately the same regardless of the treatment. The frequency of mutations per 10 000 M 2 seedlings from 1.3 for the non-irradiated population to 4.3 for progeny of plants receiving 0.17 R/day. This frequency remained about the same through 1.45 R/day. At 3.17 R/day, the frequency increased to 7.0 and was 45.4 at 23.2 R/day. Although there appears to be a plateau and the low exposures, it is not possible to determine the exact shape of the dose response. A mathematical model with an equation of the form Y = Be cx2 and also a linear-linear model were used to summarize the data. The mutation spectrum from all treatments was 70.6% albina, 17.6% viridis and 11.7% others.
3-Methyladenine DNA glycosylase is important for cellular resistance to psoralen interstrand cross-links

DNA interstrand cross-links (ICLs), widely used in chemotherapy, are cytotoxic lesions because they block replication and transcription. Repair of ICLs involves proteins from different repair pathways however the precise mechanism is still not completely understood. Here, we report that the 3-methyladenine DNA glycosylase (Aag), an enzyme that initiates base excision repair at a variety of alkylated bases, is also involved in the repair of ICLs. Aag(-/-) mouse embryonic stem cells were shown to be more sensitive to the cross-linking agent 4,5',8-trimethylpsoralen than wild-type cells, but no more sensitive than wild-type to the psoralen derivative Angelicin that forms only monoadducts. We show that gamma-H2AX foci formation, a marker for double strand breaks that are formed during ICL repair, is impaired in psoralen treated Aag(-/-) cells in both quantity and kinetics. However, in our in vitro system, purified human AAG can neither bind to the ICL nor cleave it. Taken together, our results suggest that Aag is important for the resistance of mouse ES cells to psoralen-induced ICLs.
Irradiation effects in MgF2 coatings on Si and GaAs substrates

Abstract Heavy-particle irradiation effects have been investigated as a potential method for inducing ion-beam mixing and thereby improving the adhesion between a thin-film MgF2 anti-reflection coating and substrates with optical or electro-optical applications. The nature of the ion-beam-induced alterations of MgF2 films deposited on Si or GaAs substrates and subsequently irradiated with 210 keV Xe+ ions was studied using Rutherford backscattering and scanning electron microscopy. The results are compared with those obtained in previous studies of MgF2 films deposited on LiF substrates.
Massive foreign object ingestion

Although foreign object ingestion is usually a benign event, it may result in serious complications. Presented is the case of a 41-year-old man admitted secondary to the ingestion of 71 metallic objects, including a wrench, wire springs, and a razor blade. The patient was observed in hospital for eight days, during which time there was no evidence of passage of any objects. On the eighth hospital day the patient underwent a gastrostomy for removal of the foreign objects. Post-operative recovery was uneventful. Guidelines for both the diagnosis and therapy of foreign body ingestions are discussed, with particular attention to indications for medical versus surgical intervention.
High heels and polished floors: The ultimate challenge in research on slip-resistance

Abstract The walking traction test was put to the ultimate test by measuring the coefficient of friction (cof) of six pairs of women's shoes including one with a flat profiled rubber sole and no separate heel and five with a range of raised heels (high heels), on a variety of dry and wet floors. The effect of applying three types of floor polish to vinyl and vinyl asbestos was also investigated. The pair of flat profiled rubber soled women's shoes could not be induced to slip on any surface either wet or dry. On dry, buffed vinyl only one of the high heel shoes slipped close to the maximum attainable cof of 0.42. The addition of two types of wax polish caused all high heel shoes to slip and they also slipped on dry terrazzo. When water containing a wetting agent was applied to these (wet) surfaces one of the high heel shoes did not slip on terrazzo, but all the high heel shoes slipped on the other floor surfaces. On wet terrazzo and wet waxed plywood the cof was higher than on dry surfaces. Kendall's coefficient of concordance (w) for rank orders of the womens' shoes was 0.72 for five dry surfaces and 0.47 on eight wet surfaces, p
Flow between rotating disks. Part 2: Stability

Infinite-disk flows appear to possess multiple solutions at E−1 = 275 (Holodniok, Kubicek & Hlavacek 1977), where E = ν/s2ω is the Ekman number. One of these solutions exhibits characteristics of Couette flow and is stable in the circular domain 0 < r/s < 50. The other two solutions, both Poiseuille-type flows, are unstable at all positions. The stable solution shows strong resemblance to experimental profiles obtained between finite disks. Stability of finite-disk flows is investigated in two cases: (i) one disk rotating and the other stationary, and (ii) counter-rotating disks. Photographs indicate presence of two instability types. Theoretical calculations are in fair agreement with experimental evidence on instability of type I.
Characterizing Concurrency Control Performance for the PIOUS Parallel File System

Parallel file systems employ data declustering to increase I/O throughput. However, because a single read or write operation can generate data accesses on multiple independent storage devices, a concurrency control mechanism must be employed to retain familiar file access semantics. Concurrency control negates some of the performance benefits of data declustering by introducing additional file access overhead. This paper examines the performance characteristics of the transaction-based concurrency control mechanism implemented in the PIOUS parallel file system. Results demonstrate that linearizability of file access operations is provided without loss of scalability or stability.
United States Coast Guard activities in oceanographic work and plans for the future

This year the Coast Guard oceanographic program in connection with International Ice Patrol has been reactivated on a full scale basis. The oceanographic vessel, fully equipped and staffed, has already begun its observational program in the Grand Banks area to construct the first dynamic current chart in that region since before the War. Throughout the ice season periodic oceanographic surveys will be made of the most critical of the ice-infested regions. The surface-current maps resulting from these surveys are used immediately by the patrol cutters, and the Commander International Ice Patrol at Argentia, Newfoundland, to plan ice scouting by sea and air, and to predict ice movement. As usual the results of this research will be published in the annual report of the Ice Patrol. Coast Guard Bulletin No. 32 International Ice Observation and lee Patrol Service in the North Atlantic Ocean. Season of 1946. which covers 1942 to 1945 also, has already been distributed. Bulletin No. 31, for 1941 is still in preparation.
Possible uses of urinary neopterin and biopterin measurement

The measurement of urinary neopterin and biopterin may be an important non-specific diagnostic tool. Urinary biopterin has been found to be decreased in parkinsonian patients, and in hyperphenylalanemia as a variant of phenylketonuria. Urinary neopterin has been found to be elevated in numerous conditions. It has been shown to be significantly higher in AIDS patients than in ARC patients, and significantly higher in ARC patients than in controls. Urinary neopterin has been shown to be prognostically elevated in a wide range of neoplasias, including multiple myeloma, hematologic and gynecologic neoplasias. Neopterin is thought to be an in-vitro indicator of activation of the immune system.
Apparent shift in visual field preference after unilateral stroke

Patients with either a left- or a right-hemisphere stroke lesion scored higher in tasks of word-picture matching and of nonverbal shape matching when information was presented tachistoscopically (120 msec) to the visual field (VF) projecting to their undamaged hemisphere. Left-hemisphere stroke patients (n = 13) were dissociated from right-hemisphere stroke patients (n = 15) by low word recognition from memory and by low right VF but nearly normal left VF accuracy in word-picture matching or shape matching; the former appeared to rely upon processing of word meaning by the right hemisphere. In contrast, right-stroke patients had higher right than left VF scores in both tasks, and their discrimination of nonverbal shapes via the right VF was not different from that of controls (n = 15). Preferred processing by the VF projecting to the undamaged hemisphere appeared as a shift in perceptual asymmetry but may indicate, in support of a "direct access" model, that each hemisphere responds more or less efficiently to word and to nonverbal shape discriminations.
Do as I Say (Not as I Do): Inconsistency Between Behavior and Values

People confronting potentially undesirable situations frequently must choose between action and inaction, and the choice people most admire may not correspond with the choice they make. Three studies examined the discrepancy between values and personal choices in the face of potentially undesirable situations. Across all studies participants perceived action as more admirable than inaction, and their positive perception of action did not waver even when action was difficult and likely to be ineffective. However, participants strongly preferred inaction over action for themselves except when action was efficient. We discuss implications of these findings for predicting and guiding responses to various life challenges.
Systemic lidocaine and human somatosensory-evoked potentials during sufentanil-isoflurane anaesthesia.

The effect of systemically administered lidocaine on somatosensory evoked potentials (SSEPs) during general anaesthesia has not been widely reported. Knowledge of the influence of anaesthetic agents on evoked potentials assists in interpreting evoked potential waveforms. Accordingly, we studied the behaviour of cortical and subcortical (recorded at the second cervical vertebra) SSEPs after administration of intravenous lidocaine (3 mg · kg−1 bolus followed by infusion at 4 mg · kg−1 · hr−1) during a sufentanil-based anaesthetic regimen in 16 patients undergoing abdominal or orthopaedic surgery. When compared to awake baseline recordings, the sufentanil-nitrous oxide, low-dose isoflurane anaesthetic depressed N1 amplitude by approximately 40% and prolonged latency by 10%. Fifteen minutes after establishment of this anaesthetic, the amplitude and latency of N1 were 1.13 ± 0.56 μV and 19.81 ± 1.63 msec, respectively. Within five minutes of adding lidocaine, amplitude decreased further to 0.84 ± 0.39 μV (P = 0.001), while latency was extended to 20.44 ± 1.48 msec (P = 0.01). Lidocaine did not affect cervical amplitude and prolonged latency only minimally. Despite the observed effects on amplitude and latency, SSEP waveforms were preserved and interpretable. Plasma lidocaine levels obtained at 5, 20, and 40 minutes after lidocaine were 5.17 ± 1.33, 3.76 ± 1.14, and 3.66 ± 0.9 μg · dl−1, respectively. Our results indicate that systemically administered lidocaine at therapeutic plasma levels acts synergistically with a sufentanilbased anaesthetic to depress the amplitude and prolong the latency of SSEPs.
Complications and sequelae of meningococcal infections in children

Eight-six children with meningococcal meningitis or bacteremia were evaluated prospectively between1977 and 1979 to determine the incidence of complications and features predictive of their development. The majority (83%) of these infections were caused by serogroup B strains. Twenty-seven percent of survivors experienced one or more suppurative, allergic, or neurologic complications. Hearing loss, noted in 9% of children, occurred significantly more often in patients with admission leukocytosis or leukopenia, or with CSF leukocytosis greater than 10,000/mm 3 than in those with an uncomplicated course ( P P Neisseria meningitidis groups A and C, group B strains appear to be intermediate in their potential for allergic complications associated with childhood infection.
Alemtuzumab in the treatment of relapsing–remitting multiple sclerosis

Multiple sclerosis (MS) is an autoimmune disorder characterized by CNS inflammation, demyelination and cellular damage with atrophy. Most patients with MS initially present with a relapsing-remitting course, with periodic episodes of neurologic symptomatology that do not follow a predictable pattern. In order to maintain a stable clinical course, it is felt to be important to control the number and severity of relapses, as disability, at least in part, is a cumulative effect of damage from multiple lesions within the brain and spinal cord. Historically, MS has not been considered curable, because the immune system could not be adequately normalized over the course of a lifetime. Alemtuzumab (Campath-1H; Campath(®), Genzyme, MA, USA) has recently been investigated in a Phase II clinical trial in the treatment of relapsing-remitting MS. The results observed in the study are very encouraging and multiple insights have been made into the nature of autoimmunity in general based on the clinical response to this monoclonal antibody. Enrollment in two pivotal Phase III clinical trials of alemtuzumab in MS is now complete.
First-principles investigations of elastic properties and energetics of antiferroelectric and ferroelectric phases of PbZrO 3

We report an ab initio study of the elastic properties and energetics of the orthorhombic (AFO) and rhombohedral (RF) phases of ${\text{PbZrO}}_{3}$. We report the polarization for the RF phase and the elastic constants, the sound velocity, and the total energy for both phases. Our results show that the two phases are energetically close, by 2.3 mRy per formula unit, and the AFO phase is the most stable one consistent with the experimental phase diagram. The elastic constant and sound velocity calculations show that depending on the orientation, either phase can be the effectively stiffer one and that these differences are large. This suggests that control of the balance between these phases via strain is possible, for example, in epitaxy and in particular that the ferroelectric state can be stabilized even without lattice dilation.
Motivated by information: information about online collective action as an incentive for participation

This paper describes research focused on understanding the relationships between operational knowledge about how online collective action systems work and participation in those systems. Specifically, I use qualitative interviews to examine knowledge about online systems that form public goods, questioning whether the notions of public goods and social dilemmas are relevant and meaningful for individuals making real-world participation decisions. This paper also describes concurrent experimental research focused on exploring the relationship between knowledge about one's own and others' competence to contribute to collective goals as a factor in participation decisions.
Harmonic and subharmonic shapiro steps in orthorhombic Tas3

Abstract Observation of harmonic and subharmonic Shapiro steps in orthorhombic TaS 3 in the presence of combined rf and dc drive is reported, demonstrating that both the harmonic and subharmonic steps are a general characteristic of charge-density-wave response. Compared to NbSe 3 , the noise spectrum is typically much broader in TaS 3 , leading to poorly defined steps at small rf voltages. The steps sharpen with larger amplitudes of rf. Increased rf amplitude is also accompanied by an increase in the CDW current density at a given step, but this increase approaches a limiting value for large rf levels. The results are interpreted as evidence for increased coherence of the CDW response in the presence of large rf driving fields.
The Modified Sudden Death Test: Planning Life Tests with a Limited Number of Test Positions

We present modified sudden death test (MSDT) plans to address the problemof limited testing positions in life tests. A single MSDT involves testing k, , , specimens simultaneously until the r, th, , , failure. The traditional sudden death test (SDT) is a special casewhen r, =, 1, , , . The complete MSDT plan consists of g, , , single MSDTs run in sequence. When r, >, 1, , , , there can be up to r, −, 1, , , idle test positions at any time. We propose testing “standby”specimens in the idle positions and use simulation to gage the improvementover the basic MSDT plan. We evaluate test plans with respect to the asymptoticvariance of maximum likelihood estimators of quantities of interest, totalexperiment duration, and sample size. In contrast to traditional experimentalplans, shorter total testing time and smaller sample sizes are possible underMSDT plans.
Serotonin delivery into the ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus affects differently feeding pattern and body weight in obese and lean Zucker rats

Aim: To determine if central serotonin (5-HT)-induced satiety is altered in obesity. Methods: Obese and lean Zucker rats received infusion of 5-HT (5 μg/0.5 μl/h) or saline into the ventromedial nucleus of the hypothalamus (VMN) for 2 weeks. Results: In lean rats, 5-HT decreased body weight (7%) and total food intake (15%) which was due to a decreased meal size during the dark phase. In obese rats, a decrease of food intake was also observed in the dark phase, but it was compensated by an increased food intake during the light phase, resulting in no significant changes of total food intake and body weight. In obese rats, meal number but not meal size was affected by 5-HT delivery. Body fat content was not affected by 5-HT in obese rats, while cessation of 5-HT delivery in lean rats resulted in 13% increase. Conclusion: Intra-VMN 5-HT in obese rats did not increase meal-associated satiety as it did in lean rats, but modulated hunger. These results show that the Zucker obese phenotype is characterized by VMN resistance to 5-HT, which may contribute to neurobiological mechanisms of increased meal size and food intake and may diminish anti-obesity effects of serotonergic anorexiants.
Martian temperatures and thermal properties

Martian surface temperature distributions based on IR scans of disk compared with predictions of thermal properties
Exposure of Pregnant Dairy Heifers to High-Tension Power Lines [Health Effects]

This article investigates the biological effects and potential health hazards to pregant dairy heifers from exposure to extremely-low-frequency (ELF) electromagnetic fields, in the 50/60 Hz range, particularly those associated with transmission lines. It was found that the EMF exposed cattles gained weight.