cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Pheromone detection by an amphisbaenı́an

Abstract Abstract. Detection of conspecific chemical stimuli and their use to discriminate males from females is demonstrated in an amphisbaenian, Blanus cinereus . In two experiments using randomized blocks designs, males were presented cotton swabs bearing male stimuli, female stimuli, and deionized water in counterbalanced sequence. Detection of conspecific stimuli was evident by the significantly higher tongue-flick rates by male subjects in response to chemical stimuli from precloacal pores and trunk skin of both sexes than from a control stimulus. Differential response was indicated by a significantly greater tongue-flick rate in response to female than to male precloacal pore stimuli. That more males bit applicators bearing conspecific male precloacal pore stimuli than the other stimuli also suggests functional recognition of males. That tongue-flick rates for male and female trunk skin stimuli were indistinguishable suggests that tongue-flicking the trunk skin does not allow sex recognition and that sex pheromones are not present in that region. Latency to the first tongue-flick was shorter in response to precloacal pore stimuli of females than that of males, suggesting that volatile pheromonal components most likely detected by olfaction elicit tongue-flicking. Because the sensory basis for discriminations based on tongue-flicking is presumably vomerolfaction, the possibility must be considered that olfaction contributes to the tongue-flicking rate for pheromonal responses involving analysis of lingually sampled pheromones by the vomeronasal system to both initial and later responses. Because pheromonal responses by B. cinereus are similar to those in scleroglossan lizards and snakes, the closest relatives of amphisbaenians, pheromonal communication may be plesiomorphic in this taxon. It may be selectively important in amphisbaenians due to fossoriality and reduced vision.
Comments on "Propagation of Plane Waves Through Two Parallel Dielectric Sheets

It is pointed out that only the second dielectric wall of an irradiation chamber determines the voltage standing wave ratio within the chamber. Extension of the general method to more complex models is easily accomplished using numerical methods.
QUATERNARY DOWNCUTTING RATE OF THE NEW RIVER, VIRGINIA, MEASURED FROM DIFFERENTIAL DECAY OF COSMOGENIC 26AL AND 10BE IN CAVE-DEPOSITED ALLUVIUM

The concentrations of the cosmogenic radionuclides {sup 26}Al and {sup 10}Be in quartz can be used to date sediment burial. Here we use {sup 26} Al and {sup 10}Be in cave-deposited river sediment to infer the time of sediment emplacement. Sediment burial dates from a vertical sequence of caves along the New River constrain its Quaternary downcutting rate to 27.3{+-}4.5 m/m.y. and may provide evidence of regional tectonic tilt. 32 refs., 3 figs., 1 tab.
U.S. natural gas markets: A structural model comparison

Abstract With the heightened concern about the environment, governments have been considering and proposing policy actions that would substantially alter the level and mix of energy use. Many of these proposals favor an increased reliance upon natural gas, which is cleaner, less polluting fuel than oil or coal on a number of criteria. This study compares the responses of several prominent North American and U.S. natural gas markets to changes in oil prices, resource bases, and demands in order to better understand the workings of this critical market. It develops a rudimentary supply- demand framework that is used for discussing the model responses in the various scenarios.
Characterization of a lysophospholipid acyltransferase involved in membrane remodeling in Candida albicans.

Abstract Phospholipid remodeling involves phospholipase activity to remove acyl chains and acyltransferases to replace acyl chains. We here describe the characterization of a lysophospholipid acyltransferase in the opportunistic fungal pathogen, Candida albicans. Expression of this gene, C.a. LPT1, complemented the lysophospholipid acyltransferase defect in Saccharomyces cerevisiae strains lacking the homologous LPT1 gene. In vitro, lysophospholipid acyltransferase activity in these strains showed acyl-CoA substrate specificity, as measured by apparent Vmax/Km ratios, to be linolenoyl-CoA > oleoyl-CoA > linoleoyl-CoA > stearoyl-CoA. To address the physiological importance of C.a. LPT1, homozygous deletion strains were generated. Lysophospholipid acyltransferase activity with amine containing lysophospholipids was dramatically reduced while lysophosphatidylinositol and lysophosphatidic acid esterification was not significantly lowered. However, C.a. LPT1 over-expression yielded an increased amount of lysophosphatidic acyltransferase activity, suggesting a role in de novo phospholipid synthesis. LPT1 deletion strains showed slightly slowed growth in standard liquid media but no phenotype in media containing three antifungals that target sterols. To assess the role of C.a. Lpt1 in phospholipid remodeling, an in vivo, pulse–chase assay utilizing polysorbitan palmitate and mass spectrometry was developed. Cellular phospholipid composition became atypical with the provision of palmitate and gradually returned to the typical distribution when palmitate was removed. Deletion of C.a. LPT1 showed a modest yet significant effect on remodeling under these conditions.
A Simplified Model for Parameter Estimation and Circuit Analysis of Inductive-Adder Modulator

In this paper, we propose a simplified model for easy estimation of design parameters and quick analysis of inductive adder modulators. Analytical method is used to deduct the simplified circuit model. This model offers an easy way to understand the behavior of the inductive-adder modulator circuits and provides designers a helpful tool to estimate critical parameters such as pulse rise time, system impedance, number of adder stages, etc. Computer simulations demonstrate that parameter estimation based on simplified circuit model is fairly accurate as compared to original circuit. Furthermore, this approach can be used in the early stages of system development to assist the feasibility study of the project and to aid geometry selection and parameter selection of critical components.
Experience with collaborating managers: node group manager and provisioning manager

This paper presents an autonomic system in which two managers with different responsibilities collaborate to achieve an overall objective within a cluster of server computers. The first, a node group manager, uses modeling and optimization algorithms to allocate server processes and individual requests among a set of server machines grouped into node groups, and also estimates its ability to fulfill its service-level objectives as a function of the number of server machines available in each node group. The second, a provisioning manager, consumes these estimates from one or more node group managers, and uses them to allocate machines to node groups over a longer timescale. We describe the operation of both managers and the information that flows between them, and present the results of some experiments demonstrating the effectiveness of our technique. Furthermore, we relate our architecture to a general autonomic computing architecture based on self-managing resources and patterns of inter-resource collaboration, and to emerging standards in the area of distributed manageability. We also discuss some of the issues involved in incorporating our implementation into existing products in the short term, and describe a number of further directions for this research.
The enzymatic synthesis of A (β-1-,2-)-linked glucan by an extract of Rhizobium japonicum

Abstract A particulate enzymatic preparation has been obtained from two strains of Rhizobium japonicum which synthetisized a labeled glucan from UDP-[ 14 C]glucose. The enzymatic system requires Mg 2+ or Mn 2+ and has an optimum activity at pH 7.5, and a K m for UDPG of 3·10 −4 M. This glucan can be found in the medium, after the growth of these bacteria in a synthetic medium containing d -glucose or d -galactose. It appears to be identical with a glucan previously isolated from cultures of Agrobacterium tumefaciens , by the criteria of the optical rotation, nuclear-magnetic-resonance spectroscopy and identification of the products of partial acidic hydrolysis. The main linkage between the glucosyl units is β-1,2. Some β-1,3 and β-1,6 linkages are also present. From the nuclear-magnetic-resonance spectrum, it can be deduced that the β-1,2 linkage accounts for more than 80% of the total bonds in the polyssaccharide. Influence of substitution at position 2 of glucose unit on the nuclear-magnetic-resonance spectrum is shown.
Femtosecond pulse generation via Kerr lens mode-locking in Ti:A1 2 O 3

Abstract OnlyFEMTOSECOND PULSE GENERATION VIA KERR LENS MODELOCKENG IN ThA1203Daniel K. Negus, Luis Spinelli, Norman Goldblatt,Michael Steiner-Shepherd, John AmbroseoCoherent Laser Group3210 Porter DrivePalo Alto, California 94304Numerous methods have been demonstrated to produce tunable pulses from Ti:sapphire. Thereported results have ranged from 600ps down to 5Ofs with varying tunability. We describe a novel modelocking technique which utilizes the intensity dependent refractive index, n, of theTi: sapphire to generate a time-varying Kerr lens. The Kerr lensing effects are optimizedwithin a nonlinear resonator to create differential gain for modelocked operation as well assaturable absorption. In addition, the resulting high intensity pulses are shown to behave in a quasi-soliton manner in which the chirp introduced by SPM is precisely compensated byintracavity GVD compensation. Nearly transform limited sub-lOOfs pulses have beendemonstrated at high average power and typical system performance will be discussed.
Direct Contact with Mineral Trioxide Aggregate Activates and Differentiates Human Dental Pulp Cells

Abstract Introduction Mineral trioxide aggregate (MTA) is routinely used for pulp-capping procedures. However, little is known about its direct interaction with the cells or whether MTA is capable of releasing soluble factors that could help in differentiating cells. There have been no previous studies showing this aspect of MTA. Hence, the aim of this study was to determine whether direct contact of the cells with MTA was necessary to help differentiate the pulp cells into odontoblast-like cells. Methods Human dental pulp cells were cultured on gray MTA, either in direct contact or away from the cells on a cell culture insert, and the levels of gene expression, secretion of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and the rates of cell proliferation were analyzed. Results MTA when placed in direct contact with the cells promoted up-regulated the expression of important odontoblastic genes like osteocalcin and dentin sialoprotein, thereby showing that direct contact of the cells with the MTA is necessary to promote differentiation of the pulp cells into odontoblast-like cells, which in turn are responsible for dentin bridge formation. MTA also induced an increase in the secretion of VEGF when placed in direct contact with the cells. Conclusions Overall, our study supports the fact that direct contact of the cells with the MTA is necessary to help differentiate them into odontoblast-like cells, which in turn will lead to a successful treatment outcome.
Increased Stroke Risk and Lipoprotein(a) in a Multiethnic Community: The Northern Manhattan Stroke Study

Context: Elevated lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)] is associated with ischemic stroke (IS) among Whites, but data is sparse for non-White populations. Objective: Using a population-based case-control study design with subjects from the Northern Manhattan Stroke Study, we assessed whether Lp(a) levels were independently associated with IS risk among Whites, Blacks and Hispanics. Design and Setting: Lp(a) levels were measured in 317 IS cases (mean age 69 ± 13 years; 56% women; 16% Whites, 31% Blacks and 52% Hispanics) and 413 community-based controls, matched by age, race/ethnicity and gender. In-person assessments included demographics, socioeconomic status, presence of vascular risk factors and fasting lipid levels. Logistic regression was used to determine the independent association of Lp(a) and IS. Stratified analyses investigated gender and race/ethnic differences. Results: Mean Lp(a) levels were greater among cases than controls (46.3 ± 41.0 vs. 38.9 ± 38.2 mg/dl; p Conclusion: Elevated Lp(a) levels were significantly and independently associated with increased stroke risk, suggesting that Lp(a) is a risk factor for IS across White, Black and Hispanic race/ethnic groups.
Control of sound radiation from a NITINOL-reinforced plate into an acoustic cavity

The sound radiation from vibrating NITINOL-reinforced plates coupled with acoustic cavities are controlled by heating sets of shape memory alloy (NITINOL) fibers embedded along the neutral planes of these plates. Thermal, dynamic and acoustic finite element models are developed to study the fundamental phenomena governing the coupling between the dynamics of the NITINOL plates and the acoustic cavities. The models are used to compute the frequencies, mode shapes and sound radiation for different initial tensions and activation strategies of the NITINOL fibers. The predictions of the models are validated experimentally using a square glassfiber/polyester resin plate, whose sides are 19 cm and thickness is 0.254 cm, mounted on a 19 cm X 19 cm X 38 cm cavity. The plate is reinforced with 58 NITINOL fibers that are 0.55 mm in diameter which are embedded inside vulcanized rubber sleeves placed at the plate mid-plane. The results obtained indicate close agreement between the theory and experiments. Also, it is shown that activating all the NITINOL fibers results in increasing the first mode of vibration from 240 Hz to 277.5 Hz and increasing the corresponding loss factor from 0.014 to 0.039. Such significant shift of the modal characteristics of the plates results in suppressing the amplitude of vibration of the plate by 76% and attenuating the sound pressure level radiated inside the cavity by 62%. Therefore, the experimentally validated theoretical models presented in this paper provide invaluable means for predicting sound radiation from NITINOL-reinforced plates in coupled acoustic cavity.
Emotion Regulation and Attachment: Unpacking Two Constructs and Their Association

This study examined the association between the security of attachment and processes influencing the development of emotion regulation in young children. A sample of 73 4 1/2-year-olds and their mothers were observed in an emotion regulation probe involving mild frustration for children, and mothers and children were later independently interviewed about how the child had felt. Fewer than half the mothers agreed with children’s self-reports in the emotion they attributed to children (a lower rate than the concordance of observer ratings with children’s self-reports), and higher mother-child concordance was associated with secure attachment and mother’s beliefs about the importance of attending to and accepting their own emotions. Mother-child conversations about recent events evoking children’s negative emotion were also analyzed. Children were less likely to avoid conversing about negative feelings when they were in secure attachments and when mothers were more validating of the child’s perspective. Children’s greater understanding of negative emotions was also significantly associated with higher mother-child concordance and less child conversational avoidance. Taken together, these findings underscore the multiple influences of attachment on emotion regulation and the importance of children’s emotion understanding to these processes.
Impact of CPAP on activity patterns and diet in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA).

Study Objectives:Patients with severe OSA consume greater amounts of cholesterol, protein, and fat as well as have greater caloric expenditure. However, it is not known whether their activity level...
Effect of Vitamin E Deficient Diet Upon Skeletal Muscle

ConclusionsRats reared from birth on a vitamin E-deficient diet show dystrophic changes of the skeletal musculature within 6 months. This is evidenced by a decreased maximal contractile power, and decreased creatine and increased chloride concentration of the gastrocnemius muscle. The male is affected to a greater extent than is the female. These changes become manifest in the presence of only minor histologic change in the muscle, and without the appearance of gross symptoms. It is apparent that wheat germ oil will protect completely against these changes.
Amino Acid Terminated Polydiacetylene Lipid Microstructures: Morphology and Chromatic Transition

Novel lipid microstructures with various morphologies have been synthesized using a series of amino acid terminated diacetylenic lipids, and the chromatic transitions of the polymerized microstructures have been characterized by UV−vis and FTIR spectroscopies. The observed morphologies for the microstructures include tubule, helix, ribbon, sheet, braided fiber, and planar platelet, formation of which has shown strong dependency on the chemical structure of the headgroup. All amino acid lipids studied in this work form microstructures that allow polymerization by UV irradiation to yield a blue appearance. Molecular chirality, electrostatic interactions, and hydrogen-bonding interactions in the headgroup region determine the formation of microstructures with twisted features, while nonchiral molecules do not form curved structures. The polymerized lipid microstructures exhibit similar colorimetric properties as observed for related bilayer vesicles, undergoing a blue-to-red color transition in response to t...
Evidence for the extramembranous location of the putative amphipathic helix of acetylcholine receptor.

Evidence has been obtained demonstrating that the peptides GVKYIAE and AIKYIAE found in the potential amphipathic helices of the ..cap alpha.. and ..beta.. subunits, respectively, of acetylcholine receptor are not buried in the membrane. The peptide KYIAE was synthesized, and polyclonal antibodies were prepared against a conjugate of bovine serum albumin and synthetic peptide. An immunoadsorbent capable of binding and subsequently releasing peptides ending with the sequence-YIAE was produced by attaching these specific antibodies to agarose. Native acetylcholine receptor was labeled with pyridoxal phosphate and Na(/sup 3/H)BH/sub 4/. The labeled protein was stripped of phospholipid and digested with the protease from Staphylococcus aureus strain V8. The digest was submitted to immunoadsorption to isolate the labeled indigenous peptides. As a control, ..cap alpha.. and ..beta.. polypeptides prepared by gel filtration of a solution of acetylcholine receptor in detergent were stripped of detergent and labeled with pyridoxal phosphate and Na(/sup 3/H)BH/sub 4/ in the presence of 8 M urea. The labeled ..cap alpha.. and ..beta.. polypeptides were digested and submitted to immunoadsorption. The specific radioactivities of the indigenous peptides from the ..cap alpha.. and ..beta.. subunits labeled under native and denaturing conditions were nearly equal. In similar experiments using isethionyl (2',4'-dinitrophenyl)-3-aminopropionimidate asmore » the labeling agent, the indigenous peptides from native and denatured receptor were also labeled to the same extent. Since these peptides are labeled to the same extent whether or not the protein is denatured, they cannot be buried in the membrane.« less
Creating Welfare States in Czechoslovakia and Hungary: Why Policymakers Borrow Ideas from the West

Political change in Eastern Europe meant that a policy reform was soon to follow. The initial expectation was that reform would stem from efforts to emulate the Western democratic countries, and that policymakers in Eastern Europe would borrow from the West. In this study it was found that in Czechoslovakia policymakers were attempting to borrow policies primarily from Britain and Sweden, whereas in Hungary the primary models were Germany and Austria. An explanation for this difference is that historical similarities in social-policy development structured the choice of countries, suggesting that historical trends have persisted despite the long period of Communist rule.
Cytokine secretion from brain macrophages infected with human immunodeficiency virus in vitro and treated with raltegravir

Integrase inhibitors are a promising class of antiretroviral drugs to treat chronic human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection. During HIV infection, macrophages can extravasate from the blood to the brain, while producing chemotaxic proteins and cytokines, which have detrimental effects on central nervous system cells. The main goal of this study was to understand the effects of raltegravir (RAL) on human brain macrophage production of immune-mediators when infected with HIV, but did not compare with other antiretroviral agents. Pro-inflammatory cytokines, IFN-γ, IL-10, IL-12-p70, IL-1, IL-8, TNF-α, and IL-6 were measured simultaneously in tissue culture supernatants from primary brain derived macrophages, microglia. We tested the effects of RAL on markers of astrocytosis and neurite integrity in primary human neuroglial cultures. RAL administered at 20 nM effectively suppressed HIV infection in microglia over 9 days. Only IL-8, IL-10, and TNF-α were above the detection limit in the majority of samples and RAL significantly suppressed the rate of cytokine production in HIV-infected microglia. During RAL-alone, the rate of IL-8 secretion was higher. RAL did not affect neurite area but inhibited astrocyte growth in the neuroglial cultures. Exploring the effects of RAL on pro-inflammatory molecule production in brain macrophages may contribute to designing ARV neuroprotective strategies in chronic HIV infection.
Advanced misfire detection using adaptive signal processing

This article addresses the problem of internal combustion engine misfire detection. Specific attention is paid to misfire detection using crankshaft speed measurements. After an initial analysis of the problem, the applicability of advanced signal processing methods to its solution is discussed. We demonstrate how adaptive filtering techniques can lead to improved misfire detection accuracy. This can lead to reduced mis-detection as well as false alarm rates. The general concept of estimating and removing periodic, time-varying components may also be applied to other automotive problems. Copyright © 2004 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Motion estimation of a miniature helicopter using a single onboard camera

This paper describes a technique for the estimation of the translational and rotational velocities of a miniature helicopter using the video signals from a single onboard camera. For every two consecutive frames from the camera, point correspondences are identified and Epipolar Geometry based algorithms are used to find the likely estimates of the absolute rotations and relative displacements. Images from onboard camera are often corrupted with various types of noises; SIFT descriptors were found to be the best feature descriptors to be used for point correspondences. To speed up the processing, we introduce a new representation of these descriptors based on compressive sensing formalisms. To estimate the absolute displacement of the helicopter between frames, we use the measurements from a simulated IR sensor to find the true change in altitude of the body frame, scaling other translational dimensions accordingly, and later estimating the velocities. Experiments conducted using data from a real helicopter in an indoor environment demonstrate promising results.
Ser-884 adjacent to the LXXLL motif of coactivator TRBP defines selectivity for ERs and TRs.

Ligand-dependent interaction of nuclear receptors and coactivators is a critical step in nuclear receptor-mediated transcriptional regulation. TR-binding protein (TRBP) interacts with nuclear receptors through a single LXXLL motif. Evidence suggested that the sequences flanking the LXXLL motif in a number of coactivators determine receptor selectivity. We performed mutagenesis studies at residues adjacent to the TRBP LXXLL motif and identified S884 of TRBP at the −3 position of the LXXLL motif as a key residue for receptor selectivity. Analysis of in vitro and in vivo receptor interactions with TRBP suggested that S884 allowed selective interactions for ERβ, TR, and RXR vs. ERα. Transient transfection studies further confirmed that the LXXLL-binding affinity correlates with TRBP transcriptional activity. Consistent with the structural modeling, an E380G substitution within ERα altered the binding to TRBP mutants, demonstrating the direct contact between TRBP S884 and ERα E380, which is a residue that dist...
Lagal®—A new aid for atonic constipation

Lagal® was found to be an excellent adjuvant in the treatment of atonic constipation, but it can only be used in about fifty percent of spastic constipation patients because of the tendency toward aggravation of symptoms.
Stakeholder priorities for comparative effectiveness research in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease a workshop report

Comparative effectiveness research (CER) is intended to address the expressed needs of patients, clinicians, and other stakeholders. Representatives of 54 stakeholder groups with an interest in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) participated in workshops convened by the COPD Outcomes-based Network for Clinical Effectiveness and Research Translation (CONCERT) over a 2-year period. Year 1 focused on chronic care and care coordination. Year 2 focused on acute care and transitions in care between healthcare settings. Discussions and provisional voting were conducted via teleconferences and e-mail exchanges before the workshop. Final prioritization votes occurred after in-person discussions at the workshop. We used a modified Delphi approach to facilitate discussions and consensus building. To more easily quantify preferences and to evaluate the internal consistency of rankings, the Analytic Hierarchy Process was incorporated in Year 2. Results of preworkshop and final workshop voting often differed, suggesting that prioritization efforts relying solely on requests for topics from stakeholder groups without in-person discussion may provide different research priorities. Research priorities varied across stakeholder groups, but generally focused on studies to evaluate different approaches to healthcare delivery (e.g., spirometry for diagnosis and treatment, integrated healthcare strategies during transitions in care) rather than head-to-head comparisons of medications. This research agenda may help to inform groups intending to respond to CER funding opportunities in COPD. The methodologies used, detailed in the online supplement, may also help to inform prioritization efforts for CER in other health conditions.
Graphite sphere neutron detector

A five foot graphite sphere has been constructed for neutron source intensity measurements, particularly for use in the kilovolt energy region. The measured efficiency using eight B/sup 10/F/sub 3/ detectors near the surface is about 0.03 at 25 kev. The change in efficiency from 1 kev to 2 Mev is calculated to lie within plus or minus 1%. An absolute calibration of a (NBS) standardized Sb-- Be neutron source was performed by measuring the exit current of thermal neutrons with a thin wafer of Li/sup 6/I(Eu) scintillator. The half life of Sb/sup 124/ was also remeasured as 60.4 plus or minus 0.2 days. (auth)
Hurricane frequency and landfall distribution for coastal wetlands of the Gulf coast, USA

The regularity and severity of tropical storms are major determinants controlling ecosystem structure and succession for coastal ecosystems. Hurricane landfall rates vary greatly with high and low frequency for given coastal stretches of the southeastern United States. Site-specific meteorological data of hurricane wind speeds and direction, however, are only available for select populated cities of relatively sparse distribution and inland from the coast. A spatial simulation model of hurricane circulation, HURASIM, was applied to reconstruct chronologies of hurricane wind speeds and vectors for northern Gulf coast locations derived from historical tracking data of North Atlantic tropical storms dating back to 1851. Contrasts of storm frequencies showed that tropical storm incidence is nearly double for Florida coastal ecosystems than the westernmost stretches of Texas coastline. Finer-scale spatial simulations for the north-central Gulf coast exhibited sub-regional differences in storm strength and frequency with coastal position and latitude. The overall pattern of storm incidence in the Gulf basin indicates that the disturbance regime of coastal areas varies greatly along the coast, inland from the coast, and temporally over the period of record. Field and modeling studies of coastal ecosystems will benefit from this retrospective analysis of hurricane incidence and intensity both on a local or regional basis.
Student Engagement at Two-Year Institutions: Age and Generational Status Differences.

For students to be successful in either two-year or four-year colleges, they need to be engaged in their college experiences. In this investigation, we analyzed data, over 40,000 cases obtained from the Community College Survey of Student Engagement, concerning student engagement as it was related with student age and with student generational status. Statistically significant differences were found in the self-reported student engagement of these first-year community college students among different age categories and between first-generation and nonfirst-generation college students. Demographic characteristics play a factor in engagement, both in educationally purposeful activities and in quality of relationships, for first-year students at community colleges in Texas. Recommendations include the need for educational leaders and policymakers to consider that engagement efforts should not follow a one-size-fits-all model.
Fruit hydroxycinnamic acids inhibit human low-density lipoprotein oxidation in vitro.

Oxidative modification of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is believed to play a crucial role in atherogenesis. The antioxidant activity of hydroxycinnamic acids typically present in fruits was investigated in vitro using a human LDL oxidation assay. The o-dihydroxy compounds caffeic, caftaric, chlorogenic, and neochlorogenic acids had highest antioxidant activities and inhibited LDL oxidation from 86 to 97% at 5 μM. Ferulic and fertaric acids had lower antioxidant activities, and p-coumaric and p-coutaric acids had the lowest. Differences in antioxidant activity were thus primarily related to the hydroxylation and methylation pattern. The esterification to tartaric acid slightly enhanced the antioxidant activity of p-coumaric and ferulic acids, but esterification of caffeic acid to quinic acid (as in chlorogenic and neochlorogenic acid) had no effect on or slightly decreased antioxidant activity. The observed differences in activities are discussed in terms of structural dissimilarities of the compounds. It...
The evaluation of mass densities of the human body in vivi from CT Scans

Abstract An experimental method, using the CT Scanner, has been developed to evaluate the mass densities of the human body in vivo. This method iis based on theories used in computerized tomography: the concept of average effective energy (AEE), the Fourier Convolution Method in picture reconstruction, and the relationship between the numerical values of a material in a CT scan and the properties of the material. Using this method, various mass densities both of plastics obtained from phantom scans and also of tissues from patient scans were tabulated. The results compared very favorably to known values.
Characterization of subsurface methane production and release over 3 years at a New Hampshire wetland

Abstract We explore 3 years of pore water profile data from a New Hampshire wetland to determine the rates of methane production and oxidation occurring in the water-saturated peat, and how these rates evolve over seasonal and annual timescales. For this study, pore water was collected and analyzed for the isotopic composition of the dissolved inorganic carbon and the concentrations of carbon dioxide and methane. These data are used, in conjunction with a 1-D model that simulates reaction and transport, to calculate the rates of methane production and oxidation necessary to recreate pore water profiles measured over seasonal and annual cycles from 2005 through 2007. We find column-integrated methane production rates to vary between 0 and 30 μmol cm −2 month −1 , averaging 6 μmol cm −2 month −1 during the summer. The seasonal pattern in the depth-integrated methane production rates is observed to positively correlate with temperature change. Despite large differences in the water table depths over the years studied, we see no difference in mean methane production rates between years. Results from three different stations, each characterized by different local vegetation, do not find plant-mediated transport to be an important mechanism for methane removal from the saturated peat, although we did find evidence supporting possible oxygen leakage from roots. Significant differences were observed in subsurface respiration between the stations. We observed several instances of non-diffusive transport in both the subsurface methane and carbon dioxide pools, particularly during the early spring and late fall and hypothesize that rainfall events may contribute to significant degassing from the uppermost 40–60 cm of saturated peat. Supporting findings by an earlier study, these isotope-constrained methane production rates can only account for a fraction (between 0% and 21%) of the methane emissions from this site, indicating a source of methane at or above the pore water surface. Seasonal patterns indicate peak methanogenesis may be associated with the oxic–anoxic boundary. It remains uncertain as to whether the saturated peat should remain a focus for studies of wetland methane cycling, with this work indicating it plays only a small role in bulk methane fluxes from this site.
Current developments in embryo transfer

Summary The present state of knowledge about embryo transfer and the techniques used in recovering, manipulating and sexing embryos are discussed. Speculation is made about possible future developments, including gene injection and application of recombinant DNA technology. It is concluded that such studies will open up new developments in animal breeding. The end result, however, will still depend on an embryo being transferred to a recipient to carry the pregnancy to term.
2nd Annual Spring Meeting of the International Society of Dermatologic Surgery

The 2nd Annual Spring Meeting of the International Society of Dermatologic Surgery (ISDS) was recently held in beautiful Bangkok, Thailand. The theme of the meeting was ‘Myths, Science, and Fiction: When East meets West.’ The meeting highlights are presented here along with the excellent atmosphere within the ISDS.
Auto-configurable ROV simulator

Work class Remotely Operated Vehicle (ROV) is widely used for underwater tasks at oil rigs. Each task needs different configuration of devices in the ROV to meet its task goal. In order to adopt variable configurations of the ROV system, Schilling Robotics ROV simulator is upgraded to be auto-configurable with language developing tools, flex and bison. The new simulator contains whole hardware information in the simulator and adjusts connection between control module and device module in accordance with hardware configuration of a real ROV system. Auto-configuration is implemented by a “parser” to set up device information and interface method, and a “switch” to reroute connections in the simulator. With this concept, all variances of ROV simulator can be consolidated to one general simulator, so that upgrade and modification of simulator are easy to achieve.
Electrochemistry on the internet

This is a review of electrochemical information and services available on the internet, and some evaluation of their usefulness for professionals, students, and the general public. It seems that we are getting to the point that “if it is not on the internet, it does not exist”. But the question is where to find things and how to know what is reliable and useful and what is not. Some historical notes and personal reminiscences are also included.
Introduction: Locating the (post-) colonial in Soviet history

How are we to think about Central Asia's experience of the 20th century? What analytical sense are we to make of the seven decades of Soviet rule that dominated it? What relation—conceptual, analyt...
Development of cholesterol homeostatic memory in the rat is influenced by maternal diets.

The hypothesis that dietary factors in early life modify the extent of adaptive responses in adult life was tested in rats. During the gestational and lactational periods, pregnant rats were fed either a high-fat (HF) or low-fat (LF) diet (corn oil, 15% or 2%, wt/wt) until 30 days postpartum. The offspring were maintained on standard chow for an additional 100 days and fed a HF diet for 1, 3, 7, or 21 days. Upon challenge for 3 days, rats born to dams fed the HF diet showed a more rapid hypercholesterolemic response when compared with rats born to dams fed a LF diet (mean ± S.D., 151 ± 14 mg/dL v 122 ± 6 mg/dL; P < .001). Higher levels of cholesterol were associated with elevated levels of apolipoprotein (apo) B (24.0 ± 4 mg/dL v 15.8 ± 3 mg/dL; P < .05) and apo E (31.0 ± 4 mg/dL v 24.7 ± 3 mg/dL; P < .05). Further comparison of the hypercholesterolemic response between the two groups of animals showed increases in cholesterol in all major lipoprotein classes, cholesterol enrichment at the expense of triglyceride (TG) in very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL), and elevation of apo E-containing high-density lipoprotein (HDL). Examination at longer time periods of HF challenge showed that apo E levels of the HF-exposed animals remained elevated compared with similarly challenged rats born to dams fed the LF diet (35 ± 3.8 mg/dL v 26 ± 2.7 mg/dL; P < .05). In contrast, plasma cholesterol and apo B levels did not differ late in the course of the challenge. Our studies also suggest that the gestational period was more important than the lactational period in altering the cholesterolemic response. We conclude that expression of genes regulating cholesterol metabolism in the adult rat can be modulated by maternal diet.
Monitoring floating-point error propagation in scientific computation☆

Abstract Computer solutions of scientific and engineering problems involve several sources of floating-point errors which interact with each other and propagate throughout the calculations. One technique for monitoring and bounding the total accumulated error is known as interval analysis and it is the use of this approach via a software package with Fortran preprocessor which is the subject of this paper. Attention is focused on the computational experience gained from implementing and using Yohe's interval analysis package with Crary's AUGMENT preprocessor on Control Data 6000, 7000, and Cyber series machines.
Comparison of morning and afternoon feedings in very low birth weight infants.

The purpose of this study was to compare sucking and breathing rhythmicity in very-low-birth-weight (VLBW, < 1,500 g) infants during morning feedings and afternoon feedings. Nine infants were fed at 9 a.m., and nine at 3 p.m. Eight morning-fed infants and 8 afternoon-fed infants had a continuous sucking (CS) period at the beginning of the feeding; 9 morning-and 8 afternoon-fed infants had an intermittent sucking (IS) period during which sucking bursts alternated with sucking pauses. Morning-fed infants had a lower respiratory rate during CS (p <. 1) and IS (p <. 05), a greater decrease in minute ventilation from the prefeed period to the CS period (p <. 05), and lower sucking pressure during IS (p <. 05) than afternoon-fed infants. Breathing and sucking rhythmicity scores were calculated as an indicator of the coordination of sucking and breathing. Morning-fed infants had lower scores than afternoon-fed infants (p <. 05). These findings suggest that morning feedings are more difficult than afternoon feedi...
Real-time perfusion imaging with low mechanical index pulse inversion Doppler imaging.

OBJECTIVES We sought to determine how successful pulse inversion Doppler (PID) imaging would be in detecting myocardial perfusion defects during dobutamine stress echocardiography. BACKGROUND By transmitting multiple pulses of alternating polarity (PID) at a low mechanical index, myocardial contrast enhancement from intravenously injected microbubbles can be detected using real-time frame rates. METHODS Pulse inversion Doppler imaging was performed in 117 patients during dobutamine stress echocardiography by using an intravenous bolus of a perfluorocarbon-filled, albumin- (Optison: n = 98) or liposome- (Definity: n = 19) encapsulated microbubble and a mechanical index of 50%. RESULTS There was a virtual absence of signal from the myocardium before contrast injections in all patients. Bright myocardial opacification at peak stress was observed in at least one coronary artery territory at frame rates up to 25 Hz in 114 of the 117 patients during dobutamine stress echocardiography. Regional myocardial contrast defects at peak stress were observed in all 30 patients with >50% stenosis in at least one vessel (13 with single-vessel and 17 with multivessel disease). Contrast defects were observed in 17 territories subtended by >50% diameter stenosis that had normal wall motion at peak stress. Overall agreement between QA and myocardial contrast enhancement on a territorial basis was 83%, as compared with 72% for wall motion. CONCLUSIONS Pulse inversion Doppler imaging allows the detection of myocardial perfusion abnormalities in real-time during stress echocardiography and will further add to the quality and sensitivity of this test.
Neural control of renal hemodynamics and function during development.

This review summarizes our current understanding of the role of the renal sympathetic nervous system during development. Recent evidence suggests that renal innervation appears early during fetal life and may play an important role in promoting cellular development. It has also been observed that renal nerve stimulation decreases renal blood flow and increases renal vascular resistance in fetal sheep, but to a lesser extent than in newborn and adult sheep. Moreover, it has been shown that, contrary to previous findings in adult animals, renal nerve stimulation during α-adrenoceptor blockade induces renal vasodilation in fetal and newborn sheep, but not in adult sheep. Recent studies have also demonstrated that renal nerves modulate the natriuretic response to a saline load in newborn lambs and influence sodium reabsorption in near-term fetal sheep. The role of renal nerves and neuronally released norepinephrine on renin secretion in the developing kidney is discussed. Finally, it is suggested that efferent renal sympathetic nerve activity might influence fetal renal hemodynamics during stressful conditions.
Size-dependent heterogeneity benefits the mechanical performance of bone

Heterogeneity of biological materials, such as bone, tooth, and mollusc shells, plays a key role in determining their mechanical performance (e.g. the strength, damage tolerance, etc.). Here, we quantify heterogeneities in elasticity and inelasticity of bovine cortical bone between 100 nm and a few microns and identify a characteristic length scale (lc) of approximately 200 nm. Below lc the mechanical heterogeneity of bone is pronounced and exhibits a strong nonlinear size-dependence, while above lc the heterogeneity is much less. Such size-dependent heterogeneity benefits the mechanical performance of bone since it not only promotes the energy dissipation at nanoscale, but also suppresses heterogeneity-induced stress concentration and strain localization at larger length scales. This is one of the possible mechanisms functioning at multiple length scales that make bone a well-designed tough natural material. Utilizing experimentally measured data, systematic computational simulations were carried out, showing that the heterogeneity in inelasticity, rather than elasticity, plays a dominant role in promoting energy dissipation during deformation. Possible parameters that determine the inelasticity heterogeneity (e.g. mean value and standard deviation of heterogeneous yield stress) and therefore affect energy dissipation are investigated under typical deformation modes of bone. The analysis presented suggests that there exists an optimum ratio of macroscopic strength to elastic modulus for improving energy dissipation under tension. All these findings are of great value to the design and synthesis of improved bio-inspired composites. Published by Elsevier Ltd.
Multidisciplinary analysis of the NEXUS precursor space telescope

A multidisciplinary analysis is demonstrated for the NEXUS space telescope precursor mission. This mission was originally designed as an in-space technology testbed for the Next Generation Space Telescope (NGST). One of the main challenges is to achieve a very tight pointing accuracy with a sub-pixel line-of-sight (LOS) jitter budget and a root-mean-square (RMS) wavefront error smaller than λ/50 despite the presence of electronic and mechanical disturbances sources. The analysis starts with the assessment of the performance for an initial design, which turns out not to meet the requirements. Twentyfive design parameters from structures, optics, dynamics and controls are then computed in a sensitivity and isoperformance analysis, in search of better designs. Isoperformance allows finding an acceptable design that is well “balanced” and does not place undue burden on a single subsystem. An error budget analysis shows the contributions of individual disturbance sources. This paper might be helpful in analyzing similar, innovative space telescope systems in the future.
Management of residual dysplastic vessels after cerebral arteriovenous malformation resection: implications for postoperative angiography.

OBJECTIVE The verification of surgical resection of cerebral arteriovenous malformations (AVMs) relies on angiography. Abnormal vasculature often is identified after removal of the AVM. Differentiation of dysplastic feeding vessels that resemble the neovascularity of moyamoya disease, as distinct from residual AVM, is crucial for preserving critical brain areas. We review a large experience with immediate postoperative angiography after AVM resection and discuss the implications for management of abnormal dysplastic vessels discovered after AVM resection. METHODS Beginning in 1992, 86 consecutive patients with AVMs underwent operations by standard protocol for immediate postoperative angiography under the same general anesthetic. Angiographic interpretation dictated admission to the intensive care unit or return to the operating room for further resection. RESULTS In 78 patients, the angiogram revealed complete resection. Two patients were returned to the operating room, one for residual malformation with an early draining vein, and one for resection of residual dysplastic vessels. There was one postoperative hemorrhage in a patient whose postoperative angiogram was falsely negative for AVM. Six patients with residual dysplastic vessels mimicking residual AVM, but without an early draining vein, were managed conservatively. Delayed follow-up angiography demonstrated spontaneous involution of these abnormal vessels in all of these patients. CONCLUSION Residual dysplastic feeding vessels resembling the neovascularity of moyamoya disease but not associated with an early draining vein do not necessarily represent residual malformation after AVM resection. The abnormal vessels will proceed to complete spontaneous resolution. Given the difficulty of interpreting intraoperative angiography, immediate postoperative angiography may be a viable alternative after AVM resection.