cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Opposition in the Kohl era: The SPD and the left

This article examines the parliamentary role of the opposition parties in the Kohl era. In the Bundestag, from 1983 on, the SPD and the Greens ‐ joined by the PDS after 1990 ‐challenged, with little expectation of success, those domestic and foreign policies of the government with which they disagreed. When the SPD and its coalition partners in the Lander gained control of the Bundesrat in the 1990s, they were able to delay or block legislation affecting the Lander. Yet no general stalemate ensued because the Kohl governing coalition and the SPD, not far apart ideologically, reached inter‐party accords on numerous bills.
Dependence of Ferromagnetic Anisotropy on the Field Strength

In evaluating the anisotropy constants of ferromagnetic materials a common method is to measure the torque exerted on a specimen of circular section by a uniform magnetic field, to determine the maximum torque by extrapolation to infinite field strength, and to multiply this by an appropriate number. The law of approach of the torque, ${T}_{H}$, to its limiting value, ${T}_{\ensuremath{\infty}}$, is now found to be ${T}_{H}={T}_{\ensuremath{\infty}}(1\ensuremath{-}\frac{{H}_{0}}{{H}_{a}})$ for a number of disks and ellipsoids of single crystals of iron-silicon alloys containing up to 7.4 percent silicon, and for polycrystalline disks of iron and of silicon steel. Here ${H}_{a}$ is the strength of the applied field uncorrected for demagnetizing field and ${H}_{0}$ is a constant which depends mostly upon the dimension-ratio of the disk. This law is discussed in relation to a similar law proposed by Schlechtweg, and to the familiar law of approach of magnetization to saturation. It is concluded that for disks the approach to saturation of the torque peaks is connected with the lack of magnetic saturation at their edges.
Anisotropy and Lorentz-force dependence of the critical currents in YBa2Cu3O7- delta thick films deposited on nickel-alloy substrates.

We investigate the angular dependence of the critical currents in ${\mathrm{YBa}}_{2}$${\mathrm{Cu}}_{3}$${\mathrm{O}}_{7\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}\mathrm{\ensuremath{\delta}}}$ thick films deposited on metallic nickel-alloy substrates, with the aid of an yttria-stabilized zirconia buffer layer. Overall, the critical current shows a clear Lorentz-force dependence and two distinctive peaks, one for fields parallel to the ab plane, due to bulk intrinsic pinning by the layered structure of the superconductor, and the other for fields parallel to the c axis, which we attribute to twin-boundary c-axis correlated pinning, as suggested by its Lorentz-force dependence.
A zinc finger homeodomain transcription factor binds specific thyroid hormone response elements

Abstract Thyroid hormone receptors can act through response elements (TREs) having a wide variation of sequence. We screened for transcription factors that bind the rat (r) glycoprotein hormone α -subunit TRE ( α -sub), and isolated a cDNA, termed zinc finger homeodomain enhancer-binding protein (Zfhep), which encodes two separate zinc finger domains (ZD1 and ZD2), and a region similar to homeodomains. DNA-binding assays show that ZD1 or ZD2 can bind the α -subunit, rat growth hormone, or thyrotropin beta (TSH β ) gene TREs, but do not bind DR4 or palindromic (pal) TREs. Methylation interference footprinting demonstrates that Zfhep binds the α -sub overlapping the TR-binding site. Similarly, the ZD1 protein footprints over TR-binding halfsites of the rat growth hormone (rGH) and TSH β TREs. Hence, Zfhep binding is dependent on sequences within and outside the AGGTCA TR-binding halfsite. Interactions of non-receptor transcription factors (such as Zfhep) with certain TREs are important to modify gene-specific regulation by thyroid hormones.
Induction of premature termination of transcription of the mouse β-globin gene by 5,6-dichloro-1-β-D-ribofuranosylbenzimidazole (DRB)

Hybridization of pulse-labeled RNA from DRB-treated Friend cells to mouse beta-globin cDNA revealed that the appearance of beta-globin mRNA in the cytoplasm was inhibited by greater than 87%. To examine the effect of DRB (125 microM) on HnRNA synthesis, nuclear RNA was electrophoresed in methyl mercuric hydroxide gels, transferred to nitrocellulose, and hybridized with beta-globin specific probes. Full-length nuclear transcripts, while present in untreated cells, were not detected in DRB-treated cells. Using restriction enzymes, the cloned beta-globin gene was divided into fragments proceeding from the 5' gene region to the 3' gene region. RNA labeled in vitro by transcription in nuclei isolated from DRB-treated cells hybridized only to the promoter proximal DNA fragment. Transcripts hybridizing to fragments from both the 5' and 3' regions of the gene were produced in nuclei from untreated cells. Together these results indicate that DRB causes premature termination of transcription within the beta-globin gene.
The Effect of Endodontic Solutions on Resorcinol-Formalin Paste

This study determined if any of four endodontic solutions would have a softening effect on resorcinol-formalin paste and if there were any differences in the solvent action between these solutions. Resorcinol, formalin, and zinc oxide were mixed and allowed to set for 30 days. The solutions tested were 0.9% sodium chloride, 5.25% sodium hypochlorite, chloroform, and Endosolv R. Seven samples per solution were tested and an additional seven samples served as controls. Each sample was saturated with one of the solutions and the depth of penetration was tested at 1, 2, 5, 10, and 20 min using a dial strain gauge. At 2 min, sodium hypochlorite and sodium chloride had significantly greater penetration than the other groups (p < 0.0010). Sodium hypochlorite was superior to all other groups after 5 min. This study showed that both sodium chloride and sodium hypochlorite exhibited a significant softening effect within 2 min.
Disseminated trichosporonosis: meeting the challenge.

The increasing incidence of opportunistic mycoses and its relationship to neutropenia was first noticed in the 1960s (l). During the subsequent decade, several institutions reported on the increasing occurrence of disseminated fungal infections in cancer patients undergoing cytotoxic Chemotherapy (2, 3). Although most of those infections were due to Candida or Aspergillus spp., Several other fungal species have recently emerged as clinically important pathogens. These Species include Fusarium spp., Scopulariopsis Spp., Pseudallescheria boydii, Curv~darit~ spp., Maiassezia furrier, and others (4). In tl~is issue of the journal, Martinez-Lacasa et al. (5) and Girinertia e t a l , (6) report on another important emerging fungal species Trichosporon spp. as a causative agent of invasive mycoses (5, 6).
Comparison of methods for conducting marine and estuarine sediment porewater toxicity tests—extraction, storage, and handling techniques

A series of studies was conducted to compare different porewater extraction techniques and to evaluate the effects of sediment and porewater storage conditions on the toxicity of pore water, using assays with the sea urchin Arbacia punctulata. If care is taken in the selection of materials, several different porewater extraction techniques (pressurized squeezing, centrifugation, vacuum) yield samples with similar toxicity. Where the primary contaminants of concern are highly hydrophobic organic compounds, centrifugation is the method of choice for minimizing the loss of contaminants during the extraction procedure. No difference was found in the toxicity of pore water obtained with the Teflon® and polyvinyl chloride pressurized extraction devices. Different types of filters in the squeeze extraction devices apparently adsorbed soluble contaminants to varying degrees. The amount of fine suspended particulate material remaining in the pore water after the initial extraction varied among the methods. For most of the sediments tested, freezing and thawing did not affect the toxicity of porewater samples obtained by the pressurized squeeze extraction method. Pore water obtained by other methods (centrifugation, vacuum) and frozen without additional removal of suspended particulates by centrifugation may exhibit increased toxicity compared with the unfrozen sample. The toxicity of pore water extracted from refrigerated (4°C) sediments exhibited substantial short-term (days, weeks) changes. Similarly, sediment pore water extracted over time from a simulated amphipod solid-phase toxicity test changed substantially in toxicity. For the sediments tested, the direction and magnitude of change in toxicity of pore water extracted from both refrigerated and solid-phase test sediments was unpredictable.
Thomas Paine's CRISIS 1 and the Comfort of Time

In late December 1776, Philadelphia and the entire rebel American cause were on the verge of defeat. The British under General William Howe enjoyed a series of victories in New York and New Jersey ...
Neurotransmitter alterations associated with feeding and satiety

Chronically malnourished rats were sacrificed in a food-deprived state, following eating a small amount of food, or following feeding to satiation. Regional analysis of brain neurotransmitter, neurotransmitter precursor and metabolite concentrations revealed significantly elevated levels of dopamine metabolites in the corpus striatum and nucleus accumbens of the satiated rats. Food-deprived and both refed groups exhibited elevated concentrations of the serotonin metabolite, 5-hydroxyindoleacetic acid, in most brain areas examined. These results suggest increased metabolism of dopamine to be associated with satiety rather than with the act of feeding alone. Increased serotonin metabolism appears to reflect overall nutritional status rather than the onset of satiety.
Pattern of Non-ICU Inpatient Supplemental Oxygen Utilization in a University Hospital

Random assessments of SaO 2 were performed via pulse oximetry in 274 hospitalized non-ICU patients prescribed supplemental O 2 in a large tertiary care university hospital. In 507 assessments performed in patients inspiring the prescribed O 2 , 426 were receiving excessive amounts of O, to maintain a SaO 2 ≥92 percent. In 233 of these assessments, SaO 2 was ≥92 percent while breathing ambient air. In an additional 193 assessments, the concentration of inspired supplemental O 2 was excessive to maintain a SaO 2 ≥92 percent. However, in 81 assessments performed in patients inspiring O 2 , the prescribed amount was insufficient to maintain SaO 2 ≥92 percent. These results indicate that O, prescription in hospitalized non-ICU patients is excessive or not required in the majority of cases. Furthermore, routine use of pulse oximetry in hospitalized patients prescribed O, may be useful in determining the continued need for supplemental O, and adjusting the proper concentration needed to avoid hypoxemia.
The etiology and management of inadvertent perioperative hypothermia

Mild perioperative hypothermia is a frequent complication of anesthesia and surgery. Core temperature should be monitored during general anesthesia and during regional anesthesia for large operations. Reliable sites of core temperature monitoring include the tympanic membrane, nasopharynx, esophagus, bladder, rectum, and pulmonary artery. The skin surface is not an acceptable site for monitoring core temperature. Anesthetic-induced vasodilation initially rapidly decreases core temperature secondary to an internal redistribution of heat rather than an increased heat loss to the environment. Both general and regional anesthetics impair thermoregulation, increasing the interthreshold range; that is, the range of core temperatures over which no autonomic response to cold or warmth occurs. Preinduction skin surface warming is the only means to prevent this initial redistribution hypothermia. Forced-air warming is the most effective method of rewarming hypothermic patients intraoperatively.
Results of remote follow-up and monitoring in young patients with cardiac implantable electronic devices.

BACKGROUND Remote monitoring is increasingly used in the follow-up of patients with cardiac implantable electronic devices. Data on paediatric populations are still lacking. The aim of our study was to follow-up young patients both in-hospital and remotely to enhance device surveillance. METHODS This is an observational registry collecting data on consecutive patients followed-up with the CareLink system. Inclusion criteria were a Medtronic device implanted and patient's willingness to receive CareLink. Patients were stratified according to age and presence of congenital/structural heart defects (CHD). RESULTS A total of 221 patients with a device - 200 pacemakers, 19 implantable cardioverter defibrillators, and two loop recorders--were enrolled (median age of 17 years, range 1-40); 58% of patients were younger than 18 years of age and 73% had CHD. During a follow-up of 12 months (range 4-18), 1361 transmissions (8.9% unscheduled) were reviewed by technicians. Time for review was 6 ± 2 minutes (mean ± standard deviation). Missed transmissions were 10.1%. Events were documented in 45% of transmissions, with 2.7% yellow alerts and 0.6% red alerts sent by wireless devices. No significant differences were found in transmission results according to age or presence of CHD. Physicians reviewed 6.3% of transmissions, 29 patients were contacted by phone, and 12 patients underwent unscheduled in-hospital visits. The event recognition with remote monitoring occurred 76 days (range 16-150) earlier than the next scheduled in-office follow-up. CONCLUSIONS Remote follow-up/monitoring with the CareLink system is useful to enhance device surveillance in young patients. The majority of events were not clinically relevant, and the remaining led to timely management of problems.
Infant Macaque Monkeys Respond to Pictorial Depth

The studies described here are the first to demonstrate that a nonhuman primate species is capable of responding to pictorial depth information during infancy. In two experiments, pigtailed macaque (Macaca nemestrina) infants were tested for responsivity to the pictorial depth cues of texture gradient/linear perspective and relative size. The procedures were adapted from human studies and are based on the proclivity of infants to reach more frequently to closer objects than to objects that are farther away. The stimulus displays included two equidistant objects that, when viewed monocularly, appear separated in space because of an illusion created by pictorial depth cues. When presented with these displays, animals reached significantly more often to the apparently closer objects under monocular conditions than under binocular conditions. These findings suggest that infant macaques are sensitive to pictorial depth information, the implication being that this ability has ancient phylogenetic origins and is...
Staufen1 dimerizes through a conserved motif and a degenerate dsRNA-binding domain to promote mRNA decay

Staufen1 (STAU1)-mediated mRNA decay (SMD) degrades mammalian-cell mRNAs that bind the double-stranded RNA (dsRNA)-binding protein STAU1 in their 3' untranslated region. We report a new motif, which typifies STAU homologs from all vertebrate classes, that is responsible for human STAU1 (hSTAU1) homodimerization. Our crystal structure and mutagenesis analyses reveal that this motif, which we named the Staufen-swapping motif (SSM), and the dsRNA-binding domain 5 ('RBD'5) mediate protein dimerization: the two SSM α-helices of one molecule interact primarily through a hydrophobic patch with the two 'RBD'5 α-helices of a second molecule. 'RBD'5 adopts the canonical α-β-β-β-α fold of a functional RBD, but it lacks residues and features required to bind duplex RNA. In cells, SSM-mediated hSTAU1 dimerization increases the efficiency of SMD by augmenting hSTAU1 binding to the ATP-dependent RNA helicase hUPF1. Dimerization regulates keratinocyte-mediated wound healing and many other cellular processes.
The high-pressure behavior of micas: Vibrational spectra of muscovite, biotite, and phlogopite to 30 GPa

The infrared spectra of natural samples of muscovite, biotite, and phlogopite are characterized to pressures of ~30 GPa, as is the Raman spectrum of muscovite to ~8 GPa. Both far-infrared and mid-infrared data are collected for muscovite, and mid-infrared data for biotite and phlogopite. The response of the hydroxyl vibrations to compression differs markedly between the dioctahedral and trioctahedral micas: the hydrogen bonding in dioctahedral environments increases with pressure, as manifested by shifts to lower frequency of the hydroxyl-stretching vibrations, whereas cation-hydrogen repulsion likely produces shifts to higher frequency of the hydroxyl vibrations within trioctahedral environments. An abrupt decrease in frequency and increase in band width of the hydroxyl-stretching vibration in muscovite is observed at pressures above ~18–20 GPa, implying that the previously documented pressure-induced disordering is associated with the local environment and shifts in location of the hydroxyl unit in this material. The far-infrared vibrations of muscovite indicate that its compressional mechanism changes above 5–8 GPa, as the K-O stretching vibration with a zero-pressure frequency near 112 cm−1 shifts in its pressure dependence from 6.9 cm−1/GPa below this pressure range to 0.78 cm−1/GPa above it. Thus, it appears that the magnitude of interlayer compression is decreased above this pressure, and hence that the compression of muscovite may become less strongly anisotropic. The mid-infrared bands that are primarily produced by vibrations of the tetrahedral layer broaden under pressure in both muscovite and biotite: within biotite, a spectral region that may be associated with higher coordination of tetrahedral cations increases in amplitude above about 25 GPa. The corresponding bands in phlogopite undergo less broadening, and their behavior is fully reversible on decompression.
Differential gene expression profile of first-generation and second-generation rapamycin-resistant allogeneic T cells.

Background aims. We completed a phase II clinical trial evaluating rapamycin-resistant allogeneic T cells (T-rapa) and now have evaluated a T-rapa product manufactured in 6 days (T-rapa6) rather than 12 days (T-Rapa12). Methods. Using gene expression microarrays, we addressed our hypothesis that the two products would express a similar phenotype. The products had similar phenotypes using conventional comparison methods of cytokine secretion and surface markers. Results. Unsupervised analysis of 34,340 genes revealed that T-rapa6 and T-rapa12 products clustered together, distinct from culture input CD4 þ T cells. Statistical analysis of T-rapa6 products revealed differential expression of 19.3% of genes (n ¼ 6641) compared with input CD4 þ cells; similarly, 17.8% of genes (n ¼ 6147) were differentially expressed between T-rapa12 products and input CD4 þ cells. Compared with input CD4 þ cells, T-rapa6 and T-rapa12 products were similar in terms of up-regulation of major gene families (cell cycle, stress response, glucose catabolism, DNA metabolism) and down-regulation (inflammatory response, immune response, apoptosis, transcriptional regulation). However, when directly compared, T-rapa6 and T-rapa12 products showed differential expression of 5.8% of genes (n ¼ 1994; T-rapa6 vs. T-rapa12). Conclusions. Second-generation T-rapa6 cells possess a similar yet distinct gene expression profile relative to first-generation T-rapa12 cells and may mediate differential effects after adoptive transfer.
Triggering mechanism of L-glutamate overproduction by DtsR1 in coryneform bacteria.

The mechanism of L-glutamate-overproduction by Corynebacterium glutamicum, a biotin auxotroph, is very unique and interesting. L-Glutamate overproduction by this bacterium is induced by biotin-limitation and suppressed by an excess of biotin. Addition of a surfactant or penicillin is also induces L-glutamate overproduction even under excess biotin. After the development of general molecular biological tools such as cloning vectors and DNA transfer techniques, genes encoding biosynthetic enzymes were isolated. With those genes and tools, recombinant DNA technology can be applied to the analysis of biosynthetic pathways and the construction of C. glutamicum strains. In this review, recent studies on the triggering mechanism of L-glutamate overproduction by C. glutamicum are discussed. Disruption of the dtsR1 gene, which encodes a putative component of a biotin-containing enzyme complex that is involved in fatty acid synthesis, causes constitutive overproduction of L-glutamate. As in the case of biotin-limitation, i.e., addition of a surfactant or penicillin, dtsR1-disruption also reduces the activity of the 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogense complex (ODHC). These results indicate that the DtsR1 level affects the activity of ODHC. In our recent studies, a novel regulatory factor that suppresses the expression of DtsR1 was determined. Based on these findings, the triggering mechanism of L-glutamate overproduction is expected to be clarified in more detail.
International Financial Liberalization, Corruption and Economic Growth

This paper examines the effects of capital account liberalization on the long-run growth of a developing economy. A general-equilibrium, endogenous growth model is constructed in which corruption forms an integral part of the governance system of the country. By undermining the profitability of innovations, corruption reduces the rate of technological change, and lowers the rate of return to capital. The impact of international financial liberalization on long-run growth in this model can be either positive or negative. A drop in growth is obtained when the level of corruption is high enough to cause domestic rates of return to capital before liberalization to drop below those in the rest of the world. In this case, liberalization generates capital outflows, which act as a constraining force on innovation, reducing the rate of technological change and lowering output growth. On the other hand, if the level of corruption is sufficiently low, the capital account liberalization will serve as a boost to the country’s technical change and growth.
Coupling liquid chromatography with redox chemiluminescence detection

Abstract The post-column oxidation of many chemical species with dilute nitric acid, nitrous acid, or nitrite ion produces nitric oxide, which is subsequently detected by its chemiluminescence reaction with ozone. Organic compounds, such as sugars, react with dilute nitric acid at elevated temperature and pressure to produce a surrogate nitric oxide pulse for measurement on a chromatographically useful time scale. In addition, certain inorganic reducing agents, e.g., iron(II), react under similar conditions and are sensitively detected. Ultraviolet irradiation can initiate the redox reactions of easily oxidized inorganic species with aq. nitric acid at 25°C, and it also enhances the reactivity of analytes at elevated temperatures. Aqueous nitrate ion is not effective as a redox reagent, while nitrous acid and nitrite ion are less potent oxidizing agents than nitric acid. A post-column reaction system is described and the characteristics of redox reactions of potential analytes with aq. nitric acid and other reagents are discussed. Illustrative chromatograms which show the high-performance liquid chromatographic separation and chemiluminescence measurement of sugars at ppm levels are presented.
Quantification of parallax in dual-sensor systems

Parallax is an issue in any system that contains images from two or more separate, displaced sensors imposed on a single display. The effect can be image quality degradation due to a double image or a blurred image. The impact of this effect can be calculated based on the configuration of the sensors and the position of the object of interest in relation to them and their point of convergence. Parallax quantification is necessary for determining a method to improve the performance of fused-sensor systems. This paper will examine this phenomenon and outline a method that enables calculation of parallax at an arbitrary point of interest.
Effects of consumer online purchase costs on online and traditional retailers

Our research provides a useful framework to help business marketers identify the effect of consumer online purchase costs on firm performances in online and traditional channel competition. A game theory model is developed to determine the optimal strategies for online and traditional retailers. We demonstrate that consumer online purchase costs always have a valuable impact on firm profits, and further show that consumer online purchase costs always have a much more valuable impact on firm profits whenever the traditional retail transaction costs and the product web-fit change. We also find that consumer online purchase costs have a greater impact on the retailer's profits in a Stackelberg competitive system than in a Bertrand competitive system. Based on our results, managerial implications are discussed and probable paths of future research are identified.
The development of hippocampal and dorsolateral pallial regions of the cerebral hemisphere in fetal rabbits. I. Fifteen millimeter stage, spongioblast morphology

The structure of the cerebral hemisphere of 15 mm rabbit embryos was studied with aniline and Golgi stains. Three layers of successively less denselypacked cells were identified in aniline stained sections–matrix, intermediate, and marginal laminae. In the matrix lamina two types of cells were identified in Golgi impregnations: (1) neuroblasts with axons ascending to the intermediate and marginal laminae, (2) spongioblasts attached to the ventricular surface by a short proximal process. Two varieties of spongioblasts can be distinguished according to the mode of termination of long distal processes: (1) typical spongioblasts with claviform enlargements terminating at the pial surface, (2) freely-arborizing spongioblasts with multiple short processes arborizing in the intermediate and marginal laminae. The terminal arbors of freely arborizing spongioblasts, here recognized for the first time, may represent either the growing processes of immature spongioblasts destined to reach the pial surface, or an apparatus having special relations to the embryonic vessels and nerve processes. In the intermediate lamina, pyramidal cells outline the plan of the cortex and subcortical white matter. They have apical dendrites that ascend and ramify in the marginal lamina and axons which descend and turn toward the base of the hemisphere. Neurons with ascending axons are also present, and elements with horizontal axons are located in both the marginal and intermediate laminae.
Modeling approach to identify physically distinct processes convoluted in electrochemical impedance spectra for proton-conducting solid oxide fuel cells

Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) is an important characterization technique for solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs); however, the overlap or dispersion in the frequency domain among physically distinct processes imposes great difficulties on unambiguous interpretation of EIS data. Built upon mechanistic SOFC model development and calibrations using polarization curve and multiple EIS curves under different operating voltages, a process reduction strategy was studied to identify both magnitude and frequencies of physically distinct processes convoluted in EIS.
Expansion of CD16-negative natural killer cells in the peripheral blood of patients with metastatic melanoma

Altered natural killer (NK) cell function is a component of the global immune dysregulation that occurs in advanced malignancies. Another condition associated with altered NK homeostasis is normal pregnancy, where robust infiltration with CD16&#x2212; CD9
BAC TG-EMBED: one-step method for high-level, copy-number-dependent, position-independent transgene expression

Chromosome position effects combined with transgene silencing of multi-copy plasmid insertions lead to highly variable and usually quite low expression levels of mini-genes integrated into mammalian chromosomes. Together, these effects greatly complicate obtaining high-level expression of therapeutic proteins in mammalian cells or reproducible expression of individual or multiple transgenes. Here, we report a simple, one-step procedure for obtaining high-level, reproducible mini-gene expression in mammalian cells. By inserting mini-genes at different locations within a BAC containing the DHFR housekeeping gene locus, we obtain copy-number-dependent, position-independent expression with chromosomal insertions of one to several hundred BAC copies. These multi-copy DHFR BAC insertions adopt similar large-scale chromatin conformations independent of their chromosome integration site, including insertions within centromeric heterochromatin. Prevention of chromosome position effects, therefore, may be the result of embedding the mini-gene within the BAC-specific large-scale chromatin structure. The expression of reporter mini-genes can be stably maintained during continuous, long-term culture in the presence of drug selection. Finally, we show that this method is extendable to reproducible, high-level expression of multiple mini-genes, providing improved expression of both single and multiple transgenes.
One-dimensional nuclear dynamics in the time-dependent Hartree-Fock approximation

The time-dependent Hartree-Fock theory is applied to the large amplitude dynamics of slabs of spin and isospin symmetric nuclear matter. The slabs are translationally invariant in two transverse dimensions, and with the simplified effective interaction used in this work, the problem is reduced to a set of coupled nonlinear equations for time-dependent functions of a single spatial variable. By specification of appropriate initial conditions, large amplitude oscillations of a single slab, the scattering of a slab from an external potential barrier, and collisions of two slabs have been investigated. The results evidence a wide variety of dynamic phenomena, including fusion, compound nucleus formation, dissipation, strongly damped collisions, shock wave propagation, and fragmentation. The microscopic aspects of the dynamics, the relation to fluid mechanics, and the practical and conceptual problems arising from the theory are discussed in detail.
Genetic targets for the detection and identification of Venezuelan equine encephalitis viruses

Rt-PCR probes targeted to different gene sequences of VEE (Venezuelan equine encephalitis) virus strain TC-83 were assessed for their sensitivity, specificity and non-specific cross-reactivity. A generic VEE virus amplimer (VNSP4F2/VNSP4R2), targeted against nsP4 was identified, which was sensitive (detected at least 10 pfu) and robust (worked over a wide range of salt concentrations and annealing temperatures). An E2 amplimer designed against TC-83, (VE2F/VE2R), identified VEE strains TRD (1AB), P676 (1C), 3880 (1D) Everglades (2) vRNA whilst a second E2 primer pair designed against strain 68U201, (68UF/68UR), identified all the remaining VEE viruses in the sero-complex. This would suggest that the VEE virus E2 gene can be sub-divided at the genetic level into two separate groups making it a useful target for differentiation of sero-subtypes 1 and 2 from the other VEE virus subtypes. Using a panel of amplimers targeted to different VEE genes and strains it was possible to distinguish between most of the serotypes, but most importantly, we were able to detect the epizootic strains TRD and P676 as well as other VEE viruses implicated in human disease (sero-subtypes 1D and 1E).
The effect of hyperglycemia on extracellular levels of adenosine in the hypoxic rat cerebral cortex

Abstract The levels of adenosine in rat cerebral cortical superfusates were studied in rats prior to, and after, the administration of saline or d -glucose (3 g/kg). Hypoxia-evoked increases in purine release were significantly attenuated after glucose administration. After glucose administration, the falls in arterial blood pressure, which normally accompany systemic hypoxia, were reduced. To ensure that this was not the reason for the decrease in adenosine release, blood was withdrawn from a second group of hyperglycemic rats so that the post-glucose hypoxia was equivalent to the original control. Adenosine release was still significantly attenuated. This decrease in the levels of adenosine, a cerebroprotective agent, in the cerebral cortical extracellular space, may be a contributing factor to the detrimental effects of hyperglycemia on recovery from cerebral ischemia.
Severe complication of rubber band ligation of internal hemorrhoids.

In light of recent reports describing severe and even fatal complications, the authors would like to report good results in two patients with massive edema and one with localized necrosis following rubber band ligation of internal hemorrhoids, which were recognized early and treated aggressively. The potential for severe complications emphasizes the need for determining other causes of rectal symptoms before ligation of hemorrhoids is undertaken
The synthesis of the monomethylbenzo[2,3]phenanthro-[4,5-bcd]thiophenes

The synthesis of the potentially mutagenic 1-methyl- (11), 3-methyl- (12), 4-methyl- (21), 5-methyl- (27), 7-methyl- (58), 8-methyl- (61), 9-methyl- (59) and 10-methylbenzo[2,3]phenanthro[4,5-bcd]thiophene (60) is reported.
A decade of data discloses the window is still not clear.

In this issue of The Journal , Keystone, et al publish a 10-year prospective trial: a remarkable feat given the myriad difficulties of completing clinical trials these days1. It is the longterm extension (LTE) of the PREMIER trial, and a fairly large number of patients (250, or about 30%) complete the 10-year followup. The authors clearly concede the limitations of all LTE trials, most importantly that they are essentially completers’ analyses. Very little can be learned from those patients not completing the trial, and any and all conclusions must be interpreted in the context that they are only about those patients who presumably did well and therefore continued in the study. This article does successfully address these inherent issues. The PREMIER trial was more interesting than some of the similar trials conducted at about the same time because the double-blinded portion was longer than most at 2 years, and there were 3 arms; methotrexate (MTX), adalimumab (ADA), and the combination of the 2 (MTX + ADA)2. The patients in the study have early, MTX-naive, and very aggressive disease, many with multiple erosions at baseline. This may be a different population than that seen in some very recent trials, and may not be typical of any rheumatologist’s rheumatoid arthritis (RA) practice today, and the authors acknowledge this possibility. Early disease in this article is defined as less than 3 years of disease without details as to whether this is from onset of symptoms, joint swelling, or time … Address correspondence to Dr. Cohen; E-mail: mcohen{at}rheumdoc.net
Plastid Movement Impaired 2, a New Gene Involved in Normal Blue-Light-Induced Chloroplast Movements in Arabidopsis

Chloroplasts move in a light-dependent manner that can modulate the photosynthetic potential of plant cells. Identification of genes required for light-induced chloroplast movement is beginning to define the molecular machinery that controls these movements. In this work, we describe plastid movement impaired 2 (pmi2), a mutant in Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) that displays attenuated chloroplast movements under intermediate and high light intensities while maintaining a normal movement response under low light intensities. In wild-type plants, fluence rates below 20 micromol m(-2) s(-1) of blue light lead to chloroplast accumulation on the periclinal cell walls, whereas light intensities over 20 micromol m(-2) s(-1) caused chloroplasts to move toward the anticlinal cell walls (avoidance response). However, at light intensities below 75 micromol m(-2) s(-1), chloroplasts in pmi2 leaves move to the periclinal walls; 100 micromol m(-2) s(-1) of blue light is required for chloroplasts in pmi2 to move to the anticlinal cell walls, indicating a shift in the light threshold for the avoidance response in the mutant. The pmi2 mutation has been mapped to a gene that encodes a protein of unknown function with a large coiled-coil domain in the N terminus and a putative P loop. PMI2 shares sequence and structural similarity with PMI15, another unknown protein in Arabidopsis that, when mutated, causes a defect in chloroplast avoidance under high-light intensities.
Kongzi as Feminist: Confucian Self‐Cultivation in a Contemporary Context

Au-dela de la revendication universelle du confucianisme, l'A. mesure la pertinence de la philosophie de Kongzi, fondee sur la notion de culture de soi, au regard de l'anthropologie et du feminisme contemporains. Abordant le confucianisme sous l'angle d'une hermeneutique creatrice, l'A. propose une revision de la position misogyne et sexiste de Kongzi a partir d'une reevaluation du concept de junzi.
Regular exercise is beneficial to a mouse model of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis

We tested whether a regular exercise regimen was associated with a change in the life span of G93A-SOD1 transgenic mice, a model of familial ALS. Regular treadmill running for 10 weeks led to a significant increase in the life span of G93A-SOD1 mice. The effect was stronger in male mice, whereas there was only a trend between exercised and sedentary female G93A-SOD1 mice. The data suggest that regular exercise has a beneficial effect on the progression of ALS.
Strassman procedure for correction of a Class II mu¨llerian anomaly in an adolescent

A logical approach to the diagnosis of pelvic pain in an adolescent with a suspected uterine anomaly is necessary for optimal care. A 16-year-old female born with an imperforate anus and a Class II mullerian anomaly is presented. A Strassman procedure resulted in unification of uterine horns, correction of pelvic pain, and potential fertility.
Cardiac magnetic resonance imaging in Turner syndrome

Summary Girls and women with Turner syndrome (TS) have a highly increased morbidity as the result of cardiovascular disease, both congenital and acquired. Increased clinical use of cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR) in patients with TS over recent years has allowed for characterization of disease not always possible with standard imaging modalities, such as echocardiography (echo). In this review, we discuss the current literature regarding CMR in patients with TS and guidelines for its use.
An approach for real-time tuning of cost functions in optimal System-Centric Wide Area Controller based on Adaptive Critic Design

This paper presents a method for real-time tuning of cost functions in coordinated wide area controller for improved power system transient stability. The algorithm is an optimal Wide Area System-Centric Controller and Observer (WASCCO) based on Adaptive Critic Design (ACD). ACD techniques using reinforcement learning (RL) are able to approximate dynamic programming based nonlinear optimal control but, the cost function for the optimal control requires online tuning. Here cost function defined in ACD are analyzed online with Lyapunov stability function. Further an online tuning method is designed based on eigenvalues extracted based on Prony analysis and linked to performance index generation. Results on a two area system shows better response compared to conventional schemes.
Reality Augmentation for Medical Procedures: System Architecture, Single Camera Marker Tracking, and System Evaluation

Augmented Reality is an emerging technology that seeks to enhance a user's view by overlaying graphical information. We developed a prototype AR system geared for medical applications. It is built around a stereoscopic head-mounted display of the video-see-through variety. The newest generation of this prototype system exhibits high performance on a standard PC platform. Stereoscopic video images are augmented with medical graphics in real-time at 30 frames per second and with XGA (1024× 768) resolution. The system provides a compelling AR perception: the graphics appears firmly anchored in the scene--there is no time lag between video and graphics or any apparent jitter of the graphics. With the head-mounted display, the user has a natural and direct access to understanding the 3D structure of the scene, based on both stereo and kinetic depth cues. In the present paper, we describe in detail the architecture and several features of the AR prototype system. Head tracking is accomplished with a single-camera system, with the dedicated tracker camera placed on the head-mounted display. This configuration is the foundation of achieving a high-accuracy graphics overlay. We are now exploring the use of the prototype system for a variety of medical applications. This paper gives an overview over the pre-clinical tests that we have performed for interventional guidance. Overall, the feedback has been very positive and encouraging, and we are continuing to work towards realizing the clinical potential of the technology.
Mapping Algorithms for Real-Time Control of an Avatar Using Eight Sensors

In a virtual environment for small groups of interacting participants, it is important that the physical motion of each participant be replicated by synthetic human forms in real time. Sensors on a user's body are used to drive an inverse kinematics algorithm. Such iterative algorithms for solving the general inverse kinematics problem are too slow for a real-time interactive environment. In this paper we present analytic, constant time methods to solve the inverse kinematics problem and drive an avatar figure. Our sensor configuration has only eight sensors per participant, so the sensor data is augmented with information about natural body postures. The algorithm is fast, and the resulting avatar motion approximates the actions of the participant quite well. This new analytic solution resolves a problem with an earlier iterative algorithm that had a tendency to position knees and elbows of the avatar in awkward and unnatural positions.
Three-wave mixing with whispering-gallery modes for electro-optic modulation and photonic reception

We demonstrate an electro-optic microwave modulator with milliWatt control power and a sub-microWatt photonic receiver based on triply-resonant three-wave mixing in high-Q toroidal lithium niobate cavities with whispering-gallery (WG) modes.
Prediction of the science inquiry skill of seventeen-year-olds: A test of the model of educational productivity

The study was designed to investigate the influence of student characteristics and classroom characteristics on students' inquiry skill. The sample consisted of a national stratified random sample of 1955 17-year-olds who were assessed as part of the 1981-1982 national assessment in science. The dependent variable was a 17-item measure of students' inquiry skill. The independent variables were selected from the available data using the Model of Educational Productivity as a guide in the selection of the variables. The first purpose of the study was to test the effectiveness of the Model of Educational Productivity for predicting the inquiry skill of 17-year-olds. The results of this study indicate that this model was capable of accounting for between 24 and 32% of the variance in inquiry skill for the general population of 17-year-olds. More specifically, students' reporting of their general ability alone accounted for between 17 and 22% of the variance. The second question posed by this study asked whether the prediction of inquiry skill differed for males and females. While there was some difference in the contribution of the minor predictors, there was very little difference in the prediction of inquiry skill for males and females using the Model of Education Productivity. The third question posed by this study asked whether the prediction of inquiry skill differed for white and nonwhite students. For nonwhite students, the Model of Educational Productivity accounted for only 18% of the variance in science inquiry skill. Thus, it would appear that there is a great deal that is not known about the factors that contribute to the science inquiry skill of nonwhite students.
Buyout candidates and their investment banking relationships: An empirical analysis of returns adjoining buyout offers

Previous studies document a significant positive price reaction at the proposal of a buyout offer. In this study the author examines the influence of investment banking relationships on target firms associated with buyout offers. The results support the hypothesis that knowledge of an impending buyout manifests itself before a buyout’s public announcement. The evidence supports the hypothesis that investment bankers use different strategies before a buyout.
Models of aggradation versus progradation in the Himalayan Foreland

A frequent goal of decompaction analysis is to reconstruct histories of basin subsidence and tectonic loading. In marine environments, eustatic and paleobathymetric uncertainties limit the resolution of these reconstructions. Whereas in the terrestrial basins, these ambiguities are absent, it is still necessary to account for depositional slopes between localities in order to analyze three-dimensional patterns of subsidence. We define two end-members for depositional surfaces: aggradation and progradation. The relative importance of either end-member is a function of the interplay between the rate of net sediment accumulation and the rate of basin subsidence. The models predict the patterns of major drainages (transverse versus longitudinal) and the way in which provenance should be reflected within different portions of a basin. Consequently, paleocurrent and provenance data from the ancient stratigraphic record can be used to distinguish between these endmembers. The subhorizontal depositional surfaces that dominate during times of aggradation provide a well defined reference frame for regional analysis of decompacted stratigraphies and related subsidence. Depositional slopes during progradation can not be as precisely specified, and consequently yield greater uncertainties in reconstructions of subsidence. These models are applied to the Mio-Pliocene foreland basin of the northwestern Himalaya, where sequences of isochronous strata have been analyzed throughout the basin. These time-controlled data delineate a distinctive evolution from largely aggradational to largely progradational depositional geometries as deformation progressively encroaches on the foreland. Such a reconstruction of past depositional surfaces provides a well constrained reference frame for subsequent integration of subsidence histories from throughout the foreland.
(+)-3-Oxo-23,24-dinor-5α-cholan-22-oic acid: Hydrogen-bonding patterns in a steroidal keto acid and its monohydrate

The X-ray crystal structures of the title steroidal keto acid in both its anhydrous, C 22 H 34 O 3 , (I), and monohydrate, C 22 H 34 O 3 .H 2 O, (II), forms have been determined. Neither hydrogen-bonding pattern involves the ketone. Compound (I) forms infinite carboxyl-to-carboxyl hydrogen-bonding chains. This is the first observed case of a keto carboxylic acid forming such an acid-to-acid catemer. In (II), each carboxyl is hydrogen bonded to three water molecules and each water forms hydrogen bonds with carboxyl groups from three steroid molecules, creating a network of connected ten-membered hydrogen-bonding rings.
Solution of large scale nuclear structure problems by wave function factorization

Low-lying shell-model states may be approximated accurately by a sum over products of proton and neutron states. The optimal factors are determined by a variational principle and result from the solution of rather low-dimensional eigenvalue problems. Application of this method to $sd$-shell nuclei, $pf$-shell nuclei, and to no-core shell-model problems shows that very accurate approximations to the exact solutions may be obtained. Their energies, quantum numbers, and overlaps with exact eigenstates converge exponentially fast as the number of retained factors is increased.