cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Automated quantification of keratocyte density by using confocal microscopy in vivo.

PURPOSE. To compare keratocyte density determined by using confocal microscopy with keratocyte density determined in the same corneas by histology. METHODS. Digital en face images of central corneas were recorded three times by using confocal microscopy in vivo in six New Zealand White rabbits. Bright objects (keratocyte nuclei) in the images were automatically identified by using a custom algorithm to estimate total and regional stromal keratocyte densities. The corneas were then excised, fixed, and sectioned in a sagittal plane for histology. Keratocyte nuclei were manually counted from digitized images of 50 histologic sections per cornea. Total and regional keratocyte densities were estimated from the histologic sections by using stereologic methods based on nuclei per unit area, mean nuclear diameter, and section thickness. Histologic cell densities were corrected for tissue shrinkage. RESULTS. By confocal microscopy, total keratocyte density was 39,000 ± 1,200 cells/mm 3 (mean ± SE: n = 6): cell density was 47,100 ± 1.300 cells/mm 3 in the anterior stroma and decreased to 27.900 ± 2.700 cells/mm 3 in the posterior stroma (P = 0.004). Analysis of the three separate confocal images of each cornea produced repeatable total cell densities (mean coefficient of variation = 0.035). By histology, total keratocyte density was 37,800 ± 1,100 cells/mm 3 , not significantly different from that estimated by confocal microscopy (P = 0.43); anterior cell density was 48,300 ± 900 cells/mm 3 and decreased to 29.400 ± 900 cells/mm 3 posteriorly (P < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS. Rabbit keratocyte density estimated by automated analysis of confocal microscopy images in vivo is repeatable and agrees with keratocyte density estimated from histologic sections.
Language, dignity, and territory

This article raises two critical concerns about Philippe Van Parijs’s recent book. First, I argue that Van Parijs lacks a convincing account of why global English poses a threat to parity of esteem for other linguistic communities. I argue that English threatens the dignity of speakers of other languages only because background power inequalities are driving its adoption. Second, I question whether linguistic territoriality is the right way to restore parity of esteem. I show that official multilingualism provides a superior approach to managing linguistic heterogeneity.
Dust in Starburst Galaxies: From the Ultraviolet to the Near Infrared

A study of the dust reddening in starburst galaxies is presented. The wavelength dependence of the dust extinction is exploited by using multiwavelength data (ultraviolet, optical, and near infrared) to investigate the effects of dust on the emerging radiation. The main conclusion is that dust foreground to the starburst region (but not necessarily foreground to the galaxy) can account for most of the reddening. This simple configuration doesn’t need to correspond to a physical distribution of the dust inside the starburst region; it is a convenient way to correct the radiation from galaxies for the effects of obscuration.
The psychosocial impact of inpatient management of monoamniotic twin gestations

AbstractObjective: Monoamniotic twins require unique considerations in clinical management that challenge both clinicians and patients. The aim of this study was to assess the psychosocial impact of inpatient antepartum versus outpatient management for these patients.Methods: Women with a history of a monoamniotic twin pregnancy between 2002 and 2012 were identified through a social media group and invited to participate in an original survey regarding their clinical management and psychological well-being during gestation. Results between patients managed with inpatient versus outpatient protocols were compared using the Fisher exact test.Results: Participants (n = 197) were multinational. Planned inpatient management after 23 weeks gestation was reported in 76.2% of respondents. Participants in both groups endorsed persistent feelings of hopelessness or despair related to their pregnancies (42.4% of inpatients versus 24.1% of outpatients, p = 0.089). Relationship strain between participants and their pa...
Paradoxes of multiple elections: an approximation approach

When agents need to make decisions on multiple issues, applying common voting rules becomes computationally hard due to the exponentially large number of alternatives. One computationally efficient solution is to vote on the issues sequentially. In this paper, we investigate how well the winner under the sequential voting process approximates the winners under some common voting rules that admit natural scoring functions that can serve as a basis for approximation results. We focus on multi-issue domains where each issue is binary and the agents' preferences are O-legal, separable, represented by LP-trees, or lexicographic. We show some generalized paradoxes of multiple elections: Sequential voting does not approximate many common voting rules well even when the preferences are O-legal or separable. However, these paradoxes are much alleviated or even completely avoided when the preferences are lexicographic or represented by LP-trees. Our results thus draw a border for conditions under which sequential voting rules, which have extremely low computational and communicational cost, are good approximations of some common voting rules w.r.t. their corresponding scoring functions.
The Economics of Long-Term Ventricular Assist Device Therapy for Patients with End-Stage Heart Failure

The cost of medical and surgical treatment of advanced heart failure is significant, with surgical therapy having a higher initial cost. Medical therapy alone is expensive with nearly 50 % of expenditures in the last 6 months of life. However, surgical treatments such as heart transplantation and use of ventricular assist devices (VAD) are associated with significantly better average quality of life and functional capacity. Overall two-thirds of the estimated 50 billion dollars Medicare spends annually for the care of heart failure patients is for inpatient care. Less than 0.2 % of that total was due to cost of VADs for destination therapy (DT), mechanical circulatory support for life.
Improvements of an ice-phase microphysics parameterization for use in numerical simulations of tropical convection

It is important to properly simulate the extent and ice water content of tropical anvil clouds in numerical models that explicitly include cloud formation because of the significant effects that these clouds have on the radiation budget. For this reason, a commonly used bulk ice-phase microphysics parameterization was modified to more realistically simulate some of the microphysical processes that occur in tropical anvil clouds. Cloud ice growth by the Bergeron process and the associated formation of snow were revised. The characteristics of graupel were also modified in accord with a previous study. Numerical simulations of a tropical squall line demonstrate that the amount of cloud ice and the extent of anvil clouds are increased to more realistic values by the first two changes.
Cooperative control with general linear dynamics and limited communication: Centralized and decentralized event-triggered control strategies

This paper presents event-triggered control techniques for the consensus problem with general linear dynamics. A novel consensus protocol is proposed, where each agent implements a model of the decoupled dynamics of its neighbors. We first provide a simple centralized condition to motivate the problem. Then, the focus is placed on designing decentralized consensus protocols. The decentralized approach proposed in this paper not only avoids the need for continuous communication between agents but also provides a decentralized and asynchronous method for transmission of information. This method gives more flexibility for scheduling information broadcasting compared to periodic and sampled-data implementations. Finally conditions are provided in order to guarantee positive inter-event times.
Aeroelastic tailoring for oblique wing lateral trim

Composite material aeroelastic tailoring is presently explored as a means for the correction of the roll trim imbalance of oblique-wing aircraft configurations. The concept is demonstrated through the analysis of a realistic oblique wing by a static aeroelastic computational procedure encompassing the full potential transonic aerodynamic code FLO22 and a Ritz structural plate program that models the stiffness due to symmetrical-but-unbalanced composite wing skins. Results indicate that asymetric composite tailoring reduces the aileron deflection needed for roll equilibrium, and reduces control surface hinge moment and drag. Wing skin stresses are, however, very high.
Toward Particular Declarations of Human Gifts: A Christian Reflection on Religions, Stories, and Untold Suffering

In this article, the author suggests that religious leaders and communities should speak freely of faith in God and spirituality in their own particular ways as they advocate for human rights. While recognizing the destruction wrought by religious people, he recommends that religions be received as gifts that can cultivate people who far exceed the minimal expectations of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. He claims we do not expect too much when we ask religions and religious leaders to promote, teach, and uphold human rights, we expect too little. As a Pentecostal Christian ethicist, he argues for the significance of narrative, prophetic protest, and testimony as crucial aspects of receiving all people as gifts and of evoking empathy, action, and hope. Finally, the author warns against the political seizure of theistic and human rights discourse for the justification of military action, and he encourages the implementation of just peacemaking theory and practices.
Rural hospitals and volume standards in surgery

Background We sought to understand the potential impact of volume-based referral policy on rural hospitals by estimating the proportion of low-volume operations occurring in rural versus urban hospitals. Methods We performed an observational study using the national Medicare population who underwent one of 12 high-risk operations from 1999-2001. Low-volume hospitals were considered those in the 2 lowest quintiles for each procedure. Hospitals were assigned to 1 of3 types of geographic locations on the basis of Rural-Urban Commuting Area Codes: urban areas, rural large towns, or rural small towns. For each of the 12 operations, we estimated the proportion of patients undergoing operation in low-volume hospitals within each type of geographic area. Results For all 12 operations, the majority of surgical cases were performed in urban areas (ranging from a low of 76% for colectomy to 96% for heart valve operations). Evaluation of only operations performed in low-volume hospitals showed that the majority of surgical cases were still located in urban areas (varying from a low of 55% for colectomy to a high of 94% for heart valve operations). Operations with a stronger effect of volume on outcome (eg, pancreatic and esophageal resection) were more concentrated in urban areas, compared with operations with a weaker effect (eg, colectomy). Conclusions Most low-volume operations take place in urban hospitals. Efforts to direct patients to high-volume hospitals can exempt rural hospitals and still realize most of the potential benefits.
Assessment of the lingual nerve in the third molar region using magnetic resonance imaging

Abstract Purpose: The purpose of this study was to determine the precise in situ location of the lingual nerve in the third molar region using high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging. Patients and Methods: Ten healthy volunteers (20 sides) with mandibular third molars underwent bilateral axial and coronal high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examinations of the posterior mandible and floor of the mouth from the lingula to the mental foramen. Three trained individuals made measurements of each image to determine the vertical and horizontal position of the lingual nerve in the third molar region. Results: The mean vertical (2.75 ± 0.97 mm [range, 1.52–4.61]) and horizontal (2.53 ± 0.67 mm [range, 0.00–4.35]) distances to the lingual crest and lingual plate of the mandible were determined. In the third molar region, there were only 2 of 20 cases (10%) in which the nerve was above the lingual crest, and there were 5 of 20 instances (25%) in which the nerve was in direct contact with the lingual plate. Conclusions: This study precisely documents the in situ location of the lingual nerve in the third molar region, and reconfirms the relative vulnerable position of this structure during third molar surgery.
Estimation of sulphur content in coal from titration of calorimeter bomb washings

Abstract In routine coal quality analyses, calorific value and sulphur content are commonly determined. In this paper, we describe a procedure whereby the sulphur content of a coal sample can be estimated with reasonable accuracy from the titration of the calorimeter bomb washing. The procedure requires only an initial estimation of several correction factors and, for subsequent samples, their routine use, along with titration data, in a simple calculation. The estimated sulphur contents of 713 (93%) of 768 samples to which the procedure was applied, differed from values determined in the standard sulphur analysis by less than 1% sulphur. The estimated value can be used as a substitute for a separate, standard sulphur analysis, and is especially useful where coal from one source is routinely analysed. The technique also provides a direct calorimeter correction for heat of formation of sulphuric acid, obviating the necessity for an independent sulphur analysis as specified in standard procedures.
Intelligent camera control for graphical environments

Thesis (Ph. D.)--Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Program in Media Arts & Sciences, 1994.
Pesticide and Seasonal Effects on Within-Plant Distribution of Tetranychus cinnabarinus (Boisduval) (Acarina: Tetranychidae) in Cotton

The effects of five pesticides on the within-plant distribution of Tetranychus cinnabarinus (Boisduval) were examined in a 2-year field study in cotton at Imperial Valley, Calif. The numbers of adult female mites were recorded from the upper 16 mainstem node leaves on 96 cotton plants weekly during the 1982 and 1983 growing seasons. Within-plant distribution of the mites on the mainstem node leaves was not significantly affected by the pesticides. Throughout the season, mainstem node leaf 5 consistently had one of the highest densities of mites; in almost all cases, no other mainstem node leaf had significantly ( P < 0.05) more mites than leaf 5. Thus, mainstem node leaf 5 is the recommended sampling unit.
Influence of neuraminidase and mitomycin C on the immunogenicity of Novikoff tumor cells

Novikoff rat ascites tumor cells were strongly immunogenic in the normal host (Sprague-Dawley strain rat), a single SC inoculum of 5×104 cells rendering the host resistant to a subsequent IP challenge of 1.5×106 tumor cells. Removal of cell-surface sialic acid did not abolish the tumorigenicity of the cells, nor did it modify their immunogenicity. Treatment of the cells with mitomycin C, an agent that blocks cell replication, caused a loss of immunogenicity, indicating that replicative capacity or other mitomycin C-sensitive cell processes are required for immunogenicity of Novikoff tumor cells.
Efficient Direct-Drive Small-Scale Low-Speed Wind Turbine

The authors gratefully acknowledge the financial support provided by NIST program and NSF I/UCRC: Center for Energy Harvesting Materials and Systems (CEHMS). We also thank senior design students: Jonas Alles, Robert Langhans, and Will Robbins for their contribution during design and development of the wind turbine.
Phenotypic variations and new mutations in JAK2 V617F-negative polycythemia vera, erythrocytosis and idiopathic myelofibrosis

Objective The chronic myeloproliferative disorders (MPD), polycythemia vera (PV), essential thrombocytosis, and idiopathic myelofibrosis (IMF), are characterized by a spectrum of clinical features and linked by common genetic lesions in JAK2 and MPL. However, the clinical phenotypes in genetically undefined MPD patients are similar to those patients with JAK2 and MPL lesions. We, therefore, sought to determine whether there were JAK2 or MPL lesions in a well-defined, JAK2 V617F–negative MPD cohort, and to determine if clinical associations could be identified based on variations identified in these genes. Methods We examined the JAK2 and MPL genes in JAK2 V617F–negative PV, IMF, and idiopathic erythrocytosis patients for sequence variations. Results We identified two previously unrecognized JAK2 mutations and three previously unrecognized MPL mutations in JAK2 V617F–negative PV, erythrocytosis, and IMF patients. We identified JAK2 exon 12 lesions in 30% of JAK2 V617F–negative PV patients, and either JAK2 V617F or JAK2 exon 12 lesions in 9% of erythrocytosis patients. In IMF, in addition to the MPL gene mutation, W515K, we identified three additional mutations: 204P and two intervening sequence transitions, IVS 11/12 and 10/11. Conclusions While the clinical phenotype of JAK2 exon 12 lesions in the MPD was predominantly erythroid, there was significant disease spectrum overlap between JAK2 V617F and JAK2 exon 12 mutations. By contrast, MPL gene mutations were not associated with erythrocytosis, but segregated primarily with the phenotypes of thrombocytosis, extramedullary disease, myelofibrosis, and osteosclerosis.
Titania and silica powders produced in a counterflow diffusion flame

Earlier publications describe the counterflow diffusion flame burner and its unique capability to produce oxide particles having certain structures, such as spheres of one material coated with another, spheres of one composition with attached bulbs of another composition, and uniform multicomponent mixtures. Here we describe the production and properties of bulk quantities of powders produced using this burner. Measurements were made of specific surface area and, for titania, of phase composition. It was found that the controls over powder characteristics used in other forms of flame-synthesis are equally effective in the counterflow diffusion flame burner. We found that the specific surface area of both silica and titania powders decrease with increasing precursor concentrations. Transmission electron microscopy analysis of the titania powders indicates that the mean size of the particles that comprise these powders increases with increasing concentration. These trends are consistent with the collision-coalescence theory of particle growth. In addition, the crystalline phase of titania can be controlled by selecting the appropriate feed stream. For example, over the ranges TiCl{sub 4} precursor concentrations tested, feeding it only into the {ital oxidizer} stream yields mainly {ital anatase} TiO{sub 2} powders, while feeding only into the {ital fuel} stream yields mainly {italmore » rutile} TiO{sub 2} powders. These trends can be explained by the known atmosphere-dependent anatase-rutile transformation. The present data demonstrate that, in addition to its unique capability to produce certain particle shapes and morphologies, the counterflow diffusion flame burner can be manipulated to produce either of the major commercial titania phases, and also silica, with a wide range of specific surface areas. {copyright} {ital 1996 Materials Research Society.}« less
Activity of Daptomycin or Linezolid in Combination with Rifampin or Gentamicin against Biofilm-Forming Enterococcus faecalis or E. faecium in an In Vitro Pharmacodynamic Model Using Simulated Endocardial Vegetations and an In Vivo Survival Assay Using Galleria mellonella Larvae

Enterococci are the third most frequent cause of infective endocarditis. A high-inoculum stationary-phase in vitro pharmacodynamic model with simulated endocardial vegetations was used to simulate the human pharmacokinetics of daptomycin at 6 or 10 mg/kg of body weight/day or linezolid at 600 mg every 12 h (q12h), alone or in combination with gentamicin at 1.3 mg/kg q12h or rifampin at 300 mg q8h or 900 mg q24h. Biofilm-forming, vancomycin-susceptible Enterococcus faecalis and vancomycin-resistant Enterococcus faecium (vancomycin-resistant enterococcus [VRE]) strains were tested. At 24, 48, and 72 h, all daptomycin-containing regimens demonstrated significantly more activity (decline in CFU/g) than any linezolid-containing regimen against biofilm-forming E. faecalis. The addition of gentamicin to daptomycin (at 6 or 10 mg/kg) in the first 24 h significantly improved bactericidal activity. In contrast, the addition of rifampin delayed the bactericidal activity of daptomycin against E. faecalis, and the addition of rifampin antagonized the activities of all regimens against VRE at 24 h. Also, against VRE, the addition of gentamicin to linezolid at 72 h improved activity and was bactericidal. Rifampin significantly antagonized the activity of linezolid against VRE at 72 h. In in vivo Galleria mellonella survival assays, linezolid and daptomycin improved survival. Daptomycin at 10 mg/kg improved survival significantly over that with linezolid against E. faecalis. The addition of gentamicin improved the efficacy of daptomycin against E. faecalis and those of linezolid and daptomycin against VRE. We conclude that in enterococcal infection models, daptomycin has more activity than linezolid alone. Against biofilm-forming E. faecalis, the addition of gentamicin in the first 24 h causes the most rapid decline in CFU/g. Of interest, the addition of rifampin decreased the activity of daptomycin against both E. faecalis and VRE.
Abstract 847: PIAS3 induction of apoptosis is p53-independent and has STAT3-independent mediators.

Protein inhibitor of activated STAT3 (PIAS3) is an endogenous inhibitor of STAT3 that negatively regulates STAT3 transcriptional activity and cell growth and demonstrates limited expression in the majority of human squamous cell carcinomas of the lung. In the present study we sought to determine if PIAS3 inhibits cell growth in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cell lines by induction of apoptosis and further determine the dependence of PIAS3 activity on p53 status by using both wild-type and p53-null cells. Our results demonstrate that over-expression of PIAS3 promotes caspase 3 activation and PARP cleavage. Furthermore, the expression of pro-survival family members BclXL and Bcl-2 is decreased. These effects were observed after both transient and regulated expression of exogenous PIAS3 and were independent of p53 status. PIAS3 inhibition of STAT3 luciferase activity was also p53 independent. Microarray experiments were performed to further investigate the STAT3-dependence of PIAS3-induced apoptosis by comparing its gene expression signature with that of STAT3 siRNA treated cells. IPA pathway analysis showed that a number of genes related to cell death were significantly increased by PIAS3. Furthermore, a subset of apoptotic genes, including CIDEC and DAPK2, were uniquely expressed only after PIAS3 expression and not after STAT3 siRNA. Thus, PIAS3 may represent a promising lung cancer therapeutic target because of its p53-independent efficacy as well as its potential to synergize with direct STAT3 inhibitors. Citation Format: Snehal Dabir, Yu Liu, Gary Wildey, Afshin Dowlati. PIAS3 induction of apoptosis is p53-independent and has STAT3-independent mediators. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 104th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2013 Apr 6-10; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2013;73(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 847. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2013-847
Improving Falling Ball Tests for Viscosity Determination

Laboratory experiments and numerical simulations are performed to determine the accuracy and reproducibility of the falling-ball test for viscosity determination in Newtonian fluids. The results explore the wall and end effects of the containing cylinder and other possible sources that affect the accuracy and reproducibility of the falling ball tests. A formal error analysis of the falling-ball method, an evaluation of the relative merits of calibration and individual measurements, and an analysis of reproducibility in the falling-ball test are performed. Recommendations based on this study for improving both the accuracy and reproducibility of the falling-ball test are presented.
Weighing the political and economic motivations for migration in post-soviet Space: The case of Uzbekistan

Abstract This article investigates the micro-level considerations leading to the decision to migrate within the former Soviet Union. By conducting a survey and focus group of minorities in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, it specifies hypotheses from the theoretical literature on migration centred on political/national and economic factors and their interaction, and then tests them in the field. The results indicate that economic factors were of primary importance in explaining people's decisions and political factors were rarely sufficient to produce migration. Nation-building and everyday nationalism influenced migration decisions only insofar as they affected people's material well being, by creating language barriers and facilitating the preferential treatment of locals over minorities in receiving employment. The most decisive factor was the perception of overall economic decline that decreased people's standards of living and diminished their prospects for employment and opportunities for their children. Resea...
Compact microwave re-entrant cavity applicator for plasma-assisted combustion

The design and experimental operation of a compact microwave/rf applicator is described. This applicator operates at atmospheric pressure and couples electromagnetic energy into a premixed CH4/O2 flame. The addition of only 2–15 W of microwave power to a premixed combustion flame with a flame power of 10–40 W serves to extend the flammability limits for fuel lean conditions, increases the flame length and intensity, and increases the number density and mixture of excited radical species in the flame vicinity. The downstream gas temperature also increases. Optical emission spectroscopy measurements show gas rotational temperatures in the range of 2500–3600 K. At the higher input power of ≥10 W microplasma discharges can be produced in the high electric field region of the applicator.
Reconsidering teacher alienation: A critique ofTeacher Burnout in the Public Schools

Within research on teacher burnout, stress, and alienation there exists a lack of emphasis upon the social milieu in which teachers work. This essay considers the conceptualization of alienation as a form of burnout in Anthony Dworkin'sTeacher Burnout in the Public Schools (1987) and how such a combination inherently limits the value of policy recommendations he and others are making for eliminating teacher burnout and stress. The basic theoretical dichotomy surrounding the use of the concept of workplace alienation centers upon whether it is (1) an objective state independent of worker perceptions of working conditions or (2) a subjective situation in which laborers' attitudes are measured. Without any overt rationale Dworkin adopts the subjective approach, eliminating any analysis ofactual working conditions of teachers. Referring to Marx and then quickly dropping further references to his theories by accepting a primarily intrapersonal analysis is historically characteristic of alienation studies in education. Despite his stated desire to examine “structural causes” of burnout, Dworkin's adherence to a subjective, psychological model for understanding teacher labor while muddling Marx's theory of alienation of labor severely diminishes the social usefulness of his book.
Age-dependent decline in rejoining of X-ray-induced DNA double-strand breaks in normal human lymphocytes

Unstimulated human peripheral blood lymphocytes (HPBL), separated by density centrifugation from anticoagulated whole blood, were X-irradiated (30 Gy) on ice and incubated in medium at 37 degrees C for repair times of 15, 30, and 120 min. Blood donors were 18 normotensive, non-smoking Caucasians aged 23-78, free from overt pathology and not taking any medications. Neutral filter elution was used to assay DNA double-strand break (DSB) induction and completeness of DSB rejoining (plus rejoining of any X-ray-induced alkali-labile sites converted to DSBs in vitro at pH 9.6). After 30 or 120 min repair incubation, the percentage of DSBs rejoined by cells from older donors (aged 66-78 years) was less than half the percentage of DSBs rejoined by cells from younger donors (aged 23-39 and 42-57). When data from the 3 age groups were pooled, the age-related decline in percent DSBs rejoined was significant for repair times 30 min (r = -0.63, p less than 0.005) and 120 min (r = -0.64, p less than 0.005) but not for 15 min (r = -0.04). These age-related declines were observed even though DNA from older donors sustained fewer strand breaks as demonstrated by the negative correlation between donor age and DSB induction (r = -0.65, p less than 0.005). These results suggest that the efficacy of X-ray-induced DSB repair diminishes with in vivo age in unstimulated HPBL.
DNA repair proteins

Abstract DNA repair mechanisms maintain the integrity of genetic information. Recent discoveries have provided evidence for interplay between DNA repair and cell development and signaling. In the past year, atomic resolution studies of several proteins that participate in the repair of oxidative and alkylation damage, in addition to a variety of biochemical and biophysical studies, have provided much insight into the molecular mechanisms underlying DNA repair.
Bronchial responsiveness to inhaled metabisulfite in asthmatic children increases with age.

Inhaled bisulfite (HSO3) aerosol produces bronchoconstriction in asthmatics but not in normals. This effect is probably due to local formation of SO2 which stimulates vagal afferents in the airway mucosa, and gives rise to bronchoconstriction that is partly due to a cholinergic reflex. Metabisulfite (MBS) produces bronchoconstriction in most adult asthmatics, but its effect in children has received little attention. The present study was done to assess MBS-induced bronchoconstriction as a function of age in asthmatic children, and to compare MBS responsiveness with the response to inhaled metacholine (MCH), which is commonly used for bronchoprovocation testing. In 36 children with moderate asthma, selected to cover the age range between 3 and 20 years, we compared airway responsiveness to MBS and MCH, expressed as the provocative dose that causes a 20% fall in baseline forced expiratory volume in 1 sec (FEV1, PD20). We also measured the PD20 to MBS after pretreatment with the anticholinergic ipratropiumbromide, to estimate the noncholinergic component of the response. After bronchial provocation with MCH, a PD20 was reached in 32 children, and no significant relation of PD, to age was found. A PD20 [MBS] was seen in only 17 patients, and more frequently in older children. There was a significant negative correlation between age and PD20 [MBS]. Ipratropium pretreatment reduced the response to MBS in 14 of the 17 children who had a PD20 [MBS]. The PD20 [MBS] after ipratropium pretreatment was also significantly negatively related with age. This suggested that the increased prevalence of MBS responsiveness was due to an increase of the noncholinergic component of the response. We conclude that, in this cross-sectional study, the sensitivity of asthmatic children to MBS-induced bronchoconstriction increases with age, and that this is because of an increase of the noncholinergic component of the response to MBS. We speculate that this reflects an abnormal development of the autonomic control of airway caliber in children with asthma. Pediatr Pulmonol. 1993; 16:236–242. © 1993 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Progress in metal-supported solid oxide fuel cells: A review

Metal-supported solid oxide fuel cells provide significant advantages over conventional ceramic cells, including low materials cost, ruggedness, and tolerance to rapid thermal cycling and redox cycling. Various metal-supported cell designs have been developed, utilizing a range of electrolyte, electrode, and support materials prepared by various fabrication and deposition techniques. This paper reviews the current state of metal-supported cell technology and suggests opportunities for further development.
Generalized stability criteria for an opposed-jet flameholder

A characteristic time model of flame stabilization has been developed for an opposed-jet combustor. The model indicates a linear relationship between dynamic and chemical processes over a range of blowoff data. The corresponding Damkohler similarity group is on the order of unity. The simplified model also provides a useful phenomenological description of the opposed reacting jet and a practical method of estimating stability limits for an aerodynamic flameholder.
A theoretical equation of state for liquid and solid sodium

Abstract An equation of state is given having theoretical significance which uses the pressure as the independent variable and determines the volume. It is applied to the values of both solid and liquid sodium along the melting curve. Agreement with experimental data is excellent.
Mariner 10 stereo image coverage of Mercury

A computer search was performed on all useable Mariner 10 images of Mercury for which refined camera positions and orientations are available. Over 2000 valid stereo pairs have been found. The results of this search allowed us to construct a map illustrating the available stereo coverage and the corresponding stereo height accuracy across the surface of Mercury. Examples are given to illustrate the quality of the available stereo pairs and the resulting digital elevation models.
The determination of local structure in organofluorides using fluorine-19 carbon-13 dipolar coupling

Abstract 1H19F13C double cross polarization (DCP)/magic angle spinning (MAS) 13C n.m.r. and 13C19F rotational echo double resonance (REDOR) CP/MAS 13C n.m.r. experiments performed on two low-molecular-weight monofluorinated organic compounds are reported. DCP n.m.r. permits the selective identification of resonances of carbons one- and two-bonds removed from a fluorine atom in these substances. Under our experimental conditions the 19F T2 is on the order of 1 ms or less. This relaxation process is beneficial in the DCP experiment. It defeats proper echo formation in 13C19F REDOR CP/MAS 13C n.m.r. experiments in which MAS speed and 19F(T2)−1 are comparable. Potential remains for REDOR in coal structure analysis under experimental conditions that result in lengthened 19F T2.
Quantitative phase transformation behavior in TiNi shape memory alloy thin films

Phase transformations in near-equiatomic TiNi shape memory alloy thin films were studied, and the phase fraction evolutions were quantitatively correlated to the stress and resistivity of the films. TiNi thin films with compositions of 50.1, 51.1, and 51.7 at.% Ti all exhibited transformation temperatures between 65 and 100 °C, low residual stresses at room temperature (RT), and high recoverable stresses, thus making them suitable for microactuators in microelectromechanical systems. Low residual stresses at RT, less than 50 MPa, can be obtained even when only a small quantity of martensite, less than 30%, is present. Phase fraction evolution during complete thermal cycles (heating and cooling) was studied using elevated temperature x-ray diffraction, combined with quantitative Rietveld analysis. R-phase always appeared in these near-equiatomic TiNi thin films during cooling but did not have a noticeable effect on the stress–temperature hysteresis curves, which mainly depend on the phase fraction evolution of martensite. On the other hand, the occurrence of R-phase determined the variation of film resistivity. Martensite, austenite, and R-phase coexisting within a single grain were observed using transmission electron microscopy.
p53 regulates the expression of human angiotensin II AT2 receptor interacting protein (ATIP1) gene

Angiotensin II AT(2) receptor interacting protein 1 (ATIP1) has been recently identified as a tumor suppressor. In the present study, a 2.2 kb fragment of the 5' flanking region of the human ATIP1 gene was cloned, and its promoter activity was confirmed. Two putative p53 binding sites were identified in the minimal promoter. Cisplatin treatment and ectopic expression of p53 led to enhanced ATIP1 expression. Knockdown of p53 reduced the ATIP1 expression. The direct interaction of p53 and the ATIP1 promoter was confirmed by reporter gene and chromatin-immunoprecipitation assays. When the p53 sites were mutated, the effect of p53 on ATIP1 promoter was eliminated. The results suggest that the ATIP1 gene is regulated by p53 at the transcriptional level, and that it may play an important role in cancer initiation and progression.
A GENECOLOGICAL STUDY OF THE GENUS PICEA IN BRITISH COLUMBIA

Summary The study is divided into two parts. Part A is an investigation of geographic variation in immature spruce populations and refers to the growth behaviour of 150 spruce populations grown in a relatively uniform environment. The seed, which was collected throughout the white, Engelmann and Sitka spruce complex in British Columbia, was sown in a coastal nursery on Vancouver Island. Detailed measurements were made on these populations during two growing seasons. In the laboratory seed samples of the same populations were X-rayed to determine embryo development, and subsequently germinated at 25° C, Part B is a study of geographic variation in mature spruce populations and refers to a biometrical assessment of variation in cone scale morphology which was carried out on a mass collection of spruce cones collected in 157 areas throughout the range of spruce in British Columbia. This collection, therefore, embraces all four spruce species of the province. These are Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis (Bong,) Carr.), black spruce (P. mariana (Mill,) B,S,P,), white spruce (P. glauca (Nlotnc) Voss subsp, glauca) and Engelmann spruce (P. glauca (Moench) Voss subsp, engelmannii). All measurements were subjected to statistical analysis in order to determine the relation between the variation observed and factors of the environment at place of origin. The results of both studies testify to the overwhelming influence of environmental pressures associated with altitude with respect to variation in the white-Engelmann complex. In regard to the white-Sitka complex both studies indicate the extent and effect of the penetration of Sitka spruce populations into populations of white spruce. Zones of hybridization between spruce species are characterized. The ecological significance of photoperiodic adaptation in spruce, and the relative importance of flushing and dormancy in the microevolution of the species are considered. The bearing of the results on the taxonomic status of the species in British Columbia is discussed, and recommendations are made in regard to the silviculture of the species in this province.
Preparation and Structural Characterization of Nickel(II) Catecholates

The early literature of catecholate complexes of Ni(II) is explained with regard to both high-spin octahedral and low-spin square-planar complexes. The former contain coordinated solvent, while the latter do not. The syntheses of the paramagnetic (S = 1; μeff = 2.93 μB at 300 K) octahedral Ni(II) complex Na2[trans-(H2O)2(cat)2NiII]·12H2O (1a) and the diamagnetic square-planar Ni(II) complex Na2[(cat)2NiII]·2DMF (2) are described. The physical and chemical properties of these Ni catecholates and their X-ray crystal structures are presented. In aqueous solution at low temperature the centrosymmetric octahedral complex is formed, which has average Ni−O distances of 2.044(3) A (catecholate) and 2.162(3) A (water). At higher temperature or under more weakly solvating conditions the square-planar complex is formed; the complex 2 is centrosymmetric with an average Ni−O(catecholate) distance of 1.863(3) A. The crystals of 1a conform to space group C2/c, with unit cell dimensions a = 26.0287(8) A, b = 9.0016(3) A,...
Turbulent combustion regimes for hypersonic propulsion employing hydrogen-air diffusion flames

Astronautics and Aeronautics, AIAA, Washington, DC, 1980, pp. 8-10. Vaught, C., Witt, M., and Netzer, D., ''Investigation of SolidFuel, Dual-Mode Combustion Ramjets," Journal of Propulsion and Power, Vol. 8, No. 5, 1992, pp. 1004-1011. Zhongqin, Z., Zhenpeng, Z., Jinfu, T., and Wenlan, F., "Experimental Investigation of Combustion Efficiency of Air-Augmented Rockets," Journal of Propulsion and Power, Vol. 2, No. 4, 1986, pp. 305-310. Anil, K. N., and Damodaran, K. A., "Experimental Investigations on Flow Through a Petal Nozzle," Journal of the Institute of Engineers, India, Vol. 70, March, 1990, pp. 1-4. "Anil, K. N., and Damodaran, K. A., "Mixing of Two Axisymmetric, Coaxial, High-Speed Streams with Heat Transfer/' National Symposium on Experiments in Fluids, IIT Kanpur, India, Dec. 1992. Anil, K. N., "An Experimental Study on Mixing of Two Coaxial High Speed Streams," Ph.D. Dissertation, Aerospace Engineering, IIT Madras, India, Dec. 1992. Liepmann, H. W., and Roshko, A., Fundamentals of Gas Dynamics, Galcit Aeronautical Series, Wiley, New York, 1957.
Carbon dioxide reforming of methane over nickel alkaline earth metal oxide catalysts

The CO2 reforming of CH4 over reduced NiO/alkaline earth metal oxide catalysts was investigated. A CO yield of 95% was obtained from a stoichiometric feed mixture of CH4 and CO2, at high GHSV (60 000 cm3 g−1 h−1), over a reduced NiOMgO with a weight ratio of 0.2. In addition, the catalyst had excellent stability, since the CO yield remained unchanged during 120h. Compared to the reduced NiOMgO catalyst, the reduced NiOCaO,NiO SrO NiO BaO catalysts had low CO yields and very low stabilities. The TPD of CO over the reduced NiOMgO catalyst indicated a lower decomposition of CO to CO2 than over the other catalysts investigated, hence that MgO inhibits the disproportionation reaction 2CO → C + CO2 over Ni. The behavior of the reduced NiOMgO catalyst is probably due to the formation of a NiOMgO solution, as a result of the similar crystalline structures of NiO and MgO.
A Sediment Budget for Southern Lake Michigan: Source and Sink Models for Different Time Intervals

Abstract We have constructed a sediment budget for the southern Lake Michigan basin for sand and for mud during three time periods: the past 100, 5,000, and 10,000 years. For the modern (100-year) sediment budget, accountable sediment sources add up to 93 percent of the calculated sinks. The mud budget has a source deficit of about 40%, probably due to errors in mud:sand ratios and (or) to other sources not included in our model, especially erosion of the lake floor, which accompanies bluff recession. Two terms dominate the modern sediment-budget equation: (1) bluff erosion, which is an order of magnitude larger than either rivers or aerosols as a source, and (2) deposition in the deep basin, which is more than two orders of magnitude greater as a sink than suspended sediment transport out of the basin. About half of the sand derived from bluff erosion is deposited in the deep lake; the other half must be deposited in nearshore sand bodies, beaches, and dunes. Despite the uncertainties in our estimates of sediment sources and sinks, the attempt to reconstruct sediment budgets for time intervals of 100, 5,000, and 10,000 years leads to important insights about erosion and sedimentation processes. Bluff erosion is the dominant source of both sand and mud in the basin. The deep lake floor is the primary sink for mud, whereas both the deep lake and nearshore areas are important sinks for sand. On a long-term basis, rates of bluff erosion have progressively decreased and are apparently independent of anthropogenic effects. Rates of sediment accumulation in the lake basin mirror the decrease in rates of bluff erosion for prehistoric time, but have increased markedly since human settlement, probably because of anthropogenic effects on river and aerosolic inputs.
Effect of temperature on rate of goldfish optic nerve regeneration: A radioautographic and behavioral study

Optic nerve regeneration was examined in goldfish radioautographically, as well as by a variety of behavioral measures of visual function. The rate of regeneration was markedly enhanced by increasing temperature above the ambient level (20 degrees C). The earliest functional indication of recovery was the appearance of an autonomic response to a change in illumination, then the ability to localize food visually and at a still later time, an optomotor response. Even the early behavioral indications of return of function appeared some time after there was radioautographic evidence that the tectum had been reinnervated.
A case for delay-conscious caching of Web documents

Caching at proxy servers plays an important role in reducing the latency of the user response, the network delays and the load on Web servers. The cache performance depends critically on the design of the cache replacement algorithm. Unfortunately, most cache replacement algorithms ignore the Web's scale. In this paper we argue for the design of delay-conscious cache replacement algorithms which explicitly consider the Web's scale by preferentially caching documents which require a long time to fetch to the cache. We present a new, delay-conscious cache replacement algorithm LNC-R-W3 which maximizes a performance metric called delay-savings-ratio. Subsequently, we test the performance of LNC-R-W3 experimentally and compare it with the performance of other existing cache replacement algorithms, namely LRU and LRU-MIN.
Optimal detection and concentration estimation of vapor materials using range-resolved lidar with frequency-agile lasers

In previous work, we presented a methodology for optimally processing data from lidar with frequency-agile wavelength capability using techniques of multivariate statistics. Among the applications considered was the case of range- resolved lidar with short (delta function) transmitter pulses. This paper extends that analysis by deriving a method for estimating range-dependent vapor concentration for arbitrary pulse shapes. A Bayesian statistical approach leads to a MAP (maximum a posteriori) estimator for C(z), the concentration at range z. The estimates are computed iteratively for a given set of multiwavelength lidar return data using an approximation to the Gauss-Newton method. The concentration estimates are then used as the basis for a detection algorithm for the leading edge of the vapor plume based on the CUSUM approach. The detection and estimation approaches are illustrated on a combination of synthetic and field test data collected by SBCCOM at the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory test site.© (1999) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.