cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Specificity of needle electromyography for lumbar radiculopathy in 55- to 79-yr-old subjects with low back pain and sciatica without stenosis.

Objective The aim of this study was to determine the specificity of needle electromyography for lumbar radiculopathy in subjects with low back pain and sciatica without stenosis. Design Subjects 55 yrs or older with diagnoses of low back pain and sciatica underwent a standardized monopolar needle evaluation by blinded electromyographers as part of a spinal stenosis study. The presence or absence of radiculopathy was determined using different electrodiagnostic criteria. Results Seventy-two subjects with a mean age of 64.6 years (SD, 7.0 yrs) were studied. When only positive sharp waves or fibrillations were considered abnormal, most of the diagnostic criteria--two limb muscles + associated lumbar paraspinal muscle abnormal, two limb muscles abnormal, or one limb muscle + associated lumbar paraspinal muscle abnormal--had 97%, 96%, and 92% specificity, respectively. When 30% or greater polyphasia in the limb muscles was also considered abnormal, the respective specificities were 90%, 81%, and 85%. When 20% or greater polyphasia in the limb muscles was also considered abnormal, the respective specificities were 90%, 74%, and 71% [corrected]. Conclusions There is good specificity for lumbosacral radiculopathy when appropriate diagnostic criteria are used.
Residual feed intake, body composition, and fertility in yearling beef heifers

One hundred thirty-seven spring-born yearling beef heifers of British breed types were used to determine the relationships between residual feed intake (RFI) and growth rate, body composition, mature size, and fertility. Heifers were housed in a dry lot facility during the experimental period, and data were collected over a 2-yr period (yr 1, n = 67; yr 2, n = 70). Individual feed intake, BW, BCS, hip height, and ultrasonic measurements [subcutaneous rib fat (UBF), rump fat (URF), LM area (LMA), and intramuscular fat (IMF)] of body composition were recorded. Individual feed intakes (kg of TDN consumed/d) were used to calculate RFI combining both years of data. Heifers averaged 387.0 ± 19.4 d of age and 337.1 ± 29.9 kg of BW at initiation of the experiment. Mean ADG was 1.14 ± 0.21 kg/d during the trial. Based on RFI, with year of test and farm of origin included in the model as covariates, heifers were classified into groups: positive (POS; 0.74 kg of TDN/d) or negative (NEG; -0.73 kg TDN/d) for first analysis and high (HI), medium (MED), or low (LO; mean RFI = 1.06, -0.01, and -1.13 kg of TDN/d, respectively) subsequently. An initial phenotypic relationship (P 0.10) from MED heifers at either the beginning or the end of test. Additionally, a negative linear relationship was observed between RFI and age at puberty (P 0.10). Differences in body fat and rate of metabolism associated with RFI could delay reproductive maturity.
A molecular theory for the thermodynamic behavior of polar mixtures. I. The statistical-mechanical local-composition model

Abstract The statistical-mechanical basis for the local-composition model is presented. In the statistical-mechanical framework, local compositions are expressed in terms of the potential of mean force, so that the approximations required to obtain the expressions commonly utilized can be analyzed and new and improved expressions can be developed. The consistency relations required for the use of the excess free energy for the configurational energy in the local-composition model are investigated in general. As a test, the local-composition model is applied to the case of Lennard—Jones mixtures. It is also demonstrated that the statistical-mechanical expressions for the internal energy in the local-composition model can be related to experimentally measurable quantities. This will allow direct comparison of nonstatistical and statistical-mechanical formulations of the local-composition model using experimental data for actual fluid mixtures of interest.
Special Issue on Current Developments and State-of-the-art in Unmanned Aircraft Systems

This double Volume (8 issues total), which is split in Volume 69 and 70, is devoted to the state-of-the-art and recent advances in Unmanned Aircraft Systems (UAS). The area of UAS has seen unprecedented levels of growth over the last decade, and it is also expected to be one of the most dominant areas of research and development in the future. Although the main focus of UAS applications was in military domains, we now see a shift of UAS use in civilian/public domains. However, it will be long before UAS are extensively utilized in civilian domains, but their importance in applications related to earth science, environment/pollution monitoring, land management, civil infrastructure health management, public security, fire detection, emergency response, search and rescue, etc., is obvious. Despite the tremendous progress in UAS, there are still major challenges and obstacles to be
Bivariant Chern character and longitudinal index

In this paper we consider a family of Dirac-type operators on fibration P→B equivariant with respect to an action of an etale groupoid. Such a family defines an element in the bivariant K theory. We compute the action of the bivariant Chern character of this element on the image of Connes' map Φ in the cyclic cohomology. A particular case of this result is Connes' index theorem for etale groupoids [A. Connes, Noncommutative Geometry, Academic Press, 1994] in the case of fibrations.
Static quantum-size effects in thin crystalline, simple-metal films

Surface-energy and work-function quantum-size fluctuations are predicted for thin Al(111) and Mg(0001) films. The work-function results follow the jellium behavior found by Schulte. For Al(111), a 0.3-eV drop in work function occurs between a two- and three-layer film. For Mg(0001), predicted work-function changes versus layer number are slight because the interlayer spacing is close to $\frac{{\ensuremath{\lambda}}_{F}}{2}$ where ${\ensuremath{\lambda}}_{F}$ is the Fermi wavelength. The surface energy for Al(111) is also found to vary significantly with layer thickness. This result can be expected to affect the way in which Al grows epitaxially. Generally, one expects static quantum-size effects to be smaller in the transition metals, because the Fermi wavelength is strongly anisotropic.
Half-Lives and Yields of X Rays from Thermal Fission of U 235 and Pu 239

Time and energy characteristics of x rays from fission fragments of thermally fissioned ${\mathrm{U}}^{235}$ and ${\mathrm{Pu}}^{239}$ were investigated. The timing data were obtained electronically using amplitude-conversion techniques while the energy spectra were obtained using NaI(Tl) as the detector. The timing measurements show that about 50% of the x rays have half-lives greater than 4 nsec. This suggests that the dominant or even the entire mechanism for x-ray production is internal conversion of low-energy transitions of the fission fragments. Half-lives obtained from a least-squares fit of the time spectra indicate that the transitions are of the type $E2$ and $M1$. A model for predicting the x-ray energy spectra is given. X-ray yields calculated from the energy spectra were determined to be 0.17\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.02 and 0.43\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.004 x rays per fission for the light- and heavy-group fragments of ${\mathrm{U}}^{235}$, and 0.15\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.02 and 0.26\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.03 x rays per fission for the light- and heavy-group fragments of ${\mathrm{Pu}}^{239}$. Results from other experimenters are given for comparison.
A CYTOCHEMICAL STUDY OF THE L.E. BODIES OF SYSTEMIC LUPUS ERYTHEMATOSUS I. NUCLEIC ACIDS

The composition, with respect to nucleic acids, of the L.E. bodies resulting from the action of the plasma of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus on substrate leukocyte nuclei in different kinds of preparations was compared microspectrophotometrically with that of control lymphocyte nuclei. Binding of the basic dye methyl green to DNA was uniformly found to be depressed in L.E. bodies as compared with control nuclei. Since Feulgen-revealed DNA, which served as a standard of reference, was relatively unchanged in amount, the Feulgen:methyl green ratios of L.E. bodies were higher than those of lymphocyte nuclei. Acetylation, which covers basic groups of proteins, was found to increase methyl green uptake by DNA of L.E. bodies to values approximating those of control nuclei, with consequent revision, after acetylation of the Feulgen: methyl green ratios of L.E. bodies to values similar to those of lymphocyte nuclei. Ribonuclease was found to reduce methyl green staining; extraction with dilute acid had little effect. These data have been interpreted to indicate (a) the presence in L.E. bodies of DNA-associated proteins whose basic groups compete with the cationic dye for binding sites of DNA and so inhibit methyl green staining, and (b) the DNA itself is not detectibly altered in state or degree of polymerization. Photometric comparison of the mean Feulgen-stainable DNA content per L.E. body with that of control nuclei showed that DNA is not lost in the L.E. transformation of nuclei.
Scrap and Storage Markets in the Gulf of Mexico—II. Disposal Alternatives

Abstract In the second part of this four part series on the scrap and storage markets in the Gulf of Mexico, the disposal alternatives that are available for each of the components of an offshore structure are examined. Every component of an oil and gas structure follows a unique path during its life cycle, from fabrication through installation, decommissioning, and eventually, disposal. Typical component pathways for the main elements of offshore structures are outlined. We also review the scrap and storage market characteristics along the Gulf Coast.
Viking heat sterilization—Progress and problems

The Viking Mars landers to be launched in 1975 will carry experiments in biology, planetology, and atmospheric physics. A terminal dry-heat sterilization process using an inert gas was chosen to meet planetary quarantine requirements and preclude contamination of the biology experiment by terrestrial organisms. Deep sterilization is performed at the component level and terminal surface sterilization at the system level. Solutions to certain component problems relating to sterilization are discussed, involving the gyroscope, tape recorder, battery, electronic circuitry, and outgassing. Heat treatment placed special requirements on electronic packaging, including fastener preload monitoring and solder joints. Chemical and physical testing of nonmetallic materials was performed to establish data on their behavior in heat-treatment and vacuum environments. A Thermal Effects Test Model and a Proof Test Capsule were used. It is concluded that a space vehicle can be designed and fabricated to withstand heat sterilization requirements.
Kinetic and product distribution analysis for competitive recombination reactions

Exact solution methods are developed for the complex kinetic and product distribution equations encountered in a particular type of competitive recombination or crossover reaction involving ''cages.'' Pertinent reaction systems are those where scavenging of the intermediates escaping the cages is restricted to species similar to these intermediates, thereby limiting potentially undesired side effects of the scavenger. The trustworthiness of the reaction constants which may be obtained, particularly the fraction of recombination occurring within the cage, are analyzed in terms of sources of possible error. Several extensions of the method are briefly discussed, such as in distinctions between inter- and intramolecular rearrangement. Full detailing of the solution methods should facilitate their use in the analysis of similar reaction schemes.
RV FRACTIONAL AREA CHANGE AT 6 MONTHS BUT NOT AT PRE-IMPLANT IS ASSOCIATED WITH LATE INDICES OF FUNCTIONAL CAPACITY AND RENAL FUNCTION: A CASE FOR THE IMPORTANCE OF LATE RV DYSFUNCTION IN LONG TERM MCS

Right heart failure (RHF) post – LVAD implantation continues to present a great challenge in the perioperative period. However few studies address the importance of right ventricular function (RVF) in the later phases of mechanical support. We hypothesized that late RVF, as measured by RV
A conference on setting the agenda for rural women’s health

Rural health is challenging, due to geography, poverty, lack of health professionals in rural areas, and the wide variety of health issues that vary by region. There are many federal and state agencies, as well as University-based initiatives, that specifically target issues in rural areas, including offices as diverse as Offices of Rural Health, Rural Health Associations, Area Health Education Cooperatives, and the Department of Agriculture. Women’s rural health is a special challenge because of the increased vulnerability for domestic violence, for exposure of not only one but two generations to environmental toxins, and for the increasing proportion of aging women in declining rural communities. Because of the tremendous challenges of delivering health care in rural settings in general, the special issues of women can be overshadowed by the larger political, economic, educational, and health issues. The same issues of geography create difficulties in doing extensive research about rural women’s health. This conference specifically focused on health issues faced by women in rural settings in order to identify priorities and to coordinate the efforts of the diverse agencies and groups supporting women’s rural health. By providing in one place documentation of the health issues of rural women, providing a collaborative view of priorities and issues, and sharing that information, a broad front of advocacy for improvements in rural women’s health can be achieved.
Quantitative analysis of electrophoretograms: A mathematical approach to super-resolution

Abstract A mathematical method is presented for the quantitative analysis of overlapping spots or bands taken from digitized gel patterns. The procedure is applied to both one- and two-dimensional gel electrophoretic separations.
Use of vehicle signature analysis and lexicographic optimization for vehicle reidentification on freeways

Abstract The vehicle reidentification problem is the task of matching a vehicle detected at one location with the same vehicle detected at another location from a feasible set of candidate vehicles detected at the other location. This paper formulates and solves the vehicle reidentification problem as a lexicographic optimization problem. Lexicographic optimization is a preemptive multi-objective formulation, and this lexicographic optimization formulation combines lexicographic goal programming, classification, and Bayesian analysis techniques. The solution of the vehicle reidentification problem has the potential to yield reliable section measures such as travel times and densities, and enables the measurement of partial dynamic origin/destination demands. Implementation of this approach using conventional surveillance infrastructure permits the development of new algorithms for ATMIS (Advanced Transportation Management and Information Systems). Freeway inductive loop data from SR-24 in Lafayette, California, demonstrates that robust results can be obtained under different traffic flow conditions.
A notch rejection quadrupole mass filter

Abstract The quadrupole mass filter can be implemented in one of several operational modes. The present work describes the theory, construction, and operation of a unique mass rejection mass filter. In contrast to previous frequency tuned mass rejection filters, the position of the present filter is shown to be easily tuned by adjustment of the amplitude of the r.f. potential used to excite the electrode structure.
The Pathophysiology and Burden of Restenosis

The introduction of percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) revolutionized the surgical treatment of coronary artery disease. However, despite increased surgical experience and technical breakthroughs, restenosis occurs in 30%–50% of patients undergoing simple balloon angioplasty and in 10%–30% of patients who receive an intravascular stent. Animal and human data indicate that restenosis is a response to injury incurred during PTCA. The need for reintervention in a high percentage of patients due to restenosis remains an important limitation to the long-term success of PTCA. Stenting reduces initial elastic recoil and limits negative arterial remodeling; however, bare-metal stents may promote intimal hyperplasia by eliciting an immune and proliferative response. Consistent with these data, clinical studies suggest that drug-eluting stents, coated with anti-inflammatory or antiproliferative agents, reduce the risk for restenosis. Stenting represents a considerable cost burden. Treatment strategy should focus on selective use of expensive drug-eluting stents in populations where they have been found to be more clinically effective than bare-metal stents—patients who are at high risk for restenosis or who develop restenosis with bare-metal stents. Recent studies suggest that the pharmacologic management of restenosis is now feasible. Together, the judicious use of stents and oral pharmacotherapy promise to reduce the risk for restenosis, even among high-risk patients.
Parental eating attitudes and the development of obesity in children. The Framingham Children's Study.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the extent to which parents' degree of dietary self-control, as measured by self-reported dietary restraint, disinhibition, and perceived hunger, affects the development of excess body fat in the child. DESIGN: Prospective observational study. SUBJECTS: Ninety-two 3–5 y old children and their parents, enrolled in 1987 in the Framingham Children's Study. MEASUREMENTS: Self-reported levels of parental dietary restraint, disinhibition and perceived hunger were estimated using Stunkard and Messick's Three-Factor-Eating Questionnaire. Anthropometric measurements (height, weight and skinfold measurements at five sites) were obtained yearly for children and parents. The child's activity level was measured on multiple days each year using Caltrac accelerometers. Energy intake and percentage of calories from total fat were estimated from multiple sets of food diaries, collected each year. All analyses were adjusted for the following potential confounders: child's sex and baseline values for age, height, mean physical activity level, total calories and percentage of calories from fat as well as the educational levels of the parents at baseline. RESULTS: Over 6 y, children's body fat increased linearly with increasing levels of self-reported parental disinhibition (eg 6 y increase in the child's sum of five skinfolds was 34.4, 45.8 and 59.2 mm across increasing tertiles of parental disinhibition, P=0.012). Overall, children whose parents had higher dietary restraint scores had greater increases in body fatness than children whose parents had the lowest levels of restraint. When both parents had above average scores on dietary disinhibition or restraint, the children had greater increases in body fat (on all anthropometry measures) than when only one parent or when neither parent had high scores on those factors. Parental scores on the perceived hunger scale had no clear effect on body fat change of children. Since disinhibition and dietary restraint frequently co-exist, we then examined the joint effect of these two factors. The children with the greatest increases in body fat were those whose parents scored high on both factors. In the final analysis, we found that dietary restraint adversely affected the child's body fat only when associated with high parental disinhibition. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that parents who display high levels of disinhibited eating, especially when coupled with high dietary restraint, may foster the development of excess body fat in their children. This association may be mediated by direct parental role modeling of unhealthy eating behaviors, or through other indirect, and probably subconscious, behavioral consequences such as the suppression of the child's innate regulation of dietary intake.
The use of caesium-137 to estimate agricultural erosion on steep slopes in a tropical watershed.

The estimation of erosion and sediment delivery rates in tropical mountain watersheds is difficult and most of the methods widely used for estimating soil erosion over large areas have serious limitations. The 137 Cs approach has potential for quantifying soil erosion because it can provide retrospective estimates of long-term (since 1963) net sediment redistribution relatively quickly. Despite its great potential, 137 Cs has not yet been used in an extensive, reconnaissance level survey of erosion in complex tropical mountain environments. The objective of this study was to examine the applicability of the 137 Cs method to estimate erosion on steep tropical agricultural lands (23 to 80% slopes) in the Nizao watershed, a humid, tropical mountain area of the Dominican Republic. In this study we (i) examine the variation of 137 Cs in ten reference sites - eight coffee groves and two forested sites - and (ii) estimate erosion from 14 cultivated fields. The soil pool of 137 Cs ranged from to 150 to 192 mBq cm -2 on reference sites with minimal erosion. Variability among reference sites was less than expected for such complex mountain terrain. The variability within coffee and forested reference (average CV = 28%) sites was similar to the variability found on grassland and forested reference sites in the temperate zone. The estimated annual soil loss from 14 sampled fields ranged from 6 to 61 t ha -1 year -1 with an overall mean of 26 t ha -1 year -1 . Overall, the soil erosion estimates found using the 137 Cs method were much lower than those often assumed for such steep tropical hillsides. These erosion estimates account for soil loss since 1963 only and it seems likely that soil losses may have been much higher in earlier decades immediately after initial forest clearing earlier in the 20th century.
A Study of Segmentation of Distributed Piezoelectric Sensors and Actuators, Part I: Theoretical Analysis

Abstract It was noted that a fully (symmetrically) distributed piezoelectric sensor/actuator could lead to minimum, or zero, sensing/control effects for antisymmetrical modes of structures, especially with symmetrical boundary conditions. One method to improve the performance is to segment the symmetrically distributed sensor/actuator layers into a number of colocated subsegments. In this paper, distributed vibration sensing and control of continua using segmented distributed piezoelectric sensors and actuators is studied. Sensing and control effectiveness of the segmented sensors and actuators are discussed. In Part I, mathematical models of a plate with a single-piece symmetrically distributed and quarterly segmented-distributed sensors/actuators are formulated and analytical solutions are derived. Modal sensitivities and modal feedback factors for the two sensor/actuator configurations are defined, and modal displacement and velocity feedbacks are formulated. Based on analytical solutions, this proves that the single-piece symmetrically distributed sensor/actuator layers are deficient for antisymmetrical modes (all even modes) of the plate. The quarterly segmented distributed sensors/actuators can sense/control most of the natural modes, except for all quadruple modes.
Recovery of Cesium Extracted from Simulated Tank Waste with an Ionic Liquid: Water and Oxygen Effects

The effects of residual water and oxygen on the electrochemical processing step for the recovery of Cs + extracted into the hydrophobic ionic liquids, tri-1-butylmethylammonium bis((trifluoromethyl)sulfonyl)imide (Bu 3 MeN + Tf 2 N - ) or N-methyl-N-propylpiperidinium bis((trifluoromethyl)sulfonyl)imide (MePrPip + Tf 2 N - ) containing the lipophilic ionophore, calix[4]arene-bis(t-octylbenzo-crown-6) from simulated aqueous tank waste was investigated in the presence of residual water and oxygen. The electrochemical reduction of ionophore-bound Cs + at Hg electrodes is surprisingly tolerant of small amounts of water, but greatly affected by oxygen. However, sparging with dry N 2 lowers the residual water and oxygen content of the extraction solvent to the level where the reduction of Cs + at Hg is possible. Thus, the entire treatment cycle for the removal of Cs + from tank waste using a hydrophobic ionic liquid can be carried out in an open cell, provided that the cell is sparged with dry N 2 . MePrPip + Tf 2 N-+ BOBCalixC6 was found to be a better extraction solvent for Cs + than BU 3 MeN+Tf 2 N - + BOBCalixC6, but the former solvent was unstable toward metallic Cs and/or Cs(Hg) x .
Psychoanalytic psychotherapy for a woman with diagnoses of kleptomania and bulimia.

Foreword from Dr. Perry: In psychoanalytic jargon, we refer to people as objects. As Dr. Schwartz, our guest expert, describes, sometimes people are objects—or at least they are manipulated by pati...
Which racial groups are associated with diversity

This article examines which racial groups are associated with the concept of diversity. Results indicate that regardless of perceivers’ racial in-group, minorities (Asians, Blacks, and Latinos) tend to be more associated with diversity than do Whites. In addition, members of minority racial groups were found to associate their respective in-groups more strongly with the concept of diversity relative to minority out-groups. Consequences for addressing issues of racial equity and representation through the pursuit of diversity are discussed.
Analytical Optimization of Magnetics for Static Power Conversion

Since a prime objective of static power converter design is to minimize weight, optimizing magnetic components is particularly important. This paper derives the fundamental relationship between magnetic device weight and the basic design parameters. These include volt-ampere rating and frequency, characteristics of core and conductor materials, and ratios defining physical dimensions. Also, an expression for estimating heat rejection is obtained; thus, the practicality of a given design can easily be determined.
Laser evaporation of the prostate: preliminary findings in canines

Purpose: We evaluated the ability of KTP laser to evaporate prostatic tissue in vivo and compared the results with historical Nd:YAG treated controls. Methods: Five dogs underwent anterograde transurethral evaporation of the prostate (TUEP) with KTP laser at 38 watts and were sacrificed 48 hours after surgery. Results: All procedures were hemostatic and without complications. Laser evaporation produced cavities within the prostate ranging from 2.5 to 3.2 cm in diameter (average equals 2.9 cm) that were free of necrotic tissue. Conclusions: Preliminary findings in this initial canine study of laser evaporation of the prostate, show that KTP laser produces large spherical cavities within the prostate in a hemostatic fashion. These cavities are free of necrotic tissue. In addition, these cavities are comparable in size to those that have been observed 4 to 8 weeks following Nd:YAG VLAP and are significantly larger than the acute cavities produced by Nd:YAG TUEP.
Heat-shock proteins and the gamma delta T cell response in virus infections: implications for autoimmunity

Macrophages expressing hsp65 mRNA+ and γδ TcR mRNA+ lymphocytes are found at high frequency late in the course of the pneumonia induced in mice by human influenza A viruses. The numbers of the two populations increase in parallel, after the time that infectious virus has been cleared from the lung. The range of TcR genes that are detected is consistent with, although not exclusive to, the pattern found by others for hybridoma cell lines that are reactive to hsp65. Secondary infection (in the absence of neutralizing antibody) greatly enhances both the rapidity and the magnitude of this γδ T cell response for mice that are primed with a different type A influenza virus, but not with an influenza B virus. This could be taken to indicate that the initial infection has induced the generation of influenza A virus-specific γδ T cell memory. However, when the primed σβ T cells are depleted from such mice by treatment with mAb to CD4 and CD8, the accumulation of both the hsp65 mRNA+ macrophages and the γδ TcR mRNA+ lymphocytes is greatly decreased.
Characterizing the Interaction of Desmosomal Cadherins at Single Molecule Level

Desmosomes are cell-cell adhesion complexes that are present in tissues that resist mechanical stress. They are mainly composed of two adhesive proteins, which are members of the cadherin superfamily of cell adhesion proteins, desmocollin (Dsc) and desmoglein (Dsg). However, the role of these proteins in desmosomal adhesion is unclear. Here, we use the single molecule force spectroscopy with an Atomic Force Microscope (AFM-FS) to characterize the interactions of type-2 isoforms of desmocollin (Dsc2) and desmoglein (Dsg2). We show that Dsc2 forms Ca2+ dependent homophilic bonds by swapping a conserved Tryptophan (Trp) residue between opposing binding partners; mutating this Trp inhibits Ca2+ dependent homophilic binding. In contrast, Dsg2 forms Ca2+ independent heterophilic bonds with Dsc2 via a mechanism that does not involve Trp strand-swapping.Previous studies suggest that desmosome formation requires the presence of classical cadherins at the site of desmosome assembly. This suggests a cross-talk between desmosomal and classical cadherins at cell-adhesion contacts. We therefore used AFM-FS to test if Dsc2 and Dsg2 interact with E-cadherin, a classical cadherin present in the epithelium. Our data shows that while Dsc2 does not bind to E-cadherin in the presence of Ca2+, Dsg2 forms Ca2+ independent complexes with E-cadherin. Using cadherin mutants we show that the interactions between Dsg2 and E-cadherin occur via a previously uncharacterized binding interface that does not involve either Trp strand-swapping or X-dimer formation (two well established classical cadherin binding mechanisms).
EFFECT OF SERUM FROM IRRADIATED RATS ON GASTROINTESTINAL FUNCTION.

A STRONG gustatory aversion results when an animal consumes a distinctively flavoured fluid during exposure to sublethal doses (10–30 r.) of ionizing radiation1. Similar aversive reactions are observed when wild rodents consume poisoned food baits2; or when laboratory rats drink flavoured water and are subsequently injected with an emetic drug3; or when these animals are injected with a small amount of serum (1.2 ml.) from a donor exposed to massive irradiation (30 krad) from cobalt 60 (ref. 4).
Mathematical models of nonuniform intrapulmonary gas distribution.

Mathematical models of nonuniform gas distribution in the lungs which assume a two-chambered lung to be ventilated through a third chamber, i.e. a common dead space, have led to diverging results. A breath-by-breath analysis of such a system results in a two-exponential solution whereas a continuous ventilation analysis gives a three-exponential solution. This is caused by the different assumptions made in the two models about the composition of dead space gas. In the breath-by-breath analysis one assumes that theN2 content of the dead space is zero at the end of inspiration. In the continuous ventilation model one assumes that theN2 content in the dead space is unknown at all instants during the breathing cycle.
Clinical, pathological, and biochemical spectrum of Alzheimer disease associated with PS-1 mutations.

Three genes have been implicated in the etiology of early-onset autosomal-dominant Alzheimer disease (AD): the amyloid precursor protein, the presenilin-1, and presenilin-2 genes. Approximately half of autosomal-dominant AD cases are associated with mutations in the presenilin-1 (PS-1) gene on the long arm of Chromosome 14. Marked allelic heterogeneity characterizes families with PS-1 gene mutations; more than 100 different mutations have been found in independent families thus far. With the exception of age at onset, the clinical phenotype is similar to late-onset AD, although some rare specific phenotypes have been described. These mutations lead to enhanced deposition of total Aβ and Aβ42 (but not Aβ40) in the brain, compared with sporadic AD. There is a considerable heterogeneity in the histological profiles among brains from patients with different mutations, and although some lead to predominantly parenchymal deposition of Aβ in the form of diffuse and cored plaques, others show predominantly vascular deposition, with severe amyloid angiopathy. Only some mutations are associated with enhanced neurofibrillary tangle formation and increased neuronal loss compared with sporadic AD. However, there is an important clinical and pathological variability even among family members with the same mutation, which suggests the involvement of other genetic or environmental factors that modulate the clinical expression of the disease. This represents a valuable model for identifying such factors and has potential implications for the development of new therapeutic strategies for delaying disease onset.
Threshold intensity for laser induced isotope separation in SF6

Abstract A simple theory is developed to determine threshold intensities for laser-induced dissociation on the basis of experimentally measurable parameters, the total laser power and the reaction volume. A series of experiments performed for CO2 laser-induced isotope separation in SF6 establishes a value for the threshold intensity of 6.0 MW/cm2.
Characterization of tick antigens inducing host immune resistance. II. Description of rabbit-acquired immunity to Amblyomma americanum ticks and identification of potential tick antigens by Western blot analysis

Abstract Feeding by adult Amblyomma americanum ticks induced a level of immunity in rabbits to subsequent tick feeding that resulted in a significant decrease in tick feeding success and fecundity. Histological analysis of tick feeding sites in hosts expressing resistance revealed a predominant eosinophil response, with weak basophil and neutrophil infiltrates. While the basophil was never the dominant granulocyte at the tick feeding sites in resistant hosts, this cell exhibited the greatest increase in density (tenfold) over levels observed in hosts experiencing their first infestation; eosinophils and neutrophils exhibited increases of five- and twofold, respectively. Serum from animals that expressed resistance was tested for the presence of anti-tick antibodies to tick-derived salivary gland substances (SGA) by Western blotting. Western blot analysis of female-derived SGA compared to male-derived SGA, using the Avidin/Biotin technique, resulted in the identification of approximately 25 proteins from the female preparation, but only seven from the male. The use of 125I labeled protein-A as the probe for anti-tick antibody in Western blot analysis resulted in fewer recognized proteins. Serum from rabbits immunized with A. americanum-derived SGA emulsified with complete (CFA) Freund's adjuvant recognized most of the proteins identified by active serum, whereas serum from animals immunized with SGA in incomplete (IFA) Freund's adjuvant did not. Furthermore, both sera recognized a multiplicity of proteins from extracts of larval A. americanum Dermacentor variabilis and Boophilus microplus ticks, suggesting the presence of common antigens between these distantly related ticks. The results from this study demonstrate that rabbits acquire a strong immunity to A. americanum ticks characterized by the production of antibody. Furthermore, ticks secrete a number of substances into rabbits during feeding, as seen by Western blot analysis but only three may be crucial to the induction of host immunity; proteins at 41, 40 and 39 kDa. The purified anti-tick antibody will be used for subsequent isolation and characterization of crucial antigens.
Hand Pointing Estimation for Human Computer Interaction Based on Two Orthogonal-Views

Hand pointing has been an intuitive gesture for human interaction with computers. Big challenges are still posted for accurate estimation of finger pointing direction in a 3D space. In this paper, we present a novel hand pointing estimation system based on two regular cameras, which includes hand region detection, hand finger estimation, two views’ feature detection, and 3D pointing direction estimation. Based on the idea of binary pattern face detector, we extend the work to hand detection, in which a polar coordinate system is proposed to represent the hand region, and achieved a good result in terms of the robustness to hand orientation variation. To estimate the pointing direction, we applied an AAM based approach to detect and track 14 feature points along the hand contour from a top view and a side view. Combining two views of the hand features, the 3D pointing direction is estimated. The experiments have demonstrated the feasibility of the system.
Treatment of uninvestigated dyspepsia with cisapride for patients with negative Helicobacter pylori serologies.

Abstract OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to compare symptoms for patients with uninvestigated dyspepsia and a negative Helicobacter pylori serology who were treated with cisapride or placebo. METHODS: Helicobacter pylori -seronegative patients with chronic dyspepsia were randomized to receive cisapride 10 mg t.i.d . or placebo t.i.d . for 30 days. Symptom scores were performed 1 month and 3 months after randomization. Outcomes measured were dyspepsia symptom scores and a treatment “success” variable defined as absence of symptoms or decrease in the most severe individual symptom by two grades. RESULTS: A total of 60 patients were randomized; 56 completed the 1-month follow-up and 40 completed the 3-month follow-up interview. The mean score for all patients at the time of entry was 11.0 and declined to 8.3 and 8.2 at 1 and 3 months, respectively, after randomization. At 1 month and 3 months after randomization, there was no significant difference in the number of patients meeting the “success” variable for patients receiving cisapride as compared to placebo. The mean decline in symptom severity scores was not significantly different for patients receiving placebo or cisapride at 1 month (mean, −2.8 vs −3.1; difference = 0.3, p = 0.74) or 3 months (−3.1 vs −2.6, difference = −0.5, p = 0.58) after randomization. CONCLUSIONS: No significant difference in the severity of dyspeptic symptoms was found for patients receiving cisapride as compared to placebo in the setting of uninvestigated dyspepsia and a negative Helicobacter pylori serology.
Iron dysregulation combined with aging prevents sepsis-induced apoptosis

Background Sepsis, iron loading, and aging cause independent increases in gut epithelial and splenic apoptosis. It is unknown how their combination will affect apoptosis and systemic cytokine levels. Materials and Methods Hfe−/− mice (a murine homologue of hemochromatosis) abnormally accumulate iron in their tissues. Aged (24–26 months) or mature (16–18 months) Hfe−/− mice and wild type (WT) littermates were subjected to cecal ligation and puncture (CLP) or sham laparotomy. Intestine, spleen, and blood were harvested 24 h later and assessed for apoptosis and cytokine levels. Results Gut epithelial and splenic apoptosis were low in both aged septic and sham Hfe−/− mice, regardless of the amount of iron in their diet. Mature septic WT mice had increased apoptosis compared to age-matched sham WT mice. Mature septic Hfe−/− mice had similar levels of intestinal cell death to age-matched septic WT mice but higher levels of splenic apoptosis. Apoptosis was significantly lower in septic aged Hfe−/− mice than septic mature Hfe−/− animals. Interleukin-6 was elevated in septic aged Hfe−/− mice compared to sham mice. Conclusions Although sepsis, chronic iron dysregulation, and aging each increase gut and splenic apoptosis, their combination yields cell death levels similar to sham animals despite the fact that aged Hfe−/− mice are able to mount an inflammatory response following CLP and mature Hfe−/− mice have elevated sepsis-induced apoptosis. Combining sepsis with two risk factors that ordinarily increase cell death and increase mortality in CLP yields an apoptotic response that could not have been predicted based upon each element in isolation.
Definition of bullous pemphigoid antibody binding to intracellular and extracellular antigen associated with hemidesmosomes.

Abstract Bullous pemphigoid (BP) antibodies are deposited predominantly in the lamina lucida in vivo; however, circulating BP antibodies bind in vitro to the cytoplasmic plaque of basal cell hemidesmosomes. We examined the ability of IgG in nine BP sera to bind to intracellular or extracellular antigen. On skin cryosections, indirect IF showed IgG bound to basement membrane zone (BMZ) and indirect ImmunoEM confirmed intracellular binding on the cytoplasmic plaque of hemidesmosomes. In contrast, when normal skin was exposed to BP serum in organ culture, direct IF showed fainter linear deposition of IgG along the BMZ, and direct ImmunoEM demonstrated extracellular IgG binding in the lamina lucida, predominantly beneath hemidesmosomes. Four of nine sera showed complement fixation on indirect IF samples (IgG bound to intracellular antigen) and three showed complement fixation on direct IF specimens (IgG bound to extracelluar antigen). Three of the nine sera con tained complement fixing antibodies detectable only in antibody populations specific for intracellular or extracellular antigen. Western immunoblots showed that five of nine sera recognized a 240-kD protein and four of nine recognized a 180-kD protein. There was no correlation between the presence (or absence) of either band and the detection of complement fixing antibodies specific for intracellular or extracellular antigen. BP autoantibodies bind both intracellular and extracellular antigen, and IgG binding exclusively to extracellular antigen that mimics the in vivo situation can be detected by using organ culture. Complement fixation may be restricted to antibodies specific for intracellular or extracellular antigen. These findings underscore the complexity of the autoantibody-antigen system in BP and have implications regarding the proposed pathogenicity of the autoantibodies.
Monoclonal Antibodies in the Prehybridoma Era: A Brief Historical Perspective and Personal Reminiscence

Emil von Behring, an immunologist, received the first Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine in 1901 for his studies on serum therapy of diphtheria. Seventeen Nobel Prizes have been awarded to scientists for their work in immunology and related disciplines. E. Metchnikoff and P. Ehrlich were pioneers who became associated with cellular and humoral theories of immunity, respectively. Almroth Wright described opsonins and was a vigorous advocate of vaccine therapy for bacterial diseases. He was an influential scientist and mentor who served as the model for Bernard Shaw's play, The Doctor's Dilemma. Immunochemistry developed through the work of K. Landsteiner, M. Heidelberger, E. Kabat, and many others. At mid-20th century, cell-selection theories of antibody formation championed by N. Jerne and F.M. Burnet shifted the field from a chemical to a biological orientation. Myeloma immunoglobulins, Bence Jones proteins, and monoclonal macroglobulins from patients and mice played a central role in elucidation of normal immunoglobulin structure, genetics, synthesis, and metabolism. By the late 1960s, antibody activity in some human myeloma and Waldenstrom macroglobulin paraproteins had been documented. Subsequently, other human paraproteins were shown to have antigen-binding properties, principally to auto- or bacterial antigens. The development of hybridoma technology by G. Kohler and C. Milstein revolutionized immunology after 1975. These investigators demonstrated that antibody-producing cells of virtually any desired specificity could be fused with a myeloma cell line, the result being unlimited amounts of homogeneous (monoclonal) antibodies carrying that specificity. Monoclonal antibodies have been shown to have efficacy in cancer therapy, particularly in patients with lymphoma and breast cancer. It is likely that this approach, alone and in combination with other modalities, will prove useful for patients with additional types of malignancies.
Meson theory of nucleon-nucleon scattering up to 2 GeV

We show that it is possible to construct a meson-exchange Hamiltonian for $\mathrm{N},\ensuremath{\pi},\ensuremath{\Delta}$, and ${\mathrm{N}}^{*}$ (1470 MeV) to describe NN scattering up to 2 GeV. The model consists of: (a) vertex interactions $\ensuremath{\pi}\mathrm{N}\ensuremath{\leftrightarrow}\ensuremath{\Delta} or {\mathrm{N}}^{*}$, and $\ensuremath{\pi}\ensuremath{\Delta}\ensuremath{\leftrightarrow}\ensuremath{\Delta} or {\mathrm{N}}^{*}$ with which an isobar model is constructed to describe the ${P}_{33}$ and ${P}_{11}\ensuremath{\pi}\mathrm{N}$ scattering phase shifts up to 1 GeV; (b) the transition interactions from $\mathrm{NN}\mathrm{to}\mathrm{N}\ensuremath{\Delta},\ensuremath{\Delta}\ensuremath{\Delta},\mathrm{N}{\mathrm{N}}^{*}, \mathrm{and} {\mathrm{N}}^{*}{\mathrm{N}}^{*}$ are determined from one-pion and one-rho exchange mechanisms; (c) the $\mathrm{NN}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\mathrm{NN}$ interaction is directly derived from the Paris potential by using a momentum-dependent procedure to subtract the contributions from intermediate states involving $\ensuremath{\Delta}$ or ${\mathrm{N}}^{*}$. The $\mathrm{NN}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\mathrm{NN}$ scattering equation is cast into the familiar coupled-channel form, but with a highly nonlocal isobar self-energy $\ensuremath{\Sigma}(E,p)$ calculated from the vertex interactions $\ensuremath{\pi}\mathrm{N}\ensuremath{\leftrightarrow}\ensuremath{\Delta} or {\mathrm{N}}^{*}$ in a dynamical three-body approach. Both the isospin $T=1$ and $T=0$ NN scattering phase shifts of Arndt et al. up to 1 GeV can be described to a very large extent by the model. The fits are, on the average, better than most of the previous NN calculations. The model also describes reasonably well both the magnitudes and signs of the NN total cross sections ${\ensuremath{\sigma}}^{\mathrm{tot}}$, $\ensuremath{\Delta}{\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{T}^{\mathrm{tot}}$, and $\ensuremath{\Delta}{\ensuremath{\sigma}}_{L}^{\mathrm{tot}}$ up to 2 GeV, except the strong energy dependences in the region near 800 MeV. We discuss the origin of this problem in connection with future necessary improvements of the model and the questions about the dibaryon resonances. The model can be used for a unified approach to study the isobar-nucleus dynamics at both low and intermediate energies.[NUCLEAR REACTIONS Isobar model for $\ensuremath{\Delta}$ and ${\mathrm{N}}^{*}$ excitation, mesonexchange theory of NN scattering from 0 to 2 GeV.]
Quantitation of nitro- and dinitropol ycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in diesel exhaust particulate matter

Abstract A method for routine trace analysis of nitropolycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (nitro-PAH) in diesel exhaust particulate matter is described. Particle extracts are prefractionated by silica high pressure liquid chromatography and the appropriate band analyzed by capillary electron capture gas chromatography. With on-column injection, three dinitropyrene isomers were recovered in the range of 69–85% for fortifications of 10 ug nitro-PAH/g of soot. The high signal-to-noise ratio suggested detection limits of about 2 ug/g for these analytes. Analysis of the Bureau of Standards SRM 1650 diesel particulate sample demonstrated the methods accuracy for 1-nitropyrene determinations as well.
Silicon surface structures after pulsed laser annealing

Abstract Low energy electron diffraction observations from Si single crystals following irradiation with a pulsed ruby laser show that the laser annealing induced epitaxial regrowth process extends to the outermost layer of the crystal. Results from a stepped (111) surface show that under these annealing conditions the crystal terminates in a vicinal structure consistent with its physical orientation and contains filled (111) planes.