cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
9.5.3 Teaching Continuous Risk Management Using A Requirements Management Tool

This paper presents a technique to teach the continuous risk management (CRM) paradigm using a requirement management tool. The paper explains the CRM process and shows how to implement the risk information using a requirement management tool. Teaching students the continuous risk management implementation is important to show them how the tool will: assist the project management and team members to establish and use consistent documentation; instantiate and store each identified risk; associate for each risk a mitigation or task plan; and visually presents each risk with the capability to be tracked, watched or mitigated throughout the project's iterative life cycle. The IBM Rational Suite Enterprise RequisitePro tool used to show the students how to capture and store the organizational and management system risk knowledge into a database. The students gain hands on risk management knowledge that can be used for product, process and project improvement. They learn how to write risk statements, collect risk metrics, and capture the risk lessons learned for future projects.
Northern blot and ribonuclease protection study of α2-adrenoceptor subtypes in cultured cell lines

Abstract Northern blot and ribonuclease protection assay were used to identify α2-adrenoceptor subtypes in human colonic adenocarcinoma (HT29), neuroblastoma × glioma rat-mouse hybrid NG108-15 (NG108) and opossum kidney (OK) cell lines. Radioligand binding studies showed that the α2-adrenoceptor expressed in HT29, NG108 and OK cells represent the pharmacological α2A, α2B and α2C subtypes respectively. In our Northern blot analysis, hybridization of poly(A)+ RNA from H129, NG108 and OK cells with human kidney α2-adrenoceptor cDNA probe (α2-C4) identified a single band of 4.4, 4.2 and 4.4 kb respectively in each cell line. Hybridization with a human platelet α2-adrenoceptor genomic probe (α2-C10) resulted in two bands for HT29 cells with the size of 4.4 kb and 3.9 kb. No bands were seen for HT29, NG108 and OK cells when hybridized with a third α2-adrenoceptor human genomic DNA probe which is localized in chromosome 2 (α2-C2). For the HT29 cells, the 3.9 kb band was seen only when using the α2-C10 probe. Thus, this band probably represents α2-C10 mRNA. To further characterize the α2-adrenoceptor mRNA expressed in HT29, NG108 and OK cells, the sensitive ribonuclease protection assay was performed. A single band about 900 bp was protected when the poly(A)+ RNA from NG108 and OK cells was hybridized with an α2-C4 RNA probe and digested with RNAases. Hybridization of mRNA from HT29 cells with α2-C10 RNA probe and digestion with RNAases protected a 500 bp fragment. No bands were seen when the poly(A)+ RNA of these three cell lines hybridized with the α2-C2 RNA probe and digested with RNAases. In conclusion, Northern blot and ribonuclease protection assay in this study provided evidence that the α2-C4 is related to the α2B pharmacological α2-adrenoceptor subtype and is actively transcribed in OK and NG108 cells. The α2-C10 is related to the α2A pharmacological subtype and is actively transcribed in HT29 cells.
The role of the c-Met pathway in lung cancer and the potential for targeted therapy

Hepatocyte growth factor receptor (HGFR), the product of the MET gene, plays an important role in normal cellular function and oncogenesis. In cancer, HGFR has been implicated in cellular proliferation, cell survival, invasion, cell motility, metastasis and angiogenesis. Activation of HGFR can occur through binding to its ligand, hepatocyte growth factor (HGF), overexpression/amplification, mutation, and/or decreased degradation. Amplification of HGFR can occur de novo or in resistance to therapy. Mutations of HGFR have been described in the tyrosine kinase domain, juxtamembrane domain, or semaphorin domain in a number of tumors. These mutations appear to have gain of function, and also reflect differential sensitivity to therapeutic inhibition. There have been various drugs developed to target HGFR, including antibodies to HGFR/HGF, small-molecule inhibitors against the tyrosine kinase domain of HGFR and downstream targets. Different HGFR inhibitors are currently in clinical trials in lung cancer and a number of solid tumors. Several phase I trials have already been completed, and two specific trials have been reported combining HGFR with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) inhibition in non-small cell lung cancer. In particular, trials involving MetMAb and ARQ197 (tivantinib) have gained interest. Ultimately, as individualized therapies become a reality for cancers, HGFR will be an important molecular target.
The Lead-Free Interconnection Movement: A Pro-Active Approach to Understand the Effects on COTS Usage in the Aerospace and Defense Industries

Commercial-off-the-shelf (COTS) items continue to play a significant role in the development and production of defense systems under acquisition reform initiatives. With concerns focussing mainly on top-level performance specifications, end-users do not have the luxury of governing processes used in the manufacture of such items. Accordingly, as the electronics industry proceeds with ever-increasing initiatives in “green” technologies, end-users can expect to find new materials and processes present in COTS products. With respect to electronic interconnection, a specific case is the trend to use alternative materials to lead-bearing solders. Such alternative materials fall into two technology areas: non-lead solders and electrically conductive (polymeric) adhesives. Within commercial applications, these alternate materials have operated sufficiently in relatively benign environments. Since these materials are used as the sole electronic interconnection medium, aerospace and defense original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) need to concern themselves with the overall performance characteristics of these materials in harsher service environments. In this context, performance characteristics include operational and reliability requirements. Note that in surface mount technology, understanding of performance characteristics is of special concern since the interconnection also serves as the primary means of mechanical attachment. The objectives of this paper are: 1. To discuss lead-free evaluative efforts to date, 2. Discuss concerns and approaches, presently under consideration, regarding implementation of these “green” technologies, and 3. Prompt further dialogue in addressing these issues.Copyright © 2002 by ASME
Effects of gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) in opioid-dependent patients☆

Gamma-hydroxybutyric acid (GHB) is a GABA metabolite used clinically for sleep induction. The abuse liability of GHB is controversial. As part of a study of the effect of GHB pretreatment on naloxone-precipitated opiate withdrawal, eight opioid-stabilized subjects received a balanced, randomized, double-blind sequence of oral placebo, GHB 15 mg/kg and 30 mg/kg. GHB had no consistent physiological effects. After GHB and prior to naloxone, subjects rated "sluggish," "spaced," "carefree," and "good-mood" higher after GHB 30 mg/kg than after placebo. Subjects identified the 30 mg/kg dose as most similar to placebo (n = 3), benzodiazepine (n = 2), opiate (n = 2), and alcohol (n = 1).
Quantal noise and decision rules in dynamic models of light adaptation.

Abstract To evaluate some of the consequences of including probabilistic processes (e.g. quantal noise) in a computable model of light-adaptation dynamics, we considered the behavior of a general class of models. These models contain four stages: (1) early noise; (2) a deterministic filtering and gain-changing stage; (3) late noise; (4) a decision rule that is either an ideal (signal-known-exactly) detector or a peak-trough detector. With the ideal detector and without late noise, the observer's sensitivity as a function of mean luminance and temporal frequency is not affected by the filtering and gain-changing stage. Consequently, if the early noise is entirely quantal fluctuations, sensitivity will always be a square-root function of mean luminance and a uniform (flat) function of temporal frequency. This latter prediction is contradicted by all known data; either the ideal-detector is the wrong decision rule or sensitivity is almost always limited by sources of noise other than quantal fluctuations. With the peak-trough detector, however, with or without late noise, the observer's sensitivity as a function of temporal frequency does reflect the sensitivity of the low-level filtering and gain-changing stage. Late noise is needed, however, if the observer's sensitivity as a function of mean luminance is to go through both a square-root and a Weber region. Comparing these conclusions to similar work on the spatial frequency dimension highlights differences between the spatial and temporal frequency domains. Finally, on the basis of these analyses and evidence from the literature, we question whether quantal fluctuations limit visual sensitivity under any condition.
DLSR design and plans: an international overview

It has been known for decades that the emittance of multi-GeV storage rings can be reduced to very small values using multi-bend achromat (MBA) lattices. However, a practical design of a ring having emittance approaching the diffraction limit for multi-keV photons, i.e. a diffraction-limited storage ring (DLSR), with a circumference of order 1 km or less was not possible before the development of small-aperture vacuum systems and other accelerator technology, together with an evolution in the understanding and accurate simulation of non-linear beam dynamics, had taken place. The 3-GeV MAX IV project in Sweden has initiated a new era of MBA storage ring light source design, i.e. a fourth generation, with the Sirius project in Brazil now following suit, each having an order of magnitude smaller horizontal emittance than third-generation machines. The ESRF, APS and SPring-8 are all exploring 6-GeV MBA lattice conversions in the imminent future while China is considering a similar-energy green-field machine. Other lower-energy facilities, including the ALS, SLS, Soleil, Diamond and others, are studying the possibility of such conversions. Future larger-circumference rings, possibly housed in >2-km tunnels made available by decommissioned high-energy physics accelerators, could have sub-10-pm-rad emittances, providing very high coherence for >10-keV X-rays. A review of fourth-generation ring design concepts and plans in the world is presented.
Estimation of Reversible Substitution Matrices from Multiple Pairs of Sequences

We present a method for estimating the most general reversible substitution matrix corresponding to a given collection of pairwise aligned DNA sequences. This matrix can then be used to calculate evolutionary distances between pairs of sequences in the collection. If only two sequences are considered, our method is equivalent to that of Lanave et al. (1984). The main novelty of our approach is in combining data from different sequence pairs. We describe a weighting method for pairs of taxa related by a known tree that results in uniform weights for all branches. Our method for estimating the rate matrix results in fast execution times, even on large data sets, and does not require knowledge of the phylogenetic relationships among sequences. In a test case on a primate pseudogene, the matrix we arrived at resembles one obtained using maximum likelihood, and the resulting distance measure is shown to have better linearity than is obtained in a less general model.
Toxicity and Permeability: I. The Toxicity of Acid and Basic Solutions of Sodium Arsenite to Mosquito Pupae

The relative toxicity to mosquito pupae of dilute acid and basic solutions of sodium arsenite have been studied by determining the lengths of immersion required to cause fifty per cent mortality. Over the range of concentration 0.01 molal to 0.03 molal, the acidic solutions (pH 5) are approximately four and one-half times as rapid in their toxic action as the basic solutions (pH 11). The results are discussed in terms of the adsorption mechanism of toxic action and it is suggested that adsorption is important chiefly because it is a step in the penetration of toxic substances. The greater toxicity of acidic solutions of sodium arsenite is attributed to the greater ease of penetration of tissues by the arsenious acid molecules of the acid solutions as contrasted with the difficulty of penetration by the sodium arsenite ions of the basic solutions.
Operation of a long-pulse CARM oscillator

Abstract A long-pulse (1 μs), millimeter-wave cyclotron autoresonance maser (CARM) oscillator experiment has been carried out. A SLAC 5045 klystron gun produced an electron beam at 250–320 kV and 10–20 A; a beam α ≡ p ⊥ p | , variable from 0 to 1, was produced on this electron beam with a wiggler magnetic field near guide field resonance. The experiments were carried out with two different Bragg reflection resonators designed for the TE 11 mode. Using the first resonator, many harmonic gyrotron modes were observed in the 28.2–40.1 GHz frequency range in the TE 21 and TE 01 modes near cutoff and, for the first time, a second harmonic upshifted (CARM) TE 11 mode at 74.5 GHz was observed. Using the second resonator, fundamental CARM operation was observed for many parameter settings, and for frequencies ranging from 29 to 32 GHz. Identification of these CARM modes is made by comparison of measured frequencies with uncoupled dispersion theory and measurement of the far-field radiation pattern. Output powers ranged from ∼ 0.1 to 100 kW, resulting in efficiencies of 0.1% to 3%.
Hypocomplementemia in Reye Syndrome: Relationship to Disease Stage, Circulating Immune Complexes, and C3b Amplification Loop Protein Synthesis

Measurement of C1q, C2, C4, C5, C6, factor B, properdin, beta1H, and C3bINA were made in acute sera from 31 patients with Reye syndrome. Abnormalities were found in 18 patients. The magnitude of the complement component depression correlated with disease severity. Sera from patients with stage IV illness had significantly lower complement levels than did sera from patients with state I (P less than 0.001), II (P less than 0.05), and III (P less than 0.05) disease. Circulating immune complex measurements were performed on all 31 acute sera and were present in six (19%). However, from the results of the present study, it would appear that in the majority of the patients circulating immune complexes are not the cause of the lowered levels of, at least, C3 and factor B. Rather, these low levels could be explained as secondary to reductions in the levels of the C3b amplification loop control proteins beta1H and C3bINA.
Direct-recording absorption spectrometer in the windowless vacuum-ultraviolet: absorption spectra of He2, HF and N2

Abstract An absorption spectrometer for the 600–1100 A region is described. The N 2 spectrum at 1.0A resolution agrees with previous work. The absorption coefficient of helium between 600–510 A is proportional to the square of the density, indicating He 2 as the absorber. The HF spectrum shows no sharp vibrational structure below or above the first ionization potential, but the first transition N→Q is observed at 13.0 eV.
A new nose extension method for whistlers

Abstract The dispersion D = tf 1 2 of ducted whistlers is approximated by D = D 0 (f HE − Af) (f HE − f) , where f is the whistler frequency, t the travel time and f HE the minimum electron gyrofrequency along the propagation path. D 0 is the zero-frequency or Eckersley dispersion, and the parameter A depends on detailed distribution of electron gyrofrequency and plasma frequency along the path. Based on this approximate dispersion function, methods are developed by which the nose frequency f n and the travel time at the nose t n can be calculated from measurements of travel time at any two frequencies. The formulas for f n and t n involve only simple algebraic functions and therefore permit speedy data processing with high precision. When applied to nose whistlers, this method often allows better estimates of f n than are possible by direct measurements. This is particularly important in measurements of magnetospheric east-west convection electric fields using cross- L drifts of whistler ducts.
Spectral analysis of a simulated premixed flame surface in two dimensions

Abstract This paper presents two-dimensional direct numerical simulations of a passive flame surface passing through homogeneous isotropic turbulence. The flame was represented by a field variable, G (x, t ), whose isocontours constitute flame surfaces. One well known complication in analyzing premixed combustion in a homogeneous environment is decoupling the effect of the decaying turbulent velocity field from the dynamics of the flame surface. To overcome this, the velocity field was made stationary by introducing a random forcing term into the Navier Stokes equations. Forcing was done over two different ranges of wavenumbers ( k f = 10−14, and k f = 80−84) thus creating turbulence with different length scales and inertial range power laws. By comparing the response of the flame to the two types of turbulence it was possible to determine the effect the spectral distribution energy has on the surface topology and mean rate of propagation. Indeed, the flames were found to be remarkably sensitive to the spectral distribution of the turbulent energy, and not just its magnitude. Furthermore, a k − 5 3 inertial range was shown to produce a flame surface that was preferentially wrinkled at intermediate to small scales for purely geometric reasons. By defining a surface area spectrum it was possible to rationalize this result by recognizing that flame surface area is closely related to the dissipation spectrum of the scalar field. Collectively the results suggest that knowledge of the energy spectrum at a minimum is required to predict a turbulent flame speed under general circumstances.
Can an erc consortium work

The Midwest Occupational Safety and Health Center is one of twelve regional NIOSH funded Educational Resource Centers. This Center is unique, however, in that it was formed as a consortium between five geographically distinct institutions—The University of Minnesota, Twin Cities Campus, The University of Minnesota, Duluth Campus, Mayo Clinic, St. Paul-Ramsey Medical Center and The University of Iowa, Oakdale Campus. The advantages and disadvantages of such a consortium are discussed with respect to the five functional roles of an ERC: program, faculty, research, continuing education and outreach. The author views this consortium as a success, particularly with respect to the latter two functional roles.
High Resolution Film Cooling Effectiveness Measurements of Axial Holes Embedded in a Transverse Trench With Various Trench Configurations

Adiabatic film cooling effectiveness of axial holes embedded within a transverse trench on the suction side of a turbine vane was investigated. High resolution two dimensional data obtained from IR thermography and corrected for local conduction provided spatial adiabatic effectiveness data. Flow parameters of blowing ratio, density ratio, and turbulence intensity were independently varied. In addition to a baseline geometry, nine trench configurations were tested, all with a depth of 1/2 hole diameter, with varying widths, and with perpendicular and inclined trench walls. A perpendicular trench wall at the very downstream edge of the coolant hole was found to be the key trench characteristic that yielded much improved adiabatic effectiveness performance. This configuration increased adiabatic effectiveness up to 100% near the hole and 40% downstream. All other trench configurations had little effect on the adiabatic effectiveness. Thermal field measurements confirmed that the improved adiabatic effectiveness that occurred for a narrow trench with perpendicular walls was due a lateral spreading of the coolant and reduced coolant jet separation. The cooling levels exhibited by these particular geometries are comparable to shaped holes, but much easier and cheaper to manufacture.© 2006 ASME
Modularizing crosscutting concerns with Ptolemy

This tutorial will provide an introduction to Ptolemy. Ptolemy is a programming language whose goals are to improve a software engineer's ability to separate conceptual concerns, while preserving encapsulation of object-oriented code and the ability of programmers to modularly reason about their code. In particular, Ptolemy's features are useful towards modularization of cross-cutting concerns. A cross-cutting concern is a requirement whose implementation is spread across and mixed with the code of other requirements. There has been attempts to improve separation of cross-cutting concerns, e.g. by aspect oriented and implicit-invocation languages, but none give software developers textual separation of concerns and modular reasoning at the same time. Ptolemy has both these properties important for scalable software engineering. Ptolemy's event types provide a well-defined interface between object-oriented code and cross-cutting code. This in turn enables separate type-checking and compilation. Ptolemy also provides a novel and practical specification mechanism that we call translucid contracts. A translucid contracts allows developers to reason about the control effects of the object-oriented code and cross-cutting code modularly.This tutorial will proceed by discussing the goals of the Ptolemy programming language. We will then discuss Ptolemy's programming features and its specification features by way of several hands-on exercises. We will conclude with pointers to ongoing work on design, implementation and verification of Ptolemy programs.
Proliferation index as a predictor of prognosis in malignant gliomas of childhood.

BACKGROUND The prognosis for children with high grade gliomas remains somewhat unpredictable because histologic features alone provide an imperfect assessment of the biologic behavior of a given lesion. Whereas some patients experience prolonged disease control after surgery and adjuvant therapy, others with lesions that appear comparable exhibit rapid disease progression and death. METHODS Because proliferative activity may provide a potential correlate of biologic aggressiveness, the authors examined the relationship between MIB-1 labeling index and outcome in a series of 29 archival pediatric malignant nonbrainstem gliomas from patients treated consecutively at the study institution between 1975 and 1992, in which clinical, histologic, diagnostic, and therapeutic parameters were previously defined. Three patients who died perioperatively were excluded from outcome analyses. All tumors were rereviewed by two neuropathologists and classified as Grade 3 or 4 lesions based on contemporary guidelines. RESULTS Among the specimens from the 26 patients who survived the perioperative period, a striking difference in outcome was apparent between tumors with MIB-1 indices 12 (n = 16). Median progression free survival was >48 months in the low MIB-1 group compared with only 6 months in the high MIB-1 group (P = 0.014, rank-sum test). Median overall survival was >48 months in the low MIB-1 group compared with only 16 months in the high MIB-1 group (P = 0.012). MIB-1 index remained associated with survival after taking into account the effect of resection extent, which also correlated strongly with outcome in this cohort. Although MIB-1 index was associated with histopathologic grade (Grade 3: 11.9 ± 9.7 vs. Grade 4: 27.3 ± 19.0; P = 0.015, Fisher's exact test), it proved to be a much stronger predictor of outcome than histology. CONCLUSIONS MIB-1 index may supplement routine histologic classification as a means for improving the accuracy of predicting the biologic behavior of childhood malignant gliomas and may provide a basis for stratifying patients in future malignant glioma studies and refining therapeutic decision-making. Cancer 1997; 79:849-56. © 1997 American Cancer Society.
Dislocation of the temporomandibular joint.

Summary Many treatment modalities are available for mitigation of pain and dysfunction of the habitually dislocating temporomandibular joint. In most cases, more conservative methods provide only temporary alleviation of symptoms, and recurrence is common. Surgical intervention has generally been considered the more effective definitive treatment. No matter which surgical intervention is undertaken, it should be realized that postoperative scarring probably provides a significant portion of the surgical benefit. Evidence suggests that immobilizing the joint after any surgical procedure will result in fibrosis, which may make assessment of efficacy of the actual surgical procedure difficult. Some authors have claimed that signs of recurrence were related to early mobilization of the joint and that MMF is always indicated. True comparisons of the reported treatment modalities are difficult because of differing periods of follow-up and different definitions of success (Table I). Several factors should suggest caution before using some of the procedures reviewed here. Studies that do not report length of follow-up, or that report follow-up less than 1 year, should not be viewed as other than pilot data. Likewise, series incorporating fewer than 25 patients should be viewed with caution. Techniques reported in only 1 series with a single clinician may not achieve the same results when applied by others. The likelihood of permanent adverse sequelae or need for repeat surgery should weigh heavily in the decision to use any treatment modality. With these considerations in mind, we believe that certain treatment modalities should be avoided. Sclerosing agents, in general, have an unacceptably low rate of success and should not be considered permanent treatment. The addition of MMF has not improved outcomes significantly. Capsular plications have been reported too rarely to be considered mainstream treatment, as have physical therapy and botulinum toxin injection. Zygomatic arch downfracture, with or without grafting, appears to offer a high degree of resolution of dislocation, although the number of reported cases is less than half that of eminectomy. With an impressive success rate, we believe that eminectomy offers the best chance for long-term resolution of recurrent dislocation, provided that care is taken to completely remove the most medial portion of the eminence. Although additional studies may yield improved therapeutic techniques, it appears that surgical intervention currently remains the mainstay in management of this uncommon clinical entity.
Phage protein-targeted cancer nanomedicines

Nanoencapsulation of anticancer drugs improves their therapeutic indices by virtue of the enhanced permeation and retention effect which achieves passive targeting of nanoparticles in tumors. This effect can be significantly enhanced by active targeting of nanovehicles to tumors. Numerous ligands have been proposed and used in various studies with peptides being considered attractive alternatives to antibodies. This is further reinforced by the availability of peptide phage display libraries which offer an unlimited reservoir of target-specific probes. In particular landscape phages with multivalent display of target-specific peptides which enable the phage particle itself to become a nanoplatform creates a paradigm for high throughput selection of nanoprobes setting the stage for personalized cancer management. Despite its promise, this conjugate of combinatorial chemistry and nanotechnology has not made a significant clinical impact in cancer management due to a lack of using robust processes that facilitate scale-up and manufacturing. To this end we proposed the use of phage fusion protein as the navigating modules of novel targeted nanomedicine platforms which are described in this review.
Remarkable Alteration of Photophysical Properties of Cyclic Trinuclear Complexes of Monovalent Coinage Metals upon Interactions with Small Organic Molecules

Interaction of cyclic trinuclear complexes of Au(I), Ag(I), and Cu(I) with vapor, liquid, or solid forms of small organic molecules leads to remarkable photophysical changes from those of the parent complex. The luminescence changes are generally attributed to alteration of the intertrimer metal-metal interactions that become perturbed by the organic molecule. In some instances, as manifest by interaction of {[3,5-(CF3)2Pz]Ag}3 with benzene and its alkylated derivatives, the luminescence signal was turned on due to exciplex formation as the non-luminescent trimer becomes brightly phosphorescent when the organic vapor is introduced or when crystals are grown from solutions in the aromatic solvent. A second instance was manifest by luminescence color change from blue for [Au(μ-C2,N3-bzim)]3 (bzim = 1-benzylimidazolate) or green for [Au(μ-C(OEt) = N(ρ-C6H4CH3)]3 to yellow phosphorescence upon their interaction with octafluoronaphthalene due to the latter's triplet state that becomes sensitized by a strong go...
Proteasome inhibition induces reversible impairments in protein synthesis

Proteasome inhibition occurs during normal aging and in a variety of age-related diseases, with inhibition of proteasome function sufficient to induce physiological and pathological alterations observed in each of these conditions. It is presumed that proteasome inhibition induces cellular alterations by promoting rapid protein accumulation, as the direct result of impairments in protein removal, which assumes protein synthesis remains relatively unchanged during proteasome inhibition. We conducted experimentation using established proteasome inhibitors and primary rat neuron cultures in order to elucidate whether proteasome inhibition had any effect on neuronal protein synthesis. Proteasome inhibition impaired neuronal protein synthesis, with concentrations of inhibitor necessary to significantly inhibit protein synthesis similar to the concentrations necessary to induce subsequent neuron death. The inhibition of protein synthesis was reversible during the first 6 h of treatment, with the neurotoxicity of proteasome inhibition reversible during the first 12 h of treatment. These studies are the first to demonstrate a potentially important interplay between the proteasome and protein synthesis in neurons, and the first to identify that some effects of proteasome inhibition are reversible in neurons. Together these findings have important implications for understanding proteasome inhibition as a potential contributor to aging and age-related disease.
Myoinositol turnover in the intact brain of conscious and anesthetized rabbits.

Abstract Turnover of myo-inositol in the intact brain of the conscious or anesthetized rabbit was estimated from the rate of appearance of endogenous myoinositol in the cerebroventricular compartment. The rate of appearance of brain-produced myoinositol was determined by isotope dilution during ventriculo-cisternal perfusion with artificial cerebrospinal fluid containing [ 14 C]myoinositol. Removal of the labelled compound from the perfusate was also determined. A mean value of 5.6 nmol/min was obtained for the rate of appearance of cerebral myoinositol in conscious rabbits. Pentobarbital anesthesia caused a 30% decrease in the rate of appearance of myoinositol in the perfusate without significantly altering its fractional rate of removal.
Image digital analysis method for investigation of change dynamics in coagulation spots generated by the frequency-doubled Nd:YAG laser

The iris of a gray rabbit has been used for the studies on the process of coagulation with the frequency-doubled Nd:YAG laser. Coagulation spots image have been processed using programs for the image analysis. In places of exposure gas bubble cavitation has been identified. It has been stated in the research that the process of coagulation spots formation is longer than it has been estimated.© (1996) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Secondary Cell Walls: Biosynthesis, Patterned Deposition and Transcriptional Regulation

Secondary walls are mainly composed of cellulose, hemicelluloses (xylan and glucomannan) and lignin, and are deposited in some specialized cells, such as tracheary elements, fibers and other sclerenchymatous cells. Secondary walls provide strength to these cells, which lend mechanical support and protection to the plant body and, in the case of tracheary elements, enable them to function as conduits for transporting water. Formation of secondary walls is a complex process that requires the co-ordinated expression of secondary wall biosynthetic genes, biosynthesis and targeted secretion of secondary wall components, and patterned deposition and assembly of secondary walls. Here, we provide a comprehensive review of genes involved in secondary wall biosynthesis and deposition. Most of the genes involved in the biosynthesis of secondary wall components, including cellulose, xylan, glucomannan and lignin, have been identified and their co-ordinated activation has been shown to be mediated by a transcriptional network encompassing the secondary wall NAC and MYB master switches and their downstream transcription factors. It has been demonstrated that cortical microtubules and microtubule-associated proteins play important roles in the targeted secretion of cellulose synthase complexes, the oriented deposition of cellulose microfibrils and the patterned deposition of secondary walls. Further investigation of many secondary wall-associated genes with unknown functions will provide new insights into the mechanisms controlling the formation of secondary walls that constitute the bulk of plant biomass.
Altered Glucose and Insulin Responses to Brain Medullary Thyrotropin-Releasing Hormone (TRH)-Induced Autonomic Activation in Type 2 Diabetic Goto-Kakizaki Rats

Insulin secretion is impaired in type 2 diabetes (T2D). The insulin and glucose responses to central autonomic activation induced by excitation of brain medullary TRH receptors were studied in T2D Goto-Kakizaki (GK) rats. Blood glucose levels in normally fed, pentobarbital-anesthetized GK and nondiabetic Wistar rats were 193 and 119 mg/100 ml in males and 214 and 131 mg/100 ml in females. Intracisternal injection (ic) of the stable TRH analog RX 77368 (10 ng) induced significantly higher insulin response in both genders of overnight-fasted GK rats compared with Wistar rats and slightly increased blood glucose in female Wistar rats but significantly decreased it from 193 to 145 mg/100 ml in female GK rats. RX 77368 (50 ng) ic induced markedly greater glucose and relatively weaker insulin responses in male GK rats than Wistar rats. Bilateral vagotomy blocked ic RX 77368-induced insulin secretion, whereas adrenalectomy abolished its hyperglycemic effect. In adrenalectomized male GK but not Wistar rats, ic RX 77368 (50 ng) dramatically increased serum insulin levels by 6.5-fold and decreased blood glucose levels from 154 to 98 mg/100 ml; these changes were prevented by vagotomy. GK rats had higher basal pancreatic insulin II mRNA levels but a lower response to ic RX 77368 (50 ng) compared with Wistar rats. These results indicate that central-vagal activation-induced insulin secretion is susceptible in T2D GK rats. However, the dominant sympathetic-adrenal response to medullary TRH plays a suppressing role on vagal-mediated insulin secretion. This unbalanced vago-sympathetic activation by medullary TRH may contribute to the impaired insulin secretion in T2D.
Determinants of Unemployment and Economic Hardship of Welfare Leavers Who Have Reached Their Lifetime Limits

A cross-sectional survey design is used to explore the determinants of unemployment and economic hardship among former welfare recipients who have reached their 5-year lifetime limits in a sample of 276 former WV WORKS recipients in West Virginia. The findings of the study indicate that respondents with mental problems; physical disabilities; or without a high school diploma, child care, or transportation were more likely than others to be unemployed. In addition, either mental health problems or a lack of transportation were significantly associated with the economic hardships of the welfare leavers. Policy implications suggest that the lifetime-limit policy be exempted for those with mental problems or physical disabilities, or extended for those who have children under age 2 and comply with mandatory work requirements.
Monte Carlo renormalization-group analysis of the antiferromagnetic three-state Potts model on a square lattice

Monte Carlo renormalization-group calculations have been performed on the three-state anti-ferromagnetic Potts model on a square lattice. The results are consistent with the conclusion that there is no transition as a function of temperature.
Superposition Effects in Rapid Cyclogenesis—Linear Model Studies

Abstract Quasi-geostrophic baroclinic instability theories generally do not satisfactorily explain the large deepening rates often observed in extratropical cyclones. An initial value method by B. Farrell includes the continuous spectrum of neutral waves in addition to the normal modes. Farrell shows that perturbations can grow much faster than normal mode analysis indicates, provided they have a favorable structure. This favorable structure, or superposition, is an important factor in baroclinic instability, because the proper vertical tilt of the growing wave is required to convert zonal available potential energy to eddy potential energy, and then to eddy kinetic energy. This research uses a two-level analytical model and the Navy Operational Regional Atmospheric Prediction System (NORAPS) to investigate the effects of superposition between finite-amplitude perturbations in the lower and upper troposphere. Superposition of a jet streak aloft and a finite amplitude low-level perturbation is also investi...
Prediction Of Correlation Errors In Parallax Computation From Digital Stereo Images

Abstract T. W. Ryan Electrical Engineering University of Arizona Tucson, Arizona 85721 Machines that have been developed to determine the topography of a region from stereo -pair photographs are subject to correlation errors resulting in incorrect elevation calcu-lations. In this paper, the determination of the location of the peak of the correlationfunction of two similar arrays of picture elements is modelled as a parameter estimationproblem. The Cramer -Rao lower bound is considered as a possible tool for predicting themagnitude of correlation errors. Preliminary simulation results are included.IntroductionExtraction of terrain elevation from a stereo -pair of aerial images is one of the mostbasic of cartographic functions. Interest in developing automatic systems for the stereo -compilation of terrain elevations has received considerable support from both indus-trial and governmental segments of the cart(gjraphic community. Machines such as theUNAMACE and the DAMCS have been the result
The introduction of a "reporter" group at the active site of glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase.

Most intracellular enzymes are composed of subunits (Schachman, 1963; Reithel, 1963) and enzymes which are subject to control by small ligands undergo changes in the interactions between subunits related to binding of the ligands (Muirhead and Perutz, 1963; Gerhart and Schachman, 1965). An environmentally sensitive group bound to protein was used by Weber (1952) to study the denaturation of proteins, by Klotz and Ayers (1957) to study water structure on protein surfaces, by Burr and Koshland (1964) for the study of the interactions of specific ligands at active sites. The addition of such a group to one or more subunits of a protein composed of subunits may be helpful in measuring the contribution of protein conformation in subunit interactions and ligand binding. The reporter group, 2-acetamido-4-nitrophenol (Burr and Koshland, 1964), has now been bound covalently to rabbit muscle triose phosphate dehydrogenase. The yellow protein gives a family of difference spectra as the substrate DPN is bound. The fact that changes in the environment of the bound nitrophenol can be easily detected suggests that this will be a useful tool for measuring changes in the environment of limited regions of a protein when binding of specific ligands occurs. These effects can result either from a direct interaction of the bound ligand with the reporter group or from an indirect interaction due to a protein conformation change in the same or adjacent subunits caused by ligand binding. With either effect the technique may give additional insight into the mechanisms of cooperative binding observed in enzymes involved in feedback control.
Experiments on propagation of high amplitude surface waves

Experimental results of the evolution in space-time of high amplitude pulses in the surface wave mode are presented. In the linear regime, the pulse evolves into a wavepacket with an Airy like profile. At large amplitudes, a qualitatively similar wavepacket evolves. However, spectral analysis of these profiles shows that the high frequency components of the wave packet have grown in amplitude. This growth is taken to be indicative of weak nonlinear coupling among the wavepacket constituents.
Analysis of the Diameter of Microbubbles Formed in a Cross Flow Microchannel

Two microfluidic devices for generating microbubbles are considered in the study presented in this paper. The first device consists of a liquid channel and a gas channel that is perpendicular to each other. In this device, the microbubble diameter varies inversely with the liquid flow rate (i.e. with flow velocity) but at the expense of high pressure drop. This device is modified by introducing a solid structure in front of the orifice to become the second device. This modification causes an increase in fluid velocity only in front of the orifice. In this paper a model is developed for determining the diameter of microbubbles generated in both of these devices. The model is developed by balancing the forces acting on the microbubble during growth and at the moment of detachment from the orifice. The detachment of the microbubble is assumed to happen when the sum of all detaching forces equals the net attaching force acting on the microbubble during the growth. Non-slip boundary condition is assumed on the walls of the channels in this model. Based on these assumptions a mathematical model is developed and solved numerically for different values of liquid and gas flow rate to obtain the microbubble diameter at the moment of detachment. A MATLAB® code is developed for solving the force balance equation. The superiority of the second device over the first one is validated by comparing the results obtained from the models in both cases.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
Wrist Denervation and the Anterior Interosseous Nerve: Anatomic Considerations

Purpose Wrist denervation via resection of the distal anterior interosseous nerve (AIN) and the posterior interosseous nerve (PIN) is an effective treatment for chronic wrist pain. When performing this procedure through a dorsal approach we have been impressed by anatomic variations of the AIN. This has raised concerns about potential denervation of the pronator quadratus (PQ). The purpose of this study was to elucidate the anatomy of the AIN and PIN as encountered through a dorsal distal forearm incision. Methods Ten fresh-frozen cadavers were dissected. Before dissection radiographs were obtained to ensure accurate localization of the proximal ulnar head with a radiopaque marker. A dorsal approach to the distal forearm was made to identify the anatomy of the PIN and AIN. The location and diameter of all AIN branches were noted by using an operating stereoscopic microscope at ×25 magnification and a precision caliper. The PIN anatomy and size also were noted. Results The anatomy of the AIN was variable. The average AIN diameter proximal to the PQ was 1.5 mm. The average number of AIN motor branches was 4.2. The largest PQ motor branch was the first motor branch and was located at an average distance of 37.9 mm from the proximal ulnar head. The last motor branch was found an average of 23.9 mm from the proximal ulnar head. In 9 of 10 specimens the sensory branch tunneled radially through the distal PQ and innervated the periosteum of the volar distal radius. In 4 of 10 specimens a separate branch to the distal radioulnar joint was present. We found an average PIN diameter of 0.87 mm. Conclusions Resection of the AIN at a point 4 cm proximal to the proximal point of the ulnar head would denervate completely the PQ in our cadaver population. Division of the AIN 2 cm proximal to the ulnar head would spare most of the PQ motor branches.
Response of a benthic food web to hydrocarbon contamination

Direct and indirect effects of diesel-contaminated sediment on microalgae, meiofauna, and meiofauna-microalgae trophic interactions were examined in a microcosm study of the sediment community from a Spartina aZterniJora salt marsh. Microcosms of natural sediment were given small daily doses of contaminated sediment over a 28-d period, creating low-, medium-, and high-diesel treatment concentrations of -0.5, 5.5, and 55 ppm PAH, respectively. Diesel caused initial (within 7 h) reductions in microalgal grazing by meiobenthic harpacticoid copepods. Over longer periods of exposure (7-28 d), grazing on microalgae by copepods as a group was reduced in highdiesel treatments, primarily because of high copepod mortality. In contrast, grazing by and abundance of Cletocamptus deitersi (a copepod) was significantly enhanced in high-diesel treatments. Concurrent with reduced grazing by copepods, nematode grazing rates increased significantly in high-diesel treatments, indicating possible competition for microalgae between copepods and nematodes. In spite of transiently enhanced grazing by nematodes and C. deitersi, total meiofaunal grazing on microalgae was reduced in high-diesel treatments. Increased Chl a: pheopigment ratios in contaminated sediments were also indicative of reduced grazing pressure. A large (10X) increase in microalgal biomass was observed in high-diesel treatments and was likely a consequence of reduced meiofaunal grazing. The general responses observed in microcosms were also observed in a field study of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon contamination. Collectively, our data indicate that benthic microalgal biomass is controlled by meiofaunal grazing and that meiofauna may compete for limited algal resources. Furthermore, consideration of multiple trophic levels and their interactions allows a more complete and ecologically meaningful understanding of the mechanisms by which contaminants induce changes in natural communities.
ECONOMIC EVALUATION OF HIGHWAY SYSTEM BENEFITS

Abstract Economists generally employ consumer's surplus calculations in order to evaluate user benefits gained from highway investments which introduce new travel options and substantially lower travel costs. This paper reviews and clarifies recent contributions investigating consumer's surplus in a general equilibrium framework thus making it more accessible to highway planners. Special emphasis is given to the mathematical generalization of user benefits from n highways, and the integrability assumption necessary to preserve the interpretation of benefits as areas under ordinary travel demand curves. The connection between line integrals and ordinary integrals is made explicit. Finally, a numerical example approximating the user benefit from the introduction of an additional highway to an existing network is presented. This approximation is especially useful for obtaining an empirical measure of anticipated benefits from new highway investments before actual traffic data on these improvements become available.