cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of a Linear Phase Observation Operator with CHAMP Radio Occultation Data and High-Resolution Regional Analysis

In this study a nonlocal, linear observation operator for assimilating radio occultation data is evaluated. The operator consists of modeling the excess phase, that is, integrating the refractivity along straight lines tangent to rays, below a certain height. The corresponding observable is the excess phase integrated through the Abel-retrieved refractivity, along the same lines, below the same height. The operator allows very simple implementation (computationally efficient) while accurately accounting for the horizontal refractivity gradients. This is due to significant cancellation of the linearization and discretization errors when modeling the observable. Evaluation of the operator with Challenging Minisatellite Payload (CHAMP) radio occultation data and grid refractivity fields from high-resolution regional analysis over the continental United States showed reduction of the observation error in the troposphere (below 7 km) 1.5–2 times, compared to the error of local refractivity. The operator is useful for the assimilation of radio occultation data by high-resolution weather models in the troposphere.
In vitro cultured cocklebur (Xanthium strumarium L.) responses to dimercaptopropanesulfonic acid and monosodium methanearsonate

Monosodium methanearsonate (MSMA) is an effective herbicide used for the control of Xanthium strumarium (cocklebur), a serious weed problem in cotton production. Recently, MSMA-resistant cocklebur was reported, which reduced MSMA effectiveness in the cocklebur control strategy. The mode of action of MSMA may involve the reduction of the pentavalent arsenic in MSMA to a trivalent form, which may then form a complex with sulfhydryl-containing enzymes. Dimercaptopro-panesulfonic acid (DMPS) chelates trivalent arsenic, resulting in a nontoxic complex. The objective of this study was to determine the effect of DMPS and MSMA on the growth of in vitro grown cocklebur shoot and callus tissues. Lateral and terminal shoots were grown on basal Murashige and Skoog medium containing 6.25 mg L−1 (0.0428 mm) MSMA alone and with various concentrations of DMPS. Callus was cultured on basal callus medium also containing 6.25 mg L−1 MSMA alone and an equimolar concentration of DMPS. Shoot injury symptoms, dry root weight, and fresh weight of callus were recorded. Susceptible cocklebur shoots showed severe discoloration and death when treated with MSMA. Resistant shoots and cultured shoot tips were not adversely affected. DMPS alone did not inhibit growth of these tissues. Callus induced from susceptible tissue was inhibited by MSMA and DMPS alone. In all combinations of DMPS and MSMA tested, DMPS did not counteract the MSMA response. Thus, the pentavalent form of arsenic in MSMA apparently is not reduced to the trivalent form by the plant and hence is not involved in the mechanism of action
Cell-mediated immunity to human and Escherichia coli 60-kDa Heat shock protein in women: Association with A history of spontaneous abortion and endometriosis

PROBLEM: Heat shock proteins are expressed during early pregnancy and in peritoneal fluids from women with endometriosis. The relationship between a cell-mediated immune response to human 60-kDa heat shock protein (hsp60), spontaneous abortion, and endometriosis was examined. METHOD OF STUDY: Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from 110 female partners of infertile couples undergoing in vitro fertilization and 41 fertile control subjects were incubated with human hsp60 or Escherichia coli hsp60. PBMC proliferation was measured by [ 3 H]thymidine incorporation, and a stimulation index was calculated. RESULTS: Lymphocytes from 21.8% of the infertile women, as opposed to 7.3% of the fertile women, proliferated in response to human hsp60 (P = 0.05). In contrast, proliferation in response to the E. coli hsp60 was equivalent in both groups. Within the infertile group, the response to human hsp60 was 40.7% among women with a history of spontaneous abortion and only 12% in those with no history of spontaneous abortion (P = 0.003). There was no association between immunity to E. coli hsp60 and spontaneous abortion or between immunity to human hsp60 and therapeutic abortion or the cause of infertility. Immunity to the E. coli hsp60 was associated with endometriosis. CONCLUSIONS: A cell-mediated autoimmune response to human hsp60 is associated with a history of spontaneous abortion, whereas immunity to E. coli hsp60 was most prevalent in women with endometriosis.
Ruby masers for maximum G/T/sub op/

The Deep-Space Network (DSN) includes world-wide networks of 26-, 34- and 70-m antennas in Australia, Spain, and the USA. Ruby masers are used on the 34and 70-m antennas to maximize the system operating noise temperature and thereby maximize the DSN receiving system figure of merit, antenna gain divided by system operating noise temperature. These systems are used for deep-space telecommunications, solar system radar, and radio astronomy. Cavity, traveling-wave, and reflected-wave maser designs and performance characteristics from 960 MHz to 34 GHz are summarized. Effective noise temperatures of ruby masers are addressed with emphasis on a 33.68-GHz maser where quantum noise is a major source of noise. >
A formulation of automatic parameter tuning for robot arms

Fine tuning parameters of robots is a time-consuming and costly procedure. Many commercial robot companies can not afford to do fine tuning work for robots. Thus, the physical capability of robots can not be fully realized. This becomes a particularly serious problem when we want robots to operate with high accuracy performance at high speed. In this paper, a optimization problem is formulated and a computer package is designed to automatically tune parameters of feedback compensators for robot arms in order to circumvent time consuming and labor intensive manual tuning while maximizing the capability of robot arms. This auto-tuning by learning package makes it possible to accomplish the following: (1) fine tuning taking account of coupling effects between multiple-joints; (2) fine tuning for each robot; (3) retuning.
Tungsten vs. Molybdenum in models for biological systems.

Abstract Biological systems show a marked preference for molybdenum over tungsten. Studies with methyliminodiacetic acid and l-cysteine have shown that the formation constants of the complexes with Mo(VI) and W(VI) are very similar. These results imply that these elements would be bound with roughly equal strengths to an apoenzyme or a carrier whether or not these proteins contain a ligating sulfhydryl group. Similarly, transport across a membrane would not be expected to distinguish compounds of these metals providing they are carried in the same oxidation states. However, molybdenum could be distinguished from tungsten through the greater ease of reduction of the compounds of molybdenum.
Stretched-pulse additive pulse mode-locking in fiber ring lasers: theory and experiment

Stretched-pulse additive pulse mode-locking uses segments of fiber of large positive and large negative group velocity dispersion (GVD) in the cavity. The changes in pulse width per pass due to the varying GVD can be an order of magnitude or more. A theory is developed based on the master equation that covers this case of large pulse changes in one transit. The general predictions of the theory are verified by experimental results. >
9 ASSESSMENT OF LEFT VENTRICULAR HYPERTROPHY IN HYPERTENSIVE ADOLESCENTS USING ECHO, ECG, AND X-RAY

We performed chest x-rays, electrocardiograms (ECGs), and echocardiograms (ECHOs) on 35 hypertensive and 35 normotensive subjects 14-16 years of age who were matched for age, race, sex, and body size (ponderal index). All hypertensive patients had elevation of systolic and/or diastolic blood pressure at or above the 95th percentile for age on 3 consecutive examinations. No patient in either group showed cardiomegaly on chest x-ray. Five hypertensive patients (14%) and 7 control subjects (20%) had ECG criteria for LVH, indicating no significant difference between the groups. Analysis of ECHOs showed the mean left ventricular wall thickness (LVT) in hypertensives was 7.8mm±0.87 (SD), compared with 6.5mm±0.81 in the controls. Left ventricular mass indexed to body surface area (LVM/BSA) averaged 82±15 and 70±15 respectively. LVT was then also indexed to BSA and using our control data we defined the upper limits of normal in terms of the 90th percentile values: for LVT/BSA this was 0.470, and for LVM/BSA this was 100. Of hypertensive patients, 23% had LVT/BSA above the 90th percentile and 17% had LVM/BSA, above this level. For controls, only 3% had elevated LVT/BSA, and 6% had elevated LVM/BSA. These findings suggest that ECHO may be a more useful method than either chest x-ray or ECG to detect LVH in hypertensive adolescents.
Numerical simulation of mold heat transfer of injection molded plastic parts using a modified three-dimensional boundary element method

Abstract An efficient numerical formulation (COOL3D) has been developed for the simulation of heat transfer during the cooling stage of the injection molding process. The procedure uses a modified three-dimensional boundary element method for the solution of cycle-averaged temperature of the mold containing complex and thin cavity and circular cooling channels. An interaction with the polymer melt in the cavity is incorporated in terms of a transient non-linear local one-dimensional conduction treatment of the thin cavity domain which accounts for static solidification also. COOL3D is applied to a model geometry to illustrate the usefulness of the formulation developed.
Outcomes measurement of a wheelchair intervention.

Purpose.The objective of this study was to collect outcomes data related to a wheelchair intervention using three outcome instruments, and to develop methodological procedures that could be incorporated easily into busy clinical practices.Methods.This project used a repeated measures, pre-post research design. Data were collected from 31 clients at an acute rehabilitation hospital in New York, USA. Three outcomes instruments – the Psychosocial Impact of Assistive Devices Scale (PIADS), the Occupational Therapy Functional Assessment Compilation Tool (OTFACT), and Assistive Technology Outcome Measure (ATOM) – were administered over a 30-month period before and after a service delivery intervention at one month and 12 months.Results.Results showed that correlations between different measures were low, but increased over time. The ATOM and one domain of the OTFACT were most sensitive to the intervention over time, but where ATOM values increased over time, OTFACT values decreased. PIADS scores did not exhibit...
Holocene glacier fluctuations, Waskey Lake, northeastern Ahklun Mountains, southwestern Alaska

Lake sediments from Waskey Lake, Ahklun Mountains, southwestern Alaska were studied to decipher the history of upvalley glacier e uctuations during the Holocene. Several indicators of glacier activity were measured including: magnetic susceptibility, organic-matter content, grain-size distribution, bulk-sediment mineralogy and diatom assemblages. Seven radiocarbon ages on macrofossils, along with cross-checks by tephrochronology, provide the chronology of the cores. The results from core WL-1 indicate that glaciers lingered near Waskey Lake until 9100 cal. yr BP, perhaps under conditions of high winter accumulation. Peak organic-matter content occurs at 7400 cal. yr BP, when precipitation might have shifted to summer. The onset of Neoglaciation occurred 3100 cal. yr BP, and glaciers reached their maximum extent ~700 cal. yr BP. This chronology is consistent with the lichenometrically dated moraines from the glacier foree elds. Although the ages are tentative, the youngest and most widespread group of moraines was deposited sometime between 650 and 200 cal. yr BP (during the ' Little Ice Age' ). Since then, glaciers in the Waskey Lake area have shrunk by ~50% and equilibrium-line altitudes (ELA) have risen by 35 6 22 m. This rise in ELA is much less than the 100 to 200 m rise observed elsewhere in Alaska and indicates considerable spatial variability in late- Holocene climatic change.
Stopped-Flow Kinetics Investigation of the Imidazole-Catalyzed Peroxyoxalate Chemiluminescence Reaction

The stopped-flow technique was used to study the temperature-dependent kinetics of the imidazole-catalyzed peroxyoxalate reaction in order to further elucidate the reaction mechanism. Pseudo-first-order rate constants were obtained from the chemiluminescence intensity vs time profiles for the sequential reaction model X → Y → Z over a wide range of initial concentrations of each of the following reagents: bis(2,4,6-trichlorophenyl) oxalate (TCPO), imidazole (ImH), and hydrogen peroxide. These measurements were complemented by UV absorbance measurements of the kinetics of the step X → Y. For both reaction conditions pseudo-first-order in TCPO ([ImH], [H2O2] ≫ [TCPO]) and pseudo-first-order in H2O2 ([ImH]≫[TCPO]≫[H2O2]), the first step of the reaction is nucleophilic substitution by two imidazole molecules to form 1,1‘-oxalyldiimidazole (ODI). Under conditions of excess TCPO in the concentration range 0.075−0.25 mM, the Y → Z reaction probed the subsequent reaction of ODI with H2O2 to form the imidazoyl pe...
A vector measure approach to state feedback control in Banach resolution spaces I

Abstract An abstract version of the linear regulator-quadratic cost problem is considered for a dynamical system S , where input and output are elements of various Banach resolution spaces. Our main result is the representation of the optimal control in memoryless state feedback form. This representation is obtained as an integral with respect to a vector measure defined on the state space of S .
MODULATION OF A2AADENOSINE RECEPTOR(S) BY K+ATPCHANNELS IN BOVINE BRAIN STRIATAL MEMBRANES

Abstract The modulation of adenosine receptor with K+ATPchannel blocker, glibenclamide, was investigated using the radiolabeled A2A-receptor selective agonist [3H]CGS 21680. Radioligand binding studies in bovine brain striatal membranes (BBM) indicated that unlabeled CGS 21680 displaced the bound [3H]CGS 21680 in a concentration-dependent manner with a maximum displacement being approximately 65% at 10−4 m . In the presence of 10−5 m glibenclamide, unlabeled CGS 21680 increased the displacement of bound [3H]CGS 21860 by approximately 28% at 10−4 m . [3H]CGS 21680 bound to BBM in a saturable manner to a single binding site (Kd=10.6±1.71 n m ; Bmax=221.4±6.43 fmol/mg of protein). In contrast, [3H]CGS 21680 showed saturable binding to two sites in the presence of 10−5 m glibenclamide; (Kd=1.3± 0.22 n m ; Bmax=74.3±2.14 fmol/mg protein; and Kd=8.9±0.64 n m ; Bmax=243.2±5.71 fmol/mg protein), indicating modulation of adenosine A2Areceptors by glibenclamide. These studies suggest that the K+ATPchannel blocker, glibenclamide, modulated the adenosine A2Areceptor in such a manner that [3H]CGS 21680 alone recognizes a single affinity adenosine receptor, but that in the presence of glibenclamide it binds to two sites. These studies provide further insight into the interactions between K+ATPchannels and adenosine receptors.
The Protraction of internal wars

(1992). The Protraction of internal wars. Small Wars & Insurgencies: Vol. 3, No. 3, pp. 241-256.
USE OF PROTEASES TO ENHANCE SOLUBILIZATION OF RICE BRAN PROTEINS

Extraction yields of rice bran protein increased with the use of protease as the degree of hydrolysis (DH) increased, reaching 92% at a 10% DH value. Extraction of rice bran proteins was also carried out using limited proteolysis to 2% DH with Na 2 SO 3 and/or SDS (0.2 mmol/g protein). Protein recovery increased from 74% to 80, 81, and 84% in the presence of Na 2 SO 3 , SDS and both, respectively. The presence of Na 2 SO 3 or SDS yielded protein hydrolysates of a broader range of medium sized peptides with 78% of these protein hydrolysates having M r of 11-68 kDa. Accordingly, use of proteases can be an efficient method for recovering high quality, value-added ingredients from the proteins of rice bran for food use.
Rethinking the design of real-coded evolutionary algorithms: Making discrete choices in continuous search domains

Although real-coded evolutionary algorithms (EAs) have been applied to optimization problems for over thirty years, the convergence properties of these methods remain poorly understood. We discuss the use of discrete random variables to perform search in real-valued EAs. Although most real-valued EAs perform mutation with continuous random variables, we argue that EAs using discrete random variables for mutation can be much easier to analyze. In particular, we present and analyze two simple EAs that make discrete choices of mutation steps.
Modeling of long-range electrostatic interactions in DNA.

We used a Monte Carlo approach to compute the statistical properties of closed DNA chains with different descriptions of the electrostatic interactions. We compared these computed results with experimentally measured knotting probabilities, which are very sensitive to intersegment interactions. The calculated results based on the Debye-Huckel approximation of the solution of the Poisson-Boltzmann equation agreed very well with the published experimental data, while potential based on counterion condensation theory was clearly less satisfactory. We then compared the simpler hard-core approximation of electrostatic interactions to the Debye-Huckel potential. The hard-core approximation, specified in terms of a DNA effective diameter, gives the same conformational properties of random coils as the Debye-Huckel approximation. We found clear but relatively small differences between the two potentials for the conformational properties of supercoiled DNA. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Duodenal and colonic perforation with hemorrhage following radiofrequency ablation of recurrent pheochromocytoma

Duodenal and colonic perforation with hemorrhage following radiofrequency ablation of recurrent pheochromocytoma
Valgus-varus motion of the knee in normal level walking and stair climbing.

Objective. The knee valgus-varus moment and the knee angles were compared between normal level walking and stair climbing. Design. Ten healthy subjects were tested for ascent, descent, and level walking. Background. An understanding of the normal valgus-varus motion of the knee during stair climbing is needed to apply biomechanical analysis of stair climbing as a evaluation tool for knee osteoarthritis patients. Methods. A motion analysis system, three force plates, and a flight of stairs were used to collect kinematic and kinetic data. The knee angles and moments were calculated from the collected kinematic and kinetic data. Results. The knee varus angle for the maximum knee valgus moments in stair climbing was significantly greater than that in level walking. The knee valgus moment was significantly correlated to ground reaction forces and knee valgus-varus angle during stair climbing and level walking. Conclusions. There is a coupling between the knee valgus-varus motion and flexion-extension motion. Ground reaction forces are the major contributors to the within-subject variation in the knee valgus-varus moment during stair climbing and level walking. The knee valgus-varus angle is a major contributor to the between-subject variation in the knee valgus moment during stair climbing and level walking.
Memory monitoring performance and PFC activity are associated with 5-HTTLPR genotype in older adults

Older adults show extensive variability in cognitive performance, including episodic memory. A portion of this variability could potentially be explained by genetic factors. Recent literature shows that the neurotransmitter serotonin plays an important role in memory processes, as enhancements of brain serotonin have led to memory improvement. Here, we have begun to explore genetic contributions to the performance and underlying brain activity associated with source memory monitoring. Using a source recognition memory task during fMRI scanning, this study offers evidence that older adults who carry a short allele (S-car) of the serotonin transporter linked polymorphic region (5-HTTLPR) in the SLC6A4 gene show specific deficits in source memory monitoring relative to older adults who are homozygous for the long allele (LL). These deficits are accompanied by less neural activity in regions of prefrontal cortex that have been shown to support accurate memory monitoring. Moreover, while the older adult LL group's behavioral performance does not differ from younger adults, their brain activation reveals evidence of compensatory activation that likely supports their higher performance level. These results provide preliminary evidence that the long-allele homozygous profile is cognitively beneficial to older adults, particularly for memory functioning.
A new characterization of FD implication with an application to update anomalies

Abstract A new characterization of the notion of implication for functional dependencies in relational database is presented, which reflects the meaning of this static type of constraint with respect to dynamic updates. Consequences of this characterization towards a formal description of update anomalies occurring in a relation are explored.
Kristall‐ und Molekülstruktur von Bis(1,8‐naphthalindioxy)silan — zur Kontroverse über planar tetrakoordiniertes Silicium in Orthokieselsäureestern

Das vollstandige Manuskript dieser Zuschrift erscheint in: Angew. Chem. Suppl. 1983, 668. DOI: 10.1002/ange.198306680
Evaluation and comparison of timing diagrams for selection of components in electronic design with application of fuzzy logic

Complex designs in electronics are often assembled from the components, which are sufficiently large design units by themselves. Sometimes designers are looking for already manufactured components; in other situations, they are looking for design solutions to be incorporated into larger designs. Designers need to be sure that the selected components have the expected functional and physical characteristics. This paper describes the simulation-based methodology for verification of properties of real and virtual components in the process of large system design.
Reactivity of inducer cell subsets and T8-cell activation during the human autologous mixed lymphocyte reaction

To characterize the responding T cells in the autologous mixed lymphocyte reaction (AMLR), T cells were fractionated into purified subpopulations employing monoclonal antibodies and a variety of separation techniques including fluorescence-activated cell sorting. It was found that isolated T4 cells, but not T8 cells, proliferated in response to autologous non-T cells. More importantly, within the T4 subset, the autoreactive population was greatly enriched in a fraction reactive with an autoantibody from patients with juvenile chronic arthritis (JRA) or the monoclonal antibody anti-TQ1. Although T8 cells themselves were unable to proliferate in the AMLR, they could be induced to respond in the presence of either T4 cells or exogenous IL-2 containing medium. This was demonstrated by direct measurement of tritiated thymidine uptake by T8 cells during the course of the AMLR as well as by analysis of their relative DNA content. Taken together, these data indicate that the AMLR represents a complex pattern of immune responsiveness distinct from that observed in response to soluble antigen or alloantigen. The precise function of this T-cell circuit remains to be determined.
BW373U86, its enantiomers, and related compounds: Interactions of non-peptide delta agonists at multiple δcx binding sites in rat brain

Abstract Previous studies delineated two classes of δ binding sites: a δ binding site not associated with the opioid receptor complex, termed the δ ncx site, and a δ site associated with the opioid receptor complex, termed the δ cx site (for review see (1)). More recent studies resolved two δ cx binding sites in rat brain termed δ cx-1 and δ cx-2 (2). Pretreatment of membranes with the δ-selective acylating agent (+)-trans-SUPERFIT depletes membranes of the δ ncx binding site which permits selective labeling of the δ cx binding sites with [3H]DADLE (3). Ligand-selectivity studies of the non-peptide δ agonist, BW373U86, its enantiomers and related compounds showed that these drugs have higher affinities for δ sites than μ sites (4,5). This study determined the selectivity of these compounds for the two δ cx binding sites. The data indicate that (+)-4-[(αR)-α((2S,5R)-4-allyl-2,5-dimethyl-1- piperazinyl)-3-methoxybenzyl]-N,N-diethylbenzamide (SNC80) and deltorphin-II are highly selective for δ cx-2 binding site (2758-fold and 700-fold respectively). In contrast, morphine is selective for δ cx-1 binding site (78-fold).
Contributors to violent behavior among elementary and middle school children

Objective. To examine the relative contributions of exposure to violence, parental monitoring, and television-viewing habits to children9s self-reported violent behaviors. The study hypothesized that: 1) children9s exposure to violence would be associated positively with self-reported violent behaviors; 2) parental monitoring would be associated negatively with children9s violent behaviors; and 3) the number of daily television-viewing hours and a preference for watching violent television shows would be associated positively with children9s violent behaviors. Methods. The study used a survey design with an anonymous self-report questionnaire administered to students (grades 3–8) in 11 public schools. A total of 2245 students participated in the study, representing 80% of the students attending the participating schools during the survey. The subjects were from 7 to 15 years of age; 51% were male, 57% were white, 33% percent were black, and 5% were Hispanic. Results. Hierarchical multiple regression analysis of the total sample revealed that the combination of demographic variables, parental monitoring, television-viewing habits, and exposure to violence explained 45% of students9 self-reported violent behaviors. Violence exposure and parental monitoring were the most influential contributors in explaining children9s violent behaviors, accounting for 24% and 5% of the variance in violent behaviors, respectively. Conclusions. All three hypotheses were supported. A significant association was demonstrated linking violence exposure, lack of parental monitoring, and television-viewing habits with children9s self-reported violent behaviors within a diverse sample of elementary and middle school students. Our findings support the importance of parental monitoring of children and emphasize the need to identify and to provide services to youth who are exposed to violence.
Endogenous and exogenous factors affecting parasitism of gypsy moth egg masses by Ooencyrtus kuvanae

Factors affecting the orientation, reproduction, and sex ratio of the egg parasitoid Ooencyrtus kuvanaeHoward were examined. Adult females were attracted to airborne volatiles from the egg mass and accessory gland of the primary host, the gypsy moth Lymantria disparL. Visual cues also affected host selection. Background colors against which egg masses were placed affected oviposition preference. In the absence of egg masses, color variation did not affect wasp behavior. Light is required for parasitism by O. kuvanae. The age and density of both the host and parasitoid affected wasp reproduction and sex ratios. Older egg masses issued relatively fewer wasps and higher proportions of males than did young egg masses. Likewise, wasp reproduction and the proportion of females declined with wasp age. Larger egg masses produced more wasps and lower proportions of males than did smaller egg masses. The number of offspring per female, and the proportion of female offspring, were inversely related to wasp density. Implications to biological control of the gypsy moth and parasitoid ecology are discussed.
Thyroxine increases epidermal growth factor levels in the mouse thyroid in vivo.

Immunoreactive epidermal growth factor (EGF) has been detected in the thyroid, which raises questions concerning the source of thyroidal EGF and what affects its levels. We therefore have examined the effects of manipulating thyroid function on the immunoreactive EGF levels in plasma, thyroid, submaxillary gland (SMG), and kidney of adult male BALB/c mice, and we also analyzed the prepro-EGF messenger RNA in these tissues. Groups of six mice received daily injection of T4 (1 μg, 5 μg, or 25 μg) or bovine TSH (1 mU) for up to 14 days. The plasma EGF concentration was 0.31 ± 0.01 ng/ml in control animals, and T4 (5 ng) decreased the plasma levels by about one-half within 1 week. The thyroidal EGF was 0.50 ± 0.14 μg/mg protein in control animals, and T4 (5 ng) increased the thyroidal EGF 8-fold within 1 week. There was a negative correlation between plasma and thyroidal EGF concentration (r = —0.93, P < 0.01). Increasing doses of T4 also increased the SMG EGF content, while plasma levels fell (r = —0.88, P <...
Proteomic analysis of highly prevalent amyloid A amyloidosis endemic to endangered island foxes.

Amyloid A (AA) amyloidosis is a debilitating, often fatal, systemic amyloid disease associated with chronic inflammation and persistently elevated serum amyloid A (SAA). Elevated SAA is necessary but not sufficient to cause disease and the risk factors for AA amyloidosis remain poorly understood. Here we identify an extraordinarily high prevalence of AA amyloidosis (34%) in a genetically isolated population of island foxes (Urocyon littoralis) with concurrent chronic inflammatory diseases. Amyloid deposits were most common in kidney (76%), spleen (58%), oral cavity (45%), and vasculature (44%) and were composed of unbranching, 10 nm in diameter fibrils. Peptide sequencing by mass spectrometry revealed that SAA peptides were dominant in amyloid-laden kidney, together with high levels of apolipoprotein E, apolipoprotein A-IV, fibrinogen-α chain, and complement C3 and C4 (false discovery rate ≤0.05). Reassembled peptide sequences showed island fox SAA as an 111 amino acid protein, most similar to dog and artic fox, with 5 unique amino acid variants among carnivores. SAA peptides extended to the last two C-terminal amino acids in 5 of 9 samples, indicating that near full length SAA was often present in amyloid aggregates. These studies define a remarkably prevalent AA amyloidosis in island foxes with widespread systemic amyloid deposition, a unique SAA sequence, and the co-occurrence of AA with apolipoproteins.
‘We are divided people, aren't we?’ The politics of multicultural language and dialect crossing in Zadie Smith'sWhite Teeth

This article applies a literary sociolinguistic reading to Zadie Smith's White Teeth by employing linguist Ben Rampton's findings on language crossing. I argue that the majority of Smith's characters do not have access to the multiculturalism that many scholars and critics see in the text. As a result, some of the novel's most prominent examples of language crossing involve Bengali, Jamaican, and even first-generation English characters crossing over into languages other than their own in an attempt to perform identity and to negotiate community boundaries. I ultimately show that the moments of language crossing within the novel are indeed limited to a prescribed set of conditions and choreographed social interactions, and, as such, the novel confirms Rampton's findings: that ethnicity seems to be something that continually informs our social reality, and it is thus improper to view language crossing as a force capable of deconstructing ethnicity.
Nonnuclear DNA Binding Proteins in Striated Muscle

Abstract The mechanism by which striated muscle internalizes plasmid DNA is unknown. A survey of nonnuclear membrane-associated DNA binding proteins from both skeletal and cardiac muscle revealed several sarcoplasmic reticulum restricted DNA binding species. 32 P-DNA overlay and DNA–cellulose chromatography were used to identify membrane-associated DNA binding proteins that may mediate the uptake and expression of plasmid DNA by striated muscle. A total membrane vesicle fraction prepared from rabbit skeletal muscle contained 95-, 60-, and 28-kDa proteins that bound double-strand DNA specifically and with high affinity. The DNA binding proteins appear to originate from the sarcoplasmic reticulum because of their absence in purified sarcolemma vesicles and codistribution with several sarcoplasmic reticulum markers after subcellular fractionation. Several distinguishing biochemical features as well as cross-reactivity with triadin-specific antibodies indicated that the 95- and 60-kDa DNA binding proteins are triadin or proteolytic fragments of triadin, respectively. The role of these sarcoplasmic reticulum proteins in the transport of plasmid DNA is discussed.
Change Detection in a 3-d World

This paper examines the problem of detecting changes in a 3-d scene from a sequence of images, taken by cameras with arbitrary but known pose. No prior knowledge of the state of normal appearance and geometry of object surfaces is assumed, and abnormal changes can occur in any image of the sequence. To the authors' knowledge, this paper is the first to address the change detection problem in such a general framework. Existing change detection algorithms that exploit multiple image viewpoints typically can detect only motion changes or assume a planar world geometry which cannot cope effectively with appearance changes due to occlusion and un-modeled 3-d scene geometry (ego-motion parallax). The approach presented here can manage the complications of unknown and sometimes changing world surfaces by maintaining a 3-d voxel-based model, where probability distributions for surface occupancy and image appearance are stored in each voxel. The probability distributions at each voxel are continuously updated as new images are received. The key question of convergence of this joint estimation problem is answered by a formal proof based on realistic assumptions about the nature of real world scenes. A series of experiments are presented that evaluate change detection accuracy under laboratory-controlled conditions as well as aerial reconnaissance scenarios.-
Digoxin in the Management of Cardiovascular Disorders

“After all, in spite of opinion, prejudice or error, time will fix the real value upon this discovery.” — Sir William Withering, Birmingham, July 1, 1785 Case 1: A 45-year-old man in sinus rhythm, with an ejection fraction of 20%, normal coronaries, and normal renal function is receiving captopril 50 mg 3 times daily, carvedilol 25 mg and furosemide 40 mg twice daily, and spironolactone 25 mg daily. Despite these therapies, he continues to complain of dyspnea with minimal exertion. There are jugular venous distention, rales, and ankle edema. Oral digoxin, 0.125 mg daily, is added. After 3 weeks of maintenance therapy with digoxin, the patient feels better. Case 2: A 70-year asymptomatic woman in sinus rhythm, with coronary artery disease and ejection fraction of 35% is receiving once a day enalapril 10 mg, metoprolol succinate 200 mg, digoxin 0.125 mg, and furosemide 20 mg. There are no signs of heart failure. Six months after digoxin discontinuation she continues to remain asymptomatic. As far back as the ancient Egyptians, cultures were known to have used medicinal plants containing cardiac glycosides. It was not until 1542 that the German scholar Fuchsius coined the now common term digitalis for the foxglove plant. Since 1785, when Sir William Withering published his textbook1 on the “account of the foxglove,” physicians have used digitalis preparations to treat edematous states, irregular heartbeats, and chronic heart failure (HF). According to Withering, digitalis was believed to slow heart rate in patients with irregular pulse and result in diuresis. Digoxin’s primary mechanism of action is the ability to inhibit membrane-bound alpha subunits of sodium-potassium ATPase (sodium pump), mainly but not exclusively located in the human myocardium. This inhibition promotes sodium-calcium exchange, which increases the intracellular calcium concentration that is available to the contractile proteins, resulting in an increase …
Role of Endothelin in Intermittent Hypoxia-Induced Hypertension

Clinical studies suggest that sleep apnea causes systemic hypertension. In addition, patients with sleep apnea have elevated plasma levels of endothelin-1 (ET-1). We hypothesized that the intermittent hypoxia/hypercapnia (IH) associated with sleep apnea causes hypertension by increasing ET-1 production. To test this hypothesis, rats with arterial and venous catheters were placed in Plexiglas chambers. IH rat chambers were flushed with an N 2 -CO 2 mixture for 90 seconds to achieve hypoxia/hypercapnia (5% O 2 –5% CO 2 ) followed by 90 seconds of compressed air to achieve normoxia (21% O 2 –0% CO 2 ). Control rat chambers were flushed with 90 seconds of air-air cycles. Cycles for both groups were repeated 8 hours per day for 11 days. Resting mean arterial pressure (MAP) and heart rate were recorded daily before the start of exposure. After 11 days, MAP was significantly elevated in IH rats compared with initial MAP (109±5 mm Hg initial, 139±11 mm Hg day 11) and compared with air-air rats (110±4 mm Hg). On day 11, cumulative doses of PD145065 (a nonselective ET-receptor antagonist) were administered intravenously to the rats breathing room air. PD145065 caused a dose-dependent decrease in MAP in IH rats but did not alter MAP in air-air rats. Plasma ET-1 measured by radioimmunoassay was significantly increased on days 5 and 11 in the IH rats compared with day 1 and compared with air-air rats. There was no significant change in plasma ET-1 over time in air-air rats. We conclude that IH exposure increases both MAP and plasma ET-1 and that the increased ET-1 may contribute to the hypertension.
Preferred Propagation Patterns in Surface Cracks Under Cyclic Loading

There is a dramatic change in the shape of the semi-elliptical cracks growing due to combined cyclic bending and tensile loading of plates. The growing cracks change their shape such that they follow preferred propagation patterns (PPPs). It is observed that computation of strain energy release rate (G) in surface cracks plays an important role in determining the preferred propagation pattern (PPP). Numerical integration techniques have been employed to compute total strain energy (TSE) release rate. The variation of TSE with crack depth (a/t) for different bending ratios (Rb) is presented and discussed. A program in BASIC is written to directly simulate the propagation of crack on the screen. It is shown that for a given cyclic loading field, the PPP represents an upper limit on the aspect ratio of any surface crack growing due to this cyclic loading.Copyright © 1994 by ASME
Solar convection: Comparison of numerical simulations and mixing-length theory

We compare the results of realistic numerical simulations of convection in the superadiabatic layer near the solar surface with the predictions of mixing-length theory. We find that the peak values of such quantities as the temperature gradient, the temperature fluctuations, and the velocity fluctuations, as well as the entropy jump in the simulation, can be reproduced by mixing-length theory for a ratio of mixing length to pressure scale height α ≈ 1.5. However, local mixing-length theory neither reproduces the profiles of these variables with depth nor allows penetration of convective motions into the overlying stable photosphere.
Finding skin in color images

This paper describes the techniques used to separate the hand from a cluttered background in a gesture recognition system. Target colors are identified using a histogram-like structure called a Color Predicate, which is trained in real-time using a novel algorithm. Running on standard PC hardware, the segmentation is of sufficient speed and quality to support an interactive user interface. The method has shown its flexibility in a range of different office environments, segmenting users with many different skin-tones. Variations have been applied to other problems including finding face candidates in video sequences.
Motivation for learning science in kindergarten: Is there a gender gap and does integrated inquiry and literacy instruction make a difference

We investigated whether kindergarten girls' and boys' (N ¼ 162) motivation for science (perceived competence and liking) differed. Children were ethnically and linguistically diverse, primarily from low-income families, and attended one of three schools. One school offered a typical kindergarten science experience. Kindergarteners in the other two schools participated in the Scientific Literacy Project (SLP)—a program based on a conceptually coherent sequence of integrated science inquiry and literacy activities. SLP lasted either 5 or 10 weeks. Regardless of sex, both groups of SLP children had greater motivation for science than children who had only the regular science experience. Moreover, children receiving 10 weeks of SLP reported greater science competence than those who received 5 weeks. Boys in regular classrooms reported liking science more than did girls, however there was no sex difference for SLP children. These results are supported by interview data accessing children's ideas about science. The findings suggest that early meaningful participation in science is likely to promote girls' and boys' motivation for science. 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Res Sci Teach 46: 166-191, 2009
Solid Oxide Fuel Cells based on Proton Conducting Electrolytes

We have fabricated a solid oxide fuel cell (SOFC) using BaCe0.8Y0.2Ox (BCY) proton conductor as the electrolyte. An {approx}15-{micro}m-thick dense BCY film was prepared on a porous Ni/BCY cermet (i.e., ceramic/metal composite) substrate by a colloidal spray deposition technique. The gas permeable Ni/BCY cermet substrate backed with nickel mesh was used as the anode, and platinum paste backed with platinum mesh served as cathode. The current-voltage characteristics of the BCY-based SOFC were measured in the temperature range 600-800 C using wet air on the cathode side and wet hydrogen on the anode side. The open circuit voltage was close to the theoretical value at all operating temperatures. The power density of the fuel cell was {approx}240 and {approx}875 mW/cm2 at 600 and 800 C, respectively.
Expanding the Pool of Stem Cell Therapy for Lung Growth and Repair

The lung’s regenerative capacity resides within long-lived stem cells that can divide, self-renew, and differentiate to repair injured tissue or cell loss and maintain normal homeostasis. The ability to enhance endogenous stem cell capacity to regenerate lung tissue is the key to the treatment of a multitude of debilitating lung diseases such as bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD), idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, pulmonary arterial hypertension, and other acute and chronic ailments of the lung. The challenge lies in identifying the progenitors of a tissue and, in the case of the lung, understanding the complex interactions lung progenitors have with the unique environment of an air–liquid interphase, proximal and distal airways, the intricate vascular tree, and the innate immune response. Indeed, many different lung stem/progenitor cells have been described, and their identity and role in lung regeneration continue to be debated. Article see p 2144 In the past decade, endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) have been isolated from the lungs of animals and shown to have vasculogenic activity. Vasculogenesis was thought to occur only in the yolk sac of the developing embryo, but this dogma was challenged in 1997 by Asahara and coworkers1 who first reported the isolation and characterization of putative endothelial progenitor cells from human peripheral blood, showing they can differentiate into mature endothelial cells and be incorporated in the vessels of animal models of disease. Lung vascular development is closely linked with and may drive lung growth and airway development through the release of endothelial-derived angiogenic factors that induce the proliferation of epithelial progenitor cells to support lung alveolization.2 Hence, lung EPCs may play a critical role not only in normal lung development, but also in lung injury and repair to restore endothelial cell function and maintain homeostasis. By extension, the inability of lung EPCs to …
Public Trust Limits on Greenhouse Gas Trading Schemes: A Sustainable Middle Ground?

There is a some consensus among economists, environmentalists, and politicians that some form of cap and trade' program is the appropriate regulatory mechanism to achieve the greenhouse gas emissions reductions necessary to avoid disastrous global climate disruptions. Cap and trade programs necessarily incorporate tradeable emissions rights - essentially tradeable rights to pollute. As such, they run into principled objection by some environmentalists who oppose the notion of creating economic rights in the global commons - essentially the right to pollute. This principled objection derives doctrinal support from the public trust doctrine - the ancient notion rooted in common law and Roman law that certain public resources such as flowing water, shore lands, and the air are not susceptible of private ownership, but are instead held by the sovereign in trust for the benefit of the public. This article will consider practical and principled arguments for and against emissions trading as a global warming solution as well as the application of public trust principles to greenhouse gas cap and trade. I conclude that, at least under the mature version of the public trust doctrine that prevails in U.S. law, a cap and trade system is not irreconcilable with a cap-and-trade greenhouse gas emissions control program, but that the legacy interests underlying public trust doctrine preclude cap-and-trade programs that exceed sustainable levels of greenhouse gas emissions. Under this approach, all cap-and-trade systems for regulating greenhouse gas emissions proposed to date would exceed public trust limits based on sustainability (including the First Implementation Period of the Kyoto Protocol).
Microwave engineering education: From field theory to circuit theory

While the foundations of microwave engineering remain firmly based on Maxwell's equations, the practice of microwave engineering has changed over the last 60 years in terms of an increasing shift to circuit / transmission line theory for the design and analysis of problems of practical importance. This paper will discuss the changing roles of field theory and circuit theory, and the ways in which microwave engineering education has evolved to meet these changes.
Enhancing the IEEE 802.11e in QoS support: analysis and mechanisms

Despite its support of prioritized services, the IEEE 802.11e enhanced distributed channel access (EDCA) cannot guarantee strict QoS required by real-time services such as voice and video without proper network control mechanisms. To overcome this deficiency, we first build an analytical model to derive upper bounds for both delay means and variations for services of different priorities in the non-saturated 802.11e WLAN, showing that the QoS requirements of real-time services can be satisfied if the input traffic is properly regulated. Based on the analysis, we then propose a call admission control scheme and a rate control scheme to ensure that QoS requirements of real-time services are statistically guaranteed and that best effort services can efficiently use the residual bandwidth