cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Electrospinning of cyanoacrylate tissue adhesives for human dural repair in endonasal surgery.

Cerebral spinal fluid (CSF) leakage is a major postoperative complication requiring surgical intervention, resulting in prolonged healing and higher costs. Biocompatible polymers, such as cyanoacrylates, are currently used as tissue adhesives for closing surgical defects and incisions. Coupling these polymers with nanofiber technology shows promising results for generating nanofibers used in wound care, tissue engineering, and drug delivery. Fiber membranes formed by electrospinning of n-octyl-2-cyanoacrylate (NOCA) are investigated for in situ dural closures after neurosurgery to improve the quality of the closure and prevent post-surgical CSF leaks. Electrospun NOCA fiber membranes showed significantly higher sealing capabilities of defects in human dura, with an average burst pressure of 149 mmHg, compared with that of an FDA-approved common dural sealant that had an average burst pressure of 37 mmHg. In this study, microfabrication of NOCA fibers demonstrates a promising technique for dural repairs.
Stages of Being Foreign as Portrayed in The Citizen and Moscow on the Hudson

The films Moscow on the Hudson (1984) and The Citizen (2013), stories about immigrants seeking asylum and a better life in America, illustrate the model “Stages of Being Foreign” developed by anthropologist Kalervo Oberg (1901–1973). Oberg, son of Finnish immigrants, was the first researcher to use the now popular term “culture shock.” Director and screenwriter Sam Kadi utilizes aspects of his Syrian immigrant story, and director/screenwriter Paul Mazursky draws upon the experiences of his Ukrainian grandfather. The characters in these films experience a preliminary stage, a spectator stage, an increasing participation stage, the pit of the culture shock stage, and finally the adaptation stage.
Enumeration and Representation of Nonisomorphic Bipartite Graphs

We consider bipartite graphs whose point sets consist of two subsets V and U containing 4 and m (⩾ 4) points respectively. The degree of each point in V is at least 3 and no two points in V are joined to the same set of points in U. Let S4 and Sm be permutation groups on V and U, respectively, where Sn is the symmetric group of degree n. We obtain the number of orbits of bipartite graphs determined by S4 x Sm, by using the generalized Polya's Theorem and Burn-side's Lemma. A general method of listing the representatives of orbits is given. For m = 5, 6, the number of orbits is calculated and a list of representatives is presented. The importance of the above problem in the theory of statistical search linear models [3] is also discussed.
Knowledge Planning and Learned Personalization for Web-Based Case Adaptation

How to endow case-based reasoning systems with effective case adaptation capabilities is a classic problem. A significant impediment to developing automated adaptation procedures is the difficulty of acquiring the required knowledge. Initial work on WebAdapt [1] proposed addressing this problem with "just-in-time" knowledge mining from Web sources. This paper addresses two key questions building on that work. First, to develop flexible, general and extensible procedures for gathering adaptation-relevant knowledge from the Web, it proposes a knowledge planning[2] approach in which a planner takes explicit knowledge goals as input and generates a plan for satisfying them from a set of general operators. Second, to focus selection of candidate adaptations from the potentially enormous space of possibilities, it proposes personalizing adaptations based on learned information about user preferences. Evaluations of the system are encouraging for the use of knowledge planning and learned preference information to improve adaptation performance.
Some Aspects of Turbojet Performance Calculation at High Flight Mach Numbers

AT the present time turbojet aircraft types which are capable of level flight Mach numbers well into the supersonic range are appearing in increasing numbers. Yet, while this represents in a sense a new phase in the evolution of piloted aircraft, from the point of view of the propulsion engineer it is rather the end of an era, in that hitherto the turbojet engines employed have been essentially subsonic engines suitably strengthened. Henceforth we may expect to see the use of engines specifically designed for the appropriate range of Mach number, and it is the purpose of this article to review some of the implications of this change of outlook in so far as they affect the prediction of engine performance.
Lazy validation of Experience Graphs

Many robot applications involve lifelong planning in relatively static environments e.g. assembling objects or sorting mail in an office building. In these types of scenarios, the robot performs many tasks over a long period of time. Thus, the time required for computing a motion plan becomes a significant concern, prompting the need for a fast and efficient motion planner. Since these environments remain similar in between planning requests, planning from scratch is wasteful. Recently, Experience Graphs (E-Graphs) were proposed to accelerate the planning process by reusing parts of previously computed paths to solve new motion planning queries more efficiently. This work describes a method to improve planning times with E-Graphs given changes in the environment by lazily evaluating the validity of past experiences during the planning process. We show the improvements with our method in a single-arm manipulation domain with simulations on the PR2 robot.
Religions Policies During the Allied Occupation of Japan, 1945–1952

Religion played a prominent role in the Allied Occupation of Japan (1945–1952) that followed the brutal Pacific War (1941–1945). Officially, the occupiers were to promulgate religious freedom, separate religion from the state, and encourage the Japanese people to develop a ‘desire for religious freedom’. Promulgating religious freedom was the easy part. Separating religion from the state without infringing on religious freedom was far more challenging, and the ambiguous objective of instilling a desire for religious freedom in the Japanese populace was nearly impossible to measure. This review article provides a brief overview of trends in Occupation research, traces historical changes and paradoxes in Occupation religions policy and examines the unexpected and frequently ironic outcomes of that policy. It provides a cursory look into the postwar efflorescence of ‘new religions’ and the politically fraught category of ‘State Shintō’. It closes with an overview of archives and records on the Occupation. Video abstract (click to view)
Segmental Demyelination in Fig4 Deficiency (P1.063)

Objective/Background: To investigate molecular mechanisms of segmental demyelination in Fig4 deficient nerves. Background: Segmental demyelination is a highly prevalent pathological condition in a variety of neurological diseases. However, molecular mechanism responsible for the condition is largely unknown. Deficiency of Fig4 severely affects the human and mouse nervous system by causing lysosomal dysfunction and demyelination. In the present study, we tested a hypothesis whether hyper-dedifferentiation signals play roles in the Fig4-related demyelination. Material and Methods: Fig4-/- mouse nerves, Schwann cells and fibroblasts were examined by teased nerve fiber studies, Western blot and real-time PCR. Results: We found 14.3±1.3% of myelinated nerve fibers with segmental demyelination in 21-day-old Fig4-/- mice but only 1.9%±1.6% in 21-day-old Fig4+/+ mice (p<0.01; n=3 mice for each group). This increase of demyelination was tightly correlated with the increase of Schwann cell dedifferentiation signals, including c-Jun and Notch-1. In addition, Ca2+ levels in Fig4-/- Schwann cells revealed by calcium fluorescent dye were strongly increased, compared with that in Fig4+/+ Schwann cells. In line with this finding, calcium ionophore treatment also increased c-Jun in Schwann cells of sciatic nerves. Calcium chelator-BAPTA decreased c-Jun and Notch-1 in Fig4-/- mouse nerves. Application of calcium chelator BAPTA in vivo inhibited segmental demyelination in Fig4-/- nerves. Conclusion: These findings suggest that dedifferentiation signals are enhanced in Fig4-deficient Schwann cells via an increase of Ca2+ in myelinating Schwann cells, leading to segmental demyelination. Supported by grants from NINDS (R01NS066927) and Veterans Affairs (B6243R). Disclosure: Dr. Hu has nothing to disclose. Dr. Yan has nothing to disclose. Dr. Li has nothing to disclose.
Relational Strategies and Firm Performance: Insights From an Orienting Conceptual Framework

Managing relationships to create distinctive value is the essence of supply chain management. Thus, relational strategies have been widely—if not deeply—studied over the past 20 years. Meta-analyses evaluating the link between supply chain integration/collaboration and firm performance have recently appeared. Although a typically positive link is demonstrated, these metaanalyses reveal that we have yet to fully understand relational strategies’ nuanced mechanics. Mackelprang et al. (2014) note the following:
Chapter 5 The Pathogenesis of Type 1 Diabetes

Publisher Summary This chapter discusses the pathogenesis of type 1 diabetes (T1D). T1D is caused by the auto-immune destruction of the insulin producing β-cell of the pancreatic islet. T1D is the most common cause of diabetes in childhood and is increasingly recognized as a cause of diabetes initially presenting in adulthood. T1D is the cause of 5–10% of diabetes. The origin of the autoimmunity is thought to be multi-factorial and has been attributed to genetic and environmental factors. A clear understanding of factors leading to the development of T1D is of paramount importance to the development of prevention and treatment strategies. This chapter explores a proposed model for the development of T1D, discusses the factors that have been implicated in its development and touches on intervention trials to prevent the development of T1D in groups at risk.
Immigration and the Constraints of Justice: Between Open Borders and Absolute Sovereignty

1. Introduction 2. Statism, self-determination and associate ownership 3. Refining associative ownership 4. Rights-based arguments for open borders 5. Distributive justice and open borders 6. The significance of national identity 7. Applications 8. Works cited.
Interdependent Sampling and Social Influence

Most explanations of social influence focus on why individuals might want to agree with the opinions or attitudes of others. The authors propose a different explanation that assumes the attitudes of others influence only the activities and objects individuals are exposed to. For example, individuals are likely to be exposed to activities that their friends enjoy. The authors demonstrate that such influence over sampling behavior is sufficient to produce a social influence effect when individuals form attitudes by learning from experience. Even if the experiences of 2 individuals, when they sample an object or event, are independent random variables, their attitudes will become positively correlated if their sampling processes are interdependent. Interdependent sampling of activities thus provides a different explanation of social influence with distinct empirical and theoretical implications.
The Nuclear Receptor CAR Is a Regulator of Thyroid Hormone Metabolism during Caloric Restriction

The orphan nuclear receptor CAR (NR1I3) has been characterized as a central component in the coordinate response to xenobiotic and endobiotic stress. In this study, we demonstrate that CAR plays a pivotal function in energy homeostasis and establish an unanticipated metabolic role for this nuclear receptor. Wild-type mice treated with the synthetic CAR agonist 1,4-bis[2-(3,5-dichloropyridyloxy)]benzene (TCPOBOP) exhibited decreased serum concentration of the thyroid hormone (TH) thyroxine (T4). However, treatment of Car–/– mice with TCPOBOP failed to elicit these changes. To examine whether CAR played a role in the regulation of TH levels under physiological conditions, wild-type and Car–/– mice were fasted for 24 h, a process known to alter TH metabolism in mammals. As expected, the serum triiodothyronine and T4 concentrations decreased in wild-type mice. However, triiodothyronine and T4 levels in fasted Car–/– mice remained significantly higher than those in fasted wild-type animals. Concomitant with the changes in serum TH levels, both CAR agonist treatment and fasting induced the expression of CAR target genes (notably, Cyp2b10, Ugt1a1, Sultn, Sult1a1, and Sult2a1) in a receptor-dependent manner. Importantly, the Ugt1a1, Sultn, Sult1a1, and Sult2a1 genes encode enzymes that are capable of metabolizing TH. An attenuated reduction in TH levels during fasting, as observed in Car–/– mice, would be predicted to increase weight loss during caloric restriction. Indeed, when Car–/– animals were placed on a 40% caloric restriction diet for 12 weeks, Car–/– animals lost over twice as much weight as their wild-type littermates. Thus, CAR participates in the molecular mechanisms contributing to homeostatic resistance to weight loss. These data imply that CAR represents a novel therapeutic target to uncouple metabolic rate from food intake and has implications in obesity and its associated disorders.
Hydrogen-Induced Internal-Stress Plasticity in Titanium

Internal-stress plasticity is a deformation mechanism resulting from the biasing of internal mismatch stresses by an external stress.[1] These internal stresses can be produced by a temperature change in materials with grains (or phases) exhibiting different thermal expansion coefficient[2] or different density during a phase transformation[3]; alternate sources of internal stresses include compressibility mismatch during pressure changes[4] and swelling mismatch during irradiation.[5] The most common type of mismatch generation is thermal, as it easily lends itself to cycling during which tensile strains well in excess of 100 pct can be accumulated; this phenomenon is known as internal-stress superplasticity.[1] The purpose of the present article is to report, for the first Fig. 1—Titanium-hydrogen phase diagram[14] showing chemical cycles time, internal-stress plasticity where internal stresses are used in the present study of chemically induced internal-stress plasticity induced by a reversible change of chemical composition (at at 805 or 860 8C ( pH2 5 0 } 4.1 kPa) as well as typical thermal cycles constant temperature and pressure) rather than a change used in the literature for thermally induced internal-stress plasticity in of temperature or pressure (at constant composition), as hydrogen-free Ti (T 5 860 } 900 8C). illustrated in Figure 1. We use the Ti-H system to demonstrate this effect, because hydrogen diffuses rapidly in and out of titanium where it produces mismatch strains both directly (by lattice swelling in the presence of concentration gradients) and indirectly (by inducing the hcp (a-Ti) to bcc (b-Ti) transformation), as demonstrated in a recent study of hydrogen-induced ratchetting.[6] We note that this chemically induced internal-stress plasticity is fundamentally different from thermochemical processing of titanium[7] where hydrogen alloying is used to produce a weaker, more easily workable b-Ti phase, and where internal stresses are unimportant. Titanium plates (99.7 pct pure, from Alpha Aesar, MA) were machined into dog-bone specimens with a gage 28 to 52 mm in length, 5.4 to 6.0 mm in width, and 2 mm in thickness. Specimens were tested in a low-stress creep apparatus described earlier,[8] modified to allow for a gas atmosphere flowing at a rate of 1.22 L/min, which could be changed from Ar (99.999 pct pure) to an Ar/4 vol pct H2 mixture. This 4.1 kPa hydrogen partial pressure corresponds to an equilibrium hydrogen concentration in titanium well within the b-Ti field (Figure 1). The specimen strain was continuously measured at the cold end of the load train and the temperature was maintained at a constant value of 805 8C 6 2 8C or 860 8C 6 2 8C by a thermocouple contacting the gage section or the pull head. Figure 2 shows the creep rate as a function of the applied Fig. 2—Isothermal creep rate at 805 8C and 860 8C for hydrogen-free astress for hydrogen-free a-Ti and for fully hydrogenated bTi and fully hydrogenated b-Ti. Ti at temperatures of 805 8C and 860 8C. The stress exponents
Medicine data transceiver

In this paper, we exploit the Internet-of-Thing (IoT) manner to design a body medicine data transceiver (BMDT) that is composed of the following 4 parts: 1) the core is a embedded signal chip, 2) three different kinds of transmutation modules such as USB, RF and UART modules connect to the baby medicine measurement instrument, 3) a I2C module is used to acquires the users data, and 4) through a network module links to the servers in cloud to store the baby-medicine data of each people.
Sea level anomaly signals in the Agulhas Current region

[1] In the Agulhas Current and its sources and sinks, variability in steric height derived from the 0.1° POP model is 3–11 times greater than the mass-load signal at periods shorter than 20 days, the approximate limit of temporal resolution for the Jason series of satellite altimeters. Model output is evaluated for realism against in situ SLA data from a suite of moorings deployed in the southeastern South Atlantic Ocean in 2003–2005. The effects of temporal filtering and alongtrack smoothing on output sampled at 10-day intervals is examined. In approximately 14% of the region, including much of the Agulhas Retroflection, aliasing is ≤10% only at periods of ≥120 days. Smoothing reduces that proportion by 40% but also sharply reduces variability at periods of ≤73 days indicating that use of Jason-style altimetry for time series analysis of this current system should be confined to seasonal and longer scales.
Real-time measurements of reaction intermediates and adsorbed species in heterogeneous catalytic reaction systems

Abstract With multichannel detection, in situ Surface-Enhanced Raman spectroscopy (SERS) is demonstrated to provide a viable and valuable means of examining adsorption and reactions at transition metal surfaces in gas phase environments, especially at high pressures and elevated temperatures of relevance to heterogeneous catalysis where other vibrational techniques are of limited utility. In fact, an enticing virtue of SERS is the ability to acquire time-resolved spectra; with the advent of charge-coupled device (CCD) technology, real-time sequences even in the subsecond time regime are now becoming straightforward. In this work, adsorption and reactions at rhodium-high pressure gas interfaces are investigated at temperatures up to 350°C; systems including nitric oxide, carbon monoxide and oxygen on rhodium catalyst surfaces are studied in a flow reactor. For example, the temporal replacement of adsorbed CO by NO, as well as temperature-induced changes in surface composition, are followed on a seconds timescale by means of a spectrograph-CCD detector arrangement. Such results illustrate the real-time capabilities of the present SERS in heterogeneous catalytic systems.
Theoretical study of the thermoelastic properties of elastin model chains

Abstract The origin of the elastic behaviour of the bioelastomer elastin has been a matter of some controversy in recent years, as has been the degree of stable secondary structure present in the native state. Available data on the primary sequence of the protein chains constituting the elastin network has indicated a significant incidence of three repeat peptides of length four, five and six, with all containing a Pro-Gly pair within them. The present investigation involved the calculation of the temperature coefficient of the mean-square end-to-end distance 〈r2〉0 of random-coil model chains composed exclusively of one of the three repeat peptides. This configuration-dependent property is directly related to the experimentally obtained energetic component of the elastic force. The values of dln 〈r 2 〉 0 d T for each model chain were evaluated through the use of semi-empirical energy calculations on terminally-blocked residues present in the aforementioned repeat peptides, and subsequent use of established matrix techniques for calculating 〈r2〉0 for polypeptides within a scheme involving independently rotating virtual bonds. Three levels of hydrogen bonding inclusion were investigated to help establish the importance of this contribution. The small positive value of the energetic component of the elastic force for elastin in the literature was found to be adequately reproduced in these calculations on the random-coil model chains.
On the number of Q-isomorphism classes of elliptic curves in each Q-isogeny class

Abstract It is shown that there are at most eight Q-isomorphism classes of elliptic curves in each Q-isogeny class.
Using bomb radiocarbon analyses to validate age and growth estimates for the tiger shark, Galeocerdo cuvier , in the western North Atlantic

Refined and validated age and growth determinations are necessary for a proper understanding of tiger shark (Galeocerdo cuvier) life history characteristics in the western North Atlantic (WNA). Age and growth estimates were derived from band counts of 238-sectioned vertebral centra. Bomb radiocarbon analysis of ten band pairs extracted from four vertebral sections suggested that band pairs are deposited annually up to age 20. Males and females were aged to 20 and 22 years, respectively, although longevity estimates predict maximum ages of 27 and 29 years, respectively. Two- and three-parameter von Bertalanffy and Gompertz growth functions fit to length at age data demonstrated that growth rates were similar for males and females up to around 200 cm fork length (FL) after which male growth slowed. Both sexes appear to reach maturity at age 10. The two-parameter von Bertalanffy growth function provided the best biological fit to length at age data generating parameter estimates of: L∞ = 330 cm FL, k = 0.131 for males and L∞ = 347 cm FL, k = 0.124 for females, with L0 set at 62 cm FL. This study provides a rigorous description of tiger shark age and growth in the WNA and further demonstrates the utility of bomb radiocarbon as an age validation tool for elasmobranch fish.
Antibodies to MMTV-related antigen in breast cancer patients of different ages

The proportion of women with breast cancer in whom circulating antibodies to mouse mammary tumor virus (MMTV)-related antigen were detected by indirect immunofluorescence was found to increase with advancing age of patients. The incidence of patients with breast cancer in whom these antibodies were not detected increased up to age 40; in older patients it was essentially independent of age. This observation suggests that the higher incidence of breast cancer among older women in the general population correlates with a subset of patients in whom circulating antibodies to MMTV can be demonstrated.
Relationship of membrane physical properties to alcohol dependence in mice selected for genetic differences in alcohol withdrawal

Genetic selection based on severity of withdrawal seizures following inhalation of ethanol vapor has produced two lines of mice, WSR (withdrawal seizure resistant) and WSP (withdrawal seizure prone), that differ markedly in withdrawal signs. In the present study, we report that these mice also differed in the severity of withdrawal seizures following consumption of an ethanol-containing liquid diet but did not differ in ethanol intake. In contrast to ethanol withdrawal seizures, the lines displayed similar sensitivity to electrical- or pentylenetetrazole-induced seizures. These results suggest that the lines differ in the development of physical dependence on ethanol rather than seizure sensitivity per se. Because decreased synaptic membrane fluidity has been associated with ethanol dependence, we used fluorescence polarization of diphenylhexatriene and trimethylammonium-diphenylhexatriene to evaluate membrane fluidity in WSP and WSR mice fed lab chow, an ethanol-containing liquid diet, or an isocaloric sucrose-containing liquid diet. Fluidity of brain synaptic membranes was identical for WSP and WSR mice fed lab chow. The control liquid diet did not alter membrane fluidity, and the ethanol diet decreased fluidity equally for WSP and WSR mice. Thus, the genetic difference in development of ethanol dependence found in these lines was not reflected in the physical properties of brain membranes.
Theoretical Analysis on Reflection Properties of Reflectarray Unit Cells Using Quality Factors

In this paper, a novel theoretical approach to extract the reflection coefficient of reflectarray unit cells is developed. The approach is applied to single-resonance unit cell elements under metallic-waveguide incidence. Using this theory, effects of different physical parameters on reflection properties of unit cells can be thoroughly studied without the need of full-wave simulations. It is shown that the reflectarray unit cell falls into three coupling regions depending on its physical dimensions and substrate properties, which lead to either well-behaved or inadequate reflection phase. Detailed analysis is performed for Ka -band reflectarray unit cells and verified by full-wave simulations. Reflectarray unit cells with different substrate thicknesses, patch widths, and dielectric constants are fabricated and measured. The measurement data closely matches both the theory and full-wave simulations. The presented theory provides valuable physical insight and guidelines for optimization of reflectarray unit cells.
Effect of copper-deficient diet on metabolism in rat auditory structures

Abstract Copper is a trace element known to be critical for normal brain function, and abnormal copper metabolism has been associated with some disorders involving the auditory system. We examined effects of copper deficiency on metabolism in major structures of the auditory system. Homogenates of cochlea, cochlear nucleus and inferior colliculus of rats, as well as whole brain, were assayed for activities of enzymes of oxidative and glycolytic energy metabolism — malate and lactate dehydrogenase, enzymes of acetylcholine metabolism - choline acetyltransferase and acetylcholinesterase, and concentrations of amino acids. Whole brain was also assayed for activity of Superoxide dismutase, a copper-containing enzyme, and concentrations of minerals. For these chemicals and tissues, the only significant differences between copper-deficient and copper-adequate rats were: (1) decreased copper and magnesium and increased potassium concentrations in whole brain of copper-deficient rats and (2) an elevation of glutamine concentration in inferior colliculus and whole brain of copper-deficient rats. The elevated glutamine could not be related to any change in activity of glutamine synthetase or glutaminase, major enzymes of glutamine metabolism. It is speculated that the increase in glutamine might result from a net increase in ammonia accumulation in the brains of copper-deficient rats.
Human evolution: Tangled genetic routes

It is generally accepted that early human evolution took place in Africa, with human populations spreading from there. Using genetics to trace events in more detail remains a challenging task.
Characterization and optimization of peptide arrays for the study of epitope-antibody interactions using surface plasmon resonance imaging

The characterization of peptide arrays on gold surfaces designed for the study of peptide−antibody interactions using surface plasmon resonance (SPR) imaging is described. A two-step process was used to prepare the peptide arrays: (i) a set of parallel microchannels was used to deliver chemical reagents to covalently attach peptide probes to the surface by a thiol−disulfide exchange reaction; (ii) a second microchannel with a wraparound design was used as a small-volume flow cell (5 μL) to introduce antibody solutions to the peptide surface. As a demonstration, the interactions of the FLAG epitope tag and monoclonal anti-FLAG M2 were monitored by SPR imaging using a peptide array. This peptide−antibody pair was studied because of its importance as a means to purify fusion proteins. The surface coverage of the FLAG peptide was precisely controlled by creating the peptide arrays on mixed monolayers of alkanethiols containing an amine-terminated surface and an inert alkanethiol. The mole fraction of peptide...
Photoionization of the scandium atom. II. Classifications

In this paper we use the calculated photoabsorption cross section and scattering parameters to classify most of the autoionizing lines reported by Garton et al. [Proc. R. Soc. London Ser. A 333, 1 (1973)]. This study proves the capabililty of eigenchannel R-matrix calculations to provide spectroscopically useful information on the complicated spectra of transition-metal atoms. We present cross sections for the six optically allowed combinations 4${\mathit{s}}^{2}$3d $^{2}$${\mathit{D}}_{3/2,5/2}$\ensuremath{\rightarrow}${1}^{\mathit{o}}$/2,${3}^{\mathit{o}}$/2,${5}^{\mathit{o}}$/2,${7}^{\mathit{o}}$/2 from near the (4s3d${)}^{3}$D thresholds to the (3${\mathit{d}}^{2}$${)}^{3}$F thresholds.
Evaluation and Management of Transient Ischemic Attack and Minor Cerebral Infarction

After immediate intervention for cerebral infarction or transient ischemic attack (TIA), the primary goal is secondary prevention of future cerebral ischemia and prevention of complications related to the initial ischemic event. The goals of the diagnostic evaluation are to (1) determine potential contributing mechanisms (cardioembolic, large-vessel disease of the extracranial and intracranial vessels, small-vessel disease, coagulation defects, and cryptogenic), (2) identify contributing risk factors (hypertension, hyperlipidemia, tobacco use, diabetes), and (3) complete the evaluation in a cost-effective and safe manner. We provide a sequential approach to the diagnostic evaluation of cerebral infarction or TIA to optimize diagnostic yield of testing, minimize cost and potential harm to the patient, and provide information that will change management. This systematic approach focuses on 6 important questions: (1) Are the symptoms consistent with a cerebral infarction or TIA (versus nonischemic pathology)? (2) Where does the ischemic event localize? (3) What etiologies and mechanisms of cerebral infarction and TIA are possible? (4) What is the prevalence of each potential etiology? (5) What treatments are available for this etiology? (6) What tests and studies are useful to evaluate this etiology?
THE INTERACTION OF MYCOPLASMAS WITH MAMMALIAN CELLS : I. HELA CELLS, NEUTROPHILS, AND EOSINOPHILS

The ultrastructure of three mycoplasma species, Mycoplasma pneumoniae, Mycoplasma gallisepticum , and Mycoplasma neurolyticum , has been studied in isolated form as well as in HeLa cell cultures and following incubation with human peripheral blood leukocytes. During log growth phase, the organisms could be distinguished from each other on the basis of their fine structure. In mammalian cell cultures, PPLO's appeared to proliferate on the plasma membranes which had markedly increased their surface area by means of long cytoplasmic processes which extended toward and surrounded them. Some of the microorganisms affected in this way may well have lain, not in vacuoles, but at the bottom of crypts. It is suggested that the cytopathogenic effect exerted by PPLO's on some tissue cultures may be attributable to membrane damage. Mycoplasmas adhered to leukocyte plasma membranes in a similar manner. They were avidly phagocytosed by neutrophils and eosinophils with accompanying degranulation of the white cells. It is thus likely that the local inflammatory reaction induced by PPLO's does not differ in essence from that caused by bacteria.
An unusual phosphatidylethanolamine-utilizing cardiolipin synthase is discovered in bacteria

Cardiolipin (also known as diphosphatidylglycerol) is a four-chained anionic membrane phospholipid composed of two phosphatidyl moieties joined by a glycerol link (Fig. 1). It was first isolated from beef heart as a serologically active phospholipid (1), hence the name cardiolipin. In animals, plants, and lower eukaryotic organisms (e.g., yeast), cardiolipin is a component of the inner mitochondrial membrane bilayer, where it plays an important role in the function of enzyme complexes involved in energy transduction and ATP synthesis (2, 3). It is found in the membranes of Gram-positive and Gram-negative bacteria, where it also functions in energy production (2, 3). The nature (i.e., chain length and degree of saturation) of the four acyl groups and the hydrophilic head group of this phospholipid have an impact on mitochondrial membrane structure and function, and, by extension, the roles this organelle plays in cell physiology (2, 4). Thus, how cardiolipin is synthesized, remodeled, and metabolized are important areas of investigation. The importance of cardiolipin in mitochondrial function is further emphasized by the fact that defects in tafazzin-mediated remodeling of the fatty acyl composition of cardiolipin is the molecular basis for human Barth syndrome, a disease characterized by heart failure, myopathy, neutropenia, and growth retardation in children (3, 4).
PROTONS AND DEUTERONS EJECTED FROM NUCLEI BY 90-MEV NEUTRONS

The angular and energy distributions of the fast charged particles emerging from nuclei bombarded by 90-Mev neutrons have been investigated. The results indicate that the nature of the collision process is determined predominantly by interactions of the bombarding particle with single nucleons rather than with the struck nucleus as a whole: angular distributions are found to be peaked in the forward direction for all emergent particles, the degree of peaking increasing with energy. Deuterons are found to be more concentrated in the forward direction than are protons. In the case of carbon, particles traveling in the forward direction with energies greater than 20 Mev consist of 60 percent protons, 36 percent deuterons, and about 4 percent tritons.
Water use efficiency as a function of leaf age and position within the cotton canopy

The gas exchange properties of whole plant canopies are an integral part of crop productivity and have attracted much attention in recent years. However, insufficient information exists on the coordination of transpiration and CO2 uptake for individual leaves during the growing season. Single-leaf determinations of net photosynthesis (Pn), transpiration (E) and water use efficiency (WUE) for field-grown cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) leaves were recorded during a 2-year field study. Measurements were made at 3 to 4 day intervals on the main-stem and first three sympodial leaves at main-stem node 10 from their unfolding through senescence. Results indicated that all gas exchange parameters changed with individual main-stem and sympodial leaf age. Values of Pn, E and WUE followed a rise and fall pattern with maximum rates achieved at a leaf age of 18 to 20 days. While no significant position effects were observed for Pn, main-stem and sympodial leaves did differ in E and WUE particularly as leaves aged beyond 40 days. For a given leaf age, the main-stem leaf had a significantly lower WUE than the three sympodial leaves. WUE's for the main-stem and three sympodial leaves between the ages of 41 to 50 days were 0.85, 1.30, 1.36 and 1.95 μmol CO2 mmol−1 H2O, respectively. The mechanisms which mediated leaf positional differences for WUE were not strictly related to changes in stomatal conductance (gs·H2O) since decreases in gs·H2O with leaf age were similar for the four leaves. However, significantly different radiant environments with distance along the fruiting branch did indicate the possible involvement of mutual leaf shading in determining WUE. The significance of these findings are presented in relation to light competition within the plant canopy during development.
Individual Characteristics and Self-Perceived Burden in Cancer Patients

Past research on self-perceived burden (SPB) has primarily focused on palliative care cancer patients with the scope of the research concentrating on explanations of the construct and identification of correlated variables, such as psychological distress. Little is known, however, about individual differences and how they may contribute to the experience of SPB. This quantitative study was designed to investigate the relationship between SPB and autonomy, environmental mastery, and resiliency, as well as the occurrence of SPB in cancer patients with varying prognoses. Using a cross-sectional survey method, 61 cancer patients were recruited from three regional cancer centers in Central and Southwest Virginia. The findings revealed autonomy and environmental mastery to statistically significantly predict a small amount of variance in SPB scores R2 = 0.12, adjusted R2 = 0.09, F (2, 54) = 3.61, p < 0.05. Resilience did not prove to predict SPB. Findings also revealed SPB to be a relatively common occurrence in cancer patient with varying prognoses. The results also demonstrate that cancer patients with varying prognoses are impacted by self-perceived burden increasing their risk of physical, psychological, and existential distress.
Fourier processing of shearing interferometric fringe patterns

We describe a compact shearing interferometric system for the measurement of full-field stress distributions of optically isotropic, transparent structures. Design of the system is based on the consideration that the analysis of the experimental data should be automated so as to obtain results with high spatial resolution and high accuracy. To this end, a specially designed Wollaston prism is used to generate a pair of spatially displaced beams when the prism is illuminated by a collimated laser beam. The two sheared and orthogonally polarized versions of the laser beam interfere with each other by the use of an analyzer. In addition, the special prism can also generate a set of parallel and equally spaced carrier fringes in the interference pattern of the shearing interferometer. The presence of the carriers greatly facilitates the analysis of the fringe patterns obtained in the interferometer when a Fourier transform phase measurement technique is applied. Experiments performed include several specimens with different configurations and materials, namely: (1) a homogeneous PMMA specimen with a crack; (2) a PMMA/aluminum bi-material specimen with an interfacial crack and (3) a PMMA/aluminum bi-material specimen with a sub- interfacial crack. Results obtained from the Fourier analysis technique are in good agreement with those from finite element method.© (1997) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Attenuation of Continuous Vibration Transmission in the Hand and Arm Using Composite-Based Tool Designs

Exposure to high noise levels may be the most common occupational hazard. Recent estimates suggest that as many as 30 million Americans are exposed to noise levels greater than the current safe limits for workplaces. At current durations of exposure, it is expected that 25% of these workers will develop permanent, noise-induced hearing loss. In many of these industrial environments, high levels of vibration also exist that can lead to several injuries and ailments. To address the adverse effects associated with the use of high noise emission impact tools, a study was initiated to develop and evaluate alternate tool designs that reduce the potential for hearing loss and vibration-related injuries. Recent work has focused on integrating advanced engineering polymers (composites) into tool designs for the purpose of eliminating direct metal-to-metal impact. This approach has several significant performance advantages including reduced operator discomfort due to hand-arm mechanical shock, reduced noise, and less danger from flying metal fragments. To quantify sound emission characteristics of these new designs, continuous sound pressure, maximum sound pressure, and maximum sound pressure level were measured using an array of five precision microphones each located 1 meter from the tool. Data was sampled at 40 kHz while test subjects operate both pneumatic tools and hand-struck tools. Frequency spectra of the sound pressure signals were examined for all tool treatments, and indicate that the addition of a polymer insert between metal impact components significantly reduces noise emission, especially at higher frequencies. Sound pressure levels were reduced by as much as 4 dBA compared to conventional tool designs. Similar reductions were observed in vibration transmission in the hand and arm. As a result, tools that integrate polymer-based components may be operated for longer daily exposure times without inducing hearing loss or vibration-related injuries. Data from this study may also help auditory and ergonomic specialists in understanding impulse noise characteristics and exposure.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
Characterization of unconstraint and constraint shape recoveries of an epoxy based shape memory polymer

Abstract Shape memory polymers (SMPs) are an emerging class of active polymers that can be used on a wide range of reconfigurable structures and actuation devices. The present study comprehensively examines the shape recovery abilities of an epoxy-based SMP under unconstraint and constraint conditions. Results show that the present SMP exhibits excellent shape recovery under unconstraint conditions, regardless of the levels of fixing strain and fixing temperature. The SMPs are also able to recover fully under load and to generate high levels of stress during recovery. When activated under a programed thermomechanical cycle, the material has demonstrated excellent shape fixity and reached full recovery on re-heating. The shape recovery process of the SMP has been analyzed by using Chen and Lagoudas' model. Each step of the thermomechanical cycle (deforming, cooling, fixing, and recovering) has been successfully predicted. The simulated results are found to be consistent with the experimental observations.
Ultrastructure of stratum lacunosum moleculare interneurons of hippocampal CA1 region

Intracellular recordings were obtained from nonpyramidal neurons (interneurons) in stratum lacunosum-moleculare (L-M) of the CA1 region of guinea pig hippocampal slices. These interneurons had response characteristics that distinguish them from pyramidal cells and other interneuron types: the L-M neurons had relatively broad action potentials with large spike afterhyperpolarizations, high input resistance and little spike-firing adaptation, and low spontaneous activity. Lucifer Yellow (LY) and horseradish peroxidase (HRP) were injected intracellularly into physiologically identified L-M interneurons, and the cells were characterized morphologically using light and electron microscopy. L-M somata were fusiform-shaped (15 x 25 micron), had multiple processes, and were located at the border between stratum (str.) lacunosum-moleculare and str. radiatum. L-M dendrites coursed through str. lacunosum-moleculare and projected into str. radiatum. L-M axons made axodendritic synaptic contacts primarily in str. lacunosum-moleculare and str. radiatum, but also in str. moleculare of the dentate gyrus. These axodendritic synaptic contacts were made onto spiny dendritic processes (presumably pyramidal cell and granule cell dendrites) and onto aspinous dendrites (presumably interneuron dendrites), and appeared to be of the symmetric type (type 2), characteristic of inhibitory synapses. In separate groups of animals, selective lesions were made of afferents to the CA1 and dentate regions of hippocampus, and subsequent degeneration of contacts and L-M interneuron somata and dendrites was examined at the ultrastructural level. Fibers originating from contralateral and ipsilateral CA3 region, and from ipsilateral entorhinal cortex, were found to make synaptic contact onto presumed L-M interneurons. Degenerating terminals appeared to be of the asymmetric type (type 1), characteristic of excitatory synapses. These morphological data are consistent with electrophysiological results showing that L-M interneurons can mediate feedforward inhibition of CA1 pyramidal cells.
Intraprostatic spermatozoa in the squirrel monkey

The recent observation of spermatozoa within the human prostate prompted this study to determine if spermatozoa were present in prostates of nonhuman primates. Six of 32 squirrel monkey prostates contained intraglandular spermatozoa. No associated pathologic lesions were found. Spermiophages were seen in one case. Although intraprostatic spermatozoa have been postulated to play a role in various prostatic diseases, a normal physiologic phenomenon cannot be excluded.
Phenylpropanolamine-Associated CNS Complications in Children and Adolescents

• Hypertension, severe headache, and grand mal seizures developed in a 13-year-old girl after ingestion of one nonprescription diet pill containing phenylpropanolamine and caffeine. This case is at least the sixth report of seizures with phenylpropanolamine use in children or adolescents. Phenylpropanolamine ingestion must be included in the differential diagnosis of young patients, particularly adolescents, in whom acute neurological symptoms develop. ( AJDC 1984;138:683-685)
S2S architecture and faceted browsing applications

This demo paper will discuss a search interface framework designed as part of the Semantic eScience Framework project at the Tetherless World Constellation. The search interface framework, S2S, was designed to facilitate the construction of interactive user interfaces for data catalogs. We use Semantic Web technologies, including an OWL ontology for describing the semantics of data services, as well as the semantics of user interface components. We have applied S2S in three different scenarios: (1) the development of a faceted browse interface integrated with an interactive mapping and visualization tool for biological and chemical oceanographic data, (2) the development of a faceted browser for more than 700,000 open government datasets in over 100 catalogs worldwide, and (3) the development of a user interface for a virtual observatory in the field of solar-terrestrial physics. Throughout this paper, we discuss the architecture of the S2S framework, focusing on its extensibility and reusability, and also review the application scenarios.
Construction of an overproduction vector containing the novel srp (sterically repressed) promoter

We report the design, synthesis, and evaluation of a novel Escherichia coli promoter intended for use in overproduction of proteins that are deleterious to the host. In this sterically repressed promoter (srp), the lac operator site is positioned between the -10 and -35 elements, where it can interfere sterically with RNA polymerase and thereby prevent assembly of a poised transcriptional complex. An srp-containing phagemid, pKEN1, and a tac-containing phagemid, pHN1, which has been widely used in protein overproduction but is often unstable, are compared with respect to levels of uninduced and induced protein expression. The level of uninduced protein synthesis by the srp promoter in vivo is approximately 50% of that observed with tac, whereas the levels of induced protein synthesis with the 2 vectors are approximately equal. A remarkable increase in stability of overproduction and growth was observed when the toxic Ada protein was overproduced in pKEN1, demonstrating the potential utility of this vector in overproducing toxic proteins.