cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Comparing Apples Without Juxtaposing Oranges: Linking Democratic Practices with Civic Engagement in European Post-Communist Countries

Is the well-established positive relationship between democracy and civil engagemment valid for Post-Communist Europe?
The management of acute severe asthma.

Asthma is a common cause of morbidity and mortality in the United States, with over two million Emergency Department (ED) visits each year. Airway inflammation is recognized as a major component in the pathophysiology of asthma. The classic presentation of asthma is that of wheezing, cough, and dyspnea, however, the severity of airflow limitation correlates poorly with clinical signs. Forced exhaled volume in 1 s (FEV(1)) and the peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) are direct reflections of the severity of airflow obstruction and are the standard measures used in the ED to assess the severity of airflow obstruction and the response to therapy. Beta2-adrenergic bronchodilators, ipratropium bromide, and corticosteroids form the cornerstone of therapy. Inhaled corticosteroids, leukotriene modifying drugs, and noninvasive positive pressure ventilation should be considered in patients with severe disease and in those who have responded poorly to standard therapy. Mechanical ventilation is usually well tolerated and may be lifesaving in patients with refractory asthma. Precautions are required to prevent dynamic hyperinflation during assisted ventilation.
Ontology Matching: A Machine Learning Approach

This chapter studies ontology matching: the problem of finding the semantic mappings between two given ontologies. This problem lies at the heart of numerous information processing applications. Virtually any application that involves multiple ontologies must establish semantic mappings among them, to ensure interoperability. Examples of such applications arise in myriad domains, including e-commerce, knowledge management, e-learning, information extraction, bio-informatics, web services, and tourism (see Part D of this book on ontology applications).
Studies on tail length of Rambouillet and Mouflon sheep

Data are presented on tail length of various breeds or crosses of sheep and various combinations of Mouflon X Rambouillet breeding. Mouflons sheep had 11 coccygeal vertebrae, and Rambouillet had 18-24. Others were intermediate between these types. Finewool sheep (Merino or Rambouillet) had longer tails than medium wool (Dorset, Suffolk or Hampshire), crossed, or Rambouillet breeds. Heritability estimates for tail length of Rambouillet were 0.387 (intra-sire regression), 0.344 (half-sib method), and 0.706 for inter se matings in a population containing some Mouflon breeding. In the Rambouillet breed, tail length was shown to be correlated with various measures of wool production. However, this relationship was low and only wool covering and staple length were significant. The significance of this to the development of long tails in animals under domestication is discussed.
Examination of the role of catecholamines in hepatic glutathione suppression by cold-restraint in mice.

Abstract Cold-restraint stress was found to produce a depression in hepatic glutathione content and to elevate circulating catecholamine levels in four mouse strains — ICR, NIH, B6C3F1, and ND/4. Serum norepinephrine concentrations were significantly elevated after cold-restraint (2–3 h) in all strains, and serum epinephrine levels were increased in the B6C3F1 and ND/4 strains. In time-course studies conducted using ND/4 mice, the decline in hepatic glutathione concentrations was found to slightly precede increases in serum epinephrine and norepinephrine concentrations. Also, pretreatment with phentolamine, and α-adrenoreceptor antagonist compound shown in previous studies to block epinephrine-induced hepatic glutathione suppression, had no effect on glutathione losses from cold-restraint. These observations are inconsistent with catecholamines as sole mediators of cold-restraint induced hepatic glutathione depression. Two other endogenous substances elevated during stress, corticosteroids and glucagon, were found to diminish glutathione concentrations in the liver in ND/4 mice when administered exogenously. The effects of catecholamines (epinephrine), corticosteroids (hydrocortisone) and glucagon were not additive, i.e. the depression in glutathione when these agents were administered in combination was generally no greater than that induced when the most effective agent was administered alone. It is postulated that during cold-restraint stress multiple endogenous agents are released which are independently capable of causing a depression in hepatic glutathione content.
Review: Plant Binary Vectors of Ti Plasmid in Agrobacterium tumefaciens with a Broad Host-Range Replicon of pRK2, pRi, pSa or pVS1

This review chronicles the development of the plant binary vectors of Ti plasmid in Agrobacterium tumefaciens during the last 30 years. A binary vector strategy was designed in 1983 to separate the T-DNA region in a small plasmid from the virulence genes in avirulent T-DNA-less Ti plasmid. The small plant vectors with the T-DNA region have been simply now called binary Ti vectors. A binary Ti vector consist of a broad host-range replicon for propagation in A. tumeraciens, an antibiotic resistance gene for bacterial selection and the T-DNA region that would be transferred to the plant genome via the bacterial virulence machinery. The T-DNA region delimited by the right and left border sequences contains an antibiotic resistance gene for plant selection, reporter gene, and/or any genes of interest. The ColEI replicon was also added to the plasmid backbone to enhance the propagation in Escherichia coli. A general trend in the binary vector development has been to increase the plasmid stability during a long co-cultivation period of A. tumefaciens with the target host plant tissues. A second trend is to understand the molecular mechanism of broad host-range replication, and to use it to reduce the size of plasmid for ease in cloning and for higher plasmid yield in E. coli. The broad host-range replicon of VS1 was shown to be a choice of replicon over those of pRK2, pRi and pSA because of the superior stability and of small well-defined replicon. Newly developed plant binary vectors pLSU has the small size of plasmid backbone (4566 bp) consisting of VS1 replicon (2654 bp), ColE1 replicon (715 bp), a bacterial kanamycin (999 bp) or tetracycline resistance gene, and the T-DNA region (152 bp).
Linking Consumer Behavior Constructs to International Marketing Strategy: A Comment on Wills, Samli, and Jacobs and an Extension

In a 1991 article by Wills, Samli, and Jacobs, a new approach to international marketing strategy development was presented. Two micro constructs, involvement and learning theory, and two macro constructs, cultural context and the diffusion process, were linked in an integrative matrix summarizing various tactics for promoting and distributing a VCR around the world, within the bounds of a global marketing strategy. This comment sharpens the focus and extends the thrust of their work. It examines their proposed research agenda, clarifies certain constructs, and suggests a reformulated approach to theory development. It also proposes an approach to segmenting the world market for VCRs, incorporating four levels of felt involvement and two rates of product learning. Finally, suggestions for future research are outlined.
Analysis of rating data from multiple-alternative tasks☆

Abstract A standard method of estimating a single ROC curve from rating data for two stimulus alternatives has been extended to ratings of multiple alternatives. An observer's ratings are assumed to represent ordinal classifications of a unidimensional decision variable that has a separate distribution for each of M possible stimuli. From these rating data, a maximum-likelihood procedure simultaneously estimates the rating-category boundary values and the 2(M−1) distribution parameters that specify ROC curves between all pairs of the M stimulus alternatives. Many stimulus manipulations, particularly those investigated in psychophysical experiments with visual or auditory stimuli, could justify this M-alternative rating procedure and analysis. An advantage of this method is that it allows reliable measurement of an observer's performance indices at much higher values than does the two-alternative method. The assumption of a unidimensional decision variable may be too restrictive for general decision-making situations, where the decisions among alternatives often involve multiple sources of information. However, the two-alternative method is commonly used to fit rating-ROC curves for some decision-making tasks, such as diagnosis from medical images, for which the multiple-alternative procedure actually might be more appropriate.
A conserved motif in transmembrane helix 1 of diphtheria toxin mediates catalytic domain delivery to the cytosol.

A 10-aa motif in transmembrane helix 1 of diphtheria toxin that is conserved in anthrax edema factor, anthrax lethal factor, and botulinum neurotoxin serotypes A, C, and D was identified by blast, clustal w, and meme computational analysis. Using the diphtheria toxin-related fusion protein toxin DAB389IL-2, we demonstrate that introduction of the L221E mutation into a highly conserved residue within this motif results in a nontoxic catalytic domain translocation deficient phenotype. To further probe the function of this motif in the process by which the catalytic domain is delivered from the lumen of early endosomes to the cytosol, we constructed a gene encoding a portion of diphtheria toxin transmembrane helix 1, T1, which carries the motif and is expressed from a CMV promoter. We then isolated stable transfectants of Hut102/6TG cells that express the T1 peptide, Hut102/6TG-T1. In contrast to the parental cell line, Hut102/6TG-T1 cells are ca. 104-fold more resistant to the fusion protein toxin. This resistance is completely reversed by coexpression of small interfering RNA directed against the gene encoding the T1 peptide in Hut102/6TG-T1 cells. We further demonstrate by GST-DT140-271 pull-down experiments in the presence and absence of synthetic T1 peptides the specific binding of coatomer protein complex subunit β to this region of the diphtheria toxin transmembrane domain.
New horizons in sensor development.

Background Accelerometery and other sensing technologies are important tools for physical activity measurement. Engineering advances have allowed developers to transform clunky, uncomfortable, and conspicuous monitors into relatively small, ergonomic, and convenient research tools. New devices can be used to collect data on overall physical activity and in some cases posture, physiological state, and location, for many days or weeks from subjects during their everyday lives. In this review article, we identify emerging trends in several types of monitoring technologies and gaps in the current state of knowledge.
Reporting goodwill: are the new accounting standards consistent with market valuations?

Abstract In 2001, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued a standard that eliminated the amortization of goodwill and instead requires that it be tested annually for impairment. This study examines the appropriateness of the elimination of systematic goodwill amortization by testing market valuations of goodwill. While only weak support for the initial impairment of goodwill is found, strong evidence of subsequent impairment is found. These results support the elimination of goodwill amortization by accounting regulators.
Carrier-envelope phase control by a composite plate

We demonstrate a new concept to vary the carrier-envelope phase of a mode-locked laser by a composite plate while keeping all other pulse parameters practically unaltered. The effect is verified externally in an interferometric autocorrelator, as well as inside the cavity of an octave-spanning femtosecond oscillator. The carrier-envelope frequency can be shifted by half the repetition rate with negligible impact on pulse spectrum and energy.
Classroom motivation strategies for prospective teachers

Abstract National surveys indicate that student motivation is a principal concern of teachers, yet few publications within the teacher education literature directly address how teachers can best apply established motivational principles. Pivotal to mobilizing student motivation is understanding the role of rewards in sustaining productive task engagement. This article examines the difference between intrinsic and extrinsic motivation for academic learning, the relative value of intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, the effects of extrinsic rewards on intrinsic motivation, the potential compatibility of cognitive and behavioral perspectives of student motivation, and research‐based recommendations for promoting classroom motivation.
Combined effects of caffeine and prostaglandin E2 on the proliferation of osteoblast-like cells (UMR106-01).

Background: The general public widely consumes caffeine (1,3,7-trimethylxanthine), which is contained in various foods, beverages and over-the-counter medications. We have shown previously that caffeine intake could affect bone metabolism in vivo. Methods: Because prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) is shown to be elevated in the periodontally diseased site, the possible interaction between caffeine and PGE2 was investigated in the present study using UMR106-01 rat osteoblast-like cells in vitro. Results: Although neither 0.1 mM caffeine nor 0.1 µg/ml of PGE2 alone showed any inhibitory effects on cell proliferation, the combination of caffeine and PGE 2showed significant inhibition. However, in order to have inhibitory effects, both caffeine and PGE2 had to be present at least 72 or 96 hours in the medium. Addition of the endogenous PGE2 synthesis inhibitor, indomethacin, showed no effects on cell proliferation. Neither cAMP-inducing agent IBMX (0.01 mM and 0.1 mM) nor forskolin (0.001 mM) inhibited cell proliferati...
Impaired hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and its feedback regulation in serotonin transporter knockout mice

Our previous studies have demonstrated that mice with reduced or absent serotonin transporter (SERT+/- and SERT-/- mice, respectively) are more sensitive to stress relative to their SERT normal littermates (SERT+/+ mice). The aim of the present study was to test the hypothesis that the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and its feedback regulation are impaired in these mice. The function and gene expression of several components in the HPA axis and its feedback regulation in SERT+/+, +/( and -/- mice were studied under basal (non-stressed) and stressed conditions. The results showed that (1) under basal conditions, corticotrophin-releasing factor (CRF) mRNA levels in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of the hypothalamus was lower in both SERT+/( and (/( mice relative to SERT+/+ mice; (2) an increased response to CRF challenge was found in SERT(/( mice, suggesting that the function of CRF type 1 receptors (CRF R1) in the pituitary is increased. Consistent with these findings, (125)I-sauvagine (a CRF receptor antagonist) binding revealed an increased density of CRF R1 in the pituitary of SERT(/( under basal conditions. These data suggest that CRF R1 in the pituitary of SERT(/( mice is up-regulated. However, in the pituitary of SERT+/( mice, the function of CRF R1 was not changed and the density of CRF R1 was reduced relative to SERT+/+ mice; and (3) the expression of the glucocorticoid receptor (GR) in the hypothalamus, pituitary and adrenal cortex was significantly reduced in SERT+/( and (/( mice in comparison with SERT+/+ mice under basal conditions. Consistent with these findings, the corticosterone response to dexamethasone was blunted in SERT(/( mice relative to SERT+/+ and +/( mice. Furthermore, stress induces a rapid increase of the GR expression in the hypothalamus of SERT+/( and (/( mice relative to their basal levels. Together, the present results demonstrated that the HPA axis and its feedback regulation are altered in SERT knockout mice, which could account for the increased sensitivity to stress in these mice.
Chromium dinicocysteinate supplementation can lower blood glucose, CRP, MCP-1, ICAM-1, creatinine, apparently mediated by elevated blood vitamin C and adiponectin and inhibition of NFκB, Akt, and Glut-2 in livers of zucker diabetic fatty rats

Chromium and cysteine supplementation can improve glucose metabolism in animal studies. This study examined the hypothesis that a cysteinate complex of chromium is significantly beneficial than either of them in lowering blood glucose and vascular inflammation markers in Zucker diabetic fatty (ZDF) rats. Starting at the age of 6 wk, ZDF rats were supplemented orally (daily gavages for 8 more weeks) with saline-placebo (D) or chromium (400 microg Cr/Kg body weight) as chromium dinicocysteinate (CDNC), chromium dinicotinate (CDN) or chromium picolinate (CP) or equimolar L-cysteine (LC, img/Kg body weight), and fed Purina 5008 diet for 8 wk. ZDF rats of 6 wk age before any supplementations and onset of diabetes were considered as baseline. D rats showed elevated levels of fasting blood glucose, HbA(1), CRP, MCP-1, ICAM-1 and oxidative stress (lipid peroxidation) and lower adiponectin and vitamin C, when compared with baseline rats. In comparison to D group, CDNC group had significantly lower blood glucose, HbA(1), CRP, MCP-1, ICAM-1 and lipid peroxidation and increased vitamin C and adiponectin levels. CDN, CP or LC showed significantly less or no effect on these biomarkers. Only CDNC lowered blood creatinine levels in comparison to D. While CDN and CP had no effect, activation of NFkappaB, Akt and glucose transporter-2 levels were decreased, insulin receptor substrate 1 (IRS-1) activation increased in livers of CDNC-rats. CDNC effect on glycemia, NFkappaB, Akt and IRS-1 in liver was significantly greater compared with LC. Blood chromium levels did not differ between Cr-groups. Exogenous vitamin C supplementation significantly inhibited MCP-1 secretion in U937 monocytes cultured in high-glucose-medium. CDNC is a potent hypoglycemic compound with anti-inflammatory activity apparently mediated by elevated blood vitamin C and adiponectin and inhibition of NFkappaB, Akt, and Glut-2 and increased IRS-1 activation in livers of type 2 diabetic rats.
Free amino acids in the uterine fluids of four species of viviparous sharks (Squalus acanthias, Carcharhinus plumbeus, Mustelus Canis and Rhizoprionodon terraenovae)

Abstract 1. 1. Uterine fluid and blood plasma samples from pregnant specimens of the viviparous sharks Squalus acanthias, Carcharhinus plumbeus, Mustelus canis and Rhizoprionodon terraenovae were subjected to analysis of free amino acids by high-pressure liquid chromatography. 2. 2. Intracapsular uterine fluid of the matrotroph, Rhizoprionodon terraenovae , whose embryos bear appendiculae, is rich in taurine, glutamate, valine, nor-leucine and phenylalanine and exhibits higher concentrations of all amino acids than the uterine fluids of placental matrotrophs lacking appendiculae. 3. 3. Results are discussed in relation to the evolution of maternal-embryonic transfer mechanisms in viviparous sharks.
Techniques for optimizing inerting in electron processors

Abstract The design of an “inert gas” distribution system in an electron processor must satisfy a number of requirements. The first of these is the elimination or control of beam produced ozone and NOx which can be transported from the process zone by the product into the work area. Since the tolerable levels for O3 in occupied areas around the processor are The second requirement of the inerting system is to provide a suitable environment for completing efficient, free radical initiated addition polymerization. In this case, the competition between radical loss through de-excitation and that from O2 quenching must be understood. This group has used gas chromatographic analysis of electron cured coatings to study the trade-offs of delivered dose, dose rate and O2 concentrations in the process zone to determine the tolerable ranges of parameter excursions can be determined for production quality control purposes. These techniques are described for an ink:coating system on paperboard, where a broad range of process parameters have been studied (D, Ġ, O2. It is then shown how the technique is used to optimize the use of higher purity (10–100 ppm O2) nitrogen gas for inerting, in combination with lower purity (2–20, 000 ppm O2) non-cryogenically produced gas, as from a membrane or pressure swing adsorption generators.
Structural analysis of RNA molecules involved in plasmld copy number control

DNA replication of the plasmid ColE1 and its relatives is controlled mainly by a small plasmid-encoded transcript known as RNA11. We have studied the conformation of RNA1 molecules from two related but compatible plasmids, ColE1 and RSF1030, using T1 ribonuclease, S1 nuclease, cobra venom nuclease, and diethyl pyrocarbonate modification as probes for secondary structure. Both RNA1 molecules contain three double-stranded stems, three single-stranded loops, and an exposed 5' tail. All loops in both molecules show similar sensitivities to the probes used, as do stems 1 and 3. The region comprising stem 2 of each RNA1 molecule contains the most sequence differences as well as the most structural changes of any region in the two molecules. The structure of the RNA1 molecule encoded by a recessive high copy number mutant of ColE1 was also investigated. Structural alterations involving the first stem and loop of the molecule are proposed to be responsible for the inability of the mutant RNA1 to function in vivo.
Dimensional changes in graphite irradiated between 500° and 1100°C

Abstract Two previously proposed quantitative models for the radiation-induced dimensional changes in polycrystalline graphite treated the material as containing a single crystalline phase. One model was based on thermodynamic relationships and the other was derived by averaging the contributions of the individual crystallites. A third model emphasized the effects of small quantities of a second, less crystalline phase, but this model has not been expressed analytically. In the present work, measurements of dimensional changes in radial, circumferential, and longitudinal samples from an extruded graphite tube irradiated to exposures between 1.5 and 2.4 × 10 21 nvt (E>0.18 MeV ) at temperatures between 540° and 1060°C were compared with the relationships predicted by the two quantitative models. It was found that the data agreed best with the single-phase thermodynamic model.
A photosensitive {Ru-NO}6 nitrosyl bearing dansyl chromophore: novel NO donor with a fluorometric on/off switch.

The synthesis, fluorescence properties and NO photolability of [(Me2bpb)Ru(NO)(Ds-im)]BF4, a {Ru–NO}6nitrosyl–fluorophore conjugate, have been investigated and its potential as a trackable NO donor has been evaluated.
Suppression of resistant ventricular arrhythmias by twice daily dosing with flecainide

Abstract Flecainide acetate is a new antiarrhythmic agent whose pharmacokinetics have suggested that effective therapy could be achieved with twice daily dosing. The antiarrhythmic and electrocardiographic effects of flecainide were evaluated in 11 patients with chronic ventricular ectopic beats. Nine patients had been resistant or intolerant to at least three antiarrhythmic agents and eight had recurrent nonsustained ventricular tachycardia. The antiarrhythmic efficacy of increasing doses of flecainide was determined by comparison with results during administration of a placebo 2 days before and 3 days after increasing doses of flecainide. All 11 patients had an antiarrhythmic response with a mean 97 percent (range 88 to 100) rate of suppression of ventricular ectopic beats and mean 100 percent rate of suppression of ventricular tachycardia with a mean daily dose of 410 mg (range 200 to 600) of flecainide. Effective therapy was accompanied by lengthening of the P-R (+ 29 percent), QRS (+ 27 percent) and Q-Tc (+ 11 percent) intervals. These changes were not associated with a deterioration in exercise tolerance or a reduction in ejection fraction (0.52 ± 0.08 with placebo, 0.53 ± 0.12 with flecainide) as assessed with two dimensional echocardiography. Increasing doses of flecainide were associated with progressive prolongation of the ventricular ectopic coupling interval before suppression of ventricular ectopic beats. During the placebo washout period after multiple oral doses, the terminal (postabsorptive) phase plasma half-life of flecainide was found to range from 13 to 27 hours (mean 20.3). The minimal effective plasma levels of flecainide (resulting in greater than 90 percent suppression of ventricular etopic beats) ranged from 245 to 980 ng/ml (mean 631). Adverse effects during the inpatient evaluation were limited to blurring of vision in three patients, which resolved with smaller but still effective doses. Suppression of ventricular ectopic beats at a mean rate of 95 percent continued during outpatient therapy. During a mean of 12 months of outpatient follow-up in nine patients, regularly scheduled evaluation of ambulatory arrhythmia frequency continued to document suppression of arrhythmia. Outpatient follow-up occurred monthly for the first 6 months and every 2nd month thereafter. In three patients it was necessary to administer flecainide every 8 hours because blurring of vision occurred at the time of peak plasma levels when the drug was administered every 12 hours. Flecainide was highly effective in suppressing ventricular arrhythmias when administered twice daily.
Collecting response times using Amazon Mechanical Turk and Adobe Flash

Crowdsourcing systems like Amazon’s Mechanical Turk (AMT) allow data to be collected from a large sample of people in a short amount of time. This use has garnered considerable interest from behavioral scientists. So far, most experiments conducted on AMT have focused on survey-type instruments because of difficulties inherent in running many experimental paradigms over the Internet. This study investigated the viability of presenting stimuli and collecting response times using Adobe Flash to run ActionScript 3 code in conjunction with AMT. First, the timing properties of Adobe Flash were investigated using a phototransistor and two desktop computers running under several conditions mimicking those that may be present in research using AMT. This experiment revealed some strengths and weaknesses of the timing capabilities of this method. Next, a flanker task and a lexical decision task implemented in Adobe Flash were administered to participants recruited with AMT. The expected effects in these tasks were replicated. Power analyses were conducted to describe the number of participants needed to replicate these effects. A questionnaire was used to investigate previously undescribed computer use habits of 100 participants on AMT. We conclude that a Flash program in conjunction with AMT can be successfully used for running many experimental paradigms that rely on response times, although experimenters must understand the limitations of the method.
Tensile properties of welded helium charged 304L stainless steel

Abstract The room-temperature tensile properties of helium-containing 304L stainless steel subjected to thermal cycles simulating fusion welding conditions have been measured. Helium was introduced into tensile specimens by tritium charging, and aged to generate 526 appm 3 He by radioactive decay. The specimens were then vacuum annealed to remove the tritium. The helium-charged samples were subjected to transient thermal cycles simulating those occurring in the heat affected zone of a gas tungsten arc weld. Peak temperatures above 1073 K caused severe ductility losses, fracture mode changes (from ductile transgranular rupture to ductile intergranular fracture), and losses in ultimate tensile strength. These effects are attributed to helium redistribution and void growth on the grain boundary. Subsequently, grain boundary failure occurs during tensile testing because of the large quantity of trapped helium on the boundary.
Discoplasty with autogenous superficial musculoaponeurotic system (SMAS) flap in reconstruction of the temporomandibular joint combined with cervicofacial rhytidectomy

Various autogenous, allogeneic and alloplastic materials have been used in reconstruction of the temporomandibular joint after meniscectomy for degenerative joint disease. Autogenous tissues include temporalis fascia or muscle flap, or both; free auricular cartilage; and dermis. Autogenous materials undoubtedly result in better outcomes, but there may be associated donor site morbidity and unpredictable long term results.1,2 Foreign materials such as Proplast-Teflon cause foreign body giant cell reaction at the insertion site, and sometimes generalized hypersensitivity.3,4 In this technical note we present a new approach using a superficial musculoaponeurotic system (SMAS) pedicled flap to replace an articular disc in reconstruction of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) in elderly patients,
The use of electric network analyzers for pipe network analysis

THE determination of fluid-flow and pressure drop in complicated pipe networks such as gas or water distribution systems presents many problems similar to those encountered by the electrical engineer in the study of transmission and distribution networks. As the network analyzer has proved to be a very great help to the electrical engineer in his studies, it seems reasonable that similar techniques utilizing similar analyzers would be of considerable value in the analysis of pipe networks. Several investigators have reported methods for applying network analyzer techniques to gas or water distribution problems, some using special handling of conventional analyzers and others using special analyzers built solely for fluid-flow problems.
Measurement of solute proton spin-lattice relaxation times in water using the 1,3,3,1 sequence.

1H NMR spin-lattice relaxation times (T1) of the NCH3 proton resonances of phosphocreatine (PCr) and creatine (Cr) in water solutions were obtained using the 1,3,3,1 pulse sequence. These T1 values were equivalent to those obtained in D2O and water using either the conventional inversion-recovery experiment or the 1,3,3,1 pulse sequence. Thus, the 1,3,3,1 sequence of proton NMR can provide an independent means along with phosphorous NMR for assess PCr and for the study of the creatine kinase reaction (PCr + ADP ⇌ ATP + Cr) in aqueous solutions and perhaps in biological preparations. © 1986 Academic Press, Inc.
Predicting bellows response by numerical and theoretical methods

Calcul de la reponse des raccords en soufflet. Revue des differentes methodes, y compris numeriques
Postnatal Erythropoietin Mitigates Impaired Cerebral Cortical Development Following Subplate Loss from Prenatal Hypoxia–Ischemia

Preterm birth impacts brain development and leads to chronic deficits including cognitive delay, behavioral problems, and epilepsy. Premature loss of the subplate, a transient subcortical layer that guides development of the cerebral cortex and axonal refinement, has been implicated in these neurological disorders. Subplate neurons influence postnatal upregulation of the potassium chloride co-transporter KCC2 and maturation of γ-amino-butyric acid A receptor (GABAAR) subunits. We hypothesized that prenatal transient systemic hypoxia-ischemia (TSHI) in Sprague-Dawley rats that mimic brain injury from extreme prematurity in humans would cause premature subplate loss and affect cortical layer IV development. Further, we predicted that the neuroprotective agent erythropoietin (EPO) could attenuate the injury. Prenatal TSHI induced subplate neuronal loss via apoptosis. TSHI impaired cortical layer IV postnatal upregulation of KCC2 and GABAAR subunits, and postnatal EPO treatment mitigated the loss (n ≥ 8). To specifically address how subplate loss affects cortical development, we used in vitro mechanical subplate ablation in slice cultures (n ≥ 3) and found EPO treatment attenuates KCC2 loss. Together, these results show that subplate loss contributes to impaired cerebral development, and EPO treatment diminishes the damage. Limitation of premature subplate loss and the resultant impaired cortical development may minimize cerebral deficits suffered by extremely preterm infants.
Capital Flow Management

There is a wide variety in the capital account policies of emerging markets and developing economies. Some countries, such as Brazil, have recently experimented with prudential controls on capital inflows, whereas others, such as China, have continued to maintain tight controls. This paper reviews the recent theoretical literature explaining the motivations behind capital account policies, and whether there is a case for international coordination in this area.
PALM Reading: Seeing the Future of Cell Biology at Higher Resolution

The inherent resolution limit of the light microscope has been a limiting factor in investigations of many fields of cell biology. A recent paper in Science by Betzig and coworkers describes a new method that can push the limit significantly lower.
Visual air quality assessment: Denver case study

Abstract Studies of visual air quality in the Denver metropolitan region during summer 1979 and winter 1979–1980 are described and results reported. The major objective of the studies was to investigate relationships among four types of variables important to urban visual air quality: (1) individuals' judgements of overall visual air quality; (2) perceptual cues used in making judgments of visual air quality; (3) measurable physical characteristics of the visual environment and (4) concentrations of visibility-reducing pollutants and their precursors. During August 1979 and mid-December 1979 to January 1980, simultaneous measurements of observational and environmental data were made daily at various locations throughout the metropolitan area. Observational data included ratings of overall air quality and related perceptual cues (e.g., distance, clarity, color, border) by multiple observers. Environmental data included routine hourly pollutant and meteorological measurements from several fixed locations within the city, as well as aerosol light scattering and absorption measures from one location. Statistical analyses indicated that (1) multiple perceptual cues are required to explain variation in judgments of overall visual air quality and (2) routine measurements of the physical environment appear to be inadequate predictors of either judgments of overall visual air quality or related perceptual cues.
Specific nature of hydrolysis of insulin and tobacco mosaic virus protein by thermolysin.

Abstract Oxidized bovine insulin and tobacco mosaic virus protein were used as substrates in an investigation of the specificity of thermolysin, a thermostable protease. Thermolysin hydrolyzed the peptide bonds involving the amino groups of leucine and phenylalanine residues of insulin under the conditions used, and preferentially those of leucine, isoleucine, valine, and phenylalanine residues of tobacco mosaic virus protein. It was concluded that thermolysin hydrolyzes preferentially the peptide bonds involving the amino groups of hydrophobic amino acid residues with bulky side chains.
Ovarian cancer screening. The role of ultrasound in early detection.

Background. Because of the urgent need for effective techniques with which to detect organ-confined curable ovarian cancers, efforts have been focused on early detection. Current ovarian cancer screening trials have been hampered by deficiencies in our knowledge of the molecular and biologic events leading to ovarian tumorigenesis. The lack of early ovarian cancer symptoms and the intraperitoneal location of the ovaries contribute to the dilemma of early diagnosis. Methods. Real-time ultrasound screening is aimed at detecting the earliest possible architectural alterations in the ovary indicative of neoplastic growth. Color Doppler imaging detects early alterations in ovarian blood flow that accompany tumorigenesis. Results. To be effective, these modalities must diagnose asymptomatic curable Stage I ovarian cancers and improve ovarian disease-specific survival. Because of the relatively low prevalence of ovarian cancer in the general population, investigators have targeted women at increased risk of ovarian cancer either based on their increasing age or their family histories of cancer. Some of these studies have been underway since the late 1980s and have already demonstrated the potential usefulness and limitations of current sonographic techniques used for screening. Conclusions. Ultrasound screening for ovarian cancer has not demonstrated adequate sensitivity and specificity, thus it is not used widely outside of the clinical trial setting. Current clinical guidelines for ovarian cancer screening as well as exploratory methods for use in early ovarian cancer detection are presented.
Cutaneous texture discrimination following transection of the dorsal spinal column in monkeys

Transection of the dorsal spinal column in monkeys has been shown to impair discrimination of the frequency or duration of repetitive tactile stimulation, without recovery over extended periods of postoperative testing. These deficits would be likely to prevent discrimination between textures presented passively and in sequence, if repetitive temporal sequences were distinguishing features of the textures. However, previous investigations of texture discrimination after dorsal column section did not obtain a deficit on tests involving active palpation of sandpaper surfaces. In the present study, rows of raised dots were stroked across the glabrous skin of one foot so that temporal entrainment of neural activity would constitute a prominent cue. The rows were oriented mediolaterally, and the textures moved proximodistally across the skin surface (varying the spacing between the rows). Four monkeys were trained to release a lever when the rougher of two textures was in contact with the skin, and the rough t...
Dispersion of the neutron emission in U-235 fission

Equations are developed which allow the calculation of the average number of neutrons per U{sup 235} fission from experimental measurements. Experimental methods are described, the results of which give a value of (7.8{+-}0.6){sup 1/2} neutrons per U{sup 235} thermal fission. (D.E.B.)
Somatic mutations at a heterozygous autosomal locus in human cells occur more frequently by allele loss than by intragenic structural alterations.

A human B-cell lymphoblastoid cell line heterozygous at the thymidine kinase (TK)locus (i.e., carrying one functional and one nonfunctional thymidine kinase allele) was used to study the molecular nature of mutations leading to loss of TKactivity. A total of 113 mutant clones, both spontaneous and induced, were examined by restriction enzyme mapping and by the use of a restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) at the TKlocus. A majority (71%) of all mutant clones examined had lost the entire functional TKallele, becoming either homozygous or hemizygous for the nonfunctional allele. The remaining mutants had either no detectable changes (26%) or had obvious structural alterations (less than 5%) in the active TKgene. These results emphasize the importance of allele loss, presumably by mitotic chromosomal mechanisms, in mutagenesis at autosomal loci, and suggest that in vitro models for recessive somatic mutation which are based at hemizygous loci may ignore a large category of genetically significant events.
Antipsychotic-Induced Hyperprolactinemia

Use of antipsychotic agents has been associated with hyperprolactinemia, or elevated prolactin levels; this hormonal abnormality can interfere with the functioning of reproductive, endocrine, and metabolic systems. As antipsychotic agents are increasingly used for both United States Food and Drug Administration-approved and nonapproved indications, many individuals are at risk for developing antipsychotic-induced hyperprolactinemia. First-generation antipsychotics pose the greatest risk of causing this adverse effect; however, second-generation antipsychotics, particularly risperidone and paliperidone, also often increase prolactin secretion. Hyperprolactinemia has short- and long-term consequences that can seriously affect quality of life: menstrual disturbances, galactorrhea, sexual dysfunction, gynecomastia, infertility, decreased bone mineral density, and breast cancer. Although many of these are definitively connected to elevated prolactin levels, some, such as breast cancer, require further study. Both clinicians and patients should be aware of hyperprolactinemia-associated effects. To prevent or alleviate the condition, tailoring an antipsychotic drug regimen to each individual patient is essential. In addition, the risk of hyperprolactinemia can be minimized by using the lowest effective dose of the antipsychotic agent. If the effects of prolactin are evident, the drug can be changed to another agent that is less likely to affect prolactin levels; alternatively, a dopamine agonist may be added, although this may compromise antipsychotic efficacy. Additional research is needed to clarify the appropriate level of monitoring, the long-term effects, and the optimal treatment of antipsychotic-induced hyperprolactinemia.
NIS03-1: Communications Security: Biometrics over Communications Networks

Biometrics is a technology for authenticating a person's unique identity beyond doubt. Existing popular biometric techniques for ID authentication have relied on a person's photograph and/or fingerprints. However, masters of disguise have repeatedly defeated this type of authentication by temporarily or permanently changing face, voice, appearance and other features of a person in order to accomplish an outlawed objective. Recently, as a result of an increased ID fraud, biometric authentication methods have been advanced to include feature extracted from fingertip(s), palm, iris, face, voice, writing, walking, typing and DNA. However, biometric data authentication requires a robust and encrypted mechanism the data of which is transmitted over a communications network. In general, biometric devices may be considered end devices of an access communications network. Such access network must be capable to handle bandwidth with relatively good security assurance; the most popular access networks today is the wireless GSM and the optical fiber to the premises (FTTP). In this paper, we discuss the biometric processes for identity verification, we describe the key authentication processes in the GSM and in the FTTP optical access networks, cryptographic processes that assure data secrecy between the data source and destination, and the ramifications to biometric data authentication.
Esters of polyallyl alcohols as protective coating vehicles

1. The polyallyl alcohols were found to be typical polyhydroxy compounds in esterification reactions with soybean, linseed, and rosin acids. 2. Alcoholysis of soybean oil to give mixed glycerol-polyallyl esters procceded only with simpler polyols whose size did not exceed an average of 9.5 allyl alcohol units. 3. Polyallyl alcohol proved to be an excellent oil upgrader, the mixed glyceryl polyallyl esters of soybean oil at a 10–15% polyallyl alcohol level were superior to linseed oil in film properties. Complete soybean or linseed esters containing 21–25% of polyallyl alcohol were found to be superior to standard soybean and linseed varnish oils in 30-gal. pentaerythritol ester gum varnishes and equivalent to dehydrated castor in short length maleic resin varnishes. 4. A soybean fatty acid-rosin polyester prepared from 47.1% of fatty acids, 31.4% polymerized rosin and 21.5% of polyallyl alcohol X-101 was equivalent to a soybean oil copolymer or a medium oil length castor alkyd as a baking enamel vehicle.
Impact of eddy–wind interaction on eddy demographics and phytoplankton community structure in a model of the North Atlantic Ocean

Abstract Two eddy-resolving (0.1°) physical–biological simulations of the North Atlantic Ocean are compared, one with the surface momentum flux computed only from wind velocities and the other using the difference between air and ocean velocity vectors. This difference in forcing has a significant impact on the intensities and relative number of different types of mesoscale eddies in the Sargasso Sea. Eddy/wind interaction significantly reduces eddy intensities and increases the number of mode-water eddies and “thinnies” relative to regular cyclones and anticyclones; it also modifies upward isopycnal displacements at the base of the euphotic zone, increasing them in the centers of mode water eddies and at the edges of cyclones, and decreasing them in the centers of cyclones. These physical changes increase phytoplankton growth rates and biomass in mode-water eddies, bringing the biological simulation into better agreement with field data. These results indicate the importance of including the eddy/wind interaction in simulations of the physics and biology of eddies in the subtropical North Atlantic. However, eddy intensities in the simulation with eddy/wind interaction are lower than observed, which suggests a decrease in horizontal viscosity or an increase in horizontal grid resolution will be necessary to regain the observed level of eddy activity.
Fast Detection of Single Sided Diffracted Defects in Display Glass

A fast non-interferometric system for measurement of diffraction patterns based on the incidence of partially coherent light in display glass is assembled. The system provides an acceptable qualitative measurement for the detection of asymmetric defects.
Breast Cancer Detection Rate: Designing Imaging Trials to Demonstrate Improvements

Purpose: To estimate the extent of variability in screening mammography cancer detection rates and its effect on a hypothetical clinical trial of a new screening modality used to measure changes in cancer detection rate. Materials and Methods: Each registry and the statistical coordinating center received institutional review board approval along with approval for consenting processes or a waiver of consent to enroll participants, link data, and perform analytic studies. This study was HIPAA compliant. The authors estimated the distribution of individual radiologists' breast cancer detection rates for 2 289 132 screening mammograms (9030 cancers) read by 510 radiologists in the United States who participated in the Breast Cancer Surveillance Consortium from 1996 through 2002. They then computed the distributions of breast cancer detection rates expected from a trial of screening mammography and multiple radiologists, as well as similar distributions for a hypothetical new modality that depicts one additio...