cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ethics of belief: introduction

This volume is presented as a tribute to the life and work of D.Z. Phillips. Six of the articles were originally presented at the annual conference on the philosophy of religion organized by Phillips and held at Claremont Graduate University, February 9–10, 2007. Unfortunately, Phillips did not live to participate in the conference itself. He died unexpectedly July 25, 2006 in the library of his beloved University of Wales, Swansea. Previously published volumes of essays, based on conferences organized by Phillips in Claremont, included a chapter entitled, “Voices in Discussion,” in which Phillips provided his own reactions to the discussions written almost immediately after the conference. Sadly, this volume appears without the addition of his voice. Born in Morriston, near Swansea, Phillips was a Welsh speaker, a strong supporter of Welsh speaking schools and the author of many works in philosophy and literature in Welsh and English. Known widely as the leading representative of the movement in the philosophy of religion called Wittgensteinianism, Phillips spent much of his effort challenging the tendency of philosophers to elevate one kind of discourse to the point where it becomes the norm by which other forms of discourse are to be judged. He argues that many contemporary philosophers of religion are obsessed by what they call the reality of God or the so-called real existence of God where real existence means existing in the manner of humans and physical objects. On Phillips’ view, coming to see there is a God is not like coming to see that an additional being exists, not even an absolute being. On his account, both idealists and empirical realists miss the point. To speak of God as a religious reality is to speak not theoretically, but from the religious context of a life of struggle and hope, of life transformed and absolutely grounded by grace and redemption. This point can be briefly illustrated by reference to the religious understanding of God as eternal love as discussed by Phillips in the second chapter of Faith and Philosophical Inquiry. Coming to understand eternal love, Phillips argues, is not a matter of adding new information to one’s knowledge. It is rather to be given new meaning, new understanding. Unlike temporal love, eternal love does not depend on how things are in the world. Eternal love is neither tentative nor dependent upon
Abstract LB-53: Paclitaxel inhibits microtubule detachment from centrosomes

Paclitaxel has been reported to inhibit cell division by suppressing microtubule dynamics at low concentrations that do not alter microtubule polymer levels. Although our studies confirm that paclitaxel suppresses microtubule dynamics at low concentrations, we show that suppression of dynamics is insufficient to inhibit cell proliferation. Wild-type CHO cells exhibited a dose-dependent decrease in microtubule dynamicity that reached a minimum at concentrations that had no observable effect on the ability of the cells to divide. Moreover, paclitaxel-dependent mutant cells that assemble reduced amounts of microtubule polymer and require paclitaxel for proliferation, exhibited a similar dose response for suppression of dynamics but much higher drug concentrations were needed to restore cell division. Thus, maximal suppression of microtubule dynamics neither inhibited the proliferation of wild-type cells, nor rescued cell division in paclitaxel-dependent cells. Instead, the higher concentrations of drug needed to restore mutant cell division caused the disappearance of microtubule fragments commonly seen in these cell lines. Using live cell imaging, we found that microtubule fragments are generated by detachment from microtubule organizing centers, and that paclitaxel acts to prevent this detachment, thereby raising microtubule polymer levels. We conclude that low paclitaxel concentrations act at microtubule plus ends to inhibit dynamics, but that higher concentrations are needed to inhibit cell division and prevent microtubule detachment from organizing centers. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 101st Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2010 Apr 17-21; Washington, DC. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2010;70(8 Suppl):Abstract nr LB-53.
Testicular cancer and the legacy of chemotherapy

The treatment of testicular cancer has undergone considerable evolution since the introduction of cisplatin and the widespread recognition of its curative potential in all stages of disease. Chemotherapy developments that have taken place include substitution of etoposide for vinblastine in some primary combinations and high-dose cisplatin regimens for patients with otherwise poor prognosis. Definition of timed survival restaging and reassessment of the role of radiation has taken place. In early disease stages, dissection of retroperitoneal nodes combined with either a short course of adjuvant chemotherapy or careful monitoring followed by salvage chemotherapy has yielded impressive results (>90% cures) in node positive patients. These results have encouraged trials including careful follow up for patients with negative retroperitoneal and other findings (markers, computerized tomography) on clinical staging alone. Evolution of these treatment strategies should take place within the context of prospectively designed studies. In this brief overview of developments, we point out how the legacy from the successful application of chemotherapy will form the basis for additional achievements which will include the introduction of secondgeneration drugs and optimization of combined modality strategies.
Substitutability among undesirable outputs

In recent years, economists have started to move beyond calculating regulatory effects on a pollutant-by-pollutant basis since their interaction is important. In this study, we take up this issue. To allow for joint production of multiple pollutants and marketable output, we specify our technology using a directional distance function. This allows us to treat pollutants as joint outputs, yet accounts for their ‘undesirability’. We estimate the distance function for a sample of coal-fired electric power plants from 1985 to 1998, which includes the first 4 years of Phase I of the Clean Air Act Amendments of 1990. We focus on the interaction between SO2 and NO x , as they became more highly regulated and estimate shadow prices of the pollutants and the Morishima elasticity of transformation between two pollutants, NO x and SO2, as well as with respect to the desirable output, kilowatt-hours of electricity. As expected, we find that power plants increase NO x emissions as they decrease SO2, i.e. they are subs...
The CLN3/SWI6/CLN2 pathway and SNF1 act sequentially to regulate meiotic initiation in Saccharomyces cerevisiae

Background:IME1, which is required for the initiation of meiosis, is regulated by Cln3:Cdc28 kinase, which activates the G1-to-S transition, and Snf1 kinase, which mediates glucose repression. Here we examine the pathway by which Cln3:Cdc28p represses IME1 and the relationship between Cln3:Cdc28p and Snf1p in this regulation. Results: When wild-type yeast cease growth, they express IME1 to moderate levels, intermediate between the low levels expressed during growth and the high levels expressed during sporulation. Moderate IME1 expression occurred in cln3Δ, cln1Δ cln2Δ, cdc28-4 and swi6Δ mutants, even during growth. These mutants also induced IME1 expression more rapidly than the wild-type. CLN3 required SWI6 and CLN2 to repress IME1 and IME2, but CLN1 was much less active than CLN2 in this repression. The phenotype of the cln3Δ snf1Δ double mutant indicated that Cln3:Cdc28p regulates IME1 independently of SNF1. Conclusion: Entry into meiosis involves two independent but sequential controls, which regulate IME1 via a three position switch: (i) during growth IME1 is repressed by the CLN3/SWI6/CLN2 pathway, (ii) once growth ceases, this repression is released and IME1 is expressed at moderate levels, and (iii) subsequently, nutritional conditions that activate Snf1p allow high IME1 expression.
Studies on chromosome aberration induction: What can they tell us about DNA repair?

Many, if not the majority of spontaneous or induced mutations in somatic mammalian cells associated with cancer are large chromosome level changes. For exposure to carcinogenic agents, certain specific chromosomal aberrations are likely to lie early along the pathway leading from initial molecular damage to cancer. The kinds of aberrations that occur, and the positions of breakpoints involved in their formation, can reveal not only genes and controlling elements whose expression or suppression underlie the molecular nature of the initiation of malignant transformation, but also how structural and functional features of chromatin can affect processes involved in repair or mis-repair of initial DNA damage. Thus, cytogenetics can provide information in ways that are not readily appreciated in studies requiring disruption of chromatin organization as it exists in the cell and its tissue context, and where DNA repair assays measure effects averaged over the entire genome. Examples include the fact that in contrast to a more efficient repair of single strand or base damage in transcriptionally active chromatin, after ionizing radiation exposure, the preponderance of translocation breakpoints indicating mis-repair occur in transcriptionally active or potentially active chromatin. Cytogenetic studies have led to the recognition that processing of DNA ends - both ends resulting from breaks along chromosomes and natural chromosomal termini, or telomeres - share very interesting similarities and differences. Further, direct observation of chromatin in cells during interphase can speak directly to early stages of aberration formation where processes occur within the context of intact cells, and to the role (or lack thereof) of cell cycle checkpoint responses that often accompany DNA damage. The superior resolution of many of the current molecular cytogenetics approaches, combined with immunocytochemical detection of proteins involved in DNA damage processing, and the availability of repair deficient mutants or knockdown strategies such as RNA interference, suggest that cytogenetics may still provide useful information and set certain restrictions important for rational interpretation of studies of DNA repair and associated protein interactions that can only be carried out in vitro. The intent of this paper is to focus on contributions of studies on the production of chromosomal aberrations following ionizing radiation exposure regarding important insights on associated DNA repair processes involved, and further, on guidelines or constraints they provide for the interpretation of in vitro DNA repair studies that would have been difficult to appreciate without the cytogenetics. We will first briefly summarize some early studies that serve as a reminder of the background on which current studies are based, and then carry forward to the present day certain interesting facets of these studies.
New theory of optical scintillation for moderate to strong fluctuations

A model of irradiance fluctuations for a propagating optic wave through a random medium is developed here under the assumption that small-scale irradiance fluctuations are modulated by large-scale irradiance fluctuations of the wave. The upper bound for small turbulent cells is defined by the smallest cell size the Fresnel Zone or transverse spatial coherence radius of the optical wave. The largest cell size between scintillation index, we also develop expressions for the irradiance covariance function and temporal spectrum of irradiance. Quantitative values predicted by these models agree well with experimental and simulation data previously published. An application of the method is also presented for uplink/downlink optical communication channels to/from a satellite.
Coagulation of a continuously reinforced aerosol

Abstract The particle size distribution of an aerosol continually reinforced by the introduction of particles (feed) and undergoing Brownian coagulation was calculated by numerically integrating the equations of Smoluchowski modified to include a feed term. A variation of the Adams' method of numerical integration was used. The equations used for the numerical computations were in dimensionless form and results obtained may be sealed for different rates of particle feed. The concentrations of different size particles were computed as a function of time for several functional representations of particle feed and coagulation coefficients. For a constant coagulation coefficient and a feed of unit size particles, the equilibrium size distribution is approximated by a power expression. For the case where the coagulation rate is dependent on the size of the colliding particles, the particle size distribution approaches closely the equilibrium distribution for the constant coagulation coefficient case, the time necessary being dependent on the feed rate and particle size distribution of the feed. The feed rate and size distribution influence the time to reach equilibrium but do not affect the resulting size distribution. The particle concentration is related to the square root of the feed rate. The time to reach equilibrium is inversely proportional to the feed rate. For the aerosol model considered, the highest concentration occurs at the particle size associated with the highest rate of input and the peak size is invariant with time. Equilibrium is promoted more by heterogeneity in the feed particle size than by the size dependency of the coagulation coefficient. Heterogeneity in the feed particle size results in an equilibrium size distribution of a broader size range than in the case of a feed of only one particle size. The ratio of peak concentration for any given particle size to its equilibrium value is approximately 1.1 for the heterogeneous feed and 1.8 for the feed of a single particle size.
Origin of epigenetic calcite in coal from Antarctica and Ohio based on isotope compositions of oxygen, carbon and strontium

Abstract Isotopic compositions of oxygen, carbon and strontium of calcite cleats in coal seams of southern Victoria Land, Antarctica, and Tuscarawas County, Ohio, contain a record of the conditions a the time of their formation. The Antarctic calcites (δ 18O(SMOW) = +9.14 to +11.82%0) were deposited from waters enriched in 16O whose isotopic composition was consistent with that of meteoric precipitation at low temperature and high latitude. The carbon of the calcite cleats (δ 13C(PDB) = −15.6 to −16.9%0) was derived in part from the coal (δ 13C(PDB) = −23.5 to −26.7%0) as carbon dioxide and by oxidation of methane or other hydrocarbon gases. The strontium ( 87 Sr 86 Sr = 0.71318–0.72392) originated primarily from altered feldspar grains in the sandstones of the Beacon Supergroup. Calcite cleats in the Kittaning No. 6 coal seam of Ohio (δ 18O(SMOW) = +26.04 to +27.79%0) were deposited from waters that had previously exchanged oxygen, possibly with marine carbonate at depth. The carbon (δ 13C(PDB) = 0.9 to +2.4%0) is enriched in 13C even though that cleats were deposited in coal that is highly enriched in 12C and apparently originated from marine carbonates. Strontium in the cleats ( Sr 87 0.71182–0.71260) is not of marine origin but contains varying amounts of radiogenic 87Sr presumably derived from detrital Rb-bearing minerals in the adjacent sedimentary rocks. The results of this study suggest that calcite cleats in coal of southern Victoria Land, Antarctica, were deposited after the start of glaciation in Cenozoic time and that those in Ohio precipitated from formation waters derived from the underlying marine carbonate rocks, probably in the recent geologic past.
THE INFLUENCE OF COLLOIDS UPON THE DIFFUSION OF HÆMOLYSINS

Acids, alkalies, salts, glucosides, and certain toxins diffuse more quickly into 0.9 per cent. salt solution than into agar-agar and gelatin suspensions. The inhibitory effect of the colloids grows with increase in concentration, which increase affects both the velocity and extent of the diffusion. In the case of gelatin the degree of diffusion is approximately in inverse proportion to the square root of the concentration. Agar-agar in strengths up to 2 per cent. inhibits far less than gelatin in 10 per cent. suspensions; and the difference in degree of inhibition exercised by 0.5 per cent. and 2 per cent. agar-agar is a small one. Haemolytic substances diffuse from gelatin into agar-agar more slowly than from saline into agar-agar. But the velocity of diffusion from agar-agar into gelatin is greater than from saline into gelatin. The effects of differences in concentration of the haemolytic agent vary according to the agent and the manner of its solution. When the haemolyser is dissolved in salt solution the diffusion of 1/100 N. and 1/1000 N. solutions (saponin) is almost identical; while with solanin the stronger solutions diffuse faster. When the haemolyser is dissolved in the colloid diffusion into fluid media is nearly proportional to the concentrations of the haemolytic agent. The velocity of diffusion into and from colloids is in general proportional to the square root of the time. Acids, alkalies, salts, and glucosides act in a manner which is in agreement with this rule. Cobra lysin and tetanolysin do not act in conformity with the rule. Cobra lysin appears to diffuse into colloids more slowly, proportionally, than cobra neurotoxin, and tetanospasmin more slowly than tetanolysin. The biological method described in this paper for studying diffusion in colloids is applicable to haemolytic and some other toxic substances, and, with accuracy possibly only to such substances possessing relatively simple compositions. Since all diffusion in the living body takes place within colloidal media of different concentrations, it would seem desirable to perfect methods through which the interaction of toxic chemicals and the fluids and cells of the body may in a manner be imitated in vitro. Through this means our knowledge of toxicology may well be extended.
Experimental Determination of Transmittance of Porous Cerium Dioxide Media in the Spectral Range of 300–1,100 nm

A spectroscopy system is developed to measure radiative characteristics of participating media in the spectral range of 300–1,100 nm. The system incorporates a short-arc radiation source, double monochromator, optical chopper synchronized with a lock-in amplifier, and a silicon detector. Measurements of overall spectral transmittance are performed with two types of cerium dioxide samples with average porosities of 0.08 and 0.72, respectively. For both sample types, the spectral variation of the transmittance indicates mixed contribution by absorption and scattering to the observed attenuation in the considered spectral range. All samples are characterized by high opacity to radiation up to approximately 400 nm.
Cultivating Diversity and Spirituality: A Compelling Interest for Institutional Priority

Historically, Christian colleges and universities have struggled to incorporate racial and ethnic diversity into White and homogenous campuses. Research indicates that a positive racial climate is essential to promote spiritual growth for students from diverse backgrounds. As a result, diversity is a compelling interest for Christian institutions. Drawing from the challenges and the latest research on student development and campus racial climates, this article offers four pathways to cultivate diversity in Christian higher education.
Species differences in GnRH activation of the LHβ promoter: role of Egr1 and Sp1

Activation of the luteinizing hormone beta (LHbeta) promoter by gonadotropin-releasing hormone (GnRH) via the transcription factor early growth response protein-1 (Egr1) has been well characterized. To determine the mechanisms affecting Egr1 regulation of LHbeta, we analyzed five different species of LHbeta promoters (equine, mouse, rat, bovine and human). Electrophoretic mobility shift assays (EMSAs) identified multiple transcription factors binding to the Egr regions on the LHbeta promoter. Species-specific differences existed in the binding affinity for Sp1, Sp3, steroidogenic factor-1 (SF-1) and Egr1. Upon mutation of the Egr elements, competition for the binding of all zinc finger proteins was lost, suggesting that the Sp proteins compete for binding to the same site that Egr1 occupies. In addition, the promoters from species that had the highest affinity for Sp1 also had the lowest activation by Egr1 and GnRH. Thus we hypothesize that Sp1 competes for Egr1 binding to the Egr elements on the LHbeta promoter and thus inhibits the ability of GnRH and Egr1 to activate the LHbeta promoter.
Comparison of variations in the visible and ultraviolet spectra of a Centauri

Short and long wavelength, high resolution IUE spectrographs of the He I spectrum variable star a Cen are the basis of the present equivalent width and central depth measurements of UV absorption lines. The period for cyclic intensity variations is determined by means of a four-parameter, least squares fit to a sinusoid. Other spectrographic and photometric intensity determinations of the He I 4026 A line are combined with the present data to yield a period of 8.81620 + or - 0.00006 days.
Effectiveness of Q-learning as a tool for calibrating agent-based supply network models

This paper examines effectiveness of Q-learning as a tool for specifying agent attributes and behaviours in agent-based supply network models. Agent-based modelling (ABM) has been increasingly employed to study supply chain and supply network problems. A challenging task in building agent-based supply network models is to properly specify agent attributes and behaviours. Machine learning techniques, such as Q-learning, can be a useful tool for this purpose. Q-learning is a reinforcement learning technique that has been shown to be an effective adaptation and searching mechanism in distributed settings. In this study, Q-learning is employed by supply network agents to search for 'optimal' values for a parameter in their operating policies simultaneously and independently. Methods are designed to identify the 'optimal' parameter values against which effectiveness of the learning is evaluated. Robustness of the learning's effectiveness is also examined through consideration of different model settings and scenarios. Results show that Q-learning is very effective in finding the 'optimal' parameter values in all model settings and scenarios considered.
Progressive spastic myelopathy in a patient co-infected with HIV-1 and HTLV-II: autoantibodies to the human homologue of rig in blood and cerebrospinal fluid.

OBJECTIVE Human T-cell leukemia virus types I (HTLV-I) and II (HTLV-II) are closely related human retroviruses. HTLV-I has been implicated in a chronic progressive myelopathy, known as tropical spastic paraparesis (TSP) or HTLV-I-associated myelopathy (HAM). We sought to determine whether autoantibodies to brain antigens were present in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of a patient with chronic progressive spastic myelopathy with evidence of both HIV-1 infection and HTLV-I/II seropositivity. DESIGN A 54-year-old bisexual man with clinical features of HAM/TSP of over 20 years' duration was followed. METHODS We applied discriminatory DNA amplification (polymerase chain reaction) to distinguish HTLV-I from HTLV-II and to verify co-infection with HIV-1. The patient's CSF was used to screen a human brain cDNA expression library to identify antibodies directed against brain antigens. Autoreactive bacteriophage clones were isolated and sequenced. RESULTS The patient was found to be co-infected with both HIV-1 and HTLV-II, but not with HTLV-I. HTLV-II proviral levels in the peripheral blood remained relatively constant, despite therapy with zidovudine. Prominent oligoclonal banding of immunoglobulins was present in the patient's CSF. A single repeatedly reactive cDNA clone was identified, by screening with CSF antibody, sequenced, and found to be the human homologue of the rat insulinoma gene, rig. CONCLUSIONS HTLV-II infection may predispose to development of a HAM/TSP-like illness. Autoimmune mechanisms, such as autoantibody formation, may play a role in pathogenesis.
3D Graphics File Formats: A Programmer's Reference

This text/CD-ROM package facilitates the process of converting 3D files. It looks at commonly used file formats - VRML, 3D studio Wavefront, trueSpace, AutoCAD and POVray. The CD-ROM contains C/C++ code from the book, and over 100 royalty-free objects.
Private Health Insurance and Risk Protection: Changes in Out-of-Pocket Medical Spending, 2001 and 2011

Changes in the cost-sharing provisions of employment-sponsored health insurance in the 2000s were designed to control U.S. health-care spending. However, such provisions may also increase the financial burden on families who need medical care and may differentially affect families according to their socioeconomic characteristics and the health status of family members. Additionally, changes in cost sharing may alter the entire shape of the out-of-pocket spending distribution. Using quantile regressions, I assess whether the distribution of out-of-pocket spending and hence the risk-protection function of private insurance has been affected by such changes. The empirical results reveal that families who are likely to incur higher health-care spending because of family members’ existing health conditions were most affected by changes in cost sharing, while families with older policyholders at higher percentiles of the out-of-pocket spending distribution experienced decreases in such spending.
Oviposition site preference and larval mortality in a leaf‐mining moth

. 1. The univoltine leaf-mining moth, Lithocolletis quercus Ams., is endemic to Israel, where it spends its 10.5 month larval period feeding only in the leaves of Quercus calliprinos Webb. 2. We compared patterns of egg deposition and sources of larval mortality to test whether oviposition patterns and site preferences confer an enhanced likelihood of larval survival. 3. Dominant sources of larval mortality were premature leaf abscission and death from unknown causes, whereas predation, parasitism and intraspecific interference accounted for relatively little larval mortality. 4. Eggs, and thus mines, were aggregated among leaves of host trees even though premature leaf abscission was positively correlated with density of mines per leaf. Interference competition among larvae was the only other density-dependent mortality factor. 5. Oviposition patterns within leaves mitigated the probability of death from larval interference, and probably also from early leaf abscission. 6. Despite these density-dependent mortality factors, overall probability of larval survival to pupation was independent of initial density of mines on a leaf. 7. The long larval period allows synchrony between oviposition flights and times of predictable resource availability.
Selected Standardized Noncognitive Measures and Their Utility for the Disadvantaged

During the course of a pilot study designed to determine the effect of basic education instruction on the attitudes of disadvan taged adults, problems were experienced in the use of standardized no...
Molecular beam epitaxy growth of ZnxCd(1−x)Se/Znx′Cdy′Mg(1−x′−y′)Se-InP quantum cascade structures

Abstract We report growth by molecular beam epitaxy of a Zn x Cd (1− x ) Se/Zn x ′ Cd y ′ Mg (1− x ′− y ′) Se quantum cascade (QC) structure that was designed for electroluminescence (EL) at ∼4.5 μm. The QC active region is comprised of a two-well asymmetric coupled quantum well (ACQW) structure, which was thoroughly investigated to establish the growth conditions for the QC structure. After growth of several ACQW test samples, the conditions for growth were optimized for the QC structure. In-situ RHEED, photoluminescence (PL), high-resolution X-ray diffraction (HR-XRD) and Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy results were used for characterization. The QC structure grown under these conditions exhibited EL at 4.8 μm, in excellent agreement with the design value.
Ionization of He by ultrastrong single-cycle pulses

Recently, the progress of experimental techniques has allowed the realization of less-than-a-cycle pulses. Though these pulses are as yet too weak to ionize atoms from the ground state, the rapid progress in experimental methods warrants the investigation of possibilities opened up by these new achievements. In this paper we use the quasiclassical Fermi molecular-dynamics method to study the dynamics of ionization and the electron correlations of initially ground-state He atoms in single-cycle infrared pulses. An interpretation is also made in terms of a quasistatic ionization model.
The effect of marital status on survival in late-stage cancer patients: An analysis based on surveillance, epidemiology, and end results (SEER) data, in the United States

Recently findings that marital status is associated with survival in patients with late-stage prostate cancer led to an examination of the generalizability of this association for all cancers. We restricted the investigation to patients with late-stage cancer using population-based data collected from 261,070 patients with late-stage cancer at multiple sites in the United States to determine relations between marital status and survival. After controlling for age, race, and treatment, married patients with cancers of all major primary sites had significantly better survival than single, separated, divorced, or widowed patients. Although single and widowed patients had the poorest prognosis in general, single patients appeared to show the most consistently poor survival across the different types of cancers. Survival differences by marital status were more pronounced in men than in women. This observation raises the possibility that some characteristics associated with being married delay death from cancer. These findings require investigators to ask new questions about the effect of being married and its possible correlates, such as general health status, access to health care, and socioeconomic status. Known correlates of marital status, such as available social support and social isolation also merit attention in relation to these findings.
Osmosin: its effect on plasma and synovial fluid kinetics of indomethacin

‘Osmosin’ (sodium indomethacin trihydrate, now withdrawn) produced a constant rate of release of indomethacin into the gut. Paired plasma and synovial fluid samples were obtained at regular intervals following a single dose of ‘Osmosin’ (19 patients) and after continuous daily dosing (15 patients). Indomethacin is rapidly absorbed and plasma concentrations maintained in the range 0.3 to 0.6 µg/ml after the first 4 h. Equilibrium between plasma and synovial fluid occurs, with SF/plasma ratios 0.74 to 0.82 12–24 h after a single dose and up to 0.96 thereafter. The indomethacin synovial fluid/plasma profile is changed by Osmosin from the pattern of a short half-life drug to the pattern typical of a long half-life drug. Results from serial samples obtained by use of indwelling cannulae (in vein and knee joint) show close agreement with our single paired sampling technique. Our method may have theoretical disadvantages but it has many practical advantages.
Electrical Characterization of Etch Rate for Micro- and Nano-Scale Gap Formation

The capability to accurately characterize lateral etch rate is needed for the manufacture of micro/nano-electro-mechanical devices which incorporate air-gaps. Optical microscopy can be used to monitor the etch-front and to detect whether a structure has been completely undercut (“released”), but not if the gap thickness is too small, e.g., less than 10 nm. In this paper, an electrical method of lateral-etch end-point detection is presented. By electrically testing cantilever beams of differing widths, the lateral etch rate can be determined. The accuracy of this method is verified via correlation with optical interferometry (R = 0.998) for gap thicknesses down to 70 nm. This new electrical characterization method is shown to be applicable to gap thicknesses as small as 4 nm.
Efficient algorithms to create and maintain balanced and threaded binary search trees

The algorithm proposed by Chang and lyengar to perfectly balance binary search trees has been modified to not only balance but also thread binary search trees. Threads are constructed in the same sequence as normal pointers during the balancing process. No extra workspace is necessary, and the running time is also linear for the modified algorithm. Such produced tree structure has minimal average path length for fast information retrieval, and threads to facilitate more flexible and efficient traversing schemes. Maintenance and manipulation of the data structure are discussed and relevant algorithms given.
Can aspect ratio be used to categorize intra-aneurysmal hemodynamics?--A study of elastase induced aneurysms in rabbit.

Clinical studies suggest that aneurysm aspect ratio (AR) is an important indicator of rupture likelihood. The importance of AR is hypothesized to arise from its influence on intra-aneurysmal hemodynamics. It has been conjectured that slower flow in high AR sacs leads to a cascade of biological activities that weaken the aneurysm wall (Ujiie et al.,1999). However, the connection between AR, hemodynamics and wall weakening has never been proven. Animal models of saccular aneurysms provide a venue for evaluating this conjecture. The focus of this work was to evaluate whether a commonly used elastase induced aneurysm model in rabbits is suitable for a study of this kind from a hemodynamic perspective. In particular, to assess whether hemodynamic factors in low and high AR sacs are statistically different. To achieve this objective, saccular aneurysms were created in 51 rabbits and pulsatile computational fluid dynamics (CFD) studies were performed using rabbit specific inflows. Distinct hemodynamics were found in the low AR (AR 2.2, n=18) models. A single, stable recirculation zone was present in all low AR aneurysms, whereas a second, transient recirculation zone was also found in the superior aspect of the aneurysm dome for all high AR cases. Aneurysms with AR between 1.8 and 2.2 displayed transitional flow patterns. Differences in values and distributions of hemodynamic parameters were found between low and high AR cases including time averaged wall shear stress, oscillatory shear index, relative residence time and non-dimensional inflow rate. This work lays the foundation for future studies of the dependence of growth and remodeling on AR in the rabbit model and provides a motivation for further studies of the coupling between AR and hemodynamics in human aneurysms.
Cardiopulmonary effects of norepinephrine and propranolol.

Abstract In seven canine heart-lung preparations, norepinephrine was administered in the following doses: 0.04, 0.08, 0.20, 0.40 μg/kg min. The most frequent effects were: (a) fall in pulmonary resistance; (b) fall in pulmonary compliance; (c) increase in pulmonary vascular resistance and pulmonary arterial pressure; (d) fall in coronary sinus blood flow; (e) increase in myocardial contractility; and (f) tachycardia. Propranolol (0.25 mg/kg) blocked norepinephrine effects (e) and (f) reduced the intensity of (b). The local vascular action of norepinephrine which is not blocked by propranolol is responsible for (d) reduction in coronary flow, (c) increase in pulmonary vascular resistance, and even (a) fall in pulmonary resistance. The fall in pulmonary resistance induced by norepinephrine is explained by a local vasoconstriction of bronchial blood vessels. The increase in pulmonary resistance induced by propranolol is explained by a local action, either local spasm of the bronchial muscle, or vasodilation of blood vessels in the bronchial mucosa.
Dissociation and conversion of carbon dioxide in arrays of atmospheric pressure microplasma devices

Summary form only given. A scalable microplasma reactor designed specifically for the dissociation of CO 2 and other feedstock gases has been demonstrated. An array of linear microchannels, having a width and depth of ∼100 µm, and ∼200 µm, respectively, were fabricated in a 400 µm thick glass substrate by a combination of chemical and micropowder ablation techniques. Electrodes were deposited on both sides of the substrates and the electrodes were etched to produce a spatially-varying profile for selectively generating microplasma along the chemical reaction pathway.
Crystal Structure of a Class I Ubiquitin Conjugating Enzyme (Ubc7) from Saccharomyces cerevisiae at 2.9 Å Resolution

Ubiquitin-conjugating enzymes are a family of related proteins that participate in the ubiquitination of proteins. Previous studies on the crystal structures of Saccharomyces cerevisiae Ubc4 and Arabidopsis thaliana Ubc1 indicated that the smallest enzymes (class I), which consist entirely of the conserved core domain, share a common tertiary fold. Here we report the three-dimensional structure of the S. cerevisiae class I enzyme encoded by the UBC7 gene. The crystal structure has been solved using molecular replacement techniques and refined by simulated annealing to an R-factor of 0.183 at 2.93 A resolution. Bond lengths and angles in the molecule have root-mean-square deviations from ideal values of 0.016 A and 2.3°, respectively. Ubc7 is an α/β protein with four α-helices and a four-stranded antiparallel β-sheet. With the exception of two regions where extra residues are present, the tertiary folding of Ubc7 is similar to those of the other two enzymes. The ubiquitin-accepting cysteine is located in a...
Observation of Bound States and Counterrotating Lower Hybrid Eigenmodes in the Auroral Ionosphere

Definitive evidence from a plasma wave interferometer carried on a sounding rocket is presented for the observation of counterrotating electric field structures observed at frequencies above and below the local lower hybrid resonance frequency, f{sub LHR} , of the ambient plasma. These counterrotating structures were observed within the context of a lower hybrid solitary structure (LHSS), and were found to rotate in a right-handed (left-handed) sense around the geomagnetic field at frequencies above (below) f{sub LHR} , in accord with previous predictions for and observations of electric field eigenmodes within a density depletion. The presence of a narrow band feature below f{sub LHR} indicates the presence of trapped waves, and represents clear evidence of a bound state of lower hybrid waves in the auroral ionosphere. {copyright} {ital 1998} {ital The American Physical Society}
Delineation of impaired regional myocardial perfusion by positron emission tomography with H2(15)O.

Positron emission tomography with 15O-labeled water (H2(15)O) can be used to delineate abnormal regional myocardial blood flow in experimental animals. To determine the feasibility of this method in humans, we studied 33 subjects (9 normal volunteers and 24 patients with angiographically documented coronary artery disease) at rest and after myocardial hyperemia induced with intravenous infusion of dipyridamole. At rest, the myocardial region demonstrating the lowest relative H2(15)O activity exhibited 71 +/- 8% of activity in the region with peak activity in control subjects and 62 +/- 17% in patients (p = NS). After the dipyridamole infusion, differences between the two groups were accentuated. In control subjects, activity in the region with lowest relative radioactivity averaged 77 +/- 5% of that in the region with peak activity. In patients, it averaged 55 +/- 22% of activity in the region with peak activity (p less than 0.01). Results in patients with ischemia with or without a history of remote myoc...
Comparison of Parallel and Serial Methods for Determining Clothing Insulation

This paper examines the fundamental differences between the parallel and serial methods for the calculation of clothing insulation using a thermal manikin and demonstrates the differences in the insulation values calculated using these two methods. The parallel method is based on the condition that manikin surface temperatures remain uniform (UST), while the serial method is based on the condition that manikin heat fluxes remain uniform (UHF). Eleven clothing ensembles were evaluated on manikins in UST mode. Three of them were also evaluated on manikins in UHF mode. Insulation values were then calculated using both the serial and parallel methods. Results from UST mode showed that the parallel insulation values ranged from 1.24 to 5.79 clo, while the serial insulation values ranged from 1.43 to 7.98 clo. Differences in the parallel and serial insulations increased as the insulation increased, and the serial insulations were approximately 14–38 % higher than the parallel insulations. Results from UHF mode showed that the parallel insulations were 1.30 clo to 5.89 clo and close to the serial insulations of 1.34 clo to 5.99 clo. In conclusion, the methods of insulation calculation should be determined by the operating mode of the manikin. Only the parallel method should be used when manikins are operated in UST mode and only the serial method should be used when manikins are operated in UHF mode. Insulation values calculated using the incorrect method will be misleading.
[3H]muscimol binding of GABA receptors in the visual cortex of normal and monocularly deprived cats.

In vitro receptor binding techniques were used to compare the total number, affinity and regional distribution of GABA receptors in visual cortex, as revealed by [3H]muscimol binding, in 5 normal and 5 monocularly deprived (MD) cats. Analysis of saturation kinetics and pharmacological specificity indicated that binding was to a single site having the characteristics of the GABAA receptor. No differences were found between normal and MD cats in either number or affinity of receptors. Within visual cortex, there were laminar differences in the density of binding, but no evidence for a lateral (columnar) organization. Label was densest in the superficial layers (I–IV), lowest in layer V and intermediate in layer VI. This pattern of label varied with incubation parameters with layer IV showing the densest label when high concentrations of [3H]muscimol and short rinse times were used. There were no differences between normal and MD cats in regional distribution of receptors under any incubation condition.
Characterization and evaluation of pyrone and tropolone chelators for use in metalloprotein inhibitors

Abstract The tetrahedral zinc and cobalt complexes [(TpPh,Me)ZnOH] (TpPh,Me = hydrotris(3,5-phenylmethylpyrazolyl)borate) and [(TpPh,Me)CoCl] were combined with 3-hydroxy-2H-pyran-2-one (3,2-pyrone), 3-hydroxy-4H-pyran-4-one (3,4-pyrone), and tropolone to form the corresponding [(TpPh,Me)M(L)] complexes (L = bidentate ligand, M = Zn2+, Co2+). X-ray crystal structures of these complexes were obtained to determine the mode of binding for each chelator and the coordination geometry of each complex. The complexes [(TpPh,Me)M(3,2-pyrone)] (M = Zn2+, Co2+) are the first structurally characterized metal complexes with this chelator. These complexes with the various chelators show that the cobalt(II) complexes are generally isostructural with their zinc(II) counterparts. In addition to structural characterization, inhibition data for each ligand against two different zinc(II) metalloproteins, matrix metalloproteinase-3 (MMP-3) and anthrax lethal factor (LF), were obtained. Examination of these chelators in the MMP-3 active site demonstrates the possible mode of inhibition.
Relation between mammary gland development and body weight

Abstract Mammary gland indices including deoxyribonucleic acid, dry fat-free tissue, and wet weight were correlated with body weight in species having a range of 20,000 fold in body weight. Included were mice, hamsters, rats, guinea pigs, rabbits, sheep, and cattle. From limited data accumulated at Missouri, the relation of deoxyribonucleic acid of mammary gland (Y, mg) to bodyweight (X, g) was Y=.53X .79 at the peak of lactation, Y=.29X .82 at the end of pregnancy, and Y=.056X .84 at the beginning of pregnancy. Comparing mammary dry fat-free tissue (mg) to body weight resulted in: Y=20X .80 , Y=9.7X .85 ,and Y=2.6X .91 in the same order while equations for mammary gland wet weight (mg) and body weight were: Y=135X .82 , Y=123X .79 , and Y=38X .85 . The composite value for regression (b) when all data were combined was .80. These mammary indices relate to but are slightly higher than metabolic body weight which is accepted generally as body weight to the three-quarter power.
Entanglement in Two-Mode Cavity QED

We investigate entanglement in an open quantum system, specifically in bipartite and tripartite systems of two dimensions for weak and strong fields using concurrence as a measure of entanglement based on a direct detection scheme
Tunable infrared ultrashort pulses from a mode-locked parametric oscillator

Abstract Mode-locked parametric oscillation has been achieved. A singly resonant non-collinear LiIO 3 oscillator is synchronously pumped by the second-harmonic from a passively mode-locked, amplified Nd:glass laser. We observe conversion efficiencies in the range of several percent. The intense picosecond infrared output of this device is tunable from 1.4 to 3.8 μm and surpasses single-pass parametric generators in spectral and spatial purity.
Studies on the Effect of Oral and Parenteral Administration of Visammin (Khellin) in Patients with Angina Pectoris

Of 20 carefully studied patients with angina pectoris given oral visammin, 4 had a significant reduction in number of pains. Eleven stated that their pains were less severe and less easily precipitated while taking visammin. There was questionable improvement in the exercise tolerance test in 2 of 9 patients after oral visammin therapy. The daily oral dose ranged from 40 mg. to 240 mg. Undesirable side effects were encountered in 17 of the 20 patients. Parenteral administration of visammin was evaluated by means of the ballistocardiograph, the exercise tolerance test, and by tilting.
Intercellular contacts at the epithelial-mesenchymal interface during the prenatal development of the rat submandibular gland

Abstract During the investigation of the embryogenesis of the rat submandibular gland (SMG), direct epithelial-mesenchymal and epithelial-nerve contacts were observed by light and electron microsopy. These contacts were seen at the epithelial-mesenchymal interface of the end buds of the initial four to twelve branches of the glandular rudiment during the period of rapid branching and budding of the analage. The epithelial-mesenchymal contacts were made by either mesenchymal or epithelial cell extensions which penetrated small gaps in the basal lamina to contact an apposing cell. The epithelial-mesenchymal contact zones showed several morphologic variations, but no septate or gap junctions were seen. The epithelial-nerve contacts were primarily of the intermediate contact zone variety although some tight-type contacts were seen. They were not typical synaptic junctions. The fine structure and importance of these unusual contact zones in the prenatal differentiation of the submandibular gland rudiment are discussed.
Speaker Identification in the Presence of Room Reverberation

Speaker identification (SI) systems based on Gaussian Mixture Models (GMMs) have demonstrated high levels of accuracy when both training and testing signals are acquired in near ideal conditions. These same systems when trained and tested with signals acquired under non-ideal channels such as telephone have been shown to have markedly lower accuracy levels. In this paper, we consider a reverberant test environment and its impact on SI. We measure the degradation in SI accuracy when the system is trained with clean signals but tested with reverberant signals. Next, we propose a method whereby training signals are first filtered with a family of reverberation filters prior to construction of speaker models; the reverberation filters are designed to approximate expected test room reverberation. Reverberant test signals are then scored against the family of speaker models and identification is made. Our research demonstrates that by approximating test room reverberation in the training signals, the channel mismatch problem can be reduced and SI accuracy increased.