cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Glycerol suppresses proliferation of rat hepatocytes and human HepG2 cells.

Abstract Background . In fulminant hepatic failure (FHF), the ability of surviving hepatocytes to proliferate is diminished. Therefore, it is important that medical therapy cause no further impairment of liver regeneration. In FHF, intracranial hypertension secondary to brain edema is the most common cause of brain injury and death and glycerol is used in some countries to treat this complication. Glycerol has been long known to suppress the growth of various cell types. We therefore decided to examine the effect of glycerol on hepatocyte proliferation in vitro and in vivo in rats subjected to partial (2/3) hepatectomy. Additionally, we investigated the effect of glycerol on the proliferation of HepG2 cells. Materials and methods . Mitogen-induced primary rat hepatocytes were cultured in a hormonally defined Dulbecco's modified Eagle's medium containing increasing amounts of glycerol (0.5, 1.0, 2.0, 4.0%). HepG2 cells were cultured in minimal essential medium/10% FBS. After 2 days, HepG2 cells were exposed to glycerol (1.0–2.0–4.0%) and harvested after 48 h. Control dishes contained no glycerol. Cell proliferation was measured by the incorporation of [ 3 H]thymidine and/or bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU). In vivo , Sprague–Dawley rats were subjected to standard partial 2/3 hepatectomy and assigned to intraportal administration of either 400 μl of glycerol or saline. Rats were killed after 1, 2, 3, 5, and 7 days. Liver weight/body weight ratio and BrdU uptake were measured. Results. In all cultures tested, glycerol suppressed the growth of cells in a dose-dependent manner. In vivo , a single intraportal dose of glycerol slowed the liver regenerative response. Conclusions. This study demonstrated that glycerol has a potent growth-inhibitory effect on hepatocyte proliferation in vivo and in vitro . Remarkably, glycerol inhibited the proliferation of liver cancer cells as well. The results of this study have important clinical implications.
Anomalous magnetic susceptibilities of the alkaline earth hexammines

Abstract The magnetic susceptibility of the metallic compounds Ca(NH 3 ) 6 , Sr(NH 3 ) 6 and Ba(NH 3 ) 6 has been measured by the Faraday method in the range 2–200 K. The susceptibility of Ca(NH 3 ) 6 is strongly dependent on temperature and exhibits a broad minimum near 120 K and a peak near 10 K. In contrast to Ca(NH 3 ) 6 , the susceptibilities of Sr(NH 3 ) 6 and Ba(NH 3 ) 6 are diamagnetic and decrease rapidly as the temperature is lowered. At low temperatures Ba(NH 3 ) 6 has the largest mass susceptibility of any nonsuperconducting metal.
Bounds on the spectral radius of graphs with e edges

Abstract We give upper bounds for the spectral radius of a graph with e edges provided that there is no complete graph with e edges. Our bounds are sharp for (i) the complete graphs with one, two, or three edges removed; (ii) the complete graph with one added vertex and edge.
Induction of glutamine synthetase by cortisol.

Abstract A 2-fold increase in the activity of hepatic glutamine synthetase ( L -glutamate: ammonia ligase (ADP), EC 6.3.1.2) was observed following the administration of cortisol to adrenalectomized rats and this response was prevented by actinomycin D. The enzyme showed a marked decrease in activity in the liver of rats following adrenalectomy and in intact rats which were fed a high protien diet for 1 week or starved for 24 h. The growth of transplantable tumors lowered the activity of this enzyme in liver but did not significantly influence its induction by cortisol. Feeding 3′-methyl-4-dimethylaminoazobenzene (0.06% in the diet) for 3 months reduced the hepatic activity of this enzyme to 40% of the normal value, and the resultant hepatomas had barely detectable activity of this enzyme.
Delineation of Diverse Macrophage Activation Programs in Response to Intracellular Parasites and Cytokines

Background The ability to reside and proliferate in macrophages is characteristic of several infectious agents that are of major importance to public health, including the intracellular parasites Trypanosoma cruzi (the etiological agent of Chagas disease) and Leishmania species (etiological agents of Kala-Azar and cutaneous leishmaniasis). Although recent studies have elucidated some of the ways macrophages respond to these pathogens, the relationships between activation programs elicited by these pathogens and the macrophage activation programs elicited by bacterial pathogens and cytokines have not been delineated.
S–R Compatibilities Depend on Eccentricity of Responding Hand:

Bauer and Miller (1982) demonstrated that when responding on the body midline with the right hand, subjects react faster when the pairing between horizontally oriented stimuli (an X to the left or right of fixation) and vertically oriented responses (an up or down finger movement) is left–down, right–up (“anti-clockwise”) but when responding with the left hand, the converse pairing was faster. The present experiments tested whether those preferences held for responses other than on the body midline. Unimanual reaction times for clockwise and anti-clockwise S–R pairings were determined for both hands at the midline and 30 and 60 cm to the left or right. Hand position determined both the direction and extent of the compatibility preference; at eccentric positions the right hand preferred clockwise pairings and the left anticlockwise, the converse of that found by Bauer and Miller. The results extend Bauer and Miller's finding, raise problems for theories of S–R compatibility, and further reveal that the sta...
Evaluation of praseodymium as a liquid marker in rumen turnover studies

Abstract The acetate complex of praseodymium chelated to EDTA (Pr-EDTA) was evaluated as a marker of the liquid phase turnover in the rumen. Five rumen fistulated Holstein Friesian cows in week 9 of lactation were fed four times a day a total mixed ration at two levels of intake: high (100% of voluntary intake) and low (80% of voluntary intake). Ruminal turnover time was estimated by a continuous dose of Pr-EDTA during 3 consecutive days followed by total rumen emptying, and calculated as the ratio of net rumen contents to intake in a 24 h period. A pulse dose of cobalt chelated to EDTA (Co-EDTA) was used to estimate liquid rumen turnover time calculated from the slope of its excretion curve, and was considered the control. Praseodymium turnover time was not affected by level of intake (P > 0.05). Compared with Co-EDTA, turnover time values were different (10.8 h vs. 14.7 h, respectively; P
Friction Coefficients Measured at Lubricated Planar Contacts During Start-Up

Measurements of instantaneous coefficients of friction and associated motions during start-up at a planar contact are presented for four different lubrication conditions. The various patterns of transient behavior are discussed. Difficulties in interpreting static friction coefficients during rapidly applied tangential loads are described in relation to the motion data. It is shown that a molybdenum disulphide grease yields a friction characteristic that is quite different from either dry or boundary lubricated conditions in the presence of liquid lubricants. Transition distances from a static or maximum initial friction to kinetic conditions are examined and found to be considerably longer than had been previously found for concentrated contacts. Some suggestions regarding future studies of unsteady friction behavior are made.
Methodological challenges and solutions in auditory functional magnetic resonance imaging

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies involve substantial acoustic noise. This review covers the difficulties posed by such noise for auditory neuroscience, as well as a number of possible solutions that have emerged. Acoustic noise can affect the processing of auditory stimuli by making them inaudible or unintelligible, and can result in reduced sensitivity to auditory activation in auditory cortex. Equally importantly, acoustic noise may also lead to increased listening effort, meaning that even when auditory stimuli are perceived, neural processing may differ from when the same stimuli are presented in quiet. These and other challenges have motivated a number of approaches for collecting auditory fMRI data. Although using a continuous echoplanar imaging (EPI) sequence provides high quality imaging data, these data may also be contaminated by background acoustic noise. Traditional sparse imaging has the advantage of avoiding acoustic noise during stimulus presentation, but at a cost of reduced temporal resolution. Recently, three classes of techniques have been developed to circumvent these limitations. The first is Interleaved Silent Steady State (ISSS) imaging, a variation of sparse imaging that involves collecting multiple volumes following a silent period while maintaining steady-state longitudinal magnetization. The second involves active noise control to limit the impact of acoustic scanner noise. Finally, novel MRI sequences that reduce the amount of acoustic noise produced during fMRI make the use of continuous scanning a more practical option. Together these advances provide unprecedented opportunities for researchers to collect high-quality data of hemodynamic responses to auditory stimuli using fMRI.
Two practical syntheses of an anti-inflammatory sesquiterpene furoic acid from Sinularia spp

Abstract The sesquiterpene (1′ E ,5′ E )-2-(2′,6′-dimethylocta-1′,5′,7′-trienyl)-4-furoic acid ( 2 ), which is an anti-inflammatory metabolite of the soft coral Sinularia spp. has been synthesized by two routes, both of which employ a Claisen rearrangement.
A correlation between the rate of poly(A) shortening and half-life of messenger RNA in adenovirus transformed cells☆

Abstract The cytoplasmic metabolism of two adenovirus (Ad2)-specific messenger RNAs, encoded within the left-hand 11% of the Ad2 genome, has been examined in a transformed rat embryo line (strain 8617). Both the accumulation of labeled mRNA and the decay of pulse-labeled mRNA after an actinomycin D chase indicate a stochastic turnover of these Ad2-specific mRNA with half lives of approximately 35 and 100 minutes, considerably shorter than the half-life of the bulk of mRNA. The separation of mRNA molecules according to the length of poly(A) showed that the poly(A) of the Ad2-specific mRNAs was shortened both during continuous and pulse-chase labeling. Moreover, consistent with the observed rates of mRNA turnover, the rate of poly(A) shortening in the Ad2 mRNAs was found to be faster than that of the bulk mRNA population. In addition, the results suggested that both mRNA turnover and poly(A) shortening proceeded by random endonucleolytic cleavage.
Electrostatic potentials and electrostatic interaction energies of rat cytochrome b5 and a simulated anion-exchange adsorbent surface

Electrostatic potentials were determined for the soluble tryptic core of rat cytochrome b5 (using a structure derived from homology modeling) and a simulated anion-exchange surface through application of the linearized finite-difference Poisson-Boltzmann equation with the simulation code UHBD. Objectives of this work included determination of the contributions of the various charged groups on the protein surface to electrostatic interactions with a simulated anion-exchange surface as a function of orientation, separation distance, and ionic strength, as well as examining the potential existence of a preferred contact orientation. Electrostatic interaction free energies for the complex of the model protein and the simulated surface were computed using the electrostatics section of UHBD employing a 110(3) grid. An initial coarse grid spacing of 2.0 A was required to obtain correct boundary conditions. The boundary conditions of the coarse grid were used in subsequent focusing steps until the electrostatic interaction free energies were relatively independent of grid spacing (at approximately 0.5 A). Explicit error analyses were performed to determine the effects of grid spacing and other model assumptions on the electrostatic interaction free energies. The computational results reveal the presence of a preferred interaction orientation; the interaction energy between these two entities, of opposite net charge, is repulsive over a range of orientations. The electrostatic interaction free energies appear to be the summation of multiple fractional interactions between the protein and the anion-exchange surface. The simulation results are compared with those of ion-exchange adsorption experiments with site-directed mutants of the recombinant protein. Comparisons of the results from the computational and experimental studies should lead to a better understanding of electrostatic interactions of proteins and charged surfaces.
Cycloaddition Reactions between Cyclopentadiene and Ketene. Ab Initio Examination of [2 + 2] and [4 + 2] Pathways

The Diels−Alder [4 + 2] and Staudinger [2 + 2] reactions between ketene and cyclopentadiene were examined at the MP4/6-31G*//MP2/6-31G* and CCSD(T)/6-31G*//MP2/6-31G* levels. Both reactions are exo...
A branch scale analytical model for predicting the vegetation collection efficiency of ultrafine particles

Abstract The removal of ultrafine particles (UFP) by vegetation is now receiving significant attention given their role in cloud physics, human health and respiratory related diseases. Vegetation is known to be a sink for UFP, prompting interest in their collection efficiency. A number of models have tackled the UFP collection efficiency of an isolated leaf or a flat surface; however, up-scaling these theories to the ecosystem level has resisted complete theoretical treatment. To progress on a narrower scope of this problem, simultaneous experimental and theoretical investigations are carried out at the “intermediate” branch scale. Such a scale retains the large number of leaves and their interaction with the flow without the heterogeneities and added geometric complexities encountered within ecosystems. The experiments focused on the collection efficiencies of UFP in the size range 12.6–102 nm for pine and juniper branches in a wind tunnel facility. Scanning mobility particle sizers were used to measure the concentration of each diameter class of UFP upstream and downstream of the vegetation branches thereby allowing the determination of the UFP vegetation collection efficiencies. The UFP vegetation collection efficiency was measured at different wind speeds (0.3–1.5 m s−1), packing density (i.e. volume fraction of leaf or needle fibers; 0.017 and 0.040 for pine and 0.037, 0.055 for juniper), and branch orientations. These measurements were then used to investigate the performance of a proposed analytical model that predicts the branch-scale collection efficiency using conventional canopy properties such as the drag coefficient and leaf area density. Despite the numerous simplifications employed, the proposed analytical model agreed with the wind tunnel measurements mostly to within 20%. This analytical tractability can benefit future air quality and climate models incorporating UFP.
Metamorphic Rocks of the Northern Tobacco Root Mountains, Madison County, Montana

In the northern Tobacco Root Mountains, Pony metamorphic rocks overlie Cherry Creek metamorphic rocks; they are parts of the same depositional unit and have been subjected to the same sequence of metamorphic processes. Early in pre-Beltian time, a thick sequence of geosynclinal rocks was isoclinally folded about northeast-trending axes under high-grade metamorphic conditions; recumbent isoclinal folds were produced, accompanied by metasomatic feldspathization and metamorphic differentiation. Basalt sills and dikes were injected into the metamorphic rocks, cutting isoclinal folds and migmatitic patterns. The entire rock complex, including the basalts, was subjected to horizontal-shearing deformation under granulite-facies conditions and then under amphibolite-facies conditions. Later in pre-Beltian time in a period of concentric folding the pre-existing, approximately horizontal schistosity was deformed into large, north-plunging folds.
Fibre optic sensors

Abstract Fibre optic sensors are being developed which have significant potential for sensing a variety of physical variables. These include acoustic pressures, magnetic fields, temperature, acceleration and rate of rotation. This paper concentrates mainly on acoustic sensors which use fibre optic interferometers sensitive to acoustic fields. The influence of various noise sources on the detection processes is described. Techniques for varying the acoustic and magnetic sensitivity of optical fibres are discussed and some advantages associated with the geometric versatility of their sensors considered. Several non-interferometric acoustic sensors which are amplitude sensitive to acoustic fields are discussed. Finally a brief account of fibre optic magnetic sensors and accelerometers is given.
A comparison of the mechanical properties of the goat temporomandibular joint disc to the mandibular condylar cartilage in unconfined compression.

The aim of this study was to make a comparison of the compressive properties of the goat temporomandibular joint (TMJ) disc to the mandibular condylar cartilage (MCC) and to explore the transversely isotropic biphasic model. Samples taken mediolaterally from three regions of the TMJ disc and MCC were tested in unconfined compression at strain levels ranging from 10% to 50% and then assessed for biochemical content. The results indicated that the TMJ disc exhibits a significantly greater tangent modulus than the MCC from 20% to 50% strain with values ranging from 729 ± 267 to 2413 ± 406 kPa and 363 ± 169 to 1677 ± 538 kPa, respectively (P < .05). The collagen content of the TMJ disc was significantly greater than the MCC, while the opposite held for the glycosaminoglycan (GAG) and DNA content. The results emphasize fundamental differences between the articulating tissues of the TMJ.
Reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-diaphorase/nitric oxide synthase profiles in the human hippocampal formation and perirhinal cortex.

Nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate-diaphorase (NADPH-d)-stained profiles were evaluated throughout the human hippocampal formation (i.e., dentate gyrus, Ammon's horn, subicular complex, entorhinal cortex) and perirhinal cortex. NADPH-d staining revealed pleomorphic cells, fibers, and blood vessels. Within the entorhinal and the perirhinal cortices, darkly stained (type 1) NADPH-d pyramidal, fusiform, bipolar, and multipolar neurons with extensive dendrites were scattered mainly within deep layers and subjacent white matter. Moderately stained (type 2) NADPH-d round or oval neurons were seen mainly in layers II and III of the entorhinal and perirhinal cortices, in the dentate gyrus polymorphic layer, in the CA fields stratum pyramidal and radiatum, and in the subicular complex. The distribution of type 2 cells was more abundant in the perirhinal cortex compared to the hippocampal formation. Lightly stained (type 3) NADPH-d pyramidal and oval neurons were distributed in CA4, the entorhinal cortex medial subfields, and the amygdalohippocampal transition area. Sections concurrently stained for NADPH-d and nitric oxide synthase (NOS) revealed that all type 1 neurons coexpressed NOS, whereas types 2 and 3 were NOS immunonegative. NADPH-d fibers were heterogeneously distributed within the different regions examined and were frequently in close apposition to reactive blood vessels. The greatest concentration of fibers was in layers III and V-VI of the entorhinal and perirhinal cortices, dentate gyrus polymorphic and molecular layers, and CA1 and CA4. A band of fibers coursing within CA1 divided into dorsal and ventral bundles to reach the presubiculum and entorhinal cortex, respectively. Although the distribution of NADPH-d fibers was conserved across all ages examined (28-98 years), we observed an increase in the density of fiber staining in the aged cases. These results may be relevant to our understanding of selective vulnerability of neuronal systems within the human hippocampal formation in aging and in neurodegenerative diseases.
Two-dimensional scattering and diffraction of P- and SV-waves around a semi-circular canyon in an elastic half-space: An analytic solution via a stress-free wave function

Abstract A well-defined boundary-valued problem of wave scattering and diffraction in elastic half-space should have closed-form analytic solutions. This two-dimensional (2-D) scattering around a semi-circular canyon in elastic half-space subjected to seismic plane and cylindrical waves has long been a challenging boundary-value problem. In all cases, the diffracted waves will consist of both longitudinal (P-) and shear (S-) rotational waves. Together at the half-space surface, these in-plane longitudinal P- and shear SV-waves are not orthogonal over the infinite half-space flat-plane boundary. Thus, to simultaneously satisfy both the zero normal and shear stresses at the flat-plane boundary, some approximation of the geometry and/or wave functions often has to be made, or in some cases, relaxed (disregarded). This paper re-examines this two-dimensional (2-D) boundary-value problem from an applied mathematics points of view and redefines the proper form of the orthogonal cylindrical-wave functions for both the longitudinal P- and shear SV-waves so that they can together simultaneously satisfy the zero-stress boundary conditions at the half-space surface. With the zero-stress boundary conditions satisfied at the half-space surface, the most difficult part of the problem will be solved, and the remaining boundary conditions at the finite-canyon surface are then comparatively less complicated to solve. This is now a closed-form analytic solution of the 2-D boundary-valued problem satisfying the half-space zero-stress boundary conditions exactly.
Development of the infant's hand preference for visually directed reaching: Preliminary report of a longitudinal study

The development of hand preference in infancy was investigated longitudinally by using a visually-directed reaching task. Thirty-two infants, equally divided into groups of familial right- and left-handed boys and girls, were tested every 3 weeks from 24 to 39 weeks of age and once again at 52 weeks. Group trends for the development of hand preference were differentiated by familial handedness and sex of the infant. At all ages, test object position (to the infant's right or left) strongly influenced the hand used for reaching. Marked variability both between and within infants demonstrated an instability of early hand preference, an effect that could be appreciated fully only with a prospective longitudinal design. The results thus suggest that the development of hand preference for reaching is highly variable, discontinuous, and related to the interaction of sex and familial handedness.
Transport of ice nuclei over the north pacific ocean

Simultaneous measurements have been made over extended periods of time of the relative concentrations of ice nuclei in the air at stations in Alaska, Hawaii and Washington State. On occasions large increases in ice nucleus counts lasting for a week or more (“ice nucleus storms”) were observed. The ice nucleus storms sometimes occurred in close proximity in time at different stations and it is shown that in some cases this can be explained by the advection of particles in the lower troposphere between stations. On other occasions the ice nucleus storms appeared to be of local origin. DOI: 10.1111/j.2153-3490.1971.tb00544.x
First-Principles Calculation of the Bulk Modulus of Diamond

A Hartree-Fock-Slater calculation of the total crystal energy of diamond is performed using the orthogonalized-plane-wave (OPW) method. Half of the electron-electron interaction energy is subtracted from the one-electron value so that these terms are counted once. The full OPW wave function is used to calculate the electron-electron interaction. The results for the equilibrium lattice constant, bulk modulus, and cohesive energy are in excellent agreement with experiment.
Towards an Interactive Assessment Framework for Engineering Design Learning

In this paper we explore the use of text processing technology for on-line assessment in an engineering design project class. We present results from a 5-week classroom study in a capstone engineering design course in which we explore the potential benefits of such technology for student learning in this context. Furthermore, we present results from ongoing work assessing student productivity based on features extracted from their conversational behavior in the course discussion board. While we found that typical shallow productivity measures such as number of posts, length of posts, or number of files committed have no correlation with an instructor assigned grade, we can achieve a substantial improvement using simple linguistic patterns extracted from on-line conversational behavior.© 2007 ASME
Intake and digestibility of brown-midrib corn silage by lactating dairy cows.

Abstract Two short trials in 2 yr evaluated brown midrib-3 ( bm 3) mutant (low lignin) corn silage for Holstein cows in early lactation. In trial 1, five Holstein cows per group ( bm 3 or normal genetic counterpart) were fed individually a ration of corn silage and grain (60:40, dry matter) from wk 2 through wk 8 postcalving. Cows fed the bm 3 ration consumed 19% more digestible dry matter and energy as a percent of body weight than cows fed the normal ration. Digestibilities of most components were 2 to 4 percentage units higher for the bm 3 ration. Milk yield was not different between rations, but cows fed bm 3 lost less body weight. In trial 2, five Holstein cows per group were fed individually a ration of either bm 3 or normal silage supplemented with a concentrate mix at 85:15 silage to concentrate. The concentrate mix was formulated to meet needs for protein, minerals, and vitamins. Cows were on trial from wk 6 through wk 13 postcalving. All measures of daily intake of dry matter were greater for the bm 3 ration while digestibilities of some components were reduced slightly. Digestible energy intake was 27% greater for the bm 3 ration. Milk and milk component yields did not differ, but cows fed the bm 3 ration gained more body weight. Total and individual ruminal volatile fatty acids were higher and pH lower with time after feeding for the bm 3 ration.
Moral absolutism and ectopic pregnancy.

If one accepts a version of absolutism that excludes the intentional killing of any innocent human person from conception to natural death, ectopic pregnancy poses vexing difficulties. Given that the embryonic life almost certainly will die anyway, how can one retain ones moral principle and yet adequately respond to a situation that gravely threatens the life of the mother and her future fertility? The four options of treatment most often discussed in the literature are non-intervention, salpingectomy (removal of tube with embryo), salpingostomy (removal of embryo alone), and use of methotrexate (MXT). In this essay, I review these four options and introduce a fifth (the milking technique). In order to assess these options in terms of the absolutism mentioned, it will also be necessary to discuss various accounts of the intention/foresight distinction. I conclude that salpingectomy, salpingostomy, and the milking technique are compatible with absolutist presuppositions, but not the use of methotrexate.
Driver's Education for Students with Physical Disabilities

Although driving has a great impact on employment, self-esteem, and quality of life for adolescents, students with physical disabilities are not considered for driving programs in secondary schools. Such exclusion forces students to seek alternative driving programs, which are costly and difficult to locate. No studies have examined the perceptions of students with physical disabilities regarding the process of learning to drive. This study used qualitative interviews to develop an understanding of such perceptions. Results indicated participants felt driving would add freedom, independence, and responsibility to their lives and increase their educational, employment, and recreational choices. Most participants indicated they preferred to be included in high school driver's education. Personal experiences revealed that enrollment in that class was either delayed or not presented as an option.
Mutations of serine 236-237 and tyrosine 302 residues in the human lipoxin A4 receptor intracellular domains result in sustained signaling.

Lipoxin A4 (LXA4) is a potent negative modulator of the inflammatory response. The antiinflammatory activities of LXA4, such as inhibition of agonist-induced polymorphonuclear cell (PMN) chemotaxis and upregulation of β-2 integrins, require the expression of a G-protein-coupled, high-affinity LXA4 receptor (LXA4R). We now report that stimulation of PMN with proinflammatory agonist N-formyl peptides (FMLP), calcium ionophore A23187, or phorbol mirystate acetate (PMA) is followed by marked downregulation of LXA4 binding (Bmax decrease of ∼45%) and decreased activation of phospholipases A2 (PLA2) and D (PLD). Elucidation of the mechanisms underlying these effects was addressed by structure−function analyses of the intracellular domains of LXA4R. Mutant molecule, S236/S237 → A/G (LXA4Rpk) and Y302 → F (LXA4Rtk) were obtained by site-directed mutagenesis to yield receptors lacking the putative targets for serine/threonine kinase- or tyrosine kinase-dependent phosphorylation. Expression of wild-type and mutated...
Effect of continuous or cyclic restriction of energy intake on bone mineral content of oophorohysterectomized rats

Abstract Oophorohysterectomized Fisher-344 female rats (13 months old, 8/group) were assigned to consume for 4 months a control diet freely (C4), 4 months an energy-restricted diet at 60% of the average intake of C4 group (R4), 2 months the restricted and 2 months the control (R2C2), 2 months the control and 2 months the restricted (C2R2), 2 cycles of 1 month the control and 1 month the restricted (C1R1C1R1) or 2 cycles of 1 month the restricted and 1 month the control diet (R1C1R1C1). The control diet contained 50 g Ca, 40 g P, 5 g Mg and 200 g protein per kg. The energy-restricted diet was formulated so that 60 g provided only 60% of the energy, but the same amounts of other nutrients except carbohydrate as 100 g of control diet. When switched from the restricted diet to control diet, rats consumed greater amounts of food. Final body weights of rats were correlated positively with defatted weight (R 2 =0.55), ash weight (R 2 =0.50), and Ca content (R 2 =0.34) of left femur bone. Compared with C4 group, C1R1C1R1 and R4 groups had reduced body weight and bone weight, ash weight, and Ca content of the femur. These measurements were similar for C2R2 and C1R1C1R1 groups as were those for R2C2 and R1C1R1C1 groups. These results suggest that restriction of energy intake, either continuous or cyclic, may increase further the loss of bone mass associated with aging.
Microsurgical repair of the adolescent varicocele

AbstractPurpose: Since clinically apparent varicoceles may affect testicular volume and sperm production, early repair has been advocated. However, repair of the pediatric varicocele with conventional nonmagnified techniques may result in persistence of the varicocele after up to 16% of these procedures. Also testicular artery injury and postoperative hydrocele formation can occur after nonmagnified repair. The microsurgical technique has been successfully completed in a large series of adults with a dramatic reduction in complication and recurrence rates. We report our experience with the microsurgical technique in boys.Materials and Methods: A total of 30 boys (average age 15.9 years) underwent 42 microsurgical varicocelectomies (12 bilateral). All patients had a large left varicocele. Indications for repair included testicular atrophy (size difference between testicles of greater than 2 ml.) in 20 boys, pain in 5 and a large varicocele without pain or testicular atrophy in 5. Six boys were referred fol...
Factors that Predict Full-Time Community College Faculty Engagement in Online Instruction

This study is a secondary quantitative analysis of the 2004 National Study of Postsecondary Faculty (NSOPF) data. It examines the ability of human capital, intrinsic rewards, extrinsic rewards, and gender/race demographics to predict full-time community college faculty teaching on-line courses. Findings indicate that those faculty with higher degree attainment were three times more likely to teach online. Faculty members who felt the institution supported teaching were 8% more likely to teach online, and faculty who taught general education courses were 25% less likely to teach online than their occupational/vocational counterparts. This data offers an important baseline for future work. Online course offerings trend upwards, with 50% of all online enrollments at two year institutions (Allen & Seaman, 2008).
An equation numbering algorithm based on a minimum front criteria

Abstract An algorithm is presented which defines the optimum equation numbering sequence for the Gauss Elimination solution of finite element systems. The equation numbering sequence generated is identical to the equation solving sequence used in the well-known “Frontal Method”, in which the next equation to be eliminated is determined by the minimum front criteria. After the numbering sequence is determined, the equations are stored in profile form. Therefore, the new algorithm is named the “Profile-Front Minimization” or “PFM” algorithm. In this paper, existing methods for equation renumbering are discussed. The theoretical development and the computer implementation of the PFM method are then presented. Solution times and storage requirements for several examples are summarized and the PFM algorithm is compared to other techniques. In all the examples studied, the PFM algorithm produced equation numbering sequences which resulted in the minimum solution times. In addition, the PFM method, for higher order finite element systems, requires significantly less computer storage than other methods. The Fortran listing of the subroutines for the PFM algorithm are give. These can be used directly by Profile or Frontal solvers since both nodal and element numbering sequences are produced. These subroutines have proven to be extremely effective when used on microcomputers.
Fertility among orphans in rural Malawi: challenging common assumptions about risk and mechanisms.

CONTEXT: Although a substantial literature suggests that orphans suffer disadvantage relative to nonorphaned peers the nature of this disadvantage and the mechanisms driving it are poorly understood. Some evidence suggests that orphans experience elevated fertility perhaps because structural disadvantage leads them to engage in sexual risk-taking. An alternative explanation is that orphans intentionally become pregnant to achieve a sense of normality acceptance and love. METHODS: Data from the 2006 wave of the Malawi Longitudinal Study of Families and Health on 1033 young adults aged 15-25 were used to examine the relationship of maternal and paternal orphanhood with sexual risk indicators and desired and actual fertility. Regression analyses were used to adjust for covariates including social and demographic characteristics and elapsed time since parental death. RESULTS: Twenty-six percent of respondents had lost their father and 15% their mother. Orphanhood was not associated with sexual risk-taking. However respondents whose mother had died in the past five years desired more children than did those whose mother was still alive (risk differences 0.52 among women and 0.97 among men). Actual fertility was elevated among women whose father had died more than five years earlier (0.31) and among men whose mother had died in the past five years (1.06) or more than five years earlier (0.47). CONCLUSION: The elevations in desired and actual fertility among orphans are consistent with the hypothesis that orphans intentionally become pregnant. Strategies that address personal desires for parenthood may need to be part of prevention programs aimed at orphaned youth.
Effect of Flow Fields and Scan Rates on Performance of Micro-DMFC

A micro-DMFC is a promising power source to substitute the lithium battery and used in the portable electronic devices. In this study, the effect of four types of flow fields of bipolar plates in a micro-direct methanol fuel cells (micro-DMFCs) on their performance were experimentally investigated. MEMS technology was applied in fabrication of micro-channel for the micro-DMFCs. The effect of the type of flow field design on the performance of micro-DMFCs was electrochemically evaluated for the four types of flow fields. The micro-DMFCs with double-channel serpentine presented the highest maximum power density and the micro-fuel cells with mixed multi-channel serpentine with narrow channels had the lowest maximum power density.
h-p adaptive finite element methods in computational fluid dynamics

The principal ideas of h-p adaptive finite element methods for fluid dynamics problems are discussed. Applications include acoustics, compressible Euler and both compressible and incompressible Navier-Stokes equations. Several numerical examples illustrate the presented concepts.
Work Experiences of Women Survivors: Insights From the Capabilities Approach

The study presented in this article applied the capabilities approach to the experiences of low-income women survivors of gender-based violence, who worked in the formal and informal economies. Nine women were interviewed about their work histories, alternative resource-generating strategies, the advantages and disadvantages of different types of work, and the impact of gender-based violence on their work lives. The authors vetted these experiences through the lens of Nussbaum's 10 human-functioning capabilities and found that 9 of the 10 capabilities were salient in the lives of these women. Implications for social welfare policy and practice with low-income women survivors are offered.
Effect of die temperature on the flow of polymer melts. Part II: Extrudate swell

The effect of die wall temperature on the extrudate swell of polymer melts flowing through dies with single and dual circular channels was studied. Extrudate swell was measured at constant flow rates using an Instron capillary rheometer with a modified die section. It was found that under isothermal conditions, extrudate swell plotted against the average wall shear stress gave rise to a temperature independent correlation for polystyrene. Under non-isothermal conditions, such a correlation did not exist, which might be due to the change of wall shear stress in the axial direction. The extrudate swell in the non-isothermal cases can be better correlated with the wall shear stress at die exit. For the two-hole die, changes of die wall temperature varied both the flow rate ratio and the extru date swell ratio. The latter is, however, much less sensitive to the die wall temperature than the former.
The detection of acquired immunodeficiency syndrome-associated Kaposi sarcoma cells in pleural effusion by CD34 immunostain.

Background. Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS)-associated Kaposi sarcoma (KS) cells have not been reported in pleural effusions. This study identifies the effusional form of AIDS-KS cells with the CD34 antibody, a newly recognized marker for vascular neoplasia. Methods. In the pleural effusion of a patient with AIDS and biopsy proven pulmonary KS, the authors found bizarre amoeboid cells. Parallel sections from the cell blocks of the pleural effusions from the index patient and six other patients with AIDS were immunostained for cytokeratin, CD68, leukocyte common antigen (LCA), Factor VIII:R, and CD34. Results. The atypical cells were not observed in the pleural effusions of the other six patients with AIDS
What It Means to Forgive and Why the Way We Define Forgiveness Matters

The potential of forgiveness to help individuals heal after a deep hurt cannot be over-emphasized. President Obama places forgiveness as Lesson 1 when discussing what he can teach America's childre...
Exploring measurement biases associated with esophageal Doppler monitoring in critically ill patients in intensive care unit.

Background : Esophageal Doppler monitoring (EDM) is utilized in numerous clinical settings. This study examines the relationship between pulmonary artery catheter (PAC) and EDM-derived hemodynamic parameters, concentrating on gender- and age-related EDM measurement biases. Materials and Methods : Prospective study of EDM use in ventilated surgical ICU patients. Parameters examined included demographics, diagnosis, resuscitation endpoints, cardiac output (CO) and stroke volume from both devices, number of personnel and time needed to place equipment, time to data acquisition, duration of use, complications of placement. Results : Fifteen patients (11 men, 4 women, mean age 47 years) were included. Most common diagnoses included trauma (7/15) and sepsis (4/15). Insertion time and time to data acquisition were shorter for EDM than for PAC ( P Conclusions : This study found that the EDM significantly underestimated cardiac output in women when compared to PAC. Clinicians should be aware of this measurement bias when making therapeutic decision based on EDM data. Significant reductions in lactate and norepinephrine requirement during EDM monitoring periods support the clinical usefulness of EDM technology.
On the Corporate Demand for Insurance

Insurance contracts are regularly purchased by corporations. The Insurance Information Institute reports that “business insurance accounted for approximately 54.2 percent of the $79, 032,923,000 in direct property and liability insurance premiums written in the United States in 1978” (1979, p. 9). Yet even though annual premiums exceeded $42.8 billion,1 the importance of these contracts has been largely ignored by the finance profession. For example, the topic of insurance is completely absent from the index of virtually all corporate finance textbooks.
Tracking ballistic missile warheads using a generalized motion model

Neutralizing the threat of a incoming ballistic missile is a difficult task. Often the missile disintegrates, leaving the warhead surrounded by a number of ballistic fragments. Thus, the challenge is for the interceptor to identify and track the targets so that a successful strike can be achieved. This paper addresses the problem of using noisy image sequence data captured by on-board sensors in the nose cone of the interceptor to track target fragments. We propose an approach based on a generalized motion model that can accurately represent motion caused by rotation, translation, and scaling. An efficient iterative estimation algorithm is presented to calculate motion parameters and the computational complexity of the tracking system is evaluated. Results show the proposed scheme performs significantly better than simple block-based motion estimation approaches.
Preliminary observations on a history-based image display optimizer for chest images

A major difficulty with currently available display systems is contrast rendition. The number of gray steps that can be displayed by a digital system driving an analog display is determined by the luminance range of the display and the signal-to-noise ratio (Schreiber, 1986). For a good display this might be 128 steps (7 bits). The minimal detectable contrast is determined by the average luminance at the eye and the image noise. Pizer and Chan (1979) using ROC techniques found the "perceived dynamic range" of a "high quality W monitor" to be about 87 steps. In their experiment, the eye was adapted to each luminance level. In a display like the chest with large bright and dark areas (heart and mediastinum vs. lungs) the eye will be adapted to some intermediate level and not optimally coupled to either the bright or the dark area. For this reason gray scale image processing is used for matching correctly the display to the observer' s perceptual system (Kundel, 1986). There have been some attempts to develop "perceptually relevant" gray scales (Johnston et al.,1985). Clinicians do not seem willing to spend the time needed to adjust optimally the controls at a display console. Even when the controls are fairly simple they still prefer images that technicians have recorded on film using some prescription for window and level. Perhaps they do not know how to optimize the contrast in the image and prefer to leave it to someone else or perhaps the controls are not as simple as they look. We have been working on a rule-based system that will select the proper gray scale transfer characteristic (GSTC) for the initial look at the image. It is based on the notion that there is an optimal GSTC for each diagnostic finding on the image and that for most images the diagnostic findings can be predicted from prompts derived directly from the clinical history. If this is the case, radiologists who receive diagnostic prompts should be able to predict the appropriate GSTC. This experiment was done to determine if radiologists can agree about the GSTC that will optimize the video display for particular diagnoses.© (1990) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
A proposal for an ocanographic vessel based upon experience and observation

The design of the pioneering oceanographic research vessels dictated that command and control be located at or near the stern. This arrangement was logical since, with no communications other than voice, the Captain and the Naturalist needed to be in close proximity as the work progressed. As sailing vessels evolved into power, the command center was placed nearer the bow in most new designs. Most sampling devices remained on the stern, near the screws, and out of sight of the bridge (except for pictures provided by closed circuit TV cameras). This paper will attempt to demonstrate that the ideal location for scientific workspaces on deck is forward of the bridge and that the "van" concept can make one vessel into a true multidisciplinary platform.
Loopless generation of up-down permutations

Abstract An up–down permutation P=(p1,p2,…,pn) is a permutation of the integers 1 to n which satisfies constraints specified by a sequence C=(c1,c2,…,cn−1) of U's and D's of length n−1. If ci is U then pi pi. A loopless algorithm is developed for generating all the up–down permutations satisfying any sequence C. Ranking and unranking algorithms are discussed.
Monitoring Tumor Response to Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy using Ultrasound-guided Near Infrared Light

In this paper, we show that initial tumor vascularity is a good predictor of final pathologic response. Additionally, the vascular changes during early treatment cycles assessed by %total hemoglobin can further predict final pathologic response.