cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Multiple Velocity Profile Measurements in Hypersonic Flows using Sequentially-Imaged Fluorescence Tagging

Nitric-oxide planar laser-induced fluorescence (NO PLIF) was used to perform velocity measurements in hypersonic flows by generating multiple tagged lines which fluoresce as they convect downstream. For each laser pulse, a single interline, progressive scan intensified CCD camera was used to obtain separate images of the initial undelayed and delayed NO molecules that had been tagged by the laser. The CCD configuration allowed for sub-microsecond acquisition of both images, resulting in sub-microsecond temporal resolution as well as sub-mm spatial resolution (0.5-mm x 0.7-mm). Determination of axial velocity was made by application of a cross-correlation analysis of the horizontal shift of individual tagged lines. Quantification of systematic errors, the contribution of gating/exposure duration errors, and influence of collision rate on fluorescence to temporal uncertainty were made. Quantification of the spatial uncertainty depended upon the analysis technique and signal-to-noise of the acquired profiles. This investigation focused on two hypersonic flow experiments: (1) a reaction control system (RCS) jet on an Orion Crew Exploration Vehicle (CEV) wind tunnel model and (2) a 10-degree half-angle wedge containing a 2-mm tall, 4-mm wide cylindrical boundary layer trip. The experiments were performed at the NASA Langley Research Center's 31-inch Mach 10 wind tunnel.
Polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxin and dibenzofuran concentration levels in human adipose tissue samples from the continental United States collected from 1971 through 1987

Abstract Human adipose tissue samples collected through the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's National Human Adipose Tissue Survey (NHATS) from 1971 through 1987 have been used in three different research programs to address body burden levels of polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans. The study designs, analytical methods, and quality control procedures for each of the studies are compared. Data for 2,3,7,8-TCDD are summarized for the three studies.
The Therapeutic Role of Gangliosides in Neurological Disorders.

Numerous in vitro and in vivo experimental animal studies have demonstrated that gangliosides, particularly GMI ganglioside (siagoside), may stimulate or accelerate the repair of peripheral and central nervous system neurons after various types of damage. Clinical studies of GMl in peripheral neuropathies and stroke, disorders in which the effects of GM 1 have been studied most extensively, have yielded inconsistent results. Problems of inadequate study design, inclusion of heterogenous clinical popUlations and variations in dosage, duration of treatment and timing of initial administration make it difficult to compare results from individual studies and to conclusively assess efficacy of GMl treatment. Therefore, further clinical studies of gangliosides seem warranted.
Tetramethylsuccinimide as a Directing/Protecting Group in Purine Glycosylations

Tetramethylsuccinic anhydride can be used to protect the exocyclic amine of 6-aminopurine derivatives by forming the corresponding tetramethysuccinimide. X-ray crystallography confirms that the imide carbonyl and the methyl groups are positioned to sterically block the N7 nitrogen so that glycosylations occur with very high regiochemical control at N9. This approach is particularly effective for 3-substituted purines where the substituent tends to block access to N9 and inhibit glycosylation at that site.
Field Measurement of Dissolved Oxygen: A Comparison of Methods

The ability to confidently measure the concentration of dissolved oxygen (D.O.) in ground water is a key aspect of remedy selection and assessment. Presented here is a comparison of the commonly practiced methods for determining D.O. concentrations in ground water, including colorimetric, membrane-covered electrode, and modified Winkler techniques. The Winkler titration (azide and permanganate modifications) is the most accurate and precise technique for determining D.O. and is appropriate for applications with stringent data quality objectives. In addition, excellent correlation over a wide range of D.O. concentrations was found between Winkler titrations and colorimetric tests using the rhodazine D (below 1 part per million [ppm]) and indigo carmine reagents (above 1 ppm). Electrode measurements represent the simplest method for determining D.O. concentrations on a continuous basis and electrode determinations positively correlate with Winkler results above 1 ppm. Below 1 ppm, electrodes provide only a qualitative measure of low D.O. level, apparently due to slow electrode response.
An anthropometric scaling method with application to the knee joint

Abstract This study is concerned with the development of an anthropometric scaling technique, with application to the human knee joint. The locations of soft tissue origins and insertions from a dissected limb are scaled to their relative positions which are inaccessible in the human subject limb, with the differences in geometry being modeled by a homogeneous deformation. This provides a spatial distribution of forces acting on the human subject limb, so that a force analysis may be performed at a particular static phase of a motion. Inherent in this method is a mathematical description of the rigid body motion of a body segment. The mathematical accuracy of the method was examined by scaling known geometries. The scaling scheme was then applied to dry skeletal tibias and femurs and its accuracy and sensitivity to various factors checked by comparison with direct measurements. The proposed method was compared with scaling by uniform dilatation, a scaling technique employed by Morrison (1970), and no scaling at all.
Characterization and Cloning of Pneumocystis carinii Nucleic Acid

Large numbers of Pneumocystis carinii (2 X 10(10) nuclei) were isolated and separated from the lungs of immunosuppressed rats by an enzymatic (collagenase, hyaluronidase and DNase) digestion procedure. The nucleic acid isolated from this P. carinii-enriched preparation was characterized by melting point analysis and RNA-sizing gels. The GC content of P. carinii DNA was approximately 33% while the rat DNA was 41.4%. In addition, RNA isolated from the P. carinii-enriched preparation showed unique ribosomal RNA bands of 3.4 kb and 1.8 kb as compared with uninfected rat lung ribosomal RNA which banded at 4.8 and 1.9 kb. Following isolation and fragmentation by sonication, the P. carinii DNA fragments were inserted into the vector, lambda gt-11. The resultant library contained 1.1 X 10(5) phage, of which 40-45% hybridized to P. carinii DNA but not to rat DNA.
Controlling electronic properties of epitaxial nanocomposites of dissimilar materials

Abstract The electronic properties of epitaxial semiconductors are strongly modified by the inclusion of semi-metallic nanoparticles grown in the semiconductor. For example, epitaxial semi-metallic nanoparticles can donate carriers, pin Fermi levels, shorten electron–hole recombination times, enhance electron tunneling and increase scattering of phonons in semiconductor host layers. There are dozens of cubic semi-metallic group III–V rare-earth compounds that can potentially be grown as nanoparticles in the III–V semiconductors. The largest number of studies to date have involved nanocomposites of erbium-based compounds in arsenide and antimonide semiconductors. Their molecular beam epitaxy growth, properties and device applications will be reviewed.
Effects of gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) and sodiumL-glutamate (glutamate) on the visual system and EEG if chicks

Abstract Immature chickens have a deficient blood-brain barrier and were therefore used to investigate the effects on brain and retinal electrical activity of GABA and glutamate which do not readily pass the mature barrier. These compounds occur normally in brain and are presumed by some to be synaptic transmitters. We observed gross behavior and recorded the electroencephalogram (EEG), electroretinogram (ERG) and responses evoked in the optic tectum by light flashes. Both compounds produced behavioral depression, EEG synchrony and depression of the optic evoked response but affected the ERG differently. GABA blocked both thea- andb-waves of the FRG and greatly increased the negativeb- andc-waves as well the positive component of the “off” response. On the other hand, glutamate blocked thea-wave and enhanced theb-wave but had little effect on the “off” response. The evoked response was altered minimally during the period of marked alteration of the FRG.
The ‘Dismal Science’ – Still? Economics and Human Flourishing

Abstract This paper is an attempt to evaluate critically standard economic theory from the point of view of self-realization ethics and psychology. In doing so, there is considerable reliance on Abraham Maslow's well-known theory of personality development. According to his penetrating insight, it is insecurity that keeps a person trapped in a world of materialism – be it a desperate survival mentality, a preoccupation with excessive sexuality, or an unabashed and omnipresent consumerism. Feeling secure, on the other hand, opens the gates to psychological health and real personal autonomy. Over time there has accumulated a considerable amount of empirical evidence supporting such a Maslowian insecurity-materialism link. The present paper surveys the problem of economic insecurity, especially the anxiety of job loss. Since there is ample evidence that, in today's globalized world, this problem is quite serious and increasingly widespread, it would follow that Maslowian personality theory predicts a large p...
Comparative analysis of SBUV/2 and HALOE ozone profiles and trends

[1] The Halogen Occultation Experiment (HALOE) (version 19) ozone vertical profiles are compared with the data obtained by the second generation Solar Backscatter Ultraviolet (SBUV)/2 instruments from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s NOAA-11 and NOAA-16 satellites using its version 8 algorithm. We examine the inverse noise-weighted mean percent differences between the HALOE and SBUV/2 ozone profiles at near coincident points and obtain a bias of less than 9% from 40 to 1.5 mb for the NOAA-11 and NOAA-16 satellite data records, with few exceptions. The weighted root mean square (RMS) differences between the HALOE and SBUV/2 observations are generally between 4 and 15% for pressure levels 40–1.5 mb. The RMS differences are larger for the NOAA-16 SBUV/2 data for higher latitudes. We also analyze the time-dependent differences between the two instruments in order to establish whether there is a significant relative drift. The slopes of time series of differences between the HALOE ozone profiles and the NOAA-11 and NOAA-16 SBUV/2 retrievals are, by and large, less than 1% per year and 2% per year, respectively. These results suggest a changing calibration in the NOAA-11 SBUV/2 instrument. Then we investigate the differences between ozone trends determined by the HALOE and SBUV/2 instruments. Trend differences are less than 0.5% per year in almost all latitude bands at pressure levels 10 and 3 mb. There are statistically significant biases of about 0.7% per year at 5 mb from 20°S to 50°N, and the trend differences are less than 1.3% per year at 60°–30°S.
Rupture of Pulmonary Artery by Swan-Ganz Catheter: A Cause of Postoperative Bleeding after Open-Heart Operation

Abstract Fifteen patients with rupture of the pulmonary artery by a Swan-Ganz catheter have been reported to date; 6 of them survived. The patient considered here underwent open-heart operation and then had severe bleeding secondary to distal pulmonary arterial rupture by a flow-directed balloon-tipped Swan-Ganz catheter. Knowledge of this specific complication may avoid needless delay in the diagnosis and control of postoperative bleeding.
Evaluating the Ethics of Inversion

In the last five years, a number of U.S. companies have either moved their locus of incorporation to countries with more favorable tax laws, or announced such moves. Given this trend toward “inversions”, and the polemics that have accompanied it, we offer two ways in which the ethics of such a move can be evaluated. We provide multinational executives with two applications of ethics to inversion: Kant’s deontological theory and the consequentialist perspective of utilitarianism.
Conducting a Soft First-Story Multifamily Dwelling Survey: An Example Using Santa Clara County, California

Abstract The objective of this survey was to provide data to emergency managers in Santa Clara County on the number of soft first-story multifamily dwellings (MFD) located in their communities using a cost-effective town-gown partnership. Target areas of cities were found by identifying areas containing residential units of two or more stories that had four or more living units. The survey found that 2,630, or 36%, of the 7,391 MFD in Santa Clara County are of the soft first-story construction type. It was found that one out of every nine apartment units in Santa Clara County is located in a soft first-story building. It is estimated that approximately 83,000 persons could be affected in the event of a severe earthquake. Emergency managers were given maps indicating areas of high-, medium-, and low-volume clusters of soft first-story MFD in each city. Follow-up interviews found that the communities that contain 67% of the identified soft-story MFD are using the survey information in their post-earthquake ...
Aortoplasty in infants with coarctation.

Seven severely ill patients under the age of 6 months with coarctation of the aorta were treated by the new operative method of aorto-plasty. Six survived and were improved. The operative technic consists of a longitudinal incision, excision of the intimal diaphragm, and transverse closure of the aorta. The aortic obstruction can be quickly and completely relieved. Since the suture line extends for only [see figure in the PDF file] about one half of the vessel circumference, growth of the aorta at that site may prove to be more normal than that following resection and end-to-end anastomosis. It is our impression that the technical simplicity of this new technic will extend the usefulness and lower the mortality of surgical correction of coarctation of the aorta in infancy.
Micellar Solubilization of Testosterone II: In Aqueous Solutions of Some Ionic Surfactants

The solubility of testosterone at 25° was determined in aqueous solutions containing varying concentrations of dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide (DTAB), hexadecyl-trimethylammonium bromide (HTAB), and potassium laurate (KL). After the initial stages of solubilization, a linear relationship was observed between the amount of testosterone solubilized and the molar concentration of the surfactant. The order of increasing solubilizing capacity was DTAB < HTAB < KL. The environment of solubilized testosterone, as investigated by the Z-value method, was found to be quite polar in all cases. At low concentrations of DTAB and HTAB the Z value was similar to that in water. As the concentration of the quaternary ammonium bromides increased, a precipitous drop in Z value, corresponding to a sudden decrease in environmental polarity, was observed in the region of the critical micelle concentration. With further increase in the concentration of DTAB and HTAB the Z value remained reasonably constant. In low KL concentrations the Z value of the testosterone environment was higher (more polar) than in water. With increasing concentrations of KL the Z value displayed behavior similar to that in DTAB and HTAB. In general, solutions of ionic surfactants showed higher Z values than those of the nonionic surfactants examined previously.
Porous carbon sphere anodes for enhanced lithium-ion storage

Amorphous and turbostratic porous carbon spheres are synthesized through a template-free spray pyrolysis method. Anodes composed of these non-graphitic carbon spheres outperformed the commercial graphitic carbon anodes in rechargeable Li-ion batteries. A discharge capacity of 378 mA h g−1, which is equivalent to the theoretical limit of 372 mA h g−1, is achieved at a current density of 0.1 C (37.2 mA g−1). At a higher charge–discharge rate of 1 C, electrochemically most active turbostratic carbon spheres exhibited a reversible specific capacity of 270 mA h g−1, which is 4-fold higher compared to those of commercial graphitic carbon anodes. After 100 charge–discharge cycles at current densities of 0.1 C and 1 C, carbon spheres retained stable specific capacities of 365 and 250 mA h g−1, respectively. Spectroscopic and microscopic investigation of porous carbon anodes after 100 galvanostatic cycles illustrated an excellent structural stability of turbostratic carbon spheres during the lithiation–delithiation process. The notably higher electrochemical performance of carbon spheres is explained by their disordered crystal structure and porosity, which resulted in lower impedance and superior rate performance. This study demonstrates porous turbostratic carbon spheres having a higher charge potential and sloping profile as promising anodes for rechargeable Li-ion batteries.
Evolution of the Laparoscopic Gastric Bypass

Obesity is recognized as a health problem of epidemic proportions. Surgical intervention for the treatment of obesity is a well-studied and effective method. Various procedures have been utilized over the past decades. Roux-en-Y gastric bypass has emerged over the last 20 years and is currently the most commonly offered surgical treatment. Within the last decade, advances in laparoscopic technology and surgical experience have allowed the application of laparoscopic techniques to the surgical treatment of obesity. Many centers and individuals have developed excellent techniques through experience over time as well as improvements in instrumentation. Hand-assisted laparoscopy was reported as a technique, but has mostly fallen out of favor. Currently, laparoscopic application of adjustable gastric band and laparoscopic Roux-en-Y gastric bypass are widely used throughout the United States. Data have been generated to demonstrate the improvement in surgical outcomes associated with minimally invasive surgical techniques for the surgical treatment of obesity. Further advances will allow continued improvement in patient outcomes utilizing a variety of minimally invasive surgical approaches to the treatment of this difficult disease.
Two distinct promoters drive transcription of the human D1A dopamine receptor gene.

The human D1A dopamine receptor gene has a GC-rich, TATA-less promoter located upstream of a small, noncoding exon 1, which is separated from the coding exon 2 by a 116-base pair (bp)-long intron. Serial 3ʹ-deletions of the 5ʹ-noncoding region of this gene, including the intron and 5ʹ-end of exon 2, resulted in 80 and 40% decrease in transcriptional activity of the upstream promoter in two D1A-expressing neuroblastoma cell lines, SK-N-MC and NS20Y, respectively. To investigate the function of this region, the intron and 245 bp at the 5ʹ-end of exon 2 were investigated. Transient expression analyses using various chloramphenicol acetyltransferase constructs showed that the transcriptional activity of the intron is higher than that of the upstream promoter by 12-fold in SK-N-MC cells and by 5.5-fold in NS20Y cells in an orientation-dependent manner, indicating that the D1A intron is a strong promoter. Primer extension and ribonuclease protection assays revealed that transcription driven by the intron promoter is initiated at the junction of intron and exon 2 and at a cluster of nucleotides located 50 bp downstream from this junction. The same transcription start sites are utilized by the chloramphenicol acetyltransferase constructs employed in transfections as well as by the D1A gene expressed within the human caudate. The relative abundance of D1A transcripts originating from the upstream promoter compared with those transcribed from the intron promoter is 1.5-2.9 times in SK-N-MC cells and 2 times in the human caudate. Transcript stability studies in SK-N-MC cells revealed that longer D1A mRNA molecules containing exon 1 are degraded 1.8 times faster than shorter transcripts lacking exon 1. Although gel mobility shift assay could not detect DNA-protein interaction at the D1A intron, competitive co-transfection using the intron as competitor confirmed the presence of trans-acting factors at the intron. These data taken together indicate that the human D1A gene has two functional TATA-less promoters, both in D1A expressing cultured neuroblastoma cells and in the human striatum.
A Functional Heuristic Algorithm for the Flowshop Scheduling Problem

AbstractBy exploiting the relationship between scheduling and sorting, this paper describes a functional heuristic algorithm for seeking a quick and approximate solution to the n-job, M-machine flo...
Structure of CheA, a Signal-Transducing Histidine Kinase

Histidine kinases allow bacteria, plants, and fungi to sense and respond to their environment. The 2.6 A resolution crystal structure of Thermotoga maritima CheA (290-671) histidine kinase reveals a dimer where the functions of dimerization, ATP binding, and regulation are segregated into domains. The kinase domain is unlike Ser/Thr/Tyr kinases but resembles two ATPases, Gyrase B and Hsp90. Structural analogies within this superfamily suggest that the P1 domain of CheA provides the nucleophilic histidine and activating glutamate for phosphotransfer. The regulatory domain, which binds the homologous receptor-coupling protein CheW, topologically resembles two SH3 domains and provides different protein recognition surfaces at each end. The dimerization domain forms a central four-helix bundle about which the kinase and regulatory domains pivot on conserved hinges to modulate transphosphorylation. Different subunit conformations suggest that relative domain motions link receptor response to kinase activity.
Pay-as-you-go: an adaptive approach to provide full context-aware text search over document content

RDBMS provides best performance for querying structured data that starts out with a well-defined schema. However, such a 'schema first, data later' approach does not work for unstructured data or data without much structure. Therefore, RDBMS typically stores such data without any schema in LOB columns (for example, Character Large Object (CLOB) or Binary Large Object (BLOB) columns) and provides Information-Retrieval (IR) style, keyword-based search capability over these LOB columns. Lately, XML as a native datatype (XMLType) in RDBMS has been introduced via the SQL/XML standard. Semi-structured data with or without any schema can be stored into such XMLType columns, and XQuery provides query capability over them. In particular, XQuery full text specification provides the capability of searching keywords within document context. Such full context-aware text search capability is more powerful than pure keyword search, since the user can now provide fine-grained context in which the keywords should occur. However, XML with XQuery full text searching requires that the user first convert her text data into XML and store them into XMLType column. Such massive physical data migration with possible loss of document fidelity and its potential impact on existing production environments are often expensive enough that users are reluctant to adopt the XML/XQuery approach. In this paper, we propose a pay-as-you-go architecture to provide XML text view over LOB columns, so that user can take advantage of context-aware full-text search capability adaptively. This adaptive architecture includes a novel XML text index that can be created over the LOB column where the content is stored. The XML text index supports an XML text view over LOB data on top of which XQuery full-text search capability is feasible. Such an adaptive index/view approach provides least intrusion over existing data, as it requires no physical data migration. We describe the design and challenge of building such an adaptive XML text index. Furthermore, we advocate that the pay-as-you-go approach provides the integration bridge between the structured relational world and text oriented document world and fulfills the primary motivation of XML in the database.
Liquid piston gas compression

Abstract A liquid piston concept is proposed to improve the efficiency of gas compression and expansion. Because a liquid can conform to an irregular chamber volume, the surface area to volume ratio in the gas chamber can be maximized using a liquid piston. This creates near-isothermal operation, which minimizes energy lost to heat generation. A liquid piston eliminates gas leakage and replaces sliding seal friction with viscous friction. The liquid can also be used as a medium to carry heat into and out of the compression chamber. A simulation is presented of the heat transfer and frictional forces for a reciprocating piston and a liquid piston. In the application of an air compressor, with a pressure ratio of 9.5:1 and a cycle frequency of 20 Hz, the liquid piston decreased the energy consumption by 19% over the reciprocating piston. The liquid piston and the reciprocating piston exhibited a total efficiency of 83% and 70% respectively. The liquid piston demonstrated significant improvements in the total compression efficiency in comparison to a conventional reciprocating piston. This gain in efficiency was accomplished through increasing the heat transfer during the gas compression by increasing the surface area to volume ratio in the compression chamber.
Involving the patient: Impact of inflammatory skin disease and patient-focused care

Atopic dermatitis (AD) and psoriasis are common chronic inflammatory diseases that are associated with significant psychosocial morbidity and a decrease in health-related quality of life (QOL). To better understand the effects of these two diseases on quality of life, as reported in the literature, a review of all English-language articles from 1970 to 2003 was performed using PubMed. Results from these studies and surveys illustrate the profound negative impact exerted by these conditions and the importance of early and appropriate treatment. These concerns can be incorporated into patient management strategies that focus on a new model for healthcare delivery, "patient-centered care," in which QOL plays an integral role. The impact of AD and psoriasis on physical, social, psychological, and financial aspects of life should not be trivialized and must be considered with the same importance as other chronic conditions. Because psoriasis and AD are chronic conditions that require patient and/or caregiver involvement for optimal management, the concept of patient-centered care with its emphasis on effective two-way communication is particularly important and useful for the clinician.
Systemic Activity of Coumaphos, Famphur, Crufomate, Ronnel, and Phosmet Given Orally to Hens for Control of the Northern Fowl Mite, Ornithonyssus sylviarum (Canestrini and Fanzago)

Coumaphos (O-(3-chloro-4-methyl-2-oxo-2H-1-benzopyran-7-yl)O,O-diethyl phosphorothioate), famphur (O-[p-(dimethylsulfamoyl)phenyl] O,O-dimethyl phosphorothioate). crufomate (4-tert-butyl-2-chlorophenyl methyl methylphosphoramidate), ronnel (O,O-dimethyl O-(2,4,5-trichlorophenyl) phosphorothioate) and phosmet (O,O-dimethyl phosphorodithioate S-ester with N-(mercaptomethyl) phthalimide) were administered as systemic acaricides (either single or multiple oral doses or as feed additives) for control of the nortnern fowl mite, Ornithonyssus sylviarum (Canestrini and Fanzago), on caged White Leghorn hens. None of the treatments controlled the mites, but some hens were poisoned.
Probability of Successful Defibrillation at Multiples of the Defibrillation Energy Requirement in Patients With an Implantable Defibrillator

Background The probability of successful defibrillation has been determined in normal animals but not in patients undergoing defibrillator implantation. Therefore, the purpose of this prospective study was to determine the probability of successful defibrillation in humans on the basis of a step-down defibrillation energy requirement. Methods and Results Fifty-three consecutive patients underwent five separate inductions of ventricular fibrillation after the defibrillation energy requirement was determined with the use of small decrements and a step-down protocol (20, 15, 12, 10, 8, 6, 5, 4, 3, 2, 1, and 0.8 J). The first shock energy for defibrillation was either 1.0, 1.3, 1.5, 1.7, or 2.0 times the defibrillation energy requirement, and the likelihoods of successful defibrillation were 70±27%, 84±12%, 86±25%, 80±29%, and 88±32%, respectively (P=.03). The frequencies of uniformly successful defibrillation (5 of 5 defibrillation attempts) were 30%, 27%, 60%, 64%, and 73%, respectively (P=.01). Seven patie...
Average deviation from ideal bond order as a measure for aromaticity. AMI commuted aromatic properties of five-membered C4H4X ring systems

Average bond order deviation from that in an ideal aromatic system was proposed as a parameter for evaluation of aromaticity in general. The validity of this approach was examined by studying a series of aromatic five-membered heterocycles. The geometries and bond orders were computed with AM1 semiem-pirical method. The usefulness of AM1 semiempirical method for computation of these parameters was also discussed.
Computational Optimization and Experimental Evaluation of Grasp Quality for Tendon-Driven Hands Subject to Design Constraints

The chief tasks of robotic and prosthetic hands are grasping and manipulating objects,and size and weight constraints are very inﬂuential in their design. In this study, we usecomputational modeling to both predict and optimize the grasp quality of a reconﬁgura-ble, tendon-driven hand. Our computational results show that grasp quality, measured bythe radius of the largest ball in wrench space, could be improved up to 259% by simplymaking some pulleys smaller and redistributing the maximal tensions of the tendons. Weexperimentally evaluated several optimized and unoptimized designs, which had either 4,5, or 6 tendons and found that the theoretical calculations are effective at predictinggrasp quality, with an average friction loss in this system of around 30%. We concludethat this optimization can be a very useful design tool and that using biologically inspiredasymmetry and parameter adjustments can be used to maximize performance.[DOI: 10.1115/1.4025964]
Developmental regulation of arylphorin gene activity in fat body cells and gonadal sheath cells of Galleria mellonella

Abstract The arylphorin gene of Galleria mellonella is permanently shut off in fat body cells within 48 h following the larval-pupal molt. Experiments were performed to determine the signal for this irreversible inactivation. Interruption of the normal pupal hormonal program, by debraining at day 0 or by head-ligation of pharate pupae, resulted in the presence of arylphorin transcripts for at least 10 days. Nuclear run-off transcription assays showed that persistence of these transcripts in debrained pupae was due to continued transcription rather than increased mRNA stability. Treating debrained pupae with 20-hydroxyecdysone (20-HE) resulted in a rapid decline (within 15 h) of arylphorin transcript levels. Taken together, the available data indicate than normal arylphorin gene inactivation is programmed by the release of 20-HE in the absence of juvenile hormone, which occurs beginning 24 h post-pupation and which initiates adult development. We also revisited the question of the tissue-specificity of Galleria arylphorin gene expression: arylphorin transcripts were detected by northern blot analysis in larval gonadal tissue, albeit at lower levels than in the fat body. Sensitive in situ hybridizations demonstrated that arylphorin transcripts were present in peripheral somatic sheath cells, but not in the enclosed germ line cells. Furthermore, about half of the gonads in batch preparations failed to stain at all, suggesting that unlike fat body cell expression, the gonadal expression of the arylphorin gene may be sex-limited.
The measurement and determination of Okun's Law: Evidence from state economies

Okun's Law is estimated for 26 states in the United States. An average of 3.1 percentage points of additional state-level output growth is found to be required for each percentage point reduction in a state's unemployment rate. Interstate differences in industrial mix, the age and gender distributions of the labor force, the rate of labor force growth over the sample period, and tax policy decisions are significantly related to spatial variation in Okun's Law. The results lend support to and extend previous explanations of the value of Okun's Law for the national economy.
Detection of viral and bacterial pathogens in acute respiratory infections.

Abstract Objectives The role of bacteria in acute respiratory illnesses (ARI) of adults and interactions with viral infections is incompletely understood. This study tested the hypothesis that bacterial co-infection during ARI adds to airway inflammation and illness severity. Methods Two groups of 97 specimens each were randomly selected from multiplex-PCR identified virus-positive and virus-negative nasal specimens obtained from adults with new onset ARI, and 40 control specimens were collected from healthy adults. All specimens were analyzed for Haemophilus influenzae ( HI ), Moraxella catarrhalis ( MC ) and Streptococcus pneumoniae ( SP ) by quantitative-PCR. General linear models tested for relationships between respiratory pathogens, biomarkers (nasal wash neutrophils and CXCL8), and ARI-severity. Results Nasal specimens from adults with ARIs were more likely to contain bacteria (37% overall; HI = 28%, MC = 14%, SP = 7%) compared to specimens from healthy adults (5% overall; HI = 0%, MC = 2.5%, SP = 2.5%; p p = 0.0046). The presence of bacteria was significantly associated with increased CXCL8 and neutrophils, but not increased symptoms. Conclusion Pathogenic bacteria were more often detected in virus-negative ARI, and also associated with increased inflammatory biomarkers. These findings suggest the possibility that bacteria may augment virus-induced ARI and contribute to airway inflammation.
Some evidence for the presence of a corticotrophin releasing factor (CRF) in the duck (Anas platyrhynchos).

Abstract Extracts of hypothalamus, cerebrum, and spinal cord from the duck (Anas platyrhynchos) were added to pituitary halves in vitro and incubated at 41° in 5% CO2 for 1 hr. The pituitary incubation media were then added to adrenal slices and incubated for 2 hr. The release of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) was determined by the fluorometric analysis of corticosterone in the adrenal incubation media. There was a significantly greater amount of ACTH released when pituitary halves were incubated in the presence of hypothalamic, cerebral, or spinal cord extracts when compared to either pituitary halves incubated in buffer alone or to adrenal slices incubated in the presence of the corresponding brain extract. These increases in the release of ACTH did not appear to be due to the higher K+ concentration of the pituitary incubation media. The addition of two different doses of median eminence extract to pituitary halves each resulted in an increased release of ACTH when compared to pituitary halves incubated alone. However, the two doses were not significantly different from one another. The addition of a dose of cerebral extract equivalent in weight to the high dose of median eminence extract resulted in a similarly increased release of ACTH when compared to pituitary halves incubated alone.
Using immunomic approach to enhance tumor-associated autoantibody detection in diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma.

To explore the possibility of using a mini-array of multiple tumor-associated antigens (TAAs) as an approach to the diagnosis of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), 14 TAAs were selected to examine autoantibodies in sera from patients with chronic hepatitis, liver cirrhosis and HCC by immunoassays. Antibody frequency to any individual TAA in HCC varied from 6.6% to 21.1%. With the successive addition of TAAs to the panel of TAAs, there was a stepwise increase of positive antibody reactions. The sensitivity and specificity of 14 TAAs for immunodiagnosis of HCC was 69.7% and 83.0%, respectively. This TAA mini-array also identified 43.8% of HCC patients who had normal alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) levels in serum. In summary, this study further supports the hypothesis that a customized TAA array used for detecting anti-TAA autoantibodies can constitute a promising and powerful tool for immunodiagnosis of HCC and may be especially useful in patients with normal AFP levels.
School Connectedness, Mental Health, and Well-Being of Adolescent Mothers

In this article, the authors describe recent research on risk factors associated with adolescent mothers' mental health outcomes. They outline the consequences associated with three major risk factors that impact the teen mother's adjustment to her new parental role: lack of social support, caregiver stress, and feelings of low self-efficacy. The article concludes with specific recommendations in how school personnel can address the mental health and related needs of teen mothers.
Solid-phase ATRP synthesis of peptide-polymer hybrids.

A versatile methodology to prepare hybrid biomaterials by atom transfer radical polymerization from resin-supported peptides has been established. As an example, we have synthesized a GRGDS-functionalized poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate). The peptide−polymer was characterized by solid-state 13C NMR and GPC and found to have a number average molecular weight of 4420 and a polydispersity of 1.47. These values are comparable to those obtained from solution-phase syntheses, suggesting the ATRP reaction is successful from a peptide-conjugated solid support. Solid-state 13C NMR was used to characterize multiple steps in the reaction, and the synthesis was found to be near quantitative. We have performed cell adhesion experiments and observed the GRGDS sequence-promoted cell adhesion, whereas unfunctionalized poly(2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate) did not. By incorporating cell-signaling moieties in materials with defined molecular architecture, it will be possible to control the interactions between polymeric mater...
Dynamic motion planning of overarm throw for a biped human multibody system

We propose a motion planning formulation of overarm throw for a 55-degree-of-freedom biped human multibody system. The unique characteristics of the throwing task—highly redundant, highly nonlinear, and highly dynamic—make the throwing motion simulation challenging in the literature and are addressed within the framework of multibody dynamics and optimization. To generate physically feasible throwing motions in a fully predictive method without input reference from motion capture or animation, rigorous dynamics modeling, such as dynamic balance based on Zero-Moment Point (ZMP) and ground reaction loads, is associated with the constraints. Given the target location and the object mass, the algorithm outputs the motion, required actuator torques, release conditions, and projectile and flight time of the object. Realistic human-like motions of throwing are generated for different input parameters, which demonstrate valid cause–effect relations in terms of both kinematic and kinetic outputs.
Opposing effects of ethanol on pig ovarian adenylyl cyclase desensitized by human choriogonadotropin or isoproterenol.

Pig ovarian follicular membranes contain a gonadotropin- responsive adenylyl cyclase, which becomes partially desensitized (-40%) upon a 40-min incubation with a saturating concentration of human (h) CG. This in vitro desensitization is time and hormone dependent and also requires the presence of micromolar concentrations of GTP. In this report we show that 10% ethanol present during the desensitization phase of the incubation increases the extent of hCG-induced desensitization of adenylyl cyclase by 2-fold. Ethanol shortened the time necessary to reach maximal hCG-induced desensitization from 20 to 10 min, but had no effect on the dose dependency for GTP. In addition, ethanol had no effect on the affinity of the LH/ hCG receptor for 125I-hCG but did cause an increase in the ED50 of hCG for inducing desensitization from 0.25 to 0.75 nM. Interestingly, ethanol decreased the apparent number of LH/ hCG-receptor sites by 55%, yet the control hCG-sensitive adenylyl cyclase activity was not reduced. The “hyperd...
Multivariate Analysis of Prognostic Factors in Penetrating Ocular Injuries

We used a multivariate statistical analysis to identify factors predicting visual outcome in 281 eyes that underwent primary repair of a penetrating ocular injury. Visual acuity of 20/800 or better on initial examination was the most important factor, with these eyes 28 times more likely to have a final visual acuity of 20/800 or better than eyes with initial visual acuities worse than 20/800. The effect of other factors differed depending on the initial visual acuity. In patients with initial visual acuities of 20/800 or better, youth (≤18 years) was a significant predictor of final visual acuities of 20/50 or better. In patients with initial visual acuities worse than 20/800, a laceration limited to the cornea was the best predictor of good visual outcome. Absence of an expelled or subluxed lens and lacerations limited to a location anterior to the rectus muscle insertions were also important predictors of good visual outcome. When an intraocular foreign body was present these factors were no longer significant and older age (>18 years) was the most important predictor of good visual outcome.
Diabetes and Stress Hyperglycemia in the Intensive Care Unit: Outcomes After Cardiac Surgery

AbstractBackground: Hyperglycemia is common in the post–cardiac surgery population and has been associated with increased mortality rates, surgical length of stay, and infection rates. Although hospitalized patients with diabetes are known to have more complications, recent studies in various hospital settings have reported worse outcomes in patients with stress hyperglycemia than in those with diabetes. Aim: The primary objective of this study was to analyze 30- and 90-day mortality rates in post–cardiac surgery patients with stress hyperglycemia and diabetes who were managed to achieve similar moderate blood glucose goals using the University of Michigan Hospital (Ann Arbor, MI) insulin protocol between 2005 and 2008. The secondary outcomes were rates of postoperative complications, including hypoglycemia. Methods: A standardized glucose management program was followed to treat all patients in the cardiac intensive care unit, with a blood glucose goal of 100 to 140 mg/dL. Data from 1973 patients with ei...
Optic disk edema associated with sudden-onset anterior uveitis.

Purpose To describe the clinical characteristics and course of optic disk edema (ODE) associated with isolated sudden-onset anterior uveitis. Design Interventional, noncomparative retrospective case series. Methods Review of patients with sudden-onset anterior uveitis and concomitant ODE seen in an academic uveitis referral center or a general ophthalmology clinic between August 2001 and November 2002. Results A total of eleven eyes of seven patients were included. Optic nerve function was intact in all. Cranial magnetic resonance imaging was normal in four of five and revealed an abnormality not felt to be responsible for the ODE in one. Resolution of anterior uveitis occurred over a mean of 36 days while ODE resolution lagged by a mean of 20 days. Conclusion Resolution of ODE trailed that of the anterior uveitis by up to 6 weeks. No abnormalities responsible for ODE were found on cranial imaging.
Physiological and receptor-selective retinoids modulate interferon γ signaling by increasing the expression nuclear localization, and functional activity of interferon regulatory factor-1

Synergistic actions between all-trans-retinoic acid (atRA) and interferon γ (IFNγ) on modulation of cellular functions have been reported both in vitro and in vivo. However, the mechanism of atRA-mediated regulation of IFNγ signaling is poorly understood. In this study, we have used the human lung epithelial cell line A549 to examine the effect of atRA on IFNγ-induced expression of IFN regulatory factor-1 (IRF-1), an important transcription factor involved in cell growth and apoptosis, differentiation, and antiviral and antibacterial immune responses. At least 4 h of pretreatment with atRA followed by suboptimal concentrations of IFNγ induced a faster, higher, and more stable expression of IRF-1 than IFNγ alone. Actinomycin D completely blocked the induction of IRF-1 by the combination, suggesting regulation at the transcriptional level. Further, we found that activation of signal transducer and activator of transcription-1 was induced more dramatically by atRA and IFNγ than by IFNγ alone. Expression of IFNγ receptor-1 on the cell surface was also increased upon atRA pretreatment. Experiments using receptor-selective retinoids revealed that ligands for retinoic acid receptor-α (RARα), including atRA, 9-cis-retinoic acid, and Am580, sequentially increased the levels of IFNγ receptor-1, activated signal transducer and activator of transcription-1, and IRF-1 and that an RARα antagonist was able to inhibit the effects of atRA and Am580. In addition, atRA pretreatment affected the transcriptional functions of IFNγ-induced IRF-1, increasing its nuclear localization and DNA binding activity as well as the transcript levels of IRF-1 target genes. These results suggest that atRA, an RARα ligand, regulates IFNγ-induced IRF-1 by affecting multiple components of the IFNγ signaling pathway, from the plasma membrane to the nuclear transcription factors.
Density functional theory predictions of adsorption isotherms with hysteresis loops

Abstract Adsorption equilibrium is calculated for slit-like pores of various sizes using lattice density functional theory (LDFT). It is shown that LDFT can predict adsorption isotherms with hysteresis loops and that different types of hysteresis loops can be obtained by varying energies of adsorbate–adsorbate and adsorbate–adsorbent interactions for different widths and lengths of slit-like pores. LDFT also predicts hysteresis loops with multiple steps. Though such behavior has not been part of the characterization of isotherms with hysteresis loops, there are experimental data that exhibit steps within hysteresis loops.