cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Arterial Punctures By Nurses

Arterial blood gas analysis is the single most useful laboratory test in the management of patients with respiratory and metabolic disorders. In recent years, requests for such studies have overburdened house officers who in most institutions have been trained to perform arterial punctures. We have trained two registered nurses to perform radial arterial punctures and found that they have become more proficient in this technic than most of the house staff. In a five month period, 1,541 punctures were performed by these nurses without morbidity.
Gene therapy applications for intervertebral disc degeneration

Gene therapy is an emerging method of treating disease through the modification of a patient's genome toward a therapeutic goal. Gene transfer causes the recipient cells to synthesize new mRNA, which is encoded by the transferred gene, leading to the production of a specific target protein. The resultant protein may have several therapeutic biomodulatory effects. Several recent studies have suggested that gene therapy may have potential in the treatment of spinal disorders, especially intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration. The successful transfer of therapeutic genes to target cells within the intervertebral disc by gene transfer in animal models reflects the rapid progress that is taking place in the field of gene therapy. The purpose of this article is to address several important technical topics, including 1) the basic theory of gene transfer; 2) characteristics of the target tissue (IVD cells); 3) gene transfer techniques; 4) current advances in IVD cell gene transfer; and 5) how these topics relate to the future clinical applications of gene therapy. Research in the field of gene therapy is growing at an exponential rate and has the potential to become a valuable treatment modality for the new millennium.
Research of Dynamic Voltage Restorer Base on the Model-Free Adaptive Control

A new control method, a model-free adaptive control,is used to resolve the steady-state error , insensitivity to the disturbance of power system, adaptive load is bad which is existed in feedforward control method of traditional, it only use the the data of load voltage and input voltage to determine the controller parameters, no need to establish the mathematical model of the system, Only by adjusting the parameters of a line, to achieve interference suppression system, the purpose of load voltage stability base on the theory analysis made emulation research and made the compare with the traditional feedforward control method . The Simulation results make clear that the correctness and feasibility of the method.
The response of American manufacturing industries to the great depression

(1987). The response of American manufacturing industries to the great depression. History and Technology: Vol. 3, No. 3, pp. 225-248.
Hair bundles: keeping it together

Kozlov and colleagues study how hair cells achieve their sensitivity to mechanical stimuli. They report that the hair bundle is tightly constrained to move as a unit, ensuring the concerted gating of transduction channels in hair cells.
Depression and anxiety symptoms relate to distinct components of pain experience among patients with breast cancer

Breast cancer is a leading cancer diagnosis among women worldwide, with more than 210,000 new cases and 40,000 deaths per year in the United States. Pain, anxiety, and depression can be significant factors during the course of breast cancer. Pain is a complex experience with sensory, affective, and cognitive dimensions. While depression and anxiety symptoms are relatively common among breast cancer patients, little is known about the relation between these psychiatric factors and distinct components of the pain experience. In the present study 60 females presenting to an NCI-designated Cancer Center with newly diagnosed breast cancer completed the Center for Epidemiological Studies 10-item Depression Scale, the State Instrument of the Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory, and the McGill Pain Questionnaire. Findings indicate that anxiety and depression are common among newly diagnosed breast cancer patients; furthermore, patients experience an appreciable amount of pain even before oncologic treatment starts. State anxiety serves as a predictor of the sensory dimension of the pain experience, whereas depression serves as a predictor of the affective dimension of the pain experience.
Combined syphilitic aortitis and rheumatic disease of the heart

Abstract 1. 1. The clinical and pathologic findings in four cases of combined syphilitic aortitis and rheumatic heart disease are reported and discussed. 2. 2. Contrary to the previously accepted idea that rheumatic heart disease occurs rarely in the southern states, our figures show that, clinically, rheumatic heart disease occurs more frequently in this locality than syphilitic aortitis, and almost as frequently at autopsy. 3. 3. From the evidence now available, one can draw no conclusions concerning the possible interrelationship of these two forms of heart disease.
Highly Branched Block Copolymers: Design, Synthesis, and Morphology

Several new approaches to biodegradable dendritic aliphatic block copolymers are described, including hyperbranched and dendrimer-like star structures. The hyperbranched polymers were obtained by the co-condensation of different AB2 macromonomers. The macromonomers were prepared by ring-opening polymerization (ROP) of either e-caprolactone, l-lactide, or various substituted lactones using the benzyl ester of 2,2‘-bis(hydroxymethyl)propionic acid as initiator. Catalytic hydrogenation of the benzyl ester generated the requisite acid functional AB2 macromonomer. The second route utilizes a new type of molecular architecture, denoted as dendrimer-like star polymers. These block copolymers are described by a radial geometry where the different layers or generations are comprised of high molecular weight polymer emanating from a central core. With this architecture, more control in the placement of the different blocks is afforded over the hyperbranched analogue. As a means of imparting desirable mechanical pro...
The mature and immature heart: response to normothermic ischemia.

Low cardiac output after heart surgery occurs more frequently in infants than in adults. This study was designed to determine whether this finding could be explained by a greater susceptibility of the immature heart to ischemia. An isolated working heart model was used to compare myocardial recovery in sets of hearts from six immature (2 weeks, 500 g) and six mature (20 weeks, 2 kg) rabbits after 10, 20, and 30 min of ischemia at 37°C. Mean aortic pressure (MAP), aortic flow (AF), heart rate (HR), left atrial pressure (LAP), and ATP and glycogen levels were measured before and after ischemia. Hemodynamic results are expressed as the percentage recovery of preischemic values. ATP and glycogen are reported as micrograms per gram dry weight. After each period of ischemia, the immature hearts had superior recovery of AF (95 ± 7.0, 72 ± 8.8, 70 ± 7.5 vs 58 ± 7.1, 34 ± 15.5, 13 ± 9.1, P < 0.05). After 10 min of ischemia, recovery of MAP was not different (97 ± 1.5 vs 100 ± 3.5), but after 20 and 30 min of ischemia, the immature hearts had better recovery of MAP (108 ± 10.8, 98 ± 5.4 vs 64 ± 10.8, 48 ± 6.0, P < 0.05). The immature hearts had better preservation of ATP (16.3 ± 1.2, 13.6 ± 1.3, 11.6 ± 1.1 vs 10.2 ± 0.6, 8.1 ± 1.5, 4.3 ± 1.2, P < 0.05) and glycogen (136.5 ± 25.2, 125.1 ± 12.9, 115.2 ± 31.2 vs 69.3 ± 2.6, 52.1 ± 12.3, 30.2 ± 6.5, P < 0.05) after the ischemic period. These results indicate that the immature heart withstands ischemia better than the mature heart and suggest that factors other than susceptibility to ischemia account for low cardiac output, when it occurs in infants after heart surgery.
Straightness of U75V 100m Heavy Rail under Deferent Straightening Processes

Temperature of the head, the waist, the bottom and angle of the bottom of same heavy rail lying on the cooling bed is tested continuously, time interval is 5min, which can provide the basis for prebending process. Additionally, the U75V 60Kg/m heavy rail straightening processes using the horizontal and edge roll compound straightening machine is discussed in this paper, and contrasts the cross-section dimension and straightness of heavy rail before and after being straightened, which is important to make certain of optimum straightening parameters.
Two- and three-dimensional analysis of hypersonic nonequilibrium low-density flows

Flowfield results have been obtained for hypersonic, low-density, twoand three-dimensional, nonequilibrium viscous shock-layer flows. Three-dimensional calculations are performed for sphere-coneshaped bodies at various angles of attack. Recently obtained surface and shock-slip boundary conditions are implemented to account for the low-density effects. These boundary conditions may also be employed with the Navier-Stokes equations with or without a shock-fitting solution technique. A method is suggested for obtaining the input shock shape for the three-dimensional nonequilibrium viscous flow. This approach gives superior convergence of results, especially under low-density flow conditions, and makes the VSL method self-starting. The analytic algebraic grid implemented with the equations does not add any numerical dissipation. Obtained results show the effect of low density on the surrounding flowfield and surface quantities for a hypervelocity vehicle. Good agreement is obtained with the available numerical results (including the direct simulation Monte Carlo predictions) and experimental data for the low-density flight conditions.
Deformation and breakup of a single slender drop in an extensional flow

The deformation and conditions for breakup of a single slender drop placed symmetrically in a uniaxial extensional flow are examined theoretically. For the case of an inviscid drop in zero-Reynolds-number flow, Buckmaster (1972) showed, using slender-body analysis, that the shape of the drop is given by r≡eR(z)=e(1−|z|ν)/2ν, where eeγ/Gμl and γ is the interfacial tension, G the strength of the extensional flow, μ the viscosity of the suspending fluid and l the drop half-length; also v = ½P − 1, where P is the unknown constant pressure inside the drop rendered dimensionless with respect to Gμ. By requiring that R be analytic at z = 0, Buckmaster then concluded that v had to be an even integer and thereby obtained a countably infinite set of slender profiles for any (large) value of the flow strength G. In the present work, the expression for R(z) shown above is obtained readily using the method of inner and outer expansions, the method failing when |z|[les ]O(e) and ν is not an even integer. Thus, in general, a new solution is needed to describe the shape within the ‘singular’ region |z|[les ]O(e). The requirement that the two solutions match in their domain of overlap then leads to the conclusion that v can be either equal to 2 or greater than or equal to 3. However, a stability analysis reveals that only the solution with v = 2 is stable, and hence a unique shape exists.Next, drops of low viscosity μi = O(e2μ) are examined in zero-Reynolds-number flow. Here, again, a unique solution is obtained according to which a steady shape cannot exist if (Gμa/γ) (μi/μ)⅙ > 0·148, where required for drop breakup is found as a function of the dimensionless group \[ (\rho a\gamma/\mu^2)^{\frac{1}{5}}(\mu/\mu_i)^{\frac{1}{6}}, \] which depends only on the physical properties of the system and the size of the drop. These last two results are the first which take into account inertial effects in determining the deformation and breakup conditions of a drop placed in a shear field.
Ventilatory response to hypoxia during endotoxemia in young rats: role of nitric oxide.

Administration of Escherichia coli endotoxin attenuates the ventilatory response to hypoxia (VRH) in newborn piglets, but the mechanisms responsible for this depression are not clearly understood. Nitric oxide (NO) production increases during sepsis and elevated NO levels can inhibit carotid body function. The role of endothelial NO on the VRH during endotoxemia was evaluated in 26 young rats. Minute ventilation (VE) and oxygen consumption (Vo2) were measured in room air (RA) and during 30 min of hypoxia (10% O2) before and after E. coli endotoxin administration. During endotoxemia, animals received placebo (PL, n = 8); a nonselective nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitor (NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester, L-NAME, n = 9), or a neuronal NOS (nNOS) inhibitor (7-nitroindazole, 7-NI, n = 9). During endotoxemia, a larger increase in VE was observed only during the first min of hypoxia in the L-NAME group when compared with PL or 7-NI (p < 0.001). VRH was similar in the PL and 7-NI groups. A larger decrease in Vo2 at 30 min of hypoxia was observed in L-NAME and 7-NI groups when compared with PL (p < 0.03). These data demonstrate that the attenuation of the early VRH during endotoxemia is in part mediated by an inhibitory effect of endothelial NO on the respiratory control mechanisms.
Direct Detrimental Effects ofL-Arginine Upon Ischemia–Reperfusion Injury to Myocardium☆

Abstract The effects of l -arginine on recovery of myocardial contractile function and oxidative metabolism were investigated in a model of reversible global normothermic, ischemic injury using an isolated, buffer-perfused rabbit heart preparation. One m m l -arginine was infused into hearts for 2 min at the onset (group 1) of a 35 min period of ischemia or at the onset of reperfusion (group 2). In non-ischemic hearts, l -arginine caused a slight increase in developed pressure but had no effects on diastolic pressure, oxygen consumption (MVO2), coronary flow, or lactate production. When administered either before or after ischemia-reperfusion, l -arginine caused a significant increase in the diastolic pressure-volume relationship (PVR) and decline in systolic function when compared to untreated control hearts receiving the same ischemic injury. Recovery of MVO2and high energy phosphates (phosphocreatine and ATP), measured by31P-NMR spectroscopy, were significantly impaired in l -arginine-treated hearts compared to reperfused control hearts. Lactate release on reperfusion was also higher in both arginine-treated groups. Nitric oxide release into the coronary circulation (measured in separate experiments by the conversion of [15N] l -arginine to [15N]nitrate/nitrite using gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy) was not increased by l -arginine administration. Thus, we conclude that l -arginine acts synergistically with ischemia reperfusion to augment myocardial injury, which includes inhibition of oxidative metabolism and mitochondrial function.
Free amino acid levels in the boll weevil (Coleoptera: Curculionidae): the effect of five different diets.

Abstract 1. 1. The levels of eighteen free amino acids were determined in five groups of 5-day-old male boll weevils. 2. 2. Each of the groups of boll weevils had fed, from emergence, on one of three artificial diets, on cotton bolls or on cotton squares (buds). 3. 3. Square-fed boll weevils were compared statistically with the other groups of weevils. 4. 4. Glutamic acid was elevated in all three groups fed artificial diets. 5. 5. Proline and tyrosine were elevated in two groups fed artificial diets; alanine, glycine, arginine, histidine, and trypophan were elevated in at least one of these groups. Alanine was decreased in one of the groups fed artificial diets. 6. 6. Valine, glycine, isoleucine, leucine, threonine, phenylalanine, aspartic acid and arginine were elevated in boll-fed boll weevils; methionine was decreased.
Diffusion of zinc in lead

The diffusion of Zn in Pb has been studied using radioactive-tracer techniques for the temperature range 182-299 \ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}C. The experimental concentration profiles had the form of complementary-error-function curves due to the short time allowed for the anneal before oxidation of the Zn on the surface took place. The diffusion coefficients at various temperatures were fitted to an Arrhenius equation with the activation energy, $\ensuremath{\Delta}H=11.3\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.2$ kcal/mole and ${D}_{0}=0.016\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.004$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$/sec. The diffusion rate is comparable to that of the noble metals, along with Ni and Pd in Pb, suggesting a similar diffusion mechanism.
SU-E-T-546: Use of Implant Volume for Quality Assurance of Low Dose Rate Brachytherapy Treatment Plans

Purpose: To analyze the application of volume implant (V100) data as a method for a global check of low dose rate (LDR) brachytherapy plans. Methods: Treatment plans for 335 consecutive patients undergoing permanent seed implants for prostate cancer and for 113 patients treated with plaque therapy for ocular melanoma were analyzed. Plaques used were 54 COMS (10 to 20 mm, notched and regular) and 59 Eye Physics EP917s with variable loading. Plots of treatment time x implanted activity per unit dose versus v100 ^.667 were made. V100 values were obtained using dose volume histograms calculated by the treatment planning systems (Variseed 8.02 and Plaque Simulator 5.4). Four different physicists were involved in planning the prostate seed cases; two physicists for the eye plaques. Results: Since the time and dose for the prostate cases did not vary, a plot of implanted activity vs V100 ^.667 was made. A linear fit with no intercept had an r2 = 0.978; more than 94% of the actual activities fell within 5% of the activities calculated from the linear fit. The greatest deviations were in cases where the implant volumes were large (> 100 cc). Both COMS and EP917 plaque linear fits were good (r2 = .967 and .957); the largest deviations were seen for large volumes. Conclusions: The method outlined here is effective for checking planning consistency and quality assurance of two types of LDR brachytherapy treatment plans (temporary and permanent). A spreadsheet for the calculations enables a quick check of the plan in situations were time is short (e.g. OR-based prostate planning).
The role of prostacyclin in the hypercapnic and hypoxic cerebrovascular dilations

Abstract The cerebral blood flow (CBF H/A) and the production of a stable prostacyclin metabolite, 6-Keto PGF 1 alpha (6KPGF) was studied in 5 baboons in control, hypercapnic and hypoxic conditions. In steady-state conditions CBF H/A was measured by the clearance of an intra-arterial bolus injection of 133xenon and arterial and cerebral venous blood was sampled for assay of 6KPGF by radioimmunoassay. Both hypercapnia and hypoxia significantly increased CBF H/A and both increments were abolished by indomethacin. However, only hypoxia showed an increased 6KPGF production. Thus, hypoxia, but not hypercapnia, appears to produce cerebral vasodilation by increasing prostacyclin production.
Lighting Design for Industrial Machine Vision

The purpose of the lighting in an industrial machine vision application is to produce an image that is well matched to the camera and vision system. The brightest areas of the scene should cause a sensor illuminance that is just below the camera's saturation level and the video signal from the darkest significant areas of the scene should lie just above the vision system's noise level. This paper describes the fundamental principles and the techniques used to design lighting that meets these requirements. The camera's transfer function, the vision system's noise level, and the relative lens aperture are used to calculate optimal luminances for the brightest and darkest areas in the scene. The necessary reflectivity coefficients for the objects in the scene are measured and lighting is designed which produces the correct object luminances in both the specular highlights and the diffuse background areas of the scene. We show how to specify the light sources required to produce the lighting and present an example of printed circuit board inspection. The burden that this design method places on the vision algorithms is also discussed.
Discussion of “The behavior of water drops at terminal velocity in air”

The work reported by Blanchard in this paper must be regarded as an important effort in the experimental study of the stability of large raindrops. Stroboscopic photography has been admirably adapted by Blanchard to the task of revealing rapid changes in drop shape as well as showing details of drop breakup. Since publication of Blanchard's work provides virtually the sole source of observational information relative to raindrop dynamics, the writer would like to ask several questions in an effort to elucidate several points that arose in his mind in studying the paper.
Phenomenology studies using a scanning fully polarimetric passive W-band millimeter-wave imager

We present experimental results obtained from a scanning passive W-band fully polarimetric imager. Passive millimeter wave imaging offers persistent day/nighttime imaging and the ability to penetrate dust, clouds and other obscurants, as well as thin layers of clothing and even dry soil. The selection of the W-band atmospheric window at 94 GHz offers a compromise as there is sufficient angular resolution for imaging applications using modestly-sized reflectors appropriate for mobile as well as fixed location applications. The imager is based upon an F/2.1 off-axis parabolic reflector that exhibits -34 dB of cross polarization suppression. The heterodyne radiometer produces a 6 GHz IF with 4 GHz of bandwidth resulting in an NEDT of < 200 mK. Polarimetric imaging reveals the presence of man-made objects due to their typically anisotropic nature and the interaction of these objects with incident millimeter wave radiation. The phenomenology studies were undertaken to determine the richest polarimetric signals to use for exploitation. In addition to a conventional approach to polarimetric image analysis in which the Stokes I, Q, U, and V images were formed and displayed, we present an alternative method for polarimetric image exploitation based upon multivariate image analysis (MIA). MIA uses principal component analysis (PCA) and 2D scatter or score plots to identify various pixel classes in the image compared with the more conventional scene-based image analysis approaches. Multivariate image decomposition provides a window into the complementary interplay between spatial and statistical correlations contained in the data.
Determination of the Elastic Constants of a Transversely Isotropic Lamina Using Laminate Coefficients of Thermal Expansion

Three-dimensional elastic constants for a fiber-reinforced lamina are often difficult to obtain from traditional mechanical tests. The relationships developed in this work enable the determination of any three of the five independent elastic constants, of a transversely isotropic lamina, from measurements of the remaining two elastic constants and the coefficients of thermal expansion (CTE's) of [(+θ/- θ) n ] s and unidirectional laminates. The approach is used to predict the elastic properties of a carbon fiber reinforced epoxy material and the predicted properties are shown to be in good agreement with quoted valuers. Further, the developed relationships can be used to determine elastic constants over a range of temperatures and, potentially, to study the effects of manufacturing on elastic properties. Therefore, this technique constitutes an additional method for evaluating the elastic constants that characterize a transversely isotropic, fiber-reinforced lamina.
Total protein determinations by particle beam/hollow cathode optical emission spectroscopy (PB/HC-OES) system

Silica micro-particles are investigated as possible carrier agents in total protein determinations by particle beam/hollow cathode optical emission spectroscopy (PB/HC-OES). Parametric optimization for sample treatment, including silica product type, silica concentration, sample incubation temperature and time, sonication time, and solvent pH, is performed for the analysis of bovine serum albumin (BSA) samples. A response curve of C I 193.0 nm emission was obtained under the optimized bovine serum albumin/silica interaction conditions. The analyte response curve exhibits clear improvements in terms of calibration curve slope and linearity in comparison with the case of simple aqueous solvent as the sample injection matrix. The logarithmic-scaled calibration curve allows a clearer view of the improvement of analyte response in the low-concentration (<5 ppm) portion of the calibration curve, which reflects the “carrier effect” of silica particles for PB-interfaced systems. Based on the linear regression statistics of the calibration curves, and the use of triplicate injection matrix blank injections, a limit of detection of 0.010 ppm BSA, 1.0 ng in absolute form, was obtained, with the addition of 5000 ppm of silica particles as the sample injection matrix. The value is ∼4-fold lower in concentration, and more than 6-fold lower in absolute mass, of BSA as compared to that obtained with 10% HCl as the injection matrix.
The self‐attribution of emotion as a function of success and failure1

When an act is interpreted as emotional, the responding individual generally is considered less responsible than if the act were interpreted as deliberate. This leads to the hypothesis that the self-attribution of emotion will more likely occur when behavior has undesirable rather than desirable consequences. Three experiments were conducted to explore this hypothesis. In these experiments, the self-attribution of emotion was assessed indirectly by having the subjects judge potentially arousing stimuli (e.g., nudes and corpses) after these stimuli had been associated with either failure or success on a problem-solving task. As predicted, the nudes were judged more attractive and the corpses more disturbing when they were associated with failure. This tendency was most apparent among subjects who perceived the task to be a valid indication of intellectual ability.
Population and developmental changes in thymidine uptake kinetics of Hymenolepis diminuta (Cestoda: cyclophyllidea)

Abstract 1. 1. Thymidine uptake kinetics in 10-day old crowded (100 worms/rat), 10 day uncrowded (10 worms/rat) and 6-day old H. diminuta were investigated. Succinate, a partial mediator of the “crowding effect” was also tested for its effect on the thymidine uptake of uncrowded worms. 2. 2. Immature (6-day old) H. diminuta have a high affinity transport site for thymidine which persists in the anterior regions of 10-day old worms, but is overshadowed by the proliferation of lower affinity sites in the remainder of the 10-day old strobila. 3. 3. Lower rates of 3H thymidine incorporation into DNA by crowded or succinate-treated worms cannot be accounted for by differences in thymidine uptake characteristics. 4. 4. The inclusion of 14C-PEG in uptake experiments as a non-absorbable marker is of particular use when studying small, young worms with high surface to mass ratios.
Measurement of strength: summary.

(2002). Measurement of strength: Summary. Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Other Motor Neuron Disorders: Vol. 3, No. sup1, pp. S51-S53.
Social constraints and distress among women at familial risk for breast cancer.

Background: Despite literature finding support for the social cognitive processing model, which suggests that social constraints are related to distress, few studies have examined possible mediators of this effect; none have examined this relation among women with family histories of breast cancer (FH+).Purpose: This study was designed to examine possible effects of social constraints on psychological distress among FH+ women.Methods: Sixty FH+ women (M age = 39.2 years) completed self-report measures of social constraints, avoidance, and general and cancer-specific distress.Results: Multiple regression analyses revealed that social constraints were significantly related to both cancer-specific and general distress and that avoidance partially mediated the relation between social constraints and both types of distress.Conclusions: Theoretical and clinical implications of these findings are discussed.
The climatic niche diversity of malagasy primates: a phylogenetic perspective.

Background: Numerous researchers have posited that there should be a strong negative relationship between the evolutionary distance among species and their ecological similarity. Alternative evidence suggests that members of adaptive radiations should display no relationship between divergence time and ecological similarity because rapid evolution results in near-simultaneous speciation early in the clade’s history. In this paper, we performed the first investigation of ecological diversity in a phylogenetic context using a mammalian adaptive radiation, the Malagasy primates. Methodology/Principal Findings: We collected data for 43 extant species including: 1) 1064 species by locality samples, 2) GIS climate data for each sampling locality, and 3) the phylogenetic relationships of the species. We calculated the niche space of each species by summarizing the climatic variation at localities of known occurrence. Climate data from all species occurrences at all sites were entered into a principal components analysis. We calculated the mean value of the first two PCA axes, representing rainfall and temperature diversity, for each species. We calculated the K statistic using the Physig program for Matlab to examine how well the climatic niche space of species was correlated with phylogeny. Conclusions/Significance: We found that there was little relationship between the phylogenetic distance of Malagasy primates and their rainfall and temperature niche space, i.e., closely related species tend to occupy different climatic niches. Furthermore, several species from different genera converged on a similar climatic niche. These results have important implications for the evolution of ecological diversity, and the long-term survival of these endangered species.
Mosquito ribosomal protein S3 lacks a critical glutamine residue associated with DNA repair activity in homologous Drosophila proteins.

In Drosophila melanogaster, ribosomal protein RpS3 has extra-ribosomal activities including apurinic/apyrimidinic lyase activity and N-glycosylase activity that participate in DNA repair. It has been suggested that these activities couple DNA repair to the translational machinery. To establish a basis for participation of RpS3 in DNA repair in mosquitoes, we cloned RpS3 cDNAs from Aedes aegypti and Aedes albopictus mosquito cell lines. The sequence data were used to reconstruct the homologous gene from the Anopheles gambiae database. Mosquito RpS3 is a single copy gene, which in Aedes albopictus, lacks introns in the amino acid coding region. Although RpS3 proteins are well-conserved among eukaryotes, a critical glutamine residue, Q59, essential to robust DNA repair activity in the Drosophila protein, is replaced by an asparagine (N) in all three mosquito RpS3 proteins. In this respect, the mosquito protein resembles human RpS3, which has relatively modest DNA repair activity. None of the insect RpS3 proteins available in the database, other than those from Drosophila, contain glutamine at position 59. However, in the Lepidoptera, N59 is consistently replaced by serine (S), and the putative interactive site at position 134 is replaced by arginine (R). These data suggest that in the case of RpS3, the Drosophila protein may be uniquely unusual in having robust DNA repair activities that are unlikely to be common to RpS3 from other insects. Arch. Insect Biochem. Physiol. 63:188–196, 2006. © 2006 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
New substituted 2,2'-dipyridines and their chelation as fe(ii) and cu(i) complex cations

Abstract A study has been made of three new substituted 2,2'-dipyridines, the 4,4'-diphcnyl- and diaminodipyridincs and 4,4',6,6'-tetramethyldipyridine. Comparison is made between their chelation properties as Fe(Il) and Cu(I) colored complexes with similarly substituted di- and tripyridines previously described. 4,4'-Diphcnyl-2,2'-dipyridinc forms a ferrous complex of exceptionally large molar absorbtivity (21300), and which has two widely separated absorption maxima (386 and 552 mμ) and equal sensitivity at both absorption peaks. The Cu(I) complex is very sensitive to oxidation in contact with air. 4,4'-Diamino-2,2'-dipyridinc is noteworthy because of its ability to reduce Fe(IIl) to Fe(II).
Relationships among psychoacoustic judgments, speech understanding ability and self-perceived handicap in tinnitus subjects

Tinnitus is often a disturbing symptom which affects 6-20% of the population. Relationships among tinnitus pitch and loudness judgments, audiometric speech understanding measures and self-perceived handicap were evaluated in a sample of subjects with tinnitus and hearing loss (THL). Data obtained from the THL sample on the audiometric speech measures were compared to the performance of an age-matched hearing loss only (HL) group. Both groups had normal hearing through 1 kHz with a sloping configuration of < or = 20 dB/octave between 2-12 kHz. The THL subjects performed more poorly on the low predictability items of the Speech Perception in Noise Test, suggesting that tinnitus may interfere with the perception of speech signals having reduced linguistic redundancy. The THL subjects rated their tinnitus as annoying at relatively low sensation levels using the pitch-match frequency as the reference tone. Further, significant relationships were found between loudness judgment measures and self-rated annoyance. No predictable relationships were observed between the audiometric speech measures and perceived handicap using the Tinnitus Handicap Questionnaire. These findings support the use of self-report measures in tinnitus patients in that audiometric speech tests alone may be insufficient in describing an individual's reaction to his/her communication breakdowns.
Profiling the Leadership of Project Managers

Leadership is a concept rooted in human relationships, personal experience, and introspection. Teaching leadership, therefore, is best done by placing students in simulated situations where each individual can recognize within a short time the systemic consequences of personal behaviors and actions affecting others. A 52-action-card game was developed for this purpose. The game reveals a “player's” current management or leadership preferences and also elicits questioning and team discussion of the consequences of alternative actions. The cards provide a choice of actions that are plausible in responding to a deeply troubled construction project. Unbeknown to the players, each suite of action cards represents a different style. The game consists of selecting and recording 10 action cards, which, first in the opinion of the individual and then by consensus after vigorous team discussion and negotiation, will improve the troubled construction project. The individually selected cards are plotted on a four qua...
The Blame Game on the Border: Perceptions of Environmental Degradation on the United States-Mexico Border

As a result of the combined impacts of shifts in immigration policies and increased Homeland Security, the United States-Mexico border region has become increasingly degraded in environmentally protected areas. Such activities include migrant and smuggler traffic as well as a corresponding influx of Border Patrol agents, vehicles, fence, and wall construction and high-tech security systems. Disparate parties are quick to assign blame: on the one hand, "dirty Mexicans" are identified as corrupting a pristine environment as they leave behind garbage and human waste. On the other hand, Border Patrol is often identified as a major perpetrator of environmental damage at the border, driving off-road and subjecting the fragile desert landscape to fence and wall construction and security-related traffic. In this paper, based on ethnographic fieldwork conducted between 2007 and 2009 at Cabeza Prieta National Wildlife Refuge, adjacent to the United States-Mexico border, I discuss the ways in which different percept...
Time-Resolved Step-Scan Fourier Transform Infrared Spectroscopy of the CO Adducts of Bovine Cytochrome c Oxidase and of Cytochrome bo3 from Escherichia coli†

We have used cryogenic difference FTIR and time-resolved step-scan Fourier transform infrared (TR-FTIR) spectroscopies to explore the redox-linked proton-pumping mechanism of heme−copper respiratory oxidases. These techniques are used to probe the structure and dynamics of the heme a3−CuB binuclear center and the coupled protein structures in response to the photodissociation of CO from heme Fe and its subsequent binding to and dissociation from CuB. Previous cryogenic (80 K) FTIR CO photodissociation difference results were obtained for cytochrome bo3, the ubiquinol oxidase of Escherichia coli [Puustinen, A., et al. (1997) Biochemistry 36, 13195−13200]. These data revealed a connectivity between CuB and glutamic acid E286, a residue which has been implicated in proton pumping. In the current work, the same phenomenon is observed using the CO adduct of bovine cytochrome aa3 under cryogenic conditions, showing a perturbation of the equivalent residue (E242) to that in bo3. Furthermore, using time-resolved ...
Model Hamiltonian of donors in indirect-gap materials

We propose a model Hamiltonian for donors in Si and Ge, whose matrix elements can be expressed analytically for Slater-type basis wave functions defined in an ellipsoidal coordinate system. This model Hamiltonian yields results for the energy eigenvalues of the ground state and excited states almost identical to that for the exact Hamiltonian. The simplicity of this model Hamiltonian makes the application to more complicated systems such as donor bound excitons and bound multiexciton complexes possible.
Human brain endothelial ATP synthase β-subunit is mannose-insensitive binding target of FimH

Binding of meningitis-causing Escherichia coli K1 to human brain microvascular endothelial cells (HBMEC) contributes to traversal of the blood–brain barrier, which occurs in part by the mannose-sensitive binding of FimH. In this study, we showed that FimH also binds to HBMEC, independent of mannose, and identified ATP synthase β-subunit and actin proteins from the surface biotinylated HBMEC as the mannose-insensitive binding targets for FimH. Co-immunoprecipitation experiments in the presence of α-methyl mannose verified the binding of FimH to ATP synthase β-subunit of HBMEC. ATP synthase β-subunit antibody decreased E. coli K1 binding to HBMEC in the presence of α-methyl mannose. Taken together, these findings demonstrate that FimH of E. coli K1 binds to HBMEC in both mannose-sensitive and -insensitive manner.
MicroRNAs and Neurodegeneration: Role and Impact

Neurodegenerative diseases are typically late-onset, progressive disorders that affect neural function and integrity. Although most attention has been focused on the genetic underpinnings of familial disease, mechanisms are likely to be shared with more predominant sporadic forms, which can be influenced by age, environment, and genetic inputs. Previous work has largely addressed the roles of select protein-coding genes; however, disease pathogenesis is complicated and can be modulated through not just protein-coding genes, but also regulatory mechanisms mediated by the exploding world of small non-coding RNAs. Here, we focus on emerging roles of miRNAs in age-associated events impacting long-term brain integrity and neurodegenerative disease.
Thermal death kinetics in eggs and larvae of Bactrocera latifrons (Diptera: Tephritidae) and comparative thermotolerance to three other tephritid fruit fly species in Hawaii.

Eggs, 1st, and 3rd instars of Bactrocera latifrons (Hendel) were subjected to hot water immersion to determine its thermal death kinetics. All stages exhibited nonlogarithmic death (survivorship) curves that were characterized by an initial lag in mortality followed by increasing death rates with time at a prescribed temperature. Increasing temperatures reduced the time necessary to kill 90 or 99% of the insects for a given developmental stage. Arrhenius plots of the death rate function ( k ) showed a reduced slope for 3rd instars compared with eggs or 1st instars. Based on calculation of estimated lethality times needed for 90 or 99% mortality, eggs were more resistant to heat than 1st instars at lower temperatures but were more susceptible at higher temperatures. Comparison of thermal death kinetics of B. latifrons with other tephritid fruit flies present in Hawaii revealed this species to be more resistant to heat than either Mediterranean fruit fly, C. capitata , oriental fruit fly, B. dorsalis or melon fly, B. cucurbitae using our assay conditions. These results are discussed in relation to the use of heat treatments for disinfestation of tephritid fruit flies from agricultural commodities and the need for an international database to facilitate comparisons among these and other economically important tephritids, which could become pests in areas where they do not currently exist.
Racial Variation in Timing of Pyeloplasty: Prenatal Versus Postnatal Diagnosis

Purpose: We have previously shown that nonwhite patients with ureteropelvic junction obstruction undergo pyeloplasty at a younger age than white patients. The mechanisms behind this finding are unclear, since there is no known racial variation in the natural history of ureteropelvic junction obstruction. We used a detailed clinical database to explain this phenomenon.Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed all patients undergoing primary pyeloplasty at our institution between 1992 and 2008. More than 360 data points were abstracted for each patient, including self-reported race, socioeconomic status, symptom duration and presentation.Results: Of 847 patients undergoing pyeloplasty during the study period 741 met inclusion criteria. Nonwhite patients underwent surgery at a younger age (0.6 years) than whites (2.6 years, p <0.0001). When stratified by timing of clinical presentation (prenatal vs postnatal), there was no significant difference in race among patients presenting prenatally (0.37 vs ...
Experience with covered stents for the management of hemodialysis polytetrafluoroethylene graft seromas

Prosthetic graft seromas is a rare complication that has been traditionally managed with open methods using partial graft replacement and open drainage. We report the first two cases of hemodialysis graft seromas successfully treated with a covered stent. Both patients underwent arteriovenous graft placement from the brachial artery to the axillary vein using a standard wall, tapered 4 to 7 mm polytetrafluoroethylene graft, but developed a seroma at the arterial end of the graft. Unsuccessful attempts were made to treat these seromas with percutaneous and open drainage. In both patients, an 8 mm x 50 mm Wallgraft (Boston Scientific, Natick, Mass) was retrogradely deployed "bareback" at the arterial end of the graft allowing for complete resolution of the graft seromas.
Effective credit costs in retail financial markets: Leasing versus borrowing

Abstract This study examines reported credit cost information in the automobile sales market to determine if vehicle leasing really is cheaper than installment borrowing. In addition, the study evaluates the accuracy of credit cost data furnished to consumers by commercial banks, vehicle leasing firms, and automobile dealers to gauge whether any systematic differences exist in the accuracy of reported credit cost information. Results of the study suggest that the cost of leasing is significantly different from borrowing, yet neither financing alternative is unilaterally cheaper than the other. In addition, suppliers of credit in consumer finance markets routinely and significantly understate effective credit costs reported to consumers.
Logic-oriented object bases

It is generally accepted that object-based systems provide a simple and elegant paradigm for general-purpose programming that meshes well with data models. Such systems are characterized by three core concepts: object, class, and message. As a consequence we are able to define object types with operations, to structure objects according to their properties, and to have objects that share properties. All these features make them suitable to serve as a basis for the next generation computing systems. However, they have been criticized for the lack of declarative semantics which is an essential feature for knowledge-based applications. For this purpose we propose the framework of logic-oriented object bases, i.e. databases that are constructed based on object model and augmented by mathematical logic. Adopting logic as a formal means for knowledge representation, we have developed both algorithmic and knowledge-based approaches to relate objects, to evaluate declarative queries that involve high level concepts, and to schedule declarative update requests such that changes to objects can be made consistently.
A model of the formation of high‐salinity shelf water on polar continental shelves

This study presents a model of the flow and salinity fields forced by sea-surface salinity flux and wind stress curl and examines the processes that create High-Salinity Shelf Water (HSSW). To investigate the relative effects of wind stress and buoyancy forcing in HSSW production, the polynya freezing rate in the model is varied from 0.0 to 0.30 m/d, and the Ekman pumping derived from the wind stress curl is varied independently from 0.0 to 1.8 x 10 exp 6 m/s. The Ekman pumping was found to control the magnitude of the circulation, while the polynya freezing rate controlled the extent of salinization in the shelf water. The flux of HSSW increases linearly with increasing Ekman pumping above 0.3 x 10 exp -6 m/s. The modeled flux of HSSW and the flux of derived Botttom Water for the present estimates of the forcings (a peak freezing rate of 0.10 m/d and Ekman pumping of 0.2 x 10 exp -6 m/s) agree with the fluxes inferred from physical and chemical observations in the deep Weddel Sea by oceanographic field programs.
Letter of Credit Litigation under UCC Article 5: A Case of Statutory Preemption

In this article, Professor Dolan maintains that UCC Article 5 fashions a comprehensive remedy scheme for recurring damages claims in letter of credit litigation. That scheme, he contends, is upset by the introduction of most common law causes of action in Article 5 litigation. He concludes, therefore, that courts should not entertain those common law claims, which he sees as destructive of letter of credit law and of the unique commercial nature of letters of credit. Using the economic loss doctrine and similar theories, he urges courts to dismiss actions brought in addition to or in lieu of the remedies Article 5 crafts.
The New Jersey voting-machine lawsuit and the AVC advantage DRE voting machine

As a result of a public-interest lawsuit, by Court order we were able to study, for one month, the hardware and source code of the Sequoia AVC Advantage direct-recording electronic voting machine, which is used throughout New Jersey (and Louisiana), and the Court has permitted us to publicly describe almost everything that we were able to learn. In short, these machines are vulnerable to a wide variety of attacks on the voting process. It would not be in the slightest difficult for a moderately determined group or individual to mount a vote-stealing attack that would be successful and undetectable.
Continuous-flow left ventricular assist device implantation in the presence of a hostile ventricular apex

Management of a patient with a hostile ventricular apex at the time of continuous flow left ventricular assist device (LVAD) implantation is a challenging problem. Patients with ventricular apical aneurysm, calcified left ventricular apex, large mural thrombus burden, or massive apical myocardial infarction with friable myocardium may be unsuited to traditional LVAD implant techniques. The survival of these patients relies on the implantation of the LVAD with good inflow cannula positioning in the left ventricle. We describe a novel implant technique for a HeartMate II LVAD (Thoratec Corp, Pleasanton, Calif) in a patient with a heavily calcified left ventricular apex.