cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Models and mechanisms of exercise-induced asthma

Airflow-induced bronchoconstriction (AIB) in mammals can be broadly categorized as either vagal-dependent or vagal-independent. Among mammals, rabbits and cats belong to the former and guinea-pigs belong to the latter categories. Although insufficient data are available to classify monkeys, dogs and man appear to occupy the middle ground in which a small but significant parasympathetic component modulates airflow-induced bronchoconstriction. The fact that vagal activity can only partially account for airflow-induced bronchoconstriction in some asthmatic subjects suggests that vagal-dependent models may be of limited value in studying the human condition, but should prove valuable in elucidating the parasympathetic component of this mechanism. Although airflow-induced bronchoconstriction appears to be remarkably similar in guinea-pigs, dogs and humans, there are important differences concerning the potential role of specific mediators in producing airflow limitation. Concordant data from animal models and man suggest that: 1) airflow-induced bronchoconstriction is a basic mammalian response to airway desiccation; 2) airway drying stimulates and cooling inhibits this response; 3) hyperpnoea with dry air may damage the bronchial mucosa and contribute to this response; 4) biochemical mediators contribute to the development of this response; 5) vascular engorgement and airway oedema do not appear to be the primary effectors of this response, and in fact may antagonize it; 6) airway smooth muscle constriction is involved in the production of airflow-induced bronchoconstriction, and airway oedema may enhance its effect; and 7) airway and vascular responses to dehydration may protect against acute dry air-induced mucosal injury. Finally, although one must be cautious in extrapolating results from animals to humans, the similarities that do exist suggest that the investigation of airflow-induced bronchoconstriction in carefully selected animal models will continue to provide new insights concerning its development in humans.
A problem in the theory of epidemics

Abstract This article considers a model for the spread of an infection of the type proposed by K. Cooke. The model involves a threshold for becoming infective that leads to functional, rather than ordinary, differential equations. Three types of result are presented. The principal result is to show that the model yields a mathematically well-posed problem. We show existence, uniqueness, and continuous dependence on initial data. Then an approximate solution is obtained for small values of a threshold parameter. Finally, a numerical scheme is proposed for one case. A number of graphs illustrate the effect of varying certain parameters in the model in this case.
High-Q silica microsphere optical resonator sensors using stripline-pedestal antiresonant reflecting optical waveguide couplers

There is currently a significant amount of interest in the development of integrated optical sensors for a variety of applications. Attractive features of these types of sensors include miniature size and low operating powers. We have demonstrated a novel integrated optical sensor platform based on high-Q silica microsphere resonators and stripline-pedestal anti-resonant reflecting optical waveguide (SPARROW) optical couplers. Advantages of the planar SPARROW coupler include high light coupling efficiency, robust planar structure, and standard optical chip processing/fabrication techniques. High light coupling efficiencies (approaching 100%) have been observed using this sensor platform. Several sensor configurations are presented here, including one designed to reduce input optical power requirements. High resolution flexured-mass-based sensors which have been demonstrated include acceleration and seismic sensors. Proposed sensor concepts based on thermo-optic effects are also discussed.
Gossypol pharmacokinetics in mid-lactation Brown Swiss dairy cows.

A bolus equivalent to 450 ppm (dosage based on average feed intake for lactating dairy cows of similar mass) of gossypol was administered orally to three Brown Swiss dairy cows in mid lactation daily for a 7-day treatment period. Blood samples were taken daily during a 2-day pretreatment period, the 7-day treatment period and a 6-day recovery period. The serum recovered from the cows was stored at -20°C until analysis for extractable gossypol content. The highest concentration of gossypol (a mean of 0.53 μg/ml serum) was attained in all the cows on day 6 of the treatment period, indicating that a steady-state condition had been reached before the end of the treatment period. The gossypol concentrations then gradually declined during the 6-day recovery period but never fell to the zero baseline. The cows exhibited terminal elimination half-lives of 67, 67.5 and 40 h. Gossypol elimination was best described by a bi-exponential decay curve in two cows and a mono-exponential decay curve in the remaining cow.
Antioxygenic properties of molecularly distilled fractions of peanut oil

1. Samples of unhydrogenated and hydrogenated peanut oils, which had been refined, bleached, and deodorized, were separated into two comparable series of fractions by molecular distillation. The various fractions were analyzed for tocopherols (and related chromogens) by the method of Furter and Meyer, and stability tests by the Swift method were made on the larger distilled fractions. 2. Molecular distillation at 140°, 160°, and 180° C. yielded antioxidant concentrates (presumably of tocopherols) from each oil; distillation at 240° yielded fractions almost devoid of antioxygenic substances. 3. In the unhydrogenated and hydrogenated oils, approximately 40 percent and 20 percent, respectively, of the chromogenic substances reacting in the Furter-Meyer tests were undistillable and remained in the residue comprising 10 percent of the original oil. 4. Evidence was found of the presence of distillable antioxidants other than tocopherols, which either do not respond to the Furter-Meyer test or else respond to it weakly, in proportion to their antioxygenic activity. 5. Hydrogenation of the oil had no appreciable effect on the activity of its distillable antioxidants. 6. The progressively increased addition of tocopherol-rich concentrates to fractions almost devoid of antioxidants resulted in first decreasing and then increasing the initial rate of peroxide formation in the stability tests. 7. In the case of the unhydrogenated oil, there was an optimum level of antioxidant concentration above which the addition of these substances had no stabilizing action. However, hydrogenated oil showed an increase in stability with the addition of antioxidants up to the highest level to which the concentration of the latter was carried (approximately 0.15 percent, calculated asa-tocopherol).
The Effect of Dry-Ice Pellet Velocity on the Generation of Ice Crystals

Abstract The influence of fall velocities of dry-ice pellets on the nucleation of slightly supercooled clouds is discussed and the conditions necessary for the production of ice crystals are examined. A theoretical argument is presented, which suggests that when cloud temperatures are warmer than about −5C, the number of ice crystals produced by a pellet of dry ice moving at its terminal velocity decreases rapidly as the temperature approaches 0C. In contrast to the pellet moving at terminal velocity, it is shown that the ice-crystal productivity of a slowly moving pellet remains high up to 0C. An experimental verification of this predicted dependence upon pellet velocity is described, data are presented, and the implications of these findings for future seeding experiments are discussed.
Accurate Treatment of Electrostatics during Molecular Adsorption in Nanoporous Crystals without Assigning Point Charges to Framework Atoms

Molecular simulations have become an important complement to experiments for studying gas adsorption and separation in crystalline nanoporous materials. Conventionally, these simulations use force fields that model adsorbate−pore interactions by assigning point charges to the atoms of the adsorbent. The assignment of framework charges always introduces ambiguity because there are many different choices for defining point charges, even when the true electron density of a material is known. We show how to completely avoid such ambiguity by using the electrostatic potential energy surface (EPES) calculated from plane wave density functional theory (DFT). We illustrate this approach by simulating CO2 adsorption in four metal−organic frameworks (MOFs): IRMOF-1, ZIF-8, ZIF-90, and Zn(nicotinate)2. The resulting CO2 adsorption isotherms are insensitive to the exchange-correlation functional used in the DFT calculation of the EPES but are sensitive to changes in the crystal structure and lattice parameters. Isoth...
Localization and metabolism of 1,2-3H-vitamin D3 and 26,27-3H-25-hydroxycholecalciferol in goldfish (Carassius auratus L.)

Abstract 1. 1. Goldfish ( Carassius auratus L.) was found to contain 50–60 I.U. of vitamin D 3 per 100 g body weight. Concentration in viscera was five to six times greater than in the remainder of the fish. 2. 2. Radioactivity from a dose of 3 H-vitamin D 3 accumulated mainly in intestine and liver. 3. 3. In neither intestine, liver, gallbladder nor blood was there quantitatively significant transformation of 3 H-vitamin D 3 to 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (25HCC) or related metabolites. 4. 4. When 3 H-25HCC was injected into goldfish it rapidly disappeared from all tissues examined and accumulated in the gallbladder in part unmodified and in part as unidentified metabolites. 25HCC could not be retained in the intestine. 5. 5. It was concluded that goldfish can accumulate vitamin D, but cannot metabolize it.
Lack of effect of high-dose biosynthetic human C-peptide on pancreatic hormone release in normal subjects

Abstract We studied the effect of high doses of biosynthetic human C-peptide on pancreatic hormone secretion in response to oral (75g) and intravenous ([IV] 0.33 g/kg of D50%) glucose on normal volunteers. The infusion of human C-peptide at a rate of 360 ng/kg/min body weight, increased the plasma C-peptide concentration from a basal level of 0.32 ± 0.04 pmol/mL to 38.5 ± 1.8 pmol/ml. Overall, C-peptide had no significant effect on the serum levels of glucose, insulin, proinsulin, glucagon, and pancreatic polypeptide, either under basal conditions or following IV and oral glucose administration. However, small decreases in glucose and insulin concentrations that were not statistically significant were seen during the first hour after C-peptide infusion. The results of the present studies are therefore consistent with the conclusion that even supraphysiologic plasma concentrations of infused C-peptide do not affect basal insulin secretion or overall insulin secretory responses to oral or IV glucose. However, we cannot definitively exclude a small reduction in insulin secretion in the first hour after oral glucose ingestion.
Software Reuse in the Evolution of an E-Commerce System: A Case Study

The engineering and reengineering of software interfaces between dissimilar systems is a process that is constantly evolving with respect to the techniques applied and the lessons learned from their use. While many strategies and models for such development exist today, there are times that no single defined approach appropriately fits the requirement for all real-world situations. This is particularly true of the integration and sharing of data among modern e-commerce software systems and large, mature multi-channel legacy systems. This paper details the initial and subsequent evolutions of one such e-commerce software interface. Lessons learned from each evolution were used to improve upon the next, ultimately resulting in a highly maintainable and scalable product.
Further theoretical examination of the F + H2 entrance channel barrier

Abstract A theoretical study has been conducted to clarify the discrepancy between ab initio predictions of the entrance channel barrier in the F + H 2 reaction and the experimentally observed thresholds for product formation. New results using two different models are in better agreement with the experimental excergicity and predict a zero-point energy corrected barrier of 2.0 kcal mol −1 . Estimates of the resulting reaction cross section and thermal activation energy suggest that this value differs from experiment by about 0.5 kcal mol −1 . The theoretically predicted isotope effect on the thermal activation energy is larger than either of the recently suggested experimental values, which, however, are subject to large uncertainties.
Internet effects on political participation: an empirical study on the reinforcement vs. mobilization effect

Analyzing the Citizenship Involvement Democracy survey on American citizens, this paper investigates categorical and demographic disparities between offline and online political participants and differences in significant predictors for political participation between offline and online modes. The study presents three main implications. First, people who do political activities online are not categorically disparate from those who do so offline. Second, the patterns of cross-group differences in activeness of political participation make distinctions between offline and online modes. Demographic distinctions reveal a tradeoff between a generational gap in online activity and a racial gap in offline activity, but a divide in political participation is still large between better-educated, affluent people and their counterparts. Third, the Internet plays a dual role to mobilize new participation by offline inactivists as well as to reinforce continuous participation by offline activists. Offline inactive participants do online political activities actively with frequent use of the Internet.
Extracellular-intracellular amino acid equilibria caimans and turtles

Abstract 1. 1. l -Amino acids were injected into caimans and turtles and tissue concentrations were compared with those of plasma. 2. 2. Glutamate and aspartate were extracellular; ornithine and lysine were partially excluded from the cells; glycine and alanine were concentrated in striated muscle, and leucine, isoleucine, valine, methionine, arginine and phenylalanine were distributed equally in extracellular and intracellular fluids. 3. 3. Histidine entered the cells slowly, but its intracellular concentration eventually exceeded that of the plasma. 4. 4. Amino acid equilibria were similar in both species with the kidney the most permeable and the brain the least permeable organ.
Classical focal mechanism techniques for body waves

The initial motion of primary body waves and polarization directions of secondary body waves have been applied successfully to the study of the mechanism operating at the earthquake focus. Equal area plots of these body wave characteristics resulted in radiation patterns that were compared to patterns due to theoretical focal mechanism sources. Such an approach indicated that a double couple force is the source mechanism operating at earthquake foci. This can be physically represented by faulting at the focus. This seems likely because of the relation between earthquakes and fault motion in shallow earthquakes. The possibility of other mechanisms operating in deep focus earthquakes has not been ruled out.
A scenario-based framework for the security evaluation of software architecture

Software security has become a crucial component of software systems in today's market. However, software security development is still a maturing process. In this paper, we present an approach for assessing software architecture to determine how well it can satisfy intended security requirements. It is important to be able to assess the security of software under development at an early stage (e.g., the design stage). By doing so we are not only reducing the probability that flaws will be introduced and ensuring that stakeholder requirements have been met, but also focusing on a stage where changes will cost just a fraction of what they would cost in later stages (e.g. implementation). This paper reports on the ongoing development of a systematic security evaluation framework that aids in assessing the level of security supported by a given architecture and provides the ability to qualitatively compare multiple architectures with respect to their security support.
Leading with the Tao: the energizing power of respect

Written over 25 centuries ago in ancient China, the Tao Te Ching offers ideational principles and practical guidelines for today’s learning organizations. By portraying the energy patterns that recur throughout creation, the Tao provides new insights for planning and problem solving. By focusing on process, the Tao reveals the vital connection between personal growth and growth in organizations. Unlike mechanistic management that treats people like replaceable parts, leading with the Tao respects people and process, leveraging positive personal and organizational change to produce greater energy, innovation, and productivity.
Olfactory context and memory retrieval in 3-month-old infants

Abstract Three experiments examineed whether olfactory stimuli can produce context-dependent effects in infant memory. In eash, 3-month-old infants learned to kick to control the movement of an overhead modile in the presence of an ambient odor. Retention was assessed 1, 3, or 5 days later. During the retention test, the olfactory context was either the same odor, a different odor, or “no odor.” At 1 day, infants exhibited retention when tested in the presence of the same odor. Infants in the no odor condition exhibited partial retention, whereas memory retrieval was completely disrupted for infants tested in the presence of the different odor. After the 3- and 5-day intervals, all groups showed forgetting. These results were not consistent with recent studies of 3-month-old infants trained and tested in the presence of a distinctive visual and auditory context. The findings suggest that olfactory stimuli are a silent feature of the environment for 3-month-old infants, but that they function as context cues in a way that differs from other sensory modalities.
Forty-seven days of decay does not change persistent organic pollutant levels in loggerhead sea turtle eggs

Reptile and bird eggs are priority samples for specimen banking programs that assess spatial and temporal trends of environmental contaminants. From endangered species, such as sea turtles, nonlethal sampling is required (e.g., unhatched eggs collected postemergence). Previous contaminant monitoring studies have used unhatched sea turtle eggs, but no study has tested whether their concentrations represent levels found in fresh eggs (e.g., eggs collected within 24 h of oviposition). The author analyzed three fresh eggs from different nest depths and up to three unhatched eggs from 10 loggerhead sea turtle (Caretta caretta) nests in South Carolina, USA, for a suite of persistent organic pollutants (POPs). Lipid-normalized POP concentrations were not significantly different (p > 0.05) between fresh and unhatched eggs or among different depths from the same nest. The POP concentrations in loggerhead eggs from South Carolina were higher than previously measured concentrations in eggs from Florida and slightly lower than concentrations in eggs from North Carolina. This pattern agrees with previously observed trends of increasing POP concentrations in loggerhead turtles inhabiting northern latitudes along the U.S. East Coast. Contaminant profiles are discussed, including a higher chlorinated pattern of polychlorinated biphenyls possibly associated with a Superfund site in nearby Brunswick, Georgia, USA, and unusual polybrominated diphenylether patterns seen in this and previous sea turtle studies. Concentrations correlated with one of eight measurements of reproductive success; levels were negatively correlated with egg mass (p < 0.05), which may have implications for hatchling fitness. The present study suggests that unhatched eggs can be used for POP-monitoring projects. Environ. Toxicol. Chem. 2013;32:747–756. © 2013 SETAC
Assessing the Effects of the Grundrisse in Anglophone Geography and Anthropology

: Selections of the Grundrisse were translated into English beginning in 1964; a full translation did not appear until 1973. Anglophone Marxian social science has changed dramatically since then; this article attempts to assess the role of the Grundrisse in these changes, focusing specifically on anthropology and geography. In geography the effects are most apparent in the work of David Harvey, who was among the earliest Anglophone social scientists to undertake a full reinterpretation of Marx in the light of the Grundrisse. I identify four insights that can be seen in Harvey's writings and elsewhere in recent human geography, but whose relation to the Grundrisse is not often acknowledged. In anthropology, the effects of the Grundrisse are perhaps even more pronounced but also more complex and obscure; nonetheless, a similar, and similarly under-acknowledged, influence can be discerned, especially in historical anthropology and recent studies of value. I suggest that the Grundrisse's translation into English has facilitated a convergence of anthropology and geography, and that critical ethnography in this vein is needed to grapple with the financialization of everything, in which commodification is only a preliminary step.
Virtual topology mapping in elastic optical networks

Virtualization improves the efficiency of networks by allowing multiple virtual networks to share a single physical network's resources. Next-generation optical transport networks are expected to support virtualization by accommodating multiple virtual networks with different topologies and bit rate requirements. Meanwhile, Optical Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiplexing (OOFDM) is emerging as a viable technique for efficiently using the optical fiber's bandwidth in an elastic manner. OOFDM partitions the fiber's bandwidth into hundreds or even thousands of OFDM subcarriers that may be allocated to services. In this paper, we consider an OOFDM-based optical network and formulate a virtual network mapping problem for both static and dynamic traffic. This problem has several natural applications, such as e-Science, Grid, and cloud computing. The objective for static traffic is to maximize the subcarrier utilization, while minimizing the blocking ratio is the aim for dynamic traffic. Two heuristics are proposed and compared. Simulation results are presented to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed approaches.
The Effect of Emotional Reactions upon Retention

Resume Dans les experiences decrites dans cet article on a etudie l'influence des derangements du corps sur la retention. On a fait cinq experiences, 3 employant la methode de rappel et 2 employant la methode d'associations correctes. Les 3 experiences avec la methode de rappel n'ont pas indique d'une maniere decisive la presence de l'interference emotionnelle au point de vue des notations totales du rappel. Cependant, les moyennes des notations du rappel dans les situations de test on ete un peu moins elevees dans toutes les experiences que les moyennes obtenues dans les conditions de controle. Ces differences n'ont pas ete constantes d'une facon statistique, mais le seul fait de la tendance a la constance peut ětre significatif. Dans une de ces experiences ou l'on a pris les notations de la duree totale du rappel, les chiffres n'ont pas montre l'effet de l'interference. Une etude du temps qu'il a fallu pour rappeler chaque syllable d'une facon correcte dans cette experience a indique quelque inhibition....
Reliability and Validity of the Conners Teacher Rating Scale—28 (CTRS-28):

Internal consistency and construct and criterion-related validity of the Conners Teacher Rating Scale—28 (CTRS-28) were studied, with particular emphasis on its utility as a measure of Attention-De...
Comparative Productivity of Distillation and Reverse Osmosis Desalination Using Energy From Solar Ponds

This paper presents comparative analyses of two methods for producing desalted water using the heat collected by a solar pond - the first by distillation, and the second by reverse osmosis. The distillation scheme uses a multiple-effect distiller supplied with steam generated in a flash boiler using heat from a solar pond. Solar pond water passes through a heat exchanger in the water system ahead of the flash boiler. The second scheme uses a similar arrangement to generate hydrocarbon vapor which drives a Rankine cycle engine. This engine produces mechanical/ electrical power for the RO plant. The analyses use two pond water temperatures -82.2/sup 0/C (180/sup 0/F) and 71.1/sup 0/C (160/sup 0/F) -- which seem to cover the range expected from salt-gradient ponds. In each case, the pond water temperature drops by 5.56/sup 0/C (10/sup 0/F) while passing through the vapor generator system. Results of these analyses show that, based on the assumptions made, desalted water could be produced by distillation at productivity rates much greater than those estimated for the RO plant.
Orbital changes during hypersonic aerocruise

A novel mathematical approach that allows the analysis of orbital changes occurring during an aerocruise maneuver to be conducted in two distinct stages is presented. In the first stage, the aerodynamic turn is determined using a nondimensional form of the equations of motion that is free of singularities, and the way in which speed, altitude, angle of attack, and thrust direction should be chosen to maximize the aerodynamic turn for a given propellant expenditure is demonstrated. In the second analysis stage, the aerodynamic turn is translated into changes in the orbital elements with respect to the equatorial plane; analytic solutions for the initial arguments of latitude that maximize the change in inclination and in the longitude of the ascending node are given. As the initial inclination decreases toward zero, the optimal location moves from the apex toward the node.
GC-MS for Characterization and Identification of Ant Semiochemicals

Living in a predominantly dark environment, ants rely mostly on chemical signals for communication. Trail and alarm pheromones are the most widely studied and best characterized of all ant semiochemicals, but other such compounds can influence a variety of other behaviors, including reproductive activities, sexual development, nest mate and caste recognition, and defense. A typical worker body contains more than 10 different semiochemical-producing glands, and the surface of the cuticle is covered with lipids that serve as recognition signals. The methods of choice for collection and identification of ant semiochemicals should be determined based on results of behavioral analyses. These can indicate the source (e.g., glandular, cuticular) and the nature (volatile vs. nonvolatile) of the chemical. This protocol presents a number of different methods for collecting lipid semiochemicals. These can be followed by gas chromatography (GC) coupled with mass spectrometry (MS) to better characterize, and possibly identify, the semiochemical in question.
Prednisolone disposition in obese men

Obesity is accompanied by altered secretion and disposition of sex and glucocorticoid hormones, including cortisol, and also confounds parameter normalization and drug dosage selection relative to body weight. Prednisolone disposition was assessed in eight obese and four normal male subjects after a dose of 33 mg iv. Steroid concentrations were determined by HPLC. Kinetics were related to ideal body weight (IBW) and total body weight (TBW). Uncorrected steady-state volume of distribution (Vss) of total prednisolone was 20% greater in obese subjects (36.7 and 44.1 l). This effect could be described by the relationship: Vss = 0.54 IBW + 0.09(TBW-IBW), with a distribution coefficient of 0.09 reflecting limited prednisolone uptake by fat. Protein binding parameters and albumin and transcortin concentrations were similar between groups. Uncorrected total and free prednisolone clearances (Cl) were increased in obesity (11.1 and 8.3 l/hr total; 65.4 and 46.5 l/hr free). Free prednisolone Cl correlated strongly (r = 0.80) with degree of obesity expressed as TBW/IBW. In the obese, endogenous cortisol concentrations were initially higher before exogenous steroid dosing, were suppressed at an identical rate, and returned to baseline more slowly than in normal subjects. The apparent hypersensitivity of the adrenal gland offsets the increased Cl of free prednisolone in obesity, indicating that weight-proportional dosage adjustments of this steroid in obesity should reflect TBW.
Intravascular ultrasound‐guided central vein angioplasty and stenting without the use of radiographic contrast agents

Patients with contraindications to iodinated radiographic contrast agents present a significant challenge during endovascular intervention. A 46-year-old man with end-stage renal disease and a normally functioning left upper extremity arteriovenous fistula presented with severe left arm edema. The patient's history included repeated severe anaphylactoid reactions with severe respiratory distress upon exposure to iodinated contrast. In an attempt to avoid the use of iodinated contrast, angioplasty and stent placement of a severe central venous stenosis were performed using only fluoroscopy and intravascular sonography. In patients unable to receive iodinated contrast secondary to anaphylactoid reactions, intravascular sonography can be used to guide angioplasty and stenting of central venous stenosis.
The role of HMGB1 in ischemia-reperfusion injury in the rat small intestine.

DOI of original article: 10.1016/j.jss.2012.0 * Corresponding author. Uniformed Services MD 20814, USA. Tel.: þ1 301 295 2552; fax: þ E-mail address: hassan_tetteh@hks09.ha 0022-4804/$ e see front matter a 2013 Elsev doi:10.1016/j.jss.2012.04.004 Kojima et al. highlight the High Mobility Group Box Chromosomal Protein 1 (HMGB1) and its potential role in response to ischemia-reperfusion injury in the small intestine [1]. Their results suggest that HMGB1 is an importantmediator in the rat model of ischemia-reperfusion injury, and that therapeutic agents may be developed for targeted therapy in ischemiarelated injury to the small intestine. Several studies have previously explored the impact and role ofHMGB1 inacute lung injuryand ischemia-reperfusion injuryof the kidney, heart, brain, and liver [2e5]. This current studyby the authors appears to be the first report that investigates HMGB1 in the intestinal rat model of ischemia-reperfusion injury, and it offers three unique perspectives that may create opportunity for further investigation and innovation in the treatment of ischemia-reperfusion injury. First, the study demonstrated that increased serum HMGB1 concentration and its localization in damaged intestinal tissue were identified after reperfusion injury. Second, the study suggests that there is strong expression of HMGB1 in the damaged cells of terminal protein of the villi of small intestine. Finally, the administration of anti-HMGB1 antibody appears to ameliorate local disturbances and improve survival in the study subjects over controls. The authors’
Morning-to-evening Change in Refraction, Corneal Curvature, and Visual Acuity 11 Years after Radial Keratotomy in the Prospective Evaluation of Radial Keratotomy Study

Purpose: Previous reports demonstrate morning-to-evening changes in ophthalmic measurements at 3 months, 1 year, and 4 years after radial keratotomy. The authors determine whether diurnal change in refractive error persists 11 years after radial keratotomy surgery in the Prospective Evaluation of Radial Keratotomy (PERK) study. Methods: Seventy-one patients were examined in the morning and evening a mean of 11.1 ± 0.6 years (range, 10–12.7 years) after undergoing radial keratotomy under a standardized protocol using a diamond blade. Results: Between the morning and evening examinations, the mean change in the spherical equivalent of refraction was a 0.31 ± 0.58-diopter (D) increase in minus power in first eyes. Thirty-six (51%) eyes had an increase in minus power of the manifest refraction of 0.50 to 1.62 D; 22 (31 %) had a change in refractive cylinder power of 0.50 to 1.25 D; 9 (13%) had a decrease in uncorrected visual acuity of two to seven Snellen lines; and 25 (35%) showed central corneal steepening measured by keratometry of 0.50 to 1.94 D. Two (3%) eyes lost two lines of spectacle-corrected visual acuity, whereas one (1%) eye gained two lines. In patients whose both eyes underwent surgery, a high degree of symmetry was observed in morning-to-evening refractive change. Conclusion: In some patients after radial keratotomy, morning-to-evening change of refraction and visual acuity persists for at least 11 years, although in most patients the magnitude of this change is small. Thus, diurnal fluctuation may be a permanent sequela of radial keratotomy in some individuals.
A design approach for constructing engineering scenario maps

Abstract We present a cognitively based design approach for the staged construction of a high level linguistic-visual map useful for engineering scenario analysis. This map, which we call a Three Dimensional Conceptual Thematic Map (3D-CT Map), is a linkage of a 3-Dimensional geometric Map (3D-Map) and a semantic net which we have called a Conceptual Thematic Map (CT-Map). The 3D-CT Map is an attempt to specify what is in the environment, where it is, and what is happening to it. The CT-Map component is derived by combining information from two explicit linguistic levels, syntax and semantics. It consists of recursively nested semantic structures linked by thematic roles. The 3D-Map component is derived by combining the information from two explicit visual levels, the 2 1/2 D sketches (which correspond to standard engineering drawings) and three dimensional shape models. The result of these visual combinations is the 3D-Map which shows the object centered three dimensional geometric component of the scenario. Annotating the 3D-Map with selected cross references to the CT-Map constitutes the 3D-CT Map. The theoretical bases of the 3D-CT Map rest on the combined insights of contemporary vision and linguistics researches, principally Ray Jackendoff and David Marr. These linguistic and vision insights are founded on a representationalist view of human understanding and action that includes the formal recognition, analysis, and constructive representation of autonomous levels of mental information structures. Each level of representation has its own set of primitives, well-formedness rules, and links to other levels via inter and intra level correspondence rules. At an even more fundamental level, these insights are in consonance with a view of the human mind/brain as a biological information processor. We illustrate this cognitive design approach by constructing a 3D-CT Map from a scenario drawn from the spatial domain of Numerical Control Part Programming. The inputs to the derivation consist of engineering drawings, a natural-language scenario description of the procedure to be carried out, and the experience of the part programmer. The outputs from the scenario analysis process are: syntactic parse trees, semantic structure graphs, annotated semantic structure graphs (i.e., the CT-Map), 2 1 2 D sketches of the geometry of the scenario (i.e., engineering drawings), a 3D-Map of the scenario geometry, and finally, a synthesized map of the scenario that links these components together i.e., the Three Dimensional Conceptual Thematic Map.
Some aspects of abrasive wear at elevated temperatures

Abstract The abrasive wear of commercially pure aluminum and copper was studied experimentally over the temperature range from ambient to 400 °C. For two-body abrasion (fixed abrasive particles) the wear rate of copper is remarkably insensitive to temperature over the temperature range studied. Other than an increase in the region around 250 °C, the aluminum tested was also insensitive to temperature. Three-body abrasion (loose abrasive particles) was studied using a disc-shaped specimen pressed against a rotating disc containing loose abrasive particles. Again aluminum showed very little variation in weight loss with temperature. Copper specimens showed an increase in apparent wear rate with temperature. However, this could be attributed largely to the oxidation which occurs in these longer term tests. A qualitative explanation for the insensitivity of wear rate to temperature in abrasion is given by referring to data in the literature on the effect of high strains and strain rates on the flow stress. Finally, a three-body abrasive wear tester which we have discussed in earlier work was used to study the influence of temperature. This involves a column of abrasive contained in a tube and loaded by a weight. The assembly is then placed close to the surface of a rotating disc-shaped specimen. An analysis of this tester shows that wear is due to particles trapped between the tube and the specimen. Under these conditions aluminum shows a decrease in wear rate with increasing temperature which we attribute to embedding of abrasive in the specimen surface, while copper shows an increase which we attribute to oxidation. These results show that care must be taken in the interpretation of high temperature abrasive wear tests since experimental results may be influenced greatly by the choice of the tester and a corrosive environment.
Fracture toughness evaluation for short glass fibre reinforced composites

Valid plane-stress fracture toughness evaluation of short fibre reinforced composites relies essentially on the successful separation of the energy absorbed in the localized crack-tip region out of the total energy absorbed by the cracked material body at large. Three different experimental techniques, all stemming from the energetic interpretation of theJ integral, are utilized and their relative merits in the characterization of fracture initiation in short glass fibre reinforced injection-moulded nylon 6.6 examined. Various theoretical aspects concerning these experimental methods are outlined. The rationale behind using a single-edge-notched tension type specimen for theJc test is presented. TheJc value obtained from the compliance calibration method and the quasistatic energy method agree closely and can be considered to be independent of pre-crack length and specimen geometry when the pre-crack length to specimen width ratio (a/w) is larger than 0.45. The extrapolation method fails nevertheless to yield a physically consistentJc value, possibly due to its questionable theoretical representation. As no constraint on boundary conditions is necessitated during the course of crack extension, the quasistatic energy is physically more appealing.
Enhanced readthrough of opal (UGA) stop codons and production of Mycoplasma pneumoniae P1 epitopes in Escherichia coli

Abstract Expression of mycoplasma sequences in Escherichia coli is often hindered by an unusual mycoplasmal codon usage pattern: the UGA stop codon is utilized for tryptophan. This may result in the truncation of cloned proteins and may prevent the detection of products of many cloned genes. To circumvent this translation barrier, we have developed an expression system for the production of mycoplasma proteins in E. coli. The efficiency of an opal suppressor tRNA (trpT176) was augmented with other suppressor mutations (prfB3 or rrsB(SuUGA-ΔC1054) which influence termination events. System efficacy was analyzed by employing suppressor mutations in the expression of TGA-containing sequences from the P1 protein-encoding gene of Mycoplasma pneumoniae.
One-and-a-Half Little Blue Pills: On Separation, Theory, and History:

Cet article se penche sur les relations et la memoire familiales a travers l'immigration armenienne. L'A. fait part de sa propre experience et definit les sentiments de filiation feminine
What went wrong X: Unlimbering Viking's scoop: There was no assurance on this first of its kind mission that nothing would go wrong. When it did, the experts were ready

Layman and scientist alike have been favorably impressed by the magnificent photos and other data returned from the surface of Mars this past summer. Though the unmanned Viking 1 orbiter/lander has proved a major success, several serious difficulties were encountered in deploying the lander's surface-sampler arm. However, in each instance the earth-based Viking flight team analyzed the problem and then devised a program of corrective commands that allowed important scientific experiments to continue on schedule.
Dopamine and homovanillic acid concentrations in striatal and limbic regions of human brain.

In an attempt to further define the dopaminergic nature of the limbic nucleus accumbens from the morphologically similar striatal caudate and putamen, the levels of dopamine (DA), homovanillic acid (HVA), and HVA/DA ratios, an index of dopamine turnover, were measured in these three structures of human brain. The levels of dopamine in the accumbens (2.49 ng/mg), caudate (2.39 ng/mg), and putamen (3.00 ng/mg) were similar. The homovanillic acid concentration in the accumbens (7.44 ng/mg) and putamen (6.54 ng/mg) were comparable, while its concentration was considerably lower in the caudatae (3.61 ng/mg). The most striking difference between the limbic accumbens and the striatum was observed in the HVA/DA ratio. This index of turnover was significantly higher in the accumbens (3.64) when compared to the caudate (1.80), and was 59% higher than that found in the putamen (2.53). The data provide evidence for differences in dopamine activity in the mesolimbic versus the nigrostriatal pathways.
RESPONSE OF THE DEVELOPING KIDNEY TO RENAL PARENCHYMAL LOSS

It has been suggested that morphologic and functional adaptations to renal parenchymal loss are partially dependent on the intrinsic capacity for growth. This implies that maximal changes should be observed in the kidney of the newborn, particularly in the superficial cortex which has the greatest growth potential. Seven mongrel puppies underwent a 75% reduction in renal mass during the first 48 hrs. of life. Four sham operated littermates served as controls. All puppies were studied 6 wks. later. Renal mass increased by at least 10-fold in the experimental animals (E) and by 5-fold in controls (C). GFR/g of kidney was .71 ± .07 (SE) ml/min in E and .55 ± .13 in C. As a consequence of hypertrophy and functional adaptation, E animals achieved a mean GFR of 79.8 ± 8 ml/min/m2 BSA which was not statistically different from 92.1 ± 13 observed in C. CpAH was 129 ± 18 ml/min/m2 BSA in E and 130 ± 26 in C. Measurements of intrarenal distribution of blood flow (IDBF) with 85Sr labeled microspheres disclosed a significantly lower percent of flow going to the superficial cortex of the E (43%) than of the C (66%). It appears, therefore, that newborn animals achieve a degree of renal functional compensation (~90%) which exceeds by far that observed by others in adult animals (~50%). The difference in IDBF between E and C is probably the consequence of a disproportionally higher increase in the tubular mass of the rapidly growing nephrons.
A factor analytic investigation of the Harvard Group Scale of Hypnotic Susceptibility, Form A.

Abstract The present investigation is a factor analytic study of the self-report items of the Harvard Group Scale of Hypnotic Susceptibility, Form A (Shor & E. Orne, 1962). This scale was administered to an original sample of 368 Ss and a replication sample of 246 Ss. 3 rotated factors were found to represent the basic structure of this scale. The first 2 factors clearly seem to represent challenge-item performance and responses to passive motor suggestions, while the third factor could be loosely considered to represent cognitive performance. Further analyses showed the factors to be consistent across the 2 samples, to possess adequate reliablity, and to be relatively independent. Implications for hypnotic research are discussed.
In vitro and in vivo evaluation of isatin-β-thiosemicarbazone and marboran against vaccinia and cowpox virus infections

It has been reported previously that some thiosemicarbazone compounds have prophylactic activity against smallpox disease and therapeutic activity against vaccinia virus (VV) infections. In these studies, isatin-beta-thiosemicarbazone (IBT) and marboran were administered once daily by intraperitoneal (ip) injection to mice using 30, 10 or 3 mg/kg for 5 days beginning 24, 48 or 72 h after inoculation with VV or cowpox virus (CV). Both compounds were highly effective (p < 0.01) at preventing mortality due to VV even when treatment was delayed up to 72 h postinfection. In CV-infected mice, neither IBT nor Marboran were effective in preventing mortality at any dosage tested when administered at 24 h postinoculation. Viral replication in liver, spleen and kidney was delayed or reduced by 100-to 10,000-fold by 10 mg/kg of marboran, but not IBT, in VV infections. Neither compound was effective against CV infection. Neither IBT nor marboran treatment of mice cutaneously infected with VV or CV reduced viral replication or clinical disease. These results suggest that this class of compound has little therapeutic potential for orthopoxvirus infections since the in vivo activity against CV, a surrogate virus for variola, is lacking.
Simultaneous reconstruction, segmentation, and edge enhancement of relatively piecewise continuous images with intensity-level information

A multinomial image model is proposed which uses intensity-level information for reconstruction of contiguous image regions. The intensity-level information assumes that image intensities are relatively constant within contiguous regions over the image-pixel array and that intensity levels of these regions are determined either empirically or theoretically by information criteria. These conditions may be valid, for example, for cardiac blood-pool imaging, where the intensity levels (or radionuclide activities) of myocardium, blood-pool, and background regions are distinct and the activities within each region of muscle, blood, or background are relatively uniform. To test the model, a mathematical phantom over a 64 x 64 array was constructed. The phantom had three contiguous regions. Each region had a different intensity level. Measurements from the phantom were simulated using an emission-tomography geometry. Fifty projections were generated over 180 degrees, with 64 equally spaced parallel rays per projection. Projection data were randomized to contain Poisson noise. Image reconstructions were performed using an iterative maximum a posteriori probability procedure. The contiguous regions corresponding to the three intensity levels were automatically segmented. Simultaneously, the edges of the regions were sharpened. Noise in the reconstructed images was significantly suppressed. Convergence of the iterative procedure to the phantom was observed. Compared with maximum likelihood and filtered-backprojection approaches, the results obtained using the maximum a posteriori probability with the intensity-level information demonstrated qualitative and quantitative improvement in localizing the regions of varying intensities.