cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Near-surface vapour bubble layers in buoyant low stretch burning of polymethylmethacrylate

Large-scale buoyant low stretch stagnation point diffusion flames over solid fuel (polymethylmethacrylate) were studied for a range of aerodynamic stretch rates of 2-12/ sec which are of the same order as spacecraft ventilation-induced stretch in a microgravity environment. An extensive layer of polymer material above the glass transition temperature is observed. Unique phenomena associated with this extensive glass layer included substantial swelling of the burning surface, in-depth bubble formation, and migration and/or elongation of the bubbles normal to the hot surface. The bubble layer acted to insulate the polymer surface by reducing the effective conductivity of the solid. The reduced in-depth conduction stabilized the flame for longer than expected from theory neglecting the bubble layer. While buoyancy acts to move the bubbles deeper into the molten polymer, thermocapillary forces and surface regression both act to bring the bubbles to the burning surface. Bubble layers may thus be very important in low gravity (low stretch) burning of materials. As bubbles reached the burning surface, monomer fuel vapors jetted from the surface, enhancing burning by entraining ambient air flow. Popping of these bubbles at the surface can expel burning droplets of the molten material, which may increase the fire propagation hazards at low stretch rates.
When is the central charge of the Virasoro algebra in string theories in curved space-time not a numerical constant?

The central charge c of the Virasoro algebra is calculated to two loops for nonlinear sigma models in two dimensions with internal spaces which are general Riemannian manifolds M with torsion; at three loops qualitative results are shown to be in agreement with known results for special manifolds. Unless the scalar curvature R(phi/sub 0//sup i/) (coming from the symmetric portion of the connection) is a constant function of its coordinates (phi/sub 0//sup i/), the central charge c is not a numerical constant. This prevents one from using the sigma models discussed here (for R not constant), those with only kinetic and torsion terms, to construct string models.
Antecedents of Empathy Retrospective Accounts of Early Socialization

Undergraduates scoring at the extremes on the Mehrabian and Epstein (1972) empathy scale completed a questionnaire tapping their early socialization experiences. Hi and Lo empathy groups differed on a variety of dimensions relevant to the expression and awareness of affect. A consistent pattern of sex differences on the empathy-relevant socialization practices was also found.
Effects of waterborne exposure of 17 β-estradiol on secondary sex characteristics and gonads of fathead minnows (Pimephales promelas)

Abstract Environmental contaminants with estrogenic activity have recently received attention because of their potential effects on the reproductive efficiency of humans and wildlife. This study was conducted with the endogenous estrogen, 17 β-estradiol (E2), to establish the histologic response of the fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas) as a model organism. Sexually mature fathead minnows were exposed for 14 days to waterborne concentrations of 1000, 100, 10, 2, 1, 0.5, 0.25, 0.125, 0.1 or 0.0625 nM E2. Exposure to E2 caused a reduction in size of the prominent male secondary sex characteristics, the fatpads and nuptial breeding tubercles. Histological lesions observed in the testes included proliferation of Sertoli cells and degenerative changes. Electron microscopy of seminiferous tubules and their Sertoli cells revealed large phagolysosomes filled with degenerating spermatozoa and other cellular debris. Females had ovaries in which most of the follicles were in the primary stage of development. There were also more atretic follicles and fewer secondary and Graafian follicles than in unexposed females. These findings demonstrate components of sexually mature fish which may be altered by compounds that mimic E2. To determine if lesions observed in males were permanent, 50 sexually mature males and females were exposed to a single concentration of 10 nM E2 for 10 days. Samples were collected from males on the final day of E2 exposure and over a period of 16 weeks after the exposure was stopped. No E2-induced lesions were observed beyond 16 weeks post E2 exposure. Results of these studies suggest that histological lesions could occur at ecologically-relevant exposures to ‘estrogenic’ compounds. However, certain lesions caused by exposure of adult fathead minnows are not permanent.
Residual toxicity in hematopoietic cells following a single dose of methylnitrosourea.

The residual injury to the proliferation capability of hemopoietic stem cells (CFU-S) which results from their exposure to leukemogenic agents was evaluated in mice given a single leukemogenic dose of methyl nitrosourea (MNU 50 mg/kg body weight, i.v.). Bone marrow cellularity, splenic weight, number of CFU-S and the proportion of cycling to noncycling CFU-S were measured in an effort to detect and acute and residual injury to the CFU-S from mice given MNU 21 and 3 days earlier. Marrow cells were also transferred into lethally irradiated mice to observe the self-renewal capability of the CFU-S in the recipient spleen and bone marrow. The results of these measurements show that the CFU-S in marrow from mice given 50 mg/kg of MNU 21 days earlier still have a defective ability for self-renewal, although the total cellularity, number of CFU-S and proportion of cycling and noncycling CFU-S in the donor have returned to the normal range. The relationship of this self-renewal defect to the development of leukemia after this leukemogenic dose of MNU is not known.
Echocardiographic guidance for transcatheter coil occlusion of patent ductus arteriosus in the catheterization laboratory

Abstract The objective of this study was to investigate the feasibility of transthoracic echocardiography as a guide to monitor the completeness of patent ductus arteriosus (PDA) occlusion immediately after coil implantation. In all, 52 patients who underwent Gianturco coil implantation for PDA occlusion were evaluated by transthoracic echocardiography within 15 minutes after the first coil implantation in the catheterization laboratory. According to Doppler echocardiographic findings, these patients were classified into 3 groups: group 1, complete occlusion without residual shunt; group 2, a residual PDA diameter
Reductive hydrothermal treatment of sewage sludge.

Abstract The United States and the European Union each generate around 6900 million dry tons of sewage sludge annually. This is disposed of by land application, landfilling, incineration and other approaches. Reductive hydrothermal (HT) treatment refers here to simple aqueous systems heated and pressurized above 300 °C/100 bar under anoxic and/or reducing conditions. The purpose of this study was to examine the HT treatment of municipal sewage sludge and infectious fecal microbial cultures with respect to waste volume reduction, biological sterilization, and the generation of usable hydrocarbon product mixtures. These endpoints from HT treatment also were compared to those from pyrolysis. HT at 400 °C/150 bar transformed sewage sludge solids into complex gas phase (4%) and liquid (6%) hydrocarbon mixtures (approximately 11% combined yield), along with similar amounts (5%) of solid residues. HT products in the aqueous phase (e.g., alcohols) were present but not analysed. Viable mixed fecal cultures (109 colony forming units/mL) were completely sterilized by HT treatment, and a hydrocarbon mixture also was generated from the cells, but it was markedly different from that resulting from HT of the sludge. The hydrocarbon assemblage generated from the sludge included n-hydrocarbons (C9–C20) and alkyl substituted benzenes, phenols, and related compound series of higher mass (e.g., indanes, naphthalenes). Light aromatic parent compounds were significantly less abundant than their substituted C1–C5 alkyl series and there was a paucity of N–, O– and S–heterocycles and polycyclic systems with more than three fused rings. This was different from the products of pyrolysis which were dominated by a relatively simple mixture of linear and branched hydrocarbons and their oxidized homologues (e.g., aldehydes).
HARTREE-FOCK SYMMETRY-BREAKING IN MAGNESIUM AND NICKEL PORPHYRINS

Abstract Since previous studies of free-base porphyrin (H2P) have shown that Hartree-Fock (HF) theory yields a qualitatively incorrect, low-symmetry, bond-alternating structure, this paper addresses whether the addition of a central Mg or Ni atom is a perturbation sufficient to restore symmetry to the porphyrin framework. Thus, HF geometry optimizations and harmonic frequency analyses are performed for magnesium (MgP) and nickel porphyrin (NiP) using the 3-21G, 6-311G, and polarized 6-311G(d) basis sets. In the case of MgP, the addition of the central metal atom does not yield a delocalized structure, but the threshold to symmetry-breaking is greatly reduced relative to H2P. In the case of NiP, a qualitatively correct, high-symmetry geometry is found at the HF/3-21G level, but larger basis sets yield a bond-alternating form. The threshold to symmetry-breaking in porphyrins is thus reduced further in NiP, due mainly to 3d bonding interactions which stabilize the porphyrin framework.
Scientific and ethical concerns in neural fetal tissue transplantation

This report presents a brief overview of the medical and ethical issues involved with the procurement, preparation, safety, efficacy, and subject protection of human fetal central nervous system tissue in the context of neural transplantation. The ethical perspectives from which to view the clinical use of fetal tissue include the following: 1) that fetal tissue from elective abortions is a surgical specimen; 2) that the use of such tissue involves fetal experimentation in which the fetus is a subject; and 3) that fetal tissue is considered as a cadaveric organ specimen, similar to other organs, but with special considerations compared with adult cadaveric tissue. The latter approach appears to be the most applicable and is parallel to the use of cadaveric organs and tissues after a declaration of brain death. Additional issues include the following: 1) the safety and quality of fetal tissue for implantation; 2) the hypothesis that "legitimization" and "redemption" (potentially positive effects of tissue donation in general) may lead to an increase in elective abortion rates; 3) the ethical issues of the validity and value of human experimentation involving neural grafting; and 4) the type of consent to be obtained and the appropriate timing. Elective abortions, however, probably will continue to be the primary source of fetal tissue for grafting for some time, until other tissue sources become available.
Social History in Europe

This article deals with the recent changes, the past challenges and the future topics of social history in Europe. It describes first major changes of social history in the recent past such as the change of topics and methods, the change of nation as unit of analysis, and of the co-operation with other disciplines. These changes are explained by recent challenges for social history writing such as the shifts of European societies away from the classical topics of social history, the trend of internationalization, the cultural turn and the upheaval of 1989/90. The end of the article presents what might be future topics of social history: the return to the history of burning social questions, the social history of politics, the cultural enlargement of social history and the social history of Europe as a whole.
An Adaptive Design of SRAM Memory Cell

SRAM arrays play vital roles as on-chip memories in SOCs. As the dimension of MOS transistors is reduced, variability of MOS transistors becomes large, so that the electrical stability of SRAM memory cell has been deteriorated. Also, gate tunneling leakage and GIDL (Gate Induced Drain Leakage) have become dominant power of the SRAM array.
Hydrodynamic Instabilities in Coulomb Fluids

We show that a poorly electrically conducting fluid, in the presence of both static thermal and potential gradients, displays instabilities that are very different from those encountered in the Rayleigh-B\'enard problem. For certain parameter values, we predict a direct transition to oscillatory behavior which should be observable by simple means.
Evolution of a wave packet into vortex loops in a laminar separation bubble

A laminar boundary layer develops in a favourable pressure gradient where the velocity profiles asymptote to the Falkner & Skan similarity solution. Flying-hot-wire measurements show that the layer separates just downstream of a subsequent region of adverse pressure gradient, leading to the formation of a thin separation bubble. In an effort to gain insight into the nature of the instability mechanisms, a small-magnitude impulsive disturbance is introduced through a hole in the test surface at the pressure minimum. The facility and all operating procedures are totally automated and phase-averaged data are acquired on unprecedently large and spatially dense measurement grids. The evolution of the disturbance is tracked all the way into the reattachment region and beyond into the fully turbulent boundary layer. The spatial resolution of the data provides a level of detail that is usually associated with computations.Initially, a wave packet develops which maintains the same bounded shape and form, while the amplitude decays exponentially with streamwise distance. Following separation, the rate of decay diminishes and a point of minimum amplitude is reached, where the wave packet begins to exhibit dispersive characteristics. The amplitude then grows exponentially and there is an increase in the number of waves within the packet. The region leading up to and including the reattachment has been measured with a cross-wire probe and contours of spanwise vorticity in the centreline plane clearly show that the wave packet is associated with the cat's eye pattern that is a characteristic of Kelvin–Helmholtz instability. Further streamwise development leads to the formation of roll-ups and contour surfaces of vorticity magnitude show that they are three-dimensional. Beyond this point, the behaviour is nonlinear and the roll-ups evolve into a group of large-scale vortex loops in the vicinity of the reattachment. Closely spaced cross-wire measurements are continued in the downstream turbulent boundary layer and Taylor's hypothesis is applied to data on spanwise planes to generate three-dimensional velocity fields. The derived vorticity magnitude distribution demonstrates that the second vortex loop, which emerges in the reattachment region, retains its identity in the turbulent boundary layer and it persists until the end of the test section.
Environmental consequences of water pumped from greater New Orleans following Hurricane Katrina: chemical, toxicological, and infaunal analysis.

The U.S. Army Engineer Research and Development Center Environmental Laboratory, Vicksburg, MS, conducted a study to determine the extent to which Hurricane Katrina floodwaters in the New Orleans, Louisiana area may have had impacts on wildlife habitat and other biological resources in surrounding areas. These studies were conducted as part of the Interagency Performance Evaluation Taskforce, an investigation of environmental impacts originating from the failure of the hurricane protection system during Hurricane Katrina. This paper presents data regarding the effects of pumped floodwaters on sediment chemistry, toxicity, and benthic invertebrate assemblages near pumping stations that discharged floodwaters into marshes near Chalmette and Violet, Louisiana. Chemical contamination of sediments was observed and varied among sample locations (e.g., outfall locations, wastewater treatment plant, canals, and wetlands); however, trends in the chemistry data were not always consistent with bioassay results. A co...
Effect of optical constants on calculated values of surface-enhanced Raman scattering

Discrepancies between two sets of published values for the optical constants of Ag and Au result in different values for the enhancement of Raman signals from molecules adsorbed on the surface of colloidal spheres. The effect is greatest for small Ag spheres in water with 382-nm irradiation where the dipolar surface plasmon is resonantly excited.
Amoxicillin: In Vitro and Pharmacological Studies

Amoxicillin is a new semisynthetic penicillin which is active in vitro against gram-positive cocci (except penicillin G-resistant Staphylococcus aureus) and most isolates of Proteus mirabilis and Escherichia coli. Its in vitro activity is quite similar to ampicillin, but it produces higher serum levels after oral administration. The mean peak serum levels of amoxicillin in 11 normal volunteers were 2.30 mug/ml after 125 mg, 3.43 mug/ml after 250 mg, 6.75 mug/ml after 500 mg, and 9.90 mug/ml after 1 g. About 70% of the drug was excreted in the urine during the first 6 hr.
Analysis of Response Time Percentile Service Level Agreements in SOA-Based Applications

A large number of enterprise, web-based, distributed software applications are designed on Service Oriented Architecture (SOA) principles and hosted in large scale datacenters managed by cloud providers. Typically, Service Level Agreements (SLAs) are negotiated between the consumers of the cloud platform services and the cloud provider. In this work, we consider SLAs that involve percentiles of response times as part of the performance metrics; the SLAs stipulate that a penalty be charged to the cloud provider if the SLA targets are not met. The main motivation for considering such SLAs is their potential for price differentiation. We focus our analysis on the effects the penalty function has on the achieved response time percentiles. In particular, we analyze the effect of three commonly deployed choices (linear, exponential or step-wise functions) to relate the penalty charged and the achieved percentile. This analysis is NP-hard, so we employ a heuristic algorithm that is based on simulated annealing. Our results indicate that the linear penalty charging function is ``best'' in the sense that it maximizes the achieved response time percentiles.
Unification of several image compression methods

In this paper, several image compression theories are unified. These theories are: Hilbert image compression, Fractal image compression, image compression using Boltzmann machines, using stochastic artificial neural network (SANN), using stochastic cellular automata (SCA) and 0-image encoding.© (1994) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Reciprocity between tissue calmodulin and cAMP levels: modulation by excess zinc

Signal transduction of many intracellular events is initiated by a minute influx of calcium ions into the cells, resulting in the formation of calcium-calmodulin complex and cAMP. Because zinc appears to have an inhibitory effect on a number of tissue reactions, it is postulated that this occurs through modulation of intracellular calcium influx. To test the hypothesis that the inhibitory effects of zinc are mediated through the calcium-calmodulin-cAMP pathway, zinc was administered by various routes to five groups of nude mice (control, intragastric, intraperitoneal, intradermal and oral groups), and calmodulin and cAMP concentrations were measured in the cytosol of epidermal cells. Calmodulin levels decreased significantly in the groups given intraperitoneal zinc (P < 0.025) and intradermal zinc (P < 0.001) injections. Significant elevations of cAMP levels were noted with intradermal zinc (P < 0.025). Overall, the relationship between calmodulin and cAMP appeared to be inversely logarithmic, with the lowest calmodulin levels associated with the highest cAMP concentrations. In addition, there was a significant trend towards a smaller calmodulin/cAMP ratio in all zinc-treated groups, except the mice fed dietary zinc. These results appear to correlate with tissue zinc levels obtained with these various forms of zinc administration. Our results therefore indicate that there is a reciprocity between epidermal calmodulin and cAMP levels, which may be modulated by external factors such as zinc.
A 375mW Quadrature Bandpass /spl Delta//spl Sigma/ ADC with 90dB DR and 8.5MHz BW at 44MHz

A CT quadrature bandpass ADC is designed for a multi-standard television receiver. When clocked at 264MHz, the ADC achieves 90dB of total DR over an 8.5MHz BW centered at 44MHz. The 4th-order 4b ADC uses a modified feedforward topology and includes 12dB of AGC. The 2.5mm2 chip consumes 375mW in a 0.18mum CMOS process
Catalytic Phenylborylation Reaction by Iridium(0) Nanoparticles Produced from Hydridoiridium Carborane

Well-dispersed iridium(0) nanoparticles stabilized with the ionic liquid, trihexyltetradecylphosphonium methylsulfonate, [THTdP][MS], have been successfully prepared by reduction of the precursor hydridoiridium carborane, (Ph3P)2Ir(H)(7,8-nido-C2B9H11). The iridium nanoparticles were found to be active catalysts for arylborylation, forming boric acids. The activity of the catalyst has been investigated as a function of the activating base, and reaction conditions. The highest yield of 91% was achieved in a microwave reactor using the base, tetra-2-pyridinylpyrazine, in the presence of [THTdP][MS]. The catalytic system could be recycled at least six times with less than a 0.5% loss of activity.
Machine-Based, Self-guided Home Therapy for Individuals With Severe Arm Impairment After Stroke A Randomized Controlled Trial

Background. Few therapeutic options exist for the millions of persons living with severe arm impairment after stroke to increase their dose of arm rehabilitation. This study compared self-guided, h...
Comparative effects of substituted phenothiazines and their free radicals on (Na+,K+)-activated adenosine triphosphatase

Abstract The inhibitory effects of free radicals of various substituted phenothiazines on (Na+,K+)-activated ATPase [Mg2+-dependent, (Na+,K+)-activated ATP phosphohydrolase; EC 3.6.1.3] were studied in vitro. Enzyme preparations were obtained from rat brain microsomal fractions after deoxycholic acid and NaI treatments. Free radicals were produced by either ultraviolet (253.7 nm) irradiation or enzymatic oxidation with peroxidase. Without enzymatic or photo-oxidation, phenothiazine derivatives failed to inhibit (Na+,K+)-activated ATPase activity significantly. Photo-oxidative intermediates of thioridazine, triflupromazine and trifluoperazine were potent inhibitors of (Na+,K+)-activated ATPase activity. Those from chlorpromazine, perphenazine and promazine were less potent. Peroxidase-hydrogen peroxide treatment of promazine, thioridazine, perphenazine and chlorpromazine produced free radical intermediates which significantly inhibited (Na+,K+)-activated ATPase activity. The same treatment of triflupromazine and trifluoperazine, however, failed to produce detectable amounts of free radical intermediates. Concomitantly, no inhibition of (Na+,K+)-activated ATPase activity was observed under these conditions. It was concluded that free radical intermediates of various substituted phenothiazines are differentially potent inhibitors of (Na+,K+)-activated ATPase, and that the formation of free radicals from substituted phenothiazines is dependent upon the oxidizing conditions and nature of substituent groups.
Expectations, anxiety, depression, and physical health status as predictors of recovery in open-heart surgery patients.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES Recovery after open-heart surgery is a complex process that presents psychosocial and physical challenges that continue well after discharge. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship among expectations, anxiety, depression, and physical health status (PHS) and to determine predictors of postoperative PHS in open-heart surgery patients. PARTICIPANTS AND METHODS A convenience sample (N = 54) was recruited from 2 hospitals in rural regions from 2 different mid-Atlantic states. The sample included participants who underwent coronary artery bypass graft or valve replacement surgery for the first time. The study used a longitudinal design, and data were collected preoperatively in the hospital or surgeons' offices and 4 weeks postoperatively by telephone interviews. Participants were interviewed using the following questionnaires: the Future Expectations Regarding Life with Heart Disease scale, the Hospital Anxiety and Depression scale, and the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short Form Health Survey. Repeated-measures analysis of variance, Pearson product-moment correlations, and multiple regression were used for data analyses. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS Statistical analysis revealed that anxiety (P = .002) and depression (P = .026) scores decreased postoperatively. Significant relationships were found among the preoperative and postoperative variables: expectations, anxiety, depression, and PHS. Analyses also found that preoperative expectations, anxiety, depression, and PHS contributed 38% of the variance of postoperative PHS (P < .001). However, the postoperative variables were not significant predictors of postoperative PHS (P = .075). The findings support the need for interventions to assist patients in developing realistic expectations and for clinicians to screen patients for anxiety and depression before and after surgery. Future research needs to measure PHS at various times postoperatively to identify continued limitations after surgery.
Metabolism of Imipramine by Microorganisms

The microbial metabolism of imipramine was studied using selected fungal organisms. The major microbial metabolites were isolated, and their structures were established by spectroscopic analyses (particularly 13C-NMR) and by comparison with authentic samples. The microbial metabolites identified included 2-hydroxyimipramine, 10-hydroxyimipramine, iminodibenzyl, imipramine-N-oxide, and desipramine; these metabolites also have been found in mammalian metabolism studies.
Self‐efficacy, interpersonal competence, and social desirability in homeless people

One hundred eighty adult homeless men and women who were housed in a temporary shelter were administered measures of self-efficacy, interpersonal competence, and social desirability. The goals were to obtain descriptive personality data for this growing subpopulation and to determine whether personality variables were related to selected demographic variables. The findings showed that this sample of homeless people regarded themselves as generally quite capable of meeting life's demands and as possessing considerable social competence. Unexpectedly, age and length of time spent homeless were not found to be related to self-efficacy, interpersonal competence, or current time spent unemployed.
Principles of Optimization of Structures Against an Impact

We describe a macro- and micro-behavior of damageable structures. Damage is understood as a process of irreversible phase transition from an initial to a damaged state. An unstructured material can absorb energy until it melts. However,a tiny portion of this energy yields to a construction's disintegration due to instability of the damage that leads to energy concentration. Appearance of concentrated damage zones, such as cracks or delaminating, destroys the construction. The remains of the disintegrated construction can still absorb large amount of energy. The goal of a rational design is to maximally use the energy absorption ability of a damageable material. We propose a concept of a replaceable protective structure design. Such structure should dissipate maximum energy, be able to spread energy of damage, and the damage process should be as stable as possible. The absorption rate and rate of damage propagation are times amplified by waiting-link structures that we describe below.
Protein kinase a inhibitors reverse histamine-mediated regulation of IL-5 secretion

Histamine and IL-5 are important autacoid mediators involved in the etiology of allergic diseases. IL-5 is the main factor of eosinophilic reactions in allergy. It has been suggested that the protein kinase A-dependent (PKA) pathway of signal transduction may play the main role in histamine-induced elevation of interleukin-5 production. This study was designed to investigate the effects of the inhibitors of regulatory and catalytic subunits of PKA on histamine-mediated elevation of IL-5 production. In our study, histamine at a concentration range of 10(-4)-10(-6) M enhanced IL-5 production in D10.G4.1 cells, a mouse Th2 helper cell line. Pretreatment of this cell line with histamine at a concentration of 10(-4) M for 6-9 h had the maximum stimulatory effects (226-420%) on IL-5 production. Other cAMP-elevating agents including forskolin and Bt2-cAMP produced similar effects. The PKA inhibitors N-[2-(methylaminoethyl]-5-isoquinoline-sulfonamide (H-8) and Rp-diastereomer of adenosine cyclic 3',5'-phosphorothioate (Rp-cAMPS) were used for the inhibition of catalytic and regulatory subunits of PKA, respectively. Pretreatment of D10.G4.1 cells with H-8 at a concentration of 10(-5) M completely prevented the effects of histamine at a concentration range of 10(-6)-10(-4) M. Rp-cAMPS at 10(-5) M also prevented histamine-induced stimulation. Neither inhibitor affected IL-5 production when tested alone. These observations suggest a role for PKA in histamine-mediated increase in IL-5 production.
Aberrant fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 signalling in esophageal atresia with tracheoesophageal fistula.

Abstract Background Although the pathogenesis of esophageal atresia with tracheoesophageal fistula (EA/TEF) remains unknown, it has been shown that despite its esophageal appearance, the fistula tract originates from respiratory epithelium. The authors now hypothesize that defects in fibroblast growth factor (FGF) signaling contribute to the esophaguslike phenotype of the fistula tract. FGF2R is critical to normal lung morphogenesis and occurs in 2 isoforms (FGF2RIIIb and FGF2RIIIc), each with different ligand-binding specificity. To characterize FGF signaling in the developing EA/TEF, the authors analyzed levels of FGF2R splice variants in experimental EA/TEF. Methods The standard Adriamycin-induced EA/TEF model in rats was used. Individual foregut components from Adriamycin-treated and control embryos were processed for real-time, fluorescence-activated semiquantitative reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction on gestational days 12.5 and 13.5. Results Both fistula tract and Adriamycin-treated or normal esophagus showed significantly lower levels of FGF2RIIIb than either Adriamycin-treated lung buds (E12.5, P = .02; E13.5, P P P P P Conclusions Levels of FGF2R in the developing fistula tract resemble that of distal esophagus rather than developing lung. This defect in FGF2RIIIb signaling may account for the nonbranching, esophaguslike phenotype of the fistula, despite its respiratory origin.
An lower bound on receptor density for stable cell adhesion due to thermal undulations

The adhesion of a living cell to an extracellular matrix surface is effected through the bonding of receptor molecules in the cell membrane to compatible ligand molecules on the surface. In a series of experiments on adhesion of cells to a substrate surface with a controlled density of ligand binding sites, Arnold et al. (ChemPhysChem 5:383, 2004) showed that tight cell adhesions could form only if the areal density of binding sites on the substrate was higher than some critical value. Furthermore, this critical value was consistent across the four cell types examined in the experiments. For ligand density below the critical level, on the other hand, virtually no adhesions formed. In this article, we examine the competition between thermal undulations of the cell membrane and its adhesion to the substrate. In particular, we show that thermal undulations destabilize membrane bonding to the substrate unless the bond spacing is below a certain level. By following this line of reasoning in the context of classical statistical mechanics, we obtain an estimate of the critical value of spacing which is in reasonable agreement with the observations.
Interaction of Nosema pyrausta and Temperature on Ostrinia nubilalis Egg Production and Hatch

Nosema pyrausta is an obligate pathogen causing reduced fecundity and longevity of Ostrinia nubilalis. This study was conducted to determine the combined effects of N. pyrausta infection and temperature on O. nubilalis egg production and hatch. N. pyrausta-infected and noninfected O. nubilalis were maintained in two different temperature regimes. The first regime allowed females to oviposit under optimum conditions (27°C, 65% RH, 16:8 (L:D)), while females in the second regime were held initially under the same humidity and light conditions, but a constant temperature of 16°C for 1 week after which they were transferred to optimum ovipositional conditions. Studies were performed initially with O. nubilalis populations and later with individual mating pairs. In studies with O. nubilalis populations, the mean number of eggs laid per female under optimum conditions was 660, while N. pyrausta-infected females held initially at 16°C laid 116 eggs per female. In studies with individual mating pairs, N. pyrausta infection reduced egg production per female 53 and 11% in the 16 and 27°C temperature regimes, respectively, compared to noninfected females under optimum conditions. Exposure to 16°C temperatures early in the ovipositional period had a more profound impact on reducing egg production in N. pyrausta-infected than noninfected O. nubilalis.
The temperature dependency of neural and hair cell responses evoked by high frequencies

A fine thermocouple, placed on the round window of the guinea pig cochlea, was used to measure temperature and electrical potentials. In acute experiments, rectal temperature was held constant at 38 degrees C while cochlear temperature was varied between 38 degrees C and 31.5 degrees C. Cochlear cooling to 36 degrees C caused elevated thresholds for the compound action potential (CAP) in response to tone bursts with frequencies above 24 kHz. CAP latencies increased for all frequencies tested (2 to 40 kHz). Cooling to lower temperatures produced larger latency increases and greater threshold shifts which extended to CAPs evoked by frequencies as low as 16 kHz. These CAP changes were fully reversible after a cochlear temperature of 38 degrees C was restored. In an attempt to create more uniform cooling of the cochlea, experiments were also conducted with round window thermo-couples chronically implanted in guinea pigs. After cooling the entire anesthetized animal to 36 degrees C, CAP thresholds were again elevated only for frequencies above 24 kHz. In other acute experiments, extracellular dc receptor potentials were recorded from the organ of Corti with micropipettes. Cooling caused a decreased sensitivity to tones at the characteristic frequency of the recording location (20 kHz) and had less effect on responses to lower frequencies. The receptor potential usually recovered after rewarming the cochlea. These data emphasize that temperature is an important parameter when electrophysiological measurements are being made. They also suggest an explanation for the reported discrepancy between behavioral and electrophysiological thresholds at high frequencies.
Resonant thermal-acoustic oscillations

Abstract Small amplitude resonant motions of an inviscid, polytropic gas, contained in a tube of finite length, are investigated. It is postulated that motion of the gas may be represented as the superposition of two small amplitude simple waves which interact only at the boundaries. As a result, the problem reduces to solving a nonlinear difference equation, and this is effected on the basis that the solution is in the neighborhood of a linear standing wave. A consequence is that waves progress as acoustic waves, but the signal carried is determined by a nonlinear equation. The problems considered are the determination of the motion of the gas which is being forced at a resonant frequency at one end of a tube, while the other end may be open or closed. Self-sustained oscillations for these cases are also treated. For these resonant motions, the amplitude of the motion at particles away from the ends is greater than that of the driving mechanism. When the end of the tube is closed, shocks are a feature of the solution. For an open end, the motion is continuous.
Six-month daily treatment of sheep with neurotoxic organophosphorus compounds.

The delayed neurotoxic effects of tri-o-cresyl-phosphate (TOCP), O-methyl-O-(4-bromo-2,5-dichlorophenyl) phenylphosphonothioate (leptophos), and O-ethyl O-(4-nitrophenyl) phenylphosphonothioate (EPN) at 5, 5, and 1 mg/kg/day, respectively, on male sheep were studied during 6 months of daily oral treatment under field conditions. A vehicle-control group of sheep given corn oil (0.1 ml/kg/day) only was used for comparison. All sheep were killed 24 h after the 180th daily treatment. Blood, brain, spinal cord, and sciatic nerve tissues were taken for histological and/or biochemical examinations. The results indicated that leptophos induced severe ataxia and paralysis in sheep following about 4 months of treatment. TOCP produced either mild ataxia or lameness in two of four sheep during the last week of experiment. On the other hand, none of the EPN-treated sheep showed clinical signs of neurotoxicity during the course of the experiment at the dosage tested. These clinical results were supported by histological findings and also by biochemical results with neurotoxic esterase (NTE) measurements. In the case of leptophos-treated sheep, numerous prominent degenerative lesions of axons were observed in spinal cords and brains. Similar but somewhat less numerous lesions were noted in sheep treated with TOCP. No histological changes were observed in similar tissues taken from EPN-treated sheep. The results also indicated that, for chronic exposure to these neurotoxic organophosphorus compounds in sheep, a threshold in excess of 60–70% prolonged inhibition of brain NTE, or 50–60% inhibition of spinal cord NTE must be exceeded to initiate clinical and/or histological neurotoxic effects.
Representational complexity in law

Computationally represented laws should accurately model their real-world counterparts in rules-based legal compliance systems. Legal theoretical considerations, however, often complicate the task of faithful representation. One approach to this problem has been to create sophisticated models capable of representing rules of arbitrary legal complexity. An alternative approach, which we advocate in this paper, is to focus on a subset of individual legal rules which are more amenable to simplified computational representation from a legal theoretical perspective. We propose a measure of such a tendency that we term the representational complexity of a legal rule. Our approach involves a systematic examination of particular legal rules along all of the relevant dimensions of legal theoretical complexity identified by the legal scholarship. In this way, we suggest that is possible to identify discrete legal rules which are likely to be, from a legal theoretical standpoint, amenable to simpler computational representation.
From Subject to Earthly Matter: The Plowman’s Argument and Popular Discourse in Gentleness and Nobility

This essay examines the 1525 interlude, Gentleness and Nobility , credited to John Heywood and John Rastell, which features a debate among a Plowman, a Knight, and a Merchant on the origins and justice of social hierarchy. The essay locates the Plowman’s role in relation to the tradition of subversive speech on the early modern stage as voiced by Elizabethan stage clowns, as well as to a rich oral tradition among the lower classes that sought to combat agrarian capitalism and social inequality in Tudor England. Using reasoned argument and material evidence, the Plowman exposes the Knight and the Merchant’s claims to gentility as an empty rhetorical show while making a powerful case for his own ‘nobility’.
Considerations in estimating Nitrogen Recovery Efficiency by the difference and isotopic dilution methods

Nitrogen Recovery Efficiencies (NRE) as calculated by the Isotopic dilution technique or the difference method are subject to errors under different conditions. The assumptions underlying these methods and the conditions and factors that must be considered while using these methods have been discussed. Majority of the reports suggest that the difference method gives higher values than the isotopic dilution technique. Results of a pot experiment show the importance of accounting the N held in roots for estimating NRE by either of the methods. Although the isotopic dilution technique has been invariably more precise, it was not necessarily representing the true NRE value. Contrary to some earlier reports, it was observed that Added Nitrogen Interaction (ANI) occurred even in field experiments. Guidelines are provided to assist researchers in assessing the validity of using isotopic or difference method in a given situation. For conditions where the NRE values obtained by either of the methods are influenced by ANI, a method of correcting the NRE values has been suggested, to arrive at the most probable value.
Medical nutrition therapy for hypercholesterolemia positively affects patient satisfaction and quality of life outcomes.

Following a heart-healthy diet to lower cholesterol levels is often assumed to be difficult, to be burdensome, and to have a negative impact on quality of life (QOL). The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of medical nutrition therapy (MNT) versus usual care (UC) for hypercholesterolemia on patient satisfaction and QOL. Ninety ambulatory care patients (6 men and 30 women), age 28 to 66, were randomly assigned to receive either MNT from dietitians using a National Cholesterol Education Program-based protocol or UC from their physicians. Patients who received MNT reported no difference in QOL related to the taste or enjoyment of food compared with UC patients. However, the MNT group reported initial improvements in QOL related to the convenience and cost of following a low-fat diet when compared with the UC group. The MNT group also reported significant and lasting improvements in perceived QOL related to self-care compared with the UC group. MNT patients were more satisfied with the interaction at visits, knowledge and ability to manage their cholesterol, eating habits, appearance, time spent exercising, and life in general. Moreover, MNT patients did not report any negative impact related to following a low-fat diet in regard to feeling restricted by diet; interference with lifestyle activities; or difficulty planning, purchasing, or preparing meals or eating away from home. Contrary to popular belief, there is no apparent reduction but rather an improvement in some measures of QOL and patient satisfaction with MNT for hypercholesterolemia.
The Development of Racial Solidarity in the Armed Forces

This paper derives from an attempt to examine the existence of race-conscious behavior among black enlisted men in the U.S. Army. The study considered racial solidarity as the dependent variable and then proceeded to evaluate the independent causal factors of attitudes acquired by the subjects prior to military service and attitudes acquired during military service. Race consciousness in the armed services was most apparent during the late 1960s-roughly the same period of increased militance among civilian blacks. Additionally, race consciousness among black troops manifested itself at a time when race relations in the military were on a downward trend. The difficulties involved in establishing which was the greater influence, conditions in the military or those in the rest of society, are enormous and given the limitations of the research design employed for this study, one must be cautious in such inferences. Nonetheless, the military experience appears to have had some influence in engendering race consciousness among black servicemen. This behavior we will call racial solidarity. It is defined as an effort by black
Fluoroscopic Templating Technique for Precision Arthroscopic Rim Trimming

Arthroscopic rim trimming for femoroacetabular impingement can be technically challenging to perform with precision. Intraoperative assessment of the extent of acetabular rim resection is very important. Over-resection can lead to hip instability and even iatrogenic dislocation. Under-resection may leave residual impingement. A novel imaging technique is presented that is simple, practical, and readily available. The technique involves matching the fluoroscopic C-arm image intensifier to the operative pelvis while under the desired amount of hip distraction so that a horizontal anteroposterior hip image appears on the viewing monitor. An erasable marking pen is used to draw the desired area of planned acetabular rim resection directly on the viewing monitor screen. Intermittent fluoroscopic images with the raised stationary C-arm device allow assessment of superior (lateral) and anterior rim resection. The surgeon "wipes away" the drawn template with the radiopaque metallic bur until the all-important medial template border is reached, indicating that the actual rim resection matches that intended in a controlled and precise manner.
FER tyrosine kinase (FER) overexpression mediates resistance to quinacrine through EGF-dependent activation of NF-κB

Quinacrine, a drug with antimalarial and anticancer activities that inhibits NF-κB and activates p53, has progressed into phase II clinical trials in cancer. To further elucidate its mechanism of action and identify pathways of drug resistance, we used an unbiased method for validation-based insertional mutagenesis to isolate a quinacrine-resistant cell line in which an inserted CMV promoter drives overexpression of the FER tyrosine kinase (FER). Overexpression of FER from a cDNA confers quinacrine resistance to several different types of cancer cell lines. We show that quinacrine kills cancer cells primarily by inhibiting the activation of NF-κB and that increased activation of NF-κB through FER overexpression mediates resistance. EGF activates NF-κB and stimulates phosphorylation of FER, EGF receptor (EGFR), and ERK p42/p44, and decreased expression of FER or inhibition of ERK phosphorylation inhibits the EGF-induced activation of NF-κB. FER binds to EGFR, and overexpression of FER in cells untreated with EGF increases this association, leading to increased phosphorylation of EGFR and ERK. We conclude that FER is on a pathway connecting EGFR to NF-κB activation and that this function is responsible for FER-dependent resistance to quinacrine.