cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Gaussian approximation to bivariate rayleigh distributions

Let X = (X1...XM] Y = (Y1...YN] r1 = [X], and r2 =[Y], where M<N {[X1]...[XM,YM] are independent standard Gaussian vecrors having the correlations [P1...PM] and {YM 1... YN} are uncorrelated standa...
The lipid intermediates arising during glycoprotein biosynthesis in liver microsomes.

Abstract Incubation of liver microsomes with GDP[ 14 C]mannose leads to the formation of lipid-linked derivatives of [ 14 C]mannose, a dolichol phosphate monosaccharide and dolichol pyrophosphate oligosaccharides. Standard procedures for separating these two types of compounds from each other were found to be deficient in that fractions thought to contain only dolichol pyrophosphate oligosaccharides are contaminated with dolichol phosphate mannose. This paper presents a column chromatographic procedure which conveniently separates the products of an 8 min labeling experiment into two components; dolichol phosphate [ 14 C]mannose and a [ 14 C]-mannose containing oligosaccharide which is also lipid bound. When this oligosaccharide is released from the lipid by hydrolysis and chromatographed on Sephadex G-50 or G-15 it gives a single peak with an indicated molecular weight of 1100. However, when this released oligosaccharide is chromatographed on concanavalin A Sepharose it is resolved into two peaks suggesting that there may be 2 oligosaccharide of approximately the same size but different structures. After brief periods of labeling with GDP[ 14 C]mannose (5 s) an additional oligosaccharide of 3 to 4 sugar residues can be found in the dolichol pyrophosphate oligosaccharides fraction. Incubation of liver microsomes with UDP[ 14 C]glucose or UDP[ 14 C]galactose produces oligosaccharide components containing 7–8 sugar residues. Labeling of microsomes with UDP[ 14 C]acetylglucosamine gives rise to three different components, including a lipid bound oligosaccharide containing 3–5 sugar residues.
Inversion of strongly scattered data: shape and permittivity recovery

Reconstructing an object from scattered field data has always been very challenging, especially when dealing with strong scatterers. Several techniques have been proposed to address this problem but either they fail to provide a good estimate of the object or they are computationally very expensive. We have proposed a straightforward non-linear signal processing method in which we first process the scattered field data to generate a minimum phase function in the object domain. This is accomplished by adding a reference wave whose amplitude and phase satisfy certain conditions. Minimum-phase functions are causal transforms and their phase is continuous in the interval ‐π and +π, i.e. it is always unwrapped. Following this step, we compute the Fourier transform of the logarithm of this minimum phase function, referred to as its cepstrum. In this domain one can filter cepstral frequencies arising from the object from those of the scattered field. Cepstral data are meaningless for non-minimum phase functions because of phase wraps. We apply low pass filters in the cepstral domain to isolate information about the object and then perform an inverse transform and exponentiation. We have applied this technique to measured data provided by Institut Fresnel (Marseille, France) and investigated in a systematic way the dependence of the approach on the properties of the reference wave and filter. We show that while being a robust method, one can identify optimal parameters for the reference wave that result in a good reconstruction of a penetrable, strongly scattering permittivity distribution.
The enhancement of committed hematopoietic stem cell colony formation by nandrolone decanoate after sublethal whole body irradiation

The ability of an anabolic steroid, nandrolone decanoate, to increase committed topoietic stem cell (CFU-gm, CFU-e, and BFU-e) colony formation after sublethal irradiation was evaluated. Immediately after receiving whole body irradiation and on the next two days, each mouse was injected intraperitoneally with nandrolone decanoate (1.25 mg) in propylene glycol. Irradiated control mice received only propylene glycol. Compared to controls, drug-treated mice showed marked peripheral blood leukocytosis and more stable packed red cell volume. Drug-treated mice also demonstrated increased erythropoiesis, as CFU-e/BFU-e concentrations from both marrow (9% to 581%) and spleen (15% to 797%) were elevated. Granulopoiesis was increased similarly, as CFU-gm concentrations from marrow (38% to 685%) and spleen (9% to 373%) were elevated. These results demonstrate that nandrolone decanoate enhances hematopoietic stem cell recovery after sublethal whole body irradiation. This suggests that following hematopoietic suppression, nandrolone decanoate may stimulate the recovery of hematopoiesis at the stem cell level and in peripheral blood.
A Sectored-One-Dimensional Model for Simulating Combustion Instabilities in Premix Combustors

A one-dimensional, CFD based combustor simulation has been developed that exhibits self-excited, thermoacoustic oscillations in premixed combustor geometries that typically have large, abrupt changes in cross sectional area. The combustor geometry is approximated by dividing it into a finite number of one-dimensional sectors. Within each sector, the equations of motion are integrated numerically, along with a species transport and a reaction equation. Across the sectors, mass and energy are conserved, and momentum loss is prescribed using appropriately compatible boundary conditions that account for the area change. The resulting simulation and associated boundary conditions essentially represent a one-dimensional, multi-block technique. Details of the simulation code are presented herein. Results are then shown comparing experimentally observed and simulated operation of a particular combustor rig that exhibited different instabilities at different operating points. It will be shown that the simulation closely matched the rig data in oscillation amplitudes, frequencies, and operating points at which the instabilities occurred. Finally, advantages and limitations of the simulation technique are discussed.
Surface Textures of Quartz and Heavy-Mineral Grains from Fresh-Water Environments: An Application of Scanning Electron Microscopy

Surface textures of fresh-water sand grains were studied with the scanning electron microscope. Mechanical and solution features are easily studied with this instrument because replication is not necessary and more grains can be observed in a short time. Heavy mineral grains were also examined and an attempt made to relate surface characteristics to mineralogy. This instrument should find wide application in investigations of depositional sequences of clastic deposits.
Layer modulus determination

The US Federal Highway Administration (FHWA) sponsors and conducts research in truck size and weight (TS&W), pavement design and rehabilitation and highway cost allocation problem areas. As part of this overall effort, the Truck Pavement Interaction (TPI) research programme of the Pavement Performance Division at the Turner Fairbank Highway Research Center (TFHRC) in McLean, Virginia, has established a comprehensive research plan to investigate techniques for the true optimization of the highway infrastructure: optimization between pavement rehabilitation strengthening and the deployment of Friendly Vehicle Fleets intra North America. The main premise of the TPI programme is that only through the use of well validated and calibrated mechanistic pavement whole life prediction models can one achieve realistic solutions to these goals. Thus, a very first step toward achieving these goals is the validation and/or calibration of the layer theory models that will compose the basic mechanistic modelling tool set proposed for use by TPI. As part of this effort, TPI has participated in the conduct of controlled heavy vehicle rolling load tests to study pavement primary response and damage due to different vehicle loading and environmental conditions. Tests conducted to date include dynamic load tests on the FHWA test road located at TFHRC, tests on LTPPISPS–8 sections of the Ohio test road and ALF (accelerated load facility) tests at TFHRC. The work described herein is an attempt to investigate the best techniques for estimating layer moduli so that these techniques can be used, with reliability, for future work. Several modulus back calculation methods were implemented using falling weight deflectometer (FWD) surface deflection basins taken from the experiments conducted at ALF. Not completely satisfied with these methods, a new method incorporating soil mechanics principles coupled with the Boussinesq/Odemark method was developed using actual pavement layer deflections also taken from the ALF site. Basic differences among the methods are presented, calculated layer moduli using the new method are compared with moduli calculated by the other methods, and advantages and disadvantages of each are discussed.
Immunocytochemical localization of the sodium, potassium activated ATPase in knifefish brain.

Results presented in this paper demonstrate the feasibility of using immunocytochemical methods to localize the (Na+ + K+)-ATPase, and its subunits, in the C.N.S. We have shown that in the Black Ghost knifefish,Sternarchus albifrons, the enzyme is located on the plasma membrane of the somata and dendrites of neurons and on the somata and cellular processes of glia. In myelinated axons the enzyme is restricted in localization to those portions of the axolemma not covered by the myelin sheath. The capacity of cell plasma membranes to restrict mobility of functionally important proteins should be considered in models of membrane structure in which lateral mobility of membrane components is considered a major characteristic.
Including multicultural education in science education: Definitions, competencies, and activities

Overall, too few science teachers are being prepared in this country, and ethnic minority students are rarely enrolling in science teacher education programs. Thus, it is particularly important that multicultural education be included in science teacher education programs. I do not believe that science teacher educators will be able to prepare significantly more minority science teachers in the near future to teach the growing number of minority students in schools. Consequently, science teacher education programs must begin producing multicultural teachers. If we do not, then millions of children will not receive an adequate science education, let alone a good one.
Unambiguous correlations of backbone amide and aliphatic gamma resonances in deuterated proteins.

Abstract Two 3D NMR pulse sequences that correlate aliphatic gamma carbon resonance frequencies to amide proton and nitrogen chemical shifts in perdeuterated proteins are presented. The HN(COCACB)CG provides only interresidue connectivities (NH(i)and Cγ(i-1)) while the HN(CACB)CG detects both the inter- and intraresidue (NH(i)and Cγ(i)or Cγ(i−1)) correlations. These two experiments are useful for sequential assignments and the identification of residue type from the Cγshifts. Spectra acquired on a perdeuterated 53-kDa protein illustrate the sensitivity and utility of these experiments.
New measurement technique for the product of the electron mobility and mean free drift time for pixelated semiconductor detectors

Abstract A new method for measuring the electron mobility, the electron mean free drift time, and their product has been developed for pixelated semiconductor detectors. Using data from a standard calibration measurement, these three quantities are measured and compared against results using other methods. Since the results can be easily obtained, comparisons of many detectors have been completed and show that detector spectroscopic performance is independent of the electron trapping if the raw electron trapping is less than 6.5% from the cathode to the anode surface.
Effect of various stack parameters on temperature rise in molten carbonate fuel cell stack operation

A mathematical stack model is used to predict the temperature at a constant-load operation of molten-carbonate fuel cell stacks. The validity of the model is proved by a comparison with measured temperature data obtained from the operation of a 5-kW test stack. The model is applied extensively for the simulation of temperature profiles in a larger stack to analyze the effect of various stack parameters on temperature rise and cooling. The results verify that the cathode gas flow has a predominant effect on the maximum temperature inside the stack while the inlet and heating temperatures have limited influence. This explains the need for pressurized operations for control of stack temperature.
Activation of carbon-supported platinum catalysts by sodium for the low-temperature water-gas shift reaction

Abstract The activation of multi-walled carbon nanotube-supported platinum catalysts for the low-temperature water-gas shift reaction is demonstrated by the addition of sodium. Nitric acid oxidation of the carbon nanotubes allows for the addition of sodium through ion-exchange and creates anchoring sites for platinum. We show that an oxidized platinum state is stabilized by the presence of sodium. Evidence for a sodium-promoted Pt-(OH)x active site is given through XPS analysis of the catalysts before and after reaction and confirmed by CO-TPR. Removal of the oxygen groups and partial removal of sodium by annealing the Na-modified carbon nanotubes to 800 °C in inert atmosphere creates a surface on which Pt is initially very active, but of lower stability due to the absence of a sufficient number of surface sodium anchoring sites.
Not devoid of forensic potential, but...

Because there is no unique response pattern associated with lying, methods that are subsumed under the rubric “deception detection” do not assess lying per se, but instead assess various processes ...
Experiments with cylindrical reflex triodes connected in series

Reflex triodes with cylindrical converters made from thin tantalum were developed for producing x-rays at high fluence in the warm (10–100 keV) region of the bremsstrahlung spectrum.1 This paper presents results from the first experiment with two cylindrical reflex triodes connected in series on the NRL Gamble II pulsed power generator. The tantalum converters are concentric, with 10 and 20 cm radii, and have 4 and 6 mm radial anode-cathode gaps. The full generator current, about 1.1 MA, passes through each triode, effectively using the current twice to produce x-rays. The impedance of each triode is made equal to about 0.25 Ohms to limit the peak voltage on each triode to about 300 kV. Vacuum voltmeters record the voltage at each triode. The dose distribution is measured outside the 3-mm thick aluminum vacuum barrier using an array of CaF 2 thermoluminescent dosimeters. The dose distribution and dose-rate compare well with a model derived from ITS2 calculations that assume perfect reflexing through the tantalum. On Gamble II, this approach increases the fluence-area product by about a factor of three, compared with a single triode at the same voltage. The series configuration is useful for increasing the irradiated area for generators with matched-load voltage greater than 0.6 MV.
Mobile Sensors for Security and Surveillance

A stereo mosaic representation has been developed for fusing imaging data captured by sensors (cameras) in motion. In addition to providing a wide field of view, the multiperspective mosaics with various oblique views represent occlusion regions that cannot be achieved by using stationary sensors. One or multiple stereo pairs can be formed from mosaics with different oblique viewing angles and thus can be used for 3D viewing and 3D reconstruction. This approach has been applied to a number of important security and surveillance applications, including airborne surveillance, ground vehicle navigation, under-vehicle inspection, and 3D gamma-ray cargo inspection.
Nano-sized Si3N4 reinforced NiFe nanocomposites by electroplating

Abstract Permalloy NiFe/Si3N4 nanocomposite layers were electroplated on a copper substrate. The volume fraction of nano-sized Si3N4 particles in NiFe matrix was controlled by the addition of various percentages of Si3N4 particles in the NiFe electrolyte. The nanocomposite layers of up to 400 μm were analyzed by a scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Microhardness test was performed. With nano-sized Si3N4 particles in the NiFe matrix, the microhardness of NiFe was improved. The samples were then annealed at 800 °C for about 20 h. The microhardness declined more with more Si3N4 particles in the NiFe matrix. The analysis result from energy dispersive spectrometer (EDS) in the SEM showed that the hardness declination could be caused by the segregation of Si3N4 in the NiFe matrix. Finally, this paper presents nanocomposite micromolds fabricated by electroplating onto polymer molds that were fabricated by micro-stereolithgraphy.
Using cubes of non-state variables with property directed reachability

A new SAT-Based algorithm for symbolic model checking has been gaining popularity. This algorithm, referred to as "Incremental Construction of Inductive Clauses for Indubitable Correctness" (IC3) or "Property Directed Reachability" (PDR), uses information learned from SAT instances of isolated time frames to either prove that an invariant exists, or provide a counter example. The information learned between each time frame is recorded in the form of cubes of the state variables. In this work, we study the effect of extending PDR to use cubes of intermediate variables representing the logic gates in the transition relation. We demonstrate that we can improve the runtime for satisfiable benchmarks by up to 3.2X, with an average speedup of 1.23X. Our approach also provides a speedup of up to 3.84X for unsatisfiable benchmarks.
Comparing Performance Standards on the Retention of Words Read Correctly Per Minute

To measure retention of oral reading fluency, three students attending a learning support classroom used a repeating reading strategy with two passages. Each student read one passage to a high performance standard and the other passage to a lower performance standard. Results show it took the students more practice to reach the higher performance standard in regards to both calendar days and practice trials. The retention measures revealed all students had comparable decrements with words read correctly per minute for both the high and low performance standards even though practice varied. During the last retention interval 3½ months after obtaining the performance standard, all students demonstrated the highest terminal frequency of words read correctly per minute in the high performance standard condition.
Are NBME examination scores useful in selecting radiology residency candidates

Rationale and Objectives. The quality of the graduates of radiology residency programs is powerfully affected by the quality of the candidates admitted to them, making the evaluation and ranking of residency applicants one of the most important tasks of radiology education. In the applicant evaluation process, evaluators frequently take into account applicants' scores on the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) examination, operating on the implicit assumption that these scores help predict future performance as residents. The purpose of this study was to test that assumption. Materials and Methods. Using a data set consisting of information about 99 residents admitted over a period of 10 residency class years, the authors compared scores for parts I and II of the NBME examination with later results on the American Board of Radiology (ABR) written and oral examinations. Logistic regression was used to model differences in resident performance on the NBME and ABR examinations and to determine whether variance in ABR results could be predicted by variance in NBME examination scores. Results. The authors were unable to demonstrate any statistically significant value of NBME examination scores in predicting eventual performance on the ABR written and oral examinations. Conclusion. The authors' attempt to validate the widespread practice of using NBME examination scores to evaluate and rank applicants to radiology residency programs demonstrated no discernible value for these scores in predicting the success of residents on the ABR examinations.
Lack of an effect of standard and supratherapeutic doses of linezolid on QTc interval prolongation.

A double-blind, placebo-controlled, four-way crossover study was conducted in 40 subjects to assess the effect of linezolid on corrected QT (QTc) interval prolongation. Time-matched, placebo-corrected QT intervals were determined predose and at 0.5, 1 (end of infusion), 2, 4, 8, 12, and 24 h after intravenous dosing of linezolid 600 and 1,200 mg. Oral moxifloxacin at 400 mg was used as an active control. The pharmacokinetic profile of linezolid was also evaluated. At each time point, the upper bound of the 90% confidence interval (CI) for placebo-corrected QTcF values (i.e., QTc values adjusted for ventricular rate using the correction methods of Fridericia) for linezolid 600 and 1,200-mg doses were 5 ms, indicating that the study was adequately sensitive to assess QTc prolongation. The pharmacokinetic profile of linezolid at 600 mg was consistent with previous observations. Systemic exposure to linezolid increased in a slightly more than dose-proportional manner at supratherapeutic doses, but the degree of nonlinearity was small. At a supratherapeutic single dose of 1,200 mg of linezolid, no treatment-related increase in adverse events was seen compared to 600 mg of linezolid, and no clinically meaningful effects on vital signs and safety laboratory evaluations were noted.
Illusory words created by repetition blindness: a technique for probing sublexical representations.

When two orthographically similar words are displayed using rapid serial visual presentation (RSVP), the repeated letters in the second critical word (W2) are not detected, leading to a deficit in reporting this word, a phenomenon known as repetition blindness (RB). The unrepeated letters in W2 do appear to be detected and available to feed activation to words compatible with them (Morris & Harris, 1999). When a fragment was strategically placed in the RSVP stream, as inGROW throw ank, observers reported seeingthank more often than in the control conditionBEAT throw ank. Illusory words were facilitated by repetition blindness only when the recombining letters maintained their position in the words. Illusory word report was insensitive to the phonological similarity of the recombining letters; equal quantities of illusory words were created by sequences likechina CHEAT THR (→ threat) andswung SWEAT THR (→ threat). In addition to being an interesting phenomenon in its own right, the illusory words paradigm may have considerable use as a tool for probing the perceptual units underlying visual word recognition.
The Framingham eye study: Introduction to the monograph

This article briefly summarizes the monography, The Framingham Eye Study Monograph: an Ophthalmological and Epidemiological Study of Cataract, Glaucoma, Diabetic Retinopathy, Macular Degeneration, and Visual Acuity in a General Population of 2631 Adults, 1973-1975. This 275-page monograph, authored by H. Liebowitz, D. Krueger, C. Maunder et al, has recently been published by Survey of Ophthalmology (Surv Ophthalmol 24 (suppl):335-610, 1980). The purpose of the study, undertaken by the National Eye Institute, was to provide a description of the prevalence and severity of four diseases that are believed to be the major causes of severe visual handicap among adults in the United States. The monography presents the detailed protocols and record forms, definitions of the specific abnormalities and characteristics, criteria for suspicion and diagnosis of disease, detailed tables of the basic data, evaluation of quality of the data, and discussion of selected findings.
Angiographic embolization of a ruptured renal artery aneurysm during pregnancy.

Background Ruptured arterial aneurysms during pregnancy usually are catastrophic, and the primary approach is surgical. Angiographic embolization is an alternative treatment. Case A 28-year-old primigravida with a history of congenital hepatic fibrosis presented at 23 weeks' gestation with abdominal pain, hypertension, and proteinuria. She underwent a cesarean delivery for preeclampsia and a retroperitoneal hematoma was noted. A postoperative angiogram revealed bilateral renal artery and splenic aneurysms. She underwent two angiographic embolizations of a ruptured right renal artery aneurysm and was discharged to undergo outpatient embolotherapy of the left renal and splenic aneurysms. The day after discharge, she died because of rupture of the splenic aneurysm. Conclusion Aggressive management of ruptured and high-risk unruptured aneurysms during pregnancy is indicated. Embolotherapy is an alternate approach if surgery is not possible.
Isn't It Ironic?: The Intersection of Third-Wave Feminism and Generation X

In this essay, I analyze how gender is constructed and communicated by women popularly associated with and thus representative of Generation X in order to assess the nature of the relationship between Generation X and third-wave feminism and to chart the presence of feminism in contemporary popular culture. Ultimately, I argue that the overlap between “third wavers” and Generation X is great and that third-wave feminism is more appropriately understood as a “Gen X” subculture than as an evolutionary phase of feminism.
The application of sub‐2‐μm particle liquid chromatography‐operated high mobile linear velocities coupled to orthogonal accelerated time‐of‐flight mass spectrometry for the analysis of ranitidine and its impurities

Impurity profiling of pharmaceutical drug substances or dosage formulations require methods involving high sensitivity and resolution from LC and MS alike as well as an acceptable analysis time. While throughput can be increased, it is usually at the expense of chromatographic resolution. The application of sub-2-microm stationary phases and high mobile linear velocities has been combined with orthogonal acceleration (oa)-TOF MS for the impurity structural characterization analysis of small-molecule pharmaceutics. A pharmaceutical drug substance was forcefully degraded and used to test the proof of concept of developing an impurity profile method by ultra performance liquid chromatography (UPLC). Optimum conditions were identified by use of method development simulation software as well as traditional approaches of method scouting with columns and a varied range of pH. Further analysis illustrated the effectiveness of applying oa-TOF MS techniques to assist in achieving exact mass coupled with MS/MS to define the structural characterization of the related substances relative to the pharmaceutical active ingredient and identification of any unknown impurity substances. The barriers with trade-offs between resolution and speed are overcome by the application of UPLC, whereas the increased sensitivity provides for superior exact mass oa-TOF MS.
Orbital Rim Fat Atrophy After Repository Periocular Corticosteroid Injection

A 29-year-old white woman with acute recurrent nongranulomatous iridocyclitis of undetermined cause was treated with a retrobulbar injection of depocorticosteroid (Kenalog) through the inferior eyelid. This resulted in rapid clearing of the uveitis, but she developed subcutaneous and inferior orbital fat atrophy. This atrophy persisted during the 1 1/2 years of observation.
Probing insect odorant receptors with their cognate ligands: Insights into structural features

Abstract Odorant receptors (ORs) are essential for insect survival in the environment and thus are ideal molecular targets for the design of insect-inspired modern green chemicals to control populations of agricultural pests and insects of medical importance. Although insect ORs are known for more than a decade, their structural biology is still in its infancy. Here, we unravel the first structural features of ORs from the malaria mosquito, the Southern house mosquito and the silkworm moth. The second extracellular loops (ECL-2s) of their predicted structures are much longer than ECL-1s and ECL-3s. The 27 amino-acid-residue-long of the ECL-2s in mosquito and the 43 amino-acid-residue-long ECL2s in moth ORs are well-conserved. About one-third of the residues are identical, including 3–4 Pro residues. Thorough examination of well-conserved residues in these structures, by point mutation and functional assay with the Xenopus oocyte recording system, strongly suggest that these “loops” include three β-turns and some degree of folding. In the Southern house mosquito three Pro residues in ECL-2 are essential for full activation of the receptor, which is finely tuned to the oviposition attractant 3-methylindole. Additionally, the “corner residues” of prolines, including Gly, Tyr, and Leu are functionally important thus suggesting that turns are stabilized not only by backbone hydrogen bonds, but also by side–chain interactions. Examination of ECL-2s from a distant taxonomical group suggests these ECL-2 loops might be functionally important in all insect ORs. Two of the four Pro residues in the predicted ECL-2 of the bombykol receptor in the silkworm moth, BmorOR1, are essential for function. Experimental evidence indicates that these loops may not be specificity determinants, but they may form a cover to the yet-to-be-identified membrane embedded binding cavities of insect ORs.
Basic Concepts of Molecular Biology for the Epileptologist

Fundamental techniques used in molecular biology can be applied toward questions of relevance to epilepsy. Many of the most common techniques used for working with nucleic acids, including DNA extraction, electrophoresis, cloning in plasmid vectors, making probes, and the polymerase chain reaction are now commonly used in basic epilepsy research. Some specific approaches that can be used to address particular questions are methods for identifying a human gene (Southern analysis and screening a library), determining whether a gene is expressed in a given brain region (Northern analysis and in situ hybridization), and expressing a gene in tissue culture or a whole organism (cell transfection and transgenic animals).
Thevenin's Theorem and a Black Box

The concepts of an equivalent electrical circuit and maximum power transfer are difficult for some students to comprehend. A laboratory exercise is presented that facilitates the teaching of Thevenin's equivalent circuit and maximum power transfer through the use of a black box equipped with two external terminals. The laboratory exercise has improved students' understanding of these important electrical engineering concepts.
Stress responses in three different anesthetic techniques for carbon dioxide laparoscopic cholecystectomy

Abstract Study Objective: To evaluate and compare the stress hormone responses during laparoscopic cholecystectomy during general anesthesia, general anesthesia supplemented by fentanyl, and general anesthesia combined with epidural anesthesia. Design: Prospective, randomized clinical study. Setting: Operating rooms at a municipal hospital. Patients: 52 ASA physical status I and II patients. Interventions: Anesthesia was induced slowly with sevoflurane and nitrous oxide (N 2 O) in oxygen (O 2 ) by mask. Endotracheal intubation was facilitated with intravenous (IV) vecuronium 0.1 mg/kg. In 17 patients, anesthesia was maintained with sevoflurane and 50% N 2 O in O 2 . For another 18 patients, fentanyl 4 μg/kg was administered after endotracheal intubation, and anesthesia was maintained with sevoflurane and 50% N 2 O in O 2 . The remaining 17 patients received thoracic epidural anesthesia (1% mepivacaine in an 8 ml bolus followed by a continuous infusion of 1% mepivacaine, 3 ml/hr) after endotracheal intubation, and general anesthesia was maintained with sevoflurane and 50% N 2 O in O 2 . End-tidal sevoflurane concentrations were adjusted to maintain mean arterial pressure between 70% and 100% of preinduction values. Measurements and Main Results: Venous blood was sampled for measurements of cortisol and catecholamines (epinephrine and norepinephrine) immediately before and 30 minutes after surgical incision. Cortisol levels increased in all three anesthesia techniques. Both catecholamines increased in patients receiving general anesthesia only; catecholamines did not increase significantly in patients receiving general anesthesia combined with epidural anesthesia; in patients receiving general anesthesia supplemented with fentanyl, both catecholamines increased significantly, but the degree of increase in norepinephrine was less than that in the general anesthesia only group. Conclusions: The fentanyl supplemented group received relatively small doses insufficient to inhibit an increase in catecholamines. Thoracic epidural anesthesia depressed the sympathetic response presumably by blocking afferent sympathetic pathways under the conditions of this study. However, it did not attenuate an increase in cortisol, one of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal stress hormones, during carbon dioxide laparoscopic cholecystectomy in our study. This action may be due to the inability of epidural anesthesia to block phrenic nerves that can convey noxious surgical stimulation to the central nervous system.
Imagining Jehossee Island Rice Plantation Today

The analysis of the legacy of commercial rice production on Jehossee Island, today part of the ACE Basin National Wildlife Refuge, provides a unique opportunity to underscore the complex system of interdependence between Africans and Europeans in America. The dominant analysis and public discourse concerning antebellum plantations as national heritage sites, however, provides one perspective—primarily focusing exclusively on life as experienced by plantation owners and their families. In such interpretations, majority African communities go unrepresented. This article breaks new ground in giving primacy to the labour, ingenuity, and expertise of enslaved African people and the role they played in construction and preservation of an ecosystem considered to be of world class significance today.
The Influence of Flightless I: regeneration versus wound healing.

The molecular mechanisms involved in organ regeneration has biomedical implications in regenerative medicine. In this issue, Waters et al. demonstrate that levels of the established negative wound healing factor Flightless I (Flii) modulate the hair follicle’s capacity to regenerate a fiber-forming bulb after amputation. Still to be investigated are the specific pathways through which Flii influences regeneration as compared with wound healing.
Sources of the strongest RF radiation from lightning

Experiments performed at the Kennedy Space Center, Florida during TRIP-78 identified sources of the strongest RF radiation from lightning in the HF-VHF frequency range. Measurements were made of electric field changes associated with RF radiation using a field change system triggered on the output of an RF detector. The field changes associated with the strongest RF radiation are very fast (10 - 20 microseconds), bipolar pulses having an initial negative going half-cycle followed by a positive overshoot. These fast pulses consistently produced more RF radiation than was associated with return strokes, and their shape was remarkably consistent, independent of frequency.
Exploring the utility of an estimation procedure to reveal drug use among arrestees: Implications for service delivery

One of the most persistent questions plaguing researchers and service providers is how to best estimate the extent of targeted behaviors in relevant populations. One problem of particular importance is the prevalence of drug use in justice-involved populations. Data have been collected through such methods as self-report and analysis of biological specimens, although both have notable limitations when used alone. As a means of drawing on the strengths of both methods, such data can be used in a confirmatory manner or, alternatively, may be summed to estimate prevalence. However, this latter approach is not without difficulty as different sources lack substantial agreement. The focus of this study is to employ a methodology that utilizes multiple data sources and adjusts for nonreporting from either source. Compared to more commonly employed techniques, the results indicate that the alternative method yields higher estimates of marijuana and cocaine use among a sample of arrestees. These findings, in turn, suggest that current behavioral health interventions and policies may be based on underestimates of drug use.
Effects of a supplemental liquid yeast product on feed intake, ruminal profiles, and yield, composition, and organoleptic characteristics of milk from lactating Holstein cows.

Abstract A liquid yeast product (about 11% DM), produced as a by-product of riboflavin synthesis, was incorporated into a TMR at three concentrations to determine the maximal inclusion rate and acceptability as a feed supplement in diets of lactating cows. Twelve Holstein cows in midlactation were randomly assigned to TMR treatments containing (as-fed basis) 1) no yeast product (control), 2) 20% dietary yeast product, or 3) 40% dietary yeast product in a 3 × 3 Latin square design with 3-wk periods. Dietary DM contents were 90, 74.2, and 58.4% for the 0, 20, and 40% yeast product TMR, respectively. The control TMR was based on a 45:55 ratio (DM basis) of mixed concentrate and chopped alfalfa hay. The DMI decreased linearly with increasing percentages of dietary yeast product. Milk yield and milk protein percentage were not altered by inclusion of the dietary yeast product. Milk fat tended to respond quadratically to increases in the percentage of dietary yeast product in the TMR. The supplemental dietary yeast product had no effect on ruminal pH; however, the ratio of acetate to propionate decreased, and propionate percentage tended to increase, as supplementation of the yeast product increased. Addition of yeast product to the TMR had no adverse effect on milk flavor. Milk from cows fed yeast product had better flavor than milk from control cows. Results indicate that inclusion of this yeast product at 40% depressed feed intake.
First Report of Ear Soft Rot of Corn (Zea mays) Caused by Burkholderia gladioli in the United States.

During the summer of 2005, an uncharacterized disease was observed on sweet corn ‘Mirai 301BC’ commercially grown in Sunflower County, Mississippi. Initial symptoms developing at the base of the ear on interior husk leaves were brown, water-soaked, irregular lesions. These gradually enlarged up to 10 cm in diameter. Market value was significantly affected when the corn ears had visible symptoms of this disease. Bacterial cell streaming was observed at a magnification of ×675 from the diseased husk. A bacterium was consistently isolated from lesions on nutrient broth yeast (NBY) agar. Colonies on NBY were yellowish white, slightly convex, shiny, and circular with entire margins. Isolates MS102 and MS103, which were chosen for further characterization, were gram negative, lacked arginine dihydrolase, did not produce fluorescent pigment on Pseudomonas F medium, accumulated poly-β-hydroxybutyrate, and grew aerobically. The isolates were able to utilize l-arabinose, d-mannitol, N-acetylglucosamine, capric acid...
Reduced axoplasmic transport of choline acetyltransferase activity in dystrophic mice.

MUSCULAR dystrophy has been regarded as a “primary degenerative myopathy”1. But there is evidence from studies of both human muscular dystrophy and animal models of muscular dystrophy that the muscle disease may have a neural basis2. The mechanism of the suspected neural disorder remains to be elucidated. Since there is independent evidence that in normal animals the trophic effect of nerve on muscle depends on intact axoplasmic transport3, we have initiated a study of axoplasmic transport in dystrophic mice. We have found a disturbance of axoplasmic transport of choline acetyltransferase activity in dystrophic mice.
Epidemiology of Carotid Endarterectomy and Cerebral Arteriography in the United States

Background and Purpose Results of North American and European trials of carotid endarterectomy published in 1991 may have affected the frequency of the procedure in the United States. Therefore, data from a national survey of hospital discharges were examined to determine whether rates of carotid endarterectomy and arteriography increased after 1991 and whether race and sex variations in rates have persisted. Methods Data from the National Hospital Discharge Survey were examined for the years 1980 through 1993. Estimated numbers of procedures performed in nonfederal US hospitals were used to compute rates per 100 000 population by year, age, race, and sex. Results In persons aged 65 years and over, the rate of carotid endarterectomy increased rapidly between 1980 and 1983 with a slight further increase through 1985. A marked fall in the rate occurred between 1985 and 1988, followed by a plateau and a sharp upturn in 1992. After 1985, there was a steady decline in the rate of cerebral arteriography procedu...
The motivational bases of public service: foundations for a third wave of research

Research on public service motivation has garnered significant attention from scholars, especially in the last two decades. This article divides the evolution of the research into three waves: definition and measurement; assessing and confirming construct validity and diffusion of the construct; and learning from past research and filling shortcomings and gaps. Significant contributions and benchmarks of the first two waves are identified. Four foundational activities are discussed that are present and will be important for advancing public service motivation research during the third wave. Some aspects of the research in the Asia Pacific region are highlighted.
Interactive effects of washing, film wrapping and ethylene concentration on color development in grapefruit flavedo

Abstract Film-wrapping has recently developed into a valuable post-harvest technique. If combined with washing before de-greening citrus, decay could be reduced, de-greening could take place at ambient humidities, and shelf life would be increased by permitting ethylene (C 2 H 4 ) application just prior to shipment. Previous reports indicate that pre-washing and wrapping inhibit color development in citrus. Therefore, the present work focused on characterizing the level of inhibition and attempting to overcome the inhibition by manipulation of applied C 2 H 4 concentration during degreening. Washing and wrapping grapefruit did greatly inhibit de-greening. By increasing the C 2 H 4 concentration to 250 μl l −1 , the effect of washing was overcome. However, the combined effect of washing and wrapping was not overcome by increasing exogenous C 2 H 4 .
From the QCD vacuum to (strongly coupled) quark-gluon plasma

I start with brief discussion of the role of topological objects in the QCD vacuum, reminding why instantons play a special role in chiral symmetry breaking and hadronic physics. Then I move to high temperature T > T c domain, describing briefly some experimental discoveries made at RHIC such as robust collective flow phenomena. They are well described by ideal hydrodynamics, with the Equation of State (EoS) in good agreement with that predicted by lattice simulations. However for hydro to work the transport properties of QGP should be quite remarkable. These and other theoretical developments, especially based on lattice simulations, indicate that matter produced at RHIC is a strongly coupled liquid, sQGP for short. Existence of “new spectroscopy” of states, most of them colored, is expected. We also briefly discuss two other “strongly coupled systems”, (i) the strongly coupled supersymmetric theories studied via Maldacena duality; (ii) trapped ultra-cold atoms with very large scattering length.
Vibrational analysis of nucleic acids. III. Conformation-dependent Raman markers of the phosphodiester backbone modeled by dimethyl phosphate

Abstract The dimethyl phosphate anion (CH3O)2PO−2 is the simplest structural analogue of the phosphodiester backbone group in nucleic acids. Because of its simplicity, dimethyl phosphate is amenable to experimental and theoretical analyses of conformation-dependent vibrations of the diester (COPOC) and dioxy (PO−2) linkages [Guan et al., Biophys. J., 66 (1994) 225; J. Phys. Chem., 99 (1995) 12054]. In the present work, we report the use of a previously developed generalized valence force field to determine the dependence of vibrational stretching frequencies of the dimethyl phosphate anion upon the conformational geometry of the phosphodiester moiety. Starting with the gauche-gauche COPOC conformation (symmetry point group C2), we have computed the frequency dependence of six diagnostic vibrational stretching modes upon stepwise rotation of each carbon linkage with respect to its phosphoester bond (OP torsion). The computations show that both antisymmetric and symmetric phosphodiester (OPO) stretching vibrations are highly sensitive to COPOC conformation, whereas the corresponding phosphodioxy (PO−2) stretching modes are relatively insensitive to conformation changes. The present calculations provide a theoretical basis for previously established empirical correlations which indicate that phosphodiester stretching modes are the definitive indicators of backbone conformation in the vibrational spectra of DNA and RNA.
The robustness of infants' detection of visual motion

Fourteen-week-olds were tested for detection of the movement of a small vertical bar with varying levels of visual complexity using a speeded version of the forced-choice preferential looking (FPL) paradigm. The target bar horizontally oscillating at temporal frequencies of 0.6, 1.2 or 2.4 Hz could appear amidst 1, 5, or 13 other static bars. Detection accuracy was (a) generally unaffected by the complexity of the visual field, (b) affected by the distance of the moving bar from the center of the screen, and (c) affected directly by temporal frequency. Response times depended inversely on temporal frequency. When the similarity of the static elements was decreased by making them chromatically heterogeneous, the FPL observer's average response time increased, although detection accuracy remained the same. The FPL observer's response times actually decreased slightly as more heterogeneous distractors were added. Adults tested using an FPL observer also showed this same effect. Both infants and adults showed disproportionately long response times on incorrect trials when only 1 other distractor was present in the visual field. The number of static elements in the visual field and their similarity affected primarily the speed with which infants at this age responded to movement.
Adsorption geometry and saturation coverage of Na on the Si(100)-(2×1) surface : first-principles calculations

We have performed first-principles total-energy calculations for Na on the Si(100)-(2{times}1) surface at different coverages. At half-monolayer Na coverage (one Na atom per Si(100)-(2{times}1) unit cell), the most favorable adsorption site of Na is found to be the valley bridge site. At one-monolayer Na coverage (two Na atoms per Si(100)-(2{times}1) unit cell), the Na atoms occupy both the valley bridge sites and the pedestal sites. The one-monolayer-coverage models have substantially lower surface energies than the half-monolayer-coverage models, indicating that the saturation coverage should be one monolayer. We also found that the surface is metallic at half-monolayer Na coverage and semiconducting at one-monolayer coverage.