cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Vertical Height Loss: An Investigation of Four Restorative Materials Opposing Enamel

Purpose The objective of this in vitro investigation was to compare the vertical wear produced by cone-shaped styli of three ceramic restorative materials and a Type III gold alloy opposing flattened human enamel. Vertical wear was measured as enamel height loss, material stylus height loss, and total vertical height loss (the sum of the enamel height loss and the restorative material height loss). Materials and Methods Ten cone-shaped styli were fabricated from each of four restorative materials, which included two machined ceramics, a pressed ceramic, and a Type III gold alloy. To maintain the standardized shape, styli were not polished or glazed. Specimens were subjected to wear in the presence of water for 100,000 cycles at 1.2 Hz under a load of 75 N using a wear simulation device. Enamel wear was evaluated by profilometry, and stylus wear was evaluated by computer imaging. Vertical wear was reported as enamel height loss, material stylus height loss, and total vertical height loss (the sum of the enamel height loss and material height loss). Data were compared using one-way analysis of variance and Scheffe's analysis (α= 0.05). Results Significant differences existed among materials based on material height loss (p= .0001), enamel height loss (p= .0001), and total vertical height loss (p= .0118). No significant difference among the three ceramics was found in mean total height loss, which ranged from 0.280 to 0.305 mm. However, the Type III gold exhibited less mean total wear (0.231 ± 0.082) than the pressed and one machineable ceramic. This machined ceramic exhibited the most material height loss (0.249 ± 0.044 mm). With the other ceramics, mean enamel wear was significantly more (0.211 and 0.216 mm, respectively). Conclusions During wear simulation, pressed or machineable ceramics opposing flattened enamel exhibited a similar degree of total vertical height loss. One machined ceramic material wore significantly more than the other materials. The other machineable ceramic and the pressed ceramic wore the opposing enamel significantly more.
Two-stage palliative surgical approach for pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum (type I)

Abstract Fifteen infants with an angiographie or autopsy diagnosis, or both, of pulmonary valvular atresia with intact ventricular septum (type I) were treated by various surgical procedures. An angiographie right ventricular cavity-intramyocardial sinusoid method was used to assess the “true” right ventricular size. The clinical, electrocardiographic and roentgenographic findings as well as the cardiac catheterization data were similar to those of other observers. A 2-stage palliative surgical approach is proposed. The first stage consists of combined Waterston-Cooley (ascending aorta to right pulmonary artery anastomosis) and Blalock-Hanlon (surgical atrial septectomy) procedures at the time of initial diagnosis. In the second stage a transventricular pulmonary valvotomy is performed 3 to 4 months after the initial palliative surgery. A definite improvement in morbidity and mortality was achieved. Furthermore, evidence is presented to demonstrate the capability for growth of the right ventricle.
Bacillus coagulans tolerance to 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium-based ionic liquids in aqueous and solid-state thermophilic culture

The use of ionic liquids (ILs) to disrupt the recalcitrant structure of lignocellulose and make polysaccharides accessible to hydrolytic enzymes is an emerging technology for biomass pretreatment in lignocellulosic biofuel production. Despite efforts to reclaim and recycle IL from pretreated biomass, residual IL can be inhibitory to microorganisms used for downstream fermentation. As a result, pathways for IL tolerance are needed to improve the activity of fermentative organisms in the presence of IL. In this study, microbial communities from compost were cultured under high-solids and thermophilic conditions in the presence of 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium-based ILs to enrich for IL-tolerant microorganisms. A strain of Bacillus coagulans isolated from an IL-tolerant community was grown in liquid and solid-state culture in the presence of the ILs 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium acetate ([C2mim][OAc]) or 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride ([C2mim][Cl]) to gauge IL tolerance. Viability and respiration varied with the concentration of IL applied and the type of IL used. B. coagulans maintained growth and respiration in the presence of 4 wt% IL, a concentration similar to that present on IL-pretreated biomass. In the presence of both [C2mim][OAc] and [C2mim][Cl] in liquid culture, B. coagulans grew at a rate approximately half that observed in the absence of IL. However, in solid-state culture, the bacteria were significantly more tolerant to [C2mim][Cl] compared with [C2mim][OAc]. B. coagulans tolerance to IL under industrially relevant conditions makes it a promising bacterium for understanding mechanisms of IL tolerance and discovering IL tolerance pathways for use in other microorganisms, particularly those used in bioconversion of IL-pretreated plant biomass.
Surface Core-Level Binding-Energy Shifts for GaAs(110) and GaSb(110)

Surface $3d$ and $4d$ core-level binding-energy shifts have been resolved in photoemission from GaAs(110) and GaSb(110), which yield new information on semiconductor surface reconstruction. The shifts (\ensuremath{\sim}0.3 eV) are toward higher (lower) binding energies for the surface cations (anions), in agreement with a simple model involving the known surface relaxation of GaAs(110) with a geometry-dependent initial-state charge transfer. Surface core-excitation binding energies, core-level widths, escape depths, etc., are reevaluated.
Bias-controlled sensitivity of ferromagnet/semiconductor electrical spin detectors

Using Fe/GaAs Schottky tunnel barriers as electrical spin detectors, we show that the magnitude and sign of their spin-detection sensitivities can be widely tuned with the voltage bias applied across the Fe/GaAs interface. Experiments and theory establish that this tunability derives not just simply from the bias dependence of the tunneling conductances $G_{\uparrow,\downarrow}$ (a property of the interface), but also from the bias dependence of electric fields in the semiconductor which can dramatically enhance or suppress spin-detection sensitivities. Electrons in GaAs with fixed polarization can therefore be made to induce either positive or negative voltage changes at spin detectors, and some detector sensitivities can be enhanced over ten-fold compared to the usual case of zero-bias spin detection.
Elwood Murray’s Laboratory in Interpersonal Communication

Elwood Murray's pioneering Laboratory in Interpersonal Communication was first conducted on the campus of the University of Denver in 1949. The laboratory was designed to help students internalize the principles of general semantics and apply them to practical, everyday problems in communication. This objective was accomplished through such methods as sociodrama, picture making, problem solving group discussion, and lecture. Various feedback techniques were used as a means of enabling participants to see themselves objectively.
Use of fluoroquinolones as prophylactic agents in patients with neutropenia.

Background. The use of fluorinated quinolone antibiotics to selectively decontaminate the gastrointestinal tract is a reasonable alternative to prevent infection in neutropenic patients. The fluoroquinolones represent ideal antibiotics with which to achieve the principles of selective decontamination by allowing colonization of anaerobes to inhibit the adherence, colonization and proliferation of potentially pathogenic aerobic flora. Objective. This report describes the prophylactic use of fluoroquinolones in neutropenic patients. Results. The majority of studies of fluoroquinolone prophylaxis in neutropenic patients have shown a reduction in documented Gram-negative bacterial infections. However, Gram-positive infections, particularly those with viridans streptococci, present a major impediment to the use of single agent prophylaxis with a quinolone. Conclusion. Prophylaxis with fluoroquinolones in neutropenic patients was found to be advantageous, but it must be balanced against the risk of Gram-positive infections and the potential for antibiotic resistance.
A Graph Partitioning Approach to Distributed RDF Stores

With growing of Semantic Web data, especially RDF data, managing large RDF dataset on a single machine does not scale well. Previous work has explored how to distribute RDF triples to multiple machines. However due to inefficient dataset partitioning used by these solutions, the performance of distributed store system is significantly affected. In this paper, we proposed a promising approach that utilized the graph nature of RDF datasets to minimize relations between partitions after dataset partitioning, and optimized system design based on it. As shown in our experiments, our approach can effectively reduce communication cost of query-processing messages, balance size of partitions compared with other approaches, and enhance parallelism through independent sub-querying.
Hybridization and the heats of combustion for some aromatic compounds

Abstract A self consistent set of bond energies has been calculated for aromatic bonds. These are then used to calculate the heats of combustion for some aromatic compounds. Using this method the “resonance energies” in most cases become negligible.
The vibrational spectra and structures of phosphorus compounds—I. Diphosphine disulfides

Abstract The infrared spectra of nine diphosphine disulfides, R2P(S)P(S)R2, have been recorded in the 250–1200 cm−1 range both in solution and in the solid state. Some Raman data is reported for the tetramethyl, tetra(ethyl), and tetra(n-butyl) compounds. The most satisfactory interpretation of the data is that all the compounds exist in the trans (C2h) conformation of the diphosphine disulfide structure in the solid state. The PS antisymmetric stretching frequency was found to have a similar dependency on the nature of the substituents to that reported for tertiary phosphine sulfides. The infrared spectrum of tetraphenyldiphosphine is also reported.
REDUCTION IN PEAR PSYLLA (HOMOPTERA: PSYLLIDAE) OVIPOSITION AND FEEDING BY FOLIAR APPLICATION OF VARIOUS MATERIALS

Several horticultural oils, an insecticidal soap, neem, garlic extract, a sugar ester, and a synthetic insect growth regulator were evaluated under laboratory conditions for their ability to inhibit pear psylla’s [ Cacopsylla pyricola (Foerster)] feeding and oviposition. Supreme oil significantly reduced winterform oviposition rates in both choice and no-choice assays and reduced feeding rates in no-choice assays. Supreme oil also reduced oviposition rates of summerform females in choice tests but not in no-choice tests. In addition, summerform oviposition rates were reduced significantly by application of several mineral oils (Orchex 796E, 692, and WS2928) and garlic barrier to pear foliage in no-choice tests, and by all oils, garlic barrier, and M-Pede in choice tests. Summerform feeding rates were reduced by application of mineral oils. Data suggest that "summer type" oils and other compounds may have utility in pear psylla management programs by decreasing feeding and oviposition.
A highly conserved lens transcriptional control element from the Pax-6 gene

We have identified a short segment of the mouse Pax-6 gene 5' flanking region that is necessary and sufficient for reporter construct expression in components of the eye derived from non-neural ectoderm. This transcriptional control element has a highly conserved nucleotide sequence over 341 bp and is located approximately 3.5 kb upstream of the start-point for transcription from the most proximal promoter (PO) of the Pax-6 gene. The level of identity between the human and mouse Pax-6 genes in this region is 93%. When combined either with its natural promoter or a heterologous minimal promoter, this element directs reporter construct expression to a region of surface ectoderm overlying the optic cup beginning at E8.5-9.0 (12-14 somites). Subsequently, expression is restricted to the lens (primarily the lens epithelium) and the corneal epithelium. This element will provide an important tool in future transgenic analyses of lens formation and will allow identification of transcription factors with a central function in lens development.
A mathematic framework for analysis of complex cyber-physical power systems

Developing technology and systems for future power systems requires an evolutionary approach where new “smart” grid technologies can be seamlessly integrated with the existing infrastructure and the ongoing overlay of new sensing and communication systems. As the diversity of these new technologies increases, the robust and secure operation of the grid will become dependent upon a detailed understanding of both physical and cyber components as well as their interactions. This paper focuses on the development of a mathematical framework and computational methodology that can be used to evaluate the stability and operational security of a complex cyber-physical power system in the context of stochastic hybrid dynamical systems, and proposes an approach based on embedding and symbolic dynamics that can be used to analyze complex system behaviors by encoding the system dynamics into symbol strings.
Complete Remission of Hormone Refractory Adenocarcinoma of the Prostate in Response to Withdrawal of Diethylstilbestrol

The phenomenon of regression of adenocarcinoma of the prostate after the withdrawal of antiandrogens is well documented. However, to our knowledge we report the first case of durable complete remission of hormone refractory prostate cancer after cessation of diethylstilbestrol. The drug was discontinued because the patient had disease progression while on diethylstilbestrol and withdrawal resulted in durable remission. In more than 3 years of followup since discontinuing diethylstilbestrol there has been no evidence of clinical or biochemical recurrence.
Cytochrome P450-mediated N-demethylation activity and induction in insecticide-resistant and susceptible western corn rootworm populations (Coleoptera : Chrysomelidae)

Abstract Elevated cytochrome P450 monooxygenase-based metabolism is associated with carbaryl and methyl parathion resistance in western corn rootworm ( Diabrotica virgifera virgifera LeConte) populations in the state of Nebraska. The objectives of this study were to identify potential differences in cytochrome P450 in resistant and susceptible rootworm populations using the model substrate 4-chloro- N -methyl aniline (4-CNMA) and heme staining of microsomal proteins separated by SDS–PAGE. Baseline N-demethylation activity corresponded well with resistance to the N -methyl-substituted insecticide carbaryl among study populations. N-demethylation of 4-CNMA is NADPH dependent and inhibited by the cytochrome P450 inhibitor piperonyl butoxide, which confirms that the reaction is catalyzed by cytochrome P450. Following ingestion of the cytochrome P450 inducer pentamethyl benzene, N-demethylation activity increased significantly in the more susceptible rootworm populations. Hemoprotein staining of microsomal proteins separated by SDS–PAGE identified two groups of potential P450 isoforms in the 45- to 53-kDa range which appear more highly expressed (a) in resistant populations and (b) following PMB induction.
A Rooftop Revolution? A Multidisciplinary Analysis of State-Level Residential Solar Programs in New Jersey and Massachusetts

The success of alternative energy policies is usually measured in terms of energy capacity. By this metric, state-level policies to promote solar installations in New Jersey and Massachusetts have been a success. To fully evaluate these policies, however, it is necessary to consider how these policy programs are structured and funded, who participates in these programs, and the complete life cycle consequences of “clean” energy technologies. This paper focuses specifically on residential solar installations, which represent more than half of the total US rooftop solar capacity potential. It takes a multidisciplinary approach that draws on policy analysis, spatial and demographic analyses, and life cycle assessment. The analyses reveal three key conclusions: first, state-level policies have shifted from subsidies for solar installations to incentive-based support based on system performance, which has reduced the payback period for residential solar to less than 10 years and has contributed to the growth of third-party leasing companies. Second, communities with low median income and/or a high percentage of non-white residents generally remain at lower than expected levels of participation. Third, while residential solar installations significantly offset greenhouse gas emissions and compounds that harm human respiratory health after 18 months, switching to photovoltaic panels generates a net increase in the production of ecotoxic chemicals. Drawing on these observations, we recommend policy changes to encourage broader geographic and demographic participation, to recognize the importance of solar leasing companies and landlords, and to promote the use of solar panels with lower environmental impacts across the life cycle.
Picosecond passively mode-locked mid-infrared fiber laser

Mode-locked mid-infrared (mid-IR) fiber lasers are of increasing interest due to their many potential applications in spectroscopic sensors, infrared countermeasures, laser surgery, and high-efficiency pump sources for nonlinear wavelength convertors. Er3+-doped ZBLAN (ZrF4-BaF2-LaF3-AlF3-NaF) fiber lasers, which can emit mid-IR light at 2.65-2.9 μm through the transition from the upper energy level 4I11/2 to the lower laser level 4I13/2, have attracted much attention because of their broad emission range, high optical efficiency, and the ready availability of diode pump lasers at the two absorption peaks of Er3+ ions (975 nm and 976 nm). In recent years, significant progress on high power Er3+- doped ZBLAN fiber lasers has been achieved and over 20 watt cw output at 2.8 μm has been demonstrated; however, there has been little progress on ultrafast mid-IR ZBLAN fiber lasers to date. We report a passively mode-locked Er3+- doped ZBLAN fiber laser in which a Fe2+:ZnSe crystal was used as the intracavity saturable absorber. Fe2+:ZnSe is an ideal material for mid-IR laser pulse generation because of its large saturable absorption cross-section and small saturation energy along with the excellent opto-mechanical (damage threshold ~2 J/cm2) and physical characteristics of the crystalline ZnSe host. A 1.6 m double-clad 8 mol% Er3+-doped ZBLAN fiber was used in our experiment. The fiber core has a diameter of 15 μm and a numerical aperture (NA) of 0.1. The inner circular cladding has a diameter of 125 μm and an NA of 0.5. Both continuous-wave and Q-switched mode-locking pulses at 2.8 μm were obtained. Continuous-wave mode locking operation with a pulse duration of 19 ps and an average power of 51 mW were achieved when a collimated beam traversed the Fe2+:ZnSe crystal. When the cavity was modified to provide a focused beam at the Fe2+:ZnSe crystal, Q-switched mode-locked operation with a pulse duration of 60 ps and an average power of 4.6 mW was achieved. More powerful and narrower pulses are expected if the dispersion of the cavity can be properly managed.
Note on Observations of Cavitation in Different Fluids

Many observations [1, 2, 3] have shown that the performance of a centrifugal pump with different fluids or with the same fluid at different temperatures is not the same at the same cavitation number when the latter is based upon the vapor pressure of the bulk fluid. Various similarity rules have been put forward in these works to account for the observed effect; namely, that lower net positive suction heads are achievable in most cases compared to those observed in cold tap water. This difference is ascribed to the thermal effect associated with evaporating a certain fraction of the bulk fluid and the attendant decrease of vapor pressure. Scaling rules of the vapor-pressure decrease are made by assuming the process static and that all of the fluid in the inlet of the pump is at the same pressure. The measurements of Salemann [4] show that such a simple concept is inadequate, and he offers further speculations about the nature of the cavitation process as do Acosta and Hollander [5]. The purpose of this note is to describe an experiment intended to show the types of cavitation that occur and, where possible, to measure directly the reduction of vapor pressure or net positive suction head observed in pump experiments.
Lack of protection by pyridoxine or hydrazine pretreatment against monosodium L-glutamate-induced seizures.

Pretreatment of rats with hydrazine (100 mg/kg), a compound which raises brain gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) 175 percent in 12 hr was not able to prevent the occurrence of seizures induced by monosodium L-glutamate (MSG). Pyridoxine (50 mg/kg), the cofactor essential in the conversion of glutamate to GABA, also failed to prevent convulsions induced by parenteral MSG administration. It is concluded that the mechanism of action of MSG-induced seizures is neither by decreasing brain GABA levels or interfering with the pyridoxine cofactor.
Real-time occupational stress and fatigue measurement in medical imaging practice.

While occupational stress and fatigue have been well documented as a source of medical error, current medical practice largely leaves individual healthcare providers to their own device. With the exception of recently established rules limiting the number of hours physicians in training can work (to counteract errors related to sleep deprivation), few regulations exist addressing occupational stress and fatigue in medicine. In some clinical arenas, fatigue countermeasure programs have been studied, but have rarely been implemented on a larger scale [1]. Generally, an individual provider is expected to consistently operate at high levels of efficiency regardless of workload and task complexity. In addition to physiologic, emotional, and cognitive fatigue encountered throughout medicine, radiologists are also subject to visual fatigue due to prolonged periods of time interpreting complex medical imaging datasets on computers. Collectively, these different types of fatigue have the potential to adversely affect radiologist performance and lead to medical errors. Effective counter-measures require some sort of objective analysis at the point of care, which can record fatigue indicators in a standardized fashion, correlate these measures with baseline data specific to the individual end-user and task being performed, and present real-time feedback for the purpose of performance improvement and education.
Uniform tension in a plane array of thin parallel wires

Abstract A proposed construction method for multiwire proportional chambers, winds the wires in a helix under constant low tension. The wires are then stretched uniformly, as required for high voltage operation.
SoftTest: a framework for software testing of Java programs

Producing reliable and robust software has become one of the most important software development concerns in recent years. Testing is a process by which software quality can be assured through the collection of information about software. While testing can improve software reliability, current tools typically are inflexible and have high over-heads, making it challenging to test large software projects. In this paper, we describe a new scalable and flexible framework, called SoftTest, for testing Java programs with a novel path-based approach to coverage testing. We describe an initial implementation of the framework for branch coverage testing and demonstrate the feasibility of our approach.
High-optical-quality cryogenic hollow retroreflectors

The Cassini mission to Saturn will contain the CIRS instrument which is currently being developed and assembled at the Goddard Space Flight Center. The CIRS instrument contains two science interferometers that operate in the mid and far infrared regions of the spectrum and one reference interferometer which operates in the visible. The heart of each of the interferometers is a series of hollow glass retroreflectors (cube corners) and hollow dihedrals. The hollow retroreflectors are constructed of individual facets of zerodur glass which are bonded 90 degrees to each other to sub arc-second accuracies. They are then coated with a reflective overcoat to meet the wavelength requirements. The effort at Goddard resulted in the development of retroreflectors that not only performed well at ambient temperatures, but also retained a wavefront error of approximately 2 waves p-v with a maximum beam deviation of 15 arc seconds at a temperature of 170 degrees kelvin or below. Also developed at GSFC is a successful means of mounting the retroreflectors on a fixed zerodur mount to allow cooling them down to these temperatures without introducing any added stresses that are not already present in the unmounted retroreflectors.© (1995) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
ECOLOGY AND BEHAVIOUR OF THE SOUTH GEORGIA PINTAIL ANAS G. GEORGICA

Summary A study of the feeding ecology and breeding biology of the South Georgia Pintail was conducted in East Cumberland Bay during November and December 1971. Of a variety of water areas available, pintails fed and reared their broods in tussock-trimmed ponds. The second most important feeding areas were sheltered fjords and seashores. Food included freshwater invertebrates such as fairy shrimp, marine amphipods and snails, and small amounts of marine algae. Considering the climatic conditions, the breeding season spans a long season from late October to early March. Courtship and social behaviour are very similar to that of the pintail, and displays and calls could not be differentiated from those of A. g. spinicauda. There is now one other species of duck on South Georgia, the Speckled Teal, but, because it occurs sympatrically with A. g. spinicauda throughout temperate South America and tends to use different food resources, no serious competition is expected. It is concluded that these species have successfully adapted to South Georgia because of the availability of protected, food-rich ponds for rearing young and because of the semimarine adaptations that have developed in Tierra del Fuego and the Falkland Islands.
Differences in readmissions after open repair versus endovascular aneurysm repair.

Objective Reintervention rates after repair of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) are higher for endovascular repair (EVAR) than for open repair, mostly due to treatment for endoleaks, whereas open surgical operations for bowel obstruction and abdominal hernias are higher after open repair. However, readmission rates after EVAR or open repair for nonoperative conditions and complications that do not require an intervention are not well documented. We sought to determine reasons for all-cause readmissions within the first year after open repair and EVAR. Methods Patients who underwent elective AAA repair in California during a 6-year period were identified from the Health Care and Utilization Project State Inpatient Database. All patients who had a readmission in California ≤1 year of their index procedure were included for evaluation. Readmission rates and primary and secondary diagnoses associated with each readmission were analyzed and recorded. Results From 2003 to 2008, there were 15,736 operations for elective AAA repair, comprising 9356 EVARs (60%) and 6380 open repairs (40%). At 1 year postoperatively, the readmission rate was 52.1% after open repair and 55.4% after EVAR ( P = .0003). The three most common principle diagnoses associated with readmission after any type of AAA repair were failure to thrive, cardiac issues, and infection. When stratified by repair type, patients who underwent open repair were more likely to be readmitted with primary diagnoses associated with failure to thrive, cardiac complications, and infection compared with EVAR (all P P = .05), cardiac complications, and infection. Conclusions Total readmission rates within 1 year after elective AAA repair are greater after EVAR than after open repair. Reasons for readmission vary between the two cohorts but are related to the magnitude of open surgery after open repair, device issues after EVAR, and the usual cardiac and infectious complications after either intervention. Systems-based analysis of these causes of readmission can potentially improve patient expectations and care after elective aneurysm repair.
Mg-smectite authigenesis in a marine evaporative environment, Salina Ometepec, Baja California

Formation of authigenic trioctahedral Mg-rich smectite is common in evaporative lake sediments, but was not described previously in modern marine evaporative environments. This study documents formation of authigenic K-rich, Mg-smectite during very early diagenesis in the dominantly sili-ciclastic Salina Ometepec (Baja California), a large supratidal evaporative sabkha complex near the mouth of the Colorado River. Here, sediment pore waters are exceptionally Mg2+-rich relative to other marine evaporative environments due to suppressed sulfate reduction which limits production of carbonate alkalinity and, hence, carbonate (particularly dolomite) precipitation. Sediment cores were obtained along a five km transect seaward across the hypersaline mud flat to evaluate how these atypical geochemical conditions would affect the clay mineral compositions.
Identification of a grpE heat-shock gene homolog in the archaeon Methanosarcina mazei.

Abstract A grpE heat-shock gene was found by sequencing in the genome of the methanogenic archaeon Methanosarcina mazie S-6. It is the first example of grpE from the phylogenetic domain Archea. Since the other seven sequenced homologs are from the domain Bacteria, it may be concluded that grpE appeared early in evolution, before the two domains separated. The archaeal grpE is located in the dnaK locus, 431 base-pairs upstream of dnaK, which is followed downstream by the dnaJ gene. The organization of these three genes is known for Bacillus subtilis, Clostridium acetobutylicum , Borrelia burgdorferi and Mycobacterium tuberculosis . The archaeal locus organization, grpE-dnaK-dnaJ , is similar to that of the former three bacteria, but different from that of M. tuberculosis. This, and sequence homologies, suggest that the M. tuberculosis GrpE belongs, together with the Streptomyces coelicolor homolog, to a subgroup of the GrpE proteins. The M. mazie grpE gene encodes a protein of 209 amino acid residues. The deduced amino acid sequence shows 28?2 to 34?6% identities, and 50?93 to 58?9 similarities (identities plus conservative substitutions) with the other six complete GrpE sequences available. These percentages fall within the range observed for the other GrpEs. Two regions in the second and fourth quarters of the GrpE molecule show higher homology, particularly in three stretches of nine, six and nine amino acid residues, respectively. The archaeal gene uses all codons but there whereas the bacterial homologs lack higher numbers of codons. The M. mazie grpE respond to heat-shock by increasing transcription, in a manner similar to that of the nearby heat-shock gene dnaK .
Carbohydrate restriction (with or without additional dietary cholesterol provided by eggs) reduces insulin resistance and plasma leptin without modifying appetite hormones in adult men

Abstract Carbohydrate-restricted diets (CRDs) have been shown to reduce body weight, whereas whole egg intake has been associated with increased satiety. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of additional dietary cholesterol and protein provided by whole eggs while following a CRD on insulin resistance and appetite hormones. Using a randomized blind parallel design, subjects were allocated to an egg (640 mg/d additional dietary cholesterol) or placebo (0 mg/d additional dietary cholesterol) group for 12 weeks while following a CRD. There were significant reductions in fasting insulin ( P P P P P P P P
Fine level feature editing for subdivision surfaces

In many industrial design modeling scenarios the designer wishes to edit small feature lines-such as variable width and height creases--on otherwise smooth surface patches. When the path of such a feature does not align with an iso-parameter line or crosses patch boundaries it becomes increasingly difficult to maintain good editing semantics of the underlying surface. In this paper we describe an algorithm and implementation allowing the interactive creation and manipulation of fine scale feature curves on subdivision surfaces. In particular, our approach addresses the problem of defining the path of such feature curves independent of the location of surface iso-parameter lines and global patch boundaries. The feature lines are modeled as swept displacement curves with variable profiles, providing a rich toolbox of shapes. Furthermore, the hierarchical editing semantics of subdivision surface based representations carry through to our extended setting, ensuring “good” behavior of the feature lines under coarse scale surface edits.
PATHOPHYSIOLOGY OF HUMAN GLAUCOMATOUS OPTIC NERVE DAMAGE: INSIGHTS FROM RODENT MODELS OF GLAUCOMA

Understanding mechanisms of glaucomatous optic nerve damage is essential for developing effective therapies to augment conventional pressure-lowering treatments. This requires that we understand not only the physical forces in play, but the cellular responses that translate these forces into axonal injury. The former are best understood by using primate models, in which a well-developed lamina cribrosa, peripapillary sclera and blood supply are most like that of the human optic nerve head. However, determining cellular responses to elevated intraocular pressure (IOP) and relating their contribution to axonal injury require cell biology techniques, using animals in numbers sufficient to perform reliable statistical analyses and draw meaningful conclusions. Over the years, models of chronically elevated IOP in laboratory rats and mice have proven increasingly useful for these purposes. While lacking a distinct collagenous lamina cribrosa, the rodent optic nerve head (ONH) possesses a cellular arrangement of astrocytes, or glial lamina, that ultrastructurally closely resembles that of the primate. Using these tools, major insights have been gained into ONH and the retinal cellular responses to elevated IOP that, in time, can be applied to the primate model and, ultimately, human glaucoma.
Prospective randomized, controlled study of postoperative pain after titanium silicone rubber clip or Silastic ring tubal occlusion.

Abstract Objective To determine if laparoscopic sterilization using the Filshie clip causes less postoperative pain as compared to the Falope ring during the first 24 h after surgery. Study design Forty subjects were enrolled. Five milliliters of 0.5% bupivicaine was injected at each of the two incision sites and 5 mL was dripped onto each fallopian tube. Subjects then received one Filshie clip and Falope ring on opposite fallopian tubes; the side of occlusion was randomized. Subjects were questioned about pain prior to the first administration of analgesics postoperatively, 1 and 2 h after surgery, at discharge, and 24 h after surgery. Results Forty subjects completed the study; 32 without major deviations from protocol. There was no significant difference in pain between sides with the Filshie clip or Falope ring at any times evaluated. Conclusion There was no significant reduction in the postoperative pain associated with the Filshie clip as compared to the Falope ring within 24 h after surgery.
On a closure of the governing equations of defect dynamics and the resulting theory of the plastic state

Abstract The equations of defect dynamics are derived from the single system of relations that specifies the time rate of change of the dislocation densities. The resulting source equations are shown to admit a 12-fold gauge group and the resulting kinematic equations are shown to admit a 15-fold gauge group. The generators of the two gauge groups are determined by the requirements that the Burgers and Frank vectors have their classical representations. This determination results in a unique decomposition of all quantities in terms of sums of internal variables and external geometric variables, and represents the first and second closures of the field equations. The presence of a unique external system of geometric variables permits derivation of the forms of the equations of balance of mass, momentum, moment of momentum and energy. The third closure is obtained through use of the practices of nonequilibrium thermodynamics. This results in a system of equations that determines the dislocation currents in terms of the distortion, the dislocation density and the geometric strain measures. A class of models is exhibited wherein most of the properties of plasticity theories are obtained.
Corrosion Studies on Gold-Plated Electrical Contacts

Long-term reliability of electrical connectors are influenced by the type of plating and plating process. In this paper, the authors look for a viable alternative to 400-nm ENIG + EG (electroless Ni, immersion Au + electroless Au) for microelectronic package substrates. In alignment with historical work, the authors choose NiPdAu (electroless Ni, electroless Pd, immersion Au) as the alternative plating with about 85% reduction in Au thickness. The investigation was mainly on contact resistance degradation due to corrosion between the package substrate and socket contacts. Corrosion studies were based on experiments leading to gold wearout and exposure to corrosive test environment, including temperature, humidity, and mixed flowing gas. The scope of investigation was limited to connectors that are infrequently mated once they are shipped to an end user from the assembly factory.
Trichinella spiralis: evidence that mice do not express rapid expulsion.

Abstract The rapid expulsion of Trichinella spiralis by mice of a variety of inbred and F1 mouse strains was examined. Mice were reinfected once with T. spiralis during and immediately after the natural termination of a primary infection and worm rejection was measured ⩽24 hr after the challenge. The results showed that the challenge (super)infection was consistently rejected by all mouse strains before rejection of the adult worms from the primary infection commenced. Rejection of the challenge infection began at different times after the primary infection with NFS (2 days) 5 days). In all strains, rejection of the challenge infection preceded adult worm rejection from the primary infection by 5–8 days. At its peak, the loss of challenge worms related directly to the strength of the primary rejection process NFS ⩾ 98%, C3H 90–98%, and B10 mice 80–90%. Furthermore, loss of the capacity to reject the challenge followed ~7 days after the complete loss of the primary infection in each strain examined. Thus, the sooner worms from the primary infection were lost, the earlier the capacity to promptly reject the challenge infection disappeared. B10.BR mice still partially rejected a superinfection 35 days after the primary infection began, whereas NFS mice lost this capacity around 25 days. However, premature termination of the primary infection in B10.BR mice with methyridine at the same time that NFS mice naturally terminated their infection (15 days) abrogated the capacity of B10.BR mice to reject the superinfection at 24 days. Passive transfer of protective rat IgG monoclonal antibody to mice did not lead to rapid expulsion. Transfer of mouse immune serum to intestinally primed rats did result in rapid expulsion, suggesting that mouse antibody responses were adequate. The expression of superinfection rejection was susceptible to the administration in vivo of GKI.5, anti-mouse L3T4 antibody. The data indicate that the principal determinant of the strength, time of initiation, and longevity of rejection of a challenge infection was the response to the primary infection of that individual mouse strain. The genetic determinants of challenge infection rejection were seen to be identical to those that determined rejection of the primary infection. Since no evidence could be found to support the identity of this response with rapid expulsion, as defined in rats, a new term, “associative expulsion,” is proposed. It is suggested that associative expulsion represents a specific T-cell-dependent antilarval immune reaction that may be potentiated by the processes associated with adult worm rejection.
Training and Certification in Surgical Critical Care: A Position Paper by the Surgical Critical Care Program Directors Society

Delivery of Surgical Critical Care in the United States is facing multiple challenges including increasing complexity of care, escalating costs, shortage of well-trained physicians, and controversies about appropriate training and credentialing methods. In this position paper, the Surgical Critical Care Program Directors Society discusses some of these important issues and suggests a number of possible solutions.
Structure and Thermodynamics of the Tin Dichloride DimerA Computational Study

The molecular structures of SnCl2 and Sn2Cl4 have been calculated by high-level quantum chemical methods. The global minimum structure found for the tin dichloride dimer is of Cs symmetry and has two halogen bridges. This structure is very different from the one suggested earlier by Fields et al. based on their gas-phase Raman spectroscopic measurements. Thermodynamic functions for gaseous SnCl2 and Sn2Cl4 have also been calculated. The minimum-energy geometry of the trimeric molecule, Sn3Cl6, has a six-membered ring with alternating Sn and Cl atoms in the highly puckered ring. The possible structural changes during evaporation are discussed in some detail.
IDENTIFICATION AND PARTIAL CHARACTERIZATION OF ECTOATPASE EXPRESSED BY IMMORTALIZED B LYMPHOCYTES

EctoATPases are extracellular membrane-bound enzymes that catalyze the hydrolysis of the gamma phosphate from ATP. EctoATPase is expressed by activated and immortalized Epstein-Barr virus-transformed human peripheral blood B lymphocytes and murine B cell hybridomas. By contrast, ectoATPase activity is not expressed on nontransformed human peripheral blood B lymphocytes, murine spleen cells, or murine myeloma cells. The K(m) for ATP for the B cell ectoATPases ranged from 5 to 77 microM; the Vmax ranged from 48 to 129 pmol/ min/10(4) cells. The enzyme required Mg2+ for maximal activity with little dependence on Ca2+. ADP and purine and pyrimidine nucleoside triphosphates were competitive inhibitors of the catalytic reaction. A putative ectoATPase protein has been identified by Western blot analysis of membrane proteins from the immortalized B cells. Under reducing conditions, antiectoATPase antibodies cross-reacted with a 66-kDa protein from murine B cell hybridoma membranes. By contrast a 200-kDa protein from the B cell hybridoma membranes cross-reacted with the antibodies under nonreducing conditions, suggesting a disulfide-linked trimer. The antibodies also cross-reacted with a 66-kDa protein from human B cell membranes under reducing conditions, but did not cross-react with membrane proteins under nonreducing conditions. This suggests that the antibody epitope(s) recognized on the reduced human protein is masked under nonreducing conditions. Thus, this work demonstrates: (1) that ectoATPase may serve as a marker for B cell activation; and (2) mammalian and avian ectoATPases have conserved interspecies immunological epitopes and kinetic properties.
The impact of Differing Parental Educational Level on the Educational Achievement, Attitude, Aspiration, and Expectation of the Child

There is evidence to suggest that the nature of the relationship between educational levels of parents and the educational achievement, aspirations, and expectations of their children is unclear. The purpose of this study was to investigate this relationship and to elucidate Hood's findings that parental educational level was unrelated to the educational achievement of the child. The sample consisted of 398 high school seniors who had completed a ques tionnaire administered by the Iowa Educational Information Center. The students were divided into groups accord ing to sex and the educational levels of their parents. They were then compared on two achievement variables, and on questions that were indices of their educational attitude, aspirations, and expectations. The major conclusion was that the students tended to achieve and have attitudes, aspirations, and expectations consistent with the edu cational level of their same-sex parent. AN ASSUMPTION frequently made in our so ciety is that the mother has a powerful influence on the American family (4). Furthermore, there ! is evidence that the educational level of the mother is related to patterns of raising children (5), and that these patterns are linked to achievement in school (6). Nemzek (7) found that the educa tional level of the parents was positively related I to school achievement, while Hood (4) concluded that there were no major differences in high school achievement between children whose mothers
Long-Term Outcome of Trigeminal Nerve Injuries Related to Dental Treatment

Purpose There is little information available on the long-term effects on patients of permanent involvement of the inferior alveolar or lingual nerve because of dental treatment. This study has attempted to document this information from patients who were reviewed between 3 and 9 years after injury. Materials and Methods All patients with an ICD-9 diagnosis of 951.2 (injury to the trigeminal nerve) because of dental treatment, seen in the Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery Clinic at the University of California, San Francisco between January 1, 2001 and December 31, 2006, were contacted in an attempt to complete a telephone survey of long-term effects. Results Of the 727 patients who were eligible for the study, 145 patients (95 female and 50 male) completed the telephone surveys. Many patients had sought both conventional and alternative treatments after consultation at University of California, San Francisco. A small number of patients had undergone subsequent surgery elsewhere. Many patients reported significant life changes, including adverse effects on employment (13%), relationship changes (14%), depression (37%), problems speaking (38%), and problems eating (43%). In general, however, patients reported improvement over time, often using a number of different coping mechanisms. Males had a greater decrease in symptoms than females, and those older than 40 years reported more pain in the long term than those under 40. Lingual nerve symptoms improved more than inferior alveolar nerve symptoms. Conclusions Although most patients continue to have long-term problems that affect the overall quality of life, for most patients there has been improvement in symptoms over time.