cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Principles of Food Preservation

Food preservation is an action or method used to maintain foods at certain desirable properties or quality to obtain maximum benefit. A good method of food preservation is one that slows down or prevents altogether the action of the agents of spoilage without damaging the food. To achieve this, certain basic methods are applied depending on the food types. Food preservation has been an essential activity throughout human history. The cycle of seasons brings periods of shortage and abundance of various foods at different times of the year. Preservation makes it possible to consume some of these foods during off seasons, throughout the year. Food preservation usually involves controlling or preventing growth of microrganisms or minimizing the quality degradation due to microbial spoilage or unwanted chemical changes in foods such as rancidity due to oxidation of fats over time. Preservation of foods is no longer simple and straightforward today; it has evolved to a highly inter-disciplinary field of science. In recent years, many new sophisticated preservation techniques have developed to extend the quality and shelf-life, minimize risk, protect the environment, and improve functional, sensory, and nutritional properties. Many of emerging preservation technologies have already reached commercial adoption in specific applications while many others remain promising. Development of suitable equipment, especially for continuous processing for a variety of foods and standardization of the process parameters for easy regulatory approval will pave the way for improved food preservation. The objective of this chapter was to examine the science and technology involved in the manipulation of conventional as well as sophisticated emerging preservation methods.
Epigenetics and autism spectrum disorder: A report of an autism case with mutation in H1 linker histone HIST1H1E and literature review

Genetic mutations in genes encoding proteins involved in epigenetic machinery have been reported in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD), intellectual disability, congenital heart disease, and other disorders. H1 histone linker protein, the basic component in nucleosome packaging and chromatin organization, has not been implicated in human disease until recently. We report a de novo deleterious mutation of histone cluster 1 H1 family member e (HIST1H1E; c.435dupC; p.Thr146Hisfs*50), encoding H1 histone linker protein H1.4, in a 10-year-old boy with autism and intellectual disability diagnosed through clinical whole exome sequencing. The c.435dupC at the 3' end of the mRNA leads to a frameshift and truncation of the positive charge in the carboxy-terminus of the protein. An expression study demonstrates the mutation leads to reduced protein expression, supporting haploinsufficiency of HIST1H1E protein and loss of function as an underlying mechanism of dysfunction in the brain. Taken together with other recent cases with mutations of HIST1H1E in intellectual disability, the evidence supporting the link to causality in disease is strong. Our finding implicates the deficiency of H1 linker histone protein in autism. The systematic review of candidate genes implicated in ASD revealed that 42 of 215 (19.5%) genes are directly involved in epigenetic regulations and the majority of these genes belong to histone writers, readers, and erasers. While the mechanism of how haploinsufficiency of HIST1H1E causes autism is entirely unknown, our report underscores the importance of further study of the function of this protein and other histone linker proteins in brain development.
Cutting-Edge Infectious Disease Diagnostics with CRISPR

Three recent Science articles (Chen et al., 2018; Gootenberg et al., 2018; Myhrvold et al., 2018) describe the use of CRISPR-Cas technology to develop point-of-care diagnostics that directly detect viruses from clinical samples. These tests could radically transform approaches to diagnosing infectious diseases at the bedside and in the field.
Permeable Gas Cavity at Elevated Pressure Enhances Modified Atmosphere Packaging of Fresh Produce.

Modified atmosphere packaging (MAP) of fresh produce involves exploiting package properties to satisfy respiration activity of produce. While effective, package material properties are not infinitely adjustable to match needs of all products. Additional ways of providing favorable in-package gaseous environments are needed. This work explores the use of permeable inserts filled with gas at elevated pressures as a means to achieve in-package gaseous atmospheres that may not be possible by the package alone. Mathematical models were developed to predict transient package atmospheres for packages containing respiring produce and pressurized permeable inserts. The model was validated for semirigid tray packages containing grape tomatoes and Granny Smith apples. With inserts initially pressurized with oxygen at approximately 200 to 300 kPa (about 30 to 45 psi), about 2 weeks additional shelf life was observed relative to controls for both tomatoes and apples in test packages. Additionally, simulations provide design guidance for pressurized inserts for the case of very high respiration rate produce such as spinach. Practical application This work promises to expand application of modified atmosphere packaging (MAP). Currently, applications are limited by gas transfer material properties of existing packaging films. However, packaging offers other important functions that may not be well served by materials that satisfy critical gas permeation requirements. This work demonstrates an approach that disconnects packaging material specifications from MAP design.
Two-Dimensional Phase Transitions of a Surfactant Monolayer

The phenomenon of phase transitions in two dimensions is of great fundamental interest and has therefore drawn a considerable amount of attention.1,2 Insoluble monomolecular layers at a water-air interface provide a quite ideal two-dimensional model system with an isotropic substrate and an easily controllable density of molecules. At low densities they often exhibit a two-dimensional gas behavior,3 whereas at higher densities transitions to liquid and solid states can be found. In many systems, the liquid phase is further divided into the so-called liquid-expanded (LE) and liquid-condensed (LC) phases.4 Though observed and intensively studied, the nature of the LE-LC phase transition is still controversial.
Representation Models and Methods

In previous chapters, we dealt with the characteristics of each of the major modules in HCI and with the ways in which the user and computer can interact. Understanding the kinds of potential design factors and the features that they may cause is treated as being prerequisite to HCI design. Knowledge about the factors and features is used in the design process described in Part III.
Progestin-Only Contraception

There are three main progestin-only contraceptives (POCs) available in the United States: progestin-only pills (containing norethindrone acetate), injectable depot medroxy progesterone acetate (DMPA or Depo-Provera® IM and SC forms) and the etonogestrel implant (Implanon® NEXPLANON®). POCs have advantages over combination methods for female adolescents with contraindications to estrogens because POCs carry very few cardiovascular risks and do not increase risk for thromboembolism. DMPA is particularly beneficial for female adolescents with sickle cell disease, seizure disorder, and for those taking anticonvulsants and other cytochrome p450 inducing medications. POCs also avoid adverse effects attributed to estrogens such as nausea, headache, edema and breast tenderness that often lead to poor adherence. Both DMPA and the etonogestrel implants are long-acting, convenient, discreet, and cost-effective methods that are highly desirable by female adolescents who may have difficulties adhering to coital, daily, weekly, or monthly, more user-dependent methods. POCs offer a safe, reversible, and effective alternative to combination contraceptive methods, with particular benefits and without the adverse effects or health risks associated with exogenous estrogens.
Nonequilibrium Effects in a Slurry

This is a synopsis of a dynamical theory of a nonequilibrium slurry recently developed by Loper (1992).
An Integrated Wearable Sensor for Unobtrusive Continuous Measurement of Autonomic Nervous System

Advancements in miniaturized electronics and smart sensors combined with a broad platform of smart phones, big data, cloud service, and wireless communication have not only empowered wearable technology, they have also increased users life expectancy. For example, a wearable system provides unobtrusive ambulatory, continuous, ubiquitous health measurement, and real-time solution for patients physical without hampering the natural movement of the wearer. However, the ability to measure one’s Autonomic Nervous System (ANS) using wearable biosensors in healthcare applications has been limited due to several challenges related to a lack in wearability, accuracy, reliability, and low-power consumption. In this paper, we presented a novel wearable ring sensor for the continuous measurement of four ANS activities: 1) electrodermal activity; 2) heart rate; 3) skin temperature; and 4) locomotion. Detailed information is given regarding the development of the proposed ring sensor followed by a discussion of the evaluation that was done utilizing the wearable sensor on volunteers to gather data. Specifically, volunteers wore the ring sensor while being simultaneously monitored with real-time telemetry, the sensor values are processed and analyzed. This paper is a continuation and extension of earlier work by the authors. New validation, experimental results, and development of the mobile application have been added to improve the previous system. The experiment demonstrated accurate results, and data were collected from 43 participants of diverse age, body mass, height, and race. Additionally, to evaluate the performance of the developed ring sensor, we compared the results with a state-of-the-art open source device. This paper aims to improve the worn biomedical sensor market, specifically when it comes to size and accuracy of worn sensors.
Preschool teachers’ beliefs about and instruction for writing

ABSTRACTEarly writing—a valuable early literacy skill—begins to develop prior to kindergarten. Young children participating in preschool benefit from writing opportunities facilitated by teachers. ...
Causal Spillover Effects Using Instrumental Variables

I set up a potential-outcomes framework to analyze spillover effects using instrumental variables. I show that intention-to-treat parameters aggregate a large number of direct and spillover effects for different compliance types, and hence they may not have a clear causal interpretation. I provide three alternative sets of conditions to point identify average direct and spillover effects on specific subpopulations, by restricting either (i) the number of spillover effects, (ii) the degree of noncompliance, or (iii) the degree of heterogeneity in average causal parameters. I propose simple estimators that are consistent and asymptotically normal under mild conditions, and illustrate my results using data from an experiment that analyzes the effect of social interactions in the household on voting behavior.
How Prodigious Talent Can Be Squandered: Guido da Montefeltro (1223–1298)

This chapter introduces Guido da Montefeltro, the Urbinian Fox, who specializes in guile, misdirection, and manipulated appearances. Even in defeat, Guido feints, outmaneuvers, and perplexes his adversaries. Sensing his years are numbered, Guido aspires to reconfigure his life, entering the Franciscan order. But he is lured by Pope Boniface VIII into orchestrating a plan that allows the prelate to fraudulently destroy the pope’s political and military enemies. In the end, the Urbinian Fox gullibly accepts the Pope’s assurance that divine forgiveness antedates Guido’s advice in service of treachery. Did Guido really believe the tortured logic advanced by Boniface that concluded Guido was forgiven prior to the commission of fraud? Or could Guido, so beset by settled vicious dispositions, not resist the temptations to perpetrate one final con? How should we judge the life and character of Guido da Montefeltro? What moral lessons emerge from his discussions with the pilgrim in canto twenty-six?
Integrated Full-Duplex Radios: System Concepts, Implementations, and Experimentation

This chapter reviews recent research on integrated full-duplex (FD) radio systems using complementary metal oxide semiconductor (CMOS) technology. After a brief review of challenges associated with integrated FD radios, several CMOS FD radio designs, particularly those developed at Columbia University, are discussed with self-interference (SI) suppression at antenna interface, and in RF, analog, and digital domains. This chapter also reviews the system design and implementation of two generations of FD radios developed within the Columbia FlexICoN project (Columbia full-duplex wireless: From integrated circuits to networks (FlexICoN) project, https://flexicon.ee.columbia.edu) using off-the-shelf components and a software-defined radio (SDR) platform. The performance evaluation of these FD radios at the node- and link-level is also reviewed.
Psychoanalysis and autobiography – three entries for a dictionary of autobiographical terms

Artykul przedstawia trzy glowne rodzaje związkow psychoanalizy i autobiografii. Psychoanaliza zdefiniowana zostaje jako praktyka autobiograficzna, ktora stala sie nauką. Autobiografia to takze najwazniejsza psychoanalityczna technika terapeutyczna. W świetle teorii Freuda mozna ją rowniez rozumiec w kategoriach wspomnienia pokrywczego.
A Tutorial on Learned Multi-dimensional Indexes

Recently, Machine Learning (ML, for short) has been successfully applied to database indexing. Initial experimentation on Learned Indexes has demonstrated better search performance and lower space requirements than their traditional database counterparts. Numerous attempts have been explored to extend learned indexes to the multi-dimensional space. This makes learned indexes potentially suitable for spatial databases. The goal of this tutorial is to provide up-to-date coverage of learned indexes both in the single and multi-dimensional spaces. The tutorial covers over 25 learned indexes. The tutorial navigates through the space of learned indexes through a taxonomy that helps classify the covered learned indexes both in the single and multi-dimensional spaces.
Managing patients in the COVID-19 pandemic: A Virtual Multidisciplinary Approach.

Abstract Objective To study the impact of a 60-day pilot of an innovative virtual-care model using general internal medicine physicians and nurses to respond rapidly to more than 1200 coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19)-positive nasopharyngeal polymerase chain reaction tests. Patients and Methods The current study was approved by the Mayo Clinic COVID-19 Research Committee and the Mayo Clinic Institutional Review Board. The data for all SARS-CoV-2–positive patients treated by our team were entered into a prospectively maintained internal research electronic data capture database. We searched this database retrospectively for the first 60 days of our program (March 23, 2020 to May 22, 2020). The data included basic deidentified demographics; symptoms at intake into the program; date of symptom onset; risk factors; location; and outcomes including hospitalization, admission to intensive care unit, and death. Results Patients were contacted, on average, 6.3 hours after their results became available. There was a total of 138 ED visits. Of these, 40% were admitted to the hospital, with 36% of those admitted requiring intensive care unit level of care. Of the 849 patients in this sample, there were only 2 deaths (0.23%) at 60 days. Conclusion Our innovative multidisciplinary COVID team provided excellent clinical care for patients with COVID, with a very low mortality rate compared with the national average. Although data are not available on a national scale for time to contact patient, our team was able to contact patients within the established recommendation for contact within 48 hours of testing, which is optimal.
Characterization of cardiovascular injury in mice following partial-heart irradiation with clinically relevant dose and fractionation.

Abstract Background and purpose Late cardiac toxicity is a major side effect of radiation therapy (RT) for breast cancer. We developed and characterized a mouse model of radiation-induced heart disease that mimics the dose, fractionation, and beam arrangement of left breast and chest wall RT. Material and methods Female wild-type (C57BL6/J) and atherosclerosis-prone apolipoprotein E-deficient (ApoE−/−) mice (on a C57BL/6J background) on regular chow were treated with 2 Gy × 25 fractions of partial-heart irradiation via opposed tangential beams to the left chest wall. The changes in myocardial perfusion and cardiac function of C57BL/6J mice were examined by single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) and echocardiography, respectively. In addition to SPECT and echocardiography, the formation of calcified plaques and changes in cardiac function of ApoE−/− mice were examined by dual-energy microCT (DE-CT) and pressure–volume (PV) loop analysis, respectively. The development of myocardial fibrosis was examined by histopathology. Results Compared to unirradiated controls, irradiated C57BL/6J mice showed no significant changes by SPECT or echocardiography up to 18 months after 2 Gy × 25 partial-heart irradiation even though irradiated mice exhibited a modest increase in myocardial fibrosis. For ApoE−/− mice, 2 Gy × 25 partial-heart irradiation did not cause significant changes by SPECT, DE-CT, or echocardiography. However, PV loop analysis revealed a significant decrease in load-dependent systolic and diastolic function measures including cardiac output, dV/dtmax and dV/dt min 12 months after RT. Conclusions Following clinically relevant doses of partial-heart irradiation in C57BL/6J and ApoE−/− mice, assessment with noninvasive imaging modalities such as echocardiography, SPECT, and DE-CT yielded no evidence of decreased myocardial perfusion and cardiac dysfunction related to RT. However, invasive hemodynamic assessment with PV loop analysis indicated subtle, but significant, changes in cardiac function of irradiated ApoE−/− mice. PV loop analysis may be useful for future preclinical studies of radiation-induced heart disease, especially if subtle changes in cardiac function are expected.
Structure and function of axo-axonic inhibition.

Inhibitory neurons in mammalian cortex exhibit diverse physiological, morphological, molecular and connectivity signatures. While considerable work has measured the average connectivity of several interneuron classes, there remains a fundamental lack of understanding of the connectivity distribution of distinct inhibitory cell types with synaptic resolution, how it relates to properties of target cells and how it affects function. Here, we used large-scale electron microscopy and functional imaging to address these questions for chandelier cells in layer 2/3 of the mouse visual cortex. With dense reconstructions from electron microscopy, we mapped the complete chandelier input onto 153 pyramidal neurons. We found that synapse number is highly variable across the population and is correlated with several structural features of the target neuron. This variability in the number of axo-axonic ChC synapses is higher than the variability seen in perisomatic inhibition. Biophysical simulations show that the observed pattern of axo-axonic inhibition is particularly effective in controlling excitatory output when excitation and inhibition are co-active. Finally, we measured chandelier cell activity in awake animals using a cell-type specific calcium imaging approach and saw highly correlated activity across chandelier cells. In the same experiments, in vivo chandelier population activity correlated with pupil dilation, a proxy for arousal. Together these results suggest that chandelier cells provide a circuit-wide signal whose strength is adjusted relative to the properties of target neurons.
GROSS MORPHOLOGY AND ULTRASTRUCTURE OF MYCOPLASMA GALLISEPTICUM

DOMERMUTH,C.H. (Statens Seruminstitut, Copenhagen, Denmark), M. NIELSEN, E. A. FREUNDT,AND A.BIRCH-ANDERSEN. Grossmorphology andultrastructure ofMycoplasma gallisepticum. J.Bacteriol. 88:1428-1432. 1964.-The ultrastructure andgrossmorphology ofMycoplasmagallisepticum strains JA andW were studied withanelectron microscope. Intact specimensweregrownonParlodion membranes, fixed withformaldehyde, andstudied insitu. Sectioned specimens weregrownonagarandwereprepared forstudybyconventional sectioning techniques. Grossly, single andmultiple (asmanyasfour) protrusions werefrequently observed extending fromthesurface ofcells oftheW strain. Single short protrusions extended frommanyofthecells ofstrain JA.Insectioned material, rowsofwhat appeared tobedeveloping elementary bodies (as manyasfour) wereobserved incells ofstrain W, whereas, single, apparently developing elementary bodies wereobserved instrain JA.Inbothstrains, thesebodies werelocated within theprotruding areasofthecell wall. Theinclusion-containing portions ofthecell appeared tobetheprotrusions whichextended fromthesurface oftheintact cell. Inviewofthecontroversy concerning themode ofmultiplication ofmembersoftheMycoplasmatales (Freundt, 1958), itappeared desirable toattempt tocompare morphology ofintact cells andultrastructure ofsectioned specimens ofMycoplasma species inaneffort tovisualize howandwhereelementary bodies develop. Recently, itwasreported thatM.gallisepticum reproduces by binaryfission (Kelton, 1962). Thisspecies, thusbeing inacontroversial positionwithregard tomultiplication, appeared to IVisiting scientist intheRickettsia andVirus Department, StatensSeruminstitut. Present address: Virginia Polytechnic Institute, Blacksburg, Va. lend itself mostsuitably foracomparative study ofthetypementioned above. Thegross morphology ofMycoplasma strains isolated frompoultry wasstudied withtheaidof anelectron microscope byReagan, Brueckner, andDelaplane (1951), Reagan, Day,andBrueckner(1953), White, Wallace, andAlberts (1954), Mortonetal.(1954), Morowitz etal.(1962), andShifrine, Pangborn, andAdler(1962). Theultrastructure ofAI.gallisepticum was studied byRuysandVanIterson (1961) and byDomermuth etal.(1964). Toourknowledge, theonlyprevious studycorrelating boththe external morphology ofintact cells andthe ultrastructure ofsectioned cells isthatofVan Iterson andRuys(1960).
Congenital deficiency of blood clotting factors II, VII, IX, and X

A patient congenitally deficient in factors II, VII, IX, and X has been further investigated after a follow-up of 15 yr. At birth, these factors, when determined by clotting assays, were undetectable. Following therapy with vitamin K1, the clotting activity of these factors rose but never exceeded 18% of normal. Immunologic assays revealed much higher levels of these factors than did clotting assays, thus suggesting that the vitamin-K-dependent factors were present in abnormal forms. Two-dimensional crossed immunoelectrophoresis showed that at least two forms of prothrombin were present in the patient's plasma. One form was similar to normal prothrombin; the other had the same mobility as acarboxyprothrombin. In addition, the majority of this fast-migrating peak was not adsorbable onto insoluble barium salts. These observations suggested that some molecules of the patient's prothrombin lacked the normal complement of gamma-carboxyglutamic acid residues. This observation was confirmed by a specific assay for gamma-carboxyglutamate. Since malabsorption of vitamin K, warfarin intoxication, and hepatic dysfunction were excluded as causes of this patient's syndrome, this rare congenital abnormality could represent either a defective gamma-carboxylation mechanism within the hepatocyte or faulty vitamin K transport.
Sliding Mode Control of Automotive Powertrains with Uncertain Actuator Models

An alternative formulation of the sliding mode control method for dealing with the uncertainties in actuator or control dynamics is presented in this paper. The advantages of the formulation are in the reduced computational requirements and simplified procedures for meeting robustness and performance requirements. The method is then applied to control an automotive powertrain system, whose dynamics are highly nonlinear. In particular, coordinating engine and transmission control variables to perform clutch-to-clutch shifts is illustrated. The design objectives are to provide smooth transients for passenger comfort and to reduce clutch energy dissipation requirements for component longevity. The robustness and performance characteristics of the designed controller are demonstrated for a case that involves neglected actuator dynamics, whose bandwidth is very close to the frequency of the controlled system dynamics.
Analysis of a Time Delay Controller Based on Convolutions

Time Delay Control has been proposed as an effective control method for a class of systems with unknown dynamics and unpredictable disturbances. The control algorithm uses recent past data to estimate the uncertain dynamics and disturbances in the system. This paper presents a convolution method to attenuate the noise amplification in the calculation of the estimated functions. The method suggests a delay time to be much larger than the sampling period. Through the accuracy analysis, an extrapolation scheme is found to be useful to improve the performance while keeping the delay time at an appropriate level. Stability analysis shows that a trade-off exists between robustness and performance. For a special class of systems with slow changing dynamics during the delay time, the convolution method with an extrapolation scheme is shown to provide a very satisfactory performance.
Yonatan Malin, Songs in Motion: Rhythm and Meter in the German Lied

Why do songs move us? How is it that some songs seem to condense the immensity of human experience into a single page, even a single passage? Yonatan Malin's book, Songs in Motion: Rhythm and Meter...
Predictive validity of critical thinking skills for initial clinical dental hygiene performance

This study collected validity evidence on the utility of critical thinking skills and critical thinking disposition in predicting initial clinical performance. The predictive value of critical thinking skills scores and disposition scores was examined to determine their unique contribution beyond that provided by traditional predictors: grade point average, age, and number of college hours. The study involved three phases: establishing content validity of three outcome measures; assessing students' baseline critical thinking skills and disposition using the California Critical Thinking Skills Test (CCTST) and the California Critical Thinking Dispositions Inventory (CCTDI); and assessing students' initial clinical competence, clinical reasoning, and clinical knowledge. All baccalaureate-level dental hygiene programs in the United States affiliated with a dental school (N=22) were invited to participate; of those, seven volunteered. A convenience sample of 207 first-year dental hygiene students was obtained. A series of hierarchical multiple regression analyses demonstrated that CCTST scores explained a statistically significant (p<.05) proportion of variance in students' initial clinical reasoning scores, acquired knowledge scores, and faculty ratings, above and beyond that explained by other predictor variables. CCTDI scores were not significant predictors of any outcome measure. It was concluded that CCTST is a good predictor of initial student outcomes and may have utility for student selection and retention.
An adaptive interface‐enriched generalized FEM for the treatment of problems with curved interfaces

SUMMARY An adaptive refinement scheme is presented to reduce the geometry discretization error and provide higherorder enrichment functions for the interface-enriched generalized FEM. The proposed method relies on the h-adaptive andp-adaptive refinement techniques to reduce the discrepancy between the exact and discretized geometries of curved material interfaces. A thorough discussion is provided on identifying the appropriate level of the refinement for curved interfaces based on the size of the elements of the background mesh. Varied techniques are then studied for selecting the quasi-optimal location of interface nodes to obtain a more accurate approximation of the interface geometry. We also discuss different approaches for creating the integration sub-elements and evaluating the corresponding enrichment functions together with their impact on the performance and computational cost of higher-order enrichments. Several examples are presented to demonstrate the application of the adaptive interface-enriched generalized FEM for modeling thermomechanical problems with intricate geometries. The accuracy and convergence rate of the method are also studied in these example problems. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. Received 21 October 2013; Revised 19 October 2014; Accepted 24 November 2014
Antioxidant treatment inhibits activation of myocardial nuclear factor κB and inhibits nitrosylation of myocardial heme protein in cardiac transplant rejection

Nitric oxide production via inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) is believed to play a role in cardiac allograft rejection. Previously, we showed that antioxidants can significantly prolong cardiac graft survival, but the nature of this protection is unknown. In the present study, we examined the protective effect of another antioxidant, dimethylthiourea (DMTU), in a model of cardiac allograft rejection. Specifically, we hypothesized that DMTU would prolong graft survival and decrease activation of nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-kappa B), an important redox-sensitive transcription factor necessary for iNOS gene expression. NF-kappa B was activated by twofold as early as postoperative day 2 in allografts. NF-kappa B activation in allografts progressed to a peak of ninefold by postoperative day and remained increased until postoperative day 6. No activation of NF-kappa B was observed in isografts for comparable time periods. Treatment with DMTU resulted in a significant prolongation of graft survival. This beneficial effect was associated with diminished activation of myocardial NF-kappa B. Treatment with DMTU also resulted in decreased formation of iron-nitrosylprotein complexes as evidenced by electron paramagnetic resonance spectroscopy. These studies provide evidence that reactive oxygen plays a significant role in signal transduction for activation via the transcription factor, NF-kappa B, thereby modulating distal actions and consequences of iNOS-derived nitric oxide.
Oogenesis: Single cell development and differentiation

Oocytes express a unique set of genes that are essential for their growth, for meiotic recombination and division, for storage of nutrients, and for fertilization. We have utilized the newly sequenced genome of Strongylocentrotus purpuratus to identify genes that help the oocyte accomplish each of these tasks. This study emphasizes four classes of genes that are specialized for oocyte function: (1) Transcription factors: many of these factors are not significantly expressed in embryos, but are shared by other adult tissues, namely the ovary, testis, and gut. (2) Meiosis: A full set of meiotic genes is present in the sea urchin, including those involved in cohesion, in synaptonemal complex formation, and in meiotic recombination. (3) Yolk uptake and storage: Nutrient storage for use during early embryogenesis is essential to oocyte function in most animals; the sea urchin accomplishes this task by using the major yolk protein and a family of accessory proteins called YP30. Comparison of the YP30 family members across their conserved, tandem fasciclin domains with their intervening introns reveals an incongruence in the evolution of its major clades. (4) Fertilization: This set of genes includes many of the cell surface proteins involved in sperm interaction and in the physical block to polyspermy. The majority of these genes are active only in oocytes, and in many cases, their anatomy reflects the tandem repeating interaction domains essential for the function of these proteins. Together, the expression profile of these four gene classes highlights the transitions of the oocyte from a stem cell precursor, through stages of development, to the clearing and re-programming of gene expression necessary to transition from oocyte, to egg, to embryo.
Laterality effects in perceptual matching

Two experiments are reported in which Ss had to indicate whether pairs of simple geometric forms were “same” or “different.” In Experiment I the two forms were either both in the left visual hemifield or both in the right hemifield. Reaction times were unaffected by the locus of the stimuli. In Experiment 2, in addition to left and right pairs, there were pairs in which one of the stimuli was on the left and the other was on the right. Under these conditions, reaction times were faster for pairs totally on the left than for pairs totally on the right. The data support the notion that implicit scanning patterns are important in determining laterality differences. When such scanning is not involved and when simple nonverbal stimuli and responses are employed, laterality differences are eliminated.
Anesthetic management for supratentorial tumor surgery

The principles of the perioperative anesthetic management of patients with supratentorial tumors are reviewed. Emphasis is placed upon intracranial pressure (ICP) dynamics and the multiple causes of intracranial hypertension which may occur during the perioperative period. The author describes his experiences using routine ICP monitoring in these cases, arguing that this may help both the neurosurgeon and the neuroanesthetist to avoid many of the pitfalls currently associated with the perioperative care of these patients.
The contradictions of broadcasting reform in post‐apartheid South Africa

This article examines the process of mass media reform in South Africa during the 1990s, with particular reference to broadcasting. It identifies tensions between the attempt to restructure broadcasting as a public sphere capable of supporting national unification and democratisation, the existence of socioeconomic differentiation and cultural diversity at sub‐national scales and the pressures which impinge upon the broadcasting sector as a result of policies aimed at internationalising the South African economy. The formulation of broadcasting policy between 1990 and 1995 is reviewed, and the changes that have taken place during the implementation of restructuring and re‐regulation from 1996 to 1998 are critically assessed. The article concludes that the intensified commercialisation of broadcasting is at odds with political objectives of transforming the mass media into a public sphere supportive of a diverse and independent civil society.
Thy-1 mRNA destabilization by norepinephrine a 3' UTR cAMP responsive decay element and involves RNA binding proteins.

Abstract Thy-1 is a cell surface protein important in immunologic and neurologic processes, including T cell activation and proliferation, and neuronal outgrowth. In murine thymocytes, Thy-1 is downregulated in response to norepinephrine (NE) through posttranscriptional destabilization of its mRNA mediated by βAR/AC/cAMP/PKA signaling. In this study we investigated factors involved in NE/cAMP-mediated Thy-1 mRNA destabilization in S49 thymoma cells, and identified a region containing two copies of the AUUUA regulatory element (ARE), a motif commonly associated with mRNA decay, in the Thy-1 mRNA 3′ UTR. Insertion of the Thy-1 ARE region into a reporter gene, resulted in cAMP induced destabilization of the reporter gene mRNA. RNA–protein binding studies revealed multiple Thy-1 ARE binding proteins, including AUF1, HuR, and TIAR. RNA silencing of HuR enhanced cAMP-mediated downregulation of Thy-1 mRNA, in contrast, silencing AUF1 had no effect. Immunoblotting revealed multiple proteins phosphorylated by PKA as a result of NE or cAMP signaling. These results reveal that the machinery of NE/cAMP modulation of Thy-1 mRNA decay involves a cAMP responsive ARE in its 3′ UTR and multiple site specific ARE binding proteins. These findings add to our knowledge of Thy-1 mRNA regulation and provide insight into the regulation of ARE containing mRNAs, which impacts stress-related immunosuppression.
An antenna-based RFID expansion joint monitor

We present the design and preliminary test results from an RFID-based sensor used for expansion joint gap monitoring. Discrete increments in gap length are related to a change in signal response of an array of RFID tags. We demonstrate that our sensor can be reliably used to monitor gap increments of 1 inch over a read distance of at least 0.5 m. Prospective design improvements and future research directions are also discussed.
Leading-edge Ada verification technologies: highly automated Ada contract checking using bakar kiasan

This tutorial presents a new approach to Spark/Ada contract checking using Bakar Kiasan--a highly automated, evidence-based symbolic execution tool. Bakar Kiasan aims to lower the barrier of entry and reduce the burden of engineers as they specify and verify Ada contracts. Even in the absence of contracts, Bakar Kiasan can check code for possible runtime exceptions and provide visualizations of semantic constraints along paths through procedures. As engineers progressively add contracts, Bakar Kiasan can verify the consistency of code and contracts, thus providing increased confidence, often proportional to the efforts made to capture fuller behavioral specifications via contracts. Bakar Kiasan also provides compositional checking; that is, it can be used on incomplete systems, where contracts are only present for some program components (which may not even have been implemented). This allows contract checking to be used as the program is being developed starting early in the software development process.Bakar Kiasan provides helpful feedback and evidence of its verification results. For example, it automatically generates counter examples as program test cases for illustrating how contracts are violated (this is very helpful when debugging code/contracts), as well as providing various visualization cues, for example, highlighting problematic code or contract segments similar to how modern Integrated Development Environments (IDEs) illustrate compile (type) errors. Kiasan also generates test cases for illustrating how contracts are satisfied, which is helpful for understanding code/contracts or confirming how a program should behave. Bakar Kiasan is integrated in the Eclipse IDE as a plug-in, and an integration with the GNAT Programming Studio (GPS) is currently being developed in collaboration with AdaCore.
Characterization of human lymphocyte N-acetyltransferase and its relationship to the isoniazid acetylator polymorphism.

Characterization of human lymphocyte N-acetyltransferase (NAT) for specific activity, substrate specificity, inhibition, pH optimum, apparent Km, kinetic mechanism, trypsin stability, freezing stability, and heat stability was carried out in rapid and slow isoniazid (INH) acetylators. There is a statistically significant difference in the heat stability of lymphocyte NAT from rapid and slow INH phenotypes. The lymphocyte enzyme from rapid INH acetylators is less heat stable than the lymphocyte enzyme from slow INH acetylators. This is an indication of a structural, possibly polymorphic, difference in lymphocyte NAT from the two acetylator phenotypes.
Number of ovulations in the marmoset monkey (Callithrix jacchus): Relation to body weight, age and repeatability

The relation between number of ovulations and body weight, age or maternal identity was examined in 69 ovarian cycles from 29 captive-born common marmoset monkeys (Callithrix jacchus). Specifically, we addressed the following questions: was there high repeatability of ovulation number? Most of the variation in ovulation number was within, rather than between subjects. Repeatability in number of ovulations was 0.081 (n = 20 females with 2-6 ovulatory cycles per female); was age related to number of ovulations? There was no relation between age and number of ovulations, either within or between subjects; and was weight related to number of ovulations? Weight was related to number of ovulations. When the relation between number of ovulations (1-2 versus 3-4) and weight was examined through a logistic regression, there was a significant relation. Also, of the 11 subjects which had a variable number of ovulations across cycles, 90.9% were heavier when ovulating 3-4 than when ovulating 2. These results are discussed as the basis for the proposal that callitrichid primates may have been selected for potential variation in reproductive output and that this variation may be related to energy availability.
Cervical rhabdomyosarcoma and EXIT procedure; case report

Abstract A 37 year-old primipara women was referred for management of a large solid tumor found in the neck of her fetus, showing the trachea to be compressed by the mass, and intubation through the ex utero intrapartum treatment (EXIT) was planned. After the mother was anesthetized using a Fentanyl with Isofluorane, the head and left arm of the baby were delivered through a standard lower segment cesarean section, and the baby was intubated with a 3.0 mm tracheal tube before clamping and dividing the umbilical cord, then transferred to a resuscitation table. Time from partial delivery to transfer was 9 min, and the baby weighed 3300 g and quickly achieved acceptable oxygen saturations. A tracheostomy and biopsy of the mass were performed on day 1, and Rhabdomyosarcoma was diagnosed. Multiagent chemotherapy was commenced without any reduction in size (82 × 80 × 70 mm), and radical resection was performed 8 weeks after EXIT. Preoperatively, arterial feeders to the mass arising mainly from the right external carotid artery, were selectively embolized, and surgical excision was performed. After additional chemotherapy and radiotherapy, the child is doing well without recurrence after 3 years of follow-up.
The effect of drop size on contact angle over a wide range of drop volumes

Abstract Contact angle measurements for the air/water/polyethylene and for the oil/water/quartz systems have been carried out over a wide range of drop (bubble) sizes, from 60 μm to 2 mm. Two distinctly different experimental techniques were used: placement of the drop (bubble) with a microsyringe, the static technique, and collision of the drop (bubble) with the surface due to the buoyant force, the dynamic technique. A nonlinear relationship between the cosine of the contact angle measured through the aqueous phase (cos θ) and the reciprocal radius of the drop base (1/ r ) was obtained. The lack of linearity for this range of drop sizes cannot be attributed to a variation in line tension which should be constant. Nevertheless, a pseudo line tension can be calculated and it was found that negative pseudo line tensions on the order of -1 × 10 -8 N(-1.2 × 10 -8 -6.6 × 10 -8 N) were obtained for small drops or bubbles (drop volume less than 0.1 μl, drop base diameter less than 0.3 to 0.4 mm). The pseudo line tensions increased when the drop (bubble) volume increased above 0.1 μl, reaching a maximum of about -1 × 10 -6 N (-0.6 × 10 -6 to -1.4 × 10 -6 N). Thus, it was found that the contact angle for small drops (bubbles) changes significantly from that measured for large drops (bubbles) which may be an important fundamental aspect in certain phase separation phenomena.
Bodily embarrassment and judgment concern as separable factors in the measurement of medical embarrassment: Psychometric development and links to treatment-seeking outcomes

Objectives. Understanding why people do not always engage in medical examinations that might benefit them is a public health issue which is receiving increased attention. One area of promise involves the study of medical embarrassment, although current studies are weakened in that they measure medical embarrassment in a theoretically naive and unidimensional manner and have assumed that embarrassment is exclusively a barrier to the timely seeking of treatment. Design. Convenience sampling was used to recruit 116 male and 134 female students (mean age = 19.94 years, 47.2% Caucasian, 20.4% African-American, 32.4% Asian) from two large universities in different parts of the United States. Methods. Participants completed a comprehensive measure of medical embarrassment, reported on previous treatment avoidance because of embarrassment, and recorded the frequency of psychological, general and sex-related visits across the previous 5 years. Results. As expected, medical embarrassment was not unidimensional and appeared to have two distinct factors – bodily embarrassment and judgment concern. Bodily embarrassment generally predicted less frequent medical contact although not equally so across domains and it interacted with judgment concern in several cases, providing preliminary evidence that there are situations in which aspects of medical embarrassment may actually facilitate greater medical contact. Conclusion. The data highlight the importance of considering the role of emotions other than fear in health behaviour and the means by which they may facilitate or deter the timely seeking of diagnosis and treatment.
A functionally graded particulate composite: Preparation, measurements and failure analysis

Abstract A functionally graded composite is prepared and the spatial gradation of Young's modulus in the functionally graded material (FGM) is measured. Elastic modulus gradients occur over length scales suitable for experimental mechanics investigations using optical interferometry. Crack tip fields are mapped in the FGM under quasi-static loading conditions with cracks oriented perpendicular to the direction of the elastic gradient and near the interface of the graded and the homogeneous portions of three-point-bending specimens. The optical measurements are used to extract fracture parameters based on the prevailing understanding of the crack tip behavior in FGMs. The results are also compared with finite element computations which incorporate measured elastic properties of the FGM. The advantage of using FGM interlayer as opposed to piecewise homogeneous joints is demonstrated through crack initiation tests.
The Influence of Thyroxine on the Differentiation of Adipose Tissue and Skin during Fetal Development

ABSTRACT: Preobese fetuses have elevated thyroid hormone levels and depressed growth hormone levels relative to lean fetuses. Therefore, we are studying various experimental fetal pig models to explore the relationship between endocrine status and onset of obesity. In the present study, intact and hypophysectomized (d 70) fetuses were implanted with thyroxine (T4) pellets on d 70 of gestation, and blood, adipose tissue, and skin samples were obtained upon removal of d 90 of gestation. Body weights were similar for all groups and T4 treatment reversed myxedema in hypophysectomized fetuses. Serum T4 levels were elevated (p < 0.05) and skin and hair development were enhanced (p < 0.05) to a similar degree by T4 treatment in intact and hypophysectomized fetuses. However, T4 did not influence adipose tissue development in intact fetuses, but markedly enhanced development in hypophysectomized fetuses. For instance, fat cell size and lipogenic enzyme activities in hypophysectomized fetuses were increased (p < 0.05) by 5-mg and 15-mg T4 treatments, with a marked increase (p < 0.05) in apparent fat cell number with the 15-mg T4 treatment. In contrast, there was no effect of T4 (15 mg) on these parameters in intact fetuses. Therefore, fetal obesity may be directly associated with elevated thyroid hormone levels and suppressed growth hormone levels, but not with elevated T4 levels alone.