cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Addiction as a systems failure: focus on adolescence and smoking.

Objective Scientific advances in the field of addiction have forever debunked the notion that addiction reflects a character flaw under voluntary control, demonstrating instead that it is a bona fide disease of the brain. The aim of this review is to go beyond this consensus understanding and explore the most current evidence regarding the vast number of genetic, developmental, and environmental factors whose complex interactions modulate addiction risk and trajectory. Method Focusing on childhood and adolescent smoking as a paradigm, we review the important risk factors for the development of addictions, starting at the level of genetics and closing with a focus on sociocultural and policy factors. Results A critical review of the pertinent literature provides a detailed view of the cumulative power of risk and protection factors across different phenomenological levels to modulate the risk of undesirable outcomes, particularly for young people. The result represents a compelling argument for the need to engage in comprehensive, multilevel approaches to promoting health. Conclusions Today, the field of medicine understands more about disease than about health; however it need not be that way. The view of drug addiction as a systems failure should help refocus our general approach to developing dynamic models and early comprehensive interventions that optimize the ways in which we prevent and treat a complex, developmental disorder such as drug addiction.
Nitrogen fixation (C2H2 reduction) in a salt marsh: Its relationship to temperature and an evaluation of an in situ chamber technique

A temperature controlled chamber for the in situ measurement of nitrogen fixation (acetylene reduction) in a vegetated salt marsh is described. Rates of acetylene reduction activity (ARA) were linear during a 9 h incubation. Measurements of acetylene penetration into the sediment indicate that the chamber technique measures ARA within the top 2–4 cm of the sediment column. This depth of penetration accounted for approx. 60% of the total ARA in the sediment column. Measurements of in situ ARA in three zones of a vegetated salt marsh (tall, medium and short height Spartina alterniflora) over a year were positively correlated with seasonal temperature variations. About 70–80% of the seasonal variation in ARA was explained by the Arrhenius relationship: ARA (μmol C2H4m−2h−1)=α exp(−β/fT); where T is the ambient air temperature (°C) and α and β are constants. The constant α in this model increased from 20.1 to 40.5 while β increased from 17.5 to 20.7 along a transect from the tall to short height-form S. alterniflora communities. These differences suggest that there is spatial variability within the salt marsh among the variables that affect nitrogen fixation.
A stopping rule for choosing the best of three coins

Abstract A recently proposed stopping rule for choosing the best of three coins is presented as the first exit time from a certain polygonal region by a two-dimensional random walk. A diffusion approximation to the expected value of this exit time is developed, using techniques of conformal mapping. An algebraic method for calculating the exact value of this expectation is also described.
The MONTAGE Least Gradient Image Reconstruction

We introduce an image reconstruction algorithm for the Compressive Optical MONTAGE Photography Initiative, for recovering the resolution of an image from a set of aliased subimages acquired by a lenslet array optical system.
Low-temperature thermal properties of mesoscopic normal-metal/superconductor heterostructures

Although the electrical transport properties of mesoscopic metallic samples have been investigated extensively over the past two decades, the thermal properties have received far less attention. This may be due in part to the difficulty of performing thermal measurements on submicron-scale samples. We report here quantitative measurements of the thermal conductance and thermopower of a hybrid normal-metal/superconductor heterostructure, which are made possible by the recent development of a local-thermometry technique. As with electrical transport measurements, these thermal measurements reveal signatures of the phase coherent nature of electron transport in these devices.
Longitudinal study of arteriogenesis with swept source optical coherence tomography and hyperspectral imaging

Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is an atherosclerotic disease of the extremities that leads to high rates of myocardial infarction and stroke, increased mortality, and reduced quality of life. PAD is especially prevalent in diabetic patients, and is commonly modeled by hind limb ischemia in mice to study collateral vessel development and test novel therapies. Current techniques used to assess recovery cannot obtain quantitative, physiological data non-invasively. Here, we have applied hyperspectral imaging and swept source optical coherence tomography (OCT) to study longitudinal changes in blood oxygenation and vascular morphology, respectively, intravitally in the diabetic mouse hind limb ischemia model. Additionally, recommended ranges for controlling physiological variability in blood oxygenation with respect to respiration rate and body core temperature were determined from a control animal experiment. In the longitudinal study with diabetic mice, hyperspectral imaging data revealed the dynamics of blood oxygenation recovery distally in the ischemic footpad. In diabetic mice, there is an early increase in oxygenation that is not sustained in the long term. Quantitative analysis of vascular morphology obtained from Hessian-filtered speckle variance OCT volumes revealed temporal dynamics in vascular density, total vessel length, and vessel diameter distribution in the adductor muscle of the ischemic limb. The combination of hyperspectral imaging and speckle variance OCT enabled acquisition of novel functional and morphological endpoints from individual animals, and provides a more robust platform for future preclinical evaluations of novel therapies for PAD.
A spectral overlay method for quasi-static viscoplasticity: Applications to anti-plane crack and comparison with closed-form solutions

The modified spectral overlay finite element method is described for a two-dimensional antiplane viscoplastic problem under quasi-static, isothermal conditions. The essential feature of the spectral overlay method is that high resolution of localized steep gradients can be achieved by overlaying a spectral interpolant on a standard finite element mesh. In order to evaluate this method and compare it with the conventional finite element method, a closed-form solution of a shear localization problem in one dimension has been devised. The results show that this method is very powerful in capturing the shape of the gradient field and its peak value in the localization zone. Solutions for an antiplane crack problem are then given to illustrate the effectiveness of this method.
The Geostationary Fourier Transform Spectrometer

The Geostationary Fourier Transform Spectrometer (GeoFTS) is an imaging spectrometer designed for an earth science mission to measure key atmospheric trace gases and process tracers related to climate change and human activity. The GeoFTS instrument is a half meter cube size instrument designed to operate in geostationary orbit as a secondary “hosted” payload on a commercial geostationary satellite mission. The advantage of GEO is the ability to continuously stare at a region of the earth, enabling frequent sampling to capture the diurnal variability of biogenic fluxes and anthropogenic emissions from city to continental scales. The science goal is to obtain a process-based understanding of the carbon cycle from simultaneous high spatial resolution measurements of carbon dioxide (CO 2 ), methane (CH 4 ), carbon monoxide (CO), and chlorophyll fluorescence (CF) many times per day in the near infrared spectral region to capture their spatial and temporal variations on diurnal, synoptic, seasonal and interannual time scales. The GeoFTS instrument is based on a Michelson interferometer design with a number of advanced features incorporated. Two of the most important advanced features are the focal plane arrays and the optical path difference mechanism. A breadboard GeoFTS instrument has demonstrated functionality for simultaneous measurements in the visible and IR in the laboratory and subsequently in the field at the California Laboratory for Atmospheric Remote Sensing (CLARS) observatory on Mt. Wilson overlooking the Los Angeles basin. A GeoFTS engineering model instrument is being developed which will make simultaneous visible and IR measurements under space flight like environmental conditions (thermal-vacuum at 180 K). This will demonstrate critical instrument capabilities such as optical alignment stability, interferometer modulation efficiency, and high throughput FPA signal processing. This will reduce flight instrument development risk and show that the GeoFTS design is mature and flight ready.
Neutrino Flavor Evolution in Turbulent Supernova Matter

Abstract In order to decode the neutrino burst signal from a Galactic core-collapse supernova and reveal the complicated inner workings of the explosion, we need a thorough understanding of the neutrino flavor evolution from the proto-neutron-star outwards. The flavor content of the signal evolves due to both neutrino collective effects and matter effects which can lead to a highly interesting interplay and distinctive spectral features. In this paper we investigate the supernova neutrino flavor evolution by including collective flavor effects, the evolution of the Mikheyev, Smirnov & Wolfenstein (MSW) matter conversions due to the shock wave passing through the star, and the impact of turbulence. The density profiles utilized in our calculations represent a 10.8 M G progenitor and comes from a 1D numerical simulation by Fischer et al. [1] . We find that small amplitude turbulence, up to 10% of the average potential, leads to a minimal modification of the signal, and the emerging neutrino spectra retain both collective and MSW features. However, when larger amounts of turbulence are added, 30% and 50%, the features of collective and shock wave effects in the high density resonance channel are almost completely obscured at late times. At the same time we find the other mixing channels – the low density resonance channel and the non-resonant channels – begin to develop turbulence signatures. Large amplitude turbulent motions in the outer layers of massive, iron core-collapse supernovae may obscure the most obvious fingerprints of collective and shock wave effects in the neutrino signal but cannot remove them completely, and additionally bring about new features in the signal. We illustrate how the progression of the shock wave is reflected in the changing survival probabilities over time, and we show preliminary results on how some of these collective and shock wave induced signatures appear in a detector signal.
Ignition and Growth Modeling of LX‐17 Hockey Puck Experiments

Detonating solid plastic bonded explosives (PBX) formulated with the insensitive molecule triaminotrinitrobenzene (TATB) exhibit measurable reaction zone lengths, curved shock fronts, and regions of failing chemical reaction at abrupt changes in the charge geometry. A recent set of ''hockey puck'' experiments measured the breakout times of diverging detonation waves in ambient temperature LX-17 (92.5 % TATB plus 7.5% Kel-F binder) and the breakout times at the lower surfaces of 15 mm thick LX-17 discs placed below the detonator-booster plane. The LX-17 detonation waves in these discs grow outward from the initial wave leaving regions of unreacted or partially reacted TATB in the corners of these charges. This new experimental data is accurately simulated for the first time using the Ignition and Growth reactive flow model for LX-17, which is normalized to a great deal of detonation reaction zone, failure diameter and diverging detonation data. A pressure cubed dependence for the main growth of reaction rate yields excellent agreement with experiment, while a pressure squared rate diverges too quickly and a pressure quadrupled rate diverges too slowly in the LX-17 below the booster equatorial plane.
Effect of ethidium bromide on cytochrome synthesis of SV‐40 transformed cells

The utility of ethidium bromide (EB) and other dyes such as the acridines to study the development of mitochondria in yeast was first demonstrated by Slonimski and his collaborates [ 1,2]. EB, which intercalates between bases of DNA [3,4] , is also known to differentially inhibit the synthesis and structure of mitochondrial DNA [5-71, activities of mitochondrial DNA polymerase [ 81 , and RNA polymerase [9] in mammalian cells. In yeast cells, EB is a powerful cytoplasmic mutagen [2,5] . These cells loose their cytochromes aa3, b and cl, a change which is not reversible by omitting the drug. In mammalian cells, however, none of the EB-induced effects reported were genetically stable. Human fibroblast cultures [ 1 l] and L cells [ 121 exposed to EB for various periods of time showed a reduction or loss of cytochrome au3 content. In L cells, however,
Shape and placement of piezoelectric sensors for panel flutter limit-cycle suppression

A method to design sensors (position and rate sensor) for panel flutter suppression is presented. The shape and location of sensors are based on the control feedback gain. The optimal control performance can be achieved by using these sensors with a constant gain direct fedback controller
Mouse olfactory ensheathing glia enhance axon outgrowth on a myelin substrate in vitro

Olfactory ensheathing glia (OEG) express cell adhesion molecules and secrete growth factors that support newly generated olfactory axons and are a promising therapeutic treatment to facilitate axonal regeneration after spinal cord injury (SCI). To study the molecular mechanisms underlying the ability of OEG to enhance axonal outgrowth, we designed an outgrowth assay using spinal cord myelin as a substrate to mimic an injury environment. We asked if olfactory bulb-derived OEG could enhance outgrowth of dorsal root ganglion (DRG) axons on myelin. When grown on myelin alone DRG axons have limited outgrowth potential. However, when OEG are co-cultured with DRG on myelin, twice as many neurons generate axons and their average length is almost twice that grown on myelin alone. We used this OEG/DRG co-culture to determine if a cell adhesion molecule expressed by OEG, L1, and a factor secreted by OEG, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), contribute to the ability of OEG to enhance axonal outgrowth on myelin. Using OEG and DRG from L1 mutant mice we found that L1 expression does not contribute to OEG growth promotion. However, both BDNF and its receptor, TrkB, contribute to OEG-enhanced axon regeneration as function-blocking antisera against either component significantly decreased outgrowth of DRG axons. Additional BDNF further enhanced DRG axon growth on myelin alone and on myelin co-cultured with OEG. This simple mouse outgrowth model can be used to determine the molecules that contribute to OEG-enhancement of axonal outgrowth, test therapeutic compounds, and compare the outgrowth potential of other treatments for SCI.
NUMERICAL LOAD RATING OF REINFORCED CONCRETE COMPRESSION MEMBERS: DEMONSTRATION WITH CONNECTICUT ARCH BRIDGES

As the reinforced concrete arches and columns built over a century ago begin to deteriorate, the load rating of these structures becomes increasingly important because decisions about bridge rehabilitation, replacement, and capacity are based on the value of the load rating. Compression members can be load rated to determine the effect of their structural condition on their live-load carrying capacity. Methods for the analysis of compression members based on the formulation of an interaction diagram are useful for the design of compression members but have theoretical and analytical limitations in their use for load rating. After a survey of the theory and inadequacies of this solution for load rating, procedures for analysis of compression members were developed that can be efficiently and accurately applied to load rating. This load-rating technique is combined with a standard structural analysis tool and a spreadsheet application for efficient rating of all compression members in a standardized format....
Dogmatism and self-esteem: a negative relationship confirmed.

Larsen and Schwendiman (1969) found a negative relationship between dogmatism and self-esteem. This finding supported Rokeach's (1960) hypothesis that feelings of selfinadequacy underlie dogmatism. The present study was designed to test the possibility that the negative relationship was artifactually based, since it appeared that many items in the Dogmatism Scale may measure self-esteem directly. Those items include references to feeling helpless and miserable, lonesome, in need of help, fearful of the future, misunderstood, self-conscious, and concerned about power and status. Ten female and 19 male psychology students at California State University, Long Beach, participated in small groups during Fall, 1971, to fill class requirements. A selfesteem score for each S was obtained from the combined Self-acceptance and Sense of Well Being scales of the California Psgchological Inventory (1956). The complete 66item Form D of the Dogmatism Scale (Rokeach, 1960) was administered, yielding a Form D score and three subscale scores: the 40-item Form E which is Rokeach's final form, the 13 items on Form E considered by Rokeach to measure "primitive beliefs" but which appeared to measure self-esteem, and the remaining 27 items on Form E. Pearson correlations were taken between all pairs of scores. Self-esteem scores correlated significantly (p < .05) with each of the four Dogmatism scores (with Form D, r = -33; with Form E, r = -.51; with the "primitive belief" subscale, r = -.49; and with the 27-item Form E subscale, r = -.45). The "primitive belief" subscale scores correlated significantly with scores on the 27-item Form E subscale (r = .65) as well as with the total Form E (r = .78), and Form D (s = 34). There were high correlations for the three other pairs of Dogmatism scores: Form D and Form E (r = 96); Form D and the 27-item Form E subscale (s = .94); and Form E and the 27-item Form E subscale (7 = .92). The results indicate that the negative relationship between dogmatism and self-esteem is not due to contamination of the Dogmatism Scale by items directly measuring selfesteem. Removal of those items had little effect on the magnitude of relationship. Also, the relationship has been shown to generalize beyond the three self-esteem measures used by Larsen and Schwendiman (1969) to a fourth, and beyond their Utah student population ro the students at a large Southern California university. Finally, the short forms of the Dogmatism Scale showed essentially the same results as did the long form. Ic is concluded that dogmatism and self-esteem are related reliably, though not perfectly, and that further work on the details of their relationship would probably increase our understanding of both personality variables.
Dye laser photoacoustic overtone spectroscopy of CHBr3

Abstract Spectra of the ν = 5 and ν = 6 levels of the C H stretch in CHBr3 have been recorded via in-cavity dye laser photoacoustic spectroscopy. Linewidths for these absorptions have been determined and are discussed in light of existing theory and results on the linewidths of the corresponding transitions in CHCl3. When data on the fundamental are combined with ν = 5 and ν = 6 data it is possible to determine values for the local mode harmonic frequency and anharmonicity. Absolute absorption cross sections for the ν = 5 and ν = 6 levels are reported.
Steroid hormones differentially modulate glycoconjugate synthesis and vectorial secretion by polarized uterine epithelial cells in vitro.

Characterization of glycoconjugates synthesized by polarized immature rabbit uterine epithelial (UE) cells in vitro, their vectorial patterns of secretion, and regulation by ovarian steroid hormones are reported. Large (mol wt, greater than 230 kDa) sialomucoglycoproteins and hyaluronate were primarily (86-96%) secreted from the apical cell surface domain, while heparan sulfate proteoglycans were predominantly secreted from the basal cell surface of the polarized UE cells. The polarized UE cells responded to estrogen and progesterone in vitro and exhibited distinct profiles in their synthesis and secretion of different glycoconjugates. Progesterone and/or estrogen reduced the secretion of the mucosialoglycoproteins; however, progesterone caused a 4- to 5-fold accumulation of mucosialoglycoproteins in the cell-associated fraction, suggesting regulation by the hormone at the level of secretion, rather than synthesis. Estrogen and progesterone both stimulated the synthesis and secretion of hyaluronate by the...
The Near-Infrared Interstellar Silicate Bands and Grain Theories

With nonporous spherical grains, the interstellar 9.7 and 18 μm silicate bands are observed to be too strong to be compatible with laboratory silicates if the interstellar medium has an abundance of heavy elements that is substantially less than solar, as indicated by a number of recent observations. The dilemma can be resolved if the silicate grains are composite, fluffy, with ≥25% vacuum, and spheroidal with axis ratios greater than 2. The presence of carbon in the composite grains does not affect the silicate features much, but vacuum is important. General problems of grain models are discussed. The strong possibility that the interstellar medium has a composition with a heavy element content less than solar is briefly reviewed, and the importance of interstellar sulfur is emphasized, since it might provide a reason for believing that the interstellar medium has a solar composition. It is shown that there is a fundamental problem regarding providing the 2175 A feature via any form of carbon: if the aromatic carbon transition in this wavelength region is strong, the central wavelength and form of the feature are sensitive to the shape distribution of the grains, or to the size distribution and states of ionization of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) or similar hydrocarbons. If the transition is weak, such as in more disordered carbon ("amorphous" carbon or material resembling coal), then the transition is independent of size and shape distributions, but too much C is required. The general viability of composite (fluffy) grains is considered in the light of recent criticism, and two unresolved problems with the silicate features are mentioned.
RANK ONE CHAOS IN SWITCH-CONTROLLED MURALI–LAKSHMANAN–CHUA CIRCUIT

In this paper, we investigate the creation of strange attractors in a switch-controlled MLC (Murali–Lakshmanan–Chua) circuit. The design and use of this circuit is motivated by a recent mathematical theory of rank one attractors developed by Wang and Young. Strange attractors are created by periodically kicking a weakly stable limit cycle emerging from the center of a supercritical Hopf bifurcation, and are found in numerical simulations by following a recipe-like algorithm. Rigorous conditions for chaos are derived and various switch control schemes, such as synchronous, asynchronous, single-, and multi-pulse, are investigated in numerical simulations.
Proton currents through amiloride-sensitive Na+ channels in isolated hamster taste cells: Enhancement by vasopressin and CAMP

Amiloride has been suggested to inhibit responses to a variety of taste stimuli, including salty, sweet, and sour (acid). To test for the involvement of amiloride-sensitive Na + channels in the transduction of acid stimuli, fungi-form taste receptor cells were examined using patch-clamp techniques. Approximately one-half of all cells had amiloride-sensitive Na + currents (I Na ) with a K i value near 0.2 μM amiloride. After blocking voltage-gated conductances, cells having amiloride sensitivity were tested for responses to acid stimuli. Over three-fourths of cells showed an inward proton current (I H + ) with an extrapolated reversal potential near approximately +150 mV, which was completely blocked by amiloride (30 μM). Treatment of isolated taste cells with argininee-vasopressin caused equivalent increases in both I Na and I H + ; each effect was mimicked by 8-Br-cAMP. Taken together, these results indicate that protons permeate amiloride-sensitive Na + channels in hamster fungiform taste cells and contribute to acid transduction.
Cytokinesis: Cleavage furrow establishment in cylindrical sand dollar eggs

By confining fertilized, denuded sand dollar (Echinarachnius parma) eggs in short lengths of capillary tubing so that they were reshaped into elongate cylinders it was possible to control the orientation of both the mitotic apparatus and the subsequent cleavage furrow as well as the distance from the mitotic apparatus to the cylindrical cell surface. The technique left the polar regions accessible to experimentation and was used before first and second cleavages. The time when the equatorial surface becomes capable of forming a complete, permanent furrow which can function independently of the mitotic apparatus was determined by aspirating the mitotic apparatus from one of a pair of cylindrical cells at second cleavage and timing the interval between the operation and the appearance of the furrow in the control cell. When the mitotic apparatus is removed 4 minutes or less before control furrowing, the operated cell cleaves, but when the same operation is accomplished 5 minutes or more before control division, furrows do not appear in the operated cell. The results imply that the necessary interaction between the mitotic apparatus and the surface is not completed until 4 minutes before the furrow initiates function, and that thereafter the mitotic apparatus is dispensable. The distance between astral centers and the extent of their radiate structure continue growing after the position of the furrow is established. Experiments performed before the mitotic apparatus becomes dispensable, during the period of its interaction with the surface, revealed that agitation of the poles by vibration and repeated manipulation did not interfere with division when imposed continuously until the furrow appeared. Changing the shape of the poles did not affect cleavage; neither did aspiration of polar cytoplasm and polar portions of asters before both first and second cleavage. Cleavage also occurred despite sequestration of the polar portions of both asters in large-bore pipettes. Repeated skewering of the mitotic apparatus along the length of its midline often altered its appearance but did not prevent division.
REPETITIVE CONTROL DESIGN FOR PIEZOELECTRIC ACTUATORS

Piezoactuators exhibit hysteresis and dynamic effects which often cause significant positioning error in a wide variety of motion control applications, especially in applications where the reference trajectory is periodic in time, such as the raster motion in scanning probe microscopy. A feedback-based approach known as repetitive control (RC) is well-suited to track periodic reference trajectories and/or to reject periodic disturbances. However, when an RC is designed with a linear dynamics model and subsequently applied to a system with hysteresis, stability and good tracking performance may not be guaranteed. In this work, the effect of hysteresis on the closed-loop stability of RC is analyzed. In the analysis, the hysteresis effect is represented by the Prandtl-Ishlinskii hysteresis model. Using this model, stability conditions are provided for an RC designed for piezoelectric actuators which commonly exhibit hysteresis. The approach is applied to a custom-designed piezo-driven nanopositioner for tracking periodic trajectories.Copyright © 2011 by ASME
Educating the supply chain logistics for humanitarian efforts in Africa: a case study

Purpose – There are gaps in the countries of Africa between basic universal health care and what is provided. Educating those who are trying to help is important to bring about change. Recently, there are many organizations and individuals responding to those needs, including governmental and non‐governmental organizations (NGO). These entities strive to improve the conditions of the African people by providing essentials such as food, clean water, and basic medical supplies. The purpose of this paper is to examine the NGO humanitarian efforts to determine strategies for these organizations to maximize their effectiveness. This paper will provide a framework, with examples that can be used to educate organizations involved in humanitarian efforts how to use their resources more efficiently and effectively.Design/methodology/approach – The methodology of this paper includes literature review and a site survey and interview are also conducted with the director of operations at an NGO called Global Health Mi...
Lobster, Homarus americanus, gastric fluid is a barrier to the ciliate, Anophryoides haemophila, in an in vitro study.

ABSTRACT Ciliated protozoan disease caused by Anophryoides hae-mophila, also called “bumper car” disease, has been noted in impounded American lobsters, Homarus americanus, in the Gulf of Maine from 1990 to the present. One possible infection route for ciliated protozoan disease in the American lobster is through the digestive tract. The survival of A. haemophila in gastric fluid from healthy lobsters was tested in vitro. “Bumper cars” did not survive exposure to diluted gastric fluid for longer than one minute. Most ciliates (99%) died within 30 seconds of exposure to gastric fluid. All ciliates died within one minute. Disruption of the ciliate cuticle was apparent after two minutes. The cuticle was completely lysed in six minutes. All ciliates were digested in 8 minutes. These data suggest ciliate infection of American lobsters through the digestive tract is unlikely and cannibalism of infected lobsters is unlikely to result in transfer of the disease.
Signature recognition through spectral analysis

Abstract Features such as shape, motion and pressure, minutiae details and timing, and transformation methods such as Hadamard and Walsh have been used in handwritten signature recognition with various degrees of success. Others have successfully used nonlinear warping functions to optimally time-match an unknown to a standard signature. In this research, a fast Fourier transform is used to transform normalized signatures into the frequency domain. Fifteen harmonics having the largest magnitudes normalized by their corresponding variances were selected and used in a stepwise discriminant analysis. It results in an error rate of 2.5 per cent with the generally more conservative jackknife procedure yielding the same small error rate.
Preeclampsia and the Future Risk of Hypertension: The Pregnant Evidence

Cardiovascular death rates continue to rise for women under age 55, underlying the importance of focusing on female-specific conditions that may increase cardiovascular risk, including pregnancy-related disorders. Hypertension complicates about 5–10 % of pregnancies. Preeclampsia, a pregnancy-specific condition, is characterized by hypertension and proteinuria after 20 weeks of gestation and remains one of the major causes of maternal deaths in the United States. In addition, preeclampsia may have an impact on women’s health beyond their pregnancies, and has been associated with increased risks for future hypertension and cardiovascular disease, such as coronary heart disease and stroke. In this review, we discuss the evidence supporting the association between preeclampsia and future hypertension; possible mechanisms that underlie this association; current approach to women with a history of preeclampsia; and future research that is needed in this field in order to deliver optimal and timely medical care to the affected women.
Relative rôles of geology and geophysics in determination of crustal structure

It is by no means an uncommon viewpoint that geology and geophysics are independent fields of science, and that students of the two fields have been driven to form, a working alliance for the sake of mutual aid in attaining their respective goals. There is considerable basis for this view, illogical as it may appear. Although a large part of geology is nothing more nor less than the physics of the Earth, the term geophysics has become attached by usage to those aspects of Earth-science whose study involves the technique of mathematical physics. Many geologists have sufficient acquaintance with the technique to appreciate its value, but not enough to use it with facility. Similarly, many geophysicists have some general knowledge of geology, but do not pretend to be qualified geologists. A small but increasing number of men, who are at home in both subjects, recognizes most fully that geology and geophysics are equally indispensable parts of one general field of endeavor.
Determination of the structure of the novel polypeptide containing aspartic acid and arginine which is found in cyanobacteria

The polypeptide contained in the cyanophycin granule, a characteristic cyanobacterial subcellular inclusion, is shown to be a highly branched structure consisting of a polyaspartic acid core to which arginyl residues are attached at each free carboxyl group of the polyaspartic acid. The evidence supporting such a model includes: (i) The resistance of the polypeptide to a variety of enzymatic procedures commonly used to degrade linear polypeptide chains. (ii) The inability to degrade the polypeptide from the amino terminal using sequential Edman degradation. (iii) The preferential relase of arginine following hydrolysis of the polypeptide in dilute acid (0.03 M acetic acid, 105 degrees C). (iv) The demonstration by chemical linkage analysis that both the carboxyl groups of aspartic acid are unavailable for reduction and must therefore by involved in covalent linkages and that many arginyl residues can be reduced and therefore must not be involved in covalent linkage. (v) The removal of approximately 75% of the arginine from the polypeptide by chemical treatment of the polypeptide using methods designed to cleave carboxyl-terminal amino acids. The highly branched structure of the cyanophycin granule polypeptide is similar in form to synthetically produced multichain polyamino acids, and using the nomenclature for describing multichain polyamino acids, it is proposed that the cyanophycin granule polypeptide be called multi-L-arginyl- -polyaspartic acid.
Mechanism of decreased vascular reactivity to angiotensin II in conscious, potassium-deficient rats.

Abstract Chronic potassium deficiency in the rat results in a decrease in the pressor sensitivity to exogenous angiotensin II (AII). To define the mechanism of this resistance to AII, studies were performed in conscious rats after 14-21 d of dietary potassium deficiency. The pressor response to graded doses of AII was 50% less in potassium-deficient than control animals. In contrast, the pressor response to graded doses of norepinephrine was preserved in potassium-deficient rats; therefore, the decreased response to AII was not due to a generalized defect in vascular reactivity. Pretreatment with either the converting enzyme inhibitor, teprotide, or the prostaglandin synthesis inhibitor, indomethacin, failed to normalize the response to AII. Thus, neither prior receptor occupancy with endogenous AII nor the presence of vasodilatory prostaglandins caused the decreased AII response in potassium deficiency. Since the pressor response to AII involves angiotensin interaction with its vascular receptor, binding studies of mesenteric artery and uterine smooth muscle AII receptors were performed. Scatchard analysis showed that potassium deficiency resulted in a decrease in binding affinity (50% increase in Kd) in both uterine (6.00 vs. 3.82 nM; P less than 0.05) and vascular (1.39 vs. 0.973 nM; P less than 0.005) smooth muscle. Furthermore, despite increased circulating AII, there was an increase in AII receptor number in potassium-deficient uterine (308 vs. 147 fmol/mg protein; P less than 0.005) and vascular (470 vs. 316 fmol/mg protein; 0.05 less than P less than 0.1) smooth muscle. Although potassium deficiency resulted in alterations in receptor-binding parameters, the changes in binding affinity and number were directionally opposite, so that in potassium deficiency there was either no change or an increase in total AII binding. We conclude that the decrease in angiotensin pressor sensitivity in potassium-deficient rats is mediated by a postreceptor defect since it occurs subsequent to the binding of AII to its vascular smooth muscle receptor.
Depression treatment patterns among individuals with osteoarthritis: a cross sectional study

Arthritis and depression often co-occur; however, studies that describe patterns of depression treatment among individuals with arthritis are scant. The purpose of the study was to examine depression treatment patterns among individuals with osteoarthritis (OA) by predisposing, enabling, need factors, personal health practices and external health environment. Retrospective cross-sectional design was used. Data were obtained from 2008 and 2010 Medical Expenditure Panel Survey (MEPS). The sample consisted of 647adults aged over 21 years with depression and OA. Depression treatment was categorized as: 1) No treatment;2) antidepressant use only and 3) both antidepressants and psychotherapy (combination therapy). Chi- square tests and multinomial logistic regressions were used to describe patterns of depression treatment. All analysis was performed using Statistical Analysis Software (SAS) version 9.3. Overall, 13.0% of the study sample reported no depression treatment, 67.8% used antidepressants only and 19.2% used combination therapy. Among individuals with OA significant subgroup differences in depression treatment were observed. For example, African Americans were less likely to report depression treatment compared to whites [antidepressants: AOR=0.33, 95% CI=0.21,0.51; combination therapy: AOR=0.39, 95% CI=0.23, 0.65]. Elderly adults were more likely to receive antidepressants and less likely to receive psychotherapy as compared to younger adults [AOR=0.53, 95% CI= 0.28,0.98]. Adults with anxiety were more likely to report depression treatment compared to those without anxiety [antidepressants: AOR=1.53, 95% CI=1.06, 2.22; combination therapy: AOR=3.52, 95% CI=2.40, 5.15]. Future research needs to examine the reason for low rates of combination therapy as well as subgroup differences in combination therapy among individuals with OA.
The parents' perspective: ethical decision-making in neonatal intensive care

Ethical debate abounds in the literature relative to treatment decisions for the high risk neonate in the intensive care nursery. A systematic examination of the parents' perspective is missing. To fill this existing gap, the ethical dimension of care was explored with 32 families of high risk newborns from a Level III nursery, using a moral conflict interview guide in order to describe their perspective. A concept of the medicalization of parenting appears to best reflect the parents' view of ethical decision-making responsibility. This concept evolved through the parents' reflection on conflict naming, content of decision-making, context of decision-making, information sharing and perception of infant status. These concerns differ profoundly from those of health professionals, philosophers, theologians and others active in this debate who cite lower limits of viability, iatrogenic effects of treatment, use of multiple invasive procedures, and the role of paternalism as ethical issues.
Cell Elastic Modulus Cytometry using Diode-Bar Optical Stretchers

The mechanical deformation of biological cells using optical forces is an efficient experimental method to study cellular mechanical properties that may identify cell types and detect disease states. However, the low throughput has significantly limited its utility and application due to the need to sequentially isolate and probe individual cells. We have implemented a pseudo steady-state high-throughput optical stretcher in which anisotropic forces from an inexpensive laser diode stretch osmotically swollen bovine erythrocytes in a continuous microfluidic flow at a rate of ∼ 1 cell/second. This measurement rate is a factor of 10-100 higher than previous demonstrations of optical stretching. We also simulate the deformation of elastic capsules induced by single diode-bar optical stretcher with and without flow. Finally, we demonstrate how theory can be applied to determine the elastic modulus of individual cells from experimental measurements of the equilibrium deformation. Analysis of the deformed cells results in a shear modulus in the range of reported values from 2.5x10−3 dyne/cm to 1.3x10−2 dyne/cm for swollen human erythrocytes. This new optical approach has the potential to be readily integrated with other cytometric technologies, and with the capability of measuring cell populations, thus enabling true mechanical-property based cytometry.
Molecular cloning and expression of rat hepatic neutral cholesteryl ester hydrolase

Abstract The 1923 bp cDNA for rat hepatic cholesteryl ester hydrolase (CEH) was cloned by screening a λgt11 expression library with an oligonucleotide containing the consensus active site sequence for cholesteryl esterases. Expression of a fusion protein, cross-reacting with antibody to the purified liver CEH, was demonstrated by Western blot analysis. The cDNA was sequenced and found to have only 44% homology with pancreatic CEH. Although unique, the cDNA sequence exhibited much greater overall homology with liver carboxylesterases, in both coding and 5′/3′ non-coding regions. In Northern blot analysis, the cDNA hybridized with a single band from liver mRNA but not with pancreatic mRNA. The 1.7 kb coding sequence, predicting a 62 kDa protein, was cloned into an Escherichia coli expression system with an inducible promoter and into COS-7 cells. Both expression systems produced a protein which comigrated with liver CEH (66 kDa) on SDS-PAGE and immunoreacted with antibodies to liver CEH on Western blots. Whereas the prokaryotic system produced an inactive protein, expression in COS-7 cells was accompanied by a 5-fold increase in CEH activity and a corresponding increase in immunoreactive protein.
Mission design overview for the Mars Exploration Rover Mission

In the summer of 2003, NASA will launch the next wave of robotic explorers towards the planet Mars. Specifically designed to 'follow the water', two identical rovers wil be delivered to the surface of Mars to remotely conduct geologic and atmospheric investigations.
Lithium niobate bicrystal

Abstract In studies directed towards improving the basic understanding of the influence of grain boundaries upon the properties of electroceramic materials, studies are being made of artificial planar boundaries created in single domain ferroelectric lithium niobate crystals by thermally bonding carefully polished (001) surfaces. Bonding of “clean” surfaces is accomplished under a uniaxial compressive stress of 106 N/M2 at between 1050 and 1100°C in a time of order 16 to 24 hours. Optical and SEM characterization of the boundary plane is given. New domain features of bicrystal are discussed. In encounter bicrystal, domain shifting through the boundary and domain splitting are observed. Dielectric data for bicrystal are presented.
VIBRATION OF AXIALLY LOADED DAMPED BEAMS ON VISCOELASTIC FOUNDATION

Abstract The vibration of damped beams, taking in account the effects of the axial force and viscoelastic foundation, and constrained by any combination of end restraining conditions, is analyzed by using the trigonometric series solution in conjunction with the Stokes' transformation. Simply supported beams and clamped-pinned beams are considered for examining various effects and for illustrating the method. Some numerical results are presented for illustrative purposes.
How influenza virus is locked out of the cell

Enveloped viruses acquire a lipid membrane when they bud across a cellular membrane during virus assembly. In cell entry, the viral membrane must be fused to the host-cell membrane to deliver the viral genome into the cytoplasm for replication. Membrane fusion is therefore an essential step in the life cycle of enveloped viruses, and a great deal of research in recent years has been directed at identifying inhibitors of viral membrane fusion. One notable success in this area is the HIV fusion inhibitor enfurvirtide (T-20, Fuzeon) (1), which has become part of the standard treatment for patients who have detectable viral loads after treatment with protease and reverse transcriptase inhibitors. Although influenza remains a primary global health problem, there are no clinically useful fusion inhibitors availableagainst influenza virus. In a recent issue of PNAS, Russell et al. (2) report the crystal structure of the influenza virus hemagglutinin (HA) envelope protein bound to a compound that was reported to inhibit membrane fusion and infectivity of certain strains of influenza. The structure provides an excellent starting framework for the rational design of more effective membrane fusion inhibitors for use as therapeutics against influenza.
Radioprotection of Tendon Tissue via Crosslinking and Free Radical Scavenging

Ionizing radiation could supplement tissue bank screening to further reduce the probability of diseases transmitted by allografts if denaturation effects can be minimized. It is important, however, such sterilization procedures be nondetrimental to tissues. We compared crosslinking and free radical scavenging potential methods to accomplish this task in tendon tissue. In addition, two forms of ionizing irradiation, gamma and electron beam (e-beam), were also compared. Crosslinkers included 1-ethyl-3-(3-dimethylaminopropyl) carbodiimide (EDC) and glucose, which were used to add exogenous crosslinks to collagen. Free radical scavengers included mannitol, ascorbate, and riboflavin. Radioprotective effects were assessed through tensile testing and collagenase resistance testing after irradiation at 25 kGy and 50 kGy. Gamma and e-beam irradiation produced similar degenerative effects. Crosslinkers had the highest strength at 50 kGy, EDC treated tendons had 54% and 49% higher strength than untreated, for gamma and e-beam irradiation respectively. Free radical scavengers showed protective effects up to 25 kGy, especially for ascorbate and riboflavin. Crosslinked samples had higher resistance to collagenase and over a wider dose range than scavenger-treated. Of the options studied, the data suggest EDC precrosslinking or glucose treatment provides the best maintenance of native tendon properties after exposure to ionizing irradiation.