cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Differential effects of methamphetamine and cocaine on conditioned place preference and locomotor activity in adult and adolescent male rats

Human and animal laboratory studies show that adolescents and adults respond differently to drugs and that drug administration during adolescence leads to different behavioral effects than during adulthood. Although there are a number of studies on the effects of cocaine, little is known about the effects of methamphetamine in adolescent vs adult rats. In the present study, sensitivity to the conditioned reward of multiple doses of methamphetamine or cocaine was evaluated in male adolescent (PND 34) and adult (PND 66) rats using a conditioned place preference (CPP) paradigm. In addition, the locomotor-activating effects of methamphetamine were determined across a 5-day period of administration. After 3 days of training with cocaine, both adolescent and adult male rats developed CPP to cocaine, however, the dose-effect curve for cocaine CPP was shifted to the left in adolescent compared to adult rats. In contrast to the development of CPP to cocaine in both groups after 3 days of conditioning, methamphetamine CPP occurred only in adolescent, and not in adult rats. After 5 days of training, however, both adolescent and adult rats exhibited identical responses to multiple doses of methamphetamine and a significant CPP was observed in both groups. Daily administration of methamphetamine increased locomotor activity in both adolescent and adult rats, with a greater effect seen in the adults. In neither group, was there evidence of a significant sensitization to the locomotor-activating effects of methamphetamine. These data show that adolescents are more sensitive to psychostimulant reward and thus to the conditioned rewarding properties of cocaine or methamphetamine than adults. A better understanding of this difference may lead to age-specific preventions and treatments for psychostimulant abuse.
Treating difficult or disruptive dialysis patients: practical strategies based on ethical principles

For more than a decade, dialysis units have had to contend with an increasing number of difficult or disruptive dialysis patients. These individuals present a spectrum of behaviors, ranging from those that harm only themselves to those that physically endanger dialysis staff. Such behaviors can interfere with the ability of the dialysis staff to care for the patient in question and for other patients; in addition, threats or actual physical abuse jeopardize the health and safety of both patients and staff. In this Review, we discuss how the application of ethical principles can assist dialysis staff to balance their ethical obligations to disruptive and difficult patients with those to other patients and staff, and to establish policies and strategies for the treatment of these challenging patients. This approach also allows health-care professionals to identify the limited situations in which involuntary patient discharge from a dialysis unit is ethically justified.
Manufacturing supply chain applications 3: efficient simulations of supply chains

High volume production flows are modeled by nonlinear hyperbolic partial differential equations representing conservation laws. These models have Little's law explicitly built into the formulation. Borrowing from concepts in gas dynamics and vehicular traffic models we derive several prototypical equations representing linear as well as reentrant factories. Multiple products, dispatch polices and control actions can be modeled. Standard hydrodynamic codes provide very fast simulations of these models allowing us to link them together to form efficient supply chain simulations.
Dopamine transporter immunohistochemistry in median eminence, amygdala, and other areas of the rat brain

In an extension of our previous work, an antibody directed against a peptide from the N-terminal region of DAT was used to localize specific dopamine transporter immunoreactivity (DAT-IR) in several regions of rat brain. Apparent axons and varicosities were found in the zona incerta, external layer of the median eminence, various nuclei of the amygdala, the cortex-amygdala transition zone, and in periglomerular regions in the olfactory bulb. Apparent stained neuronal perikarya and dendrites were observed in the arcuate nucleus and olfactory bulb. These regions are known to have dopaminergic neurons and innervations, although there was not a perfect correspondence between DAT-IR and the known distribution of dopaminergic neurons. A possible explanation is that different dopamine containing cell groups express different levels of DAT mRNA and protein, as we have previously shown. Also in the tuberoinfundibular neurons, for example, DAT-IR was preferentially localized to distal axons in the median eminence, suggesting intracellular compartmentation.
The incidence of underfoot accidents during 1985 in a working population of 10,000 Merseyside people

The number of injuries caused by slipping and other underfoot accidents in unknown. A population of 10,000 people employed on Merseyside was studied to determine the number of underfoot accidents occurring during 1985, both at work and elsewhere. Eight hundred and twenty three underfoot accidents were recorded of which 511 were slipping accidents. The next most numerous underfoot event was tripping (142), followed by twisting of the foot or ankle (97). Objects on the floor were implicated in 108 slipping accidents and liquids were thought to have contributed to at least 231. Ice and snow caused 70 injuries. Steps and stairs contributed to 91 (11%) underfoot accidents. Slipping was again shown to be a major cause of injury to the lumbar spine. Injuries caused by 220 of the slipping accidents required diagnosis and treatment by a doctor and this investigation supports an earlier estimate that more than one million injuries caused by slipping are treated annually by United Kingdom hospitals.
Resistance of calcium hydroxide preparations to solubility in phosphoric acid

prepared in different ways. An in-viva study. J Dent Child 37.291 19io. . , 0 Lre, 11. L.., Cupples, A. I.., Schubert, R. J., and Swartz, M. L.. An adhesive dental restorative material. ,J Dent Res 50~125, 1971. 1 Lrc, H. I... Orlowski. J. A., Scheidt, G C., and Lee, J. R.: Effects of acid rtchants on dentine. ,J Dent Res 52:1228, 1973. 2 Retief, D. H.. Austin, J. C., and Fatti, L. P.: Pulpal response to phosphoric arid. ,J Oral Pathol 3:114, 1974. 3 Gksen, H. M.: Pulpal response of monkeys to a composite resin cement. J Deni Res 53:565, 1974. 4 Pashley. D. II., Michelich. V., and Kehl. ‘I‘.: Dentin permeability: EfTects of ~rn~‘a~ layer rc-mod J PROSTHFA DEN.1 46:531. 1981. Ii. Brauer, (;. M., Jackson, J. A., and Termini, D. J.: Bonding of acrylic resins to dentin with ‘-ryanoacrylate esters. J Dent Res 58:1900, 1979. 16. Anderson, T. F.: Techniques for the preservation of threedimensional structure in preparing specimens for the electron microscope. Trans NY Acad Sci 13:130, 195 1.
Restless Legs Syndrome: Pathophysiology and Treatment

Restless legs syndrome (RLS) is a complicated sensory-motor syndrome. The pathology is increasingly understood, but a clear physiologic understanding still remains elusive. The most robust findings remain reduced central nervous system (CNS) iron and some perturbation in dopaminergic systems. Other neurotransmitter systems are also like involved, and the phenotype may result from distinct pathophysiologic processes. Treatment of RLS is often very successful, and treatment goals should be high. Dopamine agonists may most robustly improve pure urge to move and certainly periodic limb movements. They do not directly improve sleep, and long-term use is limited by augmentation. Alpha-2-delta ligand drugs such as gabapentin enacarbil and pregabalin improve RLS, presumably in a less specific manner. These drugs increase slow wave sleep and improve pain, but have less impact on leg movements. Mu specific opioids also robustly improve RLS and are probably underutilized in severe cases. Intravenous iron inconsistently but sometimes considerably improves RLS and can be considered in refractory cases.
Hard X-ray bremsstrahlung production in solar flares by high-energy proton beams

The possibility that solar hard X-ray bremsstrahlung is produced by acceleration of stationary electrons by fast-moving protons, rather than vice versa, as commonly assumed, was investigated. It was found that a beam of protons which involves 1836 times fewer particles, each having an energy 1836 times greater than that of the electrons in the equivalent electron beam model, has exactly the same bremsstrahlung yield for a given target, i.e., the mechanism has an energetic efficiency equal to that of conventional bremsstrahlung models. Allowance for the different degrees of target ionization appropriate to the two models (for conventional flare geometries) makes the proton beam model more efficient than the electron beam model, by a factor of order three. The model places less stringent constraints than a conventional electron beam model on the flare energy release mechanism. It is also consistent with observed X-ray burst spectra, intensities, and directivities. The altitude distribution of hard X-rays predicted by the model agrees with observations only if nonvertical injection of the protons is assumed. The model is inconsistent with gamma-ray data in terms of conventional modeling.
Modeling responses of coupled social–ecological systems of the Gulf of California to anthropogenic and natural perturbations

Key elements of the rapidly expanding field of ecosystem-based management include: (a) understanding connections among social and ecological systems and (b) developing analytical approaches to inform the necessary trade-offs among ecosystem services and human activities in coastal and marine areas. To address these needs, we investigate the impacts of multiple economic sectors on the marine ecosystem and dependent human community in the Gulf of California with an ecological-economic model. We focus on the spotted rose snapper (Lutjanus guttatus), an economically important species targeted concurrently by the nearshore artisanal fleet, the sportfishing fleet, and by the industrial shrimp fleet as bycatch. Economic returns to the local community are driven by the artisanal fishery catch and the number of tourists who engage in the sportsfishery, and these variables are in turn impacted by fish abundance. We find that the coexistence of the two sectors (and production of both seafood and tourism services) creates stability in key elements of the coupled systems. When the coupled systems are perturbed by changes in exploitation and climate variability, the artisanal fishery responds more rapidly and to a greater degree than the sportsfishery to shifts in the fish population. Our results suggest that vital components of coupled systems may well respond differently to climate variability or other perturbations, and that management strategies should be developed with this in mind. Models like ours can facilitate the development and testing of hypotheses about the form and strength of interactions between ecosystems, services, and the human communities that rely on them.
Erythroid differentiation in chimaeric mice blocked by a targeted mutation in the gene for transcription factor GATA-1

THE zinc-finger transcription factor GATA-1 (previously known as GF-1, NF-E1 or Eryf 1 (refs 1-5)) binds to GATA consensus elements in regulatory regions of theα- and β-globin gene clusters2–6 and other erythroid cell-specific genes7–9. Analysis of the effects of mutations in GATA-binding sites in cell culture and in binding assays in vitro2,5,10,11, as well as transactivation studies with GATA-1 expression vectors in heterologous cells12, have provided indirect evidence that this factor is involved in the activation of globin and other genes during erythroid cell maturation. GATA-1 is also expressed in megakaryocytes13,14 and mast cells13, but not in other blood cell lineages or in non-haemopoietic cells. To investigate the role of this factor in haematopoiesis in vivo. we disrupted the X-linked GATA-1 gene by homologous recombination in a male (XY) murine embryonic stem cell line and tested the GATA-1-deficient cells for their ability to contribute to different tissues in chimaeric mice. The mutant embryonic stem cells contributed to all non-haemopoietic tissues tested and to a white blood cell fraction, but failed to give rise to mature red blood cells. This demonstrates that GATA-1 is required for the normal differentiation of erythroid cells, and that other GATA-binding proteins15,16 cannot compensate for its absence.
Low-energy electron diffraction intensities - Comparison between theory and experiment

An extended version of the Bethe theory of low-energy electron diffraction is presented and successfully applied to a computation of diffracted beam intensity as a function of wavelength of the incident electron. The results show consistent behavior with respect to parameter variation and are in reasonable agreement with measured beam intensities.
Blockade of morphine-induced increases in brain tryptophan hydroxylase activity by systemic pretreatment with CCK-8: no reversal by vagotomy.

Abstract The treatment of rats with CCK-8 suppresses the behavioral responses to subsequent injection of opiates. We have investigated the possibility that peripherally administered CCK-8 can also suppress a neurochemical response to opiates, namely the increase in brain tryptophan hydroxylase (TrpH) activity and tissue 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid (5-HIAA) which results from morphine administration. While morphine sulfate (4 mg/kg s.c.) roughly doubled brain TrpH activity and tissue 5-HIAA 40 min after injection, pretreatment with CCK-8 (5 μg/kg i.p., 10 min prior to morphine) completely abolished this neurochemical change induced by morphine. Doses of CCK-8 as low as 1 μ/kg were effective in blunting the morphine-induced increase in cortical TrpH activity, but the desulfated form was ineffective at doses of 5 and 100 μ/kg. Subdiaphragmatic vagotomy did not prevent the effect of CCK-8.
Data-intensive CyberShake computations on an opportunistic cyberinfrastructure

This abstract describes the aggregation of TeraGrid and Open Science Grid to run the SCEC CyberShake application faster than on TeraGrid alone. Because the resources are distributed and data movement is required to use more than one resource, a careful analysis of the cost of data movement vs. the benefits of distributed computation has been done in order to best distribute the work across the resources.
Long-term outcome and prognostic indicators in the hemolytic-uremic syndrome

We examined 61 patients an average of 9.6 years (range 5 to 18 years) after an episode of childhood hemolytic-uremic syndrome. Twenty-four (39%) had one or more abnormalities, Seven (11%) had proteinuria and six (10%) had low creatinine clearance as solitary abnormalities. Eight (13%) had both proteinuria and reduced creatinine clearance; three (5%) had a combination of hypertension, proteinuria, and low creatinine clearance. Abnormalities sometimes appeared after an interval of apparent recovery. Logistic regression analysis showed that duration of anuria was the best predictor of disease of follow-up. No patients who had anuria lasting longer than 8 days or ollguria exceeding 15 days escaped chronic disease. However, 45% of those with disease had no anuria, and a third had no oliguria. Physicians should therefore be cautious in assuming recovery from HUS on the basis of a single evaluation and should periodically evaluate patients for an extended period.
On the morphology of aromatic polyamide fibers (Kevlar, Kevlar-49, and PRD-49)

Abstract Three types of aromatic polyamide fibers (Kevlar, Kevlar-49, and PRD-49) were studied by transmission electron microscopy, secondary electron imaging, and electron diffraction techniques. Ultramicrotomy, ion-thinning, and brittle fracture techniques were used to prepare specimens which revealed both longitudinal and transverse fiber structures. Aromatic polyamide fibers exhibit both a “skin” and a “core” structure. The core morphology is shown to be consistent with a layered structure where individual layers are stacked perpendicular to the fiber axis and are composed of rodlike crystallites whose c axes are parallel to the fiber axis. Electron diffraction results indicate that hydrogen bonds are located nearly in the radial direction of the fiber. The crystallite layer thickness appears to depend upon the most probable molecular weight of the fiber. Longer crystallites which pass through two or more layers are present, and may control the strength of the fiber in the axial direction.
1114 AN ACUTE MODEL OF THE FETUS (F) OF DIABETIC PREGNANCY (DP)

To gain insight into mechanisms responsible for disturbed CHO metabolism in DP, we acutely simulated F hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia in sheep (n=5) late in gestation (129 ± 1D; term ∼ 150D). Labeled glucose was simultaneously infused to steady state in M (2-3H) and F (U-14C) before infusing F with glucose (G) 10 mg/kg/min plus insulin (I) 0.05 U/kg/hr for 3 hrs. Glucose turnover (GT), production (Ra), utilization (Rd) and the bidirectional placental transfer (T) were analyzed kineticly in M and F, before and after the G+I infusion. F pH, pO2, pCO2 and Hb did not change throughout. M Glucose kinetics and I levels were unaltered. F G rose from 11 ± 1 mg/dl to 21 ± 2 by 15 min and to 28 ± 2 by 3 hrs. Fetal I increased from 7 ± 1 uU/ml to 15 ± 3 at 15 min and was ∼100 by 90 min, remaining constant thereafter. The M→F T of G, fetal GT and Ra dropped in the first 15 min from 34 ± 2 mg/min to 7 ± 3 (correcting for infused G). Despite ongoing G+I infusion, all variables returned to their original values by 60 min and then remained constant. Fetal Rd increased from 34 ± 2 mg/min to 82 ± 17 by 90 min, but T of G from F→M remained constant throughout. I alone at 0.05 U/kg/hr (n=10) did not cause similar changes in F Rd. Conclusions: (i) Infusions of I+G to F produce only a transient decrease in F GT, Ra and M→F transfer of G; all are rapidly compensated. (ii) In contrast, this procedure causes a sustained 2-3 fold increase in Rd but F→M transfer remains constant. (iii) Our data may explain the CHO changes seen in the F of DP, in which enhanced glucose uptake predominates.
Effect of the Transformation of the Veterans Affairs Health Care System on the Quality of Care

Background In the mid-1990s, the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care system initiated a systemwide reengineering to, among other things, improve its quality of care. We sought to determine the subsequent change in the quality of health care and to compare the quality with that of the Medicare fee-for-service program. Methods Using data from an ongoing performance-evaluation program in the VA, we evaluated the quality of preventive, acute, and chronic care. We assessed the change in quality-of-care indicators from 1994 (before reengineering) through 2000 and compared the quality of care with that afforded by the Medicare fee-for-service system, using the same indicators of quality. Results In fiscal year 2000, throughout the VA system, the percentage of patients receiving appropriate care was 90 percent or greater for 9 of 17 quality-of-care indicators and exceeded 70 percent for 13 of 17 indicators. There were statistically significant improvements in quality from 1994–1995 through 2000 for al...
An Algorithm for the Management of Hypertension in the Setting of Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor Signaling Inhibition

Abstract Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) signaling is considered to be one of the key factors involved in tumor-associated angiogenesis. Inhibition of angiogenesis has significantly improved anticancer therapy making it one of the cornerstones of treatment for various solid tumors. Several antiangiogenesis inhibitory compounds (eg, bevacizumab, sunitinib, sorafenib) are now widely used in the treatment of patients with colorectal, non–small-cell lung, advanced renal cell, hepatocellular, and breast cancer. One of the most commonly observed side effects of inhibition of VEGF signaling is hypertension, which is dose-dependent and varies in incidence among the different angiogenesis inhibitor drugs. Poorly controlled hypertension not only can lead to cardiovascular events, renal disease, and stroke, but may also necessitate discontinuation of anticancer therapy, thereby potentially limiting overall clinical benefit. In contrast, hypertension induced by VEGF inhibitors has been shown to represent an important pharmacodynamic biomarker of oncologic response. For the practicing oncologist, knowledge and optimal management of this toxicity is essential. Because of the lack of controlled studies on this topic, no clear recommendations are available. In this article, we review the available preclinical and clinical data on the pathogenesis and management of hypertension resulting from anti-VEGF inhibitor therapy and propose a treatment algorithm that our group has now implemented for daily clinical practice.
The General Fracture Problem of a Functionally Graded Thermal Barrier Coating (TBC) Bonded to a Substrate

In this paper we consider the general fracture problem of a functionally graded thermal barrier coating (TBC) bonded to a substrate. Functionally Graded Materials (FGMs) used in TBCs are usually made from ceramics and metals. Ceramics provide thermal and corrosion resistance while metals provide the necessary fracture toughness and heat conductivity. The volume fractions of the constituents will usually vary from 100% ceramic at the surface to 0% at the interface continuously providing seamless bonding with the metal substrate. To study the general fracture problem in the TBC we consider an arbitrarily oriented crack in an FGM layer bonded to a half plane. The elastic properties of the FGM layer are assumed to vary exponentially, while those of the half plane are homogeneous. The elastic properties are continuous at the interface. As shown in [1], then the governing elasticity equations become partial differential equations with constant coefficients. Using the transform technique, and defining the crack surface displacement derivatives as the unknown auxiliary functions, the mixed-mode crack problem is reduced to a system of Cauchy type singular integral equations. It is shown that at the crack tips the stresses still possess the regular square-root singularity, making it possible to use the classical definition of stress intensity factors. The singular integral equations are solved numerically using a Gaussian type quadrature and the mode I and mode II stress intensity factors are calculated for various crack lengths and crack orientations. Also the crack surface displacements are computed for different crack inclinations. It is observed that the crack orientation, crack length and the nonhomogeneity parameter affect the stress intensity factors significantly.Copyright © 2004 by ASME
The Image of Saints in the Bavarian Counter Reformation

(1990). The Image of Saints in the Bavarian Counter Reformation. The Historian: Vol. 53, No. 2, pp. 223-240.
Presacral Developmental Cysts

Developmental presacral or retrorectal cysts are extremely rare congenital tumors that arise from primitive embryonal germ cell layers. Classification is based on histopathologic features, and cysts are accordingly defined as epidermoid, dermoid, or enteric cysts. These lesions are commonly asymptomatic or present with vague pelvic symptoms, which may cause a delay in accurate diagnosis and treatment. Complications such as infection, bleeding, and malignant degeneration occur and warrant intervention. A degree of suspicion, thorough physical examination, and appropriate radiographic imaging provide information to develop a management plan with surgical intervention as the treatment of choice.
Catalytic Mechanism of Hamster Arylamine N-Acetyltransferase 2†

Arylamine N-acetyltransferases (NATs) catalyze an acetyl group transfer from AcCoA to primary arylamines, hydrazines, and hydrazides and play a very important role in the metabolism and bioactivation of drugs, carcinogens, and other xenobiotics. The reaction follows a ping-pong bi-bi mechanism. Structure analysis of bacterial NATs revealed a Cys-His-Asp catalytic triad that is strictly conserved in all known NATs. Previously, we have demonstrated by kinetic and isotope effect studies that acetylation of the hamster NAT2 is dependent on a thiolate-imidazolium ion pair (Cys-S(-)-His-ImH(+)) and not a general acid-base catalysis. In addition, we established that, after formation of the acetylated enzyme intermediate, the active-site imidazole, His-107, is likely deprotonated at physiological pH. In this paper, we report steady-state kinetic studies of NAT2 with two acetyl donors, acetyl coenzyme A (AcCoA) and p-nitrophenyl acetate (PNPA), and four arylamine substrates. The pH dependence of k(cat)/K(AcCoA) exhibited two inflection points at 5.32 +/- 0.13 and 8.48 +/- 0.24, respectively. The pK(a) at 5.32 is virtually identical with the previously reported pK(a) of 5.2 for enzyme acetylation, reaffirming that the first half of the reaction is catalyzed by a thiolate-imidazolium ion pair in the active site. The inflection point at 8.48 indicates that a pH-sensitive group on NAT2 is involved in AcCoA binding. A Bronsted plot constructed by the correlation of log k(4) and log k(H)2(O) with the pK(a) for each arylamine substrate and water displays a linear free-energy relationship in the pK(a) range from -1.7 (H(2)O) to 4.67 (PABA), with a slope of beta(nuc) = 0.80 +/- 0.1. However, a further increase of the pK(a) from 4.67 (PABA) to 5.32 (anisidine) resulted in a 2.5-fold decrease in the k(4) value. Analysis of the pH-k(cat)/K(PABA) profile revealed a pK(a) of 5.52 +/- 0.14 and a solvent kinetic isotope effect (SKIE) of 2.01 +/- 0.04 on k(cat)/K(PABA). Normal solvent isotope effects of 4.8 +/- 0.1, 3.1 +/- 0.1, and 3.2 +/- 0.1 on the k(cat)/K(b) for anisidine, pABglu, and PNA, respectively, were also determined. These observations are consistent with a deacetylation mechanism dominated by nucleophilic attack of the thiol ester for arylamines with pK(a) values or=5.5. The general base is likely His-107 because the His-107 to Gln and Asn mutants were found to be devoid of catalytic activity. In contrast, an increase in pH-dependent hydrolysis of the acetylated enzyme was not observed over a pH range of 5.2-7.5. On the basis of these observations, a catalytic mechanism for the acetylation of arylamines by NAT2 is proposed.
Development and Implementation of NASA's Lead Center for Rocket Propulsion Testing

With the new millennium, NASA's John C. Stennis Space Center (SSC) continues to develop and refine its role as rocket test service provider for NASA and the Nation. As Lead Center for Rocket Propulsion Testing (LCRPT), significant progress has been made under SSC's leadership to consolidate and streamline NASA's rocket test infrastructure and make this vital capability truly world class. NASA's Rocket Propulsion Test (RPT) capability consists of 32 test positions with a replacement value in excess of $2B. It is dispersed at Marshall Space Flight Center (MSFC), Johnson Space Center (JSC)-White Sands Test Facility (WSTF), Glenn Research Center (GRC)-Plum Brook (PB), and SSC and is sized appropriately to minimize duplication and infrastructure costs. The LCRPT also provides a single integrated point of entry into NASA's rocket test services. The RPT capability is managed through the Rocket Propulsion Test Management Board (RPTMB), chaired by SSC with representatives from each center identified above. The Board is highly active, meeting weekly, and is key to providing responsive test services for ongoing operational and developmental NASA and commercial programs including Shuttle, Evolved Expendable Launch Vehicle, and 2nd and 3rd Generation Reusable Launch Vehicles. The relationship between SSC, the test provider, and the hardware developers, like MSFC, is critical to the implementation of the LCRPT. Much effort has been expended to develop and refine these relationships with SSC customers. These efforts have met with success and will continue to be a high priority to SSC for the future. To data in the exercise of its role, the LCRPT has made 22 test assignments and saved or avoided approximately $51M. The LCRPT directly manages approximately $30M annually in test infrastructure costs including facility maintenance and upgrades, direct test support, and test technology development. This annual budges supports rocket propulsion test programs which have an annual budget in excess of $150M. As the LCRPT continues to develop, customer responsiveness and lower cost test services will be major themes. In that light, SSC is embarking on major test technology development activities ensuring long range goals of safer, more responsive, and more cost effective test services are realized. The LCRPT is also focusing on the testing requirements for advanced propulsion systems. This future planning is key to defining and fielding the ability to test these new technologies in support of the hardware developers.
Retail profitability and sweatshops: a global dilemma

Today's social contract requires that retailers provide consumers with competitively priced merchandise that is produced under fair and humane conditions, a demand that is increasingly difficult to meet in a global environment where retail buyers are separated from merchandise suppliers both geographically and structurally. As retailers have increasingly turned to outsourcing as a means of protecting bottom line performance, they have become increasingly vulnerable to attack by sweatshop critics. This paper provides a chronological review of sweatshop reform efforts as they relate to world retail trade. The economics of sweatshops are considered, and retail responses to sweatshop critics are described.
Hypoxia activates multiple transcriptional pathways in mouse pheochromocytoma cells

Mouse pheochromocytoma cells (MPCs) provide an excellent model system for investigating the effects of hypoxia on catecholamine enzyme genes and on transcription factors mediating stress responses. RT-PCR detects rapid, transient increases in PNMT mRNA in hypoxic MPC 712 cells. Additionally, elevation of mRNAs encoding transcription factors hypoxia inducible factor 1 (HIF-1) alpha subunit and Egr-1 are evident within 60 min incubation in anoxia. Therefore, hypoxia elicits rapid transcriptional responses in numerous genes expressed by chromaffin cells.
Contemporary Avian Influenza A Virus Subtype H1, H6, H7, H10, and H15 Hemagglutinin Genes Encode a Mammalian Virulence Factor Similar to the 1918 Pandemic Virus H1 Hemagglutinin

ABSTRACT Zoonotic avian influenza virus infections may lead to epidemics or pandemics. The 1918 pandemic influenza virus has an avian influenza virus-like genome, and its H1 hemagglutinin was identified as a key mammalian virulence factor. A chimeric 1918 virus expressing a contemporary avian H1 hemagglutinin, however, displayed murine pathogenicity indistinguishable from that of the 1918 virus. Here, isogenic chimeric avian influenza viruses were constructed on an avian influenza virus backbone, differing only by hemagglutinin subtype expressed. Viruses expressing the avian H1, H6, H7, H10, and H15 subtypes were pathogenic in mice and cytopathic in normal human bronchial epithelial cells, in contrast to H2-, H3-, H5-, H9-, H11-, H13-, H14-, and H16-expressing viruses. Mouse pathogenicity was associated with pulmonary macrophage and neutrophil recruitment. These data suggest that avian influenza virus hemagglutinins H1, H6, H7, H10, and H15 contain inherent mammalian virulence factors and likely share a key virulence property of the 1918 virus. Consequently, zoonotic infections with avian influenza viruses bearing one of these hemagglutinins may cause enhanced disease in mammals. IMPORTANCE Influenza viruses from birds can cause outbreaks in humans and may contribute to the development of pandemics. The 1918 pandemic influenza virus has an avian influenza virus-like genome, and its main surface protein, an H1 subtype hemagglutinin, was identified as a key mammalian virulence factor. In a previous study, a 1918 virus expressing an avian H1 gene was as virulent in mice as the reconstructed 1918 virus. Here, a set of avian influenza viruses was constructed, differing only by hemagglutinin subtype. Viruses with the avian H1, H6, H7, H10, and H15 subtypes caused severe disease in mice and damaged human lung cells. Consequently, infections with avian influenza viruses bearing one of these hemagglutinins may cause enhanced disease in mammals, and therefore surveillance for human infections with these subtypes may be important in controlling future outbreaks.
Effect of mixing duration and vacuum on methane production rate from beef cattle waste

The effects of mixing duration and vacuum on methane production rates from anaerobically fermented beef cattle wastes were discussed. The results showed that continuously mixed fermentors produced significantly (P less than 0.05) higher methane production rates than fermentors mixed two hours per day. However, the rates from the continuously mixed fermentors were only 8-11% higher than the intermittently mixed fermentors at six and four days hydraulic retention time (HRT), respectively. There was no significant difference between the vacuum and conventional fermentors at six days HRT, but there was a significant difference at four days HRT. The CH/sub 4/ production rate of the vacuum fermentors was 5% higher than the conventional fermentors at four days HRT. The results of these experiments compared well with predicted CH/sub 4/ production rates. These results suggest that there is little potential for increasing the fermentation rates of livestock wastes by increased mixing or vacuum. (Refs. 12).
Thermally induced respiratory responses of the unanesthetized goat

Abstract Three, 2 year old, non-pregnant, unanesthetized, female goats with surgically exteriorized carotid loops were each exposed for 120 min to ambient temperatures (T a ) of 25, 30, 35 and 40 °C (with constant 40% relative humidity), representing thermoneutrality (T a 25 °C) and progressive levels of heat stress. Thermoregulatory adjustments were indexed in the last 30 min of each exposure by measurements of rectal (T re ) and 6 skin surface temperatures (T s ) as well as respiratory frequency (f), oxygen consumption ( o 2 ), and respiratory evaporative heat loss (E); blood samples were analyzed for H + and P CO 2 . Similar to other furred, domestic animals, the goat increased T s 's, f and E at T a 40 °C, in comparison to responses at T a 25 °C. In contrast to other homeotherms, however, the goat progressively increased alveolar ventilation ( A ) at all T a 's above 25 °C matched with increases in f and decreases in V T , even without an elevation in internal body temperature (T re 's were 40.0, 40.0 and 40.2 °C at T a 's 25, 30 and 35 °C respectively; T re at T a 40 °C was 41.2 °C). These data indicate that the goat is unique among other warm-blooded animals in that respiratory alkalosis accompanies increases in skin blood flow, minute ventilation and E at all stages of acute heat stress. In defending against hyperthermia, the goat does not appear to be able to increase E without increasing A .
Distributed source-channel coding for wireless sensor networks

In this paper, we investigate properties of good coding strategies for a class of wireless sensor networks that could be termed "monitoring" networks: their task is to monitor an underlying physical reality at the highest possible fidelity. Since the sensed signals are often analog, and the communication channels noisy, it is not generally possible to exactly communicate the sensed signals. Rather, such sensor network scenarios involve both a compression and a communication problem. It is well known that these two tasks must be addressed jointly for optimal performance, but optimal performance is unknown in general. This problem is addressed from a scaling-law perspective in this paper, i.e., as the number of nodes becomes large. The goal of the paper is to characterize the key properties of coding strategies that achieve the optimum scaling behavior, and hence to identify the scaling-law relevant issues in code design. We first present a lower bound to the cost-distortion tradeoff, and then compare two fundamentally different coding strategies to that lower bound.
Development of a clinician-administered National Institutes of Health-Brief Fatigue Inventory: A measure of fatigue in the context of depressive disorders

Abstract Objective Fatigue is a complex, multidimensional condition. Although it is often associated with depression, it is not known whether it has a distinct network from depression or whether it can be clinically evaluated, separately. This study describes preliminary findings in the development of a brief, clinician-administered instrument to measure fatigue in the context of depressive disorders using items from existing clinician-administered depression and mania scales. Methods Based on items from prior fatigue measurements, items were selected from the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HDRS), Montgomery–Asberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS), Young Mania Rating Scale, and Structured Interview Guide for HDRS with Atypical Depression. The final items composed the NIH-Brief Fatigue Inventory (NIH-BFI). Responses from 89 depressed adults collected pre- and post-antidepressant therapy (ADT) determined the reliability and consistency of the NIH-BFI using Cronbach's alpha and principal components analysis (PCA). Correlations of the NIH-BFI and fatigue items from other scales before and after ADT explored validity. Results The 7-item NIH-BFI had Cronbach alphas ranging from 0.81 to 0.88 and PCA indicating a single dimension. The NIH-BFI score was strongly correlated (r = 0.73, p Conclusions Preliminary findings show support for internal consistency reliability and validity of the NIH-BFI, a clinician-administered measure of fatigue. Further testing in other clinical populations is recommended to obtain additional information on reliability and validity. The NIH-BFI provides a method for clinician-rated fatigue that may be a separate from depression.
Optical Multidimensional Spectroscopy of Atomic Vapor

Optical single- and double-quantum three-dimensional Fourier-transform spectra are obtained for atomic vapors. We show that three-dimensional spectra can be used to identify the Hamiltonian of complex systems and to reveal the nature of many-body interactions.
Allelochemical autotoxicity in the emergent wetland macrophyte Juncus effusus (Juncaceae)

Bioassays for allelochemical toxicity of aboveground Juncus effusus tissues were conducted with seeds and seedlings of Eleocharis obtusa and Scirpus cyperinus, two emergent sedge species (Cyperaceae) found sympatric with J. effusus, and with seeds and seedlings of J. effusus itself to evaluate potential autotoxicity. Bioassays were performed under controlled, axenic conditions with aqueous shoot extract treatments simulating in situ dissolved organic carbon concentrations. With respect to the two sedge species, neither shoot development nor seedling biomass accrual was significantly suppressed by lyophilized whole extracts from J. effusus. Although the extracts induced no significant reduction in growth of E. obtusa or S. cyperinus, biomass-specific chlorophyll a concentration was significantly reduced in E. obtusa seedlings. In contrast, seedlings of J. effusus exhibited significant reductions of biomass and chlorophyll a concentrations, and seedling shoot development was retarded in response to leachate exposure. Results of the present study suggest that J. effusus seedlings possess autotoxic sensitivity to extracts of dead, aboveground tissues of adult plants. Competitive effects on plant community structure can occur via indirect, exploitative competition for resources or direct interference among competing individuals, the latter usually taking the form of allelochemical interac
Functionalism and The Independence Problems

The independence problems for functionalism stem from the worry that functional properties that are defined in terms of their causes and effects are not sufficiently independent of those purported causes and effects. I distinguish three different ways the independence problems can be filled out—in terms of necessary connections, conceptual connections and vacuous explanations. I argue that none of these present serious problems. Instead, they bring out some important and over-looked features of functionalism. Functionalism A functional property is a property that is characterized in terms of what it does or how it relates to other things. That is, functional properties are individuated by their causal profile. Functionalism about a domain (e.g. economics, psychology) is the view that the properties of the domain are functional properties. Functionalism is a general strategy in the philosophy of science for connecting higher level sciences like psychology or economics to lower level sciences like physics. For a familiar and idealized example from psychology, suppose that pain 1 is completely characterized as the property that causes wincing. 2 If so, pain is a functional property and pain causes wincing is a functional law (Putnam 1960, Fodor 1968). 3
BACILLUS THURINGIENSIS FOR CONTROLLING THREE SPECIES OF MOTHS IN STORED GRAIN

In laboratory studies, an aqueous suspension of a commercial wettable powder formulation of Bacillus thuringiensis var. kurstaki (strain HD-1) containing at least 25 billion viable spores/g and 16000 International Units of Potency (Trichoplusia ni (Hubner))/mg prevented infestations of Indian meal moths, Plodia interpunctella (Hubner), and almond moths, Cadra cautella (Walker), in corn and wheat at a dose of ca. 120 mg of formulation/kg of grain. Treatment of a 100-mm-deep surface layer was more effective than treatments 33 or 67 mm deep and as effective as treatment of the entire grain mass Lack of uniformity in applying B. thuringiensis to the grain kernels caused a small decrease in effectiveness. Dust and bait formulations at about the same doses were as effective as the suspension, but the bait was undesirable because it supported the development of beetle larvae. The formulation was less effective in controlling the Angoumois grain moth, Sitotroga cerealella (Olivier): doses that gave complete control of the Indian meal moth and the almond moth reduced emergence of adult Angoumois grain moths by only about one-third.
Using accidental eccentricity in code-specified static and dynamic analyses of buildings

The differences between the increase in building response due to accidental eccentricity predicted by code-specified static and dynamic analyses are studied for symmetric and unsymmetric single and multistorey buildings. The increase in response computed from static analysis of the building is obtained by applying the equivalent static forces at distance e a , equal to the storey accidental eccentricity, from the centre of mass at each floor. Alternatively, this increase in response is computed by dynamic analysis of the building with the centre of mass of each floor shifted through a distance e a from its nominal position. A parametric study is performed on single-storey systems in order to evaluate the differences in response predicted by both analysis procedures.
Relation of immediate and delayed thallium-201 distribution to localization of iodine-125 antimyosin antibody in acute experimental myocardial infarction

Thallium-201 (TI-201) distribution in acute experimental myocardial infarction (MI) (n = 18) was compared with cardiac-specific antimyosin Fab (AM-Fab) uptake, a specific marker for myocardial necrosis. When antimyosin was injected 4 hours after ligation with TI-201 administered 23 hours 55 minutes later and measurement of myocardial distribution determined 5 minutes after intravenous administration of TI-201, (1) TI-201 distribution closely correlated with microsphere regional blood flow, and (2) an inverse exponential relation to iodine-125 (I-125) AM-Fab uptake was apparent. In another group of 4 animals, TI-201 and AM-Fab were administered intravenously 4 hours after MI, and 36 hours later myocardial distribution was measured. This delayed TI-201 distribution had a close inverse linear correlation with I-125 AM-Fab uptake. This inverse linear relation also was apparent in 28-hour-old MIs in dogs (n = 4) where collateral circulation had been established. TI-201 was administered intravenously at 27 hours after MI, and TI-201 distribution was determined 1 hour later. The present study demonstrated that whereas immediate TI-201 distribution is flow-limited, delayed TI-201 distribution is a marker of cell viability which, due to prolonged circulation time and redistribution, is not flow-limited.
Evaluation of apoptotic leukocytes in peripheral blood smears.

Abstract Objectives.—Apoptosis is a phenomenon of physiological cell death in which each step is regulated, similar to the process of mitosis. We observed apoptosis in leukocytes during the review of peripheral blood smears. This study was undertaken to evaluate the morphologic features of apoptotic leukocytes in peripheral blood smears and to ascertain their clinical significance. Design.—Sixty cases (23 males and 37 females, aged newborn to 92 years) exhibiting apoptotic leukocytes in peripheral blood smears were studied. Medical records for each case were reviewed, and patients were categorized according to their clinical diagnoses. Results.—Neutrophils were the most common apoptotic leukocytes identified (85%), followed by lymphocytes (18%) and eosinophils (2%). The diagnosis most frequently associated with the presence of apoptotic leukocytes was infection (55%). Apoptosis in lymphocytes was comparatively less common, but when present, the most common associations were diabetes mellitus, glucocortico...
Solution insights into the structure of the Efb/C3 complement inhibitory complex as revealed by lysine acetylation and mass spectrometry

The extracellular fibrinogen-binding protein (Efb), an immunosuppressive and anti-inflammatory protein secreted by Staphylococcus aureus, has been identified as a potent inhibitor of complement-mediated innate immunity. Efb functions by binding to and disrupting the function of complement component 3 (C3). In a recent study, we presented a high-resolution co-crystal structure of the complement inhibitory domain of Efb (Efb-C) bound to its cognate domain (C3d) from human C3 and employed a series of structure/function analyses that provided evidence for an entirely new, conformational change-based mechanism of complement inhibition. To better understand the Efb/C3 complex and its downstream effects on C3 inhibition, we investigated the solvent-accessibility and protein interface of Efb(-C)/C3d using a method of lysine acetylation, proteolytic digestion, and mass spectrometric analysis. Lysine modification in Efb was monitored by the mass increment of lysine-containing fragments. Besides confirming the binding sites observed in co-crystal structure study, the in-solution data presented here suggest additional contacting point(s) between the proteins that were not revealed by crystallography. The results of this study demonstrate that solution-based analysis of protein-protein interactions can provide important complementary information on the nature of protein-protein interactions.
Public reporting of cardiac surgery performance: introduction.

Cardiac surgery has been at the forefront of healthcare quality measurement and improvement for ore than 2 decades. The Society of Thoracic Surgeons STS) Adult Cardiac Surgery Database was introduced in 989 and now enrolls patients from approximately 95% of ardiac surgery programs in the United States. Robust eneral thoracic and congenital cardiac surgery dataases have also been developed and implemented.
Downlink-uplink duality and effective bandwidths

There is an interesting duality between the uplink and downlink beamforming problems. We exhibit this duality and use it to show that effective bandwidth results obtained for the uplink translate into effective bandwidth results for the downlink. This duality has been observed in a variety of seemingly different contexts in the literature.