cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Link design and planning for Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO) Ka-band (32 GHz) telecom demonstration

NASA is planning a Ka-band (32 GHz) engineering telemetry demonstration with Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter (MRO). Capabilities of Ka-band for use with deep space mission are demonstrated using the link optimization algorithms and weather forecasting. Furthermore, based on the performance of previous deep space missions with Ka-band downlink capabilities, experiment plans are developed for telemetry operations during superior solar conjunction. A general overview of the demonstration is given followed by a description of the experiment planning during cruise, the primary science mission and superior conjunction. As part of the primary science mission planning the expected data return for various data optimization methods is calculated. These results indicate that, given MRO's data rates, a link optimized to use of at most two data rates, subject to a minimum availability of 90%, performs almost as well as a link with no limits on the number of data rates with the same minimum availability requirement. Furthermore, the effects of forecasting on these link design algorithms are discussed
The identification of the sex steroid, testosterone, in various commercial salmon diets

Abstract The sex steroid hormone, testosterone, was identified in seven salmon commericial diets at levels from 0.4 ng/g feed to 7.0 ng/g feed. The biological ramifications of steroids in fish diets on the salmon's development, fitness and ultimate seawater survival are discussed.
Identification of the sites of modification on bovine carbonic anhydrase II (BCA II) by the salt-bridge reagent cynaogen, C2N2

Abstract the hydrolase activities of bovine carbonic anhydrase B (BCA II carbonate hydrolyase, EC 4.2.1.1) were modified by cyanogen (C2N2, NCCN, ethanedinitrile) with decreases in F max of as much as 99%. This was not accompanied by a reduction in hydrolase activity. These changes were not revrsed at lower pH values but the enzymatic activity was restored by incubation at pH 10. 14C-labeled glycine ethyl ester ([14C]GEE) specifically and covalently bound to the cyanogen-treated BCA II, as verified by HPLC and 14C monitoring. It was shown that sites of cyanogen-introduced modifications in BCA II could be effectively labeled and identifie by incubation with the nucleophile [14C]GEE. Three radiolabeled tryptic peptides from BCA II arising from a labeling process designed to study cyanogen-induced modifications leading to nucleophile labile covalent bonds have been isolated. The residues identified by ]14C]GEE labeling were Asp-34, Glut-117 and Asp-152. Three moieties attached to the ω-carboxyls by C2N2 were tentatively identified by molecular modeling; they were Arg-111, His-107 and/or His-119 and Ser-216, respectively. The use of C2N2 afforded a means to compare the salt bridges in two species and showed that two of three were not conserved.
Preparation and Properties of β-SiAlON-cBN Composites Using Y2O3, B2O3 and Al as Additives

SiAlON-cBN composites with different contents of cBN were consolidated by spark plasma sintering (SPS) at 1450°C using Y2O3, B2O3 and Al as additives. The effect of cBN content on the density, phase compositions, microstructures and mechanical properties of β-SiAlON-cBN composites was investigated. With increasing the cBN content, the density and hardness of β-SiAlON-cBN composites decreased. Fracture toughness could increase thanks to the crack deflection resulted from the cBN particles. For β-SiAlON-10 wt% cBN composites, the optimum hardness and highest relative density were 13 GPa and 96.4 %, respectively. For β-SiAlON-40 wt% cBN composites, the highest fracture toughness was KIC = 5.3 MPa∙m1/2.
Cadherin-23 May Be Dynamic in Hair Bundles of the Model Sea Anemone Nematostella vectensis

Cadherin 23 (CDH23), a component of tip links in hair cells of vertebrate animals, is essential to mechanotransduction by hair cells in the inner ear. A homolog of CDH23 occurs in hair bundles of sea anemones. Anemone hair bundles are located on the tentacles where they detect the swimming movements of nearby prey. The anemone CDH23 is predicted to be a large polypeptide featuring a short exoplasmic C-terminal domain that is unique to sea anemones. Experimentally masking this domain with antibodies or mimicking this domain with free peptide rapidly disrupts mechanotransduction and morphology of anemone hair bundles. The loss of normal morphology is accompanied, or followed by a decrease in F-actin in stereocilia of the hair bundles. These effects were observed at very low concentrations of the reagents, 0.1–10 nM, and within minutes of exposure. The results presented herein suggest that: (1) the interaction between CDH23 and molecular partners on stereocilia of hair bundles is dynamic and; (2) the interaction is crucial for normal mechanotransduction and morphology of hair bundles.
Evaluating carotenoid changes in tomatoes during postharvest ripening using Raman chemical imaging

Lycopene is a major carotenoid in tomatoes and its content varies considerably during postharvest ripening. Hence evaluating lycopene changes can be used to monitor the ripening of tomatoes. Raman chemical imaging technique is promising for mapping constituents of interest in complex food matrices. In this study, a benchtop point-scanning Raman chemical imaging system was developed to evaluate lycopene content in tomatoes at different maturity stages. The system consists of a 785 nm laser, a fiber optic probe, a dispersive imaging spectrometer, a spectroscopic CCD camera, and a two-axis positioning table. Tomato samples at different ripeness stages (i.e., green, breaker, turning, pink, light red, and red) were selected and cut before imaging. Hyperspectral Raman images were acquired from cross sections of the fruits in the wavenumber range of 200 to 2500 cm -1 with a spatial resolution of 1 mm. The Raman spectrum of pure lycopene was measured as reference for spectral matching. A polynomial curve-fitting method was used to correct for the underlying fluorescence background in the Raman spectra of the tomatoes. A hyperspectral image classification method was developed based on spectral information divergence to identify lycopene in the tomatoes. Raman chemical images were created to visualize quantity and spatial distribution of the lycopene at different ripeness stages. The lycopene patterns revealed the mechanism of lycopene generation during the postharvest development of the tomatoes. The method and findings of this study form a basis for the future development of a Raman-based nondestructive approach for monitoring internal maturity of the tomatoes.
Large eddy simulation of bluff-body stabilized swirling non-premixed flames

Abstract Large eddy simulations (LES) using a subgrid mixing and combustion model are carried out to study two bluff-body stabilized swirling non-premixed flames (SM1 and SMA2). The similarities and differences between the two flames are highlighted and discussed. Flow features, such as, the recirculation zone (RZ) size and the flame structure are captured accurately in both cases. The SM1 flame shows a toroidal RZ just behind the bluff body and a vortex breakdown bubble (VBB) downstream. In addition, a highly rotational non-recirculating region in-between the RZ and VBB is observed as well. On the other hand, the SMA2 shows a single elongated recirculation zone downstream the bluff body. Flame necking is observed downstream the bluff body for the SM1 flame but not for the SMA2 flame. The time-averaged velocity and temperature comparison also shows reasonable agreement. The study shows that the sensitivity of the flame structure to inflow conditions can be captured in the present LES without requiring any model changes.
Prevalence and the associated burden of illness of symptoms of diabetic peripheral neuropathy and diabetic retinopathy

Abstract Background We estimated the prevalence and the associated burden of illness of symptoms of diabetic peripheral neuropathy (SDPN), diabetic retinopathy (DR), and comorbid SDPN and DR among people with diabetes in the United States aged ≥40 years. Methods Analyses were conducted on 850 respondents aged ≥40 years with diagnosed diabetes from the combined 1999–2000 and 2001–2002 National Health and Nutrition Examination Surveys. Sampling weights were used to estimate the number of people with diabetes who have SDPN, DR, or comorbid SDPN and DR. Multivariate regression models were used to assess the effects of SDPN, DR, and comorbid SDPN and DR on burden-of-illness measures. Results Approximately 11.9 million adults in the United States aged ≥40 years have diagnosed diabetes. Of those, 3.9 million (32.7%) have SDPN, 3.3 million (27.4%) have DR, and 1.6 million (13.1%) have comorbid SDPN and DR. Among our sample, those with SDPN [odds ratio (OR)=2.25; 95% confidence interval (95% CI)=1.32–3.83], DR (OR=1.68; 95% CI=1.08–2.61), or comorbid SDPN and DR (OR=2.84; 95% CI=1.26–6.41) were more likely than those without the corresponding condition to have four or more health care visits in the past year. Those of working age (40–65 years) with SDPN (OR=3.23; 95% CI=1.60–6.52), DR (OR=2.94; 95% CI=1.45–5.97), or comorbid SDPN and DR (OR=4.32; 95% CI=2.17–8.63) were more likely unable to work due to physical limitations. Conclusions SDPN, DR, and comorbid SDPN and DR are prevalent among people with diabetes in the United States aged ≥40 years; each of these complications appears to significantly increase the burden of illness.
The Effect of Various Aerosols on the Response of Guinea Pigs to Sulfur Dioxide

Various types of particulate aerosols (1 to 21 mg/m/sup 3/) were tested for significant synergistic effect with SO/sub 2/. Pulmonary resistance increase after 1-h exposure was the measure of irritation. The 2.6 ppM SO/sub 2/ increased resistance 20%; 10 mg/m/sup 3/ NaCl, KCl, and NH/sub 4/SCN aerosols with approx. 2 ppM SO/sub 2/ increased resistance approx. 47, 68 and 103%, respectively. Potentiation ratio (aerosol/SO/sub 2/ alone) was 2.4, 3.3, and 5.0, respectively, which corresponds with solubility of SO/sub 2/ in the particular salt. Soluble Fe, Mn, and V aerosols also potentiated SO/sub 2/, but insoluble salts of Fe and Mn had no effect. These catalytic aerosols worked faster than NaCl possibly because they convert SO/sub 2/ to H/sub 2/SO/sub 4/. Fly ash may have had a beneficial effect, but only statistical manipulations made it significant. Resistance returns to normal after SO/sub 2/ exposure but remains elevated after SO/sub 2/:aerosol exposure (studied for 5 h post-exposure at maximum). Both solubility and conversion to H/sub 2/SO/sub 4/ are responsible for effects noted.
Rapid Isolation of Ecdysteroids from Crustacean Tissues and Culture Media Using Sep-Pak C18 Cartridges

Abstract A liquid chromatographic method for isolating ecdy-steroids from crab tissues and crustacean tissue culture media is reported. The method employs commercially-available Sep-Pak C18 cartridges containing a reversed phase packing that retains ecdysteroids. The technique is simple and rapid; it typically yields recoveries in the range of 85–90% for extractions of tissues, and 90–95% for extractions of media.
Lipid Feeding and Milk Fat Depression

Diets fed to cattle contain mostly unsaturated fatty acids supplied in grains and forages, by-products, and fat supplements. Lipid intake by dairy cattle must be restricted to prevent alterations of microbial populations in the rumen that can negatively affect milk yield. Unsaturated fatty acids consumed by cattle are extensively metabolized through biohydrogenation, intermediates of which include conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) and trans-monoenoic acid isomers. Three specific CLA intermediates of biohydrogenation have been shown to cause milk fat depression in dairy cattle through coordinated suppression of mammary lipogenic genes by a transcription factor that is a central regulator of lipid synthesis.
Large Animal Models for Batten Disease: A Review

The neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses, collectively referred to as Batten disease, make up a group of inherited childhood disorders that result in blindness, motor and cognitive regression, brain atrophy, and seizures, ultimately leading to premature death. So far more than 10 genes have been implicated in different forms of the neuronal ceroid lipofuscinoses. Most related research has involved mouse models, but several naturally occurring large animal models have recently been discovered. In this review, we discuss the different large animal models and their significance in Batten disease research.
Willingness of land operators to participate in government-sponsored soil erosion control programs

Abstract Data were collected in 1986 from 552 landowners who were operating farms in erosion-prone areas of six Ohio counties. The purpose of the study was to identify predictive factors associated with willingness to participate in two types of soil conservation programs. Willingness to participate in an interest buy-down program was assessed using a three item index which evaluated support for the proposed conservation program. Willingness to sell private row-cropping rights to the federal government for permanent retirement of erosive land from agricultural production was also assessed. Multivariate regression analyses were used to examine the merits of a diffusion-farm structure perspective developed to guide the study. The findings revealed that 21.9% of the variance in the buy-down index and 21.5% of the variance in the purchase of the row-cropping rights factor were explained by the variables included in the model. The findings were basically consistent with theoretical expectations. Diffusion-type variables were shown to be the best predictors of willingness to participate in the government programs assessed.
Temperature and salinity tolerance of the mole crab, Emerita talpoida (Say) (Crustacea, Anomura)

Abstract 1. 1. Adult Emerita talpoida were subjected to 25 temperature-salinity combinations within the range of 5–35°C and 15–65‰. 2. 2. E. talpoida tolerated 15–65‰ salinity at 20°C and below. 3. 3. Optimum salinity for survival at stressful temperatures was 40‰. 4. 4. Crabs transferred directly from one salinity to another experienced changes in osmoconcentration toward that of the new salinity. 5. 5. Temperature modified the rate of change toward the experimental salinity. Q values averaged 1.2.
Point‐of‐care musculoskeletal ultrasound is critical for the diagnosis of hemarthroses, inflammation and soft tissue abnormalities in adult patients with painful haemophilic arthropathy

Summary We previously demonstrated in adult patients with haemophilia (PWH) that hemarthrosis is present in only ~1/3rd of acutely painful joints by using point-of-care-musculoskeletal ultrasound (MSKUS). Therefore, other unrecognized tissue abnormalities must contribute to pain. Using high resolution MSKUS, employing grey scale and power Doppler, we sought to retrospectively (i) investigate soft tissue abnormalities in painful haemophilic joints and (ii) to determine to what extent MSKUS findings, functional or radiographic joint scores correlate with biomarkers of inflammation in PWH. Findings were correlated with Hemophilia Joint Health Scores (HJHS), Pettersson scores, high sensitivity C-reactive protein and von Willebrand factor activity and antigen levels. A total of 65 MSKUS examinations for acute and chronic joint pains were performed for 34 adult haemophilia patients, mostly for chronic joint pains (72.3%). The most prominent findings (66.5%) pertained to inflammatory soft tissue changes including synovitis, tendinitis, enthesitis, bursitis and fat pad inflammation. Effusions were present in 55.5% and 46.8% of MSKUS performed for acute and chronic pain, respectively. Of those, 90.0% were bloody during acute and 47.6% during persistent pains. While inflammatory biomarkers correlated well with overall HJHS and total Pettersson scores (P < 0.05), they did not differ between those patients with synovitis and those without. MSKUS is emerging as an important modality to diagnose treatable musculoskeletal abnormalities contributing to pain in haemophilic arthropathy, and therefore seems critical for a personalized approach to haemophilia care. The role of biomarkers in this setting remains less clear and requires further investigation.
Renal cell carcinoma presenting as a single large cyst

A large single renal cyst occurring in a 56-year-old man was found to be a cystic renal cell carcinoma on surgical exploration. Various diagnostic tests preoperatively did not reveal the true nature of the cyst.
On the quantization of finite dimensional messages

Let L be the average value of a measure of quantization noise, and let H be the negentropy of the quantized signal. Some reciprocal relationship exists between these quantities, since, for example, increasing the number of possible quantized values reduces L but increases H . We give a lower bound to L as a function of H and show that it may be realized up to a constant factor. Roughly speaking, this shows that every bit added to H multiplies L by a factor depending on the dimensionality of the message and the measure of quantization noise used.
Harvest: A Framework and Co-Simulation Environment for Analyzing Unmanned Aerial Vehicle Swarms

Unmanned vehicles have the capability to transform military operations. One relatively unexplored application involves cooperative unmanned vehicle systems called sensor swarms. We propose a conceptual unmanned vehicle swarm: a host of armed reconnaissance vehicles enabling surveillance and targeting (HARVEST). A HARVEST swarm is theoretically capable of autonomous refueling, cooperative search, information fusion, and munitions employment. To enable cooperative swarm capabilities, we identify a set of individual unmanned vehicle services, e.g., localization, querying, and routing. The HARVEST concept, swarm capabilities, and unmanned vehicle services are embodied in our sensor swarm co-simulation environment. The goal is to improve simulation fidelity by integrating existing simulators used within the department of defense (DoD). The process of integrating multiple simulations is known as co-simulation; our design uses OPNET's external system definition (ESD) to achieve co-simulation. This is the same interface OPNET provides to enable co-simulations based on the high-level architecture (HLA) defined by the defense modeling and simulation office (DMSO). The simulators in the first sensor swarm co-simulation prototype are based on the technology behind NETWARS (OPNET) and the Java programming language. To integrate with OPNET, Java wraps the ESD C-based method calls. This co-simulation is known as a Java, OPNET, and C-Based Co-Simulation (JOCosim). The implementation details of and lessons learned from the first JOCosim prototype are described in this paper. We also briefly discuss the second JOCosim prototype currently under development. The newer version places all simulation control within Java versus just receiving data from OPNET. This capability is crucial to achieving the goal of the second prototype-integrating additional simulation tools such as MATLAB, FalconView, and digital terrain elevation data (DTED)
Hesperidin stimulates cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator-mediated chloride secretion and ciliary beat frequency in sinonasal epithelium.

OBJECTIVE: Pharmacologic agents designed to promote mucociliary clearance (MCC) in chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS) represent a novel therapeutic strategy. The objectives of the present study were to investigate whether the natural bioflavonoid hesperidin 1) increases transepithelial chloride (Cl−) secretion in vitro and in vivo, 2) enhances ciliary beat frequency (CBF), and 3) exerts its mechanistic effects through cAMP/PKA-dependent pathways.STUDY DESIGN: In vitro and in vivo study.SETTING: Laboratory.SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Transepithelial Cl− transport (Ussing chamber) and CBF were investigated in primary murine nasal septal (MNSE) and human sinonasal epithelial (HSNE) cultures. In vivo activity was measured using the murine nasal potential difference (NPD) assay, cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) R-domain phosphorylation, and cAMP levels were investigated to rule out a cAMP/PKA-dependent mechanism of activation.RESULTS: Hesperidin significantly increased CFTR-mediated Cl− transport...
Isolation and characterization of novel atrazine-degrading microorganisms from an agricultural soil

Six previously undescribed microorganisms capable of atrazine degradation were isolated from an agricultural soil that received repeated exposures of the commonly used herbicides atrazine and acetochlor. These isolates are all Gram-positive and group with microorganisms in the genera Nocardioides and Arthrobacter, both of which contain previously described atrazine degraders. All six isolates were capable of utilizing atrazine as a sole nitrogen source when provided with glucose as a separate carbon source. Under the culture conditions used, none of the isolates could utilize atrazine as the sole carbon and nitrogen source. We used several polymerase-chain-reaction-based assays to screen for the presence of a number of atrazine-degrading genes and verified their identity through sequencing. All six isolates contain trzN and atzC, two well-characterized genes involved in the conversion of atrazine to cyanuric acid. An additional atrazine-degrading gene, atzB, was detected in one of the isolates as well, yet none appeared to contain atzA, a commonly encountered gene in atrazine impacted soils and atrazine-degrading isolates. Interestingly, the deoxyribonucleic acid sequences of trzN and atzC were all identical, implying that their presence may be the result of horizontal gene transfer among these isolates.
Kinetics of metastable states in hydrogenated amorphous silicon

Abstract The kinetics of the defect formation process is studied using threshold-voltage transient spectroscopy. Metastable defect formation is given by hopping over an exponential distribution of barriers. The barrier heights and final state energies are dependent on carrier density. This carrier density dependence accounts for the effects of doping on H diffusion.
Analysis of the thickness dependent photocurrent spectra of organic bulk heterojunction solar cells

We analyze the photocurrent spectra for bulk heterojunction organic solar cells having a range of active layer thicknesses. Normalized by the number of incident photons, the photocurrent peak red shifts with respect to the absorption maximum as the sample thickness increases. The shift in photocurrent peak can be understood by comparing the carrier extraction for bulk versus surface generated carriers. Fitting to the spectra provides a measure of the electron collection length and the surface enhanced recombination. The variation in the electron collection length with contacting parameters is used as a guide for optimization of the device structure. Furthermore, a photocurrent analysis has been done for different active layer thicknesses with different interfacial layers. Again the model fit for this comparison provides an estimate for carrier recombination distance that fits well with experimental data. For this study a common conjugated polymer regioregular poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) is used while poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT-PSS), P3HT and Al are used as interfacial layers.
Chimeric cDNA expression and site directed mutagenesis studies of cytochrome P450s CYP2A1 and CYP2A2.

Abstract Construction of chimeras and site directed mutagenesis were used to study the regioselectivity and kinetics of testosterone hydroxylation by the cytochrome P450s CYP2A1 and CYP2A2. Although these enzymes exhibit 88% sequence similarity, they catalyze very different regioselective hydroxylations of testosterone. Active chimeras inwhich the first 355 amino acids do not correspond to a single enzyme show broad radioselectivity, whereas the specificity of the parent enzyme is obtained if the first 355 amino acids are unchanged. Therefore, the region between amino acids 275 and 355 is important in maintaining regioselectivity. Single point mutants were constructed for the 13 amino acid differences in this region. For 26 single point and 2 double mutants all active mutants have the same regioselectivity as the parent enzymes. However, kinetic analysis of the CYP2A1 mutants showed that 4 single point mutants and 1 double mutant had kinetic parameters very different from the parent enzyme. All of these substitutions are associated with the conserved dioxygen binding region of the putative I helix predicted from the crystal structure of P450cam. Deuterium isotope effects were used to determine any changes in the rate of reduction and to estimate the relative amount of excess water formation. Changes in reduction rates are not sufficient to account for the differences in Vmax values. Therefore, it is likely that the amount of hydrogen peroxide formed is a primary determinant of Vmax.
Effect of cholinomimetic drugs in combination with amfonelic acid or spiperone on the concentration of 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid in rat brain

Summary Amfonelic acid and spiperone given in combination produced a much greater than additive increase in the concentration of 3,4-dihydroxyphenylacetic acid (DOPAC) in rat brain. Pilocarpine and oxotremorine, two cholinomimetic drugs, increased DOPAC when given alone but did not act synergistically either with amfonelic acid or with spiperone.
Investigation of Nanolipoprotein Particles Entrapped Within Nanoporous Silica: A Novel Platform for Immobilization of Integral Membrane Proteins

Immobilization of integral membrane proteins (IMPs) in transparent, nanoporous silica gels has proven to be a challenge, as current and previous techniques utilize liposomes as biological membrane hosts. The instability of liposomes in nanoporous gels is attributed by their size (∼150 nm) and altered structure and lipid dynamics upon entrapment within the nanometer scale pores (5-50 nm) of silica gel. This ultimately results in disruption of protein activity. We intend to overcome these barriers by using nanolipoprotein particles (NLPs) as biomembrane hosts. NLPs are discoidal patches of lipid bilayer that are belted by amphiphilic scaffold proteins and have an average thickness of 5 nm, with diameters ranging from 10-15 nm. The IMP-NLP complexes are synthesized in a cell-free environment, which circumvents traditional protein reconstitution in membranes. Bacteriorhodopsin - a robust IMP protein that indicates its proper conformation via distinct purple coloration - will serve as a model IMP for this system. The spectral and physical properties of bacteriorhodopsin-NLPs entrapped within the gel are examined, as well as the phase behavior of the lipids within the NLP, to ensure proper functionality of the system. This bio-inorganic hybrid nanomaterial possesses a variety of viable applications. The success of this work could lead to the development of novel platforms in several areas, including high-throughput drug screening, chromatography, and biosensors.
Monitoring the safety of pandemic H1N1 vaccine.

Steven Black and colleagues (Dec 19, p 2115) highlight the importance of developing locally relevant background rates of disease to aid assessment of pandemic H1N1 vaccine safety. Taiwan has the capacity to monitor H1N1 vaccine safety during mass immunis ation campaigns. Beginning on Nov 1, 2009, Taiwan began administering 15 million doses of H1N1 vaccine sequentially according to a priority list, with 12 target groups. National Health Insurance (NHI) in Taiwan enrols more than 99% of citizens. Using the same International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision, Clinical Modification (ICD-9-CM) codes listed in Black and colleagues’ study, we searched the NHI claims database from Jan 1, 2004, to July 31, 2008, to estimate background rates of the selected medical events that might be temporally associated with the vaccine (table). Assessment of Guillain-Barre syn drome after vaccination is a high priority during an H1N1 vaccine campaign. We predicted that about 1, 5, and 27 cases of coincident Guillain-Barre syndrome, respectively, would occur within 1 day, 7 days, and 6 weeks of vaccination after 15 million doses. As of March 16, 2010, 5·66 million doses of H1N1 vaccine had been administered and there had been four confirmed reports of Guillain-Barre syndrome occurring within 6 weeks of vaccination. The government has expanded its vaccine-safety monitoring systems. In addition to spontaneous reporting of adverse events, a population-based active surveillance system that links the national H1N1 vaccine registry to NHI’s daily updated computerised database is being used to assess potential associations of H1N1 vaccine with selected adverse events in real time. We believe that information collected from the Taiwan’s Female Male
Human brain in tissue culture. I. Acquisition, initial processing, and establishment of brain cell cultures

This paper details the in vitro techniques used to establish cells in culture from the brains of 40 patients, most of whom had chronic neurologic disease. The clinical and pathologic features of these patients are given. The success in establihsing cell lines was dependent upon the origin of tissue (biopsy vs. autopsy), the site of removal from the brain, and various environmental and technical manipulations in vitro.
The Relationship Between Peak and Mean Concentrations

presented. It is shown that the simplified normal bivariate distribution describing the average concentration pattern is composed of various short-term periodic distributions which may differ from it significantly. A descriptive, empirical method is described which indicates an exponential relationship exists between these shorter time or peak concentrations and average conditions. The slope of the exponent appears to be proportional to the stability or the gustiness. Downwind, the peaks are normally within an order of magnitude greater than average concentrations, whereas crosswind, the peaks may be several orders of magnitude larger. (auth)
Effects of L-dopa on the H-reflex in parkinsonism.

Abstract: The monosynaptic reflex (H-reflex) was studied in 47 parkinsonian patients, before and after the oral administration of L-dopa. In the group clinically benefited by L-dopa (characterized before treatment by bradykinesia and rigidity), initially there was a markedly short onset time for the H-reflex recovery curve. L-dopa significantly reduced the bradykinesia and rigidity, and the onset time for the H-reflex recovery curve increased. These findings indicate that the previously facilitated total excitation level of the anterior motoneuron pool was suppressed by L-dopa. Patients who had moderate to moderately severe bradykinesia and rigidity, and a short onset time for the H-reflex recovery curve, were better candidates for L-dopa therapy.
Observations of the 30-60 day oscillation in zonal mean atmospheric angular momentum and high cloud cover

Zonally averaged momentum and high-cloud data were analyzed for the periods of April-October 1979 and November 1982-October 1983 periods. The analysis yielded belt correlation fields implying a symmetry and propagation of momentum out of the tropics in the momentum data and an asymmetrical oscillation across the equatorial zone in the high-cloud data. The 30-60 day oscillation was found to be the dominant periodicity in tropical and subtropical belts in both the momentum and cloud fields, with variation of time spectra evident between 1979 and 1983. The lag correlations between high cloud belts and momentum belts showed strong correlations with the 30-60 day oscillation present. Anomalously high/low zonal mean high cloudiness in the tropics was accompanied by anomalously high/low zonal mean momentum in the tropics, with the latter anomalies subsequently propagating into midlatitudes.
Attachment theory: Contributions to group work

Abstract This article describes attachment theory, explores its application to group counseling, and elaborates points of interest to group workers.
Determination of acetaldehyde in blood by solid phase extraction and high performance liquid chromatography

A simple method has been developed for the measurement of acetaldehyde in blood. Samples were treated with perchloric acid to precipitate proteins. After centrifugation, the supernatant, together with the internal standard (crotonaldehyde), were reacted with 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine reagent. The derivatized acetaldehyde was then isolated by solid phase extraction and followed by high performance liquid chromatography quantitation. This method had a minimal detectable concentration of 0.28 microM, and displayed an intra-assay precision of 2.23% and an inter-assay precision of 5.18%. The recoveries of acetaldehyde at added concentrations of 1.42 and 7.14 microM were 106.7% and 101.9%, respectively.
Melt spinning of poly(ethylene terephthalate)—structural transitions in a range of spinning speeds

The transitions which occur in the structural state of poly(ethylene terephthalate) filaments in the range of spinning speeds, 1600–4500m/min, have been studied. Thermal annealing of as-spunfilaments has been shown to provide useful indirect evidence for the structural states of these filaments. The results have been explained with a simple model of orientation distributions arising from crystallization in an oriented precursor.
Comments on Slavin: Bringing Answers to Educators: Guiding Principles for Research Syntheses

Research syntheses are appealing because they enable decision makers to determine quickly whether policies, programs, and practices will have effects on student achievement and, if so, the magnitudes of the likely effects. Such syntheses should present objective, clear, scientifically accurate, and defensible evidence in terms that educators can use in making their decisions. The syntheses should also give the most weight to research with strong causal validity and should consider sources of bias and use procedures that reduce or eliminate bias. To that end, it is hoped that theoretical development of standards will help researchers to assess the trade-offs that need to be made in weighing the evidence to be used in syntheses. Creating methods for assessing the extent of evidence in syntheses will enhance their usefulness in evidence-informed decision making.
Selective reduction of alkynes to cis-alkenes by hydrometallation using [(Ph3P)CuH]6.

Abstract Selective reduction of alkynes to the corresponding alkenes is reported using the stable, readily prepared copper(I) hydride reagent, [(Ph3P)CuH]6. Terminal alkynes are reduced at room temperature, unactivated internal alkynes react only at elevated temperature. Disubstituted alkynes with propargyl activation are also reduced, giving cis-olefins selectively. Protection of propargylic alcohol functionality is usually unnecessary, although fragmentation is sometimes competitive in sterically hindered cases. A tertiary propargyl acetate gave displacement to the allene exclusively.
The clinical spectrum of adrenocortical hyperplasia.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW To describe the significance of a common adrenal radiological finding on computed tomography or MRI. RECENT FINDINGS Bilateral adrenocortical hyperplasia is the common expression of a variety of adrenal disorders, and its cause needs to be properly assessed in order to institute appropriate management. SUMMARY Behind the radiological finding of bilateral adrenal enlargement, there is a spectrum of diseases that require diagnostic evaluation and management. Many cases are benign and not associated with abnormalities of endocrine function. However, these abnormalities may develop years after the initial diagnosis has been made.
PREDICTORS OF GLEASON PATTERN 4/5 PROSTATE CANCER ON PROSTATECTOMY SPECIMENS: CAN HIGH GRADE TUMOR BE PREDICTED PREOPERATIVELY?

Purpose: Radical prostatectomy provides excellent cancer control in men with clinically localized prostate carcinoma. However, to our knowledge preoperative parameters for distinguishing indolent from clinically significant cancer are not well characterized. In fact, recent evidence suggests that the percent of Gleason pattern 4/5 carcinoma in the complete radical prostatectomy specimen is one of the strongest predictors of prostate cancer progression and a valid measure of cancer severity. However, it is unclear whether preoperative parameters, including biopsy Gleason pattern 4/5 carcinoma, may predict radical prostatectomy Gleason pattern 4/5 disease and, thereby, distinguish indolent from clinically significant cancer.Materials and Methods: We prospectively obtained 101 consecutive radical prostatectomy specimens and processed them in whole mount fashion. In addition to total tumor volume, we determined tumor volume for each Gleason pattern. Biopsy tumor area was measured in a similar fashion. Univari...
Dielectric properties of ETFE wiring insulation as a function of thermal exposure

Ethylene-tetrafluoroethylene (ETFE) is one of several polymers used in electrical insulation of aircraft wiring. The integrity of the insulation is important to the aerospace industry due to potential catastrophe in the event of an electrical fire caused by breakdown of the wiring insulation. In this work, the relative permittivity of ETFE is studied in order to examine the feasibility of developing a capacitive nondestructive testing method to indicate degradation-induced permittivity changes. One degradation mechanism is exposure to heat. To obtain baseline permittivity values, the permittivity of injection-molded but otherwise untreated ETFE was measured over the frequency range 1 Hz to 1 MHz at various temperatures from −150 to 210 °C, using a Novocontrol dielectric spectrometer with a temperature-controlled sample cell. Then, ETFE samples were annealed at 60 °C for 2 hours and isothermally heated at 160 °C for up to 96 hours. Measurements of permittivity over the frequency range 1 kHz to 2 MHz, obtained using an Agilent E4980A LCR meter, revealed changes of around 0.05 in the measured relative permittivity of the thermally-exposed samples, compared with the baseline sample.
Modification of Emotionality in the Rat as a Function of Prolonged Shock Stress

In order to investigate the effect of chronic stress on open-field behavior in adult organisms, 24 male, 95-day-old rats, equated with 24 control Ss, were subjected to tone-shock stress 20 hr. daily for 26 days. Open-field responses of latency, ambulation, rearing and emotional elimination (EE) were obtained on 4 subsequent open-field trials. In addition to a significant adrenal hypertrophy, chronic stress produced a significant decrease in latency, and an increase in ambulation and rearing scores for experimental Ss. Conclusions are: (a) latency, ambulation, rearing, and EE are not equally valid indices of emotionality in the rat; (b) 26-day stress does not modify adult emotionality as defined by EE. Results are discussed in terms of adaptation and Malmo's activation theory.
Organelle Fission. Crossing the Evolutionary Divide

Among the products of the genome sequencing revolution are dramatic new insights into the evolutionary basis for cellular structure-function relationships. An example of this is the information beginning to accumulate regarding the key players and processes involved in the division of chloroplasts
Analysis of feedbacks between nucleation rate, survival probability and cloud condensation nuclei formation

Abstract. Aerosol nucleation is an important source of particle number in the atmosphere. However, in order to become cloud condensation nuclei (CCN), freshly nucleated particles must undergo significant condensational growth while avoiding coagulational scavenging. In an effort to quantify the contribution of nucleation to CCN, this work uses the GEOS-Chem-TOMAS global aerosol model to calculate changes in CCN concentrations against a broad range of nucleation rates and mechanisms. We then quantify the factors that control CCN formation from nucleation, including daily nucleation rates, growth rates, coagulation sinks, condensation sinks, survival probabilities, and CCN formation rates, in order to examine feedbacks that may limit growth of nucleated particles to CCN. Nucleation rate parameterizations tested in GEOS-Chem-TOMAS include ternary nucleation (with multiple tuning factors), activation nucleation (with two pre-factors), binary nucleation, and ion-mediated nucleation. We find that nucleation makes a significant contribution to boundary layer CCN(0.2%), but this contribution is only modestly sensitive to the choice of nucleation scheme, ranging from 49 to 78% increase in concentrations over a control simulation with no nucleation. Moreover, a two order-of-magnitude increase in the globally averaged nucleation rate (via changes to tuning factors) results in small changes (less than 10%) to global CCN(0.2%) concentrations. To explain this, we present a simple theory showing that survival probability has an exponentially decreasing dependence on the square of the condensation sink. This functional form stems from a negative correlation between condensation sink and growth rate and a positive correlation between condensation sink and coagulational scavenging. Conceptually, with a fixed condensable vapor budget (sulfuric acid and organics), any increase in CCN concentrations due to higher nucleation rates necessarily entails an increased aerosol surface area in the accumulation mode, resulting in a higher condensation sink, which lowers vapor concentrations and growth rates. As a result, slowly growing nuclei are exposed to a higher frequency of coagulational scavenging for a longer period of time, thus reducing their survival probabilities and closing a negative feedback loop that dampens the impact of nucleation on CCN. We confirm quantitatively that the decreases in survival probability predicted by GEOS-Chem-TOMAS due to higher nucleation rates are in accordance with this simple theory of survival probability.
Exploring an Unknown Gold Mine: U.S. Government Documents on National Security Policy

he September 11, 2001 Al Qaida terrorist attacks against the World Trade Center and Pentagon brutally taught Americans that our status as the world’s sole superpower does not immunize us against military attack. These attacks resulted in a partial loss in public access to government information as some federal agencies withdrew from their web sites material they regarded as sensitive for national security reasons[1].
Incorporating appropriate technology into North American schools of public health

El termino tecnologia adecuada se refiere a la tecnologia sanitaria que se crea, produce, ofrece y monitorea en un contexto general donde se toman en cuenta los sistemas, las personas y la comunidad. Esta tecnologia abarca el diseno, desarrollo y adopcion de productos sanitarios, entre ellos nuevos medicamentos, vacunas y metodos diagnosticos, y de medios computadorizados aplicables a la genomica funcional, vigilancia epidemiologica, evaluacion de la carga de morbilidad, adjudicacion de recursos sanitarios, creacion de modelos matematicos y analisis de efectividad en funcion del costo. En conjunto, estos medios son especialmente promisorios para el control y la eliminacion de diversas enfermedades tropicales que han recibido escasa atencion. Actualmente, buena parte de la investigacion y el desarrollo en torno a tecnologias adecuadas esta a cargo de alianzas formadas recientemente entre los sectores publico y privado. No obstante, es preciso incrementar la investigacion y el entrenamiento en este campo en las escuelas de salud publica de America del Norte en vista de los efectos sanitarios y economicos que se calcula que tendra la tecnologia adecuada en paises en desarrollo.
Evidence for human infection with an HTLV III/LAV-like virus in Central Africa, 1959.

An individual serum stored since 1959 from Central Africa has been demonstrated reactive against HTLV-III by ELISA Western blotting and by immunoprecipitation against HTLV-III as well as STLV-III. This serum was from a set of 1213 plasmas from various parts of Africa 818 dating from 1959. Because of the known high false positive rates on Abbott EIA in long-term frozen sera those found to be above the cutoff using the formula (mean of 3 negative serum controls plus 10% of the mean of 2 positive serum controls) x 3 were retested by immunofluorescence microscopy and Western blot enzymatic immunoassay. 1 serum taken from Central Africa in 1959 was positive by both tests. This plasma had an OD more than 7 x the cutoff value. It reacted strongly in immunofluorescence with infected H9 cells. Reactivity was detected by Western Blot against all major HTLV-III viral proteins and polypeptide 121. By immunoprecipitation it reacted with all major gag and env encoded proteins of HTLV-III and the gag encoded proteins of STLV-III-AGM. These results suggest that HTLV-III prevalence was low in 1959 but that at least 1 individual was exposed to a similar virus over 25 years ago in Central Africa.
Plant Community and Target Species Affect Responses to Restoration Strategies

Increases in Kentucky bluegrass and smooth bromegrass on northern Great Plains rangelands have the potential to negatively impact ecosystem function, lower plant diversity, and alter seasonal forage distribution, but control strategies are lacking in the region. A project was initiated on a heavily invaded 16-ha grassland that had not been grazed or hayed for at least 20 yr. Five restoration treatments and a control were initiated in 2003 on communities dominated by 1) smooth bromegrass (Bromus inermis Leyss.), 2) Kentucky bluegrass (Poa pratensis L.), 3) warm-season native grasses, 4) a mix of introduced species, and 5) smooth bromegrass and Kentucky bluegrass. Restoration treatments were 1) late-April burn, 2) late-April burn followed by imazapic at 511.62 mL ai ? ha 21 , 3) imazapic only at the same rate, 4) mowing, 5) mowing followed by litter removal, and 6) control. We found that treatment responses were affected by target species, community category, and year. Generally, burning followed by the herbicide imazapic reduced Kentucky bluegrass in the species composition, but smooth brome was reduced by mowing followed by raking. Burning followed by imazapic reduced live grass biomass in all community categories except the native the year following treatment, but by the third year of the study live grass biomass was maintained across all treatments. In the third year of the study, responses of Kentucky bluegrass, other invasive species, and native grasses to restoration treatment differed depending on community. The use of burning plus imazapic was promising for control of Kentucky bluegrass but its use by producers may be limited by yield reductions in early years. Our data suggest management strategies should vary depending on whether the goal is to reduce one or several invaders, specific invader identity, and community type in which the invader is growing. We also found that the most effective strategy was an adaptive management approach, one where treatments are chosen in response to changes in community composition and depending on resource conditions.