cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Effect of chronic feline immunodeficiency virus infection on experimental feline calicivirus-induced disease

Abstract Acute feline calicivirus (FCV) infection caused a more severe disease in chronically feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) infected than in non-FIV infected cats. FIV infected cats shed significantly higher amounts of FCV through their saliva after FCV challenge than the non-FIV infected cats. However, there was no difference in the duration of FCV shedding. None of the cats exposed to FCV developed chronic FCV carriage. Both groups of cats mounted similar titers of neutralizing antibodies to FCV. Although FIV infected cats started out with significantly lower total lymphocyte and neutrophil numbers than the non-FIV infected cats, the transient lymphopenia and neutrophilia attributable to the FCV infection was of similar intensity in both groups of animals. There was no evidence that the underlying FIV-related disease or viremia was influenced by acute FCV infection. Acute FCV infection did not significantly alter the CD 4+ CD 8+ T lymphocyte ratio in FIV infected compared to non-FIV infected cats. The ongoing humoral IgG response to FIV was not affected by the FCV infection. There was no significant change in the proportion of FIV infected peripheral blood mononuclear cells during 8 subsequent weeks after FCV challenge as determined by polymerase chain reaction.
An experimental study of the control of condensate subcooling in a vertical condenser

Temperature control of subcooled reflux in a distillation column was studied experimentally using coolant flow rate as the manipulative variable. Methanol vapor was condensed and subcooled at one atmosphere in a vertical heat exchanger with 210 copper tubes (0.77 cm I.D., 91.5 cm long). Cooling water flowed countercurrently through the shell side (20.6 cm I.D.). A proportional-integral feedback controller provided good temperature control at normal design throughputs. But dynamic control performance deteriorated at low throughputs (or large areas). Thus the normal conservative design practice of providing excess area in this type of condenser leads to poorer temperature control.
The supracarotid-infrafrontal approach: Surgical technique and clinical application to cavernous malformations in the anteroinferior basal ganglia

Objective Many symptomatic cavernous malformations deep in the anteroinferior basal ganglia are deemed to be inoperable and managed conservatively because transcortical, transsylvian-transinsular, and transcallosal approaches are unsuitable. We present an approach to these lesions through the supracarotid triangle, between ascending perforators, and through the basomedial frontal lobe. Methods The supracarotid-infrafrontal approach incorporates an orbitozygomatic craniotomy, wide microsurgical exposure of the supracarotid triangle, dissection of perforating arteries, and image-guided resection through the posterior part of the medial orbital gyrus and anterior perforated substance. Results During 10 years of surgical experience with 269 patients with cavernous malformations, 5 patients were identified with lesions in the basal ganglia that were resected completely using the supracarotid-infrafrontal approach. Transient neurological deficits were observed postoperatively in 2 patients, and all patients had excellent outcomes (modified Rankin Scale score of 0 or 1; mean duration of follow-up, 1.4 years). Conclusion Cavernous malformations in the anteroinferior basal ganglia come to the brain surface directly behind the internal carotid artery bifurcation, and the supracarotid-infrafrontal trajectory best matches the lesions' axes. The surgical corridor runs between perforating arteries, but entrance into these lesions opens additional working space that is not normally present when the approach is used with aneurysms. Careful handling of crossing and ascending perforating arteries is critical, as is delicate dissection of the lesion's superior pole where it abuts the internal capsule.
The conflict-free reduction geometry

We investigate mutual dependencies of subexpressions of computable expressions in orthogonal rewrite systems, and identify conditions for their independent concurrent computation. To this end, we introduce concepts familiar from ordinary Euclidean Geometry (such as basis, projection, distance, etc.) for reduction spaces. We show how a basis at an expression can be constructed so that any reduction starting from that expression can be decomposed as the sum of its projections on the axes of the basis. To make the concepts computationally more relevant, we relativize them w.r.t. stable sets of results (such as the set of normal forms, head-normal forms, and weak-head-normal forms, in the λ-calculus), and show that an optimal concurrent computation of an expression w.r.t. S consists of optimal computations of its S-independent subexpressions. All these results are obtained in the framework of Deterministic Family Structures, which are Abstract Reduction Systems with axiomatized residual and family relations on redexes, that model all orthogonal rewrite systems.
Open-source logic-based automated sleep scoring software using electrophysiological recordings in rats.

Abstract Manual state scoring of physiological recordings in sleep studies is time-consuming, resulting in a data backlog, research delays and increased personnel costs. We developed MATLAB-based software to automate scoring of sleep/waking states in rats, potentially extendable to other animals, from a variety of recording systems. The software contains two programs, Sleep Scorer and Auto-Scorer, for manual and automated scoring. Auto-Scorer is a logic-based program that displays power spectral densities of an electromyographic (EMG) signal and σ, δ, and θ frequency bands of an electroencephalographic (EEG) signal, along with the δ/θ ratio and σ × θ, for every epoch. The user defines thresholds from the training file state definitions which the Auto-Scorer uses with logic to discriminate the state of every epoch in the file. Auto-Scorer was evaluated by comparing its output to manually scored files from 6 rats under 2 experimental conditions by 3 users. Each user generated a training file, set thresholds, and auto-scored the 12 files into 4 states (waking, non-REM, transition-to-REM, and REM sleep) in 1/4 the time required to manually score the file. Overall performance comparisons between Auto-Scorer and manual scoring resulted in a mean agreement of 80.24 ± 7.87%, comparable to the average agreement among 3 manual scorers (83.03 ± 4.00%). There was no significant difference between user–user and user–Auto-Scorer agreement ratios. These results support the use of our open-source Auto-Scorer, coupled with user review, to rapidly and accurately score sleep/waking states from rat recordings.
Parathyroid cell proliferation in the rat: effect of age and of phosphate administration and recovery.

Indirect evidence in human subjects and the low prevalence of mitotic figures in rats suggest that the adult parathyroid gland is a conditional renewal tissue with a low cell birth rate and long cell life span. Accordingly, in normal rats of different ages (8-22 weeks), we measured parathyroid cell and nuclear size, cell number, and gland volume by quantitative microscopy, and cell birth rate and cell life span by Ki-67 expression assuming a duration of expression of 24 h. We also examined the effects of phosphate administration and subsequent recovery. In normal rats, parathyroid volume, cell and nuclear profile area, and cell profile number did not change significantly between 8-22 weeks of age. In younger rats, the calculated cell birth rate was 53.2%/yr, and mean cell life span was 1.9 yr, with a lower 95% confidence limit based on a logarithmic distribution of 6 months. Phosphate loading caused hyperphosphatemia, hypocalcemia, increased PTH secretion, and increased calcitriol production. There was an...
THE NATURE OF THE ANTITETANIC ACTION OF EOSIN

Eosin, if present in cultures containing tetanus spores, prevents the germination of these spores when its concentration (in glucose bouillon) reaches 0.2 per cent. When the concentration of the eosin sinks to 0.01 per cent., germination of the spores is no longer inhibited, but the vegetative bacilli developed from the spores execute a highly restrained form of multiplication. When the eosin concentration sinks to 0.001 per cent., vegetation and multiplication of the bacilli become more active, but no new spores are formed even after long periods of time. With glucose agar it is not until the concentration of the eosin in the cultures falls to .05 per cent. that sporulation again appears. At this concentration of the eosin, very few spores are formed ; but as the eosin sinks lower and lower, sporulation becomes more active, until with 0.001 per cent. it is essentially of normal degree. In concentrations of 0.003 per cent., eosin prevents perfect segmentation of the multiplying bacilli, with the result that, finally, long and convoluted threads of bacilli are produced. The spores which are formed in a medium containing 0.01 per cent. of eosin are often situated at the centre and not at one pole of the bacilli. Eosin in a strength of 2 per cent. is capable of destroying the vegetative bacilli, if the contact is prolonged to fifteen minutes, and in strength of 0.1 per cent., in twenty-four hours. Placing this latter mixture of bacilli and eosin in the sunlight greatly hastens the bactericidal effect, and the bacilli are found to be incapable of growth at the end of several hours. Eosin in high concentrations is not capable of killing the tetanus spores, even after long exposure to sunlight (thirty hours). The toxin production of tetanus bacilli grown in eosinized culture media diminishes as the concentration of the eosin increases. This effect is brought about partly by the restraining action of the dye on vegetation, and partly by its detoxicating action upon the poison., The toxin-producing power and the virulence of tetanus bacilli are not permanently modified by contact with eosin for a long period, or by successive cultivations in eosinized media. Eosin is likewise capable of restraining the vegetation of tetanus spores in the animal body. In spore threads inserted beneath the skin of rats, and surrounded with eosin in solution, a very restricted vegetation takes place. If the injections of eosin are repeated. vegetation soon ceases and the vegetated bacilli degenerate and disappear. The ungerminated tetanus spores remain alive in a latent condition indefinitely in the healed wound beneath the skin. These spores do not lose power to grow outside the body, or inside the body of animals under favorable conditions, or to produce toxin in a characteristic manner.
Self-assembly into fibrils of a homotrimer of type I collagen

Type I collagen, the most abundant structural protein in vertebrates, is comprised of two alpha 1(I) chains and one alpha 2(I) chain. Fibroblasts from a proband with osteogenesis imperfecta, however, were shown to synthesize a type I procollagen that was a homotrimer of pro alpha 1(I) chains. The absence of pro alpha 2(I) chains in the procollagen provided a unique opportunity to assess the role of the alpha 2(I) chain in collagen fibrillogenesis by examining the self-assembly de novo of the homotrimeric collagen generated in vitro. The results demonstrated that the fibrils formed by the homotrimeric collagen had an asymmetric banding pattern similar to fibrils of normal heterotrimeric type I collagen. However, the efficiency for self-assembly of the homotrimer into fibrils was markedly reduced in that the critical concentration at 37 degrees C was 40-fold greater than for self-assembly of the heterotrimeric molecule. A van't Hoff-type plot of the data was used to determine values for delta G, delta H and delta S. The values indicated the self-assembly of the homotrimer is similar to self-assembly of the heterotrimer in that the process is entropy driven. The process is, however, less favorable in that the delta G value was 10 kJ/mol less negative. The results suggest that the presence of the alpha 2(I) chain in type I collagen helps drive the self-assembly process, probably because the alpha 2(I) chain is more hydrophobic than the alpha 1(I) chain and, therefore, smaller amounts of structured water may be lost during self-assembly of the homotrimer than during self-assembly of the heterotrimer.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Nanoscience under glass: the versatile chemistry of silica nanostructures.

Silica nanoparticles and nanostructures provide an unprecedented materials platform to accomplish many nanoscale functions, and they offer a practical method for introducing multiple functionalities into the same nanoparticle. Much of the advances in silica nanochemistry are based on the condensation of tetraethylorthosilane, known as the Stober synthesis. We discuss some unusual approaches for modifying and ultimately controlling the growth of silica nanostructures, from microgravity studies to advances in biomimetic synthesis and a novel peptide-based templating approach.
Properties and Ultrastructure of Phycoerythrin From Porphyridium cruentum

Phycoerythrin, a photosynthetic accessory pigment, was isolated from Porphyridium cruentum and examined by electron microscopy and disc gel electrophoresis. The absorption monomer, with maxima at 563, 545, and a shoulder at 500 nm, has a molecular weight of about 300,000. With phosphotungstic acid staining it appears as a tightly structured disc-shaped particle possessing a mean diameter of 101 ± 0.4A and height of 54 ± 0.7A. The absorption maxima remained the same in glutaraldehyde fixed material, and in dimer and trimer aggregates. Treatment with sodium dodecyl sulfate caused a breakdown into smaller units accompanied by a loss of the 563 nm peak. It is suggested that this absorption monomer is the in vivo functional species and comparable to the phycocyanin hexamer, but structurally distinguishable at the ultrastructural level. It has been calculated that about 35 phycobiliprotein molecules can be contained within each phycobilisome. There are 1.4 × 103 chlorophyll molecules per phycobilisome, but not contained within it.
The Correlation Between Organisms Found Micro-Scopically in Butter Serum and the Grade of Cream from which the Butter was Made

Summary The data recorded in the study consisted of sample number, cream score, criticisms of flavor, appearance of the cream slide, and appearance of the stained butter serum. In the preliminary work 130 samples were studied for the purpose of determining the microscopic appearance of the butter serum. This information was correlated with each of the four grades of cream from which the butter was churned. The grades of cream used in making the butter were "excellent" scoring 93 or above, "good" 91 1 2 to 92 1 2 , "fair" 90 to 91, and "poor" below 90 in score. The stained slides of 524 samples of butter were studied under the microscope and the grade of cream predicted. Of these 524 samples, 143 were from the "excellent" group and 131 (91.6 per cent) were given the correct grade. In the "good" group there were 125 samples. Seventy-three (58.4 per cent) were accurately graded. One hundred and fifty-nine samples of the "fair" group were examined and 68 (42.7 per cent) had the right grade predicted. In the last group 52 (53.6 per cent) of the 97 "poor" group samples were graded accurately. This seems to indicate that the microscopic examination was fairly accurate in distinguishing butter made from "excellent" cream, but for lower grades it was not a reliable method. Storage periods of 1 to 3 days, 7 days, 14 days, and 30 days did not materially influence the number of grades determined correctly. This was verified by a trial in which one-half the samples was held for 1 to 3 days and the remaining samples 30 days. The percentage determined correctly from 103 churnings was the same (62.2) for both storage periods. The presence or absence of culture organisms did not effect the microscopic grading. The results on studies of the "fair" group indicated samples from commercial churnings were slightly more difficult to grade correctly than those from the laboratory procedure. This was apparently caused by the difference in handling conditions. The two apparent reasons for not being able to determine the "good," "fair," and "poor" grades as accurately as the "excellent" grade were: (1) Low scoring cream was not always the result of bacteriological action but was caused by chemical action and absorbed feed flavors. (2) The other reason was the contamination by organisms subsequent to pasteurization of cream and during the churning process.
Subungual Carcinomas in Multiple Digits

We report a patient with subungual squamous cell carcinoma arising in more than one digit who also had positive immunostaining for human papillomavirus (HPV). The patient worked for a wastewater utility company for 22 years and placed his hands in stagnant wastewater daily.
The Reliability of Observations of Young Children's Engagement: An Application of Generalizability Theory

The reliability of measurement of how young children spend their time has traditionally been computed in terms of interobserver exact agreement This study sought to apply generalizability theory to...
Buncher Cavity Resonant at the First and Second Harmonic

A buncher is an RF accelerator followed by a drift space. Its purpose is to bunch the dc ion source beam into suitable bunches for acceleration in a linac. The voltage in a simple buncher is a sine wave at the linac frequency. A more elaborate wave form can result in increased capture of ion source beam. The cavities discussed here are resonant at 12.5 and 25 MHz, the first and second harmonic of the Argonne National Laboratory (ANL) low beta linac. They will support a wave form which should give improved bunching. Three designs are given to compare their relative merits.
Viscous Internal Gravity Waves and Low–Frequency Oscillations in the Tropics

Abstract In this paper we deal with the interpretation of observed oscillations in the tropical troposphere and stratosphere within the framework of the equatorial wave theory. A difficulty with this problem arises when one compares the short vertical wavelength (or equivalent depth) predicted by the classical theory and the observed large vertical scales associated with the low Doppler-shifted frequencies of the tropospheric oscillations. In this analysis it is shown that the inclusion of simple linear damping, justified by budget studies which revealed the important role of cumulus momentum transport, has a strong influence at low frequencies on the forced equatorial waves and results in two types of dispersive relationships. The first type is characteristic of the regular internal gravity waves which have fast phase speeds and weak vertical attenuation. The second type is dominated by the viscous damping time scale and has slow phase speeds and strong vertical trapping. The theory predicts that the str...
Temperature tuning of band-structure of 1D periodic elastic composites

In this paper we show that the bandstructure of a periodic elastic composite, in addition to being dependent upon the micro-constituents and their microarchitecture, may also be controlled by changing the temperature. The essential idea is to fabricate a periodic composite with constituent materials which have temperature dependent elastic properties. As temperature is changed, such a composite is expected to exhibit a bandstructure which changes with the temperature dependent properties of its micro-constituents. For our purpose, we use polyurea and steel to make a 1-D periodic composite. Ultrasonic measurements are done on the sample from 0.5 kHz to 1.5 MHz under changing temperature and the change in the second passband is studied. It is observed that the change in the bandstructure is significant when the temperature is changed from -50°C to 50°C. Experimental results are compared with the theoretical calculations and it is shown that good agreement exists for the observed bandstructure.
Learning image semantics from users relevance feedback

In this paper, a learning method is proposed to improve the retrieval process in image databases. This method uses the search transaction logs in the system and user relevance feedback scores to create a semantic space of the image database. The semantic space includes many semantic classes and all the images in the database are clustered to these classes with different membership values. The sparsity problem in the transaction logs data is solved by filling the missing values by an estimation based on the image contents and image similarities. A Fuzzy clustering algorithm is developed to create the semantic classes and find image memberships in the classes.
Improved Diagnostic Yield of Endoscopic Biliary Brush Cytology by Digital Image Analysis

Objective To evaluate the accuracy of digital image analysis (DIA) for distinguishing between benign and malignant strictures of the biliary tract. Patients and Methods Our pathology databank was used to identify all biliary brush cytology specimens obtained during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography between June 1997 and June 1999. Corresponding medical records were reviewed to determine whether patients had benign or malignant strictures. Strictures were further classified into benign strictures with negative routine cytology, malignant strictures with negative routine cytology, and malignant strictures with positive routine cytology. Papanicolaou-stained smears of available brush cytology specimens were destained and then restained with Feulgen dye. Nuclear images were quantified for DNA content without knowledge of stricture type. DNA histograms were generated and ploidy results compared with the class of stricture. Results We analyzed 27 specimens from 69 confirmed benign or malignant strictures. Assuming that the presence of any aneuploid cells indicated malignancy, the sensitivity of DIA was 85%. Furthermore, aneuploid cells were detected by DIA in 13 of 16 specimens in which routine cytology was unrevealing. Conclusions Ploidy assessment by DIA has potential to enhance the sensitivity of diagnosing malignant strictures compared with routine cytology alone.
The lesser of two evils: an empirical investigation of foreign direct investment-pollution tradeoff

This article investigates the relationship between Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) and pollution measured by carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions. The results suggest that while lax environmental regulations might attract FDI, the foreign companies utilize less polluting technology as compared to local firms in low-income countries. Thus, FDI does not necessarily increase pollution levels in the host countries. The findings, therefore, simultaneously support the pollution haven and the pollution halo hypotheses.
Discourse analysis and the epidemiology of meaning

This paper delineates a postmodern discourse analysis that is positioned within a semiotic theory of language. This theory of language foregrounds the performative aspects of language usage and provides the theoretical space from which to theorize the interrelationship between social organizations or structure and social agents or individuals. Our version of discourse analysis contends that social structure is enacted (production and reproduction) through the employment of various vocabularies: social structure is not something outside of, behind, or underneath these performances, and we argue that social organization is not produced by external structures operating upon or causing people to adopt certain behaviours. Rather, social structure is an effect of taking up practices and reproducing and modifying them. From this perspective, individuals are constituted by being recruited into and reproducing discursive practices. Hence, by looking at the actual employment of language – its tactical, practice dimensions – one can avoid the usual binary of seeing the person as either the autonomous origin of his or her experience or the ideological pawn of social determination. This methodology calls into question how the narratives or stories that individuals recount are imbricated within relational plays of power, and concomitantly, how subjects reauthorize their own positions. We assert that the methodological challenges of research addressing social injustice cannot be reduced to either: (i) interpersonal relationships between researcher and participants, or (ii) relegated to ‘social structures’ acting upon or outside of individuals.
Service factors and health status of survivors of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest

To determine how emergency service factors affect the health status of survivors of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest, 424 survivors were studied six months later. The principal research tool was the Sickness Impact Profile (SIP), a behaviorally-based instrument for measuring sickness-related dysfunction. Time to initiation of care and time to definitive care were significantly related to dysfunction. The critical time intervals can be influenced by the manner in which communities provide emergency care.
Liquid-Liquid Extraction Using the Composition-Induced Phase Separation Process

This paper describes a new separation process of liquid-liquid extraction. It consists of first mixing the system to be extracted with a primary solvent, which is soluble with the native solvent, and subsequently adding a modifier, which is insoluble with either the native or the primary solvent. This process is similar to the phase transition extraction, which was described in a previous paper, where the liquid mixture, together with the solute to be separated, is first heated above its critical temperature, where it forms a uniform solution, and then cooled to the region below the miscibility curve, where it separates. Both processes have the advantage that the resulting separation of the solvents is very rapid, even in the presence of emulsion-forming impurities. In addition, the extraction efficiency of the new process may be 10 times higher than that of the traditional liquid-liquid extraction. The new process is thought of having significant advantages in the extraction of products from fermentation broths, plants, and other natural sources.
Correlation of WOMAC and KOOS scores to tibiofemoral cartilage loss on plain radiography and 3 Tesla MRI: data from the osteoarthritis initiative

The purpose of this study was to determine the correlation between the Western Ontario and McMasters Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) and Knee Injury Osteoarthritis Outcomes scores (KOOS) and the degree of tibiofemoral cartilage loss on plain radiography and 3T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). We hypothesize that these subjective outcome scores will have a significant correlation to quantitative joint space loss. Data used in the preparation of this article were obtained from the osteoarthritis initiative (OAI) database (OAI public use data sets kMRI_QCart_Eckstein18 and kXR_QJSW_Duryea16). Four hundred and forty-five patients had WOMAC/KOOS scores, quantitative tibiofemoral joints space width on plain radiographs and quantitative tibiofemoral cartilage thickness and per cent full thickness cartilage loss on 3T MRI. Joint space width on plain radiographs was correlated to cartilage thickness on MRI, and WOMAC/KOOS scores were correlated to the degree of cartilage loss using Pearson correlation coefficients. There was a statistically significant correlation between medial and lateral compartment cartilage thickness on MRI and medial and lateral joint space width on plain radiography (r = 0.86, r = 0.80) (p < 0.001). KOOS knee pain score was significantly correlated to increasing per cent full thickness cartilage loss in the medial femoral compartment (r = 0.34) (p < 0.001). KOOS symptom score was significantly correlated to decreasing joint space width in the medial (r = 0.16) and lateral (r = 0.15) compartment and increasing per cent full thickness cartilage loss in the medial femoral compartment (r = 0.36) (p < 0.001). No WOMAC score was correlated to degree of joint space width, cartilage thickness or per cent full thickness cartilage loss (n.s). The WOMAC and KOOS scores are poor indicators of tibiofemoral cartilage loss, with only the KOOS symptom and knee pain score being weakly correlated. Osteoarthritis is a multifactorial process and the need to treat patients based off their symptoms and rely on radiographs as confirmatory modalities, and not diagnostic modalities, when talking about OA and medical intervention. Level 2.
First record of Strongygaster triangulifera (Loew) (Diptera : Tachinidae) as a parasitoid of Harmonia axyridis (Pallas) (Coleoptera : Coccinellidae) in Western North America

The parasitic tachinid fly Strongygaster triangulifera (Loew) is widely distributed in North America (Stone et al. 1965). It parasitizes several Coleoptera and sometimes species of other orders such as Lepidoptera, Dermaptera, and Hemiptera (Sabrosky and Braun 1970). Existing records of S. triangulifera found in coccinellid hosts are from eastern North America. One describes low parasitization levels (<1%) in two indigenous species, Coccinella trifasciata perplexa Mulsant and Coleomegilla maculata lengi Timberlake, in Ontario, Canada (Smith 1960). The other existing record describes fluctuating parasitization levels (3.0–31.1% in 1993 and 0–6.5% in 1994) in the exotic species Harmonia axyridis (Pallas) in North Carolina and Virginia (Nalepa et al. 1996).
Natural convection mass transfer adjacent to horizontal plates

Abstract Experiments on natural convection adjacent to horizontal plane surfaces were performed using the naphthalene sublimation technique. By analogy, the present mass transfer experiments correspond to heat transfer at a heated isothermal upward-facing plate or at a cooled downward-facing plate. Circular, square and 7:1 rectangular planforms were employed in the tests. Overall mass transfer coefficients and Sherwood numbers were determined and correlated as a function of the Rayleigh number. A common correlation for all three planforms was attained by using characteristic lengths equal to the ratio of the surface area to the perimeter. The transfer coefficients predicted by laminar boundary layer theory fell well below the experimental data and exhibited a different dependence on the Rayleigh number. The oft-quoted empirical correlation of Fishenden and Saunders was found to be a less satisfactory representation of the present data than that of Mikheyev. In the range of lower Rayleigh numbers, the results given by a numerical finite-difference solution were very much lower than the experimental data.
Staged sequential flap reconstruction for large lower lip defects.

A method for the reconstruction of total or nearly total defects of the lower lip is described that utilizes a staged sequence of flaps that are familiar to most plastic surgeons. The recommended sequence is an extended Karapandzic flap to reestablish the oral sphincter, then two sequential Abbe flaps from the upper lip to restore balance and augment the central lower lip, and finally a commissureplasty using a sliding myomucosal flap in conjunction with final revision of the scars. Intervals of 3 weeks separate the surgical procedures. Using this strategy, essentially normal lip function and a relatively normal appearance have been obtained in four patients with large lip defects.
Imaging of land mines by the globally convergent convexification method using a simplified mathematical model

A new 2-D implementation of the globally convergent convexification numerical method for coefficient inverse problems is described. Based on a simplified mathematical model, numerical results from imaging of targets which mimic antipersonnel land mines demonstrate that the algorithm can detect the location(s) of the inclusion(s) from the background medium, as well as identify the material property of the inclusion(s) and the background. With the ‘tails’ incorporated in the new development, the computational efficiency of the algorithm is dramatically improved relatively to the previous ‘tail-free’ implementation.
A segment-based speaker verification system using SUMMIT

The main goal of this work is to develop a competitive segmentbased speaker verification system that is computationally efficient. To achieve our goal, we modified SUMMIT [12] to suit our needs. The speech signal was first transformed into a hierarchical segment network using frame-based measurements. Next, acoustic models for 168 speakers were developed for a set of 6 broad phoneme classes. The models represented feature statistics with diagonal Gaussians, preceded by principle component analysis. The feature vector included segment-averaged MFCCs, plus three prosodic measurements: energy, fundamental frequency (F0), and duration. The size and content of the feature vector were determined through a greedy algorithm while optimizing overall speaker verification performance. We were able to achieve a performance of 2.74% equal error rate (EER) using cohorts during testing; and 1.59% EER using all speakers during testing. We reduced computation significantly through the use of a small number of features, a small number of phonetic models per speaker, few model parameters, and few competing speakers during testing (when cohorts are used).
Structural biology: Steps in the right direction.

The ring-shaped helicase enzyme Rho moves along RNA using ATP as an energy source. Coordinating ATP hydrolysis with nucleic-acid binding seems to determine the direction and mechanism of helicase movement.
A computer-assisted video technique for preparing high resolution pictures and stereograms from thick specimens

Abstract A computer-assisted video technique is presented for rapidly and accurately gathering, storing and depicting three-dimensional anatomical structures in thick specimens. Several optical sections through the specimen are combined to produce high-resolution photographs with essentially infinite depth-of-field. Further, the depth information implicit in the series of optical sections makes the creation of stereoscopic pairs relatively simple. The technique employs a real-time digitizing frame store and a computer. A video camera is attached to a microscope and successive optical sections are stored digitally as the plane of focus is systematically changed. After storage, the image of each optical section is enhanced to emphasize elements that are sharply focussed. The final two-dimensional image is generated by selecting for each point in the final picture the darkest grey value occurring at the corresponding point in any of the pictures in the through-focus series. A picture with essentially infinite depth-of-field is produced when points of correspondence in the series are determined by a ray passing normal to the plane of optical section. Right and left pictures for a stereoscopic pair are produced when points of correspondence are determined by a ray slanting either left or right of normal. This technique is illustrated with cobalt chloride-filled neurons from whole-mounted cricket ganglia, with HRP-filled axons from whole-mounted goldfish tectum, with Golgi–Kopsch-impregnated neurons from cat visual cortex, and with sections of cobalt chloride-filled antennal afferents in cricket.
Studies on the anticonvulsant action of carbon dioxide in mice.

Abstract The anticonvulsant activity of carbon dioxide has been found to be antagonized by reserpine. Alpha adrenergic blocking agents and the alpha methyl analogs of tyrosine antagonize the anticonvulsant action or acetazolamide but not that of carbon dioxide. The results suggest that these pharmacologic agents may antagonize acetazolamide by altering its absorption of distribution. It is also possible that the increased levels of CO 2 produced by acetazolamide may differ in some way from those produced by the inhalation of CO 2 .
The helicase and RNaseIIIa domains of Arabidopsis Dicer-Like1 modulate catalytic parameters during microRNA biogenesis.

Dicer-Like1 (DCL1), an RNaseIII endonuclease, and Hyponastic Leaves1 (HYL1), a double-stranded RNA-binding protein, are core components of the plant microRNA (miRNA) biogenesis machinery. hyl1 null mutants accumulate low levels of miRNAs and display pleiotropic developmental phenotypes. We report the identification of five new hyl1 suppressor mutants, all of which are alleles of DCL1. These new alleles affect either the helicase or the RNaseIIIa domains of DCL1, highlighting the critical functions of these domains. Biochemical analysis of the DCL1 suppressor variants reveals that they process the primary transcript (pri-miRNA) more efficiently than wild-type DCL1, with both higher Kcat and lower Km values. The DCL1 variants largely rescue wild-type miRNA accumulation levels in vivo, but do not rescue the MIRNA processing precision defects of the hyl1 null mutant. In vitro, the helicase domain confers ATP dependence on DCL1-catalyzed MIRNA processing, attenuates DCL1 cleavage activity, and is required for precise MIRNA processing of some substrates.
Control of gut motility by an intrinsic neural plexus in the pelecypod Spisula

Abstract 1. 1. No evidence for an extrinsic innervation of Spisula gut posterior to the stomach and anterior to the anus was found by careful dissection, histological search or physiological experiments. 2. 2. The rectum contains a peripheral neural plexus composed of abundant ganglion cells and nerve fibers evenly distributed within the muscle layers and other gut tissues. 3. 3. Double contractions—a fast phasic conducting at 5–6 cm/sec followed by a prolonged tonic conducting at 7–8 mm/sec—occur in both circular and longitudinal muscle during either stimulated or spontaneous activity. 4. 4. Functional evidence for a peripheral nerve net is provided by the conduction of both types of contractions past a set of interdigitating cuts and the reversible block by Xylocaine and tetrodotoxin. 5. 5. Rectal motility can be adequately described by an interaction of components within the plexus and associated muscle cells without postulating central nervous control; the gut is intrinsically controlled.
Thermal decomposition of ammonium perchlorate

Abstract The decomposition of ammonium perchlorate and ammonium perchlorate-copper chromite mixtures has been studied in the temperature range from 250°C to 325°C. The products of decomposition were identified and the yield of each was established. Good recovery of N and Cl was achieved. The effect of atmosphere composition on the rate of decomposition was studied. The reaction mechanism proposed for the uncatalysed decomposition involves the adsorbed dissociation products NH3 and HClO4, self-protonation of HClO4 to yield the intermediate ClO3+, and oxidation of NH3 by ClO3+. The reaction mechanism proposed for the catalysed decomposition involves the formation of the free radicals NH4 and ClO4, decomposition of the radicals to NH3 and chlorine oxides, and subsequent oxidation of NH3.
Amplitude, phase, and polarization control with a single spatial light modulator

Point spread function engineering is usually accomplished by controlling the amplitude, phase and/or polarization of the pupil fields. We analyze and test an optical design for full amplitude, phase, and polarization control of the pupil fields using a single spatial light modulator. In our scheme, the beam is spatially split into four components whose relative phases provide the four degrees of freedom necessary for amplitude, phase, and polarization control.
Do Temporal Processing Deficits Cause Phonological Processing Problems

This study tested the hypothesis that temporal processing deficits underlie phonological processing problems. The subjects were children aged 8 to 10 years (N=110) who were separated into 2 groups ...
The climatic effect of co2: A different view

Abstract The current eager acceptance of oceanic thermal lag as the “explanation” as to why CO2 warming remains undetected, reemphasizes that the atmosphere cannot warm until the oceans do. The logical implication follows that most current climate models are lacking in relevance; they have not been constructed with ocean surface temperature as the fundamental variable. When the problem is attacked from this view, sensitivity to CO2 is significantly reduced; a position also strongly supported by the available palaeoclimatic data.
Distribution and determinants of pesticide mixtures in cord serum using principal component analysis.

We characterized the distribution and determinants of fetal exposures to pesticide mixtures using a cross-sectional study of 297 singletons delivered at Johns Hopkins Hospital in Baltimore, MD (2004−2005). Concentrations of nine persistent and twelve nonpersistent pesticides were measured in cord serum. Mixtures were identified using principal components analysis. Associations between mixtures and maternal and infant characteristics were evaluated using multivariate analysis. p,p′-DDE, p,p′-DDT, trans-nonachlor, oxychlordane, bendiocarb, propoxur, and trans- and cis-permethrin were detected in 100, 90, 93, 84, 73, 55, 52, and 41% of serum samples, respectively. There were four independent pesticide components: DDT (p,p′-DDT + p,p′-DDE), chlordane (trans-nonachlor + oxychlordane), permethrin (trans- and cis-permethrins + PBUT), and carbamate (bendiocarb + propoxur). DDT and chlordane were 6.1 (95%CI: 2.4, 15.5) and 2.1 (95%CI: 1.0, 4.2) times higher for infants of women >35, and 1.8 (95%CI: 1.2, 2.9) and 1...
An Oligosaccharide Sialyl-Lewisx Analogue Does Not Reduce Myocardial Infarct Size After Ischemia and Reperfusion in Dogs

Background Polymorphonuclear leukocytes, particularly neutrophils, are important mediators of ischemia/reperfusion–induced myocardial and coronary vascular injury. The selectin family of glycoprotein receptors mediates neutrophil “rolling,” a loose, transient adhesion to the coronary endothelium that precedes the firmer adhesion associated with cardiovascular injury. The oligosaccharide sialyl-Lewis x (SLe x ) is the probable neutrophil counterligand for endothelial E- and P-selectin. Administration of analogues of SLe x could potentially prevent neutrophil rolling by competing for the selectin-adhesion sites. We investigated the effects of treatment with an analogue of SLe x in a chronic canine model of ischemia/reperfusion. Methods and Results Anesthetized mongrel dogs were subjected to 90 minutes of ischemia through occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery and 48 hours of reperfusion. Five minutes before the onset of reperfusion, dogs received either the SLe x analogue CY-1503 at a dose of 20 mg/kg or normal saline. Myocardial infarct size was measured through triphenyltetrazolium chloride staining, and polymorphonuclear leukocyte accumulation was evaluated through measurement of cardiac myeloperoxidase activity. After adjustment for blood flow, the mean infarct size of control dogs (44.7±4.2%) was not different from that of treated dogs (33.4±4.0%, P =.06), although there was a trend toward a slightly lower value in the treated dogs. Myeloperoxidase activity was not different in the infarcted myocardium of the treated group compared with that of the control group (2.7±0.71 treated versus 1.08±0.41 units/mg protein control, P =.06). Conclusions We conclude that CY-1503 does not substantially or consistently reduce myocardial infarct size or neutrophil accumulation in dogs subjected to ischemia followed by a prolonged period (48 hours) of reperfusion.
Growth Rates and Age Estimation in Eptesicus fuscus and Comparison with Myotis lucifugus

Postnatal growth rates of free-living Eptesicus fuscus were determined by measuring length of forearm, length of the fourth metacarpal-phalangeal epiphyseal gap, and body weight of known-age juveniles. Linear segments of the forearm and epiphyseal gap curves yielded age-predictive regression equations with 95% confidence limits ranging from ±0.3 to 2.5 days and extending up to 43 days of age. Comparison of E. fuscus and Myotis lucifugus growth rates, when adjusted to body size, showed that E. fuscus grows at significantly slower relative rates than M. lucifugus . When litter size is accounted for, however, the rate of production of offspring biomass is relatively greater in E. fuscus .
Oral vitamin D supplementation reduces the incidence of eucalcemic PTH elevation after surgery for primary hyperparathyroidism

Background As many as 43% of patients will have normocalcemic intact parathyroid hormone (PTH) elevation after undergoing curative parathyroidectomy for primary hyperparathyroidism. This phenomenon may be due in part to an absolute or relative deficiency of vitamin D, which is under-recognized in patients with primary hyperparathyroidism. Methods From September 1, 2004, to September 30, 2005, 86 consecutive patients underwent parathyroidectomy for primary sporadic hyperparathyroidism (psHPT). The patients were segregated into 2 groups based on postoperative management. Group 1 was composed of 26 patients who received routine oral calcitriol and calcium carbonate postoperatively. The 60 patients in the second group (group 2) received calcium carbonate postoperatively at the discretion of the primary surgeon. Results A total of 85 patients (99%) achieved postoperative cure with sustained reduction in serum calcium. Within 30 days postoperatively, mean serum PTH levels normalized in both groups (41 ± 31 vs 39 ± 31 pg/ml; P = .91). However, at 1 to 3 months postoperatively, mean serum calcium levels remained similar (9.5 ± 0.7 vs 9.3 ± 0.5 mg/dl; P = .39) whereas mean serum PTH levels in groups 1 and 2 were 43 ± 25 pg/ml and 67 ± 45 pg/ml ( P = .02), respectively. At 4 to 6 months postoperatively, mean PTH was again higher in group 2 (36 ± 22 vs 67 ± 35; P = .03), whereas mean serum calcium levels were normal (9.2 ± 0.8 vs 9.6 ± 0.4 mg/dl; P = .18). The incidence of postoperative normocalcemic PTH elevation was significantly higher in group 2 at 1 to 3 months (14% vs 39%; P = .04) and at 7 to 12 months (22% vs 83%; P = .04). Conclusions Vitamin D supplementation following parathyroidectomy for primary hyperparathyroidism reduces the incidence of postoperative eucalcemic PTH elevation.
Materials for breeding blankets

There are several candidate concepts for tritium breeding blankets that make use of a number of special materials. These materials can be classified as Primary Blanket Materials, which have the greatest influence in determining the overall design and performance, and Secondary Blanket Materials, which have key functions in the operation of the blanket but are less important in establishing the overall design and performance. The issues associated with the blanket materials are specified and several examples of materials performance are given. Critical data needs are identified.
Olympic Games are an International Farce

With the conclusion of the Great War, beleaguered BOA officials attempted to rally British interest in a revival of the Olympic Games. In the aftermath of one of the darkest and most violent epochs in modern history, the thought of sending a British team to compete at the 1920 Olympic Games in Antwerp appeared almost unpalatable. In the face of strong public and governmental opposition, as well as a post-war economic downturn, Britain's Olympic leaders struggled desperately to raise the funds necessary to ensure the nation's participation in the Belgian capital. Britain's Antwerp campaign, coupled with the renewed difficulties of selecting and preparing an Olympic team would ultimately force the BOA to seriously question the nation's participation in future Olympian spectacles.
Elder Abuse and Case Outcome

Throughout the health and human service systems, interest in the outcome of interventions has been gaining momentum. The purpose of this article is to investigate case resolution, a common social s...
Interleukin-12 and its role in the generation of TH1 cells

Over the past few years a growing number of new cytokines have been discovered. Here, Giorgio Trinchieri reports on one of these, Interleukin 12, and discusses the significance of the many effects it has on the regulation of immunity and its importance to the generation of TH1 cells.