cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Epithelial polymeric immunoglobulin receptors

The secretory immune system, which leads to secretion of polymeric immunoglobulins along mucosal surfaces, has not been shown to have any definite role in cutaneous immunology, although the polymeric immunoglobulin receptor, secretory component (SC), has been found in sweat glands and possibly in the epidermis. The purpose of this study is to examine normal human skin and cultured human keratinocytes for the presence of SC. Positive staining for SC was found in sections of normal human skin along the basement membrane zone with use of a polyclonal antibody to SC and focally on the surfaces of epidermal cells with use of a monoclonal antibody to SC. Granular cell-surface fluorescence of an intensity far less than that of the positive control HT 29 cells was seen when cultured human keratinocytes were stained for SC by indirect immunofluorescence (IF). Study of lysates of both HT 29 cells and HK by immunoblotting have been negative, perhaps due to destruction of the protein or loss of antigenicity during the extraction process. If human keratinocytes are capable of expression of SC, and the receptor can interact with IgA and IgM, this might be a mechanism for protection of the skin from microbial agent or foreign antigens and might be relevant to the deposition of IgA seen in certain skin diseases.
Hydrodynamic focusing micropump module with PDMS/nickel-particle composite diaphragms for microfluidic systems

In this research, a rapid prototype hydrodynamic focusing module with three multi-fluidic speed-modulating (MFSM) micropumps in micro-fluidic flow has been designed, fabricated, and characterized. The module comprises of three MFSM micropumps having the dimension of 33 � 25 � 5 mm to achieve hydrodynamic focusing and the stream modulation. Each micropump consists of top, middle and bottom including actuation/modulation source, PDMS/nickel-particle composite (PNPC) diaphragm and Tesla-type valve/chamber, respectively. Three MFSM micropumps share one pneumatic actuation source and two individual permanent magnet modulation sources which are located above the right and left diaphragms. Each permanent magnet is manually controlled by a screw. The PNPC diaphragm deflection is obtained by the external pneumatic force, and the permanent magnet limits the displacement resulting from the interaction between the magnetic field and the nickel particles of the PNPC diaphragm. Hydrodynamic focusing is realized by the flow rate control of two side micropumps with magnetic diaphragm displacement modulation. Analyses of the magnetic modulation field, the flow rate of the MFSM micropump, and the hydrodynamic focused stream modulation are presented. The individual micropump can pump DI water with a flow rate of about 107 μl/min, and the hydrodynamic focusing channel can achieve a flow rate of about 321 μl/min, under the frequency of 2 Hz. This research examines the modulation feasibility of hydrodynamic focused center stream by controlling the neighboring stream flow rate and this technique can be utilized for possible applications in lab-on-a-chip, micro total analysis system and point of care testing system.
Methodology for estimating soil carbon for the forest carbon budget model of the United States, 2001.

The largest carbon (C) pool in United States forests is the soil C pool. We present methodology and soil C pool estimates used in the FORCARB model, which estimates and projects forest carbon budgets for the United States. The methodology balances knowledge, uncertainties, and ease of use. The estimates are calculated using the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service STATSGO database, with soil dynamics following assumptions based on results of site-specific studies, and area estimates from the USDA Forest Service, Forest Inventory and Analysis data and national-level land cover data sets. Harvesting is assumed to have no effect on soil C. Land use change and forest type transitions affect soil C. We apply the methodology to the southeastern region of the United States as a case study.
Surface length scale contributions to the directional and hemispherical emissivity and reflectivity

Rigorous electromagnetic scattering solutions, based on the extinction theorem, are used to investigate the surface geometry contributions to the directional and hemispherical emissivity and to the directional hemispherical reflectivity for one-dimensional configured or random rough surfaces with different material properties. The surface parameters that affect the scattered energy are the surface geometrical shape, including the ratio of transverse length scale over wavelength r/A and height over wavelength a-/A, and the optical properties of the surface material. Through numerical calculations, the dominant contribution to these surface radiative properties is shown to be the slope of the surface, expressed by CT/T. For a surface consisting of multiple-length scales with different slopes, the subscale with a larger slope is shown to dominate the surface radiative properties of the surface.
Developmental adaptations in cytosolic phosphate content and pH regulation in the sheep heart in vivo.

Abstract This study examines adaptations in myocardial cytosolic phosphate content and buffering capacity that occur in vivo as a function of development. Phosphate metabolites were monitored in an open chest sheep preparation using a 31P magnetic resonance surface coil over the left ventricle. Newborn lambs (aged 4-9 d, n = 5) underwent exchange transfusion with adult blood to reduce blood-borne 2,3-diphosphoglycerate contamination of the heart monophosphate and phosphomonoester resonances, thus allowing determination of these phosphate concentrations. The blood-exchanged newborns and mature controls (aged 30-60 d, n = 5) were infused with 0.4 N hydrochloric acid to decrease pH from greater than 7.35 to less than 7.00. Simultaneously, intracellular and extracellular pH were determined from the chemical shifts of the respective phosphate peaks and compared to arterial blood pH. Findings were as follows: (a) diphosphoglycerate contribution to the cardiac spectrum was found to be negligible, (b) significant decreases in cytosolic phosphate (P less than 0.03) and phosphomonoester (P less than 0.01) content occurred with maturation, and (c) large decreases in extracellular pH (greater than 0.5 U) in both groups were similarly associated with only small changes in intracellular pH (less than 0.1 U). Change in cytosolic phosphate content implies that alterations occur in the phosphorylation potential with resulting effects on regulation of myocardial respiration, and cardiac energetics.
Validity of faculty and resident global assessment of medical students' clinical knowledge during their pediatrics clerkship.

Abstract Objective Medical knowledge is one of six core competencies in medicine. Medical student assessments should be valid and reliable. We assessed the relationship between faculty and resident global assessment of pediatric medical student knowledge and performance on a standardized test in medical knowledge. Methods Retrospective cross-sectional study of medical students on a pediatric clerkship in academic year 2008–2009 at one academic health center. Faculty and residents rated students' clinical knowledge on a 5-point Likert scale. The inter-rater reliability of clinical knowledge ratings was assessed by calculating the intra-class correlation coefficient (ICC) for residents' ratings, faculty ratings, and both rating types combined. Convergent validity between clinical knowledge ratings and scores on the National Board of Medical Examiners (NBME) clinical subject examination in pediatrics was assessed with Pearson product moment correlation correction and the coefficient of the determination. Results There was moderate agreement for global clinical knowledge ratings by faculty and moderate agreement for ratings by residents. The agreement was also moderate when faculty and resident ratings were combined. Global ratings of clinical knowledge had high convergent validity with pediatric examination scores when students were rated by both residents and faculty. Conclusions Our findings provide evidence for convergent validity of global assessment of medical students' clinical knowledge with NBME subject examination scores in pediatrics.
Molecular dynamics simulations of glycocholate-oleic acid mixed micelle assembly

We have applied a molecular dynamics (MD) method to investigate the aggregation behavior and physicochemical properties of bile salt as well as bile salt/fatty acid mixed micelles. Local atomic density profiles from the center of the micelles confirm that the self-assembly of the trihydroxy bile salt, glycocholate, is largely driven by hydrophobic aggregation of the nonpolar β-faces of the steroid backbones. Additional association occurs between neighboring monomers through hydrogen-bonding interactions. The average micellar aggregation number for glycocholate at 37 °C with a background salt concentration of 150 mM is shown to be 8.5 molecules per micelle, while the critical micelle concentration (cmc) is 3.1 mM. The good agreement of these results with experimental values illustrates that a MD approach is useful to study mixed micelles of bile salts and fatty acids, critical to the understanding of oral lipid-based formulations. The aggregation behavior and colloidal structure of such micelles are simula...
Modeling and measuring lateral line excitation patterns to changing dipole source locations

In order to determine excitation patterns to the lateral line system from a nearby 50 Hz oscillating sphere, dipole flow field equations were used to model the spatial distribution of pressures along a linear array of lateral line canal pores. Modeled predictions were then compared to pressure distributions measured for the same dipole source with a miniature hydrophone placed in a small test tank used for neurophysiological experiments. Finally, neural responses from posterior lateral line nerve fibers in the goldfish were measured in the test tank to demonstrate that modeled and measured pressure gradient patterns were encoded by the lateral line periphery. Response patterns to a 50 Hz dipole source that slowly changed location along the length of the fish included (1) peaks and valleys in spike-rate responses corresponding to changes in pressure gradient amplitudes, (2) 180° phase-shifts corresponding to reversals in the direction of the pressure gradient and (3) distance-dependent changes in the locations of peaks, valleys and 180° phase-shifts. Modeled pressure gradient patterns also predict that the number of neural amplitude peaks and phase transitions will vary as a function of neuromast orientation and axis of source oscillation. The faithful way in which the lateral line periphery encodes pressure gradient patterns has implications for how source location and distance might be encoded by excitation patterns in the CNS. Phase-shift information may be important for (1) inhibitory/excitatory sculpting of receptive fields and (2) unambiguously encoding source distance so that increases in source distance are not confused with decreases in source amplitude.
ENZYMATIC DIGESTION OF BEEF THYROTROPIC HORMONE WITH PAPAIN

IN A STUDY of the effect of a different proteolytic enzymes on a pituitary extract, Chow and co-workers (1939) reported that digestion with papain had no effect upon the thyrotropic activity of the extract. Since no attempt was made to separate the digestion products from the unreacted material, the digestion mixture being injected into the experimental animals, it is difficult to assess the significance of their observation. The present communication reports the action of papain on highly purified beef thyrotropic hormone (TSH). The reaction products have been separated from the undigested material both by trichloracetic acid precipitation and dialysis. In each case it has been found that these products possess thyrotropic activity. experimental methods We have found it convenient to use the Long-Evans hypophysectomized, immature female rat as our assay animal. These animals weighed about 70 gms. at the onset of the experiment, and were one week post-operative.
Is there a difference between strong ion gap in healthy volunteers and intensive care unit patients

Abstract Purpose Abnormalities of strong ion gap (SIG) are common in critically ill intensive care unit (ICU) patients in conjunction with a high incidence of acid-base abnormalities. However, it is unknown whether abnormalities in SIG are also seen in ICU patients without active acid-base abnormalities. Thus, we conducted this pilot study to examine differences in quantitative acid-base variables between healthy adult volunteers and stable ICU patients with no suspected acid-base abnormalities. Methods The study used a prospective observational study of 2 cohorts, 15 healthy adult volunteers and 15 stable adult patients just before ICU discharge who were not receiving renal replacement therapy and had no known active acid-base derangements. We analyzed venous blood for acid-base variables (potential hydrogen in central venous blood [pH CV ], partial tension of carbon dioxide in central venous blood [p CV co 2 ], standard base excess [SBE], lactate, Na + , K + , Cl − , Mg 2+ , Ca 2+ , phosphate, and albumin). From these, we calculated strong ion difference (SID) and SIG for both cohorts. Results Although mean values for pH CV , p CV CO 2 , and SBE were within the normal range in both cohorts, 10 (66.7%) of 15 of ICU patients were found to have occult acid-base disorders. The ICU patients also had reduced albumin and SID measurements and significantly greater mean SIG (5.1 ± 2.9 mEq/L) compared to healthy controls (1.4 ± 1.8 mEq/L) ( P = .0002). None of the healthy controls had a SIG higher than 5.0 mEq/L, whereas 7 (46.7%) of 15 of ICU patients had a SIG higher than 5.0 mEq/L. Even among ICU patients with no abnormalities of pH CV , p CV CO 2 , and SBE, mean SIG was 6.4 (±3.3 mEq/L). Conclusions Stable ICU patients have much higher levels of unexplained anions when comparing with healthy controls. Whether this finding represents occult acid-base disorders or simply metabolic differences among the critically ill is uncertain. Further study in larger populations is warranted to establish the significance of high SIG in otherwise stable ICU patients.
A quantitative analysis of the dynamics of the sorption of hydrophobic organic chemicals to suspended sediments

Recent long-term adsorption and desorption experiments with hexachlorobenzene and three polychlorinated biphenyl congeners have clearly demonstrated that the rates of adsorption and desorption for hydrophobic organic chemicals to natural suspended sediments can be relatively slow and therefore that the assumption of chemical equilibrium may not be valid in many realistic situations. These experiments have also led to a better understanding of the adsorption, desorption, and partitioning processes. Based on this experimental work, a theoretical model of the adsorption, desorption, and partitioning of hydrophobic organic chemicals to suspended sediments has been developed. In the present article, a description of this model is given, and results of numerical calculations using this model are compared with experimental results. In the modeling, the emphasis is on the dynamics of sorption. The model is relatively simple, with retarded chemical diffusion within the particle/floc as the basic transport process. A complicating factor is the variations in the particle/floc size and density distributions; these distributions are dependent on local conditions and may also vary with time. In the modeling, they were chosen on the basis of measurements taken during the sorption experiments. In general, good agreement between the numerical and experimental results was obtained for all casesmore » considered.« less
Particulate Organic Matter Detection Using a Micro-Orifice Volatilization Impactor Coupled to a Chemical Ionization Mass Spectrometer (MOVI-CIMS)

We describe a new method, Micro-Orifice Volatilization Impactor-CIMS (MOVI-CIMS) that couples two well-proven techniques, inertial impaction and chemical ionization mass spectrometry (CIMS). This technique allows both gas and condensed-phase composition data to be obtained on a semi-continuous basis. Gas-phase compounds are analyzed while particles are collected on a post. This collection step is followed by thermal desorption in an inert atmosphere to detect condensed-phase compounds. Differentiation between gas and condensed-phase compounds can likely occur on hourly or shorter timescales. The unique aspects of this approach are the use of an impactor with 100 nozzles that allows particle collection at a pressure within 15% of ambient and the ability to use a wide suite of negative and positive reagent ions. A sample flow rate of 10 L min−1 results in a cut-point diameter (d 50, diameter of 50% collection efficiency) of 0.13 μ m. We demonstrate the capabilities of this technique by applying it to the de...
Una revisión del debate sobre las mujeres y la teoría moral

La autora del articulo vuelve sobre las implicaciones del llamado paradigma de Kohlberg" del desarrollo moral. Considera que, desde el punto de vista de la teoria feminista, no deben interpretarse los trabajos empiricos de Gilligan en el sentido de la propuesta de una "etica femenina del cuidado" como alternativa a la orientacion universalista de la etica normativa de la justicia. Una teoria moral "adecuada para la forma de vida de las modernas sociedades complejas" requiere "alguna caracterizacion universalista de la idea de la imparcialidad y del punto de vista etico". Pero de ahi no se deriva una delimitacion de lo etico como el ambito de las cuestiones de justicia por oposicion a las "cuestiones evaluativas de la vida buena" que serian consideradas meramente "personales". En opinion de S. Benhabib, Habermas y Kohlberg "confunden el punto de vista de una etica universalista con una definicion estricta del ambito moral", centrado en la justicia. La autora muestra, ademas, que bajo tal delimitacion subyace un subtexto del genero que privilegia la perspectiva del varon adulto, olvidando que las relaciones humanas de dependencia y cuidado son basicas en la adquisicion de las competencias eticas de los individuos autonomos. Asi pues, "en terminos ontogeneticos ni la justicia ni el cuidado poseen primacia alguna", y ninguno de ambos debe solaparse con el espacio de pertinencia de la moral
Differential distribution of CCDC26 glioma-risk alleles in myeloid malignancies with mutant IDH1 compared with their IDH2R140-mutated or IDH-unmutated counterparts.

Differential distribution of CCDC26 glioma-risk alleles in myeloid malignancies with mutant IDH1 compared with their IDH2R140-mutated or IDH-unmutated counterparts
The Communicative City: Conceptualizing, Operationalizing, and Policy Making

The ‘‘communicative city’’ concept focuses attention on communication patterns that connect people in cities and relationships between urban context and communication phenomena so that those who pl...
Prospective Memory in Children and Chimpanzees

Prospective memory (PM) involves remembering to do something at a specific time in the future. Here, we investigate the beginnings of this ability in young children (3-year-olds; Homo sapiens) and chimpanzees (Pan troglodytes) using an analogous task. Subjects were given a choice between two toys (children) or two food items (chimpanzees). The selected item was delivered immediately, whereas the unselected item was hidden in an opaque container. After completing an ongoing quantity discrimination task, subjects could request the hidden item by asking for it (children) or by pointing to the container and identifying the item on a symbol board (chimpanzees). Children and chimpanzees showed evidence of prospective-like memory in this task, as evidenced by successful retrieval of the item at the end of the task, sometimes spontaneously with no prompting from the experimenter. These findings contribute to our understanding of PM from an ontogenetic and comparative perspective.
A Study of the Viscoelastic Behavior of Novel Side Chain Liquid Crystalline Polyurethanes Using Dynamic Infrared Spectroscopy

Side chain liquid crystal polyurethanes are a new class of materials designed to exhibit mechano-optic properties. This paper reports phase modulated dynamic Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR) experiments performed to study the response of these materials to sinusoidal mechanical perturbations. In dynamic FT-IR, the viscoelastic reorientation of various segments of the macromolecule can be monitored as a function of the applied strain. For the polyurethane under study, the cyano band is used to follow mesogen movements, and the urethane carbonyl is used to track the hard segment. We present evidence for two types of hard segments: those involved in hydrogen bonding within hard domains, and those found in “lone” hard segments in the soft matrix. We also present evidence for two types of mesogens: those found in smectic layers, and those not involved in smectic ordering at the hard domain interface. The hard domains and the smectic layers have strong viscous components to their mechanical res...
Spatial vectorcardiography: left bundle branch block and left ventricular hypertrophy. II.

Abstract 1. 1. Simultaneously recorded frontal, sagittal, and horizontal plane vectorcardiograms are described in twenty patients with left ventricular hyerptrophy, fourteen patients with left bundle branch block, and two patients with intermittent left bundle branch block. 2. 2. In left ventricular hypertrophy, the QRS sE loops in the frontal plane were usually inscribed in a counterclockwise direction in the I and VI sextants; in the sagittal plane, in a clockwise direction and posteriorly; in the horizontal plane, in a counterclockwise direction posteriorly and to the left. 3. 3. In left bundle branch block, the QRS sE loops in the frontal plane were inscribed in the I and VI sextants in a counterclockwise direction; in the sagittal plane, in a clockwise direction posteriorly and upward; in the horizontal plane, in a clockwise direction posteriorly and to the left. 4. 4. There was no delay in the inscription of the QRS sE loop in left ventricular hypertrophy while there was definite delay in left bundle branch block. 5. 5. The significance of these findings is discussed.
Optical stochastic cooling of muons

This paper summarizes a feasibility study of optical stochastic cooling (OSC) of muons. We developed a draft scenario of OSC and considered what it would involve to implement it. In several places of this scenario we accepted a risky strategy because we could not otherwise find a plausible solution. This paper highlights these difficult places and explains our constraints. In the first section of this paper we give a brief introduction to the OSC itself. In the next section, we present all formulas needed for a calculation of the damping time provided by the OSC, gain of the optical amplifier, optical energy, and power. Most of the formulas are given without a derivation, which can be found in Ref. [1]. A reader following the derivation of formulas in Ref. [1] will catch minor differences between the present and “old” formulas, which are due to the broader applicability of the present formulas. The cooling scenario is considered in the third section. Here we explain the logistics of this scenario and highlight the places where we encountered difficulties that required the use of risky strategies. In the last section we consider the application of the cooling scenario developed in the preceding section to the 2 TeV 3 2 TeV muon collider.
Electron attachment to Cl 2 from 300 to 1100 K: Experiment and theory

Rate constants for dissociative electron attachment to ${\text{Cl}}_{2}$ have been measured from 300 to 1100 K in a high-temperature flowing-afterglow Langmuir-probe apparatus. $R$-matrix calculations have been carried out which compare well with the present measurements with possible deviation at the highest temperatures. The attachment rate constants do not show Arrhenius behavior. The temperature dependence of the calculated rate constants for successive vibrational levels provides insight as to this behavior. While the lowest vibrational level of ${\text{Cl}}_{2}$ dominates attachment at low temperatures, the rate constant is not flat with temperature because of the $p$-wave character of the attachment process. The non-Arrhenius behavior is due to a conflict between the increase in attachment cross section with vibrational level (temperature) and the decline in the cross section with electron energy above 50 meV.
Salt Dissolution and Surface Subsidence in Central Kansas: A Seismic Investigation of the Anthropogenic and Natural Origin Models

Gradual subsidence in the Punkin Center study area, northeast Reno County, Kansas, has resulted in ponding of surface waters, abandonment of at least one oil well, and damage to county roads. Because the Punkin Center area is within the Burrton oil field and is underlain by the Hutchinson Salt Member, surface subsidence historically has been attributed to salt dissolution of anthropogenic origin. Subsidence that occurred significant distances from any known well sites has been attributed to unrecorded abandoned wells or complex asymmetric patterns of salt dissolution that originated at a drillhole. To ascertain the validity of the widely accepted anthropogenic salt‐dissolution model, a 4-km seismic reflection profile was acquired along an east‐west‐oriented county road adjacent to an abandoned oil well. The expectation was that the residual Hutchinson Salt Member would be anomalously thin where maximum recorded surface subsidence occurred and thicker elsewhere. Contrary to expectations, the residual Hutch...
Function of spiral grain in trees

Through spiral grain, conduits for sap lead from each root to all branches. This uniform distribution of sap is indicated by the paths of vessels and tracheids, and has been proven experimentally by means of dyed sap injected into the base of stems or taken up by roots. Trees receiving water only from roots at one side of the root collar nevertheless stay green and continue growing. Spiral grain in bark distributes food from each branch to other flanks of the stem and to most roots. Experimental interruptions of the sap and food conduits caused the cambial zone to reorient new conduit cells in new directions, bypassing the interruption. In particular, spiral grooves cut into the stem surface caused spiral grain. The new cells reorient through division and growth. Although spiral grain is largely under genetic control, trees appear to have a spiral grain especially where needed for distribution of water when root spheres are dry at one side. Compared with straight-grained trees, spiral-grained stems and branches bend and twist more when exposed to strong wind, in this way offering less wind resistance and being less likely to break. Through the bending and twisting, snow slides down from branches rather than breaking them, but the main function of spiral grain is the uniform distribution of supplies from each root to all branches, and from each branch to many roots.
Performance of delinquent and nondelinquent males on planning, attention, simultaneous, and successive cognitive processing tasks.

This study compared the performance of 30 White adolescent males (M age = 15 years, 8 months; SD = 7 months) and 30 incarcerated White male delinquents (M age = 15 years, 6 months, SD = 8 months) on measures of planning, attention, simultaneous, and successive cognitive processes. Normal and delinquent samples did not differ on measures of planning, simultaneous, or successive processes, but did differ significantly in selective attention. The results help clarify previous equivocal findings of attention and planning deficiencies in delinquents and suggest that A. R. Luria's model of functioning may provide a useful perspective for conceptualization of this group's cognitive competence. Language: en
Fixed–Effects Negative Binomial Regression Models

This paper demonstrates that the conditional negative binomial model for panel data, proposed by Hausman, Hall, and Griliches (1984), is not a true fixed-effects method. This method—which has been ...
Experimental example of isotropic surface second-harmonic generation: dc-sputtered air-exposed aluminum thin films

We have determined the amplitudes and relative phases of the allowed components of the effective surface second-harmonic susceptibility, Χ ( 2 ) , for a set of air-exposed dc-sputtered Al thin films. The second-harmonic intensity and polarization state was measured as a function of linear input polarization state and azimuthal orientation of the sample using a Ti:sapphire laser at 810 nm. The films are found to be optically isotropic with respect to azimuthal rotation angle, consistent with an isotropic Χ ( 2 ) with seven elements in three families. Using measured linear optical properties, the elements of Χ ( 2 ) were determined from the data. In terms of the dimensionless parameters a, b, and d [J. Rudnick and E. A. Stern, Phys. Rev. B 4, 4274 (1971)], we find ‖a‖=2.30′0.72, in rough agreement with previous measurements of the surface current perpendicular to the surface on oxidized Al surface, ‖b‖=0.013′0.004 for the surface current parallel to the surface, and ‖d‖ =0.009′0.002 for the bulk contribution. The relative phases of a and b with respect to d are found to be (-0.4′6)° and (63′12)°, respectively. The measurement indicates a large discrepancy between measured values and the universal theoretical expectation that b=-1 and d= 1.
Energy in the World Economy, 1950-1992

Trends in energy production, trade, and consumption during 1950‐1992 are analyzed, using nine world regions to highlight both North-South energy trade and the regions’ differing patterns of industrialization. Following price shocks in 1973 and 1979, and the price drop of the mid-1980s, the industrialized West adjusted its patterns of energy consumption and imports, and the Middle East changed its level of exports. These relationships suggest a cobweb-type model with an equilibrium price for Mideast oil around $30/barrel. This equilibrium could result in zero growth in energy consumption in the industrialized West but continued growth of GDP as energy efficiency increases. Energy prices that are “too high” reduce GDP growth in the short term—to the detriment of both energy importers and exporters—while prices that are “too low” lead in the long term to high dependency on Middle East oil exports, which, in turn, depends on an elusive and costly political stability in that region. The analysis highlights the central role of North-South energy trade in the world economy, and the close but changing relationship of energy with overall GDP growth.
Optical control of a GaAs MMIC transmit/receive module

Experimental results are reported for optical gain control and optical pulse-code modulation (PCM) of a GaAs microwave monolithic integrated circuit (MMIC) distributed amplifier intended for reconfigurable phased-array antenna use. The control signal was generated by a low-cost LED, and a multifinger MESFET was utilized as a photodetector. The amplifier gain was varied by 15 dB as a function of the optical intensity over the frequency range of 5-8-GHz. Pulse-code modulation was obtained using a semiconductor laser. >
Safety Surrounding Parenteral Nutrition Systems

Parenteral nutrition (PN) is one of the most complex medications administered to hospitalized and ambulatory patients. Despite the successful clinical use of PN for over 3 decades, adverse events continue to occur, resulting in serious morbidity or even mortality. There are multiple points within the PN process for errors to occur: prescribing, transcription, preparation, and administration. Because of the lack of published literature about PN errors, a formal study was conducted to document the nature and severity of harm resulting from medication errors during the PN process.
Abnormal hematopoietic phenotypes in Pim kinase triple knockout mice.

Pim (p roviral i nsertion in m urine lymphoma) kinases are a small family of constitutively active, highly conservative serine/threonine oncogenic kinases and have 3 members: Pim1, Pim2, and Pim3. Pim kinases are also implicated in the regulation of B- and T- cell responses to cytokines and hematopoietic growth factors. The roles of Pim kinases in the regulation of primitive hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) are largely unknown. In the current study, Pim1−/−2−/−3−/− triple knockout (TKO) mice were used to determine the role of Pim kinases in hematopoiesis. Peripheral blood hematological parameters were measured in Pim TKO mice and age-matched wild-type (WT) controls. Primary, secondary, and competitive transplantations were performed to assay the long-term repopulating HSCs in Pim TKO mice. In vivo BrdU incorporation assay and ex vivo Ki67 staining and caspase 3 labeling were performed to evaluate the proliferation and apoptosis of HSCs in Pim TKO mice. Compared to age-matched WT controls, Pim TKO mice had lower peripheral blood platelet count and exhibited erythrocyte hypochromic microcytosis. The bone marrow cells from Pim TKO mice demonstrated decreased hematopoietic progenitor colony-forming ability. Importantly, Pim TKO bone marrow cells had significantly impaired capacity in rescuing lethally irradiated mice and reconstituting hematopoiesis in primary, secondary and competitive transplant models. In vivo BrdU incorporation in long-term HSCs was reduced in Pim TKO mice. Finally, cultured HSCs from Pim TKO mice showed reduced proliferation evaluated by Ki67 staining and higher rate of apoptosis via caspase 3 activation. Pim kinases are not only essential in the hematopoietic lineage cell development, but also important in HSC expansion, self-renewal, and long-term repopulation.
A memristor-based TCAM (ternary content addressable memory) cell: design and evaluation

This paper presents a Ternary Content Addressable Memory (TCAM) cell that employs memristors as storage element. The TCAM cell requires two memristors in series to perform the traditional memory operations (read and write) as well as the search and matching operations for TCAM; this memory cell is analyzed with respect to different features (such as transistor sizing and voltage threshold) of the memristors to process fast and efficiently the ternary data. A comprehensive simulation based assessment of this cell is pursued by HSPICE.
Judgment of Anger Problems by Clients and Therapists Study of Batterers and Nonbatterers

Clients' self-judgments and therapists' judgments on severity of anger control problem, dangerousness, and motivation for treatment were obtained on 52 outpatient clients with a history of battering and 57 clients without such history. Differences in judgment ratings between groups and correlational data on the therapists' and clients' judgments are presented. Patterns of endorsement of ten specific anger problem criteria by the clients and therapists are analyzed in relation to their judgment ratings by zero-order correlations and stepwise multiple regression. The presumed trustworthiness of professional judgments relative to the self-judgments of clients is examined in terms of reliability and the apparent basis of these judgments. Clinical and research implications of descriptive study in this area are discussed.
In oesophageal squamous cells exposed to acidic bile salt medium, omeprazole inhibits IL-8 expression through effects on nuclear factor-κB and activator protein-1

Objective Oesophagitis might result from the effects of chemokines produced by oesophageal cells in response to gastro-oesophageal reflux, and not solely from the direct, caustic effects of refluxed gastric juice. Proton pump inhibitors (PPI) can block chemokine production through mechanisms independent of their antisecretory effects. We studied omeprazole effects on chemokine production by oesophageal epithelial cells exposed to acidic bile salts. Design Human primary and telomerase-immortalised oesophageal squamous cells were exposed to acidic bile salt medium with or without omeprazole pretreatment. Interleukin (IL)-8 expression was determined by RT-PCR and ELISA. IL-8 promoter activity was measured by luciferase reporter assay. Binding of NF-κB and AP-1 subunits to the IL-8 promoter was assessed by chromatin immunoprecipitation (ChIP) assay. Immune cell migration induced by conditioned medium was determined by a double-chamber migration assay system. Results Acidic bile salt medium caused oesophageal epithelial cells to express IL-8 mRNA and protein by activating the IL-8 promoter through NF-κB and AP-1 binding. Omeprazole inhibited that acidic bile salt-stimulated IL-8 expression by blocking the nuclear translocation of p65 (an NF-κB subunit), and by blocking the binding of p65, c-jun and c-fos (AP-1 subunits) to the IL-8 promoter. Omeprazole also blocked the ability of conditioned medium from cells exposed to acidic bile salts to induce immune cell migration. Conclusions In oesophageal squamous epithelial cells, omeprazole inhibits IL-8 expression through effects on NF-κB and AP-1 that are entirely independent of effects on gastric acid secretion. These previously unrecognised PPI effects might contribute to the healing of reflux oesophagitis.
Triangle mesh-based edge detection and its application to surface segmentation and adaptive surface smoothing

Triangle meshes are widely used in representing surfaces in computer vision and computer graphics. Although 2D image processing-based edge detection techniques have been popular in many application areas, they are not well developed for surfaces represented by triangle meshes. This paper proposes a robust edge detection algorithm for triangle meshes and its applications to surface segmentation and adaptive surface smoothing. The proposed edge detection technique is based on eigen analysis of the surface normal vector field in a geodesic window. To compute the edge strength of a certain vertex, the neighboring vertices in a specified geodesic distance are involved. Edge information are used further to segment the surfaces with the watershed algorithm and to achieve edge-preserved, adaptive surface smoothing. The proposed algorithm is novel in robustly detecting edges on triangle meshes against noise. The 3D watershed algorithm is an extension from previous work. Experimental results on surfaces reconstructed from multi-view real range images are presented.
Force-deflection comparison of superelastic nickel-titanium archwires.

This in vitro study compared the force-deflection behavior of 6 superelastic nickel-titanium orthodontic archwires (0.016 × 0.022 in) under controlled moment and temperature. To simulate leveling, maxillary canine brackets and first molar tubes were bonded in such a manner as to remove the tip and angulation from the system. The wires (n = 10) were passively self-ligated into stainless steel brackets attached to an acrylic jig to simulate the maxillary arch. A testing machine recorded deactivations of 3 distances (5, 4, and 3 mm) at 37°C in the canine position. Force-deflection measurements were recorded from the deactivations only. Forces produced during deactivation, at deflections of 2.5, 2.0, and 1.5 mm, were compared by analysis of variance. Significant differences (P < 0.0001) in forces were observed among the wires at the various deflections. All wires exhibited superelastic behavior, and rankings were derived according to statistically significant differences for each deflection distance.
MEMS reconfigurable antennas

New architectures for microelectromechanical system (MEMS) reconfigurable Vee-antennas and RF switches are presented. The planar antenna structure can be dynamically reconfigured to steer the radiation beam or change the shape of the beam using electrically-controlled microactuators. The radiation patterns and antenna impedance were investigated with a 17.5 GHz MEMS Vee-antenna for proof-of-concept. The beam steering and shaping capabilities have been demonstrated. A derrick-type RF switch, suitable for T/R module applications, was also investigated. The derrick-type switches have potentials to provide high isolation and low insertion losses. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. Int J RF and Microwave CAE 11: 301–309, 2001.
Metabolism of thiourea S35 by the fetal thyroid of the rat.

The metabolism of thiourea S35 by the developing fetal rat was studied by measurement of the radioactivity in fluids and tissues, paper chromatographic analysis of the chemical state of the S35, and histologic localization of the S35 by radioautography. Rapid passage of the thiourea from the mother to the fetus occurred. In older embryos, at 12 and 24 hr after the administration of thiourea the amniotic fluid concentration was higher than that in the maternal serum. The fetal serum concentration was lower than that of the maternal serum. The fetal thyroid to fetal serum concentration ratio began increasing on the 17th day, and by the 20th day it was 9.3 as compared with 24 for the mother. The time of appearance of the concentrating ability for thiourea S35 coincides with that for I131. The S35 was predominantly present as thiourea in the serum, amniotic fluid and urine, but some protein-bound material was also found in liver tissues, serum and amniotic fluid. Both fetal and maternal thyroid tissue had inc...
Dactylogyrus agolumaccessorius n. sp. (Monogenea: Dactylogyridae) from the Bigmouth Shiner, Notropis dorsalis (Pisces: Cyprinidae)

Dactylogyrus agolumaccessorius n. sp. is described from the bigmouth shiner, Notropis dorsalis (Agassiz), from the Prairie Region, U.S.A. Dactylogyrus agolumaccessorius appears most closely related to D. julieae Rogers, 1967, by possessing a copulatory accessory piece with the distal end in the shape of a shepherd's crook. Dactylogyrus agolumaccessorius differs from D. julieae most notably by possessing a much narrower male copulatory organ. The apparent close relationship of D. agolumaccessorius and D. julieae supports a close phylogenetic relationship between their hosts (N. dorsalis for D. agolumaccessorius, and N. amplamala Pera and Armbruster and N. buccatus (Cope) for D. julieae) previously indicated by studies of skeletal morphology, allozymes, and mitochondrial DNA, and coevolution from a common ancestor of these parasites and their respective hosts.
Trading Zones, Moral Imagination and Socially Sensitive Computing

As computating technologies become ubiquitous and at least partly autonomous, they will have increasing impact on societies, both in the developed and developing worlds. This article outlines a framework for guiding emerging technologies in directions that promise social as well as technical progress. Multiple stakeholders will have to be engaged in dialogues over new technological directions, forming trading zones in which knowledge and resources are exchanged. Such discussions will have to incorporate cultural and individual values.
Sodium Pump Isoform Specificity for the Digitalis-Like Factor Isolated From Human Peritoneal Dialysate

We have isolated a labile, specific sodium pump inhibitor or digitalis-like factor from the peritoneal dialysate of volume-expanded renal failure patients whose levels correlated closely with volume status and blood pressure. This study characterizes the inhibitory profile of this agent compared with that of ouabain against the three alpha-isoforms of the sodium pump. We prepared microsomal Na,K-ATPase from rat tissues representing the highest proportion of one of the alpha-isoforms. Both Northern and Western blot analyses confirmed that kidney had predominantly the alpha1-isoform, skeletal muscle the alpha2-isoform, and fetal brain the alpha3-isoform. Ouabain (5 x 10(-6) mol/L) produced little inhibition of kidney Na,K-ATPase (3.4+/-2.0%) but significant inhibition of skeletal muscle (37.2+/-3.7%, P<.001) and fetal brain (38.8+/-3.5%, P<.001) activity. In contrast, the labile digitalis-like factor, causing comparable inhibition of fetal brain Na,K-ATPase activity (33.3+/-4.7%), produced markedly greater inhibition of kidney (42.5+/-5.6%, P<.001) and moderately greater inhibition of skeletal muscle pump activity (57.7+/-6.3%, P<.05). In addition, the labile digitalis-like factor produced a marked concentration-dependent inhibition of the alpha2- and alpha3-isoforms (r=.79, P=.00005). Experiments combining the labile digitalis-like factor and ouabain confirmed that digitalis-like factor, unlike ouabain, was an effective inhibitor of all three isoforms in rat, in particular alpha2. The different pattern of isoform sensitivity displayed by the labile digitalis-like factor and ouabain further differentiates the two agents and raises some interesting possibilities about the functional implications of the endogenous factor.
A subset of yeast vacuolar protein sorting mutants is blocked in one branch of the exocytic pathway.

Exocytic vesicles that accumulate in a temperature-sensitive sec6 mutant at a restrictive temperature can be separated into at least two populations with different buoyant densities and unique cargo molecules. Using a sec6 mutant background to isolate vesicles, we have found that vacuolar protein sorting mutants that block an endosome-mediated route to the vacuole, including vps1 , pep12 , vps4 , and a temperature-sensitive clathrin mutant, missort cargo normally transported by dense exocytic vesicles, such as invertase, into light exocytic vesicles, whereas transport of cargo specific to the light exocytic vesicles appears unaffected. Immunoisolation experiments confirm that missorting, rather than a changed property of the normally dense vesicles, is responsible for the altered density gradient fractionation profile. The vps41 Δ and apl6 Δ mutants, which block transport of only the subset of vacuolar proteins that bypasses endosomes, sort exocytic cargo normally. Furthermore, a vps10 Δ sec6 mutant, which lacks the sorting receptor for carboxypeptidase Y (CPY), accumulates both invertase and CPY in dense vesicles. These results suggest that at least one branch of the yeast exocytic pathway transits through endosomes before reaching the cell surface. Consistent with this possibility, we show that immunoisolated clathrin-coated vesicles contain invertase.