cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The chronically reserpinized rat as a possible animal model for cystic fibrosis. IV. The protein composition of pulmonary lavage fluid.

Extract: Lung lavage samples obtained from patients with cystic fibrosis (CF) had significantly higher levels of total protein per ml lavage fluid (0.49 vs. 0.30 mg/ml). A significant increase in the absolute and relative amounts of a low molecular weight glycoprotein (15,000 mol wt) was noted in lavage specimens from CF patients. Reserpine-treated rats also showed a significant increase in the total protein recovered in the lung lavage fluid with a 233% increase in the absolute and relative amounts of a low molecular weight glycoprotein (15,000 mol wt). Thus, reserpine induces changes in the secretions of the lung of the rat which are similar to those observed in samples obtained from the lungs of CF patients.
Weatherability and acceptance of selected commercial zinc phosphide rodent baits

Abstract We evaluated the chemical and physical characteristics of five commercial zinc phosphide (Zn3P2) rodenticide baits at selected intervals during 16 days of exposure to prevailing weather under simulated field conditions, and conducted laboratory feeding trials to assess the effects of weathering on the acceptance and toxicity of one of the baits to Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus), roof rats (R. rattus), and Polynesian rats (R. exulans). In bait weatherability trials, the concentration of Zn3P2 declined most rapidly in an oat bait that was overcoated with this toxicant. The Zn3P2 incorporated into pelleted formulations was less susceptible to physical weathering. All baits softened as they absorbed moisture but, with the exception of Ridall-Zinc® Field & Agricultural Bait, hardened again as they dried. Mold colonization was not apparent until after at least 4 days of exposure and occurred earlier and was more prevalent under wetter conditions. Hopkins® Zinc Phosphide Pellets were most durable in terms of retaining both their physical form and Zn3P2 concentration. Applying 2·5 cm of simulated rain (with or without drying) did not affect consumption of 1·0 cm Hopkins Zinc Phosphide Pellets by roof rats and Polynesian rats, but may have enhanced consumption by Norway rats. Mortality was similar among treatments for Norway rats and Polynesian rats, but was lower for roof rats offered pellets that received added moisture. Mortality for all species and treatment groups was inadequate for operational control purposes.
Growth of somatic cell clones in micro lagoons.

Abstract A simple method for physically partitioning a monolayer field of cells at the micro level has been developed. The partitioning is effected by use of a flat-faced cylinder to pull a viscous grease into a network of micro boundaries on the monolayering surface. The lagoons so formed have many valuable applications in experimental cytology, including the maintenance of large numbers of clones in a single field. A specific illustrative example involving observations of self-induced mitosis and autosynchrony in sarcoma cell groups in micro lagoons is given.
Developmental auditory agnosia in the severely retarded: a further investigation.

The hypotheses were investigated that (a) ability to recognize the auditory perceptual stimuli for familiar events is a developmental correlate to language acquisition and (b) the low functioning mentally handicapped suffer from auditory agnosia and are impaired in this ability. The subjects were 42 nonretarded children of ages 3 through 6 and 53 severely and moderately retarded, noninstitutionalized students. The retarded subjects were matched by mental age to the chronological age of the nonretarded children. The stimuli were 49 environmental sounds; the task consisted of sound-and-picture matching-to-sample. Group membership and developmental age were the factors in an analysis of variance design. The results revealed a strong effect of developmental age (p <. 0001). The effect of group was not significant, indicating that auditory agnosia may not be common among the lower functioning retarded. The assumption that agnosia may be a major factor underlying the language disability of the severely retarded was reexamined. It was suggested that the severely retarded achieve the requisite perceptual-semantic knowledge base for language too late, after the critical age for spontaneous and efficient language learning has passed.
Evaluation of coronary artery disease by an improved method of exercise electrocardiography: the ST segment/heart rate slope

Analysis of the rate-related change in exercise-induced ST segment depression, the ST/HR slope, has been shown to significantly improve the accuracy of the exercise ECG for the identification of patients with coronary artery disease and for the recognition of patients with stable angina pectoris who have anatomically or functionally severe coronary artery obstruction. This method, in effect, normalizes the extent of ST segment depression for heart rate, which serves as an index of exercise-induced augmentation of myocardial oxygen demand. While preserving the specificity of the exercise ECG at greater than 90%, an ST/HR slope value of 1.1 microV/bpm as an upper limit of normal improved exercise test sensitivity from 57% to 91% in patients with stable angina who were examined using standard Bruce protocols and three monitoring leads. In addition, an ST/HR slope value of 6.0 microV/bpm was found to partition patients with and without three-vessel coronary artery disease with a sensitivity of 78%, specificity of 97%, positive predictive value of 93%, and overall test accuracy of 90%. No other criteria based on standard ECG interpretation performed as well as the ST/HR slope for the recognition of three-vessel disease in these patients. Further, patients with high ST/HR slopes who did not have three-vessel coronary disease could be shown to have functionally severe two-vessel disease by radionuclide cineangiography. These data suggest that the ST/HR slope can improve the evaluation and management of patients with possible coronary disease. Additional improvement in ST/HR slope accuracy and applicability is likely to result from modification of exercise protocols to reduce heart rate increments between stages, an increase in monitoring leads to include CM5, and computer analysis of the ST segment depression.
Saturation Effects in Paramagnetic Resonance

Saturation effects have been observed in the paramagnetic resonance absorption of 3.2-cm microwaves by diluted samples of iron ammonium alum and chromium potassium alum at 2 to 4\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K. For all samples the spin-lattice relaxation time ${T}_{1}$ was found to vary inversely with the temperature, in agreement with theoretical expectation that the direct rather than the "Raman" process for the spin-lattice quantum transfer predominates at helium temperatures. Diluted samples of iron ammonium alum with iron to aluminum atom ratios of 1:18, 1:59, and 1:80 showed ${T}_{1}$ to be essentially independent of dilution and yielded $T{T}_{1}=5\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}4}$ sec \ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K for the $m=\frac{1}{2}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\ensuremath{-}\frac{1}{2}$ transition. The low-field side peak in the iron alum spectrum for the (100) orientation, comprised of two unresolved transitions, yielded an effective value of $T{T}_{1}=1.4\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}3}$ sec \ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K. The $m=\frac{1}{2}\ensuremath{\rightarrow}\ensuremath{-}\frac{1}{2}$ transition for diluted chromium alum with a chromium to aluminum atom ratio of 1:10 yielded $T{T}_{1}=3\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}3}$ sec \ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}K in agreement with the calculated value. In all samples the spin-spin relaxation time was found to be temperature independent and of the order of ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}9}$ sec. The results for ${T}_{1}$ are at variance with those obtained with low-frequency paramagnetic relaxation experiments, which show a faster temperature dependence than ${T}^{\ensuremath{-}1}$ and an increase in ${T}_{1}$ with dilution.
Optical signal processing: Musical score for optical signals

Phase-space optics is an indispensable tool for optical imaging and sensing. New optical hardware for light-field photography and pupil engineering for imaging with extended depth of field promote the use of phase-space representations as the primary object of optical signal processing.
Acute reduction in oxygen tension enhances the induction of neurons from human fibroblasts

We and others have reported the successful conversion of human fibroblasts into functional induced neuronal (iN) cells; however the reprogramming efficiencies were very low. Robust reprogramming methods must be developed before iN cells can be used for translational applications such as disease modeling or transplantation-based therapies. Here, we describe a novel approach in which we significantly enhance iN cell conversion efficiency of human fibroblast cells by reprogramming under hypoxic conditions (5% O₂). Fibroblasts were derived under high (21%) or low (5%) oxygen conditions and reprogrammed into iN cells using a combination of the four transcription factors BRN2, ASCL1, MYT1L and NEUROD1. An increase in Map2 immunostaining was only observed when fibroblasts experienced an acute drop in O₂ tension upon infection. Interestingly, cells derived and reprogrammed under hypoxic conditions did not produce more iN cells. Approximately 100% of patched cells fired action potentials in low O₂ conditions compared to 50% under high O₂ growth conditions, confirming the beneficial aspect of reprogramming under low O₂. Further characterization showed no significant difference in the intrinsic properties of iN cells reprogrammed in either condition. Surprisingly, the acute drop in oxygen tension did not affect cell proliferation or cell survival and was not synergistic with the blockade of GSK3β and Smad-mediated pathways. Our results showed that lowering the O₂ tension at the initiation of reprogramming is a simple and efficient strategy to enhance the production of iN cells which will facilitate their use for basic discovery and regenerative medicine.
Deficits in glucose appetite and satiety produced by ventromedial hypothalamic lesions in the rat.

Abstract Rats with ventromedial hypothalamic lesions displayed a reduced sensitivity to dilute (5 or 7%) glucose solutions. The lesioned animals were less responsive to the food suppressive effects of glucose ingestion, and they drank less dilute glucose when food deprived compared to controls. The VMH lesioned rats, on the other hand, appeared normally sensitive to concentrated (20 or 33%) glucose solutions. They suppressed their feeding in response to glucose intubation, and they consumed more concentrated glucose solution than did controls, which is consistent with the hyperphagia effects of the lesions. The nature of the neural impairment responsible for these lesion effects is discussed.
Right congenital diaphragmatic hernia: Prenatal assessment and outcome.

Abstract Purpose To understand the natural history of right congenital diaphragmatic hernia (CDH), the authors retrospectively reviewed 27 cases of right CDH that presented for prenatal evaluation or postnatal treatment. Methods Between 1995 and September 2002, a total of 194 cases of fetal CDH were evaluated and included 22 right-sided defects. The authors reviewed prenatal diagnostic studies (ultrasound scan, magnetic resonance imaging [MRI] echocardiography) and pre- and postnatal outcomes in these 22 cases of right CDH. Five additional cases of right CDH without a prenatal diagnosis were reviewed. Results The mean gestational age at evaluation was 26.1 weeks. The lung area to head circumference ratio (LHR) ranged from 0.32 to 2.5. In all cases, the fetal liver was herniated into the right chest. Associated anomalies were common. There were no karyotype abnormalities (17 of 22 tested). There were 4 terminations. Nine of the 18 (50%) continuing pregnancies had polyhydramnios, premature rupture of membranes, or preterm labor. The mean gestational age at birth was 36.8 weeks. One patient underwent tracheal occlusion at 27 weeks, and 2 patients died before postnatal repair. Overall survival rate (22 prenatal plus 5 postnatal diagnoses) was 19 of 27 (70%). Postnatal survival rate was 19 of 23 (83%). A Gore-tex (W. L. Gore and Associates, Flagstaff, AZ) patch was utilized in 14 of 21 neonates undergoing surgery. Twelve of 23 (52%) required extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) with a 75% survival rate. Significant morbidity occurred in 10 of 19 survivors and included neurologic sequelae in 6 of 19 (32%). Conclusions MRI was helpful in the determination of liver position and confirmation of diagnosis. The high incidence of preterm complications, frequent need for ECMO, and high prevalence of comorbidities are indicative of the severity of this CDH population and warrant close prenatal surveillance and delivery at a tertiary care center with ECMO capability.
Effects of hindlimb unweighting on the mechanical and structure properties of the rat abdominal aorta

Previous studies have shown that hindlimb unweighting of rats, a model of microgravity, reduces evoked contractile tension of peripheral conduit arteries. It has been hypothesized that this diminished contractile tension is the result of alterations in the mechanical properties of these arteries (e.g., active and passive mechanics). Therefore, the purpose of this study was to determine whether the reduced contractile force of the abdominal aorta from 2-wk hindlimb-unweighted (HU) rats results from a mechanical function deficit resulting from structural vascular alterations or material property changes. Aortas were isolated from control (C) and HU rats, and vasoconstrictor responses to norepinephrine (10(-9)-10(-4) M) and AVP (10(-9)-10(-5) M) were tested in vitro. In a second series of tests, the active and passive Cauchy stress-stretch relations were determined by incrementally increasing the uniaxial displacement of the aortic rings. Maximal Cauchy stress in response to norepinephrine and AVP were less in aortic rings from HU rats. The active Cauchy stress-stretch response indicated that, although maximum stress was lower in aortas from HU rats (C, 8.1 +/- 0.2 kPa; HU, 7.0 +/- 0.4 kPa), it was achieved at a similar hoop stretch. There were also no differences in the passive Cauchy stress-stretch response or the gross vascular morphology (e.g., medial cross-sectional area: C, 0.30 +/- 0.02 mm(2); HU, 0.32 +/- 0.01 mm(2)) between groups and no differences in resting or basal vascular tone at the displacement that elicits peak developed tension between groups (resting tension: C, 1.71 +/- 0.06 g; HU, 1.78 +/- 0.14 g). These results indicate that HU does not alter the functional mechanical properties of conduit arteries. However, the significantly lower active Cauchy stress of aortas from HU rats demonstrates a true contractile deficit in these arteries.
Efficiency of energy use for pregnancy by meat goat does with different litter size

Abstract Twenty-four Boer × Spanish does (3 years of age, having kidded once previously and with an initial BW of 42.7 ± 1.2 kg) were used to determine the efficiency of ME utilization for pregnancy (kpreg). Six does were nonpregnant and, based on ultrasound determination on day 45 of gestation, six had a litter size (LS) of 1, 2, and 3. However, only 10 of the pregnant does delivered the expected number of kids (3, 4, and 3 with LS of 1, 2, and 3, respectively). Does were fed a diet of approximately 50% concentrate in accordance with assumed maintenance plus pregnancy energy requirements based on estimated nonpregnancy tissue BW and LS. Recovered energy (RE) was determined by subtraction of energy expenditure (EE; respiration calorimetry) near days 80, 100, 120, and 140 of gestation from ME intake (MEI). RE was assumed attributable to pregnancy tissues (fetus, fetal fluids and membranes, uterus, and mammary gland), and ME used for pregnancy (MEpreg) was estimated by subtracting MEm determined with nonpregnant goats from MEI by those pregnant. For does with actual LS equal to that expected, the no-intercept equation for the regression of RE against MEpreg was: RE = MEpreg × 0.252 (S.E. = 0.030; R2 = 0.64), indicating a kpreg of 25%. A regression including LS (1 versus 2 or 3) suggested greater kpreg for LS of 1 (40.2 ± 5.6%) versus 2 or 3 (20.5 ± 3.2%). Regressions for goats with LS different from expected suggested positive effects of use of energy mobilized from nonpregnancy tissues on kpreg and of use of dietary ME for energy accretion in nonpregnancy tissues on the efficiency of whole body ME utilization. In conclusion, the average efficiency of ME use for pregnancy regardless of LS in goats was near 25%, which when considering the expected proportion of all pregnancy tissues attributable to fetal or conceptus tissues implies an energy requirement for pregnancy of goats similar to common recommendations for sheep and cattle.
Rapid cocaine screening of urine in a newborn nursery

A rapid cocaine screening test, the Abuscreen OnTrak assay, was compared with the EMIT (enzyme-multiplied immunoassay technique) screening test to determine relative accuracy in 450 newborn infants sequentially tested for urinary cocaine during a 6-week period at a large urban hospital. The Abuscreen Ontrak screen had a sensitivity of 96% and a specificity of 100%.
Electrochemical Behavior of Copper in a Water-Ethanolamine Medium

Dependences of the copper etching rate in a water-monoethanolamine medium on the solution pH and concentration of Cu(II) in the presence and absence of chloride ions are determined. An increase in the stability of univalent species and in the diffusion coefficient of Cu(I) at pH 10.30 is attributed to chelation. The mechanism of copper etching in the medium is proposed. The copper etching deceleration at pH > 10.30 is attributed to the metal blockage by surface compounds.
An estimate of the lower limit of global fungal diversity

We conservatively estimate that there is a minimum of 712,000 extant fungal species worldwide, but we recognize that the actual species richness is likely much higher. This estimate was calculated from the ratio of fungal species to plant species for various ecologically defined groups of fungi in well-studied regions, along with data on each groups’ level of endemism. These calculations were based on information presented in the detailed treatments of the various fungal groups published in this special issue. Our intention was to establish a lower boundary for the number of fungal species worldwide that can be revised upward as more information becomes available. Establishing a lower boundary for fungal diversity is important as current estimates vary widely, hindering the ability to include fungi in discussions of ecology, biodiversity and conservation. Problems inherent in making these estimates, and the impact that additional data on fungal and plant species diversity will have on these estimates are discussed.
Residual organochlorine pesticides in the fat of mutton birds of New Zealand

The organochlorine insecticides pp′-DDT, its metabolites pp′-DDE and pp′-DDD, β-HCCH, HEOD and PCBs were identified in the fat of mutton birds of New Zealand. The mean levels for six adult birds were: total DDT 17.30 ppm (78% pp′-DDE), pp′-DDT 1.54 ppm, pp′-DDE 13.50 ppm, pp′-DDD 0,64 ppm, β-HCCH 5.17 ppm, HEOD 0.93 ppm, PCBs 1.83 ppm. All the compounds found in the adult birds except β-HCCH, were also present in a chick bird but in considerably smaller amounts.
Pharmacokinetics of N-2-chloroethylaziridine, a volatile cytotoxic metabolite of cyclophosphamide, in the rat.

Objectives: The objectives of this study were to characterize pharmacokinetics of N-2-chloroethylaziridine (CEA) in the rat model and assess the in vivo fraction of total clearance of phosphoramide mustard (PM) that furnished CEA to circulation. Methods: The disposition of CEA was investigated following separate intravenous (iv) administrations of PM, synthetic CEA, and their combination to the Sprague-Dawley rats. In addition, in rats receiving prodrug cyclophosphamide (CP), plasma concentrations of CP and its metabolites, 4-hydroxycyclophosphamide (HOCP), PM, and CEA, were simultaneously quantified using GC/MS and stable isotope dilution techniques. Results: Following iv administration of synthetic CEA, concentrations of CEA declined biexponentially with the mean terminal half-life and total body clearance of 47.5 min and 167 ml/min/kg, respectively. Urinary excretion of unchanged CEA was 0.164% of the administered dose. CEA was found to be the major circulating metabolite after iv administration of precursor PM to rats. The fraction of total clearance of PM that furnished CEA to circulation was estimated to be 100%, indicating virtually complete availability of the metabolite to circulation once formed. In rats administered with CP, PM exhibited the highest plasma and urinary concentrations compared to HOCP and CEA. Conclusions: For the first time, CEA was demonstrated to be an important in vivo metabolite of CP in the present study. In light of the poor permeability and in vivo stability of PM, the ultimate DNA alkylator, the findings obtained in this study suggested that CEA may contribute significantly to the overall antitumor activity of prodrug CP.
Studies of Membrane Topology of Mitochondrial Cholesterol Hydroxylases CYPs 27A1 and 11A1

Mitochondrial cytochrome P450 enzymes (CYP or P450, EC 1.14.13.15) play an important role in metabolism of cholesterol. CYP27A1 hydroxylates cholesterol at position 27 and, thus, initiates cholesterol removal from many extrahepatic tissues. CYP11A1 is a steroidogenic P450 that converts cholesterol to pregnenolone, the first step in the biosynthesis of all steroid hormones. We utilized a new approach to study membrane topology of CYPs 27A1 and 11A1. This approach involves heterologous expression of membrane-bound P450 in E. coli, isolation of the P450-containing E. coli membranes, treatment of the membranes with protease, removal of the digested soluble portion and extraction of the membrane-associated peptides, which are then identified by mass spectrometry. By using this approach, we found four membrane-interacting peptides in CYP27A1, and two peptides in CYP11A1. Peptides in CYP27A1 represent a contiguous portion of the polypeptide chain (residues 210–251) corresponding to the putative F-G loop and adjacent portions of the F and G helices. Peptides in CYP11A1 are from the putative F-G loop (residues 218–225) and the C-terminal portion of the G helix (residues 238–250). This data is consistent with those obtained previously by us and others and provide new information about the membrane topology of CYPs 27A1 and 11A1.
La problemática de las categorías raciales en Estados Unidos: El caso de los afrocubanos

Aunque hay estudios que muestran la adaptacion exitosa de los exiliados cubanos en Miami, en ninguno se han examinado las experiencias de los inmigrantes cubanos recientes en lugares de refugiados del suroeste de Estados Unidos. Entre estos inmigrantes cubanos se incluye una gran cantidad de afrocubanos. En areas donde la mayoria de la poblacion es blanca o de origen mexicano, y donde el grupo de afroestadunidenses es pequeno, la adaptacion de los afrocubanos crea confl ictos de identidad cuando luchan por encontrar un lugar en el gran sistema trirracial blanco/negro/cafe del suroeste. Con base en 45 entrevistas con afrocubanos en Austin y Albuquerque, exploramos la identifi cacion racial y etnica de este grupo. Nuestro estudio emplea un enfoque construccionista y explora las formas en que las identidades raciales y etnicas se forman en dialogo con la autoevaluacion y con la clasifi cacion externa. Los resultados revelan la complejidad de los procesos de identifi cacion cuando los afrocubanos intentan mantener su identidad como “cubanos” y como “negros” al oponer resistencia a la clasifi cacion diferenciativa de “negro” o “hispano”. Ellos no quieren elegir entre uno y otro termino de identifi cacion. ABSTRACT Although studies show the successful adaptation of Cuban exiles in Miami, little research has examined the experiences of recent Cuban immigrants who have settled in refugee relocation sites in the southwestern United States. These recent waves of Cuban immigrants include a large number of Afro-Cubans. In areas where most of the population is of white or Mexican origin, with a much smaller number of African Americans, these Afro-Cubans’s adaptation creates identity confl ict as they struggle to fi nd a place in the white/black/brown tri-racial system of the U.S. southwest. Based on forty-fi ve interviews with Afro-Cubans in Austin and Albuquerque, we explore the racial and ethnic identifi cation of this group. Our study uses a constructionist approach and explores the ways in which racial and ethnic identities are formed through a dialogue between internal self-appraisal and external classifi cation by others. The results reveal the complexity of identifi cation processes as Afro-Cubans attempt to maintain their identifi cation as both “Black” and “Cuban” at the same time as they resist being forced to choose between the external classifi cations of “Black” or “Hispanic.”
Expression of a Male-Specific Cytochrome P450 Isozyme (CYP2C11) in fa/fa Zucker Rats: Effect of Phenobarbital Treatment

Abstract The present study determined the effect of genetic obesity and phenobarbital (PB) treatment on the expression and regulation of the hepatic cytochrome P450 enzyme (CYP2CL1) in Fa/? and fa/fa Zucker rats. Hepatic CYP2C1 1 levels as determined by Western immunoblotting and associated enzymatic activity (testosterone oxidation at the 2α position) were significantly lower in untreated fa/fa Zucker rats compared with that observed in Fa/? Zucker rats. There was no significant difference in the constitutive CYP2C11 steady-state mRNA level hybridizable to the cDNA (P450 16α) or specific oligonucleotide probe (Northern and slot blot analyses) between fa/fa and Fa/? Zucker rats. The depressed constitutive CYP2C11 protein levels in fa/fa rats may be attributed to their low plasma testosterone and growth hormone levels; however, lack of differences in CYP2C11 steady-state mRNA suggest post-transcriptional regulatory mechanism(s). Treatment with PB further suppressed hepatic CYP2C11 protein levels and activities in both fa/fa and Fa/? Zucker rats in comparison with that seen in controls. The level of CYP2C11 steady-state mRNA was significantly higher after treatment with PB in Fa/? Zucker rats, while no change was observed in fa/fa animals. The mechanism by which PB treatment fails to increase CYP2C11 steady-state mRNA levels in the fa/fa Zucker rat is unknown; however, it may share a common molecular basis with the defect in nuclear transcription rate previously observed with CYP2B1/2B2.
Freeze-drying apparatus for preservation of ultrastructure.

This report presents the design and describes the operation of a freeze-drying apparatus which is capable of preserving cells and tissues for biochemical studies at the electron-microscopy level without the use of chemical fixatives and stains. Embedding of the frozen-dried specimens, without removing them from the apparatus, is carried out in vacuo.
A microchemical method for gold and its use in microbalance calibrations

Abstract The use of a simple spectrophotometric method for gold in calibrating quartz fiber “fish-pole” microbalances is described. High purity gold foil samples, which have certain advantageous physical properties, are weighed on the balance to be calibrated. The sample weights are then determined and the relation between fiber displacement and sample weight is calculated. Balances with maximal capacities of 1.0 μg or larger can be readily calibrated without reference to another microbalance. Smaller microbalances can be calibrated in series.
He Ion Implantation and the Refractive Index Depth Profile in Relaxor Ferroelectric Optical Waveguides

This work reports the impact of He ion implantation conditions on the depth-dependent refractive index profile n(z) defining optical waveguides in 95.5% Pb(Zn1/3Nb2/3)O3-4.5%PbTiO3 (4.5% PZN-PT). Two hypotheses are investigated. The first is that n(z) follows the same functional form as the energy deposited into the lattice for all implantation conditions. The second is that the effective refractive indices for fully confined propagating modes can be accurately predicted by a simple step-function analytical approximation. Experimentally observed prism-coupled reflectivity data are collected from 4.5% PZN-PT samples implanted with 1.0 MeV He ions for doses varying from 7.5 × 1014 ions/cm2 to 1 × 1017 ions/cm2 and with 3.8 MeV He ions for doses varying from 1 × 1015 ions/cm2 to 5 × 1016 ions/cm2. For doses less than 5 × 1016 ions/cm2, the data are consistent with a functional form of n(z) following that of the energy deposited to the lattice. The confined modes are accurately described by a step-function approximation to n(z). These data and analyses result in the ability to design waveguides in PZN-PT through choosing implantation conditions that deposit the appropriate energy profile. This is not the case for the highest implantation doses, potentially signaling a difference in the type of structural modification that occurs.
Relating cognitive models of computer games to user evaluations of entertainment

As the interactive entertainment industry matures, a better understanding of what makes software entertaining is needed. A natural starting point is the application of traditional Human-Computer Interaction (HCI) tools to interactive entertainment software. HCI tools include cognitive models that researchers have used to model users' thought processes and evaluate interface design. This paper users a simple cognitive model to investigate the relationship between the complexity of an interaction and the entertainment experienced by the user. We design a simple computer game, create a normative model for how a user plays this game, and build several variations of this game such that normative models of these variants differed across two factors: pace and complexity. User studies conducted on these variations allow comparison with these factors to user performance and self-reported user enjoyment. Users ingame enjoyment was found to be related to both the subject's performance and the game complexity.
A reply to the criticisms of the Knight & Leveson experiment

In July 1985, we presented a paper at the Fifteenth International Symposium on Fault-Tolerant Computing [KNI85] describing the results of an experiment that we performed examining an hypothesis about one aspect of N-version programming, i.e., the statistical independence of version failure. A longer journal paper on that research appeared in the IEEE Transactions on Software Engineering in January 1986 [KNI86].
Controllability and Observability of General Linear Lumped-Parameter Systems

Conclusion A Kalman filter bank is designed to enhance the dynamic response time for the radome error slope estimate with compensation for the seeker dynamic lag. In calculating the critical weighting coefficients (a posteriori probabilities) a measurepredict-measure technique is used when the semi-Markov statistics of a random starting process are used to make the intermediate predictive step. That is, the resulting estimated radome slope parameter is the statistical average weighted by time-varying, a posteriori hypothesis probability, which is calculated concurrently with the recursive filter scheme by using Bayesian rule. To reduce computation burden, the Kalman filter bank is digitally simulated and designed by tuning the noise processes, including the measurement and plant noise, to allow a one-time calculation of the Kalman filter gain. The simple one-state filter described above can be modified to include a correlation parameter for studying the cross-plane errors. The bank of Kalman filters can be increased to five to enlarge the dynamic range while reducing the system response time simultaneously and to estimate the cross-plane radome error slope simultaneously for three-dimensional engagement. The adaptive radome estimator design is intended to be an "add-on" compensation network that is independent of guidance computer and autopilot design. The objective is to permit relaxation of missile bandwidth requirements by reducing error due to radome at the guidance computer output, thus enhancing missile performance.
Albert the Great and the Revival of Aristotle's Zoological Research Program

Although Aristotle's zoological works were known in antiquity and during the early medieval period, the scientific research program discussed and exemplified therein disappeared after Theophrastus. After some fifteen hundred years, it reappears in the work of Albert the Great who extensively explains Aristotle's conception of a scientific research program and extends Aristotle's zoological researches. Evidence of Albert's Aristotelian commentaries shows that he clearly understood animals to represent a self-contained subject-genus, that the study of this subject-genus constitutes theoretical knowledge in an Aristotelian sense, that natural finality and suppositional necessity provide principles of zoological science, and that research into animals must be conducted according to a two-staged methodology of division and demonstration.
The Esophagus for the Nonesophagologist

The esophagus is a muscular tube (striated muscle at the top end, smooth muscle in the middle and lower portion) connecting the pharynx and the stomach. It is closed at both the top and bottom ends by specialized muscular sphincters. Deglutition begins as a programmed act, mediated by nerve fibers from the brain stem, and spreads aborally with a wave of inhibition preceding a moving-ring contraction that obliterates the lumen of the esophagus. Fluids fall by gravity in the upright position or are pushed down by the moving ring contraction when the subject is horizontal. There are several factors that prevent constant regurgitation of gastric contents back into the esophagus. Reflux of both gas and liquid does occur as a normal event. The esophagus usually performs its job description of transferring material from the pharynx to the stomach and venting the stomach when necessary with a minimum of fuss.
Interaction terms in logit and probit models

Abstract The magnitude of the interaction effect in nonlinear models does not equal the marginal effect of the interaction term, can be of opposite sign, and its statistical significance is not calculated by standard software. We present the correct way to estimate the magnitude and standard errors of the interaction effect in nonlinear models.
Liquid Crystal Orientation on Carbon Fibers

Abstract The orientation of 4-methoxybenzylidene-4′-n-butylaniline (MBBA) on four different carbon fibers has been investigated by X-ray diffraction. The diffraction patterns show that the MBBA liquid crystal is oriented in the direction of the fiber for all of the fibers studied. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of the fiber surfaces reveals grooves along the fiber axis which may cause orientation of the MBBA. The degree of MBBA orientation seems independent of the size and parallelism of the grooves. These results suggest that the preparation of composites with oriented polymer matrices is possible by using liquid crystalline monomers.
Internal bone remodeling induced by a medullary pin

Abstract A theoretical analysis of the internal remodeling induced by a medullary pin is presented. This analysis shows that a force fitted medullary pin will induce either a reduction in the stiffness of the bone surrounding the pin (and therefore loosen the pin) or a pathological bone state.
A Qualia Framework for Awareness in Cyberspace

As the newest mission area for the US Air Force, cyberspace is getting a lot of attention, and rightfully so. Every person, system, and device that communicates via the use of electronics and the electromagnetic spectrum is a part of this fascinating domain. Cyberspace is not new...it has been around for many years. However, our understanding of how this domain can be exploited has increased dramatically in recent years. As users and managers of cyberspace, we need to know what is happening in this domain. More importantly, we must know how to defend our cyber resources, exploit an adversary's use of the domain, and hold the adversary's operations at risk if need be. All of this requires cyberspace awareness. This is not your grandfather's awareness (one-size-fits-all data overload), but awareness based upon what is relevant to each individual at any level of the command hierarchy, presented in a useable form. The objective is to attain universal situational awareness, defined as awareness across all media and including all the hierarchy.
Gabriel Peveroni's Luna Roja: Eclipsing and Recycling Information and Meaning on the Stage

Gabriel Peveroni's Luna roja (2006), a chaotic play about a dysfunctional kingdom, features several characters who search for love, freedom, and power as they commit murder, quarrel with partners, search for soulmates, and threaten the queen's authority. This play delivers a profound commentary on the passage of time, the growing prevalence of violence, and the lack of originality in contemporary society. Conceived as a postmodern play, Luna roja shares a symbiotic relationship with Many Moons (1943), a children's book by James Thurber. This author argues that by subverting this intertextual reference, Peveroni sheds light on Thurber's work and provides fresh insight about the postmodern condition in Uruguay and beyond.
Transition probability measurements for some strong and weak lines of N i

We operated a high-current wall-stabilized arc to generate a low-temperature, steady-state plasma in nitrogen, with admixtures of argon, helium, and oxygen. We measured the relative atomic transition probabilities for several strong and weak 3s-3p and 3p-3d lines of neutral nitrogen and placed them on an absolute scale with experimental lifetime data available in the literature. We obtained good agreement with recent advanced calculations and an earlier measurement for the strong transitions but encountered appreciable discrepancies for weak transitions.
Carbon isotopic characterization of hydrophobic dissolved organic carbon in rainwater

Abstract The 14 C and 13 C content of the hydrophobic fraction (C18 extractable) of dissolved organic carbon (DOC) in Wilmington North Carolina USA rainwater was determined for six rain events to elucidate potential sources. A two end member mass-balance calculation indicated that 42–61% of the hydrophobic DOC was of fossil fuel origin compared to previously published values (4–24%) for bulk rain DOC indicating a strong anthropogenic contribution to the hydrophobic component. All fossil fuel derived organic carbon in the bulk DOC (∼15% fossil fuel derived) could be accounted for in the hydrophobic fraction (∼52% fossil fuel derived) which represents approximately 1/3 of the bulk DOC. The δ 13 C values of the hydrophobic DOC were consistent (−28.8 ± 0.9‰) similar to that for terrestrial and fossil fuel derived organic carbon. This is in contrast to previously published bulk rain DOC δ 13 C values that displayed a strong influence of air-mass back-trajectory with δ 13 C values ranging from −20.8‰ (typical of marine organic carbon) for marine air-mass back-trajectory rain to −28.2‰ (typical of terrestrial or fossil fuel derived organic carbon) for terrestrial air-mass back-trajectory rain. The combination of 14 C and 13 C isotopic data strongly suggests that a large fraction of hydrophobic organic material in rain comes from incompletely combusted fossil fuels. Changes in energy usage patterns and efforts to reduce fossil fuel emissions will alter the abundance of this hydrophobic material in the atmosphere which may impact the spectral distribution of sunlight reaching the earth's surface as well as the degree of oceanic primary productivity.
Formation of Infectious Dengue Virus–Antibody Immune Complex In Vivo in Marmosets (Callithrix jacchus) After Passive Transfer of Anti-Dengue Virus Monoclonal Antibodies and Infection with Dengue Virus

Infection with a dengue virus (DENV) serotype induces cross-reactive, weakly neutralizing antibodies to different dengue serotypes. It has been postulated that cross-reactive antibodies form a virus-antibody immune complex and enhance DENV infection of Fc gamma receptor (FcγR)-bearing cells. We determined whether infectious DENV-antibody immune complex is formed in vivo in marmosets after passive transfer of DENV-specific monoclonal antibody (mAb) and DENV inoculation and whether infectious DENV-antibody immune complex is detectable using FcγR-expressing cells. Marmosets showed that DENV-antibody immune complex was exclusively infectious to FcγR-expressing cells on days 2, 4, and 7 after passive transfer of each of the mAbs (mAb 4G2 and mAb 6B6C) and DENV inoculation. Although DENV-antibody immune complex was detected, contribution of the passively transferred antibody to overall viremia levels was limited in this study. The results indicate that DENV cross-reactive antibodies form DENV-antibody immune complex in vivo, which is infectious to FcγR-bearing cells but not FcγR-negative cells.
The dynamics of EBV shedding implicate a central role for epithelial cells in amplifying viral output.

To develop more detailed models of EBV persistence we have studied the dynamics of virus shedding in healthy carriers. We demonstrate that EBV shedding into saliva is continuous and rapid such that the virus level is replaced in ≤2 minutes, the average time that a normal individual swallows. Thus, the mouth is not a reservoir of virus but a conduit through which a continuous flow stream of virus passes in saliva. Consequently, virus is being shed at a much higher rate than previously thought, a level too high to be accounted for by replication in B cells in Waldeyer's ring alone. Virus shedding is relatively stable over short periods (hours-days) but varies through 3.5 to 5.5 logs over longer periods, a degree of variation that also cannot be accounted for solely by replication in B cells. This variation means, contrary to what is generally believed, that the definition of high and low shedder is not so much a function of variation between individuals but within individuals over time. The dynamics of shedding describe a process governing virus production that is occurring independently ≤3 times at any moment. This process grows exponentially and is then randomly terminated. We propose that these dynamics are best explained by a model where single B cells sporadically release virus that infects anywhere from 1 to 5 epithelial cells. This infection spreads at a constant exponential rate and is terminated randomly, resulting in infected plaques of epithelial cells ranging in size from 1 to 105 cells. At any one time there are a very small number (≤3) of plaques. We suggest that the final size of these plaques is a function of the rate of infectious spread within the lymphoepithelium which may be governed by the structural complexity of the tissue but is ultimately limited by the immune response.
Pakistan: energy development and economic growth in the 1980s

Abstract : For some time, economists have argued that a variety of factors can obstruct a rapid pace of economic development. Scarcities of capital, a skilled and disciplined labour force, entrepreneurial talent, foreign exchange and industrial raw materials have been mentioned, among the prominent obstacles to growth in undeveloped countries. Lack of adequate energy supply is now being added as a factor explaining the slow pace of growth in these countries. For a large number of less developed countries have to depend on imported sources of energy; the high foreign exchange bills, resulting from rapidly rising prices, are simply beyond their means. Pakistan is a good case in point. The purpose of this paper is to examine whether investment in energy and increased domestic production of energy increased the rate of economic growth in Pakistan during the 1980s.
Complications of Third Molar Surgery and Their Management

The frequency and severity of untoward events associated with surgical procedures are influenced by multiple factors that may be related to the procedure, patient, and/or surgeon. Not every third molar needs to be removed. Full bony impacted lower third molars well below the cervical margin of the second molar crowns should be considered for retention. Certain deviations from normal healing should be considered to be complications. Risk factors associated with third molar removal should be carefully established and explained to the patient. Third molar surgery has a predictable postsoperative course for the average patient.
Electro-oxidation and amperometric detection of chlorinated phenols at boron-doped diamond electrodes: a comparison of microcrystalline and nanocrystalline thin films.

We report on the electro-oxidation and amperometric detection of phenol and chlorinated phenols, the latter coupled with flow injection analysis (FIA) and high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), using boron-doped microcrystalline and nanocrystalline diamond thin-film electrodes. The low background current, good response without extensive pretreatment, and low susceptibility to fouling are properties that make diamond an attractive new electrode for monitoring this class of pollutants. Cyclic voltammetric studies were performed to evaluate the redox response of phenol, 2-chlorophenol, 3-chlorophenol, 4-chlorophenol, and pentachlorophenol (PCP) in phosphate buffer, pH 3.5, as a function of the potential scan rate and cycle number. The diamond electrode performance for the amperometric detection of these contaminants in FIA-EC and HPLC-EC was evaluated in terms of the linear dynamic range, limit of quantitation, sensitivity, response precision, and response stability. Both diamond types yielded low ma...
Review of Reference Manager

Excerpt To the editor: I was pleased that our bibliographic retrieval program functioned well when it was evaluated by Panzer and Williams (1). Reference Manageris my personal bibliographic retriev...
A numerical study of the Riemann solutions for gasdynamic combustion

The effects of viscosity v and reaction rate k on the Riemann solutions of Navier-Stokes equations for a reacting gas are analyzed numerically. In this numerical experiment, a set of Riemann initial values is designed, such that only detonation can occur under the classical Chapman-Jouguet (CJ) theory. Based on the set of Riemann initial values, a family of solutions is computed corresponding to different values of reaction rate k and viscosity v. Furthermore, the structure of the limit solution, as k -> +~, v -> 0, is studied. Our results show that the structure of the limit solution depends on the parameter C = kv. The strong, CJ detonation and weak detonation waves are all possible to appear.
Identities for traces of singular moduli

Abstract. Generalizing work of Zagier, in an important recent paper Bruinier and Funke prove that the generating functions for traces of singular values of many modular functions are weight 3 2 modular forms. Using facts about half-integral weight modular forms, we obtain identities relating traces of singular moduli for modular functions of level p and 1. These follow from a general result relating coefficients of certain weakly holomorphic weight 3 2 modular forms of level 4p to Zagier’s traces of singular moduli.