cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Dual-channel two-photon microscopy study of transdermal transport in skin treated with low-frequency ultrasound and a chemical enhancer.

Visualization of transdermal permeant pathways is necessary to substantiate model-based conclusions drawn using permeability data. The aim of this investigation was to visualize the transdermal delivery of sulforhodamine B (SRB), a fluorescent hydrophilic permeant, and of rhodamine B hexyl ester (RBHE), a fluorescent hydrophobic permeant, using dual-channel two-photon microscopy (TPM) to better understand the transport pathways and the mechanisms of enhancement in skin treated with low-frequency ultrasound (US) and/or a chemical enhancer (sodium lauryl sulfate – SLS) relative to untreated skin (the control). The results demonstrate that (1) both SRB and RBHE penetrate beyond the stratum corneum and into the viable epidermis only in discrete regions (localized transport regions – LTRs) of US treated and of US/SLS-treated skin, (2) a chemical enhancer is required in the coupling medium during US treatment to obtain two significant levels of increased penetration of SRB and RBHE in US-treated skin relative to untreated skin, and (3) transcellular pathways are present in the LTRs of US treated and of US/SLS-treated skin for SRB and RBHE, and in SLS-treated skin for SRB. In summary, the skin is greatly perturbed in the LTRs of US treated and US/SLS-treated skin with chemical enhancers playing a significant role in US-mediated transdermal drug delivery.
Rates of amino acid change in the envelope protein correlate with pathogenicity of primate lentiviruses

A spectrum of pathogenicity has been observed for primate lentiviruses in their natural hosts. For example, human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) is a potent etiologic agent for AIDS in man, whereas there is no evidence to date which indicates that simian immunodeficiency virus from African green monkeys (SIVAGM) causes immunodeficiency in AGM. We measured the relative rates of amino acid change, as the ratio of the number of nonsynonymous to synonymous (silent) nucleotide substitutions, for six primate lentiviruses evolving in their respective hosts. These rates for the external envelope glycoprotein (gp120) and gag coding sequences are 2–3 times higher for pathogenic HIV-1 and SIV..ac (macaque) than for minimally pathogenic SIVAGM and SIVsn,m (sooty mangabey), and intermediate for HIV-2. We speculate that the increased rates of nonsynonymous changes in gp120 and gag coding sequences are due to viral escape from immune surveillance and are indicative of higher immunogenicity of these proteins in their hosts. Based on these results and available experimental data, we conclude that there is a positive correlation between lentiviral pathogenicity and immunogenicity of the Env and Gag proteins in a given host. This hypothesis is consistent with recent data suggesting that immune system activation or autoimmunity induced by viral antigens may be important in the pathogenesis of AIDS.
Improved robotic stereotactic body radiation therapy plan quality and planning efficacy for organ-confined prostate cancer utilizing overlap-volume histogram-driven planning methodology

Background and purpose: This study is to determine if the overlap-volume histogram (OVH)-driven planning methodology can be adapted to robotic SBRT (CyberKnife Robotic Radiosurgery System) to further minimize the bladder and rectal doses achieved in plans manually-created by clinical planners. Methods and materials: A database containing clinically-delivered, robotic SBRT plans (7.25 Gy/fraction in 36.25 Gy) of 425 patients with localized prostate cancer was used as a cohort to establish an organ’s distance-to-dose model. The OVH-driven planning methodology was refined by adding the PTV volume factor to counter the target’s dose fall-off effect and incorporated into Multiplan to automate SBRT planning. For validation, automated plans (APs) for 12 new patients were generated, and their achieved dose/volume values were compared to the corresponding manually-created, clinically-delivered plans (CPs). A twosided, Wilcoxon rank-sum test was used for statistical comparison with a significance level of p < 0.05. Results: PTV’s V(36.25 Gy) was comparable: 95.6% in CPs comparing to 95.1% in APs (p = 0.2). On average, the refined approach lowered V(18.12 Gy) to the bladder and rectum by 8.2% (p < 0.05) and 6.4% (p = 0.14). A physician confirmed APs were clinically acceptable. Conclusions: The improvements in APs could further reduce toxicities observed in SBRT for organ-confined prostate cancer.
Strengthened theorems for set stability of differential equations

Abstract Set stability and uniform set stability involve known specific bounds on the solutions of differential equations. A result m set theory is employed in strengthening previously developed Liapunov-liko theorems for these forms of stability. An example illustrating the advantages of the new theorems is presented.
An efficient VLSI architecture with applications to geometric problems

Abstract We present a parallel organization with a reduced number of processors and special communication features for efficient solutions to problems in computational geometry. The organization has n processors operating in synchronous mode with row and column access to an n × n array of memory modules. The organization has simple regular structure and can be implemented in VLSI on a single chip or using a limited chip set. We develop fast parallel algorithms for computing several geometric properties of a set of n 2 points in the plane. We present O( n log n ) time parallel algorithms to compute the convex hull of n 2 points in the plane, to compute the intersection of two convex polygons each having n 2 edges, and to compute the diameter and a smallest enclosing box of a set of n 2 points. All these problems require O( n 2 log n ) sequential time. Thus, all our solutions are optimal in the sense that their processor-time product is equal to the sequential complexity of these problems. We also consider the problem of computing nearest neighbors when the n 2 points belong to an n × n digitized image. We show that this problem can be solved on the proposed parallel organization in O( n ) time using n PEs, which is the same time taken by a two-dimensional mesh-connected computer with n 2 processors to solve the same problem.
Children's Memory for Line Orientation: A Reexamination of the "Oblique Effect".

Abstract A theory of orientation memory is advanced to explain why 5- and 6-year olds fail to discriminate between mirror-image obliques. It is argued that children can code the left-right orientation of an oblique line in relation to an adjacent reference feature, but are limited in their ability to recognize this stimulus-referent relationship when it is altered by changes in frame location. According to this view simultaneous presentation of the correct and incorrect comparison, typical of traditional testing paradigms, leads to failure because of trial by trial shifts in the frame location of the target orientation. The findings of the two experiments reported are consistent with this hypothesis. In Experiment 1 kindergarteners who performed poorly under the simultaneous condition discriminated oblique orientations with ease when stimuli were successively presented. Moreover, performance was not significantly affected by variations in the plane of presentation. In Experiment 2 children who discriminated successively presented obliques when stimuli were shown in a constant frame location had great difficulty when the left-right frame location of the stimuli was varied over trials.
T Helper 2 Cells' Preferred Way to Die

In this issue of Immunity , Devadas and colleagues (2006) reveal that granzyme B, long known as a mediator of CD8 + T cell cytotoxicity, has a new role in an internal homeostatic death mechanism that controls the fate of CD4 + T helper 2 cells.
Complex prokaryotic genome structure: rapid evolution of chromosome II.

Although many bacteria with two chromosomes have been sequenced, the roles of such complex genome struc- turing are still unclear. To uncover levels of chromosome I (CI) and chromosome II (CII) sequence divergence, Mauve 2.2.0 was used to align the CI- and CII-specific sequences of bacteria with complex genome structuring in two sets of comparisons: the first set was conducted among the CI and CII of bacterial strains of the same species, while the second set was conducted among the CI and CII of species in Alphaproteobacteria that possess two chromosomes. The analyses revealed a rapid evolution of CII-specific DNA sequences compared with CI-specific sequences in a majority of organ- isms. In addition, levels of protein divergence between CI-specific and CII-specific genes were determined using phyloge- netic analyses and confirmed the DNA alignment findings. Analysis of synonymous and nonsynonymous substitutions revealed that the structural and functional constraints on CI and CII genes are not significantly different. Also, horizontal gene transfer estimates in selected organisms demonstrated that CII in many species has acquired higher levels of horizon- tally transferred segments than CI. In summary, rapid evolution of CII may perform particular roles for organisms such as aiding in adapting to specialized niches.
Beam - and Drive - Controlled Amplifier for the ISABELLE Accelerating System

The need of very low output impedance rf systems for heavy particle accelerators has led to the development of very sophisticated amplifier configurations. Among them, the use of a common-anode final amplifier seems most promising. If the output impedance is defined in the Thevenin Theorem sense, then class-A operation seems unavoidable. However, for particle dynamics only the voltage induced by the beam is of real concern and voltage requirements do not necessarily demand a time invariant output impedance. These considerations led to investigation of the conditions that must be met to obtain control over the beam-induced voltage. It was possible to demonstrate that in the common anode case the induced voltage can be largely independent of the bias applied to the final tube, if the beam loading is very strong.
Development of renal gluconeogenesis in chicks fed high fat and high protein "carbohydrate-free" diets.

The activities of selected liver and kidney enzymes associated with gluconeogenesis and the capacity of kidney slices to form glucose from glycerol and pyruvate were studied in developing chick embryos and in hatched chicks during adaptation to high fat ( HF ) and high protein ( HP ) "carbohydrate-free" diets. Although the specific pattern of development for each enzyme differed, the activities of phospho- enolpyruvate carboxykinase (PEPCK), glycerol kinase (GK) and L-glycerol-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GPDH) were higher in embryonic liver than kidney from 13 days of incubation to hatching. Xanthine dehydrogenase (XDH) activity was higher in em bryonic kidney than liver. The activities of all four enzymes increased in liver and kidney of hatched chicks, reaching peak values within 10 days. Chicks fed the HF diet exhibited decreased liver PEPCK, increased kidney PEPCK, increased liver and kidney GK and unchanged liver and kidney XDH activities as compared with controls. The activities of liver and kidney PEPCK, GK, and XDH were increased in chicks fed the HP diet as compared with controls. No dietary effects on liver or kidney GPDH activity were detected. Glucose formation from glycerol and pyruvate was increased in kidney slices of chicks fed the "carbohydrate-free" diets. The data suggest that renal gluconeo genesis from pyruvate, and hence from glucogenic amino acids, may be of greater relative significance than glucose formation from glycerol. J. Nutr. 103: 242-250, 1973.
Exact realization of integer and fractional quantum Hall phases in U(1)×U(1) models in (2+1)d

In this work we present a set of microscopic U(1) × U(1) models which realize insulating phases with a quantized Hall conductivity σ_(xy). The models are defined in terms of physical degrees of freedom, and can be realized by local Hamiltonians. For one set of these models, we find that σ_(xy) is quantized to be an even integer. The origin of this effect is a condensation of objects made up of bosons of one species bound to a single vortex of the other species. For other models, the Hall conductivity can be quantized as a rational number times two. For these systems, the condensed objects contain bosons of one species bound to multiple vortices of the other species. These systems have excitations carrying fractional charges and non-trivial mutual statistics. We present sign-free reformulations of these models which can be studied in Monte Carlo, and we use such reformulations to numerically detect a gapless boundary between the quantum Hall and trivial insulator states. We also present the broader phase diagrams of the models.
Effects of storage time and temperature on amylopectin levels and oocyst production of Eimeria meleagrimitis oocysts

Eimeria meleagrimitis oocysts were stored at 4, 22, 32, or 41.5 degrees C for up to 1 year. Decreases in amylopectin levels (measured as glucose) and viability (measured as oocyst production and mortality in turkeys) of the oocysts were generally related to the length of time in storage and the storage temperature. Oocysts assayed immediately after harvest contained 58.29 +/- 0.75 micrograms of glucose/10(6) oocysts. When the oocysts were stored at 4 degree C for 162 days, the amylopectin level decreased to 65% of the original level. In oocysts stored at 22, 32 and 41.5 degrees C, amylopectin declined to approximately 20% within 162, 76, and 41 days, respectively. Oocysts stored at 4 degree C for 1 year produced more oocysts in turkeys than the original fresh isolate, but caused no mortality. Oocyst production from oocysts stored at 22 and 32 degrees C decreased gradually until, after 9 and 7 months respectively, no patent infections were produced. Oocyst production from oocysts stored at 41.5 degree C markedly reduced within 1 month and was not detected after 4 months.
Stimulation of Muscle Protein Synthesis by Prolonged Parenteral Infusion of Leucine Is Dependent on Amino Acid Availability in Neonatal Pigs

The postprandial rise in amino acids, particularly leucine, stimulates muscle protein synthesis in neonates. Previously, we showed that a 1-h infusion of leucine increased protein synthesis, but this response was not sustained for 2 h unless the leucine-induced decrease in amino acids was prevented. To determine whether a parenteral leucine infusion can stimulate protein synthesis for a more prolonged, clinically relevant period if baseline amino acid concentrations are maintained, overnight food-deprived neonatal pigs were infused for 24 h with saline, leucine (400 mumol.kg(-1). h(-1)), or leucine with replacement amino acids. Amino acid replacement prevented the leucine-induced decrease in amino acids. Muscle protein synthesis was increased by leucine but only when other amino acids were supplied to maintain euaminoacidemia. Leucine did not affect activators of mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR), i.e. protein kinase B, AMP-activated protein kinase, tuberous sclerosis complex 2, or eukaryotic elongation factor 2. There was no effect of treatment on the association of mTOR with regulatory associated protein of mammalian target of rapamycin (raptor), G-protein beta subunit-like protein, or rictor or the phosphorylation of raptor or proline-rich Akt substrate of 40 kDa. Phosphorylation of mTOR and its downstream targets, eukaryotic initiation factor (eIF) 4E binding protein and ribosomal protein S6 kinase, and the eIF4E . eIF4G association were increased and eIF2alpha phosphorylation was reduced by leucine and was not further altered by correcting for the leucine-induced hypoaminoacidemia. Thus, prolonged parenteral infusion of leucine activates mTOR and its downstream targets in neonatal skeletal muscle, but the stimulation of protein synthesis also is dependent upon amino acid availability.
Light and Color in the Open Air: Introduction by the Feature Editor

The natural environment is still rich in new observable phenomena despite centuries of scientific observation. Reflecting this fact, the papers in this feature issue of Applied Optics report the observation and analysis of both new and well-known naked-eye optical phenomena.
The influence of recombinant human insulin-like growth factor-I (rhIGF-I) on cell growth and cytotoxicity of drugs in childhood rhabdomyosarcoma cell lines and xenograft models.

Purpose: Recombinant human insulin-like growth factor I (rhIGF-I) has been reported to ameliorate vincristine-induced neuropathy, the dose-limiting side effect of this antimitotic anticancer drug. However, rhIGF-I also might have adverse effects, as has been shown in vitro, where it stimulates growth of cancer cells and protects them from cytotoxicity of anticancer drugs. The influence of rhIGF-I on the cytotoxicity of vincristine has not yet been studied. Furthermore, studies performed have been done under serum-free conditions, which are far from physiological. Methods: We studied the influence of rhIGF-I on the growth of two rhabdomyosarcoma cell lines (Rh30 and Rh1) and on the antitumor effects of vincristine, cisplatin, etoposide, doxorubicin, and topotecan under serum-free and serum-containing conditions. To extend the in vitro data, we grew Rh30 cells as xenografts in mice and determined the effects of vincristine, rhIGF-I or their combination on tumor growth. Results: In vitro, both cell lines demonstrated a functional type I IGF receptor, as shown by the rapid activation of ribosomal p70 S6 kinase after stimulation with rhIGF-I. Under serum-free conditions, rhIGF-I stimulated growth of both cell lines. Exposure to cytotoxic drugs with and without rhIGF-I resulted in higher cell numbers in cultures exposed to rhIGF-I. However, relative to the appropriate control, fractional growth inhibition and or cell kill of the cytotoxic drugs was identical with and without rhIGF-I. Under serum-containing conditions, rhIGF-I had no effect on cell growth or drug cytotoxicity. In vivo we did not find a significant influence of rhIGF-I on HxRh30 cell growth, or on the antitumor activity of vincristine. Conclusions: These studies show that rhIGF-I has no adverse effects on human rhabdomyosarcoma growth or on the antitumor effect of cytotoxic drugs under serum-containing conditions in vitro or in tumor-bearing mice. Potentially, therefore, rhIGF-I may ameliorate vincristine-induced neuropathy without adversely influencing tumor growth or vincristine cytotoxicity in children.
Distance-Guided Hybrid Verification with GUIDO

Constrained random simulation is a widespread technique used to perform functional verification on complex digital designs, because it can generate simulation vectors at a very high rate. However, the generation of high-coverage tests remains a major challenge even in light of this high performance. In this paper we present Guido, a hybrid verification software that uses formal verification techniques to guide the simulation towards a verification goal. Guido is novel in that 1) it guides the simulation by means of a distance function derived from the circuit structure, and 2) it has a trace sequence controller that monitors and controls the direction of the simulation by striking a balance between random chance and controlled hill-climbing. We present experimental results indicating that Guido can tackle complex designs, including a picoJava microprocessor, and reach a verification goal in far fewer simulation cycles than random simulation.
Bayesian Tobit quantile regression model for medical expenditure panel survey data

High expenditure on healthcare is an important segment of the U.S. economy, making healthcare cost modelling valuable in decision-making processes over a wide array of domains. In this paper, we analyze medical expenditure panel survey (MEPS) data. Tobit regression model has been popularly used for the medical expenditures. However, it is no longer sufficient for the MEPS data because: (i) the distribution of the expenditures shows skewness, heavy tails and heterogeneity; (ii) most predictors are categorical, including binary, nominal and ordinal variables; (iii) there are a few predictors which may be nonlinearly related to the response. We therefore propose a Bayesian Tobit quantile regression model to describe a complete distributional view on how the medical expenditures depend on the various predictors. Specifically, we assume an asymmetric Laplace error distribution to adapt the quantile regression to a Bayesian setting. Then, we propose a modified group Lasso for categorical factor selection, and a...
Residency Program Directors’ View on the Value of Teaching:

Purpose:There is no standardization for teaching activities or a requirement for residency programs to offer specific teaching programs to pharmacy residents. This study will determine the perceived value of providing teaching opportunities to postgraduate year 1 (PGY-1) pharmacy residents in the perspective of the residency program director. The study will also identify the features, depth, and breadth of the teaching experiences afforded to PGY-1 pharmacy residents.Methods:A 20-question survey was distributed electronically to 868 American Society of Health-System Pharmacists-accredited PGY-1 residency program directors.Results:The survey was completed by 322 program directors. Developing pharmacy educators was found to be highly valued by 57% of the program directors. Advertisement of teaching opportunities was found to be statistically significant when comparing program directors with a high perceived value for providing teaching opportunities to program demographics. Statistically significant differe...
Modeling Heat Conduction in Spiral Geometries

The spirally wound design is of importance to battery manufacturers as it improves the energy and power densities, by using lesser accessories when compared with the prismatic design. 1-2 For this reason, the spirally-wound design is used in a variety of battery systems ~e.g., Li-SOCl2 , 3 Li bromine chloride complexing additive ~BCX!, 4 lead-acid, 5 Zn-MnO2 , 6 Li-ion 1-2,7 !. However, because of their lower surface area to volume ratio, spiral batteries retain more heat than prismatic batteries. Therefore, in order to improve thermal management and achieve safe operation of large-scale spirally wound batteries, it is important to understand their thermal behavior, especially during high rate operation. A cost effective method of studying heat transport during the operation of a battery is to theoretically simulate the temperatures attained by the battery. However, very few publications 3-9 exist in the literature that couple electrochemical and thermal behavior in spirally wound batteries. Rather, most thermal models of spirally wound batteries estimate the heat generation rate a priori from experimental voltage-time data. 3-4,7-9 Cho and Halpert 8 and Cho 9 assumed that the entire battery operates at a uniform temperature, while Al Hallaj et al. 7 simulated a 1-D radial variation in temperature. Evans and White 3 and Kalu and White 4 accounted for both radial and spiral heat conductions in their spirally wound battery systems using a two-dimensional ~2-D! model for the energy balance. Evans and White 3 compared the predictions of the 2-D model
Thermal Load-Induced Failure of a Steel Space Frame Structure

Proprietary, modular steel space frame structures, commonly consisting of ball nodes and tubular members, are widely used in construction as an efficient method for supporting or covering long-span openings. Typical applications include support for roofs, atrium coverings, pedestrian bridges, and solar panel clusters. The subject space frame was located at the roof level of a four-story office building in a southwest U.S. desert. The space frame was covering a 120-foot by 120-foot triangular opening over an interior courtyard. The space frame consisted of ball nodes, steel tubular members, and steel panels attached to the tubes to provide shade. One morning in April 2011, after approximately 30 years of service, the building staff observed and heard the space frame fail along one edge of the frame. The redundant structure did not collapse, but suffered two complete bolt fractures, a number of weld fractures, buckled tubes, and exhibited large displacements. Emergency shoring and scaffolding was installed, and a visual inspection of all elements, nodes, and supports was performed. The space frame was analyzed using SAP2000 under in-service gravity and thermal loads. Fractography of the failed bolts revealed that the connections of boundary members to the supports experienced fracture due to fatigue. In parallel, the analyses results showed that the boundary constraints and panel configuration contributed significantly to the amount of axial load and bending stress imparted on the bolts and boundary members. The results of this case study highlight the consequences of insufficient consideration of thermal loading.
Toward a practical methodology for the statistical design of complex integrated circuit products

The author discusses statistical, as opposed to worst case, approaches to the design of complex integrated circuit products. Recent approaches and why they have failed to be widely adopted are reviewed. The author concludes with a discussion of a practical approach to complex integrated circuit design combining worst case and statistical methods. >
Coding for systern-on-chip networks: a unified framework

In this paper, we present a coding framework derived from a communication-theoretic view of a DSM bus to jointly address power, delay, and reliability. In this framework, the data is first passed through a nonlinear source coder that reduces self and coupling transition activity and imposes a constraint on the peak coupling transitions on the bus. Next, a linear error control coder adds redundancy to enable error detection and correction. The framework is employed to efficiently conibine existing codes and to derive novel, codes that span a wide range of trade-offs between bus delay, codec latency, power, area, and reliability, Simulation results, for a l-cm 32-hit bus in a 0.18-μm CMOS technology, show that 31% reduction in energy and 62% reduction in enkrgy-delay product are achievable.
Drs. Tiecke and Bernier: pioneers in oral pathology

This article, published in 1954 by Drs. Richard Tiecke and Joseph Bernier, helped define the etiology of oral cancer, its histology, its associated demographics, its location in the oral cavity, its propensity for metastasis to distant locations and its survival rates. The data presented in this article were based on 401 cases of intraoral squamous cell carcinoma that were selected from the archives of the Armed Forces Institute of Pathology (AFIP). The AFIP began as the Army Medical Museum in 1862 and was decommissioned and closed in 2011. This institution served as a consultation service to both military and civilian pathologists in the United States and the world. Drs. Tiecke and Bernier lament the problem faced by dentists and physicians in not detecting squamous cell carcinoma in relatively easily viewed locations such as the oral cavity, cervix, rectum and skin. As reported by Cameron Originally published December 1954, The Journal of the American Dental Association, Vol. 49, No. 6, 684-698
SignalLens: Focus+Context Applied to Electronic Time Series

Electronic test and measurement systems are becoming increasingly sophisticated in order to match the increased complexity and ultra-high speed of the devices under test. A key feature in many such instruments is a vastly increased capacity for storage of digital signals. Storage of 109 time points or more is now possible. At the same time, the typical screens on such measurement devices are relatively small. Therefore, these instruments can only render an extremely small fraction of the complete signal at any time. SignalLens uses a Focus+Context approach to provide a means of navigating to and inspecting low-level signal details in the context of the entire signal trace. This approach provides a compact visualization suitable for embedding into the small displays typically provided by electronic measurement instruments. We further augment this display with computed tracks which display time-aligned computed properties of the signal. By combining and filtering these computed tracks it is possible to easily and quickly find computationally detected features in the data which are often obscured by the visual compression required to render the large data sets on a small screen. Further, these tracks can be viewed in the context of the entire signal trace as well as visible high-level signal features. Several examples using real-world electronic measurement data are presented, which demonstrate typical use cases and the effectiveness of the design.
Risk-benefit of HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors in the treatment of HIV protease inhibitor-related hyperlipidaemia

HIV protease inhibitors decrease mortality and improve quality of life in patients with HIV infection. However, these drugs have been associated with serum lipid elevations, which may pose an increased risk of cardiovascular disease and pancreatitis. Treatment of protease inhibitor-related hyperlipidaemia (PIH) is complicated by drug interactions, which significantly increase concentrations of most 3-hydroxy-3-methylglutaryl-coenzyme A (HMG-CoA) reductase inhibitors (statins). Although pravastatin and atorvastatin effectively lower cholesterol and triglyceride concentrations in HIV-infected patients, a significant number of patients did not achieve their National Cholesterol Education Program low density lipoprotein concentration goals. Nonetheless, due to the increased risk of rhabdomyolysis with elevated statin concentrations, atorvastatin should be considered a second-line agent. The limited available PIH data supports the fact that pravastatin and atorvastatin are well-tolerated in HIV-infected indivi...
Application of digital microprocessor technology to power metering in the presence of harmonics

Describes a system involving a hardware interface, a PC, and advanced software to measure, analyze, and report the condition of harmonics on the power system. The results showed that the harmonic content of the load waveform affects power measurement significantly. It is possible with sample data techniques to determine true real power consumed by the power distribution system, or to resolve poor power factor questions. It is noted that the system developed for the measurement and analysis of harmonic effects on power metering has greatly reduced the effort needed to study and solve the problem of power measurement in the presence of harmonic distortion. >
Spontaneous elaboration of transforming growth factor beta suppresses host defense against bacterial infection in autoimmune MRL/lpr mice

Infection with gram-negative and gram-positive bacteria remains a leading cause of death in patients with systemic lupus erythematosis (SLE), even in the absence of immunosuppressive therapy. To elucidate the mechanisms that underly the increased risk of infection observed in patients with systemic autoimmunity, we have investigated host defense against bacterial infection in a murine model of autoimmunity, the MRL/Mp-lpr/lpr (MRL/lpr) mouse. Our previous study implicated transforming growth factor beta (TGF-beta) in a novel acquired defect in neutrophil function in MRL/lpr but not congenic MRL/Mp-+/+ (MRL/n) mice (Gresham, H.D., C.J. Ray, and F.K. O'Sullivan. 1991. J. Immunol. 146:3911). We hypothesized from these observations that MRL/lpr mice would have defects in host defense against bacterial infection and that they would have constitutively higher local and systemic levels of active TGF-beta which would be responsible, at least in part, for the defect in host defense. We show in this paper that spontaneous elaboration of active TGF-beta adversely affects host defense against both gram-negative and gram-positive bacterial infection in MRL/lpr mice. Our data indicate that MRL/lpr mice, as compared with congenic MRL/n mice, exhibit decreased survival in response to bacterial infection, that polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) from MRl/lpr mice fail to migrate to the site of infection during the initial stages of infection, that MRL/lpr mice have a significantly increased bacterial burden at the site of infection and at other tissue sites, and that this increased bacterial growth occurs at a time (> 20 h after infection) when PMN influx is greatly enhanced in MRL/lpr mice. Most intriguingly, the alteration in PMN extravasation during the initial stages of infection and failure to restrict bacterial growth in vivo could be duplicated in MRL/n mice with a parenteral injection of active TGF-beta 1 at the time of bacterial challenge. Moreover, these alterations in host defense, including survival in response to lethal infection, could be ameliorated in MRL/lpr mice by the parenteral administration of a monoclonal antibody that neutralizes the activity of TGF-beta. These data indicate that elaboration of TGF-beta as a result of autoimmune phenomenon suppresses host defense against bacterial infection and that such a mechanism could be responsible for the increased risk of bacterial infection observed in patients with autoimmune diseases.
Rectal Stenosis: A Rare Anorectal Malformation

A 2-day-old male baby presented with abdominal distension and failure to pass meconium. The perineal examination revealed normally placed patent anus. A rectal examination with thermometer revealed a resistance at 2-3cm from the anal verge. A contrast enema was given to document the suspicion of rectal atresia. The contrast enema revealed a 2cm long stenosis of the rectum opening abruptly into hugely dilated proximal colon (Fig. 1). A sigmoid loop colostomy performed over a skin bridge. The patient was then discharged after 2 days with a plan of posterior sagittal management of rectal stenosis.
We must reach out to the public

Faced with the current budget crisis, legislators and leaders of federal agencies are asking scientists to communicate why continued and even expanded funding of basic sciences is important to America. There have been repeated requests for oceanographers to communicate the importance of their science to the public at large and to legislators at both state and federal levels. It is often difficult, however, to find opportunities for public and legislative outreach. On March 17, 1996, Neal Lane, Director of the National Science Foundation, and Jerry Lewis (R.-Calif.), Chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee for VA, HUD, and Independent Agencies, which oversees NSF, participated in a dive off the coast of California in the Deep Submergence Vehicle (DSV) Alvin. The dive was part an ongoing effort to improve science and operational systems on Alvin and to ensure that the submersible systems are ready for the next science program. It followed a 3-month shutdown of the facility imposed, in part, by budget cutbacks. The engineering dives are funded by the National Science Foundation, The U.S. Navy Office of Naval Research, and the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration through the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution, the facility operator. In addition to testing out a new, integrated navigation software package for DSV operations, several vehicle systems and a new digital imaging system were tested.
Needed Research with Respect to Energy Use in Agricultural Production

The agricultural industry, like other industries, has become increasingly dependent upon energy resources such as electricity, fossil fuels, chemicals and fertilizers, largely due to relatively low energy prices. In the middle 1970s, however, energy prices rose sharply as a result of continuously rightward shifting energy demands and leftward shifting energy supplies due to dwindling domestic reserves and oil price increases by OPEC nations. Although the rapidly rising energy prices may have been viewed initially as a temporary phenomenon, most now agree that we are in an era of high energy prices. Carter and Youde [2] have discussed some impacts of the changing energy situation on U.S. agriculture.
Ku-Band Traveling Wave Slot Array Scanned Via Positioning a Dielectric Plunger

This paper introduces a feeding concept aimed at eliminating the backend (phase shifters) of traditional phased arrays. A goal is to make phased arrays simpler and less costly for satellite communications. Accordingly, we employ a traveling wave array (TWA) using a single feedline whose propagation constant is controlled via a single, small, and mechanical movement of a dielectric plunger to enable scanning. The dielectric plunger is positioned within a parallel plate waveguide (PPW) transmission line (TL) that feeds the TWA. By adjusting the position of the dielectric plunger within the TL, the feedline achieves a propagation constant range of $\text{1}\leq k_{eff}/k_{\text{0}}\leq\text{2.1}$ , corresponding to scan angles of $-\text{32.6}^\circ\leq\theta\leq\text{34.2}^\circ$ with an element spacing of $d=\text{0.65}\lambda_{\text{0}}$ . That is, beam steering is achieved using a single feed and a simple linear mechanical movement (for any size array) without using phase shifters. A 20-element array was designed for stable realized gain across $-\text{25}^\circ\leq\theta\leq\text{25}^\circ$ beam steering. Additionally, a proof of concept array was fabricated and measured. The simulated copolarized realized gain closely matches the fabricated TWA patterns.
The Safe Removal of Frozen Air from the Annulus of an LH2 Storage Tank

Large Liquid Hydrogen (LH2) storage tanks are vital infrastructure for NASA. Eventually, air may leak into the evacuated and perlite filled annular region of these tanks. Although the vacuum level is monitored in this region, the extremely cold temperature causes all but the helium and neon constituents of air to freeze. A small, often unnoticeable pressure rise is the result. As the leak persists, the quantity of frozen air increases, as does the thermal conductivity of the insulation system. Consequently, a notable increase in commodity boil-off is often the first indicator of an air leak. Severe damage can result from normal draining of the tank. The warming air will sublimate which will cause a pressure rise in the annulus. When the pressure increases above the triple point, the frozen air will begin to melt and migrate downward. Collection of liquid air on the carbon steel outer shell may chill it below its ductility range, resulting in fracture. In order to avoid a structural failure, as described above, a method for the safe removal of frozen air is needed. A thermal model of the storage tank has been created using SINDA/FLUINT modeling software. Experimental work is progressing in an attempt to characterize the thermal conductivity of a perlite/frozen nitrogen mixture. A statistical mechanics model is being developed in parallel for comparison to experimental work. The thermal model will be updated using the experimental/statistical mechanical data, and used to simulate potential removal scenarios. This paper will address methodologies and analysis techniques for evaluation of two proposed air removal methods.
90-P: MICA AND MICB: ANALYSIS OF DISEASE-ASSOCIATED ALLELES AND GENE EXPRESSION LEVELS

Aim MICA and MICB loci are relevant in transplantation and tumor immunology. Their polymorphisms show numerous disease associations, but no systematic analysis has been performed to see whether they are expression QTLs or just proxies for HLA alleles. Methods Using TaqMan assays, we genotyped six polymorphisms (MICA rs1051792, rs2596542; MICB rs2248462, rs3132468, rs2844498, rs3130922) and the recently reported copy number variation in the IHWG B-LCL panel (n = 103). 15 cell lines, with and without heat shock, were cultured for TaqMan gene expression analysis using normalizers GUSB and EIF4EBP2. Results No sample had the MICA deletion reported as a nasopharyngeal cancer risk marker in Taiwan. There was no direct correlation between individual SNPs and HLA types, but joint SNP alleles were predictive of certain HLA types. Five conserved extended haplotypes (CEH: B14DR7, B44DR4, B46DR8, B46DR9, B62DR13) carried the wildtype alleles at all six SNPs. CEH57.1 (B57DR7) carried variant alleles in five out of six loci. MICA mRNA levels showed more variation than MICB levels (3.5 versus 1 Ct difference), and baseline MICB levels were very similar in all samples. There was no correlation between baseline and induced expression levels. Heat shock induced expression of MICA more strongly than MICB, but did not make any change in MICA or MICB expression on CEH8.1 (B8DR3). The MICA polymorphism rs1051792 that influences MICA-NK cell interaction did not correlate with gene expression levels. Nor any other SNP or STR individually or jointly showed any correlation with gene expression levels. Conclusions Most genetic associations are due to the influence of associated alleles on gene transcription, but we did not observe any correlation between six MICA/MICB disease-associated alleles and gene expression even after induction by heat shock. The observed MICA/MICB disease associations may be due to structural changes interfering with interactions with NK cells or linkage disequilibrium with HLA alleles.
Soluble Antigens of Bacterium Enteritidis

A previous paper by one of us on the toxic properties of products of Bacterium enteritidis 1 described experiments in which the "toxins" used were the filtrates of cultures grown in a simple synthetic medium. The toxic principle of these filtrates seemed to be identical with that obtained when the microorganisms were grown in veal infusion and peptone broths, both in the symptom complex and the pathology produced by injections in animals. Serum from rabbits immunized with these synthetic medium filtrates protected other rabbits against the toxic effects of both the synthetic and the peptone broth filtrates. Conversely, serum from rabbits immunized with broth filtrates also protected against both preparations. Several investigators, using meat-peptone-broth filtrates, have reported producing antitoxic serums with various members of the paratyphoid group. Ecker 2 and Franchetti3 demonstrated agglutinins in the antitoxin they produced. Franchetti reported complement-fixing antibodies. Our synthetic medium filtrates seemed favorable material with which to investigate the production of various antibodies since they contained nothing except known salts and bacterial products.
Citizens' crime stereotypes, biased recall, and punishment preferences in abstract cases: The educative role of interpersonal sources.

Although researchers have noted the importance of understanding how people form punishment preferences about abstract criminal cases, few studies have examined this issue. Using both experimental and survey data, two processes, reliance on an availability heuristic and reliance on a crime stereotype, contributed to punishment preferences. The findings suggest that the biased recall of severe crimes fuels demands for harsher punishment in opinion polls, and that unstable, uninformed opinions partly produce the demands for harsher punishment. These studies also found that information about crime from interpersonal sources can change media driven, unrealistic crime stereotypes and substantially reduce the biased recall of atypical, severe crimes reported in the mass media. Biased recall for more severe cases can be eliminated by including concrete or contextually distinct details in crime stories that contain minor harm. These studies highlight the important role of context in punishment preferences and the important role that interpersonal sources can play in educating the public about the nature of specific offenses.
Internet and free press are associated with reduced lags in global outbreak reporting.

Background: Global outbreak detection and reporting have generally improved for a variety of infectious diseases and geographic regions in recent decades. Nevertheless, lags in outbreak reporting remain a threat to the global human health and economy. In the time between first occurrence of a novel disease incident and public notification of an outbreak, infected individuals have a greater possibility of traveling and spreading the pathogen to other nations. Shortening outbreak reporting lags has the potential to improve global health by preventing local outbreaks from escalating into global epidemics. Abstract Background: Global outbreak detection and reporting have generally improved for a variety of infectious diseases and geographic regions in recent decades. Nevertheless, lags in outbreak reporting remain a threat to the global human health and economy. In the time between first occurrence of a novel disease incident and public notification of an outbreak, infected individuals have a greater possibility of traveling and spreading the pathogen to other nations. Shortening outbreak reporting lags has the potential to improve global health by preventing local outbreaks from escalating into global epidemics. Abstract Background: Global outbreak detection and reporting have generally improved for a variety of infectious diseases and geographic regions in recent decades. Nevertheless, lags in outbreak reporting remain a threat to the global human health and economy. In the time between first occurrence of a novel disease incident and public notification of an outbreak, infected individuals have a greater possibility of traveling and spreading the pathogen to other nations. Shortening outbreak reporting lags has the potential to improve global health by preventing local outbreaks from escalating into global epidemics.
High Sensitivity Spectroscopy of Supported Clusters

Reflection spectroscopy techniques have been developed with a sensitivity of detecting a change in surface reflectivity of ~1 part in 106. This has provided the opportunity to measure spectra of ~1010isolated clusters with an average cluster size as small as 〈N〉=10 atoms. This paper will describe the application of these techniques to the study of alkali clusters emphasizing the size and shape dependence of cluster spectra as well as measurement of surface kinetics determining cluster growth and desorption.
Comparison of alfalfa, birdsfoot trefoil, and cicer milkvetch in combination with 25, 50, or 75% tall fescue in a continuous-culture system1

ABSTRACT A continuous-culture experiment was performed to investigate the effects of tall fescue (TF)-to-legume ratios (TF:legume = 75:25, 50:50, or 25:75 on a DM basis) of 3 different TF-legume mixed diets [TF-alfalfa (TF+AF), TF-birdsfoot trefoil (TF+BT), or TF-cicer milkvetch (TF+CM)] on in vitro fermentation characteristics. Nine dietary treatments were tested in a 3 (TF-legume ratio) × 3 (TF-legume mixed diet) split-plot design. Dietary treatments did not affect the concentrations of total VFA, acetate, and butyrate, whereas increasing legume proportion increased propionate concentration (P = 0.03). Regardless of TF-legume ratio, feeding TF+CM re sulted in the greatest propionate concentration, whereas TF+AF and TF+BT maintained a similar concentration of propionate. The TF+AF combination resulted in a greater acetate-to-propionate ratio than TF+BT or TF+CM (P = 0.03). Decrease in ammonia-N concentration (P