cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Minimally Invasive Device for Continuous Glucose Monitoring in Infants

Blood sugar management is particularly critical in the neonatal intensive care unit where the incidence of hypoglycemia is high and patients run the risk of brain damage. The staff at most hospitals obtain glucose levels in infants by drawing blood from the heel, which is a cause for recurrent pain. Some infants undergo this procedure every 1–3hours for up to a few months. Our goal is to design a minimally invasive device that allows for real-time glucose monitoring in very low birth weight infants in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). This glucose monitor will reduce the amount of pain and physiological stress on the infants, decrease the risk of hypoglycemia in neonates and reduce the workload on hospital staff. There is currently much room for emerging technologies in this market as it trends towards less pain and faster responses. The device should only slightly hinder the infant’s motion, be as painless as possible, and all materials used in contact with the body need to be biologically inert and cause no irritation or allergic reaction. The device will utilize a microneedle array to extract interstitial fluid and draw it through a hydrophilic polyurethane membrane and into a polarimetry chamber. Circularly polarized light will be passed through the chamber and the differential absorbance of left and right polarized light will be used to calculate the glucose concentration. A literature and patent review showed that each separate portion could be used in an effective device for minimally invasive, continuous glucose monitoring.
Approaches for Enhancing Oral Bioavailability of Peptides and Proteins

Oral delivery of peptide and protein drugs faces immense challenge partially due to the gastrointestinal (GI) environment. In spite of considerable efforts by industrial and academic laboratories, no major breakthrough in the effective oral delivery of polypeptides and proteins has been accomplished. Upon oral administration, gastrointestinal epithelium acts as a physical and biochemical barrier for absorption of proteins resulting in low bioavailability (typically less than 1-2%). An ideal oral drug delivery system should be capable of (a) maintaining the integrity of protein molecules until it reaches the site of absorption, (b) releasing the drug at the target absorption site, where the delivery system appends to that site by virtue of specific interaction, and (c) retaining inside the gastrointestinal tract irrespective of its transitory constraints. Various technologies have been explored to overcome the problems associated with the oral delivery of macromolecules such as insulin, gonadotropin-releasing hormones, calcitonin, human growth factor, vaccines, enkephalins, and interferons, all of which met with limited success. This review article intends to summarize the physiological barriers to oral delivery of peptides and proteins and novel pharmaceutical approaches to circumvent these barriers and enhance oral bioavailability of these macromolecules.
Characterization of interleukin-1 activity in tunicates☆

Abstract 1. 1. Eight North American species of tunicates were examined for the presence of interleukin-1 (IL-1) like activity. 2. 2. The tunicates studied produce molecules with readily detectable lymphocyte activation factor (LAF) activity. 3. 3. G50 column chromatography separated molecular species that were directly mitogenic for thymocytes ( mol. wt >50,000 ) from those that were comitogenic in an IL-1 assay (mol. wt 20,000). 4. 4. Tunicate fractions with LAF activity induced increased vascular permeability in rabbit skin. 5. 5. Tunicate LAF activity was neutralized by polyclonal anti-human IL-1 antisera. 6. 6. These data further support the conclusion that IL-1 is an ancient and functionally conserved molecule.
Evaluation of precursors for chemical vapor deposition of ruthenium

Abstract Several commercially available organometallic precursors have been evaluated for metallorganic chemical vapor deposition (MOCVD) of pure ruthenium films. Of these, only a dimer, [RuC5H5(CO)2]2, proved suitable for CVD. On patterned Si3N4 and flat barium strontium titanate (BST), pure, conductive, conformal ruthenium films were grown from this dimer when oxygen was used as a reaction gas. Without oxygen, significant amounts of carbon were incorporated into the film. Oxygen and substrate temperature effects on ruthenium CVD film growth were investigated by resistivity measurements, in situ X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Growth conditions and possible mechanisms are discussed.
International trends in head and neck cancer incidence rates: Differences by country, sex and anatomic site

Summary Objective To describe trends in country and sex-specific incidence rates of head and neck cancer (HNC), focusing on changes across calendar periods. Materials and Methods Sex and country specific rates of HNC were calculated for 1998–2002 and 1983–1987 using population-based registry data assembled by the Cancer Incidence in Five Continents (CI5) data system for 83 registries representing 35 countries. HNCs were categorized into three groups: oral cavity (including tongue and mouth), oropharynx (including tonsil and oropharynx) and other HNC (including larynx and poorly-specified tumors of the lip/oral cavity/pharynx). Age-standardized rates per 100,000 persons were calculated using the 1960 world standard population. Changes in rates between 1998–2002 and 1993–1987 were assessed. Results During these periods there was substantial global variation in HNC incidence trends by cancer site, country/registry and sex. Rates of oral cavity cancer increased among men and women in some European and Asian countries (Czech Republic, Slovak Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, the United Kingdom and Japan). In France and Italy, rates declined among men but increased among women. Oral cavity incidence rates declined among men and women in many Asian registries as well as in Canada and the United States. Oropharyngeal cancer rates increased among both men and women in a number of European countries (Belarus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Latvia, Norway and the United Kingdom) whereas they declined in some Asian countries. The largest increase in oropharyngeal rates was among Brazilian men. Rates of other HNCs varied substantially by country and sex. Conclusion From 1983–1987 to 1998–2002, trends in HNC rates differed by subtype, country and sex. Oral cavity cancer incidence rates increased in many countries with tobacco epidemics that are currently peaking and declined in areas where tobacco use peaked some time ago. In contrast, rates of oropharyngeal cancer increased in a number of countries where tobacco use has declined, perhaps due to the emerging importance of human papillomavirus infection. Continued monitoring of trends in incidence rates is needed to inform global cancer prevention strategies.
Ultrasonography and fluoroscopic fusion for prostate brachytherapy dosimetry.

Abstract Purpose : To investigate the feasibility of performing postimplant and intraoperative dosimetry for prostate brachytherapy by fusing transrectal ultrasound (TRUS) and fluoroscopic data. Methods and Materials : Registration of ultrasound (prostate boundary) and fluoroscopic (seed) data requires spatial markers that are detectable by both imaging modalities. In this study, the needle tips were considered as such fiducials. Prostate phantoms were implanted with the seeds, and four localization needles were inserted. In the TRUS frame of reference, the longitudinal coordinate of the needle tip was determined by advancing the needle until the echo from its tip just registered at a known probe depth. The tip’s transverse coordinates were determined from the associated TRUS slice. The three-dimensional needle tip positions were also calculated in the fluoroscopic coordinate system using a seed reconstruction method. The transformation between the TRUS and fluoroscopy coordinate systems was established by the least-squares solution using the singular value decomposition. Results : With three of four needle tips as fiducials and the one remaining needle as a test target, the mean fiducial registration error was 0.8 mm and the test target registration error was 2.5 mm. When all four points were used for registration, the errors decreased to 1.1 mm. A comparison between the proposed method and CT-based dosimetry yielded a percentage of prostate volume receiving 100% and 150% of the prescribed minimal peripheral dose and minimal dose received by 90% of the prostate gland that agreed within 0.4%, 2.7%, and 4.2%, respectively. Conclusion : The combination of TRUS and fluoroscopy is a feasible alternative to the currently used CT-based postimplant dosimetry. Furthermore, because of online imaging capability, the method lends itself to real-time intraoperative applications.
Fetal Programming and Risk of Metabolic Syndrome: Prevention Efforts for High-Risk Populations

To the Editor .— The Pediatrics article by Boney et al1explored the role of intrauterine exposure to diabetes, obesity, and large size at birth as risk factors for metabolic syndrome (MS) development in childhood. Their results are biologically plausible and timely, given the current obesity epidemic that affects all age and ethnic groups in the US population. Their study included mostly non-Hispanic white children (94%), a sample that reflected their reference population. However, it is important to focus efforts in the detection …
Thermodynamic Properties of Quinoxaline-1,4-Dioxide Derivatives: A Combined Experimental and Computational Study

Article on thermodynamic properties of quinoxaline-1,4-dioxide derivatives and a combined experimental and computational study.
Models for describing basal diameter and vertical distribution of primary branches in young Douglas-fir

Abstract Branching pattern and branch dynamics are closely related to the ecophysiological processes of growth in young plantations and influence the quality of wood recovered from the boles of crop trees. A system of equations was constructed to estimate the number, diameter, and distribution of primary branches along the stems of young Douglas-fir (Pseudotsuga menziessi) trees before crown closure. One to 11 annual shoots forming part of the lower main stem were sampled from each of 189 Douglas-fir trees; these annual shoots served as the basic modeling unit. Within each annual shoot, relative brach diameter was expressed as a function of relative depth in the shoot, maximum diameter was predicted as a function of depth into crown, branch number was expressed as a function of shoot length, and branch distribution was reconstructed from the average relative branch frequency over relative shoot depth. Predicted branch diameter and branch distribution on 11 trees from a validation data set highlighted the strengths and weaknesses of the described prediction system. Specifically, some variation in number of branches and, to a lesser extent, relative branch distribution, within an annual shoot was evident among sites. Overall, the system was successful in representing the trends and inherent variability in branch basal diameter and vertical distribution.
Differential quantitative proteomics of Porphyromonas gingivalis by linear ion trap mass spectrometry: non-label methods comparison, q-values and LOWESS curve fitting.

Differential analysis of whole cell proteomes by mass spectrometry has largely been applied using various forms of stable isotope labeling. While metabolic stable isotope labeling has been the method of choice, it is often not possible to apply such an approach. Four different label free ways of calculating expression ratios in a classic “two-state” experiment are compared: signal intensity at the peptide level, signal intensity at the protein level, spectral counting at the peptide level, and spectral counting at the protein level. The quantitative data were mined from a dataset of 1245 qualitatively identified proteins, about 56% of the protein encoding open reading frames from Porphyromonas gingivalis, a Gram-negative intracellular pathogen being studied under extracellular and intracellular conditions. Two different control populations were compared against P. gingivalis internalized within a model human target cell line. The q-value statistic, a measure of false discovery rate previously applied to transcription microarrays, was applied to proteomics data. For spectral counting, the most logically consistent estimate of random error came from applying the locally weighted scatter plot smoothing procedure (LOWESS) to the most extreme ratios generated from a control technical replicate, thus setting upper and lower bounds for the region of experimentally observed random error.
Calcium Sulfate Concentration Influence on Yield and Quality of Tofu From Five Soybean Varieties

A mini-process is described for making tofu from 50-g quantities of soybeans. It was used to compare yield and quality among 5 Minnesota grown varieties (Vinton, Corsoy, Hardin, Stine 2510, Stine 2810) and to determine optimum concentration of the coagulant, CaSO4. Product yield (wet basis), solids recovery, protein recovery and textural quality (Texture Profile Analysis hardness and fracturability) were optimal at 0.02 N CaSO4 for all 5 varieties. Negative correlations were found between CaSO4 concentration and both yield (r =− 0.90 to 1.00) and protein recovery (r =− 0.96 to 1.00) for all varieties.
Distributed and centralized multisensor detection with misaligned sensors

Abstract We consider the problem of multisensor detection in the presence of misalignment. We assume that the region that is covered by the sensors contains subregions that constitute blind spots in the sensors' fields of view. For analytical simplicity and numerical convenience, we consider the two-sensor case only, and describe the misalignment mathematically using a model that we have developed earlier. Preliminary assumptions involve a known geometry of the regions covered by each sensor and symmetric coverage. We formulate and analyze the distributed decision problem in the presence of misalignment when the sensors transmit only local decisions to the fusion. Different combining rules are considered at the fusion and compared with a centralized fusion scheme. Numerical results in the Gaussian channel indicate that for two sensors and under the imposed assumptions, only the OR combining rule at the fusion results in performance that degrades gracefully as the coverage factor decreases. The performance of the fusion under the OR rule is comparable—although inferior—to the performance of the centralized scheme. However, the AND combining rule yields very poor performance that degrades rapidly as the coverage factor varies.
Spoils of the Sign: Group Material's Americana, 1985*

A motley grid of things set against clashing bands of homely wallpaper: The dense array was far from comfortable. This was Americana, Group Material's site-specific exhibition project for the 1985 Whitney Biennial in which it took over the museum's lobby gallery. Facing the entrance hung Laurie Simmons's Tourism: Las Vegas (1984), a large-format cibachrome print whose appropriated, rephotographed imagery bet on surface and illusion: A trio of plastic figurines strut toward the rear-projected neon glow of Vegas, wagering class aspiration in all its gendered trappings against the highs and lows of American consumer capitalism. A few paces to the left, five loaves of packaged sliced bread posed a strange rejoinder: Wonder, Arnold, Pepperidge Farm, pinned by their cellophane crests to form a graduated queue, brought out marginal differences in color scheme and logo design. (At left, Peter Nagy's depiction of a Pepperidge Farm industrial plant underscored the point.) Pop lurked; Andy Warhol's 1960s soup cans b...
Endogenous signals released from necrotic cells augment inflammatory responses to bacterial endotoxin.

Stressed cells undergoing necrosis release molecules that acts as endogenous danger signals to alert and activate innate immune cells. Both HMGB1 and HSP70 are induced in activated monocytes/macrophages and also are released from stressed or injured cells. We investigated whether HMGB1 and HSP70 released from necrotic monocytes/macrophages, can act as danger signals to mediate proinflammatory cytokine responses to bacterial endotoxin or lipopolysaccharide (LPS). We show that cell lysate, obtained from necrotic cells directly stimulates the proinflammatory cytokine and chemokine responses in human monocyte/macrophage cell line, THP-1, as revealed by the induction of TNF-α, IL-6 and IL-8 mRNA expression and protein production. In the presence of LPS, necrotic cell lysate induced a more robust increase in all three proteins. We found that HMGB1 and HSP70 were indeed present in the necrotic cell lysate and were responsible for the significant induction of the proinflammatory cytokine expression, as neutralization with antibodies against both proteins blocked the increase in the cytokine production seen after incubating LPS-stimulated cells with the necrotic cell lysate. We also found that the newly identified triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1 (TREM-1) was involved in mediating the HMGB1- and HSP70-induced cytokine production. Blocking TREM-1 on THP-1 cells with a recombinant chimera prevented the increase in cytokine production, while simultaneous blocking of TLR4 and TREM-1 completely abolished the proinflammatory response, suggesting that TREM-1 synergizes with TLR4 to mediate the effects of such signals from necrotic cells. In addition, blocking HMGB1 or HSP70 simultaneously with TREM-1 did not decrease the cytokine level further, confirming the involvement of TREM-1 in mediating the effect of HMGB1 and HSP70. Although the interaction of HMGB1 and HSP70 with TREM-1 induced IκBα and p38 expression, both of which are required for the inflammatory cytokine expression, blockade of TREM-1 did not affect IκBα expression but markedly reduced p38 activation, as revealed by Western blot analysis. Together, these results demonstrate that HMGB1 and HSP70 released from necrotic cells function as endogenous danger signals to augment the proinflammatory responses in monocytes/macrophage and that TREM-1 relays such signals to the cytokine expression cascade. This mechanism may contribute to the amplification and persistence of the inflammatory response to bacterial infection.
Children’s Mental Health Providers’ Perceptions of Mental Health Literacy Among Parents and Caregivers

Mental health disorders are prevalent among children, yet many do not receive treatment. Parents and caregivers play a vital role in recognizing mental health disorders in children and accessing treatment. But a substantial number of parents lack essential knowledge of children’s mental health disorders, including risk factors, symptom recognition, and treatment options. Little focus has been given to parents in the children’s mental health literacy literature. The purpose of this article is to begin filling that gap by using a survey to describe the perceptions of child and family mental health providers’ perceptions regarding the amount, accuracy, and origin of mental health literacy in the parents of the children they treat. The impact of those perceptions on the work of providers is also explored. Eighty-seven mental health providers completed a survey to assess their perceptions of parent mental health literacy in the area of children’s mental health. Providers perceived parent mental health literacy...
Service Use and Unmet Service Needs in Grandparents Raising Grandchildren

Most in-depth studies of grandparents raising grandchildren use samples recruited from service providers, so little is known about those who do not use formal services. A sample of 200 grandparents registered with a public school district completed a survey on service use and unmet service needs. Of the 131 who did not use services, 82 reported unmet service needs, and 49 reported no needs. Those with unmet needs were younger, more likely to be Native Hawaiian, and less likely to receive public assistance. These findings indicate that some grandparents are falling through the cracks of the service provision network.
Antisense c- myb oligonucleotides inhibit intimal arterial smooth muscle cell accumulation in vivo

SYNTHETIC antisense oligonucleotides have been used to dissect gene function in vitro. Technical difficulties prevented the use of this approach for investigating the effect of gene products in vivo. Here we report the use of local delivery of antisense c-myb oligonu-cleotide to suppress intimal accumulation of rat carotid arterial smooth muscle cells. Our results suggest that antisense oligonucleotides can be used to define the in vivo biological role of specific macromolecules in the blood vessel wall and could potentially serve as a new class of therapeutic agents for cardiovascular disorders.
The magnetic geometry and radio beam of PSR 1929 + 10

PSR 1929 + 10 exhibits weak radio emission throughout most of its rotational period. To investigate the off-pulse emission, polarization measurements were conducted using the Arecibo 305-m radio telescope. Stokes parameters were obtained covering 75 percent of the pulsar period at 430 MHz and 45 percent at 1665 MHz. The emission geometry of the pulsar was derived by fitting a rotating vector model to the polarization angle swing across the pulse profile. The pulsar presents a nearly aligned geometry. Its magnetic dipole axis is tilted by 31 + or - 2 deg from the spin axis, and the minimum angle between the line of sight and the rotating dipole axis is 20 + or - 2 deg. The main pulse and interpulse are interpreted as two cuts of the line of sight across an elongated polar emission beam. The emission beam has a N-S elongation of about 5:1 at 430 MHz and about 6:1 at 1665 MHz. 15 refs.
Osmotic conditions influence estimation of passive permeability changes in diseased tissues

Reductions in the rate of movement of urea into cells of hypocotyl tissues of squash seedlings occurred when osmotic concentrations of mannitol (0·1 M ) were introduced into bathing solutions during uptake. Differences in the uptake of urea between healthy and Sclerotinia sclerotiorum-infected squash hypocotyl tissues (fungus-free tissue excised from 1 to 11 mm above lesions) observed under hypotonic conditions were nullified by osmotica. Rates of electrolyte losses from squash hypocotyl tissues were lower from diseased than healthy tissue in the absence of mannitol whereas reverse effects were observed in the presence of 0·1 M mannitol. In contrast to squash, the uptake of urea by sunflower hypocotyl tissues and differences in the uptake of urea observed between healthy and Sclerotinia-infected hypocotyls were unaffected by the use of osmotica. On the other hand, the greater electrolyte losses from S. sclerotiorum-infected than non-infected sunflower tissues were magnified when measurements were made in osmotica.
Development of a high stability L-band radiometer for the Aquarius ocean salinity mission

The NASA Earth Science System Pathfinder (ESSP) mission Aquarius, will measure global ocean surface salinity with ~100 km spatial resolution every 7-days with an average monthly salinity accuracy of 0.2 psu (parts per thousand). This requires an L-band low-noise radiometer with the long-term calibration stability of less than or equal to 0.1 K over 7 days. A three-year research program on radiometer stability has addressed the radiometer requirements and configuration necessary to achieve this objective. The system configuration and component performance have been evaluated with radiometer test beds at both JPL and GSFC. The research has addressed several areas including component characterization as a function of temperature, system linearity, noise diode calibration, temperature control of components and optimum switching of the Dicke switch for lowest noise performance. A breadboard radiometer, utilizing microstrip-based technologies, has been built to demonstrate this long-term stability. This paper will present the results of the radiometer test program and details on the design of the Aquarius radiometer. The operational sequence that will be used to achieve the low noise and stability requirements will also be discussed.
Alveolar soft part sarcoma of the tongue

Alveolar soft part sarcoma (ASPS) is a rare malignancy; only 39 cases have been reported in the head and neck region. A 19-year-old woman is presented here who had ASPS of the tongue. Surgical resection was followed by irradiation therapy. She is tumor-free 2 years after treatment.
Septation and differentiation of the embryonic human cloaca.

Abstract Background/Purpose : Limitations in methodologies have fostered controversy regarding the septation of the human embryonic cloaca. The aim of this study was to evaluate the septation of the human embryonic cloaca. Methods : Using the Carnegie Embryological Collection and specimens at Johns Hopkins, Baltimore, MD, the authors studied 12 embryos and five fetuses. Embryo photomicrographs were reconstructed using three-dimensional modeling. Results : In Carnegie stage 13 the authors observed a cloaca, distinct primitive urogenital sinus, and anorectum separated by the urorectal septum. The primitive urogenital sinus and anorectum enter the cloaca separated from the amniotic space by the cloacal membrane. As the embryo becomes a fetus it lengthens, grows, expands and rotates through a process called transformation . Transformation gives rise to a loss of caudal curvature and a decrease in distance between the septum and membrane, but these structures do not fuse. Disintegration of the cloacal membrane produces openings for the urogenital sinus and anorectum. Conclusions : The observations suggest that the urogenital sinus and anorectum form early and are separated by the urorectal septum as a passive structure. There does not appear to be septation or differentiation of the cloaca itself.
The perceptual world of the communication apprehensive: The effect of communication apprehension and interpersonal gaze on interpersonal perception

This study examined the effects of gaze behavior by interviewees on the interpersonal perception of interviewers. Additionally, the communication apprehension (CA) level of the interviewers was measured. Both the main effects of eye contact and the interactive effect of interviewers’ CA level and eye contact were tested for 11 person‐perception dimensions. Results showed both main effects and interaction effects, indicating the importance of assessing communication behaviors and communication traits in combination. Results also indicated that high communication apprehensives are relatively insensitive to differences in eye contact.
Feasibility of damage/change detection in civil structures by SAR imagery: proof of concept study using SAR simulation

Synthetic Aperture Radar (SAR), capable of all-time and all- weather operation, shows promising applications in monitoring urban areas for earthquake damage detection. The objective of this study is to use a computer code for SAR simulation and to demonstrate the usefulness of SAR applications for identification of seismically induced structural damage. For this purpose, CAD models of several buildings are constructed consisting of a combination of triangular facets, arranged in a way to represent their outside shells. SAR simulation is made in the time-domain using XPATCHT computer code package. Simulated SAR images with highest resolution of 15 cm to the lowest resolution of 2 m are considered. In this simulation, the SAR antenna shoots a bundle of rays with respective angles to the object. After ray tracing, physical optics evaluate the electric field in the far field and the final SAR image is obtained by compressing the simulated data in range and cross- range directions. After obtaining the complex SAR image, magnitude and phase (for interferometry studies) information provide measures in order to identify geometrical changes. The result of the simulation indicates that edges and corners are usually very well detectable and that geometrical changes such as tilting, overturning or pancaking can be observed and measured.© (2000) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
The structure of module derivations of Banach algebras of differentiable functions

Abstract This paper studies the structure and continuity of derivations of the Banach algebra C n ( I ) of n times continuously differentiable functions on an interval I into Banach C n (I) -modules. The structure of derivations into finite dimensional modules is completely determined. The question of when an arbitrary derivation splits into the sum of continuous and singular parts is discussed. An example is constructed of a derivation of C 1 ( I ) which is discontinuous on every dense subalgebra.
Ballistic phonon imaging in solids: A new look at phonon focusing

A technique is described which graphically displays the anisotropic propagation of non-equilibrium phonons in crystals at low temperatures. Ballistic phonons emanating from a localized heat pulse are channeled preferentially along various crystal directions due to elastic anisotropies. A spatial map of phonon intensities in Ge is collected by continuous scanning over the propagation directions. The data have precipitated a new approach to analyzing the theory of phonon focusing in solids.
Probabilistic life cycle analysis model for evaluating electric power infrastructure risk mitigation investments

One effect of climate change may be increased hurricane frequency or intensity due to changes in atmospheric and geoclimatic factors. It has been hypothesized that wetland restoration and infrastructure hardening measures may improve infrastructure resilience to increased hurricane frequency and intensity. This paper describes a parametric decision model used to assess the tradeoffs between wetland restoration and infrastructure hardening for electric power networks. We employ a hybrid economic input–output life-cycle analysis (EIO-LCA) model to capture: construction costs and life-cycle emissions for transitioning from the current electric power network configuration to a hardened network configuration; construction costs and life-cycle emissions associated with wetland restoration; and the intrinsic value of wetland restoration. Uncertainty is accounted for probabilistically through a Monte Carlo hurricane simulation model and parametric sensitivity analysis for the number of hurricanes expected to impact the project area during the project cycle and the rate of wetland storm surge attenuation. Our analysis robustly indicates that wetland restoration and undergrounding of electric power network infrastructure is not preferred to the “do-nothing” option of keeping all power lines overhead without wetland protection. However, we suggest a few items for future investigation. For example, our results suggest that, for the small case study developed, synergistic benefits of simultaneously hardening infrastructure and restoring wetlands may be limited, although research using a larger test bed while integrating additional costs may find an enhanced value of wetland restoration for disaster loss mitigation.
Military women's perspectives on health care during deployment.

Abstract Approximately 367,000 women serve in the U.S. military and regularly deploy with their units to austere military environments. A survey was used to describe 841 military women’s perceptions about the health care provider that is available them during deployment and their perceptions of barriers to adequate diagnosis and treatment of gynecologic infections in these austere environments. The study findings have implications for military provider training, sick call policy, predeployment training, and development of self-care alternatives for military women during deployment.
Associations of serotonin transporter genotypes to components of the tripartite model of depression and anxiety

Abstract We evaluated associations between serotonin transporter (5-HTTLPR) genotypes, affect, and depressive and anxious symptoms, using as context the tripartite model of depression and anxiety. It was hypothesized that the short allele would be associated with generalized negative affect, but not with somatic anxiety or subjective anxiety; the associations between the genotypes, low positive affect, and subclinical depressive symptoms were also explored. Analyses revealed that the 5-HTTLPR genotypes were not associated with depression-specific and anxiety-specific symptoms. There were significant associations between genotypes and general negative affect. These findings need replication, but could have important implications with regards to understanding the 5-HTTLPR gene’s impact at the phenotypic level, as well as to the etiology of depression and anxiety.
'Rally Round the Flag’ Events for Presidential Approval Research

Since Mueller's [Mueller, J., 1970. Presidential popularity from Truman to Johnson. The American Political Science Review 64 (1), 18–34.] pioneering study, students of presidential approval ratings have agreed that major events affect these ratings. Despite this consensus, there is wide divergence in the ways that scholars have selected events for inclusion in models of approval ratings. This inconsistency inhibits direct comparisons across studies and raises the possibility that results are contingent on those selection criteria. Thus, what we have learned about the impact of various factors that may affect approval may depend on the details of selection criteria. Practically, scholars analyzing presidential approval ratings for any theoretical purpose must construct a list of events themselves, which takes considerable time. We propose a set of selection criteria and construct a list of events from 1953 to 2006 that scholars can employ. We also demonstrate that the list of events generates empirical results that comport with extant findings in the presidential approval literature.
Simple cell response properties imply receptive field structure: balanced Gabor and/or bandlimited field functions

The classical receptive fields of simple cells in mammalian primary visual cortex demonstrate three cardinal response properties: (1) they do not respond to stimuli that are spatially homogeneous; (2) they respond best to stimuli in a preferred orientation (direction); and (3) they do not respond to stimuli in other, nonpreferred orientations (directions). We refer to these as the balanced field property, the maximum response direction property, and the zero response direction property, respectively. These empirically determined response properties are used to derive a complete characterization of elementary receptive field functions defined as products of a circularly symmetric weight function and a simple periodic carrier. Two disjoint classes of elementary receptive field functions result: the balanced Gabor class, a generalization of the traditional Gabor filter, and a bandlimited class whose Fourier transforms have compact support (i.e., are zero valued outside of a bounded range). The detailed specification of these two classes of receptive field functions from empirically based postulates may prove useful to neurophysiologists seeking to test alternative theories of simple cell receptive field structure and to computational neuroscientists seeking basis functions with which to model human vision.
The role of the tight-turn, broken hydrogen bonding, Glu222 and Arg96 in the post-translational green fluorescent protein chromophore formation

Green fluorescent proteins (GFP) and GFP-like proteins all undergo an autocatalytic post-translational modification to form a centrally located chromophore. Structural analyses of all the GFP and GFP-like proteins in the protein databank were undertaken to determine the role of the tight-turn, broken hydrogen bonding, Gly67, Glu222 and Arg96 in the biosynthesis of the imidazolone group from 65SYG67. The analysis was supplemented by computational generation of the conformation adopted by uncyclized wild-type GFP. The data analysis suggests that Arg96 interacts with the Tyr66 carbonyl, stabilizing the reduced enolate intermediate that is required for cyclization; the carboxylate of Glu222 acts as a base facilitating, through a network of two waters, the abstraction of a hydrogen from the α-carbon of Tyr66; a tight-turn conformation is required for autocatalytic cyclization. This conformation is responsible for a partial reduction in the hydrogen bonding network around the chromophore-forming region of the immature protein.
Evolution of subsurface plastic zone due to rolling contact fatigue of M-50 NiL case hardened bearing steel

Accelerated rolling contact fatigue (RCF) experiments on M-50 NiL case carburized bearing steel were conducted using a three-ball-on-rod tester at high contact stress levels (5.5 GPa) and over several hundred million contact cycles to investigate the evolution of plastic deformation zone characteristics. A microindentation technique was used to measure the changes in the material hardening and softening characteristics within the RCF affected zone and represent the changes in the form of microhardness maps. These maps revealed regions of considerable material hardening inside the plastic zone and softening of material outside the hardened region. The results indicate large amount of plastic strain accumulation beneath the contact surface via ratcheting due to RCF cycling. The hardened and softened regions continue to evolve in severity and size with increasing number of RCF cycles. Using the Hertzian contact theory, a rationale for the evolution of hardened and softened regions during RCF loading is provided. The entire plastic zone is shown to be dominated by four different principal stress states which contribute to the evolution of these regions during RCF.
Effect of antihistamine on the localization of trypan blue in xylene treated areas of skin.

SummaryThe hyperemia that follows the local application of xylene apparently is not modified by the intravenous and intraperitoneal injections of the antihistamine preparations, Pyrrolazote and Thenylene. Likewise, the localization and concentration of trypan blue in the xylene treated areas of skin are not affected by these preparations of antihistamine. Trypan blue also localizes and concentrates in areas of skin injected intradermally with these preparations of antihistamine.
Thermo-mechanical model development and validation of directed energy deposition additive manufacturing of Ti–6Al–4V

Abstract A thermo-mechanical model of directed energy deposition additive manufacturing of Ti–6Al–4V is developed using measurements of the surface convection generated by gasses flowing during the deposition. In directed energy deposition, material is injected into a melt pool that is traversed to fill in a cross-section of a part, building it layer-by-layer. This creates large thermal gradients that generate plastic deformation and residual stresses. Finite element analysis (FEA) is often used to study these phenomena using simple assumptions of the surface convection. This work proposes that a detailed knowledge of the surface heat transfer is required to produce more accurate FEA results. The surface convection generated by the deposition process is measured and implemented in the thermo-mechanical model. Three depositions with different geometries and dwell times are used to validate the model using in situ measurements of the temperature and deflection as well as post-process measurements of the residual stress. An additional model is developed using the assumption of free convection on all surfaces. The results show that a measurement-based convection model is required to produce accurate simulation results.
Visualization of nonprecision instrument approaches using VRML

ABSTRACT In this position paper we propose a synthetic vision software system for visualizing non-precision instrument ap-proaches based on the Virtual Reality Modeling Language (VRML) ISO/IEC CD 14772 standard which is con-ceptually included in the upcoming MPEG4 multimedia industry standard. In addition to the two dimensionalinformation provided by traditional approach plates the user is presented a three dimensional representation of theapproach with the ability to interactively investigate approach parameters. Due to its hardware independence, thesystem is scalable from general aviation to air transport and defense applications. As a proof of concept, we havemodeled the non-precision approach (LOC/DME-C) to Eagle County Regional Airport (EGE) in Colorado.Keywords: Instrument approach plates, controlled flight into terrain, virtual reality modeling language 1. INTRODUCTION There has been much concern in the aviation community over the safety of non-precision approaches due to theircomplexity. Non-precision approaches require precise manouvres executed at specified times causing high cockpitcrew workload. In addition they are not standardized as they vary from airport to airport. Currently, flight crewsrely on instrument approach plates to fly such approaches. These plates, however, are unable to visualize three-dimensional data. Also temporal data which is required for the Missed Approach is not adequately displayed inrelation to the spatial data. To overcome these problems, we propose a synthetic vision software system with GPSderived terrain data using virtual reality methods. In contrast to existing methods, our system is completely based
Quark cluster model for nuclear matter

A model of nuclear matter is given in which nonrelativistic quarks, carrying color, moving in one dimension, interact through a contact interaction. Solutions for the ground-state energy as a function of density may be found exactly using a method based on the Bethe ansatz, which is explained in detail. The model system shows characteristic behavior of a Fermi gas of nucleons (bound clusters of quarks) at low density, and of a Fermi gas of free quarks at high density, with a smooth transition between these limits.
RAT GH RECEPTOR/GH-BINDING PROTEIN mRNAs KITH DIVERGENT 5′-UNTRANSLATED REGIONS ARE EXPRESSED IN A TISSUE- AND TRANSCRIPT-SPECIFIC MANNER

In the rat, the growth hormone receptor (GH-R) gene generates two transcripts, one that encodes for the GH-R, and a shorter one that encodes for the GH-binding protein (GH-BP). The mRNAs encoding for these transcripts present a high degree of heterogeneity in the 5′ -untranslated regions (5′-UTR). It seems likely that some of the exons encoding 5′-UTR variants may be flanked by distinct promoter regions. The activity of different promoters could result in the tissue-specific expression of these variants. To assess this possibility, we used PCR amplification to characterize the 5′-UTR variants of rat GH-R mRNA, and by using 5′-UTR-specific probes, we determined their pattern of expression in several tissues in the rat. In addition to two previously described variants (V1 and V2), three new 5′-UTR variants were identified, extending 56 nt. (V3), 135 nt. (V4), and 209 nt. (V5) upstream of the ATG translation initiation codon. The study of tissue distribution revealed that variant V1 and V5 exhibited a pattern of expression resembling that of exon 2. Variant V2 was exclusively expressed in liver. Variant V4, although present in liver, was more abundant in extrahepatic tissues, and predominantly found in GH-R transcripts. Variant V3 was expressed at low levels. These findings support the concept that different 5′-UTR variants are the result of different promoters acting in a tissue-specific manner. The association of specific 5′-UTR variants with either GH-R or GH-BP mRNA transcripts raises the possibility that the alternatively splicing process that generates GH-BP in the rat might be controlled by the 5′-flanking region driving specific leader exons.
Numerical Prediction of Cavitation in Noncircular Journal Bearings

A numerical investigation of gaseous cavitation in noncircular journal bearings of finite length is presented in this paper. Four bearing profiles are considered: circular, worn-circular, two-lobe (lemon) and elliptical. The alternating direction implicit (ADI) method is used to numerically solve a single partial differential equation that is valid throughout the bearing, i.e., both in full film and cavitated regions. The equation is part of the Elrod algorithm which is used to simulate bearing cavitation. This procedure, which conserves mass throughout the bearing, automatically implements boundary conditions at rupture and reformation that are thought to model moderately to heavily loaded bearings. Performance predictions are compared to results obtained from a variety of earlier papers. Presented at the 43rd Annual Meeting in Cleveland, Ohio May 9–12, 1988
Head and neck manifestation and prognosis of Langerhans' cell histiocytosis in children

Abstract Objective To appreciate the several head and neck manifestations of Langherans’ cell histiocytosis (LCH) in children and their multidisciplinary management and outcome. Study design Retrospective study. Patients and methods Clinical reports of 42 patients with LCH treated in the Departments of Paediatric Haematology, Paediatric Oncology and Paediatric Otorhinolaryngology of a tertiary care center were analyzed. Only cases where the disease was localized to the head and neck were considered. The age at diagnosis, gender, clinical presentation, extension of disease as well as response to treatment and outcome were recorded from the charts of each of these patients. Results Of the 42 patient charts reviewed, 31 (73.8%) presented with head and neck localization. 10 of these had an exclusive head and neck presentation. Multisystem LCH was mostly found in infants under 3-year-old (mean age: 2-year-old), and bony manifestations in older. All treatments delivered to patients were well-tolerated and the evolution good. Discussion and conclusion Head and neck involvement is known to be very frequent in LCH. There is no consensus about treatment but authors highlight that all teams in charge of patients presenting with LCH agree to remain as conservative as possible. For solitary large lesions looking like a tumor which resection could result in functional or cosmetic morbidity, it would be important to get first a biopsy. For multisystemic LHC, therapeutic trials with chemotherapy agents still in process should increase the rate of success.
The competitive NMDA receptor antagonist LY235959 modulates the progression of morphine tolerance in rats.

A rat warm-water tail-withdrawal procedure was used to examine the effects of chronic administration of the competitive NMDA receptor antagonist LY235959 in morphine tolerant rats. Morphine dose-dependently increased tail-withdrawal latencies from 55°C water. When morphine (10 mg/kg) was administered twice-daily for 7 days, the morphine dose-effect curves shifted 0.3–0.5 log unit to the right. When morphine was administered for an additional 7 days, the morphine dose-effect curve shifted 0.4 log unit further to the right. Co-administration of LY235959 (1, 3, 10 mg/kg) along with morphine prevented the development of tolerance observed during the second week of chronic morphine administration. Although the highest dose of LY235959 (10 mg/kg) partially reversed tolerance in five of seven rats, tolerance was not reversed by lower doses of LY235959. These data suggest that NMDA receptor antagonists may effectively prevent the progressive development of morphine tolerance at doses that are not sufficient to reverse pre-established morphine tolerance.