cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Surface changes in the naturally ankylosed teeth of the frog Rana pipiens during growth and maturation: an SEM study

An SEM study of the surface morphology of the major stages of mature and developing teeth of the leopard frog was made using anorganic preparations of the teeth and jaws. After initial development, the crown area changed little during subsequent tooth eruption, ankylosis and maturation. The thin enamel covering extended further down the shaft than expected. After ankylosis, the surfaces of the tooth continued to mature. The unmineralized gap between the crown and the pedestal, which is prominent in most amphibians, gradually filled in as the ankylosed tooth aged. The upper portion of the pedestal initially formed a dentine surface which was globular in appearance due to partial calcification of the surface collagen fibres but became smooth with uniformly calcified fibres as the ankylosed tooth matured. The lower portion of the pedestal was more variable and there was a gradual transition of dentine into a more cellular, bone-like tissue which contained lacunae and larger fibre bundles. This bone-like tissue was very distinct in surface morphology from the bone of the adjacent jaw, and as the tooth matured it changed from a coarse, woven appearance to one more like lamellar bone. Resorption bays were present in both the dentine and bony areas of teeth which were being shed. During development, the pedestal, which attaches the tooth to the jaw, formed as a separate calcification site and did not form a complete ring until fusion of its buccal surface with that of the overlying crown. A bony buccal lip formed early as part of the pedestal.
Effect of the history term on the motion of rigid spheres in a viscous fluid

Abstract The inclusion of the history term (often called “the Basset term”) in the equation of motion of a sphere makes this equation non-explicit in the velocity or acceleration. For this reason, the numerical solution of the equation becomes cumbersome and computationally time-consuming. By the use of an integrodifferential operator, the equation of motion of a sphere is transformed to a second-order ordinary differential equation, which is explicit in the velocity. This equation is solved numerically to determine the effect of the history term on the calculations of particle velocity and trajectories in unsteady flows. The numerical calculations make use of empirical correction factors to account for the effects of finite Reynolds number. Computations are made with the fluid velocity being sinusoidal, random and monotonically increasing. It was observed that the effect of the history term was more pronounced at higher frequencies of the fluid velocity and for fluid-to-particle density ratios higher than 0.002.
Modular simulation of the static portion of the leaf budget

The ability to simulate the static energy budget of the green leaf is needed before any of the dynamic leaf functions such as stomatal control or the interactions among the intermediates of photosynthesis can be studied on the computer. This program uses a windowed interface, interactive control of 23 environmental and structural variables, and a modular design to build such a simulation. The modular design allowed by the newer implementation environments, such as Borland's Turbo Pascal V, means that further dynamic functions which require elements of the static energy budget can be simply added as additional modules.
Comparison of Detection Methods for a Novel Tobamovirus Isolated from Florida Hibiscus

ABSTRACT A novel tobamovirus recently was isolated from hibiscus in Florida. Serological and molecular methods, including enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), dot-blot immunoassay (DBIA), tissue-blot immunoassay (TBIA), and immunocapture reverse-transcription poly-merase chain reaction (IC-RT-PCR) were compared to evaluate their usefulness for diagnosis of this virus. Each method was tested with partially purified virus preparations and tissue samples from infected hibiscus and Chenopodium quinoa plants. Indirect ELISA was more sensitive than double-antibody sandwich (DAS)-ELISA with all samples tested. The Florida hibiscus virus was detectable in hibiscus leaves and bark up to 1:12,800 and 1:6,400 dilutions, respectively, by indirect ELISA and up to 1:3,200 and 1:400 dilutions by DAS-ELISA. End-point dilutions of partially purified virus preparations from indirect and DAS-ELISA were 4 and 31 ng/ml, respectively. Florida hibiscus virus was detected by DBIA in sap from hibiscus bark and leaves at dil...
INSULIN-LIKE GROWTH FACTOR I (IGF-I) IS A CRITICAL TROPHIC FACTOR FOR DEVELOPING CEREBELLAR GRANULE CELLS

Abstract In this study we showed that insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) directly increased cell survival in pure cerebellar granule cell cultures established from postnatal day 7 (P7) mice. The maximal survival-promoting effect could be obtained at low IGF-I concentrations (3–5 ng/ml). Withdrawal of IGF-I from differentiated granule neurons resulted in neuronal death which suggests that IGF-I has a survival-promoting effect on differentiated granule neurons. Furthermore, the survival-promoting effect of IGF-I was not attenuated by the addition of K252a, a selective blocker of Trk signaling, indicating that the survival-promoting effect of IGF-I did not require or was not mediated by endogenously produced neurotrophins, such as BDNF and NT3. Further experiments also suggest that IGF-I stimulates proliferation of granule cell precursors and allows terminal granule neuron differentiation to occur, as indicated by the expression of terminal differentiation markers MEF2A and GABAAα6. Thus, IGF-I could potentially function as both a mitogen and a trophic factor for developing granule cells. This dual action of IGF-I may be important in regulating granule neuron number. © 1997 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.
Effects of potentially inappropriate psychoactive medications on falls in US nursing home residents: analysis of the 2004 National Nursing Home Survey database.

Background and Objective: Use of potentially inappropriate psychoactive medications (PIPMs) poses a serious threat of falls among elderly nursing home residents. This study was conducted to identify the effects of PIPMs on falls compared with use of other psychoactive medications among elderly US nursing home residents.
Performance of a ceramic-lined 6-in.-diam arc driver.

Arc driven shock tube with alumina ceramic liner to reduce driver gas contamination, noting shock speed and test time increase
Preface: Better Evaluation for Evidence-Based Policy: Place Randomized Trials in Education, Criminology, Welfare, and Health

% ROBERT BORUCH Phrases such as "evidence-based policy ' are seductive and are used promiscuously in some quarters. Here, we take the phrase and its intent seriously, as others have. In the international sector, for instance, the Campbell Collaboration was created to generate systematic reviews of dependable evidence on the effects of policies, programs, and practices. This is in the arenas of crime and justice, education, and social services. The Cochrane Collaboration, Campbells older sibling, was created to achieve a similar aim in health care. Their reviews of evidence are
Does Odor Knowledge or an Odor Naming Strategy Mediate the Relationship Between Odor Naming and Recognition Memory

We observed a relationship between odor naming and recognition memory in a recent series of studies. Consistently and/or correctly named odors were associated with excellent recognition memory while inconsistently and/or incorrectly named odors were associated with poor memory. It was speculated that odor knowledge was the basis for the relationship between odor naming and recognition memory. An alternative explanation is that participants employed a naming strategy to guide their memory responses, relying on memories for the odor names given as responses during memory encoding. The validity of these competing hypotheses was tested by manipulating the temporal presentation order of odor naming and memory responses. The results revealed that the predictive power of odor naming, as well as its memory-enhancing effects, was affected by the temporal order of naming and memory responses. The relationship between odor naming and memory declined substantially under conditions that reduced or eliminated the possibility of using remembered names as a guide for recognition memory responses. It was concluded that the previously observed ability of naming to predict odor recognition memory was not related to odor knowledge, but rather, relied on naming responses.
Recent Literature on Government Information.

Abstract The purpose of this column is to provide government information scholars and students with a broad overview of recent publications about government information from the literature of librarianship, archives, information technology management, public policy and law. Given the volume of literature produced in this field, a columnist cannot claim comprehensive coverage. This column seeks to provide a broad, representative survey of literature that illustrates significant trends in the field. Entries were identified through searches of bibliographic databases such as Library Literature , PAIS International , Ebsco Academic Elite , The Index to Legal Periodicals and Books , Science Direct , Westlaw's JLR database , WorldCat , and from manual scans of journals, newsletters, and Internet sites. Citations are to monographs and serials, journal and periodical articles, books, newsletters, and Internet sites. Coverage for this edition of the column includes items from 2002 and 2003, with a smattering of 2001 items that have come to my attention since the last installment of this column. Each citation is listed once under its primary topic and annotated if its content cannot be adequately determined from the title. Book reviews and Internet site reviews are generally excluded. Contributions and suggestions for the next column may be addressed to the column editor at the address below. Material for this column is grouped into the following categories: Freedom of Information/Secrecy, E-Gov/Technology, Archives/Libraries/History, Government Printing Office, Federal, State/Local, and International.
Dietary vitamin E concentration and duration of feeding affect tissue α-tocopherol concentrations of channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus)

Semipurified diets containing 30% crude protein from casein and gelatin were supplemented with three concentrations of dl-α-tocopheryl acetate (0, 240 or 1000 mg/kg) and fed to channel catfish (initial average weight = 36.4 g) for 6 weeks. Factorial analysis of variance indicated a significant (P<0.001) effect of dietary vitamin E on α-tocopherol concentrations of plasma, liver and muscle; levels of α-tocopherol in these tissues were directly related to dietary vitamin E levels. Concentrations of α-tocopherol in plasma and liver reached approximate maxima by week 2; whereas, fillets of fish fed diets with 240 and 1000 mg dl-α-tocopheryl acetate/kg had progressively higher concentrations of α-tocopherol after 2, 4, and 6 weeks of feeding. Levels of α-tocopherol in fillet tissue that had previously been shown to improve oxidative stability were achieved after 6 weeks of feeding the diet containing 240 mg α-tocopherol/kg; similar levels were attained within 2 weeks of feeding the diet containing 1000 mg α-tocopherol/kg. This information may be used in developing diet and/or feeding regimes to improve the oxidative stability of channel catfish fillet tissue prior to harvest and processing.
An L∞ error estimate for the Ritz-Trefftz approximation in optimal control

Abstract An a priori L ∞ error estimate is established for the control approximation generated by using the Ritz-Trefftz method on the state regulator problem. The approximations are taken from spaces of quasiuniform peicewise-polynomials. The estimates are the best possible in the sense that the order of convergence is optimal.
The year's new drugs & biologics, 2014: Part II: Trends & challenges.

2014 was a year of continued high activity in the pharma and biotech industry, as evidenced in part I of this annual two-part review article published last month in this journal (1). As of December 23, 2014, a total of 55 new chemical and biological entities had reached their first markets worldwide, together with another 29 important new line extensions. Another 19 products were approved for the first time during the year but not yet launched by December 23. Furthermore, during the now-traditional year-end sprint, several regulatory agencies issued last-minute approvals for other compounds that missed the deadline for inclusion in that article, bringing the total of new approvals for the year to a somewhat higher number. In addition to the successful development, registration and launch of new drugs and biologics, there are various other trends and tendencies that serve as indicators of the overall health and status of the industry. These include the pursuit of novel programs designed by regulators to stimulate the development of drugs for diseases that are currently under-treated; the regular and pragmatic culling by companies of their RD and the decision to unify pipelines, portfolios and sales forces through mergers and acquisitions.
Hematopoietic stem cells from NOD mice exhibit autonomous behavior and a competitive advantage in allogeneic recipients.

Type 1 diabetes is a systemic autoimmune disease that can be cured by transplantation of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) from disease-resistant donors. Nonobese diabetic (NOD) mice have a number of features that distinguish them as bone marrow transplant recipients that must be understood prior to the clinical application of chimerism to induce tolerance. In the present studies, we characterized NOD HSCs, comparing their engraftment characteristics to HSCs from disease-resistant strains. Strikingly, NOD HSCs are significantly enhanced in engraftment potential compared with HSCs from disease-resistant donors. Unlike HSCs from disease-resistant strains, they do not require graft-facilitating cells to engraft in allogeneic recipients. Additionally, they exhibit a competitive advantage when coadministered with increasing numbers of syngeneic HSCs, produce significantly more spleen colony-forming units (CFU-Ss) in vivo in allogeneic recipients, and more granulocyte macrophage–colony-forming units (CFU-GMs) in vitro compared with HSCs from disease-resistant controls. NOD HSCs also exhibit significantly enhanced chemotaxis to a stromal cell–derived factor 1 (SDF-1) gradient and adhere significantly better on primary stroma. This enhanced engraftment potential maps to the insulin-dependent diabetes locus 9 ( Idd9 ) locus, and as such the tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptor family as well as ski/sno genes may be involved in the mechanism underlying the autonomy of NOD HSCs. These findings may have important implications to understand the evolution of autoimmune disease and impact on potential strategies for cure.
Potential applications of concurrent transcranial magnetic stimulation and functional magnetic resonance imaging in acquired brain injury and disorders of consciousness.

AbstractBackground: Diagnostic assessment, prognosis and treatment monitoring in patients with disorders of consciousness (DoC) rest largely on behaviorally-based procedures. This approach can lead to misdiagnosis, inaccurate outcome prediction and inappropriate judgements regarding the effectiveness of treatment interventions. Concurrent transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) may provide a biological measure of conscious awareness, aid clinicians in clinical decision-making and provide a treatment alternative for DoC.Study: This paper reviews the use of TMS and fMRI in the assessment of patients with DoC and suggests potential applications for concurrent use of these procedures.
Prediction of dynamic temperature distributions in the human body

A detailed procedure is presented for the calculation of unsteady state temperature distributions throughout the human body. The adequacy of the proposed computation procedure is demonstrated by comparison of calculated and experimental results for studies conducted on subjects exposed to decreasing ambient temperatures. Core temperatures were predicted within ±0.2°C, and average deviations for individual skin temperatures generally were within ±0.5°C.
Laser action in condensed disordered media of active dye-stained animal tissues and sandy colloidal scattering walls.

Significant narrowing of both the spectral and temporal profiles of emission radiation from optically pumped dyes was observed in discrete and continuously disordered media such as dilute colloidal dye solutions and densely packed forms of sandy powders and animal tissue treated with rhodamine 640 dye solution. The narrowing of the spectral and temporal response is attributed to laser action arising from feedback of the emission radiation from the surrounding scattering walls into the photoexcited dye regions of the animal and sandy colloidal disordered media.
Cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant production by primary rat alveolar type II cells.

This study was designed to determine the production of the chemokine cytokine-induced neutrophil chemoattractant (CINC) by primary rat alveolar type II (ATII) cells upon stimulation with exogenous and endogenous proinflammatory factors. Cultures of primary rat ATII cells were exposed to lipopolysaccharide (LPS), interleukin-1 beta (IL-1β) or tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFα) over a 16 hour period and the production of CINC both apically and basolaterally was measured by ELISA. Compared to unstimulated (UNS) cultures, LPS, IL-1β and TNFα were found to significantly increase the level of CINC detected in culture by two, four and sixteen hours post stimulation, respectively. ATII cells also demonstrated a polar secretion of CINC. The accumulation of CINC basolaterally was significantly more than apically; 133%, 45%, 117% and 123% for UNS, IL-1β, LPS and TNFα respectively. We demonstrated that primary rat ATII cells may participate in the chemokine network during inflammation by the production of CINC upon stimulation with endogenous and exogenous factors.
Mortality from nonneoplastic skin disease in the United States

Background The mortality burden from nonneoplastic skin disease in the United States is unknown. Objective We sought to estimate mortality from nonneoplastic skin disease as underlying and contributing causes of death. Methods Population-based death certificate data detailing mortality from nonneoplastic skin disease for years 1999 to 2009 were used to calculate absolute numbers of death and age-adjusted mortality by year, patient demographics, and 10 most commonly reported diagnoses. Results Nonneoplastic skin diseases were reported as underlying and contributing causes of mortality for approximately 3948 and 19,542 patients per year, respectively. Age-adjusted underlying cause mortality (per 100,000 persons) were significantly greater ( P Limitations Errors in death certificate data and inability to adjust for patient-level confounders may limit the accuracy and generalizability of our results. Conclusion Mortality from nonneoplastic skin disease is uncommon yet potentially preventable. The elderly bear the greatest burden of mortality from nonneoplastic skin disease. Chronic ulcers and cellulitis constitute frequent causes of death.
Color My Nanoworld

In this activity, students are introduced to the unique properties of nanoscale materials. The activity begins with the synthesis of 13 nm-diameter gold nanoparticles by reduction of a gold salt. The students use the resulting nanoparticle solution to explore the size-dependent optical properties of gold nanoparticles. Specifically, they determine that the nanoparticle solution functions as an electrolyte sensor because electrolyte-induced aggregation of the nanoparticles results in a dramatic color change.
Return migration predictors for undocumented Mexican immigrants living in Dallas

Abstract This study uses a survey of undocumented Mexican immigrants living in Dallas to identify variables that predict the likelihood of return migration of undocumented Mexican immigrants. Male immigrants and immigrants under age 25 are more likely to intend to return to Mexico. Surprisingly, length of US residence is not a significant predictor of intended return. In contrast, prior immigrant experience is a significant predictor of intent to return to Mexico. Highly educated immigrants are likely to intend to return to Mexico, probably because the relative skill benefit is greater in the origin country. Immigrants from the Mexican state of Guanajuato are likely to intend to return to Mexico, while those from San Luis Potosi are likely to intend to remain in the US. Immigrants who own a home in Dallas are likely to remain in the US, while those who own land in Mexico are likely to return to Mexico.
Isothermal Lamellar Thickening in Linear Polyethylene: Correlation between the Evolution of the Degree of Crystallinity and the Melting Temperature

The isothermal lamellar thickening behavior of a linear polyethylene fraction was investigated using differential scanning calorimetry. Experimental results indicate very similar evolutions for both the degree of crystallinity and the resulting apparent melting temperature with isothermal crystallization time. Deconvolution of the primary and secondary crystallization processes was carried out numerically using the classical logarithmic law for lamellar thickening. Reliability of the deconvolution process was investigated using artificial data generated using the Avrami kinetic law for the development of primary crystallinity. We show that the shift of the apparent melting temperature with time can be quantitatively accounted for by the intrinsic rates of primary crystallization and lamellar thickening. We also show that use of a single kinetic parameter for secondary crystallization is sufficient to account for the change in both the degree of crystallinity and the apparent melting temperature as a funct...
A continent bound by wire (telegraph system)

The development of the transcontinental telegraph system is recounted. The Pony Express helped to establish routes for the system, leading to its own demise. In 1860, Western Union received a government subsidy to build an uninterrupted telegraph line from east to west. The logistics of this venture are described. On the eve of the Civil War, telegraph lines stretched through 53000 km, and by 1870, 100000 km. In 1890, they began to level off at over 400000 km, forming a widely accessible communications network that helped a growing business community expand beyond purely local operations. >
Design of a Monolith Catalyst for Fouling Resistance

Monolithic reactors are used in a number of environmental applications including for automobile exhaust control and for the reduction of organic compounds and nitrogen oxides from stationary sources. Typically, such catalysts are designed for high initial activity and poisoning resistance. In some cases, the catalysts may have to operate in particulate-laden environments. The present paper calls attention to the design of monolith catalysts for improved fouling resistance. A simple model is used to illustrate the design of monolith catalysts for the selective catalytic reduction of nitrogen oxides.
Cotton Photosynthesis and Carbon Partitioning in Response to Floral Bud Loss Due to Insect Damage

To understand better cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) plant compensation for early-season floral bud (square) loss due to insect damage, a field study was conducted in 1994 and 1995 at Marianna, AR. The control treatment was protected by insecticide applications, while tarnished plant bugs (Lygus lineolaris Palisot de Beauvois) and bollworms (Helicoverpa zea Boddie) were released in the plots of the other treatment three times before flowering. Square abscission at the first sympodial fruiting position was 5 and 33% for the control and infested plants, respectively, and yield was reduced 21% by insect infestation. Insect treatment resulted in 4% more light penetration through the canopy, which may have contributed to the 17% increase in photosynthesis of the eighth main-stem leaf from the terminal leaf as compared with the control plants. Canopy photosynthesis recorded 4 wk after the initiation of flowering was 21% higher in the infested plants. CO 2 labeling showed infestation also resulted in more 14 C recovered in the terminal node (terminal leaf plus main stem above the terminal leaf) and less remaining in the branch at the same node as the source leaf, which corresponded to an increase in plant height, although node number was not affected. Since our insect-induced abscission treatments had similar effects as manual fruit removal treatments reported by others, future studies seem justified in using either approach. Early fruit loss in the U.S. Mid-south results in changes in carbon exchange and allocation, but poor late-season growing conditions often prevent yield compensation.
An aminoacyl tRNA synthetase binds to a specific DNA sequence and regulates its gene transcription

Alanine tRNA synthetase represses transcription of its own gene by binding specifically to a palindromic sequence which flanks the gene's transcription start site. Transcription repression is greatly enhanced by elevated concentrations of the cognate amino acid. The amino acid effect is caused by direct association of the ligand with the synthetase, which in turn mediates tighter binding to the DNA.
Cyclin D-Cdk4 is regulated by GATA-1 and required for megakaryocyte growth and polyploidization

Endomitosis is a unique form of cell cycle used by megakaryocytes, in which the latter stages of mitosis are bypassed so that the cell can increase its DNA content and size. Although several transcription factors, including GATA-1 and RUNX-1, have been implicated in this process, the link between transcription factors and polyploidization remains undefined. Here we show that GATA-1–deficient megakaryocytes, which display reduced size and polyploidization, express nearly 10-fold less cyclin D1 and 10-fold increased levels of p16 compared with their wild-type counterparts. We further demonstrate that cyclin D1 is a direct GATA-1 target in megakaryocytes, but not erythroid cells. Restoration of cyclin D1 expression, when accompanied by ectopic overexpression of its partner Cdk4, resulted in a dramatic increase in megakaryocyte size and DNA content. However, terminal differentiation was not rescued. Of note, polyploidization was only modestly reduced in cyclin D1–deficient mice, likely due to compensation by elevated cyclin D3 expression. Finally, consistent with an additional defect conferred by increased levels of p16, inhibition of cyclin D-Cdk4 complexes with a TAT-p16 fusion peptide significantly blocked polyploidization of wild-type megakaryocytes. Together, these data show that GATA-1 controls growth and polyploidization by regulating cyclin D-Cdk4 kinase activity.
Superdense teleportation using hyperentangled photons

We use photons simultaneously entangled in polarization and orbital angular momentum to implement superdense teleportation, a novel entanglement-enhanced state communication technique that transmits quantum information between remote parties with reduced resources and simplified measurements.
Duration of a Clozapine Trial in Neuroleptic-Resistant Schizophrenia

To the Editor.— Clozapine has been shown to be superior to chlorpromazine and haloperidol in treatment-resistant schizophrenic patients. 1 It has not yet been approved for use in the United States, but it is available in over 100 sites on a compassionate need basis. Well over 500 patients are currently receiving it in this country. The duration of an adequate trial is, therefore, of critical importance. In the study by Kane et al, 1 only 30% of patients had responded within 6 weeks of starting drug therapy. Other studies or commentaries on the use of clozapine in treatment-resistant patients have not addressed this issue. 2-5 We have now administered clozapine on an open basis to 51 schizophrenic patients who are comparable to the group studied by Kane et al. 1,6 Sixteen (31.4%) of the 51 patients responded within 6 weeks with a 20% or more decrease in the
Probing the protein interaction network of Pseudomonas aeruginosa cells by chemical cross-linking mass spectrometry.

In pathogenic Gram-negative bacteria, interactions among membrane proteins are key mediators of host cell attachment, invasion, pathogenesis, and antibiotic resistance. Membrane protein interactions are highly dependent upon local properties and environment, warranting direct measurements on native protein complex structures as they exist in cells. Here we apply in vivo chemical cross-linking mass spectrometry, to reveal the first large-scale protein interaction network in Pseudomonas aeruginosa, an opportunistic human pathogen, by covalently linking interacting protein partners, thereby fixing protein complexes in vivo. A total of 626 cross-linked peptide pairs, including previously unknown interactions of many membrane proteins, are reported. These pairs not only define the existence of these interactions in cells but also provide linkage constraints for complex structure predictions. Structures of three membrane proteins, namely, SecD-SecF, OprF, and OprI are predicted using in vivo cross-linked sites. These findings improve understanding of membrane protein interactions and structures in cells.
Immunologic Markers for Differentiation of Autoimmune Responses

Several approaches have been directed at identifying accurate parameters for the measurement of disease activity in autoimmune disorders, both in humans and in experimental animal models. A great deal of previous effort has focused on determining what constitutes antigenic epitopes on various autologous proteins or tissue components, which then can generate an immune response in the host. Much of this work has been clouded by the fact that normal subjects (both animal and human) seem to mount an immune response to myriad autologous proteins, characterized by the formation of antibodies known as natural autoantibodies. During the course of certain autoimmune diseases such as systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) or Wegener's granulomatosis (WG), patients produce what appear to be autoantibodies reacting with autologous components such as DNA and Sm antigen (SLE) or proteinase-3 (WG). Low levels of these same autoantibodies are present in IgG derived from normal subjects. Recently, we have found that IgG anti-F(ab')2 from normal subjects, affinity-purified from immunoabsorbent columns of human F(ab_)2 Sepharose, exhibits not only anti-F(ab')2 but also anti-dsDNA and anti-Sm activity. These antibodies constitute an average of 0.02% of normal serum IgG. Similar findings have also been observed in SLE patients with active disease. Our findings suggest that perturbation of the idiotypic network may represent an important fundamental aspect of many autoimmune disorders.
A numerical method for the solution of the Falkner-Skan equation

We present a numerical method for the solution of the Falkner-Skan Equation. The method uses a coordinate transformation to convert the physical problem on a semi-infinite physical domain to a problem on a fixed computational domain. Then, after using a suitable change of variables, the third-order boundary value problem is solved using a shooting technique. The numerical solutions obtained by the present method are in agreement with those obtained by previous authors.
Hierarchical Approach to Adaptive Control for Improved Flight Safety

Following failures of primary aerodynamic actuators, safe flight can be maintained by introducing alternative actuation systems, such as analytically redundant secondary aerodynamic surfaces and propulsion, for higher-priority stability and control augmentation tasks. An intelligent hierarchical flight control system architecture is presented that is designed using nonlinear adaptive synthesis techniques and online learning neural networks to enhance flight safety. Pseudocontrol hedging is used for proper adaptation in the presence of actuator saturation, rate limits, and failure. The hierarchical structure incorporates nonactive secondary actuation channels that are engaged after a failure of a primary control surface is encountered. The methodology requires only the knowledge that a failure in a specific actuator has occurred. A model of the failed aircraft, the failure type, and the failure size need not to be known: The neural network element of the secondary channel will adapt to the failed actuator effect. The secondary control channels are designed to account for the typically lower authority and degraded performance that can be expected with secondary actuation systems. The proposed hierarchical flight control architecture is attractive, in particular, as a retrofit to existing certified flight control systems for enhanced flight safety. The proposed flight control architecture is evaluated in a nonlinear flight simulation environment, demonstrating its retrofit features.
Barkhausen oscillations in the UHF region: Part II: A simple way to test tubes for Barkhausen oscillations

As you have just heard, a theoretical approach to tube design cannot be relied upon to make better tubes from the standpoint of Barkhausen oscillations. A test is necessary to evaluate experimental tubes. While other methods have been tried, the test which we will describe has been found to be very simple and yet effective. This method requires only two pieces of equipment which most laboratories already have available. Although simple to set up and use, this test can be of value to any who are concerned in any way with Barkhausen oscillations.
Radiologic features of “adult type” polycystic kidney disease in the neonate

Two cases are reported of adult type polycystic renal disease (autosomal dominant) presenting in the newborn as a unilateral abdominal mass. The radiographic findings in the involved kidney simulated the ectatic tubules of infantile polycystic disease, yet histologic examination was consistent with the adult variety and both infants had other family members with adult type polycystic kidneys. These cases emphasize some of the ambiguities that exist in the definition and classification of polycystic renal disease.
Drained response of municipal solid waste in large-scale triaxial shear testing.

A comprehensive laboratory investigation was performed on municipal solid waste (MSW) from a landfill located in northern California using a large-scale triaxial (TX) apparatus. An improved, standardized waste specimen preparation method was developed and used to prepare 27 large-scale TX specimens (d = 300 mm, h = 600–630 mm). The effects of waste composition, confining stress, unit weight, loading rate, and stress path on the drained stress–strain response of MSW were investigated. Waste composition has a significant effect on its stress–strain response. The commonly observed upward curvature of the stress–strain response of specimens composed of larger-sized waste materials results from the fibrous constituents (primarily paper, plastic and wood) reinforcing the waste matrix. This effect is greatest when the MSW specimen is sheared across the long axis of the fibrous particles. Due to this significant strain hardening effect and waste’s in situ stress state, a limiting strain failure criterion of 5% axial strain from the Ko field consolidation state is judged to be most appropriate. Results from this test program and data from the literature indicate that the TX compression secant friction angle of MSW varies from 34° to 44°, with 39° as a best estimate, at a confining stress of one atmosphere (assuming c = 0). The friction angle decreases as confining stress increases. The friction angles measured in this testing program are representative of failure surfaces that are oriented at an angle to the predominant orientation of the long axis of the fibrous waste particles. These friction angles are higher than those obtained in direct shear tests where shearing typically occurs parallel to the orientation of the fibrous waste particles.
Raman spectroscopic studies of gadolinium trichloride as a function of temperature

Laser Raman spectrometry is being used in our laboratory to identify the crystal structures of lanthanide and actinide compounds. The phonon Raman spectrum of an ionic, crystalline sample is characteristic of the particular crystal structure(s) exhibited by the sample. GdCl3 exhibits two crystal structures, UCl3-type hexagonal and PuBr3-type orthorhombic. In the literature it is proposed that the low-temperature form is the PuBr3-type orthorhombic. Results of experiments in our laboratory suggest that the low-temperature form is the UCl3-type hexagonal. Interconversion between these two forms can be accomplished with temperature. In the present work, laser Raman spectrometry was used to monitor crystal structure changes in GdCl3 as a function of temperature and to determine the temperature at which the orthorhombic-to-hexagonal phase transformation occurs.
CMV pp65 and IE-1 T cell epitopes recognized by healthy subjects

Background Adoptive immune and vaccine therapies have been used to prevent cytomegalovirus (CMV) disease in recipients of hematopoietic progenitor cell transplants, but the nature of T cell responses to CMV have not been completely characterized.
Decreases in phosphoinositide-3-kinase/Akt and extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 signaling activate components of spinal motoneuron death

Motoneuron dependence on target-derived trophic factors during development is well established, with loss of trophic support leading to the death of these cells. A complete understanding of the intracellular signal transduction machinery associated with extracellular survival signals requires the examination of individual pathways in various cellular and environmental contexts. In cells deprived of trophic support, and hence compromised for survival, phosphoinositide-3-kinase (PI3K) is decreased when compared with healthy cells supplied with trophic support. Extracellular signal-regulated kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) signaling is dramatically decreased in deprived cells. We have examined the role of these two pathways to understand how changes in their activity regulate motoneuron survival and death. Pharmacological inhibition of PI3K attenuated motoneuron survival and was important in the regulation of Bcl-2 serine phosphorylation, limited release of cytochrome c into the cytoplasm and caspase activation. Bax translocation from cytoplasm to mitochondria was not altered when PI3K was inhibited. High levels of ERK1/2 inhibition robustly attenuated motoneuron survival in cells supplied with trophic support, whereas moderate inhibition of ERK1/2 activation had little effect. ERK1/2 inhibition in these cells decreased Bcl-2 phosphorylation and resulted in release of cytochrome c from the mitochondria. Bax translocation and caspase activation were not affected by ERK1/2 inhibition. These data reveal that changes in PI3K and ERK1/2 signaling lead to individual and overlapping effects on the cell-death machinery. Characterizing the role of these pathways is critical for a fundamental understanding of the development and degeneration of specific neuronal populations.
Heisenberg spin exchange effects of nitroxide radicals on Overhauser dynamic nuclear polarization in the low field limit at 1.5 mT

Nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at very low magnetic fields (0.05–20 mT) have gained interest due to the simple and portable magnet design and newly emerging applications outside of the usual laboratory setting. A method to enhance the NMR signal is needed due to the low thermal polarization of nuclear spins at these fields; dynamic nuclear polarization (DNP) via the Overhauser effect from free radicals is an attractive option. In this report we describe a DNP-enhanced NMR system operating at a fixed field of 1.5 mT and measure 1 H signal enhancements of up to �350 fold during the saturation of a selected electron spin resonance (ESR) transition of dissolved nitroxide radicals. This �350 fold enhanced polarization is equivalent to what would be obtained by prepolarization in a 0.53 T field. The ESR spectra at varying radical concentrations are indirectly found through DNP-enhanced NMR detection. Here, ESR line broadening at higher radical concentrations due to Heisenberg electron spin exchange is observed. Enhancements in the limit of maximum power are reported as a function of concentration for three ESR transitions, and are found to increase with concentration. The >300 fold 1 H NMR signal amplifications achievable at 1.5 mT will reduce experimental time by several orders of magnitude, permitting NMR relaxation, imaging or pulsed-field gradient diffusion experiments that are inaccessible without using the DNP effect at 1.5 mT. We demonstrate the potential benefit of such large signal amplification schemes through T1 and T2 relaxation measurements carried out in a much shorter time when employing DNP. Finally, we compare our results to those obtained in the earth’s magnetic field and find that the signal to noise ratio (SNR) of DNP-enhanced signal at 1.5 mT is much greater than that obtained by previous studies utilizing DNP enhancement in the 0.05 mT earth’s magnetic field.
Integrated network architecture and signal processing for telemammography

A high-speed network driven by a set of ATM (asynchronous transfer mode) switches in association with CAD/DSP (computer aided diagnosis/detection and digital signal processing) algorithms has been set up for lossless delivery of data to effectively facilitate telemammography detection and diagnosis. Expanding diagnostics and treatment beyond the local level covering remote/rural underserved areas will bring better health care to a wider range of people at a potentially reduced cost. Asynchronous Transfer Mode Teleradiology Network (ATMTN) is an integrated a high-speed network with DICOM standard for the communication of medical images and CAD methods for screening, detection and diagnosis of breast cancer. This paper describes the development of ATMTN architecture and associated signal processing algorithms for digital mammography. Preliminary results show that such an integrated system can offer more effective real time health care services.
An Iron Fist or Kid Gloves: American Insurance Association v. Garamendi and the Fate of the Federal Monopoly on Foreign Policy

Prior to and during the Second World War, the Nazi government of Germany engaged in the wide scale theft of insurance policies held by Jews throughout Europe. In American Insurance Assin v. Garamendi, the United States Supreme Court struck down Californiais Holocaust Victim Insurance Relief Act (HVIRA), a statute aimed at helping Holocaust victims and their heirs settle claims against insurance companies by forcing the insurance companies to disclose information about policies sold in Europe between 1920 and 1945.1 In a five-four decision, the Court ruled that the HVIRA conflicted with the federal policy of settling the claims through diplomatic channels.2 Justice Souter, writing for the majority, stated:
Reducing bunching with bus-to-bus cooperation

Schedule-based or headway-based control schemes to reduce bus bunching are not resilient because they cannot prevent buses from losing ground to the buses they follow when disruptions increase the gaps separating them beyond a critical value. This critical gap problem can be avoided, however, if buses at the leading end of such gaps are given information to cooperate with the ones behind by slowing down. This paper builds on this idea. It proposes an adaptive control scheme that adjusts a bus cruising speed in real-time based on both its front and rear spacings, much as if successive bus pairs were connected by springs. The scheme is shown to yield regular headways with faster bus travel than existing control methods. Its simple and decentralized logic automatically compensates for traffic disruptions and inaccurate bus driver actions. Its hardware and data requirements are minimal.
Analysis and optimization of energy efficiency in 802.11 distributed coordination function

Energy efficiency has been a bottleneck in the wireless local area network (LAN) based communication of portable wireless devices. This paper introduces an analytical model to investigate the energy efficiency of 802.11 distributed coordinated function (DCF) under both ideal channel and error prone environment. The two major factors contributing to the extra energy consumption in 802.11 DCF: contention and transmission errors, are analyzed thoroughly. Based on the analysis, a scheme of choosing optimal minimum contention window size to optimize the energy consumption under both ideal and error prone environment is proposed. Our extensive simulation results are observed to match very well with the analytical results, which indicate that the analytical model is accurate.
Performance of distributed CFAR test under various clutter amplitudes

We evaluate the performances of several distributed constant false-alarm rate (CFAR) tests operating in different background clutter conditions. The analysis considers the detection of Rayleigh target in various clutters with the possibility of differing clutter power levels in the test cells of distributed radars. Numerical results studied for a two-radar system show how the false-alarm rate of the maximum order statistic (MOS) test changes with differences in the clutter power levels of the test cells. The analysis for the detection of Rayleigh target in Rayleigh clutter indicates that, with the power levels of differing test cells, the OR fusion rule can be quite competitive with the new normalized test statistic (NTS). However, for the detection of Rayleigh target in Weibull or K-distributed clutter, the results show that NTS outperforms both the OR and the AND rules under the condition of large signal-to-clutter power ratio and moderate shape parameter values.
THE VISIBLE EVIDENCE OF CULTURAL PRODUCERS

This review discusses anthropological research that analyzes the practices through which individuals and groups produce music, video, film, visual arts, and theater, and the ideological and institutional frameworks within which these processes occur. Viewing these media and popular culture forms as arenas in which social actors struggle over social meanings and as visible evidence of social processes and social relations, this research addresses the social, political, and aesthetic dimensions of these productions.
Desired Mental Health Resources for Urban, Ethnically Diverse, Impoverished Women Struggling With Anxiety and Depression

Depression and anxiety are mental health issues that disproportionately affect women-particularly when access to culturally sensitive care is limited. The purpose of this study was to identify mental health concerns in three urban, ethnically diverse, underserved, and impoverished neighborhoods using the ideological perspective of community-based participatory research. In the context of long-term partnerships between a department of nursing and these neighborhoods, we recruited 61 women aged 18 to 69 years and collected data via homogeneous focus groups comprised of Black, Hispanic, and White women, respectively. We conducted five of the focus groups in English and one in Spanish. The women perceived anxiety and depression as significant concerns for themselves, their families, and their communities. They used unique community resources to manage mental health issues and desired new resources, including support groups and education.