cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Direct detection of activated platelets and platelet-derived microparticles in humans

Flow cytometry was used to determine whether activated platelets and platelet-derived microparticles can be detected directly in whole blood after a hemostatic insult. Two different in vivo models of platelet activation were examined: (1) a standardized bleeding time, and (2) cardiopulmonary bypass. Platelets and microplatelets were identified with a biotinylated anti-glycoprotein (GP)lb antibody and a fluorophore, phycoerythrin-streptavidin. Microparticles were distinguished from platelets by light scatter. Activated platelets were detected with three fluorescein-labeled monoclonal antibodies (MoAbs): (1) PAC1, which binds to the activated form of GPIIb-IIIa; (2) 9F9, a newly developed antibody that is specific for fibrinogen bound to the surface of activated platelets; and (3) S12, which binds to an alpha-granule membrane protein expressed on the platelet surface after granule secretion. In nine normal subjects, bleeding times ranged from 4.5 to 7.5 minutes. Over this time, there was a progressive increase in the amount of PAC1, 9F9, and S12 bound to platelets in blood emerging from the bleeding time wound. With all three antibodies, platelet activation was apparent as early as 30 seconds after the incision (P less than .03). Activation was accompanied by a progressive decrease in the concentration of platelets in blood from the wound, while the concentration of microparticles increased slightly. In nine patients undergoing open heart surgery, 1 hour of cardiopulmonary bypass caused a 2.2-fold increase in the relative proportion of microparticles in circulating blood (P less than .001). Moreover, bypass caused platelet activation as evidenced by a mean two- to threefold increase in PAC1 binding to platelets. Although this increase was significant (P less than .02), PAC1 binding exceeded the normal range for unstimulated control platelets in only 5 of 9 patients, and 9F9 and S12 binding exceeded the normal range in only two patients. Taken together, these studies demonstrate that it is now feasible using flow cytometry to evaluate the extent of platelet activation and the presence of platelet-derived microparticles in the circulation of humans.
Symmetry conditions for 2-D complex irreducible polynomials

Constraints on analog and digital complex irreducible polynomials are given, such that they possess different types of symmetries, such as centrosymmetry, quadrantal symmetry, diagonal symmetry, four-fold rotational symmetry, and octagonal symmetry, in their magnitude responses. The symmetries present in the phase responses of these polynomials are also discussed. It is further shown that the 3-D single planar symmetry results for real polynomials have special relations to the 2-D symmetry results for complex polynomials, and that the 2-D symmetry results for 2-D real polynomials are special cases of those for the complex polynomials. >
Personal and Location‐Specific Characteristics and Elderly Interstate Migration

The purpose of this paper is to investigate the impact of locational and individual characteristics upon interstate retiree migration particularly in state-level public policy variables. Data regarding the characteristics of individual movers are drawn from the 1990 U.S. Census of Population and Housing 5% Public Use Microdata Sample. The household data are merged with location-specific attributes including both natural amenities and local fiscal variables. Three alternative models are developed involving push factors pull factors and differences in site characteristics experienced by migrants. "The results indicate that both personal and locational characteristics are important factors determining the decision of elderly migrants to change their state of residence. While there is some limited support for the push and pull specifications the difference model is found to provide the best overall fit." (EXCERPT)
Comparative study of lipids in vertebrate testes.

Summary1. Comparative histochemical study of vertebrate testes was carried out on sexually mature males representing the classes Mammalia, Aves, Reptilia, Amphibia, and Pisces. Lipids were examined as to their morphological localization in the bull, ram, boar, rat, guinea pig, rooster, the horned lizard, Phrynosoma cornutum (Harlan), the frog, Rana pipiens, and the bluegill fish, Lepomis macrochirus Rafinesque. 2. Following the use of Sudan dyes, lipids were observed in the interstitial cell cytoplasm, the basement membrane, and the cytoplasm of the Sertoli cells, spermatogonia, spermatocytes, and spermatids of all species studied with the exception of the bluegill fish. In the bluegill, lipids were visible in the germ cells and in the interlobular connective tissue sheath. A reaction for carbonyl groups was obtained suggesting the presence of ketosteroid material in the Leydig cells of all species examined, except in the case of the boar, rooster, and fish. With the aid of Baker's acid hematin test, phos...
Humanistic Psychology and the Humanism of Karl Jaspers

Abstract Humanistic psychology has been accused of not being in harmony with philosophical humanism. However, a comparison of the philosophical humanism of Karl Jaspers with the themes promulgated by humanistic psychology shows a great deal of convergence, especially with respect to the key issues addressed by Jaspers: the meaning of being human, the conditions of humanism, and the type of humanism possible in the 20th century. Challenges for a humanistic psychology nevertheless remain, chief of which is better coverage of non‐objective dimensions of humans.
Constitutive Relations for Rapid Granular Flow of Smooth Spheres: Generalized Rational Approximation to the Sum of the Chapman–Enskog Expansion

Abstract N. Sela and I. Goldhirsch (1998, J. Fluid Mech. 361 , 41–74) have used the Chapman–Enskog expansion to derive constitutive relations for the pressure deviator P , heat flux q , and rate of energy loss Γ for rapid flows of smooth inelastic spheres. Unfortunately as in the classical Chapman–Enskog expansion for elastic spheres any truncation of the expansion beyond Navier–Stokes order ( n =1) will possess unphysical instabilities. This paper uses the method of approximate summation of the Chapman–Enskog expansion presented by the author (in press, Arch. Rational Mech. Anal. ) to eliminate these instabilities.
Health communication resources for uninsured and insured Hispanics.

There are increasing numbers of medically uninsured populations in the United States today. Despite rising concerns with the health status of the uninsured, a dearth of information exists about their health seeking and health communication behaviors. Because Hispanics experience elevated risks of being medically uninsured, and have less access to health care services and health information resources, it is imperative that health communicators understand ways to reach this population. This study investigates Hispanics' connections to various media and interpersonal resources for health information and explores the extent to which the uninsured and the insured differ in terms of their health communication choices, and health seeking behaviors. Results from a survey of 737 Hispanics in Los Angeles show that ethnically targeted television and interpersonal communication networks were the preferred sources of health information. The uninsured and insured populations differed significantly in the ways that they...
Thermal-quantum solar cells

The realization of a solar cell with a small number of bandgaps and physical processes which can theoretically attain the maximum possible thermodynamic limits is of substantial interest. Furthermore, achieving the maximum thermodynamic efficiency without concentration is particularly important because of the simpler system configuration. To approach the maximum one-sun efficiency of 68%, a thermal-quantum converter must be used.
A numerical nonlinear analysis of the flow around two- and three-dimensional partially cavitating hydrofoils

The partially cavitating two-dimensional hydrofoil problem is treated using nonlinear theory by employing a low-order potential-based boundary-element method. The cavity shape is determined in the framework of two independent boundary-value problems; in the first, the cavity length is specified and the cavitation number is unknown, and in the second the cavitation number is known and the cavity length is to be determined. In each case, the position of the cavity surface is determined in an iterative manner until both a prescribed pressure condition and a zero normal velocity condition are satisfied on the cavity. An initial approximation to the nonlinear cavity shape, which is determined by satisfying the boundary conditions on the hydrofoil surface rather than on the exact cavity surface, is found to differ only slightly from the converged nonlinear result.The boundary element method is then extended to treat the partially cavitating three-dimensional hydrofoil problem. The three-dimensional kinematic and dynamic boundary conditions are applied on the hydrofoil surface underneath the cavity. The cavity planform at a given cavitation number is determined via an iterative process until the thickness at the end of the cavity at all spanwise locations becomes equal to a prescribed value (in our case, zero). Cavity shapes predicted by the present method for some three-dimensional hydrofoil geometries are shown to satisfy the dynamic boundary condition to within acceptable accuracy. The method is also shown to predict the expected effect of foil thickness on the cavity size. Finally, cavity planforms predicted from the present method are shown to be in good agreement to those measured in a cavitating three-dimensional hydrofoil experiment, performed in MIT's cavitation tunnel.
The Hippocampus and Cingulate Cortex Differentially Mediate the Effects of Nicotine on Learning Versus on Ethanol-Induced Learning Deficits Through Different Effects at Nicotinic Receptors

The current study examined the effects of nicotine infusion into the dorsal hippocampus or anterior cingulate on fear conditioning and on ethanol-induced deficits in fear conditioning, and whether these effects involved receptor activation or inactivation. Conditioning consisted of two white noise (30 s, 85 dB)–foot-shock (2 s, 0.57 mA) pairings. Saline or ethanol was administered to C57BL/6 mice 15 min before training and saline or nicotine was administered 5 min before training or before training and testing. The ability of the high-affinity nicotinic acetylcholinergic receptor (nAChR) antagonist dihydro-β-erythroidine (DHβE) to modulate the effects of ethanol and nicotine was also tested; saline or DHβE was administered 25 (injection) or 15 (infusion) minutes before training or before training and testing. Infusion of nicotine into the hippocampus enhanced contextual fear conditioning but had no effect on ethanol-induced learning deficits. Infusion of nicotine into the anterior cingulate ameliorated ethanol-induced deficits in contextual and cued fear conditioning but had no effect on learning in ethanol-naive mice. DHβE blocked the effects of nicotine on ethanol-induced deficits; interestingly, DHβE alone and co-administration of subthreshold doses of DHβE and nicotine also ameliorated ethanol-induced deficits but failed to enhance learning. Finally, DHβE failed to ameliorate ethanol-induced deficits in β2 nAChR subunit knockout mice. These results suggest that nicotine acts in the hippocampus to enhance contextual learning, but acts in the cingulate to ameliorate ethanol-induced learning deficits through inactivation of high-affinity β2 subunit-containing nAChRs.
An exercise to prototype the object-oriented development process

Object-oriented concepts offer the potential for significant improvement to the software development process, and many organisations are investigating ways to gain experience in using object-oriented techniques. However, issues such as which proposed techniques are appropriate at different development phases, and how to ensure consistency and traceability between phases are not entirely clear. Faced with these concerns, a development group at The MITRE Corporation performed a short-term development exercise to prototype the object-oriented development process itself. In this paper we describe the exercise and its results.
Effect of finite sampling on atmospheric spectra

The effect of a finite averaging time on variances is well known, but its effect on power spectra is less clearly understood. We present numerical solutions for the spectral distortion arising from sampling over a finite time interval T and show that the commonly used filter function (1-sinc2πfT), valid for variances, is a reasonable approximation for power spectra only when T≥ 10τm, where / is the cyclic frequency, and τm is the dominant time scale of the process. Our results exhibit an increasingly steeper low-frequency roll-off as T decreases relative to τm, indicating that the measured spectrum is subject to a greater suppression of the lower frequencies (f < 1/T) than predicted by (1-sinc2πfT). This suppression is, in a sense, compensated by an overestimation of spectral estimates in the frequency range f ≥ 1/T.
4 The Impact of Systems Engineering Capability Maturity on Innovation

This paper analyzes the impact that increased Systems Engineering process maturity has on innovation. The 19 Functional Areas (FAs) of the EIA/IS-731.1 Systems Engineering Capability Model (SECM) standard were each individually assessed for their quantitative impact against six key characteristics associated with innovation. The results of this analysis suggest that, on balance, increasing one's Systems Engineering maturity has a positive effect on one's ability to innovate. Most FAs are either neutral to or have a positive influence on innovation. A few FAs have a negative influence on innovation. The paper also includes recommendations for standard setting bodies to consider for both process definition and capability assessment.
Cell membrane surface expression and tyrosine kinase regulate the osmolyte channel (skAE1) in skate erythrocytes

A regulatory volume decrease response occurs when skate (Raja erinacea) erythrocytes are exposed to hyposmotic medium; they swell and then reduce their volume by releasing organic osmolytes (primarily taurine) and associated water. The response involves the red blood cell anion-exchanger skate anion-exchanger 1 (skAE1), which has been previously shown to be affected by tyrosine phosphorylation, to form tetramers and to change binding affinities to the cytoskeletal proteins, ankyrin and band 4.1. Our recent studies are focused on determining the sequence and mechanism of these events to better understand the activation of skAE1 upon hyposmotic stimulation. Under isosmotic conditions a large portion of skAE1 is found not only on the plasma membranes but also associated intracellularly in detergent-resistant membranes or lipid rafts. We hypothesize that an important step in the hyposmotic-induced increase in taurine transport involves the movement of skAE1 from an intracellular association with lipid rafts into the cell membrane. Inhibition of tyrosine phosphorylation of skAE1 with piceatannol reduces the hyposmotic-induced increase in taurine transport and also inhibits both the decreased binding of skAE1 to band 4.1 and the increased affinity to ankyrin. However, the phosphorylation inhibitor does not block the movement of the transporter into the plasma membrane or the formation of tetramers. This suggests that tyrosine phosphorylation is important in the hyposmotic-induced taurine transport but other steps that do not require phosphorylation play an important role.
Neutrino charge radius in a model of weak and electromagnetic interactions

We introduce a modified SO(3) model of weak- and electromagnetic-interaction symmetry. The model is renormalizable and reproduces the usual theory of weak interactions. Four additional heavy leptons and five additional quarks are necessary. The electromagnetic charge radius of the neutrino is calculated in the $\ensuremath{\xi}$-limiting procedure and a finite result is found.
A robotic module for stochastic fluidic assembly of 3D self-reconfiguring structures

Stochastic self-reconfiguring robots are modular robots that possess the ability to autonomously change the arrangement of their modules and do so through the use of non-deterministic processes. We present a concept for a robotic system in which the stochastic behavior of turbulent flow in a chamber is used during assembly and disassembly operations. The thermorheological properties of Pluronic® are used to implement flow routing for controlling the assembly process. This is the first use of thermorheological valving in three dimensions. A novel reversible module connection mechanism using a low melting point alloy which is soldered in a fluid environment is presented. Together with our approach to self-alignment, these are the innovations required to allow scalable self-directed assembly in three dimensions.
Extending pummerer reaction chemistry: (±)-dibromoagelaspongin synthesis and related studies

The sponge-derived alkaloid dibromoagelaspongin was prepared from a dihydrooroidin derivative by exploiting the Pummerer reaction twice in succession. Oxidative cyclization of the substrate's pyrrole-2-carboxamide function into the imidazole moiety was achieved in a regiospecific manner to establish both C-N bonds to C(6) of the target.
When is more better? The impact of business scale and scope on long-term business survival, while controlling for profitability

Empirical research shows that larger businesses tend to survive longer than smaller companies. Little research, though, shows whether size confers survival advantages in addition to the survival benefits of baseline profitability. Moreover, no prior research attempts to disentangle the benefits of organizational capital that accrue from greater scale from those that arise from greater business scope. Thus, we lack a conceptual understanding of the underlying benefits of business size for long-term survival. We expect business scale and business scope to reflect organizational capital that offers survival benefits, where we conceptualize scale in terms of annual sales revenue and scope in terms of product line breadth and sub-sector participation within a related business context. We first argue that greater business scale and business scope each enhance long-term survival, independent of baseline profitability, owing to greater availability of financial resources, organizational routines, and external ties. We then argue that the benefits of scale are greatest for multi-product businesses, stemming from positive interactive effects of breadth and depth. We find support for these hypotheses with data from 618 firms that operated in the U.S. medical sector between 1978 and 1995. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Primary stenting for aortic lesions: from single stenoses to total aortoiliac occlusions.

Purpose This study evaluated the feasibility, safety, and efficacy of primary stenting in atherosclerotic stenoses and occlusions of the infrarenal aorta. Methods Between January 2003 and December 2006, 12 patients (6 men) with a mean age of 66.3 ± 4.1 years who had infrarenal aortic occlusive disease were treated with primary stenting (aortic stenosis, 8; chronic total aortobiiliac occlusion, 4). Reasons for referral were severe claudication in six patients (50%), ischemic rest pain in four (33.3%), and minor tissue loss in two (16.7%). Three patients (25%) had chronic renal failure and were on dialysis. Follow-up was performed in all 12 patients. Results Technical success was 91.7% because one patient had a residual stenosis >30% after stent placement and balloon postdilation owing to severe calcification of the aorta. However, clinical and immediate hemodynamic success was achieved in all 12 patients (100%). The preprocedural mean resting ankle-brachial index (ABI) values of 0.56 ± 0.13 at the right side and 0.59 ± 0.15 at the left were increased to 0.97 ± 0.04 and 0.95 ± 0.06, respectively, after treatment ( P P Conclusion Primary stenting is feasible, safe, and effective for the whole spectrum of aortic occlusive disease. Especially for patients with infrarenal aortic stenoses, it is recommended as the first-line treatment and should be considered as a viable alternative to surgery for total aortoiliac occlusions.
Characterization of hydrogels using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy

Literature relevant to characterization of hydrogels and cross-linked polymer networks using nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy has been extensively reviewed. After a brief introduction to the fundamentals of NMR spectroscopy, a variety of NMR techniques are considered, including 13C NMR of swollen polymer networks, end-group studies by 13C NMR with labelled initiators, spin-spin and spin-lattice relaxational studies to distinguish species based upon mobility, and characterization of specific interactions using the nuclear Overhauser effect. Finally, a brief treatment of the characterization of polymer structural quantities such as composition, tacticity and sequence distribution by NMR spectroscopic studies is presented. Although our discussion is representative rather than exhaustive, we are confident that this review will demonstrate the utility of NMR spectroscopy for characterization of hydrogel networks which have applications as biomaterials.
Complex interactions with direct repeats of a mitogen-responsive VL30 enhancer

Abstract The RVL-3 VL30 enhancer is an LTR-derived triple direct repeat of 35 base pairs that mediates gene induction in response to several different intracellular signaling pathways. Using mobility shift assays, methylation interface and DNase I footprinting, we have investigated the physical interactions between the RVL-3 enhancer and components of nuclear extracts from Rat-I cells. Each enhancer repeat unit contains a single binding sites. Our studies suggest that binding to double or triple repeat enhancer is cooperative, involving simultaneous occupation of two sites, with a preference for adjacent sites. Binding cooperatively would have implications for the mechanism of gene activation directed from the native VL30 enhancer.
The Growth Machine and the Everglades: Expanding a Useful Theoretical Perspective

We propose four ways that the urban growth machine theoretical perspective can be expanded for social scientists whose focus is not necessarily urban. First, we believe the thesis is useful for analysis at larger and smaller geographic scales than the city. Second, once focused on a goal and set in motion the growth machines have inertia. This leads to continuity over time and also leaves records which are useful in analyzing how particular outcomes occur. Third, the processes growth machines set in motion can lead us to practices that are on the edge of our ability to control, potentially resulting in unanticipated and even disastrous consequences, having relevance for the study of disasters. Finally, the very success of the growth machine, particularly when growth is centered on the exploitation of land based resources can lead to the exhaustion of the very basis of its success and thus to collapse.
Displacement activities during the honeybee transition from waggle dance to foraging

Displacement activities, which are typically locomotory, grooming and object-manipulation behaviours, have been shown to reduce stress. However, their function within the motivational system remains unclear. I tested the hypothesis that displacement activities have a functional role during transitions between motivational states, using the honeybee model system. I observed a number of locomotory and grooming behaviours performed when foraging honeybees returned to the hive to dance. These focal behaviours occurred significantly more frequently during the period of transition from waggle dancing to exiting the hive to forage than during the periods before the waggle dance or during the waggle dance. By contrast, the control behaviour, trophallaxis, was distributed across time periods significantly differently, occurring with equal frequency in all periods. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that displacement activities have a functional role during motivational transitions. Evidence from other species suggests that the most likely function is facilitation, rather than inhibition, of the transition. The wide range of species in which displacement activities have been identified suggests that they are a universal feature of motivational control.
Skin-Friction Predictions in a Crossing-Shock Turbulent Interaction

This work addresses some dife culties in the computation of skin-friction loads caused by shock wave/ turbulent boundary-layer interactions in high-speed inlets. Of particular interest is the accuracy of k-« based models for Cf prediction in the separated three-dimensional e owe eld induced by a symmetric double-e n geometry at Mach 4. A compressibility correction and two length-scale limiting procedures are investigated. A strong correlation is observed between coherent trends in Cf and the e owe eld structure near the surface. On the symmetry plane, all modie cations improve predictions over the baseline model, but only in the initial interaction region. The downstream e ow exhibits high gradients and manifests a central line of three-dimensional attachment straddled by longitudinal vortices. This physical complexity results in uniformly poor predictions. Off the symmetry plane, however, the e ow features are relatively simpler, and remarkably good agreement is observed with experiment, particularly with the application of a compressibility correction. Some Cf trend discrepancies between experiment and computation are shown to be associated with a displaced development of mean structures in the computations.
Structure and Properties of Substituted Imidazolium, Triazolium, and Tetrazolium Poly(1,2,4-triazolyl)borate Salts

Azolium poly(1,2,4-triazolyl)borate salts were prepared by using a simple and highly effective method. The hydrotris(1,2,4-triazolyl)borate organic salts were synthesized in high yields by metathes...
Data-Driven Deselection: Multiple Point Data Using a Decision Support Tool in an Academic Library

Circulation statistics are a traditional starting point for selecting books to withdraw. Rules-based weeding, based on multipoint data, enables librarians to make better-informed choices about the collection. Using a decision support tool forced Olin librarians to make weeding decisions based on multiple data points such as rarity, statewide repository candidates, or inclusion on recommended lists for college libraries. This article summarizes retention criteria rationale, consortial implications of weeding, and quantitative differences between single and multipoint data.
Origin of fifteen cosmic dust particles intercepted by Pioneer 8 and 9

Consistent data for more than 8 years have been obtained from two identical cosmic dust particle experiments on board the space probes Pioneer 8 and 9. The two spacecraft are in direct heliocentric orbits with perihelia between 0.75 AU and 1.00 AU. On the basis of the data it is concluded that the majority of dust particles having elliptical orbits detected by the two space probes show orbital characteristics of Apollo group asteroids which originated from residual nuclei of short-period comets.
Detection of flow injection analysis with pH gradient by acousto-optic tunable filter based spectrophotometry

Abstract The instrumentation development of a spectrophotometer based on an acousto-optic tunable filter (AOTF) and its applications in a flow-injection (FI) system for gradient exploitation is described. This compact, all-solid state spectrophotometer which contains no-moving parts, can be scanned in the visible region (390–650 nm) at a speed of 300 nm/s. The fast scanning capability of the instrument made it possible to monitor the spectral response of an acid-base indicator mixture. The recorded spectra of the indicators were then converted to pH by means of a partial least square (PLS) multivariate calibration technique. With use of the same indicator mixture, the relationship obtained facilitates the determination of pH of any flow-injection pH gradient system which is produced by injecting a strong acid or base over a mixture of buffered solutions with a wide range of pH values. The time versus pH relationship can, therefore, be readily established for any buffer-reagent mixture flowing in the FI system. The FI system, which has been calibrated this way, can then be used to rapidly characterize the behavior of chemical systems as a function of pH. Two examples are demonstrated in this work: the determination of the p K a of the weak acids and of the complex formation between iron(III) and sulfosalicylic acid.
Systematic Insecticides and Control of Insects and Mites on Beans

Granular formulations of phorate, disulfoton, propoxur Dasanit® ( O,O -diethyl O -[ P- (methylsulfinyl) phenyl] phos-phorothioate), and aldicarb applied as systemic insecticides by 3 methods, in the seed furrow preplanting, broadcast on the soil preplanting, or sidedressed into the soil around established bean plants, were only partially effective in controlling Lygus elisus Van Duzee and L. hesperus Knight; the onion thrips, Thrips tabaci Lindeman; the pea aphid, Acyrthosiphon pisum (Harris); the green peach aphid, Myzus persicae (Sulzer); the two-spotted spider mite, Tetranychus urticae Koch; and several leafhopper species. Application of dimethoate as an emulsifiable spray to bean foliage was no more effective in controlling lygus bugs and the two-spotted spider mites than the application of systemic insecticides. Disulfoton, propoxur, and Dasanit applied as a preplanting broadcast at a rate of 3 lb/acre increased bean yield 100-200 lb/acre, but the yields were not significantly better than those in the check plots. Aldicarb reduced yields compared with the check when it was applied as a systemic at a rate of 3 lb/acre by any method. However no phytotoxicity was visible in the foliage or in the bean stand.
Photon production by gluon jets

Abstract The fragmentation function for photons from a gluon jet is uniquely calculable in QCD. A phenomenological investigation of its properties indicates that the best place to observe it is in the continuum photon spectrum in the two-gluon decays of heavy Q Q P-wave or pseudo-scalar bound states. The fragmentation function may be observable in an experiment with sufficient efficiency in rejecting photons from π0 decay.
Excimer laser-facilitated balloon angioplasty of a nondilatable lesion☆

Preliminary clinical experience with excimer laser coronary angioplasty shows that it is a safe and effective means of achieving nonsurgical coronary revascularization in selected patients but specific indications for its use are as yet undefined. In the present report a specific indication is proposed for the use of the excimer laser: to facilitate balloon inflation in a rigid stenosis that fails to dilate despite high balloon inflation pressures.
Ultrasonic Characterization of Changes in Viscoelastic Properties of Epoxy During Cure

A technique for using the longitudinal velocity (LV) of an ultrasonic wave to monitor the extent of cross linking (CL) during the cure of thermosetting resins is described. The method was developed by monitoring the rate of change in LV during the cure of a bisphenol-A epoxy resin with an amine adduct. The experiment included variations in the temperature and stoichiometry in order to express the rate of change in terms of the reaction kinetics. The pulse-echo method was used with a single transducer operating at 20 MHz. Numerical models were defined to account for the acoustic response of a single layer, the attenuation and the reflection coefficient. A linear relationship was observed between the inverse of the temperature and the log of the rate of change in the velocity, supporting the theory that the velocity could be used to monitor the extent of the cross-linking reaction. An activation energy of 11.9 kcal/mole was calculated for the mixture being investigated.
Lipopolysaccharide is required for the lethal effects of enterotoxin B after D-galactosamine sensitization

We tested the D-galactosamine sensitization model with staphylococcal enterotoxin B (SEB). LPS was required for the lethal effects of SEB in D-galactosamine sensitized mice. Only two (2/62) among the C3HeB/FeJ (H-2k), Balb/c (H-2d) and C57BL/6J (H-2b) mice died in response to SEB in the absence of LPS whereas injection of SEB and minimally lethal concentrations of LPS became highly toxic. Similar to LPS, the lethal effect of SEB was dependent on the mouse strain used. Mouse strains more sensitive to the effects of LPS (Balb/c and C57BL/6J) were also more sensitive to the effects of SEB in comparison to C3H mice when equivalent doses of LPS and SEB were used. Among Balb/c and C3HeB/FeJ but not C57BL/6J mice, SEB (20 μg) potentiated the lethal effects of LPS at low doses (0.1 μg LPS), but had an apparent protective effect at high doses (1 μg LPS). Lastly, there was an inverse correlation between pathogenesis and serum IL-2 concentrations and splenic T cell activation in C3H mice. However, macrophage mobiliz...
African clergy, Bishop Lucas and the Christianizing of local initiation rites: revisiting 'the Masasi case'

One of the most famous instances of missionary 'adaptation' was the Christianizing of initiation rites in the Anglican Diocese of Masasi in what is now southeastern Tanzania. This was long assumed to be the work of Bishop Vincent Lucas, who from the 1920s became widely known in mission, colonial and anthropological circles for his advocacy of missions that sought 'not to destroy, but to fulfill' African culture. Terence Ranger in his groundbreaking 1972 article on Lucas and Masasi was the first to point out the crucial role of the African clergy. In reexamining the creation of Christian initiation in Masasi, this article reveals that Lucas's promotion of Christianized initiation was actually based on the vision and efforts of the African clergy, an indication that mission Christianity in the colonial period cannot be assumed to reflect European initiative and African compliance.
Adaptive APSD: A low power scheduling protocol for IEEE 802.11 Wireless LANs

IEEE 802.11e recommends two mechanisms for support of low power operation in handheld and battery operated devices, called scheduled automatic power save delivery (S-APSD) and unscheduled APSD (U-APSD). U-APSD has an advantage under variable bit rate traffic, while S-APSD is more efficient for moderate to heavily loaded networks with predictable traffic. This paper introduces a new scheduling algorithm that combines efficient aggregation and bursting schemes in combination with support for low power devices in a wireless LAN. It consists of two key components; the first is a dynamic scheduling scheme based on embedding the schedule information in downlink frames and the second is a signaling mechanism used to determine whether legacy APSD mechanisms or dynamic scheduling is to be used. The result is a very flexible scheme – adaptive APSD – that allows the scheduler embedded in the access point (AP) to adaptively switch to the scheduling strategy best suited to the prevailing traffic conditions.
The mean flow structure on the symmetry plane of a turbulent junction vortex

A two-channel, two-color LDV system allowed nonintrusive measurements of the two velocity components on the symmetry plane. Extensive measurements were made in and around the separation point and within the junction vortex system, both very close to the floor and to the leading edge of the body generating the vortex system
The improbability of prebiotic nucleic acid synthesis

Many accounts of the origin of life assume that the spontaneous synthesis of a self-replicating nucleic acid could take place readily. Serious chemical obstacles exist, however, which make such an event extremely improbable. Prebiotic syntheses of adenine from HCN, of D, L-ribose from adenosine, and of adenosine from adenine and D-ribose have in fact been demonstrated. However these procedures use pure starting materials, afford poor yields, and are run under conditions which are not compatible with one another. Any nucleic acid components which are formed on the primitive earth would tend to hydrolyze by a number of pathways. Their polymerization would be inhibited by the presence of vast numbers of related substances which would react preferentially with them. It appears likely that nucleic acids were not formed by prebiotic routes, but are later products of evolution.
A human B-cell line (BES-1) forming rosettes with sheep erythrocytes, producing forssman antibody, and phagocytizing sheep erythrocytes

A lymphoid cell line, designated BES-1, belonging to "lymphoblastoid cell lines with B-cell properties (B-LCL)" and derived from some normal B lymphocytes, was established in an attempt at primary culture of peripheral blood from a patient with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML). BES-1 cells unexpectedly formed rosettes with sheep erythrocytes (SRBC), which are usually a T-cell marker, and phagocytized SRBC. Subsequent study indicated that BES-1 cells produce antibody specific to Forssman (F) antigen, but not to Paul-Bunnell (P-B) or Hanganutzin-Deicher (H-D) antigen.
Reproducibility of total choline/water ratios in mouse U87MG xenograft tumors by 1H‐MRS

Purpose: To evaluate the reproducibility of the measurement of the total choline-to-water ratio, and the effect of repositioning the subject between scans, using 1H-magnetic resonance spectroscopy in a mouse U87MG xenograft model. Materials and Methods: In vivo single-voxel MR spectra at 7T from xenograft tumors were obtained using both a water-suppressed and a nonwater-suppressed point-resolved spectroscopy (PRESS) sequence. Reproducibility of the total choline/water ratio was evaluated under the conditions of immediate rescan with no change in position of the animal or voxel, immediate reposition, and reposition after 1 or 7 days. Results: Total choline-to-water ratios in U87MG tumor xenografts averaged ≈0.018 across all of the groups. The average percent difference between the two scans in each condition was always less than ≈3.0%, and the coefficient of variation was always less than ≈12%. Bias was unrelated to the testing condition and relatively negligible in magnitude (<3%). Due to heteroscedasticity in the ratios, the limits of agreement were calculated after log transformation of the data and ranged from ≈12% when animals were maintained in the same position and immediately rescanned to ≈52% when the two scans were 7 days apart. Conclusion: The total choline-to-water ratio provides a reproducible measure of choline-containing metabolites in subcutaneous U87MG xenograft tumors in mice. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2012;36:459–467. ©2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Twin pregnancy with intrauterine death of one twin

The antepartum death of one twin is a rare obstetric complication. Two cases are presented, accompanied by a review of the current literature. The premature and neonatal death rates are high in the surviving twins. Toxemia, fetal distress, abnormal presentation, and dystocia are also increased. Maternal disseminated intravascular coagulation has been demonstrated without a concomitant fetal coagulation defect. A more unique finding is fetal disseminated intravascular coagulation with a monochorionic placenta. The common circulation between the live and dead twins may result in fetal cerebral, renal, and cutaneous lesions, usually without demonstrable maternal disease. High-risk obstetric management is reviewed and a careful pediatric follow-up is recommended with monozygotic twins.
On the structure and control of commands

An interactive command language, with its underlying data, defines a command environment. In general a command environment supports a number of commands which once issued perform non-interactively, and which when finished leave the old command environment in control. It also supports some special commands which move to other command environments, after which commands are interpreted according to a different set of rules.The usefulness of a command environment can be extended by programming it, i.e. by dynamically constructing and conditionally executing sequences of its commands; but, unlike a programming language, a command language does not usually contain any general-purpose variables or means for conditional execution. These facilities can however be provided by a command control language, which makes it possible to construct sequences or commands to be issued to the currently active command environment from a program.A command control language is described, and the usefulness, limitations and repercussions of command language programming are discussed.
Adenosine triphosphate: enzymatic spectrophotometric determination.

Determination enzymatique et spectrophotometrique de l'adenosine triphosphate (ATP). L'ATP grâce a une hexokinase phosphoryle le glucose qui est ensuite oxyde en presence de NADP. Mesure de la production de NADPH par spectrophotometrie a 340 nm
On Wakefield's harmful dysfunction analysis of mental disorder

Wakefield's harmful dysfunction analysis of mental disorder is among the most rigorous and thoughtful attempts to address serious conceptual problems that beset the foundations of abnormal psychology. According to Wakefield, disorder is a hybrid concept comprising a factual component specifying derangement in a naturally-selected function, and a value component specifying the resultant harm. It is unclear, however, whether an evolutionary interpretation of dysfunction is either feasible or necessary; a nonhistorical causal role analysis of psychological function may enable ascription of disorder (assuming resultant harm). Moreover, the dysfunction component itself appears hybrid, comprising both a factual assertion about the state of a mechanism and a normative assertion implying that the mechanism is not functioning as it ought be.
The Farm-Retail Price Spread in an Imperfectly Competitive Food Industry

In a previous article in this Journal, Gardner investigated the effects of three distinct forces affecting food system equilibria: shifts in retail demand, shifts in farm commodity supply, and shifts in marketing input supply. He derived comparative-static predictions about how the quotient of retail and farm prices-the "retailfarm price ratio"-would adjust to changes in each of these exogenous effects. The investigation was conducted within a framework that
Microsurgical Keyhole Approach for Middle Fossa Arachnoid Cyst Fenestration

Objective The optimal surgical treatment for symptomatic temporal arachnoid cysts is controversial. Therapeutic options include cyst shunting, endoscopic fenestration, and craniotomy for fenestration. We reviewed the results for patients who were treated primarily with craniotomy and fenestration at our institution, to provide a baseline for comparisons of the efficacies of other treatment modalities. Methods A retrospective review of data for 50 children who underwent keyhole craniotomy for fenestration of temporal arachnoid cysts between 1994 and 2001 was performed after institutional review board approval. During that period, the first-line treatment for all symptomatic middle fossa arachnoid cysts was microcraniotomy for fenestration. Microsurgical dissection to create communications between the cyst cavity and basal cisterns was the goal. All patient records were reviewed and numerous variables related to presentation, cyst size and classification, treatment, cyst resolution, symptom resolution, follow-up periods, and cyst outcomes were recorded. Results Fifty temporal arachnoid cysts in 50 treated patients were identified. The average age at the time of surgery was 68 +/- 57.2 months. The follow-up periods averaged 36 months. There were 34 male and 16 female patients in the series. Twenty-six cysts were on the left side. Indications for surgery included intractable headaches (45%), increasing cyst size (21%), seizures (25%), and hemiparesis (8%). The symptoms most likely to improve were hemiparesis (100%) and abducens nerve palsies. Headaches (67%) and seizure disorders (50%) were less likely to improve. Nine patients exhibited progressive increases in cyst size in serial imaging studies. Those patients were monitored for a mean of 40 +/- 23 months before intervention. In the entire series, 82% of patients demonstrated decreases in cyst size in serial imaging studies. Of those patients, 18% demonstrated complete cyst effacement. Overall, 83% of patients with Grade II cysts and 75% of patients with Grade III cysts exhibited evidence of decreases in cyst size in long-term monitoring. Two patients required shunting after craniotomy (4%). Hospital stays averaged 3.4 days. Total surgical times averaged 115 minutes. No significant blood loss occurred (5-50 ml). Complications included spontaneously resolving pseudomeningocele (10%), transient Cranial Nerve III palsy (6%), cerebrospinal fluid leak (6%), subdural hematoma (4%), and wound infection (2%). Conclusion A microsurgical keyhole approach to arachnoid cyst fenestration is a safe effective method for treating middle fossa cysts. This procedure can be performed with minimal morbidity via a minicraniotomy. Compared with an endoscopic approach, better control of hemostasis can be obtained, because of the ability to use bipolar forceps and other standard instruments. The operative time and length of hospital stay were not excessively increased.
Betulaceae from the Pliocene and Pleistocene of Southwest Alabama, Southeastern United States

Abstract Recent investigations of mid-Pliocene Citronelle Formation sites and a Pleistocene terrace deposit in southwestern Alabama have yielded fossils of the Betulaceae. Trullate (shield-shaped) leaves with evenly spaced, craspedodromous secondary veins and distinctively serrated margins indicate that Betula nigra was part of the Gulf Coast vegetation for at least the last three million years. This determination is supported by the presence of small, membranous-winged fruits and a tri-lobed catkin bract. Previous reports of a supposed ancestral species, B. prenigra , from the Citronelle Formation are reconsidered in light of the present findings and rejected. Oblong/ovate leaves with craspedodromous secondary veins, serrated margins, and acute/acuminate apices from the Citronelle Formation are assigned to Carpinus caroliniana . A characteristic nutlet bract of Carpinus was previously described from this formation, and here a staminate catkin with typical Carpinus -like bracts and in situ pollen provides additional support. A nutlet bract from the Pleistocene site confirms that C. caroliniana has been consistently present in this region. Some leaves suggestive of Ostrya were found but their identification is inconclusive. All sites produce Alnus pollen but no macrofossils were found. Of the ten species of Betulaceae in the southeastern United States today, only Alnus serrulata, Betula nigra, Carpinus caroliniana , and Ostrya virginiana frequent the Gulf of Mexico Coastal Plain. Our findings confirm that Betula nigra and Carpinus caroliniana were clearly established in the area by the mid-Pliocene and persisted to the recent, probably due to regional climatic stability.