cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Hypertension and mitral incompetence associated with multiple systemic and pulmonary artery stenoses in a Caucasian child

REFERENCES 1. Caffey, J.: Multiple fractures in the long bones of infants suffering from chronic subdural hematoma, Am. J. Roentgenol. 56: 163, 1946. 2. Silverman, F. N.: The roentgen manifestations of unrecognized skeletal trauma in infants, Am. J. Roentgenol. 69: 413, 1953. 3. Gwinn, J, L., Lewin, K. W., and Peterson, H. G., Jr.: Roentgenographic manifestations of unsuspected trauma in infancy, J. A. M. A. 176: 926, 1961. 4. MeHenry, T., Girdany, B. R., and Elmer, E.: Unsuspected trauma with multiple skeletal injuries during infancy and childhood, Pediatrics 31: 903, 1963. 5. Kempe, C. H., Silverman, F. N., Steele, B. F., Droegemueller, W., and Silver, H. K.: The battered-child syndrome, J. A. M. A. 181: 17, 1962.
Effect of concurrent calcium ingestion on intestinal absorption of fluoride

It has been suggested that calcium interferes with absorption of fluoride and that it diminishes the effect this ion has of increasing the bone mass when taken orally. Normal volunteers were given a combination of fluoride and calcium carbonate or fluoride alone, and serum levels of fluoride were measured to determine the effect, if any, of the concomitant administration of calcium on absorption of fluoride. The results indicate that 1.3 g of calcium, as the carbonate, decreases the integrated blood fluoride values by 22%.
A method for measuring relaxation times for collision processes in the surface layers of conductors and semi-conductors

Abstract Microwave (∼9.9 gHz) conductivity of solid cylindrical samples was investigated using a perturbed resonant cavity approach. The Kramers-Kronig relation was used to deduce relaxation times (collision times) for momentum transfer of the current carriers in the samples. Experimental collision times are presented for Cu, Pb, C, Al, In, Cu2O, CuO, and n-InSb.
Inactivation of lactate dehydrogenase by several chemicals: Implications for in vitro toxicology studies

Lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) release is frequently used as an end-point for cytotoxicity studies. We have been unable to measure LDH release during studies using para-aminophenol (PAP) in LLC-PK(1) cells. When LLC-PK(1) cells were incubated with either PAP (0-10 mM) or menadione (0-1000 microM), viability was markedly reduced when assessed by alamar Blue or total LDH activity but not by release of LDH into the incubation medium. In addition, we incubated cells with PAP or menadione and compared LDH activity using two different assays. Both assays confirmed our observation of decreased LDH activity in cell lysates without corresponding increases in LDH activity in incubation media. Using purified LDH and 10 mM PAP, we found that PAP produced loss of LDH activity that was inversely proportional to the amount of LDH initially added. In additional experiments, we incubated 0.5 units of LDH for 1 h with varying concentrations of PAP, menadione, hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) or cisplatin. All four chemicals produced concentration-dependent decreases in LDH activity. In previous experiments, inclusion of antioxidants such as reduced glutathione (GSH) and ascorbate protected cells from PAP toxicity. GSH (1 mM) preserved LDH activity in the presence of toxicants while ascorbate (1 mM) only prevented LDH loss induced by PAP. These studies suggest that LDH that is released into the incubation medium is susceptible to degradation when reactive chemicals are present.
Dynamics and mechanisms of DNA repair by photolyase

Photolyases, a class of flavoproteins, use blue light to repair two types of ultraviolet-induced DNA damage, a cyclobutane pyrimidine dimer (CPD) and a pyrimidine-pyrimidone (6-4) photoproduct (6-4PP). In this perspective, we review the recent progress in the repair dynamics and mechanisms of both types of DNA restoration by photolyases. We first report the spectroscopic characterization of flavin in various redox states and the active-site solvation dynamics in photolyases. We then systematically summarize the detailed repair dynamics of damaged DNA by photolyases and a biomimetic system through resolving all elementary steps on ultrafast timescales, including multiple intermolecular electron- and proton-transfer reactions and bond-breaking and -making processes. We determined the unique electron tunneling pathways, identified the key functional residues and revealed the molecular origin of high repair efficiency, and thus elucidate the molecular mechanisms and repair photocycles at the most fundamental level. We finally conclude that the active sites of photolyases, unlike the aqueous solution for the biomimetic system, provide a unique electrostatic environment and local flexibility and thus a dedicated synergy for all elementary dynamics to maximize the repair efficiency. This repair photomachine is the first enzyme that the entire functional evolution is completely mapped out in real time.
Radon Entry into Buildings Driven by Atmospheric Pressure Fluctuations

To examine the effects of atmospheric pressure fluctuations on radon entry into houses, we report measurements of soil-gas and advective radon entry made using an experimental basement. Based on these measurements, we quantify the contribution of atmospheric pressure fluctuations, steady indoor−outdoor pressure differences, and molecular dif fusion to the long-term radon entry rate into the experimental basement. In the absence of a steady indoor−outdoor pressure difference, atmospheric pressure fluctuations at the study site induce a radon entry rate 1.5 times greater than that due to molecular diffusion. A steady indoor−outdoor pressure difference reduces the contribution of atmospheric pressure fluctuations to the long-term radon entry rate. For sustained indoor−outdoor pressure differences with a magnitude greater than 1.5 Pa, atmospheric pressure fluctuations have essentially no effect on the time-averaged radon entry rate into the experimental structure. The results of this study demonstrate that un...
Cone length of the exterior join

The cone length Cl(f) of a map f : X → Y is defined to be the least number of attaching maps possible in a conic (or iterated mapping cone) structure for f . Cone length is a homotopy invariant in the sense that if φ: X → X and ρ: Y → Y are homotopy equivalences then Cl (ρ° f °φ) = Cl(f) . Furthermore Cl(f) depends only on the homotopy class of f . It was shown by Ganea [8] that the cone length of the map * → X coincides with the strong Lusternik-Schnirelmann category of X as a space (see Proposition 1.6 below). Recent work of Cornea ([3]–[6]) is much concerned with cone length and its role in critical point theory. For example, let f be a smooth real valued function on a manifold triad ( M; V 0 , V 1 ) with V 0 ≠ θ. Under certain conditions, if f has only “reasonable” critical points then it must have at least Cl(V 0 ↪M) of them (see [6]).
Synthesis, characterization and X-ray crystallography of a metallacrown ether complex containing a RuII(bpy)22+ chromophore and its Mo(CO)4 analog*1

Abstract The chelating ligand (2,2′-C12H8O2)P(CH2CH2O)4P(2,2′-O2C12H8) reacts with both Ru(bpy)2(O3SCF3)2 and Mo(CO)4(C7H8) to form the new metallacrown ether complexes cis-[Ru(bpy)2((2,2′-C12H8O2)P(CH2CH2O)4P(2,2′-O2C12H8))](O3SCF3)2 (1) and cis-[Mo(CO)4((2,2′-C12H8O2)P(CH2CH2O)4P(2,2′-O2C12H8))] (2). The X-ray crystal structures for both complexes indicate that the metallacrown ether ring oxygen atoms point their lone pairs towards the cavity in the cis-metallacrown ether ring. The effect of interactions of the metallacrown ether complex with selected monoatomic cations (Li+, Na+ and Hg2+) on the emissive properties of the Ru(bpy)2 2+ chromophore were studied by steady-state and time-dependent emission spectroscopy. Our results suggest that complex 1 interacts weakly with Li+, Na+ and Hg2+, and subtle changes are observed in its photophysical properties. These changes are discussed in terms of excited-state parameters obtained from a Franck–Condon analysis of the emission spectra.
Effects of forge axis force and backing plate thermal diffusivity on FSW of AA6056

Using three sets of tool rotation rate and welding speed, series of friction stir welds were made at various forge axis forces on different backing plates with widely varying thermal diffusivity on 4.2 mm thick AA6056. Temperature during the process was measured at the probe core using a thermocouple. Because of the use of different backing plates and forge forces it was possible to obtain a relatively wide range of peak temperature in the nugget. This provided a unique opportunity to investigate changes in joint microstructure and property (1) over a wide range of peak temperature while keeping welding and rotational speed constant (2) at similar peak temperature with different welding and rotational speeds. The results show that for the studied gauge thickness, metallurgically significant temperature variations can be achieved without changing the rotation and welding speed while producing defect free welds. The backing plate conductivity and forge force both independently affect the weld process parameters such as nugget temperature and tool torque significantly. A significant increase in the tool torque and hence power is observed with the increase in the forge force alone.
The sources of the movements in interest rates

The paper investigates the sources of interest rate movements in Italy during the 1970s. In that decade, the country experienced the highest and most variable inflation rate among the industrial nations and was affected both by external shocks and by shocks to the labor and financial markets. The paper shows that movements in inflationary expectations dominated the nominal interest rate variability. The part of variability that was not explained by expected inflation was accounted for by unanticipated changes in the terms of trade: by contrast, domestic monetary and real disturbances did not have a sizeable impact on the variability.
Toward a more effective visualization tool to teach novice programmers

Algorithm visualization systems and techniques have been introduced in a number of curricula to increase learner engagement and improve pedagogical processes. Effective visualization tools must be educationally beneficial to the learner while avoiding excessive overhead. In an introductory IT course, we compared the effectiveness of a COTS diagramming tool to RAPTOR, a visual programming environment based on flowcharts. Our results indicate the COTS diagramming tool was overly heavyweight and cumbersome. Students using RAPTOR became more actively engaged in developing algorithms.Further, we discovered that introductory IT students who had been introduced to RAPTOR performed better on the final exam than those who had only used the COTS tool. Additionally, these students overwhelmingly preferred RAPTOR to the COTS tool, and indicated that using RAPTOR made it easier for them to develop Java programs. Based on these results, we will use RAPTOR for all sections of the course starting this fall.
Innovations in Derivatives Education

Mark Rubenstein has created what amounts to an entirely new class of textbook for teaching derivatives. The “book” itself is designed to be used along with a computer implementation that comes on a CD ROM. Each page is structured with a PowerPoint slide in the top half and a few paragraphs of text on the bottom, making it a snap for a teacher to put together lectures, or for a student to learn the material on his own, with instant review of the key points. Valuation software for pricing and hedging examples is also included, and the whole package is supported by Rubinstein9s website. Rosenberg reviews this “Innovation” for the JOD.
Psychosocial and behavioral status of patients undergoing bariatric surgery: what to expect before and after surgery.

Extreme obesity, characterized by a body mass index (BMI) of 40 kg/m 2 or greater, is associated with significantly increased mortality, principally from cardiovascular disease, type 2 diabetes, and several cancers. It also is associated with an increased risk of psychosocial complications, including depression, eating disorders, and impaired quality of life. This article briefly examines the psychosocial status of extremely obese individuals who seek bariatric surgery and describes changes in functioning that can be expected with surgically induced weight loss. The article combines a review of the literature with clinical impressions gained from the more than 2500 candidates for bariatric surgery whom the authors have evaluated at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.
Normal Greeble Learning in a severe case of developmental prosopagnosia

A central question in cognitive neuroscience is whether mechanisms exist that are specialized for particular domains. One of the most commonly cited examples of a domain-specific competence is the human ability to recognize upright faces. However, according to a widely discussed alternative hypothesis, face recognition is instead performed by mechanisms specialized for processing any object class for which an individual has expertise. Faces, according to this domain-general hypothesis, are just one example of an expert class. Nonface object expertise has been intensively investigated using a training procedure involving an artificial stimulus class known as greebles. A key prediction of this hypothesis is that individuals with face recognition impairments will also have impairments with other categories that control subjects have expertise with. Our results show that a man with severe prosopagnosia performed normally throughout the standard greeble training procedure. These findings indicate that face recognition and greeble recognition rely on separate mechanisms.
Refined crystal structures of unligated adenylosuccinate synthetase from Escherichia coli.

Abstract Crystal structures of unligated adenylosuccinate synthetase from Escherichia coli in space groups P 2 1 and P 2 1 2 1 2 1 have been refined to R -factors of 0.199 and 0.206 against data to 2.0 and 2.5 A, respectively. Bond lengths and angles deviate from expected values by 0.011 A and 1.7° for the P 2 1 crystal form and by 0.015 A and 1.7° for the P 2 1 2 1 2 1 crystal form. The fold of the polypeptide chain is dominated by a central β-sheet, which is composed of nine parallel strands and a tenth antiparallel strand. Extending off from this central β-sheet are four subdomains. The four subdomains contribute loops of residues that are disordered or have high thermal parameters. At least three of these loops (residues 42 to 52, 120 to 131 and 298 to 304) contribute essential residues to the putative active site of the synthetase. In the absence of ligands, much of the active site of the synthetase exists in an ill-defined conformational state. Two, nearly independent regions contribute residues to the interface between polypeptide chains of the synthetase dimer. A pair of helices (H4 and H5) interact with their symmetry-equivalent mates by way of residues that are not conserved amongst the known sequences of the synthetase. The second interface region involves conserved residues belonging to structural elements that connect strands of the central β-sheet. Residues putatively involved in the binding of IMP lie at or near the interface between polypeptide chains of the dimer. Of the four sequence elements putatively common to all GTP hydrolases, the synthetase has only the guanine recognition element and a glycine-rich loop (P-loop). Although the base recognition element is essentially identical with those of the p21 ras and G α proteins, the P-loop of the synthetase is extended in size relative to the P-loops of other GTP hydrolases. The P-loop has two acid residues (Asp13 and Glu14), which are found in the P-loops of only the synthetase family. Glu14 may be involved in the stabilization of the enlarged P-loop of the synthetase, whereas Asp13 may play a role in catalysis and in the coordination of Mg 2+ . The structural elements of the p21 ras and G α proteins responsible for binding Mg 2+ are either absent from the synthetase or unavailable for the coordination of metal cations.
Hyperphenylalaninemia in the hph-1 mouse mutant.

ABSTRACT. A mutation, resulting in a deficiency of liver GTP-cyclohydrolase activity, has been induced in the laboratory mouse. Mice homozygous for this mutation exhibit hyperphenylalaninemia under the following conditions: 1) early in life and 2) throughout life when exposed to phenylalanine. A phenylalanine loading regimen was used to discriminate between mutant and wild type mice on the basis of the resultant phenylalanine and tyrosine serum levels. Subjecting mice to this regimen reveals several distinguishing characteristics. Mutant mice exhibit approximately 2-fold higher peak phenylalanine levels than wild-type mice. In wild-type mice the hyperphenylalaninemic state is transient and rapidly abates while in mutant mice it is persistent and remains for a prolonged period. Mutant mice exhibit normal serum tyrosine levels after a loading challenge, while wild-type mice experience an increase in tyrosine levels. The loading regimen was also used to gauge the response of mutant hyperphenylalaninemic mice to exposure to chemical compounds required for normal phenylalanine catabolism (i.e. pteridine cofactors of the phenylalanine hydroxylase reaction). Mutant mice exposed to native enzyme cofactor or cofactor precursors exhibit a sharp decline in serum phenylalanine levels relative to their uninjected counterparts coupled with a tyrosine increase. By contrast, mutant mice exposed to nonprecursor compounds that are structurally related to the native cofactor, experience no diminution of serum phenylalanine levels.
A Comparative Pin-on-Disk Wear Study of Monomeric and Polymeric Langmuir-Blodgett Films of the Cadmium Salt of 10,12-Tricosadiynoic Acid

The pin-on-disk wear rate of the Langmuir-Blodgett film of the Cd salt of 10,12-tricosadiynoic acid increases by a factor of five when the film is polymerized by UV light. It is proposed that this is an artifact of the Langmuir-Blodgett film since it is known that polymerization of the diacetylene function does not occur across the domain boundaries of the LB film. The wear particles of the polymeric film, therefore, occur in units of molecular domains in contrast to the single molecules of the monomeric salt of the diacetylene carboxylic acid. The increase in wear rate is due, therefore, to the increase in the molecular weight of the wear particle. Presented at the 35th STLE/ASME Tribology Conference in Fort Lauderdale, Florida October 16–19, 1989
Postural hypotension during tilt with chronic captopril and diuretic therapy of severe congestive heart failure

Abstract The hemodynamic mechanism by which patients with chronic congestive heart failure (CHF) maintain their blood pressure (BP) in the upright posture is distinct from that of normal and hypertensive individuals. There are little data regarding the effects of chronic vasodilator therapy on the mechanisms controlling this response, especially in the presence of diuretic therapy. Therefore, 10 consecutive patients with severe chronic CHF underwent hemodynamic tilt study following acute and chronic captopril therapy. One patient developed orthostatic hypotension following first-dose captopril, but 6 of 10 had a mean BP decrease of 70 ± 6 to 56 ± 3 mm Hg on tilt following chronic captopril. This was associated with significant reduction of plasma aldosterone, and was abolished on re-tilt following acute saline infusion. Therefore, during chronic captopril therapy of CHF, a reduction of diuretic dosage may be necessary to prevent orthostatic hypotension.
Compact roundtrip routing in directed networks

The first sublinear average space universal compact routing schemes for directed networks are presented. For each integer k ≥ 1, they use O(k log n)size addresses; O(kn1/(k+1))-sized routing tables on average at each node; and achieve roundtrip routes of stretch at most 2k+1 - 1 in any (weighted) directed network. We also present universal compact roundtrip routing schemes with the stronger requirement that they use sublinear maximum space at every node. These schemes also use O(k log n) size addresses and achieve roundtrip routes of stretch at most 2k+ 1 -1 in any (weighted) directed network, and they bound the maximum sized table at each node by O(kn(3k+1)/(2ċ3k)).
Cardiovascular Outcomes After the Arterial Switch Operation for D-Transposition of the Great Arteries

Background—Data regarding long-term outcomes after the arterial switch operation for D-transposition of the great arteries are scarce. Methods and Results—A single-institution retrospective cohort study was conducted to assess cardiovascular outcomes after an arterial switch operation between 1983 and 1999. Patients without follow-up visits within 3 years were contacted and secondary sources of information obtained. Overall, 400 patients, 154 (38.3%) with a ventricular septal defect, 238 (59.5%) with an intact septum, and 9 (2.3%) with a Taussig-Bing anomaly, were followed for a median of 18.7 years. In perioperative survivors, overall and arrhythmia-free survival rates at 25 years were 96.7±1.8% and 96.6±0.1%, respectively. Late mortality was predominantly a result of sudden deaths and myocardial infarction. At 25 years, 75.5±2.5% remained free from surgical or catheter-based reintervention. Freedom from an adverse cardiovascular event was 92.9±1.9% at 25 years. Independent predictors were a single right...
Subunit specificity of the two acetyl-CoA synthetases of yeast as revealed by an immunological approach

Abstract 1. 1. In the present paper, the two acetyl-CoA synthetases (acetate:Coenzyme A ligase (AMP-forming), EC 6.2.1.1) elaborated under aerobic or nonaerobic conditions are further differentiated by an immunological approach. 2. 2. The subunit of the aerobic isozyme was prepared and found to be homogeneous by disc gel electrophoresis in the presence of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and by ultracentrifugal studies. An s 20, w of 3.6 and an apparent molecular weight of 80 500 ± 500 were calculated for this subunit. 3. 3. The subunit was precipitated by antibody prepared against the aerobic enzyme. Antibody prepared against the subunit also reacted in precipitin tests with the subunit, but not with the native enzyme. The latter antibody nevertheless inhibited the native enzyme but not the nonaerobic isozyme.
Doctors and the alcohol industry: an unhealthy mix?

Jonathan Gornall reports on an ideological schism over working alongside the alcohol industry that is dividing the public health community
Reasoning Skills: A Key to Literacy for Deaf Learners

Until the latter part of the 1960s, many educators viewed literacy as a set of competencies that could be mastered through a series of discrete and in some cases "lower level" skills such as identification, recognition, memory, and repetition. Such a view equated literacy with only the decoding aspect of learning to read and ignored writing and mathematical reasoning, as well as attention to meaning. Many laypersons shared this view, but happily not all educators did; it was the teacher guides written for a number of reading textbooks that first truly introduced to teachers the term and meaning of metacognition , when other disciplines neither named this area nor included it in instruction. For the most part, however, the exciting changes in the development of cognitive psychology up through the 1960s focused on disciplines other than literacy; for example, cognitive psychologists played a major role in the curriculum revolution projects in science, social studies, and mathematics but were not overtly involved in any relationship with the world of acquiring literacy. Only since that time have there been movements to create a confluence between literacy and reasoning.
Cleavage of Transcriptional Activator Oct-1 by Poliovirus Encoded Protease 3Cpro

Abstract In HeLa cells, RNA polymerase II mediated transcription is severely inhibited by poliovirus infection. Both basal and activated transcription are affected to bring about a complete shutoff of host cell transcription. We demonstrate here that the octamer binding transcription factor, Oct-1, is cleaved in HeLa cells infected with poliovirus. Incubation of Oct-1 with the purified, recombinant 3C pro results in the generation of the cleaved Oct-1 product seen in virus infected cells. Poliovirus infection leads to the formation of altered Oct-1–DNA complexes that can also be generated by incubation of Oct-1 with purified 3C pro . We also show that Oct-1 cleaved by 3C pro loses its ability to inhibit transcriptional activation by the SV40 B enhancer. These results suggest that cleavage of Oct-1 in poliovirus infected cells leads to the loss of its activity.
Effect of a graded layer on the plastic dissipation in mixed-mode fatigue crack growth along plastically mismatched interfaces

Abstract Prior work by the authors has proposed a dissipated energy theory of fatigue crack growth in ductile solids under mode I loading based on the total plastic dissipation per cycle ahead of the crack. The approach has since been extended to a general bimaterial interface geometry under mixed-mode I/II loading, with application to fatigue debonding of layered materials. An inherent assumption of this prior work is that a perfect crack exists along the interface between the two materials. The current work extends the approach to incorporate a grading of material properties between the two layers, as may occur in a variety of welding, soldering or layered manufacturing applications. Attention is restricted to elastic perfectly-plastic layers with identical elastic properties and a mismatch in yield strength across a linearly graded interface, with the crack on the boundary of the weaker material. A dimensionless plastic dissipation is extracted from 2-D plane strain finite element models over the full range of yield strength mismatches, graded layer thicknesses and mixed-mode loading conditions. Results reveal that for all modes of loading, the effect of a graded layer is to increase the total plastic dissipation per cycle, which is bounded by the extremes in plastic mismatch for a perfect crack interface. While the graded layer has a measurable effect, the plastic dissipation for all strength mismatches is dominated by the mode of loading.
Effects of immunosuppression on the rejection of methylcholanthrene tumor isografts

The effect of immunosuppression with azathioprine, methylprednisolone, or both, on primary and secondary immune responses to a transplanted tumor was studied. The ability to reject a methylcholanthrene-induced squamous cell carcinoma of the prostate in Lewis rats was determined by rechallenge with tumor cells after amputation of the primary transplant. Oral azathioprine (20 mg/ kg/day) increased the incidence of tumors in a primary challenge, but did not affect the ability of immunized rats to reject subsequent tumor isografts. Similar results were obtained with 2 mg/kg/ day intraperitoneal (IP) azathioprine, 2 mg/kg/day IP methylprednisolone, and the combination of 2 mg/kg/day IP methylprednisolone and 10 mg/kg/day IP azathioprine. It appears that immunosuppression by azathioprine affects the proliferation of sensitized cells during the immunological response to antigens of this specific tumor. Immunosuppression does not appear to alter substantially the processing of tumor-specific antigens or the cytotoxic effectiveness of the immune system. This data is reassuring to the concern of whether transplantation in patients previously cured of cancer is safe.
Multistage Fatigue Modeling of Cast A356-T6 and A380-F Aluminum Alloys

This article presents a microstructure-based multistage fatigue (MSF) model extended from the model developed by McDowell et al.[1,2] to an A380-F aluminum alloy to consider microstructure-property relations of descending order, signifying deleterious effects of defects/discontinuities: (1) pores or oxides greater than 100 μm, (2) pores or oxides greater than 50 μm near the free surface, (3) a high porosity region with an area greater than 200 μm, and (4) oxide film of an area greater than 10,000 μm2. These microconstituents, inclusions, or discontinuities represent different casting features that may dominate fatigue life at stages of fatigue damage evolutions. The incubation life is estimated using a modified Coffin–Mansion law at the microscale based on the microplasticity at the discontinuity. The microstructurally small crack (MSC) and physically small crack (PSC) growth was modeled using the crack tip displacement as the driving force, which is affected by the porosity and dendrite cell size (DCS). When the fatigue damage evolves to several DCSs, cracks behave as long cracks with growth subject to the effective stress intensity factor in linear elastic fracture mechanics. Based on an understanding of the microstructures of A380-F and A356-T6 aluminum alloys, an engineering treatment of the MSF model was introduced for A380-F aluminum alloys by tailoring a few model parameters based on the mechanical properties of the alloy. The MSF model is used to predict the upper and lower bounds of the experimental fatigue strain life and stress life of the two cast aluminum alloys.
Characterization of a high TNF-α phenotype in children with moderate-to-severe asthma

Systemic TNF-α expression is increased in a subset of children with moderate-to-severe asthma despite aggressive corticosteroid treatment and is associated with poor asthma control. Phenotypic-directed TNF-α inhibition may be of benefit in some asthmatic children.
Quantal release of free radicals during exocytosis of phagosomes

Secretion of lysosomes and related organelles is important for immune system function. High-resolution membrane capacitance techniques were used to track changes in membrane area in single phagocytes during opsonized polystyrene bead uptake and release. Secretagogue stimulation of cells preloaded with beads resulted in immediate vesicle discharge, visualized as step increases in capacitance. The size of the increases were consistent with phagosome size. This hypothesis was confirmed by direct observation of dye release from bead-containing phagosomes after secretagogue stimulation. Capacitance recordings of exocytosis were correlated with quantal free radical release, as determined by amperometry. Thus, phagosomes undergo regulated secretion in macrophages, one function of which may be to deliver sequestered free radicals to the extracellular space.
Recruitment and retention of participants in prevention trials involving family-based interventions

Abstract Family-based preventive intervention trials in the area of child conduct problems face serious challenges regarding the recruitment and subsequent retention of participants. This article focuses on the problems and strategies pertinent to recruitment and retention in prevention research. The issues are discussed first with respect to initiating and maintaining a longitudinal sample, and then engaging and sustaining families in a preventive intervention. General principles are illustrated by EARLY ALLIANCE, a recently launched preventive intervention trial aimed at reducing children’s risk for conduct disorder, substance abuse, and school failure. Recommendations for enhancing recruitment and retention are offered.
Microbial endocrinology and nutrition: A perspective on new mechanisms by which diet can influence gut-to-brain communication

Abstract The increasing recognition of the role which microorganisms within the intestinal tract (microbiome) play in reciprocal communication between the gut and brain is now only beginning to be elucidated. Microbiome driven gut-to-brain communication, for example, has been shown to influence cognitive states such as anxiety in humans and anxiety-like behavior in animals. One of the mechanisms that has been proposed to account for the ability of the microbiome to influence gut-to-brain communication has been by the microbial recognition and production of neuroendocrine hormones that otherwise have been exclusively associated with a mammalian nervous system. The study of such neuroendocrine–bacterial interactions is the interdisciplinary field known as microbial endocrinology that operates at the intersection of microbiology and neurobiology. The purpose of this mini-review is to expand the field of microbial endocrinology to nutrition and specifically examine the theoretical basis and evidence for a role of the microbiome in nutrition due to bacterial–neuroendocrine interactions contained within the interdisciplinary field of microbial endocrinology.
In-situ grazing incidence X-ray diffraction study of electrochemically deposited Pb monolayers on Ag(111)

Abstract We report here the first in situ X-ray diffraction measurements from a monolayer adsorbed at a metal/liquid interface (lead electrochemically deposited on silver (111)). The lead was found to order into a close-packed hexagonal structure, compressed 1.2% from bulk lead. The first order diffraction peak was 0.037 A −1 broad in the radial and azimuthal directions, indicating that even in an aqueous environment the Pb monolayer forms a well-ordered two-dimensional solid. A rotational epitaxy angle (angle between the Pb and Ag surface lattices) of 4.4° was observed.
Partisan control of the money supply and decentralized appointment powers

Abstract The Deutsche Bundesbank is governed by a decision-making council consisting of a minority of federal government appointees and a majority of regional state appointees. The council of the future European Central Bank will have a similar composition. This article examines whether partially decentralized appointment powers can mitigate political business cycles in inflation and output growth resulting from the partisan control of the money supply.
Applications of long-wavelength 256 x 256 quantum well infrared photodetector (QWIP) handheld camera

A 9 micrometer cutoff 256 by 256 hand-held quantum well infrared photodetector (QWIP) camera has been demonstrated. Excellent imagery, with a noise equivalent differential temperature (NE(Delta) T) of 26 mK has been achieved. In this paper, we discuss the performance of this portable long- wavelength infrared camera in quantum efficiency, NE(Delta) T, minimum resolvable temperature difference (MRTD), uniformity, etc., and its applications in science, medicine and defense.
Functional and biochemical correlates of chlordecone exposure and its enhancement of CCl4 hepatotoxicity.

Abstract Animals pretreated with chlordecone exhibit a greatly increased hepatotoxic response to CCl4 challenge. Possible mechanisms underlying this interaction were examined. A single p.o. administration of chlordecone (5 mg/kg) was followed by CCl4 (200 μl/kg) administered i.p. 48 h later. Twenty-four hours later, animals treated with chlordecone + CCl4 had decreased hepatic excretory function (20% of controls) and elevated plasma transaminase activities and bilirubin. Hepatic mixed function oxidase activity was assessed as pentobarbital sleeping time and was not affected by chlordecone pretreatment. Irreversible binding of label from 14CCl4 to hepatic protein or lipid was not different in the chlordecone group compared to vehicle controls. Hepatic and renal glutathione concentrations were not affected by chlordecone alone (at 6 h, 1, 2, 3, 5 and 7 days) or by a combination of chlordecone (48 h) and CCl4 (24 h). CCl4-induced lipid peroxidation of liver tissue, measured in vitro or in vivo, was not increased by chlordecone treatment. Thus, while the mechanism for the enhanced toxicity remains to be elucidated, these results suggest that the interaction between chlordecone and CCl4 is a subtle one, not causally involving increased covalent binding of the toxin, increased susceptibility of tissue lipids to peroxidative damage or decreased hepatic GSH.
Response Times of Slide and Cross-Over Steps as Used by Volleyball Players

(1980). Response Times of Slide and Cross-Over Steps as Used by Volleyball Players. Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport: Vol. 51, No. 3, pp. 562-567.
Preparation of TI-Ba-Ca-Cu Superconducting Oxide Films by Spray Pyrolysis Technique

Superconducting TI-Ba-Ca-Cu-O(TBCCO) films with zero resistance temperatures above 100K have been prepared on (001)MgO single-crystal substrates by the combination techniques of spray pyrolysis and Tl-diffusion. The as-sprayed Ba-Ca-Cu-O films and the sintered TBCCO superconducting bulks were wrapped in Au foil and heated in oxygen at temperatures ranging from 890 to 920°C and cooled to room temperature by furnace cooling. Highly c-axis oriented superconducting films were obtained and their average thicknesses were about 5–10 μm. The characteristics of TBCCO films by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and electrical property are discussed.
Clinical Picture of Women with Early Stage Ovarian Cancer

Abstract Objective. The objective of this study was to review the clinical picture of women with early stage ovarian cancer, to examine the difference between women with borderline ovarian tumors (BLOT) and those with ovarian cancer (OC), and to estimate the average time interval between the onset of symptoms and diagnosis. Methods. A retrospective review of all women with surgical stage I and II OC or BLOT was performed and the following information abstracted: age, parity, family history of cancer, personal history of previous malignancies, symptoms, signs, date of start of symptoms, imaging studies, CA-125 values, date of diagnosis at surgery, tumor stage, histology, grade, date of last follow-up, and condition at last follow-up. Comparison between patients with BLOT and OC was performed using χ 2 and two-sample t tests. Results. Our search identified 72 women with surgical stage I and II BLOT ( n = 22) or OC ( n = 50). Seventy-eight percent of the patients had presenting symptoms, the most common of which were abdominal or pelvic pain (34.7%), bloatedness (31.9%), and vaginal bleeding (19.4%). Symptoms were similar among women with BLOT and those with OC, with a higher proportion of BLOT patients reporting no symptoms (31.8% versus 18.0%, respectively). Abdominal and/or pelvic masses were palpable in 72.2% of the patients and ascites was present in 12.5%. Ovarian masses were most commonly complex in appearance and CA-125 was elevated in 52.2% of the patients in whom CA-125 values were known. The average time interval between onset of symptoms and diagnosis was 4.6 months (range 0.1–24.4 months). Women with BLOT had a significantly longer average time interval than women with OC (8.0 ± 7.7 versus 3.4 ± 3.7 months, respectively, P = 0.03). Conclusions. The majority of women with early stage ovarian cancer have nonspecific symptoms. The array of symptoms is similar between women with BLOT and those with OC. However, women with BLOT tend to have a longer time interval from onset of symptoms to diagnosis.
The concept of in-situ vapor stripping for removing VOCs from groundwater

An in-situ remediation procedure is proposed to remove Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) dissolved in groundwater. This is accomplished by injecton of air into a well, using a combined technique of air-lift pumping with a form of vapor stripping. When air is injected into a well, it causes water to be lifted and forces groundwater flow towards the well, creating a recirculating cleanup zone. During this process, VOCs are transferred from the contaminated water to the rising air bubbles inside the well. The air bubbles are separated from the liquid near the top of the well, and the VOC vapor is collected and treated. In this system, water is not permitted to be lifted to the ground surface. Rather, the water is diverted into the unsaturated zone through a series of drains that are installed beneath the root-zone. The water then, free of a portion of VOCs, infiltrates back to the water table. As water continues to circulate, the VOC concentrations are gradually reduced.
Effect of Supine and Prone Positions on Arterial Oxygen Tension in the Preterm Infant

To determine the optimal position for the preterm infant, arterial oxygen tension (Pao2) was monitored in 16 preterm infants by the transcutaneous method with the infants in both supine and prone positions. When the infants were prone, Pao2 rose by a mean of 7.4 mm Hg (P less than .001), an increase of 15%. In those infants with residual cardiopulmonary disease a 25% increase was noted. The higher Pao2 in the prone position was accompanied by a significant decrease in the amount of time the chest wall moved asynchronously. This improved oxygenation in the prone position appears to be the result of enhanced ventilation/perfusion ratios and not merely secondary to an alteration in sleep state with positioning of the infant. These findings may have important implications in the management of preterm infants, requiring neonatal intensive care.
New Host and Distributional Records for Cryptosporidium sp. (Apicomplexa: Cryptosporidiidae) from Lizards (Sauria: Gekkonidae, Scincidae) from the Cook Islands and Vanuatu, South Pacific

ABSTRACT: Between 1991 and 1993, 295 lizards, comprising 21 species in 2 families (Gekkonidae, Scincidae) from the Cook Islands, Fiji, Palau, Takapoto, and Vanuatu in the South Pacific, were examined for Cryptosporidium oocysts. Only 6 lizards (2%) were found to be passing Cryptosporidium oocysts in their feces, including 2 of 30 (7%) Oceania geckos, Gehyra oceanica, from Rarotonga, Cook Islands, and 4 of 26 (15%) Pacific blue-tailed skinks, Emoia caeruleocauda, from Efate Island, Vanuatu. This represents the largest survey for Cryptosporidium in Pacific island lizards, and we document 2 new host and 2 new locality records for this parasite genus.
Spray and wait: an efficient routing scheme for intermittently connected mobile networks

Intermittently connected mobile networks are sparse wireless networks where most of the time there does not exist a complete path from the source to the destination. These networks fall into the general category of Delay Tolerant Networks. There are many real networks that follow this paradigm, for example, wildlife tracking sensor networks, military networks, inter-planetary networks, etc. In this context, conventional routing schemes would fail.To deal with such networks researchers have suggested to use flooding-based routing schemes. While flooding-based schemes have a high probability of delivery, they waste a lot of energy and suffer from severe contention, which can significantly degrade their performance. Furthermore, proposed efforts to significantly reduce the overhead of flooding-based schemes have often be plagued by large delays. With this in mind, we introduce a new routing scheme, called Spray and Wait, that "sprays" a number of copies into the network, and then "waits" till one of these nodes meets the destination.Using theory and simulations we show that Spray and Wait outperforms all existing schemes with respect to both average message delivery delay and number of transmissions per message delivered; its overall performance is close to the optimal scheme. Furthermore, it is highly scalable retaining good performance under a large range of scenarios, unlike other schemes. Finally, it is simple to implement and to optimize in order to achieve given performance goals in practice.
EISCAM - Digital image acquisition and processing for sea ice parameters from ships

Abstract Human observations and records of sea ice conditions from ships of opportunity in polar regions have been formalized under ASPeCt (Antarctic Sea Ice Processes and Climate) protocols as part of the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research (SCAR) initiative, Global Change in Antarctica. Human observations, however, are subject to both bias and level of expertise. In support of ASPeCt observations, a ship-based, ice condition imagery acquisition, processing and analysis system is developed and presented in this paper. Digital images captured from recorded oblique-view video of sea ice during the inbound and outbound transits of the icebreaker NB Palmer, during the 2007 SIMBA (Sea Ice Mass Balance in Antarctic) cruise, were used to demonstrate the method. The resultant orthorectified and spatially registered images can thus be used to derive ice concentration, ice types, floe sizes, and area of deformed ice, parameters recorded by an ASPeCt observer based on experience. An assessment of total ice concentration, utilizing a digital number threshold method, for a 30 image sequence spanning 10 min, was compared to the corresponding ASPeCt observation and found good agreement. A k-means unsupervised classification technique was employed to evaluate the spectral separability of pixels associated with differing ice types. A significant source of visual perspective bias was discovered in associated with uneven spatial distribution of open-water leads. Convolution spatial filtering was employed to assess area of deformed ice during night-time conditions, when ship's floodlights illuminate the ice field. Transformation of individual image elements, such as floes, to vector-based polygons enabled accurate measurement of dimension, thus providing a frequency distribution of floe sizes, currently not possible with existing ASPeCt protocols. Limitations of this acquisition and analysis technique, future improvements, and coordination with the ASPeCt program were discussed.
The Dual Function of Glucose in Islets of Langerhans

It is widely accepted that metabolites of glucose rather than glucose itself trigger insulin release from β-cells. If so, level changes of such metabolites ought to occur in β-cells within seconds of a glucose pulse. To examine this hypothesis, glucose, glucose-6-P, fructose-diP plus triose-P, 6-P-gluconate, ATP, and P-creatine were measured in individual rat islets after intravenous infusion for 1 to 60 min of glucose, mannoheptulose, and xylitol, or combinations of these compounds. Insulin levels in serum were determined concomitantly. Some of the animals were fasted for 5 or 6 days prior to glucose infusion. Individual islets were dissected from freeze-dried sections sampled with quick freezing methods. The sensitivity and specificity needed for analysis of metabolites and cofactors were gained by using enzymatic fluorometric procedures combined with an oil well method and enzymatic cycling of pyridine nucleotides. Serum insulin was determined immunochemically. Insulin levels in peripheral blood rose within 1 min of injection of glucose. Mannoheptulose as well as fasting blocked this glucose effect. Penetration of glucose, although very rapid, was carrier mediated, since under special conditions mannoheptulose and also xylitol caused exit countertransport of glucose from the β-cells. This shows that mannoheptulose has effects on glucose metabolism of islets that are independent of its ability to inhibit phosphorylation. Most of the metabolites and cofactors measured were unchanged during the first 5 min of glucose infusion. Fructose-diP plus triose-P rose within 1 min in fed animals, but also increased when insulin release was blocked in various ways. After 1 hour of hyperglycemia there was a marked rise in all metabolites and cofactors save ATP. The metabolic changes induced by glucose infusion in severely fasted animals, indicate that islet cell metabolism was stimulated, although insulin release was blocked. These results and reports by other investigators suggest that glucose itself rather than its metabolites triggers insulin secretion.