cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Copper accumulation and oxidative stress in the sea anemone, Aiptasia pallida, after waterborne copper exposure

Copper is a common marine pollutant yet its effects on symbiotic cnidarians are largely understudied. To further understand the impact of elevated copper concentrations on marine symbiotic organisms, toxicity tests were conducted using the model sea anemone, Aiptasia pallida, with and without its zooxanthellae symbiont. Symbiotic and aposymbiotic A. pallida were exposed to sublethal copper concentrations (0, 5, 15, and 50 microg/L) for 7d and copper accumulation, behavior, and the activity of the oxidative stress enzymes, superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) were measured. Additionally, acute 96-h toxicity tests were conducted to determine LC(50) values of the organisms after copper exposure. Both symbiotic and aposymbiotic A. pallida rapidly accumulated copper in a time and dose dependent manner. However, higher copper concentrations accumulated in the aposymbiotic as compared to the symbiotic A. pallida. In response to the highest two copper exposures (15 and 50 microg/L) symbiotic A. pallida upregulated CAT activity to combat the damaging effects of hydrogen peroxide. Contrary to these results, SOD activity significantly decreased during the highest copper exposure, when compared to controls. CAT activity was not detected and SOD was substantially (>10 fold) reduced in aposymbiotic A. pallida, suggesting that the zooxanthellae are associated with the oxidative stress response. Copper exposure as low as 5 microg/L caused tentacle retraction and increased mucus production in both symbiotic and aposymbiotic anemones. The LC(50) values for symbiotic and aposymbiotic A. pallida exposed to copper for 96 h were 148 microg/L (95% confidence interval=126.4, 173.8) and 206 microg/L (95% confidence interval=175.2, 242.2), respectively. Understanding the varying responses of symbiotic and aposymbiotic A. pallida to copper stress may advance our comprehension of the functional roles of zooxanthellae and host. Although the mechanism of copper toxicity has not been fully elucidated, it is clear that A. pallida accumulate copper and are sensitive, as effects were detected at environmentally relevant copper concentrations. Likewise, A. pallida may be useful in biomonitoring copper polluted environments.
Throwing Pattern: Changes in Timing of Joint Lag According to Age between and within Skill Level.

Accomplished throwers conserve angular momentum when distal joints of the throwing arm reach peak velocity at a later time than their proximal neighbors. The result is an increase in velocity of the most distal segment--the hand. Past research indicates that skill level varies by the number of joints experiencing distal timing lag (time to peak velocity of a distal joint minus the time to peak velocity of its proximal neighboring joint) and that the amount of lag may vary within skill level across individual performers (Southard, 2002). The purpose of this study was to determine if the amount and variance of joint timing lag differ between and within skill level and age of performer Eighty participants were divided into four groups according to their age and skill level. Participants were required to throw a ball at 50% maximum velocity. Differences in the timing of three-dimensional joint lag were determined using a 2 x 4 (Age x Level) multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA). Significant MANOVA was followed by discriminant function analysis, univariate analysis of variance (ANOVA), and analysis of covariance. Coefficient of variance in joint lag was analyzed using separate 2 x 4 ANOVAs. MANOVA results indicated a significant two-way interaction. Discriminant analysis showed that wrist lag was the best discriminating variable for age. Wrist and elbow lag were best for throwing level. ANOVA for wrist lag indicated a decrease in distal timing lag for older and higher level throwers. Elbow lag increased with age and skill level. Coefficient of variance results indicated that joint lag for younger and lower level performers was most variable. It was concluded that such differences in lag should be considered when defining throwing performnance.
Metastable Equilibrium Solubility Behavior of Carbonated Apatites in the Presence of Solution Fluoride

The aims of the present investigation were to assess the applicability of the metastable equilibrium solubility (MES) concept for the carbonated apatites (CAPs) over a range of pH and a wide range of solution fluoride concentrations and to examine the hypothesis that, in the presence of solution fluoride, a surface complex with the stoichiometry of fluorapatite (FAP) governs the MES behavior. Two CAP samples were prepared by precipitation from reaction media containing calcium nitrate (Ca(NO(3))(2).4H(2)O) and sodium phosphate (NaH(2)PO(4).H(2)O) at two different levels of sodium bicarbonate. The MES distributions of the two CAP preparations were determined by equilibrating approximately 10 mg of CAP powder in 2 L of 0.1 M acetate buffers (ionic strength=0.50 M) at pH 4.5 and 5.5 and at various levels of calcium, phosphate, and fluoride. The fluoride concentrations ranged from 0.03 to 12 ppm. From the compositions of the equilibrating buffer solutions, ion activity products based upon the stoichiometries of hydroxyapatite (HAP) and FAP were calculated in an attempt to determine the correct function governing the dissolution of the CAP preparations. The results of this study demonstrated that both CAP preparations exhibit the MES distribution phenomenon in solution media of varying pH and fluoride concentrations. Furthermore, the experimental MES data obtained with both CAP preparations at the lower pH (4.5) and at higher solution fluoride levels (>/=0.1 ppm) were essentially superimposable when plotted against the ion activity product based upon the stoichiometry of FAP, suggesting that in the presence of solution fluoride the MES governing surface complex may be an entity possessing a stoichiometry approximated by that of FAP. When the HAP stoichiometry was assumed to represent the surface complex, good superposition of the data was not possible. Copyright 2000 Academic Press.
238 EFFICACY OF RECOMBINANT TRYPSIN AGAINST BOVINE HERPESVIRUS-1 ASSOCIATED WITH IN VITRO-DERIVED PORCINE EMBRYOS

TrypLETM (Invitrogen, Carlsbad, CA, USA) is a recombinant, fungal, trypsin-like protease that is used as a substitute for porcine-origin trypsin in cell culture procedures. It is stable at room temperature and does not present the same risk of contamination as animal-origin trypsin. Previously, TrypLE SelectTM (10X) was shown to remove bovine herpesvirus-1 (BHV-1) from Day 7 in vivo-derived embryos (Marley et al. 2006 Reprod. Fert. Dev. 18, 213–214). The objective of this study was to determine if the same treatment would effectively remove BHV-1 from Day 7 zona pellucida-intact, in vitro-derived porcine embryos. Day 7 in vitro-derived morulae and blastocysts and non-fertile or degenerate embryos (NFD) were washed according to the International Embryo Transfer Society protocol. One group of 10 NFD was not exposed to virus and served as the negative control. The remaining embryos and 10 NFD were exposed to 106–108 PFU/mL BHV-1 (Colorado strain) for 1 h. Following exposure, one group of 10 NFD was washed and served as the positive control. The remaining developed embryos were divided into groups of 10 and washed and treated as described in Table 1. Following treatment, the embryos were sonicated in groups of 5 and assayed by virus isolation. The negative control embryos, as well as the embryos treated with porcine-origin trypsin, TrypLE Select (10X) for 7 min, and TrypLE Select (10X) diluted 1 : 2 for 10 min, were negative for virus. The positive control embryos in addition to the other treatments were positive on virus isolation (Table 1). Although, TrypLE Select (10X) does have some antiviral effect when used for 10 min, it was not completely effective, as shown by the positive virus isolation results of one group of 10 embryos. The groups treated with TrypLE Select (10X) diluted 1 : 2 for 10 min were negative for virus; however, if a larger sample size had been tested, positive groups might have occurred. Though using a recombinant trypsin product would be beneficial over using an animal-origin product, it is not known if TrypLE Select (10X) would render a single IVF embryo free of infectious virus. Further research would also need to be performed to assess the viability of embryos following treatment with TrypLE Select (10X). In addition, other recombinant trypsin products need to be evaluated to determine their efficacy against BHV-1 associated with IVF embryos. Table 1.Effect of recombinant trypsin-like proteases on BHV-1 virus in porcine embryos
Synthesis and Characterization of Trans-R,R- and Cis-1,2-Diaminocyclohexane Platinum(II) Complexes Containing Amino Acid Ligands

Abstract A number of new trans-R,R- and cis- 1,2-diaminocyclohexane platinum(II) complexes containing amino acid ligands has been prepared and characterized by elemental analysis, IR and 1H, 13C and 195Pt NMR spectroscopy.
Capacity Recovery of a Sulfated Lead-Acid Battery Using Pressure Feedback Charging Control

Valve Regulated Lead-Acid (VRLA) batteries can degrade due to a variety of mechanisms, including corrosion, hard sulfation, water loss, shedding, and active mass degradation. Hard sulfation can be the dominant aging mechanism for many cells. In this paper, pressure feedback is used to minimize water loss during low current charging designed to break up hard sulfate and recover capacity. A VRLA battery that was cycle tested to failure is used to test the desulfation charging control scheme. One cell of this battery that was diagnosed with sulfation degradation was desulfated for 313 hrs at an average current of 0.2 A. The capacity of the cell was recovered by 41% with minimal water loss, demonstrating the effectiveness of the desulfation charge controller.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
Recent research and development on 71‐in.‐diagonal color PDPs

— The World's first 71- and 76-in.-diagonal ACPDPs with full high-definition resolution (1920 × 1080), a high luminance of 800 cd/m2, and a dark-room contrast ratio of 1200:1 have been developed using a highly efficient barrier-rib structure. Also a new MgO protective layer and a film-type optical filter were developed to improve picture quality. To fabricate large-sized panels over 70 in. on the diagonal, an improved uniform exposing technology for the patterning of electrodes, a green sheet method for the transparent dielectric layer, and a co-processed bus and black-matrix (CPBB) method were used.
Effect of Crystallites on Subcritical Crack Growth and Strain‐Rate Sensitivity of Strength of Cordierite Glass‐Ceramics

A study was conducted of the subcritical crack growth in a series of cordierite glass-ceramics, including the original glass, by means of the double-torsion method and measurement of the strain-rate sensitivity of the strength of specimens with controlled indentation cracks subjected to biaxial flexure. The double-torsion data showed that the same rate of crack growth required a stress intensity factor for the fully crystallized glass-ceramic about 3 times higher than for the original glass, accompanied by a simultaneous increase in the stress intensity exponent (N). The suppression in the rate of crack growth in the crystallized material at any value of stress intensity factor was attributed to enhanced crack deflection around the crystallites. Limited observations suggested that the increase in N on crystallite formation may be due to a greater degree of crack deflection at the lower crack velocities than at the higher velocities. For strength specimens of the as-received and crystallized glass with large surface flaws, the N values obtained by the strain-rate measurements and the double-torsion test showed good agreement. However, for the fully crystallized material with surface flaws too small to interact significantly with the coarser crystallites, the N value for the strain-rate data was well below the value for the double-torsion method. Indentation-fracture data of the double-torsion specimens confirmed the existence of crack-size dependent fracture toughness. Limited fracture toughness data coupled with SEM fractography indicated that with increasing crystallite size toughening occurs by crack deflection as well as by microcrack toughening counteracted by fracture through the crystallites.
A Direct Numerical Simulation of the Unsteady Development of a Deformable Rising Bubble in a Quiescent Liquid

An accurate finite-volume based numerical method for the simulation of an isothermal two-phase flow, consisting of a deformable bubble rising in a quiescent, unbounded liquid, is presented. This direct simulation method is built on a sharp interface concept and developed on an Eulerian, Cartesian fixed grid with a cut-cell scheme and marker points to track the moving interface. The unsteady Navier-Stokes equations in both liquid and gas phases are solved separately. The mass continuity and momentum flux conditions are explicitly matched at the true phase boundary to determine the interface shape and movement of the bubble. The highlights of this method are that it utilizes a combined Eulerian-Lagrangian approach, and is capable of treating the interface as a sharp discontinuity. A fixed underlying grid is used to represent the control volume. The interface, however, is denoted by a separate set of marker particles which move along with the interface. A quadratic curve fitting algorithm with marker points is used to yield smooth and accurate information of the interface curvatures. This numerical scheme can handle a wide range of density and viscosity ratios. The bubble is assumed to be spherical and at rest initially, but deforms as it rises through the liquid pool due to buoyancy. Additionally, the flow is assumed to be axisymmetric and incompressible. The bubble deformation and dynamic motion are characterized by the Reynolds number, the Weber number, the density ratio and the viscosity ratio. The effects of these parameters on the translational bubble dynamics and shape are given and the physical mechanisms are explained and discussed. Results for the shape, velocity profile and various forces acting on the bubble are presented here as a function of time until the bubble reaches terminal velocity. The range of Reynolds numbers investigated is 1 < Re < 100 , and that of Weber number is 1 < We < 10 .Copyright © 2008 by ASME
Dense zircon insert-batchers for intermediate ladles on continuous steel casting plant

A technology was developed for making dense zircon insert-batchers with an open porosity of up to 10%. The insert wear is less than 1 mm during the hot time. They satisfy the property requirements for continuous casting of killed carbon steel deoxidized with aluminum in amounts of up to 300 g/ton.
A general method for site specific fluorescent labeling of recombinant chemokines.

Chemokines control cell migration in many contexts including development, homeostasis, immune surveillance and inflammation. They are also involved in a wide range of pathological conditions ranging from inflammatory diseases and cancer, to HIV. Chemokines function by interacting with two types of receptors: G protein-coupled receptors on the responding cells, which transduce signaling pathways associated with cell migration and activation, and glycosaminoglycans on cell surfaces and the extracellular matrix which organize and present some chemokines on immobilized surface gradients. To probe these interactions, imaging methods and fluorescence-based assays are becoming increasingly desired. Herein, a method for site-specific fluorescence labeling of recombinant chemokines is described. It capitalizes on previously reported 11–12 amino acid tags and phosphopantetheinyl transferase enzymes to install a fluorophore of choice onto a specific serine within the tag through a coenzyme A-fluorophore conjugate. The generality of the method is suggested by our success in labeling several chemokines (CXCL12, CCL2, CCL21 and mutants thereof) and visualizing them bound to chemokine receptors and glycosaminoglycans. CXCL12 and CCL2 showed the expected co-localization on the surface of cells with their respective receptors CXCR4 and CCR2 at 4°C, and co-internalization with their receptors at 37°C. By contrast, CCL21 showed the presence of large discrete puncta that were dependent on the presence of both CCR7 and glycosaminoglycans as co-receptors. These data demonstrate the utility of this labeling approach for the detection of chemokine interactions with GAGs and receptors, which can vary in a chemokine-specific manner as shown here. For some applications, the small size of the fluorescent adduct may prove advantageous compared to other methods (e.g. antibody labeling, GFP fusion) by minimally perturbing native interactions. Other advantages of the method are the ease of bacterial expression, the versatility of labeling with any maleimide-fluorophore conjugate of interest, and the covalent nature of the fluorescent adduct.
Photosynthesis of salt-stressed maize as influenced by Ca∶Na ratios in the nutrient solution

The CO2 fixation rate of salt-stressed maize leaves was influenced by the Ca∶Na ratio in the solution cultures. At an osmotic potential of −0.4 MPa in the root media, both the photosynthetic rate and the water-use efficiency declined as substrate Ca increased. Blade-Ca concentration also increased, while blade-Na and-Mg decreased. Apparently photosynthetic activity was inhibited in part by internal Mg deficiency rather than by Na toxicity or by Na-induced Ca deficiency. Reduction of the Ca∶Mg ratio in the culture stimulated the CO2 fixation rate.
Dyadic Interaction of Preschool Children and Performance on a Construction Task

S~lnmry.-26 children (5 each at ages 2, 3, 4, and 5 and G at age 6) in a day care center were administered a construction task both singly and in randomly constructed same sex dyads. Dyadic interaction had an over-all effect of increasing the number of blocks used but not the amount of time the children spent on the task. The influence of age was significant for both number of blocks used and amount of time spent. Only for the 6-yr.-olds does dyadic interaction seem to be facilitative. In day care centers, nursery schools, preprimary programs in religious education, and the like, a persistent problem of major importance is determining when and how interaction among the children can be facilitative rather than disruptive. From the work of Piaget (1967) and others it is well known that the thinking of preprirnary age children is dominated by egocentrism, an inability to assume the viewpoint of others. Yet liberation from egocentrism, according to Piaget, occurs as a remlt of interaction with peers. In a series of experiments with 5-yr.-old children, Torrance ( 1970a) found that dyadic interaction could be facilitative and at the same time encourage socialization and creative functio~ing. In the first experiment (1970~) he investigated the simple hypothesis that dyadic interaction will facilitate the production of original ideas among 5-yr.-old children. To test this hypothesis, he administered his Mother Goose Problems Test (Torrance, 1969b) to 24 5-yr.-olds alone and to 22 of their rasdomly selected classmates in a preprimary program in dyads. The results showed that the dyadic interaction resulted in significantly more original solutions. In addition, observational data suggested that the children had more fun working on the problems in dyads than when working alone and worked at the problems for a longer length of time. Building upon this experience, Towelll investigated the persistence hypothesis with 5-yr.-old disadvantaged children in a Head Start program, using the "What Can It Be?" test which provides a measure of originality (Torrance, 1970b). At the same time he replicated the initial study with clear-cut results. The mean originality score in dyads was about twice that attained under standard conditions. Persistence, as measured by length of time the children worked at the task, was also significantly greater in dyads than under standard conditions. In another study, Torrance (1969a) investigated the hypothesis that 5-yr.old children would be more willing to attempt difficult tasks when placed in
Theory of the multicenter bond

Tight-binding theory, as applied to tetrahedral semiconductors by Harrison, has been extended to crystal structures of more general coordination. Following Harrison's application to ${\mathrm{SiO}}_{2}$, the total energy is formulated in terms of multicenter bonding units, the analog of the two-center bond in tetrahedral structures. The universal matrix elements, which are obtained from fits to free-electron bands and depend only on the internuclear distance, correspond to matrix elements between orthogonal Wannier functions in the zinc-blende structure, and do not apply directly to other structures. Matrix elements of nonorthogonal atomic orbitals, which are applicable to other structures, are formulated in terms of the universal matrix elements in the tetrahedral structure. These matrix elements are then applicable to new structures, and permit an extension of the theory without introducing new parameters, or modifying the theory in any fundamental way. Several properties, including the total energy, minimum bond length, and force constant, are calculated for units of ${\mathrm{Zn}}_{3}$${\mathrm{P}}_{2}$ and elemental boron, and are found to agree with experiment much as did the theory's original application. The tight-binding bands of ${\mathrm{Zn}}_{3}$${\mathrm{P}}_{2}$, using a fluorite structure as an approximation to the true crystal structure, are compared to a pseudopotential calculation of Lin-Chung. It is found that second neighbors are necessary to obtain the correct band structure, but the total energy is not sensitive to the choice of neighbors.
The role of metal ions in ischemia/reperfusion injury in skin flaps

The role of hydroxyl radical generation by the metal-catalyzed Haber-Weiss reaction in producing injury to postischemic skin flaps in rats was evaluated. The venous drainage from groin island flaps was occluded for 7 hr and then reperfused. The flaps were infused with either deferoxamine, CaNa2EDTA, histidine, salicylate, or vehicle (saline) at the time of reperfusion. In another experimental group, the role of hydrogen peroxide was evaluated by the infusion of catalase at the time of reperfusion. Treatment with a single dose of deferoxamine (40 mg/kg), CaNa2EDTA (50 mg/kg), or histidine (50 mg/kg), significantly increased the flap survival rate from 24 to 63, 75, and 63%, respectively. A large dose of salicylate (80 mg/kg) improved the flap survival rate (to 63%): a smaller dose (40 mg/kg) offered no improvement. A large dose of catalase ameliorated the survival rate (to 88%). The results suggest that the presence of metal ions is required for the expression of free radical-induced tissue damage. Hydrogen peroxide appears to be essential for the production of this injury.
Inhibition of differentiation in p19 embryonal carcinoma cells by the expression of vectors encoding truncated or antisense EGF receptor

Abstract Murine embryonal carcinoma cells do not express detectable cell-surface epidermal growth factor receptors (EGF-R) but after 2 days of differentiation induced by retinoic acid (RA) increasingly express mRNA and protein encoded by the EGF receptor gene (Joh et al., Cell Growth and Differentiation 3, 315, 1992). The effect on morphology, growth, and differentiation of the introduction of expression vectors that produce either a truncated, kinase-negative mouse EGF receptor or an antisense mRNA was studied in P19 embryonal carcinoma (EC) cells before and after differentiation. The presence of either construct should lead to the reduction of EGF-R expression by either the dominant negative effects of a truncated protein or the inhibition of endogenous EGF-R mRNA production/translation by complementary RNA, respectively. Cells were cotransfected with the bacterial neomycin resistance gene and constitutively expressing clones were selected with G418. The cytomegalovirus LTR promoter/enhancer was found to be very inefficiently activated in Pl9 EC cells. After RA addition, changes in gene expression included induction of both the exogenous truncated constructs and endogenous EGF-R. Differentiation was gauged by the expression of tissue-type plasminogen activator and intermediate filament protein markers of neural tissues, as well as EGF-R. The expression of 120-kDa truncated EGF-Rs was high in four clones, but all 10 clones examined had diminished abilities to differentiate after RA induction compared to four control cell lines. Similarly, the majority of antisense transfected clones was unable to differentiate normally. The results indicate that the reduced expression of EGF-Rs in differentiating EC cells inhibits the rate, frequency, and extent of differentiation after RA induction. We conclude that the expression of EGF-Rs plays a role in the stimulation of differentiation and we speculate that the mechanism involves the tyrosine kinase activity of the receptor.
Electrical Test Methods For Evaluating Lithographic Processes And Equipment

A test structure is a microelectronic device that is fabricated by the same process used to fabricate integrated circuits (ICs) and can be tested electrically to determine important process parameters. Test structures can be used to evaluate semiconductor materials, evaluate and control process uniformity, measure device and circuit parameters, obtain input parameters for circuit simulation programs, and determine the performance of processing equipment. This paper reviews previous work at NBS on the design, measurement, and application of two types of test structures that have been used for evaluating lithographic processes and lithographic equipment performance. First, the cross-bridge sheet-resistor test structure is described. Test results from electrical measurements on this structure can be used to determine the electrical linewidth of a conducting layer. The use of test chips containing arrays of identical cross bridges for determining the uniformity of a lithographic process will be described. Analysis of test results from these arrays has been used to identify and separate the contribution to linewidth nonuniformities introduced by individual equipment and processes. The precision to which linewidth can be determined using this structure is discussed. Also, an electrical alignment test structure for determining the misalignment between two photomask steps is described and an example of its use presented. Finally, an automated dc parametric test system used for measuring these structures is described.© (1982) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
The role of bone densitometry in the diagnosis and management of the severely burned patient with bone loss.

Children and adults who suffer severe burn injuries develop abnormalities in bone and mineral metabolism. The most prominent of these is a reduction in bone formation. Events occurring immediately following burn injury that are likely contributors to the reduced bone formation include an increase in endogenous glucocorticoid production, functional growth hormone deficiency, hypoparathyroidism, and interoperative immobilization. The proinflammatory cytokines interleukin-1 β and interleukin-6 may also contribute. To date, the effects of burn injury on bone formation have been equivocal. However, the major reduction in bone formation without any consistent change in resorption suggests an uncoupling of formation and resorption. A consequence of this is lumbar spine bone loss as detected by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry by 6 wk postburn. In both cross-sectional and longitudinal studies, the initial low bone density remains decreased in relation to unburned age-matched peers. The reduced bone density increases the risk for postburn fractures and for reduced peak bone mass, increasing the risk of these patients for adult-onset osteoporosis.
Synthesis of layered MgHPO4. 1.2H2O under ambient conditions

Abstract Layered Magnesium Phosphate MgHPO 4. 1.2H 2 O is synthesized by the direct ambient pressure and temperature reaction between MgCl 6 . 6H 2 O and phosphoric acid at pH 6.0. A detailed study has been performed on the temperature dependance of the reversible dehydration-rehydration process that takes place in this material.
URINARY CORTISOL EXCRETION AS A TEST OF ADRENAL CORTICAL FUNCTION.

Urinary Cortisol excretion rates have been measured before and during ACTH administration in normal subjects and in patients having or suspected of having adrenal cortical abnormalities. Patients with the following disorders were included in the study; Cushing's syndrome, idiopathic hirsutism, Stein-Leventhal syndrome, exogenous obesity, hypopituitarism, and Addison's disease. Patients with Cushing's syndrome had baseline Cortisol excretion rates 10 to 800 times the normal baseline values. This was true in some cases even though the baseline 17-ketogenic steroid excretion rates were normal or only slightly elevated. Those patients studied had a noticeably greater response than normal to ACTH, and in 2 patients the excessive excretion rate of Cortisol above their high baseline values continued for 1 or more days after intravenous ACTH was discontinued. The patients with adrenal-cortical adenomas had brisk increases in urinary Cortisol excretion rates during ACTH. Patients with “idiopathic” hirsutism had a greater than normal response to ACTH as measured by urinary Cortisol excretion rate. Two of 4 patients with Stein-Leventhal syndrome showed relatively little increase in urinary Cortisol excretion in response to ACTH. Ovarian resection in 1 patient had no influence on the responsiveness to ACTH; however, administration of estinyl estradiol for 2 weeks resulted in a normal increase in urinary Cortisol excretion in response to ACTH. Patients with exogenous obesity had normal baseline excretion rates of urinary Cortisol and the response to ACTH was normal.
Nonlinear dynamic modeling of impaired voice

This paper presents a nonlinear dynamic model for the purpose of modeling vowels uttered by patients who have problem in the control of voice box muscles. The proposed model will be utilized in the detection of speech pathologies and also automatic speech recognition systems to enhance patients' communication capabilities. The model of this study utilizes feedback, and also a sigmoid nonlinear function which is not included in the linear speech production models. The nonlinear function allows for the higher order dynamics of the signal to be captured and feedback increases dynamicity of the model. The model of the current research was applied to discriminate between few voice pathologies and normal cases. The statistical analysis of the parameters of the trained model showed that these parameters can provide independent and distinct features with which pathological classes can be discriminated.
Testing the value of skeletal samples in demographic research: a comparison with vital registration samples

Critics of paleodemography have suggested that the science is so fraught with error that its demise must be close at hand. Among the problems suggested as unsolvable are representativeness of skeletal samples and inaccuray of skeletal aging techniques. A historical skeletal sample with supportive vital registration might afford the opportunity to test the validity of such criticism or at least to examine the extent of the above problems.
A method of order reduction for structural dynamics

This paper presents a new method of order reduction based on recent work of a similar nature applicable to system dynamics and control. This method provides a practical computational procedure for producing a condensed model which exactly preserves the slowest n1 modes (where n1 is the number of 'slow' eigenvalues) of the total n modes of the original model for almost any set of n1 degrees of freedom retained in the condensed model. The method can also be used to compute the eigensolutions corresponding to the n1 slowest modes of the original structural dynamics problem. The accuracy of the condensed model and the speed/accuracy performance of the eigensolver are compared with standard methods for a 90 DOF cantilevered plate.
On wakes in stratified fluids

The general nature of the flow at large distances from a two-dimensional body moving uniformly through an unbounded, linearly stratified, non-diffusive viscous fluid is considered. The governing equations are linearized using the Oseen and Boussinesq approximations, and the boundary conditions at the body are replaced by a linearized momentum-integral equation. The solution of this linear problem shows a system of jets upstream and a pattern of waves downstream of the body. The effects of viscosity on these lee waves are considered in detail.
Noninvasive thermography of laser-induced hyperthermia using magnetic resonance

The possibility to induce selective hyperthermia in a target tissue or organ is of great interest for the treatment of cancer and other diseases. An emerging application of thermotherapy is for choroidal neovascularization, a complication of age-related macular degeneration. The therapy is currently limited because the temperature required for optimal tissue response is unknown. We report here an investigation of near infrared laser-induced heating in an ocular phantom. Magnetic resonance thermography (MRT) was used as a non-invasive method to determine the temperature distribution inside the phantom during exposure to a continuous wave diode laser at 806 nm wavelength with 1 watt maximum output. The laser beam had a quasi-gaussian profile, with a radius of 0.8-2.4 mm at target. High quality temperature images were obtained from temperature-dependent phase shifts in the proton resonance frequency with a resolution of 1deg C or better, using a 2T magnet. A phantom with a layer of bovine RPE melanin of 1.5 mm thickness was used to determine the spatial resolution of the MRT measurements. Three dimensional temperature maps were also constructed showing a spatial resolution of 0.25 mm in all direction. The heat distribution depended on the laser parameters, as well as the orientation of the melanin layer with respect to the incident laser beam. The temperature profiles determined by MRT closely followed predictions of a heat diffusion model, based on the optical properties of infrared light in melanin. These results support the use of MRT to optimize laser-induced hyperthermia in a small organ such as the eye.
Concentric tessellation maps and curvature continuous guided surfaces

A multi-sided hole in a surface can be filled by a sequence of nested, smoothly joined surface rings. We show how to generate such a sequence so that (i) the resulting surface is C^2 (also in the limit), (ii) the rings consist of standard splines of moderate degree and (iii) the hole filling closely follows the shape of and replaces a guide surface whose good shape is desirable, but whose representation is undesirable. To preserve the shape, the guided rings sample position and higher-order derivatives of the guide surface at parameters defined and weighted by a concentric tessellating map. A concentric tessellating map maps the domains of n patches to an annulus in R^2 that joins smoothly with a @l-scaled copy of itself, 0<@l<1. The union of @l^m-scaled copies parametrizes a neighborhood of the origin and the map thereby relates the domains of the surface rings to that of the guide. The approach applies to and is implemented for a variety of splines and layouts including the three-direction box spline (with @D-sprocket, e.g. Loop layout, at extraordinary points), tensor-product splines (@?-sprocket layout, e.g. Catmull-Clark), and polar layout. For different patch types and layout, the approach results in curvature continuous surfaces of degree less or equal 8, less or equal to (6,6), and as low as (4,3) if we allow geometric continuity.
Knock down of the α5 nicotinic acetylcholine receptor in spinal nerve-ligated rats alleviates mechanical allodynia

Abstract Nicotinic acetylcholine receptor (nAChR) agonists are known to alleviate neuropathic and inflammatory pain via activation of a heterogeneous population of receptors. However, the function of nAChRs in the maintenance of neuropathic pain is not known. Spinal nerve ligation (SNL) increases the spinal expression of the α5 nAChR subunit ipsilateral to injury. The α5 subunit is unique because it modifies numerous characteristics of existing functional nAChRs, but it does not form functional nAChRs when expressed alone or with β nicotinic subunits. Because there are no α5 subunit selective ligands, we used antisense oligonucleotides (ODNs) to assess the contribution of the α5 subunit to the maintenance of mechanical allodynia following SNL. Intrathecal antisense oligonucleotides were administered to SNL rats after the development of mechanical allodynia (10–12 days post-SNL). I.t. antisense specifically reduced α5 immunoreactivity (α5-IR) by 50–70% in the outer laminae of the dorsal horn and moderately alleviated mechanical allodynia. Furthermore, using the phosphorylation of cAMP response element-binding protein (pCREB) as a general marker of neuronal activation, a significant increase in pCREB immunoreactivity was observed in SNL rats. Treatment of SNL rats with α5-antisense significantly reduced pCREB immunoreactivity. These results suggest that the increased expression of the α5 nAChR subunit following SNL contributes to spinal CREB phosphorylation and the maintenance of mechanical allodynia.
50-200 GHz silicon-germanium heterojunction bipolar transistor BICMOS technology and a computer-aided design environment for 2-50+ GHz very large-scale integration mixed-signal ICs

Silicon–germanium (SiGe) heterojunction bipolar transistor (HBT) BICMOS technology is a stable, ultra-high performance, semiconductor technology capable of supporting mixed-signal, very large-scale integration (VLSI) circuit designs for a variety of emerging communication applications. This technology is supported by a computer-aided design (CAD) system that supports a variety of high-performance circuit designs, mixed-signal circuit block reuse, and the ability to accurately predict circuit performance at the highest frequencies. This paper summarizes the progress this technology has made in recent years in moving from the research laboratory to a production environment. We also specifically address performance, operating voltage, reliability and integration considerations for using 100–200 GHz SiGe HBTs in high-speed (10–40 Gb/s) network ICs, an application space previously only addressed by InP technology. All indications are that SiGe will be very successful at addressing this new application space, and all facets of the networking IC market.
Corn stalk rot suppression and grain yield response to chloride

Abstract Chloride may influence the incidence of corn (Zea mays L.) stalk rot, but supporting research is limited. Field experiments were conducted in 1994 and 1995 using intensive production practices to determine the effect of Cl fertilizer on stalk rot and grain yield. Treatments of 0 and 400 kg Cl ha‐1 were established using K2SO4 or KCl to supply equal amounts of potassium (K). Applied Cl increased the concentration of Cl in the ear‐leaf by more than four‐fold and reduced the incidence of stalk rot by more than half. Grain yield was significantly increased with applied Cl only in 1995. Results show that Cl, applied as KCl fertilizer, suppresses corn stalk rot and may increase grain yield.
Luteinizing Hormone Activates Chloride Currents in Hen Ovarian Granulosa Cells

Abstract Luteinizing hormone (LH) induces progesterone production in hen ovarian granulosa cells, and this induction is inhibited when chloride ions are removed from the culture medium. This suggests that chloride channels may be involved in the signal transduction pathway responsible for the LH-induced progesterone production. In this report, we examined effects of LH on plasma membrane ion currents in single granulosa cells isolated from the largest preovulatory follicle (F 1 ) of the hen ( Gallus domesticus ). Using the perforated patch whole cell voltage clamp technique, we found that addition of LH rapidly activated a chloride current in these cells. This chloride current was present at all voltages tested (−90 to +50 mV), showed outward rectification and showed no obvious time or voltage dependence. Its magnitude was 3.5-fold that of the total resting membrane current measured before LH treatment. LH is known to elevate cyclic AMP in these cells. We found that addition of the cAMP analog Sp-cAMPS mimicked LH in inducing chloride currents in these cells. We conclude that LH can activate a chloride conductance in granulosa cells, and that this action may be mediated by cAMP.
Gender Biases in Hiring Project Managers: Perceptions of Trust and Likeability

There have been numerous studies examining the effects of social role theory on negative stereotyping of female managers, including low perceived likeability and unwillingness by subordinates to trust them. These attributions are particularly relevant in the context of “male-dominated” jobs, such as technical disciplines like engineering and project management. We investigated the specific setting of project manager job candidate selection, a professional discipline that has historically been male-dominated, but one that has seen a large rise in female project managers over the past decade. We examined the perceptions of respondents to differences in male and female job candidates based on the critical personal/managerial characteristics of trust and likeability. Using a scenario-based survey questionnaire, we sampled 312 project management personnel and tested subjects’ reactions to two candidates for a project management position, employing identical descriptions and language while only changing the candidate's name: Susan or Stan. Our results suggested that, contrary to expectations, respondents’ perceptions of the female candidate, Susan, were significantly higher across both managerial dimensions of likeability and trust. Implications of these findings and directions for future research are discussed.
Public fiction as knowledge production: the case of the Raëlians' cloning claims:

In this article, I follow the construction of the public fiction of the 2002 Raelians' cloning claims as a site of liminal, or transitional, space for scientific knowledge production. In 2002, the ...
ACCELERATED GROWTH OF MALIGNANT MELANOMA BY LEVODOPA IN PARKINSON'S DISEASE AND ROLE OF THE PINEAL GLAND

(1992). Accelerated Growth of Malignant Melanoma by Levodopa in Parkinson's Disease and Role of the Pineal Gland. International Journal of Neuroscience: Vol. 63, No. 1-2, pp. 137-140.
An orderly development of paranodal axoglial junctions and bracelets of Nageotte in the rat sural nerve

The present study was designed to assess the normal development of the paranodal apparatus with particular emphasis on axoglial junctions (AGJs) which constitute the paranodal barrier system. The sural nerve was examined in 10- and 31-day-old rats. During the early phase of myelination AGJ attachment of terminal myelin loops to the axolemma proceeded from the node to the internode. The frequency of terminal loops with AGJ attachment increased with fiber growth. As myelination advanced internodal-most loops became almost 100% attached to the axolemma by AGJs, whereas at the same time an increasing number of nodal-most loops were unattached, suggesting a lack of AGJ formation at this site. The formation of bracelets of Nageotte increased with the progressive addition of myelin loops. They formed most frequently at the juxtanodal interface between unattached and attached loops, probably reflecting crowding of terminal loops along the unchanged length of the paranodal axolemma. The findings suggest a complex but orderly age- and fiber size-dependent maturation process of the paranode and its structural barrier system. The present data will serve as a basis for the evaluation of this anatomical region in regenerating and remyelinating fibers in various neuropathies.
Malignant intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasm: are we doing the right thing?

Background Because of the malignant potential, resection has been recommended for some intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms (IPMN). We hypothesize that a large cancer database could be used to evaluate national resection rates and survival for malignant IPMN. Materials and Methods Using the Surveillance Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) database, 1988–2003, cases of malignant IPMN were identified using histology codes. Age-adjusted incidence rates were calculated; Cochran-Armitage tests evaluated trends over time. Predictors of resection were evaluated using χ2 and logistic regression. Kaplan-Meier curves and Cox models were constructed to evaluate survival. Results Of 1834 patients, 209 (11.4%) underwent resection. Annual age-adjusted incidence decreased over the study time-course (P Conclusions In this population-based cohort, detection of malignant IPMNs is decreasing, with an increasing proportion of patients diagnosed at local stages and undergoing resection. Increased awareness of IPMN may be contributing to earlier detection, which might include benign/premalignant lesions, and greater utilization of resection for appropriate candidates; thus, we may be improving survival for this most treatable form of pancreatic cancer.
Multidimensional Modeling of Diesel Ignition and Combustion Using a Multistep Kinetics Model

Ignition and combustion mechanisms in diesel engines were studied using the KIVA code, with modifications to the combustion, heat transfer, crevice flow, and spray models. A laminar-and-turbulent characteristic-time combustion model that has been used successfully for spark-ignited engine studies was extended to allow predictions of ignition and combustion in diesel engines. A more accurate prediction of ignition delay was achieved by using a multistep chemical kinetics model. The Shell knock model was implemented for this purpose and was found to be capable of predicting successfully the autoignition of homogeneous mixtures in a rapid compression machine and diesel spray ignition under engine conditions. The physical significance of the model parameters is discussed and the sensitivity of results to the model constants is assessed. The ignition kinetics model was also applied to simulate the ignition process in a Cummins diesel engine. The post-ignition combustion was simulated using both a single-step Arrhenius kinetics model and also the characteristic-time model to account for the energy release during the mixing-controlled combustion phase. The present model differs from that used in earlier multidimensional computations of diesel ignition in that it also includes state-of-the-art turbulence and spray atomization models. In addition, in this study the model predictionsmore » are compared to engine data. It is found that good levels of agreement with the experimental data are obtained using the multistep chemical kinetics model for diesel ignition modeling. However, further study is needed of the effects of turbulent mixing on post-ignition combustion.« less