cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
HLA-DR and HLA-A, B, C typing of human fetal tissue

In anticipation of clinical trials of fetal pancreas transplantation we have investigated the feasibility of performing HLA-DR and HLA-A, B, C typing on fetal lymphoid cells other than PBL. Using the standard NIH microcytotoxicity test modified for HLA-DR typing it was possible to demonstrate HLA-DR antigens on subpopulations of bone marrow cells and splenocytes but not on thymocytes or hepatocytes. In contrast, HLA-A, B, C antigens could be detected on all four tissues. Excellent HLA-DR typing, confirmed by maternal typing, was obtained for 19 fetuses (14 to 23 weeks old) using bone marrow cells isolated by two-fold purification on discontinuous Percoll buoyant density gradients. Similar purification of splenocytes resulted in weak reactions with anti-DR sera; however, adherent splenocytes recovered from nylon wool columns proved to be primarily DR-bearing and also provided excellent DR typing. As a corollary to these results, non-adhering splenocytes depleted of DR-bearing cells were ideal for HLA-A, B, C typing since spurious reactions due to DR antigens were greatly diminished, whereas strong specific reactions were obtained with anti-HLA-A, B, C sera. Despite weaker reactions with HLA-A, B, C antisera obtained for thymocytes, reliable HLA-A, B, C typing could be obtained when results from thymocytes were evaluated together with typing from bone marrow cells or splenocytes. The possible benefits of fetal HLA typing for fetal pancreas transplantation are discussed.
Powerful Pots, Humbling Holes, and Regional Ritual Processes: Towards an Archaeology of Huedan Vodun, ca. 1650–1727

Situated along the “Slave Coast” of West Africa, the international coastal trading entrepot of Ouidah is infamous as the point of embarkation for hundreds of thousands of people spirited into the Middle Passage. Accordingly, scholars have looked to it and the surrounding region as a font of culture and history for diasporic groups. In scholarly narratives, the larger Gbe-speaking region surrounding Ouidah is characterized as the homeland of Vodun, a religious tradition that influenced diasporic religions throughout the Atlantic world. This paper explores early Huedan Vodun at a local level and works to bolster, and at the same time problematize, the project of addressing Vodun at increasing geographic scales and temporal depths. It builds on longstanding research which recognizes that context is critical for interpreting possible ritual or religious significance of archaeological material.
Lattice phonon spectra of aluminum oxide anodic films

Techniques have been developed for obtaining reproducible lattice phonon spectra of barrier aluminum oxide anodic films. Changes in the lattice phonon spectrum as a result of 15-keV proton bombardment are interpreted in terms of the formation of Al-OH bonds. Polarization spectra of stripped and unstripped aluminum oxide films confirm the findings of Vedder and Vermilyea, particularly with respect to the origin of the 960 cm−1 band. The close similarity in the observed and calculated band shapes (using the theory of Berreman) leave little doubt that the 960 cm−1 absorption is due to a longitudinal optic mode of the aluminum oxide lattice.
New mutations in the Prm promoter of bacteriophage lambda

A pRM-cI-lacZ fusion inserted into the b2 region of bacteriophage lambda imm21 was used to isolate mutations in the lambda pRM promoter. Among the mutations causing defects in synthesis of both repressor (cI gene product) and beta-galactosidase, new promoter mutations were identified at positions -11 and -32 relative to the cI transcription start point. Both mutations are changes in conserved (consensus) nucleotides in pRM, but the mutation at -11, which alters a more highly conserved nucleotide, has a somewhat greater effect on promoter function in vitro than does the mutation at -32. We also isolated a mutation at -69 in the repressor-binding site OR1, which presumably prevents activation of pRM by repressor.
Nutritional Risk in Inner-City-Dwelling Older Black Americans

OBJECTIVE: To define the degree of nutritional risk in older inner-city black Americans and to identify important underlying factors associated with high nutritional risk. DESIGN: Cross-sectional descriptive study. SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS: A population-based sample of 400 noninstitutionalized persons older than 69 years of age in north St. Louis (NSL), Missouri, and a community-based sample of 115 residents aged 50 years and older living in public housing in East St. Louis (ESL), Illinois. Both study areas have high levels of poverty. MEASUREMENTS: Nutritional risk was measured using the Nutrition Screening Initiative Checklist. Demographic information, economic status, self-rated health, Geriatric Depression Scale score, and body mass index were assessed using established standardized instruments. MAIN RESULTS: Forty-eight percent of NSL and 66% of ESL subjects scored high on the Checklist. Compared with a mostly white (96%) comparison group from New England, both samples demonstrated particularly high prevalence for limited intake of fruits, vegetables, and milk; tooth and mouth problems; lack of money for food; eating alone; polypharmacy; and inability to shop, cook or feed on their own. High levels of depressive symptoms, fair or poor self-rated health, perceived inadequacy of income, and low income levels were associated with high risk, but even those subjects with no or few such predisposing factors were still high on the Checklist score compared with the New England sample. CONCLUSIONS: If confirmed, these results indicate that inner-city-dwelling older black Americans are at high nutritional risk. Attempts to reduce their nutritional risk should focus on improving nutritional content of their diet, oral health, polypharmacy, depressive symptoms, and poor general health; offering group meals; and providing assistance with shopping and cooking. J Am Geriatr Soc 44:959–962, 1996.
Beyond plain weave fabrics – I. Geometrical model

Abstract In response to the large variety of weaving styles offered by the textile industry, a new general approach for the geometrical modeling of 2D biaxial orthogonal woven fabric reinforcements for composite materials is proposed here. New geometrical parameters are introduced in order to describe general families of twill and satin woven patterns, and a new classification of woven fabrics is proposed based on these parameters. Generation of the 3D internal geometry of the woven fabric families is achieved based on new geometrical functions that consider the actual configuration of the composite material in all its complexity. The proposed geometrical model is intended as the foundation for further analytical or numerical modeling of the mechanical properties of the composite materials reinforced with these fabrics.
Allosteric Mechanisms in Cytochrome P450 3A4 Studied by High-Pressure Spectroscopy: Pivotal Role of Substrate-Induced Changes in the Accessibility and Degree of Hydration of the Heme Pocket†

Allosteric mechanisms in human cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) in oligomers in solution or monomeric enzyme incorporated into Nanodiscs (CYP3A4ND) were studied by high-pressure spectroscopy. The allosteric substrates 1-pyrenebutanol (1-PB) and testosterone were compared with bromocriptine (BCT), which shows no cooperativity. In both CYP3A4 in solution and CYP3A4ND, we observed a complete pressure-induced high-to-low spin shift at pressures of <3 kbar either in the substrate-free enzyme or in the presence of BCT. In addition, both substrate-free and BCT-bound enzyme revealed a pressure-dependent equilibrium between two states with different barotropic parameters designated R for relaxed and P for pressure-promoted conformations. This pressure-induced conformational transition was also observed in the studies with 1-PB and testosterone. In CYP3A4 oligomers, the transition was accompanied by an important increase in homotropic cooperativity with both substrates. Surprisingly, at high concentrations of allosteri...
Leveraging crowdsourcing heuristics to improve search in Wikipedia

Wikipedia articles are usually accompanied with history pages, categories and talk pages. The meta--data available in these pages can be analyzed to gain a better understanding of the content and quality of the articles. We analyze the quality of search results of the current major Web search engines (Google, Yahoo! and Live) in Wikipedia. We discuss how the rich meta--data available in wiki pages can be used to provide better search results in Wikipedia. We investigate the effect of incorporating the extent of review of an article into ranking of search results. The extent of review is measured by the number of distinct editors who have contributed to the articles and is extracted by processing Wikipedia's history pages. Our experimental results show that re--ranking search results of the three major Web search engines, using the review feature, improves quality of their rankings for Wikipedia--specific searches.
Cartographies of Globalisation, Technologies of Gendered Subjectivities: The Dub Poetry of Jean ‘Binta’ Breeze

By locating the current usage of ‘diaspora’ within today's cultures, I make a case for the unacknowledged subject of Paul Gilroy's black Atlantic world being Western, urban and male. In order to consider the black Atlantic as the site of multiple and heterogeneouslyproduced subjectivities, I turn to the Jamaican performance poet, Jean ‘Binta’ Breeze, whose work stages modern black subjectivities that are Third World, rural, domestic and female. Her poems depict black female subjectivities that are both local and global, articulated more through dancehall culture and radio technology than a ‘cut-and-mix’ music style that tends to be male-identified.
Behavioral effects of intraseptal injections of adrenergic drugs in rats

Injections of 5-10 µg of crystalline norepinephrine into the ventromedial septum of Sprague-Dawley rats decreased the rate of responding and increased the number of shocks received on a free-operant avoidance schedule and increased the rate of anticipatory errors and decreased the number of reinforcements received on a DRL schedule. Ventromedial septal injections of the α-adrenergic receptor blocker, Dibenzyline, had opposite effects and improved performance on both schedules, whereas intraseptal injections of the β-adrenergic receptor blockers, dichloroisoproterenol and LB-46, did not modify behavior on these schedules. A different pattern of results was obtained when these drugs were injected into the dorsolateral septum. These results suggest that the septum, especially the ventromedial portion, contains α-adrenoceptive neurons that may function to modulate arousal or the effectiveness of both positive and negative reinforcement.
Sintering of Oxide and Carbide-Metal Compositions in Presence of a Liquid Phase

Observations of microstructure changes in several systems and the rate of densification during sintering of magnesium oxide, titanium carbide, and tungsten carbide in the presence of a liquid phase indicate that the densification rate is controlled by diffusion through a liquid film between particles. Dependence of the sintering rate on time, particle size, and temperature are in agreement with predictions. Theoretical estimations of the sintering rate are in reasonable agreement with experimental measurements.
BiPAP mask ventilation for re-expansion pulmonary oedema

A 15-year-old girl with a spontaneous pneumothorax presented with a cough and worsening chest pain. Re-expansion pulmonary oedema developed 20 minutes after chest tube drainage. Immediate resuscitation was started for hypotension and bradycardia. Hypoxaemia was managed by BiPAP mask ventilation; respiratory failure and pulmonary oedema showed dramatic improvement 8 hours later.
Boat Electrofishing as a Technique for Sampling Paddlefish

Abstract We used electrofishing and gill netting to sample paddlefish Polyodon spathula in the Alabama River drainage during the 1992–1993 spawning migrations. Electrofishing was effective for collecting adults in riverine habitats as well as juveniles in shallow lacustrine areas. Gill netting did not cause immediate mortality, whereas electrofishing was responsible for an overall immediate mortality of 10%. Across sites, paddlefish collected by electrofishing were smaller than those collected by gill netting. In standardized sampling, electrofishing collections yielded a catch per unit effort more than twice that of collections by gill netting. These results provide a benchmark for a sampling technique rarely used with paddlefish and not previously published. Our observations suggest that boat-mounted electrofishing can provide a viable alternative technique for sampling this species, particularly when factors such as excessive current speed and an abundance of submerged timber may preclude the use of ot...
Adult Perceptions of Positive and Negative Infant Emotional Expressions

Adults’ perceptions provide information about the emotional meaning of infant facial expressions. This study asks whether similar facial movements influence adult perceptions of emotional intensity in both infant positive (smile) and negative (cry face) facial expressions. Ninety-five college students rated a series of naturally occurring and digitally edited images of infant facial expressions. Naturally occurring smiles and cry faces involving the co-occurrence of greater lip movement, mouth opening, and eye constriction, were rated as expressing stronger positive and negative emotion, respectively, than expressions without these 3 features. Ratings of digitally edited expressions indicated that eye constriction contributed to higher ratings of positive emotion in smiles (i.e., in Duchenne smiles) and greater eye constriction contributed to higher ratings of negative emotion in cry faces. Stronger mouth opening contributed to higher ratings of arousal in both smiles and cry faces. These findings indicate a set of similar facial movements are linked to perceptions of greater emotional intensity, whether the movements occur in positive or negative infant emotional expressions. This proposal is discussed with reference to discrete, componential, and dynamic systems theories of emotion.
Chlorosis in blueberries: A soil‐plant investigation*

Abstract The highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum L.), which has been cultivated commercially in northwest Arkansas for about ten years, is rapidly gaining popularity in this area. However, problems are becoming apparent with regard to the delicate nutritional balance required by this plant. Symptoms characteristic of iron deficiency were noted in the spring of 1981, and soil and plant analyses were initiated to determine the exact cause of the chlorosis. Soil analysis showed no soil factor to be the direct cause of the chlorosis. Plant analyses, however, showed high phosphorus, high potassium, and low calcium to be associated with the chlorosis. Although plant symptoms were typical of iron deficiency. iron content within the plant was adequate, suggesting iron inactivation from excess phosphorus.
Caffeine and cigarette smoking: behavioral, cardiovascular, and metabolic interactions

Coffee drinking and cigarette smoking are strongly correlated behaviors which have been suggested to act synergistically to produce adverse health consequences, particularly coronary heart disease (CHD). We studied in smokers the influence of four days of multiple daily doses of coffee containing different doses or no caffeine on cigarette smoking behavior, nicotine intake from smoking, heart rate and blood pressure, circadian serum glucose, and urinary catecholamine excretion. We observed a tendency toward greater cigarette consumption during caffeine consumption, and a tendency toward higher plasma nicotine levels during low-dose caffeine compared with the no-caffeine condition; however, these effects were small. No caffeine effects on any other of the above parameters were observed. Previously published research has usually studied effects of single doses of caffeine, which does not account for development of tolerance to effects of caffeine. If caffeine does contribute to CHD risk, it is not likely to be related to caffeine effects on smoking behavior, nicotine intake, blood pressure, heart rate, glucose tolerance, or catecholamine release. Adverse effects of long-term caffeine consumption on lipids cannot be excluded.
Implementation of small robot autonomy in an integrated environment

The U.S. Army Research Laboratory's (ARL) Computational and Information Sciences Directorate (CISD) has long been involved in autonomous asset control, specifically as it relates to small robots. Over the past year, CISD has been making strides in the implementation of three areas of small robot autonomy, namely platform autonomy, Soldier-robot interface, and tactical behaviors. It is CISD's belief that these three areas must be considered as a whole in order to provide Soldiers with useful capabilities. In addressing these areas, CISD has integrated a COTS LADAR into the head of an iRobot PackBot Explorer, providing ranging information with minimal disruption to the physical characteristics of the platform. Using this range data is an implementation of obstacle detection and avoidance (OD/OA), leveraged from an existing autonomy software suite, running on the platform's native processor. These capabilities will serve as the foundation of our targeted behaviorbased control methodologies. The first behavior is guarded tele-operation that augments the existing ARL robotic control infrastructure. The second is the implementation of a multi-robot cooperative mapping behavior. Developed at ARL, collaborative simultaneous localization and mapping (CSLAM) will allow multiple robots to build a common map of an area, providing the Soldier operator with a singular view of that area. This paper will describe the hardware and software integration of the LADAR sensor into the ARL robotic control system. Further, the paper will discuss the implementation of the small robot OD/OA and CSLAM software components performed by ARL, as well as results on their performance and benefits to the Soldier.
Comparison of effect of BMP-2, -4, and -6 on in vitro cartilage formation of human adult stem cells from bone marrow stroma.

The human adult stem cells from bone marrow stroma referred to as mesenchymal stem cells or marrow stromal cells (MSCs) are of interest because they are easily isolated and expanded and are capable of multipotential differentiation. Here, we examined the ability of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-2, -4, and -6 to enhance in vitro cartilage formation of MSCs. Human MSCs were isolated from bone marrow taken from normal adult donors. The cells were pelleted and cultured for 21 days in chondrogenic medium containing transforming growth factor β3 and dexamethasone with or without BMP-2, -4, or -6. All the BMPs tested increased chondrogenic differentiation as assayed by immunohistochemistry and by the size and weight of the cartilage synthesized. However, BMP-2 was the most effective. Microarray analyses of approximately 12,000 genes and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction assays established that the critical genes for cartilage synthesis were expressed in the expected time sequence in response to BMP-2. The tissue engineering of autologous cartilage derived from MSCs in vitro for transplantation will be a future alternative for patients with cartilage injuries. To obtain large amounts of cartilage rich in proteoglycans, the use of BMP-2 is recommended, instead of BMP-4 or -6.
Co-impregnated Rh/Al203 I. Preparation

Abstract The aqueous co-impregnation of rhodium trichloride with hydrofluoric acid (HF) into γ-alumina honeycombs is shown to be a reliable and predictable method for preparing catalysts with controlled distributions of metal. Electron probe microanalysis of these catalysts revealed that adding HF to the impregnating solution drove the Rh species beneath the external surface of the support into narrow egg-white bands. The objective of this work is to prepare a poison resistant catalyst which can be used for the reduction of nitric acid in flue gases. A multicomponent adsorption/exclusion model of the impregnation and drying steps of this catalyst preparation method is presented, and theoretical internal distributions are compared to experimentally measured Rh and F profiles. A good fit to the experimental Rh profiles was obtained using two adjustable parameters: the adsorption rate constant of the aqueous Rh species and the diffusivity of HF. All other parameters were experimentally determined, or reported in the literature. Simulated impregnation profiles were found to lend insight into the co-impregnation process. By comparing simulated catalyst profiles before and after drying, it was found that drying had a significant impact on determining the internal distribution of the deposited Rh. Although sharp Rh bands were formed during the impregnation step of preparation, the ultimate shape, height, and position of these buried layers of Rh were determined by the drying step.
Rate Constants and Kinetic Isotope Effects in the Reactions of Atomic Chlorine with n-Butane and Simple Alkenes at Room Temperature

Rate constants for the reactions of chlorine atoms with n-butane and simple alkenes, as well as most of their deuterated analogs, were studied at room temperature using two independent techniques. Using a fast flow discharge system (FFDS), the decay of chlorine atoms in 1 Torr He was followed using resonance fluorescence at 135 nm. In relative rate (RR) studies the decay of the organic was followed, relative to a reference compound, using GC-FID when they both reacted with chlorine atoms. These RR measurements were performed at 1 Torr in N2 and at 1 atm in both N2 and air. The results of the FFDS and RR studies at 1 Torr were generally in excellent agreement with each other and, where available, with literature data. Discrepancies appear to exist at 1 atm for isoprene, where the addition portion of the rate constant measured in this laboratory is 40% higher than a value for k∞ reported recently by Bedjanian et al.40 Our rate constant for 1,3-butadiene is 25% smaller than that of Bierbach et al.39 Rate con...
National human exposure assessment survey (NHEXAS): exploratory survey of exposure among population subgroups in EPA Region V.

The National Human Exposure Assessment Survey (NHEXAS) provides a rich database of exposure and environmental measurements for persons living in EPA Region V (Great Lakes). Demographics (e.g., gender, minority status, age, income, and year home built) between U.S. Census data and the overall Region V sample were compared and showed good agreement. This representative sample was used to conduct an exploratory investigation of selected subpopulations that might exhibit higher exposures, on average, to volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) such as benzene, chloroform, etc.; inspirable particles; and metals (e.g., lead, arsenic, etc.) than the general population in Region V. Means and medians were the metrics of comparison. Personal air exposures for p-dichlorobenzene were significantly higher in adults (> 21 years old) than in children (1-14 years old) (median: below detection limit vs. 0.87 microgram/m3, p = 0.0005), while a trend toward higher levels of arsenic exposure in children than adults was observed (median: 1.13 vs. 0.8 ng/m3, p = 0.083). A trend towards higher personal air exposure to lead for minorities vs. nonminorities was evident (median: 26 vs. 12 ng/m3, p = 0.066), but personal exposure to 1,1,1-trichloroethane tended to be higher in nonminorities (mean: 22 vs. 3.7 micrograms/m3, p = 0.081). Dietary exposure to arsenic from solid foods was significantly higher in adults than children (mean: 21 vs. 7.1 micrograms/kg, p = 0.0001; median: 10 vs. 5.6 micrograms/kg, p = < 0.001), and for cadmium it was higher for nonminorities than minorities (median: 18 vs. 15 micrograms/kg, p = 0.023). In contrast, the dietary intake for arsenic, which is based on body weight, was significantly higher in children than adults (mean: 1.72 vs 1.38 micrograms/kg-1 day-1, p = < 0.0001; median 1.02 vs. 0.83, p = < 0.0001). Dietary exposure to chromium in beverages tended to be higher in minorities than nonminorities (median: 16 vs. 13 micrograms/kg, p = 0.017). Lead levels in surface dust wipes tended to increase with the age of the home (mean: 128 micrograms/g in homes built since 1980 to 1075 micrograms/g in homes built before 1940; median: 93 to 236 micrograms/g, respectively). These findings were consistent with the observation that for persons living in older homes personal air exposures to lead are elevated compared to persons living in recently built homes (median: 12 ng/m3 in homes built since 1980, vs. 24 ng/m3 in homes built before 1940, p = 0.043).
Analysis by electron microscopy and infectivity of foot-and-mouth disease virus in moving-boundary and zone ultracentrifugation☆

Abstract Several techniques were used in the study of ultracentrifugal separation of foot-and-mouth disease virus, type A, from partially purified suspensions. A moving-boundary preparative ultracentrifuge method was used to confirm the sedimentation rate of 140 S. Zone centrifugation of the virus was done in a D2O and ammonium acetate medium. Direct analysis by infectivity and virus particle counts of the various fractions was effective in determining the optimum region for virus recovery. The number of droplets required to determine reliable virus concentration was reduced by the chi-square statistical analysis of particle counts.
Flow Characterization of a Three-Dimensional Separated Annular Diffuser

Experiments were performed on two annular diffusers to characterize the flow separation along the outer wall. Both diffusers had the same fully developed inlet flow condition, however, the expansion of the two diffusers differed such that one diffuser replicated a typical compressor discharge diffuser found in a real machine while the other would create a natural separated flow along the outer wall. Both diffusers were tested at two Reynolds numbers, 5×104 and 1×105 , with and without a vertical wall downstream of the exit to replicate the dump diffuser that re-directs the flow from the compressor outlet to the combustor. It was shown that the separation happens quite quickly within the diffuser after which the pressure recovery remains fairly constant. The results also further validate claims that CFD models can not accurately predict flows with high adverse pressure gradients.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
MODIFIED MANOMETRIC METHOD FOR DETERMINATION OF CARBONIC ANHYDRASE IN TISSUES.

Abstract A micromodification of the classical Meldrum and Roughton manometric method for determining carbonic anhydrase activity is presented. The method is sensitive enough to measure carbonic anhydrase activity in a single rat thyroid gland or in 0.01 μl of blood. The effect of various homogenization media (isotonic sucrose, isotonic NaCl, and H 2 O) on the recoverable carbonic anhydrase activity illustrates a disadvantage in the use of an electrolyte medium. In the NaCl medium, approximately one-third of the total activity recoverable from isotonic sucrose or H 2 O medium is lost to the readily sedimented fraction of the homogenate. The activity in the sedimented fraction appears to be associated with clumped mitochondria. Enzymic activity is expressed in arbitrary units calculated from the reaction time. All units are derived from a common reaction time interpolated from concentration-activity curves. The expression of enzymic activity in such a manner yields units which are directly comparable. In addition, a conversion factor is calculated to permit the expression of the arbitrary units into absolute enzyme units.
Generalized ball-scale: Theory, algorithms, and application to image inhomogeneity correction

Scale is a fundamental concept useful in almost all image processing and analysis tasks including segmentation, filtering, interpolation, registration, visualization, and quantitative analysis. Broadly speaking, scale related work can be divided into three categories: (1) multi-scale or scale-space representation, (2) local scale, and (3) locally adaptive scale. The original formulation of scale in the form of scale-space theory came from the presence of multiple scales in nature and the desire to represent measured signals at multiple scales. However, since this representation did not suggest how to select appropriate scales, the notion of local scale was proposed to pick the right scale for a particular application from the multi-scale representation of the image. Recently, there has been considerable interest in developing locally adaptive scales, the idea being to consider the local size of object in carrying out whatever local operations that are to be done on the image. However, existing locally adaptive models are limited by shape, size, and anisotropic constraints. In this work, we propose a generalized scale model which is adaptive like other local morphometric models, and yet possesses the global spirit of multi-scale representations. We postulate that this semi-locally adaptive nature of generalized scale confers it certain distinct advantages over other global and local scale formulations. Further, generalized scale can be easily applied to solve a range of image processing problems. One such problem that we address in this paper is inhomogeneity correction in MR images. We qualitatively and quantitatively demonstrate the superiority of our generalized scale-based correction method over an existing scale-based correction technique, while retaining all the advantages of the existing scale-based method over those published in the literature.
Abuse and Neglect of Children III: Sexual Abuse

Abstract The recent unsolved murder of a young girl in Colorado raises many issues central to our understanding of the sexual abuse of children. These issues range from the horror felt by a nation, as details of a heinous crime emerge, to uncertainty about precocious and provocative behavior of children encouraged in this behavior by parents and by society. This is the third, and last, article in a series about the abuse and neglect of children. The first two articles discuss the context of abuse and recognition of abuse. This article focuses on important aspects about the sexual abuse of children and adolescents.
Aggregation and Fibril Formation in Oligo-Glu. Use of Isotope Edited Vibrational Spectra to Assign Structure

Aggregation and fibrilization have been determined to be ubiquitous properties of protein and peptide systems placed under various forms of stress. Most such systems have secondary structures with high beta sheet content, but this can vary greatly in detail. While the most fundamental variance is the difference in parallel and anti-parallel interstrand alignment leading to cross-strand H-bond formation, the registration of identical strands, their twisting, and for fibrils, the relative orientation of stacked sheets is also important in understanding these basic protein interaction processes that have important biomedical consequences. We have chosen to model the process using glutamic acid peptides due to some of their unique properties. At low pH, polyGlu forms fibrillar structures with unique IR signatures in the amide I region, which have been assigned as arising from bifurcated H-bonding (β2 form). We have shown the same patterns can develop in oligo-Glu (Glu10) and various labeled mutants (using 13C-Val to incorporate labels on the amide C=O), and that with isotope labeling we can assign the structures to have antiparallel sheet formation and most likely being out of register by one residue. IR and VCD data are shown to be consistent with computational models based on idealized sheet structures. Addition of the sidechain effects on the spectral response is being modeled as well as the effects of stacking in the fibrillar structure.
Bicyclic Steiner triple systems

Abstract A Steiner triple system admitting an automorphism whose disjoint cyclic decomposition consists of two cycles is said to be bicyclic . Necessary and sufficient conditions are given for the existence of bicyclic Steiner triple systems.
The commotion wireless project

Commotion is an open source "device-as-infrastructure" communication platform integrating users' existing cell phones, Wi-Fi enabled computers, and other wireless-capable personal devices to create metro-scale peer-to-peer (mesh) communications networks.
Footprinting of yeast DNA topoisomerase II lysyl side chains involved in substrate binding and interdomainal interactions.

Footprinting of yeast DNA topoisomerase II and its NH2- and COOH-terminal truncation derivatives was carried out to map the locations of lysyl side chains that are involved in enzyme-DNA interaction, in the binding of ATP, or in interaction between domains of the same enzyme molecule. Several conclusions were drawn based on these measurements and the crystal structures of a 92-kDa fragment of the yeast enzyme and a 43-kDa fragment ofEscherichia coli gyrase B-subunit. First, the footprinting results support the model previously inferred from the 92-kDa fragment crystal structure that the main site of DNA binding is comprised of a pair of semicircular grooves. Second, the binding of a nonhydrolyzable ATP analog to the yeast enzyme appears to affect citraconylation at a minimum of six lysines in the ATPase domain of each polypeptide. Two of these lysines are probably involved in contacting the nucleotide directly, and one probably becomes buried when the two ATPase domains of a dimeric enzyme come into contact upon ATP binding; for the others, changes in lysine reactivity appear to reflect allosteric changes following ATP binding. Third, from a comparison of the footprint of the intact enzyme and those of the truncated polypeptides comprised of either the NH2- or the COOH-terminal half of the intact polypeptide, it appears that there are few contacts between the NH2- and COOH-terminal half of yeast DNA topoisomerase II.
Significance of dialysis against enzymes to the specific therapy of cancer and genetic deficiency diseases.

FOB many years the control of blood concentrations of specific metabolites such as amino-acids and nucleic acid precursors has been of much interest in the specific therapy of metabolic deficiencies, cancer and other diseases1. Efforts to do this by injection of specific enzymes have been fraught with difficulties2,3, among which are enzyme purity, poor activity of some enzymes at low substrate concentrations, inability to control the response and the development of sensitivity to the enzymes on repeated injections. For these reasons we decided to find whether blood concentrations of a specific amino-acid, taken as an example, could be controlled through dialysis of the blood against an appropriate enzyme.
Frailty and Early Mortality after Lung Transplantation: Preliminary Results

Purpose Our group has hypothesized that the frailty phenotype might help identify those at high risk of early complications after lung transplantation. The prevalence of pre-transplant frailty among transplant recipients and the impact of frailty on outcomes after transplantation is not known. Methods and Materials We performed an interim analysis of the first 46 consecutive lung transplant recipients ≥50 years old enrolled in the Lung Transplant Body Composition (LTBC) study at our center. All LTBC participants undergo a structured frailty assessment during transplant evaluation. Frailty was defined as the presence of ≥3 of the following: unintentional weight loss ≥ 4.5kg, low walking speed, self-reported exhaustion, low activity level, and low grip strength. Wilcoxon rank sum tests, Chi-square tests, Fisher’s exact tests, and log-rank tests were used to compare frail and non-frail participants. Results The mean (SD) age was 62 (5) yrs, 34% were ≥ 65 yrs, 44% were female, 13% were African-American, 54% had ILD, 14% had COPD, 2% had CF, 4% were underweight, 13% were obese, the median LAS was 42 (IQR 33 to 51), 48% were bilateral, and 11 (24%) were frail. Frail recipients were more frequently African-American (37% vs. 6%, p = 0.02) but were similar with regard to age, gender, BMI, diagnosis, LAS score, PA pressure, and use of cardiopulmonary bypass. There were non-significant trends toward more intraoperative complications (28% vs 6%, p = 0.08), postoperative complications (64% vs 37%, p = 0.17), unplanned returns to the OR (18% vs 6%, p = 0.24), and deaths on the ventilator (18% vs 2%, p = 0.14) among frail vs non-frail recipients, respectively. The 30-day mortality rate was 18% among frail and 0% among non-frail (p = 0.01). Conclusions The frail phenotype is prevalent among lung transplant recipients over 50 years old at our center and is not associated with diagnosis or LAS score. Our finding of an unadjusted association of frailty with poor outcomes should be interpreted cautiously. These findings merit additional study.
Organization of minicircle genes for guide RNAs in trypanosoma brucei

We have identified four T. brucei minicircle sequences that are complementary to cytochrome oxidase III (COIII) edited mRNA sequence and have shown the existence of transcripts from three of these minicircle sequences. These minicircle transcripts potentially serve as guide RNAs (gRNAs) for RNA editing of the COIII transcript. These gRNAs range in size from 55 to 70 nucleotides, are heterogeneous in sequence, and have a 5' terminal triphosphate. The genes for these gRNAs are flanked by imperfect 18 bp repeats separated by approximately 110 bp. Transcription initiates at the first purine within a conserved sequence, 5'-RYA-YA-3', 31 or 32 bp from the upstream inverted repeat. We propose that these 18 bp inverted repeats are important for minicircle gRNA expression in T. brucei.
Petroleum Conservation in Theory and Practice

The economic meaning of conservation, 99. — The maximum efficient rate and well spacing, 101. — State regulation, 110. — The intensive and the extensive margin, 118.
Short-latency disparity-vergence eye movements in humans: sensitivity to simulated orthogonal tropias.

Small disparity stimuli applied to large random-dot patterns elicit machine-like vergence eye movements at short latency. We have examined the sensitivity of these eye movements to simulated orthogonal tropias in three normal subjects by recording (1) the effects of vertical disparities on the initial horizontal vergence responses elicited by 2 degrees crossed and uncrossed (horizontal) disparity stimuli, and (2) the effects of horizontal disparities on the initial vertical vergence responses elicited by 1.2 degrees left-hyper and 0.8 degrees right-hyper (vertical) disparity stimuli. Initial vergence responses were strongest when the orthogonal disparity was close to zero, and decreased to zero as the orthogonal disparity increased to 3 degrees -5 degrees, i.e., there was only a limited tolerance for orthogonal disparity. Tuning curves describing the dependence of the initial change in the vergence angle on the orthogonal disparity were well fit by a Gaussian function. An additional subject, who had an esotropia of approximately 10 degrees in our experimental setup, showed almost no horizontal vergence responses but did show vertical vergence responses to vertical disparity stimuli at short latency (albeit slightly longer than normal) despite the fact that her esotropia resulted in uncrossed disparities that would have totally disabled the vertical vergence mechanism of a normal subject, cf., anomalous retinal correspondence.
Ab initio and density functional optimized structures, proton affinities, and heats of formation for aziridine, azetidine, pyrrolidine, and piperidine

Abstract The optimized minimum-energy geometries of the four smallest cyclic amines—aziridine (C 2 H 5 N), azetidine (C 3 H 7 N), pyrrolidine (C 4 H 9 N), and piperidine (C 5 H 11 N)—were determined using ab initio methods and density functional calculations. The heats of formation of above-mentioned compounds were calculated using isodesmic reactions and known heats of formations of other compounds in the reactions. Proton affinities were calculated for the compounds using the same calculation methods that were used for calculation the heat of formation. The methods varied in their ability to calculate accurate Δ f H ’s, with MP2 calculations being the most accurate and HF calculations the least. Most methods were able to predict the proton affinities well, typically to within 30 kJ/mol (or about 5%).
China’s potato industry and potential impacts on the global market

While China has been the world’s largest potato producer since 1993 and accounted for more than 80% of the increase in global potato production from 1990 to 2002, few studies have analyzed the remarkable growth in China’s potato industry and its potential impacts on the global market. This paper reviews the development and growth of China’s potato industry since 1961, especially since the economic reforms started in 1978, identifies major factors that have contributed to the dramatic growth in China’s potato production in the past two decades, examines the trends of China’s potato production and consumption, and discusses the potential impacts of China’s potato industry on the global market. Results suggest that China’s ongoing transitions in economic system and food-consumption patterns will contribute to further growth in its potato market and China’s potato output may reach 71 mmt in 2006 and 81 mmt in 2010. Furthermore, China as the world’s largest potato producer and a new member of the World Trade Organization (WTO) will play an increasing role in the global market of potatoes and potato products.
Effects of meals and interruption of enterohepatic circulation on flow, lipid composition, and cholesterol saturation of bile in man after cholecystectomy.

In 4 patients studied after cholecystectomy and common-duct exploration for cholesterol gallstones, bile salt (BS) and phospholipid (PL) output and bile flow increased significantly in response to breakfast, but cholesterol (Ch) output was unaltered. Simultaneously, Ch concentration decreased while PL and BS concentrations did not change. The degree of Ch saturation of bile, [BS+PL]/[Ch], decreased in each study, whether or not the original ratio indicated Ch supersaturation; in 3 of 5 studies, an initially supersaturated bile became unsaturated with Ch in response to breakfast. No significant changes were noted after lunch. During interruption of enterohepatic circulation (EHC), studies with radiolabeled bile acids indicated that the increased bile acid output in response to meals was secondary to increased recirculation of intestinal bile acids rather than tode novo bile acid synthesis. This mechanism may account for the adequate delivery of BS and for the decreased degree of Ch saturation of bile postprandially in cholecystectomized patients.
Support for blood alcohol screening in pediatric trauma

Abstract Background Alcohol intoxication in pediatric trauma is underappreciated. The aim of this study was to characterize alcohol screening rates in pediatric trauma. Methods The Los Angeles County Trauma System Database was queried for all patients aged ≤ 18 years who required admission between 2003 and 2008. Patients were compared by age and gender. Results A total of 18,598 patients met the inclusion criteria; 4,899 (26.3%) underwent blood alcohol screening, and 2,797 (57.1%) of those screened positive. Screening increased with age (3.3% for 0–9 years, 15.1% for 10–14 years, and 45.4% for 15–18 years; P P P P = .84). Conclusions Alcohol intoxication is common in adolescent trauma patients. Screening is encouraged for pediatric trauma patients aged ≥10 years who require admission.
Pointy Bras and Loose House Dresses: Female Dress in Hungary and the United States in the 1950s

This paper is a comparative study of the social, ideological and economic differences between the United States and Hungary during the 1950s through the examination of the expressive features of female dress. It argues that dress served as a significant means of conveying the major divisions between the two countries and demonstrates that the female body became one of the crucial sites for waging the everyday battles of the Cold War opponents. Because less information is available about the construction of gender and the sartorial practices of women in Hungary in the 1950s this paper primarily focuses on Hungary. Data for this paper was collected through oral histories, archival sources and through the examination of contemporary photographic images.
Reversible polarity D-C power amplifier

MAJOR PROBLEMS in devising reversible polarity direct current magnetic amplifiers are poor efficiency and large voltage regulation. Conventional reversible polarity circuits have a maximum theoretical efficiency of 50 per cent as compared to 100 per cent for the circuit under consideration. The increase in efficiency is accomplished by using switched transistors in conjunction with magnetic amplifiers. Previous applications of switched transistors have had magnetic amplifier gate windings in series with the transistors. Such circuits have the disadvantage of requiring the use of power magnetic amplifiers.
Lactate is always the end product of glycolysis

Through much of the history of metabolism, lactate (La-) has been considered merely a deadend waste product during periods of dysoxia. Congruently, the end product of glycolysis has been viewed dichotomously: pyruvate in the presence of adequate oxygenation, La- in the absence of adequate oxygenation. In contrast, given the near-equilibrium nature of the lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) reaction and that LDH has a much higher activity than the putative regulatory enzymes of the glycolytic and oxidative pathways, we contend that La- is always the end product of glycolysis. Cellular La- accumulation, as opposed to flux, is dependent on 1) the rate of glycolysis, 2) oxidative enzyme activity, 3) cellular O2 level, and 4) the net rate of La- transport into (influx) or out of (efflux) the cell. For intracellular metabolism, we reintroduce the Cytosol-to-Mitochondria Lactate Shuttle. Our proposition, analogous to the phosphocreatine shuttle, purports that pyruvate, NAD+, NADH, and La- are held uniformly near equilibrium throughout the cell cytosol due to the high activity of LDH. La- is always the end product of glycolysis and represents the primary diffusing species capable of spatially linking glycolysis to oxidative phosphorylation.
The immunologic and genetic basis of psoriasis.

In 1991, a comprehensive review was published highlighting the importance of cytokines in the immunopathogenesis of psoriasis. 1 Since then, many advances have been made regarding the critical role for pathogenic T cells as causing this common and enigmatic skin disease. While epidermal keratinocytes are clearly involved as participants in establishment of the appropriate cytokine milieu as presented earlier, more recent data point to T lymphocytes as triggering the chain reaction of cellular and molecular networks that culminate in the formation of a psoriatic plaque. In this review, 3 major topics will be addressed.
In retrospect: The Sceptical Chymist

Robert Boyle's widely misunderstood book elevated the status of chemistry, explains Lawrence Principe.
Human blood pressure and pulse rate response to racemic epinephrine retraction cord

1. The pulse rate of patients after application of racemic epinephrine-impregnated retraction cords depends more on the level of anxiety and stress than on the level of the epinephrine. 2. Blood pressure is elevated by placement of racemic epinephrine-impregnated retraction cords upon an exposed vascular bed or lacerated tissue. 3. Four percent racemic epinephrine-impregnated retraction cords cause less elevation of blood pressure than 8% racemic epinephrine cords. 4. Although the elevations in blood pressure from 8% cord occur within a narrow range, this range may be hazardous to cardiac patients. Therefore, 4% racemic epinephrine cord should be used. 5. A desirable amount of tissue retraction is produced by 4% racemic epinephrine cord. 6. Dry cords do not provide adequate retraction of tissue and are contraindicated for tissue-retraction purposes.