cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Formation of calcium-deficient hydroxyapatite from α-tricalcium phosphate

This study investigated the factors influencing the kinetics of Ca9HPO4(PO4)5OH (calcium deficient hydroxyapatite or CDHAp) formation from alpha-Ca3(PO4)2 (alpha-TCP). The kinetics of CDHAp formation were investigated by isothermal calorimetry at constant temperatures ranging between 30 and 75 degrees C and by changes in pH at 37.4 and 70 degrees C. The calorimetric curves were characterized by two reaction peaks. Activation energies were calculated for the events resulting in these peaks. Values obtained were 48.4 and 67.7 kJ mol(-1), respectively, indicating nucleation and growth mechanisms for both events. Temperature had a significant effect on the growth rate as indicated by a decrease in surface area (26.5-15.0 m2 g(-1)) of the CDHAp with increasing temperature (30-75 degrees C). A linear relationship between hydrolysis temperature and CDHAp surface area was observed. The morphology of the CDHAp was plate-like and the crystallites became more regular as the reaction temperature was increased. A rapid elevation in pH upon mixing with water indicated the synthesis method initially used did not entirely eliminate slight compositional variations within the alpha-Ca3(PO4)2. Rapid elevation in pH retarded subsequent reaction. This effect was eliminated by increasing the duration of high-temperature firing during alpha-TCP synthesizing.
Imaging of the talus

There are numerous options for imaging talar pathology. Of these, radiography, CT, scintigraphy, and MRI are used most commonly. Advantages and limitations of these techniques should be considered when formulating an imaging algorithm for evaluation of the patient's clinical problem.
Normal Boiling Points for Organic Compounds: Correlation and Prediction by a Quantitative Structure−Property Relationship

We recently reported a successful correlation of the normal boiling points of 298 organic compounds containing O, N, Cl, and Br with two molecular descriptors.1 In the present study the applicabili...
Equivalent linearization for systems driven by Lévy white noise

The equivalent linearization method is extended to the case of nonlinear systems driven by Levy white noise. The classical objective function used for the determination of the equivalent linear system cannot be applied because the Levy process generating the Levy white noise has no variance and higher order moments. An alternative objective function based on the characteristic function of the state of the linear system is used for solution. Two simple examples are presented to illustrate the proposed extension of the equivalent linearization method. The examples show that the proposed equivalent linearization method provides approximations of quality similar to the classical equivalent linearization method.
Silk—A new substrate for UDP-d-xylose: Proteoglycan core protein β-d-xylosyltransferase

The formation of most connective tissue polysaccharides is initiated by transfer of D-xylose from UDP-D-xylose to specific serine residues in the core proteins of the putative proteoglycans. The substrate specificity of the xylosyltransferase catalyzing this reaction has not yet been examined in detail, but it appears that a -Ser-Gly- pair is an essential part of the substrate structure. Since the preparation of the known acceptors (e.g., Smith-degraded or HF-treated cartilage proteoglycan) involves a substantial effort, we have searched for readily available proteins with the -Ser-Gly-sequence, which might serve as alternative substrates. In the present work, it was found that silk fibroin from Bombyx mori, which consists, in large part, of the repeating hexapeptide, Ser-Gly-Ala-Gly-Ala-Gly, is an excellent substrate for the xylosyltransferase from embryonic chick cartilage. Pieces of silk were used directly in the reaction mixtures, and [14C]xylose transferred from UDP-D-[14C]xylose was measured by liquid scintillation spectrometry after rinsing the silk in 1 M NaCl and water. Substantially greater incorporation was observed with preparations of silk or fibroin which had been dissolved in 60% LiSCN and subsequently dialyzed exhaustively or diluted appropriately. Under standard reaction conditions, the Vmax for fibroin was 531 pmol/h/mg enzyme protein, as compared to 223 pmol/h/mg for Smith-degraded proteoglycan. Km values were 182 mg/liter (fibroin) and 143 mg/liter (Smith-degraded proteoglycan). The product of [14C]xylose transfer to silk was alkali labile, and [14C]xylitol was formed when [14C]xylosylsilk was treated with borohydride in alkali. Proteolytic digestion with papain, Pronase, leucine aminopeptidase, and carboxypeptidase A yielded a radioactive product which was identified as [14C]xylosylserine by electrophoresis and chromatography. The identity of the isolated [14C]xylosylserine was further supported by its resistance to treatment with alkali (0.5 M KOH; 100 degrees C; 8 h) and by acid hydrolysis which yielded [14C]xylose. Tryptic and chymotryptic fragments from fibroin were also good xylose acceptors and had Vmax values 60-70% of that observed for the intact protein. Substantial acceptor activity was displayed also by the sericin fraction of silk and by the silk sequence hexapeptide. Ser-Gly-Ala-Gly-Ala-Gly; the latter had a Vmax value close to 20% of that of intact fibroin.
Junction studies on electrochemically fabricated p–n Cu2O homojunction solar cells for efficiency enhancement

p–n Cu2O homojunction solar cells were electrochemically fabricated by consecutively depositing an n-Cu2O layer on a p-Cu2O layer. In order to better understand the Fermi levels of the electrochemically grown polycrystalline p- and n-Cu2O layers and maximize the overall cell performance, the back and front contacts of the Cu2O homojunction cells were systematically changed and the I–V characteristics of the resulting cells were examined. The result shows that the intrinsic doping levels of the electrochemically prepared p-Cu2O and n-Cu2O layers are very low and they made almost Ohmic junctions with Cu metal with which previously studied p-Cu2O layers prepared by thermal oxidation of Cu foils are known to form Schottky junctions. The best cell performance (an η of 1.06%, a VOC of 0.621 V, an ISC of 4.07 mA cm–2, and a fill factor (ff) of 42%) was obtained when the p-Cu2O layer was deposited on a commercially available ITO substrate as the back contact and a sputter deposited ITO layer was used as the front contact on the n-Cu2O layer. The unique features of the p–n Cu2O homojunction solar cell are discussed in comparison with other Cu2O-based heterojunction solar cells.
Maximal Running Speeds of Bipedal and Quadrupedal Rodents

Maximal running speeds of both bipedal ( Dipodomys, Microdipodops ) and quadrupedal ( Chaetodipus, Perognathus ) heteromyid rodents, and some sympatric nocturnal cricetids and diurnal sciurids, were measured in the laboratory (17 species, 131 individuals) and in the field (eight species, 138 individuals). We found significant, repeatable differences among individuals within species. Significant differences also were found among species: Perognathus longi-membris (8.9 g, 9.9 km/h) and Onychomys torridus (19.3 g, 10.3 km/h) were relatively slow; Microdipodops megacephalus (12.3 g, 10.9 km/h) and Peromyscus crinitus (13.7 g, 11.4 km/h) were somewhat faster; Chaetodipus baileyi (39.1 g, 12.4 km/h), Perognathus parvus (24.4 g, 12.5 km/h), Chaetodipus fallax (18.0 g, 12.8 km/h), Peromyscus eremicus (19.8 g, 13.1 km/h), and Peromyscus maniculatus (18.2 g, 13.4 km/h) attained similar speeds; Peromyscus truei (19.3 g, 14.3 km/h) was faster still; Neotoma lepida (110.6 g, 17.1 km/h) and three squirrel species were the fastest tested in the laboratory. Kangaroo rats ( Dipodomys ) did not exert themselves maximally in the laboratory, but attained speeds significantly higher than pocket mice ( Chaetodipus, Perognathus ) or other sympatric rodents in the field. In addition, Dipodomys displayed erratic escape behavior (zig-zagging) when pursued in the field significantly more frequently than Chaetodipus or Perognathus . Higher sprint speeds and erratic escape behavior may allow kangaroo rats to escape from some predators (e.g., raptors, canids), and hence exploit open microhabitats (of presumed higher predation risk) to a greater extent than slower sympatric rodents.
An improved fume hood for perchloric acid digestions of biological materials

An all-glass hood that can be used for perchloric acid digestion of small samples of biological materials is described. It offers an efficient, rapid inexpensive technique for wet ashing.
New crosslinkable polymers with second-order nonlinear optical chromophores in the main chain

We have developed a new class of main-chain second-order nonlinear optical (NLO) polymers using well-developed condensation polymerization methods. In these polymers, the NLO chromophore dipoles are expected to be randomly arranged along the polymer backbone (i.e., the dipoles can be head-to-tail, head-to-head, or tail-to-tail). For comparison, a side-chain polymer having virtually the same chromophore as a pendant has also been prepared. The effect of variation in polymer structure on the second-order NLO properties and the effect of crosslinking on the stability of poling-induced macroscopic order are studied. Our results demonstrate that the random main-chain, second-order NLO polymers can be efficiently poled, yielding (chi) (2) as high as 300 pm/V. Long-term temporal stability of the poling- induced order (e.g., no significant NLO decay is observed for more than 2000 hours) can be realized by crosslinking the polymer backbone.© (1993) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
The influence of the external stress on the electromechanical response of electrostrictive 0.9Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3−0.1PbTiO3 in the dc electrical field-biased state

The influence of uniaxial compressive stress, T3, applied parallel to the electrical field, on the electromechanical parameters of 0.9Pb(Mg1/3Nb2/3)O3−0.1PbTiO3 ceramics in the dc electrical field-biased state and at temperatures near the dielectric constant maximum Tm was investigated. It was found that T3 reduces both the dielectric constant and polarization level, which results in a reduction of the piezoelectric coefficient with stress. However, the compliance of the material does not show much change with stress. As a consequence, the coupling factor k33 is also reduced with stress. On the other hand, the existence of the local micropolar region in the material causes anomalous changes in the aforementioned properties when the material is subjected to a high electric field, which induces a macropolar state. The transformation of this macropolar state back to a micropolar state under stress involves a large volume strain and results in an enhancement of the hydrostatic piezoelectric response.
Evaluation of sulfate reduction at experimentally induced mixing interfaces using small-scale push-pull tests in an aquifer-wetland system

Abstract This paper presents small-scale push–pull tests designed to evaluate the kinetic controls on SO 4 2 - reduction in situ at mixing interfaces between a wetland and aquifer impacted by landfill leachate at the Norman Landfill research site, Norman, OK. Quantifying the rates of redox reactions initiated at interfaces is of great interest because interfaces have been shown to be zones of increased biogeochemical transformations and thus may play an important role in natural attenuation. To mimic the aquifer–wetland interface and evaluate reaction rates, SO 4 2 - -rich anaerobic aquifer water ( ∼ 100 mg / L SO 4 2 - ) was introduced into SO 4 2 - -depleted wetland porewater via push–pull tests. Results showed SO 4 2 - reduction was stimulated by the mixing of these waters and first-order rate coefficients were comparable to those measured in other push–pull studies. However, rate data were complex involving either multiple first-order rate coefficients or a more complex rate order. In addition, a lag phase was observed prior to SO 4 2 - reduction that persisted until the mixing interface between test solution and native water was recovered, irrespective of temporal and spatial constraints. The lag phase was not eliminated by the addition of electron donor (acetate) to the injected test solution. Subsequent push–pull tests designed to elucidate the nature of the lag phase support the importance of the mixing interface in controlling terminal electron accepting processes. These data suggest redox reactions may occur rapidly at the mixing interface between injected and native waters but not in the injected bulk water mass. Under these circumstances, push–pull test data should be evaluated to ensure the apparent rate is actually a function of time and that complexities in rate data be considered.
Quantifying physical activity in first-through fourth-grade physical education via pedometry.

The aim of this study was to determine pedometry steps per minute (SPM) cutscores that accurately quantify physical activity (PA) time in first-through fourth-grade physical education. A total of 257 participants were grouped in two data pools, first-and second-grade (n = 126), and third- and fourth-grade (n = 131). Systematic observation was the PA criterion instrument and pedometry was the predictor instrument. Correlations between physical activity measures were strong (r = 82–89, p < .01). Ten min of PA and 33.33% of the lesson time engaged in PA within a 30-min class can be quantified by 61–63 SPM for first- and second-grade, and 58–61 SPM for third- and fourth-grade. In conclusion: (a) SPM values were a valid indicator of students achieving or not achieving PA criteria, and (b) pedometry is a valid and practical tool for physical activity surveillance within physical education.
Meiotic competence of bovine fetal oocytes following in vitro maturation.

Abstract The in vitro ability between fetal and cow oocytes to resume meiosis and progression to metaphase-II (M-II) was compared. Cumulus oocyte complexes (COCs) were harvested from 2 to 6 mm follicles from ovaries of 7.5 month to term fetuses and adult cows. Cumulus cells were removed using 3 mg/ml hyaluronidase and repeated pipetting. Denuded oocytes were fixed in 3% glutaraldehyde, stained with DAPI and evaluated under fluorescent microscopy for nuclear status before in vitro maturation (IVM). COCs from fetal and adult ovaries were also matured in 200 μl droplets of medium 199 supplemented with 10 μg/ml FSH, 10/ml LH, 1.5 μg/ml estradiol, 75 μg/ml streptomycin, 100 IU/ml penicillin, 10 mM hepes and 10% FBS for 24 h at 39 °C and 5% CO 2 . Matured oocytes were fixed, stained and evaluated as explained above for nuclear status namely stage of germinal vesicle (GV) development and subsequent meiotic competence. Data were analyzed using chi-square analysis. The majority of fetal oocytes ( P P P
Engineering approach to the prediction of shock patterns in bounded high-speed flows

A two-dimensional symmetric wedge configuration representative of a single high-speed intake in steady flow was investigated. The analysis presented here is intended as an engineering approach for estimating certain features of the internal shock system. The primary interest here is the prediction of the size and location of the almost-normal shock wave that develops when the leading-edge shocks intersect at angles above a certain critical value that is less than the wedge detachment angle. The almost-normal shock wave is frequently referred to as the 'Mach stem', Parametric studies enabled the sensitivity of the Mach stem height to various flowfield parameters to be examined, thus indicating how accurately these parameters must be measured in a given experiment. Results of these predictions were compared with those of a steady-flow experiment performed at nominal freestream Mach numbers from 2.8 to 5. The predicted stem heights were consistently lower than the mean experimental values, attributable both to experimental uncertainties and to certain simplifying assumptions used in the analysis. Modification of these assumptions to better represent the test environment improved the analytical results.
WHAT CAN REPEATED CROSS‐SECTIONAL STUDIES TELL US ABOUT STUDENT GROWTH?

To answer questions about how students' proficiencies are changing over time, educational researchers are looking for data sources that span many years. Clearly, for answering questions about student growth, a longitudinal study—in which a single sample is followed over many years—is preferable to repeated cross-sectional samples—in which a separate sample is taken every year. Repeated cross-sectional studies, such as the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), however, are often readily available. Repeated cross-sectional studies conflate several sources of variability (differences in the initial status of individuals, individual differences in the growth curves, and individual-by-measurement-occasion differences) in ways that are not easily separated. Although repeated cross-sectional studies can provide information about the growth of the averages, the growth of the averages corresponds to the average of the growth curves only in very restricted circumstances. This paper reviews the literature on modeling growth with an eye to characterizing the limitations of repeated cross-sectional studies and understanding the sensitivity of the results to key decisions (particularly, choices of cut points). In most cases, repeated cross-sectional studies should be used to confirm and contextualize the results of more targeted longitudinal studies.
The French Heritage in Clinical Kidney Transplantation.

The different starting points and uneven emphasis of historical accounts of transplantation1 have tended to obscure the contributions to this field of some of the grand figures of French medicine and science. Clinical transplantation activity began in France within the first few years of the 20th century, when Jaboulay in Lyon2 and other investigators in France and Germany performed subhuman primate to human kidney heterotransplantation 3–5 In 1936, the Russian Yu Yu Voronoy of Kiev made the first known attempt at renal allotransplantation.6
Predicting party identification, 1956–80: Who are the republicans and who are the democrats?

Multivariate predictions of party identification have been based on father's party and social or demographic characteristics in past studies. This paper uses two policy attitudes to predict party along with the usual predictors of partisanship, from 1956 to 1980. The policy attitudes—domestic welfare policy opinion and civil rights policy opinion—have theoretical links to partisanship stemming from the New Deal and the 1960s. Domestic welfare policy opinion is found to be a major predictor of party identification. Despite the inclusion of the two policy attitudes and correction for attenuation caused by measurement error, only about 50% of the variance in party identification can be explained.
Cell membrane microparticles in blood and blood products: potentially pathogenic agents and diagnostic markers.

Cell membrane microparticles (MPs) circulate in the blood of healthy donors, and their elevated counts have been documented in various pathologies. Microparticles are phospholipid microvesicles of 0.05 to 1.5 μ m in size, containing certain membrane proteins of their parental cells. Thus, different phenotypes of MPs derived from platelets, blood cells, endothelial cells, and some other cell types have been identified in plasma. Microparticles are released by various stimuli including shear stress, complement attack, or proapoptotic stimulation. Microparticle release is a highly controlled process and likely independent from metabolic energy. Elevated MPs in various diseases indicate their diagnostic importance, particularly in vascular pathologies. Moreover, MPs in blood possess a broad spectrum of biologic activities. Microparticles may facilitate cell-to-cell interactions, induce cell signaling, or even transfer receptors between different cell types. The physiological roles of MPs in various tissue defense processes have been suggested and the pathophysiologic implications of MPs in thrombosis, inflammation, cancer metastasis, or response to pathogens have been proposed. This is important for transfusion medicine because MPs are present in both plasma and cellular blood products. Thus, the investigation of potentially pathogenic effects of MPs in blood products and of MP release associated with blood product processing and storage have yet to come.
4D-QSAR Analysis of a Set of Propofol Analogues: Mapping Binding Sites for an Anesthetic Phenol on the GABAA Receptor

A training set of 27 propofol (2,6-diisopropylphenol) analogues was used to construct four-dimensional (4D) quantitative structure-activity relationship (QSAR) models for three screens of biological activity: loss of righting reflex (LORR) in tadpoles, enhancement of agonist activity at the gamma-aminobutyric acid type A (GABA(A)) receptor, and direct (agonist-independent) activation of the receptor. The three resulting 4D-QSAR models are almost identical in form, and all suggest three key ligand-receptor interaction sites. The formation of an intermolecular hydrogen bond involving the proton of the ligand -OH group is the most important binding interaction. A hydrophobic pocket binding interaction involving the six-substituent is the second most significant binding site, and a similar hydrophobic pocket binding interaction near the two-substituent is the third postulated binding site from the 4D-QSAR models. A test set of eight compounds was used to evaluate the tadpole LORR 4D-QSAR model. Those compounds highly congeneric to the training set compounds were accurately predicted. However, compounds exploring substituent sites and/or electronic structures different from the training set were less well-predicted. Overall, the results show a striking similarity between the models of the sites responsible for anesthesia and those mediating effects of the training set of propofol analogues on the GABA(A) receptor; it follows that the GABA(A) receptor is therefore the likely site of propofol's anesthetic action.
Advancing Technologies for the Diagnosis and Management of Infections

Infections remain a significant problem among surgical patients. Technological advances, especially in the arena of nano-technology, have markedly improved the ability to detect, prevent and treat surgical infections. No longer limited to culture-based methods of pathogen detection or standard antimicrobial therapies, options for management of surgical infections are rapidly expanding. Such advances are critical in this era of rapidly developing resistant and virulent strains of organisms. Further, our understanding of the host pathogen interaction grows exponentially with the development of computer-based modeling, aiding in expediting research endeavors.
Dynamic NMR Studies Provide Insight into Sequence Dependent Binding Affinities

The ability of molecules to bind DNA plays an important role in many biological processes including, transcription, regulation, replication, repair. Understanding the factors that influence binding affinity is therefore essential to our understanding of these processes.In this study the effect of sequence context on the binding affinity and conformation of DNA dodecamers are explored. The Cre binding site (ACGT) was studied with a number of different flanking sequences. 31P-NMR was used to determine the conformational state (BI/BII ratio) of each step in the phosphate backbone. Importantly, the conformation of the binding site, the center tetrad which was not changed, varied significantly based on the sequence context.Fluorescence titration with the DNA intercalator 7-Aminoactinomycin D was performed to provide biological context to our conformation results. We found that the backbone conformation alone cannot explain the binding affinities in the dodecamers studied. Thus, we turned our attention to base pair dynamics. Preliminary results show that differences in binding affinities in sequences with similar backbone conformations can be explained by differential base pair opening rates.
Self-monitoring: individual differences in orientations to the social world

In their articles in this special section of the Journal of Personality, the authors have focused their attention on the role of individual differences in self-monitoring for a variety of interpersonal phenomena. In so doing, the authors have provided an overview of the theoretical and empirical contributions of the psychology of self-monitoring to the domains of interest: close relationships, consumer behavior, behavior in the workplace, and social interaction. As each of the contributing authors to this special section suggests, much more theoretical and empirical work is in order if the impact of individual differences in self-monitoring for the phenomena reviewed here is to be fully appreciated. Moreover, the four domains of interest represented in this special section by no means exhaust the areas to which theorists and researchers have applied or can apply the psychology of individual differences in self-monitoring. Given the large nomological network that currently exists involving the self-monitoring construct, it is anticipated that the breadth and depth of applications of the psychology of self-monitoring will only continue to expand as it has in the last 30 years since the appearance of the construct in the literature.
Privacy-protecting video surveillance

Forms of surveillance are very quickly becoming an integral part of crime control policy, crisis management, social control theory and community consciousness. In turn, it has been used as a simple and effective solution to many of these problems. However, privacy-related concerns have been expressed over the development and deployment of this technology. Used properly, video cameras help expose wrongdoing but typically come at the cost of privacy to those not involved in any maleficent activity. This work describes the design and implementation of a real-time, privacy-protecting data collection infrastructure that fuses additional sensor information (e.g. Radio-frequency) with video streams and an access control framework in order to make decisions about how and when to display the individuals under surveillance. This video surveillance system is a particular instance of our data collection framework, and here we describe in detail the real-time video processing techniques used in order to achieve tracking of users in pervasive spaces while utilizing the additional sensor data provided by the various instrumented sensors. In particular, we discuss background modeling techniques, object tracking and implementation techniques that pertain to the overall development of this system.
Design and development issues for multimedia information systems [also Erratum 5(3)422(Jul1996)]

The organization and management of multimedia information has been the subject of extensive research and development since the mid-1980s. However, a number of issues need to be addressed prior to developing a general purpose multimedia information system. We discuss an abstract architecture of such a system and highlight the issues of data modeling and multimedia information authoring, and also provide a systematic argument in favor of using an object-oriented approach over the relational approach as the basic framework for developing a multimedia information system.
Towards normalization of soybean somatic embryo maturation

Soybean (Glycine max L. Merrill) somatic embryos have been useful for assaying seed-specific traits prior to plant recovery. Such traits could be assessed more accurately if somatic embryos more closely mimicked seed development. Amino acid supplements, carbon source, and abscisic acid and basal salt formulations were tested in an effort to modify existing soybean embryogenesis histodifferentiation/maturation media to further normalize the development of soybean somatic embryos. The resultant liquid medium, referred to as soybean histodifferentiation and maturation medium (SHaM), consists of FNL basal salts, 3% sucrose, 3% sorbitol, filter-sterilized 30 mM glutamine and 1 mM methionine. SHaM-derived somatic embryos are more similar to seed in terms of protein and fatty acid/lipid composition, and conversion ability, than somatic embryos obtained from traditional soybean histodifferentiation and maturation media.
Differential clearance and host-pathogen interactions of YopE− and YopK− YopL− Yersinia pestis in BALB/c mice

This study characterized infections in BALB/c mice by the nonpigmented Yersinia pestis KIM and its derivatives lacking the low-Ca2+-response virulence plasmid pCD1 or failing to express selected yersinial outer membrane proteins (YOPs). The parent Y. pestis showed net growth in the spleen by 2 h and in the liver after 7 h; exponential growth in both the liver and spleen culminated in death of the mice starting on day 4, with total bacterial numbers of less than 10(8) in the blood, liver, and spleen together. The histopathology progressed from microabscesses to extensive coagulative necrosis unaccompanied by further immigration of inflammatory cells. This, together with the relatively low bacterial numbers, suggests a toxigenic mechanism. YopE- or YopK- YopL- yersiniae were cleared from the spleen but grew in the liver after an initial lag. Their growth was curbed after 1 to 2 days and entered a plateau that lasted 5 to 6 days; viable numbers then decline rapidly. This suggests that these Yop- mutations distinguish, at least kinetically, between host responses in liver and spleen. Both strains caused acute inflammation in liver that evolved into structured lesions surrounded by progressively mononuclear inflammation suggestive of a granulomatous response. Accordingly, YOP E and YOPs K and L are necessary in the early days of the infection for net growth in spleen and prolonged growth in the liver; their absence is reflected morphologically by the emergence of cell-mediated immunity in the liver. The YopE- and YopK- YopL- mutants bound only slightly increased amounts of C3, suggesting that YOPs E, K, and L are protective through mechanisms other than interfering with the binding of complement.
Binding of antibodies against antigenic domains of murine lactate dehydrogenase-C4 to human and mouse spermatozoa.

Peptide fragments of lactate dehydrogenase-C4 (LDH-C4) that contain antigenic sequences of the native protein have been identified. The present study describes the binding to murine and human spermatozoa of antibodies that were produced against synthetic peptides containing two of these sequences. Rabbits were immunized with peptides designated MC515 and MC211320, conjugated to diphtheria toxoid (DT). Antisera from these rabbits were tested for binding to washed mouse epididymal sperm or human ejaculated spermatozoa using a solid-phase radioimmunoassay. Antisera bind to mouse sperm in this system at dilutions of 1:64,000. When these antisera are first absorbed with the native LDH-C4 molecule, significant inhibition of binding to sperm results. Antisera to both DT-MC5,5 and DT-MC211220 hind to human sperm with similar but weaker patterns than seen with mouse sperm. These data indicate that the immune response to synthetic peptides containing antigenic sequences of LDH-C4 includes antibodies that specifically bind to this enzyme on the surface of sperm. In addition, there are shared antigenic sequences between mouse and human LDH-C4, including the MC,15 and MC211.220 peptides.
Measuring Dyadic Perspective-Taking: Two Scales for Assessing Perspective-Taking in Marriage and Similar Dyads:

This article reports on the development and preliminary assessment of two paper-and-pencil measures of dyadic perspective-taking. Dyadic perspective-taking is defined as the imaginative tendency to put oneself in the place of a partner. The Self Dyadic Perspective-Taking Scale (SDPT) assesses the dyadic perspective-taking of self. The Other Dyadic Perspective-Taking Scale (ODPT) evaluates the dyadic perspective-taking of the other. Three separate studies evaluated the reliability and validity of the two measures. Results indicated that both scales had what could be considered adequate validity and reliability. Shortcomings, uses for the scales, and suggestions for future research were discussed.
Efficient Sensor Selection for Active Information Fusion

In our previous paper, we formalized an active information fusion framework based on dynamic Bayesian networks to provide active information fusion. This paper focuses on a central issue of active information fusion, i.e., the efficient identification of a subset of sensors that are most decision relevant and cost effective. Determining the most informative and cost-effective sensors requires an evaluation of all the possible subsets of sensors, which is computationally intractable, particularly when information-theoretic criterion such as mutual information is used. To overcome this challenge, we propose a new quantitative measure for sensor synergy based on which a sensor synergy graph is constructed. Using the sensor synergy graph, we first introduce an alternative measure to multisensor mutual information for characterizing the sensor information gain. We then propose an approximated nonmyopic sensor selection method that can efficiently and near-optimally select a subset of sensors for active fusion. The simulation study demonstrates both the performance and the efficiency of the proposed sensor selection method.
A ligand field chemistry of oxygen generation by the oxygen-evolving complex and synthetic active sites.

Oxygen–oxygen bond formation and O2 generation occur from the S4 state of the oxygen-evolving complex (OEC). Several mechanistic possibilities have been proposed for water oxidation, depending on the formal oxidation state of the Mn atoms. All fall under two general classifications: the AB mechanism in which nucleophilic oxygen (base, B) attacks electrophilic oxygen (acid, A) of the Mn4Ca cluster or the RC mechanism in which radical-like oxygen species couple within OEC. The critical intermediate in either mechanism involves a metal oxo, though the nature of this oxo for AB and RC mechanisms is disparate. In the case of the AB mechanism, assembly of an even-electron count, high-valent metal-oxo proximate to a hydroxide is needed whereas, in an RC mechanism, two odd-electron count, high-valent metal oxos are required. Thus the two mechanisms give rise to very different design criteria for functional models of the OEC active site. This discussion presents the electron counts and ligand geometries that support metal oxos for AB and RC O–O bond-forming reactions. The construction of architectures that bring two oxygen functionalities together under the purview of the AB and RC scenarios are described.
Effect of Captopril and Propranolol, Alone and in Combination, on the Responses to Isometric and Dynamic Exercise in Normotensive and Hypertensive Men

This study evaluated the effects of single doses of the angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor captopril and the beta-adrenergic blocking agent propranolol, alone or in combination, on the blood pressure, heart rate and humoral responses to both isometric (handgrip) and dynamic (ergometric) exercise in normotensive and hypertensive men. Single oral doses of either placebo, captopril 50 mg, propranolol 80 mg, or the latter two in combination were administered to age-matched groups (n = 5) of normotensive and hypertensive men in a random, double-blind manner. Captopril alone was indistinguishable from placebo after both isometric and ergometric exercise. Propranolol suppressed heart rate after both types of exercise and tended to decrease systolic blood pressure only in the hypertensive group; combination with captopril did not alter these responses. These data suggest that in sodium-replete subjects undergoing short-term vigorous exercise, the renin-angiotensin system, as measured by captopril inhibition, is less important than the sympathoadrenal system, as measured by propranolol inhibition, in the reflex cardiovascular adjustments accompanying acute isometric and dynamic exercise in both normotensive and hypertensive men.
Maximum-likelihood source localization and unknown sensor location estimation for wideband signals in the near-field

In this paper, we derive the maximum-likelihood (ML) location estimator for wideband sources in the near field of the sensor array. The ML estimator is optimized in a single step, as opposed to other estimators that are optimized separately in relative time-delay and source location estimations. For the multisource case, we propose and demonstrate an efficient alternating projection procedure based on sequential iterative search on single-source parameters. The proposed algorithm is shown to yield superior performance over other suboptimal techniques, including the wideband MUSIC and the two-step least-squares methods, and is efficient with respect to the derived Cramer-Rao bound (CRB). From the CRB analysis, we find that better source location estimates can be obtained for high-frequency signals than low-frequency signals. In addition, large range estimation error results when the source signal is unknown, but such unknown parameter does not have much impact on angle estimation. In some applications, the locations of some sensors may be unknown and must be estimated. The proposed method is extended to estimate the range from a source to an unknown sensor location. After a number of source-location frames, the location of the uncalibrated sensor can be determined based on a least-squares unknown sensor location estimator.
Adaptive filters for rhythm discrimination: a floating endocardial lead

An endocardial lead design, with multiple sensors spanning the lead, is presented. The advantage of this catheter design is that a single catheter is utilized to record both atrial and ventricular rhythms. Each sensor records composite atrial and ventricular complexes which are separated using two adaptive signal processing techniques: the impulse correlated filter algorithm, and the series feedback filter algorithm. The adaptive signal processing algorithms require only modest levels of computations, and are suitable for implantable pacemaker or cardioverter-defibrillator devices. >
Testable restrictions of Pareto optimal public good provision

Abstract This paper is a theoretical examination of the testable restrictions of Pareto optimality in an economy with public goods. In contrast to other methods for deriving tests for the optimality of public good provision, ad hoc assumptions about individual public good demand are not required. The testable restrictions derived in this paper are defined over a finite series of aggregate-level data, production data, and individual after-tax income. Despite the relatively sparse data requirements and the minimal assumptions about preferences and technology, these restrictions are not vacuous. Thus they provide a strong theoretical basis for empirical work that tests the Pareto optimality hypothesis in a broad variety of public good economies.
Undocumented Latina Networks and Responses to Domestic Violence in a New Immigrant Gateway: Toward a Place-Specific Analysis

New immigrant gateways differ significantly from areas of established settlement, with repercussions for domestic violence situations. Through interviews and a focus group with undocumented Latinas, we examine one specific area of such difference, that of formal and informal networks. These networks affect women’s ability to seek and obtain help and procure their overall well-being. Findings suggest that the incorporation of Latinas into new gateways entails a reconfiguration of social ties and an increased level of isolation that renders immigrant women particularly vulnerable and ill-equipped to respond to domestic violence situations. We examine the theoretical and practical implications of our findings.
Isotonic Regression for Multiple Independent Variables

This paper gives algorithms for determining isotonic regressions for weighted data at a set of points P in multidimensional space with the standard componentwise ordering. The approach is based on an order-preserving embedding of P into a slightly larger directed acyclic graph (dag) G, where the transitive closure of the ordering on P is represented by paths of length 2 in G. Algorithms are given which, compared to previous results, improve the time by a factor of $\tilde{\varTheta}(|P|)$ for the L 1, L 2, and L ? metrics. A yet faster algorithm is given for L 1 isotonic regression with unweighted data. L ? isotonic regression is not unique, and algorithms are given for finding L ? regressions with desirable properties such as minimizing the number of large regression errors.
Relative strengths of top-down and bottom-up forces in a tropical forest community

We tested integrative bottom-up and top-down trophic cascade hypotheses with manipulative experiments in a tropical wet forest, using the ant-plant Piper cenocladum and its associated arthropod community. We examined enhanced nutrients and light along with predator and herbivore exclusions as sources of variation in the relative biomass of plants, their herbivores (via rates of herbivory), and resident predaceous ants. The combined manipulations of secondary consumers, primary consumers, and plant resources allowed us to examine some of the direct and indirect effects on each trophic level and to determine the relative contributions of bottom-up and top-down cascades to the structure of the community. We found that enhanced plant resources (nutrients and light) had direct positive effects on plant biomass. However, we found no evidence of indirect (cascading through the herbivores) effects of plant biomass on predators or top predators. In contrast, ants had indirect effects on plant biomass by decreasing herbivory on the plants. This top-down cascade occurred whether or not plant resources were enriched, conditions which are expected to modify top-down forces.
Regulation of colony stimulating factor-1 expression and ovarian cancer cell behavior in vitro by miR-128 and miR-152

Background Colony stimulating factor-1 (CSF-1) plays an important role in ovarian cancer biology and as a prognostic factor in ovarian cancer. Elevated levels of CSF-1 promote progression of ovarian cancer, by binding to CSF-1R (the tyrosine kinase receptor encoded by c-fms proto-oncogene). Post-transcriptional regulation of CSF-1 mRNA by its 3’ untranslated region (3’UTR) has been studied previously. Several cis-acting elements in 3’UTR are involved in post-transcriptional regulation of CSF-1 mRNA. These include conserved protein-binding motifs as well as miRNA targets. miRNAs are 21-23nt single strand RNA which bind the complementary sequences in mRNAs, suppressing translation and enhancing mRNA degradation.
Electrospun Manganese Oxide Nanofibers as Anodes for Lithium-Ion Batteries

Transition-metal oxides are of interest as anode materials for rechargeable lithium batteries. Electrospinning of polymeric gels, containing polymethylmethacrylate and manganese acetate, was successfully used to form manganese oxide nanofibers. These 100-300 nm fibers, after polymer removal, contain 20-25 nm oxide grains and show excellent electrochemical behavior in lithium cells. Their capacity on reaction with lithium exceeded 450 mAh/g for 50 cycles at 0.5 mA/cm 2 .
Monitoring therapeutic response of human superficial tumors using phase-encoded spectroscopy.

A one-dimensional phase-encoded spectroscopy sequence was implemented on a GE 1.5-T Signa imager and the feasibility of its application to monitor the 31P metabolities of superficial tumors was demonstrated. Serial 31P spectra of I-cm slices with adequate signal-to-noise ratio and insignificant T2 weighting can be obtained in 28 min. The degree of “bleeding” effect was reduced with increased phase-encoding steps. © 1989 Academic Press, Inc.
Sensory Development in the Fetus, Neonate, and Infant: Introduction and Overview

The knowledge and understanding of the development of the sensory systems in the fetus, neonate, and infant have progressed and grown extensively in the past twenty to thirty years. This has been a result of the advances in technology for study of brain development and the sensory systems specifically. While the basic physcial structure of the sensory receptors (i.e. eyes, ears etc.) develops early in gestation, most of the neurosensory development occurs in the last sixteen to twenty weeks. The neurological processes are not accelerated by preterm birth. Preterm birth accelerates the maturation of the kidney, gastrointestinal, lung and cardiovascular function but does not alter the sequence or timing of neurodevelopment. The stresses and the environment of the Newborn Intesive Care Unit (NICU) play a major role in the altered neurodevelopment observed in preterm infants. The brain development in the fetus, neonate, and infant includes not just sensory systems but motor systems, social/emotional systems, and the cognitive systems. These systems are connected and integrated during development. The development of the brain, both structure and function, is shaped by the influence of four major factors or processes. These inlude (1) the genetic endowment and the epigenetic effects from the environment, (2) the endogenous or internal brain activity and sleep, (3) external experiences and stimulation of the sensory organs, and (4) the physical, chemical, sensory, and social/emotional environments. These factors operate on and influence the development of each of the brain systems. These effects depend on age and developmental level of the particular system. Many of the processes and stimulations needed to facilitate brain development can result in adverse effects if exposure is at the wrong time in development or the level of intensity is not appropriate. The NICU inviroment can have very adverse consequences for healthy nuerodevelopment. It is essential that the invironment of the fetus, neonate, infant be adapted and managed to provide for the healthy early brain development. This requires both a developmentally, supportive environment and developmentally appropriate care practices.
Nitric oxide and vasoactive intestinal peptide as co-transmitters of airway smooth-muscle relaxation: analysis in neuronal nitric oxide synthase knockout mice.

Background: Both vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) and nitric oxide (NO) relax airway smooth muscle and are potential co-transmitters of neurogenic airway relaxation. The availability of neuronal NO synthase (nNOS) knockout mice (nNOS−/−) provides a unique opportunity for evaluating NO. Objective: To evaluate the relative importance of NO, especially that generated by nNOS, and VIP as transmitters of the inhibitory nonadrenergic, noncholinergic (NANC) system. Study design: In this study, we compared the neurogenic (tetrodotoxin-sensitive) NANC relaxation of tracheal segments from nNOS−/− mice and control wild-type mice (nNOS +/+ ), induced by electrical field stimulation (EFS). We also examined the tracheal contractile response to methacholine and its relaxant response to VIP. Results: EFS (at 60 V for 2 ms, at 10, 15, or 20 Hz) dose-dependently reduced tracheal tension, and the relaxations were consistently smaller (approximately 40%) in trachea from nNOS−/− mice than from control wild-type mice (p − 8 to 10 −6 mol/L) induced concentration-dependent relaxations that were approximately 50% smaller in nNOS−/− tracheas than in control tracheas. Methacholine induced concentration-dependent contractions that were consistently higher in the nNOS−/− tracheas relative to wild-type mice tracheas (p > 0.05). Conclusion: Our data suggest that, in mouse trachea, NO is probably responsible for mediating a large (approximately 60%) component of neurogenic NANC relaxation, and a similar (approximately 50%) component of the relaxant effect of VIP. The results imply that NO contributes significantly to neurogenic relaxation of mouse airway smooth muscle, whether due to neurogenic stimulation or to the neuropeptide VIP.