cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Dynamic changes in neuropeptide y concentrations in the median eminence in association with preovulatory luteinizing hormone release in the rat.

Abstract Neuropeptide Y (NPY) stimulates luteinizing hormone (LH) release in the rat by a dual action, one in the hypothalamus to excite LH-releasing hormone (LHRH) release and the other at the level of pituitary gonadotrophs to activate and/or potentiate LH release induced by LHRH. Because NPY produces effects similar to norepinephrine with which it may comprise an excitatory hypothalamic circuit, it was hypothesized that NPY concentrations in the hypothalamus would change in a time- and site-specific manner in association with the preovulatory LH surge on proestrus. Concentrations of NPY in individual nuclei of the preoptic-tuberal pathway and serum LH levels were estimated by radioimmunoassays in rats during diestrus 2 and proestrus. On proestrus, serum LH levels were basal between 1000 and 1400 h, rose significantly at 1500 h and plateaued between 1600 and 1800 h. Of the five neural sites examined, only NPY in the median eminence displayed marked fluctuations in close association with the LH surge. NPY concentrations were low between 1000 and 1300 h, and rose abruptly at 1400 h (P<0.05) preceding the onset of LH rise at 1500 h. These elevated levels were maintained until 1600 h, during which time serum LH rose to a plateau and then fell at 1800 h to the low range seen between 1000 and 1300 h. In contrast, the pattern of changes in NPY levels in the arcuate nucleus, suprachiasmatic nucleus and medial preoptic area, three additional sites in the preoptic-tuberal pathway known to participate in the preovulatory LH surge, were markedly different from that seen in the median eminence. In each of these three sites, NPY levels rose significantly at 1800 h from the values at 1000 to 1200 h with a slightly different time-course of increment. None of these areas exhibited changes in NPY concentrations on diestrus 2; NPY concentrations also were unaltered on diestrus 2 or proestrus in the ventromedial nucleus. The present observations of site-specific, dynamic changes in NPY levels on proestrus, in a manner previously documented for LHRH, support the hypothesis that a subset of NPY neurons terminating in the median eminence may be a component of excitatory neural circuitry that either independently or in co-action with the adrenergic system is responsible for the induction of preovulatory LH release.
Lower confidence limits for the impact probability within a circle in the normal case

Abstract : Lower confidence limits are derived for the impact probability within a circle of fixed radius in the bivariate normal case with zero mean vector. For independent coordinates and known ratio of variances, the lower confidence limit is a strongly consistent estimator of the impact probability and is uniformly most accurate (UMA). When the ratio of the variances is also unknown, the lower confidence limit is a strongly consistent estimator of the impact probability. Some discussion is provided when the correlation between the coordinates is unknown. A Table of the impact probability function is provided which can be employed for both point estimation and for obtaining lower confidence limits and the use of the table is demonstrated. A FORTRAN program for the computation of the impact probability is included. (Author)
Visualization by light transmission of oil and water contents in transient two-phase flow fields

Abstract The difficulty of determining transient fluid contents in a soil–oil–water system is hampering an understanding of the system's flow characteristics. In this paper, we describe a light transmission method (LTM) which can rapidly obtain oil and water contents throughout a large two-dimensional flow field of silica sand. By appropriately coloring the water with 0.005% FD&C blue #1, the hue of the transmitted light is found to be directly related to the water content within the porous media. The hue provides a high resolution measurement of the water and oil contents in transient flow fields (such as unstable flow). Evaluation of the reliability of LTM was assessed by checking the mass balance for a known water injection and its utility in visualizing a whole flow field was exemplified for unstable fingered flow by comparing fluid contents to those obtained with synchrotron X-ray radiation.
TH‐A‐M100E‐04: Heterogeneity Corrections in Clinical Trials

Clinical trials rely on accurate dose reporting, both for the planning target volumes and organs at risk (OAR). Until recently, clinical trials have not mandated that heterogeneity corrections be applied in dose calculations. Therefore history of prescription and reported doses has been for homogenous water equivalent media. The reticence is attributed to lack of confidence in commercial treatment planning algorithms and in lack of direction as how to change prescriptions when accounting for heterogeneous media. Thorax irradiation is the most challenging example of where corrections and prescription changes are difficult but necessary. Two well reported studies, RTOG‐8808 and RTOG‐9311, required complementary parallel calculations performed. One set was the prescribed and treated homogeneous (water) based calculations, and the other was retrospective heterogeneous CT‐based calculations, but using the homogeneous based MU. The calculations demonstrated major variations in the doses that would have been reported depending if heterogeneity corrections were exclusively used. This was confirmed by dosimetric studies showing the failure of algorithms of the 1990s, particularly in regions of non‐equilibrium. As OAR, particularly lung volume, were often the limiting factor, dose calculations to the lung itself had to be accurate. High energy‐small fields had the largest deviations. The commercial introduction of superposition and Monte Carlo algorithms has remedied the situation by providing accurate calculations, provided they are implemented properly. Simultaneously, publication of AAPM's Report of TG‐65 (Inhomogeneity Corrections) gave direction to physicists as how to work with clinician partners to transition to correction based plans and change prescriptions accordingly. Learning Objectives From this lecture the physicist will learn; 1. the history of corrections for clinical trials, 2. progression of algorithms, 3. methods for making the transition to using heterogeneity corrections.
A general theory of convexity

A generalization of the usual notion of convexity is developed. It is shown that for certain applications some of the postulates of the generalized theory must be relaxed. The independence of the postulates is discussed and representation theorems are given. A topology which is compatible with the convexity structure is constructed.
Familial Carotid Body Tumors: Incidence and Implications

Carotid body tumors may occur sporadically (90%) or in a familial pattern (10%). One third of the patients with familial disease have bilateral tumors. We report the case of a patient with bilateral carotid body tumors and a strong family history of such tumors. Details of his evaluation and treatment are reviewed. Relatives of patients with carotid body tumors should be examined carefully, and any suspicious neck mass should be appropriately investigated.
Molluscum contagiosum; a histochemical study.

That molluscum contagiosum, a disease affecting the human skin, is of viral etiology has been confirmed by a number of investigators (1, 2, 3, 4, 5). Molluscum contagiosum is ideal for the study of virus diseases associated with hypertrophy for the following reasons: (1) its characteristic picture, both gross and microscopic; (2) its ready accessibility on the human skin; and (3) the ease with which its inclusion body can be identified. The inclusion body, which is composed of virus particles or elementary bodies, is extremely large. This facilitates the ease with which changes, that occur during its development from early to mature form, may be observed.
Forced convective heat transfer in a microtube including rarefaction, viscous dissipation and axial conduction effects

Abstract Subsonic gas convective heat transfer in a microtube with a constant cross-sectional area and uniform wall temperature is investigated both analytically and numerically. First, the effect of rarefaction on heat transfer characteristics, at a distance from the inlet where Nu becomes constant, is analytically investigated for two cases: (i) including and (ii) neglecting the viscous dissipation effect. An exact solution for Nu in fully developed flow is presented for the case without viscous dissipation, while a closed-form solution for the asymptotic Nu is also provided for the case with viscous dissipation. Next, a numerical model is employed to investigate the simultaneous effects of rarefaction, viscous dissipation, and axial conduction for developing hydrodynamic and temperature conditions. The Nusselt number is substantially affected by viscous dissipation, rarefaction and axial conduction.
Temperature Dependence of a Kelvin Model for Binary Nucleation

The temperature dependence of binary nucleation rates was studied using several different models for the cluster evaporation rates. The evaporation rates were found using the detailed balance relations in combination with three different models for the constrained equilibrium cluster concentrations: the classical Reiss model, the self-consistent classical model of Wilemski and Wyslouzil, and the new Kelvin model. The latter two models are modifications of the classical liquid droplet expression for the equilibrium cluster concentrations. The steady state binary kinetics equations were numerically solved using the technique of matrix inversion by patitioning. Numerous test calculations were made for the ideal ethanol−hexanol system. We found that the Kelvin model gave the most realistic temperature dependence of the three models examined. An analytical rate expression that accurately reproduces the numerical results is also presented.
THE EFFECT OF RENNIN UPON CASEIN : II. FURTHER CONSIDERATION OF THE PROPERTIES OF PARACASEIN.

The properties of the paracasein and casein preparations studied are compared in Table VI. See PDF for Structure I. Casein retains its characteristic solubility in NaOH: (1) after being exposed to a high degree of alkalinity during its preparation, (2) when recovered from partially hydrolyzed solutions in NaOH, and (3) after being kept for a prolonged time at the isoelectric point at 5°C. II. It follows from I, that: (1) paracasein is not identical to casein modified by an excess of alkali, and that (2) this protein was not produced from casein by a partial hydrolysis of the latter in presence of NaOH.
The effects of economic instability on children's educational outcomes

Abstract Welfare Based on Assets, a Way to Smooth Out Economic Instability and Develop Children's Human Capital is a four-part series of papers that focuses on the relationship between economic instability (i.e., income shocks, asset shocks, home loss, and asset poverty) and children's human capital development. Collectively, these reports build on the compelling observation that the pattern low-income families walk into is a present time oriented or consumption based pattern of behavior; in contrast, the pattern higher income families walk into is future oriented or asset based. In the third paper we find in most cases income shocks and asset shocks do not appear to be harmful to children's educational outcomes. However, children living in liquid and net worth asset poor families have lower academic achievement scores, high school graduation rates, college enrollment rates, and college graduation rates than children living in families that are asset sufficient. Overall, findings can be interpreted as suggesting that a bifurcated welfare system, with income-based programs for poor families and asset-based programs for higher income families, may provide higher income families with an educational advantage over low-income families and might ultimately help exacerbate educational inequalities in America.
Parent-Youth Relationships and the Self-Esteem of Chinese Adolescents: Collectivism versus Individualism

This study sought to determine how several child-rearing behaviors within the Chinese parent-adolescent relationship were predictive of youthful self-esteem through either collectivistic or individualistic socialization approaches. Theoretically based relationships were tested with structural equation modeling to examine whether dimensions of parental behavior (i.e., support, reasoning, monitoring, and punitiveness) in-fluenced the self-esteem of Chinese adolescents through the mediating influences of either conformity (i.e., collectivism) or autonomy (i.e., individualism) in reference to parents. The sample for this study consisted of 497 adolescents from Beijing, China, ranging in age from 12-19 years of age. Data were acquired with self-report questionnaires administered in school classrooms. Results provided support for parental behaviors as predictors of self-esteem development through individualistic patterns of socialization. Although collectivistic parent-adolescent patterns did not predict the self-esteem of Chinese adolescents, several results supported a collectivistic conception of socialization through significant relationships involving parental behaviors as predictors of adolescent conformity to parents. Some results of this study highlight the significance of parental support and dimensions of moderate parental control (e.g., reasoning and monitoring) within the Chinese parent-adolescent relationship, while identifying only a minimal role for punitive behavior.
Variation of petrographic and chemical characteristics of indochinite tektites within their strewn-field

Abstract Normal indochinites in the central part of their strewn-field are slightly more siliceous, have slightly lower refractive indices, contain fewer and smaller lechatelierite particles and bubbles, and more of the bubbles are spherical. These characteristics of normal indochinites vary in a manner which indicates that a central area of higher temperature existed at the time of indochinite formation. These observations are supported by sixteen new chemical analyses, eight of normal and eight of Muong Nong-type indochinites, and petrographic examination of 288 plates cut from as many specimens. Tektite characteristics in two other strewn-fields examined also vary systematically. The center of the moldavite strewn-field probably is in Moravia or eastward, rather than westward toward the Ries Kessel. The center of the bediasite strewn-field probably is in the vicinity of their southwesternmost presently-known occurrence or farther southwest.
Hydraulic conductance of intact plants of two contrasting sorghum lines, SC15 and SC1205.

Low plant hydraulic conductance has been hypothesised as an approach to decrease the rate of soil water use, resulting in soil water conservation for use during late season water deficits. The impact of leaf hydraulic conductance (Kleaf) on water use characteristics was explored by comparing two sorghum (Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench) genotypes that had been found to differ in Kleaf. Genotype SC15 had a much lower leaf conductance than genotype SC1205. Four sets of experiments were undertaken to extend the comparison to the impact of differences in Kleaf on the plant water budget. (1) Measurements of hydraulic conductance of intact plants confirmed that leaf conductance of SC15 was lower than that of SC1205. (2) The low leaf conductance of SC15 was associated with a decrease in transpiration during soil drying at a higher soil water content than that of SC1205. (3) SC15 had a restricted transpiration rate at vapour pressure deficits (VPD) above 2.1 kPa, whereas SC1205 did not. (4) Treatment with aquaporin inhibitors showed substantial differences in the sensitivity of the transpiration response between the genotypes. These results demonstrated that low Kleaf in SC15 was associated with conservative water use by restricting transpiration at higher soil water content during soil drying and under high VPD. Tests with inhibitors indicate that these differences may be linked to differences between their aquaporin populations. The differences between the two genotypes indicated that the traits exhibited by SC15 would be desirable in environments where soil water deficits develop.
Many-body systems with non-abelian statistics

Abstract We use conformal field theory to construct many-body hamiltonians whose ground states support quasiparticle excitations with non-abelian statistics. Explicit forms of the many-body ground-state wave functions are calculated. The above systems may appear naturally in the Fractional Quantum Hall Effect (FQHE) in the low-density limit. We discuss the calculation of quasiparticle statistics from the low-energy effective theory and from the microscopic wave function. The stability of the non-abelian statistics under small perturbations of the system is also considered. We argue that the non-abelian statistics is a topological property of the many-body systems. This property does not depend on the detailed short-ranged structures of the systens.
De novo morphogenesis of seminiferous tubules from dissociated immature rat testicular cells in xenografts

Testicular development is initiated with the differentiation of Sertoli cells in the embryonic gonad. The aggregation of Sertoli cells is crucial for the generation of testicular cords and thus for the first sign of male gonadal development. To date, functional testicular tissue has not yet been generated in vitro. The objective of this study was to explore the de novo morphogenesis of testicular tissue from isolated postnatal rat testicular cells using a combination of in vitro culture and ectopic xenografting. Immature rat testicular cells were cultured in either a 2-dimensional (laminin-coated coverglass) or a 3-dimensional (extracellular matrix gel) culture system. Whereas testicular cells cultured on laminin showed a slow morphogenetic cascade resulting in cord formation after about 10 days of culture, cells cultured on extracellular matrix gel assembled to a network of cordlike structures within several hours after plating and formed spherical cell aggregates at day 3. Further progression of the morphogenetic cascade was not obtained in either the 2- or the 3-dimensional culture system. In contrast, structures resembling immature testicular tissue were obtained after xenografting of extracellular matrix gel-enclosed spherical testicular cell aggregates. The grafts were vascularized and contained elongated seminiferous tubules. Histologic analysis revealed the presence of a basement membrane, a histologically normal interstitium containing putative Leydig cells, the establishment of tubule lumen, and the integration of few putative spermatogonia into the seminiferous epithelium. We conclude that immature rat testicular cells carry the full potential to generate all somatic components of a testis in xenografts, thus opening fascinating pathways to study testicular organogenesis.
A unified theory of symmetry for nonlinear resistive networks

Abstract Based on the interconnections and constitutive relations of multiterminal and/or multiport resistors, a general and purely algebraic definition of symmetry of a nonlinear network is given. Examples show that the network geometry, although frequently useful in detecting simple symmetries, can conceal or destroy more subtle forms of symmetries. The main results of this paper are based on elementary group theory and generalize many existing ad hoc techniques currently in use for special circuits: 1. (i) It is shown that for a suitable choice of the reference nodes, a symmetric network has a symmetric solution, provided the network has a unique solution. 2. (ii) Techniques are described for creating terminal (port) entries in a symmetric network in order to obtain a symmetric multiport (multiterminal) resistor. 3. (iii) A reduction technique for symmetric networks is described, which generalizes the well-known bisection technique and unifies various algebraic and graphical reduction methods.
Choice of a regular physician and health care utilization: principal-agent issues for American veterans

Using US Veterans Health Administration (VA) data, we examined factors that affected patients choice of regular physicians and how the location of regular physicians influenced patients health care use. Appropriate estimation methods were applied to control for the endogeneity of patients choice of regular physicians. Our study showed that VA enrollees with regular VA physicians were more likely to use VA for inpatient care while those with regular nonVA physicians were more likely to use VA for special care such as pharmacy or mental health/substance abuse treatment, both of which can have very limited coverage in nonVA settings.
Heyde's Syndrome: Failure of a Mechanical Prosthesis and the Possibility of a Coagulation Defect

Recent data indicate that the gastrointestinal bleeding due to angiodysplasia associated with aortic stenosis (Heyde's syndrome) can be alleviated by aortic valve replacement with a bioprosthesis. This report details a situation in which valve replacement with a mechanical prosthesis and the subsequent anticoagulation promoted gastrointestinal bleeding from angiodysplastic lesions. Only when the mechanical prosthesis was replaced with a porcine prosthesis and the anticoagulation discontinued did the gastrointestinal bleeding stop.
Assessing Learning in a Sociology Department: What Do Students Say That They Learn?.

Assessment plays a central role in evaluating and strengthening student learning in higher education, and sociology departments, in particular, have increasingly become interested in engaging in assessment activities to better understand students’ learning. This qualitative study builds on previous research on assessment by asking what students in one American university department see themselves learning in the sociology major. Rather than asking students to reflect on what we think they are learning, we asked open-ended questions about skills, topics and modes of education they considered most significant to their learning. The 25 sociology majors in our study included second-year students, graduating fourth-year students and alumni who had graduated five years prior, enabling us to compare what students have learned or are learning across cohorts. Our findings demonstrate that students emphasise a common collection of skills, topics and – especially – modes of learning in the major, despite their vario...
Tides at Port Mansfield, Laguna Madre, Texas

Abstract The tides at Port Mansfield are so small (mean diurnal range of about 2 cm) that they are nearly lost in a noisy (meteorological) continuum. Nevertheless, a precise tidal analysis is necessary to provide the data for a determination of the elevation of mean high water, the boundary between private and state ownership in an oil‐producing area with a very flat terrain. Although response tidal analysis has been shown to be somewhat superior to classical harmonic analysis in various previous tests, no advantage is found in these circumstances of extremely low sighal‐to‐noise ratio.
Adjusting IQ scores for the Flynn effect: Consistent with the standard of practice?

Should psychologists adjust obtained IQ scores to accommodate the Flynn effect (J. R. Flynn, 1985)? The authors surveyed directors of doctoral training programs approved by the American Psychological Association and board-certified school psychologists and completed a systematic review of IQ test manuals, contemporary textbooks on IQ testing, federally regulated IQ testing protocols, and various sources of legal and ethical guidance. They confirmed in each instance that such adjustments to IQ scores do not comport with prevailing standards of psychological practice. Results of IQ testing may be applied to a broad range of psycholegal issues, many of which cannot be anticipated. Psychologists assist examinees, courts, and other 3rd parties most effectively by administering and interpreting IQ tests in their intended fashion.
Control of Ovarian Function in Domestic Animals

Plasma hormone levels during the estrous cycle of the cow, ewe, and sow have been measured, and the patterns of secretion of estrogens, progesterone, and luteinizing hormone during the cycle have been related to ovarian changes and other information concerning the cycle for each species. Peripheral plasma progesterone and LH levels are generally inversely related during the cycle in each species, and it seems clear that progesterone exerts a negative feedback on LH secretion in all three species, at least insofar as the cyclic release of preovulatory amounts of LH is concerned. Peak plasma progesterone levels are highest in the sow, lowest in the ewe, and intermediate in the cow. Plasma LH levels at estrus are highest in the ewe, lowest in the sow, and intermediate in the cow. Sharp peaks in plasma LH occur at the onset of estrus in the cow, and a few hours after the onset of estrus in the ewe and sow; these peaks are of about 6–8 hr duration. LH exerts a luteotrophic action on the corpora lutea of all three species, and verylow levels of LH secretion appear capable of maintaining the corpus luteum in the ewe and cow. There is no good evidence that prolactin is luteotrophic in any of these species. Three peaks of plasma estrogen levels are seen in the ewe and the cow and these appear related to periods of accelerated follicle growth. One peak occurs early in the cycle and before plasma progesterone levels rise appreciably and another occurs during the luteal phase just prior to corpus luteum regression. The third peak occurs after plasma progesterone levels decline and is associated with growth of the ovulating follicle. The luteal phase estrogen peak has not been found in the sow. The rapid rise in blood estrogens after the corpus luteum regresses facilitates the preovulatorysurge of LH in all three species. Cyclical regression of the corpus luteum in all three speciesappears to be under local control of the adjacent horn of the uterus. Exogenous estrogens are luteolytic in the cow and ewe, but luteotrophic in the sow. The ovaries of all three species contain very poorly developed interstitial tissue probably because of the neaily complete dedifftrentiation of the thecal cells during atresia. Thus, these animals lack an important source ofsteroid hormones present in the lodents and certain other species.
On the logarithmic-law constants and the turbulent boundary layer at low Reynolds numbers

It is shown that a family of formally derived similarity solutions describe to leading order the outer region of a turbulent boundary layer for all Reynolds numbers for which the layer satisfies the logarithmic law-of-the-wall. The family includes Coles' [1] hypothesis. For consistency with this hypothesis and the logarithmic law-of-the-wall, it is further shown that the constants in the latter form the product κC=2+O(e), suggesting the logarithmic law of the wall be written $${U \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {U {U_\tau = \kappa ^{ - 1} }}} \right. \kern-\nulldelimiterspace} {U_\tau = \kappa ^{ - 1} }}\ln \left( {e^2 U_\tau {y \mathord{\left/ {\vphantom {y \nu }} \right. \kern-\nulldelimiterspace} \nu }} \right) + O\left( \in \right).$$
Experiments on the kinematics of large plastic strain in ordered solids

Abstract On thin-walled tubes, for finite plastic strain the precise measurement—to four decimal places—of length, outside diameter, inside diameter, the uniform helices formed by initially straight generators on the surface of twisted cylinders, and the total angle of twist, becomes the basis for a study of the kinematics of very large plastic deformation. The data are obtained from over 200 thinwalled tubes of several ordered solids, including metal alloys, that have been twisted from small angles to angles as large as 360°, and extended by axial strains from small to 30% or more. The laboratory discovery is made that even at deformation of this magnitude, rigid body rotation of principal axes is minuscule, a negligible phenomenon. Adding to these data the measured applied moments, internal pressure, and axial forces, provides a direct calculation of Cauchy stress and corresponding natural or deviatoric strain in the deformed reference configuration. From these details, the rigid body rotation R of principal axes between deformed and undeformed reference configurations, the deformation gradient F , the homogeneous deformation V , the change in volume due to plasticity, the degree of isotropy or anisotropy, and the applicable internal constraint, can be determined directly for arbitrary loading paths without reference to any particular theory of finite strain plasticity.
Foodborne disease in the United States, 1946–1986

Abstract Not all gastrointestinal illnesses are foodborne, and not all foodborne diseases cause symptoms in the digestive tract. More foodborne disease outbreaks and many more individual foodborne illnesses are being reported in the US every year, but there are reasons to suppose that underreporting by a factor of 10 or more continues, even though reporting in the US may be the most complete and timely of systems in developed countries. Although a great many more causes of foodborne disease have been recognized during the past 40 years, it does not appear that the proportion of outbreaks or cases of foodborne illness for which etiology can be established has increased during this period. The vast majority of reported foodborne illnesses (infections and intoxications) are of microbial etiology. Allergies and intolerances, which are known to be foodborne but affect fewer people, and cancer, heart disease, and behavioral disorders, which are alleged to be at least partially foodborne, have also to be considered in connection with the safety of food supplies in the US and elsewhere.
AUGMENTED PRENATAL TACTILE AND VESTIBULAR STIMULATION ALTERS POSTNATAL AUDITORY AND VISUAL RESPONSIVENESS IN BOBWHITE QUAIL CHICKS

The fact that the sensory systems do not become functional at the same time during early development raises the question of how sensory systems and their respective stimulative histories might influence one another. Previous studies have shown that unusually early visual experience can alter subsequent responsiveness of both the visual system and the earlier developing olfactory and auditory systems. The question remains as to the extent which modified stimulation to an earlier developing system can also result in changes in responsiveness in later developing sensory systems. This study examined the effects of augmented prenatal tactile and vestibular stimulation on bobwhite quail chicks' postnatal visual and auditory responsiveness to maternal cues. Results indicate that augmented prenatal tactile and vestibular stimulation can alter postnatal perceptual responsivensss in the later developing auditory and visual sensory systems. Chicks exposed to augmented prenatal proximal stimulation continued to respond to maternal auditory cues into later stages of postnatal development and failed to demonstrate responsiveness to maternal visual cues in the days following hatching. However, augmented tactile and vestibular stimulation did not appear to affect prenatal auditory learning of an individual maternal call. These findings indicate a strong but selective pattern of influence between the sensory modalities during the prenatal period and support the view that substantially increased amounts of prenatal sensory stimulation can interfere with the emergence of species-typical perceptual functioning.
New approach to development and manufacture of enteric compression coatings

Five commercially available polymers were evaluated for the preparation of enteric compression coatings utilizing a unique polymer incorporation method, which was part of the granulation process, and which was applicable to all of the polymers with slight modifications. The effect of polymer plasticization, the various methods of polymer incorporation, diluent ingredient properties, and physical factors of the compression coating operation were related wherever possible to the enteric disintegration properties of the manufactured tablets. The compression coating formulations developed of 4 polymers were indicated to be enteric by in vivo disintegration tests, but only 3 of the polymer formulations were clearly enteric according to preliminary in vivo tests using an X-ray technique and human volunteers.
Chimeric Antigen Receptor (CAR)-Specific Monoclonal Antibody to Detect CD19-Specific T Cells in Clinical Trials

Clinical trials targeting CD19 on B-cell malignancies are underway with encouraging anti-tumor responses. Most infuse T cells genetically modified to express a chimeric antigen receptor (CAR) with specificity derived from the scFv region of a CD19-specific mouse monoclonal antibody (mAb, clone FMC63). We describe a novel anti-idiotype monoclonal antibody (mAb) to detect CD19-specific CAR+ T cells before and after their adoptive transfer. This mouse mAb was generated by immunizing with a cellular vaccine expressing the antigen-recognition domain of FMC63. The specificity of the mAb (clone no. 136.20.1) was confined to the scFv region of the CAR as validated by inhibiting CAR-dependent lysis of CD19+ tumor targets. This clone can be used to detect CD19-specific CAR+ T cells in peripheral blood mononuclear cells at a sensitivity of 1∶1,000. In clinical settings the mAb is used to inform on the immunophenotype and persistence of administered CD19-specific T cells. Thus, our CD19-specific CAR mAb (clone no. 136.20.1) will be useful to investigators implementing CD19-specific CAR+ T cells to treat B-lineage malignancies. The methodology described to develop a CAR-specific anti-idiotypic mAb could be extended to other gene therapy trials targeting different tumor associated antigens in the context of CAR-based adoptive T-cell therapy.
The role of growth factors in the embryogenesis and differentiation of the eye

The vertebrate eye is composed of a variety of tissues that, embryonically, have their derivation from surface ectoderm, neural ectoderm, neural crest, and mesodermal mesenchyme. During development, these different types of cells are subjected to complex processes of induction and suppressive interactions that bring about their final differentiation and arrangement in the fully formed eye. With the changing concept of ocular development, we present a new perspective on the control of morphogenesis at the cellular and molecular levels by growth factors that include fibroblast growth factors, epidermal growth factor, nerve growth factor, platelet-derived growth factor, transforming growth factors, mesodermal growth factors, transferrin, tumor necrosis factor, neuronotrophic factors, angiogenic factors, and antiangiogenic factors. Growth factors, especially transforming growth factor-beta, have a crucial role in directing the migration and developmental patterns of the cranial neural-crest cells that contribute extensively to the structures of the eye. Some growth factors also exert an effect on the developing ocular tissues by influencing the synthesis and degradation of the extracellular matrix. The mRNAs for the growth factors that are involved in the earliest aspects of the growth and differentiation of the fertilized egg are supplied from maternal sources until embryonic tissues are able to synthesize them. Subsequently, the developing eye tissues are exposed to both endogenous and exogenous growth factors that are derived from nonocular tissues as well as from embryonic fluids and the systemic circulation. The early interaction between the surface head ectoderm and the underlying chordamesoderm confers a lens-forming bias on the ectoderm; later, the optic vesicle elicits the final phase of determination and enhances differentiation by the lens. After the blood-ocular barrier is established, the internal milieu of the eye is controlled by the interactions among the intraocular tissues; only those growth factors that selectively cross the barrier or that are synthesized by the ocular tissues can influence further development and differentiation of the cells. An understanding of the tissue interactions that are regulated by growth factors could clarify the precise mechanism of normal and abnormal ocular development.
Modeling fiscal impacts using expert GIS: theory and strategy

Abstract This paper examines how expert geographic information systems (EGIS) can be configured to estimate the impacts of urban land use and population change on the provision of local government services. To this end a generic definition of impacts is introduced. This generic definition is an aspatial one, and is represented in mathematical notation using a logic derived from the microeconomic theory of duality between production and cost. This framework for estimating impacts is then translated into explicitly geographical terms using EGIS concepts. A four-quadrant diagram is introduced that summarizes these relationships. It is argued here that EGIS has the potential to estimate impacts in a theoretically consistent manner for very specific urban contexts, and should therefore constitute a significant improvement over the existing state of the art.
A Concept and Implementation of Optimized Operations of Airport Surface Traffic

This paper presents a new concept of optimized surface operations at busy airports to improve the efficiency of taxi operations, as well as reduce environmental impacts. The suggested system architecture consists of the integration of two decoupled optimization algorithms. The Spot Release Planner provides sequence and timing advisories to tower controllers for releasing departure aircraft into the movement area to reduce taxi delay while achieving maximum throughput. The Runway Scheduler provides take-off sequence and arrival runway crossing sequence to the controllers to maximize the runway usage. The description of a prototype implementation of this integrated decision support tool for the airport control tower controllers is also provided. The prototype decision support tool was evaluated through a human-in-the-loop experiment, where both the Spot Release Planner and Runway Scheduler provided advisories to the Ground and Local Controllers. Initial results indicate the average number of stops made by each departure aircraft in the departure runway queue was reduced by more than half when the controllers were using the advisories, which resulted in reduced taxi times in the departure queue.
Change in climate variability in the 21st century

As climate changes due to the increase of greenhouse gases, there is the potential for climate variability to change as well. The change in variability of temperature and precipitation in a transient climate simulation, where trace gases are allowed to increase gradually, and in the doubled CO2 climate is investigated using the GISS general circulation model. The current climate control run is compared with observations and with the climate change simulations for variability on three time-scales: interannual variability, daily variability, and the amplitude of the diurnal cycle. The results show that the modeled variability is often larger than observed, especially in late summer, possibly due to the crude ground hydrology. In the warmer climates, temperature variability and the diurnal cycle amplitude usually decrease, in conjunction with a decrease in the latitudinal temperature gradient and the increased greenhouse inhibition of radiative cooling. Precipitation variability generally changes with the same sign as the mean precipitation itself, usually increasing in the warmer climate. Changes at a particular grid box are often not significant, with the prevailing tendency determined from a broader sampling. Little change is seen in daily persistence. The results are relevant to the continuing assessments of climate change impacts on society, though their use should be tempered by appreciation of the model deficiencies for the current climate.
Autoantibodies to human stress proteins. A survey of various rheumatic and other inflammatory diseases.

Unselected sera from patients with various rheumatic, inflammatory bowel, and autoimmune skin diseases (n = 268) were examined against human cell lysate by immunoblotting procedures, to determine the prevalence of autoantibodies to stress proteins (heat-shock proteins) hsp60 (homolog of Escherichia coli groEL and mycobacterial 65K antigens), hsp73, and hsp90. Using standard, sensitive and specific assay conditions, IgG and IgM autoantibodies to these stress proteins were not demonstrable, or were detected infrequently, in sera from control subjects (n = 36) and from patients with rheumatoid arthritis, Sjogren's syndrome, ankylosing spondylitis, Reiter's syndrome, systemic lupus erythematosus, and systemic sclerosis. Autoantibodies to hsp60 were relatively more common (≧20% of sera) in patients with mixed connective tissue disease, polymyositis/dermatomyositis, psoriatic arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, epidermolysis bullosa acquisita, and bullous pemphigoid. Anti-hsp73 autoantibodies were detected in 20% or more of the sera from patients with Lyme disease and ulcerative colitis. Taken together, these data extend the spectrum of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases in which humoral anti–stress protein autoreactivity develops. However, the paucity of humoral autoreactivity to stress proteins in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis argues against a direct role of anti–stress protein autoantibodies in the pathogenesis of these disorders.
Crystal structure of the S. solfataricus archaeal exosome reveals conformational flexibility in the RNA-binding ring.

Background The exosome complex is an essential RNA 3′-end processing and degradation machinery. In archaeal organisms, the exosome consists of a catalytic ring and an RNA-binding ring, both of which were previously reported to assume three-fold symmetry. Methodology/Principal Findings Here we report an asymmetric 2.9 A Sulfolobus solfataricus archaeal exosome structure in which the three-fold symmetry is broken due to combined rigid body and thermal motions mainly within the RNA-binding ring. Since increased conformational flexibility was also observed in the RNA-binding ring of the related bacterial PNPase, we speculate that this may reflect an evolutionarily conserved mechanism to accommodate diverse RNA substrates for degradation. Conclusion/Significance This study clearly shows the dynamic structures within the RNA-binding domains, which provides additional insights on mechanism of asymmetric RNA binding and processing.
Cylindrical PVF2 film based fiber optic phase modulator: phase-shift nonlinearity and frequency response

A new cylindrical coil configuration for polyvinylidene flouride (PVF2) film based fiber optic phase modulator is studied for the frequency response and nonlinearity of phase shift at the resonance frequency. This configuration, hitherto unapproached for PVF2 film modulators, offers resonance at well defined, controllable and higher frequencies than possible for the flat-strip configuration. Two versions of this configuration are presented that differ strongly in both the resonance frequency and the phase shift nonlinearity coefficient.© (1993) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
A multivariate random forest based framework for drug sensitivity prediction

Drug sensitivity prediction based on genomic characterization remains a significant challenge in the area of systems medicine. Multiple approaches have been proposed for mapping genomic characterization to drug sensitivity and among them ensemble based learning techniques like Random Forests (RF) have been a top performer [1, 2]. The majority of the current approaches infer a predictive model for each drug individually but correlation between different drug sensitivities suggests that multiple response prediction incorporating the co-variance of the different drug responses can possibly improve prediction accuracy. In this abstract, we report a prediction and analysis framework based on Multivariate Random Forests (MRF) that incorporates the correlation between different drug sensitivities.
Geriatric Emergency Medicine with Integrated Simulation Curriculum

Our initiative is a replicable model curriculum that teaches emergency geriatric care principles utilizing didactics and immersive simulation. Simulated scenarios encompass principles specific to geriatric care. Major curricular principles include: 1) respect for patients’ autonomy, 2) accommodating patients’ physical and cognitive limitations, 3) appropriate resource utilization, and 4) accurate symptom recognition and clinical decision-making. These four basic principles are incorporated throughout the curriculum and specifically during three simulated scenarios: 1) a patient with respiratory distress in the setting of end-stage cancer and end-of-life teaches topics pertaining to living wills, health care proxies and DNR orders; 2) a fallen patient requiring a trauma evaluation and safe discharge teaches resource utilization, complex evaluation of home environment, social support principles, access to medical care concepts, and utilization of institutional social services; 3) a patient with altered mental status caused by polypharmacy and sepsis teaches geriatric diagnostic and intervention challenges. Faculty teach specific clinical tactics such as minimizing distractions, frequent reorientation, minimal use of urinary catheters and “tethering” devices, prompt triage and medical screening exams, and coordinating disposition with family, nursing, and clerical staff. The curriculum also includes large classroom didactics incorporating active learning via live streamed simulation into the resident conference room. We developed an internet-based tool to manage the curriculum and track resident participation. The tool stores and sends educational handouts via email and displays digital media (e.g., radiographs, EKGs) on screen during lectures and simulation sessions. Learning objectives are measured and reinforced with pre- and post-curriculum test questions.
Sexuality in head and neck cancer patients

Abstract Objective: To describe sexual functioning and its relationship with age, extent of disfigurement, performance status, and psychological functioning in head and neck cancer patients following radiation therapy with or without surgery. Design: Descriptive study, self-report survey, convenience sample. Setting: Academic tertiary care Veterans Administration Medical Center. Patients: Fifty-five of 101 consenting patients responded to the questionnaire. Mean age of the patients was 65.1 years (range 48 to 76); 54 were men. The mean duration since diagnosis was 30.6 months (range 3 to 216). All patients received radiation therapy and 26 also underwent surgery. Main Outcome Measures: Instruments included were: The Derogatis Inventory of Sexual Functioning, Multidimensional Health Locus of Control, The Center for Epidemiological Studies Depression Scale, Hopkins Symptom Check List, and List Performance Status Scale. Results: Eighty-five percent showed interest in sex. Fifty-eight percent were satisfied with their current sexual partner and 49% were satisfied with their current sexual functioning. Most of them were able to fantasize; however, a majority reported arousal problems, 58% did not participate in sexual intercourse, and 58% had orgasmic problems. Most patients were not depressed. As a group these patients reported significantly more somatic distress but significantly less generalized feeling of distress when compared with a group of nonpatient nurses. Patients with "powerful others" locus of control showed significantly worse sexual functioning. There was no correlation between sexual functioning and performance status or severity of disfigurement. Patients younger than 65 years of age had more advanced disease, lower performance status, and significantly poorer sexual functioning; those older than 65 years were more satisfied with their sexual partner and current sexual functioning. Conclusion: Despite experiencing sexual problems, sexuality continues to be a priority in the majority of patients studied.