cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Surface-active phospholipase A2 in mouse spermatozoa.

Abstract The partial characterization of a calcium-dependent phospholipase A2 associated with membranes of mouse sperm is described. Intact and sonicated sperm had comparable phospholipase A2 activity which was maximal at pH 8.0 using [1-14C]oleate-labeled autoclaved Escherichia coli or 1-[1-14C]stearoyl-2-acyl-3-sn-glycero-phosphorylethanolamine as substrates. More than 90% of the activity was sedimented when the sperm sonicate was centrifuged at 100000 × g, indicating that the enzyme is almost totally membrane-associated The activity is stimulated 200% during the ionophore-induced acrosome reaction and is almost equaly distributed between plasma/outer acrosomal and inner acrosomal membrane fractions. The membrane-associated phospholipase A2 had an absolute requirement for low concentrations of Ca2+; Sr2+, Mg2+ and other divalent and monovalent cations would not substitute for Ca2+. In the presence of optimal Ca2+, zinc and gold ions inhibited the activity while Cu2+ and Cd2+ were without effect. Incubation of sperm sonicates with 1-[1-14C]stearoyl-2-acyl-3-sn-glycerophosphorylethanolamine in the presence and absence of sodium deoxycholate demonstrated the presence of phospholipase A2; and lysophospholipase activities. No phospholipase A1 activity was detectable. Indomethacin, sodium meclofenamate and mepacrine, but not dexameth sone or aspirin, inhibited the sperm phospholipase A2 activity. Preincubation with p-bromophenacyl bromide inhibited phospholipase A2, suggesting the presence of histidine at the active site. The enzyme may play an important role in the membrane fusion events in fertilization.
A new method of calculating absolute thyroid activity in intravenous I-123 uptake tests.

A technique for determining the absolute activity of I‐123 in early thyroidal uptake tests is presented. The method is independent of geometry, tissue attenuation, and extrathyroidal neck activity (ENA). It utilizes the efficiency factors (e xT and eγT ) derivable for the thyroid gland using coincidence counting techniques, and a quantity, α, characteristic of the vascularity of the individual patient. Although ENA is not determined in absolute terms (e.g., percent of injected dose), count rates due to ENA are determined. After subtracting the ENA from the total count rates thyroidal uptake can be determined as absolute activity by means of the efficiency factors. The validity and usefulness of the technique have been demonstrated in phantom and patient studies. Thyroid uptakes of less than 0.1% of injected dose can be measured accurately in our patient studies.
Note on the prong configuration of an x‐array hot‐wire probe

The x‐array hot‐wire probe with prongs perpendicular to the mean flow is found to be unacceptable for turbulence measurements.
Comparison of successive and simultaneous methods of pair presentation in paired-associate learning

Paired-associate learning was significantly retarded when pairs were presented simultaneously rather than successively for rehearsal. This difference was invariant with respect to degree of intralist similarity, size of rehearsal group, and whether pairs appeared in same or different rehearsal groups on each trial.
Aircraft Morphing program

In the last decade smart technologies have become enablers that cut across traditional boundaries in materials science and engineering. Here we define smart to mean embedded actuation, sensing, and control logic in a tightly coupled feedback loop. While multiple successes have been achieved in the laboratory, we have yet to see the general applicability of smart devices to real aircraft systems. The NASA Aircraft Morphing program is an attempt to couple research across a wide range of disciplines to integrate smart technologies into high payoff aircraft applications. The program bridges research in seven individual disciplines and combines the effort into activities in three primary program thrusts. System studies are used to assess the highest-payoff program objectives, and specific research activities are defined to address the technologies required for development of smart aircraft systems. In this paper we address the overall program goals and programmatic structure, and discuss the challenges associated with bringing the technologies to fruition.
Reaction pathway towards formation of cobalt single chain magnets and nanoparticles

Abstract With the advent of molecular magnets the quest for suitable high density magnetic storage materials has fuelled further research in this area. Here in this report, we present a detailed mechanistic investigation of thermal decomposition of cyclopentadienyl cobalt [CoCp(CO) 2 ] precursor where Cp is the cyclopentadienyl moiety. The reaction revealed the formation of cobalt nanoparticles (Co-NPs) through an isolable reaction intermediate characterized as a Single Chain Magnet (SCM), [Co(Cp) 2 ] 2 CoCl 4 ( 1 ). The SQUID magnetic measurements showed the presence of very strong antiferromagnetic interactions between Co 2+ ions. The zero-field cooled (ZFC) and field cooled (FC) magnetization curves branch out below 5 K and there is evidence for frequency dependent complex susceptibility along with a maximum observed around 2.5 K. The optical studies indicated that the Co 2+ d-d transition is influenced by the polarity of the solvents. The cobalt nanoparticles (Co-NPs) were obtained, either directly from 1 or from its precursor. They are spherical in shape with a mean size 15 nm, have fcc crystal structure and were found to be ferromagnetic at room temperature.
Integration of Team-Building Skills into Food Chemistry Team Research Projects

As professionals, food scientists are expected to com- municate effectively in interper- sonal and team contexts. The ob- jective of this study was to evalu- ate the impact of structured team- building activities on the develop- ment of interpersonal and team- work skills through team research projects in a food chemistry course. Team-building skills and the assessment of team perfor- mance were integrated into team research projects for a food chemistry course. Through these activities, teams exhibited the characteristics of effective teams. Students recognized that the de- velopment of good teamwork and communication skills are impor- tant for their future careers.
Mothers' responses to infants' object-related gestures: influences on lexical development

This paper examines four mothers' responses to three object-related gestures (pointing, extending objects, and open-handed reaching) by their first-born infants from 0; 9 to 1; 6, and the impact of their responses on the children's transition from gestural to verbal communication. Analysis revealed that the mothers responded differentially to their children's pointing gestures, reciprocating to a greater degree with labels of the indicated objects. The children, in turn, produced more object-labelling words with pointing than with other gestures. In addition, the mothers' labelling responses to pointing significantly predicted the extent of their children's object-naming vocabularies.
An evaluation of two visiting programs for elderly community residents

While many researchers have asserted that social participation enhances psychological well-being among the elderly, few empirical investigations have studied this relationship by systematically enhancing activities and developing supports for the isolated elderly. In the present study, elderly community residents participated in a network-building visiting program, which reinforced and encouraged involvement in community settings; in a relationship-oriented visiting program, which emphasized empathy and concern; or in a nonequivalent control group. All three groups were administered pre- and postpoint scales on life satisfaction, health, depression, I-E, current and desired social networks, telephone calls, and visitors. Weekly activities and biweekly quality-of-life-ratings were collected on the two experimental groups. At the program's end, the network-building group exhibited directionally higher means on most variables; however, few significant differences were found. Prepoint correlates of current and desired networks emerged as central factors affecting the psychological well-being of participants in this study.
Registered nurses, unlicensed assistive personnel, and organizational culture in hospitals.

Objective This study investigated "thinking and behavioral" styles that are used to measure the concept of organizational culture among registered nurses (RNs) and unlicensed assistive personnel (UAPs) in acute care hospitals. Background The Organizational Culture Inventory has been used in numerous industries, including hospitals, to describe aspects of organizational culture in order to better understand and manage change. Evidence shows that nursing unit and hospital culture tends to be "constructive" but little evidence indicates whether workers in different job categories influence the culture differently. Method This survey was conducted in five tertiary care hospitals on the west coast of the United States. The design is cross-sectional and analytic. A convenience sample was recruited from staff members working at least 20 hours per week in the adult medical-surgical and specialty nursing units. Analyses include descriptive statistics and multiple regression. Results Staff members of color, regardless of position, scored higher on the thinking and behavioral styles of approval, avoidance, and competitiveness. Unlicensed assistive personnel, regardless of race or ethnicity, scored higher on the thinking and behavioral styles dependence and opposition. Conclusion Nurse administrators and managers should be aware of how the addition of unlicensed assistive personnel or people of color can change the culture of the nursing unit or hospital. Explicit management strategies may be necessary to promote employee behaviors that are desirable for patient care and for the organization.
Race Differences and Experimenter Race Effect in Galvanic Skin Response

The present study was designed to ascertain whether racial differences exist in the several components of the skin resistance response and to assess the importance of the role of the experimenter's race in determining the subject's responsiveness. Basal measures, GSR magnitude, and spontaneous GSR activity of 12 Negro and 12 Caucasian Ss were recorded by 2 Negro and 2 Caucasian experimental assistants matched for age, physical stature, and dress. Following a 15 min resting phase, all Ss received 14 1-sec bursts of 75 dB white noise. Variable stimulus intervals were employed. Significant subject-race effects, but no experimenter-race effects, were found for base level measures. Negro Ss evidenced significantly higher basal resistance levels. Conversely, experimenter-race effects, but no subject-race effects, were apparent in the GSR magnitude data. White Ss showed a significantly slower rate of response magnitude decrease over trials when paired with black Es. A significant decrease in spontaneous activity over time was observed for all Ss.
Innovative leadership: First-mover advantages in new product adoption

This paper analyzes innovation adoption when uncertainty about its profitability cannot be resolved immediately. Firms begin with a common estimate of the probability of high demand. If any adopts, all observe realized demand. An increase in the initial estimate can decrease the equilibrium number of initial adopters, because it results in higher updated estimates that can induce future adoption by additional firms that reduces the initial adoption payoff. Moreover, innovative leadership does not imply initial adoption because leadership implies a greater waiting payoff as well as a greater adoption payoff. Leadership does, however, still provide a higher expected payoff.
A novel contrast agent for multispectral magnetic resonance imaging

Arrays of double-disk structured particles were fabricated with ferromagnetic iron disks separated by nonmagnetic polyimide spacers, to be used as multispectral contrast agents for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The advantages of using this contrast agent, compared to currently existing agents, include geometrically dependent spectral signatures, diffusion driven signal amplification, and potentials for functionalized, environmentally responsive particles. Compared to previous works, biocompatibility was largely considered for future applications within a biological environment.
The Sustainable Development Paradox: Urban Political Economy in the United States and Europe edited by Rob Kruger and David Gibbs

Rob Kruger and David Gibbs (Eds.), The Sustainable Development Paradox: Urban Political Economy in the United States and Europe (New York and London: The Guilford Press, 2007).Sustainability has be...
Texture Classification Using VQ with Feature Extraction based on Transforms Motivated by the Human Visual System

The textured images are classified with a supervised segmentation algorithm (the classifier is trained first on texture samples). Texture features are extracted in the frequency domain and classified by a vector quantizer. Since feature vectors are computed and classified independently, for each pixel, a Kuwahara-like filter is used on the final classification to improve consistency. Feature vectors are computed by taking a 2D Fourier transform of a window centered on a pixel; the phase is discarded, while the magnitude of the transform is retained and mapped to polar coordinates. The polar mapping improves the precision of the classifier on the test problems. Principal component analysis is used to compact the feature vector and contain the complexity of the vector quantizer used to select a small number of representative signatures for each class. The training yields a small codebook associated with each texture image of the training set
Reaction of Acetylcholinesterase with Organophosphonates

Irreversible inhibition of acetylcholinesterase (AchE) by organophosphorus agents is rapid, proceeding at rates that, in general, exceed 105–106 M−1-min−1. Numerous instances occur in which the reaction velocity, proceeding at rates greater than 108 M−1-min−1, approaches within an order of magnitude of the diffusion limitation (Berman and Leonard, 1989). The rapidity of organophosphorus reactions with AchE is striking, especially so since these molecules, having tetrahedral symmetry, occupy a measurable volume, and they engender a more complex array of steric interactions than, for example, the planar, symmetrical substrate acetylcholine. Such reactivity of organophosphonates is even more remarkable since the catalytically reactive residues exist at the base of a deep gorge, 20 A in depth, that is deeper than it is wide, is tightly circumscribed, and offers ample opportunity for unfavorable steric interactions. Indeed, there exists within the gorge, about half-way between the enzyme surface and the base, a pronounced ledge — or restriction — that, as seen in the crystal state, would seem to restrict free diffusion of a large ligand in or out of the gorge (Sussman, et al., 1991). As such, information derived from the crystal structure provides no easy explanations for the rapid covalent reactivity of AchE toward a wide variety of organophosphorus agents. Systematic study of a defined family of structurally-related organophosphonates can provide some clues as to interactions of importance in the docking and reactivity of large molecules within the active center.
Scripture and the Field of Hate Studies: Traversing Biblical Landscapes:

The need for an interdisciplinary approach in the emerging field of hate studies has recently been highlighted by Kenneth Stern. His working definition describes both a “diagnostic” and a “preventive/restorative” task for hate studies. What themes might emerge from the Bible when it is read in light of hate studies? The Psalms give a realistic account of what it means to have an enemy. The stories of Dinah and the Sons of Shechem in Genesis 34 and of Cain’s Murder of Abel in Genesis 4 indicate that every human being stands in need of repentance and healing. David and Elisha each show that it is possible for enmity to give way to friendship and peace. The New Testament has many resources for diagnosing and transforming hate. A concluding section focuses on what Scripture has to say about (1) respect for human dignity, (2) friendship across sociological fault-lines, and (3) the connection between worship and justice.
Enantioselective pharmacokinetics of primaquine in healthy human volunteers.

Primaquine (PQ), a racemic drug, is the only treatment available for radical cure of relapsing Plasmodium vivax malaria and blocking transmission of P. falciparum malaria. Recent studies have shown differential pharmacologic and toxicologic profiles of individual PQ enantiomers in rodent, dog, and primate animal models. This study was conducted in six healthy adult human volunteers to determine the plasma pharmacokinetic profile of enantiomers of PQ and carboxyprimaquine (cPQ), the major plasma metabolite. The individuals were orally administered PQ diphosphate, equivalent to 45-mg base, 30 minutes after a normal breakfast. Blood samples were collected at different time intervals, and plasma samples were analyzed for enantiomers of PQ and cPQ. Plasma PQ concentrations were low and variable for both parent enantiomers and peaked around 2-4 hours. Peak (−)-(R)-PQ concentrations ranged from 121 ng/ml to 221 ng/ml, and peak (+)-(S)-PQ concentrations ranged from 168 ng/ml to 299 ng/ml. The cPQ concentrations were much higher and were surprisingly consistent from subject to subject. Essentially all the cPQ detected in plasma was (−)-cPQ. The peak concentrations of (−)-cPQ were observed at 8 hours (range: 1104-1756 ng/ml); however, very high concentrations were sustained through 24 hours. (+)-cPQ was two orders of magnitude lower than (−)-cPQ, and in a few subjects it was detected but only under the limit of quantification. In vitro studies with primary human hepatocytes also suggested more rapid metabolism of (−)-PQ compared with (+)-PQ. The results suggest more rapid metabolism of (−)-PQ to (−) cPQ compared with (+)-PQ. Alternatively, (+)-PQ or (+)-cPQ could be rapidly converted to another metabolite(s) or distributed to tissues. This is the first clinical report on enantioselective pharmacokinetic profiles of PQ and cPQ and supports further clinical evaluation of individual PQ enantiomers.
On Cooper's “Big Questions”

This is a commentary on Terry Cooper's effort to identify the “big questions” in administrative ethics to effect a more “focused, collaborative effort” in the ethics field. Although the author supports the thrust of Cooper's argument, he points out certain limitations therein.
Remediation with cyclodextrin: Recovery of the remedial agent by membrane filtration

Cyclodextrin-enhanced flushing of contaminants from the subsurface is a promising innovative remediation technology. It will become more economically viable at more sites if methods can be developed to recover and reconcentrate the cyclodextrin solution after it has been flushed through an aquifer. The goal of this study was to determine if membrane technology is capable of meeting that need. Five membranes with different material properties were tested for this purpose in the laboratory. The results of these tests indicate that there are large differences both in the efficiency of these membranes to extract hydroxpropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HPCD) and their stability when exposed to trichloroethylene (TCE) at concentrations near aqueous solubility. Not only does the molecular weigh cutoff (MWCO) of a membrane determine if HPCD can be retained, but crucial selection criteria are the membrane's resistance and compatibility with TCE. Of the five membrane materials tested, only two (polymer composite membrane and polysulfone) met both these requirements. The polymer composite membrane (MPF-44) showed reliable and stable HPCD recoveries (>95 percent) even when exposed to high TCE concentrations. The polysulfone membrane showed high HPCD recoveries, 88.5 ± 0.4 percent to 97 percent ±1 percent for ultrafiltration and nanofiltration membranes, respectively. However, membrane swelling and deterioration became a problem at high TCE concentrations (>1,000 mg/L). These problems diminished when the TCE concentration was less than 1 mg/L. Field tests demonstrated that batch mode treatment by ultrafiltration doubled the cyclodextrin concentration from 5 to 10 percent within three hours at a constant operating pressure of 13 psi. Under continuous single-pass treatment conditions, cyclodextrin concentration also increased, although the rate of increase was much smaller than in batch mode. Overall, these tests showed that cyclodextrin recovery is possible under field conditions. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Analysis of interferon-gamma-dependent and -independent pathways of macrophage activation.

Macrophages are a cellular cornerstone of the innate immune response. The outcome of macrophage activity during development of an immune response to microbes results from macro- phage activation by both organism-derived and host-derived factors. In order to more fully under- stand the spectrum of responses expressed by macrophages when encountering these distinct stimuli, we investigated the similarities and differ- ences between interferon-g receptor (IFN-gR)- dependent macrophage activation and stimulation of macrophages through the Type A1 scavenger receptor (SR). We observed distinct patterns of macrophage activation depending on the nature of the ligand. IFN-g and the SR ligand lipotechoic acid (LTA) induced largely non-overlapping sets of genes. The use of two additional SR ligands, maleylated bovine serum albumin and the polydeoxynucleo- tide poly dI:dC, revealed differences within SR activation-induced gene expression. We also ob- served that priming with IFN-g resulted in an enhanced response to subsequent SR-mediated ac- tivation. These results suggest that full potentiation of macrophage activity during development of an antimicrobial immune response is achieved by acti- vation of these cells through multiple receptors. J. Leukoc. Biol. 67: 677-682; 2000.
The detailed mechanism of the Dushman reaction explored by computer

Since 1926 investigations of the Dushman reaction have relied mainly upon “constant-rate” measurements, usually by instrumental methods. Since about that time, the confusion surrounding this venerable reaction has been growing. In part, the confusion arises because the reaction involves reactive intermediate species that have not been studied directly—and may never be. Alternative detailed mechanisms have been assumed with little restraint. One of these, which is built around H2I2O3, has been explored by computer with promising results. The mechanism seems capable of reducing the confusion now attending the Dushman reaction and others related to it.
The Contributions of the Whitings to the Study of the Socialization of Gender

The Six Culture Study and the additional New Samples were the first studies to systematically examine the role of culture in the development of gender differences. Observations of children in their natural environments demonstrated the influential roles of parents, siblings, peers, task assignment, and the environmental setting in determining the course of gender-related learning. Relations between children’s experiences and the development of later social behaviors were clarified by examination of differences between cultural groups. Although sometimes not recognized as legacies of this research, many of the culturally determined aspects of socialization revealed in these studies have been incorporated into current research and theory of gender development.
Transient Stress Concentration in Diffusional Creep of a Thin Foil with Heterogeneous Grain Boundary Diffusivity

Coble creep in thin films with heterogeneous grain boundary (GB) diffusivity and non-uniform grain size is investigated in the model problem of a thin foil with a high diffusivity GB joined with a ...
Recent Trends in Utilization of Cardiovascular Imaging: How Important Are They for Radiology?⁎

Purpose To determine (a) the role cardiovascular imaging (CVI) plays within the spectrum of noninvasive diagnostic imaging (NDI), (b) the role radiologists play in CVI, and (c) recent trends in CVI workload among radiologists and cardiologists. Methods and Materials The national Medicare Part B databases for the years 1993 and 2002 were used to identify all CPT-4 codes pertaining to NDI. Those codes relating specifically to noninvasive CVI were grouped together in seven categories. The 2002 Medicare total professional component relative value units (RVUs) were then used to determine RVU rates per 1,000 Medicare beneficiaries as a measure of physician work for each code. The percentage of all NDI RVUs accruing to CVI in 2002 were calculated. Also calculated were the 9-year changes in RVU rates for each of the seven CVI categories, and the changes in those rates among radiologists and cardiologists. Results CVI represented 29% of all Medicare NDI work in 2002. Between 1993 and 2002, the RVU rate for all CVI rose by 75%, compared with 34% for all non-cardiovascular imaging. Over the same years, the CVI RVU rates among cardiologists grew by 110%, compared with 50% among radiologists. In 2002, cardiologists performed 448 RVUs per 1,000 in CVI, (mostly in echocardiography and cardiac nuclear imaging) whereas radiologists performed 162. The most rapid growth among the major CVI categories was in cardiovascular nuclear imaging performed by cardiologists; this grew 452% between 1993 and 2002. Radiologists predominate in vascular US and cardiovascular CT and MRI. Conclusion CVI represents a large and important component of total diagnostic imaging services and is growing more rapidly than other types of imaging. Cardiologists dominate in CVI RVU rates and their utilization is growing more rapidly than that of radiologists’. However, radiologists predominate in vascular US and cardiovascular CT and MRI. Summary sentence Cardiovascular imaging represents almost one-third of total noninvasive diagnostic imaging services and is growing more rapidly than other types of imaging; the authors explore the relative roles of radiologists and cardiologists in this field.
Positive Mood and the Perception of Variability Within and Between Groups

Three experiments investigated the effects of positive mood on perceptions of variability within and between groups. Participants formed impressions of two different and highly variable groups under a neutral or positive mood. When participants expected to learn about both groups, positive mood increased perceived intergroup similarity but did not affect perceived intragroup variability. In contrast, when participants expected to learn about only one group, judgments of intergroup and intragroup similarity were both affected by mood. Mood and the intergroup context influenced the nature and degree of information processing and resultant judgments of variability in social groups.
Monitoring phloem unloading and post-phloem transport by microperfusion of attached wheat grains

Phloem unloading and post-phloem transport in developing wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) grains were investigated by perfusing the endosperm cavities of attached grains. Relative unloading ratio (RUR) and the rate of sucrose release into the endosperm cavity (SRR) were calculated, respectively, from 14C import and from sucrose washout from the cavity. RUR and SRR continued at or near in vivo rates over a wide range of cavity sap osmolality (90 to approximately 500 milliosmolal) and sucrose concentration (14-430 mM) and for long times (29 h). These are much greater ranges than have been observed for the endosperm cavity in vivo (230-300 milliosmolal, and 40-120 mM, respectively), indicating that neither the cavity sap osmolality nor sucrose concentration are controlling factors for the rate of assimilate import into the cavity. The maintenance of in vivo transport rates over a wide range of conditions strongly implicates the role of transport processes within the maternal tissues of the wheat grain, rather than activities of the embryo or endosperm, in determining the rate of assimilate import into the grain. RUR was decreased by high concentrations of sucrose and sorbitol, but not of mannitol. By plasmolyzing some chalazal cells, sorbitol appeared to block symplastic transport across the crease tissues, but neither sucrose nor mannitol caused plasmolysis in maternal tissues of attached grains. The inhibition of RUR by KCN and carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenyl (CCCP) and the continued import of sucrose into grains against its concentration gradient suggest that solute movement into the endosperm cavity might occur by active membrane transport. However, the evidence is weak, since KCN and CCCP appeared to act primarily on some aspect of symplastic (i.e. nonmembrane) transport. Also, sucrose could move from the endosperm cavity into the maternal tissues (i.e. opposite to the normal direction of sucrose movement), suggesting that transmembrane movement in the nucellus may be a reversible process. Pressure-driven flow into the grain could account for movement against a concentration gradient.
The Dynamics of Planetary Rings

The discovery of ring systems around Uranus and Jupiter, and the Pioneer and Voyager spacecraft observations of Saturn, have shown that planetary rings are both more common and more complex than previously suspected. These ring systems, interesting in their own right, also serve as prototypes for more massive disk systems such as accretion disks and spiral galaxies occurring elsewhere in astronomy. Disks and rings are a natural consequence of dissipation in rotating systems. A cloud of debris surrounding a spherical planet settles into a flat circular ring because interparticle collisions dissipate energy but conserve total angular momentum. Since planets are oblate, only the component of angular momentum along the spin axis is conserved, and the flat ring lies in the equatorial plane. Collisions redistribute angular momentum among the particles and the ring spreads, transferring mass inward and angular momentum outward (Lynden-Bell & Pringle 1974). However, the spreading process occurs on a much longer timescale than the flattening process since the collision speeds in a flat ring are much lower than the orbital speeds (see Sections 2.2 and 5. 3). Spreading can be slowed by gravitational interactions with satellites; nevertheless, a ring cannot live forever and an important constraint on possible ring models is that they yield survival times at least comparable to the age of the solar system (cf. Sections 5, 6). This review was written in October 1981, shortly after the Voyager 2 encounter with Saturn. Analysis of the data from the Voyager encounters is not yet complete. Therefore the emphasis in this review is on the basic physical processes that occur in planetary rings, rather than on a detailed confrontation of theoretical predictions with observation. Table 1 lists some of the important properties of the planets with known ring systems. For the sake of brevity we shall refer to a series of papers we have written on rings (Goldreich & Tremaine 1978a, b, c, 1979a, b, c, 1980, 1981) as GT 1, . . . , GT 8.
Neural processing of gravitoinertial cues in humans. III. Modeling tilt and translation responses.

All linear accelerometers measure gravitoinertial force, which is the sum of gravitational force (tilt) and inertial force due to linear acceleration (translation). Neural strategies must exist to ...
Desalination and On-site Energy for Groundwater Treatment in Developing Countries Using Fuel Cells

Supply of potable water from brackish groundwater and other sources is hindered by energy crisis. The efficacy of brackish water desalination plants powered by on-site fuel cells (FCs) to address a developing country like India's growing water and energy demands in rural areas is discussed. The membrane-thermal hybrid system can achieve very high recovery and manageable brine disposal volume. The desalination plant design and operation is chosen to be conservative because of logistics. The system is optimised based on controlled recoveries of membrane and thermal systems with minimal chemical treatment. Operation under conditions of limited pretreatment, if possible, simplifies membrane operation and maintenance. In other words, the focus is on appropriate technology in a rural setting. The discarded brine can be sold for applications such as building materials, which will be a bonus for the local economy. Although the focus of the chapter has been groundwater desalination, the combined heat and power FC-desalination system is also applicable for treating surface waters. The FC uses locally produced reformed anaerobic digester gas as a source of hydrogen. Important FC power plant features include modular stacks, small footprint, continuous power supply, high efficiency, operation at constant load and short lead time.
Response of ovine uterine blood flow to epinephrine and norepinephrine.

SummaryThe effect of the infusion of epinephrine and norepinephrine directly into the lumen of either uterine artery was studied in unanesthetized, unstressed sheep in both the nonpregnant and pregnant state. The vasoconstrictive response to those catecholamines was found to lie within a narrow range; a 50% reduction of flow was caused by a 3-13 ng/ml arterial blood concentration of epinephrine and 2-10 ng/ml of arterial blood concentration of norepinephrine. This method of in vivo uterine artery infusion plus uterine blood flow measurement appears well-suited for precise quantitative analysis of the reaction of the uterine vascular bed to pharmacologic agents.
Entertaining mobility: the racialized and gendered nation in House Hunters International

AbstractHouse Hunters International invites viewers in the United States to temporarily and vicariously escape their daily lives through the stories of those fellow citizens and the occasional foreign nationals fortunate enough to buy homes abroad, including vacation homes in the tropics. Of course, other people, including viewers with access to the show, actually live their daily lives in those vacation paradises. The actors are presented as seeking an “authentic” experience away from the local population that is often tokenized and seen as static or invisible. In many instances, women and people of color who are a part of the visual landscape represent these places. This paper considers the ways the show frames mobility as entertainment, which ignores the politics of gender, race, and class that enables such mobility in the first place. This article concludes by considering Maria Lugones’ conceptualization of “traveling worlds” in order to propose a different way to articulate international house hunting.
Physiology and pathologic physiology of the testis.

(1958). Physiology and Pathologic Physiology of the Testis. Postgraduate Medicine: Vol. 24, No. 5, pp. 550-556.
Pathophysiological response of rabbit jejunum to Escherichia coli enterotoxin.

A soluble cell-free enterotoxin with secretory activity in the rabbit loop was prepared from a serotype of Escherichia coli (078 H 12) isolated from a patient with acute undifferentiated diarrhea. E. coli enterotoxin-stimulated jejunal secretion was noted to be maximal within 30 min of exposure, compared with a gradual increase in the rate of secretion after cholera toxin exposure. The secreted fluid had an electrolyte composition similar to an electrolyte solution which had come to equilibrium within the jejunal lumen and to fluid secreted in response to cholera toxin exposure. The blood to lumen unidirectional flux of 22Na and 3H2O demonstrated a significant increase after exposure to both enterotoxins, while the lumen to blood flux was unchanged. Active transport of glucose and glycine after E. coli exposure was decreased when compared with the unstimulated intestine, suggesting that the E. coli enterotoxin or closely associated soluble products alter active transport processes as well as stimulate secretion. Thus, replacement with oral glucose-glycine solutions, which have been noted to be effective in the treatment of cholera diarrhea, may not be as useful in acute undifferentiated diarrhea due to toxigenic E. coli. The similar effects on fluid secretion and unidirectional fluxes observed after E. coli and cholera enterotoxin exposure suggest stimulation of a common secretory process, but differences in active transport-mediated absorption of glucose and glycine indicate a fundamental difference in the physiological activity of the molecule or associated soluble products.
The role of prostaglandins in the pathogenesis of human disease: elucidation with stable isotopic methods

Prostaglandins are extremely potent biogenic compounds and as such are formed in quite small amounts in vivo. The total body production of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2), for example, is less than one µmol per day. Accordingly, the prostaglandins have provided a number of analytical challenges that have been soluble only by the use of selected ion monitoring with mass spectrometry. This is accomplished ultimately by employing stable-isotope-labelled compounds both as internal standards and as carriers.
Onboard diagnostics of avionics for fault tolerance and maintenance

Summary form only given. Emerging modular avionics systems will require excellent onboard fault diagnosis, both to support flight critical functions and to provide for cost effective maintenance. The approach to fault isolation discussed makes use of multiple indications of failures, known as failure signatures or syndromes. A computer-aided design tool that can analyze the architecture and generate syndrome data for inclusion in embedded software algorithms has been developed. This tool performs automatic failure dependency analysis using as input a graphical schematic of the system to be analyzed. A further complication arises with the syndrome approach when detection tests fail to operate correctly. A method of mitigating this problem using partial pattern matching techniques on the pattern of test failure indication has also been developed. Other benefits of this approach are outlined. >
Lack of Concordance in Interrater Scoring of the Provider's Global Assessment of Children With Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis With Low Disease Activity.

Objective To measure agreement among raters when scoring the physician/provider global assessment (PGA) of disease activity in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) with no apparent disease activity, and to identify clinical and laboratory parameters that most strongly influence provider scoring of the PGA. Methods Profiles of clinical and laboratory findings from 20 patients with JIA with no apparent disease activity were given to 51 providers, who were asked to score the PGA using a 21-circle visual analog scale (range 0-10). Following initial scoring, providers discussed each profile and reasons for assigning the score given, and then were asked to rescore each profile. Providers were asked to list variables that influenced their scoring most strongly. Using a mixed-model approach, the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) of the final scores served as the measure of concordance. Results A total of 504 PGA scores were obtained. The overall ICC of the initial scores was 0.18. Thus, 18% of nonconcordance of the scores was attributable to patient differences, while 82% was due to provider variation. Variables that influenced scoring most strongly were (in order of frequency) presence of pain, questionable temporomandibular joint involvement, loss of joint motion, presence of any morning stiffness, psoriasis, and past history of uveitis. Conclusion The low ICC suggests poor agreement among providers scoring the PGA in JIA patients with low or no disease activity. Given the ubiquitous use of the PGA in classification and response criteria for JIA and other pediatric rheumatic diseases, substantive efforts are needed to bring about greater uniformity in scoring of global disease activity by providers.
Introducing the Interprofessional Education Collaborative Competency Domains Through a Dentistry and Nursing Partnership

Abstract Collaborative health care teams lead to increased quality of patient care, safety, and positive outcomes; reduced health care costs; and greater satisfaction among patients and providers. New accreditation standards include interprofessional education as an important component of the health care curriculum; however, there remains a gap in academic preparation for interprofessional collaborative teams. The purpose of this study was to implement an educational experience that introduces concepts from the four Interprofessional Education Collaborative Competency domains. A convenience sample of prelicensure nursing students and predoctoral D3 dental students participated in a day long interprofessional experience where they engaged in team building exercises, problem-based learning cases, and a high-fidelity simulation case. All students completed the Interprofessional Collaborative Competencies Attainment Survey and Attitudes Toward Health Care Teams Scale survey pre and post. Transcripts from the discussions were recorded and themes from the verbal transcripts determined. Seven nursing students and six dental students participated. There was a significant change in the Interprofessional Collaborative Competencies Attainment Survey and Attitudes Toward Health Care Teams Scale scores from pre to post testing (p
Depth and Image Quality of Three-Dimensional, Lenticular-Sheet Images:

This study investigated the inherent tradeoff between depth and image quality in lenticular-sheet (LS) imaging. Four different scenes were generated as experimental stimuli to represent a range of typical LS images. The overall amount of depth in each image, as well as the degree of foreground and background disparity, were varied, and the images were rated by subjects using the free-modulus magnitude estimation procedure. Generally, subjects preferred images which had smaller amounts of overall depth and tended to dislike excessive amounts of foreground or background disparity. The most preferred image was also determined for each scene by selecting the image with the highest mean rating. In a second experiment, these most preferred LS images for each scene were shown to subjects along with the analogous two-dimensional (2D) photographic versions. Results indicate that observers from the general population looked at the LS images longer than they did at the 2D versions and rated them higher on the attrib...
Open source integrated library systems migration: Librarians share the lessons learnt:

To better understand how libraries experience the process of migrating to open source software integrated library systems (OSS ILSs), nine librarians from libraries of multiple types and sizes were...
Variable structure robust voltage regulator design for microgrid master-slave control

Solid state transformers (SSTs) can be interconnected with each other through a distribution feeder to form a smart grid. When the main grid is disconnected, SSTs form an islanded microgrid. With available communications, master-slave microgrid control structure can be adopted. The system-level stability analysis can be simplified by considering only the grid interface stage of the SST. The loop feeder impedance uncertainty effects on system stability is more complex compared to that of conventional grid connection. By using mu synthesis method, grid impedance uncertainty, slave SST load uncertainty and master SST DC link uncertainty can be considered at the stage of controller design. Mu synthesis considers the structured parameter uncertainties. However, when all SSTs are disconnected from grid, the system stability cannot be guaranteed due to large structure variation. This paper proposes a variable structure robust control design method achieving both robust performance and stability considering grid parameter and structure variation. The method used in this paper can be extended to systems with a large number of SSTs. Without losing generality, a 7-SST system is considered as an example. The designed controller is validated through detailed PLECS simulations and controller hardware in the loop (CHIL) testing.
Photoluminescence in the Fractional Quantum Hall Effect

The fractional quantum Hall effect results from a correlated ground state of interacting electrons confined to a layer and subject to a strong transverse magnetic field. It exhibits dissipationaless conduction ρxx = 0 and quantization of the Hall resistance RH = hv/e , with v-the Landau level filling number-a rational fraction. This paper will address the magneto-optics of quantum Hall states. For ideal system of coplanar electrons and holes the photoluminescence (PL) spectrum occurs at the isolated magnetoexciton binding energy, independent of the underlying electron density and therefore does not reflect any of the features associated with the fractional quantum Hall effect. If, however, the electron and hole layers are far enough apart the PL spectrum coincides with the single particle spectral (tunneling) density of states ρ(ω). For quantum Hall states at primary fillings v = 1/m, ρ(ω) exhibits a single characteristic peak. In the presence of quasi-particle excitations the PL spectrum develops an additional peak with intensity proportional to the number of quasi-particles and shifted in energy from the main peak by the quasi-particle quasi-hole gap.
Evolution of Sleep (Sleep Phylogeny)

Although sleep has often been viewed as a vulnerable state that is incompatible with behaviors that nourish and propagate species, it is proposed that sleep is best understood as a variant of dormant states seen throughout the plant and animal kingdoms and that it is itself highly adaptive because it optimizes the timing and duration of behavior. Nutritional needs, environmental conditions, migration patterns, and other factors determine sleep amount and timing across species. Optimal sleep amounts are critical for survival among species.
Early Language Exposure and Middle School Language and IQ: Implications for Primary Prevention

* Abbreviations: ROR — : Reach Out and Read VIP — : Video Interaction Project Recent advances in neuroscience have led to an increased appreciation of the effects of early experience on the brain, with ramifications for language, cognitive, and social-emotional development.1,2 Language development has been especially well studied, with extensive research documenting relations between early exposure to adult language and children’s language capacities through early elementary school.3–6 The authors of “Language Experience in the Second Year of Life Predicts Language Outcomes in Late Childhood” extend existing research by using a naturalistic methodology based on analysis of full-day audio recordings (Language ENvironment Analysis, LENA) to demonstrate long-term associations between early language exposure and subsequent child language and IQ through late middle school.7 Gilkerson et al7 found that the strongest predictor was language-based interaction, with relations (less robust) also found for quantity of language exposure. By showing that parent-child verbal interactions in early childhood predict critically important outcomes through age 14 years (∼10 years later), the authors of this study have made a major contribution to this topic, with strong implications for American Academy of Pediatrics policy and clinical practice recommendations.8–10 With these findings, the authors also … Address correspondence to Alan L. Mendelsohn, MD, Division of Developmental-Behavioral Pediatrics, Department of Pediatrics, New York University School of Medicine, Bellevue Hospital Center, 550 First Ave, OBV, Room A519, New York, NY 10016. E-mail: alan.mendelsohn{at}nyumc.org