cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A Cautionary Note on the use of Hemastix and Dot-blot Assays for the Detection and Confirmation of Archaeological Blood Residues

Abstract The screening of suspected archaeological blood residues by Hemastix and the confirmation of these residues by dot-blot assay is investigated. The results of this investigation cast serious doubt on this method, due to the likelihood of false positive assays.
Ethnography of novices' first use of Web search engines: affective control in cognitive processing

Abstract Without prior searching instruction, undergraduate novices wrote structured self-reports during their first session on a Web search engine. Users chose their own topics and followed written instructions that prompted them to describe thoughts and feelings during specified stages of the search: pre-search formulation; search statement formulation; search strategy; and evaluation of results. The sentences in the self-reports were numbered and then coded according to their affective or cognitive function. The affective sentences reveal how users set goals and limit the scope of the cognitive operations. Search acts appear to be governed by an affective filter that organizes incoming information and provides criteria for ranking cognitive relevance to search goal. The cognitive sentences reveal a variety of operations in executing searches. Following the search, students made self-ratings on self-confidence as searchers and satisfaction with the search experience, with explanations of their ratings. ...
NATURE OF THE POTENTIAL ENERGY SURFACES FOR THE SN1 REACTION : A PICOSECOND KINETIC STUDY OF HOMOLYSIS AND HETEROLYSIS FOR DIPHENYLMETHYL CHLORIDES

The picosecond dynamics for the photoinduced homolysis and heterolysis of (4-methylphenyl)phenylmethyl chloride and bis(4-methylphenyl)methyl chloride in acetonitrile are examined. In less than 20 ...
Further observations of the eclipsing X-ray burst source MXB 1659-29

An analysis is presented of data for MXB 1659-29 obtained during October 2-10, 1976 and June 6-11, 1977 using the SAS 3 X-ray Observatory (Lewin et al., 1976) and during September 8-13, 1978 using the A-1 experiment aboard HEAO 1 (Wood et al., 1984). The data confirm the 7.1 hr orbital period and provide evidence for the 15-min X-ray eclipse reported by Cominsky and Wood (1984). A total of 32 X-ray bursts are detected during the SAS 3 observations. By combining the data with previously published results, the orbital period is found to be about 0.29650474 days.
Exceptional Justice? A Discourse Ethical Contribution to the Immigrant Question

AbstractI argue that the exception must be a legitimate possibility within law as a revolutionary project, in much the same way that civil disobedience is. In this sense, the exception is not outside law if by "law" we mean not positive law as defined by extant legal documents (statutes, legislative committee reports, written judgments, etc.) but law as a living tradition consisting of both abstract norms and a concrete historical understanding of them. So construed, the exception is what can be exemplary - a law unto itself that best interprets and creatively extends (and transcends) the law that already exists, in order to make it inclusive of the other. In the final analysis, immigration law forces us to consider both the concrete individuality and abstract humanity of refugees, asylum seekers and other homeless persons who have been displaced by global economic underdevelopment. When combined with the "statelessness" of desperate classes of immigrants, this fact about immigration law reveals a revolut...
Comparison of two nonparametric methods for estimating the reliability of motor performance tests.

The purpose of this study was to compare the power and sampling distributions of the coefficient of concordance (W) and the weighted average tau (W a ) for the selected sets of parameters m, n, and α. The values of m and n were selected to represent situations in physical education for which test reliability and judge objectivity might be estimated. The comparison of W and Wa required the generation of data matrices with varying amounts of error (α) for each set of values m and n. The obtained distributions were used to make the necessary comparisons. Several conclusions were drawn: First, the sampling distributions of W and Wa were similar for the sets of parameters investigated in this study. Second, W and Wa were equally powerful for the sets of parameters investigated in this study. And third, the comparisons did not indicate that either statistic is more appropriate for estimating the reliability of motor performance tests. On the basis of the practical considerations of ease of computation and famil...
A Mitotic Lamin B Matrix Induced by RanGTP Required for Spindle Assembly

Mitotic spindle morphogenesis is a series of highly coordinated movements that lead to chromosome segregation and cytokinesis. We report that the intermediate filament protein lamin B, a component of the interphase nuclear lamina, functions in spindle assembly. Lamin B assembled into a matrix-like network in mitosis through a process that depended on the presence of the guanosine triphosphate–bound form of the small guanosine triphosphatase Ran. Depletion of lamin B resulted in defects in spindle assembly. Dominant negative mutant lamin B proteins that disrupt lamin B assembly in interphase nuclei also disrupted spindle assembly in mitosis. Furthermore, lamin B was essential for the formation of the mitotic matrix that tethers a number of spindle assembly factors. We propose that lamin B is a structural component of the long-soughtafter spindle matrix that promotes microtubule assembly and organization in mitosis.
Security markets and the information content of monetary policy turning points

Abstract Substantial evidence shows that a significant relationship exists between Federal Reserve monetary policy signals and subsequent security returns. Recent evidence, however, suggests that Fed rate changes do not signal shifts in monetary policy and therefore have no real policy significance. In this study, we investigate whether certain Fed signals, characterized as turning points in the monetary cycle, have real policy significance. Our evidence suggests that the Fed's signal that a turning point is occurring is unambiguous, predicts a substantial shift in Fed monetary policy, and provides costless and meaningful information about future security market returns.
Prognostic Factors in Pancreatic Endocrine Neoplasms: An Analysis of 136 Cases With a Proposal for Low-Grade and Intermediate-Grade Groups

PURPOSE: In some organs (eg, the lung), endocrine tumors are classified on the basis of mitotic rate and necrosis. The purpose of this study was to evaluate prognostic factors in pancreatic endocrine neoplasms recently treated at a single institution. PATIENTS AND METHODS: In 136 patients undergoing surgery from 1979 to 1998, the influence on disease-free survival (DFS) and disease-specific survival (DSS) of tumor size, mitotic rate, vascular invasion, necrosis, metastases, and nuclear grade was determined. Cases were further grouped according to an existing proposed classification system and then regrouped on the basis of mitotic rate (< 2 mitoses per 50 high-power fields v higher) and necrosis (present or absent) into low- and intermediate-grade groups. RESULTS: Correlations with DFS and DSS in univariate analysis included ≤ 2 mitoses per 50 high-power fields (P = .001, P = .002), vascular invasion (P = .02, P = .04), size ≤ 2 cm (P = .01, P = .05), metastases (P = .0002, P = .07), necrosis (P = .002, P...
Grace DAKASEP alkaline battery separator

The Grace DAKASEP separator was originally developed as a wicking layer for nickel-zinc alkaline batteries. The DAKASEP is a filled non-woven separator which is flexible and heat sealable. Through modification of formulation and processing variables, products with a variety of properties can be produced. Variations of DAKASEP were tested in Ni-H2, Ni-Zn, Ni-Cd, and primary alkaline batteries with good results. The properties of DAKASEP which are optimized for Hg-Zn primary batteries are shown in tabular form. This separator has high tensile strength, 12 micron average pore size, relatively low porosity at 46-48 percent, and consequently moderately high resistivity. Versions were produced with greater than 70 percent porosity and resistivities in 33 wt percent KOH as low as 3 ohm cm. Performance data for Hg-Zn E-1 size cells containing DAKASEP with the properties shown in tabular form, are more reproducible than data obtained with a competitive polypropylene non-woven separator. In addition, utilization of active material is in general considerably improved.
Problems and trends in international information and communication policies

Abstract An international “information war” threatens to inhibit or block worldwide evolution into a superculture based on electronics and telecommunications. Three interlocking issues, the New World Information and Communication Order (NWICO), World Administrative Radio Conference (WARC) and Transborder Data Flow (TBDF), are examined in order to identify problems and trends in international information and communication policies.
Protein kinase inhibitors attenuate cardiac swelling-induced amino acid release in the rat.

Rat Langendorff heart preparations have been used to study the efflux of cardiac amino acids into coronary artery perfusates during brief (5-min) periods of exposure to hyposmotic stress (70 mM NaCl). Coronary flow rates, heart rates and intra-aortic pressures were recorded. Amino acid levels were measured by high-performance liquid chromatography. Hyposmotic stress caused marked percentage increases in taurine, glutamate and aspartate levels in the coronary perfusate, with smaller increases in phosphoethanolamine, glycine and alanine and non-significant increases in serine and glutamine. Amino acid levels declined during reperfusion with isosmotic Krebs-Henseleit bicarbonate buffer. Inhibition of protein kinase C with chelerythrine chloride (5 μM) depressed the osmotically-induced release of aspartate, glutamate, taurine and glycine. The protein tyrosine kinase inhibitor, genistein, reduced the anisosmotic efflux of aspartate, glutamate, taurine and phosphoethanolamine. Lavendustin A, another inhibitor of tyrosine kinase, depressed the osmotically evoked release of aspartate, glutamate and taurine. These studies demonstrate the involvement of protein kinase C and tyrosine kinases in the efflux of amino acids from the osmotically challenged rat heart and imply that these enzymes are involved in the mechanisms responsible for volume regulation by cardiac cells.
Synergistic interactions in cellulose hydrolysis

Cellulases acting on crystalline cellulose in synergistic mixtures have higher combined activities than the sum of their individual activities. The mechanisms by which different types of cellulases enhance each other’s activities are complex and not completely understood, and the published data is often inconsistent. We discuss the role of the substrate and experimental factors in synergism experiments and consider the various modes of synergism that have been proposed. New oxidoreductase enzymes that participate in novel synergistic reactions are also discussed. Finally, we propose a general encompassing synergism model, based on the observations described in the review.
TU-C-211-05: A New Solid State X-Ray Image Intensifier (SSXII) with a 1×2 Modular Array and an Acquisition, Correction, and Display System

Purpose: To provide an extended field‐of‐view (FOV) with higher resolution images, a new SSXII imager with a two‐detector modular array was built. An acquisition, correction, and display system tiles two image modules in real‐time with geometric and brightness matching at the boundary. Methods: Two fiber‐optic tapers (FOTs) were fitted together with minimum dead‐space and embedded in liquid Sylgard 184 silicone elastomer which is allowed to cure and solidify; this 1×2 FOT array was fitted into an optical “head‐box.” The EMCCD sensors were fixed to the small‐ends of the two FOTs while a single CsI x‐ray phosphor plate was fastened onto the large‐ends. The optical head‐box was then combined with custom‐built electronics boards that control the driving clocks and sample the output. The digitized frames were transmitted to a PC through a CameraLink port accommodating a rate of 30 fps for both modules simultaneously. Customized software enabled acquisition, correction (dealing with the rotational and translational misalignments between the sensors), and display of the x‐ray images in real‐time. Other functions including acquisition control, save options, temporal filters, flat‐field correction, and mode selection for fluoroscopy, roadmapping, digital angiography (DA) and digital subtraction angiography(DSA), were also implemented. Results: The processed high‐resolution image was aligned properly along the boundary. The match up error was less than 1 pixel although there was a coupling loss of just under 7% due to chamfers at the edges of the FOTs; remachining the FOTs in future versions will reduce this loss. The two aligned images from each module exhibited balanced brightness between the sensors and flat‐field correction to eliminate fixed patterns introduced by the FOTs. Conclusions: The custom‐built SSXII detector and its acquisition, correction, and display system provides higher spatial resolution and nearly seamless images for the array in real‐time. Larger arrays are planned for future SSXII implementations. Support: NIH Grants R01‐EB008425, R01‐EB002873
Human choroidal melanocytes in tissue culture

Human choroidal melanocytes were isolated from eye bank tissue and cultured in vitro with 10ng/ml cholera toxin and 10ng/ml phorbol myristate acetate. These growth factors induced rapid proliferation of spindle-type melanocytes. Similar results were obtained using 10mM putrescine. Phenotypic analysis of these cells by immunoperoxidase staining with anti-HLA-DR monoclonal antibodies revealed 40-70% positive cells. HLA-DR positive melanocytes were isolated and purified from the HLA-DR negative population by resetting with protein-A coupled sheep erythrocytes followed by differential centrifugation. Ultrastructural analysis of choroidal melanocytes revealed evidence of premelanosomes and melanosomes. Choroidal melanocytes in tissue culture are important experimental controls for the study of the cell biology of choroidal melanoma.
Multi-pass time-of-flight mass spectrometers of high resolving power

Using the flight path in an energy-isochronous time-of-flight mass spectrometer repeatedly, one can achieve very high mass resolving powers because of the overall long flight distance. Additionally to their longitudinal isochronicity, such systems can provide a high transversal phase-space acceptance so that they can make use of ion beams of large phase-space volumes. This can be achieved by building the system from matched unit cells similarly to the techniques used in the design of accelerator storage rings.
Management of the single ventricle and potentially obstructive systemic ventricular outflow tract

Multi-stage palliation is the current management strategy for the treatment of children with various single ventricle (SV) cardiac malformations. The success of this strategy depends on the presence of favorable anatomic and hemodynamic criteria. Several SV anomalies have the potential of developing systemic ventricular outflow tract obstruction (SVOTO) that might be evident early on or progress later after palliative surgeries. SVOTO could result in ventricular hypertrophy, impaired diastolic function and subendocardial ischemia with subsequent deleterious effects on the SV and disturbance of some of those criteria for a successful multi-stage palliation strategy. Careful identification of SV patients at risk of developing SVOTO and proper planning of the optimal palliation sequence beginning at the 1st stage procedure are vital factors that would affect long-term outcomes in those patients. In the current review, we describe the morphology of SV patients with potential SVOTO risk, surgical procedures that address potential or present SVOTO, and optimal timing of those procedures within the multi-stage palliation chain. We attempt to provide a treatment algorithm for various patients taking into consideration their unique anatomic and physiologic characteristics.
Towards a history of the Royal Society in the eighteenth century

A long-standing impression persists among scholars - with a few exceptions - that the Royal Society of London was in decline during the eighteenth century. This misperception has stemmed from four major sources: from the often-stated belief that the Society failed to follow the illustrious example that its greatest Fellow, Sir Isaac Newton, had set in the Principia ; from the negative opinions, repeatedly quoted, of several literary lions of the late seventeenth and early eighteenth centuries; from the continued popularity of Babbage’s Reflections on the Decline of Science in England , published in 1830, which has cast a pall over the reputation of the Society in the eighteenth century ever since; and from the intensive study devoted to the Society’s early years, which has overshadowed later periods.
Final evaluation of tolonium chloride rinse for screening of high-risk patients with asymptomatic squamous carcinoma

Tolonium chloride rinse is proposed as a cancer screening agent to be used after thorough soft tissue examination. Historical review and clinical observations show no toxicity or untoward results from its topical use.
Conservation and contour tillage for corn and soybeans in the Tama silt loam soil: the hydrologic response

Abstract Simulated rainfall was applied to a Tama silt loam soil under four tillage treatments, two crops (corn and soybeans), two crop stages (at planting and one month later), and two row orientations (on the contour and up-and-down the slope). Contouring significantly increased the quantity of rainfall applied before the initiation of runoff for all tillage treatments. However, after a drainage pattern was established, contouring had little effect on runoff. Depth of runoff was usually greatest from moldboard-plowed plots and least from the strip-till plots, and differences between these two treatments were usually statistically significant at the 95% level of probability. Runoff depths from the chisel-plowed plots were usually less than the moldboard-plowed plots but the differences were never statistically significant. Runoff depths from the no-till plots were often significantly less than the moldboard-plowed plots, particularly in the year following soybean production. As the soil approached saturation, steady runoff rates were an average of 7 mm h−1 greater when the previous crop was soybeans for all tillage treatments, except for the no-till. Greater runoff following soybeans could be partially explained by less soil residue following soybeans, since runoff depths and steady runoff rates from the tilled soils were negatively correlated with residue cover. The relationship between residue cover and runoff for the no-till following corn appeared to be different from all other treatments. The least runoff rates were observed from plots which had been recently tilled yet retained high levels of soil residue cover.
SNR improvement in amplitude modulated resonant MEMS sensors via thermal-piezoresistive internal amplification

Effect of thermal-piezoresistive internal amplification on signal to noise ratio (SNR) of amplitude modulated resonant MEMS sensors (e.g. vibratory gyroscopes and Lorentz force magnetometers) has been studied in this work showing the possibility to significantly improve the detection limit. It has been shown that as the thermal-piezoresistive amplification sets in, noise rms value increases with a slower rate than the boost in vibration amplitude and output signal level, therefore the SNR increases. In addition to higher sensitivity due to internal amplification in such devices, improvement in SNR reduces the minimum detectable signal in presence of limiting Brownian and thermal noises. Preliminary measurement results show that increasing the DC bias current, which leads to a 3X increase in vibration amplitude, improves the SNR by a factor of 4.5 (6.6 dB).
Optimal tax/subsidy combinations for the flu season

Abstract This paper uses a dynamic susceptible-infected-recovered (SIR) epidemic model to identify optimal vaccination policy mixes for the flu season. It begins with the solution to the relevant optimal control problem and then gives the derivation of a perfect-foresight equilibrium outcome for vaccination behavior in an unregulated market. Both the optimal and market outcomes are characterized by switching curves in S–I state space; exact expressions for these are derived. The final section discusses taxes and subsidies that can be used to attain the optimal outcome.
Molecular and kinetic parameters of sugar transport across the frog choroid plexus.

The nature of sugar transport across the “blood-cerebrospinal fluid barrier” has been investigated using anin vitro preparation of the frog posterior choroid plexus. The permeability of 41 sugars and related compounds was measured by the rapid osmotic procedure described previously. Sugar permeation was found to be stereospecific, inhibited by 1,5-difluoro-2,4-dinitrobenzene, insensitive to anoxia, and independent of the external alkali cation composition. In addition, the transport of a sugar was inhibited by structural analogues. Transport occurred equally well from the ventricular or serosal surface of the tissue, and the rate of transport could be described formally by Michaelis-Menten kinetics. The results were analyzed in terms of the conformation of the sugars in aqueous solution. Sugars which were transported have the d-glucose chair conformation. There is a good correlation between the affinity of the sugar for the transport system and the number of hydroxyl groups attached to the equatorial plane of the ring; d-glucose with five equatorial hydroxyl groups has the greatest affinity. It is concluded that sugar transport across the choroid plexus occurs by facilitated diffusion.
Croonian Lecture: On the Mechanism of Heredity

Several years ago I ventured to state that with the demonstration of the wide applicability of Mendel's two laws, and with the later discoveries of linkage and of crossing-over, the traditional problem of heredity had been, solved. On account of this statement, I have been rebuked for arrogantly affirming that there was nothing more to be learned about heredity!
Transforming growth factor-β administration modifies cyclosporine A-induced bone loss

Abstract Cyclosporine A (CsA), a potent immunosuppressant used in transplantation, induces increased formation with excess resorption in the rat with resultant osteopenia. These findings are confirmed in the human model. Transforming growth factor-β (TGF-β) is reported to be involved in the coupling of bone formation with resorption and in vivo and in vitro stimulates osteoblasts, and in vitro inhibits osteoclasts. CsA stimulates secretion of TGF-β1 in humans, which, while improving immunosuppression, may also contribute to renal toxicity. This study was performed determine whether exogenously administered TGF-β would modify the bone effects of CsA. Male Sprague-Dawley rats, 6 months of age, were randomized to receive: TGF-β and CsA vehicle (group A); TGF-β 5 μg/kg three times per week and CsA vehicle (group B); TGF-β vehicle and CsA 10 mg/kg (group C); or TGF-β 5 μg/kg three times per week and CsA 10 mg/kg (group D). These were compared with control over 28 days. CsA, but not TGF-β, increased serum 1,25(OH)2D levels throughout the study. CsA increased osteocalcin (BGP), but TGF-β negated this effect. Histomorphometry confirmed the known effects of CsA, whereas TGF-β alone had no effect. However, in combination, TGF-β blocked CsA’s effect and increased osteoblast recruitment and activity, as reflected by increased percent mineralizing surface, percent osteoid perimeter, bone formation rate (bone volume referent), and activation frequency. Thus, it appears as if TGF-β administration may have potential in modulating the deleterious bone effects of CsA.
Localization of vasopressin-neurophysin and norepinephrine in the supraoptic nucleus of spontaneously hypertensive rats

Histological analysis of the catecholaminergic innervation of vasopressin neurons in the supraoptic nucleus (SON) was performed using catecholamine histofluorescence and immunocytochemistry of vasopressin specific neurophysin (VP-NP) in order to determine if spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) demonstrate alterations in the relationship between these two types of chemically defined neurons. Chronically hypertensive SHRs showed an increased density of catecholamine fluorescence particularly in the dorsal part of the SON in comparison to age-matched, normotensive, Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats, but not in comparison to age-matched Wistar rats. In addition, there was an increase in the area of distribution of VP-NP immunopositive neurons such that they extended into the dorsal portion of the nucleus in the SHR compared to the WKY. Comparator bridge analysis of immunocytochemical staining and catecholamine histofluorescence revealed a precise overlap of the two patterns in SHR. Thus, the more extensive distribution of catecholamine fluorescence in the dorsal SON in the SHR compared to WKY paralleled the more extensive distribution of VP neurons in this region. Quantitative analysis of the relative percentage of SON neurons which were VP-NP positive indicated that the increased representation of VP-NP positive neurons in the dorsal portion of the nucleus reflected a greater distribution of the VP-NP cell population throughout the SON rather than an increase in the number of VP-NP neurons in the SHR. In young SHRs (5 weeks old) the catecholamine fluorescence pattern in the SON was considerably smaller than that observed in older SHRs. This low density pattern, however, was comparable to that observed in young WKYs. Thus, the catecholamine fluorescence in the SON apparently increases in the SHR in parallel with the development of the hypertension. This observation and the finding of comparable catecholamine fluorescence in Wistars and SHRs suggest that the altered catecholamine innervation of VP neurons observed in chronically hypertensive SHRs is not causal to the hypertension but may reflect a response to the elevated blood pressure. A marked increase in the catecholamine innervation of cerebral arteries was also noted.
The localization of phosphorus and the site of calcium binding in the yolk protein of the frog's egg

Abstract 1. 1. A partial separation of the two components of vitellin, the yolk phosphoprotein of frog eggs, was obtained utilizing an ultracentrifugal technique. Phosphorus/nitrogen ratios revealed that the slower sedimenting component of vitellin is the phosphoprotein. 2. 2. The addition of calcium chloride to vitellin, and ultracentrifugal separation of the components, demonstrated that the phosphoprotein component can selectively bind calcium.
Barriers to Enrollment in Non-small Cell Lung Cancer Therapeutic Clinical Trials

Introduction: Despite recent advances in treatment, lung cancer remains the leading cause of cancer-related mortality in the United States. Therefore, there is a strong need for developing clinical trials in lung cancer therapeutics. Only a small fraction of patients with lung cancer are enrolled in clinical trials. It is critical to understand the barriers to participation in lung cancer clinical trials. Methods: We reviewed the outpatient charts of consecutive patients with non-small cell lung cancer who presented for initial evaluation or consultation for further therapeutic management to the thoracic medical oncology group at the Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center between January 1, 2006, and December 31, 2006. Available and appropriate clinical trials specific to the histologic subtype and stage were presented to the patients routinely, and reasons for nonenrollment were documented. We collected information on age, gender, ethnicity, histology, stage, performance status (PS), and insurance status. Results: During the study period, 263 patients with non-small cell lung cancer were identified for the study. After initial screening, 183 patients had clinical trials available, which were appropriate for their diagnosis and stage of disease. One hundred one patients (55.2%) were ineligible for enrollment in a clinical trial. The most common reasons for ineligibility were poor PS (18%), need for emergent radiation (12%), lack of adequate staging information (6%), and comorbid conditions (4.9%). Despite being eligible for participation, 57 patients (31.1%) did not enroll in a clinical trial. Patient refusal accounted for 8.7%. The problems with transportation and distance from the medical center were reasons given for nonparticipation by 7.1%. Eleven patients (6%) did not participate in a clinical trial because of insurance issues. Ultimately, 25 patients (13.7%) were enrolled in a clinical trial. Conclusions: Poor PS, the need for emergent radiation, and patient refusal were the most common reasons for not participating in a clinical trial.
Color–Odor Interactions: A Review and Model

Certain colors are seen as corresponding to, and thus appropriate to, certain odors (e.g., red for cherry odor). When colors accompany odors, our perceptions of the odors are changed. Appropriate colors often affect our perception of the odors differently from inappropriate colors. This paper discusses the literature on color–odor correspondences including possible causes of these correspondences. It then reviews findings on the influence of color on odor identification, odor discrimination, odor intensity, and odor pleasantness. Color's effect on both orthonasal and retronasal olfaction is discussed. A model for how color exerts its effects on odor is proposed.
VALIDATION OF THE PROXIMAL ISOVELOCITY SURFACE AREA METHOD FOR ASSESSING MITRAL REGURGITATION IN CHILDREN

The proximal isovelocity surface area (PISA) method for calculating volume flow through the regurgitant orifice has attracted significant attention. A number of in vitro studies and clinical studies in adults suggest that the method is accurate. However, when applying the method to children it must be noted that the absolute regurgitation volume is small, and the range of body sizes is wide. This study investigated the accuracy of the PISA method for quantitative assessment of the severity of mitral regurgitation in children. Twenty children aged 7 months to 12 years (average 4.7 years) with mitral regurgitation but without interventricular shunt or aortic stenosis were selected for this study. Underlying cardiac diseases included atrioventricular septal defects in nine, isolated mitral regurgitation in five, and association with other heart defects in six. The PISA radius (r) and the duration of regurgitation (T) were measured on color M-mode recordings, with the M line passing through the center of the PISA. Assuming that the PISA is a hemisphere, maximal regurgitant flow rate (MFR: ml/s) was calculated as MFR = 2π×~ r 2×~ V (r= maximal radius, V= aliasing velocity), and regurgitant stroke volume (RSVpisa) as RSVpisa = 2π×~ MSR ×~ V×~ T (MSR = mean square of the PISA radius during regurgitation). As a validating standard, total stroke volume (TSV) using two-dimensional echocardiography determined by the area–length volumetry method and forward stroke volume (FSV) by the pulsed Doppler method were measured, and regurgitant stroke volume (RSVD: RSVD= TSV − FSV) and regurgitant fraction (RF: RF = RSVD/TSV) were calculated. A linear correlation was found between MFR, RSVpisa, and RSVD (X) (MFR = 4.2X + 54.0, r= 0.84. RSVpisa = 1.0X + 9.8, r= 0.90), and both RSVpisa and MFR divided by body surface area (BSA: m2) revealed a significant correlation with regurgitant fraction (X) by nonlinear regression analysis (RSVpisa/BSA = 26.2 ×~ X/(1 − X) + 16.8, r= 0.85. MFR/BSA = 121.8 ×~ X/(1 − X) + 92.2, r= 0.79). It is concluded that maximal regurgitant flow rate, regurgitant stroke volume, and regurgitant fraction can be accurately predicted in children using the PISA method by Doppler echocardiography.
Characterization of oligonucleotides and nucleic acids by mass spectrometry

The continued refinement of two recent methods for producing gas-phase ions, electrospray ionization and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization, has resulted in new techniques for the rapid characterization of oligonucleotides by mass spectrometry. Using commercially available instruments, molecular mass measurements at the 20-mer level, with errors less than 2 Da, can now be made routinely in less than 15 min. Progress has also been achieved in the development of mass spectrometry for rapid sequencing of oligonucleotides smaller than 25 residues.
Audio-visual sports highlights extraction using Coupled Hidden Markov Models

We present our studies on the application of Coupled Hidden Markov Models(CHMMs) to sports highlights extraction from broadcast video using both audio and video information. First, we generate audio labels using audio classification via Gaussian mixture models, and video labels using quantization of the average motion vector magnitudes. Then, we model sports highlights using discrete-observations CHMMs on audio and video labels classified from a large training set of broadcast sports highlights. Our experimental results on unseen golf and soccer content show that CHMMs outperform Hidden Markov Models(HMMs) trained on audio-only or video-only observations. Next, we study how the coupling between the two single-modality HMMs offers improvement on modelling capability by making refinements on the states of the models. We also show that the number of states optimized in this fashion also gives better classification results than other number of states. We conclude that CHMMs provide a promising tool for information fusion techniques in the sports domain for audio-visual event detection and analysis.
Numerical Simulation of a Supersonic Three-Phase Cavitating Jet Flow Through a Gaseous Medium in Injection Nozzle

A new multiphase mathematical model based on a mixture formulation of the laws of conservation for a multiphase flow is used to simulate a supersonic three-phase cavitating jet flow through a gaseous medium. The model does not require an adhoc closure for the variation of mixture density with regards to the attendant pressure and yields a thermodynamically accurate value for the acoustical propagation generated by the process. A source term for cavitation is added into the equations of the mixture formulation and the resultant cavitation is mathematically modeled accordingly. The new numerical formulation has been incorporated into a multi-physics unstructured code “RocfluMP” that solves the modified three-dimensional time-dependent Euler/Navier-Stokes equations for a multiphase framework in integral form. A modified form of the Harten, Lax and van Leer approximate Riemann equations are used to resolve the isolated shock and contact waves. The newly developed multiphase flow equations provide a general framework for analyzing coupled incompressible-compressible multiphase flows that can be applied to a variety of supersonic multiphase jet flow problems such as fuel injection systems and liquid-jet machining. Preliminary results for three-phase cavitating jet flow through a gaseous medium in injection nozzle are presented and discussed.Copyright © 2005 by ASME
Successful Career Plateauing

Abstract Successful career plateauing, defined as effective job performance and high job satisfaction despite a low likelihood of promotion, was studied in a sample of 373 American and European middle managers from a multinational company. Plateaued status was measured objectively by time since promotion and subjectively by a perceptual measure rather than traditional measures of age and job tenure. Objectively plateaued managers were more successful when they did not see themselves as plateaued. They were more satisfied when they had challenging work, but did not see themselves as technical or functional specialists. Those receiving higher supervisor performance ratings were less likely to value geographic stability, and more likely to perceive their supervisors as supportive. Successful plateauing was not related to length of time plateaued, a managerial or life balance career orientation, perceptions of being valued and central to the organization, or perceived consequences of being plateaued.
Beyond decoding: Pictures of expository prose

Just as success in decoding complex spelling patterns requires strategy and structure, so does the "decoding" of complex expository writing. We discuss the specific sources of difficulty in technical writing and distinguish between content structure and text structure. Next come presentations of the basic building blocks for expository writing and techniques of text design. Patterns from American science and social studies texts are described and contrasted with Japanese materials. We finish with suggestions for promoting the comprehension of expository materials.
Quantitative analysis of transverse bacterial migration induced by chemotaxis in a packed column with structured physical heterogeneity.

A two-dimensional mathematical model was developed to simulate transport phenomena of chemotactic bacteria in a sand-packed column designed with structured physical heterogeneity in the presence of a localized chemical source. In contrast to mathematical models in previous research work, in which bacteria were typically treated as immobile colloids, this model incorporated a convective-like chemotaxis term to represent chemotactic migration. Consistency between experimental observation and model prediction supported the assertions that (1) dispersion-induced microbial transfer between adjacent conductive zones occurred at the interface and had little influence on bacterial transport in the bulk flow of the permeable layers and (2) the enhanced transverse bacterial migration in chemotactic experiments relative to nonchemotactic controls was mainly due to directed migration toward the chemical source zone. On the basis of parameter sensitivity analysis, chemotactic parameters determined in bulk aqueous flui...
Characterization of Human Chorionic Gonadotropin and Luteinizing Hormone Contained in Urinary Extracts by Polyacrylamide Gel Electrophoresis

Urinary human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and urinary human luteinizing hormone (hLH) contained in the same extract were identified and characterized in terms of molecular size and net charge, using polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) in conjunction with radioimmunoassay. The molecular sizes, expressed as retardation coefficients (KR), in PAGE (pH 10.2, 0 C) were: 0.05 for immunoreactive LH from normal “Albert fraction B” (F×B) : 0.12 and 0.16 for F×B from choriocarcinoma patients with high titers and for commercial hCG; and 0.08 for mixtures of commercial hCG with F×B from patients with gonadotropin titers of 500 IU/24 hours or less.
The flame structure and vorticity generated by a chemically reacting transverse jet

An analytical model describing the behavior of a turbulent fuel jet injected normally into a cross flow is developed. The model places particular emphasis on the contrarotating vortex pair associated with the jet, and predicts the flame length and shape based on entrainment of the oxidizer by the fuel jet. Effects of buoyancy and density variations in the flame are neglected in order to isolate the effects of large-scale mixing. The results are compared with a simulation of the transverse reacting jet in a liquid (acid-base) system. For a wide range of ratios of the cross flow to jet velocity, the model predicts flame length quite well. In particular, the observed transitional behavior in the flame length between cross-flow velocity to jet velocity of orifice ratios of 0.0 to 0.1, yielding an approximate minimum at the ratio 0.05, is reproduced very clearly by the present model. The transformation in flow structure that accounts for this minimum arises from the differing components of vorticity dominant in the near-field and far-field regions of the jet.
Phylogenetic approach to endocrine‐immune system interactions

The survival of organisms in a hostile and highly variable environment is dependent upon the proper balance of physiological processes. According to emerging views, homeostasis may be achieved by the coordinated activities of the three major integrative systems: the nervous, endocrine, and immune systems. Although each of these systems is replete with its particular molecules, cells, tissues, and organs, often not seemingly integrated into the whole organism, homeostasis is uncompromised and the three systems function properly. This mini-review contains the essence of newer approaches which emphasize those which are being developed in our laboratory. Our model is concerned with the regulation of the immune system by the brain in fish.
Protocols and Processes for Promoting Interactive Cross‐Cultural Media Transfer

Abstract The paper looks at interaction and the need for cultural dimensions to be considered when translating material between nations. It introduces a taxonomy of objectives which is currently being tested and discusses Stolovitch's procedures for learner verification and revision (LVR) as the ultimate action for the adaptation of materials.
Contact in Adoption and Adoptive Identity Formation: The Mediating Role of Family Conversation

The present study examined adoption-related family conversation as a mediator of the association between adoptive parents' facilitation of contact with birth relatives and adolescent adoptive identity formation. The sample consisted of 184 adoptive families. Data were collected in two waves from adoptive mothers and fathers, and adoptees (M = 15.68 years at adolescence; M = 24.95 years at emerging adulthood) using semistructured interviews and questionnaires. Structural equation models showed a good fit to sample data, and analyses supported the hypothesized mediation model. Contact with birth relatives is associated with more frequent adoption-related family conversation, which in turn is associated with the development of adoptive identity. These results highlight the importance of supporting activities such as contact that lead to adoption-related family conversation.
Predicting vertical accretion rates at an archaeological site on the Mississippi River floodplain: Effigy Mounds National Monument, Iowa

Abstract The Sny Magill Unit of Effigy Mounds National Monument, Iowa, contains the largest cluster of prehistoric effigy mounds on public land in North America. The mounds are situated atop a low terrace of the Upper Mississippi River, where they are slowly being buried by overbank deposition during floods. The terrace surface includes forest soils with argillic (Bt) or cambic (Bw) horizons developed in up to 1 m of loamy overbank deposits on top of Pleistocene sand and gravel. Radiocarbon evidence suggests that overbank deposits have accumulated since the end of the mound-building period (about 700 years BP), yielding a vertical accretion rate of about 0.6 mm yr− 1. On the basis of 137Cs analysis, accretion rates over the past 40–50 years average 1.25–2.07 mm yr− 1, with some evidence for a decreasing rate since 1964. If these accretion rates are projected forward, several of the effigy mounds could be buried by flood deposits within 150–300 years. This 137Cs-derived estimate agrees closely with an estimate of burial times based on flood frequency and observed flood deposit thickness during recent floods. However, the floodplain and backwater environments of the Upper Mississippi River are aggrading much more rapidly than the Sny Magill terrace surface, suggesting that burial of the entire terrace could occur within 80–400 years and the entire mound group could be buried within 150–850 years. The projected accretion rates and time to burial are subject to large uncertainties because of environmental change in the watershed, including recent trends toward increasing flood stages and decreasing suspended sediment loads.
Neuromodulatory control of hippocampal function: towards a model of Alzheimer’s disease

Abstract Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder of cognitive function whose cellular pathology and molecular etiology have been increasingly and dramatically unraveled over the last several years. Despite this substantial knowledge base, the disease remains poorly understood due to a basic lack of understanding of how memories are stored and recalled in the brain. We describe a preliminary attempt at constructing a detailed model of these basic neural mechanisms; in particular, the natural dynamics of neuronal activity in hippocampal region CA3 and the modulation and control of these dynamics by subcortical cholinergic and GABAergic input to the hippocampus. We view the construction of such a model, with sufficient detail at the cellular and subcellular level, to be a necessary first step in understanding the effect of AD pathology on the functional behavior of the underlying neural circuitry. The network is based on the 66-compartment hippocampal pyramidal cell model of Traub and colleagues and their 51-compartment interneuron interconnected with realistic AMPA-, NMDA-, and GABA A -mediated synapses. Traub and others have shown that a network composed of these modeled cells is capable of synchronization in the gamma frequency range. We demonstrate here that this synchronization mechanism can implement an attractor-based autoassociative memory. A new input pattern arrives at the beginning of each theta cycle (comprised of 5–10 gamma cycles), and the pattern of activity across the network converges, over several gamma cycles, to a stable attractor that represents the stored memory. In this model, cholinergic deprivation, one of the hallmarks of AD, leads to a slowing of the gamma frequency which reduces the number of "cycles" available to reach an attractor state. We suggest that this may be one mechanism underlying the memory loss and cognitive slowing seen in AD. Our results also support the idea that acetylcholine acts on individual neurons to induce and maintain a transition from intrinsic bursting to spiking in pyramidal cells. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that spiking and bursting in CA3 pyramidal cells mediate separate behavioral functions, and that cholinergic input is required for the transition to and support of behavioral states associated with the online processing and recall of information.
Partially constrained boundary conditions with energy minimizing mappings

On considere la regularite a la frontiere pour une application minimisant l'energie u:M→N pour deux types de conditions aux limites: frontiere libre et condition limite partiellement contrainte
Development of a multilingual resource manual.

Providing culturally competent health care is a growing need as the population of culturally diverse women continues to rise. Compilation of a multilingual resource manual about maternal-child and women’s health topics that can be used by health educators to provide care to non-English-speaking and limited English proficiency (LEP) clients was achieved to address this need. In this article, significant details of this process are described allowing the reader to produce a similar version of the manual.
New approaches in thermal plasma technology

Thermal plasmas offer unique advantages for materials processing, such as high fluxes of heat and of reactant species. Recent developments have concentrated on improving control of these fluxes across the boundaries surrounding the thermal plasma. Secondary dis- charges (hybrid plasma generators) and pulse modulation of the plasma have been some of the approaches for this end. The use of such methods is described for selected applications. Plasma characterization through advanced models and diagnostics are concentrating on description of plasma instabilities and various nonequilibrium conditions. Understanding of these effects will allow their use for enhanced processing methods.