cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A novel nano-configuration for thermoelectrics: helicity induced thermal conductivity reduction in nanowires

In this article, we propose a novel helical nano-configuration towards the designing of high ZT thermoelectric materials. Non-equilibrium molecular dynamics (NEMD) simulations for ‘model’ bi-component nanowires indicate that a significant reduction in thermal conductivity, similar to that of flat superlattice nanostructures, can be achieved using a helical geometric configuration. The reduction is attributed to a plethora of transmissive and reflective phonon scattering events resulting from the steady alteration of phonon propagating direction that emerges from the continuous rotation of the helical interface. We also show that increasing the relative mass ratio of the two components lowers the phonon energy transmission at the interface due to differences in vibrational frequency spectra, thereby relatively ‘easing’ the phonon energy propagation along the helical pathway. While the proposed mechanisms result in a reduced lattice thermal conductivity, the continuous nature of the bi-component nanowire would not be expected to significantly reduce its electrical counterpart, as often occurs in superlattice/alloy nanostructures. Hence, we postulate that the helical configuration of atomic arrangement provides an attractive and general framework for improved thermoelectric material assemblies independent of the specific chemical composition.
Using Somatic Cell Score Evaluations for Management Decisions

Abstract Genetic evaluations for mean somatic cell scores for lactation enable producers to reduce increases in SCC that accompany genetic improvement for milk yield. Current progeny test designs will produce lower reliabilities for somatic cell score evaluations than for milk yield because of lower heritability. Genetic correlations of somatic cell scores between first and second lactation are lower than for milk yield. Thus, changes in evaluations of sires over time should be greater for somatic cell score than for milk yield. Absence of interaction of genotype and environment for somatic cell score indicates that the same bulls would be selected for use in herds with high and low somatic cell scores. Most evaluations will be between –.25 and .25, averaging .01 for Holsteins, which represents an increase of approximately 50% in geometric mean SCC and an 11% higher incidence of clinical mastitis for daughters of bulls with highest evaluations compared with daughters of bulls with lowest evaluations. Selection to reduce somatic cell score does not appear to be justified economically. Properly constructed indexes would reduce the projected increases in mastitis incidence by 20 to 25% with a 2% decline in genetic progress for milk yield. The greatest impact of genetic evaluations for somatic cell score would likely result from choice of sires of bulls to progeny test.
Cyclosporin A Regulates Sodium-Calcium Exchanger (NCX1) Gene Expression in Vitro and Cardiac Hypertrophy in NCX1 Transgenic Mice

The cardiac-specific sodium-calcium exchanger (NCX1) is a GATA-4 dependent gene that is upregulated during cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure. To date, lack of an appropriate inhibitor of NCX1 and embryonic lethality of NCX1 knockout mice have slowed investigation of the relation between NCX1 upregulation and cardiac hypertrophy. Recently, in vitro studies have shown that cyclosporin A (CSA), a calcineurin inhibitor, significantly downregulated expression of the hypertrophic genes atrial natriuretic factor and beta-myosin heavy chain and protected against cardiac hypertrophy and heart failure in calcineurin overexpressing mice. This suggested that CSA might play an important role in the treatment of hypertrophy and heart failure. In an in vitro model of cardiac hypertrophy, we showed that CSA is a potent inhibitor of NCX1 basal expression and NCX1 promoter activity. Female homozygous transgenic mice that overexpress NCX1 develop heart failure and die prematurely after two or more pregnancies. Others have demonstrated that pressure overloaded wild-type mice treated with CSA do not develop cardiac hypertrophy and downregulate expression of NCX1. We investigated the effect of CSA on NCX1 expression and transverse aortic constriction-induced cardiac hypertrophy in NCX1 overexpressing mice. We found that CSA blunted these responses.
Sliding mode fault tolerant control dealing with modeling uncertainties and actuator faults

In this paper, two sliding mode control algorithms are developed for nonlinear systems with both modeling uncertainties and actuator faults. The first algorithm is developed under an assumption that the uncertainty bounds are known. Different design parameters are utilized to deal with modeling uncertainties and actuator faults, respectively. The second algorithm is an adaptive version of the first one, which is developed to accommodate uncertainties and faults without utilizing exact bounds information. The stability of the overall control systems is proved by using a Lyapunov function. The effectiveness of the developed algorithms have been verified on a nonlinear longitudinal model of Boeing 747-100/200.
Skeletal maturity in legg-calvé-perthes disease

1. A study of 116 children with Legg-Calve-Perthes disease showed a spectrum of skeletal maturity in which 33 (29%) were significantly retarded (over 2 SD) and six (5%) significantly accelerated (over 2 SD).
Screening in the exchange term of the electron-hole interaction of the Bethe-Salpeter equation

Recently there has arisen a significant controversy in the literature of the excited-state electronic structure of quantum dots. Several researchers 1,2 have computed optical absorption spectra using the Bethe-Salpeter equation ! BSE" , which is a Dyson equation for the two-particle Green’s function. 3 The kernel of the equation is the electron-hole interaction, which has two terms: direct (Kdir), and exchange ! also known as the Coulomb kernel, KCoul). In the standard approach, the direct term involves the screened Coulomb interaction W while the Coulomb term involves the bare Coulomb interaction v. These researchers have generally studied small dots ! such as Si nanoparticles with fewer than 100 atoms" , due to the computational rigors of the calculation, and have considered excitation energies of many eV. Other researchers have used a closely related singles excitation configuration interaction ! CIS" approach to study absorption and emission spectra of much larger dots ! in excess of 10 4 atoms" . 4 Here, only excitations within a few meV of the optical gap are considered. In this case, it was found that it is necessary to screen both the direct and Coulomb terms with the same dielectric function to obtain good agreement with experimental data. In this paper, I show that both approaches are consistent with the general framework of many-body perturbation theory. The difference lies in the fact that in one case, transitions are considered over a wide energy range, while in the other, only the lowest few single-particle transitions are considered. I argue that it is mathematically consistent ! and often helpful" to screen K Coul with a background dielectric function # BG which is close to unity in the first case, and is close to the full dielectric function # in the second. While we use language appropriate for the BSE ! Green’s functions, etc." throughout this paper, the reader should keep in mind that a corresponding argument can be made from the configuration interaction point of view. 5 First, let us review the reason for using the bare interaction v in KCoul. 3 The Bethe-Salpeter equation can be written as G" G0# G0KG, where G is the interacting two-particle Green’s function, and G0 is its noninteracting counterpart which describes the independent propagation of an electron and a hole. An iterative solution can be constructed by substituting G0 for G in the right-hand side ! RHS" of the BSE, G" G0# G0KG0, and then plugging this back into G, etc., obtaining G" G0# G0KG0# G0KG0KG0# •••. The G and
An experimental investigation and a simple model of a valveless pump

We construct a valveless pump consisting of a section of elastic tube and a section of rigid tube connected in a closed loop and filled with water. By periodically squeezing the elastic tube at an asymmetric location, a persistent flow around the tubes is created. This effect, called the Liebau phenomenon or valveless pumping, has been known for some time but is still not completely understood. We study the flow rates for various squeezing locations, frequencies, and elastic tube rigidities. To understand valveless pumping, we formulate a simple model that can be described by ordinary differential equations. The time series of flow velocities generated by the model are qualitatively and quantitatively similar to those seen in the experiment. The model provides a physical explanation of valveless pumping, and it allows us to identify the essential pumping mechanisms.
Quantification of DNaseI-sensitivity by real-time PCR: quantitative analysis of DNaseI-hypersensitivity of the mouse β-globin LCR

We employ real-time PCR to allow us to quantify the sensitivity of chromatin to digestion by DNaseI. This approach has three clear advantages over the more conventional use of the Southern hybridization assay: the accuracy of quantification is improved; the resolution of the assay is enhanced, by designing primers to amplify small amplicons it is possible to analyze sequences both co-incident and proximal to sites of DNaseI-hypersensitivity; less material is needed, as little as 5 ng of treated genomic DNA. We applied this method in an analysis of the chromatin structure of the previously described mouse β-globin locus control region (LCR) using fetal liver cells. The four hypersensitive sites of the canonical mouse LCR, HS1 to HS4, are shown to have kinetics of digestion consistent with these sequences being nucleosome-free in vivo. A different pattern was seen for HS6, a recently described “weak” hypersensitive site. The site was also rapidly lost but more of the sites proved resistant, we interpreted this to show that this hypersensitive was only forming in a portion of the erythroid cells. This finding implies that in vivo the LCR is structurally heterogeneous. Sequences proximal to the hypersensitive sites show a third pattern of intermediate sensitivity, consistent with the chromatin being unfolded but the sites still bound by a continual nucleosomal array. Our results demonstrate that this method has the potential to achieve accurate and detailed mapping of chromatin structure from small amounts of tissue samples.
An ecological study of the sulfur-oxidizing bacteria from the littoral zone of a michigan lake and a sulfur spring in Florida

The sulfur-oxidizing communities of decomposing plants in a Michigan Lake and of a sub-tropical sulfur spring were studied using anin situ gradient enrichment method, electron microscopy, light microscopy and plating techniques. Oxygen tolerant and aerobic sulfur-oxidizing bacteria were found attached to plant surfaces either by a holdfast or by mucilage which encased microcolonies. Thiothrix and Thiocystis were commonly observed by microscopy on decomposing plant material.In situ thiosulfate gradient enrichments with plant material as inocula selected fluorescent pseudomonads rather than Thiobacilli and resulted in a three-fold increase in growth-rate as the thiosulfate concentration increased from 55 µg/l to 1 g/l sodium thiosulfate. Isolate TBT-H, a fluorescent pseudomonad, andPseudomonas aeruginosa were found to produce sulfide-binding ‘exudates’ which yielded globules of elemental sulfur. The active ‘exudate’ was only produced by organisms with fluorescent pigments and only in media containing S2O3=, which also stimulated fluorescent pigment production.
A Note on the Spectrum of Invertible p-hyponormal Operators

A bounded linear operator T is clalled p-hyponormal if (T*T) p ≥ (TT) p , 0 < p < 1. It is known that for semi-hyponormal operators (p = 1/2), the spectrum of the operator is equal to the union of the spectra of the general polar symbols of the operator. In this paper we prove a somewhat weaker result for invertible p-hyponormal operators for 0 < p < 1/2.
An iterative scheme for variational inequalities

In this paper we introduce and study a general iterative scheme for the numerical solution of finite dimensional variational inequalities. This iterative scheme not only contains, as special cases the projection, linear approximation and relaxation methods but also induces new algorithms. Then, we show that under appropriate assumptions the proposed iterative scheme converges by establishing contraction estimates involving a sequence of norms in En induced by symmetric positive definite matrices Gm. Thus, in contrast to the above mentioned methods, this technique allows the possibility of adjusting the norm at each step of the algorithm. This flexibility will generally yield convergence under weaker assumptions.
Reconciling faith and fact: Pro‐life women discuss media, science and the abortion debate

This study is based on focus group interviews with 41 non‐activist pro‐life women conducted between 1989 and 1993. Respondents were primarily white and represented a variety of Christian denominations. Almost without exception, the pro‐life women expressed their positions on abortion by invoking what they believed to be scientific fact. They expected that natural facts would corroborate, and thus validate, their biblically‐derived morality. This juxtaposition of scientific claims with pro‐life beliefs is noteworthy because it reflects pro‐life women's distinctive relationship to mainstream cultural values more generally, and sets the stage for their response to mainstream sources of authority and information, in particular the mass media. For pro‐life women, the quest for what they called “the true facts”—the evidence of God's ways, meanings, and purposes—required wading through much that is presented in mainstream society as unbiased information. Many respondents reported that they actively searched for ...
Performance comparison of aperture codes for multimodal, multiplex spectroscopy

We experimentally evaluate diverse static independent column codes in a coded aperture spectrometer. The performance of each code is evaluated based on the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR), defined as the peak value in the spectrum to the standard deviation of the background noise, as a function of subpixel vertical misalignments. Among the code families tested, an S-matrix-based code produces spectral reconstructions with the highest SNR. The SNR is least sensitive to vertical subpixel misalignments on the detector with a Hadamard-matrix-based code. Finally, the increased sensitivity of a spectrometer using a coded aperture instead of a slit is demonstrated.
Estrogenic effects on behavioral thermoregulation and body temperature of rats.

Abstract Estradiol benzoate increases responding for heat reinforcement of ovariectomized female and intact and castrate male rats placed in the cold. In females, both pre- and postsession rectal temperatures are depressed by the steroid. The maintenance of low temperatures despite increased heat intake suggests that body temperature is regulated at a lower level as a result of estradiol-induced increases in heat loss or decreases in heat production.
Examination of parathyroid hormone antisera for the presence of receptor antibodies.

Abstract Proteins from bovine kidney membranes were separated by denaturating polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and blotted onto nitrocellulose paper. The blots were immunostained with parathyroid hormone (PTH) antisera, and the effect of the presence of PTH on immunostaining was determined. Immunostaining of membrane proteins by two specific antisera was altered by PTH. With one antiserum, the immunostaining of two specific proteins (apparent mass 90 and 105 kDa) was prevented by PTH. With the second antiserum the immunostaining of a 150 kDa protein was prevented by the hormone. These effects were strongest with the 90 and 150 kDa proteins and these were investigated further. Antibody binding was prevented either by co-incubation or by preincubation of the blots with PTH, followed by washing and subsequent exposure to the antisera. Concentrations of PTH as low as 1 nM prevented antibody binding to the 90 kDa species, but somewhat higher PTH concentrations were required with the 150 kDa protein. Oxidation of the PTH methionine residues in the amino terminal segment of PTH, and deletion of the first nine residues in the hormone greatly reduced the competition with the 90 kDa protein, but had no effect on immunostaining of the 150 kDa species. The 35–84 fragment of PTH was not a competitor for the 90 kDa species, while the 1–34 fragment was ineffective with the 150 kDa protein. The antiserum labeling the 90 kDa species was also found to possess antagonist activity in activation of renal membrane adenylyl cyclase by PTH and by the biologically active 1–34 fragment of the hormone. The antiserum against the 150 kDa species did not have antagonist activity in this assay. It is concluded that the 90 kDa protein identified in this study may be a receptor related to the functions of the amino terminal domain of PTH, while the 150 kDa protein may be either a specific binding protein for the carboxy terminal portions of the hormone, or a protein with homology with PTH which cross-reacts with the PTH antiserum. While the study shows that PTH antisera may contain anti-idiotypic antibodies against putative PTH receptors, more work is required to define reproducible conditions for generation of such antibodies.
Compiling Smalltalk-80 to a RISC

The Smalltalk On A RISC project at U. C. Berkeley proves that a high-level object-oriented language can attain high performance on a modified reduced instruction set architecture. The single most important optimization is the removal of a layer of interpretation, compiling the bytecoded virtual machine instructions into low-level, register-based, hardware instructions. This paper describes the compiler and how it was affected by SOAR architectural features. The compiler generates code of reasonable density and speed. Because of Smalltalk-80's semantics, relatively few optimizations are possible, but hardware and software mechanisms at runtime offset these limitations. Register allocation for an architecture with register windows comprises the major task of the compiler. Performance analysis suggests that SOAR is not simple enough; several hardware features could be efficiently replaced by instruction sequences constructed by the compiler.
UDP-N-acetylglucosamine Pyrophosphorylase, a Key Enzyme in Encysting Giardia, Is Allosterically Regulated

Giardia synthesizes UDP-GalNAc during cyst wall formation (encystment) via a pathway of inducible enzymes similar to that used to synthesize chitin or peptidoglycan and that includes the UTP-requiring UDP-N-acetylglucosamine pyrophosphorylase. Although it has never been reported as a regulatory enzyme in any system studied to date, kinetic data including Hill plots demonstrate clearly that UDP-N-acetylglucosamine pyrophosphorylase activity, purified from encysting Giardia, is allosterically activated anabolically by physiological levels of glucosamine 6-phosphate (3 microm). Capillary electrophoresis demonstrates that within 24 h after trophozoites are induced to encyst, the level of glucosamine 6-phosphate increases 3-fold over that of non-encysting cells and that by 48 h into encystment the level of glucosamine 6-phosphate has decreased to non-encysting levels or below. UDP-N-acetylglucosamine pyrophosphorylase protein is present constitutively in encysting as well as non-encysting cells. UDP-N-acetylglucosamine pyrophosphorylase immunoaffinity purified from encysting and non-encysting cells exhibited the same molecular weight, amino acid composition, and circular dichroism spectra. Moreover, regardless of whether the enzyme came from encysting or non-encysting cells, the change in its circular dichroism spectra and up to a 6-fold increase in its specific activity anabolically were due to its activation with glucosamine 6-phosphate. Thus, the data support the idea that UDP-N-acetylglucosamine pyrophosphorylase is a major regulatory point in amino sugar synthesis in encysting Giardia and that its allosteric anabolic activation may shift the equilibrium of this pathway toward UDP-GalNAc synthesis.
Haemophilus influenzae abscess: inclusion in the differential diagnosis of a large pelvic mass?

Abstract Background This report describes an unusual first case in which an abscess containing Haemophilus influenzae incorporates the entire uterine cavity without overt signs of infection. Case A 39-year-old woman presented with right lower quadrant abdominal pain and a large abdominal pelvic mass. Evaluation with computed tomography and ultrasonography showed a 20- × 14- × 10-cm cystic mass arising from the uterus. Tumor markers were negative. The patient underwent a total abdominal hysterectomy. Intraoperative findings included a 20-cm intramyometrial uterine abscess, completely replacing the uterine cavity. The abscess was densely adhered to the sigmoid colon. The mass was ruptured during the surgical procedure when mobilizing it off the colon, and cultures were obtained. Microbiologic culture illustrated H. influenzae . Pathologic diagnosis confirmed an intramyometrial abscess, originating from the wall of the uterus occupying the entire uterine cavity, lined with granulation tissue, foamy macrophages, and chronic inflammation. Conclusion Intramyometrial abscesses can masquerade as degenerating fibroids and, even with microorganisms, can exist without overt signs or symptoms of an active infection.
A novel concept for protein microarray: land-contrast BioCD

We present a new type of protein microarray called the Land-contrast (LC) BioCD in which imaging contrast is induced by a patterned substrate rather than by patterned protein. This is realized by etching spot patterns in a silicon wafer. On the spot region the silicon dioxide thickness is 140 nm and on the land it is 77 nm. The spot and the land have equal reflectance but opposite interferometric quadrature responses for protein layer. Protein is evenly immobilized on the entire chip and detected by reflectometry. Therefore there is no need for protein printing, nor spectrometers, nor high angles nor polarization control to image the surface-bound protein. The LC BioCD can facilitate research on protein microarrays.
Recruitment, Retention and Professional Development of Psychologists in America: Potential Issue for Training and Performance

The need for increased practitioner diversity, multicultural awareness, sensitivity and competence in the mental health field has been addressed multiple times in the decades following ethnic minority psychologists’ and others raising concern during the 1960’s in America. Specifically, the concern highlighted the issue that the mental health profession was not meeting the needs for people of color. The resulting American Psychological Association guidelines on multicultural education training, research and practice reflect an inclusive approach to multiculturalism and diversity. The conceptualization of diversity now includes multiple aspects of identity such as gender, race, ethnicity, age, ability and disability, sexuality and sexual orientation. However, review of the profession in America highlights incomplete progress in efforts to acknowledge, respect and embrace the multi-leveled facets inherent in diversity that potentially impact on efforts for recruitment, retention, training and professional development in the field of psychology.
Microwave Flash Pyrolysis: C9H8 Interconversions and Dimerisations

The pyrolysis of 2-ethynyltoluene, indene, fluorene, and related compounds has been studied by sealed tube microwave flash pyrolysis (MFP), in concert with modelling of putative mechanistic pathways by density functional theory (DFT) computations. In the MFP technique, samples are admixed with graphite and subjected to intense microwave power (150–300 W) in a quartz reaction tube under a nitrogen atmosphere. The MFP reaction of 2-ethynyltoluene gave mostly indene, the product of a Roger Brown rearrangement (1,2-H shift to a vinylidene) followed by insertion. An additional product was chrysene, the likely result of hydrogen atom loss from indene followed by dimerisation. The intermediacy of dimeric bi-indene structures was supported by pyrolysis of bi-indene and by computational models. Benzo[a]anthracene and benzo[c]phenanthrene are minor products in these reactions. These are shown to arise from pyrolysis of chrysene under the same MFP conditions. MFP reaction of fluorene gave primarily bi-fluorene, bifluorenylidene, and dibenzochrysene, the latter derived from a known Stone–Wales rearrangement.
Plasma thromboplastin component (PTC) potency of plasma fractions.

Conclusions1. The PTC factor is concentrated in fractions III and IV-1 of the plasma proteins, Small quantities are found in fractions I and IV-4. None is found in fractions II and V. 2. Since fraction III contains thrombin and fraction IV-1 is poorly soluble, neither is suitable for intravenous administration. 3. The intravenous administration of fraction IV produced marked shortening of the whole blood coagulation time and reduction in residual serum prothrombin in PTC deficiency. The results appear superior to those which can be achieved by the intravenous administration of fraction I in hemophilia.
Thoracoscopic Lobectomy and Segmentectomy for Infectious Lung Disease

Background The potential benefits of thoracoscopic lobectomy and segmentectomy for early stage non–small cell lung cancer have been well documented in the literature. However, little is known about the use of these techniques in patients requiring resection for infectious or inflammatory lung disease. Methods Using a prospectively collected database, we performed a retrospective review of consecutive operations from July 2004 to June 2010. All patients who underwent elective thoracoscopic lobectomy or segmentectomy for focal bronchiectasis or cavitary lung disease associated with active pulmonary infection were included. Results In all, 212 resections were performed in 171 patients. The average age was 59 years (range, 26 to 82 years). Patients were predominately white (93%) and female (93%). Indications for surgery included recurrent active infection, hemoptysis, or antibiotic intolerance associated with focal bronchiectasis (86%), cavitary disease (7%), or both (7%). Operations included 126 lobectomies, 73 segmentectomies, 10 lobe plus segmental resections, and 3 bilobectomies. Conversion to thoracotomy occurred in 10 patients. The operative mortality rate was zero. Complications occurred in 9%, consisting largely of prolonged air leak and atrial fibrillation. The mean hospital length of stay was 3.7 days. Conclusions Thoracoscopic lobectomy and segmentectomy for individuals with infectious lung disease can be accomplished safely with minimal morbidity and mortality. These techniques may provide the optimal surgical approach for patients with focal bronchiectasis or cavitary lung disease requiring resection.
Aurigo: an Interactive Tour Planner for Personalized Itineraries

Planning personalized tour itineraries is a complex and challenging task for both humans and computers. Doing it manually is time-consuming; approaching it as an optimization problem is computationally NP hard. We present Aurigo, a tour planning system combining a recommendation algorithm with interactive visualization to create personalized itineraries. This hybrid approach enables Aurigo to take into account both quantitative and qualitative preferences of the user. We conducted a within-subject study with 10 participants, which demonstrated that Aurigo helped them find points of interest quickly. Most participants chose Aurigo over Google Maps as their preferred tools to create personalized itineraries. Aurigo may be integrated into review websites or social networks, to leverage their databases of reviews and ratings and provide better itinerary recommendations.
Radiation therapy dosimetry reviews by the centers for radiological physics

Abstract Six Centers for Radiological Physics (CRP) have performed over 250 dosimetric site reviews at institutions participating in the Division of Cancer Control and Rehabilitation therapy networks and/or as affiliates in Oncology Group Clinical trials. For the initial site visits, institution stated output calibration was within ±3% of that measured by the CRPs for 87 % of the therapy machines reviewed. The accuracy of methods utilized in calculating tumor dose were assessed by using a set of reference cases of varying complexity. At the time of the first visit, 90% of the calculated doses for these reference cases were within ±5% of that prescribed by the CRPs. Other parameters, important for the accurate delivery of prescribed dose, were also checked as part of the review protocol. Many institutions have received multiple reviews and a significant reduction in the variance of machine calibration and calculated tumor dose for the reference cases is evident.
The cis-effect in trans-[PtCl2XY] compounds

The cis-influence observed in chlorine NQR data of X, Y affecting the Pt-Cl bonds in compounds of type trans-[PtCl2XY] is interpreted. σ-bonding differences in Pt-Cl bonds are suggested to account for the trends in NQR frequencies. Pt-Cl π-bonding is negligibly small for both d π (Pt)−p π (Cl) and p π −p π (Cl) interactions.
Effects of hetastarch and albumin on coagulation in patients with septic shock.

The effect of 6% hydroxyethyl starch (hetastarch) and 5% human serum albumin (albumin) infusion on coagulation in 12 patients with septic shock was evaluated. Patients were randomly assigned to receive either albumin (N = 6) or hetastarch (N = 6) infusion over a 24-hour study interval. The prothrombin time (PT), partial thromboplastin time (PTT), and quantitative platelet count (PC) were obtained prior to and following 24 hours of fluid infusion. Hetastarch patients received 4934 +/- 1354 mL and albumin patients received 3067 +/- 256 mL over the study interval. After hetastarch infusion, the PT increased 2.2 +/- 0.7 seconds, PTT increased 20.0 +/- 4.1 seconds (P less than .01), and PC decreased 158 +/- 36 X 10(3)/mm3 (P less than .02). After albumin administration, the PT decreased 1.2 +/- 1.7 seconds, PTT increased 20.5 +/- 10.6 seconds and PC decreased 100 +/- 34 X 10(3)/mm3. There were no significant differences in the changes in PT, PTT, or PC between the groups. The authors conclude that hetastarch infusion does not result in increased bleeding in patients with septic shock compared with albumin infusion, despite moderate effects on the hemostatic coagulation profile.
Consequences of the engineering approach to technical writing

In a series of publications, Edmond Weiss describes the change in both programming and technical writing from an artistic craft to an engineering discipline. The change brought numerous benefits to the users and readers, to the programmers and writers, and to the companies they work for. In exchange for those benefits, Weiss says, writers had to give up control over the content and format of the documentation. They also lost the esthetic pride of creating a work of art and the personal satisfaction of teaching and protecting the reader. Weiss anticipates a future in which technical documentation is generated automatically and the technical documentor's job is merely to feed information databases. In the conclusion, I note a few differences of opinion, but overall I agree with Weiss's view.
On the effect of fluctuations on explosive reactions

A simple model for studying the influence of fluctuations in explosive chemical reactions is discussed. The model uses stochastic processes of bounded magnitude to describe the fluctuations. The exact solution of the model allows for a quantitative discussion of the effects of the fluctuations on physical quantities such as the critical value of the initial concentration that characterizes the explosive regime and the explosion time. Both quantities are found to be smaller when fluctuations are taken into account than when they are neglected.
Fermions coupled to autonomous (λΦ 4)3+1 theory

Recent Gaussian-effective-potential results for “autonomous”λΦ4 theory, an apparently nontrivial, positive-λ, 3+1 dimensional theory, are extended to include a Yukawa coupling to fermions. The formerly massless bosons of the symmetric phase acquire a mass.
Dynamic stability of V/STOL aircraft at low speeds

References 1 Fry, B. L. and Zabinsky, J. M., "Feasibility of V/STOL Concepts for Short-Haul Transport Aircraft" CR-743, 1967, NASA. 2 Marsh, K R., "Study on the Feasibility of V/STOL Concepts for Short-Haul Transport Aircraft," CR-670, 1967, NASA. 3 "Study on the Feasibility of V/STOL Concepts for ShortHaul Transport Aircraft," CR-902,1967, NASA. 4 "Study of Aircraft in Short Haul Transportation Systems," CR-986,1967, NASA. 5 "Technical and Economic Evaluation of Aircraft for Intercity Short-Haul Transportation," Federal Aviation Agency-Air Defense System-74, Vol. I, II, and III, April 1966. 6 "A System Analysis of Short-Haul Air Transportation," TR 65-1, Flight Transportation Laboratory, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Aug. 1965.
Early Background Variables as Predictors of Adult Alcohol Problems in Women

This study examines the extent to which the influence of family history of alcoholism is mediated through early environmental stress. A series of bivariate and regression analyses were conducted to examine the predictive value of selected early life experiences and perceptions: 1) a positive family history for alcoholism, including the effect of the specific relationship to the alcoholic family member; 2) early life events; and 3) perceptions of positive and negative relationships during childhood. Results are consistent with a stress-diathesis model in which family history is the strongest predictor of alcoholism in women, witii each family member, particularly mother, making a unique contribution. Conflict with parents also predicts membership in the clinical sample.
The mechanism of inhibition of protein synthesis by the proline-rich peptide oncocin

Antibiotic-resistant bacteria are a global health issue necessitating the development of new effective therapeutics. Proline-rich antimicrobial peptides (PrAMPs), which include oncocins, are an extensively studied class of AMPs that counteract bacterial infection at submicromolar concentrations. Oncocins enter and kill bacteria by inhibiting certain targets rather than by acting through membrane lysis. Although they have recently been reported to bind DnaK and the bacterial ribosome, their mode of inhibition has remained elusive. Here we report the crystal structure of the oncocin derivative Onc112 bound to the Thermus thermophilus 70S ribosome. Strikingly, this 19-residue proline-rich peptide manifests the features of several known classes of ribosome inhibitors by simultaneously blocking the peptidyl transferase center and the peptide-exit tunnel of the ribosome. This high-resolution structure thus reveals the mechanism by which oncocins inhibit protein synthesis, providing an opportunity for structure-based design of new-generation therapeutics.
Synaptic physiology of direction selectivity in the retina

Detection of the direction of image movement is accomplished first in the retina by an elegant neuronal circuit, which integrates multiple levels of spatially asymmetric synaptic interactions among subsets of bipolar, amacrine and ganglion cells. Central to these interactions is the asymmetric GABAergic inhibition exerted by the starburst amacrine cell (SAC), a cholinergic and GABAergic interneuron with a radially symmetric dendritic tree. SACs make reciprocal GABAergic synapses on each other to create a direct inhibitory receptive field surround, which suppresses the response of each SAC to centripetal image movement. Each radially projecting branch of a SAC responds to image movement with a centrifugal bias and, through directionally asymmetric synaptic connections with the dendrites of direction-selective ganglion cells (DSGCs), exerts a spatially offset inhibition that vetoes the response of DSGCs to image movement in a specific (null) direction. Recent physiological studies have greatly advanced our understanding of the mechanism of direction selectivity and also revealed a new level of complexity that remains to be understood.
Validity of the Multi-Directional Reach Test A Practical Measure for Limits of Stability in Older Adults

Background. Falls occur not only in the forward direction, but also to the side and backward. The purpose of this study was to develop a portable and valid tool to measure limits of stability in the anterior-posterior and medial-lateral directions. Methods. Two hundred fifty-four community-dwelling older persons were administered the Berg Balance Test (BBT), the Timed Up & Go Test (TUG), and the Multi-Directional Reach Test (MDRT). For the MDRT, subjects performed maximal reaches with the outstretched arm forward (FR), to the right (RR), to the left (LR), and leaning backward (BR), with feet flat on the floor. Reach was measured by the subject’s total hand excursion along a yardstick affixed to a telescoping tripod. Results. Mean scores on the MDRT were FR 5 8.89 6 3.4 in., BR 5 4.64 6 3.07 in., RR 5 6.15 6 2.99 in., and LR 5 6.61 6 2.88 in. Interclass Correlation (ICC2,1) for the reaches were greater than .92. Reliability analysis (Cronbach’s Alpha, .842) demonstrated that directional reaches measure similar but unique aspects of the MDRT. The MDRT demonstrated significant correlation with the BBT sum and significant inverse relationship with the scores on the TUG. Regression analysis revealed that activity level contributed to scores in the forward, right, and left direction and that fear of falling contributed to scores in the backward direction.
What are we really evaluating

Summary form only given. Computer Engineering 183X and 184X, Computer Engineering and Problem Solving I and II, were designed as courses for computer engineering students involved in the learning community within Iowa State University's Electrical and Computer Engineering Department. As part of a learning community, the courses were designed to be flexible, but include subject matter elements of computer engineering and cooperative learning. Because of the dual (technical and social) learning objectives, questions of evaluating student performance arise.
Person-Role Conflict in Pharmacists: Its Relationship to Job Scope, Need for Achievement, and Propensity to Leave an Organization

Pharmacy is a profession characterized by inherent conflict. This conflict has been attributed to both the duality of its professional and business rolesi-' and to conflict between the values of professionalism and bureaucracy.9ecause of !he expansion of pharmacy chains, an increasing percentage of pharmacists are becoming employed in bureaucratic, retail organizations. At the same time the clinical pharmacy movement, stimulated by pharmacy curricula which now include a significant clinical training component, has been responsible for greater professionalization of pharmacists. Pharmacists are therefore socialized through the educational process to adopt certain professional ideals of practice which are in large part embodied in clinical pharmacy activities; however, bureaucratic pharmacy tends to ignore services such as clinical ones
Intraperitoneal infusion of homocysteine increases intimal hyperplasia in balloon-injured rat carotid arteries

Hyperhomocysteinemia is a significant risk factor in atherosclerosis and thrombosis. However, its role in the development of intimal hyperplasia after arterial reconstructive procedures remains uncertain. We therefore studied the effect of homocysteine on intimal hyperplasia in a rat model of carotid artery balloon injury. Twenty-four Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into three groups: control (saline infusion), and low dose (0.14 mg/day) and high dose (0.71 mg/day) homocysteine delivered continuously via osmotic pumps implanted intraperitoneally. All animals underwent left common carotid artery balloon denudation with sacrifice after 14 days. Plasma homocysteine levels, intimal hyperplasia, and cell proliferation of rat carotid arteries were determined. In vitro rat smooth muscle cell (SMC) proliferation with homocysteine treatment was also performed. Plasma homocysteine levels at sacrifice were 1.80+/-0.35, 2.65+/-0.05 and 3.50+/-0.22 microM in three groups, respectively. Intimal hyperplasia developed in all balloon-injured arteries in both control and homocysteine-treated animals. The intimal area and intima/media area ratio were increased by 92% (P<0.05) and 105% (P<0.05), respectively, in the high dose-homocysteine-treated animals as compared to the control animals. Homocysteine (high dose) also significantly promoted the intimal cell proliferation (bromodeoxyuridine incorporation) by 2.2-fold as compared to controls. Furthermore, homocysteine treatment in the cell culture study showed a concentration-dependent increase of rat SMC proliferation. These data demonstrate that the continuous intraperitoneal administration of homocysteine significantly increases intimal hyperplasia and SMC proliferation after carotid artery balloon injury in the rat as well as in vitro SMC proliferation. This study suggests that, following arterial reconstructive procedures, elevated plasma homocysteine may increase the complications of clinical restenoses that are associated with intimal hyperplasia.
Activation of the Bacillus subtilis hut operon at the onset of stationary growth phase in nutrient sporulation medium results primarily from the relief of amino acid repression of histidine transport.

Abstract During growth of Bacillus subtilis in nutrient sporulation medium containing histidine (DSM-His medium), the expression of histidase, the first enzyme in the histidine-degradative pathway (hut), is derepressed 40- to 200-fold at the onset of stationary phase. To identify the gene products responsible for this regulation, histidase expression was examined in various hut regulatory mutants as well as in mutants defective in stationary-phase gene regulation. Histidase expression during growth in DSM-His medium was significantly altered only in a strain containing the hutC1 mutation. The hutC1 mutation allows the hut operon to be expressed in the absence of its inducer, histidine. During logarithmic growth in DSM-His medium, histidase levels were 25-fold higher in the HutC mutant than in wild-type cells. Moreover, histidase expression in the HutC mutant increased only four- to eightfold after the end of exponential growth in DSM-His medium. This suggests that histidine transport is reduced in wild-type cells during exponential growth in DSM-His medium and that this reduction is largely responsible for the repression of hut expression in cells growing logarithmically in this medium. Indeed, the rate of histidine uptake in DSM-His medium was fourfold lower in exponentially growing cells than in stationary-phase cells. The observation that the degradation of histidine is inhibited when B. subtilis is growing rapidly in medium containing a mixture of amino acids suggests that a hierarchy of amino acid utilization may be present in this bacterium.
Do Gender Role Attitudes Matter? Family Formation and Dissolution Among Traditional and Egalitarian Men and Women

The effect of gender role attitudes on family formation and dissolution is analyzed using data from the 1987/1988 and 1992/1994 waves of the National Survey of Families and House-holds. Results indicate that egalitarian women are less likely to intend to have a child and actually to have a child than traditional women. Unlike women, egalitarian men are more likely to intend to have a child and less likely to divorce than traditional men. Single men with egalitarian attitudes are more likely to cohabit than their traditional counterparts. The gap between traditional women and traditional men in divorce, fertility intentions, and fertility outcomes is significant.
Competition between mutually exclusive object states in event comprehension

Successful language comprehension requires one to correctly match symbols in an utterance to referents in the world, but the rampant ambiguity present in that mapping poses a challenge. Sometimes the ambiguity lies in which of two or more types of things in the world are under discussion i.e., lexical ambiguity; however, even a word with a single sense can have an ambiguous referent. This ambiguity occurs when an object can exist in multiple states. Here, we consider two cases in which the presence of multiple object states may render a single-sense word ambiguous. In the first case, one must disambiguate between two states of a single object token in a short discourse. In the second case, the discourse establishes two different tokens of the object category. Both cases involve multiple object states: These states are mutually exclusive in the first case, whereas in the second case, these states can logically exist at the same time. We use fMRI to contrast same-token and different-token discourses, using responses in left posterior ventrolateral prefrontal cortex pVLPFC as an indicator of conflict. Because the left pVLPFC is sensitive to competition between multiple, incompatible representations, we predicted that state ambiguity should engender conflict only when those states are mutually exclusive. Indeed, we find evidence of conflict in same-token, but not different-token, discourses. Our data support a theory of left pVLPFC function in which general conflict resolution mechanisms are engaged to select between multiple incompatible representations that arise in many kinds of ambiguity present in language.
Authentication Over Noisy Channels

An authentication counterpart of Wyner's study of the wiretap channel is developed in this work. More specifically, message authentication over noisy channels is studied while impersonation and substitution attacks are investigated for both single- and multiple-message scenarios. For each scenario, information-theoretic lower and upper bounds on the opponent's success, or cheating, probability are derived. Remarkably, in both scenarios, the lower and upper bounds are shown to match, and hence, the fundamental limits on message authentication over noisy channels are fully characterized. The opponent's success probability is further shown to be smaller than that derived in the classical noiseless channel model. These results rely on a novel authentication scheme in which shared key information is used to provide simultaneous protection against both types of attacks. Finally, message authentication for the case in which the source and receiver possess only correlated sequences is studied.
Pathophysiological Tissue Changes Associated With Repetitive Movement: A Review of the Evidence

Work-related musculoskeletal disorders (WMSDs) represent approximately one third of workers' compensation costs in US private industry, yet estimates of acceptable exposure levels for forceful and repetitive tasks are imprecise, in part, due to lack of measures of tissue injury in humans. In this review, the authors discuss the scope of upper-extremity WMSDs, the relationship between repetition rate and forcefulness of reaching tasks and WMSDs, cellular responses to injury in vivo and in vitro, and animal injury models of repetitive, forceful tasks. The authors describe a model using albino rats and present evidence related to tissue injury and inflammation due to a highly repetitive reaching task. A conceptual schematic for WMSD development and suggestions for further research are presented. Animal models can enhance our ability to predict risk and to manage WMSDs in humans because such models permit the direct observation of exposed tissues as well as motor behavior.