cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Further evidence for the dynamic stability of intracranial saccular aneurysms.

Abstract It has long been thought that intracranial saccular aneurysms enlarge and rupture because of mechanical instabilities. Recent nonlinear analyses suggest, however, that at least certain sub-classes of aneurysms do not exhibit quasi-static limit point instabilities or dynamic instabilities in response to periodic loading, and consequently, that the natural history of these lesions is likely governed by growth and remodeling processes. In this paper, we present additional results that support the finding that one particular sub-class of saccular aneurysms is dynamically stable. Specifically, we extended recent results of Shah and Humphrey, which are based on the assumption that some saccular aneurysms can be modeled as spherical elastic membranes surrounded by a viscous cerebrospinal fluid, to account for a viscohyperelastic behavior of the aneurysm. It is shown that inclusion of a “short-term” viscoelastic contribution to the mechanical behavior of an aneurysm serves to increase its dynamic stability against various disturbances.
Prevention of childhood obesity: Sociocultural and familial factors

This study examined sociocultural and familial factors related to the prevention of childhood obesity. Primary caregivers of 6- to 10-year-old children representing several ethnic populations in Saipan participated in 4 focus groups (N=32). Trained moderators used semi-structured interviews and qualitative methods were used in data analysis. A central theme with several related factors emerged. The theme was a conflict expressed by the primary caregiver between sociocultural values, family expectations, traditional dietary beliefs and attitudes, and knowledge about food and disease. These findings have important implications for designing culturally sensitive interventions for prevention of childhood obesity.
An integer programming model for optimal pork marketing

Pork producers must determine when to sell pigs, which and how many pigs to sell, and to which packer(s) to sell them. We model the decision-making problem as a linear mixed-integer program that determines the marketing strategy that maximizes expected annual profit. By discretizing the barn population into appropriate weight and growth categories, we formulate an mixed-integer program that captures the effect of stocking space and shipping disruption on pig growth. We consider marketing to multiple packers via shipping policies reflecting operational sorting constraints. Utilizing data from Cargill Animal Nutrition, we implement the model to obtain solutions that characterize significant strategic departures from commonly-implemented industry rules-of-thumb and that possess the potential to increase profitability in an industry characterized by narrow profit margins.
Adhesion of DNA nanostructures and DNA origami to lithographically patterned self-assembled monolayers on Si[100]

Cationic self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) can easily be formed on silicon dioxide via siloxane chemistry, and these SAMs provide robustly attached surface charges that anchor DNA nanostructures and origami. The surface charge of the SAM can be controlled by formation of mixed monolayers of aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) and trimethyl aminopropyltrimethoxysilyl chloride (TMAC). X-ray photoelectron spectra of mixed monolayers show surface charges ranging from about 1 to 3 charges per nm 2 . At high mole fractions of APTES, binding defects such as folded and rolled origami are common; at moderate mole fractions of APTES, binding metrics for DNA origami are comparable to mica, and on pure TMAC, binding is weaker than on mica. In order to locate individual DNA nanostructures at desired sites, 35-40 nm APTES dots or 125 nm APTES stripes were fabricated by a combination of EBL and molecular liftoff. Deposition of small DNA nanostructures (8 nm × 37 nm × 2 nm) or DNA origami (60 nm × 90 nm) was conducted in 0.1-1.0 micromolar solution. The binding selectivity between the anchor pads and the background silicon dioxide was at least 50:1. The DNA origami are persistently attached and can be imaged in air after rinsing the substrate in flowing water.
The Environment of Marketing Channel Dyads: A Framework for Comparative Analysis:

The political economy framework for the comparative analysis of marketing channel dyads proposed by Stern and Reve (1980) focused mainly on relationships between channel members. This article exten...
Migrainous Visual Accompaniments Are Not Rare in Late Life The Framingham Study

Background and Purpose—Questionnaires to elicit symptoms of transient ischemic attacks (TIAs) may detect late-life transient visual symptoms similar to the visual aura of migraine, often without headache. We determined the frequency, characteristics, and stroke outcome of these symptoms in the Framingham Study. Methods—During 1971–1989, at biennial examinations, 2110 subjects of the Framingham cohort were systematically queried about the occurrence of sudden visual symptoms. Results—Visual migrainous symptoms were reported by 1.23% (26/2110) of subjects (1.33% of women and 1.08% of men). In 65% of subjects the episodes were stereotyped, and they began after age 50 years in 77%. Mean±SD age at onset of the episodes was 56.2±18.7 years. In 58% of subjects the episodes were never accompanied by headaches, and 42% had no headache history. The number of episodes ranged from 1 to 500 and was 10 or more in 69% of subjects. The episodes lasted 15 to 60 minutes in 50% of subjects. Sixty-five percent of the subject...
Reactive changes in the temporomandibular joint after mandibular midline osteodistraction

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the histologic changes within the condyle in response to mandibular widening using osteodistraction. Mandibular midline osteotomies were made in nine Macaca mulatta monkeys and tooth-borne distraction devices were bonded to the mandibular dentition. Distraction was continued until a 3-5 mm widening was achieved. The appliances were then stabilized for a period of 4 weeks. Non-decalcified sagittal sections of the lateral, middle and medial thirds of the condyles were analyzed. Although three of the seven animals showed no unusual morphology, four others exhibited morphologic differences within the fibrous layer, cartilage layer or bone/cartilage interface. Histologic changes were seen to occur in the fibrous layer, cartilaginous layer and cartilage/bone interface. The severity of these changes were correlated with the likely rotational forces directed at the condyle on the postero-lateral and antero-medial surfaces.
Reproductive Toxicity of Monocrotophos to Bobwhite Quail

Abstract Pairs of 1st-year breeding bobwhites were fed constant or decreasing concentrations of monocrotophos for 15 days. In addition, a control diet was used in a pair-fed group matched with the pairs in the constant group. Dietary concentrations for the constant group were logarithmically spaced at .100, .178, .316, .562, 1.000 ppm of actual insecticide and also at 0 ppm (control) for five pairs at each concentration. The beginning concentrations for the decreasing pairs were identical to the constant group but regularly decreased to reach 25% of the starting concentrations by Day 13. Food consumption, egg production, hatchability of eggs under artificial incubation, and survival of hatched chicks for 2 weeks were recorded pairwise during 15-day treatment and 14-day posttreatment periods. Mortality was high at the greatest constant concentration and in the associated pair-fed group. Food consumption and egg production rates were negatively dose-related during the treatment period in the constant and decreasing groups. The laying rate of pair-fed hens was reduced to the same extent as in the constant group. Reproductive inhibition was not permanent, and pairs resumed laying after a dose-related recovery interval. No dose-related effects on hatchability or chick survival were detected. There was no evidence of a pesticide effect on reproduction other than that exerted through pesticide-induced anorexia.
Distribution of volatile branched-chain fatty acids in various lamb tissues.

Abstract Volatile fatty acids (C4–C11) including even-, odd-, and branched-chain members in lamb tissues were quantitatively analyzed. Volatile branched-chain fatty acids (BCFA) were more concentrated in subcutaneous adipose tissue samples (rump, shoulder, breast) than in perinepheric adipose or muscle tissues. Perinepheric adipose tissue contained relatively high quantities of n-chain, even-numbered fatty acids and very low levels of BCFA. Greater variation existed in fatty acid profiles among similar subcutaneous adipose tissues from different lambs than between samples of adipose tissue from different carcass sites from a given lamb sample. 4-Methyl- and 4-ethyloctanoic acids were present at concentrations greatly above threshold levels in all lamb fats tested, and thus upon hydrolysis would contribute species-related flavors to lamb. 4-Methylnonanoic concentrations in lamb fats ranged from nondetectable to greater than the threshold level, and therefore this compound would not always contribute to the species-related flavors of lamb. Lean meat samples contained very low concentrations of 4-methyl- and 4-ethyloctanoic acids.
A novel mechanism prevents the development of hypertension during chronic cold stress.

Summary 1 Chronic cold exposure of rats (7 days in a cold room at 4 °C) attenuated the sympathetic nerve stimulation (NS)-induced overflow of noradrenaline (NE) (measured by high-performance liquid chromatography, coupled to electrochemical detection) appearing in the perfusate/superfusate of the perfused mesenteric arterial bed as well as the increase in the perfusion pressure. 2 The same type of cold exposure resulted in an increase in tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) gene expression measured in the superior cervical ganglion and NE content measured in the mesenteric artery obtained from cold-exposed rats. 3 Addition of sodium nitroprusside, a nitric oxide (NO) donor, to the buffer perfusing the mesenteric arterial bed obtained from rats maintained at room temperature also resulted in an attenuation of the NS-induced overflow of NE and increase in perfusion pressure. 4 Nc-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (l-NAME), an NO synthase inhibitor, placed in the drinking water prevented the attenuation of the pre- and post-junctional responses to NS of the mesenteric arterial bed obtained from cold-exposed rats. 5 l-NAME treatment also increased the cold-induced elevation of blood pressure seen in whole animals. 6 The present results are consistent with the idea that cold exposure leads to a concomitant increase in sympathetic nerve activity and production of NO. We hypothesize that the increase in production and release of NO results in a decrease in the biologically active form of NE despite increased synthesis and release of the catecholamine. 7 It is concluded that the above-mentioned interactions serve as a protective mechanism offsetting the increased release and action of NE from sympathetic nerves and thus preventing the development of hypertension.
Platelet recruitment in the murine hepatic microvasculature during experimental sepsis: role of neutrophils.

Objectives: Sepsis is a major clinical problem that often results in the dysfunction or failure of multiple organs, including the liver. While inflammatory cell activation has been implicated as an early critical event in sepsis-induced liver dysfunction, there is growing evidence for the involvement of activated platelets in this pathologic process.Methods: Intravital microscopy was used in this study to assess the magnitude and time course of platelet adhesion in the liver microcirculation during experimental sepsis and to determine whether the platelet accumulation is linked to leukocyte infiltration. The adhesion of platelets and leukocytes in terminal hepatic venules (THV) and sinusoids was quantified at 2, 4, and 6 h after abdominal sepsis induced by cecal ligation and puncture (CLP).Results: While the rolling and firm adhesion of platelets and leukocytes in THV were not altered in the first 2 h after CLP, platelet recruitment was observed at 4 h and further elevated at 6 h after CLP. Leukocyte adhe...
Directional TDMA Networking without External Time and Position References

The current generation of Directional Mobile Ad Hoc Networking waveforms relies on accurate, universal, externally generated time and position references that must be available at all nodes. Although in principle the waveforms can use any such references, satellite navigation systems such as GPS are the practical source of these universal time and position references. This reliance on GPS is an impediment to the adoption of DMANETs for some important applications. Methods for eliminating the reliance on external references have been investigated and the performance of the selected techniques has been assessed by simulation. A preliminary DMANET waveform architecture is described that only requires information locally available at each node.
Host resistance to Trypanosoma cruzi infection is enhanced in mice fed Fusarium verticillioides (=F. moniliforme) culture material containing fumonisins.

Abstract Fumonisins, metabolites of Fusarium verticillioides (= F. moniliforme ) and related fungi that occur naturally on corn, elicit various organ- and species-specific toxicities. However, immunologic effects of fumonisins are not well characterized. BALB/c mice were fed diets containing F. verticillioides culture material (CM) providing 50 (LD) or 150 (HD) ppm fumonisins (FB 1 +FB 2 ) beginning 1 week before and continuing 5 weeks after challenge with the myotropic Brazil strain of T . cruzi . A control group (ZD) was fed a diet lacking CM. The LD and HD diets caused increases in tissue sphinganine/sphingosine ratios and minimum to mild hepatotoxicity, both of which are typically induced by fumonisins. Nitric oxide (NO) production by peritoneal macrophages from HD mice was significantly higher than by peritoneal macrophages from ZD mice on day 14 after challenge. NO production also was stimulated in macrophages from ZD mice, but the peak response did not occur until day 26 after challenge. Compared with ZD mice, LD and HD mice exhibited reduced parasitemia and decreased numbers of pseudocysts in cardiac muscle. Thus, the CM increased host resistance to T. cruzi by accelerating NO production by macrophages or otherwise enhancing the immune response. The findings provide additional evidence that fumonisins modulate immune function.
Measurement of particle cloud density and velocity using laser devices

Abstract Determination of instantaneous local particle velocity and density of a fluid—particle suspension based on time-averaging requires that both the time scale relation and the volume scale relation be satisfied. Small measuring volumes in laser facilities in comparison to particle sizes calls for averaging based on the continuum counterpart of time-averaging. This procedure was validated by comparing particle cloud density obtained from simultaneous velocity and mass flux measurements to the laser phase Doppler measurements. Based on the center-of-mass frame of reference, the local instantaneous velocity of a cloud of particles is given by the mass flux of the particle cloud divided by its density. It was shown that to measure the velocity of a particle cloud with a distribution of particle diameters, both laser Doppler velocimetry and phase Doppler analysis are needed. The latter provides an absolute standard for the measurement of cloud density and velocity with particle size distribution. This is in spite of the requirement of spherical particles and the preference for no more than one particle in the measuring volume.
Twin gestation : fetal presentation as a function of gestational age

OBJECTIVE: Our objective in this study was to evaluate the rate of spontaneous version in twin gestation throughout the third trimester. STUDY DESIGN: Serial ultrasonographic examinations were performed on 119 consecutive patients with twin gestation. The incidence of spontaneous version as a function of gestational age was calculated. RESULTS: The mean birth weight and gestational age at delivery were 2640 gm and 37 weeks, respectively. Nineteen percent had birth weight discordancy, and 37% were delivered by cesarean section. The incidence of spontaneous version decreased from 60% at 28 to 30 weeks' gestation to 25% to 30% at term. The lowest incidence of spontaneous version was observed in pregnancies with a cephalic-cephalic presentation (7%). All other presentations were relatively unstable. Neither the patients' parity nor the presence of birth weight discordancy, the placental location, or the amniotic fluid volume had a significant association with the incidence of spontaneous version. {bd}CONCLUSION: These data should be incorporated into the routine antepartum counseling of patients with twin gestation. Their use in this capacity may result in a decreased cesarean delivery rate if clinicians realize that malpresentations may spontaneously resolve before the onset of labor.
Latent Facial Topics for affect analysis

Recent years have seen a growing need in the affective computing community to understand an emotion space beyond the seven basic expressions, leading to explorations of an emotion space continuum spanned by dimensions such as valence and arousal. While there has been substantial research in the identification of facial Action Units as building blocks for the basic expressions, there is a new need to discover fine-grained facial descriptors that can explain the variations in the continuum of emotions. We propose a methodology to extract Latent Facial Topics (LFTs) from facial videos, by adapting Latent Dirichlet Allocation and supervised Latent Dirichlet Allocation topic models for facial affect analysis. In this work, we study the application of topic models to both discrete emotion recognition as well as continuous emotion prediction tasks. We show that meaningful and visualizable LFTs can be extracted and used successfully for emotion recognition. We report our recognition results on the widely known Cohn Kanade Plus and AVEC 2012 FCSC challenge data sets, which have shown promise for both discrete and continuous emotion recognition problems.
Mechanism of 2-hydropropyl-beta-cyclodextrin in the stabilization of frozen formulations

Freezing of commonly used parenteral products to increase pharmaceutical stability for cost-saving purposes is a common practice in patient care. However, frozen meropenem, a model drug, in saline has a shelf life of less than a month due to the low glass transition temperature (Tg'): below -40°C. When meropenem is formulated with the 2-hydroxypropyl-β-cyclodextrin (HPBC) the shelf life (⩾90% potency) is extrapolated to be greater than one year at -25°C based on data for storage at 6months. The mechanisms that may explain meropenem-HPBC formulation frozen stability include vitrification and/or formation of an inclusion complex. Although NMR data indicated complexation of meropenem by HPBC in a ratio of 0.6:1, inclusion was unlikely to be the mechanism as stability was not extended to the thawed solutions. Therefore, vitrification is concluded to be the stabilization mechanism. The Tg' for meropenem-HPBC (13.3%) formulation at pH 7.9 was -17.75°C which was similar to that of a meropenem solution formulated with a known vitrifying agent, Dextran 40. This higher Tg' for HPBC was unexpected based on trends predicted by the Fox-Flory equation. Trial formulations containing either Dextran 1, Dextran 40, hydroxyethyl starch, or sulfobutyl-beta-cyclodextrin heptasodium (Captisol®) were also unable to stabilize meropenem as the Tg' values were below the frozen storage temperature. Upon 6-month storage, potency losses were -3.0% and -7.7% for meropenem frozen premix formulated in 13.3% HPBC (pH 7.9) at -25 and -20°C storage, respectively; versus -31.2% and -60.8% for controls. Frozen premixes with high ionic strength (containing NaCl or Captisol®) and/or at pH 7.3 were also found to be unstable.
Crystal Structure of a Ba2+-Bound Gating Ring Reveals Elementary Steps in RCK Domain Activation

Summary RCK domains control activity of a variety of K + channels and transporters through binding of cytoplasmic ligands. To gain insight toward mechanisms of RCK domain activation, we solved the structure of the RCK domain from the Ca 2+ -gated K + channel, MthK, bound with Ba 2+ , at 3.1 A resolution. The Ba 2+ -bound RCK domain was assembled as an octameric gating ring, as observed in structures of the full-length MthK channel, and shows Ba 2+ bound at several positions. One of the Ba 2+ sites, termed C1 , overlaps with a known Ca 2+ -activation site, determined by residues D184 and E210. Functionally, Ba 2+ can activate reconstituted MthK channels as observed in electrophysiological recordings, whereas Mg 2+ (up to 100 mM) was ineffective. Ba 2+ activation was abolished by the mutation D184N, suggesting that Ba 2+ activates primarily through the C1 site. Our results suggest a working hypothesis for a sequence of ligand-dependent conformational changes that may underlie RCK domain activation and channel gating.
Neonatal perirenal urinary extravasation with posterior urethral valves

Renal dysplasia and atrophy are associated with congenital urinary tract obstruction, such as posterior urethral valves, and are thought to result from the increased pressure in the developing obstructed urinary system. This increased pressure is likely to be alleviated by perirenal urinary extravasation and urinary ascites. Whether this relief of pressure in the obstructed developing kidney results in a lessened degree of renal abnormality is likely to depend on the time during the period of gestation when the urinary leak occurs and the degree of renal dysplasia and atrophy at the time of the urinary leak.
Dichloromethane and trichloroethylene inhibition of methane oxidation by the membrane-associated methane monooxygenase of Methylosinus trichosporium OB3b

Whole-cell assays were used to measure the ef- fect of dichloromethane and trichloroethylene on methane oxidation by Methylosinus trichosporiumOB3b synthesiz- ing the membrane-associated or particulate methane mono- oxygenase (pMMO). For M. trichosporium OB3b grown with 20 μM copper, no inhibition of methane oxidation was observed in the presence of either dichloromethane or trichloroethylene. If 20 mM formate was added to the re- action vials, however, methane oxidation rates increased and inhibition of methane oxidation was observed in the presence of dichloromethane and trichloroethylene. In the presence of formate, dichloromethane acted as a competi- tive inhibitor, while trichloroethylene acted as a noncom- petitive inhibitor. The finding of noncompetitive inhibi- tion by trichloroethylene was further examined by mea- suring the inhibition constants KiE and KiES. These constants suggest that trichloroethylene competes with methane at some sites, although it can bind to others if methane is al- ready bound. Whole-cell oxygen uptake experiments for ac- tive and acetylene-treated cells also showed that provision of formate could stimulate both methane and trichloroeth- ylene oxidation and that trichloroethylene did not affect formate dehydrogenase activity. The finding that different chlorinated hydrocarbons caused different inhibition pat- terns can be explained by either multiple substrate binding sites existing in pMMO or multiple forms of pMMO with different activities. The whole-cell analysis performed here cannot distinguish between these models, and further work should be done on obtaining active preparations of the pu- rified pMMO.
Alcohol-induced brain growth restrictions (microencephaly) were not affected by concurrent exposure to cocaine during the brain growth spurt.

The prevalence of concomitant use of alcohol and cocaine among drug abusers has raised concern about the possible increased risk of fetal damage. The aim of this study was to assess the interactive effects of alcohol and cocaine on lethality, somatic growth, and brain growth using an animal model system. Sprague-Dawley rat pups were used as subjects. They were randomly assigned to 1 of the 9 artificially reared groups which varied with respect to the combination treatments of cocaine (0, 40, or 60 mg/kg) and alcohol (0, 3.3, or 4.5 g/kg). All artificially reared pups were given daily cocaine and alcohol treatments during a major part of the brain growth spurt period (postnatal days 4–9). An additional group of suckled control animals raised by their natural dams was included to control for artificial rearing. The results are summarized as follows: (1) Drug-induced lethality was higher in cocaine-treated groups when compared with non-cocaine-treated groups, and the concurrent administration of high doses of alcohol and cocaine significantly increased the mortality rate. (2) Somatic growth, in terms of body weight, was not affected by alcohol, cocaine, or the combination of both drugs using the artificial rearing technique. (3) Alcohol exposure during this brain growth spurt period significantly reduced whole brain weight, as well as forebrain, cerebellum, and brain stem weights. (4) In contrast to alcohol, cocaine failed to exert a detrimental effect on brain weight measures during this early postnatal period. (5) There were no antagonistic or synergistic effects in inducing brain growth restrictions by concurrent exposure to alcohol and cocaine during the brain growth spurt. The potential involvement of cocaethylene in mediating the observed lethality is discussed. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Plaque titration of herpes simplex with antibody-free liquid overlay.

SummaryTwo reliable methods for plaque titration of herpes simplex in antibody-free liquid culture medium have been described. Some advantages over plaque titrations with solid or antibody-containing overlays are elimination of inhibitory effects of agar and antiserum, greater choice in type of culture vessel which allows for saving of culture materials, technician's time, and incubator space, optional elimination of carbon dioxide incubators, greater range of magnification, and more flexibility in manipulation of cultures.
A PRELIMINARY INVESTIGATION OF ORGANIC‐INORGANIC ASSOCIATIONS IN A STAGNATING SYSTEM1

Molecular weight fractionation procedures were used to examine the possibility of organic-inorganic complex formation during stagnation of a lake sediment system. Fe, Mg, and Mn were found to associate with fractions >500 molecular weight. No evidence was found for the occurrence of the ionic states of these metals in the anoxic environment used in this investigation. The results are discussed in relation to the behavior of soil humic compounds.
Physicochemical and biochemical aspects of fibrinogen adsorption from plasma and binary protein solutions onto polyethylene and glass

The adsorption of fibrinogen to polyethylene and glass from plasma and binary protein solutions was measured using baboon fibrinogen radiolabled with 125I. The effects of plasma dilution, shear rate, contact time, and plasma fibrinogen concentration were examined. Fibrinogen adsorption to polyethyelen passed through a maximum at times dependent upon the plasma dilution, shifting from 1 h to 10 s as the plasma concentration varied from 0.01 to 100%. The initial fibrinogen adsorption rate from diluted plasma (0.01–1%) to polyethylene was found to be mass transfer limited and a fibrinogen diffusivity of 4.4 ± 0.9 × 10−7 cm2s−2 was calculated. Fibrinogen adsorption was also measured under static conditions after 2 h at 37°C as a function of plasma dilution. Adsorption to glass and polyethylene was maximal at intermediate plasma concentrations. Fibrinogen adsorption to glass and polyethylene from both normal and kininogen-deficient plasma was similar but that from prekallikrein-deficient plasma was somewhat enhanced. Fibrinogen adsorption to glass from solutions containing either albumin or hemoglobin was maximal at intermediate mixture concentrations. The maximum shifted to smaller concentrations as the ratio of competing protein to fibrinogen increased. This effect is similar to that caused by plasma dilution and suggests that the observed fibrinogen displacement phenomenon occurring with plasma results from numerous proteins expressing their stronger affinity for a finite number of adsorption sites.
The spin distribution in low-spin iron porphyrins

In many low-spin (S = 1/2) iron porphyrin derivatives, electron spin resonance (ESR) spectra indicate that one of the dπ orbitals of iron, either a dxz or dyz, depending on the axial ligands of the porphyrin complex as well as their orientation, is essentially singly occupied; the unpaired electron is almost completely located at the metal. In contrast, nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) and electron nuclear double resonance (ENDOR) spectroscopy convincingly show that a significant share of the unpaired electron is delocalized. This apparent contradiction is explained by the present density-functional-theory (DFT) calculations performed on a heme a model as well as on bis-imidazole-ligated iron porphyrin without substituents. The calculations show that the integrated spin density at the iron atom is nearly one, in agreement with the ESR measurements. However, significant areas with opposite (β) spin are found along the Fe−N bond axes, thus evoking a need for additional α-spin density to be present in the po...
Creation of a graduate oral/written communication skills course.

Objective. To convert a traditional graduate seminar course into a class that emphasizes written as well as oral communication skills. Design. Graduate pharmacology/toxicology students presented formal and informal seminars on their research progress and on recent peer-reviewed literature from the field. Students in the audience wrote critiques of the research project or article, as well as of the presentations themselves. Assessment. Students were evaluated based on oral presentations, class participation, and a scientific writing component. All faculty members provided constructive written comments and a grade. The course master provided the presenter with a formal written review and returned a “red pen” revision of each student critique. Conclusion. This novel seminar/writing course introduces intensive focus on writing skills, which are especially essential today given the large number of graduate students for whom English is not a first language.
Immunoassayable adrenocorticotropin in peripheral organs: Concentrations during early development

Abstract Although many have identified immunoassayable adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) in sites outside the pituitary (brain, gastrointestinal tract), there is relatively little information regarding immunoassayable ACTH in other major peripheral organs. Several major peripheral organs (pancreas, liver, kidney, heart) of rats were found to contain variable amounts of immunorective (IR-) ACTH which appeared to be authentic IR-ACTH on the basis of parallelism to ACTH 1–39 upon serial dilution of extracts and gel filtration chromatography. Concentrations of IR-ACTH in peripheral organs were also studied to determine if changes occur during early development. Concentrations of IR-ACTH did not show significant changes in liver and heart at various ages between 10 and 80 days, but IR-ACTH in pancreas and kidney (day 10 vs. 80) did show significant decrements with aging.
Least-squares estimation of distribution functions in johnson's translation system

To summarize a set of data by a distribution function in Johnson's translation system, we use a least-squares approach to parameter estimation wherein we seek to minimize the distance between the vector of "uniformized" oeder statistics and the corresponding vector of expected values. We use the software package FITTRI to apply this technique to three problems arising respectively in medicine, applied statistics, and civil engineering. Compared to traditional methods of distribution fitting based on moment matching, percentile matchingL 1 estimation, and L ⌆ estimation, the least-squares technique is seen to yield fits of similar accuracy and to converge more rapidly and reliably to a set of acceptable parametre estimates.
Conduct-as-cast polymer monoliths as separation media for capillary electrochromatography.

We have developed porous polymer monoliths (PPMs) that are versatile and robust reversed-phase chromatography media. The PPMs are cast-to-shape, UV-cured polymers that form uniform packings within pretreated glass capillaries and fused-silica chips. No applied pressure is ever needed to flush the PPMs since they support electroosmotic flow as cast. Such characteristics make the PPMs useful for chip-based devices. Our results show efficiencies greater than or equal to 150 000 plates/m for both capillary and chip-based separations of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. By changing the monomers, the hydrophobicity of the polymers, and the direction of the electroosmotic flow can be altered without degrading chromatographic performance. We describe here the development of these acrylate-based materials along with both physical and chromatographic characterization.
Crystal field analysis of Dy3+ EPR in single crystal Pd and limitations of spin Hamiltonian analysis

Abstract The EPR of Dy3+ in single crystal Pd is analyzed using a crystal field Hamiltonian. From the intensity and anisotropy of the EPR lines we obtain the crystal field parameters x = -0.5418 and W = -89.3 mK. The g-factor is strongly magnetic field dependent and the spin Hamiltonian approximation for the ground state quartet is valid.
Good Night! Sleep Tight! Parent Cognitions Related to Sleep Effects on Health and Weight of Preschool-Aged Children

Inadequate sleep increases obesity risk in children. The sleep cognitions, sleep hygiene practices, barriers to promoting positive sleep practices in children, and coping strategies of parents of 2to 5year old children were explored via focus group interviews (n1⁄421) and survey (n1⁄4136). Focus group parents felt sufficient sleep was requisite to child wellbeing. Negative effects of inadequate sleep for children that parents identified were decreased mood/irritability; greater daytime tiredness; diminished daytime functioning and focus; and decreased appetite and food intake. No parents identified the influence of sleep on weight outcomes. Barriers to positive sleep practices were stimulation before bed from TV, sugary foods/drinks, and involvement in activities; wakefulness due to nap schedule and limited physical activity; and ulterior motives (fear of dark, desire to be with parents). Common strategies for overcoming barriers reflected recommended sleep hygiene techniques (adequate daytime physical activity; consistent sleep-wake schedules; bedtime routines; reducing stimulating activity before bed). Of surveyed parents, 90% set a bedtime for preschoolers, with set bedtimes more common among English (94%) than Spanish speakers (84%). Kids without set bedtimes watched more TV and were less active. Parents are aware of methods for coping with sleep barriers, yet are not aware of the influence of inadequate sleep on weight status. Some are unaware of the benefits of a set bedtime. The interrelationships among inadequate sleep, greater time spent TV watching, less time spent in physical activity, and obesity risk warrant increased attention in childhood obesity research and interventions.
ART IN LIFE: FASHIONING POLITICAL IDEOLOGY THROUGH VISUAL CULTURE IN MID-CENTURY AMERICA

Life magazine debuted onto the American publishing scene in November, 1936. The third major pub lication to come out of Heniy Luce's publishing empire, Time, Inc., Life was a picture magazine. It helped to transform visual culture in America, elevating images over text as a means of communication and developing an influential new style of photographic journalism first in troduced in the magazine's inaugural issue with Margaret Bourke White's photographs of the Fort Peck Dam (Figure 1). Ranging in sub jects from international politics to society news, Life provided a visual survey of modern experience for its readers, a weekly synopsis of the state of the world presented through pictures elucidated with bold headlines and short captions. While Life's impact on photojournalism is well-known, the magazine's coverage of fine art is more obscure. And yet from its first issue, which included an article on the American painter John Steuart Curry, Life made a point of featuring fine art as a centerpiece of its visual pageant of American life. Henry Luce's ambi tious prospectus for the magazine included art as an important aspect of the magazine's subject matter: "To see life: to see the world ... to see man's work—his paintings, towers and discoveries ... to see and be amazed; to see and be instructed."1 The blend of entertainment and edification articulated by Luce was central to Life's presentation of fine art: by covering the world of painting and sculpture alongside society parties and international events, Life normalized art as an aspect of everyday life; by adopting a didactic approach to presenting art, the magazine attempted to shape the way mainstream America thought about artistic production and display. At a time when the New Deal government was sponsoring feder ally-funded art projects that trumpeted ideals of cultural democracy, and politically radical artists were arguing for the role of art in promot ing revolutionary social change, Life used popular consciousness of art to reinforce established social hierarchies. If art could be a weapon of class struggle or an instrument of state democracy, it could also,
Optimal trees for a class of information retrieval problems

Abstract A review is given of the use of doubly-chained trees for information retrieval. It is shown that for several reasons related to the actual implementation of such a scheme and to properties of functions related to the retrieval process, the chaining steps, by which expected search time is measured, may be of different cost depending upon whether the step is vertical (equal compare result) or horizontal (unequal compare result). Since previous results are for equal cost steps, the problem of constructing an optimal retrieval tree under the new circumstances is formulated mathematically and a very rapid solution procedure is given.
Development of ultrasonic vocalization responses in genetically heterogeneous National Institute of Health (N:NIH) rats. II. Associations among variables and behaviors

In this study, the first three generations of laboratory-reared, 10-day-old pups of the N:NIH strain were examined for ultrasonic vocalizations (USV) rates in response to 2 min of isolation. The purpose of the study was to determine baseline USV rates in these progenitor (PR1, PR2, PR3) generations prior to selective breeding for high and low rates of USV. In addition, this study aimed to detect sources of variation in USV between and within generations and sexes, and factors associated with USV during isolation across the generations. Data were collected from 532 10 day-old pups in 81 litters. Evaluation by principal component analyses revealed four factors corresponding roughly to constructs indicative of: thermoregulation; maturity and exploratory behavior; distress/anxiety, in which USV consistently appeared; and activity. Different component structures for each sex suggested that USV may represent different dimensions of anxiety for component structures for each sex suggested that USV may represent different dimensions of anxiety for the sexes, with some degree of overlap. Nonetheless, all variables measured during isolation testing accounted for only a small portion of the variance in individual pup USV (less than 9%) at 10 days of age, when the effects of intercorrelations among all variables were taken into account. This suggests that variables currently measured do not represent a comprehensive model for the control of USV.
Epithelial water absorption: Osmosis or cotransport?

A paradigm lost? Not according to the studies of Duquette, Bissonnette, and Lapointe (1), which present a direct test of the recently advanced cotransport hypothesis of water absorption. The results of these studies argue, strongly, that the widely accepted notion that osmotic coupling is the single mechanism responsible for water transport across biological membranes, in general, and epithelia, in particular, is secure and that the recent challenges to this notion can be dismissed.
75-GHz f/sub T/ SiGe-base heterojunction bipolar transistors

The fabrication of silicon heterojunction bipolar transistors which have a record unity-current-gain cutoff frequency (f/sub T/) of 75 GHz for a collector-base bias of 1 V, an intrinsic base sheet resistance (R/sub bi/) of 17 k Omega / Square Operator , and an emitter width of 0.9 mu m is discussed. This performance level, which represents an increase by almost a factor of 2 in the speed of a Si bipolar transistor, was achieved in a poly-emitter bipolar process by using SiGe for the base material. The germanium was graded in the 45-nm base to create a drift field of approximately 20 kV/cm, resulting in an intrinsic transit time of only 1.9 ps. >
The complexity of analog computation

Abstract We ask if analog computers can solve NP-complete problems efficiently. Regarding this as unlikely, we formulate a strong version of Church's Thesis: that any analog computer can be simulated efficiently (in polynomial time) by a digital computer. From this assumption and the assumption that P ≠ NP we can draw conclusions about the operation of physical devices used for computation. An NP-complete problem, 3- sat , is reduced to the problem of checking whether a feasible point is a local optimum of an optimization problem. A mechanical device is proposed for the solution of this problem. It encodes variables as shaft angles and uses gears and smooth cams. If we grant Strong Church's Thesis, that P ≠ NP, and a certain “Downhill Principle” governing the physical behavior of the machine, we conclude that it cannot operate successfully while using only polynomial resources. We next prove Strong Church's Thesis for a class of analog computers described by well-behaved ordinary differential equations, which we can take as representing part of classical mechanics. We conclude with a comment on the recently discovered connection between spin glasses and combinatorial optimization.
An All-Elasticity Approach to Factor Demand and Output Supply

Using production elasticities as the basis of discussion, this paper develops direct and cross price elasticity relations among the demand functions for inputs at any point on a production surface. The relevant price elasticities of both input demand and output supply are shown to be simple functions of production elasticities. These relations provide numerous specific testable hypotheses. They can be used by analysts for plausible inferences about unknown coefficients when incomplete data or only partial information are available. Finally, these ideas can be helpful in the classroom when it is desirable to illustrate parallels between consumption economics and supply analysis.
Some tests of film types for remote sensing of purple loosestrife, Lythrum salicaria, at low densities

Purple loosestrife,Lythrum salicaria, is an exotic plant that has proven to be extremely competitive with native wetland and riparian zone species. Current control measures are limited and most effective when infestations are detected at an early stage. The goal of this project was to provide a detection tool (remote sensing) for relatively small loosestrife infestations. Small format (35 mm) aerial photography was acquired over seven sites in central Washington during the peak bloom period ofL. salicaria. The sites were selected to provide a variety of typical background plants and a range of infestation sizes, from a few isolated individuals to large, monospecific stands. All sites were photographed at approximately 1∶5000 (large) and 1∶12,000 (small) scale with Fuji Velvia 50 and Kodak Kodachrome 64 color transparency films. Sixteen sample slides were ranked by 46 interpreters according to the ease of finding loosestrife flowers. As expected, the interpreters ranked massive loosestrife stands as the most easy to identify. However, a large scale image of single loosestrife flowers was ranked almost as easy to interpret as the high altitude imagery of massive stands. Loosestrife was most difficult to detect on imagery from sites with few loosestrife plants or with large amounts of dead plant material below the flower heads. Differences in film type were significant, ranking in order of decreasing ease of interpretation: Fuji Kodachrome. Remote sensing using small format aerial photography can be successfully applied to discriminate flowering loosestrife plants from other background wetland vegetation. Color slide transparencies taken at 1∶5000 or larger scale can show flowers in sufficient detail for detection and mapping of isolated plants. Screening of interpreters can enhance the probability of proper interpretation and detection. Fuji Velvia 50 or other films that provide greater saturation of green colors can offer an advantage in detection.
U.S. corn exports: the role of the exchange rate

Abstract Time series econometric methods are applied to monthly observational data over the period 1978–1992 on real exchange rates, real corn prices, corn export sales, and corn export shipments for the United States. In-sample fit and out-of-sample forecast results are used to discern whether exchange rates have elicited systematic responses in U.S. corn prices, sales and shipments, and whether the dynamic transmission mechanisms tying these variables together have changed over time. A structural break appears to have occurred in early 1985. No cointegration is found between exchange rates, price, sales, and shipments in either sub-period. Influences are all short-run or between stationary variables. The role of the exchange rate appears to have moderated in the post-1985 period. Implications for policy analysis are discussed.
Bulky endocervical carcinoma: A 23-year experience

Abstract Between 1962 and 1985, 371 patients had initial treatment for bulky endocervical carcinomas of the uterine cervix at The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. All patients had concentric expansion of the cervix by tumors that measured at least 6 cm in greatest transverse diameter. Of the 361 patients treated with curative intent, 211 (57%) had FIGO Stage I disease that was believed to be confined to the uterus, 59 (16%) had FIGO Stage IIA disease, and 101 patients (27%) had FIGO Stage IIB disease. Median follow-up time of surviving patients was 130 months. Actuarial survival rates of 361 patients treated with curative intent were 54% and 48% at 5 and 10 years, respectively. The actuarial pelvic disease control rate was 76% at 10 years. Patients whose tumors were p p p = 0.64) or pelvic control rate ( p = 0.59). Of patients treated with curative intent, treatment was by radiation alone (RT) in 244 (68%) or by radiation followed by hysterectomy (RT + S) in 117 (32%). Although there has been an overall shift in policy away from the use of adjuvant hysterectomy during the past decade, many patient selection factors also influenced the choice of treatment during the study years, resulting in a significantly higher proportion of patients with adverse prognostic features in the RT group. Patients chosen for treatment with RT alone had a greater likelihood of having tumors ≥ 8 cm ( p = 0.03), FIGO stage IIB ( p p = 0.02), and persistant palpable parametrial disease after external radiotherapy ( p p p = 0.46). At 10 years, pelvic control rates were 88% and 85% for patients treated with RT and RT + S, respectively ( p = 0.68).
Experimental evaluation of nonisotheral solid‐gas reaction model

The nonisothermal unreacted-core-shrinking model with unsteady state heat transfer analysis has been experimentally evaluated. The system studied is the combustion of a single agglomerated carbon-fire clay sphere in a thermobalance. By comparing the experimental results with those predicted by the model it is concluded that the model adequately describes the reaction system under the experimental conditions such that the ash layer diffusion is rate controlling. (40 refs.)