cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Characterization of Enkephalin-Immunoreactive Peptides Generated by Peptic Digestion of Rat Plasma Proteins

Met-Enkephalin-immunoreactive peptides (MEIP) and Leu-enkephalin-immunoreactive peptides (LEIP), generated from plasma proteins after digestion with pepsin, were characterized with gel filtration, reverse phase HPLC, and isoelectric focusing. Pooled rat plasma was found to generate 170 pmol LEIP and 76 pmol MEIP/ml plasma. Two peaks of enkephalin (enk)-immunoreactive peptides (EIP) were observed after gel filtration of plasma digests; the early eluting peak (which contained 90% of the total LEIP and 75% of the total MEIP) eluted close to, but not in, the void volume of the column, whereas the elution volume of a later eluting peak (which contained 25% of the total MEIP and about 5% of the total LEIP) was close to that of authentic enk. Five peaks of EIP with pi values of 3.7, 5.8, 7.3, 8.0, and 9.4, were observed after isoelectric focusing of plasma digests; with the exception of the pi 3.7 peak, all of these immunoreactive species could be detected with greater efficiency using the Leu-enk RIA. Peptic di...
Comparison of Reliability of Ocean Vehicles Using Asymptotic Wave Load Distribution

Asymptotic extreme distribution of wave loads acting on a marine vehicle is derived and used in a reliability framework to estimate the safety of the structure. Both exact and approximate methods of reliability analysis are used and the resulting probabilities of failure are compared. The effect of correlation between the wave load and the stillwater load on the risk of failure is also examined. The results of the comparison showed that the approximate reliability analysis underestimates the failure probability compared to the exact method, and that the correlation effect between the wave and stillwater loads is not significant.
Lymphocyte transformation in response to antigens of respiratory syncytial virus.

SummaryCellular immunity to RSV was measured by lymphocyte transformation in infants, children, and adults. Lymphocyte transformation to RSV antigens occurred in 17 of 44 (39%) healthy adults. When sequential lymphocyte cultures were performed with healthy adults, 11/12 individuals had an SI ≥ 3.0 on at least one occasion. In 12 of 27 babies and children with respiratory diseases, cellular immunity to RSV was detected. In contrast, none of 21 babies and children without respiratory diseases and none of 12 neo-nates had detectable lymphocyte reactivity to RSV. Among patients with respiratory diseases, lymphocyte reactivity to RSV occurred significantly less often in babies 6 months of age or less (1/11) than in patients over 6 months (11/20). Since cellular immunity to RSV was not found in babies and children without ongoing respiratory illness, it is unlikely that preexisting cellular immunity to RSV plays a role in the pathogenesis of lower respiratory tract disease in infants with RSV infection.
Long-term mortality associated with acute kidney injury in children following congenital cardiac surgery

Summary Objective Children undergoing congenital cardiac surgery (CCS) are at increased risk for acute kidney injury (AKI) due to a number of factors. Recent evidence suggests AKI may influence mortality beyond the immediate postoperative period and hospitalization. We sought to determine the association between renal failure and longer-term mortality in children following CCS. Methods Our Study population included all patients that underwent cardiac surgery at our institution during a period of 3 years from 2004 through 2006. The primary definition of acute renal injury was based on pRIFLE using estimated creatinine clearance (pRIFLE eCCL). Results Predictors of mortality. Age, single ventricle status, and renal failure as defined by pRIFLE stage F were associated with mortality. The hazard ratio for a patient with renal failure as defined by pRIFLE stage F was 3.82 (CI 1.89–7.75). Predictors of AKI as defined by pRIFLE. Duration of cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) and age were the only variables associated with pRIFLE by univariate analysis. However, in the ordinal or survival model, age was the only variable associated with renal failure as defined by pRIFLE. As patient age increases from 0.30 to 3.5 years, the risks of having renal injury (pRIFLE stage I) or failure (pRIFLE stage F) decreases (OR 0.44, CI 0.21–0.94). Conclusion Mortality risk following CCS is increased in younger patients and those experiencing postoperative renal failure as defined by pRIFLE for a period of time that extends well beyond the immediate postoperative period and the time of hospitalization.
Delineating the relationships among the formation of reactive oxygen species, cell membrane instability and innate autoimmunity in intestinal reperfusion injury

Acute intestinal ischemia is a medical emergency with a high mortality rate, attesting to the need for a better understanding of its pathogenesis and the development of effective therapies. The goal of this study was to delineate the relationships among intracellular and extracellular events in intestinal ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury, particularly the formation of reactive oxygen species (ROS), cell membrane instability associated with lipid peroxidation and the innate autoimmune response mediated by natural IgM and complement. A murine model of natural IgM-mediated intestinal I/R was used. Mice overexpressing anti-oxidant enzyme SOD1 were found to have significantly reduced intestinal tissue damage and complete blockage of IgM-mediated complement activation compared with WT controls. To determine if cell membrane instability was an event intermediate between ROS formation and natural IgM-mediated innate autoimmune response, the cell membrane stabilizer (trehalose) was administered to WT mice prior to the induction of intestinal ischemia. Treatment with trehalose significantly protected animals from I/R injury and inhibited IgM-mediated complement activation although it did not prevent membrane lipid peroxidation. These data indicate that in normal mice subjected to I/R injury, intracellular ROS formation is an event upstream of the lipid peroxidation which results in cell membrane instability. The membrane instability leads to an innate autoimmune response by natural IgM and complement. Trehalose, a nontoxic disaccharide tolerated well by animals and humans, has promise as a protective agent for patients with medical conditions related to acute intestinal ischemia.
Relationships between the parasitoid Hyposoter exiguae and Trichoplusia ni: Prevention of host pupation at the endocrine level

Abstract RNA synthesis in normal Trichoplusia ni fifth instars and hosts parasitized at ca. 12 hr post-ecdysis was followed by measuring 3H-uridine incorporation with an autoradiographic technique. Uptake of 3H-uridine was high in control prothoracic glands at 6 and 30 hr and their cytology indicated an active secretory phase which was most pronounced at 30 hr. At the same time, glands of parasitized larvae decreased incorporation and appeared less active than controls. At > 75 hr, control fat body cells incorporated almost no label but were filled with RNA-protein granules apparently sequestered from the haemolymph preparatory to pupation. With respect to incorporation and cytology, fat body of parasitized larvae was unchanged from earlier in the instar, which indicates that the changeover to pupal preparations had not taken place. Imaginal wing disks incorporated label and grew appreciably in control larvae but abruptly decreased uptake and showed no size increase in parasitized larvae. Incorporation of Malpighian tubule, midgut epithelium, and certain muscles at > 75 hr showed little change in parasitized larvae, but in controls activity was reduced and histolysis occasionally was evident in muscles. The parasitoid, Hyposoter exiguae, apparently prevented host larvae from pupating by preventing activation of host prothoracic glands in the fifth instar. Other tissues which are normally activated for metamorphosis by the prothoracic glands continued normal larval activities until the end of the association.
Hedging Demands in Hedging Contingent Claims

Minimum-variance hedging of a contingent claim in discrete time is suboptimal when the contingent claim is hedged for multiple periods and the objective is to maximize the expected utility of cumulative hedging errors. This is because the hedging errors are not independent. The difference between a minimum-variance hedge and the optimal multiperiod hedge is called the hedging demand and depends on the hedger's preferences, the characteristics of the contingent claim, the trading frequency and horizon, and most importantly the joint distribution of the contingent claim and the underlying security prices. Since modeling this joint distribution is empirically controversial, I examine nonparametrically the economic importance of hedging demands in the case of hedging Standard & Poor's 500 index options.
Insider Theft: Reviews and Recommendations from the Archive and Library Professional Literature

This article presents the authors' reviews of existing professional literature and data covering the topic of insider theft from library and archival collections.
KINETIC OF SOFTENING OF CARROT BY GAMMA RADIATION

Raw carrots were diced into 9.5 mm cubes, and subjected to gamma radiation between an array of Co 60 pencils. A series of doses ranging from 0 to approximately 50 kGy was given. A plot of log (extrusion force) versus dose showed two distinct regions; the first is a rectilinear plot with a steep negative slope for doses up to about 15 kGy. The second is also a rectilinear plot with a shallow negative slope beyond 15 kGy. Sixty-seven percent of the firmness is lost with the first 15 kGy but only 4% of the firmness is lost with the highest 15 kGy increase in dose. This two-stage softening rate curve is consistent with the model of two first-order kinetic rate processes and is qualitatively similar to that for thermal softening of carrot. The term radiation firmness is proposed to describe the amount of firmness that is resistant to degradation by irradiation.
Computation of powers of multivariate polynomialsover the integers

Theoretical computing time analyses of both the iterative multiplication and binaryexpansion algorithms for computing P^n for [email protected]?I[x"1,...,x"r] show the iterative multiplication algorithm to be more efficient as r, the number of variables, increases.
The BIO-acoustic feature extraction and classification of bat echolocation calls

There are reports that large number of bat fatalities occur near wind turbines. Acoustic characteristics can be employed for bat call recognition to better understand the effects of turbines on different bat species. Acoustic features of bat echolocation calls are extracted based on three different techniques: Short Time Fourier Transform (STFT), Mel Frequency Cepstrum Coefficient (MFCC) and Discrete Wavelet Transform (DWT). These features are fed into an Evolutionary Neural Network (ENN) for their classification at the species level using acoustic features. Results from different feature extraction techniques are compared based on classification accuracy. The technique can identify bats and will contribute towards developing mitigation procedures for reducing bat fatalities.
Effects of adaptation on the capacity to differentiate simultaneously delivered dual-site vibrotactile stimuli.

Abstract The capacity of 20 healthy adult subjects for detecting differences in the amplitude of two simultaneously delivered 25 Hz vibrotactile stimuli was assessed both in the absence and presence of prior exposure to different conditions of adapting stimulation. Results obtained from this study demonstrate that increasing durations of adapting stimulation at one of the two skin sites, in the range of 0.2 to 2.0 s, lead to a systematic and progressive decrease in a subject's ability to accurately discriminate between the two different amplitudes. Delivery of adapting stimuli to both of the sites of skin stimulation prior to simultaneous delivery of the test and standard stimuli, however, leads to an improvement in amplitude discrimination performance—a finding which is consistent with prior published psychophysical studies that demonstrate improvements in discriminatory capacity with much longer durations of adaptation. Striking parallels between the results obtained in this study and those reported in a prior study of the effects of vibrotactile adaptation on the optical response of squirrel monkey contralateral SI cortex to vibrotactile stimulation [Simons, S.B., Chiu, J., Favorov, O.V., Whitsel, B.L., Tommerdahl, M., 2007. Duration-dependent response of SI to vibrotactile stimulation in squirrel monkey. J Neurophysiol. 97, 2121–9, Simons, S.B., Tannan, V., Chiu, J., Favorov, O.V., Whitsel, B.L., Tommerdahl, M., 2005. Amplitude-dependency of response of SI cortex to flutter stimulation. BMC Neurosci. 6, 43] suggest that the perceptual effects detected in this study could be attributable to adaptation-induced alterations of SI response.
Dielectric Tests for EHV Transformers

Specific proposals for revision of dielectric tests for EHV power transformers are made. An objective is improved operating reliability by specifying tests which are more compatible with service requirements. Impulse and switching surge tests are coordinated independently with lightning arrester characteristics. Low-frequency tests are disassociated from transient voltage requirements and are related to operating voltage only. Low-frequency test voltages are reduced and their duration is increased; absence of corona during the test is required. Suggestions for further development work are made.
Infratemporal fossa approach to the hypoglossal canal: practical landmarks for elusive anatomy.

Objective: At the conclusion of the article the readers should be able to safely and reliably find the hypoglossal canal using the infratemporal fossa approach. Hypothesis: Very little has been written on the regional anatomy of the hypoglossal canal as seen through a transtemporal approach. This project attempts to further define the anatomy of the hypoglossal canal and provide the surgeon with guidelines for reaching it. Our hypothesis is that the hypoglossal canal can be safely and consistently reached by way of the temporal bone with preservation of hearing and cranial nerves (CN) IX to XI. Study Design: Prospective anatomic study. Methods: The study was performed using cadaver temporal bones. Infratemporal fossa Fisch type-A dissections were performed. The hypoglossal canal was then completely exposed. The distance from the canal to the jugular bulb, carotid artery, round window, lateral canal, and roots of CN IX to XI were recorded. Results: Fifteen temporal bones were dissected and measured. The position of the hypoglossal canal is consistently located anterior, inferior, and medial to the jugular bulb. The distance from midcanal to the jugular bulb and the roots of CN IX to XI at the posterior fossa dura was 5.3 mm ± 0.82 and 7.1 mm ± 2.49, respectively. The distance from the carotid artery where it meets the jugular vein to the midcanal was 15.3 mm ± 2.09. The distance from the round window to the canal was 21.7 mm ± 3.17. Conclusions: The hypoglossal canal can be consistently reached using the infratemporal fossa approach. Hearing and CN IX to XI can be preserved. The distance from the jugular bulb and roots of CN IX to XI can be used as guideposts. If a tumor is involving the bulb, then the carotid artery and the round window are the next most reliable indicators of position.
76. The neurotransmitter, vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), bolsters the anti-leukemic activities of Ikaros and regulates cellular migration in human T cells

One in three children diagnosed with cancer has leukemia. Leukemia patients that have mutations in Ikaros (IK), a gene that encodes an anti-leukemic factor, have a poor prognosis despite modern chemotherapy. The neurotransmitter receptors, called vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) receptor −1 (VPAC1) and VPAC2, which our laboratory has shown to be transcriptionally regulated by IK, are reversed in some leukemia patients. We hypothesized that VIP signaling in leukemia cells bolsters the anti-leukemic activity of IK, while differentially controls transendothelial migration, a hallmark of leukemic transformation, due to VPAC1 for VPAC2 expression reversal. To gain support for this hypothesis, we first asked whether VIP/VPAC1 signaling affects protein levels and/or isoelectric pools of IK (phosphorylation) by conducting two dimensional (2D) gel electrophoresis followed by western analyses. These studies showed that VIP treatment induced a decline in some IK isoforms in activated but not naive lymphoblastic Hut-78 T cells compared to control. Also, VIP addition blocked the appearance of several activated isoelectric immunoreactive IK species. The second question we asked was whether VIP signaling differentially controlled leukemia cell movement by Boyden Chamber assays. Intriguingly, we discovered that both receptors mediated a chemotactic influence towards VIP, but through different signaling pathways. Collectively, these data support the notion that the nervous system naturally contributes to normal blood cell function, but after leukemogenesis, VIP signaling may exacerbate the leukemia phenotype.
ACHLAMYDOCARPON VARIUS COMB. NOV.: MORPHOLOGY AND REPRODUCTIVE BIOLOGY

A B S T R A C T Structurally preserved arborescent lycopsid fructifications are described from Pennsylvanian age strata in eastern Kentucky and southern Illinois. Achlamydocarpon varius comb. nov. is the name proposed for these cones and previously reported isolated megasporophylls described as Lepidostrobophyllum varius. The specimens range up to 3.5 cm long and represent cone apices. Megasporophylls are spirally arranged and attached to the cone axis at an acute angle. Megasporangia are large with a wall two cell layers thick. Each sporangium contains one large, presumably functional megaspore, and three smaller, abortive megaspores. Functional and abortive spores possess a prominent apical tuft (massa) that covers up to one-third of the proximal surface of the spore. Sporoderm ultrastructure is detailed together with a comparison of morphologically similar sporae dispersae megaspores. The possible function of the megaspore massa is discussed as it relates to the reproductive biology of the cone. IN 1899 MASLEN described Lepidostrobus foliaceus, a microsporangiate cone that had earlier been reported by Williamson (1893). Several years later Scott (1906) reported the occurrence of tufted megaspores in sporangia of isolated megasporophylls, and suggested that their biological relationship was with the L. foliaceus cone type. Jongmans (1930) supported this interpretation and instituted a new combination, L. maslenii. Isolated, alate megasporangia containing one large tufted megaspore, and three
Imatinib mesylate treatment of nephrogenic systemic fibrosis.

Objective To examine the effectiveness of imatinib mesylate in the treatment of nephrogenic systemic fibrosis (NSF). Methods Two patients with stage 5 chronic kidney disease and NSF were treated with oral imatinib mesylate at a dosage of 400 mg/day. Skin thickening and tethering were assessed using the modified Rodnan skin thickness score (MRSS), and knee joint flexion contractures were measured with a goniometer. Results Each patient displayed progressive reduction of skin thickening and tethering, with a steady decrease in the MRSS, following the initiation of imatinib mesylate treatment. The patient who had knee joint contractures achieved increased knee extension with passive range-of-motion exercises once his skin thickening and tethering had begun to decrease. Within weeks of stopping imatinib mesylate, the skin changes recurred in each patient. Recurrent skin thickening and tethering again improved in the patient who resumed taking imatinib mesylate for longer than 2 weeks. Skin biopsies performed both before and after initial dosing of that patient revealed less fibrosis and less staining for type I procollagen after imatinib mesylate treatment, but essentially unchanged tissue gadolinium content. Conclusion Imatinib mesylate treatment decreases fibrosis and results in the relatively rapid and steady improvement of skin changes and knee joint contractures in patients with stage 5 chronic kidney disease and NSF, despite the persistence of gadolinium in the tissues. Because skin changes recurred after discontinuation of imatinib mesylate, the duration for which treatment may be required is undetermined.
A Methodology Of Map-Guided Autonomous Navigation With Range Sensor In Dynamic Environment

This paper describes the work for a map-guided robot (AGV) maneuvering in dynamic factory floor environment. The robot is equipped with a narrow-beam sonar to detect obstacles. In factory applications, the location and orientation of the robot will be determined by external sensors. A path from start to target location will be digitized into a sequence of waypoints and the robot navigates locally by dead-reckoning between two adjacent waypoints. Autonomous navigation, in this setup, is viewed in terms of three components: automatic path plannihg for the given floor layout, the start and target locations of the robot, automatic path replanning after detecting obstacles, and local navigation which should always lead the robot out of a trap (cul-de-sac) if one occurs. For any given floor layout, we model the passage ways between obstacles (processing machines) as a connected graph knowns as the Voronoi graph. From the robot's point of view, the graph is the map to plan paths and navigate. Path planning is based on the retraction method. After detecting an obstacle, path replanning will be invoked. Algorithms for path planning, path replanning, and local navigation are given.
DT diaphorase [NAD(P)H: (quinone acceptor) oxidoreductase] in channel catfish (Ictalurus punctatus): kinetics and distribution

Abstract The flavin-containing enzyme, DT diaphorase [NAD(P)H: (quinone acceptor) oxidoreductase. DTD] has been studied extensively in mammalian species as a quinone detoxifying agent. However. DTD in aquatic species has received relatively little attention. DTD activity (dicoumarul-sensitive dichlorophe-nolindophenol reduction) was characterized in four organs of the channel catfish. Ictalurus punctatus. Optimal conditions of substrate and cofactor concentration for hepatic cytosolic activity were determined. Alkaline pH activity data indicated that DTD activity in the organs tested was maximal in the pH range 7–9 and declined at higher values. Detectable DTD activities were observed in liver mitochondrial, micro-somal and cytosolic fractions. A distinct gradient in cytosolic DTD levels among four organs was observed as follows: stomach > gill > liver > posterior kidney. This gradient was demonstrated in tissues of juvenile as well as adult male and female fish, with no qualitative differences in the gradient among the three groups. Inhibition of DTD by the anticoagulant dicoumarol was observed to be competitive with respect to NADH. Kinetic data revealed no apparent gradient in either Km or Ki values corresponding to the observed organ-specific activity gradient. The implications of the observed interorgan differences in DTD activity and the role of this enzyme in quinone metabolism are discussed.
Impact of the chemical composition of nanofillers on the flammability of polymer nanocomposites

Polymer nanocomposites (PNC) were prepared by a single-screw extrusion approach. Three polymers were investigated. They are polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), polystyrene (PS), and polycarbonate (PC). The nanofillers employed in this research were fumed nanosilica and alumina. The resulting PNCs were subjected to a thermal stability study, UL94 evaluation and Cone calorimetry characterization, to demonstrate the chemical composition effects on the thermal degradation process and flammability of PNCs. The results show that silica as an “inert” filler enhanced the thermal stability of PNCs by radical trapping and chain mobility restriction effects. On the other hand, the “active” nanofiller alumina showed an additional heterogeneous catalyzing effect during the polymer decomposition process. The difference in decomposition mechanism for silica and alumina greatly affected a number of key physical parameters of polymer melts, which in turn changed the flammability of corresponding PNCs. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Origin and development of the method of moments for field computation

A short history is given of the development of mathematical methods related to the method of moments and used for electromagnetic field computations. A brief description of the general theory is given, emphasizing various viewpoints which lead to different names given to the method. Its relationships to the Rayleigh-Ritz variational method and to the perturbation method are shown and discussed. >
A comparison of somatotopic organization in sensory neocortex of newborn kittens and adult cats

To determine the state of functional development in the newborn kitten's somatic sensory system, the organization of mechanoreceptive projections to the sensorimotor cortex was compared to that of the adult Cat. Microelectrode mapping procedures were used. Projections from all contralateral body surfaces to the primary somatomotor cortex (SmI) are present at birth and respond to mechanical stimulation of the receptors. The somatotopic organization of these projections in the newborn kitten is similar to that in the adult cortex with respect to the cortical region receiving projections from each part of the body and to the detailed arrangement of the projections within each of these cortical subdivisions. The relative sizes of peripheral receptive fields, and the intensity of stimulation effective for eliciting a response were similar for projections in SmI cortex of both kittens and adults. At both ages receptive field sizes decreased as their locations approached the distal portion of the limbs or rostral part of the face. In adults and newborns, over 75% of the neuronal responses were elicited by gentle bending of the hairs or light touch to the glabrous skin surfaces. Other similarities between adult and newborn sensorimotor cortexes included: (a) receptive fields of projections to SmI cortex were of fixed, local field type; (b) projections to SmII cortex responded to mechanical stimulation of the receptors; (c) ipsilateral as well as contralateral body surfaces were represented in SmII cortex; (d) the columnar arrangement of neurons and their receptive fields were apparent in the SmI cortex; (e) the coronal sulcus formed a division between the representations of the forepaw and face. Differences between newborn kittens and adult cats included: (a) shorter latency from electrical stimulation of the skin to a SmI cortical response in adults; (b) projections to SmI cortex having “disjunctive” receptive fields were not found in newborn kittens but existed in the adults; (c) the diversity of receptive field types found in neurons of the adult postcruciate MsI cortex was not found in newborn kittens; (d) newborn subjects displayed less variability in the somatotopic organization of projections and less overlap in the receptive fields of projections to SmI cortex. It is suggested that the SmI cortex develops as a point-to-point reflection of the distribution of mechanosensitive receptors in the body and that the complexities in this organization seen in the adult cortex occur during postnatal development.
Gamete Interaction During Fertilization in Campanularia—The Female Epithelial Cell Surface

Prior to fertilization in Campanularia flexuosa a capacitation-like interaction occurs between the spermatozoa and the epithelial cells that lead to and surround the eggs. Trypsin treatment of egg packets (eggs surrounded by epithelial cells) prevents the capacitation-like action and results in loss of fertilizability. Following treatment, the normal fuzzy surface coat of the epithelial cells is reduced from 200 A to 50 A. Even with increased amounts of sperm the fertilization rate of trypsin-treated eggs in the egg packets never reaches normal levels. This indicates loss of available epithelial cell surface interaction sites. Epithelial cell surface material is solubilized by incubation of egg packets in calcium- and magnesium-free sea water. Treatment of trypsinized egg packets with the solubilized material increases the fertilization rate. The possibility that the necessary capacitation-like interaction is mediated by the cell surface is discussed.
DIFFERENTIAL DIAGNOSIS OF CHRONIC DEPRESSIVE DISORDERS

This article has traced the development of the diagnostic nomenclature for the chronic affective disorders during the past four decades. Much has been accomplished. In fact, our current differential diagnostic capabilities have surpassed our knowledge of how to treat the chronic depressions. It is hoped that in the next decade there will be notable increases in the treatment efficacy literature of the chronic mild depressions. Next, we suggest that practitioners assist academic investigators in determining the best way to treat the chronic depressions. To realize this goal, clinicians must begin to view themselves as part-time researchers. Several technological procedures have been described to facilitate this undertaking. We suggest that the assumption of such a research practitioner role will, in the long run, improve the quality of patient care.
Low temperature electron irradiation of α-brass; defect annealing and assignment

Abstract α-CuZn (30%) was irradiated at 20 K with 1 MeV and 1.5 MeV electrons and isochronally annealed. Following 1 MeV irradiation two electrical resistivity annealing steps were observed, one centered at 100 K with energy of 0.25 ± 0.05 eV and one centered at 255 K with an energy of 0.8 to 0.9 eV. The 100 K step does not go below the pre-irradiated value while the 255 K step does and they are assigned as Cu interstitials and vacancies, respectively. Following 1.5 MeV irradiation, the above two steps appear and, in addition two other steps, a small step at 75 K and a broad step from 120–210 K which falls below the pre-irradiated value. These steps are assigned to Zn interstitials. These annealing stages are discussed in relation to those of pure Cu and the evidence indicates that the interpretation of Stage III of pure Cu as an interstitial-type defect cannot satisfy the observations on α-CuZn. Since a different type of explanation is required for α-CuZn such an explanation may be applicable to pure Cu ...
Ultraviolet spectral morphology of the O stars. IV - The OB supergiant sequence

An atlas of 25 O3-B8 supergiant spectra in the wavelength ranges 1320-1580 A and 1620-1880 A is presented, based on high-resolution data from the IUE archives. The remarkably detailed relationship between the stellar-wind profiles and the optical spectral classifications throughout this sequence is emphasized. For instance, the (Si IV)/(C IV) ratio reverses between O4 and O6.5; and the B0, B0.5, and B0.7 Ia wind characteristics are each qualitatively unique and distinct from one another. The systematic behavior of nine stellar-wind features with ionization potentials ranging from 114 to 19 eV is summarized as a function of advancing spectral type.
Discovering additive structure in black box functions

Many automated learning procedures lack interpretability, operating effectively as a black box: providing a prediction tool but no explanation of the underlying dynamics that drive it. A common approach to interpretation is to plot the dependence of a learned function on one or two predictors. We present a method that seeks not to display the behavior of a function, but to evaluate the importance of non-additive interactions within any set of variables. Should the function be close to a sum of low dimensional components, these components can be viewed and even modeled parametrically. Alternatively, the work here provides an indication of where intrinsically high-dimensional behavior takes place.The calculations used in this paper correspond closely with the functional ANOVA decomposition; a well-developed construction in Statistics. In particular, the proposed score of interaction importance measures the loss associated with the projection of the prediction function onto a space of additive models. The algorithm runs in linear time and we present displays of the output as a graphical model of the function for interpretation purposes.
A simple evaluation of DPSK error probability performance in the presence of bit timing error

This paper presents a simple closed form expression for the conditional (on the timing error) bit error probability of an otherwise ideal DPSK receiver. Numerical results are given for average bit error probability obtained by averaging the conditional error probability over a Tikhonov PDF which is a typical characterization of the timing error in practical bit synchronizers. >
Fine-Needle Aspiration Diagnosis of Angiosarcoma of the Spleen A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Primary angiosarcoma of the spleen is a very rare neoplasm with a poor prognosis. The definitive diagnosis is usually based on the histologic evaluation of the splenectomy specimen. We describe a case of angiosarcoma diagnosed by fine-needle aspiration cytology prior to splenectomy. A 69-year-old white woman presented with heterogeneous lesions in the spleen during a follow-up computed tomographic scan for a history of liposarcoma of the right buttock. A malignant endothelial neoplasm was diagnosed by fine-needle aspiration cytology using immunocytochemistry, and a splenectomy confirmed the presence of angiosarcoma. To our knowledge, this is the first well-documented and confirmed case of primary angiosarcoma of the spleen diagnosed by fine-needle aspiration cytology. This report emphasizes the value of fine-needle aspiration cytology as an important diagnostic tool in splenic neoplasms.
Modelling and evaluation of the 3G mobile networks with hot-spot WLANs

An analytical modelling and evaluation approach is developed for the integrated 3G/WLAN networks. The cell residence times of different types of users are modelled as a general distribution to adapt various mobility environments. The explicit expressions of channel occupancy times are determined by the Laplace transform approach. The horizontal and vertical handoff rates as well as some interesting performance measures are also derived and calculated by introducing an iterative algorithm. Both our analysis and our numerical results show that the performance of the 3G network is significantly increased when the integrated 3G/WLAN network is employed, especially when the WLANs are in the hot-spot areas. The method developed here is expected to be useful for the modelling and performance evaluation of other kind of networks, such as the 3G networks with the infrastructureless-mode WLANs or ad hoc networks.
The Removal of Ear Trophies Associated with Scalpings in Prehistoric North Alabama

The act of scalping has long been associated with Native American conflict-related human body part trophy taking. Reasons for their removal were varied and often included communal and personal factors. Previous research has identified several different types of scalp removals based on the amount of soft tissue affected during the process of scalping. One of these types can involve the removal of the ears. Through reanalysis of known scalping victims within the middle Tennessee Valley of North Alabama, we have identified five cases where victims were both scalped and had their ears removed. These cases provide a unique understanding of the practice of human body part trophy taking. They support ethnographic accounts that indicate ear removal has great time depth and was geographically widespread. Although the five cases presented here are similar to total compound scalpings, they actually represent total simple scalpings. Unlike total compound scalpings, where the ears are removed attached to the skin of the scalp, these cases show evidence of secondary removal of the ears after the scalp was already detached. This secondary removal of the ears after the act of scalping supports the interpretation that the aggressors intended different purposes for each trophy. It is likely that the scalp and ears each had their own meaning. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Effect of changing enamel conditioner concentration on the shear bond strength of a resin-modified glass ionomer adhesive.

Abstract The purpose of this study was to determine the effects on shear bond strength of changing the concentration of the enamel conditioner used with resin-reinforced glass ionomer. Shear bond strength was measured within 30 minutes after bonding. Forty-six freshly extracted human molars were collected and stored in a solution of 0.1% (weight/volume) thymol. The teeth were cleaned and polished, then randomly separated into 2 groups. In group I, enamel was conditioned with a 10% polyacrylic acid solution before bonding. In group II, the enamel was conditioned with a 20% polyacrylic acid solution. The results of t test comparisons of the 2 experimental groups ( t = 4.9) indicate significant differences ( P =.001). Shear bond strength was significantly greater in the group conditioned with the 20% polyacrylic acid concentration (x = 3.3 ± 2.6 MPa) than in the group conditioned with the 10% concentration (x = 0.4 ± 1.0 MPa). The present findings indicated that the lower initial shear bond strength of resin-reinforced glass ionomer adhesive can be improved more than 8-fold when the concentration of the polyacrylic acid enamel conditioner is increased from 10% to 20%. The clinician needs to take these properties into consideration when ligating the initial archwires. (Am J Orthod Dentofacial Orthop 2000;118:311–6)
Neurorobotics as a means for assessing brain function after spinal injury

Neurorobotics is suggested as a way to evaluate functional changes in brain neural circuits after spinal cord injury and repair. We suggest that the critical question when evaluating the effects of spinal lesion on brain circuits is not the extent to which these circuits can respond to passive stimulation but the ability of these circuits to code for motor plans. Arrays of microelectrodes (32 total) were chronically implanted into the sensorimotor region of the brain and used to monitor neuronal activity before and after a subtotal spinal hemisection. The response of neurons to stimulation of their receptive field was quantified and microstimulation was used to assess the motor output of the circuits. Neurons were recorded while the animal walked on a treadmill and a population function was generated to predict foot contact on the treadmill. The ability to predict foot contact was used as a measure of the ability of the neural circuits to code for motor output (i.e. foot contact prediction). Preliminary results suggest that while there was a significant decrease in the response of these neurons to stimulation of their receptive fields after spinal lesion and microstimulation was no longer able to generate coordinated muscle contraction, the population function was still able to predict foot contact on the treadmill more than 90% of the time, similar to prehemisection prediction rates.
Seasonal Change in Nearshore and Channel Morphology at Packery Channel, A New Inlet Serving Corpus Christi, Texas

Abstract Packery Channel is an artificial inlet that occupies a historic ephemeral pathway between Corpus Christi Bay and the Gulf of Mexico. In 2005, the inlet was opened by Hurricane Emily during its construction and has remained open and navigable for more than 4 years. The shallow-draft channel has not required maintenance dredging despite episodic shoaling during storms, including Hurricane Ike. Stability of the inlet and adjacent beach is attributed to location in the southeast corner of Corpus Christi Bay, receiving augmented ebb flow by wind setup accompanying winter fronts. The ebb current, with speed sometimes exceeding 1.0 m/s, scours sediment deposited during the summer months, thereby maintaining channel depth adequate for water exchange and navigation. After the channel opened, a deposition basin initially served as the main sediment repository for sediment scoured from the bay side. Entrance channel shoaling began to increase in 2008, initiated by 15,000 m3of beach sand that entered the cha...
Selectively reshaping a muscle phenotype: functional overload of cat plantaris.

Introduction: Functional overload (FO) of the fast plantaris muscle was studied in treadmill-exercised (FO-Ex) or sedentary (FO-Sed) adult cats. Methods: Mechanical, phenotype, and kinematics analyses were performed. Results: Plantigrade vs. normal digitigrade posture was observed early post-FO. Relative plantaris mass was greater in FO-Sed (10%) and FO-Ex (60%) cats than in controls 12 weeks post-FO. Specific tension was similar across groups, indicating functional hypertrophy. Fiber size was greater, percent slow fibers higher, percent IIa myosin heavy chain (MHC) higher, and IIx MHC lower in FO-Ex than controls. Twitch and half-relaxation times were longer, and the frequency–tension curve shifted toward that observed in slow muscles. Electromyography (EMG) and tendon force amplitudes during stepping were larger, and the yield (lengthening) phase occurred at a longer muscle length before compared with after FO. Discussion: Reshaping the plantaris phenotype was highly dependent on the overload stimulus, indicating that electrical stimulation paradigms used during rehabilitation should be performed with the muscles under “loaded” conditions. Muscle Nerve, 2011
Quaternary diffusion coefficients in a protein-polymer-salt-water system determined by rayleigh interferometry.

We have experimentally investigated multicomponent diffusion in a protein-polymer-salt-water quaternary system. Specifically, we have measured the nine multicomponent diffusion coefficients, Dij, for the lysozyme-poly(ethylene glycol)-NaCl-water system at pH 4.5 and 25 °C using precision Rayleigh interferometry. Lysozyme is a model protein for protein-crystallization and enzymology studies. We find that the protein diffusion coefficient, D11, decreases as polymer concentration increases at a given salt concentration. This behavior can be quantitatively related to the corresponding increase in fluid viscosity only at low polymer concentration. However, at high polymer concentration (250 g/L), protein diffusion is enhanced compared to the corresponding viscosity prediction. We also find that a protein concentration gradient induces salt diffusion from high to low protein concentration. This effect increases in the presence of poly(ethylene glycol). Finally, we have evaluated systematic errors associated with measurements of protein diffusion coefficients by dynamic light scattering. This work overall helps characterize protein diffusion in crowded environments and may provide guidance for further theoretical developments in the field of protein crystallization and protein diffusion in such crowded systems, such as the cytoplasm of living cells.
DSM-III AND THE REVOLUTION IN THE CLASSIFICATION OF MENTAL ILLNESS

A revolution occurred within the psychiatric profession in the early 1980s that rapidly transformed the theory and practice of mental health in the United States. In a very short period of time, mental illnesses were transformed from broad, etiologically defined entities that were continuous with normality to symptom-based, categorical diseases. The third edition of the American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM-III) was responsible for this change. The paradigm shift in mental health diagnosis in the DSM-III was neither a product of growing scientific knowledge nor of increasing medicalization. Instead, its symptom-based diagnoses reflect a growing standardization of psychiatric diagnoses. This standardization was the product of many factors, including: (1) professional politics within the mental health community, (2) increased government involvement in mental health research and policymaking, (3) mounting pressure on psychiatrists from health insurers to demonstrate the effectiveness of their practices, and (4) the necessity of pharmaceutical companies to market their products to treat specific diseases. This article endeavors to explain the origins of DSM-III, the political struggles that generated it, and its long-term consequences for clinical diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders in the United States.
Reputation and the Market for Distressed Firm Debt

Our analysis explains how vulture investors (vultures) can maintain and exploit their rep- utations for toughness. Vultures leverage their reputations to extract concessions from stockholders in debt restructurings. To profit from these concessions, vultures must first acquire debt from incumbent bondholders. Buying only the tranches most likely to render them marginal creditors maximizes vulture leverage in debt-purchase negotiations. Vulture profits are proportional to the degree of uncertainty regarding the identity of the marginal debt class
Working-Class Women, Middle-Class Women, and Models of Childbirth

This paper suggests that middle-class feminists who have urged a new vision of childbirth are out of touch with the needs of working-class women. This conclusion is derived from a review of the childbirth literature and an analysis of data collected from 322 women who gave birth in a northern New England teaching hospital. The literature on childbirth—whether written from a feminist or non-feminist perspective—ignores the variable of social class. The data demonstrate, however, that working-class and middle-class women have different attitudes towards childbirth during pregnancy, different experiences during childbirth, and different post-partum evaluations of their childbirth experiences. A single set of prescriptions for childbirth may not, therefore, be appropriate for all women.
The role of price knowledge in consumer product knowledge structures

In this study price knowledge is viewed as a necessary component of a product knowledge structure, in which it is inferred from domain-specific relations among product features. Consumers' knowledge of tuition rates of colleges and universities was investigated in two tuition-estimation experiments. In Experiment 1, providing participants with seed knowledge of a small subset of listed schools improved the mapping properties of the estimates and reduced reliance on using the availability heuristic. In Experiment 2, similar effects were observed when instructions contained information about tuition magnitudes of school groupings, information about how to categorize schools into these groups, and, especially, both types of information combined. Results were interpreted within a frame structural view of consumer knowledge, in which price knowledge occupies an obligatory slot in a richly structured frame as opposed to being derived from memory of isolated exposures to specific prices. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.