cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Felodipine population dose-response and concentration-response relationships in patients with essential hypertension

Objectives To characterize the population dose-response and concentration-response relationships of felodipine and to investigate the influence of patient variables on these relationships. Methods We studied 239 evaluable patients with mild to moderate essential hypertension in a multicenter, randomized, double-blind dose-escalation trial, followed by an optional open-label maintenance phase for the remainder of 1 year. Extended-release felodipine (2.5 to 20 mg) monotherapy was given once daily. Felodipine plasma concentration and sitting diastolic blood pressure were measured at approximately 2 and 24 hours after drug administration. Analysis, performed with use of the population approach (NONMEM program), accounted for baseline and placebo effects. Results A saturation (Emax) model best described both felodipine dose response (only 24-hour postdose data) and concentration response. The maximum effect (Emax) characterizing dose response was found to increase linearly with age and was estimated to be 20.6 mm Hg in the typical individual (60 years of age). The dose at which 50% of the maximum effect is achieved (D50) was estimated to be 11.1 mg. The Emax characterizing concentration response also increased linearly with age and was estimated to be 27.8 mm Hg for the typical individual. The concentration at which 50% of the maximum effect is achieved (C50) was related to plasma renin activity (PRA) by the following: (21.6 · PRA)/(0.25 + PRA) nmol/L; its value in the typical individual was estimated to be about 16.9 nmol/L. Felodipine (oral) clearance decreased with increasing age, up to 60 years, and was larger in black patients. Conclusions The effects of age on felodipine pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics lead to a heightened antihypertensive response in the elderly. A starting dose of 2.5 mg daily is recommended, especially in elderly patients. Clinical Pharmacology & Therapeutics (1995) 57, 569–581; doi:
Imbibition of Anionic Surfactant Solution into Oil-Wet Capillary Tubes

The displacement of oil by anionic surfactant solutions in oil-wet horizontal capillary tubes is studied. The position of the oil–water interface is recorded with time. The surfactant solution used is a mixture of several different surfactants and co-solvents tailored to produce ultra-low interfacial tension (IFT) for the specific oil used in the study. The surfactant solution results in ultra-low IFT at optimum salinity and room temperature. Several experimental parameters including the capillary tube radius and surfactant solution viscosity are varied to study their effect on the interface speed. Two different models are used to predict the oil–water interface position with time. In the first model, it is assumed that the IFT is constant and ultra-low throughout the experiments. The second model involves change of wettability and IFT by adsorption of surfactant molecules to the oil–water interface and the solid surface. Comparing the predictions to the experimental results, it is observed that the second model provides a better match, especially for smaller capillary tubes. The model is then used to predict the imbibition rate for very small capillary tubes, which have equivalent permeability close to oil reservoirs. The results show that the oil displacement rate is limited by the rate of diffusion of surfactants to the interface.
A 3D Finite Element Study on Material Flow Under the Cutting Edge in Hard Milling

A 3D finite element model of hard milling has been created to have a deeper insight into some key issues. The model illustrates the effects of milling insert geometry on ploughed depth, material flow, transition from ploughing to cutting, and stresses and temperatures in the subsurface. Different ploughing depths from 0.6 μm – 3.0 μm are used to study the effects. The Johnson-Cook constitutive equation is used to model the plastic behavior of workpiece material AISI H13 steel (50±1 HRC). Surface and subsurface transient stresses and temperatures during ploughing show similar characteristics except the magnitudes. Ploughing depth of 1.8 μm corresponding to stagnation angle 35° is observed to be the threshold minimum uncut chip thickness at which transition from ploughing to cutting takes place. The material flow pattern with pile-up characteristics in front of the tool rake face is presented.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
Whole cell transformation of the alfalfa fungal pathogen Colletotrichum trifolii

A transformation system for Colletotrichum trifolii, a fungal pathogen of alfalfa, has been developed using whole cells as recipients. Hygromycin B and benomyl resistant colonies were isolated following treatment of fungal tissue with lithium acetate and separate plasmids containing the respective genes which confer resistance to these antibiotics. The DNA was stably integrated into the fungal chromosome. This approach to transformation has general utility for phytopathogenic fungi and represents an initial step in the molecular analysis of virulence determinants in this race specific fungus.
Refractory headaches treated with bilateral occipital and temporal region stimulation.

Objectives To describe use of bilateral temporal and occipital stimulator leads for a refractory headache disorder. Materials and methods A 31-year-old female had a 10-year history of chronic, severe occipital and temporal region headaches. The patient underwent permanent implant of an occipital stimulator system that resulted in sustained, compete resolution of her occipital pain. However, she continued to suffer disabling (10/10) temporal region headaches and was bedbound most days of the week. Therefore, bilateral temporal stimulator leads were implanted and tunneled to her internal pulse generator. Results At 12-month follow-up, the patient enjoyed sustained improvement in her pain scores (8/10) and marked increase in her level of functioning. Taking into account increased activity level, she rated her overall improvement at 50%. Unfortunately, infection and erosion of her right temporal lead necessitated temporal stimulator removal. Conclusion Headache disorders may require stimulation of all painful cephalic regions. However, our success in this case must be considered in light of the technical challenges and expense of placing stimulator leads subcutaneously around the head and neck, including the risk of infection, lead breakage, erosion, and migration.
KINETICS OF CALCIUM OXIDE CHLORINATION AND PORE CLOSURE MODELS

The chlorination of cylindrical lime pellets was studied using thermogravimetric analysis by varying the chlorine concentration, pellet size and temperature. It was determined that the reaction is first order with respect to Cl2. The intrinsic activation energy, E1, is estimated to be 8.09 kcal/gmol in the temperature range of 333°C to 472°C. A two-dimensional expanding grain model that accounts for bulk flow was developed and successfully applied to the lime chlorination system. The effect of varying the chlorine concentration, pellet size, and temperature can be explained in terms of the model. In addition, the modeling results seem to imply that even for a system with solid product expansion, the surface porosity remains finite after the maximum conversion is obtained. Operated for the US. Department of Energy by Iowa State University under Contract No. W-7405-Eng-82. This research was supported by the Assistant Secretary for Chemical Sciences. Office of Basic Energy Sciences. WPAS-KC-03-02.
Unique echocardiographic features associated with deployment of the Amplatzer atrial septal defect device.

The purpose of this study was to describe the unique echocardiographic findings associated with deployment of the Amplatzer atrial septal defect (ASD) device. Thirty-five patients (2 to 40 years old; 23 female and 12 male patients) underwent echocardiography during attempted ASD closure with the Amplatzer device. Transesophageal and transthoracic echocardiograms were performed during the placement and follow-up of the device, respectively. In 5 patients, the device was not deployed because of transesophageal echocardiography (TEE) findings (an exceedingly large defect in 3 patients, partial obstruction of the upper right pulmonary vein by the device in 1, and complex atrial septal anatomy in 1). In the remaining 30 patients, after deployment but before release, the device distorted the atrial septum from the normal vertical orientation to an oblique transverse orientation. Excessive septal distortion (i.e., > or =90 degrees in 1 patient) was associated with device embolization upon release. In other patients, TEE also identified mild splaying of the device on the aortic wall, mild abutment of the device upon the mitral valve, and temporary partial obstruction of pulmonary vein flow. Color Doppler revealed residual shunts in 21 of 29 patients immediately after release, but in none of 15 patients at 1-year follow-up. Transesophageal echocardiography is essential to ensure proper Amplatzer device placement. Distortion of the atrial septum and Amplatzer device orientation occur before release but resolve on release from the delivery cable. Small residual shunts are common early, but they resolve in 6 to 12 months.
An AM1 study of the two-photon absorption in bis(styryl)benzene derivatives

Abstract We present an AM1 semi-empirical study of the two-photon absorption (TPA) properties of a number of bis (styryl)benzene derivatives. In a recent report these systems were shown to be good two-photon absorbers. An analysis based on the INDO scheme was also included to calculate the TPA properties. The present study, based on configuration interaction consisting of single and double excitations, is compared with the above INDO model with respect to the prediction of energetics and TPA properties. The results indicate qualitative agreement, but serious questions regarding the applicability of both methods remain.
Stress intensity factors for side-by-side edge cracks under bending

Abstract This note concerns the Mode I and II stress intensity factors occurring at twin cracks on the tension side of a strip in bending. Both cracks penetrate the strip normal to its edge and to a depth that is halfway through its width. By applying an appropriately-tested finite element procedure, the effects on the stress intensity factors of interaction between the cracks can be tracked as a function of crack separation.
Real‐time rigid body motion correction and shimming using cloverleaf navigators

Subject motion during scanning can greatly reduce MRI image quality and is a major reason for discarding data in both clinical and research scanning. The quality of the high-resolution structural data used for morphometric analysis is especially compromised by subject movement because high-resolution scans are of longer duration. A method is presented that measures and corrects rigid body motion and associated first-order shim changes in real time, using a pulse sequence with embedded cloverleaf navigators and a feedback control mechanism. The procedure requires a 12-s preliminary mapping scan. A single-path, 4.2-ms cloverleaf navigator is inserted every repetition time (TR) after the readout of a 3D fast low-angle shot (FLASH) sequence, requiring no additional RF pulses and minimally impacting scan duration. Every TR, a rigid body motion estimate is made and a correction is fed back to adjust the gradients and shim offsets. Images are corrected and reconstructed on the scanner computer for immediate access. Correction for between-scan motion can be accomplished by using the same reference map for each scan repetition. Human and phantom tests demonstrated a consistent improvement in image quality if motion occurred during the acquisition.
DEGRADATION EFFECTS AND ENTRANCE LENGTH STUDIES FOR A DRAG REDUCING FLUID IN A SQUARE DUCT

Abstract Experimental measurements were made of fully developed friction factors for laminar and turbulent flows of dilute aqueous solutions of Polyox (WSR-301) in a square duct. In the first phase of the study, the following factors were investigated to determine their effect on polymer degradation; valve placement in the flow loop, type of duct entrance section, addition of polymer “stabilizers” to the solution, waiting lime between polymer mixing and experimental measurements, polymer age and rust in the system. All of these factors were found to affect drag reduction. In the second phase, hydrodynamic entrance lengths were determined by measuring local pressure drops for water and polymer solutions over a Reynolds number range of 600 ≤ Re ≤ 27,000. For polymer solutions, the entrance lengths increased significantly over the water values in the turbulent regime.
Improved technique for pipetting solutions during tissue processing for electron microscopy.

SUMMARY Disposable pipette tips are ideally suited for pipetting solutions during tissue processing for electron microscopy.
Psychiatric progress and the universities.

The main progress psychiatry has made in the last quarter century has been in the care of patients with psychoses. Paradoxically, university departments of psychiatry have failed to contribute to these advances and have failed to absorb the lessons learned and to pass them on to the psychiatrists they are training.
Draft Genome Sequence of Pseudomonas sp. Strain Ag1, Isolated from the Midgut of the Malaria Mosquito Anopheles gambiae

ABSTRACT A Pseudomonas sp. bacterium was isolated from the midguts of Anopheles gambiae mosquitoes. Here we present the annotated Pseudomonas sp. draft genome sequence as a contribution to the efforts of characterization of the mosquito gut microbiome.
FPGA implementation of neighborhood-of-four cellular automata random number generators

Random number generators (RNGs) based upon neighborhood-of-four cellular automata (CA) with asymmetrical, non-local connections are explored. A number of RNGs that pass Marsaglia's rigorous Diehard suite of random number tests have been discovered. A neighborhood size of four allows a single CA cell to be implemented with a four-input lookup table and a one-bit register which are common building blocks in popular field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs). The investigated networks all had periodic (wrap around) boundary conditions with either 1-d, 2-d, or 3-d interconnection topologies. Trial designs of 64-bit networks using a Xilinx XCV1000-6 FPGA predict a maximum clock rate of 214 MHz to 230 MHz depending upon interconnection topology.
Measurement of Recombination Lifetimes in Superconductors

It is shown that the experimentally measured quasiparticle recombination lifetime in a superconductor is not the same as the previously calculated theoretical lifetime. A simple expression relating the two is derived.
A Systematic Analysis of the Break Subsystems of a Wheat Flour Pilot Mill

Aunit operations approach was used to study the break subsystem of the wheat e our milling process. The purpose of this study was to determine the parameters of the incoming stock to a break subsystem in estimation of the particle size distribution of the stock leaving the subsystem. The incoming stock characteristics studied included the wheat commercial characteristics and the particle size distribution. The data used in this study were obtained from nine batches of commercial hard red winter wheat milled in the Kansas State University pilot e our mill. A logistic model with three constants was used to describe the cumulative granulation curve for each of the e ve break subsystems. When the logistic model was parameterized, it was found that the three constants of the logistic model were a function of the wheat characteristics for the e rst and e fth breaks. For the second, third and fourth breaks, in addition to the wheat characteristics, the independent variables of the logistic model parameters were the mean diameter ( Dgw) of the incoming stock and =or its mean diameter standard deviation (Sgw). To validate the models, a brand new set of data was tested using the e ve empirical models developed for the break subsystems. The experimental and modelled cumulative granulation curves showed that the best result estimation was obtained for the e rst break, and a poor prediction was obtained for the other breaks. The models developed from this investigation are useful in education and training. The parametric models developed indicated the commercial parameters of major ine uence in a pilot e our mill and are expected to have similar impact in a large-scale operation. The modelling and simulation results could provide a tool for millers to analyse, optimize and improve the mill’ s operation efe ciency.
Designing interactive videodisc-based museum exhibits: A case study

Technologists working in informal educational settings must adapt instructional design models to special needs. This article describes the analysis, design, development, implementation and evaluation of an interactive videodisc exhibit at a natural history museum. Advantages of using an existing videodisc are discussed and design requirements for museum environments and interactive videodisc-based exhibits are examined. Data are presented suggesting that systematically designed videodisc exhibits can attract and hold visitors' attention for longer periods of time than conventional exhibits.
Coming to Grips with the Limitations of Science: Infertility and Heredity in American History

The conceptual link between these two books is their social constructionist view of science. "Scientific facts do not speak for themselves," Diane Paul concludes near the end of her brief overview of the history of eugenics, in what might serve as a succinct summary of her own work. "They must always be interpreted in light of social assumptions and goals" (p. 114). Her synopsis of current scholarship on the subject is tendered as a contribution in an edited series on scientific subjects whose purpose is to offer synthetic studies directed at lay audiences, written in nontechnical language, and intended to emphasize the social and political milieu in which each particular scientific field or topic developed. Paul, a political scientist, presents us with a clear, economical, and competent narrative of the emergence of eugenical thinking in tandem with the science of genetics, covering, not only their fascinating and often uneasy relationship with each other, but the social and political influence of the two in the United States. The authors of The Empty Cradle, a book on the history of infertility, which joins Elaine May's "Barren in The Promised Land" (1995) as only the second published historical work on a virtually unexplored topic, are sisters, one an established historian and the other an accomplished gynecologist. This unusual combination has resulted in a book that manages to treat sensitively both culture and medicine. We learn that the use of medical technology to cope with involuntary childlessness has been occurring for almost 150 years. What has altered over time is technique, knowledge, and social context. Ronner and Walsh emphasize that changing attitudes toward the family, marriage, sexuality, sex roles
Engineering neonatal Fc receptor-mediated recycling and transcytosis in recombinant proteins by short terminal peptide extensions

The importance of therapeutic recombinant proteins in medicine has led to a variety of tactics to increase their circulation time or to enable routes of administration other than injection. One clinically successful tactic to improve both protein circulation and delivery is to fuse the Fc domain of IgG to therapeutic proteins so that the resulting fusion proteins interact with the human neonatal Fc receptor (FcRn). As an alternative to grafting the high molecular weight Fc domain to therapeutic proteins, we have modified their N and/or C termini with a short peptide sequence that interacts with FcRn. Our strategy was motivated by results [Mezo AR, et al. (2008) Proc Natl Acad Sci USA 105:2337-2342] that identified peptides that compete with human IgG for FcRn. The small size and simple structure of the FcRn-binding peptide (FcBP) allows for expression of FcBP fusion proteins in Escherichia coli and results in their pH-dependent binding to FcRn with an affinity comparable to that of IgG. The FcBP fusion proteins are internalized, recycled, and transcytosed across cell monolayers that express FcRn. This strategy has the potential to improve protein transport across epithelial barriers, which could lead to noninvasive administration and also enable longer half-lives of therapeutic proteins.
Teaching Library of Congress Subject Headings

KEYWORDS An understanding of the workings of Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH) is one of the most valuable conceptual tools a researcher can have. The subject heading system is by no means obvious or self-evident, however; it must be taught, explained, and exemplified by librarians. Several points must be covered explicitly. The cross-reference notation of UF, BT, RT, SA, and NT has to be explained; the importance of choosing the most specific heading available, rather than a general term, must also be emphasized. There are four ways to find the most specific LCSH terms for a particular topic; two of them come from using the red books, two from using the online catalog itself. All four ways are important; none is obvious. Each must be taught.
Ultrawideband radar evaluation environment for automatic target detection/recognition algorithms

Ultra-wideband (UWB) synthetic aperture radar (SAR) is a promising new technology that has the potential for detecting and recognizing targets obscured by foliage or buried beneath the ground. The Army Research Laboratory (ARL) is conducting a significant research effort in Automatic Target Detection/Recognition (ATD/R) algorithms for UWB SAR. The goal of the current ATD/R algorithm research effort is to develop a baseline algorithm approach to accompany newly developed UWB SAR hardware into near-term technology demonstration programs. To accomplish this goal, ARL has assembled a team of researchers from within ARL and from several universities, having expertise in radar, electromagnetics, signal processing and target recognition. Many new and promising ideas currently are being exploited. An evaluation environment was needed to support the integration of those ideas into a coherent algorithm approach. The University of Florida, as part of this project with ARL, has developed a software environment for the development, integration and evaluation of UWB SAR ATD/R algorithms. This paper describes the software environment that serves as the vehicle for integrating the efforts of the various algorithm researchers by providing a set of standards and tools that will enable the various algorithms to be hosted on the same computer system, access a common database, and be evaluated in various combinations against a statistically significant quantity of field-collected data.© (1999) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
A retrospective study of heterogeneity in neurocognitive profiles associated with traumatic brain injury.

Primary objective: To establish empirical sub-types, based upon cognitive test results of individuals who had sustained traumatic brain injury.Research design: The study was retrospective, applying cluster analyses and associated statistical tests to an established database.Methods and procedures: Neuropsychological data from veterans with brain trauma were cluster analysed using the WAIS-R and Halstead-Reitan Battery (HRB). External validity of the cluster solutions was evaluated.Experimental interventions: The study was based upon use of an established database that contained cognitive test data and information regarding diagnosis and clinical history.Main outcomes and results: The WAIS-R clusters described sub-groups with near normal function, preserved verbal but impaired problem-solving abilities or global impairment. The HRB clusters differed in level of performance with Near Normal, Moderately Impaired and Globally Impaired clusters. Cluster membership was associated with age and employment status,...
Heat-transfer analysis of rocket nozzles using very high temperature propellants

The Monte Carlo method is used as a basis for determining two-dimensional propellant temperature distributions and wall heat-transfer rates as functions of axial position in a nozzle of arbitrary shape. The propellant is considered to be at such elevated temperatures that radiation is the dominant mode of heat transfer, although the effect of convection is also considered. The propellant is assumed to be an absorbing-emitting gas with a constant absorption coefficient, and the effects of flow, variable heat-transfer coefficient, propellant heat capacity, and nozzle wall temperature are included.
The expression of p16INK4a, the product of a tumor suppressor gene for melanoma, is upregulated in human melanocytes by UVB irradiation

Abstract Background: The genetic locus CDKN2A has been linked to familial melanoma, and mutations or deletions in its coding sequence are seen in some cases of sporadic and familial melanomas. The protein encoded by CDKN2A, p16 INK4a , functions as a negative regulator of cell cycle progression and as a tumor suppressor, but the regulatory mechanisms involved in controlling its expression remain poorly defined. Objective: This study tested the hypothesis that UVB irradiation, which transiently inhibits the growth of human melanocytes, is one of the regulators of p16 INK4a expression. Methods: Cultured human melanocytes were irradiated with UVB over a sublethal dosage range, and p16 INK4a protein and mRNA levels were quantified at varying times thereafter by quantitative immunostaining and by Western and Northern blotting. Results: Levels of p16 INK4a protein in melanocytes increased significantly after sublethal UVB irradiation as compared with nonirradiated cells. Northern analysis indicated that p16 INK4a messenger RNA coordinately increased in a dose-dependent manner more than 2-fold in irradiated cells at the tested doses. Conclusion: UVB irradiation transcriptionally activates the expression of p16 INK4a in cultured human melanocytes. Therefore the growth arrest that occurs with irradiation of melanocytes could be mediated, in part, by upregulation of p16 INK4a . This transient arrest may allow repair of UVB-induced DNA damage before cell division. Conversely, hereditary or acquired defects in CDK4A that give rise to functional insufficiency of p16 INK4a could permit the premature propagation of melanocytes harboring potentially carcinogenic DNA damage. (J Am Acad Dermatol 2000;42:741-5.)
Do Parenting Styles Moderate the Association Between Family Conformity Orientation and Young Adults' Mental Well-Being?

This study investigated parenting styles (i.e., authoritative, authoritarian, and permissive) as moderators of the association between family conformity orientation and young adults' self-esteem and depression. Participants included 213 young adult children. Preliminary analyses revealed an inverse association between family conformity and young adults' self-esteem, a positive relationship between mothers' and fathers' authoritativeness and self-esteem, and a positive relationship between perceptions of mothers' permissiveness and young adults' depression. Hierarchical regression analyses provided no evidence to suggest that parenting styles moderate the association between family conformity orientation and young adults' self-esteem and depression. However, the results revealed small, but meaningful positive effects for both mothers' and fathers' authoritativeness on young adults' self-esteem, as well as a positive main effect for family conformity on depression. Two additional analyses of covariance reve...
Blood Meal Identification from Florida Mosquitoes (Diptera: Culicidae)

ABSTRACT Mosquitoes from different species endemic to North Florida were collected over a 12-month period, and blood meal analyses were conducted on engorged females to determine the range of vertebrate hosts each species fed on. Thirty-one mosquito blood meals from 6 mosquito species were identified, and blood meal hosts identified included horse, cow, armadillo, deer, raccoon, rabbit, and owl. Several mosquitoes captured in the study should be considered potential bridge vectors for encephalitis viruses considering their ubiquity, their preference for mammalian blood meals, and their competence as viral vectors. Translation provided by the authors.
The interpretive project: a creative educational approach to fostering medical students’ reflections and advancing humanistic medicine

There are emerging links between reflection and humanistic, patient‐centered practice. We created the Family Centered Experience (FCE) to help students understand the experience of illness from the patient’s perspective. The FCE centers on students’ reflections of their conversations with their volunteer patients and families – these conversations and reflections are at the core of small group activities. The FCE Interpretive Project provides students with a chance to reflect on their volunteer’s illness experience. Students reflect on how the volunteer’s experience has influenced the way they understand the unique experience of illness and its impact on individuals, families and friends. Projects have included poems, songs, collages, paintings, quilts, sculptures, books, slide presentations, and games. By carrying forward into clerkships what they have learned from their patients and in their discussions, students are better equipped to handle the challenges of the hidden curriculum and to preserve the v...
Concomitant dual intravascular and subcutaneous microsurgical implantation of xenograft tissue in a rodent model for evaluation of structural degeneration.

Abstract Introduction An economical animal model to study xenograft tissue degeneration and calcification and the durability of biological vascular patch material and bioprosthetic valve leaflets is desirable. Objective A cost-effective model to analyze xenograft degeneration, calcification, immunologic reaction, and anticalcification treatment was developed. Furthermore, a technique for implant into the vascular lumen of the abdominal aorta in rats is presented. Methods Twelve Lewis rats were used as recipients. The microsurgical procedure was performed using a high-definition optical system. Anesthesia was induced and maintained with isoflurane inhalation. The suprarenal and infrarenal portion of the abdominal aorta was isolated, the abdominal aorta was cross-clamped, and a 4-mm square portion of the abdominal aorta was removed. Subsequently, a complementary-sized piece of porcine or bovine glutaraldehyde-fixed bioprosthetic valve leaflet tissue was sutured as a patch in the abdominal aorta. Results The mean operating time was 45 ± 10 minutes and the mean ischemic time was 25 ± 5 minutes. Early and 3-month survivals were 100%. One rat had intraoperative bleeding. No paralysis or thrombosis was observed. Conclusion Feasibility and reproducibility of removing a portion of the abdominal aorta and replacing it with a patch of xenograft tissue was demonstrated in a rodent model with 100% survival at 3 months. Concomitant dual intravascular and subcutaneous microsurgical implantation of xenograft tissue in a small-animal (rat) model is a cost-effective approach for investigation of xenograft tissue degeneration.
Vertical distribution of scattering hazes in Titan's upper atmosphere

Radial intensity scans of a Voyager 2 high phase angle image of Titan have been inverted to yield vertical extinction profiles at 1 deg intervals around the limb. A detached haze layer with peak particle number densities of about 0.2 cu/cm exists at all latitudes south of about 45 N, and at an altitude of 300-350 km. The optical depth 0.01 level lies at a radius of 2932 + or - 5 km at the equator and at a radius of 2915 + or - 10 km over the poles (altitudes of 357 + or - 5 and 340 + or - 10 km, respectively). In addition to the haze layer at 300-350 km, there is a small enhancement in the extinction at about 450 km which exists at all latitudes between 75 deg S and about 60 deg N.
Interrelationships of the pineal gland, the superior cervical ganglia and the photoperiod in the regulation of the endocrine systems of hamsters.

Removal of the eyes causes regression of the reproductive organs, adrenal glands and the pituitary gland of adult male hamsters, while in eyeless females only the uteri exhibit significant decreases in weight. In both sexes, pinealectomy or superior cervical ganglionectomy counteracts the effects of blinding. Removal of the pineal gland combined with superior cervical ganglionectomy in nonblinded hamsters had no effect on the size of the reproductive or endocrine organs studied. (Endocrinology 79: 1168, 1966)
Longstanding overt ventriculomegaly in adults: pitfalls in treatment with endoscopic third ventriculostomy.

Object The recently described condition of longstanding overt ventriculomegaly in adults (LOVA) has not been defined in terms of the need for intervention, timing of intervention, and ideal treatment. The purpose of this review was to evaluate the role of endoscopic third ventriculostomy (ETV) in the treatment of LOVA. Methods Data collected in six patients with LOVA who had undergone ETV were reviewed retrospectively in terms of the definition of treatment success, rates of success, complications, and outcome. All six patients presented with headache disorders. In all patients, triventricular hydrocephalus had been diagnosed as aqueductal stenosis, and head circumference measurements were above the 98th percentile. All six had undergone successful ETV as documented by the free flow of cerebrospinal fluid into the basal cisterns, which remained open throughout the follow-up period. After the procedure, one patient experienced a mild degree of difficulty with short-term memory. Five patients remained sympt...
Mitigation of Bioterrorist Threats in the 21st Century

There is a raising level of awareness and concern that agriculture and food supplies might serve as targets for bioterrorists. To minimize such threats a number of new initiates are urgently needed: 1. Greater levels of financial commitment from federal, state, and international organizations for research on highly infectious diseases and for emergency response infrastructure; 2. Wellorchestrated emergency response plans based on inter-agency, inter-departmental and stakeholder working groups; 3. Teams prepared for risk assessment and risk communication; 4. Modern systems of animal identification and accurate trace-back for animal movement; 5. Increased biosecurity in intensive production operations; 6. Accurate intelligence as to what pathogens pose the highest risks for economic and social impact; 7. Establishment of new international animal and plant disease research networks and partnerships; 8. Strengthen international disease surveillance networks for early detection and intervention; 9. New generations of rapid diagnostic tests for pathogen detection that are practical for field and diagnostic laboratories; 10. Increased level of commitment to pathogen genomics research for molecular epidemiology and vaccine development; 11. New chemical and immunological intervention strategies to prevent or control disease outbreaks; 12. Increased level of training on exotic and emerging animal diseases in basic veterinary education and through continuing education for veterinarians, state and federal field personnel and laboratory diagnosticians.
A computational algorithm for the Green's function method of sensitivity analysis in chemical kinetics

The recent interest in numerical modeling of chemical kinetics has generated the need for proper analysis of the system sensitivities in such models. This paper describes the logic for a program developed by the authors to implement the Green's function method of sensitivity analysis in complex kinetic schemes. The relevant equations and numerical details of the algorithm are outlined, two flow charts are provided, and some special programming considerations are discussed in some detail. Computer storage and computational time considerations are also treated. Finally, applications of sensitivity information to understanding complex kinetic system behavior and analyzing experimental results are suggested.
Determining the potential for the proliferation of the harmful cyanobacterium Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii in Currituck Sound, North Carolina

Abstract Cylindrospermopsis raciborskii is a tropical invasive, toxin-producing, filamentous-heterocystous, N 2 -fixing cyanobacterium that has recently expanded its range in temperate waterways. Because it is capable of exploiting low salinity (oligohaline) waters experiencing nutrient enrichment, it opens up brackish eutrophying systems to potential invasion. We examined the susceptibility of oligohaline (historically 0–3.5 salinity) Currituck Sound (CS), North Carolina to C. raciborskii proliferation during 2007–2008. This component of the Albemarle-Pamlico Sound estuarine system is experiencing incipient eutrophication. We addressed the following questions: (1) Is C. raciborskii currently present in CS, and (2) what conditions favor its growth and expansion? In 2007, C. raciborskii was confirmed by microscopy, diagnostic photopigment and molecular analyses, which further revealed its genetic potential to produce the cyanotoxin cylindrospermopsin. In 2008, CS salinity had risen due to a persistent drought, and C. raciborskii was no longer microscopically observed. The potential for C. raciborskii to grow in CS was assessed using in situ nutrient addition bioassays. Primary productivity, nitrogen fixation (nitrogenase activity) rates and chlorophyll a measurements demonstrated that C. raciborskii could grow in CS water, and dissolved inorganic nitrogen (nitrate and ammonium) additions increased its growth potential. Salinity was a key factor influencing C. raciborskii growth, with elevated salinity (8.4) significantly limiting biomass accumulation. Interestingly, nitrogen enrichment enabled C. raciborskii to better withstand elevated salinities and increased its competitive success in the CS phytoplankton community. Emphasis should be placed on controlling nutrient, particularly nitrogen, enrichment in order to prevent the expansion of C. raciborskii in this and other nutrient-sensitive oligohaline ecosystems.
Gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase of bovine ciliary body: purification and properties.

Gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase activity in the bovine ciliary body is six to ten times higher than those in the iris, retina and pigment epithelium. The enzyme activity of the bovine lens is very low. When the ciliary body homogenate is fractionated, the activity is largely found in the microsomal fraction. After solubilization with 0·5% Emulphogene BC-720, the enzyme has been purified 32 times by fractionation with ammonium sulfate and ion exchange chromatography on epichlorohydrin triethanolamine cellulose. The apparent Km of the ciliary body enzyme for l-γ-glutamyl-p-nitroanilide is determined to be 1·3 mm when glycylglycine is used as the γ-glutamyl acceptor. The activity is inhibited markedly by Ca2+ (150 mm), Mg2+ (150 mm), Na2+ (100 mm) and maleate (60 mm). Of the 23 amino acids tested, glycylglycine, l-glutamine and l-methionine are especially good acceptors. A comparison of the ciliary body enzyme with bovine kidney enzyme indicates that the two enzymes are similar in their solubility in ammonium sulfate, behavior on epichlorohydrin triethanolamine cellulose, activity toward different amino acid acceptors, pH optima, and apparent Km values for γ-glutamyl-p-nitroanilide. However, they are different in the electrophoretic mobilities in polyacrylamide gel; the ciliary body enzyme migrates faster toward the anode than the kidney enzyme. After treatment of the enzymes with neuraminidase, however, they migrate in electrophoresis at essentially identical mobilities. It is therefore concluded that the difference in electrophoretic behavior between ciliary enzyme and kidney enzyme is attributed to different amounts of sialic acid present.
Research NotePork-Barrelling in Australian Politics: A Reconsideration of Leigh

This research note replicates Leigh's (2008) analysis of pork-barrelling in Australian politics and tests the validity of his findings using geographic techniques. Distributive politics is integral to nearly all theories of legislative politics because it is fundamental to the connection between legislators and constituents, and can be used to facilitate coalition-building. This note addresses an aspect of pork-barrelling that has been overlooked in most previous scholarship. It argues that distributive politics is, at its core, a geographic, constituency-centred process. It is therefore essential to reconsider the conventional models and take geography into account in both substantive and statistical terms. To that end, we replicate several of Leigh's results using a relatively new technique, Geographically Weighted Regression, and reveal substantial spatial heterogeneity in the coefficients. Our findings highlight the importance of political geography and have important implications for studies of legis...
Effect of the layer-by-layer (LbL) deposition method on the surface morphology and wetting behavior of hydrophobically modified PEO and PAA LbL films.

We demonstrate that the surface morphology and surface-wetting behavior of layer-by-layer (LbL) films can be controlled using different deposition methods. Multilayer films based upon hydrogen-bonding interactions between hydrophobically modified poly(ethylene oxide) (HM-PEO) and poly(acrylic acid) (PAA) have been prepared using the dip- and spin-assisted LbL methods. A three-dimensional surface structure in the dip-assisted multilayer films appeared above a critical number of layer pairs owing to the formation of micelles of HM-PEO in its aqueous dipping solution. In the case of spin-assisted HM-PEO/PAA multilayer films, no such surface morphology development was observed, regardless of the layer pair number, owing to the limited rearrangement and aggregation of HM-PEO micelles during spin deposition. The contrasting surface morphologies of the dip- and spin-assisted LbL films have a remarkable effect on the wetting behavior of water droplets. The water contact angle of the dip-assisted HM-PEO/PAA LbL fi...
Metal search: a computer program that helps design tetrahedral metal-binding sites.

We describe a computer program (Metal Search) that helps design tetrahedrally coordinated metal binding sites in proteins of known structure. The program takes as input the backbone coordinates of a protein and outputs lists of four residues that might form tetrahedral sites if wild-type amino acids were replaced by cysteine or histidine. The program also outputs the side chain dihedral angles of the amino acids and the coordinates of the predicted metal ion. The only function evaluated by Metal Search is the ability of side chains to meet simple geometric criteria for formation of a tetrahedral site, but these criteria are sufficient to produce a manageably small list that can then be evaluated by other means. The program has been used in the introduction of zinc binding sites in the designed four-helix bundle protein α 4 and in the B1 domain of streptococcal protein G, and in both cases the tetrahedral coordination of a bound metal ion has been confirmed1 (Klemba, M., Gardner, K. H., Marino, S., Clarke, N. D., and Regan, L., Nature: Structural Biology 2:368–373, 1995). © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Resonance Raman Characterization of Excitonically Coupled meso,meso-Linked Porphyrin Arrays†

Resonance Raman (RR) spectra are reported for dimeric, trimeric, and tetrameric porphyrin arrays in which the porphyrins are directly linked at the meso position. The RR spectra of two monomeric building blocks of the arrays are also examined. The close proximity and orthogonal orientation of adjacent porphyrins in the arrays result in exceptionally strong excitonic interactions along the axis defined by the meso,meso-linkage(s) and negligible interactions along the orthogonal axis. The coupling scheme breaks the degeneracy of the B excited state and leads to two B(0,0) absorption features. One feature, designated BX(0,0), is the supermolecule absorption that is strongly red-shifted, due to exciton coupling. The other feature, designated By(0,0), is the superposition of absorptions of the orthogonal, individual porphyrins. This latter absorption occurs at approximately the same energy as the B(0,0) band of a monomeric porphyrin, due to the absence of excitonic interactions. The exciton coupling in the Q s...
Decoding of Reed Solomon Codes beyond the Error-Correction Bound

We present a randomized algorithm which takes as inputndistinct points {(xi,yi)}i= 1nfromF×F(whereFis a field) and integer parameterstanddand returns a list of all univariate polynomialsfoverFin the variablexof degree at mostdwhich agree with the given set of points in at leasttplaces (i.e.,yi=f(xi) for at leasttvalues ofi), providedt= ?(nd). The running time is bounded by a polynomial inn. This immediately provides a maximum likelihood decoding algorithm for Reed Solomon Codes, which works in a setting with a larger number of errors than any previously known algorithm. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first efficient (i.e., polynomial time bounded) algorithm which provides error recovery capability beyond the error-correction bound of a code for any efficient (i.e., constant or even polynomial rate) code.
“Displaying the Ensigns of Harmony”: The French Army in Newport, Rhode Island, 1780–1781

In June 1780, a French Catholic army landed in Newport, Rhode Island. Given British Americans’ longstanding animosities toward French Canada and initial confusions about the allied soldiers’ identity, cross-cultural accord had to be carefully established. The present essay illuminates how this unprecedented, seemingly unlikely Revolutionary alliance played out in practice.
Chained paired-associate errors and method of rehearsal

The Ss alternately practiced and were tested on a PA list employing dual-function terms so as to include a three-pair chain (pairs AB3, BC3, and CD3), a two-pair chain (pairs AB2 and BC2) and two single pairs (AB1 pairs). Groups receiving instructions either to rehearse by pair repetition (Group R) or by free association (Group FA) were compared with a group prevented from rehearsal (Group P) and a control group (Group C). Group R learned most readily with Group C next. The hypothesis that backward learning is a result of repetition rehearsal was not supported. AB2 and AB3 were more difficult than AB1, and BC3 was more difficult than BC2, suggesting forward mediated associations supplement backward associations in making chained PA lists difficult to learn.
A value exchange model for the channel of distribution: Implications for management and research

The authors present a model for examining channel relationships which holds promise as a means for quantifying and evaluating channel relationships on non-economic, as well as economic bases. The model is adapted from the behavioral sciences, management and economics. Contributions from the behavioral sciences are examined, as compared to the typical economic description of these relationships. Also suggested is a process for measuring channel member perceptions of value exchanges which has implications for management and research.