cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Processing/performance relationships considering voids in structural reaction injection molding

The causes of void content and its resulting effect on the material properties of structural reaction injection molded (SRIM) composites were investigated. Plaques were molded under different combinations of five two-level factors, and the resulting effect of each factor on void content was determined. The geometry of the glass reinforcement had the largest effect, as woven mats caused double the void content of random mats. Evacuating the mold cavity proved to greatly reduce void content as well. Varying the injection rate and shot size had little effect. Material property testing was conducted on groups of specimens with similar void content. Tension testing revealed no decrease in strength with increasing void content. One million cycles of tension-tension fatigue at 20% of the ultimate strength caused no decrease in strength at any void content, while fatigue at 30% caused premature failure. Impact testing showed that only very high void contents had a substantial effect on performance. Environmental conditioning showed moisture absorption proportional to void content and furthermore significantly reduced the residual tensile strength after a single thermal cycle to 0°C. These results suggest that void content in conjunction with a weak interface may have been responsible for limiting material properties.
Risk of unwanted sex for college women: evidence for a red zone.

Objective: University and college health and counseling centers frequently warn female students about the red zone—a period early in a student's first year at college during which she may be at higher risk for unwanted sexual experiences (UWS). The authors designed this study to assess temporal risk for UWS in 1st- and 2nd-year college women. Participants and Methods: In March 2006, the authors randomly selected 50 first-year and 52 second-year students (representing one-sixth of each class year) to complete a modified Sexual Experiences Survey. Results: First-year women were at higher risk for UWS than were second-year women—particularly, early in the fall semester. The authors observed a significant linear effect during participants' combined first years in school, with more reports of UWS occurring early in the year. Conclusion: This study provides support for a red zone and highlights the need for investigating local norms for UWS.
Toxicity of heavy metals and salts to Eurasian watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum L.).

The toxicity of various heavy metals and salts to Eurasian watermilfoil (Myriophyllum spicatum L.) was determined under controlled growth conditions. Toxicants were added to water or to soil in systems with and without woods earth in the substrate. Fifty precent inhibition of root weight occurred with concentrations of 0.25 ppm Cu+2, 1.9 ppm Cr2O7 −2, 3.4 ppm Hg+2, 2.9 ppm AsO2 −1, 7.4 ppm Cd+2, 2.5 ppm Al+3, 9.9 ppm Cr+3, 41.2 ppm Ba+2, 21.6 ppm Zn+2, 13.3 ppm NH4 +1, 22.4 ppm CN−1, 143 ppm B4O7 −2, 363 ppm Pb+2, 10,228 ppm Na2SO4, and 8,183 ppm NaCl. Soil increased toxicity of Cr+2 and Ba+2 but decreased toxicity of Cr2O7 −2, Cu+2, Cd+2, Al+3, and Hg+2. In distilled water, CaCl2 increased toxicity of Cr+3 but not Cr2O7 −2. For most toxicants there was a consistent relationship between inhibition of length and inhibition of weight and between inhibition of roots and inhibition of shoots. However, Cr2O7 −2 disproportionately decreased dry weight, and Hg+2 and Na2SO4 disproportionately decreased stem length growth. With Cd+2 and Cu+2 stem length was greater relative to other measures of growth. Toxicity of Na2SO4 and NaCl was the same when concentrations were calculated as osmotic pressure but not when calculated as Na atoms or as total molecules/L.
Reactive switching protocols for multi-robot high-level tasks

This paper considers a team of cooperative, homogeneous robots operating in a nondeterministic environment, performing complex high-level tasks. We concurrently solve the problems of dynamic task assignment and reactive planning in a centralized fashion, allowing goal reassignment as needed in response to changes in the environment. To this end, we model the team of robots as a switched system whose various modes must be activated to satisfy high-level specifications, and describe a formal framework for synthesizing switching protocols for this system. The robots' continuous dynamics under a specific task allocation, as well as their operating environment, are encoded as formulas on a discrete abstraction, in the GR(1) fragment of linear temporal logic. The synthesized protocols ensure that the multi-robot task is fulfilled even in adversarial environments, and the presented abstraction provides a significant computational improvement over previous approaches. We illustrate these ideas in simulation, with applications to intrusion detection and surveillance.
Gene-dosage-sensitive genetic interactions between inversus viscerum (iv), nodal, and activin type IIB receptor (ActRIIB) genes in asymmetrical patterning of the visceral organs along the left-right axis.

We have shown previously that mice deficient in the activin type IIB receptor (ActRIIB) exhibit right isomerism, which is characterized by mirror-image symmetrical right lungs, complex cardiac malformations, and hypoplasia of the spleen. These observations led us to hypothesize that the signaling of a TGF-β family member by means of ActRIIB is necessary for the determination of the left-sidedness of the visceral organs. To test this hypothesis, we examined laterality defects in mice carrying mutations in both ActRIIB and inversus viscerum (iv) genes, because iv-/- mice display a spectrum of laterality defects, including situs inversus, right isomerism, and left isomerism. We found that all mice homozygous for both iv and ActRIIB mutations displayed the right isomerism. The phenotype of right isomerism in the double mutants was also more severe than that in ActRIIB-/- mice as shown by persistent left inferior vena cava, right atrial isomerism, and hypoplasia of spleen. Interestingly, the incidence of right isomerism also increased significantly in iv-/-;ActRIIB+/- and iv+/-;ActRIIB-/- mice compared with homozygous mice carrying either of single gene mutations. A mechanism of the genetic modulation between ActRIIB and iv genes may be that iv modulates the asymmetric expression of a TGF-β family member that signals through activin type II receptors, ActRIIA and ActRIIB, to specify the “left-sidedness.” Nodal is the most likely candidate. We show here that the penetrance and severity of the right isomerism is significantly elevated in nodal+/-; ActRIIB-/- mice, compared with ActRIIB-/- mice. Furthermore, the chimeric mice derived from nodal-/- ES cells displayed right isomerism, indistinguishable from that in (iv-/-;ActRIIB-/-) mice. We propose that iv functions to establish asymmetric expression of nodal in a gene-dosage–sensitive manner and that nodal signals through the activin type II receptors to specify the left-sidedness by means of a threshold mechanism. © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Echocardiographic manifestations of valvular vegetations

Abstract Eight patients with autopsy or surgically proved valvular vegetations were examined using echocardiography. Five of these patients had lesions on the aortic valve and three had lesions on the mitral valve. The echocardiographic finding in these patients was a non-uniform thickening of valve leaflets which exhibited unrestricted motion. Often the abnormal echoes which produced the thickened valve had a shaggy appearance. In all eight patients the location of the echocardiographic abnormality correlated with the anatomic findings at surgery or autopsy. In one patient the diagnosis of bacterial endocarditis was first suspected following the echocardiographic examination and only subsequently was a heart murmur heard. These findings indicate that echocardiography may play a useful role in elucidating the pathological anatomy of the bacterial endocarditis with vegetation; however, the length of time from the onset of clinical illness to echocardiographic diagnosis remains unknown.
Application of the Fourier Method to Differentiate Biological Rhythms from Stochastic Processes in the Growth of Selenastrum capricornutum Printz: Implications for Model Development

The biological rhythms of microalgal growth within a hydraulically integrated serial turbidostat algal reactor (HISTAR) were examined after comparison of a simple mechanistic productivity model with actual data yielded a standard error of prediction (SEP) of 62%. The data used for this study were taken on cultures of Selenastrum capricornutum grown under continuous 400-watt metal halide lighting. Fourier series analysis (up to five harmonics) was used to model the biorhythms and differentiate them from stochastic processes. Regression analyses revealed that the best Fourier series fit for the data was a three harmonic summation. Regression analyses on additional harmonic summations did not increase r2 by more than 1%. The three harmonics were summed and incorporated into the growth term of the simple model, and the resultant full model was calibrated. The mechanistic HISTAR productivity model was greatly enhanced by the addition of the biological rhythm component, resulting in a SEP of <24.8 %. The period of the first harmonic was 13.4 days, which is very close to a circasemilunar rhythm (14.8 days). In summary, the predictive power of productivity models for continuous microalgal cultures can be dramatically improved with the inclusion of a biorhythm analysis.
Using the memory impairment screen over the telephone to determine fall risk in community-dwelling older adults

To the Editor: Nearly one-third of community-dwelling older adults aged 65 and older fall each year, and about 10% of these falls result in a serious injury, rendering falls a common and potentially devastating health problem.1 Cognitive assessments are currently a part of the multi-factorial fall risk assessment recommended by the American and British Geriatric Societies’ Clinical Practice Guideline for Prevention of Falls in Older Persons;2 however, there is a need for reliable, valid and time-efficient screening tools. The aim of this study was to determine whether a brief, telephone-administered screening for dementia, the Memory Impairment Screen by Telephone (MIS-T),3 could be used to determine fall risk over one year in a large sample of community-dwelling older adults.
The high-strain-rate response of alpha-titanium: experiments, deformation mechanisms and modeling

Abstract The high-strain-rate mechanical response of α-titanium is examined in terms of the underlying deformation mechanisms that govern its macroscopic behavior. The mechanical behavior of α-titanium has been evaluated using quasistatic (10−5 to 100 s−1) compression testing with servohydraulic machines, dynamic (10−2 to 104 s−1) compression testing with a compression Kolsky bar, and high-rate (10−4 to 105 s−1) shearing under pressure using the pressure–shear plate impact technique. At the macroscopic level, α-titanium displays substantial rate sensitivity of the flow stress and pronounced strain hardening. The strain-hardening is greater at high strain rates than at low strain rates, and increases with strain at low strain rates. In an effort to determine the deformation mechanisms underlying this macroscopic behavior, the microstructures developed after low-rate and high-rate deformations have been characterized using both optical and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). At the microscopic level, both dislocations and twins are observed; the density of twins increases with both strain and strain rate and is shown to be a unique function of the flow stress (but not vice versa). Although dislocation motion accounted for the majority of plastic deformation, twin-dislocation interactions play an important role in strain hardening. The Kocks–Mecking model is used in order to describe the mechanical response as a function of the strain, strain rate and temperature; while the model is able to predict the monotonic behavior fairly accurately, it is unable to capture the experimental behavior observed in load–unload–reload tests.
Explicit studies of the quantum theory of light interstitial diffusion

The formalism associated with small-polaron diffusion in the high temperature semiclassical regime is generalized so as to transcend simplifications employed in developing the nonadiabatic theory. The diffusion constant is then calculated for simple models in which the metal atoms interact with each other and with the interstitial atom with two-body forces. Studies of these models not only confirm the necessity of generalizing the formalism but also yield diffusion constants whose magnitudes and temperature dependenes ar consistent with the general features of the existing data for the diffusion of hydrogen and its isotopes in bcc metals. The motion of a positive muon between interstitial positions of a metal is also investigated. (GHT)
Fracture toughness of niobium/alumina interfaces: an analysis based on a micromechanical model

The fracture toughness is predicted for an interface between niobium and alumina. It is assumed that voids at the triple points of grain junctions on the interface are the sites of cleavage decohesion. These voids are treated as microcracks and the plastic zone is modelled by a cohesive zone of constant shear stress. The interaction between the microcrack and the main crack is studied using an integral equation approach. The fracture toughness is calculated via various fracture criteria and compared against experimental data. Scatter in the experimental data is related to the variability in microdefect size.
SU‐GG‐T‐25: Improving Deformable Dose Registration of Brachytherapy by Incorporating CT Scan Masking

Purpose: Deformable dose registration is a burgeoning use for deformable registration algorithms. By applying the deformation matrix generated from an anatomic registration to the dose matrix, it may be possible to sum patient doses across multiple treatment fractions. In certain clinical situations, such as HDR brachytherapy, obtaining a good registration is difficult. Improving the performance in such cases may be possible using only the anatomy of interest. Using the physician drawn contours to mask off areas outside the organs of interest can provide better registration results. With an improved registration, the doses can be added across fractions more accurately. Methods: Using a research version of the program ABAS (CMS Elekta Software, Maryland Heights, MO), a deformable registration was performed on image sets of a multi‐fraction brachytherapy treatment. The quality of registration was examined by using the Dice Similarity Coefficient (DSC) values for bladder and rectum contours. A routine was written to automatically mask scans using bony anatomy and physician drawn contours. Registrations performed using the full patient CT scan were compared to registrations performed with a masked CT.Results: The focus of this study was the DSC values for bladder and rectum. Comparing these values for registrations performed with normal CT scans and masked CT scans demonstrates that masking can provide a much better registration. Patients with bladder DSC values of 0.38–0.74 improved to 0.94–0.99 with the masking technique. DSC values of 0.9 are commonly seen in cases of patients with well‐contrasted bladder and rectal anatomy.Conclusions: Using a masking approach for deformable registration can greatly improve the registration results for HDR brachytherapy patients. Masking can be done automatically in seconds using physician drawn contours. Focusing a registration on the anatomical areas that are the most relevant to treatment may provide a superior deformable dose registration.
Oxidation of Methanol over a Palladium Monolithic Automotive Catalyst

The oxidation of methanol and its partial oxidation products, carbon monoxide and formaldehyde, were studied using a monolithic catalyst containing palladium. Experimental conditions simulated those in the catalytic converter of a methanol-fueled automobile. With a properly activated catalyst and a fuel-lean feed, carbon dioxide was the only carbon-containing product, and the methanol conversion above the light-off temperature of the catalyst appeared to be controlled by mass transfer from the bulk gas stream to the surface of the monolith. Under fuel-rich conditions, carbon monoxide and formaldehyde were formed along with carbon dioxide. The highest formaldehyde yield, about 4% of the methanol reacted, occurred at a relatively low feed temperature, about 350 K, essentially the light-off temperature of the catalyst. The formaldehyde yield decreased as the feed temperature increased and was essentially zero above about 600 K. When a thermally-deactivated catalyst was used, the formaldehyde yield increased significantly and formaldehyde was observed over a wider range of feed temperatures and under fuel-lean conditions. With the properly activated catalyst multiple steady states were observed in the form of a reaction hysteresis with respect to feed temperature. 23 refs., 10 figs., 1 tab.
Beam-tracking in FSO links impaired by correlated fading

In this paper, the performance of quad-APD spatial tracking loop (STL)in the presence of scintillation is studied for a frozen atmosphere turbulent model for free-space communications (FSO). The atmospheric turbulence responsible for the beam scintillation is assumed to follow the weak turbulence model, described by Rytov approximation, which in turn suggests log-normal statistics for the received optical signal intensity. It is assumed that pointing error in large part is due to atmospheric wander and that the correlation time of the beam wander is comparable to the correlation time of the amplitude variations due to amplitude scintillation. Provided recently reported estimation strategies, a new model for spatial tracking is proposed where estimates of channel coefficient are used to adjust the gain of the tracking loop, enabling an adaptive bandwidth adjustment in the presence of correlated fading. The performance of the proposed loop as well as that of the standard tracking loop are assessed and compared via simulation in terms of the mean square tracking error (MSTE).
Impact of psychogenic movement disorders versus Parkinson's on disability, quality of life, and psychopathology

Patients with psychogenic movement disorders (PMD) often report severe impairment, yet the impact of PMD on disability and quality of life has not been examined. We compared 66 patients with PMD and 704 patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) on measures of disability (Older Americans Resources and Services Scale, OARS); quality of life (QOL; SF-12v2 Health Survey) and psychiatric symptomatology (Brief Symptom Inventory 18, BSI-18). On the total OARS, PMD and PD patients reported similar levels of disability (17.6 +/- 6.6, 19.8 +/- 10.9, P = 0.490 at "best" function and 24.1 +/- 11.2, 26.2 +/- 14.3, P = 0.497 at their "worst" function). PMD patients reported similar Physical Health QOL to PD patients (38.9 +/- 14.5, 39.8 +/- 11.6, P = 0.652) but worse mental health QOL (41.6 +/- 13.4 vs. 48.9 +/- 11.0, P < 0.001). On the BSI-18, PMD patients reported higher levels of distress on the Global Symptom Index (62.03 +/- 9.6 vs. 53.7 +/- 9.9, P < 0.001) and on Anxiety, Depression and Somatization subscales (PMD vs. PD scores: Anxiety 58.9 +/- 12.0 vs. 52.3 +/- 10.1, P < 0.001; Depression 58.8 +/- 11.9 vs. 51.3 +/- 10.3, P < 0.001; Somatization 60.5 +/- 11.0 vs. 54.7 +/- 8.7, P < 0.001). Thus, severity of disability reported by the PMD group was equal to that seen in a progressive neurodegenerative condition. Quality of life and mental health implications of PMD were also evident. PMD impacts several aspects of patient function and daily life.
Having it all.

It's the perfect drug for a midlife crisis: Lose weight, get a tan, and boost your sex life, all in one pill. In phase I and II trials, 310 men taking PT141--a metabolite of a drug developed to protect patients against ultraviolet-light damage--have shown promising results.
Micro-Actuated Delta Wings Induced Control of Boundary Layer Separation

Control of boundary layer separation has been investigated employing an array of micro-actuated delta winglets. The flow with the array is simulated computationally in an initially two-dimensional boundary layer, which is subjected to a Favorable Pressure Gradient (FPG) that accelerated the flow substantially, followed by an Adverse Pressure Gradient (APG) where the flow decelerated, the two successive distortions cause a flow separation in the boundary layer developing on the opposite wall of the wind tunnel. The simulations capture vortices formed by the impulsive motion of the delta wings. The vortices are part of recirculating zone in the wake of the actuators, which as they advect downstream, bring high momentum fluid into the near wall region of a separated flow. Preliminary results indicate micro-actuated delta wings array affect boundary layer separation favorably.Copyright © 2006 by ASME
Synthesis of 8‐substituted naphtho[2,1‐b]thiophenes with cationic side chains at position 4

A series of five 8-substituted α-[bis(2-hydroxyethyi)aminoethyl]naphtho[2,1-b]thiophenes 7 and a series of seven N-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-8-substituted naphtho[2,1-b]thiophene-4-carboxamides 8 have been synthesized. The naphtho[2,1-b]thiophene-4-carboxylic acids 4 were prepared by photooxidative cyclization of α-(2-thienyi)-β-arylacrylic acids 3. The carboxylic acids 4 were converted by a conventional five step route involving α-bromoketone intermediates to the a-[bis(2-hydroxyethyl)aminomethyl]-8-substituted naphtho-[2,1-6]thiophene-4-methanols 7 and by a standard two-step amide preparation to the N-(3-dimethylaminopropyl)-8-substituted naphtho[2,1-6]thiophene-4-carboxamides 8.
Economic Assistance and Crime: A Cross-National Investigation

Many countries struggle with the question of appropriate social welfare spending. Here we test several hypotheses about the dynamics between social welfare spending and crime. We do so using pooled, cross-national time-series data. Our findings suggest that per capita social welfare spending is associated with lower rates of both theft and homicide. Time lagged analysis suggests that the current level of social welfare spending, not that of recent years, accounts for any possible suppression of crime. The data also suggest that, whereas high homicide rates do not appear to inspire increased social welfare generosity, lagged measures of theft rates are associated with subsequent increases in social welfare spending among high theft countries.
The Colab Mixed-Initiative Analysis Enviroment

COLAB is an analysis environment in which multiple human analysts in different physical locations can collaborate to build hypotheses of un-folding scenarios. COLAB consists of two components: an instrumented analysis working environment built on a blackboard system, and a web-based user interface that integrates the Trellis hypothesis authoring and management tool with a query language. On the blackboard, analysts collect data and perform analyses using relational database queries and a set of analysis tools that include group identification and suspicion scoring algorithms. Evidence extracted from data analysis on the blackboard may then be incorporated in hierarchical argument structures in the Trellis tool, combining evidence sources with user-supplied free text. Trellis arguments may then be shared between analysts and collaboratively authored. COLAB has been integrated with the Hats Simulator challenge domain and serves as a proto-type mixed-initiative information fusion system.
Organizational performance as an antecedent of inside/outside chief executive succession: An empirical assessment.

This study assessed the conventional formula that poorly performing companies are more likely to replace chief executive officers (CEOs) with outside, rather than inside, successors. An examination...
High-throughput screening of blood samples based on structured illumination on-chip imaging

We demonstrate a high-throughput fluorescent on-chip imaging platform, using structured illumination that can rapidly screen large volumes of scattering media such as undiluted whole blood samples (e.g., ∼ 0.3–0.7 mL) for detection of fluorescent micro-objects at low concentrations (e.g., ≤ 50–100 particles/mL). This imaging modality might especially be useful for rare cell applications involving whole blood samples, such as detection of circulating tumor cells.
Physiologic outcome measures for urinary incontinence

Physiologic outcome measures are divided into 2 groups: (1) measures that visualize, quantify, and analyze the reasons for urine loss and (2) measures that assess the anatomy and neuromuscular function of continence-related structures. Few of the frequently used physiologic outcome measures have been rigorously tested. The evidence in support of their use derives mainly from case series information and expert opinion. Perineal pad testing is used to quantify urine leakage associated with stress incontinence. One-hour pad tests are commonly used for clinical trials and office visits; 24- and 48-hour tests are more reliable and reproducible. Urodynamic testing simultaneously assesses bladder and urethral function during bladder filling and emptying to help guide therapy and identify patients who are at risk for surgical failure. Testing usually includes (1) uroflowmetry, an assessment of voiding without catheters in place; (2) cystometry, which assesses bladder sensation, capacity, compliance, and inappropriate detrusor activity during filling; (3) urethral pressure profilometry, to gauge urethral closing pressures and pressure transmission ratios; (4) leak-point pressure, the minimum intra-abdominal pressure required to cause incontinence, which serves as a measure of urethral function; and (5) pressure flow studies, which diagnose obstruction by evaluating detrusor pressure and flow rate during voiding. The cotton swab test is used to assess bladder neck mobility after surgical interventions. Using the Pelvic Organ Prolapse Quantification system, researchers can describe pelvic support in a standardized, reproducible fashion. Applications of ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging in urogynecology are promising but remain in the investigational stages.
Monoamines and effects of chlordiazepoxide on the corticosterone response to stress.

Administration of chlordiazepoxide (CDP) (5 mg/kg) decreased plasma corticosterone (CS) levels of mice exposed to noise stress and increased CS levels in nonstressed mice (20 and 40 mg/kg). The increase in CS may be related to an observed decrease in locomotor activity. Quipazine (0.5 mg/kg), a serotonergic agonist, failed to alter CS levels in animals without prior drug treatment and attenuated the rise in CS of nonstressed mice. These results contradicted a possible serotonergic facilitarory effect on CS regulation. Administration of apomorphine (0.5 mg/kg) or clonidine (0.1 mg/kg) prevented the significant reduction of CS levels in stressed mice treated with low doses of CDP. Apomorphine, alone, increased CS of nonstressed mice to levels approximating those of vehicle-treated stressed mice. Thus, a norepinephrine inhibitory effect was not evident and possible dopaminergic involvement in CS response regulation was suggested. It seemed likely that the effect of CDP on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal system was dependent upon the endocrine state of the animal. Mice exposed to stress and exhibiting higher levels of CS were affected differently by CDP treatment than their nonstressed counterparts.
Bile and bile salts potentiate superoxide anion release from activated, rat peritoneal neutrophils.

Certain bile salts cause hepatotoxicity as well as injury to extrahepatic organs when administered to animals. Activated neutrophils (PMNs) may cause tissue injury by releasing reactive oxygen species and other products. Since PMNs may come in contact with biliary components, such as bile salts, following chemical insult to the liver or during cholestasis, we examined the capacity of bile and bile salts to stimulate superoxide anion (O − 2 ) release from rat peritoneal PMNs in vitro . Neither bile nor bile salts, with the exception of lithocholate, could by themselves stimulate O − 2 release from PMNs. Lithocholate (32 μ M ) caused small but statistically significant release of O − 2 from PMNs. When PMNs were primed with a barely suprathreshold concentration of 12- O -tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate (PMA), a classic stimulus for PMNs, the addition of bile and certain bile salts markedly enhanced O − 2 release from PMNs. The monohydroxy bile salt, lithocholate, had the greatest stimulatory activity toward PMA-primed PMNs, causing approximately an eightfold increase in O − 2 release. The enhancing effect of lithocholate was maximal between 10 and 32 μ M , and it also occurred with PMNs isolated from rat blood. Dihydroxy bile salts, deoxycholate and chenodeoxycholate (100 μ M ), caused more modest enhancement of O − 2 release (two- to threefold) from primed PMNs. Cholate, a trihydroxy bile salt, was not active at these concentrations. Conjugation of either lithocholate or chenodeoxycholate with either glycine or taurine markedly reduced the ability of the bile salt to enhance O − 2 release from primed PMNs. Structural alterations on the hydrophilic side chain or within the planar, hydrophobic portion of the bile salt molecule reduced the capacity to enhance O − 2 release from PMA-primed PMNs. These results indicate that bile salts can potentiate the respiratory burst in PMNs and suggest a role for this interaction in toxicoses or disease states characterized by elevated serum bile salts.
Cosegregation of familial intestinal pseudoobstruction and presence of digital arches in a large multigenerational pedigree.

Previous studies have suggested a relationship between the presence of digital arches and the occurrence of early-onset chronic intestinal pseudoobstruction (CIP). We recently had under our care a patient who died of complications from neuropathic familial CIP (FCIP) and who had family members with symptoms and radiographic findings consistent with FCIP. Our aim was to determine if there is a relationship between FCIP and digital arches using members of this patient's family tree. Questionnaires, telephone follow-up, and clinical and radiographic evidence were all utilized to determine whether a diagnosis of CIP could be made for the family members of this deceased FCIP patient. Fingerprints were sought for all study subjects. Eight of the 26 study subjects who were fingerprinted had clinically diagnosed FCIP and four of these eight had radiographic confirmation. All eight were positive for one or more arches (sensitivity = 100%). Only one of the 18 subjects without a diagnosis of FCIP who were fingerprinted had arches (specificity = 94%). The likelihood of linkage between the presence of digital arches and FCIP in our study family was significant by genetic linkage analysis criteria. These results show a significant correlation between FCIP and digital arches (P < 0.0001). Whether this relationship is a causal one, ie, the gene responsible for digital arches is also responsible for FCIP, or is the result of linkage between the genes for FCIP and digital arches remains unclear.
Recovery of cells from heat-induced potentially lethal damage: Effects of pH and nutrient environment☆

Abstract Plateau phase HA-1 cells exposed to 43°C recovered from potentially lethal damage (PLD), but only under severely restricted conditions. Recovery occurred only if the initial survival level exceeded 10 −3 , and then only if the heating occurred in medium containing serum. In Hanks' balanced salt solution, pH effects were minimized; survival values of cells heated at pH 6.7 or 7.5 were not significantly different. This finding was sharply different from that found when heating was carried out in full medium. The recovery of cells heated in full medium was affected by the pH of the post-heating environment. Greater recovery occurred at pH 7.5 than at pH 7.0. The results may have clinical relevance.
Type 4 cAMP phosphodiesterase (PDE4) inhibitors augment glucocorticoid-mediated apoptosis in B cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL) in the absence of exogenous adenylyl cyclase stimulation

cAMP-mediated signaling potentiates glucocorticoid-mediated apoptosis in lymphoid cells, but an effective means by which to take advantage of this observation in the treatment of lymphoid malignancies has not been identified. The primary objective of the current study was to determine whether PDE4 inhibitors, a class of compounds in late clinical development that raise intracellular cAMP levels by inhibiting type 4 cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases (PDE4), increase the efficacy of glucocorticoid-mediated apoptosis in leukemic cells from patients with B cell chronic lymphocytic leukemia (B-CLL). Rolipram, a prototypic PDE4 inhibitor, synergized with glucocorticoids in inducing B-CLL but not T cell apoptosis. Rolipram also augmented glucocorticoid receptor element (GRE) transactivation in B-CLL cells. In contrast, inhibition of protein kinase A (PKA) with the cAMP antagonist Rp-8Br-cAMPS reversed both glucocorticoid-induced apoptosis and GRE transactivation. CCRF-CEM cells, a well-studied model of glucocorticoid and cAMP-induced apoptosis, differed from B-CLL cells in that stimulation of adenylyl cyclase with the diterpene forskolin was required to increase both glucocorticoid-mediated apoptosis and GRE activation, while PDE4 inhibition had no effect. Consistent with these results, inhibition of PDE4 induced cAMP elevation in B-CLL but not CCRF-CEM cells, while forskolin augmented cAMP levels in CCRF-CEM but not B-CLL cells. While rolipram treatment up-regulated PDE4B in B-CLL, forskolin treatment up-regulated PDE4D in CCRF-CEM cells. These studies suggest that PKA is required for and enhances glucocorticoid-induced apoptosis in B-CLL by modulating glucocorticoid receptor signal transduction. Clinical trials that examine whether PDE4 inhibitors enhance the efficacy of glucocorticoid-containing chemotherapy regimens in B-CLL are indicated.
A nonoccupational outbreak of inorganic mercury vapor poisoning

An outbreak of inorganic mercury vapor poisoning involving 12 people occurred in a trailer park in Mississippi in 1973-74. For information concerning levels of mercury in hair and blood of humans with short-term exposures, these individuals were observed for as long as 10 months after the end of their exposures, and the amount of mercury in their blood and scalp hair was serially measured. Specimens were also obtained from nonexposed individuals in the trailer park. Inorganic mercury was measured in 1-cm segments of hair samples obtained both 6 and 9 months after termination of exposure. Over a 3-month period, the peak amount of inorganic mercury per gram of hair shifted in position from 7 cm to 13 cm from the scalp. The average mercury concentration in newly formed hair (the 4 cm of hair closest to the scalp) decreased fourfold over the same time period. Surface contamination of exposed hair by exogenous mercury also occurred. Levels of inorganic mercury in blood from exposed individuals ranged from 183 to 620 ng/ml and fell to levels similar to those of controls 4 to 6 months after ending exposure. The source of the outbreak was metallic mercury spilled on rugs. Attempts to remove the mercury failed and actually dispersed the metal over a larger surface area. Air mercury levels as high as 1.0 mg/m3 of air were found in one of the contaminated house trailers. Rugs or carpets contaminated with metallic mercury are a significant health risk.
Structural variation in cobalt halide complexes supported by m-terphenyl isocyanides

Abstract Detailed herein are synthetic, spectroscopic and structural studies on trisisocyanide cobalt halide complexes featuring the encumbering m-terphenyl isocyanide CNArMes2 (Mes = 2,4,6-Me3C6H3). Addition of CNArMes2 to CoI2 in a 3:1 molar ratio provides the mononuclear complex, CoI2(CNArMes2)3, which can be oxidized to six-coordinate CoI3(CNArMes2)3 upon treatment with 0.5 equivalents of I2. Contrastingly, addition of CNArMes2 to CoBr2 provided the dinuclear complex Br2Co(μ2-Br)2Co(CNArMes2)3 irrespective of the molar ratios employed. FTIR analysis on these Co(II) and Co(III) complexes is used to assess the relative π-basicities of the cobalt centers toward the CNArMes2 ligands. Treatment of CoX2 (X = Cl, Br and I) with three CNArMes2 ligands followed by the addition of granulated Zn provides the pseudo-tetrahedral complexes XCo(CNArMes2)3. FTIR, magnetic and X-ray crystallographic studies are used to determine both the ground state electronic structure and relative π-basicities of these complexes.
Evaluating Hearing Threshold Differences Between Ears as a Screen for Acoustic Neuroma

Differences in pure tone thresholds between ears were evaluated at two different patient care facilities to determine this measure’s value as a screen for acoustic neuroma. We evaluated the audiograms of tumor and nontumor groups to estimate the true positive rates and false positive rates for several decision rules. Threshold differences were found to be a more effective diagnostic tool for females than for males. However, even for the most effective rules, the efficiency of this test alone is mediocre, which indicates that hearing threshold differences between ears must be combined with other criteria for a cost-effective approach to acoustic neuroma identification. Furthermore, tumor size was not predicted by the amount of threshold asymmetry between ears, which suggests that some large, potentially life-threatening tumors may be missed if pure tone threshold differences are the sole criterion for referral for additional tests.
Perceptions of preventability among acutely injured Hispanic patients

Attitudes and belief systems are regarded as major factors affecting the success of injury prevention efforts. It is not known whether cultural belief systems affect the injury rates of Hispanics in the United States, a population that is known to be at high risk for injury. We interviewed Hispanic injury patients requiring emergency treatment, and we asked them to put into words their ideas and beliefs concerning the preventability of their injuries. Male patients and victims of unintentional injuries were more likely to consider their injuries unavoidable. Younger patients were more likely to not know if their injuries could have been avoided, and patients with higher family income were more likely to think that a change in someone else's behavior could have prevented their injury. These findings are in agreement with earlier investigations of attribution theory, a description of how individuals assign causality to events. Attitudes regarding injury prevention were not related to degrees of acculturation for the Hispanic members of our sample.
Progressive debonding of aligned oblate inclusions and loss of stiffness in a brittle matrix composite

A micromechanical theory is developed to examine the progressive debonding process of a brittle matrix composite containing aligned oblate inclusions under a high state of triaxial tension. Complete debonding is taken to be the debonding mode under such a high triaxial loading and its debonding strength is assumed to be governed by a Weibull probability function in terms of the hydrostatic tension of the inclusions. The micromechanical theory provides the required hydrostatic tensile stress at a given stage of debonding for a given inclusion shape and concentration. This allows one to calculate the debonding process progressively as the applied stress increases. The resulting stress-strain relation of the progressively debonded system is found to start out with that of the perfectly bonded composite, then deviates from it and eventually approaches the stress-strain curve of the corresponding porous material. It is further revealed that debonding with spherical inclusions is completed faster than with thin discs and it also occurs faster at a lower volume concentration of inclusions. The loss of stiffness of the transversely isotropic composite is also established as a function of inclusion shape and concentration for all five independent moduli; these moduli are seen to decrease gradually in the initial stage, then drop sharply while progressively debonding and finally level off again as all inclusions become debonded.
Dendritic localization of type II calcium calmodulin-dependent protein kinase mRNA in normal and reinnervated rat hippocampus.

Abstract In situ hybridization histochemistry has revealed a diffuse distribution of the alpha subunit of type II calcium calmodulin-dependent protein kinase (CaM II kinase α) mRNA in the neuropil of regions containing CaM II kinase α-expressing cells and has led some to propose that it may be expressed in dendrites. In order to determine if CaM II kinase α mRNA is expressed in dendrites and if the gene encoding CaM II kinase α is regulated in response to synaptic reinnervation, we examined its expression in the hippocampus of normal rats, of rats that had received a unilaterat injection of kainic acid and of rats with a unilaterat entorhinal cortex lesion. The relatively specific elimination of the CA3 pyramidal cells by kainate lesions precisely correlated with the loss of CaM II kinase α cRNA hybridization in the stratum radiatum as well as the stratum pyramidale. Following entorhinal cortex lesions, during the period of new synapse formation in the dentate gyrus, there was no detectable change in the level of CaM II kinase α gene expression. These data suggest that CaM II kinase a mRNA is expressed in the dendrites of hippocampal pyramidal cells and, therefore, is likely to be expressed in dendrites in other regions of the centrat nervous system exhibiting CaM II kinase α cRNA labeling in the neuropil. However, changes in expression were not found to accompany new synapse formation.
Construction of marker-free transplastomic plants

Because of its prokaryotic-type gene expression machinery, maternal inheritance and the opportunity to express proteins at a high level, the plastid genome (plastome or ptDNA) is an increasingly popular target for engineering. The ptDNA is present as up to 10 000 copies per cell, making selection for marker genes essential to obtain plants with uniformly transformed ptDNA. However, the marker gene is no longer desirable when homoplastomic plants are obtained. Marker-free transplastomic plants can now be obtained with four recently developed protocols: homology-based excision via directly repeated sequences, excision by phage site-specific recombinanses, transient cointegration of the marker gene, and the cotransformation-segregation approach. Marker excision technology will benefit applications in agriculture and in molecular farming.
Preparation of fine, hollow, spherical NiFe2O4 powders

Aerosol droplets of a dilute aqueous solution of Ni(II) and Fe(III) nitrates were used to synthesize fine nickel ferrite powders by pyrolysis at temperatures ranging from 450 °C to 810 °C. The aerosol product was characterized by thermal analysis, x-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy, and BET surface area determination. At low temperature (480 °C), very active fine, hollow, noncrystalline spheres were formed. As the pyrolysis temperature increased, sintering occurred, larger particles with broader size distribution were obtained, and a higher degree of crystallinity of nickel ferrite was produced. The products at pyrolysis temperatures of 660 °C and above exhibited magnetic properties. The powders prepared from the aerosolization process at low temperatures had high reactivity and crystallized rapidly. The effect of the initial solution concentration was also studied, and dilute solutions produced spheres with fine size and narrow size distribution.
The utility of Head-Up Displays - Eye-focus vs decision times

Instrument-panel information is presented by a Head-Up Display (HUD) to pilots in such a way that the symbols appear far away (at optical infinity) superimposed upon the landscape. The use of a HUD makes it, therefore, unnecessary for the pilot to take his eyes off the changing scene in order to look down and refocus on the instrument panel. It is pointed out that the HUD has proved superior to the conventional instrument-panel display. An experiment was conducted with the objective to help to determine which of the differences between HUD and conventional instrument-panel display are mainly responsible for the superiority of the HUD. Important features of this experiment are that the format of each virtual-image display, its luminance, and its angle subtended at the eye, remained the same as the optical distance and location were varied. It was found that the HUD symbology at optical infinity does reduce decision times compared to the same format at the location of a conventional instrument panel.
Subthreshold conduction in uniformly doped epitaxial GaAs MESFETs

The channel gating function that determines the conducting cross section of the channel is calculated for the case of a uniformly doped epitaxial GaAs metal-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MESFET) by solution of the Poisson-Boltzmann equation for the n-layer/buffer (substrate) interface. This analysis improves on the depletion approximation by including the interaction between the depletion-edge transition regions of the gate and of the substrate space charge, thus providing a more accurate description of the carrier distribution in the channel for cases near to or into the pinchoff region. An analytical model is derived from the numerical results, and good agreement is found between this model and experimental devices. >
Influence of Crush Mechanisms on Energy Absorption of PMC Square Tubes

An experimental investigation was carried out to correlate the crushing response of square unidirectional polymeric composite tubes with the associated major failure modes in the crushing process. The failure modes of interest included axial splitting, transverse cracking, and delamination. The effect of using external constraints on the crushing performance and energy absorption capability of square tubes was also analyzed. The tubes used in the tests were unidirectional fiber-glass/polyester and fiber-glass/vinyl ester tubes. Tests were performed for flat crushing and using initiators with a 12-mm radius. The results showed that the external constraint can significantly affect the major failure modes in the crushing process, leading to considerable improvement in the specific energy absorption (SEA) of the tubes.
Structure of the Membrane-tethering GRASP Domain Reveals a Unique PDZ Ligand Interaction That Mediates Golgi Biogenesis

Biogenesis of the ribbon-like membrane network of the mammalian Golgi requires membrane tethering by the conserved GRASP domain in GRASP65 and GRASP55, yet the tethering mechanism is not fully understood. Here, we report the crystal structure of the GRASP55 GRASP domain, which revealed an unusual arrangement of two tandem PDZ folds that more closely resemble prokaryotic PDZ domains. Biochemical and functional data indicated that the interaction between the ligand-binding pocket of PDZ1 and an internal ligand on PDZ2 mediates the GRASP self-interaction, and structural analyses suggest that this occurs via a unique mode of internal PDZ ligand recognition. Our data uncover the structural basis for ligand specificity and provide insight into the mechanism of GRASP-dependent membrane tethering of analogous Golgi cisternae.