cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Myosin I is located at the leading edges of locomoting Dictyostelium amoebae.

MOVEMENT of a eukaryotic cell along a substrate occurs by extension of lamellipodia and pseudopodia at the anterior and retraction at the posterior of the cell. The molecular and structural mechanisms of these movements are uncertain. Dictyostelium discoideum contains two forms of myosin. Here we show by immuno-fluorescence microscopy that non-filamentous myosin I occurs at the leading edges of the lamellipodial projections of migrating Dictyostelium amoebae, which are devoid of myosin II, whereas filamentous myosin II is concentrated in the posterior of the cells. On the basis of these locations of the two forms of myosin and their known biochemical and biophysical properties, we suggest that actomyosin I may contribute to the forces that cause extension at the leading edge of a motile cell, while the contraction of actomyosin II at the rear squeezes the cell mass forward. Myosin I isozymes might have similar roles in metazoan cells, for example at the leading edges of neuronal growth cones, and in the extension
In Vitro Evaluation of Three Commercial Sustained-Release Papaverine Hydrochloride Products

Abstract Three commercial sustained-release papaverine hydrochloride products in the form of microencapsulated pellets were evaluated. Three different dissolution apparatuses were used: a continuous flow apparatus, the USP rotating basket apparatus, and a modified reciprocating basket apparatus. The frequency rate of the reciprocating basket apparatus could be varied from 0 to 32 strokes/min. Salicylic acid compacts were used as a standard to characterize each apparatus. A linear log–log correlation between dissolution rate and apparatus speed or flow rate was obtained. Release of papaverine hydrochloride from the commercial preparations was affected significantly by the pH of the dissolution media but not by the agitation intensity.
SEDIMENTATION ANALYSIS OF NONINTERACTING AND SELF-ASSOCIATING SOLUTES USING NUMERICAL SOLUTIONS TO THE LAMM EQUATION

The potential of using the Lamm equation in the analysis of hydrodynamic shape and gross conformation of proteins and reversibly formed protein complexes from analytical ultracentrifugation data was investigated. An efficient numerical solution of the Lamm equation for noninteracting and rapidly self-associating proteins by using combined finite-element and moving grid techniques is described. It has been implemented for noninteracting solutes and monomer-dimer and monomer-trimer equilibria. To predict its utility, the error surface of a nonlinear regression of simulated sedimentation profiles was explored. Error contour maps were calculated for conventional independent and global analyses of experiments with noninteracting solutes and with monomer-dimer systems at different solution column heights, loading concentrations, and centrifugal fields. It was found that the rotor speed is the major determinant for the shape of the error surface, and that global analysis of different experiments can allow substantially improved characterization of the solutes. We suggest that the global analysis of the approach to equilibrium in a short-column sedimentation equilibrium experiment followed by a high-speed short-column sedimentation velocity experiment can result in sedimentation and diffusion coefficients of very high statistical accuracy. In addition, in the case of a protein in rapid monomer-dimer equilibrium, this configuration was found to reveal the most precise estimate of the association constant.
An Assessment of Articles Published by Women in 15 Top Political Science Journals

every 4 political science doctoral degrees, 20 years ago they received only 1 in 10 (Sarkees and McGlen 1992, 50-52). As with academic degrees, faculty positions also show an increase in female participation in political science. Women held only 5.5% of all political science faculty positions in the 1960s. That percentage rose to almost 15% by the late 1980s (Sarkees and McGlen 1992, 54). However, female representation in political science faculties has not been equally distributed across academic tiers. While women hold 34% of all full-time
Nonpoint-Source Agricultural Hazard Index: A Case Study of the Province of Cremona, Italy

This paper reports the results of a study aimed at the evaluation of the hazard level of farming activities in the province of Cremona, Italy, with particular reference to groundwater. The applied methodology employs a parametric approach based on the definition of potential hazard indexes (nonpoint-source agricultural hazard indexes, NPSAHI). Two categories of parameters were considered: the hazard factors (HF), which represent all farming activities that cause or might cause an impact on groundwater (use of fertilizers and pesticides, application of livestock and poultry manure, food industry wastewater, and urban sludge), and the control factors (CF), which adapt the hazard factor to the characteristics of the site (geographical location, slope, agronomic practices, and type of irrigation). The hazard index (HI) can be calculated multiplying the hazard factors by the control factors and, finally, the NPSAHI are obtained dividing HI into classes on a percentile basis using a scale ranging from 1 to 10. Organization, processing, and display of all data layers were performed using the geographical information system (GIS) ArcView and its Spatial Analyst extension. Results show that the potential hazard of groundwater pollution by farming activities in the province of Cremona falls mainly in the fifth class (very low hazard).
Design of a spatially phase shifted self-referencing interferometer wave front sensor

Over the last few years the Starfire Optical Range, Air Force Research Laboratory, Kirtland AFB, has been developing the self-referencing interferometer (SRI) wave front sensor (WFS). The objective of this project has been to demonstrate and evaluate the performance advantages the SRI WFS provides over conventional WFSs, particularly in applications requiring laser propagation in strong scintillation. The initial SRI prototypes relied on a temporal phase shifting approach to produce and capture the required interference images for wave front reconstruction. This approach simplified the initial development by minimizing issues related to detector calibration and the co-alignment of beams. In this paper we discuss the next step in our SRI development efforts and present the design of a spatial phase shifting SRI WFS. The design allows all four interference images- with respective phase shifts of 0, π /2, π , and 3 π /2 between the reference and signal beams- to be captured simultaneously on a single camera. Initial results from a laboratory demonstration of the design are shown.
Effects of ferulic acid and some of its microbial metabolic products on radicle growth of cucumber.

An initial survey of the effects of aqueous solutions of ferulic acid and three of its microbial metabolic products at pH 4.5, 6.0, and 7.5 was determined on radicle growth of 11 crop species in Petri dishes. These bioassays indicated that cucumber, ladino clover, lettuce, mung bean, and wheat were inhibited by ferulic, caffeic, protocatechuic, and/or vanillic acids and that the magnitude of inhibition varied with concentration (0–2 mM), phenolic acid, and pH of the initial solution. The pH values of the initial solutions changed considerably when added to the Petri dishes containing filter paper and seeds. The final pH values after 48 hr were 6.6, 6.8, and 7.1, respectively, for the initial 4.5, 6.0, and 7.5 pH solutions. The amounts of the phenolic acids in the Petri dishes declined rapidly over the 48 hr of the bioassay, and the rate of phenolic acid decline was species specific. Cucumber was subsequently chosen as the bioassay species for further study. MES buffer was used to stabilize the pH of the phenolic acid solutions which ranged between 5.5 and 5.8 for all subsequent studies. Inhibition of radicle growth declined in a curvilinear manner over the 0–2 mM concentration range. At 0.125 and 0.25 mM concentrations of ferulic acid, radicle growth of cucumber was inhibited 7 and 14%, respectively. A variety of microbial metabolic products of ferulic acid was identified in the Petri dishes and tested for toxicity. Only vanillic acid was as inhibitory as ferulic acid. The remaining phenolic acids were less inhibitory to noninhibitory. When mixtures of phenolic acids were tested, individual components were antagonistic to each other in the inhibition of cucumber radicle growth. Depending on the initial total concentration of the mixture, effects ranged from 5 to 35% lower than the sum of the inhibition of each phenolic acid tested separately. Implications of these findings to germination bioassays are discussed.
Oxidatively modified LDL and atherosclerosis: An evolving plausible scenario

Abstract Much evidence has accumulated that implicates the oxidative modification of low‐density lipoprotein (LDL) in the early stages of atherogenesis. The antioxidant nutrients alpha‐tocopherol, ascorbic acid, and beta‐carotene have been shown to inhibit in vitro LDL oxidation. In addition, they have been shown to increase the resistance of LDL to oxidation when given to animals and humans. Because plasma levels of these nutrients can be increased by dietary supplementation with minimal side effects, they may show promise in the prevention of coronary artery disease.
Limit on neutrinoless double-beta decay with majoron emission in 82Se.

The University of California, Irvine $^{82}\mathrm{Se}$ double-beta-decay experiment has now accumulated 7960 h of live time. After imposition of kinematic cuts, thirteen candidate events remain in the sum-energy window between 2.0 and 3.0 MeV. If these are interpreted as neutrinoless double-beta decay with the emission of a Goldstone boson (known as the Majoron), we obtain a half-life limit of 4.4\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{20}$ yr (90% confidence level). This gives, dependent upon the various calculations of the nuclear matrix elements, a limit of the majoron coupling constant ${\mathrm{g}}_{\mathrm{ee}}$\ensuremath{\le}(2\char21{}30)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\mathrm{\ensuremath{-}}4}$. .AE
Delta opioid agonists attenuate TAT1-72-induced oxidative stress in SK-N-SH cells

Abstract Previous reports have indicated that the use of δ agonists may prove to be a viable therapeutic tool as an analgesic agent without conventional opioid side effects. In addition, recent evidence suggests that δ ligands may exert neuroprotective effects under a variety of toxin insults. The aim of the present studies was to assess the ability of δ agonists (peptide: [D-Pen 2,5 ] enkephalin (DPDPE), non-peptide: (+)-4-[( aR )- a -((2 S ,5 R )-4-allyl-2,5-dimethyl-1-piperazinyl)-3-methoxybenzyl]- N , N -diethylbenzamide (SNC-80)) and antagonists (naltrindole) to modify dichlorofluorescein (DCFH) fluorescence in the presence of the peroxynitrite generator, 3-morpholinylsydnoneimine chloride (SIN-1) or HIV-protein, TAT 1–72 (TAT) in SK-N-SH cells. Both DPDPE (100 nM) and SNC-80 (250 nM) attenuated (30–50%) the increased oxidative stress in the presence of SIN-1. This effect was partially reversed by addition of naltrindole, suggesting involvement of δ receptors. Peroxynitrite radicals are involved in neurotoxicity associated with TAT. Incubation with TAT (10–250 nM) demonstrated a concentration-dependent increase in oxidative stress up to 200% over control values. Preincubation with δ agonists reduced 50 nM TAT-mediated oxidative stress 15–40%, which was partially reversed by naltrindole. Increasing log-concentrations of DPDPE or SNC-80 (0.01–100 μM) attenuated TAT-mediated oxidative stress up to 50% at 100 μM. In conclusion, these data demonstrate that both peptide and non-peptide delta agonists can partially attenuate intracellular oxidative stress, in part through a receptor-mediated mechanism. This suggests that delta ligands may have therapeutic usefulness in HIV patients beyond analgesia.
Inclusive B-meson decay rates.

We calculate inclusive B decay rates separated according to angular momentum and flavor quantum numbers. In addition to the usual short-distance corrections genuine long-distance effects arise once a separation into longitudinal and transverse components is carried out. We give predictions, which do not involve any adjustable parameters, of branching ratios for all physically relevant channels. Our results differ substantially from free-quark-model predictions. We find agreement with data for semileptonic decays and for the inclusive decay B..-->..FX.
Analysis of models for dichloramine removal by activated carbon in batch and packed-bed reactors using quasilinearization and orthogonal collocation methods

Abstract The reaction between dichloramine and activated carbon in batch and packed bed reactors has been described by a mathematical model involving pore transport and surface reaction rate as rate limiting steps. The poisoning of the surface resulting from the build-up of reaction products on the surface has also been taken into account. The orthogonal collection method was successfully used to solve the models. Quasilinearization was used to determine necessary constants from batch reactor data, and these constants were used to accurately predict breakthrough curves for packed bed reactors.
Palynology of the Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary in the Scollard Formation of Alberta, Canada, and global KTB events

Abstract The present work is based on a restudy of 12 samples collected across the Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary (KTB) from Scollard Locality 2, Alberta, Canada. The KTB occurs at the Nevis coal seam near the top of the Scollard Formation that conformably overlies the Battle Formation. A progressive cooling trend in the prevailing subtropical climate of the Edmonton Group initiated floral changes in the Whitemud Formation underlying the Battle, i.e. about 0.9 Myr before the KTB. The dinosaurs and megaflora of the Scollard are distinct from those of the underlying formations of the Edmonton Group. The floral extinctions were selective and gradual across the KTB in Scollard until a temperate Tertiary flora was established at 1090 cm above or by about 0.38 Myr after the last dinosaur record. The source of the Ir normally does not appear to have affected the flora catastrophically. A fern spore abundance (FSA) occurs above the Ir anomaly in the Nevis coal seam and another one is recognized here in the early Maastrichtian Drumheller coal seam of the Horseshoe Canyon Formation. These FSA's may represent a primary succession of terrestrial plant communities on the land vacated by marine regressions. Global Cretaceous-Tertiary boundary events, such as atmospheric CO2 concentration, extraterrestrial impact, iridium anomaly, volcanic activity, and marine fluctuations are reviewed to assess their influence on biotic extinction. Climatic deterioration and a drastic worldwide marine regression stand out as the major causes for rapid extinctions in the terminal Cretaceous.
Noise-induced instability in self-consistent Monte Carlo calculations

We identify, analyze, and propose remedies for a numerical instability responsible for the growth or decay of sums that should be conserved in Monte Carlo simulations of stochastically interacting particles. ``Noisy`` sums with fluctuations proportional to 1/ {radical}{ital n} , where {ital n} is the number of particles in the simulation, provide feedback that drives the instability. Numerical illustrations of an energy loss or ``cooling`` instability in an Ornstein-Uhlenbeck process support our analysis. (c) 1995 The American Physical Society
Prevalence of occult gynecologic malignancy at the time of risk reducing and nonprophylactic surgery in patients with Lynch syndrome.

Abstract Objective The primary aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of occult gynecologic malignancy at the time of risk reducing surgery in patients with Lynch Syndrome. A secondary aim was to determine the prevalence of occult gynecologic malignancy at the time of surgery for non-prophylactic indications in patients with Lynch Syndrome. Methods A retrospective review of an Inherited Colorectal Cancer Registry found 76 patients with Lynch syndrome (defined by a germline mutation in a DNA mismatch repair gene) or hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer (HNPCC) (defined by Amsterdam criteria) who had undergone hysterectomy and/or salpingo-oophorectomy for a prophylactic or non-prophylactic indication. Indications for surgery and the prevalence of cancer at the time of each operation were reviewed. Results 24 of 76 patients underwent prophylactic hysterectomy and/or bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy for Lynch syndrome or HNPCC. In 9 of these patients, a benign indication for surgery was also noted. 4 of 24 patients (17%, 95% CI=5–38%) were noted to have cancer on final pathology. 20 of 76 patients (26%) undergoing operative management for any indication were noted to have occult malignancy on final pathology. Conclusions Patients should be counseled about the risks of finding gynecologic cancer at the time of prophylactic or non-prophylactic surgery for Lynch syndrome and HNPCC, and the potential need for additional surgery.
Beyond Boundary Objects: Collaborative Reuse in Aircraft Technical Support

Boundary objects are a critical, but understudied, theoretical construct in CSCW. Through a field study of aircraft technical support, we examined the role of boundary objects in the practical achievement of safety by service engineers. Their resolution of repair requests was preserved in the organization's memory via three compound boundary objects. These crystallizations did not manifest a static interpretation, but instead were continually reinterpreted in light of meta-negotiations. This suggests design implications for organizational memory systems which can more fluidly represent the meta-negotiations surrounding boundary objects.
Casimir Force and In Situ Surface Potential Measurements on Nanomembranes

We present Casimir force measurements in a sphere-plate configuration that consists of a high quality nanomembrane resonator and a millimeter sized gold coated sphere. The nanomembrane is fabricated from stoichiometric silicon nitride metallized with gold. A Kelvin probe method is used in situ to image the surface potentials to minimize the distance-dependent residual force. Resonance-enhanced frequency-domain measurements of the nanomembrane motion allow for very high resolution measurements of the Casimir force gradient (down to a force gradient sensitivity of $3\text{ }\text{ }\ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{N}/\mathrm{m}$). Using this technique, the Casimir force in the range of 100 nm to $2\text{ }\text{ }\ensuremath{\mu}\mathrm{m}$ is accurately measured. Experimental data thus obtained indicate that the device system in the measured range is best described with the Drude model.
The effects of typical and atypical neuroleptics on mitogen-induced T lymphocyte responsiveness

The release of clozapine, an atypical neuroleptic which can cause agranulocytosis, has re-stimulated studies of neuroleptic effects ,on the immune system (Lieberman et al 1988). Previous immune studies demonstrated that typical neuroleptics cause morphological changes (Fieve et al 1966) and, in vitro, inhibition ofDNA, RNA, and protein synthesis (Ferguson et al 1975; Baker 1976). In vivo, neuroleptics normalized the blunted response that unmedicated patients had to mitogens (Kerepcic and Jurin 1983; Liedeman and Prilipko 1988). Recently, McAilister et al (1989a) demonstrated that acute neuroleptic changes do not alter phenotypic lymphocyte markers. In particular, the CD5 marker, elevated in 30% of Caucasian schizophrenic patients, is stable for both CD5 high (greater than 5.2% of peripheral iymphocytes being B-cells with the T-cell CD5 marker), and low patients (McAllister et al 1989b). Patients with elevated numbers of CD5 + B lymphocyte are found in the autoimmune disorders Sjogren's syndrome and rheumatoid arthritis. This study asks two questions: (l) What is
Automated Liquid Scintillation Counting Using a Time-Shared Computer

The use of a time-shared computer with specially designed codes in an analytical program employing liquid scintillation spectrometers with card, paper tape, and magnetic tape output substantially reduces the effort required to process large numbers of low level, beta-emitting samples. Automatic data collection and use of the computer by noncomputer trained users is the emphasis of this system. Features include raw data validity checks, calculation of calibration and quench curves, total sample errors, data sorting, half-life corrections, CRT graphical output, and computer-independent input formats. The methods are generally applicable to other general purpose computers using Fortran IV whether time shared or not.
Self-derogating behavior in women—fixed or flexible: The effects of co-worker's sex☆

Abstract Fifty men and 50 women insurance company employees participated in a study designed to demonstrate that situational variables influence the degree to which women engage in self-defeating attributional tendencies. Subjects, who were led to believe they were working on a joint decision-making task with either a male or female, were given predetermined positive or negative feedback about their pair's performance. Results indicated that, as predicted, women's tendencies to derogate themselves were evident when working with males but negligible when working with females. When paired with a female as compared to a male, women subjects accepted more responsibility for success and less for failure, and reported greater confidence about their future performance. The coworker sex variable is interpreted as only one among many that can have impact on a woman's self-perception of competence. The practical implications of these findings are discussed.
Interactive video in New Jersey higher education: A survey

The use of videodisc and interactive video technology in the institutions of higher education in New Jersey is examined. A telephone survey was conducted of all the 53 colleges and universities in ...
Study of the effect of hydration on the tensile strength of a silica nanotube

Molecular dynamics simulations using quantum mechanical potentials have been performed to study the interaction of water with silica. The water–water and water–silica interactions were determined at the ab initio coupled cluster and MBPT(2) levels of theory and the resulting forces and reaction mechanisms encoded into a transfer Hamiltonian. Using forces from the rapid evaluation of the transfer Hamiltonian, two prototypical systems, consisting of an (SiO2)10 ring and a 108 atom silica nanorod, were fractured in the presence of water. It was found that inclusion of water caused a reduction in tensile strength of both systems and that the water dimer, as suggested by ab initio calculations, is the most effective mediator of Si–O bond rupture.
Forme Fruste of HLH (haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis): diagnostic and therapeutic challenges

Infants and young children often present with a persistent febrile episode, sick appearance and negative infectious disease work-up. These patients present serious diagnostic and therapeutic problems to those who provide medical care, particularly since these children are clinically sick. We present a 13 month old child who presented with this clinical challenge. She was ultimately thought to have an incomplete form of HLH with underlying pathophysiology of hypercytokinemia, but also could have been a case of incomplete form of Kawasaki disease. She responded to IVIG, but this does not differentiate one diagnosis from another. Unfortunately we failed to obtain tests to exclude genetic etiologies of HLH, which would be important for predicting severity and risks of future recurrence. We wish to present this case so that one should do a thorough work up to establish a firm diagnosis of HLH and to search for genetic causes of this disorder.
Unintentional Struck by/Struck Against Injury Mortality in the United States, 1999–2006

Our study described demographics and trend analysis in unintentional struck by/struck against fatalities in the United States from 1999 to 2006, and identifies the changes in deaths for specific population subgroups. Mortality data came from the CDC’s Web-based Injury Statistics Query and Reporting System. Trends during 1999–2006 were analyzed by gender, age group and race. Annual percentage change in deaths/rates and log-linear regression was used for time-trend analysis from 1999 to 2006, and examines its significance. During 1999–2006, there were 7,049 deaths; 6,236 (88.5%; 0.56 per 100,000) males, 6,180 (87.7%; 0.32 per 100,000) whites, and 1,925 (27.3%) aged 45–59 years. Overall deaths declined by 4.4% during 1999 to 2006 (P = 0.047 for time-related trend). The proportion of deaths was almost similar among males and females (1.1% vs. 0.3%; P = 0.58), and whites and blacks (0.8% vs. 0.7%; P = 0.44). Almost 21% of all deaths occur in only three states of the US i.e., Texas (n = 592; 0.35 per 100,000), California (n = 513; 0.18) and Florida (n = 375; 0.28). Sub-group analysis showed, injury mortality decreased 5% in males and 1% in females, this change was not statistically significant overtime in both sexes. Prevention efforts for struck by/struck against fatalities should be strengthened and surveillance for these deaths should continue to follow future trends.
Reconsidering Gramsci's interpretation of fascism

Abstract The increasingly accepted notion that fascism was not merely reactionary but revolutionary, competing with Marxism, invites reassessment of Gramsci's interpretation of fascism. With his emphasis on the relative autonomy of political and cultural factors, Gramsci might have recognized the scope for a competing revolution, even if only the better to counter it. But though his initial analysis of the Italian revolutionary situation was almost proto-fascist in certain respects, he dismissed fascist claims to constitute an alternative revolution, and, partly as a result, he consistently underestimated fascism prior to 1926. After his imprisonment, however, he began seeking to devise the categories necessary to understand fascism's unanticipated triumph. Although he continued to sidestep aspects of the fascist challenge, his innovative way of analyzing fascism as a form of Caesarism, engaged in a war of attrition, enabled him to illuminate the peculiar combination of accomplishment, limitation and fail...
Women's and men's ratings of their own and ideal speech

A study (involving 466 high school and college students) comparing women's and men's ratings of their own and ideal speech showed that a greater number of speech characteristics of males differed from the speech characteristics of the ideal speaker. The results of the study combined with material from the writings of women who have made a conscious effort to change their language indicate that before women continue to try to alter their speech by such means as assertiveness training they should consider the desirable characteristics associated with female speech.
Stereotactic percutaneous cryoablation for renal tumors: initial clinical experience.

Purpose: Percutaneous imaging guided tumor ablation has an increasingly prominent role as minimally invasive treatment for renal tumors. Precise cryoprobe placement is essential for successful ablation. CT-Nav® is a novel stereotactic surgical navigation system with the potential to achieve precise percutaneous cryoprobe placement while decreasing radiation exposure compared to conventional computerized tomography guided procedures.Materials and Methods: We performed a prospective pilot study to evaluate the technical feasibility, safety and accuracy of the system during renal cryoablation. Patients with enhancing renal masses amenable to renal cryoablation underwent preoperative computerized tomography with a preplaced tracking sensor taped to the body. Using a stereroscopic infrared camera the tracking sensor was located 3-dimensionally and a tracking handle was used to guide the cryoprobe percutaneously based on preoperative preloaded computerized tomography. Demographic and perioperative data were add...
RNAi mechanisms in Caenorhabditis elegans

RNA interference (RNAi) is a form of gene silencing induced by double stranded RNA (dsRNA) that is processed into short interfering RNAs (siRNAs). RNAi can induce both post-transcriptional and transcriptional gene silencing. In Caenorhabditis elegans, there are several distinct pathways where post-transcriptional or/and transcriptional RNAi mechanisms are involved. RNAi in C. elegans is also systemic and heritable. This review will discuss RNAi related pathways, features of RNAi in C. elegans and possibilities of endogenous gene regulation by RNAi.
Helical computed tomography of liver injuries: A trial of dual phase imaging

This study was performed to evaluate whether consecutive arterial phase and portal venous phase scans of the upper abdomen are contributory in the evaluation of the liver in patients with blunt abdominal trauma. The purpose of the study was to determine whether such dual acquisition using helical computed tomography (HCT) provides improved definition of injuries and significant information about the dynamics of posttraumatic hemorrhage. During a 10-month period, all patients referred for evaluation of blunt abdominal trauma were scanned using a dual phase imaging technique. Two consecutive and comparable scan clusters were programmed to study the upper abdomen, with a slice collimation of 10 mm and a 1∶1 pitch. Intravenous contrast medium was delivered at a rate of 2 ml/sec for a total of 125 ml, with scan delays of 30 and 70 seconds (arterial and venous phases of hepatic enhancement). Thirty-two patients with hepatic lacerations were encountered, and the images from both acquisitions were compared and graded according to lesion conspicuity. The presence of contrast medium extravasation associated with parenchymal injuries was also recorded. In 23 (72%) of the 32 patients, the liver injuries were better defined in the portal venous phase, and in eight (25%) patients, the lesions were equally shown in both phases. In only one case, the lesion was better demonstrated in the arterial phase. Contrast medium extravasation was noted in two patients at the site of liver laceration. In three additional cases, contrast medium extravasation was also noted in associated splenic injuries. In all of these patients, the extravasation (bleeding laceration) was seen only in the images corresponding to the portal venous phase. Dual phase HCT of the upper abdomen does not provide significant additional information in the evaluation of patients with liver injuries resulting from blunt abdominal trauma. With a single scan cluster through the upper abdomen after a 70-second injection-scan delay, lesion definition is optimal, and vascular opacification remains adequate.
Gamma Rays Excited by Inelastic Scattering of Neutrons in Various Elements

Neutrons of energy 3.7 Mev have been inelastically scattered in a number of elements. The energies of the $\ensuremath{\gamma}$ rays so excited have been measured by scintillation counting and pulse height analysis. In some cases, the cross sections for $\ensuremath{\gamma}$-ray excitation have been calculated.
Multichannel vector field control module for LLRF control of superconducting cavities

The field control of multiple superconducting RF cavities with a single Klystron, such as the proposed RF scheme for the ILC, requires high density (number of RF channels) signal processing hardware so that vector control may be implemented with minimum group delay. The MFC (Multichannel Field Control) module is a 33- channel, FPGA based down-conversion and signal processing board in a single VXI slot, with 4 channels of high speed DAC outputs. A 32-bit, 400MHz floating point DSP provides additional computational and control capability for calibration and implementation of more complex control algorithms. Multiple high speed serial transceivers on the front panel and the backplane bus allow a flexible architecture for inter-module real time data exchanges. An interface CPLD supports the VXI bus protocol for communication to a SlotO CPU, with Ethernet connections for remote in system programming of the FPGA and DSP as well as data acquisition.
Dextrose-Induced Subsynovial Connective Tissue Fibrosis in the Rabbit Carpal Tunnel: A Potential Model to Study Carpal Tunnel Syndrome?

In this pilot study, hypertonic dextrose solution was used to induce fibrosis of the subsynovial connective tissue (SSCT) and create an animal model of potential use in the study of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS). The SSCT of the carpal tunnel in 15 New Zealand white rabbits were injected with 0.05 ml of 10% dextrose solution in 1 paw and 0.05 ml of saline in the contralateral paw, to serve as a control. The animals were killed at 1, 2, 4, 8, or 12 weeks. While the saline side showed minimal changes at any time period, the hypertonic dextrose side showed progressive noninflammatory SSCT fibrosis, with vascular proliferation and thickening of collagen bundles. Demyelination of the median nerve developed at 12 weeks after the injection on the dextrose side. These findings are similar to the progression of pathology noted in humans with CTS.
The Effects of Adverse Pressure Gradients on Momentum and Thermal Structures in Transitional Boundary Layers: Part 2—Fluctuation Quantities

The effects of adverse pressure gradients on the thermal and momentum characteristics of a heated transitional boundary layer were investigated with free-stream turbulence ranging from 0.3 to 0.6 %. The acceleration parameter, K, was kept constant along the test section. Both surface heat transfer and boundary layer measurements were conducted. The boundary layer measurements were conducted with a three-wire probe (two velocity wires and one temperature wire) for two representative cases, K1 = {minus}0.51 {times} 10{sup {minus}6} and K2 = {minus}1.05 {times} 10{sup {minus}6}. The surface heat transfer measurements were conducted for K values ranging from {minus}0.045 {times} 10{sup {minus}6} to {minus}1.44 {times} 10{sup {minus}6} over five divergent wall angles. The Stanton numbers of the cases with adverse pressure gradients were greater than that of the zero-pressure-gradient turbulent correlation in the low-Reynolds-number turbulent flow, and the difference increased as the adverse pressure gradient was increased. The adverse pressure gradient caused earlier transition onset and shorter transition length based on Re{sub x}, Re*{sub {delta}}, and Re{sub {theta}} in comparison to zero-pressure-gradient conditions. As expected, there was a reduction in skin friction as the adverse pressure gradient increased. In the U{sup +}-Y{sup +} coordinates, the adverse pressure gradients had a significant effectmore » on the mean velocity profiles in the near-wall region for the late-laminar and early transition stations. The mean temperature profile was observed to precede the velocity profile in starting and ending the transition process, opposite to what occurred in favorable pressure gradient cases in previous studies. A curve fit of the turbulent temperature profile in the log-linear region for the K2 case gave a conduction layer thickness of Y{sup +}=9.8 and an average Pr{sub t}=0.71. The wake region of the turbulent mean temperature profile was significantly suppressed.« less
Brain Endothelial Cells Synthesize Neurotoxic Thrombin in Alzheimer’s Disease

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is characterized by neuronal death; thus, identifying neurotoxic proteins and their source is central to understanding and treating AD. The multifunctional protease thrombin is neurotoxic and found in AD senile plaques. The objective of this study was to determine whether brain endothelial cells can synthesize thrombin and thus be a source of this neurotoxin in AD brains. Microvessels were isolated from AD patient brains and from age-matched controls. Reverse transcription-PCR demonstrated that thrombin message was highly expressed in microvessels from AD brains but was not detectable in control vessels. Similarly, Western blot analysis of microvessels showed that the thrombin protein was highly expressed in AD- but not control-derived microvessels. In addition, high levels of thrombin were detected in cerebrospinal fluid obtained from AD but not control patients, and sections from AD brains showed reactivity to thrombin antibody in blood vessel walls but not in vessels from controls. Finally, we examined the ability of brain endothelial cells in culture to synthesize thrombin and showed that oxidative stress or cell signaling perturbations led to increased expression of thrombin mRNA in these cells. The results demonstrate, for the first time, that brain endothelial cells can synthesize thrombin, and suggest that novel therapeutics targeting vascular stabilization that prevent or decrease release of thrombin could prove useful in treating this neurodegenerative disease.
Human Cytomegalovirus Infection Dysregulates the Canonical Wnt/β-catenin Signaling Pathway

Human Cytomegalovirus (HCMV) is a ubiquitous herpesvirus that currently infects a large percentage of the world population. Although usually asymptomatic in healthy individuals, HCMV infection during pregnancy may cause spontaneous abortions, premature delivery, or permanent neurological disabilities in infants infected in utero. During infection, the virus exerts control over a multitude of host signaling pathways. Wnt/β-catenin signaling, an essential pathway involved in cell cycle control, differentiation, embryonic development, placentation and metastasis, is frequently dysregulated by viruses. How HCMV infection affects this critical pathway is not currently known. In this study, we demonstrate that HCMV dysregulates Wnt/β-catenin signaling in dermal fibroblasts and human placental extravillous trophoblasts. Infection inhibits Wnt-induced transcriptional activity of β-catenin and expression of β-catenin target genes in these cells. HCMV infection leads to β-catenin protein accumulation in a discrete juxtanuclear region. Levels of β-catenin in membrane-associated and cytosolic pools, as well as nuclear β-catenin, are reduced after infection; while transcription of the β-catenin gene is unchanged, suggesting enhanced degradation. Given the critical role of Wnt/β-catenin signaling in cellular processes, these findings represent a novel and important mechanism whereby HCMV disrupts normal cellular function.
Psychosocial impairment and treatment utilization by patients with borderline personality disorder, other personality disorders, mood and anxiety disorders, and a healthy comparison group

This study compared psychosocial functioning and treatment utilization in 130 participants who were diagnosed with a borderline personality disorder (BPD), a non-BPD personality disorder (OPD), a mood and/or anxiety disorder (MAD), or had no current psychiatric diagnosis and served as a healthy comparison group. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th Edition) diagnoses, psychosocial functioning, and treatment utilization were determined by using well-established semistructured research interviews conducted by trained doctoral-level clinicians. Analysis of variance revealed the most severe deficits in functioning characterized the BPD group across areas of global functioning with more moderate impairments in functioning occurring in OPD and MAD groups. The BPD group was characterized by significantly greater psychiatric and nonpsychiatric treatment utilization than the other groups. These findings indicate that BPD as well as other personality disorders are a source of considerable psychologic distress and functional impairment equivalent to, and at times exceeding, the distress found in mood and anxiety disorders. The public health impact of BPD diagnosis is highlighted by the high rates of psychiatric and nonpsychiatric treatment utilization.
Locally controllable manipulation by stable pushing

When a polygonal object is pushed with line contact along an edge, the push is called stable if the object remains fixed to the pusher. The object is small-time locally controllable by stable pushing if, by switching among pushing edges, it can be pushed to follow any path arbitrarily closely. Since the pushes are stable by the frictional mechanics, pushing plans can be executed without position feedback of the object. We derive a necessary and sufficient condition for a polygon to be small-time locally controllable by stable pushing: the pushing friction coefficient must be nonzero and the set of feasible pure forces (forces applied through a polygon edge and passing through the center of friction) must positively span the plane. We interpret this condition in terms of the polygon shape, the location of the center of friction, and the pushing friction coefficient, allowing us to characterize classes of polygons with this fundamental "manoeuvrability" property.
Integrated CPU cache power management in multiple clock domain processors

Multiple clock domain (MCD) chip design addresses the problem of increasing clock skew in different chip units. Importantly, MCD design offers an opportunity for fine grain power/energy management of the components in each clock domain with dynamic voltage scaling (DVS). In this paper, we propose and evaluate a novel integrated DVS approach to synergistically manage the energy of chip components in different clock domains. We focus on embedded processors where core and L2 cache domains are the major energy consumers. We propose a policy that adapts clock speed and voltage in both domains based on each domain's workload and the workload experienced by the other domain. In our approach, the DVS policy detects and accounts for the effect of inter-domain interactions. Based on the interaction between the two domains, we select an appropriate clock speed and voltage that optimizes the energy of the entire chip. For the Mibench benchmarks, our policy achieves an average improvement over no-power-management of 15.5% in energy-delay product and 19% in energy savings. In comparison to a traditional DVS policy for MCD design that manages domains independently, our policy achieves an 3.5%average improvement in energy-delay and 4% less energy, with a negligible 1% decrease in performance. We also show that an integrated DVS policy for MCD design with two domains is more energy efficient for simple embedded processors than high-end ones.
Differential effects of Hsc70 and Hsp70 on the intracellular trafficking and functional expression of epithelial sodium channels

The members of the cytoplasmic 70-kDa heat shock protein family are involved in appropriate folding and trafficking of newly synthesized proteins in the cell. Hsc70, which is expressed constitutively, and Hsp70, the expression of which is stress- and heat shock-induced, are often considered to have similar cellular functions in this regard, but there are suggestions that the intracellular functions of these homologous but not identical proteins may differ. We tested the hypothesis that Hsc70 and Hsp70 would have differential effects on the expression of the epithelial sodium channel (ENaC). In Xenopus oocytes, overexpression of human Hsc70 decreased the functional (defined as amiloride-sensitive whole-oocyte current) and surface expression of murine ENaC (mENaC) in a concentration-dependent fashion. In contrast, coinjection of a moderate amount of Hsp70 cRNA (10 ng) increased the functional and surface expression of mENaC, whereas a higher amount of coinjected Hsp70 cRNA (30 ng) decreased mENaC functional and surface expression. The increase in mENaC functional expression with coinjection of 10 ng of Hsp70 cRNA was antagonized by the additional coinjection of Hsc70 cRNA in a concentration-dependent fashion. These data are consistent with Hsc70 and Hsp70 having differential and antagonistic effects with regard to the intracellular trafficking of mENaC in oocytes, which may have an impact on our understanding and potential treatment of diseases of aberrant ion channel trafficking.
Normal improvement for point rendering

Models created from 3D scanners are becoming more prevalent as the demand for realistic geometry grows and scanners become more common. Unfortunately, scanned models are invariably noisy. This noise corrupts both samples' positions and normals. Our proposed method for improving normals is derived from a feature-preserving geometry filter. Many such filters are available, most operating on models represented as triangle meshes. We argue that for point rendering, removing noise from normals is more important than removing noise from geometry, because normals have a greater impact on the model's perceived quality. Two approaches for smoothing point models have been proposed. Point set surfaces estimate smoothed normals and geometry by least-squares fitting to locally weighted neighborhoods. The spectral processing method creates a local height field, which is then filtered and resampled. The former method is not feature preserving, while the latter requires resampling to a regular grid, which can degrade features. Our method is novel in that it preserves features and doesn't require resampling.
FROG measurement of femtosecond pulses propagating through water

We describe measurements of the spectrogram of femtosecond pulses, propagating between 5-700 mm in distilled water. The observed pulse breakup is qualitatively related to points of stationary phase and related to possible precursor activity.
Evaluation of a model framework to estimate soil and soil organic carbon redistribution by water and tillage using 137Cs in two U.S. Midwest agricultural fields

Abstract Cultivated lands in the U.S. Midwest have been affected by soil erosion, causing soil organic carbon (SOC) redistribution in the landscape and other environmental and agricultural problems. The importance of SOC redistribution on soil productivity and crop yield, however, is still uncertain. In this study, we used a model framework, which includes the Unit Stream Power-based Erosion Deposition (USPED) and the Tillage Erosion Prediction (TEP) models, to understand the soil and SOC redistribution caused by water and tillage erosion in two agricultural fields in the U.S. Midwest. This model framework was evaluated for different digital elevation model (DEM) spatial resolutions (10-m, 24-m, 30-m, and 56-m) and topographic exponents (m = 1.0–1.6 and n = 1.0–1.3) using soil redistribution rates from 137Cs measurements. The results showed that the aggregated 24-m DEM, m = 1.4 and n = 1.0 for rill erosion, and m = 1.0 and n = 1.0 for sheet erosion, provided the best fit with the observation data at both sites. Moreover, estimated average SOC redistributions were 1.3 ± 9.8 g C m− 2 yr− 1 in field site 1 and 3.6 ± 14.3 g C m− 2 yr− 1 in field site 2. Spatial distribution patterns showed SOC loss (negative values) in the eroded areas and SOC gain (positive value) in the deposition areas. This study demonstrated the importance of the spatial resolution and the topographic exponents to estimate and map soil redistribution and the SOC dynamics throughout the landscape, helping to identify places where erosion and deposition from water and tillage are occurring at high rates. Additional research is needed to improve the application of the model framework for use in local and regional studies where rainfall erosivity and cover management factors vary. Therefore, using this model framework can help to improve the information about the spatial distribution of soil erosion across agricultural landscapes and to gain a better understanding of SOC dynamics within eroding and previously eroded fields.
The Odd Man Karakozov: Imperial Russia, Modernity, and the Birth of Terrorism – By Claudia Verhoeven

Some scholars argue that terrorism has existed throughout history, citing such examples as the ancient Jewish revolts against the Romans or the assassins' cult during the Middle Ages. Other histori...