cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Vascular changes in the dental pulp in the hypercholesterolemic miniature swine

Abstract The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of hypercholesterolemia and a cholesterol-lowering diet on the blood vessels of dental pulp. Eighteen miniature swine were assigned to three different groups on the basis of their diets: hog finisher; hog finisher with added fat and cholesterol, or hog finisher with added fat and cholesterol supplemented with grapefruit pectin. The cholesterol levels were monitored monthly for the duration of the experiment. Biopsy specimens of the aorta, coronary arteries, kidneys, and mandibular incisor teeth were prepared for histologic examination. The degree of narrowing of the central pulpal arterioles was measured with a Bioquant II digitizer attached to an Apple lle computer and a Nikon Labophot light microscope. A few (9.8%) of the pulpal arterioles of the swine on a high-cholesterol diet had atheromatous plaques, but no complete vascular obstructions were observed. No degenerative changes were observed in any of the dental pulps examined.
Elastic and inelastic scattering in silicon using Mössbauer diffraction

The Mossbauer diffraction instrument at the Missouri University Research Reactor has been used to measure the elastic and inelastic contributions to the 444 Bragg reflection in dynamic silicon at room temperature. These measurements used the 46.5-keV gamma rays from high intensity183Ta sources cooled to liquid nitrogen temperature. The main feature of this study compared to similar measurements on silicon is the significantly improved momentum space resolution. ΔQ values of 0.011 A−1 and 0.11 A−1 were measured for the transverse and longitudinal directions, respectively.
The role of the Gendrin mode of VLF propagation in the generation of magnetospheric emissions

Impulsive VLF wave packets and electron beams may be formed in the magnetosphere from the superposition of Gendrin mode components defined by the condition cosθ=2ffH where θ=wave normal angle measured from the Earth's static magnetic field B¯o ,f=frequency of the wave component and fH = electron gyrofrequency. The frequency range of the Gendrin mode spectrum is defined by fL < f < fH/2, where fL = lower hybrid resonance frequency ≈ =fH/43and fHi = proton gyrofrequency. Since the group ray velocity of all Gendrin components is given by υG=c2fHfN where fN = plasma frequency, and is aligned with B¯o and since the longitudinal (parallel to B¯o) component of the phase velocity is the same as υG, a Gendrin wave packet will travel in a homogeneous medium without distortion, constituting a kind of soliton. An electron whose parallel velocity υ∥ is close to υG (i.e., near longitudinal resonance) may become trapped by the E∥ of the Gendrin wave packet, giving up energy to the packet as it propagates in a region of decreasing υG, such as a typical field line path approaching the magnetic equator. As the packet grows E∥ increases causing more trapping and accordingly more wave growth, giving rise to an “Impulsive Wave Instability” (IWI). Wave packet growth is limited by wave loss due to drift away from the main packet of previously generated components that no longer satisfy the Gendrin condition. As the packet leaves the equator growth ceases, the packet collapses and the previously trapped electrons become transient electron beams that may themselves trigger more emissions. It is suggested that the impulsive VLF emissions observed by DE1 and other satellites may be caused by the IWI mechanism.
Intra- and Interrater Variation in the Evaluation of Videofluorographic Swallowing Studies

The objective of this study was to determine the inter- and intrarater reliability in evaluating videofluoroscopic swallowing studies (VFSS). Participants included 4 physicians (3 physiatrists and 1 internist) and 5 speech-language pathologists with at least 5 years experience in evaluating VFSS. The main outcomes of the study were reliability ratios of positive and negative tests in inter- and intrarater evaluations. Raters independently rated each of 20 VFSS on two separate occasions. Traits evaluated included oral stage impairment, aspiration, pharyngeal retention, and several functional components: timing of swallow onset, adequacy of velopharyngeal apposition, laryngeal elevation, epiglottic tilt, pharyngeal contraction, and pharyngoesophageal (PE) segment opening. Reliability varied widely depending on food type and the trait under evaluation. Inter- and intrarater reliability ratios did not differ widely. Reliability ratios values typically were highest (greater than 90%) for aspiration, especially with solid food, and lowest for the functional components. It was concluded that inter- and intrarater reliability in VFSS are adequate for evaluating oral stage, laryngeal penetration, and aspiration and pharyngeal retention, but questionable for functional components.
Blood donors and factors impacting the blood donation decision

The aging of the US population and the evidence that only about 5% of individuals in the United States donate blood each year raise concerns about the assurance of an adequate, safe supply of blood in the future. Blood donation decision making has been investigated world-wide for decades to understand the process better to increase donation efficiency, safety, retention, collection numbers, and diversity of the donor pool. This review focuses on the characteristics of allogeneic blood donors, the motivational sources in donor decision making, and the research concepts and techniques used to examine these factors. Some historic studies considered pivotal, as well as more recent surveys, may not be pertinent to or representative of the current national donor pool. Interpretation of data related to donor characteristics should examine whether demographics mirror the donor pool to assist in targeted recruitment or if targeted recruitment actually leads to the reported demographics. Few recent studies of donor motivation have been published. Modern sources of positive and negative motivation are worth exploring through scientifically sound investigations involving representative cohorts using multifactorial approaches. Strategies that focus on retaining return donors and transforming first-time donors into repeaters would be beneficial. Investigations are needed also to assess research questions and to develop well-designed interventions to test hypotheses and to produce generalizable findings applicable to future donor decision making.
Vascular adhesion protein-1 inhibition provides antiinflammatory protection after an intracerebral hemorrhagic stroke in mice

The systemic immune response has a vital role in propagating the damage of an intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH). Vascular adhesion protein-1 (VAP-1), a semicarbazide (SCZ)-sensitive-amine-oxidase, was found in previous studies to have a role in migration of immune cells. In this study, we hypothesize that VAP-1 inhibition may decrease brain injury by attenuating the transmigration of immune cells to the injury site, and by doing so, reduce cerebral edema and improve neurobehavioral function in mice. Two VAP-1 inhibitors, LJP1586 and SCZ were given 1 hour after ICH induction by either collagenase or autologous blood injection. The VAP-1 siRNA, a VAP-1 gene silencer, and human recombinant AOC3 protein, a VAP-1 analogue, were delivered by intracerebroventricular injection. Postassessment included neurobehavioral testing, brain edema measurement, quantification of neutrophil infiltration and microglia/macrophage activation, and measurement of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), P-selectin, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) expression 24 hours after ICH. We found that LJP1586 and SCZ reduced brain edema and neurobehavioral deficits 24 hours after ICH induction. These two drugs were also found to decrease levels of ICAM-1, MCP-1, TNF-α, and inhibit neutrophilic infiltration and microglia/macrophage activation. We conclude that VAP-1 inhibition provided antiinflammation effect by reducing adhesion molecule expression and immune cell infiltration after ICH.
Thermal conductivity of Y-junction carbon nanotubes

Aron Cummings,1,* Mohamed Osman,1,† Deepak Srivastava,2 and Madhu Menon3 1School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science, Washington State University, Pullman, Washington 99164, USA 2NASA Ames Research Center, MST27A-1, Moffett Field, California 94035, USA 3Department of Physics and Astronomy and Center for Computational Sciences University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky 40506, USA (Received 17 March 2004; published 8 September 2004)
A dislocation-density-based 3D crystal plasticity model for pure aluminum

Abstract A dislocation-density-based crystal plasticity finite-element model (CPFEM) is developed in which different dislocation densities evolve. Based upon the kinematics of crystal deformation and dislocation interaction laws, dislocation generation and annihilation are modeled. The CPFEM model is calibrated for pure aluminum using experimental stress–strain curves of pure aluminum single crystal from the literature. Crystallographic texture predictions in plane-strain compression of aluminum are validated against experimental observations in the literature. The framework is implemented in ABAQUS with user interface UMAT subroutine.
Allelotype of follicular thyroid carcinomas reveals genetic instability consistent with frequent nondisjunctional chromosomal loss.

Numerous studies aimed at the identification of chromosomal regions that are frequently deleted in specific tumor types have pointed to the location and involvement of specific tumor suppressor genes. Previous studies of loss of heterozygosity (LOH) among thyroid tumors have revealed frequent allelic deletions at a few chromosomal regions. A systematic genome-wide examination of LOH in a substantial number of follicular carcinomas, however, has not been performed previously. We assessed LOH at polymorphic markers from each nonacrocentric autosomal arm in a panel of 28 follicular thyroid carcinoma tumor and normal pairs. In contrast to the results of previous allelotype studies, we found high rates of LOH at multiple chromosomal regions. The highest rate of loss in our study was at 2p (50.0%) and 2q (50.0%), and the mean rate of LOH was 20.4%. Marked genetic instability in a subset of tumors was demonstrated by high fractional allelic loss, which accounted for more than 80% of observed LOH in this study. High fractional allelic loss was significantly associated with oxyphilic features and poor differentiation of these tumors. Our data provide evidence of a prevalent phenotype of nondisjunctional whole chromosomal loss in follicular thyroid carcinomas. Genes Chromosom. Cancer 19:43–51, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Application of Single and Dual Multilayer Optics for Powder X-Ray Diffraction

The performance of parallel beam multilayer optics, including a parabolic multilayer Osmic MaxFlux GO-13N and a flat custom multilayer, was evaluated experimentally and compared to Bragg-Brentano and traditional ‘‘parallel beam’’ or ‘‘thin film’’ optical geometries. A novel arrangement of a parabolic multilayer in the incident beam with a flat multilayer in the diffracted beam functioning as an analyzer crystal was proven effective for powder diffraction applications. The dual-optic configuration improves resolution while eliminating sample displacement and transparency errors as expected for a configuration with equatorial divergence below 100 arcseconds. Fundamental parameters fitting showed that the parabolic multilayer can be accurately modeled using a constant Gaussian function, while a long parallel-plate soller collimator requires a constant hat function. No additional convolutions are necessary for the diffracted-beam flat multilayer because of the lower acceptance angle.
A Polytope Related to Empirical Distributions, Plane Trees, Parking Functions, and the Associahedron

The volume of the n -dimensional polytope ? n (x):= {y ? R n : y i ? 0 and y 1 + · · · + y i ≤ x 1 + · · ·+ x i for all 1 ≤ i ≤ n } for arbitrary x:=(x 1 , . . ., x n ) with x i >0 for all i defines a polynomial in variables x i which admits a number of interpretations, in terms of empirical distributions, plane partitions, and parking functions. We interpret the terms of this polynomial as the volumes of chambers in two different polytopal subdivisions of ? n (x) . The first of these subdivisions generalizes to a class of polytopes called sections of order cones. In the second subdivision the chambers are indexed in a natural way by rooted binary trees with n+1 vertices, and the configuration of these chambers provides a representation of another polytope with many applications, the associahedron .
Evidence of Quantum Motion of Hydrogen on Pd(111) in He-Diffraction data

We present elastic He-beam scattering data of the Pd(111)/H system. Diffraction intensities were measured as a function of surface temperature in the range 140°K—320°K. Two remarkable features are observed: the first is the presence of C3v symmetry at (1 × 1) saturation coverage (140°K) and its transformation to C6v symmetry at lower coverages (270°K). The second feature is the anomalous attenuation of the specular He beam accompanying this transformation. Taken together these features provide strong evidence of a fundamental change in the surface charge density corrugation. A classical interpretation of the motion of hydrogen either fails to reproduce the measured attenuation or leads to contradictory and unphysical conclusions regarding the H-metal bond length or surface equilibrium. An alternative quantum mechanical interpretation is developed and is shown to provide consistent and satisfactory explanation of the measurements.
Optimal orbit transfer for out-of-ecliptic mission using a solar electric spacecraft

This paper analyzes the performance capability of a Titan IIIE/Centaur/SEP (15 kw) for out-of-ecliptic missions. Two classes of orbital transfer modes are considered; circular-to-circular and circular-to-elliptic. The results presented compare the achievable heliographic inclination using these different transfer modes and also show the degradations in performance due to constrained launch azimuth and thruster life. It is observed that the latter transfer mode could deliver a spacecraft to a much higher inclination than the former, but the final orbit is very eccentric and could come very close to the sun. In view of the existence of many trajectories by which this mission can be performed, it is suggested that a trajectory other than IAU circular out-of-ecliptic type be used to explore more scientifically rewarding missions.
Sexual Impulsivity, Compulsivity or Dependence: An Investigative Inquiry

The purpose of this study was to gain a clearer description of the symptoms and nature of out-of-control sexual behavior as described by those experiencing the problem. In-depth interviews were conducted with 14 men. This was an exploratory / descriptive study to address if the phenomenon of out-of-control sexual behavior described by adult men who self-identify as having this problem can be most reasonably viewed as compulsive, impulsive, addictive or in ways not yet described. The informants, who described their behavior as impulsive, said that this was more characteristic earlier in their disorder. One informant described his symptoms in terms of compulsivity. All of the informants met the criteria for what could be termed sexual dependence/addiction.
Origin of Ultra-Low Friction of Boric Acid: Role of Vapor Adsorption

Boric acid is a lamellar solid lubricant that can give an ultra-low friction coefficient. The origin of this ultra-low friction of boric acid was investigated using tribology and spectroscopy techniques in inert, humid, and organic vapor conditions. It was found that boric acid itself experiences high friction and catastrophic surface wear when rubbed with a stainless steel ball in dry nitrogen or oxygen environments, but it gives very low friction (µ = 0.06) in humid and acetone vapor environments. Short-chain alcohol vapors (ethanol and n-pentanol) did not show these ultra-low friction values. Vibrational spectroscopy indicates that the lubricating vapors do not adsorb on the basal plane of the boric acid crystal but likely adsorb onto the edge sites of the lamella. The alcohol molecules impinging from the gas phase readily react with the boric acid to form a high vapor pressure molecule that desorbs from the surface. The “unlocking” of the high-energy edge sites by adsorbed acetone and water vapor appears to be needed for the lamella to shear along the basal plane direction.
IMPLICATIONS OF SEISMIC POUNDING ON THE LONGITUDINAL RESPONSE OF MULTI-SPAN BRIDGES: AN ANALYTICAL PERSPECTIVE

Seismic pounding between adjacent frames in multiple-frame bridges and girder ends in multi-span simply supported bridges has been commonly observed in several recent earthquakes. The consequences of pounding include damage to piers, abutments, shear keys, bearings and restrainers, and possible collapse of deck spans. This paper investigates pounding in bridges from an analytical perspective. A simplified nonlinear model of a multiple-frame bridge is developed including the effects of inelastic frame action and nonlinear hinge behavior, to study the seismic response to longitudinal ground motion. Pounding is implemented using the contact force-based Kelvin model, as well as the momentum-based stereomechanical approach. Parameter studies are conducted to determine the effects of frame period ratio, column hysteretic behavior, energy dissipation during impact and near source ground motions on the pounding response of the bridge. The results indicate that pounding is most critical for highly out-of-phase frames and is not significant for frame period ratios greater than 0.7. Impact models without energy dissipation overestimate the displacement and acceleration amplifications due to impact, especially for elastic behavior of the frames. Representation of stiffness degradation in bridge columns is essential in capturing the accurate response of pounding frames subjected to far field ground motion. Finally, it is shown that strength degradation and pounding can result in significant damage to the stiffer frames of the bridge when subjected to large acceleration pulses from near field ground motion record.
Polarization analysis of the Advanced X-ray Astrophysical Facility telescope assembly

The Advanced X-ray Astrophysical Facility (AXAF) telescope consists of six concentric paraboloid-hyperboloid pairs of mirrors operating near grazing incidence. Because of the substantial polarization effects at large angles of incidence, there is concern about the feasibility of polarimetry near the focal plane. The primary mirror acts as a tangentially directed half-wave linear retarder and nearly completely depolarizes the linearly polarized component of the light. The secondary mirror introduces an additional half wave of linear retardance. The tangentially directed one-wave linear retarder leaves the transmitted beam in the incident polarization state. The net instrumental polarization effects are small, and polarimetry is feasible with the AXAF.
The Impact of Product Recalls on Future Product Reliability and Future Accidents: Evidence from the Automobile Industry

Although the goal of a product recall program is to enhance safety, there is little known about whether firms learn from product recalls. This study tests the direct effect of product recalls on future accidents and future recall frequency and indirect effect through future product reliability in the automobile industry. The hypotheses are tested on 459 make-year observations involving 27 automobile makers between the period 1995 and 2011. The findings suggest that increases in recall magnitude lead to decreases in future number of injuries and recalls. This effect, in turn, is partially mediated by future changes in product reliability. The results also suggest that the positive relationship between changes in recall magnitude and changes in future product reliability is 1) stronger for firms with higher shared product assets and 2) weaker for brands of higher prior quality. The findings are robust across alternate measures and alternate model specifications and offer valuable insights for managerial practice and public policy.
Cytomegalovirus drug resistance and clinical implications

Antiviral agents are commonly used for cytomegalovirus (CMV) prophylaxis or therapy after solid organ transplantation. Until recently, the detection of drug-resistant CMV in this setting was rare, but ganciclovir resistance has now been reported to occur in 5-10% of high-risk patient subsets, such as those undergoing primary CMV infection. Persistent viral shedding or progressive CMV disease after several weeks of antiviral therapy may indicate a problem with drug resistance, though laboratory testing is required to confirm this. Rapid genotypic assays for specific mutations in the viral UL97 phosphotransferase or UL54 DNA polymerase genes can be used to detect resistance and predict cross-resistance to other drugs. The emergence of drug resistance may be reduced by optimization of host immunity, use of potent antiviral drug regimens, and adherence to dosing regimens that adequately suppress viral replication.
Lévy's Brownian motion as a set-indexed process and a related central limit theorem

Abstract The Brownian motion with multi-dimensional time parameter introduced by Paul Levy can be viewed as a set-indexed Brownian process with independent increments. This is demonstrated in a way which yields a unified representation of Levy's Brownian motion and the Brownian sheet. Levy's Brownian motion, like Brownian sheet, is shown to be a special case of the additive set-indexed Gaussian process { Z ( A ): A ϵ A } with Cov( Z ( A ), Z ( B ) = μ ( A ∩ B ) for some measure μ. A particular family of spheres is seen to play the same basic role in this representation as the family of orthants plays for Brownian sheet. A related central limit theorem and invariance result are discussed for a natural family of empirical-like processes, indexed by large families of sets A .
Prediction of two-phase annular flow with liquid entrainment

Abstract An analytical prediction of two-phase annular flow with liquid entrainment is presented. The solution is obtained by considering the momentum and mass-transfer components of the interfacial shear and showing that the momentum term is dominant within the liquid film, while the mass-transfer term is the important component within the gas core. An expression is derived for the interfacial shear in terms of liquid film thickness, and this equation is used: 1. (a) To correlate the available CISE film thickness data in circular pipes with two-phase flow of water or alcohol and argon or nitrogen at various pressures. 2. (b) To predict liquid film thickness, liquid film flow rate, and liquid entrainment in the gas core. Typical results are presented for steam-water mixtures flowing in circular pipes at high pressure. 3. (c) To compare the predicted values of liquid film thickness and flow rate with reported measurements in upwards, downwards and horizontal flow.
Equivalent-Step-Index Parameters In Single-Mode Fibers: Measurement And Applications

This paper reviews definitions and methods for obtaining equivalent-step-index (ESI) parameters in single-mode fibers. Emphasis is on spot-size determination and extraction of ESI parameters from the data. A simple method which uses far field data to obtain ESI fiber is also described. A comparison is made between different approaches to show advantages and limitations of each. Finally, the usefulness of ESI parameters is discussed.
Subhumid pasture plant communities entrained by management.

Abstract Many annual cropping lands are being converted to perennial pasture in humid and subhumid areas of the USA as the economic, social, and environmental benefits of managed grazing become evident. Recent evidence about the positive effects of plant diversity on productivity is driving farmers towards management for more complex species mixes than were promoted historically for grazed pastures, but this emphasis has highlighted a lack of understanding about plant community management in pastures. To better understand this system we examined sources of variability in the plant community of a subhumid grassland that was subjected to combinations of disturbance (graze or burn), and amendment (nitrogen, carbon, or ambient), and native grass seeding treatments over 3 years (2004 to 2006). We estimated species cover five times during the study period and ordinated these data with nonmetric multidimensional scaling (NMS). The ordination explained 80% of the variation in the plant community data set. Variance in ordination site scores was ascribed to management (disturbance, soil amendment, and native grass seeding time), the environment (year, season within year, and block), or unexplained (residual) realms with a linear mixed-effects model. The overwhelming source of variability in the plant community (62–99%) was attributed to management. Ordination results illustrated that plant groups sorted out along management gradients: burned plots were shifted towards grasses while forbs and clovers were associated with grazed plots. We demonstrate how a community-level approach can be used to evaluate management regimes in agroecosystems. Our results indicate that disturbance and soil amendments can be used to shape plant communities in subhumid grasslands for specific agronomic and conservation goals.
Single-wall carbon nanotubes at ceramic grain boundaries

We present a new way of perceiving grain boundaries in ceramic/single-wall carbon nanotube (SWNT) composites – a 3-D network of a 2-D mat comprising entangled 1-D SWNT bundles – which could be tailored a priori. This is based on some new evidence obtained from transmission electron microscopy (TEM) studies of well-dispersed Al2O3/10 vol.% SWNT composites.
The Social Security Disability Insurance Program

The Social Security Disability Insurance (SSDI) was added to Social Security in the 1950s and has grown into a large and complex institution in its own right that interacts with several other gover...
Comparison of chromosome analysis and chromosomal microarray analysis: what is the value of chromosome analysis in today’s genomic array era?

Comparison of chromosome analysis and chromosomal microarray analysis: what is the value of chromosome analysis in today’s genomic array era?
Electrical conductivity of polypropylene

The steady-state (d.c.) electrical conductivity of polypropylene has been measured as a function of temperature (25–150°C.) and field strength (0–94 kv./cm.). The temperature coefficient of the conductivity is 34.6 kcal./mole expressed as an activation energy. This is much larger than the activation energy for diffusion of small molecules in the same polymer. Thus, ionization rather than diffusion appears to be the primary activation process. The conductivity is nonohmic; the conductance quotient is a linear function of field strength but is larger than predicted by Onsager's theory. The ion “jump distance” as evaluated from the isothermal field dependence, is the same order of magnitude as the diffusional mean free path estimated from diffusion studies in other polymers. The conductivity, conduction activation energy, and field dependence appear to be relatively insensitive to polymer crystallinity.
Automatically describing software faults

A developers ability to successfully debug a fault is directly related to their ability to comprehend the fault. Notwithstanding improvements in software-maintenance automation, this fault comprehension task remains largely manual and time consuming. I propose an automated approach to describe software faults, thus ameliorating comprehension and reducing manual effort. My approach leverages dynamic analysis, fault localization, and source-code mining to produce a succinct, natural-language fault summary.
Red light regulation of ethylene biosynthesis and gravitropism in etiolated pea stems

During gravitropism, the accumulation of auxin in the lower side of the stem causes increased growth and the subsequent curvature, while the gaseous hormone ethylene plays a modulating role in regulating the kinetics of growth asymmetries. Light also contributes to the control of gravitropic curvature, potentially through its interaction with ethylene biosynthesis. In this study, red-light pulse treatment of etiolated pea epicotyls was evaluated for its effect on ethylene biosynthesis during gravitropic curvature. Ethylene biosynthesis analysis included measurements of ethylene; the ethylene precursor 1-aminocyclopropane-1-carboxylic acid (ACC); malonyl-conjugated ACC (MACC); and expression levels of pea ACC oxidase (Ps-ACO1) and ACC synthase (Ps-ACS1, Ps-ACS2) genes by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction analysis. Red-pulsed seedlings were given a 6 min pulse of 11 micromoles m-2 s-1 red-light 15 h prior to horizontal reorientation for consistency with the timeline of red-light inhibition of ethylene production. Red-pulse treatment significantly reduced ethylene production and MACC levels in epicotyl tissue. However, there was no effect of red-pulse treatment on ACC level, or expression of ACS or ACO genes. During gravitropic curvature, ethylene production increased from 60 to 120 min after horizontal placement in both control and red-pulsed epicotyls. In red-pulsed tissues, ACC levels increased by 120 min after horizontal reorientation, accompanied by decreased MACC levels in the lower portion of the epicotyl. Overall, our results demonstrate that ethylene production in etiolated epicotyls increases after the initiation of curvature. This ethylene increase may inhibit cell growth in the lower portion of the epicotyl and contribute to tip straightening and reduced overall curvature observed after the initial 60 min of curvature in etiolated pea epicotyls.
Characterization of Glycosaminoglycans by 15N-NMR Spectroscopy and in vivo Isotopic Labeling

Characterization of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs), including chondroitin sulfate (CS), dermatan sulfate (DS), and heparan sulfate (HS), is important in developing an understanding of cellular function and in assuring quality of preparations destined for biomedical applications. While use of 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopy has become common in characterization of these materials, spectra are complex and difficult to interpret when a more heterogeneous GAG type or a mixture of several types is present. Herein a method based on 1H−15N two-dimensional NMR experiments is described. The 15N- and 1H-chemical shifts of amide signals from 15N-containing acetylgalactosamines in CSs are shown to be quite sensitive to the sites of sulfation (4-, 6-, or 4,6-) and easily distinguishable from those of DS. The amide signals from residual 15N-containing acetylglucosamines in HS are shown to be diagnostic of the presence of these GAG components as well. Most data were collected at natural abundance of 15N despite its low percentag...
An assessment of MDPV-induced place preference in adult Sprague-Dawley rats

Abstract Objective Most drugs of abuse have both aversive and rewarding effects, and the use and abuse potential of such drugs is thought to be a function of a balance of these affective properties. Characterizing these effects and their relative balance may provide insight into abuse vulnerability. One drug that has received recent attention is methylenedioxypyrovalerone (MDPV), a monoamine transport inhibitor similar to, but significantly more potent than, cocaine. MDPV is self-administered and has been shown to produce aversive and rewarding effects in adult rats. The present study extended this characterization of the affective properties of MDPV by examining its ability to support place conditioning at a range of doses known to produce taste avoidance. Methods Male Sprague-Dawley rats were injected with MDPV (1, 1.8 or 3.2 mg/kg) or saline and placed on the non-preferred side of a place conditioning apparatus for 30 min. On the next day, they were given an injection of saline and placed on the preferred side. This was repeated three times for a total of four conditioning cycles, and side preference was assessed on a final test. Results All doses of MDPV produced significant increases in time spent in the drug-paired chamber, an effect not seen in vehicle-treated animals. Conclusions That the same doses of MDPV induced both taste avoidance and place preference allows assessments of how other factors might impact these effects and how they may, in turn, contribute to its abuse liability.
High temporal resolution velocity estimates from a wind profiler

Existing techniques for rejecting spurious data in single-cycle wind profiles employ a consensus average method to several profiles. This technique sometimes fails and also severely limits temporal resolution. The authors find by first applying a median filter to three successive single-cycle (3 min) spectral data and then guiding the velocity calculation by a first guess, it is possible to extract high-quality wind profiles at 3-min intervals. For support to launch operations, it is critical the wind-profile data be correct. The authors introduce an interactive quality control methodology in which the median spectral data are overlaid with the computed velocity profile. Two test cases are presented.
Effects of leached mirex on experimental communities of estuarine animals.

Experimental communities of various estuarine animals in outdoor tanks were exposed to a continuous flow of water containing mirex for 10 weeks. The mirex was leached from fire ant bait (0.3% active ingredient) by fresh water which was then mixed with salt water to yield exposure concentrations averaging 0.038Μg/L. The experiment simulated runoff from treated land into estuarine areas. Mortality of grass shrimp (Palaemonetes vulgaris), pink shrimp (Penaeus duorarum), common mud crabs (Panopeus herbstii), and striped hermit crabs (Clibanarius vittatus) was significantly higher in tanks containing the toxicant. Mortality of ribbed mussels (Modiolus demissus) and American oysters (Crassostrea virginica) was significantly lower in treated tanks, probably because numbers of both species of crabs, which ate the bivalves, were reduced. Sheepshead minnows (Cyprinodon variegatus) were least affected by mirex. Almost all deaths occurred after 10 or more days of exposure. All exposed animals accumulated mirex, with maximum concentrations ranging from 5,500X (pink shrimp) to 73,700X (soft tissues of oysters) above the concentration in the water. Sand substratum contained mirex up to 1,500X that in the water. The study demonstrated that mirex can be leached from bait by fresh water and concentrated by and affect survival of members in an experimental estuarine community.
Assessment of Bronchial Wall Thickening on Posteroanterior Chest Radiographs in Acute Asthma

A central bronchus that is readily visible end-on in approximately 50% of normal frontal chest radiographs is the bronchus to the anterior segment of either upper lobe. Bronchial wall thickening, or “cuffing,” is considered to be a radiographic sign of an asthmatic exacerbation and is cited as a useful sign in a number of leading textbooks; however, to the authors’ knowledge, no prior chest radiographic study has quantitatively assessed this specific sign in a population of asthmatics suffering an acute exacerbation. Posterior chest radiographs were reviewed retrospectively for 51 nonasthmatic, nonsmoking control subjects and for 45 adult asthmatic subjects during an acute exacerbation of moderate to severe asthma. Readers were blinded as to whether the radiograph was from an asthmatic or control subject. If visible end-on, the bronchus to the anterior segment of either upper lobe was assessed by measuring the diameter of the lumen and the thickness of the bronchial wall. At least one clearly defined bron...
John clarke and the complications of liberty

In the historiography of English and American Baptist movements there is no more familiar convention than this: Baptists early and late championed freedom of the religious conscience, rejected the use of force in spiritual affairs, and, either expressly or by implication, accepted the corollary of religious pluralism. With few exceptions, modern scholars have either assumed or implied by the logic of their arguments that the historic Baptist commitment to religious liberty was not only strong but categoric. By implication also, it did not evolve but arose full blown in the initial Anglo-American Baptist insurgency itself in the seventeenth century. To take one example: in a chapter-length treatment of the “struggle for religious liberty,” a currently authoritative history of American Baptists affirms that colonial Baptists “led other dissenters in championing the cause of religious liberty” and the separation of church and state. Then as later, the advocacy of freedom “for persons of all faiths—or no faith” was their “genius.“ Genius—here is the key claim. Liberty of religious choice and practice is joined to conversion or adult baptism as a principle of the faith both original and definitive. Baptist intoleration in any form becomes a virtual oxymoron.
The Tasaday, Which and Whose? Toward the Political Economy of an Ethnographic Sign

In the month of April 1986, I received a telephone call from a journalist who knew that I followed fairly closely the news of current events in the Philippines. He asked me if I had read the article about the Tasadays in the evening newspaper. They had been found to be a hoax. I had certainly seen the headlines, but was uncertain how to respond to his query: "What does this mean for anthropology? Is that of any consequence for you?" The question bothered me, more than I was then ready to admit. Upon reflection, I find my answer to have been more evasive than satisfying. It is this importance, this meaning, that I would like to recapture here.
Gypsum and water management interactions for revegetation and productivity improvement of brackish marsh in Louisiana

A field study evaluating the effects of gypsum and water management on the survival, yield, and protein content of selected species of marsh vegetation was conducted on an open area inundated by br...
An Exploratory Study of Divided Pricing Effects on Financial Service Quality Expectations

Financial services are often provided to consumers over an extended period of time. In pricing these services, financial services marketers have the ability to charge lump-sum amounts in advance, of the time period during which the service will be provided, or to divide their prices into a sequence of payments extended over the length of the service agreement. Consumer perceptions of the offer and their subsequent expectations regarding service quality may be affected by the marketer's choice of divided or lump-sum pricing. Service quality expectations may be further affected by the reputation of the financial services provider and the risk associated with the financial transaction. The goal of this article is to explore the perceptual effects of divided versus lump-sum pricing, and potential interactions that may exist with company reputation and financial service risk. Using an experimental design, the results indicate that divided pricing has varying effects on consumer expectations of service quality, depending on firm reputation and the underlying risk associated with the financial service. The article concludes with a discussion of the findings and implications for practitioners and researchers.
Diatoms: Unique Eukaryotic Extremophiles Providing Insights into Planetary Change.

The diatoms (Division Bacillariophyta) are aquatic, pigmented single-celled photosynthetic eukaryotes. They are a major component of the food chain in marine, estuarine and freshwater ecosystems. These diploid organisms have the ability to take dissolved silica out of the water column, and use it to create their cell walls. The taxonomy and classification system for the group is based to a large part on cell wall symmetry, as well as the number, type, position and organization of the many perforations in the glass. As a group, diatoms are found in almost every water type of water body around the globe, including a wide range of extreme environments. Individual species, however, have limited distributions and ecological requirements. Preservation of the glass cell walls in sedimentary basins has left nearly a 120 million year record. Species-related distributions, and well-preserved record make diatoms an excellent tool for environmental reconstruction and monitoring. New research on diatoms includes applications to conservation biology, astrobiology, nanotechnology, and biofuels.
Reaction of triethylsilyl radical with sulfides, a laser flash photolysis study

Triethylsilyl radical was generated by laser flash photolysis of a 1:1 (v/v) solution of triethylsilane and di-tert-butyl peroxide. The silicon centered radical was reacted with sulfides to give carbon centered radicals by displacement at sulfur. The carbon radicals were readily detected by their transient absorption spectra. The absolute rate of reaction of triethylsilyl radical with 9-fluorenylphenylsulfide, di-n-butylsulfide, di-sec-butyl sulfide, di-tert-butyl sulfide and di-n-butyl disulfide are 2.40 ± 0.12 × 108 M−1S−1, 1.1 × 107±0.89×106M−1S−1, 8.79± 0.73×106M−1S−1, 3.29±0.18×106 M−1S−1, and 3.41±0.09×108 M−1S−1, respectively.
Cloning of the mouse phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidase gene.

Abstract 15-Lipoxygenases and phospholipid hydroperoxide glutathione peroxidases (PH-GPx) are counterparts in the metabolism of hydroperoxy lipids and a balanced regulation of both enzymes appears to be important for the cellular peroxide tone regulating the expression of redox sensitive genes. In contrast to lipoxygenases the molecular biology of PH-GPx is less well investigated. In this study we cloned the PH-GPx cDNA from a mouse fibroblast cDNA library and the PH-GPx gene from a mouse genomic library. The gene spans approximately 4 kb which includes 1 kb of 5′-flanking region and consists of seven exons and six introns. The immediate promoter region does not contain a TATA box but there are binding sites for several transcription factors which also occur in the porcine gene. Our investigations provide useful tools for future targeted gene disruption studies.
Preoperative evaluation of patients at risk for postoperative pulmonary complications

T HE REPORTED incidence of postoperative pulmonary complications (PPC) varies from 5% to 75% of surgical cases, depending on both the definition of PPC used and the patients' risk factors for PPC. The anesthesiologist as a perioperative medicine specialist should be able to evaluate patients, determine risk for PPC, and plan treatments to prevent these complications. The primary source of information for this preoperative evaluation should be the history and physical examination; tests are needed to confirm the diagnosis or plan for perioperative management only in a select (and fairly small) subgroup of patients.
FBI-1, a factor that binds to the HIV-1 inducer of short transcripts (IST), is a POZ domain protein

The HIV-1 promoter directs the synthesis of two classes of transcripts, short, non-polyadenylated transcripts and full-length, polyadenylated transcripts. The synthesis of short transcripts is activated by a bipartite DNA element, the inducer of short transcripts or IST, located downstream of the HIV-1 transcriptional start site, while the synthesis of full-length transcripts is activated by the viral activator Tat. Tat binds to the RNA element TAR, which is encoded largely between the two IST half-elements. Upon activation by Tat, the synthesis of short RNAs is repressed. We have previously purified a factor called FBI-1 (for factor that binds to IST) whose binding to wild-type and mutated ISTs correlated well with the abilities of these ISTs to direct the synthesis of short transcripts. Here, we report the cloning of cDNAs encoding FBI-1. FBI-1 contains a POZ domain at its N-terminus and four Kruppel-type zinc fingers at its C-terminus. The C-terminus is sufficient for specific binding, and FBI-1 can form homomers through its POZ domain and, in vivo, through its zinc finger domain as well. In addition, FBI-1 associates with Tat, suggesting that repression of the short transcripts by Tat may be mediated through interactions between the two factors.
APPLICATION OF NOCTURNAL ELECTROBIOIMPEDANCE VOLUMETRIC ASSESSMENT: A FEASIBILITY STUDY IN MEN WITHOUT ERECTILE DYSFUNCTION

AbstractPurpose: Electrobioimpedance volumetric assessment is based on the principle of delivering a constant, nondetectable alternating current to a tissue segment. A potential difference measured between the electrodes is converted to impedance. Since impedance changes with variations in blood flow, penile volumetric change is measured noninvasively. We applied this procedure to the development of a new device to evaluate erectile activity nocturnally, and we report our findings in men with no history of erectile dysfunction.Materials and Methods: Our study group comprised 10 men with a mean age of 44 years who had no history of erectile dysfunction. The NEVA [dagger] device consists of a small recording device attached to the upper thigh, and 3 small adhesive electrode pads placed over the hip and on the penile base and glans, respectively. Each subject used the NEVA device for 2 nights.Results: Overall 20 nights of electrobioimpedance volumetric assessment were recorded. Tumescence monitoring revealed...
Prognostic algorithm categorization with PHM Challenge application

Prognostic algorithms can be divided into three major categories. The most basic methods model the component or system reliability using failure time data and conventional models such as the Weibull. When information pertaining to the operating condition and environmental stressors are available, stress-based techniques can be used. The third type of prognostics is termed effects-based. It is truly an individual based prognostics because it uses information as to how the individual component is affected by the usage condition. This paper presents a summary of the three prognostic types and describes the ongoing development of a Matlab-based set of tools to facilitate prognostic model development. The application of models of each type is illustrated with the PHM Challenge data set. The paper shows the advantages of identifying a degradation parameter to provide for the use of effects-based prognostics.
Emotional distress in chronic hepatitis C patients not receiving antiviral therapy.

Abstract Background/Aims : The aim of our study was to determine the prevalence, type, and severity of emotional distress in a large group of consecutive chronic hepatitis C (CHC) patients not receiving anti-viral therapy. Methods : The brief symptom inventory and a 67-item questionnaire with the SF-36 embedded within it were used to study 220 outpatients with compensated CHC. Results : Seventy-seven (35%) participants reported significantly elevated global severity index (GSI) T-scores compared to an expected frequency of 10% in population controls. In addition, significantly elevated depression, anxiety, somatization, psychoticism, and obsessive-compulsive subscale T-scores were reported in 28–40% of subjects. Subjects with an active psychiatric co-morbidity had significantly higher GSI and subscale T-scores compared to subjects with active medical co-morbidities and subjects without medical or psychiatric co-morbidities (P Conclusions : Clinically significant emotional distress was reported in 35% of CHC patients not receiving antiviral therapy. In addition to depression, a broad array of psychological symptoms were observed. Further investigation into the etiopathogenesis and treatment of emotional distress in CHC patients is warranted.