cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
An unusual case of iatrogenic haemoptysis

Summary Transbronchial needle aspiration (TBNA) of the hilar and mediastinal lymph nodes and lung masses is a powerful tool in the diagnostic evaluation of mediastinal adenopathies including malignancies. As its use becomes more widespread, few cases have been reported with complications. We present a case of a 57-year-old man who was transferred to our institution for uncontrolled haemoptysis following endobronchial ultrasound-guided TBNA. At our institution, emergent bronchoscopy revealed a large clot distal to the right upper lobe bronchus without a visible fistula tract. A CT pulmonary angiogram and a subsequent pulmonary angiogram showed an aneurysm originating from the right superior pulmonary vein. Management was conservative with strict blood pressure control and lowering the left atrial pressure allowed spontaneous resolution of the bleed.
Fabrication of three-dimensional scaffolds for heterogeneous tissue engineering

The development of biomedical scaffolds mimicking a heterogeneous cellular microenvironment for a specified regulation of cell-fates is very promising for tissue engineering. In this study, three-dimensional scaffolds with heterogeneous microstructure were developed using a DMD-PP apparatus. During the fabrication process, this apparatus can efficiently switch monomers to form microstructures with localized, different material properties; the resolution in the arrangement of material properties is comparable to the characteristic size of functional subunits in living organs, namely, a hundred microns. The effectiveness of this DMD-PP apparatus is demonstrated by a woodpile microstructure with heterogeneous fluorescence and also by a microporous cell-culturing scaffold with selected sites for protein adhesion. Cell-cultivation experiment was performed with the microporous scaffold, in which selective cell adhesion was observed.
The effects of pH and addition of an organic buffer (HEPES) on nitrate transformation in Fe0-water systems

The feasibility of using zero-valent iron (Fe 0 ) powder to remediate nitrate-contaminated water was studied using bench-scale batch reactors. Operational parameters, such as Fe 0 dosage (w/v), initial concentration of nitrate-nitrogen, pH, and the use of an organic buffer (HEPES) were studied, specifically focusing on the effects of pH and the addition of HEPES on nitrate transformation using zero-valent iron powder. Nitrate-nitrogen was removed by 94% when 0.01 M of HEPES was added to a non-shaking batch reactor containing 20 mg/l nitrate-nitrogen and 4% (w/v) of Fe 0 . Shaking was proved to be more efficient than no shaking. Using the response surface methodology it was found that nitrate removal was closely related to pH. At low pH (e.g., pH 11), the transformation of nitrate was fast and efficient only for low concentration of nitrate in the Fe 0 -H 2 O system. At normal pH range (pH = 6 to 8), nitrate removal was usually lower than 50% without buffer treatment. The addition of the organic buffer (HEPES) could greatly enhance the nitrate transformation in a wide pH range (e.g., pH = 2 to 11).
Abridgment of reduction of eddy current losses by the inverted turn transposition and the twisted lead transposition

The first section of the paper contains a brief review of the general theory underlying the determination of extra copper losses in armature windings carrying alternating current. Simplified methods of calculation are then described. The second part extends the study of the inverted turn transposition to the special case of three-phase windings, with two phases connected in series to form a single-phase winding and the third phase left idle. Formulas and tables are presented to show what reductions in copper losses may be expected for this connection, and to aid in deciding what type of transposition is best for a given winding. The final section of the paper deals with the twisted lead transposition, and presents formulas and tables showing reductions in extra losses to be gained from this method of inversion and connection. Details of the derivations of the formulas and examples of the use of the twisted lead transposition are contained in appendixes at the end of the paper.
Black French Theatre of the Eighties

At the end of this essay is a list of the black French plays first published in book form between 1980 and May 1983. In all there are 43 plays in 31 books, not counting mimeographed and journal items, nor performed plays that have not yet been printed. The rate of book publication continues high. I commented on most of the 1980 and 1981 plays in ‘Black French Theatre: The Latest Plays’ and ‘Black French Theatre Update’ so in a first section I shall present those missed from that period as well as the ones of 1982 and 1983. This will be done alphabetically by author except that Diouf is postponed until Sall, the two having written on the same subject.
Prospects for redox-based therapy in neurodegenerative diseases

Accumulating evidence supports a primary role for perturbations in redox metabolism in the pathogenesis of many neurodegenerative diseases. This evidence derives mainly from molecular genetic analysis, direct observation from post-mortem human brain, and biochemical, pathologic, and therapeutic studies in transgenic and other animal models of neurodegeneration. We review here the evidence for redox-mediated pathogenesis in neurodegenerative diseases. The emerging class of redox-based therapeutic agents is then discussed. Drugs of this class are distinguished by their proximate effect, which is oxidative and not phosphorylative.
Identification of receptor regulatory proteins, membrane glycoproteins, and functional characteristics of adenylate cyclase in vesicles derived from the human neutrophil.

Human neutrophils were disrupted by brief sonication under conditions which preserve the hormone sensitivity of adenylate cyclase and yield minimal granule lysis. Fractions enriched in adenylate cyclase were analysed for hormonal and guanine nucleotide regulation of the enzyme as well as structural proteins. Adenylate cyclase was activated by PGE_1 and isoproterenol in a GTP-dependent fashion, while f-met-leu-phe and C5a gave no stimulation. Cholera toxin treatment, which specifically modifies cyclase-related GTP-binding proteins, caused a dose-dependent enhancement of GTP activation, in which GTP alone activated maximally and PGE1 was without further effect. The following proteins were detected in the cyclase-containing vesicles: (a) a 42 K mol. wt protein labeled selectively by cholera toxin; (b) protein subunits observed in SDS gels at 214, 165, 105 and 47 K, of which the 47 K band was the most prominent and comigrated with actin; (c) prominent lectin-binding activities at 165 K (concanavalin A and wheat germ agglutinin) as well as at 100 K (wheat germ agglutinin); and (d) a set of proteins and lectin-binding activities in fractions containing β-glucuronidase activity distinct from adenylate cyclase containing vesicles. The identification of receptor-controlled cyclase, GTP-binding regulatory proteins, cytoskeletal elements and unique lectin-binding activities in a single vesicle preparation should contribute to an understanding of receptor-mediated control of neutrophil function.
Diagrams in biology

Biologists depend on visual representations, and their use of diagrams has drawn the attention of philosophers, historians, and sociologists interested in understanding how these images are involved in biological reasoning. These studies, however, proceed from identification of diagrams on the basis of their spare visual appearance, and do not draw on a foundational theory of the nature of diagrams as representations. This approach has limited the extent to which we understand how these diagrams are involved in biological reasoning. In this paper, I characterize three different kinds of figures among those previously identified as diagrams. The features that make these figures distinctive as representational types, furthermore, illuminate the ways in which they are involved in biological reasoning.
What is our university overhead cost anyway

Describes an investigation into a university’s expenditure. Identifies a lack of clarity as to what proportion represents direct faculty costs and overhead costs respectively. Puts forward a number of recommendations to improve the clarity of the reporting system.
Design of an Illumination Technique to Improve the Identification of Surface Flaws on Optics

An edge illumination technique has been designed using a monochromatic light source that improves the identification of surface flaws on optics. The system uses a high-resolution CCD camera to capture images of the optics. Conventional edge illumination methods using white light sources have been plagued by light leaking around the optics causing high background levels. The background combined with lower resolution cameras has made it difficult to determine size and intensity characteristics of the flaws. Thus photographs taken of the optics are difficult to analyze quantitatively and do not allow for the detection of small, faintly illuminated sites. Infrared diodes have been utilized to illuminate large-scale (43 cm x 43 cm) fused silica optics, and a two-dimensional array CCD camera has been used to collect the image data. Flaw sizes as small as ~10 μm have been detected. A set of frames has been built to support the infrared sources where one diode array per side is magnetically attached to the frame. The diodes inject light into the optic causing the sites to illuminate, which can be detected by the camera. A customized mounting design has been implemented to secure the frames to the stage, or base, for image acquisition. The design uses a dual bracket assembly to support the frames. With this design for optical illumination, quantitative data has been obtained of the surface flaws. A comparison of the peak intensity, total integrated intensity and size of the flaws measured in these images and the size of the flaws as measured using a microscope will be presented.
Research on police pursuits: advantages of multiple data collection strategies

Presents an investigation of the perennial problem of collecting valid empirical data on police vehicle pursuits, an organizationally sensitive and often controversial behavior, through a new data collection strategy using police emergency radio transmissions. Analyzes taped vehicle pursuits recorded on the Illinois State Police Emergency Radio Network and codes them for content as a data source on police vehicle pursuits. Compares these radio‐transmission data with more conventional pursuit data collection methods, e.g. administrative/official data, elicited‐pursuit‐reporting‐form data, and officer‐self‐report data. Evaluates these as an alternative or supplemental data window for empirically studying the incidence and content of police vehicle pursuits. While some differences appear, results from emergency‐channel radio transmission data largely converge with earlier findings from more conventional data collections. Divergent findings, which are few, appear to be largely the artifacts of different samplings of pursuits that the different data collection methods yield, rather than a result of differential validity.
The Impact of an Increase in Volatility on Trading Costs

The current low volatility environment keeps trading costs low. But what if volatility increases? In this paper, we discuss how an increase in volatility will affect execution strategies and estimate its impact on portfolio trading costs. We derive our estimates by simulating the Goldman Sachs PortX algorithm. PortX derives the optimum execution strategy by balancing the cost-risk trade-off and therefore allows us to examine how an increase in volatility changes the optimum strategy. Our simulations suggest that doubling volatility will increase the expected trading cost on large cap portfolios by 20% to 25% (depending on trading aggressiveness) and by almost 50% on small cap portfolios. In our simulations, doubling volatility increases trading costs both directly (for a fixed execution horizon) and indirectly: the resulting increase in execution risk reduces the optimum execution horizon further increasing trading costs.
Comparison of the magnetoencephalogram and electroencephalogram

The spatial response of the magnetoencephalogram (MEG) to sources in the brain's cortex is compared with that of the electroencephalogram (EEG). This is done using computer modeling of the head which is approximated by 4 concentric spherical regions that represent the brain and surrounding bone and tissue. Lead fields are calculated at points on the cortex for unipolar, bipolar and quadrupolar MEG and EEG measurements. Since lead fields are patterns of the sensitivity of these measurements to a source at various locations and orientations, they provide a convenient means for comparison. It is found that a unipolar MEG has a very different lead field than a unipolar EEG. Hence, this type of MEG detects sources at different locations and orientations than this EEG. Although bipolar MEG and EEG lead fields are found to have similar patterns, the MEG lead field is narrower than that of the EEG and hence 'sees' a smaller area on the cortex than the EEG. This is because the potentials measured by the EEG are 'smeared' by the low-conductivity skull; the magnetic fields measured by the MEG are not smeared. Quadrupolar MEG and EEG lead fields are found to be about the same. The responses of bipolar MEGs and EEGs to distributed sources, which are composed of aligned and randomly oriented dipoles, are compared. It is found that for both types of sources, the MEG 'sees' an area on the cortex which is approximately 0.3 times that for the EEG. Hence, the MEG appears to be useful for detecting a more restricted group of sources than the EEG.
Using MATLAB to Enhance Engineering Students’ Analytical Problem-Solving Skills

Symbolic analysis is one of the most feared tasks for many undergraduate students in engineering disciplines. Students argue that, without numerical values, it is difficult to make a sense out of a long expression. Instructors have experienced that students are diffident in such analyses; and they quickly lose interest in the topic. This trend has been enhanced with more prevalent use of computers in engineering curricula in recent years. In the senior level Mechanical Vibrations course, this author has experimented with an innovative procedure of using mathematical software such as MATLAB to enhance the students’ learning experience with extensive symbolic calculations. In this experiment, MATLAB is used as a rudimentary plotting device that allows students to plot curves. The procedure provides students a systematical approach to produce parametric plots from an analytical expression, and to validate the expression on physical grounds. This innovative procedure has changed students’ perception about long expressions, decreased their fear, and boosted their confidence in their analytical skills. All these help student to develop a more positive altitude towards symbolic analyses.Copyright © 2007 by ASME
Number of alternatives and similarity in verbal-discrimination learning

Lists of 16 two-alternative (2-A) or four-alternative (4-A) verbal-discrimination items of either low similarity (LS), high within-item similarity (WIS), or high between-item similarity (BIS) were learned by 144 S s. When biases that favored 2-A lists were removed, fewer errors occurred in learning 4-A lists than 2-A lists. More errors occurred in BIS than LS lists with WIS producing an intermediate number of errors. Recognition and recall measures taken after learning revealed better retention of incorrect alternatives from 2-A lists than from 4-A lists, and better retention of WIS items than of BIS or LS items. The results were interpreted in terms of a frequency theory of verbal-discrimination learning.
How various factors influence the CO2/O2 specificity of ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase

Temperature, activating metal ions, and amino-acid substitutions are known to influence the CO2/O2 specificity of the chloroplast enzyme ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase. However, an understanding of the physical basis for enzyme specificity has been elusive. We have shown that the temperature dependence of CO2/O2 specificity can be attributed to a difference between the free energies of activation for the carboxylation and oxygenation partial reactions. The reaction between the 2,3-enediolate of ribulose 1,5-bisphosphate and O2 has a higher free energy of activation than the corresponding reaction of this substrate with CO2. Thus, oxygenation is more responsive to temperature than carboxylation. We have proposed possible transition-state structures for the carboxylation and oxygenation partial reactions based upon the chemical natures of these two reactions within the active site. Electrostatic forces that stabilize the transition state of the carboxylation reaction will also inevitably stabilize the transition state of the oxygenation reaction, indicating that oxygenase activity may be unavoidable. Furthermore, the reduction in CO2/O2 specificity that is observed when activator Mg2+ is replaced by Mn2+ may be due to Mg2+ being more effective in neutralizing the negative charge of the carboxylation transition state, whereas Mn2+ is a transition-metal ion that can overcome the triplet character of O2 to promote the oxygenation reaction.
Problems, problems, problems ...

Physics and Astrophysics: A Selection of Key Problems. By V. L. Ginzburg. Pergamon: 1985. Pp.125. Hbk £16.75, $23.50; pbk £8.95, $12.50.
How many species of prokaryotes are there

The microorganisms classified in the two prokaryotic domains of the tree of life, Bacteria and Archaea, possess immense metabolic diversity, and their activities are critical in processes ranging from sewage treatment to regulating the composition of the atmosphere. Especially in light of the rate of modern climate change, it is essential to understand how microbial communities affect ecosystem functioning and how human activities, such as agriculture, waste management, and climate modification, affect microbial communities. Thus discovering and understanding the diversity of microbial communities (the number of species and their relative abundances) is a high priority in ecology. In this issue of PNAS, Curtis et al. (1) address what is therefore one of the most fundamental questions in microbial ecology—how many species of prokaryotes are there in nature? Only in the last 10–15 years has it even been possible to pose the question and hope realistically for an answer in the case of prokaryotes. Less than 30 years ago, the answer to the even more fundamental question “How many individuals are there?” was revised in such a way as to change the entire focus of environmental microbiology. So to appreciate the significance of the question and answer provided by Curtis et al. (1), it is useful to review that recent history briefly. Before the mid-1970s, microbial ecologists assessed the population size of bacteria in soils, sediments, and natural waters by culturing the microbes and counting the number of colonies that grew on nutrient agar plates. For seawater, the cultivable prokaryotic population size was a few hundred cells per milliliter (2, 3). That was an almost inconsequential number relative to the thousands or tens of thousands of planktonic algal cells that could be seen (literally, with a microscope) in the same milliliter of water. The primary importance then ascribed to environmental …
High rates of nitrification and nitrate turnover in undisturbed coniferous forests

THE importance of nitrate (NO–3) in the internal nitrogen cycle of undisturbed coniferous ecosystems has not been widely recognized1,2. Nitrate concentrations in soils from these forests tend to be low, and assays measuring net nitrification usually show exceedingly slow rates3,4. It may be, however, that microbial assimilation of NO–3 is substantial in these soils, and that net nitrification rates greatly underestimate gross rates5. Here we use a 15N isotope-dilution technique in intact soil cores to measure gross rates of nitrification and microbial assimilation of NO–3 in eleven undisturbed forest ecosystems of New Mexico and Oregon. We found that gross nitrification rates were surprisingly high in all of the forests examined. Net nitrification rates poorly predicted gross rates because the soil microbial communities had the capacity to assimilate almost all of the NO–3 produced. To our knowledge, this is the first report of gross nitrification and NO–3 assimilation rates in intact soil samples from a large number of contrasting forest ecosystems. Our results contradict previous assumptions that nitrification rates are low in mature coniferous forests and suggest that current models greatly underestimate the role of the microbial community in preventing NO–3 loss.
Levels of Polyadenylation Factor CstF-64 Control IgM Heavy Chain mRNA Accumulation and Other Events Associated with B Cell Differentiation

Cleavage stimulation factor (CstF) is one of the multiple factors required for mRNA polyadenylation. The concentration of one CstF subunit (CstF-64) increases during activation of B cells, and this is sufficient to switch IgM heavy chain mRNA expression from membrane-bound form to secreted form. To extend this observation, we disrupted the endogenous CstF-64 gene in the B cell line DT40 and replaced it with a regulatable transgene. Strikingly, a 10-fold decrease in CstF-64 concentration did not markedly affect cell growth but specifically and dramatically reduced accumulation of IgM heavy chain mRNA. Further reduction caused reversible cell cycle arrest in G0/G1 phase, while depletion resulted in apoptotic cell death. Our results indicate that CstF-64 plays unexpected roles in regulating gene expression and cell growth in B cells.
Queue response to input correlation functions: continuous spectral analysis

Queueing performance in a richer, heterogeneous input environment is studied. A unique way to understand the effect of second- and higher-order input statistics on queues is offered, and new concepts of traffic measurement, network control, and resource allocation are developed for high-speed networks in the frequency domain. The technique applies to the analysis of queue response to the individual effects of input power spectrum, bispectrum, trispectrum, and input-rate steady-state distribution. The study provides clear evidence that of the four input statistics, the input power spectrum is most essential to queueing analysis. Furthermore, input power in the low-frequency band has a dominant impact on queueing performance, whereas high-frequency power to a large extent can be neglected. >
High-temperature equilibrium between thorium dioxide, thorium dicarbide and carbon

Abstract Measurements of CO pressure over the thorium dioxide, thorium dicarbide, carbon phase region were made in the range 1328–1976 K. These values were used with other consistent measurements to derive the 298 K second-law heat of formation and entropy 129±6 kJ/mol and 67.0±3 J·mol −1 ·K −1 , and the third-law heat of formation −122±9 kJ/mol, for thorium dicarbide.
Finite element computer simulation of oxygen diffusion in packaged liquids

The objectives of this study were to apply the finite element method (FEM) to the computer simulation of oxygen diffusion in a liquid food system contained in a permeable package, and to apply a mathematical lumped method to evaluate the integrity of a permeable package. The cylindrical package (2.425cm radius) was made of polyethylene (2 mil) with solid acrylic at the top and base. A micro-oxygen electrode was introduced from the top surface, 1.37 cm from the radial wall. Changes in dissolved oxygen were recorded using a data acquisition system. Experimental data were compared to predicted values obtained using a finite element technique computer model (Engineering Analysis Systems Verification and Theoretical Manuals, Swanson Analysis Systems, Inc., Houston, PA). Acceptable predictions were obtained for two systems: a cylindrical permeable package and a semi-infinite impermeable container. The model can be modified to simulate other geometrical configurations, packaging materials and liquid food systems.
On the use of personal computers in teaching the principles of concurrent processing (abstract only)

Our experience at the University of South Florida with the use of personal computers in an undergraduate class in systems programming is described. To illustrate the principles of concurrent processing, we have implemented a simple, compact, multi-tasking kernel in an exceptionally interactive programming environment. The system has evolved over the past three years and the programs are implemented on IBM PCs and PC compatible computers. A laboratory of some 40 systems within the college serve as workstations for a class of approximately 100 students.
Anisotropic evolution of 5D Friedmann-Robertson-Walker spacetime

We examine the time evolution of the five-dimensional Einstein field equations subjected to a flat, anisotropic Robertson-Walker metric, where the 3D and higher-dimensional scale factors are allowed to dynamically evolve at different rates. By adopting equations of state relating the 3D and higher-dimensional pressures to the density, we obtain an exact expression relating the higher-dimensional scale factor to a function of the 3D scale factor. This relation allows us to write the Friedmann-Robertson-Walker field equations exclusively in terms of the 3D scale factor, thus yielding a set of 4D effective Friedmann-Robertson-Walker field equations. We examine the effective field equations in the general case and obtain an exact expression relating a function of the 3D scale factor to the time. This expression involves a hypergeometric function and cannot, in general, be inverted to yield an analytical expression for the 3D scale factor as a function of time. When the hypergeometric function is expanded for small and large arguments, we obtain a generalized treatment of the dynamical compactification scenario of Mohammedi [Phys. Rev. D 65, 104018 (2002)] and the 5D vacuum solution of Chodos and Detweiler [Phys. Rev. D 21, 2167 (1980)], respectively. By expanding the hypergeometric function near a branch point, we obtain the perturbative solution for the 3D scale factor in the small time regime. This solution exhibits accelerated expansion, which, remarkably, is independent of the value of the 4D equation of state parameter $w$. This early-time epoch of accelerated expansion arises naturally out of the anisotropic evolution of 5D spacetime when the pressure in the extra dimension is negative and offers a possible alternative to scalar field inflationary theory.
Elevated relapse rates in pediatric compared to adult MS persist for at least 6 years

Abstract Objective To compare relapse rates in pediatric-onset multiple sclerosis (POMS) and adult-onset multiple sclerosis (AOMS) over the first 6-years of disease. Methods Patients with relapsing-remitting disease onset were identified from the Partners Pediatric MS Center, Massachusetts General Hospital and Partners MS Center, Brigham and Women's Hospital. 84 POMS and 258 AOMS patients were included. Annualized relapse rates (ARR) for each individual year from year 1 to year 6, after first attack were compared using Poisson regression, as was expanded disability status scale (EDSS) score at the visit closest to each year interval. Results ARR was significantly higher in POMS compared to AOMS at individual years (except year 4), and was not significantly affected by adjustment for gender, race and proportion of time on treatment. Despite a 2.30 times higher relapse rate over 6-years, EDSS between groups did not differ. ARR in years 1–5 did not impact year 5 disability measured by EDSS in POMS. Conclusions Our findings demonstrate that higher ARR in POMS relative to AOMS is sustained over 6-years, suggesting a more inflammatory nature and potential disconnect between relapses and disability measured by EDSS early in POMS. This data may be useful when designing clinical trials for POMS.
A unified teleoperated-autonomous dual-arm robotic system

A description is given of a complete robot control facility built as part of a NASA telerobotics program to develop a state-of-the-art robot control environment for performing experiments in the repair and assembly of spacelike hardware to gain practical knowledge of such work and to improve the associated technology. The basic architecture of the manipulator control subsystem is presented. The multiarm Robot Control C Library, a key software component of the system, is described, along with its implementation on a Sun-4 computer. The system's simulation capability is also described, and the teleoperation and shared control features are explained. >
Novel application of tyramide signal amplification (TSA): ultrastructural visualization of double-labeled immunofluorescent axonal profiles.

SUMMARY Fluorescent immunocytochemistry (FICC) allows multiple labeling approaches when enzyme-based techniques are difficult to combine, such as in double-labeling experiments targeting small-caliber axonal segments. Nevertheless, the conversion of FICC to a product visible at the electron microscopic (EM) level requires labor-intensive procedures, thus justifying the development of more user-friendly conversion methods. This study was initiated to simplify the conversion of FICC to EM by employing the unique properties of tyramide signal amplification (TSA), which allowed the simultaneous targeting of a fluorescent tag and biotin label to the same antigenic site. Briefly, one of two antigenic sites typically co-localized in damaged axonal segments was visualized by the application of a fluorescent secondary antibody, with the other tagged via a biotinylated antibody. Next, an ABC kit was used, followed by the simultaneous application of fluorophore–tyramide and biotin–tyramide. After temporary mounting for fluorescent digital photomicroscopy, sections were incubated in ABC and reacted with diaminobenzidine before EM analysis. Double-labeling fluorescent immunocytochemistry with TSA clearly delineated damaged axonal segments. In addition, these same axonal segments yielded high-quality EM images with discrete electron-dense reaction products, thereby providing a simple and reproducible means for following fluorescent analysis with EM. (J Histochem Cytochem 48:153–161, 2000) The combination of fluorescent tags with distinct emission spectra and the use of enzyme-based staining procedures constitute the most widely used tools in double/multiple-labeling immunocytochemistry (ICC). Although enzyme-based multiple-labeling techniques are excellent for the analysis of axodendritic and axosomatic reactions or for immunocytochemical co-localization of nuclear and cytoplasmic antigens, the spatial resolution of these techniques is generally insufficient to detect antigens co-localized in the same axonal segment. Fluorescent markers are more appropriate for such studies. However, their use necessitates further conversion methods when subsequent electron microscopic (EM) investigations are needed to confirm their
Salivary EGF levels reduced in diabetic patients.

Abstract Oral problems such as periodontitis are recognized major complications associated with diabetes. Salivary derived growth factors, including epidermal growth factor (EGF), are thought to play a role in helping maintain levels of oral health, promoting wound healing, and maintaining mucosal integrity. In the present study, salivary levels of EGF in diabetic vs. healthy control patients was evaluated. Twenty-one diabetic patients participated in this study. Age, race, sex and smoking histories were matched with 21 systematically healthy nondiabetic patients. Three milliliters of unstimulated resting whole saliva was collected from each patient at 6 h intervals up to 42 h and whole saliva protein concentrations were determined for each sample. EGF concentrations for each sample were quantitated spectrophometrically utilizing an immunoassay. Diabetic patients had greater salivary protein concentrations over 42 h of collection with a mean of 1.502±0.09 vs. 1.242±0.05 mg/ml for healthy control patients. The EGF concentration was significantly lower ( p
A new hardware implementation of the H.264 8×8 transform and quantization

H.264/AVC is the most powerful technology in video compression/transmission area because of its high coding efficiency and robustness. In this paper, we propose a new hardware architecture of 8×8 integer transform and quantization for H.264 which promises very low resource utilization. In the architecture, each pixel is processed one by one on a simplified pipeline without multiplication. Thus, redundant modules, which are used for block-based or row-based parallel processing, can be reduced. Experimental results show that it can reduce resource usage 30% compared to previously proposed models. It can be used for mobile applications. It covers a wide range of parameters as well.
Generation dependent mesophase behavior in extended amphiphilic dendrons in the shape of macromolecular dumbbells

Small angle X-ray scattering studies of 2nd and 3rd generation based extended amphiphilic dendrons in the shape of macromolecular dumbbells with identical hydrophilic volume fractions suggest 2-D hexagonal columnar and Pmn micellar cubic mesophases, respectively, elucidating the role of shape induced interface curvature in mesophase formation.
Iron sparing and recycling in a compartmentalized cell

This review focuses on economizing, prioritizing and recycling iron in Chlamydomonas, a reference organism for discovering mechanisms of acclimation to poor iron nutrition in the plant lineage. The metabolic flexibility of Chlamydomonas offers a unique opportunity to distinguish the impact of iron nutrition on photosynthetic versus respiratory metabolism, and the contribution of subcellular compartments to iron storage and mobilization. Mechanisms of iron sparing include down regulation of protein abundance by transcript reduction or protein degradation. Two well-studied examples of hierarchical iron allocation are the maintenance of FeSOD in the plastid and heterotrophic metabolism in acetate-grown cells at the expense of photosynthetic metabolism. The latter implicates the existence of a pathway for inter-compartment iron recycling when access to iron becomes limiting.
An empirical approach for predicting retention characteristics in supercritical fluid chromatography

The retention process in supercritical fluid chromatography depends on the solute volatility as well as the strength of the mobile phase. When the capacity factor is plotted as a function of temperature at constant pressure, the curve passes through a maximum point. At higher temperatures, the capacity factor decreases as the temperature increases, and at lower temperatures the opposite is observed. This makes prediction of the capacity factor in supercritical fluid chromatography complicated. Rigorous thermodynamic equations to predict retention characteristics result in complex equations. A simple empirical approach for prediction of the capacity factor as a function of mobile phase density and column temperature is presented.
The Nucleation Kinetics of Barium Sulfate in NaCl Solutions up to 6 m and 90°C

Abstract Induction periods for the nucleation of barium sulfate were experimentally determined as a function of supersaturation in NaCl solutions from 0 to 6 m at 25°C and in 1.0 m NaCl solutions at temperatures from 25 to 90°C. Employing the classical nucleation theory, the interfacial tension between barite and supersaturated solutions with NaCl was estimated to be about 93 mJ/m2 (less than 0.003 m NaCl) and 79 mJ/m2 (1 m NaCl) at 25°C. It decreases slightly with increasing temperature (to 71 mJ/m2 in 1 m NaCl solutions at 90°C). It was observed that the induction period decreases with increasing NaCl concentrations to 3 m and then starts to increase slightly at a given temperature and saturation index. The electrolyte effect on nucleation was proportional to the enhanced solubility of barium sulfate in NaCl solutions. This phenomenon may result from decreased crystal-solution interfacial tensions caused by increased barite solubility in electrolyte solutions. The increase in induction period at high NaCl concentrations may be due to the substitution of Na+ ions into the lattice of BaSO4.
Foster Family Characteristics and Behavioral and Emotional Problems of Foster Children: Practice Implications for Child Welfare, Family Life Education, and Marriage and Family Therapy

Orme and Buehler's article, “Foster Family Characteristics and Behavioral and Emotional Problems of Foster Children: A Narrative Review,” is an important and timely contribution to the child welfare literature. Foster care placement has been increasing for almost 2 decades, and the new millennium finds a record number of children in care. Recent federal legislation has raised concerns among child welfare professionals that this trend will continue and perhaps even become more serious. Thus, the authors' synthesis of research on families in general, and foster families in particular, may be even more important in the future.
Railroad Rate Deregulation and Uncertainly of Farm-Level Prices for Corn

Uncertainty of country elevator prices for corn, in terms of error-variance and mean-squared forecast errors, failed to increase in response to the deregulation in 1980 of railroad rates. Regression analysis was used to separate the uncertainty impacts of deregulation from those of other unanticipated changes in supply and demand. Factors influencing uncertainty included unexpected changes in storage costs, export demand, corn futures, and rail car utilization. Some of the factors creating price uncertainty prior to deregulation were replaced by new uncertainty factors occurring as a result of deregulation.
Contracts and types

Addressing the need for a more formal account of service descriptions and service contracts with a mobile process algebra.
A laplace transform technique for calculating diffusion time lags

Abstract A simple formula for diffusional time lags is derived for systems governed by linear equations with source terms. This formula is used to calculate the time lag for systems in which diffusion, dissolution and reversible or irreversible reactions occur. It is also shown that time lags can be calculated for nondiffusional systems. The application of time lags to pharmacokinetics is discussed in particular
Expression of Calcium Transporters in the Retina of the Tiger Salamander (Ambystoma tigrinum)

Changes in intracellular calcium concentration, [Ca2+]i, modulate the flow of visual signals across all stages of processing in the retina, yet the identities of Ca2+ transporters responsible for these changes are still largely unknown. In the current study, the distribution of plasma membrane and intracellular Ca2+ transporters in the retina of tiger salamander, a model system for physiological studies of retinal function, was determined. Plasma membrane calcium ATPases (PMCAs), responsible for high-affinity Ca2+ extrusion, were highly expressed in the salamander retina. PMCA isoforms 1, 2, and 4 were localized to photoreceptors, whereas the inner retina expressed all four isoforms. PMCA3 was expressed in a sparse population of amacrine and ganglion neurons, whereas PMCA2 was expressed in most amacrine and ganglion cells. Na+/Ca2+ exchangers, a high-capacity Ca2+ extrusion system, were expressed in the outer plexiform layer and in a subset of inner nuclear and ganglion layer cells. Intracellular Ca2+ store transporters were also represented prominently. SERCA2a, a splice variant of the sarcoplasmic-endoplasmic Ca2+ ATPase, was found mostly in photoreceptors, whereas SERCA2b was found in the majority of retinal neurons and in glial cells. The predominant endoplasmic reticulum (ER) Ca2+ channels in the salamander retina are represented by the isoform 2 of the IP3 receptor family and the isoform 2 of the ryanodine receptor family. These results indicate that Ca2+ transporters in the salamander retina are expressed in a cell type-specific manner.
The accidental traveller: John Adam’s journey through northern Spain, 1779–1780

En 1779, John Adams, futuro segundo presidente de los Estados Unidos de America, viajo a mediados del invierno de ese ano a lo largo del norte de Espana. En su ruta a Paris para negociar un tratado de paz entre gran Bretana y sus antiguas colonias rebeldes de Norte America, una via de agua obligo a Adams y a su grupo a desembarcar inesperadamente en El Ferrol, donde continuaron de camino hasta Francia. Mediante el uso de su diario como principal fuente de estudio, este trabajo se ocupa del accidentado viaje de Adams, de sus impresiones acerca de las condiciones economicas, politicas y religiosas de los lugares que el visito, junto con los pensamientos del futuro presidente a proposito de las posibilidades de establecer una relacion mas cordial y cercana entre su pais y la Espana de Carlos III. In 1779, John Adams, the future second president of the United States, traveled in mid-winter across northern Spain. En route to Paris to negotiate a peace treaty between Great Britain and its rebellious former North American colonies, a leaking vessel forced Adams and his party to land expectedly at El Ferrol and then continue overland to France. Using his diary as its principal source, this essay focuses of Adams’s accidental journey, his impressions of the economic, political, and religious condition of the places he visited, together with the future president’s thoughts about the possibility of creating closer relationship between his country and the Spain of Charles III.
Prediction and verification of the periodic response of a single-degree-of-freedom foam-mass system by using incremental harmonic balance

Vehicle occupants are exposed to low-frequency vibration that can cause fatigue, lower back pain, spine injuries, etc. Understanding the behavior of a seat-occupant system is helpful for minimizing these harmful vibrations. The behavior of a seat-occupant system is strongly affected by the properties of seating foam which exhibits nonlinear viscoelastic properties. Therefore, understanding the foam behavior and the way it affects the occupant response is a prerequisite for any successful and realistic seat-occupant model. The simplest model representing a seat-occupant system is a single-degree-of-freedom foam-mass system, which is also the simplest model representing a seat-occupant system. Here the dynamic response of such a system is studied. The governing equations of the system are developed for three different nonlinear viscoelastic foam models with real system parameters estimated using data from slow cyclic compression tests on a foam sample cut from a car seat. Being highly nonlinear, the local stiffness and hence the dynamic response of the foam-mass system in vertical direction highly depends on the supported mass. The incremental harmonic balance method is used to determine the steady-state behavior of the system subjected to a harmonic base excitation at different excitation levels and frequencies. This method significantly reduces the time required to generate the steady-state response compared to the time required when using direct time integration. The effects of riding mass, base excitation levels, system parameters and damping coefficients on the response are investigated. The predicted system response is seen to depend on the foam model type although each model’s parameters are identified using the same compression test data. To study this dependence on foam constitutive model, experiments are conducted on a single-degree-of-freedom foam-mass system subjected to harmonic base excitation. The simulated response predictions using the three models are found to significantly deviate from the experimental results. One of the foam models is then modified to incorporate rate dependence of foam parameters resulting in response predictions that are in good agreement with experimental results.
Investigating learning with web lectures

Learning can be improved when instructors use classroom time to engage students with hands-on activities and other kinds of active learning. However, time and cost constraints, especially in the higher education domain, can make integrating active learning into course curricula a significant challenge. With this dissertation, we have designed, implemented, and rigorously evaluated an inexpensive, easy-to-implement educational intervention that facilitates increased student engagement and active learning. A key technological component of this intervention is web lectures: condensed, studio-recorded lectures made available via the web as multimedia presentations that combine video of the lecturer, audio, lecture slides, and a table of contents. When web lectures are used to replace the traditional in-class lecture, classroom time can be utilized in other more engaging, learning-beneficial ways. This work is not just about using web lectures, however; it is also about making them with the best combination of modalities (e.g., video, audio, slides, narrative text) and about technologies and pedagogics that bridge the gap between studying web lectures individually and subsequently applying and extending that lecture material in the classroom. We explored the effectiveness of this educational intervention using two complementary threads of investigation. First, we used a controlled, experimental study to evaluate individual's learning with web lectures as standalone learning objects. Here, we found that our web lectures are more effective and efficient than other similar educational multimedia presentations. Second, we used longitudinal, naturalistic studies to evaluate the deployed classroom intervention as a whole. With these studies, we found that a course taught using our web lecture intervention produces as good or better student grades and significantly improved perception of learning and satisfaction than a traditionally-taught course. Guidelines for making and using web lectures are provided.
Evaluation of the Coulter Counter Model S

We have evaluated the prototype and production models of the Coulter Counter Model S over an 11-month period. The built-in diluting system had a precision of better than 1 %. The precision and stability of the production instrument were superior to those of our reference methods. Correspondence of the results of the Model S and those of the routine clinical laboratory was excellent over a 6-week period. Elevated white cell counts produced a small positive error in the hemoglobin determination proportional to the number of white blood cells (WBC). The major difficulties in the use of the instrument were specimen interaction (“carryover”), calibration, and quality control. We have investigated these difficulties and found that they produce no serious limitations in the use of the instrument. Our findings suggest that if other instruments achieve the same performance specifications obtainable with ours, the Coulter Counter Model S represents a major advance in medical instrumentation.
Claim for Thyroid Subnormality in Vitamin E-Low Rats.

ConclusionHistological subnormality of the thyroid was not observed in the paralyzed suckling young of vitamin E-low mothers or in old animals (22 months of age) chronically deprived of vitamin E.
HREM of Epitaxial YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7 Thin Films

Thin films of YBa2Cu3O7 have been prepared by evaporation of Cu, Y and BaF2 onto (001) SrTiO3, LaGaO3, and LaAlO3 and subsequent annealing. Their microstructures have been examined by HREM of cross-sectional specimens. Epitaxial (001) grains of YBa2Cu3O7 form near the substrate interface in thin films but (001) and (010) grains tend to nucleate as the film thickens. 90° grain boundaries are therefore common, as well as other defects such as small-angle boundaries, dislocations and stacking faults. HREM of the substrate/superconductor interface indicates regions of perfect epitaxy, highly distorted areas, amorphous regions and areas showing evidence of interdiffusion. The relationship of these microstructural features to critical current density is discussed.