cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Family worries: Assessment of interpersonal anxiety in children from violent and nonviolent families.

Assessed children's worries about the behaviors of significant people in the family with a new measure that focused on both the target of the worry and the types of behavior that worry the child. One hundred twenty-one 7- to 12-year-old children in families with and without domestic violence rated, on a 4-point scale ranging from I (not a lot) to 4 (a lot) how much they worried about 20 behaviors concerning five people in the family: mother, father, brother, sister, and self Varimax analyses provided two factors-Vulnerable and Harmful-that indicate worry about the vulnerable and harmful behavior of each family member. The measure has acceptable internal and test-retest reliability, as well as known-groups validity. Children in the domestic violence families were significantly more worried about the vulnerability of their mothers, brothers, and sisters, and they tended to worry more about the harmful behavior of their fathers than did children in the comparison group. Significant associations were found, f...
Microstructure evolution in tial alloys with b additions: Conventional solidification

Solidification microstructures of arc-melted, near-equiatomic TiAl alloys containing boron additions are analyzed and compared with those of binary Ti-Al and Ti-B alloys processed in a similar fashion. With the exception of the boride phase, the matrix of the ternary alloy consists of the same α2 (DO19) and γ (Ll0) intermetallic phases found in the binary Ti-50 at. pct Al alloy. On the other hand, the boride phase, which is TiB (B27) in the binary Ti-B alloys, changes to TiB2 (C32) with the addition of Al. The solidification path of the ternary alloys starts with the formation of primary α (A3) for an alloy lean in boron (∼1 at. pct) and with primary TiB2 for a higher boron concentration (∼5 at. pct). In both cases, the system follows the liquidus surface down to a monovariant line, where both α and TiB2 are solidified concurrently. In the final stage, the α phase gives way to γ, presumably by a peritectic-type reaction similar to the one in the binary Ti-Al system. Upon cooling, the α dendrites order to α2 and later decompose to a lath structure consisting of alternating layers of γ and α2.
Comparison of visual effects of immersion fluids for dermoscopic examination of acral volar melanocytic lesions

Abstract Background Acral volar melanocytic lesions have a high potential for malignancy. Dermoscopy is a useful, noninvasive tool for the diagnosis of such malignancies. The use of immersion fluids can provide better visual effects and improve the diagnostic accuracy of dermoscopic examinations. Methods Fifteen volar melanocytic lesions, including two palmar and 13 plantar lesions, were included in our study. We compared the visual effects of two different immersion fluids as an interface for dermoscopy. Four combinations of immersion fluid (ultrasound jelly or mineral oil) and observation mode (polarized or nonpolarized light) were compared for visual effects during the dermoscopic examination of lesions based on air bubble inclusion and microstructure visibility. Results Both the mineral oil and the ultrasound jelly allowed at least one microstructure to be clearly visible in each image of the acral volar melanocytic lesions examined. All modes of observation achieved acceptable visual effects. The use of mineral oil and the polarized light mode resulted in the formation of fewer bubbles than the use of mineral oil and the nonpolarized light mode ( p p Conclusion The use of either mineral oil or ultrasound jelly as interface provides acceptable visual effects for the dermoscopic examination of acral volar melanocytic lesions. The use of the polarized light mode reduced the reflection and scattering of light, resulting in better visual effect than that achieved using the nonpolarized light mode. In the early diagnosis of acral melanoma, choosing the appropriate application of immersion fluid and observation mode yields the optimal visual effect.
Formation of inositol trisphosphate by muscarinic agents does not stimulate transmitter release in cultured sympathetic neurons.

Sympathetic neurons obtained from 10-day-old chick embryos were cultured and used to measure phospholipid hydrolysis and the release of [3H]norepinephrine ([3H]NE) after treatment with muscarinic agents. Acetylcholine (1-100 pM) produced large increases (200-1500%) in the formation of [3H]inositol tris ([3H]IP3), bis([3H]IP2) and mono ([3H]IP) phosphates. Muscarinic receptor agonist, muscarine, increased [3H]IP formtion by 600%. Atropine (10 nM) antagonized the effects of muscarine. Nicotine (3-100/~M) did not increase [3H]IP formation. Acetylcholine (10 and 100/~M) failed to enhance the release of tritium from [3H]NE-loaded sympathetic neurons, but addition of an excess of K produced a large increase. These data suggest that sympathetic neurons possess muscarinic receptors, which are coupled to phospholipid hydrolysis. Lack of [3H]NE release by acetylcholine indicates that sympathetic neurons do not contain a significant pool of bound Ca, which can be mobilized by [3H]IP3 generated by the action of acetylcholine. Increase in free cellular Ca is responsible for initiation of a neurosecretory response in many synapses. Concentration of free Ca within a cell is increased by either mobilization from intracellularly bound stores or from increasing the influx from the extracellular fluid. In the case of bovine chromaflin cells, it has been well documented that stimulation of nicotinic receptors causes an increase in Ca 45 uptake, leading to secretion of catecholamines [6, 9]. Muscarinic receptor activation produces an increase in [3H]IP3 levels in these chromaffin cells, but such an event is not associated with
Observation of Polar Plumes at High Solar Altitudes

Using the Large-Angle Spectrometric Coronagraph (LASCO) aboard the Solar and Heliospheric Observatory (SOHO) spacecraft, we have imaged polar plumes extending 30 R☉ from disk center in the image plane and ~45 R☉ in three-dimensional space, a factor of 2-3 farther than previous imaging measurements and well into the constant-velocity regime of wind flow. We find that the plumes maintain their overall linear morphology and density enhancement to at least this altitude range. Using LASCO photometry and a modeled cylindrical plume geometry, we derive the density excess within the plumes 30 R☉ above the Sun (in three dimensions). At this altitude, the plumes are (2-4) × 103 cm-3 above the background interplume density, with an estimated plasma β of order 300. The excess electron densities are a factor of 20-30 greater than the average total electron density estimates obtained from extrapolation of in situ measurements by Ulysses at 1 AU. The contrast between the high plume excess densities that we observe and the uniformity of the wind seen by Ulysses may best be explained by wind models that include horizontal mixing in the lower heliosphere between 45 R☉ and Ulysses's altitude of ~200 R☉.
Effect of cortical and hippocampal lesions on hoarding behavior in the albino rat.

Abstract Hoarding behavior of rats with dorsolateral neocortical or hippocampal lesions was compared with that of sham-operated controls. Animals were tested preoperatively under ad lib feeding conditions; post-operatively, they were tested under both ad lib and food deprivation conditions. It was found that: (1) rats with neocortical lesions hoarded more than controls in both conditions, although the effect decreased over days; (2) rats with hippocampal lesions did not differ significantly in the number of pellets hoarded; and (3) during ad lib conditions, rats with hippocampal lesions showed a greater than normal tendency to approach the food bin without picking up a pellet.
Cooxidation of steroidal and non-steroidal estrogens by purified prostaglandin synthase results in a stimulation of prostaglandin formation

Estrone (E1), estradiol (E2), the catechol estrogens 2-OHE1 and 2-OHE2, and diethylstilbestrol (DES) were incubated with purified prostaglandin synthase (PHS) in vitro in the presence of arachidonic acid and their PHS-catalyzed cooxidation was determined. 2-OHE1, 2-OHE2, and DES were extensively metabolized by PHS peroxidase activity, E1 and E2 to a lesser extent. The cooxidation of the estrogens is accompanied by an increased prostaglandin formation and an increase in cyclooxygenase activity in vitro; progesterone and nylestriol are without effect. Prostaglandins have been proposed to play a role in events related to early estrogen action in tissues such as the uterus. The cooxidation of estrogens and their metabolites by prostaglandin hydroperoxidase might represent one type of interaction between the hormones and the arachidonic acid cascade that could lead to changes in prostaglandins.
HIGH RESOLUTION PROTON SPECTROSCOPY WITH SEMICONDUCTOR DETECTORS.

Abstract An extensive investigation has been performed on the use of silicon surface barrier detectors for high resolution proton spectroscopy. The use of totally depleted detectors with application of considerable overbias, effective cooling of the detectors and suppression of the secondary electrons being generated in the target appears to be most important for getting good results. For 12 MeV protons a resolution of 11 keV fwhm is obtained, including an overall noise of 7 keV. The detector contribution is 7.1 keV, which gives a Fano-factor of 0.21.
The effects of electrical stimulation of the eye upon increment threshold for square-wave gratings.

Abstract Three experiments concerned with the effects of electrical stimulation of the eye upon increment thresholds for square-wave gratings are reported. The first experiment examined electrical stimulation effects at different background intensities and with gratings of different wavelength. It was concluded that the observed reduction with electrical stimulation of the eye derived mainly from changes in the scotopic mechanisms. The second experiment assessed the effects of electrical stimulation of the eye upon increment threshold for gratings of various spatial frequencies. It was found that the greatest facilitation of sensitivity due to electrical stimulation of the eye occurred at low spatial frequencies. In experiment three, the effects of electrical stimulation of the eye were observed with gratings in various orientations and with various electrode placements. Grating orientation and electrode placement interacted to yield greatest electrical stimulation effects in situations where the electrode alignment and grating orientation were roughly perpendicular. The results of experiments 2 and 3 were taken as support for the idea that electrical stimulation of the eye affects the neuronal substrates in the retina which are involved in pattern perception.
The impact of legislation and secular trends on newborn length of stay for Medicaid infants in Ohio

Abstract Objectives: To examine the impact of state legislation mandating minimum maternal and newborn length of stay (LOS). Study design: By using Medicaid claims data linked to vital statistics files, LOS, and "short stay" (≤1 day after vaginal delivery, ≤2 days after cesarean delivery) were determined for 151,464 term newborns born to mothers receiving Medicaid in Ohio from July 1, 1991 to June 30, 1998. Changes in LOS and "short stay" were examined for 4 periods that reflected events occurring in Ohio at the time. Results: The proportion of newborns discharged after a "short stay" increased dramatically before legislation (7/1/91-8/31/95) but decreased after the introduction of legislation (9/1/95-6/30/96). In the 4 months after passage of the law, but before its effective date (Period III), the odds of a "short stay" decreased. This decrease continued in the 20 months after the law went into effect (Period IV). White, young, married mothers without a high school degree or with poor prenatal care and lower birth weight infants were more likely to be discharged early. Conclusions: LOS and "short stay" returned to near-1991 levels for Medicaid newborns in Ohio after legislative activity. (J Pediatr 2002;141:392-7)
Learning-based model predictive control on a quadrotor: Onboard implementation and experimental results

In this paper, we present details of the real time implementation onboard a quadrotor helicopter of learning-based model predictive control (LBMPC). LBMPC rigorously combines statistical learning with control engineering, while providing levels of guarantees about safety, robustness, and convergence. Experimental results show that LBMPC can learn physically based updates to an initial model, and how as a result LBMPC improves transient response performance. We demonstrate robustness to mis-learning. Finally, we show the use of LBMPC in an integrated robotic task demonstration—The quadrotor is used to catch a ball thrown with an a priori unknown trajectory.
The dermatomes of the sheep.

The dermatomes of the sheep, first cervical through second coccygeal were isolated by the method of “remaining sensibility” and defined by mapping the areas of residual sensitivity to pinching of the skin with fine-pointed forceps. The disposition of these dermatomes was similar to that in other species, but appreciable variations between individual sheep were common. The trunk fields extended between the dorsal and ventral midlines of the body as regular, continuous, serial bands. They showed a cranio-caudal overlap of approximately one-half, but only slight overlapping across the dorsal and ventral midlines. Most of the limb fields reached the dorsal midline of the body, and in both the fore and hind limbs three dermatomes extended to the digits. A close correlation existed between the forelimb dermatomes and those of other species: a less precise correlation was found in the hindlimb. The abrupt flexures in the borders of some limb fields appear to have been produced by the considerable reduction from the primitive pentadactyl condition. The cutaneous sensory areas supplied by the three main divisions of the trigeminal (fifth cranial) nerve were also charted. Their disposition was again similar to that in other species, and the overlap between them much less than that of the dermatomes.
Frankenstein in the Age of Prozac

Goodson seeks to reform "our habit of considering the environment as something external to ourselves." By tracing the mood trajectory of literature written since the Romantic period, the author posits that "depressive pain is the native environment of romantic poetry." Through a close reading of actor/director Kenneth Branagh's film version of Mary Shelley's Frankenstein, Goodson suggest that Branagh's film version of the text is true to the depressive mood of the 1990s. He notes that Frankenstein is a medical student, a suicide, and a poete maudit. According to this reading the monster is both a symptom and a product of depression.
X-ray timing explorer

Abstract The payload for the U.S. X-ray Timing Explorer is currently being selected by NASA. Some of the possible instrumental capabilities and scientific objectives of the mission are described.
LANGUAGE, SPACE AND POWER: A CRITICAL LOOK AT BILINGUAL EDUCATION , Samina Hadi-Tabassum

LANGUAGE, SPACE AND POWER: A CRITICAL LOOK AT BILINGUAL EDUCATION. Samina Hadi-Tabassum. Clevedon, UK: Multilingual Matters, 2006. Pp. v + 295. $50.55 paper.As a former bilingual teacher in a dual-language school in Chicago, I approached Hadi-Tabassum's work not only with interest but with an insider's perspective on dual-language instruction. As promised, the volume provides rich descriptions of a fifth-grade dual-language classroom and documents key events that occurred throughout the school year. Situated within a discussion of language, space, and power, the author's quest for evidence of metalinguistic awareness in the context of classroom events is an ambitious project, but, at times, the framework overshadows a more practical interpretation of classroom life.
Tumor production of angiostatin is enhanced after exposure to TNF-α

Infection of tumors with an adenoviral vector expressing a chimeric gene composed of the CArG elements of the Egr-1 promoter and a cDNA encoding TNF-α (Ad.Egr-TNF) has previously been shown to result in the production of high intratumoral levels of TNF-α and thereby tumor regression. The antitumor effects of TNF-α were ascribed to vascular thrombosis. We and others, have reported that inhibition of tumor vessel thrombosis using anticoagulation therapy does not abrogate the antitumor effects after TNF-α treatment. To investigate the potential antiangiogenic effects of TNF-α, we studied the generation of angiostatin after intratumoral injection of Ad.Egr-TNF. We report an increase in plasma angiostatin levels both during and after treatment with Ad.Egr-TNF that parallel tumor regression. We also report that TNF-α enhances angiostatin production by inducing the activity of plasminogen activator and the release of MMP-9 by tumor cells. These studies support a model in which the antiangiogenic effects of TNF-α on the tumor microvasculature are mediated by generation of angiostatin. © 2002 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Issues in the training and recruitment of demographers

Aun cuando hay un reconocimiento cada vez mayor de que la demografia es un campo importante de estudio, todavia no se ha llegado a advertir que la demografia es una disciplina basica que merece un puesto en los departamentos universitarios y un titulo profesional. La demografia es muy amplia en el campo de su interes, y el adiestramiento de un buen demografo deberia comenzar durante sus primeros estudios superiores para extenderse a traves de un programa avanzado que incluya adiestramento en economia, fisiologia, historia, geografia, matematicas ye estadistica, asi como sociologia. Se tiene la esperanza de que en una o varias instituciones importantes de ensenanza, los demografos se ocupen de establecer un departamento de demografia a fin de suministrar este adiestramiento y hacer que los estudiantes que se especializan en demografia no se vean obligados a estudiar materias que tendran uso limitado en su carrera cientifica. En esta situacion academica de cambio y expansion rapidos, los centros de adiestramiento demografico en todos partes deberian valorar nuevamente su posicion y hacer un inventario de sus futuras posibilidades, y no contentarse con la situacion de status quo.
Hypovitaminosis D in psychiatric inpatients: clinical correlation with depressive symptoms, cognitive impairment, and prescribing practices.

Objective The association of hypovitaminosis D with measures of depressive symptoms and cognitive impairment remains unclear. This correlation and subsequent prescribing practices of vitamin D supplementation were evaluated in a population of psychiatric inpatients. Methods A retrospective study was conducted of 548 patients with a serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] level measured during hospitalization. Outcomes included the association of hypovitaminosis D with Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ-9) and Folstein Mini-Mental State Exam (MMSE) scores, including an evaluation of vitamin D dosing upon hospital discharge. Results Two hundred three patients (37%) had hypovitaminosis D. The majority [183 (90%)] had moderate (10–24 ng/mL), while 20 (10%) had severe hypovitaminosis D ( Conclusions No association was found between hypovitaminosis D and depressive symptoms or cognitive function. However, patients with hypovitaminosis D were more likely to be prescribed additional vitamin D at hospital discharge.
THE PLANETARY PLASMA INTERACTIONS NODE OF THE PLANETARY DATA SYSTEM

Abstract Five years ago NASA selected scientists at UCLA to form the Planetary Plasma Interactions (PPI) Node to help the scientific community locate, access and preserve particles and field data from planetary missions. Since planetary plasma data are varied and require expertise in many areas the PPI Node is distributed with an Outer Planets Subnode at the University of Iowa, an Inner Planets Subnode at UCLA and a Radio Astronomy Subnode at GSFC. The PPI Node has tried to serve the science community by providing them with high quality data products. It has worked with missions and individual scientists to secure the highest quality data possible and to thoroughly document it. The PPI Node has validated the data, placed it on long lasting media and made sure it was properly archived for use. So far it has prepared and archived over 1011 bytes of data and has produced 171 CD-ROMs with peer reviewed data. In so doing an efficient system has been developed to prepare and archive the data and thereby enable to steadily increase the rate at which the data are archived. Although the PPI Node produced a substantial archive during the initial five years, it has an even larger amount of work in progress. This includes preparing CD-ROM data sets with all of the Voyager, Pioneer and Ulysses data at Jupiter and Saturn. It is also completing the Pioneer Venus data restoration. The Galileo Venus archive and radio science data from Magellan will be prepared early in 1995. It is assisting the Small Bodies Node of PDS in the preparation of comet data and with the preparation of data from the comet Shoemaker-Levy 9 collision with Jupiter. Asteroid data from Gelileo will also be archived. In addition to providing the data, users have been provided with software tools to manage and read the data which are computer, operating system and data format independent. Scalable systems have been developed so that the same software used to manage and access the data for the entire PPI Node can be used by individual investigators to manage the data on a single CD-ROM thereby greatly reducing the software development effort for both the PPI Node and users. This software is delivered with the disks. The PPI Node data holdings are available over the Internet. They can be accessed through the World Wide Web (WWW) at Universal Resource Locator (URL) http://www.igpp.ucla.edu/ssc/pdsppi/Welcome.html. Users without a WWW browser can use the WWW interface by signing into the host “pdsppi.igpp.ucla. edu” as “pdsuser”.
Nitazoxanide Kills Replicating and Nonreplicating Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Evades Resistance

We report here that nitazoxanide (NTZ) and its active metabolite kill replicating and nonreplicating M. tuberculosis at low μg/mL levels. NTZ appears to evade resistance, as we were unable to recover resistant colonies, using up to 1012 colony forming units. Therefore, NTZ is a novel lead compound that kills replicating and nonreplicating M. tuberculosis by a novel mechanism of action, which appears to bypass the development of resistance.
Algebraic grid generation for complex geometries

An efficient computer program called GRID2D/3D has been developed to generate single and composite grid systems within geometrically complex two- and three-dimensional (2D and 3D) spatial domains that can deform with time. GRID2D/3D generates single grid systems by using algebraic grid generation methods based on transfinite interpolation. The distribution of grid points within the spatial domain is controlled by stretching functions and grid lines can intersect boundaries of the spatial domain orthogonally. GRID2D/3D generates composite grid systems by patching together two or more single grid systems. The patching can be discontinuous or continuous. For 2D spatial domains the boundary curves are constructed by using either cubic or tension spline interpolation. For 3D spatial domains the boundary surfaces are constructed by using a new technique, developed in this study, referred to as 3D bidirectional Hermite interpolation.
Detection of sperm surface IgG by modified haemadsorption procedures

New haemadsorption procedures for the detection of sperm bound IgG are described. Antibody-coated sperm are fixed with formaldehyde and attached by poly-L-lysine to the bases of wells on plastic plates where they can be left for several days if necessary. Sensitised indicator red cell (for direct haemadsorption) or anti-IgG sera followed by indicator red cells (for indirect haemadsorption) are then added to these wells and the presence of antibody indicated by red cell attachment to sperm. The procedure uses simple reagents and the sperm/red cell rosettes may be fixed and stained to be kept as records.
Use of the aerodynamic particle sizer to measure ambient PM10-2.5: the coarse fraction of PM10.

Abstract The Aerodynamic Particle Sizer (APS 3321, TSI, Inc., Shoreview, MN) rapidly measures particle number concentration by size from 0.5 to 20 μm. This work used simple assumptions for particle shape factor and density to estimate ambient coarse mode particulate matter, PM10–2.5, from APS number concentration data. This estimate was compared with that measured with time-integrated, filter-based federal reference method (FRM) samplers in four U.S. field studies: two in Phoenix, AZ; one in Gary, IN; and one in Riverside, CA. Near one-to-one agreement and a strong linear relationship were observed between APS-estimated and FRM-measured PM10–2.5 in the first Phoe nix, AZ study (slope = 0.90, R 2 = 1.00); the second Phoenix, AZ study (slope = 0.99, R 2 = 0.99); and the Riverside, CA study (slope = 1.00, R 2 = 0.84). In the Gary, IN study, PM10–2.5 estimates made with data from the APS tended to be less than that measured with the FRM samplers (slope = 0.57), but the linear relationship between the two meth...
Exciton condensate modulation in electron-hole bilayers: A real-space visualization

We study the texture of the exciton condensate at low temperatures in an independently gated electron-hole bilayer system. A model Hamiltonian is solved in real space within a mean-field approximation. It is found that, with increased electron-hole density polarization, the system experiences phase transformations from the zero center-of-mass momentum superfluid state, through one- and two-dimensional exciton pair modulated states, into the normal state. At weak density polarization, the modulating state resembles the Larkin-Ovchinnikov state in superconductors in the presence of an exchange field in the weak-coupling BCS limit and becomes stripe-like in the strong-coupling BEC limit. In the one-dimensional modulated phase, the density of states exhibits low-energy intragap resonance quasiparticle states, which are localized in the nodal region.
Responses to chronic hypoxia in embryonic alligators.

To investigate developmental responses to chronic hypoxia, we incubated alligator eggs at 17% O2 and 21% O2 for the entire course of embryonic development and for 5 months post-hatching. Hypoxic-incubated alligators hatched later and at a smaller size. Hematocrit was significantly higher in hypoxic-incubated animals immediately post-hatch. Allosteric modification of hemoglobin oxygen affinity did not appear to play a role in the adaptation to hypoxia, given equal nucleotide triphosphate-to-hemoglobin ratios in the hypoxic and normoxic groups. When acutely exposed to 21% O2, hypoxic-incubated alligators maintained oxygen consumption relative to their normoxic siblings despite their lower mass. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Is defibrillation testing safe

Determination of defibrillation thresholds (DFTs) and implantable cardioverter defibrillator (ICD) testing requires repeated inductions of ventricular fibrillation (VF) and defibrillation attempts using known energy outputs. Little is known about the individual and cumulative effects of repetitive brief episodes of VF and hypoperfusion on cerebral function. The potential clinical utility of quantitative electroencephalographic (QEEG) monitoring during intraoperative ICD testing, by using processed 19-channel EEG (0.5-35 Hz bandwidth), was examined in ten anesthetized patients, five males and five females (mean age 62 +/- 10 years), who underwent ICD implantation and testing. Ischemic QEEG patterns were defined as those with a 3 standard deviation increase (P less than 0.01) in absolute delta (1.5-3.5 Hz) power persisting for greater than or equal to 2.5 minutes. The majority (80%) of the VF episodes (70) were accompanied by QEEG "slowing" (doubling of the pre-VF low frequency delta waves amplitude). All the patients (5/5) experiencing greater than 6 VF episodes showed a statistically significant increase in the low frequency amplitude. In contrast, this EEG abnormality was apparent in only one of five patients experiencing less than 6 VF episodes. These results suggest a cumulative QEEG depression associated with ICD testing. QEEG may provide an objective means for establishing an individualized upper safe limit of DFT testing and the total number of induced VF episodes.
Science and the public self

Abstract Scientists employed by agencies of the US government (and by extension, those working at universities who are recipients of federal grants) have distinctive responsibilities to the community that supports their work. Traditionally, such public scientists retreated behind a veil of objectivity thought to define scientific knowledge. But this approach today fails on both epistemological and political grounds. Most striking is the fact that the very stance of principled distance from societal debates has opened the scientist to charges of irrelevance. What is the distinctive role of federal science agencies in society? Is there a way out of the dilemma in which government scientists are seen as irrelevant, or if relevant, biased? It is argued here that the notion of a public self offers a means out of this dilemma.
Cyclic and acyclic partial retro-inverso enkephalinamides: Mu receptor selective enzyme resistant analogs

The cyclic partial retro-inverso modified enkephalins, H-Tyr-cyclo[-D-Glu-Gly-gPhe-D-Leu-] (I), H-Tyr-cyclo[-D-A2bu-Gly-gPhe-R&S-mLeu-] (IIf, IIs), H-Tyr-cyclo[-D-Glu-Gly-Phe-gLeu-] (III), and their corresponding acyclic analogs, H-Tyr-D-Ala-Gly-gPhe-D-Leu-For (Ia), H-Tyr-D-Ala-Gly-gPhe-R,S-mLeu-NH2 (IIa), H-Tyr-D-Ala-Gly-Phe-gLeu-For (IIIa) have been evaluated in in vitro bioassays. Relative to Leu-enkephalin, the modified compounds are more potent in the guinea pig ileum assay and more effectively displace [3H]naloxone from rat brain receptors, while they are generally less potent in the mouse vas deferens assay and only weakly able to displace [3H] (D-Ala2, D-Leu5)enkephalin. The analogs are highly resistant to proteolytic degradation by rat brain membrane preparations that readily hydrolyze Leu-enkephalin.
Solution Of Matrix And Integral Equations By Optical Methods

An entirely optical method is proposed for solving many linear equations. A possible implementation of a simultaneous equation solver, (or equivalently an integral equation solver), is discussed. A method of matrix by matrix multiplication using random phase masks is proposed and shown to enable the optical solution of matrix equations, (or equivalently the solution of two dimensional integral equations).© (1983) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Aryl hydrocarbon Receptor is Necessary to Protect Fetal Human Pulmonary Microvascular Endothelial Cells against Hyperoxic Injury: Mechanistic Roles of Antioxidant Enzymes and RelB

Hyperoxia contributes to the development of bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) in premature infants. Activation of the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) protects adult and newborn mice against hyperoxic lung injury by mediating increases in the expression of phase I (cytochrome P450 (CYP) 1A) and phase II (NADP(H) quinone oxidoreductase (NQO1)) antioxidant enzymes (AOE). AhR positively regulates the expression of RelB, a component of the nuclear factor-kappaB (NF-κB) protein that contributes to anti-inflammatory processes in adult animals. Whether AhR regulates the expression of AOE and RelB, and protects fetal primary human lung cells against hyperoxic injury is unknown. Therefore, we tested the hypothesis that AhR-deficient fetal human pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells (HPMEC) will have decreased RelB activation and AOE, which will in turn predispose them to increased oxidative stress, inflammation, and cell death compared to AhR-sufficient HPMEC upon exposure to hyperoxia. AhR-deficient HPMEC showed increased hyperoxia-induced reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation, cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP), and cell death compared to AhR-sufficient HPMEC. Additionally, AhR-deficient cell culture supernatants displayed increased macrophage inflammatory protein 1α and 1β, indicating a heightened inflammatory state. Interestingly, loss of AhR was associated with a significantly attenuated CYP1A1, NQO1, superoxide dismutase 1(SOD1), and nuclear RelB protein expression. These findings support the hypothesis that decreased RelB activation and AOE in AhR-deficient cells is associated with increased hyperoxic injury compared to AhR-sufficient cells.
TiO2 photocatalytic films on stainless steel: The role of Degussa P-25 in modified sol–gel methods

Abstract The role of Degussa P-25 loading (0–100 g/L) in the alkoxide sol was investigated for the synthesis of immobilized TiO 2 photocatalytic films on 304 stainless steel using the P-25 powder-modified sol–gel method (PPMSGM). The structural properties of the films (PPMSGFs) obtained after gel drying and calcination at 600 °C were examined using different materials characterization techniques including X-day diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The photocatalytic activities of films with good adherence to the stainless steel support were evaluated using 4-chlorobenzoic acid (4-CBA) as a model organic contaminant and UV-A radiation. The P-25 loading did not have a significant effect on the size of the crystallites in the films. However, increasing the P-25 loading in the sol resulted in an increase in (i) the amount of crystalline material retained on the support (i.e., for both anatase (1 0 1) and rutile (1 1 0) crystal phases); (ii) the number of grains (aggregates of P-25 particles and crystallites formed from the alkoxide sol); (iii) the number of pores in the film (in the range of 0–50 g/L); and (iv) the number of microcracks on the surface of PPMSGFs. On the other hand, increasing the P-25 loading in the sol resulted in a decrease in the size of grains on the surface of PPMSGFs. XPS analysis revealed the presence of Cr 3+ , Mn 3+ and Fe 3+ on the surface of PPMSGFs as a result of diffusion of these species from the stainless steel support during film calcination at 600 °C. The concentration of these foreign species on the film surface decreased with an increase in the P-25 loading in the sol. Increasing P-25 loading in the sol yielded films with higher photocatalytic activity but a concentration of 50 g/L P-25 in the sol was found as the maximum for obtaining films with good adherence on the stainless steel support. Increase in the photocatalytic activity of the films with increasing P-25 loading in the sol was mainly attributed to the enhancement of the number of P-25 active sites exposed to the solution due to film morphology and surface characteristics and to the reduction in Cr 3+ and Fe 3+ concentrations on the surface of the films.
Simulations and experimental investigation of atmospheric transport in an ambient metastable-induced chemical ionization source.

Since its inception, Direct Analysis in Real Time (DART) has seen utility in a wide range of applications including chemical reaction monitoring, pharmaceutical screening, and forensic mass spectrometry. Despite the growing interest in DART applications, there has been limited research into the fundamental physiochemical phenomena affecting sampling, ionization, and atmospheric ion transport. Presented here are the first experimentally validated finite element method simulations of an ambient DART-type metastable-induced chemical ionization source. It was found that complex coupled fluid dynamics, heat transfer, and electrostatic phenomena within the sampling region determine the variability in ion transmission efficiencies affecting the overall sensitivity of analysis. Particle tracing plots of a circular acetaminophen tablet placed in various positions and orientations yielded insight into optimal sample placement and evidence for sweet spots conducive to better ion transport. Experiments in a wide rang...
Complications of vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty

Vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty are recently developed techniques for treatment of vertebral compression fractures (VCFs). Patients with VCFs often experience immediate pain reduction following cement augmentation. Although vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty are minimally invasive, there are a number of complications reported. Most complications are asymptomatic; however, some are catastrophic, resulting in significant morbidity and mortality. They include pulmonary and neurologic complications from cement leakage, infections, cardiovascular injuries, and cerebrovascular accidents. Adjacent-level fractures are a subject of increasing study recently, and may be associated with cement augmentation procedures, although this remains controversial. This paper reviews the current literature regarding complications associated with vertebroplasty and kyphoplasty.
Optimal & near-optimal space efficient decision diagram algorithms

The purpose of this work is to investigate some of the algorithms used for representing switching functions by space efficient decision diagrams. This representation is an optimization problem. Adopting the terminology from combinatorial optimization problems, we have:Problem Instance: A multivalued function f(x) where x is a vector, and a storing cost, s(xi), associated with each variable xi in x.Feasible Solution: A decision diagram D (acyclic, directed graph with indegrees of the internal nodes possibly exeeding one) representing f(x).Objective Function: The total storage cost,S(D) = Σ s(xi) for each feasible solution D.xie DOptimal Solution: A decision diagram D representing the function with minimum total storage cost S(D), i.e. a feasible solution which minimizes the objective function.To date, only two algorithms for the construction of optimal decision diagrams with respect to the total storage cost have been developed; Reinwald & Soland's branch & bound algorithm and Thayse's, based on the extension of Shannon's expansion formula. The second algorithm is analyzed and proven to be highly exponential in the number of variables. This comes as no surprise since, in most cases, the construction of optimal decision trees is an NP-hard problem. The construction of decision diagrams is generally more complicated than that of trees. One cannot seriously doubt that the constructions of optimal diagrams is also NP-hard for most costs including the total storage cost. Therefore, a heuristic approach to this problem is needed. Two heuristics, based on the greedy algorithmic technique, are presented. These heuristics with the analysis of Thayse's algorithm constitute the major achievements of this work.
Splenosis after laparoscopic splenectomy

We read with interest Kumar and Borzi’s article in the April 2001 issue of Surgical Endoscopy on splenosis in a port site after laparoscopic splenectomy [3]. They report the rare case of an 8-year-old boy with congenital spherocytosis who underwent laparoscopic splenectomy and cholecystectomy. Subsequently, port-site splenosis, a previously unreported complication of laparoscopic splenectomy, was diagnosed in the patient. The authors note that port-site splenosis should be considered in the differential diagnosis of port-site pain and a palpable nodule postsplenectomy. It might be profitably added that their point is equally applicable for all the known types of splenosis, which, although uncommon, are endoscopically manageable. Splenosis is an autotransplantation of splenic tissue, usually after splenic rupture [5]. Its incidence in patients who have undergone splenectomy for trauma is as high as 76%. Most implants are found in the left upper quadrant of the abdomen [7]. They may be found retroperitoneally [8], and even within the liver [1]. Thoracic splenosis may occur in cases of thoracoabdominal trauma with diaphragm rupture. It usually presents as a mass on the left side of the chest, but it also may involve the pericardium [7]. Thoracic and abdominal splenosis may coexist [10]. The rarest form of splenosis is its subcutaneous manifestation. This form of splenosis may occur in the celiotomy scar as an isolated nodule [11], or it may coexist with another focus of splenic autotransplantation including thoracic [9], abdominal [7], or extremitial [10]. In addition to the diagnostic dilemma splenosis poses, serious sequelae have been described including hemoptysis, spontaneous rupture with massive bleeding into body cavities, gastrointestinal bleeding [7], and problems mimicking myocardial infarction [2]. A preoperative diagnosis of splenosis requires a high index of suspicion [6]. Radionuclide scanning is a reliable noninvasive diagnostic method. The significant antipneumococcal antibody increase proved in patients with splenic autotransplantation, their adequate humoral response to pneumococcal infections [4], and the additional protective immunologic effect of splenosis [7] indicate that this rare condition actually may provide protection against overwhelming postsplenectomy infection or sepsis. In patients similar to the patient described by Kumar and Borzi, for whom splenectomy is beneficial and splenic autotransplantation must be avoided, preoperative use of imaging methods might improve diagnostic certainty and contribute to a well-planned surgical intervention.
Experimental difficulties during electro-chemical studies in very concentrated acids

Abstract Electrochemical polarization studies in very concentrated and pure acids are sometimes difficult to perform accurately. Acid concentration, experiment duration and resistance errors must be controlled to yield accurate results. Examples of these problems and methods for avoiding them are described.
Building a cyberinfrastructure for the humanities

This article discusses the American Council of Learned Societies (ACLS) Commission on Cyberinfrastructure for the Humanities and Social Sciences, and its potential impact on the development of enhanced digital libraries in the humanities. It focuses on the problems inherent in creating the technological environment needed by humanities scholars and the tools required to build, repurpose, and interact with digital libraries in the humanities.
The Effectiveness and Risks of Programming an Insulin Pump to Counteract the Dawn Phenomenon in Type 1 Diabetes

Objective: Continuous subcutaneous insulin infusion (CSII) programming for an early morning increase in insulin delivery is frequently recommended to counteract the rise in glucose prior to breakfast (dawn phenomenon). However, both the effectiveness and safety of this approach have not been tested in the ambulatory setting. Using continuous glucose monitoring, we investigated the safety and effectiveness of early morning CSII programming for management of the dawn phenomenon in subjects with type 1 diabetes.Methods: We conducted a controlled, observational eight-month longitudinal study of type 1 diabetic patients (n=40). Reproducibility of the dawn phenomenon was determined in subjects treated with multiple daily injections of insulin (MDI, n=12) and those on CSII who did not program an early morning increase in insulin delivery (CSII non-programmers, n=8). The effects of early morning CSII programming were determined by comparing rates of the dawn phenomenon and hypoglycemia in CSII non-programmers ver...
Computation of the dates of the hebrew new year and passover

In 1802, Gauss published[1] a scheme for determining the Common Era (C.E.) date of Passover in a given year, but did not indicate how his results had been obtained. Almost a century later, M. Hamburger offered[2] a quite complicated proof of the Gaussian equations. The procedure is simplified by transforming the Gaussian Passover formulas into those for Rosh Hashonah (Hebrew New Year), from which the date of the preceding Passover follows at once.
Ultrafast electron dynamics at the Ge(111) surface investigated with subpicosecond laser photoemission

Abstract The technique of subpicosecond angle resolved laser photoemission spectroscopy is described. Investigations of the dynamics of electrons excited into normally unoccupied states at the cleaved Ge(111)2 × 1 surface are detailed. In particular, electrons which are excited into bulk states near the surface are observed to scatter into the normally unoccupied antibonding π ∗ band whose minimum is at J in the surface Brillouin zone. Cooling of the sample to near liquid nitrogen temperatures has permitted us to directly delineate the role played by optical phonons in the surface electron dynamics. In addition hole dynamics are reported and renormalization of the surface band gap is observed.
Enhancement of antibody synthesis in vitro by mercaptoethanol.

Abstract The culture techniques described by Mishell and Dutton (1) and Marbrook (2, 3), in which a “primary” immune response can be initiated in a suspension of mouse spleen cells to heterologous erythrocyte antigens, offer great potential for analyzing cellular and molecular events involved in humoral responses. To further exploit these techniques, manipulations of culture conditions which either stimulate or inhibit the response would offer additional advantages for biochemical studies. The present report describes the enhancement of the number of antibody-producing cells formed by mouse spleen cells in culture by the reducing agent, mercaptoethanol (MET). This enhancement was found to be a result of the influence of MET on events that occur early in the response.
Vacuum evaporation of KCl-NaCl salts: Part II. vaporization-rate model and experimental results

A model based on the Hertz-Langmuir relation is used to describe how evaporation rates of the binary KCl-NaCl system change with time. The effective evaporation coefficient (α), which is a ratio of the actual evaporation rate to the theoretical maximum, was obtained for the KCl-NaCl system using this model. In the temperature range of 640 °C to 760 °C, the effective evaporation coefficient ranges from ∼0.4 to 0.1 for evaporation experiments conducted at 0.13 Pa. At temperatures below the melting point, the lower evaporation coefficients are suggested to result from the more complex path that a molecule needs to follow before escaping to the gas phase. At the higher liquid temperatures, the decreasing evaporation coefficients result from a combination of the increasing vaporflow resistances and the heat-transfer effects at the evaporation surface and the condensate layer. The microanalysis of the condensate verified that composition of the condensate changes with time, consistent with the model calculation. The microstructural examination revealed that the vaporate may have condensed as a single solution phase, which upon cooling forms fine lamellar structures of the equilibrium KCl and NaCl phases. In conclusion, the optimum design of the evaporation process and equipment must take the mass and heat transfer factors and equipment materials issues into consideration.