cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Predicting Redundancy of a 7 DOF Upper Limb Exoskeleton Toward Improved Transparency between Human and Robot

For a wearable robotic system which includes the same redundancy as the human arm, configuring the joint angles of the robotic arm in accordance with those of the operators arm is one of the crucial control mechanisms to minimize the energy exchange between human and robot. Thus it is important to understand the redundancy resolution mechanism of the human arm such that the inverse kinematics solution of these two coupled systems becomes identical. In this paper, the redundancy resolution of the human arm based on the wrist position and orientation is provided as a closed form solution for the practical robot control algorithm, which enables the robot to form the natural human arm configuration as the operator changes the position and orientation of the end effector. For this, the redundancy of the arm is expressed mathematically by defining the swivel angle. Then the swivel angle is expressed as a superposition of two components, which are reference swivel angle and the swivel angle offset, respectively. The reference swivel angle based on the wrist position is defined by the kinematic criterion that maximizes the manipulability along the vector connecting the wrist and the virtual target point on the head region as a cluster of important sensory organs. Then the wrist orientation change is mapped into a joint angle availablility function output and translated to the swivel angle offset with respect to the reference swivel angle. Based on the inverse kinematic formula the controller can transform the position and orientation of the end-effector into the joint torque which enables the robot to follow up the operator's current joint configuration. The estimation performance was evaluated by utilizing a motion capture system and the results show that there is a high correlation between the estimated and calculated swivel angles.
The Role of Diagrams in Mathematical Arguments

Recent accounts of the role of diagrams in mathematical reasoning take a Platonic line, according to which the proof depends on the similarity between the perceived shape of the diagram and the shape of the abstract object. This approach is unable to explain proofs which share the same diagram in spite of drawing conclusions about different figures. Saccheri’s use of the bi-rectangular isosceles quadrilateral in Euclides Vindicatus provides three such proofs. By forsaking abstract objects it is possible to give a natural explanation of Saccheri’s proofs as well as standard geometric proofs and even number-theoretic proofs.
Intrinsic modulators of auditory thalamocortical transmission

Neurons in layer 4 of the primary auditory cortex receive convergent glutamatergic inputs from thalamic and cortical projections that activate different groups of postsynaptic glutamate receptors. Of particular interest in layer 4 neurons are the Group II metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluRs), which hyperpolarize neurons postsynaptically via the downstream opening of GIRK channels. This pronounced effect on membrane conductance could influence the neuronal processing of synaptic inputs, such as those from the thalamus, essentially modulating information flow through the thalamocortical pathway. To examine how Group II mGluRs affect thalamocortical transmission, we used an in vitro slice preparation of the auditory thalamocortical pathways in the mouse to examine synaptic transmission under conditions where Group II mGluRs were activated. We found that both pre- and post-synaptic Group II mGluRs are involved in the attenuation of thalamocortical EPSP/Cs. Thus, thalamocortical synaptic transmission is suppressed via the presynaptic reduction of thalamocortical neurotransmitter release and the postsynaptic inhibition of the layer 4 thalamorecipient neurons. This could enable the thalamocortical pathway to autoregulate transmission, via either a gating or gain control mechanism, or both.
Using geographic information systems to assess spatial patterns of drug use, selection bias and attrition among a sample of injection drug users

This study sought to assess whether frequency and type of drug use are geographically located within the city of Baltimore independent of neighborhood characteristics. The second goal was to assess geographic factors associated with sample selection and attrition. The sample consisted of 597 inner-city injection drug users who were enrolled in a HIV prevention study. The residential locations were plotted using Geographic Information Systems (GIS) software. Three patterns of drug use in the prior 6 months were examined: daily use of injection heroin, daily use of injection cocaine and any use of crack cocaine. Daily use of cocaine and any use of crack were found to be statistically associated with residing in the western portion of the city and distance from the western district sexually transmitted disease clinic. After adjusting for individual level characteristics and neighborhood level variables, as measured by 1990 census tract data, daily use of cocaine was found to be associated with residing in a more southern area of the city and distance from the western district sexually transmitted disease clinic, and any crack use was found to be associated with residing in a more western area of the city and distance from the western district sexually transmitted disease clinic. Men and younger participants were more likely to reside further away from the study clinic as were individuals who dropped out of the intervention condition. The results of this study suggest that type and frequency of drug use is associated with specific geographic areas, independent of neighborhood characteristics. These results have implications for the location of drug prevention, needle exchange and other HIV prevention activities.
Effects of changes in atrioventricular gradient and contractility on left ventricular filling in human diastolic cardiac dysfunction

The factors responsible for abnormalities in diastolic filling indexes as assessed by noninvasive testing in human beings have been extensively studied but are not completely understood. We therefore investigated left ventricular diastolic filling indexes by radionuclide angiography during right atrial pacing simultaneously with assessment of a directly measured left atrioventricular gradient and a time constant of isovolumic relaxation in 11 patients with hypertension and diastolic dysfunction. Loading conditions were altered with nitroprusside and phenylephrine, and contractility was improved by dobutamine infusion. The maximum left atrioventricular gradient at constant heart rates was determined by loading conditions and was not significantly affected by increases in contractility or an improvement in isovolumic relaxation rate. The peak filling rate according to radionuclide angiography was highly dependent on the atrioventricular gradient and was not affected by enhancement of the isovolumic relaxation rate.
Structural vibration control using spatially configured opto-electromechanical actuators

Traditional smart-material actuator systems are hard-wired, so that they are likely sensitive to electromagnetic interference in many operating conditions and environments. A photostrictive type of opto-electromechanical actuator activated by high-energy lights can introduce actuation and control effects without hard-wired connections. In this paper, the behavior of photostrictive opto-electromechanical actuators bonded to the surface of two-dimensional (2D) elastic structures for active vibration control is investigated. General opto-piezo-thermo-elastic equations for predicting opto-piezo-thermo-elastic behavior of photostrictive opto-electromechanical actuators are presented. All material constants of photostrictive actuators are calibrated based on laboratory experiments. Analytical solutions and numerical results demonstrate that the spatially configured discrete opto-electromechanical actuators at carefully selected locations can effectively suppress the dominating fundamental vibration modes of 2D structures.
A 23-kDa recombinant antigen of Cryptosporidium parvum induces a cellular immune response on in vitro stimulated spleen and mesenteric lymph node cells from infected mice.

In the present study, we focused on a 23-kDa antigen, Cp23, which has been shown to be a major target of humoral immune responses in Cryptosporidium parvum infections and is present in both the sporozoite and merozoite stages. Recombinant Cp23 antigen was shown to stimulate a specific proliferative response by splenocytes and mesenteric lymph node cells from infected interferon gamma knockout BALB/c mice. Cp23 stimulation also induced TNF-alpha, IL-2, and IL-5 mRNA production by spleen cells from infected animals. In contrast, IL-12 mRNA was decreased by Cp23 stimulation compared with unstimulated splenocytes. These data suggest that, as with humoral responses, Cp23 is an important target of cellular immune responses in experimental C. parvum infections. The potential role of this antigen in conferring protective immunity is also discussed.
Nutritional status and mental development in rural Haiti

Pre‐school children in rural Haiti were examined and weighed by a team from the Bureau of Nutrition. A total of 221 children were weighed and classified according to their weight‐for‐age as normal, or nutritionally deficient in the First, Second, or Third Degree, using the Gomez scale. A decade later, 164 of the same children who were weighed and classified in the original survey were tested for mental maturity with the Goodenough Draw‐A‐Person test. Scores were cross‐tabulated with nutritional status of the previous decade. Findings indicated a statistically significant relationship between nutritional level and mental maturity level. Children with the most severe malnutrition in the original survey were found in significant numbers in the lowest quartile of mental maturity test scores. Similarly, a significant number of children whose weight‐for‐age was normal in the pre‐school survey placed in the highest quartile of the mental maturity test administered a decade later. Findings indicate that malnutrit...
Identification of 2 stallion sperm-specific proteins and their autoantibody response.

Summary In this study, 2 stallions were immunised with their own spermatozoa to ascertain whether an antisperm autoantibody response could be mounted. The results demonstrated that the stallion can recognise and respond to sperm autoantigens by producing circulating antisperm antibodies, primarily of the IgG class. Such autoantibodies appeared 2–4 weeks after inoculation and persisted for 6–20 weeks. Immunochemical characterisation by western blot identified two major sperm autoantigens, with molecular weights of 70 kD and 62 kD. Control pony stallions immunised with adjuvants alone failed to exhibit such antibodies. IgA antisperm antibodies were measurable in seminal plasma of both stallions. We suggest that, as in other species, autoimmunity to spermatozoa may play a role in idiopathic subfertility in stallions.
Collective Bargaining: How Does It Change the Principal's Role?:

Principals have believed that their jobs are very different under collective bargaining. Does research confirm this feeling or, instead, indicate that under collective bargaining, schools really haven't changed very much after all? This writer looks at two research studies that have dealt with this question.
Obesity paradox in Japanese patients after percutaneous coronary intervention: an observation cohort study.

Abstract Background The impact of obesity on Japanese patients who undergo primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) remains unclear. Methods and results Within a single hospital-based cohort in the Shinken Database 2004–2010, which comprised all new patients ( n = 15 227) who visited the Cardiovascular Institute, we followed patients who underwent PCI. Major adverse cardiac events (MACE)—death, myocardial infarction, or target lesion revascularization (TLR)—were defined as the composite endpoint. A total of 1205 patients were included in this study (median follow-up of 1037 ± 703 days): 92 lean [body-mass-index (BMI) Conclusion Over-weight and obese patients were independently associated with favorable long-term clinical outcomes after PCI, suggesting that obesity paradox was applicable to Japanese patients after PCI in real-world clinical setting.
Enhanced electrostatic modulation of ionic diffusion through carbon nanotube membranes by diazonium grafting chemistry

Abstract A membrane structure consisting of an aligned array of open ended carbon nanotubes (∼7 nm i.d.) spanning across an inert polymer matrix allows the diffusive transport of aqueous ionic species through CNT cores. The plasma oxidation process that opens CNTs tips inherently introduces carboxylic acid groups at the CNT tips, which allows for a limited amount of chemical functional at the CNT pore entrance. However for numerous applications, it is important to increase the density of carboxylic acid groups at the pore entrance for effective separation processes. Aqueous diazonium-based electrochemistry significantly increases the functional density of carboxylic acid groups. pH dependent dye adsorption–desorption and interfacial capacitance measurements indicate ∼5–6 times increase in functional density. To further control the spatial location of the functional chemistry, a fast flowing inert liquid column inside the CNT core is found to restrict the diazonium grafting to the CNT tips only. This is confirmed by the increased flux of positively charged Ru ( bipy ) 3 +2 with anionic functionality. The electrostatic enhancement of ion diffusion is readily screened in 0.1 M electrolyte solution consistent with the membrane pore geometry and increased functional density.
Vaginal scent marking: Effects on ultrasonic calling and attraction of male golden hamsters

Male hamsters were tested for their responses to areas that had been scent marked by intact or vaginectomized females to determine the effects of naturally deposited vaginal secretions on male behavior. In the first experiment males produced more ultrasonic courtship calls when investigating areas marked by intact females than areas scented by vaginectomized females, demonstrating that vaginal marks facilitate such calling. In a wind-tunnel preference test situation in which scent-marked alleys and clean alleys served as sources of odor, males approached the scented alley first if it had been freshly marked by intact females but not if it had been scented by vaginectomized females or other males. Thus, the odors of vaginal marks are sufficient to attract males over short distances. After males entered these alleys they showed a preference for odors of both intact and vaginectomized females over no odors, but still spent significantly more time investigating the odors of intact females than those of vaginectomized females. These experiments indicate that vaginal secretions are one of the primary cues that elicit male courtship calling, and the small quantities of vaginal secretions deposited by females in vaginal marks are sufficient to elicit ultrasonic calling and attract males over short distances. Thus it is likely that vaginal scent marking and ultrasonic calling by females interact to facilitate attraction and location of mates during courtship.
Sex Pheromone of the Oriental Fruit Moth

THE chemistry and specificity of sex pheromones in two subfamilies of the lepidopterous family Tortricidae1,2 have been studied because of the large number of economically important insects included. We identified the pheromone structure of the red-banded leaf roller moth, Argyrotaenia velutinana (subfamily Tortricinae), as cis-11-tetradecenyl acetate3, and now report the pheromone structure of the oriental fruit moth, Grapholitha molesta (subfamily Olethreutinae), to be cis-8-dodecenyl acetate (I).
Effect of diet-induced sodium deficiency on normal and compensatory growth of the lung in young rats.

ABSTRACT: Sodium deficiency is associated with decreased muscle growth and protein synthesis. We investigated the influence of diet-induced sodium deficiency on the rate and extent of compensatory growth of the right lung after left pneumonectomy in young rats of 83 ± 1 g body weight. Starting 1 wk before surgery, all rats were fed a diet deficient only in sodium (2-9 µmol Na+/g of food) ad libitum. Sodium-deficient rats were supplied with distilled water, whereas sodium-replete controls were supplied water containing 37 mM NaCl. After 7 d on the experimental diets, both groups were divided and subjected either to sham thoracotomy (Sham) or to left pneumonectomy (PNX). Somatic growth and both normal and compensatory growth of the lungs were assessed 3, 4, and 7 d later. Sodium-deficient animals grew more slowly than control animals. In control PNX rats, right lung weight to body weight ratio (LW/BW) increased to equal that of the combined LW/BW in control Shams by postoperative d 4, and remained at the Sham combined LW/BW value on postoperative d 7. Compensatory lung growth was less rapid in sodium-deficient PNX animals. At postoperative d 4, right LW/BW was low relative to combined LW/BW of sodium-deficient Shams. This ratio approached but did not reach the sodium-deficient Sham combined LW/BW value by d 7. Sodium deficiency thus reduced the rate of compensatory growth of the right lung. RNA/g dry tissue and RNA/DNA were low in sodium-deficient lungs relative to control at d 0 and 7 but during the rapid phase of compensatory growth (d 3 and 4), both groups responded with a 20% increase in tissue RNA concentration. Similar protein/DNA ratios between PNX and Sham-operated animals in both sodium-deficient and control groups, along with elevated total DNA content in the right lung of both PNX groups, suggest that the compensatory growth was hyperplastic rather than hypertrophic. Our study demonstrates that diet-induced sodium deficiency decreases somatic growth and slows the compensatory growth of the right lung after PNX.
Confidence interval estimation and hypothesis testing for a common correlation coefficient

Several procedures have been proposed for testing the hypothesis that all off-diagonal elements of the correlation matrix of a multivariate normal distribution are equal. If the hypothesis of equal correlation can be accepted, it is then of interest to estimate and perhaps test hypotheses for the common correlation. In this paper, two versions of five different test statistics are compared via simulation in terms of adequacy of the normal approximation, coverage probabilities of confidence intervals, control of Type I error, and power. The results indicate that two test statistics based on the average of the Fisher z-transforms of the sample correlations should be used in most cases. A statistic based on the sample eigenvalues also gives reasonable results for confidence intervals and lower-tailed tests.
Cyclotron orbital radius determination in Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance mass spectrometry

Measurement of the cyclotron orbital radius of a coherently excited ion packet is of fundamental importance in Fourier transform ion cyclotron resonance (FT-ICR) mass spectrometry. First, the measured ICR orbital radius provides a check on the post-excitation cyclotron radius calculated for a given excitation waveform, for determining energy thresholds in collision-induced dissociation experiments. Second, since ICR signal strength is proportional to ICR orbital radius, measurement of ICR orbital radii for ions of different m/z values leads to more accurate ion relative abundances from measurement of relative FT-ICR mass spectral peak areas. Third, combination of the measured ICR orbital radius and the measured ICR signal for an ion trap of a given geometry provides a direct determination of the number of coherently orbiting ions (and in particular the detection limit). Finally, direct knowledge of the ICR orbital radius is essential for experimental tests of various ICR signal damping mechanisms. In this paper, we investigate the measurement of ion cyclotron orbital radius, based on the ratio of thethird-to-first harmonic ICR orbital frequency signals in conventional cubic or cylindrical ion traps. The sensitivity of the method to distributions in ICR orbital phase, orbital radius, and axial position is analyzed theoretically. Experimental tests of the method demonstrate that it offers a reliable and accurate means to determine moderate to large ion cyclotron orbital radii. Under optimal experimental conditions (namely, for narrow distributions in phase and axial position of ions in a given coherently orbiting packet), the present radius determination scheme yields a radius that is very close to the square root of the ratio of the average cubed radius to the average radius, i.e., rmeas. ≈ (〈r3〉/〈r〉)12.
Influence of the inorganic counterion on the chiral micellar electrokinetic separation of basic drugs using the surfactant N-dodecoxycarbonylvaline

Abstract The chiral surfactant N-dodecoxycarbonylvaline (DDCV) has previously been used with a sodium counterion in micellar electrokinetic chromatography (MEKC) separations of β-blockers (pindolol, atenolol, metoprolol, acebutolol, alprenolol, oxprenolol and propranolol), β-agonists (N-methylpseudoephedrine, pseudoephedrine, ephedrine and norephedrine) and phenolic amino alcohols (norphenylephrine, synephrine, octopamine and salbutamol) in this laboratory. In the present study, we investigated the effects of three monovalent counterions – Li+, Na+ and K+ – on the peak shape, efficiency, selectivity and retention of these 15 chiral pharmaceutical compounds with DDCV micelles. A much better (more symmetrical) peak shape was observed when Li+ was employed, due to a better if still imperfect match of analyte and counterion mobilities; average asymmetry factors in LiDDCV, NaDDCV, and KDDCV buffers were 1.9, 3.7, and 4.2, respectively. An increase in efficiency of 50–100% for hydrophobic solutes and over 100% for many hydrophilic solutes was also observed in LiDDCV compared to NaDDCV and KDDCV, probably due to enhanced mass transfer. The influence of an organic modifier (acetonitrile) in the separation buffer was also studied for the LiDDCV, NaDDCV and KDDCV systems. Although a concentration of either 0 or 5% acetonitrile resulted in the best enantiomeric resolution for most analytes, the most hydrophobic solutes (alprenolol and propranolol) required the addition of 20–25% ACN. Due to differences in the conductance of Li+, Na+ and K+, the advantage of using Li+ as the counterion for anionic DDCV micelles (better peak shape, higher efficiency and resolution, with shorter analysis times), although apparent for comparisons at a given applied voltage, is more significant when considered in the more appropriate context of equivalent Joule heating.
The universal labeler: Plan the project and let your information follow

The Universal Labeler (UL) supports a single, unified scheme of "labeling" which can be used to organize various kinds of information including electronic documents, email messages and web references. The UL takes a project-centered approach to personal information management (PIM): 1. People often keep information to get things done - to complete projects ("finish a course", "re-model a house", etc.). 2. Project-planning involves problem-solving: A person's conceptualization of a project can often be characterized as a hierarchy of subproject/tasks. 3. Project structure, if made explicit, can aid not only in planning but also in the organization of related information. Projects, subprojects and tasks are represented by "labels" in the UL. Useful properties and behaviors can be associated with these labels - "remind me by" or due dates, for example. The UL is a step towards the integration of information regardless of its form (edocument, paper, web page) and towards the integration of information management with the management of tasks and projects.
Numerical and experimental analysis of a continuous overhung rotor undergoing vibro-impacts

Abstract This work aims in obtaining the transient response of an overhung rotor undergoing vibro-impacts due to a defective bearing. An overhung rotor clamped on one end, with a flywheel on the other and impacts occurring in between, due to a bearing with clearance, is considered. The variation of this system, popularly known as the Jeffcot rotor, has been considered in previous works, but there, the system has been reduced to a single degree of freedom for ease of analysis. In this work the system is modeled as a continuous rotor including gyroscopic effects and the governing partial differential equations are set up and numerically solved. The method of assumed models is used to discretize the system in order to solve the partial differential equations (PDE) by partially decoupling them and solving numerically. These partially decoupled equations are more accurate and less time consuming than the ones produced by finite elements or other numerical schemes. The most important step in the success of this method is the selection of suitable modes for decoupling the system. It is not simply enough to select orthonormal modes for decoupling the PDEs, but care must be taken to select the modes as close to the actual system as possible. Using this method numerical experiments are run and representative results are presented. The different numerical issues involved are also discussed. An experimental setup was also built to run experiments and validate the results. In the setup a defective bearing is introduced at the flywheel end of the shaft to create radial impacts on the shaft. Laser sensor non-contact probes are used to measure the displacement of the shaft a specified locations. Experimental observations show satisfactory qualitative agreement when compared to the numerical integrations.
Use of a programmable calculator for on-line interaction with a differential thermal analysis system

Abstract A differential thermal analysis (DTA) system containing a microcomputer is discussed. The microcomputer performs instrument control, data collection, data processing, and x—y plotting of the data. The introduction of a low-cost micro- computer and plotter to a DTA system can add a new dimension to this technique. A true interaction between the system and the microcomputer can result not only in convenience of data reduction, but also in some areas, a significant improvement in the quality of the data collected. Although the system described here is based on DTA, it can easily and con- veniently be applied to other thermal analysis techniques as well. For DTA, it can be used to integrate the curve peak areas directly in calories. To compare the Δ H values for various reactions at different temperatures. the constant sensitivity mode can be employed.
The manganese- and iron-oxide mineralogy of desert varnish

Birnessite and hematite have been identified as the Mn- and Fe-oxide phases in desert varnish by IR spectroscopic and chemical techniques. These oxides are in intimate physical association with the mixed-layer illite—montmorillonite clay minerals of varnish. An abrupt change in chemistry, mineralogy and morphology exists at the varnish—rock interface. The origin of the material appears to be external to the rock which it coats. The oxides appear to be transported by water, and it is most likely that the clays are transported by wind or water. Clay minerals are necessary for varnish formation, probably through their influence on oxide concentration or deposition.
Simple or Complex Chick Rations

Abstract Poultry nutrition investigators will all agree no doubt, that nutrition, often called the chemistry of life, is a very complex science. Many details of the perplexing questions of protein utilization, inorganic requirements, vitamin requirements, etc. still remain imperfectly answered. Meanwhile, poultry producers are asking for advice on rations that are satisfactory and economical and we are expected to use the best information now available to help solve the feeding problem. There is, of course, almost an unlimited list of ingredients which might be used in making chick rations. In the corn belt, however, the basic feeds are corn, the wheat milling by-products, bran and shorts, and meat and bone scraps. Most of these feeds are easily available in corn belt communities while other elements which might be used are harder to get, and consequently are more expensive. The very practical questions which are immediately asked are: Can a satisfactory ration . . .
Impact of Tissue Heterogeneity on Noninvasive Near-Infrared Glucose Measurements in Interstitial Fluid of Rat Skin

Background Movement of the optical interface used to collect noninvasive near-infrared spectra is known to dramatically increase prediction errors for glucose concentration measurements within the interstitial fluid of living rat skin. Prediction errors increase by more than 2.5-fold when the interface is moved before each non-invasive measurement compared to measurements where the interface position is constant throughout. Chemical heterogeneity of the skin matrix is examined as a possible mechanism for the strong sensitivity to the interface placement during noninvasive measurements conducted from transmission near-infrared absorption spectroscopy. Method Microspectroscopy was performed over a region of the near-infrared spectrum (4000-5000 cm(-1)) to map the concentrations of water, collagen protein, fat, and keratin protein within the skin tissue matrix through which noninvasive spectra are collected. Maps were created for multiple samples of skin excised from male and female animals. Sets of near-infrared spectra were constructed to simulate noninvasive spectra in accord with the basic tissue composition found from the microspectroscopic maps with added information corresponding to a span of glucose concentrations ranging from 5 to 35 mM and Gaussian-distributed noise. Results Microspectroscopic maps of rat skin reveal similar patterns of heterogeneity for major chemical components of skin samples excised from both male and female animals. These maps demonstrate concentration domains with dimensions similar to the size of the fiber interface used to collect noninvasive spectra. Partial least squares calibration models generated from sets of simulated spectra demonstrate increases in prediction errors for glucose when the spectral matrix is changed in accord with the degree of chemical heterogeneity displayed in the skin maps. Prediction errors typically increase between 100 and 1000% when comparing errors generated from spectra that represent a single tissue composition versus spectra that represent a varied skin composition in accord with the distribution displayed in the skin maps. Conclusions The distribution of the major components of skin is not uniform, but establishes domains within the skin matrix that strongly impact prediction errors for the noninvasive spectroscopic measurement of glucose within the interstitial fluid of rat dermis tissue. The observed increase in prediction error (>2.5-fold) determined from actual noninvasive measurements is within the lower range of prediction error increases demonstrated by this simulation study. These findings implicate that chemical heterogeneity within the tissue matrix is a major factor in the sensitivity of the location of the fiber interface used to collect noninvasive spectral data.
Incidence of exercise induced hypoxemia in elite endurance athletes at sea level.

Recent evidence suggests that exercise-induced hypoxemia (EIH) may occur in healthy trained endurance athletes. However, at present, no data exist to describe the regularity of EIH in athletes or non-athletes. Therefore, the purpose of the present investigation was to determine the incidence of EIH during exercise in healthy subjects varying in physical fitness. Subjects (N=68) performed an incremental cycle ergometer test to volitional fatigue with percent arterial oxyhemoglobin saturation (%SaO2) measured min-by-min. For the purpose of data analysis subjects were divided into three groups according to their level of physical training: 1) untrained (N=16), 2) moderately trained (N=27), and 3) elite highly trained endurance athletes (N=25). EIH was defined as a %SaO2 of ≤91% during exercise. EIH did not occur in any of the untrained subjects or the moderately trained subjects. However, EIH occurred in 52% of the highly trained endurance athletes tested and was highly reproducible (r=0.95; P<0.05). These findings further confirm the existence of EIH in healthy highly trained endurance athletes and suggests a rather high incidence of EIH in this healthy population. Hence, it is important that the clinician or physiologist performing exercise testing in elite endurance athletes recognize that EIH can and does occur in the elite endurance athlete in the absence of lung disease.
Variational Conditions Under the Constant Rank Constraint Qualification

This paper studies solution properties of a parametric variational condition under the constant rank constraint qualification (CRCQ), and properties of its underlying set. We start by showing that if the CRCQ holds at a point in a fixed set, then there exists a one-to-one correspondence between the collection of nonempty faces of the normal cone to the set at that point and the collection of active index sets at points nearby. We then study the behavior of the Euclidean projector, and prove under the CRCQ that the set of multipliers associated with the Euclidean projection is locally a continuous multifunction. Following that, we apply the degree theory to a localized normal map, to show that the combination of the CRCQ and the so-called strong coherent orientation condition suffices for the parametric variational condition to have a locally unique, continuous solution, which is selected from finitely many C1 functions. Applications of this result under additional assumptions extend or recover some earlier results on parametric variational inequalities.
Early Proterozoic Central Plains orogen: A major buried structure in the north-central United States

A major early Proterozoic orogen (Central Plains) more than 1000 km long and at least 500 km wide has been delineated in the subsurface of Nebraska, Kansas, and Missouri as a result of a new compilation of Precambrian basement drill data in the northern midcontinent. The orogen is composed of metamorphic and granitoid rocks in the ringe 1.63–1.80 Ga, and it is interpreted on the basis of isotopic ages, rock types, and structure—as reflected by magnetic and gravity anomalies—as being the eastward extension of the early Proterozoic foldbelt exposed in basement uplifts in Colorado and southeastern Wyoming. It truncates the southern margin of the Superior Archean craton and its marginal early Proterozoic orogens, the Penokean (1.83–1.90 Ga) and the Trans-Hudson (1.85–1.95 Ga). The pattern of intersecting Proterozoic mobile belts marginal to Archean cratons is comparable to that in other continents, such as Western Australia and southern Africa.
Serum creatine phosphokinase activity following isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarction in male and female rats with and without arteriosclerosis.

Abstract Male and female rats with and without arteriosclerosis were given two subcutaneous injections of isoproterenol spaced 24 hours apart. The animals promptly developed signs of shock and prostration and myocardial infarction. Sequential sacrifice of the animals at hourly intervals after each of the injections of isoproterenol demonstrated that there was a prompt and marked increase in serum creatine phosphokinase (CPK) activity commensurate with the destruction of myocardial tissue. Serum CPK levels were elevated long before microscopic examination of the myocardium could demonstrate any evidence of overt muscle damage, indicating that the enzyme CPK is a sensitive index of not only myocardial necrosis but of sarcolemmal membrane permeability as well. The changes in serum CPK levels were much more dramatic in these experiments than in previous experience where other serum enzymes were used to detect myocardial infarction, e.g., transaminases (SGOT and SGPT) and lactic dehydrogenase. Female rats showed much more severe untoward signs in connection with myocardial infarction than males. Yet the female subjects survived in much greater numbers and showed much more rapid and effective repair of the heart than the male subjects. This dichotomous response between the sexes was also reflected in the pattern of the CPK response. Animals having pre-existing arteriosclerosis prior to being subjected to isoproterenol-induced myocardial infarction show greater excursion of their serum CPK levels than animals with normal arteries. However, the presence of severe arteriosclerosis per se in no way contributed to serum CPK levels. Therefore, it is suggested that the extra elevation of serum CPK levels in arteriosclerotic animals is a reflection of greater intrinsic damage to the myocardium in such subjects despite the fact that they manifest less severe evidence of shock and heart failure than subjects with normal arteries. Heart weight is greatly increased during the acute episode of myocardial infarction with marked oscillations in weight on an hour-by-hour basis. Histologic and other evidence indicates that this increase in cardiac size and weight is due to cellular infiltration, edema and possible myocardial electrolyte abnormalities, and increased sarcolemmal membrane permeability.
Corpus Callosum Morphology in Capuchin Monkeys Is Influenced by Sex and Handedness

Sex differences have been reported in both overall corpus callosum area and its regional subdivisions in humans. Some have suggested this reflects a unique adaptation in humans, as similar sex differences in corpus callosum morphology have not been reported in any other species of primate examined to date. Furthermore, an association between various measurements of corpus callosum morphology and handedness has been found in humans and chimpanzees. In the current study, we report measurements of corpus callosum cross-sectional area from midsagittal MR images collected in vivo from 14 adult capuchin monkeys, 9 of which were also characterized for hand preference on a coordinated bimanual task. Adult females were found to have a significantly larger corpus callosum: brain volume ratio, rostral body, posterior midbody, isthmus, and splenium than adult males. Left-handed individuals had a larger relative overall corpus callosum area than did right-handed individuals. Additionally, a significant sex and handedness interaction was found for anterior midbody, with right-handed males having a significantly smaller area than right-handed females. These results suggest that sex and handedness influences on corpus callosum morphology are not restricted to Homo sapiens.
Determination of free proline in serum.

SummaryVarious protein precipitating agents were used to obtain protein-free filtrates for determination of free proline in serum. Recovery of proline from serum was 98–101% after precipitation of protein with 95% acidic ethanol; with 10% trichloracetic acid and 2.2% tungstic acid in 0.15 M sulfuric acid, recovery was 111–130%. Accuracy of the method was ± 3% when acidic ethanol was used as a precipitant. Lower maximal absorption values for the prolineninhydrin condensation product were obtained in aqueous standard solutions with trichloracetic acid and tungstic acid than with acidic ethanol, but rate of formation of the acid condensation product did not vary significantly in each system. Strong acid precipitants may alter physicochemical properties of proline itself or of the enol tautomer formed in the proline-ninhydrin condensation to produce the differences noted.
A Microperifusion System with Environmental Control for Studying Insulin Secretion by Pancreatic Tissue

A continuous flow reactor (perifusion system) was fabricated and tested for measuring the kinetics of insulin secretion from isolated pancreatic islets of Langerhans in response to step changes in the glucose concentration and oxygen partial pressure in the perfusate flowing around the islets. The system was capable of making rapid changes in perfusate glucose concentration and pO2, had rapid dynamic response for measuring the change in insulin secretion rate as a result of these changes in perfusate, and was suitable for studying very small volumes of tissue. Initial experiments with this system demonstrated that (1) the response of isolated rat islets to glucose stimulation was very fast, with the first phase peak occurring in as little as about 10 s, (2) bulk perfusate oxygen partial pressure levels of 30 mmHg or less reduced the second-phase insulin secretion rate in graded fashion, (3) the reduction in secretion rate began within 1 min following an oxygen partial pressure decrease, and (4) the reduction in secretion rate was reversible, with a burst of insulin secretion occurring during the first minute after partial pressure restoration.
Targeting Chk1 in p53-deficient triple-negative breast cancer is therapeutically beneficial in human-in-mouse tumor models

Patients with triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) - defined by lack of estrogen receptor and progesterone receptor expression as well as lack of human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) amplification - have a poor prognosis. There is a need for targeted therapies to treat this condition. TNBCs frequently harbor mutations in TP53, resulting in loss of the G1 checkpoint and reliance on checkpoint kinase 1 (Chk1) to arrest cells in response to DNA damage. Previous studies have shown that inhibition of Chk1 in a p53-deficient background results in apoptosis [corrected] in response to DNA damage. We therefore tested whether inhibition of Chk1 could potentiate the cytotoxicity of the DNA damaging agent irinotecan in TNBC using xenotransplant tumor models. Tumor specimens from patients with TNBC were engrafted into humanized mammary fat pads of immunodeficient mice to create 3 independent human-in-mouse TNBC lines: 1 WT (WU-BC3) and 2 mutant for TP53 (WU-BC4 and WU-BC5). These lines were tested for their response to irinotecan and a Chk1 inhibitor (either UCN-01 or AZD7762), either as single agents or in combination. The combination therapy induced checkpoint bypass and apoptosis in WU-BC4 and WU-BC5, but not WU-BC3, tumors. Moreover, combination therapy inhibited tumor growth and prolonged survival of mice bearing the WU-BC4 line, but not the WU-BC3 line. In addition, knockdown of p53 sensitized WU-BC3 tumors to the combination therapy. These results demonstrate that p53 is a major determinant of how TNBCs respond to therapies that combine DNA damage with Chk1 inhibition.
Acidification Enhances Peritoneal Macrophage Phagocytic Activity

Background Laparoscopic surgery is currently used in an array of diverse clinical situations, including cases with potential bacterial contamination. Previous studies have shown that CO 2 insufflation during laparoscopic procedures modulates the immune response due to the acidification of the peritoneum. In the present study, we investigated whether exposure of macrophages to an acidic environment, such as that produced by CO 2 insufflation, could affect phagocytosis, which is the fundamental process for bacterial clearance. Materials and methods A murine peritoneal macrophage line (J774) was pre-incubated at pH levels of 6.0 or 7.4 for 3 h at 37°C and returned to neutral pH (7.4). Phagocytosis was evaluated by incubation with fluorescein isothiocyanate-conjugated IgG-opsonized bacterial particles, IgG-opsonized fluorescent latex beads, and non-opsonized fluorescent latex beads at 37°C, pH 7.4. The intensity of the internalized signal was measured by using a fluorometer. Results Pre-incubation of macrophages at a pH of 6.0 resulted in a significant increase of phagocytic activity of opsonized particles. However, it did not change the uptake of non-opsonized particles. This effect was due to the internalization process since there were no differences in foreign particle binding of cells exposed to acidic or neutral pH levels. Conclusions This study demonstrates that environmental acidification increases the phagocytosis of opsonized particles by macrophages. These results suggest that CO 2 insufflation during laparoscopic surgery may be beneficial for the clearance of pathogens, particularly in cases where there is a high risk of potential intra-abdominal infections.
A Wide Power-Supply Range (0.5V-to-1.3V) Wide Tuning Range (500 MHz-to-8 GHz) All-Static CMOS AD PLL in 65nm SOI

An all-static CMOS 65nm SOI ADPLL has a fully programmable loop filter and a 3rd-order DeltaSigmamodulator. The DCO is a 3-stage, static-inverter-based ring-oscillator programmable in 768 frequency steps. The ADPLL locks from 500MHz to 8GHz at 1.3V 25degC, and 90MHz to 1.2GHz at 0.5V 100degC. The area is 200times150mum 2 and it dissipates 8mW/GHz at 1.2V and 1.6mW/GHz at 0.5V. The synthesized 4GHz clock has period jitter of 0.7psrms, and long-term jitter of 6psrms. The phase noise is -110dBc/Hz at 10MHz offset
InGaP/InGaAsP/GaAs 0.808 /spl mu/m separate confinement laser diodes grown by metalorganic chemical vapor deposition

Aluminum-free InGaP/InGaAsP/GaAs separate confinement heterostructures have been grown and used for broad-area stripe diode laser fabrication. The lasers demonstrated a uniform near-field pattern and emission spectrum at /spl lambda/=0.808 /spl mu/m with a full width at half maximum /spl les/2 mm, meeting the necessary requirements for Nd:YAG pumping systems. A threshold current density of 470 A/cm/sup 2/ and differential efficiency of 0.7 W/A with series resistance of 0.12 /spl Omega/ for 1.37 mm-long diodes have been measured. >
Intraocular injection of ceftazidime. Effects of inflammation and surgery.

Objective: The clearance of ceftazidime from the rabbit vitreous cavity after injection into phakic, aphakic, and aphakic vitrectomized rabbit eyes was assessed and the duration of concentrations above the minimal inhibitory concentrations for target gram-negative bacteria was determined. To determine the effect of inflammation on the intraocular pharmacokinetics of ceftazidime, each anatomic group was subdivided into inflamed and control eyes. Methods: Ceftazidime (2.25 mg) was into the vitreous cavity of inflamed and control rabbit eyes and its concentration was assayed 2, 8, 24, and 48 hours later. The half-life for each of the anatomic groups was calculated. Results: The half-life of ceftazidime in control phakic eyes was 13.8 hours. In aphakic eyes the half-life was 11.8 hours and in the aphakic vitrectomized eyes the half-life was 4.7 hours. Inflammation slightly shortened the half-life in phakic (10.1 hours) and aphakic (8.7 hours) eyes. The half-life in aphakic vitrectomized inflamed eyes was 5.1 hours. Conclusion: Vitrectomy and lensectomy significantly shorten the half-life of ceftazidime after intravitreal injection. Inflammation increases clearance to a small degree in phakic and aphakic eyes.
Demonstration of the dual-tripler scheme for increased-bandwidth frequency tripling

Summary form only given. Beam-smoothing schemes for laser fusion, such as smoothing by spectral dispersion, requires a large bandwidth on the laser beams, which are usually generated as the third harmonic (351 nm) of the Nd:glass laser wavelength. The smoothing rate on target is presently limited by the bandwidth acceptance of the KH/sub 2/PO/sub 4/ (KDP) crystals, which are usually used to perform the third-harmonic generation (THG). It has recently been proposed that broader bandwidth THG can be achieved by using dual triplers.
Software Tool Used for Simulation of Metal Spinning Process for Complex Rotational Parts

Metal spinning on NC machine-tools is a very flexible and complex manufacturing method which has a high efficiency for small series of parts and prototype parts. The algorithms used for calculating the roller trajectory during the metal spinning process are usually complicated and hard to apply into production. This article presents an original application developed using Visual LISP that can be used for calculating and then simulating and testing the roller trajectory in the case of manufacturing rotational complex parts by metal spinning. The simulation prevents any errors that can occur during the process of manufacturing before the parts are actually put into production.