cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Shear-Stress Sensitive Inwardly-Rectifying K+ Channels Regulate Developmental Retinal Angiogenesis by Vessel Regression.

Background/aims Shear stress plays major roles in developmental angiogenesis, particularly in blood vessel remodeling and maturation but little is known about the shear stress sensors involved in this process. Our recent study identified endothelial Kir2.1 channels as major contributors to flow-induced vasodilation, a hallmark of the endothelial flow response. The goal of this study is to establish the role of Kir2.1 in the regulation of retinal angiogenesis. Methods The retina of newly born Kir2.1+/- mice were used to investigate the sprouting angiogenesis and remodeling of newly formed branched vessels. The structure, blood density and mural cell coverage have been evaluated by immunohistochemistry of the whole-mount retina. Endothelial cell alignment was assessed using CD31 staining. The experiments with flow-induced vasodilation were used to study the cerebrovascular response to flow. Results Using Kir2.1-deficient mice, we show that the retinas of Kir2.1+/- mice have higher vessel density, increased lengths and increased number of the branching points, as compared to WT littermates. In contrast, the coverage by αSMA is decreased in Kir2.1+/- mice while pericyte coverage does not change. Furthermore, to determine whether deficiency of Kir2.1 affects vessel pruning, we discriminated between intact and degraded vessels or "empty matrix sleeves" and found a significant reduction in the number of empty sleeves on the peripheral part of the retina or "angiogenic front" in Kir2.1+/- mice. We also show that Kir2.1 deficiency results in decreased endothelial alignment in retinal endothelium and impaired flow-induced vasodilation of cerebral arteries, verifying the involvement of Kir2.1 in shear-stress sensing in retina and cerebral circulation. Conclusion This study shows that shear-stress sensitive Kir2.1 channels play an important role in pruning of excess vessels and vascular remodeling during retinal angiogenesis. We propose that Kir2.1 mediates the effect of shear stress on vessel maturation.
Theory and Practice in Foreign Language Writing Instruction

Foreign language (FL) instruction in the United States currently suffers from a lack of consensus regarding the teaching of writing within the FL curricula. Despite a series of advances in second language (L2) writing theory, many university FL instructors continue to use writing to focus almost exclusively on language surface form and do not encourage/require their students to focus on other deeper functions of writing. This case study investigated levels of knowledge of four of the most important L2 writing theories among 10 FL faculty members responsible for first and second-year FL curricula working at 6 U.S. universities. Participants also provided materials they use to teach FL writing and participated in a series of classroom observations which showcased their teaching of writing in the classroom. Results revealed overall very low levels of knowledge and implementation of mainstream L2 writing research among these participants.
One or two languages for children on the autism spectrum

The emerging research comparing verbal and non‑verbal development in typical individuals and those on the autism spectrum reveals no differences in the acquisition rate of specific features or concepts. Research on families suggests that what parents need is not to be given advice, but rather to be understood and supported by professionals who are family‑centered as well as culturally and linguistically responsive. Choices about language use in families are complex matters that shift dynamically over time. These shifts can include changes in family membership, situational demands, variations in language proficiencies and many other constraints and affordances of family life that require constant adaptation and fluidity. Which language parents choose to speak with their children comes from deeply personal decisions that are neither right nor wrong, but those decisions are often constrained under the weight of fear and misinformation. Speech‑language pathologists play an indispensable role in lifting this weight so that families feel the freedom to arrive at ways of speaking that promote their families’ wellness and goals.
Evaluation of the Informational Content and Readability of US Lung Cancer Screening Program Websites.

Importance The internet is an important source of medical information for many patients and may have a key role in the education of patients about lung cancer screening (LCS). Although most LCS programs in the United States have informational websites, the accuracy, completeness, and readability of these websites have not previously been studied. Objective To evaluate the informational content and readability of US LCS program websites. Design, Setting, and Participants This cross-sectional study assessed US LCS program websites identified on September 15, 2018. A standardized checklist was used to assess key informational content of each website, and text was analyzed for reading level, word count, and reading time. Links to US websites of national advocacy organizations with LCS program content were tabulated. All functional LCS program websites in Google internet search engine results using the search termslung cancer screening,low-dose CT screening, andlung screeningwere included in the analysis. Main Outcomes and Measures Radiologists used a standardized checklist to evaluate content, and readability was assessed with validated scales. Website word count, reading time, and number of links to outside LCS informational websites were assessed. Results A total of 257 LCS websites were included in the analysis. The word count ranged from 73 to 4410 (median, 571; interquartile range, 328-909). The reading time ranged from 0.3 to 19.6 minutes (median, 2.5; interquartile range, 1.5-4.0). The median reading level of all websites was grade 10 (interquartile range, 9-11). Only 26% (n = 66) of websites had at least 1 web link to a national website with additional information on LCS. There was wide variability regarding reported eligibility age criteria, with ages 55 to 77 years most frequently cited (42% [n = 108]). Only 56% (n = 143) of websites mentioned smoking cessation. The subject of patient cost was mentioned on 75% (n = 192) of websites. Although major LCS benefits, such as detection of lung cancer, were discussed by most (93% [n = 239]) websites, less than half of the websites (45% [n = 115]) made any mention of possible risks associated with screening. Conclusions and Relevance There appears to be marked variability in the informational content of US LCS program websites, and the reading level of most websites is above that recommended by the American Medical Association and the National Institutes of Health. Efforts to improve website content and readability may be warranted.
Chapter 34 – Circadian Rhythms

Due to the daily rotation of the Earth on its axis, nearly all organisms are exposed to daily cycles of environmental factors, including the intensity and quality of light, temperature, and other abiotic or physical factors, as well as changes in biotic factors such as presence of predators, competitors, and food. Because of this, most organisms have evolved endogenous biological clocks that synchronize internal processes with external cycles and coordinate intrinsic processes. In birds, these biological clocks are particularly evident partly due to the fact that they are mostly diurnal and visible and also to the fact that these organisms strictly time all aspects of their lives. The biological clocks of birds comprise multiple circadian oscillators whose complex interactions are critical for self-sustained rhythmicity. These include the pineal gland, which influences the system through the secretion of the hormone melatonin, the retinae, and the hypothalamic suprachiasmatic nuclei. This circadian system is, in turn, synchronized or entrained to light–dark cycles via retinal and extraretinal photoreceptors in the pineal gland, lateral septum, preoptic area, and tuberal hypothalamus. This multi-oscillatory system synchronizes multiple behavioral and physiological processes that include brain metabolism, body temperature, endocrine processes, sleep–wake cycles, bird song, migration, and so on. The molecular mechanisms underlying these rhythms are currently being elucidated and appear to contain homologous transcriptional/translational feedback loops involving “clock genes” shared by all animals. Future prospects of integrating molecular with physiological and behavioral research depend on the development of transgenic technologies.
Observed Effects of Whole-Brain Radiation Therapy on Focused Ultrasound Blood–Brain Barrier Disruption

As focused ultrasound for blood-brain barrier disruption (FUS-BBBD) has progressed to human application, it has become necessary to consider the potential effects of prior irradiation treatments. Using a murine model, we examined the effects of whole-brain irradiation on FUS-BBBD. We first subjected half of the experimental cohort to daily 3-Gy whole-brain irradiation for 10 consecutive days. Then, microbubble-assisted FUS-BBBD was performed unilaterally while the contralateral sides served as unsonicated controls. FUS-BBBD, as evident by measuring the fluorescence yield of extravasated trypan blue dye, was identified at all sites with minimal or no apparent pathology. The peak fluorescence intensity caused by extravasated dye in the sonicated region was 17.5 ± 12.1% higher after radiation and FUS-BBBD than after FUS-BBBD alone, suggesting that prior radiation of the brain may be a sensitizing factor for FUS-BBBD. Radiation alone-without FUS-BBBD-resulted in mild BBB disruption. Hemorrhagic petechiae were observed in 9 of 12 radiated brains, with 77% of them clearly located outside the sonicated area; no petechiae were found in non-irradiated animals. This radiation protocol did not appear to increase the risk for vascular damage associated with FUS-BBBD.
Ellipsoidal inhomogeneity in elliptically orthotropic elastic solid

Abstract An unbounded elliptically orthotropic elastic solid containing a single anisotropic ellipsoidal inhomogeneity is considered. The problem statement assumes arbitrary orientation of ellipsoid with respect to the orthotropy axes and non-uniform far loading. By applying the appropriate affine transformations, the boundary value problem is reduced to that one with the isotropic constituents. The complete displacement solution to the transformed problem is obtained using the Papkovich-Neuber representation with the scalar potentials written in terms of ellipsoidal solid harmonics. By accurate fulfilling the interface conditions, the boundary value problem is reduced to the system of the linear algebraic equations for the constants entering the potentials. For the Eshelby problem (uniform remotely applied loading and perfect interface), an explicit analytical solution is written in terms of ellipsoidal harmonics. This result yields solution for the elliptical crack problem in the remarkably simple way. The numerical examples illustrate an effect of the matrix anisotropy on the stress concentration and stress intensity factors. An application of the obtained solution to the micromechanics is discussed. The effective elastic stiffness tensor of a particulate composite with elliptically orthotropic matrix is evaluated using Maxwell homogenization scheme.
The Logic of Bundles

Since the work of Crown (J. Natur. Sci. Math. 15(1–2), 11–25 1975) in the 1970’s, it has been known that the projections of a finite-dimensional vector bundle E form an orthomodular poset (omp) \(\mathcal {P}(E)\). This result lies in the intersection of a number of current topics, including the categorical quantum mechanics of Abramsky and Coecke (2004), and the approach via decompositions of Harding (Trans. Amer. Math. Soc. 348(5), 1839–1862 1996). Moreover, it provides a source of omps for the quantum logic program close to the Hilbert space setting, and admitting a version of tensor products, yet having important differences from the standard logics of Hilbert spaces. It is our purpose here to initiate a basic investigation of the quantum logic program in the vector bundle setting. This includes observations on the structure of the omps obtained as \(\mathcal {P}(E)\) for a vector bundle E, methods to obtain states on these omps, and automorphisms of these omps. Key theorems of quantum logic in the Hilbert setting, such as Gleason’s theorem and Wigner’s theorem, provide natural and quite challenging problems in the vector bundle setting.
Cardiac Stem Cells: Biology and Therapeutic Applications

The heart, previously considered a prototypic terminally differentiated organ, is now known to contain reservoirs or compartments of precursor cells. Both postnatal persistence of precursor cells that govern heart formation and adult stem cell niches are described, although the former mechanism appears to be of limited significance. The exact nature and role of adult cell niches continues to be debated, as does the degree to which cardiomayocytes turn over in the adult. There continues to be growing support for a new paradigm of cardiac biology in which myocyte homeostasis occurs throughout life. In this paradigm, diseases of the heart can now be viewed as disruptions in the balance between physiologic myocyte loss and replacement. Moreover, a new therapeutic possibility has emerged whereby cardiac regenerative mechanisms may be deployed in the form of cell therapeutics that either replace lost cells primarily or promote emdogenous cellular repair. In this chapter, we review the biology of cardiac stem cells and the growing body of knowledge regarding cell-based therapeutics.
Serum anti-Aspergillus fumigatus antibodies by immunoblot and ELISA in cystic fibrosis with allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis☆

Abstract Allergic bronchopulmonary aspergillosis (ABPA) occurs with a prevalence of 5% to 15% in patients with cystic fibrosis (CF). Because of the frequent colonization with Aspergillus fumigatus (Af) in CF, the causative agent of ABPA, antibody reactivity to Af proteins is frequently observed, which obscures the diagnosis of ABPA. Patients with CF are also categorized according to the presence of positive skin test responses to Af and/or the presence of positive precipitins. In this study we used ELISA and immunoblot assay to detect IgE and IgG anti-Af antibodies in patients with CF and ABPA ( n = 13) compared with other groups of patients with CF: those with positive skin test and positive precipitin results ( n = 18), those with positive skin test and negative precipitin results ( n = 14), those with negative skin test and positive precipitin results ( n = 10), and those with negative skin test and negative precipitin results ( n = 35). IgE and IgG anti-Af antibodies were significantly elevated in patients with ABPA as determined by both immunoblot assay ( p p
Angiotensinogen gene expression in 3T3-L1 cells

It has previously been established that angiotensinogen mRNA is present in brown and white adipose tissue of the rat. To determine whether angiotensinogen gene expression is present in adipocytes as compared with other cell elements, we have examined angiotensinogen mRNA in 3T3-L1 cells. These cells undergo adipocyte differentiation when the culture reaches confluence. To accelerate the differentiation process, cells were treated with dexamethasone and isobutylmethylxanthine for 3 days. On the 7th day after drug treatment, RNA was extracted from cells and was examined for angiotensinogen mRNA using a full-length rat angiotensinogen cDNA. Angiotensinogen mRNA was readily detected in differentiated 3T3-L1 cells. To determine when the gene is expressed, a 7-day time course from day 0 (before drug treatment) to day 7 was examined for the presence of angiotensinogen mRNA. In addition, C2 cells, a clonal cell line that does not differentiate into adipocytes, were examined. Angiotensinogen mRNA was detected on days 2-7 after drug treatment in 3T3-L1 cells, with no detectable levels in untreated 3T3-C2 cells. When 3T3-C2 cells were subjected to the same drug regimen, angiotensinogen mRNA levels increased in the same time course as 3T3-L1 cells. However, the increase in angiotensinogen message was greater in differentiating 3T3-L1 cells than in the nondifferentiating 3T3-C2 cells. Thus angiotensinogen mRNA is present in both adipocytes and in fibroblast-like cells and appears to be regulated by steroids.
Observed impact of traffic and weather on continuous descent and continuous climb operations

This paper presents an assessment of the impact of traffic and weather on the likelihood of executing continuous descent operations (CDO) and continuous climb operations (CCO) in a busy multi-airport system. Our analysis of empirical data available for the Houston Metroplex region indicates that increased traffic levels and the presence of traffic management initiatives related to either congestion or weather tend to decrease the likelihood of flights executing both continuous descent and continuous climb operations. The extent to which arrival or departure procedures were used remained the same between flights executing CDOs (or CCOs) and all other flights. We demonstrate this by the use of scatter plots and logistic regression.
Immunological Studies of Brown Recluse Spider Venom

Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of Loxosceles reclusa venom demonstrated that only one of seven or eight major (plus three or four minor) protein components caused necrosis in guinea pig skin. Sephadex gel filtration separated the venom into three major peaks, the second peak of which contained the dermonecrotic activity. Hyperimmunization of rabbits with increasing doses of venom from L. reclusa produced potent precipitating antisera, and the rabbits became resistant to lesion development. Ouchterlony-type immunodiffusion and immunoelectrophoretic studies revealed six to seven distinct precipitation lines, one of which stained intensely for esterase activity. Immunohistochemical techniques failed to detect any protease, lipase, catalase, acid phosphatase, alkaline phosphatase, or amylase activity in the venom. The spreading activity of recluse spider venom in guinea pig skin was inhibited as much as 71% by antivenom. Venom preincubated with antivenom was unable to incite lesions in guinea pig skin. Passive immunization of guinea pigs 18 h before an injection of venom conferred venom resistance upon the animals. Local injections of antivenom immediately after intradermal injections of venom markedly reduced the dermal lesion. Heparin reduced the local and systemic effects of venom when preincubated with whole venom or when administered systemically before an intradermal injection of venom. Treatment of whole venom with the chelating agent ethylenediaminetetraacetate did not inhibit its necrotic activity. Transfer studies from a 24-h lesion indicated that the necrotic activity was localized and remained active in tissue for at least 24 h but not for 5 days. No lesions developed when high concentrations of venom were intradermally injected into the skin of sacrificed guinea pigs, indicating that an interaction of body constituents and venom is essential for the development of a lesion. Images
The effects of prostaglandin E2 in rapidly growing rats: depressed longitudinal and radial growth and increased metaphyseal hard tissue mass.

Abstract The effects of 0, 0.3, 1.0, 3.0, or 6.0 mg of prostaglandin E 2 (PGE 2 )/kg/day administered subcutaneously for 3 weeks to triple fluorochrome-labeled weanling rats are reported. Microradiographs and undecalcified sections of proximal tibiae, tibial shafts, and seventh caudal vertebrae were evaluated by static and dynamic bone histomorphometry techniques. Significant changes were observed only at higher dose levels. Proximal tibial longitudinal growth rates were depressed in doses of 1, 3, or 6 mg PGE 2 Kg/day. Growth plate thickness and the size of hypertrophic cartilage cells were decreased in animals given 3 and 6 mg of PGE 2 /kg/day, but the calculated rate of cartilage cell production was unaffected. At doses of 6 mg PGE 2 /kg/day, periosteal bone apposition rates between Day −1 and Day + 19 in both the tibial shafts and caudal vertebral cortices were depressed by less than 25%. Cortical bone mass and endosteal bone apposition rates in the tibial shaft and caudal vertebrae were unaffected. Hard tissue mass in the secondary spongiosa of the proximal tibial metaphysis increased dramatically (28%, 44%, and 60%, respectively) in rats treated with 1, 3, or 6 mg PGE 2 /kg/day. In addition, the secondary spongiosa contained numerous islands of woven trabecular bone along with an increased number of trabeculae. The study demonstrates that high doses of PGE 2 stimulate new woven trabecular bone production and depress longitudinal and radial growth in rapidly growing rats.
"Who Shall Be Educated?": The Case of Restricting Remediation at the City University of New York.

This article retrospectively examines the controversy surrounding the City University of New York’s (CUNY’s) Board of Trustees and the New York State Board of Regents’decision to phase out remedial coursework at all of the system’s senior colleges. Pivotal to this discussion are the ways in which this decision, although similar to many such initiatives across the country, places the historical mission of CUNY at odds with its current policy. In the wake of this policy, many students find themselves systematically barred from full participation in postsecondary pursuits, diminishing their hopes of upward mobility in the name of higher standards.
Electrochemical deposition and characterization of conducting polymer polypyrrole/PSS on multichannel neural probes

Abstract The conducting polymer polypyrrole (PPy) doped with polystyrene sulfonate (PSS) was electrochemically deposited onto the electrode sites of micromachined neural probes. The surface morphology of the films was found to vary with coating thickness. Examinations of atomic force microscope (AFM) images of the coatings using the power spectral density (PSD) method revealed the spatial frequency dependence of surface roughness. The magnitude of the impedance of the PPy/PSS coated electrode at the biologically relevant frequency of 1 kHz decreased with increasing thickness as the film roughens. The lowest impedance was observed at a thickness of ∼13 μm. This decrease in impedance was correlated to the increase in effective surface area. The power-law behavior of the impedance spectra was quantitatively correlated with the fractal characteristics of the polymer-coated electrode surface morphology. High quality neural signals were recorded acutely from cerebellum of guinea pig through the PPy/PSS coated electrodes.
Characteristics of auditory agnosia in a child with severe traumatic brain injury: A case report

We present a case that is unusual in many respects from other documented incidences of auditory agnosia, including the mechanism of injury, age of the individual, and location of neurological insult. The clinical presentation is one of disturbance in the perception of spoken language, music, pitch, emotional prosody, and temporal auditory processing in the absence of significant deficits in the comprehension of written language, expressive language production, or peripheral auditory function. Furthermore, the patient demonstrates relatively preserved function in other aspects of audition such as sound localization, voice recognition, and perception of animal noises and environmental sounds. This case study demonstrates that auditory agnosia is possible following traumatic brain injury in a child, and illustrates the necessity of assessment with a wide variety of auditory stimuli to fully characterize auditory agnosia in a single individual.
Political risk and the international bond market between the 1848 revolution and the outbreak of the First World War

SUMMARY This article uses price data and editorial commentaries from the contemporary financial press to measure the impact of political events on investors’ expectations from the middle of the nineteenth century until the First World War. The main question addressed is why political events appeared to affect the world's biggest financial market, the London bond market, much less between 1881 and 1914 than they had between 1843 and 1880. In particular, I ask why the outbreak of the First World War, an event traditionally seen as having been heralded by a series of international crises, was not apparently anticipated by investors. The article considers how far the declining sensitivity of the bond market to political events was a result of the spread of the gold standard, increased international financial integration, or changes in the fiscal policies of the great powers. I suggest that the increasing national separation of bond markets offers a better explanation. However, even this structural change cannot explain why the London market was so slow to appreciate the risk of war in 1914. To investors, the First World War truly came as a bolt from the blue.
Novel Therapies for Treating Atrial Fibrillation

Atrial fibrillation is the most common cardiac arrhythmia and is a major risk factor for stroke, heart failure, and death. Current treatments focus on anti-coagulation as well as rate-control and rhythm-control strategies. Frequent INR checks associated with warfarin along with several adverse side effects of anti-arrhythmics have propelled investigations into novel treatments for atrial fibrillation. Research is focused not only on pioneering new pharmacological antico- agulation and anti-arrhythmic agents but also on improving surgical techniques in hopes of treating the arrhythmia. Here, we first briefly discuss the current treatment options, both pharmacological and non-pharmacological, for atrial fibrillation. We then present a focused review of recent animal and human investigations that examine the use of novel an-ticoagulation agents, mechanisms of new anti-arrhythmics, analyze potential triggers of atrial fibrillation, and highlight the role of genetics in atrial fibrillation.
Prognostic value of the hDMP1-ARF-Hdm2-p53 pathway in breast cancer

Our recent study showed critical roles of Dmp1 as a sensor of oncogenic Ras, HER2/neu signaling and activation of the Arf-p53 pathway. To elucidate the role of human DMP1 (hDMP1) in breast cancer, one hundred and ten pairs of human breast cancer specimen were studied for the alterations of the hDMP1-ARF-Hdm2-p53 pathway with follow up of clinical outcomes. Loss of heterozygosity (LOH) of the hDMP1 locus was found in 42% of human breast carcinomas, while that of INK4a/ARF and p53 were found in 20 and 34%, respectively. Hdm2 amplification was found in 13% of the same sample, which was found independently of LOH for hDMP1. Conversely, LOH for hDMP1 was found in mutually exclusive fashion with that of INK4a/ARF and p53, and was associated with low Ki67 index and diploid karyotype. Consistently, LOH for hDMP1 was associated with luminal A category and longer relapse-free survival, while that of p53 was associated with non-luminal A and shorter survival. Thus, loss of hDMP1 could define a new disease category associated with prognosis of breast cancer patients. Human breast epithelial cells/cancer cells with wild-type p53 were sensitive to growth inhibition by activated Dmp1:ER while those that delete p14ARF or p53, and/or Hdm2 amplification showed partial or nearly complete resistance, indicating that p53 is a critical target for hDMP1 to exhibit its biological activity.
Ethanol and ()-α-Pinene: Attractant Kairomones for Bark and Ambrosia Beetles in the Southeastern US

In 2002–2004, we examined the flight responses of 49 species of native and exotic bark and ambrosia beetles (Coleoptera: Scolytidae and Platypodidae) to traps baited with ethanol and/or (−)-α-pinene in the southeastern US. Eight field trials were conducted in mature pine stands in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina. Funnel traps baited with ethanol lures (release rate, about 0.6 g/day at 25–28°C) were attractive to ten species of ambrosia beetles (Ambrosiodmus tachygraphus, Anisandrus sayi, Dryoxylon onoharaensum, Monarthrum mali, Xyleborinus saxesenii, Xyleborus affinis, Xyleborus ferrugineus, Xylosandrus compactus, Xylosandrus crassiusculus, and Xylosandrus germanus) and two species of bark beetles (Cryptocarenus heveae and Hypothenemus sp.). Traps baited with (−)-α-pinene lures (release rate, 2–6 g/day at 25–28°C) were attractive to five bark beetle species (Dendroctonus terebrans, Hylastes porculus, Hylastes salebrosus, Hylastes tenuis, and Ips grandicollis) and one platypodid ambrosia beetle species (Myoplatypus flavicornis). Ethanol enhanced responses of some species (Xyleborus pubescens, H. porculus, H. salebrosus, H. tenuis, and Pityophthorus cariniceps) to traps baited with (−)-α-pinene in some locations. (−)-α-Pinene interrupted the response of some ambrosia beetle species to traps baited with ethanol, but only the response of D. onoharaensum was interrupted consistently at most locations. Of 23 species of ambrosia beetles captured in our field trials, nine were exotic and accounted for 70–97% of total catches of ambrosia beetles. Our results provide support for the continued use of separate traps baited with ethanol alone and ethanol with (−)-α-pinene to detect and monitor common bark and ambrosia beetles from the southeastern region of the US.
Axisymmetric and three-dimensional boundary integral simulations of bubble growth from an underwater orifice

Abstract The formation of bubbles from an underwater orifice is studied by means of a boundary integral method. Since the bubble process is highly transient the flow field is assumed to be irrotational. A potential-flow boundary-integral formulation is employed to simulate the growth of a bubble from a needle in an unbounded domain and in a tube. The geometry of the problem is axisymmetric in these cases. A good agreement is found between the simulations and the experiment for air bubbles of radii ranging from a few hundred microns to several millimeters in water. A three-dimensional boundary integral method is developed to simulate bubble detachment from a non-vertical needle in an unbounded domain. Numerical instabilities commonly associated with the boundary integral technique are found to be even more severe for the three dimensional case and therefore an artificial damping term is introduced to eliminate these instabilities. Even though the simulations often fail just before the pinchoff point, the results compare favorably with the experiment.
The Glendora Volcanics: ABSTRACT

The term Glendora volcanics has been given to the series of volcanic rocks exposed in the northeastern San Gabriel basin, Los Angeles County, California. They consist of flows, tuff breccias, and tuffs ranging in composition from olivine basalt to glassy rhyolite or dacite, the most abundant being andesitic flows and pyroclastics. Thicknesses reach at least 2,000 feet in exposed sections and about 3,500 feet in wells. Luisian Foraminifera and fish scales from sediments interbedded with upper members of the volcanics indicate that they are probably largely of upper middle Miocene age. End_of_Article - Last_Page 2088------------
Oxygen transport through high-purity, large-grain Ag

The permeation of oxygen through high-purity, large-grain Ag membranes has been studied over the temperature range of 400–800 °C. The permeability was found to be linear and repeatable, but the magnitude was 3.2 times smaller than that determined by past research. This factor may be due to negligible grain boundary diffusion that exists in this work. Auger electron spectroscopy (AES) does, however, suggest the importance of grain boundaries since intragranular oxygen was virtually undetectable and since AES line scans show substantial oxygen signals around the grain boundaries. The diffusivity measurements were found to exhibit two distinct linear regions, one above and one below a critical temperature of 630 °C. The high-temperature data have an activation energy (11.1 kcal mol−1) similar to that reported by others, but the low-temperature data have a comparatively larger activation energy (15.3 kcal mol−1). Vacuum desorption of the oxygen-saturated Ag was found to occur at the critical temperature of 630 °C, which is consistent with the increased mobility of oxygen atoms in the higher temperature regime. The higher activation energy observed in the lower temperature regime is probably due to the higher efficiency of traps.
Youth BMI trajectories: evidence from the NLSY97.

We examined heterogeneity in BMI trajectory classes among youth and variables that may be associated with trajectory class membership. We used data from seven rounds (1997–2003) of the 1997 National Longitudinal Survey of Youth (NLSY97), a nationally representative, longitudinal survey of people born between 1980 and 1984 who were living in the United States in 1997. The analyses were based on an accelerated longitudinal design. General growth mixture modeling implemented in Mplus (version 4.1) was used to identify subtypes of youth BMI growth trajectories over time. Four distinct youth BMI trajectories were identified. Class 1 includes youth at high risk for becoming obese by young adulthood (at age 12 and 23, ∼67 and 90%, respectively, are classified as obese, and almost 72% will have had a BMI ≥ 40 at some time during this developmental period). Class 2 includes youth at moderate-to-high risk (at age 12 and 23, ∼55 and 68%, respectively, are classified as obese). Class 3 includes youth at low-to-moderate risk (i.e., at age 12 and 23, ∼8 and 27%, respectively, are classified as obese). Class 4 includes youth at low risk (few of these youth are obese at any age during this developmental period). These results highlight the importance of considering heterogeneity in BMI growth among youth and early interventions among those most at risk of the adverse health consequences of excess weight.
A comparison of direct enzymatic determination of glycogen in liver and heart

Abstract Several enzymatic methods for the measurement of glycogen have been developed including degradation by diazyme (1) or amylo-α-1,4-α-1,6-glucosidase (2–6) followed by determination of glucose with glucose oxidase (1–3,6) or hexokinase and glucose-6-P- dehydrogenase (4,5). Bueding and Hawkins (7) developed a method for the microdetermination of glycogen using phosphorylase and amylo-α-1,4-α-1,6-glucosidase which was later modified so that commercially available enzymes: phosphrylase a, P- glucomutase, and glucose-6-P-dehydrogenase could be used (8). In determining the glycogen content of tissue samples, homogenization in perchloric acid (4,5) or heating tissue in 0.03 n HCl (9) have been included prior to theenzymatic analysis. Yet, it has also been reported that glycogen can be deermined directly in very dilute homogenates of liver or muscle in water (3). Likewise, direct enzymatic procedure for the detemrination of glycogen in homogenates of liver in water by degrading glycogen to glucose by treament with amylo-α-1,4-α-1,6-glucosidase has yielded higher values for glycogen content than those for tissue digestion with KOH, precipitation of glycogen with ethanol, and finally acid hydrolysis (6). In the present report, the feasibility direct enzymatic determination of glycogen in homogenates of liver with amylo-α-1,4-α-1,6-glucosidase has been reaffirmed. However, glycogen content of heart tissue determined by the same enzymatic procedure directly in homogenates in water was substantially lower than that obtained by extraction with KOH, glycogen precipitation with ethanol, and then enzymatic analysis.
Large‐scale gravity wave characteristics simulated with a high‐resolution global thermosphere‐ionosphere model

[1] Waves in the atmosphere, ionosphere, magnetosphere, and oceans are important mechanisms for dissipating and distributing energy throughout the Earth-atmosphere system. Internal waves are extremely important in the atmosphere, and past global studies have looked at the impacts of gravity waves on the thermosphere using gravity wave parameterizations. Here, in contrast, a medium-scale gravity wave is studied in a global thermosphere-ionosphere model, to determine the 3-D characteristics of the wave as it propagated upward through the thermosphere. The model used is a time-dependent, high-resolution, numerical model of the global thermosphere-ionosphere system, which produces global distributions of mass density, temperature, and all three components of the neutral wind at altitudes from 90 to 500 km. The gravity wave horizontal wavelengths that are measured in the thermosphere are hundreds to thousands of kilometers, with periods associated with these waves of about an hour. Therefore, a gravity wave that is physical, present in the thermosphere, and resolvable in the global numerical model was generated for this study; this wave is a 1000 km horizontal wavelength wave with a 3 h period. The gravity wave grows in amplitude, reaches a critical state and then breaks, creating curved wavefronts, and depositing its energy locally. As the gravity wave breaks, depositing its energy, a secondary wave is generated from the original gravity wave, with horizontal wavelengths of 4000 to 5000 km. The secondary wave propagates globally, unlike the original gravity wave, which only propagates in a local area. The original gravity wave had amplitudes for density and temperature of 35% and ±100 K, respectively, while the secondary wave had amplitudes of 5% and ±20 K, respectively.
Quantitative comparisons using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and dual-isotope techniques for detection of isotope and impurity interferences

Abstract Dual-isotope methods for special quantitative comparisons using GC-MS are evaluated for assessing interferences in reaction experiments. The procedure is suitable for detecting interferences from impurities in reactants, errors due to isotope exchange and effects of kinetic differences between labeled and non-labeled forms. Combined reaction of both isotopic forms of test compounds in the same reaction system, followed by concurrent pretreatment and GC-MS measurements, allow for special ratios to be tested statistically to determine if the interferences are significant. The comparisons may be relatively unaffected by large uncertainties in pretreatment and measurement steps and thus may yield greatly improved results relative to corresponding conventional assessments. Moreover, concentrations of the individual eluates need not be known and eluate identifications may not be required for proper use of this approach.
Activation of CuSi and CuZnSnSi contact masses for the direct synthesis of methylchlorosilanes

The temperature-programmed-activation (TPA) of CuSi, CuSi(H) (prepared using CuCl and CuCl 2H2O, respectively), and CuSi copromoted with zinc and tin have been investigated. The main effect of promotion was to increase the activation temperature suggesting that zinc may inhibit the transfer of chlorine from CuCl to surface silicon atoms. The sample prepared using hydrated cuprous chloride initially exhibited reduced activity for the Direct Reaction relative to CuSi, apparently, due to oxidation of the contact mass surface inhibiting the formation of η-Cu3Si.
Specific gravity — Dry matter relationship in potatoes

1. The specific gravity-dry matter relationship of potatoes grown in North Carolina was determined. 2. Location of production and variety of potato had a statistically significant effect on the specific gravity-dry matter relationship. Size of tuber was not significant but appeared to be somewhat greater than the effect of variety. These factors, though in some cases statistically significant, did not greatly affect predicted dry matter values. 3. A prediction equation and a prediction error were given for the estimation of dry matter content of potatoes from specific gravity measurements irrespective of size of tuber, variety or location grown in North Carolina.
Sampling with Arbitrary Sampling and Reconstruction Spaces and Oblique Dual Frame Vectors

This article introduces a general framework for sampling and reconstruction procedures based on a consistency requirement, introduced by Unser and Aldroubi in [29]. The procedures we develop allow for almost arbitrary sampling and reconstruction spaces, as well as arbitrary input signals. We first derive a nonredundant sampling procedure. We then introduce the new concept of oblique dual frame vectors, that lead to frame expansions in which the analysis and synthesis frame vectors are not constrained to lie in the same space. Based on this notion, we develop a redundant sampling procedure that can be used to reduce the quantization error when quantizing the measurements prior to reconstruction.
The effects of d-lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), 2,5-dimethoxy-4-methylamphetamine (DOM) and d-amphetamine on operant responding in control and 6-hydroxydopamine-treated rats

The purpose of the present study was to determine the role of central catecholaminergic neuronal systems in the effects of LSD, DOM and d-amphetamine on fixed ratio (FR) operant responding in rats. Food-deprived male rats were trained to press a bar for food reinforcement on a FR-40 schedule. Control responding on this schedule is characterized by a rapid, constant rate of responding (approximately 100 responses/min) throughout a 40 min test session. LSD and DOM, as with other hallucinogens, produced dose-dependent periods of nonresponding or "pausing," followed by reinstatement of responding at or near the control rate. Administration of the non-hallucinogen, d-amphetamine, did not produce "pausing," but caused the response rate to slow and become erratic. In animals pretreated intraventricularly with 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA; 200 micrograms/10 microliter X 2), the response to LSD and DOM was unchanged, while the response to d-amphetamine was significantly diminished. The neurotoxin significantly decreased brain catecholamines to less than 25 percent of control in al regions examined, without altering 5-HT concentrations in these same regions. These data demonstrate that the effects of LSD and DOM on FR-40 responding are quite different from those of d-amphetamine, and that this difference may be due to the extent of catecholamine involvement in the effects of these agents.
National and Regional Differences Among Runaway Youth Using Federally-Funded Crisis Services

ABSTRACT This study examined national and regional differences between runaway shelter users and national census norms on demographic and high-risk characteristics. Data collected from federally-funded youth shelters nationwide (n = 16,652) were compared with U.S. adolescent populations (n = 26,735,028). Runaway youth were more likely to be female, minority and older than respective national figures; ethnicity varied greatly from one region of the U.S. to another. Proportions of youth with high-risk characteristics, such as illicit drug use and selling, suicidal behaviors, and physical and sexual abuse were strikingly different across regions. Development of policies and services that target particular issues of youth in specific regions is needed.
SYNERGISTIC INHIBITION OF XANTHINE OXIDASE BY GUANIDINIUM PLUS THIOCYANATE.

Abstract Milk xanthine oxidase was inhibited competitively by guanidinium and noncompetitively by thiocyanate. When present simultaneously, these inhibitors exhibited a striking synergism manifested by an apparent mutual lowering of inhibitory constants (K). Thus, KG+ was decreasedfrom 7 × 10−3M to 8 × 10−4M by the presence of excess thiocyanate, and KS− was decreased from 0.3 to 0.01 M by the presence of excess guanidinium. It was possible to calculate inhibitory constants for each of these inhibitors in terms of their inhibition of the enzyme when acting alone and also in terms of their potentiation of the inhibition caused by the other inhibitor, when acting together. The value of KG+ arrived at in these two ways was identical, whereas the value of KS− derived from its effects on guanidinium inhibition was smaller by a factor of 25 than was KS− derived from its inhibition of the enzyme when acting alone. This suggested that guanidinium binds to the enzyme at the same site, in competition with xanthine, whether thiocyanate is present or not. Thiocyanate, in contrast, binds to a noncompetitive site when acting alone and, in the presence of guanidinium, also to a site newly created for it by the binding of guanidinium. This interpretation was supported by the effects of pH on KG+, KS−, and the degree of synergism and by the observation that the presence of guanidinium converts thiocyanate to a largely competitive inhibitor.
Pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic modeling of pegfilgrastim in healthy subjects.

This analysis was conducted to characterize the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of pegfilgrastim and to develop a pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic model to describe the granulopoietic effects of pegfilgrastim and the homeostatic regulation of pegfilgrastim clearance in healthy subjects. Pegfilgrastim serum concentration data and differential white cell counts were obtained from an open-label, single-dose, dose escalation study. Healthy subjects (8 subjects/dose group) received a single subcutaneous dose of 30, 60, 100, or 300 μg/kg pegfilgrastim. Pegfilgrastim exhibited nonlinear pharmacokinetics; clearance decreased with increasing dose. A dose-dependent increase in absolute neutrophil count with an increase in the percentage of band cells was observed. A pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic model was developed that adequately described the nonlinear pharmacokinetics of pegfilgrastim, feedback regulation of pegfilgrastim clearance by neutrophils, and the differential effects of pegfilgrastim on neutrophil populations in blood.
Female reproductive qualities affect male painted turtle (Chrysemys picta marginata) reproductive success

Male reproductive success (RS) in polygamous species with minimal social systems is often determined by the number of mates. However, because male RS is translated through females, the number of offspring sired can also be influenced by female qualities. Empirically sufficient data to document how tradeoffs between mate number and quality influence male RS are seldom available for long-lived, iteroparous species. We combined long-term life history data (1983–2006) on the E. S. George Reserve (ESGR, MI, USA) with parentage data from 155 clutches of 59 female painted turtles (Chrysemys picta marginata) of varying reproductive frequencies (2003–2006) to determine the relative contribution of female numbers and qualities on male RS. One previously documented trait of female painted turtles that can have substantial influences on male RS is repeat paternity through the use of stored sperm to fertilize over 95 % of within-year clutches. In addition, our study found that second-clutch producing female painted turtles on the ESGR have higher among-year reproductive frequencies than do first-clutch only females. Multiple paternity was detected in 14.1 % of clutches (min-max = 6.1–30.0 % annually), and the number of mates of both sexes was low annually (males 1.0; females 1.2) and over 4 years (males 1.1; females 1.7). Among successful males, RS varied substantially (1–32 offspring) and was strongly influenced by the combination of female reproductive frequency and repeat paternity (>38 % among years), but not mate number. Low mate number for both sexes was unexpected in a species without complex mating behaviors or parental care.
Underwater observations of active lava flows from Kilauea volcano, Hawaii

Underwater observation of active submarine lava flows from Kilauea volcano, Hawaii, in March-June 1989 revealed both pillow lava and highly channelized lava streams flowing down a steep and unconsolidated lava delta. The channelized streams were 0.7-1.5 m across and moved at rates of 1-3 m/s. The estimated flux of a stream was 0.7 m 3 /s. Jets of hydrothermal water and gas bubbles were associated with the volcanic activity. The rapidly moving channelized lava streams represent a previously undescribed aspect of submarine volcanism.