cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Dynamic Manipulation of Infrared Radiation with MEMS Metamaterials

materials are fashioned from ‘artifi cial atoms’, which are engineered to yield a specifi c response to the electric and magnetic components of light, the properties of which are preserved in a macroscopic medium fabricated from their individual units. Electromagnetic properties achieved by metamaterials derive from the geometry of their unit cells, as opposed to the bandstructure of their makeup. Metamaterials are thus a bottom-up design paradigm for the construction of advanced materials and hold great potential for applications spanning the electromagnetic spectrum. Although metamaterial have realized novel electromagnetic properties, some which have been diffi cult to achieve with natural materials, the ability to dynamically control these responses in real-time would offer signifi cant advantages enabling metamaterials to transition into state-of-the-art devices.
Experimental study of thermocapillary flows in a thin liquid layer with heat fluxes imposed on the free surface

To study thermocapillary flows in a two-dimensional thin liquid layer with heat fluxes imposed on the free surface experimentally, a long tray configuration was employed to simulate the infinite layer. The surface temperature distribution due to thermocapillary convective for different flow regimes was measured and compared with theoretical predictions. A short tray configuration was also employed to study the end wall effects (insulating or conducting). The results show that for a strong convection flow with an insulating wall as the boundary the surface temperature distribution became quite uniform. Consequently, the thermocapillary driving force was greatly reduced. On the other hand, a strong fluid motion always existed adjacent to the conducting wall because of the large surface temperature gradient near the wall.
Trends in prostatectomy for benign prostatic hyperplasia among black and white men in the United States: 1980 to 1994.

Abstract Objectives. To estimate the annual rate of discharge for prostatectomy for benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) in black and white men from 1980 to 1994 using the National Hospital Discharge Survey. Methods. Overall and race-, age-, and year-specific utilization rates were estimated for the civilian population in the United States. Length of stay was calculated for each discharge, and the results were plotted over time. An expected number of discharges based on the rates observed in 1980 was estimated to determine the impact of decreased prostatectomy rates on the number of procedures that would have been expected in this aging population. Results. Discharge rates for whites were within a narrow range (233.2 to 274.5 per 100,000) from 1980 through 1990 and then displayed a monotonic decline after 1991 to 131.3 per 100,000 in 1994. Rates for blacks were 10% to 24% lower from 1980 to 1991; the decline in discharge rates began in 1993 for blacks, and by 1994 the racial gap had closed. Length of stay decreased throughout the period but length of stay averaged 30% longer for blacks throughout. On the basis of the observed rates of 1980, there were more than 140,000 fewer prostatectomies performed for BPH in 1994 than would have been expected owing to the aging of the population. Conclusions. These data demonstrate that the black/white differences in prostatectomy for BPH that were observed in the 1980s have disappeared in recent years. Furthermore, rates have declined dramatically in all age- and race-specific groups. Further work is needed to determine whether this convergence in discharge rates is due to equalization of access to medical care or to differences in utilization of alternative therapies.
From Preservice to Teacher Leadership: Meeting the Future in Educator Preparation.

Amidst myriad reforms, the education landscape is rapidly shifting. There has been a call for teacher leadership to lead these reforms, helping transform the profession and reshape education. The call for teacher leadership is changing the role of a teacher, and as this role transforms, so must teacher education. The authors examine teacher leadership and ask the question: Can the seeds of teacher leadership be cultivated before a preservice teacher graduates to the school district? This article lays the foundation for ongoing research with three colleagues at separate teacher education institutes. Preservice teachers read about and interact via video conferencing with teacher leaders from across the country to see if and how they think differently about the potential of leading education—from inside America’s classrooms.
Syntheses and Reactions of Manganese Cycloheptadienyl-Carbene Adducts

Treatment of [Mn(CO) 3 (η 5 -C 7 H 9 )] (1) with phenyllithium in diethyl ether gave the acyl complex [Li(Et 2 O) 2 ] [Mn(CO) 2 (C(O)Ph)(η 5 -C 7 H 9 )] (2), which in turn reacted with (CH 3 ) 3 SiCl to form the bicyclo[3.2.1]oct-2-ene complex 3 via intramolecular carbene-cycloheptadienyl coupling. Protonation of 3 gave the bidentate η 2 -olefin-η 6 -arene cation 4, which can be desilylated with excess acid to form the hydroxy derivative 5.
Health-related quality of life in men with corrected hypospadias: an explorative study.

Objective: The aim of the study was to evaluate health-related quality of life (HRQoL) of men with a corrected hypospadias in comparison to circumcised controls. Further- more, determinants of HRQoL were examined.
Cost-Benefit Analysis for Local Integrated Facsimile/Data/Voice Packet Communication Networks

Corporate planning for the automated office requires an increasing awareness of productivity improvement offered by control of office costs. A model for analyzing the cost tradeoffs involved in adding terminals to the communication channels of a local, centralized store and forward computer network for facsimile, data, and/or voice packet switched transmission is presented. The Overall Cost-Benefit Analysis is comprised of the three models: Customer Requirements, Network Constraints, and Cost-Benefit. The Customer Requirements model contains six submodels, i.e., Load, Processor, Software, Support, Terminal, and Telecommunications. The Network Constraints model is composed of the following submodels: Computer Node submodel, Channel submodel, and Terminal submodel. The Cost-Benefit model computes costs for links, terminals, message transactions, and their related cost-benefit ratio, given the final inputs from the Network Constraints model. The protocol included in the Network Constraints model required prevention of loss and retransmission of voice packets specifically by inhibiting congestion. Delays in packet voice networks are more crucial than in data networks because speech quality is most dependent on the packet length. The most critical constraint affecting the optimal data packet size versus the number of terminals per communication processor port channel analysis is the operating system overhead of the computer node. Facsimile transmission determines the overriding system packet size versus number of terminals in a fully integrated network for the particular mix of traffic selected. Optimization of the costs generated in the Cost-Benefit Analysis can be achieved by applying constraints on response time, channel capacity, and/or hardware and software component expenditures.
Effect of Light on Rate of Growth of Bivalves

GROWTH bands on the epithecae of fossil corals, apparently representing yearly and daily growth increments, have recently been used to determine the number of days in the year in the geological past and reveal a possible slowing of the rotation of the Earth1–3. The yearly bands probably result from seasonal temperature variation and the daily bands may well reflect differential growth rate between periods of light and dark as a consequence of the presence of the symbiotic algae Zooxanthellae in the coral tissue4,5. Similar bands have more recently been described in bivalves6–10, but the lack of symbiotic algae in the bivalves makes explanation of the daily bands more difficult than in the corals. To determine whether growth rate in bivalves varies between periods of light and dark, we have conducted a series of radioisotopic tracer experiments.
Goddard rattler-jamming mechanism for quantifying pressure dependence of elastic moduli of grain packs

An analysis is presented to show how it is possible for unconsolidated granular packings to obey overall non-Hertzian pressure dependence due to the imperfect and random spatial arrangements of the grains in these packs. With imperfect arrangement, some gaps that remain between grains can be closed by strains applied to the grain packing. As these gaps are closed, former rattler grains become jammed and new stress-bearing contacts are created that increase the elastic stiffness of the packing. By allowing for such a mechanism, detailed analytical expressions are obtained for increases in bulk modulus of a random packing of grains with increasing stress and strain. Only isotropic stress and strain are considered in this analysis. The model is shown to give a favorable fit to laboratory data on variations in bulk modulus due to variations in applied pressure for bead packs.
MARC data, the OPAC, and library professionals

– The purpose of this paper is to show that knowledge of the Machine‐Readable Cataloguing (MARC) format is useful in all aspects of librarianship, not just for cataloguing, and how MARC knowledge can address indexing limitations of the online catalogue., – The paper employs examples and scenarios to show the usefulness of MARC knowledge among library professionals., – The paper finds that library professionals with an understanding of MARC also have an advantage in understanding how Online Public Access Catalogues (OPACs) work. With a knowledge of MARC, librarians can understand OPAC indexing limitations and develop ways to work around those limitations. An understanding of MARC bibliographic data across library specialities allows librarians to work interdependently to affect the functionality of the OPAC., – Editing/manipulating MARC data based on indexing limitations of the online catalogue can improve retrieval of library resources. Additionally, MARC knowledge and skills are transferable, even with the challenges of changing OPAC technology.
Identifying epitopes of HIV-1 that induce protective antibodies.

During the past 20 years, the pendulum of opinion in the HIV-1 vaccine field has swung between two extremes, initially favouring the induction of antibodies only, and subsequently favouring the induction of cell-mediated immune responses only. At present, the consensus seems to be that induction of both humoral and cellular immunity by an HIV-1 vaccine will be required to achieve maximum protection. One obstacle to the development of an effective HIV-1 vaccine has been the difficulty in inducing broadly reactive, potent antibodies with protective functions. Defining epitopes and designing immunogens that will induce these antibodies is one of the main challenges that now confronts the HIV-1 vaccine field.
Rhesus macaque theta defensins suppress inflammatory cytokines and enhance survival in mouse models of bacteremic sepsis.

Theta-defensins (θ-defensins) are macrocyclic antimicrobial peptides expressed in leukocytes of Old World monkeys. The peptides are broad spectrum microbicides in vitro and numerous θ-defensin isoforms have been identified in granulocytes of rhesus macaques and Olive baboons. Several mammalian α- and β-defensins, genetically related to θ-defensins, have proinflammatory and immune-activating properties that bridge innate and acquired immunity. In the current study we analyzed the immunoregulatory properties of rhesus θ-defensins 1–5 (RTDs 1–5). RTD-1, the most abundant θ-defensin in macaques, reduced the levels of TNF, IL-1α, IL-1β, IL-6, and IL-8 secreted by blood leukocytes stimulated by several TLR agonists. RTDs 1–5 suppressed levels of soluble TNF released by bacteria- or LPS-stimulated blood leukocytes and THP-1 monocytes. Despite their highly conserved conformation and amino acid sequences, the anti-TNF activities of RTDs 1–5 varied by as much as 10-fold. Systemically administered RTD-1 was non-toxic for BALB/c mice, and escalating intravenous doses were well tolerated and non-immunogenic in adult chimpanzees. The peptide was highly stable in serum and plasma. Single dose administration of RTD-1 at 5 mg/kg significantly improved survival of BALB/c mice with E. coli peritonitis and cecal ligation-and-puncture induced polymicrobial sepsis. Peptide treatment reduced serum levels of several inflammatory cytokines/chemokines in bacteremic animals. Collectively, these results indicate that the anti-inflammatory properties of θ-defensins in vitro and in vivo are mediated by the suppression of numerous proinflammatory cytokines and blockade of TNF release may be a primary effect.
A comparative analysis of the Global Land Cover 2000 and MODIS land cover data sets

Accurate and up-to-date global land cover data sets are necessary for various global change research studies including climate change, biodiversity conservation, ecosystem assessment, and environmental modeling. In recent years, substantial advancement has been achieved in generating such data products. Yet, we are far from producing geospatially consistent high-quality data at an operational level. We compared the recently available Global Land Cover 2000 (GLC-2000) and MODerate resolution Imaging Spectrometer (MODIS) global land cover data to evaluate the similarities and differences in methodologies and results, and to identify areas of spatial agreement and disagreement. These two global land cover data sets were prepared using different data sources, classification systems, and methodologies, but using the same spatial resolution (i.e., 1 km) satellite data. Our analysis shows a general agreement at the class aggregate level except for savannas/shrublands, and wetlands. The disagreement, however, increases when comparing detailed land cover classes. Similarly, percent agreement between the two data sets was found to be highly variable among biomes. The identified areas of spatial agreement and disagreement will be useful for both data producers and users. Data producers may use the areas of spatial agreement for training area selection and pay special attention to areas of disagreement for further improvement in future land cover characterization and mapping. Users can conveniently use the findings in the areas of agreement, whereas users might need to verify the informaiton in the areas of disagreement with the help of secondary information. Learning from past experience and building on the existing infrastructure (e.g., regional networks), further research is necessary to (1) reduce ambiguity in land cover definitions, (2) increase availability of improved spatial, spectral, radiometric, and geometric resolution satellite data, and (3) develop advanced classification algorithms.
Mu-selective opioid peptides stimulate prolactin release in lactating rats.

Abstract The fact that opiates elicit prolactin secretion is well known. However, we have recently discovered that morphine does not stimulate prolactin release in lactating rats. The physiological basis for this alteration in opiate sensitivity during lactation is not known. Since morphine-induced prolactin secretion in male rats is mediated via the mu opioid receptor subtype, one possible explanation is that mu receptors are down-regulated during lactation. To address this possibility, the effects of mu opioid peptides on prolactin secretion were examined in lactating rats. The presumed mu-selective peptides DAGO ([D-Ala(2), Me-Phe(4), Gly-ol(5)]-enkephalin) and PLO-17 ([NMe-Phe(3), D-Pro(4)]-morphiceptin) were administered to primiparous lactating rats and the resulting hormone responses measured. Both DAGO and PLO-17 caused a rapid and significant rise in plasma prolactin during lactation. The prolactin-releasing effects of both peptides were naloxone reversible, suggesting involvement of opioid receptors. Moreover, the DAGO-induced secretion of prolactin could be completely abolished by pretreatment with the irreversible mu antagonist beta-funaltrexamine. In lactating rats, DAGO and PLO-17 were poor growth hormone-releasing agents, providing further evidence for the mu specificity of these peptides. These results imply that during lactation, as in other reproductive states, mu opioid receptor sites are positively coupled to the prolactin secretory mechanism. Thus, the previously observed inability of morphine to elicit prolactin release in lactating rats cannot be explained on the basis of down-regulation of mu opioid receptors.
Inhibition of turkey gizzard myosin light chain kinase activity by BAY K 8644

Abstract BAY K 8644, a dihydropyridine with positive inotropic effects in smooth muscle, was found to inhibit calmodulin-dependent turkey gizzard myosin light chain kinase activity with an IC50 of 80 μM. In contrast, when myosin light chain kinase was rendered calmodulin-independent by limited proteolysis, drug inhibition was markedly diminished. BAY K 8644 inhibition was additive with that of the negative-inotropic dihydropyridine felodipine. These results indicate that the inotropic effects of dihydropyridines in smooth muscle are unrelated to their calmodulin-antagonistic properties.
A Theory of Turbulent Flame Development and Nitric Oxide Formation in Stratified Charge Internal Combustion Engines

A theoretical model of turbulent flame propagation in a reciprocating stratified charge engine is developed and calculations of temperature and species concentrations as functions of space and time are made. Also pressure is calculated as a function of time. A spacial variation of mixture ratio is considered such that there is a fuel-rich region in the center of the cylinder and a fuel-lean region near the cylinder walls. The spark in the fuel-rich region results in a premixed-type of flame propagating toward the walls. A diffusion-type flame results in the wake of the other flame due to the mixing of the excess air and fuel.
Habitat Criteria for Rearing Steelhead: A Comparison of Site-Specific and Standard Curves for Use in the Instream Flow Incremental Methodology

Abstract Habitat utilization curves developed for fry and juveniles of steelhead Oncorhynchus mykiss in Big Creek, a small stream of moderate to high gradient in California, were compared with three standard habitat utilization curves. Comparisons were made of the amount of weighted usable area generated by the curves from the instream flow incremental methodology computer program. The narrower range of usable habitat in Big Creek resulted in utilization curves with ranges narrower than those of the standard utilization curves and with much less weighted usable area for fry and juvenile steelhead at all flows above 3.0 ft3/S. Stream width, depth, flow, gradient, substrate particle size, pool : riffle ratio, seasonal hydrography, and other habitat characteristics should be compared before habitat utilization curves from one stream are applied to another.
Optical microsensor for continuous glucose measurements in interstitial fluid

Tight control of blood glucose levels has been shown to dramatically reduce the long-term complications of diabetes. Current invasive technology for monitoring glucose levels is effective but underutilized by people with diabetes because of the pain of repeated finger-sticks, the inconvenience of handling samples of blood, and the cost of reagent strips. A continuous glucose sensor coupled with an insulin delivery system could provide closed-loop glucose control without the need for discrete sampling or user intervention. We describe an optical glucose microsensor based on absorption spectroscopy in interstitial fluid that can potentially be implanted to provide continuous glucose readings. Light from a GaInAsSb LED in the 2.2–2.4 µm wavelength range is passed through a sample of interstitial fluid and a linear variable filter before being detected by an uncooled, 32-element GaInAsSb detector array. Spectral resolution is provided by the linear variable filter, which has a 10 nm band pass and a center wavelength that varies from 2.18–2.38 µm (4600–4200 cm �1 ) over the length of the detector array. The sensor assembly is a monolithic design requiring no coupling optics. In the present system, the LED running with 100 mA of drive current delivers 20 nW of power to each of the detector pixels, which have a noise-equivalent-power of 3 pW/Hz 1/2 . This is sufficient to provide a signal-to-noise ratio of 4500 Hz 1/2 under detector-noise limited conditions. This signal-to-noise ratio corresponds to a spectral noise level less than 10 µAU for a five minute integration, which should be sufficient for sub-millimolar glucose detection.
Analysis of Soil-Bound Residues of 13C-Labeled Fungicide Cyprodinil by NMR Spectroscopy

13C-NMR spectroscopy was applied to the evaluation of soil-bound residues of the fungicide cyprodinil (4-cyclopropyl- 6-methyl-2-phenylaminopyrimidine). A mixture of the 13C- and 14C-labeled fungicide was used to obtain structural information as well as information on the quantitative distribution in the various fractions. Bound residues were accumulated by a 6-month incubation of the labeled compound with a clay loamy soil. Depending on the concentration of [13C]cyprodinil (500, 250, 80, and 3 mg/kg), binding ranged from 18% to 54% of the initial radioactivity. After methanol extraction of soil (10 g dry weight) treated with 500 mg/kg (5.0 mg) of the fungicide, the amount of unextracted bound material was equivalent to 0.9 mg of 13C-labeled cyprodinil. Upon fractionation, 0.21 mg of the bound fungicide was found in the dialyzed humic acid, 0.13 mg in fulvic acid (after extraction with CH2Cl2), and 0.24 mg in humin. The methylene chloride extract from fulvic acid mainly contained unchanged cyprodinil (0.2...
Momentum integral methods for the laminar free shear layer

A momentum integral technique is used to describe the nonsimilar growth of the constant piessure laminai free shear layer with finite initial thickness An essential featuie of the analysis is the division of the shear layer into two parts, one ahove and one below the zero streamline Separate polynomial or exponential profiles are used to represent the velocity profile in each pai t; suitable matching conditions lead to closed form solutions of the momentum equation with simple expressions for velocity profiles Use of the Howarth transformation allows a description of the effects of Mach numbei and boundary temperatuie on the growth of the sheai layei and the Mach numbei M* along the dividing sti eamline
Oligomeric behavior of Bordetella pertussis adenylate cyclase toxin in solution.

Abstract Adenylate cyclase (AC) toxin from Bordetella pertussis inserts into eukaryotic cells, producing intracellular cAMP, as well as hemolysis and cytotoxicity. Concentration dependence of hemolysis suggests oligomers as the functional unit and inactive deletion mutants permit partial restoration of intoxication and/or hemolysis, when added in pairs [M. Iwaki, A. Ullmann, P. Sebo, Mol. Microbiol. 17 (1995) 1015–1024], suggesting dimerization/oligomerization. Using affinity co-precipitation and fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET), we demonstrate specific self-association of AC toxin molecules in solution. Flag-tagged AC toxin mixed with biotinylated-AC toxin, followed by streptavidin beads, yields both forms of the toxin. FRET measurements of toxin, labeled with different fluorophores, demonstrate association in solution, requiring post-translational acylation, but not calcium. AC toxin mixed with ΔR, an inactive mutant, results in enhancement of hemolysis over that with wild type alone, suggesting that oligomers are functional. Dimers and perhaps higher molecular mass forms of AC toxin occur in solution in a manner that is relevant to toxin action.
Hypophosphatemia in the emergency department therapeutics

Although hypophosphatemia is relatively uncommon, it may be seen in anywhere from 20% to 80% of patients who present to the ED with alcoholic emergencies, diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA), and sepsis. Severe hypophosphatemia, as defined by a serum level below 1.0 mg/dL, may cause acute respiratory failure, myocardial depression, or seizures. Because hypophosphatemia is not as often treated by ED physicians, becoming familiar with a single intravenous phosphate solution and specific guidelines for phosphate repletion are essential. One mL of the most commonly available phosphate solution (K2PO4) contains 4.4 meq of potassium and 3 mmol (93 mgs) of phosphate. Administering K2PO4 at a rate of 1 mL per hour is almost always a very safe and appropriate treatment for hypophosphatemia. This article provides guidelines for phosphate therapy in hypophosphatemic ED patients including those in DKA, those presenting with alcohol-related complaints including alcoholic ketoacidosis and patients with acute exacerbation of asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
Linear-Chain Behavior of the Spin- 1/2 Copper Salt α-bis (N-Methylsalicylaldiminato)-Copper(II)

The spin-\textonehalf{} linear-chain system $\ensuremath{\alpha}$-bis ($N$-methylsalicylaidiminato)-copper(II) has been investigated by two techniques to elucidate its one-dimensional behavior. First, room- and low-temperature structural information as determined by x-ray diffraction points out that the Cu(II) spin-\textonehalf{} ions are ordered in a linear arrangement 3.33 \AA{} apart along the chain with a large 9.19-\AA{} separation between chains. Then electron-spin-resonance (ESR) data are presented to show that the magnetic system is also one dimensional. The relevant ESR data are the linewidth anisotropy and the line shape at several orientations. Both of these quantities measured by ESR show marked differences from normal three-dimensional behavior and are explained in terms of a one-dimensional model.
Occupational attainment through Lebanon’s higher education: using individual, societal, structural and gender factors as predictors

This study sought to analyze university graduate job attainment in Lebanon through an individualist, societal and structuralist perspectives. Differences appeared between females and males on factors that predicted occupational attainment. In concert with neo‐patriarchal discourse increased occupational attainment among males was significantly predicted by fathers’ occupational status. The data reported that male and female university degree type produced higher occupational attainment between male and female graduates. Further analysis would seek to understand graduate attitudes towards their occupational attainment along individualist, societal and structural dimensions.
Simple video format for mobile applications

With the advent of pervasive computing, there is a growing demand for enabling multimedia applications on mobile devices. Large numbers of pervasive computing devices, such as personal digital assistants (PDAs), hand-held computer (HHC), smart phones, portable audio players, automotive computing devices, and wearable computers are gaining access to online information sources. However, the pervasive computing devices are often constrained along a number of dimensions, such as processing power, local storage, display size and depth, connectivity, and communication bandwidth, which makes it difficult to access rich image and video content. In this paper, we report on our initial efforts in designing a simple scalable video format with low-decoding and transcoding complexity for pervasive computing. The goal is to enable image and video access for mobile applications such as electronic catalog shopping, video conferencing, remote surveillance and video mail using pervasive computing devices.
Arithmetical properties of a sequence arising from an arctangent sum

Abstract The sequence { x n } defined by x n = ( n + x n − 1 ) / ( 1 − n x n − 1 ) , with x 1 = 1 , appeared in the context of some arctangent sums. We establish the fact that x n ≠ 0 for n ⩾ 4 and conjecture that x n is not an integer for n ⩾ 5 . This conjecture is given a combinatorial interpretation in terms of Stirling numbers via the elementary symmetric functions. The problem features linkage with a well-known conjecture on the existence of infinitely many primes of the form n 2 + 1 , as well as our conjecture that ( 1 + 1 2 ) ( 1 + 2 2 ) ⋯ ( 1 + n 2 ) is not a square for n > 3 . We present an algorithm that verifies the latter for n ⩽ 10 3200 .
Hypoxic-Ischemic Brain Injury Stimulates Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein mRNA and Protein Expression in Neonatal Rats

Accumulation of glial fibrillary acidic protein xk(G-FAP) in reactive astrocytes is a characteristic neuropathologic feature of ischemic brain injury. We examined injury-induced changes in GFAP mRNA and protein in a well-characterized model of focal hypoxic-ischemic injury in perinatal rodent brain. Postnatal Day (PND) 7 rats underwent right carotid artery ligation followed by 2.5 h exposure to 8% oxygen, which results in injury to ipsilateral cortex, hippocampus, and striatum in the majority of animals. Using Northern analysis, we assayed GFAP mRNA in samples from the lesioned and contralateral hemispheres of animals killed 1 h to 14 days later, and from animals treated with the neuroprotective glutamate antagonist MK-801. GFAP immunoreactivity in tissue homogenates from the lesioned and contralateral hemispheres was also compared with an immunoblot assay. One and 4 h posthypoxia GFAP mRNA expression was barely detectable. In the lesioned cortex, increased GFAP mRNA was detected at 24 h postinjury; over the next 2 weeks GFAP mRNA was consistently higher (at least 2-fold) in lesioned than in contralateral cortex. In contrast, in lesioned hippocampus and striatum, consistent increases in GFAP mRNA were first detected on PND 12. Immunoassays of GFAP demonstrated early (PND 8) and sustained (to PND 21) up to 10-fold increases in lesioned cortex, hippocampus, and striatum. In this perinatal stroke model regionally specific increases in GFAP mRNA expression and GFAP immunoreactivity are detected in the first 2 weeks after hypoxic-ischemic injury; intrinsic properties of glia and/or neurons in different brain regions may influence the timing and magnitude of stimulation of this response.
Ethanol enhances growth factor-induced neurite formation in PC12 cells.

Abstract Ethanol can injure the nervous system by disturbing the growth of neural processes. PC12 cells, which form neurites in response to nerve growth factor (NGF), fibroblast growth factor (FGF), and cAMP analogues, were used to study mechanisms by which ethanol alters process outgrowth. Ethanol potentiated NGF-induced nuurite outgrowth in cells cultured on different substrata and in serum-containing or defined medium. Ethanol did not increase NGF receptor binding or internalization of NGF. Neurite outgrowth induced by basic FGF was also increased by ethanol but outgrowth induced by forskolin was not. Ethanol potentiated NGF-induced expression of Thy-1, but not of neural cell adhesion molecule (N-CAM), indicating that some, but not all actions of NGF are enhanced by ethanol. In some brain regions, chronic exposure to ethanol increases the growth of dendrites. This has been explained as a compensatory response of surviving neurons to the loss of neighboring cells, and not as a direct effect of ethanol. The present findings suggest that, in some cells, ethanol directly promotes growth factor-mediated neurite formation. This could harm the nervous system by disturbing the balanced development and organization of synapses.
A theoretical study of the ro-vibrational spectrum of the X state of CH3

Abstract We have computed the potential energy surface and dipole moment function for the X state of CH3 using multireference correlated wave functions. These are then used in nuclear dynamics calculations to compute experimental observations. Our results are compared to experimental data where available, and good agreement is obtained.
CaMKII inhibition hyperpolarizes membrane and blocks nitrergic IJP by closing a Cl− conductance in intestinal smooth muscle

The ionic basis of nitrergic “slow'” inhibitory junction potential (sIJP) is not fully understood. The purpose of the present study was to determine the nature and the role of calmodulin-dependent ...
Photogrammetric/conventional survey analysis: Roosevelt Dam

The Arizona Projects Office (APO) Engineering Support Division has recently completed a comparison test of conventional survey and close range photogrammetric mensuration techniques at a construction site for a dam in central Arizona. This paper is an analysis of the techniques used with an emphasis on accuracy, time and cost.© (1993) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Lymphomatosis cerebri presenting with orthostatic hypotension, anorexia, and paraparesis

To increase awareness about lymphomatosis cerebri by describing a patient with a unique presentation Case report a 58 year old woman presented with progressive lower extremity weakness, postural hypotension, and 90 pound weight loss over 3 months a brain magnetic resonance image revealed multiple non-enhancing foci of T2 hyperintensity in the periventricular white matter despite treatment with corticosteroids, she expired autopsy demonstrated normal gross appearance of the brain and spinal cord microscopic inspection revealed diffuse infiltration of the central nervous system (CNS) parenchyma and white matter by large atypical B cells, consistent with a diagnosis of lymphomatosis cerebri lymphomatosis cerebri is a primary CNS lymphoma variant that is poorly recognized and often misdiagnosed it commonly presents as a rapidly progressive dementia, although patients may present with neurologic dysfunction without dementia diagnosis requires a pathological examination treatment with intravenous high-dose methotrexate based chemotherapy should be considered in appropriate patients.
Partially Folded Aggregation Intermediates of Human γD-, γC- and γS-Crystallin Are Recognized and Bound by Human αB-crystallin Chaperone

Abstract Human γ-crystallins are long-lived, unusually stable proteins of the eye lens exhibiting duplicated, double Greek key domains. The lens also contains high concentrations of the small heat shock chaperone α-crystallin, which suppresses aggregation of model substrates in vitro. Mature-onset cataract is believed to represent an aggregated state of partially unfolded and covalently damaged crystallins. Nonetheless, the lack of cell or tissue culture for anucleate lens fibers and the insoluble state of cataract proteins have made it difficult to identify the conformation of the human γ-crystallin substrate species recognized by human α-crystallin. The three major human lens monomeric γ-crystallins, γD, γC, and γS, all refold in vitro in the absence of chaperones, on dilution from denaturant into buffer. However, off-pathway aggregation of the partially folded intermediates competes with productive refolding. Incubation with human αB-crystallin chaperone during refolding suppressed the aggregation pathways of the three human γ-crystallin proteins. The chaperone did not dissociate or refold the aggregated chains under these conditions. The αB-crystallin oligomers formed long-lived stable complexes with their γD-crystallin substrates. Using α-crystallin chaperone variants lacking tryptophans, we obtained fluorescence spectra of the chaperone–substrate complex. Binding of substrate γ-crystallins with two or three of the four buried tryptophans replaced by phenylalanines showed that the bound substrate remained in a partially folded state with neither domain native-like. These in vitro results provide support for protein unfolding/protein aggregation models for cataract, with α-crystallin suppressing aggregation of damaged or unfolded proteins through early adulthood but becoming saturated with advancing age.
The moderately interacting Algol-type eclipsing binary RY Geminorum

Ultraviolet spectra of the Algol-type semidetached system RY Geminorum, whose components can be described as A0 V and K0 IV, have been matched to the ultraviolet spectrum by Kurucz (1979) model atmospheres, and a best fit is found for T(eff) = 9150 K. Comparison with standard star spectra requires that this value be raised to 9400 K. The color excess of the system is determined to be no more than E(B-V) = 0.03 mag; the distance to the system is about 360 pc. The masses are approximately 2.36 and 0.38 solar masses, and the radii are 2.5 and 5.8 solar radii, respectively. The separation of the two centers is 26 solar radii. Evidence for a circumstellar line absorption is found in optical and ultraviolet spectrograms, and evidence is found in IUE spectra taken in partial eclipse for circumstellar emission lines of the type detected previously in the WS Serpentis stars and in several semidetected systems of the Algol type.
Equivalence of Toda-Hopf invariants

In this paper it is shown that various existing constructions of ‘Hopf invariant’ are equivalent to each other. In consequence one gets that the oneToda-Hopf invariant enjoys various properties.
Wear phenomena in impact printers — a scanning electron microscope study

Abstract Striking elements (printing wires and type slugs) and inked ribbons used in impact printers were investigated. Wires used in the printhead of a card printer did not show any appreciable damage. The wire sides of the inked ribbons were unmarked but the outer nylon fibres of the woof in the card sides were damaged and eventually broken by the running cardstock. The characters mounted in a high speed printer deteriorate with use. The 0 characters are severely worn (dimensional loss of 0.25 mm) whereas no measurable abrasion occurred in two typographic symbols having a shorter striking history. Worn faces are scratched by fine furrows parallel to the motion of the type slugs; in the most severely worn 0 characters the hardened case was completely removed. Wear occurs by an abrasive mechanism. When struck the characters slide against the inked ribbon and the small solid particles dispersed in the ink or adhering to the yarn act as a fine abrasive. The fabric of the inked ribbons employed in another card printer had suffered severe deterioration by the end of a suitable life test. The degradation was due to the mechanical effects on the ribbons being struck by the impacting characters.
Human platelet activation by an alkylacetyl analogue of phosphatidylcholine.

Abstract The present study has evaluated the influence of semi-synthetic platelet-aggregating factor, (PAF) i.e., alkylacetylglycerophosphocholine, on human platelet morphology, biochemistry and function in order to determine if PAF serves as the corrective factor restoring sensitivity to refractory platelets after treatment with epinephrine. Threshold concentrations of PAF caused irreversible platelet aggregation which could be blocked by agents elevating endogenous levels or cyclic AMP or inhibited by antagonists of platelet prostaglandin synthesis and secretion. PAF did not stimulate platelets through α-adrenergic receptors or receptors for arachidonate, endoperoxides or thromboxanes. 24 h after aspirin ingestion, platelets could be aggregated irreversibly by high concentrations, but not by threshold amounts of PAF, even though they were still insensitive to arachidonate. Another less potent PAF derivative, alkenylacetylglycerophosphocholine, blocked aggregation of 24-h aspirin platelets by PAF, but did not inhibit restoration of arachidonate sensitivity and irreversible aggregation when the samples were treated first with epinephrine. Our findings indicate that threshold amounts of PAF activate human platelets in a physiologic manner and cause irreversible aggregation which is dependent on prostaglandin synthesis and the release reaction. The results do not support the concept that PAF is the mediator of the mechanism of membrane modulation through which epinephrine induces correction of the refractory state in prostaglandin I2-treated or dissociated platelets, or cells obtained from individuals following aspirin ingestion. Thus, the mechanism of platelet membrane modulation is capable of securing irreversible aggregation of secretion, prostaglandin synthesis or PAF formation.
Between demand and supply: Bribery in international trade

The use of kickbacks and illicit payments to win foreign sales is eroding fair trade and undermining good governance around the world. While often seen as discrete acts by unscrupulous businesses, bribery in international trade is better seen as driven by push and pull forces larger than individual firms. Two hypotheses on the dynamics of transnational bribery are formulated and tested in this study. The demand-pull hypothesis views multinational corporations as victims of corruption in host countries and predicts a positive relationship between corruption in host countries and bribery by guest businesses. The supply-push hypothesis treats multinationals as proactive parties and proposes a positive relationship between pro-bribery conditions in exporting countries and the inclination of their multinationals to foreign bribery. Analysis of cross-national data yielded no support for the demand-pull hypothesis, but strong backing for the supply-push hypothesis. This finding validates the potential of effective bribery reduction through supply-side controls.
Artillery based explorers: A new architecture for regional planetary geology

Abstract Artillery based explorers (ABEs) are small impact-tolerant rockets that are launched from a platform landed on a celestial body. ABEs follow an approximately ballistic trajectory to a nearby site of scientific interest without an active landing system, and are single use only. Due to their high impact velocities, ABEs carry g-tolerant payloads that do not require the use of delicate robotics for sampling rock or soil materials. One advantage of using ABEs for regional exploration is the capability for accurate placement of instrumentation up to kilometers away from the launch site, in any direction. Their impact tolerance allows them to target steep or rugged terrain that may be inaccessible to rovers or aerial vehicles. With a fixed mass of propellant and no need for a guidance system, navigation to the target site amounts to specifying elevation and azimuth launch angles. ABEs can achieve ranges up to 10 km on Mars with impact velocities no greater than those of orbit-deployed penetrators that are currently under construction, or have flown in the past. Simple in form, this combination of artillery and planetary geology requires no fundamental new technology for development. Military rocketry analogs, the Deep Space 2 mission, and the Russian Mars-96 mission are used to demonstrate the feasibility of ABEs. Several example missions and payloads serve to illustrate the usefulness of this new architecture.
In practice: Community service scholarship programs provide meaningful engagement for low‐income students

The University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee offers financial incentives to low-income students to perform community service. Laurie Marks explains why.
Transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis: an under-diagnosed cause of heart failure.

Introduction : Cardiac amyloidosis is the most common cause of infiltrative cardiomyopathy and is associated with a poor prognosis. Transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis, particularly the type caused by the mutation that replaces the amino acid valine with the amino acid isoleucine at position 122 (Val122Ile), is most common among African- Americans above 65 years of age. Evidence suggests that this mutation is an important, though under-diagnosed, cause of heart failure in this population. Case presentation : A 74-year-old African American male with a diagnosis of non-ischemic cardiomyopathy for several years, presented with gradually worsening dyspnea on exertion and lower extremity edema. There is no known cardiac disease in his family. An echocardiogram was done showing a decrease in ejection fraction to 30% from 45% in the span of a year. An endomyocardial biopsy analysis identified transthyretin amyloid with the Val122Ile mutation, confirming the diagnosis of familial transthyretin cardiomyopathy. Discussion : Systemic amyloidosis is a group of diseases caused by the deposition of an abnormally folded, insoluble protein that can accumulate in multiple organs causing progressive and irreversible dysfunction. The mutations that most commonly induce variant transthyretin cardiac amyloidosis are Val122Ile, Val30Met and Thr60Ala. The Val122Ile mutation has been found to be present in 3–4% of the African American/Caribbean population. Conclusions : Familial amyloid cardiomyopathy is an uncommonly recognized cause of heart failure in the population, and patients may wait several years before accurate diagnosis, risking additional significant irreversible deterioration. Patients that meet the high-risk profile criteria – male gender, age 65 years and older, heart failure symptoms, symmetric left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy, and moderately depressed LV function – should likely undergo additional testing for cardiac amyloidosis. Keywords: amyloid; cardiomyopathy; transthyretin; cardiac amyloidosis; familial amyloid cardiomyopathy; TTR amyloidosis (Published: 25 November 2014) Citation: Journal of Community Hospital Internal Medicine Perspectives 2014, 4 : 25500 - http://dx.doi.org/10.3402/jchimp.v4.25500
Polarization in n-p Scattering from 11 to 29.6 MeV

Measurements of neutron-proton polarizations at 90\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} c.m. have been made at 11.0, 16.8, 23.1, and 29.6 MeV. The results are: 0.0130 \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{} 0.0049, 0.0280 \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{} 0.0060, 0.0502 \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{} 0.0040, and 0.0824 \ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{} 0.0066, respectively. The $\mathrm{T}(d,n)^{4}\mathrm{He}$ and $\mathrm{D}(t,n)^{4}\mathrm{He}$ reactions were used as sources of monoenergetic polarized neutrons. At 23.1 MeV the polarization was also measured at 70\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} c.m., and at 29.6 MeV additional measurements were made at 60 and 120\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} c.m. The 90\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} data are related to the $T=1$ spin-orbit $P$-wave splitting, ${\ensuremath{\Delta}}_{\mathrm{LS}}$. Comparisons were made with current phase-shift analyses, with the result that near 23 and 30 MeV these data give values of ${\ensuremath{\Delta}}_{\mathrm{LS}}$ in accord with the analyses. Near 10 MeV the theoretical situation is less certain and the data place limits on the value of ${\ensuremath{\Delta}}_{\mathrm{LS}}$.
Do purchasing managers discriminate against supply firms owned and run by women

Do purchasing managers discriminate against supply firms owned and run by women? Based on the literature on gender discrimination in business, we hypothesized that purchasing managers do discriminate against supply firms owned and run by women, but only when they are unfamiliar with the supply firm. We tested this hypothesis by conducting an experiment in which we manipulated three variables: gender of supply-firm owner/manager, gender of purchasing manager, and familiarity (purchasers’ familiarity versus no-familiarity with owner). This 2 × 2 × 2 factorial design generated four different scenarios that were administered to a sample of corporate purchasing managers in the United States (N = 272), who responded to questions pertaining to constructs from Ajzen's theory of planned behavior. The results of this experiment provided directional support for the hypothesis (that is, the results were not statistically significant). We explain these results and encourage future research on this topic.