cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Quantum Sensing's Potential Impacts on Strategic Deterrence and Modern Warfare

Abstract This article examines the impact of quantum sensing on strategic deterrence and modern warfare. It has two related objectives. The first is to highlight quantum sensing as an important area of research for the policy communities considering the role of emerging technologies on strategic deterrence and countering weapons of mass destruction. The second aim is to present the potential warfighting implications of quantum sensing if employed by either the United States or its adversaries. While quantum sensing technologies offer opportunities to transform modern warfare, they also present challenges and risks. The article contends that the quantum sensing investment, research, and development should be prioritized within the Department of Defense's quantum science modernization agenda to ensure that the U.S. military does not cede technological advantage to competitors, such as the People's Republic of China, who are actively investing in quantum sensing applications that could upend the United States’ existing deterrence and warfighting capabilities.
An improved predictive model for postoperative pulmonary complications after free flap reconstructions in the head and neck

Background Commonly used predictive models for postoperative pulmonary complications (PPCs) do not perform when applied to head and neck cases. A head and neck-specific risk prediction tool is needed. Methods Data on 794 free flap head and neck surgery cases at a single center were abstracted from the electronic medical record. Each case was reviewed for the development of PPCs. A predictive model was developed and was then compared to existing predictive models for PPCs. Results The least absolute shrinkage and selection operator procedure identified age, alcohol use, history of congestive heart failure, preoperative packed cell volume, preoperative oxygen saturation, and preoperative metabolic equivalents as predictors of PPCs in the head and neck population. The model demonstrated an area under the receiving operating characteristic curve of 0.75 (0.69-0.80) with moderately good calibration. Comparisons to the performance of existing models demonstrate superior performance. Conclusions The model for the development of PPCs developed in this article displays superior performance to existing models.
Success Rates in Pediatric WPW Ablation Are Improved with 3-Dimensional Mapping Systems Compared with Fluoroscopy Alone: A Multicenter Study

3-D Mapping Improves Success Rates for WPW AblationIntroduction Three-dimensional mapping (3-D) systems are frequently used for ablation of supraventricular tachycardia. Prior studies have demonstrated radiation dosage reduction with 3-D, but there are no data on whether 3-D improves the efficacy of ablation of Wolff-Parkinson-White syndrome (WPW). We sought to determine if 3-D improves the success rate for ablation of WPW in children. Methods Multicenter retrospective study including patients ≤21 years of age with WPW undergoing ablation from 2008 to 2012. Success rates using the 2 techniques (3-D vs. fluoroscopy alone [FLUORO]) were compared. Results Six hundred and fifty-one cases were included (58% male, mean age 13 ± 4 years, 366 [56%] 3-D). Baseline characteristics including gender, weight, accessory pathway (AP) location, number of APs, and repeat ablation attempts were similar between the 2 groups (3-D and FLUORO) The 3-D group was slightly younger (12.7 ± 4.0 vs. 13.3 ± 4.0 years; P = 0.04) and less likely to undergo ablation utilizing cryoenergy (38 [10%] vs. 56 [20%]; P < 0.01). The 3-D group had a higher acute success rate of ablation (355 [97%] vs. 260 [91%]; P < 0.01). No differences were seen in recurrence (16 [5%] vs. 26 [9%]; P = 0.09) or complication rates (1 [0.3%] vs. 1 [0.4%]; P = 0.86) between the groups. On multivariable analysis, 3-D was shown to significantly improve success at ablation with an odds ratio of 3.1 (95% CI 1.44–6.72; P < 0.01). Conclusions Use of 3-D significantly improved success rates for ablation of WPW in children. The increase in acute success associated with 3-D suggests it is an important adjunct for catheter ablation of WPW in children.
Appropriation and Permission in the History of Philosophy: Response to McQuillan

In a recent issue of this journal I proposed a rereading of Foucault as a Kantian critical philosopher. In the pages of the present issue of the journal, Colin McQuillan offers a challenge to my reading by taking express issue with my claim that Foucault can be productively read as a Kantian. To summarize the context for both McQuillan’s reply and the present response, it will be useful to point out that the primary aim of my article was to dispute the recent trend in Foucault scholarship according to which archaeology and genealogy are best seen as efforts in phenomenological philosophy, stemming from various phenomenologists ranging from Edmund Husserl, Martin Heidegger, and Jean Cavailles.1 The occasion for my discussion was provided by an important recent article by Kevin Thomspon in which he proposes reading Foucault through a minority tradition of phenomenology, referred to by Thompson as a ‚phenomenology of the concept‛ or ‚realistic phenomenology‛ and located primarily in Cavailles, Bachelard, and Canguilhem.2 My article was published with an insightful reply by Thompson, in which he challenged my discussion of certain limitations that I located in the Foucault-as-phenomenologist literature.3 In my further response to Thompson’s reply, I took up his textual and philosophical challenge to my article, but only briefly discussed the background historiographical and metaphilosophical difficulties lingering behind our discussions.4
Involvement of Glutathione in the Differentiation of the Slime Mold Physarum polycephalum

The effects of experimentally-altered glutathione concentration on differentiation of the slime mold, Physarum polycephalum were examined. Spherulation was induced by transfer of Physarum from growth medium to a salts-only starvation medium. As differentiation proceeded, superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity in control cultures increased by as much as 21-fold. This increase in SOD activity paralleled the rate of differentiation. Glutathione (GSH) concentration decreased during differentiation by more than 80% in all cultures, regardless of the initial concentration. The rate of differentiation was inversely related to the initial GSH concentration and directly proportional to the SOD activity. These observations suggest that a free radical mechanism may be involved in the differentiation of Physarum microplasmodia into spherules.
Robotic sensor for object recognition

The authors discuss the development of an electromagnetic sensor cell to do proximity sensing as well as tactile sensing. In this sensor cell, a magnetic coil (primary coil) is excited by a high-frequency voltage source producing a high-frequency magnetic field in the region. This field is coupled with another magnetic coil (sensor coil). The high-permeability sensor core (Metglass) causes the cell to be highly sensitive and any nearby interruption in the magnetic field gets amplified (proximity sensing). On the other hand, the two-mutually-coupled-coil configuration of the cell enables it to sense the pressure on its surface due to reduction in the distance between the two coils (pressure sensing). The tiny size of the sensor is one of the features that make it well suited for high-resolution sensing (dense packing). >
PARENTAL OCCUPATION AND INTRACRANIAL NEOPLASMS OF CHILDHOOD: RESULTS OF A CASE-CONTROL INTERVIEW STUDY

In 1983-1984, the authors conducted a case-control study of environmental factors and childhood brain tumor risk. Cases (n = 110) were identified through the tumor registry of a pediatric hospital and matched controls (n = 193) through random digit dialing. In addition to parental occupational histories, telephone interviews elicited information about potential confounders and hypothesized risk factors for childhood brain tumors. Relying primarily on the Hoar et al. (J Occup Med 1980;22:722-6) job-exposure matrix, the authors examined parental employment characteristics in relation to the relevant developmental periods. Paternal employment in several industries (agriculture, construction, metal, and food and tobacco) and in several occupations (agriculture, benchwork, and transportation) was associated with excess risk. The range of notably elevated odds ratios was 2.0-3.3, with all confidence intervals including 1.0 except one. Elevated but unstable odds ratios were also found for both paternal and maternal employment in jobs "clustered" together because of common exposures. For both approaches to exposure classification, the greatest excess risks were consistently demonstrated for parental jobs held in the preconception period. Job-exposure matrix analyses indicated that case fathers were more likely than control fathers to have had jobs linked with aromatic amino and aromatic nitro compounds (range of notably elevated (and unstable) odds ratios, 3.4-4.4), but here the greatest excess risks were exhibited in the postnatal period. Few associations emerged for maternal employment characteristics, although this is probably explained by the relatively small number of women employed in jobs outside the home.
Assessment of the discriminative stimulus effects of cocaine in the rat: Lack of interaction with opioids

The present study examined the effects of several opioid agonists and antagonists in rats trained to discriminate cocaine (10 mg/kg) from saline in a two-lever, food-reinforced, discrimination task. Neither fentanyl, a mu agonist, nor the delta agonist BW 373U86 elicited cocaine-appropriate responding. Although pretreatment with fentanyl failed to alter the discriminative stimulus effects of low doses of cocaine, cocaine reversed the rate-suppressant effects of fentanyl. Although the kappa agonist U50,488H decreased response rates, it did not substitute for cocaine. Injection of U50,488H in combination with the training dose of cocaine (10 mg/kg) reversed the rate-suppressant effects of U50,488H but failed to affect the cocaine cue. Administration of U50,488H (3 mg/kg), in conjunction with several doses of cocaine, did not shift the cocaine dose-response curve. Naltrindole and naltrexone, delta and mu antagonists respectively, did not block the effects of cocaine. Further, naltrindole did not substitute for the cocaine cue. Complete generalization was observed to the dopamine uptake inhibitor bupropion (30 mg/kg). These results suggest that fentanyl and U50,488H, at doses that purportedly influence mesolimbic dopamine levels, do not alter the discriminative stimulus effects of cocaine. Moreover, activation of delta receptors and blockade of mu and delta receptors are similarly ineffective.
Angioplasty and stenting for mechanical thrombectomy in acute ischemic stroke

A large number of patients presenting with acute ischemic stroke have large artery intracranial occlusions, and timely recanalization of these occlusions often leads to improved neurologic outcome. Starting with the widespread use of IV tissue plasminogen activator, a wide variety of pharmacologic and mechanical methods have been introduced to improve vessel recanalization and clinical outcome of patients with acute ischemic stroke, which include endovascular therapies such as intra-arterial thrombolytics and mechanical thrombectomy devices. One of the potential therapies is angioplasty and stenting, and this has been evaluated in multiple case reports and small series published by various centers regarding its use in this setting. In this article, we review the current literature on stenting with and without angioplasty, used alone or as a part of multimodal therapy for recanalization for acute cerebrovascular occlusions.
An ultrasensitive transducer for measurement of isometric contractile force from single heart cells.

A novel ultrasensitive force transducer suitable for measuring isometric forces generated by single spindleshaped muscle cells is described. The transducer components are mechanically and electrically simple, consisting of a low power He−Ne laser, a pair of step index, glass optic fibers, and a photodiode detector circuit. To test the operation of the transducer, enzymatically isolated frog ventricular heart cells were used, having peak contractile forces on the order of 100 nN. The transducer presents a number of advantages over existing designs and has a resolution better than 2 nN. As such, it is suitable for excitation-contraction studies in single muscle cells.
The effectiveness of monetary reform under rational expectations

Abstract Automatic monetary stabilizers based on interest rate information are analyzed in a rational expectations framework. Their impact on price level variability is studied, and their effectiveness is compared to optimal decentralized monetary instruments.
Vibrio parahaemolyticus Type VI Secretion System 1 Is Activated in Marine Conditions to Target Bacteria, and Is Differentially Regulated from System 2

Vibrio parahaemolyticus is a marine bacterium that thrives in warm climates. It is a leading cause of gastroenteritis resulting from consumption of contaminated uncooked shellfish. This bacterium harbors two putative type VI secretion systems (T6SS). T6SSs are widespread protein secretion systems found in many Gram-negative bacteria, and are often tightly regulated. For many T6SSs studied to date, the conditions and cues, as well as the regulatory mechanisms that control T6SS activity are unknown. In this study, we characterized the environmental conditions and cues that activate both V. parahaemolyticus T6SSs, and identified regulatory mechanisms that control T6SS gene expression and activity. We monitored the expression and secretion of the signature T6SS secreted proteins Hcp1 and Hcp2, and found that both T6SSs are differentially regulated by quorum sensing and surface sensing. We also showed that T6SS1 and T6SS2 require different temperature and salinity conditions to be active. Interestingly, T6SS1, which is found predominantly in clinical isolates, was most active under warm marine-like conditions. Moreover, we found that T6SS1 has anti-bacterial activity under these conditions. In addition, we identified two transcription regulators in the T6SS1 gene cluster that regulate Hcp1 expression, but are not required for immunity against self-intoxication. Further examination of environmental isolates revealed a correlation between the presence of T6SS1 and virulence of V. parahaemolyticus against other bacteria, and we also showed that different V. parahaemolyticus isolates can outcompete each other. We propose that T6SS1 and T6SS2 play different roles in the V. parahaemolyticus lifestyles, and suggest a role for T6SS1 in enhancing environmental fitness of V. parahaemolyticus in marine environments when competing for a niche in the presence of other bacterial populations.
Iterative versus noniterative derivation of moving average parameters of ARMA processes

Abstract A noniterative approach to deriving the moving average coefficients of a mixed ARMA process is suggested and compared to iterative methods. Results of a Monte Carlo study indicate that the noniterative method compares favorably to the commonly used iterative procedures.
Internet Users' Attitudes Toward and Beliefs About Internet Advertising

Abstract This exploratory study aims to investigate Internet users' attitudes toward and beliefs about Internet advertising. First, this paper intends to identify belief factors of Internet users about Internet advertising. Secondly, it examines belief factors that can predict Internet users' attitudes toward Internet advertising. Thirdly, it explores whether Internet users' demographics, Internet usage, and innovative characteristics can predict their attitudes toward Internet advertising. Ten belief factors were extracted from 36-item Likert questions and account for 60.361 percent of the variance in Internet users' beliefs about Internet advertising. Eight out of ten belief factors contributed significantly to the prediction of users' attitudes toward Internet advertising. These predictor factors altogether explained 48.7 percent of the variance. To determine if Internet users' beliefs about Internet advertising were still predictive of their attitudes toward Internet advertising after controlling demo...
Incremental strategies for providing health insurance for the uninsured projected federal costs and number of newly insured

Objective. —To present several incremental strategies for extending health insurance coverage for segments of an estimated 40.6 million uninsured persons in the United States. Along with these strategies, the federal costs and estimates of the number of newly insured are presented. Design. —Using data from the Congressional Budget Office and the federal government, the number of newly insured persons in the United States under options designed to increase coverage among uninsured children, their parents, and workers between jobs are simulated. The federal costs and coverage implications of these options are estimated for federal fiscal years 1998 through 2002. Methods. —Three distinct incremental approaches for covering the uninsured are explored. The first approach would expand coverage through the current Medicaid program. The second approach would provide financial incentives for parents of children eligible for Medicaid to purchase coverage, and the final approach provides time-limited subsidies allowing workers and their families to purchase insurance when they are between jobs. Main Results. —The federal costs of these approaches range from $2 billion to $3 billion per year (enrollment outreach approach) to $5 billion to $7 billion per year (enrolling parents of Medicaid-eligible children approach). If pursued simultaneously, the incremental strategies under investigation could extend health insurance to more than 7 million uninsured persons in the United States. The cost of these options could be financed through Medicaid savings, restructuring the current disproportionate share payments made through Medicare and Medicaid, increasing excise taxes on tobacco, or all of the above. Conclusions. —The incremental strategies would build on the current US health care delivery system by providing targeted financial assistance to specific populations. By their nature, such reforms could provide a political means for compromise and agreement between Congress and the president. Though the reforms do not, by design, provide a comprehensive solution to the problems facing the uninsured, they would address the severe problems facing many low- and middle-income families unable to purchase health insurance today.
Deutron/singlet deutron production in p + p → p + n + π

Abstract The forward cross section for deutron production in proton-proton collisions at a bombarding energy of 2.4 GeV is large compared to that for singlet deutron production. This fact is shown to favour the one-pion-exchange model for this reaction over the one-neutron-exchange model, which leads to too large a singlet deutron cross section.
A survey of institutions which offer training in fat and oil technology in the United States

A survey of 39 colleges and universities in the United States indicated that five universities offered formal course work or seminars and research training in fat and oil technology. These five institutions were Ohio State University, Purdue University, the University of Illinois, the University of Minnesota, and the University of Wisconsin.
Resonance ionization source for mass spectroscopy

Abstract The feasibility of using resonance ionization as a source for mass spectroscopy is reported and it is demonstrated that this ion source is compatible with laser vaporization techniques for analysing solid samples. A time-of-flight spectrometer designed to use both a laser vaporization microprobe and the resonance ionization source is briefly described. Applications of the system to isotopic analysis are discussed.
Phase transition and compression behavior of gibbsite under high-pressure

In situ high-pressure synchrotron X-ray diffraction and infrared absorption experiments for gibbsite were performed at room temperature up to 53 and 25 GPa, respectively. A phase transition was confirmed at about 2.5 GPa. The high-pressure phase is indexed as an orthorhombic structure, rather than a triclinic structure as reported in previous studies. The compressibility of gibbsite and its high-pressure polymorph were studied, and their bulk moduli K 0 were determined to be 49 and 75 GPa, respectively with K 0′ as 4. The in situ high-pressure infrared absorption spectra revealed the gradual disordering of hydrogen substructure above 15 GPa in quasihydrostatic compression.
A hypothesis concerning the general basis of organogenetic congenital anomalies

Evidence supports the idea that it is the degree of metabolic imbalance present in diabetic gravid women during the period of organogenesis that accounts for organogenetic congenital defects. In light of the proved and inferred metabolic instability occurring during early pregnancy, we propose that metabolic imbalances may occur that result in organogenetic congenital defects in offspring of apparently normal gravid women.
THE EFFECT OF TOOTHBRUSHING FREQUENCY ON ORAL HYGIENE AND GINGIVAL HEALTH IN SCHOOLCHILDREN: REASSESSMENT AFTER TWO AND ONE‐HALF YEARS

An epidemiological survey of brushing frequency, oral hygiene (OHI-S), and gingival condition (GI modified) was conducted on 290, 12- to 15-year-old schoolschildren. The purpose of the survey was to compare the clinical findings with the children's states frequency of toothbrushing. Since the same children had participated in a similar study approximately 2 1/2 years earlier, it was also of interest to determine what effect, if any, a change in reported brushing habits might exert over the oral status of the children. As in a previous study, the stated level of brushing activity was high. Approximately 46 percent of the children claimed to brush twice a day, and 40 percent once a day. The poorest oral hygiene and highest level of gingivitis were associated with the group of children that claimed to brush less than once a day. In general, the children that claimed to brush their teeth more frequently had lower mean OHI-S and GI scores indicating less oral debris and gingivitis. For males-females combined the optimal effect on oral hygiene and gingival condition, on a statistical basis, was detected at the level of twice-daily brushing. Increased brushing frequency beyond this level did not produce significant improvement in OHI-S or GI scores.
Suppression of heterochromatic gene variegation can be used to distinguish and characterize E(var) genes potentially important for chromosome structure in Drosophila melanogaster.

Hundreds of genic modifiers of position effect variegation (PEV) have been isolated in Drosophila melanogaster with a view to identifying genes important for chromosome structure. Here we propose a supplementary genetic screen to pinpoint candidate genes that are most likely to function in chromosome organization, within the enhancer of variegation [E(var)] class of modifiers. Our strategy takes advantage of the fact that variegating euchromatic and heterochromatic genes respond oppositely to changes in the dosage of heterochromatin proteins. Consequently, only when enhancement of euchromatic gene variegation results from increased formation of heterochromatin should suppression of heterochromatic gene variegation be observed. Mutations in four E(var) genes were tested for the ability to suppress variegation of multiple alleles of the heterochromatic light (lt) gene in a variety of tissues and at several developmental stages. Mutations in E(var)3-4, E(var)3-5 and modifier of mdg4 [mod(mdg4)] suppressed lt variegation. In contrast, a mutation in the Trithorax-like (Trl) gene, which encodes GAGA factor, enhanced or had no effect on lt variegation, consistent with its known role in promoting transcription. These data show that suppression of lt variegation can be used as an assay to distinguish between members of the E(var) class of modifiers.
Effects of degree of interpolated learning on the recall of first-list responses at two retention intervals

This study investigated the effects of degree of IL learning on the retention of the responses in paired-associate learning. There were eight groups formed from the factorial arrangement of two retention intervals (immediate and 24 h) and of four levels of number of IL trials (0, 2, 4, and 6). The results showed that in the immediate-recall condition response recall was poorest when IL was present, although degree of IL was not significant. There was no effect of IL trials when the retention interval was at 24 h.
Epidermal injury stimulates prenylation in the epidermis of hairless mice

Isoprenylation is the covalent attachment of isoprenyl groups, intermediates of the cholesterol biosynthesis pathway, to carboxy terminal cysteine residues of proteins. Numerous proteins are isoprenylated including small GTP binding proteins, trimeric G proteins, and nuclear lamins, and these prenylated proteins regulate a variety of cell functions, including cell growth, cytokinesis, and differentiation. Here, we quantitated protein prenylation and determined which proteins are prenylated in the epidermis of hairless mice by radiolabeling with 3 H-mevalonolactone following acute or chronic epidermal injury. In normal epidermis, four major radiolabeled bands, with molecular weights of 17–26, 48, 54, and 68 kDa, were observed. The levels of each of these bands increased by 24–63% 16 h following acute epidermal injury induced by topical acetone treatment or tape stripping, returning to normal by 24 h. On 2D gel electrophoresis, there were no major differences between the patterns of labeling following barrier disruption. Subacute epidermal injury induced by either acetone or tape stripping twice a day for 7 days and chronic injury induced by feeding an essential fatty acid-deficient (EFAD) diet, also resulted in a significant increase in protein prenylation. As with acute injury, SDS-PAGE and 2D gel electrophoresis did not reveal marked differences in the pattern of protein prenylation. These results demonstrate that the prenylation of proteins in the epidermis is stimulated by injury, suggesting that one or more of these prenylated species may be important in epidermal proliferation or differentiation.
Relating Cardiovascular Risk to Out-of-Office Blood Pressure and the Importance of Controlling Blood Pressure 24 Hours a Day

Blood pressure exhibits a natural circadian rhythm characterized by a decrease during sleep, then a steep increase in the early morning period followed by higher values throughout the active waking period. Because an excessive early morning surge in blood pressure is associated with an elevated risk for cardiovascular events, it represents a potential therapeutic target in patients with hypertension, especially those already at high risk for such events. Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM) is an out-of-office technique that allows assessment of blood pressure control during a 24-hour period, including the morning surge. It is known that 24-hour control based on ABPM is a better predictor of hypertensive target-organ involvement and cardiovascular events than conventional in-office blood pressure measurement. ABPM also reveals that many antihypertensive drugs do not adequately control early morning blood pressure, particularly when given once daily in the morning. There are several effective ways to improve morning blood pressure control. These include using agents with a long pharmacologic half-life; prescribing drug formulations specifically designed to target the morning blood pressure surge when given at bedtime; or increasing dosages to twice daily that of conventional shorter-acting agents.
Risk factors for death after sepsis in patients immunosuppressed before the onset of sepsis

Few studies have focused on sepsis in patients with pre-existing immunosuppression. Since the numbers and the incidence of sepsis are increasing, sepsis in immunosuppressed patients will increase in importance. We studied the epidemiology of sepsis and risk factors for 28-d mortality in patients immunosuppressed prior to the onset of sepsis using data from the Academic Medical Center Consortium's (AMCC) prospective observational cohort study of sepsis. We compared characteristics of immunosuppressed (n =412) and immunocompetent (n =754) patients. Immunosuppressed patients were younger and more likely to have underlying liver or lung disease, and nosocomial infection or bloodstream infection of unknown source when presenting with sepsis. They were also more likely to die within 28 d compared to immunocompetent patients (adjusted relative risk 1.62, 95% CI 1.38 - 1.91). Septic shock, hypothermia, cancer and invasive fungal infections were associated with increased mortality in immunosuppressed patients. Black race and the presence of rigors were independent predictors of survival in immunosuppressed patients. We conclude that sepsis among patients immunosuppressed prior to the onset of sepsis was associated with higher mortality than in immunocompetent patients. As the numbers of immunosuppressed patients continue to grow, more studies on the epidemiology of sepsis in this group will become increasingly important.
Which comes first in the pathogenesis of bulimia nervosa: dieting or bingeing?

Objective: Clinical experience has indicated that dieting usually precedes the onset of binge eating in the development of bulimia nervosa (BN). However, data confirming this in nonclinical, representative samples are lacking. Method: Using results obtained from the National Women's Study (NWS), we were able to determine the chronological relationship between age of onset of significant dieting (attempting to lose 15 Ibs) and onset of bingeing in 85 respondents who met DSM-III-R criteria for BN. These respondents were a subset of over 3,000 female adult U.S. women who completed a random telephone interview (averaging 40 min and including screenings for rape, sexual molestation, aggravated assault, posttraumatic stress disorder [PTSD], and BN). Results: We found that the age of first serious attempt to diet preceded the age of first binge in 46% of cases. There were no significant differences in histories of victimization experiences among the groups. First binge preceded first serious diet in 37% of cases, and these behaviors occurred during the same age in 17% of cases. Discussion: These data confirm that dieting is more likely to precede binge eating, although binge eating precedes significant dieting in a substantial proportion of bulimic respondents.
The 3-ketodihydrosphingosine synthetase of Bacteroides melaninogenicus: Partial purification and properties

Abstract The first enzyme of the sphingolipid pathway has been purified >100 times. The enzyme has an apparent M r of 66,500. The partially purified enzyme was used to determine K m for serine (1.13 m m ); the apparent K m for palmitoyl CoA was anomalous. The pH optimum of the synthetase was found between pH 7.0 and 7.6. The effectiveness of various acyl CoAs was related to chain length showing a symmetrical distribution around C 16 (palmitoyl). Decanoyl CoA was the shortest compound showing activity. The unsaturated C 18 , (oleoyl) CoA, showed significantly reduced activity as compared with stearoyl CoA. A number of compounds which inhibited synthetase activity were examined; cysteine competitively inhibited the response of the enzyme to serine ( K i = 0.49 mM) and a number of halogens were inhibitory in the order I = Br > Cl > F. Thiocyanate was a potent inhibitor of 3KDS synthetase (70% inhibition at 1 m m ). The response of the apoenzyme to its cofactor pyridoxal phosphate was linear from 0 → 10 μ m and reached a maximum between 10 and 20 μ m . In extracts from mid-log-phase cells, approximately 50% of the synthetase exists in the apoenzyme form.
Low fluticasone propionate (FP) exposure and effects on cortisol for CFC-free metered dose inhalers (MDI) in healthy subjects and asthmatics

Abstract Rationale The systemic exposure and effects on cortisol of FP from MDIs containing a hydrofluoroalkane propellant, HFA-134a, were examined in two studies. Methods In a single dose, 5-way, crossover study 24 healthy volunteers received 8 inhalations from HFA MDIs delivering 44, 110, or 220μg per inhalation, placebo and 220μg FP from a FP MDI containing chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) propellants. In the second study, 66 adolescent and adult asthmatics received 2 inhalations from one of the 3 HFA MDIs strengths or placebo twice daily for 4 weeks. For comparison, AUC∞ after single doses was compared with AUCss after multiple doses. Results For the HFA MDI dose proportional increases in FP AUC were seen in healthy subjects and asthmatics. In healthy subjects systemic exposure from the HFA MDI was 30% lower than exposure from the CFC MDI resulting in significantly less effect on serum cortisol. In asthmatics systemic exposure to FP was considerably lower than found in healthy subjects and not accompanied by corresponding decreases in cortisol. Conclusions The FP HFA MDI has the potential for an improved therapeutic index as it has comparable in vitro fine particle mass characteristics and clinical efficacy to the CFC MDI but produces lower systemic exposure.
Power up! Using Digital Gaming Techniques to Enhance Library Instruction

ABSTRACT Incorporating digital gaming into education is an increasingly popular topic in academia. Educators’ views of digital gaming (e.g., computer, video, and online games) have shifted from categorizing these games as an entertaining, yet pedagogically void activity to a promising medium that engages students in the learning process. With over 70% of college students enthusiastically playing digital games, educators are tapping into digital gaming as an effective means to teach millennials problem solving and communication skills. This article investigates gamer characteristics, motivational and engaging aspects of digital games, and the parallels between gaming and the information retrieval process. The authors build on this information to present approaches to incorporate digital gaming techniques into the library classroom since it is not feasible for all libraries to create instructional digital games.
Progress in Aerospace Meteorology and Review of Atmospheric Considerations for the Space Shuttle

Meteorological problems associated with space shuttle design and operations, permitting tradeoff analysis on environment effects
Constrained impulsive molecular dynamics

An exact procedure for treating the molecular dynamics of holonomically constrained systems in the presence of impulsive forces is presented. Because of its simplicity it can be applied not only to purely impulsive situations, but (if it is used in conjunction with existing continuous forces constrained dynamics algorithms) to combined impulsive/continuous force systems as well. The possibility of application to fused hard sphere and polymer dynamics is discussed in some detail.
Three-dimensional videography of swimming with panning periscopes

Abstract The purpose of this paper is to describe a three-dimensional videography method with panning periscopes for reconstructing swimming techniques. Two panning periscope systems, developed in our laboratory, were used for the data collection. A control object (1 × 1.2 × 2)m 3 with 72 markers was placed in seven consecutive locations along the (1.5 × 8.4 × 2)m 3 calibration space. The position of the control object was recorded while panning the periscope systems, and for each of the seven locations the DLT camera parameters were determined for eight fields equally spaced through the panning motion. Each DLT camera parameter was then expressed as a function of the camera orientation by using a least-squares, second-order, polynomial regression equation, so that the DLT camera parameters for any camera orientation could be predicted (Yu et al., J. Biomechanics 26 , 741–751, 1993). The three-dimensional coordinates of desired body landmarks at an instant were determined from the digitized two-dimensional coordinates for two cameras and the predicted DLT camera parameters at that instant. The accuracy of the method was evaluated by (a) the resultant errors in computing three-dimensional coordinates of precalibrated static points, and (b) the errors in computing the length of a scale rod pulled through the calibration space. The mean resultant errors ranged from 8.34 to 16.44 mm for the above- and from 9.93 to 16.22 mm for the below-water control volumes. The mean error in computing lenghts on the scale rod ranged from 3.32 to 5.83 mm for three 0.5 m lengths, and 9.97 mm for a 1.5 m length. The method produced acceptable results in the reconstruction of three-dimensional motions recorded from a large space above and below the water surface.
EARLY VISUAL DEPRIVATION RESULTS IN A DEGRADED MOTOR MAP IN THE OPTIC TECTUM OF BARN OWLS

The optic tectum contains a precise map of orienting movements: the size and direction of movements of the eyes, head, and/or body vary systematically with the locus of neural activation within the tectum. In adult animals, this motor map aligns closely with the tectal map of visual space. This study addressed the question of whether the motor map develops entirely independently of visual experience. We found that in barn owls (Tyto alba) raised without vision, although a tectal map of head movement develops, its topography and alignment with the map of visual (and auditory) space are abnormal. The results demonstrate that during early life vision is necessary either to maintain or to guide the development of a normal tectal motor map.
Influence of morphology on the fracture toughness of isotactic polypropylene

An adaptation of the fracture toughness test method, the J-integral technique, is described within the general framework of polymer fracture behavior. It is shown that there is a strong interaction between different morphological parameters in the way they affect the fracture behavior of isotactic polypropylene (iPP). The fracture toughness decreases with increasing crystallinity at a fixed spherulite size. The fracture toughness also decreases slightly with increasing spherulite size at a constant crystallinity, but this may not be a pure spherulite size effect. The use of a nucleating agent results in a very fine spherulitic structure but facilitates crack growth and reduces the material toughness beyond the crack initiation stage. This suggests that the material behavior is dictated by the increase in crystallization temperature caused by the presence of the nucleating agent and not by the change in spherulite size. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Evaluation of trap capture in a geographically closed population of brown treesnakes on Guam

Summary 1 Open population mark–recapture analysis of unbounded populations accommodates some types of closure violations (e.g. emigration, immigration). In contrast, closed population analysis of such populations readily allows estimation of capture heterogeneity and behavioural response, but requires crucial assumptions about closure (e.g. no permanent emigration) that are suspect and rarely tested empirically. 2 In 2003, we erected a double-sided barrier to prevent movement of snakes in or out of a 5-ha semi-forested study site in northern Guam. This geographically closed population of >100 snakes was monitored using a series of transects for visual searches and a 13 × 13 trapping array, with the aim of marking all snakes within the site. Forty-five marked snakes were also supplemented into the resident population to quantify the efficacy of our sampling methods. We used the program mark to analyse trap captures (101 occasions), referenced to census data from visual surveys, and quantified heterogeneity, behavioural response, and size bias in trappability. Analytical inclusion of untrapped individuals greatly improved precision in the estimation of some covariate effects. 3 A novel discovery was that trap captures for individual snakes consisted of asynchronous bouts of high capture probability lasting about 7 days (ephemeral behavioural effect). There was modest behavioural response (trap happiness) and significant latent (unexplained) heterogeneity, with small influences on capture success of date, gender, residency status (translocated or not), and body condition. 4 Trapping was shown to be an effective tool for eradicating large brown treesnakes Boiga irregularis (>900 mm snout-vent length, SVL). 5 Synthesis and applications. Mark–recapture modelling is commonly used by ecological managers to estimate populations. However, existing models involve making assumptions about either closure violations or response to capture. Physical closure of our population on a landscape scale allowed us to determine the relative importance of covariates influencing capture probability (body size, trappability periods, and latent heterogeneity). This information was used to develop models in which different segments of the population could be assigned different probabilities of capture, and suggests that modelling of open populations should incorporate easily measured, but potentially overlooked, parameters such as body size or condition.
ProtoDrive: an experimental platform for electric vehicle energy scheduling and control

Vehicles involved in urban commutes are subjected to highly variable loads as they traverse varying gradients and stop-and-go traffic. Electric Vehicles can achieve a high efficiency under these conditions due to their ability to recover energy during braking. However, the high current loads during both charging and discharging cause battery energy losses, making them less efficient and degrading their useful lifetime. Super capacitors work well under high power charge and discharge cycles, however, their high cost and low energy density prevent them from being a viable replacement for batteries. A hybrid system consisting of a battery and a super capacitor has the potential to offer the benefits of both devices, which may increase vehicle range and battery lifetime. Consequently, the goal of the project is to: (a) investigate the use of a hybrid battery/super capacitor system in response to real commuter drive cycles. (b) develop scheduling algorithms that optimize the flow of energy between the battery, super capacitor and motor.
Assessment of tissue and cell damage by succinate oxidation.

Abstract Succinate and other citric acid cycle intermediates do not readily cross intact hepatic and cardiac cell membranes. When the plasma membrane is damaged, succinate enters the cell freely and is oxidized by the mitochondria with the production of fumarate and malate which diffuse out of the damaged cells. This forms the basis for a method described here for estimating the number of damaged cells in experimental liver and heart preparations. Perfused liver and heart show much less conversion of succinate to malate than less “intact” preparations such as isolated cells, slices, and homogenates. Damage to the liver by carbon tetrachloride poisoning greatly increases succinate conversion to malate by the perfused liver whereas coronary artery occlusion followed by reperfusion greatly increases succinate conversion to malate by the perfused heart. Reperfusion of ischemic heart tissue is followed by an almost immediate release of a large part of the creatine phosphokinase that will be lost from the tissue. The capacity to oxidize succinate to malate develops slowly, reaching maximal rates after most of the creatine phosphokinase has been released. The method should prove useful in evaluating: (a) cell viability in tissue slice and isolated cell preparations; (b) the sequence of events in cell necrosis; (c) whether an organ is suitable for transplantation; (d) the efficacy of methods of myocardial preservation in laboratory preparations.
Annihilation of charged particles.

The kinetics of irreversible annihilation of charged particles performing overdamped motion induced by long-range interaction force, $F(r)\sim r^{-\lambda}$, is investigated. The system exhibits rich kinetic behaviors depending on the force exponent $\lambda$. In one dimension we find that the densities decay as $t^{-1/(2+\lambda)}$ and $t^{-1/(1+2\lambda)}$ when $\lambda>1$ and $1/2<\lambda<1$, respectively, with logarithmic correction at $\lambda=1$. For $\lambda \leq 1/2$, the asymptotic behavior is shown to be dependent on system size.
Comparison of Two Searchback Schemes for Non-Coherent TOA Estimation in IR-UWB Systems

Time of arrival estimation in impulse radio ultrawideband (IR-UWB) can be achieved using non-coherent processing of the received signal, and searching back the samples prior to the peak sample value in order to identify the leading edge sample. In the literature, two kinds of searchback schemes are discussed for identifying the leading edge. In this paper, we analyze both theoretically and via simulations the trade-offs between these two kinds of searchback schemes based on the statistics of realistic channel models.
Combined Rauwolfia-Hydralazine Therapy of Hypertensive Patients

Controlled blood pressure responses of 13 hospitalized and 33 ambulatory patients with essential or apparent renal hypertension were studied following combined Rauwolfia-hydralazine therapy. Adequate persistent lowering occurred in most instances of mild or moderate, and frequently even severe, hypertension. Prior and concomitant administration of Rauwolfia largely prevented unpleasant effects of hydralazine, permitted smaller dosage and ease of administration and follow-up—often impossible with large dosage of hydralazine used alone.
Gradient based interpolation for division of focal plane polarization imaging sensors

Recent advancements in nanotechnology have allowed for the emergence of integrated polarization imaging sensors. These sensors capture polarization properties of the optical field in high resolution and at every imaging frame. Signal processing algorithms for polarization imaging sensors are at its infancy and mandate new research in order to take advantage of the capabilities offered by this class of sensors. In this paper, we present gradient based interpolation algorithm for polarization sensors and evaluate its performance against a group of previously published interpolation methods.
Indigenous Knowledge, Technology Blending and Gender Implications:

In the process of industrialization, indigenous (local) knowledge is often devalued relative to the 'modern'knowledge and technologies that develop to serve the needs of the new com modity-generating economy. In developing countries, it is often the case that men and eth nic majorities gravitate toward the emerging modern sector, whereas women, ethnic minor ities and others remain more on the margins of the new economy. This may allow those at the margins to retain indigenous knowledge long after it has been lost by others and, in fact, the sudden commercial interest in indigenous knowledge often targets women and indige nous groups who are furthest removed from the industrial economy as potential sources of local knowledge.Technology blending (combining indigenous knowledge with 'modern' knowledge and technologies) represents one means of applying and extending local knowledge. This paper examines how technology blending has been used historically in East Asia, and how women's organizations are currently...
Toxicity of caronamide

Summary 1. A case of subacute bacterial endocarditis in an 11-year-old girl wassuccessfully treated with penicillin and Caronamide. 2. A reproducable reaction consisting of fever, increased capillary fragility, and increased bleeding time occurred, presumably as a toxic effect of the Caronamide.