cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Properties of Anomalous Nuclei and their Possible Effects on Stellar Burning

The effects of the possible existence of anomalous nuclei, Q-nuclei, on stellar burning are investigated. In particular, with properties only slightly different from those of normal nuclei they could catalyze a hydrogen-burning cycle, similar to the CNO cycle, which could contribute appreciably to solar energy generation with an abundance of about 1 x 10-15 Q-nuclei per normal nucleus. Furthermore, they are found to be able to solve many of the problems associated with the standard solar model, including the solar neutrino problem. Possible experiments to test for their existence are discussed.
Pierce v. Society of Sisters, Natural Law, and the Pope’s Extraordinary - But Undeserved - Praise of the American Republic

In his 1929 encyclical, Divini Illius Magistri (On Christian Education), Pope Pius XI paid an extraordinary tribute to the United States, the Supreme Court, and more specifically, the Court’s interpretation of the Fourteenth Amendment in Pierce v. Society of Sisters. In the course of affirming that parents have the primary right and duty to direct their offsprings’ education, he quoted with approval from Justice McReynolds’s opinion in Pierce. Moreover, the Pope praised both the Taft Court for its reliance on natural law, and the whole American Republic for having ordained the natural rights of the family, and the natural law in general, in the Constitution. This article will explore the significance and validity of this praise. This article concludes that this tribute, while extraordinary, was simply unwarranted. Rather, the Taft Court evinced an increasing indifference, if not hostility, to natural law concepts - an indifference clear in Pierce itself as well as Buck v. Bell and other cases. Moreover, the American Constitution did not ordain familial rights in the manner suggested by Pierce. In sum, Pierce was bad constitutional law, inconsistent with constitutional text and precedent, and made by justices unfriendly to all natural-law jurisprudence, whether Catholic or otherwise. And in the hands of like-minded jurists, the Pierce precedent fostered a series of decisions adverse to both constitutional text and Catholic natural-law teaching. In the course of the article, several claims are made and defended that may seem unconventional: namely, (1) that the Taft Court tacitly but firmly rejected the Court's pre-1920 natural-law jurisprudence, (2) that the Court's decision in Pierce and Buck v. Bell indicated this rejection, (3) that Meyer v. Nebraska not only was poorly decided, but also did not support the holding in Pierce, (4) that although the Pierce reasoning cannot be squared with the text and historic understanding of the Fourteenth Amendment, the Pierce result could, perhaps, find support in an originalist reading of the Due Process Clause, and (5) that Pierce significantly shaped the Court's subsequent due-process jurisprudence, including the contraction of due process in Buck v. Bell, the expansion of due process through incorporation of the First Amendment, and the further expansion via the incorporation of certain rights of sexual and reproductive autonomy.
Integrative Biological Analysis For Neuropsychopharmacology

Although advances in psychotherapy have been made in recent years, drug discovery for brain diseases such as schizophrenia and mood disorders has stagnated. The need for new biomarkers and validated therapeutic targets in the field of neuropsychopharmacology is widely unmet. The brain is the most complex part of human anatomy from the standpoint of number and types of cells, their interconnections, and circuitry. To better meet patient needs, improved methods to approach brain studies by understanding functional networks that interact with the genome are being developed. The integrated biological approaches—proteomics, transcriptomics, metabolomics, and glycomics—have a strong record in several areas of biomedicine, including neurochemistry and neuro-oncology. Published applications of an integrated approach to projects of neurological, psychiatric, and pharmacological natures are still few but show promise to provide deep biological knowledge derived from cells, animal models, and clinical materials. Future studes that yield insights based on integrated analyses promise to deliver new therapeutic targets and biomarkers for personalized medicine.
The Largest Stone of All

Introduction Sir William Osler published his textbook, The Principles and Practice of Medicine, in 1892. It became the definitive treatise on a wide variety of diseases. The section on nephrolithiasis clearly presents the etiology, pathology, symptoms, diagnosis, and treatments. What remains a mystery is the mention of, under rare forms of human stones, a type called “indigo.” In addition to looking into the rare forms of urolithiasis, a portion will relate the details of the rarest form of stone.
Spatial Instability of a Liquid Sheet in a Compressible Gas

Abstract The spatial instability of an incompressible liquid sheet injected into a compressible gas is investigated. The evolution of both symmetrical and antisymmetrical disturbances is considered. It is found that the growth rate of disturbances increases initially with gas compressibility, reaches a maximum near gas Mach number 1, and then decreases as the gas Mach number is increased further. The antisymmetrical disturbances prevail over symmetrical disturbances when the wavelength is large while both types of disturbances grow at approximately the same rate for short waves. The results are compared with the temporal instability analysis of Ibrahim. The similarities and dissimilarities between the present findings and Li and Kelly's are elucidated.
Actin S-Nitrosylation Inhibits Neutrophil β2 Integrin Function

The focus of this work was to elucidate the mechanism for inhibition of neutrophil beta(2) integrin adhesion molecules by hyperoxia. Results demonstrate that exposure to high oxygen partial pressures increases synthesis of reactive species derived from type 2 nitric-oxide synthase and myeloperoxidase, leading to excessive S-nitrosylation of beta-actin and possibly profilin. Hyperoxia causes S-nitrosylation of the four cysteine moieties closest to the carboxyl-terminal end of actin, which results in formation of short actin filaments. This alters actin polymerization, network formation, and intracellular distribution, as well as inhibits beta(2) integrin clustering. If neutrophils are exposed to ultraviolet light to reverse S-nitrosylation, or are incubated with N-formyl-methionyl-leucine-phenylalanine to trigger "inside-out" activation, the effects of hyperoxia are reversed. We conclude that cytoskeletal changes triggered by hyperoxia inhibit beta(2) integrin-dependent neutrophil adhesion.
Histological Findings in Patients With Cryptorchidism and Testis-Epididymis Nonfusion

Purpose: Fusion anomalies of the testis and epididymis are associated with cryptorchidism. The bilateral histology of the cryptorchid testis associated with the nonfused epididymis has not been reported previously.Materials and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed patients who presented with unilateral undescended testes and underwent bilateral testis biopsy at orchiopexy between 1982 and 2008. Testes were stratified into groups based on degree of testis-epididymis nonfusion. Age at surgery, testicular volume, testicular position, total germ cells per tubule and adult dark spermatogonia per tubule were compared among all groups.Results: A total of 2,660 testes were eligible for review, of which 2,425 had normal fusion (group 1), 55 had epididymal head nonfusion (group 2), 119 had epididymal tail nonfusion (group 3) and 61 had complete nonfusion (group 4). With increasing degrees of nonfusion trends toward younger age, smaller testicular volume and higher preoperative position were observed. However, testi...
Tyramide signal amplification method in multiple-label immunofluorescence confocal microscopy.

The tyramide signal amplification (TSA) method has recently been introduced to improve the detection sensitivity of immunohistochemistry. We present three examples of applying this method to immunofluorescence confocal laser microscopy: (1) single labeling for CD54 in frozen mouse brain tissue; (2) double labeling with two unconjugated primary antibodies raised in the same host species (human immunodeficiency virus type 1 p24 and CD68) in paraffin-biopsied human lymphoid tissue; and (3) triple labeling for brain-derived neurotrophic factor, glial fibrillary acidic protein, and HLA-DR in paraffin-autopsied human brain tissue. The TSA method, when properly optimized to individual tissues and primary antibodies, is an important tool for immunofluorescence microscopy. Furthermore, the TSA method and enzyme pretreatment can be complementary to achieve a high detection sensitivity, particularly in formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded archival tissues. Using multiple-label immunofluorescence confocal microscopy to characterize the cellular localization of antigens, the TSA method can be critical for double labeling with unconjugated primary antibodies raised in the same host species.
The synthesis and immunogenicity of varicella-zoster virus glycoprotein E and immediate-early protein (IE62) expressed in recombinant herpes simplex virus-1

In order to evaluate the conditions for optimal expression and immunogenicity of varicella-zoster virus (VZV) proteins in a herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1) vector, we selected the VZV glycoprotein E (gE), encoded by ORF 68 and the VZV product of ORF 62, an immediate-early major tegument protein (IE62). Three HSV/VZV recombinants were generated: (1) VZV gE protein coding sequences along with the promoter region were inserted into the thymidine kinase (TK) gene of HSV-1 strain KOS; (2) VZV gE expressed from the HSV-1 ICP4 promoter was inserted into the glycoprotein C (gC) gene of HSV-1 strain F; and (3) VZV IE62 protein coding sequences under the control of the HSV-1 ICP4 promoter were inserted into the gC gene of HSV-1 strain F. Immunoblot analysis and immunoperoxidase staining of infected cell monolayers demonstrated vector expression of VZV proteins. Following intracranial inoculation in mice, both VZV gE-HSV (TK) and VZV IE62-HSV (gC) induced an IgG response against VZV gE or VZV IE62. When tested in cytotoxicity assays using T-lymphocytes from VZV immune human donors, the range of precursor frequencies for T-lymphocytes that recognized VZV gE or VZV IE62 was similar whether these proteins were expressed by HSV-1 or a vaccinia vector. These experiments demonstrate that HSV-1 is a competent vector for expression of these VZV proteins and support the feasibility of engineering a combined vaccine for these closely related α-herpesviruses.
Computer quantification of electroencephalographic data recorded from renal patients.

Abstract Computer quantification of EEG records recorded from patients with renal disease reveals a slowing of the EEG correlated with deterioration of the patient's clinical condition. Electroencephalographic records were analyzed (1) by time averaged autocorrelation and subsequent Fourier transformation and (2) by generation of compressed spectra arrays (CSA). Quantification of the CSA provided estimates of the mean and variance of the percent power in selected frequency bandwidths in the EEG. This quantification has proved quite useful in the detection of slowing in EEG records.
Development of a Graphical User Interface for Design of Thin Curved Beams

The problem of nonlinear bending of beams has been of special interest to many engineering mechanics researchers through the years. In the presented paper, the development of an interactive Graphical User Interface (GUI) module for investigating large deflections of circular shaped flexible beams subjected to an end concentrated load is discussed. The numerical computations in the developed module are performed using various special tools available in MATLAB. The module employs the GUIDE (Graphical User Interface Development Environment) feature of this software package to allow the user to interactively prescribe various beam and loading parameters to generate the output in the desired form. Even though MATLAB is widely used in many educational institutions and corporations all across the world, the utility of the GUIDE feature of this powerful tool is relatively unrecognized or underutilized. The developed module can serve as an effective and invaluable tool for the design of flexible beams.In an earlier paper of the author published in the proceedings of the 2009 ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition (IMECE), the development of a toolkit created using LabVIEW for determining multiple equilibriums configurations of straight cantilever beams subjected to inclined end loads were discussed. The present paper additionally compares and contrasts some of various important features of these two premier engineering software tools (MATLAB & LabVIEW) while presenting the solution for this new problem. The paper can be of special interest not only to the researchers specifically interested in the problem of large deformations of flexible structural components, but also to those searching to find a perfect tool to investigate other class of engineering problems.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
TASK-DRIVEN DICTIONARY LEARNING FOR INPAINTING

Several approaches used for inpainting of images take advantage of sparse representations. Some of these seek to learn a dictionary that will adapt the sparse representation to the available data. A further refinement is to adapt the learning process to the task itself. In this paper, we formulate a task-driven approach to inpainting as an optimization problem, and derive an algorithm for solving it. We demonstrate via numerical experiments that a purely task-driven approach gives superior results to other dictionary-learning approaches.
The stereostructures of [1,1′-bicyclohexyl]-2,2′-diones: A reassignment

The stereostructural assignment of C2 and CS isomers of [1,1′-bicyolohexyl]2,2′-dione has been unambiguously established by correlation to an X-ray crystal structure and by a novel chromatographic technique.
Inelastic neutron scattering spectra of NaBH4 and KBH4: reproduction of anion mode shifts via periodic DFT

Abstract Inelastic neutron scattering (INS) spectra of NaBH4 and KBH4 are presented to 1500 cm−1. The phonon spectra contain detail unobserved in IR/Raman studies, including combination bands in the phonon and internal modes of KBH4. The BH4− ion vibrational frequencies observed in the solids at 15 K differ significantly from those observed for BH4− in liquid ammonia solution and normal mode frequency calculations for the isolated ion. The INS spectra and ammonia solution frequencies are compared with isolated anion and k=0 periodic DFT calculations to show that the periodic DFT results correctly predict the solid-state molecular vibrational frequencies.
A Study of Anterior Guidance

Purpose This study focuses on the curvature and inclination of the lingual surfaces of the maxillary anterior teeth from the transition point on the cingulum to the incisal edge. Materials and Methods On 32 sets of mounted casts, 768 measurements were made of the curvature of the lingual surfaces utilizing radius gauges. The inclination of the lingual surface relative to the occlusal plane was recorded. The relationship of the incisal edge of the mandibular teeth to the transition point on the cingulum of the maxillary teeth was determined. Centric occlusion contact was noted on each tooth. Results Significant differences were found between the measured areas of any one tooth and between the types of teeth. The average radius ranged from 20.5 mm on the mesial ridge of the canine to 5.3 mm in the fossa of the central. The average inclination of the lingual surfaces was 46%. In centric occlusion, 97% of the canines and 59% of the centrals and laterals were in contact with the opposing teeth. These contacts occurred 2.8 mm incisal to the transition point. The centrals contacted two opposing teeth (45%), and canines contacted one opposing tooth (53%). Conclusions The function and curvature of the incisor teeth vary considerably from those of the canines. Overcontouring the lingual surfaces of the maxillary incisors to gain contact is not normal and may be detrimental.
Factors Affecting Susceptibility to Intramammary Infection and Mastitis: An Approximate Bayesian Analysis

Susceptibility to IMI and to mastitis in Holstein cows was studied using logistic mixed effects models and an approximate Bayesian analysis. Dichotomous response variables were the presence or absence of IMI, caused by any microorganism. IMI caused by Staphylococcus spp. or Corynebacterium spp., and clinical mastitis caused by any microorganism at specific lactation stages. Data included 619 lactation records from 282 cows. Fixed explanatory variables in the model were period, season and age at calving, lactation number, log-transformed SCC, and a joint effect of age and log SCC. Because random cow effects were assumed to be normally distributed and to have an unknown variance, this parameter was estimated by approximate marginal maximum likelihood. Results from the Bayesian analysis were contrasted with maximum likelihood estimates obtained from a fixed effects logistic model that ignored cow effects. Posterior mode and maximum likelihood estimates of location parameters were similar, although standard errors of the maximum likelihood estimates understated uncertainty. The IMI status during a previous lactation was a poor predictor of IMI status in subsequent lactations, and susceptibility increased as SCC increased. Interlactation (logit scale) repeatability estimates of susceptibility ranged from 0.22 to 0.23. A Taylor series expansion was used to approximate correlations between lactations on a binary scale. These correlations depended on associated fixed effects and ranged between 0.12 and 0.18, which were lower than correlations using the logit scale.
Endoscopic injection of fibrin glue for the treatment of urinary-tract pathology.

Background and Purpose: Urinary-tract fistulas present unique clinical challenges that often necessitate open surgical excision with interposition of healthy tissue. Advances in retrograde instrumentation have enabled endourologists to employ more minimally invasive approaches to urologic disease, including fistulas. We reviewed our experience with endoscopic injection of fibrin glue for the treatment of urinary-tract pathology. Patients and Methods: We performed a retrospective review of the eight patients at our institution who have undergone retrograde endoscopic injection of fibrin glue for the treatment of urinary-tract pathology. The data collected included age, presentation, treatment technique, method/duration of follow-up, complications, and success, which was defined as subjective and objective resolution of the treated pathology. Results: One of these patients was treated for a caliceal diverticulum refractory to percutaneous ablation. The other seven patients were treated for fistulas, includi...
Investigation of the Optimal Treatment Strategy for Atrial Fibrillation in Japan

The Japanese Rhythm Management Trial for Atrial Fibrillation (J-RHYTHM study) is a randomized comparative evaluation of rate control and rhythm control, both combined with antithrombotic therapy, as therapeutic strategies for the treatment of atrial fibrillation (AF). This study differs from the earlier AFFIRM and RACE studies in that it has a composite primary end-point representing mortality and also physical/psychological disablement (total mortality, symptomatic cerebral infarction, systemic embolism, major bleeding, hospitalization for heart failure requiring intravenous administration of diuretics, and patient disablement). Patients' will to change the therapeutic strategy to the other is also considered as an end-point representing disablement under the assigned strategy. The secondary end-point includes quality of life scores and the efficacy and safety of drugs used in treating AF. The J-RHYTHM study emphasizes patient-reported experience and perception of AF-specific disablement, and the safety of antiarrhythmics available in Japan; it will follow 2600 patients treated at more than 150 sites in Japan for a 3-year period.
Effect of Cercosporella rubi on Blackberry Floral Bud Development

Rosette, caused by the fungus Cercosporella rubi, is an important blackberry disease in the southeastern United States. This disease severely reduces fruit production, and its management has been erratic due to a limited understanding of the host-pathogen relationship. In this study, we expand on previous histological investigations of the development of C. rubi on blackberry at tissue and cellular levels from floral bud initiation through senescence of the flower. Symptomatic and asymptomatic floral buds were examined with light microscopy and both scanning and transmission electron microscopy (SEM and TEM, respectively). Fungal development on the surface of floral buds was examined with SEM. Previous light microscope histological studies were unclear about whether C. rubi penetrated host tissue. With TEM, we demonstrated an intimate association between fungal and host cells with no penetration prior to death of the host tissue. C. rubi was present on symptomatic floral buds before development and through senescence. No morphological differences were seen between healthy and diseased floral buds ≤5.0 mm in diameter other than the presence of C. rubi. Necrosis was observed in symptomatic buds at the 6.0-mm-diameter stage and progressed through floral senescence.
A Case of Transient Constrictive Pericarditis

A 25-year-old man with a 2-year history of recurrent chest pain secondary to relapsing pericarditis presented with several days of pleuritic chest pain at a local hospital. There, he was found to have a mildly elevated troponin T and an initial ECG showing ST-segment elevations consistent with acute pericarditis. He had received a dose of intravenous Decadron with resolution of symptoms within 1 day. Ten days later, he again developed significant chest pain and fever, and presented for …
The role of electron concentration in softening and hardening of ternary molybdenum alloys

Effects of various combinations of hafnium, tantalum, rhenium, osmium, iridium, and platinum in ternary molybdenum alloys on alloy softening and hardening were determined. Hardness tests were conducted at four test temperatures over the temperature range 77 to 411 K. Results showed that hardness data for ternary molybdenum alloys could be correlated with anticipated results from binary data based upon expressions involving the number of s and d electrons contributed by the solute elements. The correlation indicated that electron concentration plays a dominant role in controlling the hardness of ternary molybdenum alloys.
Oxidative Dehydrogenation of Isobutane over Monoliths at Short Contact Times

Isobutylene can be produced with high selectivity and conversion by oxidative dehydrogenation of isobutane in air or oxygen over a ceramic foam monolith coated with Pt at contact times of ∼ 5 ms in an atmospheric pressure reactor operating at 800 to 900°C. Total olefin selectivities up to 80% (40% isobutylene, 40% propylene) at 60% conversion of isobutane are achieved in an autothermal process with higher reactant conversion when the reactants are preheated up to 400°C. No carbon build-up is observed at molar isobutane-to-oxygen feed ratios up to 2.5, and the catalyst shows no deactivation over at least several weeks of operation. Maximum isobutylene selectivity occurs at a fuel-to-oxygen ratio of 1.4 at contact times ≤ 5 ms, while propylene yield is maximized at longer contact times and at higher fuel-to-oxygen ratios. The total selectivity to methane, ethane, and ethylene is always much less than the total selectivity to isobutylene and propylene. A simple reaction mechanism can explain these products. Surface oxygen abstracts a hydrogen from isobutane resulting in an isobutyl group on the surface. On the Pt surface, β-elimination reactions than take place, leading to either isobutylene or propylene production. The small amounts of smaller hydrocarbons compared to n-butane oxidation or to homogeneous cracking are explained by the absence of a β-alkyl group on the isobutyl species adsorbed at a 3° carbon.
Mycoplasma infection and rheumatoid arthritis: analysis of their relationship using immunoblotting and an ultrasensitive polymerase chain reaction detection method.

Objective. To examine the relationship between infection with Mycoplasma and the development of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA). Methods. Immunoblotting of patient synovial fluid and sera on detergent-phase membrane protein extracts of various Mycoplasma species was carried out to learn whether patients exhibited serologic evidence of previous exposure to mycoplasmas. Moreover, an ultrasensitive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method was developed for assessing whether Mycoplasma DNA could be detected in synovial fluid from patients and controls. Results. Immunoblotting provided serologic evidence of previous Mycoplasma exposure in patients and controls. The genus-specific PCR detected known human Mycoplasma species and could reliably detect <5 copies of Mycoplasma hominis, Mycoplasma fermentans, or a molecular mimic control in synovial fluid. Repeat testing revealed no evidence of Mycoplasma DNA in patient synovial samples. Conclusion. This study provided serologic evidence suggesting that, while previous exposure to Mycoplasma was common, there was no detectable persistence of Mycoplasma DNA in the synovial fluid or tissue of patients with RA or JRA.
World‐ownership, self‐ownership, and equality in Georgist philosophy

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the accounts of self‐ and world‐ownership in the social philosophy of Henry George, and a Georgist social theorist Nicolaus Tideman.Design/methodology/approach – The accounts of George and Tideman are evaluated using the tool of conceptual and logical analysis.Findings – The paper argues that although the institutional proposals of Georgist are important and worth serious consideration, there are fundamental problems with the Georgist accounts of self‐ and world‐ownership.Practical implications – The Georgist institutional recommendation of a land tax is not necessarily rejected by the criticism of the Georgist accounts of self‐ and world‐ownership.Originality/value – The value of this paper derives from its careful analytic evaluation of the most basic concepts of the Georgist tradition. It serves, then, as a philosophical evaluation of that tradition and of those parts of the tradition that Georgism share with libertarianism generally. It also serves as...
Critical-Like Behavior Observed for a Five-Component Microemulsion

The light-scattering techniques of intensity angular dissymmetry and photon correlation spectroscopy are used to determine the static correlation length, osmotic compressibility, and diffusivity of an oil-in-water microemulsion. The observed temperature dependence of these quantities near a phase separation point qualitatively resembles the critical behavior found for simple fluids and binary mixtures, but with substantially larger values of the critical exponents $\stackrel{\ifmmode \tilde{}\else \~{}\fi{}}{\ensuremath{\nu}}$ and $\stackrel{\ifmmode \tilde{}\else \~{}\fi{}}{\ensuremath{\gamma}}$.
Local translational decomposition under rigid body motion

In previous work we introduced a description of image motion called the local translational decomposition (LTD). This representation associates with image features or small image areas, a 3D unit vector describes the direction of motion of the corresponding environmental feature of small surface area. The LTD representation was shown to considerably simplify the inference of motion parameters for ego-motion. This paper exploits the rigidity constraint in order to determine the relative depth between LTD vectors. Using the rigidity constraint, along with a local surface planarity assumption, an improved LTD estimation algorithm is constructed. The effectiveness of this algorithm is demonstrated by applying it to the problem of reconstructing 3D environmental surfaces.© (1993) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Light Levels, Growth, and Essential Oil in Dill (Anethum graveolens L.)

The effect of light level on growth and development of dill herb was studied in a greenhouse under full sunlight and under 70, 50, and 30 percent of full sunlight. Decreasing light levels resulted in decreases in leaf number, leaf area, and plant height. Dill growth and essential oil accumulation increased with increases in the light level and was greatest under full sunlight.
Na+/Ca2+ exchange in rat osteoblast-like UMR 106 cells

Ca 2+ efflux from osteoblasts is thought to be mediated by Na + /Ca 2+ exchange and by a plasma membrane Ca 2+ -ATPase. The presence of plasma membrane Na + /Ca 2+ exchange was determined in rat UMR 106 osteosarcoma cells by functional and molecular studies. Na + /Ca 2+ exchange activity was tested by measuring changes of [Ca 2+ ] i in single cells. After Na + loading the cells and removing extracellular Na + , the direction of exchange was reversed and [Ca 2+ ] i increased by 100%. Multiple isoforms of the NCX1 gene product, encoding plasma membrane Na + /Ca 2+ exchangers, were cloned from UMR 106 cells and a sample of primary human osteoblasts using homology-based RT-PCR. Isoforms NACA3, NACA7, and NACA10 were found in UMR 106 cells, whereas human osteoblasts expressed NACA3 and NACA7. Transcripts for NCX2 and the Na + /Ca 2+ , K + exchanger were not detected. Northern analysis of UMR 106 cells with a probe to the NCX1 gene product revealed the presence of a transcript of 7 kb, the size of the exchanger message. Western analysis of UMR 106 cell membrane preparations with a polyclonal antibody specific for the NCX1 exchanger showed the presence of reacting proteins consistent with the reported masses of the exchanger at 125 and 85 kD. These results demonstrate Na + -dependent Ca 2+ efflux from UMR 106 cells and the presence of several NACA isoforms in UMR 106 and primary human osteoblasts.
Desensitization of the Luteinizing Hormone/Choriogonadotropin Receptor in Ovarian Follicular Membranes Is Inhibited by Catalytically Inactive ARNO+

Abstract We have investigated the participation of endogenous ADP-ribosylation factor (ARF) nucleotide-binding site opener (ARNO) in desensitization of the luteinizing hormone/choriogonadotropin (LH/CG) receptor, independent of receptor internalization, using a cell-free plasma membrane model. We recently showed that the addition of recombinant ARNO promotes binding of β-arrestin1 to the third intracellular (3i) loop of the active LH/CG receptor, thereby reducing the ability of the receptor to activate the stimulatory G protein and signal to adenylyl cyclase. In the present report we determined whether ARNO is detectable in follicular membranes and whether the catalytically inactive E156K ARNO mutant, containing a mutation in the Sec7 domain, can act in a dominant negative manner to block LH/CG receptor desensitization. Results show that ARNO is readily detected in follicular membranes and that levels of membrane-associated ARNO increase with follicular maturation. The addition of catalytically inactive E156K ARNO blocks both the release of β-arrestin1 from its membrane docking site, based on Western blot analysis, and development of LH/CG receptor desensitization. We also investigated whether a point mutation in the pleckstrin homology (PH) domain of ARNO (R280D), which blocks binding of phosphoinositides like phosphatidylinositol 3,4,5-trisphosphate and phosphatidylinositol 4,5-bisphosphate (PIP2) but not catalytic activity, disrupts LH/CG receptor desensitization. R280D ARNO neither promotes nor inhibits LH/CG receptor desensitization, consistent with a requirement of the PH domain of ARNO for its association with the plasma membrane. LH/CG receptor activation of ARNO is not mediated by activation of phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI 3-kinase) or by G protein βγ subunits. Taken together, these results suggest that LH/CG receptor promotes β-arrestin1 release from its membrane docking site to bind to the 3i loop of the LH/CG receptor via activation of membrane delimited endogenous ARNO. As ARNO activation is independent of PI 3-kinase and Gβγ, our results are consistent with a role for PIP2 in receptor-stimulated ARNO activation.
Electrical Resistance Correlation with Tactile Examination on Occlusal Surfaces

Electrical resistance of the tooth was measured through the dental pulp by a relatively simple method. The primary resistance is in the enamel, and the total resistance drops severalfold as dental caries develop. This resistance has been measured on the occlusal surfaces of 122 teeth of children. The differences between explorer categories showed statistically different resistance values (P > 0.9995, excluding the offscale sound-tooth category). After 3 to 4 months, 9 of the 32 teeth of the incipient caries category became obviously carious, while none of the caries-free teeth became carious.
Evaluation of substance-abusing adolescents by primary care physicians.

Abstract Physicians are in a unique position to identify substance abusing adolescents. To evaluate physician performance from the patient's perspective, we interviewed 54 substance-abusing adolescents and their parents about previous medical encounters. Although nearly all patients had seen a physician during the time they were using drugs or alcohol, 43% did not recall being asked by a doctor about alcohol or drug use. Of the 26 patients who recalled being asked, 12 (46%) stated that they responded dishonestly, usually because a parent was present. Of the 23 who didn't recall being asked, five (18%) wished they had been asked. Physicians tended to ask about substance abuse more often ( p = .08) when they had previously discussed the problem with the parents, but many parents did not initiate such discussions. This survey suggests that physicians may not adequately assess high-risk adolescents for substance abuse because of physician-, patient- and/or parent-dependent factors.
Ultrasound training for medical students and internal medicine residents—A needs assessment

Purpose While sonography has been a mainstay of certain medical specialties, such as obstetrics and gynecology, internal medicine has been slower to integrate this technology into practice. No standardized training in sonography exists for either medical students or internal medicine residents, and little is known about the current competency and utilization of ultrasound among these groups. The goal of this article is to examine the present state of ultrasound education among internal medicine residents and medical students at a major university hospital. Methods Third-year medical students from the University of Illinois at Chicago and senior medicine residents from University of Illinois at Chicago and Northwestern University were invited to complete a Likert-type survey regarding their attitudes, competence, and interest in ultrasound, the nature of previous training, and areas where incorporation of ultrasound would be useful. Results One hundred sixty-three students and 40 residents participated (81.8% response rate). Students and residents generally felt incompetent in the use of ultrasound; objective competency in the resident group, as evaluated by an emergency physician certified by the American College of Emergency Physicians, was equally low. However, interest in additional training was high. Nearly 50% of the respondents had no prior sonography training; however, those with previous training rated it highly. Areas in which sonography was most sought-after include central line placement, paracentesis, and thoracentesis. Conclusions There is a clear desire for training in sonography among the medical students and internal medicine residents surveyed. As ultrasound is further integrated into clinical practice, students and residents would strongly benefit from formal didactic and hands-on training in the modality. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Clin Ultrasound 38:401–408, 2010
Use of the chloride ion in determining hydrologic-basin water budgets — A 3-year case study in the San Juan Mountains, Colorado, U.S.A.

Abstract Measurement of chloride concentration and water equivalent in precipitation and recharge at a site can be extrapolated to determine available moisture in a nearby basin. This method also may be extrapolated to a basin with similar climatic characteristics if precipitation, vegetation, and topographic data are available. The average accuracy of the total of evaporation, recharge, and runoff (assuming no storage) was about 10% of total precipitation. Soil-moisture measurements indicate the entire 10% error in moisture balance can be attributed to annual changes in storage. Data requirements for the method are considerably less than data requirements for energy-budget methods to determine available moisture. Potential applications of the method to hydrologic problem-solving are: 1. (1) Estimating total available moisture from chloride concentrations in groundwater or surface water or both. 2. (2) Modeling paleoclimate scenarios and evaluating their correctness by comparison with paleo-groundwater chloride concentrations. 3. (3) Providing an independent comparison for water budgets obtained by energy-budget methods. Obviously the method cannot be applied readily to systems with a lithologic source of chloride. Most systems primarily consisting of tuff, intrusive volcanic rock, nonmarine sediments, quartzite, and other metamorphic rocks will be suitable for application of the model.
Electrocardiographic left ventricular hypertrophy predicts arrhythmia and mortality in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy

The relatively low incidence of device-treated ventricular arrhythmias in patients with ischemic cardiomyopathy (ICM) who receive implantable cardioverter defibrillators (ICDs) for primary prevention makes improved risk stratification of ICM patients a priority. Although Cornell product (CP) ECG left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) has been associated with increased mortality in hypertensive patients and population-based studies, whether CP LVH can improve risk stratification of high-risk ICM patients is unclear. The aim of this study is to examine if electrocardiographic LVH predicts mortality and incident ventricular arrhythmia in patients with ICM. All-cause mortality was examined in 317 patients with ICM and a history of non-sustained ventricular tachycardia (VT) who underwent electrophysiology testing. Incident VT and ventricular fibrillation (VF) were assessed in ICD recipients (n = 186). ECG LVH was defined by CP criteria: [(R aVL + S V3) + 6 mm in women] × QRS duration >2,440 mm ms. During 3 years of follow-up, mortality was 20% (64 of 317) and death or incident VT or VF occurred in 35% of ICD recipients. CP LVH was associated with significantly greater 3-year mortality (28% vs 15%, p = 0.015) and 3-year mortality or incident VT/VF in ICD patients (48% vs 35%, p = 0.011). In Cox multivariate models, CP LVH was an independent predictor of mortality in all patients (hazard ratio (HR) 1.81, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.11–2.97, p = 0.020) and of the composite endpoint of mortality or incident ventricular arrhythmia in ICD patients (HR 1.82, 95% CI 1.12–3.00, p = 0.016). ECG LVH using CP criteria may enhance risk stratification in high-risk patients with ICM.
Myeloid Sarcoma of the Head and Neck Region

Context.—Myeloid sarcoma of the head and neck region can pose diagnostic challenges because of the low frequency of myeloid sarcoma and the potential for tumors of almost any lineage to occur in th...
DNA repair by articular chondrocytes. V. O6 Methylguanine-acceptor protein activity in resting and cultured rabbit and human chondrocytes

Abstract The level of O6-methylguanine acceptor protein activity was examined in rabbit and human articular chondrocytes of different ages. The activity per microgram of DNA in rabbit chondrocytes was 5-fold lower than in humans. There was no age-dependent decrease in the activity of resting or cultured chondrocytes of either species. The values for resting cells were comparable to those of cultured cells. The lack of age-related differences in methyltransferase activity, in contrast to nucleotide excision repair [Mech. Ageing Dev. 32 (1985) 39–55], indicates that separate repair systems behave differently with respect to chronological aging. The methyl transferase activity may be more essential for survival of articular chondrocytes and therefore more highly conserved with age.
Cationic Conjugated Polyelectrolyte Electron Injection Layers : Effect of Halide Counterions

We examine the influence of halide counteranions on the efficiencies of solution-processed multilayer polymer light-emitting diodes (PLEDs) containing cationic conjugated polyelectrolyte (CPE) electron injection layers (EILs). The parent CPE used in these studies is poly[9,9-bis[6′-(N,N,N-trimethylammonium)hexyl]fluorene-alt-co-1,4-phenylene] bromide. Dialysis was used for exchanging counteranions, while X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) provides a convenient technique for evaluating the final polymer composition. The luminous efficiencies of PLEDs with a poly(2-methoxy-5-(2′-ethylhexyloxy)-1,4-phenylenevinylene) (MEH-PPV) emissive layer decrease in the order F− > Cl− > Br− > I−. Oxidation of the halide counteranions is likely to occur at the MEH-PPV/CPE interface when the oxidation potential of the counteranion is aligned with the highest occupied molecular orbital of MEH-PPV, that is, Br− and I−. For these heavier halide counteranions, we find that pulsed bias measurements reduce ion migration to t...
Improving designer productivity

Designer and design team productivity improves with skill, experience, and the tools available. The design process involves numerous trials and errors, analyses, refinements, and addition of details. Computerized tools have greatly speeded the analysis, and now new theories and methods, emerging under the label Artificial Intelligence (AI), are being used to automate skill and experience. These tools improve designer productivity by capturing experience, emulating recognized skillful designers, and making the essence of complex programs easier to grasp. This paper outlines the aircraft design process in today's technology and business climate, presenting some of the challenges ahead and some of the promising AI methods for meeting those challenges.
Use of a time-sharing computer in nuclear chemistry

The Oregon State University computer-analyzer system couples the advantages of on-line data acquisition and analysis with the low cost of a time-sharing computer. The system operates in two modes. In Mode A, a 4096-channel analyzer serves as a data acquisition and buffer storage device with the contents of the analyzer memory being transmitted via telephone lines to the Oregon State University computer for analysis. In Mode B, the correlated outputs of N analog-to-digital converters (correspondingt o an N- parameter event) are transmitted to the computer in real time for storage and analysis. Additional information, programming and computations may be entered at any time froma remote terminal console. The results to the data analysis can be returned immediately to the remote terminal console or to any regular computer output device. This system has the advantages of being able to utilize the full facilities of a large computer, its FORTRAN compiler, etc., for on-line data acquisition and analysis while avoiding the responsibilities of hardware maintenance and systems programming for the nuclear chemists.
Query-based opinion summarization for legal blog entries

We present the first report of automatic sentiment summarization in the legal domain. This work is based on processing a set of legal questions with a system consisting of a semi-automatic Web blog search module and FastSum, a fully automatic extractive multi-document sentiment summarization system. We provide quantitative evaluation results of the summaries using legal expert reviewers. We report baseline evaluation results for query-based sentiment summarization for legal blogs: on a five-point scale, average responsiveness and linguistic quality are slightly higher than 2 (with human inter-rater agreement at k = 0.75). To the best of our knowledge, this is the first evaluation of sentiment summarization in the legal blogosphere.
Acoustic measurements of stress fields and microstructure

A very precise system for measuring two-dimensional velocity fields in solid samples has been used for nondestructive measurements of both externally applied and residual inhomogeneous stresses in solids,J integrals, stress intensity factors of cracks, and hardness of quenched steel. The longitudinal velocity measurement is based on precise determination of the propagation transit time through the stressed solid specimen using a small diameter, water-coupled acoutic transducer, which is scanned mechanically over the sample. Changes in velocity are then related to changes of stress in the sample by the theory of acoustoelasticity. Similar measurements show a high degree of correlation between longitudinal velocity changes and changes in microstructure in steel samples. Applications to problems of solid mechanics and material science illustrate the utility of this nondestructive measuring technique.
Scanning and transmission electron microscopic changes associated with duck and chicken shell gland cilia after p,p'-DDT administration.

DDT has been reported to cause eggshell thinning in a variety of avian species. The domesticated mallard duck (Anas platyrhynchos) is susceptible to DDT-induced eggshell thinning, but the domesticated chicken (Gallus domesticus) is not. Scanning (SEM) and transmission (TEM) electron microscopic examination of duck and chicken shell glands revealed surface morphological variations after treatment with p,p′-DDT. Cilia on shell gland epithelia of control birds contained an irregular, bulbous surface, whereas cilia of shell glands from p,p′-DDT-treated birds were smoother. This same variation, associated with p,p′-DDT treatment, occurred when, with the use of a biopsy technique, the same birds were used as their own controls. The bulbous surface feature is suggestive of a secretory function of the cilia. p,p′-DDT treatment abolishes this structural modification. This change in morphology was consistent in both p,p′-DDT-sensitive and -nonsensitive species.
An Improved Film Cryotron and Its Application to Digital Computers

A crossed film cryotron deposited on an insulated superconductor is described and analyzed. It has a time constant of less than one ?sec and is approximately 100 times faster than the original crossed film cryotron [4]. The dc dissipation is less than five ?w and the active area of each element is approximately 5×10-4 cm2. These cryotrons and all their interconnecting circuitry can be deposited at one and the same time in a few simple steps. A cryotron storage circuit and a shift register is described, based upon a principle unique to superconductors. The shift register shown is deposited in an area corresponding to 18,000 active elements per square foot. Calculations are presented to show that with this component density, a computer or memory containing more than one million elements can be operated in a one-cubic-foot container using a one-watt output liquid helium refrigerator.