cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Purification and properties of an angiotensin-binding protein from rabbit liver particles.

Abstract An angiotensin II-binding protein was purified more than 8000-fold after solubilization from rabbit liver particles with digitonin. The procedure comprised fractionation with ammonium sulfate, chromatography on DEAE-cellulose and Affi-Gel 501, gel filtration through Sephacryl S-200, and chromatography with hydroxylapatite. The purified preparation exhibited K d and B max values of 6.7 n m and 8.4 nmol of angiotensin II bound/mg protein. The latter figure represents more than 60% of the theoretical value calculated for a protein of M r 75,000 as estimated for the major protein component by gel electrophoresis. The purified preparation displayed comparable or slightly higher affinities for various angiotensin antagonists and angiotensin III than that for angiotensin II, whereas angiotensin I as well as the hexapeptide and smaller carboxy-terminal fragments were less tightly bound. Binding of angiotensin II by the isolated protein was highly dependent upon the presence of p -chloromercuriphenylsulfonic acid and also required ethylene diaminetetraacetic acid which could be almost completely replaced by ethylene glycol bis(β-aminoethyl ether) N,N′ -tetraacetic acid but not by o -phenanthroline.
Progesterone and dexamethasone antagonism of uterine growth: a role for a second nuclear binding site for estradiol in estrogen action.

Abstract Administration of estradiol to mature-ovariectomized rats caused nuclear binding of the estrogen receptor and elevated the number of secondary estradiol binding sites (type II sites) in uterine nuclei. These events are correlated with the stimulation of uterine growth. Administration of dexamethasone or progesterone blocks the stimulation of nuclear type II sites and inhibits uterine growth. The inhibition of growth occurs even though the estrogen receptor undergoes normal nuclear translocation, nuclear retention and cytoplasmic replenishment. It is speculated that the stimulation of nuclear type II sites may be an intermediate step in the mechanism by which estradiol causes uterine growth.
Analysis of response patterns of LGN cells.

A detailed analysis was made of the response characteristics of single cells in the lateral geniculate nucleus of the macaque monkey. The goal was to understand how these cells contribute to the processing of visual information. Data were analyzed from a representative sample of 147 cells, whose responses to equal-energy spectra (presented as diffuse flashes of monochromatic light) were recorded at three radiance levels. On the basis of their responses, the cells were divided into two general classes: (a) spectrally nonopponent cells which respond to all wavelengths with either an increase or decrease in firing rate, (b) spectrally opponent cells (about two-thirds of the sample) which respond with an increase in firing rate to some parts of the spectrum and a decrease to other parts. Four types of opponent cells were found: (i) red excitatory and green inhibitory (+R−G), (ii) green excitatory and red inhibitory (+G−R), (iii) yellow excitatory and blue inhibitory (+Y−B), (iv) blue excitatory and yellow inhibitory (+B−Y). Comparisons with psychophysical data indicated that nonopponent cells transmit brightness information; opponent cells, however, carry information about color, the hue of a light being determined by the relative responses of the four types. The saturation of spectral lights appears to be related to the differences in responses of opponent and non-opponent cells.
Intimate Partner Violence and Psychological Health in a Sample of Asian and Caucasian Women: The Roles of Social Support and Coping

This study examined the potential mediating effects of social support and coping strategies on the relationship between intimate partner violence (IPV) and psychological outcomes. A sample of 100 Caucasian women and 61 Asian women were recruited from domestic violence agencies. Structural equation modeling was used to test the proposed model. Analysis of the combined group revealed that there was an indirect effect of the level of violence on psychological outcomes via the mediating variables of perceived social support and passive coping strategies. Ethnic group comparisons, however, indicated differences between Caucasian and Asian women. In the Caucasian group, the level of violence had an indirect effect on psychological outcomes via the mediating variables of perceived social support and passive coping strategies. In contrast, in the Asian group, the direct effect of the level of violence on psychological outcomes was strong and significant, and the mediating roles of these variables were not found. Research implications for practice are delineated.
Model predictive control of processes with input multiplicities

Abstract Chemical processes with input multiplicity behavior place a limitation on the structure of the feedback controller. Systems with right-half-plane zeroes (characteristic inverse response) also pose inherent feedback performance limitations. In this paper we prove that systems with input multiplicity must, under some assumptions, have right-half-plane zeroes on one “side” of the steady-state operating curve. A discrete dynamic model of a system with input multiplicity is shown to exhibit nonminimum-phase behavior. Stabilizing tuning parameters (prediction horizon and weighting on the inputs) for unconstrained nonlinear predictive control of nonlinear processes are found using the convergence theory of iterative processes. Closed-loop regions of attraction are constructed using a numerical Lyapunov function. Stabilization using nonlinear predictive control and significance of the closed-loop region of attraction are demonstrated on the isothermal Van de Vusse reaction and on the classic irreversible adiabatic CSTR.
Link between hot electrons and interface damage in n-MOSFETs: A Monte Carlo analysis

Abstract Typical measurements on n-channel MOSFETs show that interface damage, causing threshold and transconductance shifts, tends to peak when VGS≈0.5VDS. In such conditions, more impact ionization (substrate current) is measured. At higher gate voltage, one expects that channel hot electrons would impact the interface at increased energy and numbers. Therefore, it has normally been assumed that hot carriers in the channel cannot directly contribute to damage, and impact-generated holes must be injected into the oxide for damage to take place. However, there is increasing experimental evidence that hot electrons should be able to remove hydrogen atoms which passivate interface dangling bonds, even through a multiple collision process, at energies below oxide-injection threshold (typically 3.0 eV). A detailed full-band Monte Carlo analysis shows that in a typical 0.25 μm gate device there are, indeed, more energetic electrons hitting the surface when VGS=VDS than at the condition of maximum impact damage VGS≈0.5VDS. However, the electrons impact the surface at much shallower angles, with lower chance of perpendicular momentum transfer to the interface. This analysis reconciles damage measurements with the physical picture suggesting direct damage generation by energetic electrons.
Incorporating Climate Change Considerations into Transportation Planning

Transportation emissions are a significant contributor to climate change. Transportation plans and related documentation of metropolitan planning organizations and international cities were reviewed to ascertain whether climate change considerations are being incorporated into the transportation planning process. The review revealed that climate change considerations were not included in a majority of cases in the transportation planning process, especially to adapt transportation systems to the potential effects of climate change. When such consideration did occur, the focus was on greenhouse gas (GHG) emission mitigation, with data collection techniques and analysis tools that were better developed and already in place within many planning organizations. A conceptual framework for transportation planning is presented and used to illustrate how some agencies have considered climate change in each step of the planning process. Recommendations are provided on how GHG emission mitigation and climate adaptat...
Characterization of glass, quartz, and fused silica capillary column surfaces from contact-angle measurements

This paper describes the systematic characterization of glass and the newly introduced fused silica and quartz capillary columns from surface wettability measurements. Common gas chromatographic stationary phases were used in capillary-rise measurements at temperatures up to 300°C. By construction of Zisman plots and using the Cassie equation, the relative surface concentrations of wettable and non-wettable groups were determined. By application of the Fowkes equation, the dispersion force component of the surface energy was investigated. The influence of various surface treatments such as leaching, silylation, and polymeric film formation are discussed. Wettability measurements were also used to evaluate the thermostability of various treated surfaces and to compare the surface properties of glass, quartz, and fused silica. The wettability of the surfaces with selected stationary phases as a function of temperature is also discussed.
Concept frequency distribution in biomedical text summarization

Text summarization is a data reduction process. The use of text summarization enables users to reduce the amount of text that must be read while still assimilating the core information. The data reduction offered by text summarization is particularly useful in the biomedical domain, where physicians must continuously find clinical trial study information to incorporate into their patient treatment efforts. Such efforts are often hampered by the high-volume of publications. Our contribution is two-fold: 1) to propose the frequency of domain concepts as a method to identify important sentences within a full-text; and 2) propose a novel frequency distribution model and algorithm for identifying important sentences based on term or concept frequency distribution. An evaluation of several existing summarization systems using biomedical texts is presented in order to determine a performance baseline. For domain concept comparison, a recent high-performing frequency-based algorithm using terms is adapted to use concepts and evaluated using both terms and concepts. It is shown that the use of concepts performs closely with the use of terms for sentence selection. Our proposed frequency distribution model and algorithm outperforms a state-of-the-art approach.
Relative bioavailability of topiramate administered rectally.

Abstract Objective: To determine the relative bioavailability and tolerability of a topiramate (TPM) suspension after rectal administration. Design/method: Seven healthy men and five healthy non-pregnant women were enrolled. A 100 or 200 mg tablet of TPM was given orally and a 200 mg dose was given rectally in a randomized, open-label, crossover study with at least a 2-week washout period between doses. Plasma samples were collected prior to dosing and the following times after each dose: 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 12, 16, 24, 48, 72, and 96 h. Relative bioavailability was determined by calculating the ratio of the dose-normalized area under the curve (AUC/D) for the rectal and oral doses. Results: Ten subjects completed the study. Two of the first seven subjects who received a 200 mg initial oral dose, withdrew because of side effects. The remaining subjects received a 100 mg oral dose. Three subjects received a 200 mg dose orally and rectally, and seven subjects received 100 mg orally and 200 mg rectally. The average AUC/D was 0.72±0.18 h/l for the rectal dose and 0.76±0.20 h/l for the oral dose. The relative bioavailability (n=10) for TPM administered rectally was 0.95±0.17 with a range of 0.68–1.2. There were no statistically significant differences between the oral or rectal pharmacokinetic parameters. Conclusions: In healthy adults, rectally administered TPM is absorbed to a similar extent as the oral dosage form. Rectal administration is an acceptable route of administration for TPM, when the oral route is temporarily unavailable.
Quantitative Structure–Pharmacokinetic/Pharmacodynamic Relationships of Corticosteroids in Man

The purpose of this study was to develop quantitative structure–activity/pharmacokinetic relationships (QSAR/QSPKR) for 11 selected corticosteroids in man. Multiple linear regression analysis with an automatic forward step‐wise inclusion algorithm was used to construct QSAR/QSPKR models from molecular and submolecular descriptors that were generated using the SYBYL and KowWin computer programs. The final equations describing steroid relative receptor affinity, systemic clearance, volume of distribution, fraction unbound in plasma, and percent of oral absorption, all showed significant correlations (R2 range 0.841 to 0.977). These relationships were crossvalidated using the leave‐one‐out method, and appeared to have good predictive performance (Q2 range 0.715 to 0.912). In addition, a general method for integrating QSAR/QSPKR data to predict the time course of pharmacologic effects is presented. This approach, termed quantitative structure–pharmacodynamic relationships modeling, was successfully applied to predict the rapid cortisol suppressive effects of triamcinolone acetonide after a 2‐mg intravenous bolus dose in healthy volunteers. © 2002 Wiley‐Liss, Inc. and the American Pharmaceutical Association J Pharm Sci 91:2441–2451, 2002
Evaluating the SSEBop approach for evapotranspiration mapping with landsat data using lysimetric observations in the semi-arid Texas High Plains

Abstract. The operational Simplified Surface Energy Balance (SSEBop) approach was applied on 14 Landsat 5 thermal infrared images for mapping daily actual evapotranspiration (ETa) fluxes during the spring and summer seasons (March–October) in 2006 and 2007. Data from four large lysimeters, managed by the USDA-ARS Conservation and Production Research Laboratory were used for evaluating the SSEBop estimated ETa. Lysimeter fields are arranged in a 2 × 2 block pattern with two fields each managed under irrigated and dryland cropping systems. The modeled and observed daily ETa values were grouped as "irrigated" and "dryland" at four different aggregation periods (1-day, 2-day, 3 day and "seasonal") for evaluation. There was a strong linear relationship between observed and modeled ETa with R2 values ranging from 0.87 to 0.97. The root mean square error (RMSE), as percent of their respective mean values, were reduced progressively with 28, 24, 16 and 12% at 1-day, 2-day, 3-day, and seasonal aggregation periods, respectively. With a further correction of the underestimation bias (−11%), the seasonal RMSE reduced from 12 to 6%. The random error contribution to the total error was reduced from 86 to 20% while the bias' contribution increased from 14 to 80% when aggregated from daily to seasonal scale, respectively. This study shows the reliable performance of the SSEBop approach on the Landsat data stream with a transferable approach for use with the recently launched LDCM (Landsat Data Continuity Mission) Thermal InfraRed Sensor (TIRS) data. Thus, SSEBop can produce quick, reliable and useful ET estimations at various time scales with higher seasonal accuracy for use in regional water management decisions.
Power loss in split-phase induction motors with SCR voltage controllers

This paper evaluates the power loss in fractional-horsepower split-phase motors when fed by an SCR-based voltage controller that is utilized to improve motor efficiency. In particular, the additional harmonic power loss due to waveform distortion is quantified in terms of the total power loss in the motor. The analysis shows that harmonic losses are primarily due to the third harmonic component. Laboratory measurements on a 1/3 hp motor indicate that harmonic losses represent as such as a quarter of the total loss under light load conditions.
Subacute ventricular free-wall rupture presenting as tamponade without frank hemopericardium.

Ventricular free-wall rupture is a well-known catastrophic complication of acute myocardial infarction. A significant number of patients present in a subacute fashion and can be successfully treated with surgery if diagnosed promptly. We present a case of subacute free-wall rupture that occurred after an undiagnosed myocardial infarction. The findings at pericardiocentesis were unusual in that the fluid was sanguinous but not frank hemopericardium. This patient represents the first known reported case to present without frank hemopericardium who survived and was successfully treated surgically. The absence of frank hemopericardium should not exclude the diagnosis of free-wall rupture. Cathet. Cardiovasc. Diagn. 44:417–419, 1998. © 1998 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Maximum-likelihood method for estimating the mass and period distributions of extrasolar planets

We investigate the distribution of mass M and orbital period P of extrasolar planets, taking account of selection effects caused by the limited velocity precision and duration of existing surveys. We fit the data on 72 planets to a power-law distribution of the form dn = CM- a p - β (dM/M)(dP/P), and find a = 0.11 ′ 0.10, β = -0.27 + 0.06 for M < 10 M j , where Mj is the mass of Jupiter. The correlation coefficient between these two exponents is -0.31, indicating that uncertainties in the two distributions are coupled. We estimate that 4 per cent of solar-type stars have companions in the range 1 M j < M < 10 M j , 2 d < P < 10 yr.
Detection of a new acousto-optic effect

Abstract A family of moving, localized grating images have been detected by an improved method for visualizing sound waves. The images correspond to whole-field measurements of instantaneous acoustical density and could significantly extend the range of observable phonon scattering processes.
Oxidation of α-glycerophosphate by mitochondria isolated from flight muscles of the blowfly

Abstract Evidence has been obtained that the α-glycerophosphate dehydrogenase of blowfly mitochondria is situated on the inner surface of the inner mitochondrial membrane, and that transport of substrate across the membrane may be based on the operation of a Ca ++ -sensitive translocase. The mitochondria possess a Ca ++ -uptake system of high affinity but of low activity, and it is only when membrane permeability is increased that high rates of oxidation can be sustained on the basis of ion-translocation. The low level of respiratory control which generally characterises the oxidation of α-glycerophosphate is shown to be due to the fact that at Ca ++ -concentrations high enough to satisfy the oxidase requirement, ion-translocation is capable of supporting substantial levels of State 2 oxidation, particularly if mitochondria have been damaged during isolation or storage.
Investigations of iris-loaded deflectors

Theoretical and experimental investigations of the iris-loaded waveguides being used as deflectors in the Brookhaven rf beam separator are presented. The experimental arrangements for deflection tests are detailed and the analysis of the results is given. The deflector constant of the BNL structure was found to be Kl=5.220±0.038 kμ12, whence the final result that R/Q= 1.5±0.09 kμ/m. This is in good agreement with predictions based either on perturbation measurements or on computations. A compilation of theoretical figures of merit for more than one hundred structures is given.
Imaging of the intact mouse cochlea by spectral domain optical coherence tomography

Current medical imaging modalities, such as MRI and CT, do not provide high enough resolution to detect many changes within the cochlea that cause hearing loss. We sought to develop the technique of optical coherence tomography (OCT) to image the cochlea noninvasively and within its native environment. We used spectral domain OCT with 950 nm as the center wavelength and a bandwidth of ~100 nm to image freshly excised normal mouse cochlea at different developmental ages. The OCT system has an axial resolution of ~4 μm (in air) and a lateral resolution of ~10 μm. When we imaged normal adult mouse cochleae through the round window membrane, Reissner's membrane, the basilar membrane, the tectorial membrane, the spiral ligament, the spiral limbus, and the modiolus could be clearly identified. When we imaged intact adult cochleae, we were able to image through ~130 μm of bone and tissue to see up to a depth of ~600 μm, and all of the previously identified structures were still visible. Imaging of early postnatal mice during the timeline of cochlear development permitted visualization of the expected structural differences from adult cochleae. Therefore, we conclude that spectral domain OCT is an effective technique for noninvasive imaging of the murine cochlea.
Freezing preservation of the mammalian cardiac explant. V. Cryoprotection by ethanol.

We studied the colligative cryoprotective effect of ethanol (EtOH) in preserving the isolated rat heart frozen at −3.4 °C or unfrozen at −1.4 °C. Addition of 4.7% (vv) EtOH to a cardioplegic solution, CP-14, raised the osmolality from 280 to 1100 mOsm/kg H2O and lowered the melting point from −0.52 to −2.1 °C. Freezing of the cardiac explant at −3.4 °C for 6 h resulted in 34.3 ± 1.9% of the tissue water as ice; recovery of cardiac output (CO) was 50%. Polyethylene glycol, which at 5% (wv) has been shown to cryoprotect the hearts during freezing at −1.4 °C, did not improve the protective effect of 4.7% EtOH. CP−14 + 4.7% EtOH did not freeze at −1.4 °C. After 6 h storage, CO in hearts flushed with CP-14 + 4.7% EtOH oxygenated with 95% O2/5%CO2 returned to almost control level and was much higher than that in hearts flushed with 100% O2 saturated-CP−14 + 4.7% EtOH. Storage of 8 and 12 h reduced CO to 87 ± 9 and 60 ± 5% of control. By employing EtOH as a colligative cryoprotectant, we preserved the adult mammalian heart frozen at −3.4 °C or unfrozen at −1.4 °C, suggesting that this small molecular weight, penetrating substance may be a suitable cryoprotectant for long-term storage of the cardiac explant at high subzero temperatures.
Attrition and abrasion models for oil shale process modelling

Abstract As oil shale is processed, fine particles, much smaller than the original shale, are created. This process is called attrition or, more accurately, abrasion. In this paper, models of abrasion are presented for oil shale processed in several unit operations. Two of these unit operations, a fluidized bed and a lift pipe, are used in the Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory hot recycle solid (HRS) process being developed for the above-ground processing of oil shale. Abrasion occurs so commonly in the handling and processing of paniculate materials that numerous studies have been conducted to characterize the phenomenon and to attempt to minimize it. In the review of the literature, materials which have been studied for attrition potential are examined, as are the specific unit operations for which either experimental or modelling studies have been conducted. Several papers are discussed in which attrition in fluidized beds or lift pipes is addressed. In this paper, empirical models are derived for the processes occurring in the HRS process from the experimental studies conducted on oil shale. The derived models are presented, as are comparisons with experimental results.
Antibodies focused on the human autoantibody immunodominant region are induced by B lymphocytes that constitutively express thyroid peroxidase diverted to the major histocompatibility complex II pathway.

We addressed the question of why naturally occurring, polyclonal thyroid peroxidase (TPO) autoantibodies have a restricted epitopic repertoire to an immunodominant region (IDR). We hypothesized that immunizing BALB/c mice with major histocompatibililty complex (MHC) class II compatible B lymphocytes (A20 cells) preferentially diverting TPO to the MHC class II pathway would produce TPO antibodies with an epitopic specificity similar to human autoantibodies, namely to the IDR. For this purpose we stably expressed in A20 cells a fusion protein of TPO sandwiched between the signal peptide and transmembrane/cytoplasmic tail of the lysosome- associated membrane protein (LAMP) 1. Expression of LAMP1-TPO in A20 B cells was confirmed by flow cytometry using a TPO monoclonal antibody. Mice injected intraperitoneally with LAMP1-TPO A20 B cells developed TPO antibodies detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), flow cytometry and 125I-TPO precipitation. However, TPO antibody levels were low. Most importan...
Teaching programming to liberal arts students: using loop invariants

Loop invariants have long been present in advanced undergraduate and graduate courses on programming methodology or program correctness. Recently there has been an increased interest in using loop invariants in teaching more elementary courses. In this paper, its successful use in teaching elementary programming in a computer literacy course for non-majors is described. The techniques described here, that are necessary in order to work successfully with this population, are also applicable to the teaching of programming to computer science majors.
1.25-Gbit/s photon-counting optical communications using a two- element superconducting nanowire single photon detector

The sensitivity of a high-rate photon-counting optical communications link depends on the performance of the photon counter used to detect the optical signal. In this paper, we focus on ways to reduce the effect of blocking, which is loss due to time periods in which the photon counter is inactive following a preceding detection event. This blocking loss can be reduced by using an array of photon counting detectors or by using photon counters with a shorter inactive period. Both of these techniques for reducing the blocking loss can be employed by using a multi-element superconducting nanowire single-photon detector. Two-element superconducting nanowire single-photon detectors are used to demonstrate error-free photon counting optical communication at data rates of 781 Mbit/s and 1.25 Gbit/s.
The sexual orientation wage gap for racial minorities

We explore the sexual orientation wage gap across four race and ethnic groups in the 2000 U.S. Census: Asian, black, Hispanic, and white. Using decomposition analysis, we explore if racial minority groups experience the same pattern of sexual orientation wage differences as their white counterparts, and how racial and sexual orientation wage differences interact over the distribution of wages. For men, we show a combined unexplained penalty greater than the sum of their individual unexplained race and sexual-orientation differentials. Racial minority lesbians, however, earn higher wages than what the sum of their racial and sexual-orientation analyses would suggest.
Temporally distinct effects of stress and corticosterone on diel melatonin rhythms of red-sided garter snakes (Thamnophis sirtalis).

Abstract Circadian and circannual rhythms in physiology and behavior are temporally organized via hormonal signals that reflect changing environmental cues. Interactions between endocrine signals are in turn important for integrating multiple physiological and behavioral rhythms. In the present study, we examined interactions between melatonin, the hypothalamus–pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis, and corticosterone in a well-studied population of red-sided garter snakes (Thamnophis sirtalis parietalis). We demonstrate that 4 h of capture stress significantly increased photophasic melatonin and decreased scotophasic melatonin concentrations of male snakes. Treatment with exogenous corticosterone (15 and 60 μg) did not mimic the effects of stress on diel melatonin rhythms. To determine if capture stress decreases scotophasic melatonin by depleting the precursors necessary for melatonin synthesis, we used a paradigm in which snakes were treated with the melatonin precursor 5-hydroxytryptophan (0.6 and 1.2 mg) to elevate melatonin concentrations. Pretreatment of snakes with both capture stress and exogenous corticosterone blocked the effect of 5-hydroxytryptophan on scotophasic melatonin. Thus, although corticosterone itself does not influence melatonin rhythms of snakes, corticosterone can inhibit the synthesis of melatonin from 5-hydroxytryptophan. These experiments suggest that the initial versus later phases of an acute physiological stress response have temporally distinct effects on melatonin synthesis: activation of the sympathoadrenal system increases melatonin, while increased glucocorticoids can inhibit melatonin synthesis. Collectively, we demonstrate that a physiological coupling between melatonin, glucocorticoids, and the sympathoadrenal system is conserved in this ectothermic model and propose that such interactions may mediate stress-induced changes in physiology and behavior.
Survivability of Aporrectodea caliginosa in Response to Drought Stress in a Colorado Soil

The distribution of earthworms is limited in many areas in the semiarid western United States by the availability of water and low soil organic matter; however, earthworms have been shown to adapt to periods of low soil moisture by making small chambers and entering estivation to protect themselves from declining soil moisture. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of varying lengths of drought stress on the survival of earthworms in a low organic matter soil from eastern Colorado that was amended with biosolids to increase organic matter. The earthworms were exposed to constant water content or cycles of 1-, 2-, or 3-wk drought stress periods, which resulted in average soil water matric potentials of −0.061, −0.085, −0.13, and −0.19 MPa, respectively. Replicate pots were destructively sampled at 21, 42, and 63 d. At sampling, the earthworms were classified as either active, in estivation, or dead. Drought did not affect earthworm mass, but drought lasting 2 or 3 wk increased the number of A. caliginosa in estivation. Three weeks of drought resulted in a mortality rate of 14%, with all other drought treatments having negligible mortality rates. The average number of A. caliginosa in estivation decreased with time, from 1.71 at 21 and 42 d to 0.75 at 63 d. Based on these results, A. caliginosa has the potential to survive up to 3-wk drought periods and after introduction, can adapt to this Colorado soil with time, but field studies would need to confirm these results.
High risk for third- and fourth-degree perineal lacerations: Hamilton et al

366 American Journal of Obstetrics & Gynecology In a new study, researchers used a novel statistical method to identify women who were most susceptible to 3rdand 4th-degree perineal lacerations. First, they pinpointed independent risk factors. Then they determined which “toxic constellations” of risk factors most increased the likelihood of serious injury. While many existing studies examine individual risk factors, few group them, making this work especially noteworthy.
Branched chitosans: Effects of branching parameters on rheological and mechanical properties

Chitosan continues to be studied as a promising biomaterial for tissue repair and regeneration applications. However, chitosan structures show a large reduction in tensile strength in the wet state. Methods for improving the wet strength of chitosan materials may broaden its applicability as a tissue scaffold for applications requiring significant load bearing capacity. In this study, the role of molecular architecture in defining the mechanical properties of hydrated chitosan membranes was examined. Specifically, branched chitosan molecules were synthesized with a range of branch lengths and branch densities. Physical and mechanical properties were characterized using viscometry, FTIR spectroscopy, and tensile testing measurements, and the results were correlated with the postulated architecture of the linear and branched chitosan materials. Both branch density and branch length were found to influence the mechanical properties of chitosan membranes. For example, high-molecular-weight (600 kDa) chitosans grafted with 80 kDa branches exhibited up to twofold increases in both tensile strength and extensibility. FTIR results indicated that these increases correlated with enhanced levels of hydrogen bonding in the branched materials. Vascular smooth muscle cells cultured on cast membranes of the branched chitosans exhibited no differences in adhesion or spreading as compared to the linear polymer. The results indicate that the mechanical properties of chitosan materials can be improved by the induction of a branched molecular architecture.
Invasive Inverted Papilloma during Pregnancy: A Therapeutic Dilemma

Inverted papilloma (IP) is histologically classified as a benign nasal tumor. However, its aggressive local invasive character can lead to devastating morbidity, with a 10 to 20% rate of malignant ...
AXIAL AND RADIAL DISPERSION IN TRICKLE-BED REACTORS WITH TRICKLING GAS-LIQUID DOWN-FLOW

In cocurrent down-flow trickle-bed reactors in the trickling flow regime, the liquid flows down the column in the form of liquid films or rivulets on the surfaces of packings. Depending on system variables such as liquid flow rate, packing size, surface tension, etc., the liquid flow paths can be so well-connected that all packings are completely wetted or some of them remain dry. Dispersion of the liquid phase is confined within, and is controlled by the topology and flow field of, the flow paths. To provide a model for dispersion, flow paths are first developed on a computer-generated, two-dimensional packed column of uniform spheres. Then axial and radial dispersion coefficients are determined based on Monte Carlo simulation. Model predictions are in general agreement with experimental data in the literature.
Turbulent Flow Over a Backward-Facing Step Using Penalty and Equal-Order Finite Element Methods

Two-dimensional steady incompressible turbulent flow over a backward-facing step was calculated using equal-order and penalty function Emite element methods. The standard k–e turbulence model with wall functions was applied. Results from both of the methods for pressure-velocity coupling look similar to each other. The greatest discrepancy was observed for the velocity vector plots behind the step. While the equal order method showed physically correct behavior of velocity near the walls, the penalty function method gave oscillations for the velocity component parallel to the wall.Copyright © 2002 by ASME
Value of estrogen and progesterone receptor immunostaining in distinguishing between peritoneal mesotheliomas and serous carcinomas

The differential diagnosis between peritoneal mesotheliomas and serous carcinomas involving the peritoneum may be difficult, but it can be facilitated by the use of immunohistochemistry. To determine whether estrogen receptors (ER) or progesterone receptors (PR) may have any value as immunohistochemical markers for discriminating between these malignancies, 40 serous carcinomas of the ovary metastatic to the peritoneum, 7 primary peritoneal serous carcinomas, 30 epithelioid peritoneal malignant mesotheliomas, 5 well-differentiated papillary mesotheliomas, and 4 adenomatoid tumors were immunostained for ER and PR. Reactivity for ER was obtained in 35 (88%) of the metastatic serous carcinomas of the ovary and 6 (86%) of the primary peritoneal serous carcinomas, whereas positivity for PR was observed in 24 (60%) of the metastatic serous carcinomas and 4 (56%) of the primary peritoneal serous carcinomas. None of the mesotheliomas or adenomatoid tumors expressed ER or PR. It is concluded that, because of its high sensitivity for serous carcinomas, ER immunostaining could be very useful in distinguishing between serous carcinomas and peritoneal mesotheliomas. Immunostaining for PR, however, has little practical utility.
On the operator formalism in higher genus

Abstract We discuss several aspects of the recently proposed operator formalism on Riemann surfaces of genus g ⩾2, particularly the transformation under the reparametrization group of the states generated by the non-trivial topology.
Suppression of Inelastic Deformation in Multilayer Microcantilevers with Nanoscale Coating

Multilayer microcantilevers present in micro-/nano- electromechanical system (MEMS/NEMS) applications serving passive and active structural roles. The application and commercialization of MEMS devices suffer from reliability problems. Appropriate nanocoatings, such as atomic layer deposition (ALD), have been demonstrated to be promising solutions for these reliability problems in MEMS devices. However, the micro/nano- mechanics within and/or between the microcantilevers and nanocoatings are not fully understood, especially when temperature, time, microstructural evolution and material nonlinearities play significant roles in thermomechanical response. The overall goal of this work is to suppress and understand the inelastic deformation and microstructural evolution in multilayer microcantilevers with nanocoatings. Moreover, to better understand the stress relief and Al2O3 suppression mechanism, scanning electron microscopy (SEM) was employed to explore the microstructural evolution.
A continuous-time /spl Delta//spl Sigma/ modulator with 63-dB dynamic range and 500kHz bandwidth in 0.35/spl mu/m SOI CMOS technology

This paper describes the implementation of a continuous-time low-pass DeltaSigma modulator in SOI CMOS technology. Modulator operates at a supply voltage of 3.3V, uses an oversampling ratio of 32 and can achieve a maximum dynamic range of 63dB (more than 10 bits) in a bandwidth of 500kHz
The effect of core and epitendinous suture modifications on repair of intrasynovial flexor tendons in an in vivo canine model.

Purpose To determine in vivo effects of modifications to core and epitendinous suture techniques in a canine intrasynovial flexor tendon repair model using clinically relevant rehabilitation. Our null hypothesis was that gap formation and rupture rates would remain consistent across repair techniques. Methods We evaluated gap formation and rupture in 75 adult mongrel dogs that underwent repair of intrasynovial flexor tendon lacerations followed by standardized postoperative therapy. The current suture technique was a 4-0, 8-strand core suture with a purchase of 1.2 cm and a 5-0, epitendinous suture repair with a 2-mm purchase length and depth. We compared gap and failure by chi-square analysis to a historical group of in vivo repairs (n = 76) from the same canine model using 8-strand core suture repair with purchase of 0.75 cm and 6-0 epitendinous suture with a 1-mm purchase length and depth. Results A total of 93% of tendons (n = 70) demonstrated gapping of less than 3 mm using the current suture technique. Five percent of tendons (n = 4) had a gap of 3 mm or greater, and there was 1 repair site failure. This was significantly improved over the comparison group of historical 8-strand core repair technique, which resulted in 82% (n = 62) of repairs with a gap of less than 3 mm and 7 failures (9%). Conclusions In an in vivo model, current modifications to suture techniques for intrasynovial flexor tendon repair demonstrated significant improvements in gap formation and rupture compared with a similar technique using shorter purchase lengths and shallower purchase depth. Clinical relevance Suggested repair modifications for the treatment of zone II flexor tendon transections demonstrate improvements in gap formation and tendon rupture in vivo .
Methanolysis of amylose triesters and related compounds

Abstract Methanolysis, in acidic chloroform—methanol solutions, of a variety of esters of methyl α- and β- D -glucopyranosides, maltose, methyl β-maltoside, cellobiose, methyl β-cellobioside, and amylose revealed that (1) esterification stabilizes the glycosidic bond to methanolysis, so that no methanolysis occurs until extensive, or perhaps complete, deacylation of an acylated D -glucopyranosyl group has occurred; (2) methanolysis gives predominant, or perhaps complete, inversion; (3) methanolysis of the glycosidic bonds of amylose is more facile than hydrolysis; and (4) deacylation of acylated D -glucopyranosyl groups results in a significant change in optical rotation.
The Influence Theory: Factors That Influence the Transfer Advising Process.

The transfer rate from community college to four-year institutions has been dropping for the past 70 years. In the most recent statistics, the national rate of transfer is 23% (Cohen & Brawer, 2008). In the state of Alabama the transfer rate is approximately 4%, and in the rural counties of Alabama the transfer rate hovers around 1%. Many studies have been conducted on the transfer process, but none have focused on the transfer process from a theoretical perspective. Most studies focus attention on disparate pieces of the transfer puzzle. To date, there is no overarching theory of the transfer process that will bring coherence to this field of study. This study views the transfer process through the experience of nine transfer advisors who serve students in 11 community colleges located in rural counties in the state of Alabama. The findings establish a substantive theory that will provide a contextual framework for researchers who wish to study specific features of the transfer process. The Influence The...
Treatment of diabetic sensory polyneuropathy.

No current disease-modifying treatments have been shown definitively in randomized clinical trials to reduce or reverse diabetic sensory polyneuropathy (DSP). It is increasingly recognized that individuals with “prediabetes” or impaired glucose regulation can already have a “small-fiber” neuropathy, or mild DSP, in which sensory axons of both small and larger diameter are damaged. Small-fiber neuropathy is frequently associated with pain, and these patients may present to a neurologist for evaluation before the underlying glucose dysregulation has been diagnosed. It is important to identify these individuals, because aggressive diabetic control and lifestyle interventions can delay the onset of diabetes and may reverse small-fiber neuropathy associated with early diabetes mellitus. Although treatment currently focuses on pain associated with DSP, attention should be paid to potential risk factors for neuropathy. For example, glycemic control and hyperlipidemia should be improved with diet, exercise, and medications. Hypertension that is a risk marker for more severe neuropathy should be treated. Angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors or angiotensin-receptor blockers not only treat hypertension but also may directly reduce the progression of neuropathy. Class I or II clinical studies support the use of sodium valproate, pregabalin, duloxetine, amitriptyline, gabapentin, venlafaxine, opioids, and topical capsaicin in treating diabetic neuropathic pain. Pregabalin and gabapentin are relatively well tolerated and have few medication interactions. Sodium valproate has been shown to be effective but is not recommended for use in women of childbearing potential, and patients must be monitored for hepatotoxicity and thrombocytopenia. Tricyclic antidepressants such as amitriptyline are often used for nocturnal pain but require caution in the elderly or anyone with cardiac disease. Venlafaxine and duloxetine successfully treat neuropathic pain independently of their effect on depression. Opioid medications are associated with a high rate of adverse effects but with careful monitoring, they can be effective in treating resistant neuropathic pain. Capsaicin is an effective topical treatment that lacks systemic side effects. The lidocaine patch is effective in relieving pain associated with postherpetic neuralgia, but only class III evidence supports its use for diabetic neuropathic pain. No current Class I or II studies support other treatment modalities.
The Dimensional Structure of Asian American Acculturation: An Examination of Prototypes

This study investigated the dimensional structure of acculturation for three prototypic groups of Asian Americans: those who were more Asian identified, those who were more American identified, and those who were jointly Asian and American identified. Three-way multidimensional scaling revealed a two-dimensional structure in which the first dimension consisted of language and culture domains and the second dimension contained cultural identity and values domains. These findings are consistent with the theoretical literature that distinguishes between external and internal aspects of acculturation (e.g., Kwan & Sodowsky, 1997). The first dimension was salient for the American identified prototype group, the second dimension was salient for the Asian identified group, and both dimensions were salient for the Asian and American identified group. Implications of the dimensional structure are discussed with respect to the predominant models of acculturation and identity for Asian Americans (e.g., Berry, 1989; ...
Therapeutic drug monitoring databases for postmarketing surveillance of drug-drug interactions.

Drug-drug interactions can be associated with patient morbidity due to either increased toxicity or a potentially ineffective concentration. Because interactions cannot always be anticipated during drug development and actual patients receiving a drug for therapeutic use often differ from those included in clinical trials, postmarketing surveillance is essential. Therapeutic drug monitoring (TDM) databases offer a unique opportunity in this respect. Prerequisites for TDM databases to provide valid information in a pharmacoepidemiological perspective include the following: precise description of exposure to the potentially interacting drugs; measurement of parent compound and active metabolites through accurate and precise analytical techniques; documentation of relevant patient characteristics that may act as confounding factors (e.g. gender, age, smoking habits); repeated assessments over time if possible; and sound pharmacokinetic framework for data selection, analysis and interpretation. The contribution of TDM to the documentation of drug-drug interactions takes advantage of different possible study designs, discussed on the basis of recently published studies. The single case report plays an important role as an alert signal. It is illustrated for a patient on long-term treatment, who displayed an unexpectedly high clozapine concentration after the introduction of ciprofloxacin comedication. The prospective on and off comedication panel study shows advantages in terms of carefully selected inclusion criteria and control of treatment modalities. A study of the thioridazine-fluvoxamine interaction is presented, with patients followed on thioridazine monotherapy, after introduction of fluvoxamine and after its discontinuation. The main advantage of the retrospective large-scale TDM database screen is representativeness of patients actually treated, whereas drawbacks are related to quality of data and suitability for valid interpretation. Such an approach is illustrated by a review of data collected over 10 years of routine TDM that allowed documenting induction of nortriptyline metabolism by carbamazepine and inhibition by several phenothiazines. Finally, population pharmacokinetics is well suited to observational data collected for TDM purpose, provided quality is ascertained. Focus is placed on interindividual variability and relationship between pharmacokinetic parameters and patient characteristics, including comedication. The population approach is discussed with respect to a study that documented a 32% increase of haloperidol clearance associated with anticonvulsant comedication, in addition to effects of age and bodyweight. Among factors to consider for improved effectiveness in the use of TDM databases for postmarketing surveillance of drug-drug interactions, integration of efficacy and safety data in future studies and communication of expert recommendations to prescribing physicians are essential.