cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Costimulation with Dexamethasone and Prostaglandin E2: A Novel Paradigm for the Induction of T-Cell Anergy☆

Abstract In this report, data are presented which indicate that anti-CD3 mAb-stimulated human peripheral blood T-cells treated with both dexamethasone (DEX) and prostaglandin E 2 (PGE 2 ) become anergic. This anergy can be reversed by the addition of IL-2. Further, experiments were performed to investigate this T-cell anergy. The results show that addition of DEX and PGE 2 to anti-CD3 mAb-stimulated T-cells inhibits the induction of p56 lck but not p59 fyn kinase activity nor is the tyrosine phosphorylation of PLCγ altered appreciably. Additionally, this treatment of anti-CD3 mAb-stimulated T-cells also results in decreased tyrosine phosphorylation of ERK1, suggesting that the Ras activation pathway may be inhibited. Interestingly, the induction of T-cell anergy is reproduced when an agonist for the cAMP-independent EP 3 subtype of the PGE 2 receptor is substituted for PGE 2 . Thus, while the mechanisms responsible for the dual action of DEX and PGE 2 on the induction of T-cell anergy is unknown, these data suggest that a cAMP-independent mechanism may be involved. These data indicate that a state of anergy can be induced in normal human T-cells by the activation of these cells in the presence of physiologic concentrations of DEX and PGE 2 .
On-chip whispering-gallery-mode lasers for sensing applications

Whispering-Gallery-Mode (WGM) microresonators have shown great promise for ultra-sensitive and label-free chemical and biological sensing. The linewidth of a resonant mode determines the smallest resolvable changes in the WGM spectrum, which, in turn, affects the detection limit. The fundamental limit is set by the linewidth of the resonant mode due to material absorption induced photon loss. We report a real-time detection method with single nanoparticle resolution that surpasses the detection limit of most passive micro/nano photonic resonant devices. This is achieved by using an on-chip WGM microcavity laser as the sensing element, whose linewidth is much narrower than its passive counterpart due to optical gain in the resonant lasing mode. In this microlaser based sensing platform, the first binding nanoparticle induces splitting of the lasing line, and the subsequent particles alter the amount of splitting, which can be monitored by measuring the beat frequency of the split modes. We demonstrate detection of polystyrene and gold nanoparticles as small as 15 nm and 10 nm in radius, respectively, and Influenza A virions. The built-in self-heterodyne interferometric method achieved in the monolithic microlaser provides a self-referencing scheme with extraordinary sensitivity, and paves the way for detection and spectroscopy of nano-scale objects using micro/nano lasers.
Surface chemistry of Nextel-720, alumina and Nextel-720/alumina ceramic matrix composite (CMC) using XPS–A tool for nano-spectroscopy

Abstract Oxide-based ceramic matrix composites (CMCs) are prime candidates for high temperature turbine applications. Increasing demand of CMCs necessitates the development of quality monitoring procedures. Sol–gel derived Nextel-720 fiber/alumina matrix CMC is one of the potential candidate material for land-based gas turbine applications. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) and transmission electron microscopy (TEM) were utilized to investigate any surface/interface chemical alteration of the Nextel-720 fiber reinforcement and the alumina matrix during fabrication. The calculated XPS spectra of the composite were obtained by simply adding the spectra of the as-received Nextel-720 fiber and the alumina matrix. The calculated XPS spectra and the acquired XPS Al(2p), Si(2p3), and O(1s) spectra from the as-received materials were compared using a superimposition method to investigate any chemical alteration during composite fabrication for quality control measures. This paper is aimed to serve as a reference for future XPS studies of CMCs exposed to aggressive turbine environments.
The relationship between the motive to avoid success and vocational choice.

Abstract This study examined, for 221 black and white male and female college students, the relationship between the Motive to Avoid Success (M−s) and: (a) sex and race; (b) congruency, consistency, and differentiation of occupational choice; and (c) occupational aspirations. M−s was assessed by a recent scoring system for verbal TAT cues and occupational choice patterns were analyzed by the Self-Directed Search. The results showed a significant sex difference on M−s. High M−s, in white females predicted well defined, sex-role stereotyped, and low occupational aspirations, but for white males it predicted high aspirations. No significant results were found for black males, and M−s in black females seemed to be related to economic well-being.
Do-It-Yourself Information Literacy: Self-Directed Learning at a Distance

Although academic librarians have been teaching information literacy online for years, the increasing number of nontraditional students learning online has motivated many librarians to develop Web-based tools that help students independently learn to identify, access, evaluate, and use information resources in the online environment. Adult learners, especially those learning at a distance, expect to take the initiative in directing their own learning. In 2011, Central Michigan University developed a self-directed learning module to guide graduate students through the process of researching and writing a literature review. Students can access the Literature Review Guide on demand to diagnose learning needs, examine a variety of multimedia tools and resources, select appropriate learning strategies, and evaluate their own learning outcomes. The planning, implementation and evaluation of this online learning resource can be replicated to develop self-directed learning modules that facilitate improved digital...
Structural analysis of human thyroid hormone receptor β gene

Abstract Thyroid hormone receptors (TR) are ligand-dependent, DNA-binding, ns-acting transcriptional factors belonging to the erb A-related steroid/thyroid hormone receptor superfamily. To better understand the structural and functional characteristics of TRs, we isolated the gene encoding human TRβ1 (hTRβ1) The coding region of hTRβ1 issplit into at least eight exons. Each exon well correlates with functional domains of hTRβ1 protein, and the exon/intron organization is highly conserved when compared with the chicken c- erb A gene which encodes an α-type chiken TR. We.demonstrate that hTRβ has at least two mRNA forms having different lengths of the 3' untranslated region. We also note several nucleotide corrections of hTRβ1 cDNA sequence.
Shear Stress Regulation Of The Endothelial NOS Gene In Fetal Pulmonary Arterial Endothelial Cells: A Role for Protein Kinase C. • 1936

At birth there is a rapid increase in pulmonary blood flow related to a marked decrease in pulmonary vascular resistance. This causes an increase in shear stress and a resulting increase in both the activity and expression of endothelial NOS (eNOS) in the perinatal lung. The resulting NO released mediates, in part, both the immediate and more gradual decreases in pulmonary vascular resistance seen after birth. However, the regulation of eNOS by shear stress is still poorly understood. The objectives of this study were analyze the regulation of eNOS by shear stress. We exposed cultures of ovine fetal pulmonary arterial endothelial cells (OFPAECs) to increased shear stress using a cone-plate viscometer. This was shown to increase the expression of eNOS mRNA in a time dependent manner with a 4.9-fold increase after 8h. NO production was found to be biphasic, with an initial rapid increase in NO release (0-1h), a plateau phase (1-6h), and then another increase in NO release (6-8h). This second increase in NO release corresponded to the production of new eNOS protein. Since previous studies have implicated protein kinase C (PKC) in shear stressinduced gene expression we determined if PKC played a similar role in eNOS gene regulation. Western blot analysis identified 6 PKC isoforms in OFPAECs: gamma, delta, epsilon, iota, mu, and zeta. Cellular PKC activity increased 7.9-fold in response to 4h of shear stress. PKC inhibition, with four different inhibitors, had little effect on the initial rapid production of NO (0-1h) but all abolished both the induction of endothelial NOS gene expression and the second increase in NO production(6-8h). These results suggest for the first time that shear stress induces eNOS gene expression in a PKC dependent pathway while activationof eNOS protein involves another signal transduction pathway.
Endoscopic closure of CSF rhinorrhea: 193 cases over 21 years:

Objective: Endoscopic repair of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leaks has become a routine approach. This study describes endoscopic closure of a large series over 21 years, focusing on management, surgi...
Changes in the kinetic properties of β-N-acetylhexosaminidase and arylsulfatase a upon immobilization on concanavalin A

1. 1. The purified preparations of β-N-acetylhexosaminidase and arylsulfatase A were immobilized on concanavalin A. 2. 2. The immobilized β-N-acetylhexosaminidase showed a broad optimum at pH 3.5–4.5 compared to the free enzyme which had a sharp optimum at pH 4.5. The optimum of free arylsulfatase A, pH 5.5, changed to pH 5.25 after immobilization. 3. 3. The apparent Km values for the free and concanavalin A immobilized β-N-acetylhexosaminidase and arylsulfatase A increased significantly (3–4-fold) on immobilization. 4. 4. The immobilization significantly increased the thermalstability of these enzymes. 5. 5. The extent of inhibition by the metal ions was less for the immobilized β-N-acetylhexosaminidase and arylsulfatase A compared to the free enzymes.
Stereospecific Pseudoproline Ligation of N-Terminal Serine, Threonine, or Cysteine-Containing Unprotected Peptides

This paper describes an orthogonal and stereospecific method for ligating free peptide segments to form a monosubstituted pseudoproline bond with a hydroxymethyl moiety at the C2 carbon. The pseudoproline ligation, comprising both the oxaproline and thiaproline ligations, initially involves an imine capture of a peptidyl glycoaldehyde ester with an N-terminal cysteine, serine, or threonine peptide segment and then two spontaneous cyclization reactions. The thiazolidine or oxazolidine ester formed in the first cyclization undergoes an O,N-acyl transfer to form an pseudoproline bond. The thiaproline ligation can be carried out exclusively with unprotected peptide segments in both aqueous and nonaqueous pyridine−acetic acid conditions. However, the oxaproline ligation is best performed in a nonaqueous pyridine−acetic acid mixture with unprotected peptide segments except for those containing N-terminal nucleophilic amino acids such as Cys, His, and Trp. Pseudoproline ligation is not only regioselective but al...
A new species of the perciform fish genus Plectranthias (Serranidae: Anthiinae) from the Nazca Ridge in the eastern South Pacific

Abstract Plectranthias nazcae, a new species of anthiine serranid fish, is described from five specimens collected on the Nazca Ridge in the eastern South Pacific, some 1500 kilometers west of Chile, at about 26°S. The new species is distinguished from all other species of Plectranthias by the following combination of characters: total gillrakers on first gill arch 28–31, circum-caudal-peduncular scales 17 or 18, tubed lateral-line scales 36–42, certain body proportions, and apparently coloration. Comments on the coloration of P. exsul and a key to the three known eastern Pacific species of Plectranthias are provided.
Effect of Hg(II) on the spectroscopic properties of DNA bases: circular dichroism of deoxyadenosine and thymidine monomers and dimers.

Abstract The addition of Hg(ClO4)2(Hg(II)) to 2′-deoxyadenosine (dA), thymidine (dT), to their respective 5′-monophosphates (dAp, dTp) as well as to the dinucleoside phosphates 2′-deoxyadenylyl-(3′ → 5′)-2′-deoxyadenosine (d(ApA)), 2-deoxyadenylyl-(3′ → 5′)thymidine(d(ApT)), thymidylyl-(3′ → 5′)-2′-deoxyadenosine (d(TpA)), and thymidylyl-(3′ → 5′)thymidine (d(TpT))—all dissolved in 0.1 M NaClO4, 5 mM cacodylic acid buffer, pH 7—produces major alterations in the circular dichroism (CD) of the dimers but no or only small changes in the CD of the monomers. Of particular interest are the Hg(II)-induced changes in the CD of d(ApT) and d(TpA): they are strongly sequence-dependent and, within reason, progress in a “mirror”-like fashion when the concentration of Hg(II) is varied. In the absence of Hg(II), the CD of the dimers is conservative (d(TpT)), or near-conservative (d(ApA), d(ApT), d(TpA)), but becomes nonconservative upon the addition of Hg(II). The rotational strength R of the various Cotton effects of the dimers was evaluated as a function of Hg(II) concentration. Features of the CD spectra of mercurated d(ApA) and d(TpT) persist in the CD spectra of mercurated poly[d(A) · (T)], but there is little obvious agreement of the CD spectra of mercurated d(ApT) and d(TpA) with the CD of mercurated poly[d(A–T) · d(A–T)].
Haematological cancer: Lenalidomide maintenance--perils of a premature denouement.

Of three randomized trials testing lenalidomide maintenance in myeloma, a survival benefit is apparent in one. An increased risk of second cancers is seen in all three trials. Maintenance must be considered after a review of risks and benefits, but it is premature to recommend lenalidomide maintenance for all patients.
The development of stereoacuity in infant rhesus monkeys

Abstract The emergence of stereopsis at 3–4 months postnatal in human infants is striking and has led to speculation that its rapid onset and subsequent development must be due to a dramatic reorganization of the brain. Stereopsis has never been measured in infant monkeys, but previous studies have demonstrated that many other visual functions develop four times faster in infant monkeys than in humans. We made longitudinal assessments of stereoacuity in 11 infant rhesus monkeys. A forced-choice preferential-looking technique was used to present random-dot stereograms during testing. By 8 weeks after birth, all of the monkeys were responding to at least coarse levels of disparity (1760″ [seconds]), and by 13 weeks of age, all were responding to the relatively fine level of 88″ disparity. Age of onset for stereopsis in monkeys was at about one-quarter the age when it occurs in humans, as expected. However, subsequent development proceeded at a similar absolute rate in monkeys and humans. The findings are discussed relative to the neural mechanisms which might be responsible for the differing rates of development.
Simulation of the influence of particles on grain structure evolution in two-dimensional systems and thin films

A two-dimensional front-tracking simulation of grain growth has been extended to treat the effects of particles on the evolution of grain structures during annealing. When grain boundaries come into contact with particles, boundary motion is assumed to be pinned. It is found that even a small volume fraction of particles retards grain growth, lowers the ultimate average grain size, and leads to significant changes in the grain-size and number-of-sides distributions. These changes differ in detail from the changes in the grain-size distribution predicted using the Potts model. The changes in the nature of the grain-size distribution are explained by considering the topology of the evolving and of the stagnant grain structures. The average grain size in the stagnant structure scales with the number of particles in a way consistent with a scaling with area fraction of the particles to the power 0.46, in near agreement with the expected dependence from a Zener-pinning analysis in two dimensions. Particle pinning is also simulated in conjunction with the effects of other mechanisms impeding grain growth such as solute drag or grain boundary grooving. In this case it is found that the stagnant grain-size distribution is determined by the competing stagnation forces, and that the Zener-pinning analysis is not obeyed and must be modified.
Imaging tissue structures: assessment of absorption and phase-contrast x-ray tomography imaging at 2 nd and 3 rd generation synchrotrons

Several methods have been proposed for imaging biological tissue structures at the near micron scale and with user-control of contrast mechanisms that differentiate among the tissue structures. On the one hand, treatment with high-Z contrast agents (Ba, Cs, I, etc.) by injection or soaking and absorption edge imaging distinguishes soft tissue from cornified or bony tissue. This experiment is most compatible with high-bandpass monochromators (ΔE/E between 0.01 - 0.03), such as recently installed at the LSU synchrotron (CAMD). On the other hand, phase contrast imaging does not require any pre-treatment except preservation in formalin, but places more demands upon the X-ray source. This experiment is more compatible with beam lines, such as 13 BM-D at APS, which operates with a narrow bandpass monochromator (ΔE/E ≈ 10 -4 ). Here, we compare imaging results of soft, cornified and bony tissues across the 2x2 matrix of absorption edge versus phase contrast, and high versus narrow bandpass monochromators. In addition, we comment on new data acquisition strategies adapted to the fragile character of biological tissues: (a) a 100 % humidity chamber, and (b) a data acquisition strategy, based on the Greek golden ratio, that more quickly leads to image convergence. The latter incurs the minor cost of reprogramming, or relabeling, images with order and angle. Subsequently, tomography data sets can be acquired based on synchrotron performance and sample fragility.
The importance of perceived stress management skills for patients with prostate cancer in active surveillance.

Little is known about whether and how stress management skills may improve adjustment for men diagnosed with prostate cancer who opt for active surveillance. This study examined whether two types of perceived stress management skills, specifically the ability to relax and confidence in coping, moderated the relationship between prostate cancer (PC) concerns and psychological distress. Participants were 71 ethnically diverse men in active surveillance. Coping confidence moderated the relationship between PC concerns and intrusive thoughts (p .05. Coping confidence also moderated the relationship between PC treatment concerns (a subscale of PC concerns) and intrusive thoughts. At low levels of coping confidence, PC treatment concerns was positively associated with intrusive thoughts, β = .73, p .05. Findings underscore the importance of interventions aimed at improving coping in men undergoing active surveillance.
Automatic Redaction of Private Information Using Relational Information Extraction

We report on an attempt to build an automatic redaction system by applying information extraction techniques to the identification of private dates of birth. We conclude that automatic redaction is a promising concept although information extraction is significantly affected by the presence of OCR error.
The role of PBR/TSPO in steroid biosynthesis challenged.

The events that regulate the rapid synthesis of steroid hormones in response to trophic hormone stimulation of the steroidogenic cells have been the ongoing subject of intense interest for several decades. Much of the early work performed in this area determined that the acute regulation of steroid hormone biosynthesis required the rapid, de novo synthesis of a protein(s) whose function appeared to be involved in mediating the delivery of cholesterol, the substrate for all steroid hormones, from the outer mitochondrial membrane to the inner mitochondrial membrane. The existence of a protein that was necessary for intramitochondrial transfer of cholesterol was first postulated by James Ferguson in 1963 (1). This transfer is an absolute requirement for steroid biosynthesis, because the cholesterol side-chain cleavage enzyme system that converts cholesterol to pregnenolone, the first steroid synthesized, resides on the inner side of the inner mitochondrial membrane. As such, the hydrophobic cholesterol substrate is unable to traverse the aqueous intermembrane space and reach the inner mitochondrial membrane through diffusion. The next 3 decades saw a focused interest in determining the identity of this putative regulator protein (2–13). These studies gave rise to a list of the characteristics that the putative protein regulator appeared to possess, including those described above. Later work introduced other putative regulator proteins, the sterol carrier protein 2 (14), the steroidogenesis activator polypeptide (15, 16), the peripheral benzodiazepine receptor (PBR) (17), and the steroidogenic acute regulatory protein (StAR) (18). Although space limitations do not allow for a critical evaluation of the characteristics of each of the candidates that have been put forth as the putative regulator protein over the years, these candidates have been described in an earlier review (19).
Local hitting and conditioning in symmetric interval partitions

Abstract By a symmetric interval partition we mean a perfect, closed random set Ξ in [0,1] of Lebesgue measure 0, such that the lengths of the connected components of Ξc occur in random order. Such sets are analogous to the regenerative sets on R + , and in particular there is a natural way to define a corresponding local time random measure ξ with support Ξ. In this paper, the author's recently developed duality theory is used to construct versions of the Palm distributions Qx of ξ with attractive continuity and approximation properties. The results are based on an asymptotic formula for hitting probabilities and a delicate construction and analysis of conditional densities.
The Moral Force of Political Obligations

Political obligations vary in force. Though we have strong obligations to obey certain laws, our obligations to obey others appear to be considerably weaker. Because the weakness of the obligations to obey certain laws has been employed as an argument against the existence of general prima facie political obligations, an adequate theory of political obligation must account for this. By employing the obligation to keep promises as a model, I sort out the factors that contribute to the force of prima facie political obligations. Their varying force can be explained according to a general theory of political obligation founded on the principle of fairness.
EFAB: low-cost automated electrochemical batch fabrication of arbitrary 3D microstructures

EFAB is a new micromachining process promising to rapidly and automatically batch fabricate high-aspect-ratio microstructures with arbitrary 3D geometry using inexpensive equipment. Conventional microfabrication processes have so far produced fairly simple geometries, yet many MEMS could benefit if more sophisticated shapes could be manufactured. By using 'Instant Masking' (IM) - a novel in-situ micropatterning method - to simplify, accelerate, and automate through-mask electroplating, EFAB can produce extremely complex shapes by depositing hundreds-thousands of layers at high speed. While other processes of the do not allow integration with ICs, EFAB operates at less than 60 degrees C, making IC compatibility a possibility. Alternative processes require costly facilities and equipment; EFAB separates photolithography from device fabrication, requiring a cleanroom only for mask-making, then depositing all layers in a low-cost, self-contained machine. All IM required can be prepared simultaneously, without repeating the lithography on each layer. Selective electrodeposition requires simply mating the mask with the substrate and applying current; in this way we have patterned well-defined features as small as 20 X 20 micrometers . The procedures in EFAB are selective electrodeposition, blanket electrodeposition, and planarization. To date we have built metal structures with up to 12 layers consisting of independently-moving components.© (1999) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Analysis of Lake Huron recreational fisheries data using models dealing with excessive zeros

Abstract Excessive zeros in recreational catch data can cause problems for fish stock assessment and management. We evaluated a range of count regression models for analyzing the recreational catch data of walleye, Chinook salmon, and lake trout in Lake Huron. We also used modern predictive measures of effects to interpret the statistical results and extract year effects from the complex models. We found that models that account for both excessive zeros and overdispersion in recreational data, i.e., the zero-inflated negative binomial (ZINB) and hurdle negative binomial models, performed much better than those that cope with only one or none of the two common count data problems. Using the results from the best ZINB models, we identified important factors affecting catch rate of the three aforementioned species, and constructed standardized CPUE indices for each species.
Normally incident plane waves on a chiral slab with linear property variations

Reflection by and transmission through a chiral slab are explored for normally incident plane waves, it being assumed that the constitutive parameters of the slab vary along the direction of incidence. It is shown that the Faraday and the Ampere-Maxwell equations decompose into two autonomous matrix differential equations. The effect of the chiral slab is accounted for by the matrices S+/- that can be numerically evaluated for a linearly inhomogeneous chiral slab using two methods.© (1991) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Imaging for the prognosis of autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is characterized by the unrelenting enlargement of innumerable cysts derived from renal tubules. This cystic growth often leads to a grotesque renal enlargement. Relatively early in life, the cysts trigger secondary complications including pain, hypertension and gross hematuria; renal insufficiency is usually not detected until the fifth or sixth decade of life. Therapies targeted to molecular and pathophysiological abnormalities slow cyst growth and protect renal function in animal models of the disease. Unfortunately, the translation of these treatments into clinical trials is hampered since glomerular filtration rate, the usual biomarker of renal disease progression, does not decrease substantially until extensive and irreversible damage to noncystic parenchyma occurs. Ultrasonography, CT and MRI have been used for many years to quantify the increase in renal volume in patients with ADPKD. Imaging with these techniques has also been used to accurately quantify the rate of increased kidney and total cyst volume in patients. In this Review we discuss the overwhelming evidence in support of the view that imaging is an invaluable tool to monitor the onset and progression of ADPKD and is well-suited to gauge the response of this disease to targeted therapy before renal function begins to decline.
Reflex Modification Audiometry: Assessment of Acoustic Sensory Processing in the Term Neonate

ABSTRACT: Behavioral and physiological work in animals and adult humans have established the sensitivity of various procedures and allowed delineation of the neuroanatomical pathways involved in sensory processing. Herein we used the glabellar reflex and reflex modification procedures to assess acoustic sensory processing capabilities in the term newborn infant. The eyeblink-eliciting device consisted of a miniature solenoid which could deliver a controlled tap. A photoreflective densitometer attached to a TDH-39 earphone assessed the eyeblinks. A total of 98 term infants was studied to determine how a response to a reflex-eliciting event (tap) was modified (either augmented or inhibited) by a mild exteroceptive stimulus (tone) which was presented at an appropriate lead interval. Ninety adult subjects were given identical testing procedures and their data were compared to that of the infants. The results of this study showed that newborn infants reliably exhibited an eyeblink response after a tap to the glabella. With fixed intensity tones, frequencies from 1 to 4 kHz produced equivalent amounts of reflex augmentation in infants and adult subjects. Blink amplitude increased as a function of increased tap and tone intensity in both infants and adults. State change was shown to affect the amplitude of the reflexive eyeblink, but not the augmentation effect. However, neonates failed to show inhibition to either acoustic or tactile stimuli at an interstimulus interval that produced significant inhibition in the adult. These data indicate that reflex modification procedures provide an objective assessment of acoustic sensory processing in the term neonate. Further, they not only suggest that areas of the central nervous system that process sensory stimuli are not fully developed even at term birth, but that the neural system for augmentation and inhibition may be independent of each other.
Instrumental neutron activation analysis: A valuable link in chemical metrology

This work provides a systematic experimental approach to the demonstration of viability of instrumental neutron activation analysis (INAA) in chemical metrology. The practical approach was derived from a complete survey of uncertainty components that affect the INAA measurement process. These uncertainty components were classified by their magnitude and origin and subsequently minimized by appropriate steps in the INAA process. The process was tested with the INAA determination of Cr in SRM 1152A stainless steel; the Cr value is certified at 17.76% with an estimated uncertainty of 0.04% (0.23% relative). The INAA results from this procedure are in agreement with these specifications. Similar procedures have been applied to INAA multi-element determinations in a high temperature alloy. Agreement with available consensus values was demonstrated in the alloy. The guidelines on the determination of uncertainty were fully met, providing through INAA a valuable independent non-destructive tool in chemical measurements of metrological value such as required in the CCQM key comparisons.
Determination of the molecular weight of crustacean trypsin by gel-filtration.

Abstract 1. 1. The molecular weight of trypsin isolated from the gastric juice of the crayfish Orconectes virilis was estimated by the use of Sephadex G-100 and G-200 columns. 2. 2. A molecular weight of 24,700 was observed which is consistent with value for trypsin of vertebrate origin.
Intelligence in Schizophrenia: Meta-analysis of the Research

This article combines a review and meta-analysis of research on IQ in schizophrenia, with emphasis on areas of convergence in the findings, as well as questions that remain to be answered. Taken together, the findings suggest that early-onset and adult-onset schizophrenia are associated with intellectual deficits across the lifespan. Preschizophrenic children, adolescents, and young adults perform below matched controls on a variety of standardized measures of intelligence. Significant IQ deficits are also apparent after the onset of the disorder. Moreover, IQ is positively related to several indices of prognosis, and, among hospitalized patients, there is negative within-subject covariance between intellectual performance and symptom severity. Although there is fairly consistent evidence that Verbal IQ is higher than Performance IQ among schizophrenic patients, a more specific pattern of subtest performance is not apparent. A central question raised by the results is whether IQ is an independently determined factor that can serve to mitigate the vulnerability of individuals who are constitutionally predisposed to schizophrenia, or whether intellectual deficit is one manifestation of the constitutional predisposition to the disorder. The findings also raise the question of possible sex differences in the developmental determinants of schizophrenia: Meta-analyses revealed that premorbid IQ deficits are more prevalent among males than females.
Impulse Response of Space Reflectors with Localized Modes

The forced response in a generic class of disordered large space reflectors that have both localized and extended modes is presented. Localization is characterized by the amplitude of a global mode becoming confined to a local region of the structure. This investigation examines the disturbance propagation associated with the impulsive loading of one substructure, as would be the case with a rock (or micrometeor) hitting a rib or a single actuator acting on a rib. For the 18-rib reflector studied, if the first mode group (which is primarily first bending) is not localized, then the disturbance was found to propagate throughout both the perfect and imperfect structures with very little difference between the two cases. When the first mode group is localized, a spatial decay of the vibration amplitude along the structure was observed wtih the energy being confined near the source of excitation. Nomenclature A = cross-sectional area of axial member El = rib flexural rigidity FQ = magnitude of impulsive load [K] = global stiffness matrix kfj = effective stiffness of axial member t = total length of rib 4 = length of axial member [M] = global mass matrix m = rib mass per unit length N = total number of ribs Na = number of axial members between ribs n - circumferential wave number p = number of degrees of freedom per substructure Qi = generalized force Qi - generalized coordinate Qi = amplitude of qf r = imperfection strength T = total kinetic energy r0 = cable pretension t = time U = total potential energy Vy = potential energy due to the y'th axial member between rib / and / + 1 v(x, t) = displacement of in-plane motion w(x, t) = displacement of out-of-plane motion x =x/t ft = constants in assumed mode shapes
Effects of triiodothyronine and thyroxine on thyrotropin and prolactin secretion from bovine pituitary cells in vitro

Experiments were conducted to compare effects of thyroid hormones on basal and TRH-induced TSH and PRL release and production in vitro. TRH induced a linear increase (P < 0.001) in TSH and PRL release from bovine pituitary cells; TSH and PRL release increased 44% and 64%, respectively, for every 10-fold increase in TRH concentration. T3 at 0, 0.1, 1, and 10 ng/ml reduced the basal secretion of TSH 19%, 25%, and 25% and that of PRL 15%, 24%, and 37%. T3 did not alter the doseresponse slope of TRH-induced TSH and PRL release. However, for any given concentration of TRH, the amount of TSH and PRL released in the presence of T3 was less (P < 0.01) than the comparable control value. In addition to causing TSH and PRL release, TRH also induced a linear increase in total hormone production (cells plus medium); every 10-fold increase in TRH increased TSH and PRL production 13% and 20%, respectively. T3 completely blocked this TRH-mediated increase in TSH production but had no effect on the TRH-mediated increase i...
A framework for the extraction and modeling of fact-finding reasoning from legal decisions: lessons from the Vaccine/Injury Project Corpus

This article describes the Vaccine/Injury Project Corpus, a collection of legal decisions awarding or denying compensation for health injuries allegedly due to vaccinations, together with models of the logical structure of the reasoning of the factfinders in those cases. This unique corpus provides useful data for formal and informal logic theory, for natural-language research in linguistics, and for artificial intelligence research. More importantly, the article discusses lessons learned from developing protocols for manually extracting the logical structure and generating the logic models. It identifies sub-tasks in the extraction process, discusses challenges to automation, and provides insights into possible solutions for automation. In particular, the framework and strategies developed here, together with the corpus data, should allow "top---down" and contextual approaches to automation, which can supplement "bottom-up" linguistic approaches. Illustrations throughout the article use examples drawn from the Corpus.
Effects of Hot-Boning and Particle Thickness on Restructured Beef Steaks

Restructured steaks were made using hot-boned or aged beef made from sliced particles (2.5 mm or 5.0 mm thick). Beef slices were formed to make restructured steaks. The steaks were evaluated for cooking characteristics, textural properties and sensory attributes. Restructured steaks made from hot-boned beef were generally considered less tender and received lower texture desirability, flavor desirability and overall palatability ratings as compared to steaks made from aged beef. Restructured steaks made from larger meat slices (5.0 mm) were less tender and received lower texture desirability ratings than restructured steaks made with thinner slices (2.5 mm).
Voluntary Feed Intake, Milk Production, Rumen Content, and Plasma-Free Amino Acid Levels of Lactating Cows on Low Sulfur and Sulfur-Supplemented Diets

Abstract Twenty-four mature lactating Holstein cows were divided equally into two groups. One group received a concentrate mixture containing 0.10% sulfur and the other group received the same concentrate mixture supplemented with Na 2 SO 4 · 10H 2 O. Both groups of cows received the same corn silage, which contained 0.09% sulfur on a dry basis. The corn silage and concentrate mixture was fed ad lib. at a constant ratio of 6.3 to 1.0 for nine weeks. Voluntary feed intake and milk production were signifleantly higher for the sulfur-supplemented group by the ninth week of the experiment. There were no significant differences among treatments in any of the amino acids for either deproteinized blood plasma or rumen content. Deproteinized plasma threonine, valine, methionine, isoleucine, leucine, phenylalanine, and cystine levels decreased significantly for all animals with time, whereas glutamic acid increased. The concentration of each of the 17 rumen amino acids decreased significantly with time. Both groups of animals decreased in milk production more than expected. It is clear that a sulfur deficiency was produced in nine weeks on a practical diet. Since milk production, dry matter intake, plasma-free and rumen amino acid levels were not maintained in the sulfur-supplemented group of cows, it is concluded that the supplemental sulfur was either insufficient in quantity or inefficiently utilized.
Update on Peripheral Arterial Disease and Claudication Rehabilitation

The prevalence of peripheral arterial disease is high and will continue to grow with our aging population. It is often under diagnosed and under treated due to a general lack of awareness on the part of the patient and the practitioner. The evidence-base is growing for the optimal medical management of the patient with peripheral arterial disease; in parallel, endovascular revascularization options continue to improve. Exercise training for claudication rehabilitation plays a critical role. Comprehensive care of the peripheral arterial disease patient focuses on the ultimate goals of improving quality of life and reducing cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.
Executing Temporal Logic Programs by Ben Moszkowski

The influence of Japanese culture seems to creep out of the yuppies community extending to the remaining AI fans.
Neurons inhibit neurogenesis.

Feedback from differentiated cells may keep precursor cells in check, controlling proliferation and differentiation. One such mechanism is now shown to control neuron numbers in the olfactory epithelium.
Semiclassical small-polaron hopping in a generalized molecular-crystal model.

The thermally activated rates for high-temperature adiabatic and nonadiabatic small-(bi)polaron hopping are calculated for a generalization of Holstein's molecular-crystal model. In the expanded model a carrier occupying a molecule is coupled to many molecular vibrational modes rather than to just the single vibrational mode envisioned in the original model. This generalization of the molecular-crystal model does not significantly affect the semiclassical small-(bi)polaron jump rates. In particular, for the generalized model the hopping activation energy becomes a sum of contributions associated with each of the vibrational modes to which the carrier is coupled. The vibrational frequency that is the preexponential factor for adiabatic small-(bi)polaron hopping is the square root of the sum of the squares of the vibrational frequencies weighted by their relative contributions to the net hopping activation energy.
Assessing the Performance of State Legislative Committees: a Case Study and a Proposed Research Agenda

HIS PAPER has three immediate objectives: (1) it describes the structure and procedures used by standing committees in the New Hampshire House of Representatives; (2) using two measures of committee effectiveness suggested by the scholarly literature (committee permissiveness and committee floor success), it assesses the performance of all twenty-two standing committees in the New Hampshire House during the regular legislative session of 1977; and (3) it examines other committee characteristics and seeks to determine the extent to which variations
Predictors of Normal Electrodiagnostic Testing in the Evaluation of Suspected Carpal Tunnel Syndrome

Electrodiagnostic studies (electromyography and nerve conduction velocity; EMG/NCV) are used to confirm the diagnosis of carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) and to evaluate its severity. We investigated the hypothesis that normal electrodiagnostic median nerve testing is predicted by 1) Physician pre-test confidence in the diagnosis of CTS, and 2) Puzzling patient factors. One hundred and forty consecutive patients who underwent electrodiagnostic testing to evaluate for possible CTS were reviewed retrospectively. Both physician confidence in the diagnosis of CTS and puzzling patient factors (heightened illness concern, disproportionate complaints, and vague/nonanatomical/noncharacteristic symptoms) were recorded. Electrodiagnostic testing was used as the reference standard for diagnosis of CTS. Electrodiagnostic testing confirmed CTS in 115 patients and was within normal limits in 25 patients. Low physician confidence in the diagnosis of CTS was highly predictive of a normal electrodiagnostic test (p < 0.001), with high sensitivity (97%), moderate specificity (40%), and high overall accuracy (87%). Puzzling patient factors were moderately predictive of normal electrodiagnostic testing (p < 0.001), with low sensitivity (16%), high specificity (96%), and high overall accuracy (81%). The best multivariable model retained younger age, negative Phalen’s test, and low physician confidence as the best predictors of normal electrodiagnostic testing and explained 35% of the variation in test results. A model with low confidence alone explained 19% of the variation in test results. Physician intuition as recorded in the medical record in terms of puzzlement and low confidence are very specific and accurate predictors of normal electrodiagnostic testing in the setting of suspected carpal tunnel syndrome.
Power module control design

The control and interface circuits for power transistor modules that are used in 50 to 100 kW motor drives are difficult to design because of the 400 to 600A currents, 400V operating levels, and fast switching times. Each of the power module control design functions is examined, as well as futuristic semiconductor devices that will simplify the control circuit. These functions include: logic-to-power module interface, DC-DC gate bias power supply, IGBT gate driver, overcurrent protection, temperature sensing, undervoltage shutdown, and fault output interface. The module control functions are usually located on an external printed circuit board. Recent progression in power IGBT modules have improved the ease of interfacing to the power module by locating the control circuit board in the module. These "smart" modules, while easier to use, cost more and place pre-defined limits on circuit flexibility. An alternative modular approach is shown.
What can the life-cycle model tell us about 401(k) contributions and participation?

This paper solves and simulates a stochastic life-cycle model of an economy with 401(k) plans. We use the model to establish a benchmark for patterns of contributions and participation and show how these patterns depend on such features as employer matching, vesting policies, and the ability to make early withdrawals. Consistent with empirical studies, the model predicts relatively low participation rates among younger workers and shows that these rates tend to rise with more generous matching, lower vesting periods, and improved liquidity.
Three-dimensional proxies for hand-drawn characters

Drawing shapes by hand and manipulating computer-generated objects are the two dominant forms of animation. Though each medium has its own advantages, the techniques developed for one medium are not easily leveraged in the other medium because hand animation is two-dimensional, and inferring the third dimension is mathematically ambiguous. A second challenge is that the character is a consistent three-dimensional (3D) object in computer animation while hand animators introduce geometric inconsistencies in the two-dimensional (2D) shapes to better convey a character's emotional state and personality. In this work, we identify 3D proxies to connect hand-drawn animation and 3D computer animation. We present an integrated approach to generate three levels of 3D proxies: single-points, polygonal shapes, and a full joint hierarchy. We demonstrate how this approach enables one medium to take advantage of techniques developed for the other; for example, 3D physical simulation is used to create clothes for a hand-animated character, and a traditionally trained animator is able to influence the performance of a 3D character while drawing with paper and pencil.
Limits of Acceptable Rail and Post Deflection in Crash-Damaged Strong-Post W-Beam Guardrail

The guidelines for the testing of strong-post W-beam guardrail, intended to ensure the safety of errant vehicles, are specified in NCHRP Report 350. A limitation of these tests is that they are always performed on new, undamaged guardrail, whereas guardrail along highways is in a continuous cycle of damage and repair. No tests have ever evaluated the performance of deflection-damaged guardrail. A full-scale, two-part crash test was conducted to evaluate the performance of a guardrail with 14.5 in. (368 mm) of prior crash damage. When this guardrail was struck by a 4,409-lb (2000-kg) pickup truck traveling at 62 mph (100 km/h), the vehicle vaulted and came to rest upright behind the barrier. A critical factor was the failure of a post to separate from the rails. Finite element models were used to evaluate the guardrail performance at lower levels of deflection. The crash tests and finite element models demonstrated that rail-andpost deflection of 11 in. (279 mm) or higher resulted in vaulting or rollover. ...