cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mechanical aetiology, recognition, and treatment of spondylolisthesis

Abstract Objectives: To provide the reader with information about the aetiology of spondylolysis and spondylolisthesis, and describe a new treatment approach that has been successful in treating these conditions. Data sources: A MEDLINE search was performed using the keywords ‘spondylolysis', ‘spondylolisthesis', and ‘low back pain' for the years 1980–2000. Data synthesis: Spondylolysis is a very common cause of low back pain, and is characterized by the presence of a fatigue fracture of the pars interarticularis region of the vertebra. The mechanical design of the lumbar spine allows it to withstand the high forces that are placed on it. When these stresses are above the threshold that can be tolerated by the bone, a fatigue fracture results. Poor healing leads to instability of the pars interarticularis and eventually spondylolisthesis. Although this condition often develops in early adolescence, it is frequently undetected until adulthood. A thorough assessment of adolescents with low back pain may allow these fatigue fractures to heal properly, and prevent problems later in life. Recent emphasis on training the deep abdominal muscles has shown to be a more effective rehabilitation technique than traditional measures. Conclusions: Early detection and treatment is the key to successful rehabilitation of spondylolysis. Decreasing the offending activity while increasing the neuromuscular control of the deep abdominal muscles provides the best atmosphere for bony healing, and decreases the chance of future complications.
Interface effects in amorphous silicon/nitride multilayers

Abstract This paper clarifies the role of interfaces on amorphous silicon/nitride superlattice stuctures using TEM, SIMS and ESR measurements. Contrary to the common assumption of atomically sharp interfaces, the interface width is determined to be of the order of ∼10 A , arising from the reactive nature of the plasma. Moreover, our results indicate that there is a high density of charge residing at the interface, causing significant band bending in the multilayers.
In liver fibrosis, dendritic cells govern hepatic inflammation in mice via TNF-α

Hepatic fibrosis occurs during most chronic liver diseases and is driven by inflammatory responses to injured tissue. Because DCs are central to modulating liver immunity, we postulated that altered DC function contributes to immunologic changes in hepatic fibrosis and affects the pathologic inflammatory milieu within the fibrotic liver. Using mouse models, we determined the contribution of DCs to altered hepatic immunity in fibrosis and investigated the role of DCs in modulating the inflammatory environment within the fibrotic liver. We found that DC depletion completely abrogated the elevated levels of many inflammatory mediators that are produced in the fibrotic liver. DCs represented approximately 25% of the fibrotic hepatic leukocytes and showed an elevated CD11b+CD8- fraction, a lower B220+ plasmacytoid fraction, and increased expression of MHC II and CD40. Moreover, after liver injury, DCs gained a marked capacity to induce hepatic stellate cells, NK cells, and T cells to mediate inflammation, proliferation, and production of potent immune responses. The proinflammatory and immunogenic effects of fibrotic DCs were contingent on their production of TNF-alpha. Therefore, modulating DC function may be an attractive approach to experimental therapeutics in fibro-inflammatory liver disease.
Induction of feline immunodeficiency syndrome by feline leukemia virus: pituitary and adrenocortical dysfunctions.

Seven young cats were injected with feline leukemia virus (FeLV); six of them became viremic. All of the viremic cats developed AIDS-related symptoms, i.e. lymphopenia, neutropenia, thymic atrophy, and wasting syndrome, along with an altered pituitary and adrenocortical function. These symptoms closely resemble human AIDS induced by HIV. It was discovered that, after 2 weeks of infection, the average amount of plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) detected in the infected cats was reduced by 29% in comparison with that before the infection. In contrast to the second week, the fifth week of infection showed a 94% increase of plasma ACTH which then dropped back down to 38% after the sixth and seventh weeks. This opposing biphasic pattern of change was also observed in the plasma cortisol content of the infected cats. The amount of change in plasma cortisol did not correlate with the detected increase in plasma ACTH, indicating a weak adrenal response to pituitary action.
Threshold phenomena in the transient behavior of Markovian models of communication networks and databases

This paper accompanies a talk given at the Workshop on Mathematical Methods in Queueing Networks held at the Mathematical Sciences Institute at Cornell University in August 1988. In earlier work we had exhibited a threshold phenomenon in the transient behaviour of a closed network of ./M/1 nodes: When there areN customers circulating, and the initial state isx, letd x N (t) denote the total variation distance between the distribution at timet and the stationary distribution. Let dN(t) = max x d x N (t). We explicitly founda N proportional toN such thatd N(taN)→1 forevery t<1, andd N(taN)→0 forevery t>1. Thus it appears that the network has not yet converged to stationarity uptoa N , but has converged to stationarity aftera N , soa N can be naturally interpreted as the settling time of the network. Here we briefly deal with some other similar models — closed networks of ./M/m nodes, a well studied model for circuit switched networks, and a model of Mitra for studying concurrency control in databases. Similar threshold phenomena are established in the transient behaviour of these models.
Out-of-plane vibrations of plane frames

Abstract Free and forced out-of-plane vibrations of elastic plane frames are studied. Exact solutions of the Euler-Bernoulli equation for transversely vibrating beams coupled with torsional vibrations are used in this investigation. Numerical examples of portal frames with and without bracings are presented. In a comparison of the frequencies of in-plane and out-of-plane vibrations, it is revealed that the basic frequency of a plane frame corresponds to an out-of-plane vibration mode. Thus in vibration analysis of a plane frame, the out-of-plane vibration should be of primary concern in practice.
Activin-induced factors maintain goosecoid transcription through a paired homeodomain binding site.

Previous studies in both Xenopus and zebrafish have shown that goosecoid is one of the first genes to be transcribed at the onset of gastrulation. Goosecoid transcription still initiates when embryos are treated with protein synthesis inhibitors, indicating that it is mediated by preexisting factors and suggesting that goosecoid transcription is immediately downstream of the maternal mesoderm-inducing signal. However, goosecoid transcription continues long after this maternal signal has ceased to be active, indicating that there are mechanisms to maintain activin-induced transcription. Our study has focused on understanding the factors required to maintain this transcription. We have defined an element within the zebrafish goosecoid promoter that is sufficient for activin inducibility in both Xenopus and zebrafish embryos. This element, the goosecoid activin element, interacts with two developmentally regulated proteins from Xenopus embryos. A maternal protein interacts through cleavage stages until the midblastula transition, and a second protein binds from the onset of gastrulation. The second protein is zygotically expressed, and its binding is required for activin inducibility in our assay system. We suggest that the zygotic protein we have identified is a good candidate to be involved in the maintenance of goosecoid transcription. Furthermore, this zygotic protein is likely to contain a paired class homeodomain since a consensus binding site for such proteins is present within the goosecoid activin element and is essential for its function.
Modeling of Cumulus Initiation in METROMEX.

Abstract A numerical cloud modeling project has been initiated as part of METROMEX. A two-dimensional time-dependent model of a vertical slice of the atmosphere has been applied to investigations of cumulus initiation in the St. Louis area on 7 and 10 August 1973. The results indicate that on these days the urban-related surface temperature distribution was a significant factor in determining the location of cumulus initiation. This result is supported by field observations from METROMEX.
Introduction to Linear Regression Analysis

(2002). Introduction to Linear Regression Analysis. Technometrics: Vol. 44, No. 2, pp. 191-192.
The economic damages component of the natural resource damage assessment model system

Abstract This paper discusses the economic damages submodel of the natural resource damage assessment model for coastal and marine environments (NRDAM/CME). The economic damages submodel uses the output of the biological effects submodel and information provided by the user to measure damages, which are defined as the in-situ lost use value of the injuries to the specific categories of publicly controlled natural resources included in the model. Damages are measured for injuries to (1) lower trophic biota, (2) commercial and recreational fisheries, (3) waterfowl, shorebirds and seabirds, (4) marine mammals (fur seals) and (5) public beaches. The measurement of damages includes those resulting from short-term, long-term, direct and indirect injuries to natural resources. The paper develops the concepts underlying the measurement of damages and explains the data sources and methodology used to implement the economics submodel. Example applications of use of the economics component to generate pollution damage functions are presented in a companion paper in this issue.
Informed consent in human oocyte, embryo, and embryonic stem cell research

Research with human oocytes, embryos, and additional embryonic stem cell lines is needed to address important scientific questions and to fulfill the promise of stem cell transplantation for degenerative diseases. Proponents need to develop guidelines for the appropriate conduct of embryonic stem cell research. Such guidelines will help build public trust and acceptance for this research. In this article, we offer recommendations for informed consent, discussing who should give consent, what the consent process should cover, when consent should be obtained, and who should obtain consent. Consent to use embryos for research should be obtained from oocyte and sperm donors as well as from the woman or couple undergoing infertility treatment. The consent discussion must cover information that donors need to know to make an informed decision about various types of research. Donations for research should be discussed at the initiation of advanced infertility treatment and reconfirmed if possible at the time of actual donation for research. Treating assisted reproduction technology physicians can help with the consent process, provided that they are not involved in the research.
Fire and burn risks to children: exploring the role of housing quality

Background The increased risk to low income, urban children from fire and burn injuries is well documented. However, little is known about how housing quality affects young children's injury risk, even though the majority of their injuries occur in and around the home in the US and globally. Aims To describe the frequency and characteristics of substandard housing in homes with young children; and to examine the association between substandard housing and the presence of working smoke alarms and safe hot water temperatures. Methods In-home observations were made in 246 homes in low income urban neighbourhoods in Baltimore, MD using 46 items from the US Housing and Urban Development's Housing Quality Standards form. Results Virtually all homes (99%) failed the housing quality measure. Items with the highest failure rates were those related to heating and cooling systems; wall, ceiling and floor conditions; and sanitation and safety issues. Only 42% of the homes had a working smoke alarm on every level of the home; 62% had safe hot water temperatures. Logistic regression analyses found that the odds of having a working smoke alarm on every level increased by 18% and the odds of having safe hot water temperatures by 8% for every one item increase in the number of housing quality items passed. Significance These results demonstrate that many low-income children may be at heightened risk for fire and scald burns simply by virtue of living in poor quality housing. Stronger collaboration between housing and injury prevention professionals is urgently needed. This is an abstract of a presentation at Safety 2012, the 11th World Conference on Injury Prevention and Safety Promotion, 1-4 October 2012, Michael Fowler Center, Wellington, New Zealand. Full text does not seem to be available for this abstract.
Durable microfabricated high-speed humidity sensors.

We describe a durable microfabricated humidity sensor made of interdigitated rhodium electrodes on a silicon substrate covered with a sensing film of Nafion perfluorosulfonate ionomer. Rhodium electrodes are much less prone to oxidative degradation compared to previously described gold electrode-based sensors. Even with dc excitation, Rh electrode sensors exhibit excellent long-term response stability. It has been found that low-amplitude (+/-1 V) square wave excitation can prolong the usability of gold electrode-based sensors to at least several months; however, this mode of interrogation cannot provide subsecond response times. Rhodium deposition on the microsensors is much more difficult than that of gold. We were able to attain crack-free Rh deposits by adaptation of pulsed electroplating techniques. At excitation voltages of >2 V dc, the Rh sensors respond to moisture with 10 90% rise and fall times of 30-50 ms. These are the fastest microfabricated water vapor sensors reported to date. We demonstrate applications as a breath monitor. Such sensors should also be of utility in atmospheric eddy measurements. Short-term repeatability is better than 0.6% RSD (n = 7).
Anabolic-androgenic steroids and appetitive sexual behavior in male rats.

Anabolic-androgenic steroids (AAS) increase libido and sexual behavior, but the underlying behavioral mechanisms are unclear. One way AAS may enhance expression of sexual behavior is by increasing the willingness to work for sex. In the present study, sexually-experienced male rats received daily injections of testosterone at supraphysiologic doses (7.5 mg/kg in water with 13% cyclodextrin) or vehicle and were tested for appetitive sexual behavior measured by operant responding for access to an estrous female. Initially, rats were trained in their home cage to respond on a nose-poke under a 10-min fixed-interval schedule for food reward. Once rats achieved stable response rates, the food was replaced by a female, followed by mating for 10 min. There was no effect of testosterone on operant responding for food (28.1 ± 4.4 responses/10 min for testosterone, 30.6 ± 4.3 for vehicle) or sex (35.0 ± 4.0 responses/10 min for testosterone, 37.3 ± 5.2 for vehicle). However, rats made significantly more responses for sex than for food (p 0.05). These findings suggest that chronic high-dose testosterone does not enhance appetitive drive for sexual behavior.
CADMIUM ABUNDANCES IN METEORITIC AND TERRESTRIAL MATTER

Abundances of cadmium have been determined by neutron-activation analysis in 31 meteorites: 0.52–1.16 p.p.m. in five carbonaceous chondrites; 0.015–0.12 p.p.m. in six ordinary bronzitic and hypersthenic chondrites 0.042–3.3 p.p.m. in three enstatitic chondrites; 0.022 and 0.065 p.p.m. in two eucritic achondrites; 0.18 and 1.79 p.p.m. in two nakhlitic achondrites; ≤ 0.010 and 0.33 p.p.m. in two calcium-poor achondrites; < 0.004 and 0.056 p.p.m in two mesosiderites; 0.13 and 0.33 p.p.m. in two pallasites; 0.0085 to 0.056 p.p.m. in seven iron meteorites. An atomic abundance of Cd/106 Si atoms of 1.8 ± 0.6 is calculated for five carbonaceous chondrites, which agrees well with the solar value of 1.5 given by Aller (1962). Cadmium abundances in two terrestrial basalts were 0.33 and 0.5 p.p.m. and 0.026 and 0.24 p.p.m. in two deepseated eclogites. Abundances of cadmium and other chalcophilic elements are discussed in terms of chondritic parent models. Low fractional abundances in the earth's crust of the chalcophilic elements cadmium (0.00085), zinc (0.0014), bismuth (0.0045), and thallium (0.33), corroborate the conclusions reached by Gast (1960), either that the earth's original composition was not chondritic-like, or that elements like the alkalis (and the chalcophilics) reside below the crust.
A Theory of viscoplasticity

Abstract An alternative to the currently used Perzyna's theory of viscoplasticity for small strains is presented. The plastic strain rate vector is normal to the quasistatic yield surface which in turn may not include the origin. Consequently, new loading/unloading criteria are introduced.
Electronic structure and magnetic properties of Gd-doped and Eu-rich EuO

The effects of Gd doping and O vacancies on the magnetic interaction and Curie temperature ${T}_{C}$ of EuO are studied using first-principles calculations. Linear response calculations in the virtual crystal approximation show a broad maximum in the Curie temperature as a function of doping, which results from the combination of the saturating contribution from indirect exchange and a decreasing contribution from the $f$-$d$ hopping mechanism. Non-Heisenberg interaction at low doping levels and its effect on ${T}_{C}$ are examined. The electronic structure of a substitutional Gd and of an O vacancy in EuO are evaluated. When the $4f$ spins are disordered, the impurity state goes from single to double occupation, but correlated bound magnetic polarons are not ruled out. At higher vacancy concentrations typical for Eu-rich EuO films, the impurity states broaden into bands and remain partially filled. To go beyond the homogeneous doping picture, magnetostructural cluster expansions are constructed, which describe the modified exchange parameters near Gd dopants or O vacancies. Thermodynamic properties are studied using Monte Carlo simulations. The Curie temperature for Gd-doped EuO agrees with the results of the virtual crystal approximation and shows a maximum of about 150 K. At 3.125% vacancy concentration the ${T}_{C}$ increases to 120 K, consistent with experimental data for Eu-rich film samples.
Topical prostaglandin e2 and isoproterenol reduce bile acid-induced gastric mucosal injury in shocked rats

In shocked animals, topical application of bile acids at low pH to gastric mucosa results in gross mucosal injury. Both systemic prostaglandins and isoproterenol reduce this injury, but side effects may limit their clinical usefulness. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of topical pretreatment with isoproterenol and prostaglandin E2 on gastric mucosal injury induced by low concentrations of bile acid in shocked and normotensive rats. Mucosal injury was assessed by measuring net transmucosal ion fluxes (H+,K+) and luminal accumulation of DNA (DNAE), a sensitive and specific indicator of gastric mucosal cell exfoliation. In this model of mucosal injury, pretreatment with prostaglandin E2 or isoproterenol significantly and dose dependently decreased luminal hydrogen loss, potassium gain, and DNA accumulation in both shocked and normotensive animals. Thus, both topical prostaglandin E2 and isoproterenol reduce gastric mucosal injury caused by low concentrations of bile acid in shocked and normotensive rats, findings corroborated by histology. These findings provide a physiologic basis for the possible use of these agents as prophylaxis or treatment of stress gastritis and gastroduodenal ulcer in the critically ill patient.
Reply to “comments on Lazarsfeld's ‘regression analysis with dichotomous attributes’”

I am in complete agreement with the substantive content of Mr. Beck’s article. He did misunderstand however the purpose of my analysis. I shall try to clarify this misunderstanding, even though in the end he may disagree even more. I. In his second paragraph he compares my algebraic formulations with conventional statistical notations where dichotomies are treated as “dummy variables” taking the values, O-l. I am, of course, very aware of this “Lazarsfeld-translation” possibility. However for a long time I have proposed treating proportions and dichotomies in their own right without deriving them as special cases of conventional analyses of quantitative variables. I have been guided in my work by several considerations.
Role Reversal: A Convergence of Clinical and Quantitative Evidence

The psychological mechanism of role reversal was examined in the context of a combined social cognition and psychodynamic model. The model postulates that traumatized individuals possess a repertoire of self and relationship schemas, some of which may be used to avoid anxiety associated with others. One mechanism for controlling anxiety is to assume the role of the other and to assign the role of self to others. This paper also presents a method for quantitative analysis of the complex, individual schematic representations presumed to organize role reversal. A traumatized adult male sorted 36 idiographically derived dichotomous descriptors for 13 “selves.” Results from principal components analysis applied at the intraindividual level of inquiry indicate a prototypic interpersonal relationship pattern that is repetitive, thematically relates to an early trauma, and in which roles of self and others are interchanged. In intimate relationships especially, the subject either feels committed and responsible t...
Development and initial validation of validity scales for the NEO-Five Factor Inventory

Abstract Based upon the methodology established by Schinka, Kinder, and Kremer (Schinka, J. A., Kinder, B. N., & Kremer, T. (1997). Research validity scales for the NEO-PI-R: Development and initial validation. Journal of Personality Assessment, 68, 127–138), a set of validity scales were developed for the NEO-Five Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI, Costa, P. T., & McCrae, R. R. (1992). Revised NEO Personality Inventory and NEO Five Factor Inventory Professional Manual. Odessa, FL: Psychological Assessment Resources). In Study 1, 111 undergraduates completed the NEO-FFI and item means, standard deviations, and intercorrelations were used to construct measures of Positive Impression Management, Negative Impression Management, and Inconsistent Responding. In Study 2, 146 participants completed the NEO-FFI under one of five instructional sets (control, fake good, fake bad, graduate psychology and police academy admissions). A set of randomly produced NEO-FFI profiles were added to this data set. ANOVA results provided support for the utility of the validity scales, as they were differentially sensitive to random responding, positive and negative impression management in hypothesized ways.
Reduced Plasma High Density Lipoprotein-Cholesterol Concentrations Need Not Increase when Hyperglycemia Is Conttolled With insulin in Nonisnulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus

The ability of intensive insulin treatment to increase plasma high density lipoprotein (HDL)-cholesterol levels was evaluated in 12 patients with noninsulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. Patients were treated for 6 weeks with one daily morning injection of ultralente insulin, in combination with administration of regular insulin before breakfast, lunch, and dinner. The mean (±SEM) fasting plasma glucose concentration fell from 289 ± 21 to 122 ± 9 mg/dl(P < 0.001), and the mean hourly postprandial glucose concentration fell from 313 ± 24 to 102 ± 7 mg/dl (P < 0.001). In addition, insulin treatment was associated witha reduction in both fasting plasma triglyc–eride (256 ± 45 to 137 ± 18 mg/dl; P < 0.001) and cholesterol (224 ± 25 to 199 ± 19 mg/dl; P < 0.05) concentrations. However, plasma HDL-cholesterol concentrations, which were low to begin with, did not rise in association with excellent glycemic control. These results demonstrate that hyperglycemia and hypertriglyceridemia can be effectively reduced by...
The case of the two-edged sword [Patents]

The case involved two competing manufacturers of equipment used in procedures such as angioplasty for automatically injecting contrast media into a patient from a plastic syringe. Because the syringe can be subject to pressures of 1,000 lbf/in2 or more, the conventional approach had been to house the syringe in a pressure jacket and to load the syringe into the jacket from the back. Liebel-Flarsheim (LF) developed an improved injection system that still used a pressure jacket but allowed the syringe to be loaded from the front, which technicians found more convenient. LF applied for a patent on its improved system. In its claims, it specified that the syringe was loaded into a front opening of a pressure jacket.
Amino acid sources in the adult diet do not affect life span and fecundity in the fruit-feeding butterfly Bicyclus anynana.

1. In tropical forests, the adults of many butterfly species feed on fruits rather than nectar from flowers and have long life spans. Rotting fruit and nectar differ from each other in many respects, including sources of amino acids and microbial life. If amino acids in the adult diet can be used for reproduction, this may have facilitated the evolution of extended life spans in this guild. 2. This issue was addressed by investigating effects of banana, yeast, and amino acids in the adult diet of the fruit-feeding butterfly Bicyclus anynana (Lepidoptera) on longevity and female reproductive output in two experiments. 3. Results showed that in the fruit-feeding butterfly B. anynana: (i) banana juice, but not sliced banana or added amino acids extend life span compared with a sugar solution of similar composition; (ii) compared with this sugar solution, other cohorts (banana juice-amino acid enriched) did not have significantly higher reproductive outputs; (iii) yeast does not represent a valuable source of nutrients; (iv) caloric restriction may cause decreased life span and rate of reproduction; and (v) increased rates of reproduction have a life span cost.
Proexosite-1-dependent recognition and activation of prothrombin by taipan venom.

Abstract An activator complex from the venom of Oxyuranus scutellatus scutellatus (taipan venom) is known to rapidly activate prothrombin to thrombin. To determine whether, similar to prothrombinase, taipan venom utilizes proexosite-1 on prothrombin for a productive complex assembly, the activation of proexosite-1 mutants of prethrombin-1 by the partially purified venom was studied. It was discovered that basic residues of this site (Arg35, Lys36, Arg67, Lys70, Arg73, Arg75, and Arg77) are also crucial for recognition and rapid activation of the substrate by taipan venom. This was evidenced by the observation that the Km and kcat values for the activation of the charge reversal mutants of prethrombin-1 (in particular K36E, R67E, and K70E) were markedly impaired. Competitive kinetic studies with the Tyr63-sulfated hirudin54-65 peptide revealed that although the peptide inhibits the activation of the wild type zymogen by taipan venom with a KD of ∼2 μm, it is ineffective in inhibiting the activation of mutant zymogens (KD > 4-30 μm). Interestingly, an ∼50-kDa activator, isolated from the taipan venom complex, catalyzed the activation of prothrombin in a factor Va-dependent manner and exhibited identical activation kinetics toward the substrate in the presence of the hirudin peptide. These results suggest that, similar to prothrombinase, proexosite-1 is a cofactor-dependent recognition site for taipan venom.
International population movements and regional Plasmodium falciparum malaria elimination strategies

Calls for the eradication of malaria require the development of global and regional strategies based on a strong and consistent evidence base. Evidence from the previous global malaria eradication program and more recent transborder control campaigns have shown the importance of accounting for human movement in introducing infections to areas targeted for elimination. Here, census-based migration data were analyzed with network analysis tools, Plasmodium falciparum malaria transmission maps, and global population databases to map globally communities of countries linked by relatively high levels of infection movements. The likely principal sources and destinations of imported cases in each region were also mapped. Results indicate that certain groups of countries, such as those in West Africa and central Asia are much more strongly connected by relatively high levels of population and infection movement than others. In contrast, countries such as Ethiopia and Myanmar display significantly greater isolation in terms of likely infection movements in and out. The mapping here of both communities of countries linked by likely higher levels of infection movement, and “natural” migration boundaries that display reduced movement of people and infections between regions has practical utility. These maps can inform the design of malaria elimination strategies by identifying regional communities of countries afforded protection from recolonization by surrounding regions of reduced migration. For more isolated countries, a nationally focused control or elimination program is likely to stand a better chance of success than those receiving high levels of visitors and migrants from high-transmission regions.
Influence of the Menstrual Cycle on the Titer of Circulating Allergins

IT HAS BEEN suggested frequently that the menstrual cycle influences the occurrence and severity of allergic phenomena. Many clinical observations seem to bear this out, yet experimental studies are lacking. The assumption that ‘a state of hypersensitiveness is frequently observed in the premenstrual period and the early days of menstruation’ (1) is based on clinical impressions rather than on concrete evidence. In a recent paper (2) we reported that the reactivity of the female skin to test allergins was the greatest during the last day of catamenia. It was pointed out that this did not imply an increase in hypersensitiveness in allergic individuals. It was suggested that the larger spread of the test allergins in the skin was due to relative dehydration in the late menstrual phase and that it coincided with the period of estrogenic deprivation. To determine whether or not the allergic state is influenced by the menstrual cycle the following studies were made. Four young females (age range 19 to 23 yr.),...
The Price of Gasoline and New Vehicle Fuel Economy: Evidence from Monthly Sales Data

This paper uses a unique dataset of monthly new vehicle sales by detailed model from 1978 to 2007, and implements a new identifica tion strategy to estimate the effect of the price of gasoline on indi vidual vehicle model sales. We control for unobserved vehicle and consumer characteristics by using within model year changes in the price of gasoline and sales. We find a significant sales response, sug gesting that the gasoline price increase from 2002 to 2007 explains nearly half of the decline in market share of US manufacturers. On the other hand, an increase in the gasoline tax would only modestly raise average fuel economy. (JEL H25, LI 1, L62, L71) The rapid rise in the price of gasoline from just over $1 per gallon at the beginning
Variable time lag and backward ejection in full-dimensional analysis of strong-field double ionization.

Ensembles of 400 000 two-electron trajectories in three space dimensions are used with Newtonian equations of motion to track atomic double ionization under very strong laser fields. We report a variable time lag between $e\mathrm{\text{\ensuremath{-}}}e$ collision and double ionization, and find that the time lag plays a key role in the emergence directions of the electrons. These are precursors to production of electron momentum distributions showing substantial new agreement with experimental data.
Distribution of carbohydrate among the polypeptide chains and plasmin digest products of human fibrinogen

Abstract Human fibrinogen was subjected to sulfitolysis and the constituent polypeptide chains were isolated. Each of the three chain types contained glucosamine and hexose (analyses for sialic acid were not performed). The glucosamine and hexose contents of fibrinogen were satisfied by the sum of the corresponding values for a pair of each of the three chains. Pronase digest glycopeptides from the three chains were compared with those from three fractions of a prolonged plasmin digest of fibrinogen (designated fractions D, E, and F). Fraction D of about 50,000 mol wt yielded a glycopeptide fraction which was similar to that from the α(A)-chain. Fraction E of about 30,000 mol wt contained the glycopeptide portion of the γ-chain, while the glycopeptide portion of the β (B)-chain was contained in a heterogeneous low molecular weight fraction, here designated F. The values for molecular weight, glycopeptide composition, and amino acid composition of fraction E resembled those for the “disulfide knot” of fibrinogen which contains the N-terminal portions of the three chains.
Fast and accurate determination of K, Ca, and Mg in human serum by sector field ICP-MS.

Electrolytes in serum are important biomarkers for skeletal and cellular health. The levels of electrolytes are monitored by measuring the Ca, Mg, K, and Na in blood serum. Many reference methods have been developed for the determination of Ca, Mg, and K in clinical measurements; however, isotope dilution thermal ionization mass spectrometry (ID-TIMS) has traditionally been the primary reference method serving as an anchor for traceability and accuracy to these secondary reference methods. The sample matrix must be separated before ID-TIMS measurements, which is a slow and tedious process that hindered the adoption of the technique in routine clinical measurements. We have developed a fast and accurate method for the determination of Ca, Mg, and K in serum by taking advantage of the higher mass resolution capability of the modern sector field inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (SF-ICP-MS). Each serum sample was spiked with a mixture containing enriched 44Ca, 26Mg, and 41K, and the 42Ca+:44Ca+, 24Mg+:26Mg+, and 39K+:41K+ ratios were measured. The Ca and Mg ratios were measured in medium resolution mode (m/Δm ≈ 4 500), and the K ratio in high resolution mode (m/Δm ≈ 10 000). Residual 40Ar1H+ interference was still observed but the deleterious effects of the interference were minimized by measuring the sample at K > 100 ng g−1. The interferences of Sr++ at the two Ca isotopes were less than 0.25 % of the analyte signal, and they were corrected with the 88Sr+ intensity by using the Sr++:Sr+ ratio. The sample preparation involved only simple dilutions, and the measurement using this sample preparation approach is known as dilution-and-shoot (DNS). The DNS approach was validated with samples prepared via the traditional acid digestion approach followed by ID-SF-ICP-MS measurement. DNS and digested samples of SRM 956c were measured with ID-SF-ICP-MS for quality assurance, and the results (mean ± expanded uncertainty in mg dL−1 unit) for Ca (DNS = 10.14 ± 0.13, digested = 10.11 ± 0.10), Mg (DNS = 2.093 ± 0.008, digested = 2.098 ± 0.007), and K (DNS = 15.48 ± 0.11, digested = 15.50 ± 0.28) were in good agreement with the certified values (Ca = 10.17 ± 0.06, Mg = 2.084 ± 0.023, K = 15.55 ± 0.13). Major sources of uncertainty are sample measurement, spike calibration, and instrument factor including mass discrimination of the spectrometer and the detector deadtime.
Pre-service mathematics teachers become full participants in inquiry investigations

Research is described concerning the effectiveness of inquiry-based laboratory environments created in US mathematics/science education programme courses. Laboratory projects were conducted using a framework that allowed pre-service teachers to explore, analyse, and communicate ‘investigable’ realms of physical phenomena. Goals were for pre-service teachers to experience the value of learning in an inquiry-enhanced environment and to engage in contextualized mathematics so they would utilize this instruction in their future classrooms. It is proposed that inquiry-based laboratories are needed within the mathematics classroom in order to allow students the opportunity to contextualize, to connect to other disciplines, and to experience mathematical concepts. Pre-service teachers were expected to pursue conjectures, collect data, think critically, and communicate findings. This qualitative research shows how the use of inquiry can complement the learning of mathematical content and educational strategies fo...
Evolution of the C30 Carotenoid Synthase CrtM for Function in a C40 Pathway

The C30 carotene synthase CrtM from Staphylococcus aureus and the C40 carotene synthase CrtB from Erwinia uredovora were swapped into their respective foreign C40 and C30 biosynthetic pathways (heterologously expressed in Escherichia coli) and evaluated for function. Each displayed negligible ability to synthesize the natural carotenoid product of the other. After one round of mutagenesis and screening, we isolated 116 variants of CrtM able to synthesize C40 carotenoids. In contrast, we failed to find a single variant of CrtB with detectable C30 activity. Subsequent analysis revealed that the best CrtM mutants performed comparably to CrtB in an in vivo C40 pathway. These mutants showed significant variation in performance in their original C30 pathway, indicating the emergence of enzymes with broadened substrate specificity as well as those with shifted specificity. We discovered that Phe 26 alone determines the specificity of CrtM. The plasticity of CrtM with respect to its substrate and product range highlights the potential for creating further new carotenoid backbone structures.
APPROXIMATE REASONING ABOUT PRIORITIES OF IMPRECISE CONFLICTING REQUIREMENTS

Elasticity in an imprecise requirement needs to be captured to enable the trade-off analysis of conflicting requirements. One of the most important issues in the trade-off analysis of conflicting requirements is to understand their priorities. Requirement analysts need to know not only the relative ordering of requirements based on their importance but also how much a requirement is more important than another requirement in order to achieve an effective trade-off between conflicting requirements. Existing formal methods for requirement engineering are limited in addressing these issues. This paper presents a formal methodology for reasoning about their priority by analyzing the customer’s trade-off preference among imprecise conflicting requirements. The elasticity in imprecise requirements is captured using fuzzy logic. Conflicting and cooperative relationships are classified to detect the conflicts between requirements. Multiple requirements are combined based fuzzy multi-criteria decision making techniques. We have also developed a possibilistic reasoning framework for inferring the lower bound of relative priority from case analysis. Consistency and nonredundancy criteria are established to facilitate the aggregation of possibilistic statement on the lower bounds of relative priority. Finally, we describe a process for transforming the lower bounds of relative priority into weights of importance so that they can be used in the aggregation of conflicting requirements to resolve conflicts.
Industry Application of Geometric Modeling Technology

The present day geometric modeling technology plays a central role for making CAD/CAM systems effective in users’ design and manufacturing preparation problem solving.
Huntington's disease: the case for genetic modifiers

For almost three decades, Huntington's disease has been a prototype for the application of genetic strategies to human disease. HD, the Huntington's disease gene, was the first autosomal defect mapped using only DNA markers, a finding in 1983 that helped to spur similar studies in many other disorders and contributed to the concept of the human genome project. The search for the genetic defect itself pioneered many mapping and gene-finding technologies, and culminated in the identification of the HD gene, its mutation and its novel protein product in 1993. Since that time, extensive investigations into the pathogenic mechanism have utilized the knowledge of the disease gene and its defect but, with notable exceptions, have rarely relied for guidance on the genetic findings in human patients to interpret the relevance of findings in non-human model systems. However, the human patient still has much to teach us through a detailed analysis of genotype and phenotype. Such studies have implicated the existence of genetic modifiers - genes whose natural polymorphic variation contributes to altering the development of Huntington's disease symptoms. The search for these modifiers, much as the search for the HD gene did in the past, offers to open new entrees into the process of Huntington's disease pathogenesis by unlocking the biochemical changes that occur many years before diagnosis, and thereby providing validated target proteins and pathways for development of rational therapeutic interventions.
Book announcement: Human Computation

We announce our book, Human Computation, published in August 2011 in the Morgan & Claypool Synthesis Series on Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning. Our announcement is based on the preface of the book.
Pilot canine investigation of the cardiopulmonary baroreflex control of ventricular contractility

We performed a pilot investigation of the cardiopulmonary baroreflex control of ventricular contractility in two conscious dogs. We specifically measured spontaneous beat-to-beat hemodynamic variability before and after the administration of propranolol. We then identified the transfer function relating beat-to-beat fluctuations in central venous pressure (CVP) to maximal ventricular elastance (E max ) to characterize the cardiopulmonary baroreflex control of ventricular contractility, while accounting for the influences of arterial blood pressure fluctuations on E max via the arterial baroreflex and heart rate fluctuations on E max via the force-frequency relation. Our major finding is that the cardiopulmonary baroreflex responds to an increase (decrease) in CVP by increasing (decreasing) E max via the β-sympathetic nervous system.
A High Angle of Attack Inviscid Shuttle Orbiter Computation

As a preliminary step toward predicting the leeside thermal environment for winged reentry vehicles at flight conditions, a computational solution for the flow about the Shuttle Orbiter at wind tunnel conditions was made using a point-implicit, finite-volume scheme known as the Langley Aerothermodynamic Upwind Relaxation Algorithm (LAURA). The Scheme is a second-order accurate, upwind-biased Navier-Stokes solver capable of computing non-equilibrium chemistry flows with radiative equilibrium wall temperatures and finite-rate wall catalysis. For this study, however, the code is run in its simplest form, i.e., inviscid flow using perfect gas chemistry. The surface pressures resulting from the computational solution are compared with wind tunnel data. The results indicate that the dominant inviscid flow features are being accurately predicted on the leeside of the Shuttle Orbiter at a moderately high angle of attack.
E-Government and Network Technologies: Does Bureaucratic Red Tape Inhibit, Promote or Fall Victim to Intranet Technology Implementation?

This paper examines the relationship between excessive bureaucratization and implementation of intranet technology in state health and human service agencies. Findings show that different structural, communication and cultural factors are important to the three stages to technological change examined: adoption, development, and reliance. Red tape is negatively associated with information quality at the development stage, while information quality is a contributor to the extent organizations rely on intranets. The identification of red tape as a "bottle neck" provides nuanced understanding of the role excessive bureaucratization plays in the process of technological change in public organizations.
Role of the forensic psychiatric nurse

Abstract The article clarifies the role of the forensic psychiatric nurse (FPN) and challenges interchangeable terms confusing forensic and correctional nursing. It addresses the varied venues where the FPN may assess the patient (victim or perpetrator) and gather evidence that may influence conviction, sentencing, recidivism, treatment, and prevention. In depth knowledge of medical and psychiatric nursing as well as the criminal justice system is germane to competent advanced practice forensic nursing. An analogy is drawn between the forensic assessment for risk of violence which is commonly performed by psychiatric nurses in Emergency Departments and the collection and preservation of evidence by medical nurses in Emergency Departments. Both instances require evidence-based techniques and a familiarity with forensic procedures and are often performed by nurses who are not specifically trained in these areas. A case analysis demonstrates the value of an in depth and broad assessment of victim and perpetrator. Evidence based training and the application of structured clinical judgment used in the evaluation of victims and perpetrators make it possible for the FNP to provide expert testimony and to make recommendations for treatment.
Impact of router queuing disciplines on multimedia QoE in IPTV deployments

Internet television (IPTV) is rapidly gaining popularity and is being widely deployed on the Internet. In order to deliver optimum user Quality of Experience (QoE), service providers need to understand and balance the trade-offs involved with user (video content, display device), application (codec type, encoding bit rate) and network (network health, router queuing discipline) factors that affect IPTV deployment. In this paper, we analyze the impact of router queuing disciplines, specifically Packet-ordered and Time-ordered first-in-first-out (FIFO) on the multimedia QoE performance. Our analysis is based on performance measurements of objective QoE metrics such as “perceptible impairment rate” and “frame packet loss” in over 500 test scenarios in an IPTV testbed. Our salient analysis results include: (a) mapping of Good, Acceptable and Poor user QoE grades to network QoS levels, and (b) interplay of user and application factors in the mapped levels - under both PFIFO and TFIFO queuing disciplines.