cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Light scattering by size-shape distributions of randomly oriented axially symmetric particles of a size comparable to a wavelength.

Rigorously light scattering by size-shape distributions of randomly oriented axially symmetric particles are calculated by the T-matrix method, as extended to randomly oriented scatterers. The computational scheme is described along with a newly developed convergence procedure that makes it possible to substantially reduce computer time and storage requirements. The elements of the Stokes scattering matrix for a power-law size distribution of randomly oriented moderately aspherical spheroids are shown to be much smoother than and differ substantially from those of equivalent monodisperse spheroids; averaging over orientations does not eliminate the necessity of averaging over particle sizes. The angular-scattering behavior of the ensembles of nonspherical particles is found to be significantly different from that of the equivalent polydisperse spheres.
Self-shock: The double-binding challenge of identity

Abstract Numerous scholars have spoken of the painful effects of identity confusion in sojourner adjustment. We know that it exists, but how does it occur? The question is not about outcomes or differences, but about understanding the dynamics of the contact process itself. How does contact with a different Other produce identity anxiety for the sojourner? Following an intracultural survey of self-identity formation and maintenance, discussion turns to the intercultural dynamics of self-identity processes. The concept of self-shock is introduced. Selfshock rests on the intimate link between Self, Other, and behaviors. Any situation that alters the meanings for behavior has the potential for hampering the individual's ability to maintain consistent, recognizable self-identities. Confusion is no longer with the Other (culture shock), but rather with the Self (self-shock). Selfshock is the intrusion of inconsistent, conflicting self-images. Three dimensions of self-shock are presented: loss of communication competence vis-a-vis the Self, distorted self-reflections in the responses of Others, and the challenge of changing identity-bound behaviors. From the intercultural communication perspective, self-shock is a double-bind based on behavioral ambiguity: Unshared meanings for behaviors increase one's need to confirm self-identities, however, unshared meanings for behaviors decrease one's ability to do so. The analysis stresses the importance of identity-bound behaviors as well as the need to develop strategies that will enable the sojourners to renegotiate viable identities in the new sociocultural context.
Open tubular heterogeneous enzyme reactors: analysis of a theoretical model

Abstract A novel reactor, made by coating the inner wall of tubes with an enzyme resin layer, was mathematically modeled. Michaelis-Menten kinetics, laminar flow and isothermal conditions were assumed and substrate diffusion in both the streaming fluid and the catalyst annulus was taken into account. The behavior and effectiveness of the reactor are discussed in terms of characteristic dimensionless groups including the reactor coordinate which is inversely proportional to the average overall rate at a given conversion. An experimental criterion is given for the absence of all diffusional effects which may mask kinetic data. The calculated reactor coordinates can be approximated by the sun of their limiting values pertaining to the kinetically controlled and bulk diffusion controlled reaction thus permitting a simplified treatment of the reactor data and of problems of reactor design. Conditions for extracting kinetic parameters from experimental data are discussed.
A scanning electron microscope study of the effects of acid conditioning on occlusal enamel of human permanent and deciduous teeth.

Abstract The occlusal surfaces of permanent and deciduous teeth were cleaned with pumice and a rotary brush and conditioned with 50 per cent orthophosphoric acid to which 7 per cent zinc oxide was added by weight. The crowns were split to allow examination of the deepest areas of the pits and fissures. Permanent teeth exhibited greater topographical alteration than deciduous teeth, whereas the demineralization patterns observed for deciduous teeth were more ordered and consistent within localized areas, but more variable from area to area, than the patterns of permanent teeth. These variations may be indicative of basic differences in structure and composition of the outer layers of occlusal enamel of permanent and deciduous teeth.
Tumor necrosis factor-α inhibition attenuates middle cerebral artery remodeling but increases cerebral ischemic damage in hypertensive rats

Hypertension causes vascular inflammation evidenced by an increase in perivascular macrophages and proinflammatory cytokines in the arterial wall. Perivascular macrophage depletion reduced tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α expression in cerebral arteries of hypertensive rats and attenuated inward remodeling, suggesting that TNF-α might play a role in the remodeling process. We hypothesized that TNF-α inhibition would improve middle cerebral artery (MCA) structure and reduce damage after cerebral ischemia in hypertensive rats. Six-week-old male stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP) were treated with the TNF-α inhibitor etanercept (ETN; 1.25 mg·kg−1·day−1 ip daily) or PBS (equivolume) for 6 wk. The myogenic tone generation, postischemic dilation, and passive structure of MCAs were assessed by pressure myography. Cerebral ischemia was induced by MCA occlusion (MCAO). Myogenic tone was unchanged, but MCAs from SHRSP + ETN had larger passive lumen diameter and reduced wall thickness and wall-to-lumen ratio. Cerebral infarct size was increased in SHRSP + ETN after transient MCAO, despite an improvement in dilation of nonischemic MCA. The increase in infarct size was linked to a reduction in the number of microglia in the infarct core and upregulation of markers of classical macrophage/microglia polarization. There was no difference in infarct size after permanent MCAO or when untreated SHRSP subjected to transient MCAO were given ETN at reperfusion. Our data suggests that TNF-α inhibition attenuates hypertensive MCA remodeling but exacerbates cerebral damage following ischemia/reperfusion injury likely due to inhibition of the innate immune response of the brain.
Clinical and Immunomodulatory Effects of Toceranib Combined with Low‐Dose Cyclophosphamide in Dogs with Cancer

Background Tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) and metronomic dosing of cyclophosphamide (CYC) can improve tumor control by suppression of regulatory T cells (Treg) and restoration of T cell-mediated immune responses in mice and humans. The immunomodulatory effects of the TKI toceranib, as a single agent or in combination with metronomic CYC, have not been previously investigated in dogs. Hypothesis The primary objectives of this study were to determine the effects of toceranib and metronomic CYC treatment on lymphocyte subsets including Treg and on interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) secretion in dogs with cancer. We hypothesized that toceranib would selectively decrease Treg numbers and increase IFN-γ production and that addition of CYC would further enhance these effects. Animals Fifteen client-owned dogs with advanced tumors were entered into a prospective clinical trial. Methods Dogs received toceranib at 2.75 mg/kg once every other day. After 2 weeks, oral CYC was added at 15 mg/m2 daily. Numbers of Treg and lymphocyte subsets were measured in blood by flow cytometry during the 8-week study period. Serum concentrations of IFN-γ were measured by ELISA. Results Administration of toceranib significantly decreased the number and percentage of Treg in the peripheral blood of dogs with cancer. Dogs receiving toceranib and CYC demonstrated a significant increase in serum concentrations of IFN-γ, which was inversely correlated with Treg numbers after 6 weeks of combination treatment. Conclusions In addition to antitumor effects, these data support further investigations into the immunomodulatory effects of toceranib, administered alone or in combination with CYC in dogs with cancer.
Neonatal Screening for Phenylketonuria: III. Altered Sex Ratio; Extent and Possible Causes.

In many infants with phenylketonuria (PKU) the concentration of blood phenylalanine rises only minimally during the first three days of life and infants of both sexes may be missed by screening. During this period the rate of rise of blood phenylalanine is slower in females than in males and, on the fourth day of life, significantly more males than females are discovered by screening. The ratio of males to females who are screened on the fourth day is not higher than on the previous days. The large proportion of all infants who were screened on the fourth day of life probably accounts for the previously described excess of males; females are being missed. In 12 states providing data 44.4% of all infants were screened on one of the first three days of life and 25% on the fourth day.
Vegetative growth and leaf resin composition in Hymenaea courbaril under photoperiodic extremes

Abstract Seedlings from five geographic populations of the widespread Hymenaea courbaril were grown for one year under two extremes of photoperiod. The short photoperiod treatment consisted of 8 hr of unsupplemented greenhouse daylight and the long photoperiod treatment of greenhouse daylight at the natural photoperiod of Santa Cruz, California (37° N) plus a 3-hr night interruption (0.25 mW/cm 2 ). Growth was measured by total stem length and leaf resin sesquiterpene composition was quantitatively analyzed by GLC. Photoperiod had no significant effect on leaf resin chemistry but the longer photoperiod markedly promoted vegetative growth. Large population differences in overall vegetative growth and quantitative leaf resin composition were also evident. Growth patterns indicated that the low intensity night break had little or no effect on growth.
Differences in growth pattern of bone and incisor of rats exposed to O2 atmospheric and high pressure

Abstract Three groups of young rats (age 22 days) were exposed intermittently (49 times), over a period of 44 days, group 1 to O 2 at atmospheric pressure (OAP), group 2 to O 2 at high pressure (OHP) (60 psig) and the third to air at atmospheric pressure (AAP) as controls. The average food consumption for the AAP group was 18.85 g, for the OAP 17.55 g and for the OHP 17.07 g per rat per day. The change in the body weights of each of these groups was followed throughout the experiment which continued 13 days after the last exposures. Bone growth of the maxilla, mandible and femur diaphysis and incisor growth were not altered by the OAP exposures, but were decreased by the OHP exposures; incisor growth, however, was increased. Hardness of the bone (by Tukon Hardness Tester) was increased in the OAP and OHP exposures as compared with that of the AAP, but the hardness of the incisors was not altered.
Mass and heat transfer by natural convection in a vertical slot filled with porous medium

Abstract This paper reports an analytical and numerical study of natural convection heat and mass transfer through a vertical porous layer subjected to uniform fluxes of heat and mass from the side. The flow is driven by the combined buoyancy effect due to temperature and concentration variations through the porous medium. The first part of the study contains an analytical Oseen-linearized solution for the boundary-layer regime and Le = l,and a similarity solution for heat-transfer-driven flows(n = 0)and Le > 1. The second part of the study contains an extensive series of numerical experiments that validate the analytical results and provide heat and mass transfer data in the domain not covered by analysis. The numerical results cover the Rayleigh number range 20 ⩽ Ra ⩽ 105, the buoyancy ratio range −11 ⩽ n ⩽ 9, the geometric aspect ratio range 1 ⩽ H/L ⩽ 4 and the Lewis number range 0.03 ⩽ Le ⩽ 40.
Hirschsprung's Disease: A Search for Etiology

In 1967, Okamoto et al suggested that the absence of ganglion cells in Hirschsprung's disease (HD) was attributable to failure of migration of neural crest cells. The earlier the arrest of migration, the longer the aganglionic segment. Since then, this hypothesis generally has been accepted. However, subsequent experiments using mouse models of intestinal aganglionosis indicate that nerve cells may reach the correct position but then fail to develop or survive. An alternative hypothesis has been proposed that the aganglionosis may be caused by failure of differentiation as a result of microenvironmental changes after the migration has occurred. Extracellular matrix proteins are recognized as important microenvironmental factors. It has been shown that enteric neurogenesis is dependent on extracellular matrices, which provide a migration pathway for neural crest-derived cells and promote the maturation of settled neural crest-derived cells. Altered distributions of extracellular matrices have been shown in human HD cases and murine HD models, suggesting the role of extracellular matrices in the pathogenesis of HD. Recent studies suggest that intestinal smooth muscle cells, target cells of enteric neurons, play an important role in guiding and influencing its own innervation. Normal maturation was inhibited in neurons cultured with smooth muscle cells of aganglionic colon in comparison to normal colon. Furthermore, it was demonstrated that levels of neurotrophic factors, crucial in the development and survival of enteric neurons, are decreased in circular muscle layers of aganglionic colon in comparison to normoganglionic colon. The smooth muscle cells of the aganglionic colon may represent an unfavorable microenvironment for neuronal development compared with the normally innervated region. Recently, markedly increased immunoreactivity of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II antigens and ICAM-1 was demonstrated in aganglionic bowel, suggesting the immunological mechanisms may be involved in the etiology of HD. Genetic factors have been implicated in the etiology of this condition because HD is known to occur in families and in association with some chromosomal abnormalities. Recent expansion of molecular genetics identified multiple susceptibility genes of HD, including the RET gene, the glial cell line-derived neurotrophic factor gene, the endothelin-B receptor gene, and endothelin-3 gene. Of these, inactivating mutations of the RET gene are the most frequent, occurring in 50% of familial and 15% to 20% of sporadic cases of HD. To date, despite extensive research, the exact etiology of this condition remains poorly understood. The present report describes the authors' current understanding of and recent progress in the etiology of HD.
A new communication on communication

Dr. Knowlton is assistant in research, Audiovisual Center, Indiana University. The reader will be glad to learn that Berlo is concerned with both people and meaning-as topics that he discusses in his book, and. also as considerations that he must have kept continually in his mind as he wrote. Communications people, like football coaches, aren't, required to practice what they preach, but if they can-and Berlo can -it surely helps. Berlo developed his book and revised it through use with ICA* Seminars on Communications, and this may account for what appears at times to be an almost too highly self-conscious concern to write simply. Much good material developed for use in these Seminars, but heretofore not widely circulated, is now made generally available. Many of us in audiovisual education await a text on communication that, among other things, comes to grips in a reasonably respectable manner with some of the sticky problems in nonverbal communication. Berlo doesn't set
Spatially distinct domains of cell behavior in the zebrafish organizer region

To determine the sequence of cell behaviors that is involved in the morphogenesis of the zebrafish organizer region, we have examined the dorsal marginal zone of vitally stained zebrafish embryos u...
Reinforcement learning based visual attention with application to face detection

Visual attention is the cognitive process of directing our gaze on one aspect of the visual field while ignoring others. The mainstream approach to modeling focal visual attention involves identifying saliencies in the image and applying a search process to the salient regions. However, such inference schemes commonly fail to accurately capture perceptual attractors, require massive computational effort and, generally speaking, are not biologically plausible. This paper introduces a novel approach to the problem of visual search by framing it as an adaptive learning process. In particular, we devise an approximate optimal control framework, based on reinforcement learning, for actively searching a visual field. We apply the method to the problem of face detection and demonstrate that the technique is both accurate and scalable. Moreover, the foundations proposed here pave the way for extending the approach to other large-scale visual perception problems.
US space cooling potentials for ambient sources with thermal energy storage

The potential of ambient thermal sources, including ambient air at dry-bulb and wet-bulb temperatures, ground and night sky radiant temperatures, to serve building cooling loads was evaluated from TMY3 weather data for US climates. Three different cases were considered: (1) annual potentials, disregarding thermal storage, (2) diurnal storage and (3) storage capacity necessary to serve the entire annual load. This capacity was determined by identifying the largest load occurring during spans of time without ambient cooling potential. The sky had cooling potential every night in all 11 American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) climate sub-zones in the continental USA, while ground temperature had continuous cooling potential for all but the southernmost locations. Additionally, the thermal storage required to meet the entire annual cooling load with night sky radiation was quite feasible for a building with low overall envelope losses.
Rebound rib: Stress-induced first rib fracture

Reported are two cases of stress-induced fracture of the first rib in young, healthy basketball players. Presumably the fractures resulted from violent contraction of the scalene musculature. This is the usual method of production of stress-induced first rib fracture, but basketball-related cases have not been reported previously. This entity probably is underdiagnosed, and is amenable to conservative outpatient management in most cases.
Insulin reduces the BOLD response but is without effect on the VEP during presentation of a visual task in humans.

Functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) based on blood oxygen level-dependent (BOLD) contrast has become an invaluable tool in the assessment of in vivo neuronal activation. Quantification of the BOLD response is determined by the hemodynamic and metabolic changes that occur in response to brain stimulation. However, these changes may vary by changes in insulin, a hormone known to be vasoactive in some tissues. To determine if insulin has an effect on fMRI, we measured the BOLD response to a visual stimulus in five normal volunteers in which insulin was first suppressed and then brought to a high physiological concentration. In addition, we also examined the effect of insulin on activation of the visual cortex as measured by the visual-evoked potential (VEP). We found that the BOLD response measured in the presence of insulin (serum insulin=23629 pmol/L) was significantly lower (P<0.001) than that measured in its absence (serum insulin=82 pmol/L). Insulin was without effect on P100 amplitude or latency acquired in the presence or absence of insulin in 28 subjects using the same stimulus as that used for the fMRI experiments. Our observations suggest that insulin may have effects on cerebral blood flow and/or metabolism that affect the BOLD signal that are independent of its effects on neuronal activation identified by event related potentials (ERP). These findings highlight the complexity that must be considered when interpreting differences in fMRI responses between groups of subjects that differ in insulin concentration and/or insulin sensitivity.
OXIDATIVE MODIFICATION OF INFLAMMATORY SYNOVIAL FLUID IMMUNOGLOBULIN G

The release of highly reactive oxygen-derived products by activated phagocytic cells in inflammatory foci plays a major role in defense mechanisms against infection and in the generation of tissue injury. Oxidative modification of proteins in inflammatory foci may give rise to products that contribute to the perpetuation of inflammation. The present studies analyze the oxidative alterations of inflammatory synovial fluid immunoglobulin G (IgG). IgG was purified from the synovial fluids of five patients with rheumatoid arthritis and two patients with acute gouty arthritis by three sequential steps: gel filtration chromatography, immunoaffinity chromatography, and a final gel filtration chromatography step under dissociative conditions (4 M guanidine). The resulting protein peaks of > 150 kDa (pool I-1), 150 kDa (pools I-2 and II-2), and 150-kDa pool after dissociatve gel filtration chromatography. Moreover, this fraction and the pool corresponding to monomer IgG (pool II-2) exhibited the fluorescence profile characteristic of oxidized proteins. Amino acid analysis of the monomer IgG fraction revealed decreases in the content of histidine, methionine, tyrosine, and cysteine, which were similar to the alterations measured in normal IgG oxidized by HOCl. The synovial fluid and standard oxidized IgG showed the presence of oxidative by-products of tyrosine (monochlorotyrosine) and cysteine (cysteic acid). The synovial fluid IgG yielded a novel component that was not present in the standard control or oxidized IgG. This component was partially identified by mass spectrometry. Finally, the smaller peptide fraction isolated from affinity-purified synovial fluid IgG (pools I-3 and II-3) only after the gel filtration chromatography step under dissociative conditions exhibited evidence of oxidative damage and the presence of high concentrations of thiobarbituric acid-reactive material (TBAR). These observations suggest that oxidative processes in inflammatory foci generate products derived from protein and lipids that may contribute to the self-perpetuation of inflammation.
Labor in the Puerto Rican Economy: Postwar Development and Stagnation

Foreword Preface The Demographics of the Puerto Rican Population and Labor Force Change A Model of Labor Markets and Mobility Cyclical and Secular Movements in Labor Supply Job Creation and Joblessness Prospects for Human Resource Development References Index
A topological study of phrase-structure languages

It is proposed that structural equivalence of phrase-structure languages be defined by means of introducing, for each such language, a class of topological structures on the language. More specifically, given a phrase-structure language (either as a set of trees or as a set of strings), we introduce a class of topological spaces associated with finite sets of “phrases.” A function from one language to another, where both are equipped with such classes of topological spaces, is said to be structurally continuous, if for any topological space belonging to the first, there is a space belonging to the second such that the function is continuous with respect o these spaces. Then phrase-structure languages, or grammars that generate such languages, may be classified into structurally homeomorphic types in the obvious way. Two different methods of topologizing phrase-structure languages (one dependent on the other) are considered, and it is shown that for the class of context-free languages, one method provides a finer classification of languages (or grammars) than the other. In Part 2 we apply the general theory to a particular subclass of context-free languages, the class of tree language counterparts of regular languages.
Long-distance cofactor interactions in terminal oxidases studied by second-derivative absorption spectroscopy.

The electronic transitions of the two heme groups of cytochromec oxidase have been resolved by application of second-derivative and cryogenic absorption spectroscopy. Both methods reveal a splitting of the ferrocytochromea Soret transition into two features at 443 and 450 nm. The relative intensity of the 450 nm feature appears to depend on the ligation state of cytochromea 3, the solution pH, and complex formation with cytochromec. The structural origin and mechanistic significance of this second Soret transition of cytochromea are discussed in terms of the electron transfer and proton translocation activities of the enzyme.
Effect of unilateral noise exposure on the tonotopic distribution of spontaneous activity in the cochlear nucleus and inferior colliculus in the cortically intact and decorticate rat.

Effects of unilateral noise exposure on spontaneous activity (SA) in the anteroventral and dorsal cochlear nuclei (AVCN and DCN) and the central nucleus of the inferior colliculus (ICc) were studied in cortically intact and decorticate rats. SA was measured 1 week following exposure using uptake of 14C-labeled 2-deoxyglucose (2DG) in quiet. Optical density (OD) measurements were obtained in low- and high-frequency (LF and HF) areas of each nucleus. We refer to the ipsilateral AVCN and DCN (side of the noise-exposed ear) and the contralateral ICc as direct nuclei and to their opposite side counterparts as indirect nuclei. Noise exposure altered the tonotopic profile of SA in the direct pathway by causing a decrease in the ratio of HF OD to LF OD (HF/LF ratio). In intact animals, the decreased HF/LF ratio was due to decreased HF OD. In decorticate animals, it was due to decreased HF OD and increased LF OD, the latter occurring mainly in the DCN and ICc. Decorticate-intact differences may reflect corticofugal feedback inhibition. Lesion of the dorsal acoustic stria caused a substantial decrement of SA in the contralateral ICc. Furthermore, strong positive correlations between HF/LF ratios in the DCN, AVCN, and contralateral ICc suggest that the cochlear nucleus is a major contributor to SA in the ICc. Noise exposure had opposite and weaker effects on 2DG uptake in the indirect pathway that were attributed to crossed inhibition. Noise-induced changes in the tonotopic profile of SA may represent a neural correlate of tinnitus. J. Comp. Neurol. 490:391–413, 2005. © 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Intracellular proteins associated with the synthesis of the influenza A virus.

Abstract Normal and abnormal proteins derived from aqueous extracts of chorio-allantoic membranes infected with influenza virus were characterized by electrophoretic and immunological methods. These proteins were isolated by methanol and isoelectric precipitation and designated N(ormal)-1, N-2, A(bnormal)-2, and A-3. Fractions A-1 and A-4 were also observed by electrophoresis but were present in too small quantities to be isolated. N-1, N-2, A-2, and A-3 were nonsedimentable at 110,000 g , were noninfective, and did not hemagglutinate chicken cells. Fraction A-2 cross-reacted in the complement fixation reaction with fluorocarbon-treated virus but not with the V or S antigens. A-3 reacted with the V antigen and to a lesser extent with egg albumin. It is considered likely that these components were related to the synthesis of virus.
Tai chi chuan: mind-body practice or exercise intervention? Studying the benefit for cancer survivors

Tai chi chuan (TCC) has been used as a mind-body practice in Asian culture for centuries to improve wellness and reduce stress and has recently received attention by researchers as an exercise intervention. A review of the English literature on research in TCC published from 1989 to 2006 identified 20 prospective, randomized, controlled clinical trials in a number of populations, including elderly participants (7 studies), patients with cardiovascular complications (3 studies), patients with chronic disease (6 studies), and patients who might gain psychological benefit from TCC practice (2 studies). However, only the studies of TCC in the elderly and 2 studies of TCC for cardiovascular disease had adequate designs and size to allow conclusions about the efficacy of TCC. Most (11 studies) were small and provided limited information on the benefit of TCC in the settings tested. There is growing awareness that cancer survivors represent a population with multiple needs related to physical deconditioning, cardiovascular disease risk, and psychological stress. TCC as an intervention may provide benefit to cancer survivors in these multiple areas of need based on its characteristics of combining aspects of meditation and aerobic exercise. However, little research has been conducted to date to determine the benefit of TCC in this population. We propose a model to study the unique characteristics of TCC compared to physical exercise that may highlight characteristic features of this mind-body intervention in cancer survivors.
YIELD AND LEAF ELEMENTAL CONCENTRATION OF BEETROOT IN RESPONSE TO NUTRIENT SOLUTION COMPOSITION IN HYDROPONIC CULTURE

The yield and leaf elemental concentration of beetroot was determined in a Nutrient Film Technique (NFT) hydroponic experiment. The nutrient solutions contained in mg L−1: 108 nitrogen (N) and 12.0 calcium (Ca) (N1Ca1), or 200 N and 66.7 Ca (N2Ca2), respectively. Edible root fresh weight (RFW [g/plant]), was significantly (P = 0.0308) increased with N2Ca2 over N1Ca1. The higher RFW yield of N2Ca2 grown beetroot corresponded with significantly (P = 0.05) higher leaf concentrations of Ca, magnesium (Mg), manganese (Mn), molybdenum (Mo), aluminum (Al) and sodium (Na), but not zinc (Zn). Lower tissue Ca and B concentration probably contributed to the reduced yield observed, and Na can be beneficial to the growth of beetroot in hydroponic culture. Adequate supply and enhanced uptake of Ca and B in balance with K, Mg and the other elements are essential in nutrient source selection and management during hydroponic culture of beetroot, and probably other members of Beta species.
Cost of Quality (CoQ) metrics for telescope operations and project management

This study describes the goals, foundational work, and early returns associated with establishing a pilot quality cost program at the Robert C. Byrd Green Bank Telescope (GBT). Quality costs provide a means to communicate the results of process improvement efforts in the universal language of project management: money. This scheme stratifies prevention, appraisal, internal failure and external failure costs, and seeks to quantify and compare the up-front investment in planning and risk management versus the cost of rework. An activity-based Cost of Quality (CoQ) model was blended with the Cost of Software Quality (CoSQ) model that has been successfully deployed at Raytheon Electronic Systems (RES) for this pilot program, analyzing the efforts of the GBT Software Development Division. Using this model, questions that can now be answered include: What is an appropriate length for our development cycle? Are some observing modes more reliable than others? Are we testing too much, or not enough? How good is our software quality, not in terms of defects reported and fixed, but in terms of its impact on the user? The ultimate goal is to provide a higher quality of service to customers of the telescope.
Smoking and Co-occurring Disorders: Implications for Smoking Cessation Interventions for Adolescents in Residential Addiction Treatment

Objective: Co-occurring disorders are important to consider in planning smoking cessation interventions with adolescents. We identify factors associated with smoking and predictors for smoking cessation readiness in a group of adolescents in a residential addiction treatment program. Methods: We conducted a chart review study of 400 clinical records of adolescents aged 13 to 18 at a short-term residential addiction treatment program. We examined the relationships of smoking with use of other drugs, psychiatric disorders, and adverse events. Results: The rate of smoking in the total sample was 79%. Smoking onset was positively associated with the onset of alcohol and other drugs of abuse but followed the onset of cannabis use for over half the sample. Heavy smoking, defined as smoking 10 cigarettes per day on average, was correlated with cocaine and opiate addiction. Over half of the sample (56%) was precontemplative about smoking cessation, whereas 30% were in the contemplative stage (ready to stop in 6 m...
Over the Shoulder Learning: Supporting Brief Informal Learning

The paper reviews work on informal technical help giving between colleagues. It concentrates on the process of how colleagues help each other to use a computer application to achieve a specific work task, contrasting this with the focus of much prior work on surrounding issues like the choice of whom to ask, information re-use and the larger work context of encouragement or otherwise of such learning. By an analysis of the literature and a study of office activity, some strengths and weaknesses of the method are identified. The difficulties of talking about the process of performing graphical user interface actions are explored. Various design implications for functionalities to improve the efficiency of informal help giving are explored. A consideration of informal learning can help in designing more effective, learnable, robust and acceptable CSCW systems. It also provides a different perspective on interface design as an exploration of features to support human---human interaction, using the computer screen as a shared resource to support this. In this way CSCW research may contribute to HCI research, since during such help giving, all computer systems are at least temporarily collaborative applications.
EFFECT OF EPHEMERAL FOOD RESTRICTION ON GROWTH OF HOUSE SPARROWS

Abstract We tested for the presence of compensatory growth (i.e. faster age-specific growth) following ephemeral periods of food restriction in altricial nestlings using the House Sparrow (Passer domesticus) as a model species. To simulate periods of poor food conditions, we raised nestlings in captivity, fed them a synthetic diet, and held them at constant body mass for 48 h beginning on either day 3 or 6 of life. Controls were fed according to an age-specific feeding schedule that yielded normal growth curves. During realimentation, restricted nestlings did not achieve a faster rate of growth than that of controls. Instead, these nestlings either died (all controls lived) or gained mass at a rate similar to that of controls. Consequently, restricted nestlings reached asymptotic mass two days later than control nestlings. Growth of culmen and tarsus was not affected, but growth of the eighth primary was reduced for several days in nestlings restricted at day 6 (i.e. late restricted), although this differ...
Adrenomedullin(16–31) Has Pressor Activity in the Rat But Not the Cat

Abstract Champion, H. C., D. E. Friedman, D. G. Lambert, W. A. Murphy, D. H. Coy and P. J. Kadowitz. Adrenomedullin(16–31) has pressor activity in the rat but not the cat. Peptides 18(1) 133–136, 1997.—Responses to a newly synthesized human adrenomedullin (hADM) analog, hADM(16–31), were investigated in the rat and cat. Unlike the full-sequence peptide, which has potent hypotensive activity, hADM(16–31) had pressor activity in the rat but not in the cat. Injection of hADM(16–31) in doses of 10–300 nmol/kg IV induced dose-dependent increases in systemic arterial pressure in the rat, and the peptide was approximately 10-fold less potent than norepinephrine when doses are compared on a nanomole basis. In contrast, injection of hADM(16–31) in doses up to 1000 nmol/kg IV had no significant effect on systemic arterial pressure in the cat. Increases in systemic arterial pressure in response to hADM(16–31) in the rat were significantly reduced after administration of phentolamine or reserpine. These data suggest that increases in systemic arterial pressure in response to hADM(16–31) are mediated by release of catecholamines and activation of α -adrenergic receptors in the rat. These data show that hADM(16–31) has significant pressor activity and that there are marked species differences in the response to hADM(16–31).
The fate of rectus fascia suburethral slings

Abstract Objective: Autologous rectus fascia is commonly used to construct suburethral slings for the treatment of genuine stress incontinence. This fascia performs well and has not been associated with clinical problems related to its choice as a sling material. However, the histologic appearance of such slings after implantation has not been documented. Study Design: At the time of revision of autologous rectus fascia suburethral slings in 5 patients, biopsy specimens of the slings were obtained and submitted for histologic examination. A specimen of rectus fascia before implantation was also obtained from a sixth patient who had no symptoms. Results: After implantation autologous rectus fascia slings remain viable. There is fibroblast proliferation, neovascularization, and remodeling of the graft. No evidence of inflammatory reaction or of graft degeneration was detected. A linear orientation of connective tissue and fibroblasts was seen in some areas, whereas other areas had remodeled to form tissue similar to noninflammatory scar. Conclusion: Autologous rectus fascia slings undergo extensive remodeling after implantation. (Am J Obstet Gynecol 2000;183:964-6.)
Thermomechanical processing, microstructure and properties of a copper-1.0 vol.% ThO2 alloy

Abstract A copper - 1.0 vol. % ThO2 alloy was fabricated from spray-dried and subsequently consolidated powders. The ThO2 particle dispersion quality improved during subsequent cold working of the alloy. The high resistance of the alloy to thermally-induced softening was found to be due to an extremely fine grain size maintained by the presence of the ThO2 particles. High conductivity and thermodynamic stability of the alloy microstate imply a potentially useful material for applications not adequately covered by existing copper alloys.
Bordetella pertussis (Whooping cough)

Summary Bordetella pertussis causes an acute respiratory infection that is symptomatic in many individuals, especially in young children who are at increased risk for serious complications including apnea, pneumonia, and death. Adults are thought to be a primary reservoir for disease in children. Recent studies suggest that B pertussis also may cause symptomatic respiratory disease in adults. In cases of suspected disease, the CDC definition is the most appropriate means of establishing an immediate diagnosis in the clinician's office. Cultures and DFA studies should be done for a definitive diagnosis, however. Because of the difficulty of detection by culture and the variability of DFA results, serological diagnosis by ELISA is being developed as a means for rapid diagnosis in the future. All patients suspected of infection should be treated with erythromycin for 14 days. Isolation is necessary in hospitalized patients, and family members should be prophylactically treated with erythromycin and immunized. Immunization has been essential in reducing the incidence of infection with B pertussis. However, concerns have arisen over reactions associated with the whole cell pertussis vaccine and have stimulated research in the development of an acellular vaccine utilizing several of the components previously discussed. Current studies have shown that the new acellular vaccines are associated with fewer reactions and immunogenesis greater than or equal to that seen with the conventional whole cell vaccine. It is anticipated that on-going efficacy studies will demonstrate the new acellular vaccines to be highly efficacious. In the future, these new acellular vaccines may be used to immunize infants, children, and adults.
New Apollo asteroid discovered

A new asteroid that periodically crosses the earth's orbit was recently discovered when two components of a rare split comet were photographed. The asteroid has been made a possible candidate for an asteroid rendezvous mission under study at Jet Propulsion Laboratory. The newly discovered body, 1982 DB, is a member of a group of earth-orbit-crossing objects called Apollo asteroids. They are maverick asteroids in unique orbits outside the main asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter.
Characteristics and emergent attributes of system-of-systems’ simulations

This paper explores several notional system-of-systems simulations to determine common statistical features which may indicate emergent behaviours within the data fields. Several statistical changes within data fields are determined as well as desirable attributes for simulation metrics. It is found that emergent behaviours can be identified in these large simulations as local non-linearities, discontinuities and in some cases regions of locally high variance; and the ideal metric attributes should be divergent and remove impacts of transient time.
Essential Thrombocythemia Beyond the First Decade: Life Expectancy, Long-term Complication Rates, and Prognostic Factors

OBJECTIVE To describe the long-term natural history of essential thrombocythemia (ET) in terms of life expectancy, risk of disease transformation into a more aggressive myeloid disorder, and prognostic factors for both survival and disease complications. PATIENTS AND METHODS The study population consisted of a consecutive cohort of patients seen at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn, in whom a diagnosis of ET was established before 1992, thus allowing a minimum of 10 years of potential follow-up. The conventional criteria-based diagnosis was confirmed by bone marrow biopsy in all instances. RESULTS A total of 322 patients were studied (median age, 54 years; median follow-up, 13.6 years). With a median survival time of 18.9 years, survival in the first decade of disease was similar to that of the control population (risk ratio, 0.72; 95% confidence interval, 0.50-0.99) but became significantly worse thereafter (risk ratio, 2.21; 95% confidence interval, 1.74-2.76). Multivariable analysis identified age at diagnosis of 60 years or older, leukocytosis, tobacco use, and diabetes mellitus as independent predictors of poor survival. A 2-variable model based on an age cutoff of 60 years and leukocyte count of 15 × 10 9 /L resulted in 3 risk groups with significant difference in survival. In addition, age at diagnosis of 60 years or older, leukocytosis, and history of thrombosis were independent predictors of major thrombotic events. The risk of leukemic or any myeloid disease transformation was low in the first 10 years (1.4% and 9.1%, respectively) but increased substantially in the second (8.1% and 28.3%, respectively) and third (24.0% and 58.5%, respectively) decades of the disease. CONCLUSION Life expectancy in patients with ET is significantly worse than that of the control population. Leukocytosis is identified as a novel independent risk factor for both inferior survival and thrombotic events.
Thio-arylglycosides with various aglycon para-substituents: a probe for studying chemical glycosylation reactions.

Three series of thioglycosyl donors differing only in their respective aglycon substituents within each series have been prepared as representatives of typical glycosyl donors. The relative anomeric reactivities of these donors were quantified under competitive glycosylation conditions with various reaction time, promoters, solvents and acceptors. Over three orders of magnitude reactivity difference were generated by simple transformation of the para-substituent on the aglycon with methanol as the acceptor, while chemoselectivities became lower with carbohydrate acceptors. Excellent linear correlations were attained between relative reactivity values of donors and σp values of the substituents in the Hammett plots. This indicates that the glycosylation mechanism remains the same over a wide range of reactivities and glycosylation conditions. The negative slopes of the Hammett plots suggested that electron donating substituents expedite the reactions and the magnitudes of slopes can be rationalized by neighboring group participation as well as electronic properties of the glycon protective groups. Within the same series of donors, less nucleophilic acceptors gave smaller slopes in their Hammett plots. This is consistent with the notion that acceptor nucleophilic attack onto the reactive intermediate is part of the rate limiting step of the glycosylation reaction.
Electrically induced permanent strain in ionic polymer-metal composite actuators

Numerous researchers have shown that ionic polymer-metal composite (IPMC) actuators are capable of large strains when subjected to relatively small electric fields. In this paper, we present data showing that, with some electrical inputs, a portion of the strain remains once the electric field is removed. The remaining strain is on the order of 0.1%, and its magnitude is correlated to the total charge delivered to the actuator. Several experiments were conducted to explore the relationship between the electrically induced permanent strain and input shape, actuator geometry, and boundary conditions. The permanent strain magnitude was found to increase with actuator length and with the magnitude of a pulse input. For 20 second pulse inputs applied to a 5mm x 29mm actuator, the ratio of the permanent strain to the total electric charge delivered per unit actuator length was approximately 10 %strain/(C/mm). This ratio dropped as pulse duration was increased. A comparison of strain energy associated with the permanent strain to the total electrical work done on the actuator yielded values on the order of 5(mu) J/J. Previous research has indicated that IPMCs are not suitable for DC actuation. However, the permanent strain phenomenon may provide a means by which IPMCs can be used as DC actuators.© (2002) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Identification of the G Protein-activating Domain of the Natriuretic Peptide Clearance Receptor (NPR-C)

We have shown recently that the 37-amino acid intracellular domain of the single-transmembrane, natriuretic peptide clearance receptor, NPR-C, which is devoid of kinase and guanylyl cyclase activities, activates selectively Gi1 and Gi2 in gastric and tenia coli smooth muscle. In this study, we have used synthetic peptide fragments of the N-terminal, C-terminal, and middle regions of the cytoplasmic domain of NPR-C to identify the G protein-activating sequence. A 17-amino acid peptide of the middle region (Arg469-Arg485), denoted Peptide 4, which possesses two N-terminal arginine residues and a C-terminal B-B-X-X-B motif (where B and X are basic and non-basic residues, respectively) bound selectively to Gi1 and Gi2, activated phospholipase C-beta3 via the betagamma subunits, inhibited adenylyl cyclase, and induced smooth muscle contraction, in similar fashion to the selective NPR-C ligand, cANP4-23. A similar sequence (Peptide 3), but with a partial C-terminal motif, had minimal activity. Sequences which possessed either the N-terminal basic residues (Peptide 1) or the C-terminal B-B-X-X-B motif (Peptide 2) were inactive. Peptide 2, however, inhibited G protein activation and cellular responses mediated by the stimulatory Peptide 4 and by cANP4-23, suggesting that the B-B-X-X-B motif mediated binding but not activation of G protein, thus causing Peptide 2 to act as a competitive inhibitor of G protein activation.