cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
The adaptation of myoglobin with age and training and its relationship to the three fiber types of skeletal muscle in miniature pig.

Muscle biopsies were performed on 6 endurance and 6 sprint trained and 5 control miniature pigs after 3 and 7 months of training. The biopsied muscle was fixed, sectioned and stained for myoglobin. The darkest staining fibers were called dark fibers, the lightest staining were called light fibers and those of intermediate intensity were called moderate fibers. The distribution of the three fiber types, identified by myoglobin staining, did not change following either an endurance or sprint running regimen despite physiologically measured training effects. Myoglobin increased substantially with maturation as reflected by a significant increase in the number of dark myoglobin fibers in the biceps femoris at 11 compared to 7 months of age. It was suggested that the large increase in myoglobin content due to normal maturation may have obscured the differences among groups due to training. With enzyme histochemical analysis, dark myoglobin fibers were found to be slow red or fast intermediate fibers, but never fast white fibers. This relationship between myoglobin and the oxidative fibers (slow red and fast intermediate) supports the concept that myoglobin stores oxygen and aids its diffusion into muscle fibers in need of a constant oxygen supply.
Gender Orientation as a Correlate of Communicative Competence.

This study demonstrated a relationship between adaptability and rewarding impressions as dimensions of communicative competence with gender orientation. Androgynous individuals demonstrated the highest levels on a linear composite of adaptability and rewarding impressions. Further analysis found that masculinity was the significant contributor to adaptability and femininity the significant contributor to rewarding impressions. Results are discussed from the control/dominance nature of masculinity and sensitive/receptive nature of femininity.
Fourier transform infrared analysis of amide III bands of proteins for the secondary structure estimation

Protein secondary structure has been analyzed using a Fourier transform infrared spectroscopic method in the amide III region. Although extensive work has been done on protein secondary structure using the amide I region (1700 - 1600 cm-1), the amide III region has not been utilized in the past for its potential in protein structural analysis. One of the major reasons for non-use of the amide III vibrations is perhaps the very weak signal in the amide III frequency region (1200 - 1350 cm-1). However, benefits of using the amide III region are substantial. For example, water vibrations do not interfere with the protein spectrum unlike in the amide I region. In the amide III region, the protein spectrum is better resolved into individual bands than in the amide I region. This feature allows for a greater ease in peak definement of the protein spectra. In the amide III region, the bands for the individual secondary structures ((alpha) -helix, (beta) -sheet and random coils) do not overlap as much as they do in the amide I region. This lack of overlapping allows for easier and a more reliable means of peak assignment, and secondary structure band positions are easier to determine. Amide III region of protein IR spectra appears to be a valuable tool in estimating the amount of secondary structure present in proteins.© (1993) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Plastic behavior of dual phase steel following plane-strain deformation

Dual-phase, high-strength steel sheet has been prestrained in plane-strain tension. Residual hardening and ductility properties were evaluated by performing subsequent uniaxial tensile tests in either co-axial or noncoaxial principal strain axis orientations. In contrast to similar work on aluminum-killed 1008/1010 steel sheet, only minor changes were found in the subsequent flow behavior of dual-phase steel, and no significant difference was found between the two orientations. The small effect of an abrupt strain path change observed in this study is consistent with the low work hardening rate of this alloy.
The use of chiral phosphinites in asymmetric chemistry. 3. Enantioselective hydrogenation of α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acids catalyzed by Ru3(CO)12 and glucophinite, idophinite, and camphinite☆

Abstract Five α,β-unsaturated carboxylic acids were reduced with hydrogen in the presence of dodecacarbonyltriuthenium and three different chiral phosphinites. The reaction was investigated in three different solvents and at several pressures and temperatures. The best results were obtained in THF at 125 °C with 40 atm of hydrogen pressure.
Ethical issues, helps and challenges perceptions of members of The Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply

Abstract This paper presents the key findings of a study cosponsored by The Chartered Institute of Purchasing and Supply that surveyed 1,500 CIPS members in an effort to (1) identify the key ethical issues facing the profession of purchasing and supply chain management today, and (2) determine the extent to which those working in the profession tend to find various factors to be helpful or to present challenges to their efforts to act ethically in the conduct of their work. The implications of the key findings for business and the profession - both CIPS and its individual members - are discussed.
The Predictability of Urinary Pathogens Based on the Urinalysis Nitrite Test in Hospitalized Patients

Purpose: Some urinary tract pathogens are capable of reducing nitrates to nitrites, including Escherichia coli, Klebsiella, Proteus, and Serratia. A urinalysis (UA) is commonly performed in patients with symptoms of a urinary tract infection (UTI) in order to detect the presence of nitrites in the urine. The objectives of this study were: 1) to assess the predictive value of the nitrite test in distinguishing nitrate-reducing pathogens from non-reducing pathogens; 2) to determine whether the results of the nitrite test can predict the susceptibility of the urine pathogen to several common antibiotics.Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional chart review identified inpatients who had a UA and a positive urine culture (UC). Patients were divided into nitrite-positive and -negative groups based on UA results. Urine pathogens were identified by culture and antibiotic susceptibilities and were compared within the groups.Results: Eighty-six UAs were included. A nitrite-positive UA had a 90.6% positive predictiv...
The Effects of Special Education Category and Type of Training on Job Burnout in Special Education Teachers

This study examined the relationship between job bumout and several variables, including special education category of the teachers' students, training background, age, and years of experience. A sample of 181 special education teachers participated in the survey. Special education category, training background, and teachers' age were significantly related to job bumout levels. A profile of the special educator "at risk" for job burnout is a younger teacher with undergraduate training in special education who teaches in a resource room or a classroom for students identified as behaviorally disordered.
Bonneville Power Administration study of wind effects on conductors for span factors

For seven years, the Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) collected data from seven sites in the Pacific Northwest to investigate the relationship between the measured and theoretical wind loads on transmission conductors. The purpose of the study was to gain information which would enhance transmission line design methods and criteria. An overview of the study and the results associated with the calculation and analysis of the wind adjustment factor based on the data collected at the seven sites is presented. The impact of variables such as conductor height, span length, and conductor diameter, and surface roughness on this relationship is examined. >
Why Christianity Works: An Emotions-Focused Phenomenological Account

Why has Christianity as a religious tradition survived for two millennia? What makes Christianity "work"? Many social scientific answers to related questions focus on structural forces shaping religion and on factors that explain variance across belief and practice. This article takes a dif ferent approach, seeking to explain the ongoing existence of the phenomenon itself before analyzing variance within it. The idea is to address basic causes of what exists as distinct from more superficial causes of variation within it. To do so, I take a phenomenological approach that focuses particularly on emotions, seeking to explicate the recurrent, characteristic, and subjective experiences of many Christians that help to explain their ongoing commitment to and involvement in the faith. I also reflect the subjective focus on emotions in the tone of the article, which introduces a strong sense of subjec tive experience and affect. By complementing typical sociological analyses of religious variance with this kind of causal analysis of its existence, this article seeks to expand our range of explanation and understanding in the sociology of religion.
Comparison of immersed liquid and air cooling of NASA's Airborne Information Management System

The Airborne Information Management System (AIMS) is currently under development at NASA Dryden Flight Research Facility. The AIMS is designed as a modular system utilizing surface mounted integrated circuits in a high-density configuration. To maintain the temperature of the integrated circuits within manufacturer's specifications, the modules are to be filled with Fluorinert FC-72. Unlike ground based liquid cooled computers, the extreme range of the ambient pressures experienced by the AIMS requires the FC-72 be contained in a closed system. This forces the latent heat absorbed during the boiling to be released during the condensation that must take within the closed module system. Natural convection and/or pumping carries the heat to the outer surface of the AIMS module where the heat transfers to the ambient air. This paper will present an evaluation of the relative effectiveness of immersed liquid cooling and air cooling of the Airborne Information Management System.
Too Many Missing Cases: Holes in Our Knowledge about Police Use of Force

This paper argues that one of the primary responsibilities of a democracy is to report accurately on how often its own agents kill or injure its citizens. The United States fails this responsibility: there are available to citizens no systematic or meaningful national data describing the frequency and consequences of police use of force in this country. Instead there exist only some local data provided by unrepresentative police agencies or obtained by the media under court order, and some aggregate data and estimates that cannot be linked with specific agencies. The paper reviews existing data and offers suggestions that would provide both citizens and public officials with a clearer picture of the efforts of their police to minimize use of force.
Reflexivity and Alvin Gouldner: The Coming Crisis in 1990

My initial reading of The Coming Crisis occurred in my first year of graduate school (1971). One year earlier I had read Friedrich's, A Sociology of Sociology. I was particularly taken with the Friedrichs's volume because of its discussion of the prophetic strain in sociology. It seemed to me then, and still does, to be an important and attractive part of sociology. Gouldner's book, unlike Friedrichs's, seemed to raise a ruckus among faculty (perhaps this interpretation is exagger ated because it was my first year of graduate school when every intellectual disagreement is an important one) who had read it even among those who had not. The graduate students I knew were fascinated, appalled, and some applauded the book. Part of the effect of the Gouldner book was to place political discussions of the discipline in the forefront of graduate student consciousness. However, I remained unconvinced of the overall thesis of The Coming Crisis. I had com pleted a study of early American sociology {The Sociology of Knowledge in America, 1883-1915). My reading of early American sociology and particularly that of Albion Small's writing had suggested that at the turn of the century Amer
Metabolic installation of thiols into sialic acid modulates adhesion and stem cell biology

Metabolic 'oligosaccharide engineering' methods based on N-acetyl-D-mannosamine (ManNAc) analogs allow the glycocalyx of living cells to be remodeled1,2,3. Herein we report the analog Ac5ManNTGc (1) that enables thiols to be expressed in surface sialic acids. By locating this versatile functional group on the outer periphery of normally nonadhesive human Jurkat cells, we obtained spontaneous cell-cell clustering and attachment to complementary maleimide-derivatized substrates. When analyzed in human embryoid body–derived (hEBD) stem cells, Ac5ManNTGc induced β-catenin expression and altered cell morphology, consistent with neuronal differentiation. Notably, these effects were modulated by the growth substrate of the cells, with a stronger response observed on a gold surface than on glass. Together, these results establish sugar analogs as small-molecule tools for tissue engineering by providing a method for attaching cells to scaffolds via their surface carbohydrates as well as offering a means to influence stem cell fates.
Lipoprotein lipase: role of intramolecular disulfide bonds in enzyme catalysis.

Abstract Lipoprotein lipase (LPL) catalyzes the hydrolysis of the triacylglycerol component of triacylglycerol-rich lipoproteins. There are 4 cysteine pairs that are completely conserved among LPLs of all species known. We examined the functional importance of each of the cysteine pairs in enzyme catalysis by examining LPLs produced in Cos cells by transfection. Immunoreactive LPL was produced by vectors encoding the wildtype LPL and each of the 4 cysteine-pair mutant LPLs. Enzyme activity was detectable in the wildtype enzyme, but not in 3 of the 4 Cys→Ser mutant enzymes (C216S/C239S, C264S/C275S, and C278S/C283S). Interestingly, LPL activity was also present in the mutant (C418S/C438S), which affects the C-terminal cysteine pair, with a specific activity ∼50% higher than that of wildtype. There is evidence that LPL contains two distinct domains consisting of the N-terminal three-quarters of the sequence connected by a flexible region to the C-terminal domain comprising the rest of the molecule. The conservation of catalytic function despite the disruption of the only disulfide bridge in the C-terminal domain of LPL indicates that the two domains can function independently of each other in enzyme catalysis.
The role of FDG-PET imaging as a prognostic marker of outcome in primary mediastinal B-cell lymphoma.

Primary mediastinal B-cell lymphoma (PMBL) is a subtype of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) that arises in the mediastinum from B-cells of thymic origin. Optimal management of patients with PMBL remains controversial. The present study evaluates outcomes of 27 PMBL patients treated with R-CHOP with or without radiation therapy (RT). It investigates the role of both interim and posttreatment fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography (FDG-PET) as prognostic markers of outcome. Additionally, it assesses postprogression therapies in the six patients who had progressive disease. At a median follow-up of 41.5 months (range: 6.1–147.2 months), OS was 95.5% (95% CI = 71.9–99.4) and progression-free survival (PFS) was 70.4% (95% CI = 49.4–83.9) for the entire cohort. The negative predictive values of interim and posttreatment FDG-PET scans were both 100%. Patients who failed initial therapy and were treated with salvage regimens and autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) all achieved and maintained CR. PMBL patients can achieve excellent outcomes with minimal toxicities when treated with R-CHOP with or without RT. Negative interim and negative posttreatment FDG-PET results identified PMBL patients who achieve long-term remission. However, the significance of both positive interim and positive posttreatment FDG-PET results needs to be better defined. Those who failed initial therapy were successfully treated with salvage regimens and ASCT.
Prostasol and Venous Thromboembolism

Objectives To create physician awareness of complementary and alternative medicine therapy use in patients with prostate cancer so that physicians can monitor for adverse events. Approximately one fourth to one third of patients diagnosed with prostate cancer reported complementary and alternative medicine use, and many of these patients are taking a supplement called "Dr. Donsbach's Prostasol." Methods We discuss the cases of 2 patients with prostate cancer who were taking Dr. Donsbach's Prostasol and developed venous thromboembolic events while taking this supplement, in the absence of other obvious risk factors. We review these 2 cases and the time-line for the development of the venous thromboembolic events and use of Dr. Donsbach's Prostasol. We compared Prostasol with PC-SPES, a similar supplement that was associated with thrombosis and was ultimately taken off the market because of patient safety concerns. Results Prostasol contains phytoestrogens that could result in both the suppression of testosterone and the predisposition to thrombosis. Both patients had suppression of their testosterone to castrate levels with an associated decrease in prostate-specific antigen at the time of their thrombotic event. Conclusions These cases are suggestive of an association between Prostasol use and venous thromboembolic events. Physicians should be aware of the use of this agent in their patients, although it is not known whether it would be appropriate to prescribe prophylactic low-dose warfarin therapy. If possible, additional study of complementary and alternative medicine therapies for safety and efficacy are indicated.
Targeting of host-cell ubiquitin pathways by viruses.

The ability of viruses to co-opt cell signalling pathways has, over millions of years of co-evolution, come to pervade nearly every facet of cellular functions. Recognition of the extent to which the ubiquitin–proteasome system can be directed or subverted by viruses is relatively recent. Viral products interact with, and adjust, the ubiquitin–proteasome machinery precisely and at many levels, and they do so at distinct stages of viral life-cycles. The implications for both cells and viruses are fundamental, and understanding viral strategies in this context opens up fascinating new areas for research that span from basic cell biology to therapeutic interventions against both viruses and malignancies.
Use of the Americans With Disabilities Act by persons with rheumatic diseases and factors associated with use

Objective. This study examined use of the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) among persons with rheumatic diseases and assessed which factors were associated with use. Methods. A mail survey was conducted among adult patients recruited from 21 rheumatology practices. Subjects answered questions about their inclination to use the ADA in the community or at work and about factors thought to be associated with use. The outcome was stage of behavior change, the behavior being use of the ADA. Ordinal logistic regression identified independent correlates of the outcome. Results. Of 631 subjects, 47% experienced an ADA-resolvable barrier to community activity, and 63% of 183 employed subjects needed a job accommodation or experienced health discrimination. However, only 7% of the full sample and 10% of the employed subgroup had used the ADA. Factors associated with use were detailed knowledge, perception of being disabled, skill in requesting use, and health professional use suggestion. Conclusions. Although many persons with rheumatic diseases experience community barriers or need workplace accommodations, they currently underutilize the ADA. Use could be enhanced by health professional suggestion and referral or by community programs designed to address the factors identified.
Cell Cycle-Dependent Establishment of a Late Replication Program

DNA replication origins in chromosomes of eukaryotes are activated according to a temporal program. In the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae, activation of origins in early S phase appears to be a default state. However, cis-acting elements such as telomeres can delay origin activation until late S phase. Site-specific recombination was used to separate origin from telomere in vivo, thereby demonstrating that the signal for late activation is established between mitosis and START in the subsequent G1 phase. Once set, the signal can persist through the next S phase in the absence of the telomere. Establishment of the temporal program and of initiation competence of origins may be coincident events.
Large-tip-angle spin-echo imaging. Theory and applications.

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES: Tissue contrast phenomenology was investigated analytically and clinically for a class of magnetic resonance (MR) pulse sequences we call large-tip-angle (LTA) spin-echo (SE) imaging. In comparison to traditional SE sequences (denoted 90 degrees-180 degrees-echo), the LTA sequence is of the form alpha degrees-180 degrees-echo, where 90 degrees < alpha < 180 degrees. Theoretical analysis shows that appropriately designed LTA sequences can selectively boost the MR signal by 10%-150% in substances whose spin lattice (T1) relaxation values equal or exceed the sequence repetition time (TR). This unique contrast behavior potentially allows one to reduce TR (and hence imaging time) by 30% to 50% while maintaining constant T2-weighted contrast or contrast-to-noise within an image. METHODS: Preliminary clinical testing of LTA sequences was performed in 60 patients with a wide range of cranial, spinal, musculoskeletal, and abdominal pathologies. Large-tip-angle images (1,500/80/130 degrees) were blindly and prospectively compared to conventional (2,600/80/90 degrees) SE images. RESULTS: Principal diagnoses were concordant between the readers in all cases, although minor variances in detail features were noted in 6 (10%) of 60 cases. Large-tip-angle sequences revealed small cystic areas in two cerebral neoplasms and in a herniated disk which were not apparent on the standard SE images. However, the LTA images were rated to be "noisier" by visual assessment in 43 of 60 cases, the exception being for abdominal examinations, where respiratory and peristaltic artifacts were judged more severe on the standard SE sequences. CONCLUSIONS: Large-tip-angle SE imaging is an interesting technique capable of improving image contrast and signal from lesions with long T1 values when the sequence repetition time (TR) is short.
A note on pensions in a neoclassical model of the firm

Abstract Growing concern about the effects of private pensions has produced a number of models which are designed to answer specific questions concerning particular aspects of pensions. To provide a clearer understanding of how pension funding constraints, benefits, and worker behavior interact, however, it is useful to consider a rather general model of pensions within the framework of a neoclassical model of the firm. Manipulation of this model determines the effects of a pension on the firm's investment policy, the optimal level of benefits and hiring, the manner in which the firm values pension fund assets, and the level of contributions the firm will make to the pension plan.
Molecular Biology and Immunology of Head and Neck Cancer

In recent years, our knowledge and understanding of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) has expanded dramatically. New high-throughput sequencing technologies have accelerated these discoveries since the first reports of whole-exome sequencing of HNSCC tumors in 2011. In addition, the discovery of human papillomavirus in relationship with oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma has shifted our molecular understanding of the disease. New investigation into the role of immune evasion in HNSCC has also led to potential novel therapies based on immune-specific systemic therapies.
Modeling mutations in the G1 arrest pathway in human gliomas: overexpression of CDK4 but not loss of INK4a–ARF induces hyperploidy in cultured mouse astrocytes

Nearly all human gliomas exhibit alterations in one of three genetic loci governing G1 arrest: INK4a-ARF, CDK4, or RB. To discern the roles of CDK4 amplification and INK4a-ARF loss in gliomagenesis, we compared the behavior of astrocytes lacking a functional INK4a-ARF locus with astrocytes overexpressing CDK4. Either a deficiency of p16(INK4a) and p19(ARF) or an increase in Cdk4 allows cultured astrocytes to grow without senescence. Astrocytes overexpressing CDK4 grow more slowly than INK4a-ARF-deficient astrocytes and convert to a tetraploid state at high efficiency; in contrast, INK4a-ARF-deficient cells remain pseudodiploid, consistent with properties observed in human gliomas with corresponding lesions in these genes.
The Effects of Varying Levels of Treatment Integrity on Child Compliance during Treatment with a Three-Step Prompting Procedure

The effects of three levels of treatment integrity (100%, 50%, and 0%) on child compliance were evaluated in the context of the implementation of a three-step prompting procedure. Two typically developing preschool children participated in the study. After baseline data on compliance to one of three common demands were collected, a therapist implemented the three-step prompting procedure at three different integrity levels. One integrity level was associated with each demand. The effects of the integrity levels were examined using multielement designs. The results indicate that compliance varied according to the level of treatment integrity that was in place.
POTENTIATION OF ERECTILE RESPONSE AND cAMP ACCUMULATION BY COMBINATION OF PROSTAGLANDIN E1 AND ROLIPRAM, A SELECTIVE INHIBITOR OF THE TYPE 4 PHOSPHODIESTERASE (PDE 4)

Purpose:: Phosphodiesterases (PDEs) are an important component of the signal transduction pathway during the erectile response. To determine the PDE isoforms in the corpora cavernosa in the cat and to establish the functional presence of PDE 4 in human cavernosal tissue, the erectile response to intracavernosal phosphodiesterase (PDE) inhibitors alone and the combination of PDE inhibitors and prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) was evaluated in the anesthetized cat. The in vitro formation of cAMP and cGMP in human cavernosal smooth muscle cells (HCSMCs) treated with PGE1 and rolipram in primary culture was also measured.Materials and Methods:: In pentobarbital-anesthetized cats, increases in intracavernosal pressure, penile length, and duration of erectile response were determined after intracavernosal injections of (i) the type 3 cAMP-specific, cGMP-inhibitable PDE inhibitor, milrinone, (ii) the type 4 cAMP-specific PDE inhibitor, rolipram, (iii) the type 5 cGMP-specific PDE inhibitor, zaprinast, and (iv) the combin...
Caregiver Protective Behavior, Toddler Fear and Sadness, and Toddler Cortisol Reactivity in Novel Contexts

Previous research has shown that caregiver protective behavior may exacerbate toddler distress in specific contexts. The current study sought to extend this work to examine associations between these variables and toddler cortisol reactivity. Ninety-three 24-month-old toddlers were observed across six novel contexts designed to elicit distress. Toddlers were asked to give saliva samples at the beginning and end of the laboratory procedure. Toddler sadness, toddler fear, and caregiver protective behavior were coded. Results indicate that caregiver protective behavior accounted for the association between toddler sadness and cortisol reactivity where higher levels of protective behavior were associated with higher cortisol reactivity. The current study showed that caregiver protective behavior, which functions to prevent a child from interacting with a novel stimulus, is an important mechanism to consider when understanding toddler stress responses during novel contexts.
The Time-Dependent Clearance of VirulentTreponema pallidumin Susceptible and Resistant Strains of Guinea Pigs Is Significantly Different

The kinetics of clearance of Treponema pallidum spp. pallidum Nichols from skin and testes of susceptible C4-deficient (C4D) and -resistant Albany (Alb) strains of guinea pigs (gps) was evaluated using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and the rabbit infectivity test (RIT). For each strain there were two groups of animals, one infected with virulent T. pallidum (TP) and one control injected with heat-killed treponemes (HKTP). The kinetic studies and their statistical analysis showed that in the C4D strain the microbial clearance in both tissues was significantly slower (p < 0.005) and still incomplete at 3 months after infection. In the Alb strain the clearance was faster and apparently completed within a month. A greater permissiveness in bacterial growth in C4D compared to Alb appears to be one critical factor determining the different rate of local elimination after primary infection. In both strains there was some correlation between the severity and duration of cutaneous lesions and the local persistence of viable organisms. This correlation was not observed in testes. These studies suggest a genetic basis for the strain-specific susceptibility and resistance phenotypes in the pathogenesis of syphilis.
Is there a role for the Ca2+ influx during fertilization of the sea urchin egg?

Abstract Both isotopic and microelectrode studies reveal a significant Ca2+ influx at fertilization which if freely distributed in the cytoplasm would equal 1–2 × 10−5 M. The role, if any, of this influx is disputed. We have attempted to reevaluate contradictory findings by others on this role. Our results with Strongylocentrotus purpuratus and Lytechinus pictus eggs, assessing fertilization with acrosome-reacted sperm in EGTA-buffered media (free [Ca2+], 4.4 × 10−8 M) indicate that exogenous Ca2+ is not required for fertilization and subsequent cleavage. The contradictory findings by others may have resulted from reduced fertilizability in Ca2+-free seawater, which can be circumvented by higher sperm concentration and by a sensitivity to temperature in Ca2+-free medium, which can be bypassed by carrying out fertilization at lower temperature. Also consistent with the absence of a requirement for this Ca2+ influx, we found that Ca2+ uptake can be induced in eggs by depolarizing the membrane with high [K+], but there is no resultant activation of egg metabolism. Under our conditions for fertilization in Ca2+-free media, there is no effect on the block to polyspermy but the initiation of the cortical reaction may be delayed. The data support the hypothesis that sperm induce release of Ca2+ from intracellular stores, perhaps by affecting an equilibrium between Ca2+ sequestration and Ca2+ release.
Stroke recognition among individuals with stroke risk factors.

Abstract Background This study examined recognition of all 5 early warning signs/symptoms of stroke and appropriate first action to call 9-1-1 across stroke risk groups. Methods Data from 264,684 adults from the 2003 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System were examined. Recognition of the 5 warning signs/symptoms of stroke and appropriate first action to call 9-1-1 was compared among 3 stroke risk groups—no stroke risk factors, stroke risk factors, and prior stroke, using multiple logistic regression controlling for covariates. Results Recognition of the 5 individual warning signs of stroke ranged from 82% to 98%. Cumulative recognition of all 5 warning signs of stroke ranged from 30.8% in individuals with prior stroke to 12.6% in those with no stroke risk factors. Cumulative recognition of all 5 warning signs of stroke and taking appropriate action to call 9-1-1 ranged from 26.1% in individuals with prior stroke to 11.2% in those with no stroke risk factors. Adjusted odds ratios for recognition of all 5 symptoms was 3.35 for individuals with previous stroke and 1.15 for individuals with stroke risk factors, compared with the reference group (individuals without stroke risk factors). Adjusted odds ratios for recognition of all 5 symptoms and taking appropriate action to call 9-1-1 was 3.06 for individuals with previous stroke and 1.14 for individuals with stroke risk factors. Conclusions Recognition of individual stroke warning symptoms is high in general. Cumulative recognition of stroke warning signs and taking appropriate action is very low, although higher in those with prior stroke.
On determinism versus nondeterminism in P systems

An important open problem in the area of membrane computing is whether there is a model of P systems for which the nondeterministic version is strictly more powerful than the deterministic version. We resolve this problem in the following sense--we exhibit two classes of P system acceptors with only communicating rules and show: 1. For the first class, the deterministic and nondeterministic versions are equivalent if and only if deterministic and nondeterministic linear bounded automata are equivalent. The latter problem is a long-standing open question in complexity theory. 2. For the second class, the deterministic version is strictly weaker than the nondeterministic version. Both classes are nonuniversal, but can accept fairly complex languages.
Money-back guarantees and market experimentation

Abstract We study the use of money-back guarantees as a form of market experimentation in a market for experience goods with repeat purchases. We show that extending the customer base in the second-period by using a money-back guarantee can be optimal only if a monopolist faces an uncertain distribution of buyers. Within the second period, a money-back guarantee allows the monopolist to discriminate between new and repeat purchasers while a pure price reduction does not. Thus, whenever money-back guarantees are feasible, an optimal experimentation strategy includes a money-back guarantee in the second period but not necessarily a price reduction.
Jet and photon physics at DØ

We report several new DO measurements related to issues in QCD. Because of its large reach in x-Q 2 and due to a thorough analysis of correlated systematic errors, the rapidity-dependent inclusive jet cross section has had a significant impact on the extraction of parton distribution functions. The ratios of jet and photon production at s = 1800 and 630 GeV, although in general agreement with theory, indicate that not all aspects of these processes are fully understood. Studies of multiple jet production at moderate and low E T values have provided means to explore QCD scales and to tune the related aspects of event generators. A definitive signal for diffractive production of W bosons has been established, providing a new probe of the quark structure of the Pomeron. And, following on a great effort to bring up the experiment after a long shut-down and extensive upgrades, DO is accumulating and analyzing new data at 2 TeV. The preliminary results for inclusive jet p T and dijet mass spectra are just the first steps in exploiting the opportunities that Run II of the Tevatron will provide.
Gas Saturation Vapor Pressure Measurements of Mononitrotoluene Isomers from (283.15 to 313.15) K

A gas saturation apparatus capable of simultaneous measurements on 18 samples was used for this work. The vapor pressures of 2-nitrotoluene (2-NT), 3-nitrotoluene (3-NT), 4-nitrotoluene (4-NT), and tetradecane (a control compound) were measured with this apparatus over the temperature range (283.15 to 313.15) K. Over this temperature range, the vapor pressure of 2-NT ranged from (5.53 to 61.1) Pa; the vapor pressure of 3-NT ranged from (3.39 to 37.8) Pa; and the vapor pressure of 4-NT ranged from (1.25 to 26.4) Pa. The enthalpies of vaporization or sublimation were determined using the Clausius−Clapeyron equation.
Dynamic plastic instabilities in stretching plates and shells

An approximate formulation of the problem of dynamic plastic instability in a thin sheet of material subjected primarily to enertial forces is presented. It is shown that the classic static plastic instability condition reappears with a new and more detailed interpretation. When perturbations are introduced at strain values less than the critical strain, they tend to smooth out in a calculable and rapid rate. When similar perturbations are introduced or remain after the critical strain level is passed, they develop in a calculable way at a progressively accelerated rate. The details depend strongly on whether or not perturbations are themselves work hardened. The size of a critical flaw is related to the strain rate, with the consequence that the definition of quasi-state conditions in the context of the present theory becomes self-evident. The net distortion of the perturbation depends strongly on the rate of expansion of the plate and the size of the perturbation in ways that are shown by analytical and numerical solutions of the equations.
Drug-related Sleep Stage Changes: Functional Significance and Clinical Relevance.

With the discovery of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep by Aserinsky and Kleitman in the early fifties and the description of the NREM-REM cycle by Dement it became clear that sleep is not a unitary state. Sleep is organized into distinct brain states (REM) and NREM, each having identifiable and characteristic physiological patterns, which vary cyclically across the night. While significant reductions or disruptions of a sleep stage is inevitably followed on a recovery night by a rebound in the disrupted sleep stage, the functional significance and clinical relevance of sleep stage variations is still not clear. Newer drugs are being developed that have been shown to enhance NREM, specifically slow wave sleep, as well as REM sleep. The purpose of this chapter is to review and discuss the clinical relevance and functional significance of drug-related sleep stage effects.
Anion transport in brush border membranes isolated from rat small intestine

Abstract Addition of sodium salts to isolated membrane vesicles induced a rapid release of protons from the vesicles, followed by a slower reuptake. As proton reuptake under the experimental conditions is dependent on simultaneous anion translocation, the rates of anion transport could be calculated from the changes in medium pH. Anion transport was measured in the absence and presence of carbonyl cyanide p-trifluoromethoxyphenylhydrazone, a proton carrier. It is concluded that the brush border membrane is relatively impermeable to cyclamate and that it contains conductance pathways for thiocyanate and nitrate as well as a chloride transport system catalyzing an electroneutral chloride-cation co-transport (chloride-hydroxyl exchange). For acetate, the protonated form rather than the anion appears to be the permeant species.
Experimental studies on the dynamics and evaporation of tandem liquid droplets in a hot gas flow

Abstract Dynamics and evaporation of tandem droplets moving upward in a free convective thermal boundary layer were experimentally investigated. The free convective boundary layer was formed from a hot isothermal vertical plate which has a high wall-to-ambient temperature difference. The gas velocity and temperature profiles were numerically obtained using the variable gas property model, and the results were used to analyze the droplet dynamic behavior and vaporization process. The effects of droplet interaction in the streamwise direction and mass transfer on the drag coefficient were studied. In addition, the effects of droplet dynamics on droplet evaporation were investigated. The experimental parameters tested in this study were the initial droplet size, spacing between droplets, and liquid properties. New drag coefficients for various liquids and droplet spacings were obtained and applied to the vaporization process.
Increasing prevalence and associated risk factors for methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus bacteriuria.

Purpose: Infections due to methicillin resistant Staphylococcus aureus are becoming increasingly prevalent in hospitals and in the community. We reviewed our institutional experience to determine whether methicillin resistant S. aureus is becoming a more common cause of bacteriuria and to determine if there are specific risk factors that may predict the development of methicillin resistant S. aureus bacteriuria.Materials and Methods: We reviewed all urine cultures with a pure growth of a single organism obtained at our institution from 1997 and 2007. Patients with urine cultures positive for methicillin resistant S. aureus were compared to a cohort with cultures positive for methicillin sensitive S. aureus, and to a third cohort with cultures positive for Escherichia coli to determine patient characteristics and associated risk factors.Results: We identified 7,100 and 9,985 positive urine cultures performed in 1997 and 2007, respectively. The most common urinary organism was E. coli. The number of patient...
Particular and homogeneous solutions of time-independent wavepacket Schrödinger equations: calculations using a subset of eigenstates of undamped or damped Hamiltonians

A variety of causal, particular and homogeneous solutions to the time-independent wavepacket Schrodinger equation have been considered as the basis for calculations using Chebychev expansions, finite-τ expansions obtained from a partial Fourier transform of the time-dependent Schrodinger equation, and the distributed approximating functional (DAF) representation for the spectral density operator (SDO). All the approximations are made computationally robust and reliable by damping the discrete Hamiltonian matrix along the edges of the finite grid to facilitate the use of compact grids. The approximations are found to be completely well behaved at all values of the (continuous) scattering energy. It is found that the DAF–SDO provides a suitable alternative to Chebychev propagation.
Ouabain inhibition of gill Na-K-ATPase: relationship to active chloride transport.

Ouabain circulating in blood inhibits Na-K-ATPase in the gills of seawater eels at a concentration similar to that necessary for inhibition in vitro. By contrast, a much higher concentration is required when ouabain is applied to the exterior of the gill. Inhibition by external ouabain occurs only when the drug gains access to the circulation of the fish, as evidenced by simultaneous inhibition of Na-K-ATPase in the kidney. These results suggest that the Na-K-ATPase of gill chloride cells faces inward, lining intracytoplasmic tubular channels continuous with the extracellular fluid. Inhibition of gill Na-K-ATPase by ouabain in intact salt water eels results in almost complete inhibition of the efflux of both Na+ and Cl−. The efflux of tritiated water was much less reduced, to 60% of normal. Since chloride is actively transported outward across the gill of seawater teleosts, it is suggested that active chloride transport is coupled to Na-K-ATPase. A neutral sodium chloride carrier is postulated that is energized by the movement of sodium from extracellular fluid down its electrochemical gradient into the chloride cell.
On phase II monitoring of the probability distributions of univariate continuous processes

Statistical process control (SPC) charts are widely used in industry for monitoring the stability of certain sequential processes like manufacturing, health care systems etc. Most SPC charts assume that the parametric form of the “in-control” process distribution $$F_1$$ is available. However, it has been demonstrated in the literature that their performances are unreliable when the pre-specified process distribution is incorrect. Moreover, most SPC charts are designed to detect any shift in mean and/or variance. In real world problems, shifts in higher moments can happen without much change in mean or variance. If we fail to detect those and let the process run, it can eventually become worse and a shift in mean or variance can creep in. Moreover, the special cause that initiated the shift can inflict further damage to the system, and it may become a financial challenge to fix it. This paper provides an efficient and easy-to-use control chart for phase II monitoring of univariate continuous processes when the parametric form of the “in-control” process distribution is unknown, but Phase I observations that are believed to be i.i.d. realizations from unknown $$F_1$$ are available. Data-driven practical guidelines are also provided to choose the tuning parameter and the corresponding control limit of the proposed SPC chart. Numerical simulations and a real-life data analysis show that it can be used in many practical applications.
A CMOS VLSI IC for real-time opto-electronic two-dimensional histogram generation

Histogram generation, a standard image processing operation, is a record of the intensity distribution in the image. A prototype of an optical-electronic histogram generator has been designed and tested for 1D objects using wirewrapped MSI TTL components (Richstein et al. 1993). The overall system design is such that the electronic signal obtained from the optically scanned two-dimensional semi-opaque image is processed and displayed within a period of one cycle of the scanning process. The authors report a VLSI design to be used in a two-dimensional real-time histogram generation scheme. >
The Rhetorical Situations of Revelation 1-3

The publication of George Kennedy's New Testament Interpretation Through Rhetorical Criticism marked the full realization of a growing trend in NT criticism, whereby scholars are beginning to look beyond the limitations of form- and source-criticism for another viable hermeneutical tool. Rhetorical criticism has its origins in the classical canons conceptualized and formulated by the principal rhetoricians of Greek and Roman antiquity, such as Aristotle and Quintilian. This methodology sprang from roots in the ancient world; rhetoric was ‘one of the constraints under which New Testament writers worked’. But it has a universality that transcends its own cultural boundaries, as well as an extraordinary practicality: ‘ … it does study a verbal reality, our text of the Bible, rather than the oral sources standing behind that text, the hypothetical stages of its composition, or the impersonal workings of social forces, and at its best it can reveal the power of those texts as unitary messages’’. Often, too, it is capable of slashing through exegetical Gordian knots that prove otherwise intractable. The ability of rhetorical criticism to evaluate even the more opaque or mystical portions of the NT is a measure of its effectiveness.
Why do firms switch underwriters

In the mid-1990s, 30% of "rms completing an SEO within three years of their IPO switched lead underwriter. This article provides evidence on why they switched. Contrary to predictions of prior research, there is little evidence that "rms switch due to dissatisfaction with underwriter performance at the time of the IPO. A surprising result is that switchers' IPOs were signi"cantly less underpriced than non-switchers' IPOs. However, switchers raised fewer proceeds than expected, compared to the mid-point of the "ling range, while non-switchers raised signi"cantly more proceeds. There are two main reasons for switching. Firms graduate to higher reputation underwriters, and they strategically buy additional and in#uential analyst coverage from the new lead underwriter. Survey results support these conclusions. 2001 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.