cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Pressure-induced magnetic ordering effects in correlated-electron uranium monochalcogenides

Abstract The isostructural uranium monochalcogenides UTe, USe, and US lie in the intermediate range between the localized regime and itinerant regime of f-electron behavior. Among them, UTe is the closest to the localized side; USe is in the middle; and US is to the itinerant side. Applying hydrostatic pressure shifts their position in the localized-delocalized spectrum in the direction of itinerancy with interesting consequences for magnetic ordering. Overall, the application of pressure causes changes in their magnetic behaviors, which resemble the changes along the line of materials, as if an increase in pressure moves a material away from UTe-like toward more US-like. Interestingly, this involves nonmonotonic pressure variation of the Curie temperature of UTe and USe. We have performed ab-initio-based calculations quantifying the above picture. These ab-initio-based calculations are developed from a phenomenological electronic-structure-based theory, described below, and involve no use of experimental data or fitting; i.e., the theory is wholly materially predictive. For UTe and USe, the calculated results capture the experimentally-observed initial increase in TC with pressure resulting from increased hybridization, as well as the reversal of this initial trend caused by the loss of localized f density; while for US, the ab-initio-based calculations predict a monotonic decrease of TC with pressure in close agreement with experiment. In providing agreement with the pressure-dependent behavior of the three materials, the results also capture the trend along the material sequence UTe → USe → US. This picture of pressure-driven increased 5f itinerancy and the resulting pressure-dependent Curie temperature behavior agrees well with experiment for the uranium monocholcogenides, and is entirely different in nature from the Doniach ‘necklace’ picture often used to discuss magnetism in Kondo-lattice systems.
National database for calculating fuel available to wildfires

In recent years, wildfires have emerged as an important part of the global environment. Carbon released from fires during combustion alters the global carbon balance. Smoke emissions are a health hazard to nearby communities [Wegesser et al., 2009], can impair air quality and visibility for hundreds of kilometers downwind (Interagency Modeling of Protected Visual Environments; http://vista.cira.colostate.edu/improve/Data/IMPROVE/improve_data.htm , 2004), and contribute substantially to the global aerosol budget [van der Werf et al., 2006]. As understanding about fire as a global ecosystem process improves [Bowman et al., 2009] and as more and more global fire databases are being built [Giglio et al., 2009], wildfires are increasingly emerging as an important component of Earth system models, particularly those that involve emissions from fires and their effects on climate.
New directions in the understanding and management of pain

Control of pain and the suffering that it causes still eludes us. Despite impressive progress in the prevention and cure of disease and in care of the trauma victim, pain is still a frontier in medical research. It accompanies surgery, various diagnostic procedures and dental care as well as acute injury and disease. For a significant number of patients it persists after injury or illness into a chronic state. Chronic pain is recognized to be the most frequent cause of disability in the United States and many industrialized nations today, and is a major cost to society in both work hours lost and medical expenses. In addition to its social importance, pain is an intimate cause of personal concern for every human being throughout life. The progress, or lack of progress, achieved by medical research in pain control is of interest to us all. Pain disorders may be usefully classified in two categories: acute and chronic. The etiology, physiopathology, symptomatology, diagnosis and therapy of these two types of pain are quite different and require separate consideration. Acute pain is that which arises from an acute injury or disease process and persists only as long as the tissue pathology itself. If acute pain problems are not effectively treated, they may progress to chronic states. Chronic pain is that: (1) associated with chronic tissue pathology; or (2) which persists beyond the normal healing period for an acute injury or disease. There are unique challenges for health care providers associated with each of these two categories of problems, and failure to distinguish between these types of pain has led to a widespread, ongoing mismanagement of patients that can be prevented if strong efforts are made to better educate health care professionals about pain and its therapy. This paper presents an overview of current understanding about the nature of pain and its management. The physiology and psychology of pain are reviewed against a background of the concepts and information taught 25 years ago. Some common acute and chronic pain problems are reviewed and discussed. Finally, several new directions in pain control are described.
Recombinant factor VIII in the management of hemophilia A: current use and future promise

Hemophilia A is a rare inherited bleeding disorder due to mutation of the gene that encodes the coagulation protein factor VIII. Historically, prior to the availability of treatment with factor VIII preparations, most boys died from uncontrolled bleeding, either spontaneous bleeding or after injury, before reaching 20 years of age. One of the most impressive triumphs of modern medicine is that with current recombinant factor VIII replacement therapy, a boy born in the 21st century with severe hemophilia A can anticipate a normal life expectancy with essentially no permanent complications from bleeding. For severe hemophilia A, current optimal treatment should have two goals: first, to provide sufficient factor VIII to prevent spontaneous bleeding, and second, to provide sufficient factor VIII to have normal coagulation function after any trauma. However, the replacement therapy requires tremendous resources for effective use, and remains extraordinarily expensive. Thus there are opportunities for further advances in therapy for hemophilia A. Two major concerns continue to trouble current optimal treatment approaches: some patients will develop neutralizing antibodies during the first 50 infusions of therapeutic factor VIII, and second, to administer therapeutic factor VIII every other day in young boys often requires placement of a central venous access device, and such use carries the life-threatening risks of infection and thrombosis. Because of the effectiveness of current therapy, any new developments in treatment will require significant concerns for safety, both immediate and in the long term. A number of research groups seek to prolong the biological efficacy of infused recombinant factor VIII. Currently, one such promising development is in the advanced stages of clinical trial. The goals will be to improve further the quality of life of an individual with severe hemophilia A, and to reduce the burden of current treatment strategies on families and medical resources. Hopefully, the hemophilia community will continue to participate actively in the clinical trials needed to address these new challenges.
Emergency repair of a radiation-induced aortoesophageal fistula with endograft: report of a case

This report presents the case of the emergency repair of a radiation-induced aortoesophageal fistula (AEF) with an endograft. The patient presented with multiple episodes of upper gastrointestinal bleeding. The fistula was discovered and treated in the operating room. The placement of a temporary aortic endograft was successful. The patient unfortunately exsanguinated while awaiting definitive aortic and esophageal repair. The potential occurrence of AEF should be considered in any patient presenting with massive hematemesis without a clear source of the bleeding. Although the patient succumbed to the fistula, this case illustrates the cryptic nature of an AEF and the difficult issues that are inherent in its treatment.
Development and Experimental Validation of Composite Press Brake–Formed Modular Steel Tub Girders for Short-Span Bridges

AbstractThis paper is focused on the development of modular shallow trapezoidal boxes fabricated from cold-bent structural steel plate using standard mill plate widths and thicknesses. This concept was developed by a technical working group within the Short Span Steel Bridge Alliance of the Steel Market Development Institute (a business unit of the American Iron and Steel Institute), led by the current authors. This working group consists of all stakeholders in the steel bridge industry, including mills, fabricators, service centers, industry trade organizations, universities, and bridge owners. The goal of this project was to develop an innovative and economical modular solution for the short-span steel bridge market. Presented is the methodology used for the design of this system, along with experimental validation of the modular composite girder’s flexural capacity. Using experimentally verified analytical methods, the applicability of AASHTO specifications in computing the flexural capacity of the pro...
Effects of arachidonic acid on RNA metabolism in mammary gland explants of mice

Abstract Arachidonic acid stimulated 3H-uridine incorporation into RNA in mammary gland explants of mice in a manner similar to that of prolactin. The onset of the effects of both prolactin and arachidonic acid occurred following a 2–4 hour lag period. Further, effects of maximally stimulatory concentrations of these agents were nonadditive. Finally, indomethacin abolished the effects of both prolactin and arachidonic acid. A tenable hypothesis to explain these data is that the action of prolactin in the mammary gland may be mediated by an increased availability of arachidonic acid followed by a subsequent enhanced rate of formation of the prostaglandins.
A predictive model of the effects of depression, anxiety, stress, 6-minute-walk distance, and social support on health-related quality of life in an adult pulmonary hypertension population.

Purpose Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a life-limiting chronic disease that presents as an elevated blood pressure in the pulmonary artery. The uncertainty of the disease has a profound effect on relationships, cognitive ability, spirituality, emotions, and exercise ability and can negatively impact health-related quality of life (HRQOL). The purposes of this cross-sectional, predictive, correlational study were (a) to identify relationships among the psychological factors (depression, anxiety, stress), physiological factor (6-Minute Walk Test), situational factor (social support), and HRQOL and (b) to test a structural equation model in which depression, anxiety, stress, social support, and 6-minute walk distance predict HRQOL in adults with PH. Sample and setting A convenience sample of 166 adults between the ages of 21 and 80 years were recruited from the Pulmonary Hypertension Association's 10th International Pulmonary Hypertension Conference and Scientific Sessions in Orlando, Florida, and a PH clinic in southeast Louisiana. Each subject completed 2 questionnaires: the 21-item Depression Anxiety Stress Scale and the Dartmouth Cooperative Functional Assessment Charts. Results The findings indicated a relationship between depression, stress, anxiety, 6-Minute Walk Test, social support, and HRQOL. The data collected from the adult PH population fit the proposed predictive model for adults with PH HRQOL. However, the researcher was unable to determine the best predictor of HRQOL in adults with PH. Conclusions The findings indicate depression, anxiety, stress, 6-minute walk distance, and social support play important roles in HRQOL among patients with PH. Advanced practice nursing strategies to increase HRQOL include counseling, psychiatric referrals, psychotherapy, guided imagery, leading support groups, and low-grade resistance training.
Interactions between the orbiting space shuttle and the ionosphere

This paper presents an analysis of interactions between the Space Shuttle Orbiter and the ionosphere based on thermal plasma data obtained from a Spherical Retarding Potential Analyzer (SRPA) and a Langmuir Probe (LP) flown on the third Space Shuttle flight (STS-3) in March 1982. While previous work on spacecraft-plasma interactions has dealt with wake effects, the present work deals with effects that are seen in ram conditions that have not been previously discussed. One observation is a higher degree of plasma turbulence than has been reported from unmanned spacecraft measurements that manifests itself as a frequency component at 2.2 kHz in the SRPA signal. Also seen are unusually high number densities of what appear to be ions with a mass of at least 30 or 32 amu and a temperature in the range 2000-3000 K. Coincident with the enhanced molecular ion species, the temperature of the thermal electrons is seen elevated to above 5000 K. It is hypothesized that these measurements are evidence for a plasma instability resulting from the motion of the outgassing Orbiter through the ionosphere.
Programmable self-assembly using biologically-inspired multiagent control

This paper presents a programming language that species a robust process for shape formation on a sheet of identically programed agents, by combining local organization primitives from epithelial cell orphogenesis and Drosophila cell differentiation with combination rules from geometry. This work represents a significantly different approach to the design of self-organizing systems: the desired global shape is specified using an abstract geometry-based language, and the agent program is directly compiled from the global specification. The resulting self-assembly process is extremely reliable in the face of random agent distributions, random agent death and varying agent numbers, without relying on global coordinates or centralized control.
A social-cognitive model of human behavior offers a more parsimonious account of emotional expressivity

According to socio-relational theory, men and women encountered different ecologies in their evolutionary past, and, as a result of different ancestral selection pressures, they developed different patterns of emotional expressivity that have persisted across cultures and large human evolutionary time scales. We question these assumptions, and propose that social-cognitive models of individual differences more parsimoniously account for sex differences in emotional expressivity.
Comparison of three ADHD screening instruments in college students of varying cognitive ability.

Objective: To assess three of the better known screeners for Attention Deficit/Hyperactive Disorder (ADHD) and review the relationship between ADHD and cognitive ability. Method: The three ADHD scr...
Abstract 4774: LC-MS/MS detection of the dansyl-modified biologically active CDK inhibitor VMY-1-103 using an in vivo model system

Proceedings: AACR 103rd Annual Meeting 2012‐‐ Mar 31‐Apr 4, 2012; Chicago, IL The development of new small molecule kinase inhibitors as cancer therapeutic drugs has placed increased emphasis on determining the mechanism of action of the new compounds preclinically, such as in genetically engineered mice or using human tissue xenografts. The ability to accurately measure the pharmacokinetics and pharmacodynamics of new compounds is often hampered by the lack of suitable platforms to measure serum and tissue distribution with high sensitivity and specificity. We have recently developed a novel dansylated cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor called VMY-1-103 (VMY) that has purvalanol B as its base compound. We established that VMY was significantly more effective in blocking cell cycle progression and inducing apoptosis than purvalanol B. Since dansylation is frequently used to enhance mass spectrometry-based quantitative analyses, we hypothesized that this modality could similarly be used to evaluate the tissue distribution of VMY in mouse models. In the current study, we developed a rapid liquid phase-extraction of VMY and purvalanol B from mouse tissue and validated a sensitive liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry based assay to quantify tissue delivery of these compounds in vivo. Comparisons of the standard curves for VMY versus Purvalanol B revealed a greater than 7.7-fold increase in sensitivity for VMY. Using both the ND-2 SmoA1, a genetically engineered mouse model of medulloblastoma, and normal mice, we quantified tissue delivery by mass spectrometry as well as Area Under the Curve (AUC) analysis by integrating the peak intensity normalized by an internal standard. Our analyses revealed that VMY delivered intraperitoneally at 20mg/kg was found at its highest concentration in serum 4 hours after injection. We further established that VMY was distributed in multiple tissues, including pancreas and prostate at varying levels and, importantly, we establish that VMY was able to traverse an intact blood-brain barrier as it was detected in the brain and cerebellum of normal mice. Purvalanol B delivered in the same manner as VMY was found at significantly lower levels in all tissues examined and unlike VMY, we failed to detect purvalanol B in brain or and cerebellar tissue. The significance of this study illustrates that a biologically active compound can be modified by dansylation and exhibit both increased sensitivity to mass spectrometry and enhanced bioavailability and tissue delivery, including the brain, in vivo. We also define a simple mass spectrometry-based tissue and serum assay. Citation Format: {Authors}. {Abstract title} [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 103rd Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2012 Mar 31-Apr 4; Chicago, IL. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2012;72(8 Suppl):Abstract nr 4774. doi:1538-7445.AM2012-4774
Chemical antidotes for radiation injury.

The development of antidotes to radiation toxicity is hampered by a lack of understanding of mechanisms by which radiation produces its toxic effects. Antidodes are defined as substances which counteract the effect of toxic agents either through chemical inactivation or by antagonizing the physiological effects of the poison. Radioprotective agents can be considered as antidotes against radiation injury. Most of the currently available chemical antidotes against radiation injury are of the prophylactic type and are not effective unless given prior to the time of radiation exposure. The therapy of radiation injuries depends at present on the symptomatic or postirradiation treatment of specific aspects of the radiation syndrome. A review is included of the effects of anoxia, cyanide, various chemicals which produce methemoglobinemia, various aniline and acetamide derivatives, certain biological amines, sulfhydryl or thiol derivatives, and other chemicals against radiation injuries in mammals. Possible reaction mechanisms are discussed. 50 references. (C.H.)
VISITS TO WHITE PELICAN NEST COLONIES AT NIGHT REDUCE RESEARCHER IMPACTS ON NESTING SUCCESS

Abstract Reproductive success of American White Pelicans (Pelecanus erythrorhynchos) was monitored at a nesting colony on Anaho Island, Pyramid Lake, Nevada in 1996 as part of an environmental contaminants study. Reproductive success was normal based on hatching rates of eggs (≥ 75% in undisturbed areas) and survival of nestlings. We entered 2 subcolonies after dark to reduce impacts of our egg collecting activities. Human disturbance from egg collection activities did not result in reduced production at one subcolony, where 80% of eggs in both sampled and unsampled nests resulted in 2-wk-old young. However, in a second subcolony only 60% of eggs in sampled nests and 30% in unsampled nests resulted in 2-wk-old young. Data from this study suggests colony visits for sample collection be done at night rather than the day to preclude gull predation and reduce heat stress on eggs and nestlings.
Cytogenetic analysis of leukaemic cells in the dog. A report of 10 cases and a review of the literature

Abstract Cytogenetic abnormalities were found in 9 of 10 leukaemic dogs. Important findings were aneuploidy, especially hyperdiploidy, extra-metacentric chromosomes, double minute chromosomes and tetraploidy. Six dogs had a normal chromosome modal number of 78, but 4 other dogs had modal numbers of 54, 81, 83 or 85 and 156. One to 16 extra-metacentric chromosomes were seen in cells from 5 dogs. Double minute chromosomes, which appear to be markers for neoplasia, were seen in one or more cells from 3 leukaemic dogs. Too few adequate, simultaneous studies were available to compare cytogenetic results from blood and bone marrow samples of leukaemic dogs. Extra-metacentric chromosomes and double minute chromosomes were not found in cells from the normal control dogs and cells with more than 78 chromosomes were rare. Specific chromosome changes were not associated with any of the various types of leukaemia and prognosis could not be predicted from the cytogenetic findings but, in general, the prognosis was poor. However, it does appear that many or most dogs with leukaemia have chromosomal abnormalities. With additional research and improvements in leukaemia therapy, cytogenetic studies of canine leukaemia may provide diagnostic and prognostic information.
Personality and the education–health gradient: A note on “Understanding differences in health behaviors by education”

We test the robustness of the results of Cutler and Lleras-Muney (2010) on the role of personality in explaining the education–health gradient by using alternative measures of child personality available in the National Child Development Study. We show that, alternatively to the authors, conclusions, personality contributes to the education–health gradient to an extent nearly as large as that of cognition.
Psychosocial and pharmacological interventions for depressed adults in primary care: a critical review.

Abstract Primary care settings are the principal context for treating clinical depression, with researchers beginning to explore the efficacy of psychosocial and pharmacological treatments for depression within this infrastructure. Feasibility and process variables also are being assessed, including issues of cost-effectiveness, viability of collaborative care models, predictors of treatment outcome, and effectiveness of treatment providers without specialized mental health training. The Agency for Health Care Policy and Research and American Psychiatric Association initially released guidelines for the treatment of depression in primary care [American Psychiatric Association, 1993. Practice Guidelines for major depressive disorder in adults. American Journal of Psychiatry, 150, 1–26., American Psychiatric Association, 2000. Practice Guideline for the treatment of patients with major depressive disorder (revision). American Journal of Psychiatry, 157, 1–45], however, a vast literature has accumulated over the past several years, calling for a systematic re-evaluation of the status of depression treatment in primary care. The present study provides a contemporary review of outcome data for psychosocial and pharmacological interventions in primary care and extends beyond AHCPR guidelines insofar as focusing on feasibility and process variables, including the training and proficiency of primary care treatment providers, cost-effectiveness of primary care interventions, and predictors of treatment response and relapse. Based on current guidelines, problem-solving therapy (PST-PC), interpersonal psychotherapy, and pharmacotherapy would be considered efficacious interventions for major depression, with cognitive–behavioral and cognitive therapy considered possibly efficacious. Psychotherapy and pharmacotherapy generally are of comparable efficacy, and both modalities are superior to usual care in treating depression. Methodological limitations and directions for future research are discussed.
Colony Dynamics of Leptonycteris nivalis (Mexican Long-Nosed Bat) Related to Flowering Agave in Northern Mexico

In this study we analyze the population dynamics of the migratory and nectarivorous Leptonycteris nivalis (Mexican long-nosed bat) in relation to food abundance and environmental factors (temperature and humidity). A 2-year study was conducted in the Mexican state of Nuevo Leon. Bat densities and the number of blooming Agave were estimated by month at El Infierno cave and surrounding areas. Temperature and humidity were recorded at 4.5-h intervals inside and outside the bat roost. Bat density was estimated visually, and the number of blooming Agave was counted in 70 fixed plots along 3 road transects within a 50-km radius of the cave. Examination of data indicates that abundance of L. nivalis at El Infierno cave is correlated with the frequency of blooming Agave and ambient temperature. However, cave temperature, humidity, and external humidity were not correlated with bat numbers. These findings suggest that conservation of this federally protected bat will require maintenance of relatively large areas of wild Agave.
Telerobotic operation combined with automated vehicle control

This paper describes the design and control of a scaled robotic vehicle that can function in two modes: telerobotic manual mode and automated mode. In the telerobotic manual mode, a steering console with a steering wheel and gas pedal is used to get steering and speed commands from human operator. These commands are transmitted to a microcontroller on the vehicle using a wireless serial data link. The microcontroller then converts these commands into PWM cycles that drive the motor and the steering servo of the vehicle. In the automated mode, steering and speed commands are extracted from video images of the road ahead of the vehicle. These images are captured by a wireless camera on the vehicle that sends them to a control computer. Using a frame grabber with DSP for image processing, information is generated about the vehicle's position on the road. This information serves as input to a controller that calculates steering commands to keep the vehicle in the road center. The design and testing of this dual mode robotic vehicle is performed in the flexible low-cost automated scaled highway laboratory at Virginia Tech, where scale models of vehicles are designed for that purpose.
Prenatal Care for Women Veterans Who Use Department of Veterans Affairs Health Care.

Abstract Objective The number of women Veterans of childbearing age enrolling in Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) health care is increasing. Our objective was to describe characteristics of women veterans and resumption of VA care after delivery by use of VA prenatal benefits. Study design We used data from the National Survey of Women Veterans, a population-based survey. VA-eligible women veterans with at least one live birth who had ever used VA and were younger than 45 years when VA prenatal benefits became available were categorized based on self-reported receipt of VA prenatal benefits. Characteristics of by use of VA prenatal benefits were compared using χ 2 tests with Rao–Scott adjustment. All analyses used sampling weights. Results In our analytic sample, of those who potentially had the opportunity to use VA prenatal benefits, 25% used these benefits and 75% did not. Compared with women veterans not using VA prenatal benefits, those who did were more likely to be 18 to 24 years old (39.9% vs. 3.7%; p = .03), and more likely to have self-reported diagnosed depression (62.5% vs. 24.5%; p = .02) and current depression or posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms (depression, 46.1% vs. 8% [ p = .02]; PTSD, 52.5% vs. 14.8% [ p = .02]). Compared with women veterans not using VA prenatal benefits, those who did were more likely to resume VA use after delivery ( p Conclusion Pregnant women veterans who use VA prenatal benefits are a high-risk group. Among those who opt not to use these benefits, pregnancy is an important point of attrition from VA health care, raising concerns regarding retention of women veterans within VA and continuity of care.
Rocket observation of soft energetic particles at the magnetic equator

Results from a rocket-borne ion mass spectrometer flown near the magnetic equator at 0108 LMT, March 10, 1970, exhibit an unusual background current above 200 km. This current is observed to increase 3.5 orders of magnitude between 200 and 260 km before maximizing to a fixed value from 260 km to the 295 km apogee of the flight. Properties of the background combined with laboratory measurements have permitted probable identification of the background source as 2-20 keV electrons or protons. Maximum electron fluxes have been estimated to be of the order 10 to the 10th power particles/sq cm-sec-ster in accord with ISIS-1 satellite measurements at higher altitudes. The background was not observed on an earlier flight at 1938 LMT, suggesting the particles to be trapped in a blet which drifted below 300 km between the two flights. The low altitude penetration of these fluxes may have been related to the great magnetic storm of March 8. Simultaneous measurements of the thermal ion distribution are compared with these results and qualitatively suggest that the soft energetic particles are responsible for an observed O2(+) and NO(+) enhancement.
Stagnation Line and Upwash Formation of Two Impinging Jets

When two jets in reasonable proximity exhaust into ambient surroundings and impinge on a ground plane, radial wall jets are formed which interact and form a stagnation region. The flow then is deflected upward to form an "upwash" sheet. These individual upwash flows are the heart of the complicated effects experienced by VTOL aircraft when they operate in ground proximity. It is the intent of this study to develop relatively simple flow models and prediction techniques, based primarily on momentum principles and empirical observations, for the estimation of two-jet ground impingement phenomena. Comparisons with experimental data indicate that these simple computational techniques can yield very reasonable estimates of certain overall aspects of the two-jet impingement problem.
Peritoneal fluid interleukin-6 in women with chronic pelvic pain

Abstract Objective: To determine the relationship between peritoneal fluid concentrations of interleukin-6 (IL-6) and chronic pelvic pain symptomatology in women with adhesions, endometriosis, or no obvious intraperitoneal pathology. Design: Clinical research study. Setting: Healthy volunteers in an academic research environment. Patient(s): Reproductive-aged women undergoing laparoscopy for the diagnosis of pelvic pain, infertility, or sterilization were selected. Intervention(s): Peritoneal fluid was collected at the time of the laparoscopy and later assayed for IL-6. Subjects completed a pelvic pain questionnaire, and operative reports were used to obtain the underlying diagnosis. Main Outcome Measure(s): Interleukin-6 concentrations. Result(s): No correlation between the presence or absence of pelvic pain, findings of adhesions or endometriosis, and the concentration of peritoneal fluid IL-6 was observed. Conclusion(s): The cytokine IL-6 does not seem to play a role in the genesis of chronic pelvic pain in women with adhesions or endometriosis.
Choosing a hybrid car using a hierarchical decision model

This paper describes and analyses an operational decision model of the customer decision process in selecting a new hybrid automobile. Three types of extreme customer profiles are introduced which represent disparate customers of hybrid cars. These profiles provide rankings, or priorities, which are used to establish a baseline of possible user entry. A hierarchical decision model (HDM) implemented in Microsoft Excel uses these priorities, along with expert's pairwise comparisons of the effects of vehicle attributes on these priorities, to select a vehicle make and model from a database of cars and their attributes. An iterative process is described to fine-tune the attribute weightings, or to obtain alternate choices. After the expert weightings are tuned using the three extreme profiles, users need only to enter their priorities for the HDM to choose the best hybrid matching their criteria. Finally, the model is critiqued and suggestions are offered for improvement.
β-Adrenergically Stimulated Adenosine 3′,5′-Monophosphate Accumulation in and Parathyroid Hormone Release from Dispersed Human Parathyroid Cells*

ABSTRACT The effects of β-adrenergic agonists on cAMP accumulation and parathyroid hormone (PTH) release were studied with dispersed human parathyroid cells from adenomatous and primarily hyperplastic tissue. (–)Isoproterenol stimulated intra- and extracellular cAMP in a dose-dependent fashion, and this effect was stereospecifically inhibited by (–)- and (+)propranolol. Moreover, β-adrenergic receptors were directly identified with the high affinity, high specific activity β-adrenergic antagonist [l25I]hydroxybenzylpindolol. (-)Isoproterenolstimulated cAMP accumulation in cell preparations from individual pathologic glands varied from 0-12 pmol/105 cells. PTH release was also stimulated 0-140% by 106 M (-)isoproterenol. There was not a clear correlation, however, between maximal β-adrenergically stimulated cAMP content and PTH release in different cell preparations, suggesting that factors in addition to intracellular cAMP content per se determined the magnitude of hormone release. In some instances, the ...
The lamellar substructure of osmiophilic inclusion bodies present in rat type II alveolar pneumonocytes

Abstract When rat pulmonary tissues are processed as outlined in this paper, the type II cell’s surfactant containing osmiophilic inclusion bodies possess a periodic substructure. This substructure consists of electron-opaque lamellae, 26 A in thickness alternating with 16 A wide electron-translucent zones.
A new obesity-prone, glucose-intolerant rat strain (F.DIO)

Previous breeding for the diet-induced obese (DIO) trait from outbred Sprague-Dawley rats produced a substrain with selection characteristics suggesting a polygenic mode of inheritance. To assess this issue further, selectively bred DIO male rats were crossed with obesity-resistant inbred Fischer F344 dams. Male offspring were crossed twice more against female F344 dams. The resultant N3 (F.DIO) rats were then inbred three more times. On low-fat chow, 10-wk-old male and female DIO rats weighed 86 and 59% more than respective F344 rats. By the N3 (F.DIO) generation, they were only 12 and 10% heavier, respectively. After three additional inbreeding cycles, chow-fed F.DIO males had an exaggerated insulin response to oral glucose compared with F344 rats. After 3 wk on a 31% fat (high-energy) diet, male N3 F.DIO rats gained 16-20% more carcass and adipose weight with 98% higher plasma leptin levels, whereas F.DIO females gained 36-54% more carcass and adipose weight with 130% higher leptin levels than comparable F344 rats. After three inbreeding cycles, F.DIO males still gained more weight on high-energy diet and developed a threefold greater insulin response to oral glucose than F344 males. Preservation of the DIO and glucose intolerance traits through successive backcrosses and inbreeding cycles to produce the F.DIO strain lends further support to the idea that they inherited in a polygenic fashion.
The Melting Curve of Iron to 250 Gigapascals: A Constraint on the Temperature at Earth's Center

The melting curve of iron, the primary constituent of Earth's core, has been measured to pressures of 250 gigapascals with a combination of static and dynamic techniques. The melting temperature of iron at the pressure of the core-mantle boundary (136 gigapascals) is 4800 ± 200 K. whereas at the inner core-outer core boundary (330 gigapascals), it is 7600 ± 500 K. Corrected for melting point depression resulting from the presence of impurities, a melting temperature for iron-rich alloy of 6600 K at the inner core-outer core boundary and a maximum temperature of 6900 K at Earth's center are inferred. This latter value is the first experimental upper bound on the temperature at Earth's center, and these results imply that the temperature of the lower mantle is significantly less than that of the outer core.
Charge Injection Barriers at a Ribonucleic Acid/Inorganic Material Contact Determined by Photoemission Spectroscopy

Ribonucleic acid (RNA) homopolymer thin films on highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG) were prepared in ultrahigh vacuum (UHV) directly from aqueous solution by electrospray (ES) injection. The polyadenosine (poly rA) films were prepared in several steps of increasing thickness without breaking the vacuum. Before deposition and between deposition steps, the samples were characterized with photoemission spectroscopy (PES). Both X-ray and ultraviolet photoemission spectroscopy (XPS and UPS) were employed. XPS enabled the detailed measurement of core level peaks, giving insight into the chemical interaction at the interface and the layer morphology. The corresponding UP-spectra sequence allowed us to directly follow the transition from HOPG valence bands to the poly rA highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) structure. This enabled the determination of the poly rA ionization energy and work function as well as the charge injection barriers between the Fermi level of the HOPG substrate and the poly rA H...
Structure of the N terminus of a nonmuscle α-Tropomyosin in complex with the C terminus: Implications for actin binding

Tropomyosin is a coiled-coil actin binding protein that stabilizes the filament, protects it from severing, and cooperatively regulates actin’s interaction with myosin. Depending on the first coding exon, tropomyosins are low molecular weight (LMW), found in the cytoskeleton and predominant in transformed cells, or high molecular weight (HMW), found in muscle and nonmuscle cells. The N- and C-terminal ends form a complex that allows tropomyosin to associate N terminus-to-C terminus along the actin filament. We determined the structure of a LMW tropomyosin N-terminal model peptide complexed with a smooth/nonmuscle tropomyosin C-terminal peptide. Using NMR and circular dichroism we showed that both ends become more helical upon complex formation but that the C-terminal peptide is partially unfolded at 20 °C. The first five residues of the N terminus that are disordered in the free peptide are more helical and are part of the overlap complex. NMR data indicate residues 2−17 bind to the C terminus in the comp...
ESR Studies on the stability of trapped electrons in photoionized and gamma-irradiated organic glasses

Abstract Trapped electrons have been detected by electron spin resonance following phcioionization and gamma-irradiation experiments with several organic glasses at 77°K. The results show that for each glassy material, the trapped electron has a characteristic thermal stability which is unaffected by the method of generation. It is concluded that in these systems, the mobility of the trapped electron is the decisive factor- in controlling the rate of thermal decay. The electron mobility in 3-methylpentane appears to be strongly influenced by the presence of polar molecules (amines) in the environment.
Androgens in the peripheral plasma of prepubertal children and adults

Abstract Measurable concentrations of the weakly androgenic steroid androstenedione and the potent hormone, testosterone, are present in the peripheral blood of prepubertal children. When these steroids are estimated in blood by a double isotope derivative technique using 35S thiosemicarbazide, the concentration of androstenedione exceeds that of testosterone in prepubertal males and females. There is a 26 fold change in the androstenedione:testosterone ratio following puberty in the male.
Thermal decomposition of trans-chloro(2-allylphenyl)bis(triethylphospine)nickel(II)

Abstract Thermolysis of trans -chloro(2-allylphenyl)bis(triethylphosphine)nickel(II), I, in tetrachloroethylene has afforded indene as the major hydrocarbon product along with lesser amounts of allylbenzene and trans -β-methylstyrene. Organonickel products were trans -chloro(trichlorovinyl)bis(triethylphosphine)nickel(II), II, chloro[2-( trans -propenyl)phenyl]bis(triethylphosphine)nickel(II), III, and trans -dichlorobis(triethylphosphine)nickel(II). Compound III was the major product from thermolysis of I in benzene. Chloro[2-( cis -propenyl)phenyl]bis(triethylphosphine)nickel(II), IV, and III could be synthesized independently by treatment of chloro-2-( cis -propenyl)benzene and chloro-2-( trans -propenyl)benzene, respectively, with nickel acetylacetonate and triethylaluminium in the presence of triethylphosphine. Thermolysis of I in benzene containing allylbenzene led to the formation of trans -β-methylstyrene. The thermolysis of I in benzene in the presence of cis -1,4-hexadiene caused the skeletal rearrangement of the diene to trans -2-methyl-1,3-pentadiene. A catalyst derived from ethylenebis(triphenylphosphine)nickel(0) and hydrogen chloride isomerized allylbenzene to trans -β-methylstyrene.
Evaluation of five soil tests for predicting responses of apple trees planted in lead arsenate-contaminated soil

Soils used for tree fruit production before 1950 often contain residues of lead arsenate insecticide in sufficient quantity to impair the performance of replanted fruit trees. A four-year field study was conducted to evaluate the ability of five soil testing procedures [concentrated HCl (HClc), EPA 3050, Mehlich-3, 0.5 M NaHCO3, and Toxicity Characteristic Leaching Procedure (TCLP)] to predict growth and arsenic (As) content of ‘Gala’/EMLA.26 apple trees (Malus×domestica Borkh.) planted in a lead arsenate-contaminated orchard soil. EPA 3050 soil As concentrations in the tree planting holes ranged from 122 to 357 mg kg− 1, substantially higher than natural background. Relative tree trunk cross-sectional area increased each year, but was independent of soil As regardless of testing procedure. Leaf and fruit As were unrelated or very poorly related to soil As extracted by HClc, EPA 3050, and Mehlich-3. Leaf and fruit As were better related to soil As extracted by 0.5 M NaHCO3 or TCLP, with the latter procedu...
Determinants and multiplicative functionals on quaternion matrices

Determinants of matrices over a field are multiplicative. Does there exist an extension of the definition of determinants of real matrices to quaternion matrices, such that the multiplication theorem holds? This paper proves there does not exist such an extension. We give a universal property on multiplicative functionals from the set of quaternion matrices to the set of quaternion numbers. The theorem tells us, in a sense, the definition of determinants for quaternion matrices is unique.
Peer-Driven Justice: Development and Validation of the Teen Court Peer Influence Scale

The authors report a validation study of the Teen Court Peer Influence Scale (TCPIS), a newly developed scale, to examine its factor structure, reliability, and evidence of validity. Methods: The scale was disseminated to 202 participants in six teen courts in the state of Florida, and the authors conducted exploratory factor analyses. Content validity was established conceptually and evidence of concurrent validity, convergent construct validity, and discriminant construct validity were established statistically. Results: Factor analyses suggest that positive peer influence is operationalized by three constructs: positive cognitions/expectations, positive identity development, and modeling/imitation. The TCPIS has good internal consistency with a Cronbach’s alpha of .90. Conclusions: The TCPIS shows preliminary evidence of sound psychometric properties and may be used to inform teen court policy and practice.
Why do we not have a cure for rheumatoid arthritis

There are currently unprecedented opportunities to treat rheumatoid arthritis using well-designed, highly effective, targeted therapies. This will result in a substantial improvement in the outcome of this disorder for most affected individuals, if they can afford these therapies. Yet our lack of understanding of the basic mechanisms that initiate and sustain this disease remains a major obstacle in the search for a definitive cure. It is possible, if not likely, that our best approach will be to identify individuals at risk and devise reliable, safe methods of preventing the disease before it occurs. The means to do this are currently unknown but should serve as a major focus of research.
Autosomal recessive neuromuscular disorder in a transgenic line of mice

We have generated a line of transgenic mice that when homozygous for the transgene develop a severe, adult-onset neuromuscular disorder. This mutation is likely the result of the insertional inactivation of an endogenous gene by the transgene integration. The mutant mice have a gait abnormality with stiffened and/or splayed hind legs, and adopt a hunched posture with some exhibiting kyphosis of the thoracic spine. These symptoms progress gradually to severe motor dysfunction. Pathologic changes were found in skeletal muscle and peripheral nerve of the mutant animals. In young mice the muscles from both upper and lower extremities show necrosis and phagocytosis. In older mice, regeneration with muscle fiber splitting, internally located nuclei, and variable fiber size are conspicuous features. Interactions between Schwann cells and axons also appear disrupted in these animals. Although many peripheral axons are well myelinated, the nerve and nerve roots contain very large bundles of juxtaposed, bare axons, reminiscent of Schwann cell-axon interactions in early development. Within these bundles there are axons large enough to be myelinated. The relationship between the pathologic changes in the muscles and nerves is not clear. The phenotypic abnormalities of these animals resemble those that occur in the spontaneous mouse mutants dystrophia muscularis and myodystrophy. Nevertheless, the chromosomal position of the transgene integration site, which was mapped by fluorescent in situ hybridization to chromosome 11, indicates that this disorder represents a new neuromuscular mutation.
Self-assembled targeting of cancer cells by iron(III)-doped, silica nanoparticles

Iron(III)-doped silica nanoshells are shown to possess an in vitro cell-receptor mediated targeting functionality for endocytosis. Compared to plain silica nanoparticles, iron enriched ones are shown to be target-specific, a property that makes them potentially better vehicles for applications, such as drug delivery and tumor imaging, by making them more selective and thereby reducing the nanoparticle dose. Iron(III) in the nanoshells can interact with endogenous transferrin, a serum protein found in mammalian cell culture media, which subsequently promotes transport of the nanoshells into cells by the transferrin receptor-mediated endocytosis pathway. The enhanced uptake of the iron(III)-doped nanoshells relative to undoped silica nanoshells by a transferrin receptor-mediated pathway was established using fluorescence and confocal microscopy in an epithelial breast cancer cell line. This process was also confirmed using fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS) measurements that show competitive blocking of nanoparticle uptake by added holo-transferrin.
Torus-doubling bifurcations in four mutually coupled Chua's circuits

Coupled oscillators are complicated high-dimensional dynamical systems. They can exhibit a wide variety of rich dynamics which could lead to novel applications in engineering. In this work we describe a torus-doubling phenomenon observed from four mutually coupled Chua's circuits. The qualitative dynamical behavior of the coupled system is robust, yet the exact behavior is very sensitive to the initial conditions and the parameter values of the Chua's circuits. We present numerical simulation results from the system model which are in good qualitative agreement with the experimental measurements.