cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Quantitative monitoring of brain function, vital signs, and hormonal response during acute insulin-induced hypoglycemia.

Acute insulin-induced hypoglycemia provokes changes in central nervous system activity and release of counterregulatory hormones. The clinical relationship between central nervous system activity, hormone secretion, and vital signs has not to our knowledge been previously reported. We used computerized electroencephalographic (CEEG) analysis to monitor 5 nondiabetic subjects during acute insulin-induced hypoglycemia (0.75 U/kg intravenous push). Their glucose nadir was 38±6 mg/dl (mean ± 1 SD). A three-phase pattern of change in CEEG power in response to hypoglycemia was observed: phase 1 was characterized by an increase in total CEEG power (natural log of activity = 9.1±1.3 µV2) over baseline (8.7±1.2 µV2) in the theta, delta, and beta frequency bands. This phase preceded and coincided with the glucose nadir. During phase 2, power in all frequency bands fell significantly below baseline. A nadir in CEEG power (8.0±1.6 µV2) occurred 40 to 55 minutes after insulin injection as glucose levels were rising. During phase 3 there was a return to baseline in CEEG power and frequency spectra. Heart rate increase just before phase 1; peak heart rate (91±8 beats/min) coincided with peak CEEG power and was significantly higher than basal rate (71±11,P<0.05). A significant increase in respiratory rate occurred during phase 1 of the CEEG and persisted through phase 2. A significant decrease in mean blood pressure (nadir = 73±6 mm Hg) below preinsulin blood pressure (81±8 mm Hg,P<0.05) coincided with the nadir of CEEG power in phase 2. Blood pressure returned to basal levels during phase 3. Peak plasma epinephrine (652±207 versus 46±30 pg/ml), norepinephrine (500±219 versus 273±107 pg/ml), and pancreatic polypeptide levels (1,023±689 versus 114±24 pg/ml) were all significantly elevated over respective basal concentrations (P<0.05). Peak hormone levels occurred during CEEG phase 2. This study demonstrates a temporal association of changes in CEEG power, vital signs, and hormonal secretion. These techniques may be applicable for further investigation of the clinical neuroendocrinology of the response to acute hypoglycemia.
Empathic Listening: the Interviewer's Betrayal

This article argues that empathic listening deceives naive sources into thinking that they will be portrayed favorably in news stories. It suggests that a fair practice of interviewing obligates journalists to obtain informed consent from their sources in advance. Journalists may waive this obligation only when the personal integrity of sources is protected against the pragmatic calculations that tend to prevail in journalism ethics.
Dosimetry for 252Cf neutron emitting brachytherapy sources: protocol, measurements, and calculations.

The mixed-field dosimetry for 252 Cf Applicator Tube (AT) type medical sources available from Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL) has been characterized using ionization chambers, a GM counter, and Monte Carlo methods. Unlike the AAPM Task Group No. 43 (TG-43), specification of dose to muscle instead of water is recommended for clinical dosimetry of 252 Cf medical sources. A dosimetry protocol similar to ICRU 45 was formulated with parameters determined specifically for 252 Cf brachytherapy. Comparisons of experimental and calculative dosimetry results with Colvett et al. [Phys. Med. Biol. 17, 356–364 (1972)] and Krishnaswamy [Phys. Med. Biol. 17, 56–63 (1972)] were performed, and correction factors were determined to compare the different dosimetry formalisms. Using a Maxwellian model for the 252 Cf neutronenergy spectrum, kerma relative to muscle was determined for a variety of materials, and compared with relative kermas for external neutron beams of three different energies.Neutron isodose distributions and data necessary for clinical implementation of 252 Cf AT sources are also presented.
Aqueous electropolymerization of polyacrylamide onto AS‐4 graphite fibers

Constant current electropolymerization of acrylamide was initiated on the surfaces of AS-4 graphite fibers. Electropolymerization was performed using an aqueous solution of acrylamide dissolved in dilute sulfuric acid solution. The progress of electropolymerization was followed by measuring the weight of polyacrylamide deposited onto the surfaces of a unit weight of graphite fiber per unit time. The rate of electropolymerization was obtained from the slope of the linear region of the polymer weight gain vs. electropolymerization time curve. The rate of electropolymerization onto AS-4 graphite fiber surfaces was found to depend on the initial monomer concentration, sulfuric acid concentration, and current density raised to the powers of 1.67, 0.02, 0.54, respectively. Molecular weight measurements on the electropolymerized polyacrylamide were done by solution viscometry. Number average molecular weights of 430,000, 220,000, and 193,000 were obtained for polyacrylamide, electropolymerized at 1 mA/g, 50 mA/g, and 100 mA/g respectively, consistent with classical radical polymerization kinetics.
Transitions in polymer melts

It is shown that the liquid-liquid transition Tll in polymer melts need not be a true polymer transition but can be an artifact of the torsional braid analysis technique. The shift in Tll with molecular weight then is due to the variation of viscosity with molecular weight.
Empirical law for fault-creep events

Abstract Fault-creep events measured on the San Andreas and related faults near Hollister, California, can be described by a rheological model consisting of a spring, power-law dashpotand sliding block connected in series. An empirical creep-event law, derived from many creep-event records analyzed within the constraints of the model, provides a remarkably simple and accurate representation of creep-event behavior. The empirical creep law is expressed by the equation: D ( t )= D f [1−1/{ ct ( n −1) D f n −1 +1}/ ( n −1) ] where D is the value of displacement at time t following the onset of an event, D f is the final equilibrium value of the event displacementand C is a proportionality constant. This discovery should help determine whether the time—displacement character of creep events is controlled by the material properties of fault gouge, or by other parameters.
Getting to the Bottom Line on Low-interest Loans to Business: An Evaluation of the Small Cities Economic Development Programme in Minnesota

DEWAR M. E. and HAGENLOCKER B. (1996) Getting to the bottom line on low-interest loans to business: an evaluation of the Small Cities Economic Development Programme in Minnesota, Reg. Studies 30, 41–54. American local elected officials and planners commonly use low-interest loan programmes to attempt to promote economic growth and to encourage economic activity in distressed areas, but evaluations disagree about the programmes' effectiveness. This study's method reduces overestimation of economic growth (measured by job creation) and changes the estimation of costs to correct problems of past evaluations. When the method is applied to a Minnesota loan programme, the results show the programme created jobs at a wide range of costs, but many for less than $5,000 per job. Many of the jobs paid low wages, and the programme probably lowered earnings per job in the state. Further, the programme did redistribute some jobs to distressed areas, although it did not favour such areas. DEWAR M. E. et HAGENLOCKER B. (...
The Prudent Cold Warrior

Reinhold Niebuhr's Cold War stance was a middle ground between the harsh amorality of the realists and the overly hopeful liberal view. His liberal realism “endorsed constructive and seemingly altruistic measures because of his interpretation of the threat posed by communism and because of his philosophy of power.” After developing this stance in regards to Russia-U.S. relations, Niebuhr applied it to China. Sizemore explicates Niebuhr's Chinese position to provide a skeptical criticism of Reagan's Central American policies.
Effect of sea-level lowering on ELA depression during the LGM

Abstract Decreases in equilibrium-line altitudes (ELAs) varied geographically during the last glacial maximum (LGM), with a mid-range value of ~ 900 m commonly deduced from altitude ratio and accumulation–area ratio calculations. Sea level, however, was 120 m lower during the LGM, so the ELA lowering relative to sea level would only be 780 m for a 900-m absolute lowering. With a lapse rate of 0.006°C m−1, this implies a 4.7°C lowering of global temperature. It has been argued that this correction for sea-level change is unnecessary, but the logic on which this is based requires adiabatic compression to apply over much longer time scales than is typically invoked. We find that the correction is necessary. In addition, geometric changes in the atmosphere during the LGM, pointed out by Osmaston (2006), could lead to 0.4°C decrease in the average temperature of the troposphere. Additionally, orographic effects could significantly change the snow distribution on mountain masses near sea level.
Dynamic simulation and choice of generalized coordinates for a free-floating closed-chain planar manipulator

Abstract Free-floating manipulators are inherently different from fixed-base planar manipulators due to conservation of linear and angular momentum. In this paper, we present simulation studies of a free-floating closed-chain planar manipulator. A fundamental question which an analyst is faced with during dynamic simulation of closed-chain mechanisms is how to choose the generalized coordinates during simulation. The independence of coordinates is dependent on the instantaneous properties of the governing constraints. For free-floating manipulators, this question becomes even more difficult due to the presence of constraints of momentum conservation. The objectives of this paper are to: (a) present a modular algorithm to build a rigid-body dynamic model of a free-floating closed-chain planar manipulator such that the instantaneous properties of the constraints can be easily studied; and (b) examine the momentum and closure constraints to build an algorithm for selection and switching of the generalized coordinates during simulation. In this algorithm, the free-floating manipulator is broken into component subsystems and the equation of constraint on these subsystems. This algorithm clearly describes the instantaneous properties of the constraints during the motion of the mechanism and helps in the selection of the generalized coordinates. The simulation results with this dynamic model and the algorithm for switching of coordinates are presented.
How Should the Financial Crisis Change How We Teach Economics

Student dissatisfaction with teaching of economics—particularly with macroeconomics—during the current financial crisis mirrors dissatisfaction that was expressed during the last big crisis, the Great Depression. Then and now, a good number of students have felt that their lectures bear little relation to the economic crisis raging outside the halls of academe. The economics profession seems unusual, when compared with some other professions, in complaints that the teaching is irrelevant to practical lives. There appear to be few complaints among physics students that their education does not prepare them for practical pursuits, such as engineering. But economics, particularly macroeconomics, is different from physics not because of the mode of teaching but because the subject matter is harder to conceptualize. Models have to be frequently discarded and fundamentally new ones have to be brought to bear to make them relevant to changed circumstances. Student dissatisfaction with economics, however, is, des...
ENTOSIPHON SULCATUM (EUGLENOPHYCEAE): FLAGELLAR ROOTS OF THE BASAL BODY COMPLEX AND RESERVOIR REGION1,2

The flagellar root system of Entosiphon sulcatum (Dujardin) Stein (Euglenophyceae) is described and compared with kinetoplastid and other euglenoid systems. An asymmetric pattern of three microtubular roots, one between the two flagellar basal bodies and one on either side (here called the intermediate, dorsal, and ventral roots), is consistent within the euglenoid flagellates studied thus far. The dorsal root is associated with the basal body of the anterior flagellum (F1) and lies on the left dorsal side of the basal body complex. Originating between the two flagellar basal bodies, and associated with the basal body of the trailing flagellum (F2), the intermediate root is morphologically distinguished by fibrils interconnecting the individual microtubules to one another and to the overlying reservoir membrane. The intermediate root is often borne on a ridge projecting into the reservoir. The ventral root originates near the F2 basal body and lies on the right ventral side of the cell. Fibrillar connections link the membrane of F2 with the reservoir membrane at the reservoir-canal transition level. A large cross-banded fiber joins the two flagellar basal bodies, and a series of smaller striated fibers links the anterior accessory and flagellar basal bodies. Large nonstriated fibers extend from themore » basal body complex posteriorly into the cytoplasm.« less
Torsional Tunneling andA1–A2Splittings and Air Broadening of therQ0andpQ3Subbranches of the ν7Band of Ethane

Abstract The strong and sharp r Q 0 and p Q 3 subbranches of the ν 7 perpendicular band of C 2 H 6 near 3000 cm −1 are located in atmospheric windows and have been observed in several remote monitoring measurements of ethane using infrared solar absorption spectroscopy. We report here difference-frequency laser measurements of the air broadening and shifting of these Q branches at T = 296 and 160 K in order to improve the quantitative analysis of the atmospheric spectra. The air-broadened spectra can be fit to high accuracy by convolving the Doppler-limited spectra with single shifted Lorentzians with broadening coefficients of ∼0.67 cm −1 /MPa at 296 K and temperature exponents (γ ∝ T −n ) of n ∼ 1. The peculiar Doppler contours of these Q branches are unresolved, even at the lower temperatures. Therefore, in order to model their blended contours, we have recorded their sub-Doppler fine structure using a color-center laser optothermal molecular beam spectrometer. We have resolved torsional tunneling splittings in both Q subbranches and anomalous A 1 –A 2 splittings in p Q 3 with the individual J components exhibiting distinctive nuclear-spin weights. These splittings are induced by high-order torsional background perturbing states with localized irregularities, making it difficult to model the spectra with simple J ( J + 1) power series.
Serum ribonuclease in urologic cancer Relation to host immunocompetence

Abstract Increased circulating levels of S-RNase (serum ribonuclease), an enzyme with immunosuppressive properties, were demonstrated in 14 of 19 patients with prostatic carcinoma, 6 of 6 patients with renal cell carcinoma, 5 of 6 patients with bladder carcinoma, but only 1 of 8 patients with testis tumors. A significant correlation between S-RNase levels and the extent of tumor was demonstrated in patients with prostatic carcinoma, but not in patients with other urologic malignant conditions. Moreover, a significant correlation was demonstrated between S-RNase and host cell-mediated immunocompetence as measured by delayed cutaneous hypersensitivity to DNCB (dinitrochlorobenzene). The results suggest that the S-RNase assay may be of clinical use in experimental treatment programs to reflect fluctuations of tumor status when subtle effects on tumor growth may be obscured by the advanced tumor state.
Vector algorithms for geometrically nonlinear 3D finite element analysis

Algorithms for geometrically nonlinear finite element analysis are presented which exploit the vector processing capability of the VPS-32, which is closely related to the CYBER 205. By manipulating vectors (which are long lists of numbers) rather than individual numbers, very high processing speeds are obtained. Long vector lengths are obtained without extensive replication or reordering by storage of intermediate results in strategic patterns at all stages of the computations. Comparisons of execution times with those from programs using either scalar or other vector programming techniques indicate that the algorithms presented are quite efficient.
CIDEP of Micellized Radical Pairs in Low Magnetic Fields

We report the first experimental study of chemically induced electron spin polarization (CIDEP) processes in low magnetic fields for spin-correlated radical pairs (SCRPs) in micellar environments. Photoexcitation of (2,4,6-trimethylbenzoyl) diphenylphosphine oxide (TMBDPO) leads to the radical pair comprised of acyl radical 1 and phosphonyl radical 2. The spin polarization, which is very strong in free solution even at zero field, was detected using L-band time-resolved electron paramagnetic resonance (TREPR) spectroscopy with specially modified resonators. The mechanism of formation and decay of low field CIDEP in SCRPs is presented and discussed. The prominent difference between low and high field spectra in micelles is the absence of anti-phase structure for radical 2 with HFI a > B0. This feature is consistent with the proposed polarization mechanism and theoretical predictions.
A Final Reply to Hutchison and Loomis

While acknowledging that their design and methods were different from the original Proffitt, Stefanucci, Banton, and Epstein (2003) study, Hutchison and Loomis (H&L) continue to argue that their findings qualify our account of energetic influences on distance perception. This reply provides a brief and focused discussion of the methodological differences between their study and ours and why these differences were likely responsible for the different results. It is also argued that the measures employed by H&L are assessments of apparent location, not apparent distance.
Pleuropulmonary Complications of Enteral Tube Feedings: Two Reports, Review of the Literature, and Recommendations

Enteral tube feeding is an attractive alternative to intravenous alimentation for nutritional support. As previously used nasogastric tubes have been replaced with narrow-bore nasogastric tubes, the spectrum of complications seen with these devices has changed. We report a previously undescribed event associated with narrow-bore nasogastric tube feeding, review the literature, noting predisposing factors and complications, and suggest guidelines to avoid pitfalls of insertion and the ensuing adverse effects.
Singletons and twistors

Singletons and twistors are unified from a group-theoretic point of view. In particular, singletons are described as the de Sitter analogue of twistors.
Some Experiments in Rearing Channel Catfish

(1929). Some Experiments in Rearing Channel Catfish. Transactions of the American Fisheries Society: Vol. 59, No. 1, pp. 114-117.
Relationship between a physiological and personality index of excitability

Eysenck’s personality dimension of introversion-extroversion was compared with reaction time as an index of excitatory potential. Inhibitory potentials of the task and stimulus were experimentally minimized. Freshman nursing students served as Ss. Extroverts (11) evidenced significantly faster (p <.01) simple visual RTs than did introverts (10). A significant negative correlation between extroversion scale score and RT for 35 Ss was also noted. It was suggested that studies yielding relationships between introversion-extroversion and response systems have depended largely upon the influence of inhibition. Excitation and inhibition were viewed as relatively independent processes which should be investigated separately.
Iron-based superconductors: Timing is crucial

Many studies into the properties of the recently discovered ferropnictide superconductors lead to seemingly contradictory interpretations. Such discrepancies could be explained by the emergence of temporally fluctuating excitations formed by the antiphase boundaries between local spin-density-wave domains.
Age-Related Changes in Tissue Metabolic Rates and Sensitivity to Insulin in the Chicken

In vitro metabolic studies were conducted with tissues from broiler pullets at 4, 8, and 12 weeks of age. In order to accurately assess plasma insulin at each of these ages, blood samples were withdrawn via indwelling venous catheters at 30-min intervals for 6 hr, and plasma was assayed by a homologous chicken insulin (cIns) radioimmunoassay. Birds (n = 6) were sacrificed 24 hr following blood sampling and livers, hearts, and abdominal fat pads removed for metabolic studies. Tissue slices of removed organs were incubated in Krebs-Ringer Bicarbonate buffer containing 13.9 mM glucose, .25 mM leucine, and .35 mM palmitate with either 0.0, 0.1, 1.0, or 100 ng/ml cIns. Carbon-14 labelled substrates were added to appropriate slice incubations and oxidation and incorporation into endproducts assessed. Plasma insulin decreased with age from 4 to 12 weeks (area under 6-hr concentration curve = 172.0 vs 56.9 ng X min X ml-1) to a degree approaching significance (P less than .10), in conjunction with decreased feed intake per unit of body weight. Palmitate oxidation and incorporation into cell lipid by adipose tissue, glucose oxidation and incorporation into lipid by liver and incorporation of leucine into trichloroacetic acid (TCA)-precipitable protein by cardiac muscle decreased substantially with age from 4 to 8 weeks (P less than .05). Oxidation of the branched-chain amino acid by cardiac muscle did not change significantly with age. Insulin enhanced the rate of leucine oxidation by cardiac muscle approximately 100% at 12 weeks but had no significant effect at earlier ages.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
The N-terminus of PE2 in Sindbis virus-infected cells

One of the two envelope glycoproteins of Sindbis virus, E2, and its intracellular precursor PE2 were obtained in chemically pure form from Sindbis infected cells by immunoabsorption with antibody against E2. The N-terminus of PE2, which is probably the signal sequence of this protein, was examined and two N-termini were found. One, the primary product of translation, was sequenced by Edman degradation and the other was found to be blocked and produced by N-acetylation of the first. It was also found that an asparagine residue at position 14 of PE2 is glycosylated. The putative signal sequence is not cleaved by signal peptidase either under normal conditions or when glycosylation is prevented with tunicamycin.
Carbon and oxygen isotope stratigraphy of the Lower Mississippian (Kinderhookian-lower Osagean), western United States: Implications for seawater chemistry and glaciation

A positive carbon isotope (δ 1 3 C) excursion has been recognized in upper Kinderhookian and early Osagean carbonates in three sections in southeast Idaho and Nevada. The oldest δ 1 3 C peak (+7‰) is dated to the isostichaconodont zone, and a younger peak occurs in the typicus Zone. The shifts are recorded in a range of carbonate lithofacies representing various water depths along the shelf. Lithofacies sampled for δ 1 3 C and δ 1 8 O at the Samaria Mountain section in southeast Idaho record the shallowest-water conditions, indicated by cross-bedded skeletal and peloidal grainstones. The deepest water conditions are present in the Pahranagat Range section in eastern Nevada, which consists mainly of bioturbated lime mudstone and skeletal wackestone. The δ 1 3 C values from these widely separated sedimentary basins show a consistent trend that correlates with Early Mississippian curves generated from brachiopod calcite in western Europe and the Midcontinent of North America, as well as dolomites in Utah and Wyoming. δ 1 8 O values become more positive up section, generally paralleling the positive trend in δ 1 3 C during the late Kinderhookian. No subaerial exposure surfaces are recognized in the sections examined in southeast Idaho and Nevada, and at least the δ 1 3 C trends are interpreted as primary seawater fluctuations. Sea-level changes occurred near the beginning of the late Kinderhookian δ 1 3 C shift (early to middle parts of the isosticha Zone) and within the peak of the δ 1 3 C excursion (Kinderhookian-Osagean boundary), although tectonic changes associated with the Antler orogeny have likely modified the eustatic signature.
Wavemeter for lead-salt diode laser calibration

A wavemeter is built to verify single-mode operation and measure the lasing frequency of a lead-salt diode laser.
Laugh syncope as a rare sub-type of the situational syncopes: a case report

Laughter is a good medicine; it enhances cardiovascular health and the immune system. What happens, however, if a person laughs too much or the laughter becomes out of control? Laughter-induced syncope is rare and likely goes unrecognized by many health care providers. It is thought to be another form of Valsalva-induced syncope. We report the case of a 56-year-old, moderately obese (body mass index of 35) man with a past medical history of sleep apnea, hypertension and hyperlipidemia who suffered from syncope secondary to intense laughter. The patient also had a history of syncope in the distant past when he collapsed on the floor for several seconds. Treadmill stress testing after the incident revealed no arrhythmia or ischemic disease, although he complained of dizziness after the test and a sudden drop in blood pressure was noted. Laughter-induced or gelastic syncope is extremely rare. It is thought to be a sub-type of the situational syncopes.
Prenatal and Postnatal Ovine Adrenal Cell responses to Prostaglandin E2

To examine the secretory effect of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and ACTH on the adrenal glands of prenatal and postnatal sheep. Immunocytochemistry was used to examine the adrenal cortex and medulla for 17α-hydroxylase and tyrosine hydroxylase immunoreactivity. Microphysiometric technique was used to measure [H+] after exposure of whole dispersed prenatal and postnatal adrenal glands to PGE2, ACTH, or both. Immunocytochemistry showed many cortical-type cells in all adrenal medullae and many medullary-type cells in fetal adrenal cortices. Maximum H+ responsiveness to PGE2 deceased with increasing age. The developmental age-related pattern of maximum percentage change in [H+] during ACTH exposure was similar to previous findings with cortisol production as the endpoint. ACTH stimulated H+ production at 80 days’ gestation and at all ages greater than 125 days’ gestation (P <. 05). The molar concentration of ligand required to elicit a response that was 50% of maximum response (EC50) for the ACTH response was lower in fetuses than in newborn lambs (< 1 day and 3 days old), but there was no change in EC50 for PGE2 across the ages studied. Adrenal cell response to ACTH after prior ACTH and PGE2 exposure was higher (P <. 05) compared with ACTH after ACTH or ACTH alone at 110 days’ gestation only and was lower in 3-day-old lambs. Based on the ACTH results, microphysiometry was a valid method for investigating dispresed adrenal cell physiology. Prostaglandin E2 stimulated dispersed adrenal cells during the mid-gestation ACTH refractory period, but this effect decreased with increasing age. Prostaglandin E2 sensitized adrenal cells to ACTH at 110 days’ gestation but inhibited ACTH effects at postnatal day 3.
Could shear stress be the answer

Comment on Hassenpflug et al, page [2339][1] This study demonstrates that mutations within the A2 domain that impair the secretion of VWF also influence the proteolysis of VWF by ADAMTS13 because this effect is a general property of VWD type 2A. Von Willebrand factor (VWF) is a large multimeric
Learned helplessness and the generality of social loafing

Theorists have suggested that social loafing is an instance of learned helplessness. We argue that this explanation is unwarranted in the absence of evidence that social loafing is generalized from one situation to another. We report an experiment consistent with our argument. College students working in a group performed more poorly at a word-generating task than subjects working by themselves, but this social loafing was not associated with subsequent problem-solving difficulties or with sad affect.
Control of phase separation and voiding in oil‐filled polypropylene

The physical properties, morphologies, and fracture characteristics of samples injection molded from blends of polypropylene and a low-viscosity hydrocarbon oil are described. Unexpectedly large improvements in mechanical and optical properties are found to occur on the addition of a nucleating agent (copper phthalocyanine). Both the ultimate tensile strength and the elongation of unnucleated samples are doubled by incorporation of as little as 0.01% of the nucleant. Similar increases in the properties of unnucleated blends are observed when the barrel temperature of the molding machine is reduced. In both cases, marked improvements in visual uniformity occur. It is shown that these gains can be correlated with improved dispersion of the oil as spherulite size is reduced.
A method for direct measurement of ion mobilities using a travelling wave ion guide

Abstract The relatively recent introduction of a commercial ion mobility-mass spectrometry instrument has provided access to ion mobility for many investigators for the first time. The mechanism of mobility separation in this instrument differs from classical drift tubes in that travelling voltage waves are used, which has necessitated calibration of the device when collision cross-section (CCS) data are required. Here we present a study into a mode of operation of the travelling wave mobility separator which enables direct determination of mobility and hence CCS values. It is shown that for fixed travelling wave pulse amplitudes and velocities, a minimum mobility is required for an ion species to fully surf on a single wave through the mobility device. For a species with the minimum mobility, the trajectory on the travelling wave front is unique and reproducible. SIMION modelling shows the electric potential profile of the travelling wave to be approximately Gaussian and this is used to establish the field experienced by an ion species on the wave front, ultimately allowing determination of mobility values. With the travelling wave mobility device operating with Helium at 2.5 mbar and equivalent wave velocities of 200–300 m/s, wave amplitudes between 7.9 and 16.2 V were required to establish the mobilities of various singly and multiply charged species ranging in CCS from 147 to 3815 A 2 . We show that using this method, CCS values can be obtained which are within 5% of the results obtained using drift tubes.
Kinase inhibitors for cardiovascular disease.

Abstract Over the last decade, there has been substantial progress toward understanding the pathophysiology and treatment of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Elucidating cellular responses to the extracellular environment and signal transduction mechanisms have provided the opportunity to explore novel molecular therapeutic approaches for the treatment of CVDs. Neurohormonal stimulation has been implicated in these diseases; blockade of the renin–angiotensin and β-adrenergic systems are examples of therapeutic effectiveness. There are multiple cell signaling cascades, some of which are beneficial or compensatory and others deleterious. The balance between these pathways, which in large part is dictated by the cellular environment, determines the outcome as a diseased or non-diseased state. Selective targeting of signaling pathways using protein kinase inhibitors, would have a potential advantage over receptor blockers. We review potential protein kinase targets and recent evidence supporting therapeutic interventional value in CVDs.
Analysis of low-energy electron diffraction from the (100), (110), and (111) faces of aluminum

Experimental low-energy-electron-diffraction (LEED) intensity profiles from the (100), (110), and (111) faces of clean aluminum are analyzed using a version of the inelastic-collision model which incorporates the effects both of lattice vibrations and of a "realistic" model of the electron-ion-core potential as described by its $l\ensuremath{\le}2$ partial-wave phase shifts. The data consists of specular and nonspecular beams in the energy range 0-180 eV for angles of incidence between 0\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{} and 25\ifmmode^\circ\else\textdegree\fi{}. Treating the surfaces as if they were simply truncations of the bulk solid provides an adequate qualitative description of the data from Al (100) and Al (111). Analysis of the data from Al (110) suggests a contraction of the upper-layer spacing by about 10%. The failure of the calculations to describe the fine structure in the observed intensities for large angles of incidence is attributed to uncertainties in our model of the electron-solid force law.
Differential diffusion charge redistribution for photovoltaic cell-level power balancing

Mismatch loss remains an important issue to address in PV systems, and many power electronic solutions have been proposed to recover these losses. However, conventional power electronics for solar power optimization often have to make tradeoffs among conversion efficiency, optimization granularity, and overall system cost. This paper presents a cell-level power balancing scheme that breaks the existing design paradigm. The proposed architecture simultaneously achieves maximum power point tracking without any external passive components at the cell-level, and maintains differential power processing with zero insertion loss. This is accomplished by leveraging the recently proposed diffusion charge redistribution technique, taking advantage of the readily available diffusion capacitance of solar cells to perform power balancing rather than relying on adding costly energy storage components. Furthermore, a dual current inverter interface is introduced to avoid processing common-mode generated power in order to minimize overall conversion loss. Significant boost in overall system efficiency is achieved under both matched and partial shading conditions. Simulation results are included to demonstrate the feasibility and benefit of this approach.
Kitchen table sustainability: practical recipes for community engagement with sustainability

Kitchen table sustainability: practical recipes for community engagement with sustainability, by Wendy Sarkissian, Nancy Hofer, Yollana Shore, Steph Vajda, and Cathy Wilkinson, London, UK and Sterl...
Ste5 RING-H2 domain: Role in Ste4-promoted oligomerization for yeast pheromone signaling

Ste5 is a scaffold for the mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) cascade components in a yeast pheromone response pathway. Ste5 also associates with Ste4, the β subunit of a heterotrimeric guanine nucleotide–binding protein, potentially linking receptor activation to stimulation of the MAPK cascade. A RING-H2 motif at the Ste5 amino terminus is apparently essential for function because Ste5(C177S) and Ste5(C177A C180A) mutants did not rescue the mating defect of a ste5Δ cell. In vitro Ste5(C177A C180A) bound each component of the MAPK cascade, but not Ste4. Unlike wild-type Ste5, the mutant did not appear to oligomerize; however, when fused to a heterologous dimerization domain (glutathione S-transferase), the chimeric protein restored mating in an ste5Δ cell and an ste4Δ ste5Δ double mutant. Thus, the RING-H2 domain mediates Ste4-Ste5 interaction, which is a prerequisite for Ste5-Ste5 self-association and signaling.
Photonic crystal fiber with resonant-coupling higher-order-mode suppression

Non-axially symmetric micro-structured fibers including photonic crystal fibers and leakage channel fibers have been investigated as possible means to enable mode field area scaling while retaining low-loss fundamental mode propagation. In this paper we report on the theoretical and experimental investigation of a photonic crystal fiber designed for single-polarization operation in a coiled configuration incorporating a resonant higher-order mode suppressing structure within the cladding. We performed spatially and spectrally resolved (S2) imaging of the output of a 18.6 meter length of fiber when seeded with a broadband ASE source. We observed no trace of any localized or distributed scattering to higher order modes in the spatially resolved Fourier transformed output spectra indicating robust single-transverse-mode output.
Ultraviolet B-Exposed and Soluble Factor-Pre-Incubated Epidermal Langerhans Cells Fail to Induce Contact Hypersensitivity and Promote DNP-Specific Tolerance

Acute low-dose ultraviolet B (UVB) radiation impairs the induction of contact hypersensitivity (CH) and induces tolerance in UVB-susceptible strains of mice when dinitrofluorobenzene (DNFB) is applied to an irradiated skin surface. We are interested in learning the cellular and molecular bases for the existence of UVB susceptibility in certain strains of mice. CH was induced by subcutaneous injections into naive syngeneic C57BL/6 and BALB/c mice of dinitrophenyl (DNP)-derivatized Thy-1 + -depleted epidermal cells enriched for Ia + cells (LC/DNP, 2 × 10 4 cells per mouse). Tolerance was detected by applying 185 μ g of DNFB epicutaneously to mice treated 2 wk earlier with a putative tolerating regimen and testing CH expression. We found that LC/DNP obtained from C57BL16 skin 2 h after UVB irradiation (400J per m 2 ) failed to induce CH and induced DNP-specific tolerance instead; by contrast, similar cells obtained from same or even higher dose (400J per m 2 and 1200J per m 2 ) UVB-exposed BALB/c skin induced vigorous CH, and no tolerance was detected. In both C57BL/6 and BALB/c mice, Ia + -depleted EC/DNP neither sensitized naive syngeneic mice nor induced tolerance. LC/DNP prepared from unirradiated trunk skin of either C57BL/6 or BALB/c mice and pre-incubated in vitro for 2h with cis -UCA, TNF- α , or IL-10 failed to induce intense CH; instead, all induced DNP-specific tolerance. Pre-incubation of similar LCs with α -MSH in vitro for 2h also failed to induce CH but did not cause tolerance. Thus, single low-dose UVB irradiation alters the immunogenic and tolerogenic potentials of LCs only in UVB-susceptible mice; by contrast, pretreatment of LCs with UVE-dependent soluble factors can achieve effects similar to UVB irradiation in both UVB-susceptible and -resistant strains of mice. These findings demonstrate that UVB susceptibility in mice may be determined by the production of UVB-dependent soluble factors within UVB-irradiated skin.
Sympathetic nervous system regulation of liver repair

This chapter reviews recent evidence that the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) regulates liver repair by modulating the phenotypes of hepatic stellate cells (HSCs), the liver's principal fibrogenic cells, and hepatic epithelial progenitors, i.e., oval cells. SNS nerve fibers touch HSCs and these cells express adrenoceptors, suggesting that HSCs may be targets for SNS neurotransmitters. HSCs also contain catecholamine biosynthetic enzymes, release norepinephrine (NE), and are growth-inhibited by adrenoceptor antagonists. In addition, HSCs from mice with reduced levels of NE grow poorly in culture and exhibit inhibited activation during liver injury. Finally, growth and injury-related fibrogenic responses are rescued by adrenoceptor agonists. Thus, certain SNS inhibitors (SNSIs) protect experimental animals from cirrhosis. Conversely, SNSIs enhance the hepatic accumulation of oval cells (OCs) in injured livers. This response is associated with improved liver injury. Because SNSIs do not affect the expression of cytokines, growth factors, or growth factor receptors that are known to regulate OCs, and OCs express adrenoceptors, it is conceivable that catecholamines influence OCs by direct interaction with OC adrenoceptors. Given evidence that the SNS regulates the viability and activation of HSCs and OCs differentially, SNSIs may be novel therapies to improve the repair of damaged livers.
B. S. Johnson and the Frontiers of Fiction

(1977). B. S. Johnson and the Frontiers of Fiction. Critique: Studies in Contemporary Fiction: Vol. 19, No. 1, pp. 58-74.
FURTHER STUDIES OF GLASS FRACTURE WITH HIGH-SPEED PHOTOGRAPHY*

Photoelastic photographs, with exposures of approximately one-millionth of a second, were taken of transient stresses in glass before, during, and after fracture. The longitudinal and transverse waves in glass have been photographed and their velocities measured (18,000 and 11,000 ft. per sec, respectively). It was also found that under special conditions cracks may travel slower than .5000 ft. per sec, the value previously given as the crack propagation velocity.
Recent advances in sketch recognition

In a shocking and almost silly interview with Max Jacobson, Christopher Alexander recounted the following story."There was a conference which I was invited to a few months ago where computer graphics was being discussed as one item and I was arguing very strongly against computer graphics simply because of the frame of mind that you need to be in to create a good building. Are you at peace with yourself? Are you thinking about smell and touch, and what happens when people are walking about in a place? But particularly, are you at peace with yourself? All of that is completely disturbed by the pretentiousness, insistence and complicatedness of computer graphics and all the allied techniques. So my final objection to that and to other types of methodology is that they actually prevent you from being in the right state of mind to do the design, quite apart from the question of whether they help in a sort of technical sense, which, as I said, I don't think they do."
Understanding sexual orientation health disparities in smoking: A population-based analysis.

Lesbian, gay, and bisexual populations are at elevated risk for tobacco use compared to their heterosexual peers. However, there is little research examining reasons for this disparity. Drawing on prior literature regarding psychosocial variables associated with both sexual orientation and smoking, the authors tested a path model of risk and protective factors to help explain sexual orientation differences in smoking using data from the Washington State Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System from 2003 to 2007. The authors estimated separate models for men and women, comparing lesbians or gays and bisexuals to heterosexuals. Results indicated that the explanatory variables accounted for most of the variance in this relationship, with both risk-enhancing and risk-reducing pathways. Mental health, life dissatisfaction, alcohol use, exposure to tobacco marketing, and single relationship status were risk enhancers for most LGB participants. Health-care access and income level were risk enhancers for bisexual participants only. Neither emotional support nor attitudes and knowledge about tobacco use helped explain the relationship between sexual orientation and smoking. These findings have significant implications for tobacco prevention and control efforts in this high-risk population.
Comparison of Numerical Techniques Used for Simulating Variable-Density Flow and Transport Experiments

The writers investigated the relative performance of three different numerical techniques available in the SEAWAT/MT3DMS code by simulating two new variable-density-flow and transport experimental data sets. The experiments were designed to represent two distinctly different variable-density configurations that involve transport of a sinking groundwater plume and a rising groundwater plume. The numerical techniques used for simulating these experiments included the method of characteristics approach (MOC), total-variation-diminishing scheme (TVD), and finite-difference scheme (FD). Both homogeneous and heterogeneous hydraulic conductivity fields were employed in the numerical simulations to explore the effects of heterogeneities. The results indicate that all three numerical methods have limitations and were not able to satisfactorily reproduce the instabilities observed in the experimental data sets. The results show the need for improving the accuracy of numerical techniques that are currently being use...
Computation of Iwasawa Lambda invariants for imaginary quadratic fields

A method for computing the Iwasawa lambda invariants of an imaginary quadratic field is developed and used to construct a table of these invariants for discriminants up to 1,000 and primes up to 20,000.
Upward solidification of a binary solution saturated porous medium

Abstract Upward solidification of a binary solution saturated porous medium was investigated experimentally and theoretically to identify the dominant physical phenomena and to document the experimental results. A solid matrix of the porous medium was a packed bed of glass beads, and the saturating liquid was an aqueous sodium chloride solution on the water-rich side of the eutectic composition. Freezing experiments were performed in a square cross-section enclosure under constant temperature conditions at the cold bottom and hot top walls. Transient temperature profiles and the liquidus and solidus positions were measured for different combinations of bead size, initial temperature and initial salt concentration. Simultaneous measurements of local concentration and temperature at selected locations were also made in a separate series of experiments. An analytical model, based on heat and species conservation principles and relations from the equilibrium phase diagram is suggested, and the predictions are compared with experimental data. The uniform distribution of the predicted average concentration suggests that species transport by diffusion is negligible, and the effect of bead size on the temperature profiles was confined to the region near the cold bottom. The behavior of dimensionless temperature under different initial temperature and concentration conditions could be explained by the relation between the local freezing rate and nonequilibrium undercooling. Also, the ‘over-enriching’ was observed in the mushy region away from the liquidus, but a quantitative analysis was not performed. The importance of incorporating models, which account for the effects of nonequilibrium undercooling and density differences between phases, and the need for experimental diagnostics, which do not disturb the physical phenomena occurring during the solidification of the mixture, are emphasized.
A Prolog system for case-based classification (abstract)

It is becoming apparent from the research of Kolodner, Schank, and others that case-based reasoning is an important tool for artificial intelligence. We have implemented a case-based system in Prolog that classifies objects described by attribute-value pairs. It uses Prolog's facilities to manage a case database and to encode features. The basis for classification is a “nearest neighbor” measure on a universal scale of similarity. The user specifies a scaling factor for naturally numeric data, thus allowing comparisons across dimensions. For non-numeric data, the user can specify numeric values on the standard scale for each value of the feature. For features that take on unordered values, the user can specify a standard difference to use in the case of inequality between values. Cases can have missing values for any feature, a circumstance that arises often in real applications. In a comparison between cases where one has a missing value for a feature, a standard difference for that feature is used. The user can control the importance of features in classification by manipulating scale factors and the numbers assigned to non-numeric values. If the system misclassifies an object, it saves its description with the correct classification. As the user interacts with the program, new features can be introduced. The program has been tested successfully with numeric audiology data and with non-numeric descriptors. This program should make case-based classification more accessible to potential users.