cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Common and uncommon vascular rings and slings: A multi-modality review

Vascular rings and pulmonary slings are congenital anomalies of the aortic arch/great vessels and pulmonary arteries, respectively, that commonly present early during infancy and childhood with respiratory and/or feeding difficulties. The diagnosis of these conditions frequently utilizes a multi-modality radiological approach, commonly utilizing some combination of radiography, esophagography, CT angiography and MR angiography. The purpose of this pictorial review is to illustrate the radiological findings of common and uncommon vascular rings and pulmonary slings in children using a state-of-the-art multi-modality imaging approach.
Urodynamic Risk Factors for Renal Dysfunction in Men With Obstructive and Nonobstructive Voiding Dysfunction

AbstractPurpose: Urodynamic investigation of men with lower urinary tract symptoms, usually attributed to benign prostatic hyperplasia, often reveals bladder outlet obstruction, detrusor instability and/or diminished vesical compliance. We investigated whether these urodynamic abnormalities alone or in combination contribute to renal dysfunction.Materials and Methods: A total of 161 men with lower urinary tract symptoms was evaluated by urodynamics, but outlet obstruction, detrusor instability and decreased compliance (30 ml./cm. water or less) were noted. Serum blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine were measured. Cases were categorized according to the urodynamic diagnosis. Mean values of serum BUN and creatinine as well as the incidence of elevated BUN and creatinine were compared among groups.Results: of the cohort 54 men (34%) had elevated BUN and 19 (12%) had elevated serum creatinine. No significant correlation was found between the degree of obstruction and BUN or creatinine level. Mean serum BU...
Cognitive modeling demonstrates how people use anticipated location knowledge of menu items

This research presents cognitive models of a person selecting an item from a familiar, ordered, pull-down menu. Two different models provide a good fit with human data and thus two different possible explanations for the low- level cognitive processes involved in the task. Both models assert that people make an initial eye and hand movement to an anticipated target location without waiting for the menu to appear. The first model asserts that a person knows the exact location of the target item before the menu appears, but the model uses nonstandard Fitts law coefficients to predict mouse pointing time. The second model asserts that a person would only know the approximate location of the target item, and the model uses Fitts law coefficients better supported by the literature. This research demonstrates that people can develop considerable knowledge of locations in a visual task environment, and that more work regarding Fitts law is needed.
Quantitative Analysis of Three-Dimensional-Resolved Fiber Architecture in Heterogeneous Skeletal Muscle Tissue Using NMR and Optical Imaging Methods

The determination of principal fiber directions in structurally heterogeneous biological tissue substantially contributes to an understanding of its mechanical function in vivo. In this study we have depicted structural heterogeneity through the model of the mammalian tongue, a tissue comprised of a network of highly interwoven fibers responsible for producing numerous variations of shape and position. In order to characterize the three-dimensional-resolved microscopic myoarchitecture of the intrinsic musculature of the tongue, we viewed its fiber orientation at microscopic and macroscopic length scales using NMR (diffusion tensor MRI) and optical (two-photon microscopy) imaging methods. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) of the excised core region of the porcine tongue resulted in an array of 3D diffusion tensors, in which the leading eigenvector corresponded to the principal fiber orientation at each location in the tissue. Excised axially oriented lingual core tissues (fresh or paraffin-embedded) were also imaged with a mode-locked Ti-Sapphire laser, (76 MHz repetition rate, 150 femtosecond pulse width), allowing for the visualization of individual myofibers at in situ orientation. Fiber orientation was assessed by computing the 3D autocorrelation of discrete image volumes, and deriving the minimal eigenvector of the center voxel Hessian matrix. DTI of the fibers, comprising the intrinsic core of the tongue, demonstrated directional heterogeneity, with two distinct populations of fibers oriented orthogonal to each other and in-plane to the axial perspective. Microscopic analysis defined this structural heterogeneity as discrete regions of in-plane parallel fibers, with an angular separation of ~80 degrees, thereby recapitulating the macroscopic angular relationship. This analysis, conceived at two different length scales, demonstrates that the lingual core is a spatially complex tissue, composed of repeating orthogonally oriented and in-plane fiber patches, which are capable of jointly producing hydrostatic elongation and displacement.
Approaches to a non-abelian antisymmetric tensor gauge field theory

Abstract Two distinct attempts at constructing a theory of non-abelian antisymmetric tensor gauge fields (ATGF's) are considered. First, a recently proposed geometry of abelian ATGF's is reviewed and then generalized to the non-abelian case. The resulting geometric action is non-local and is invariant under non-local gauge transformations; in the local limit the action describes free fields. Lattice actions for both the abelian and non-abelian ATGF theories are also presented. In the second approach, a lattice action for non-abelian ATGF's is constructed using a plaquette variables that carry four internal indices. The continuum limit is also a non-interacting theory.
Surface exended X-ray absorption fine structure of copper on a platinum electrode

Abstract We have measured EXAFS from a Cu monolayer adsorbed on a Pt electrode while the sample was under electrochemical control. The experiment exploits high intensity tunable X-rays, grazing incidence on a large surface (55 cm 2 ), and fluorescence detection using a custom ion chamber. The data indicate that the first neighbor to Cu in the plane parallel to surface is most probably oxygen at 1.98 A. Second neighbors are either Cu at 2.59 A or oxygen at 2.55 A.
Activation of the skeletal muscle Ca2+ release channel by the triazine dyes Cibacron Blue F3A-G and reactive Red 120

Vesicle-45Ca2+ ion flux and planar lipid bilayer single-channel measurements have shown that the Ca2+ release channel of skeletal muscle sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) is activated by micromolar concentrations of Cibacron Blue F3A-G (Reactive Blue 2) and Reactive Red 120. Cibacron Blue increased the 45Ca2+ efflux rate from heavy SR vesicles by apparently interacting with both the adenine nucleotide and caffeine activating sites of the channel. Dye-induced 45Ca2+ release was inhibited by Mg2+ and ruthenium red. In single channel recordings with the purified channel protein complex, Cibacron Blue increased the open time of the Ca2+ release channel without an apparent change in the conductance of the main and subconductance states of the channel.
Exploring the Relationship Between Prior Career Experience and Instructional Quality Among Mathematics and Science Teachers in Alternative Teacher Certification Programs

This mixed-method evaluation study examines relationships between the nature and characteristics of teachers’ prior experiences and teachers’ practice of standards-based instruction as a measure of instructional quality among alternatively certified mathematics and science teachers. The study found that career length, number of prior careers, and career relevance to subject area were not related to instructional quality. However, teachers with prior career experiences that were education-related practiced standards-based instruction to a greater degree than teachers with no education-relevant career experience. Implications of these findings for policy makers and practitioners are discussed.
Protecting Children While Silencing Them: The Children's Online Privacy Protection Act and Children's Free Speech Rights

In 1998, Congress passed the first law protecting the privacy of individuals on the Internet. The Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA) restricts the online collection of personal information from children aged 12 or younger. Under the law, Web sites that maintain chat rooms directed at children must either condition a child's participation on the consent of a parent or guardian or monitor the chat room and censor references to personal information. This article examines whether COPPA's chat room restrictions infringe on the free speech rights of children. The examination finds that aspects of the chat room restrictions are constitutionally suspect because it is questionable whether the parental consent requirement is narrowly tailored.
Antagonism of the behavioral effects of L-phenylisopropyladenosine (L-PIA) by caffeine and its metabolites.

Three male Sprague-Dawley strain rats were trained to respond under a multi-component time out 5 min variable ratio 15 (VR15) schedule of food reinforcement. Cumulative, within session dose-effect curves were determined for L-PIA alone and after methylxanthine pretreatment. L-PIA alone produced dose related decreases on VR15 responding at doses between 0.032 and 0.178 mg/kg. Significant antagonism of L-PIA was demonstrated from pretreatment with caffeine, theophylline, theobromine, paraxan-thine, 3-methylxanthine, and 7-methylxanthine. No antagonism of L-PIA was observed following pretreatment with 1-methylxanthine. Consistent with the adenosine receptor blockade hypothesis, caffeine also antagonized the effects of 5′-N-ethylcarboxamide adenosine (NECA) on VR15 responding.
The effect of ZnO addition on Co/C catalyst for vapor and aqueous phase reforming of ethanol

Abstract The effect of ZnO addition on the oxidation behavior of Co along with catalytic performance in vapor and aqueous phase reforming of ethanol were investigated on Co supported on carbon black (XC-72R). Carbon was selected to minimize the support interactions. Effect of ZnO addition during both vapor and aqueous phase reforming were compared at 250 °C. ZnO addition inhibited the reduction of cobalt oxides by H 2 and created surface sites for H 2 O activation. During vapor phase reforming at 450 °C the redox of cobalt, driven by steam oxidation and H 2 reduction, trended to an equilibrium of Co 0 /Co 2+ . ZnO showed no significant effect on cobalt oxidation, inferred from the minor changes of C 1 product yield. Surface sites created by ZnO addition enhanced water activation and oxidation of surface carbon species, increasing CO 2 selectivity. At 250 °C cobalt reduction was minimal, in situ XANES demonstrated that ZnO addition significantly facilitated oxidation of Co 0 under vapor phase reforming conditions, demonstrated by lower C 1 product yield. Sites introduced by ZnO addition improved the CO x selectivity at 250 °C. Both Co/C and Co-ZnO/C rapidly oxidized under aqueous phase reaction conditions at 250 °C, showing negligible activity in aqueous phase reforming. This work suggests that ZnO affects the activation of H 2 O for Co catalysts in ethanol reforming.
H- formation process in a multicusp ion source.

The H/sup -/ formation process has been investigated in a magnetically filtered multicusp source operated at a modest plasma density. By use of a mixture of xenon and hydrogen gas, it is found that the production of H/sup -/ ions in the tandem discharge geometry is consistent with a model of dissociative attachment of low-energy electrons to vibrationally excited hydrogen molecules.
Growth and properties of quasiperiodic heterostructures

Abstract We have recently demonstrated the MBE growth of heterostructures in which layers of GaAs and AlAs were deposited in a Fibonacci sequence. This yields a quasiperiodic structure with the ratio of incommensurate periods equal to the golden mean, γ. We present an overview of the unique structural, electronic, and vibrational properties of this new class of materials emphasizing the role of the incommensurate structure normal to the layers. Inevitably, defects are introduced by growth fluctuations but do not appear to disrupt significantly the special characteristics which originate from the quasiperiodic ordering.
Expression of type I interferon-induced antiviral state and pro-apoptosis markers during experimental infection with low or high virulence bovine viral diarrhea virus in beef calves.

The objective of this study was to compare the mRNA expression of host genes involved in type-I interferon-induced antiviral state (IFN-α, IFN-β, Mx-1, PKR, OAS-1 and ISG-15), and apoptosis (caspase-3, -8, and -9), after experimental infection of beef calves with low or high virulence noncytopathic (ncp) bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) strains. Thirty BVDV-naive, clinically normal calves were randomly assigned to three groups. Calves were intranasally inoculated with low (LV; n=10, strain SD-1) or high (HV; n=10, strain 1373) virulence ncp BVDV or BVDV-free cell culture medium (Control, n=10). Quantitative RT-PCR was used to determine the target gene expression in tracheo-bronchial lymph nodes and spleen 5 days after infection. Interferon-α and -β mRNA levels were up-regulated in tracheo-bronchial lymph nodes (P<0.05) in the HV group, but not in the LV group, compared with the control group. There was an up-regulation of type I interferon-induced genes in spleen and tracheo-bronchial lymph nodes of HV and LV groups, compared with the control group (P<0.01). mRNA levels of OAS-1 and ISG-15 were significantly higher in LV than HV calves (P<0.05). A significant up-regulation of caspase-8 and -9 was observed in tracheo-bronchial lymph nodes in the LV group (P=0.01), but not in the HV group. In conclusion, experimental infection with either high or low virulence BVDV strains induced a significant expression of the type I interferon-induced genes in beef calves. There was a differential expression of some interferon-induced genes (OAS-1 and ISG-15) and pro-apoptosis markers based on BVDV virulence and genotype.
Dealing in Discipline: Party Switching and Legislative Voting in the Italian Chamber of Deputies, 1988–2000

Compared to U.S. political parties, parties in Italy (and Europe generally) are quite cohesive. Rarely do members of parliament vote against their copartisans in legislative divisions. Yet in Italy in recent years, legislators switch parties with seeming abandon. Between 1996 and spring 2000, one out of four deputies in the Chamber of Deputies switched parties at least once, compared to only 20 switches in the U.S. Congress from 1947 to 1997 (Nokken 2000). We examine the relationship between switching and observed party unity in Italy by focusing on individual legislators' switching decisions and voting behavior. Overall, switchers move out of highly disciplined parties, suggesting that they switch partly in order to escape strong discipline.
Detection of perfusion disturbances in digit replantation using near-infrared spectroscopy and serial quantitative fluoroscopy.

Purpose The postoperative monitoring of digit replants continues to be a challenge. Current objective methods of digit monitoring have not been adopted widely because of their complexity or lack of sensitivity. Because tissue oxygen tension correlates directly with vascular inflow, a device that tracks changes in tissue oxygenation may be useful to monitor the perfusion and viability of digits after revascularization. A clinical study was undertaken to evaluate noninvasive monitoring of tissue oxygenation using near-infrared spectroscopy in postoperative digit replantation. Methods Forty-eight patients were enrolled and 64 digits were monitored at 1 institute. There were 43 male and 5 female patients with an average age of 41 years (range, 13–79 y). Digits were monitored by clinical examination, fluorescein, and a tissue oximeter at 1- to 2-hour intervals for 24 to 48 hours. Results Sixty-one digits survived and 3 digits failed. In the surviving digits the fluorescein and tissue oxygen saturation (StO 2 ) readings were similar to the control digit readings. There were no significant differences between fluorescein and StO 2 or between StO 2 readings for control and surviving digits. In the digits that failed to survive both fluorescein and StO 2 readings were significantly lower in the failed compared with control digits. The StO 2 values for failed digits were 30% to 70% lower and showed greater variation than the StO 2 values for the control digits. There were no complications associated with fluorescein or tissue oxygenation measurements. Conclusions Near-infrared spectroscopy measurement of tissue oxygenation correlates with fluorescein monitoring and digit perfusion. This noninvasive monitoring is easy, reliable, safe, and useful in postoperative monitoring of digit replantation. Type of study/level of evidence Diagnostic, Level I.
The constrained design space of double-flash geothermal power plants

Abstract This paper investigates the constrained double-flash geothermal power plant design space across a range of brine and condenser temperatures. Silica deposition and/or turbine exhaust quality constraints reduce specific work output at most brine temperatures. Some combinations of brine temperature and condenser temperature are also shown to be infeasible. Reducing condenser temperature is shown to improve specific work output up to 47% with diminishing effect as brine temperature increases. Relaxing the silica constraint is shown to yield up to an 8% increase in specific work output. These results are useful to a plant designer in determining the value of installing improved condensing or silica control equipment.
Predicting Graduation from Broward County’s Dedicated Drug Treatment Court

This research examines outcomes among first-year participants in the dedicated drug treatment court in Broward County, Florida, from July 1, 1991, through June 30, 1992. Participant data are used to predict the likelihood of successful program graduation. This research is designed to help understand the differences between participants who fail to graduate versus those who successfully complete the drug court treatment program. Independent variables are derived from interview questionnaires soliciting personal demographic, behavioral, and drug use history information. Logistic regression analysis is used to identify significant predictors. The research finds that demographic characteristics, such as race and education, as well as crack use, are the most useful defendant characteristics for predicting program graduation. The implications of these findings for public policy decision makers are discussed.
Sentence-internal different as quantifier-internal anaphora

The paper proposes the first unified account of deictic/sentence-external and sentence-internal readings of singular different. The empirical motivation for such an account is provided by a cross-linguistic survey and an analysis of the differences in distribution and interpretation between singular different, plural different and same (singular or plural) in English. The main proposal is that distributive quantification temporarily makes available two discourse referents within its nuclear scope, the values of which are required by sentence-internal uses of singular different to be distinct, much as its deictic uses require the values of two discourse referents to be distinct. Thus, we take sentence-internal readings to be a form of ‘association with distributivity’ that is similar to association with focus. The contrast between singular different, plural different and same is explained in terms of several kinds of quantificational distributors that license their internal readings. The analysis is executed in a stack-based dynamic system couched in type logic, so we get compositionality in the usual Montagovian way. Quantificational subordination and dependent indefinites in various languages provide additional motivation for the account. Investigating the connections between items with sentence-internal readings and the quantificational licensors of these readings opens up a larger project of formally investigating (i) the typology of quantificational distributors and distributivity-dependent items and (ii) the fine-grained contexts of evaluation needed to capture this typological variation.
Heat shock protein 90AB1 and hyperthermia rescue infectivity of HIV with defective cores

We previously showed that reduced infectivity of HIV with incompletely processed capsid-spacer protein 1 (CA-SP1) is rescued by cellular activation or increased expression of HSP90AB1, a member of the cytosolic heat shock protein 90 family. Here we show that HSP90AB1 is present in HIV virions and that HSP90AB1, but not nonfunctional mutated HSP90AB1(E42A+D88A), restores infectivity to HIV with mutations in CA that alter core stability. Further, the CA mutants were hypersensitive to pharmacological inhibition of HSP90AB1. In agreement with Roesch et al. (2012), we found that culturing HIV at 39.5°C enhanced viral infectivity up to 30-fold in human peripheral blood mononuclear cells (p=0.002) and rescued CA-mutant infectivity in nonactivated cells, concurrent with elevated expression of HSP90AB1 during hyperthermia. In sum, the transdominant effect of HSP90AB1 on CA-mutant HIV infectivity suggests a potential role for this class of cellular chaperones in HIV core stability and uncoating.
Struggle for the Spirit: Religious Transformation and Popular Culture in Brazil and Latin America

Abbreviations. Glossary. Preface. Introduction. Part I: Basistas:. 1. Basista Catholicism: Its Context and Character. 2. Movements of Conservation and Renewal in Modern Catholicism. 3. Vatican II, Medellin and Liberation Theology. 4. Concepts and Usages in the Texts and Speech of the a Basistaa Church. 5. Discourse. 6. Conclusion. Part II: Pentecostals:. 7. The Organizational Dimension of Pentecostalism and Neo--Pentecostalism. 8. The Religious Dimension. 9. The Experience of Pentecostals: Exaltation, Loyalty, and Liminality. Appendix: Pentecostalisma s Social Base. Conclusion. Bibliography. Index.
Smoking Cessation Is the Least Successful Outcome of Risk Factor Modification in Uninsured Patients with Symptomatic Peripheral Arterial Disease

Background Patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) have multiple atherosclerotic risk factors. Risk factor modification can reduce severity of disease at presentation and improve treatment outcomes. The Trans-Atlantic Inter-Society Consensus II (TASC II) has issued several recommendations that are widely adopted by specialists. However, the ability to provide proper services to patients may depend on the specific patient's access to care, which is primarily determined by the presence of health insurance. The purpose of our study was to determine whether insurance status impairs the ability of patients with symptomatic PAD to meet select TASC II recommendations. Methods A retrospective review of patients with symptomatic PAD from August 2011 to May 2013 was conducted; demographic, preoperative, procedural, and standard outcome variables were collected. Patients were divided into the insured group (private insurance, Medicare, Medicaid) or the uninsured group (self-pay). Insurance status was analyzed for its association to select TASC II recommendations: smoking cessation, referral to smoking cessation program, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol Results One hundred and forty-four patients with symptomatic PAD were identified. Insured patients were more likely to be African American, older at presentation, or have a diagnosis of congestive heart failure. There was no significant difference between insured and uninsured patients in success rates of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol targets (65.1% vs. 51.1% for P = 0.023). Furthermore, there was no difference in patterns of referral to a multidisciplinary smoking cessation program between the 2 groups (31.5% vs. 38.5%). Conclusions Insurance status does not impair patients' ability to meet most TASC II guidelines to modify cardiovascular risk factors in patients who have access to health care. Uninsured patients are, however, less likely to cease smoking compared with insured patients, despite no significant difference in referral patterns between the 2 groups for multidisciplinary smoking cessation counseling. Future efforts to assist patients with symptomatic PAD with atherosclerotic risk factor modification should focus on aiding uninsured patients in smoking cessation efforts.
Utilization of soy protein isolate and konjac blends in a low-fat bologna (model system)

Low-fat bologna formulations (LFBMS, 0.05) were observed between 0 and 2% of meat protein replacements with SPI for most characteristics.
Positive Affect, Negative Affect, and the Moderating Effect of Writing on Siga Antibody Levels

Abstract The impact of humorous and stressful stimuli on 50 students' secretory Immunoglobulin A (sIgA) concentrations was examined, as well as how writing about those stimuli moderated this relationship. Subjects watched a humorous or stressful video and then wrote about either the video or a mundane topic. Subjects' saliva was collected before and at three points subsequent to watching the video and assayed for sIgA concentrations. A repeated measures analysis of covariance revealed that video writers had higher sIgA concentrations than mundane writers, and that men and women differed in response to the humor video. The findings are consistent with recent evidence that it is possible to moderate the relationship between environmental stimuli and immunological functioning.
Effect of topical tubercidin on basal cell carcinomas and actinic keratoses

The nucleoside Tubercidin was applied topically in a 0.5% concentration to solitary basal cell carcinomas in eight patients and widespread actinic keratoses in five patients for periods of 2–6 weeks. The treatment resulted in complete resolution of all eight basal cell carcinomas. All patients have been followed for 1 1/2 years. No recurrences have been observed. The treatment of the actinic keratoses was unsuccessful in four of five patients treated. These results are in contrast to those produced by topical 5-fluorouracil, which is less active in basal cell carcinomas and more active against actinic keratoses than Tubercidin.
Effect of varying Ca: Mg ratios on yield and composition of corn (zea mays) and alfalfa (medicago sativa)

(1979). Effect of varying Ca: Mg ratios on yield and composition of corn (zea mays) and alfalfa (medicago sativa). Communications in Soil Science and Plant Analysis: Vol. 10, Calcium Nutrition of Economic Crops, pp. 153-162.
Transport of naturally occurring amino acids and alpha-amino isobutyric acid by normal and diapausing mouse blastocysts

Abstract Uptake of 14 C-labelled α-amino isobutyric acid and a mixture of naturally occurring amino acids by normal mouse preimplantation blastocysts was found to be twice that of delayed implantation blastocysts. With both groups of embryos concentration of the amino acids against a gradient occurred. The results may explain, in part, the lower amino acid incorporation rates found with diapausing vs. normal blastocysts and open the question of “metabolic dormancy” of the diapausing embryo.
Technical Efficiency in the Rural Financial Sector: Evidence from Mexico

The void in the rural financial market in Mexico is more pronounced than ever given the retreat of many state programs. In response, small, heterogeneous semi-formal institutions have begun to fill the gap with financial services to rural Mexicans. This study sheds light on this largely undocumented sector by examining the technical efficiency of various institutional types. Data Envelopment Analysis is used to create a nonparametric frontier of technically efficient firms based on a sample of 350 semi-formal financial institutions. Using this framework, the heterogeneity of the sector is highlighted and most institutions are found to be highly inefficient. In a second stage of analysis, the primary determinants of efficiency are found to be institutional factors rather than client profiles.
Biochemical and immunological properties of alkaline invertase isolated from sprouting soybean hypocotyls

Abstract Alkaline invertase from sprouting soybean (Glycine max) hypocotyls was purified to apparent electrophoretic homogeneity by consecutive use of DEAE-cellulose, green 19 dye, and Cibacron blue 3GA dye affinity chromatography. This protocol produced about a 100-fold purification with about a 11% yield. The purified protein had a specific activity of 48 μmol of glucose produced mg−1 protein min− (pH 7.0) and showed a single protein band in sodium dodecyl sulfate—polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (PAGE) (58 kDa) and in native PAGE, as indicated by both protein and activity staining. The native enzyme molecular mass was about 240 kDa, suggesting a homotetrameric structure. The purified enzyme exhibited hyperbolic saturation kinetics with a Km (sucrose) near 10 m m and the enzyme did not utilize raffinose, maltose, lactose, or cellibose as a substrate. Impure alkaline invertase preparations, which contained acid invertase activity, on contrast, showed biphasic curves versus sucrose concentration. Combining equal activities of purified alkaline invertase with acid invertase resulted in a biphasic response, but there was a transition to hyperbolic saturation kinetics when the activity ratio, alkaline: acid invertase, was increased above unity. Alkaline invertase activity was inhibited by HgCl2, pridoxal phosphate, and Tris with respective Ki values near 2 μ m , 5 μ m , and 4 m m . Glycoprotein staining (periodic acid-Schiff method) was negative and alkaline invertase did not bind to two immobilized lectins, concanavalin A and wheat germ agglutinin; hence, the enzyme apparently is not a glycoprotein. The purified alkaline invertase, and a purified soybean acid invertase, was used to raise rabbit polyclonal antibodies. The alkaline invertase antibody preparation was specific for alkaline invertase and crossreacted with alkaline invertases from other plants. Neither purified soybean alkaline invertases nor the crude enzyme from several plants cross-reacted with the soybean acid invertase antibody.
Optical Biopsy of In Vivo Human Skin: Multi-photon Excitation Microscopy

Two-photon excitation microscopy has the potential as an effective, non-invasive, imaging tool for in vivo examination of human deep tissue structure at the subcellular level. By using infrared photons as the excitation source in two-photon microscopy, a significant improvement in penetration depth can be achieved because of the much lower tissue absorption coefficient and reduced scattering coefficient in the infrared wavelengths as compared to ultraviolet light. Two-photon absorption occurs primarily at the focal point and provides the physical basis for optical sectioning. Multi-photon excitation microscopy at 730 nm was used to image in vivo human skin autofluorescence from the surface to a depth of about 100 μm. The spectroscopic data suggest that reduced pyridine nucleotides, NAD(P)H, are the primary source of the skin autofluorescence using 730 nm excitation. This study demonstrates the use of multi-photon excitation microscopy for functional imaging of the metabolic states of in vivo human skin cells and provides a functional and morphological optical biopsy.
Prevalence of incisor trauma in persons 6-50 years of age: United States, 1988-1991.

Traumatic injuries to the teeth are among the most serious of dental conditions, yet little is known about the prevalence of tooth or dental trauma at the national level. The National Institute of Dental Research (NIDR) modified existing indices for specific use in national epidemiologic studies of tooth trauma among both children and adults. The NIDR index was developed not only to track the status of the tooth from sound (no evidence of trauma) through missing due to trauma, but also to reflect selected sequelae of trauma. The index is based on clinical, non-radiographic evidence of tooth inujury and treatment received in the eight permanent incisors, including a positive history of injury obtained from the subject. The trauma assessment index was applied immediately following the caries examination for dentate participants ages 6-50 years old (n=7,707) in Phase 1 of the NHANES III oral examination. This article reports the first national overall and age-specific population-based prevalence of dental trauma among gender, racial, and ethnic groups. There is a higher prevalence of incisal trauma, of both maxillary and mandibular incisors, in males than females, in both the younger and older age groups. The prevalence of incisal trauma of both maxillary and mandibular incisors in whites and blacks in both younger and older age categories is similar. The study found that half of the individuals with trauma had only one incisor tooth classified as having trauma. Males and older age groups showed larger numbers of traumatized teeth. Further study and examination of methodological issues are desirable for additional understanding of incisal trauma in the general population .
Clinical applications of photoplethysmography in paediatric intensive care

The photoplethysmographic wave is displayed by most pulse oximeters. It may be used as a non-invasive alternative to invasive arterial blood pressure trace analysis for continuous haemodynamic monitoring in selected situations. Four cardiac patients treated in a tertiary neonatal-paediatric intensive care unit. Simultaneous monitoring of the photoplethysmographic wave, ECG, and invasive blood pressure. Photoplethysmography allows for monitoring pulse rate in patients with (possible) heart rate/pulse rate dissociation (pacemaker dependency, pulsatile ventricular assist device); monitoring sudden changes in heart beat volume, which are unrelated to respiration (pulseless electrical activity, pulsus alternans); and monitoring respiratory-dependent fluctuations of the plethysmographic wave (heart failure, hypovolaemia, asthma, upper airway obstruction, pericardial effusion). Deterioration, slowly evolving over time, may be detected by this method.
Correlation of GPS signal fades due to ionospheric scintillation for aviation applications

Deep and frequent Global Positioning System (GPS) signal fading due to strong ionospheric scintillation is a major concern for GPS-guided aviation in equatorial areas during high solar activity. A GPS aviation receiver may lose carrier tracking lock under deep fading, and a lost channel cannot be used for position calculation until lock is reestablished. Hence, frequent loss of lock due to frequent fading can significantly reduce the availability of GPS aviation. However, the geometric diversity of the satellites can mitigate scintillation impact on GPS aviation depending on the correlation level of deep fades between satellites. This paper proposes a metric to measure the correlation level of two fading channels from the perspective of GPS aviation. Using this metric, the satellite-to-satellite correlation is studied based on real scintillation data. The low satellite-to-satellite correlation shown in this paper envisions notable availability benefit from the geometric diversity of satellites under strong scintillation. In addition, this paper proposes a way to generate correlated fading processes with arbitrary correlation coefficients. Using this correlated fading process model, the availability of Localizer Performance with Vertical guidance (LPV)-200 under severe scintillation scenarios is analyzed. The result emphasizes the importance of a fast reacquisition capability of an aviation receiver after a brief outage, which is not currently mandated by the aviation receiver performance standards.
Neutral superfluid modes and "magnetic" monopoles in multilayered quantum Hall systems.

We show that, in the absence of interlayer hopping, the \ensuremath{\nu}=1/m quantum Hall states in double-layer systems contain a neutral gapless mode with linear dispersion, describing the relative fluctuations of the electron densities in the two layers. At finite temperature the system experiences a Kosterlitz-Thouless transition. In the presence of interlayer hopping an energy gap proportional to the square root of the hopping amplitude will be opened. In field theory this corresponds to a U(1) gauge field acquiring a mass due to the monopole-antimonopole plasma in the (2+1)-dimensional spacetime.
Developmental pathways in underachievement

AbstractInsufficient research attention has been focused on the development of academic under-achievement and motivational beliefs. A longitudinal, person-centered approach was used to identify latent subgroups of growth in the joint development of teacher-reported underachievement and four motivational beliefs (self-concept, task importance, psychological cost value, and self-worth) from first through sixth grade. Two types of underachievement emerged: Sustained and Growing Underachievement. An Achievement class was also consistently found. Sustained underachievement was not associated with declining self-concept or task importance, but was related to moderately lower psychological cost value, self-worth, and middle school achievement. Growing underachievement was associated with relatively lower levels of self-concept and task importance that declined over time, similar to the achievement patterns. Class membership did not differ by gifted status. Gender effects emerged for the Task Importance and Self-...
Functional characterization of the neuronal-specific K-Cl cotransporter: implications for [K+]o regulation.

The neuronal K-Cl cotransporter isoform (KCC2) was functionally expressed in human embryonic kidney (HEK-293) cell lines. Two stably transfected HEK-293 cell lines were prepared: one expressing an ...
The effect of concave and convex weight adjustments on self-organizing maps

Two nonlinear models of weight adjustments of self-organizing maps are derived to obtain desirable densities of output units, one that approaches the probability distribution p(/spl xi/) of the inputs and one that approaches a uniform distribution. If a convex model is used to adjust weights, the density of output units can be made to approach p(/spl xi/) instead of the p(/spl xi/)/sup 2/3/ which results from the linear weight adjustment of Kohonen's self-organizing maps. If a concave model of weight adjustments is used, the density approaches a uniform distribution and the winner frequency distribution of output units is proportional to p(/spl xi/). The former can provide more efficient data representations for vector quantization, while the latter can provide more meaningful measures for cluster analysis. Numerical demonstrations validate the mathematical derivations. The convergence of the concave model is faster than the linear and convex models while the convergence of the convex model is comparable to that of the linear model.
Regression toward the Mean Effect: No Statistical Background Required

A new classroom demonstration of the regression toward the mean effect is proposed. The demonstration is highly concrete and strictly psychological in nature. It may be used in both small and large classes. It does not assume any statistical background. Although some assumptions about the nature of the measurement process are explicitly made, these assumptions are highly intuitive and are easily accepted even by students who are not familiar with measurement theory.
Imaging of Spine Disorders in Children: Dysraphism and Scoliosis

Spinal Dysraphism ■ The prevalence of occult spinal dysraphism (OSD) ranges from as low as 0.34% in children with intergluteal dimples to as high as 46% in newborns with cloacal malformation (moderate evidence). ■ Radiographs are relatively insensitive and nonspecific for this diagnosis. MRI and ultrasound have high overall diagnostic performances (i.e., sensitivity and specificity) in children with suspected OSD (moderate evidence). ■ Early detection and prompt neurosurgical correction of OSD may prevent upper urinary tract deterioration, infection of dorsal dermal sinuses, or permanent neurologic damage (moderate and limited evidence). ■ Cost-effectiveness analysis suggests that, in newborns with suspected OSD, appropriate selection of patients and diagnostic strategy may increase quality-adjusted life expectancy and decrease cost of medical workup (moderate evidence).
Microscopic examination of field emission areas in superconducting Nb cavities

A superconducting cavity has been developed in which it is possible to expose a small region of the cavity, called the dimple, to very high surface RF electric fields. In a break-apart version of this cavity, the dimple is part of a demountable niobium end-plate which fits into the SEM/EDS system. Surface RF electric fields between 50 and 70 MV/m have been supported by the dimple in several tests. On subsequent SEM examination of the end-plates, many interesting features associated with emission were discovered. Each emission site is located at the center of a starburst shaped region of reduced secondary emission coefficient. At the center of these sites craters of molten niobium have often been found. Sometimes the sites contain features which look like nodules or ripples on the niobium surface. >
Application of a surface-acoustic-wave device for measurement of liquid flow rate

The use of a surface-acoustic-wave (SAW) device to measure the flow rate of liquids is described. A delay-line stabilized SAW oscillator heated to a suitable temperature above ambient is cooled by the flowing fluid. This results in a change in the oscillator frequency. The frequency of a 68-MHz oscillator operated at 9 degrees C above ambient is found to vary by more than 40 kHz for variation in water flow rate from 0 to 0.8 ml/min. Attractive features of this device include the ability to measure very low flow rates (less than 0.1 mu l/min) and direct digital output. However, since this is a thermal type of flow sensor, the temperature of the fluid will be slightly elevated during its passage through the flow cell. The device should be useful in applications where low flow rates have to be monitored. >
Resource conservation in a mobile transaction system

This paper addresses the problem of providing transactional support for improved data consistency in mobile file access, while paying careful attention to the resource constraints of mobile clients. We present data on resource consumption from an implementation of the isolation-only transaction (IOT) mechanism of the Coda File System. The data shows that the resource conservation techniques used by the IOT mechanism do indeed result in modest demands on the three critical resources on a mobile client: CPU and I/O usage, disk space, and RVM space. Overall, our measurements confirm that even a severely resource-constrained mobile client can benefit from the improved consistency offered by the IOT mechanism.
The effect of radiographic vertebral body and intervertebral disc wedging on curve progression in idiopathic scoliosis.

Methods Baseline and 30-year follow-up x-rays from 56 AIS patients were evaluated. Wedging measurements included apical vertebral body height ratios (VBHR), apical vertebral body angles (VBA) and apical intervertebral disc wedging angles (IVDA). Intraand inter-rater reliability was estimated using 2 readers and a subset of 20 curves. Multivariate regression estimated the contribution of wedging to prediction of curve progression.
A compressive sensing approach to moving target indication for urban sensing

In this paper, we apply compressive sensing to moving target indication for urban sensing and through-the-wall imaging applications using stepped-frequency radar. In particular, we consider sparsity-driven imaging combined with change detection. Stationary targets and clutter are removed via change detection, resulting in a sparse scene of few slow-moving targets inside enclosed structures and behind walls. Using compressive sensing, a sizable reduction in the number of samples is achieved without degradation in system performance. Laboratory experiments are conducted to validate the proposed approach.
Fiber lifetime predictions

A computer program is described that can analyze optical fiber fatigue data from a variety of fatigue experiments and for a variety of crack growth kinetics models and can then predict long term static fatigue behavior. The key feature of the program is its’ ability to analyze the statistical uncertainty in the predictions due to scatter in the data to which the models are fitted. It is shown that uncertainty in the lifetime predictions is often dominated by the uncertainty in the choice of the appropriate crack growth model. It is therefore concluded that a range of models should be considered when making lifetime predictions.
Reverse osmosis issues relating to pressure drop, mass transfer, turbulence, and unsteadiness

Abstract Numerical simulation has been used to investigate a number of significant physical processes for reverse osmosis in a spiral-wound membrane, including fluid-flow regimes, flow unsteadiness, and fluid-flow periodicity. The independent variables included the feed spacer strand angle, feed spacer thickness, inter strand spacing, strand radius, radius of the center cylinder, and Reynolds number. Results extracted from the numerical solutions were post-processed to provide algebraic correlations for both the dimensionless pressure drop and the Sherwood number. For the range of Reynolds numbers relevant to practice, turbulence was found to be nonexistent. Flow unsteadiness was identified for certain ranges of the Reynolds number and the geometrical parameters. The extent of the unsteadiness was sufficiently moderate so as not to have any practical effect on the dimensionless pressure drop and Sherwood number. Fluid-flow periodicity was verified.
An addendum to the Vietoris-Begle theorem

Abstract The classical Vietoris-Begle Theorem is improved by observing that the image of H α n (ƒ) H α (Y;G)→ H α n (X:G) is ∩yϵY ker( H α n (X; G) → H α n (ƒ -1 (y);G)) . This implies the Dual Vietoris-Begle Theorem for Steenrod homology and pro-homology, in which case one can characterize the kernel of the induced homomorphism.
High-Pressure Liquid Chromatographic Determination of Viloxazine in Human Plasma and Urine

Abstract A rapid, specific, high-pressure liquid chromatographic method is presented for the determination of viloxazine in plasma and urine. This method employs the high sensitivity of fluorescence detection with selective extraction and reversed-phase chromatography to measure concentrations as low as 25 ng/ml of plasma and 1.0 μg/ml of urine. Known metabolites of viloxazine do not interfere with the analysis, and experience with several hundred samples in a bioavailability study demonstrated the applicability and reliability of the method.
Distribution and biological effects of tritiated estradiol implanted in the hypothalamo-hypophysial region of female rats.

Stereotaxic implants of approximately 1–2 μg of 3H-estradiol or estradiol- 6,7-3H-acetate were placed unilaterally into the lateral portion of the median eminence (ME) or anterior pituitary (AP) in adult, normally cyclic Sprague-Dawley rats. The distribution of radioactivity within the brain and other tissues was determined by autoradiography and liquid scintillation counting. The radioactivity in the brain was still associated with estradiol as indicated by its movement in a thin-layer chromatographic system. Four to 5 days post implantation, measurable amounts of radioactivity could be counted as far as 2 mm from the implant site in the brain, and trace amounts of activity were detected in plasma and uterus. Significant amounts of radioactivity were counted in the anterior pituitary in rats with median eminence implants, with greater activity in the ipsilateral half of the gland. These animals also showed a marked elevation in plasma luteinizing hormone (LH) and a slight hypertrophy of the ipsilateral h...