cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Noradrenergic mediation of traumatic spinal cord autodestruction

Abstract Acute spinal injury initiates hemorrhagic necrosis (HN), a novel tissue destructive process, within traumatized cord tissues. HN assures permanent paralysis within 24 hours by locally destroying the injured cord. It results from microvascular failure and subsequent lethal tissue hypoxia. Norepinephrine (NE) a normal spinal cord transmitter material rapidly increases (four to tenfold) at the injury site. This vasoactive substance has been implicated in post wounding vascular stasis and permanent spinal paralysis because: 1. Direct spinal NE injections reproduce histological HN. 2. Phenoxybenzamine (alpha receptor blockade) pretreatment significantly diminishes traumatic lesion size. 3. NE synthesis inhibition by alpha methyl tyrosine (acts upon tyrosine hydroxylase), alpha methyl dopa (acts upon L dopa decarboxylase) and FLA-63 (acts upon dopamine beta hydroxylase) all variously protect the wounded cord against HN traumatic lesions. 4. Reserpine (NE depletion) provides significant tissue protection. This drug restores some useful spinal function after severe experimental injuries which consistently paralyze untreated animals. NE bulbospinal fibers are modulated, as determined by tissue lesion size, by two other neural systems. 1. Facilitation occurs from afferent dorsal rootposterior spinal column fibers (non-catecholamine) because prior surgical interruptions significantly diminish traumatic lesions. 2. Inhibition by dopaminergic (DA) fibers was detected by: a. Cord protection with apomorphine DA receptor stimulation. b. Aggravation of traumatic lesions by Pimozide DA receptor blockade. Although these studies are early and incomplete, there is convincing evidence for NE post wounding involvement. As this system is better understood we believe treatments will be developed for spinal injured man.
Pre-injection Brine Production for Managing Pressure in Compartmentalized CO2 Storage Reservoirs

Abstract We present a reservoir management approach for geologic CO 2 storage that combines CO 2 injection with brine extraction. In our approach, dual-mode wells are initially used to extract formation brine and subsequently used to inject CO 2 . These wells can also be used to monitor the subsurface during pre-injection brine extraction so that key data is acquired and analyzed prior to CO 2 injection. The relationship between pressure drawdown during pre-injection brine extraction and pressure buildup during CO 2 injection directly informs reservoir managers about CO 2 storage capacity. These data facilitate proactive reservoir management, and thus reduce costs and risks. The brine may be used directly as make-up brine for nearby reservoir operations; it can also be desalinated and/or treated for a variety of beneficial uses.
Recovery of Low-Velocity Impact Properties of Glass Fiber Reinforced Composites Through Self-Healing Technique

In this study, we report the self-healing of e-glass/epoxy composites achieved through embedding self-healing agents (SHA) filled hollow glass fibers (HGFs). At first, catalytic technique was used to fill bonded HGFs with SHA. The HGFs were then laid on e-glass fibers and the laminates were fabricated using vacuum assisted resin molding (VARIM) technique. Low-velocity impact tests at two different energy levels were conducted multiple times in the closest proximity to determine the healing efficiency. Optical microscopic study was done to see the changes in the SHA filled HGFs samples before and after impact. Results showed significant recovery of impact properties with 4.47% lost in peak load after second impact in SHA samples whereas it was 27.7% in control samples. The loss in energy to peak load was 20.44% in SHA filled samples, whereas 41% in control samples. Optical microscopy images showed filling of cracks produced after impact with SHA reflecting the significant recovery of impact properties.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
Adapting a consultation system to critique user plans

Abstract A predominant model for expert consultation systems is one in which a computer program simulates the decision making processes of an expert. The expert system typically collects data from the user and renders a solution. Experience with regular physician use of ONCOCIN, an expert system that assists with the treatment of cancer patients, has revealed that system users can be annoyed by this approach. In an attempt to overcome this barrier to system acceptance, ONCOCIN has been adapted to accept, analyze, and critique a physician's own therapy plan. A critique is an explanation of the significant differences between the plan that would have been proposed by the expert system and the plan proposed by the user. The critique helps resolve these differences and provides a less intrusive method of computer-assisted consultation because the user need not be interrupted in the majority of cases—those in which no significant differences occur. Extension of previous rule-based explanation techniques has been required to generate critiques of this type.
Arcuate Nucleus Hypoplasia in Sudden Infant Death Syndrome: A Review

Abnormalities in central ventilatory control during sleep and/or impaired arousal have been reported in some infants who subsequently die of SIDS. Hypothetically, these abnormalities may result from d
Subclavian arteritis and pseudoaneurysm formation secondary to stent infection

Technically uncomplicated percutaneous angioplasty and stent placement of a left subclavian artery stenosis was performed in a 56-year-old man for treatment of subclavian steal syndrome and vertebrobasilar insufficiency. Six days later the patient was readmitted with Staphylococcus aureus bacteremia and stigmata of septic emboli isolated to the ipsilateral hand. Nine days later he had computed tomography (CT) evidence of a contrast-enhancing phlegmon surrounding the stent. Despite clinical improvement and resolution of bacteremia on intravenous antibiotic therapy, the phlegmon progressed, and at day 21 a pseudoaneurysm was angiographically confirmed. The patient underwent surgical removal of the stented arterial segment and successful autogenous arterial reconstruction. The possible contributory factors leading to stent infection were prolonged right femoral artery access and an infected left arm venous access. Although the role of prophylactic antibiotics remains to be defined, it may be important in cases where the vascular access sheath remains in place for a prolonged period of time.
Electrically driven octahedral rotations in SrTiO 3 and PbTiO 3

We investigate the oxygen octahedral rotations that occur in two perovskites, SrTiO${}_{3}$ and PbTiO${}_{3}$, as a function of applied three-dimensional electric displacement field, allowing us to map out the phase diagram of rotations in both the paraelectric and ferroelectric regions of the polar response. First-principles calculations at fixed electric displacement field are used to extract parameters of a Landau-Devonshire model that is analyzed to identify the phase boundaries between different rotational states. The calculations reveal a rich phase diagram of rotations versus applied field in both SrTiO${}_{3}$ and PbTiO${}_{3}$, although the details are quite different in the two cases.
Java applets for microelectronics education

This work describes a library of online courseware utilizing Java applets developed for microelectronics education. The objective is to provide an online learning environment that supplements resident instruction. Java applets are utilized to interactively demonstrate principles, provide design tools, and allow students to test their knowledge via online quizzes. The course material and Java applets are included on the CD-ROM.
Titanium Dioxide Nanotubes Decorated with Nanoparticles for Dye Sensitized Solar Cells

The titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanoparticle (NP) structure has higher surface area and dye loading value to increase photon absorption while the nanotube (NT) can suppress the random walk phenomena to enhance carrier collection. In this work, hydrothermal method was utilized to infiltrate the TiO2 nanotube array by TiO2 nanoparticles with the aim of combining the advantages of both nanostructures to improve dye sensitized solar cells (DSSCs) efficiency. Structure morphology, device performance, and electrochemical properties were investigated. SEM observation confirmed that around 10 nm TiO2 nanoparticles uniformly covered the NT wall. TiO2 NT samples at three different lengths: 8 μm, 13 μm and 20 μm, decorated with different amount of nanoparticles were studied to optimize the structure for light absorption and electron transport to achieve high solar conversion efficiency. Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) was also employed to investigate the cells’ parameters: electron lifetime (τ), diffusion length (Ln) et al, to gain insight on the device performance. The incident photon conversion efficiency (IPCE) was also reported.
Induction of vacuolar Ca2+-ATPase and H+/Ca2+ exchange activity in yeast mutants lacking Pmr1, the Golgi Ca2+-ATPase

Abstract We have analyzed Ca2+ transport activity in defined subcellular fractions of an isogenic set of wild-type and mutant yeast. The results, together with measurements of polypeptide expression levels and promoter::reporter gene activity, show that the Golgi Ca2+-ATPase, Pmr1, is the major Ca2+ pump under normal growth conditions. In the absence of Pmr1, we show a massive, calcineurin-dependent compensatory induction of the vacuolar Ca2+-ATPase, Pmc1. In addition, H+/Ca2+ exchange activity, that may be distinct from the vacuolar exchanger Vcxl, is also increased.
Economic analysis of wind plant and battery storage operation using supply chain management techniques

Wind energy is the fastest growing energy source in the world. However, due to the inherent issues of intermittency and remoteness the need to complement wind energy with storage is well-recognized. Pumped Hydro Electric Storage units are the established and most widely studied application. Other technologies like flow (ZnBr) and NaS batteries are emerging but are still not considered economically viable. We assess the profitability of a wind plant plus battery storage system from a supply chain perspective. This includes network design decisions (like facility location, market allocation, supply allocation and capacity allocation) and daily operating policies (to manage the inventory of stored energy). We use a Monte-Carlo simulation model that creates realistic conditions for wind plant output, market prices, storage costs and technical characteristics to calculate profits. Our results show significant improvement in profits for certain decisions and also provide target costs and payback period for storage technologies.
Surface Growth of Soot Particles in Premixed Ethylene/Air Flames

Abstract The surface growth rate of soot increases steeply with increasing equivalence ratio. We have found that the increased growth rate is accounted for primarily by the increased surface area available for growth rather than by increased concentrations of surface growth species. We have shown that the surface growth species are not depleted by the process of surface growth. Our data suggest that the surface growth seen in our flames can be accounted for primarily by reaction of acetylene with the soot particles.
Laryngeal collagen injection as an adjunct to medialization laryngoplasty.

Objectives/Hypothesis Dysphonia associated with laryngeal paralysis may be identified in the short term postoperatively or may develop years after successful medialization laryngoplasty. In selected cases, laryngeal collagen injection permits further medialization of one or both vocal folds by small increments to improve phonation after medialization thyroplasty. The study seeks to determine whether collagen injections result in measurable improvements in voice quality and vocal function when offered to select patients who have received medialization thyroplasty. Study Design Retrospective review of patient charts and voice database. Methods Seven patients were treated with Zyderm II collagen using indirect mirror laryngoscopy and a curved injection apparatus. Changes in voice quality and function were assessed by comparing measures obtained before treatment (mean period, 5.6 d), shortly after treatment (mean period, 38.1 d), and in the long term after treatment (mean period, 226 d). Results Mean self-ratings of the patient, clinician's ratings, and objective measures demonstrated measurable improvement in vocal function after collagen injection. Conclusions The office-based procedure offers a simple, efficient adjunct to open techniques of medialization laryngoplasty. Techniques of anesthesia, injection, and patient selection are discussed.
Electrical and photovoltaic characteristics of indium-tin oxide/silicon heterojunctions

Abstract Measurements on indium-tin-oxide/Si heterojunctions indicate that the conduction band discontinuity at the interface, ΔEc, is on the order of 0.45 eV for ITO with 9 mole-% SnO2. This value is inappropriate for use of ITO/Si heterojunction cells for photovoltaic energy conversion. It is too large for ITO/p-Si cells and too small for ITO/n-Si devices. For either type of device the resultant built-in voltage is inadequate for high efficiency solar cells. The maximum solar conversion efficiencies obtained are on the order of 0.3%. These results are in disagreement with previous work on ITO/Si heterojunctions.
Attenuated lesion-induced N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor (NMDAR) plasticity in the dentate gyrus of aged rats following perforant path lesions

Abstract Young animals demonstrate a significant upregulation of N-methyl- d -aspartate receptor 1 (NMDAR1) in the outer molecular layer (OML) of the dentate gyrus following a total unilateral ablation of the perforant path, and this response presumably facilitates a degree of functional recovery. Aged animals have attenuated responses to lesion-induced synaptic plasticity as compared with young subjects, and in fact display decreased synaptogenesis and sprouting following a unilateral perforant path lesion. To investigate the response of NMDAR1 in the dentate gyrus of aged animals to perforant path ablation, 24-month-old Sprague–Dawley male rats received a unilateral knife cut of the angular bundle. Our results demonstrated that aged animals displayed a blunted response to lesion-induced NMDA receptor-mediated plasticity, suggesting that aged animals have an impaired ability to respond to deafferentation through an increase in NMDA receptor levels in the deafferented zone.
Angular momentum transport associated with finite plasma temperature in accreting disks

Abstract A “hot” plasma mode that can be excited in a rotating Keplerian disk imbedded in a magnetic field with a significant toroidal component, is found analytically. This mode is shown to transport angular momentum outward, that is the primary requirement for the occurrence of mass accretion on the central object. The relevant distinctive feature is that the mode depends on the effects of the finite plasma compressibility and finite anisotropic ion longitudinal (relative to the field) viscosity and sound velocity; the driving factor of the relevant instability being the combination of the finite plasma temperature and the (negative) radial gradient of the rotation frequency. Electrostatic velocity gradient driven modes, in a plasma column with an axial magnetic field, that depend on the effects of a longitudinal viscosity or a viscous-like term, finite electron temperature and compressibility have been similarly predicted earlier and one of them has been experimentally confirmed recently by other authors.
Lambda production in Kp collisions at 13 GeV/c☆

Abstract We compare the inclusive reactions K−p→λ + anything, K+p→λ + anything and K + p → λ + anything at 13 GeV/c. We find that the first of these reactions includes significant contributions (⪆30%) from processes other than the annihilation reaction K−→λ + pions, and that this non-annihilation component contributes backward (target-like) and forward (beam-like) λ's whose dynamical origins may be related to those of backward λ's and forward λ ' s produced in K+p collisions. We suggest that diffractive processes are playing an important role in these reactions.
Predictive value of serum ionized but not total magnesium levels in head injuries.

Despite a wealth of recent literature and research on traumatic brain injury, very little has been applicable to diagnosing and treating this syndrome at a tissue level. Part of this problem is the inability to assess rapidly and early in the syndrome the degree or progression of brain injury at a tissue level using simple biochemical analytes. With this in mind, we designed a study in 66 human subjects, who presented with acute blunt head trauma, to determine whether free, ionized serum magnesium (IMg2+) and/or free, ionized serum calcium (ICa2+) levels correlated with the severity of head trauma (HT) and whether any predictive reliable patterns emerge. By using a new ion-selective electrode (ISE) for IMg2+, we have been able to determine IMg2+ and ICa2+ within minutes after sampling in the serum of patients early (1–8 h) after HT. These studies reveal that acute HT is associated with graded deficits (up to 62%, mean = 25%) in serum IMg2+, but not in total serum Mg, which are related to severity of injur...
Alkaline phosphatase assay using a near-infrared fluorescent substrate merocyanine 700 phosphate

Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) is a phosphomonoester hydrolase that is commonly used as a conjugating enzyme in biological research. A wide variety of substrates have been developed to assay its activity. In this study, we developed an ALP assay method utilizing merocyanine 700 (MC700) based substrate MC700 phosphate (MC700p). MC700 is a near-infrared fluorescent merocyanine dye, and has excitation/emission maxima at 686 nm/722 nm in ALP assay buffer. Upon hydrolysis by ALP, MC700p is converted to MC700. The fluorescence of MC700 is dependent on the pH and detergent concentration in the buffer. The fluorescence signal produced by MC700p hydrolysis is linearly related to the ALP amount and substrate concentration. A stop solution containing EDTA could be used to stop the ALP/MC700p reaction. It was also demonstrated that MC700p could substitute pNpp as the ALP substrate in a commercial 17β-Estradiol enzyme immunoassay kit.
Thermal contact resistance between two flat surfaces that squeeze a film of lubricant

The fundamental features of time-dependent heat transfer between two bodies making contact across a thin film of a lubricating fluid are described. The fluid is gradually squeezed out of the contact region as the two bodies are pressed against each other. Equations are obtained which contain a dimensionless time group and a dimensionless number governing the complete fluid mechanics of the thin film. A general solution is presented for the film thickness history. 9 refs.
Governments, Group Membership, and Watershed Partnerships

This study addresses the convergence of governments, group membership, and watershed partnerships in the Lake Erie basin. A theoretical framework for studying the impacts of government on collaborative environmental management (Koontz et al. 2004) is employed to analyze the goals and activities of six representative watershed partnerships and their environmental and social outputs, and to investigate the impact government actors and institutions have on watershed partnership activities and outputs. Results suggest government impacts on partnership issue definition, resources for collaboration, and structure and decision processes are affected by differences in membership profile (government-centered, citizen-centered, or mixed-membership) and land use (rural or urban).
Polymyalgia rheumatica. Duration of therapy and long-term outcome

The duration of therapy and outcome were examined in 76 patients with polymyalgia rheumatica without evidence of temporal arteritis at presentation. Seventy-five patients received corticosteroids, with a mean prednisone dosage of 22.8 mg per day initially. Duration of therapy was assessed using life-table methods. No significant difference could be ascertained between groups segregated on the basis of age, sex, or initial steroid dosage. The median duration of therapy was 37.3 months. It was estimated that 40 percent of patients will require therapy longer than four years. Corticosteroids were permanently discontinued in 31 patients after a mean of 23.7 months of therapy. The data support the concept of two patient populations--one with limited disease and another requiring long-term therapy. Relapses were frequent, occurring in 56 percent of patients. Evolution of arteritis during the course of therapy was infrequent, occurring in only one patient. Steroid-related adverse effects occurred in 22.7 percent of patients and were more common in females. The data suggest that, although corticosteroids may be discontinued in some patients with polymyalgia rheumatica, prolonged therapy is required in a significant number.
PERK in beta cell biology and insulin biogenesis

PERK (EIF2AK3) was originally discovered as a major component of the unfolded protein response (UPR). PERK deficiency results in permanent neonatal diabetes, which was initially thought to be caused by a failure to regulate ER stress in insulin-secreting beta cells, culminating in beta cell death. However, subsequent studies found that low beta cell mass was a result of reduced cell proliferation, rather than increased apoptosis. Genetic and cellular studies of Perk-deficient beta cells showed that PERK was crucially required for ER functions including proinsulin trafficking and quality control, unrelated to the ER stress pathway. Under normal physiological conditions, changes in ER calcium levels, mediated by glucose and other insulin secretagogues, regulate PERK activity for the purpose of controlling insulin biogenesis.
Difference in response reliability predicted by STRFs in the cochlear nuclei of barn owls

The brainstem auditory pathway is obligatory for all aural information. Brainstem auditory neurons must encode the level and timing of sounds, as well as their time-dependent spectral properties, the fine structure and envelope, which are essential for sound discrimination. This study focused on envelope coding in the two cochlear nuclei of the barn owl, nucleus angularis (NA) and nucleus magnocellularis (NM). NA and NM receive input from bifurcating auditory nerve fibers and initiate processing pathways specialized in encoding interaural time (ITD) and level (ILD) differences, respectively. We found that NA neurons, though unable to accurately encode stimulus phase, lock more strongly to the stimulus envelope than NM units. The spectrotemporal receptive fields (STRFs) of NA neurons exhibit a pre-excitatory suppressive field. Using multilinear regression analysis and computational modeling, we show that this feature of STRFs can account for enhanced across-trial response reliability, by locking spikes to the stimulus envelope. Our findings indicate a dichotomy in envelope coding between the time and intensity processing pathways as early as at the level of the cochlear nuclei. This allows the ILD processing pathway to encode envelope information with greater fidelity than the ITD processing pathway. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the properties of the neurons’ STRFs can be quantitatively related to spike timing reliability.
Prevention of Nutritional Myopathy of Ducklings by α-Tocopherol.

ConclusionThe nutritional myopathy of ducklings which develops on vitamin E deficient diet is completely prevented through the experimental period by daily administration of 4 mg of synthetic α-tocopherol. A dosage of 1 mg daily does not afford protection.†
A model for photon-induced evolution of hydrogen at p-type semiconductor electrodes

Abstract An analytical expression for the hydrogen evolution rate in the form of photocurrent as a function of the physical properties of a semiconductor electrode and the neighboring electrolyte solution has been derived. The expression of photocurrent involves no implicit assumptions concerning the rate-determining step. The charge transfer to the proton across the double layer has been treated explicitly. The model used for the surface states includes their energy distribution and their concentration dependence on the electrode potential. Recombination of photoexcited carriers in the field-free and surface regions has been taken into account. Energies of acceptor ions in solution and their distribution are calculated. The predicted photocurrents for hydrogen evolution have been integrated over the solar spectrum. Numerical comparisons with experiment are made.
Lack of modulation of pituitary hormone stress response by neural pathways involving opiate receptors.

To evaluate the role of the opiate—like peptidergic pathways in modulating thepituitaryhormone response to stress, we measured the GH, PRL, and cortisol responses to hypoglycemia and exercise in normal subjects with and without pretreatment with naloxone, given in the centrally active dose of 0.4 mg iv. Basal serum levels of GH, PRL, and cortisol were not changed significantly by prior naloxone administration. The maximum incremental response of GH to exercise was significantly blunted (13.1 ± 1.6 vs. 6.0 ± 1.4; P < 0.001) by priornaloxone administration.Pretreatment with naloxone did not affect the responses of GH, PRL, or cortisol to hypoglycemia orthe PRL response to L-dopa. On the basis of these studies we conclude that the.opiate—like peptidergic pathwaysare not important in the regulation of basal levels of GH, PRL, and cortisol and haveonly a modestmodulating influence on the stressinduced release of the hormones, which may be obscured in the face of severe stress.
Gray scale B scan characteristics of intra-abdominal cystic masses.

A comparison of the gray scale characteristics of 119 intra-abdominal cystic masses was performed. Each cystic mass was evaluated with regard to: (1) The presence or absence of internal echoes, septa, and fluid-fluid levels; (2) The appearance of the wall; (3) Conformity to adjacent organs and, (4) Changes in the surrounding soft tissues. Abscesses, hematomas, lymphoceles, urinomas, and necrotic tumors were evaluated. Necrotic tumors and some abscesses and hematomas have specific sonographic characteristics. In most cases, a definite diagnosis cannot be made from the sonographic appearance; however, in conjunction with the clinical history, the differential diagnosis can be narrowed to a couple of cystic lesions among the many that may be found in the abdomen. The diagnosis can be confirmed by aspiration under ultrasound. A comparison between these cystic masses and pancreatic pseudocysts, renal cysts, and ovarian cysts was made.
Metabolism of the B-ring of testosterone by the rat cytochrome P-450 system.

AbstractIt was surprising to us to discover that testosterone could be converted to 17/3-hydroxy-4,6-androstadiene-3-one (Δ6-T) by liver microsomes from adult male rats [1], because at that time aromatase, which converts 4-androstene-3,17-dione to estrone [2], was the only isozyme of cytochrome P-450 known to catalyze the desaturation of an aliphatic substance. Subsequently, however, it was also discovered that the isozymes of cytochrome P-450 could also catalyze the desaturation of valproic acid to valproic-4-ene [3]. The ability of liver microsomes from rats to form Δ6-T was greatly increased by pretreating the rats with phenobarbital, pregnenolone-16a-carbonitrile, or dexamethasone. Indeed, the increases in Δ6-T formation were directly proportional to the increases in the formation of 6β-hydroxytestosterone, thereby suggesting that those isozymes that catalyze 6β-hydroxylation of testosterone were also able to catalyze the formation of A6-T but at much slower rates (approximately 10%).
Small‐Angle Neutron Scattering from Elastomeric Networks in which the Junctions Alternate Regularly in their Functionality

We compute scattering form factors for SANS from labeled paths in Gaussian phantom networks in which junctions alternate regularly in their functionality (the number of chains emanating from a junction). Our calculations are based on the James-Guth model of rubber-like elasticity, which assumes that fluctuations are strain independent, while mean vectors transform affinely with the applied strain. Kratky plots for scattering from isotropic and uniaxially stretched bifunctional networks are computed and compared with corresponding plots for the simpler unifunctional networks. The results show the effects of the length of the labeled path, extent of deformation, direction of scattering with respect to the principal axis of the deformation and the functionalities of the network junctions.
Medico-nutritional practices among Puerto Ricans in a small urban northeastern community in the United States.

Abstract This paper discusses the changing Puerto Rican folk medico-nutritional system currently practiced in a small urban center in New England. Two salient factors have been designated as primarily responsible for the rapid adoption of improved Western medico-nutritional practices. These factors are: (1) the social cohesion of the Puerto Rican community fostered by an extensive network of social ties and an integrated information referral system; (2) the large number of health and nutrition related agencies and agents working in the community. Especially important is the pivotal role of the nutritional Paraprofessionals. Conflicts in health and nutritional ideology and in health care seeking behavior are explored within the context of the community. The conclusion is reached that the rapid acculturation of the study community is unique compared to other Puerto Rican communities on the Mainland.
Effects of Spark Plug Number and Location in Natural Gas Engines

This paper reports on combustion experiments which were conducted on a spark-ignited single-cylinder engine operating on natural gas. A special open chamber cylinder head was designed to accept as many as four spark plugs. Data were obtained to investigate the effects of spark plug quantity and location on NO[sub x], HC, CO emissions, brake and indicated thermal efficiency, MBT timing, combustion duration, ignition delay, peak cylinder pressure, peak cylinder temperature, and heat release over a wide range of equivalence ratios.
Examining the Link between Neighborhood Cohesion and School Outcomes: The Role of Support Coping among African American Adolescent Girls.

Using data from a sample of 84 urban, female, African American adolescents (mean age = 11.86 years), the present investigation examines neighborhood cohesion and parent and adult social support cop...
Congenital nephrotic syndrome, Finnish type: sonographic appearance and pathologic correlation.

Renal sonography was ordered for a male term neonate 5 hours old with low urine output and massive proteinuria. Sonography showed the kidneys to be echogenic with anechoic pyramids, which contained microcysts bilaterally (Fig. 1). The kidneys were also shown to be enlarged; the right measured 7.1 cm, and the left was 7.2 cm (average length for a neonate of this age should be 4.5 cm). A biopsy was performed 2 days later, finding congenital nephrotic syndrome of the Finnish type.
Research NoteManaging e-Marketplace: A Strategic Analysis of Nonprice Advertising

The e-marketplace has emerged as an important electronic shopping environment that, according to a recent Forrester Research report, may evolve into a dominant force in Internet marketing. We investigate an e-marketplace with online stores offering competing products. We find that featuring is associated with a price premium and serves as a mechanism to mitigate competition among online stores. In essence, featuring facilitates a convenience-price trade-off. Those consumers who find that the cost of searching outweighs the benefit of a lower expected price shop at the featured store where the price is higher on average. We endogenize consumers decisions on shopping at the featured store or use the search engine to shop at the low-price store and examine the robustness of our results in an n-store setting.
Compact modeling and corner analysis of spintronic memristor

The 4th fundamental circuit elements — memristor received significant attentions after a real device was recently demonstrated for the first time. Besides the solid-state thin film memristive device, sprintonic memristor was also invented based on the magnetic technology [5]. In this paper, we describe a compact model of the spintronic memristor based on the magnetic-domain-wall motion mechanism. Our proposed compact model can be easily implemented by Verilog-A language and compatible to SPICE-based simulation. Furthermore, we discuss the corner model generation of spintronic memristors to improve the simulation efficiency of large scale or complex circuitry, e.g., memory array or some analog circuit design. The process variation effects of the model parameters of are considered in the corner model of spintronic memristor.
An array feed approach to compact range reflector design

A novel methodology is presented for the design of array feeds for compact range reflectors. The principal design strategy is to illuminate the rim of a standard, circular-aperture reflector with an array pattern null. This results in a reduction in the level of edge-diffracted fields present in the quiet zone. Since low-frequency performance is improved without dedicating reflector surface area to edge treatment, the potential quiet zone size is maximized. Implementation of the technique requires only a few real-valued array excitation coefficients. It is demonstrated that various quiet zone field performance trade-offs can be made by varying either the excitation coefficients or the array size. The quality of the quiet zone field is compared with that of a uniformly illuminated serrated reflector. The operational bandwidth and the effects of both random and systematic array excitation coefficient errors are evaluated. >
Effects of Euphorbia esula L. (leafy spurge) on cattle and sheep in vitro fermentation and gas production

BACKGROUND: Euphorbia esula L. (leafy spurge) is indigenous to Eurasia and has been known to cause grazing aversion in ruminant species. As a result, E. esula encroachment has negatively impacted rangelands in the Northern Great Plains and Intermountain West of the USA, as well as southern Canada. Our objectives were to evaluate the effect of increasing concentrations of E. esula on invitro dry matter digestibility (DMD) and gas production. Two ruminally-cannulated cows and ewes were used as rumen inoculum donors. To accomplish objectives, two studies were conducted. In study 1, animals were fed exclusively a barley hay (12% crude protein (CP), 55.4% neutral detergent fiber (NDF), DM basis) diet; whereas in study 2, animals were fed a diet of 15% E.esula (21.9% CP, 48% NDF, DM basis) and 85% barley hay based on previous day intake. RESULTS: The 24 and 48 hinvitro and 96 h gas production indicate that, regardless of inoculum source or substrate fermented, DMD was not influenced. Differences, however, were consistently observed across studies for NDF disappearance. CONCLUSION: Regardless of inoculum source NDF disappearance was greater when substrate being fermented contained 0%, 80%, or 100%E.esula. Published 2011 by John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
EFFECTS OF LACTIC ACID BACTERIA ON QUALITY OF COUNTRY-STYLE HAM

Aged country-style ham quality characteristics were compared among nine hams that had been inoculated with 4.8 × 105 cells/g of ham with Staphylococcus epidermidis; three of these same hams received an additional inoculum of 2.7 × 108 cells/g of ham of Lactobacillus plantarum, and three recieved an inoculum of 1.7 × 108 cells/g of ham of Pediococcus cerevisiae. The experimental design was a 3 × 3 factorial. Thereafter, three dry curing mixtures were applied containing equal ratios of NaNO3 to NaNO2, but three levels of salt and sugar were applied to equal numbers of hams from each inoculum combination. Ham quality, as evaluated by objective and subjective methods of analysis, was satisfactory in all hams. However, L. plantarum produced the most acid, and slightly bitter flavors resulted. P. cerevisiae appeared to produce invertase, and hams containing lactic acid bacteria had less nitrate remaining after aging than hams injected with staphylococci. High acid production and a lower water activity were probably responsible for the reduced final staphylococcal counts in hams inoculated with lactic acid bacteria. Taste panel scores for acidity were associated with pH and titratable acidity. No ham spoilage occurred in this study, and reduction in processing time appears feasible.
Simultaneous Inference With Respect to the Best Treatment in Block Designs

In many practical situations, only inference concerning the unknown best treatment and comparisons of the individual treatments with respect to the best treatment are of primary interest. We give an explicit formulation of this problem in the framework of randomized complete block designs. A procedure based on sample means and two procedures based on signed ranks are proposed. It is seen that, for the problem considered, these procedures have a substantial advantage over what can be deduced from all-pairwise multiple comparisons procedures.
Stale or Sticky Stock Prices? Non-Trading, Predictability, and Mutual Fund Returns

The observed predictability in indexes and domestic mutual funds has been attributed to stale prices. Market timing of mutual funds exploits this predictability. We show that there are few stale prices for stocks in the top few deciles of market value and that mutual funds concentrate their holding in these deciles. Still, we observe predictability in the returns of portfolios and mutual funds holding these stocks. Much of this predictability is due to stickiness, or momentum, in market returns and not stale prices. Thus, the often suggested use of "fair-value" accounting will not eliminate the profitability of market timing.
POLYGALACTURONASE INVOLVED IN EXPANSION1 Functions in Cell Elongation and Flower Development in Arabidopsis

Pectins are acidic carbohydrates that comprise a significant fraction of the primary walls of eudicotyledonous plant cells. They influence wall porosity and extensibility, thus controlling cell and organ growth during plant development. The regulated degradation of pectins is required for many cell separation events in plants, but the role of pectin degradation in cell expansion is poorly defined. Using an activation tag screen designed to isolate genes involved in wall expansion, we identified a gene encoding a putative polygalacturonase that, when overexpressed, resulted in enhanced hypocotyl elongation in etiolated Arabidopsis thaliana seedlings. We named this gene POLYGALACTURONASE INVOLVED IN EXPANSION1 (PGX1). Plants lacking PGX1 display reduced hypocotyl elongation that is complemented by transgenic PGX1 expression. PGX1 is expressed in expanding tissues throughout development, including seedlings, roots, leaves, and flowers. PGX1-GFP (green fluorescent protein) localizes to the apoplast, and heterologously expressed PGX1 displays in vitro polygalacturonase activity, supporting a function for this protein in apoplastic pectin degradation. Plants either overexpressing or lacking PGX1 display alterations in total polygalacturonase activity, pectin molecular mass, and wall composition and also display higher proportions of flowers with extra petals, suggesting PGX1's involvement in floral organ patterning. These results reveal new roles for polygalacturonases in plant development.
Photosensitive Phenomenon in optical fibres

The phenomenon of photosensitivIty in optical fibres covering both Bragg- grating formation and second-harmonic generation is reviewed with emphasis on recent work. Although much is understood more research is necessary to elucidate the mechanisms and unfold the microscopic effects responsible for both observations. This exciting field has grown substantially in past years from fundamental investigations into this curious phenomenon to the applications arena impacting on fibre and semiconductor lasers sensors memory and supervisory application in telecommunications fibre taps and in novel filter applications. Cheap optical fibre frequency converters are a possibility in the future. 1
Effects of Pretend Imagery on Learning Dance in Preschool Children

Play is important in child development and learning. The intent of this study was to assess the effects of play, using physical movement and pretend imagery, on learning dance. Four preschool dance classes, encompassing 32 children ages 3–6, were randomly divided into pretend imagery groups and traditional teaching groups. The classes were videotaped over 3 weeks and rated for speed of learning new motor skills, future recall of the skills, attentiveness to the task, and enjoyment during the task. As hypothesized, results found that children in the pretend imagery group had significantly better visual fixation on the instructor, engagement in and enjoyment during the task, and needed less prompting and time to recall and a shorter amount of time to learn the skill than children in the traditional teaching group. There is little research in this area of learning and play, but the results of this study suggest more is warranted.
Prevention of diabetes in the NOD mouse by a Th1 clone specific for a hsp60 peptide.

Abstract Peptide-based therapies have been shown to be effective in the prevention of diabetes in the NOD mouse. We have been interested in the T cell response elicited by such therapies and have been studying a T cell clone (C3.5) specific for hsp60 AA 437–460, generated following immunization with the hsp60 437–460 peptide. The C3.5 clone was CD4 + , Vβ8.3 TCR + , I–A g7 restricted and of the Th1 type. The injection of this clone into prediabetic NOD mice prevented the adoptive transfer of the disease and suppressed the development of spontaneous diabetes. This effect was reflected in a reduction in the degree and severity of insulitis in mice injected with this clone. In addition, an antibody response was elicited to the C3.5 clone in mice given multiple injections of the clone. The epitope recognized by C3.5 is located in the N-terminus of the hsp60 AA 437–460 peptide, and this clone was unable to recognize the native hsp60 molecule. These data raise questions concerning the mechanism by which peptide-based therapies prevent autoimmune disease.
Acquired oculomotor synkinesis

Paradoxical patterns of pupillary, lid and eye movement may follow oculomotor nerve palsy or they can develop spontaneously in patients with no known history of oculomotor palsy. The mechanism of this condition, known variously as aberrant regeneration of the third nerve, oculomotor misdirection or acquired oculomotor synkinesis, is not known, although the prevailing opinion has held that it occurs when axons regenerating within an oculomotor nerve become misdirected and innervate muscles for which they were not intended. However, there is evidence against this hypothesis. The authors critically review the various hypotheses and elucidate the controversy concerning the pathogenesis of acquired oculomotor synkinesis.
Programming language life cycles

New programming languages keep getting invented, and old languages (most of them) eventually die. Many languages are eventually reduced to, if anything, a single surviving slogan or idea. (Examples: COBOL = programs look like English; SNOBOL = pattern matching on strings.) How do ideas about what programmers want or need to do drive decisions made by language designers? We'll look at some of these ideas, and also at the origin, evolution, and possible destinations of certain ideas pursued during the development of the Fortress programming language, speculating on the forces that drive these life cycles.
Synchronisation in einer verteilten Entwicklungs- und Laufzeitumgebung für multimediale Anwendungen

Integrierte Multimediasysteme ermoglichen neuartige Anwendungen, deren Qualitat vom Nutzer jedoch an der Qualitat analoger Losungen gemessen wird. Einen Beitrag zur Akzeptanz dieser Anwendungen ist die Realisierung von Synchronisationsmechanismen, die die zeitlich korrekte Wiedergabe von erzeugten und bearbeiteten Audio- und Videodaten sicherstellen. Die Distributed Multimedia Object (DMO) Services bilden eine Plattform zur Unterstutzung multimedialer Anwendungen. Anwendungen spezifizieren ihre Anforderungen an die Bearbeitung und Synchronisation multimedialer Daten durch Objekte, die dann zur Ausfuhrungszeit in einer Echtzeitumgebung realisiert werden. Dieser Artikel beschreibt die prinzipiellen Methoden zur Synchronisation von Medien auf Endsystemen und ihre Integration in die DMO Services.
Progressive Systemic Sclerosis of the Intestine Presenting as Malabsorption Syndrome

Summary A case of malabsorption syndrome caused by progressive systemic sclerosis of the small intestine is described. The patient presented no extra-alimentary symptoms during life, although he ultimately had both x-ray and endoscopic evidence of esophageal involvement. Microscopic evidence of multiple organ involvement was found at autopsy. The clinical features of small intestinal progressive systematic sclerosis have been reviewed, with emphasis upon the symptoms resulting from disturbed motility and absorption, the typical x-ray changes, and the characteristic laparotomy finding. They form a clinical which warrants recognition even in the absence of cutaneous and other manifestations of the disease.
The Number of Points in a Combinatorial Geometry with No 8-Point-Line Minors

We show that when n is greater than 3, the number of points in a combinatorial geometry (or simple matroid) G of rank n containing no minor isomorphic to the 8-point line is at most \(\frac{1}{4}(5^n - 1)\). This bound is sharp and is attained if and only if the geometry G is the projective geometry PG(n − 1, 5) over the field GF(5).
Error Resilient Sorting Algorithm for Data Packets Based Sequence Numbers

We propose a novel error resilient sorting algorithm for data packets corrupted by bit errors in packet-switched networks.Firstly,we assume some errors exist in sequence numbers after transmission goes over error-prone channel.We construct a error resilient sorting model based probability theory.After these,we develop a sequential metric for sorting.At last,we propose the error resilient sorting algorithm.By taking full advantage of the redundancy in sequence numbers,the algorithm can enhance the abilities of correct-sorting significantly.
Specialty of non-clinical safety evaluation study on fertility regulation drugs

Fertility regulation drugs are the substances which can regulate human fertility via altering the reproductive process.With the characteristics of long term applying to healthy people and those of childbearing age,toxicity accumulation,persistency and integrity,and usually being out of the clinical monitoring,the evaluation of fertility regulation drugs has some special aspects,such as:① For the sex-selective drugs,the selection of gender of laboratory animals depends on the characteristics of clinical medication;② Monkey is more appropriate laboratory animal than rats or Beagle dogs for most hormonal drugs,especially progesterone drugs;③ In the repeated-dose toxicity tests,the detection of the animal hormones is an essential index,the animal sex cycle and systemic organ observation are conventional indexes;④ Over 6 months are required for repeated-dose toxicity tests;⑤ To evaluate the safety of fertility regulation drugs,it is often required to carry out hormone-kind activity,uterine muscle contraction or penile erectile and other tests in general pharmacology studies;⑥ To evaluate whether the fertility regulation drugs can pass the blood-testis,placenta and milk barrier,and further to evaluate the toxic side effects to males,embryos and offsprings,the sperm drug concentration,blood concentration and milky juice drug concentration assays are required to carry out according to reproductive toxicokinetic studies;⑦ The test of reproductive toxicity should be considered on a case by case basis,because it is difficult to carry out this study in the conventional way;⑧ It is mandatory to take reproductive,carcinogenic and genetic toxicity tests.