cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Development of Carrageenan Pleurisy in the Rat: Effects of Colchicine on Inhibition of Cell Mobilization

Colchicine produced three effects which modified the acute inflammatory response to carrageenan in the rat pleural cavity: (i) inhibition of neutrophil mobilization and concomitant exudate formation (3 hr); (ii) inhibition of monocyte mobilization (21 hr); and (iii) augmented exudate formation (3 and 21 hr). The 1st effect was related to the intraperitoneal dose of colchicine and occurred only at leukopenic dose levels This effect could not be produced by intrapleural injection of nonleukopenic doses of colchicine. The second effect, on the other hand, was produced by intraperitoneal leukopenic doses and to a lesser extent by intrapleural administration of nonleukopenic doses of colchicine. Importantly, the normal biphasic exudative response to carrageenan developed fully in the absence of monocytes. The third effect, a dose-dependent augmentation of both exudative phases of carrageenan pleurisy, was produced by low, nonleukopenic, intrapleural doses of colchicine. The augmented exudate was sensitive to prostaglandin synthetase inhibitors but not to anti-inflammatory steroids. Neither neutrophils nor monocytes were responsible for the augmented exudate. Colchicine, injected into the rat hindlimb or pleural and peritoneal cavities did not elicit the mobilization of neutrophils or a pleural effusion. In addition, colchicine did not affect the magnitude, temporal development, or decay of the potent edematogenic action of serotonin in the rat hindlimb. Thus irritancy was not responsible for any of the effects of colchicine.
Reliability investigation of heavily C-doped InGaP/GaAs HBTs operated under a very high current-density condition

Abstract The reliability of InGaP/GaAs heterojunction bipolar transistors, whose base layer was doped with C to 1×10 20 cm −3 , was investigated at an emitter current density J E of 1 and 2×10 5 A/cm 2 . The bias stress with J E =2×10 5 A/cm 2 increased emitter resistance R E , but that with J E =1×10 5 A/cm 2 did not change R E even at a base-emitter junction temperature T j of 275°C. Bias stress also increased base current I B . An ideality factor of 1.8 for the increased I B indicates that a generation-recombination process in the emitter depletion region dominated the increase in I B under the low injection condition. The increase in I B under the high injection condition indicates that the minority carrier lifetime in the neutral base region decreased with the bias stress. The activation energy for the current gain degradation due to this I B increase under the high injection condition was 1.1 eV. A fairly long lifetime of 8.8×10 4 h was extrapolated at T j =125°C when J E =1×10 5 A/cm 2 .
Pelvic Exenteration for Malignant Melanomas of the Vagina or Urethra with over 3 mm of Invasion

Pelvic exenteration has usually been employed as salvage treatment for gynecologic malignancies which have failed primary radiotherapy. The therapeutic mainstay for vulvar melanomas has become wide local excision with or without concurrent regional node dissection. Patients with primary melanoma of the vagina who undergo exenteration as primary therapy may experience 50% 5-year survival if the pelvic nodes are free of metastases. However, the overall 5-year survival for vaginal melanoma is 15%. In our patient population, there have been four patients with vaginal or urethral melanomas treated primarily with pelvic exenteration. The purpose of this study was to report that patients with vaginal or urethral melanomas over 3 mm in thickness may benefit from primary pelvic exenteration. Four patients underwent pelvic exenteration at Indiana University Medical Center for malignant melanoma of the vagina or urethra between 1986 and 1992. The pathologic specimens of all patients were analyzed for thickness, growth pattern, and nodal metastases. Patient age ranged from 50 to 71. Thickness of the melanomas ranged from >3 to 12 mm. All four patients underwent exenterations, three total and one anterior. All patients had negative pelvic and inguinal nodes at the time of surgery. None of the patients has experienced a recurrence. Three of four patients are alive without evidence of disease at 31 to 97 months following their exenteration. One patient died postoperatively of cardiopulmonary complications. Patients with melanomas of the vagina and female urethra, greater than 3 mm in thickness, may benefit from primary pelvic exenteration.
Polyhedral Units and Network Connectivity in GeO2 Glass at High Pressure: An X-ray Total Scattering Investigation

We report a pressure-induced dense tetrahedral intermediate state via Ge–O–Ge rotation formed at 3–5 GPa and the polyhedral relations in GeO2 glass up to 17.5 GPa using in situ X-ray total scattering and X-ray absorption (XAFS) techniques. It was found that the nearest-neighbor Ge-Ge correlations show a decrease reaching a minimum between 4 and 6 GPa, and exhibit negative compression behavior at 7–17.5 GPa. The Ge–Ge distance determined by XAFS shows a substantial reduction, i.e., normal compression behavior, at 7–17.5 GPa. The comparison with the theoretical g(r) function for rutile-type GeO2 (16.1 GPa) indicates that the negative compression of intermediate range order reflects the direct formation of GeO6 octahedral units. Results of coordination number analysis show that GeO2 glass undergoes a transition from tetrahedral GeO4, to GeO5 units (possibly triangular bipyramidal), and finally to octahedral GeO6 units. The present investigation provides the structural details of the polyhedral units and their relationships in GeO2 glass at high pressure.
Belief Propagation Based Spectrum Sensing Subject to Dynamic Primary User Activities: Phantom of Quickest Detection

Cognitive radio is one of the enabling technologies considered for the next generation communications systems for many mission-critical applications, such as in the Joint Tactical Radio System (JTRS) program and the DARPA xG program. In cognitive radio systems, cooperative spectrum sensing is one of the key techniques that can improve the reliability and agility. In this study, a framework integrating quickest detection with belief propagation (BP) is applied to the scenario of temporally and spatially varying primary user activities. Using numerical simulations, system performance measured by false alarm (FA) rate, missed detection (MD) rate and average detection delay is obtained for different setups. The results show that the proposed scheme achieves better detection error rate and detection delay tradeoff.
Promotion of Feeder-Independent Self-Renewal of Embryonic Stem Cells by Retinol (Vitamin A)

Retinol, the alcohol form of vitamin A, maintains pluripotency of mouse embryonic stem cells (ESCs) by the overexpression of Nanog, which is a key transcription factor for their self-renewal. ESCs represent the most promising source of all types of cells for regenerative medicine and drug discovery. These cells maintain pluripotency through a complex interplay of different signaling pathways and transcription factors including leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF), homeodomain protein Nanog, and Oct3/4. Nanog, however, plays a key role in maintaining the pluripotency of mouse and human ESCs. Overexpression of nanog by heterologous promoters can maintain pluripotency of ESCs in the absence of LIF. Also, Nanog alone is sufficient for the self-renewal of ESCs while maintaining the Oct4 levels. Normally, mouse and human ESCs are cultured over mouse embryonic fibroblasts as feeders to maintain pluripotency. Although feeder cells provide important growth(-)promoting factors, their use involves several cumbersome and time-consuming steps. Here we demonstrate that retinol can support feeder-independent self-renewal of ESCs in long-term cultures without affecting their pluripotency. The effect of retinol is independent of the strain background, and the cells maintain complete potential to differentiate into all the primary germ layers in embryoid bodies and in chimeric animals. Self-renewal of ESCs by retinol is not mediated by retinoic acid. The studies demonstrate for the first time that a physiologically relevant small molecule has growth-promoting effect on the self-renewal of ESCs by activating the endogenous machinery to overexpress a critical gene for pluripotency.
Equine IgG and IgG(T) antibodies: dependence of precipitability on both antigen and antibody structure.

Abstract Equine IgG(T) antibodies formed insoluble complexes with ovalbumin which has multiple, non-repeating determinants, but formed only soluble complexes with proteins bearing 8. 12 or 30 dinitrophenyl (Dnp) determinants. IgG(T) antibodies to Dnp agglutinated erythrocytes coated with Dnp-protein antigens, but not erythrocytes dinitrophenylated by reacting directly with dinitrofluorobenzene. IgG antibodies agglutinated all erythrocyte preparations tested and precipitated with all antigens except Dnp-proteins with 8 Dnp determinants. The equilibrium constant for the intramolecular reaction of IgG antibody with Dnp12BSA was estimated to be 10 or less.
An algorithm for pole assignment in high order multivariable systems

An efficient computational method is presented for solving the problem of pole assignment by state feedback in linear multivariable systems with large dimensions. A given multiinput system is first transformed to an upper block Hessenberg form by means of orthogonal state coordinate transformations. The state feedback problem is then reformulated in terms of the Sylvester equation. The transformed system matrices, along with certain assumed block forms for unknown matrices, enable the Sylvester equation to be decomposed and solved effectively. A distinct point of the proposed algorithm is that the solution procedure can be tailored to parallel implementation and is therefore fast. Computational aspects of the algorithm are discussed and numerical examples are provided. >
Microwave emission from a sunspot - I. Implications for the sunspot magnetic structure

From the gyroresonance brightness temperature spectrum of a sunspot, one can determine the magnetic field strength by using the property that microwave brightness is limited above a frequency given by an integer-multiple of the gyrofrequency. In this paper, we use this idea to find the radial distribution of magnetic field at the coronal base of a sunspot in the active region, NOAA 4741. The gyroresonance brightness temperature spectra of this sunspot are obtained from multi-frequency interferometric observations made at the Owens Valley Radio Observatory at 24 frequencies in the range of 4.0–12.4 GHz with spatial resolution 2.2″–6.8″. The main results of present study are summarized as follows: first, by comparison of the coronal magnetic flux deduced from our microwave observation with the photospheric magnetic flux measured by KPNO magnetograms, we show that theo-mode emission must arise predominantly from the second harmonic of the gyrofrequency, while thex-mode arises from the third harmonic. Second, the radial distribution of magnetic fieldsB(r) at the coronal base of this spot (say, 2000–4000 km above the photosphere) can be adequately fitted by $$B(r) = 1420(1 \pm 0.080)\exp \left[ { - \left( {\frac{r}{{11.05''(1 \pm 0.014)}}} \right)^2 } \right]G,$$ wherer is the radial distance from the spot center at coronal base. Third, it is found that coronal magnetic fields originate mostly from the photospheric umbral region. Fourth, although the derived vertical variation of magnetic fields can be approximated roughly by a dipole model with dipole moment 1.6 × 1030 erg G−1 buried at 11000 km below the photosphere, the radial field distribution at coronal heights is found to be more confined than predicted by the dipole model.
Financial Restatements and Shareholder Ratifications of the Auditor

SUMMARY: Regulators and legislators have focused significant attention on financial statement restatements in recent years, and the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) and financial statement users view restatements as audit failures. The SEC (2000, 2003a) suggests that shareholder voting on auditor ratification will be impacted by perceptions of audit quality. In this paper we examine shareholder voting on auditor ratifications in 2005 or 2006 following restatement announcements by SEC registrants. We find that shareholders are more likely to vote against auditor ratification after a restatement when compared with votes at (1) firms without restatements or (2) restating firms in the preceding period. Overall, the results provide empirical support to the SEC's assertion that shareholder voting on auditor ratification will be related to perceptions of audit quality, and also support recent actions by shareholder activists to require all firms to submit the selection of the auditor for a ratificat...
Effects of gastrocnemius stretching on ankle dorsiflexion and time-to heel-off during the stance phase of gait

Abstract Objectives The purpose was to determine the effects of a gastrocnemius stretching program on passive ankle dorsiflexion range of motion and ankle dorsiflexion and time-to-heel-off during the stance phase of gait. Design This study was a randomized-control trial design. Setting The study was conducted in a biomechanical laboratory setting. Participants Nineteen volunteers (17 women and 2 men, mean age=30.3 years; SD=9.8 years), with less than 8° of passive ankle dorsiflexion range of motion bilaterally and a history of lower extremity overuse injury were randomly assigned to the experimental ( n =11) or control group ( n =8). Intervention The experimental group participated in a static gastrocnemius stretching program of five repetitions held for 30-s, two times daily, for 3 weeks. The control group received no intervention. Main outcome measures Passive ankle dorsiflexion range of motion and ankle dorsiflexion and time-to-heel-off during the stance phase of gait were measured before and after the intervention. Results The experimental group had significantly greater passive dorsiflexion range of motion at post-test than the control group on both the right ( p =0.000) and left ( p =0.002) sides. Ankle dorsiflexion and time-to-heel-off during the stance phase of gait were not different among group, time, or foot ( p >0.05). Conclusions A gastrocnemius stretch performed two times daily, for 3 weeks increased passive ankle dorsiflexion, but did not alter ankle dorsiflexion or time-to-heel-off during the stance phase of gait. Thus, when an increase in ankle dorsiflexion or time-to-heel-off during the stance phase of ambulation is a clinical goal, it is unlikely to result from the stretching regimen used in this study.
Effects of urbanization on mercury deposition and accumulation in New England

We compare total mercury (HgT) loading and methylmercury (MeHg) accumulation in streams and lakes from an urbanized area (Boston, Massachusetts) to rural regions of southern New Hampshire and Maine. The maximum HgT loading, as indicated by HgT atmospheric deposition, HgT emissions, and sediment HgT concentrations, did not coincide with maximum MeHg concentrations in fish. Urbanized ecosystems were areas of high HgT loading but had low MeHg concentrations in fish. Controls on MeHg production and accumulation appeared to be related primarily to HgT loading in undeveloped areas, while ecosystem sensitivity to MeHg formation appeared to be more important in regulating accumulation of MeHg in the urban area.
Alkaline Phosphatase and Alkaline Phosphatase Isoenzymes in the Cat

Feline alkaline phosphatase and alkaline phosphatase isoenzymes have been studied in tissue and serum. Alkaline phosphatase from various organs was quantitated and then subjected to cellulose acetate electrophoresis. The effects of bile duct ligation, prednisolone treatment and phenobarbital treatment on serum alkaline phosphatase was measured. The diagnostic importance of feline serum alkaline phosphatase levels is discussed in light of the results of this and other studies.
An Eulerian model for particles nonisothermally carried by a compressible fluid

Abstract An Eulerian model describing the transport of particles that nonisothermally interact with their carrying flow is developed in the general time-dependent, three-dimensional frame. The Eulerian model derives from the Lagrangian kinematic, momentum and energy particle equations based on a combination of the filtered Liouville equation and the method of moments. The filtered Liouville equation governs the filtered density function of the particle velocities and temperature in phase space. Moments of the Liouville equation result in a coupled system of Eulerian governing equations for the particle number density, velocity and temperature and their second moments. The equations are closed by expressing third order moments in terms of lower order moments based on the assumption that third-order correlations are negligible. The particle transport equations are two-way coupled with the inviscid, Euler equations governing compressible flows. Consistent with the hyperbolic conservation form of the Eulerian–Eulerian model, a flux-vector splitting and characteristics-based Roe averaging method discretizes the equations. Computations of a cloud of particles initially at rest in a uniform, subsonic flow and in an accelerated flow behind a normal shock in one dimension, show very good comparison with a recent higher order WENO based Eulerian–Lagrangian model.
Formal language theory and DNA: an analysis of the generative capacity of specific recombinant behaviors.

A new manner of relating formal language theory to the study of informational macromolecules is initiated. A language is associated with each pair of sets where the first set consists of double-stranded DNA molecules and the second set consists of the recombinational behaviors allowed by specified classes of enzymatic activities. The associated language consists of strings of symbols that represent the primary structures of the DNA molecules that may potentially arise from the original set of DNA molecules under the given enzymatic activities.
Mechanistic studies of the isotopic-exchange reaction between gaseous hydrogen and palladium hydride powder

Abstract A detailed mechanism for the isotopic-exchange reaction between gaseous hydrogen and solid palladium hydride is developed which extends previous models for this reaction by specifically including surface reactions. The modeling indicates that there are two surface-related processes that contribute to the overall rate of exchange: the desorption of hydrogen from the surface and the exchange between surface hydrogen and bulk hydrogen. This conclusion is based upon measurements in a flow reactor in which Raman spectroscopy was used to analyze the output of the reactor. This data was used to develop a computer model for the exchange process. In addition, measurements examining the effect of small concentrations of carbon monoxide were helpful in elucidating the mechanism. Carbon monoxide reversibly inhibits certain steps in the exchange; this slows the overall rate of exchange and changes the distribution of products from the reactor.
Students teaching students: incorporating presentations into a course

This paper presents the structure of a new elective course at the University of Florida, Artificial Intelligence in Computer Games, which addresses not only the technical aspects of creating realism within computer games, but also the need for more experiences in oral communication. Key elements of this course include the students conducting a majority of the teaching and actively participating in evaluating each other.
The ICT revolution, internationalization of technological activity, and the emerging economies: implications for global marketing

Abstract The paper examines the impact of the information and communications technology (ICT) revolution on internationalization of technological activity with special reference to emerging economies and its implications for global marketing. The issue is examined principally around the transaction cost framework. The evidence from recent literature suggests that ICT applications such as workflow systems, groupware systems, e-mail, and data transfer through Internet and videoconferencing may have diluted the traditional market failure arguments for vertical integration of firms' technological activity and contributed to internationalization of MNE R&D and the rapid growth of technology alliances. In terms of implications for global marketing, the impact of ICT via the internationalization of MNEs' technological activity would have its strongest impact on product development decisions. The trend towards modular designs and the companion platform product strategy in which a firm designs a common core with different versions for different segments is likely to accelerate. Hybrid forms of governance (e.g., alliances) will continue to experience rapid growth in the internationalization of MNE R&D. The paper also suggests that alliances may be important for successful product differentiation in global markets. With respect to emerging economies, the ICT revolution, by making more, better, cheaper and faster exchange of information possible globally, may have the effect of reducing the country-specific risks associated with the development of new products and services. Overall, emerging countries like India and China with significant competencies and rapidly developing ICT infrastructure, appear to be well positioned to become serious players in the trend towards internationalization of technological activity.
Managing conflict: Interactional strategies of learning handicapped and nonhandicapped adolescent girls

Naturalistic observations of learning handicapped and nonhandicapped high school girls were conducted to explore differences in the types and effectiveness of interaction strategies used during troubled peer contacts. Findings indicated that learning handicapped girls engaged in more conflict than nonhandicapped females and that this conflict generally involved dominance/submission themes and was managed in ways which increased the probability of future conflict. Conflict involving nonhandicapped girls mostly focused on selfishness or low tolerance for peer's habits and was handled in ways which lowered the likelihood of future disagreements. Implications of these findings with regard to the social standing of the learning handicapped girls in the school setting is discussed.
The supply and demand for oil in the 1990s Will the forecasters alone make money

Abstract World oil prices rose and then fell 25% during the winter of 1989. OPEC tried to limit price discounting and export quotas among its members, but once again failed. OPEC forecasts that its market share and its reference price will rise sharply in the 1990s; its critics are convinced it is wrong. Current trends indicate that oil demand is price-elastic. It will contract if energy conservation and fuel-conversion programmes are stimulated by rising oil prices. Non-OPEC countries will continue adding to supply thus sharpening market-competition, and demand will fall if the West returns to inflation and recession.
Modeling of ductile-mode material removal in rotary ultrasonic machining

In rotary ultrasonic machining of ceramic materials there exist two modes of material removal: brittle fracture mode and ductile mode. Two models were developed based on the assumption that the brittle fracture is the dominating mode of material removal, and were published previously. This paper presents the follow-up work on modeling of the ductile-mode material removal in rotary ultrasonic machining. After a brief review of the ductile phenomena in ceramic machining, an approach to modeling the ductile-mode removal in rotary ultrasonic machining is proposed. Then, magnesia stabilized zirconia is used to demonstrate the model's capability of predicting the material removal rate from the process parameters and the material property of the workpiece. Finally, the results of the pilot experiments to verify the model are discussed.
Potassium Channel Structure and Function as Reported by a Single Glycosylation Sequon

Inwardly rectifying K+ channels (IRKs) are highly K(+)-selective, integral membrane proteins that help maintain resting the membrane potential and cell volume. Integral membrane proteins as a class are frequently N-glycosylated with the attached carbohydrate being extracellular and perhaps modulating function. However, dynamic effects of glycosylation have yet to be demonstrated at the molecular level. ROMK1, a member of the IRK family is particularly suited to the study of glycosylation because it has a single N-glycosylation consensus sequence (Ho, K., Nichols, C. G., Lederer, W. J., Lytton, J., Vassilev, P. M., Kanazirska, M. V., and Herbert, S. C. (1993) Nature 362, 31-38). We show that ROMK1 is expressed in a functional state in the plasmalemma of an insect cell line (Spodoptera frugiperda, Sf9) and has two structures, glycosylated and unglycosylated. To test functionality, glycosylation was abolished by an N117Q mutation or by treatment with tunicamycin. Whole cell currents were greatly reduced in both of the unglycosylated forms compared to wild-type. Single channel currents revealed a dramatic decrease in opening probability, po, as the causative factor. Thus we have shown biochemically that the N-glycosylation sequon is extracellular, a result consistent with present topological models of IRKs, and we conclude that sequon occupancy by carbohydrate stabilizes the open state of ROMK1.
A geometry teacher's use of a metaphor in relation to a prototypical image to help students remember a set of theorems

Abstract This article asks the following: How does a teacher use a metaphor in relation to a prototypical image to help students remember a set of theorems? This question is analyzed through the case of a geometry teacher. The analysis uses Duval's work on the apprehension of diagrams to investigate how the teacher used a metaphor to remind students about the heuristics involved when applying a set of theorems during a problem-based lesson. The findings show that the teacher used the metaphor to help students recall the apprehensions of diagrams when applying several theorems. The metaphor was instrumental for mediating students’ work on a problem and the proof of a new theorem. The findings suggest that teachers’ use of metaphors in relation to prototypical images may facilitate how they organize students’ knowledge for later retrieval.
Deciding the Fate of Others: The Cognitive Underpinnings of Racially Biased Juror Decision Making

In criminal law, jurors are supposed to ignore defendant race when considering factual matters of culpability. However, when judging the merits of a criminal case, jurors' ability (or inability) to avoid bias may affect verdicts. Fact-based decision making expend cognitive resources, while heuristic-based decisions (e.g., using criminal stereotypes) conserve resources. Here, we investigated whether differences in cognitive resources and prejudice attitudes about Blacks influenced trial outcomes. We tested the impact of working memory capacity (WMC), cognitive load, prejudice, and target race (Black, White) on penalties ascribed to fictional criminal defendants in ambiguous-fact cases. Results showed that when "loaded," prejudiced-low-WMC persons supported guilty verdicts with higher confidence more often for Black than White defendants. Conversely, regardless of WMC or prejudice attitude, participants penalized White defendants more often when not loaded. We suggest that cognitive resources and prejudice attitude influence fact-based decisions. Links to juror judgments and potential trial outcomes are discussed.
Biochemical properties of macrophage fractions and their relation to the mechanism of superoxide production.

Abstract Guinea pig alveolar macrophages are separable by density gradient centrifugation into three subpopulations whose capacity for biological activity (e.g. O2−production and chemotaxis) varies directly with buoyant density [(1983) J. Reticuloendothel. Soc. 33, 157-164]. This study demonstrates that the activity per cell of various other enzymes remains constant among the subpopulations. When normalized for cell volume, enzyme activity diminishes with decreasing buoyant density. Intracellular calcium mobilization, linked to formyl peptide and concanavalin A-stimulated O2− production, similarly diminishes. Formyl peptide receptor distribution and affinity remain constant. Decreased responsiveness of lower density cells is probably due to lower concentration of enzyme(s) involved in the transduction of signal distal to ligand recognition (or binding).
Interferon‐α therapy during pregnancy in chronic myelogenous leukaemia and hairy cell leukaemia

Interferon-alpha is an effective agent in the treatment of chronic myelogenous leukaemia and hairy cell leukaemia. Because interferon-alpha does not inhibit DNA synthesis, we have used it to treat these diseases during pregnancy. We report here two patients with chronic myelogenous leukaemia and two patients with hairy cell leukaemia managed with interferon-alpha during pregnancy. Interferon-alpha was well tolerated, and the pregnancies proceeded without complications. All four infants were apparently normal at birth, and all four have enjoyed normal growth and development. Interferon-alpha may represent relatively safe therapy during pregnancy, because of its lack of inhibition of DNA synthesis. Nevertheless, recommendations regarding the use of interferon-alpha to treat chronic leukaemias during pregnancy must await further experience with this agent in this setting.
A design optimization tool based on a genetic algorithm

Abstract Much interest has been recently devoted to generative processes in design. Advances in computational tools for design applications, coupled with techniques from the field of artificial intelligence, have lead to new possibilities in the way computers can inform and actively interact with the design process. In this paper, we use the concepts of generative and goal-oriented design to propose a computer tool that can help the designer to generate and evaluate certain aspects of a solution towards an optimized behavior of the final configuration. This work focuses mostly on those aspects related to the environmental performance of buildings. Genetic Algorithms (GAs) are applied as a generative and search procedure to look for optimized design solutions in terms of thermal and lighting performance in a building. The GA is first used to generate possible design solutions, which are then evaluated in terms of lighting and thermal behavior using a detailed thermal analysis program (DOE2.1E). The results from the simulations are subsequently used to further guide the GA search towards finding low-energy solutions to the problem under study. Solutions can be visualized using an AutoLisp routine. The specific problem addressed in this study is the placing and sizing of windows in an office building. The same method is applicable to a wide range of design problems like the choice of construction materials, design of shading elements, or sizing of lighting and mechanical systems for buildings.
Generation of coherent terahertz pulses in ruby at room temperature

We have shown that a coherently driven solid state medium can potentially produce strong controllable short pulses of THz radiation. The high efficiency of the technique is based on excitation of maximal THz coherence by applying resonant optical pulses to the medium. The excited coherence in the medium is connected to macroscopic polarization coupled to THz radiation. We have performed detailed simulations by solving the coupled density matrix and Maxwell equations. By using a simple V-type energy scheme for ruby, we have demonstrated that the energy of generated THz pulses ranges from hundreds of pico-Joules to nano-Joules at room temperature and micro-Joules at liquid helium temperature, with pulse durations from picoseconds to tens of nanoseconds. We have also suggested a coherent ruby source that lases on two optical wavelengths and simultaneously generates THz radiation. We discussed also possibilities of extension of the technique to different solid-state materials.
Most infectious complications in parenterally fed trauma patients are not due to elevated blood glucose levels.

Objective: To determine the relationship between hyperglycemia and infectious complications in nutritional studies of trauma patients. Methods: Retrospective review of serum glucose values in two published randomized, prospective studies of patients receiving either enteral or parenteral feeding (trial 1) or isonitrogenous, isocaloric enteral diets (trial 2). Trial 2 also included patients prospectively followed who received little or no enteral feeding. Results: Patients randomized to enteral or parenteral feeding in trial 1 exhibited no significant differences in the highest recorded serum glucose (SG) until the fourth or fifth day after protocol entry. SG tended to be higher in infected than noninfected patients in the first 4 hospital days, but SG was far below values considered to increase the risk for infection (SG > 220 mg/dL). In trial 2, glucose levels tended to be slightly higher in infected than in noninfected patients within the first 5 days reaching statistical significance by day 5. Unfed co...
Twenty-four–hour urine chemistries and the risk of kidney stones among women and men

Twenty-four–hour urine chemistries and the risk of kidney stones among women and men. Background Results of a 24-hour urine collection are integral to the selection of the most appropriate intervention to prevent kidney stone recurrence. However, the currently accepted definitions of normal urine values are not firmly supported by the literature. In addition, little information is available about the relationship between risk of stone formation and the levels of urinary factors. Unfortunately, the majority of previous studies of 24-hour urine chemistries were limited by the inclusion of recurrent stone formers and poorly defined controls. Methods We obtained 24-hour urine collections from 807 men and women with a history of kidney stone disease and 239 without a history who were participants in three large ongoing cohort studies: the Nurses' Health Study I (NHS I; mean age of 61 years), the Nurses' Health Study II (NHS II; mean age of 42 years), and the Health Professionals Follow-up Study (HPFS; mean age of 59 years). Results Mean 24-hour urine calcium excretion was higher and urine volume was lower in cases than controls in NHS I ( P ≤ 0.01), NHS II ( P ≤ 0.13) and HPFS ( P ≤ 0.01), but urine oxalate and citrate did not differ. Among women, urine uric acid was similar in cases and controls but was lower in cases in men ( P = 0.06). The frequency of hypercalciuria was higher among the cases in NHS I ( P = 0.26), NHS II ( P = 0.03), and HPFS ( P = 0.02), but 27, 17, and 14% of the controls, respectively, also met the definition of hypercalciuria. The frequency of hyperoxaluria did not differ between cases and controls, but was three times more common among men compared with women. After adjusting for the other urinary factors, the relative risk of stone formation increased with increasing urine calcium levels and concentration in all three cohorts but not in a linear fashion. Compared with individuals with a urine calcium concentration of Conclusions The traditional definitions of normal 24-hour urine values need to be reassessed, as a substantial proportion of controls would be defined as abnormal, and the association with risk of stone formation may be continuous rather than dichotomous. The 24-hour urine chemistries are important for predicting risk of stone formation, but the significance and the magnitudes of the associations appear to differ by age and gender.
Hyaluronidase Expression and Activity Is Regulated by Pro-Inflammatory Cytokines in Human Airway Epithelial Cells

Hyaluronan (HA) is present at the apical surface of airway epithelium as a high-molecular-weight polymer. Since HA depolymerization initiates a cascade of events that results in kinin generation and growth factor processing, in the present work we used primary cultures of human bronchial epithelial (HBE) cells grown at the air–liquid interface (ALI) to assess hyaluronidase (Hyal) activity by HA zymography, gene expression by quantitative real-time PCR, and localization by confocal microscopy. Because TNF-α and IL-1β induce Hyals in other cells, we tested their effects on Hyals expression and activity. We found that Hyal-like activity is present in the apical and basolateral secretions from HBE cells where Hyals 1, 2, and 3 are expressed, and that IL-1β acts synergistically with TNF-α to increase gene expression and activity. Confocal microscopy showed that Hyals 1, 2, and 3 were localized intracellularly, while Hyal2 was also expressed at the apical pole associated with the plasma membrane, and in a solub...
Design, fabrication and testing of the P3 micro heat engine

The development and testing of a micro heat engine is presented. For the first time the production of electrical power by a dynamic micro heat engine is demonstrated. The prototype micro heat engine is an external combustion engine that converts thermal power to mechanical power through the use of a novel thermodynamic cycle. Mechanical power is converted into electrical power through the use of a thin-film piezoelectric membrane generator. This design is well suited to photolithography-based batch fabrication methods, and is unlike any conventionally manufactured macro-scale engine.
Risk Detection and Self-Protection Among Homeless Youth

Utilizing qualitative interviews with a large sample of 145 homeless youth seeking services at homeless youth service agencies from across three U.S. cities (Los Angeles, Denver, and Austin), this study sought to explore youths' perspectives on ways in which they detect risk and protect themselves on the streets. Results indicated that youth use a combination of internal cues (affective responses) and external cues (reading people) to detect danger, although many times danger was described as undetectable. Certain contexts, includes those that were unfamiliar, difficult to escape, or involved drugs were described as most dangerous. In response to these dangers, youth employed self-protection strategies such as carrying weapons, banding together with trusted others, isolating, or seeking programing to leave the streets.
FINE-SCALE POPULATION STRUCTURE AND ASYMMETRICAL DISPERSAL IN AN OBLIGATE SALT-MARSH PASSERINE, THE SALTMARSH SPARROW (AMMODRAMUS CAUDACUTUS)

ABSTRACT. Understanding the spatial scale of gene flow can yield valuable insight into the ecology of an organism and guide conservation strategies. Fine-scale genetic structure is uncommon in migratory passerines because of their high vagility and presumed high dispersal abilities. Aspects of the behavior and ecology of some migratory species, however, may promote structure on a finer scale in comparison to their mobility. We investigated population genetic structure in the Saltmarsh Sparrow (Ammodramus caudacutus), a migratory passerine that breeds along the northeastern coast of the United States, where it is restricted exclusively to a narrow strip of patchily distributed tidal marsh habitat. Using genotyping with 10 microsatellite loci, we detected weak but significant population structure among Saltmarsh Sparrows from nine marshes on the breeding grounds between Scarborough, Maine, and Oceanside, New York. Genetic variation among marshes was largely consistent with a pattern of isolation by distance...
Computational secrecy by typing for the pi calculus

We define and study a distributed cryptographic implementation for an asynchronous pi calculus. At the source level, we adapt simple type systems designed for establishing formal secrecy properties. We show that those secrecy properties have counterparts in the implementation, not formally but at the level of bitstrings, and with respect to probabilistic polynomial-time active adversaries. We rely on compilation to a typed intermediate language with a fixed scheduling strategy. While we exploit interesting, previous theorems for that intermediate language, our result appears to be the first computational soundness theorem for a standard process calculus with mobile channels.
The growth of fatigue cracks through particulate sic reinforced aluminum alloys

Abstract Crack growth rates for large fatigue cracks in 12 variations of particulate silicon carbide reinforced aluminum alloy composites have been measured. Composites with seven different matrix alloys were tested, four of which were of precipitation hardening compositions, and those were tested in both as-extruded and peak aged conditions. Five of the materials were made by casting, ingot metallurgical methods and two of the alloys by mechanical alloying, powder metallurgical methods. For both manufacturing methods, primary fabrication was followed by hot extrusion. The fatigue crack growth curves exhibited an approximately linear, or Paris law, region, fitting the function da/dN = BΔK s , and a threshold stress intensity factor, ΔK th . As has been found for other materials, the coefficients B and s are correlated; for these composites In B= −16.4−2.1s . A correlation was also found between ΔK th and s , and it was found possible to compute the magnitude of ΔK th using a simple model for the threshold together with yield stress and SiC size and volume fraction. These results were explained using a relationship between ΔK th and crack closure determined previously for unreinforced aluminum alloys. The path of fatigue crack growth is through the matrix for these composites, and SiC has the effect of altering the slip distance, therefore, the plasticity accompanying fatigue cracks. It was shown that all the crack growth rate curves were reduced to one equation having the form da/dN = B'ΔK eff s' where B' = 6.5 × 10 -9 m/cy and s' = 1.7 . A partly theoretical method for predicting fatigue crack growth rates for untested composites is given. Fatigue crack surface roughness was measured and found to be described by a fractal dimension, but no correlation could be obtained between surface roughness parameters and ΔK th .
A New Role for Calmodulin in Ion Channel Biology

See related articles, pages 1048–1054 and 1055–1063 A time-dependent repolarizing current carried by outward movement of potassium ions was first identified by Hodgkin and Huxley, and has been recognized in heart since the 1960s.1,2 Experiments in the 1980s found that the amplitude of the current, then termed I K, increased when intracellular calcium was increased.3 The key advance to further understanding of the physiology of this important repolarizing current was the recognition in 1990 that it includes at least two distinct components, now termed I Kr and I Ks.4 These two currents have very different voltage-dependent gating behaviors and sensitivities to drugs and to activation of second messenger pathways. The amplitude and gating of I Ks is quite labile in experimental preparations and increases dramatically in response to activation of PKA.5–7 Such I Ks variability has been invoked as a mechanism underlying variability in the extent to which I Kr blockers prolong QT interval, a common problem in clinical medicine and drug development.7–10 At its simplest level, patients with robust I Ks display minimal QT prolongation with I Kr block, whereas those with I Ks reduction may display little QT prolongation at baseline but striking QT prolongation when I Kr, the major mechanism supporting normal repolarization in this setting, is blocked by drugs. Molecular genetic studies in the mid 1990s led to identification of the genes whose expression underlies these currents: I Kr is generated by expression of KCNH2 (initially termed HERG ), and I Ks is generated by the coexpression of a pore forming subunit, KCNQ1 (formerly termed KvLQT1 ), with important function modifying ancillary subunit KCNE1 (or minK).11 Mutations in KCNQ1 are the most common cause of type 1 long QT syndrome (LQT1). When mutations in KCNQ1 , KCNE1 , …
Plasma free fatty acid composition before and after cold exposure in the white rat

Abstract 1. 1. Free fatty acid (FFA) distribution of blood plasma was analyzed by means of gas chromatography in rats acclimated to room temperature (21–22°C). FFA analysis was carried out on an identically treated group of rats after cold exposure. 2. 2. Total plasma FFA concentration increased by 92 % after cold exposure. 3. 3. Concentration changes were not uniform for all fatty acids examined; the greatest percentage increase was found in palmitic acid.
Converging evidence for control of color-word Stroop interference at the item level.

Prior studies have shown that cognitive control is implemented at the list and context levels in the color–word Stroop task. At first blush, the finding that Stroop interference is reduced for mostly incongruent items as compared with mostly congruent items (i.e., the item-specific proportion congruence [ISPC] effect) appears to provide evidence for yet a third level of control, which modulates word reading at the item level. However, evidence to date favors the view that ISPC effects reflect the rapid prediction of high-contingency responses and not item-specific control. In Experiment 1, we first show that an ISPC effect is obtained when the relevant dimension (i.e., color) signals proportion congruency, a problematic pattern for theories based on differential response contingencies. In Experiment 2, we replicate and extend this pattern by showing that item-specific control settings transfer to new stimuli, ruling out alternative frequency-based accounts. In Experiment 3, we revert to the traditional design in which the irrelevant dimension (i.e., word) signals proportion congruency. Evidence for item-specific control, including transfer of the ISPC effect to new stimuli, is apparent when 4-item sets are employed but not when 2-item sets are employed. We attribute this pattern to the absence of high-contingency responses on incongruent trials in the 4-item set. These novel findings provide converging evidence for reactive control of color–word Stroop interference at the item level, reveal theoretically important factors that modulate reliance on item-specific control versus contingency learning, and suggest an update to the item-specific control account (Bugg, Jacoby, & Chanani, 2011).
Substrate utilization during exercise in formerly morbidly obese women

The purpose of this study was to compare substrate utilization during fasting and submaximal exercise in morbidly obese women after weight loss (WL) with that in weight-matched controls (C). WL wer...