cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Thermal Protection Materials

Thermal protection materials and systems (TPS) are required to protect a vehicle returning from space or entering an atmosphere. The selection of the material depends on the heat flux, heat load, pressure, and shear and other mechanical loads imposed on the material, which are in turn determined by the vehicle configuration and size, location on the vehicle, speed, a trajectory, and the atmosphere. In all cases the goal is to use a material that is both reliable and efficient for the application. Reliable materials are well understood and have sufficient test data under the appropriate conditions to provide confidence in their performance. Efficiency relates to the behavior of a material under the specific conditions that it encounters TPS that performs very well at high heat fluxes may not be efficient at lower heat fluxes. Mass of the TPS is a critical element of efficiency. This talk will review the major classes of TPS, reusable or insulating materials and ablators. Ultra high temperature ceramics for sharp leading edges will also be reviewed. The talk will focus on the properties and behavior of these materials.
Biochemistry of nicotinic acetylcholine receptors in the vertebrate brain.

Publisher Summary This chapter focuses on nicotinic receptors of the vertebrate central nervous system. Receptor are considered to be a ligand-binding protein, regardless of physiological function and signal transduction mechanism, acetylcholine receptor (AChR) to be an acetylcholine (ACh)-binding protein with a synaptic function, and nicotinic receptor denotes a binding protein with a preference for nicotinic compounds. The biochemical characterization of ion channels, such as the one contained within the nicotinic AChR of muscle and suspected as an integral constituent of the neuronal receptor, faces a unique dilemma, namely, the mutually exclusive requirements for solubilization (as a prerequisite for purification) and for maintenance of membrane-bounded compartments (for testing physiological function). This problem is solved by redefining the receptor as a ligand-binding protein and by demonstrating channel properties after purification using suitable membrane reconstitution protocols. The biophysical reconstitution technique, involving insertion of the purified receptor into lipid bilayers or vesicles and analysis of ligand-induced ion fluxes, has over the past several years given way to a molecular biological one, whereby appropriate messages are expressed in Xenopus laevis oocytes to produce functional channels measureable by patch clamp techniques.
Primary reticulum-cell sarcoma of the mandible: Review of the literature and report of a case

Abstract A 52-year-old man developed intermittent swelling, pain, and paresthesia during a one-year period prior to the histologic diagnosis of reticulum-cell sarcoma. The clinical profile and radiographic examination suggested either chronic osteomyelitis or malignancy. Treatment was confined to radiation therapy with resolution of the malignancy but a guarded prognosis. Twenty-two previously reported cases of primary reticulum-cell sarcoma of the mandible are reviewed.
Outflows, jets and shocks in the orion nebula

The rich young cluster of stars associated with the Orion Nebula provides a unique laboratory for the study of plasma phenomena. We see v e types of o ws and shocks. Photoablation outo w from the proplyds nearest 1 Ori C form nearly stationary shocks with the high velocity wind from that star. Microjets, with scales of less than 10 3 AU, are seen around some 20 low mass stars. Isolated jets, with high velocities and scales of about 10 4 AU, are less numerous but common. One also sees the shocks formed when these jets impinge on the ionized nebular gas and the neutral gas in the foreground lid. The nal type of object is the stationary shock formed by the interaction from the stellar wind that arises during disk formation with the ambient gas o wing away from the main body of the nebula.
Metagenomic systems biology and metabolic modeling of the human microbiome: From species composition to community assembly rules

The human microbiome is a key contributor to health and development. Yet little is known about the ecological forces that are at play in defining the composition of such host-associated communities. Metagenomics-based studies have uncovered clear patterns of community structure but are often incapable of distinguishing alternative structuring paradigms. In a recent study, we integrated metagenomic analysis with a systems biology approach, using a reverse ecology framework to model numerous human microbiota species and to infer metabolic interactions between species. Comparing predicted interactions with species composition data revealed that the assembly of the human microbiome is dominated at the community level by habitat filtering. Furthermore, we demonstrated that this habitat filtering cannot be accounted for by known host phenotypes or by the metabolic versatility of the various species. Here we provide a summary of our findings and offer a brief perspective on related studies and on future approaches utilizing this metagenomic systems biology framework.
Analysis on the Characteristics of Electroencephalogram (EEG) and the Duration of Acupuncture Efficacy, Depending on the Stimulation at the Acupuncture Points

Acupuncture, one of the crucial areas of the Oriental Medicine, has been used for some thousand years in China, Korea, Japan to treat various diseases. Recently, the application of acupuncture to the therapy of cerebral disorder, such as stroke, Alzheimer’s disease, has come to the limelight as it causes no side effect resulting from the surgery and intake of drug in the Western medicine. However, the acupuncture of the Oriental medicine, a medical technique based on the experience and theory, has not been validated scientifically. Thus, the efficacy of acupuncture in the treatment of disease needs to be supported scientifically like the Western medicine that is based on the scientific ground. To seek the measures that can cope with those requirements, the characteristics of electroencephalogram (EEG) were analyzed depending on the change in the nerve cell and the cerebral blood flow by applying the acupuncture to 10 spots of the palm, the area of hand stimulated (pricked by acupuncture needle) to treat the cerebral disorder in the Oriental medicine, through the BCI (Brain Computer Interface) technology. On that basis, the efficacy of acupuncture and the duration of acupuncture efficacy based on the stimulation with acupuncture needle at acupuncture points were intended to be analyzed in relation to the stimulation of the acupuncture point [2],[3],[4].
CaMKIIδ splice variants exert differential effects on heart failure development and myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury (652.14)

Mice that lack CaMKIIδ (KO) are significantly protected from the development of myocardial damage following ischemia reperfusion (I/R). Cardioprotection in KO animals was associated with the loss of NF-κB-mediated inflammatory responses. CaMKIIδ is alternatively spliced in the heart to generate the CaMKIIδB and δC subtypes. In vitro data also suggest that δC is deleterious while δB may be cardioprotective. Furthermore, mice expressing δC rapidly and spontaneously progress to heart failure and death while those expressing δB have a milder phenotype. We postulated that CaMKIIδB and δC play opposing roles in response to I/R injury. Mice expressing CaMKIIδB and δC were subjected to global ischemia in the Langendorff mode for 25 minutes followed by reperfusion for various times. CaMKII activation and substrate phosphorylation were assessed by western blot. Subcellular fractionation was performed to determine compartment-specific CaMKII activation. Infarct size was used as a measure of myocardial injury. I/R le...
Does normobaric hyperoxia increase oxidative stress in acute ischemic stroke? A critical review of the literature

Stroke, one of the most debilitating cerebrovascular and nuerological diseases, is a serious life-threatening condition and a leading cause of long-term adult disability and brain damage, either directly or by secondary complications. Most effective treatments for stroke are time dependent such as the only FDA-approved therapy, reperfusion with tissue-type plasminogen activator; thus, improving tissue oxygenation with normobaric hyperoxia (NBO) has been considered a logical and potential important therapy. NBO is considered a good approach because of its potential clinical advantages, and many studies suggest that NBO is neuroprotective, reducing ischemic brain injury and infarct volume in addition to improving pathologic and neurobehavorial outcomes. However, increased reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation may occur when tissue oxygen level is too high or too low. Therefore, a major concern with NBO therapy in acute ischemic stroke is the potential increase of ROS, which could exacerbate brain injury. The purpose of this review is to critically review the current literature reports on the effect of NBO treatment on ROS and oxidative stress with respect to acute ischemic stroke. Considering the available data from relevant animal models, NBO does not increase ROS or oxidative stress if applied for a short duration; therefore, the potential that NBO is a viable neuroprotective strategy for acute ischemic stroke is compelling. The benefits of NBO may significantly outweigh the risks of potential increase in ROS generation for the treatment of acute ischemic stroke.
Numerically efficient analysis of microstrip antennas using the Characteristic Basis Function method (CBFM)

This paper presents a novel approach for efficient solution of a class of microstrip antennas using the Characteristic Basis Functions (CBFs) in conjunction with the Method of Moments (MoM), The advantages of applying the CBF method (CBFM) are illustrated with several representative examples, and the accuracy as well as computation times are compared to those of the conventional direct solution to demonstrate the efficiency of CBFM.
Tertiary non-marine limestone within the strata of the Sullivan Buttes volcanic field, Yavapai County, Arizona: A petrologic and diagenetic investigation

The Oligocene fluvial-volcanic sequence in the Prescott area of central Arizona, USA, contains a thin and laterally limited bed of non-marine limestone. The limestone is characterized by an abundance of opaline diatoms, opalized charophytes, calcified reeds, and cyanobacteria encrustations. Limestone deposition occurred in a small pond of less than a few hundred meters width that formed as the result of damming of a small local stream by a volcanic event. The duration of the pond and limestone deposition was brief and was terminated by burial under volcaniclastic debris. Chemical weathering of coeval volcaniclastic debris was integral both to the formation of the limestone and its syndepositional diagenesis by providing a source for calcium, magnesium, and silica. Biogenicrelated consumption of calcium beyond its rate of re-supply resulted in the elevation of magnesium concentration relative to calcium (Mg/Ca) and the subsequent formation of fibrous calcite cements. Silica concentration seems to be connected to the presence of a series of burrows that provided a pathway from the silica source in the underlying volcaniclastic-rich fluvial sediments to the pond waters. Fluids passing from the sediment through the burrows resulted in the opalization of charophyte internodes and reproductive organs that had collected within the burrow. Silica supplied through the burrows to the pond resulted in diatom growth and their postmortem preservation. Blockage of the burrow system by the growth of cyanobacteria terminated the fluid connection between the sediment and pond water and the subsequent restriction on silica supply resulted in a loss of diatom preservation. The principal depositional phase of the pond was followed by a complex sequence of events that led to the formation of several geopedal fills and isopaceous cements, composed of both calcite and silica.
Piezoelectric thin film ultrasonic micromotors

Abstract The Materials Research Society held its 1991 Fall Meeting on 1–7 December in Boston, MA, USA. More than 4000 scientists attended to hear almost 3000 papers presented across 26 specialist symposia. Many of the papers described the incremental but very important progress at which much scientific endeavour is aimed. Throughout the programme, however, were papers covering development of new materials or breakthroughs in the understanding of materials' behaviour. A few of the ‘highlights’ are described briefly in this report.
Sensors for buried land mines based on guest-host recognition and self-assembly

Species selective and sensitive films were designed and fabricated for sensing explosives such as TNT. The molecular recognition host reagents were functionalized and covalently attached to a surface acoustic wave (SAW) transducer surface for detecting nitroaromatic species in gas phase. The selectivity and sensitivity of the film are based on host- guest interaction between the host reagent and gas phase species. The film fabrication employs molecular self- assembly technique to construct stable and organized films. The self-assembled monolayer film containing permethylated beta-cyclodextrin can detect o-nitrotoluene at 60 parts per billion. The multilayer films based on covalently attached cyclodextrin polymers can detect o-nitrotoluene at 600 parts per trillion.© (1998) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Vincristine-induced bladder atony.

Three patients are described who developed urinary retention after receiving moderate doses of vincristine. This complication can occur without any other neurologic signs of toxicity. It should be considered when oliguria, dribbling, incontinence, or distention occurs in a patient receiving vincristine.
CO2 laser in cancer surgery of the breast: A comparative clinical study

Review of the literature reveals little to no data regarding the use of the CO2 laser as a surgical modality in the local treatment of breast cancer. This study was undertaken to determine if the CO2 laser is a surgical improvement over the scalpel, influencing patient care during the surgical and postsurgical period. In the author's series, a total of 209 procedures were performed. Within this group, 105 cases were performed with CO2 laser and 104 cases performed with the scalpel. Biopsies were always performed as a separate procedure prior to definitive surgery. This study was not designed to compare cure rates, the medical follow-up period being 1 year. The results of this study demonstrate a significant improvement in patients' postoperative care, surgical technique, and hospital cost-effectiveness.
Organization of the visual projection upon the optic tectum of some freshwater fish

In four species of freshwater fish, bass, carp, bluegill and goldfish, the topographical relations of the visual field with the contralateral optic tectum were investigated, using a small light as stimulus in the visual field and recording the electrical response of the tectum with a metal microelectrode. The results show a precisely organized visual projection onto the contralateral tectum in which the anterior visual field lies anteriorly on the tectum, the temporal field posteriorly, the dorsal field medio-dorsally, and the ventral field in the latero-ventral part of the tectum. The projection was found to be essentially linear and uniform with no indication of a specialized area in the visual field in those species investigated. Some receptive fields extended into the anterior binocular visual field.
An extension of the method of quasilinearization

In this paper, the question of whether it is possible to develop monotone sequences that converge to the solution quadratically, when the function involved in the initial-value problem admits a decomposition into a difference of two convex functions, is answered positively. This extends the method of quasilinearization to a larger class.
Grindability of Ti alloys

The grindability of Ti-based alloys was analyzed by considering the fracture behavior of individual alloys in response to the stress field of a grinding wheel. First, the stress field under a grinding wheel was computed by treating the grinding wheel as a cylindrical disk with a flat region acting on a flat substrate. The initiation and propagation of microcracks in the substrate was then examined on the basis of the contact stress field and one of two fracture criteria: (1) a critical stress criterion for the onset of cleavage crack initiation, and (2) a critical stress intensity factor criterion for the initiation and propagation of shear cracks. Grindability was computed as a function of grinding speed and microstructure for several Ti-based cast alloys containing α, α + β, or β microstructure with or without the intermetallic precipitates. Model predictions indicated that the grindability of Ti alloys increases with decreasing fracture toughness or tensile ductility. The theoretical results are compared against experimental data in the literature to elucidate the roles of microstructure in grindability. The comparison revealed that alloying addition that leads to the formation of brittle intermetallics enhances grindability by reducing fracture toughness, tensile ductility, and the resistance to crack initiation and propagation.
A mechanism of deep-ocean mixing due to near-inertial waves generated by flow over bottom topography

This article describes a remarkable effect of the horizontal component of the Coriolis vector, which is traditionally neglected in geophysical fluid wave theory, for the generation of inertio-gravity waves caused by flow over topography. Earlier an initial-value approach was used to calculate the evolutions of internal waves generated by atmospheric forcing in the linear Boussinesq model as done by many investigators for the study of near-inertial waves in the ocean. In this study, however, we focused on the mechanism of generating near-inertial waves by a bottom forcing with various periods. It is shown that the non-traditional Coriolis effects can significantly enhance the generation of near-inertial waves. Moreover, the intensity of generated near-inertial waves increases as the period of bottom forcing approaches to the local inertial period, suggesting the importance of tidal flows for generating near-inertial waves in deep ocean near critical latitudes. It is inferred that such near-inertial waves may contribute to a mechanism of deep-ocean mixing.
Binding energies for the triton and α-particle using the reference spectrum method

Abstract The reference spectrum method is applied to calculate the binding energies of 3 H and 4 He for the momentum-dependent interactions of Nestor et al. The results are in good agreement with a perturbation calculation and with experiment.
Implementation of resilient, atomic data types

A major issue in many applications is how to preserve the consistency of data in the presence of concurrency and hardware failures. We suggest addressing this problem by implementing applications in terms of abstract data types with two properties: Their objects are atomic (they provide serializability and recoverability for activities using them) and resilient (they survive hardware failures with acceptably high probability). We define what it means for abstract data types to be atomic and resilient. We also discuss issues that arise in implementing such types, and describe a particular linguistic mechanism provided in the Argus programming language.
Identification of two types of smooth muscle cells from rabbit urinary bladder

Cells from the muscular layer of neonatal (3-day-old) rabbit urinary bladders were dissociated with collagenase, and cultured in M199 supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum and antibiotic-antimycotic. Cells in culture were of two types: long and short. The short cells were thick and spindle-shaped, and the long cells were flat and elongated. The long cells can be about 15 times longer than the short cells. The short cells do not divide, but the long cells divide readily. Expressions of smooth muscle and non-muscle myosins, alpha-smooth muscle actin, vimentin, and h-caldesmon were determined by immuno-fluorescence microscopy using specific antibodies. Both types of cells react strongly with antibodies against smooth and non-muscle myosins. Unlike the short cells, the long cells also contain alpha-actin and vimentin. The expression of h-caldesmon was very weak in both cell types. Also, cells dissociated from the smooth muscle layers of adult (6-month-old) rabbit bladder were cultured under the same conditions as the cells from the neonatal bladders to see if the heterogeneity of smooth muscle cells, exhibited by cells from neonatal rabbits, is also shown by cells from adult bladder. Two types of cells were also identified. The cells were then fixed and examined with the same panel of antibodies that we used for the neonatal cells. The long cells from adult bladder muscle express similar proteins to those in the neonatal long cells, and the short cells were stained positively with smooth muscle myosin, non-muscle myosin, alpha-smooth muscle actin, and lightly with caldesmon. Although the absence of vimentin in the short cells from adults is similar to that from neonatal, the strong expression of alpha-actin in the adult short cells is unlike the short cells from neonatal rabbits, in which their expression is barely detectable.
Studies on the natural history of asymptomatic diabetes in young people

Abstract Forty-five young patients with chemical diabetes have been followed for 1–16 yr. Among 21 of them aged 9–17 yr, 4 have developed insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. None of the 24 aged 18–25 yr have decompensated. Delayed and subnormal insulin response to oral glucose was noted in those with chemical diabetes compared to normals, except for one nonobese patient who had hyperinsulinemia. Considerable fluctuation in glucose and/or insulin responses and their relationship was noted in repeated testing. These observations emphasize that validation of diagnostic criteria for glucose tolerance test interpretation need not depend on a high rate of progression to more severe hyperglycemia, and that the slow progression of latent diabetes permits consideration of prophylactic measures.
Effect of polyols on interaction of paraben preservatives with polysorbate 80

A quantitative study of the interaction of the methyl, ethyl, propyl, and butyl esters of p-hydroxybenzoic acid with polysorbate 80 in the presence and absence of two polyols (propylene glycol and glycerol), which were potential competitors, was performed. The results indicate that neither competitor displaced significant amounts of the parabens from their binding sites on polysorbate 80. The previously observed synergistic antimicrobial effects of these polyols appear to be due to a mechanism other than the displacement of the parabens from their micellar binding sites.
Transmission-line model for two-port rectangular microstrip patches with ports at the nonradiating edges

A transmission-line model for the analysis of two-port rectangular microstrip patches with input and output ports located at the nonradiating edges is described. For this type of two-port patch the amount of radiated power can be controlled by adjusting the locations of the input and output ports.
Keyword access to a mass storage device at the record level

A general software package was built to access individual data records stored on an IBM-1360 photo-digital mass storage device with a current on-line capacity of 50 billion characters (bytes) and an infinitely extensible off-line capacity. An existing data base management system was used to maintain the pointers to the data on the mass storage device and to store the controls for the data driven interactive code. Existing data dictionaries used for sequentially processing the data bases mere stored in the DBMS and used to display individual data items within the retrieved records.Data retrieved from the mass storage device is displayed interactively or sent for further processing to various report generation and statistics packages. The system provides dial-up terminal retrieval capability for exceedingly large socio-economic and demographic data bases used by national and regional planning agencies of the federal government. It was developed with three man-months of effort.
Comparison of effect of desoxycorticosterone acetate and cortisone acetate on rat skeletal muscle electrolytes.

Summary1. Analyses of skeletal muscle from adrenalectomized rats given cortisone acetate in amounts sufficient to induce severe hypertension revealed no impressive alteration in sodium or potassium content from normal, when dehydration of tissue was taken into account. 2. In contrast, skeletal muscle from adrenalectomized rats given comparable amounts of DCA and with comparable degrees of hypertension, showed, as anticipated, marked increase in sodium and reduction in potassium content. 3. In rats injected with cortisone, blood pressure and muscle electrolytes were comparable in groups maintained on a low sodium diet and in groups with liberal sodium intake. In contrast, in rats given DCA, both hypertension and shift in electrolyte content were dependent on high sodium intake; neither was encountered when sodium content of the diet was restricted. 4. Muscles from adrenalectomized rats without steroid subsidy were normal in all respects in groups provided with liberal amounts of sodium but were overhydrate...
Fine powdering exposes the mineral-protected collagen of bone to protease digestion.

The method of heat-denaturation and trypsin digestion was used to dissect bone biochemically into mineral-protected and mineral-unprotected pools of collagenous matrix. It was found that varying the particle size of the bone powder had a profound effect on the results. Using mature bovine cortical bone, the observed pool of “unmineralized” (mineral-unprotected) collagen could be varied from 2% to more than 60% of the total bone collagen simply by decreasing the particle size of the bone sample from greater than 1 mm to less than 38 μm. No major differences were seen in the contents of hydroxypyridinium cross-links between the collagens of the trypsin-soluble and trypsin-insoluble pools from the fine powders, contrary to earlier reports. A trend to a higher content of these cross-links was evident, however, in the very small collagen pool extracted from the coarsest bone particles. Similar extraction differences were noted using bacterial collagenase to probe for mineral-protected vs. mineral-unprotected domains of bone collagen. In summary, the biochemical dissection results appear largely to be an artifact of the powdering technique, the shear energies of which presumably destroy the intimate physical relationship between the mineral crystallites and the collagen fibrils at the fractured surfaces of the bone particles. As the fractured surface area increases with decreasing particle size so the fraction of protease degradable collagen increases. Since powdering is routinely adopted for many structural studies on both the mineral and organic phases of bone, the findings on finely powdered bone should be interpreted cautiously.
Molecular simulations of peptide and protein unfolding: in quest of a molten globule

Abstract Calculations based on molecular dynamics simulations have been used to explore peptide and protein unfolding in aqueous solution. Insights from simulation studies into the timescales and mechanism of helix and turn formation and dissolution suggest that helices unfold through turn-like intermediates on timescales of nanoseconds. Recent applications of simulation methods to the study of compact non-native states of proteins illustrate the richness of properties which may be extracted from such detailed calculations. Such properties include the characterization of putative molten globules for lysozyme and pancreatic trypsin inhibitor using a variety of denaturing conditions. Comparisons with experimental findings, where available, are in general agreement with most of the simulation studies, and point to the future role simulations can play in unraveling detailed aspects of protein folding.
Effects of annealing temperature on the mechanical properties of an Fe-36% Al alloy

Annealing B2-ordered iron aluminides at various temperature significantly affects room temperature mechanical properties such as hardness and yield strength. This effect is caused by the retention of high concentrations of thermal vacancies during cooling. A recent study has correlated hardness changes with calculated vacancy concentrations and has concluded that vacancies cause strengthening through a point defect-dislocation interaction mechanism. The present work expands the study of the effects of annealing temperature on the mechanical properties of iron aluminides, and also includes the effects of annealing temperature on the environment-induced embrittlement of these materials. Fe-36 at.% Al specimens, after various annealing treatments, were tensile tested in oxygen and air; testing in dry oxygen results in relatively high ductilities by eliminating environmental embrittlement.
On convergence and steady state behavior in the median LMS adaptive filter

The authors examine the performance of the MLMS (median least mean square) adaptive filter subjected to zero-mean independent, identically distributed inputs corrupted by sparse impulsive interference. They demonstrate exponential convergence in the mean to the minimum mean squared error solution. They find approximations for the convergence rates corresponding to different impulsive conditions and compare these to LMS. It is shown that, in contrast to LMS, MLMS enjoys smooth exponential convergence largely unaffected by the impulses. They also compare the impact of a single impulse on MLMS and LMS when the algorithms are operating in steady state. A reduced performance cost for MLMS, measured by the mean deviation of the filter coefficients from the optimal values, is demonstrated. >
The Lasting Value of an Embedded, First-Year, Biology Library Instruction Program

Discipline-specific library instruction has been embedded in our first-year general biology laboratory course since 2006. In 2009, about 200 students in advanced biology courses completed a survey that assessed their proficiency at using the library resources. We found that those who took the discipline-specific library instruction were more confident in their library skills, had a more scholarly approach toward biology library research, made better library database choices, and were better able to meet the expectations of their professors. The results also indicate that the first-year skills need to be reviewed and scaffolded in upper-level courses.
Leaf resin flavonoids of Diplacus aurantiacus

Abstract Two previously unknown flavonoids, diplacone and diplacol, have been isolated from the leaf resin of Diplacus aurantiacus (Scrophulariaceae). Diplacone is 6-geranyl-eriodictyol, and diplacol is the corresponding dihydroflavonol. The resin is produced at high levels (up to 30% of leaf dry wt) and apparently composed primarily of these two compounds and their methyl ethers.
Hip abductor weakness in distance runners with iliotibial band syndrome.

ObjectiveTo examine hip abductor strength in long-distance runners with iliotibial band syndrome (ITBS), comparing their injured-limb strength to their nonaffected limb and to the limbs of a control group of healthy long-distance runners; and to determine whether correction of strength deficits in t
Clinical laboratory robotics in the 1990s

Abstract This paper describes trends and expectations in the development of clinical robotics in the coming decade. Areas covered include: what happened to the first clinical robotic systems?; central processing; totally integrated automation; modular robotic automation; computer modelling; the workcell concept; and robotic point of care testing.
Morquio's disease

Summary Morquio's disease is a condition easily diagnosed when a kyphoscoliosis of the cervical or lumbar spine is associated with changes of the pelvis and long bones. There is difficulty in recognizing atypical types as evidenced by the variance of opinion in the cases presented. Every once in a while the findings prevent an exact diagnosis. Instead of trying to force a group of symptoms into some diagnostic category into which they fit poorly, an attempt should be made to make a diagnosis according to the anatomical involvement. In the cases presented we have classified the condition as an irregular familial chondro-osseous defect or osteochondrodystrophy of an undetermined type.
Microscopic estimation of the deformation potential in a structural model glass.

Starting from a microscopic Hamiltonian we analyze the coupling between tunneling systems (TS's) and phonons in a structural model glass, chosen to describe NiP. We estimate the TS-phonon coupling constants, i.e., the longitudinal and transverse deformation potentials yl and y, . They are proportional to the spatial distance between the two energy minima. This dependence translates into an energy dependence of the deformation potential, .which is relevant for the temperature dependence of the lowtemperature thermal conductivity. On the basis of TS s in NiP found via a computer search in our previous work we obtain the values y1=0.38 eV and yi/y, =2.35. We analyze the inAuence of the structure of typical TS's on the deformation potential. Together with the density of tunneling systems determined in a previous paper the interaction between tunneling systems can be calculated. In contrast to recent proposals, the weak-coupling picture and hence the validity of the standard tunneling model is confirmed. The properties of glasses at very low temperatures ( T ( 1 K) can be nicely explained in the framework of the standard tunneling model (STM), which assumes that glasses contain a large number of low-energy excitations. ' These can be viewed as microscopic tunneling systems (TS's) described as double-well potentials (DWP's) in the high-dimensional configuration space of the glass. The Hamiltonian for dielectric glasses, in which we are mainly interested, can be written generally as &=Ms+'N+&~ . &s describes the TS's, &~ the phonon bath, and 'N the interaction between TS's and phonons. Whereas the contribution to the specific heat due to TS's only depends on &s, contributions to other physical properties like the thermal conductivity, the absorption, or the velocity shift also depend on the interaction between TS's and phonons. Therefore, it is of principal interest to specify 'N as exactly as possible. For low temperatures &s can be projected on the lowest two eigenfunctions of the TS's. In the localized representation we can write &s as a sum of independent TS Hamiltonians hz, where ~0
Toward a compelling sensation of telepresence: demonstrating a portal to a distant (static) office

In 1998 we introduced the idea for a project we call the Office of the Future. Our long-term vision is to provide a better every-day working environment, with high-fidelity scene reconstruction for life-sized 3D tele-collaboration. In particular, we want a true sense of presence with our remote collaborator and their real surroundings. The challenges related to this vision are enormous and involve many technical tradeoffs. This is true in particular for scene reconstruction. Researchers have been striving to achieve real-time approaches, and while they have made respectable progress, the limitations of conventional technologies relegate them to relatively low resolution in a restricted volume. We present a significant step toward our ultimate goal, via a slightly different path. In lieu of low-fidelity dynamic scene modeling we present an exceedingly high fidelity reconstruction of a real but static office. By assembling the best of available hardware and software technologies in static scene acquisition, modeling algorithms, rendering, tracking and stereo projective display, we are able to demonstrate a portal to a real office, occupied today by a mannequin, and in the future by a real remote collaborator. We now have both a compelling sense of just how good it could be, and a framework into which we will later incorporate dynamic scene modeling, as we continue to head toward our ultimate goal of 3D collaborative telepresence.
Controlling bush fires

With bush fires burning hundreds of thousands of hectares in the populous Australian state of New South Wales, a recent study indicates that a Fire Danger Meter used since the 1960s by firefighters there to predict prescribed fire spread in eucalyptus forests is inaccurate under wildfire conditions. The meter could under-predict the rate of fire spreading in forests by a factor of 3 or more for extreme fire conditions or when wind speeds are greater than 15 kilometers per hour, according to the report by Project Vesta. The project is a 6-year endeavor by Australia's Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), in collaboration with the Western Australian Department of Conservation and Land Management (CALM), and land management agencies and fire authorities in other Australian states.
Are domains in liquid crystalline polymers arrays of disclinations

Interaction of mobile disclinations in the liquid crystalline state results in various disclination arrays. The mesophase state of liquid crystalline polymer (LCPs) samples has been assumed to consist of a polydomain texture, each domain having an internal structure of uniform orientation bounded by regions where the molecular director field undergoes reorientation from one domain to its neighbour. However, the detailed nature of the boundary region (in particular whether the molecular director reorients in a continuous or discontinuous fashion) is largely unknown. We have observed groupings of disclinations of alternating sign which resemble Bouligand's serrated wall structure1 and ‘foursomes’ of two positive and two negative disclinations which bear a likeness to the ‘effective domain’ structure recently hypothesized by Marrucci2 to account for certain rheological aspects of LCPs. The arrangements of disclinations in our thin-film samples give rise to an apparent polydomain texture consisting of regions of uniform molecular orientation bounded by disclinations where the molecular director undergoes continuous rotation about an axis parallel to the disclination lines (Neel walls). The specific disclination arrays observed will be influenced by the molecular weight and stiffness constants of the particular LCP and by the flow history, thickness and boundary conditions of the film3; nevertheless, except in the vicinity of the disclination cores, the field of molecular director trajectories throughout the polydomain sample texture is both continuous and translationally parallel.
Degradable polyphosphoester-based silver-loaded nanoparticles as therapeutics for bacterial lung infections

In this study, a new type of degradable polyphosphoester-based polymeric nanoparticle, capable of carrying silver cations via interactions with alkyne groups, has been developed as a potentially effective and safe treatment for lung infections. It was found that up to 15% (w/w) silver loading into the nanoparticles could be achieved, consuming most of the pendant alkyne groups along the backbone, as revealed by Raman spectroscopy. The well-defined Ag-loaded nanoparticles released silver in a controlled and sustained manner over 5 days, and displayed enhanced in vitro antibacterial activities against cystic fibrosis-associated pathogens and decreased cytotoxicity to human bronchial epithelial cells, in comparison to silver acetate.
Carborane-derived local anesthetics are isomer dependent

Clinically there is a need for local anesthetics with a greater specificity of action on target cells and longer duration. We have synthesized a series of local anesthetic derivatives we call boronicaines in which the aromatic phenyl ring of lidocaine was replaced with ortho-, meta-, C,C'-dimethyl meta- and para-carborane clusters. The boronicaine derivatives were tested for their analgesic activity and compared with lidocaine using standard procedures in mice following a plantar injection. The compounds differed in their analgesic activity in the following order: ortho-carborane = C,C'-dimethyl meta-carborane > para-carborane > lidocaine > meta-carborane derivative. Both ortho-boronicaine and C,C'-dimethyl meta-boronicaine had longer durations of analgesia than lidocaine. Differences in analgesic efficacies are rationalized by variations in chemical structure and protein binding characteristics.
A Method for Investigating the Thickness, Chemical Properties, and Surface Structure of Thin Biological Objects1

A method is described for determining thickness, refractive index, and chemical properties of objects which are submicroscopic in one dimension and microscopic in the other dimensions. Designed primarily for use in biology, the method depends upon the modifications in reflectivity of a glass surface produced by the deposition of a thin transparent film. The object is viewed with a microscope fitted with a vertical illuminator. Thickness is determined by matching the intensity of light reflected from the object with that reflected from a standard step film of barium stearate viewed in an identical companion system. The sensitivity is approximately ±12A. The method finds application in the biological field particularly in the investigation of thin cellular structures. In such cases information may also be obtained regarding the relative chemical composition by the use of solvents which remove certain of the components. The existence of patterns due to surface discontinuities (differences in optical thickness) may be detected and structure of this sort has been observed in the case of the limiting envelope of the mammalian red blood corpuscle.
PFP/ESG: automated protein function prediction servers enhanced with Gene Ontology visualization tool

Summary: Protein function prediction (PFP) is an automated function prediction method that predicts Gene Ontology (GO) annotations for a protein sequence using distantly related sequences and contextual associations of GO terms. Extended similarity group (ESG) is another GO prediction algorithm that makes predictions based on iterative sequence database searches. Here, we provide interactive web servers for the PFP and ESG algorithms that are equipped with an effective visualization of the GO predictions in a hierarchical
NEUTROPHIL DYSFUNCTION IN AUTOIMMUNE NEUTROPENIA

The role of anti-neutrophil antibodies was investigated as a cause of functional abnormalities of circulating neutrophils in a child with persistent neutropenia and recurrent mouth sores. The patient's neutrophils were isolated by isopycnic centrifugation and compared with normal adult neutrophils. Functional abnormalities in the patient's PMNS included (1) decreased chemotaxis studied by under agarose method and by skin window, (2) decreased oxidative burst measured by luminol amplified chemi luminescence, and (3) decreased superoxide production measured by cytochrome C reduction assay. The ability of the patient's serum to bind normal neutrophils was determined by immunofluorescence. While the patient's serum bound normal PMNs, this binding did not interfere with their oxidative burst. In contrast, the patient's serum did not bind to his own PMNs in vitro even though his neutrophil specific antibody was anti-NAI and his PMNs were NAI positive. Therefore, the functional abnormalities of this patient's PMNs were not due to neutrophil antibody binding alone, but due to a subpopulation of dysfunctional neutrophils in circulation possibly selected out by their low affinity to the circulating autoantibodies.
Children of the Welfare State: Individuals with Entitlements, or Hidden in the Family?

‘Feminist’ social policy has done an important job in developing new concepts for studying welfare state variation. But just like ‘mainstream’ social policy, gender-sensitive analyses have their blind spots. This article argues that differences in policies towards children remain an understudied area, and that developing concepts for varying policy approaches to children can increase our understanding of social political differences. Two countries – the UK and Norway – are juxtaposed in the empirical analysis, which centres on policies towards children living with one parent and the development of universal child benefits. The empirical discussion suggests that the UK traditionally has been closer to an ‘organic’ view of the family, while Norway has been closer to an ‘individual’ view. Two dimensions are highlighted: the separation of parenting and partnering for the purposes of social benefits, and the extent to which the ‘worthiness’ of the parents determine transfers to children. Both these dimensions have the potential to influence strongly distribution between families with children, as well as the legitimacy of the benefits. They should therefore be of crucial importance in comparative studies of family policy and social policy.
Ethical considerations of multiple roles in forensic services.

Attorneys increasingly rely on the services of mental health practitioners. Although some practitioners lack training, the promise of professional rewards lead some to accept opportunities with resulting ethical quandaries. Due to significant differences between the objectives of traditional mental health services and expert testimony, problems occur when clinicians venture into forensic services. Attorneys and judges, unfamiliar with mental health specialties, may seek to press a mental health practitioner into multiple roles. Although not all multiple roles are ethically inappropriate, caution demands careful parsing of particular roles: (a) academic/behavioral science expert; (b) fact witness as a treating therapist; (c) expert witness based on a clinically oriented assessment; (d) pretrial and/or trial consultant; and (e) professional critic of other experts. Possible ethical issues and risks associated with accepting multiple roles are identified and strategies for avoiding or minimizing harm or expl...
Active Treatment Strategies Improving Outcomes in Patients with Myelodysplastic Syndromes with the Deletion 5q Abnormality

Abstract Myelodysplastic syndromes (MDS) have undergone a therapeutic revolution in the past decade that has redefined treatment strategies for this disease. Patients with early-stage MDS who harbor a clonal chromosome 5q deletion (del[5q]) represent a distinct subset of MDS that is clinically, pathologically, and often prognostically distinct. While the vast majority of patients with MDS are red blood cell transfusion dependent, natural history of the disease varies from indolent (with a low-risk of leukemia evolution), in patients with isolated del(5q), to a high-risk of leukemia and poor survival in patients with a complex karyotype. Lenalidomide, which specifically targets the del(5q) clone, selectively suppresses the clone to yield transfusion independence and a cytogenetic response in approximately two thirds of patients, a response that is sustained for a median of 2.2 years. Features associated with a higher likelihood of transfusion independence include early treatment-related cytopenias and lower baseline transfusion needs, whereas the expectation for extended overall survival and freedom from leukemia evolution is greatest in cytogenetic responders. Future applications of lenalidomide will target patients with del(5q) with more advanced disease, will exploit the potentiation effects of lenalidomide's interaction with other agents, and will target novel pathways.
Advancing American Indian/Alaska Native Substance Abuse Research

Prior to the colonization of the Americas, the majority of American Indians and Alaska Natives (AI/AN) did not have experience with alcohol and the non-ceremonial use of other drugs. Since coloniza...