cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
New thrombopoietic growth factors

Although development of first-generation thrombopoietic growth factors (recombinant human thrombopoietin [TPO] and pegylated recombinant human megakaryocyte growth and development factor [PEG-rHuMGDF]) was stopped due to development of antibodies to PEG-rHuMGDF, nonimmunogenic second-generation thrombopoietic growth factors with unique pharmacologic properties have been developed. TPO peptide mimetics contain TPO receptor-activating peptides inserted into complementarity-determining regions of Fab (Fab 59), attached to the IgG Fc region (AMG 531), or pegylated (Peg-TPOmp). Orally available, TPO nonpeptide mimetics (eltrombopag, AKR-501) bind and activate the TPO receptor by a mechanism different from TPO and may have an additive effect to TPO. TPO agonist antibodies are monoclonal antibodies activating the TPO receptor but modified in size [TPO minibodies; ie, VB22B sc(Fv)2] or immunoglobuln type (domain subclass-converted TPO agonist antibodies; ie, MA01G4G344). All second-generation thrombopoietic growth factors stimulate growth of TPO-dependent cell lines via JAK2/STAT signaling pathways and increase platelet counts in animals. When tested in healthy humans, TPO peptide and nonpeptide mimetics produced a dose-dependent rise in platelet count. AMG 531 and eltrombopag markedly increase platelet counts in patients with immune thrombocytopenic purpura, without significant adverse effects. One or more second-generation thrombopoietic growth factors should soon be clinically available for treating thrombocytopenic disorders.
Genetic control of the enantiomeric composition of ipsdienol in the pine engraver, Ips pini.

The genetic nature of pheromone variation within species has rarely been studied, and never for male-produced long-range pheromones. Males from western North American populations of Ips pini produce predominantly (R)-(−)-ipsdienol, whereas those from eastern North American populations produce higher proportions of (S)-(+)-ipsdienol. From a population in the hybrid zone, we divergently selected lines for the opposing pheromonal types and then created F1, F2, and backcross lines. We formed additional F1, F2, and backcross lines, first by using populations with low (+)-ipsdienol enantiomeric ratios near to and distant from the hybrid zone, and then by using populations with high (+)-ipsdienol enantiomeric ratios near to and distant from the hybrid zone. Three types of analysis were employed: (1) line means analysis; (2) Mendelian analysis of assigned high and low (+)-ipsdienol enantiomeric ratio phenotypes when applicable; and (3) Castle–Wright estimation of the number of effective factors. Dominance at one autosomal locus explains much of the variation in ipsdienol blend between the divergently selected lines. Thus, as in all previously studied female long-range pheromone systems, a major genetic element is implicated. The populations with low (+)-ipsdienol enantiomeric ratios near and distant to the hybrid zone differ negligibly for this trait. We confirmed previous studies showing slightly higher ratios of (+)-ipsdienol at the hybrid zone than in a distant eastern population and reveal a genetic basis for this difference.
Management of a CFD organization in support of space hardware development

The management strategy of NASA-Marshall's CFD branch in support of space hardware development and code validation implements various elements of total quality management. The strategy encompasses (1) a teaming strategy which focuses on the most pertinent problem, (2) quick-turnaround analysis, (3) the evaluation of retrofittable design options through sensitivity analysis, and (4) coordination between the chief engineer and the hardware contractors. Advanced-technology concepts are being addressed via the definition of technology-development projects whose products are transferable to hardware programs and the integration of research activities with industry, government agencies, and universities, on the basis of the 'consortium' concept.
Internet use and real estate brokerage market intermediation

Abstract This paper examines the factors that influence the use of the Internet as part of the home buying process and the resulting effect on the efficacy of buyer search. Cross section data acquired from NAR’s 2000 Home Buying and Selling Survey is used to conduct the analysis. This study finds that the use of the Internet as a search tool does not reduces buyer search time. Instead, by reducing within-period search costs, it encourages buyers to search more intensively. By making it possible to learn more about the availability of properties on the market, the Internet allows buyers to visit more properties without a commensurate increase in search duration. The implications of these finding with respect to the future role of brokers as market intermediaries are also examined.
Effects of Preganglionic Parasympathetic Denervation on the Rabbit Lacrimation

Lacrimal gland fluid secretion is under neural control. Parasympathetic nerve fibers, with preganglionic origins in the seventh cranial nerve, innervate the lacrimal gland, and the secretory action and signal transduction of acinar cells of this gland are well known.1–4 Although the importance of parasympathetic control of lacrimation is recognized, few basic studies have investigated the function of ganglionic control as a secretomotor neural system in secretion of tear fluid in vivo.5 In the present study, the effects of acute severing of the preganglionic parasympathetic nerve in normal rabbit produced a dry eye condition with rapid onset.
Quantitative determination of fluorinated alkyl substances by large-volume-injection liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry-characterization of municipal wastewaters.

A quantitative method was developed for the determination of fluorinated alkyl substances in municipal wastewater influents and effluents. The method consisted of centrifugation followed by large-volume injection (500 μL) of the supernatant onto a liquid chromatograph with a reverse-phase column and detection by electrospray ionization, and tandem mass spectrometry (LC/MS/MS). The fluorinated analytes studied include perfluoroalkyl sulfonates, fluorotelomer sulfonates, perfluorocarboxylates, and select fluorinated alkyl sulfonamides. Recoveries of the fluorinated analytes from wastewater treatment plant (WWTP) raw influents and final effluent ranged from 77% – 96% and 80% – 99%, respectively. The lower limit of quantitation ranged from 0.5 to 3.0 ng/L depending on the analyte. The method was applied to flow-proportional composites of raw influent and final effluent collected over a 24 hr period from ten WWTPs nationwide. Fluorinated alkyl substances were observed in wastewater at all treatment plants and each plant exhibited unique distributions of fluorinated alkyl substances despite similarities in treatment processes. In nine out of the ten plants sampled, at least one class of fluorinated alkyl substances exhibited increased concentrations in the effluent as compared to the influent concentrations. In some instances, decreases in certain fluorinated analyte concentrations were observed and attributed to sorption to sludge.
Cyclometalation of 6-Phenyl-2,2′-Bipyridine and Iridium: Synthesis, Characterization, and Reactivity Studies

Heating the potential tridentate 6-(4-R-phenyl)-2,2′-bipyridine ligand 1a (R = H), and derivatives 1b (R = CMe3) and 1c (R = OH), with IrCl3 hydrate in 2-methoxyethanol or acetone/H2O gave the unexpected bidentate cyclometalated NC dinuclear complexes [Ir(NC)Cl2(C5H5N)]2 (2a−cPy), as the major product. Altering the ligand/metal ratio from 1:1 to 2:1 produced a mixture of bis-cyclometalated complexes, Ir(NNC)(NC)Cl (3a,b), with tridentate and bidentate binding modes. Using discrete IrI synthons, such as Ir(dmso)3Cl or [Ir(cyclooctene)2Cl]2, gave a complicated mixture of products. However, when [Ir(C2H4)2Cl]2 was used, then the desired tridentate cyclometalated Ir(NNC) complex Ir(NNC)Et(C2H4)Cl (4) was synthesized cleanly. The dinuclear complex 2a-Py was converted to the corresponding mononuclear dichloride complexes Ir(NC)(NN)Cl2 (5a) upon refluxing with 4,4′-di-tert-butylbipyridine in N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMA). Treatment of 5a with ZnMe2 gives Ir(NC)(NNtBu)MeCl (6a). Abstraction of the chloride with AgO...
A factor analysis model of large scale pollution

Abstract Based on data obtained from the U.S. Public Health Service National Air Sampling Network for the years 1957–1961, factor analysis techniques were used to produce a pollution model for 30 U.S. cities. Orthogonal models obtained from Varimax and Quartimax solutions and an oblique solution (Oblimax) were similar. The first four principal factors were tentatively assigned to pollution from (I) heavy industry, (II) automobiles, (III) fuel burning, and (IV) petroleum refining on the basis of their chemical composition. These four factors account for about 70 per cent of the variance while another 20 per cent appears to be due to widespread use of plating materials. Regression of the derived factors (factor scores) on the 30 sampling locations indicates general agreement with the known character of the sites and with other studies of individual pollution components.
Extracting Scale and Illuminant Invariant Regions through Color

Despite the fact that color is a powerful cue in object recognition, the extraction of scale-invariant interest regions from color images frequently begins with a conversion of the image to grayscale. The isolation of interest points is then completely determined by luminance, and the use of color is deferred to the stage of descriptor formation. This seemingly innocuous conversion to grayscale is known to suppress saliency and can lead to representative regions being undetected by procedures based only on luminance. Furthermore, grayscaled images of the same scene under even slightly different illuminants can appear sufficiently different as to affect the repeatability of detections across images. We propose a method that combines information from the color channels to drive the detection of scale-invariant keypoints. By factoring out the local effect of the illuminant using an expressive linear model, we demonstrate robustness to a change in the illuminant without having to estimate its properties from the image. Results are shown on challenging images from two commonly used color constancy datasets.
The contingency value of knowledge in new product creativity

This paper examined the impact of knowledge innovation on new product creativity in China's High Technology industry. The results show that the knowledge innovationnew product creativity connection is contingent on reward system, top management support, technical skills adequacy and marketing fit. The findings suggest that top management support, technical skills adequacy and marketing fit moderate the relationship between knowledge innovation and new product creativity. The implications for China's High Technology industry and further research have been discussed.
Effects of Orchard Pesticides on Galendromus occidentalis (Acari: Phytoseiidae): Repellency and Irritancy.

ABSTRACT The effects of repellency or irritancy in Galendromus occidentalis (Nesbitt) were studied for three rates of 16 pesticides commonly used in apple production. Adult female mites were exposed to residues in a series of choice bioassays (treated and untreated half of bean leaf disks). Novaluron, carbaryl, mancozeb + copper hydroxide, and sulfur were the most repellent materials to G. occidentalis, with females consistently avoiding the treated side of the leaf disk. Spirotetramat, flubendiamide, and cyantriniliprole caused an intermediate or inconsistent degree of repellency; azinphosmethyl, lambda-cyhalothrin, acetamiprid, thiacloprid, imidacloprid, spinetoram, spinosad, and chlorantriniliprole caused little to no repellency. Irritancy (running off of the disk, as opposed to resting on the untreated half) was the most pronounced in the acetamiprid and lambda-cyhalothrin treatments. Acute toxicity (within the 6 h test period) was highest in the lambda-cyhalothrin and spinetoram treatments; in the fo...
Imaging sensor systems for air to ground surveillance

Automated aerial surveillance and detection of hostile ground events, and the tracking of the perpetrators have become of critical importance in the prevention and control of insurgent uprisings and the global war on terror. Yet a basic understanding of the limitations of sensor system coverage as a function of aerial platform position and attitude is often unavailable to program managers and system administrators. In an effort to better understand this problem we present some of the design tradeoffs for two applications: 1) a 360° viewing focal-plane array sensor system modeled for low altitude aerostat applications, and 2) a fixed diameter area of constant surveillance modeled for high altitude fixed wing aircraft applications. Ground coverage requirement tradeoffs include the number of sensors, sensor footprint geometry, footprint coverage variability as a function of platform position and attitude, and ground surface modeling. Event location specification includes latitude, longitude, altitude for the pixel centroid and corners, and line-of-sight centroid range.
Dextran 70 administration after trauma-hemorrhagic shock does not impair cellular immune functions

Abstract Purpose : Although the effects of the colloid dextran 70 on induction of anaphylactoid reactions or reticulo-endothelial phagocytosis have been examined previously, its effects on specific cell-mediated immunity after trauma-hemorrhage shock remain unknown. Methods : Nonheparinized C3H/HeN mice underwent a laparotomy, were bled, and then maintained at a blood pressure of 35 mm Hg for 60 minutes. Then they were resuscitated with either 4 × the shed blood volume as lactated Ringer's solution (LRS) or 2 × LRS + 1 × dextran 70. Control mice underwent all operative protocols but were neither hemorrhaged, nor resuscitated. At 2 or 24 hours posthemorrhage, serum, splenocytes (SPL), and peritoneal macrophages (pMo, splenic Mo (sMo) were obtained. Bioassays were used to determine interleukin-2 (IL-2), IL-3, IL-6, and SPL proliferation. Results : Trauma-hemorrhage markedly depressed lymphokine release, splenocyte proliferation, and IL-6 release at 2 hours after the insult. The combination of LRS + dextran did not restore lymphocyte functions, but also did not further suppress them. The release of IL-6 by pMo and sMo at 2 and 24 hours after dextran infusion and serum IL-6 remained at the same level as in LRS-treated animals. Conclusions : The combination of LRS and colloid dextran 70 does not adversely affect ex vivo cell-mediated immune functions during the first 24 hours after its administration after trauma-hemorrhage. Thus, from the immunological standpoint, dextran is a safe resuscitation adjunct.
Ionization potentials of crystalline organic thin films: Position dependence due to molecular shape and charge redistribution

Abstract In addition to electronic polarization or charge redistribution, the shape of neutral conjugated molecules yields position-dependent ionization potentials and electron affinities in organic thin films. Self-consistent I ( n ) and A ( n ) are computed in each layer n of 10-layer films of prototypical organics on a metal. The depth dependence of I ( n ) is discussed at surfaces of anthracene, C 60 and PTCDA. The shape contribution can be substantial, up to 0.5 eV, and comes primarily from charge-quadrupole interactions.
Disputes between State and Religion over Medical Treatment for Minors

Thankfully, they are not everyday occurrences, but the controversies that arise when parents try to deny their children medical treatment, on religious grounds, are newsworthy enough that perhaps few people are surprised to learn that yet another instance has taken place. The most familiar conflicts involve families affiliated with Amish, Christian Science, and Jehovah's Witness religions, although the refusal of pediatric medicine can of course occur within any outlook or denomination.1 The dispute over the proper treatment can arise whenever parents insist on following the advice of spiritual or other metaphysical authorities instead of healthcare experts.2 One of the few other necessary features in these cases is that the parents take their stand aware that withholding the treatment can lead to the child's death.3 In most cases it seems that the parents are also aware that reports of the child's condition, from concerned hospital workers or relatives, will likely reach state officials in charge of child welfare.4
Development of a biomimetic underwater ambulatory robot: advantages of matching biomimetic control architecture with biomimetic actuators

The American Lobster Homarus americanus is a highly mobile marine decapod, ubiquitous to the benthic environment of the eastern North Atlantic. Lobsters occupy a range of subtidal habitats on the continental shelf, and are capable of navigating through spatially complex boulder fields, as well as coping with variable water currents. Given these competencies, we have adopted the lobster as a design model for a biomimetic autonomous underwater vehicle intended for operation in similar environments. A central motor pattern generator model was developed from electromyographic data from lobsters, and is being implemented on an eight-legged ambulatory vehicle. The vehicle uses Nitinol shape-memory alloy wires as linear actuators, physically modeling the antagonistic muscle pairs of a lobster leg. The contraction of the wires is produced by heating them with an electrical current. This produces a change in the crystalline structure of the material from a martensite to an austenite state, resulting in a 5% contraction of the wire. Three pairs of wires are used around three joints to produce a three-degrees-of-freedom walking leg. Current drivers power the actuators, and pulse-width modulation is used to obtain graded contractions from the muscles. The combination of a biologically based control system coupled with a linear actuator sharing many characteristics of invertebrate muscle tissue has enabled us to construct a biomimetic ambulatory robot sharing some of the competencies of the model.
Rare Actinobacillus infection of the cavernous sinus causing painful ophthalmoplegia: Case report

Objective and importance Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans is a gram-negative coccobacillus that is known to cause a wide array of clinical infections in debilitated patients, including periodontal disease, soft tissue abscess, pleural empyema, endocarditis, cerebral abscess, and meningitis. We report a rare A. actinomycetemcomitans cavernous sinus abscess that caused painful ophthalmoplegia in a healthy man. Clinical presentation A 34-year-old man presented with a 3-month history of acute onset of left-sided retro-orbital pain that progressed to a complete left Cranial Nerve VI palsy and Cranial Nerve V1 and V2 hypesthesia. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed the presence of an enhancing lesion in the left cavernous sinus, which encased and narrowed the ipsilateral intracavernous segment of the internal carotid artery. Routine blood and cerebrospinal fluid analyses were normal. Tolosa-Hunt syndrome was suspected, and the patient was treated with high-dose corticosteroids. An open biopsy was performed after failed prolonged corticosteroid therapy. Intervention A left frontotemporal craniotomy and cavernous sinus exploration through an interdural approach were performed. A soft reddish mass was found in the cavernous sinus around Cranial Nerve V1 and V2. Multiple biopsies were obtained. Pathological analysis revealed a purulent infection containing multiple gram-negative coccobacilli. The patient's pain improved immediately, and cranial neuropathy resolved during the next several weeks. After cultures demonstrated growth of A. actinomycetemcomitans, a regimen of orally administered amoxicillin and metronidazole was initiated. Eight months after surgery, the patient was free of symptoms and a repeat magnetic resonance imaging scan was normal. Conclusion We present a rare bacterial abscess of the cavernous sinus causing painful ophthalmoplegia. In patients who present with presumed Tolosa-Hunt syndrome and do not improve with prolonged high-dose corticosteroid therapy, an open biopsy is recommended to exclude a bacterial infection.
Optimizing tuning masses for helicopter rotor blade vibration reduction and comparison with test data

This article describes the development and validation of an optimization procedure to systematically place tuning masses along a rotor blade span to minimize vibratory loads. The masses and their corresponding locations are the design variables that are manipulated to reduce harmonics of hub shear for a four-bladed rotor system without adding a large mass penalty. The procedure incorporates a comprehensive helicopter analysis to calculate the airloads. Predicting changes in airloads due to changes in design variables is an important feature of this research. The procedure was applied to a one-sixth, Mach-scaled rotor blade model to place three masses and then again to place six masses. In both cases the added mass was able to achieve significant reductions in the hub shear. In addition, the procedure was applied to place a single mass of fixed value on a blade model to reduce the hub shear for three flight conditions. The analytical results were compared to experimental data from a wind-tunnel test performed in the Langley transonic dynamics tunnel (TDT). The correlation of the mass location was good and the trend of the mass location with respect to flight speed was predicted fairly well. However, it was noted that the analysis was not entirely successful at predicting the absolute magnitudes of the fixed-system loads.
A More Bias-Proof Measure for the Type a Subcomponent of Exaggerated Interpersonal Control

This study reports the development and initial psychometric refinement of a forced choice version of the Way of Life Scale (WOLS), a measure of the coronary prone/Type A behavior pattern (TABP) subcomponent of exaggerated interpersonal control. The format of this new instrument requires respondents to choose one of two items that are of equal "favorability." This method is designed to limit the influence of social desirability and of denial on subjects' test responses. Initial results suggest that scores on the new (forced-choice) version of the WOLS are more similar to scores obtained by the most valid measure of the TABP (i.e., the structured interview) than are the same subjects' scores on the original version of the WOLS. This closer approximation of the forced choice WOLS to the structured interview appears to result from the forced-choice scale'sability to reduce respondents' social desirability and/or denial tendencies. Suggestions are offered for both clinical applications and further research wit...
Non-Hodgkin's lymphoma presenting with biliary tract obstruction. A discussion of seven patients and a review of the literature.

Background. Biliary tract obstruction is a rare manifestation of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). Because of the small numbers of patients studied, management of this condition has been inconsistent. Most patients have been treated with biliary diversion, and doxorubicin frequently has been withheld from initial therapy. Methods. Seven patients with NHL presenting with malignant biliary tract obstruction were identified at the Massachusetts General Hospital. Relevant clinical characteristics, laboratory values, treatment, and outcome are reported for all patients. Thirty-eight additional patients were identified through a MEDLINE search; and the management and results of the patients reported here are discussed with reference to those patients. Results. Biliary tract obstruction was the presenting symptom in 0.8% of the patients with NHL. Bilirubin values at presentation ranged from 5.0-23.2 mg/dl. One patient had localized pancreatic lymphoma. Four of the seven patients had advanced-stage disease. The tumor was intermediate or high grade in five patients. Four patients underwent placement of a biliary stent or drainage catheter. Six patients combination chemotherapy without doxorubicin in the initial cycle. Hyperbilirubinemia resolved in all patients within 3 months, regardless of use of a stent. Six patients responded to chemotherapy and one patient had progressive disease. Two of the six responders died, one with relapsed lymphoma. Conclusions. NHL presenting with biliary tract obstruction can be effectively treated with chemotherapy, with or without a procedure for biliary diversion. The use of doxorubicin in the presence of hyperbilirubinemia secondary to biliary tract obstruction remains controversial, and its omission from the initial cycles of chemotherapy for NHL may not influence outcome. Cancer 1995;75:1669-77.
Refereed articles: Passports and visas versus IDs

Identification is an extremely important issue in today's world. The need to identify humans, machines, messages and even animals has created demands for a variety of requirements that identification systems must adhere to. While institutions and governments have a large stake in identification schemes and their efficacy, individuals also have a need to identify institutions, machines or other individuals. One of the most widely used schemes for identification is the passport. Passports are used by the world community to enforce various protocols for travel, work and other cooperative ventures. Passports are used too by governments to prevent undesirable individuals from entering their respective countries. The passport is the prime culprit in the inability of countries to control terrorism. To improve the security of identification, it has been proposed that cryptography be used to enhance the security of verifying the identity of an individual. However, most of the proposed cryptography-based electronic IDs are not adequate when used in international identification protocols. In this paper we extend the concept of a cryptographic electronic ID to a system of electronic passports and visas that are superior to existing paper versions with respect to security.
Earthquake-induced deformational structures in young lacustrine sediments, East Anatolian Fault, southeast Turkey

Abstract Exposures of young lacustrine sediments at Lake Hazar, Turkey, contain five distinct horizons of soft-sediment deformational structures. These horizons satisfy criteria for correlating deformational structures with seismic events: (1) They overlie a presently active seismic zone — the East Anatolian Fault. (2) The horizons are laterally continuous, flat lying, and separated by undeformed beds. (3) Deformational structures exhibit a variety of forms but are basically similar to those produced experimentally. (4) Deformational structures are defined by the deformed contact between lacustrine sediments of high liquefaction potential. It is proposed that the deformational structures were formed by earthquake-induced liquefaction. The five deformed horizons are interpreted to represent five recent seismic events of probable irregular recurrence interval.
Dimensionality Reduction of Synchrophasor Data for Early Event Detection: Linearized Analysis

This paper studies the fundamental dimensionality of synchrophasor data, and proposes an online application for early event detection using the reduced dimensionality. First, the dimensionality of the phasor measurement unit (PMU) data under both normal and abnormal conditions is analyzed. This suggests an extremely low underlying dimensionality despite the large number of the raw measurements. An early event detection algorithm based on the change of core subspaces of the PMU data at the occurrence of an event is proposed. Theoretical justification for the algorithm is provided using linear dynamical system theory. Numerical simulations using both synthetic and realistic PMU data are conducted to validate the proposed algorithm.
The design of a vector-radix 2DFFT chip

Architectures based on the vector-radix 2DFFT algorithm and hence can avoid the matrix transpose problem have been proposed. The unique feature of the proposed architectures is that the data can be driven into the arithmetic processors in a pipeline fashion. This paper presents a propotype chip, which has been designed in 2 μm NMOS technology, for the generalized butterfly unit. The chip is a two-stage pipelined processor. The design experience, timing information, and the chip features including four multipliers, one adder/subtracter and PLA controllers are presented.
Hertz problem for a rigid punch moving across the surface of a semi-infinite elastic solid

The elastodynamic problem of a rigid punch moving at a constant sub-Rayleigh speed across the surface of an elastic half-space is investigated in the present paper. The unknown contact region is determined as part of solution from the unilateral or Signorini conditions. Numerical results are plotted showing how the eccentricity of the contact ellipse changes with the punch speed. Some asymptotic properties of the solution for the case where the punch speed is comparable with the Rayleigh wave speed are explored in details.
Binding of the Transition State Analog MgADP-fluoroaluminate to F1-ATPase

Escherichia coliF1-ATPase from mutant βY331W was potently inhibited by fluoroaluminate plus MgADP but not by MgADP alone. β-Trp-331 fluorescence was used to measure MgADP binding to catalytic sites. Fluoroaluminate induced a very large increase in MgADP binding affinity at catalytic site one, a smaller increase at site two, and no effect at site three. Mutation of either of the critical catalytic site residues β-Lys-155 or β-Glu-181 to Gln abolished the effects of fluoroaluminate on MgADP binding. The results indicate that the MgADP-fluoroaluminate complex is a transition state analog and independently demonstrate that residues β-Lys-155 and (particularly) β-Glu-181 are important for generation and stabilization of the catalytic transition state. Dicyclohexylcarbodiimide-inhibited enzyme, with 1% residual steady-state ATPase, showed normal transition state formation as judged by fluoroaluminate-induced MgADP binding affinity changes, consistent with a proposed mechanism by which dicyclohexylcarbodiimide prevents a conformational interaction between catalytic sites but does not affect the catalytic stepper se. The fluorescence technique should prove valuable for future transition state studies of F1-ATPase.
Medial collateral ligament healing one year after a concurrent medial collateral ligament and anterior cruciate ligament injury: An interdisciplinary study in rabbits

The optimal treatment for concurrent injuries to the medial collateral and anterior cruciate ligaments has not been determined, despite numerous clinical and laboratory studies. The objective of this study was to examine the effect of surgical repair of the medial collateral ligament on its biomechanical and biochemical properties 52 weeks after such injuries. In the left knee of 12 skeletally mature New Zealand White rabbits, the medial collateral ligament was torn and the anterior cruciate ligament was transected and then reconstructed. This is an experimental model previously developed in our laboratory. In six rabbits, the torn ends of the medial collateral ligament were repaired, and in the remaining six rabbits, the ligament was not repaired. Fifty-two weeks after injury, we examined varus-valgus and anterior-posterior knee stability; structural properties of the femur-medial collateral ligament-tibia complex; and mechanical properties, collagen content, and mature collagen crosslinking of the medial collateral ligament. We could not detect significant differences between repair and nonrepair groups for any biomechanical or biochemical property. Our data support clinical findings that when the medial collateral and anterior cruciate ligaments are injured concurrently and the anterior cruciate ligament is reconstructed, conservative treatment of the ruptured medial collateral ligament can result in successful healing.
Nature and extent of groundwater contamination by pesticides in an agricultural watershed

Abstract Waters from 21 wells and two springs located in a typically farmed, mostly agricultural Pennsylvania watershed were analyzed for 11 pesticides, NO 3 , Cl and PO 4 . Among the pesticides selected according to a farm use survey, only atrazine was commonly found but at extremely low concentrations ranging from 3 ng/l to 1.11 μg/l. Atrazine appeared in 74% of cropland wells at least once in a three sampling sequence designed to sample several major groundwater recharge periods. No alachlor, metolachlor, carbofuran, terbufos, chlorpyrifos, or fonofos was found. Cyanazine was found intermittently in two wells. With only one record of application, simazine was found at least once in 32% of the cropland wells, but at extremely low concentrations. Neither 2,4-D nor dicamba were found in the one sampling analyzed. The frequency and extent of corn production expressed as Corn Production Intensity (CPI) was strongly related to atrazine concentrations. The highest atrazine concentrations were nearly always associated with continuous corn production. Atrazine concentrations over time varied greatly by well and followed several distinct patterns. Sampling time relative to major groundwater recharge periods affected these concentrations, but a predictive relationship was not apparent.
Diffusion of Social Media Among Public Relations Practitioners in Health Departments Across Various Community Population Sizes

This study reports findings from a survey of 281 public relations practitioners in public health departments serving 4 distinct sizes of communities—urban, suburban, large town, and rural—in 48 states. Based on diffusion of innovations theory, the overall purpose of the study is to examine the extent to which social media are adopted within public health agencies and moderators of adoption. Findings demonstrate overall low adoption rates for social media tools. However, significant differences were observed for adoption based on size of communities, with urban communities exhibiting highest adoption rates, followed by suburban, large town, and rural communities. The most frequently cited barrier practitioners named for why they don't think constituents would benefit from health information distributed online was lack of home access to the Internet. Among the 17 percent of practitioners who indicate they use social media to disseminate health information, the most commonly used tools are social networking ...
Selection and digestive efficiencies of gizzard shad feeding on natural detritus and two laboratory diets

Abstract Selective feeding on and digestion of detritus in surface sediments (organic matter < 10%, nitrogen < 0.4%) by age-0 and adult (ages 3 and 4) gizzard shad Dorosoma cepedianum in Acton Lake, Ohio (water temperature = 15–18°C) were compared with those of age-0 fish fed two particulate diets (low-quality diet: organic matter = 10%, nitrogen = 0.3%; high-quality diet: organic matter = 89%, nitrogen = 6.7%) at 18°C in the laboratory. Fish feeding on natural detritus and the low-quality diet exhibited mean selection efficiencies, ratios of nutrient weight percentages in the gizzard to those in the sediment or food, of 1.8–2.9 for total organic matter, 2.4–4.4 for total carbon, and 3.2–13.2 for total nitrogen. Fish fed the high-quality diet exhibited no selective feeding. Mean digestive efficiencies, 100 [ 1 – (feces value ÷ gizzard value)], for total organic matter, total carbon, and total nitrogen in the diets had ranges of 50–66, 51–64, and 62–84%, respectively. Age-0 fish feeding on natural detritus...
Isolation of DNA satellites by thermal chromatography in the presence of sodium perchlorate.

Abstract A modification of thermal chromatography permits the isolation of or enrichment for (G + C)-rich satellite DNA's in native form. The addition of 7.2 M NaClO4 to a low concentration of phosphate buffer allows the elution of DNA at greatly reduced temperatures. The potential of thermal chromatography for the fractionation of DNA is increased by extending the useful temperature range of fractionation.
Application of Programmable Calculators to Mastitis Control Programs

Abstract Three programs pertaining to subclinical mastitis losses and control are described for use in handheld programmable calculators. Subclinical mastitis losses are calculated on the basis of lost milk estimates from California Mastitis Test evaluations. A cost profile for control programs using costs of single use towels, teat dips, and dry cow treatment is described. The cost-benefit value of a mass lactating cow antibiotic treatment regimen is presented. The programs quickly calculate the magnitude of the present subclinical mastitis loss, estimate the cost of control programs, and present information to aid in deciding whether to treat all the infected cows during lactation in an effort to reduce herd infection. User instructions and program listings are included.
Developmental expression of insulin-like growth factor II receptor (IGF-IIR) in congenic mouse embryonic lungs: correlation between IGF-IIR mRNA and protein levels and heterochronic lung development.

Embryonic lung maturation in the H-2 congenic pair, B10.A and B10, proceeds at different rates. The dependence of this heterochronic development on maternal haplotype suggests the involvement of a parentally imprinted gene. Since B10.A (H-2a) and B10 (H-2b) mice are genetically identical except for a 3-18 cM region of chromosome 17 that includes the H-2 complex, we sought a promising candidate gene(s) involved in regulating the rate of lung development from genes encoded in this region. The best candidate is the gene encoding the type II insulin-like growth factor receptor (IGF-IIR), whose ligand is the growth factor IGF-II. Only the maternal copy of this gene is expressed in postimplantation embryos. This receptor does not appear to transduce mitogenic signals; instead, IGF-IIR appears to regulate the levels of its ligand available to the growth-promoting type I IGF receptor (IGF-IR). Using in situ hybridization and indirect immunofluorescence, we demonstrate that IGF-IIR mRNA and protein are localized throughout the pulmonary mesenchyme, as well as in branching epithelia of the pseudoglandular and canalicular stages. We also examined the levels of IGF-IIR mRNA and protein expression by RNase protection assay and ligand blotting during the embryonic period of lung development in B10.A and B10 mice, and found that there is a highly significant positive correlation of IGF-IIR levels with progressive development in both strains. Further, slower-developing B10.A lungs contain significantly higher levels of IGF-IIR mRNA and protein than the more rapidly developing B10 lungs. These results suggest that haplotype-dependent elevation of IGF-IIR levels reduces the available concentration of IGF-II, resulting in a decreased rate of morphogenesis in B10.A mice. Heterochronic lung maturation, then, appears consequent to variable extracellular levels of this important growth factor. These results may be of clinical importance to predicting susceptibility to Respiratory Distress Syndrome in prenatal newborns.
Securing quality-of-service route discovery in on-demand routing for ad hoc networks

An ad hoc network is a collection of computers (nodes) that cooperate to forward packets for each other over a multihop wireless network. Users of such networks may wish to use demanding applications such as videoconferencing, Voice over IP, and streaming media when they are connected through an ad~hoc network. Because overprovisioning, a common technique in wired networks, is often impractical in wireless networks for reasons such as power, cost, and government regulation, Quality of Service (QoS) routing is even more important in wireless networks than in wired networks. Though a number of QoS-routing protocols have been proposed for use in ad~hoc networks, security of such protocols has not been considered.In this paper, we develop SQoS, a secure form of QoS-Guided Route Discovery for on-demand ad~hoc network routing. SQoS relies entirely on symmetric cryptography. Symmetric cryptographic primitives are three to four orders of magnitude faster (in computation time) than asymmetric cryptography. In addition, we show that in general, existing QoS-Guided Route Discovery can, for a single Route Discovery, transmit a number of packets exponential in the number of network nodes, creating an opportunity for Denial-of-Service (DoS) attacks. SQoS limits this overhead to be linear in the number of network nodes by providing the source with control over which Route Requests are forwarded.
Assessing the Effectiveness of Spreader Canals in Delivering Water to Marshes

Hydrodynamic modeling is usually necessary for predicting water deliveries to marshes from source reservoirs. A novel approach is developed that decouples the delivery structure hydraulics from the marsh hydrodynamics, allowing these components to be analyzed both separately and in combination. This approach is applied to assess the effectiveness of incorporating spreader canals into water delivery systems in Everglades National Park. The results show that Manning’s n in the marsh can be reasonably approximated as a function of VR, in which V is the flow velocity and R is the hydraulic radius; spreader canals can provide substantial percentage increases in water deliveries compared to the smaller structure tailwater pools, and spreader canal outflows can be linear functions of the length of the spreader canal.
The canine nasal mucosa.

Tissues of the nasal mucosa were utilized from 20 dogs, for histochemistry, quantitative measurements and scanning electorn microscopy. Attention was given to the type of epithelium, organization of submucosal tissues, distribution of vascular structures and glandular organization. These features are characterized and discussed in regar to the respiratory and immune functions of the nasal mucosa.
Similar geographic variations of mortality and hospitalization associated with IBD and Clostridium difficile colitis.

Background: Superinfection with Clostridium difficile can aggravate the symptoms of preexisting inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). The study served to assess whether the geographic variation of IBD within the United States might be influenced by C. difficile infection. Methods: Hospitalization data of the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project (HCUP) from 2001–2006 and mortality data from 1979–2005 of the US were analyzed by individual states. Hospitalization and mortality associated with Crohn's disease (CD), ulcerative colitis (UC), and C. difficile colitis were correlated with each other, using weighted least square linear regression with the population size of individual states as weight. Results: Among the hospitalization rates, there were strong correlations between both types of IBD, as well as each type of IBD with C. difficile colitis. Similarly, among the mortality rates there were strong correlations between both types of IBD, as well as each type of IBD with C. difficile colitis. Lastly, each type of hospitalization rate was also strongly correlated with each type of mortality rate. In general, hospitalization and mortality associated with IBD tended to be frequent in many of the northern states and infrequent in the Southwest and several southern states. Conclusions: The similarity in the geographic distribution of the 3 diseases could indicate the influence of C. difficile colitis in shaping the geographic patterns of IBD. It could also indicate that shared environmental risk factors influence the occurrence of IBD, as well as C. difficile colitis. (Inflamm Bowel Dis 2010)
Adsorption of Simple Benzene Derivatives on Carbon Nanotubes

The adsorption of simple benzene derivatives composed of a benzene ring with $\mathrm{N}{\mathrm{O}}_{2}$, $\mathrm{C}{\mathrm{H}}_{3}$, or $\mathrm{N}{\mathrm{H}}_{2}$ functional groups on a semiconducting single-wall carbon nanotube is studied using the density-functional theory within the local-density approximation. The effects of molecular relaxation in the adsorption process are obtained, as well as the adsorption energies and equilibrium distances for several molecular locations and orientations on the surface. We find that all of these benzene derivatives are physisorbed mainly through the interaction of the $\ensuremath{\pi}$ orbitals of the benzene ring and those of the carbon nanotube. These aromatics do not change significantly the carbon nanotube's electronic structure, and therefore only small changes in the nanotube's properties are expected. This suggests that these benzene derivatives are suitable for noncovalent nanotube functionalization and molecule immobilization on nanotube surfaces.
DNA Replication: Mammalian Treslin–TopBP1 Interaction Mirrors Yeast Sld3–Dpb11

There are many parallels between DNA replication in yeast and humans. Now, two recent studies extend this relationship by dissecting key conserved interactions necessary for initiation of the replisome.
AN EFFECTIVE TWO-DIMENSIONAL MESH PARTITIONING STRATEGY

Mesh-connected parallel architectures have become increasingly popular in the design of multiprocessor systems in recent years. Many partitionable two-dimensional (2D) mesh systems have been built or are currently being developed. To allow the best usage of these systems, an effective mesh partitioning/submesh allocation strategy is desirable. In this paper, we report on a new best-fit processor allocation strategy for 2D mesh systems. An efficient implementation of this strategy is presented that keeps the searching overhead low. Extensive simulations have been performed to compare the performance of this strategy with existing ones. The results show that it outperforms existing strategies in terms of mean response time under all load conditions and different job characteristics.
Characterization of Different Possible Solvent−Coal Interaction Mechanisms by the Relationship between the Volumetric Swelling of Coals and Heat Release in Swelling Solvent

The heat of mixing a polar or nonpolar swelling solvent with coal was measured by flow microcalorimetry (FMC). Eight coals, having different oxygen contents, were used as the adsorbent, and methanol, THF, tetralin were used as the adsorbate. We examined a range of swelling solvent concentrations in n-hexane, 2−20 g/L, and found that there are large differences in the adsorption heats for the three solvents. Methanol adsorption heat reaches the maximum at low methanol concentrations and remains constant at higher concentrations, while heats for THF and tetralin adsorption increase with swelling solvent concentrations. The methanol adsorption heat maximum is about 2000 mJ/m2, THF is 70 mJ/m2, and tetralin is 40 mJ/m2 over the concentration range 0−20 g/L. Uptake for swelling solvent was determined by comparing the concentration of swelling solvent in n-hexane before and after adsorption. Methanol uptake reaches about 80 mmol/g coal, while THF only reaches 0.3 mmol/g coal. Tetralin uptake is too small to be ...
Identification of Emotional Facial Expressions Following Recovery From Depression

This study investigated the identification of facial expressions of emotion in currently nondepressed participants who had a history of recurrent depressive episodes (recurrent major depression; RMD) and never-depressed control participants (CTL). Following a negative mood induction, participants were presented with faces whose expressions slowly changed from neutral to full intensity. Identification of facial expressions was measured by the intensity of the expression at which participants could accurately identify whether faces expressed happiness, sadness, or anger. There were no group differences in the identification of sad or angry expressions. Compared with CTL participants, however, RMD participants required significantly greater emotional intensity in the faces to correctly identify happy expressions. These results indicate that biases in the processing of emotional facial expressions are evident even after individuals have recovered from a depressive episode.
Fiberoptic-guided tracheal tube placement through the air-Q® Intubating Laryngeal Airway: a performance study in a manikin.

Purpose This study characterizes the performance and success rate for fiberoptic-guided tracheal tube placement through the air-Q® Intubating Laryngeal Airway (air-Q).