cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
CHRONIC SCROTAL HYPOTHERMIA AS A TREATMENT FOR POOR SEMEN QUALITY

Six men with infertile marriages associated with poor semen and raised testicular temperature were treated by an experimental appliance which exploits evaporation to obtain normal testicular temperatures. This was worn with little discomfort for as long as 24 h a day and for periods as long as 20 weeks. Three wives became pregnant while their husbands were on treatment. Semen analysis at the time of the missed menses showed improvements in all three men. In two patients who did not achieve a pregnancy, semen improvements were also seen after 12 weeks. The improvements in semen quality cannot be attributed to any agency other than the hypothermia; this strengthens the theory that raised temperature plays a role in male infertility. Scrotal hypothermia seems to be a suitable treatment in men with varicocele, varicocelectomy failure, and idiopathic infertility where intrascrotal temperature is raised.
Identification of three critical acidic residues of poly(ADP-ribose) glycohydrolase involved in catalysis: determining the PARG catalytic domain

PARG [poly(ADP-ribose) glycohydrolase] catalyses the hydrolysis of α(1″→2′) or α(1‴→2″) O-glycosidic linkages of ADP-ribose polymers to produce free ADP-ribose. We investigated possible mechanistic similarities between PARG and glycosidases, which also cleave O-glycosidic linkages. Glycosidases typically utilize two acidic residues for catalysis, thus we targeted acidic residues within a conserved region of bovine PARG that has been shown to contain an inhibitor-binding site. The targeted glutamate and aspartate residues were changed to asparagine in order to minimize structural alterations. Mutants were purified and assayed for catalytic activity, as well as binding, to an immobilized PARG inhibitor to determine ability to recognize substrate. Our investigation revealed residues essential for PARG catalytic activity. Two adjacent glutamic acid residues are found in the conserved sequence Gln755-Glu-Glu757, and a third residue found in the conserved sequence Val737-Asp-Phe-Ala-Asn741. Our functional characterization of PARG residues, along with recent identification of an inhibitor-binding residue Tyr796 and a glycine-rich region Gly745-Gly-Gly747 important for PARG function, allowed us to define a PARG ‘signature sequence’ [vDFA-X3-GGg-X6–8-vQEEIRF-X3-PE-X14-E-X12-YTGYa], which we used to identify putative PARG sequences across a range of organisms. Sequence alignments, along with our mapping of PARG functional residues, suggest the presence of a conserved catalytic domain of approx. 185 residues which spans residues 610–795 in bovine PARG.
Enhanced Human T-Cell Lymphotropic Virus Type I Expression Following Induction of the Cellular Stress Response

Abstract Human T-cell lymphotropic virus type I (HTLV-I) infection is typically associated with long incubation periods between virus exposure and disease manifestation. Although viral protein expression is considered to play an important role in the pathogenesis of HTLV-I-associated diseases, limited information is known regarding host cell mechanisms that control viral gene expression. This study was designed to evaluate modulation of HTLV-I gene expression following induction of the cellular stress response in HTLV-I-infected lymphocytes. The cellular stress response was elicited by treatment with either Na arsenite or thermal stress and was monitored by demonstrating increased expression of the 72-kDa heat shock protein. Induction of the cellular stress response in HTLV-I-infected lymphocytes resulted in significantly increased HTLV-I-mediated syncytia formation due to enhanced HTLV-I envelope (gp46) expression. Intracellular viral proteins and released pg4 capsid protein were increased in stressed infected lymphocytes as compared to nonstressed infected lymphocytes. Furthermore, HTLV-I-LTR reporter gene constructs had increased activity (three- to sixfold) in a transiently transfected, uninfected lymphocyte cell line following induction of the cellular stress response. Quantitation of HTLV-I RNA expression by slot blot analysis of infected lymphocytes suggested variable increases in RNA accumulation. Northern blot analysis demonstrated no qualitative changes in expression of RNA species. These data suggest a relationship between modulation of viral replication and a basic cellular response to stress and have important implications for understanding host cell control mechanisms of HTLV-I expression.
High-resolution ultraviolet spectrograph for sounding rocket measurements of planetary emission line profiles

We constructed a high-resolution imaging spectrograph for use as a payload in a sounding rocket experiment. The spectrograph employs a modified Ebert-Fastie design with a LiF objective prism and a replica of an El echelle grating developed for the Space Telescope Imaging Spectrograph. The instrument has a 5-arcmin-long adjustable width entrance aperture with two identical secondary apertures separated from the primary by ±2 arcmin. The secondary apertures are intended for simultaneous measurement of the sky background. The spectrograph has been optimized for measurement of the 221st order of Lyman-α at a resolution of 0.03 to 0.04 A. The detector system is a two-dimensional photon counting device that employs a microchannel plate intensifier and a wedge and strip anode readout. The spectrograph is used as a focal plane instrument of the Jupiter Telescope, a Cassegrain telescope constructed exclusively for use as a sounding rocket payload. The Jupiter Telescope is self-pointed, employing image motion compensation to achieve 2- to 3-arc sec image quality. The telescope/spectrograph payload was launched from the White Sands Missile Range on May 4, 1991, to observe the H Lyman-α line profile spatially resolved across the disk of Jupiter in the North-South (polar) and East-West (equatorial) directions, and to measure the H Lyman-α emission line profile from interplanetary hydrogen associated with the local insterstellar medium.
Current Economic Appraisal Of Steam And Combustion Drives

Using an analytical derivation to account for the performance of a steam drive operation, and combining it with current economic operating and capital costs has led to the development of a compact program to estimate the discounted cost of steam driven oil. An equally satisfactory analytical model for in situ combustion not being available, the cost of producing oil by this process cannot be comparably generated. Therefore, the assumption was made that the heat that has to be developed in an in situ combustion process is between 50% and 100% of the heat introduced into the reservoir as steam in order to duplicate the production performance of a steam drive. The discounted cost for producing oil by in situ combustion was then found to be higher than for the comparable steam drive. Although a greater net recovery of crude oil is theoretically possible for in situ combustion, this factor also may be offset by using coal instead of lease crude for generation steam.
Male versus female attitudes toward stuttering.

Abstract Purpose The study investigated the extent to which differences existed between public attitudes of males versus females. Method One hundred adults, 50 males and 50 females, were chosen at random from each of 50 study samples comprising a total of 3371 respondents in a database archive who had completed the Public Opinion Survey of Human Attribute-Stuttering (POSHA-S) . None of the database samples included speech-language pathology students/practitioners or self-identified people who stutter. Results Public attitudes were very similar between male and female respondents. None of the standard POSHA-S comparisons were significantly different statistically, even though a few trends for differences were observed between the males and females. Conclusions Attitudes as toward stuttering of adult males and females, as measured by the POSHA-S , are very similar. Learning outcomes : Readers of this article should be able to: describe the framework for reporting the results of the Public Opinion Survey of Human Attributes-Stuttering (POSHA-S) ; describe similarities and differences between attitudes toward stuttering of adult males and females on the POSHA-S .
Internal anisotropy of the turbulent scintillations

We introduce a new concept of the Internal Anisotropy (IA) for the homogeneous and isotropic random fields. IA reflects the hidden structures that can exist in the samples of the random field, and are not revealed by the simplest, single and two-point statistical moments. There is presently no established theory of the IA, and no quantitative metrics of IA are available. It is understood, however, that IA cannot be present in any stationary isotropic Gaussian random field, or any single-point transformations of it. We illustrate the IA concept on a simple toy model of two-dimensional random field, and show that IA can affect the third and higher-order multipoint statistical moments. We generate samples of the random irradiance distributions for the plane wave passed through a phase screen with the quasi- Kolmogorov statistics. Visual evaluation suggests the presence of the IA in the irradiance samples. The statistical analysis reveals that the three-point third moment of irradiance exhibit the features consistent with the IA, especially in the focusing conditions. Conditional probabilities of the irradiance gradient components also proved to be sensitive to the IA. We discuss the role of the IA for optimal placement of the multiple receivers of the FSO system using the spatial diversity for fade mitigation.
The American Theological Seminary: An Unfamiliar Institutional Autopsy

Christian educators can learn much from institutional autopsies of Christian schools of higher education that have failed. The untold story of the now-defunct American Theological Seminary (ATS) in St. Augustine, Florida, provides an excellent example of critical errors that Christian educators can learn from to avoid the same fate. An institutional autopsy of the American Theological Seminary explored the purpose of the seminary, a brief history of higher education correspondence programs, the effects of the sociological changes of the 1940s on ATS, the nature of the curricula offered, the types of degrees awarded and the reasons why the seminary eventually closed. The American Theological Seminary was one of several schools that functioned under the aegis of The University Foundation in St. John's County, Florida. Data collection for this study was accomplished primarily by the process of studying archives. These data were collected through two methods: (a) conducting interviews, and (b) researching his...
SYNTHESIS, STRUCTURE, AND COORDINATION CHEMISTRY OF AMINOPHOSPHANYLBORANES

Syntheses for the diphosphadiboretane (iPr2NBPH)2, the triphosphatriborinane (iPr2NBPH)3, and the aminodiphosphanylborane iPr2NB(PH2)2 are reported. Reaction of these ligands with Cr(CO)5·NMe3 results in the formation of the complexes (iPr2NBPH)2·Cr(CO)5 and iPr2NB(PH2)2·2Cr(CO)5. Molecular structure determinations for the diphosphadiboretane, the triphosphatriborinane, and the two coordination complexes have been completed by use of single crystal X-ray diffraction techniques: (iPr2NBPH)2 (C6H15BNP) crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P21/n with a = 7.7200(10) A, b = 10.514(2) A, c = 11.231(2) A, β = 101.100(10)°, and Z = 4; (iPr2NBPH)3 (C18H45B3N3P3) crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P21/n with a = 20.217(16) A, b = 13.764(11) A, c = 20.494(16) A, β = 104.40(5)°, and Z = 8; (iPr2NBPH)2·Cr(CO)5 (C17H30B2N2O5P2Cr) crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P21/n with a = 11.284(3) A, b = 14.583(6) A, c = 16.515(4) A, β = 105.97(2)°, and Z = 4; iPr2NB(PH2)2·[Cr(CO)5]2 (C16H18BNO10P2Cr2) cr...
Reexamining workers' compensation: a human rights perspective.

Injured workers, particularly those with more severe injuries, have long experienced workers’ compensation systems as stressful and demeaning, have found it difficult to obtain benefits, and, when able to obtain benefits, have found them inadequate. Moreover, the last two decades have seen a substantial erosion of the protections offered by workers’ compensation. State after state has erected additional barriers to benefit receipt, making the workers’ compensation experience even more difficult and degrading. These changes have been facilitated by a framing of the political debate focused on the free market paradigm, employer costs, and worker fraud and malingering. The articles in this special issue propose an alternate framework and analysis, a human rights approach, that values the dignity and economic security of injured workers and their families. Am. J. Ind. Med. 55:483–486, 2012. 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
Dopamine D1 receptor development depends on endogenous dopamine.

Profound depletion of forebrain dopamine by 6-hydroxydopamine in neonatal rats (day 3) was associated with up to 82% loss of D1 receptor sites labeled with [3H]SCH-23390 at day 21. Administration of the selective D1 agonist SKF-38393 (days 6–18) abolished the correlation between D1 receptor density and DA concentrations, even with >99% depletion of DA. In intact control animals, there was an inverse correlation between spontaneous variation in levels of DA and D1 receptor site density in forebrain tissue (r = −0.79) which also was abolished by treatment with the D1 agonist. Thus, D1 receptor density may be regulated by reciprocal regulatory processes during normal development, but may fail to develop in the absence of an adequate level of stimulation.
Computer-aided alignment of a grazing-incidence ring resonator for a visible wavelength free-electron laser

A static computer-aided method used to align a visible wavelength grazing incidence ring resonator for a free-electron laser (FEL) is presented with a brief description of the hardware, results of numerical simulations, and actual initial data. A computer-aided alignment scheme is particularly useful for this application due to the optical system complexity and the need for precise results. Although the system hardware has not yet been perfected, initial data shows that this technique works and presents a viable solution to this alignment problem. Utilizing information from an interferogram taken at a single axial field point and information about the chief ray of the optical system, it is shown that it is possible to converge to an alignment solution using a constrained damped least squares optimization in a commercially available lens design package.
Index of Refraction and Sum Rules for Helium

Recent measurements by Lowry and by Lukirskii of the atomic photoeffect for helium can be combined with calculations for discrete transitions and for the high-energy photoeffect to give the oscillator density for the entire range. We use dispersion theory to calculate the index of refraction $n$. We find satisfactory agreement with experiments in the visible and in the near ultraviolet, and we predict the value of $n$ from 2700 to 600 \AA{}. Our predicted values agree satisfactorily with values calculated by Chen and Dalgarno. We use these oscillator densities to calculate the sum rules $S(0)$, $S(1)$, and $S(2)$, which weight with the zeroth, first, and second powers of the photon energy, respectively. Each result agrees with values based on ground-state wave functions to 5% accuracy. We conclude that in general the oscillator density is now known to about 5% accuracy.
Semantic convergence in Spanish-English bilingual children with primary language impairment.

Purpose To examine the degree of convergence in word association responses produced by bilingual children with primary language impairment (PLI) in relation to bilingual age peers. Method Thirty-se...
Typologies and the transformation of European cities: a perspective from America

The broader outline of this paper reveals how different types of cities compete and transform themselves in a global world. We take a number of typologies from the State of European Cities Report; we then comment on them and compare them to an equal number of counterparts in the United States. The typologies consist of international cities, research cities, satellite cities and de-industrialized cities. Using these typologies, we discuss whether and how different types of European cities converge with or diverge from American cities. We also take up the issue of whether there exists a specific European or American path to urban development. We then go on to explain the process or urban transformation, or more precisely, how cities go about shifting their economic base to accommodate global pressures. The paper concludes with observations about how cities might adopt or combine various typologies or develop altogether new approaches to global competition.
A Discussion on Two Stochastic Elliptic Modeling Strategies

Based on the study of two commonly used stochastic elliptic models: I: − ∇· (a(x,w)·∇u(x,w)) = f (x) and II: − ∇·(a(x,w)◊∇u(x,w)) = f (x), we constructed a new stochastic elliptic model III: −∇ ◊ ((a−1)·(−1)◊∇u(x,w)) = f (x), in. The difference between models I and II is twofold: a scaling factor induced by the way of applying the Wick product and the regularization induced by the Wick product itself. In, we showed that model III has the same scaling factor as model I. In this paper we present a detailed discussion about the difference between models I and III with respect to the two characteristic parameters of the random coefficient, i.e., the standard deviation σ and the correlation length lc. Numerical results are presented for both one- and two-dimensional cases.
Rho-dependent Termination of Transcription Is Governed Primarily by the Upstream Rho Utilization (rut) Sequences of a Terminator

A Rho-dependent transcription terminator in Escherichia coli DNA consists of an upstream part for Rho utilization (rut) and the transcription stop point (tsp) region. To test the role of the tsp region variants of the coliphage λ cro gene terminator, tR1, containing inserts of non-terminator sequences between its rut and tsp regions were tested for termination function. The results showed that termination occurred with high efficiency at multiple sites in each of the new sequences with the positions of the sites coinciding with transcriptional pause points in the insert sequence and that the efficiency of termination was not directly proportional to the extent of pausing at those points. Thus, in contrast to the rut sequences, which are relatively rare in DNA, many different sequence segments can function as a tsp region. Studies with isolated transcripts showed that a rut element and sequences 3′ of the rut element were both needed to activate ATP hydrolysis by Rho factor with the degree of activation depending on the length and the specific sequence of the 3′ segment. These results support models for Rho action in which ATP hydrolysis is coupled to interactions of Rho protein with RNA 3′ of the rut region.
Spreading characteristics of compressible jets from nozzles of various geometries

The spreading characteristics of jets from several asymmetric nozzles, and a set of rectangular orifices are compared, covering a jet Mach number range of 0.3-2.0. The effect of 'tabs' for a rectangular and a round nozzle is also included in the comparison. Compared to a round jet, the jets from the asymmetric nozzles spread only slightly more at subsonic conditions whereas at supersonic conditions, when 'screech' occurs, they spread much more. The dynamics of the azimuthal vortical structures of the jet, organized and intensified under the screeching condition, are thought to be responsible for the observed effect at supersonic conditions. Curiously, the jet from a 'lobed' nozzle spreads much less at supersonic condition compared to all other cases; this is due to the absence of screech with this nozzle. Screech stages inducing flapping, rather than varicose or helical, flow oscillation cause a more pronounced jet spreading. At subsonic conditions, only a slight increase in jet spreading with the asymmetric nozzles contrasts previous observations by others. The present results show that the spreading of most asymmetric jets is not much different from that of a round jet. This inference is further supported by data from the rectangular orifices. In fact, jets from the orifices with small aspect ratio (AR) exhibit virtually no increase in the spreading. A noticeable increase commences only when AR is larger than about 10. Thus, 'shear layer perimeter stretching', achieved with a larger AR for a given cross-sectional area of the orifice, by itself, proves to be a relatively inefficient mechanism for increasing jet spreading. In contrast, the presence of streamwise vortices or 'natural excitation' can cause a significant increase - effects that might explain the observations in the previous investigations. Thus far, the biggest increase in jet spreading is observed with the tabs. This is true in the subsonic regime, as well as in the supersonic regime, in spite of the fact that screech is eliminated by the tabs. The characteristic spreading of the tabbed jets is explained by the induced motion of the tab-generated streamwise vortex pairs. The tabs, however, incur thrust loss; the flow blockage and loss in thrust coefficient, vis-a-vis the spreading increase, are evaluated for various configurations.
Novel spatiotemporal patterns of epithelial tumor invasion in Drosophila discs large egg chambers

Loss of Discslarge (Dlg) in early Drosophila egg chambers causes invasion of tumor follicle cells from the anterior epithelium, a pattern that resembles developmental border cell migration during mid-oogenesis. Here, we have analyzed novel spatial and temporal patterns of dlg invasion. Even though Dlg is ubiquitously expressed in all follicle cells, invasions are biased at the anterior and posterior termini. The patterns of invasion correlate with both a higher rate of follicle cell proliferation and with a greater frequency of loss of epithelial polarity at the termini compared with central regions of the egg chamber. Nonetheless, the average number of cells that invade per invasion event from terminal vs. central regions is approximately equal. Of interest, patterns of dlg invasion appear to coincide with boundaries established by proto-oncogene signals responsible for anterior-posterior patterning. The Drosophila egg chamber may thus be a useful model for exploring how epithelial tumor invasion might be a neomorphogenetic process organized by signals essential for developmental pattern formation.
Video Exposure Monitoring—A Means of Studying Sources of Occupational Air Contaminant Exposure, Part 2—Data Interpretation

Abstract Excessive exposures to air contaminants can be determined by conventional sampling with pumps and sampling media; however, such results do not provide insights into the reasons for the excessive exposures. The analog or digital output from direct-reading instruments can be captured by using data-logging equipment. While data are being logged from direct-reading instruments, the activities in the workplace can be recorded using a video camera. These data can be analyzed to find reasons for excessive air contaminant exposures. Three approaches have been used to quantitatively present the results of real-time sampling. First is the use of descriptive statistics to describe the data. Frequently, useful insights can be obtained from descriptive statistics and graphs. When activities in question are sufficiently separated in time, this can be a very fruitful approach. At other times, a second approach, statistical analysis, may be needed to evaluate whether a certain activity is causing an increase in ...
Carburization of 310 stainless steel exposed at 800–1100 °C in 2%CH4/H2 gas mixture

Abstract Carburization of 310 stainless steel has been investigated after cyclic exposures at high temperatures 800–1100 °C in a 2%CH 4 /H 2 carburizing gas mixture for 500 h duration. A thermodynamic analysis indicates that 1000 °C is an approximate boundary temperature, below which the environment should result in mixed oxidizing/carburizing behavior, while above this temperature reducing/carburizing behavior should occur. The experimental results agree well with the thermodynamic analysis. Below 1000 °C, 310SS suffered external carburization, oxidation, and internal carburization. In excess of 1000 °C, extensive external carburization occurred and internal Cr-carbides disappeared. Cr segregation is proposed to interpret the effect of temperature on the continuity of an external scale layer and carburization behavior.
Operation of pipeless batch plants – II. Vessel dispatch rules

Abstract Pipeless batch plant operation using schedules generated by an MILP is analyzed in Part I of this paper. In this part the results of the MILP are compared to the results obtained by using local dispatch rules to govern station operation and vessel movement. These local dispatch rules are developed using general notions of efficient performance of flexible manufacturing systems combined with specific observations of the MILP solutions. It is found that the dispatch rules perform quite poorly when based on general principles, but can achieve almost indistinguishable performance compared to the MILP, when the features of the MILP schedule are incorporated into the rules. It is found that the rules are sensitive to the particular layout structure of the plant, and that customized rules for a layout can be obtained
The 1723 element: A long, homogeneous, highly repeated DNA unit interspersed in the genome of Xenopus laevis

We describe a highly repeated DNA element in the Xenopus laevis genome. This sequence, named the 1723 element, was first identified among sequences that are transcribed during embryonic development. The element is present in about 8500 copies per haploid genome, which together accounts for about 2.4% of the genome. Most copies of the element have highly conserved restriction maps, and are interspersed in the genome. The copies range in size from 6000 to 10,000 base-pairs due to an expandable region that contains variable numbers of a tandemly repeating 183 to 204 base-pair unit. The element is framed by an imperfect 18 base-pair inverted sequence, and inverted repeats of 180 to 185 base-pairs are nearby. Sequence analysis of DNA adjacent to three cloned elements shows that the elements are flanked by 8 base-pair direct repeats. These and other properties of 1723 suggest that it may be transposable.
Comparative studies on plasma low density lipoproteins from pig and man.

Abstract 1. 1. Low density lipoproteins (LDL) were isolated from pig plasma by ultracentrifugal flotation in KBr between densities 1·020 and 1·060 g/ml (LDL 1 ) and between 1·060 and 1·090 g/ml (LDL 2 ). 2. 2. The chemical, immunological and physical properties of LDL 1 and LDL 2 were compared with each other and with human LDL. 3. 3. LDL 1 and LDL 2 were delipidated and fractionated by chromatography on Sephadex G-150 in 0·1 M Tris-HC1, pH 8·0, containing 2 mM sodium decyl sulfate. ApoLDL 1 and apoLDL 2 were immunochemically identical, had only minor differences of amino acid composition and had indistinguishable circular dichroic spectra. The apoproteins were very similar in amino acid composition and circular dichroic spectra to human apoLDL. 4. 4. Our findings strongly suggest that the apoproteins from pig LDL 1 and LDL 2 are identical and that this protein is similar but not identical to apoLDL from man.
The nucleotide sequence of the gene encoding protein IVa2 in human adenovirus type 7

Abstract The nucleotide sequences of cloned DNA segments encoding the IVa2 gene from Ad7 and a portion of Ad12 (group B and group A human adenoviruses, respectively) have been determined. When compared to Ad5, a group C adenovirus, these sequences have been found to be 80% homologous. Most changes are transitions or transversions. This high degree of nucleotide homology results in a high degree of amino acid conservation in the predicted polypeptides encoded from these genes; most nucleotide changes occur at the third position in the codon. The predicted polypeptide contains 448 amino acids and has a calculated Mr-value of 50 700. The positions of the 5′ end of the mRNA and of the donor and acceptor splice sites of Ad7 and Ad12 can be inferred by analogy to those of Ad5. A long open reading frame starting upstream from the IVa2 gene overlaps the N-terminal portion of the polypeptide but is encoded in a different reading frame. Within this overlapping region, the long open reading frame is more conserved in amino acid sequence than is the presumed IVa2 polypeptide, suggesting that evolutionary pressure was exerted on the longer protein, a product of viral early region 2B. The high degree of conservation of this E2B region within the overlapping segment suggests that its activities must be more important for adenovirus infection than are the functions encoded in the amino-terminus of the IVa2 gene.
Immunohistochemical identification of immunoglobulin A on ultrathin tissue sections

Antigenic determinants of the heavy chain of immunoglobulin A (IgA) were identified within immunocytes by immunohistochemical techniques applied to ultrathin sections of rat ileal mucosa embedded in eposy resin. Successful localization of IgA depended upon the utilization of chemical fixatives containing paraformaldehyde or physical fixation employing a freeze-drying technique. Partial removal of the epoxy resin from the ultrathin tissue section with metallic alkoxide solutions or pretreatment with H2O2 was essential prior to the sequential application of the immunological reagents. IgA was associated with the rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER) and nuclear regions of immunocytes. These results are similar to those of other investigators employing immunochemical localization before embedment.
Rethinking the Nuclear Family: Judith Merril's Shadow on the Hearth and Domestic Science Fiction

In 1963, Betty Friedan's now classic The Feminine Mystique identified the American home—or, more accurately, the suburban dwelling nestled within one of the thousands of developments that had been ...
Carbohydrate and protein metabolism in rats during chronic administration of glucagon and epinephrine.

SummaryChanges in body weight and in metabolic parameters were studied during chronic (twice daily) administration of glucagon 0.93 mg and/or epinephrine 0.1 mg to adult male rats. During the 5-day experimental period, fed control and epinephrine-treated animals lost no weight. Glucagon and glucagon-epinephrine animals lost 10–15% of their initial body weight. Fasted animals, control and hormone injected, lost approximately 20% of their initial body weight during the 5-day period. The weight loss by hormone-treated animals was not significantly greater than for controls. Liver glycogen was lowered by fasting and hormone administration. Muscle glycogen and blood glucose levels were lowered by fasting only. Plasma amino acid levels were not altered by fasting but were lower in hormone-treated animals. Changes in carbohydrate parameters usually associated with acute administration of glucagon and epinephrine, i.e., hyperglycemia and glycogen shift from/to liver, to/from muscle, were not observed in adult rat...
The estrogenic effects of clomiphene during the neonatal period in the rat.

The ability of clomiphene and its isomers to cause estrogenic responses during the neonatal period in the rat was examined. Rats were injected s.c. with clomiphene (CL), zuclomiphene (ZUC) or enclomiphene (ENC) on days 1,3, and 5 of life and the stimulation of the reproductive tract and estrogen receptor binding was observed. Uterine weight and DNA content were increased significantly by day 7 in animals treated with clomiphene or zuclomiphene. Uterine epithelial hypertrophy was present in all groups by day 10 and hyperplasia was present in the animals treated with ZUC and CL. The time of vaginal opening was greatly accelerated in all drug treated groups with the earliest day of opening occurring on day 7. Ovarian hemorrhage and blood in the periovarian sac occurred between days 12-14 and continued to be present through day 25. Drug treatment caused the estrogen receptor to accumulate in the nuclear fraction of the uterus and to be depleted from the cytosol fraction. We conclude that clomiphene administered to neonatal rats causes estrogenic stimulation of the reproductive tract in a fashion similar to other estrogens. This stimulation may account for the reproductive tract abnormalities which develop in rats treated with those drugs during the neonatal period.
Aerospace Cyber-Physical Systems Education

Modern Aerospace systems are cyber-physical, comprised of physical components but commanded and controlled by “cyber” (computing and communication) elements. It is widely acknowledged that codesign across cyber and physical elements will provide a better-performing holistic system, but few of today’s engineers have adequate preparation to model, optimize, and simulate both. Even working in teams, “language barriers” are problematic – most Aerospace engineers are not comfortable with object-oriented abstractions and model-based real-time system design principles from computer science. Conversely, computer scientists have little expertise in the linear and nonlinear calculus-based models describing the motion of complex air and space vehicles, not to mention associated algorithms ensuring stable envelope-wide guidance and control. This paper describes the cyber-physical system (CPS) from both perspectives, and then describes grand challenges in research and applications associated with the CPS. Focus is then turned to education. A review of the traditional Aerospace and computer science curricula is provided first, along with a summary of feedback received from the Aerospace industry regarding knowledge and skill needs for new-hires. A review of CPS courses introduced in other programs is provided, comparing and contrasting the different course perspectives on what is “fundamental” to the CPS. Strategies to migrate content of such courses to the undergraduate Aerospace curriculum are discussed.
Modeling of Thermo-Mechanical Stresses in Twin-Roll Casting of Aluminum Alloys

A two-dimensional steady state thermo-mechanical stress model was developed using the commercial structural analysis package ANSYS, to compute the stresses arising from thermal gradients and mechanical loads applied to strip and roll during a horizontal twin-roll thin strip casting process. The finite element mesh and the nodal temperature values obtained from the fluid flow, heat transfer, and solidification model developed on FIDAP, were transported to ANSYS. Mechanical loads like roll separating force and strip exit tension were also applied on the strip. A visco-plastic constitutive relation has been used to describe the behavior of solidifying aluminum alloy. The effects of inlet velocity of the melt and contact strip/roll heat transfer coefficient on the resultant stress profile in the strip and the rolls were investigated.
An approach to enhance through-thickness thermal conductivity of polymeric fiber composites

Abstract Thermal transport mechanisms are investigated and characterized when highly conductive fibers are embedded across the thickness of a three-dimensional polymer composite. Different approaches are explored to enhance out-of-plane thermal conductivity and address measurement issues associated with this class of composites. An experimental setup was designed, fabricated and validated to measure through-thickness thermal conductivity. A corresponding finite element model of the setup was developed to characterize and gain further understanding of the thermal field in the measurement cell. An approach in which a conductive coating is applied on the surface of the composite to improve the through-thickness thermal conductivity of composites containing a small percentage of conductive fibers in the thickness direction is explored. A parametric study revealed that the thickness of the coating and the distribution of the conductive fibers play a crucial role in augmenting the heat transfer across the thickness of the polymer composite.
Desilylation of α-trimethylsilyl nitramines: The first nitramine α-anion

Abstract Fluoride-induced desilylation of a trimethylsilylcyclopropyl nitramine generated the first known nitramine α-anion, which was trapped in situ by electrophiles (H 2 O, D 2 O, and CH 3 CHO). In contrast, a trimethylsilylmethyl nitramine gave a product resulting from elimination of the elements of trimethylsilyl nitrite under identical reaction conditions.
Proxy evaluation of health-related quality of life: A conceptual framework for understanding multiple proxy perspectives

Proxy assessment of health-related quality of life (HRQL) may be sought to substitute for, or to complement, patient self-assessment. The viewpoint from which the proxy is asked to assess the patient is a subtle yet important aspect of proxy assessment. Proxy assessments can be elicited by asking a proxy to assess the patient as they think the patient would respond (ie, proxy-patient perspective) or for the proxy to provide their own perspective on the patient's HRQL (ie, proxy-proxy perspective). In this article, we introduce a framework for differentiating between and understanding HRQL assessments according to rater viewpoint. The difference between patient self-assessment and the proxy-patient perspective is defined as the inter-rater gap, whereas the difference between the proxy-patient and proxy-proxy perspective is described as the intra-proxy gap. The inter-rater gap represents the difference between patient self-assessed HRQL and the proxy ability to comprehend the patient view. The extent to which the proxy-proxy perspective is informative will depend upon the proxy's ability to provide reinforcing or complementary information, ie, represented by the intra-proxy gap, on the HRQL of the patient. We refer to the framework to emphasize the importance of delineating between proxy perspectives in study design and HRQL measurement and to guide inquiries into the validity and interpretation of the meaningfulness of the proxy HRQL assessments from each viewpoint. Future research and use of proxy raters of HRQL in clinical trials, population health monitoring, resource allocation, and clinical management can be informed by explicit consideration of the suggested framework.
Spectral behaviour of the turbulence-driven power fluctuations of wind turbines

Field and laboratory experiments were performed to unravel the structure of the power output fluctuations of horizontal-axis wind turbines based on incoming flow turbulence. The study considers the power data of three wind turbines of rotor sizes 0.12, 3.2, and 96 m, with rated power spanning six decades from the order of 100 to 106 W. The 0.12 m wind turbine was tested in a wind tunnel while the 3.2 and 96 m wind turbines were operated in open fields under approximately neutrally stratified thermal conditions. Incoming flow turbulence was characterised by hotwire and sonic anemometers for the wind tunnel and field set-ups. While previous works have observed a filtering behaviour in wind turbine power output, this exact behaviour has not, to date, been properly characterised. Based on the spectral structure of the incoming flow turbulence at hub height, and the mechanical and structural properties of the turbines, a physical basis for the behaviour of temporal power fluctuations and their spectral structu...
The Past and Present Status of Off-bottom Oyster Culture in North America

Abstract Off-bottom culture of oysters has attracted great interest by various agencies along the coasts of the United States and Canada. The major commercial interest in off-bottom oyster culture is now centered in the production of seed oysters. The present commercial centers for seed production are: Fishers Island, New York; Dabob Bay, Washington; and Pendrell Sound, British Columbia. At Fishers Island and Pendrell Sound, seed oysters are caught on shells suspended from rafts; in Dabob Bay they are caught on wire-strung shells draped over racks, although some seed is also caught on shells suspended from rafts. Several small companies are rearing oysters (to market size) suspended from rafts and racks, in California, Rhode Island, and Washington. The Bureau of Commercial Fisheries evaluated off-bottom oyster culture at Cape Cod, Massachusetts, in 1956 and is now experimenting with off-bottom culture in artificial ponds, natural ponds, and tributaries of Upper Chesapeake Bay. The present studies include ...
Predicting the impact of adhesive forces on particle mixing and segregation

Abstract Processing of fine powders is a relevant operation in many industries, from pharmaceuticals to material synthesis. As the size of the particles decreases, van der Waals forces start to play an important role in the behavior of the granular material and can dramatically impact the degree of mixing. In this work, we study the mixing and segregation behavior of fine particle systems using models capable of solving both normal and tangential interactions of elastic-plastic particles in the presence of van der Waals forces. We use scaling arguments to analytically predict the asymptotic state of the system by comparing the relative magnitude of the adhesive force with the other relevant forces. These predictions are most easily summarized by phase-space diagrams which exhibit both mixed and segregated regions. We compare the result of our Particle Dynamics simulations for different particle systems with our predictions. Graphical abstract Here we develop a predictive model for assessing the impact of adhesive forces on the mixing and segregation of fine powders. Interestingly, these forces may both enhance mixing or cause segregation, depending on the properties of the differing particles.
Does Biology Constrain Culture

Most social scientists would agree that the capacity for human culture was probably fashioned by natural selection, but they disagree about the implications of this supposition. Some believe that natural selection imposes important constraints on the ways in which culture can vary, while others believe that any such constraints must be negligible. This paper employs a “thought experiment” to demonstrate that neither of these positions can be justified by appeal to general properties of culture or of evolution. Natural selection can produce mechanisms of cultural transmission that are neither adaptive nor consistent with the predictions of acultural evolutionary models (those ignoring cultural evolution). On the other hand, natural selection can also produce mechanisms of cultural transmission that are highly consistent with acultural models. Thus, neither side of the sociobiology debate is justified in dismissing the arguments of the other. Natural selection may impose significant constraints on some human behaviors, but negligible constraints on others. Models of simultaneous genetic/cultural evolution will be useful in identifying domains in which acultural evolutionary models are, and are not, likely to be useful.
Modulating Retro-Reflector Devices and Current Link Performance at the Naval Research Laboratory

Free-space optical communication is often desired between two nodes having different capabilities. Using a modulating retroreflector (MRR) shifts most of the power, weight, and pointing requirements to one end of the link, allowing the other end to be extremely small, low-power, and requiring only rough pointing (to within +/-15 degrees). For a 5 Mb/s link at 2 km, our entire MRR package including drive electronics weighs only 8.5 g and requires 60 mW. This same device has also been arrayed to further relax the pointing requirements. In the simplest MRR link, an unmodulated (CW) laser interrogates a MRR comprised of an absorptive modulator and a retroreflector. If the interrogation beam is within the retroreflector's field of view (FOV), the beam will return to the interrogator with data impressed on it. In this discussion, we present the range of MRRs developed since 1998 at the Naval Research Laboratory (NRL). NRL's MRRs include both corner cube retroreflector and cat's eye retroreflector types, both individually and in arrays. Each variation has unique characteristics which may be beneficial or disqualifying in different situations. Size, weight, FOV, power consumption, cost, speed × range product, modulator type, ruggedness, time-to-market, and requirement for angle division multiplexing are all determining factors in MRR design and retroreflector choice. We compare strengths, weaknesses, and give current link performance data for several different systems. Links demonstrated include shore-to-shore, boat-to-shore, and UAV-to-ground over a wide range of distances and data rates.
The use of doppler ultrasonography for the evaluation of cerebral artery flow patterns in infants with congenital heart disease

With the use of a two-dimensional range-gated pulsed-Doppler ultrasound system, Doppler examinations of the aorta and cerebral arteries were performed in 20 normal newborn infants and in 54 infants with various forms of congenital heart disease (i.e. patent ductus arteriosus, coarctation of the aorta, critical aortic stenosis, pulmonary atresia, truncus arteriosus). In the cerebral artery Doppler recordings of the normal infants, there was antegrade flow throughout systole and diastole. In the cerebral artery Doppler recordings of the infants with cardiac disease, various abnormal flow signals (i.e. retrograde or absent diastolic flow signals, increased systolic and diastolic flow signals, etc.) were found. Furthermore, the changes in the cerebral artery Doppler recordings were concomitant with changes in the aortic Doppler flow signals and the arterial blood pressure. Representative examples of the normal and abnormal Doppler flow patterns that were observed in the aorta and cerebral arteries are presented, and the mechanisms that could lead to these flow patterns are discussed.
Three-dimensional Omega networks for optical implementation

We discuss a class of volume three-dimensional multistage interconnection networks suitable for optical implementation. The networks are based on perfect shuffles defined on two-dimensional arrays of signal channels combined with various types of dynamic switch elements in two-dimensional arrays. A mathematical description of the two-dimensional shuffles and these switch elements is presented. The relationship between the networks in this class (three-dimensional Omega networks) is studied. Optical or optoelectronic versions of these networks can perform high-speed parallel signal processing operations.
Profit Expectations and Confidence: Some unresolved issues in the Austrian/Post-Keynesian debate

Austrian and Post-Keynesian economists both continue to make important contributions to subjectivism in economics. Yet, as the ongoing debate between members of the two schools demonstrates, Austrians and Post-Keynesians have very different views about the possibility of intertemporal coordination in a market economy. This paper returns to the debate between Hayek and Keynes in order to respond to a contemporary Austrian critique of Keynes's theory of expectations. The paper shows that the fundamental difference between the two schools ultimately boils down to the nature of conventional expectations and the question of confidence. If the conventional expectation holds to assume the future will look enough like the present to give investors confidence in their decisions, Hayek's arguments about the possibility of intertemporal coordination merit attention. If, however, this convention does not hold, as Keynes thought was sometimes likely, the self-regulating potential of a market economy is called into que...