cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Scanning Electron Microscopic Observations on the Distended Reissners and Saccular Membranes in the Guinea Pig

The surface ultrastructures of membranous labyrinths in normal and hydropic guinea pig inner ears were studied. In normal specimens differences between Reissner's and saccular membranes were observed. The endolymphatic epithelial cells of the saccule were smaller in size and their microvilli vaned more in size and distribution. Mesothelial cells of the saccule were often spherical in shape and bulged toward the vestibule. In hydropic guinea pig inner ears, distension of Reissner's and saccular membranes occurred by irregular enlargement of epithelial cells. Microvilli were reduced in size and number. On the severely distended Reissner's membrane, outpouchings, infoldings and holes were observed. Transmission electron microscopic examination revealed no significant difference between the tight junctions of epithelial cells in normal or hydropic Reissner's membranes. Mesothelial cells of Reissner's membrane were more severely degenerated than those of the saccule. Cochlear sensory cells were often degenerat...
Expanding the kidney donor pool: Ethical and medical considerations

year later, proteinuria developed. She had an uncomplicated pregnancy in 1990. Five years later, arterial hypertension required treatment with enalapril. Her serum creatinine then was 1.2 mg/dL. The serum creatinine rose to 1.3 mg/dL two years ago and to 1.5 mg/dL last year. Earlier this year, a 24-hour urine collection contained 810 mg protein; the serum creatinine was 1.6 mg/dL and the creatinine clearance was 31 mL/min/ 1.73 m 2 . Her urine sediment was benign. A further increase in her blood pressure necessitated treatment with lisinopril, 10 mg each morning, and amlodipine, 5 mg each night. She says that she has no regrets about her decision to donate despite the outcome. Five years ago, her husband’s brother developed renal failure; with her encouragement, her husband donated a kidney. Her husband, now age 44, is in good health and has normal blood pressure, normal serum creatinine, and no proteinuria.
Remarks on the comments of Nutt and Wilets

The results of Nutt and Wilets are interpreted as substantiating the accuracy of the simultaneous local and energy-independent approximations for intermediate- and long-range potentials.
A simple, convenient and direct method for assessing the purity of cobalamins.

A straightforward and simple, but powerful and direct, method is presented for both the detection and quantitation of cobalamin impurities in either commercial cobalamins or in metastable cobalamins (Cbls), such as RSCbls. The method is, quite simply, the use of the aromatic region of the 1H NMR of cobalamins; it is a method developed as an outgrowth of our work preparing metastable thiolatocobalamins (RSCbls) and is a method that proved necessary for characterizing those (and by inference other) cobalamins unstable to HPLC separation conditions (i.e., and, therefore, where the normally powerful HPLC method so commonly used in cobalamin chemistry fails). Despite considerable, prior, modern multidimensional NMR literature on cobalamins, the present method has not yet been indicated explicitly, nor has anyone reported previously the NMR data required to prove that the method works (i.e., the data for a series of cobalamins and their common impurities proving that they have different chemical shifts in the aromatic region of their 1H NMR when examined under identical NMR solvent, pH and other conditions). The direct NMR method is easy to perform, readily quantitated and applicable to species unstable to the HPLC conditions required to separate cobalamin impurities. The results have allowed quantitation of the 5-11% impurities in, for example, commercial HOCb1.HX, results which document that some commercially available cobalamins are not as pure as the manufacturers' claims.
APPLICATION OF LIGHT DETECTION AND RANGING TECHNOLOGY TO HIGHWAY SAFETY

An application of light detection and ranging (LIDAR) technology to highway intersection safety is presented. LIDAR can be used to collect information about a surface by reflecting thousands of light beams per second off the surface and measuring the return time of the beams. The surface profile is collected as a digital signature that can be used in a variety of applications. Collection of information on the surface profile of the earth in the form of elevation data is one of several LIDAR applications that have been used for mapping and contouring. The focus of the described application is use of LIDAR elevation data to obtain information on intersection geometry that can lead to the discovery of potential obstructions in driver sight lines. After appropriate transformations, LIDAR elevation data were used in line-of-sight analysis to obtain information on sight-line obstructions at six intersections on the IA-1 corridor in Iowa. Intersection crash frequency and data availability were considerations in the selection of the six intersections. Results from the line-of-sight analysis were validated by visits to the intersections in the field and verification of the existence of obstructions detected during the analysis. Sixty-six lines of sight were blocked during the line-of-sight analysis, of which 62 (89.8%) were confirmed during the validation process. Four (5.8%) sight-line obstructions were not confirmed during the validation. At least three (4.4%) potential sight-line obstructions discovered during validation were not detected during the line-of-sight analysis. The intersection with the highest crash frequency was correctly found to have obstructions located within the intersection sight triangles. It can be concluded that LIDAR elevation data can be used successfully for identifying potential sight-distance problems at intersections. Identified potential problems can be verified and rectified in the field. LIDAR is a relatively costly data source, and a single application, such as this one, cannot justify the high cost of LIDAR data acquisition. Other potential highway safety enhancing applications of LIDAR must be investigated to offset the high data-acquisition cost. Suggestions for other highway safety applications are provided.
Modified retrograde approach to upper eyelid static loading.

Objectives/Hypothesis: Upper eyelid static weight loading is a technique commonly used to treat paralytic lagophthalmos. The traditional approach using the pretarsal crease incision leads to interruption of the anterior levator muscle fibers that attach to the face of the tarsus at its upper two thirds. This disruption can lead to permanent upper eyelid blepharoptosis. The retrograde approach avoids this problem but results in an incision at the lid margin, the dependent aspect of the weight. This increases the risk of implant extrusion. We hypothesize that a newly described modified retrograde approach is a safe and effective approach that avoids the pitfalls of previously described techniques. Study Design: Retrospective review. Methods: Eight patients were evaluated with preoperative and 3 to 6 month postoperative photographs with the eyes in the open and closed positions for the degree of lagophthalmos and blepharoptosis present. Patients were also evaluated for development of complications such as implant extrusion, pain, or infection. The surgical technique uses a supratarsal skin crease incision, supramuscular dissection to the lid margin, entry into the tarsal plane at its inferior-most aspect, creation of a pocket for implant insertion, and layered closure. Results: All patients had complete correction of lagophthalmos. No patients experienced infection, extrusion, or eye pain after surgery. All patients had less than 2-mm ptosis after surgery, with no patients experiencing any visual field disruption. Conclusions: The modified retrograde approach to upper eyelid static loading for paralytic lagophthalmos provides advantages over other techniques described. It is a safe, efficacious procedure, well tolerated by patients.
Investigating the Structural Dynamics Transitions of Human Adipocyte Fatty Acid Binding Protein by NMR Spectroscopy

Adipocyte fatty acid binding protein (FABP4) is a 132-aa intracellular lipid binding protein involved in the transport of fatty acids between cell membranes and organelles. FABP4 participates in several pathways including lipolysis and lipogenesis, and is involved in lipid and energy metabolism related diseases such as diabetes. Additionally, in animal models, inhibitors of FABP4 have been found to halt the progression of diabetes that is usually concurrent with obesity. Although the structure of FABP4 has been determined using x-ray crystallography and binding to several of its hydrophobic ligands well characterized, the transitions in the structural dynamics upon ligand binding have yet to be investigated. Here, we report the results of the NMR resonance assignment of the apo form of human FABP4, and compare these results to chemical shift prediction analysis performed using SHIFTX and SPARTA. We also report spin relaxation measurements used to probe the fast (ps-ns) backbone dynamics. Finally, through NMR titrations, we are investigating the structural dynamics transitions which occur upon binding of FABP4 to its hydrophobic ligands, including several novel lipid ligands. The project is a working collaboration between St. Catherine University, the University of Minnesota, and the Minnesota NMR Center, and provides a model of conducting collaborative undergraduate research in partnership between a PUI, a major research institution, and an instrument center.
Ischemic heart failure enhances endogenous myocardial apelin and APJ receptor expression.

Apelin interacts with the APJ receptor to enhance inotropy. In heart failure, apelin-APJ coupling may provide a means of enhancing myocardial function. The alterations in apelin and APJ receptor concentrations with ischemic cardiomyopathy are poorly understood. We investigated the compensatory changes in endogenous apelin and APJ levels in the setting of ischemic cardiomyopathy. Male, Lewis rats underwent LAD ligation and progressed into heart failure over 6 weeks. Corresponding animals underwent sham thoracotomy as control. Six weeks after initial surgery, the animals underwent hemodynamic functional analysis in the presence of exogenous apelin-13 infusion and the hearts were explanted for western blot and enzyme immunoassay analysis. Western blot analysis of myocardial APJ concentration demonstrated increased APJ receptor protein levels with heart failure (1890750±133500 vs. 901600±143120 intensity units, n=8, p=0.00001). Total apelin protein levels increased with ischemic heart failure as demonstrated by enzyme immunoassay (12.0±4.6 vs. 1.0±1.2 ng/ml, n=5, p=0.006) and western blot (1579400±477733 vs. 943000±157600 intensity units, n=10, p=0.008). Infusion of apelin-13 significantly enhanced myocardial function in sham and failing hearts. We conclude that total myocardial apelin and APJ receptor levels increase in compensation for ischemic cardiomyopathy.
Reconfigurable microstrip rectangular loop antennas using RF MEMS switches

In this article, a low-actuation voltage DC contact RF MEMS switch is developed for a reconfigurable microstrip rectangular loop antenna implementation providing frequency tunability. Electromechanical design optimization, microfabrication through the PolyMUMPS commercial process, and RF simulation is presented. The application of such RF MEMS switches to frequency-tunable reconfigurable microstrip loop antennas is subsequently investigated by electromagnetic full wave analysis simulation tool. The physical perimeter of the loop antenna is electronically varied by controlling the ON/OFF states of the MEMS switches. The resonance frequency of the microstrip loop antenna is shown to be reconfigurable linearly by 56% with the linear change of the physical perimeter while the radiation pattern is almost invariant. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 50: 252–256, 2008; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/mop.23042
Concentration of aqueous hydrogen peroxide solution by pervaporation

Abstract Pervaporative separation of corrosive liquids is always challenging in terms of finding a suitable polymeric membrane that can withstand the harsh environment especially when concentrating an aqueous solution of a highly oxidizing liquid such as hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). H2O2 is one of the most powerful oxidizers known and is a stronger oxidant than chlorine, chlorine dioxide and potassium permanganate; hydroxyl radical ( OH) generated from H2O2 has a very high reactivity. The choice of membrane material is potentially limited to fluoro polymers and perfluoro polymers considering membrane stability in such a harsh system. Perfluorodimethyldioxole–tetrafluoroethylene (PDD–TFE) copolymer membranes (CMS-3 and CMS-7) were used to concentrate hydrogen peroxide from its aqueous solutions. The feed solution composition was varied between 4 and ∼40 wt% H2O2; the process was studied at 25 °C, 30 °C and 35 °C. CMS-7 displayed a higher flux than CMS-3; a reverse trend was observed for water–H2O2 selectivity for the same feed concentration. The highest water–H2O2 selectivity of ∼12 was observed in CMS-3 membrane at an H2O2 concentration of 43 wt% with a total flux of 6.15 × 10−3 g/h cm2; for CMS-7, values of 9.2 and 9.6 × 10−3 g/h cm2 were found for water–H2O2 selectivity and total flux, respectively, at the same H2O2 concentration. The total permeated flux increased with temperature at the cost of selectivity for both membranes. Extended-term behaviors of CMS-3 and CMS-7 membranes studied at 35 wt% H2O2 concentration indicated that both are quite stable for tests carried out over periods of 162 and 145 days respectively.
Identification of Dynamic Regression (Distributed Lag) Models Connecting Two Time Series

Abstract A methodology is introduced for identifying dynamic regression or distributed lag models relating two time series. First, specification of a bivariate time-series model is discussed, and its relationship to the usual dynamic regression model is indicated. Then, a two-stage identification procedure is presented which involves fitting univariate time-series models to each series, and identifying a dynamic shock model relating the two univariate model innovation series. The models obtained at these two stages are combined to identify a dynamic regression model, which may then be fitted in the usual ways. Two systems of economic time series illustrate the methodology.
Estimating measurement error in alcohol dependence symptomatology: findings from a multisite study

Inter-rater test-retest reliability of alcohol diagnoses and symptom ratings, made by means of a modified version of the Structured Clinical Interview for DSM-III-R (SCID), were evaluated in the context of a multisite clinical trial of alcoholism treatment. Reliability coefficients for the subject's 'worst period' and the 'current period' were compared. The results show that with proper training, reliable diagnostic classification can be achieved across multiple sites. Symptom reliabilities for the current period were higher than the worst period. Respondents with higher discrepancies between test and retest tended to drink more on each drinking occasion, reported more medical detoxifications, changed residence more often, had lower occupational status and were rated by the interviewer as less attentive, motivated and intelligent. Methods to monitor and improve the reliability of diagnostic interviews in addiction research, particularly in multisite studies, are discussed in relation to the findings.
"How Can Some of You Say That There Is No Resurrection of the Dead ?" Spiritual Elitism in Corinth

Why would some of the Corinthians have denied the resurrection of the dead ? JAMES M. ROBINSON explains this as "the turgid fanaticism of those who have already risen and are living it up in glory"l). This interpretation, deriving from 2 Timothy ii 18 where Hymenaeus and Philetus are attacked for teaching that "resurrection is past already", notes that the same word "already", although lacking in I Cor. xv 12, is found in I Cor. iv 8 "with all its heretical overtones". Thus, by approaching the Corinthian situation through 2 Tim. ii 18, ROBINSON and others find that what would appear to be a denial of the resurrection is instead a "fanatical form of belief
Rapid on-site pathologic evaluation does not increase the efficacy of endobronchial ultrasonographic biopsy for mediastinal staging.

Background Endobronchial ultrasonography with transbronchial needle aspiration (EBUS-TBNA) has been shown to be equivalent to mediastinoscopy in lung cancer staging for mediastinal node involvement. Rapid on-site evaluation (ROSE) to determine the adequacy of nodal sampling has been claimed to be beneficial. Methods A retrospective evaluation was performed in 170 patients who underwent EBUS-TBNA from July 2008 to May 2011. The patients were classified as having either high or low pretest probability for mediastinal disease based on history and radiographic imaging. ROSE was compared with the final pathology reports based on slides and cell blocks. Results One hundred thirty-one (77%) patients were classified as being in the high pretest cohort based on clinical staging. Of these, 101 (77%) patients had adequate tissue sampling based on ROSE, with 70 (69%) patients having positive mediastinal disease. In the 30 (23%) patients who had inadequate tissue by ROSE, the final analysis of all the prepared slides and cell blocks allowed for a diagnosis in all but 8 patients. The sensitivity and specificity of ROSE in the high pretest probability cohort were 89.5% and 96.4%, respectively, whereas the overall sensitivity and specificity of EBUS-TBNA was 92.1% and 100%, respectively. Despite having inadequate tissue on ROSE in 30 of 131 patients, sufficient tissue was available on final analysis for diagnosis in 22 of 30 patients. Conclusions ROSE does not impact clinical decision making if a thorough mediastinal staging using EBUS is performed. Despite inadequate tissue sampling assessment by ROSE, a final diagnosis was made in most patients, potentially avoiding an additional surgical procedure to prove mediastinal disease.
High School Size, Achievement Equity, and Cost

The past decade has occasioned a dramatic increase in research on relationships between school size and a variety of outcomes, including measured achievement, high school completion rates, and postsecondary enrollment rates. An interesting interaction effect which has been found in replications across seven very different states is that as school size increases, the "achievement test score costs" associated with the proportion of economically disadvantaged students enrolled in a school also increase. In short, as schools get larger, average achievement among schools enrolling larger proportions of low socioeconomic-status students suffers. A traditional argument against smaller schools, however, is that they are simply
MK-801 DECREASES HYPOXIA INDUCED INCREASED IN EXTRACELLULAR DOPAMINE IN STRIATUM OF NEWBORN PIGLETS. † 2257

MK-801 DECREASES HYPOXIA INDUCED INCREASED IN EXTRACELLULAR DOPAMINE IN STRIATUM OF NEWBORN PIGLETS. † 2257
Fighting The Peace At Home: Mexican American Veterans and the 1944 GI Bill Of Rights

The Serviceman9s Readjustment Act of 1944 has become the focus of increased scrutiny. Many of the bill9s limitations in terms of race, gender, and sexuality have recently been explored. This article examines the postwar construction of veteran identity by Mexican American veterans and the GI Bill9s ultimate impact on that process. I place particular emphasis on economic mobility, political activism, and the psychiatric and medical services provided by the Veterans Administration to illustrate how public policy influenced that emerging identity. Moreover, I challenge conclusions that adopt an either/or binary by illustrating how the matrix of military service, the GI Bill, and citizenship influenced postwar civic engagement and varying degrees of socioeconomic advancement for Mexican American veterans.
Large-scale anisotropy of the cosmic background radiation in Friedmann universes.

We compute the large-scale anisotropy of the cosmic background radiation due to the gravitational field of clumped matter in open, closed, and flat Friedmann universes. Formulas are derived for the mean-square angular fluctuation of the cosmic background radiation in terms of the two-point correlation function of matter. The results depend importantly on whether or not the matter perturbations locally satisfy the integral constraints which express local conservation of energy and momentum, and we discuss these two possibilities. We examine the behavior as spatial curvature goes to zero.
A multi-level socio-technical systems telecommuting framework

Telecommuting can help to create organisational efficiencies and improve competitive advantage. It has been studied from a variety of perspectives, including that of transportation, management, psychology, and information systems. However, telecommuting literature, while abundant and diversified, often reports contradictory results, creating dilemmas for practice and research. Past researchers noting such conflicting findings often identify the lack of guiding theoretical bases as a key problem. In an attempt to explain the contradictory results found in prior research and in practice, we review telecommuting literature and expose conceptualisation issues that need to be addressed in the development of a telecommuting research model: telecommuting as both a context and an aspect of work, as a multi-level concept and as a time-dependent concept. The proposed multi-level model, guided by socio-technical systems theory, illustrates the inter-relationships of telecommuting antecedents and outcomes across levels of analysis and over time. The research offers a number of important implications for future research, as well as for managers involved in or affected by telecommuting in their organisations.
Slot-type field-shaping cell: Theory, experiment and application

Abstract A “field-shaping” cell was designed for electrodeposition on highly resistant ( e.g. thin film) substrates. The cell contained a partition with a slot that served as a virtual anode. Selecting the location of the partition as well as the location and the width of the slot, one can counteract the severe non-uniformity of the deposit caused by the ohmic potential drop along the highly resistant substrate. Formulae are derived for the primary current distribution in slot-type cells of various shapes, including cells with hoop-shaped slots. The theoretical calculations were verified in an experimental cell with a movable partition and a changeable slot size and were found to approximate accurately the actual current distribution. The use of slot-type cells and of the theory developed has enabled us to achieve a reasonably uniform electrodeposition on thin film substrates.
Variations in Vertical Location of Kootenai River White Sturgeon during the Prespawn and Spawning Periods

Abstract Our objectives were to determine the general water column habitat use of Kootenai River white sturgeon Acipenser transmontanus during the prespawn and spawning periods and to determine the degree of their benthic existence. Depth-sensitive radio transmitters were attached to five male and four female white sturgeon and were periodically monitored day and night from April through June 2001. A total of 297 radio contacts were made, of which 209 included the depth of the river. One fish was not used for statistical analysis because its behavior was often modified by the presence of our boat. Of the 209 contacts, 75% (156) were made within the bottom one-third of the water column. Mean depth of the fish during the daytime prespawn and daytime spawning period was different (9.7 and 6.5 m, respectively), and the distribution between these two periods was significantly different. Some of the variation was likely due to the deeper habitat of the daytime prespawn staging reach compared with that of the da...
A Comparison of Sign and Verbal Language Training with Nonverbal Retarded Children

Twelve nonverbal, hearing, retarded children were matched and then randomly assigned to sign language training, speech training, and placebo groups. Four of the subjects received speech training us...
High levels of pancreatic nonspecific lipase in rattlesnake and leopard shark.

Hydrolysis of synthetic triglycerides by rattlesnake and leopard shark pancreatic enzymes revealed striking differences in specificity, depending on the presence or absence of sodium taurocholate. Without added sodium taurocholate the classical specificity of pancreatic lipase was expressed. Rattlesnake enzymes, in the presence of sodium taurocholate, attacked the unsaturated oleic acid in the 2-position of racemic glycerol-1-palmitate-2-oleate-3-stearate nearly twice as fast as either outside saturated fatty acid. In this instance, over 90% of the monoglyceride which accumulated were 1-monoglyceride. These results are attributed to very high levels of bile salt activated nonspecific lipase. Eight vertebrate species were compared. With the exception of the rattlesnake and leopard shark, the other species (3 elasmobranchs and 3 mammals) all exhibited low levels of non-specific lipase, e.g. less than 5% hydrolysis of the 2-position of racemic glycerol-1-palmitate-2-oleate-3-stearate in the presence of sodium taurocholate.
Phase coherence in two-band superconductors

The existence of possible phase coherence phenomena in two-band superconductors is discussed.
Transient induction of ornithine decarboxylase mRNA in rat hepatoma cells treated with 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate.

Abstract The contribution of changes in mRNA levels to the induction of ornithine decarboxylase (ODC) by 12-O-tetradecanoylphorbol-13-acetate (TPA) in rat H35 hepatoma cells was analyzed by Northern blot and quantitative dot blot hybridization. ODC mRNA accumulated rapidly in TPA-treated cultures. The increase in message was transient, reaching a peak within about 3 h, then declining to control levels after 18 h. Maximal accumulation of ODC-specific mRNA varied from 3- to 8-fold above control. The TPA dose-response for ODC message accumulation was half-maximal at ∼0.18 μM TPA. The increase was completely blocked by actinomycin D, suggesting that TPA stimulates the transcription of ODC genes. Inhibition of protein synthesis by cycloheximide (10 μg/ml) led to a superinduction of ODC mRNA in the presence of TPA, which suggested that a short-lived protein may be responsible for negative control of ODC expression.
On expansion of algebraic functions in power and Puiseux series, II

Abstract We present algorithms that (a) reduce an algebraic equation, defining an algebraic function, to a Fuchsian differential equation that this function satisfies; and (b) compute coefficients in the expansions of solutions of linear differential equations in the neighborhood of regular singularities via explicit linear recurrences. This allows us to compute the Nth coefficient (or N coefficients) of an algebraic function of degree d in O(dN) operations with O(d) storage (or O(dN) storage).
LXXIII. Space-charge and thermionic currents

(1925). LXXIII. Space-charge and thermionic currents. The London, Edinburgh, and Dublin Philosophical Magazine and Journal of Science: Vol. 49, No. 292, pp. 695-708.
The Effect of Cation Structure on the Mesophase Architecture of Self‐Assembled and Polymerized Imidazolium‐Based Ionic Liquids

The binary phase behavior of a series of imidazolium-based ionic liquids (ILs) has been investigated. In particular, the effect of two structural modifications of the imidazolium cation, alkyl chain length, and the introduction of a polymerizable acryloyl group at the alkyl chain terminus, has been studied using small angle X-ray scattering. Upon increasing water content, the non-polymerizable IL, 1-decyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride, adopts mesophase structures of predominately two-dimensional (2D) hexagonal symmetry, including structures intermediate in character between lamellae and 2D hexagonal micelles. Introduction of a photopolymerizable acryloyl functional group to form 1-(10-(acryloyloxy)decyl)-3-methyl-imidazolium chloride produces a rod-coil IL cation that yields self-assembled mesophases in which the formation of tetragonal morphologies is favored. Covalent linking of the IL cations by UV-induced polymerization converts the lyotropic mesophase into three-dimensional biocontinuous chemical gels. Reducing the alkyl chain length, as in the polymerizable IL cation 1-(8-(acryloyloxy)octyl)-3-methylimidazolium chloride, severely reduces the self-assembled mesophase order, and triggers the formation of only weakly ordered one-dimensional lamellar structures.
Radiation and diffraction of second-order surface waves by floating bodies

The paper studies the radiation and diffraction by floating bodies of deep-water bichromatic and bidirectional surface waves subject to the second-order free-surface condition. A theory is developed for the evaluation of the second-order velocity potential and wave forces valid for bodies of arbitrary geometry, which does not involve the evaluation of integrals over the free surface or require an increased accuracy in the solution of the linear problem. Explicit sum- and difference-frequency ‘Green functions’ are derived for the radiation and diffraction problems, obtained from the solution of initial-value problems that ensure they satisfy the proper radiation condition at infinity. The second-order velocity potential is expressed as the sum of a particular and a homogeneous component. The former satisfies the non-homogeneous free-surface condition and is expressed explicitly in terms of the second-order Green functions. The latter is subject to the homogeneous free-surface condition and enforces the body boundary condition by the solution of a linear problem. An analysis is carried out of the singular behaviour of the second-order potential near the intersection of the body boundary with the free surface.
Wood in Transportation Program: An Overview:

Research and demonstration bridge projects to further develop wood for transportation structures increased substantially in the United States in 1988 under a legislative action by the U.S. Congress known as the Timber Bridge Initiative. This program, renamed the Wood in Transportation Program, continues today and is administered by the Forest Service. FHWA became involved in timber bridge research in 1990. The FHWA program increased substantially under the Intermodal Surface Transportation Efficiency Act of 1991 (ISTEA). From 1992 to 1997, ISTEA authorized significant funding for timber bridge research, technology transfer, and demonstration bridges. The current transportation authorization, the Transportation Equity Act for the 21st century, does not contain a program for timber bridges similar to that of ISTEA; however, there are provisions under the fiscal year 1999 Transportation Appropriations Bill for advancing engineered wood and composites technology through research and demonstration projects to ...
Combined Influence of Insulin and Glucagon Upon Hepatocytes in Rats with Liver Loss or Viral Injury

Insulin and glucagon act in synergy to promote hepatic regeneration in eviscerated rats and to enhance survival in mice with viral hepatitis. Relatively low doses of insulin and high doses of glucagon are required, in keeping with the low portal venous blood levels of insulin and high levels of glucagon in normal rats following partial hepatectomy.
Dynamic Gating of Retinal Transmission to the Visual Cortex by the Lateral Geniculate Nucleus

Publisher Summary The thalamus functions as a dynamically gated relay of peripheral information to the cerebral cortex. This means that data available to the cortex is filtered through the thalamus, and the nature of the information relayed by the thalamus varies according to many factors, such as behavioral state, focus of attention, and nature of sensory stimuli. This chapter also discusses the cellular mechanisms that control filtering by thalamic relay cells; these are studied with regard to gating of retinogeniculate transmission in the cat's lateral geniculate nucleus. The chapter provides an overview of the study that reports that the transmission of retinal signals to cortex is clearly affected by the membrane voltage of the relay cell. Both cortical and brainstem inputs to the lateral geniculate nucleus can regulate membrane voltage, either by direct effects on relay cells or indirectly through effects on local γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA)ergic circuits.
Subsidizing (and taxing) business procurement

Abstract This paper studies the effect of a subsidy (or tax) on a market where a downstream manufacturer uses a competitive tender to procure inputs from upstream suppliers. Subsidizing input production can result in input price decreases that are greater than the effective decrease in marginal costs. That is, overshifting occurs. When the size of the subsidy is not too large, the downstream firm can enjoy an increase in profits greater than the government expenditure on the subsidy. A relatively weak sufficient condition for these results to hold is that suppliers earn a positive profit margin on the marginal unit sold, before taking into account any subsidy payment. Stronger sufficient conditions, tailored to each result, are provided.
Combinatorial sieves of dimension exceeding one

In an earlier paper bearing the same title, [DHR 1], we showed how to construct a class of sieves of dimension κ > 1 on the assumption of a certain analytic result, referred to there as Theorem 0, for a boundary value problem involving a pair of simultaneous linear differential delay equations, with κ as a parameter. In subsequent papers we proved Theorem 0 for various ranges of values of κ, and here we complete the proof, thereby validating unconditionally the main result of [DHR 1].
Characterization of housekeeping genes in zebrafish: male-female differences and effects of tissue type, developmental stage and chemical treatment

Research using the zebrafish model has experienced a rapid growth in recent years. Although real-time reverse transcription PCR (QPCR), normalized to an internal reference ("housekeeping") gene, is a frequently used method for quantifying gene expression changes in zebrafish, many commonly used housekeeping genes are known to vary with experimental conditions. To identify housekeeping genes that are stably expressed under different experimental conditions, and thus suitable as normalizers for QPCR in zebrafish, the present study evaluated the expression of eight commonly used housekeeping genes as a function of stage and hormone/toxicant exposure during development, and by tissue type and sex in adult fish. QPCR analysis was used to quantify mRNA levels of bactin1, tubulin alpha 1(tuba1), glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (gapdh), glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (g6pd), TATA-box binding protein (tbp), beta-2-microglobulin (b2m), elongation factor 1 alpha (elfa), and 18s ribosomal RNA (18s) during development (2 – 120 hr postfertilization, hpf); in different tissue types (brain, eye, liver, heart, muscle, gonads) of adult males and females; and after treatment of embryos/larvae (24 – 96 hpf) with commonly used vehicles for administration and agents that represent known environmental endocrine disruptors. All genes were found to have some degree of variability under the conditions tested here. Rank ordering of expression stability using geNorm analysis identified 18s, b2m, and elfa as most stable during development and across tissue types, while gapdh, tuba1, and tpb were the most variable. Following chemical treatment, tuba1, bactin1, and elfa were the most stably expressed whereas tbp, 18s, and b2m were the least stable. Data also revealed sex differences that are gene- and tissue-specific, and treatment effects that are gene-, vehicle- and ligand-specific. When the accuracy of QPCR analysis was tested using different reference genes to measure suppression of cyp19a1b by an estrogen receptor antagonist and induction of cyp1a by an arylhydrocarbon receptor agonist, the direction and magnitude of effects with stable and unstable genes differed. This study provides data that can be expected to aid zebrafish researchers in their initial choice of housekeeping genes for future studies, but underlines the importance of further validating housekeeping genes for each new experimental paradigm and fish species.
Manipulating cattle distribution with salt and water in large arid-land pastures: a GPS/GIS assessment.

Several of the problems associated with grazing animals in extensive settings are related to their uneven patterns of use across the landscape. After fencing, water and salt are two of the most frequently used tools for affecting cattle distribution in extensive settings. Cattle are attracted to water in arid regions, but mixed results have been obtained with salt and mineral supplements. The goal of this study was to evaluate the efficacies of salt and water manipulations for affecting cattle distribution in large (>825ha) pastures. This was accomplished by fitting cattle with global positioning system (GPS) collars and monitoring their travels and activities in a three pasture, Latin-square design where water and salt shared a common location and water or salt were moved individually to distant areas. Mean distance of cattle from water (x=1.16km) was unaffected by treatments (P=0.79) suggesting that cattle followed movements of water tanks. Distance traveled daily (x=5.78km), time devoted to grazing (11.0h per day), time devoted to resting (10.1h per day), and the area (x=325ha) of minimum convex polygons were also unaffected by treatment implying that cattle did not compensate for separated water and salting areas with increased travels or disruptions of habitual grazing and resting activities. Centers of activity for cattle shifted further (P=0.02) when water (x=1.49km) was moved than when salt (x=1.00km) was relocated. Mean distance of cattle from salt increased from 1.03km, when salt and water were together, to 1.73km (P=0.08) when salt and water were separated. This implied that cattle made less effort to remain near salt. Also, when water and salt were separated, cattle were found within 250m of water 354 times and close to salt only 38 times. Movement of drinking water to distant points in pastures was the most effective tool for altering cattle distribution. When cattle and salt were introduced to a new portion of a pasture, cattle used the new area for about 2 days, and then began drifting back toward previously used portions of the pasture. Manipulations of salting stations will not significantly rectify serious livestock distribution problems in extensive arid-land pastures.
Robust design of bandgap voltage references with low EMI susceptibility

This paper addresses an approach to design bandgap voltage references which provides a good trade-off between overall performances and strong immunity to electromagnetic interferences. We investigated two classical topologies of bandgap references. The first circuit exhibits a 1200mV shift for interfering signals in the frequency range of 1MHz-4GHz, while the shift in the modified version of the same architecture is only 6mV. The second circuit exhibits a 300mV shift in the same frequency range while the shift in its modified version is only 20 mV.
ZnO Varistors for Transient Protection

ZnO varistors are novel ceramic semiconductor devices used for protection of electronic equipment against transient overvoltages due to switching surges or lightning. This article describes the microstructure, circuit behavior, and operation of ZnO varistors. ZnO varistors have highly nonlinear current-voltage characteristics similar to back-to-back Zener diodes but with much greater current, voltage, and energy handling capability. These devices are capable of protecting circuits with operating voltages from ten to thousands of volts while passing surge currents in the kiloamp range. Varistor response time is too small to measure (less than 500 ps). ZnO varisters are comprised of an array of conducting ( \Omega ·cm) ZnO grains, each grain being surrounded by an insulating oxide barrier 106V/cm) across the insulating barriers promote the tunneling of electrons through these intergranular barriers. The details of the varistor conduction mechanism are complex and a discussion is given of our present understanding of this process.
Rhetorical studies as reduction or redescription? A response to Cherwitz and Hikins

En novembre 2000, Cherwitz et Hikins proposait une critique de l'integrite intellectuelle des principales lignes de recherches en rhetorique contemporaine, qualifiant l'attitude des chercheurs de provinciale. Les As. proposent une reponse a cette critique, insistant sur l'ambiguite des termes utilises et non expliques par Cherwitz et Hikins, et tentent de determiner si la pratique de la recherche en rhetorique se definit comme une redescription ou comme une reduction
Differential expression and cell envelope incorporation of small proline-rich protein 1 in different cornified epithelia

In the final stages of terminal differentiation in the epidermis and other squamous epithelia, a approximately 15 nm thick protein layer called the cornified cell envelope (CE) assembles on the keratinocytes' inner surface. Its constituent proteins are covalently crosslinked by the action of transglutaminases. Recent studies have indicated that the expression of CE precursor proteins may vary in different tissues. To investigate such variations further, we have studied the CEs of two different keratinizing epithelia of mouse: epidermis and forestomach, with particular focus on their contents of loricrin and the small proline-rich proteins (SPRs). To this end, we have applied electron microscopic immunocytochemistry and estimated the CE protein compositions by mathematical modeling of their amino acid compositions. Ultrastructurally, forestomach resembles the epidermis in having well defined cornified and granular layers. Minor but significant differences are: in forestomach, striated material resembling lamellar granules is intercalated between the cornified squames; and in forestomach granular layer cells, loricrin-containing L-granules are more abundant, and filaggrin-containing F-granules less abundant than in epidermis. In forestomach, dense labeling with anti-SPR1 antibody was observed at the margin of cornified layer cells; and in the granular layer, diffuse but positive labeling of both cytoplasm and nucleus. In contrast, epidermis was uniformly negative. Isolated forestomach CEs (but not epidermal CEs), labeled positively on the cytoplasmic side, consistent with the presence of covalently crosslinked SPR1. Our compositional analysis predicts the content of loricrin in forestomach CEs to be very high (approximately 65%), as in the epidermis, and accompanied by approximately 18% content of total SPRs. Of these, a substantial proportion should be SPR1, according to our immunolabeling data. In contrast, epidermal CEs are calculated to have a much lower amount of SPRs or SPR-like proteins (approximately 8%), with a negligible content of SPR1. Thus both kinds of CEs have loricrin as their major constituent but differ in their respective complements of SPRs, which are thought to inter-connect loricrin molecules in the final phase of CE assembly. Applying a basic concept of materials science, it may be that the observed differences in their SPR contents reflect differences in the mechanical and chemical properties required for the function of the respective CEs.
Disposition and Analgesic Effects of Fentanyl in White Cockatoos (Cacatua alba)

Abstract Fentanyl is a mu opioid agonist with 80–100 times the analgesic potency of morphine. Fentanyl is used in several mammalian species for relief of severe pain, but its use has not been investigated in psittacine birds. To determine the pharmacologic disposition of fentanyl in healthy white cockatoos (Cacatua alba), we measured fentanyl plasma concentrations in sequentially collected samples after administration of fentanyl at 0.01 or 0.02 mg/kg IM. To investigate the analgesic effects of fentanyl in conscious cockatoos, we compared the change in pre- and posttreatment levels of electrical and thermal noxious stimuli necessary to elicit a withdrawal response in birds administered fentanyl at 2 different doses (0.02 mg/kg IM or 0.2 mg/kg SC) and those given saline. Fentanyl was rapidly absorbed and plasma concentrations declined with an elimination half-life of 1.2–1.4 hours. Plasma concentrations considered to be analgesic in humans were maintained for at least 2 hours with the 0.02 mg/kg dose. Howe...
Partitioned correlation model for hyperspectral anomaly detection

We develop an algorithm based on a subspace model to detect anomalies in a hyperspectral image. The anomaly detector is based on the Mahalanobis distance of a residual from a pixel that is partitioned nonuniformly according to the groups in the spectral components in the pixel. The main background is removed from the pixel by predicting linear combinations of each subset of the partitioned pixel with linear combinations of the main background. The residual is defined to be the difference between the linear combinations of each subset of the partitioned pixel and the linear combinations of the main background. The anomaly detector is designed for anomalies that can be best detected in the residual of the pixel. Experimental results using two real hyperspectral images and a simulated dataset show that the anomaly detector outperforms conventional anomaly detectors.
Cancers of the Rectum and Anal Canal

Personalized medicine utilizes the molecular basis of disease to provide tools to stratify risk and predict treatment effect; and in doing so provides the opportunity for rational design of cancer therapeutics. In particular, the genetic events associated with rectal and anal malignancies have been translated into clinical applications that now guide screening efforts, serve as targets for therapeutic agents, and can function as predictive markers for treatment outcomes. For example, evaluation for defective cellular DNA-mismatch repair and for activating somatic mutations in the K-ras proto-oncogene have moved into the clinical arena and considered standard of care for screening and treatment decision-making. In addition, the epidermal growth factor receptor and vascular endothelial growth factor are both treatment-directed targets that can alter the life expectancy in individuals with these diseases. Thus by leveraging the science of genomics, the promise of personalized cancer medicine is delivery of highly effective and minimally toxic prevention, screening, and treatment modalities that are tailored to the genetic makeup of each patient and to the unique molecular makeup of that individual’s tumor.
Replication of an Autonomous Human Parvovirus in Non-dividing Human Airway Epithelium Is Facilitated through the DNA Damage and Repair Pathways

Human bocavirus 1 (HBoV1) belongs to the genus Bocaparvovirus of the Parvoviridae family, and is an emerging human pathogenic respiratory virus. In vitro, HBoV1 infects well-differentiated/polarized primary human airway epithelium (HAE) cultured at an air-liquid interface (HAE-ALI). Although it is well known that autonomous parvovirus replication depends on the S phase of the host cells, we demonstrate here that the HBoV1 genome amplifies efficiently in mitotically quiescent airway epithelial cells of HAE-ALI cultures. Analysis of HBoV1 DNA in infected HAE-ALI revealed that HBoV1 amplifies its ssDNA genome following a typical parvovirus rolling-hairpin DNA replication mechanism. Notably, HBoV1 infection of HAE-ALI initiates a DNA damage response (DDR) with activation of all three phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase-related kinases (PI3KKs). We found that the activation of the three PI3KKs is required for HBoV1 genome amplification; and, more importantly, we identified that two Y-family DNA polymerases, Pol η and Pol κ, are involved in HBoV1 genome amplification. Overall, we have provided an example of de novo DNA synthesis (genome amplification) of an autonomous parvovirus in non-dividing cells, which is dependent on the cellular DNA damage and repair pathways.