cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Synergism between pituitary follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) and human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG).

IT HAS been known for years that the gonadotropic action in female rats of pituitary follicle stimulating hormone is augmented by simultaneous administration of interstitial cell stimulating substances, such as pituitary ICSH (LH, Fevold et al., 1931) or human chorionic gonadotropin (Evans et al., 1931). As FSH was more completely purified the same synergic reaction continued to be demonstrable. Some question arose, however, as to the degree of limitation of FSH effects in the complete absence of ICSH. It has become widely accepted that FSH alone cannot produce large follicles capable of producing enough estrogen to bring animals into estrus. As regards the phenomenon of synergism in the male it was reported (Evans et al., 1934, 1937; Greep et al., 1936) that the two types of hormone acted synergically also in the male. When FSH was purified sufficiently to meet the chemists’ standards for physico-chemical purity: electrophoresis, diffusion and ultra-centrifugation (Li, Simpson, and Evans, 1949; Li, 1949)...
Predictive Efficacy and the Preventive Detention of Dangerous Sexual Offenders: Contributions from Nonlinear Dynamical Systems Theory

Behavioral scientists are regularly summoned by the legal system to make predictions about the likelihood of future dangerous behavior (i.e., violence prediction/risk assessment). In recent years, such efforts have been subjected to considerable scrutiny as, despite the evolution of risk assessment instruments, social scientists have yet to demonstrate the ability to predict violence with a reasonable degree of accuracy. Yet concerns with predictive efficacy may be rooted in the limitations of prediction itself. Nonlinear dynamical systems theory (i.e., chaos theory) and quantum physics jointly paint a picture of human behavior as fundamentally unpredictable; in their light, we are asked to question whether future violence can ever be predicted with a tolerable level of error. In this article, I provisionally explore this very issue, particularly as it appears in the context of decisions concerning the disposition of criminal sexual offenders.
Cocaine self-administration in monkeys by chewing and smoking

Two rhesus monkeys self-administered cocaine hydrochloride in a gum base vehicle on a fixed ratio 10 schedule with performance characterized by frequent pauses and increased intertrial interval responding. Three other monkeys self-administered cocaine base in lettuce cigarette vehicles in smoking performance marked by shortened puff durations. Urinary benzoyl ecgnoine levels correlated with amount of cocaine chewed or smoked. Monkeys did not prefer cocaine gum in choice tests with plain or procaine gum, but did significantly prefer cocaine cigarettes to plain cigarettes. These preliminary results emphasize the importance of route of administration in determining reinforcement efficacy of human coca use and suggest animal models for their further experimental analysis.
DETRUSOR PROPERTIES IN MYELOMENINGOCELE PATIENTS: IN VITRO STUDY

AbstractPurpose: To characterize detrusor properties of myelomeningocele (MMC) bladders which failed conventional therapy.Materials and Methods: Bladder strips from five end-stage MMC patients were compared with those from five patients with vesicoureteric reflux. The active and passive properties of the detrusor muscles and the effect of different blocking agents on the transmural nerve stimulation were studied.Results: A significant decrease in contractility (p = 0.003) and increased rigidity (p = 0.019) was found in MMC group. In the control group, atropine blocked 77.7% of the detrusor contractility and tetrodotoxin demonstrated an equal blocking effect. In MMC group, atropine blocked 58.2% and tetrodotoxin blocked 77.4% of the detrusor contractility.Conclusion: MMC bladders showed decreased contractility and increased rigidity. In MMC group, the atropine-resistant component which is blocked by tetrodotoxin signifies the possible existence of non-adrenergic, non-cholinergic neurotransmitters (NANC). F...
Annual available radiation for fixed and tracking collectors

Values for the long-term average annual radiation incident on horizontal surfaces in six US locations are tabulated, and the significance of these values for predicting the performance of various types of solar collectors is discussed. (WHK)
An object-oriented simulation framework for real-time control of automated flexible manufacturing systems

This paper describes an object-oriented simulation approach for the design of a flexible manufacturing system that allows the implementation of control logic during the system design phase. The object-oriented design approach is built around the formal theory of supervisory control based on Finite Automata. The formalism is used to capture inter-object relationships that are difficult to identify in the object-oriented design approach. The system resources are modeled as object classes based on the events that have to be monitored for real-time control. Real-time control issues including deadlock resolution, resource failures in various modes of operation and recovery from failures while sustaining desirable logical system properties are integrated into the logical design for simulating the supervisory controller.
The miR-17-92 Cluster and Its Target THBS1 Are Differentially Expressed in Angiosarcomas Dependent on MYC Amplification

Angiosarcomas (ASs) represent a heterogeneous group of malignant vascular tumors that may occur spontaneously as primary tumors or secondarily after radiation therapy or in the context of chronic lymphedema. Most secondary ASs have been associated with MYC oncogene amplification, whereas the role of MYC abnormalities in primary AS is not well defined. Twenty-two primary and secondary ASs were analyzed by array-comparative genomic hybridization (aCGH) and by deep sequencing of small RNA libraries. By aCGH and subsequently confirmed by fluorescence in situ hybridization, MYC amplification was identified in three out of six primary tumors and in 8 out of 12 secondary AS. We have also found MAML1 as a new potential oncogene in MYC-amplified AS. Significant upregulation of the miR-17-92 cluster was observed in MYC-amplified AS compared to AS lacking MYC amplification and the control group (other vascular tumors, nonvascular sarcomas). Moreover, MYC-amplified ASs were associated with a significantly lower expression of thrombospondin-1 (THBS1) than AS without MYC amplification or controls. Altogether, our study implicates MYC amplification not only in the pathogenesis of secondary AS but also in a subset of primary AS. Thus, MYC amplification may play a crucial role in the angiogenic phenotype of AS through upregulation of the miR-17-92 cluster, which subsequently downregulates THBS1, a potent endogenous inhibitor of angiogenesis. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
EEG spindle activity as a function of age: relationship to sleep continuity.

Abstract This study assessed sleep spindle activity and its relationship to transient EEG activation in young adult and aged cats. Sleep-wake variables were monitored polygraphically for 12 h in 5 young adult (2–4 years) and five aged (9–11 years) animals. Recordings were scored for behavioral state. Then, using bandpass frequency analysis, sensorimotor cortical spindles were evaluated in three, 5-min segments of the NREM sleep EEG. Both the incidence of transient arousals (TA) and spindle(≥ 25 μV) densities were significantly higher in the aged animals than in the young adults. In the young animals only, spindle densities reliably predicted the incidence of TAs. We suggest that spindle expression varies in relation to ascending reticular activating system tone, constituting a functionally-inhibitory thalamocortical response to neurophysiological conditions which promote central activation.
An evaluation of alternative distance tutoring models for at-risk elementary school children

Abstract Two programs for providing distance tutoring for at-risk elementary school children were implemented and evaluated in successive years. Each program employed 10 college education students as tutors for approximately 25 sixth-grade children. Tutoring exercises were oriented around writing and language skills development. Program 1 was restricted to electronic mail exchanges via a local bulletin board system, whereas Program 2 permitted both electronic mail and teleconferencing via a national network. Results showed moderate to extensive use of both systems by two-thirds of the students. Students' reactions were somewhat negative about Program 1, but positive about Program 2, seemingly because of the greater flexibility of the latter system and stronger relationships established with their tutors. Additional findings and discussion concern the types of communications made, tutor experiences and reactions, advantages and disadvantages of each system, and recommendations for future program design.
Influence of expanded balloon diameter on Palmaz-Schatz stent recoil.

After successful stent implantation, the residual luminal diameter of the stented vessel is usually smaller than the maximal stent-expanded balloon diameter. The goal of this study was to determine whether immediate vessel diameter recoil after Palmaz-Schatz stenting is affected by the final expanding balloon diameter used during stent deployment. Single Palmaz-Schatz balloon expandable stents were successfully placed in 108 stenotic lesions. There were 68 patients with 75 saphenous vein graft (SVG) and 30 patients with 33 native coronary artery lesions, including 26 restenotic and 82 de novo occlusive (>50% diameter stenosis) lesions. Quantitative coronary angiography was used for the assessment of stent recoil, defined as the difference between the minimal diameter of the fully expanded balloon and the postprocedure minimal lumen diameter divided by minimal diameter of the fully expanded balloon. A strong correlation (r = 0.94) was found between the minimal diameter of the fully expanded balloon and poststenting minimal lumen diameter. Immediate recoil was 11.3 ± 7.5%, responsible on an average for 0.4 ± 0.2-mm acute lumen loss. Recoil was less in SVG than in coronary arteries (9.7 ± 6.6% vs. 14.0 ± 7.8%; P = 0.004, and 0.3 ± 0.2 vs. 0.4 ± 0.2 mm; p = 0.01). Lesions were divided into four subgroups, based on the final stent expanding balloon diameter: (1) ⩽3.0 mm (n = 33); (2) >3 ± 3.5 mm (n = 43); (3) >3.5 ± 4 mm (n = 23); and (4) >4 mm (n = 9). For the four subgroups, the percentage recoil values were 15.0 ± 5.7, 10.4 ± 8.2, 9.0 ± 5.4, and 4.7 ± 2.0, respectively (P <0.001). Mean values of diameter stenosis, lesion length, maximal balloon pressure, balloon-to-artery ratio, relative vessel stretch, and absolute recoil were not statistically different. Immediate vascular recoil in single implanted Palmaz-Schatz stent is a function of the final expanding balloon diameter, with recoil larger at small-balloon diameters and almost eliminated at large inflation diameters. This finding could contribute to less acute gain, increased restenosis, and higher stent thrombosis rates after stenting vessels of <3-mm diameter. © 1995 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
Comparison between the catalytic activities of Pd(111) and Pd-Au(111) for water synthesis

Abstract The reaction between hydrogen and oxygen to form water has been studied on Pd(111) and Pd-Au(111) single crystal surfaces under ultra-high vacuum, using thermal desorption spectroscopy (TDS). When hydrogen was exposed to the metal surfaces with previously adsorbed oxygen, the pure Pd yielded a reaction probability on the order of unity, and higher than the Pd-Au. In contrast, previous steady-state experiments at atmospheric pressure showed a reaction probability enhancement of 50 on adding Au to Pd, with maximum efficiency of ~ 10−5. In the present work, the addition of Au to Pd decreased the binding energy of oxygen to the surface and drastically reduced the oxygen coverage. Reaction mechanisms are proposed which reconcile the low-pressure and high pressure results.
Clinical transvenous cardioversion of recurrent life-threatening ventricular tachyarrhythmias: Low energy synchronized cardioversion of ventricular tachycardia and termination of ventricular fibrillation in patients using a catheter electrode

The purpose of this study was to test the efficacy, safety, and patient tolerance of transvenous cardioversion and defibrillation in patients who had recurrent ventricular tachyarrhythmias. In five of seven patients, a truncated exponential shock of 0.025 to 2.0 joules synchronized to the QRS complex terminated 47 episodes of recurrent sustained ventricular tachycardia (VT). Cardioversion threshold was less than or equal to 0.25 joule in three patients and 0.75 to 2.0 joules in two patients. Shocks of 0.75 joule and 2.0 joule failed to terminate VT in one patient each; higher energies were not tried because of hemodynamic decompensation. In one patient, a shock of 25 joules terminated ventricular fibrillation (VF) on three occasions, and in another patient a shock of 1.0 joule terminated atrial fibrillation on one occasion. Shocks less than or equal to 0.5 joule were well tolerated by the awake unsedated patient. One hundred forty of 141 synchronized shocks (including subthreshold shocks) produced no repetitive ventricular activity. In one seriously ill patient who had received multiple antiarrhythmic drugs and required balloon counterpulsation for hemodynamic support, on a single occasion each a synchronized transvenous shock and a synchronized conventional transthoracic shock produced ventricular flutter and ventricular fibrillation (VF), respectively. We conclude that synchronized transvenous cardioversion by a catheter electrode offers promise as a new therapeutic approach.
Acceptance of the Mineralogical Society of America Award for 2009

First and foremost, I would like to thank my colleagues who nominated me for this award and thank the selection committee and the Mineralogical Society of America for this great honor; it is truly the highlight of my career. I would also like to thank the organizers of the Frontiers in Mineral Sciences Session at the Geological Society of America Meeting held in honor of this year’s award recipients. This session presented a phenomenal array of high impact talks, and it was both very humbling and a great honor to share the session with Alexandra Navrotsky, the 2009 Roebling Medal winner, who is truly a pioneer and intellectual leader in the mineral sciences. When reflecting on the work that led to the MSA award, it was very clear to me that this is a shared award among the many colleagues and collaborators that took part in the studies. It was also clear that I have had very good fortune to work with a highly talented and motivated group of individuals, and that I was lucky to be in the right place at the right time. In order to thank some of the people that have contributed to my progress over the last decade, I would like to briefly note some …
Metastable proton pools in thylakoids and their importance for the stability of Photosystem II

Abstract After isolated chloroplast thylakoids have been transferred to a medium which is more alkaline than their storage medium, they retain considerable amounts of unequilibrated protons for often longer than 10 min. Essentially all of these protons are released upon uncoupler addition when the thylakoids are osmotically swollen, but only a portion of them when they are in a shrunken state. Osmotic swelling also greatly accelerates the inactivation of the water-oxidizing system enzyme of Photosystem II, and its depletion of functional Cl − , at alkaline pH. Analyses of the mestable proton gradient in terms of stoichiometry, temperature dependence, and effect on fluorescent amine probes, suggest that most of the protons involved are bound and exchange readily with the bulk phases only when the thylakoids are swollen. It is concluded that, in shrunken thylakoids, the water-oxidizing enzymes are buried in special H + -sequestering domains which probably are formed by cavities in the inner surface of the thylakoid membrane. An observed cooperative action of alkaline pH and divalent cations during Cl − -extraction from Photosystem II is interpreted as revealing an involvement of both a negatively charged surface region and positively charged groups in maintaining the functional integrity of the site of water oxidization.
Comments, Critique, and Inspiration: The Disappearance of one-to-ones in acute psychiatric care.

Do you remember “one-to-ones” in acute care? A “one-to-one” (not to be confused with “one-on-one,” an individual staff member who closely monitors a patient at all times) is a concept that may be unfamiliar to nurses who entered acute care psychiatric/mental health nursing within the past 10-15 years. One-to-ones are uninterrupted, lengthy, individual sit-down nurse-patient interactions. These one-to-ones were once an expected, necessary aspect of psychiatric/mental health nursing practice. Acute care psychiatric/mental health nurses were supposed to have at least one, one-to-one interaction daily with each patient he or she was assigned to. Nurses who worked in psychiatric settings when this was the norm and continue work in acute care now know that one-to-ones have all but disappeared.
Visual search for arbitrary objects in real scenes

How efficient is visual search in real scenes? In searches for targets among arrays of randomly placed distractors, efficiency is often indexed by the slope of the reaction time (RT) × Set Size function. However, it may be impossible to define set size for real scenes. As an approximation, we hand-labeled 100 indoor scenes and used the number of labeled regions as a surrogate for set size. In Experiment 1, observers searched for named objects (a chair, bowl, etc.). With set size defined as the number of labeled regions, search was very efficient (~5 ms/item). When we controlled for a possible guessing strategy in Experiment 2, slopes increased somewhat (~15 ms/item), but they were much shallower than search for a random object among other distinctive objects outside of a scene setting (Exp. 3: ~40 ms/item). In Experiments 4–6, observers searched repeatedly through the same scene for different objects. Increased familiarity with scenes had modest effects on RTs, while repetition of target items had large effects (>500 ms). We propose that visual search in scenes is efficient because scene-specific forms of attentional guidance can eliminate most regions from the “functional set size” of items that could possibly be the target.
Spreadsheet usage by management accountants: An exploratory study

Abstract Spreadsheets play an important role for managerial accountants. For these practitioners, spreadsheets are necessary tools for traditional responsibilities such as planning, budgeting, forecasting as well as newer decision-making responsibilities. Responsibilities for managerial accounting practitioners have shifted from a transaction-based focus to an emphasis on decision support, planning, and control. Managerial accountants are expected to be key members of decision making and cross-functional teams outside the accounting area. Spreadsheets are major tools for meeting these new responsibilities. However, there is a significant gap in the literature with respect to what features of spreadsheets are most relevant for these new responsibilities. The purpose of this exploratory research is to provide evidence as to (a) what features of spreadsheets managerial accountants use, and (b) what features of spreadsheets new hires are expected to use.
Deformation at the nanometer and micrometer length scales: Effects of strain gradients and dislocation starvation

Nanomechanical devices are certain to play an important role in future technologies. Already sensors and actuators based on MEMS technologies are common and new devices based on NEMS are just around the corner. These developments are part of a decade-long trend to build useful engineering devices and structures on a smaller and smaller scale. The creation of structures and devices calls for an understanding of the mechanical properties of materials at these small length scales. Here we examine some of the effects that arise when crystalline materials are mechanically deformed in small volumes. We show that indentation size effects at the micrometer scale can be understood in terms of the hardening associated with strain gradients and geometrically necessary dislocations, while indentation size effects at the nanometer scale involve the concepts of dislocation starvation and the nucleation of dislocations. We also describe uniaxial compression experiments on micrometer size pillars of single crystal gold and find surprisingly strong size effects, even though no significant strain gradients are present and the crystals are not initially dislocation free. We argue that these size effects are caused by dislocation starvation hardening, with dislocations leaving the crystal more quickly than they multiply and leading to the requirement of continual dislocation nucleation during the course of deformation. A new length scale for plasticity, the distance a dislocation travels before it creates another, arises naturally in this treatment. Hardening of crystals smaller than this characteristic size is expected to be dominated by dislocation starvation while crystals much larger than this size should exhibit conventional dislocation plasticity.
Shear Layer Time-Delay Correction Using a Non-Intrusive Acoustic Point Source

Microphone array processing algorithms often assume straight-line source-to-observer wave propagation. However, when the microphone array is placed outside an open-jet test section, the presence of the shear layer refracts the acoustic waves and causes the wave propagation times to vary from a free-space model. With a known source location in space, the propagation time delay can be determined using Amiet's theoretical method. In this study, the effects of shear layer refraction are examined using a pulsed laser system to generate a plasma point source in space and time for several different test section flow speeds and configurations. An array of microphones is used to measure the pulse signal, allowing for the use of qualitative beamforming and quantitative timing analysis. Results indicate that Amiet's method properly accounts for planar shear layer refraction time delays within experimental uncertainty. This is true both when the source is in the inviscid core of the open-jet test section, as well as ...
Tibial wedge augmentation for bone deficiency in total knee arthroplasty. A followup study.

This report constitutes a followup of a previous study of 28 knees in 25 patients with metal wedge augmentation for tibial bone deficiency. Those patients were reviewed 2.3 years after surgery ; 79% had excellent results, and 21% had good results. Twenty-four knees in 21 patients with a metal wedge augmentation for tibial bone deficiency were reviewed 5.6 years clinically and 4.8 years radiographically after surgery. Clinical results were excellent in 67%, good in 29%, and poor in 4%. The only poor result was in 1 knee that required 2 revision procedures: the first for failure of a metal-backed patellar component and the second for aseptic loosening of the femoral component. Radiolucent lines at the cement bone interface beneath the metal wedge were present in 13 knees. Eleven of those radiolucencies were <1 mm in width, and 2 were 1 to 3 mm in width. None of those lucent lines were progressive. Metal wedge augmentation for tibial bone deficiency is a useful option. No deterioration of the wedge-prosthesis or wedge-cement-bone interface was seen at midterm followup.
Mindfulness and emotional distress: The role of negatively biased cognition

Abstract Mindfulness is a receptive attention to and awareness of events and experiences as they occur. A substantial body of literature supports the usefulness of mindfulness-based approaches for preventing or reducing emotional distress (e.g., depression and anxiety). However, mechanisms by which mindfulness produces these benefits are still being explored. Cognitive theories of emotional disorder implicate negatively biased cognition as a primary source of distress, and the theoretical literature on mindfulness suggests that it may reduce biased thoughts and judgments. Thus, the present research tested a mediation model in which less negatively biased cognition explains the inverse relation between mindfulness and emotional distress. Participants completed multiple standardized measures of trait mindfulness, negatively biased cognition, and emotional distress. The proposed relations between these constructs then were examined using structural equation modeling. Support was found for a partial mediation model, and possible alternative models were ruled out. These findings highlight a previously unidentified cognitive mechanism to explain the relation between mindfulness and reduced emotional distress. Specifically, mindfulness may reduce negative, maladaptive cognitive styles, which in turn may reduce predisposition to emotional disorders.
Effects of Oxygen Administration on the Manifestation of Acetate Intolerance in Dialysis Patients

In a prospective double-blind study, 12 patients were dialyzed four times each with nasal oxygen (O2) and 4 times each with air throughout acetate dialysis. Fewer symptoms (p 2 dialyses than on air dialyses. The rate of acetate metabolism was increased during O2 dialyses since serum acetate levels were significantly lower at 2, 3 and 4 h. Significant hypoxemia was demonstrated in 10 of these patients on acetate dialysis without O2. These results clearly demonstrate that: (1) prevention of hypoxemia during dialysis reduces acetate intolerance, and (2) compromised tissue O2 availability may be partly responsible for dialysis morbidity.
Adaptive control of uncertain systems with gain scheduled reference models

This paper develops a new model reference adaptive control approach for uncertain systems with gain scheduled reference models in a multi-input multi-output (MIMO) setting. Specifically, adaptive state feedback for output tracking control problem of MIMO nonlinear systems is studied and gain scheduled reference model system is used for generating desired state trajectories. Using convex optimization tools a single Lyapunov matrix is computed for multiple linearizations near equilibrium and non-equilibrium points of the nonlinear closed loop gain scheduled reference system. This approach guarantees stability of the closed-loop gain scheduled system. Adaptive state feedback control scheme is then developed, and its stability is proven. The resulting closed-loop system is shown to have bounded solutions with bounded tracking error, with the proposed stable gain scheduled reference model. Simulation results show that the developed adaptive controller can be used effectively to control a degraded turboshaft engine for large thrust commands, with guaranteed stability and proper tracking performance.
The role of radiation in the treatment of advanced juvenile angiofibroma.

Objectives/Hypothesis To demonstrate the efficacy of external beam radiation therapy as a primary treatment modality for the management of patients with advanced juvenile nasopharyngeal angiofibroma (JNA). Study Design Retrospective chart review. Methods The medical records of 130 patients with the diagnosis of JNA seen at UCLA Medical Center over a 41-year period (1960–2000) were retrospectively reviewed. Results One hundred thirty cases of JNA have been seen at UCLA Medical Center from 1960 to 2000. One hundred two were treated with surgical resection, 1 refused therapy, and the remaining 27 received radiation (3000–5500 cGy) as their primary mode of treatment. Fifteen percent (4 of 27) of the irradiated patients developed recurrent tumor 2 to 5 years later. Long-term complications occurred in 4 patients (15%) and consisted of growth retardation, panhypopituitarism, temporal lobe necrosis, cataracts, and radiation keratopathy. Conclusions External beam radiation therapy represents an effective mode of treatment for patients with advanced JNA. Although the latency period may be long, we think the likelihood of potentially fatal complications developing at the radiation dosages we recommend is less than the risk of significant morbidity and mortality associated with surgical intervention in these cases.
Uncertain buckling: its past, present and future

An authoritative review on stochastic buckling of structures was written by Amazigo some quarter century ago. The present review summarizes some of the developments which took place since then. A brief overview of the effect of uncertainty in the initial geometric imperfections, elastic moduli, applied forces, and thickness variation is given. For the benefit of the thoughtful reader, the review is of critical nature.
Seasonal changes in the normal variability in release properties of motor nerve terminals inRana pipiens

Abstract During a 2 1/2 year period, we studied 298 identified endplates from 40 sartorius muscles, correlating their morphology with their synaptic release properties. There is a remarkably large range in evoked and spontaneous quantal release levels when junctions are studied in a low-Ca 2+ Ringer. This diversity in release efficacy persists when release is normalized to identified nerve terminal length. We also found that release was significantly larger in the winter (Dec–Feb) than in the spring and summer (Mar–Aug), suggesting seasonal regulation of release properties.
Stimulation of arylsulfotransferase activity by progestins in human endometrium in vitro.

The effect of progestin on the rate of estradiol (E2) sulfurylation in human endometrium was studied in two culture systems: 1) in intact endometrial tissue fragments and 2) in isolated endometrial epithelial glands and stromal cells. Human endometrial tissue fragments were cultured in medium in the presence and absence of progesterone (P) for 24-48 h. The arylsulfotransferase activity was determined in the cytosol of the tissue homogenate by measuring the rate of conversion of E2 to E2-3-sulfate (E2S) in the presence of an excess amount of substrate and cofactor (adenosine-3′-phosphate-5′-phosphosulfate). The enzyme activity was found to be stimulated in the sample cultured with P. The increase in activity correlated with the dose of P and period of culture. Stimulation of endometrial estradiol dehydrogenase activity by P, which has been reported in a series of previous publications, was also evident in the current study. Human endometrial glandular epithelial and stromal cells were cultured separately i...
COMPUTERIZED SIGNAL PROCESSING FOR DETECTING CRACKS UNDER INSTALLED FASTENERS

Abstract This paper describes the development work on a computerized system designed to detect cracks by rotating a shear wave transducer around installed fasteners or bolt holes. Reflected ultrasonic signals from the cracks are digitized in 2° intervals, processed, and displayed in either polar or rectangular coordinates by the computer. Symmetrical noise resulting from an imperfect fit between the bolt and the hole is suppressed by a statistical digital rejection procedure which increases the signal to noise ratio. Corner slots of .051 × .051 and .025 cm and fatigue cracks under installed fasteners have been detected by this computerized system. Two promising methods to compute flaw sizes are also described in this paper.
Corrigendum to “Hardening mechanisms of spray formed Al–Zn–Mg–Cu alloys with scandium and other elemental additions” [J. Alloys Compd. 416 (2006) 135–142]

The authors regret that in the above mentioned paper, Fig. 2 is incorrectly labeled due to a typographical error. It currently states, “Bright field (a) and dark field (b) electron photomicrograph of massive structural precipitation in the 13Zn–1.1Cu–.20Mn–0.16Cr–0.2Sc spray formed alloy heat treated in the T6 condition” and instead, the alloy should be labeled as 12Zn–1.1Cu–.29Mn–.02Cr. The figure is accurate and the illustrative purpose of the figure as described is unchanged by the labeling error. The results, conclusions, and contribution of the research reported are not affected by this labeling error as all of the alloys in the investigation contained the presented structural precipitates.
Heart disease and filtrable viruses.

A number of filtrable viruses can infect the heart and there produce myocarditis, enadocarditis, and pericarditis. However, this action depends on a coexisting deprivation of oxygen to the heart.
TATA-Binding protein-TATA interaction is a key determinant of differential transcription of silkworm constitutive and silk gland-specific tRNA(Ala) genes.

We have investigated the contribution of specific TATA-binding protein (TBP)–TATA interactions to the promoter activity of a constitutively expressed silkworm tRNACAla gene and have also asked whether the lack of similar interactions accounts for the low promoter activity of a silk gland-specific tRNASGAla gene. We compared TBP binding, TFIIIB-promoter complex stability (measured by heparin resistance), and in vitro transcriptional activity in a series of mutant tRNACAla promoters and found that specific TBP-TATA contacts are important for TFIIIB-promoter interaction and for transcriptional activity. Although the wild-type tRNACAla promoter contains two functional TBP binding sequences that overlap, the tRNASGAla promoter lacks any TBP binding site in the corresponding region. This feature appears to account for the inefficiency of the tRNASGAla promoter since provision of either of the wild-type TATA sequences derived from the tRNACAla promoter confers robust transcriptional activity. Transcriptional impairment of the wild-type tRNASGAla gene is not due to reduced incorporation of TBP into transcription complexes since both the tRNACAla and tRNASGAla promoters form transcription complexes that contain the same amount of TBP. Thus, the deleterious consequences of the lack of appropriate TBP-TATA contacts in the tRNASGAla promoter must come from failure to incorporate some other essential transcription factor(s) or to stabilize the complete complex in an active conformation.
An equivalence between momentum and charge in string theory.

It is shown that for a translationally invariant solution to string theory, spacetime duality interchanges the momentum in the symmetry direction and the axion charge per unit length. As one application, we show explicitly that charged black strings are equivalent to boosted (uncharged) black strings. The extremal black strings (which correspond to the field outside of a fundamental macroscopic string) are equivalent to plane-fronted waves describing strings moving at the speed of light.
Adrenergic dysfunction in hereditary adult‐onset leukodystrophy

We studied the pressor response to norepinephrine infusion in patients with an autosomal dominant adult-onset leukodystrophy. We also examined cardiovascular and catecholamine responses to insulin-induced hypoglycemia. A parallel shift to the left of the norepinephrine dose response curve, in conjunction with low baseline plasma norepinephrine levels, was consistent with denervation supersensitivity, suggesting a distal lesion of sympathetic noradrenergic neurons. Absence of the epinephrine response to insulin-induced hypoglycemia indicated that autonomic neuropathy was attended by severe adrenal medullary dysfunction.
SEASONAL FLUCTUATIONS OF BIRDS, FRUITS, AND FLOWERS IN A SUBTROPICAL FOREST OF ARGENTINA

Abstract I quantified monthly variation in species composition and captures of birds in a premontane forest of northwestern Argentina. Seasonal patterns of frugivore-insectivores and nectarivores were compared with fruit and flower abundances, respectively. The composition of the entire bird community fluctuated seasonally; frugivore-insectivores showed a peak in captures during the wet season, insectivores peaked at the end of the dry season, and nectarivores peaked during the dry season. At a local scale (∼50 ha), captures of frugivore-insectivores were not correlated with number of plant species with ripe fruits for any vegetation stratum considered, but were correlated with a fruit phenology index that considers crop size. At a plot scale (∼7.5 ha), only understory flower abundance and captures of nectarivores were correlated, but only in the plot where both were more abundant. At a net-site scale (50 m2), captures of the Rufous-bellied Thrush (Turdus rufiventris) were correlated with understory fruit...
Improving the Diagnosis of Potential Concussion Victims in American Football through Hampel Tackling Criterion

This study takes a look at form tackling within American Football. The Hampel Tackling Criterion (HTC) metric was created as a tool to help coaches, trainers, players, and others involved with the sport, identify potential tackles that could have resulted in head injuries. After completion of a HTC analysis, a final score is reported and will identify the hit as either Low, Medium, High, or of Very High Risk. Twelve participants were shown eleven different videos and asked to analyze them using the HTC. Between the participants, there was 61% overall agreement of where the tackles should be ranked (in terms of risk level). These findings solidify the HTC as a useful tool for people of all backgrounds in identifying tackles that could have resulted in a head injury.
Adeno‐Associated Viral Vectors for Anterograde Axonal Tracing with Fluorescent Proteins in Nontransgenic and Cre Driver Mice

Harnessing the natural ability of viruses to infect post-mitotic cells such as neurons has provided an explosion of new methods to manipulate and reconstruct neural circuits in vivo. Here we describe the use of recombinant adeno-associated viral vectors (rAAV) for axonal tract tracing in nontransgenic and transgenic Cre driver mice. Two protocols are presented for stereotactic-guided placement of rAAV vectors into the live mouse brain using iontophoretic or nanoliter pressure injections. The methods discussed here will result in expression of fluorescent proteins in cell bodies, dendrites, and axons in targeted neurons, and can be easily adapted to address various experimental questions.
Low-power reduced transistor image sensor

An image sensor comprising an array of 128 by 50 super pixels, column parallel current conveyors and global difference double sampling (DDS) unit is presented. The super pixel consists of: a reset transistor, a readout transistor, four transfer transistors and four photodiodes. The photo pixel address switch is placed outside the pixel, effectively implementing 1.5 transistors per pixel using a sharing scheme of the readout and reset transistor. The column FPN of 0.43% from saturated level and SNR of 43.9% dB is measured. The total power consumption is 5% mW at 30 frame%s.
Ondansetron dose response curve in high-risk pediatric patients

Abstract Study Objective: To establish a dose-response relationship for ondansetron, and to evaluate any effects of oral premedication with metoclopramide in pediatric patients undergoing tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy and strabismus surgery. Design: Prospective, randomized, double blind study. Setting: University affiliated, 280-bed pediatric hospital. Patients: 320 ASA physical status I and II patients between the ages of 2 and 12 years undergoing tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy or strabismus surgery. Interventions: Patients were randomized to eight investigational groups. Patients in all eight groups underwent a standard anesthetic. Groups 1, 2, 3, and 4 received intravenous (IV) saline or IV ondansetron at doses of 0.05 mg/kg, 0.1 mg/kg and 0.15 mg/kg, respectively. Groups 5, 6, 7, and 8 received oral metoclopramide 0.15 mg/kg as well as IV saline, and ondansetron 0.05 mg/kg, 0.1 mg/kg, or 0.15 mg/kg. Patients were evaluated for emetic episodes prior to and following discharge. Measurements and Main Results: All doses of ondansetron 0.05 mg/kg, 0.1 mg/kg, and 0.15 mg/kg were significantly more effective than placebo in reducing the incidence of emesis prior to, following discharge, and during the first 24 postoperative hours ( p Conclusions: Ondansetron is an effective medication for the treatment and prevention of postoperative nausea and vomiting, and a dose of ondansetron 0.05 mg/kg is as effective as 0.1 mg/kg and 0.15 mg/kg. Metoclopramide 0.15 mg/kg has no effect on the incidence of postoperative nausea and vomiting.
Natural modes of partitioned networks in analysis and synthesis of transfer functions

The letter describes a relatively rapid computational method of finding the natural modes of four-pole networks by partitioning and using a modification of potential-analogue type of computation in application to natural modes of the parts of the network obtained by partitioning. The method described may be regarded as an extension of the bisection method applicable to symmetrical networks. It lends itself well to iterated networks, yielding accurate results also for lossy networks and physically realisable impedances of termination.
Not just the Games? Power, protest and politics at the Olympics

This article conducts a theoretical and empirical analysis of political protest activity surrounding the modern Olympic Games. Although the Olympics are certainly among the world’s most prominent a...
The use of cholesterol-lowering medications and age-related macular degeneration.

Purpose To evaluate the association between cholesterol-lowering medications and age-related macular degeneration (AMD). Design Case–control study. Participants The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities study is a prospective, population-based, cohort study conducted in 4 communities across the United States. A total of 15792 individuals aged 45 to 65 years were enrolled between 1987 and 1989; fundus photographs were added to the study protocol at the 6-year follow-up (1993–1995). Cases were subjects who were identified as having AMD after applying a standard definition to their fundus photographs; controls did not have AMD. Methods The use of cholesterol-lowering medications at any time during the study was determined and compared between cases and controls, adjusting for the potentially confounding effect of demographic, behavioral, and medical characteristics. Main outcome measures Presence of AMD and the use of cholesterol-lowering medications. Results A total of 871 AMD cases and 11 717 controls were identified. Of the AMD cases, 11% made use of cholesterol-lowering medications, as compared with 12.3% of controls (odds ratio [OR], 0.89; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.71–1.11). Adjusting for the confounding influence of age, gender, and race revealed a statistically significant relationship between AMD and use of cholesterol-lowering medications (OR, 0.79; 95% CI, 0.63–0.99). Conclusions The results of this study add to the growing body of evidence that cholesterol-lowering medications may reduce the risk of developing AMD. Additional research is needed to document the mechanism responsible for this association. A clinical trial of the impact of statins on AMD deserves consideration.
GaAs-based heterojunction bipolar transistors for very high performance electronic circuits

This paper reviews the principles and status of AlGaAs/GaAs heterojunction bipolar transistor technology. Comparisons of this technology with Si bipolar transistor and GaAs field-effect transistor technologies are made. Epitaxial materials, fabrication processes, transistor DC and RF characteristics, and modeling of AlGaAs/GaAs HBT's are described. Key areas of HBT application are also highlighted. >
Perceptual Isolation and List Difficulty in Serial Learning

Summary Experiment I, in which learning occurred by the anticipation method, showed that the magnitude of the isolation effect and use of the isolating stimulus as a cue were inversely related to list association value (AV), extending the generality of prior findings. In order to provide a more direct test of item differentiation, response-learning requirements were minimized through the use of a reconstruction procedure in Experiment II; isolation effects in this study showed no dependency upon AV. The apparent contingency on response-learning requirements was discussed; results of similar studies, in which item differentiation had been dealt with more directly as intralist similarity, were also considered.
From Tech Services to Leadership

The panel at this strategy session was composed of three distinguished women from technical services who currently hold leadership positions. The session topic was divided into two sections: 1) What is leadership?; and 2) How can technical services help you be a leader? Each panelist spoke to the first topic and then reversed order to explore the second. The panelists all spoke to a definition of leadership based on the personal, social, and professional skills possessed by leaders. The panel concurred that technical services staff are uniquely prepared for leadership for a variety of reasons because the personal, social, and professional skills discussed by the panel in the first half of the session are prevalent in technical services departments.
Localization and clock synchronization need similar hardware support in wireless LANs

Secure localization protocols enable a group of cooperating verifier nodes in a wireless LAN to determine the physical location of a stranger (called the prover), using precision timing measurements during a carefully scripted packet exchange. After identifying a number of common features between the localization and precision clock synchronization problems, we describe a small set of additional physical-layer capabilities that - if incorporated into commercial wireless transceiver (PHY) products - could lead to significant performance improvements in both solution domains.
Quantitative Literacy: Does it Work? Evaluation of Student Outcomes at Colby-Sawyer College

Colby-Sawyer College has adopted a mission for quantitative literacy (QL) to give students the “necessary skills to understand and use quantitative information in their personal and professional lives.” We have implemented an across-the-curriculum approach to develop these skills. As part of this QL program, we administer two assessment tests, one in basic mathematical skills and one that applies those skills, plus an attitude survey to both freshmen and seniors. Three years of data show that seniors score about 10 percentage points higher than freshmen on these tests. However, seniors still scored below 55 percent on both tests, and many cannot answer what we feel are questions that an informed citizen should be able to answer. As evaluation of progress in quantitative skills becomes more common, we suspect that similar results will be found at other colleges. We propose that this deficit in skills results from a lack of practice of the skills students learned before college or a reliance on calculators for simple calculation. If we want to improve the QL preparation of college students, we suggest that there needs to be more widespread evaluation of QL skills at the college level, an increase in QL teaching and learning in the college curriculum, and collaboration with educators at the pre-college level.
Oxalate analysis methodology for decayed wood

Oxalate from partially decayed southern pine wood was analyzed by HPLC or colorimetric assay. Oxalate extraction efficiency, assessed by comparing analysis of whole wood cubes with ground wood, showed that both wood geometries could be extracted with comparable efficiency. To differentiate soluble oxalate from total oxalate, three extraction methods were assessed, using phosphate buffer, sulphuric acid or sodium hydroxide. Oxalate values from phosphate buffer extracts were two to three times higher than those from sulphuric acid extracts by both methods of analysis. Results for HPLC analysis were not significantly different from results for colorimetric analysis within each method of extraction. Results from sodium hydroxide extraction were inconsistent. The presence of oxalate in phosphate and sulphuric acid extracts was confirmed with oxalate decarboxylase but could not be confirmed for NaOH extracts. HPLC and the colorimetric assay remain valid methods of reporting soluble oxalic acid from decayed wood and are particularly useful for comparing relative determinations between treatments or fungal isolates.