cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Stop‐flow: A new technique for measuring axonal transport, and its application to the transport of dopamine‐β‐hydroxylase

An apparatus was devised which utilizes local cooling to reversibly interrupt the axonal transport of dopamine-beta-hydroxylase (DBH) in rabbit sciatic nerves in vitro. Lowering the temperature of a short region of nerve to between 1 and 3 degrees C, while keeping the remainder at 37 degrees C, caused DBH activity to accumulate in and proximal to the cooled region. This accumulation was evident after 0.5 hr of cooling and increased in a nearly linear fashion with time for about 3 hr. The cooling-induced interruption in transport was rapidly reversed when nerves were rewarmed to 37 degrees C. Upon rewarming after local cooling for 1.5 hr, a peak of accumulated DBH activity migrated toward the distal end of the nerve at a velocity of 300 +/- 17 mm/day. This velocity was maintained for as long as the peak could be followed and was four times greater than the average velocity estimated from the rate of accumulation of DBH activity above a ligature at the distal end of these same nerves. It is concluded that ligation experiments grossly underestimate the true velocity of axonal transport of DBH and that the present technique offers great advantages in permitting direct study of the migration of separate axonal compartments of transported materials.
Loss of cell-adhesion molecule complexes in solid pseudopapillary tumor of pancreas

Solid pseudopapillary tumor of pancreas (SPT) is a rare neoplasm that occurs most often in young females with the two distinct features, the 'solid-cystic' gross appearance, and the 'solid-pseudopapillary' microscopic pattern. It has been reported that almost all SPT tumors contain a mutation in the beta-catenin gene; however, the histogenetic origin of this tumor remains largely a mystery. E-cadherin is a cell adhesion molecule that links to catenins to form cell adhesion junctions, which is associated with the cytoskeleton formation. In this study, we examined the expression of E-cadherin and beta-catenin from SPT in an attempt to determine the molecular basis for the unusual morphology of this tumor. Nine cases of SPT were retrieved from Surgical Pathologic Archives of three institutions, including one male and eight females. H&E slides of each case were reviewed to confirm the diagnosis. The beta-catenin gene was sequenced in one case. E-cadherin and beta-catenin immunostains, were performed on all nine cases. Sequencing analysis on one case showed a point mutation of the beta-catenin gene, confirming previous findings that almost all SPT tumors contain mutation in the beta-catenin gene. Immunostains showed that, in both solid and pseudopapillary areas, all the tumor cells lost expression of E-cadherin, and beta-catenin nuclear expression was observed in all cases. Our findings suggest that loss of cytoplasmic beta-catenin protein in the cell adhesion complex due to beta-catenin gene mutation, results in instability of the complex, loss of E-cadherin in cell membrane, and eventually dissociation of the tumor cells to form the pseudopapillary pattern.
Impact of strength of ethnic identification on Hispanic shopping behavior

Abstract The effort to target and differentiate retail offerings to ethnic and racial minorities has exploded during recent years. This paper looks at the particular case of Hispanic retail shopping behavior. The authors argue that one key variable tying ethnicity of a consumer to retail shopping behavior is the strength of ethnic identification. Consequently, all hypotheses that relate ethnicity to retail shopping behavior must be moderated by how strongly the consumer feels affiliated to the ethnic group. Using a multi-item scale for measuring strength of ethnic identification, this study explores the differences in retail shopping behavior of strongly and weakly identified Hispanics. The results show that: (1) for services, Strongly Identified Hispanics are more likely than Weakly Identified Hispanics to seek Hispanic vendors, specially for low involvement services; and (2) for products, Strongly Identified Hispanics are more likely than Weakly Identified Hispanics to be loyal to brands used by family and friends; to be influenced by targeted media; and to be less concerned about economic value.
Preparation of adenosine-3′-phosphate-5′-phosphosulfate (PAPS): An improved enzymatic method using Chlorella pyrenoidosa☆

Abstract Adenosine-3′-phosphate-5′-phosphosulfate (PAPS) is prepared from crude French press extracts of the green alga Chlorella pyrenoidosa purified somewhat by high-speed centrifugation and brief dialysis. The PAPS synthesized in an overnight incubation from sulfate and ATP is purified by Dowex-1 (Cl − ) ion-exchange chromatography and adsorption on activated charcoal. Incubations with carrier-free sulfate routinely yield PAPS with 60–80% of the initial radioactivity and a radiochemical purity exceeding 90%. Any desired specific activity may be obtained by diluting the radiosulfate with nonradioactive sulfate, and the method may be used equally well for the preparation of nonradioactive PAPS. For routine use we prepare PAPS from sulfate- 35 S having a specific activity of about 1–2 mCi/mmole. A radiochemical yield of 10–15% is obtained, representing 180–270 μmoles of PAPS. The nucleotide and radiochemical purities of this material are 90% or better, and sulfate- 35 S is the only detectable radioactive contaminant.
Responses of Zooplankton Populations to Four Decades of Climate Warming in Lakes of Southwestern Alaska

Zooplankton support a variety of important ecosystem processes in lakes but our understanding of how these organisms respond to ongoing climate change is superficial. Aquatic ecosystems have been exposed to substantial climate warming in the last century, and this trend is certain to continue, especially in northern latitudes. We analyzed a long time series of a variety of physical attributes of Lake Aleknagik, southwest Alaska, to quantify warming trends between 1963 and 2009, and to assess zooplankton community responses to variation in thermal conditions. Our analyses demonstrate clear trends toward earlier spring ice break-up, increases in average epilimnetic temperatures and an 18.5% increase in summer epilimnetic degree days since 1963. We estimated the magnitude and direction of changes in zooplankton production and end of season densities in response to changes in thermal environment, then explored whether the climate-driven responses in production are common in five large lakes that are distributed across a coastal-interior landscape gradient. Although we detected no clear directional changes in zooplankton densities or production rates, there were clear correlations between these variables and interannual variation in thermal conditions. The positive effects of earlier spring ice break-up and increase in summer degree days were strongest on the production and density responses of Daphnia and Bosmina, and the lagged effect of temperature was important and negative only for calanoid copepods. There was a negative effect of sockeye escapement to Lake Aleknagik in the previous year on all taxa. There were lake-specific effects of changes in the thermal environment on almost all taxa and small gradients in the magnitude of responses across the landscape, but no systematic patterns of landscape control.
Familial benign cystic teratomata

A family with benign cystic teratomata in three successive generations is described. Other familial occurrences of these tumors have been reported; but not in three generations. Familial occurrence suggests an inherited characteristic for parthenogenic development and the occurrence of teratomata in twins and triplets supports the theory of a parthenogenic etiology. Benign cystic teratomata may, therefore, be tumors whose origin is genetically controlled.
TGF-β induces bimodal proliferation of connective tissue cells via complex control of an autocrine PDGF loop

Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) acts as a growth inhibitor, yet it can stimulate proliferation; 1-2 fg/cell of TGF-beta 1 elicits maximal proliferation of dense and sparse cultured smooth muscle cells (SMCs), whereas higher amounts are less stimulatory. This bimodal response is not limited to SMCs, as TGF-beta induces a similar response in human fibroblasts and chondrocytes. The amount of TGF-beta 1 per cell that induces maximal proliferation is identical for dense and sparse SMCs. At low concentrations of TGF-beta, there is a 10-12 hr delay in DNA synthesis compared with that elicited by PDGF. PDGF-AA is detected in the culture medium at 24 hr, and anti-PDGF IgG blocks DNA synthesis. At higher concentrations, TGF-beta 1 decreases transcripts and expression of PDGF receptor alpha subunits. Hence, TGF-beta induces proliferation of connective tissue cells at low concentrations by stimulating autocrine PDGF-AA secretion, which at higher concentrations of TGF-beta, is decreased by down-regulation of PDGF receptor alpha subunits and perhaps by direct growth inhibition.
Converging patterns of vertical variability in leaf morphology and nitrogen across seven Eucalyptus plantations in Brazil and Hawaii, USA

Across sites in Brazil and Hawaii, LMA and N mass were strongly correlated with height and shade index, respectively, which may help simplify canopy function modeling of Eucalyptus plantations. Within tree canopies, leaf mass per area (LMA) and leaf nitrogen per unit area (N area) commonly increase with height. Previous research has suggested that these patterns occur as a strategy to optimize carbon gain by allocating available resources to upper canopy leaves that are exposed to greater light availability. We tested three hypotheses about the influences of height, shade index (a proxy for light), and stand age on LMA and leaf nitrogen for even-aged Eucalyptus saligna and Eucalyptus grandis × urophylla plantations in Brazil and Hawaii, USA, spanning most of the environmental conditions found across 19.6 million ha of Eucalyptus spp. plantations around the world. Shade index was developed by incorporating canopy depth (inner-crown shading) and a tree height ratio relative to neighbor trees (shading from other trees). Across all sites and ages, leaf height accounted for 45 % of the variation in LMA, whereas shade index accounted for only 6 %. A combination of both factors was slightly better in accounting for LMA variation than height alone. LMA–height relationships among sites were strongest under greater light availability and in older stands. Leaf nitrogen per unit mass (N mass) consistently decreased with shade index, whereas N area showed no consistent pattern with height or shade index. These relationships indicate that N mass is primarily driven by light, while height is the primary driver for LMA. The general relationships between LMA and leaf N mass across all sites may simplify canopy function modeling of E. saligna and E. grandis × urophylla plantations.
Emotion regulation: Quantitative meta-analysis of functional activation and deactivation

Emotion regulation is hypothesized to be a multifaceted process by which individuals willfully modulate the intensity and direction of emotional response via prefrontally mediated inhibition of subcortical response-related regions of the brain. Here we employ activation likelihood estimation (ALE) meta-analysis of functional magnetic resonance imaging studies to (1) reveal a consistent network of structures active during emotion regulation, (2) identify the target regions inactivated by the willful regulation process, and (3) investigate the consistency of activated structures associated with downregulation and upregulation. Results reveal signal change in bilateral amygdala/parahippocampal gyrus that decreased in downregulated states and increased in upregulated states, while cortical regions including superior frontal gyrus, cingulate, and premotor areas exhibited enhanced activity across all regulation conditions. These results provide consistent evidence for the role of amygdala activity in experienced emotional intensity, where intentional dampening and exaggeration are clearly expressed. However, the execution of emotional upregulation and downregulation may involve distinct subsets of frontocortical structures.
The Clinical Risk Index for Babies (CRIB) Predicts Chronic Lung Disease (CLD) in Very Low Birth Weight (VLBW) Infants † 983

The Clinical Risk Index for Babies (CRIB) Predicts Chronic Lung Disease (CLD) in Very Low Birth Weight (VLBW) Infants † 983
Antihistamines: Pharmacology and Clinical Use

Antihistamines are a diverse group of drugs which possess the ability to inhibit various histaminic actions. By and large, they bear a certain structural resemblance to histamine, and act principally to prevent histamine-receptor interaction through competition with histamine for histamine receptors. Consequently, they are helpful therapeutically in preventing, rather than reversing, histaminic actions. Individual antihistaminic drugs act to inhibit histaminic action at one or another histamine receptor (H1 or H2-receptor), but not at both receptors. The large number of antihistaminics which have been available for many years and employed chiefly as ‘antiallergic’ drugs are classified as H1-receptor inhibitors; they are most effective therapeutically in inhibiting manifestations of histamine-induced wheat and erythema formation and pruritus. H2-receptor inhibitors, agents which are able to inhibit histamine-induced gastric acid secretion, have been developed more recently. Antihistaminics in general and H1-receptor inhibitors in particular, exert a wide variety of pharmacological activities. Their use is frequently accompanied by undesirable side-effects, notably CNS depression, dryness of mucous membranes, and gastrointestinal effects. Used judiciously and in proper dosage, antihistaminic drugs are helpful in the control of allergic disorders, allergic rhinitis and urticaria in particular; newly developed H2-receptor inhibitors show therapeutic promise in the treatment of peptic ulceration.
Pre-injury polypharmacy as a predictor of outcomes in trauma patients.

Background: One of the hallmarks of modern medicine is the improving management of chronic health conditions. Long-term control of chronic disease entails increasing utilization of multiple medications and resultant polypharmacy. The goal of this study is to improve our understanding of the impact of polypharmacy on outcomes in trauma patients 45 years and older. Materials and Methods: Patients of age ≥45 years were identified from a Level I trauma center institutional registry. Detailed review of patient records included the following variables: Home medications, comorbid conditions, injury severity score (ISS), Glasgow coma scale (GCS), morbidity, mortality, hospital length of stay (LOS), intensive care unit (ICU) LOS, functional outcome measures (FOM), and discharge destination. Polypharmacy was defined by the number of medications: 0-4 (minor), 5-9 (major), or ≥10 (severe). Age- and ISS-adjusted analysis of variance and multivariate analyses were performed for these groups. Comorbidity-polypharmacy score (CPS) was defined as the number of pre-admission medications plus comorbidities. Statistical significance was set at alpha = 0.05. Results: A total of 323 patients were examined (mean age 62.3 years, 56.1% males, median ISS 9). Study patients were using an average of 4.74 pre-injury medications, with the number of medications per patient increasing from 3.39 for the 45-54 years age group to 5.68 for the 75+ year age group. Age- and ISS-adjusted mortality was similar in the three polypharmacy groups. In multivariate analysis only age and ISS were independently predictive of mortality. Increasing polypharmacy was associated with more comorbidities, lower arrival GCS, more complications, and lower FOM scores for self-feeding and expression-communication. In addition, hospital and ICU LOS were longer for patients with severe polypharmacy. Multivariate analysis shows age, female gender, total number of injuries, number of complications, and CPS are independently associated with discharge to a facility (all, P Conclusion: Over 40% of trauma patients 45 years and older were receiving 5 or more medications at the time of their injury. Although these patients do not appear to have higher mortality, they are at increased risk for complications, lower functional outcomes, and longer hospital and intensive care stays. CPS may be useful when quantifying the severity of associated comorbid conditions in the context of traumatic injury and warrants further investigation.
Turning the Inside Out: Morals, Modes of Living, and the Condition of the Working Class

Writing on the Living conditions in Devon and Somerset in 1849, Alexander Mackay set out to discredit the often picturesque depiction of the homes of the poor: We are accustomed to associate with the idea of a country village, or with a cottage situated in a winding vale, or hanging upon the side of a rich and fertile slope, nothing but health, contentment and happiness. A rural dwelling of this class … makes such a nice pencil sketch, that we are naturally inclined to think it as neat and comfortable as it appears. But to know it aright, it must be turned inside out, and its realites exposed to the gaze of the observer. (qtd. in Lester 320) It was this turning “inside out” of working-class interiors to the voyeuristic gaze of their largely middle-class readers that Mackay and his fellow journalists on the Morning Chronicle set out to accomplish in a series of “letters” written in 1849 and 1850. But such depictions of working-class houses and their interiors had been a staple part of the discourse on the condition of the laboring population as early as 1832, when the Manchester physician and later Assistant Poor Law Commissioner James Kay published The Moral and Physical Condition of the Working Classes , and they continued to appear throughout the 1830s, 40s, and early 50s in the work of Peter Gaskell, William Alison, Thomas Beames, Hector Gavin, Edwin Chadwick, Henry Mayhew, and others. This writing, as I will demonstrate, betrays similar discursive and ideological underpinnings as the workingclass interior becomes the focal point for the assertion of bourgeois value and the maintenance of class distinction.
Spatial variation among green building certification categories: Does place matter? A rejoinder to Pushkar

Abstract In a comment on an earlier article ( Cidell & Beata, 2009 ) in this journal, Pushkar (2013) critiqued our use of the one-way ANOVA test for distinguishing among different LEED (leadership in energy and environmental design) credits being earned by buildings being certified as green in different U.S. regions. Her criticism is based on dependencies existing among the categories of LEED credits. However, we argue that in both conceptual and empirical terms, such dependencies are not a concern, and therefore our original results demonstrating the importance of regional differences in green buildings should stand.
Multimodal active vibration suppression of a flexible structure by loop shaping

This paper reports multimodal vibration control of a flexible beam structure with piezoceramic actuators and sensors using the loop shaping method. These piezoceramic patch actuators and sensors are surface-bonded on the flexible beam. The non-parametric identification of the flexible beam structure is carried out using the Schroeder wave. The identified open loop model is then used for loop shaping based on the extended sensitivity charts. A loop shaping compensator is designed to achieve multimodal vibration suppression. Numerical results showed a reduction of 8 decibels for first mode, 12-14 decibels for second and third mode, respectively. Experimental results closely match the simulation results. Furthermore, the results of loop shaping method are compared with those of the methods of LQR (Linear Quadratic Regulator) and pole-placement control, which are designed using state space models. Comparisons show that the loop shaping method requires less control effort while maintaining the effectiveness in vibration suppression.
Verification tests of durable TPS concepts

Titanium multiwall, superalloy honeycomb, and Advanced Carbon-carbon (ACC) multipost Thermal Protection System (TPS) concepts are being developed to provide durable protection for surfaces of future space transportation systems. Verification tests including thermal, vibration, acoustic, water absorption, lightning strike, and aerothermal tests are described. Preliminary results indicate that the three TPS concepts are viable up to a surface temperature in excess of 2300 F.
Diagnostic performance of trauma US in identifying abdominal or pelvic free fluid and serious abdominal or pelvic injury.

Rationale and Objectives. This study assessed the ability of a six-point trauma ultrasound (US) evaluation (a) to identify the presence of free fluid in the abdomen or pelvis, with computed tomography (CT) and laparotomy used as diagnostic standards and (b) to predict the presence of abdominal or pelvic injury, particularly injury requiring surgical intervention. Materials and Methods. Of 156 patients who underwent US evaluation for free fluid after sustaining blunt and penetrating trauma, 147 were entered into the prospective study and underwent follow-up CT and/or laparotomy (n = 79), inhospital observation, or outpatient examination. Results. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and overall accuracy of US for identifying abdominal or pelvic free fluid were 69%, 100%, 100%, 95%, and 95%, respectively. The corresponding values for predicting abdominal and pelvic injury on the basis of free fluid status alone were 57%, 99%, 80%, 96%, and 95%, respectively. Performing repeated US examinations in patients with deteriorating clinical status decreased the false-negative rate by 50%, increasing the sensitivity for free fluid detection to 85% and the negative predictive value to 97%. Similarly, the sensitivity and negative predictive value for detection of injury increased to 71% and 97%, respectively. A learning curve was also observed, with 67% of the false-negative findings occurring in the first 3 months of the 19-month study. Conclusion. A six-point trauma US evaluation can reliably identify abdominal and pelvic free fluid, which can be a reliable indicator of abdominal or pelvic injury. Scanning conditions must be optimized, and the approach to clinical management must be cautious.
Exploring the Impact of Conflict Exposure during Formative Years on Labour Market Outcomes in Tajikistan

AbstractThis study explores the effect of the 1992–1998 armed conflict in Tajikistan on the labour market outcomes by gender. The focus is on cohorts that were of school age during the conflict or recently entered the labour force. The regression analysis controls for the cohort and district-level exposure to conflict. Younger women but not men who also lived in regions more affected by conflict were at least 10 percentage points more likely to be employed than similarly aged women from lesser affected districts. These results suggest a change in female employment patterns potentially induced by war.
Review of physical activity measurement using accelerometers in older adults: considerations for research design and conduct.

Abstract Objective Accelerometers are being increasingly used in studies of physical activity (PA) among older adults, however the use of these monitors requires some specialized knowledge and up-to-date information on technological innovations. The purpose of this review article is to provide researchers with a guide to some commonly-used accelerometers in order to better design and conduct PA research with older adults. Methods A literature search was conducted to obtain all available literature on commonly-used accelerometers in older adult samples with specific attention to articles discussing research design. Results The use of accelerometers in older adults requires a basic understanding of the type being used, rationale for their placement, and attention to calibration when needed. The updated technology in some monitors should make study conduct less difficult, however comparison studies of the newer versus the older generation models will be needed. Conclusions Careful considerations for design and conduct of accelerometer research as outlined in this review should help to enhance the quality and comparability of future research studies.
The Inverse Scattering Transform for the Benjamin–Ono Equation

We extend the inverse scattering transform (IST) for the Benjamin–Ono (BO) equation, given by A. S. Fokas and M. J. Ablowitz (Stud. Appl. Math. 68:1, 1983), in two important ways. First, we restrict the IST to purely real potentials, in which case the scattering data and the inverse scattering equations simplify. Second, we extend the analysis of the asymptotics of the Jost functions and the scattering data to include the nongeneric classes of potentials, which include, but may not be limited to, all N-soliton solutions. In the process, we also study the adjoint equation of the eigenvalue problem for the BO equation, from which, for real potentials, we find a very simple relation between the two reflection coefficients (the functions β(λ) and f(λ)) introduced by Fokas and Ablowitz. Furthermore, we show that the reflection coefficient also defines a phase shift, which can be interpreted as the phase shift between the left Jost function and the right Jost function. This phase shift leads to an analogy of Levinson's theorem, as well as a condition on the number of possible bound states that can be contained in the initial data. For both generic and nongeneric potentials, we detail the asymptotics of the Jost functions and the scattering data. In particular, we are able to give improved asymptotics for nongeneric potentials in the limit of a vanishing spectral parameter. We also study the structure of the scattering data and the Jost functions for pure soliton solutions, which are examples of nongeneric potentials. We obtain remarkably simple solutions for these Jost functions, and they demonstrate the different asymptotics that nongeneric potentials possess. Last, we show how to obtain the infinity of conserved quantities from one of the Jost functions of the BO equation and how to obtain these conserved quantities in terms of the various moments of the scattering data.
Update on the role of the AT2 receptor.

Purpose of reviewThe renin-angiotensin system is a coordinated hormonal cascade important to the regulation of the renal sodium excretion and blood pressure. The major effector peptide, angiotensin II, binds two major receptors, AT1 and AT2. While the majority of angiotensin II actions are mediated
Applying the School Health Index to a nationally representative sample of schools: update for 2006.

BACKGROUND: The School Health Index (SHI) is a tool designed to help schools assess the extent to which they are implementing practices included in the research-based guidelines and strategies for school health and safety programs developed by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). CDC previously analyzed data from the 2000 School Health Policies and Programs Study (SHPPS) to determine the percentage of US schools meeting the recommendations in the SHI. A new edition of the SHI (2005) and the availability of 2006 SHPPS data made it necessary to update and repeat the analysis. METHODS: SHPPS 2006 data were collected through computer-assisted personal interviews with faculty and staff in a nationally representative sample of schools. The data were then matched to SHI items to calculate the percentage of schools meeting the recommendations in 4 areas: school health and safety policies and environment, health education, physical education and other physical activity programs, and nutrition services. RESULTS: In accordance with the earlier findings, the present analysis indicated that schools nationwide were focusing their efforts on a few policies and programs rather than addressing the entire set of recommendations in the SHI. The percentage of items related to nutrition that schools met remained high, and an increase occurred in the percentage of items that schools met related to school health and safety policies and environment. CONCLUSIONS: More work needs to be done to assist schools in implementing school health policies and practices; this analysis helps identify specific areas where improvement is needed.
Ontogenesis and properties of the convulsant recognition site(s) of the γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) receptor complex in chicken embryo

Abstract Ontogenesis of the convulsant (picrotoxinin or t -butylbicyclophosphorothionate (TBPS) site(s) was defined in chicken embryonic brain with the radioligands [ 35 S]TBPS and [ 3 H] t -butylbicycloorthobenzoate ([ 3 H]TBOB). Binding of the radioligands is detectable from day 6 of incubation. The increase in binding after day 14 of incubation is due to an increase in the number of binding sites. The pharmacological properties of the embryonic recognition site(s) do not undergo significant changes during hatching based on the affinity of embryonic and chick brain membranes for [ 3 H]TBOB; the rate of association and dissociation for TBOB; non-competitive inhibition of [ 3 H]TBOB binding and modulation of 1R, αS-cis-cypermethrin interaction with the recognition site(s) by GABA; and inhibition of radioligand binding by endrin, picrotoxinin and TBPS. Early development and in vitro susceptibility of the recognition site to convulsive toxicants makes the embryo a possible target for a variety of drugs and environmental toxicants acting at this site.
Magnetic Flowmeter Measurement of Pressure-Coupled Response of a Plateau Solid Propellant

A magnetic  owmeter was used to measure the pressure-coupled response of a plateau solid propellant. The magnetic  owmetermeasures the one-dimensionalacousticgasvelocity as a function of the height abovethe surface of a burning-propellantstrand subjected to forced pressure oscillations.Theunsteadygasvelocitywasmeasured by externally imposing a strong magnetic  eld in a region containing the propellant surface. The combustion product gashas suf cient ionizationto be electrically conductiveandgenerates an electrical potentialproportionalto the gas velocity in a direction perpendicular to both themagnetic  eld and the gas velocity andmeasured by two electrodes at the edges of thecombustiongas ow.Thepositionofthepropellantsurfacerelativeto themeasurement stationwas measured with an ultrasound transducer. The acoustic velocity, together with an acoustic pressure measurement as a function of distance above the burning propellant, was combined with a one-dimensional acoustic analysis of the  ow to obtain the acoustic admittance at the propellant surface and thus the propellant response. Responses were measured at pressures up to 2000 psi (13.8 MPa) for frequencies between 300 and 1800 Hz. Results for a nonaluminized composite plateau propellant formulation are shown.
LDPC-coded orbital angular momentum (OAM) modulation for free-space optical communication

An orbital angular momentum (OAM) based LDPC-coded modulation scheme suitable for use in FSO communication is proposed. We demonstrate that the proposed scheme can operate under strong atmospheric turbulence regime and enable 100 Gb/s optical transmission while employing 10 Gb/s components. Both binary and nonbinary LDPC-coded OAM modulations are studied. In addition to providing better BER performance, the nonbinary LDPC-coded modulation reduces overall decoder complexity and latency. The nonbinary LDPC-coded OAM modulation provides a net coding gain of 9.3 dB at the BER of 10−8. The maximum-ratio combining scheme outperforms the corresponding equal-gain combining scheme by almost 2.5 dB.
A simple and direct method for recording swim tracks of protozoa: effects of lectins on Paramecium

Abstract Insertion of an opaque mask in the path of the light source of a photographic enlarger creates dark-field illumination projection of images of motile cells placed at the plane usually used for film or plate negatives. Light reflected off cells is used to expose photograhic paper located at the level of the enlarger easel. This relatively simple modification of the enlarger allows prints to be made of swim tracks of cells over a known period of time. Paramecium cells exposed to a variety of lectins and other stimuli were analyzed by this method and qualitatively different swim patterns were recorded. Quantitative analyses of forwarded swimming velocities were obtained for cells exposed to lectins. Additionally, this method was applied to obtain swim tracks of another ciliate, Tetrahymena , and of the flagellate Euglena .
“I Do That for Everybody”: Supervising Employees With Autism

The supervisors of 14 successfully employed individuals With autism Were intervieWed using a semistructured intervieW procedure, supplemented by Worksite observations, to examine their supervisory ...
Mechanism of power dissipation capability of power MOSFET devices: comparative study between LDMOS and VDMOS transistors

Interaction between the electrical power and thermal energy generated due to power dissipation is fundamental in understanding the safe operating limit of semiconductor devices in both transient and steady-state operation. This work deals with the power dissipation process from the device structure aspects. The power dissipation capability of the lateral DMOS device is compared to that of the vertical DMOS device for a given technology through theoretical and experimental analyses. The comparative study in the transient power capability between two different device structures provides interesting clues to understand the problem of the power dissipation mechanics of the power devices.
Hypoglycemia-induced noradrenergic activation in the VMH is a result of decreased ambient glucose

During insulin-induced hypoglycemia, there is an increase in extracellular norepinephrine (NE) in the ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH). This brain area is known to play an important role in integrated hormonal and behavioral responses to systemic hypoglycemia. Selective glucoprivation restricted to the VMH is both necessary and sufficient to initiate secretion of counterregulatory hormones. The present study was designed to investigate whether increased release of NE in the VMH depends on detection of glucoprivation localized in this area. In awake, chronically catheterized male Sprague-Dawley rats, extracellular NE in the VMH was monitored using 1-mm microdialysis probes perfused with Krebs Ringer buffer (KRB) or KRB + 100 mM d-glucose (d-Glc). During insulin-induced hypoglycemia (glycemic nadir approximately 2.4 mM) extracellular NE was increased to >160% of baseline (P < 0.01) only in the KRB + insulin group. There was no increase in NE from baseline when glucose was added to the perfusate to maintain euglycemia at the periprobe environment. The sympathoadrenal response to hypoglycemia, present in the KRB + insulin group, was attenuated in the d-Glc + insulin group. The present results confirm that noradrenergic activation in the VMH during systemic hypoglycemia depends on detection of glucoprivation locally in this area. These data provide additional support for the importance of increased noradrenergic activity in the VMH in the counterregulatory hormonal responses to hypoglycemia.
Intact β-Adrenergic Response and Unmodified Progression Toward Heart Failure in Mice With Genetic Ablation of a Major Protein Kinase A Phosphorylation Site in the Cardiac Ryanodine Receptor

Increased phosphorylation of the cardiac ryanodine receptor (RyR)2 by protein kinase A (PKA) at the phosphoepitope encompassing Ser2808 has been advanced as a central mechanism in the pathogenesis of cardiac arrhythmias and heart failure. In this scheme, persistent activation of the sympathetic system during chronic stress leads to PKA "hyperphosphorylation" of RyR2-S2808, which increases Ca2+ release by augmenting the sensitivity of the RyR2 channel to diastolic Ca2+. This gain-of-function is postulated to occur with the unique participation of RyR2-S2808, and other potential PKA phosphorylation sites have been discarded. Although it is clear that RyR2 is among the first proteins in the heart to be phosphorylated by beta-adrenergic stimulation, the functional impact of phosphorylation in excitation-contraction coupling and cardiac performance remains unclear. We used gene targeting to produce a mouse model with complete ablation of the RyR2-S2808 phosphorylation site (RyR2-S2808A). Whole-heart and isolated cardiomyocyte experiments were performed to test the role of beta-adrenergic stimulation and PKA phosphorylation of Ser2808 in heart failure progression and cellular Ca2+ handling. We found that the RyR2-S2808A mutation does not alter the beta-adrenergic response, leaves cellular function almost unchanged, and offers no significant protection in the maladaptive cardiac remodeling induced by chronic stress. Moreover, the RyR2-S2808A mutation appears to modify single-channel activity, although modestly and only at activating [Ca2+]. Taken together, these results reveal some of the most important effects of PKA phosphorylation of RyR2 but do not support a major role for RyR2-S2808 phosphorylation in the pathogenesis of cardiac dysfunction and failure.
Hematopoietic progenitor migration to the adult thymus

Although most hematopoietic lineages develop in the bone marrow (BM), T cells uniquely complete their development in the specialized environment of the thymus. Hematopoietic stem cells with long-term self-renewal capacity are not present in the thymus. As a result, continuous T cell development requires that BM-derived progenitors be imported into the thymus throughout adult life. The process of thymic homing begins with the mobilization of progenitors out of the BM, continues with their circulation in the bloodstream, and concludes with their settling in the thymus. This review will discuss each of these steps as they occur in the unirradiated and postirradiation scenarios, focusing on the molecular mechanisms of regulation. Improved knowledge about these early steps in T cell generation may accelerate the development of new therapeutic options in patients with impaired T cell number or function.
Managed care and unintended pregnancy.

This article assesses the adequacy of coverage of contraceptive services and supplies for US women in the various types of managed care plans with special attention to Medicaid. Between 1993 and 1995 the percent of insured private-sector employees enrolled in managed care plans rose from 51% to 73%. By 1996 the health care of 40% of low-income Medicaid recipients was also under managed care administration. Although 84% of managed care plans cover oral contraceptives--a rate substantially higher than that for traditional indemnity plans several logistic factors impede access to this and other reproductive health benefits. The requirement of preauthorization may delay access to care when timely presentation is essential to the prevention of unwanted pregnancy. Some plans restrict members to one visit per year with an obstetrician-gynecologist. Coordination of an enrollees total health care through the primary care physician can raise confidentiality problems for those who seek sensitive reproductive health services. There are fewer restrictions on the access of Medicaid recipients to family planning providers and services but treatment of sexually transmitted diseases may not be part of the reproductive health package. The explosion of managed care onto the US health care market has led to public sector regulation legislation--a process that is proceeding in a piecemeal rather than comprehensive way. Because of the importance of reproductive health care to the lives of women communities and the broader society more systematic action on this front is essential.
Mental representation, severe psychopathology, and the therapeutic process.

Mental representation is a central construct in psychological development. A method for assessing the developmental level of representation of self and significant figures is described, and changes...
Estimates of Mumps Seroprevalence May Be Influenced by Antibody Specificity and Serologic Method

Neutralizing antibodies are assumed to be essential for protection against mumps virus infection, but their measurement is labor- and time-intensive. For this reason, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (ELISAs) are typically used to measure mumps-specific IgG levels. However, since there is poor correlation between mumps neutralization titers and ELISAs that measure the presence of mumps-specific IgG levels, ELISAs that better correlate with neutralization are needed. To address this issue, we measured mumps antibody levels by plaque reduction neutralization, by a commercial ELISA (whole-virus antigen), and by ELISAs specific for the mumps nucleoprotein and hemagglutinin. The results indicate that differences in the antibody response to the individual mumps proteins could partially explain the lack of correlation among various serologic tests. Furthermore, the data indicate that some seropositive individuals have low levels of neutralizing antibody. If neutralizing antibody is important for protection, this suggests that previous estimates of immunity based on whole-virus ELISAs may be overstated.
The wobble motor: design, fabrication and testing of an eccentric-motion electrostatic microactuator

The basic characteristics and advantages of microelectromechanical systems, machines constructed of small moving subelements which have characteristic dimensions in the range of about 0.5 to 500 mu m, are reviewed; design problems are considered; and particular attention is given to the wobble motor (WM) developed by S.C. Jacobsen et al. (1989) using electrodischarge machining (EDM). Fifteen EDM WMs have been constructed and utilized for experimental purposes. WM explorations have demonstrated that micro systems can be quite easily constructed by means other than etching silicon. Experiments aimed at generating simple preliminary data have been conducted, and results compare reasonably to analytical studies. Results reported include stall torque measurements, speed measurements, torque-speed measurements, and wear measurements. >
Antitrypanosomal Activities of Tryptanthrins

New drugs and molecular targets are needed against Trypanosoma brucei, the protozoan that causes African sleeping sickness. Tryptanthrin (indolo[2,1-b]quinazoline-6,12-dione), a traditional antifungal agent, and 11 analogs were tested against T. brucei in vitro. The greatest activity was conferred by electron-withdrawing groups in the 8 position of the tryptanthrin ring system; the most potent compound had a 50% effective concentration of 0.40 microM.
Liquidity creation without a central bank: Clearing house loan certificates in the banking panic of 1907☆

Abstract We employ a new data set comprised of disaggregate figures on clearing house loan certificate issues in New York City to document how the dominant national banks were crucial providers of temporary liquidity during the Panic of 1907. Clearing house loan certificates were extensions of credit by the New York Clearing House to its members. These certificates were transferable to other clearing house members as a form of final payment for settlement of interbank payments. The certificate issues allowed borrowing banks to maintain (and increase) loans, fulfill cash payment upon depositor withdrawal demands, and enabled gold imports, which took two to three weeks to arrive. The large, New York City national banks acted as private liquidity providers by requesting (and the New York Clearing House issuing) a volume of clearing house loan certificates in excess of their own immediate liquidity needs, in accord with their role as central reserve city banks in the national banking system.
Polymeric Pharmaceutical Coating Materials I Preparation and Properties

Several polymeric materials were prepared for evaluation as potential enteric and sustained-release coatings. Three methods were used to prepare some aliphatic partial esters of copolymers of maleic anhydride with ethylene or vinyl methyl ether. Infrared and electrometric titration techniques were employed for identification and characterization of the raw material and the resultant esters. The physical data presented demonstrate relative differences in solubility and related parameters due to modification of ester chain length and degree of esterification. The relationship of ester chain length and degree of esterification is direct for dissolution pH and inverse for moisture diffusion rate, moisture sorption, and water miscibility. No significant evidence of thermal instability was found after aging at 50°. Preliminary toxicological investigations indicate that these compounds are nontoxic.
Adenotonsillar hypertrophy and Epstein-Barr virus in pediatric organ transplant recipients

Objectives/Hypothesis: Epstein-Barr virus‐related (EBV-related) lymphoid hyperplasia of the tonsils and adenoids is a precursor to post-transplantation lymphoproliferative disorder (PTLD). The incidence of posttransplantation adenotonsillar hypertrophy, a potential early sign of PTLD or EBV-related lymphoid hyperplasia, is not known. We sought to identify potential risk factors for adenotonsillar hypertrophy manifested as EBV-related hyperplasia and early PTLD in the pediatric solid organ transplant population. Study Design: Cross-sectional analysis. Methods: We developed a 65-point questionnaire concerning obstructive sleep disorder and upper respiratory tract infections and an 8-point focused physical examination, to identify prevalence of and risk factors for adenotonsillar hypertrophy in the pediatric transplant population. We evaluated 120 pediatric solid organ transplant recipients by parental questionnaire and focused adenotonsillar physical examination. Results: Of the 120 patients, 62 had undergone liver transplantation and 58 had undergone kidney transplantation. Overall, the mean questionnaire score was 8.36 (range, 0‐40) and the mean physical examination score was 3.86 (range, 1‐8). Patients whose EBV serological test result was negative at the time of transplant had higher scores for both the questionnaire (mean score, 10.24) and the physical examination (mean score, 4.56) than those whose EBV serological test result was positive at the time of transplantation (scores of 7.38 and 3.30 for questionnaire and physical examination, respectively). The difference in examination scores was statistically significant (P <.003). Conclusions: Epstein-Barr virus seronegativity at the time of organ transplantation is a known risk factor for PTLD, with associated risk of developing EBV-related lymphoid hyperplasia. Our results indicate a higher incidence of symptoms and signs consistent with adenotonsillar hypertrophy in the EBV seronegative population. Adenotonsillar hypertrophy may be a precursor to EBV-related lymphoid hyperplasia and PTLD and must be identified in this patient population.