cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Characterization of midgut stem cell‐ and enteroblast‐specific Gal4 lines in drosophila

The homeostasis of Drosophila midgut is maintained by multipotent intestinal stem cells (ISCs), each of which gives rise to a new ISC and an immature daughter cell, enteroblast (EB), after one asymmetric cell division. In Drosophila, the Gal4-UAS system is widely used to manipulate gene expression in a tissue- or cell-specific manner, but in Drosophila midgut, there are no ISC- or EB-specific Gal4 lines available. Here we report the generation and characterization of Dl-Gal4 and Su(H)GBE-Gal4 lines, which are expressed specifically in the ISCs and EBs separately. Additionally, we demonstrate that Dl-Gal4 and Su(H)GBE-Gal4 are expressed in adult midgut progenitors (AMPs) and niche peripheral cells (PCs) separately in larval midgut. These two Gal4 lines will serve as invaluable tools for navigating ISC behaviors.
INVESTMENT POLICY AND PERFORMANCE OF BANK‐ADMINISTERED POOLED EQUITY FUNDS FOR EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLANS*

s of Doctoral Dissertations 493 A majority of the 43 pooled equity funds performed better than the Standard and Poor's composite common-stock index and the Dow-Jones industrial average in both 1960 and 1961, but not in the three remaining years of the study. Over the entire five-year period, 30 funds outperformed the Dow-Jones industrial average, while only 15 funds achieved an average annual compound rate of return superior to that of the Standard and Poor's 500 stock index. In the initial three years of the examination, the three smallest-size categories of funds attained significantly greater investment returns than funds with assets $10 million and over. A relationship between fund size and investment performance was less evident in 1963 and 1964 since annual returns among all size categories were fairly similar. Considering the entire five-year period, an inverse relationship was observed between fund size and average annual compound rate of return. The data provided no evidence that smaller pooled equity funds had a relative performance advantage over large funds because of either a greater degree of inherent flexibility, or a larger number of investment opportunities from which to choose. The data showed an inverse relationship between fund size and average dividend yield. This appeared to be at least partially explained by larger relative holdings of "income" stocks by smaller-sized funds than by funds with assets over $10 million. Dividend yields equal to those of either the Standard and Poor's 500 stock index or the Dow-Jones industrial average were seldom achieved by any size category of funds. A relatively strong direct relationship emerged between average annual dividend yield and average annual compound rate of return. This finding tends to suggest that those funds with relatively greater holdings of "income" stocks rather than "growth" issues followed the more successful investment strategy during the fiveyear period examined. The data revealed no statistically significant relationship between average annual compound rates of return and average annual compound rates of asset growth, average percentage holdings of "A" ranked issues, or commercial asset sizes of administering banks. An inverse relationship was found between average annual portfolio turnover rates and average annual compound rates of return. This content downloaded from 157.55.39.209 on Sun, 17 Jul 2016 04:57:07 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms
Optimal Distributed Scheduling under Time-Varying Conditions: A Fast-CSMA Algorithm with Applications

Recently, low-complexity and distributed Carrier Sense Multiple Access (CSMA)-based scheduling algorithms have attracted extensive interest due to their throughput-optimal characteristics in general network topologies. However, these algorithms are not well-suited for time-varying environments (i.e., serving real-time traffic under time-varying channel conditions in wireless networks) for two reasons: (1) the mixing time of the underlying CSMA Markov Chain grows with the size of the network, which, for large networks, generates unacceptable delay for deadline-constrained traffic; (2) since the dynamic CSMA parameters are influenced by the arrival and channel state processes, the underlying CSMA Markov Chain may not converge to a steady-state under strict deadline constraints and fading channel conditions. In this paper, we attack the problem of distributed scheduling for time-varying environments. Specifically, we propose a Fast-CSMA (FCSMA) policy in fully-connected topologies, which converges much faster than the existing CSMA algorithms and thus yields significant advantages for time-varying applications. Then, we design optimal policies based on FCSMA techniques in two challenging and important scenarios in wireless networks for scheduling inelastic traffic with/without channel state information (CSI) over wireless fading channels.
Glyceryl ether, wax ester and triglyceride composition of the mouse preputial gland.

Major lipid classes of the preputial gland of the mouse have been identified as wax ester, neutral plasmalogen, glyceryl ether diester and triglyceride. The chain lengths and degree of unsaturation in the aliphatic moieties of the alk-1-enyl and alkyl glyceryl ethers are similar to those of the fatty alcohols of the wax ester fraction. This lends support to the theory that long chain fatty alcohols can be direct precursors of the aliphatic chains of glyceryl ethers. The striking qualitative, as well as quantitative, similarities between the alkyl and alk-1-enyl moieties of the glyceryl ethers in the neutral lipid fraction suggest that they share a common pathway of biosynthesis or are interconvertible. Neutral plasmalogens and glyceryl ether diesters contain significant amounts of odd-numbered and branched fatty acids, unlike the fatty acids of the triglycerides; therefore, the biosynthesis of neutral plasmalogens and glyceryl ether diesters may not be related to the biosynthesis of triglycerides.
Practical approach to evaluating the fetal neural axis

The ventricular atrium, cisterna magna (CM), and cavum septum pellucidum (CSP) are three intracranial structures that are easily examined in nearly every fetus and serve as sensitive anatomic markers of normal and abnormal brain development. Careful attention to these three regions will help the sonologist identify most fetuses with serious congenital neural axis malformations. Further, among fetuses at average risk (among whom the prevalence of CNS malformations is low, approximately 1 to 2:1,000), the normal appearances of these structures serve to enhance the examiner's confidence in making what is often the most difficult diagnosis, "normal fetus." 2,2 THE IMPORTANCE OF THE LATERAL CEREBRAL VENTRICLE Enlargement of the fetal cerebral ventricles is an extremely important observation, well worth the effort of excluding in every fetus. Ventricular dilatation is a sensitive indicator of fetal CNS malformation because most of the more common anomalies are accompanied by ventricular dilatation. Thus, fetal ventriculomegaly (VM) serves as an important "sonographic window" into anomalous fetal development. Fetal VM is also often the most conspicuous abnormality in fetuses with multiple anomalies. Associated malformations are common and occur in 70% to 80% of fetuses with VM. Unfortunately, less conspicuous malformations may be missed during obstetrical sonography, 20% to 40% in some series. 3-9
Compartmentalization of RNA processing factors within nuclear speckles.

In the mammalian cell nucleus pre-mRNA splicing factors are organized in a speckled pattern. The fluorescence signal within speckles appears homogeneous when cells are immunolabeled with antibodies directed against pre-mRNA splicing factors and examined by fluorescence microscopy. We have reexamined the speckled domains using serial dilutions of antibodies against SR proteins, snRNPs, and a 3' end processing protein by immunofluorescence and confocal laser scanning microscopy. Using higher antibody dilutions, the speckled domains consist of numerous subdomains that are spherical and heterogeneous in size ranging from 0.2 to 0.5 micrometer in diameter. We refer to these subdomains as "subspeckles." Each speckle is composed of 5 to 50 subspeckles and in some cases in actively transcribing cells, strings and loops of subspeckles were observed to extend from the speckled domains. Upon inhibition of RNA polymerase II transcription, the strings and loops of subspeckles were no longer observed. Subspeckles were also not observed in coiled bodies. Using fluorescence in situ hybridization we found subspeckles to be colocalized with transiently expressed beta-tropomyosin RNA transcripts. The compartmentalization into subspeckles may represent an efficient way of organizing these factors for their subsequent transport to transcription/RNA processing sites.
Cell cycle-dependent regulation of pyrimidine biosynthesis.

De novo pyrimidine biosynthesis is activated in proliferating cells in response to an increased demand for nucleotides needed for DNA synthesis. The pyrimidine biosynthetic pathway in baby hamster kidney cells, synchronized by serum deprivation, was found to be up-regulated 1.9-fold during S phase and subsequently down-regulated as the cells progressed through the cycle. The nucleotide pools were depleted by serum starvation and were not replenished during the first round of cell division, suggesting that the rate of utilization of the newly synthesized nucleotides closely matched their rate of formation. The activation and subsequent down-regulation of the pathway can be attributed to altered allosteric regulation of the carbamoyl-phosphate synthetase activity of CAD (carbamoyl-phosphate synthetase-aspartate carbamoyltransferase-dihydroorotase), a multifunctional protein that initiates mammalian pyrimidine biosynthesis. As the culture approached S-phase there was an increased sensitivity to the allosteric activator, 5-phosphoribosyl-1-pyrophosphate, and a loss of UTP inhibition, changes that were reversed when cells emerged from S phase. The allosteric regulation of CAD is known to be modulated by MAP kinase (MAPK) and protein kinase A (PKA)-mediated phosphorylations as well as by autophosphorylation. CAD was found to be fully autophosphorylated in the synchronized cells, but the level remained invariant throughout the cycle. Although the MAPK activity increased early in G1, the phosphorylation of the CAD MAPK site was delayed until just before the onset of S phase, probably due to antagonistic phosphorylation by PKA that persisted until late G1. Once activated, pyrimidine biosynthesis remained elevated until rephosphorylation of CAD by PKA and dephosphorylation of the CAD MAPK site late in S phase. Thus, the cell cycle-dependent regulation of pyrimidine biosynthesis results from the sequential phosphorylation and dephosphorylation of CAD under the control of two important signaling cascades.
TEMPERATURE AND SALINITY EFFECTS ON CALCIFICATION RATE IN MYTILUS EDULIS AND ITS PALEOECOLOGICAL IMPLICATONS1

Radioisotopic tracer experiments utilizing 45Ca reveal that calcification in the bivalve Mytilus edulis occurs over the range of 5–23.5C at 32.0‰ salinity. Specimens deposited shell over the salinity range of 20–37% at 18.5C. No upper temperature or salinity thresholds were found. Calcification rate varies directly with temperature and salinity and among individuals grown at a single temperature over the 24-hr period of these experiments, probably because of the discontinuous nature of the calcification process. Paleo-temperature and paleosalinity determinations, such as by oxygen isotopic composition, of the total M. edulis skeleton would yield results higher than the mean temperature and salinity for the growth locality. Measuring growth in fossil M. edulis shells might be used to determine paleotemperatures and paleosalinities. Determining the number of days in a year in the geologic past on the basis of molluscan skeletal structure is probably not possible.
Activin is a nerve cell survival molecule

THE structures of five neurotrophic molecules have so far been published. Nerve growth factor1, fibroblast growth factor2, 3 and purpurin4, have been identified as nerve-cell survival molecules. More recently, brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and ciliary neurotrophic factor have been cloned and sequenced5, 6. As all these proteins stimulate the survival of ciliary or sensory neurons, a new cell survival assay is required if novel neurotrophic molecules are to be discovered. P19 teratoma cells differentiate to nerve-like cells in the presence of 5 x 107 M retinoic acid (RA)7, 8. But when P19 cells are plated in N2 synthetic medium9 without being exposed to RA, they die within 48 h. In an attempt to identify a molecule(s) that can substitute for RA in promoting P19 survival, we assayed serum-free growth-conditioned media for their ability to promote P19 survival. One cell line from the rat eye secreted a molecule that promoted the survival of P19 cells and some types of nerve cell. We identified this molecule as activin, better known for its role in hormone secretion.
Detection of Ubiquitylated Proteins in Yeast

INTRODUCTIONThis assay is performed to detect ubiquitylated proteins in yeast. Yeast that have been transformed with a vector expressing polyhistidine-tagged ubiquitin (Ub) under the control of a copper-inducible promoter are grown, induced with copper, and harvested. Total ubiquitylated proteins are then recovered by nickel-affinity chromatography, and specific proteins are detected by Western blotting.
Characteristics of Different Nucleic Acid Staining Dyes for DNA Fragment Sizing by Flow Cytometry

An efficient and reliable double-stranded DNA (dsDNA) staining protocol for DNA fragment sizing by flow cytometry is presented. The protocol employs 0.8 μΜ of PicoGreen to label a wide range of DNA...
Interfacing sensor assemblies with windowless cockpit displays

An interface for converting aircraft instrument information into a video display was created. Due to the limited development time available, the interface was divided into two subsystems. The goal of the division was to allow concurrent work on two major system components. The division used greatly aided the development, test, and calibration tasks. The key to being able to develop and test them simultaneously was attributable to two factors. Both subsystems had local intelligence in the form of microprocessors, and their interconnection was kept physically simple. Testing of each subsystem was accomplished by simulating the other subsystem on a general-purpose computer. It is concluded that the testing went as expected. The only surprise when the instrument interface was eventually connected to the PC was the lock-up problem. The author describes system specifications and design, the instrument-to-PC interface, the PC-resident software, and subsystem test and calibration. >
Psychometric Properties of the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale: Overall and Across Demographic Groups Living Within the United States:

The purpose of this study was twofold: (a) to evaluate the scaling assumptions and component structure of and present normative data for the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale (RSES) using a sample of US adults (N = 503), both overall and across demographic subgroups and (b) to provide new data regarding the relationship between the two RSES subcomponents of self-competence (SC) and self-liking (SL), and other demographic and clinical variables. As hypothesized, all psychometric tests supported the underlying structure of the RSES. Overall RSES scores varied significantly across age, racial and ethnic, education, employment status, income, and marital status groups. Furthermore, differences between SC and SL were also found across groups differing in gender, age, employment status, and marital status groups. The implications and limitations of this study are discussed, with an emphasis on clinical relevance.
Looking at the quality of draft environmental impact statements over time in the United States

Abstract Since the creation of the National Environmental Policy Act in 1970, the United States has required the United States Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) to rate draft environmental statements (DEIS) for both information adequacy and the impact of the preferred alternative on the environment. These two scales were examined over time to show how documents n = 19,236 DEIS have rated. The study shows that it is harder to achieve the top rating for both scales, and over time DEIS have been getting lower ratings. When the rating are disaggregated for the top agencies who submit DEIS (the Forest Service, the Army Corp of Engineers, and the Federal Highway Administration), the results indicate that there is a lack of consistent performance by agnecies that frequently submit these documents. Conclusions make recommendations for the USEPA and agencies who submit the DEIS. One major conclusion is to better track the ratings and make them collectively available for the public. Agencies are encouraged to develop a best management practice in preparing DEIS to promote agency learning.
Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase inhibitors reveal a unique mechanism of enhancing insulin secretion in 832/13 rat insulinoma cells

Hyperinsulinemia exists before the onset of overt type 2 diabetes mellitus. This response is at least partly due to enhanced insulin release from pancreatic beta-cells. Increased insulin secretion can be mimicked in vitro by acute culture of 832/13 rat insulinoma cells with phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI-3K) inhibitors, a treatment that would theoretically simulate insulin resistance. We demonstrate in this study that while the PI-3K inhibitors Wortmannin and LY294002 both block Akt phosphorylation, only LY29002 significantly augments insulin secretion. LY294002 treatment potentiates insulin secretion over both basal and stimulatory glucose concentrations. This effect correlates with a significant increase in action potential duration. There was no change in resting or peak membrane potential under any of the treatment conditions, demonstrating that the cells remain healthy under the acute treatments used in this study. By contrast, Wortmannin has no effect on action potential duration. A partial explanation for these findings is that LY294002 potently inhibits voltage-dependent potassium channels, but does not affect voltage-gated calcium currents. We conclude that while PI-3K may play a role in regulating insulin secretion, there are diverse effects of the established inhibitors of this enzyme on beta-cell insulin secretory responses.
Mentoring and coaching as part of a human resource development strategy: an example at Coca‐Cola Foods

Describes Coca‐Cola Foods’ mentoring and coaching programmes. Presents directions for future research and practice based on Coca‐Cola Foods’ experience.
A finite-volume, adaptive grid algorithm applied to planetary entry flowfields

An adaptive grid, finite volume method has been applied to problems of planetary entry in computing complete flowfields. The adaptation algorithm is implicit in nature and is keyed to resolve user-specified gradients. The finite-volume algorithm is explicit, utilizing a maximum time step advancement at each grid point to accelerate convergence to the steady state. The present version of the code is for the laminar flow of a perfect gas. The role of the adaptation algorithm in resolving various features of blunt body/wake flow for planetary entry conditions is emphasized. The algorithm is demonstrated on problems involving massive blowing from the surface of the Galileo probe and moderate blowing from the surface of a sphere.
An Expanded Set of Fluorogenic Sulfatase Activity Probes

Fluorogenic probes that are activated by an enzymatic transformation are ideally suited for profiling enzyme activities in biological systems. Here, we describe two fluorogenic enzyme probes, 3-O-methylfluorescein-sulfate and resorufin-sulfate, that can be used to detect sulfatases in mycobacterial lysates. Both probes were validated with a set of commercial sulfatases and used to reveal species-specific sulfatase banding patterns in a gel-resolved assay of mycobacterial lysates. The fluorogenic probes described here are suitable for various assays and provide a starting point for creating new sulfatase probes with improved selectivity for mycobacterial sulfatases.
Game theory, behavior, and the paradox of the Prisoner's Dilemma: three solutions

Abstract : The Prisoners' Dilemma game is a deceptively simple 2 x 2 matrix game which can be used to illustrate the value and the limitations of game theoretic thinking. Its simplicity makes it most attractive as a paradigm to explain human behavior. Furthermore it is easy to experiment with. The very simplicity of this game is a danger. Analogies between it and human affairs are best employed to study their inadequacies and to pinpoint what has been left out rather than to claim how much of the world can be packed into a 2 x 2 matrix.
Structural and Solubility Parameter Correlations of Gelation Abilities for Dihydroxylated Derivatives of Long-Chain, Naturally Occurring Fatty Acids

Creating structure-property correlations at different distance scales is one of the important challenges to the rational design of molecular gelators. Here, a series of dihydroxylated derivatives of long-chain fatty acids, derived from three naturally occurring molecules-oleic, erucic and ricinoleic acids-are investigated as gelators of a wide variety of liquids. Conclusions about what constitutes a more (or less!) efficient gelator are based upon analyses of a variety of thermal, structural, molecular modeling, and rheological results. Correlations between the manner of molecular packing in the neat solid or gel states of the gelators and Hansen solubility data from the liquids leads to the conclusion that diol stereochemistry, the number of carbon atoms separating the two hydroxyl groups, and the length of the alkanoic chains are the most important structural parameters controlling efficiency of gel formation for these gelators. Some of the diol gelators are as efficient or even more efficient than the well-known, excellent gelator, (R)-12-hydroxystearic acid; others are much worse. The ability to form extensive intermolecular H-bonding networks along the alkyl chains appears to play a key role in promoting fiber growth and, thus, gelation. In toto, the results demonstrate how the efficiency of gelation can be modulated by very small structural changes and also suggest how other structural modifications may be exploited to create efficient gelators.
Carotid MR angiography: phase II study of safety and efficacy for MS-325.

PURPOSE: To evaluate the safety and efficacy of MS-325 in patients suspected of having carotid arterial disease. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Fifty carotid arteries in 26 patients were imaged with three-dimensional spoiled gradient-recalled-echo magnetic resonance (MR) angiography at 5 and 50 minutes after injection of MS-325. MS-325 was administered intravenously as a single dose of 0.01, 0.03, or 0.05 mmol per kilogram of body weight as determined with a dose randomization scheme for four, nine, and 13 patients, respectively. Safety, including clinical laboratory changes and electrocardiographic monitoring, was assessed until approximately 3 days after injection. Conventional contrast agent–enhanced angiography was used as the standard of reference. Independent readers blinded to the dose interpreted the MR angiographic and conventional images. Images were assessed for location and extent of carotid arterial stenosis. RESULTS: There were no severe or serious adverse events. For the determination of clinically...
CE Feature Methadone Maintenance: A Viable Treatment Approach for Chronic Heroin Addiction

The purpose of this article is to discuss methadone maintenance as a treatment approach for chronic heroin addiction. Data presented indicate that heroin use is on the rise and that heroin-related deaths are increasing. The history and epidemiology of heroin use in the United States, the process of addiction, signs and symptoms of withdrawal, and complications of heroin use are reviewed. Several approaches exist to treat heroin dependence. Two treatment approaches are presented: detoxification and maintenance. The focus of the article is on methadone maintenance treatment, including goals of treatment, program requirements, staff composition, and treatment modalities. Expanding roles for nurses working in methadone maintenance are discussed, and suggestions are offered for improving the treatment of heroin-addicted individuals in methadone maintenance treatment programs.
A Microbial Avenue to Cell Cycle Control in the Plant Superkingdom

Research in yeast and animals has resulted in a well-supported consensus model for eukaryotic cell cycle control. The fit of this model to early diverging eukaryotes, such as the plant kingdom, remains unclear. Using the green alga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, we developed an efficient pipeline, incorporating robotics, semiautomated image analysis, and deep sequencing, to molecularly identify >50 genes, mostly conserved in higher plants, specifically required for cell division but not cell growth. Mutated genes include the cyclin-dependent kinases CDKA (resembling yeast and animal Cdk1) and the plant-specific CDKB. The Chlamydomonas cell cycle consists of a long G1 during which cells can grow >10-fold, followed by multiple rapid cycles of DNA replication and segregation. CDKA and CDKB execute nonoverlapping functions: CDKA promotes transition between G1 and entry into the division cycle, while CDKB is essential specifically for spindle formation and nuclear division, but not for DNA replication, once CDKA-dependent initiation has occurred. The anaphase-promoting complex is required for similar steps in the Chlamydomonas cell cycle as in Opisthokonts; however, the spindle assembly checkpoint, which targets the APC in Opisthokonts, appears severely attenuated in Chlamydomonas, based on analysis of mutants affecting microtubule function. This approach allows unbiased integration of the consensus cell cycle control model with innovations specific to the plant lineage.
Ultra-high resolution HLA genotyping and allele discovery by highly multiplexed cDNA amplicon pyrosequencing

High-resolution HLA genotyping is a critical diagnostic and research assay. Current methods rarely achieve unambiguous high-resolution typing without making population-specific frequency inferences due to a lack of locus coverage and difficulty in exon-phase matching. Achieving high-resolution typing is also becoming more challenging with traditional methods as the database of known HLA alleles increases. We designed a cDNA amplicon-based pyrosequencing method to capture 94% of the HLA class I open-reading-frame with only two amplicons per sample, and an analogous method for class II HLA genes, with a primary focus on sequencing the DRB loci. We present a novel Galaxy server-based analysis workflow for determining genotype. During assay validation, we performed two GS Junior sequencing runs to determine the accuracy of the HLA class I amplicons and DRB amplicon at different levels of multiplexing. When 116 amplicons were multiplexed, we unambiguously resolved 99%of class I alleles to four- or six-digit resolution, as well as 100% unambiguous DRB calls. The second experiment, with 271 multiplexed amplicons, missed some alleles, but generated high-resolution, concordant typing for 93% of class I alleles, and 96% for DRB1 alleles. In a third, preliminary experiment we attempted to sequence novel amplicons for other class II loci with mixed success. The presented assay is higher-throughput and higher-resolution than existing HLA genotyping methods, and suitable for allele discovery or large cohort sampling. The validated class I and DRB primers successfully generated unambiguously high-resolution genotypes, while further work is needed to validate additional class II genotyping amplicons.
On the Caffarelli-Kohn-Nirenberg inequalities: Sharp constants, existence (and nonexistence), and symmetry of extremal functions †

Consider the following inequalities due to Caffarelli, Kohn, and Nirenberg [6] where, for N ≥ 3, −∞ < a < (N − 2)/2, a ≤ b ≤ a + 1, and p = 2N/(N − 2 + 2(b − a)). We shall answer some fundamental questions concerning these inequalities such as the best embedding constants, the existence and nonexistence of extremal functions, and their qualitative properties. While the case a ≥ 0 has been studied extensively and a complete solution is known, little has been known for the case a < 0. Our results for the case a < 0 reveal some new phenomena which are in striking contrast with those for the case a ≥ 0. Results for N = 1 and N = 2 are also given. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Adolescent suicidal and self-destructive behavior: Results of an intervention study

This study evaluates an intervention program designed to reduce suicidal, self-destructive behavior among high-risk adolescents aged 13- to 17 years. The intervention combined a program of community education and direct service to youth who had required emergency care for self-inflicted injuries. The intervention program was effective in increasing subjects' compliance with medical regimen. To a lesser degree, the intervention also facilitated early help seeking among adolescents with suicidal thoughts and appeared to diminish slightly the overall occurrence of emergency room admissions for suicidal behaviors. However, the intervention program had no demonstrable effect on the occurrence of repeat suicidal episodes.
Oscillating Turntable for the Measurement of Unsteady Aerodynamic Phenomena

A new forced oscillation system has been installed and tested at NASA Langley Research Center’ s Transonic Dynamics Tunnel. The system is known as the Oscillating Turntable (OTT) and has been designed for the purpose of oscillating, large semispan models in pitch at frequencies up to 40 Hz to acquire high-quality unsteady pressure and loads data. Precisely controlled motions of a wind-tunnel model on the OTT can yield unsteady aerodynamic phenomena associated with e utter, limit-cycle oscillations, shock dynamics, and nonlinear aerodynamic effects on manyvehiclecone gurations.Thispaperwilldiscussthegeneraldesignand componentsoftheOTTand willpresent data from performance testing and from research tests on two rigid semispan wind-tunnel models. The research tests were designed to challenge the OTT over a wide range of operating conditions while acquiring unsteady pressure data on a small rectangular supercritical wing and a large supersonic transport wing. These results will be presented to illustrate the performance capabilities, consistency of oscillations, and usefulness of the OTT as a research tool.
Identifying cytoplasmic proteins that affect receptor clustering using fluorescence resonance energy transfer and RNA interference

Unraveling the complex, dynamic organization of the cell membrane can provide vital information about many aspects of cellular functions. Reported herein is a method for identifying cytoplasmic proteins that affect cell membrane protein organization. RNA interference (RNAi) is used to reduce the expression of select cytoplasmic proteins and a fluorescence resonance energy transfer (FRET) assay is used to measure changes in receptor microclustering. The advantage of this assay is that it does not require attaching fluorescent tags to the receptor. A change in energy transfer after reducing the expression of a cytoplasmic protein provides information about the protein’s role in altering receptor organization. As a demonstration of the method, cytoplasmic proteins involved in integrin microclustering have been identified. The cytoplasmic proteins targeted in this study include: dreadlock, integrin-linked kinase, paxillin, steamer duck, vinculin, rhea, focal adhesion kinase, and actin 42A. Reducing the expression of vinculin, paxillin, rhea, and focal adhesion kinase increased integrin microclustering, as measured by an increase in energy transfer in cells expressing αPS2CβPS integrins. No change in integrin microclustering was measured in a control cell line. Integrin mutants exhibited different microclustering properties compared to the wild-type integrins after reducing the expression of the listed cytoplasmic proteins. The results demonstrate the utility of this assay format, and provide insight into the function of cytoplasmic proteins in integrin microclustering.
Structural characterization of nanoscale intermetallic precipitates in highly neutron irradiated reactor pressure vessel steels

Abstract Massive, thick-walled pressure vessels are permanent nuclear reactor structures that are exposed to a damaging flux of neutrons from the adjacent core. The neutrons cause embrittlement of the vessel steel that grows with dose (fluence), as manifested by an increasing ductile-to-brittle fracture transition temperature. Extending reactor life requires demonstrating that large safety margins against brittle fracture are maintained at the higher neutron fluence associated with beyond 60 years of service. Here synchrotron-based x-ray diffraction and small angle x-ray scattering measurements are used to characterize highly embrittling nm-scale Mn–Ni–Si precipitates that develop in the irradiated steels at high fluence. These precipitates lead to severe embrittlement that is not accounted for in current regulatory models. Application of the complementary techniques has, for the very first time, successfully identified the crystal structures of the nanoprecipitates, while also yielding self-consistent compositions, volume fractions and size distributions.
Depressive Disorders in Borderline Personality Disorder: Phenomenology and Biological Markers

Borderline personality disorder (BPD) and major depressive disorder (MDD) are distinct disorders with overlapping biological processes pertaining to emotional regulatory functions. However, while both disorders share affective symptomatology, the disturbance central to BPD is affective lability and its character is entirely different from the affective disturbance of MDD. This review highlights data from the last 14 years and compares the two disorders’ phenotypes, putative endophenotypes, and genotypes, focusing heavily on neuroimaging findings. The familiality and phenotypic differences suggest that BPD differs in important ways with respect to symptomatology, prognosis, and heritability. The neurobiological findings in both MDD and BPD are still preliminary at present, and no coherent model for either disorder can be said to have emerged. Overlapping biological processes, including amygdala hyperreactivity, volume changes in the subgenual anterior cingulate cortex, and deficient serotonergic function, appear to underlie emotional dysregulation in both disorders. However, the disorders seem to differ in their patterns of brain region involvement, neurohormonal indices, and sleep architecture. At present, the minimal data available for putative genotypes of BPD is still emerging, is nonspecific to the disorder, and demonstrates significant overlap with MDD. The ability to discern commonalities and differences in the neurobiology of these two disorders is limited by the differing methodologies applied in different studies. Definitive clarification of what MDD and BPD have in common and in what ways they are distinct will only be derived from studies that examine both illnesses using the same study design and methodology.
Hypoplastic left heart syndrome: looking back, looking forward.

Hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS), a rare congenital heart anomaly, with a reported incidence of 266 per 1 million live births, was reilluminated by Lev [(1)][1] and others [(2,3)][2] in the 1950s, although descriptions of anatomic pathology date back to the 1800s [(4)][3] and early 20th
Effects of corticosterone on development and immunocompetence in Western Chorus Frogs (Pseudacris triseriata) and Southern Leopard Frogs (Lithobates sphenocephalus)

Abstract. Stress has been shown to impact the rate of development in many species of vertebrates, including amphibians, reptiles, and mammals. We investigated how treatments of corticosterone, a glucocorticoid stress hormone, would affect the development and immune function of the Western Chorus Frog (Pseudacris triseriata) and the Southern Leopard Frog (Lithobates sphenocephalus). These two species exhibit different metamorphic rates, and we specifically chose these species as we wanted to determine if stress during development had a different effect on species with substantially different developmental periods. Tadpoles in the treatment group were given doses of corticosterone (0.5 μM in their water) and tadpoles in the control group were not dosed with corticosterone. Following three weeks of treatment, a blood sample was collected from each tadpole for use in a Candida albicans killing assay to test constitutive immunity. The findings suggest that Western Chorus Frog tadpoles and Southern Leopard Frog...
Epidemiology of hepatitis C virus exposure in Egypt: Opportunities for prevention and evaluation.

Epidemiology of hepatitis C virus exposure in Egypt: Opportunities for prevention and evaluation
The Effects of lease capitalization on various financial measures : an analysis of the retail industry

The FASB, in conjunction with the International Accounting Standards Board, is currently in the planning stages of a project that would revise SFAS 13, Accounting for Leases. What is proposed is that leases that are presently accounted for as operating leases, that is, those leases that do not meet the current requirements for on-balance-sheet treatment, would be accounted for as capital leases and brought onto the financial statements. For companies that use a significant amount of operating leases to finance operations, the financial statement impact could be far-reaching, including material effects on various measures of profitability, financial leverage, debt coverage and cash flow. In this article, we look at the retail industry, an industry that uses operating leases extensively, to evaluate how certain key measures of financial performance and position might be affected by the capitalization of operating leases. Among the findings are an increase in EBITDA, though reductions in income from continuing operations and earnings per share. Financial leverage is increased and debt coverage measures are reduced. Measures of profitability, such as return on assets and return on equity are reduced. Finally, we find an increase in operating cash flow and free cash flow.
Model reduction and analysis of deep dynamic stall on a plunging airfoil

Abstract The ability to generate massive amounts of high-resolution data, both experimentally and computationally, has led to a surge of interest in mathematical model reduction using modal decomposition algorithms. When applied to complex unsteady flows, different techniques highlight different flow dynamics which are difficult to extract directly from large datasets. A widely used technique is Proper Orthogonal Decomposition (POD) which ranks modes by their relative energy content. A newer method, Dynamic Mode Decomposition (DMD), focuses on rates of growth of different modes, thus retaining temporal information pertinent to dynamic events which dominate highly transient flows. In this paper, we employ these techniques, with emphasis on DMD, to analyze flow past an SD7003 airfoil undergoing periodic plunging motion representative of small unmanned vehicles. Snapshots are obtained from a high-fidelity, experimentally validated Large-Eddy Simulation (LES). The stability characteristics of DMD modes show that the flow structure associated with the leading edge vortex (LEV) in dynamic stall is unstable. The influence of DMD modes in local regions of the flow provide insight into which flow frequencies may be targeted by leading edge actuators to have maximum impact in controlling the unstable flow structures inducing stall. Dominant POD modes, each of which can have multiple frequency components, are shown to be comprised primarily of the dominant DMD mode contributions. A practical framework is introduced to identify components of a global flow structure across different velocity components. The method is shown to successfully reproduce the global flow structure. A few dominant DMD modes are used to reconstruct the flow near the leading edge, where rapid changes occur during parts of the plunging cycle and the ability of individual probe to provide insight into global phenomena is assessed. Finally, a stability analysis of each mode is performed to identify flow instabilities near the leading edge.
The Wertheim hysterectomy for squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix

Summary Thirty years' experience with the Wertheim hysterectomy a primary or secondary treatment for squamous cell epithlioma of the uterine cervix has been summarized. A total of 486 completed operations were reviewed, 236 with preoperative radiation and 250 without preoperative radiation. The majority of these operations were performed for malignant disease classified as Stage I or II. Lymph nodes were involved with metastatic disease in about the same incidence whether or not the patient received preoperative radiation. According to the strict criteria applied, 40 per cent of patients had a morbid course, although the average hospital stay was only 16 days. Urinary fistulas occurred in 11.9 per cent of patients having had preoperative radiation and in 3.2 per cent of patients having received primary surgical treatment. The 5 year survival rates for the 321 patients on whom follow-up information was available were 81.9 per cent for the entire group, 87.4 per cent for patients with Stage I disease, 74.3 per cent for those with Stage II lesions, and 60.0 per cent for patients with Stage III disease.
Tofu in Menopause Therapy and Prevention

Tofu contains significant amount of bioactive isoflavones and calcium. The tofu matrix promotes the activity of isoflavones in vivo. Isoflavones and calcium have favorable effects on osteoporosis. Isoflavones are considered to be beneficial in releasing menopause-related hot flash, reducing cancer and cardiovascular disease risks. Consumption of tofu in a large amount shortly or in a reasonable dose regularly is recommended for keeping a relatively high level of isoflavones in serum.
An Investigation of Effects of Contrast, and Linear Velocity upon Dynamic Visual Acuity

Variables affecting Dynamic Visual Acuity are important in the design of industrial inspection tasks. The objective of the present study was to investigate the effects of target-background contrast, target size, and linear velocity upon DVA.Photographed block landolt rings were placed on white and grey backgrounds to produce ten uniformly graded contrast levels between target and background. These were then mounted on standard 35 mm photographic slide frames (2 in. x 2 in.). Gaps in the rings were oriented toward the corners of the frames.For a given viewing time, an increase in linear velocity resulted in a marked decrease in DVA ability. Also, for a given linear velocity, an increase in viewing time resulted in an increase in DVA ability. Contrast levels and display width also affected performance.
Mineral nutrition, resin flow and phloem phytochemistry in loblolly pine

Southern pine beetles and associated pathogenic fungi represent the largest biotic threat to pine forests in the southeastern USA. The two primary defensive mechanisms of the tree to the beetle-fungal complex are the primary oleoresin flow and the concentrations of preformed and induced secondary compounds. We compared oleoresin flow and concentrations of phloem nutrients, soluble sugars, starch, total phenolics and proanthocyanidins in Pinus taeda L. trees in fertilized and control plots in the Sandhills region of North Carolina. Four blocks of 10 trees per treatment were sampled on five dates from May to November 1995. Phloem nitrogen and potassium concentrations were elevated in trees on fertilized plots, whereas phloem calcium concentrations were decreased. Fertilization significantly enhanced (10-20%) concentrations of phloem phenolics and proanthocyanidins. In contrast, phloem soluble sugars and starch concentrations were up to 30% lower in fertilized trees than in control trees. Increased phenolic concentrations and lower nonstructural carbohydrates should correlate with reduced tissue palatability and decreased pathogen susceptibility in fertilized trees; however, resin flows were significantly lower (30-100%) in fertilized trees compared with control trees, which may facilitate pine bark beetle establishment. Furthermore, fertilization-induced increases in phloem nitrogen concentration may be more important than tissue carbohydrate or phenolic content in determining tissue palatability.
Binding of human chorionic gonadotropin by rat ovarian slices: dependence on the functional state of the ovary (38571).

SummaryOvarian receptors specific for hCG-LH can be induced by PMSG-ovine LH priming. The marked increase in binding activity was accompanied by a rise in ovarian progesterone concentration and preceded by ovarian weight increase. The high binding activity of heavily luteinized ovaries was followed by a decline to prepriming levels during luteolysis. The ovarian progesterone content was decreased simultaneously and no change in ovarian weight was evident. The data demonstrate that ovarian hCG binding activity undergoes variation which depends on the functional state of ovaries.
Training for advanced endoscopic procedures

Advanced endoscopy has evolved from diagnostic ERCP to an ever-increasing array of therapeutic procedures including EUS with FNA, ablative therapies, deep enteroscopy, luminal stenting, endoscopic suturing and endoscopic mucosal resection among others. As these procedures have become increasingly more complex, the risk of potential complications has also risen. Training in advanced endoscopy involves more than obtaining a minimum number of therapeutic procedures. The means of assessing a trainee's competence level and ability to practice independently continues to be a matter of debate. The use of quality indicators to measure performance levels may be beneficial as more advanced techniques and procedures become available.
Effect of the Horizontal Multi-layer Soil on Lightning Quantification

Based on the frequency-domain expression of the magnetic field radiated from the dipole over horizontally-stratified ground,the general formula was proposed to calculate the lightning radiation magnetic field above lossy ground stratified with any number of horizontal layers.Taking the two-horizontal-layer soil as example,the effect of the stratified soil on the lightning radiation field in time and frequency domain was investigated.Different thickness of the upper layer and the conductivity changes of the two soil layers were both taken into account.The results indicate that,when the conductivity of the upper layer is larger than the lower,the lighting radiation magnetic field within the rise time is less than that above the homogeneous soil characterized by the upper layer,and larger than that above homogeneous soil with the conductivity equal to lower layer.For the case the conductivity of the lower layer is larger,the calculated lightning radiation field is almost identical with the radiation field above homogeneous ground composed of the lower soil layer,when the upper layer is of little thickness.But with the increase of the upper layer thickness,the maximum lightning radiation magnetic field may exceed the radiation magnetic field above homogeneous ground characterized with the upper or lower soil layer,and ultimately tend to agree with the result obtained when the upper soil layer is of finite thickness.During rainy season,due to the increase of the ground surface conductivity resulted from the rainfall,the observed rise time of the lightning radiation magnetic field decreases accordingly.While the peak value of the lightning radiation magnetic field is influenced slightly.Therefore,in the inversion of the lightning current peak value from the lightning radiation magnetic field,the change of soil conductivity resulted from the rainfall can be neglected.