cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Engineered Polypeptides for Tissue Engineering

Engineered polypeptides have emerged as attractive materials to construct artificial extracellular matrices (ECMs) in tissue engineering. These materials offer advantages over conventional synthetic materials in recapitulating essential characteristics of complex and dynamic native ECMs, which is one of the key requirements for successful tissue engineering, because proteins are major players in providing structural support, cell adhesion, and signal regulation in native ECMs. The structures and functions of these proteins and their domains, as well as those of de novo designed polypeptide domains having self-assembly and molecular recognition abilities, can be combined in engineered polypeptides in a modular manner to yield multifunctional, bioactive materials to mimic native ECMs and optimize tissue engineering outcomes. Engineered polypeptides can be synthesized both chemically and biosynthetically. In recent years, the biosynthetic methodology has received increasing attention because the advances in molecular biology and protein engineering have expanded its capacity. Biosynthetic preparation allows polypeptide materials to be genetically engineered in a modular manner and the resulting polymers have absolutely uniform sequence, composition, molecular weight, and consequently higher order structures and functions. These properties not only allow us to engineer novel multifunctional materials to elicit desired cell responses toward functional tissue regeneration, but also offer the opportunity to create well-controlled and tunable systems for systematic studies to enhance our understanding of the relationships among extracellular microenvironments, cell behavior and fate selection, and tissue assembly. Such understanding will provide valuable guidelines for design of future generations of artificial ECMs. In this chapter, engineered polypeptides that have been used or have the potential to be used in tissue engineering will be discussed with an emphasis placed on their molecular design as well as examples of their use in tissue engineering studies.
A Prospective, Open-Label Study of Single-Dose Ciprofloxacin Absorption after Chemotherapy in Patients with Malignancy

The absorption of a single oral dose of ciprofloxacin 750 mg in patients with cancer who had chemotherapy-induced Cancer and Leukemia Group B grade I or II mucositis was evaluated. Ciprofloxacin was administered after an overnight fast. Plasma samples were collected before and 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, and 12 hours after the dose. Drug concentrations were determined by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection. Pharmacokinetic values were characterized by noncompartmental methods. The mean +/- SD for area under the curve, mean peak concentration (C(max)), and time to C(max) (T(max)) were 18.7 +/- 5.03 mg/L x hour, 4.41 +/- 1.74 mg/L, and 1.81 +/- 0.843 hours, respectively. The absorption of oral ciprofloxacin in patients with chemotherapy-induced grade I or II mucositis compares with that in healthy volunteers. These findings may call for further pharmacokinetic evaluation of the drug in a similar patient population.
Vibration compensation in tape drive track following using multiple accelerometers

Abstract Reliable operation of tape storage devices requires high positioning accuracy of the servo control system under vibration conditions. The demand for increased storage density makes it increasingly more challenging to meet the track-following performance requirements especially in the presence of external vibration disturbances. In the recently introduced flangeless tape drives, the head positioning system has translational and rotational capabilities to be able to compensate for both the lateral tape motion and the head-to-tape skew arising from large tape excursions. In this paper, vibration measurements from two accelerometers are utilized to enhance the closed-loop track-follow accuracy of the two-degree-of-freedom actuator system. Specifically, the accelerometers are placed on the tape drive frame and on the actuator system providing measurements of the vibration of the drive frame and the track-follow actuator, respectively. Vibration coupling effects from the rotational degree-of-freedom are estimated by combining the measurements from the two accelerometers. A feedforward control scheme is proposed that utilizes the acceleration measurement of the applied vibration and the estimated acceleration due to coupling effects. Experimental results demonstrate that the combined feedforward scheme provides substantial improvement in the track-follow performance under vibration conditions.
Serum electrolytes in children with neurocardiogenic syncope treated with fludrocortisone and salt

We examined the changes in serum electrolytes of patients with syncope treated with salt and fludrocortisone. The most significant change was an increase in serum bicarbonate concentration, with minimal alteration of sodium, potassium, and chloride concentrations; none was clinically significant.
Establishing and maintaining perceptual coherence: unimodal and multimodal evidence

Abstract Studies of perceptual organization of speech aim to produce a direct characterization of the fundamental aspect of speech perception by which the listener resolves the acoustically heterogeneous elements of speech into a coherent sensory stream. This primitive function determines a sensory sample fit to analyze for linguistic properties. Organizational functions that apply to speech appear to be fast, unlearned, intended, nonsymbolic and indifferent to the familiar short-term sensory qualities of vocally produced sound. Although primitive auditory organizing principles deriving from the classic Gestalt set fail to accommodate the acoustic variety of speech signals, a claim of specialization in the auditory perceptual organization of speech is not warranted. Multimodal instances of perceptual organization reveal that the detection of coherence across modalities shares formal properties with the detection of coherence within the auditory modality.
Nonproliferating CML CD34+ progenitors are resistant to apoptosis induced by a wide range of proapoptotic stimuli

Imatinib mesylate, a Bcr-Abl kinase inhibitor, has been very successful in the treatment of chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). However, the majority of patients achieving cytogenetic remissions with imatinib treatment have molecular evidence of persistent disease, and residual BCR/ABL(+) progenitors can be detected. There is a need to develop new approaches that enhance elimination of malignant progenitors in imatinib-treated patients. Here we show that CML CD34(+) progenitors are sensitive to several apoptosis-inducing stimuli including the chemotherapeutic agents Ara-C and VP-16, radiation, arsenic trioxide, ceramide, growth factor withdrawal, and the death receptor activators TNFalpha and TRAIL. Bcr-Abl kinase inhibition by imatinib did not enhance sensitivity of CML progenitors to Ara-C, VP-16, ceramide, radiation or TRAIL-induced apoptosis but did enhance arsenic and TNFalpha-induced apoptosis. We further demonstrate that apoptosis was restricted to dividing cells, whereas nonproliferating BCR/ABL(+) CD34(+) cells were resistant to apoptosis induced by imatinib, Ara-C or arsenic, either alone or in combination. Resistance of quiescent CML progenitors to imatinib-induced apoptosis could contribute to persistence of residual malignant progenitors in imatinib-treated patients. Combination treatment with Ara-C or arsenic may not enhance targeting of nonproliferating CML progenitors. The assay described here may be useful for identifying agents targeting quiescent CML progenitors.
Effects of Drug Commercials on Young Viewers

Surveys reveal that exposure shapes children's views of the amount of sickness in society and the efficacy of medicinal cure or relief.
Cell Spreading and Lamellipodial Extension Rate Is Regulated by Membrane Tension

Cell spreading and motility require the extension of the plasma membrane in association with the assembly of actin. In vitro, extension must overcome resistance from tension within the plasma membrane. We report here that the addition of either amphiphilic compounds or fluorescent lipids that expanded the plasma membrane increased the rate of cell spreading and lamellipodial extension, stimulated new lamellipodial extensions, and caused a decrease in the apparent membrane tension. Further, in PDGF-stimulated motility, the increase in the lamellipodial extension rate was associated with a decrease in the apparent membrane tension and decreased membrane–cytoskeleton adhesion through phosphatidylinositol diphosphate hydrolysis. Conversely, when membrane tension was increased by osmotically swelling cells, the extension rate decreased. Therefore, we suggest that the lamellipodial extension process can be activated by a physical signal (perhaps secondarily), and the rate of extension is directly dependent upon the tension in the plasma membrane. Quantitative analysis shows that the lamellipodial extension rate is inversely correlated with the apparent membrane tension. These studies describe a physical chemical mechanism involving changes in membrane–cytoskeleton adhesion through phosphatidylinositol 4,5-biphosphate–protein interactions for modulating and stimulating the biochemical processes that power lamellipodial extension.
Reliability and Validity of Information About Student Achievement: Comparing Large-Scale and Classroom Testing Contexts

Reliability and validity are two characteristics that must be considered whenever information about student achievement is collected. However, those characteristics—and the methods for evaluating them—differ in large-scale testing and classroom testing contexts. This article presents the distinctions between reliability and validity in the two contexts and provides recommendations for enhancing the quality of information about student achievement, with particular attention to classroom decision making.
Application of white beam synchrotron radiation topography to the analysis of twins

Abstract White beam synchrotron X-ray topography (WBSXRT) has been used to characterize room temperature twinning structures in lanthanum gallate and P-terphenyl single crystals. Both Laue and Bragg geometries are utilized to reveal the nature of twinning in LaGaO3. The geometric relationships between the twin related domains and the directions of the corresponding diffracted beams are used to establish the presence of reflection twins on (112)orth, (112)orth and (110)orth planes. Also described is the application of WBSXRT to reveal the twin law in the solution grown organic crystal p-terphenyl. The active twin plane was unambiguously determined to be (201) by determination of the orientation relationship between parent and twinned structures through Laue pattern analysis. Twin lamellae with the same twin plane were also observed. For both materials, no radiation damage was observed throughout the experiments. These results demonstrate the usefulness of WBSXRT for the study of twins.
What Should I Put in My Portfolio? Supporting Young Children's Goals and Evaluations.

(1999). What Should I Put in My Portfolio? Supporting Young Children's Goals and Evaluations. Childhood Education: Vol. 75, No. 4, pp. 210-214.
Melvil Deweyâ s Ingenious Notational System

Historically, the notational system of the Dewey Decimal Classification provided for non-institution-specific, relative location shelf arrangements, thus substantially reducing bibliographic classification effort. Today its decimal notation continues to provide the classification scheme with flexible granularity, is hospitable to expansion, expresses relationships, interfaces well with modern retrieval systems, and is internationally understood.
Cytophaga That Kills or Lyses Algae

A myxobacterium (Cytophaga N-5) isolated from sewage kills or lyses an array of living green and blue-green algae. When assayed with Nostoc muscorum or Plectonema boryanum, plaques form like those caused by the blue-green algal virus LPP-1. This isolate lyses or inhibits mutually Gram-positive and Gram-negative eubacteria.
Active Suppression of Interneuron Programs within Developing Motor Neurons Revealed by Analysis of Homeodomain Factor HB9

Sonic hedgehog (Shh) specifies the identity of both motor neurons (MNs) and interneurons with morphogen-like activity. Here, we present evidence that the homeodomain factor HB9 is critical for distinguishing MN and interneuron identity in the mouse. Presumptive MN progenitors and postmitotic MNs express HB9, whereas interneurons never express this factor. This pattern resembles a composite of the avian homologs MNR2 and HB9. In mice lacking Hb9, the genetic profile of MNs is significantly altered, particularly by upregulation of Chx10, a gene normally restricted to a class of ventral interneurons. This aberrant gene expression is accompanied by topological disorganization of motor columns, loss of the phrenic and abducens nerves, and intercostal nerve pathfinding defects. Thus, MNs actively suppress interneuron genetic programs to establish their identity.
The right paratracheal stripe in children

The width of the right paratracheal stripe (RPS) has been established in normal adults but not in normal children. The thymus and great vessels are relatively larger in children than in adults and could obscure or widen the RPS. We found that obscuration does occur and, therefore, the RPS is less often measurable in children than in adults. Widening by the thymus and great vessels, however, does not occur. The width of the RPS in normal children, 0.5 to 3.0 mm, is slightly less than in adults. From this study of normal children and our subsequent experience with pediatric patients, we conclude that in a child an RPS 4 mm or wider is reliable evidence of disease affecting the trachea, mediastinum, or pleura.
The Community Question: An Extension of Wellman and Leighton

This article elaborates on Wellman and Leighton's discussion of the neighborhood's role as a community and attempts to integrate it with the concept of the "community of limited liability." Althoug...
Comparison of the Development and Function of the Swimbladder of Brevoortia tyrannus (Clupeidae) and Leiostomus xanthurus (Sciaenidae)

Abstract The swimbladders of physostomous Brevoortia tyrannus (Atlantic menhaden) and physoclistous Leiostomus xanthurus (spot) develop as a simple evagination of the larval foregut. The swimbladder of L. xanthurus develops earlier (at yolk and oil globule depletion when larvae are two days posthatch and ∼2 mm notochord length) than it does in B. tyrannus (well after yolk and oil depletion when larvae are 12 days and ∼8 mm). The larvae of each species initially inflate the swimbladder by ascending to the surface and forcing atmospheric gas through a pneumatic duct into the swimbladder lumen. Larval B. tyrannus modulate swimbladder volume and buoyancy within a diel cycle by inflation with atmospheric gas passed through a persistent pneumatic duct and deflation by diffusion through the swimbladder wall along with expulsion through the anus and mouth. This capacity of swimbladder volume modulation and buoyancy compensation corresponds with the average vertical distribution of larvae in the sea, where larval ...
Entrance flow of a bingham fluid in a tube

The numerical solution of the entrance flow in a tube has been obtained for a Bingham fluid. The numerical procedure used is that of Patankar and Spalding [1]. The accuracy of the numerical results is demonstrated by comparing the fully-developed velocity profiles with analytical exact solutions. The results of the entrance flow in a tube for the case of a zero yield stress are compared with the entrance flow solution for a Newtonian fluid. Detailed results are presented for a wide range of yield numbers (=τ y D/ūμ).
Placental anticoagulant proteins: isolation and comparative characterization of four members of the lipocortin family

Previously we isolated and characterized a placental anticoagulant protein (PAP or PAP-I), which is a Ca2+-dependent phospholipid binding protein [Funakoshi et al. (1987) Biochemistry 26, 5572] and a member of the lipocortin family [Funakoshi et al. (1987) Biochemistry 26, 8087]. In this study, three additional anticoagulant proteins (PAP-II, PAP-III, and PAP-IV) were simultaneously isolated from human placental homogenates prepared in the presence of 5 mM ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid. The isoelectric points of PAP-I, PAP-II, PAP-III, and PAP-IV were 4.8, 6.1, 5.9, and 8.1, respectively, and their apparent molecular weights were 32,000, 33,000, 34,000, and 34,500, respectively. Amino acid sequences of cyanogen bromide fragments of these proteins showed that PAP-III was a previously unrecognized member of the lipocortin family, while PAP-II was probably the human homologue of porcine protein II and PAP-IV was a derivative of lipocortin II truncated near the amino terminus. Comparative studies showed that all four proteins inhibited blood clotting and phospholipase A2 activity with potencies consistent with their measured relative affinities for anionic phospholipid vesicles. However, PAP-IV bound to phospholipid vesicles approximately 160-fold more weakly than PAP-I, while PAP-II and PAP-III bound only 2-fold and 3-fold more weakly. These results increase to six the number of lipocortin-like proteins known to exist in human placenta. The observed differences in phospholipid binding may indicate functional differences among the members of the lipocortin family despite their considerable structural similarities.
Formins at a glance.

Formins are conserved actin polymerization machines that have instrumental roles in controlling rearrangements of the actin cytoskeleton and have recently been shown to directly regulate microtubule dynamics. Here, and on the accompanying poster, we aim to organize a rapidly expanding body of
Runtime adaptation: a case for reactive code alignment

Static alignment techniques are well studied and have been incorporated into compilers in order to optimize code locality for the instruction fetch unit in modern processors. However, current static alignment techniques have several limitations that cannot be overcome. In the exascale era, it becomes even more important to break from static techniques and develop adaptive algorithms in order to maximize the utilization of every processor cycle. In this paper, we explore those limitations and show that reactive realignment, a method where we dynamically monitor running applications, react to symptoms of poor alignment, and adapt alignment to the current execution environment and program input, is more scalable than static alignment. We present fetches-per-instruction as a runtime indicator of poor alignment. Additionally, we discuss three main opportunities that static alignment techniques cannot leverage, but which are increasingly important in large scale computing systems: microarchitectural differences of cores, dynamic program inputs that exercise different and sometimes alternating code paths, and dynamic branch behavior, including indirect branch behavior and phase changes. Finally, we will present several instances where our trigger for reactive realignment may be incorporated in practice, and discuss the limitations of dynamic alignment.
Self-Assembly of Tetraphenylporphyrin Monolayers on Gold Substrates

Two tetraphenylporphyrins, TPP-P-disulfide and TPP-P-thiol, were synthesized and used to form self-assembled monolayers (SAMs) on gold surfaces. The monolayers were characterized using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), ultraviolet/visible absorption spectroscopy (UV/vis), and scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). XPS binding energy shifts revealed that the porphyrins were chemisorbed to the surface through a sulfur−gold bond. A red shift without a significant blue-shifted component of the Soret band in the absorption spectra demonstrated that the porphyrin molecules are aligned on the gold surface in a side-by-side orientation. Round STM features, approximately 2 nm in diameter, correspond closely to the diameter of tetraphenylporphyrin (1.8 nm). Taken together, these data indicated the formation of monolayers of uniformly spaced TPP-P-disulfide and TPP-P-thiol molecules, with the porphyrin ring oriented parallel to the gold surface. Furthermore, porphyrin monolayers were stable for at least a week a...
Diffusion and permeation of deuterium in palladium-silver at high temperature and pressure

Abstract The solubility, diffusion coefficient, and permeability of Pd-25 Ag alloy to deuterium have been measured between 0 and 1000 psi at 300 °, 400 °, and 500 °C. Substantial deviations from ideal behavior are observed, particularly for diffusion coefficients, so that permeability cannot be represented as a simple function of pressure. After the diffusion coefficients are corrected for chemical nonideality, an additional increase by a factor of two remains in the concentration dependence of diffusivity. This is attributed to the expanded lattice of the alloy when the deuterium-to-metal ratio is high. A strain-induced shift in solubility was also observed.
Effects of Administration of a LH-RH Inhibitory Analogue on Stages of the Rat Estrous Cycle

Summary[d-Phe2, Phe3, d-Phe6]-LH-RH, a potent antagonist of LH-RH, was injected during the different stages of the estrous cycle in rats at a dose of 1.5 mg/rat. When it was administered at noon or proestrus, a 100% blockade was observed. This decreased to 33% and 17% when the analogue was injected at 9 am on proestrus and diestrus 2, respectively. No blockade of ovulation was observed after the injection of the analogue on diestrus 1 or on the previous estrus. The sequential administration of the analogue twice daily on E, D1 and D2, brought about almost complete suppression of LH surge on proestrus and an 86% blockade of ovulation without altering the cyclic vaginal smear pattern. In this case, serum levels of estradiol were not modified but progesterone levels were significantly lower on proestrus and higher on diestrus 1 in the analogue treated group as compared to control rats. This higher level of progesterone on diestrus 1 might account in part for the inhibition of the LH-surge and blockade of ovu...
Do husbands and wives make the same choices? Evidence from Northern Ethiopia

Abstract This paper uses contingent valuation to test the null hypothesis that husbands and wives do not make the same household resource allocation decisions. This is a new test of the common preference model.
Ordinational analysis of benthic communities upstream and downstream of a prairie storage reservoir

Ordinational analysis of 445 benthic samples taken over the years 1975 through 1979 revealed at least three distinct benthic communities; upstream of the reservoir, in the hypolimnion influenced area, and in the recovered downstream areas. In addition to previously reported influences of thermal constancy, Ca/Na ratio increases in the hypolimnion influenced areas showed high correlation with the dominance of molluscs in the cold water area. Increases in Ca/Na ratios allowed greater reproductive success and better ability to regulate ion concentration in molluscan forms. Combined with thermal regime alterations and high algal cover, most aquatic insects were excluded from this area. The hypolimnion release reservoir and associated downstream areas act as barriers, both thermal and geographical, to aquatic insect dispersal resulting in an impoverished benthic community in thermally recovered areas downstream of the reservoir. This barrier effect, as well as the probability of increased availability of detrital material (from increased periphyton growth in hypolimnion influenced areas) and more uniform flows, has caused changes in dominance structures of benthic communities in recovered downstream areas compared to upstream areas.
Arbeitsweise zur automatischen gas-chromatographischen Dampfraum-Analyse

Ein neues Dosiersystem und eine neue Arbeitsweise zur gas-chromatographisehen Dampfraum-Analyse wurden beschrieben. Bei nicht normierter, also absoluter Auswertung einer Peakhohe errechnete sich eine relative Standardabweichung von besser als 0,7%; bei Auswertung eines Verhaltnisses zweier Peakhohen betrug die relative Standardabweichung weniger als 0,5%. Die Anwendungsmoglichkeiten zu quantitativen Analysen sind an Hand von Blutalkoholmessungen nach Machata beschrieben. Ergebnisse von Dampfraum-Analysen an Teesorten, Tabaken und Kunststoffen dienten als Beispiel fur qualitative Untersuchungen.
Do liberal arts colleges make students more liberal? Some initial evidence

The effect of attending college on students’ political ideology has been a controversial topic for many decades. In this study, we explored the relationship between attending a liberal arts college and students’ political views. Compared to their counterparts at other 4-year institutions, liberal arts college students began postsecondary education with more liberal political views, but also made great changes toward liberal political views over 4 years of college. These greater gains persisted even in the presence of important confounding influences such as pre-college political views. In addition, our analyses suggested a global effect of attendance at a liberal arts college on the development of liberal political views. Attempts to explain the causal mechanisms underlying this apparent institutional influence were only partially successful.
Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans modulates toll-like receptors 2 and 4 in gingival epithelial cells in experimental periodontitis

Background: Periodontitis is a common bacterial infection precipitated by exaggerated host responses to the oral microorganisms, As the first cells to encounter the oral pathogens the gingival epithelial cells (GEC) respond via toll-like receptors (TLR) that recognize conserved microbial patterns. Here we investigated the expression of TLR-2 and TLR-4 in GEC of naοve mice in response to infection with the periodontal pathogen Aggregatibacter actinomycetemcomitans (Aa) . Methods: 7-9 weeks old mice were induced experimental periodontitis by inoculating the palatal gingival with 1x109 colony forming units of Aa. Mice were sacrificed 50 days later and intact maxilla harvested. The degree of alveolar bone loss was determined by micro-CT. Single suspensions of the epithelial cells isolated from palatal gingival tissues were assessed for the expressions of TLR-2 and TLR-4 proteins by flow cytometry and for TLR-2 and TLR-4 mRNA by reverse transcriptase PCR. Differences between the control and the disease groups were determined by students't- test. Results: Both TLR-2 and TLR-4 proteins were significantly elevated in the GEC of mice infected with A . actinomycetemcomitans when compared to the control group. The ratio of TLR-4 to TLR-2 mRNA was upregulated in chornic periodontitis as compared with the control group. Conclusion: Our data suggest that TLR-2 and TLR-4 are regulated differentially in A. actinomycetemcomitans-induced periodontitis.
Eclipse imagery in Mexica sculpture of central Mexico

Abstract Major monuments of the Mexica (Aztec) style are analyzed in terms of possible eclipse imagery. The cycle of monuments linked to the Coyolxauhqui myth are recognized as possible images of historical lunar eclipses. The Bilimek vessel is identified with an historical solar eclipse in 1508. The Calendar Stone is recognized as an image of world cataclysm that may refer to a solar eclipse at the end of the world. In addition, the codices are studied in terms of visual images of eclipses and a pattern linking solar eclipses to the death of a ruler.
SIGACT news complexity theory column 51

Warmest thanks to guest columnist Oded Goldreich for this issue's article. Also, I'd like to commend to all readers the web directory, www.wisdom.weizmann.ac.il/~oded/cc-texts.html, that appears as reference [15] of Oded's column. This directory is a real treasure trove.
Treatment of Community-Acquired Pneumonia— IDSA Guidelines

The Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA) has published guidelines for the treatment of community-acquired pneumonia (CAP). Although Streptococcus pneumoniae remains the most common etiologic agent, Chlamydia pneumoniae and Legionella pneumophila are also important causes. For all suspected CAP patients, particularly those requiring hospitalization, chest radiographs are strongly recommended to confirm the diagnosis. The IDSA guidelines, in contrast to those published by the American Thoracic Society, emphasize the use of sputum Gram's stain and culture in all patients, whenever possible, to establish etiology. This information can be used not only to guide therapy but also to track trends in the etiologic pathogens for CAP and their antibiotic susceptibility. In light of the better outcomes with the earliest possible interventions, the IDSA recommends initial empiric antimicrobial therapy until laboratory results can be obtained to guide more specific therapy. Macrolides, doxycycline, and fluoroquinolones are suggested for primary empiric therapy, since each has activity against common bacterial pathogens and atypical agents. Detailed antibiotic recommendations are made for various pathogens. For inpatients, attempts should be made to cover Legionella and other common pathogenic bacteria. Alternative antibiotics are recommended for patients with structural diseases of the lung, penicillin allergy, or suspected aspiration pneumonia. Switch to an appropriate oral antibiotic is recommended as soon as the patient's condition is stable and he or she can tolerate oral therapy, often within 72 h.
Archival photographs show no climate‐induced changes in woody vegetation in the Sudan, 1943–1994*

An archive of satellite and aircraft photographs of the western Sudan showed no longterm (1943-1994) trends in the abundance of trees despite several decades of recent drought in this region. These data extend the extant historical record of vegetation change in the African Sahel, where recent fluctuations in vegetation greenness have been monitored with the NOAA Advanced Very High Resolution Radiometer since 1980. Despite substantial population turnover, woody vegetation is not yet indicative of the recent climate changes in this region.
Embryonic development of an insect myocardium.

Evidence from light and electron microscopic studies indicates that differentiation of myocardial cells in moth embryos begins at 6 days post-oviposition and is completed on eclosion. Fibrillogenesis, and development of cytoplasmic organelles and membranes are described. The heart is fully differentiated and functional at eclosion.
Diagnosis and management of early asthma in preschool-aged children

Asthma is a common disease in young children and is associated with significant morbidity and an increasing prevalence over time. Early childhood wheezing and asthma are heterogeneous disorders; thus identifying phenotypes of asthma remains a goal to identify high-risk children who might benefit from specific therapies or secondary prevention interventions. The typical pattern of illness in preschool-aged children consists of short but recurrent exacerbations of cough and wheeze usually triggered by viral respiratory tract infections. Documenting reversible airflow obstruction on lung function, allergen sensitization, increased IgE levels, or blood eosinophilia is helpful in establishing a diagnosis of asthma in preschool-aged children, if present; however, the diagnosis is most often based on symptom patterns, presence of risk factors, and therapeutic responses. The preschool-aged asthmatic population tends to be characterized as exacerbation prone with relatively limited impairment, unlike older children and adolescents who have more impairment-dominant disease. However, management of persistent disease is based largely on expert opinion and extrapolation from studies in older children given the relative lack of data in this age group. Strategies used to manage intermittent disease include daily and intermittent controller therapy. Management strategies for persistent asthma include daily inhaled corticosteroids, daily leukotriene receptor antagonists, and combination therapies. Finally, regular monitoring of symptom control and medication side effects is important along with titrating controllers to the minimally effective dose.
Deposition Near Film Cooling Holes on a High Pressure Turbine Vane

Deposition on film-cooled turbine components was studied in an accelerated test facility. The accelerated deposition facility seeds a natural-gas burning combustor with finely-ground coal ash particulate at 1180°C and 180 m/s (M = 0.25). Both cylindrical and shaped holes, with and without TBC coating, were studied over a range of blowing ratios from 0.5 to 4.0. Coolant density ratios were maintained at values from 2.1 to 2.4. Deposition patterns generated with the cylindrical film cooling holes indicated regions of low deposition in the path of the coolant, with heightened deposition between film holes. This distinctive pattern was more accentuated at higher blowing ratios. Optical temperature measurements of the turbine component surface during deposition showed elevated temperatures between coolant paths. This temperature non-uniformity became more accentuated as deposition increased, highlighting a mechanism for deposition growth that has been documented on in-service turbines as well. The shaped-hole components exhibited little or no deposition in the region just downstream of the holes, due to the distributed coolant film. Close cylindrical hole spacing of 2.25d displayed similar behavior to the shaped hole configuration.Copyright © 2008 by ASME
Rate dependence of hydraulic resistance in human lumbar vertebral bodies.

Study Design. Twenty-one intact human lumbar vertebral bodies (L3 and L4) were used to determine the changes in measured intraosseous pressure for 2 volumetric flow rates and to calculate hydraulic resistance in both cases. Objective. To evaluate changes in hydraulic resistance in intact vertebral bodies under different rates of flow. Summary of Background Data. Hydraulic resistance has been implicated in the creation of high-speed vertebral injuries, such as burst fracture, but no previous study has measured hydraulic resistance under high-speed loading conditions. Previous work in whole bone preparations showed that hydraulic resistance was constant under low-speed conditions. The authors hypothesized that: (1) measured pressure would increase with increasing input flow rates, and (2) hydraulic resistance would remain constant at increased input flow rates. Methods. Using 2 input velocity conditions (10 mm/s and 2500 mm/s), resultant pressures were measured and hydraulic resistance calculated. Trabecular architecture was determined using micro-computerized tomography after testing. Results. Measured pressure increased with increasing input flow rates. However, average hydraulic resistance decreased significantly when comparing low-speed (3.40 ± 1.58kPa*s/mL) and high-speed (0.16 ± 0.08kPa*s/mL) groups. Conclusions. Current hydraulic resistance results contradict previous findings. The observed decrease in hydraulic resistance suggests that, during high-speed injury events, marrow flow may damage the trabeculae and thereby weaken the vertebra.
Long-term estradiol replacement decreases contractility of guinea pig coronary arteries to the thromboxane mimetic U46619.

Background Estradiol replacement therapy reduces the incidence of coronary artery disease. Current evidence suggests that estradiol may stimulate the production of endothelium-derived NO and thereby reduce the contractile response of vascular smooth muscle. We investigated the effect of long-term replacement of estradiol on NO release and its effect on coronary artery contractility. Methods and Results Female guinea pigs were ovariectomized and allowed to recover for 100 days. Pellets containing 17β-estradiol (0.25, 0.5, 1.5, and 7.5 mg released over 21 days) were placed subcutaneously for 19 to 20 days. Animals were then anesthetized, and the coronary arteries were excised and cut into ring segments. Rings were placed in small-vessel myographs for measurement of isometric force. Contractile responses of coronary arteries to cumulative addition of U46619 (10−10 to 10−5 mol/L), a thromboxane mimetic, were measured in the presence and absence of nitro-l-arginine (LNA), a selective NO synthase inhibitor, and...
A multiprocessor network suitable for single-chip VLSI implementation

This paper presents a multiprocessor network architecture suitable for VLSI implementation. The proposed class of architectures is based on De Bruijn graphs which are distinct from the well-studied shuffle-exchange graphs. Compared to these latter De Bruijn graphs possess a smaller diameter and a greater fault-tolerance. The proposed architectures are shown to be suitable for efficient execution of parallel algorithms such as the N-point fast Fourier transform (FFT). It is shown that any VLSI layout of the proposed networks requires an area of atleast Ω(N2/logN), thus, providing a lower bound which is greater than that for shuffle-exchange graphs. Two procedures for laying out these networks on a VLSI chip are presented. The first procedure produces an O(N2/logN)-area layout and has a time complexity of O(N). The second procedure also produces an O(N2/logN)-area layout with good aspect ratio close to unity (for small N).
Voyager observations of the interstellar medium in the 500‐ to 1700‐Å spectral region

Observations of the interstellar medium have been obtained in the 500-1700-A spectral region by the ultraviolet spectrometers installed on the Voyager spacecraft. A preliminary analysis of the least complex of the spectra obtained to date indicates measurable emission in spectral lines at 584, 1026, and 1216 A. These emissions are identified with resonance scattering of solar radiation in transitions of helium and atomic hydrogen. The observations in the direction alpha 324 deg, delta-23 deg contain no measurable direct emission or scattering of stellar radiation by the interstellar medium to an upper limit of 0.0005 R/A at 975 A. Spectra obtained in other directions indicate measurable sources of apparent continua having relatively broad spatial extent.
Ion implantation doping of OMCVD grown GaN

Doping by ion implantation using Si, O, Mg, and Ca has been studied in single crystal semi-insulating and n-type GaN grown on a-sapphire substrates. The n-and p-type dopants used in this study are Si and O; Mg and Ca, respectively. Room temperature activation of Si and O donors has been achieved after 1150°C annealing for 120 s. The activation of Mg and Ca acceptors is too low to measure at both room temperature and 300°C. Using higher doses to achieve a measurable p-type conduction increases the amount of damage created by the implantation. Rutherford back scattering measurements on this material indicate that the damage is still present even after the maximum possible heat treatment. Secondary ion mass spectrometry measurements have indicated a redistribution in the measured profiles of Mg due to annealing.
Habituation of the startle response in adrenalectomized rats

Abstract In a series of three experiments adrenalectomized, sham-operated and non-operated rats (N = 15) were presented with 27 tones at each of three intensities on two successive days or 60 tones at a 60 sec interstimulus interval with each tone being followed by another tone either 2, 4, 8 or 16 sec later, or 50 tones at a 30 sec interstimulus interval on each of five successive days. All groups had equivalent initial startle amplitudes and showed equivalent rates of response decrement at each test intensity and each interstimulus interval as well as over successive days of exposure. The results indicate that the adrenal glands are not crucial for habituation of the acoustic startle response and suggest that those aspects of stress adaptation that require an intact adrenal-pituitary system are not important for habituation of the startle.
The case for near-zero production of Antarctic Bottom Water

Abstract The most generally accepted production rate of Antarctic Bottom Water is 20 × 106 m3/sec required by the Stommel and Arons (1960) abyssal circulation model. According to this model, after sinking in the Weddell Sea, this water flows northward into the ocean basins and upwells through the thermocline. Antarctic Bottom Water is rich in dissolved silicon but the thermocline and surface waters are almost silicon-free. If the model is valid, it follows that a removal of silicon must take place from the upwelled waters before they return southward as required by mass conservation. In the Pacific, the amount of silicon removal necessary to satisfy the model is calculated for a transpacific (SCORPIO) section at 28°S. This calculated removal is 30 × 1014g SiO2/yr, which is many times the rate of silicon input to the world oceans. Two mechanisms for silicon removal north of 28°S are discussed, but reasons are given for rejecting both of them. It is concluded that production of Antarctic Bottom Water is negligible at the present time.
Class Formation and the Professionalization of an African Clergy

There is a painting, reproduced by many artists, that enjoys a certain popularity in Zaire. It depicts a young man who, while cutting down a tree on a riverbank, is approached by a lion. He climbs the tree to escape, only to encounter in the branches above him a python. Turning to jump into the river he is confronted with a crocodile. In a precarious situation, up in a nearly severed tree with danger on all sides, there seems to be no escape for him. That the painting enjoys such popularity, hanging in homes, little roadside restaurants, and bars, is not surprising in that it captures the experience of so many people in Zaire. Even those with a fair amount of education, who could be expected to have benefited most from a system of rewards, generally experience the same thing. It is this class of people, those who have aspired toward professional positions as school teachers, medical assistants, clerical workers, and church pastors, who are most vocal in expressing their discontent. For most of them inflation has eroded the economic rewards
Anodic oxidation of dihydronicotinamide adenine dinucleotide at solid electrodes; mediation by surface species

Abstract The mechanism and kinetics for the two-electron oxidation of 1,4-dihydronicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) to NAD+ at gold, platinum and glassy carbon (GC) rotating disc electrodes at various solution pH and NADH concentrations can be rationalized in terms of the electron transfer occurring through mediator redox systems, located close to the electrode surface, such as the redox couples formed by oxygen-containing species adsorbed at Au and Pt surfaces. Analogous catalysis of NADH oxidation is provided by sulfide species adsorbed on a gold electrode surface. An important factor in differentiating the behavior of the three types of electrodes is the strong adsorption of NADH at Pt and Au, and of NAD+ at GC. Since oxidation of adsorbed NADH starts at more positive potential than oxidation of bulk NADH, the latter occurs at Au or Pt electrode surfaces covered by adsorbed NADH, or at GC electrodes surfaces covered to some extent by adsorbed NAD+. The theory for the surface EC catalytic mechanism is considered.
How Service-Learning in Spanish Speaks to the Crisis in the Humanities

Service-learning is a transformational pedagogy with timely application to the teaching and learning of foreign languages. In our current climate of assessment outcomes, language study and the humanities more generally tend to be devalued and rendered invisible by utilitarian models of evaluation. Incorporating service-learning courses and experiences into the foreign language classroom provides real-world immersion for students in their local linguistic and cultural communities, satisfies teachers' desires to connect teaching and research to local community issues, and allows departments to meet institutional and educational goals. Indeed, service-learning points us to new definitions of old concepts -such as the role of the professor and the mission of the university- and embodies the paradoxes we must embrace in the new century.
Effect of Emulsifying Agents on Inhibition of Enzymatic Browning in Apple Juice by Ascorbyl Palmitate, Laurate and Decanoate

The effects of emulsifying agents (EA) on the stability of aqueous dispersions of ascorbyl palmitate (AP), laurate (AL), and decanoate (AD), and on the effectiveness of these compounds as browning inhibitors in apple juice were investigated. The stability of 1.14 mM AP, AL or AD, dispersed in simulated juice, was greatly improved by the addition of hydrophilic EA's such as Tween 60. More lipophilic EA's also were effective in stabilizing AL and AD dispersions. However, the addition of EA's to these browning inhibitors failed to improve their effectiveness in juice and, in the case of Tweens, had a detrimental effect. These results are attributed to the solubilization or activation of bound polyphenol oxidase.
Involvement of protein kinase C and protein tyrosine kinase pathways in tumor necrosis factor-α-induced clustering of ovarian theca-interstitial cells

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF) induces clustering of theca-interstitial cells (TIC) isolated from immature, hypophysectomized rats, while inhibiting luteinizing hormone (LH)-stimulated androstenedione in vitro. Stimulators of PKC, l-oleoyl-2-acetyl-sn-glycerol (OAG, 50 and 100 μM) and phorbol-12-myristate-13-acetate (PMA, 50 nM), caused TIC clustering by 6 days in vitro. Clustering induced by these compounds resembled that induced by TNF. The protein kinase inhibitor, staurosporine at 1 and 10 nM, impaired TNF-induced TIC clustering for 6 days, as did the protein kinase inhibitor, l-(5-isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-methylpiperizine dihydrochloride (H-7); conversely, the protein kinase inhibitor, chelerythrine chloride (0.1, 1.0 or 10 μM), did not attenuate TNF-directed clustering. The protein kinase inhibitors did not reverse the suppression of LH-stimulated androstenedione by TNF. Inhibitors of the EGF receptor PTK, A23 (10, 50, or 100 μM) and A46 (0.1, 1.0, 10, or 50 μM), impaired TNF-induced TIC clustering, while TNF suppression of LH-directed androstenedione was unaffected. EGF-induced TIC clustering was also impaired by A46, while A23 was less effective. Both A23 and A46 blocked EGF attenuation of LH-directed androstenedione after 4 days. When challenged with TNF (1 ng/ml) or PMA (50 nM), PKC activity increased in TIC. A23 (50 μM) and A46 (10 μM) each alone blocked the TNF-associated increase in PKC activity; however, PKC activity attributable to PMA was unaffected by A46. Together, these results suggest that TNF-induced TIC clustering involves activation of PTK which directs subsequent increases in PKC activity; however, mechanisms by which TNF inhibits LH-stimulated steroidogenesis remains elusive.