cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Hemodynamic and anatomic determinants of relative differences in amplitude of the aortic and pulmonary components of the second heart sound

Abstract Intraarterial sound and pressure in the region of normal semilunar valves and the physical characteristics of the normal semilunar valves were measured to determine the factors that cause a difference in amplitude of the aortic and pulmonary components of the second heart sound. During cardiac catheterization, intraarterial sound was measured near the aortic valve in 15 normotensive patients and near the pulmonary valve in 13 patients with normal pulmonary arterial pressure and 17 patients with pulmonary hypertension. Both the rate of change of the diastolic pressure gradient and the amplitude of the pulmonary component of the second heart sound were higher in patients with pulmonary hypertension than in those with normal pulmonary arterial pressure. In patients with pulmonary hypertension, the amplitude of the pulmonary component of the second sound was as great as that of the aortic component. However, even in patients with pulmonary hypertension, diastolic pressure and the rate of change of the pressure gradient across the valve were lower than on the left side of the heart. These findings suggest that anatomic as well as hemodynamic factors determine the relative amplitude of the pulmonary and aortic components of the second sound. Examination of valves dissected from 12 patients at autopsy revealed that the normal pulmonary valve had a larger surface area and was thinner and more distensible than the normal aortic valve. These observations indicate that both the pulmonary and aortic components of the second sound are related to the rate of change of the diastolic pressure gradient that develops across the valves. However, a comparable driving pressure across the pulmonary valve would cause the pulmonary component of the second sound to have a greater amplitude than the aortic component because of the larger surface area and greater distensibility of this valve. These physical characteristics of the pulmonary valve permit it to produce more compression and thus more sound-pressure than the somewhat smaller and less distensible aortic valve.
The allometry of energy reserve depletion: test of a mechanism for size-dependent winter mortality

We experimentally tested the hypothesis that energy reserve depletion varies inversely with size in the fish Menidia menidia, an estuarine fish known to exhibit size-dependent winter mortality. Individuals in two size groups were starved at two winter temperatures (4°and 8°C) and sacrificed at a range of time intervals (up to 127 days). Lipid levels and lean tissue were analyzed to estimate somatic energy storage. As predicted, energy depletion was greater at high temperatures, and proportionally greater in small than in large fish. After 60 days of starvation at 4°C, small fish retained an average of 67% of their original energy reserves (vs 53% at 8°C), while large fish retained an average of 80% (vs 66% at 8°C). At 4°C, fish that were fed depleted their energy reserves as rapidly as unfed fish, but at 8°C, fish that were fed maintained reserves at higher levels than unfed fish. A high proportion of unfed fish (56% at 4°C, 27% at 8°C) died before they were to be sacrificed. Survival probability did not vary with size, nor was it influenced by the amount of energy reserves. The rate of energy depletion (equivalent to routine metabolic rate) decreased gradually over time, particularly in small fish. Routine metabolism did not conform to a single scaling relationship. Within each temperature-size group, the routine rate declined more rapidly than metabolically active mass (lean mass). At 8°C, the difference between size groups in energy depletion rate conformed closely to the expected allometry exponent of 0.8. In contrast, at 4°C, the estimated allometry exponent increased over the experiment (−0.19 to 2.5). We conclude that strategies to minimize energy loss may often modify bioenergetic scaling relationships.
The oxidation-sulfidation behavior of iron alloys containing 16-40 at% aluminum

Iron aluminide alloys containing 16–40 at% aluminum and 0–5 at% chromium were tested in H2S-H2-H2O gas mixtures at 800°C and in air at 800–1000°C. Results were compared with those for developmental FeCrAl alloys. Alloys containing 18% or more aluminum were highly resistant to H2S-H2-H2O gas mixtures, and the corrosion behavior did not change significantly with aluminum concentrations above 18%. A 20 at% Al level was found to be critical for sustained oxidation resistance of binary FeAl alloys in air at 900°C and above. However, the addition of 5 at% Cr at the 16 at% Al level reduced the oxidation rate in air to that of alloys containing ≥20% Al. Corrosion rates of iron aluminides were comparable to FeCrAl alloys in air but were significantly lower than Cr-containing alloys in H2S-H2-H2O. The respective corrosion processes operative for iron aluminides in mixed gas and air are discussed in terms of the observed alloying effects.
Gender role attitudes and college students’ work and family expectations

Work and family issues are becoming increasingly important for both women and men. This study examines college students' plans and attitudes concerning work and family, gender differences in attitudes and expectations, and the effect of gender role attitudes on future expectations. Findings indicate that a majority of men and women expect to marry, have children, and work full-time. While men expect to work more hours at a job, there are no gender differences in ideal work hours. Women who hold more egalitarian gender role attitudes are less definitive in their plans to marry and have children. Egalitarian men expect to work fewer hours and are more willing to stay at home than their traditional counterparts.
Condensation coefficient of water

Abstract Measurements were made during rapid condensation of pure steam in a system designed to minimize all thermal resistance in series with the interfacial vapour-liquid thermal resistance. The system consisted of a horizontal copper tube with a grooved outer surface on which condensation occurred and through which cold water flowed at very high velocity. From numerous measurements at steam temperatures of near 10°C and near 50°C, it was possible to calculate values for the condensation coefficient, σ 1 , as given by the Hertz-Knudsen equation (see equation 4). The results indicate a probable range for σ 1 of This corresponds to a value of σ (the fraction of the molecules which “stick” upon striking the liquid surface) of between 0·35 and 1·0.
Body temperature responses to intramuscular cation injections of young chicks in environments at and below thermoneutrality

Abstract 1. 1. The effect of intramuscular injections of either Na + , K + , Mg 2+ , Ca 2+ or Mn 2+ on rectal body temperature ( T r ) of young chicks at different environmental temperatures was investigated. 2. 2. In a thermoneutral environment Na + , Ca 2+ and Mg 2+ had no effect on T r while K + and Mn 2+ decreased T r . 3. 3. In a cold environment, Na + and K + retarded while Ca 2+ and Mn 2+ augmented the depression of T r seen in control chicks. Mg 2+ had no effect. 4. 4. Intramuscular injections of cations influenced T r of chickens and this effect was dependent on environmental temperature.
Use of Negative Sorption in Studies of Ion Fixation by Hydrobiotite

The exclusion of anions relative to tritiated water from the negatively charged interlamellar spacing of hydrobiotites that have a limited degree of lattice expansion permits measurement of the interlamellar volume. Measurement of the changes in the interlamellar volume and in the exchange capacity, when hydrobiotite lattices are collapsed by potassium treatment or expanded by treatment with sodium tetraphenyl boron, provides a means for estimating the distribution of the surface charge densities of these interstratified minerals.
POSTER: A Logic Based Network Forensics Model for Evidence Analysis

Modern-day attackers tend to use sophisticated multi-stage/multi-host attack techniques and anti-forensics tools to cover their attack traces. Due to the current limitations of intrusion detection and forensic analysis tools, reconstructing attack scenarios from evidence left behind by the attackers of an enterprise system is challenging. In particular, reconstructing attack scenarios by using the information from IDS alerts and system logs that have a large number of false positives is a big challenge. In this paper, we present a model and an accompanying software tool that systematically addresses how to resolve the above problems to reconstruct the attack scenario. These problems include a large amount of data including non-relevant data and evidence destroyed by anti-forensic techniques. Our system is based on a Prolog system using known vulnerability databases and an anti-forensics database that we plan to extend to a standardized database like the NIST National Vulnerability Database (NVD). In this model, we use different methods, including mapping the evidence to system vulnerabilities, inductive reasoning and abductive reasoning to reconstruct attack scenarios. The goal of this work is to reduce the investigators' time and effort in reaching definite conclusion about how an attack occurred. Our results indicate that such a reasoning system can be useful for network forensics analysis.
Optical verification of a technique for in situ ultrasonic measurement of articular cartilage thickness

Several investigators have used pulse-echo ultrasonics to measure the thickness of articular cartilage in situ. The underlying assumption in all measurements was that the second reflection used in thickness calculations was from the calcified-cartilage/cartilage boundary (tidemark). To investigate this assumption, the thickness of 24 cartilage plugs excised from a human femoral head was measured both ultrasonically and optically. Measurements established that the second reflection was from the tidemark and validated the ultrasonic technique as a method of mapping the thickness distribution of articular cartilage in synovial joints in situ.
Extracting TIM properties with localized transient pulses

Thermal engineers require accurate package-level resistance estimates to design optimized cooling systems. Although Theta-JC is a commonly quoted metric to define the junction to case resistance, it does not accurately predict package performance for a range of heat sink and thermal interface material (TIM) conditions. To overcome this limitation, a steady-state and a transient test method is presented to extract the thermal resistance of the TIM. A high resistance adhesive, a low resistance gel and an Indium TIM are investigated. The transient method is shown to be approximately 20% more accurate compared to the steady-state method and also simplifies both the experimental testing and corresponding numerical simulations.
Sustained atrioventricular conduction delay due to interpolated ventricular premature systole.

Abstract A case of marked and persistent P-R prolongation following an interpolated premature ventricular contraction is reported. The importance of the underlying physiologic mechanism and the differentiation of this mechanism from organic impairment of A-V conduction, A-V nodal rhythm with retrograde conduction or of A-V nodal rhythm with A-V dissociation is stressed.
Capillary fragility and vitamin 'P' protective action against radiation.

ConclusionAdministration of leukotaxine, a bacterial polysaccharide or an exposure to ionizing radiation induces increased capillary fragility. Injury to the capillary wall, whether it is caused by ionizing radiation, by leukotaxine, or by a bacterial polysaccharide, can be prevented to a considerable degree by the administration of a vitamin‘P'compound composed of flavonoids naturally present in citrus fruit.
Adult stem cell mobilization enhances intramembranous bone regeneration: a pilot study.

Background Stem cell mobilization, which is defined as the forced egress of stem cells from the bone marrow to the peripheral blood (PB) using chemokine receptor agonists, is an emerging concept for enhancing tissue regeneration. However, the effect of stem cell mobilization by a single injection of the C-X-C chemokine receptor type 4 (CXCR4) antagonist AMD3100 on intramembranous bone regeneration is unclear.
A Comparison of Eight Grades of Fat as Broiler Feed Ingredients

Abstract Seven samples of feed- or pet food-grade fats (feed- and pet food-grade poultry greases, restaurant grease, white grease, animal/vegetable oil blend, palm oil, yellow grease) and one food-grade edible fat (soybean oil) were evaluated for quality and fatty acid composition. Active oxygen method (AOM) stability at 20 h ranged from 2 to 370 meq/kg; iodine value from 78 to 130 g/100 g; total moisture, insolubles, and unsaponifiables from 0.46 to 3.33%; initial peroxide values from 0.2 to 18.4 meq/kg; and free fatty acids from 0.08 to 21.0%. The ME of the fats ranged from 7.1 to 12.7 kcal/g and was positively correlated with AOM stability and iodine value. When the fats were incorporated into corn-and-soybean-meal-based diets at 3 or 6%, no differences in live performance due to fat source were observed. Increasing fat level from 3 to 6% decreased feed conversion by 3.4 points (1.628 vs. 1.662 g/g). Feeding feed-grade poultry grease resulted in significantly smaller abdominal fat pads compared to the other fat sources. Only moisture, insolubles, unsaponifiables, and free fatty acids were significantly correlated with performance responses. Differences were noticed in abdominal fat pad color (lightness and redness) due to fat source. Differences in MEn were not reflected in differences in bird performance.
Laser induced fluorescence and electrothermal atomization: how far from the intrinsic limit of detection?

Abstract A comparison is given between the experimental detection limits obtained for lead and thallium atoms by the technique of laser induced fluorescence with electrothermal atomization and those calculated under the assumption that the limiting noise is due to the intrinsic error in the signal itself (intrinsic detection limit). Four pulsed, tunable dye laser systems are considered, in which the dye is pumped by an excimer laser, a Nd-YAG laser, a N 2 laser and a Cu-vapor laser. The fluorescence is excited and observed longitudinally in a graphite tube atomizer. It is shown that the detection limits obtained are greater than the calculated intrinsic ones by a factor ranging from 79 to 1.3 × 10 4 , depending upon the laser system. Under ideal experimental conditions, i.e. if the detector noise limit is achieved, the intrinsic detection limit for lead in the case of Nd-YAG and N 2 -pumped dye laser systems is practically reached.
CdTe contacts for CdTe/CdS solar cells: effect of Cu thickness, surface preparation and recontacting on device performance and stability

Abstract Device performance of thin film CdTe/CdS solar cells having different methods for fabricating the primary back contact are presented. Wet and dry methods for forming the primary contact (Cu2Te) were evaluated with Cu layers from 0 to 15 nm. Extensive analysis of J–V curves is presented, including effects of temperature, intensity and accelerated stress. A procedure for recontacting stress-degraded cells allowed separation of contact and junction degradation modes. The junction recombination is shown to be a Shockley–Read–Hall mechanism. Stress increases the recombination current density J0 by 2–3 orders of magnitude, resulting in a loss in Voc of 100–200 mV which is not restored with recontacting. Rollover is eliminated by recontacting the device while fill factor is partially restored with recontacting. For devices with a Cu layer, no significant differences in illuminated solar cell performance between the wet and dry process were observed before or after stress, but there were large differences in the dark J–V related to a blocking contact. To first order, unstressed devices without Cu contact layers behave similar to stressed devices with Cu; lower Voc, higher resistance, and appearance of a blocking contact.
Analysis of Human Lung Endothelial Cells for Susceptibility to HIV Type 1 Infection, Coreceptor Expression, and Cytotoxicity of gp120 Protein

The lung represents a potential target during HIV infection, and the onset of AIDS is associated with severe pulmonary complications in many patients. T-lymphocytes and alveolar macrophages form the majority of HIV-infected cells in the lung. However, other cell types in the lung could participate in HIV-mediated lung pathology and their role has not been investigated. The aims of this study were to determine if human lung microvascular endothelial cells (HLMEC) express HIV receptor and coreceptors, and if HIV can directly infect HLMEC. Specifically, we wished to determine if these cells constitute a viral reservoir in the lung, and if HIV-1 envelope proteins induce cytotoxic effects on HLMEC. Our results showed that by flow cytometry, HLMEC failed to express any CXCR4 or CCR5 on their surface. In contrast, RT-PCR revealed the presence of CXCR4 and CCR5 mRNA, but not CD4 in HLMEC. Two dual-tropic HIV-1 isolates failed to infect HLMEC in vitro, as determined by (1) p24 antigen capture ELISA, (2) reverse tr...
Percutaneous central catheters and peripheral intravenous catheters have similar infection rates in very low birth weight infants.

Percutaneous Central Catheters and Peripheral Intravenous Catheters Have Similar Infection Rates in Very Low Birth Weight Infants
Perinatal exposure to low-dose DE-71 increases serum thyroid hormones and gonadal osteopontin gene expression

Polybrominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are flame retardants that have been widely used in manufacturing. They are major household and environmental contaminants that bioaccumulate. Humans are exposed primarily through dust inhalation and dietary ingestion of animal products. In animal studies, high doses of penta-brominated diphenyl ethers (penta-BDEs) in the mg/kg body weight (BW) range negatively impact brain development, behavior, memory, circulating thyroid hormone concentrations, the reproductive system and bone development. We investigated the effects of ingestion of a relatively low dose of the penta-BDE mixture DE-71 by pregnant and lactating rats on reproductive and thyroid parameters of the F1 offspring. F0 mothers received 60 μg/kg BW of DE-71 or vehicle daily by gavage from Day 1.5 of pregnancy through lactation (except the day of parturition). F1 pups were sacrificed at 21 d of age or outbred at approximately 80 d of age. Bred F1 females were sacrificed at Day 14.5 of pregnancy or at five months of age. Bred F1 males were sacrificed at five months of age. DE-71 treatment of the mothers affected the F1 females as evidenced by lower body weights at 80 d and five months of age, elevated serum T3 and T4 concentrations at Day 14.5 of pregnancy and increased thyroid gland weight and ovarian osteopontin mRNA at five months of age. Perinatal DE-71 exposure also increased testicular osteopontin mRNA in 21-day-old F1 males. Utilizing a granulosa cell in vitro model, we demonstrated that DE-71 activated the rat osteopontin gene promoter. Our results are the first to demonstrate that PBDEs increase rodent circulating T3 and T4 concentrations and gonadal osteopontin mRNA, and activate the osteopontin gene promoter. These changes may have clinical implications as others have shown associations between human exposure to PBDEs and subclinical hyperthyroidism, and overexpression of ovarian osteopontin has been associated with ovarian cancer.
Intraoral self injection: I. Effects of delay of reinforcement on resistance to extinction and implications for self-stimulation

Rats prepared with chronic mouth fistulas were allowed to self-inject themselves intraorally with a highly appetitive solution. Resistance to extinction did not differ between animals reinforced contingently with a bar press and animals reinforced after a bar press, at a liquid dipper as in the conventional free operant situation, but did differ from animals reinforced contingently for licking a dipper.
All-triploid Pacific oysters (Crassostrea gigas Thunberg) produced by mating tetraploids and diploids

Abstract To document the reproductive characteristics of tetraploids and determine whether they can be used for triploid production, factorial crosses were made between diploids (D) and tetraploids (T), producing DD, DT, TD and TT groups (female listed first). A normal triploid group was also produced by blocking polar body II with cytochalasin B (3nCB). Survival to spat in TD and DT groups was about the same as in normal diploids, and significantly higher than in the 3nCB and TT groups. As determined by flow cytometry, all surviving oysters from DT and TD crosses were triploids, and only 46% of oysters from the 3nCB group were triploids. TT crosses produced primarily tetraploids despite low survival. At 8 and 10 months of age, triploid oysters from DT and TD groups were 13–51% larger than normal diploids, possibly due to polyploid gigantism. These results suggest that mating tetraploids and diploids is the best method for triploid production, and triploids produced in this way are better suited for aquaculture than those produced by altering meiosis and are ideal for population control.
Cooperation between Viral Interferon Regulatory Factor 4 and RTA To Activate a Subset of Kaposi's Sarcoma-Associated Herpesvirus Lytic Promoters

The four Kaposi's sarcoma-associated herpesvirus (KSHV)-encoded interferon (IFN) regulatory factor homologues (vIRF1 to vIRF4) are used to counter innate immune defenses and suppress p53. The vIRF genes are arranged in tandem but differ in function and expression. In KSHV-infected effusion lymphoma lines, K10.5/vIRF3 and K11/vIRF2 mRNAs are readily detected during latency, whereas K9/vIRF1 and K10/vIRF4 mRNAs are upregulated during reactivation. Here we show that the K10/vIRF4 promoter responds to the lytic switch protein RTA in KSHV-infected cells but is essentially unresponsive in uninfected cells. Coexpression of RTA with vIRF4 is sufficient to restore regulation, a property not shared by other vIRFs. The K9/vIRF1 promoter behaves similarly, and production of infectious virus is enhanced by the presence of vIRF4. Synergy requires the DNA-binding domain (DBD) and C-terminal IRF homology regions of vIRF4. Mutations of arginine residues within the putative DNA recognition helix of vIRF4 or the invariant cysteines of the adjacent CxxC motif abolish cooperation with RTA, in the latter case by preventing self-association. The oligomerization and transactivation functions of RTA are also essential for synergy. The K10/vIRF4 promoter contains two transcription start sites (TSSs), and a 105-bp fragment containing the proximal promoter is responsive to vIRF4/RTA. Binding of a cellular factor(s) to this fragment is altered when both viral proteins are present, suggesting a possible mechanism for transcriptional synergy. Reliance on coregulators encoded by either the host or viral genome provides an elegant strategy for expanding the regulatory potential of a master regulator, such as RTA.
Radiation therapy for leukemia cutis.

Abstract Purpose Leukemia cutis (LC) is the infiltration of the epidermis, dermis, or subcutis by neoplastic leukocytes, resulting in clinically identifiable cutaneous lesions. Electron-based radiation therapy (RT) is often used in the treatment of LC; however, modern studies of RT are lacking. We reviewed our experience to analyze treatment response, disease control, and toxicity associated with RT in order to develop treatment recommendations for patients with LC. Methods and Materials Fifteen patients who underwent treatment for LC at our institution from November 1994 to August 2009 were identified and their medical records were reviewed and analyzed. Results LC presented after a median of 2 (range 0-24) months from acute myeloid leukemia diagnosis. Median survival from time of LC presentation was 23 months (range 0.5-137 months). Thirteen courses of radiation were administered to 12 patients: 9 total skin electron beam (TSEB) therapy and 4 focal treatments. Of patients receiving TSEB, 89% had diffuse LC involvement and 67% were in marrow remission. By contrast, only 25% of patients receiving focal therapy had diffuse LC involvement and only 25% were in marrow remission. Median TSEB dose was 1600 (range 600-2400) cGy. Fifty percent of patients had a complete response to RT but 1-year local control was only 33%. All patients who developed a skin relapse either had active marrow disease at the time of RT or marrow recurrence shortly thereafter. Median survival since RT was 5 (range 0.5-136) months. RT was well tolerated without significant acute effects; however, 1 patient receiving chemotherapy developed radiation recall 1 month after RT. Conclusions Patients with LC have aggressive disease with few long-term survivors. Definitive treatment with TSEB should be utilized only in cases of marrow remission with focal electron therapy reserved for palliation of symptomatic lesions. Long-term prognosis and durable cutaneous remission is dependent on systemic disease control.
Thickness and microstructure effects on alcohol sensing of tin oxide thin films

Porous ultrafine tin oxide ethanol gas sensors in the shape of a thin film have been prepared from tin alkoxide by the sol-gel process. The microstructural evolution of the tin oxide films, which affected the ethanol gas-sensing properties of the films, was investigated as a function of firing temperature and solution concentration. Theoretically, it was expected that ethanol gas sensitivity would increase monotonically with decreasing film thickness, but experimental results showed a maximum sensitivity at about 70 nm. The sudden decrease of the sensitivity below the thickness of 70 nm seemed to be due to the sudden decrease of film porosity, i.e. the sudden decrease of the number of the available sites for the oxidation reaction of ethanol molecules. Thus, it seemed that below the thickness of 70 nm, the sensitivity was governed by microstructure rather than by film thickness.
Mixed partitions of PG(3,q2)

A mixed partition of PG(2n-1,q^2) is a partition of the points of PG(2n-1,q^2) into (n-1)-spaces and Baer subspaces of dimension 2n-1. In (Bruck and Bose, J. Algebra 1 (1964) 85) it is shown that such a mixed partition of PG(2n-1,q^2) can be used to construct a (2n-1)-spread of PG(4n-1,q) and hence a translation plane of order q^2^n. In this paper, we provide several new examples of such mixed partitions in the case when n=2.
Convergence of depth contours for multivariate datasets

Contours of depth often provide a good geometrical understanding of the structure of a multivariate dataset. They are also useful in robust statistics in connection with generalized medians and data ordering. If the data constitute a random sample from a spherical or elliptic distribution, the depth contours are generally required to converge to spherical or elliptical shapes. We consider contour constructions based on a notion of data depth and prove a uniform contour convergence theorem under verifiable conditions on the depth measure. Applications to several existing depth measures discussed in the literature are also considered.
Holocene and recent sediment accumulation rates in Southern Lake Michigan

Abstract Rates of sediment accumulation in Lake Michigan are a key component of its geologic history and provide important data related to societal concerns such as shoreline erosion and the fate of anthropogenic pollutants. Previous attempts to reconstruct Holocene rates of sediment accumulation in Lake Michigan, as well as in the other Laurentian Great Lakes, have been bedeviled by the effect of refractory terrestrial material on radiocarbon ages from total organic carbon samples of lake sediments. AMS radiocarbon ages on small samples of biogenic carbonate (ostracodes and mollusks) in Lake Michigan provide accurate Holocene ages. The present bicarbonate reservoir effect is estimated from shells of mollusks collected live before atmospheric nuclear testing to be 250 yr. From paired samples of biogenic carbonate and terrestrial macrofossils, the past reservoir effect is thought to be less than 500 yr. The radiocarbon ages indicate a distinct decrease in sediment accumulation rates throughout the southern basin of Lake Michigan at about 5 ka, about the time when lake level stabilized at the Nipissing level after rising rapidly for several thousand years. Average rates of sediment accumulation for the historic period (the last 150 yr) can be estimated from radioisotopes ( 210 Pb and 137 Cs ), pollen stratigraphy, and changes in sediment properties associated with human activity. Multiple methods are necessary because at any given site, problems arise in the assumptions or applicability of one or more methods. In general, the mass accumulation calculations suggest that sediments were deposited 4 to 11 times faster in the historic period than before human settlement. The character of the sediment did not change in a dramatic way, but sediment magnetic properties suggest shifts in the sources of sediment. The data suggest that some of the changes in sources and (or) character of the sediment occurred just before human settlement and were probably related to climatic changes associated with the Little Ice Age.
A multicopy, extrachromosomal DNA in Leishmania infantum contains two inverted repeats of the 27.5-kilobase LD1 sequence and encodes numerous transcripts.

Leishmania DNA 1 (LD1) is a 27.5-kb sequence that occurs as an inverted repeat in a 55-kb multicopy, circular DNA in Leishmania infantum ITMAP263. The sequence is also found with a different genomic organization, possibly a tandem array, within a 1.5-Mb chromosome in all Leishmania isolates. About 26 stable transcripts of LD1 sequence, ranging from 0.6 to 15 kb, are found in ITMAP263. Transcripts were detected from both strands of the entire LD1 sequence, but the inverted repeat nature of the circular molecule prevented determination of whether transcription proceeded in one or both directions. Nine abundant transcripts (0.6–8.4 kb) from adjacent regions on the same strand of the repeat unit may represent mature mRNAs. One of these transcripts was shown to contain the 39-nucleotide spliced leader sequence characteristic of the 5′ termini of trypanosomatid mRNAs. Several transcripts from the other strand of the repeat unit are also abundant and contain sequence complementary to some of the putative mRNAs. Less abundant, larger transcripts that span sequences encoding abundant mRNAs are also present, suggesting that transcription of LD1 is polycistronic.
Drug discrimination learning with naloxone: An assessment of the role of precipitated withdrawal

Recently, it has been reported that the opiate antagonist naloxone hydrochloride could serve as a discriminative cue in drug discrimination learning (DDL) within a conditioned taste aversion (CTA) design. Given that the animals were chronically exposed to saccharin and that naloxone has been shown to precipitate withdrawal in animals with such exposure, it was possible that the cue to which these animals attended was that of naloxone-precipitated withdrawal. To test this possibility, in the present study animals were chronically exposed to saccharin for 14 days prior to the pairing of saccharin with a naloxone injection in a procedure that paralleled the parameters of the DDL study within a CTA design. The present findings did not demonstrate a potentiation of a naloxone-induced aversion in animals chronically preexposed to saccharin (i.e., there was no evidence of naloxone-precipitated withdrawal). The failure of chronic saccharin exposure to potentiate a naloxone aversion in the present study, under the procedure that supported naloxone DDL, suggests that naloxone-precipitated withdrawal was not likely the discriminative cue in the previous study.
Parameter Estimation and Threat Localization Using Multiple Robots With Kinematic Constraints

In this paper we present a simple heuristic approach to localize and estimate the parameters of unknown threat sources by use of kinematically constrained sensing robots. Since the distributed sensor robots cannot always be guided by a human it becomes imperative to impart decision making ability to the robots so they navigate themselves through the area of interest to determine the most information about the threats. We achieve this by using the current data collected by robots to generate a rough estimate of the threat parameters via a nonlinear least squares fit of the data collected by robots. We assume that the threat’s dispersion surface can be represented by a superposition of radial basis functions. We develop and test a heuristic algorithm for moving the robots to improve our surface estimate. In general, this requires some of the robots to move towards each of the threat sources while exploring area between these sources. As the motion progresses we update and improve our estimate of the threat surface thus allowing us to refine the paths of the robots for additional data collection. This approach is studied in detail with extensive simulations and results are presented. Our goal is to most efficiently recover the parameters of the threat surface within the least time.Copyright © 2012 by ASME
Asymptotically commuting families of operators

We study families of symmetric operators (Qn) with domains given by the range of self-adjoint contraction semigroups (e−tHn). Assuming the asymptotic commutativity, limn[Qn, e−tHn]=0, and certain other estimates, we establish the existence and properties of a limiting self-adjoint operatorQ=limnQn. We apply these results to the study of an elementary supersymmetry algebra.
The effects of developmental factors on IQ in hemiplegic children

The effects of early unilateral brain lesions on subsequent intellectual functioning were explored in hemiplegic children with congenital or acquired lesions. For congenital hemiplegics who sustained damage pre- or perinatally, lower intellectual functioning (IQ) was most highly associated with longer elapsed time since lesion. Moreover, including lesion size as an additional predictor of IQ did not account for significantly more variance than elapsed time since lesion alone. In contrast, for acquired hemiplegics who sustained damage after birth, lower intellectual functioning was highly associated with larger lesion size. In this group neither elapsed time since lesion nor age at testing accounted for significantly more IQ variance than lesion size alone. Possible effects of maturational factors and functional plasticity are considered in interpreting this pattern of results.
Electron impact ionization rate coefficients and cross sections for highly ionized iron.

Abstract Electron impact ionization cross sections for the ions Fe(XVII)-(XXVI) have been computed in a distorted wave exchange approximation. Analytic fits are provided for the cross section data, as well as for the rate coefficients assuming a Maxwellian electron velocity distribution. For ejection of a 2 p ground state electron, the scaled ionization rate was found to depend linearly on the number of 2 p electrons in the ion.
Agrin mediates cell contact-induced acetylcholine receptor clustering

One of the important events in synapse formation is the accumulation of neurotransmitter receptors beneath the presynaptic nerve terminal. Agrin is a component of the synaptic basal lamina that induces the clustering of acetylcholine receptors when bath-applied to muscle fibers in culture. When a cDNA encoding a putative agrin protein is transfected into cells, the molecule is secreted and concentrated on the extracellular surface. Coculture of transfected cells with muscle fibers induces the formation of receptor patches at contact sites. These results demonstrate that expression of a single gene encoding agrin confers receptor clustering that is restricted to specific sites of cell-muscle contact.
Four Input Multiplexer for Two-Dimensional Gamma-Ray Spectrometry

The use of two-dimensional gamma-ray spectrometry is becoming a standard radiochemical technique for the analysis of cascaded gamma emitters. Coincidence and noncoincidence events from a sample station detector pair are usually stored and displayed in a rectangular data array. Half of this array is redundant if both detectors are identical and matched as to energy response, and another half of the array may be nonessential if the energy scale is adjusted so that all sum peaks of interest have a total energy that is less than the full scale energy of the X and Y axes. The four input multiplexer is a digital device which allows one to feed pulses from four two-dimensional sample stations into one ADC pair and 4096 memory and still record all essential data. Further, the noncoincident data from each sample station is recorded in 240 channels to provide improved singles energy resolution.
Phthalocyanine polymers. IV. Novel type of thermally stable polyimides derived from metal phthalocyanine tetramines and benzophenone tetracarboxylic dianhydride

Poly(metal phthalocyanine)imides of copper, cobalt, nickel, and zinc were synthesized by the reaction of metal phthalocyanino tetramines with benzophenone tetracarboxylic dianhydride. These polymers were characterized by elemental analyses and IR, TGA, and inherent viscosity studies. Noteworthy features of these phthalocyanine polymers are their remarkable thermal and thermooxidative stabilities with char yields at 800°C that range from 78 to 83% in a nitrogen atmosphere. The relative thermal stabilities of these polymers have been evaluated by activation energy measurements.
Full-field measurements of flow through a scaled metal foam replica

Open-celled foam geometries show great promise in heat/mass transfer, chemical treatment, and enhanced mixing applications. Flow measurements on these geometries have consisted primarily of observations of the upstream and downstream effects the foam has on the velocity field. Unfortunately, these observations give little insight into the flow inside the foam. We have performed quantitative flow measurements inside a scaled replica of a metal foam, ϕ = 0.921, DCell = 2.5 mm, by Magnetic Resonance Velocimetry to better understand the fluid motion inside the foam and give an alternative method to determine the foam cell and pore sizes. Through these 3-D, spatially resolved measurements of the flow field for a cell Reynolds number of 840, we have shown that the transverse motion of the fluid has velocities 20–30% of the superficial velocity passing through the foam. This strong transverse motion creates and dissipates streamwise jets with peak velocities 2–3 times the superficial velocity and whose coherence length is strongly correlated to the cell size of the foam. This complex fluid motion is described as “mechanical mixing” and is attributed to the geometry of the foam. A mechanical dispersion coefficient, DM, was formed which demonstrates the transverse dispersion of this geometry to be 14 times the kinematic viscosity and 10 times the thermal diffusivity of air at 20°C and 1 atm.
Opportunities for Advance Practice Nurses in the Nursing Facility

Advance practice nurses (APNs) have emerged as valuable members of the nursing facility interdisciplinary team. They function in a variety of roles, including clinical care, administration, nursing consultation, and education. Positive outcomes in key indicators of care and reduction in costs to the healthcare systems have been attributed to their practice. Barriers to implementation of the role include regulatory issues, facility resistance, and difficulty adapting to the environment. Facilitation of the role is enhanced by collegial relationships and role negotiation. There is strength in the APN–physician collaborative model. The APN is likely to concentrate on prevention, restoration, maintenance, and palliative care, allowing the physician to concentrate on complex medical problems. There is a need for APN practices to identify APN-sensitive outcomes, collect and analyze data, and disseminate findings.
Reciprocal Tradeoffs between Molt and Breeding in Albatrosses

Abstract. Many large birds cannot replace all their flight feathers annually, creating potential life-history tradeoffs between breeding and molting. We show for the Black-footed Albatross (Phoebastria nigripes) that adults with overly worn primary flight feathers suffer reduced fledging success in the current breeding season and are likely to skip the next breeding season, even though they are still alive. If worn flight feathers affect breeding detrimentally, it follows that worn flight feathers accumulate because time for molt is limited. We show that individuals that spend more time breeding replace fewer flight feathers in the following molt. Thus in the Black-footed Albatross incomplete molts link more time invested in breeding to reduced feather quality, and feather quality predicts breeding success in the current season and breeding effort in the following year. Detrimental effects of flightfeather wear on breeding should be expected in other birds that cannot replace all their flight feathers ann...
The effect of oxytocin on contractility of the equine oesophagus: a potential treatment for oesophageal obstruction.

Summary This study was performed to determine the effect of administration of i.v. oxytocin on the contractility of the musculature associated with the equine oesophagus. Nine clinically normal horses were fitted with a nasogastric tube modified with inflatable latex cuffs. These cuffs were connected to piezoelectric pressure recording devices. Oxytocin in 3 different doses or saline controls were administered i.v. in a randomised block pattern. Systolic blood pressure, ECG, heart rate and nasogastric tube cuff pressures were then measured for 60 min. Administration of oxytocin i.v. at 0.11 and 0.22 iu/kg bwt, resulted in a short-term statistically significant relaxation of the musculature of the equine oesophagus. When oxytocin was administered at 0.11, 0.22 and 0.44 iu/kg bwt, no clinically significant cardiovascular changes were seen. In approximately 5% of the oxytocin administrations, signs of mild short-term abdominal discomfort were observed. In clinical cases of noncomplicated oesophageal obstruction, it is suggested that reduction in tone of oesophageal musculature may result in passage of oesophageal obstructions with reduced risk of oesophageal injury when compared to other traditional treatments.
A hog cholera virus-fluorescent antibody system. Its potential use in study of embryonic infection.

SummaryA hog cholera virus-fluorescent antibody system has been developed using pathogen-free pigs as the source of globulins. Heterologous globulin was developed by hy-perimmunizing pathogen-free genetically small pigs with 3 strains of virulent hog cholera virus. Success of the system appeared to be based on use of pigs having minimum of non-specific globulins, complement for antigen-antibody union, and globulins which approach maximum levels of conjugation to fluorescein isothiocyanate. Use of this system in the study of viral infections of swine embryos and for rapid diagnosis of hog cholera are discussed.
Steric course of triazole formation from acetylenic sugars and phenyl azide

Abstract Condensation of the acetylenic sugar 1,2-dideoxy-4,5:6,7-di- O -isopropylidene- d - gluco -hept-1-ynitol ( 1 ) with phenyl azide gave mainly the 1-phenyl-1,2,3-triazole derivative ( 5 ) having the sugar chain at C-4, together with a minor proportion of the 5-substituted analogue ( 6 ). The d - manno analogue ( 2 ) of 1 reacted similarly, to give the corresponding 4-substituted ( 13 ) and 5-substituted ( 14 ) 1-phenyl-1,2,3-triazoles. Structures of the products were established by degrading 5 and 13 to 1-phenyl-1,2,3-triazole-4-carboxaldehyde ( 11 ), and 6 and 14 to 1-phenyl-1,2,3-triazole-5-carboxaldehyde ( 12 ). The optical rotatory behavior of the derivatives having an unsubstituted sugar chain attached to the triazole ring is in accord with the Generalized Heterocycle Rule, but the rule does not hold for some of the derivatives having substituents on the sugar chain.
Protection against bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome is associated with allograft CCR7+ CD45RA- T regulatory cells.

Bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome (BOS) is the major obstacle to long-term survival after lung transplantation, yet markers for early detection and intervention are currently lacking. Given the role of regulatory T cells (Treg) in modulation of immunity, we hypothesized that frequencies of Treg in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) after lung transplantation would predict subsequent development of BOS. Seventy BALF specimens obtained from 47 lung transplant recipients were analyzed for Treg lymphocyte subsets by flow cytometry, in parallel with ELISA measurements of chemokines. Allograft biopsy tissue was stained for chemokines of interest. Treg were essentially all CD45RA−, and total Treg frequency did not correlate to BOS outcome. The majority of Treg were CCR4+ and CD103− and neither of these subsets correlated to risk for BOS. In contrast, higher percentages of CCR7+ Treg correlated to reduced risk of BOS. Additionally, the CCR7 ligand CCL21 correlated with CCR7+ Treg frequency and inversely with BOS. Higher frequencies of CCR7+ CD3+CD4+CD25hiFoxp3+CD45RA− lymphocytes in lung allografts is associated with protection against subsequent development of BOS, suggesting that this subset of putative Treg may down-modulate alloimmunity. CCL21 may be pivotal for the recruitment of this distinct subset to the lung allograft and thereby decrease the risk for chronic rejection.
Effects of a small-scale, very short-term service-learning experience on college students.

Abstract This study examined the effects of a small-scale, very short-term (8–10 h) service-learning experience on college undergraduates. Repeated measures analysis of variance indicated that students participating in this experience reported maintenance of their sense of social responsibility, an increased sense of the meaningfulness of college, and an increased likelihood of choosing a service-related occupation, when compared to non-participating matched counterparts. These findings provide support for the notion that minimally resource-intensive service-learning programs can provide students with some of the benefits of service-learning that have been identified in longer, more intensive experiences.
ANXIETY, PHYSICAL ATTRACTIVENESS, AND LIKEABILITY OF PERSONALITY IN MENTAL RETARDATES.

The hypothesis that female admissions to a hospital for the mentally retarded should be more deviant among females in general (on factors other than IQ) than male admissions are among males in general is studied in more detail. Cross-classifying the sample by sex and IQ, the hypothesis is generally supported for manifest anxiety and physical attractiveness but not for likeability of personality. Some speculative comments are made about the two empirical failures to follow the hypothesis.
Modeling and Verification of an Innovative Active Pneumatic Vibration Isolation System

This paper presents a novel concept in active pneumatic vibration isolation. The novelty in the concept is in utilizing an air-spring-orifice-accumulator combination to vary the natural frequency as well as inject damping into the system per requirement, thereby eliminating the need for a hydraulic cylinder or a magnetorheological damper. This continuously variable natural frequency and damping (CVNFD) technology is aimed at achieving active vibration isolation. For analysis purposes, a particular application in the form of pneumatic seat suspension for off-road vehicles is chosen. A mathematical model representing the system is derived rigorously from inertial dynamics and first principles in thermodynamics. Empirical corelations are also used to include nonlinearities such as friction that cannot be accounted for in the thermodynamic equations. An exhaustive computational study is undertaken to help understand the physics of the system. The computational study clearly depicts the CVNFD capability of the vibration isolation system. An experimental test rig is built to experimentally validate analytical and simulation modeling of the system. Experimental verification corroborated the variable natural frequency and damping characteristic of the system observed through computational simulations.