cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Exposure, Involvement and Satisfaction with Online Activities: A Cross-National Comparison of American and Indian Internet Users

Within a context of primary online activities (e-commerce, information search, communication and entertainment), this study explores exposure (time and frequency), involvement (cognitive and emotional) and post-exposure satisfaction with online activities among Internet users in the US and India. Data were collected through a cross-sectional online survey administered to a non-probability sample of US and Indian Internet users (N = 700). US and Indian Internet users displayed similar patterns of activity engagement. Informative and communicative Internet use, as compared to commercial and recreational use, appears more prevalent at this time. Satisfaction was highest for information search and communication, activities for which higher levels of cognitive and emotional involvement and exposure were also reported. By comparison, lower satisfaction levels were reported for e-commerce and online entertainment, with lower levels of involvement and exposure as well. A notable exception was high cognitive invol...
Different physiological mechanisms control isovolumetric regulation and regulatory volume decrease in chick embryo cardiomyocytes.

Cultured chick embryo cardiac myocytes submitted to a 180 mOsm/kg hyposmotic solution swell present a regulatory volume decrease (RVD). This RVD is mediated by a Ca(2+)influx followed by a 40% loss of total taurine content accompanied by the loss of lesser amounts of other osmolytes. Kidney cells respond to a gradual change in osmolality by maintaining their volume at the initial level. This is termed isovolumetric regulation (IVR), which may activate regulatory processes other than those observed with sudden changes in osmolality. When cardiac myocytes were exposed to a gradual change in osmolality, they show a partial IVR which is not dependent upon extracellular Ca(2+). Potassium channel blockers, quinidine and Ba(2+), and the chloride channel blocker, diphenylamine-2-carboxylate (DPC), compromise IVR in our model. Tritiated taurine loss and total intracellular K(+)contents were analyzed in cultured cardiomyocytes submitted to a gradual change in osmolality. The cultured cells lost approximately 10% of their taurine and 35% of their total K(+). These findings suggest that different compensatory mechanisms are activated when cells are exposed to stepwise and gradual changes in osmolality. Inorganic osmolytes (through conductive pathways) are preferentially mobilized during the physiological and/or patho-physiological IVR situation, perhaps reflecting energetic conservation in response to a less traumatic event for the cardiac myocytes.
Synthesis and characterization of functionalized magnetic nanoparticles

Magnetic nanoparticles have been used in a wide array of industrial and biomedical applications due to their unique properties at the nanoscale level. They are extensively used in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), magnetic hyperthermia treatment, drug delivery, and in assays for biological separations. Furthermore, superparamagnetic nanoparticles are of large interest for in vivo applications. However, these unmodified nanoparticles aggregate and consequently lose their superparamagnetic behaviors, due to high surface to volume ratio and strong dipole to dipole interaction. For these reasons, surface coating is necessary for the enhancement and effectiveness of magnetic nanoparticles to be used in various applications. In addition to providing increased stability to the nanoparticles in different solvents or media, stabilizers such as surfactants, organic/inorganic molecules, polymer and co-polymers are employed as surface coatings, which yield magnetically responsive systems. In this work we present the synthesis and magnetic characterization of Fe3O4 nanoparticles coated with 3-aminopropyltriethoxy silane (APS) and citric acid. The particles magnetic hysteresis was measured by a superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) magnetometer with an in-plane magnetic field. The uncoated and coated magnetic nanoparticles were characterized by using fourier transform infrared (FTIR), UV-vis, X-ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, and thermo-gravimetric analysis.
Chiral separations using the macrocyclic antibiotics: a review

The macrocyclic antibiotics have recently gained popularity as chiral selectors in CE, HPLC and TLC. The macrocyclic antibiotics used for chiral separations include the ansamycins, the glycopeptides, and the polypeptide antibiotic thiostrepton. Although not strictly considered macrocyclic antibiotics, the aminoglycosides are antibiotics that have been used for chiral separations in CE. More chiral analytes have been resolved using the glycopeptides than with the other macrocyclic antibiotics combined. The glycopeptides vancomycin, ristocetin A and teicoplanin have been used extensively as chiral selectors in CE, with ristocetin A appearing to be the most useful chiral selector followed by vancomycin and teicoplanin, respectively. The macrocyclic antibiotics have also been used as chiral bonded phases in HPLC, and HPLC stationary phases based on vancomycin, ristocetin A and teicoplanin have been commercialized. Ristocetin A seems to be the most useful glycopeptide HPLC bonded phase, but its greater expense can be a drawback. The macrocyclic antibiotics have been used with micelles to improve efficiency, provide unique selectivity, and extend the range of separations to neutral solutes. Changing the macrocyclic antibiotic used in CE or HPLC can significantly alter the enantioselectivity of the separations. In fact, the glycopeptide antibiotics are complementary to one another, where if a partial enantioresolution is obtained with one glycopeptide, there is a high probability that a baseline or better separation can be obtained with another.
Robust metabolic responses to varied carbon sources in natural and laboratory strains of Saccharomyces cerevisiae.

Understanding factors that regulate the metabolism and growth of an organism is of fundamental biologic interest. This study compared the influence of two different carbon substrates, dextrose and galactose, on the metabolic and growth rates of the yeast Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Yeast metabolic and growth rates varied widely depending on the metabolic substrate supplied. The metabolic and growth rates of a yeast strain maintained under long-term laboratory conditions was compared to strain isolated from natural condition when grown on different substrates. Previous studies had determined that there are numerous genetic differences between these two strains. However, the overall metabolic and growth rates of a wild isolate of yeast was very similar to that of a strain that had been maintained under laboratory conditions for many decades. This indicates that, at in least this case, metabolism and growth appear to be well buffered against genetic differences. Metabolic rate and cell number did not co-vary in a simple linear manner. When grown in either dextrose or galactose, both strains showed a growth pattern in which the number of cells continued to increase well after the metabolic rate began a sharp decline. Previous studied have reported that O2 consumption in S. cerevisiae grown in reduced dextrose levels were elevated compared to higher levels. Low dextrose levels have been proposed to induce caloric restriction and increase life span in yeast. However, there was no evidence that reduced levels of dextrose increased metabolic rates, measured by either O2 consumption or CO2 production, in the strains used in this study.
Peroxisomal Metabolism of Propionic Acid and Isobutyric Acid in Plants

The subcellular sites of branched-chain amino acid metabolism in plants have been controversial, particularly with respect to valine catabolism. Potential enzymes for some steps in the valine catabolic pathway are clearly present in both mitochondria and peroxisomes, but the metabolic functions of these isoforms are not clear. The present study examined the possible function of these enzymes in metabolism of isobutyryl-CoA and propionyl-CoA, intermediates in the metabolism of valine and of odd-chain and branched-chain fatty acids. Using 13C NMR, accumulation of β-hydroxypropionate from [2-13C]propionate was observed in seedlings of Arabidopsis thaliana and a range of other plants, including both monocots and dicots. Examination of coding sequences and subcellular targeting elements indicated that the completed genome of A. thaliana likely codes for all the enzymes necessary to convert valine to propionyl-CoA in mitochondria. However, Arabidopsis mitochondria may lack some of the key enzymes for metabolism of propionyl-CoA. Known peroxisomal enzymes may convert propionyl-CoA to β-hydroxypropionate by a modified β-oxidation pathway. The chy1–3 mutation, creating a defect in a peroxisomal hydroxyacyl-CoA hydrolase, abolished the accumulation of β-hydroxyisobutyrate from exogenous isobutyrate, but not the accumulation of β-hydroxypropionate from exogenous propionate. The chy1–3 mutant also displayed a dramatically increased sensitivity to the toxic effects of excess propionate and isobutyrate but not of valine. 13C NMR analysis of Arabidopsis seedlings exposed to [U-13C]valine did not show an accumulation of β-hydroxypropionate. No evidence was observed for a modified β-oxidation of valine. 13C NMR analysis showed that valine was converted to leucine through the production of α-ketoisovalerate and isopropylmalate. These data suggest that peroxisomal enzymes for a modified β-oxidation of isobutyryl-CoA and propionyl-CoA could function for metabolism of substrates other than valine.
Podcast Model for Medical Student Electroencephalogram Instruction

Podcast technology remains attractive for educational purposes. Limited exposure to subjects like electroencephalograms (EEGs) and departure from traditional lectures may impact podcasting’s educational value. This pilot study aimed to assess the increase of EEG knowledge using a curriculum consisting of Web-based video podcasting compared to a traditional lecture-based curriculum. The medical students (podcast group) received the curriculum with video podcasting; the controls, comprising first-year residents without exposure to EEG, received conventional didactics. All participants then interpreted 10 EEGs with a neurophysiologist. Evaluation tools were administered at baseline (before any EEG instruction) and after 10 EEG interpretations. The podcast group was also evaluated after the podcast instruction. Evaluation tools were unique for each assessment time period, comprising 25 questions designed for curriculum evaluation. Scores represent the correct number of questions. Fourteen fourth-year medical students comprised the podcast group; 10 participants were in the control group. The mean scores with standard deviations were 8.43 ± 2.38 at baseline, 13.64 ± 2.71 after the podcast (p ≤ 0.0001), and 14.86 ± 2.63 (p ≤ 0.0001) after interpreting 10 EEGs. Statistical analysis revealed evaluation scores for the podcast group increased between baseline and after 10 EEG interpretations comparable to controls that received the traditional lecture-based EEG curriculum (p = 0.003) (control group: baseline = 9.70 ± 1.49, after 10 EEGs = 13.44 ± 2.30). Video podcasting in this pilot study as measured by the evaluation tools was more effective for increasing EEG knowledge than traditional lecture-based didactics.
An assay for free L-fucose in the presence of the bound sugar.

Abstract An assay for free l -fucose in the presence of the bound form is described. It is based upon the enzymatic conversion of free l -fucose to l -fuculose which is measured by the cysteine-carbazole reaction. The assay is sensitive, relatively specific, and is well suited for the measurement of fucosidases.
Long-term family firm survival and growth considering owning family adaptive capacity and federal disaster assistance receipt

Abstract Natural disasters are expected to increase in number and severity. This study initiates a stream of research on effective family business strategies to address the threat of natural disasters to long-term survival and growth of family firms. The purpose of this study was to analyze the mitigating effects of the owning family's adaptive capacity and federal disaster assistance on long-term survival and growth of family firms. Data for 282 family firms in the National Family Business Panel were merged with data on federal disaster assistance from the Public Entity Risk Institute. Indicators of family adaptive capacity had both more numerous significant effects and larger effects on survival and growth than did business characteristics. Experiencing fewer negative family stressors meant a greater likelihood of remaining open from 1997 to 2007 and increasing revenue from 2000 to 2007. Consistent family leadership in times of stability and change and resource focused-management practices decreased the likelihood of survival. Family firms benefitted indirectly from federal disaster assistance to the county and directly from federal disaster assistance when a natural disaster hit their own family firms.
Classroom Design and Student Engagement

Student engagement is fundamental to a learner-centered curriculum across the United States. This study examined behavioral, cognitive, and emotional aspects of student engagement as related to classroom design in 189 health science students in four different courses. Measures of student engagement in two sections of the same class were compared according to classroom space design: grouped tables or traditional rows. Results indicated that students in lecture-based classes showed higher cognitive engagement in classrooms organized in traditional rows, whereas students in group-focused classes showed higher cognitive engagement in classroom space organized around grouped tables. Results did not support the current belief that innovative seating improves student engagement across all contexts. The relationship between student engagement and classroom design must be considered along with class format and learning objectives.
ArchEvol: versioning architectural-implementation relationships

Previous research efforts into creating links between software architecture and its implementations have not explicitly addressed versioning. These earlier efforts have either ignored versioning entirely, created overly constraining couplings between architecture and implementation, or disregarded the need for versioning upon deployment. This situation calls for an explicit approach to versioning the architecture-implementation relationship capable of being used throughout design, implementation, and deployment. We present ArchEvol, a set of xADL 2.0 extensions, ArchStudio and Eclipse plug-ins, and Subversion guidelines for managing the architectural-implementation relationship throughout the entire software life cycle.
Sulfur-induced greenhouse warming on early Mars

[1] Mineralogical, geological, geophysical, and isotopic data recently returned from Mars suggest that the delivery of sulfur gases to the atmosphere may have played a significant role in the planet's early evolution. Using the Gusev Crater basalt composition and a batch melting model, we obtain a high sulfur solubility, approximately 1400 ppm, in Martian mantle melts. We proceed to explore different scenarios for the pulsed degassing of sulfur volatiles associated with the emplacement of near-surface dikes during the late Noachian or early Hesperian, when surface pressures are thought to be substantially higher than present. We investigate background Martian atmospheres of 50 and 500 mbar CO2 with varying abundances of H2O and sulfur volatiles (H2S and SO2 mixing ratios of 10−3 to 10−6). Results suggest that these sulfur volatile influxes, alone, could have been responsible for greenhouse warming up to 25 K above that caused by CO2. Including additional water vapor feedback, this process could have raised the early surface temperature above the freezing point for brines and possibly allowed transient liquid water on the Martian surface. Each temperature rise was likely to have been short-lived, however, due to brief residence times for sulfur volatiles in an optically thin atmosphere.
Probiotics The benefits of bacterial cultures

Probiotics are bacterial cultures widely used in the treatment of disease. They are available without a prescription. Bacterial interference between types of bacteria and immunomodulation are the most common explanations as to why people may benefit from these treatments. The data on the use of probiotics in pediatric and adult diarrhea, inflammatory bowel disease, ileal pouchitis, urogenital infections, allergy, skin infections, and cancers are reviewed. Although generally safe, cases of complications from probiotic therapy are discussed, as well as potential problems that may develop.
Shaping Silicon Nitride With a Carbon Dioxide Laser by Overlapping Multiple Grooves

On etudie la possibilite de faconner des ceramiques de Si 3 N 4 par recouvrement de rainures multiples produites par un faisceau laser au CO 2 fonctionnant en continu. On examine l'influence des parametres experimentaux, on discute d'une strategie pour le faconnage au laser et on presente une evaluation economique
A Soilless Verticillium Wilt Assay Using an Early Flowering Lettuce Line.

Klosterman, S. J., and Hayes, R. J. 2009. A soilless Verticillium wilt assay using an early flowering lettuce line. Plant Dis. 93:691-698. A soilless growth chamber assay was evaluated for rapid assessment of Verticillium wilt on lettuce (Lactuca sativa). Seedlings of the early flowering Plant Introduction (PI) 251246 were inoculated in tubes with conidial suspensions of isolates of Verticillium dahliae from lettuce or cauliflower. PI 251246 developed significant leaf and root symptoms by 21 days following inoculation with isolates of race 1 and race 2 from lettuce, but not following inoculation with an isolate from cauliflower. In contrast, leaf symptoms on the cultivar La Brillante and root symptoms on the cultivar Salinas were not easily differentiated from the symptoms observed on the noninoculated control treatments in the soilless assay, even at the highest inoculum concentration of 1 × 10 7 conidia/ml. Comparison of the soilless growth chamber assay and a soil-based greenhouse assay revealed a significantly higher proportion of PI 251246 with root vascular discoloration in the soilless assay compared with the soil-based greenhouse assay (χ 2 , 1 df = 8.9; P = 0.003). There is thus an advantage to using the soilless growth chamber assay with PI 251246. Compared with the soil-based greenhouse assay, the soilless assay reduced the time required for evaluation of Verticillium wilt symptoms on lettuce from about 90 days to 42 days.
‘Adventure therapy’ combined with cognitive-behavioral treatment for overweight adolescents

Since peers have such an important influence on adolescents, we evaluated the efficacy of adding peer-based ‘adventure therapy’ to a standard cognitive-behavioral weight control program for overweight adolescents. Adolescents (N=76) aged 13–16 years and 20 to 80% overweight (M=60.56%, s.d.=15.17%), were randomly assigned to one of two treatment conditions: cognitive-behavioral group treatment with ‘adventure therapy’ similar to Outward Bound® (cognitive-behavioral treatment with peer-enhanced adventure therapy (CBT+PEAT)) or cognitive-behavioral group treatment with aerobic exercise (CBT+EXER). Anthropometric and psychosocial measures were obtained at baseline, at the end of the 16-week intervention, and at 10 months following randomization. Adolescents assigned to both treatment conditions demonstrated significant weight loss over time, F=29.06, df=2, 53, P<0.01. Average weight loss did not differ significantly between groups (−5.31 kg for CBT+PEAT and −3.20 kg for CBT+EXER) at the end of treatment. There was a significant difference in the percentage of participants maintaining a minimum 4.5 kg (10 pounds) weight loss (35% in the CBT+PEAT condition vs 12% in the CBT+EXER condition, P=0.042) 10 months from randomization. We also observed a significant age by treatment group interaction, such that older adolescents randomized to CBT+PEAT demonstrated more than four times the weight loss of older adolescents assigned to CBT+EXER (M=−7.86 kg vs M=−1.72 kg) at the end of treatment. Peer-based ‘adventure therapy’ is a promising adjunct to standard cognitive-behavioral weight control intervention for adolescents, and may be most effective for older adolescents.
Colorectal Cancer in Patients with Inflammatory Bowel Disease

Patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) are subject to increased risks for the development of colorectal cancer (CRC), risks that are attributed to the duration and anatomic extent of disease in patients with ulcerative colitis and Crohn's disease. Although IBD contributes only 1%-2% to all cases of CRC, the mortality rate in patients with a diagnosis of CRC in the setting of IBD is higher than for those afflicted with sporadic cases of CRC. Given the length of time from IBD onset to the development of CRC, surveillance continues to be widely practiced. Although still under development, novel techniques for the earlier detection of dysplastic lesions have moved to the forefront in an attempt to optimize surveillance strategies and decrease the risk of CRC development.
A low-power, high-linearity filter bank for auditory signal processing microsystem

We present an implementation of an auditory filter bank that decomposes the input signal into 16 parallel bands with central band frequencies ranging from 150 Hz to 10 kHz according to the mel-scale. The proposed integration of the designed filter bank in a microsystem for acoustic source separation poses a stringent constraints on the linearity and dynamic range of the filters. The capacitive attenuation is used to increase the voltage range at the input and the output of the filter. The simulation results demonstrate that the third order harmonic distortion of the bandpass filter with the central frequency of 150Hz is -59.6dB and dynamic range is 59.9dB. The power consumption of the filter bank implemented in 0.5μm CMOS technology is 36 μW.
Modularity in Revision Total Hips: The Use of the Distally-Fixed Stem

Total hip arthroplasty is one of the most successful procedures performed. Despite its success, there is an increasing burden of revision surgery. Revision surgeries can be complex and are often complicated by severe bone loss. Implant designs are constantly evolving to address problems encountered in revision surgery. The distally fixed modular stem has been designed to help the orthopedic surgeon adequately address proximal femoral bone loss in the revision setting. As with any technology, distally fixed modular stems must be correctly used in the appropriate patient. Short- to midterm data show early clinical success for these stems, but long-term data are needed.
Examination of the moving boundaries associated with non-Fickian water swelling of glassy gelatin beads: effect of solution pH

Abstract The moving boundaries associated with non-Fickian water swelling in glassy gelatin beads were studied. Using optical microscopy, dynamic profiles for both the swelling gelatin front and the inwardly moving water front were established. Interestingly, the water front profile exhibited three distinct regions of movement, and they were defined as: an initial square root of time region (Fickian), a steady-state velocity region (apparent Case II transport), and a final region where the front accelerated near the bead's center (apparent Super Case II transport). Solution pH of the swelling medium was shown to have no measurable effect on the steady-state velocity of the water front, even though separate water sorption studies demonstrated substantial pH effects on total water uptake by the ionizable gelatin matrix.
Inhibition of pancreatic protein secretion by ghrelin in the rat

1. The role of ghrelin in the regulation of pancreatic protein secretion was investigated in vivo using anaesthetized rats with pancreatic ductal cannulas, and in isolated pancreatic acinar cells and pancreatic lobules in vitro. 2. In vivo, pancreatic protein output stimulated by CCK-8 (400 pmol kg(-1) h(-1)) was dose-dependently inhibited by continuous ghrelin infusion (1.2 and 12 nmol kg(-1) h(-1)) by 45 +/- 8 and 84 +/- 7 %, respectively. 3. In rats with acute subdiaphragmatic vagotomy, ghrelin (12 nmol kg(-1) h(-1)) significantly inhibited CCK-stimulated pancreatic protein secretion by 75 +/- 18 %. 4. Infusion of ghrelin (12 nmol kg(-1) h(-1)) abolished pancreatic protein secretion caused by the central vagal stimulant 2-deoxy-D-glucose (75 mg kg(-1)), whereas bethanechol-stimulated pancreatic protein output was inhibited by only 59 +/- 7 %. 5. In vitro, ghrelin (10(-11)-10(-7) M) produced no change in basal amylase release from dispersed, purified acinar cells. Co-incubation of ghrelin (10(-11)-10(-7) M) with CCK-8 (10(-10) M) demonstrated no inhibition of CCK-stimulated amylase release from dispersed acini. In contrast, ghrelin (10(-9)-10(-7) M) dose-dependently inhibited amylase release from pancreatic lobules exposed to 75 mM potassium. 6. Our results show that (1) ghrelin is a potent inhibitor of pancreatic exocrine secretion in anaesthetized rats in vivo and in pancreatic lobules in vitro; and (2) the actions of ghrelin are indirect and may be exerted at the level of intrapancreatic neurons.
Mitochondrial membrane permeabilization with nanosecond electric pulses

Ultra-short, high-field electric pulses permeabilize plasma and intracellular membranes. We report here nanosecond pulse-induced permeabilization of mitochondrial membranes in living cells. Using four independent methods based on fluorescent dyes — JC-1, rhodamine 123, tetramethyl rhodamine ethyl ester, and cobalt-quenched calcein — we show that as few as five, 4 ns, 10 MV/m pulses delivered at 1 kHz cause an increase of the inner mitochondrial membrane permeability and an associated loss of mitochondrial membrane potential. The most likely interpretation of these results is a pulse-induced permeabilization of the inner mitochondrial membrane.
Metas: Spanish in Review, Moving Toward Fluency by FOERSTER, SHARON W., & ANNE LAMBRIGHT Metas Workbook/Lab Manual by FOERSTER, SHARON W., & ANNE LAMBRIGHT.

The article reviews the books "Metas: Spanish in review, Moving Toward Fluency" and "Metas Workbook/Lab Manual," by Sharon W. Foerster and Anne Lambright.
A Study of Cirrus Ice Particle Size Distribution Using TC4 Observations

An analysis of two days of in situ observations of ice particle size spectra, in convectively generated cirrus, obtained during NASA s Tropical Composition, Cloud, and Climate Coupling (TC4) mission is presented. The observed spectra are examined for their fit to the exponential, gamma, and lognormal function distributions. Characteristic particle size and concentration density scales are determined using two (for the exponential) or three (for the gamma and lognormal functions) moments of the spectra. It is shown that transformed exponential, gamma, and lognormal distributions should collapse onto standard curves. An examination of the transformed spectra, and of deviations of the transformed spectra from the standard curves, shows that the lognormal function provides a better fit to the observed spectra.
Making Śakti: Controlling (Natural) Impurity for Female (Cultural) Power

This article examines the meanings embedded in the Hindu concept of sakti, often glossed as 'female energy/ power. " Hindus believe that such sakti energizes the universe. Women, as females, share in the sakti of Devi, the Great Goddess of Hinduism, and are thought to embody it. However, such embodiment does not, in and of itself, result in the ability to exercise power and authority in socially and culturally meaningful ways. For Hindu women to become powerful, it is necessary for them to remake their akti through culturally prescribed actions and transform the sakti given by nature into moral power and authority'a cultural artifact. Using three canonical stories from the temple town ofBhubaneswar, in Orissa, eastern India, the article explores the disjunction between natural female power and the subordinate social rank of women and the cultural mediations necessary for transforming such power into a moral force both awesome and irresistible.
Thyrotropin-releasing hormone in spinal cord: coexistence with serotonin and with substance P in fibers and terminals apposing identified preganglionic sympathetic neurons.

Abstract In this study we utilized the technique of simultaneous immunofluorescent double-labeling to investigate possible coexistence of the putative neurotransmitter thyrotropin-releasing hormone (TRH) with serotonin (5-HT) and with substance P (SP) in the intermediolateral cell column (IML) of rat spinal cord. We observed fibers and terminals immunoreactive for both TRH and 5-HT or TRH and SP in IML. In addition, this technique was used in animals in which we retrogradely labeled, with fluorescent tracer dyes, preganglionic sympathetic neurons within IML from either the adrenal medulla or the proximal cut end of the cervical sympathetic trunk. In these animals, fibers and terminals containing these combinations of neurotransmitters appeared to appose identified preganglionic sympathetic neurons in IML. These data represent the first direct immunohistochemical demonstration of fibers and terminals in spinal cord which display coexistence of TRH- with either 5-HT- or SP-immunoreactivity. In addition, the proximity of TRH-immunoreactive fibers and terminals to sympathetic preganglionic neurons in IML support a role for TRH in the regulation of central sympathetic outflow.
The R3 component of the electrically elicited blink reflex is present in patients with congenital insensitivity to pain.

Abstract To clarify whether the R3 component of the electrically elicited blink reflex is a nociceptive response we studied two patients with congenital insensitivity to pain due to the impaired development of Aδ and C nerve fibers (hereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathy types III and IV). We postulated that if the R3 component is a nociceptive reflex, it should be absent in these patients. The R3 responses were elicited in both sides in both the patients at all intensities, strongly suggesting that the R3 component of the blink reflex is not a nociceptive response.
The Significance of the Aprotic Solvent in Monomer Studies Related to the Primary Subunit Environment in the Macromolecule

An advantage of aprotic polar solvent systems in the study of monomer interactions relevant to the macromolecular state is demonstrated with the measurement of nucleoside amino proton exchange rates in DMSO/water mixtures. The DMSO/water solvent provides the first unequivocal observation of general acid catalysis of nucleic acid amino proton exchange, which is undetectable in aqueous solution due to the formation of the endocyclic protonated nucleobase. Suppression of nucleobase protonation in the presence of buffer acid is a consequence of anion desolvation in the aprotic solvent. The detected route of general acid catalysis is demonstrated as a consequence of Watson-Crick H-bonding, leading to the implication that amino chemistry is modulated in the helical state to decrease amino proton lifetime in the “closed” macromolecular context of conformational information obtained by hydrogen exchange methods. This useful property of the aprotic solvent can be extended to monomeric studies pertaining to specific local site interactions affecting the function and conformation of proteins and nucleic acids.
Role of Ankle Joint in Successful Reactive-Recovery: A 3D Joint Moment Analysis

Understanding successful reactive-recovery is essential to further exploration of slip induced fall event. The objective of the current study was to characterize the net ankle joint moment pattern during reactive-recovery process. Six out of fifteen healthy young adults were selected as input for the current investigation. The three-dimensional (3D) inverse dynamics approach was applied to calculate net ankle joint moments in all the three planes (frontal, sagittal and transverse). Gait conditions (normal and reactive-recovery) significantly affected the absolute ankle peak moment and time to peak at p ≤ 0.05 level. The time to peak in the ankle frontal plane was the only one not affected. The ankle frontal and transverse joint moment was found to play an important role during the reactive-recovery process. Consequently, the necessity of a complete 3D joint moment analysis especially for slip and fall incidents was justified.
Are we winning the war against posttraumatic stress disorder

The most methodologically rigorous epidemiological study on American military personnel deployed to Iraq and Afghanistan found that 4.3% of troops developed posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Among deployed combatants, 7.6% developed PTSD, whereas 1.4% of deployed noncombatants did so. The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs has launched a program ensuring that all veterans with PTSD will receive evidence-based cognitive-behavioral therapy, and the Army has developed Battlemind postdeployment early interventions that reduce risk for the disorder.
Prevention of Morphological Changes in Alginate Microcapsules for Islet Xenotransplantation

Background Alginate microcapsule swelling, which occurs as a result of increased hydrophilicity owing to the Ca ++ that remains after rapid chelation of the inner alginate core, is a problem in encapsulation. We have previously shown that exchange of the residual divalent Ca ++ with the monovalent Na + through the use of 6 mmol/L Na 2 SO 4 decreases swelling in chelated alginate-polylysine-alginate microcapsules, and this process enhances their durability. The purpose of the present study was to examine the morphology of Na 2 SO 4 -treated microcapsules in long-term incubation with the use of serum-supplemented culture medium. Methods Spherical beads of purified alginate (3%) that were gelled with 1.1% CaCl 2 were first coated with polylysine, and then with 0.24% alginate. After rapid chelation of the inner alginate core with 55 mmol/L sodium citrate, the capsules were either incubated for 30 minutes in 6 mmol/L Na 2 SO 4 or left untreated (control). Each group of capsules was then placed in a flask containing Ham9s culture medium supplemented with 20% porcine serum and incubated at 37°C. Results The diameters of Na 2 SO 4 -treated capsules only increased modestly from a mean±SD of 635±22.08 to 684.53±17.86 μm ( P P Conclusion We have developed a new method of making more durable and stable microcapsules that can be used for islet cell xenotransplantation.
Modeling and simulation for Sea Winds-1B system design and performance evaluation

SeaWinds-1B is a spaceborne instrument, under design at the Jet Propulsion Laboratory, to accurately measure the speed and direction of ocean surface winds at high resolutions. SeaWinds-1B consists of a scatterometer and a polarimetric wind radiometer. The scatterometer employs range compression to increase the resolution of its sigma-0 measurements. The polarimetric radiometer will be used to verify new techniques of passively measuring wind vectors from space. The SeaWinds- 1B instrument will also be used to investigate the benefits of combining scatterometer and radiometer data to increase the accuracy of resulting wind products. Since SeaWinds-1B is still in the design phase, there are many system design issues which need to be studied. To aid in such studies, a simulation is being developed which will simulate the operation of the spacecraft (attitude and ephemeris), the scatterometer instrument, and the ground data processing system (sigma-0 and wind products). The simulation will provide an estimate of the wind retrieval performance and sigma-0 measurement accuracy of the SeaWinds-1B scatterometer over realistic wind fields and land targets. Perhaps the most important features of any simulation are the considerations that are used to guide its construction. The SeaWinds-1B simulation will incorporate many factors including instrument rf stability, measurement error correlation, geophysical model function errors, and spacecraft attitude stability. Experience from simulations devised for the NASA scatterometer (NSCAT) and SeaWinds scatterometer will be applied to the SeaWinds-1B simulation.
Stereoselective Activation of Dibenzo[a,l]pyrene and Its trans-11,12-Dihydrodiol to Fjord Region 11,12-Diol 13,14-Epoxides in a Human Mammary Carcinoma MCF-7 Cell-Mediated V79 Cell Mutation Assay

Dibenzo[a,l]pyrene (DB[a,l]P) represents the most potent carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) yet discovered. Like other PAHs, DB[a,l]P requires metabolic activation to exert its mutagenic and/or carcinogenic activity. In the human mammary carcinoma cell line MCF-7, DB[a,l]P is stereoselectively metabolized to the (-)-anti- and (+)-syn-DB[a,l]P-11,12-diol 13,14-epoxides (DB[a,l]PDE) which both bind extensively to deoxyadenosine residues in DNA. To further characterize the underlying mechanism of its strong carcinogenicity, the relationship between DNA binding and mutagenicity of DB[a,l]P was determined. Racemic DB[a,l]P-11,12-dihydrodiol and the two individual (+)- and (-)-enantiomers, the metabolic precursors of the stereoisomeric fjord region dihydrodiol epoxides, were also investigated. Induction of mutations at the HPRT locus was measured in a MCF-7 cell-mediated Chinese hamster V79 cell mutation assay. The parent hydrocarbon, (+/-)-DB[a,l]P-11,12-dihydrodiol, and (-)-DB[a,l]P-11,12-dihydrodiol were highly mutagenic under the assay conditions. In contrast, (+)-DB[a,l]P-(11S,12S)-dihydrodiol was not mutagenic using MCF-7 cells as the metabolic activating system. Analysis of DNA adducts in the same experiments revealed that MCF-7 cells treated with (-)-DB[a,l]P-11,12-dihydrodiol formed exclusively (-)-anti-DB[a,l]-PDE adducts whereas cells treated with (+)-DB[a,l]P-11,12-dihydrodiol did not contain detectable levels of DNA adducts. These results suggest that specific cytochrome P450 enzymes may have high stereoselectivity for activation of the two DB[a,l]P-11,12-dihydrodiol enantiomers, and this may play an important role in the metabolic activation of the strong carcinogen DB[a,l]P in human cells.
The growth of acceleration waves of arbitrary form in deformed hyperelastic materials

Abstract The growth equation of acceleration waves of arbitrary form propagating into a deformed hyperelastic material is derived. The governing equations for isotropic materials are obtained. The growth equation is then solved for a wave of arbitrary form propagating into a homogeneously deformed material, and the growth and decay criteria of the wave are discussed.
A lattice model of secure information flow

This paper investigates mechanisms that guarantee secure information flow in a computer system. These mechanisms are examined within a mathematical framework suitable for formulating the requirements of secure information flow among security classes. The central component of the model is a lattice structure derived from the security classes and justified by the semantics of information flow. The lattice properties permit concise formulations of the security requirements of different existing systems and facilitate the construction of mechanisms that enforce security. The model provides a unifying view of all systems that restrict information flow, enables a classification of them according to security objectives, and suggests some new approaches. It also leads to the construction of automatic program certification mechanisms for verifying the secure flow of information through a program.
Estimation of the Spectral Density with Assigned Risk

It is well known that adaptive sequential nonparametric estimation of differentiable functions with assigned mean integrated squared error and minimax expected stopping time is impossible. In other words, no sequential estimator can compete with an oracle estimator that knows how many derivatives an estimated curve has. Differentiable functions are typical in probability density and regression models but not in spectral density models, where considered functions are typically smoother. This paper shows that for a large class of spectral densities, which includes spectral densities of classical autoregressive moving average processes, an adaptive minimax sequential estimation with assigned mean integrated squared error is possible. Furthermore, a two-stage sequential procedure is proposed, which is minimax and adaptive to smoothness of an underlying spectral density.
Equivalent Strip Width for Cylindrical Wire for Mesh Reflector Antennas: Experiments, Waveguide, and Plane-Wave Simulations

This paper presents the verification of the equivalent strip width for a cylindrical wire for mesh reflector antennas with experimental and numerical analysis and compares waveguide and plane-wave simulations. For experimental purposes, the transmission and reflection characteristics of copper strips and copper wires were measured. For numerical analysis, a model of the experimental setup was designed and simulated in High-Frequency Structure Simulator (HFSS). Comparing the measurement and HFSS simulated results confirmed that the numerical model was accurate. Using HFSS, it was verified that the equivalent strip width for a cylindrical wire is almost twice (~1.89) the wire diameter (for an infinitely thin strip) for typical mesh reflector structures. A periodic strip model was simulated both in HFSS and periodic Method of Moments (MoM) using the plane-wave incidence at different angles and the transmission and reflection characteristics were determined. The effects of the thickness of the strip, angle of incidence, and the spacing between the adjacent strips on the equivalence between the strip width and wire diameter were also studied. As the center to center strip spacing increases beyond 1.5lambda, the equivalent factor beta (strip width /wire diameter) approaches the classical factor of 2
Arrested exocytosis of atrial secretory granules.

Abstract Release of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) from atrial muscle cells is thought to occur by exocytosis of secretory granules, as in other secretory systems. However, in the atrial myocyte, exocytosis has previously proved difficult to detect ultrastructurally. In order to study the mechanism of ANP release and related events, we have applied two separate techniques—tannic acid perfusion and ultrarapid freezing—specificially designed to arrest exocytosis. An increased number of fusion sites was found after ultrathin sectioning and freeze-fracture of tannic acid-treated atria enabling a hypothetical release sequence to be constructed. Detail of granule substructure was also obtained, suggesting the presence of a coat to the secretory granule core. Ultrarapid freezing, followed by freeze-fracture and freeze substitution, has confirmed aspects of the proposed exocytotic sequence, suggesting that this release is not due to the application of tannic acid, and these techniques also produced further evidence for the existence of the granule-core coat. Coated pits and vesicles were also found in large numbers in tannic acid-treated atria and interactions between coated vesicles and secretory granules were visualized. The possible role of coated vesicles in an exocytotic/endocytotic membrane retrieval pathway is discussed.
Providing quality of service of information through mobility

This paper develops mobility control strategies for robotic agents to provide quality of service of information while carrying out active sensing tasks. Like wireless communication concepts of quality of service, a new metric is developed to encapsulate an aggregate measure of information gathering as a network service. This metric states that a given amount of information will be achieved in given time with a given probability. Conditions are given for when two of the three components can be specified independently with the third to be determined from them. Simulation results verify the ability of this new metric to bound system behavior.
Compassion Fatigue: A Review of the Research to Date and Relevance to Cancer-care Providers

Fifty-seven studies were reviewed to identify the prevalence of compassion fatigue among cancer-care providers, instruments used to detect it and means of prevention and treatment. Conclusions were limited by an ambiguous definition of compassion fatigue that fails to adequately differentiate it from related constructs (e.g. burnout, secondary traumatic stress) and the modest number of cancer-related studies found. However, evidence suggests that compassion fatigue takes a toll not only on cancer-care providers but also on the workplace. These findings highlight the need to understand more clearly the link between the empathic sensitivity of healthcare professionals and their vulnerability to compassion fatigue.
Atmospheric turbulence parameters from visual resolution.

Direct visual observations of image blurring by atmospheric turbulence are used to obtain line averages of the refractive index structure function coefficient Cn2 along lines of sight in the lower atmosphere. Good agreement with meteorological point measurements is obtained both above a dry land surface, where temperature fluctuations cause most of the image degradation, and above a pond, where humidity fluctuations are also important. No optical saturation effects are found, and a simplified formula for determining long-exposure, limiting-resolution angles is verified.
New insights into the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis as revealed by PDAY

Abstract In this progress report the major pathological results gained from the research program called The Pathological Determinants of Atherosclerosis in Youth (PDAY) are summarized. These results are made possible because of the many unique features of this multicenter study, which are also summarized. The following main accomplishments utilize special quantitative techniques to study cellular, chemical and molecular (genetic) features of the developing plaques in young people. These include for the first time: • • The greater incidence of early progressive lesions in selective apo E phenotypes • • The greater incidence of progressive lesions in black youth with an apo B deletion genotype • • The much higher concentration of epitopes of oxidized LDL in smokers than non-smokers • • More prevalent macrophages and lymphocytes in the standardized thoracic aortic samples, where lesions progress slowly, than in the abdominal aortic core samples, where lesions are much more likely to become severe • • A strong correlation between the mast cell population and the concentration of biogenic amines in the lesions • • The location of Lp(a) specific antigens in these developing lesions as compared to apo B • • The accumulation of extracellular lipid where progression of lesions is most rapid, with special emphasis on the effects of smoking • • The correlation of modulation of the intimal smooth muscle cells with the sites where progresion of the plaque is most frequent • • Preliminary ultrastructural evidence of intimal platelet and leukocyte adherence and entrance into the intima of the thoracic aorta, where there is likely to be lack of progression of lesions • • A review of the recently published biochemical evidence of the correlation of increased lesion cholesterol and collagen content in the abdominal aorta The continuing studies and their implications are also summarized.