cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Ethics of Drug Studies in the Newborn

Drug studies in developing pediatric patients, especially newborns, create many ethical challenges that can be analyzed in terms of respect for persons, justice, and beneficence/maleficence as outlined in the Belmont Report. This report describes some of the ethical challenges in conducting drug studies in pediatric patients that must be considered when planning studies and offers some solutions to meet those challenges. Methods of optimal study design should be utilized to limit the number of patients and the number of blood samples. Parental permission should be obtained with equipoise, although the parents of a sick newborn may feel an internal pressure for their child to participate in a study of a new and potentially superior therapy. If appropriate to the study, consent before labor and delivery when parents are less stressed is optimal. It may be difficult or impossible to know all the risks and benefits accompanying studies in newborns due to the limited number of randomized controlled studies in this population. Many more carefully designed, randomized controlled studies of drugs are needed to address the therapeutic needs of the developing pediatric population. For sick newborns cared for in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), those studies should be better focused on the drugs used daily in their cares.
Oral-genital activity in the male hamster: glossectomy and sexual performance.

Oral behaviors within the typical sexual behavior pattern of the male hamster were investigated. Also studied were the effects of partial glossectomy. A significant amount of time was spent in oral activities. Glossectomized males showed a decrease in the frequency and duration of anogenital nuzzling of receptive females and an increase in the duration of nuzzling their own penis. No deficit was found in the qualitative appearance of oral behaviors nor did glossectomy effect typically recorded copulatory behaviors. Licking behavior varied independently from copulatory behaviors in the sexual repertoire of male hamsters.
Stability-enhanced hydrogen-evolving dirhodium photocatalysts through ligand modification.

The two-electron mixed-valent complex Rh20,II(tfepma)2(CNtBu)2Cl2 (tfepma = CH3N[P(OCH2CF3)2]2) photocatalytically splits HCl to generate H2. Whereas this catalyst degrades rapidly, with H2 production ceasing after about 36 hours (3 turnovers), a modified complex, Rh20,II(tfepma)2(CNAd)2Cl2 (CNAd = 1-adamantylisocyanide) displays enhanced stability with sustained H2 production continuing for >144 h (7 turnovers).
Geography and Revolution by David N. Livingstone and Charles W. J. Withers, eds

Chicago: University of Chicago Press, 2005. viii and 440 pp., 10 halftones, 7 line drawings, and index. $45.00 cloth (ISBN 0-226-48733-4). Disciplinary history is dead. Or so it can be inferred fro...
A Comparison Of Solar Thermal Energy Collection Using Fixed And Tracking Collectors

Solar thermal energy collection at seven sites is calculated for air and vacuum flat plate collectors and a vacuum collector using cylindrical Winston concentration. The hourly intensity and angular distribution of solar radiation is predicted for the calculations using insolation measurements and an insolation model. Tracking configurations include two-axis, vertical axis, polar axis and east-west axis tracking. Fixed collector arrays are all tilted towards the equator at the latitude angle. These calculations indicate energy collection varies linearly with cloudiness index KT. Diffuse radiation is ≈ 15% of energy collected by concentrating collector arrays at low operating temperatures where large acceptance angles maximize energy collection. Smaller acceptance angles, required to maximize collection at higher operating temperatures, eliminate the advantage of Winston concentration for tracking arrays. Absorbers with high selectivity are necessary for high efficiency of fixed evacuated collectors at higher operating temperatures. Ratios of tracking to fixed collector energy collection increase rapidly between ≈ 200°C and ≈ 300°C making it likely that tracking becomes economically viable in this temperature range. These results are easily extended to other cylindrical concentrating collectors.
The opportunities, successes and challenges for GaInNAsSb

Abstract Dilute nitride GaInNAs and GaInNAsSb alloys grown on GaAs have quickly become excellent candidates for a variety of lower cost 1.2–1.6 μm lasers, optical amplifiers and high power Raman pump lasers that will be required for advanced high-speed communications systems. Two particularly critical devices are (1) vertical cavity surface emitting lasers (VCSELs) which must operate at high data rates (⩾10 Gbps), uncooled over a broad thermal operating range and (2) high-power (⩾500 mW) edge emitting lasers for Raman amplifier pumps. While progress has been both rapid and very promising, there remain some significant challenges. The major materials challenges include the limited solubility of N, a 2-D to 3-D growth transition with phase segregation, precise control over composition, strain and energy band offsets at heterointerfaces and elimination of non-radiative defects that are caused by some combination of N incorporation, low growth temperature and ion damage from the N plasma source. The addition of Sb significantly improves the epitaxial growth, maintaining 2-D growth over a broader range of growth temperature, larger In and N compositions, V/III ratio and significantly improves the optical properties at wavelengths longer than 1.3 μm. This paper describes progress in overcoming some of the material challenges, particularly low temperature GaInNAsSb growth, plasma source ion damage in solid source MBE and progress in realizing record setting long wavelength edge emitting lasers and the first monolithic VCSELs operating at 1.5 μm based on GaInNAsSb QWs grown on GaAs.
Relationship between Oral Alveolar Bone Loss and Aging among African-American and Caucasian Individuals

Background: The periodontal attachment apparatus consists of the periodontal ligament, alveolar bone, cementum and supra-crestal connective tissue. They are interdependent and provi
Estimation of Velocity Moments of Radar Targets

The Doppler-velocity spectrum of a coherent burst of radar pulses after reflection from the wake of a reentry body is considered. Time-domain estimators of the mean-wake velocity and velocity spread in a particular range cell are given in terms of the echo of a coherent N-pulse burst. These formulas yield values equivalent to common frequency-domain estimators, but, for short bursts (N < 50), are computationally faster than their frequency-domain counterparts.
Balancing through signaling in decentralized routing

A discrete-time decentralized routing problem in a service system consisting of two service stations and two controllers is investigated. Each controller is affiliated with one station. Each station has an infinite size buffer. Exogenous customer arrivals at each station occur with rate λ. Service times at each station have rate μ. At any time, a controller can route one of the customers waiting in its own station to the other station. Each controller knows perfectly the queue length in its own station and observes the exogenous arrivals to its own station as well as the arrivals of customers sent from the other station. At the beginning, each controller has a probability mass function (PMF) on the number of customers in the other station. These PMFs are common knowledge between the two controllers. A decentralized routing policy that minimizes an infinite horizon average cost per unit time is explicitly determined.
Calcium-dependent stimulation of balb/c 3t3 mouse cell dna synthesis by a tumor-promoting phorbol ester (pma).

During the first six passages after their arrival in this laboratory, BALB/c 3T3 mouse cells did not proliferate in serum containing-medium having an ionic calcium concentration of 0.05 mM or less, but by the ninth passage they had become able to multiply in the presence of these lower calcium levels. In low calcium (e.g., 0.02 mM) medium, passage 1-6, cells in sparse cultures were blocked at the Gl/S boundary of their cycle. These blocked cells could be induced to start making DNA within only one hour either by returning the ionic calcium level to a normal range of values (1.25 mM), or by adding 0.05 mug/ml of PMA (12-O-tetradecanoyl-phorbol-13-acetate). PMA probably acted by sensitizing the blocked cells to calcium rather than replacing the ion, because it was ineffective in ionic calcium-free medium. Finally, PMA did not by itself induce proliferation of cells (regardless of the number of passages) which had been proliferatively inactivated by density-dependent factors in confluent cultures. However, PMA did promote DNA synthesis by these cells during their brief transition to the "cycling" state caused by exposure to fresh serum-containing medium.
Adsorption of non-ionic aliphatic molecules from aqueous solutions on montmorillonite. Clay-organic studies. II.

Abstract A series of nonionic aliphatic compounds was adsorbed from aqueous solutions on Ca-mont-morillonite and the adsorption isotherms were determined. The differences in molar adsorption are attributed to the influence of the chain length and the CH-activity. These effects are shown to operate independently. The (001) spacings of the clay-organic complexes were measured and one-, two- and three-layer complexes were recorded. The orientation of the molecules in the one-layer complexes is discussed. It is considered that aliphatic molecules orient with the plane of their chain both parallel and perpendicular to the clay surface.
African dust forms red soils in Bermuda

In Bermuda, red, iron-rich, clayey soils, called terra rossa, are storehouses of information not only on past local processes that crafted the topography of the island but also on atmospheric circulation patterns that drove global climate during the Quaternary period (roughly 2.5 million years ago). The origin of the terra rossa, however, has remained a mystery for more than a century. On one hand, dissolution features in the carbonate rocks suggest that local material, for example volcanic rocks, could be the source of these red beds. On the other hand, Bermuda is also uniquely located to receive airborne dust from western Africa as well as from loess deposits of the Mississippi valley of the central United States—both of which could also be potential sources of the terra rossa soils in Bermuda.
The moist tropical forest: its conversion and protection

Though strong concern over the rapid conversion of moist tropical forests may justifiably arise from any discipline, a growing interdisciplinary tide of voices is expressing its alarm over a particularly disturbing consequence of forest alteration and destruction: the reduction of species diversity through the extinction of numerous plant and animal species. Consequently, an array of ecologists land-use planners, botanists, zoologists and conservationsts are searching for means to enhance the protection and preservation of tropical forests' biotic diversity. Management schemes aimed at achieving this particular end are being investigated, particularly by UNESCO's Man and Biosphere (MAB) Project 8 of Biosphere Reserves Projects, by the International Union for the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN) tropical forests conservation program (UNEP, 1980) and by the World Wildlife Fund. In addition, many countries with a significant area of moist tropical forest (MTF) are beginning to pursue some form of conservation strategy.
Excited decuplet baryons from QCD sum rules

Abstract A calculation of the mass spectrum in the baryon decuplet sector is presented using the method of QCD sum rules. Sum rules are derived for states of spin-parity 3 / 2 ± and 1 / 2 + using both the conventional method and a parity-projection method. The predictive ability of the sum rules is explored by a Monte Carlo based analysis procedure in which the three phenomenological parameters (mass, coupling, threshold) are treated as free parameters and fitted simultaneously. Taken together, the results give an improved determination of the mass spectrum in this sector from the perspective of non-perturbative QCD.
The semantics of syntactic frames

Research in psychology and in linguistics has converged to suggest that the syntactic frames in which verbs appear carry meanings of their own, apart from the meaning of the verbs themselves. To date, however, a gap has existed between these two lines of research: Research in psychology has inferred the meanings of frames only indirectly; research in linguistics, while more precise about frame meanings, has depended largely upon intuition. The research reported in this paper attempts to bridge this gap by using experimental methods to ask speakers directly for judgements about what frames mean. In two experiments, subjects were presented with six frames. The content words of each frame were converted to nonsense (e.g., “The rom gorped the blickit to the dax” and “The grack mecked the zarg”). Subjects were asked to rate the likelihood that various semantic properties were true of the nonsense verb. Results support the notion that syntactic frames carry fairly specific meanings, even in the absence of a kno...
Effects of dalfampridine and its metabolites on cloned human potassium channels Kv 1.1, Kv 1.2, and Kv 1.4 expressed in human embryonic kidney cells.

AbstractBackground:Dalfampridine (4-aminopyridine; 4-AP) is a potassium channel blocker that has been available in the United States as a treatment to improve walking in patients with multiple sclerosis. 4-AP is well-characterized in vitro with regard to inhibition of neuronal potassium channels, but the potential contribution of its metabolites to clinical activity has not been determined. This study evaluated the concentration–response of 4-AP and its two primary metabolites, 3-hydroxy-4-aminopyridine and 3-hydroxy-4-aminopyridine sulfate, for inhibition of the potassium channels Kv 1.1, Kv 1.2, and Kv 1.4, which are considered candidates for mediating effects of 4-AP on action potential conduction because of their presence in axonal membranes.Methods:Stable transfection of cDNA for Kv 1.1, Kv 1.2, and Kv 1.4 was performed into HEK293 cells, and colonies of cells containing each channel were selected and maintained under appropriate cell culture conditions. Electrophysiological measurements were perform...
Introduction to pyrolysis of biomass

Abstract The pyrolytic properties of biomass are controlled by the chemical composition of its major components, namely cellulose, hemicelluloses and lignin and their minor components including extractives and inorganic materials. Pyrolysis of these materials proceeds through a series of complex, concurrent and consecutive reactions and provides a variety of products. Pyrolysis cellulose at lower temperatures below 300° C involves reduction in molecular weight, evolution of water, carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide and formation of char. On heating at higher temperature 300–500° C, the molecule is rapidly depolymerized to anhydroglucose units that further reacts to provide a XXXX pyrolyXXXX A: still higher temperatures, the anhydrosugar compounds undergo fussion, dehydration disproportionation and decarboxylation reaction to provide a mixture of low molecular weight gaseous and volatile produces. The composition of these produces and mechanism and kinetics of their production are reported.
What Are They Thinking? Students' Affective Reasoning and Attitudes about Course Withdrawal

In this mixed-methods study we identify situations that impact students' decisions to withdraw from a course and examine their affective reasoning and attitudes toward course withdrawal. Exploring students' decision-making processes through the lens of self-authorship, we show that students frequently seek information from people with whom they have a personal rather than academic relationship, make decisions with little awareness of academic consequences, and often experience a feeling of dissonance when withdrawing from courses, even describing themselves as “quitters.” Our results lead to recommendations that can assist academic advisors in developing meaningful interventions that advance students' decision-making abilities and intellectual development.
A quantitative study of the satellite cell population in postnatal mouse lumbrical muscle.

The satellite cell population in mouse lumbrical muscle is quantitated at ages 7, 14, 21 and 30 days. Satellite cell nuclei comprise nearly 30% of the nuclei within the fiber basal lamina in the youngest animals studied. Growth is accompanied by a rapid decrease in the percentage of satellite cell nuclei. This is not accounted for by the increase in myonuclei, but rather there is an absolute decrease in the number of satellite cells. This loss in satellite cells occurs in spite of their high rate of division and is explained by a high percentage incorporation of the daughter cells of satellite divisions. It is further suggested that the percent incorporation of available cells decreases with age.
Testing Sugarbush soils: Effects of sample storage and drying

Abstract The need for an assessment of sampling effects on forest surface soils has followed the increased interest in the fertility status of northern hardwood forests, especially sugar maple stands. We sampled soils from a fertility research site in north‐central Vermont and measured the effects of drying (55°C) and moist, low temperature storage (4°C) on extractable aluminum (Al), calcium (Ca), potassium (K), magnesium (Mg), phosphorus (P), manganese (Mn), zinc (Zn), boron (B), iron (Fe), and pH. Drying induced large, significant increases in ammonium acetate (pH 4.8) extracted P, Mn, B, and Fe. Smaller, but statistically significant, changes were found in pH, Al, Ca, and Zn. Moist storage for 10 weeks resulted in small significant changes in only pH and K. The magnitude of these changes indicate that samples can be stored at low temperature for up to 10 weeks with little effect on soil test results. Drying should be avoided because of its drastic effect on the extractability of many soil test elements.
The ViewStation: a software-intensive approach to media processing and distribution

The ViewStation architecture embodies a software-intensive approach to the support of interactive media-based applications. Starting from the premise that the raw media data, e.g., the video pixels themselves, must eventually be made accessible to the application, we have derived a set of architectural guidelines for the design of media-processing environments. The resultant ViewStation architecture, as described in this paper, consists of the VuSystem, a complete media-programming environment, and the VuNet, a substrate for the acquisition, communication, and rendering of video and closed caption text. We describe a set of computer-participative applications that demonstrate the present day viability of applications that actively process live media-based information. Early performance results illustrate the affordability and benefits of our software-intensive approach.
Prandial ghrelin attenuation provides evidence that des-acyl ghrelin may be an artifact of sample handling in human plasma

Background: Plasma acyl and des-acyl ghrelin are thought of as components of total ghrelin, but this has never been validated using ex vivo spiking experiments, human sample collection comparisons and fit-for-purpose translatable assays. Results: Acyl ghrelin plasma stability was analyzed by LC–MS/MS and it revealed that acyl ghrelin is enzymatically and chemically converted to des-acyl ghrelin in the presence of active serine proteases and HCl. ELISAs with less than 30% total error were used to assess acyl ghrelin behavior in matched authentic human samples. Acyl and total ghrelin were not statistically different in 4-(2-aminoethyl)benzenesulfonyl fluoride hydrochloride samples and acyl ghrelin losses in K2EDTA plasma were accounted for in des-acyl ghrelin formation. Conclusion: Acyl ghrelin is total ghrelin and des-acyl ghrelin should not be detectible in healthy human plasma under optimal sample handling and assaying conditions.
Quantitative assessment of atherosclerosis by electron beam tomography.

found a higher incidence of mitral chordae attachments to the interventricular septum in patients with subaortic stenosis, they did not comment on mitral valve function. Our report differs from this previous study by including only surgical patients so that direct observations of the membrane attachments were available. In this study 11 , no patient had accessory mitral valve attachments to the interventricular septum. In addition, our report design focused on evaluating MR. To avoid confusion with physiologic MR (common in this age group), patients with trace MR were considered to have physiologic MR and placed in the group without MR. We found the indexed aortic valve to membrane distance to be signifi cantly greater in the group of patients with MR. The mechanism for the development of MR in patients with subaortic stenosis is not well understood. One explanation may be the mechanical tethering of the anterior mitral valve lea fl et toward the interventricular septum by the membrane attachments to the 2 structures. This may result in tenting of the leafl et as seen by 2-dimensional echocardiographic imaging (Figure 3). This tenting may affect leafl et motion, preventing normal leafl et coaptation. This theory is supported by the resolution of MR in most of our patients after surgical resection of the membrane. Surgical resection of all membrane attachments from the anterior mitral valve leafl et may be necessary to prevent MR. Although the incidence of aortic regurgitation is also reported to be higher with membranes that are more displaced into the left ventricle, the mechanism for the development of MR differs from that of aortic regurgitation 4 : where the high-velocity
Gauge Model for the Pion Mass and the ρ ′ Vector Boson

We propose a gauge model which realizes thc pseudo-Goldstone idea for the pion, and we calculate its mass. We find m/sub pi /sup 2/ as a function of the p and A/sub 1/ masses and the mass and coupling constant of a new vector meson, which we tentatively identify as the recently discovered p' vector boson. In our model, chiral symmetry is broken by the absence of the axial-vector partner of the p'. (auth)
Glycogen Synthase Association with the Striated Muscle Glycogen-targeting Subunit of Protein Phosphatase-1 SYNTHASE ACTIVATION INVOLVES SCAFFOLDING REGULATED BY β-ADRENERGIC SIGNALING

Glycogen-binding subunits for protein phosphatase-1 (PP1) target the PP1 catalytic subunit (PP1C) to glycogen particles, where the enzymes glycogen synthase and glycogen phosphorylase are concentrated. Here we identify sites within the striated muscle glycogen-binding subunit (GM) that mediate direct binding to glycogen synthase. Both PP1C and glycogen synthase were coimmunoprecipitated with a full-length FLAG-tagged GM transiently expressed in COS7 cells or C2C12 myotubes. Deletion and mutational analysis of a glutathioneS-transferase (GST) fusion of the N-terminal domain of GM (residues 1–240) identified two putative sites for binding to glycogen synthase, one of which is the WXNXGXNYX(I/L) motif that is conserved among the family of PP1 glycogen-binding subunits. Either deletion of this motif or Ala substitution of Asn-228 in this motif disrupted the binding of glycogen synthase. Expression of full-length FLAG-GM in cells increased the activity of endogenous glycogen synthase, but protein disabled in either PP1 binding or glycogen synthase binding did not produce synthase activation. The results show that efficient activation of glycogen synthase requires a scaffold function of GM that involves simultaneous binding of both PP1C and glycogen synthase. Isoproterenol and forskolin treatment of cells decreased glycogen synthase binding to FLAG-GM, thereby limiting synthase activation by PP1. This response was insensitive to inhibition by H-89, therefore probably not involving cAMP-dependent protein kinase, but did require inclusion of microcystin-LR during cell lysis, implying that phosphorylation was modulating binding of glycogen synthase. Phosphorylation control of binding to a scaffold site on the GM subunit of PP1 offers a new mechanism for regulation of muscle glycogen synthase in response to β-adrenergic signals.
A Comparison of Nutrient Density Scores for 100% Fruit Juices

The 2005 Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommend that consumers choose a variety of nutrient-dense foods. Nutrient density is usually defined as the quantity of nutrients per calorie. Food and nutrition professionals should be aware of the concept of nutrient density, how it might be quantified, and its potential application in food labeling and dietary guidance. This article presents the concept of a nutrient density score and compares nutrient density scores for various 100% fruit juices. One hundred percent fruit juices are popular beverages in the United States, and although they can provide concentrated sources of a variety of nutrients, they can differ considerably in their nutrient profiles. Six methodologies were used to quantify nutrient density and 7 100% fruit juices were included in the analysis: apple, grape, pink grapefruit, white grapefruit, orange, pineapple, and prune. Food composition data were obtained from the USDA National Nutrient Database for Standard Reference, Release 18. Application of the methods resulted in nutrient density scores with a range of values and magnitudes. The relative scores indicated that citrus juices, particularly pink grapefruit and orange juice, were more nutrient dense compared to the other nonfortified 100% juices included in the analysis. Although the methods differed, the relative ranking of the juices based on nutrient density score was similar for each method. Issues to be addressed regarding the development and application of a nutrient density score include those related to food fortification, nutrient bioavailability, and consumer education and behavior.
Librarians and information technologists: more alike than different? Interviews with CIOs

For this second column in the IT I‐V (information technology interview) series, we interview academic chief information officers. The CIOs interviewed for this column use a wide range of titles, and half of them oversee libraries as part of their duties. We interviewed them to find out what challenges they believe libraries are experiencing that could be assisted by technology, and how they believe libraries and information technologists should be working together on those challenges. Some of the questions were: “What challenges do you see academic libraries experiencing now and in the near future that could be assisted by information technology?,” “What are some library challenges for which technology will not help?,” and “What do you see as the ideal relationship between information technology offices and the library on an academic campus?”
Inorganic carbon in the central California upwelling system during the 1997–1999 El Niño–La Niña event

Abstract Sea surface pCO2 was monitored during 49 cruises from February 1997 to December 1999 along a section perpendicular to the central California Coast. Continuous measurements of the ocean–atmosphere difference of pCO2 were made on a mooring in the same region from July 1997 to December 1999. The El Nino/La Nina cycle of 1997–1999 had a significant influence on local ocean–atmosphere CO2 transfer. During the warm anomaly associated with El Nino, upwelling was suppressed and average sea surface pCO2 was below atmospheric level. High rainfall and river runoff in the late winter and early spring of 1998 produced areas where pCO2 was depressed by as much as 100 μatm. A flux ranging from 0.3 to 0.7 mol C m−2 y−1 from the atmosphere into the ocean was estimated for the El Nino period from wind and ΔpCO2 data. Temperatures and upwelling returned to near normal in the summer of 1998, but a cold anomaly developed during autumn of that year. Temperature and pCO2 data indicate that upwelling continued throughout much of the 1998–1999 winter and intensified significantly in the spring of 1999. During strong upwelling events, the estimate of ocean to atmosphere flux approached rates of 50 mol C m−2 y−1. The estimate for the average CO2 flux from July 1998 to July 1999 was 1.5–2.2 mol C m−2 y−1 from the ocean to the atmosphere. While the flux estimate for the El Nino time period may be applicable to a larger area, the high ocean to atmosphere fluxes during La Nina might be the result of sampling near a zone of intense upwelling.
Adding Function-Based Behavioral Support to First Step to Success: Integrating Individualized and Manualized Practices.

This study investigated the effects of adding individualized, function-based support to the well-documented early intervention First Step to Success. A single-subject multiple-baseline design was applied across three K—1 students who did not respond to standard First Step to Success procedures. A functional behavioral assessment and individualized function-based support plan were added to the First Step protocol. The multiple-baseline analysis documented an effect between adding individualized, function-based supports to the standard First Step program and both (a) a decrease in problem behavior and (b) an increase in academic engagement. Implications of the results are provided for the design of school-based behavior support, implementation of First Step to Success, and applications of manualized interventions.
FINITE ELEMENT ANALYSIS OF THE SCRAMACCELERATOR WITH HYDROGEN-OXYGEN COMBUSTION

The Scramaccelerator concept is examined through numerical calculations. A finite element algorithm for inviscid flow calculations is coupled to a chemistry package, and simulations of steady-state detonation waves in a mixture of hydrogen and oxygen are performed for several values of Mach number, projectileto-tube diameter ratio, mixture equivalence ratio, and fill pressure. The results are expressed in the form of thrust on the projectile. It is concluded that acceleration on the order of 10 m/s on a 200-g projectile could be achieved under the conditions considered.
Bronchial blood flow reduction with positive end-expiratory pressure after acute lung injury in sheep.

Smoke inhalation increases bronchial blood flow (Qbr) and produces edema of the airway system. This study investigates whether the increased Qbr seen 24 h after inhalation injury can be affected by mechanical ventilation with PEEP (5, 10, 15 cm H2O). Sheep (n = 8) previously prepared with cardiopulmonary catheters and ultrasonic transit time flow probes mounted around their bronchial arteries were insufflated with four sets of 12 breaths each of cotton smoke. Different levels of PEEP were added to the mechanical ventilation 24 h after injury; each PEEP level was applied for 45 min. There were significant increases in Qbr and lung lymph flow (QL) associated with a marked decrease in bronchial vascular resistance (BVR) 24 h after injury. However, no change was observed in mean arterial pressure (MAP) or cardiac index (CI). There was a substantial reduction in PaO2/FIO2 (P/F), which indicated a deterioration in arterial oxygenation. The application of varying levels of PEEP decreased Qbr (p less than .05) while BVR increased (p less than .05), but QL and P/F did not. CI and MAP were recorded. After removal of PEEP, none of the cardiopulmonary variables were significantly different from their postsmoke control values. These findings suggest that mechanical ventilation with PEEP markedly decreases the smoke-induced hyperemia edema frequently seen after inhalation injury without any significant alterations in MAP or CI.
Adhesion of Thermally Reversible Gels to Solid Surfaces

We have developed methods for quantifying very weak adhesive interactions between two bodies in contact. Our approach is based on the use of a low-modulus material in conjunction with a linear elas...
Genetic diversity—seeing the forest through the trees

Forest trees, populations, races, species, and taxonomic groups above the species level display rich variation in biochemical markers. The variation stems from inherited modifications that trace back in time, through converging ancestries, towards common progenitors. Past movements of continents, mountain building events, and climate changes isolated forest populations one from another and provided critical challenges to the lineages that survived to the present day. A wealth of molecular variants in forest trees characterize these widely-distributed, large, long-lived, outbreeding, organisms. Forest trees have an abundance of rare variants and over one third of all the alleles (different forms of one gene) occur only rarely ( < 2% frequency) in a few trees of a species sample. Those rare alleles may either represent new variation or persistent forms of genes that have low adaptive value under present conditions. From another perspective, however, the largest share of genetic variation in forest trees is due to the presence of multiple alleles found at intermediate frequencies for only a small percentage of all the genes, and those alleles are commonly widespread throughout species areas. These common alleles may mark genes that track historical events in lineages or mark genes with adaptive significance in present populations. Evidence from enzyme studies supports the conclusion that highly comparable functional genes are common to different forest taxa. Future research will be toward understanding the phenotypic expression of particular genes and revealing the relative importance of genetic variants to adaptation and growth.
Oat avenanthramides exhibit antioxidant activities in vitro

Abstract Avenanthramides are a group of alkaloids that consist of an anthranilic acid derivative linked to a hydroxycinnamic acid derivative by a pseudo peptide bond, which are constituents of oat ( Avena sativa L.) grain. The three most abundant avenanthramides, N -(4′-hydroxy-3′-methoxycinnamoyl)-5-hydroxyanthranilic acid (Bf), N -(4′-hydroxycinnamoyl)-5-hydroxyanthranilic acid (Bp), and N -(3′,4′-dihydroxycinnamoyl)-5-hydroxyanthranilic acid (Bc), were synthesized and purified. These were tested for antioxidant activity using two in vitro systems: inhibition of β-carotene bleaching and reaction with the free radical 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH). Each avenanthramide displayed antioxidant activity in both systems. Bc had greater activity than Bp and Bf. Bc was nearly as active as the standard synthetic antioxidant, butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) in the β-carotene system. In the DPPH system, Bc and Bf were more active than 6-hydroxy-2,5,7,8-tetramethylchromane-2-carboxylic acid (Trolox®). The relative activities of the avenanthramides corresponded to those determined for their component hydroxycinnamic acid moieties using an aqueous DPPH system or in a lipophilic system that measured the autoxidation of methyl linoleate.
Effects of Various Kitchen Heat Treatments, Ultraviolet Light, and Gamma Irradiation on. Mirex Insecticide Residues in Fish

Concentrations of the chlorinated hydrocarbon insecticide mirex (C/sub 10/Cl/sub 12/) were determined in brown trout from a defined contaminated area of Spring Creek, Centre County, PA, using electron-capture gas chromatography. Conventional heat treatments, namely, baking, frying, poaching, and baking without skin, did not cause significant decreases of the contaminant. Ultraviolet irradiation led to significant reductions (p < 0.05) in mirex concentration in muscle tissue. Exposures of 24, 48, and 72 hr led to degradations of 30.0%, and 45.6%, respectively, of the initial mirex concentration. Gamma irradiation also led to significant reductions (p < 0.05) in mirex concentration in muscle tissue. Following absorption of 1, 3, and 5 Mrad, degradations of 9.8%, 23,1%, and 37.5%, respectively, of the initial mirex concentration were observed.
Bidding fever in eBay auctions of Amazon.com gift certificates

Abstract In a set of eBay auctions of Amazon.com gift certificates, 41.1% of winning prices exceed face value, which is an observable upper bound for rational bidding because Amazon.com sells certificates at face value. Alternative interpretations to bidding fever are explored.
Low temperature hydrogen embrittlement of niobium II—Microscopic observations☆

The detailed, microscopic processes which occur during the hydrogen embrittlement of pure Nb are examined using in situ SEM crack propagation studies. SEM fractography, electron diffraction and ion probe methods. These results show that the fracture process occurs in a stress induced NbH hydride phase which forms in front of the propagating crack. The experimental results are in good agreement with the stress induced hydride embrittlement mechanism which is discussed. The thermodynamics of precipitation of hydrides under external stress is discussed and calculations are presented for the stress effects on the α-β solvus temperatures. These are related to the embrittlement process and evidence is presented to support the calculated stress effects on the solvus temperature.
Threading a sophomore computer animation curriculum

One of the major problems facing educators who teach computer animation is how to balance the technical and conceptual skills required to produce effective computer animation in a manner that is holistic. Often a single class cannot deal with both the conceptual and technical issues involved. When courses are offered separately, often students don't make the connections between them. By threading the course objectives across multiple classes, students are exposed to the connections between concepts and technology, and are challenged to build their own "conceptual bridges" to integrate ideas and techniques. This article addresses issues specific to teaching computer animation: how do you introduce students to all of the technical and conceptual aspects of animation in a way that will empower them to produce meaningful work?The Computer Animation Department at Ringling School of Art and Design has three required courses for the major in the fall semester of the sophomore year. These courses serve as an introduction to animation techniques and processes which students use throughout the curriculum. The courses are Computer Animation I, Concept Development I and Traditional Animation I. For the past two years, the faculty has been working on threading the course objectives in order to make students aware of the concepts and principles that are interwoven throughout the computer animation curriculum.This "threaded curriculum" is a work in progress. Our initial goals are to define the groupings of course objectives that the classes have in common, and to begin to track the connections. As we continue to refine the process, we are seeing more ways in which the connections can be made deeper, and we have also identified problem areas where the threading does not seem to be as complete.
Autoverification in a core clinical chemistry laboratory at an academic medical center

Background: Autoverification is a process of using computer-based rules to verify clinical laboratory test results without manual intervention. To date, there is little published data on the use of autoverification over the course of years in a clinical laboratory. We describe the evolution and application of autoverification in an academic medical center clinical chemistry core laboratory. Subjects and Methods: At the institution of the study, autoverification developed from rudimentary rules in the laboratory information system (LIS) to extensive and sophisticated rules mostly in middleware software. Rules incorporated decisions based on instrument error flags, interference indices, analytical measurement ranges (AMRs), delta checks, dilution protocols, results suggestive of compromised or contaminated specimens, and 'absurd' (physiologically improbable) values. Results: The autoverification rate for tests performed in the core clinical chemistry laboratory has increased over the course of 13 years from 40% to the current overall rate of 99.5%. A high percentage of critical values now autoverify. The highest rates of autoverification occurred with the most frequently ordered tests such as the basic metabolic panel (sodium, potassium, chloride, carbon dioxide, creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, calcium, glucose; 99.6%), albumin (99.8%), and alanine aminotransferase (99.7%). The lowest rates of autoverification occurred with some therapeutic drug levels (gentamicin, lithium, and methotrexate) and with serum free light chains (kappa/lambda), mostly due to need for offline dilution and manual filing of results. Rules also caught very rare occurrences such as plasma albumin exceeding total protein (usually indicative of an error such as short sample or bubble that evaded detection) and marked discrepancy between total bilirubin and the spectrophotometric icteric index (usually due to interference of the bilirubin assay by immunoglobulin (Ig) M monoclonal gammopathy). Conclusions: Our results suggest that a high rate of autoverification is possible with modern clinical chemistry analyzers. The ability to autoverify a high percentage of results increases productivity and allows clinical laboratory staff to focus attention on the small number of specimens and results that require manual review and investigation.
Graphomotor Perseveration and Wandering in Alzheimer's Disease

Perseveration, spatial orientation, and attention/concentration were assessed in 15 patients with a probable diagnosis of senile dementia of the Alzheimer's type. Subjects were divided into two groups, wanderers and nonwanderers, based on caregiver ratings using a modified version of the Caregiver Checklist. Graphic productions of wanderers on the Bender Visual Motor Gestalt Test and Clock Drawing Test displayed greater total perseveration and more recurrent and continuous perseverations than those of nonwanderers. Spatial orientation and attention/concentration were similar between groups. These preliminary results suggest that graphomotor perseverations exhibited during the mild to moderate stages may serve as a marker for wandering in Alzheimer's disease.
Regulation of liver growth: protooncogenes and transforming growth factors.

After the fetal and postnatal growth of the liver, hepatocytes no longer proliferate actively. In adult humans and animals, hepatocytes have long life spans, ranging from 200 to 400 days or more (in the normal adult liver about 1 hepatocyte in 10,000 to 20,000 may be replicating at any one time), but it is a common observation that they divide in response to hepatic cell death or loss of liver tissue (7). Hepatocyte proliferation occurs in viral hepatitis, cirrhosis, hepatotoxic reactions, and massive liver necrosis as well as other conditions. It can be induced in experimental animals by partial hepatectomy or cell death caused by chemical agents such as carbon tetrachloride and dioxins (73, 83). In all of these cases, hepatic growth is a compensatory response to decreased liver mass or loss of cells but it is also possible to induce DNA synthesis and replication of normal liver hepatocytes. This adaptive response occurs in some types of nutritional changes and may be caused by agents such as hexachlorobenzene and organochlorine insecticides that cause minimal hepatocyte necrosis (8, 68, 72).
Making the transition to the senior institution

This chapter reviews the current literature on support programs tailored to assist the community college transfer student at the four-year institution. The authors discuss useful strategies that may assist administrators and faculty members at four-year colleges and universities in addressing the needs of transfer students through support programs. Support programs, academic performance, and the persistence of transfer students are discussed.
Land cover-based optimal deconvolution of PALS L-band microwave brightness temperatures

An optimal deconvolution (ODC) technique has been developed to estimate microwave brightness temperatures of agricultural fields using microwave radiometer observations. The technique is applied to airborne measurements taken by the Passive and Active L and S band (PALS) sensor in Iowa during Soil Moisture Experiments in 2002 (SMEX02). Agricultural fields in the study area were predominantly soybeans and corn. The brightness temperatures of corn and soybeans were observed to be significantly different because of large differences in vegetation biomass. PALS observations have significant over-sampling; observations were made about 100 m apart and the sensor footprint extends to about 400 m. Conventionally, observations of this type are averaged to produce smooth spatial data fields of brightness temperatures. However, the conventional approach is in contrast to reality in which the brightness temperatures are in fact strongly dependent on land cover, which is characterized by sharp boundaries. In this study, we mathematically deconvolve the observations into brightness temperature at the field scale (500–800 m) using the sensor antenna response function. The result is more accurate spatial representation of field-scale brightness temperatures, which may in turn lead to more accurate soil moisture retrieval.
Imatinib decreases endometrial stromal cell transmesothial migration and proliferation in the extracellular matrix of modeled peritoneum

Objective To characterize imatinib's effect on endometrial stromal cell (ESC) attachment, proliferation, and invasion in modeled peritoneum. Design In vitro study. Setting Academic medical center. Patient(s) Twelve normally cycling women. Intervention(s) Imatinib treatment in ESCs from women without endometriosis. Main Outcome Measure(s) Rate of ESC attachment, proliferation, and invasion. Result(s) Imatinib treatment at 10 μM had no effect on ESC attachment. Treatment with 0.5 μM, 2 μM, and 10 μM of imatinib reduced ESC proliferation by 30%, 72%, and 76%, respectively. The 0.1 μM dose of imatinib had no effect on proliferation. Treatment with 5 μM and 10 μM of imatinib reduced ESC invasion by 30% and 73%, respectively. The 2 μM dose had no effect on invasion. Conclusion(s) Imatinib treatment reduces ESC proliferation and invasion in modeled peritoneum without altering attachment. Imatinib may have a therapeutic role in endometriosis treatment.
Relationship of childhood abuse and household dysfunction to many of the leading causes of death in adults. The Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study

Results: More than half of respondents reported at least one, and one-fourth reported $2 categories of childhood exposures. We found a graded relationship between the number of categories of childhood exposure and each of the adult health risk behaviors and diseases that were studied (P , .001). Persons who had experienced four or more categories of childhood exposure, compared to those who had experienced none, had 4to 12-fold increased health risks for alcoholism, drug abuse, depression, and suicide attempt; a 2- to 4-fold increase in smoking, poor self-rated health, $50 sexual intercourse partners, and sexually transmitted disease; and a 1.4- to 1.6-fold increase in physical inactivity and severe obesity. The number of categories of adverse childhood exposures showed a graded relationship to the presence of adult diseases including ischemic heart disease, cancer, chronic lung disease, skeletal fractures, and liver disease. The seven categories of adverse childhood experiences were strongly interrelated and persons with multiple categories of childhood exposure were likely to have multiple health risk factors later in life. Conclusions: We found a strong graded relationship between the breadth of exposure to abuse or household dysfunction during childhood and multiple risk factors for several of the leading causes of death in adults. Medical Subject Headings (MeSH): child abuse, sexual, domestic violence, spouse abuse, children of impaired parents, substance abuse, alcoholism, smoking, obesity, physical activity, depression, suicide, sexual behavior, sexually transmitted diseases, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, ischemic heart disease. (Am J Prev Med 1998;14:245‐258) © 1998 American Journal of Preventive Medicine