cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Cross-reacting antigens between Neorickettsia helminthoeca and Ehrlichia species, shown by immunofluorescence and Western immunoblotting.

Dogs orally infected with Neorickettsia helminthoeca developed immunoglobulin G titers against Erlichia risticii, Erlichia sennetsu, and Erlichia canis similar to those against N. helminthoeca antigen, as determined by immunofluorescence. Western immunoblotting showed that the major common antigens shared among the microorganisms were 80- or 78-kDa and 64-kDa polypeptides. In contrast, horse anti-E. risticii and anti-E. sennetsu and dog anti-E. canis sera reacted more weakly to N. helminthoeca antigen than to homologous antigens in both immunofluorescence and Western immunoblotting. Antisera raised in other species of animals, i.e., mouse anti-E. canis and rabbit anti-E. risticii and anti-E. sennetsu sera, however, all reacted with the 64-kDa antigen of N. helminthoeca. This strong antigenic cross-reactivity and similarity in Western immunoblotting reaction profiles indicate that N. helminthoeca is antigenically closely related to E. risticii and E. sennetsu and less so to E. canis. In both immunofluorescence and Western immunoblotting, E. canis shared fewer common antigens with E. risticii and E. sennetsu than N. helminthoeca did. It is reasonable to conclude that these results may have both diagnostic and taxonomic significance.
An older worker's decision to "push or protect self" following a work-related injury.

UNLABELLED: This study highlights the return-to-work experience of older workers on worker's compensation as there is a dearth of research in this area. METHOD: Qualitative research methods delineated the experience of four older workers who had sustained work-related musculoskeletal injuries. RESULTS: "Push or Protect Self" emerged as the core category with three themes, including the level of employer support and degree of flexibility in work; continued health problems; and financial distress. These themes influenced each worker's decision to either "push self" to meet their pre-injury work demands, or "protect self" and accept a job post-injury that was less physically demanding, but was at a lower pay level. The four workers sustained financial difficulties subsequent to being off work, and reported continued health problems related to their injuries after being discharged from the worker's compensation system. CONCLUSION: Degree of employer support in providing flexibility in work demands varied, where low support and inflexibility in job tasks contributed to difficulty in returning to work or in sustaining the work demands of the job. Language: en
Post-release survival of captive-reared Allegheny woodrats

Captive breeding to augment wild animal populations is an important tool in the recovery of imperiled species, but low post-release survival and substantial program expenses require methodologies that maximize utility. We evaluated post-release survival of captive-reared Allegheny woodrats (Neotoma magister) introduced into a declining metapopulation in southern Indiana. We hard-released 16 captive-reared woodrats in 2011 and soft-released 14 woodrats in 2012, while monitoring parallel samples of 16 and 17 wild-born individuals in each year, respectively. We obtained Kaplan–Meier estimates of survivorship for both groups and used Cox proportional hazards regression to estimate the association between survival and rearing environment (wild or captive), release strategy, sex, body condition and age at release. We quantified movement patterns and related the results of survival models to behavioral tendencies. Survivorship of wild-born individuals was consistently higher than captive-reared individuals. Patterns of survival were best explained by rearing environment and its interaction with time, although disparities in survival between wild-born and captive-reared animals decreased over time. Higher mortality among captive-reared individuals may have been due to more exploratory behavior, as captive-reared woodrats used more dens and traveled farther among successive relocations than wild-born conspecifics. Soft-released individuals had higher initial survival rates and tended to choose dens similar to those of wild individuals, providing evidence that this strategy eased the transition to a wild environment. We recommend future programs use soft-release techniques but also explore other pre-release preparatory strategies such as anti-predator conditioning and environmental enrichment to increase survival.
Young African American boys narrating identities in science

The goal of this study is to bring the voices of African American boys front and center in science education research in an effort to strengthen our understandings of their experiences of school and science. Using an interpretivist perspective within a narrative inquiry approach, I focus on the student and science-student identities two African American boys constructed as they spoke about their participation in a science class that aimed to help them see themselves as people who can do science. I found that narratives offer opportunities to see the ways in which classroom and science structures become intertwined with children's agentic ways of developing for themselves a place in science. When children narrate science identities, they do not limit themselves to the content of the curricula, but meld together various ideas and experiences and draw on talents we may not have known they possessed. The power of self-authoring for African American boys is that it offers spaces in which they can weave together real and imaginary worlds and people to create spaces in which they are leaders and experts and, in the process, build pathways of resilience. Both of the boys in this study thought of themselves as “smart” or competent science people, but not in the ways we might expect. Their stories challenge us to listen more closely to the ways in which Black boys talk about themselves in relationship to science, peers, schooling, and ideas so that we can leverage the resources they bring to the learning of science. Participating in school science is more than a cognitive endeavor; it is also social and emotional. Science educators must conceive of not only how we might improve the science curriculum, but also the ways in which we facilitate the construction of children's images of themselves as they engage in this curriculum. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Res Sci Teach
Practicing Rights: Human rights-based approaches to social work practice

1. The Relevance of Human Rights to Social Work 2. A Framework for Rights-based Practice 3. Human Rights-based Approaches to Poverty 4. Human Rights-based Approaches to Child Welfare 5. Human Rights-based Approaches with Older Adults 6. Human Rights-based Approaches to Health 7. Human Rights-based Approaches to Mental Health 8. Perils and Prospects of Human Rights-based Approaches to Social Work
Periodic breathing in preterm infants: Influence of bronchopulmonary dysplasia and theophylline

Periodic breathing (PB) has been studied extensively in both normal term infants and term infants presumed to be at high risk for sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS); however, little is known about the incidence and significance of PB in preterm infants. Twenty-four hour impedance pneumograms were obtained from 108 preterm infants prior to their discharge from the nursery and four PB parameters (%PB, No. of episodes of PB/100 min, mean duration of PB episode length, and duration of the longest episode of PB) were quantified in each recording. Control infants who were asymptomatic for apnea had the highest PB parameter values (%PB, 12.0; No. episodes/100 min, 8.6; mean duration, 1.2 min; and longest episode, 7.3 min); infants with bronchopulmonary dysplasia (BPD) showed dramatic decreases in all PB parameters, with a median %PB of 1/16 of the control population. Theophylline use was associated with a significant decrease in PB parameter values only in infants without BPD. Central apneas >15 s did not vary significantly as a function of BPD, theophylline, or postconceptional age. We conclude that the clinical status of preterm infants significantly influences PB parameter values and must be taken into account in the interpretation of pneumograms, for decision-making about home cardiorespiratory monitoring, and in assigning risk for SIDS. Pediatr Pilmonol. 1989; 7:78–81.
ALGORITHMS FOR FINDING CHOMSKY AND GREIBACH NORMAL FORMS FOR A FUZZY CONTEXT‐FREE GRAMMAR USING AN ALGEBRAIC APPROACH

Algorithms for the construction of the Chomsky and Greibach normal forms for a fuzzy context‐free grammar using the algebraic approach are presented and illustrated by examples. The results obtained in this paper may have useful applications in fuzzy languages, pattern recognition, information storage and retrieval, artificial intelligence, database and pictorial information systems.
Thoracoscopic techniques for the treatment of scoliosis: early results in procedure development.

OBJECTIVE: The goal of this study was to determine the effectiveness of an endoscopic option for anterior approaches to the thoracolumbar spine for scoliosis treatment. Fifty patients with 24 to 45 months of follow-up data were retrospectively studied. Techniques for endoscopic treatment of spinal disorders have been under development since 1993. The benefits of thoracoscopic surgery for the treatment of spinal deformities have been documented as improved observation of the spine, enhanced access to the extremes of the curve, decreased operative times and blood losses, shorter hospital stays and recuperative periods, and decreased overall costs. After more than 150 endoscopic procedures for the treatment of these spinal deformities had been performed, the next step was to develop a thoracoscopic technique for instrumentation, correction, and fusion for the treatment of primary thoracic scoliosis. Our goal has been to develop a safe, reproducible, and effective endoscopic technique for the treatment of scoliosis that can provide equal or better outcomes, compared with formal open surgical techniques. METHODS: Between October 1996 and October 1998, 50 patients with a diagnosis of primary thoracic scoliosis were selected to undergo thoracoscopic instrumentation, correction, and fusion. Postoperatively, patients were assessed with respect to restoration of spinal alignment, axial derotation, pain management, and incidence of complications. RESULTS: Endoscopic instrumentation was successfully performed for all patients. Curve correction averaged 50.2% improving to 68.6% in the last 10 cases. Patients with hypokyphosis averaged 20.7 degrees of correction. The preoperative axial rotation (as measured with a scoliometer) averaged 16 degrees, which was corrected to 5 degrees. Postoperative pain was less, and patients could discontinue the use of all pain medications by 1 to 3 weeks, compared with patients who underwent formal open procedures, who required pain medication for 6 to 12 weeks. The hospital stays averaged 2.9 days. Our initial complication rate was high, which could be attributed to the development of a new technique. Keys to successful fusions include total discectomy, complete endplate removal, and the use of autogenous bone graft. CONCLUSION: Although these techniques are still in early development, the initial results for our thoracoscopic techniques are promising. With experience, surgical times are decreasing and fusion and curve correction rates are improving. With further evolution, patients should realize shortened hospitalizations, decreased rehabilitation times, and decreased levels of postoperative pain. This is a technically demanding procedure that requires demonstrated skills in endoscopic discectomy and fusion.
Intel's Desktop Platform Group: The Transition from Developing and Launching Components to Developing and Launching Platforms

The success of the development and deployment of the management system can be attributed to a combination of factors: 1. A desire to change and the need of the business to implement a more robust system 2. A well-defined, and managed partnership between 3 entities that each had special skills and knowledge to apply to the development and deployment of the system. 3. The focus on short-term results and deliverables, in order to enable the longer term system provided both relief to the Platform program managers but also provided an initial structure for a new program. 4. A method for learning and obtaining feedback, allowed the system to be improved for application on the next program. 5. By measuring and obtaining tangible results, the team was able to demonstrate the effectiveness of the system to management: a) Enabled key chipset customers to introduce in the spring vs. fall cycle, reducing Intel and Intel's customers' Time to Market; b) Enabled pull-in of the 2.53 GHz Pentiumreg 4 processor with 533 MHz Front-side bus, establishing Intel as the platform technology and performance leader.
Note on a modified gradient method for image analysis

Abstract The modified gradient operation considered in this paper takes the product of four conventional gradient operations in different directions. Such modified method is shown by extensive computer results to provide great improvement in boundary extraction and noise reduction over the conventional gradient operation for image analysis. Furthermore, the method is computationally simple and insensitive to rotation of images. Some results of the modified gradient operation followed by image compression are also presented.
Ion survival probabilities for 3 keV Ar+ scattering from La, Yb, and chemisorbed H2, O2, and H2O on La surfaces

Abstract TOF spectra of scattered primary and surface recoiled neutrals and ions for 3 keV Ar + bombardment of clean La and Yb and H 2 , O 2 , and H 2 O saturated La surfaces are presented. The spectra are analyzed in terms of single (SS) and multiple (MS) scattering of the primary ions and surface recoiling (SR) of adsorbate atoms. Measurement of spectra of neutrals + ions and neutrals alone allows determination of scattered ion fractions Y . The Y values for the SS event are high for clean La (37%) and lower for adsorbate covered La (32% for H 2 , 13% for O 2 , and 8% for H 2 O); Yb exhibits a similar behavior, i.e. 16% for clean Yb and 5% for O 2 + H 2 O covered Yb. Photon emission accompanying the scattering collision has been observed from clean La and Yb and adsorbate covered La. A preferential inelastic energy loss of 15 ± 3 eV for the SS event has been observed for scattered neutrals as opposed to ions for La and H 2 saturated La at 135°. These results are interpreted within the models for Auger and resonant electronic charge exchange transitions during approach or departure of an ion with a surface and the electron promotions occuring during close atomic encounters where the electron shells are interpenetrating.
Symmetries of the Einstein Hamiltonian

The vacuum Einstein equations for metrics that have two commuting spacelike Killing vector fields are studied from a Hamiltonian point of view using the Ashtekar variables. It is shown that the evolution equations are equivalent to those of a modified SL(2) principal chiral model with a time dependent ‘coupling constant’. This fact is used to extract an infinite set of symmetries of the Einstein Hamiltonian via a generalized zero-curvature formulation. These symmetries give evolving observables explicitly on the phase space, and may be viewed as providing an infinite set of solutions of the Hamiltonian Einstein equations. The possibility of quantization using these observables is briefly discussed.
CELL STATE AS AFFECTING SUSCEPTIBILITY TO A VIRUS : ENHANCED EFFECTIVENESS OF THE RABBIT PAPILLOMA VIRUS ON HYPERPLASTIC EPIDERMIS.

Rabbit skin can be rendered abnormally susceptible to papilloma virus infection by preliminary treatments with a variety of agents. The most effective agents thus far found are 0.3 per cent methylcholanthrene in benzene and a mixture in equal parts of turpentine and acetone, applied four or five times at 2 day intervals. When virus is inoculated into skin altered by these agents, either intradermally or by inunction after scarification, papillomas appear earlier and in greater number than on normal skin, and much higher dilutions give rise to growths. The method provides a means of detecting amounts of virus which cause no papillomas upon inoculation into normal skin. Papilloma virus material which is rubbed into scarified normal or hyperplastic skin is largely lost in the scabbing which ensues, and nearly all of it fails to reach susceptible cells. The preparatory agents which increase the effectiveness of the virus bring about marked epidermal hyperplasia, and the hyperplastic tissue regenerates with greater rapidity when scarified. The agents evidently act in large part by providing young epidermal cells in quantity to the virus, as also by inducing a richer vascularization than ordinary in support of the papillomatous proliferation. It is possible that they also act by providing especially susceptible cells. The implications of the findings are discussed.
Hemolysis in vivo from exposure to pulsed ultrasound

Abstract Ultrasonically induced hemolysis in vivo was studied when a commercial ultrasound contrast agent, Albunex®, was present in the blood. Murine hearts were exposed for 5 min at either 1.15 or 2.35 MHz with a pulse length of 10 μs and pulse repetition frequency of 100 Hz. During the exposure period, four boluses of Albunex® were injected into a tail vein for a total of ∼ 0.1 mL of Albunex®. Following exposure, blood was collected by heart puncture and centrifuged, and the plasma was analyzed for hemoglobin concentration. With Albunex® present in the blood, the threshold for hemolysis at 1.15 MHz was 3.0 ± 0.8 MPa (mean ± SD) peak positive pressure (∼ 1.9 MPa negative pressure, ∼ 180 W cm−2 pulse average intensity). For the highest exposure levels (10 MPa peak positive pressure at the surface of the animal), the mean value for hemolysis was ∼ 4% at 1.15 MHz and 0.46% at 2.35 MHz, i.e., the threshold at 2.35 MHz is >10 MPa peak positive pressure. In contrast, hemolysis in control mice receiving saline injections at 10 MPa or sham-exposed (0 MPa) mice receiving Albunex® was ∼ 0.4%.
Sural nerve water in vivo in normal humans measured by magnetic resonance spectroscopy: Relation to age, height, gender, and neurological profile

To enable the quantitative assessment of peripheral nerve structure and function, we determined the normal values for sural nerve hydration structure as measured by magnetic resonance proton imaging, and for neurological function with scores for neuropathic symptoms, signs, and nerve conduction properties. Normal human sural nerves contain 24.8 ± 3.4% water. The structural water content of the nerves did not vary systematically in relation to age, height, gender, sural nerve conduction, neurologic symptoms, or examination deficits. In contrast, the neurological function scores were significantly influenced by age and selectively by height. Both nerve structure and function were stable over a 1-year interval. Measurement of human sural nerve water content in vivo by magnetic resonance proton imaging, and quantitation of the neurological profile of symptoms, signs, and conduction velocity are useful, noninvasive tools for the investigation of diseases in which changes in nerve structure may be related to alterations in nerve function. © 1993 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.
Synthesis and evaluation of nitrated poly(4-hydroxystyrene) microspheres for pH sensing

Lightly crosslinked nitrated poly(4-hydroxystyrene) microspheres were prepared for pH sensing. The first step is to prepare poly(4-acetoxystyrene) microspheres using porous glass membrane emulsification followed by suspension polymerization. The resulting microspheres have diameters between 1 and 2 μm. They hydrolyzed to poly(4-hydroxystyrene) by exposing them to base. This is followed by nitration to nitric acid. The percentage of nitrogen depends on the nitration conditions. Percentages greater than the theoretical percentage for mononitro poly(4-hydroxystyrene) can be obtained at elevated temperatures indicating partial dinitration. These microspheres were cast into hydrogel membranes for use as pH sensors. The membrane is turbid because the refractive index of the microspheres is higher than the hydrogel refractive index. At high pH, deprotonation of the hydroxyl group introduces a negative charge onto the polymer backbone causing it to swell. Swelling is accompanied by a decrease in microsphere refractive index, which is detected as a decrease in membrane turbidity.
Health-related quality of life in hyperparathyroidism measurably improves after parathyroidectomy

Abstract Background Hyperparathyroidism is associated with subjective feelings of fatigue and depression as well as limitations in physical activity from musculoskeletal complaints. These quality of life symptoms are not widely accepted as an indication for parathyroidectomy. This study quantifies and compares subjective symptoms of patients with hyperparathyroidism before and after surgery. Methods Between February 2001 and June 2002, 61 patients (14 males and 47 females, mean age of 60.8±14.4 years) underwent parathyroidectomy. There were 45 patients with single-gland adenomas, 9 patients with double adenomas, 3 patients with primary hyperparathyroidism from 4-gland hyperplasia, 3 patients with secondary hyperparathyroidism, and 1 patient with tertiary hyperparathyroidism. Patients filled out a 53-question survey based on the Health Outcomes Institute Health Status Questionnaire 2.0 before surgery, 1 month postoperatively, and 3-24 months postoperatively. The survey included questions on overall health, daily activities, mood, and medical conditions. Surveys were analyzed for changes in symptoms attributable to parathyroidectomy. Serum calcium and intact parathyroid hormone levels were obtained preoperatively and at 1- and 3-month follow-up visits. Results At both postoperative evaluations, patients' perception of general health, muscle strength, energy level, and mood significantly improved (P Conclusions Parathyroidectomy for hyperparathyroidism is associated with significant improvement in patient quality of life. These subjective symptoms represent a valid indication for parathyroidectomy.
Alteration of in vitro DNA synthesis in the alpha globin locus of chick embryo fibroblasts due to in vivo activity of Rous sarcoma virus pp60src

Globin gene transcription is activated in chick embryo fibroblasts (CEF) transformed by Rous sarcoma virus (RSV). To determine whether this activation is correlated with a change in the replication of the alpha D globin locus we used a nuclear runoff replication assay. Density labeling of nuclei showed that replication of the alpha D globin gene in normal and RSV-transformed CEF (RSV-CEF) is in the transcriptional direction. However, in RSV-CEF the signal from a specific restriction fragment between the alpha D and alpha A globin genes was lower in the replicated DNA. This decrease was selective in that the signal of this restriction fragment was not diminished in the unreplicated DNA in the same nuclei. When CEF transformed by temperature sensitive RSV were grown at the restrictive temperature for pp60src activity the loss of transformed cell morphology correlated with the reappearance of the replicated alpha globin DNA fragments in their normal stoichiometry. By comparison, histone H5 gene expression was not seen in CEF or in RSV-CEF, and H5 gene replication was not perturbed by viral transformation. These results suggest that the viral pp60src protein can activate transcription of the alpha D globin gene and change the replication of alpha globin chromatin.
Follow-up of patients from the Coronary Artery Surgery Study (CASS) potentially suitable for percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty

Abstract To determine the proper place for percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) among the therapeutic options available for patients with coronary heart disease, one must compare the results of PTCA with those obtained by conventional medical and surgical therapy. To develop a cohort comparison group, we interrogated the Coronary Artery Surgery Study (CASS) registry, and patients with proximal discrete subtotal stenosis (70% to 99%) involving the right, left anterior descending, circumflex, or left main coronary artery, singly or with stenoses in two of the three major coronary arteries, were selected; 796 patients (3.7% of all patients enrolled in CASS from 1975 to 1979) met these selection criteria. Surgical therapy was chosen in 53.3%; surgical mortality was low and there was excellent 4-year actuarial survival. There was significant improvement in functional class. Survival was also excellent in medically treated patients. Medically treated patients also had significant improvement in functional class in comparison with baseline values. The data prosented here characterize a cohort group against which the clinical results of PTCA can be evaluated and compared.
Optimal design and relaxation for reinforced plates subject to random transverse loads

Abstract We consider a Kirchhoff plate subject to a random transverse load. We reinforce the plate with stiffeners. For a prescribed area fraction of stiffeners we seek their optimal layout so that on average, the plate is as stiff as possible with respect to the random load. We provide a mathematical formulation of this problem. To ensure the existence of a solution we relax the problem to include generalized designs. The relaxation procedure rests upon the derivation of new optimal lower bounds on the compliance energy for the effective elasticity of composites made from stiffeners on multiple scales. Our bounding method follows the program of Hashin and Shtrikman. However our method is novel as no fictitious comparison material is used in the derivation. This relaxation is new and is the extension to the two-dimensional setting of the relaxation given by Cheng and Olhoff (Int. J. Solids Struct., 17 (1981) 305 23, 795–810) for one-dimensional plate problems, when the plate thickness is allowed to take two values. The relaxed formulation of the problem can be solved numerically.
The Effect of Store Name, Brand Name and Price Discounts on Consumers' Evaluations and Purchase Intentions

Abstract This paper develops and tests a conceptual model of the effects of store name, brand names and price discounts on consumers' evaluations (store image, brand quality perceptions, internal reference prices, and value perceptions) and purchase intentions. The moderating effects of consumer knowledge and prior ownership on the proposed relationships in the model are also explored. A store's perceived image is influenced by the store name and the quality of merchandise it carries. Results also indicate that internal reference price is influenced by price discounts, brand name, and a brand's perceived quality. The influence of price discounts on a brand's perceived quality was minimal. Price discounts, internal reference price, and brand's perceived quality exerted significant influence on perceived value. Perceived value and store image, in turn, positively influenced purchased intentions. High knowledge respondents are more influenced by brand name, while low knowledge respondents are more influenced by price discounts. Low knowledge consumers are also swayed by store name and brand name.
Preserving dissipation in approximate inertial forms for the Kuramoto-Sivashinsky equation

It has been observed, in earlier computations of bifurcation diagrams for dissipative partial differential equations, that the use of certain explicit approximate inertial forms can give rise to numerical artifacts such as spurious turning points and inaccurate solution branches. These shortcomings were attributed to a lack of dissipation in the forms used. We show analytically and verify numerically that with an appropriate adjustment we can eliminate these numerical artifacts. The motivation for this adjustment is to enforce dissipation, while maintaining the same order of approximation. We demonstrate with computations that the most natural remedy, namely, preparation of the equation, can be highly sensitive to assumptions on the size of the absorbing ball. In addition, we show that certain implicit forms are dissipative without any adjustment. As an illustrative example we use here the Kuramoto-Sivashinsky equation.
ULTRASOUND‐GUIDED PERCUTANEOUS LIVER BIOPSY IN SNAKES

Percutaneous ultrasound-guided liver biopsies were conducted in 15 snakes using 18-gauge automatic biopsy devices. The liver samples collected ranged in size from 1.16 ± 0.40 mm to 8.3 ± 0.55 mm. Upon histologic examination, all biopsy samples were of diagnostic quality. Anesthesia with complete immobilization of the snake was necessary to allow proper selection of the target site and limit complications associated with biopsy collection. Percutaneous ultrasound-guided liver biopsy is a rapid, minimally invasive method for collecting liver tissue in snakes.
Radiation hardness studies of cooling fluids epoxies and capacitors for CMS pixel system

Abstract Radiation hardness studies of C6F14 Fluorinert (FC72) fluid, some epoxies and tantalum capacitors were studied for the Compact Muon Solenoidal (CMS) experiment at the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) of CERN. For a successful operation of Forward Silicon Pixel Tracker of the CMS, the cooling fluid, epoxies to be used and the filter capacitors of bias voltage supplies need to be radiation hard. It was also necessary to find out whether the cooling fluid would dissociate under the expected fluence and damage beryllium cooling channels of the Forward Silicon Pixel Discs. This paper is a report of our findings from the performed tests.
A Theoretical Discussion of a Menisci Micropump Driven by an Electric Field

The potential for miniaturization of analytical devices made possible by advances in micro-fabrication technology is driving demand for reliable micropumps. A wide variety of micropumps exist with many types of actuating mechanisms. One such mechanism is electrohydrodynamic (EHD) forces which rely upon Coulomb forces on free charges and/or polarization forces on induced dipoles within the liquid to induce fluid motion. EHD has been used to pump liquid phases and to displace gas-liquid interfaces for enhanced boiling heat transfer as well as to displace gas/vapor bubbles. A novel concept for using EHD polarization forces to deflect a stationary meniscus in order to compress and pump a gaseous phase is described. The pumping mechanism consists in alternative compression of two gas volumes by continuous deflection of the two pinned menisci of an entrapped liquid slug in an electric field. Using the Maxwell stress relations, the electric field strength necessary to operate the pump is determined. The operational limits are determined by analyzing the stability limits of the two menisci from inertial and viscous standpoints, corroborated with the natural frequencies of the gas-liquid interfaces.
Writing One's Own Story: Women, Aging, and the Social Narrative

Aging for women within a patriarchal and youth-based culture has always been fraught with oppression; the experience is even more complicated in the 21st century. Over the past 30 years, feminist therapy has begun to address the phenomenological experience of women as they age and the specific needs of women over age 50. This article extends the work of previous feminist writers, offers challenges to feminism's continued ageism, and suggests ways feminists can help women navigate aging in the 21st century.
Antibiotic impregnated catheter coverage of deep brain stimulation leads facilitates lead preservation after hardware infection

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) has become a reliable and effective treatment for many disorders. However, the risk of long-term hardware-related complications is notable, and most concerning is hardware-related infections. Given the risk of hardware removal in the setting of infection, we retrospectively examined the implementation of a novel technique using antibiotic covered catheter protection of DBS leads after infection. The effect on hardware salvage and ease of reimplantation of the DBS extension and implantable pulse generator (IPG) was examined. A total of nine (9%) out of 100 DBS patients met the inclusion criteria with 11 DBS hardware-related infections at either the frontal, parietal, or IPG sites, from June 2003 to November 2010, at our institution. Subsequent to the initial patient in the series, a total of eight patients had placement of a short segment (approx. 4 cm long) of antibiotic impregnated catheter (Bactiseal, Codman, Johnson & Johnson, Raynham, MA, USA) over the distal end of the DBS leads at the parietal incision. Seven of these eight patients presented with pus and deep tissue infections around the hardware at either the frontal, parietal, or chest incisions. In seven of these eight patients (87.5%) we were able to protect and salvage their DBS leads without need for removal. In conclusion, this novel technique provides a simple reimplantation operation, with a decreased risk of DBS lead damage. It may improve the preservation of DBS leads when hardware infection occurs, is inexpensive, and confers no additional risks to patients.
Tbx2b is required for ultraviolet photoreceptor cell specification during zebrafish retinal development

The vertebrate rod and cone photoreceptors are highly specialized sensory neurons that transduce light into the chemical and electrical signals of the nervous system. Although the physiological properties of cones and rods are well known, only a handful of genes have been identified that regulate the specification of photoreceptor subtypes. Taking advantage of the mosaic organization of photoreceptors in zebrafish, we report the isolation of a mutation resulting in a unique change in photoreceptor cell fate. Mutation of the lots-of-rods (lor) locus results in a near one-for-one transformation of UV-cone precursors into rods. The transformed cells exhibit morphological characteristics and a gene-expression pattern typical of rods, but differentiate in a temporal and spatial pattern consistent with UV-cone development. In mutant larvae and adults, the highly ordered photoreceptor mosaic is maintained and degeneration is not observed, suggesting that lor functions after the specification of the other photoreceptor subtypes. In genetic chimeras, lor functions cell-autonomously in the specification of photoreceptor cell fate. Linkage analysis and genetic-complementation testing indicate that lor is an allele of tbx2b/fby (from beyond). fby was identified by a pineal complex phenotype, and carries a nonsense mutation in the T-box domain of the tbx2b transcription factor. Homozygous fby mutant larvae and lor/fby transheterozygotes also display the lots-of-rods phenotype. Based upon these data, we propose a previously undescribed function for tbx2b in photoreceptor cell precursors, to promote the UV cone fate by repressing the rod differentiation pathway.
Growth optimized algal bioassays for toxicity evaluation

Dynamic (flow-through) algal bioassays generally have been found to be more sensitive to toxicants than have static (batch) bioassays, and have led to lower estimates of maximum allowable toxicant concentrations. When growth of Selenastrum capricornutum is optimized, both systems are equally sensitive and quantitatively related to toxicant concentration.
Reproductive tactics of the Asian cichlids of the genus Etroplus in Sri Lanka

The Asian cichlids,Etroplus maculatus (the orange chromide) and E. suratensis (the green chromide) in Sri Lanka reproduce twice during the year when water conditions are favorable for nest construction and maintaining visual contact with offspring. These are the drier premonsoonal and monsoonal seasons when water turbidity decreased and salinity increased. When breeding in isolation orange chromide pairs selected dense vegetation where nests were camouflaged. During the peak breeding cycle (July) orange chromide pairs selected sparse vegetation for nesting as a compromise between survival of young and availability of adult food. These areas were also occupied by foraging non-breeding conspecifics which increased the threat of cannibalism of offspring. Under these pressures most orange chromides nested in colonies which helped decrease both actual and attempted cannibalism. The sympatric green chromide does not forage during nesting and nest site selection was determined mainly by factors favoring offspring survival. Biparental care is exhibited by both species. One member of an orange chromide pair stands guard over offspring while the other leaves the territory to forage — their roles are reversed every few minutes. The total parental investment is equivalent to the full investment of a single parent. Monogamy appears to be maintained by their metabolic constraints. In the green chromide both parents are vigilant over offspring and neither forages thus spending twice as much time in parental investment.
Linear theory of microwave instability in electron storage rings

The well-known Haissinski distribution provides a stable equilibrium of longitudinal beam distribution in electron storage rings below a threshold current. Yet, how to accurately determine this threshold, above which the Haissinski distribution becomes unstable, is not firmly established in theory. In this paper, we will show how to apply the Laguerre polynomials in an analysis of this stability that are associated with the potential-well distortion. Our approach provides an alternative to the discretization method proposed by Oide and Yokoya. Moreover, it reestablishes an essential connection to the theory of mode coupling originated by Sacherer. Our new and self-consistent method is applied to study the microwave instability driven by commonly known impedances, including coherent synchrotron radiation in free space.
Diagnostic utility of positron emission tomography-computed tomography for predicting malignancy in cystic neck masses in adults.

Objectives: Combined positron emission tomography and computed tomography (PET-CT) is used for the diagnostic evaluation and staging of squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck (SCCHN). By superimposing anatomic localization of CT with the physiologic data of PET, occult primary and metastatic neoplasms might be identified. Because the diagnostic algorithm for cystic neck masses in adults often overlaps with the work-up of cancer of unknown primary site, we evaluated the utility of PET-CT scans to identify the presence of malignancy and the location of primary tumor. Study Design: Single-institution retrospective case review series. Methods: We reviewed the PET-CT imaging of cystic neck masses occurring in five patients over 40 years of age with significant risk factors for SCCHN and correlated this information with histopathology. Results: In each patient in our series, the PET portion of a combined PET-CT was misleading, whereas the CT examination was more suggestive of the correct pathology. Ultimately, clinical judgment and endoscopic evaluation, guided by CT findings, were most valuable for distinguishing malignant versus benign processes and identifying the primary tumor sites. Conclusions: PET-CT may not be a reliable modality for identifying malignancy in adults with suspicious cystic neck masses. A thorough clinical evaluation by an experienced head and neck surgeon, in conjunction with contrast-enhanced CT, may be sufficient to facilitate the optimal management of such patients.
Phosphorylation of Vif and Its Role in HIV-1 Replication

Abstract Vif is a 23-kDa protein encoded by human immunodeficiency virus, type 1 (HIV-1) which is important for virion infectivity. Here, we describe the phosphorylation of HIV-1 Vif and its role in HIV-1 replication. In vivo studies demonstrated that Vif is highly phosphorylated on serine and threonine residues. To identify phosphorylation sites and characterize the Vif kinase(s), Vif was expressed in Escherichia coli and purified for use as a substrate in in vitro kinase assays. The purified Vif protein was phosphorylated in vitro on serine and threonine residues by a kinase(s) present in both cytosol and membrane fractions. Phosphorylation of Vif was stimulated by phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate and inhibited by staurosporine and hypericin, a drug with potent anti-HIV activity. The Vif kinase(s) was resistant to inhibitors of protein kinase C, cAMP-dependent kinase, and cGMP-dependent kinase, suggesting that it is distinct from these enzymes. To identify the phosphorylation sites, P-labeled Vif was digested by V8 protease and the peptides were resolved by reverse-phase high performance liquid chromatography. Radioactive peptide sequencing identified three phosphorylation sites within the C terminus, Ser, Thr, and Thr. Two-dimensional tryptic phosphopeptide mapping indicated that these sites are also phosphorylated in vivo. Both Ser and Thr are contained in the recognition motifs (R/KXXS/T and R/KXXXS/T) used by serine/threonine protein kinases such as cGMP-dependent kinase and PKC. Ser is present in the motif SLQXLA, which is the most highly conserved sequence among all lentivirus Vif proteins. Mutation of Ser to alanine resulted in loss of Vif activity and >90% inhibition of HIV-1 replication. These studies suggest that phosphorylation of Vif by a serine/threonine protein kinase(s) plays an important role in regulating HIV-1 replication and infectivity.
Parallel Circuit Simulation: A Historical Perspective and Recent Developments

The ability to predict circuit performance through simulation is at the core of any design process; it makes the implementation of complex integrated circuits technically feasible and economically viable while relaxing any heavy need for prototyping. Transistor-level circuit simulation is a fundamental computer-aided design technique that enables the design and verification of an extremely broad range of integrated circuits. With the proliferation of modern parallel processor architectures, leveraging parallel computing becomes a necessity and also an important avenue for facilitating large-scale circuit simulation. Parallel Circuit Simulation: A Historical Perspective and Recent Developments presents an in-depth discussion on parallel transistor-level circuit simulation algorithms and their implementation strategies on a variety of hardware platforms. While providing a rather complete perspective on historical and recent research developments, it also highlights key challenges and opportunities in developing efficient parallel simulation paradigms.
The ulnar fasciocutaneous free flap in head and neck reconstruction

Objectives/Hypothesis: The radial forearm fasciocutaneous free flap has become the reconstructive tissue of choice for the majority of soft tissue defects in the head and neck. The forearm skin has many of the ideal soft tissue characteristics that optimize reconstruction and rehabilitation in these patients. The tissue is malleable, supple, and moldable in three dimensions; has a reliable pedicle; and can be harvested with a two-team approach. In some patients, the radial forearm cannot be used. An alternative is to use the adjacent tissue, which shares identical tissue characteristics. This tissue gets its vascular supply from the ulnar artery. The purpose of the report was to describe the authors' experience with the ulnar fasciocutaneous free flap in head and neck reconstruction. Study Design: Prospective consecutive case series. Methods: Retrospective review of all patients undergoing ulnar fasciocutaneous free tissue transfer by a group of microvascular surgeons was performed. Thirty patients underwent free tissue transfer using the ulnar fasciocutaneous free flap. The male-to-female ratio was 3:1. Results: Defects were located in the oral cavity (14), oropharynx (12), neck skin (1), and soft tissue of the lateral skull (3). The average size of the skin paddle that was transferred was 7 x 10 cm (range, 3 x 5 to 9 x 12 cm). The mean area of tissue that was transferred was 70 cm 2 (range, 15-108 cm 2 ). Vessel sizes were somewhat smaller than the comparable radial forearm. One patient had complete loss of the skin graft on the donor site. There were no median nerve or other wound-healing problems. Two flaps were lost in the postoperative period. Indications for use of the ulnar fasciocutaneous free flap were failed Allen's test (23), use of a less hairy part of the forearm (3), and surgical preference (4). Conclusions: The ulnar fasciocutaneous free flap has all of the tissue characteristics of the radial forearm flap. When a radial forearm flap cannot be used and forearm skin is desired, consideration of an ulnar fasciocutaneous free flap should be undertaken.
Action of α-d-glucosidase from Aspergillus niger towards dextrin and starch

Abstract The transglucosidation reactions of α- d -glucosidase with dextrin and starch from Aspergillus niger were investigated. When a mixture of dextrin and [U-13C]maltose was incubated with α- d -glucosidase at 25 °C for 5 d, [U-13C]glucosyl groups were linked to dextrin with a degree of polymerization (DP) of up to 14, which was detected by matrix-assisted laser desorption–ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF MS). When a mixture of starch and [U-13C]maltose was incubated with the α- d -glucosidase, no [U-13C]glucosyl residues were transferred to the starch. Methylation analysis revealed that the chain length of the α- d -glucosidase-treated starch was shortened and the proportion of α-(1 → 6) linkages did not increase. These results suggested that α- d -glucosidase catalyzed the transglucosidation reaction to dextrin with DP up to 13, but this enzyme catalyzed only the hydrolysis of starch.
An automated dye-dilution based seepage meter for the time-series measurement of submarine groundwater discharge

We designed an automated seepage meter that can detect and quantify both groundwater outflow and seawater infiltration. Based on a dye-dilution technique, this instrument provides high-resolution time-series data for submarine groundwater discharge to the coastal zone. The dye-dilution method involves two repeatable steps: (1) the timed injection of a water-soluble dye into a “dye-mixing chamber” mounted in series with a seepage chamber and (2) the subsequent timed measurements of the absorbance of the dyed solution. The rate at which the dyed solution is diluted by the inflow or outflow of water is directly proportional to the flow rate moving through the surface area of the seepage housing. In addition to describing the instrument's components and the operating principle, we provide examples of laboratory flow calibrations and field deployments. As indicated by two sets of time-series studies, this instrument has performed reliably in field tests at Waquoit Bay (Cape Cod, Massachusetts) and Shelter Island (Long Island, New York). The instrument has yielded hydrologically consistent flow rates and has revealed major and subtle connections between tidal stage and the rate and direction of submarine groundwater discharge.
Review and Case Study of Sounds Associated with the Lightning Electromagnetic Pulse

Abstract The electromagnetic pulses (EMPs) associated with two lightning flashes on 22 July 2008 in central Alabama produced audible clicking sounds. These clicks were observed almost simultaneously with the lightning flashes, but a significant period of time before the thunder. The lightning flashes and associated sounds were recorded in digital video and audio by a video camera. Based on theories primarily developed to explain reports of sounds associated with aurora and meteors entering the earth’s atmosphere, it appears that the sounds were associated with transduction of the electromagnetic energy at audible frequencies into vibrations in objects near the camera. Coronal discharges are also possible. Examination of spectrograms of the clicks and the subsequent thunder, and comparison to measurements of the normalized light intensity in each frame of video, show that the clicks must have been associated with sounds in nearby objects. Therefore, the sounds were associated with the lightning EMP.