cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Mandibulotomy: A surgical approach to oral and pharyngeal lesions

The history of mandibulotomy is reviewed. The surgical steps involved and the variations of techniques are discussed. Two illustrative cases are reported and the clinical applications of the approach are discussed. It is concluded that mandibulotomy has a place in the management of malignancies as well as awkwardly situated benign lesions as well as malignancies.
Melanocortin Modulation of Inflammatory Cytokine and Neuroendocrine Responses to Endotoxin in the Monkey

α-MSH has potent antiinflammatory properties, but little is known about the specific melanocortin receptors (MC-Rs) that mediate these effects or about the role of the melanocortin system in modulating cytokine responses to an inflammatory challenge in the primate in vivo. We, therefore, studied the effects of infusion of the α-MSH agonist, [Nle4,d-Phe7]-α-MSH (NDP-MSH); the α-MSH antagonist, SHU9119; and the selective MC3-R agonist, d-Trp8-γ-MSH, compared with saline, on proinflammatory cytokine (TNF-α, IL-1β, and IL-6), antiinflammatory cytokine [IL-10 and IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra)], and pituitary-adrenal responses to endotoxin in ovariectomized monkeys. In the first study NDP-MSH or SHU9119 was infused iv for 7 h starting at 0800 h, endotoxin was injected at 1000 h, and serial blood samples were collected (n = 6). NDP-MSH significantly attenuated proinflammatory cytokine responses to endotoxin. The area under the response curve (AUC) decreased by 61% for TNF-α (P = 0.02), 47% for IL-1β (P = 0.0...
Nitric oxide-releasing fluorescence-based oxygen sensing polymeric films.

The in vitro analytical performance of fluorescence-based oxygen sensing polymeric films prepared with silicone rubbers that spontaneously release nitric oxide (NO) is examined. The use of NO-release polymers for fabricating functional optical sensors is proposed as a potential solution to lingering biocompatibility and concomitant performance problems encountered with prototype intravascular optical oxygen sensors. Plasticized silicone rubber films formulated with two distinct types of diazeniumdiolate NO donors release NO for more than 24 h. The optical oxygen sensing films prepared by doping these NO release polymeric materials with oxygen indicators (pyrene/perylene donor/acceptor pair) display different analytical responses, as compared to controls without NO release capability. Nonlinear Stern−Volmer behavior is observed for single-layer NO release oxygen sensors owing to heterogeneous environments for the pyrene/perylene pair and a concomitant quenching of the fluorescence by excess amine sites in ...
Preparation and properties of rapidly quenched films in the PbONb2O5 system

Rapidly quenched films in the PbO-Nb/sub 2/O/sub 5/ system (10 to 66.7 mol% Nb/sub 2/O/sub 5/) were prepared by the use of a twin-roller type apparatus. The rapid quenching of melts in this system resulted in the formation of several new kinds of metastable phases. The films containing 10% Nb/sub 2/O/sub 5/ precipitated PbO solid solution of tetragonal form. In 15% Nb/sub 2/O/sub 5/, crystal phase having a face centered tetragonal structure was produced coexisting with another tetragonal metastable phase. In the compositions with 20 to 40% Nb/sub 2/IO/sub 5/, crystal phase with a defect fluorite structure was obtained as the major product. Beyond 50% Nb/sub 2/O/sub 5/, there was no great difference in the phase constitutions between rapidly quenched films and solid state reacted samples. Annealing of the films at higher temperatures was also characterized by the appearance of metastable phases. The phase change by annealing was accompanied by a sharp increase in the dielectric constant.
Energies of metastable 4So states in the alkaline-earth sequence

Theoretical binding energies have been obtained for the metastable ${\mathrm{np}}^{3}{}^{4}{S}^{o}$ states in the alkaline-earth sequence using a B-spline configuration-interaction approach. The results agree with available experimental and theoretical data within 5 meV for ${\mathrm{Be}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ and within 10 meV for ${\mathrm{Mg}}^{\ensuremath{-}}.$ The binding energies of the ${p}^{3}{}^{4}{S}^{o}$ state in ${\mathrm{Mg}}^{\ensuremath{-}},$ ${\mathrm{Ca}}^{\ensuremath{-}},$ and ${\mathrm{Sr}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ are larger than the one in ${\mathrm{Be}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ by roughly 250 meV due to the stronger interactions with the ${d}^{2}p$ configurations. For ${\mathrm{Ca}}^{\ensuremath{-}},$ the ${}^{4}{S}^{o}$ binding energy is determined to be 555.5 meV, including a contribution of $\ensuremath{-}70$ meV due to dielectronic core polarization. For ${\mathrm{Sr}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ the ${}^{4}{S}^{o}$ binding energy is 557.9 meV, including a decrease of only 6 meV due to dielectronic core polarization. This behavior for the ${}^{4}{S}^{o}$ states in ${\mathrm{Ca}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ and ${\mathrm{Sr}}^{\ensuremath{-}}$ is ascribed to the different neutral-atom states to which the ${}^{4}{S}^{o}$ states are bound.
Infrared readout electronics for space-science sensors: state of the art and future directions

A review of infrared readout electronics for space science sensors is presented. General requirements for scientific IR FPA readout are discussed. Specific approaches to the unit cell electronics are described with respect to operation, complexity, noise and other operating parameters. Recent achievements in IR FPA readout electronics are reviewed. Implementation technologies for realization of IR FPA readout electronics are discussed. Future directions for addressing NASA and other scientific users' needs are suggested.
SU-E-T-618: Flattening Filter Free Beams for 3D Breast Planning

Purpose: To establish the characteristics of flattening filter free (FFF) beams for 3D breast treatments. Methods: FFF beams have an approximate Gaussian shaped intensity distribution as does the breast contour. We produced 3D plans using a half‐beam block technique that combined 15X, 10X, 6X flattened beams and 6X and 10X FFF beams. One year of breast patient plans were retrospectively analyzed (48 supine, 57 prone). Of these, 12 representative shapes of typical and extreme separations were evaluated. The effects of breast separation and breast thickness‐ taken as an orthogonal between the nipple region and the chest wall and breast shape‐ approximated by the ratio of the first two parameters, were used as selection criteria. Our goals were to ensure Dmax< 110% and that the 95% isodose line covered the breast volume. Comparisons were made on the central axis between a FFF beam and a wedged beam to determine the effective wedge angle of an FFF beam. Results: Most supine patients met the coverage goals in the breast tissue, but there are cold areas in the superior margin and the inferior margin. In both these regions, the breast shape is approximately constant, while the FFF beam intensity continues to decrease. Prone patients produced acceptable distributions since gravity pulled the target volume away from the chest wall. The effective wedge angle for 6X and 10X beam were 30–45 and 60 degrees respectively. Conclusions: FFF beams can be used effectively to treat breast patients. Partial breast techniques or prone breast patients can be treated with a combination of FFF and flattened beams alone. Supine patients require additional small subfields to produce an acceptable plan. Supported in part by Varian Medical Systems.
Total Synthesis of Phomactin A.

A total synthesis of (±)-phomactin A is described to highlight the final completion of a complex natural product target that had commenced with an intramolecular oxa-[3 + 3] annulation strategy in the construction of the ABD-tricycle. These efforts reveal structural intricacies of this ABD-tricycle with an illustrative example being the conformational analysis that was ultimately critical for the C5a-homolgation.
Large format high-operability SWIR and MWIR focal plane array performance and capabilities

High-performance large-format detector arrays responsive to the 1-5μm wavelength range of the infrared spectrum fabricated using large area HgCdTe layers grown on 6-inch diameter (211) silicon substrates are available for advanced imaging applications. This paper reviews performance and capabilities of Raytheon Vision Systems (RVS) HgCdTe/Si Focal Plane Arrays (FPA) and shows 2k x 2k format MWIR HgCdTe/Si FPA performance with NEdT operabilities better than 99.9%. SWIR and MWIR detector performance for HgCdTe/Si is comparable to established performance of HgCdTe/CdZnTe wafers. HgCdTe devices fabricated on both types of substrates have demonstrated very low dark current, high quantum efficiency and full spectral band fill factor characteristic of HgCdTe. HgCdTe has the advantage of being able to precisely tune the detector cutoff via adjustment of the Cd composition in the MBE growth. The HgCdTe/Si detectors described in this paper are p-on-n mesa delineated architecture and fabricated using the same mature etch, passivation, and metallization processes as our HgCdTe/CdZnTe line. Uniform device quality HgCdTe epitaxial layers and application of detector fabrication processes across the full area of 6-inch wafers routinely produces high performing detector pixels from edge to edge of the photolithographic limits across the wafer, offering 5 times the printable area as costly 6×6cm CdZnTe substrates. This 6-inch HgCdTe detector wafer technology can provide applications demanding very wide FOV high resolution coverage the capability to produce a very large single piece infrared detector array, up to a continuous image plane 10×10 cm in size. Alternatively, significant detector cost reduction through allowing more die of a given size to be printed on each wafer is possible, with further cost reduction achieved through transition towards automated detector fabrication and photolithographic processes for both increased yields and reduced touch labor costs. RVS continues to improve its FPA manufacturing line towards achieving low cost infrared FPAs with the format, size, affordability, and performance required for current and future infrared applications.
Experimental assessment of the effects of body force, surface tension force, and inertia on flow boiling CHF

Abstract The interfacial instabilities important to the modeling of critical heat flux (CHF) in reduced-gravity systems are sensitive to even minute body forces, especially for small coolant velocities. Understanding these effects is of paramount importance to both the reliability and safety of two-phase thermal management loops proposed for future space and planetary-based thermal systems. Unfortunately, reduced gravity systems cannot be accurately simulated in 1g ground-based experiments. However, ground-based experiments can help isolate the effects of the various forces (body force, surface tension force and inertia) which influence flow boiling CHF. In this project, the effects of the component of body force perpendicular to a heated wall were examined by conducting 1g flow boiling experiments at different orientations. Boiling experiments were performed using FC-72 in vertical and inclined upflow and downflow, as well as horizontal flow, and with the heated surface facing upward or downward relative to gravity. CHF was very sensitive to orientation for flow velocities below 0.2 m/s and near-saturated flow; CHF values for downflow and downward-facing heated surface were much smaller than for upflow and upward-facing surface orientations. Increasing velocity and subcooling dampened the effects of flow orientation on CHF. For saturated flow, the vapor layer characteristics fell into six different regimes: wavy vapor layer, pool-boiling, stratification, vapor stagnation, vapor counterflow, and vapor concurrent flow. The wavy vapor layer regime encompassed all subcooled and high-velocity saturated conditions at all orientations, as well as low-velocity upflow orientations. Prior CHF correlations and models were compared, and shown to predict the CHF data with varying degrees of success.
Isolation, sequencing, and functional analysis of the TATA-less murine ATPase II promoter and structural analysis of the ATPase II gene

Abstract The P-type Mg2+-ATPase, termed ATPase II (Atp8a1), is a putative aminophospholipid transporting enzyme, which helps to maintain phospholipid asymmetry in cell membranes. In this project we have elucidated the organization of the mouse ATPase II gene and identified its promoter. Located within chromosome 5, this gene spans about 224 kb and consists of 38 exons, three of which are alternatively spliced (exons 7, 8 and 16), giving rise to two transcript variants. Translation of these transcripts results in two ATPase II isoforms (1 and 2) composed of 1164 and 1149 amino acids, respectively. Using RNA ligase-mediated rapid amplification of cDNA ends (RLM-RACE) we identified multiple transcription start sites (TSS) in messages obtained from heart, lung, liver, and spleen. The mouse ATPase II promoter is TATA-less and lacks a consensus initiator sequence. Luciferase reporter analysis of full and core promoters revealed strong activity and little cell type specificity, possibly because more flanking, regulatory sequences are required to cause such tissue specificity. In the neuronal HN2, N18, SN48 cells and the NIH3T3 fibroblast cells, but not in the B16F10 melanoma cells, the core promoter (− 318/+ 193 with respect to the most common TSS) displayed significantly higher activity than the full promoter (− 1026/+ 193). Serial 5′ deletion of the core promoter revealed significant cell type-specific activity of the fragments, suggesting differential expression and use of transcription factors in the five cell lines tested. Additionally distribution of the TSS was organ specific. Such observations suggest tissue-specific differences in transcription initiation complex assembly and regulation of ATPase II gene expression. Information presented here form the groundwork for further studies on the expression of this gene in apoptotic cells.
Characterization of a sulfonated pentablock copolymer for desalination applications

Abstract Water and salt transport properties were determined in a family of sulfonated pentablock copolymers to characterize their potential as chlorine-tolerant desalination membrane materials. The degree of sulfonation, block molecular weight, and casting conditions can be independently varied to tune the transport properties of these materials. Data for water uptake, water permeability, salt permeability, and apparent surface charge are presented. Apparent diffusion coefficients of water in these materials were calculated using the solution-diffusion theory. Generally speaking, water sorption, water diffusivity, water permeability, and salt permeability increase with increasing degree of sulfonation. As ion exchange capacity increases from 0.4 to 2.0 meq/g (dry polymer), water uptake values vary between 21% and 118%, and water permeability values, in units of cm2 s−1, vary over 4 orders of magnitude. Salt permeability depends on both the upstream sodium chloride concentration, between 0.01 and 1.0 mol L−1, and the degree of sulfonation. Both water permeability and salt permeability are sensitive to the conditions used when casting the polymer films. Apparent surface charge, as characterized by zeta potential, has been shown to be related to the fouling tendency of several membrane materials. In these materials, zeta potential is most negative in samples with low levels of sulfonation and is near neutral in samples with the highest level of sulfonation.
Effect of riboflavin on monoamine oxidase activity in cultured neuroblastoma cells

Monoamine oxidase (MAO) depends on a covalently attached FAD cofactor for activity. Activity is depressed in mouse neuroblastoma cells (N1E-115) grown in synthetic N2 medium lacking riboflavin. MAO activity in depleted cells is stimulated by added riboflavin, and this recovery is blocked by inhibitors of RNA and protein synthesis, and not by an inhibitor of protein glycosylation Recovery from riboflavin depletion appears to depend upon new RNA and protein synthesis, and not on the addition of FAD cofactor to an inactive MAO precursor.
Disease status in African American single mothers with HIV: the role of depressive symptoms.

The association between depressive symptoms and 2 meaasures of HIV disease status in 73 African American single mothers was examined. Hierarchical multiple regression analyses revealed that clinician-rated depressive symptoms predicted subjective, but not objective, parameters of disease status 12 to 14 months later. More symptoms of depression at the 1st assessment predicted an increase in physical complaints over the course of the study. Results suggest that researchers and clinicians interested in enhancing quality of life among African American single mothers with HIV infection, an understudied population within the HIV-AIDS literature, should consider both subjective and objective measures of the disease.
Nonlinear optics in chiral media

We demonstrate that sum-frequency generation spectroscopy is a viable method to probe chirality of a bulk chiral liquid as well as a chiral surface monolayer. Application of the technique to binaphthol shows good agreement between theory and experiment.
Harvest Frequency and Cultivar Influence on Yield and Protein of Alfalfa-Ryegrass Mixtures

Binary mixtures of alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) and perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) are commonly grown for forage in the U.S. Northeast. The competitiveness of ryegrass with alfalfa as modified by management practices has not been extensively studied. Two experiments were conducted to measure the influence of harvest frequency and ryegrass ploidy level on production, botanical composition, and crude protein concentration of alfalfa-ryegrass mixtures. The first experiment used six replicates of a factorial treatment structure (three ryegrass cultivars x three harvest cycles) in a split-plot design. The second experiment used three replicates of three cultivars x three harvest treatments. Increasing the length of the harvest cycle from 20 to 40 d increased alfalfa and total dry matter production (10.1 to 14.9 Mg ha -1 ) while decreasing ryegrass production and proportion (49 to 18%) of grass in the stand. Ryegrass was nearly eliminated from the stand at the 40-d harvest cycle, but when the cutting cycle was changed to 20 d the next year, it became productive and contributed one-fourth to one-half of the total forage yield. Alfalfa, which had low productivity (7.3 to 8.4 Mg ha -1 ) in a 20-d cycle, became very productive (16.4 to 17.4 Mg ha -1 ) when the cycle was changed to 40 d the next year. Crude protein concentration in alfalfa decreased from 248 to 200 g kg -1 as harvest cycle increased from 20 to 40 d. Ryegrass crude protein increased from 163 to 184 g kg -1 as harvest cycle increased. Frances and Diplomat perennial turfgrass ryegrasses were as productive and persistent as Citadel perennial forage ryegrass in binary mixtures with alfalfa.
Turkey Sperm Oxygen Consumption, Motility, and Percentage Dead After Incubation in Tissue Homogenates

Abstract Turkey oviductal segments and the most recent postovulatory follicle were removed from hens killed .25, 8 to 12, and 18 to 22 hr postoviposition (PO), homogenized, and centrifuged. Supernatant and precipitate fractions were lyophilized, and known quantities were incubated with washed spermatozoa for 90 min at 40 to 41 C. All supernatants and precipitates significantly increased sperm O2 consumption within the PO intervals, but no differences were observed within a segment between the PO intervals. Generally, both fractions decreased postincubation sperm motility and increased the percentage of dead spermatozoa within the PO intervals, but no differences were observed within a segment between the PO intervals. Magnal supernatants stimulated the least amount of O2 consumption while maintaining postincubation sperm motility and percentage dead levels comparable to control values. Sperm motility and percentage dead after incubation in infundibular supernatants were comparable to control levels yet stimulated O2 consumption about fourfold over that of controls. Uterine and uterovaginal junction supernatants stimulated sperm O2 consumption about fivefold over that of controls in spite of lowered postincubation sperm motility and higher percentage dead.
Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibition Partially Prevents Diabetic Organomegaly

The present study was conducted to evaluate whether captopril prevents the organomegaly and accumulation of matrix proteins that normally accompanies the diabetic state. The following groups of rats were studied: normal rats, normal rats treated with captopril (30 mg/kg/d orally), streptozotocin diabetic rats, and diabetic rats treated with captopril. All rats were killed at 10 weeks for histologic and morphometric evaluation of tissues. Compared with the normal rats, the diabetic rats demonstrated significant hepatomegaly, nephromegaly, and cardiomegaly, and the increase in organ size was directly related to increasing levels of protein glycosylation. The development of organomegaly was partially prevented by captopril. We determined by morphometry that the hepatomegaly seen in the diabetic rats was due to an increase in cell size and number, while the nephromegaly seen in the diabetic rats was due to an increase in tubular and glomerular cell size and is associated with glomerular hypertrophy. Captopril prevented the development of hepatic and renal cell hypertrophy and glomerular hypertrophy. These effects of captopril were not associated with detectable changes in body weight or levels of glucose, protein glycosylation, glycosuria, or renal histologic changes secondary to glycosuria. The diabetic rats demonstrated significant glomerular mesangial matrix expansion, and captopril treatment partially prevented that expansion. In conclusion, captopril prevents, in part, the development of organomegaly in diabetic rats, and this effect is due mainly to the prevention of the development of cellular hypertrophy. The present findings are most consistent with a direct effect of captopril on cell metabolism during diabetes mellitus.
Opportunities for the Cost Reduction of Medical Care

The explosion of medical knowledge has deluged the medical community with a plethora of new medicines, new tests, and new procedures. This creates a serious need to carefully evaluate the definable benefits from these new developments, which promise to increase the quality of medical care beyond older, established, and usually less-costly methods. In addition, more recent information has clearly identified genetic variation in an individual’s response to medications. As such, conventional wisdom may now prove to be wrong or subject to question. Examples of this, which we present, include situations where medication may more safely provide benefits to asymptomatic, stable patients than surgical interventions with high potential for complications that counteract predicted benefits. We argue that preventive medicine offers an unusual and comprehensive promise of disease prevention and treatment. The issues we cite may be effective in the future cost reduction of medical care.
Economic and environmental assessment of liquefied natural gas as a supplemental aircraft fuel

Abstract In 2013, natural gas is 70–80% cheaper than jet fuel on an energy basis. As an alternative aviation fuel, natural gas may reduce operating costs. In this paper, we assess the use of liquefied natural gas (LNG) as a supplemental aircraft fuel in a military context, with detailed assessments of the Lockheed Martin C-130H and C-130J transport aircraft. We estimate the cost of retrofitting these aircraft to use LNG and the savings from reduced fuel expenses. We evaluate the societal impacts of LNG within a cost–benefit framework, taking into account resource consumption, human health impacts related to air quality, and climate damage. In order to compare alternative uses of natural gas in aviation, we include in our analysis Fischer–Tropsch (FT) jet fuel from natural gas as a drop-in alternative. Uncertainty analysis is performed with Monte Carlo simulations. We find that aircraft operators can save up to 14% on fuel expenses (retrofit costs included) by employing LNG retrofits, with a 95% confidence interval of 2–23%. Society can also benefit by 12% (3–20%) from LNG use as a result of improved surface air quality, lower resource consumption, and net climate neutrality. These results are highly dependent on fuel prices, the quantity and cost of the LNG retrofits, and the frequency and length of missions. FT jet fuel is not cost-competitive with conventional fuel and results in increased fuel expenses by 17%. FT fuel provides marginal societal benefits relative to jet fuel.
Learning over time: Empirical and theoretical investigations of classroom talk and interaction

Taking broadly sociocultural or sociolinguistic perspectives, the five contributions to this special issue investigate various aspects of the co-construction of knowledge, as this is manifested in K-16 classrooms in Canada, the United Kingdom, and the United States. While the authors of these papers address different educational settings, student populations, and curricular content, what unites them is their concern to better understand the cumulative, multidimensional nature of learning and teaching and the ways in which this is enacted in action and discourse across different spaces and over different scales of time.
Surgical Resection in the Treatment of Pulmonary Histoplasmosis: A Follow-up Study*

Numerous recent reports have pointed out the good results usually obtained by resection of the chronic pulmonary lesions of histoplasmosis. A fairly long-term follow-up study of culturally proved cases seemed desirable at this time in order to ascertain the benefits of the treatment and to exclude the possibility of late recurrences. The follow-up period in this series ranged from 8 months to 10 years and 4 months. All eight patients from whom current information could be obtained were in good health and free of evidence of recurrence. The remaining patient was doing well when last seen at the clinic 8 months after operation.
Finite-dimensional, irreducible representations of some crossed products and group rings

and the subset SpecnA of maxima1 ideals which are kernels of irreducible representations of degree n is a locally closed subspace. M. Artin has proved that SpecnA is homeomorphjc to an open subscheme of a variety, which has a sheaf of Azumaya algebras corresponding to the degree n representations of A [2]. Let dn denote the dimension of Spec,,A. In the same paper, Artin asked whether anything can be said in general about the asymptotic behavior of the sequence {&}. The purpose of this paper is to present some examples of algebras for which Spec,,A can be explicitly described, and we will find that the dimension sequence {dn} can behave somewhat wildly. Let G be a finite group of size n and let S be the algebra
An integrated lubricant oil conditioning sensor using signal multiplexing

One effective approach to detect signs of potential failure of a rotating or reciprocating machine is to examine the conditions of its lubrication oil. Here we present an integrated oil condition sensor for detecting both wear debris and lubricant properties. The integrated sensor consists of miniature multiplexed sensing elements for detection of wear debris and measurements of viscosity and moisture. The oil debris sensing element consists of eight sensing channels to detect wear debris in parallel; the elements for measuring oil viscosity and moisture, based on interdigital electrode sensing, were fabricated using micromachining. The integrated sensor was installed and tested in a laboratory lubricating system. Signal multiplexing was applied to the outputs of the three sensing elements such that responses from all sensing elements were obtained within two measurements, and the signal-to-noise ratio was improved. Testing results show that the integrated sensor is capable of measuring wear debris (>50 µm), moisture (>50 ppm) and viscosity (>12.4 cSt) at a high throughput (200 ml min−1). The device can be potentially used for online health monitoring of rotating machines.
Analysis of the Decision to Select a Food Production System for School Foodservice

Abstract Selection of a food production system is a major decision made by school foodservice directors. School foodservice directors in 274 districts with enrollments of at least 2500 students, who had selected a food production system within the last ten years, were asked to provide information on their decision process. Directors indicated issues considered in the selection process, how important these issues were (five-point scale), and their satisfaction with the system chosen (five-point scale). Results suggest that the decision process for the selection of a food production system for use in schools is complex and is one that foodservice directors are likely to be involved in several times throughout their careers. Data analysis results indicate that foodservice directors consider many of the 53 issues when selecting a food production system. Regardless of the system chosen, directors indicated that numerous issues were important in the decision. The decision process used by directors who selected a cook-chill system does appear to differ from the process used by directors who selected on-site conventional and base kitchens. Directors in this study who selected cook-chill were more likely to consider more issues in the decision process, visit other facilities and use non-foodservice personnel such as manufacturers' representatives and foodservice consultants as resources; they spent more time in the system selection process and were more likely to use a planning committee. Foodservice directors generally were satisfied with the system they had selected and implemented, regardless of whether the system is on-site conventional, base kitchen or cook-chill. However, the degree of satisfaction with certain issues did vary, depending on the food production system chosen. Future research should focus on determining the role of needs assessment and problem identification in this decision.
Molecular Cloning and Characterization of TIEG2Reveals a New Subfamily of Transforming Growth Factor-β-inducible Sp1-like Zinc Finger-encoding Genes Involved in the Regulation of Cell Growth

Sp1-like zinc finger transcription factors are involved in the regulation of cell growth and differentiation. Recent evidence demonstrating that mammalian cells express novel, yet uncharacterized, Sp1-like proteins has stimulated a search for new members of this family. We and others have recently reported that the transforming growth factor (TGF)-β-regulated gene TIEGencodes a new Sp1-like protein that inhibits cell growth in cultured cells. Here we report the identification, nuclear localization, DNA binding activity, transcriptional repression activity, and growth inhibitory effects of TIEG2, a novel TGF-β-inducible gene related to TIEG. TIEG2 is ubiquitously expressed in human tissues, with an enrichment in pancreas and muscle. TIEG2 shares 91% homology with TIEG1 within the zinc finger region and 44% homology within the N terminus. Biochemical characterization reveals that TIEG2 is a nuclear protein, which, as predicted from the primary structure, specifically binds to an Sp1-like DNA sequence in vitroand can repress a promoter containing Sp1-like binding sites in transfected Chinese hamster ovary epithelial cells. Furthermore, functional studies using [3H]thymidine uptake and MTS (3-(4,3-dimethyltiazol-2-yl)-5-(3-carboxymethoxyphenyl)-2-(4-sulfophenyl)-2H-tetrazolium) assays demonstrate that the overexpression of TIEG2 in Chinese hamster ovary cells inhibits cell proliferation. Thus, TIEG2, together with TIEG1, defines a new subfamily of TGF-β-inducible Sp1-like proteins involved in the regulation of cell growth.
Superinfection exclusion of vaccinia virus in virus-infected cell cultures

Vaccinia virus-infected BSC 40 cells do not permit the replication of superinfecting vaccinia virus. The extent of superinfecting virus propagation depends on the time of superinfection; there is 90% exclusion by 4 hr after the initial infection, and more than 99% by 6 hr. When superinfection is attempted at 6 hr after infection, the superinfecting virus is incapable of carrying out DNA replication or early gene transcription, demonstrating that an early event in the virus life cycle is inhibited. The rate of adsorption of the superinfecting virus is unaltered which shows that exclusion is affected at a point between adsorption and early gene transcription. In order to exclude superinfection, the primary infecting virus does not require replication of its DNA or expression of its late genes but it must express one or more early genes.
Empirically derived probabilities for grapheme-to-phoneme correspondences in english

Prior probabilities of graphemes and conditional probabilities for their pronunciation as specific phonemes are given based on a corpus of 17,310 English words. Phonemes are as given in recent editions ofWebster’s New Collegiate Dictionary, with minor revisions; graphemes are defined as letters or letter clusters corresponding to single phonemes. Grapheme-phoneme probabilities were derived from a revised table of frequency of occurrence of phoneme-to-grapheme correspondences generated in a study of spelling regularities (P. R. Hanna, J. S. Hanna, Hodges, & Rudorf, 1966). This quantitative descriptive information provides an index of the strength of particular grapheme-phoneme associations in English. Suggestions are made for the utilization of these probabilities as estimates of spelling/sound predictability in reading research.
Simulation of b-jet identification in a non-magnetic detector

Abstract The simulation of a silicon microstrip detector at the center of the D0 detector at the Fermilab Tevatron collider is described. The efficiency of a silicon vertex detector for identifying b-quark jets in a “non-magnetic” detector such as D0 is investigated. For a position resolution of 10 μm the gluon/b-jet rejection factor is estimated to be 25 for a b-jet efficiency of 25%. The detection of top quarks in the presence of background from high p T W boson production is studied.
Water Management – An Increasing Trend in the Oil and Gas Industry

Water plays an essential role in the recovery of oil and gas. Managing subsurface water conformance can maximize hydrocarbon production and reduce operating costs. However, unchecked water can decrease hydrocarbon production, reduce oil and gas recovery, increase costs substantially, and lead to possible well abandonment. In the life of a well it is natural that water will eventually enter into the production stream. It is important to identify the water’s source and reason for the intrusion, and how it is interacting with the wellbore. This knowledge can be used to create an integrated customized solution that fits the needs of the well. An indepth understanding of the reservoir can avoid water problem areas in new infield drilling by the use of advanced navigation and directional systems. Water management is essential to maximizing returns on investment and in controlling costs. There are a variety of technologies available for near-wellbore control and reservoir water conformance. Understanding of the water mechanism followed by proper application is key to reducing excess water production.
Influence of Cerebral Blood Flow on Transmembrane K Transfer in Hyperkalemic Dogs

SummaryIn nephrectomized and intact dogs given a continuous intravenous (iv) injection of 2 meq KCl/kg/hr the development of hyperkalemia is markedly retarded by a mechanism that transfers most of the infused K across cell membranes to intracellular fluid. Activity of this nonrenal K homeostatic mechanism is enhanced when the site of K administration is moved from a peripheral vein to a vertebral artery; it seems that increased passage of K through the brain improves K transfer activity. In this investigation passage of K through the brain was decreased by closure of cerebral blood vessels. Groups of nephrectomized dogs were K loaded by vein after ligation of both vertebral arteries, or of both vertebral and both common carotids; and a group of intact dogs was similarly infused after simultaneous ligation of both vertebrals and common carotids (for several hours after occlusion such arterial ligations are well tolerated). In each group the ability to transfer K to ICF was significantly reduced. The result...
Viscous flow and degradation of molten polypropylene

The melt extrusion of a commercial polypropylene resin was studied with a screw extruder and a series of capillary dies of length:radius ratios varying from 0 to 65. Three temperatures and the range of shear rates encountered in industrial processing were covered. The temperature dependence of the apparent melt viscosity of polypropylene was intermediate between linear and branched polyethylene. Extrapolated zero shear activation energy for viscous flow was 9 ± 1 Kcal/mole. Shear dependence of the apparent viscosity of polypropylene melt was greater than for branched polyethylene in turn, greater for linear.
Application of the Pt–Re–Os isotopic systems to mantle geochemistry and geochronology

Abstract The Re–Os system has now been applied to a wide variety of problems in the solid earth sciences. This review concentrates on applications of the Re–Os system to understanding the age and composition of the mantle and the role that various materials in the mantle play in generating surface magmas. The progress in understanding Re–Os systematics in natural materials has accompanied dramatic advances in the understanding of the geochemical behavior of Re and the platinum group elements. This group of elements and the two isotopic systems (Pt–Os and Re–Os) they contain provide a view of Earth processes that are controlled not by the silicate phases the make up most of the outer portion of Earth, but by sulfide, oxide and metal phases that constitute but a trace of the mantle and crust. These phases are sensitive to oxygen and sulfur fugacities in ways that silicates are not. Consequently, the Re–Os and Pt–Os systems provide a new view into the geochemical evolution of the solid Earth that is complementary to that obtained through the study of traditional radiometric systems that are based on lithophile elements.
Characterization of Differential Protein Tethering at the Plasma Membrane in Response to Epidermal Growth Factor Signaling

Physical tethering of membrane proteins to the cortical actin cytoskeleton provides functional organization to the plasma membrane and contributes to diverse cellular processes including cell signaling, vesicular trafficking, endocytosis, and migration. For these processes to occur, membrane protein tethering must be dynamically regulated in response to environmental cues. In this study, we describe a novel biochemical scheme for isolating the complement of plasma membrane proteins that are physically tethered to the actin cytoskeleton. We utilized this method in combination with tandem liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry (LC–MS/MS) to demonstrate that cytoskeletal tethering of membrane proteins is acutely regulated by epidermal growth factor (EGF) in normal human kidney (HK2) cells. Our results indicate that several proteins known to be involved in EGF signaling, as well as other proteins not traditionally associated with this pathway, are tethered to the cytoskeleton in dynamic fashion. Further anal...
Extracorporeal Removal of Anti-HLA Antibodies in Transplant Candidates

We report on the results of a clinical trial in which 14 transplant candidates were treated with an extracorporeal immunoadsorption system using Protein A that selectively removes immunoglobulin from plasma; we also assessed the dynamics of anti-HLA antibody as a model of IgG removal and re-equilibration, as well as the clinical safety of the procedure. At the end of a treatment course, plasma IgG levels were reduced by 90% +/- 8% of control values (P less than 0.01). In contrast, albumin levels were reduced by only 15% (P less than 0.05). Specific cytotoxic anti-HLA antibody titers were reduced by approximately 18-fold. Panel reactivity was measured as the proportion of a 40-member cell donor panel killed by patients' serum in the presence of complement; in nine of the 14 patients, there was a significant reduction in this parameter (range, 23% to 87%). During the 4-week follow-up period, anti-HLA antibody titers returned to baseline levels. There were no remarkable changes observed in blood chemistries, nor were there any unanticipated adverse reactions seen in the patients treated. We conclude that selective extracorporeal immunoadsorption is a safe and effective way of removing IgG-type antibodies, with potential application to reduction of HLA antibodies in transplant candidates.
Deletion of IRF-1, mapping to chromosome 5q31.1, in human leukemia and preleukemic myelodysplasia

One of the most frequent cytogenetic abnormalities in human leukemia and myelodysplasia is an interstitial deletion within chromosome 5q. A tumor suppressor gene has been hypothesized to lie in 5q31, the smallest commonly deleted region. IRF-1, a gene whose product manifests anti-oncogenic activity, was mapped to 5q31.1. IRF-1 lies between IL-5 and CDC25C and is centromeric to IL-3 and GM-CSF. Among these genes, only IRF-1 was consistently deleted at one or both alleles in 13 cases of leukemia or myelodysplasia with aberrations of 5q31. Inactivating rearrangements of one IRF-1 allele, accompanied by deletion of the second allele, were also identified in one case of acute leukemia. Thus, IRF-1 may be a critically deleted gene in human leukemia and myelodysplasia.
Assigning weights for PMU measurements: Two alternative methods

Assignment of proper weights to measurements remains an important problem in power system state estimation. The weights are commonly specified by users based on assumed accuracies of conventional measurements. Since such historical information may not be available for new kinds of measurements such as those received from Phasor Measurement Units (PMUs), weight assignment for such measurements becomes a challenge. This paper investigates possible alternatives and suggests two different approaches to address this problem. Simulated scenarios using IEEE 14-bus system as well as laboratory tests are used to illustrate the application of suggested approaches.
Role of Polyalanine Domains in β-Sheet Formation in Spider Silk Block Copolymers

Genetically engineered spider silk-like block copolymers were studied to determine the influence of polyalanine domain size on secondary structure. The role of polyalanine block distribution on {beta}-sheet formation was explored using FT-IR and WAXS. The number of polyalanine blocks had a direct effect on the formation of crystalline {beta}-sheets, reflected in the change in crystallinity index as the blocks of polyalanines increased. WAXS analysis confirmed the crystalline nature of the sample with the largest number of polyalanine blocks. This approach provides a platform for further exploration of the role of specific amino acid chemistries in regulating the assembly of {beta}-sheet secondary structures, leading to options to regulate material properties through manipulation of this key component in spider silks.
Design of a Stiff Steerable Grasper for Sinus Surgery

With the advent of endoscopic sinus surgery in the late 1980’s [1], a completely new surgical field was born. The endoscope, passed through the natural orifice of the nose, allowed for much more precise visualization of the operative field and enabled a new understanding of the function of the sinuses. Today, functional endoscopic sinus surgery (FESS) is commonly used to improve the sinuses’ natural drainage pathways in patients with chronic sinusitis, to remove pathologies such as nasal polyps and tumors, and even to access the skull base to remove brain tumors. Commonly used angled endoscopes allow for visualization of nearly every portion of the sinus cavities and skull base. However, traditional tools have not enabled adequate surgical access to all of these areas. This is because the current surgical method requires a nearly direct line of access from the opening of the nose to the surgical target. Due to anatomical obstacles, not all areas visible to the endoscope can be directly accessed in this way. As a result, procedures have been developed to remove anatomical structures in order to clear a direct line of access to hard-to-reach targets. However, removal of these structures comes at a cost, with complications including vascular, nerve and soft tissue damage that can result in pain or numbness in the mouth and face. Current technique requires one hand to hold the surgical instrument, while the other hand is typically occupied holding the endoscope, as shown in Figure 1. Generally these tools are supported entirely by the surgeon’s hands, in contrast with other types of laparoscopic surgery in which a trocar provides additional support. As a result, tools must be lightweight and comfortable to hold. These tools have traditionally been designed to be rigid (so as to be easily controlled with one hand), though not necessarily straight. In an attempt to reach around corners and avoid obstacles in the anatomy, some devices incorporate curved tool shafts. However, these are limited in their maneuverability, since the curved shape is fixed during surgery. These rigid tools have been adequate for the majority of surgeries, but as techniques have advanced, surgeons have reached the limits of what they can accomplish with these tools. In order to avoid the need to remove tissue in order to access hard-to-reach sites, new tools must be developed which are capable of navigating through angled pathways in the nasal cavities. A new approach to this problem involving a stiff yet elastic steerable tool tip is presented in this paper. This approach uses a continuum structure. For a review of prior uses of continuum structures in robotic tools, see [2]. Figure 1: Placement of an endoscope and a traditional rigid grasper tool during endonasal surgery. One hand (not pictured) holds the endoscope, while the other (pictured) holds the rigid grasper.