cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
KOH concentration effect on the cycle life of nickel—hydrogen cells: III. Cycle life test

A cycle life test of Ni/H2 cells containing electrolytes of various KOH concentrations and a sintered type nickel electrode was carried out at 23 C using a 45 min accelerated low earth orbit (LEO) cycle regime at 80 percent depth of discharge. One of three cells containing 26 percent KOH has achieved over 28,000 cycles, and the other two 19,000 cycles, without a sign of failure. Two other cells containing 31 percent KOH electrolyte, which is the concentration presently used in aerospace cells, failed after 2,979 and 3,620 cycles. This result indicates that the cycle life of the present type of Ni/H2 cells may be extended by a factor of 5 to 10 simply by lowering the KOH concentration. Long cycle life of a Ni/H2 battery at high depth-of-discharge operation is desired, particularly for an LEO spacecraft application. Typically, battery life of about 30,000 cycles is required for a five year mission in an LEO. Such a cycle life with presently available cells can be assured only at a very low depth-of-discharge operation. Results of testing already show that the cycle life of an Ni/H2 cell is tremendously improved by simply using an electrolyte of low KOH concentration.
Early Triassic palaeomagnetic results from the Ryeongnam Block, Korean Peninsula: the eastern extension of the North China Block

Greenish sandstones in the Early Triassic Nogam Formation of the Ryeongnam Block, Korean Peninsula were collected at 23 sites for palaeomagnetic study. A high-temperature magnetization component with unblocking temperatures of 670–690 °C was isolated from seven sites and yielded a positive fold test at the 95 per cent confidence level. The high-temperature component is interpreted to be of primary origin because the folding age is Middle Triassic. The Early Triassic palaeomagnetic direction for the Ryeongnam Block after tilt correction is D=347.1°, I=23.8° (α95=5.5°). The palaeomagnetic pole (62.5°N, 336.8°E, A95 = 4.7°) shows good agreement with the coeval pole for the North China Block, suggesting that the Ryeongnam Block has been part of the North China Block at least since Early Triassic times. A tectonic history of the Korean Peninsula includes obduction of the eastern part of the South China Block onto the central part of the Korean Peninsula in the Permian, with the Ryeongnam Block geographically isolated from the main part of the North China Block. Collision of the North and South China blocks commenced initially at the Korean Peninsula, and suturing of the two blocks progressed westwards.
Knee confidence as it relates to physical function outcome in persons with or at high risk of knee osteoarthritis in the Osteoarthritis Initiative

Objective To evaluate whether low knee confidence at baseline is associated with poor baseline-to-3-year physical function outcome in the Osteoarthritis Initiative. Methods Knee confidence was assessed using an item from the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score instrument. Physical function was assessed using self-report measures (Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index [WOMAC] function score and Short Form 12 physical component scale) and performance-based measures (20-meter walk and chair stand test). Poor function outcome was defined as moving into a worse function group or remaining in the 2 worst function groups between baseline and 3 years. Logistic regression was used to evaluate the relationship between baseline knee confidence level and poor baseline-to-3-year function outcome, adjusting for potential confounders. Results The sample included 3,975 men and women with or at high risk of developing osteoarthritis of the knee, of whom 37–53% had poor baseline-to-3-year function outcome. For both self-report measures, increasingly worse knee confidence was associated with a greater risk of poor function outcome, and trend tests supported a graded response (e.g., the adjusted odds ratios [95% confidence intervals] for the WOMAC function score for worsening confidence categories were 1.26 [1.07–1.49], 1.43 [1.16–1.77], and 2.05 [1.49–2.82], P for trend <0.0001). Similar associations between confidence and performance-based function outcome were observed, but statistical significance did not persist in adjusted analyses. Factors independently associated with poor function outcome for all 4 outcome measures were depressive symptoms, comorbidity, body mass index, and joint space narrowing. Conclusion These findings indicate that worse knee confidence at baseline is independently associated with greater risk of poor function outcome by self-report measures, with evidence of a graded response; the relationship with performance measures is not significant in fully adjusted models.
Global phase coherence and dissipation in ultra-thin superconducting films

Abstract A threshold for the onset of global phase coherence, or zero resistance, has been revealed by systematic studies of the superconductivity of ultra-thin gallium and lead films. This threshold appears to be controlled by the normal state sheet resistance of the films which is the only relevant variable. The threshold value of 6.5 kΩ□ agrees with previous observations on ultra-thin tin films and further supports the notion of a universal resistance threshold. This value also is in agreement with the predictions of recent theoretical models which indicate the importance of zero-point fluctuations coupled to dissipation in such film systems.
Solutions for Difficult Diagnostic Cases of Community-Acquired Pneumonia

Community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) is a common illness that creates significant burdens upon the healthcare system. Improving the quality of medical care for patients with this illness requires an evidence-based and cost-efficient treatment approach. The first step in this approach is to make an accurate diagnosis, while considering the full differential diagnosis of the illness. This requires an understanding of the sensitivity and specificity of the history and physical examination to establish the diagnosis of CAP. The second step is to quantify severity of illness, which can help physicians determine the appropriate initial site of treatment, intensity of the diagnostic evaluation, and choice of initial antibiotic therapy. Case histories are presented to outline the clinical application of an approach that uses the Pneumonia Patient Outcomes Research Team (PORT) prediction rule for prognosis to quantify the severity of illness, and recent guidelines for the management of CAP are highlighted.
Intermittent versus continuous cutting methods of tool life testing

Abstract This paper presents the results of an investigation which compared differences in tool life values obtained from an intermittent testing method with those obtained from a continuous testing method. In addition, the results of an economic analysis are presented and used to determine the cost of applying the data from an experimental tool life procedure which does not coincide with the actual production operation.
Nuclear Origin of Aging-Associated Meiotic Defects in Senescence-Accelerated Mice

Factors of both cytoplasmic and nuclear origin regulate metaphase chromosome alignment and spindle checkpoint during mitosis. Most aneuploidies associated with maternal aging are believed to derive from nondisjunction and meiotic errors, such as aberrations in spindle formation and chromosome alignment at meiosis I. Senescence-accelerated mice (SAM) exhibit aging-associated meiotic defects, specifically chromosome misalignments at meiosis I and II that resemble those found in human female aging. How maternal aging disrupts meiosis remains largely unexplained. Using germinal vesicle nuclear transfer, we found that aging-associated misalignment of metaphase chromosomes is predominately associated with the nuclear factors in the SAM model. Cytoplasm of young hybrid B6C3F1 mouse oocytes could partly rescue aging-associated meiotic chromosome misalignment, whereas cytoplasm of young SAM was ineffective in preventing the meiotic defects of old SAM oocytes, which is indicative of a deficiency of SAM oocyte cytoplasm. Our results demonstrate that both nuclear and cytoplasmic factors contribute to the meiotic defects of the old SAM oocytes and that the nuclear compartment plays the predominant role in the etiology of aging-related meiotic defects.
Seaweed secondary metabolites as antifoulants: effects of Dictyota spp. diterpenes on survivorship, settlement, and development of marine invertebrate larvae

A recent investigation showed that the brown seaweed Dictyota menstrualis was unfouled relative to co-occurring seaweeds, and that larvae of fouling invertebrates avoided settling on D. menstrualis due to chemicals on its surface. The secondary metabolites dictyol E and pachydictyol A are among the compounds found on this alga's surface. In the present study, we tested the effects of specific diterpenes from Dictyota on the survivorship, growth, and development of invertebrate larvae and developing juveniles that could foul seaweeds. Exposure to dictyol E, dictyol B acetate, pachydictyol A, and dictyodial from Dictyota menstrualis and D. ciliolata caused significant larval mortality, abnormal development, and reduce growth rates for three species of co-occurring invertebrates when their larvae were forced into contact with these metabolites. Larvae were damaged at metabolite concentrations as low as 5% of maximum possible surface concentrations of these compounds for the populations of Dictyota we studied. The negative effects of these secondary metabolites on potential foulers, in conjunction with data demonstrating larval avoidance of dictyol-covered surfaces, suggest that these compounds could function as chemical defenses against fouling, and could select for larvae that avoid hosts producing these metabolites.
Lower bounds for algebraic decision trees

Abstract A topological method is given for obtaining lower bounds for the height of algebraic decision trees. The method is applied to the knapsack problem where an Ω(n 2 ) bound is obtained for trees with bounded-degree polynomial tests, thus extending the Dobkin-Lipton result for linear trees. Applications to the convex hull problem and the distinct element problem are also indicated. Some open problems are discussed.
Biblical behavior modification.

Although we may have formalized and systematized the field of behavior modification in the last few decades, people around the world have been using behavioral change strategies throughout history. Premack's (1965) theory of reinforcement is often called "Grandma's rule" because grandmothers have long been using it (e.g. You must finish your vegetables before you may go out and play). Franks (1969, p. 4), in one of the first behavioral texts, gave historical examples from China, Turkey, France, and Italy. Knapp and Shodahl (1974) showed how Benjamin Franklin used behavior modification. And de Silva (1984, 1985) gave examples of behavior modification by the Buddha and other early Buddhists. Conspicuously absent from our literature are examples from the Judeo-Christian tradition. In this paper, we provide a number of behavior modification examples from the Bible (New International Version). Footnotes provide references for many more examples. In the discussion, we explore implications for education and therapy. Examples are grouped by the following categories: operant conditioning, respondent conditioning, modeling, and cognitive interventions. However, the Biblical examples, like contemporary case studies, do not always fall neatly into discrete categories. They often are a combination, particularly operant and respondent conditioning interweaving.
System Design on Thermoelectic Energy Harvesting from Body Heat

Thermoelectric principle based energy harvesting system from body heat is a promising power strategy for portable devices. This paper introduces design of this kind of system, which can be divided into two sub-systems: thermoelectric system and energy management system. Experiment validates that the designed system can power the load to work periodically.
Pathophysiology and clinical implications of pulmonary arterial enlargement in COPD

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a complex condition defined by progressive airflow limitation in response to noxious stimuli, inflammation, and vascular changes. COPD exacerbations are critical events in the natural history of the disease, accounting for the majority of disease burden, cost, and mortality. Pulmonary vascular disease is an important risk factor for disease progression and exacerbation risk. Relative pulmonary artery enlargement on computed tomography scan, defined by a pulmonary artery to aortic (PA:A) ratio >1, has been evaluated as a marker of pulmonary vascular disease. The PA:A ratio can be measured reliably independent of electrocardiographic gating or the use of contrast, and in healthy patients a PA:A ratio >0.9 is considered to be abnormal. The PA:A ratio has been compared with invasive hemodynamic parameters, primarily mean pulmonary artery pressure in various disease conditions and is more strongly correlated with mean pulmonary artery pressure in obstructive as compared with interstitial lung disease. In patients without known cardiac or pulmonary disease, the PA:A ratio is predictive of mortality, while in COPD, an elevated PA:A ratio is correlated with increased exacerbation risk, outperforming other well established predictors of these events. Future studies should be aimed at determining the stability of the metric over time and evaluating the utility of the PA:A ratio in guiding specific therapies.
Cytokine-stimulated human immunodeficiency virus replication is inhibited by N-acetyl-L-cysteine.

Abstract We show that the stimulation of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) brought about by tumor necrosis factor alpha and phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate can be inhibited by adding N-acetyl-L-cysteine (NAC). NAC, which replenishes intracellular glutathione, effectively inhibits the tumor necrosis factor alpha- or phorbol ester-stimulated replication of HIV in acutely infected cell cultures. NAC also inhibits the cytokine-enhanced HIV long terminal repeat-directed expression of beta-galactosidase in in vitro HIV model systems. These results show that intracellular thiol levels influence HIV production. Furthermore, because NAC reverses tumor necrosis factor alpha toxicity both in cells and in animals and is a well-known drug that can be administered orally without known toxicity in humans, these results suggest that NAC is a possible therapeutic agent in AIDS.
Abstract A200: Differential kinase requirements of human cell lines pertaining to metastasis and c‐Met signaling

Metastasis accounts for over 90% of cancer death, but its mechanisms are still poorly understood. One valuable approach that has been commonly used to study metastasis was to compare paired poorly and highly metastatic cell lines, either for roles of a few genes of interest or global gene expression differences. Our work involved in using shRNA screen to identify global key functional differences between these matched cell lines. We postulated that the distinct in vivo phenotypes of these paired cell lines are a consequence of alterations in their cellular signaling networks during tumor progression. To characterize these functional differences, we performed arrayed shRNA screens against the human kinome to examine kinase requirements for survival and proliferation on several pairs of melanoma, colon or prostate cancer cell lines. From these screens, we have identified a set of kinases that become essential for multiple highly metastatic cells, some of which have been linked to metastasis (such as c‐Met) but more have not. Several of these genes were shown to be amplified or mutated in human cancers. In vivo metastatic experiments are underway to prioritize these kinases by evaluating which kinases can promote metastasis when ectopically expressed. Since inhibition of these kinases phenocopied c‐Met inhibition, we also sought to test if any of these kinases are functionally linked to c‐Met signaling. Indeed, several of the identified kinases became essential when immortalized melanocytes were made tumorigenic and metastatic by introduction of activated c‐Met. Biochemical and genetic rescue experiments are currently ongoing to further examine the links between these genes and c‐Met. These studies offer new insights into the cellular signaling pathways operating in metastatic cancer cells and also suggest potential targets to treat metastatic cancers. Citation Information: Mol Cancer Ther 2009;8(12 Suppl):A200.
A cross-cultural investigation of personality traits among Arab and American business students

This study identifies differences in the scores of Jordanian and American business students on the Keirsey Temperament Sorter personality test. The test was administered to 137 students at the University of Jordan in Amman, Jordan, and Washington College in Chestertown, Maryland. The research results show that, although there are significant differences in personality traits in two of four categories, there are more similarities than differences between the traits identified by these groups of students. This indicates that the personalities and temperaments of business students in Jordan and the United States are not remarkably different.
Initial condition correction in multibody dynamics

A simple procedure is presented to correct initial conditions for the coordinates and velocities prior to performing a kinematic or forward dynamic analysis of multibody systems. Such corrections are crucial since slight amount of constraint violations at the start of any numerical integration of equations of motion can lead to erroneous results. The correction process is based on the well-known method of minimizing the sum-of-squares of adjustments in the coordinates or velocities. The process provides a solution that is closest to the estimated values. It should be a simple task to implement this methodology as a preprocessing step for any kinematic or forward dynamic analysis program regardless of the formulation.
Marital Satisfaction, Parental Stress, and Child Behavior Problems among Parents of Young Children with Developmental Delays.

Studies have found that low marital satisfaction, parenting stress, and child behavior problems are linked in families of children with developmental delays (DD). However, previous investigations examining the relationships between parenting stress, child behavior problems, and marital satisfaction rarely examine the interrelationships of these three variables simultaneously, and the samples used are often restricted in terms of age and ethnicity, limiting generalizability. The primary aim of the study was to examine the associations between marital satisfaction, child behavior problems, and parenting stress in a diverse sample of parents of young children with DD. The study included 44 parents of children ages 2.5 to 5 years with DD and high levels of behavior problems who participated in a larger study looking at the impact of Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) in reducing parenting stress and child behavior problems. Marital satisfaction was significantly related to both parenting stress and chi...
Bronchogenic cyst in association with hypoplasia of the left pulmonary artery

Abstract Bronchogenic cysts are congenital foregut anomalies which may cause significant respiratory symptoms in infants and children. 1,3,5 Compression of the tracheobronchial tree can lead to overinflation, atelectasis and life-threatening respiratory disease. The case presented is unique in that it was associated with hypoplasia of the left pulmonary artery.
Career Plans and Debt Levels of Graduating U.S. Medical Students, 1981-1986.

Trends in students' responses to the annual graduation questionnaire of the Association of American Medical Colleges from 1981 to 1986 were examined. Since 1981 the percentage of students choosing primary care specialties dropped from 43.6 percent to 36.6 percent. The decline of interest in primary care specialties occurred mainly in general internal medicine. Changes in career activity since 1981 reflected increasing interest by the students in full-time academic appointments and decreasing interest in solo, private practices. Changes in the size of a city in which students planned to practice reflected an increasing interest in large cities or suburbs. The students' preferences for certain geographic regions of the country for practice locations changed very little. Finally, total postsecondary educational debt increased from an average of +19,697 in 1981 to an average of +33,499 in 1986. This difference represents a 70 percent increase as measured by 1987 dollars and a 37 percent increase in constant dollars.
Three-dimensional and 2-dimensional endoscopic exposure of midline cranial base targets using expanded endonasal and transcranial approaches.

OBJECTIVE: Endoscopic endonasal approaches provide an access method to the midline cranial base. To integrate these approaches into neurosurgical practice, the extent of their anatomic exposure must be compared with that provided by more traditional transcranial approaches. METHODS: Ten fresh cadaver heads were studied. Both endonasal and transcranial approaches to the midline cranial base were performed. The midline cranial base was divided into several areas, and the relative exposure provided by each approach was described and presented in both 2-dimensional and 3-dimensional images. Limitations and advantages of each approach are discussed. RESULTS: The endonasal approaches achieved a direct and wide exposure of the midline extracranial and intracranial cranial base anatomy. The main lateral limitations of the endonasal approaches were the optic nerves, lateral cavernous sinus, vidian nerve, internal carotid artery, abducens nerve in Dorello's canal, jugular tubercle, and hypoglossal canals. Limitations of the transcranial approaches were the neurovascular structures which lie in the operative corridor and create narrow working spaces. CONCLUSION: The endonasal approaches achieve a direct and wide exposure of the midline cranial base bilaterally. Lateral exposure, beyond the cranial nerves and carotid artery, are challenging. Transcranial approaches are limited by the narrow corridors provided by the cranial nerves, and they do not visualize the contralateral paramedian cranial base very well. Three-dimensional endoscopes augment the spatial orientation and may improve patient safety and the learning curve for endoscopic approaches to the midline cranial base.
Ion induced structures and electrical conduction in implanted polymer films

Abstract A conducting-grain picture is presented, based on the idea that the ion-polymer interaction process can be simply described as a rapid dissipation of the thermal energy converted from the kinetic energy in the ion track region. Thermal dissipation and efficiency through electronic ionization and nuclear collisions are quite different. A critical transient temperature, determined by the critical energy deposition density, is necessary to activate a thermodynamic relaxation process along the ion track creating conducting graphitic grains. Our high resolution temperature-dependent dc conductivity data reveal a two component conductivity that depends on both one-dimensional variable-range hopping (VRH) and three-dimensional VRH. The relative importance of 3-D VRH conductivity over the entire conductivity seems to depend on the relative rate of the ion energy loss through electronic ionization processes.
Therapeutic potential of nervous system growth factors for neurodegenerative disease.

Fifty years after the discovery of nerve growth factor, the first gene therapy trial for the treatment of Alzheimer’s disease utilizing nerve growth factor has begun. This review focuses on the history of nerve growth factor and the rationale behind targeting nerve growth factor therapy to rescue degenerating neurons of the cholinergic basal forebrain system in Alzheimer’s disease. Further, the future steps necessary to turn the promise of gene therapy into a practical approach for treating Alzheimer’s disease and other neurodegenerative disorders are discussed, including key issues, such as regulatable gene expression and making the transition from an ex vivo to an in vivo gene therapy approach.
THE PART PLAYED BY AGE AND THEFEMALE SEX HORMONESIN RESISTANCE TOINFECTION

THAT THE ENDOCRINE pattern of host the has an effect on the host‘s response to disease agents has been appreciated since the work of Bullowaand Kaplan in 1903 (1). These workers then showed that patients withasthma improved when adrenalin was injected. Since this time there havebeen a number of papers both clinical and experimental pertaining to thissubject. In this paper we do not intend to cover the whole field of the reh'tionship of the endocrines to infection but only that portion which concernsage and the sex hormones. The literature on this subject falls naturally intothree main groups—antibody formation, morphological changes and thedispersion and concentration of disease agents. The effect of age and the female sex hormones on antibody response has been extensively studied. Baumgartner (2) in 1932, reviewed over 200 refer' ences on this subject and came to the conclusion
After-hours power status of office equipment in the USA

Office equipment is expected to be the fastest-growingsegment of commercial energy use over the next 20 years, yet many aspectsof office equipment energy use are poorly understood. User behavior, suchas turning off devices at night or enabling power management, influencesenergy use to a great extent. The computing environment also plays a roleboth in influencing user behavior and in the success of power management.Information about turn-off rates and power management rates for officeequipment was collected through a series of after-hours audits incommercial buildings. Sixteen businesses were recruited, includingoffices (small, medium and large offices in a variety of industries),schools, and medical buildings in California, Georgia, and Pennsylvania.The types and power states of office equipment found in these buildingswere recorded and analyzed. This article presents these data forcomputers, monitors, printers, copiers, fax machines, scanners andmulti-function devices. These data can be used to improve estimates ofboth energy consumption for these devices and savings from energyconservation efforts.
A simple and economical device for the rapid collection of multiple supernates from cytotoxicity experiments

Abstract The construction and use of a simple semiautomatic device for collecting equal aliquots of supernates after radioisotope release assays of cellular cytotoxicity are described. This device simultaneously removes an aliquot of the supernate from each of the 12 wells in one row of a microtiter plate, and transfers these aliquots directly to disposable test tubes for insertion into a γ-counter. Results obtained using this device were more reproducible than manual methods for supernate collection.
Application of pseudomonas putida ppg 786 containing p 450 cytochrome monooxygenase for removal of trace naphthalene concentrations

This study explores the potential for a bacterial monooxygenase to remove polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons from aqueous solutions at high rates. This is part of a larger effort to test the versatility of the cytochrome P-450cam monooxygenase enzyme system for detoxification of industrial process wastewaters that contain trace quantities of hazardous compounds like PAHs or halocarbons. The intracellular concentration of P-450cam in washed, resting cell suspensions of Pseudomonoas putida PpG 786 that were cultured on camphor was measured by adapting a spectrophotometric method used to measure P-450 concentration in extracts of mammalian tissues. Naphthalene removal in the suspensions was measured as a function of incubation time, biomass concentration, starting naphthalene concentration (3-180 μmol/L) and in the presence of known P-450 inhibitors. Involvement of the P-450cam system in the measured naphthalene disappearance was established by showing that while significant naphthalene removal occurred in camphor-grown biomass, no disappearance was observed in glutamate-grown biomass and that removal was turned off in the presence of the P-450 inhibitor metyrapone. The half-life of naphthalene removal for a 1 ppm solution (7.8 μM) was about 18 h. The fraction of naphthalene removed descreased rapidly as initial naphthalene concentration increased, and essentially no naphthalene was removed when the starting concentration exceeded 189 μmol/L (23 ppm).
Tris-mercaptophenylphosphine complexes of rhenium: Synthesis, reactivity and structural characterization

Abstract The reactions of various rhenium(III) precursers with the tetradentate umbrella ligand tris-(ortho-mercaptophenyl)phosphine (PS3 for the tri-anionic form) followed by various neutral donor ligands is the focus of this work. The addition of a solution of P(SLi)3 in THF to [ReBr3(THT)3] in THF followed by the addition of excess isonitrile gives the octahedral complex [PS3Re(CNiPr)2]. This reaction also allows isolation of [PS3Re(CNiPr)] which is separated from the bis-isonitrile complex via column chromatography. Both of these complexes were structurally characterized with the five-coordinate species displaying trigonal bipyramidal geometry and the six-coordinate species displaying a distorted octahedral geometry. The decomposition product [(S2PS-SPS2)Re] is also isolated from the chromatographic separation of the two isonitrile complexes. This neutral octahedral complex displays coordination through two phosphine and four thiolate moieties, with a non-coordinated disulfide bridge that links the remaining sulfurs. The addition of a solution of H3PS3 and iPr2NEt in THF to [ReBr3(THT)3] followed by the addition of dimethylphenylphosphine yields [PS3Re(PMe2Ph)2]. This complex, similar to the bis-isonitrile species, displays a distorted octahedral geometry. These complexes and others in the series have been fully characterized with NMR spectroscopy, infrared and mass spectrometry and elemental analyses.
Mechanism and Kinetics of δ-Lysin Interaction with Phospholipid Vesicles†

δ-Lysin is a 26 amino acid, hemolytic peptide toxin secreted by Staphylococcus aureus. It has been reported to form an amphipathic helix upon binding to lipid bilayers and is often cited as a typical example of the barrel-stave model for pore formation in lipid bilayer membranes. However, the exact mechanism by which it lyses cells and the physical basis of its target specificity are still unknown. Moreover, the evidence for δ-lysin insertion and pore formation in the membrane stems largely from theoretical modeling of the toxin and lacks experimental confirmation. We investigated binding and insertion of δ-lysin into phospholipid bilayer vesicles. The kinetics of these processes were studied by stopped-flow fluorescence with two types of experiments: (a) carboxyfluorescein release from the vesicles upon peptide−vesicle interaction, with concomitant relief of dye self-quenching; (b) fluorescence energy transfer from the intrinsic tryptophan of the peptide to a membrane-bound lipid probe. We formulated a ...
Small sample approximations for spacing statistics

Edgeworth expansions as well as saddle-point methods are used to approximate the distributions of some spacing statistics for small to moderate sample sizes. By comparing with the exact values when available, it is shown that a particular form of Edgeworth expansion produces extremely good results even for fairly small sample sizes. However, this expansion suffers from negative tail probabilities and an accurate approximation without this disadvantage, is shown to be the one based on saddle-point method. Finally, quantiles of some spacing statistics whose exact distributions are not known, are tabulated, making them available in a variety of testing contexts.
Visual tracking behavior in low functioning head-injured adults.

Abstract Objective: To analyze visual tracking patterns of low functioning head-injured adults as follow-up to finding that visual tracking performance predicts rehabilitation-ready (RR) status. Design: Case series of patients in a 4-year study of predictors of early cognitive improvement. Setting: Private subacute care facility providing sensory stimulation and slowly paced rehabilitation. Patients: Convenience sample of 76 subjects: 45 achieved RR status; 31 did not (NRR). Men=54; Women=22. Age at injury: 12 to 73 years (median [Md] = 27). Time postinjury at initial assessment: 25 to 365 days (Md = 57). Cognitive status at initial assessment: Western Neuro Sensory Stimulation Profile (WNSSP) Score below 47. Intervention: Subjects assessed by WNSSP Visual Tracking subscale (VISTRACK) at admission and every 2 weeks thereafter for 2 to 48 months postinjury. Main Outcome Measures: VISTRACK scores for Direction (horizontal vs vertical) and Stimulus (mirror, individual, picture, object) analyzed quantitatively and qualitatively at admission and longitudinally. Results: RR subjects showed significantly higher scores at admission when tracking face in mirror versus other stimuli. No differences were observed for NRR subjects. No statistical differences seen for direction of tracking for either group, but 48% of subjects showed preference for tracking in one direction versus the other at initial assessment. Conclusions: Visual tracking not a unitary phenomenon but dependent on stimulus and direction. RR subjects' ability to track their own face in mirror seems to be critical variable in predictive value of VISTRACK subscale. Potency of human face as stimulus relates to developmental and neurophysiological factors. Awareness of effects of stimulus and direction on tracking function warrants comprehensive visual tracking assessment.
Thyroxine induces transitions in red muscle kinetics and steady swimming kinematics in rainbow trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss).

During normal development, rainbow trout undergo a shift in red muscle contrac- tion kinetics and swimming kinematics. Young trout parr have faster muscle kinetics and faster tailbeat frequency during swimming than older, larger juvenile trout. In this study, the thyroid hormone thyroxine (T4) was used to induce these changes in trout parr. This allowed a comparison of swimming kinematics, through the use of video analysis and electromyography, and red muscle contractile properties, through the use of in vitro muscle preparations, between natural parr and same-sized induced juveniles. The red muscle of natural parr has faster contractile properties than induced juveniles, including faster twitch time and a faster maximum shortening velocity (Vmax). Further, natural parr swim with faster tailbeat frequencies than induced juveniles. The results suggest that the natural shift in red muscle contraction kinetics observed during parr- smolt transfomation in trout directly affects swimming behavior in these fish. Also, thyroid hor- mones appear to induce a shift towards slower isoforms of the muscle protein myosin heavy chain (MHC), a result distinct from work on rats where thyroid hormones induce shifts towards faster forms of MHC. J. Exp. Zool. 290:115-124, 2001. © 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc. Many fish show developmental changes in swimming behavior. These changes can be asso- ciated with body form, such as the morphological transformation observed in flounder at metamor- phosis, or they can be associated with ontogenetic shifts in niche, such as in trout. During develop- ment, trout and other salmonids pass through sev- eral life history stages that vary in terms of swimming behavior (Groot and Margolis, '91). First feeding trout, or alevins, are poor swimmers that rarely leave the bottom of their resident streams. Fish in the first juvenile stage, called parr, swim continuously. These fish rise off of the stream bottom and hold position in the moving water. Older juveniles, termed smolts in anadro- mous salmonids, typically mark the onset of down- stream migration. The parr-smolt transformation (PST) is associated with a suite of morphological, physiological and behavioral changes (Hoar, '88). In nonanadromous salmonids, such as rainbow trout, the older juveniles can be termed "pseudo- smolts" because they are not physiologically adapted for marine life (Dickhoff and Sullivan, '87). In this paper, we employ the simpler term "older juvenile" for rainbow trout that have un- dergone a developmental transition from the typi- cal parr characteristics to typical smolt features, such as a more slender body, a silvering in ap- pearance, and a shift in visual sensitivity. In rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss, there is a developmental shift in the kinematics of
Clinical aspects of trial design: What can we expect from the cardiac arrhythmia suppression trial?

The controlled clinical trial, i.e., a prospective study that compares the effect of one or more interventions against a control in human subjects, is the most definitive method to determine the benefit/risk ratio for a treatment. Some of the elements are a clear statement of the primary and secondary hypotheses, carefully defined end points, randomization, double blinding, and concomitant controls for the experimental treatment using either placebo or standard treatment. Randomization tends to produce study groups that are comparable with respect to both known and unknown factors that influence the outcome, and also removes bias in the assignment of subjects to treatments to ensure that statistical hypothesis testing will have valid significance levels. An adequate sample size is critically important for a successful trial.
Effluent quality control in the activated sludge process using oxygen uptake rate

Abstract Specific oxygen uptake rate (SOUR) can be employed for the process control of the activated sludge process. SOUR can be related to pertinant process variables such as sludge age and effluent quality. This paper develops relationships for a variety'of industrial wastewaters.
Acetylcholinesterase knockouts establish central cholinergic pathways and can use butyrylcholinesterase to hydrolyze acetylcholine

Abstract Acetylcholinesterase is one of the most prominent constituents of central cholinergic pathways. It terminates the synaptic action of acetylcholine through hydrolysis and yields the choline moiety that is necessary for transmitter recycling. Despite these pivotal relationships, mice nullizygous for acetylcholinesterase established all principal anatomical components of central cholinergic pathways. No compensatory increase in the distribution of butyrylcholinesterase was detected. However, both the wild-type and nullizygous mice showed that butyrylcholinesterase enzyme activity extended to all parts of the brain receiving cholinergic innervation and that it could hydrolyze the acetylcholine surrogate acetylthiocholine. As opposed to acetylcholinesterase which was mostly of neuronal origin, butyrylcholinesterase appeared to be mostly of glial origin. These experiments lead to the unexpected conclusion that acetylcholinesterase is not necessary for the establishment of cholinergic pathways. They also show that butyrylcholinesterase can potentially substitute for acetylcholinesterase and that this enzyme is likely to play a constitutive (rather than just back-up) role in the hydrolysis of acetylcholine in the normal brain. The inhibition of butyrylcholinesterase may therefore provide a desirable feature of cholinergic therapies, including those aimed at treating Alzheimer’s disease.
The influence of plasticizer loss on the viscoelasticity of temporary soft liners

Purpose This study examined the changes in mechanical properties of temporary soft liners introduced by the differential loss of alcohol and plasticizer in different storage media. Materials and Methods Four brands of temporary soft liners were used to prepare 128 specimens on Lucite LS substrates. Each group of specimens was stored in a different medium (air, 10% ethanol, water, and artificial saliva), selected to affect the levels of plasticizer and alcohol over time. Data on weight changes, plasticizer leaching, and recovery rate were recorded at the following intervals: baseline, 2, 7, 14, 28, 56, and 176 days. The storage media were periodically renewed except during the drying stage between day 56 and 176. Two-way analysis of variance and Duncan multiple-range tests were performed. Results Plasticizer leaching occurs at higher levels in artificial saliva than in other storage media (P <.0001). The mean recovery rates exhibited a statistically significant increase (indicating reduced viscoelasticity) in more of the artificial saliva specimens than in all other test groups (P <.0001). Comparatively, the rates of recovery were lower in the 10% ethanol storage medium (except Lynal) with a statistically significant difference attained with the higher air-stored specimens in Tempo and Coe-Comfort (P <.0001). During the drying phase, weight changes in the 10% ethanol group were higher than those in the other storage media. Conclusions The study supports the contention that alcohol may have been retained in the 10% ethanol group in a manner that extended the viscoelasticity of the material. The roles of alcohol and plasticizer content in the mechanical properties of temporary soft liners depend on the type of temporary soft liners and on the nature/duration of service desired. Storing dentures lined with tissue conditioners under dry conditions and those lined with true soft-liners in an ethanol humidor may be justified to extend serviceability by minimizing the loss of the component most relevant to viscoelasticity.
Harvesting small trees and forest residues

Eight countries collaborated and shared technical information on the harvesting of small trees and forest residues in a three year program. Proceedings and reports from workshops and reviews are summarized in a review of activities and harvesting systems of the participating countries. Four databases were developed for harvesting and transportation of these materials.
Purification of membrane-bound dopamine β-monooxygenase from chromaffin granules: Relation to soluble dopamine β-monooxygenase☆

Abstract Membrane-bound dopamine β-monooxygenase (MDBH) has been solubilized using emulphogen, a nonionic detergent, and purified by a single-step anion-exchange chromatography on DEAE-cellulose. Reduced and denatured MDBH has a molecular weight of approximately 75,000. The unreduced MDBH has a molecular weight twice that size. MDBH and SDBH (soluble dopamine β-monooxygenase) possess many similar features. Using antiserum to SDBH, the two proteins show a reaction of identity in immunodiffusion assays. Their chromatographic, electrophoretic, and molecular weight characteristics are also very similar. Although the amino acid compositions of MDBH and SDBH were not dissimilar, the MDBH composition had a higher content of certain amino acids, particularly hydrophobic ones. Despite the remarkable likeness of MDBH and SDBH demonstrated above and by analytical peptide maps, peptides can be detected in MDBH which are not found in SDBH.
Modeling and Understanding of External Latchup in CMOS Technologies—Part I: Modeling Latchup Trigger Current

This paper elucidates the roles of substrate majority and minority carriers in triggering external latchup, where the term external signifies that the substrate current injection occurs at a location away from the p-n-p-n structure. Circuit-level models are presented that allow one to identify the worst case testing condition and to simulate the value of the latchup trigger current. The model captures the effect of guard rings. The simulation results are compared to measurement results, and good agreement is observed, for a variety of CMOS technologies.
Job Satisfaction, Job Involvement, Job Security, and Customer Focus of Quick-Service Restaurant Employees:

This study examined the relationships of customer focus and job satisfaction, job involvement, and job security for quick-service restaurant employees. Results indicated that job satisfaction, job involvement, and job security do tend to predict customer focus for restaurant employees, and, consequently, increasing job satis faction, job involvement, and job security may improve an employee's customer focus. Having a better understanding of employees and factors which affect their focus on the services they provide to others is critical for restaurant managers as they hire and train employees.
Application of Neural Networks for Data Modeling of Power Systems with Time Varying Nonlinear Loads

Nowadays power distribution systems typically operate with nonsinusoidal voltages and currents. Harmonic currents from nonlinear loads propagate through the system and cause harmonic pollution. The premise of IEEE 519 is that there exists a shared responsibility between utilities and customers regarding harmonic control. Maintaining reasonable levels of harmonic voltage distortion depends upon customers limiting their harmonic current injections and utilities controlling the system impedance characteristics. Measurements of current taken at the point of common coupling (PCC) to a customer are expected to determine whether the customer is in compliance with IEEE 519. These measurements yield the combination of nonlinear load harmonics and nonlinear current due to supply voltage harmonics and typically the customer is required to take corrective actions to compensate the harmonics. This paper presents a neural network scheme whereby, it is possible to do data modeling of the customer's impedance and predict the resulting voltage distortion at the PCC if the customer were to take corrective actions. Experimental results from field measurements are provided. The proposed scheme is applicable to single as well as three phase systems
Inhibition of Toxoplasma gondii by Indirubin and Tryptanthrin Analogs

New drugs are needed for treatment of Toxoplasma gondii infections. We tested derivatives of principles found in Isatis indigotica for in vitro efficacy against T. gondii infection. Indirubin-3'-oxime analogs showed modest micromolar activity, while tryptanthrin derivatives displayed 50% inhibitory doses in the low nanomolar range. Tryptanthrins have potential as anti-Toxoplasma infection therapeutics.