cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Inhibition of the adhesion of Chinese hamster ovary cells by the naphthylsulfonamides dansylcadaverine and N-(6-aminohexyl)-5-chloro-1-naphthylenesulfonamide (W7)

Abstract Treatment of Chinese hamster ovary cells with dansylcadaverine or N-(6-aminohexyl)-5-chloro-1-naphthylenesulfonamide (W7) reduced cell attachment in a reversible, dose-dependent manner. The concentration of dansylcadaverine required to produce 50% inhibition of adhesion was significantly higher than that of W7, 300 μM and 50 μM, respectively. Concentrations of dansylcadaverine and W7 which produced decreased adhesion also antagonized calmodulin-dependent activation of phosphodiesterase. Chlorpromazine, another calmoldulin antagonist also decreased cell attachment. Dansylcadaverine and W7 both interfere with cellular transglutaminase activity, but several other transglutaminase antagonists, such as methylamine, butylamine, putrescine and bacitracin, had no effect on CHO cell attachment. We conclude that naphthylsulfonamides such as dansylcadaverine and W7 may inhibit the attachment of CHO cells by a mechanism which could involve inhibition of calmodulin-dependent processes, although further studies are required to show a direct role of calmodulin in cell adhesion.
The Effects of Active and Passive Participation in Musical Activity on the Immune System as Measured by Salivary Immunoglobulin A (SlgA)

The purposes of this study were (a) to determine if musical activity would produce a significant change in the immune system as measured by Salivary Immunoglobulin A (SIgA), and (b) to determine if active participation in musical activity had a significantly different effect on the immune system than passive participation. Thirty-three participants (28 women and 5 men) were randomly assigned to one of 3 groups, 2 experimental and 1 control. Active group participants participated in a 30-minute session where they played various percussive instruments and sang. Passive group participants listened to 30 minutes worth of live music. Saliva samples were taken before and after sessions and SIgA concentrations were determined using radial immunodiffusion technique. All groups were found to be significantly different from each other. SIgA levels of the active group showed a significantly greater increase than those of the passive group and the control group, suggesting that active participation in musical activity produces a greater effect on the immune system than passive participation.
Dexamethasone protects neonatal hypoxic-ischemic brain injury via L-PGDS-dependent PGD2-DP1-pERK signaling pathway.

Background and purpose Glucocorticoids pretreatment confers protection against neonatal hypoxic-ischemic (HI) brain injury. However, the molecular mechanism remains poorly elucidated. We tested the hypothesis that glucocorticoids protect against HI brain injury in neonatal rat by stimulation of lipocalin-type prostaglandin D synthase (L-PGDS)-induced prostaglandin D2 (PGD2)-DP1-pERK mediated signaling pathway. Methods Dexamethasone and inhibitors were administered via intracerebroventricular (i.c.v) injections into 10-day-old rat brains. Levels of L-PGD2, D prostanoid (DP1) receptor, pERK1/2 and PGD2 were determined by Western immunoblotting and ELISA, respectively. Brain injury was evaluated 48 hours after conduction of HI in 10-day-old rat pups. Results Dexamethasone pretreatment significantly upregulated L-PGDS expression and the biosynthesis of PGD2. Dexamethasone also selectively increased isoform pERK-44 level in the neonatal rat brains. Inhibitors of L-PGDS (SeCl4), DP1 (MK-0524) and MAPK (PD98059) abrogated dexamethasone-induced increases in pERK-44 level, respectively. Of importance, these inhibitors also blocked dexamethasone-mediated neuroprotective effects against HI brain injury in neonatal rat brains. Conclusion Interaction of glucocorticoids-GR signaling and L-PGDS-PGD2-DP1-pERK mediated pathway underlies the neuroprotective effects of dexamethasone pretreatment in neonatal HI brain injury.
An approximate amplitude attenuation correction for hot-film shear stress sensors

A correction method, based on experimental results, has been developed to remedy the amplitude attenuation that occurs when statically calibrated hot-film shear stress sensors are used in air. The correction method is necessary in applications where typically two-dimensional arrays of measurement points are needed and other sensors, such as hot wires, cannot be employed. The method was developed with a primary aim of obtaining the correct power spectral density of an ensemble-averaged signature from an array of hot-film shear stress sensors. The hot-film sensors are corrected by comparing their individual power spectral densities to a reference spectrum obtained with a single hot wire, slightly elevated but within the viscous sublayer of the turbulent boundary layer. The method is verified by comparing the corrected hot film’s turbulence statistics, power spectral density, and correlation coefficients with the corresponding results from the hot wire.
Preparation of chlorofluoromethylene olefins via phosphine dechlorination of dichlorofluoromethyltris?dimethylamino?phosphonium chloride

Abstract The reaction of dichlorofluoromethyltris?dimethylamino?phosphonium chloride with tertiary phosphines provides a convenient preparation of the chlorofluoromethylenetris?dimethylamino?phosphonium ylide. This ylide provides reasonable yields of chlorofluoroolefins from aldehydes, activated ketones, non-activated ketones, and activated esters. The mechanism of phosphonium salt formation was shown to involve positive chlorine abstraction from CFCl 3 by (Me 2 N) 3 P followed by recombination of the intermediate ion pair. Dechlorination of the resulting dichlorofluoromethyltris?dimethylamino?phosphonium chloride by triphenylphosphine gave an olefinating solution of reasonable stability. In contrast, the solution obtained by dechlorination of the phosphonium salt by tris?dimethylamino?-phosphine showed no stability.
Effective potentials for time-dependent calculations of multiphoton processes in atoms

Abstract Time-dependent calculations of multiphoton processes in multielectron atoms can utilize effective potentials to reduce the calculation to one for a single electron. The time-dependent Schrodinger equation for the wavefunction of this electron is solved using a finite-difference, implicit integration scheme. From this time-dependent wave function we can extract cross-sections and/or rates for photoemission, excitation and ionization. The effective potentials are constructed from Hartree-Slater calculations on the ground state of the atoms. Illustrative results are presented.
The perceived moral qualities of web sites: implications for persuasion processes in human---computer interaction

This study extended the scope of previous findings in human---computer interaction research within the computers are social actors paradigm by showing that online users attribute perceptions of moral qualities to Websites and, further, that differential perceptions of morality affected the extent of persuasion. In an experiment (N = 138) that manipulated four morality conditions (universalist, relativist, egotistic, control) across worldview, a measured independent variable, users were asked to evaluate a Web site designed to aid them in making ethical decisions. Web sites offered four different types of ethical advice as participants contemplated cases involving ethical quandaries. Perceptions of the Web sites' moral qualities varied depending on the type of advice given. Further, the Web sites' perceived morality and participants' worldview predicted credibility, persuasiveness, and attitudes toward the Web sites.
Characterization of Endothelial Nitric-oxide Synthase and Its Reaction with Ligand by Electron Paramagnetic Resonance Spectroscopy

Electron paramagnetic resonance was used to characterize the heme structure of resting endothelial nitric-oxide synthase (eNOS), eNOS devoid of its myristoylation site (G2A mutant), and their heme complexes formed with 16 different ligands. Resting eNOS and the G2A mutant have a mixture of low spin and high spin P450-heme with widely different relaxation behavior and a stable flavin semiquinone radical identified by EPR as a neutral radical. This flavin radical showed efficient electron spin relaxation as a consequence of dipolar interaction with the heme center; P1/2 is independent of Ca2+-calmodulin and tetrahydrobiopterin. Seven of the 16 ligands led to the formation of low spin heme complexes. In order of increasing rhombicity they are pyrimidine, pyridine, thiazole, L-lysine, cyanide, imidazole, and 4-methylimidazole. These seven low spin eNOS complexes fell in a region between the P and O zones on the "truth diagram" originally derived by Blumberg and Peisach (Blumberg, W. E., and Peisach, J. (1971) in Probes and Structure and Function of Macromolecules and Membranes (Chance, B., Yonetani, T., and Mildvan, A. S., eds) Vol. 2, pp. 215-229, Academic Press, New York) and had significant overlap with complexes of chloroperoxidase. A re-definition of the P and O zones is proposed. As eNOS and chloroperoxidase lie closer than do eNOS and P450cam on the truth diagram, it implies that the distal heme environment in eNOS resembles chloroperoxidase more than P450cam. In contrast, 4-ethylpyridine, 4-methylpyrimidine, acetylguanidine, ethylguanidine, 2-aminothiazole, 2amino-4,5-dimethylthiazole, L-histidine, and 7-nitroindazole resulted in high spin heme complexes of eNOS, similar to that observed with L-arginine. This contrasting EPR behavior caused by families of ligands such as imidazole/L-histidine or thiazole/2-aminothiazole confirms the conclusion derived from parallel optical and kinetic studies. The ligands resulting in the low spin complexes bind directly to the heme iron, while their cognate ligands induce the formation of high spin complexes by indirectly perturbing the heme structure and excluding the original axial heme ligand in the resting eNOS (V. Berka, P.-F. Chen, and A. -L. Tsai (1997) J. Biol. Chem. 272, in press). The difference in EPR spectra of these high spin eNOS complexes, although subtle, are different for different homologs.
Adsorption of iron cyanide complexes onto clay minerals, manganese oxide, and soil

The adsorption characteristics of an iron cyanide complex, soluble Prussian blue KFe(III)[Fe(II)(CN)6], were evaluated for representative soil minerals and soil at pH 3.7, 6.4 and 9.7. Three specimen clay minerals (kaolinite, montmorillonite, and illite), two synthesized manganese oxides (birnessite and cryptomelane), and a Drummer soil from Indiana were used as the adsorbents. Surface protonation of variable charge sites increased with decreasing pH yielding positively charged sites on crystal edges and enhancing the attractive force between minerals and iron cyanide complexes. Anion adsorption on clays often is correlated to the metal content of the adsorbent, and a positive relationship was observed between iron or aluminum content and Prussian blue adsorption. Illite had high extractable iron and adsorbed more ferro-ferricyande anion, while kaolinite and montmorillonite had lower extractable iron and adsorbed less. However, less pH effect was observed on the adsorption of iron cyanide to manganese oxi...
Embedded Anti-Alcohol Messages on Commercial Television: What Teenagers Perceive

Purpose: Educators and producers should take advantage of television's potential for reaching audiences with health-related messages. This paper investigates adolescents' perceptions of an anti-alcohol message embedded in commercial television programming. Methods: Over 900 8th and 9th graders from New York suburbs completed surveys measuring interest, knowledge, and credibility of either an episode of The Cosby Show or Family Matters . Both episodes had an anti-alcohol message embedded within their plots. Results: Overall, students gave high rates of interest and credibility and received high scores for knowledge for both episodes. Girls and African-American students had higher scores, on average, for interest and credibility. White students had the highest knowledge scores. Students with different television viewing experiences did not differ in their perceptions of the episodes; however, students who had previously seen the episodes gave higher levels of interest and credibility. Conclusion: These data indicate that youngsters are receptive to antialcohol messages within commercial television episodes. The results also suggest that similarities and differences between a viewer and a televised character relate to differences in perception. However, much more research should be done in order to generalize these findings to other audiences, episodes, programs, and health-related messages.
The Haar-Function Construction of Brownian Motion Indexed by Sets*

The Haar-function construction of Brownian Motion is obtained when the process is indexed by families of ‘smooth’ subsets of the k-dimensional cube. As the uniform limit of signed-measures, the resultant process is a Gaussian process with continuous paths with respect to the Hausdorff metric. A class of related Gaussian set functions defined on these subsets is also introduced.
Near-field microwave inversion and imaging for buried dielectric objects

This paper describes the detection and identification of buried objects, at shallow depths, from the complex-valued reflectance of electromagnetic waves that are radiated and received by an antenna. The antenna is scanned over an area to search for the object. Because object depth is shallow, the antenna is placed in the object's nearfield. The measured distribution of reflectance is processed to form an image which gives shape because diffraction spreading is slight in the nearfield. The reflectance over the object's center is processed by inversion to yield object depth, thickness, and refractive index from multiple frequency measurements; the object is assumed homogeneous as is the contiguous region.
A generalization of the Chandler Davis convexity theorem

In 1957 Chandler Davis proved a theorem that a rotationally invariant function on symmetric matrices is convex if and only if it is convex on the diagonal matrices. We generalize this result to groups acting nonlinearly on convex subsets of arbitrary vector spaces thereby understanding the abstract mechanism behind the classical theorem. We apply the new theorem to a problem from the mathematical theory of composite materials and derive its corollaries in the Lie algebra setting. Using the latter, we show that the Pfaffian is log-concave.
Variation correction algorithm: analysis of phase suppression and thermal profile fidelity for proton resonance frequency magnetic resonance thermometry at 0.2 T.

Purpose To develop and analyze the performance of the variation correction algorithm (VCA), a phase correction technique that mitigates the contribution of background phase variations by combining accurate alignment of echoes, K-space-based phase correction (as opposed to spatial polynomials), and extraction of alias-free phase difference images. Materials and Methods A series of echo-shifted gradient-recalled echo (GRE) images was processed with K-space alignment and phase corrected with increasing sizes of M × M masks of central K-space coefficients. The extent of background phase variation suppression due to magnet field drift was assessed. Further, a simulated thermal profile was superimposed on the same data in a related experiment. Residual errors in reconstructed simulated thermal profiles were quantitatively characterized to estimate algorithm performance. Results Using a 3 × 3 K-space mask, the VCA was able to 1) maintain the typical mean backround error in a 35 × 35 pixel region of interest (ROI) at −0.1°C; and 2) reconstruct, relative to the applied thermal profile, a phase-corrected profile that typically contains a 1.7°C underestimation of peak temperature difference and a mean error along the 60°C line of −0.8°C. Conclusion The results suggest that thermal profiles can be accurately reconstructed at 0.2 T using the VCA, even in the presence of over 1 ppm spatially and temporally dependent field drift over a 1-hour time frame. J. Magn. Reson. Imaging 2003;17:227–240. © 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.
The Mystery spot Illusion and Its Relation to Other Visual Illusions

Observations at The Mystery Spot, a roadside attraction near Santa Cruz, California, suggest intriguing visual illusions based on tilt-induced effects. Specifically, a tilted spatial background at The Mystery Spot induced misperceptions of the orientation of the cardinal axes (i.e., true horizontal and vertical), which then led to illusions in the perceived height of two individuals. This illusion was assessed at The Mystery Spot and replicated in the laboratory using pictorial and lined displays rotated in the picture plane. These findings are described in terms of the orientation framing theory, which suggests that these and other tilt-induced illusions (e.g., Ponzo illusion, Zollner illusion) can be attributed to distorted frames of reference.
Do Investors Capture the Value Premium

Do investors realize higher returns by investing in value stocks instead of growth stocks? Examination of a sample of equity indexes, mutual funds, and large-cap stocks reveals no evidence that value firms have earned higher returns than growth firms. The value premium reported in the literature is historically strongest for small-capitalization firms, yet average annual returns for small-cap equity funds are 14.10% for value funds compared to 14.52% for growth funds. Despite dramatic increases in mutual fund expense ratios from 1965 to 2001, fee differences across style funds cannot explain the absence of a value premium.
Thin lightweight low-frequency acoustic projectors for shallow-water environments

Miniature flextensional transducers, called cymbals, have been incorporated into thin, lightweight, large area panels for use a slow frequency acoustic projectors in shallow water. The prototype panels, measuring 100-mm by 100-mm by 6.35-mm thick exhibit a high acoustic output at a relatively low in-water resonance frequency. Furthermore a second resonance frequency that is over an order of magnitude higher suggests that the panel may be used to provide sound output over almost a two decade frequency band. The mass of the unplotted panel is less than 150 grams and the total thickness is 6.35 mm. The cymbal panels are believed to be excellent candidates as acoustic projectors on autonomous and/or unmanned underwater vehicle platforms as well as other shallow water platforms where low frequency, light weight and high acoustic output are desired.
Morphological Development of Switchgrass as Affected by Planting Date

Late-spring and early-summer plantings of warm-season grasses often fail, due to dry soil conditions and competition from annual grass and broadleaf weeds. The objective of this study was to compare the morphological development of switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.) planted in early, mid, and late spring in eastern Nebraska. This study was conducted in 1994 and 1995 at Lincoln, NE, on a Kennebec silt loam (fine-silty, mixed, mesic Cumulic Hapludolls). 'Blackwell' and 'Trailblazer' switchgrass were planted in mid-March, late April, and late May using a single-row, precision grass-seed cone planter to a depth of 0.6 to 1.3 cm at 98 pure live seed per linear meter of row in a split-plot design. Twenty seedlings from each plot were excavated to a depth of 20 cm with a spade. Seedling morphological parameters measured were mean stage count root (MSCR) and shoot (MSCS), leaf area, shoot weight, and primary and adventitious root weight. Plots were sampled every 10 d following the first sample date. In 1994, seedlings from the March planting date were more advanced morphologically in MSCR and MSCS, had accumulated 2.5 times more leaf area, and about 3 times more shoot and adventitious root mass than the April planting date when sampled from late May to late June. In 1995, seedlings from the March planting date generally were more advanced morphologically in root and shoot development, had accumulated 2 to 12 times more leaf area, had 2 to 10 times more shoot mass, and had 2 to 33 times more adventitious root mass than the April or May planting dates at the sample periods from early June to mid-July. We suggest that switchgrass should be planted in early spring instead of in late April and May, as suggested by previous research.
Analysis of laser/IR‐assisted microembossing

To shorten the cycle time in conventional hot embossing, an infrared laser (laser/IR)-assisted microembossing process was investigated in this study. Since the laser/IR heats the substrate rapidly and locally, the heating and cooling time can be substantially reduced. Two different modes of IR embossing were tested. In one case, the polymer substrate was the IR-transparent poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) and a carbon blackfilled epoxy mold was used. In the second case, the polymer substrate was an IR-absorbent PMMA, and an IR transparent epoxy mold was used. The experimental results showed that both a shorter cycle time and good replication accuracy could be achieved. A commercially available finite element (FEM) code, DEFORM™, was used for process simulation. The relationship between the penetration of radiation energy flux from the laser/IR heating source and temperature distribution inside the polymer substrate was considered in the simulation. The flow pattern observed in the experiments agreed well with the numerical simulation. However, the displacement curve showed a discrepancy. POLYM. ENG. SCI., 45: 661– 668, 2005. © 2005 Society of Plastics Engineers
24-Hour ambulatory blood pressure and renal disease in young subjects with type I diabetes

Abstract Twenty-four hour ambulatory blood pressure (ABP) was evaluated in 150 teenage and young adults with insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) to define high-risk subjects who are likely to develop early diabetic nephropathy. Their age range was 16–28 years with diabetes of 3.5–25.8 years duration. All subjects had office blood pressure (BP) measured, wore an ABP monitor for 24 h, and collected two or more timed urine samples for albumin excretion rates (AERs). Eighty-six subjects had no elevation of AER ( 200 μg/min). Age, gender, duration of diabetes, and single office BP readings were similar in the four groups ( p > 0.05, logistic regression). All 24-h ABP parameters were significantly higher in subjects with diabetes having AER values greater than 7.6 μg/min when compared with healthy age-and gender-matched nondiabetic controls ( p t test). The percent of nighttime systolic and diastolic ABP readings above the 90th percentile of normal for age, gender, and race and the percent of readings in the hypertensive range (>14090) were significantly related with AERs ( p
Class prediction and discovery using gene expression data

Classification of patient samples is a crucial aspect of cancer diagnosis and treatment. We present a method for classifying samples by computational analysis of gene expression data. We consider the classification problem in two parts: class discovery and class prediction. Class discovery refers to the process of dividing samples into reproducible classes that have similar behavior or properties, while class prediction places new samples into already known classes. We describe a method for performing class prediction and illustrate its strength by correctly classifying bone marrow and blood samples from acute leukemia patients. We also describe how to use our predictor to validate newly discovered classes, and we demonstrate how this technique could have discovered the key distinctions among leukemias if they were not already known. This proof-of-concept experiment paves the way for a wealth of future work on the molecular classification and understanding of disease.
RBSOA study of high voltage SiC bipolar devices

Rapid improvement of 4H-SiC material quality and maturation of SiC device processing have enabled the development of high voltage SiC bipolar devices for high voltage switching applications. As one of the major concern of bipolar devices, the onset of dynamic avalanche breakdown and reverse biased safe operating area (RBSOA) of SiC pnp and npn transistors have been systematically analyzed in this paper. The theoretical analysis predicts the onset power density of dynamic avalanche breakdown of SiC bipolar devices is more than twenty times larger than that of Si bipolar devices, and SiC bipolar devices have a near square RBSOA. The predicted rugged turn-off behavior of SiC bipolar devices is verified by numerical simulations of 10-kV SiC emitter turn-off thyristors (ETOs). The excellent ruggedness of SiC bipolar devices make them attractive for high voltage (≥10-kV) switching applications.
Retinal and choroidal neovascularization.

The unique vascular supply of the retina, the ability to visualize the vasculature in vivo, and the ability to selectively express genes in the retina make the retina an ideal model system to study molecular mechanisms of angiogenesis. In addition, this area of investigation has great clinical significance, because retinal and choroidal neovascularization are the most common causes of severe visual loss in developed countries and new treatments are needed. As a result, interest in ocular neovascularization is rapidly growing and there has been considerable recent progress. Use of genetically engineered mice in recently developed murine models provides a means to investigate the role of individual gene products in neovascularization in two distinct vascular beds, the retinal vasculature and the choroidal vasculature. It appears that angiogenesis in different vascular beds has common themes, but also has tissue-specific aspects. This review summarizes recent progress in the field of ocular neovascularization and the prospects that it provides for the development of new treatments.
Both ran and importins have the ability to function as nuclear mRNA export factors.

The Ran protein regulates nucleocytoplasmic transport mediated by the karyopherin family of nuclear transport factors. Ran is converted to the active, GTP bound form in the nucleus and then binds to a conserved domain found in all karyopherins. This interaction induces cargo binding for exportins and cargo release for importins. In either case, the Ran.GTP is then transported to the cytoplasm by the karyopherin, where it is hydrolyzed to Ran.GDP. To ask whether Ran could function as a nuclear mRNA export factor, we fused Ran to the MS2 coat protein and inserted MS2 RNA-binding sites into an unspliced cat mRNA that is normally sequestered in the nucleus. Coexpression of MS2-Ran induced cat mRNA export and CAT enzyme expression as effectively as, for example, an MS2-Rev fusion protein. MS2-Ran dependent nuclear mRNA export was reduced by inhibitors specific for Crm1, but not blocked as was seen with MS2-Rev. Consistent with the hypothesis that Crm1 is not the only karyopherin cofactor for MS2-Ran mediated mRNA export, we show that not only Crm1 but also CAS, transportin, importin beta and exportin t can all export mRNA from the nucleus when tethered via the MS2 RNA-binding domain. In contrast, two shuttling hnRNPs, hnRNP A1 and hnRNP K, proved unable to function as nuclear RNA export factors when expressed as MS2 fusions. Together, these data argue that karyopherins that normally function to transport proteins into or out of the nucleus are also capable of exporting tethered mRNA molecules.
Anionic synthesis and characterization of poly(styrene‐block‐ethylene oxide) polymers with fluorescent probes at the block junctions

Fluorescent-labeling reactions of poly(styryl)lithium were effected with either 2-(1-phenylethenyl)naphthalene or 1-phenyl-1-(1-pyrenyl)ethylene followed by functionalization of the resulting 1-phenyl-1-arylalkyllithium species with ethylene oxide. The resulting polymeric alkoxylithiums were used to initiate the anionic polymerization of ethylene oxide in a mixture of benzene and dimethyl sulfoxide. A series of block copolymers [Mn(PS)=5.1 × 103 g/mol); Mw/Mn=1.02] with 20–40wt% ethylene oxide were characterized by thin-layer chromatography, size exclusion chromatography, 1H NMR and quantitative UV-visible spectroscopy. Fluorescence measurements on the block copolymers were carried out in 1,2-dichloroethane with varying amounts of methanol. No excimer formation was detected for either naphthalene- or pyrene-labeled block copolymers. Energy transfer from the naphthalene- to the pyrene-labeled polymers was observed at about 80 vol.% methanol. These results are discussed in relationship to the interfacial boundary distances in the block copolymer micelles as deduced by application of the “Spectroscopic Ruler”.
Maximum Likelihood Imaging

The sections in this article are 1 Scalar Fields and Coherence 2 Incoherent Imaging 3 Coherent Imaging 4 Summary
A cross-sectional study of endogenous tissue plasminogen activator, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, and apolipoproteins A-I, A-II, and B-100.

Elevated levels of endogenous tissue-type plasminogen activator (t-PA) appear to be a marker for preclinical atherosclerosis. At present, however, data describing potential relations between plasma t-PA level and established lipid risk factors for coronary atherosclerosis are sparse. To explore these potential relations, we measured plasma levels of t-PA antigen (t-PA:ag) in 633 apparently healthy men in the Physicians' Health Study as well as total cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, HDL2 cholesterol, HDL3 cholesterol, and apolipoproteins A-I, A-II, and B-100. Overall, plasma t-PA:ag levels were inversely correlated with HDL cholesterol (r = -.1616, P < .0005), HDL2 cholesterol (r = -.1632, P < .0005), and HDL3 cholesterol (r = -.0927, P = .019). In stratified analyses, the inverse association between t-PA:ag and HDL cholesterol was present among frequent (P trend = .002) and infrequent (P trend = .004) consumers of alcohol as well as among the subgroups of frequent exercisers (P trend < .001), men in the lower half of body mass index (P trend = .001), and nonsmokers (P trend < .001). In contrast, there was no association between t-PA:ag and total cholesterol (r = .0219, P = .58), whereas relations of t-PA:ag with apolipoproteins A-I, A-II, and B-100 were minimal and of borderline significance. These data indicate that plasma levels of endogenous t-PA:ag are inversely related to HDL cholesterol as well as HDL2 and HDL3 cholesterol.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
“Assembly Line of Joys”: Touring Hamburg's Red Light District, 1949–1966

Hamburg, as any tourist guide will tell you, occupies a unique position within Germany. Now, every city can make this claim, so what constitutes Hamburg's uniqueness? Natives would say it is the harbor (Germany's largest) and the water that flows through the metropolis that claims more bridges than Venice. But ask an outsider, German or not, and he or she will likely say the Reeperbahn, Hamburg's notorious red-light district, known also to music fans as the incubator of The Beatles. Historically speaking, the harbor has been this Hanseatic city's source of trade and prosperity, as well as a major transit point for overseas travelers; the nearby Reeperbahn has long been a magnet for those seeking pleasure and distraction from the cares of life. In the 1950s and 1960s—the years of West Germany's “Economic Miracle” (Wirtschaftswunder)—Hamburg saw greater numbers of visitors than ever before. These guests included Germans from west and east (before the Berlin Wall was erected in 1961); international tourists, particularly from neighboring countries; British NATO troops stationed in the northern Federal Republic; and seamen from around the world. Some chose Hamburg specifically as their destination, others passed through on their way to someplace else.
Desensitization to LPS after ethanol involves the effect of endotoxin on voltage-dependent calcium channels

Hepatic macrophages are sensitized to alcohol in 24 h due to increases in the endotoxin receptor, CD14; however, desensitization to lipopolysaccharide (LPS), which occurred earlier, could not be ex...
The H2O+ Contents of Some Geochemical Standards Predicted by a Calibration Line

The combined water (H2O+) in 30 geochemical standards having known and unknown water contents was determined by an elemental analyzer on 1 day during each of 6 weeks over a period of several months. The analysis of variance of the data measured in the form of a Youden square shows an extremely significant variation due to some unknown cause during the weeks in which the data were obtained. The higher water contents of the first two sets were obtained in the fall season when this area (Reston, Va.) has high and variable humidity, whereas the last four sets were measured during winter months. Humidity, however, was not included as a variable in the design and was not measured. The first two of three average blanks for H2O+, measured after determining H2O+ contents of about 11 percent for two samples, are noticeably higher than the third average blank. Similarly, the first of two average blanks for H2O+, measured after determining the H2O+ content (4.70 percent) of PCC-1, is higher than the second. Data for the last 4 weeks were used to calculate the line of regression and the extremely significant correlation coefficient. The line is used to predict suggested revisions of the “best” H2O+ contents of the standards. Coefficients of variation calculated from the data for the last 4 weeks indicate that there is no severe sampling problem due to the small sample size (20 mg) taken for the determinations. The coefficients follow the general trend of large coefficients for samples containing the least amount of the constituent (BHVO-1: x= 11.76% H2O+; C.V. = 7.3%) and of small coefficients for samples containing the greatest amount (BX-N: x= 11.76% H2O+; C.V. = 0.4%).
HTS and Rational Drug Design to Generate a Class of 5-HT 2C -Selective Ligands for Possible Use in Schizophrenia.

The 5-hydroxytryptamine (1, 5-HT) 2C receptor (5-HT2C), a prominent central serotonin receptor subtype, is widely distributed throughout the central nervous system (CNS) and is thought to play a role in regulating a wide variety of behavioral processes such as mood, appetite, and sexual behavior.[1-4] The 5-HT2A receptor mediates the hallucinogenic activity of drugs such as lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD) and is a major target for treating schizophrenia, insomnia and other disorders.[5-8] The 5-HT2B receptor mediates the potentially lethal valvulopathic side effects of several compounds that were used as prescription drugs.[9, 10]
Miniemulsion copolymerization of vinyl acetate and butyl acrylate. I: Differences between the miniemulsion copolymerization and the emulsion copolymerization processes

Differences between the emulsion copolymerization and miniemulsion copolymerization processes, in terms of emulsifier adsorption, emulsion stability, polymerization kinetics, copolymer composition and dynamic mechanical properties were studied for the comonomer mixture of 50:50 molar ratio vinyl acetate (VA+)—butyl acrylate (BuA), using sodium hexadecyl sulfate (SHS) as a surfactant and hexadecane (HD) as a co-surfactant. The use of hexadecane with the appropriate SHS initial concentration led to a higher adsorption of surfactant, smaller droplet size, higher stability of the emulsions, lower polymerization rates, and larger latex particle size. The copolymer composition during the initial 70% conversion was found to be less rich in Vac monomer units for the miniemulsion process. The dynamic mechanical properties of the copolymer films showed less mixing between the BuA-rich core and the VAc-rich shell in the miniemulsion latexes compared to the conventional latex films.
Computer and Information Technology Access for Deaf Individuals in Developed and Developing Countries

In recent years, advances in computer and information technology have profoundly affected people's lives and work. Information and ideas now travel predominantly by airwaves, and the Internet has become an important conduit for information dissemination across the globe (Guemriche, 1997). A recent study by the Computer Industry Almanac, Inc. (1998) estimates more than 400 million computers in use and 147 million Internet users worldwide at the end of 1998, with a projected increase to 579 million computers and 300 million Internet users by 2000. However, most of the computers in use and the majority of Internet users are concentrated in developed countries (Chowdary, 1997). An information gap separates industrialized nations from the poorer ones; building an information technology network requires large investments in equipment, infrastructure, education, and training. Many developing nations are struggling to catch up, but they face a host of challenging problems such as unreliable telecommunications systems, low literacy, exorbitant telephone costs, and lack of trained technical staff (Chepesiuk, 1998). Thus, the growing disparity in access to information technology threatens to further widen the socioeconomic gap between the world's industrialized nations and the less developed ones. This article presents the results of a comparative overview of the accessibility to computer and informa-
Analysis of EEG Data Using an Adaptive Periodogram Technique

We report a time-frequency analysis method for EEG data processing using an adaptive periodogram technique (APT). The time duration of a coherent signal is estimated using a time window that adapts its length and position to locally maximize the periodogram. Since this technique determines a signal's coherent length, it achieves optimal resolution in both the time and frequency domain. We apply this technique to analyze the EEG data of two seizure events. During the seizures, the dominant frequency evolved continuously from about 8 Hz to 1 Hz. Before the seizures, there existed a weak signal at 8 Hz, which was clearly manifested in the coherent time. These preliminary results suggest that APT is a useful EEG analysis tool.
Three-phase boundary motions under constant velocities. I: The vanishing surface tension limit

In this paper, we deal with the dynamics of material interfaces such as solid–liquid, grain or antiphase boundaries. We concentrate on the situation in which these internal surfaces separate three regions in the material with different physical attributes (e.g. grain boundaries in a polycrystal). The basic two-dimensional model proposes that the motion of an interface Гij between regions i and j (i, j = 1, 2, 3, i ≠ j) is governed by the equationHere Vij, kij, μij and fij denote, respectively, the normal velocity, the curvature, the mobility and the surface tension of the interface and the numbers Fij stand for the (constant) difference in bulk energies. At the point where the three phases coexist, local equilibrium requires thatIn case the material constants fij are small, and e ≪ 1, previous analyses based on the parabolic nature of the equations (0.1) do not provide good qualitative information on the behaviour of solutions. In this case, it is more appropriate to consider the singular case with fij = 0. It turns out that this problem, (0.1) with fij = 0, admits infinitely many solutions. Here, we present results that strongly suggest that, in all cases, a unique solution—‘the vanishing surface tension (VST) solution’—is selected by letting e→0. Indeed, a formal analysis of this limiting process motivates us to introduce the concept of weak viscosity solution for the problem with e = 0. As we show, this weak solution is unique and is therefore expected to coincide with the VST solution. To support this statement, we present a perturbation analysis and a construction of self-similar solutions; a rigorous convergence result is established in the case of symmetric configurations. Finally, we use the weak formulation to write down a catalogue of solutions showing that, in several cases of physical relevance, the VST solution differs from results proposed previously.
Matrix autoregressive analysis of free‐oscillation coupling and splitting

The study of the splitting and coupling of free oscillations can potentially provide some unique information about the Earth—in particular about how density varies laterally relative to shear velocity and bulk sound speed. Mode splitting has been studied for many years but it is clear that the time is ripe to revisit this field. In particular, the rapid expansion of the global seismic network and the occurrence of many large (and deep) earthquakes in the past few years means that mode-splitting analyses are capable of much higher precision than in the past. Some studies have already argued that 3-D density can be recovered (and that density variations are negatively correlated with shear velocity in the lower mantle). This result is controversial and we present some experiments that indicate that claims of density recovery with the current mode data set are premature. However, we believe that, with expanded data sets and new analysis techniques, the precision needed to recover the 3-D density structure of the Earth and its 3-D anelastic structure is now within our reach.
Additional Aerodynamic Features of Wing-Gurney Flap Flows

An extension of the existing explanation of the flow mechanisms characteristic of the wing-Gurney flap flow has been proposed. Based on the Helmholtz vortex theory, it has been postulated at the onset of the present study that, in addition to the spanwise vortices, as predicted by a commonly accepted flow hypothesis one or more pairs of streamwise trailing vortices ought to exist. A series of wind-tunnel models, including a clean wing and one full-span and two partial-span Gurney flaps, have been tested in a low-speed wind tunnel. Several techniques, including two methods of flow visualization of trailing vortices and measurements of rotational speeds produced by these vortices, have been employed. All of these methods have consistently and clearly indicated the presence of additional vortices. As such, these vortices are important for accurate prediction of the aerodynamic characteristics of wing-Gurney flap configurations.
Quantum-limited laser frequency-modulation spectroscopy

Frequency-modulation (FM) spectroscopy permits high-resolution, high-sensitivity, easily calibrated absorption measurements of atomic and molecular species and narrow spectral features in solids. This paper reviews some important developments in laser FM spectroscopy, from its inception as a spectroscopic tool to the demonstration of quantum-limited absorption measurements, emphasizing the sensitivity limitations caused by residual amplitude modulation (RAM). Moreover, a detailed account is presented of a new double-beam, single-detector technique that efficiently suppresses the RAM and permits quantum-limited performance to be achieved in laser FM spectroscopy. We also include some recent results of the first reported FM spectroscopic investigations of the NO2 molecule.
Language Analysis as a Window to Bereaved Parents' Emotions During a Parent-Physician Bereavement Meeting.

Parent–physician bereavement meetings may benefit parents by facilitating sense making, which is associated with healthy adjustment after a traumatic event. Prior research suggests a reciprocal relationship between sense making and positive emotions. We analyzed parents’ use of emotion words during bereavement meetings to better understand parents’ emotional reactions during the meeting and how their emotional reactions related to their appraisals of the meeting. Parents’ use of positive emotion words increased, suggesting the meetings help parents make sense of the death. Parents’ use of positive emotion words was negatively related to their own and/or their spouse’s appraisals of the meeting, suggesting that parents who have a positive emotional experience during the meeting may also have a short-term negative reaction. Language analysis can be an effective tool to understand individuals’ ongoing emotions and meaning making processes during interventions to reduce adverse consequences of a traumatic eve...
Design of tapered waveguides for improved output coupling

Waveguides whose width increases linearly with distance are shown to be an excellent means for decreasing the beam divergence of the guided mode and thus improving output coupling, provided the taper angle is carefully chosen. Such tapered waveguides can provide nearly diffraction-limited output while incurring virtually no energy penalty. Beam propagation calculations together with a dimensional analysis allow the first quantitative prediction of output beam divergence for a wide range of input parameters. Performance is shown to be optimal for taper angles of about 0.4 times the input beam's full width at half maximum (FWHM) divergence angle, subsequently reducing the latter by a factor of five. >
Infections of the Central Nervous System

Part 1 Viral infections of the central nervous system and related disorders: pathogenesis and pathophysiology of viral infections of the central nervous system, M. Schlitt et al viral meningitis and the aseptic meningitis syndrom, H.A. Rotbart encephalitis caused by herpesviruses, including B virus, R.J. Whitley and M. Schlitt arthropod-borne encephalitides, R.J. Whitley meningitis and encephalitis caused by mumps virus, J.W. Gnann, Jr et al slow viral infections of the human nervous system, D.M. Asher perinatal viral infections R.J. Whitley and S. Stagno neurological manifestations of infection with the human immunodeficiency viruses, B.K. Evans et al viral vaccines that protect the central nervous system, M.F. Mangano and S.A. Plotkin Guillain-Barre syndrome, G. Tenorio et al. Part 2 Mycoplasmal infections of the central nervous system: mycoplasmal diseases of the central nervous system, W.A. Clyde, Jr. Part 3 Bacterial infections of the central nervous system: pathogenesis and pathophysiology of bacterial infections of the central nervous system, A.R. Tunkel and W.M. Scheld neonatal bacterial meningitis, A.L. Smith and J. Haas acute bacterial meningitis in children and adults, K.L. Roos et al rickettsiae and the central nervous system, J.H. Kim and D.T. Durack tuberculosis of the central nervous system, A. Zuger and F.D. Lowy brain abscess, B. Wispelwey et al subdural empyema, D.C. Hefgott et al epidural abscess, B.G. Gellin et al central nervous system complications of infective endocarditis, P. Francioli infections of the cerebrospinal fluid shunts, B.A. Kaufman and D.G. McLone. Part 4 Central nervous system syndromes mediated by bacterial toxins: botulism, J.M. Hughes tetanus, T.P. Bleck bordetella pertussis and the central nervous system, E.L. Hewlett. Part 5 Spriochetal infections of the central nervous system: central nervous system syphilis, E.W. Hook, III Lyme disease, L. Reik, Jr. Part 6 Fungal infections of the central nervous system: pathogenesis and pathophysiology of fungal infections, J. R. Perfect and D.T. Durack chronic meningitis, T. Tucker and J.J. Ellner diagnosis and treatment of fungal meningitis, J.R. Perfect space-occupying fungal lesions of the central nervous system, K. Sepkowitz and D. Armstrong. Part 7 Protozoal and helminthic infections of the central nervous system: protozoal infections, J.P. Cegielski and D.T. Durack toxoplasmosis, C.S. Dukes et al helminthic infections, M.L. Cameron and D.T. Durack.