cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
A New Approach for the Determination of Ammonite and Nautilid Habitats

Externally shelled cephalopods were important elements in open marine habitats throughout Earth history. Paleotemperatures calculated on the basis of the oxygen isotope composition of their shells can provide insights into ancient marine systems as well as the ecology of this important group of organisms. In some sedimentary deposits, however, the aragonitic shell of the ammonite or nautilid is poorly or not preserved at all, while the calcitic structures belonging to the jaws are present. This study tests for the first time if the calcitic jaw structures in fossil cephalopods can be used as a proxy for paleotemperature. We first analyzed the calcitic structures on the jaws of Recent Nautilus and compared the calculated temperatures of precipitation with those from the aragonitic shell in the same individuals. Our results indicate that the jaws of Recent Nautilus are secreted in isotopic equilibrium, and the calculated temperatures approximately match those of the shell. We then extended our study to ammonites from the Upper Cretaceous (Campanian) Pierre Shale of the U.S. Western Interior and the age-equivalent Mooreville Chalk of the Gulf Coastal Plain. In the Pierre Shale, jaws occur in situ inside the body chambers of well-preserved Baculites while in the Mooreville Chalk, the jaw elements appear as isolated occurrences in the sediment and the aragonitic shell material is not preserved. For the Pierre Shale specimens, the calculated temperatures of well-preserved jaw material match those of well-preserved shell material in the same individual. Analyses of the jaw elements in the Mooreville Chalk permit a comparison of the paleotemperatures between the two sites, and show that the Western Interior is warmer than the Gulf Coast at that time. In summary, our data indicate that the calcitic jaw elements of cephalopods can provide a reliable geochemical archive of the habitat of fossil forms.
Teaching palliative care and end-of-life issues: a core curriculum for surgical residents.

Background Most surgical training programs have no curriculum to teach palliative care. Programs designed for nonsurgical specialties often do not meet the unique needs of surgeons. With 80-hour workweek limitations on in-hospital teaching, new methods are needed to efficiently teach surgical residents about these problems.
Magnetic resonance imaging of fetal thoracic abnormalities.

Summary: Fetal thoracic abnormalities are increasingly being detected using prenatal ultrasound. Prenatal magnetic resonance imaging is an important adjunct in evaluation of fetal chest lesions. It can help differentiate different masses and is most helpful in evaluation of large or atypical masses. It also is very important in planning in utero interventional procedures, delivery, and immediate postnatal surgery.
Source localization in a multipath environment using random or deterministic signals

The paper develops a general theory of array processing in a multipath environment. It works with sources radiating bandlimited Gaussian or deterministic signals in confined spaces such as an underwater acoustic channel. Cramer-Rao bounds on the mean square error of source location parameter estimates are used to evaluate the effects of signal properties, sensor array geometry, source location parameters and propagation conditions on localization accuracy. General expressions are calculated for the minimum mean square error of source location parameters in terms of a generalized post-beamforming signal to noise ratio beta /sub k/ at frequency omega /sub k/ and the vectors of transfer functions from the source to various sensors. A comparison is made between the location accuracy attainable with random and with deterministic signals. Also explored are the effects on location accuracy of array geometry, possible uncertainties in propagation conditions and uncertainties in array orientation. >
Arctic tundra: A source or sink for atmospheric carbon dioxide in a changing environment?

Intact cores from the wet coastal arctic tundra at Barrow, Alaska, were used as microcosms in the measurement of CO2 fluxes between peat, vegetation, and atmosphere under controlled conditions. Net ecosystem CO2 uptake was almost twice as high at present summer temperatures (4° C) than at 8°. Lowering the water table from the soil surface to -5 cm also had a pronounced effect in decreasing net ecosystem carbon storage. Warming of the tundra climate could change this ecosystem from a sink for atmospheric CO2 to a source.
Pregnancy-Related Deaths Due to Pulmonary Embolism: Findings from Two State-Based Mortality Reviews

This report presents findings from two state- based pregnancy-related reviews of deaths due to pulmon- ary embolism to describe prevalence, risk factors, and timing of symptoms and fatal events (N = 46). We exam- ined the utility of state-based maternal mortality review teams as a means to gain more complete data on maternal deaths from which guidelines for prevention and interven- tion can be developed. The Florida Pregnancy-Associated Mortality Review Team and Virginia Maternal Mortality Review Team collaborated on findings from 9 years of pregnancy-related mortality review conducted in each state. Pregnancy-related deaths due to pulmonary embolism occurring within 42 days of pregnancy between 1999 and 2007 in Florida and Virginia were identified. Retrospective review of records was conducted to obtain data on timing of the fatal event in relation to the pregnancy, risk factors, and the presence and timing of symptoms suggestive of pul- monary embolism. Forty-six cases of pregnancy-related death due to pulmonary embolism were identified. The combined pregnancy-related mortality ratio (PRMR) was 1.6/100,000 live births. The PRMR for patients undergoing cesarean section delivery was 2.8 compared to 0.2 among those with vaginal deliveries (95 % CI = 1.8-4.2 and 0.1-0.5 respectively). Women aged 35 and older had the highest PRMR at 2.6/100,000 live births. BMI over 30 kg/m 2 and presence of chronic conditions were frequently identified risk factors. One in five decedents (21.7 %) reported at least two symptoms suggestive of pulmonary embolism in the days before death. This combined state- based maternal death review confirms age over 35 years, obesity, and the presence of chronic conditions are risk factors for pregnancy-related mortality due to venous thromboembolism in the US. Expanding and standardizing the process of state-based reviews offers the potential for reducing pregnancy-related mortality in the US.
Craniometric analysis of growth patterns in guinea pig mandibles.

Abstract Craniometric analyses were conducted to determine the patterns of growth in different areas of the mandibles of guinea pigs of known age and sex groups. One dental measurement and eleven skeletal measurements were taken from the mandible. Variables considered were sex, age groups, and differences between the right and left sides of the mandible. Analyses of variance were calculated for each of the skeletal and dental measurement factors. The 0.01 level of significance was used; any differences at the 1 per cent or better level of significance were considered to be statistically significant. Statistically significant age-associated differences were observed in all the distances measured; sex differences were noted in seven distances; sex-age interactions were observed in ten out of twleve distances measured, and the presence of such an interaction meant that the sex differences were not constant for each age group. Side differences were nonsignificant except in the distance measured between the anterior and posterior borders of the alveolar crest. The percentile incremental growth values varied considerably during different periods. In most instances approximately half of the total growth was attained at 30 days when comparisons were made with 5-day dimensions.
The effect of a small heat source on PSF stability for high-contrast imaging

High-contrast adaptive optics systems, such as those needed to image extrasolar planets, are known to require excellent wavefront control and diffraction suppression. The Laboratory for Adaptive Optics at UC Santa Cruz is investigating limits to high-contrast imaging in support of the Gemini Planet Imager (GPI). In this paper we examine the effect of heat sources in the testbed on point-spread-function (PSF) stability. Introducing a heat source primarily introduces image motion. The GPI error budget requires image motion to be less than 0.1 lambda /D. Systematic motion of the PSF core is typically 0.01 lambda /D rms and with a 20 watt heat source introduced near the pupil plane image motion is increased to 0.02 lambda /D rms. Therefore, even a heat source as large as 20 watts near the pupil plane causes errors below the GPI requirement, but the combination of the heat source and additional air turbulence on the system introduced by changes to the enclosure or the fan of other components can produce significantly more motion. Heat also can affect the speckle pattern in the high-contrast region, but in the final instrument other sources of error should be more significant.
A stereoelectronic effect on turn formation due to proline substitution in elastin-mimetic polypeptides

Stereoelectronic effects have been identified as contributing factors to the conformational stability of collagen-mimetic peptide sequences. To assess the relevance of these factors within other protein structural contexts, three polypeptide sequences were prepared in which the sequences were derived from the canonical repeat unit (Val-Pro-Gly-Val-Gly) of the protein material elastin. These elastin-mimetic polypeptides, elastin-1, elastin-2, and elastin-3, incorporate (2S)-proline, (2S,4S)-4-fluoroproline, and (2S,4R)-4-fluoroproline, respectively, at the second position of the elastin repeat. Calorimetric and spectroscopic investigations of these three polypeptides indicate that the incorporation of the substituted proline residues had a dramatic effect upon the self-assembly of the corresponding elastin peptide. The presence of (2S,4R)-4-fluoroproline in elastin-3 lowered the temperature of the phase transition and increased the type II β-turn population with respect to the parent polypeptide, while the...
A multicenter, community-based study of doxazosin in the treatment of concomitant hypertension and symptomatic benign prostatic hyperplasia: the hypertension and BPH intervention trial (HABIT)

As men age, the incidence of both benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and hypertension increases. Concomitant occurrence of these conditions also increases with age, and the 2 are frequently encountered together in primary care practice. In addition, many patients with hypertension require >1 antihypertensive agent to adequately control blood pressure. In a multicenter, community-based, 8-week, uncontrolled, open-label study, we evaluated doxazosin, a selective alpha1-adrenergic-receptor antagonist, in 491 patients with concomitant symptomatic BPH (American Urological Association [AUA] symptom score > or =12) and hypertension, some previously untreated and some with inadequately controlled hypertension (systolic blood pressure 120-179 mm Hg or diastolic blood pressure [DBP] 80-109 mm Hg) despite taking 1 or 2 antihypertensive agents. Patients were allocated to 1 of 4 groups at baseline according to their diastolic blood pressure (control was considered DBP or =65 years) and younger (45 to 64 years) patients, and doxazosin was well tolerated by both groups. The most frequent treatment-related adverse event was dizziness (13.0% of patients); however, patients classified the dizziness as mild in approximately 75% of reports, and severe dizziness was reported by only 2 patients (0.4%). Doxazosin is an effective antihypertensive agent when used in combination with agents from other antihypertensive classes in patients with poorly controlled hypertension and BPH, and is also successful as monotherapy for controlling both BPH and hypertension in patients with mild to moderate hypertension.
Dentinogenesis and Dentin Sialophosphoprotein (DSPP)

Dentin sialophosphoprotein (DSPP) is critical for proper mineralization of tooth dentin, and understanding its structure and function should yield important insights into how dentin biomineralization is controlled. During the recent six years, DSPP-derived proteins isolated from developing porcine teeth have been characterized. Porcine DSPP is expressed and secreted by odontoblasts and is processed by BMP-1, MMP-20 and MMP-2 into three main parts: dentin sialoprotein (DSP), dentin glycoprotein (DGP), and dentin phosphoprotein (DPP). We have learned that DSP is a proteoglycan that forms covalent dimers, DGP is a phosphorylated glycoprotein, and DPP is a highly phosphorylated intrinsically disordered protein that shows extensive length polymorphisms due to the genetic heterogeneity of its coding region.
Indications for the surgical management of central nervous system blastomycosis

Abstract BACKGROUND Blastomycotic infections of the central nervous system (CNS) occur infrequently. The medical literature concerning blastomycosis of the CNS contains little information regarding indications for surgery. METHODS We report five cases of CNS blastomycosis that required surgery: four intracranial and one intraspinal. One patient had a prior diagnosis of sarcoidosis, whereas none of the others had been diagnosed with any other systemic illness. The patients were evaluated with plain x rays as well as with computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging. RESULTS Four of these patients had extradural abscesses that required surgical drainage as well as debridement of granulomatous tissue and infected bone. The remaining patient had an intracerebellar abscess. Postoperatively, three patients were treated with amphotericin B, one with amphotericin B and ketoconazole, and one with an experimental protocol of fluconazole alone. All of the patients recovered without sequelae of seizures, recurrence of disease, or reaction to pharmacotherapy, although one patient had transient renal insufficiency due to amphotericin B. CONCLUSIONS Our experience with CNS blastomycosis managed surgically is reported. We propose three general surgical indications for these patients: mass lesions, diagnostic biopsy, and osteomyelitis refractory to pharmacotherapy.
Lapping and Polishing with Flexible, Bound Diamond Materials

A flexible, bound diamond material, recently developed for the stone surfacing industry, promises to be useful in the optics industry. Grinding rates and surface damage measurements have been made and compared to conventional grinding methods.
Can Enhancement Be Effective In Medical Diagnosis

For purposes of this discussion, assume that a conventional radiographic image such as film already exists and an optional enhancement step is available as a potential diagnostic aid. To decide if the enhancement is worth the trouble, several factors have to be considered: 1. Diagnostic value of enhancement. 2. Ease and speed of processing. 3. Cost of enhancement.© (1974) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Electronic ripple filter for the brookhaven alternating gradient synchrotron

Abstract For high energy experiments requiring a long particle spill at constant energy at the Brookhaven Alternating Gradient Synchrotron, the ripple of the magnet power supply is several times 1000 V. This voltage ripple produces a ripple in the magnetic field which, in turn, causes a radial motion in the orbit of accelerated particles. In this paper we describe the design and performance of the apparatus which reduces the total ripple of the magnet voltage to less than 5% of the unfiltered value. It is a closed loop system with a carefully controlled transfer function. A large power tube, used as a direct coupled regulator, is driven from an rf link by low level circuits at ground potential.
Parathyroid Hormone Secretion in Normal Man and in Primary Hyperparathyroidism: Role of Histamine H2 Receptors

The effect of histamine and histamine H2 receptors on secretion of parathyroid hormone (PTH) was evaluated by 1) adding histamine phosphate (with or without the histamine Ho receptor antagonist, cimetidine) to the medium in in vitro incubation studies with bovine parathyroid tissue, 2) infusing histamine into rats, and 3) infusing the histamine H1 receptor antagonist, diphenhydramine, or cimetidine into normal men and patients with primary hyperparathyroidism. In vitro, histamine (10-5–10-7 M) caused a dose-related significant stimulation of immunoreactive PTH (iPTH) secretion; this was blocked by the simultaneous addition of cimetidine (10-5 M). Intravenous infusion of histamine significantly increased serum iPTH in rats. In normal man, infusion of diphenhydramine had no effect, but cimetidine (300 or 450 mg) significantly decreased serum iPTH. However, cimetidine had no effect on serum iTH in primary hyperparathyroid patients. The in vitro Șbservations indicate that histamine can stimulate iPTH secretio...
Advances in Rheumatoid Arthritis Animal Models

Experimental models of rheumatoid arthritis have contributed immensely to our understanding of the pathogenesis as well as the treatment of this debilitating autoimmune disease. Significant progress has been made in the past few years in defining the role of newer cytokines and regulatory T cells, of inflammation-mediated bone and cartilage damage, and of the cholinergic anti-inflammatory pathway in modulating the disease process in arthritis. Furthermore, new therapeutic targets, including specific tyrosine kinases and proteasome subunits, have been explored. These advances offer renewed optimism for continued improvements in the management of rheumatoid arthritis.
Input screening: Finding the important model inputs on a budget

One general goal of sensitivity or uncertainty analysis of a computer model is the determination of which inputs most influence the outputs of interest. Simple methodologies based on randomly sampled input values are attractive because they require few assumptions about the nature of the model. However, when the number of inputs is large and the computational effort required per model evaluation is significant, methods based on more complex assumptions, analysis techniques, and/or sampling plans may be preferable. This paper will review some approaches that have been proposed for input screening, with an emphasis on the balance between assumptions and the number of model evaluations required.
Structure and dimerization of the kinase domain from yeast Snf1, a member of the Snf1/AMPK protein family.

Summary The Snf1/AMPK kinases are intracellular energy sensors, and the AMPK pathway has been implicated in a variety of metabolic human disorders. Here we report the crystal structure of the kinase domain from yeast Snf1, revealing a bilobe kinase fold with greatest homology to cyclin-dependant kinase-2. Unexpectedly, the crystal structure also reveals a novel homodimer that we show also forms in solution, as demonstrated by equilibrium sedimentation, and in yeast cells, as shown by coimmunoprecipitation of differentially tagged intact Snf1. A mapping of sequence conservation suggests that dimer formation is a conserved feature of the Snf1/AMPK kinases. The conformation of the conserved αC helix, and the burial of the activation segment and substrate binding site within the dimer, suggests that it represents an inactive form of the kinase. Taken together, these studies suggest another layer of kinase regulation within the Snf1/AMPK family, and an avenue for development of AMPK-specific activating compounds.
Relationship between phosphatidylcholine biosynthesis and cellular commitment in concanavalin A-stimulated lymphocytes.

The incorporation of [14C]choline into phosphatidylcholine was studied in lymphocyte cultures exposed to concanavalin A (ConA). The lectin was found to induce an increase in the incorporation of the label with following features: 1. 1. It occurs very promptly after exposure. 2. 2. It is not elicited by a non-mitogenic lectin. 3. 3. The increase in the early stage is proportional to lectin concentration. 4. 4. It can be terminated by a competitive inhibitor of ConA binding. 5. 5. The extent of the increase shows a correlation with the rate of cellular commitment to initiate DNA synthesis. These results suggest that in the mitogenic stimulation of T lymphocytes enhanced synthesis of membrane phospholipids is a precommitment event.
The health effects of oral contraceptives: misperceptions, controversies, and continuing good news.

This review on the risks and benefits of oral contraceptives clarifies the risks and misperceptions and discusses 10 potential health benefits. In the U.S. where maternal mortality is about 20.6/100000 the risk of death from pills ranges from 1.8 for nonsmokers to 6.5 for smokers. It is likely that most of the small existing mortality risk of pill use is due to thromboembolism. Atherosclerosis the major cause of death for U.S. women may be reduced by the pill. It is still controversial whether pills increase risk of hepatocellular carcinoma and malignant melanoma; they protect against endometrial cancer (the 3rd greatest cancer killer) and ovarian (the 4th) cancer; they may increase risk slightly in some subgroups for breast and cervical cancer although data are conflicting. Pills also protect against ectopic pregnancy benign breast disease pelvic inflammatory disease ovarian cysts iron deficiency anemia and possibly uterine fibroids and osteoporosis. It is no longer held that orals protect against toxic shock syndrome or rheumatoid arthritis. It is estimated that oral contraceptives avert 50000 hospital admissions per year in the U.S.
Geometric reasoning under uncertainty for map-basedlocalization

Map-based navigation in outdoor terrain lacking man-made structures or other highly distinctive landmarks can produce severe localization problems. This paper presents an approach to navigation which implements high level geometric reasoning and matching strategies based on those used by skilled human navigators. This approach, which is demonstrated on a real example involving imagery of mountainous terrain obtained with a video camera and USGS map data, is designed to avoid many of the pitfalls occurring when an attempt is made to navigate by modeling the environment mathematically. It exploits feature attributes which cannot be easily expressed quantitatively but are central to the successful human navigation process.
Fluid dispersion-generalization and comparison of mathematical models—I generalization of models

Abstract Many models have been used to characterize dispersion of fluids in flowing systems. Some account for both transverse and longitudinal dispersion, while others account for longitudinal dispersion alone. In addition, the variety of experimental tracer methods used to find the parameters of the models makes the resultant analyses seemingly unrelated. We show here the relationship between these models and generalize all the previously presented measurement techniques. This gives a comprehensive picture of the field of dispersion, allows a quantitative evaluation of the error incurred when a simple model is used in place of a more exact but more unwieldy model, and gives future experimenters the necessary information to decide what combination of experimental set-up and mathematical model yields, within prescribed limits of error, an analysis of desired accuracy.
Matagorda Island, Texas: The Evolution of a Gulf Coast Barrier Complex

Matagorda Island is a wide, sand-rich, barrier-island complex on the central Texas coast. This barrier initially formed as an intermittently emergent sand shoal which migrated landward during the late Holocene transgression and then became stabilized as the Gulf of Mexico reached stillstand. The subaerial portion of the island complex rests on a blanket of middle Holocene bay-estuarine mud which was deposited behind the landward-migrating sand body and then was overridden by it. Following stillstand, Matagorda Island prograded Gulfward approximately 1.6 km. During this progradation, two large tidal passes, which connected the Gulf of Mexico with San Antonio and Mesquite Bays, were closed. The island was further modified by migration of Cedar Bayou several miles to the west across the island9s southern end. Two sources of sand contributed to this barrier complex. Prior to stillstand, erosion of Pleistocene strandplain sand and middle Holocene fluvial-deltaic sand which was exposed on the shelf supplied most of the sediment to the early barrier. Following stillstand, with progradation, shelf sands were too deeply submerged to be eroded by Gulf waves. Sand, discharged into the Gulf by the Colorado and Brazos Rivers and transported southwestward by longshore currents, was deposited on the beach and shoreface of Gulfward-building Matagorda Island.
Transport regimes in quasiballistic heat conduction

Transient grating (TG) spectroscopy is an important experimental technique to measure mean-free-path (MFP) spectra using observations of quasiballistic heat conduction. To obtain MFP spectra, the measurements must be interpreted within the framework of the frequency-dependent Boltzmann transport equation (BTE), but previous solutions have restricted validity due to simplifying assumptions. Here we analyze heat conduction in TG using a new analytical solution of the frequency-dependent BTE that accurately describes thermal transport from the diffusive to ballistic regimes. We demonstrate that our result enables a more accurate measurement of MFP spectra and thus will lead to an improved understanding of heat conduction in solids.
Delay of ovulation caused by exposure to continuous light in immature rats treated with pregnant mare's serum gonadotrophin.

In immature female rats that were injected with 8 IU of PMS at 30 days of age (day 30) and that were exposed to light (130 lux) daily between 0500 and 1900, the mean time for ovulation was 0135 on day 33. If exposed to light continuously (LL) beginning at 0500 on day 30, 27, or 24, the mean hour of the day for ovulation was progressively delayed, occurring, respectively, at 0450 on day 33, 1405 on day 34, and 1850 on day 33. These results suggest that the ecretion of ovulation-inducing hormones (OIH) in rats is contoolled by an endogenous circadian rhythm, the period of which is lengthened by LL. In rats exposed to LL since day 27 (LL 27s), advancing the time of PMS on day 30 from 0930 to 0500 advanced the time of ovulation by an entire day. In LL 24s, delaying the time of PMS on day 30 from 0930 to 1900 delayed the time of ovulation by an entire day. Thus, altering the time of the PMS injection changed the day, but not the hour of the day, at which ovulation occurred. If phenobarbital sodium (PB) was inj...
The distribution of pulmonary blood flow measured with radioactive-labeled microspheres☆

Abstract Radioactive labeled microspheres were used for the measurement of the intraorgan distribution of blood flow using several isotopic labels. Blood flow-distribution changes relative to anatomical location were also obtained. Normal rabbits in the prone position show an even pattern of blood flow distribution throughout the lungs; no significant differences between hilar and peripheral segments were noted. Rabbits showing extreme anxiety may have pulmonary edema with an associated uneven flow distribution; sudden death in laboratory animals may be explained by this mechanism. Pulmonary edema which had been induced by saline overload or adrenalin infusion failed to produce a marked maldistribution of blood flow. Distributional patterns obtained after sequential injection of microspheres in control rabbits and dogs suggests an essential difference in the regulation of the pulmonary vasculature in large and small mammals.
The 4-(N-dichloroacetyl-N-methylamino)benzyloxymethyl group for 2'-hydroxyl protection of ribonucleosides in the solid-phase synthesis of oligoribonucleotides.

Emerging RNA-based technologies for controlling gene expression have triggered a high demand for synthetic oligoribonucleotides and have motivated the development of ribonucleoside phosphoramidites that would exhibit coupling kinetics and coupling efficiencies comparable to those of deoxyribonucleoside phosphoramidites. To fulfill these needs, the novel 4-(N-dichloroacetyl-N-methylamino)benzyloxymethyl group for 2‘-hydroxyl protection of ribonucleoside phosphoramidites 9a−d has been implemented (Schemes 1 and 2). The solid-phase synthesis of AUCCGUAGCUAACGUCAUGG was then carried out employing 9a−d as 0.2 M solutions in dry MeCN and 5-benzylthio-1H-tetrazole as an activator. The coupling efficiency of 9a−d averaged 99% within a coupling time of 180 s. Following removal of all base-sensitive protecting groups, cleavage of the remaining 2‘-[4-(N-methylamino)benzyl] acetals from the RNA oligonucleotide was effected in buffered 0.1 M AcOH (pH 3.8) within 30 min at 90 °C. RP-HPLC and PAGE analyses of the fully ...
Fyn kinase does not reduce ethanol inhibition of zinc-insensitive NR2A-containing N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors.

Abstract N -methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors are ion channels activated by the neurotransmitter glutamate and are important mediators of neuronal signal transduction. Ethanol inhibits ion flux through NMDA receptors at concentrations that are associated with behavioral signs of intoxication. The overall sensitivity of NMDA receptors to ethanol is influenced by factors, including subunit composition and interactions with cytoskeletal elements. Results of studies also support the suggestion that the ethanol inhibition on NR1/2A receptors is reduced by Fyn kinase–mediated tyrosine phosphorylation. However, tyrosine kinases also reduce the high-affinity zinc sensitivity of NR1/2A receptors, supporting the suggestion that kinase-dependent effects on ethanol inhibition may be secondary to relief of zinc inhibition. In the current study, the effect of Fyn kinase on the ethanol inhibition of NR1/2A receptors was determined under conditions in which zinc sensitivity is eliminated. Human embryonic kidney 293 (HEK 293) cells were transiently transfected with wild-type or mutant NMDA subunits, and glutamate-activated currents were measured by using patch-clamp electrophysiology. Inclusion of the tyrosine phosphatase inhibitor potassium bisperoxo(1,10-phenanthroline)oxovanadate (V) [bpV(phen)] in the recording pipette eliminated the potentiation of NR1/2A currents by heavy metal chelators. Under these conditions, Fyn kinase did not reduce ethanol inhibition of wild-type receptors. Fyn kinase also had no effect on the magnitude of ethanol inhibition of zinc-insensitive NR1/2A(H128S) receptors. Together, results of the current study indicate that Fyn kinase does not directly affect the ethanol sensitivity of NR1/2A receptors.
Increased morbidity in severe early intrauterine growth restriction.

OBJECTIVE: To determine the relative frequencies of complications in severe early intrauterine growth-restricted (IUGR) infants. METHODS: All infants 32 weeks gestation or less with birth weight less than the fifth percentile admitted from January 1991 to December 1998 were identified retrospectively. Two infants were identified for each IUGR case: the subsequent admission with birth weight ±100 g of the case, and the subsequent admission with the same gestational age. Infants with multiple congenital anomalies, congenital infections or admission after 48 hours of age were excluded. Maternal and neonatal demographic data, neonatal morbidity and mortality until discharge were gathered by chart review. RESULTS: A total of 39 IUGR identified infants met criteria, with 41 gestational age infants and 33 birth weight infants. Mean birth weights and gestational ages for the IUGR group, gestational age group, and birth weight group were 744 g and 29.6 weeks, 1370 g and 29.7 weeks, and 781 g and 25.5 weeks respectively. Mortality was higher for IUGR infants than gestational age infants (20.5 vs 0%), but less than the birth weight infants (30%). In surviving infants, total ventilator days, total oxygen days, days to full feeds, and patent ductus arteriosis, were higher for IUGR infants than gestational age infants, but less than birth weight infants. Hypoglycemia, direct hyperbilirubinemia, necrotizing enterocolitis (NEC), thrombo-cytopenia, chronic lung disease and feeding difficulties occurred more frequently in IUGR infants than in both other groups. Length of stay for survivors and incidence of retinopathy of prematurity (ROP) was similar for the IUGR and birth weight infants. CONCLUSIONS: Infants born prematurely who are also severely IUGR have higher neonatal morbidity and mortality when compared to infants of similar gestational age. The surviving IUGR infants had less intraventricular hemorrhage and periventricular leukomalacia than less mature infants of comparable birth weight, but a similar incidence of ROP and length of stay. They had a higher incidence of NEC, direct hyperbilirubinemia and chronic lung disease, probably due to end-organ damage in utero from chronic placental insufficiency. These findings highlight the unique pattern of mortality and morbidity seen in infants with severe early IUGR.
Analysis of 1D periodic slotted ground structure on microstrip

This article presents an analysis of 1D periodic slotted ground structure on the microstrip ground plane. A dumbbell-shaped ground slot (DSGS) has been utilized as a unit cell of the periodic ground structure. The number of the slots is set to N = 7. The expressions for propagation and attenuation constants are derived from the unit cell of the DSGS. These expressions allow determining the passband and stopband of the proposed DSGS periodic structure. The calculated results are compared to simulated and measured results for the analysis validity. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Microwave Opt Technol Lett 55:59–62, 2013; View this article online at wileyonlinelibrary.com. DOI 10.1002/mop.27225
Stark cell stabilization of the CO 2 laser

A technique is demonstrated for locking of a GHz tunable waveguide CO 2 laser to a voltage programmable absorption line in NH 2 D. Precision frequency control is demonstrated over the tuning range of the laser and long term frequency stability of better than ±100 kHz is demonstrated. Advantages of the present technique are that no frequency modulation of the laser is required to generate an error signal and the laser frequency is determined by a linear relationship to the Stark cell voltage.
Multigroup Confirmatory Factor Analysis: Locating the Invariant Referent Sets

Multigroup confirmatory factor analysis (MCFA) is a popular method for the examination of measurement invariance and specifically, factor invariance. Recent research has begun to focus on using MCFA to detect invariance for test items. MCFA requires certain parameters (e.g., factor loadings) to be constrained for model identification, which are assumed to be invariant across groups, and act as referent variables. When this invariance assumption is violated, location of the parameters that actually differ across groups becomes difficult. The factor ratio test and the stepwise partitioning procedure in combination have been suggested as methods to locate invariant referents, and appear to perform favorably with real data examples. However, the procedures have not been evaluated through simulations where the extent and magnitude of a lack of invariance is known. This simulation study examines these methods in terms of accuracy (i.e., true positive and false positive rates) of identifying invariant referent v...
Feeding behavior of potato aphid affected by glandular trichomes of wild tomato

Mortality of the potato aphid, Macrosiphum euphorbiae (Thomas), on Lycopersicon pennellii (Corr.) D'Arcy and its F1 hybrid with Lycopersicon esculentum Mill. was significantly greater than that on L. esculentum. Physical entrapment was not the sole mechanism of resistance in L. pennellii since few late instar aphids were found trapped in the sticky glandular exudate of the type IV trichomes; entrapment could, however, affect survival of early instars. Aphid settling on L. pennellii was dramatically less than that on L. esculentum, suggesting that starvation may have contributed to high mortality. Compared to L. esculentum, aphid feeding behavior on L. pennellii and the F1 was characterized by a delay in the time to first probe, a reduction in the number of probes, and a decrease in the total proportion of time spent feeding. Removal of the glandular exudate of the type IV trichomes from L. pennellii resulted in a decrease in preprobe time and an increase in both the number of probes and the percent of time spent probing. Transfer of glandular trichome exudate of L. pennellii to leaflets of L. esculentum resulted in an increase in resistance as measured by these three parameters. Zusammenfassung Saugverhalten der Kartoffelblattlaus beeinflusst durch Drusentrichome der wilden Tomate Die Absterberate der Kartoffellaus, Macrosiphum euphorbiae Thomas, auf Lycopersicon pennellii (Corr.) D'Arcy, sowie auf der Kreuzung L. esculentum Mill. und L. pennellii, war deutlich grosser als auf L. esculentum. Das mechanische Verfangen der Lause war nicht der Hauptgrund der Resistenz von L. pennellii. Wenige tote Lause wurden in dem klebrigen Sekret der Typus IV Trichome gefunden. Auf L. pennellii siedelten sich die Lause in viel geringerer Zahl an als auf L. esculentum. Dies fuhrte zum Schluss, dass Verhungern eine der Ursachen der hohen Mortalitat der Lause war. Im Vergleich zum Saugverhalten auf L. esculentum war das Saugverhalten auf L. pennellii, wie auch auf F1, durch Folgendes gekennzeichnet 1) Verspatung des ersten Stichversuchs, 2) Verminderung der Stichversuche pro Zeiteinheit und 3) Verminderung des Zeitanteils, der zum Saugen verwendet wurde. Die Entfernung des Sekrets der Typus IV Trichomen auf L. pennellii verursachte 1) eine kurzere Zeitspanne vor dem ersten Stichversuch, 2) eine Vergrosserung der Anzahl Stichversuche pro Zeiteinheit, 3) eine Verlangerung der Saugzeit. Die Uebertragung des Sekretes von L. pennellii auf Blatter von L. esculentum verbesserte deren Resistenz gegen Blattlause gemessen mit den genannten drei Kriterien.
Fixturing of compliant parts using a matrix of reconfigurable pins

Commercially-available reconfigurable fixtures, used for holding compliant sheet metal, composite and plastic parts during secondary machining operations, are extremely expensive and overly-complicated devices. A computer-controlled, reconfigurable fixturing device (RFD) concept for compliant parts, based on a matrix of individually-stoppable pins lowered by a single rigid platen, has been developed as a simple and low-cost design alternative to commercially-available devices. Two different approaches to stopping and clamping individual pins have been investigated: a combination electromagnet assist and gas springs compressed with a toggle mechanism, and a pneumatic clamp. Simple mechanical models have been developed for predicting the stopping and clamping performance of both designs including pin positioning accuracy, vertical load-carrying capacity of a pin, and deflection of a pin subjected to lateral loads. An RFD prototype, consisting of a single pin actuated by a servoed platen, has been designed, built and tested. It has demonstrated the feasibility of this new RFD design.
Amino acid pools in developing oocytes of Xenopus laevis

Abstract The sizes of amino acid pools in developing oocytes at various stages have been determined for normal and for human chorionic gonadotropin (HCG)-stimulated Xenopus laevis. The total amino acid pool increases 20- to 30-fold in oocytes in stages II through V. This increase is commensurate with the increase in size of the oocyte. In addition, the pool is greater (5% in stage II and 29 to 38% in stages III through V) in oocytes from the HCG-stimulated frogs. Glutamic acid accounts for approximately 35–45% of the total amino acid pool in all stages of oocytes. In none of the stages, however, are there detectable amounts of either proline or cysteine.
Age dependent forebrain structural changes in mice deficient in the autism associated gene Met tyrosine kinase

The MET tyrosine kinase has been identified as a susceptibility gene in patients with autism spectrum disorders. MET is expressed in the forebrain during prenatal and postnatal development. After birth, MET participates in dendritic outgrowth and circuit formation. Alterations in neuronal development, particularly in the cerebral cortex, may contribute to the pathology of developmental disorders, including autism. Patients with autism can exhibit abnormal cortical volumes and head circumferences. We tested the hypothesis that impaired Met signaling during development alters forebrain structure. We have utilized a conditional mutant mouse line which expresses a kinase-dead Met restricted to the cerebral cortex and hippocampal structures. In these mice, we have used magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to analyze the structure of the cerebral cortex and related structures across postnatal development. We found that the rostral cortex, caudal hippocampus, dorsal striatum, thalamus, and corpus callosum were all larger in adult, but not juvenile, mutant mice relative to control mice. The specificity of the changes suggests that aberrant expansion of the forebrain is consistent with continued axonal and dendritic growth, potentially leading to improper circuit formation and maintenance.
Outcome after intra- and extra-corporeal laparoscopic appendectomy techniques

This study aimed to assess the outcome after intracorporeal (IC) and extracorporeal (EC) laparoscopic appendectomy technique in a single institution over a 5-year period. Records of all children (n = 60) who underwent laparoscopic appendectomy at the Royal Aberdeen Children’s Hospital between February 1997 and March 2002 were retrieved and evaluated. Observations were made regarding operative technique, anesthetic time, intra- and postoperative complications, postoperative analgesic requirement, and postoperative hospital stay. There were 30 children in each group who had a similar demographic profile. The magnitude of appendicitis severity in both groups was similar. The mean anesthetic time was 67.8 min for the IC group and 50.7 min for the EC group (p = 0.001). There were no recorded intraoperative complications, although a single case in the EC group required conversion to open procedure. The postoperative analgesic requirement in both groups was similar. The mean postoperative stay was 2.1 days in the IC group and 2.5 days in the EC group. Two postoperative complications were noted in the IC group; one intraperitoneal collection and one postoperative chest infection. Four complications occured in the EC group; one intraperitoneal collection and three minor port-site wound infections. The authors’ experience shows the EC technique to be significantly quicker, although with a slightly increased complication rate. Either technique can be applied safely for acute appendicitis.
Further Analysis of Semidiurnal Tidal Motions Between 30 and 60 Kilometers1

Abstract All available meteorological rocket soundings through the summer of 1966 are harmonically analyzed to obtain the amplitude and phase of the semidiurnal variation of the meridional wind component in summer for stations located near 30° and 37°N and of the zonal wind component in summer for the stations near 30°N. The results support the earlier finding that a phase reversal occurs at a height of 45–50 km rather than at the theoretically predicted height of 25–30 km. It is suggested that the difference between observation and theory may be attributed to the neglect of the basic wind structure in the theoretical calculation.
Special Issue on Bioreactor Landfills

Since the introduction of the concept of enhanced degradation of municipal solid waste (MSW) using liquid addition by the late Professor Pohland in 1975, MSW landfills have been designed, permitted, and operated as bioreactors for almost three decades in many developed countries including the United States. About 75% of the states within the United States allow bioreactor landfills, and the remaining states only approve bioreactor landfills on a caseby-case basis. Although short-term benefits of bioreactor landfills have been relatively well established, long-term benefits and challenges have not been fully understood or addressed. The short-term benefits of bioreactor landfills include (1) faster settlement of the waste resulting in airspace gain; (2) reduced leachate treatment costs if leachate is recirculated to enhance the biodegradation; and (3) greater rate of landfill gas generation, which can enhance the gas to energy production. Long-term benefits of bioreactor landfills that have not been fully understood include improvement in the postclosure leachate quality and mechanical properties of MSW. Key challenges associated with bioreactor landfills can be divided into three categories: (1) changes in mechanical properties; (2) targeting and monitoring of physical and chemical parameters; and (3) fluid management. This special issue contains 11 papers that address some of these challenges via lab-scale to field-scale experiments and using numerical models. The papers cover topics such as enhanced degradation of waste using septage and air; seismic imagining to monitor moisture content and to capture spatial changes in the dynamic properties of the waste; dual-phase flow and slope stability implications; coupled hydromechanical behavior and settlement; and seepage control. We believe that this special issue on bioreactor landfills can benefit practitioners, educators, and researchers. The articles provide the state of the art of bioreactor landfills to design and operate more efficient and environmentally robust bioreactor landfills.
Stress relaxation response of active fiber composites

The mechanical and physical properties of materials change with time which can be due to the viscoelastic effect and/or due to hostile environmental conditions and electromagnetic fields. An experimental study on active fiber composites (AFCs) having PZT5A fibers dispersed in epoxy shows that the mechanical response of AFC depends on time, temperature, and mechanical loading. We examine the time-dependent response of the AFC, where the polymer constituent undergoes pronounced viscoelastic deformations at different temperatures and mechanical loadings. A micromechanical model is used for predicting effective time-dependent response in active fiber composites with thermal, electrical, and mechanical coupling effects. The micromechanical model is derived based on a simplified unit-cell model in which limited information on the local field variables in the fiber and matrix constituents can be incorporated in predicting overall performance of active composites. We compare the overall stress relaxation response of the active composites determined from the micromechanical model with those from available experimental data. We found that the viscoelastic behavior of the matrix constituent can significantly influence the electro-mechanical coupling response of the AFC and elevated temperatures accelerate the relaxation process of the epoxy matrix and the AFCs.