cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Influence of dietary levels of lipid and vitamin E on growth and resistance of Nile tilapia to Streptococcus iniae challenge

Abstract A study was conducted to determine the effect of dietary levels of lipid and vitamin E on growth performance, immune responses and resistance of Nile tilapia to Streptococcus iniae challenge. A basal purified diet (35% protein and 3.4 kcal DE/g) supplemented with 6, 10 and 14% of 1:1 mixture of corn oil and menhaden fish oil was each supplemented with 50, 100 and 200 mg vitamin E/kg. Each diet was fed to Nile tilapia in triplicate aquaria for 12 weeks. Weight gain, feed intake and survival were not affected by dietary levels of either lipid or vitamin E. Feed efficiency in fish fed 14% lipid diets was significantly lower than that fed 6% dietary lipid but these did not differ from that of the 10% dietary lipid diet. These variables were not affected by dietary vitamin E levels. Whole body lipid significantly increased in fish fed 14% lipid diets and 100 mg/kg vitamin E diets. Liver α-tocopherol levels were reflective of dietary levels of vitamin E. Increasing dietary levels of lipid to 14%, however, significantly decreased liver concentration of α-tocopherol. Hematological parameters and hepatosomatic indices were not affected by dietary treatments. Serum protein significantly increased in fish fed 14% lipid diets but was not affected by supplemental levels of vitamin E. Lysozyme activity was not affected by dietary lipid levels but significantly increased in fish fed 200 mg vitamin E diets. Alternative complement activity significantly decreased in fish fed 10 or 14% dietary lipids but increased when dietary vitamin E levels was increased to 100 or 200 mg. Dietary lipid and vitamin E levels had no effect on the resistance of Nile tilapia to S. iniae infection and on antibody titer against that bacterium.
Mobility and diffusion in the plane of cell membrane.

Abstract The mobility and diffusion of integral proteins in the plane of the membrane are studied in the light of recently known hydrodynamic equations of liquid crystals. We derive the formulas of mobility and diffusion constant in a two-dimensional liquid crystal, and give the solution of the diffusion equation in a spherical membrane. We then discuss the results of the Frye-Edidin (1970) experiments and compare the data with our theoretical values. We conclude that the (human and mouse cell) membranes of the Frye-Edidin experiments are in a phase transition or critical region at 37 °C. Further experiments are proposed to test our assertion.
Concerning the role of 24,25-dihydrolanosterol and lanostanol in sterol biosynthesis by cultured cells

Abstract Rat hepatoma cells (H4-II-E-C3) efficiently converted a dietary supplement of [2- 3 H]24,25-dihydrolanosterol ( 1 ) to [ 3 H]cholesterol while [2- 3 H]lanostanol (4,4,14α-trimethyl-cholestanol( 2 ) was recovered from the cells without apparent transformation, although it was esterified and induced an accumulation of lanosterol. A comparison of the Chromatographic (TLC, GLC and HPLC), spectral (MS and 1 H-NMR) and physical properties of 1 and 2 is given for the first time. The inability to detect 2 in nature coupled with our findings that 1 but not 2 is metabolized to cholesterol by H4 cells is interpreted to imply that the biosynthetic inclusion of the Δ 8 (9)-bond during the cyclization process of squalene-oxide to a tetracyclic product is an evolutionary adaptation selected for because the olefinic linkage is structually important in the subsequent conversion of lanosterol and its stereoisomers, e.g., cycloartenol, to Δ 5 -sterols.
The Undoing of Residential Treatment: A Follow-Up Study of 51 Adolescents

Abstract A follow-up study of 51 children who had previously been in residential treatment for an average of 25.5 months revealed that the majority had a poor outcome in terms of subsequent psychopathology and social adaptation. Differences in age, nature of psychopathology, and parental psychiatric illness were found between good-outcome and poor-outcome children. Numbers of prior placements did not distinguish the groups. Independent rating and documentation of life events were found to be more accurate measures of outcome than clinical assessments. Implications of the findings are discussed.
Coalescence in critical and subcritical Galton-Watson branching processes

In a Galton-Watson branching process that is not extinct by the nth generation and has at least two individuals, pick two individuals at random by simple random sampling without replacement. Trace their lines of descent back in time till they meet. Call that generation X n a pairwise coalescence time. Similarly, let Y n denote the coalescence time for the whole population of the nth generation conditioned on the event that it is not extinct. In this paper the distributions of X n and Y n , and their limit behaviors as n → ∞ are discussed for both the critical and subcritical cases.
Reconnaissance mission data management

Manned and unmanned tactical airborne reconnaissance systems of the future will use common mission data management functions in both airborne and ground support equipments to perform similar missions while meeting the requirement for commonality and interoperability. Fairchild Communications & Electronics Company's Mission Support System (MSS II) and Data Transfer Equipment (DTE) are developed to meet these functional needs. Application of off-the-shelf hardware to perform the sometimes different manned and unmanned mission data management functions are discussed.
Explicit relations in Bowen fluorescence : applications to nebulae, the Sun, Scorpius X-1, and laboratory plasmas

A general analysis of the fluorescent process is described which emphasizes the differing roles of escape probabilities in one-component and two-component gases, and the existence of discrete fluorescent saturation regimes. Explicit formulas are obtained and discussed for astrophysical Bowen fluorescence, as a concrete example, with applications to planetary nebulae, the solar atmosphere and the X-ray binary Sco X-1. An expression is also provided and evaluated for the profile overlap integral involved in the pumping process. A preliminary conclusion is deduced that densities in the fluorescent line-emitting regions of nebular sources may be higher than those derived from forbidden line ratios. The analysis is extended to a proposed laboratory investigation which would exploit the possibility of controlling the determining factors in the fluorescent process, i.e., O III/He II abundance ratio, optical depth, and photoexciting radiation field.
The Roles of Phosphatidylinositol 3-Kinase and Protein Kinase Cζ for Thrombopoietin-induced Mitogen-activated Protein Kinase Activation in Primary Murine Megakaryocytes *

Thrombopoietin (TPO) stimulates a network of intracellular signaling pathways that displays extensive cross-talk. We have demonstrated previously that the ERK/mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway is important for TPO-induced endomitosis in primary megakaryocytes (MKs). One known pathway by which TPO induces ERK activation is through the association of Shc with the penultimate phosphotyrosine within the TPO receptor, Mpl. However, several investigators found that the membrane-proximal half of the cytoplasmic domain of Mpl is sufficient to activate ERK in vitro and support base-line megakaryopoiesis in vivo. Using BaF3 cells expressing a truncated Mpl (T69Mpl) as a tool to identify non-Shc/Ras-dependent signaling pathways, we describe here novel mechanisms of TPO-induced ERK activation mediated, in part, by phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K). Similar to cells expressing full-length receptor, PI3K was activated by its incorporation into a complex with IRS2 or Gab2. Furthermore, the MEK-phosphorylating activity of protein kinase Czeta (PKCzeta) was also enhanced after TPO stimulation of T69Mpl, contributing to ERK activity. PKCzeta and PI3K also contribute to TPO-induced ERK activation in MKs, confirming their physiological relevance. Like in BaF3 cells, a TPO-induced signaling complex containing p85PI3K is detectable in MKs expressing T61Mpl and is probably responsible for PI3K activation. These data demonstrate a novel role of PI3K and PKCzeta in steady-state megakaryopoiesis.
Ground vibration levels: Prediction and parameters

Abstract Ground vibrations, resulting from the utilization of explosives as a cheap source of energy, have become an environmental problem which faces both the mining and construction industries because of the detrimental and damaging effects produced. The prediction equation developed by the U.S. Bureau of Mines was useful in predicting the ground vibration levels for a given site with a given blast design and geologic conditions. In the present paper the constants appearing in this formula were analyzed. One constant was related to the geologic conditions and discontinuities, while the other parameter was related to the overall blast design. No exact formula has yet been developed to predict the ground vibration levels for general geologic conditions and general blast design, and the most practical way to predict vibration level is to adapt the scaled distance formula to the site under consideration in order to minimize or alleviate the intensity of ground vibration level caused by blasting.
Systematics and Distribution of Fusulinid Genus Afghanella: ABSTRACT

The fusulinid genus Afghanella, with Afghanella schencki as the genotype, first was proposed and described by M. L. Thompson in 1946. The specimens came from the Bamian Limestone 7 km west of the summit of Shibar Pass, northwest of Kabul, Afghanistan. At that time he assigned to this genus Neoschwagerina sumatrinaeformis Gubler from what is now Cambodia and Sumatrina pusuliensis Ozawa and Tobler from Greece, and stated that Afghanella occurred widely in the Permian Tethyan regions of Europe and Asia. Afghanella has now been reported or described (11 species at last count) from many localities in the Tethys region (e.g., Tunisia, Yugoslavia, Turkey, Soviet Tadzhikistan, China, and Japan) where it is associated with fusulinids of the Verbeekina-Neoschwagerina zone. Cutbill and Forbes (1967) have suggested that the prolocular diameter and its effect on comparisons by volution can lead to difficulties in the description of fusulinids. They suggest that the comparison of measurements at equal radii instead of by volution may help eliminate this problem. The present study concerns a discussion and comparison of species of Afghanella from the Tethys region and the use of ideas of Cutbill and Forbes in attempting to differentiate populations of Afghanella. End_of_Article - Last_Page 543------------
The Offspring of Alcoholic Mothers

Maternal chronic alcoholism was associated with 41% of infants who were born undergrown for gestational age at king County Hospital during the past two years. In order to assess the risk of maternal alcoholism on the outcome of pregnancy and subsequent development of the infant, the offspring of 11 alcoholic mothers were followed closely in a special clinic. Twelve infants (one set of twins) were studied. Ten infants (9 mothers) were undergrown for gestational age (range 34–40 weeks). Except for poor maternal diet, lack of prenatal care (7 mothers), and premature delivery (4 mothers), pregnancies were apparently normal. Five mothers were 35 years old or older. Six were Indian, four Caucasian, and one Negro. Detailed nutritional histories from 7 mothers indicated that 5/7 had deficient diets during pregnancy, 2 of which were severely deficient in both calories and protein. Eight infants failed to grow, with weight and head circumference remaining below the third percentile. Six of the eight were receiving adequate diets at home for growth, and two infants with a history of poor diet failed to grow normally when hospitalized. Gesell or Denver developmental evaluations were administered to 10 infants. Two were normal, three suspect, and five clearly had retarded development. These observations indicate that infants of alcoholic mothers are at high risk for pre- and post-natal growth and developmental failure, and suggest that greater attention should be given to alcoholic women during the child bearing years.
Development of Urinary Concentrating Capacity in Weaning Rats

ABSTRACT: This study describes the development of the capacity to concentrate urine in 10- to 40-day-old rats that were normally weaned between 16 and 18 days, breast-fed until day 20, or abruptly weaned on day 16. Urine osmolarity after 24 h dehydration was significantly lower in 10- than in 20- and in 20- than in 40-day-old rats. The most pronounced increase occurred between 16 and 20 days in the three groups. The increase in urine osmolality was paralleled by an increase of papillary Na and urea concentrations. The length of the papilla increased linearly from day 10 to 40. Serum arginine vasopressin levels were not significantly different in dehydrated 10- and 20-day-old rats. Serum corticosterone increased significantly between 10 and 20 days of age in both normally weaned and breastfed rats. The rise was accelerated between days 16 and 18 and paralleled the rise in urinary concentrating capacity. Adrenalectomy on day 16 abolished the increases in urine osmolality and papillary Na and urea concentrations, but not the growth of the papilla between days 16 and 20. The urinary concentrating capacity could be precociously induced by treatment with betamethasone from day 10 to 17 but not from day 17 to 20. Our results indicate that the accelerated development of urine concentrating capacity at the time of weaning is independent of dietary composition and most likely modulated by glucocorticoid hormones.
Radiation shielding at the NRL Linac facility

Abstract High-intensity radiation conditions were established and radiation surreys were conducted under several conditions of operation to verify the shielding calculations which had been made previously, and to determine the effectiveness of the shielding. Problems associated with monitoring X-rays and neutrons from pulsed radiation sources are discussed, along with our methods of calibration and surveying. The results of our studies showed that we could calculate the effectiveness of the shielding for X-rays, but such calculations for neutrons predicted the shielding to be more effective than actually observed. Suggestions for additional work are made, which should help to improve the correlation between the calculated and the measured neutron fluxes.
Abstract LB-148: Inflammatory cytokines alter the sensitivity of breast cancer cells to endocrine treatments

In breast cancer, infiltration of macrophages establishes an inflammatory tumor microenvironment, which can foster an extremely aggressive and therapy resistant tumor. Although inflammatory cytokines are known to modulate the transcriptional potential of estrogens and contribute to an endocrine-resistant state in cell-based model systems, the underlying molecular mechanisms remain poorly defined. We have used the human breast cancer cell-line MCF-7, an estrogen receptor α(ERα) positive and inflammatory cytokine sensitive cell line, to define the global impact inflammatory cytokines on the ERα cistrome and ERα-dependent transcriptional activity using next-generation sequencing methods. IL-1β and TNFα treatments establish an ERα cistrome that substantially overlaps with the E2-dependent ERα cistrome and results in ERα-dependent, ligand-independent activation of gene expression. Cytokine stimulation of MCF-7 cells results in phosphorylation of ERα at S305 which drives the ligand-independent activation of ERα. Pharmacological inhibition of IKKα/β blocks cytokine-dependent S305 phosphorylation, inhibits the cytokine-dependent ERα cistome, and abolishes cytokine-dependent gene activation. Additionally, S305 phosphorylation by cytokine treatments blocks the ability of tamoxifen to inhibit the expression of a subset of E2-dependent target genes and mutation of S305 to alanine restores tamoxifen sensitivity in the presence of IL-1β or TNFα. Collectively, these results provide molecular details dictating how inflammatory cytokines activate the transcriptional potential of ERα and drive an endocrine-resistant state in human breast cancer cells. In addition, they highlight the potential for anti-inflammatory therapies to be utilized in the treatment of patients with tamoxifen-resistant breast cancer. Citation Format: Joshua D. Stender, Irida Kastrati, Maayan Yakir, Jonna Frasor, Christopher K. Glass. Inflammatory cytokines alter the sensitivity of breast cancer cells to endocrine treatments. [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 105th Annual Meeting of the American Association for Cancer Research; 2014 Apr 5-9; San Diego, CA. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2014;74(19 Suppl):Abstract nr LB-148. doi:10.1158/1538-7445.AM2014-LB-148
Kinetics and mechanism of the sonolytic degradation of chlorinated hydrocarbons: Frequency effects

The kinetics of the sonolytic degradation of aqueous solutions of carbon tetrachloride and hexachloroethane (C_2Cl_6) were investigated at six different frequencies over the range from 20 to 1078 kHz. The rates of degradation of CCl_4 and C_2Cl_6 were shown to increase with increasing frequency with optimal degradation rates at 500 kHz. At 205 kHz, the relative rates of sonolytic degradation of the three chlorinated methanes followed the order of CCl_4 > CHCl_3 > CH_2Cl_2. Hexachloroethane, which was formed as the primary intermediate in the degradation of CCl_4, was degraded at a rate comparable to that of CCl_4 at all six frequencies.
Determinants of ovine compact bone viscoelastic properties: effects of architecture, mineralization, and remodeling

Significant decreases in ovine compact bone viscoelastic properties (specifically, stress-rate sensitivity, and damping efficiency) are associated with three years of ovariectomy and are particularly evident at higher frequencies [Proc. Orthop. Res. Soc. 27 (2002) 89]. It is unclear what materials or architectural features of bone are responsible for either the viscoelastic properties themselves, or for the changes in those properties that were observed with estrogen depletion. In this study, we examined the relationship between these viscoelastic mechanical properties and features involving bone architecture (BV/TV), materials parameters (ash density, %mineralization), and histologic evidence of remodeling (%remodeled, cement line interface). The extent of mineralization was inversely proportional to the material's efficiency in damping stress oscillations. The damping characteristics of bone material from ovariectomized animals were significantly more sensitive to variation in mineralization than was bone from control animals. At low frequencies (6 Hz or less), increased histologic evidence of remodeling was positively correlated with increased damping efficiency. However, the dramatic decreases in stress-rate sensitivity that accompanied 3-year ovariectomy were seen throughout the bone structure and occurred even in areas with little or no secondary Haversian remodeling as well as in areas of complete remodeling. Taken together, these data suggest that, while the mineral component may modify the viscoelastic behavior of bone, the basic mechanism underlying bone viscoelastic behavior, and of the changes in that behavior with estrogen depletion, reside in a non-mineral component of the bone that can be significantly altered in the absence of secondary remodeling.
CaMKII regulates the frequency-response function of hippocampal synapses for the production of both LTD and LTP

To investigate the function of the autophosphorylated form of CaMKII in synaptic plasticity, we generated transgenic mice that express a kinase that is Ca2+ independent as a result of a point mutation of Thr-286 to aspartate, which mimics autophosphorylation. Mice expressing the mutant form of the kinase show an increased level of Ca(2+)-independent CaMKII activity similar to that seen following LTP. The mice nevertheless exhibit normal LTP in response to stimulation at 100 Hz. However, at lower frequencies, in the range of 1-10 Hz, there is a systematic shift in the size and direction of the resulting synaptic change in the transgenic animals that favors LTD. The regulation of this frequency-response function by Ca(2+)-independent CaMKII activity seems to account for two previously unexplained synaptic phenomena, the relative loss of LTD in adult animals compared with juveniles and the enhanced capability for depression of facilitated synapses.
Phase coexistence in multifragmentation

The charge (Z) distributions from intermediate energy heavy-ion reactions depend upon the multiplicity {eta} of intermediate mass fragments through a factor of the form e{sup {minus}cnZ}. Experimentally c starts from zero at low values of the transverse energy E{sub t} and reaches a saturation value at high E{sub t}. In a liquid-gas phase diagram, c = 0 for the saturated vapor, while c {gt} 0 for the unsaturated vapor. It is suggested that in the c {approx} 0 regime the source evaporates down to a sizable remnant, while for c {gt} 0 the source vaporizes completely. Percolation of a finite system portrays a behavior similar to that observed experimentally.
Historicising “Modernity” in Southeast Asia

The term “modernity” implies Western influence and the weakening of beliefs and practices associated with traditional culture. Although it is increasingly used in reference to contemporary Southeast Asia because of the region's current economic growth, there seems little room for historical perspectives. This paper takes up the idea that if we broaden our understanding of modernity in Southeast Asia so that it is not restricted to recent history, we may see evidence of a modern spirit in earlier times. Although being modern became increasingly linked to Europe, Southeast Asians never rejected their own past. However the eclectic nature of “modernity” in Southeast Asia was undermined as “modern” ideas and practices came increasingly from Europe, to be inevitably associated with Europe's political and economic control.
Fertility and land availability in rural Brazil.

Differences between the marital fertility of the agricultural frontier and that of the more settled rural areas of southern Brazil are analyzed in this paper. Fertility rates derived from 1970 census data appear to decrease as the degree of settlement increases, suggesting an experience parallel to the decline in U.S. rural fertility in the late nineteenth century, which Easterlin and others have attributed to increased scarcity of land for starting new farm households. Multivariate analysis of the Brazilian data shows parallels between the two situations but also reveals that the importance of literacy, child survival, and access to land is relatively greater than that of the availability of land for explaining fertility differentials in Brazil.
Welche Effekte hat Brand Placement in PC-/Videospielen?

Angesichts der zunehmenden Informationsuberlastung der Konsumenten durch Werbung suchen Unternehmen verstarkt nach Werbeformen, die sich von klassischer Massenwerbung abheben. Ein Beispiel fur eine derartige Werbetechnik ist das Brand Placement. Da sich die Forschung zu Effekten des Brand Placement uberwiegend auf Filme bezieht, wird im vorliegenden Beitrag untersucht, wie Brand Placement in PC-/Videospielen wirkt. Die Ergebnisse der empirischen Studie legen nahe, dass Werbetreibende bei der Auswahl der Spiele darauf achten sollen, dass die Zielgruppe der Marke diesem Spiel gegenuber eine positive Einstellung hat, damit durch das Brand Placement eine positive Einstellungsanderung in der Zielgruppe bewirkt werden kann.
Preparation of large, uniform size temperature-sensitive hydrogel beads

The preparation of large of uniform poly(N-isopropylacrylamide) gel beads is described by using calciul alginate as polymerization molds for monomer and crosslinker, and later by removing alginate out of the polymer beads with calcium-chelating agents.
Off-river waterbodies on tidal rivers: Human impact on rates of infilling and the accumulation of pollutants

Abstract Cut-off meanders, backwater ponds, and blocked valley coves are all common features along the tidal reaches of lowland rivers. While significant progress has been made to understand sediment dynamics in similar off-river environments above the head of tides, less is known about the processes driving transport and sedimentation within these systems when tidally influenced. To provide insight we combine sedimentological observations with flux analyses for a series of tidal off-river waterbodies along the Lower Connecticut River spanning the river's entire 100 km tidal reach. Sedimentation rates exhibit a clear seaward increase with growing tidal influence, and are an order of magnitude higher than accumulation rates obtained previously from neighboring marsh and subtidal environments. A simplified mass balance can relate time-series measurements of water level and suspended sediment concentration to observed trends in sedimentation, and support flood-dominated asymmetry in tidal sediment flux (i.e. tidal pumping) as the primary mechanism for enhanced trapping. Relatively steady rates of deposition are observed in off-river waterbodies over the last century, with little evidence of deposition dominated by extreme events. Suspended sediment concentrations rise significantly in the main tidal river with increasing river discharge, while tidal range is damped with rising freshwater flow. The net result is an optimal freshwater discharge for maximizing the tidal pumping of sediment from the main river into tidal off-river waterbodies, with more routine discharge events largely responsible for driving long-term trends in deposition. A sudden shift in lithology towards more inorganic, fluvial derived sediment is commonly observed towards the end of the 19th century, along with over an order of magnitude increase in the rate of deposition. The timing of the onset of rapid infilling occurs contemporaneous with the documented creation and/or deepening of tidal tie-channels, followed shortly after by a rapid rise in heavy metal concentrations related to industrial activity along the river. Results point to the creation and routine maintenance of tidal inlets increasing the connectivity of off-river waterbodies to the main tidal river in recent centuries, and enhanced sediment trapping along the floodplain at the most favorable time for capturing legacy contaminants introduced during the industrial era.
Reactivation of Mesozoic Thrusts as Normal Faults, Humboldt Range, North-Central Nevada: ABSTRACT

Some low-angle faults in the Humboldt Range of north-central Nevada may be east-verging Mesozoic thrusts that were reactivated as normal faults with westerly displacement. Early deformation in nappes underlain by such faults produced east-verging asymmetric folds of bedding and moderate to steep northwest-dipping penetrative cleavage. These structures, as well as a shallow southeast-plunging Z finite strain axis in nappe rocks, imply west to east compression. Later deformation has younger over older juxtaposition and west-verging asymmetric folds of first foliation. These folds have shallow easterly dipping axial planes whose orientations with respect to adjacent low-angle fault planes and lineations in the fault planes indicate westerly displacement. The later deformatio thus implies reactivation of the low-angle faults as normal faults. Though timing of normal fault motion is uncertain, it appears reasonable to associate it with Cenozoic extension in the Great Basin. Reactivation of thrust faults as low-angle normal faults provides further evidence in support of thin-skinned crustal extension. End_of_Article - Last_Page 938------------
Microelectronics in transition

Research in microelectronics is increasingly focusing on Ultra-Low Power (ULP) for emerging applications such as remote wireless sensor networks and medical electronics. In these applications, the goal is to operate from a battery or from energy “harvested” or “scavenged” from the environment. Achievement of this goal requires research in a number of areas.
A review of analytically determined electric fields and currents induced in the human body when exposed to 50-60-Hz electromagnetic fields

In this review paper, analytical methods are used to determine the electric field and current induced in the conducting human body when this is exposed to an electromagnetic field at extremely low frequencies (ELFs) or very low frequencies (VLFs). This is done by treating it as a parasitic antenna when this is modeled successively as a sphere, an ellipsoid, and a cylinder. Because the body is electrically very short at ELF and VLF, the axial current depends primarily on the length of the body. Comparison with the ellipsoidal shape shows that the induced current is virtually independent of the cross-sectional shape. It is concluded that the axial current induced in the cylinder is a good approximation of the current induced in an actual body with the same length and mean cross sectional area. References to persons standing on the earth and with the arms raised are given. The significance of the accurate knowledge of induced currents and fields for biomedical purposes is discussed.
Critical assessment and thermodynamic modeling of Mg–Ca–Zn system supported by key experiments

A self-consistent thermodynamic description of the Mg–Ca–Zn ternary system has been obtained in this work. Four ternary intermetallic compounds (IM1, IM2, IM3 and IM4) and binary compounds with extended ternary solubility have been included in the modeling. Binary compounds, CaZn11 and CaZn13 in the Ca–Zn system have been re-modeled by compound energy formalism (CEF) to accommodate recently reported ternary solubility ranges. Also Mg2Ca in the Mg–Ca system has been re-optimized. Among the ternary intermetallic compounds, IM1 and IM3 having complex solubility ranges have also been modeled using compound energy formalism, whereas IM2 and IM4 have been considered as stoichiometric phases. Modified quasi-chemical model (MQM) has been used to model the liquid phase in the system. To investigate the behavior of the system and to verify the consistency of the thermodynamic model with experimental results, key samples with 4 at% and 6 at% Ca concentration were prepared and characterized with differential scanning calorimeter (DSC). Various vertical sections, liquidus projection and isothermal section at 608 K, in the Mg–Ca–Zn system have been calculated and found to be in good agreement with the experimental data.
Remote Sensing of Heart Rate and Patterns of Respiration on a Stationary Subject Using 94-GHz Millimeter-Wave Interferometry

Using continuous wave, 94-GHz millimeter-wave interferometry, a signal representing chest wall motion can be obtained that contains both the heart rate and respiration patterns of a human subject. These components have to be separated from each other in the received signal. Our method was to use the quadrature and in-phase components of the signal, after removing the mean of each, to find the phase, unwrap it, and convert it to a displacement measurement. Using this, the power spectrum was examined for peaks, which corresponded to the heart rate and respiration rate. The displacement waveform of the chest was also analyzed for discrete heartbeats using a novel wavelet decomposition technique.
Incidental non-Hodgkin's lymphoma in patients with localized prostate cancer.

Objectives To determine the outcome of patients with clinically organ-confined prostate cancer undergoing radical retropubic prostatectomy for cure and incidentally discovered concurrent low-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma at time of surgery. Methods From September 1986 to September 1997, 4319 patients underwent radical retropubic prostatectomy at our institution. The records of 10 patients incidentally diagnosed to have low-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma at the time of radical prostatectomy were retrospectively reviewed. Results Of 4319 patients requiring radical prostatectomy, 10 (0.2%) were found to have low-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. All 10 men had an uneventful postoperative course. Two patients subsequently developed progression of lymphoma, one of whom required treatment. One patient died of sepsis associated with his lymphoma and 1 patient died of an unrelated malignancy (lung cancer), both 7 years following surgery. Two patients developed biochemical prostate-specific antigen recurrence. The remainder of men were free of prostate cancer recurrence and experienced no progression of lymphoma at an average of 45 months (range 12 to 142). Conclusions Patients with organ-confined prostate cancer, who are candidates for radical prostatectomy, experience long-term prostate cancer-free survival in the face of incidentally diagnosed low-grade lymphoma. Because the management of most incidentally discovered low-grade lymphomas is expectant, patients discovered at surgery to have this clinical entity should not be denied radical prostatectomy.
Treatment of sleep disorders in children with developmental disabilities.

Sleep disorders in children with developmental disabilities are a common and frequently disruptive behavioral concern. In the present study, four children with developmental disabilities (two of the children exhibited frequent night wakings and two had bedtime disturbances) were treated using a multiple baseline across subjects design. Sleep diaries were used to monitor changes in each child's sleep throughout treatment. Establishment of a consistent bedtime routine combined with a graduated extinction procedure for nighttime behavior problems resulted in a decrease in night wakings for two children (a 7-year-old girl and an 11-year-old boy) and a decrease in bedtime disturbances for two children (a 2-year-old girl and a 12-year-old boy). This series of interventions highlights the heterogeneity of maintaining variables in sleep disorders and the effectiveness of relatively simple behavioral interventions for the treatment of night wakings and bedtime disturbances in children with autism and other develop...
Analysis-based facial expression synthesis

We describe an approach to synthesizing human expressions based on 3D face model and the facial motion parameters obtained by tracking the model vertices in real expression sequences. The synthetic sequences of different expressions can be generated by deforming the face model using these motion parameters. This method can be used to effectively compress video sequences where the human faces are dominant, such as video phones and teleconferences. >
Does the routine echocardiographic exam have a role in the detection and evaluation of cholelithiasis and gallbladder wall thickening

Cholelithiasis is a very common disease in the United States. Most cases remain asymptomatic but a fraction of these patients can develop serious complications such as cholecystitis which may lead to gallbladder perforation and gallbladder cancer which is much less common. Here, we present three cases of cholelithiasis where transthoracic echocardiography was performed routinely. In each case, echocardiography detected cholelithiasis which prompted three-dimensional (3D) echocardiographic evaluation. Three-dimensional echocardiography allowed for more comprehensive examination of the gallbladder shape, size, and wall thickening and the measurement and composition of the stones in three dimensions, measurement of stone volumes, and minimized shadowing produced by stone calcifications. These cases suggest that routine echocardiography has value in detecting gallstones and that 3D echocardiography has incremental value over two-dimensional echocardiography due to pyramidal data sets which allow sequential slicing through the gallbladder and full gallbladder examination without a technologist who is trained in gallbladder imaging. These pyramidal data sets can be further viewed and cropped by a radiologist specialized in abdominal ultrasound.
Detection of Stored-Grain Insect Infestation in Wheat Transported in Railroad Hopper-Cars

Levels of insect infestation, insect spatial distribution, and the relationship between the number of insect-damaged kernels (IDK) and the number of insects present in grain samples in three-hopper railcars transporting wheat from country elevators to a mill were studied. Six of eight sampled railcars were infested with more than two species of insects. The most abundant species collected were the lesser grain borer, Rhyzopertha dominica (F.), and rusty grain beetle, Cryptolestes ferrugineus (Stephens), with the larval stage of the two species being the most prevalent (>90%). The spatial distributions of these two species within the grain mass were typically clumped in railcar compartments containing >0.4 insect/2.75-kg sample of wheat, and these foci of high-infestation levels varied in compartments within the railcars and among the sampled railcars. There were no significant correlations between IDK and insect density for any of the different stage-specific insect populations that were collected in the grain samples. Mean numbers of immatures and IDK differed among railcars and compartments within railcars, but not among grain depths. Number of insects in the first discharge sample was not correlated with mean numbers of insects in the entire compartment. This indicates that each compartment of a railcar should be sampled to determine level of insect infestation but that sampling at different depths within a compartment is less important.
Interaction of Progesterone and Other Steroids with α1-Acid Glycoprotein

Some time before CBG was isolated and the glycoprotein nature of high-affinity hormone binders in blood serum established, it was found that the αl-acid glycoprotein (AAG or orosomucoid) formed a dissociable complex with progesterone whose binding affinity was higher than that between progesterone and HSA (Westphal et al., 1961). Other Δ4-3-ketosteroid hormones were also bound, and the strength of association followed the polarity rule (Westphal, 1964).
Plasticity of the Human Motor Cortex

Although the role of each part of the brain in voluntary movement is incompletely known, it does appear that the main executor of voluntary movement is the primary motor cortex. Primary motor cortex has monosynaptic and oligosynaptic projections onto spinal motoneurons and a large percentage of cells that are active just prior to movement. Stimulation of these cells produces movement, and averaging of either cellular activity or regional brain potentials from this area shows a clear relationship to muscle activation. Until recently, the predominant view was that the anatomical and physiological relationship between the primary motor cortex and the spinal cord was immutable. Now there are a number of lines of evidence suggesting that the relationship between the motor cortex and its target muscles is modifiable, even in the adult brain. The evidence comes from both animal studies and human studies. This chapter will emphasize the human work and, specifically, information learned using the techniques of transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) (Cohen et al. 1991b). With TMS a pulsed magnetic field is applied over the scalp, and the resultant electric current flow in the underlying brain activates neurons. When the neurons activated are in the primary motor cortex, a muscle response or motor evoked potential (MEP) will be produced. By observing the MEPs and varying the stimulus intensity, it is possible to assess excitability of the motor system. Using a figure-8-shaped coil, the stimulus is rather focal, and by systematically moving the coil brain regions can be mapped. Some results will be reviewed using positron emission tomography (PET) with methods for measurement of blood flow. Activity of neurons induces an increase in regional cerebral blood flow, and this effect can be imaged.
Genetics and Gene-Environment Interactions

The field of genetics is generally considered to have originated with Charles Darwin’s famous book On the Origin of Species (1854), in which he presented his novel theory of evolution. This was followed by Gregor Johann Mendel’s 1866 publication of his work on heritability. Nearly a century later, in 1953, Watson and Crick would uncover the double-helical structure of DNA, unleashing a chain of discoveries pertinent to molecular genetics, which, when combined with the description of the DNA polymerase chain reaction (PCR) methodology, would allow rapid, accurate, and affordable characterization of genetic variation. This forms the basis of modern genetic and molecular epidemiology, with which came the recognition of specific genetic susceptibilities to chronic diseases, such as cancer, and their interactions with our environment. Alterations in certain genes may influence the response to DNA damage or the way that environmental toxicants (or their metabolites) are processed and excreted. The remainder of this chapter will focus in detail on genetic susceptibility due to variation and interaction with environmental exposures.
Proton NMR Chemical Shifts in Organic Liquids Measured at High Pressure Using the Diamond Anvil Cell

Chemically-shifted proton NMR lines of organic liquids, including glycerol, methanol, benzyl alcohol, and 1,2-propanediol, have been resolved for the first time in the diamond anvil cell (DAC) at pressures up to and beyond 10 kbar. The change of the chemical shift difference between two closely-spaced groups of lines, one arising from the hydroxyl protons and other arising from protons in the backbone, was measured as a function of pressure in both glycerol and 1,2-propanediol. Deshielding of the hydroxyl protons relative to the backbone increased approximately linearly with pressure at the rate of 0.06 ppm per kilobar for glycerol, and 0.04 ppm per kilobar for 1,2-propanediol. These experiments prove that line broadening arising from a spatially inhomogeneous magnetic environment surrounding the sample in the DAC need not preclude NMR studies at moderately high resolution (1 ppm). This opens new regions of very high pressure for the study of liquids by NMR.
Chest Physical Therapy for the Postoperative or Traumatic Injury Patient

Techniques of chest physical therapy have been used since the early 1900s to decrease postoperative pulmonary complications. Through investigations since the 1950s, documentation as to the efficacy of chest physical therapy in actually reducing postoperative pulmonary complications has been published. However, the careful documentation of techniques employed (such as full Trendelenburg's position versus a modified position and vibration of particular force and frequency) has not been done. Also, because of an inability to specify the risk factors of postoperative pulmonary complications occurring in particular patients or to qualitate the occurrence of these complications, it is difficult to establish what treatment is most efficacious. This article is a critical review of investigations to date with recommendations for further research stemming from this review.
Quantitative Analysis of Electron Transfer between Ce3+(5d1) and Yb3+/Eu3+ Ions in Y3Al5O12 and Lu2Si2O7

Standard semiclassical, high-temperature models for electron transfer are shown to be able to quantitatively describe the room-temperature electron transfer reactions between Ce3+(5d1) donors and Eu3+/Yb3+ acceptors in insulating oxide hosts. These reactions in Y3Al5O12 and Lu2Si2O7 hosts are analyzed using time-resolved and steady-state measurements of Ce3+ 5d1 → 4f1 luminescence quenching, leading to an exponential distance decay constant, β, of 1.58−1.7 A−1. In these hosts, the similar values for β infer that the ΔG0 for the electron transfer reaction is the main factor controlling the room-temperature electron transfer rate for RE3+ donors/acceptors. Initial comparisons to ET in molecular systems are also made.
Estimating Micro Relationships from Macro Data: A Comparative Study of two Approximations of the Brand Loyal Model under Temporal Aggregation

The data interval bias issue in econometric studies of the relationship between advertising and sales first was discussed in JMR by Clarke in 1976. Within the last few years, several studies report...
Leprosy in China.

Leprosy has definitely been present in China for at least 2,000 years. Through painstaking efforts over the past half century, China has put leprosy under control and reached the WHO's target at elimination of leprosy at the national and subnational level. But difficulties as well as problems like disabilities, discrimination, drug-resistance and dismissing of research still remain in the control of leprosy. Highly attention should be continuously paid on to attain the prevalence rate of less than 0.1/10,000 and the incidence rate below 0.5/100,000 in all counties (cities) throughout the country by the year 2010.
Is Stereotactic Body Radiation Therapy a Feasible Alternative to Brachytherapy for Definitive Treatment of Medically Inoperable Early Stage Endometrial Cancer

and 82% &79%, respectively. Vaginal extension was the only negative predictor factor for the loco regional control (p5 0.045), while the grade was the only factor for the distant metastases free survival (p5 0.037). Grade 3 or 4 late rectal reaction was reported in 2 patients (3%), severe vaginal adhesion in one patient (1.5%), while no patients developed grade 3 or 4 urinary reaction Conclusions: Our study confirmed the efficacy of using concurrent chemoradiotherapy incorporating the HDR-BT in the treatment of cervix uteri cancer patients.
Gut microbiota and protection from pneumococcal pneumonia.

Dear Editor, We read with interest the work by Schuijt et al 1 reporting that sustained treatment with broad-spectrum antibiotics increases the susceptibility of mice to pneumococcal pneumonia, an effect that is reversed via faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT). Yet we question the authors' confidence that this effect is entirely attributable to alterations in …
Keynote speaker: Getting real

Wide-FOV, 6DOF-tracked, consumer head-worn displays are no longer just dev kits, bimanual 3D input devices can be found at Best Buy, and full-fledged graphics packages are built into web browsers. Meanwhile, augmented reality is poised to make the return trip from hand-held phones and tablets, back to the head-worn displays in which it was born. 3D is here for real. Yet, we all know how difficult it is to create effective 3D user interfaces. In this talk, I will discuss my thoughts about why this is so, and what we can do about it. I will present some of the research directions that my lab has been exploring, and suggest where I think our field may be headed next.
Protective effect of substance P on permeability of airway epithelial cells in culture.

Although substance P (SP) has been shown to mediate microvascular leakage in response to various stimuli, some data suggest that, in contrast, SP may play a protective role in the maintenance of airway epithelial integrity. To investigate the effect of SP on epithelial barrier function, we measured paracellular mannitol flux and the transepithelial potential difference (PD) of human bronchial epithelial (HBE) and canine bronchial epithelial (CBE) cells. Incubation of confluent cell cultures with SP had no effect on baseline flux. However, pretreatment inhibited the flux-enhancing effects of 0.5 ppm ozone by 50% in HBE cells and 40% in CBE cells and inhibited the ozone-induced decrease in PD in CBE cells by 54%. SP-afforded protection was reduced by the neurokinin (NK)-1 receptor antagonist CP-96,345.NK1 and NK3 receptor agonists also inhibited ozone-induced permeability, whereas an NK2 receptor agonist was without significant effect. These data indicate that SP exerts a protective effect on bronchial epithelial barrier function under conditions of challenge, which appears to be mediated in large part through NK1 receptors.