cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: Drug Therapy from the Bench to the Bedside

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is an unrelenting progressive neurodegenerative disease causing progressive weakness, ultimately leading to death. Despite aggressive research, the pathways leading to neuronal death are incompletely understood. Riluzole is the only drug clinically proven to enhance survival of ALS patients, but its mechanism of action is not clearly understood. In this article, the proposed pathophysiology of ALS is reviewed including glutamate excitotoxicity, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, autoimmune mechanisms, protein aggregation, SOD1 accumulation, and neuronal death. Based on these mechanisms, past major ALS drug studies will be reviewed as well as promising current ALS drug studies, focusing on the advancement of these studies from the bench to the patient's bedside.
What makes online health information credible for older adults?: an exploratory study

This paper reports on an exploratory study aimed to collect preliminary data on the credibility assessment of health-related online resources by older adults (OAs), which then would be used to develop a population-specific survey instrument and controlled experiments. The paper defines a methodology and reports on preliminary findings on how credibility markers (i.e., cues) play a positive or negative role in OAs' credibility assessment of health-related websites. Nineteen participants in the semi-structured interviews seemed to perceive health-related websites as most credible when they provided unbiased information, whereas most of the participants showed strong hostilities to advertisements on the websites. The paper also outlines future research directions.
Social evaluations of a woman with a problem pregnancy: effects of marital status, birth or abortion solution, and sex of respondents.

Summary.-32 male and 38 female (mean age 28.2 yr.) subjects were shown a video-taped counseling session in which they saw a woman who exhibited signs of depression, anxiety, and indecision resulting from an unplanned and unwanted pregnancy. Subjects rated the woman on 15 biopolar adjective pairs as to how they saw her now and for the future. Generally a married woman was seen more negatively than a single woman. More positive characteristics were attributed to the woman in the future, and female subjects tended to increase the positiveness of their ratings for the future more than did males. Abortion vs birth had no significant effect. Item analyses indicated that several adjectivepairs discriminated among the various conditions (marital status, sex, and problem solution). Multiple discriminant function analysis detected a group of seven adjectives which could be combined to classify correctly 58% of the subjects into groups. This smdy presented subjects with the task of judging the competency, maturity, emotional warmth, KC., of a woman experiencing anxiety and distress related to an unwanted pregnancy. The purpose was to investigate the effects of information about the woman's marital scams and her resolution of the problem pregnancy (birth or induced abortion) on attitudes toward her. Most of the research on attitudes concerning abortion has used questions, asked to physicians, women, and the general population, concerning abortion per se. Little research has been directed toward assessment by others of the woman who has the problem pregnancy and/or an induced abortion. In one relevant study Char and McDermott (1972) reported acute psychological reactions to abortion-work by nurses soon after the hospitals started performing abortions under the new law in 1970. The nurses showed symptoms of anxiety and depression of a transient, reactive type. The most common reactions were (a) over-identification with the fetus, (b) hostility toward abortion-patients, and (c) acute idencity-crisis with the role of the nurse. The importance of the attitudes of others toward such a woman was illustrated in a paper by Bracken, Hachamovitch, and Grossman ( 1974), who report more favorable postabortion reactions in women who perceived they had partner-support (or parental support in younger women) for the abortion. An understanding of the reactions and attitudes of people toward women who have problem pregnancies
Single-Site Surgery: More oR-LESS?

The development of robotic platforms continues to allow urologists to make advances in the field of minimally invasive surgery. The ergonomic tissue-handling capabilities afforded by this technology facilitates excellent surgical results within a shorter training period than a purely laparoscopic approach. Efforts to further improve the morbidity associated with port placement has led to laparoendoscopic single-site (LESS) surgery, although this development has been significantly hindered by technical difficulties. In an attempt to overcome those issues, robotic devices have been incorporated into LESS surgery [1]. Although today’s robotic and LESS devices have evolved independently of each other, the combined utility of these two technologies represents a novel and logical extension of LESS surgery. We congratulate the Cleveland Clinic in demonstrating the feasibility of robotic LESS (R-LESS) surgery for radical prostatectomy in an initial experience with 20 patients [2]. Despite the benefits of robotic assistance, it is important to highlight the difficulties of operating via a single site. The group was highly experienced in using both robotic and LESS technology, but inadequate tissue retraction, extracorporeal instrument clashing, and gas leakage from the multichannel port contributed to a 15% conversion rate in this case series. The postoperative results were more encouraging: 82% of patients used one or no pad at 4-mo follow-up (n =1 1), and ap ositive margin rate of 23.5% was found in the 17 patients who did not require conversions. Nevertheless, comparison of this margin rate with the 16% previously reported for the group’s traditional robotic approach suggests that there is likely to be a learning curve, even for R-LESS [3]. Although this is inevitable with any new technique, efforts must continue to achieve the highest standards in oncologic and functional outcomes. The authors acknowledge the absence of a control group in
Electroless metallization of organic polymers using the polymer as a redox reagent: Reaction of polyimide with zintl anions

Abstract A facile general scheme for the metallization of polyimides (PIm) and certain other organic polymers is presented. The driving force for the metallization is the extremely strong reducing power of the polyatomic main group anions, the so-called Zintl anions. The polymide can be metallized with many main group elements ( e.g. germanium, tin, lead, arsenic, antimony), by simply treating the PIm with solutions obtained from the extraction of potassium-main group alloys. The metal films are formed by the topochemical oxidation of the anionic clusters by the polyimide. The reaction proceeds by a reduction-intercalation-deposition mechanism where the PIm is reduced to monoanions and dianions, the Zintl anion's alkali metal counteraction intercalates the polymer to balance the charge from the reduction and the clusters are oxidized to the metallic state on the polymer surface. The polyimide metallization has been extended to certain transition metals by employing a method that is conceptually the reverse of main group metallizations discussed above ( i.e. using the PIm as a reducing agent toward an oxidized metal species in solution). Specifically, the treatment of PIm with methanol solutions of K 4 SnTe 4 gives intercalated material, K x ·PIm, with no surface metallization. The reaction of K x ·PIm with solutions of transition metal cations with reduction potentials more positive than that of K x ·PIm results in metal deposition. The preparation of surfaces containing two metals, by a combination of the two above methods, will be discussed.
Growth and properties of manganese and lithium doped TGS crystals

Mn+2 doped and Li+ doped TGS crystals (MTGS and LTGS) have been grown from the TGS solution containing MnSO4·H2O and Li2SO4·H2O respectively by the slow cooling method. The growth habit and domains configuration of MTGS and LTGS are altered from those of TGS crystal. The dielectric properties of both crystals are of the same order to that of TGS, but the pyroelectric coefficients are much higher than that of TGS. An internal chemical bias field has been observed in LTGS and MTGS crystals.
Direct and indirect effects of n-species competition

A measure of net interspecific competition is proposed which incorporates both direct and indirect effects between each species pair in a community. Indirect effects of one species on another may be mediated through other species in the community such that changes in the first species induce changes in other species which in turn directly affect the second species. Even in a competitive community these indirect effects are not necessarily always of a competitive nature and may sometimes actually act to oppose the effects of direct competition. Species pairs which are strong competitors in isolation may exhibit little net competition or even appear mutualistic depending on the other species present in the community. An expression for the net competitive effects between species pairs is derived in terms of the elements of the α-matrix representation of the direct competitive effects. Examples calculated from the literature suggest that indirect competitive effects may often act to counterbalance direct competition between otherwise strong competitors in natural communities.
International Education Outreach: A Report on the SAE Baja Workshops in India

The Baja Collegiate Design Series is a competition that presents engineering educators with an opportunity to offer students a meaningful, hands-on, team learning experience. Each year as many as 140 Baja cars are entered in the Baja SAE events across the US and around the world. Each team's goal is to design and build a prototype of a rugged, single seat, off-road recreational vehicle intended for sale to the non-professional weekend off-road enthusiast. The teams are judged on ergonomics, functionality, and producibility of their cars in addition to a combination of static and dynamic race events. The Mechanical Engineering department at Tennessee Technological University (TTU) has long been affiliated with the Baja SAE competition, having hosted the event 5 times and placed in the top 10 over 80% of the time since 1977. SAE India recognized the value of this hands-on experience and initiated a similar program for universities in India in 2006. In order to provide the required experience and expertise for the Indian teams to compete in the international competitions, SAE-India partnered with TTU to conduct workshops and advise Indian college students on building and racing a competitive SAE Baja vehicle. This paper presents a report on a recent trip over a period of 16 days by a group of nine students and two professors from TTU to conduct workshops and interact with about 1000 Indian college students at three different sites. They held demonstrations using TTU's 2011 winning vehicle and gave technical presentations on various aspects of designing, building and racing a winning vehicle. In addition to visiting some industries in Pune, India, the team toured the Jaipur foot factory (jaipurfoot.org) and enjoyed some cultural immersions, visiting the Taj Mahal, Golden Temple and Jaipur Palace along the way. Overall, it was an extremely beneficial experience to students from both countries as summarized in one student's journal entry: "We brought home a ton of pictures, stories, and experiences to share with everyone here. I think we learned as much, if not more, than everyone we were teaching at the workshops. I think we made a great impact going over there, and we formed a lot of strong partnerships and relationships that will hopefully carry on into the future. I know I am more culturally connected than when I left, and I think I will have a better time understanding our international students here as well. I'm so grateful that I got to be a part of this amazing journey."
A General Solution for Two-Dimensional Stress Distributions in Thin Films

We present closed-form solutions for stresses in a thin film resulting from a purely dilatational stress-free strain that can vary arbitrarily within the film. The solutions are specific to a two-dimensional thin film on a thick substrate geometry and are presented for both a welded and a perfectly slipping film/substrate interface. Variation of the stress-free strain through the thickness of the film is considered to be either arbitrary or represented by a Fourier integral, and solutions are presented in the form of a Fourier series in the lateral dimension x. The Fourier coefficients can be calculated rapidly using Fast Fourier Transforms. The method is applied to determine the stresses in the film and substrate for three cases: (a) where the stress-free strain is a sinusoidal modulation in x, (b) where the stress-free strain varies only through the thickness, and (c) where a rectangular inclusion is embedded within the film, and the calculated stresses match accurately with the exact solutions for these cases.
Detection of clenbuterol in bovine retinal tissue by high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection.

A method for the detection of the β-agonist drug clenbuterol in bovine retinal tissue has been developed. The extraction procedure involves sonication and centrifugation, followed by the addition of ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) to the supernatant. The pH of the supernatant is then brought to 12.2, which is then allowed to sit for 2 h. This is followed by a diethylether extraction. The diethylether extract is dried under nitrogen and the residue is dissolved in 1% formic acid. The quantitation of clenbuterol was accomplished by high-performance liquid chromatography with electrochemical detection. The electrochemical detector was an amperometric detector. The detector was set in the pulsed mode. The oxidizing potential of a carbon electrode was 1.3 V vs. a Ag/AgCl reference electrode and was pulsed to a reduction potential of −2.0 V vs. a Ag/AgCl reference electrode. The limit of detection for this method was 5 ng/ml of clenbuterol (S/N = 3). Typical spiked recoveries are 75%.
EFFICIENT ZIRCONOCENE-COUPLING OF SILICON-SUBSTITUTED DIYNES TO POLYMERS AND MACROCYCLES

The zirconocene-coupling of diynes with internal silicon substituents, MeC⋮CMe2SiArSiMe2C⋮CMe (1: Ar = 1,4-C6H4; 2: Ar = 1,3-C6H4; 3: Ar = 4,4‘-C6H4C6H4), generates regiospecific polymers containing zirconacyclopentadiene in the main chain (5−7). These organometallic polymers hydrolyze cleanly to butadienediyl polymers of the type [Me2SiArSiMe2CHCMeCMeCH]n (11−13), and polymer 5 reacts with iodine to give the iodine-containing polymer [1,4-Me2SiC6H4SiMe2C(I)CMeCMeC(I)]n (14). The organometallic polymers undergo facile and high-yield degradations to macrocycles under mild conditions (refluxing tetrahydrofuran solution). The size and shape of the resulting macrocycles depend upon the nature of the diyne spacer group. Thus, polymers 5 and 7 containing parallel diyne units convert to the trimeric macrocycles [Me2SiArSiMe2C4Me2ZrCp2]3 (15: Ar = 1,4-C6H4; 24: Ar = 4,4‘-C6H4C6H4), while polymer 6 gives the dimeric macrocycle [1,3-Me2SiC6H4SiMe2C4Me2ZrCp2]2 (18). The dimeric macrocycle [Me2SiC6H4SiMe2C6H4SiM...
NLRC5: a newly discovered MHC class I transactivator (CITA)

Major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class I and class II are crucial for the function of the human adaptive immune system. An NLR protein, CIITA (MHC class II transactivator), is a master regulator of MHC class II gene expression as well as of some of the genes involved in MHC class II antigen presentation. It has recently been discovered that another member of the NLR protein family, NLRC5, transcriptionally activates MHC class I genes, and thus acts as “CITA” (MHC class I transactivator), a counterpart to CIITA. In addition to MHC class I genes, NLRC5 can induce the expression of β2M, TAP1 and LMP2, essential components of MHC class I antigen presentation. These findings indicate that NLRC5 and CIITA are transcriptional regulators that orchestrate the concerted expression of critical components in the MHC class I and MHC class II pathways, respectively.
The effect of joint position errors of industrial robots on their performance in manufacturing operations

To position and orient the hand of an industrial robot to perform a particular manufacturing process, the joints are commanded to assume certain angles and/or displacements. However, due to position errors at joints, the assumed positions are almost always different from those commanded. These deviations induce a random error to the position and orientation of the hand. The ability of the hand to perform according to the required accuracy depends, among other things, on the extent of joint position errors. The effect of these errors on the accuracy of the operations are studied using a stochastic model. In addition, a procedure is suggested for determining the optimum position error to aim at in a given manufacturing situation. The results are applied to a T3type robot performing an assembly operation.
Asynchronous collaborative writing through annotations

Annotation is central to iterative reviewing and revising activities in asynchronous collaborative writing. Currently most digital annotation models and systems assume static context information and provide far less functionality than physical annotations. We extend prior annotation research by Marshall and Cadiz and design an activity-oriented annotation model to mimic the rich functionality of physical annotations for an enhanced collaborative writing process. In this model, we define an annotation life cycle and support annotation version control. We implement a collaborative writing system that supports improved in-situ communication and cross-role feedback based on our annotation model.
Laser photoradiation therapy of cancer: An update of the experience at the university of California, Irvine

This update of the experience at the University of California at Irvine with laser photoradiation therapy (PRT) encompasses the period between May 1981 and June 1983. The results of treatment of 77 patients are reported (head and neck, 39; breast, 33, and lung 5). Head and neck cancer patients received treatment to 114 sites with a complete response (CR) in 28, partial response (PR) in 42, stable disease (SD) in three, and no response (NR) in 34, and an undetermined response in seven. Breast cancer patients were treated in 395 sites with CR in 222, PR in 74, SD in one, NR in 92, and undetermined response in six. The lung cancer patients in this series responded poorly, if at all. In addition to the above patient trials, we have investigated the interaction to laser hematoporphyrin derivative (HPD)- PRT with a chemotherapeutic agent, Cisplatin, against an experimental tumor (RIF-1) in an animal model. We have been unable to demonstrate an additive effect of laser HPD-PRT at total light doses of 25 j/cm2and 75j/cm2 with Cisplatin at a dose of 7 mg/kg. However, no additional toxicity was observed on combination therapy, suggesting that sequential application of laser HPD-PRT and Cisplatin may be safely employed in clinical situation. Another area of investigation has been the evaluation of the light-scattering characteristics of a lipid emulsion designed for laser HPD-PRT of bladder tumors. We have demonstrated that it is feasible to gain uniform illumination of the bladder surface with the use of this light-dispersing medium. We now believe that it is appropriate to begin clinical trials in which laser HPD-PRT is utilized as the initial form of therapy. Sites that appear most appropriate for this therapy are early cancers of the head and neck and early cancer of the bladder.
Effects of substantia nigra lesions on forebrain 2-deoxyglucose retention in the rat

A method was developed for the measurement of regional 2-deoxyglucose (2-DG) retention in rat brain by injecting tracer quantities of tritated 2-DG intravenously, dissecting out individual brain regions, making extracts of the tissue, and counting aliquots of the extracts. This technique permits the separation of unreacted 2-DG from 2-deoxyglucose-6-phosphate (2-DGP) by ion exchange chromatography as well as the performance of other biochemical measurements on the extracts. Using this method, the effect of unilateral 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA) lesions of the substantia nigra on 2-DG retention and 2-DGP formation by the striatum and the cerebral cortex was investigated. Animals were studied both 3 days and 2--4 weeks after lesioning. The location and efficacy of the lesions were verified histologically, behaviorally (by observing rotational behavior), and biochemically (by assay of striatal dopamine concentration or tyrosine hydroxylase activity). The lesions induced a mean asymmetry of less than 10% in 2-DG retention and in 2-DGP formation in striatum and cerebral cortex. This result was verified by [14C]2-DG autoradiography. Systemic administration of amphetamine (5 mg/kg) or apomorphine HBr (1.5 mg/kg) elicited rotational behavior, but did not induce a marked asymmetry of 2-DG retention in the regions studied. It is concluded that unilateral lesions of the nigrostriatal dopaminergic pathway have, at most, a modest effect on 2-DG retention by forebrain structures. We also conclude that vehicle injections may produce morphological and chemical evidence of brain injury, including small but reproducible changes in deoxyglucose retention.
Carotid stenting: a surgical procedure?

Percutaneous balloon angioplasty as a remedy for atherosclerotic carotid artery disease was first reported by Mathias and colleagues more than two decades ago [1]. Despite using crude and cumbersome equipment, these innovative leaders achieved something novel for stroke prevention and provided the impetus for what has evolved into an acceptable alternative to carotid endarterectomy (CEA). At its beginning, carotid angioplasty and stenting (CAS) was vehemently rejected by many surgeons who challenged the results as compared with CEA. In fact, early randomized trials demonstrated stroke rates of 7% to 12% [2‐5]. Subsequent development of mechanical cerebral embolic protection devices (EPDs) and improvements in stent designs and procedural techniques have resulted in complication rates now comparable to CEA [6]. As a result, CAS is now approved for a small subset of high-risk symptomatic patients who have severe stenoses. In the interim, several ongoing clinical trials are attempting to ascertain the effectiveness of CAS in other patient cohorts, including standard-risk and asymptomatic patients. This article reviews notable clinical reports and current techniques and, most importantly, reinforces the role of the vascular surgeon in providing comprehensive care to these patients.
Nuclear Interaction of Fast μ Mesons

An experimental study has been made of events in which a fast $\ensuremath{\mu}$ meson interacts with a nucleus to produce at least one evaporation neutron. The experimental results of major importance are $\ensuremath{\sigma}\overline{m}=(9.1\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}1.2)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}27}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$/Fe-nucleus; $1.03l\overline{m}l7.7\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}2.2$; and $(1.2\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}0.4)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}27} {\mathrm{cm}}^{2}/\mathrm{F}\mathrm{e}\ensuremath{-}\mathrm{n}\mathrm{u}\mathrm{c}\mathrm{l}\mathrm{e}\mathrm{u}\mathrm{s}l\ensuremath{\sigma}l(8.8\ifmmode\pm\else\textpm\fi{}1.1)\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}{10}^{\ensuremath{-}27} {\mathrm{cm}}^{2}/\mathrm{F}\mathrm{e}\ensuremath{-}\mathrm{n}\mathrm{u}\mathrm{c}\mathrm{l}\mathrm{e}\mathrm{u}\mathrm{s}$, where $\ensuremath{\sigma}$ is the cross section for such events and $\overline{m}$ is the mean multiplicity of evaporation neutrons emitted. These results are in good agreement with the results of calculations based on present information on the nuclear interaction of $\ensuremath{\gamma}$ rays, which lead to the prediction of a $\ensuremath{\sigma}$ of about 2.4\ifmmode\times\else\texttimes\fi{}${10}^{\ensuremath{-}27}$ ${\mathrm{cm}}^{2}$/Fe-nucleus and an $\overline{m}$ of about 3.3. The surprisingly large cross section and small mean multiplicity of neutrons are shown to be reasonable by calculating that about 90 percent of all $\ensuremath{\mu}$-meson nuclear interactions result in the transfer to the nucleus of less than 300 Mev.
Leptoglossus occidentalis (Hemiptera, Coreidae), a Newly Discovered Pest of Coniferous Seed

Leptoglossus occidentalis Heidemann, found in forested areas from southern British Columbia southward to Mexico and from Colorado westward to the Pacific Coast, has been observed to feed on the cones and staminate strobili of Douglas-fir and several species of pine. Experimentally, the insect has been reared from the egg to the adult stage on seeds of 12 California confiers, including nearly all the pines and firs of commercial importance. Seeds fed upon exhibit a characteristic shrinking and spongy degeneration of the endosperm. In heavily damaged seeds almost all endosperm tissue is destroyed; light feeding is believed to impair the ability of the seeds to germinate, but germination tests have thus far been inconclusive. Samples of Douglas-fir seed collected in areas where this bug is abundant showed up to 41% shrunken endosperm.
The investment company chief compliance officer: three years later – an assessment of the evolution of the role of the CCO

Purpose – This paper sets out to assess the role of the chief compliance officer (“CCO”), how the CCO performs his/her duties, and how the CCO interacts with the fund's board three years after the adoption of Rule 38a‐1 under the Investment Company Act of 1940.Design/methodology/approach – Reviews the CCO's responsibilities under Rule 38a‐1, discusses how the CCO role has evolved since the rule was promulgated, and focuses on key issues such as oversight versus supervision, the annual review process, risk assessement, testing methodologies, and the annual report to the fund board on the adequacy and operation of the fund's compliance program.Findings – Properly conducted compliance requires the support of a wide range of the advisory/administrative team with the CCO playing the role of conductor of the orchestra. More and more CCOs seek to distance themselves from approving the day‐to‐day actions of other employees, so they cannot be considered to have assumed supervisory responsibility for those employee...
371 EVALUATION OF THE PULSE ARRIVAL TIME AS A MARKER FOR BLOOD PRESSURE CHANGES IN INFANTS AND CHILDREN AFTER CARDIAC SURGERY

The arterial blood pressure (BP) is an important parameter in patients (pts) after cardiac surgery. It would be desirable to monitor BP non-invasively and continuously. Pulse arrival time (PAT), which is the interval between the R wave of the ECG and the arrival of the pulse wave peripherally, has been reported to be suitable for use as an indirect measure of blood pressure changes. Objective: The purpose of this research was to evaluate, in critically ill infants and children after open heart surgery, the degree to which 1/PAT covaries with systolic, diastolic and mean blood pressure as well as heart rate. Methods: A laboratory device (Vectron GmbH) was used to calculate PAT in real time from the ECG and the plethysmographic curve of pulse oximetry used for routine monitoring. Calculated PAT and corresponding blood pressures and heart rate were stored on harddisk. Patients: Fifteen critically ill pts aged 6 days to 16 years with a weight of 3 to 80 kg were studied. Results: In all patients one period of 11- to 36-thousand beats could be evaluated. Mean correlation coefficients were best for systolic (r=0,73), followed by mean (r=0,68) and diastolic (r=0,61) blood pressure and finally heart rate (r=0,52). In 7 patients the correlation coefficient for systolic blood pressure was r > 0,9, but in 4 patients it was, r < 0,4. Conclusion: Although there is a significant correlation between 1/PAT and systolic blood pressure, it is not strong enough to use it as a marker for blood pressure changes in critically ill pts. This is most likely due to changes of the pree-jection period, which is part of the PAT.
Geometric Motion Planning Analysis for Two Classes of Underactuated Mechanical Systems

In this paper we generate gaits for two types of underactuated mechanical systems: principally kinematic and purely mechanical systems. Our goal is to specify inputs in the form of gaits, that is, a sequence of controlled shape changes of a multi-bodied mechanical system that when executed would produce a desired change in the unactuated position or orientation variables of the entire mechanical system. In other words, we want to indirectly control the unactuated degrees of freedom of the mechanical system utilizing a controlled "internal" shape change. More precisely, in this paper we develop a gait evaluation tool which easily measures the change of position, computed in a body-attached coordinate frame, due to any closed curve in the shape space. This evaluation tool is simple enough that we can use it to generate gaits or to design curves that move the mechanical system along a desired direction. Finally, we verify that this gait analysis technique applies to two seemingly different classes of mechanical systems, purely mechanical and principally kinematic systems, and unify the gait generation problem for both classes.
CONDUCTION ELECTRON POLARIZATION IN VERY DILUTE Pd Fe ALLOYS STUDIED BY POSITIVE MUONS

The ${\ensuremath{\mu}}^{+}$ spin-rotation method was used to probe conduction-electron polarization in ferromagnetic $\mathrm{Pd}\mathrm{Fe}$ (0.28 at.%) and spin-glass $\mathrm{Pd}\mathrm{Fe}$ (0.015 at.%) from 0.11 to 300 K with reference to pure Pd. The result was explained in terms of the Ruderman-Kittel-Kasuya-Yosida spin oscillation in the region outside the giant moment.
Ego Development and Perceptions of Parent Behavior in Adolescent Girls A Qualitative Study of the Transition from High School to College

The developmental dynamics of achieving egoautonomy in adolescent girls have not been adequately explored. This is a report of a qualitative study that investigated the relationship between female ...
Ethanol, its metabolism and hepatotoxicity as well as its gonadal effects: effects of sex.

Revue sur le metabolisme de l'ethanol et ses effets sur les fonctions endocriniennes. Son role dans la perturbation de la fonction gonadique et dans la regulation hypothalamohypophysaire chez l'homme et la femme est analyse
Ultra-dense deuterium and cold fusion claims

Abstract An attempt is made to explain the recently reported occurrence of 14 MeV neutron induced nuclear reactions in deuterium metal hydrides as the manifestation of a slightly radioactive ultra-dense form of deuterium, with a density of 130,000 g/cm3 observed by a Swedish research group through the collapse of deuterium Rydberg matter. In accordance with this observation it is proposed that a large number of deuterons form a “linear-atom” supermolecule. By the Madelung transformation of the Schrodinger equation, the linear deuterium supermolecule can be described by a quantized line vortex. A vortex lattice made up of many such supermolecules is possible only with deuterium, because deuterons are bosons, and the same is true for the electrons, which by the electron–phonon interaction in a vortex lattice form Cooper pairs. It is conjectured that the latent heat released by the collapse into the ultra-dense state has been misinterpreted as cold fusion. Hot fusion though, is here possible through the fast ignition of a thermonuclear detonation wave from a hot spot made with a 1 kJ 10 petawatt laser in a thin slice of the ultra-dense deuterium.
Instrumented Rollers to Assess Construction Quality on Texas Projects

The concept of using a vibratory compactor as a tool for assessing construction quality by measuring the drum displacement with an accelerometer began decades ago. Initiated in Europe and correlated with plate bearing tests, this technology has advanced to "intelligent" compaction, in which feedback from the instrumentation can control the amplitude of vibration. With the national push to implement such methods in the United States, researchers at the Texas Transportation Institute sought to examine the relationship between the vibration amplitude of the roller drum and pavement layer properties on several Texas construction projects. Testing revealed that although the roller drum vibration amplitudes did relate to pavement layer properties, the correlation was with the stiffness of foundation layers, typically at least 12 in. below the surface. This finding presents at least one significant hurdle to implementing the instrumented-intelligent compaction concept: a change from density-based to stiffness-ba...
Sequential Mechanism of Assembly of Multidrug Efflux Pump AcrAB-TolC

Multidrug efflux pumps adversely affect both the clinical effectiveness of existing antibiotics and the discovery process to find new ones. In this study, we reconstituted and characterized by surface plasmon resonance the assembly of AcrAB-TolC, the archetypal multidrug efflux pump from Escherichia coli. We report that the periplasmic AcrA and the outer membrane channel TolC assemble high-affinity complexes with AcrB transporter independently from each other. Antibiotic novobiocin and MC-207,110 inhibitor bind to the immobilized AcrB but do not affect interactions between components of the complex. In contrast, DARPin inhibits interactions between AcrA and AcrB. Mutational opening of TolC channel decreases stability of interactions and promotes disassembly of the complex. The conformation of the membrane proximal domain of AcrA is critical for the formation of AcrAB-TolC and could be targeted for the development of new inhibitors.
Mixed-Mode Failure of Graphite/Epoxy Composites

An experimental study of the crack displacement and failure modes of graphite epoxyplates, having central cracks at different angles with the loading axis, was conducted. Due to this type of loading arrangement, the material was under mixed-mode loading condition (mode I and mode II). In this investigation, Moire Interferometry technique was employed to measure Crack Opening Displacement (COD) and Crack Shearing Displacement (CSD). Detailed studies were performed to investigate the effect of the crack angle on the strength reduction ratio, the damage zone, and the critical stress intensity factors. The comparison between the Linear Elastic Fracture Mechanics (LEFM) solution and the results obtained from this investigation showed a fair agreement between the theoretical data and the experimental ones. This confirms the validity of implementing the LEFM model for this type of materials.
Potential mechanisms for redistribution of polychlorinated biphenyls during pregnancy and lactation.

1. Female mice treated with 14C-2,4,5,2′,4′,5′-hexachlorobiphenyl (6-CB) two weeks prior to mating eliminated virtually their entire body burden of the compound through milk during one lactation cycle.2. 6-CB was shown to distribute among rat and human plasma lipoproteins and protein in vitro. It was readily transferred among plasma constituents and its distribution was related to the triacylglycerol: protein ratio in plasma.3. At one hour following its intravenous administration to virgin rats, 6-CB was primarily distributed to LDL. With the hypertriglyceridemia of late pregnancy, more than 70% of circulating 6-CB was associated with VLDL. VLDL is a major substrate for mammary gland lipoprotein lipase which is elevated during lactation.4. When 6-CB was complexed with human VLDL and injected i.v. into late pregnant mice, mammary gland concentrations of 6-CB exceeded those of adipose tissue at all sacrifice times between 5 min and 6 h. No differences between adipose tissue and mammary gland concentrations ...
Association of short and long sleep durations with insulin sensitivity in adolescents.

Objective To characterize the relationship between insulin sensitivity, assessed with the homeostasis model of insulin (HOMA), and objective measurements of sleep duration in adolescents. Study design We conducted a cross-sectional analysis from two examinations conducted in the Cleveland Children’s Sleep and Health Cohort (n = 387; 43% minorities). Biochemical and anthropometry measurements were made in a clinical research unit. Sleep duration was measured with actigraphy. Results Decreased sleep duration was associated with increased adiposity and minority race. Sleep duration had a quadratic “u-shape” association with HOMA. When adjusted for age, sex, race, preterm status, and activity, adolescents who slept 7.75 hours had the lowest predicted HOMA (1.96, 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.82-2.10), and adolescents who slept 5.0 hours or 10.5 hours had HOMA indices that were approximately 20% higher (2.36; 95% CI, 1.94-2.86; and 2.41; 95% CI, 1.93-3.01, respectively). After adjusting for adiposity, the association between shorter sleep and HOMA was appreciably attenuated, but the association with longer sleep persisted. Conclusions Shorter and longer sleep durations are associated with decreased insulin sensitivity in adolescents. Although the association between shorter sleep duration with insulin sensitivity likely is explained by the association between short sleep duration and obesity, the association between longer sleep and insulin sensitivity is independent of obesity.
On the Auspices of Female Migration from Mexico to the United States

In this paper we examine the circumstances and determinants of female migration between Mexico and the United States. Using data from the Mexican Migration Project, we considered the relative timing of males’ and females’ moves northward. We then estimated logit and probit models to study the determinants of male and female out-migration; among women we also estimated a multinomial logit model to uncover differences in the process of migration for work versus not for work. We found that women almost always followed other family members, either the husband or a parent; only a tiny minority initiated migration independently. Although males also are quite likely to be introduced to migration by a parent, nearly half of all male migrants left for the United States before or without a wife or a parent. Estimates of the determinants of migration suggested that males move for employment, whereas wives generally are motivated by family reasons. Daughters, however, display a greater propensity to move for work, and the determinants of their work-related moves closely re semble those of sons and fathers.
Taxonomic revision and systematics of continental Australian pygmy water boatmen (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Corixoidea: Micronectidae).

The pygmy water boatmen (Hemiptera: Heteroptera: Micronectidae) of continental Australiaare revised. The two genera and 17 species occurring in Australiaare fully described and keyed. The following species are transferred to Austronecta gen. nov.: Micronecta australiensis Chen, M. micra Kirklady, and M. carinata Chen. Austronecta bartzarum , sp. nov., is newly described. Within Micronecta Kirkaldy, thirteen species are recorded, including M. paragoga sp. nov. The following new synonymies are proposed: Micronecta illiesi Wroblewski, Micronecta concordia King and Micronecta dixonia King are junior synonyms of Micronecta annae Kirkaldy. A lectotype is designated for Micronecta tasmanica Wroblewski. Micronecta ludibunda Breddin is newly recorded for Australia, based on one male examined from Queensland. Within Australia, range extensions are recorded for the following species: Austronecta australiensis (New South Wales, Queensland); A. micra (Western Australia); Micronecta lansburyi Wroblewski (Western Australia); M. adelaidae Chen (Western Australia); M. major Chen (Queensland); M. halei Chen (South Australia); M. virgata Hale (Northern Territory); M. quadristrigata Breddin (Northern Territory); and M. queenslandica Chen (Northern Territory). All species are described and illustrated. Discussion and documentation of all primary type material is provided and where available, type specimens are illustrated. All male genitalic structures are illustrated with scanning electron micrographs. Line drawings are included for all other diagnostic characters, along with color habitus illustrations for both sexes of all species. Distribution maps are included for the following species: Austronecta micra , A. bartzarum , Micronecta paragoga , M. lansburyi , M. adelaidae , M. major , M. virgata , M. halei , M. quadrstrigata , and M. queenslandica . Diagnostic morphology and variation is discussed for all treated species. A phylogenetic analysis of Australasian micronectid generic relationships is presented. Discussion is provided on zoogeographic relationships of Australian Micronectidae.
Increased rate of acetylcholinesterase synthesis in differentiating neuroblastoma cells.

When neuroblastoma cells (N18) in vitro are maintained in the absence of serum, the specific activity of AChE begins to rise rapidly after an initial lag period of about 2–3 days, reaching a maximum level (10–20-fold increase) by 7 days after induction. In order to clarify the mechanism of induction, it was necessary to measure the rate of AChE synthesis and its sensitivity to metabolic inhibitors. Return of enzymatic activity after irreversible inhibition of AChE in "differentiated" cells was blocked by cycloheximide, but not by cordycepin or actinomycin D, suggesting that protein but not mRNA synthesis was required for replacement. By using the initial rate of this replacement as a measure of the rate of synthesis of the enzyme, it was shown that cells which had differentiated in the absence of serum synthesized AChE 50-fold faster on a specific activity basis than their undifferentiated counterparts. In contrast, cordycepin effectively blocked the increase in the rate of AChE synthesis that occurs as a result of serum deprivation, indicating that the induction process itself requires the synthesis of new mRNA. Axonation, another index of differentiation, was not completely blocked by inhibition of RNA or protein synthesis and presumably utilizes only pools of pre-existing structural proteins.
A hybrid random-structured coding scheme for the Gaussian two-terminal source coding problem under a covariance matrix distortion constraint

This paper focuses on the Gaussian two-terminal source coding problem under a covariance matrix distortion constraint, which subsumes the quadratic Gaussian two-terminal source coding problem with individual distortion constraints, whose complete solution is known. Different from existing schemes which are either random or structured, we propose a new hybrid random-structured scheme with a sum-rate strictly smaller than the quantize-and-bin (QB) upper bound in certain cases. The first layer of our scheme is a QB random coding scheme attempting to achieve an intermediate distortion matrix that is as symmetric as possible. The second layer is a structured scheme that targets at reconstructing a weighted difference of the observed sources conditioned on their quantized versions in the first layer. We prove that the gap between the sum-rate of our scheme and its lower bound is no larger than two bits per sample, in particular, this gap decreases to exactly one bit per sample when the source covariance matrix is symmetrifiable in the sense that the intermediate covariance matrix can be made purely symmetric.
The Association between Computer Typing Style and Typing Speeds

Typing styles vary among keyboard users; however few studies have investigated the association between typing style and typing speed. The purpose of this paper is to describe the differences in typing speed between typists who rarely assume extreme postures of the wrist, hands, and fingers with typists who often assume extreme postures. The paper also examines the association between other typing behaviors, such as using a wrist support, and typing speed. Forty computer users were videotaped while typing a standardized text. Their typing postures were rated using the Keyboard Personal Computer Style instrument (K-PeCS). One-way ANOVA's were used to compare typing speed between the rating levels of several items on the K-PeCS. Results suggest that those who frequently isolate their 5th digit are significantly faster than those who always isolate their 5th digit. Subjects who “float” their wrists, translate their wrist/hands, do not change pro-nation angles, use moderate to high force, and use more digits a...
An Acoustic-Perceptual Study of Vocal Tremor

Summary Background Essential tremor of the voice (ETV) is an involuntary intention tremor of the vocal folds that causes fluctuations in fundamental frequency ( f 0 ) and/or intensity leading to an unsteady voice. There is limited data on how different acoustic variables affect perception of severity of tremor. Aim The purpose of the study was to determine if systematic changes in f 0 , rate or modulation frequency ( f f0m ), extent or depth of modulation ( d f0m ), and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) affect perception of severity of tremor. Method Vowel phonations of four speakers (two male and two female) with a clinical diagnosis of ETV were selected from the Kay Elemetrics Disordered Voice Database (Lincoln Park, NJ). A high fidelity speech vocoder (STRAIGHT; Kawahara, 1997) was used to synthesize the f 0 contour for each of these voices, which were varied in mean f 0 , f f0m , and d f0m . The f 0 contour was modified 30Hz above and below the mean f 0 for each speaker. f f0m ranged from 3 to 12Hz in steps of 3Hz. d f0m ranged from 2 to 32Hz in steps of 6Hz. Six (three experts and three naive) listeners rated the "severity" of tremor on a seven-point rating scale. Results Significant main effects and interactions were found between the study variables. Perceived severity of tremor increased with f f0m and d f0m . There was no systematic effect of SNR on perceived tremor severity. Conclusion The perception of severity for steady-state tremor results from a complex interaction of multiple acoustic cues with d f0m acting as the primary acoustic cue.
Plio-Pleistocene time evolution of the 100-kyr cycle in marine paleoclimate records

A new time-series analysis technique (called envelope inversion), which is based on multiple taper spectral analysis, is used to address the question of an abrupt versus a gradual onset of the 100-kyr ice-age periodicity in the middle Pleistocene. Three long (greater than 2.6 m.y.) time series from Deep Sea Drilling Project site 607 (midlatitude Atlantic) and Ocean Drilling Program site 677 (equatorial Pacific) were analyzed using delta(O-18) records. Results do not yield compelling evidence for an abrupt change in the 100-kyr delta(O-18) signal. Rather, the results suggest that the 100-kyr delta(O-18) cycle is phase-locked with the 124-kyr eccentricity cycle some 300-400 kyr prior to its late Pleistocene growth in amplitude and phase lock with the 95-kyr eccentricity cycle.
The role of economic freedom in explaining penetration of consumer durables

Abstract This study examines the link between economic freedom (a measure of government intervention) and the penetration of three durable goods (televisions, radios and automobiles) across countries. After controlling for the influence of income, there is a significant relationship between greater amounts of economic freedom and durable penetration for these three products. Practical implications are provided for both governments and global marketers.