cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Biomechanics of the esophagogastric junction in gastroesophageal reflux disease.

Gastroesophageal reflux is inherently mechanical in nature, driven by the pressure difference between the stomach and the esophagus in the setting of a relaxed or hypotensive sphincter. Recent advances in our understanding of esophagogastric junction (EGJ) biomechanics in the etiology of gastroesophageal reflux disease are highlighted here. We focus this review on three critical areas: the anatomy and physiology of the EGJ that predispose the junction to reflux, the mechanical compliance of the EGJ musculature that has significant pathophysiologic underpinnings, and the trans-sphincteric pressure gradients during gastro-esophageal reflux. We also examine the mechanistic basis of a higher incidence of reflux in obese patients and conclude with some observations on the future of understanding EGJ biomechanics.
Identity management and privacy: a rare opportunity to get it right

The National Strategy for Trusted Identities in Cyberspace represents a shift in the way the U.S. government is approaching identity management, privacy, and the Internet.
Reversal of Diabetic Nephropathy by a Ketogenic Diet

Intensive insulin therapy and protein restriction delay the development of nephropathy in a variety of conditions, but few interventions are known to reverse nephropathy. Having recently observed that the ketone 3-beta-hydroxybutyric acid (3-OHB) reduces molecular responses to glucose, we hypothesized that a ketogenic diet, which produces prolonged elevation of 3-OHB, may reverse pathological processes caused by diabetes. To address this hypothesis, we assessed if prolonged maintenance on a ketogenic diet would reverse nephropathy produced by diabetes. In mouse models for both Type 1 (Akita) and Type 2 (db/db) diabetes, diabetic nephropathy (as indicated by albuminuria) was allowed to develop, then half the mice were switched to a ketogenic diet. After 8 weeks on the diet, mice were sacrificed to assess gene expression and histology. Diabetic nephropathy, as indicated by albumin/creatinine ratios as well as expression of stress-induced genes, was completely reversed by 2 months maintenance on a ketogenic diet. However, histological evidence of nephropathy was only partly reversed. These studies demonstrate that diabetic nephropathy can be reversed by a relatively simple dietary intervention. Whether reduced glucose metabolism mediates the protective effects of the ketogenic diet remains to be determined.
Effects of fluorescamine modification on light-induced H+-movement in reconstituted purple membrane of halobacteria.

Abstract The reconstituted purple membrane of halobacterium halobium was treated with amine-specific reagents, fluorescamine, NBD-C1, DNFB and pyridoxal phosphate. Only the fluorescamine modification of bacteriorhodopsin has significant effects on the light-induced H + movement. Analysis of the kinetic data shows an enhancement of the decay of the proteon gradient under illumination, while the initial proton pumping rate and the decay constant in the dark remain unchanged. The results suggest the existence of a light-triggered proton pathway which is susceptible to fluorescamine modification, and which is different from the pathway for proton pumping.
Spectrum of biological properties of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) isolates

Abstract In vitro assessment of biological properties of 14 independent isolates of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) was performed in order to gain insight into the spectrum of behavioral diversity of HIV-1s and to attempt to identify phenotypic traits that may be eventually correlated with in vivo pathogenesis. All of these biologically cloned isolates were found to spread very slowly in most cell cultures, requiring 8–10 weeks for virus to spread from a few infected cells to around 10 5 cells. If viral synergistic activity was also present, as in HTLV-1-infected cells, HIV-1 spread was greatly accelerated. The isolates varied in their cellular tropisms, having as much as 100,000-fold difference in their tropisms for various human CD4-positive cell lines. Several HIV isolates were dual-tropic for both T and promonocytic cells, but some of these isolates did not readily infect U937 promonocytes while readily infecting THP-1 promonocytes. Both the slow spread and extreme tropisms of HIV-1 isolates have practical implications for titering HIVs and for initiating any studies examining the interaction between a given isolate and any given cell. Some isolates did not score readily by reverse transcriptase assays while others did and this did not reflect the amount of infectious virus produced. These findings raise questions about the reliability of HIV quantitation by RT assay. The HIV isolates further varied in their ability to kill and/or fuse cells, whereas some induced cytopathology more efficiently in a given cell line than others, even though the latter appeared to replicate as well. Finally, most isolates killed cells without syncytia formation, demonstrating that cell-to-cell fusion is a minor mechanism of cytopathology. The properties observed for each HIV isolate appeared to be stable phenotypes for that virus and the diversity of biological behavior raises the possibility that independent HIV isolates may differ in their virulence properties in vivo as well.
Majorana-Like (j,0)+(0,j) Representation Spaces: Construction and Physical Interpretation

We present a formalism that extends the Majorana-construction to arbitrary spin (j, 0) ⊕ (0, j) representation spaces. For the example case of spin-one, a wave equation satisfied by the Majorana-like (1, 0) ⊕ (0, 1) spinors is constructed and its physical content explored. The (j, 0) ⊕ (0, j) Majorana-construct is found to possess an unusual classical and quantum field theoretic structure. Relevance of our formalism to parity violation, hadronic phenomenologies, and grand unified field theories is briefly pointed out.
Coordinated prophylactic surgical management for women with hereditary breast-ovarian cancer syndrome.

Women with BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutations have a substantially increased risk of breast and ovarian cancer compared with the general population. Therefore, prophylactic mastectomy (PM) and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy (BSO) have been proposed as risk-reduction strategies for BRCA1/2 mutation carriers. We aimed to assess the feasibility of coordinated PM and BSO in hereditary breast-ovarian cancer syndrome. High risk women for breast and ovarian cancer who underwent coordinated PM and BSO were included in this study. Clinical characteristics and surgical and oncologic outcomes were retrospectively reviewed. Twelve patients underwent coordinated PM and BSO. Ten had history of previous breast cancer. Autologous breast reconstruction was performed in ten patients. The mean age at surgery was 43 (range 34–65). Mean operating time was 9.3 hours (range 3–16) with a mean postoperative hospitalization of 5.4 days (range 4–8). Intraoperatively, there were no major surgical complications. Postoperatively, one patient developed an abdominal wound dehiscence, another reoperation for flap congestion; one had umbilical superficial epidermolysis, and one patient developed aspiration pneumonia. At a mean follow-up of 84 months, 10 of patients were cancer-free. Although no patients developed a new primary cancer, two developed a distant recurrence. Coordinated PM and BSO is a feasible procedure with acceptable morbidity in selected high-risk patients that desire to undergo surgery at one operative setting.
Training connectionist models for the structured language model

We investigate the performance of the Structured Language Model (SLM) in terms of perplexity (PPL) when its components are modeled by connectionist models. The connectionist models use a distributed representation of the items in the history and make much better use of contexts than currently used interpolated or back-off models, not only because of the inherent capability of the connectionist model in fighting the data sparseness problem, but also because of the sublinear growth in the model size when the context length is increased. The connectionist models can be further trained by an EM procedure, similar to the previously used procedure for training the SLM. Our experiments show that the connectionist models can significantly improve the PPL over the interpolated and back-off models on the UPENN Treebank corpora, after interpolating with a baseline trigram language model. The EM training procedure can improve the connectionist models further, by using hidden events obtained by the SLM parser.
Decomposition of involutions on inertially split division algebras

Let F be a Henselian valued field with \(\mathrm{char}(\overline{F})\neq 2\), and let S be an inertially splitF}-central division algebra with involution $\sigma ^{\ast }$ that is trivial on an inertial lift in S of the field \(Z(\overline{S})\). We prove necessary and sufficient conditions for S to contain a \(\sigma ^{\ast }\)-stable quaternion {\it F}-subalgebra, and for \((S,\sigma ^{\ast })\) to decompose into a tensor product of quaternion algebras. These conditions are in terms of decomposability of an associated residue central simple algebra \(\overline{I}\) that arises from a Brauer group decomposition of S.
Comprehensive survey and geometric classification of base triples in RNA structures

Base triples are recurrent clusters of three RNA nucleobases interacting edge-to-edge by hydrogen bonding. We find that the central base in almost all triples forms base pairs with the other two bases of the triple, providing a natural way to geometrically classify base triples. Given 12 geometric base pair families defined by the Leontis-Westhof nomenclature, combinatoric enumeration predicts 108 potential geometric base triple families. We searched representative atomic-resolution RNA 3D structures and found instances of 68 of the 108 predicted base triple families. Model building suggests that some of the remaining 40 families may be unlikely to form for steric reasons. We developed an on-line resource that provides exemplars of all base triples observed in the structure database and models for unobserved, predicted triples, grouped by triple family, as well as by three-base combination (http://rna.bgsu.edu/Triples). The classification helps to identify recurrent triple motifs that can substitute for each other while conserving RNA 3D structure, with applications in RNA 3D structure prediction and analysis of RNA sequence evolution.
Determination of capsaicin and zucapsaicin in human serum by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection

A reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) assay was developed to analyze capsaicin and zucapsaicin (civamide) in human serum at concentrations from 1 to 100 ng/ml. Human serum specimens were extracted twice with hexane-methyl tert.-butyl ether (1:1). The chromatographic separation was carried out on a C18 column at 40°C using a mobile phase consisting of 40% acetonitrile in water with 5% tetrahydrofuran and 1% acetic acid. The concentration of the eluting compounds was monitored by a fluorescence detector with excitation at 270 nm and an emission cutoff of 300 nm. No interferences were observed from the extract of blank serum. The standard curves were linear in the detection range. The relative standard deviation of the assay was better than 8.4%. The limit of detection was 0.5 ng/ml.
Prediction of Eutectic Temperatures, Compositions and Phase Diagrams for Binary Mesophase Systemst

Abstract Examination of a number of binary mesophase systems shows that the Schroder-van Laar equations for predicting the liquidus temperature and the eutectic temperature and composition are widely applicable. Additionally emperical correlations between the melting point and eutectic composition and temperature for binary mixtures having one common component are shown to be applicable to a considerable number of systems.
The development of an expert system for the characterization of containers of contaminated waste

Abstract Scientists at the Mississippi State University Diagnostic Instrumentation and Analysis Laboratory and the Idaho National Engineering and Environmental Laboratory are developing an expert system to aid in the determination of the proper disposition of containers of transuranic and low-level-alpha-contaminated waste generated as a byproduct of Department of Energy defense-related programs. This system will consider a variety of information such as real-time radiography and the data from both passive and active neutron assay systems to classify the containers into one of the two categories—those that meet the requirements for being shipped to the Waste Isolation Pilot Plant in New Mexico and those that do not. We describe the development of a prototype of the expert system. We also describe the approach used to represent and reason with information from a variety of sources as well as the uncertainty that is inherent in such information. We discuss the strengths and weaknesses of the various artificial intelligence techniques that were considered for use in the expert system.
Kumada couplings catalyzed by nickel on charcoal (Ni/C)

Abstract Carbon–carbon bond-forming reactions between aryl chlorides and Grignard reagents can be catalyzed under heterogeneous conditions using nickel on charcoal.
Differential rearing effects on rat visual cortex synapses. II. Synaptic morphometry.

Abstract An array of morphological measurements was made upon spine synapses in the upper 4 layers of occipital cortex of rats reared for 30 days after weaning in complex (EC), social (SC) or isolated (IC) environments. The mean length of the synaptic contact zone (postsynaptic density plus interpolated non-impregnated regions) was greater in layer IV of EC rats than in IC rats. SC rats were intermediate, not differing from other groups. There were no differences in these measures in other layers, nor were there differences in the mean area or perimeter of presynaptic terminals or postsynaptic processes, the relative frequency of headed vs sessile shaped spines, the length of the apposition between pre- and postsynaptic processes, or the ratio of perimeter to area (inverse roundness) of postsynaptic processes. Cleft width was greater in regions of the contact zone where postsynaptic density was present than in regions where it was absent (perforations), but, aside from the previously described differences in the frequency of perforated synapses, there were no group differences in cleft width. The maximum length of synaptic contact zones and the maximum area of presynaptic terminals was greater in EC than in IC rats in layer IV, but not in other layers, with SC rats again intermediate. These results support previous findings of larger layer IV synaptic contacts in EC rats and suggest that (1) the size of some synaptic components can change without changes in others, (2) a population of very large synapses is seen in layer IV of EC rats that is not seen in IC rats, and (3) perforations may be unlikely sites of synapse splitting, given that membranes are more closely apposed in these regions, rather than pulling apart.
William Blake’s Golgonooza and Jerusalem: a conversation in visionary forms dramatic

This essay offers a strategy for reading Blake’s Jerusalem by attending to dialogic or relational qualities of meaning. Pairing the opening description of Golgonooza, which is represented primarily as an object in space, with the concluding Vision of Albion sending forth his arrows of love and intellect, which is presented primarily as an act, I show that meaning develops in the poem from the way each figure engages, or converses with, other figures. Using this example, I posit that the poem makes an epistemological argument: thought should not be conceived as an approximation of the objective and partially unknown reality we experience in Golgonooza; thought should be conceived as an action that transforms the shape of reality by its performance.
POSTNATAL CRANIOFACIAL DEVELOPMENT IN CHILDREN WITH THE ORAL-FACIAL-DIGITAL SYNDROME.

Abstract The oral-facial-digital syndrome is a relatively rare congenital anomaly peculiar to females. The purpose of this study was to determine whether longitudinal roentgencephalometric films revealed any morphologic variables or patterns of growth that might be pathognomonic of this syndrome. Analysis of the OFD groups (4 caucasian children) demonstrated that there were no clear cut characteristics which permitted identification of the syndrome from cephalometric data alone. The cranial base angle (NSBa) became more obtuse with age and was larger than the normal population. The oral anomalies of tripartite submucous cleft palate, multiple buccal frena, and abnormal tongue, more than any other characteristics serve to delineate this syndrome.
Plasma membrane proteins and glycoproteins from Chinese hamster cells sensitive and resistant to actinomycin D.

Plasma membrane proteins and glycoproteins have been isolated from Chinese hamster cells of the spontaneously transformed DC-3F parental cell line and the DC-3F/AD X line with a high level of acquired resistance to actinomycin D. Plasma membrane preparations from both cell lines band at 1.16 g/ml after isopycnic centrifugation. We present evidence to indicate differences in the leucylpeptide backbones of the antibiotic-sensitive cells and the drug-resistant DC-3F/AD X cells. In addition, there are differences in the plasma membrane glycopeptides of the two cell lines as revealed by sodium dodecyl gel electrophoresis. Drug-resistant cells synthesize a surface glycopeptide which is much larger than the major one present on the drug-sensitive cells. Both of these cell lines are devoid of 5′-nucleotidase and alkaline phosphatase activities. The role of plasma membrane protein differences in drug-resistant cells is discussed.
The tally: A dialogue on Feyerabend and Ford

Formerly the natural state of man was not what it is now, but quite different. For at first there were three sexes, not two as at present, male and female, but also a third having both together ... why there were three sexes, shaped like this, was because the male was at first born of the sun, and the female of the earth, and the common sex had something of the moon, which combines both male and female ... They had terrible strength and force and great were their ambitions; they attacked the gods, and what Homer said of Otos and Ephialtes is said of them, that they tried to climb into heaven intending to make war upon the gods. So Zeus and the other gods held council what they should do, and they were perplexed . . . After a deal of worry Zeus had a happy thought. 'Look here,' he said, 'I think I have found a scheme; we can let men still exist but we can stop them from their violence by making them weaker . . . I will slice each of them down through the middle! Two improvements at once! They will be weaker, and they will be more useful to us because there will be more of them.'. . . While he sliced each, he told Apollo to turn the face and half the neck towards the cut, to make the man see his own cut and be more orderly, and then he told [Apollo] to heal the rest up ... [Apollo] left a few [wrinkles] about the navel and the belly, to remind them of what happened. So when the original body was cut through, each half wanted the other desiring to grow together in the embrace, and died of starvation and general idleness because they would not do anything apart from each other. When one of the halves died and the other was left, the half which was left hunted for another and embraced it, whether he
Sm-Pr-Co permanent magnets with additive Fe 2 Sn

By the use of additive Fe 2 Sn we have succeeded in producing Sm-Pr-Co permanent magnets of (BH)_{\max} > 25 M GOe with the use of ordinary electromagnets, quasihydrostatic pressing, a proper aid for maintaining the alignment, and a well coordinated control of the alloy composition, of ball milling and sintering. The mechanism of the additive Fe 2 Sn was also preliminarily investigated.
Future challenges to asset investment in the UK water industry: the wastewater asset investment risk mitigation offered by minimising principal operating cost risks

This paper defines challenges currently facing the water industry globally that will affect water industry asset investment and development now and in the near future. Those challenges include energy price volatility, climate change regulation, asset capital costs and strategic resource considerations. This paper presents potential answers to these challenges in the context of the UK water industry and described a methodology developed to assess them and provide accurate cost-benefit analysis. A best practice approach which allows sustainable investment to offer water utilities operational efficiency benefits, including cost benefits, is described and the critical elements of the best practice developed by the author identified.
DYNAMICS OF LATTICE DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS

In this paper recent work on the dynamics of lattice differential equations is surveyed. In particular, results on propagation failure and lattice induced anisotropy for traveling wave or plane wav...
Methylprednisolone and Indomethacin Inhibit Oxidative Stress Mediated Apoptosis in Rat C6 Glioblastoma Cells

Glioblastoma patients receive anti-inflammatory agent for alleviation of vasogenic edema and pain prior to surgery, radiotherapy, and chemotherapy. Oxidative stress is an important mechanism of action of some chemotherapeutic agents in the treatment of glioblastoma. So, we examined the modulatory effects of methylprednisolone (MP, a steroidal anti-inflammatory agent) and indomethacin (IM, a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory agent) on apoptosis in rat C6 glioblastoma cells following oxidative stress with hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Exposure of C6 cells to 1 mM H2O2 for 24 h caused significant amounts of morphological and biochemical features of apoptosis. Expressions of Bax and Bcl-2 at mRNA and protein levels were altered resulting in an increase in Bax : Bcl-2 ratio in apoptotic cells, which also exhibited overexpression of 80 kDa calpain and an increase in calpain-cleaved 145 kDa α-spectrin breakdown product. Immunofluorescent and propidium iodide labeling detected caspase-3-p20 fragment in apoptotic cells, indicating activation of caspase-3 as well. Treatment of cells with 1 μM MP or 10 μM IM alone did not induce apoptosis. Pretreatment (1 h) with either 1 μM MP or 10 μM IM significantly inhibited H2O2 mediated apoptosis in C6 cells. Thus, pretreatment of glioblastoma with an anti-inflammatory agent, either steroidal or non-steroidal, may compromise the action of a chemotherapeutic agent that mediates therapeutic action via oxidative stress.
Interstellar scattering of the radio source 2013+370

Results are reported from a six-station 1663-MHz VLBI observation of the radio source 2013+370. The image of this source is dominated by interstellar scattering and is observed to be elliptical, with a major axis (FWHM) of 17 marcsec and an axial ratio of of 0.70. A fit of the observations to a model visibility function yields a value for alpha, the spectral index of the power-law density irregularity spectrum, of alpha=3.79 + or - 0.05. Corrections for the finite angular size of the source would probably produce a downward revision of alpha. The present observations are consistent with the interstellar density spectrum being close to Kolmogoroff for those scales which determine the angular broadening.
The effect of nonnormality on variables sampling plans

Acceptance sampling plans based on variables have been in use for many years. Recently, there has been a renewal of interest in these plans, because of the relative efficiencies that they offer with respect to attributes sampling regarding sample size. Furthermore, in situations where acceptable quality levels are very small, and a high level of protection is desired, variables sampling is often much more efficient than attributes sampling. An important disadvantage of variables sampling is that the distribution of the parameter being inspected must be known. Most standard variables sampling plans assume that the distribution of this parameter is normal. This article examines the effect of the normality assumption in variables sampling. Methods to detect departures from normality are reviewed.
Generalized Approach for Incorporating Normalization Conditions in Design Sensitivity Analysis of Eigenvectors

This paper describes a general approach for incorporating the eigenvector normalization condition in the computation of eigenvector design sensitivities. Design sensitivities for the eigenproblem have received much attention over the past four decades, however, previous work has focused primarily on mass normalized eigenvectors alone. The approach presented here considers conservative symmetric systems with distinct eigenvalues and addresses both first- and second-order eigenvalue and eigenvector design sensitivities. A rigorous treatment of the eigenvector normalization condition is provided by using its design derivative to eliminate the singularity issue in the eigenvector design sensitivity system of equations. The effect of rescaling eigenvectors is also considered, as is the related computational effort. Examples illustrate the computational procedure, and it is shown that the widely used Nelson's method is a special case of our more general approach.
Total isothiocyanate yield from raw cruciferous vegetables commonly consumed in the United States

Dietary isothiocyanates are a group of promising chemopreventive agents obtained primarily from cruciferous vegetables. Due to their potent chemopreventive and/or anti-cancer activities, there is a growing interest in assessing dietary isothiocyanate exposure and its impact on human health. Using the HPLC-based cyclocondensation assay, the current study measured total isothiocyanate yield from raw cruciferous vegetables. A total of 73 samples comprising nine types of cruciferous vegetables were analyzed. We observed a wide range of isothiocyanate content across the individual vegetables with an average level of 16.2 μmol/100g wet weight, ranging from 1.5 μmol in raw cauliflower to 61.3 μmol in raw mustard greens. The data represent the maximum amount of isothiocyanates released from the intake of raw cruciferous vegetables. Given that the vegetables assayed in this study include the most commonly consumed cruciferous vegetables in western diets, the data may be particularly useful in estimation of dietary isothiocyanate exposure in these populations. However, due to the variation observed within each vegetable, biomarkers such as urinary isothiocyanate level may be necessary for accurate estimation of individual exposure.
Site specificity of the inhibitory effects of oligo(nucleoside methylphosphonate)s complementary to the acceptor splice junction of herpes simplex virus type 1 immediate early mRNA 4

Abstract Oligo(nucleoside methylphosphonate)s complementary to the splice junction of herpes simplex virus type 1 immediate early pre-mRNAs 4 and 5 caused specific inhibition of herpes simplex virus type 1 growth. The dodecamer d(TpTCCTCCTGCGG) (deoxynucleoside methylphosphonate residues in italic) caused 50% and 98% decreases in herpes simplex virus type 1 titers at concentrations of 15 microM and 100 microM, respectively. d(TpTCCTCCTGCGG) inhibited viral but not cellular protein synthesis and decreased splicing of immediate early pre-mRNAs 4 and 5. Inhibition was highly sequence specific. A psoralen derivative of d(TpTCCTCCTGCGG) that can covalently bind to complementary sequences after exposure to 365-nm irradiation caused 90-98% inhibition of virus growth in cells treated with oligomer (5 microM) and irradiated at 1-3 hr postinfection. The data suggest that oligo(nucleoside methylphosphonate)s of appropriate sequence and derivatization may be effective as antiviral agents.
Modeling and Implementation of Voltage-Mode CMOS Dendrites on a Reconfigurable Analog Platform

Many decades ago, Wilfrid Rall and others laid the foundations for mathematical modeling of dendrites using cable theory. With reconfigurable analog architectures, we are now able to accurately program different circuit architectures to emulate dendrites. Our work has shown that these circuits accurately reproduce results predicted from cable theory when inputs to the system are small. For large inputs, interesting nonlinear effects begin to take hold.
Rorschach Validity as Measured by the Identification of Individual Patients

Summary Male and female Rorschach protocols were blindly identified by name from 29 schizophrenic patients, 13 men, 16 women, after gaining information about each patient's personal, social, and psychological functioning from psychiatric interviews conducted at the time of hospitalization, six months, and one year later. Only the sex of the patient was known before the identification of each protocol. Nine out of 13 men (p = .000001) and six out of 16 women (p = .0005) were correctly identified. Brevity of the protocol was the most important factor in mis-identification.
Minority-carrier lifetime in dielectrically isolated single-crystal silicon films defined by electrochemical etching☆

Abstract The minority-carrier lifetime has been measured in thin, dielectrically isolated single-crystal silicon films defined by electrochemical etching. Both transient-current measurements on deep-depletion MOS transistors and recombination-current measurements on bipolar junction transistors have been use to determine the lifetime. Values of the order of 1 μ sec have been observed in both n-and p-type films with dopant concentrations of about 1015 cm−3. It was found that the characteristics of the MOS transistors were not dominated by generation at either surface of the thin film. No differences were seen between the characteristics of bipolar transistors fabricated in the thin films and those of transistors fabricated in bulk control wafers.
The High Altitude Observatory Coronagraph/Polarimeter on the Solar Maximum Mission

The High Altitude Observatory Coronagraph/Polarimeter, to be flown on the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's Solar Maximum Mission satellite, is designed to produce images of the solar corona in seven wavelength bands in the visible spectral range. The spectral bands have been chosen to specifically exclude or include ‘chromospheric’ spectral lines, so as to allow discrimination between ejecta at high (coronal) and low (chromospheric) temperatures, respectively. In addition, the instrument features spectral filters designed to permit an accurate color separation of the F and K coronal components, and a narrow band (5.5 A) filter to observe the radiance and polarization of the Fe xiv 5303 A line. The effective system resolution is better than 10 arc sec and the instrument images a selected quadrant (or smaller field) on an SEC vidicon detector. The total height range that may be recorded encompasses 1.6 to more than 6.0R ⊙ (from Sun center). The instrument is pointed independently of the SMM spacecraft, and its functions are controlled through the use of a program resident within the onboard spacecraft computer. Major experimental goals include: (a) Observation of the role of the corona in the flare process and of the ejecta from the flare site and the overlying corona; (b) the study of the direction of magnetic fields in stable coronal forms, and, perhaps, ejecta; and (c) examination of the evolution of the solar corona near the period of solar maximum activity.
Failure modes in concentrated absorbers during the transition to standby operation

A dynamic sieve-tray model is used to investigate the effect of suddenly placing a concentrated absorber on standby by replacing the feed gas with inert gas. Model predictions show large desorption rates during the transient, resulting in a dramatic increase in gas flow rates, which leads to extremely high entrainment. The model also predicts a large pulse of solute in the vent gas and a large rise in the downcomer liquid level. The results indicate a strong possibility of design failure during the transient. We discuss methods to reduce the severity of the transient behavior.
Emissions from unvented kerosene heaters

Vapor-phase polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) emissions from unvented kerosene heaters were measured. During normal heater operations, tri- and tetra-cyclic PAHs were observed, whereas penta-, hexa- and hepta-cyclic PAHs were not observed. The convective-type heaters had significantly less PAH emissions than the radiant-type heaters. Emissions of particulate soot were also measured. The soot did not contain PAH. A two-compartment model is presented and used to simulate heater operation in a home. Certain simulated PAH levels are similar to that measured in the ambient air of large cities.
In vitro assessment of immune function in adrenalectomized rats.

Abstract Spleen and lymph node cells from normal or adrenalectomized (Adx) rats were assessed for a variety of in vitro immunological measures, including mitogen responsiveness, antibody-dependent cellular cytoxicity (ADCC), and natural killer (NK) cell activity, Proliferation in response to mitogens was evaluated with or without 2-mercaptoethanol (2-ME) in the culture media. Compared to spleen cells from normal rats, those from Adx rats demonstrated enhanced responsiveness to all mitogens tested. 2-ME increased proliferation of spleen cells from both normal and Adx rats, and the effect was additive to that of adrenalectomy. In contrast, lymph node cells from Adx rats manifested decreased mitogenic responsiveness compared to those of control rats and, with the addition of 2-ME, this difference disappeared for one of the mitogens tested (phytohemagglutinin). Compared to unoperated rats, ADCC and NK activities were significantly decreased in both the spleen and lymph nodes of the Adx rats. Alteration of normal leukocyte circulatory and homing patterns are suggested as a likely means by which adrenalectomy produces differential effects on lymphoid cells in various organs of the immune system.
Flagellar Adhesion between Mating Type Plus and Mating Type Minus Gametes Activates a Flagellar Protein-tyrosine Kinase during Fertilization in Chlamydomonas

When Chlamydomonas gametes of opposite mating type are mixed together, flagellar adhesion through sex-specific adhesion molecules triggers a transient elevation of intracellular cAMP, leading to gamete activation in preparation for cell-cell fusion and zygote formation. Here, we have identified a protein-tyrosine kinase (PTK) activity that is stimulated by flagellar adhesion. We determined that the protein-tyrosine kinase inhibitor genistein inhibited fertilization, and that fertilization was rescued by dibutyryl cAMP, indicating that the genistein-sensitive step was upstream of the increase in cAMP. Incubation with ATP of flagella isolated from non-adhering and adhering gametes followed by SDS-PAGE and immunoblotting with anti-phosphotyrosine antibodies showed that adhesion activated a flagellar PTK that phosphorylated a 105-kDa flagellar protein. Assays using an exogenous protein-tyrosine kinase substrate confirmed that the activated PTK could be detected only in flagella isolated from adhering gametes. Our results indicate that stimulation of the PTK is a very early event during fertilization. Activation of the PTK was blocked when gametes underwent flagellar adhesion in the presence of the protein kinase inhibitor staurosporine, but not in the presence of the cyclic nucleotide-dependent protein kinase inhibitor, H8, which (unlike staurosporine) does not block the increases in cAMP. In addition, incubation of gametes of a single mating type in dibutyryl cAMP failed to activate the PTK. Finally, flagella adhesion between plus and minus fla10-1 gametes, which have a temperature-sensitive lesion in the microtubule motor protein kinesin-II, failed to activate the PTK at elevated temperatures. Our results show that kinesin-II is essential for coupling flagellar adhesion to activation of a flagellar PTK and cAMP generation during fertilization in Chlamydomonas.
Bridle procedure combined with a subtalar implant: a case series and review of the literature.

Background. The bridle procedure is a tritendon anastomosis between the tibialis posterior, peroneus longus, and tibialis anterior, utilized in the treatment of drop foot. Concerned about the potential for acquired flatfoot deformity following the bridle procedure, the authors hypothesized that placing a sinus tarsi implant would prevent this potential sequela. Materials and Methods. Over a 10-year period, 15 patients (16 feet) were treated with a bridle procedure for drop foot, and 9 of these feet also had a subtalar arthroereisis implanted; 8 patients (9 feet) positively responded to requests for long-term follow-up evaluation and returned for subjective evaluation with the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS) Hindfoot Scale and Short Form (SF)-36 forms and objective clinical and radiographic measurements. Results. At an average follow-up of 61 months, the 8 patients (9 feet) who returned for long-term evaluation maintained a plantigrade foot, were able to dorsiflex above neutral both actively and passively, and did not develop a flatfoot deformity at long-term follow-up. There were no significant differences between those who had a sinus tarsi implant (6 feet) and those who did not (3 feet). Although 7 of the 9 feet evaluated in this study wore a brace preoperatively, none continued to use a brace after surgery. The major complaints were occasional pain at the subtalar arthroereisis site and a feeling that the great toe was dragging. Conclusion. The bridle procedure provided excellent outcomes in patients with drop foot, with patients achieving long-term success in being free from brace wear. The ability to actively dorsiflex the foot during gait was also restored, reestablishing a normal heel- to-toe gait pattern.
Educational Technology and the National Information Infrastructure: Critically Historicizing Policy Pasts and Presents

In U.S. national policy, K-12 education is slated to play a significant role in the development and deployment of the National Information Infrastructure (NII). Analysis of legislation, policy documents, and histori cal narratives about attempts to use communications technologiesfor K-12 education shows, that these texts and discourses construct knowledge about, and allowable domains for, education in communications and national policy contexts such as the NII. This article fashions a counternarrative of policy pasts and presents that constructs new knowledge about the NII and education and questions the many relations that have structured, and continue to structure, the process and practice of education relative to communications- based technologies. By briefly drawing attention to such counternarratives, the author encourages communications and educational policy makers to consider how education's position might be constructed and envisioned differently as they design policies for current and future use...
Medical decision models of Helicobacter pylori therapy to prevent gastric cancer

SUMMARY The aim of the present article is to study the utility of Helicobacter pylori eradication programmes in decreasing the incidence of gastric cancer. Three types of decision models are employed to pursue this aim, i.e. decision tree, present value, and declining exponential approximation of life expectancy (DEALE). 1) A decision tree allows one to model the interaction of multiple variables in great detail and to calculate the marginal cost, as well as the marginal cost‐benefit ratio, of a preventive strategy. The cost of gastric cancer, the efficacy of H. pylori therapy in preventing cancer, and the cumulative probability of developing gastric cancer exert the largest influence on the marginal cost of cancer prevention. The high cost of future gastric cancer and a high efficacy of therapy make screening for H. pylori and its eradication the preferred strategy. 2) The present value is an economic method to adjust future costs or benefits to their current value using a discount rate and the length of time between now and a given time point in the future. It accounts for the depreciation of money and all material values over time. During childhood, the present value of future gastric cancer is very low. Vaccination of children to prevent gastric cancer would need to be very inexpensive to be practicable. Cancer prevention becomes a feasible option, only if the time period between the preventive measures and the occurrence of gastric cancer can be made relatively short. 3) The DEALE provides a means to calculate the increase in life expectancy that would occur, if death from a particular disease became preventable. Life expectancy of the general population is hardly affected by gastric cancer. For life expectancy to increase appreciably by vaccination or antibiotic therapy directed against H. pylori infection, these interventions would need to be focused towards a sub-population with an a priori high risk for gastric cancer.
Identifying Child Health Priorities for Comparative Effectiveness Research from the IOM's Report

A s part of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of 2009, Congress appropriated $1.1 billion to launch a national comparative effectiveness research (CER) effort and catapulted CER to the center of research-direction discussions, although recognition of the need for comparative information is not new or limited to the United States. As health reform discussions have increased during the last 2 years, expectations have grown regarding the impact of CER investments. In fact, in testimony in 2007, Peter Orszag (Director of the Office of Management and Budget) stated that ‘‘better information about the costs and benefits of different treatment options . . . is essential to putting the country on a sounder long-term fiscal path.’’ However, questions remained as to the funding’s scope, the investment’s oversight and management, and the degree to which the focus should include costs. Consequently, to direct the new CER investment, the ARRA included language that created the Federal Coordinating Council for Comparative Effectiveness Research (FCCCER) and tasked the Institute of Medicine (IOM) with recommending national priorities for CER ARRA– related research. Despite a tight timeframe (19 weeks), the IOM convened the Committee on Comparative Effectiveness Research Prioritization, publicly sought stakeholder input, and subsequently produced a report, Initial National Priorities for Comparative Effectiveness Research. The report operationalized CER, developed a list of 100 research priorities, and identified 10 recommendations to develop and maintain a national ‘‘CER program.’’ Pediatric patients, their parents, caregivers, and families, as well as health care providers, plans, and policy makers all stand to gain substantially from the investments that will result from this report and the subsequent substantial increase in CER funding. However, the potential to generate accurate, under-
Sweat chloride concentrations in children with Idiopathic Nephrotic Syndrome.

Summary Background Idiopathic Nephrotic Syndrome (INS) has been believed to cause a false positive elevation of sweat chloride concentrations, as measured by the sweat test. Methods Sweat tests were done for 11 children with acute onset INS at admission and again while they were in remission, with results being compared to normal historical controls. Results The initial sweat chloride concentration for 10 patients was normal (mean16.7 ± 11.02 mmol/L) and 1 patient had inadequate collection. This latter patient and two others were excluded during follow-up because of diagnoses other than INS. Sweat test results for the eight INS patients during follow up remained unchanged when they were in remission (16.94 ± 7.88 mmol/L; P = 0.98; Wilcoxon Matched-Pairs Signed Rank Test). In comparing sweat chloride concentrations from INS patients to those from 20 historical control subjects, we found no significant differences (Mann–Whitney Test; initial vs. control P = 0.643; follow up vs. control P = 0.806). Conclusions INS does not cause a false positive sweat test. Further studies should be done to objectively assess the conditions that have been reported to affect sweat chloride concentrations. Pediatr Pulmonol. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.
A Review of the Direct Costs of Rheumatoid Arthritis Managed Care versus Fee-for-Service Settings

Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a prevalent condition associated with pain, joint destruction and morbidity. Direct healthcare costs are 2 to 3 times higher than average costs for individuals of similar age and gender. Furthermore, utilisation and costs rise with age and disease duration. Managed care has become an increasingly popular way to organise and finance the delivery of healthcare. Studies comparing the quality of care in health maintenance organisations and fee-for-service settings have found few differences in outcomes, although reduced costs have been attributed to lower hospitalisation rates in patients with RA. We reviewed 10 studies of the direct costs of RA. In 1996 dollars, direct costs ranged from $US 2,299 per person per year in Canada to $US 13,549 in a US study focusing on patients who have been hospitalised only. Surprisingly, the contributions to direct costs--hospital care, medications and physician visits--remained relatively stable over time and the setting of care. Hospitalisation costs were the highest component of direct costs accounting, generally, for 60% or more of costs while only approximately 10% of patients with RA were hospitalised. The only exception was a managed care setting where hospitalisation costs were 16% of total direct costs. In managed care settings, costs of medications were proportionately higher than in fee-for-service settings. We conclude that in studies of the direct costs of RA the components of costs have remained relatively stable over time. This may change with the development and growing use of new RA medications including cyclo-oxygenase 2 inhibitors, interleukins, cytokines, treatments that inhibit tumour necrosis factor, and combination therapies. The effectiveness of managed care in controlling direct costs needs to be evaluated in more targeted studies.
Middle Atlantic Bight salinity: interannual variability

Abstract Twenty-eight hydrographic surveys of the Middle Atlantic Bight (MAB) were conducted during 1977–1987 as part of the National Marine Fisheries Service's Marine Resources, Monitoring, Assessment, and Prediction program. The average temperature and salinity for Shelf Water (
Biomolecular Nanopatterning by Magnetic Electric Lithography

Paint by number? Magnetic nanoparticles (MNPs) coated with distinct biomolecules (see picture) can be assembled onto nanoelectrodes on a template under the control of magnetic and electric fields. The MNP-biomolecule conjugates can then be transferred from the template to a biocompatible polymer substrate. Arbitrary nanopatterns can be fabricated by the magnetic electric lithography process over a large area with a resolution down to 10 nm.
Process development and reliability study with anisotropic conductive film bonding on multiple types of PCB surface finishes

ACF (Anisotropic Conductive Film) is a widely-used technology for flex-on-board (FOB) and flex-on-flex (FOF) assembly. Flexible Printed Circuit (FPC) boards enable the use of three dimensional space within the envelope of products such as sliding cell phones, mp3 players, etc. In the past few years, the usage of FPC's made of polyimide, polyester or Teflon has continued to grow substantially and have become a key assembly technology in PCBA's. ACF is made up of two main components: the adhesive itself, typically a formulation of epoxy resins, acrylic resins, or mixture thereof; and conductive particles used to connect both sides of the interconnection. The conductive particles can be made from nickel-gold plated polymer spheres, gold plated nickel particles, or recently from lead-free solder materials. This paper will report the development of 0.2mm fine pitch ACF bonding with different combination of PCB surface finishes (OSP, ENIG and I-Ag), including the mechanical ACF bonding strength, and thermo-mechanical reliability of the ACF interconnection. ACF material characteristics that contribute to the differences in yield will be discussed as well.