cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Nonuniform Pressure Generation in the Optic Chiasm May Explain Bitemporal Hemianopsia

Purpose To measure the pressure in the temporal and central aspects of the chiasm simultaneously during compression of the optic chiasm from below with an expanding simulated tumor. Design Experimental study. Methods Craniotomies were performed on 5 unfixed cadaveric specimens ranging in age from 49 to 89 years, and the optic chiasm was exposed. After a pediatric gauge Foley catheter was inserted into the sellar region, the temporal side of the chiasm (temporal aspect uncrossed fibers) was impaled with a 30-gauge needle connected to a pressure transducer. In like fashion, the central portion of the chiasm (crossed fibers) was impaled with another 30-gauge needle connected to a pressure transducer on a separate channel. The Foley catheter was inflated for a period of 30 seconds to 1 minute and the pressure in each channel continuously monitored. Multiple trials were performed on each of the 5 specimens. Main Outcome Measure Pressure change between the temporal and nasal aspects of the optic chiasm. Results In all cases in which intrachiasmal pressure could be measured, higher pressures were always generated in the central aspect of the chiasm than in the temporal aspect of the chiasm. In cadaver 1, the mean central pressure was 19.75 mmHg, whereas the mean temporal pressure was 6 mmHg. In cadaver 5, the mean central pressure was 4 mmHg, whereas the mean temporal pressure was zero. Donors 70 and older demonstrated abnormally thin and frail chiasms that were unable to support a sustained pressure increase during simulated tumor expansion. Conclusions During deformation of the optic chiasm from below by a radially expanding mass analogous to a pituitary tumor, the central aspect of the optic chiasm consistently manifests a higher pressure than the temporal aspect. It is hypothesized that the peculiar geometry of the optic chiasm renders the crossing nasal fibers more prone to a deformation stress exerted from below. Nonuniform pressure generation between the central and temporal aspects of the chiasm results in a greater effective stress on the crossing fibers of the chiasm and may be responsible for the clinical phenomenon of bitemporal hemianopsia.
A fast solver for the orthogonal spline collocation solution of the biharmonic Dirichlet problem on rectangles

A fast Schur complement algorithm is presented for computing the piecewise Hermite bicubic orthogonal spline collocation solution of the biharmonic Dirichlet problem on a rectangular region. On an N × N uniform partition, the algorithm, which involves the preconditioned conjugate gradient method and fast Fourier transforms, requires O(N2 log2 N) arithmetic operations.
Radiation therapy in early-stage invasive breast cancer.

The treatment of breast cancer involves a multi-disciplinary approach with radiation therapy playing a key role. Breast-conserving surgery has been an option for women with early-stage breast cancer for over two decades now. Multiple randomized trials now have demonstrated the efficacy of breast-conserving surgery followed by radiation therapy. With the advancements in breast imaging and the successful campaign for early detection of breast cancer, more women today are found to have early-stage small breast cancers. Patient factors (breast size, tumor location, history of prior radiation therapy, preexisting conditions such as collagen vascular disease, age, having prosthetically augmented breasts), pathological factors (margin status, tumor size, presence of extensive intraductal component requiring multiple surgical excisions), as well as patient preference are all taken into consideration prior to surgical management of breast cancer. Whole-breast fractionated radiation therapy between 5 and 7 weeks is considered as the standard of care treatment following breast-conserving surgery. However, new radiation treatment strategies have been developed in recent years to provide alternatives to the conventional 5–7 week whole-breast radiation therapy for some patients. Accelerated partial breast radiation therapy (APBI) was introduced because the frequency of breast recurrences outside of the surgical cavity has been shown to be low. This technique allows treatments to be delivered quicker (usually 1 week, twice daily) to a limited volume. Often times, this treatment involves the use of a brachytherapy applicator to be placed into the surgical cavity following breast-conserving surgery. Accelerated hypofractionated whole-breast irradiation may be another faster way to deliver radiation therapy following breast-conserving surgery. This journal article reviews the role of radiation therapy in women with early-stage breast cancer addressing patient selection in breast-conserving therapy, a review of pertinent trials in breast-conserving therapy, as well as the different treatment techniques available to women following breast-conserving surgery.
Effects of urbanization and urban stream restoration on the physical and biological structure of stream ecosystems

Streams, as low-lying points in the landscape, are strongly influenced by the stormwaters, pollutants, and warming that characterize catchment urbanization. River restoration projects are an increasingly popular method for mitigating urban insults. Despite the growing frequency and high expense of urban stream restoration projects, very few projects have been evaluated to determine whether they can successfully enhance habitat structure or support the stream biota characteristic of reference sites. We compared the physical and biological structure of four urban degraded, four urban restored, and four forested streams in the Piedmont region of North Carolina to quantify the ability of reach-scale stream restoration to restore physical and biological structure to urban streams and to examine the assumption that providing habitat is sufficient for biological recovery. To be successful at mitigating urban impacts, the habitat structure and biological communities found in restored streams should be more similar to forested reference sites than to their urban degraded counterparts. For every measured reach- and patch-scale attribute, we found that restored streams were indistinguishable from their degraded urban stream counterparts. Forested streams were shallower, had greater habitat complexity and median sediment size, and contained less-tolerant communities with higher sensitive taxa richness than streams in either urban category. Because heavy machinery is used to regrade and reconfigure restored channels, restored streams had less canopy cover than either forested or urban streams. Channel habitat complexity and watershed impervious surface cover (ISC) were the best predictors of sensitive taxa richness and biotic index at the reach and catchment scale, respectively. Macroinvertebrate communities in restored channels were compositionally similar to the communities in urban degraded channels, and both were dissimilar to communities in forested streams. The macroinvertebrate communities of both restored and urban degraded streams were correlated with environmental variables characteristic of degraded urban systems. Our study suggests that reach-scale restoration is not successfully mitigating for the factors causing physical and biological degradation.
IR-MALDI-LDI combined with ion mobility orthogonal time-of-flight mass spectrometry

Most MALDI instrumentation uses UV lasers. We have designed a MALDI-IM-oTOF-MS which employs both a Nd:YAG laser pumped optical parametric oscillator (OPOTEK, lambda = 2.8-3.2 microm at 20 Hz) to perform IR-LDI or IR-MALDI and a Nd:YLF laser (Crystalaser, lambda = 249 nm at 200 Hz) for the UV. Ion mobility (IM) gives a fast separation and analysis of biomolecules from complex mixtures in which ions of similar chemical type fall along well-defined "trend lines". Our data shows that ion mobility allows multiply charged monomers and multimers to be resolved; thus, yielding pure spectra of the singly charged protein ion which are virtually devoid of chemical noise. In addition, we have demonstrated that IR-LDI produced similar results as IR-MALDI for the direct tissue analysis of phospholipids from rat brain.
Reorientation Effect in Coulomb Excitation

The semiclassical treatment of the effect of the reorientation of the spin of the target nucleus during a collision resulting in Coulomb excitation is presented. It is found that the effect vanishes for zero excitation, but that it may be appreciable for finite excitation. The effect on the angular distribution of the photons is similarly found to vanish for head-on collisions. Three different types of experiments involving the measurement of the angular distribution of the photons are discussed. Typical numerical results for comparison with experiment are presented and the possibilities offered by bombardment with heavy ions are noted.
Measurement of the bystander intervention model for bullying and sexual harassment

Although peer bystanders can exacerbate or prevent bullying and sexual harassment, research has been hindered by the absence of a validated assessment tool to measure the process and sequential steps of the bystander intervention model. A measure was developed based on the five steps of Latane and Darley's (1970) bystander intervention model applied to bullying and sexual harassment. Confirmatory factor analysis with a sample of 562 secondary school students confirmed the five-factor structure of the measure. Structural equation modeling revealed that all the steps were influenced by the previous step in the model, as the theory proposed. In addition, the bystander intervention measure was positively correlated with empathy, attitudes toward bullying and sexual harassment, and awareness of bullying and sexual harassment facts. This measure can be used for future research and to inform intervention efforts related to the process of bystander intervention for bullying and sexual harassment.
NiCr fuse reliability-a new approach

Presents one technique to apply concurrent engineering in the development of a reliable fuse element in CMOS PROMs. The development required both a new circuit and process design. The five stages presented were used to produce a reliable fuse element that is also manufacturable. The use of these techniques uncovered several limitations in the circuit early enough in the development to be corrected. One reported in this paper was the poor current gain of the fusing bipolar transistor.
Chemical modifications of virus infectivity: Reactions of tobacco mosaic virus and its nucleic acid

Die biologischen Eigenschaften des Tabakmosaikvirus konnen durch chemische Umsetzungen seiner Nukleinsaure in verschiedener Weise beeinflusst werden: 1. Formaldehyd reagiert mit den Aminogruppen der Basen, Glyoxal und seine Derivate speziell mit der Diaminstruktur des Guanins. Beide Reaktionen bewirken eine Inaktivierung des Virus. 2. Durch Behandlung der isolierten Nukleinsaure und nachherige Rekonstitution mit nativem Eiweiss konnte ein Virus gewonnen werden, dessen antigene Eigenschaften denjenigen des unbehandelten Virus entsprechen, das jedoch inaktiv ist. 3. Reaktion mit salpetriger Saure, bei der unter anderem Cytosin in Uracil ubergefuhrt wird, fuhrt ausser zu Inaktivierung auch zu einer grossen Anzahl von Mutanten. 4. Der Einbau strukturanaloger Basen, wie z.B. des 5-Fluoruracils, fuhrt zu einem Virus, das zwar eine Infektion hervorrufen kann, bei der jedoch die Wachstumsgeschwindigkeit des neuen Virus verzogert ist.
Safe teleradiology: information assurance as a project planning methodology

Abstract The Department of Radiology, Georgetown University Medical Center executed OCTAVEsm, a self-directed information security risk assessment process, as a method for comprehensively planning a new teleradiology system. Originally designed to evaluate retrospectively the organizational and technical risks to the confidentiality, integrity and availability of existing information management programs, Georgetown surmised that OCTAVEsm should be useful as a prospective planning tool to build information assurance into the teleradiology program from its start. Georgetown also wondered how approaching system planning from the perspective of information assurance would affect the general program planning and development. Implementing the OCTAVEsm process, Georgetown identified the teleradiology program's critical assets, described threats to the assurance of those assets, developed and ran vulnerability scans of a system pilot, evaluated the consequences of security breaches for patients, the teleradiology program and Georgetown and developed a risk management plan to mitigate threats to program assets and implement good information assurance practices in program management. As a result, Georgetown built a teleradiology program that complies with regulatory efforts such as the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) and integrates health information assurance into the program's core.
Inactivation of Digestive Proteases by Deconjugated Bilirubin and the Physiological Significance of Fasting Hyperbilirubinemia

It has been observed more than a century ago that in humans as well as in many animals, there was a significantly increase in blood bilirubin level during fast - ing. However, the physiological significance for this increase remains largely unknown. As it is found that digestive pro- teases are inactivated by free (or deconjugated) bilirubin, here I suggested that fasting hyperbilirubinemia would be a mechanism to save bilirubin during fasting to meet the an- ticipated increased needs to protect the gut against the dam- age by the increased luminal pancreatic proteases during and after feeding.
Influence of Organic Solvents on the Kinetics of Electron Transfer and the Adsorption at Highly Oriented Pyrolytic Graphite

Acetonitrile and several other common organic solvents have been found to dramatically influence the kinetics of electron transfer and the adsorption at freshly cleaved highly oriented pyrolytic graphite (HOPG). Ferricyanide and anthraquinone-2,6-disulfonate were used to investigate the effect of several pretreatment procedures including cleaving, electrochemical pretreatment, and thermal etching on the activity of basal plane HOPG. The results of this work suggest that although active sites produced by cleaving are relatively stable in air and in aqueous solution, exposure to organic solvents quickly and irreversibly passivates them toward simple outer-sphere electron transfer and adsorption. In contrast, electrochemically pretreated and thermally etched HOPG is much less sensitive to organic solvents, suggesting that the natures of the active sites produced by these methods are significantly different. As a result, it is important to take into account this behavior when using freshly cleaved HOPG in surface and electrochemical studies.
Intramyocardial Oxygen Tension

Quantitative intramyocardial oxygen tension measurements were made in 16 anaesthetized dogs using a polarographic technique. In the resting state, an oxygen tension gradient exists across the wall of the left ventricle, with a significantly lower oxygen tension in the subendocardium than the subepicardium.
Poster: SaveAlert: an efficient and scalable sensor-driven danger detection system

SaveAlert is an adaptive framework for crowd-monitoring and danger-detection using off-the-shelf smartphones and other peripherals such as smartwatches. It is a system that provides users with an increased awareness of their surroundings by detecting and notifying them of impending danger, by relying only on sensor data collected from the users. Our framework's novelty is in how it performs efficient sensor data collection from potentially a large number of people by limiting the disturbance and stress on the existing Wi-Fi and cellular infrastructure. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first crowd-monitoring framework that takes advantage of peer-to-peer connections to perform local aggregation to alleviate the stress on existing infrastructures for better scalability and efficiency.
Deletions of Portions of the Extracellular Loops of the Lutropin/Choriogonadotropin Receptor Decrease the Binding Affinity for Ovine Luteinizing Hormone, but Not Human Choriogonadotropin, by Preventing the Formation of Mature Cell Surface Receptor

The rat lutropin/choriogonadotropin receptor (rLHR) is a G protein-coupled receptor which binds either human choriogonadotropin (hCG) or lutropin (luteinizing hormone, LH) and, therefore, plays a central role in reproductive physiology. In addition to the seven transmembrane helices, three extracellular loops, three intracellular loops, and a cytoplasmic tail characteristic of all G protein-coupled receptors, the rLHR also contains a relatively large N-terminal extracellular domain. Since high affinity hormone binding occurs to this N-terminal extracellular domain and since G proteins are activated by intracellular regions of the receptor, it has been hypothesized that upon hormone binding a portion of the hormone or the receptor's extracellular domain might interact with the receptor's extracellular loops and/or transmembrane helices, thus evoking an intracellular conformational change. To explore this possibility, we prepared and characterized several mutants of the rLHR in which portions of the extracellular loops were deleted. Ultimately, it was not possible to examine the signal transduction properties of the mutants because all but one mutant were retained intracellularly. Although the intracellularly retained mutants must be somewhat misfolded, all were found to bind hCG with high affinity if the cells were first solubilized in detergent. However, the binding of oLH to the detergent solubilized mutants was altered. Thus, whereas the wild-type rLHR bound oLH with two apparent affinities, the solubilized deletion mutants bound oLH with only one apparent affinity. Although these data could be interpreted to suggest that an ovine LH (oLH) binding site on the extracellular loops of the rLHR was deleted, data shown argue against this hypothesis. Rather, the results presented suggest that the two apparent affinities of the wild-type rLHR for oLH represent the binding affinities of two populations of rLHR where the mature, cell surface form binds oLH with a higher affinity than the immature, intracellular form. Furthermore, we show that mutations of the rLHR which cause intracellular retention of the receptor result in a decrease from two to one apparent binding sites for oLH due to the absence of the high affinity oLH binding component contributed by the mature cell surface receptor. Therefore, whereas hCG cannot discriminate between the mature cell surface wild-type receptor and an intracellularly retained rLHR mutant, oLH can make this discrimination, thus suggesting a conformational difference between the two forms of the receptor.
Incorporating uncertainty into mechanism synthesis

Abstract Motion generation mechanisms such as pick-and-place robots often have exacting constraints on the initial and final locations and angles. However, the intermediate locations and angles are not nearly as constrained. Previous attempts to synthesize mechanisms under such uncertain conditions employed permutation, quasi-precise (worst-case), and genetic algorithm methodologies. In this paper we present a method in which intermediate `precision' positions are described as distributions. This expands the resulting set of acceptable solutions by adding an extra dimension to Burmester solutions, i.e., Burmester surfaces instead of Burmester lines. Treating the input variables as statistical variables allows designers the freedom to dictate both preferred input regions and preferred amounts of acceptability within the regions. Incorporating uncertainty quickly provides not only the entire feasible design space, but also the nominal, worst-case, and most importantly, the most highly recommended solutions. A headlight cover mechanism solution is provided to demonstrate the attractiveness of this methodology.
Evaluation of volatile hydrocarbon emission characteristics of carbonaceous additives in green sand foundries.

This research studied a relative comparison of the hydrocarbon emissions during pyrolysis of four carbonaceous additives that can be used in green sand foundries. These included a highly volatile bituminous coal, anthracite, lignite, and cellulose. Analytic pyrolysis was conducted to simulate the heating conditions that the carbonaceous additives would experience during metal pouring. Specifically, the samples were flash pyrolyzed in a Curie-point pyrolyzer at 920 °C with a heating rate of about 3000 °C/sec. This simulated some key features of the fast heating conditions that the carbonaceous additives would experience at the metal−mold interface when molten metal is poured into green sand molds. The samples were also pyrolyzed in a thermogravimetric analyzer (TGA) from ambient temperature to 1000 °C with a heating rate of 20 °C/min; and this simulated key features of the slow heating conditions that the carbonaceous additives would experience within the bulk of green sand molds that is further away from ...
Low Temperature Storage Combined with Sulfur Dioxide Slow Release Pads for Quarantine Control of Omnivorous Leafroller Platynota stultana (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae)

Low temperature storage combined with sulfur dioxide slow release pads caused 100% mortality of omnivorous leafroller, Platynota stultana Walshingham, 2nd instar (the least susceptible stage to low temperature storage) after 3 wk of exposure in table grapes, Vitis vinifera L. Temperatures in packed grape clusters decreased from ambient to 2 degrees C within approximately equal to 2 d after placement in storage. Sulfur dioxide concentrations in the grape clusters ranged between 0.2 and 1.0 ppm during the 1-to 6-wk storage period. The combination treatment incorporates existing packinghouse facilities and has potential to be used as an alternative to chemical fumigants such as methyl bromide to control pests of regulatory concern in exported table grapes.
A cost optimal parallel algorithm for computing force field in N -body simulations on a CREW PRAM

Abstract We consider the following force field computation problem: given a cluster of n particles in three-dimensional space, compute the force exerted on each particle by the other particles. Depending on different applications, the pairwise interaction could be either gravitational or Lennard–Jones. In both cases, the force between two particles vanishes as the distance between them approaches to infinity. Since there are n(n−1)/2 pairs, direct method requires Θ (n 2 ) time for force evaluation, which is very expensive for astronomical simulations. In 1985 and 1986, two famous Θ (n log n) time hierarchical tree algorithms were published by Appel (SIAM J. Sci. Statist. Comput. 6 (1985) 85–103) and by Barnes and Hut (Nature, 324 (1980) 446 – 449), respectively. In a recent paper, we presented a linear time algorithm which builds the oct tree bottom-up and showed that Appel's algorithm can be implemented in Θ (n) sequential time. In this paper, we present an algorithm which computes the force field in Θ ( log n) time on a Θ (n/ log n) processor CREW PRAM. A key to this optimal parallel algorithm is replacing a recursive top-down force calculation procedure of Appel by an equivalent non-recursive bottom-up procedure. Our parallel algorithm also yields a new Θ (n) time-sequential algorithm for force field computation.
Twenty-five-year experience with ventricular septal defect in infants and children☆

Three hundred eighty-one children with isolated VSD were catheterized from 1960 through 1985, 228 of whom were first catheterized in the first year of life. Defect size was defined by the right-to-left ventricular systolic pressure ratio. Patients with small VSD had a good outcome, with no pulmonary vascular disease. Seventy-five percent of patients with moderate VSDs did not require surgery, and 58% had normal pulmonary artery pressures documented on a second catheterization. Of those patients with large VSDs who underwent serial catheterizations in the first year of life before surgery, 62% had partial closure, and pulmonary vascular resistance rose in 21%. None developed pulmonary vascular disease after surgery. Fewer large-restrictive than nonrestrictive VSDs required surgery in infancy (12% vs 51%; p < 0.005), and more closed enough to never require surgery (62% vs 27%; p < 0.005, chi square). Surgery is rarely necessary for patients with small and moderatesized VSDs in the first year and is usually never necessary because of the expected decrease in size. Few patients with large-restrictive VSDs have an increase in pulmonary vascular resistance, many defects decrease in size, and most patients never need surgery. Patients who have a nonrestrictive VSD have an excellent prognosis with appropriate management.
The reductive cleavage of disulfide bonds and its application to problems of protein structure.

Abstract The quantitative reduction of disulfide bonds in ribonuclease and lysozyme may be achieved at room temperature with thioglycolic acid in 8 M urea at pH 8. 5 . Sulfhydryl groups of the resulting cysteine residues may be reacted with iodoacetic acid to yield the S-carboxymethyl derivatives of these residues. The S-carboxymethylcysteine content of reduced and alkylated proteins may be estimated by dinitrophenylation of acid hydrolysates followed by chromatographic isolation of DNP-SCMC. Under the conditions of reduction and alkylation employed, no significant modification, stable to the conditions of hydrolysis employed, of tyrosine, tryptophan, lysine, or histidine residues occurs. The method described is, therefore, of particular value as an initial step in the study of amino acid sequence in such tryptophan-rich proteins as lysozyme. The digestion of reduced and alkylated lysozyme and ribonuclease with trypsin proceeds rapidly and yields, in each case, a population of peptide fragments which is in good agreement with that to be expected from the lysine and arginine contents of these proteins.
Combustion synthesis of metallic foams from nanocomposite reactants

Abstract Highly porous intermetallic alloys were created through self-propagating high-temperature synthesis. The reactants are composed of nano-scale particles of nickel (Ni), micron-scale particles of aluminum (Al), and nano-scale Al particles passivated with a gasifying agent, C13F27COOH. The concentration of nano-Al particles present in the reactant matrix was controlled according to the wt% gasifying agent. Flame propagation was observed to transition from normal to convectively dominant burning as more gasifying agent became present in the reactants. Ignition delay times were reduced by two orders of magnitude when only 2.24 wt% nm Al particles were present. The product alloy expanded by a factor of 14 in the axial direction with 1.6 wt% nm Al (corresponding to 10 wt% gasifying agent). The total porosity of the pellets increased by a factor of 8 (i.e., from 10 to 80% porosity for 0–14 wt% gasifying agent).
Some physiological aspects of temperature regulation in the normothermic and torpid hispid pocket mouse, perognathus hispidus

Abstract 1. 1. In Perognathus hispidus minimum heart and respiratory rates were 250 beats/min and 50 breaths/min. Their body temperature was between 36·8–38·7°C at an ambient temperature range of 5–34°C. The thermoneutral metabolic rate was 1·25 cc O 2 /g per hr and occurred at ambient temperatures of 30·5–33·5°C (thermoneutrality). The thermal conductance was 0·201 cc O 2 /g per hr per °C including heat lost by evaporation. 2. 2. During entry into torpor the heart rate of P. hispidus decreased prior to a decline in oxygen consumption and body temperature. Skipped heart beats, apnea and intermittent shivering were typical of the entrance phase. 3. 3. During torpor the heart rate and the oxygen consumption was 6–14 per cent and 3·5–13 per cent, of normothermic values at body temperatures of 12 to 20·3°C. Respiratory rate was irregular with prolonged apnea. When the ambient temperature dropped below 14°C, the body temperature of torpid animals tended to remain relatively constant. 4. 4. During arousal heart rate increased seven to twenty times and respiratory rate six to ten times, depending on the initial body and ambient temperature. Intensity of shivering was strongest during the middle part of arousal. Oxygen consumption was approximately double the normothermic value and the recorded maximum increase in oxygen consumption was fifty-seven times the torpid level. Maximum neck-abdomen temperature difference was 3·7°C and the fastest spontaneous arousal rate averaged 0·47C/min.
Effect of fatty acid administration on plasma thyroid hormones in the domestic fowl

In birds a severe stress is associated with a reduction in concentrations of plasma thyroxine. Studies in man and the rat have demonstrated that severe illness is associated with an increase in serum concentrations of free fatty acids, notably oleic acid, and that they are associated with a reduction in concentrations of serum thyroxine (T4) and/or triiodothyronine (T3). Since stress is associated with increased fatty acids in birds, we have, in the present study, examined the role of oleic acid and another polyunsaturated fatty acid, arachidonic acid, on thyroid function tests (plasma thyroxine, triiodothyronine, and T3 resin uptake (RT3U) index) and on the thyroidal response to exogenous thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH) in the domestic fowl. In the first study we observed that the iv administration of arachidonic (10 mg/kg) or oleic acid (15 mg/kg) to groups of 10-week-old cockerels (six per group) was associated with a significant reduction in concentrations of plasma T4, whereas there was little change in saline-injected controls. However, administration of fatty acids to chickens was not associated with a significant change in RT3U index or in the levels of plasma T3. In the second study, groups of animals (n = 6) were injected with bovine TSH (0.5 IU/kg, im) or saline 2.5 hr after the fatty acid injection and blood samples were obtained at -2.5 to 24 hr after the TSH injection. A similar progressive increase in serum T4 was observed for the three groups studied whereas there was little change in the concentrations of plasma T3.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
Two-Way Orbits

This paper introduces a new set of compatible orbits called “Two-Way Orbits,” whose ground track path is a closed-loop trajectory that intersects at certain points with tangent intersections. The spacecraft passes over these tangent intersections once in a prograde mode and once in a retrograde mode. Motivations are found for the need to have simultaneous observations of the same target area in both Earth observation and reconnaissance systems. The general mathematical model to design a Two-Way Orbit is presented for the specific case where the tangent points are experienced at the orbit extremes, perigee and apogee. As for the general case, Two-Way Orbit conditions are formulated and numerically solved. Results show that, in general, Two-Way Orbits could be formed over any point on Earth. Since Two-Way Orbits use compatible orbits, the theory of Flower Constellations can be applied to them. Using these Two-Way Orbits, this paper also introduces the Two-Way Flower Constellations that have one spacecraft prograde and one retrograde passing simultaneously over the tangent intersection.
Megalin expression in human term and preterm placental villous tissues: effect of gestational age and sample processing and storage time.

Abstract Introduction The aims of this study were to characterize megalin expression in human term and preterm placental villous tissues and to assess the impact of gestational age and sample storage on receptor expression. Methods Placental tissue samples were collected from pregnant women undergoing term and preterm Cesarean deliveries. Placental villous tissues were used to quantify megalin protein and mRNA expression by western blotting and quantitative polymerase chain reaction (q-PCR), respectively. Stability of megalin expression was also evaluated under various processing and storage conditions. Results Megalin mRNA was detected in term and preterm placental villous tissues. Expression in early preterm samples was 6-fold higher than in late preterm and term samples. Refrigeration of processed term samples at 4 °C for up to 18 h had a slight impact on megalin mRNA expression with stored samples exhibiting mRNA levels approximately 1.5-fold lower than those frozen immediately after processing. A greater decrease in mRNA expression (up to 33-fold) was observed when processed samples were snap-frozen immediately and thawed at 4 °C. Processing of samples prior to refrigeration also appeared to improve mRNA stability with significantly higher expression levels noted in processed vs. unprocessed samples at all points for up to 48 h. Discussion These data suggest that expression of megalin mRNA in term placental villous tissue is relatively stable for up to 18 h when samples are processed immediately and refrigerated at 4 °C prior to freezing. Processing prior to storage also appears to improve mRNA stability. This paper demonstrates the practical feasibility of analyzing stored tissue samples, thus, it will help with placental mRNA analysis. Additionally, megalin expression appears to vary inversely with gestational age with the greatest expression noted in the most premature samples. Age-dependent differences in placental megalin may therefore influence fetal exposure.
Glyoxal contribution to aerosols over Los Angeles

Laboratory and field studies have indicated that glyoxal (chemical formula OCHCHO), an atmospheric oxidation product of isoprene and aromatic compounds, may contribute to secondary organic aerosols in the atmosphere, which can block sunlight and affect atmospheric chemistry. Some aerosols are primary aerosols, emitted directly into the atmosphere, while others are secondary, formed through chemical reactions in the atmosphere. Washenfelder et al. describe in situ glyoxal measurements from Pasadena, Calif., near Los Angeles, made during summer 2010. They used three different methods to calculate the contribution of glyoxal to secondary atmospheric aerosol and found that it is responsible for 0–0.2 microgram per cubic meter, or 0–4%, of the secondary organic aerosol mass. The researchers also compared their results to those of a previous study that calculated the glyoxal contribution to aerosol for Mexico City. Mexico City had higher levels of organic aerosol mass from glyoxal. They suggest that the lower contribution of glyoxal to aerosol concentrations for Los Angeles may be due to differences in the composition or water content of the aerosols above the two cities. (Journal of Geophysical Research-Atmospheres, doi:10.1029/2011JD016314, 2011)
Preparative‐scale, recirculating, pH‐biased binary isoelectric trapping separations

In order to improve the production rates and lower the specific electrophoretic energy consumption values in preparative-scale, recirculating, binary isoelectric trapping separations, we propose to add an auxiliary isoelectric agent to the solution in the anodic separation compartment and another to the solution in the cathodic separation compartment to implement pH-biased isoelectric trapping. The auxiliary isoelectric agents are selected such that they are trapped in the respective anodic and cathodic separation compartments and also, have isoelectric point (pI) values that are different from the pI values of the analytes of interest. By proper selection of the auxiliary isoelectric agents and their concentrations, the analytes of interest can be kept in nonisoelectric, charged state during the entire course of the preparative-scale, recirculating, binary isoelectric trapping separation. This results in higher electrophoretic mobilities and solubilities for the analytes than in their isoelectric or near-isoelectric states, and leads to faster binary isoelectric trapping separations.
Magnetic configuration studies in a compact Torsatron

An overview is presented of an experimental program of magnetic field line mapping on the research-grade Compact Auburn Torsatron (CAT). The vacuum magnetic flux surfaces of the CAT device have been experimentally mapped in a variety of magnetic configurations. The results are compared with an extensive computer model in order to validate the coil design. In initial field mapping experiments, an up-down asymmetry was identified in the vacuum magnetic surfaces, and was corrected with the use of a radial trim field. Magnetic islands are observed and their size has been reduced, also through the use of auxiliary trim coils. The Compact Auburn Torsatron is equipped with two pairs of large Helmholtz coils producing mutually orthogonal magnetic fields in the horizontal plane, and two pairs of helical saddle coils wound directly on the toroidal vacuum vessel. These trim coils are used to control the size and phase of the t=1/2 magnetic island. Through a systematic variation of trim field components, we demonstrate a reduction of the inherent t=1/2 magnetic island size by a factor of three. The technique is applicable to correcting small error fields in larger helical confinement devices. The measurements of island size are compared with measurements of magnetic field line rotation within the island, and are found to be in good agreement with first-order perturbation theory.
Conditional use of mangrove habitats by fishes: Depth as a cue to avoid predators

The flooded intertidal zone in coastal estuarine systems (e.g., mangroves and salt marshes) is thought to provide nekton with both food and refuge from predators. The primary aim of this study was to identify the relative contribution of root structure, shading, and leaf litter, all characteristic features of mangrove forests, in shaping the intertidal distribution of tidally migrating fishes. We manipulated the structure and shade in 9-m2 sample plots in a shallow, mangrove-fringed, intertidal embayment in Tampa Bay, Florida. In a separate field experiment, we compared fish association with standing mangrove leaf litter and bare sand substrate. Shade and leaf litter had a water depthdependent effect on the distribution of the fish; no effect was associated with the presence of mangrove roots. In shallow water (<45 cm), fish were captured primarily in plots without shade, but this distribution shifted progressively with increasing water depth, so that when water was greater than 55 cm most fish were captured in shaded plots. Fish were more frequently associated with, and feeding in, plots covered in leaf litter than bare sand plots. This relationship did not persist at depths greater than 15 cm because fish abundance declined gratly. Tethering experiments usingCyprinodon variegatus demonstrated that predation pressure was quadratically correlated with water depth (inflexion point approximately 60 cm). Our results suggest that small fishes will abandon well-lighted foraging grounds in favor of the potential refuge of shaded waters as water depth increases. We suggest that studies of intertidal nekton should be carefully interpreted in the context of water depth.
Incorporating environmental ethics into the undergraduate engineering curriculum

The design and economic realities associated with Personal Computers (PCs) was used as a model for implementing ethical issues into the core-engineering curriculum. Historically, products have not been designed to be recycled easily. By incorporating environmental ethics into our classrooms and industries, valuable materials can be recovered and harmful materials can be eliminated from our waste stream. Future engineers must consider the economic cost-benefit analysis of designing a product for easy material recovery and recycling versus the true cost of the disposal and continued use of virgin materials. A three hour unit on the economic and environmental impacts of product design is proposed for inclusion in the ABET accredited engineering program.
Effect of drugs modifying central serotonergic function on the response of extensor and nonextensor rats to maximal electroshock

Abstract Influences of reduction or enhancement of serotonergic function on convulsive responses and thresholds to maximal electroshock stimulation (MES) were studied in rats classified by MES as extensors or nonextensors. In extensors, serotonin reduction decreased the tonic convulsive threshold coincident with an increased incidence of hindlimb extension (HLE). Enhancement of serotonergic function with fluoxetine, pCA, 5-HTP, fenfluramine or 5-methoxy-N,N-dimethyltryptamine (5-MeODMT) prevented HLE. This action was antagonized by pCA, strychnine or digitoxigenin and was not related to overt behavioral disruption or an elevated tonic threshold. In nonextensors, serotonin reduction restored HLE. HLE initiated by spinal cord stimulation was not remarkably effected by any treatment. Catecholamine reduction had no effect on any part of the tonic response in either group of rats. The results suggest the activation of central serotonergic inhibitory influences during the MES tonic convulsion. The possibility of graded-intensity serotonergic attenuation of seizure spread is discussed suggesting the action of serotonergic-enhancing drugs to prevent HLE may include a mechanism similar to a naturally-occurring “mechanism” to prevent HLE in nonextensor rats.
The role of pH in the intracellular acetylcholine receptor ligand processing.

Summary Previous studies have shown that the internalized AChRs are transported through many vesicular compartments: Golgi associated vesicles, coated vesicles, smooth vesicles, endosome-like structures and lysosomes. These compartments have an acidic pH ranging from 4.5 to 6.5. The pH differences between organelles suggests that these differences may influence the sorting and final expression of AChRs. To test this hypothesis, we measured the number of counts of 125 I-αBTX or 125 I-Mab35 dissociated from myotube membranes containing AChRs as a function of pH. Neither the 125 I-αBTX nor 125 I-Mab35 showed an enhanced dissociation in the pH range 4.0–7.0, whereas lowering the pH to 6.0 or below enhanced the dissociation of 125 I-α 2 -macroglobulin from myotubes. In other experiments using Torpedo membrane we showed that neither 125 I-αBTX nor 125 I-Mab35 appreciably dissociated from the AChR unless the pH was less than 4 or above 11. Double-label studies using a novel membrane permeable acidotropic molecule DAMP (3-(2,4 nitroanilino) 3'amino-N-methyl-dipropylamine), facilitated mapping the pH of the intracellular compartments containing internalized AChRs. This molecule accumulates inside acidic compartments in the cell and has a dinitrophenol (DNP) group recognized by DNP specific antibodies. Cells were treated with 30 μg DAMP for 30 rain and allowed to internalize Mab35-gold (15 nm) for various periods (0–15 h). At each time point we fixed and washed the cells, and incubated with anti-DNP monoclonal antibodies followed by incubation with anti-mouse IgG and protein A colloidal gold (5 nm). Different sized gold particles allowed us to simultaneously identify the AChR compartments and estimate their pH. Sister cultures were exposed to acidotropic drugs to destroy pH gradients. Under those conditions, AChR delivery to lysosomes was blocked. Our studies show that AChRs are transported through acidic compartments ranging from pH 4.5 to 6.5 and in contrast to other ligands they do not dissociate from the intracellular membranes at low pH.
Immune Responses in Space Flight

Space flight has been shown to have profound effects on immunological parameters of humans, monkeys and rodents. These studies have been carried out by a number of different laboratories. Among the parameters affected are leukocyte blastogenesis, natural killer cell activity, leukocyte subset distribution, cytokine production - including interferons and interleukins, and macrophage maturation and activity. These changes start to occur only after a few days space flight, and some changes continue throughout long-term space flight. Antibody responses have received only very limited study, and total antibody levels have been shown to be increased after long-term space flight. Several factors could be involved in inducing these changes. These factors could include microgravity, lack of load-bearing, stress, acceleration forces, and radiation. The mechanism(s) for space flight-induced changes in immune responses remain(s) to be established. Certainly, there can be direct effects of microgravity, or other factors, on cells that play a fundamental role in immune responses. However, it is now clear that there are interactions between the immune system and other physiological systems that could play a major role. For example, changes occurring in calcium use in the musculoskeletal system induced by microgravity or lack of use could have great impact on the immune system. Most of the changes in immune responses have been observed using samples taken immediately after return from space flight. However, there have been two recent studies that have used in-flight testing. Delayed-type hypersensitivity responses to common recall antigens of astronauts and cosmonauts have been shown to be decreased when tested during space flights. Additionally, natural killer cell and blastogenic activities are inhibited in samples taken from rats during space flight. Therefore, it is now clear that events occurring during space flight itself can affect immune responses. The biological significance of space flight-induced changes in immune parameters remains to be established; however, as duration of flights increases, the potential for difficulties due to impaired immune responses also increases.
The effect of changing presentation and management on the outcome of blunt rupture of the thoracic aorta.

Background The management of traumatic aortic rupture has evolved from emergency surgery for all to incorporating nonoperative and endovascular approaches. In addition, the greater emphasis on restraint systems over the past decade might result in lower immediate mortality. Methods We reviewed our contemporary experience with reference to a previous report from the same institution to determine whether there has been improvement in outcome related to these factors. Results In 1990, a review of 104 patients admitted to our center over a 15-year period (1975-1990) noted an overall mortality of 65%. Forty-two patients died before they could reach the operating room, including 15 who were declared dead on arrival and 27 who died before reaching the operating room. All patients underwent angiography, followed by immediate operation. The mortality rate of those who reached the operating room was 34%, and paralysis-paraplegia occurred in 26% of survivors. A review of 53 patients admitted between January 1, 2000, and April 2005 documented an overall mortality of 26% and a paralysis rate of 4.5% in operative survivors. Only 3 patients died during initial evaluation, 2 who were in arrest on arrival. Eight patients were managed nonoperatively, and 13 were managed by means of deliberate delay before intervention to improve physiologic status. Finally, 19 patients were managed with endografts. Conclusion The improved outcome over the decade since the initial experience reflects both a reduced severity of injury attributable to restraint systems and a more flexible approach to the acute management, which can modify the effect of associated injuries.
Experimental investigation of the differential gain in semiconductor lasers and its influence on Q‐switching performance

The gain spectra of AlGaInP, single quantum well, laser diodes were obtained by measurement of their spontaneous emission spectra and subsequent conversion according to the Einstein relations. From these spectra the ratio of differential absorption to differential gain, γ was calculated. At energies greater than the lasing transition a threefold increase in the differential absorption may be achieved in compressively strained devices, giving a value of γ=14.4. These results indicate that by detuning the saturable absorber energy within a Q‐switched device by 20 meV a doubling of the inversion factor may be obtained.