cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Recent Developments In The Dissector/Restorer Framing Camera Tube

The dissector/restorer framing camera tube (DRFCT) has been characterized with a Nd:YAG mode-locked laser. The 3-frame format tube has a 0.5 x 0.5 cm field-of-view (referenced to the photocathode) and 0.3 ns duration frames with better than 5 1p/mm spatial resolution (at cathode) using a microwave triode tube driver.*© (1983) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.
Histochemistry of mouse cervical epithelium during chemical carcinogenesis

Histochemical investigations have been made on cryostat sections of mouse cervix implanted with either a beeswax-impregnated thread (control) or a 20-methylcholanthrene-impregnated thread in one of the cervical canals. New squamous epithelium (epidermization) and squamous carcinomas were observed in approximately 100% and 50% of the cases respectively, after 4–6 weeks. The 6-week animals showed more advanced tumours compared with the animals killed after 4 weeks. The glycogen staining of the cervical canals treated with beeswax- or methylcholanthrene-impregnated thread was greatly enhanced compared with the untreated control cervical canal. The activity of glycogen synthetase, phosphorylase and lactic dehydrogenase was enhanced in the treated part of the cervix. On the other hand, the activity of acid phosphatase and simple esterase was diminished in the cervical canal treated with beeswax- or methylcholanthrene-impregnated thread. Some other enzymes did not show any changes. Alkaline phosphatase preparations, however, showed significant reduction in the enzyme activity in the carcinogen-treated cervical canal compared with either the untreated or the beeswax-treated canal, an effect which could be specifically attributed to the effect of the carcinogen.
Getting to PHILCOM, Changing Your Clothes

I arrived in the United States in the mid-1990s to a job at New York University. I went looking for cultural studies and links to the left, and found them via Social Text...
Neuropeptide Y reduces oral ethanol intake in alcohol-preferring (P) rats following a period of imposed ethanol abstinence.

Background: Intracerebroventricular infusion of NPY has been shown to reduce ethanol intake in alcohol-preferring (P) rats in a limited access procedure. The purpose of the present investigation was to extend this finding to a two-bottle free-choice continuous access procedure in groups of rats that either did or did not undergo a period of imposed ethanol abstinence and ethanol reinstatement. Methods: In experiment 1, female P rats were given 6 weeks of continuous access to ethanol (8% w/v) and water. Ethanol was removed for a period of 2 weeks during which the rats were surgically implanted with a cannula into the lateral ventricle. Following the ethanol abstinence period and immediately before ethanol reinstatement, rats received a single infusion of either artificial cerebrospinal fluid or NPY (10 μg). Ethanol and water intake was measured at both 4 hr and 24 hr after infusion, and 24-hr intake measures were taken daily for 13 postinfusion days. Experiment 2 was run in parallel with experiment 1, with the exception that rats did not undergo a period of imposed ethanol abstinence. Also, food intake was measured 4 and 24 hr after infusion. Results: Following 2 weeks of imposed ethanol abstinence (experiment 1), NPY suppressed ethanol intake through postinfusion day 2. After uninterrupted continuous access to ethanol (experiment 2), NPY suppressed ethanol intake to a lesser extent and this effect lasted only 24 hr. NPY increased food intake at the 4-hr but not the 24-hr measure. Conclusions: Previous findings that central administration of NPY suppresses ethanol intake in P rats are extended by this study to a continuous access procedure, and the effect is amplified following a period of imposed ethanol abstinence. This effect of NPY compares favorably to results obtained with other treatments tested in similar animal models and provides support for a role of NPY in an allostasis model of addiction.
Activity of the neurons of the medial region of the septum of the rabbit brain in early ontogenesis.

In rabbits aged from seven days to two and a half months the activity of individual cells of the nucleus of the diagonal band of Broca (NDB) and of the medial nuclei of the septum (MNS) of the brain and the EEG of the dorsal hippocampus (DH) — the CA2-CA3 zones — have been recorded simultaneously. It has been found that the specific (burst) activity of the neurons of the septum appears first on the 8th–11th day on the background of the action of eserine. The distinct bimodal nature of the histograms of the interimpulse intervals characteristic of the burst sequence of distribution of the potentials appears only from an age of 14 days. The deficient nature of impulse-formation of the NDB and of the MNS is acquired at about the 20th day of life. A parallel evolution of the impulse activity of the cells of the medial region of the septum and the synchronized activity of the hippocampus in ontogenesis is traced. The formation of the theta activity correlates with an increase in frequency of the burst activity of the neurons of the septum connected with an increase in the mean frequency of impulse formation of the cells, the concentration of the impulses into a packet, and the growth of the regularity of the burst discharges with age.
Role of Platelets in Dissolution of Blood Clots

VENOUS blood (1 vol.) diluted with 0.05 M phosphate buffer, pH 7.4 (9 vol.), and clotted with bovine thrombin (Parke, Davis and Co.; 1 unit per ml.) will afterwards dissolve in 2–8 h at 37° C if the diluted blood is handled in siliconized glassware and kept at 0° C for 30 min after the addition of thrombin1. The time required for the clot to dissolve is 12–24 h when the diluted blood is centrifuged at 1,800g for 10 min (4° C) and the supernatant alone is clotted. If the supernatant and infranatant are mixed and then clotted with thrombin, the clot will again dissolve in 2–8 h. Centrifugation at 1,800g for 10 min would be expected to remove only the cellular components from the supernatant.
Teaching Macroeconomics by Bringing Marx into the Classroom

The aggregate demand and supply graph is a staple in undergraduate macroeconomics courses. The foundations of this model and questions it addresses are often different from radical economics. The current article develops an alternative to the aggregate demand and supply framework. In the alternative framework, students are quickly introduced to certain aspects of Marx’s economic theory with the aid of a simple graphical tool.
Transforming Growth Factor-β1 Inhibits Topoisomerase IIα Expression Independent of Cell Cycle Arrest

Transforming Growth Factor-β1 Inhibits Topoisomerase IIα Expression Independent of Cell Cycle Arrest
A Doctoral Field in Business Strategy-Policy

No less than twenty doctoral programs in Business Strategy-Policy are needed immediately to meet the academic market needs of the coming decade, created by the recent AACSB requirement of the "core" course at both the undergraduate and MBA levels.The objectives of the course have been universally defined and confirmed by the Gordon and Howell and the Pierson reports, and by the AACSB. Recent studies of the field have identified four major trends: emphasis on strategy as well as policy formulation and administration, fusion of strategy-policy with business-society and business environmental problems, comparative analysis of business firms with their economic-industrial environments, and the inclusion and emphasis of the role and functions of the board of directors.Professional education for business defined by the AACSB has for the past twenty years focused on the practitioner application of the administrative process to business problems (Business Administration), thereby suggesting at least a 50-50% poin...
An experimental investigation of oldhamite, CaS; and the petrologic significance of oldhamite in meteorites

Oldhamite, a mineral found only in enstatite-rich stony meteorites, was studied under controlled atmospheric and temperature conditions over the pO2 range 10−15 to 10−10 atm and at temperatures between 800° and 1000°C. A maximum upper stability limit was determined by studying the reaction 12CaS + O2 = 12CaSO4. The results are expressed by the equation log pO2 = 8.58 − 25,350T. These results along with previous studies may be used to estimate 1. (1) the temperature at which a meteorite last equilibrated and 2. (2) the composition of the coexisting gas phase during the formation of enstatite chondrites. For the Jajh deh Kot Lalu enstatite chondrite in which the composition of the phases has been determined accurately, the temperature at which this chondrite last equilibrated is estimated to be 720 ± 140°C. The presence of CaS, graphite, metallic Si, and Fe poor pyroxene indicates that the coexisting gas phase during the formation of enstatite chondrites strongly resembled a gas of cosmic composition. However, relative to a gas of cosmic composition, the required gas phase must have had a somewhat lower H2OH2 ratio and a higher H2SH2O ratio. Several processes by which such a gas could evolve from a gas of cosmic composition are considered, and it is suggested that a slight CO fractionation may have occurred in certain regions of the solar nebula.
Organometallic vapor phase epitaxy of high-performance strained-layer InGaAs-AlGaAs diode lasers

Graded-index separate-confinement heterostructure single-quantum-well lasers incorporating a strained In/sub x/Ga/sub 1-x/As active layer, with x >
Aseptic meningitis, hemolytic anemia, hepatitis, and orthostatic hypotension in a patient treated with trimethoprim-sulfamethoxazole.

Purpose The case of a patient who developed aseptic meningitis, hemolytic anemia, hepatitis, and orthostatic hypotension simultaneously during treatment with trimethoprim–sulfamethoxazole is described. Background A healthy 37-year-old African- American man was receiving treatment with trimethoprim–sulfamethoxazole double strength. This was the patient’s first experience with trimethoprim– sulfamethoxazole, and he was not taking any other medications during the treatment period. He had been taking trimethoprim–sulfamethoxazole for approximately eight days when he revisited his family physician, complaining of headaches, dizziness, difficulty with speech, weakness, and itching on the trunk of his body and legs, where a maculopapular rash was noted. Orthostatic hypotension was also noted at that visit, with a standing blood pressure measurement of 95/80 mm Hg. Based on these findings and since the patient had no signs of infection, his physician instructed him to discontinue the drug. The patient was admitted to the emergency department of a local hospital within two days due to ongoing headache, elevated temperature, and nuchal rigidity, symptoms suggestive of meningitis. Because of the presence of hemolysis, the patient underwent testing for glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency, for which he tested positive. The patient was discharged five days after admission and referred to a hematology clinic for follow-up. The patient has since returned to his routines of daily living and has reported no fatigue or other lingering adverse symptoms. Conclusion A 37-year-old African- American man with G6PD deficiency developed hemolytic anemia, hepatitis, orthostatic hypotension, and aseptic meningitis simultaneously after using trimethoprim–sulfamethoxazole.
Contributions of International Medical Graduates to US Biomedical Research: The Experience of US Medical Schools

International medical graduates (IMGs) constitute an appreciable fraction of full-time faculty at US medical schools and of principal investigators (PIs) on National Institutes of Health (NIH) research project grants. Information from the Faculty Roster of the Association of American Medical Colleges (AAMC) and from the NIH Consolidated Grant Applicant File (CGAF) was examined to assess IMGs' contribution to US medical school faculty and research. The study found that the number of IMG full-time faculty more than doubled over two decades-from 7,866 individuals in 1984 to 17,085 individuals in 2004, but that IMGs remained relatively stable as a share of physician full-time faculty (from 18.8 to 19.4%); the share is somewhat higher (20.0% of full-time physician faculty in 1984 to 23.7% in 2004) if faculty with degrees of unknown provenance are included. From 1984 to 2004, IMGs increased as a share of full-time physician faculty who are principal investigators on NIH research grants from 16.5% (540) to 21.3% (1,143). Including faculty with incomplete data on degree provenance, the corresponding IMG share increases to 18.0 and 24.0% respectively. Thus, IMGs comprise at least one-fifth and more likely one-fourth of all full-time faculty physicians who are PIs on NIH research project grants. The proportion of IMG full-time physician faculty who are in basic science departments is about twice that of their US/Canadian counterparts, as is the proportion of IMG physician PIs. Slightly fewer than half (48%) of full-time IMG faculty PIs pursue human subjects research (as coded by the NIH), while the majority of US/Canadian counterparts pursue human subjects research.
An ab initio investigation of the interactions involving the aromatic group of the set of fluorinated N-(4-sulfamylbenzoyl)benzylamine inhibitors and human carbonic anhydrase II.

In this work we investigate the interactions that occur between the aromatic portion of the set of fluorinated N-(4-sulfamylbenzoyl)benzylamine (SBB) inhibitors and two residues of Human Carbonic Anhydrase II (HCAII), namely Phe-131 and Pro-202. Calculations were carried out at the MP2/aug-cc-pVDZ level of theory and the counterpoise scheme of Boys and Bernardi was employed to account for the basis set superposition error. The most striking result obtained here is that the SBB phenyl ring interacts at least as strongly with the proline pyrrolidine ring as with the phenylalanine phenyl ring, which is surprising because aromatic−aromatic interactions have long been thought to be particularly favorable in protein and protein−ligand structure. Comparison of the MP2 binding energies to those obtained with the Hartree−Fock method indicates that the attraction between the proline pyrrolidine ring and the SBB phenyl ring is largely attributable to dispersion forces. These favorable interactions between pyrrolidin...
Optimal antithetic sampling plans

Antithetic sampling, a broad family of sampling plans developed by Hammersley and Morton (1956) and Handscomb (1958), is one of the most popular variance reduction techniques being used in simulation. However, many antithetic sampling plans are too computationally complex to be of practical use in simulation. Moreover, the only generally applicable methods for deriving optimal antithetic sampling plans, Hammersley and Handscomb (1964) and Andreasson (1972a, 1972b, 1972c), are very uneconomic in practice since they require that the variance covariance matrix of all likely antithetic estimates be known. Computational considerations which determine the efficiency of any antithetic sampling plan are used to identify systematic sampling plans as an efficient and appropriate subset of the Hammersley and Handscomb family. This subset includes all of the extensions of antithetic sampling in the literature The problem of identifying the least variance antithetic sampling plan for use with a given model sampling al...
Dried blood spots for the enzymatic diagnosis of lysosomal storage diseases in dogs and cats

Background In people, lysosomal storage diseases (LSD) can be diagnosed by assaying enzyme activities in dried blood spots (DBS). Objective The aim of this study was to evaluate the feasibility of using DBS samples from dogs and cats to measure lysosomal enzymatic activities and diagnose LSD. Methods Drops of fresh whole blood collected in EDTA from dogs and cats with known or suspected LSD and from clinically healthy dogs and cats were placed on neonatal screening cards, dried, and mailed to the Metabolic Laboratory, University Children's Hospital, Frankfurt, Germany. Activities of selected lysosomal enzymes were measured using fluorescent substrates in a 2-mm diameter disk (~2.6 μL blood) punched from the DBS. Results were expressed as nmol substrate hydrolyzed per mL of blood per minute or hour. Results Reference values were established for several lysosomal enzyme activities in DBS from dogs and cats; for most enzymes, activities were higher than those published for human samples. Activities of β-glucuronidase, N-acetylglucosamine-4-sulfatase (arylsulfatase B), α-mannosidase, α-galactosidase, α-fucosidase, and hexosaminidase A were measureable in DBS from healthy cats and dogs; α-iduronidase activity was measureable only in cats. In samples from animals with LSD, markedly reduced activity of a specific enzyme was found. In contrast, in samples from cats affected with mucolipidosis II, activities of lysosomal enzymes were markedly increased. Conclusions Measurement of lysosomal enzyme activities in DBS provides an inexpensive, simple, and convenient method to screen animals for suspected LSD and requires only a small sample volume. For diseases in which the relevant enzyme activity can be measured in DBS, a specific diagnosis can be made.
Onset of alcohol or substance use disorders following treatment for adolescent depression.

Objective This study tested whether positive response to short-term treatment for adolescent major depressive disorder (MDD) would have the secondary benefit of preventing subsequent alcohol use disorders (AUD) or substance use disorders (SUD). Method For 5 years, we followed 192 adolescents (56.2% female; 20.8% minority) who had participated in the Treatment for Adolescents with Depression Study (TADS; TADS Team, 2004) and who had no prior diagnoses of AUD or SUD. TADS initial treatments were cognitive behavior therapy (CBT), fluoxetine alone (FLX), the combination of CBT and FLX (COMB), or clinical management with pill placebo (PBO). We used both the original TADS treatment response rating and a more restrictive symptom count rating. During follow-up, diagnostic interviews were completed at 6- or 12-month intervals to assess onset of AUD or SUD as well as MDD recovery and recurrence. Results Achieving a positive response to MDD treatment was unrelated to subsequent AUD but predicted a lower rate of subsequent SUD, regardless of the measure of positive response (11.65% vs. 24.72%, or 10.0% vs. 24.5%, respectively). Type of initial MDD treatment was not related to either outcome. Prior to depression treatment, greater involvement with alcohol or drugs predicted later AUD or SUD, as did older age (for AUD) and more comorbid disorders (for SUD). Among those with recurrent MDD and AUD, AUD preceded MDD recurrence in 24 of 25 cases. Conclusion Effective short-term adolescent depression treatment significantly reduces the rate of subsequent SUD but not AUD. Alcohol or drug use should be assessed prior to adolescent MDD treatment and monitored even after MDD recovery.
The cognitive consequences of object-oriented design

The most valuable tools or methodologies supporting the design of interactive systems are those that simultaneously ease the process of design and improve the usability of the resulting system. We consider the potential of the object-oriented paradigm in providing this dual function. After briefly reviewing what is known about the design process and some important characteristics of object-oriented programming and design, we speculate on the possible cognitive consequences of this paradigm for problem understanding, problem decomposition, and design result. We conclude with research issues raised by our analysis.
Relationship between atopic status and nasal interleukin 10 and 11 levels in infants with respiratory syncytial virus bronchiolitis

Background Interleukin 10 (IL-10) and IL-11 are known to have anti-inflammatory activities, and they have been implicated in the pathogenesis of respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection. Objectives To determine IL-10, IL-11, and myeloperoxidase levels in nasal secretions of infants with acute RSV bronchiolitis and to investigate whether there are any differences in these levels in patients with vs without atopy. Methods We measured IL-10, IL-11, and myeloperoxidase levels in nasal secretions of 44 infants (20 were atopic) with acute RSV bronchiolitis. The nasal secretion samples were obtained from patients at hospital admission and were stored immediately at −70° C until analysis. Atopy was defined as having at least 1 positive skin prick test reaction to common allergens, a history of atopic dermatitis, or a high serum IgE level compared with age-matched controls. Results Levels of IL-10, IL-11, and myeloperoxidase increased significantly in samples from infants with acute RSV bronchiolitis. Levels of IL-10 and IL-11 were significantly lower in patients with vs without atopy ( P P = .18). Patients with severe symptoms tended to have lower IL-10 levels ( P = .09), but no relationship was shown between symptom severity and IL-11 levels. Nasal myeloperoxidase levels were significantly higher in patients with severe symptoms ( P Conclusions Production of IL-10 and IL-11 was significantly lower in patients with vs without atopy during acute RSV bronchiolitis. The airway inflammation induced by RSV infection may be different in patients with vs without atopy, and this is associated with lower induction of these immunoregulatory cytokines in children with atopy.
Abstract: Evaluating Topology Mapping via Graph Partitioning

Intelligently mapping applications to machine network topologies has been shown to improve performance, but considerable developer effort is required to find good mappings. Techniques from graph partitioning have the potential to automate topology mapping and relieve the developer burden. Graph partitioning is already used for load balancing parallel applications, but can be applied to topology mapping as well. We show performance gains by using a topology-targeting graph partitioner to map sparse matrix-vector and volumetric 3-D FFT kernels onto a 3-D torus network.
An external theorem on divisors of a number

Main result: Let @? be a collection of divisors of N = p^e"11...p^e^"^n"n (e"1 = mine"i for all [email protected] {1,..., n}) such that if any two numbers in @? are coprime then their common multiple is N and maximal with respect to this condition, i.e. there is no other collection satisfying this condition which properly contains @?. We prove that @? consists of at least e"1 @?^n"i" "=" "2 (e"i + 1)-(e"1 - 2) elements.
On the image of p-adic regulators

Let V denote a complete discrete valuation ring with a fraction eld K of characteristic 0 and a perfect residue eld k of positive characteristic p, let V0 = W (k) denote the ring of Witt vectors with coe cients in k, and K0 its fraction eld. Set GK = Gal(K=K). Let X be a smooth and projective scheme over V . For i = 0, 2i − n− 1= 0, consider the Galois representation L = Hn et (XK ;Qp(i)). In the work of Bloch and Kato on the special values of L-functions of motives [2], the question of describing the images of the Soul e’s p-adic Chern character
Nutrient-responsive Promoter Elements of the V4 Gene of Dictyostelium discoideum

Expression of the V4 gene of Dictyostelium discoideum is required for the transition from growth to development in response to an altered nutrient environment. In addition, the expression itself is sensitive to the types and amounts of nutrients supporting growth. We describe the structure of the two copies of the V4 gene and the relationship between these genes and the two V4 mRNA species produced during growth. In addition, three regions were identified within the upstream sequences of the V4b gene that are important for proper transcription. At least two of the regions can, independently of the others, confer deactivation of transcription upon initiation of development and thus serve as redundant regulatory sequences. However, the regions are differentially responsive to the types and amounts of nutrients present in the cell's environment and thus are distinct from one another.
Orthogonal polynomial bases of the orthogonal and symplectic groups

The explicit construction of orthogonal polynomial bases of the orthogonal groups in a Gelfand-Cetlin basis is given. An indication how to compute orthogonal bases for the symplectic groups is presented.
The calcineurin phosphatase complex modulates immunogenic B cell responses

A series of signal-directed transitions regulates the development of distinct populations of self-tolerant B cells and ultimately the production of antibody-producing plasma cells. We studied the role of calcineurin/NFAT signaling in B cells by deleting the regulatory b1 subunit of calcineurin specifically in B cells. Follicular (FO) and marginal zone (MZ) B cells develop normally in these mice, but B1 cell numbers are reduced. In vitro, calcineurin b1-deficient B cells have a cell-intrinsic proliferation defect downstream of the B cell receptor. These mice have higher total serum IgM despite the absence of B1 cells and have enhanced T cell-independent-1 responses. Conversely, mice with calcineurin b1-deficient B cells develop larger germinal centers and have reduced plasma cell development and antigen-specific antibody production during T cell-dependent immune responses. By several different criteria, calcineurin is dispensable for B cell tolerance, indicating that this phosphatase complex modulates immunogenic, but not tolerogenic, responses in vivo.
THE TEMPORAL RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN PROTEIN PHOSPHATASE, ICE/CED-3 PROTEASES, INTRACELLULAR ACIDIFICATION, AND DNA FRAGMENTATION IN APOPTOSIS

Apoptosis occurs during development and tissue homeostasis, and under conditions of physical and chemical stress. During apoptosis, cells digest their DNA, decrease intracellular pH, shrink, exhibit protein phosphatase activity, and activate members of the ICE/CED-3 family of proteases. This protease activity is identified by cleavage of poly(ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP). Phosphatase activity during apoptosis is observed as dephosphorylation of the retinoblastoma susceptibility protein (Rb). Serine/threonine phosphatase inhibitors can prevent dephosphorylation of Rb and apoptosis, suggesting that Rb dephosphorylation is an indication of a critical regulator of apoptosis. The experiments described here were designed to establish the temporal relationship between these events. Apoptosis was induced in human ML-1 cells by the topoisomerase inhibitor etoposide. An inhibitor of the ICE/CED-3 protease family, z-VAD-fluoromethylketone (FMK), showed concentration-dependent protection from PARP cleavage, intracellular acidification, DNA digestion, early changes in membrane permeability, and cell shrinkage, thereby placing all of these events downstream of the ICE/CED-3 protease action. However, z-VAD-FMK did not prevent the dephosphorylation of Rb, placing this change upstream of the protease. These results suggest that the imbalance between protein phosphatase and kinase that is responsible for the dephosphorylation of Rb is also responsible for the activation of ICE/CED-3 proteases, which in turn is responsible for all the other events associated with apoptosis.
On relations and homology of the Dehn quandle

Isotopy classes of circles on an orientable surface F of genus g form a quandle Q under the operation of Dehn twisting about such circles. We derive certain fundamental relations in the Dehn quandle and then consider a homology theory based on this quandle. We show how certain types of relations in the quandle translate into cycles and homology representatives in this homology theory, and characterize a large family of 2‐cycles representing homology elements. Finally we draw connections to Lefschetz fibrations, showing isomorphism classes of such fibrations over a disk correspond to quandle homology classes in dimension 2, and discuss some further structures on the homology. 18G60, 57T99
Selected AI-Related Dissertations Assembled

The following are citations selected by title and abstract as being related to AI, resulting from a computer search, using the BRS Information Technologies retrieval service, of the Dissertation Abstracts International (DAI) database produced by University Microfilms International.The online file includes abstracts, which are not published in this listing, but the citations below do include the DAI reference for finding the abstract in the published DAI. Other elements of the citation are author; university, degree, and, if available, number of pages; title; UM order number and year-month of DAI; and DAI subject category chosen by the author of the dissertation. References are sorted first by the initial DAI subject category and second by the author. In addition the database includes masters abstracts, denoted by MAI (Masters Abstracts International) instead of DAI as the reference to the abstract in the published MAI.Unless otherwise specified, paper or microform copies of dissertations may be ordered from University Microfilms International, Dissertation Copies, Post Office Box 1764, Ann Arbor, MI 48106; telephone for U.S. (except Michigan, Hawaii, Alaska): 1-800-521-3042, for Canada: 1-800-268-6090. Price lists and other ordering and shipping information are in the introduction to the published DAI.
Order-of-magnitude faster isosurface rendering in software on a PC than using dedicated general-purpose rendering hardware

The purpose of this work is to compare the speed of isosurface rendering in software with that using dedicated hardware. Input data consists of 10 different objects form various parts of the body and various modalities with a variety of surface sizes and shapes. The software rendering technique consists of a particular method of voxel-based surface rendering, called shell rendering. The hardware method is OpenGL-based and uses the surfaces constructed from our implementation of the 'Marching Cubes' algorithm. The hardware environment consists of a variety of platforms including a Sun Ultra I with a Creator3D graphics card and a Silicon Graphics Reality Engine II, both with polygon rendering hardware, and a 300Mhz Pentium PC. The results indicate that the software method was 18 to 31 times faster than any hardware rendering methods. This work demonstrates that a software implementation of a particular rendering algorithm can outperform dedicated hardware. We conclude that for medical surface visualization, expensive dedicated hardware engines are not required. More importantly, available software algorithms on a 300Mhz Pentium PC outperform the speed of rendering via hardware engines by a factor of 18 to 31.
Management of term breech presentation: A protocl of external cephalic version and selective trial of labor

Abstract Objective: The results of a program of external version and selective trial of labor for term breech presentation are reviewed. This is a follow-up to our 1987 report describing management of singleton, term breech presentations and expands our 16-year experience to 1180 cases. Study design: All term breech presentations cared for in 1985 through 1992 are reviewed and outcome contrasted with those predicted in our earlier report. During these 8 years a trial of external version was offered if a breech presentation was identified after 36 completed weeks' gestation and before active labor. The criteria for allowing a trial of labor are detailed. Results: Four hundred sixty-four breech presentations were identified for review. Three hundred eighty-two (82%) were diagnosed before active labor. Of these, 344 (90%) underwent an attempt at external version, of which 174 (51%) were successful. The 290 breech presentations where version either was not attempted or was unsuccessful were stratified into three groups: cesarean section without labor (147), trial of labor with cesarean section (90), and trial of labor with vaginal delivery (53). The 174 cases where version was successful were stratified into two additional groups on the basis of the eventual route of delivery. Careful review of maternal and fetal variables indicates that a trial of labor in selected patients resulted in vaginal delivery in only 37% but was achieved without an increase in fetal or maternal mortality or morbidity. Surprisingly, 54 of the 174 cases where version was successful were ultimately delivered by cesarean section. This 31% rate of cesarean delivery is significantly higher than the 15% rate observed for all cases of term, singleton vertex presentation. A higher prevalence of cases complicated by failed progress in labor and failed induction contributed to the excess. Conclusion: External version is successful in 51% of cases of term breech presentation. With careful selection, cases where version has failed can be allowed to labor and be delivered vaginally. The incidence of cesarean section (31%) for those cases where a version had been successful was surprisingly high, largely because of an increase in labor abnomalities and failed labor inductions.
Fractionation of various heavy oils and bitumen for characterization based on polarity

Abstract Shale oil, coal liquid, heavy petroleum oil, and oil sand bitumen were separated into four fractions through a silica gel column, with good recovery and repeatability. Structural characterization was performed using elemental analysis i.r., and 1 H n.m.r. by the modified Brown-Ladner equations as well as the five-regions method. The structural parameters revealed that coal liquid contained the most polar material while crude oil contained the least. Shale oil had the highest nitrogen content, while oil sand bitumen had the highest sulphur content, and coal liquid had the highest oxygen content. The molecular weight of crude oil was the highest and that of coal liquid was the lowest. The degree of condensation of the aromatic system was as follows: oil sand bitumen > crude oil > coal liquid > shale oil. Coal liquid contained mainly internal olefins while shale oil contained mainly α-olefins. The distribution pattern of the four fractions was different for each fossil fuel studied. This suggests a separation scheme that is a simple, efficient, and rapid technique to fractionate heavy oil and bitumen samples.
Torsional Splittings in Small-Amplitude Vibrational Fundamental States of Methanol-Type Molecules

Abstract Group-theoretical methods are used to show that inverted torsional splittings in fundamental levels of small-amplitude vibrations of methanol-like molecules can be parameterized and understood in terms of the energy level patterns induced when a pair of high-barrier torsionally split components of given v t and t A + t E symmetry species in the molecular symmetry group G 6 is allowed to interact with small-amplitude vibrational modes of symmetry v E . Such doubly degenerate v E vibrational modes arise rather naturally in G 6 (isomorphic with the point-group C 3 v ) for those methyl-group vibrations in point-group- C s asymmetric tops such as CH 3 –CHO that are analogs of the degenerate methyl-group stretch, bend, and rocking vibrations in point-group- C 3 v symmetric tops such as CH 3 –C≡C–H. The present group-theoretical treatment is somewhat different from, but (as a comparison of model parameters shows) still fundamentally similar to, the recent local mode explanation of inverted torsional splittings in the C–H stretching fundamental region in methanol.
Proton polarization in pp elastic and inclusive processes at beam momenta from 20 to 400 GeV/c

The polarization of the recoil proton has been measured in both high-energy elastic and inclusive proton-proton scattering at the internal-target area of Fermi National Accelerator Laboratory. The polarization in elastic scattering was measured at a number of center-of-mass energies up to ..sqrt..s-bar=19.7 GeV. Indications of negative polarization were seen at the higher center-of-mass energies for t values of -0.6, -0.8, and -1.0 (GeV/c)/sup 2/. In the inclusive process p+p..-->..p/sub arrow-up/+X the polarization was found to be independent of beam energy from 100 to 400 GeV for x/sub F/ values of -0.7, -0.8, -0.9. The polarization at P/sub T/=1.0 GeV/c, x/sub F/=-0.7 and x/sub F/=-0.8 was less than 2.5%. This is significantly lower than the corresponding measurements reported for ..lambda../sup 0/ inclusive polarization.
THE INFLATED CALYX OF PHYSALIS ANGULATA: A REFUGE FROM PARASITISM FOR HELIOTHIS SUBFLEXA

Heliothis subflexa and H. virescens are the only known hosts of the parasitoid Cardiochiles nigriceps. H. subflexa, a specialist on plants in the genus Physalis, appears to have a lower parasitism rate compared to the polyphagous H. virescens. Physalis is characterized by producing fruits that are concealed within a paper-like lantern, within which H. subflexa larvae feed. We conducted an experiment to determine whether H. subflexa is protected from parasitism by feeding within the lanterns of Physalis. We compared parasitism rates of wild H. subflexa larvae on normal P. angulata plants to parasitism rates of larvae on plants that had the tips of all the lanterns removed to allow parasitoids access to the larvae. A higher percentage of larvae were parasitized on plants with cut lanterns (48.25%) than uncut lanterns (6.74%). A second experiment was conducted to determine whether volatiles released from cut lanterns influenced the searching of C. nigriceps. This experiment consisted of the two treatments from the previous experiment and a third in which the tips of lanterns were removed and the resulting hole was stapled shut. Cutting plants did not make the plants more attractive to searching parasitoids. We conclude that H. subflexa gains protection from parasitism by feeding within the inflated calyx of Physalis.
Applying Model-Based Design to Large-Scale Systems Development: Modeling, Simulation, Test, & Deployment of a Multirotor Vehicle

The application of Model-Based Design to engineering design problems is well established in the aerospace industry. One of the challenges of large scale adoption is the increase in model and development process complexity. Models provide a means to communicate design information, define architectures that support team collaboration, verify specifications through simulations, and automatically generate code. This paper illustrates the use of a shared platform for communicating critical design elements within a collaborative environment. The case study presented in this paper demonstrates the development of a flight-control system for a multirotor vehicle within Simulink
Microscale Simulation of Martensitic Microstructure Evolution

A new model for the evolution of multivariant martensitic microstructure in single crystals and polycrystals is developed. In contrast with Landau-Ginzburg models, which are limited in practice to nanoscale specimens, this new scale-free model is valid for length scales greater than 100 nm and without an upper bound. It is based on a thermodynamic potential in the volume fractions of the martensitic variants that exhibits an instability resulting in microstructure formation. Simulated microstructures in elastic single crystals and polycrystals under uniaxial loading are in qualitative agreement with those observed experimentally.
PLUTO AND CHARON WITH THE HUBBLE SPACE TELESCOPE. I. MONITORING GLOBAL CHANGE AND IMPROVED SURFACE PROPERTIES FROM LIGHT CURVES

We present new light-curve measurements of Pluto and Charon taken with the Advanced Camera for Surveys High-resolution Camera on the Hubble Space Telescope. The observations were collected from 2002 June to 2003 June at 12 distinct sub-Earth longitudes over a range of solar phase angle 0. ◦ 36–1. 74—a larger range than previously measured. The new measurements of Pluto show that the light-curve amplitude has decreased since the mutual event season in the late 1980s. We also show that the average brightness has increased in the F555W (Johnson V equivalent) passband while the brightness has decreased in the F435W (Johnson B equivalent) passband. These data thus indicate a substantial reddening of the reflected light from Pluto. We find a weighted mean (B − V ) = 0.9540 ± 0.0010 that is considerably higher than the long-standing value of (B − V ) = 0.868 ± 0.003 most recently measured in 1992–1993. This change in color cannot be explained by the evolving viewing geometry and provides the strongest evidence to date for temporal changes on the surface of Pluto that are expected to be linked to volatile transport processes. We also report on the discovery of a new rotational modulation of Pluto’s hemispherical color that ranges from 0.92 to 0.98 with the least red color at the longitude of maximum light and most red at minimum light. The phase coefficient of Pluto is nearly the same as measured in 1992–1993 with a value of βB = 0.0392 ± 0.0064 and βV = 0.0355 ± 0.0045 mag deg −1 for the F435W and F555W data, respectively. The Pluto phase curve is still very close to linear but a small but significant nonlinearity is seen in the data. In contrast, the light curve of Charon is essentially the same as in 1992/1993, albeit with much less noise. We confirm that Charon’s Pluto-facing hemisphere is 8% brighter than the hemisphere facing away from Pluto. The color of Charon is independent of longitude and has a mean weighted value of (B − V ) = 0.7315 ± 0.0013. The phase curve for Charon is now shown to be strongly nonlinear and wavelength dependent. We present results for both Pluto and Charon that better constrain the single-particle scattering parameters from the Hapke scattering theory.
Hypoxia, BNip3 Proteins, and the Mitochondrial Death Pathway in Cardiomyocytes

Myocyte cell loss is a prominent and important pathogenic feature of cardiac ischemia. Limiting this loss is a desirable therapeutic goal, but the development of truly effective strategies to achieve that goal requires an understanding of the mechanisms by which ischemia triggers cell death. Investigators have turned to isolated and cultured cardiomyocytes to identify signaling pathways involved in the response to ischemia and to systematically test the effectiveness of prosurvival signaling pathways and various antideath molecules against ischemia-associated cellular insults, such as hypoxia.1–4⇓⇓⇓ Despite some success in this area, it is still not totally clear how hypoxia actually triggers cell death in cardiomyocytes. One attractive mechanism through which hypoxia might trigger cardiomyocyte cell death is explored by Regula and coworkers5 in this issue of Circulation Research . These investigators present data on the possible role of BNip3, a hypoxia-inducible member of the Bcl-2 family of apoptotic regulators, in mediating cardiomyocyte cell death. They show that (1) BNip3 expression is dramatically increased in response to hypoxia, (2) enforced expression of BNip3 causes cell death in normoxic cardiomyocytes, and (3) enforced expression of a BNip3 mutant lacking its transmembrane domain (BNip3ΔTM) partially blocks hypoxia-induced cell death. BNip3 is an attractive candidate to play a pivotal role in the cellular response to hypoxia because (1) its expression is regulated by the hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) transcription complex, the activation of which by hypoxia is a well-characterized response, (2) its activity is tied to the Bcl-2 family of apoptosis regulators, and (3) it is localized to the mitochondria, a site where numerous cell death regulatory pathways converge. In addition, the BNip3-related protein, Nix/BNip3L, has recently been shown to play an important role in the transition from compensatory hypertrophy to heart failure in the Gαq-overexpressing transgenic mouse.6 BNip3 stands for …
The State of the Global Catholic-Jewish Dialogue

Recently the global Catholic-Jewish dialogue has experienced considerable tension, particularly over certain decisions made by the Vatican. While some of these tensions which focused on the Bishop Williamson affair and the Pope's revision of the Tridentine Good Friday prayer have subsided, a residue remains that will require continued frank discussions. This afternoon, in the brief time I have, I will not recite these controversies which have received much press attention. Rather, I will focus on several more positive developments.
95 Antibodies to MHC Induce Autoimmunity Leading to Obliterative Airway Disease: Definition of Mechanisms

Antibodies to MHC Induce Autoimmunity Leading to Obliterative Airway Disease: Definition of Mechanisms V. Tiriveedhi, M. Takenaka, V. Subramanian, A. Gelman, G.A. Patterson, T. Mohanakumar. Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO; Pathology & Immunology, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO; Cardiothoracic Surgery, Washington University School of Medicine, St. Louis, MO.
Characterization of Whole Blood Gene Expression Profiles as a Sequel to Globin mRNA Reduction in Patients with Sickle Cell Disease

Global transcriptome analysis of whole blood RNA using microarrays has been proven to be challenging due to the high abundance of globin transcripts that constitute 70% of whole blood mRNA. This is a particular problem in patients with sickle cell disease, secondary to the high abundance of globin-expressing nucleated red blood cells and reticulocytes in the circulation. In order to accurately measure the steady state blood transcriptome in sickle cell patients we evaluated the efficacy of reducing globin transcripts in PAXgene stabilized RNA for genome-wide transcriptome analyses using microarrays. We demonstrate here by both microarrays and Q-PCR that the globin mRNA depletion method resulted in 55–65 fold reduction in globin transcripts in whole blood collected from healthy volunteers and sickle cell disease patients. This led to an improvement in microarray data quality by reducing data variability, with increased detection rate of expressed genes and improved overlap with the expression signatures of isolated peripheral blood mononuclear (PBMC) preparations. Analysis of differences between the whole blood transcriptome and PBMC transcriptome revealed important erythrocyte genes that participate in sickle cell pathogenesis and compensation. The combination of globin mRNA reduction after whole-blood RNA stabilization represents a robust clinical research methodology for the discovery of biomarkers for hematologic diseases.
Utilization-Focused Evaluation of Two Intensive Family Preservation Programs

The author evaluates The Brightside Intensive Family Intervention (IFI) Program and the Massachusetts Department of Social Services' Family Life Center (FLC), which share a referral pool of 47 clie...
Inverse flux analysis

Flux analysis has been dealing with the calculation of internal fluxes using external measurements. Although it provides useful insight, the analysis has little predictive power. Building on the existing analysis, inverse flux analysis was developed, which aims to predict the flux distribution based on intrinsic regulatory constraints. It is known that metabolic flux is guided by the stroichiometry. Under the constraint of stoichiometry, the metabolic system still has a few degrees of freedom, which require additional constraints to solve the system deterministically. At any given time, regulatory systems interact to determine the remaining constraints. Such regulatory constraints, if identified, can be used along with the stoichiometry to predict flux distribution. The simplest intrinsic constraints can be caused by enzyme saturation (e.g. glucose transport), limited supply of nutrient (e.g. oxygen), or forced increase in a particular flux due to enzyme overexpression. In the general case, we showed that the constraints derived from the dynamic metabolic control theory represent regulatory actions. Therefore, if determined, these constraints can be used to predict flux distribution.