cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Thermometric determination of cartilage matrix temperatures during thermal chondroplasty: Comparison of bipolar and monopolar radiofrequency devices***

Abstract Purpose: To compare cartilage matrix temperatures between monopolar radiofrequency energy (mRFE) and bipolar RFE (bRFE) at 3 depths under the articular surface during thermal chondroplasty. We hypothesized that cartilage temperatures would be higher at all cartilage depths for the bRFE device than for the mRFE device. Type of Study: Randomized trial using bovine cartilage. Methods: Sixty osteochondral sections from the femoropatellar joint of 15 adult cattle were used for this study. Using a custom jig, fluoroptic thermometry probes were placed at one of the following depths under the articular surface: 200 μm, 500 μm, or 2,000 μm. RF treatment was performed either with fluid flow (F) (120 mL/min) or without fluid flow (NF) (n = 5/depth/RFE device/flow; total specimens, 60). Irrigation fluid temperature was room temperature (22°C). Thermometry data were acquired at 4 Hz for 5 seconds with the RF probe off, for 20 seconds with the RF probe on, and then for 15 seconds with the RF probe off. During RF treatment, a 0.79-cm 2 area (1.0-cm diameter) of the articular surface centered over the thermometry probe was treated in a paintbrush manner in noncontact (bRFE) or light contact (mRFE). Results: Thermal chondroplasty with bRFE resulted in higher cartilage matrix temperatures compared with mRFE for all depths and regardless of fluid flow. Bipolar RFE resulted in temperatures of 95°C to 100°C at 200 μm and 500 μm under the surface, with temperatures of 75°C to 78°C at 2,000 μm. Fluid flow during bRFE application had no effect at 200 μm. Monopolar RFE resulted in temperatures of 61°C to 68°C at 200 μm, 54°C to 70°C at 500 μm under the surface, and 28°C to 30°C at 2,000 μm below the surface. A significant effect of fluid flow during mRFE application occurred at 200 μm (NF, 61°C; F, 63°C) and 500 μm (NF, 53°C; F, 68°C). Conclusions: In this study, we found significant differences between bRFE and a temperature-controlled mRFE device with regard to depth of thermal heating of cartilage in vitro. Bipolar RFE resulted in matrix temperatures high enough (>70°C) to kill cells as deep as 2,000 μm under the articular surface. Fluid flow during thermal chondroplasty had the effect of significantly increasing cartilage matrix temperatures at 200 and 500 μm with the mRFE device. During thermal chondroplasty, bRFE creates greater matrix temperature elevations at equivalent depths and treatment duration than does mRFE. Excessive temperatures generated deep within the cartilage matrix could cause full-thickness chondrocyte death, in vivo. Arthroscopy: The Journal of Arthroscopic and Related Surgery, Vol 18, No 4 (April), 2002: pp 339–346
The Role of Cyclic Nucleotide-Gated Channels in Cation Nutrition and Abiotic Stress

The plant cyclic nucleotide-gated channels (CNGCs) are a large family of ion channels that are regulated by both cyclic nucleotides (CNs) and calmodulin (CaM). CNGCs are generally permeable to a wide range of cations, including the essential macronutrients K+ and Ca2+, as well as potentially toxic cations such as Na+ or Pb2+. Several members of the CNGC family have been implicated in the uptake of cations and/or their subsequent distribution across plant organs. Others may participate in plant responses to salinity and abiotic stress by mediating Ca2+ signaling. Some CNGCs localize to the plasma membrane (PM) whereas others localize to intracellular membranes such as the tonoplast, and may therefore regulate the sequestration and release of cations among intracellular stores. It thus appears that plants have adapted certain CNGCs for specialized roles in maintaining cellular cation homeostasis.
The Impact of Motivational Types on First-Year GPA Among Military Spouses in College

ABSTRACTIn this study, military spouse students attending an online university were sampled. The authors looked at whether life satisfaction and motivation can predict grade point average (GPA) and found some evidence that individuals who are oriented toward enjoyment tended to have higher first-year GPAs. They also found that the relationship between extrinsic motivation and first-year GPA was moderated by military spouses' satisfaction with life. Those military spouses that were high in extrinsic motivation performed more poorly on first-year GPA when they had higher levels of life satisfaction. Future studies should continue to explore predictors for academic success among military spouses to aid colleges and universities with establishing policies, procedures, and programs to better assist this unique population.
Modes of Origin

Male-sterile individuals have arisen in nature under a variety of circumstances that might perhaps be considered as some of its regular sources. Of much greater importance to us are, however, the cases involving our familiar genetic materials. Frankel (1940) reported a rather high frequency of male-steriles occurring among the artificially inbred populations of several species of Hebe and in fact, he observed that smaller sized populations tend to favour their occurrence as would be expected for there being greater chances of sibmating or some other kind of inbreeding that helps reveal many recessive genotypes in homozygous condition. Furthermore, according to Frankel, male sterility once established, would depend for its maintenance upon such factors as “(a) balance between cross- and selffertility factors; (b) relative advantage of the two breeding systems; (c) population density; and (d) flowering mechanism of the species in question”. In wellbuffered genetic materials, an equilibrium may have been set up so that factors causing instability of meiotic behaviour (Darlington, 1937) or of sex expression (Shifriss, 1956) would be absent.
On to Afghanistan

De Tray served briefly on a team created by David Petraeus to review strategy in the Central Command area, which spread from Egypt to Afghanistan and Pakistan. That led to an invitation to participate as a development expert when the 173rd Airborne Division undertook a yearlong deployment to Afghanistan. De Tray describes his training to work alongside the military, learning the jargon, getting used to living on a forward operating base, and adjusting to new styles of communications, briefings, and transport. The author’s first work with the 173rd, in November 2009–December 2009, included meetings with US, Afghan, and international development officials in Kabul and a meeting of a provincial development committee in Puli Alam. During 2010, de Tray took four more trips to Afghanistan to work with the 173rd as the People’s Development Fund program was developed and piloted. On these trips, he met with international development, coalition, and Afghan officials, including some who were implementing the People’s Development Fund. Experiences illustrate the imbalance on the ground between the military’s heavily armed appearance and local settings and the contrast between the resources local military leaders controlled and those local officials had available.
Seasonal incidence of fall armyworm (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae) pupal parasitism in corn by Diapetimorpha introita and Cryptus albitarsis (Hymenoptera: Ichneumonidae).

Diapetimorpha introita (Cresson) occurred from May to November and was the primary parasitoid of fall armyworm (FAW), Spodoptera frugiperda (J. E. Smith), pupae in corn fields at Tifton, GA, from 1...
Job Mobility Among Millennials: Do They Stay or Do They Go?:

Millennials are a substantial segment of the workforce; they are perceived to be driven by higher pay, quick to be dissatisfied and leave a job, and committed to volunteering. This article examines...
Java Software Development with Event B: A Practical Guide

Abstract The cost of fixing software design flaws after the completion of a software product is so high that it is vital to come up with ways to detect software design flaws in the early stages of ...
Quantity Over Quality? Reproducible Psychological Science from a Mixed Methods Perspective

A robust dialogue about the (un)reliability of psychological science findings has emerged in recent years. In response, metascience researchers have developed innovative tools to increase rigor, transparency, and reproducibility, stimulating rapid improvement and adoption of open science practices. However, existing reproducibility guidelines are geared toward purely quantitative study designs. This leaves some ambiguity as to how such guidelines should be implemented in mixed methods (MM) studies, which combine quantitative and qualitative research. Drawing on extant literature, our own experiences, and feedback from 79 self-identified MM researchers, the current paper addresses two main questions: (a) how and to what extent do existing reproducibility guidelines apply to MM study designs; and (b) can existing reproducibility guidelines be improved by incorporating best practices from qualitative research and epistemology? In answer, we offer 10 key recommendations for use within and outside of MM research. Finally, we argue that good science and good ethical practice are mutually reinforcing and lead to meaningful, credible science.
Tracheostomy Decision-making Communication among Patients Receiving Prolonged Mechanical Ventilation.

Rationale: Patients receiving prolonged mechanical ventilation experience high morbidity and mortality, poor quality of life, and significant caregiving and financial burden. It is unclear what is ...
Freedom from Malnutrition and Disease

It may be evident for us in the food industry, but I should like to start this paper by reiterating the two foremost factors that have always affected and should continue to affect our operations. These are quantity and quality. “Quantity”, of course, refers to the stable and ample supply of food in regard to actual production, distribution and storage. “Quality”, on the other hand, is primarily concerned with the improvement of food products in terms of the consumer’s psychological and socio-physiological needs, as well as of the nutritional value and total biological acceptability of the food products themselves.
Acetylcholine turnover and release: the influence of energy metabolism and systemic choline availability.

Publisher Summary The normal level of acetylcholine (ACh) in the brain tissue results from a dynamic steady state between synthesis and release of this transmitter. This is important for cholinergic function since stores of ACh in most tissues are small and could not sustain release in the absence of synthesis for more than a few minutes. Synthesis of ACh appears to be determined by the availability of its precursors, acetyl-CoA, and choline (Ch) and the concentrations of the products. Acetyl-CoA for ACh synthesis originates from pyruvate and thus requires oxidative metabolism. Ch on the other hand is supplied through the high affinity transport system by net production from phospholipids, enzymatic hydrolysis of released ACh and plasma Ch. The brain cannot synthesize Ch de novo at a significant rate. This is an important limitation to cholinergic function, since, the cerebral compartment of free Ch is open to exchange with the circulation. It is noteworthy that all the reactions that utilize Ch require energy, while those that produce it by degradation of Ch containing phospholipids or ACh do not. As a consequence, conditions that restrict the supply of energy to the brain, such as ischemia and hypoxia, create high levels of cerebral free Ch and thus promote the loss of this molecule to the circulation with a potential for impairment of synthesis of ACh and phospholipids. It is conceivable that conditions that create an excess of arterial Ch will favor Ch gain by the brain and vice versa. It is then of interest to analyze the factors that govern the exchange of Ch between brain and blood, resulting from the sum of all the elemental processes described in the chapter. The level of arterial blood Ch on the other hand, depends on a dynamic steady state between Ch uptake and release by peripheral organs, which also have to be quantified. This requires an experimental approach in which the net exchange rate of Ch between blood and brain and extra-cerebral organs is measured from the arteriovenous difference for Ch and regional blood flows.
Impact of Random Variables Probability Distribution on Public Health Risk Assessment from Contaminated Soil

Probabilistic methods are now being applied increasingly to public health risk assessment instead of the deterministic, conservative, point estimates. An essential part of the probabilistic methods is the selection of probability distribution functions to represent the uncertainty of the random variables considered. We study the effect of selection of different probability distribution functions on the probabilistic outcome using the first-order reliability method (FORM). An example of cancer risk resulting from dermal contact with benzo(a)pyrene (BaP)-contaminated soil is given. Cancer potency factor, soil concentration, and fraction of skin area exposed were assigned normal, lognormal, and uniform probability distribution functions, and the effect of probability of exceeding a target risk level (termed the probability of failure) and sensitivity measures were studied. We investigated the question: what happens when one assumes different distribution shapes with the same mean and standard deviation? The ...
Learning to Play Nash from the Best

I experimentally investigate the eects of the ability to imitate successful others on convergence to the one-shot Nash equilibrium. I study a two-player game (Potters and Suetens Forthcoming) in which a single parameter determines the existence of strategic complementarities. I generally conrm previous ndings when learning from others is not possible: games with strategic complementarities converge more robustly to the Nash equilibrium than those without. However, I nd the reverse with the ability to learn from successful others as this information signicantly improves convergence in games without strategic complementarities but has no eect and possibly a negative eect on games with complementarities.
Modulation of astrocyte inducible nitric oxide synthase and cytokine expression by interferon β is associated with induction and inhibition of interferon γ-activated sequence binding activity

Although interferon (IFN)-β is firmly established as a therapeutic agent for multiple sclerosis, information regarding its role in astrocyte cytokine production is limited. In primary cultures of human astrocytes, we determined the effects of IFN-β on astrocyte cytokine [tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and interleukin (IL)-6] and inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression by ribonuclease protection assay and ELISA. We found that IFN-β inhibited astrocyte cytokine/iNOS induced by IL-1 plus IFN-γ, but in the absence of IFN-γ, IFN-β enhanced IL-1-induced cytokine/iNOS expression. Electrophoretic mobility shift analysis (EMSA) demonstrated that IFN-γ induced sustained IFN-γ-activated sequence (GAS) binding, while IFN-β induced transient GAS binding. When used together, IFN-β inhibited IFN-γ-induced GAS binding activity. Nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB) activation was not altered by either IFNs, whereas IFN stimulated response element (ISRE) was only activated by IFN-β and not IFN-γ. These results suggest that IFN-β can both mimic and antagonize the effect of IFN-γ by modulating induction of nuclear GAS binding activity. Our results demonstrating differential regulation of astrocyte cytokine/iNOS induction by IFN-β are novel and have implications for inflammatory diseases of the human CNS.
Characteristics of bone marrow fibroblast colony-forming cells (CFU-F) and their progeny in patients with myeloproliferative disorders

Chronic myeloproliferative disorders (MPD) are clonal diseases of the pluripotent hematopoietic stem cell frequently associated with myelofibrosis (MF). There is only indirect evidence indicating that the increased deposition of collagen in bone marrow matrix is a secondary phenomenon. A liquid culture system for cloning and growing bone marrow fibroblasts has permitted us to approach more directly the understanding of the pathogenesis of myelofibrosis by comparing the biophysical, growth, and functional characteristics of fibroblasts from normals, MPD patients without MF, and those with MF. In patients with MF, marrow fibroblast colony (CFU-F) formation could not be studied; fibroblasts were grown from marrow explants. CFU-E from normals and MPD patients exhibited similar cell density distribution and similar cell sedimentation rates. These similarities contrasted sharply with the differences seen when the erythroid and granulocyte-macrophage progenitors were studied by the same methods. There was a marked light density shift and a rapidly sedimenting shift of MPD hematopoietic colony-forming cells. Marrow fibroblasts from MPD patients with and without MF displayed the same in vitro growth characteristics as fibroblasts from normals. Both types of fibroblasts exhibited anchorage and serum dependence, and contact inhibition of growth. Marrow fibroblasts were also characterized for the presence and distribution of fibronectin and collagen types by immunofluorescent staining using monospecific antibodies. Extracellular matrix, membrane-, and cytoplasm-associated fibronectin, type I, type III, and type V collagen showed a similar staining pattern in both normal and myelofibrotic marrow fibroblasts. Plasminogen-dependent fibrinolytic activity elicited from normal and myelofibrotic marrow fibroblasts were equivalent. Chromosomal analysis of hematopoietic cells and marrow fibroblasts from Philadelphia chromosome positive chronic myelocytic leukemia patients with and without MF showed that the Philadelphia chromosome was present only in hematopoietic cells. The results of these studies taken together demonstrate that bone marrow collagen-producing cells from MPD patients with and without MF behave in vitro as do those from normals. These findings support the hypothesis that that the marrow fibrosis observed in patients with MPD results from a reactive process rather than from a primary disorder affecting the marrow collagen-producing cells.
Untangling π-π*/n-π* Orbital Interactions via Ultrafast Time-Resolved Photoelectron Spectroscopy

The ultrafast photochemical dynamics of π-π*/n-π* orbital interactions are determined using time-resolved photoelectron spectroscopy. We compare the spectra of several linear α,β-enones and 1,3-butadiene. We fmd two different ultrafast decay paths for the α,β-enones, both predicted by - calculations.
Rare‐Earth Elements and Metals

Metallurgical Uses Occurrence Keywords: rare-earth elements and metals; fraternal fifteen
New mass spectral approaches to ganglioside structure determinations.

Publisher Summary Over the years, mass spectrometry has been employed quite effectively in the structural determinations of many complex natural products, including gangliosides. The thermal instability and frequent heterogeneity of gangliosides make their analysis a challenging task that tries the limits of any new mass spectral methodology. There is now an exciting array of developments in mass spectrometry—new techniques and instruments offer opportunities for more sensitive and more detailed mass spectral analyses, as well as increased mass range. Liquid secondary ionization produces abundant molecular weight related peaks and fragments that provide structural details. Its effectiveness can be enhanced by utilization of collision-induced decomposition and a tandem mass spectrometer, and by the preparation of' derivatives designed to improve sensitivity and direct fragmentation along structurally informative pathways. Other ionization methods also show great promise for ganglioside analysis: supercritical fluid chromatographykhemical ionization (SFCKI) and electrospray ionization (ESI), each coupled successfully with both quadrupole and sector mass spectrometers, and matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization (MALDI), usually coupled to a time-of-flight mass spectrometer (TOFMS), but not limited to that analyzer.
A global spatiotemporal analysis of inland tropical cyclone maintenance or intensification

Forecasting tropical cyclone (TC) intensity changes over land is complicated by interactions of various surface and atmospheric features. Due to generally unfavorable conditions, many TCs weaken and decay soon after landfall. In some cases, TCs may also transition to extratropical cyclones (ETs). Despite the absence of oceanic forcing, a number of TCs have been observed to maintain or increase strength inland, termed “tropical cyclone maintenance or intensification’ (TCMIs). This study identifies the environments and characteristic features of TCMIs and explores physical processes that may help to produce an atmosphere conducive for tropical systems. The objectives are to compile an inland TC dataset over a 30-year period, quantify TC traits that may relate to maximum strength over land, and analyse surface and atmospheric conditions leading up to intensification. Of 227 inland TCs globally, 45 maintained or increased strength inland: 17 cold-core (ET), 16 warm-core (TCMI), and 12 hybrid cases. Analysis of synoptic conditions indicates that TCs persist when low-level temperature gradients are weak. Soil moisture gradients were in the vicinity of the cyclones at the time of intensification and may be forcing the TCMIs via increased surface latent heat flux (LHF). The area-averaged LHF threshold is found to be around 70 W m−2 for TCMI occurrence. In the 2 weeks leading up to each TCMI, the LHF tends to be higher than average over the intensification regions and provides further evidence of land surface forcing.
Influence of Exchangeable Ions on Germinability of Bacterial Spores

Rode, L. J. (The University of Texas, Austin), and J. W. Foster. Influence of exchangeable ions on germinability of bacterial spores. J. Bacteriol. 91:1582–1588. 1966.—Native spores of Bacillus megaterium Texas, and H-spores produced by titration of native spores to pH 4 with mineral acid, did not germinate in a solution of alanine and inosine unless a strong electrolyte was present. Ca-spores prepared from either H-spores or native spores did germinate efficiently in the same solution without a strong electrolyte. Of several other bivalent cations tested, only strontium and barium could substitute for calcium in conditioning spores for subsequent germination in the absence of an electrolyte. Variable responses were obtained with different metal ion forms of 62 unidentified soil isolates and several stock species of Bacillus. Although the pattern of response was not uniform in all organisms, ions played a crucial role in the germinability of the great majority of strains tested.
Feedforward sympathetic coronary vasodilation in exercising dogs

The hypothesis that exercise-induced coronary vasodilation is a result of sympathetic activation of coronary smooth muscle β-adrenoceptors was tested. Ten dogs were chronically instrumented with a ...
Factors Affecting Virulence of Shigella flexneri: Avirulent Strain with Altered Metabolism of Succinate, Fumarate, and Malate

It has been found that a mutation of Shigella flexneri 2a to avirulence can result in altered metabolism of tricarboxylic acid cycle acids, but the effect is strongly dependent on growth conditions. Mutant cells harvested from stationary-phase cultures grown with vigorous shaking in nutrient broth oxidize succinate, fumarate, and malate much more slowly than do wild-type cells. Cell-free extracts from such cells show similar differences in oxidative ability. These differences were less pronounced when cells were harvested from the exponential phase of growth and were nonexistent when the cells were grown without shaking. When tricarboxylic acid cycle acids were used as carbon sources with shaking, mutant cells from exponential phase cultures oxidized tricarboxylic cycle acids almost to the same extent as the wild type. Stationary-phase cells grown on succinate lost succinoxidase activity, but wild-type cells retained more than twice the activity of mutant cells. The effect of growth conditions on oxidative differences between the two strains was similar to the differences in succinate uptake observed under similar conditions.
Summary of “evaluating your curriculum”: A report by the Federation of Shools of Accountancy Committee on Assessment of Curriculum Changes

Abstract The Accounting Education Change Commission (AECC) has called for change in the accounting curriculum “so that entrants to the accounting profession possess the skills, knowledge, and attitudes required for success in accounting career paths (AAA, 1986). Concluding that “change just for the sake of change may not bring any improvement,” the Federation of Schools of Accountancy (FSA) charged its Committee on Assessment of Curriculum Changes in January, 1991 “ to identify the theories and suggest methods to allow Departments and Schools of Accounting to measure the results of curriculum changes (FSA, 1991).” 1 This paper summarizes the committee's findings and its recommendations regarding issues that should be addressed by accounting programs undertaking the development of an assessment program. 2
Sensitivity of Greenback Cutthroat Trout to Acidic pH and Elevated Aluminum

Abstract The greenback cutthroat trout Oncorhynchus clarki stomias is a threatened subspecies native to the upper South Platte and Arkansas rivers between Denver and Fort Collins, Colorado, an area also susceptible to acid deposition. In laboratory studies, we exposed this subspecies to nominal pHs of 4.5–6.5 and to nominal aluminum concentrations of 0, 50, 100, and 300 μg/L; the control was pH 6.5 treatment without Al. We used soft water that contained 1.3 mg Ca/L. Exposures of 7 d each were made for four early life stages: fertilized egg, eyed embryo, alevin, and swim-up larva. Effects were measured at the end of exposure and again after a recovery period lasting until 40 d posthatch. The alevin stage was the most sensitive: at pH 5.0 with no Al, survival was reduced by 68% and swimming duration by 76%; at pH 6.0 and 50 μg Al/L, swimming duration was reduced by 62%, but survival was not affected. Reductions in whole-body concentrations of Na, K, and Ca indicated organism stress. Sodium was reduced most—...
Clinical impact of a new cardiac magnetic resonance imaging program: a single center US experience

Summary While establishing a Cardiac Magnetic Resonance (CMR) program at an academic institution in the United States, we sought to evaluate indications and direct clinical impact of CMR on patient management and decision-making. Background CMR provides a wealth of unique diagnostic and prognostic information in patients with cardiovascular disease. However, little is known about the direct additive effects of information derived from CMR with respect to clinical decision making. Although there is preliminary data suggesting significant impact of CMR on clinical management, this has been derived entirely from European centers where routine use of CMR is significantly more widespread than in the United States. In the current health care environment in the United States, greater use of a new imaging modality like CMR requires evidence for direct additive impact on clinical management. Methods This was a single-center registry from an academic medical center in the United States. The first 200 patients from a newly established CMR program were enrolled. All procedures were performed using standardized SCMR-recommended protocols on 1.5T and 3T scanners and interpreted by a Level 3 reader. Definitions for “significant clinical impact” of CMR were pre-defined and were collected directly from medical records and/or from patients. Categories of clinical impact included: new diagnosis, medication change, hospital admission/ discharge, as well as performance or avoidance of invasive procedures (angiography, revascularization, device therapy or biopsy). Results The most common indications for referral were cardiomyopathy/myocarditis (28%), ischemic heart disease/viability testing (19%), suspected infiltrative disease (11%), and cardiac mass/thrombus (8%). Nearly all patients (96%) had recent prior echocardiograms. In 48% of patients, CMR had a significant clinical impact. This included an entirely new diagnosis in 25% of cases and a change in medication management in 12%. CMR results directly led to angiography in 5% and to performance of percutaneous coronary intervention in 5%. Bypass surgery was performed in 2% and avoided in 5%, directly as a result of CMR findings. Conclusions
Occlusal forces and mandibular bone strain: is the primate jaw "overdesigned"?

Abstract Finite element modelling of the function of the periodontium and surrounding alveolar bone suggests these tissues are subjected to unusually large strains in comparison with the bone of the basal mandibular corpus. These studies, in addition to certain experimental investigations, have led to the suggestion that the strains experienced in the basal mandibular corpus are not functionally important. Under this view, size and shape of the basal corpus are not functionally linked to masticatory forces. Since previous comparative investigations have been premised on the assumption that masticatory strains in the basal corpus are functionally important, the assertion that masticatory stresses are concentrated primarily in the alveolar process undermines the credibility of this body of work. The hypothesis that the biomechanical effects of masticatory forces are localized in the alveolar process can be evaluated by reference to a number of bone strain investigations, as well as through consideration of current understanding of bone biology and behavior. Experimental studies indicate that the effects of occlusal forces during mastication are quite apparent in alveolar bone, although relatively large strains are also observed in regions well-removed from a loaded alveolus. It is also apparent that both alveolar and basal mandibular bone are subject to bending and twisting strains associated not only with occlusal forces, but also with muscular and condylar reaction forces. The result is that strain levels in alveolar vs. basal bone may be roughly similar, in contradiction to some published theoretical models. Based on empirical evidence and theoretical considerations, it is premature to conclude that mandibular corpus size and shape are not functionally linked to the biomechanics of chewing and biting.
Motivation for and Development of a Standardized Introductory Meteorology Assessment Exam

AbstractEducation research has shown that there is often a disconnect between what instructors teach and what students actually comprehend. Much of this disconnect stems from students’ previous conceptions of the subject that often remain steadfast despite instruction. The field of meteorology is particularly susceptible to misconceptions as a result of the years of personal experience students have with weather before instruction. Consequently, it is often challenging for students to accurately integrate course material with their observations and personal explanations. A longitudinal assessment exam of the meteorology program at the U.S. Air Force Academy revealed that misconceptions of fundamental, introductory content can propagate through years of instruction, potentially impeding deeper understanding of advanced topics and hindering attainment of professional certifications. Thus, it is clear that such misconceptions must be identified and corrected early. This manuscript describes the development o...
Mixed methods for complex kinematic constraints in dynamic figure animation

Advances for achieving user control of a dynamic simulation of linked figures is presented. The formulation integrates forward and inverse kinematics specification within a mixed method of forward and inverse dynamics simulation. Kinematic specifications can be imposed through kinematic constraints embedded within the dynamics framework. Kinematic constraints may be simple (functions of one degree of freedom), or complex (functions of multiple interrelated degrees of freedom). Thus, keyframed paths, closed loops, point-to-path constraints, and collisions between links and the environment can be simulated. A simultaneous solution for unknown motion and forces of constraint is performed. A Lagrange multiplier method is outlined for incorporating these general constraints into the mathematical formulation of the equations of motion. Results from three example simulations are presented and discussed.
The measurement of oxidative damage to DNA by HPLC and GC/MS techniques.

Oxidative damage to DNA has been measured by quantitating 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdGuo) after enzymic digestion of DNA, followed by HPLC separation and electrochemical detection. Alternatively, 8-hydroxyguanine (and a wide range of other base-derived products of free radical attack) may be measured after acidic hydrolysis of DNA or chromatin, followed by derivatization and gas-chromatography/mass spectrometry. Both techniques have comparable sensitivity, but GC/MS enables determination of a wide variety of chemical changes to all four DNA bases and it can be applied to DNA-protein complexes. However, the two techniques do not always give similar results. Potential reasons for this are discussed. Greater attention to methodological questions is required before using measurement of 8-OHdGuo as a “routine” marker of oxidative DNA damage in vivo.
The school and labor force status of hispanic youth: Implications for social policy

Abstract The early work experience of youth has been shown in numerous studies to have an effect on adult work experience and earnings. The experiences of Hispanic youth in the labor market are quite important for their own future well-being and not just a temporary youthful phenomenon. Understanding the work experience of Hispanic youth is a necessary component in helping us to understand Hispanic families in our society. What happens to Hispanic youth as they move from school to work raises crucial policy issues that directly impact the quality of life of Hispanic families. The focus of this study is Hispanic youth and their patterns of school and labor force participation. The interest is to explore the social policy implications of their transition from school to early labor force participation. In this paper the school and labor force status of Hispanic youth will be analyzed and compared with white and black youth. From these findings, policy implications and recommendations will be discussed.
Modeling the heliospheric current sheet: Solar cycle variations

[1] In this report we employ an empirically driven, three-dimensional MHD model to explore the evolution of the heliospheric current sheet (HCS) during the course of the solar cycle. We compare our results with a simpler “constant-speed” approach for mapping the HCS outward into the solar wind to demonstrate that dynamic effects can substantially deform the HCS in the inner heliosphere (≲5 AU). We find that these deformations are most pronounced at solar minimum and become less significant at solar maximum, when interaction regions are less effective. Although solar maximum is typically associated with transient, rather than corotating, processes, we show that even under such conditions, the HCS can maintain its structure over the course of several solar rotations. While the HCS may almost always be topologically equivalent to a “ballerina skirt,” we discuss an interval approaching the maximum of solar cycle 23 (Carrington rotations 1960 and 1961) when the shape would be better described as “conch shell”-like. We use Ulysses magnetic field measurements to support the model results.
3α,5α-THP mediates progestins' effects to protect against adrenalectomy-induced cell death in the dentate gyrus of female and male rats

Abstract Progestins have neuroprotective effects in several in vitro models of neurodegeneration and in vivo in seizure models. The extent to which progesterone's in vivo protective effects may generalize to models not involving seizure processes and whether progesterone's protective effects are modulated by its metabolites have not been comprehensively investigated. The present experiments investigated the effects of progesterone and its metabolites, dihydryoprogesterone (DHP) and 5α-pregnan-3α-ol-20-one (3α,5α-THP), to protect the hippocampus from damage induced by adrenalectomy (ADX). In Experiments 1 and 2, progesterone, DHP, or 3α,5α-THP administration (1 mg/kg sc) to female (Experiment 1) or male (Experiment 2) rats similarly reduced the total number of ADX-induced pyknotic cells in the dentate gyrus compared with vehicle administration. In Experiment 3, blocking progesterone's metabolism to 3α,5α-THP with coadministration of a 5α-reductase inhibitor, finasteride (10 mg/kg sc), in female rats attenuated progesterone's protective effects on cell death in the dentate gyrus. Together, these data suggest that progestins can protect against ADX-induced cell death and that the actions of the progesterone metabolite, 3α,5α-THP, may underlie these effects.
Primary intracerebral and subarachnoid hemorrhage an approach to diagnosis and therapy

The diagnosis of primary intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) and subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) has become easier with the advent of modern imaging techniques. The incidence of ICH has declined, while SAH has remained relatively constant. The prognosis for both disorders remains dismal and the mortality rate is substantially higher than that observed with ischemic stroke. Early imaging with CT or MRI is important for rapid and accurate diagnosis. General medical management in a skilled nursing facility should be available for patients who are not moribund. Therapy for ICH is predominantly supportive and effective medical and surgical intervention remains elusive. For SAH, calcium channel blockers may reduce cerebral ischemic complications related to vasospasm, but effective medical therapy to prevent rebleeding has not been established. Early surgery after SAH should be considered in clinically stable patients. Many challenges remain regarding the prevention and treatment of both these cerebral hemorrhage subtypes.
Liquid-Crystal Materials for High Peak-Power Laser Applications

Abstract This is a brief review of materials and device-development issues related to the application of liquid-crystal technology to multikilojoule, high peak-power lasers.
Home Environment and Behavioral Development during Early Adolescence: The Mediating and Moderating Roles of Self-Efficacy Beliefs.

The role of self-efficacy beliefs as a mediator and moderator of the relation between the home environment and well-being was examined for both European American and African American children ages 10 through 15. There was evidence that self-efficacy beliefs pertaining to school and to family functioned as a mediator between EAHOME scores and social behavior and also between EA-HOME scores and an overall problems index. The effects occurred in both ethnic groups but more often in European American adolescents. Likewise, self-efficacy beliefs pertaining to peers and to family served to moderate the relation between HOME scores and social behavior, achievement test scores, and the overall problems index. Again, however, the effects were largely restricted to European Americans. As a time of transition, early adolescence engenders substantial concerns about one’s self-regulatory capacities and one’s ability to control what happens at home, at school, among peers, and in the community. It is a time for reformulating personal efficacy beliefs and a time of exercising beliefs about one’s agency toward newly emerging goals (see Eccles & Midgley, 1989, for an illustration). As the environment begins to afford new opportunities and make new demands, children must construct new approaches for dealing with those opportunities and demands. According to Bandura (1997), if the environment provides conditions supportive of positive efficacy beliefs, then adaptive functioning in adolescence is more readily achieved. More specifically, Bandura claims that human agency operates within an interdependent causal structure involving
Connectionist Approach For Robot Grasp Planning

In this paper we show that learning schemes can be utilized to generate robot grasping points. These learning schemes can be based on the geometrical similarity of objects and the functional similarity of tasks. This approach will drastically increase the speed of the search process and enrich the system's knowledge base. A Neural Network model that acquires data from a sold modeling data base is suggested. This model combines the completeness of information provided by solid modeling with the uncertainty encountered in the grouping process to perform geometrical classification of objects.
Performance bounds for differential systems incurring abrupt random changes

Stochastic differential equations are sometimes used to model dynamic systems that are subject to sudden random changes. Introduction of Poisson processes is one method for modeling such changes. Determining correctly when these changes occur raises the question of system performance. Using models of this type, we define an appropriate error probability as our measure of performance, bound the error probability, and then show that the bound satisfies a partial differential equation of the backward Kolmogorov type.
Charge on Luminous Bodies Resembling Natural Ball Lightning Produced Via Electrical Arcs Through Lump Silicon

A phenomenon resembling natural ball lightning can be produced via electrical arcing through silicon. We use lump silicon instead of silicon wafers to achieve higher production rates and larger, longer-lived luminous balls than previously reported. The luminous balls consist of a silicon core surrounded by a porous network of loosely bound silicon dioxide nanoparticles. We find that the balls carry a small net charge on the order of ${10}^{\ensuremath{-}12}$ C and propose that the nanoparticles are electrostatically bound to the core due to this charge.
Modulation of junctional conductance between rat carotid body glomus cells by hypoxia, cAMP and acidity

Abstract Short-term cultures of glomus cells (up to seven days), were employed to study intercellular electrical communications. Bidirectional electric coupling was established under current clamping after impaling two adjacent glomus cells with microelectrodes, and alternate stimulation and recording. Their resting potential (Vm) and input resistance (Ro) were thus measured. Both coupled cells were then voltage clamped at a level between their Vms. Current pulses applied to either cell elicited a transjunctional voltage (Vj) and current (Ij), used to calculate the junctional conductance (Gj). Gj was 1.52±0.29 nS (mean±S.E.; n=147). Vj linearly influenced Gj, suggesting ohmic junctions. Gj was not affected by Vm in 50% of the cases. However, there was Vm-dependence in the others, but voltage changes had to be large (>±40 mV from the Vm). Therefore, physiologically or pharmacologically induced glomus cell depolarization or hyperpolarization may not significantly affect intercellular coupling unless there are large variations in Vm. Hypoxia (induced by Na2S2O4 1 mM or 100% N2) decreased Gj in 60–80% of the pairs while producing tighter coupling in the rest. Similar effects were obtained when the medium was acidified with lactic acid 1–10 mM. Cobalt chloride (3 mM) prevented, diminished or reversed the changes in Gj observed during low PO2, suggesting that [Ca2+]i changes are important in hypoxic uncoupling. However, non-specific cationic effects of Co2+ have not been ruled out. Applications of the membrane-permeant dB-cAMP 1 mM tightened coupling in almost all cell pairs. This is important because endogenous cAMP increases during hypoxia. Our results suggest that multiple factors modulate junctional conductance between glomus cells. Changes in Gj by `natural' stimuli and/or cAMP may play an important role in chemoreception, especially in titrating the release of transmitters toward the carotid nerve terminals.
The effects of smoking high nicotine cigarettes on prepulse inhibition, startle latency, and subjective responses

Rationale: Several previous investigations with animals and humans have suggested that nicotine enhances prepulse inhibition of the startle reflex (PPI). However, the administration of nicotine activates mesolimbic dopamine, and activation of mesolimbic dopamine is known to attenuate prepulse inhibition of the startle reflex (PPI), which might suggest that nicotine would decrease PPI. Objective: The primary aim of this study was to test rigorously the effects of smoking high nicotine cigarettes on PPI and other measures (e.g., heart rate, craving, and mood) when the concentration of nicotine peaks in the brain (i.e., immediately after smoking). Methods: Thirty smokers participated in two experimental sessions 1 week apart. Two high nicotine cigarettes were smoked in one session, and two control cigarettes were smoked in the other session after overnight deprivation. Results: The results indicated that smoking the high nicotine cigarettes decreased PPI and that PPI increased across trials in both conditions. The interaction between nicotine dose and trial was not significant, although it appeared that high nicotine may have reversed an increase in PPI across trials in the control condition. High nicotine cigarettes also significantly increased heart rate, decreased the latency to peak startle response on control trials, but did not alter the magnitude of the startle response. Discussion: The findings suggest that either high nicotine cigarettes reduced PPI, or possibly, that high nicotine cigarettes may have reversed an increase in PPI across trials as evident in the control condition.
A new class of uncertain linear systems stabilizable via output feedback

We consider physical systems represented by mathematical models affected by time-varying uncertainties. No statistical properties of these uncertainties are known, but bounds on their maximum excursions are assumed to be given. We study the problem of guaranteed stabilization via output feedback. It is shown that the inclusion of reduced-order observers in the feedback loop expands the class of stabilizable systems. The Constrained Lyapunov Problem and the Gain Selection Lemma are instrumental to our design methods.
Identification and Characterization of the Nudix Hydrolase from the Archaeon, Methanococcus jannaschii, as a Highly Specific ADP-ribose Pyrophosphatase

The MJ1149 gene from the Archaeon, Methanococcus jannaschii, has been cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. The 19-kDa protein containing the Nudix box, GX5EX7REUXEEXGU, has been purified and identified as a highly specific enzyme catalyzing the Mg2+-dependent hydrolysis of ADP-ribose according to the equation: ADP-ribose + H2O --> AMP + ribose-5-phosphate. The enzyme retains full activity when heated to 80 degreesC, and the rate of hydrolysis is 15-fold higher at 75 degreesC than at 37 degreesC in keeping with the thermophilicity of the organism. This is the first Nudix hydrolase identified from the Archaea, indicating that the family of enzymes containing the Nudix signature sequence is represented in all three kingdoms.
The Impact of Advertising on Fund Flows in Alternative Distribution Channels

Existing literature demonstrates a positive relationship between advertising and subsequent mutual fund flows. While this relationship is hardly unexpected, it has only been addressed in a limited fashion. This work seeks to explore the issue in greater depth by examining both fixed income and equity funds, by separating load and no-load funds, and by using a richer empirical model. Our findings support the accepted relationship in general, but indicate that the response by investors differs between fund types (equity vs. fixed income) and the direct (no-load) and broker-sold (load) markets. Finally, we provide evidence that earlier findings are contingent upon the sample of funds selected as well as the empirical specification.