cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Both γδ T Cells and NK Cells Inhibit the Engraftment of Xenogeneic Rat Bone Marrow Cells and the Induction of Xenograft Tolerance in Mice

In murine allogeneic bone marrow transplantation recipients, treatment of the hosts with a nonmyeloablative regimen, including depleting anti-CD4 and anti-CD8 mAbs, allows establishment of long-term mixed chimerism and donor-specific tolerance. However, in the xenogeneic rat-to-mouse combination, additional anti-Thy1.2 and anti-NK1.1 mAbs are required. We have now attempted to identify the xenoresistant mouse cell populations that are targeted by anti-NK1.1 and anti-Thy1.2 mAbs. C57BL/6 (B6) wild-type, B6 TCRbeta(-/-), and B6 TCRdelta(-/-) mice received anti-CD4 and anti-CD8 mAbs, followed by 3 Gy of whole body irradiation, 7 Gy of thymic irradiation, and transplantation of T cell-depleted rat bone marrow cells. Anti-NK1.1 and anti-Thy1.2 mAbs were additionally administered to some groups. Increased rat chimerism was observed in TCRdelta(-/-) mice treated with anti-CD4, anti-CD8, and anti-NK1.1 mAbs compared with similarly treated TCRbeta(-/-) mice. In TCRbeta(-/-) mice, but not in TCR delta(-/-) mice, donor chimerism was increased by treatment with anti-Thy1.2 mAb, indicating that CD4(-)CD8(-)TCRgammadelta(+)Thy1. 2(+)NK1.1(-) cells (gammadelta T cells) are involved in the rejection of rat marrow. In addition, chimerism was enhanced in both TCRbeta(-/-) and TCRdelta(-/-) mice treated with anti-CD4, anti-CD8, and anti-Thy1.2 mAbs by the addition of anti-NK1.1 mAb to the conditioning regimen. Donor-specific skin graft prolongation was enhanced by anti-Thy1.2 and anti-NK1.1 mAbs in TCRdelta(-/-) mice. Therefore, in addition to CD4 and CD8 T cells, gammadelta T cells and NK cells play a role in resisting engraftment of rat marrow and the induction of xenograft tolerance in mice.
Epigenetic regulation of gene structure and function with a cell-permeable Cre recombinase

Studies of mammalian gene function are hampered by temporal limitations in which phenotypes occurring at one stage of development interfere with analysis at later stages. Moreover, phenotypes resulting from altered gene activity include both direct and indirect effects that may be difficult to distinguish. In the present study, recombinant fusion proteins bearing the 12 amino acid membrane translocation sequence (MTS) from the Kaposi fibroblast growth factor (FGF-4) were used to transduce enzymatically active Cre proteins directly into mammalian cells. High levels of recombination were observed in a variety of cultured cell types and in all tissues examined in mice following intraperitoneal administration. This represents the first use of protein transduction to induce the enzymatic conversion of a substrate in living cells and animals and provides a rapid and efficient means to manipulate mammalian gene structure and function.
Romantic Drama: Acting and Reacting

Introduction 1. Periscopes into the theatre 2. Nationalism and national character 3. Genre: the realism of fantasy, the fantasy of realism 4. Acting, histrionics, and dissimulation 5. Transvestites, lovers, monsters: character and sexuality 6. Setting: where and elsewhere 7. Gothic and anti-Gothic: comedy and horror 8. Blue-Beard's castle: mischief and misogyny 9. Vampires in kilts.
Group Randomized Trials: Introduction

Group-randomized trials (GRTs) are comparative studies in which investigators randomize identifiable groups to conditions and observe members of those groups to assess the effects of an intervention. They face special problems of design and analysis that must be considered to ensure adequate power and valid results. The most critical problem is that observations taken on members of identifiable groups tend to be positively correlated, thereby violating the independence of errors assumption underlying the common analytic methods. Mixed-model regression methods, generalized estimating equations, and randomization-based methods can provide solutions to this problem if used properly and under the right circumstances. This article provides a brief review of these issues. Keywords: group-randomized trial; intraclass correlation; mixed-model regression
Improvement of BLDC motor performance through magnetization pattern change in permanent magnets

Summary form only given. The effects of magnetization patterns on motor performance in a brushless DC motor are studied through FE analysis and experiments. Various magnetization patterns were obtained by changing the geometry of the magnetizing fixture. Nine different magnetizing fixtures were used to magnetize NdFeB ring magnets. Prototype motors were assembled and BEMF profiles and cogging torque were examined. The results show that BEMF profiles and cogging torque heavily depend on magnetization patterns. Improvement of motor performance includes 50% reduction in BEMF ripple and 80% reduction in cogging torque. A FE model was used to predict each magnetization pattern by simulating magnetizing process. The magnetization profiles were examined to identify the magnetization patterns. Each of the magnetization patterns has different magnetization profiles, which led to the difference in motor performance. It is shown that appropriate magnetizing fixture design leads to reduction in cogging torque and BEMF ripple.
Kinetic study of gas-phase Lu(2D3/2) with O2, N2O and CO2

Abstract The second-order rate constants of gas-phase Lu ( 2 D 3/2 ) with O 2 , N 2 O and CO2 from 348 to 573 K are reported. In all cases, the reactions are relatively fast with small barriers. The disappearance rates are independent of total pressure indicating bimolecular abstraction processes. The bimolecular rate constants (in molecule −1 cm 3 s −1 ) are described in Arrhenius form by k( O 2 )=(2.3±0.4)×10 −10 exp (−3.1±0.7 kJ mol −1 /RT), k( N 2 O )=(2.2±0.4)×10 −10 exp (−7.1±0.8 kJ mol −1 /RT), k( CO 2 )=(2.0±0.6)×10 −10 exp (−7.6±1.3 kJ mol −1 /RT) , where the uncertainties are ±2σ.
Subcapsular hepatic hematoma with right hepatic vein thrombosis: a complication of shock wave lithotripsy.

Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (ESWL) is a well-established, safe and effective therapeutic modality for surgical treatment of urolithiasis. Hematoma is a rare complication of ESWL and, when it occurs, typically involves the kidney. We report the case of a 71-year-old woman who developed severe, persistent abdominal pain after ESWL for a 9-mm stone at the ureteropelvic junction. Post-treatment CT scan demonstrated a 13 × 6–cm subcapsular hepatic hematoma. A follow-up CT scan showed expansion of the hematoma and development of hepatic vein thrombosis. This finding, along with persistent abdominal pain and rising liver transaminases, led to surgical intervention. The patient’s symptoms resolved and liver function returned to baseline following liver decompression.
Cellular defibrillation: interaction of micro-scale electric fields with voltage-gated ion channels

We study the effect of micro-scale electric fields on voltage-gated ion channels in mammalian cell membranes. Such micro- and nano-scale electric fields mimic the effects of multiferroic nanoparticles that were recently proposed [1] as a novel way of controlling the function of voltage-sensing biomolecules such as ion channels. This article describes experimental procedures and initial results that reveal the effect of the electric field, in close proximity of cells, on the ion transport through voltage-gated ion channels. We present two configurations of the whole-cell patch-clamping apparatus that were used to detect the effect of external stimulation on ionic currents and discuss preliminary results that indicate modulation of the ionic currents consistent with the applied stimulus.
Emotional Impairment and Psychology in the Classroom

This paper addresses students with emotional impairment and the educational psychology behind aiding these students in the classroom setting. Learners in the K-12 grade levels have a variety of emotional impairments that can affect classroom behavior and performance. Behaviors and actions are caused by many underlying psychological stressors and triggers. In examining these, specific strategies and teaching techniques to help emotionally impaired students become a working part of the learning environment are important for their achievement.
Genetic Studies of Sulfadiazine-resistant and Methionine-requiring Neisseria Isolated From Clinical Material

Deoxyribonucleate (DNA) preparations were extracted from Neisseria meningitidis (four isolates from spinal fluid and blood) and N. gonorrhoeae strains, all of which were resistant to sulfadiazine upon primary isolation. These DNA preparations, together with others from in vitro mutants of N. meningitidis and N. perflava , were examined in transformation tests by using as recipient a drug-susceptible strain of N. meningitidis (Ne 15 Sul-s Met + ) which was able to grow in a methionine-free defined medium. The sulfadiazine resistance typical of each donor was introduced into the uniform constitution of this recipient. Production of p -aminobenzoic acid was not significantly altered thereby. Transformants elicited by DNA from the N. meningitidis clinical isolates were resistant to at least 200 μg of sulfadiazine/ml, and did not show a requirement for methionine (Sul-r Met + ). DNA from six strains of N. gonorrhoeae , which were isolated during the period of therapeutic use of sulfonamides, conveyed lower degrees of resistance and, invariably, a concurrent methionine requirement (Sul-r/Met − ). The requirement of these transformants, and that of in vitro mutants selected on sulfadiazine-agar, was satisfied by methionine, but not by vitamin B 12 , homocysteine, cystathionine, homoserine, or cysteine. Sul-r Met + and Sul-r/Met − loci could coexist in the same genome, but were segregated during transformation. On the other hand, the dual Sul-r/Met − properties were not separated by recombination, but were eliminated together. DNA from various Sul-r/Met − clones tested against recipients having nonidentical Sul-r/Met − mutant sites yielded Sul-s Met + transformants. The met locus involved is genetically complex, and will be a valuable tool for studies of genetic fine structure of members of Neisseria , and of genetic homology between species. Images
Ethical Dilemmas in Personal Interviewing

There are many issues of ethics and openness in elite interviewing that I have learned how to deal with through the years.Thanks to Beth L. Leech, Rutgers University, for including me in this workshop. I learned a lot listening to my fellow interviewers and gleaning wisdom from their experiences. Thanks also to Jeffrey Berry and the Political Organizations and Parties Section of APSA for putting the workshop on. My work has focused on people who cause trouble: protesters, litigants, defendants, sidewalk counselors, rescuers, and abortion providers, to name a few. Of course, in dealing with people you are studying you must be honest and ethical. It is important to remember that their activism comes from something they deeply feel. Their activism is because of their beliefs, opinions, experiences, and sense of community. They do not exist as activists so that you can add more lines to your vita or finish your dissertation. You must leave them in the same position in which you found them. You must do no harm to them.
Similarity of matrices over commutative rings

Abstract A canonical form is given for nilpotent matrices which have constant rational canonical form on the spectrum of a commutative ring. The similarity class of a matrix with constant rational or Jordan canonical form is considered.
Application of Hadamard spectroscopy to automated structure verification in high-throughput NMR.

Combined verification using 1-D proton and HSQC has been proved to be quite successful; the acquisition time of HSQC spectra, however, can be limiting in its high-throughput applications. The replacement with Hadamard HSQC can significantly enhance the throughput. We hereby propose a protocol to optimize the grouping of the predicted carbon chemical shifts from the proposed structure and the associated Hadamard frequencies and bandwidths. The resulting Hadamard HSQC spectra compare favorably with their Fourier-transformed counterparts, and have demonstrated to perform equivalently in terms of combined verification, but with several fold enhancement in throughput, as illustrated for 21 commercial available molecules and 16 prototypical drug compounds. Further improvement of the verification accuracy can be achieved by the cross validation from Hadamard TOCSY, which can be acquired without much sacrifice in throughput. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
Ovsynch versus Ultrasynch: reproductive efficacy of a dairy cattle synchronization protocol incorporating corpus luteum function.

Abstract The objective was to compare the reproductive efficacy of Ultrasynch, a synchronization program based on functionality of the corpus luteum as determined by ultrasonography, with an Ovsynch protocol. A randomized field trial was conducted on a commercial dairy in Cayuga County, New York, during scheduled weekly pregnancy examinations. Cows (n=745) determined nonpregnant 28 to 34 d after artificial insemination (AI) were randomly assigned to Ultrasynch or Ovsynch protocols. Cows assigned to the Ultrasynch management program (n=366) were treated based on corpus luteum (CL) diameter: cows with a CL >23mm received an injection of PGF 2α and were bred via AI following detection of estrus (Ultra-PGF), whereas cows with a CL ≤23mm received injections and were bred on an Ovsynch protocol. Cows assigned to the Ovsynch management program (n=379) were placed on an Ovsynch protocol regardless of CL diameter. Pregnancy status was rechecked 28 to 34 d after AI; cows determined nonpregnant after initial enrollment were maintained in their assigned management group and received treatments based on CL diameter if in the Ultrasynch group and Ovsynch treatments if in the Ovsynch group. Hazard of pregnancy was similar between Ultrasynch and Ovsynch (hazard ratio=1.10, 95% confidence interval=0.88–1.36). Median days to conception were 98 and 87 for Ultrasynch and Ovsynch, respectively. The detection of estrus rate of cows in the Ultra-PGF group was 49%; better performance of an Ultrasynch management program may be achievable in a herd with a higher rate of estrus detection.
Assessment and Management of Symptoms for Outpatients Newly Diagnosed with Lung Cancer

Rationale:Little is known about symptom assessment around the time of lung cancer diagnosis. The purpose of this pilot study was to assess symptoms within 2 months of diagnosis and the frequency with which clinicians addressed symptoms among a cohort of veterans (n = 20) newly diagnosed with lung cancer. We administered questionnaires and then reviewed medical records to identify symptom assessment and management provided by subspecialty clinics for 6 months following diagnosis.Results:Half (50%) of the patients were diagnosed with early-stage non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), stage I or II. At baseline, 45% patients rated their overall symptoms as severe. There were no significant differences in symptoms among patients with early- or late-stage NSCLC or small-cell lung cancer. Of the 212 clinic visits over 6 months, 70.2% occurred in oncology. Clinicians most frequently addressed pain although assessment differed by clinic.Conclusions:Veterans with newly diagnosed lung cancer report significant symptom...
Cardiopulmonary, hematological, serum chemistry and peritoneal fluid alterations associated with abdominal insufflation with carbon dioxide during standing laparoscopy in healthy horses sedated with detomidine and butorphanol.

Changes in cardiopulmonary function, hematology, serum chemistry and peritoneal fluid were examined in six healthy, pharmacologically restrained, mature horses during and after abdominal insufflation with CO2 (15 mm Hg) during standing laparoscopy. Each horse underwent standing left flank exploratory laparoscopy (LFL) and a sham procedure (SLFL) (cannula placement without insufflation) in a randomized cross-over design with at least 4 weeks between procedures. Heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR), cardiac output (thermodilution) (CO), right atrial pressure (RAP), systemic arterial blood pressures (ABP), pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP) and arterial blood gases (ABG) were measured. Cardiac index (CI), systemic vascular resistance (SVR) and pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) were derived from measured parameters. Baseline measurements were the average of measurements taken every 15 minutes for 60 minutes. Following baseline measurements, samples for complete blood count (CBC), serum chemistry analysis (SC) and peritoneal fluid (PF) analysis were obtained. The horses were then sedated with detomidine (0.02 mg kg−1 IV) followed in 5 minutes by butorphanol (0.02 mg kg−1 IV) and the flank was prepared for laparoscopy. Cardiopulmonary data and blood gas samples were obtained 5 minutes postdetomidine sedation, 10 minutes after butorphanol administration and at 0, 5, 15, 30, 45, and 60 minutes after abdominal insufflation with CO2 (15 mm Hg) (LFL) or instrumentation without insufflation (SLFL). CBC, SC, and PF analyses were repeated at the conclusion of insufflation and desufflation and 24 hours after the conclusion of each procedure. Significant decreases in HR, CO, and CI and significant increases in MRAP, SVR and PVR occurred immediately after detomidine administration. There were no clinically significant effects of abdominal insufflation with CO2 on any measure of cardiopulmonary function, including blood gases. There was a significant increase in peritoneal fluid total nucleated cell count 24 hours following LFL. Abdominal insufflation with CO2 (15 mm Hg) for 1 hour during the standing laparoscopy does not cause significant alterations in cardiopulmonary function, but does cause a mild inflammatory response within the peritoneal cavity.
Humor in Member Narratives: Uniting and Dividing at Work

The experience of humor consists of two simultaneous mental elements: a perception of a normal pattern and a perception of a violation of such a pattern. This study explored how humor was created in narratives within one organization to unify members in the face of potentially divisive values and behaviors. Paradoxically, in this context, humor also served to stress behavioral or characteristic differences among organization members. Problematic values clashing as a result of these differences were channelled and negotiated through humorous narratives. By providing a less threatening means of acknowledging disagreement, humor served to promote unity among organizational members by reinforcing shared values and establishing the social order within the organization in the face of incongruous or conflicting values. Through enabling members to shift between unifying and differentiating narratives, humor allowed organization members to maintain unity in the face of diversity.
Intracardic thrombosis on implants of graphite cloth and of gold-plated polyurethane

Summary Acid-absorbing and electroconductive woven graphite cloth pretreated with heparin solution and suspended between the right atrium and right ventricle of dogs failed to decrease the the extent of thrombosis that was seen on other materials with “rough” surfaces. The electro-conductivity of gold-plated, smooth, intracardiac implants of polyurethane did not alter or delay the thrombus formation either, the size and quality of thrombi being the same as on smooth and nonconductive plastics. The earlier conclusions that the “rough” materials in heart chambers are covered with thrombus by direct deposition from the blood stream, and that the smooth plastic stays free from thrombi when it is not in the contact with the suture lines, are supported with data from these experiments.
The Role of Computers in Mathematics Teaching and Learning

Summary Computers can be powerful aids to mathematics teaching and learning. Changes brought about by the availability of these tools and the demands of an increasingly technological society impact curricular content and pedagogy in mathematics education as well as the very nature of mathematical thinking and understanding. This article presents ways in which technology is changing mathematics education, guidelines for appropriate technology use in the mathematics classroom, the impact of computers on mathematics learning, common uses of computers in mathematics education, and issues and concerns related to technology use in mathematics.
Analysis of radiation focusing and steering in the free-electron laser by use of a source-dependent expansion technique.

In the free-electron laser the resonant interaction between the radiation field and electron beam can result in radiation focusing (optical guiding). If the centroid of the electron beam is transversely displaced off axis, the radiation field, under certain conditions, will follow and be steered by the electron beam. The effect of a spatial modulation on the electron-beam envelope can also modify the propagation characteristics of the radiation. These and other phenomena are analytically and numerically studied using a novel source-dependent Laguerre-Gaussian modal representation of the fully three-dimensional radiation field. Unlike the vacuum Laguerre-Gaussian modal expansion, the longitudinal spatial dependence of the radiation waist and curvature are determined and characterized by the source term in the wave equation. Among the advantages of this general source-dependent expansion approach is that few modes are needed to accurately describe the radiation. Hence, fast and accurate numerical solutions of the fully three-dimensional free-electron laser problem can be obtained over distances of many Rayleigh lengths. Furthermore, this expansion enables us to drive an envelope equation for the radiation beam as well as an expression for the centroid of the beam.
Spinal cord compression from epidural metastases.

EPIDURAL spinal cord compression from metastases is among the most dreaded complications of cancer; it occurs in 5 percent of patients who die of cancer1 2 3 (approximately 20,000 patients a year in the United States). If untreated, metastatic epidural compression inexorably progresses, causing paralysis, sensory loss, and sphincter incontinence. Since the most important single factor determining prognosis is the level of neurologic function at the beginning of therapy,4 5 6 7 the daunting clinical challenge is to diagnose the condition and begin treatment before neurologic injury occurs. Metastases to the spine, which are far more common than primary spinal neoplasms, are classified as epidural, . . .
Traitement endovasculaire d'un traumatisme fermé de l'aorte en Irak : Extension des possibilités innovantes du traitement endovasculaire au champ de bataille moderne

Objectif La prise en charge des traumatismes fermes de l'aorte thoracique descendante est controversee. Malgre l'emergence de preuves vantant les avantages du traitement endovasculaire des traumatismes civils, il n'existe aucune publication concernant l'application de cette strategie dans l'environnement austere de la guerre. Nous rapportons un cas rencontre au 332 eme EMDG/Air Force Theater Hospital, Balad Air Base, en Irak. Methodes Un policier irakien s'est presente avec une rupture traumatique de l'aorte suivant un traumatisme ferme. Le patient avait un hemoperitoine, une fracture faciale de type Le Fort III, une fracture de l'humerus gauche et une rupture traumatique de l'aorte. Apres un packing facial, une stabilisation de la fracture et une laparotomie exploratrice, une aortographie a ete effectuee et a confirme la presence d'une rupture aortique en aval de l'artere sous-claviere gauche. La lesion a ete traitee a l'aide de trois endoprotheses aortiques (extension d'endoprothese pour AAA Gore Excluder® D.C.A.) disposees de maniere sequentielle depuis l'origine de l'artere sous-claviere gauche et couvrant la rupture. Une endofuite de type III a ete traitee avec succes en interposant une extension aortique complementaire. Resultats Le patient est sorti au premier mois suivant le succes therapeutique des autres lesions. Un angioscanner a 10 et 30 jours suivant la procedure n'a montre aucune endofuite et la disparition de l'hematome peri aortique. Conclusion Ce cas detaille le premier traitement endovasculaire d'une lesion traumatique fermee de l'aorte en temps de guerre et represente un engagement en faveur de l'utilisation precoce apres la survenue de la blessure d'une therapeutique endovasculaire innovante. Bien que controversee, cette approche moins invasive est interessante chez des patients ayant des scores lesionnels eleves et particulierement en temps de guerre.
The processing and remembering of congruent and incongruent sentences

Complex sentences, withwhile, before, after, because, orin order to, and other presented clauses were to be conjoined together by using eitherand, orbut. Congruent cases, in which subjects were expected to respond withand, had shorter response latencies than incongruent cases, with expectedbut responses. This indicated a semantic incongruence effect. But the latter were remembered better, indicating a motivational salience effect due to contradiction of expectation. Whether the main clause preceded or followed the subordinate clause was not significant, in terms of either reponse latencies or sentence memory. Sentences withafter had faster response times than those withbefore, although identical constituent clauses were used.
Study of the teratogenic potential of guar gum

Abstract Guar gum in the diet at 0, 1, 2, 4, 7.5 or 15% was available ad lib . to male and female Osborne-Mendel rats for 13 wk before mating, during mating and throughout gestation. During gestation, the females consumed 0, 0.7, 1.4, 2.7, 5.2 or 11.8 g guar gum/kg of body weight/day, respectively. The animals were killed on gestation day 20. No behavioural effects were seen in any of the treated dams, and no females died during the experiment. Pregnant females in the treated groups consumed less food than the controls during gestation days 0–20 but the decrease was significant only in the 4 and 7.5% groups and was not dose related. Ingestion of guar gum before mating did not affect fertility. In the dams fed 1–7.5% guar gum, there was no effect on the number of corpora lutea or implantations. The dams fed 15% guar gum had slightly fewer corpora lutea and implantations than the controls but no effect was seen on implantation efficiency in this group. The number of viable foetuses/litter was also reduced slightly but not significantly in the 15% group, but since the number of resorptions was not affected, this decrease appears to be an effect of the decreased number of corpora lutea. There was no compound-related effect on foetal development or sex distribution. No terata were seen.
Identification of synchronous machine linear parameters from standstill step voltage input data

This paper presents the results of a time-domain identification procedure to estimate the linear parameters of a 15 kVA salient-pole synchronous machine at standstill. A step voltage input test is performed, and the parameters of the time constant models and equivalent circuit models are estimated. The maximum likelihood algorithm is used for the estimation, and the best-fit model is selected from a set of increasing order models. The initialization values for the parameters to be estimated are determined from the operational inductances derived directly from the measured time domain data. The simulated equivalent circuit model response is validated against the measured standstill time domain and frequency domain data. In addition, simulation of the model response to an on-line small disturbance test is compared to the measured dynamic response. >
Naturalizing the Artificial Citizen: Repeating Lochner's Error in Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission

In March, the Supreme Court of the United States, in a 5-4 vote, handed down Citizens United v. Federal Election Commission, a sweeping ruling providing more protection for corporate political media spending as First Amendment “speech” than ever before. This article demonstrates that Citizens United nullified a century of democratic will by representing First Amendment protection for such spending to be part of nature rather than a legal construct. If Cass Sunstein's influential assessment is correct that the lesson of Lochner v. New York is the judicial error inherent in imposing such artificial baselines to measure the constitutionality of government regulation, then Citizens United can be understood to repeat that error.
The Righi-Leduc effect in Pb-In and In-Pb alloys☆

Abstract The Righi-Leduc angles in the mixed state of Pb-In and In-Pb alloys have the opposite signs from the Hall angles in similar specimens. We suggest that thermoelectric effects in the vortex cores are responsible for the observations.
Plasma LH Changes Following Cortical Spreading Depression in Female Rats1

The effects of KCl-induced cortical spreading depression on plasma LH levels were studied by radioimmunoassay in ovariectomized (OVX), ovariectomized, estrogen-progesteroneprimed (OEP) and intact PMS-hCG-treated rats. Urethane (130 mg/100 g body wt) was used as the anesthetic in the OVX animals and ether in the other two groups. Blood samples were taken every 20–30 min through an indwelling femoral arterial cannula, and blood cells were replaced after each successive sample had been taken. Ringer's solution and 25% NaCl were used as controls. In the OVX group sampled at 10-min intervals no characteristic pattern of LH fluctuation could be observed; however, when 25% KCl was applied to the dura an increase in mean LH level was apparent, reaching statistical significance at 80 min. Plasma LH also increased in the OEP group after dural application of 25% KCl, and was significantly elevated at 60 min after treatment. In the PMS-hCG group 25% KCl failed to induce a rise in plasma LH. In none of the three group...
Primary central nervous system lymphoma imitates multiple sclerosis

Primary central nervous system lymphoma (PCNSL) can be confused with multiple sclerosis (MS) in patients who present with neurological dysfunction, a non-enhancing periventricular lesion, and CSF pleocytosis. Administration of corticosteroid causes clinical improvement and regression of PCNSL in some patients which may be interpreted as a steroid-induced remission from an exacerbation of MS. Sustained clinical dependance upon corticosteroid is unusual in MS, and should lead to consideration of PCNSL. Repeat CSF examination and gadolinium-enhanced MRI scan obtained off corticosteroid should differentiate between the two diagnostic possibilities.
Hydrophobicity of Electrospun Nanofibers Films Characterized by a Quartz Crystal Microbalance

The quartz crystal microbalance (QCM) sensor is used to study the dynamic characteristic of hydrophobic nanofiberous surfaces. The nanofibrous films of polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA), PMMA/ Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) and Polyacrylonitrile (PAN) were prepared with an electrospinning process for different hydrophobicity (wettability). The mechanical impedance analysis of DI water on a fibrous coated QCM surface is able to quantitatively characterize the hydrophobicity of these nanofibers surfaces. The two layers including a viscoelastic nanofiber film and a liquid layer result in a nonlinear combination of mechanical impedances. To simplify the analysis, an apparent viscosity was introduced in the analysis to account for the surfacial slip effect. The experimental results showed that the hydrophobic surface resulted in small mechanical impedance loading and low value of apparent viscosity, while the hydrophilic surface generated large mechanical impedance and gave high value of apparent viscosity.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
The ultimate Wright-Giemsa stain: 60 years in the making.

Wright-Giemsa staining is a common procedure that is performed routinely in hematology laboratories. Consistency in intra-laboratory staining quality is essential for accurate morphological interpr...
Heat production and thermal conductivity of respiring Mediterranean fruit fly (Diptera: Tephritidae) pupae during shipment.

Mediterranean fruit fly, Ceratitis capitata Wiedemann, pupae produce heat by metabolizing glucose. From the moles of carbon dioxide exhaled, approximately 0.048 to 0.482 joule/g• min of heat were produced at 10-35°C. The expected thermal conductivity values for a load of pupae plus air (bulk density, 0.51 g/ml) ranged from 0.000113 to 0.001552 joule/s•cm•°C at peripheral temperatures of 10-35°C, with a maximum value of 0.001700 joule/s•cm•°C at 32.2°C. The critical radius for maximum heat movement varied from 0.2 to 3.1 cm, with a maximum value of 3.4 cm at 32.2°C.
Course of the modified Rodnan skin thickness score in systemic sclerosis clinical trials: analysis of three large multicenter, double-blind, randomized controlled trials.

Objective To assess the course of the modified Rodnan skin thickness score (MRSS) in 3 large, multicenter, double-blind, randomized controlled trials (RCTs) of patients with diffuse cutaneous systemic sclerosis (dcSSc) with different baseline disease durations, as defined from the date of onset of the first dcSSc symptom (excluding Raynaud's phenomenon) or from the date of onset of the first dcSSc-related symptom (including Raynaud's phenomenon). Methods Data from 3 RCTs examining high-dose versus low-dose D-penicillamine (D-Pen Trial), recombinant human relaxin versus placebo (Relaxin Trial), and oral bovine type I collagen versus placebo (Collagen Trial) treatment in patients with dcSSc were pooled and analyzed. Patients were divided into 5 groups according to their disease duration at baseline. The linear mixed model for correlated data was used to model the 2 predictors of MRSS: time in study (expressed in months after baseline) and baseline disease duration (expressed in months, calculated from the date of onset of the first symptom characteristic of dcSSc with and without Raynaud's phenomenon). Results At study entry, the mean MRSS value was 21.0 in the D-Pen Trial cohort, 27.3 in the Relaxin Trial cohort, and 26.1 in the Collagen Trial cohort. Time in study was a significant predictor of improvement in MRSS regardless of the disease duration at baseline (P < 0.0001). Patients with a disease duration of ≥24 months showed a greater rate of decline as compared with patients with a disease duration of <24 months (P < 0.05). Similar results were obtained when disease duration was reclassified by including the time of the first Raynaud's phenomenon symptom in the definition. Conclusion Our study confirms recent findings that in patients entered into these 3 RCTs, skin thickening did not follow the same trend in natural history as that seen in the dcSSc populations entered into early, open longitudinal studies previously reported. These findings have important implications for study design, in which “prevention of worsening” is the main objective.
Conditioned pain modulation is minimally influenced by cognitive evaluation or imagery of the conditioning stimulus.

PURPOSE Conditioned pain modulation (CPM) is an experimental approach for probing endogenous analgesia by which one painful stimulus (the conditioning stimulus) may inhibit the perceived pain of a subsequent stimulus (the test stimulus). Animal studies suggest that CPM is mediated by a spino-bulbo-spinal loop using objective measures such as neuronal firing. In humans, pain ratings are often used as the end point. Because pain self-reports are subject to cognitive influences, we tested whether cognitive factors would impact on CPM results in healthy humans. METHODS We conducted a within-subject, crossover study of healthy adults to determine the extent to which CPM is affected by 1) threatening and reassuring evaluation and 2) imagery alone of a cold conditioning stimulus. We used a heat stimulus individualized to 5/10 on a visual analog scale as the testing stimulus and computed the magnitude of CPM by subtracting the postconditioning rating from the baseline pain rating of the heat stimulus. RESULTS We found that although evaluation can increase the pain rating of the conditioning stimulus, it did not significantly alter the magnitude of CPM. We also found that imagery of cold pain alone did not result in statistically significant CPM effect. CONCLUSION Our results suggest that CPM is primarily dependent on sensory input, and that the cortical processes of evaluation and imagery have little impact on CPM. These findings lend support for CPM as a useful tool for probing endogenous analgesia through subcortical mechanisms.
Operationism as methodology

Operationism, the doctrine that a concept can best be defined in terms of a set of operations, has been the subject of much controversy since Bridgman first formulated it in 1927. The mixed reactions concerning the value of operationism, the variety of viewpoints that have gradually evolved, and the problems involved in this approach are examined in this paper.
NMR solution structure determination of RNAs

During the past several years, there have been significant advances in NMR solution structure determination of macromolecules. The ability to easily measure residual dipolar couplings, to directly detect NHellipsisN hydrogen bonding interactions and to study much larger macromolecules by the application of heteronuclear experiments that select narrow lines in 2D and 3D spectra of isotopically labeled molecules promises to dramatically improve solution structure determination of nucleic acids.
Actinide Redox-Active Ligand Complexes: Reversible Intramolecular Electron-Transfer in U(dpp-BIAN)2/U(dpp-BIAN)2(THF)

Actinide complexes of the redox-active ligand (dpp-BIAN)2− (dpp-BIAN = 1,2-bis(2,6-diisopropylphenylimino)acenaphthylene), U(dpp-BIAN)2 (1), U(dpp-BIAN)2(THF) (1-THF), and Th(dpp-BIAN)2(THF) (2-THF), have been prepared. Solid-state magnetic and single-crystal X-ray data for complex 1 indicate a ground-state UIV−π*4 configuration, whereas a (dpp-BIAN)2−-to-uranium electron transfer occurs for 1-THF, resulting in a UIII−π*3 ground configuration. The solid-state magnetic data also indicate that interconversion between the two forms of the complex is possible, limited only by the ability of tetrahydrofuran (THF) vapor to penetrate the solid upon cooling of the sample. In contrast to those in the solid state, spectroscopic data acquired in THF indicate only the presence of the UIV−π*4 form for 1-THF in solution, evidenced by electronic absorption spectra and by measurement of the solution magnetic moment in THF-d8 using the Evans method. Also reported is the electrochemistry of the complexes collected in CH2Cl...
Technology Trends in Dense WDM Demultiplexers

Abstract Demultiplexers are a key component in dense WDM systems. The performance of these devices helps determine the overall system capacity. A variety of technologies have been developed to implement WDMs. This article reviews the various device technologies and their key characteristics.
Strain-aging of vanadium, niobium or titanium-strengthened high-strength low-alloy steels

Four commercially available high-strength low-alloy (HSLA) steels were evaluated in this study. It was determined that all four steels were susceptible to strain-aging by interstitial solutes. The increase in strength due to strain-aging was similar to that observed in a low carbon steel studied for comparison. At high levels of prestrain, the percent loss in ductility in the HSLA steels was comparable to that observed in the low-carbon steel in specimens prestrained to the same fraction of the total elongation of the as-received metal. However, when considered on an absolute basis, the residual ductility in the HSLA steels was 25 to 50 pct of that observed in the low-carbon steel. The kinetics of strain-aging were briefly examined. Indications are that the kinetics are slower in the HSLA steels than they are in the low-carbon steel.
Topology Optimization of Contact-Aided Compliant Cellular Mechanisms

Applications of topology optimization to design compliant cellular mechanisms with and without a contact mechanism are presented in this paper. A two-step procedure is developed. For cellular structures without contact, the inverse homogenization method is employed using ‘Solid Isotropic Material with Penalization’ approach. The compliant mechanism is optimized to yield prescribed elasticity coefficients. The structure is also required to undergo a large overall strain without exceeding the allowable local strain. Results including a honeycomb similar structure and a negative Poisson’s ratio structure are presented. To implement a contact mechanism in the second step, the continuum model of a non-contact structure is converted into a frame model. Such a model is investigated for a contact pair which would reduce the maximum local strain. The scheme demonstrates that stress relief can be obtained.Copyright © 2009 by ASME
Exploiting comparative advantage: A paradigm for value added research in accounting information systems

Following the lead of recent papers by Demski [Demski J. Is Accounting an Academic Discipline? Account Horiz 2007;21(2): 153–157], Fellingham [Fellingham J. Is Accounting an Academic Discipline? Account Horiz 2007;21(2): 159–163] and Hopwood [Hopwood A. Whither Accounting Research? Account Rev 2007;82(5): 1365–1374] which questioned the direction and value added of non-AIS accounting research, we discuss the state of research in Accounting Information Systems. AIS researchers face a significant hurdle in undertaking value added research given that the financial and human resources that industry devotes to research and development of AIS technology dwarf the capabilities of academic researchers. In these circumstances, we put forward a paradigm for AIS research based on the principle of comparative advantage, which is the powerful economic force that ensures that trade can take place even between parties where one has an absolute superiority over the other. It is our contention that if AIS academics are to succeed in creating value added research then they have to identify what they can do that the AIS industry, despite all its financial and human resource advantages, cannot or will not do. And what economic theory indicates is that such opportunities to add value always exist — if only academics are willing to seek them out. We illustrate our paradigm by analyzing three potential sources of comparative advantage for AIS researchers and discussing illustrative examples of research in each of these areas.
Modelling small gold and silver nanoparticles with electronic structure methods

Electronic structure methods, especially density functional theory (DFT) and time-dependent DFT, have found significant applications in understanding the structure and properties of nanoparticles. ...
Abstract: IRT and SVD: Implementing Psychometric Methods in New and Complex Situations.

There are a number of techniques in the item response theory (IRT) toolbox that either rank or match examinees based on their observed total score, among them the many derivatives of nonparametric ...
Spatial analysis of Honolulu motor vehicle crashes: II. Zonal generators

The spatial relationship between activities which generate trips and motor vehicle accidents is examined and applied to the City and County of Honolulu for 1990. A method is described for examining spatial variations in motor vehicle accidents, aggregated into small geographical areas. A spatial lag model is developed which examines the zonal relationship of motor vehicle accidents to population, employment and road characteristics. The resulting model is tested for each hour of the day, weekdays and weekends separately. The predictors of accidents fluctuate according to different trip generating activities and change considerably over the day. The method can generate expected accidents, allowing for an identification of areas which have higher than expected levels. It is argued that this method focuses attention on characteristics of neighborhoods and areas, and not just on the road system.
Disulfide bond isomerization in basic pancreatic trypsin inhibitor: multisite chemical exchange quantified by CPMG relaxation dispersion and chemical shift modeling.

Conformational changes occurring on the microsecond-millisecond time scale in basic pancreatic trypsin inhibitor (BPTI) are investigated using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The rczz CPMG experiment (Wang, C.; Grey, M. J.; Palmer, A. G. J. Biomol. NMR 2001, 21, 361-366) is used to record (15)N spin relaxation dispersion data, R(ex)(1/tau(cp)), in which 1/tau(cp) is the pulsing rate in the CPMG sequence, at two static magnetic fields, 11.7 and 14.1 T, and three temperatures, 280, 290, and 300 K. These data are used to characterize the kinetics and mechanism of chemical exchange line broadening of the backbone (15)N spins of Cys 14, Lys 15, Cys 38, and Arg 39 in BPTI. Line broadening is found to result from two processes: the previously identified isomerization of the Cys 38 side chain between chi(1) rotamers (Otting, G.; Liepinsh, E.; Wuthrich, K. Biochemistry 1993, 32, 3571-3582) and a previously uncharacterized process on a faster time scale. At 300 K, both processes contribute significantly to the relaxation dispersion for Cys 14 and an analytical expression for a linear three-site exchange model is used to analyze the data. At 280 K, isomerization of the Cys 38 side chain is negligibly slow and the faster process dominates the relaxation dispersion for all four spins. Global analysis of the temperature and static field dependence of R(ex)(1/tau(cp)) for Cys 14 and Lys 15 is used to determine the activation parameters and chemical shift changes for the previously uncharacterized chemical exchange process. Through an analysis of a database of chemical shifts, (15)N chemical shift changes for Cys 14 and Lys 15 are interpreted to result from a chi(1) rotamer transition of Cys 14 that converts the Cys 14-Cys 38 disulfide bond between right- and left-handed conformations. At 290 K, isomerization of Cys 14 occurs with a forward and reverse rate constant of 35 s(-1) and 2500 s(-1), respectively, a time scale more than 30-fold faster than the Cys 38 chi(1) isomerization. A comparison of the kinetics and thermodynamics for the transitions between the two alternative Cys 14-Cys 38 conformations highlights the factors that affect the contribution of disulfide bonds to protein stability.
Resection of a mandibular myxoma via a sagittal ramus osteotomy

A case of myxoma of the mandible is reported in which a sagittal ramus osteotomy was used to gain access to the lesion. This approach appears to have several advantages over more conventional exposures in selected cases.