cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
EFFECTS OF CIMETIDINE ON PITUITARY FUNCTION: ALTERATIONS IN HORMONE SECRETION PROFILES

SUMMARY Cimetidine, an H2 receptor antagonist, was given for 6 weeks to six normal male volunteers to study the effects on pituitary, adrenal, thyroid, and testicular hormone secretion. Patients were studied before (day 1) and after (day 42) cimetidine (300 mg four times daily) therapy, and four of the six were restudied after discontinuing cimetidine for 1 month (day 72). Basal TSH concentrations and responses to TRH administration as well as T3 RIA and T4 resin uptakes did not change during or after cimetidine therapy. The diurnal rhythm of plasma cortisol and maximum cortisol response to insulin (0.15 u/kg) were similar on days 1 and 42, but urinary free cortisol excretion fell 31% (P< 0.01). Response of GH to exercise, 100 g carbohydrate ingestion and insulin were unchanged, but mean nocturnal GH secretion decreased 33% (P < 0.025) on cimetidine, and returned to baseline on day 72. The 24-h plasma prolactin profile was unchanged as was the prolactin response to insulin and TRH stimulation. Plasma FSH was not altered, but mean LH concentrations decreased 20% on cimetidine and continued to decline (45% of day 1 levels) after discontinuation of cimetidine (P < 0.01). Spontaneous LH pulse amplitude declined slightly on day 42, but became significantly lower on day 72 (P < 0.0 1) while pulse frequency increased modestly on day 72 (P<O-O5). Peak LH responses to gonadotropin-releasing hormone were also reduced on cimetidine therapy (P < 0.02). Plasma testosterone concentrations did not change but plasma oestradiol concentrations were 38% lower (P < 0.025) after cimetidine was discontinued. Hz histamine receptors are involved in the control of multiple hormone secretory patterns and blockade of these receptors by cimetidine alters hormone profiles. These changed patterns have to be considered in the interpretation of hormone measurements in patients receiving cimetidine therapy.
Identification and characterization of novel airway epithelial integrins.

Integrins are heterodimeric glycoproteins that mediate cell-to-matrix and some cell-to-cell interactions. Recent evidence underscores the important roles of these receptors in signaling machines that transduce positional information into complex changes in cell behavior. As such, integrins have been shown to play critical roles in cell growth, differentiation, and migration. Most cells express multiple members of this family, but the integrin repertoire of any given cell appears to be highly tissue- and cell-type-specific. We have used the homology-based polymerase chain reaction to identify known and novel integrin subunits in airway epithelial cells. With this technique we have identified three novel integrin subunits that participate in the formation of at least four novel integrin heterodimers. The best characterized of these, αvβ6, is a receptor for the extracellular matrix protein fibronectin, and appears to be expressed only in terminally differentiated mucosal epithelial cells. The novel a subunit...
Reliability and validity of the wheelchair user’s shoulder pain index (WUSPI)

Many long term wheelchair users develop shoulder pain. The purpose of this study was to examine the reliability and validity of the Wheelchair User's Shoulder Pain Index (WUSPI), an instrument which measures shoulder pain associated with the functional activities of wheelchair users. This 15-item functional index was developed to access shoulder pain during transfers, self care, wheelchair mobility and general activities. To establish test-retest reliability, the index was administered twice in the same day to 16 long term wheelchair users and their scores for the two administrations were compared by intraclass correlation. To establish concurrent validity, the index was administered to 64 long term wheelchair users and index scores were compared to shoulder range of motion measurements. Results showed that intraclass correlation for test-retest reliability of the total index score was 0.99. There were statistically significant negative correlations of total index scores to range of motion measurements of shoulder abduction (r = -0.485), flexion (r = -0.479) and shoulder extension (r = -0.304), indicating that there is a significant relationship of total index score to loss of shoulder range of motion in this sample. The Wheelchair User's Shoulder Pain Index shows high levels of reliability and internal consistency, as well as concurrent validity with loss of shoulder range of motion. As a valid and reliable instrument, this tool may be useful to both clinicians and researchers in documenting baseline shoulder dysfunction and for periodic measurement in longitudinal studies of musculoskeletal complications in wheelchair users.
Husbands and Wives Living in Nuclear and Stem Family Households in Japan

This article explores living arrangements of middle-aged married couples living in Tokyo. Data were drawn from 645 married couples with at least one school-aged child. Twenty-five percent of couples in the sample lived with either spouse's parents. It was found that a married couple is likely to live with the parents if their marriage was arranged, the husband is the oldest son, and/or the wife is the oldest daughter without brothers. Neither the husband's income, the wife's employ- ment status, nor the respondents' attitude toward filial responsibility is strongly related to their living arrangements. The husbands' life satisfac- tion is highest when they live with their parents-in-law while the wives' life satisfaction is lowest when they live with their in-laws. Emphases are placed upon the difference between patrilocal and matrilocal stem family households as well as between nuclear family households, and upon the imbalance in the exchange relationship between the two generations resulting from industrialization and subsequent social changes.
Electronic Raman Scattering and Infrared Absorption in the Samarium Monochalcogenides

Electronic transitions between the $^{7}F_{J}$ multiplet levels of ${\mathrm{Sm}}^{2+}$ have been observed optically in SmS, SmSe, SmTe, and ${\mathrm{Sm}}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}{\mathrm{Y}}_{x}\mathrm{S}$. In SmS, SmSe, and SmTe, the strong temperature dependence of the singlet-triplet energy is well described by the random-phase-approximation results of Wang and Cooper, allowing us to determine both the exchange and the spin-orbit interaction. However, no temperature dependence of the singlet-triplet energy is observed in metallic ${\mathrm{Sm}}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}{\mathrm{Y}}_{x}\mathrm{S}$.
P fimbriae and other virulence factors in Escherichia coli urosepsis: association with patients' characteristics.

Chez les patients par ailleurs normaux avec des voies urinaires anatomiquement et fonctionnellement normales, les souches de E. coli qui provoquent une infection urinaire presentent presque toujours des fimbriae P et une resistance minime aux antibiotiques alors que chez les malades avec diverses affections urologiques ou medicales l'infection urinaire a E. coli est plus souvent due a des micro-organismes sans fimbriae P mais resistante aux antibiotiques
Low resolution structure of interleukin-1β in solution derived from 1H15N heteronuclear three-dimensional nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy

A low resolution solution structure of the cytokine interleukin-1 beta, a 153 residue protein of molecular weight 17,400, has been determined on the basis of 446 nuclear Overhauser effect (NOE) derived approximate interproton distance restraints involving solely NH, C alpha H and C beta H protons, supplemented by 90 distance restraints for 45 hydrogen bonds, and 79 phi torsion angle restraints. With the exception of 27 C alpha H-C alpha H NOEs, all the NOEs were assigned from a three-dimensional 1H-1H NOE 15N-1H heteronuclear multiple quantum coherence (HMQC) spectrum. The torsion angle restraints were obtained from accurate 3JHN alpha coupling constants measured from a HMQC-J spectrum, while the hydrogen bonds were derived from a qualitative analysis of the NOE, coupling constant and amide exchange data. A total of 20 simulated annealing (SA) structures was computed using the hybrid distance geometry-dynamical simulated annealing method. The solution structure of IL-1 beta comprises 12 beta-strands arranged in three pseudo-symmetrical topological units (each consisting of 5 anti-parallel beta-strands), joined by turns, short loops and long loops. The core of the structure, which is made up of the 12 beta-strands, together with the turns joining strands I and II, strands VIII and IX and strands X and XI, is well determined with a backbone atomic root-mean-square (r.m.s.) distribution about the mean co-ordinate positions of 1.2(+/- 0.1) A. The loop conformations, on the other hand, are poorly determined by the current data. A comparison of the core of the low resolution solution structure of IL-1 beta with that of the X-ray structure indicates that they are similar, with a backbone atomic r.m.s. difference of only 1.5 A between the co-ordinates of the restrained minimized mean of the SA structures and the X-ray structure.
Potential genomic determinants of hyperthermophily

We searched for genes that could be important for hyperthermophily using a flexible approach to phyletic pattern analysis. We identified 290 clusters of orthologous groups of proteins (COGs) that are preferentially present in archaeal and bacterial hyperthermophiles. Of these, 58 COGs include proteins from at least one bacterium and two archaea, and these were considered to be the best candidates for a specific association with the hyperthermophilic phenotype. Detailed sequence and genome-context analysis of these COGs led to functional predictions for several previously uncharacterized protein families, including a novel group of putative molecular chaperones and a unique transcriptional regulator.
Cyclooxgenase-2 inhibiting perfluoropoly (ethylene glycol) ether theranostic nanoemulsions-in vitro study

Cylcooxgenase-2 (COX-2) expressing macrophages, constituting a major portion of tumor mass, are involved in several pro-tumorigenic mechanisms. In addition, macrophages are actively recruited by the tumor and represent a viable target for anticancer therapy. COX-2 specific inhibitor, celecoxib, apart from its anticancer properties was shown to switch macrophage phenotype from tumor promoting to tumor suppressing. Celecoxib has low aqueous solubility, which may limit its tumor inhibiting effect. As opposed to oral administration, we propose that maximum anticancer effect may be achieved by nanoemulsion mediated intravenous delivery. Here we report multifunctional celecoxib nanoemulsions that can be imaged by both near-infrared fluorescence (NIRF) and (19)F magnetic resonance. Celecoxib loaded nanoemulsions showed a dose dependent uptake in mouse macrophages as measured by (19)F NMR and NIRF signal intensities of labeled cells. Dramatic inhibition of intracellular COX-2 enzyme was observed in activated macrophages upon nanoemulsion uptake. COX-2 enzyme inhibition was statistically equivalent between free drug and drug loaded nanoemulsion. However, nanoemulsion mediated drug delivery may be advantageous, helping to avoid systemic exposure to celecoxib and related side effects. Dual molecular imaging signatures of the presented nanoemulsions allow for future in vivo monitoring of the labeled macrophages and may help in examining the role of macrophage COX-2 inhibition in inflammation-cancer interactions. These features strongly support the future use of the presented nanoemulsions as anti-COX-2 theranostic nanomedicine with possible anticancer applications.
Thermal Cycling and Surface Reconstruction in Aluminum Thin Films

The appearance of "annealing hillocks" on heat treated aluminum films has been previously reported. Thin films of Al, deposited on passivated wafers, were annealed for various lengths of time in the temperature range 200°–500°C. The effects of grain size, alloying and surface passivation on hillock formation, were studied. It is the purpose of this report to summarize the effect of thermal cycling on similar films and to show in more detail the size and appearance of the hillocks. Aluminum was deposited on oxidized silicon substrates in a vacuum of about 10−8 Torr. Grain sizes at the deposition temperature were on the order of <1μ, 1μ, and 5μ. Manual cycling was carried out between a hot stage in N2 and a room temperature heat sink. Control samples were annealed (uncycled) for equivalent times‐at‐temperature. Photomicrographs of the surface at its various stages of reconstruction were taken and scanning electron micrographs provided a more detailed view of individual hillocks and their surroundings. At the higher temperatures (425°C) thermal cycling increases the number of hillocks by factors of 2 or 3, with the typical hillock density estimated to be approximately 106/cm2. Cycling also increases the size of the protrusions, and hillocks as high as 3.5μ have been observed growing out of a 0.7μ film. Experiments employing glass passivation confirm earlier results that surface reconstruction can be eliminated.
Acoustic Qualities of Phonation in Young Hearing-Impaired Children

Monosyllables were recorded from a group of 24 hearing-impaired and 6 normal-hearing children between three to six years of age. Tokens of the syllables /ba/ and /bo/ were placed on listening tapes...
Influence of eyestalk factors, intermolt cycle and season upon 14C-leucine incorporation into protein in the crayfish (Orconectes virilis)

Abstract 1. 1. Seasonal and hormonal influences on protein metabolism were studied in the crayfish. 2. 2. Amino acid incorporation into several tissues is higher in fall-winter than at other seasons. 3. 3. Incorporation levels differ among tissues in the following descending order: green gland, gill, hypodermis, hepatopancreas, hemolymph, abdominal muscle. 4. 4. Premolt animals incorporate less amino acid into tissue protein than do intermolt animals; however, eyestalk removal results in significantly greater incorporation into all tissues. 5. 5. Eyestalk extract from intermolt crayfish decreases amino acid incorporation into green gland and hepatopancreas of premolt animals; premolt eyestalk extract decreased incorporation into hypodermis but increased it in the hepatopancreas and gill tissue.
Acrosomal Actin: Twists and Turns of a Versatile Filament

A new electron cryomicroscopic reconstruction of an actin-scruin bundle from Limulus sperm reveals details about the enormous structural plasticity within F-actin. The twist and tilt of the actin subunits show very large deviations from ideal F-actin, providing clues about actin dynamics.
New insights on obtaining phytoplankton concentration and composition from in situ multispectral Chlorophyll fluorescence

A three-channel excitation (435 nm, 470 nm, and 532 nm) Chlorophyll fluorometer (695 nm emission) was calibrated and characterized to improve uncertainty in estimated in situ Chlorophyll concentrations. Protocols for reducing sensor-related uncertainties as well as environmental-related uncertainties were developed. Sensor calibrations were performed with thirteen monospecific cultures in the laboratory, grown under limiting and saturating irradiance, and sampled at different growth phases. Resulting uncertainties in the calibration slope induced by natural variations in the in vivo fluorescence per extracted Chlorophyll yield were quantified. Signal variations associated with the sensors (i.e., dark current configurations, drift, and stability) and the environment (i.e., temperature dependent dark currents and contamination by colored dissolved organic matter [CDOM] fluorescence) yielded errors in estimating in situ Chlorophyll concentration exceeding 100%. Calibration protocols and concurrent observations of in situ temperature and CDOM fluorescence eliminate these uncertainties. Depending upon excitation channel, biomass calibration slopes varied between 6- and 10-fold between species and as a function of growth irradiance or growth phase. The largest source of slope variability was due to variations in accessory pigmentation, and thus the variance could be reduced among pigment-based taxonomic lines. Fluorescence ratios were statistically distinct among the pigment-based taxonomic groups, providing not only a means for approximating bulk taxonomic composition, but also for selecting the appropriate calibration slope to statistically improve the accuracy of in situ Chlorophyll concentration estimates. Application to 5 months of deployment in China Lake, Maine, USA reduced the error in estimating extracted Chlorophyll concentration from > 30% to < 6%.
Federal Solutions to School Fiscal Crises: Lessons from Nixon’s Failed National Sales Tax for Education

Applying a Multiple Streams framework, the article documents the development and ultimate undoing of what became known as the national sales tax plan for education. The authors identify four factors that coalesced to lead the Nixon administration to propose replacing local property taxes with a federal value-added tax to finance K-12 education. They further delineate key supporters and opponents, along with their arguments for and against the plan, finding that intergovernmental tension between administration officials and state governors, opposition on Capitol Hill, public opinion, a supreme court ruling, and the Watergate scandal came together to unravel the plan before it could be formally introduced in Congress. Finally, the authors discuss what this case tells us about the complexity federalism brings to public school finance.
The effect of arginine infusion on plasmagrowth hormone and insulin in children

The plasma growth hormone (GH) and insulin responses to the intravenousadministration of arginine (0.5 Gm. per kilogram) have been determined in 25 children with intact anterior pituitary function and in 17 children with hypopituitarism. Arginine increased the plasma GH concentrations in 21 of the 25 control subjects, but failed to do so in 4 boys. After pretreatment with diethylstilbestrol, two of these patients had increased GH concentrations in control specimens, while in the other two subjects the GH response to arginine improved. The GH concentration was low in control specimens and did not increase following the administration of arginine in 16 of 17 patients with hypopituitarism. A low normal GH response was recorded in one such patient. The mean plasma insulin responses of the two groups were similar. It is concluded that arginine-induced GH release is a reasonable screening test of pituitary GH reserve, but that abnormal responses or results that do not agree with one's clinical impression should be confirmed by other studies.
Separation and characterization of rat plasma lipoproteins by molecular sieve chromatography.

Abstract 1. 1. The complete separation of the individual lipoprotein classes from rat plasma has been accomplished in one rapid single molecular sieve procedure using agarose columns. 2. 2. The same columns may be used to determine the molecular weights of the lipoproteins whether they are applied as purified individual classes or as the total mixed lipoprotein fraction of plasma. The values obtained agree closely with those derived from other techniques. 3. 3. The physical characteristics of rat plasma lipoproteins are similar to those of proteins from other species which have been investigates.
Molecular Beam Photoelectron Spectroscopy of Allene

Abstract High-resolution HeI (584 A) photoelectron spectra of allene rotationally cooled in a seeded supersonic molecular beam were obtained. Vibrational structure was completely resolved in the first band (X 2 E), which involved a strong Jahn—Teller effect. A series of ab initio double-zeta multiconfiguration self-consistent field (DZ MCSCF) calculations were carried out for the ground state, and a twist angle of 52° was derived for the ground ionic state. Vibrational fine structure was resolved for the first excited ionic state (A 2 E), and assigned to combinations of two symmetric vibrations, ν 2 (a 1 ) and ν 3 (a 1 ), with vibrational frequencies of 1320(6) and 1030(6) cm −1 , respectively.
Variation among Escherichia coli O157:H7 strains relative to their growth, survival, thermal inactivation, and toxin production in broth

To estimate the potential outcomes of food processing on the fate of foodborne pathogens. variations in microbial parameters such as growth rate, survival time, thermal inactivation time, and toxin production must be known. Previous microbial studies using single strains or cocktails provide error estimates for the uncertainty of the experimental and statistical procedures, but not for variations among strains. In this study, the behavior of 17 strains of Escherichia coli O157:H7 were followed when placed in synthetic media that permitted growth, survival, or thermal inactivation. The parameter values were not rejected as being normal, lognormal, gamma, or Weibull distributions. The ratio of the standard deviation to mean (normal distribution) for the exponential growth rate was 0.16 and for the lag phase duration, it was 0.38. The ratios of times to achieve a 4-log10 reduction at two survival conditions were 0.39 and 0.46; ratios of thermal D values at 55 and 60 degrees C were 0.42 and 0.33, respectively. The ratio of the negative log10 of toxin production was 0.24. These distributions are larger than the coefficient of variations observed for experimental errors in single strain and cocktail experiments. This indicates the limitations in precision that predictions of future population numbers can have when the potential presence of all strains needs to be considered. This variation among strains is applicable whether predictions are made by traditional subjective and point estimates or by using models and risk assessments.
Nutrition Support in End-Stage Liver Disease

Protein-calorie malnutrition is common in end-stage liver disease, irrespective of cause, and adversely affects clinical outcomes. Early diagnosis is important to allow appropriate intervention to prevent malnutrition-associated complications. Correction of nutrient deficiencies through oral supplementation, enteral tube feeding, or parenteral feeding can improve clinical outcomes in this patient population. This article addresses the causes of malnutrition, methods used to assess nutritional status, and treatment strategies in end-stage liver disease.
Three‐band temperature extraction from airborne imagery with imprecise atmospheric knowledge

[1] The accurate estimation of an object's surface temperature from airborne imagery is complicated by several factors, including the effects of the atmosphere and surface emissivity variations. Several methods have been proposed to handle specific cases where some of the unknowns can be eliminated. Typically, these methods use one or two spectral bands or viewing geometries and are applied to large, homogeneous surfaces where the surface emissivity may be approximated as a blackbody. In particular, a method using two spectral bands for sea surface temperature estimation with the advanced very high resolution radiometer (AVHRR) sensor has shown success while removing the need for an estimate of the atmospheric upwelling radiance. Here this method is extended to include a third spectral band and is applied to terrestrial targets. The algorithm has been tested against a synthetically generated scene containing a wide variety of targets. Temperature estimation capabilities are modestly improved (∼1 K) by inclusion of the third spectral band, particularly for materials with low emissivity and when using midwave infrared measurements. Sensitivity studies demonstrate that the inclusion of the third band slightly decreases the sensitivity of the algorithm to knowledge of the atmospheric transmission and downwelling radiance. This is true even for stressing cases such as hot targets and man-made materials with low emissivity. It is also shown, for both methods, that precise knowledge of the downwelling radiance is the least significant input parameter for accurate surface temperature estimation for targets with high emissivities, resulting in errors less than 1 K for errors in downwelling radiance of up to 35%.
Interdiffusion and Reaction in Bimetallic Cu-Sn Thin Films

Abstract Interdiffusion and intermetallic compound formation in Cu-Sn thin film couples have been investigated by X-rays using a Seemann-Bohlin diffractometer. The films were prepared by consecutive evaporation at room temperature on fused quartz substrates and subsequently annealed between − 2 and 100°C. The η′-phase (Cu6Sn5), which is ordered, was found to grow at all temperatures. In contrast the ordered e-phase (Cu3Sn) was found only in those specimens that had been annealed above 60°C. The formation of the η′-phase is interpreted in terms of interstitial diffusion of Cu into Sn at low temperatures. In specimens maintained at room temperature the unreactecl Sn and Cu layers were inferred to be in compression and tension, respectively. Tin whiskers were observed to grow spontaneously at room temperature from the Sn surface of the Cu-Sn bimetallic films, but not from Sn films without the Cu underlaver. The driving force for whisker growth is attributed to interdiffusion and reaction that occur in the bimetallic films.
Stochastic modeling of gob gas venthole production performances in active and completed longwall panels of coal mines

Abstract Gob gas ventholes (GGVs) are an integral part of longwall coal mining operations, enhancing safety by controlling methane in underground workings. As in many disciplines in earth sciences, uncertainties due to the heterogeneity of geologic formations exist. These uncertainties, and the wide range of mining and venthole operation parameters, lead to performance variability in GGVs. Random variations in parameters affecting GGV performance and influencing parameters that cannot be quantified sufficiently due to lack of information limit deterministic GGV models and even introduce error in severe cases. Therefore, evaluation of GGV performance data and the uncertainty in input parameters is valuable for understanding the variability in GGV production and for designing them accordingly. This paper describes a practical approach for implementing stochastic determination of GGV production performances and for generalizing the prediction capability of deterministic models. Deterministic site-specific models were derived by using the GGV module in the recently developed MCP (Methane Control and Prediction) software suite. These models were generated using multi-parameter regression techniques and were then improved by inclusion of extra input parameters that eliminated the site dependency and improved the predictions. Statistical distributions of input parameters in these models were quantified and tested with the Kolmogorov–Smirnov goodness-of-fit technique. Next, Monte Carlo simulations were performed using these distributions and generalized results for GGV performances were generated. The results of this work indicate that this approach is a promising method of representing the variability in GGV performances and to improve the limited and site-specific character of the deterministic models.
Formula Electric System: Thermal Management Design

This paper presents the thermal management analysis performed on lithium polymer cells designed for High Performance Electric Vehicle (HPEV) applications. The objective was to choose an optimum temperature range for the cells to operate at, determine the thermal response of the cells under their full spectrum of discharge capabilities, calculate the necessary convective heat transfer necessary to maintain the cells within said temperature range, then to create a thermal management solution to incorporate into a battery pack composed of 288 cells. Thermal testing and modeling on individual lithium polymer cells determined the thermal response and amount of convection cooling required for the cells over their intended duty cycles. A convective heat transfer coefficient of 50 W/m2K was determined to be sufficient to prevent the proposed cell from exceeding the optimum temperature range during its most strenuous duty cycle. The proposed design scheme utilized a fan to force air circulation up along the side of modules where each module consists of four cells connected in series. A proposed feedback control loop system allowed for active control of the battery cell’s temperature resulting in an increase in efficiency and overall performance for HPEV applications.Copyright © 2013 by ASME
Mechanisms of the fasting-induced dissociation of insulin binding from its action in isolated rat hepatocytes.

Fasting leads to an increase in insulin binding to isolated rat hepatocytes from 12 to 17%. This increase was accounted for by changes in the affinity of insulin receptors without alteration in their number. In contrast, the responsiveness of hepatocytes to insulin was markedly diminished in fasted rats. Both basal and insulin-stimulated rates of 14C-glucose incorporation into glycogen were significantly decreased in fasted animals. When insulin-induced 14C-glucose incorporation into glycogen was expressed as a percent above the basal rate, hepatocytes isolated both from control and fasted animals showed the same magnitude of maximal response (66 ± 13% in fed and 59 ± 12% in fasted animals, respectively). However, more insulin must be bound to hepatocytes isolated from fasted animals in order to elicit the same percent of insulin's maximal effect.
Parity effects in a Luttinger liquid: Diamagnetic and paramagnetic ground states.

The concept of a Luttinger liquid in 1D is extended to include twisted boundary conditions on a ring and mesoscopic parity effects due to evenness and oddness of the particle number ${\mathit{N}}_{0}$. Using Haldane's notion of topological excitations, a proof of Leggett's conjecture is presented, stating that the ground state of interacting 1D quantum systems is diamagnetic or paramagnetic depending on the parity of ${\mathit{N}}_{0}$. The persistent currents produced by an Aharonov-Bohm flux are calculated and shown to have period and amplitude that are in agreement with recent experiments.
Specific red cell adherence test applied to tumors of ureter and renal pelvis

The specific red cell adherence (SRCA) test used previously as a prognostic indicator of bladder tumors was used in a retrospective review of 14 patients with transitional cell carcinoma of the ureter and renal pelvis. SRCA-positive individuals appear to have better survival and progress less frequently to metastatic disease. Of five patients with positive reactions, none had distant metastases. Conversely, in SRCA-negative individuals metastatic disease developed more frequently (4 of 9). The SRCA test can be as useful a test of the prognosis of ureteral and renal pelvis tumors as it is of urinary bladder tumors.
Mapping drying shrinkage deformations in cement-based materials

A new technique for mapping the deformations in a digital image of microstructure is presented. This technique works on any set of two digital images of the same area taken before and after deformations are generated. Results for cement paste show that the deformations are distributed as large compactions separated by crack-like rarefactions. The rarefactions may represent the precursor to microcracking. The results suggest that macro-scale deformation is the result of a competition between expanding and contracting parts of the matrix. Individual microdeformations can then be much higher in magnitude than average macrodeformations. A single shrinkage value like the average macrodeformation does not, therefore, adequately represent the microstructural processes occurring during drying shrinkage.
Histometric evaluation of branches of peroneal nerve: technique for combined biopsy of muscle nerve and cutaneous nerve.

Abstract A technique for combined biopsy of muscular and cutaneous branches of the common peroneal nerve is described. Nerves studied were the nerve to the peroneous brevis, the lateral fasciles of the deep peroneal (to the extensor digitorum brevis) nerve and the cutaneous branches of the superficial peroneal nerve. These nerves from normal subjects of various ages were evaluated by histometric techniques. Degenerative changes affecting teased myelinated fibers were infrequent, but their incidence increased significantly with age. Teased-fiber measurements were analyzed to provide the average internode length (IL) and internode diameter (ID) of the large and small fiber populations of the nerve. Estimates of the IL of the whole nerve were adjusted for sampling error inherent in fiber teasing. Values for lateral fascicles of the deep peroneal nerve from persons 18 years and older (IL) and 10 years and older (ID) are: mean IL, small fibers, all nerves, 338 μm; mean IL, large fibers, all fibers, all nerves, 962 μm; mean IL, all nerves, 602 μm; mean ID, small fibers, all nerves, 5.1 μm; mean ID large fibers, all nerves, 10.8 μm; mean ID, all nerves, 7.7 μm. Values for the superficial peroneal nerve from persons 18 years and older are: mean IL, small fibers, all nerves, 328 μm; mean IL, large fibers, all nerves, 873 μm; mean IL, all nerves, 554 μm. The adjusted mean IL of the lateral fascicles of the deep peroneal nerve and the superficial peroneal nerve decreased with increasing age. Variation in IL increased signficantly with age and was greater in small fibers than in large fibers. Although histograms made from tested-fiber measurements of the nerve to the peroneus brevis were bimmodal, accurate separation of fibers into large and small groups was not possible. The fiber density (number of fibers/sq.mm) in the lateral fascicles and in the superficial peroneal nerve decreased significantly with age; the averages for adults were 6,838 and 8,648/sq. mm, respectively. Fiber-diameter histograms revealed that the superficial peroneal nerve contained the largest number of small fibers, the nerve to the peroneus brevis contained the least, and the lateral fascicles of the deep peroneal nerve contained an intermediate number.
A position-sensitive superheated emulsion chamber for three-dimensional photon dosimetry

A position-sensitive detector chamber is introduced for the three-dimensional (3D) dosimetry of photon-emitting brachytherapy sources. The detector is based on an extremely fine suspension of monochloropentafluoroethane droplets emulsified in a gel. The droplets are highly superheated at room temperature and their evaporation can be triggered by photon interactions, leading to the formation of microscopic bubbles. Thus, when photon-emitting brachytherapy sources are inserted into the detector, bubble distributions form around them, enabling visualization of the radiation field. The tissue-equivalent emulsifier gel is highly viscous and keeps the bubbles immobilized at the location of their formation. Bubbles can then be imaged by nuclear magnetic resonance or optical scanning techniques. After the imaging, the detector can be pressurized in order to recondense the bubbles to the liquid phase. In a few minutes, the device is annealed and ready to be used again for repeated measurements improving the counting statistics. The photon sensitivity of the monochloropentafluoroethane droplets was determined with highly filtered, quasi-monochromatic x-ray beams and radionuclide sources. The air-kerma response presents a broad maximum at low energies, due to the relatively high effective atomic number of the halocarbon molecule. A prototype chamber was built and successfully tested: bubble distributions deriving from the insertion of a source were imaged by means of a slice-selective 3D gradient-echo technique. These experiments confirm the potential and viability of this new approach to 3D photon dosimetry.
Environmental control of motility and encystment in Blastocladiella emersonii zoospores at high population densities

Methods were developed to prevent the zoospores of Blastocladiella emersonii Gantino & Hyatt from encysting and to make them encyst synchronously at population densities greater than 10 6 cells/ml. In two of the incubation solutions, chilled zoospores exhibited increasing self-inhibition of encystment with increasing population densities between approximately 10 6 spores/ml and 2×10 7 spores/ml. In a MOPS-calcium† solution, however, this effect was reversed, apparently because of the presence of free calcium ions. During encystment, oxygen uptake increased from a Q o2 (cell) of 8–9 in non-encysted spores to 19–21 in encysted spores. Concomitantly, the internal pool of polysaccharide decreased 90 % in 20 min. Mechanically deflagellated zoospores consumed oxygen at a 15% lower rate than flagellated zoospores.
Query by image example: the comparison algorithm for navigating digital image databases (CANDID) approach

CANDID (comparison algorithm for navigating digital image databases) was developed to enable content-based retrieval of digital imagery from large databases using a query-by- example methodology. A user provides an example image to the system, and images in the database that are similar to that example are retrieved. The development of CANDID was inspired by the N-gram approach to document fingerprinting, where a `global signature' is computed for every document in a database and these signatures are compared to one another to determine the similarity between any two documents. CANDID computes a global signature for every image in a database, where the signature is derived from various image features such as localized texture, shape, or color information. A distance between probability density functions of feature vectors is then used to compare signatures. In this paper, we present CANDID and highlight two results from our current research: subtracting a `background' signature from every signature in a database in an attempt to improve system performance when using inner-product similarity measures, and visualizing the contribution of individual pixels in the matching process. These ideas are applicable to any histogram-based comparison technique.
Configural/holistic processing or differential element versus compound similarity.

Before accepting a configural or holistic account of visual perception, one should be sure that an analytic (elemental) account does not provide an equal or better explanation of the results. I suggest that when one forms a compound of a color and a line orientation with one element previously trained as an S+ and the other as an S−, the resulting transfer found will depend on the relative salience of the two elements, and most important, the similarity of the compound to each of the training stimuli. Thus, if a line orientation is placed on a colored background (a separable compound), it will appear more like the colored field used in training, and color will control responding. However, if the line itself is colored (an integral compound), the compound will appear more like the line used in training, and line orientation will control responding. Not only does this account do a better job of explaining the data but it is simpler and it is testable.
Heparin and human lipid metabolism.

Abstract Blood-samples were collected from healthy volunteers before a test-meal of fat or carbohydrate or before a prolonged fast, and then before and after the intravenous injection of heparin. The serum was analysed biochemically and was tested in a tissue-culture model designed to assess the intracellular deposition of lipids. Heparin led to increased lipid deposition, and this could be correlated with an increase in serum-levels of non-esterified fatty acids (N.E.F.A.), but not with the decreased concentration of triglycerides, cholesterol, and phospholipids. This heparin-induced lipid deposition was more striking in hypercholesterolaemic individuals. Intracellular lipid deposition is reversible. Gas-liquid chromotography suggested that fatty acids tend to become saturated as they are incorporated within the tissue-culture cells. Taken together with other published evidence that high N.E.F.A. levels are associated with arrhythmias and death in patients with myocardial infarction, these results point to a possible danger in the use of heparin in such cases, and to the need for further work on the role of N.E.F.A. in coronary heart-disease and for controlled trials of the value of heparin in the treatment and prevention of acute myocardial infarction.
Path optimization for the resource-constrained searcher†

Abstract : We formulate and solve a discrete-time path-optimization problem where a single searcher, operating in a discretized 3-dimensional airspace, looks for a moving target in a finite set of cells. The searcher is constrained by maximum limits on the consumption of several resources such as time, fuel, and risk along any path. We develop a specialized branch-and-bound algorithm for this problem that utilizes several network reduction procedures as well as a new bounding technique based on Lagrangian relaxation and network expansion. The resulting algorithm outperforms a state-of-the-art algorithm for solving time-constrained problems and also is the first algorithm to solve multi-constrained problems.
Augmented Adaptive Control of Flexible Structures Using Residual Mode Filters

Flexible structures containing a large number of modes can benefit from adaptive control techniques which are well suited to applications that have unknown modeling parameters and poorly known operating conditions. In this paper, we focus on a direct adaptive control approach that has been extended to adaptively reject persistent disturbances. This theory will be extended to accommodate troublesome modal subsystems of a plant that might inhibit the adaptive controller. In some cases the plant in does not satisfy the adaptive controller requirements of Almost Strict Positive Realness. Instead, there maybe be a modal subsystem that inhibits this property. In this paper we will modify the adaptive controller with a Residual Mode Filter (RMF) to compensate for the troublesome modal subsystem, or the Q modes. This paper addresses leakage, or propagation, of the disturbances into the Q modes. We will apply the above theoretical results to a flexible structure example to illustrate the behavior with and without the residual mode filter.Copyright © 2010 by ASME
Micro-Spectroscopy of Biomolecules and Cells at Variable Pressure in a Micro-Capillary

Combining Raman microscopy with a micro-capillary compartment enables spectroscopic studies of small amounts of biological material at variable pressure. We present experiments over the pressure range from atmospheric pressure to 4 kBar in a micro-capillary that use less than 100 nanoliters of sample. We investigate pressure dependent structural changes in DMPC and POPC lipid systems through measurements of the Raman spectrum in the CH2 stretch band and fingerprint regions. The micro-capillary also allows to enclose living cells and to optically interrogate them through a microscope. This is illustrated through Raman spectroscopy and direct optical imaging of individual red blood cells at variable pressure.
Parity of the Neutral Pion

A study of certain angular correlations in the decay pi /sup 0/ yields 2e /sup +/ + 2e /sup -/ is given. A total of 79 events of pi /sup 0/ production in the captive reaction pi /sup -/ + p yields pi /sup 0/ + n are analyzed. The effective frequency distribution was found to be -0.75 plus or minus 0.42 by experiment and plus or minus 0.48 theoretically, where the plus and minus sign refer to even and odd parity, respectively. It is concluded that the neutral pion is pseudoscalar. (C.J. G.)
A Prospective Study of Stimulant Response in Preschool Children: Insights From ROC Analyses

ABSTRACT Objective The purpose of this study was to examine the efficacy of psychostimulant medication in a naturalistic sample of preschoolers. Benefits and side effects for methylphenidate and mixed amphetamine salts (Adderall) were examined. Method Twenty-eight preschoolers (ages 4.0–5.9) participated in the present investigation. They were obtained consecutively from a large sample of suburban children assessed for attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder. After having received various dosing levels of a stimulant in a placebo-controlled crossover design, best dose was assigned based on the lowest Abbreviated Symptoms Questionnaire T score received in a given week. All analyses compared best dose ratings to placebo ratings. Results Preschoolers' behavioral ratings by parents and teachers were improved as a function of stimulant medication. More than 82% of the medicated sample improved their behavioral rating by at least 1 SD as demonstrated by receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analyses, with more than 50% of medicated preschoolers improving by more than 2 SD. Side effects were infrequent at best dose of medication. Conclusions Clinically significant changes in behavioral ratings of preschoolers were noted in response to stimulant medication. Both stimulants were well tolerated. ROC curves were useful for clearly depicting on a case-by-case basis how much improvement was derived from psychopharmacological treatment.
Meshless methods: An overview and recent developments

Abstract Meshless approximations based on moving least-squares, kernels, and partitions of unity are examined. It is shown that the three methods are in most cases identical except for the important fact that partitions of unity enable p-adaptivity to be achieved. Methods for constructing discontinuous approximations and approximations with discontinuous derivatives are also described. Next, several issues in implementation are reviewed: discretization (collocation and Galerkin), quadrature in Galerkin and fast ways of constructing consistent moving least-square approximations. The paper concludes with some sample calculations.
Flight Performance of a Small Diameter Munition with a Rotating Wing Actuator

Future enhanced lethal effects at the infantry squad level likely include precision guided technologies. The focus of this study is maneuvering projectiles launched from man-portable weapon systems. A novel guided projectile concept is proposed for achieving control authority requirements in the challenging environment of low-dynamic pressure, small size, high launch loads, spin stabilization, and low cost. This new maneuver concept is based on a rotating wing actuator. Experimental and advanced computational aerodynamics techniques were applied. Aerodynamic models and projectile flight mechanics were derived to enable flight simulation. Assessment of ballistic delivery accuracy, based on physics-based models of the delivery process, was undertaken to quantify control authority requirements. Maneuvering flight simulations demonstrated that this concept affords enough course correction to compensate for ballistic delivery errors.