cssi/SciSciGPT-SciSciNet huggingface dataset:
Measuring Impact of Stress in Sandwich Generation Caring for Demented Parents

Stress in caregivers may affect the healthcare recipients receive. We examined the impact of stress experienced by 45 adult caregivers of their elderly demented parents. The participants completed a 32-item questionnaire about the impact of experienced stress. The questionnaire also asked about interventions that might help to reduce the impact of stress. After exploratory factor analysis, we reduced the 32-item questionnaire to 13 items. Results indicated that caregivers experienced stress, anxiety, and sadness. Also, emotional, but not financial or professional, well-being was significantly impacted. There was no significant difference between the impact of caregiver stress on members from the sandwich generation and those from the nonsandwich generation. Meeting with a social worker for resource availability was identified most frequently as a potentially helpful intervention for coping with the impact of stress.
Remanent magnetism of the Russell belt of gneisses, Northwest Adirondack Mountains, New York

(1957). Remanent magnetism of the Russell belt of gneisses, Northwest Adirondack Mountains, New York. Advances in Physics: Vol. 6, No. 23, pp. 317-322.
Role of bridge energetics on the preference for hole or electron transfer leading to charge recombination in donor-bridge-acceptor molecules.

The impact of donor–acceptor electronic coupling and bridge energetics on the preference for hole or electron transfer leading to charge recombination in a series of donor-bridge-acceptor (D-B-A) molecules was examined. In these systems, the donor is 3,5-dimethyl-4-(9-anthracenyl)-julolidine (DMJ-An) and acceptor is naphthalene-1,8:4,5-bis(dicarboximide) (NI), while the bridges are either oligo(p-phenyleneethynylene) (PEnP, where n = 1–3) 1–3 or oligo(2,7-fluorenone) (FNn, where n = 1–3) 4–6. Photoexcitation of 1–3 and 4–6 produces DMJ+•-An-PEnP-NI–• and DMJ+•-An-FNn-NI–•, respectively, which undergo radical pair intersystem crossing followed by charge recombination to yield both 3*An and 3*NI, which are observed by time-resolved electron paramagnetic resonance (TREPR) spectroscopy. 3*NI is produced by hole transfer from DMJ+• to NI–•, while 3*An is produced by electron transfer from NI–• to DMJ+•, using the agency of the bridge HOMOs and LUMOs, respectively. By monitoring the initial population of 3*NI a...
p53 regulation: teamwork between RING domains of Mdm2 and MdmX.

p53 is a major tumor suppressor frequently inactivated through direct gene mutation and alternative mechanisms including overexpression of Mdm2 and MdmX. Both Mdm2 and MdmX are essential for negative regulation of p53 in vivo in a mutually dependent manner. The RING domain dependent E3 ligase activity of Mdm2 has been shown to be essential for negative regulation of p53. The prevailing model has dubbed MdmX as an inhibitor of p53 transcriptional activity through direct binding of its N-terminal domain to p53. However, recent findings established an essential role of the RING domain of MdmX in p53 degradation in vitro and in vivo. Biochemically, Mdm2 on its own is a monoubiquitinatuion E3 ligase, however, MdmX can convert Mdm2 into a polyubiquitination E3 ligase necessary for p53 proteasomal degradation in cells, through their RING-RING interactions. While Mdm2 is the catalytic components of Mdm2/MdmX E3 complex, MdmX is both the activating component and a substrate of the holoenzyme. Knock-in of RING muta...
Dramatically Increased Rearrangement and Peripheral Representation of Vβ14 Driven by the 3′Dβ1 Recombination Signal Sequence

V(D)J recombination is targeted by short recombination signal (RS) sequences that are relatively conserved but exhibit natural sequence variations. To evaluate the potential of RS sequence variations to determine the primary and peripheral TCRbeta repertoire, we generated mice containing specific replacement of the endogenous Vbeta14 RS with the 3'Dbeta1 RS (Vbeta14/3'DbetaRS). These mice exhibited a dramatic increase in Vbeta14(+) thymocyte numbers at the expense of thymocytes expressing other Vbetas. In addition, the percentage of peripheral Vbeta14(+) alphabeta T lymphocytes was similarly increased. Strikingly, this altered Vbeta repertoire resulted predominantly from a higher relative level of primary Vbeta14/3'DbetaRS rearrangement to DbetaJbeta complexes, despite the ability of the 3'Dbeta1 RS to break B12/23 restriction and allow direct rearrangement of Vbeta14/3'DbetaRS to Jbeta segments.
Appropriateness of kaolin consumption as an index of motion sickness in the rat

The appropriateness of kaolin consumption, one form of pica, as an index of motion sickness in the rat was examined. Unlike other motion sickness indices, the use of kaolin consumption results in a bitonic function across daily rotation sessions. This bitonic function is not predicted from any theory of motion sickness (viz., the Sensory Rearrangement Theory), rather an inverse relationship should exist between the severity of motion sickness and repeated exposure to the effective motion (i.e., habituation). The results of Experiments 1 and 2 support the continued use of kaolin consumption as an index of motion sickness in the rat. A response interference process is proposed to account for the first portion of the bitonic kaolin consumption function with grooming possibly representing a higher probability behavior than kaolin consumption. Experiment 3 examined and confirmed that kaolin consumption indexes the process of rehabituation to an effective motion. This extends the number of principles that are characteristic of motion sickness exhibited by species capable of emesis and supports the continued use of kaolin consumption as an index of motion sickness and general gastrointestinal malaise in the rat.
Shareholder reaction to firm investments in the capability maturity model: an event study

This study investigates the differential effects of successfully completed capability maturity model (CMM) appraisals on a firm's short-term and long-term stock performance. Our results indicate a positive share price response on the days surrounding the appraisal date for the stocks of companies obtaining the CMM appraisal. Stocks of firms successfully completing CMM appraisals generally outperform the S&P 500 index over longer-holding periods, although they do not outperform a matched sample. We find support that firms from the information technology industry, firms that are larger, firms of higher CMM maturity levels, and firms completing multiple appraisals are more likely to experience both short-term and long-term benefits from their investing in the CMM.
Androgen receptors and metabolism in the human fetus

Previous studies in this laboratory have shown that human cultured skin fibroblasts have a receptor which binds dihydrotestosterone (DHT) with high affinity, high specificity but low capacity. Kd and Bmax values were similar in sex skin fibroblasts from male and female subjects but the Bmax of sex skin was higher than in non-sex skin. The present investigation was designed to find out whether fetal cells have DHT receptors, the age they can be detected and whether there are differences in Bmax between fibroblasts from sexual organs and non-sexual tissues. 1/ The youngest specimen studied was 8 wks: DHT receptors were found in fibroblasts from non-sex skin. 2/ A 10 wk fetus had a high level of DHT receptors in fibroblasts from the external genitalia. The value was similar to normal values for newborn skin. 3/ In 2 female fetuses there was greater DHT binding in fibroblasts from sex organ than in those from non-sexual skin. 4/ DHT receptors were present in fibroblasts from testis, from lung but not from intestine. 5/ In a mixture of epithelial cells and fibroblasts from one kidney, we found receptors with a low Bmax and a low Kd. 6/ 5α-reductase activity was detected in fibroblasts of a 10 wk old fetus; the levels being lower in non-sex skin than in sex organs.
Self-diffusion studies of binary mixtures in NaX zeolites using pulsed field gradient NMR and a Maxwell-Stefan model.

Intracrystalline self-diffusion coefficients were measured by pulsed field gradient (PFG) NMR for single components and binary mixtures of CF4 and various hydrocarbons in large-crystal NaX zeolites. A short-time diffusion model was used to obtain the unrestricted intracrystalline self-diffusivities by extrapolating to zero diffusion time, when no molecules can leave the crystal during the measurement. The results were used to test a theoretical model from Skoulidas, Sholl, and Krishna for predicting diffusion coefficients of mixtures in zeolites from single-component data. The predicted binary self-diffusivities are consistent with those directly measured in PFG NMR mixture experiments, thus providing an experimental validation of the model.
Phyllodes tumor: Clinicopathologic review of 60 patients and flow cytometric analysis in 30 patients

Abstract We reviewed 66 phyllodes tumors of the breast from 60 patients. Our patients included 59 women and one man ranging in age from 16 to 72 years. Fifty patients presented for primary treatment of newly diagnosed breast masses, nine presented with recurrent tumors, and one presented with soft tissue metastases 9 years after bilateral subcutaneous mastectomies and multiple chest wall recurrences of phyllodes tumor. After 0.3 to 53.2 years (mean, 15.5 years) of follow-up, 26 (43.3%) patients are free of disease without recurrence, 26 (43.3%) patients are dead of other (17 patients) or unknown (nine patients) causes, four (6.7%) patients had locally recurrent tumor 0.7 to 2.9 years after lumpectomy and are free of disease 3 months to 12 years after re-excision or simple mastectomy, two (3.3%) patients are lost to follow-up, and two (3.3%) patients died with metastatic disease 1.8 and 7 years after diagnosis. Histologic features and flow cytometric analysis showed no correlation with outcome. Fifty-six breast tumors were biphasic and nine were purely stromal tumors. Twenty-six (47%) biphasic tumors showed stromal overgrowth. Tumor margins were pushing in 20 (39%) and infiltrative in 29 (61%) of 49 evaluable cases. Twenty-one tumors were highly cellular and 17 showed cytologic atypia. Necrosis was identified in 16 tumors. Mitotic rates ranged from 0 10 high-power fields to 48 10 high-power fields. Twenty-four diploid, six aneuploid, three tetraploid, and one polyploid tumor were identified by flow cytometry. S-phase fractions tended to be higher in nondiploid tumors. Neither DNA content nor S-phase fraction correlated with outcome. Our results indicate that most mammary phyllodes tumors, including purely stromal tumors, behave as low-grade, nonmetastasizing neoplasms. Neither histologic evaluation nor DNA content provides reliable clues concerning the natural history of an individual tumor.
Modulation of hyaluronan receptor (CD44) function in vivo in a murine model of rheumatoid arthritis.

Objective To determine how in vivo modulation of CD44 function by antibodies influences disease severity in a murine model of rheumatoid arthritis. Methods Mice with proteoglycan (PG)–induced arthritis were subjected to systemic treatment with 3 different monoclonal antibodies against CD44. Joint swelling and serum levels of hyaluronan (HA) and soluble CD44 (sCD44) were monitored. Inflammatory leukocyte infiltration in the joints, cell surface CD44 expression, and leukocyte adhesion to HA were compared. The effects of anti-CD44 treatment on the immune status of arthritic animals were also determined. Results Antibody IRAWB14, which enhances HA binding, aggravated the inflammatory symptoms, while KM201, which blocks ligand binding, reduced the severity of arthritis. The most effective suppression of inflammation was noted upon treatment with antibody IM7, whose epitope lies outside the HA binding domain of CD44. Serum levels of sCD44 increased, and HA levels decreased, in response to IM7. KM201 and IM7 treatment reduced, but IRAWB14 treatment enhanced, the adhesion of leukocytes to HA. However, these antibodies had little effect on PG-specific immune responses. Conclusion Each antibody acted in vivo by virtue of its combined effects on CD44–HA binding and CD44 shedding. The dramatic reduction in arthritis severity effected by IM7 treatment was associated with extensive shedding of cell surface CD44 molecules. Loss of CD44 appears to be a major factor in preventing CD44- and HA-dependent cell–matrix interactions at the inflammatory site. Our study indicates a critical role for CD44 in the pathology of joint inflammation and reveals a unique mechanism of receptor down-regulation, which can be used therapeutically.
Effect of deuteration on the structural and magnetic properties of CuF2(H2O)2(pyrazine)

The strongest magnetic exchange interactions in the quasi-two dimensional coordination polymer CuF 2 (H 2 O) 2 (pyz) (pyz=pyrazine), lie within the CuF 2 (H 2 O) 2 plane and involve F···H-O hydrogen bonds. In order to better understand this novel magnetic exchange pathway, the fully deuterated derivative of this complex was prepared. The structural and magnetic properties of this isotopically substituted derivative are reported. A slight contraction of the unit cell and reduction in the Neel temperature was observed.
A field effect transistor as a solid-state reference electrode

Abstract The construction and performance of an integrated on-chip reference field-effect transistor is described. It is shown that excellent temperature and noise compensation can be obtained with this arrangement. The reference FET was used in conjunction with a pH ISFET and K + ISFET.
Learning to live with mycotoxins: aflatoxin - a case history

ABSTRACT Experience with the aflatoxin problem may provide a useful guide in dealing with problems that may arise with other mycotoxins. Characteristics of mycotoxin situations are delineated. A multidisciplinary approach is needed in the following problem cases: (i) Identification of the fungus responsible and isolation and characterization of the mycotoxin(s). (ii) Accurate analytical methodology for determination of the toxin and simple and rapid–though perhaps less accurate—methods for screening and control during processing. (iii) Incidence and severity of contamination in various commodities and geographic areas, (iv) Environmental factors that contribute to development of the toxin: conditions of culture, harvesting, handling, transportation, storage and processing that minimize contamination. Other related problems that are discussed are: (i) Genetic factors. (ii) Effects on various species of plants and animals and of possible synergists; precautions to be observed, (iii) Metabolic products and extent of biotransfer and acceptable tolerances in food and feed products, (iv) Marketing procedures; disposal of contaminated products; detoxification by removal or inactivation of the toxin by physical, chemical, or biological means. Awareness of good operating practices, motivation of personnel to observe them, and adequate sampling and testing procedures are essential to assure that all foods and feeds are wholesome. An expanded educational program and regulatory effort may be necessary. With continuous surveillance and vigilance of all, the consumer will receive better and safer products than ever before.
Calcium-dependent serine phosphorylation of synaptophysin

The phosphorylation of synaptophysin, a major integral membrane protein of small synaptic vesicles, was found to be regulated in a Ca(2+)-dependent manner in rat cerebrocortical slices, synaptosome preparations, and highly purified synaptic vesicles isolated from rat forebrain. K(+)-induced depolarization of slices and synaptosomes prelabeled with 32P-orthophosphate produced a rapid, transient increase in serine phosphorylation of synaptophysin. In synaptosomes, the depolarization-dependent increase in synaptophysin phosphorylation required the presence of external Ca2+ in the incubation medium. The addition of Ca2+ plus calmodulin to purified synaptic vesicles resulted in a 4-fold increase in serine phosphorylation of synaptophysin, and this phosphorylation was antagonized by a peptide inhibitor of Ca2+/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaM kinase II(. Purified rat forebrain CaM kinase II phosphorylated both purified synaptophysin and endogenous, vesicle-associated synaptophysin, and the resulting 2-dimensional chymotryptic phosphopeptide maps were similar to those derived from synaptophysin phosphorylated in cerebrocortical slices. These data demonstrate that Ca(2+)-dependent phosphorylation of synaptophysin, mediated by CaM kinase II, occurs under physiological conditions.
APOL1 variants in HIV-associated nephropathy: just one piece of the puzzle.

Considerable attention has been focused on how the APOL1 / MYH9 locus determines susceptibility to focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, including HIV-associated nephropathy (HIVAN). Atta and colleagues found that homozygosity for APOL1 risk alleles was associated with many, but not all, HIVAN cases, and that APOL1 variation failed to predict characteristics of disease. Their work gives important impetus to identify other genetic and environmental factors that may provide a ‘second hit' linking HIV infection to HIVAN.
What every ESD engineer needs to understand about patents

This work provides a general overview of patents and, more importantly, information each engineer needs to know to be ensured of receiving the patent coverage he deserves. Patents and their importance are described generally. In reviewing patents, the main focus is on the claims since they define the legal rights afforded to the patent owner. The inventor should understand the relationship of claims to three other things: (1) the patent's own specification, (2) the "prior art," and (3) potentially infringing products. A fictional example demonstrates these relationships.
Heavy metals in leachate from simulated green roof systems

Abstract The contribution of green roofs to urban water quality, either as sinks or sources of pollutants, is an open question. This study examined leaching of Cd, Fe, Ni, Pb, and Zn from simulated green roof systems that had been deployed under field conditions and naturally leached for 22 months. The objectives were to determine if Arkalyte (an expanded clay), when mixed with pine bark as a substrate, leached metals and if so, whether leaching was influenced by the depth of substrate, structural components of the green roof system, or wet/dry deposition. Leachate was collected from each system after wet deposition events in June 2007, October 2007, February 2008, and April 2008 and analyzed. The concentration of four elements routinely exceeded USEPA water quality criteria for chronic and/or acute toxicity and were therefore of possible relevance to water quality, particularly for Pb. The frequency and intensity of local wet deposition influenced the volume of leachate recovered from the systems and in some instances the corresponding metal concentration in the leachate. There were no consistent trends with respect to depth and metal concentration in the leachate, due perhaps to the confounding effects caused by leaching of metals from materials used to construct the built-in-place systems and from inputs from deposition. Further evaluation of this substrate and the structural materials is needed to determine if their use in green roof systems will improve or degrade urban water quality.
Intratumoral Heterogeneity of HER-2/neu in Invasive Mammary Carcinomas Using Fluorescence In-Situ Hybridization and Tissue Microarray

Fluorescence in-situ hybridization is increasingly being used to determine HER-2/neu status in patients with breast carcinoma. The possibility that intratumoral heterogeneity of HER-2/neu gene amplification may potentially contribute to inaccurate assessment of HER-2/neu status was investigated in routine cases of invasive mammary carcinomas. From 169 representative formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded blocks of invasive duct mammary carcinomas with grade 3 architecture, 48 cases were analyzed by fluorescence in-situ hybridization and 59 analyses were performed. Intratumoral heterogeneity for HER-2/neu gene amplification was demonstrated in only 5 (16%) of 31 cases where morphologically similar areas of a single tumor were analyzed. We conclude from this study that intratumoral heterogeneity of HER-2/neu gene amplification is a demonstrable but relatively uncommon occurrence. For invasive mammary carcinomas, the accurate assessment of HER-2/neu status by fluorescence in-situ hybridization analysis is not sig...
Erythroid specific nuclear antigen and globin gene binding protein.

Abstract Using the procedure of Bekhor and Mirell (Biochem, 18 , 609, 1979), we isolated a nonhistone protein fraction tightly bound to DNA which putatively has a role in globin gene regulation in chicken reticulocytes. This fraction was tested by gel electrophoresis and microcomplement fixation and appears by these criteria very similar to the chicken nuclear antigen previously identified in reticulocyte chromatin and structurally altered erythrocyte chromatin. This antigen is tissue and species specific (Pumo et al , Biochem. 19 , 2362, 1980).
Epileptic and normal neurons in monkey neocortex: A quantitative study of degree of operant control

Summary The object of this study was to quantify and compare the degree of control monkeys may assert over firing patterns of normal and epileptic neurons. Thirty-seven epileptic and 70 normal neurons were studied in detail. The operant task was for the monkey to generate specified consecutive interspike intervals (ISI). The monkeys demonstrated far greater accuracy in controlling consecutive ISIs of normal neurons and were only able to control the intervals between bursts from epileptic neurons. The data implies that high frequency bursts of action potentials from epileptic neurons are all-or-nothing events initiated by synaptic mechanisms. In addition, some data are from a monkey with epilepsia partialis continua; in comparison to less active foci, this focus was comprised of a higher percentage of ‘pacemaker’ epileptic neurons.
CO2 elimination and airway opening pressure during high frequency oscillation in dogs

Abstract CO2 elimination (VCO2) and pressure at the airway opening (Pao) were measured over a wide range of frequencies (f) (5–40 Hz) and tidal volumes (V T ) (1–45 ml) during high frequency oscillatory ventilation (HFO) in 11 anesthetized, paralyzed dogs. CO2 elimination was found to depend primarily on the product off and V T which is consisitent with theoretical predictions of gas exchange by augmented dispersion. Airway openning pressure during HFO were frequency dependent. At frequencies near 5 Hz Pao was lower, while at frequencies above 5 Hz Pao was higher than Pao during conventional mechanical ventilatin (12 cm H2O). The minimum Pao (5 cm H2O) achieved while maintaining VCO22 equivalent to normal metabolic CO2 production occured when V T was near that of the dead space volume and frequency was near 5 Hz. At lower V T , higher frequencies were required to maintain VCO2 and this increased frequency resulted in an increase in Pao amplitude (10–15 cm H2O).
A REACTIVE SILICATE BUDGET FOR THE ARCTIC OCEAN1

Available data permit formulation of a reactive silicate budget for the Arctic Ocean. There is fairly good agreement between the jnput and removal terms. Arctic rivers do not appear to have unusually high reactive silicate concentrations and the budget indicates that the Arctic Ocean is not a major source for reactive silicate; it could even bc a sjnk. The results also lend some credcncc to the view that the Bering Strait inflow may exit primarily via the Canadian Archipelago. Cooper (1952) suggested that tundra drainage might introduce large quantities of reactive silicate to the Arctic Ocean and that as a result, reactive silicate-silicon concentrations in Arctic outflow waters might exceed 50 pg-atoms liter-l. Burton and Liss ( 1968) also believed that the contribution by tundra drainage might be important in the oceanic dissolved silicon budget. But they made no quantitative estimates, and the possible contribution was apparently not essential for their arguments. Stefansson ( 1968) questioned Cooper’s hypothesis because he observed low reactive silicate concentrations in Polar and Arctic waters in the Irminger Sea. Our work has also shown that Arctic outflow waters are not greatly enriched in reactive silicate and that the reactive silicate concentrations in Arctic rivers do not appear to be unusually high. Arctic outflow waters in the East Greenland Current do appear to be slightly enriched in rcactive silicate. However, despite the slight enrichment the reactive silicate transport of the East Greenland Current might even be less than the .transport of the considcrably smaller volume of Pacific waters entering through Bering Strait, and the contribution from the Arctic rivers is not likely to account for more than about 10% of the worldwide contribution from runoff. 1 Contribution No. 707 from the Department of Oceanography, University of Washington. This rcsearch was sponsored by Office of Naval Research Contract N-00014-67-A-0103-0014. We wish to thank Drs. K. Aagaard, J. D. Burton, L. K. Coachman, K. A. Fanning, and F. A. Richards for their helpful suggestions, the Arctic Institute of North America and the U. S. Naval Oceanographic Office for permission to use Figs, 2 and 3, and those in the U. S. Coast Guard and the Naval Oceanographic Office who participated in the surveys which obtained many of the data used here. Mr. K. A. Countryman was kind enough to provide us with some of the data.
Exact second-order estimates for the effective mechanical properties of nonlinear composite materials

Abstract Motivated by previous small-contrast perturbation estimates, this paper proposes a new method for estimating the effective behavior of nonlinear composite materials with arbitrary phase contrast. The key idea is to write down a second-order Taylor expansion for the phase potentials, about appropriately defined phase average strains. The resulting estimates, which are exact to second order in the contrast, involve the “tangent” modulus tensors of the nonlinear phase potentials, and reduce the problem for the nonlinear composite to a linear problem for an anisotropic thermoelastic composite. Making use of a well-known result by Levin for two-phase thermoelastic composites, together with estimates of the Hashin-Shtrikman type for linear elastic composites, explicit results are generated for two-phase nonlinear composites with statistically isotropic particulate microstructures. Like the earlier small-contrast asymptotic results, the new estimates are found to depend on the determinant of the strain, but unlike the small-contrast results that diverge for shear loading conditions in the nonhardening limit, the new estimates remain bounded and reduce to the classical lower bound in this limiting case. The general method is applied to composites with power-law constitutive behavior and the results are compared with available bounds and numerical estimates, as well as with other nonlinear homogenization procedures. For the cases considered, the new estimates are found to satisfy the restrictions imposed by the bounds, to improve on the predictions of prior homogenization procedures and to be in excellent agreement with the results of the numerical simulations.
Expression of anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) in equine granulosa-cell tumors and in normal equine ovaries

Anti-Mullerian hormone (AMH), also known as Mullerian inhibiting substance (MIS), is expressed by granulosa cells in females of many mammalian species, and circulating AMH concentrations have been used to monitor granulosa-cell tumors (GCT) in women. The objective was to characterize expression of AMH in equine GCT, and in normal equine ovaries, based upon immunohistochemistry (IHC), using a polyclonal primary antibody directed against human AMH. Equine GCT (n=27) and normal equine ovaries (n=10) were examined by IHC. In addition, sera from four mares with GCT were characterized for AMH bioactivity, based upon suppression of Mullerian duct development in the fetal rat. Immunolabeling with alpha-AMH was localized to granulosa cells in equine GCT, as well as within antral follicles in normal ovaries. Expression of AMH first appeared in granulosa cells of small growing follicles and was most intense in small antral follicles; large antral or atretic follicles had reduced immunolabeling. Omission of the primary antibody or incubation of the primary antibody with the corresponding blocking peptide eliminated immunolabeling of granulosa cells in GCT and in normal antral follicles, confirming the specificity of the immunolabel. Sera from mares with GCT had increased AMH bioactivity compared to control sera. In conclusion, AMH was strongly expressed by granulosa cells in equine GCT and in normal antral follicles. Therefore, anti-Mullerian hormone may be a useful biomarker for detection of GCT in the horse.
Modelling viscous segregation in immiscible fluids using lattice-gas automata

WHEN immiscible liquids with different viscosities are forced to flow through a channel, the more viscous liquid tends to concentrate in the centre. This process influences the flow of oil–water mixtures in pipelines1,2, the extrusion of polymers3, the flow of blood in small arteries4 and of magmas approaching the Earth's surface during a volcanic eruption5. Segregation occurs because it minimizes the pressure required to maintain a given flow rate6,7; there is still scant information, however, on the timescales and fluid configurations involved in the approach to the equilibrium state. Explicit solutions of the time-dependent Navier–Stokes equation using numerical (for example, finite-element3) methods are possible only for simple interface shapes. Here we use an alternative approach to the study of viscous segregation, involving immiscible lattice-gas automata. Two-dimensional calculations exhibit the expected segregation for a variety of starting configurations, and for an initially homogeneous emulsion the fluid must flow 50–100 times the channel width before most of the more viscous fluid reaches the channel centre. For constant flow rates, segregation occurs so as to progressively decrease the pressure.
Investigations into the nature of the dexamethasone and ACTH effects upon learned taste aversion.

Abstract Dexamethasone injected prior to the conditioning trial will attenuate a learned taste aversion. ACTH injections will prolong the recovery from a taste aversion when administered prior to recovery trials. Two experiments are reported here. In the first, the interaction between these effects was studied. Using a factorial design, four groups of rats received dexamethasone or ACTH prior to conditioning and prior to recovery trials. An additional group received isotonic saline throughout training and recovery. The primary finding was that animals receiving dexamethasone prior to conditioning and ACTH prior to recovery trials did not differ from the group pretreated with ACTH during both conditioning and recovery. That is, given the parameters of these experiments, the ACTH effect was prepotent. In the second experiment it was shown that the ACTH effect upon the performance of a taste aversion can occur in one trial. Taken together, the results of the two experiments support the idea that ACTH influences memory retrieval when administered prior to a test for retention of an avoidance response.
Reliability and validity of the Maintenance Resources Management/Technical Operations Questionnaire

Abstract The Maintenance Resource Management–Technical Operations Questionnaire (MRM/TOQ) is a brief survey questionnaire instrument developed to measure the attitudes and intentions of participants in airline maintenance communication and safety training workshops. This present paper describes the test of the effectiveness of the MRM/TOQ for its intended purpose as an evaluative measure. The test included samples of both maintenance management and aviation maintenance technicians (AMT) from the same airline who attended similar workshops several years apart. The test of the MRM/TOQ reveals an integrity of factor structure and a reasonable reliability of both individual items and multi-item scales. Tests of concurrent validity indicate that many of the items and scales measure what they purport to measure. Testing construct validity is important, but is often difficult. The various measures of fixed response items and open-ended questions in the questionnaire allowed a test of construct validity which indicated that what respondents reported about the importance of several topics was consistent with predicted responses about what would be implemented from the training. The MRM/TOQ has reasonable psychometric characteristics, and it can be used as a robust measure to evaluate communication and MRM training programs in other aviation maintenance settings. Relevance to industry Many airlines use surveys to understand the attitudes, opinions, and perceptions of their employees. It is important that surveys are scientifically “good” measures. One survey questionnaire, the “MRM/TOQ”, has become widely used for assessing communication and management improvement programs in aviation maintenance. Evaluating the reliability and validity of the MRM/TOQ helps confirm its scientific “goodness” as a measurement instrument.
Nonlinear integrated Sachs-Wolfe effect

We discuss the nonlinear extension to the integrated Sachs-Wolfe effect (ISW) resulting from the divergence of the large scale structure momentum density field. The nonlinear ISW effect leads to an increase in the total ISW contribution by roughly two orders of magnitude at l∼1000. This increase, however, is still below the cosmic variance limit of the primary anisotropies; at further small angular scales, secondary effects such as gravitational lensing and the kinetic Sunyaev-Zel’dovich effect dominate the nonlinear ISW power spectrum. We show that this second-order nonlinear ISW contribution is effectively the same as the contribution previously described as a lensing effect due to the transverse motion of gravitational lenses and well known as the Kaiser-Stebbins effect in the context of cosmic strings. Because of geometrical considerations, there is no significant three-point correlation function, or bispectrum, between the linear ISW effect and its nonlinear extension. The nonlinear ISW contribution can potentially be used as a probe of the transverse velocity of dark matter halos such as galaxy clusters. Because of the small contribution to temperature fluctuations, of the order of a few tenths of microkelvins, however, extracting useful measurements on velocities will be challenging.
Providing end-to-end service level agreements across multiple ISP networks

Due to the autonomous nature of ISPs, the service level agreement (SLA) offering is currently confined to within a single provider network. In this work, we examine some methods of extending the SLA offering across ISP boundaries. We introduce three policies to coordinate the end-to-end performance guarantee in multiple ISP networks: the least-effort, the most-effort, and the equal-distribution policies. These policies refer to different manners in which the service-level constraints are distributed among all transit networks. We study the impacts of these policies on the overall ISP community when SLA is required. We evaluate the effectiveness of these policies in terms of both the network performance and the ISPs monetary profit. The results show that the policy choice depends on the network load, as well as the ISP cost structure.
STUDIES OF THE EFFECT OF BACTERIAL ENDOTOXINS ON RABBIT LEUCOCYTES II. DEVELOPMENT OF ACQUIRED RESISTANCE

Bacterial endotoxin injected intravenously into rabbits inhibited the migration of leucocytes from the buffy coat of centrifuged blood (4). Repeated daily injections of endotoxin resulted in the rabbits becoming resistant to the fever-inducing action of the toxin, and migration of leucocytes from centrifuged blood was no longer inhibited by injection of the toxin. Leucocyte migration from the buffy coat of centrifuged blood after injection of toxin into the rabbits appeared gradually over the first few days of repeated injections, and disappeared during the 10 to 15 days after cessation of daily injections of toxin. The resistance to endotoxin, demonstrated by leucocyte migration and pyrogen tolerance, could not be passively transferred with serum from resistant animals, and was non-specific, in that resistance to one endotoxin conferred some resistance to toxin from an organism of a different species. No relationship could be demonstrated between precipitin titer and resistance. Thorotrast abolished resistance to the fever-inducing activity of endotoxin, but its effect on leucocyte resistance was not clear, since when injected alone it inhibited migration of leucocytes from the buffy coat of centrifuged blood. The suggestion is made that the failure of toxin to inhibit the migration of leucocytes from resistant rabbits is due either to the presence of leucocytes which have become adapted to the toxin by repeated exposure, or to rapid removal of the toxin by the reticulo-endothelial system. It is unlikely that leucocyte resistance participates in the development of tolerance to the fever-inducing action of endotoxin. However, in view of the participation of the leucocyte in the pathogenesis of the Shwartzman reaction, the presence of leucocytes resistant to endotoxin may be responsible in part for the development of resistance to the Shwartzman phenomenon.
Interhemispheric interaction: how do the hemispheres divide and conquer a task?

The present studies investigated how dividing processing between the hemispheres affects task performance. In particular, they examined whether dividing processing between the hemispheres leads to a performance advantage only when task demands exceed a certain threshold. In Experiment 1 processing demands were manipulated by varying the difficulty of the decision process. In the more difficult task, subjects decided as quickly as possible whether two of three letters had the same name (e.g. A a), whereas in the less difficult task they simply decided whether two of the three were physically identical (e.g. A A). As expected, dividing processing between the hemispheres aided performance for the more difficult name-identity task whereas it actually hindered performance for easier physical-identity task. In Experiment 2, subjects made a physical-identity decision about a different stimulus, digits. The pattern of results found in Experiment 1 for the physical-identity task was replicated; interhemispheric processing hindered task performance. These results indicate that the physical characteristics of a stimulus have minimal influence on the extent to which interhemispheric processing aids task performance. In Experiment 3, subjects were required to make more difficult decisions about digits. In one task, they decided whether the sum of two of the three digits was greater than or equal to 10, and in the other they decided if the value of a particular digit was less than either of the other two. Dividing processing between the hemispheres led to faster performance for both tasks, similar to the results for the name-identity condition. In sum, these experiments suggest that when task requirements are demanding, performance is enhanced by distributing processing across the hemispheres.
Managing Performance Complexity and Manpower Sustainability with Systems Engineering

Researchers and engineers are finding themselves in a dilemma where supply is not meeting demand with an exponential growing population and complex systems putting more demands on power systems. The demand and supply of natural resources used to generate, transmit, and consume the power make the challenge for the human race even more complex. This research paper provides a motivation and quest for sustainable human factors and ergonomics (HF/E), specifically human performance elements in complex systems design and development. The advancements achieved in complex systems engineering show that the application of sustainable HF/E can lead to highly sophisticated and useable applications to ensure sustainability of limited resources such as energy and clean water. The integration of HF/E and Human-Centered design concepts with systems engineering proves critical for building complex systems and to support meeting the needs for future workforce skills and capabilities.
Perceptions of Exercise Among School-Aged Children With Asthma:

This grounded theory–driven study explored the predominant categories and concepts involved with perceptions of exercise among school-aged children with asthma. Data came from 13 in-depth interviews with 10 children. Five boys and 5 girls, ages 8 to 12 years, with varying asthma disease severity, participated. In addition, 9 parents completed a health history questionnaire. The process of creating perceptions of exercise was the grounded theory that emerged from the data. The ongoing creation of perceptions of exercise was influenced by 4 predominant categories: perceived benefits, striving for normalcy, exercise influences, and asthma’s influence. Because process is an ongoing occurrence, the 4 predominant categories may influence the creation of exercise perceptions simultaneously, or at different times and in various ways dependent upon the characteristics of the child and his or her unique situations and experiences. Perceived benefits, striving for normalcy, exercise influences, and asthma’s influenc...
Coronary angioplasty and stenting in orthotopic heart transplants: a fruitful act or a futile attempt?

Accelerated allograft coronary artery disease remains the major cause of mortality after the first year of transplantation. Despite the extensive use of stents and angioplasty in coronary artery disease, there is a paucity of data about the efficacy of such interventions in orthotopic heart transplants. The authors herein report the outcome of those patients in their institution who had undergone percutaneous coronary artery angioplasty and stenting at a late stage of their transplantation. Within a 12-year period, 106 adult patients underwent orthotopic heart transplantation at their institution. Eight of these patients with 17 lesions underwent deployment of nine stents and eight angioplasties 8.1 ±3.2 years posttransplantation. There were 15 denovo and two restenotic lesions. The indications for intervention were presence of symptoms in five patients and severity of lesions in three asymptomatic patients detected on their follow-up angiogram. All patients had angiographic worsening of lesions at their ...
Arachidonic acid metabolism in brain physiology and pathology: lessons from genetically altered mouse models

The arachidonic acid (AA) cascade involves the release of AA from the membrane phospholipids by a phospholipase A2, followed by its subsequent metabolism to bioactive prostanoids by cyclooxygenases coupled with terminal synthases. Altered brain AA metabolism has been implicated in neurological, neurodegenerative, and psychiatric disorders. The development of genetically altered mice lacking specific enzymes of the AA cascade has helped to elucidate the individual roles of these enzymes in brain physiology and pathology. The roles of AA and its metabolites in brain physiology, with a particular emphasis on the phospholipase A2/cyclooxygenases pathway, are summarized, and the specific phenotypes of genetically altered mice relevant to brain physiology and neurotoxic models are discussed.
Recent shifts in coastline change and shoreline stabilization linked to storm climate change

Since cuspate coastlines are especially sensitive to changes in wave climate, they serve as potential indicators of initial responses to changing wave conditions. Previous work demonstrates that Cape Hatteras and Cape Lookout, North Carolina, which are largely unaffected by shoreline stabilization efforts, have become increasingly asymmetric over the past 30 years, consistent with model predictions for coastline response to increases in Atlantic Ocean summer wave heights and resulting changes in the distribution of wave-approach angles. Historic and recent shoreline change observations for Cape Fear, North Carolina, and model simulations of coastline response to an increasingly asymmetric wave climate in the presence of beach nourishment, produce comparable differences in shoreline change rates in response to changes in wave climate. Results suggest that the effect of beach nourishment is to compensate for – and therefore to mask – natural responses to wave climate change that might otherwise be discernible in patterns of shoreline change alone. Therefore, this case study suggests that the effects of wave climate change on human-modified coastlines may be detectable in the spatial and temporal patterns of shoreline stabilization activities. Similar analyses of cuspate features in areas where the change in wave climate is less pronounced (i.e. Fishing Point, Maryland/Virginia) and where local geology appears to exert control on coastline shape (i.e. Cape Canaveral, Florida), suggest that changes in shoreline configuration that may be arising from shifting wave climate are currently limited to sandy wave-dominated coastlines where the change in wave climate has been most pronounced. However, if hurricane-generated wave heights continue to increase, large-scale shifts in patterns of erosion and accretion will likely extend beyond sensitive cuspate features as the larger-scale coastline shape comes into equilibrium with changing wave conditions. Copyright © 2014 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
A parallel 3D computational method for fluid-structure interactions in parachute systems

Abstract We present a parallel finite element computational method for 3D simulation of fluid–structure interactions (FSI) in parachute systems. The flow solver is based on a stabilized finite element formulation applicable to problems involving moving boundaries and governed by the Navier–Stokes equations of incompressible flows. The structural dynamics (SD) solver is based on the total Lagrangian description of motion, with cable and membrane elements. The nonlinear equation system is solved iteratively, with a segregated treatment of the fluid and SD equations. The large linear equation systems that need to be solved at every nonlinear iteration are also solved iteratively. The parallel implementation is accomplished using a message-passing programming environment. As a test case, the method is applied to computation of the equilibrium configuration of an anchored ram-air parachute placed in an air stream.
Disruption of proximal axillobifemoral bypass graft anastomosis

Anastomotic disruption of axillobifemoral bypass grafts is a rare but serious complication. Previously described causes of anastomotic disruption include the following: infection, technical errors, and severe mechanical stress. In this report we describe a proximal anastomotic disruption of an axillobifemoral bypass graft in which the suture line remained intact on the axillary artery and tore through the polytetrafluoroethylene graft. This suggests a possible role of material failure contributing to axillobifemoral anastomotic disruption.
Fatigue and physical activity after myocardial infarction.

Background:Fatigue is prevalent after myocardial infarction (MI) and is a barrier to physical activity (PA). Because PA is an important health behavior in preventing or delaying recurrent MIs, exam...
Some Remarks on the Generalised Bareiss and Levinson Algorithms

The Bareiss (or Schur) and Levinson algorithms are the most popular algorithms for solving linear systems with dense n × n Toeplitz coefficient matrix in O(n 2) arithmetic operations. Both algorithms have been generalised to solve linear systems whose n × n coefficient matrices A are not necessarily Toeplitz (in O(n 3) operations). We show in this paper that the generalised Levinson algorithm is a direct consequence of the generalised Bareiss algorithm, thereby considerably simplifying its presentation in comparison to previous work.